Electrophotography – Diagnostics – Unit or part identification
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-07
2001-09-04
Brase, Sandra (Department: 2852)
Electrophotography
Diagnostics
Unit or part identification
Reexamination Certificate
active
06285836
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process cartridge and a process cartridge identification mechanism for image formation that is mounted in image forming apparatuses such as a laser printer, a facsimile machine, and a copier, as well as to an identification mechanism for such a process cartridge.
2. Description of the Related Art
Among image forming apparatuses are ones in which a process cartridge unit formed by accommodating a photoreceptor drum, a developer, etc. in a housing is provided in a detachable manner to improve the ease of maintenance and provide better service.
The specifications of internal functional components and a toner may vary among process cartridges due to various differences in the specifications of apparatus main bodies where the process cartridges are used, whereas external components such as a housing are common to the process cartridges. In this case, if a process cartridge is not compatible with an apparatus main body, a failure in image quality or malfunctioning of the apparatus may occur. To prevent such an event, it is necessary to employ a mechanism for prohibiting the use of such a process cartridge.
However, a conventional identification mechanism as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei. 7-152307, for example, which electrically detects a process cartridge type, is not so configured as to identify many process cartridge types.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei. 9-185311 discloses an identification mechanism in which the logo mark of a process cartridge is recognized by means of a switch. However, this identification mechanism has a problem that a process cartridge cannot be identified unless it is mounted correctly because the structure of the mechanism does not allow a large projection/recess amount of a logo mark nor a long stroke of the switch.
Further, it is necessary to provide, in addition to such an identification mechanism, the following components in the mounting section. That is, as shown in
FIG. 15
, it is necessary to provide not only a detection switch
88
for detecting whether a process cartridge is mounted and an interlock switch for turning off the apparatus when a process cartridge is removed or a main body cover is opened, but also a power switch
90
for turning off the power of a laser diode to secure the safety.
In view of the above, for example, a configuration is possible in which seven projection plates
92
are provided on the process cartridge
10
side and eight engagement portions
96
are provided at such positions as to be able to engage the projection plates
92
by elongating an actuator portion
94
on the mounting section side in the horizontal direction. A manipulation lever
98
for manipulating the detection switch
88
and the power switch
90
is selectively provided in the engagement portions
96
and is pushed down by the corresponding one of the projection plates
92
. This configuration enables seven combinations of an image forming apparatus and a process cartridge. However, since the actuator portion
94
occupies a large space in the horizontal direction, this configuration is not efficient in terms of space utilization.
It is also possible to provide a maximum of
16
combinations by using an electrical logic circuit having 4-bit switches. However, a large-size assembly is needed to incorporate, to secure the safety, switches having a capacity large enough to turn off the power of a laser diode. It is noted that it is possible to replace the power switch
90
for turning off the power of the laser diode with another means.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances and provides a low-cost, space-saving process cartridge and a process cartridge identification mechanism which can identify many process cartridge types and has a process cartridge detection function without requiring a new electrical logic circuit, as well as to a process cartridge to be identified by such an identification mechanism.
According to a first aspect of the invention, a process cartridge is mounted in a mounting section of an image forming apparatus. The process cartridge is provided with a pressing member. When the process cartridge is mounted in the mounting section, the pressing member operates an operating member provided in the image forming apparatus if the pressing member corresponds to the operating member and thereby causes a detection device to detect that the process cartridge is mounted regularly. In other words, if the pressing member does not correspond to the operating member, the operating member is not operated and the detecting device does not detect the process cartridge even when the process cartridge is mounted.
Further, a projection/recess member is provided in the mounting section separately from the operating member, and an identification member is provided in the process cartridge separately from the pressing member. In this manner, a mechanism for mechanically identifying a process cartridge irrespective of the detection device based on whether the identification member is interfered with by a projection portion of the projection/recess member is provided.
With the above configuration, by combining combinations of the pressing member and the operating member and combinations of the identification member and the projection/recess member, many combinations of an image forming apparatus and a process cartridge can be obtained at a low cost with space saving without requiring a new electrical logic circuit.
Accordion to the second aspect of the invention, the projection/recess member may be a stopper member that has different projection/recess forms and can be attached to and removed from the mounting section.
According to the third aspect of the invention, the identification member may be an identification unit having a claw piece that is fixed to the process cartridge by one-touch action.
According to the fourth aspect of the invention, a cover that opens and closes the mounting section may be closable even when the identification member is interfered with by the projection portion of the projection/recess member.
According to the fifth aspect of the invention, the projection/recess member may have a projection/recess form that is a projection approximately parallel with a mounting direction of the process cartridge.
The identification member may be provided at an end portion of the process cartridge.
According to the 7-9 aspects of the invention, an identification unit is fixed to a surface of a process cartridge. The identification unit is provided with a pressing member and an identification member. As in the case of the first aspect, many combinations of an image forming apparatus and a process cartridge can be obtained at a low cost with space saving without requiring a new electrical logic circuit.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4803521 (1989-02-01), Honda
patent: 4949123 (1990-08-01), Takashima
patent: 4963939 (1990-10-01), Kurando et al.
patent: 4978995 (1990-12-01), Takahashi
patent: 5075724 (1991-12-01), Wada et al.
patent: 5666586 (1997-09-01), Nishimura et al.
patent: 5761566 (1998-06-01), Suzuki et al.
patent: 5970273 (1999-10-01), Zenk et al.
patent: 7-152307 (1995-06-01), None
patent: 8-95468 (1996-04-01), None
patent: 9-185311 (1997-07-01), None
Brase Sandra
Fuji 'Xerox Co., Ltd.
Oliff & Berridg,e PLC
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