Image forming apparatus

Abstract

To obtain an image forming apparatus that reduces manufacturing costs and labor by standardizing the communication section of the image forming unit. [Solution] The controller 2 reads or writes data to the non-volatile unit memory 31a of each of the multiple imaging units 21Y, 21M, 21C, and 21K. The unit memories 31a of the multiple imaging units 21Y, 21M, 21C, and 21K are assigned a common address, and the controller 2 includes a switch unit 42 that switches which imaging unit from the multiple imaging units 21Y, 21M, 21C, and 21K should perform data reads or writes on.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

Background Art

[0002] A certain image forming apparatus includes a control program transmission device, a plurality of operation units, and a communication line to which the control program transmission device and the plurality of operation units are connected. The control program transmission device stores control programs individually for the plurality of operation units via the communication line (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the above-described image forming apparatus, since a bus-type communication line is used, unique addresses are assigned to each of the plurality of operation units. Therefore, it is necessary to preset addresses individually for each of the plurality of operation units, and the work at the time of manufacturing the apparatus has become complicated.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to obtain an image forming apparatus that reduces the cost and work at the time of manufacturing the apparatus by sharing the communication unit of the image forming unit.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The image forming apparatus according to the present invention comprises a plurality of image forming units corresponding to a plurality of toner colors, and a controller that reads or writes data to the non-volatile unit memory of each of the plurality of image forming units. The unit memories of the plurality of image forming units are assigned a common address, and the controller includes a switch unit that switches which of the plurality of image forming units should perform the data read or write operation on. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, an image forming apparatus can be obtained that reduces the cost and work involved in manufacturing the apparatus by standardizing the communication section of the image forming unit.

[0008] The above or other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become even more apparent from the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 2 shows an example of the correspondence between the addresses of drum units 21Y, 21M, 21C, 21K and developing units 22Y, 22M, 22C, 22K in Figure 1, and the values ​​of the switch control signals, and the selected unit. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the figures.

[0011] Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus shown in Figure 1 is an image forming apparatus such as a multifunction printer. The image forming apparatus shown in Figure 1 comprises a printing device 1 and a controller 2.

[0012] Printing device 1 transports a print sheet from a paper feed cassette and prints an image based on an image data onto the print sheet using an electrophotographic method. Specifically, printing device 1 includes a photosensitive drum, an exposure device that exposes the photosensitive drum to form an electrostatic latent image, a developing device that deposits toner onto the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum to form a toner image, and a fuser that fixes the toner image transferred to the print sheet.

[0013] In the case of a color image forming apparatus using four toner colors (cyan, magenta, yellow, and black - CMYK), the image forming apparatus is equipped with image forming units 11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11K, respectively, for each of the four toner colors. Each image forming unit 11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11K contains multiple image forming units corresponding to multiple toner colors.

[0014] The image-making unit 11Y for yellow includes, as an image-making unit, a drum unit 21Y equipped with a photoreceptor drum, and a developing unit 22Y equipped with a developing device. The developing unit 22Y is fitted with a yellow toner cartridge.

[0015] The magenta image unit 11M includes, as an image unit, a drum unit 21M equipped with a photoreceptor drum, and a developing unit 22M equipped with a developing device. A magenta toner cartridge is installed in the developing unit 22M.

[0016] The image unit 11C for cyan includes, as an image unit, a drum unit 21C equipped with a photoreceptor drum, and a developing unit 22C equipped with a developing device. A cyan toner cartridge is installed in the developing unit 22C.

[0017] The black image unit 11K includes a drum unit 21K equipped with a photosensitive drum and a developing unit 22K equipped with a developing device, as image units. The developing unit 22K is fitted with a black toner cartridge.

[0018] Each drum unit 21Y, 21M, 21C, 21K includes a substrate 31 on which a non-volatile unit memory 31a is mounted. The same substrate may be used for these substrates 31. Also, each developing unit 22Y, 22M, 22C, 22K includes a substrate 32 on which a unit memory 32a is mounted. The same substrate may be used for these substrates 32. The unit memories 31a, 32a are, for example, EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory) or the like.

[0019] In the unit memories 31a, 32a, for example, driving distances for indicating the replacement timing of the units 21Y, 21M, 21C, 21K, 22Y, 22M, 22C, 22K including the unit memories 31a, 32a, imaging characteristic data of the units, and the like are stored.

[0020] Each imaging unit 11Y, 11M, 11C, 11K also includes a transfer unit (not shown) that transfers the toner image from the photoreceptor drum to the print sheet or the intermediate transfer belt. Specifically, the transfer unit includes a high-voltage power supply and the like.

[0021] Also, the controller 2 includes a control unit 41 and a switch unit 42.

[0022] The control unit 41 includes a computer or the like that has an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like and executes a predetermined program, and executes various processes using the ASIC, the computer, and the like.

[0023] Specifically, when the control unit 41 receives a job request for various jobs, it executes the job specified by the job request. For example, when the controller 2 receives a job request for a print job, it appropriately performs data processing (such as raster processing) and image processing (such as screen processing) on the image data specified by the job request to generate print-ready image data, and based on the generated image data, executes the print job using the printing apparatus 1.

[0024] Also, the control unit 41 performs data communication (that is, reading and writing of data as described above) with each unit memory 31a, 32a. This data communication is, for example, wired data communication, and is performed via a connector that is physically connected when the units 21Y, 21M, 21C, 21K, 22Y, 22M, 22C, 22K are mounted.

[0025] The switch unit 42 is a switch IC (Integrated Circuit) that selects the output destination of an input signal from a plurality of output destinations according to the value of a switch control signal from the control unit 41.

[0026] Here, the switch unit 42 switches the image forming unit among the plurality of image forming units for which the control unit 41 should read or write data.

[0027] Also, the image forming apparatus includes a plurality of individual signal lines 3. The plurality of individual signal lines 3 include data lines and address lines, and individually connect the plurality of image forming units to the switch unit 42. Specifically, the plurality of individual signal lines 3 individually connect the plurality of drum units 21Y, 21M, 21C, 21K to the switch unit 42, and the plurality of individual signal lines 3 individually connect the plurality of developing units 22Y, 22M, 22C, 22K to the switch unit 42. Note that the control unit 41 and the switch unit 42 are connected by a common signal line (data line and address line).

[0028] Furthermore, the unit memories of multiple image-making units are assigned a common address. Specifically, the unit memories 31a of multiple drum units 21Y, 21M, 21C, and 21K are assigned a common address, and the unit memories 32a of multiple development units 22Y, 22M, 22C, and 22K are assigned a common address. Also, the address of unit memory 32a is different from the address of unit memory 31a.

[0029] Figure 2 shows an example of the correspondence between the addresses of drum units 21Y, 21M, 21C, 21K and developing units 22Y, 22M, 22C, 22K in Figure 1, and the values ​​of the switch control signals, and the selected unit.

[0030] The switch control signal is a 2-bit (C1, C0) signal, which is transmitted here as a binary signal via two lines. As shown in Figure 2, for example, one image processing unit is selected according to the value of the switch control signal. In other words, one of the drum units 21Y, 21M, 21C, and 21K, and one of the developing units 22Y, 22M, 22C, and 22K are selected according to the value of the switch control signal.

[0031] In addition, in Figure 2, drum units 21Y, 21M, 21C, and 21K are assigned a common address (0,0,0), and developing units 22Y, 22M, 22C, and 22K are assigned a common address (0,0,1).

[0032] Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus described above will be explained.

[0033] When the control unit 41 accesses the unit memory of an imaging unit, it outputs a switch control signal with a value corresponding to that imaging unit to the switch unit 42, causing the switch unit 42 to select the imaging unit that includes that imaging unit.

[0034] The control unit 41 then reads or writes data to the address corresponding to the image-making unit via the switch unit 42 and the individual signal line 3.

[0035] For example, when the control unit 41 accesses the unit memory 21C of the drum unit 21C, it supplies a switch control signal of value (1,0) to the switch unit 42 and performs a read or write operation to address (0,0,0).

[0036] As described above, according to the above embodiment, the controller 2 reads or writes data to the non-volatile unit memory of each of the multiple imaging units. The unit memories of the multiple imaging units are assigned a common address, and the controller 2 includes a switch unit 42 that switches between the multiple imaging units on which to read or write data.

[0037] This allows for the standardization of the communication section of the imaging unit (such as the circuit board mentioned above), reducing costs and labor during device manufacturing.

[0038] Furthermore, various changes and modifications to the embodiments described above will be obvious to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the subject matter and without diminishing the intended advantages. In other words, such changes and modifications are intended to be included in the claims. [Industrial applicability]

[0039] The present invention can be applied, for example, to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. [Explanation of symbols]

[0040] 2 controllers 3 Individual signal lines 21Y, 21M, 21C, 21K Drum Unit (Example of an imaging unit) 22Y, 22M, 22C, 22K Developing Unit (Example of Image-Making Unit) 31a, 32a Unit Memory 42 Switch section

Claims

1. Multiple image-making units that support multiple toner colors, The system includes a controller that reads or writes data to the non-volatile unit memory in each of the plurality of imaging units, The unit memories of the plurality of imaging units are assigned a common address. The controller includes a switch unit that selects which of the plurality of imaging units should perform data reading or writing. An image forming apparatus characterized by the following.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of individual signal lines for individually connecting the plurality of imaging units to the switch section.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the plurality of image forming units are any of the plurality of drum units each equipped with a photoreceptor drum, a plurality of developing units each forming a toner image by attaching toner to the electrostatic latent image on the plurality of drum units, and a plurality of transfer units for transferring the toner image.

4. The plurality of image-forming units include a plurality of drum units, each equipped with a photoreceptor drum, and a plurality of developing units, each equipped with a developing device. The unit memories of the plurality of drum units are assigned a common first address. The unit memories of the plurality of developing units are assigned a common second address. The second address is a different address from the first address. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, characterized by the following:

Images