This patent application is based on and claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. ยง 119(a) to Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-067622, filed on Apr. 13, 2021, in the Japan Patent Office, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a consumable supply method for supplying a refill consumable such as a developer contained in a refill container to a consumable container, a consumable container such as a developer container, an image forming apparatus including the consumable container, and a refill consumable container such as a refill developer container.
Conventionally, there have been known techniques for, in an image forming apparatus such as a copier or a printer, supplying a consumable such as refill toner contained in a refill consumable container to a consumable container such as a toner cartridge.
For example, when toner (consumable) contained in a toner cartridge (consumable container) installed in the image forming apparatus body becomes depleted, another replenishing container (refill consumable container) is connected to the empty toner cartridge. Then, the toner cartridge is replenished with the refill toner (consumable) contained in the other replenishing container.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a consumable supply method for supplying a refill consumable stored in a refill consumable container to a consumable container installable in an equipment body. The consumable supply method includes removing a refill information storage device storing information on the refill consumable from the refill consumable container; removing an information storage device storing information on a consumable contained in the consumable container, the information being for exchange with the equipment body, from the consumable container; and attaching the refill information storage device removed from the refill consumable container as an information storage device to the consumable container in place of the information storage device removed from the consumable container.
According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a consumable container to be installed in an equipment body and to which a refill consumable contained in a refill consumable container is suppliable. The consumable container includes an information storage device and a holder. The information storage device stores information on a consumable contained in the consumable container. The information is for exchange with the equipment body. The holder detachably holds the information storage device. The holder is configured such that a refill information storage device that stores information on the refill consumable and has been removed from the refill consumable container is attachable in place of the information storage device. The information storage device and the refill information storage device are substantially identical in shape. The holder and a refill holder to detachably hold the refill information storage device in the refill consumable container are substantially identical in shape.
According to still another embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided an image forming apparatus that includes an image forming apparatus body and the above-described consumable container. The image forming apparatus body is the equipment body. The consumable container contains a developer as the consumable. The consumable container is installed in the image forming apparatus body.
According to still yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a refill consumable container to contain a refill consumable and supply the refill consumable to a consumable container installed in an equipment body. The refill consumable container includes a refill information storage device and a refill holder. The refill information storage device stores information on the refill consumable. The refill holder detachably holds the refill information storage device. The refill information storage device is attachable to a holder detachably holding an information storage device in the consumable container. The information storage device stores information on a consumable contained in the consumable container. The information is for exchange with the equipment body, in place of the information storage device. The refill information storage device and the information storage device are substantially identical in shape. The refill holder and the holder are substantially identical in shape.
The aforementioned and other aspects, features, and advantages of the present disclosure would be better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The accompanying drawings are intended to depict embodiments of the present disclosure and should not be interpreted to limit the scope thereof. The accompanying drawings are not to be considered as drawn to scale unless explicitly noted.
In describing embodiments illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. However, the disclosure of this patent specification is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected and it is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner and achieve similar results.
Although the embodiments are described with technical limitations with reference to the attached drawings, such description is not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure and all of the components or elements described in the embodiments of this disclosure are not necessarily indispensable.
Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that identical reference numerals are assigned to identical or equivalent components and a description of those components may be simplified or omitted.
First, the overall configuration and operations of an image forming apparatus 1 as equipment will be described with reference to
In
A registration roller pair (timing roller pair) 9 adjusts the conveyance timing of the sheet P, primary transfer bias rollers 14 transfer toner images formed on the surfaces of photoconductor drums 21 onto an intermediate transfer belt 17 in an overlapping manner, the intermediate transfer belt 17 has the toner images of a plurality of colors transferred thereon in an overlapping manner, and a secondary transfer bias roller pair 18 transfers a color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 17 onto the sheet P.
Process cartridges (image forming devices) 20Y, 20M, 20C, and 20BK correspond to respective colors (yellow, magenta, cyan, and black).
Photoconductor drums 21 are image bearers installed in the process cartridges 20Y, 20M, 20C, and 20BK of the corresponding colors, chargers 22 charge the surfaces of the corresponding photoconductor drums 21, developing devices 23 develop an electrostatic latent image formed on the surfaces of the corresponding photoconductor drums 21, static eliminators 24 eliminate the surface potentials of the corresponding photoconductor drums 21, and cleaners 25 collect untransferred toner left on the surfaces of the corresponding photoconductor drums 21.
A fixing device 30 fixes the toner image (unfixed image) secondarily transferred onto the sheet P.
Above each of the process cartridges 20Y, 20C, 20M, and 20BK, installed is a supplier (a developer container 28 as a consumable container and a developer supply device 80) for supplying a developer (a consumable two-component developer containing toner and a carrier) corresponding to the color (yellow, cyan, magenta, or black) to the developing device 23 (see
A description is provided below of operation of the image forming apparatus 1 to form a normal color image.
First, the document reader 4 optically reads image information of a document placed on the contact glass 5. Specifically, the document reader 4 scans the image of the document on the contact glass 5 with light emitted from an illumination lamp. The light reflected from the surface of the document is imaged on a color sensor via mirrors and lenses. The multicolor image information of the document is read for each color separation light of red, green, and blue (RGB) by the color sensor and converted into electrical image signals. The image processor performs color conversion processing, color correction processing, and spatial frequency correction processing on the basis of the RGB color separation image signals to obtain color image information of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black.
The yellow, magenta, cyan, and black image information items are transmitted to the writing device 2. Then, the writing device 2 emits laser beams L (see
On the other hand, the four photoconductor drums 21 rotate counterclockwise in
The writing device 2 emits the laser beams L from four light sources corresponding to the four colors in accordance with the image signals. The laser beams pass through optical paths different among color components of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black (exposure step).
The surface of the photoconductor drum 21 of the process cartridge 20Y, first from the left side of the surface of the paper on which
Similarly, the surface of the photoconductor drum 21 of the process cartridge 20M, second from the left side of the surface of the paper on which
Then, the surfaces of the photoconductor drums 21 having the electrostatic latent images of the four colors reach respective positions opposite the corresponding developing devices 23. The developing devices 23 supply toner of the four colors onto the surfaces of the corresponding photoconductor drums 21 and develop the electrostatic latent images on the photoconductor drums 21 into toner images (a development process).
Specifically, referring to
Thereafter, the surfaces of the photoconductor drums 21 after the development process reach respective portions facing the intermediate transfer belt 17. Here, the primary transfer bias rollers 14 are placed on the facing portions so as to abut against the inner peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 17. Then, at the primary transfer bias rollers 14, the toner images of the respective colors formed on the photoconductor drums 21 are sequentially superimposed and transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 17 (primary transfer step).
Then, the surfaces of the photoconductor drums 21 after the primary transfer step reach respective positions facing the corresponding cleaners 25. The untransferred toner left on the photoconductor drums 21 is collected by the cleaners 25 (cleaning step).
Thereafter, the surfaces of the photoconductor drums 21 pass through the corresponding static eliminators 24, and a series of steps of image formation process on the photoconductor drums 21 is ended.
On the other hand, the intermediate transfer belt 17 on which the toner of the four colors is transferred (carried) from the photoconductor drums 21 in an overlapping manner, travels in a clockwise direction in the drawing and reaches a position facing the secondary transfer bias roller pair 18. Then, the color toner image borne on the intermediate transfer belt 17 is transferred onto the sheet P at the position facing the secondary transfer bias roller pair 18 (secondary transfer step).
Thereafter, the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 17 reaches the position of the intermediate transfer belt cleaner. Then, the untransferred toner adhering to the intermediate transfer belt 17 is collected by the intermediate transfer belt cleaner, and a series of steps of transfer process in the intermediate transfer belt 17 is ended.
The sheet P conveyed between the intermediate transfer belt 17 and the secondary transfer bias roller pair 18 (which is a secondary transfer nip) is conveyed from the sheet feeder 7 via the registration roller pair 9 and the like.
Specifically, the sheet P fed by the feed roller 8 from the sheet feeder 7 that stores the sheet P is conveyed to the conveyance roller and guided to the registration roller pair 9. When reaching the registration roller pair 9, the sheet P is conveyed toward the secondary transfer nip at an adjusted timing.
Then, the sheet P to which the full-color image has been transferred is guided to the fixing device 30 by the conveyance belt. In the fixing device 30, the toner image (color image) on the sheet P is heated and melted at a nip between a fixing roller (in which a heater as a heat source is provided) and a pressure roller, and is fixed on the sheet P.
Then, the sheet P after the fixing process is output as a sheet with an output image by an output roller pair to the outside of the image forming apparatus 1, and a series of steps of image forming process is ended.
Next, the process cartridge 20 (image forming device), the developer container 28 (consumable container), and the developer supply device 80 in the image forming apparatus will be described with reference to
The process cartridges 20Y, 20C, 20M, and 20BK have substantially the same structure, and the developer containers 28 (28Y, 28C, 28M, 28BK) and the developer supply devices 80 (80Y, 80C, 80M, 80BK) also have substantially the same structure, and thus the process cartridge, the developer container, and the developer supply device are illustrated in
As illustrated in
The photoconductor drum 21 as an image bearer is a negatively charged organic photoconductor, and is rotationally driven in a counterclockwise direction by a rotation drive mechanism.
The charger 22 is an elastic charging roller in which a medium-resistance foamed urethane layer containing a urethane resin, carbon black as conductive particles, a sulfuration agent, a foaming agent, and the like is formed in a roller shape on a core metal. As a material of the medium-resistance layer of the charger 22, a rubber material in which a conductive substance such as carbon black or a metal oxide is dispersed in urethane, ethylene-propylene-diene polyethylene (EPDM), butadiene acrylonitrile rubber (NBR), silicone rubber, isoprene rubber, or the like for resistance adjustment, or a material obtained by foaming these rubber materials can also be used. In the present embodiment, the charging roller is used as the charger 22, but a corona discharge-type wire charger can also be used as the charger 22.
The cleaner 25 is provided with a cleaning blade that is to be pressed against the photoconductor drum 21, thereby to mechanically remove and collect untransferred toner on the photoconductor drum 21. The untransferred toner collected inside the cleaner 25 is conveyed to the outside of the cleaner 25 by a conveyance coil, and is collected as waste toner inside a collection container 70 via a conveyance pipe 71.
In the developing device 23, the developing roller 23a as a developer bearer is arranged close to the photoconductor drum 21 with an opening (formed in a developing case) in between, and a development region where the photoconductor drum 21 and a magnetic brush contact with each other is formed in a part where the developing roller 23a and the photoconductor drum 21 face each other. In the developing device 23, the developer G including the toner T and carrier C (a two-component developer also including additives and the like) is stored. The developing device 23 develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor drum 21 (forms a toner image).
The developing device 23 according to the present embodiment is of a premix developing system. A new developer G (toner T and carrier C) is appropriately supplied from the developer container 28 to the inside of the developing device 23 via the developer supply device 80. The deteriorated developer G (mainly carrier C) is discharged from the outlet to the outside of the developing device 23, and is collected as a waste developer in the collection container 70 (where the waste toner described above is also collected) via the conveyance pipe 71.
Referring to
Referring to
The developer container 28 as a consumable container is attached to and detached from the developer supply device 80 (the image forming apparatus body 1) by manual operation of a user in a substantially horizontal direction as an attachment/detachment direction (see
The stirrer 286 is provided in the developer container 28 to stir the developer G as a consumable contained therein. The stirrer 286 has a flexible sheet-like blade member on a substantially plate-like rigid body, and rotates in a counterclockwise direction in
In addition, the developer container 28 has the conveying screw 285 that conveys the developer G stirred by the stirrer 286 in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the paper on which
Although not illustrated, the developer container 28 is provided with a shutter that opens and closes the discharge opening in conjunction with attachment/detachment operation to/from the developer supply device 80 (image forming apparatus body 1).
As illustrated in
In addition, the developer container 28 (consumable container) in the present embodiment is configured such that when the developer G (consumable) stored therein becomes depleted (or a state close thereto), the refill developer G (consumable) can be replenished from the refill developer container 100 (see
Hereinafter, the configuration and operations of the developing device 23 will be described in more detail.
Referring to
The developing roller 23a is configured such that a sleeve 23a2 obtained by forming a non-magnetic material such as aluminum, brass, stainless steel, or conductive resin into a cylindrical shape is rotated in a clockwise direction in
The doctor blade 23c is placed on the upstream side of the developing region to regulate the developer on the developing roller 23a to an appropriate amount.
In each of the conveying screws 23b1 to 23b3 as the three conveying members, a screw portion is wound around a shaft portion in a spiral shape. The conveying screws 23bi to 23b3 stir and mix the developer G stored in the developing device 23 is stirred and mixed while circulating in the longitudinal direction (a direction perpendicular to the surface of the paper on which
The first conveying screw 23b1 as a first conveying member is disposed so as to face the developing roller 23a, and supplies the developer G to the developing roller 23a. The second conveying screw 23b2 as a second conveying member is disposed at a position below the first conveying screw 23bi and facing the developing roller 23a, and conveys the developer G separated from the developing roller 23a (the developer G after the developing step). The third conveying screw 23b3 as a third conveying member conveys the developer G having been conveyed by the second conveying screw 23b2 and flown in via a relay portion (third relay portion 23h) to the upstream side of the first conveyance path B1 (conveyance path formed by the first conveying member).
In the present embodiment, the first conveying screw 23b1 (first conveyance path B1), the second conveying screw 23b2 (second conveyance path B2), the third conveying screw 23b3 (third conveyance path B3), and the discharge conveying screw 23d (discharge conveying member) to be described later are installed so that the rotation axis direction thereof is parallel to the horizontal direction, similarly to the developing roller 23a.
The three conveying screws 23b1 to 23b3, together with the developing roller 23a and the discharge conveying screw 23d to be described later, are rotationally driven in rotation directions indicated by arrows in
More specifically, the conveyance path (first conveyance path B1) formed by the first conveying screw 23b1 (first conveying member), the conveyance path (second conveyance path B2) formed by the second conveying screw 23b2 (second conveying member), and the conveyance path (third conveyance path B3) formed by the third conveying screw 23b3 (third conveying member) are isolated from one another by wall portions. The downstream side of the third conveyance path B3 and the upstream side of the first conveyance path B1 communicate with each other via a first relay portion 23f. The downstream side of the first conveyance path B1 and the upstream side of the third conveyance path B3 communicate with each other via a second relay portion 23g (drop path). The downstream side of the second conveyance path B2 and the upstream side of the third conveyance path B3 communicate with each other via the third relay portion 23h that serves as a relay portion. The developer G is delivered to the different conveyance paths by the relay portions 23f, 23g, and 23h.
Referring to
With such a configuration, a circulation path for circulating the developer G in the longitudinal direction in the developing device 23 is formed by the three conveyance paths B1 to B3 (conveying screws 23b1 to 23b3).
Specifically, referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
The discharge path B4 is formed to extend in the longitudinal direction at a position facing the developing roller 23a with the first conveyance path B1 in between. In the discharge path B4, the discharge conveying screw 23d as a discharge conveying member is installed. The discharge conveying screw 23d (discharge conveying member) conveys the developer G having been discharged from the discharge port 23m in the longitudinal direction in the discharge path B4, and flows the developer G to the outside of the developing device 23 from an outlet (not illustrated) formed in the discharge path B4 on the downstream side of the conveyance direction. The discharge conveying screw 23d (discharge conveying member) is formed by spirally winding a screw portion around a shaft portion, and is installed with the rotation axis direction thereof parallel to the horizontal direction, similarly to the three conveying screws 23b1 to 23b3.
The excess developer G having been discharged to the discharge path B4 is conveyed by the discharge conveying screw 23d in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the paper on which
As described above, the carrier C (developer G) contaminated and deteriorated by the base resin of the toner T and external additives is automatically discharged to the outside of the developing device 23, thereby to suppress deterioration of image quality even with a lapse of time.
As described above, in the present embodiment, the developing device 23 of premix developing system is used, so that the deterioration speed of the carrier C in the developing device 23 becomes apparently delayed, and the replacement cycle of the developer G can be extended.
Hereinafter, with reference to
As described above with reference to
The developer G as a consumable is contained in the developer container 28. The developer G (consumable) is gradually consumed by repeating the developing step (image forming process) described above with reference to
When the developer container 28 is in the end-of-toner state as described above, a normal developing process (image forming process) cannot be performed as it is. Therefore, it is necessary to attach another developer container 28 sufficiently filled with the developer G to the developer supply device 80 (image forming apparatus body 1) instead of the empty developer container 28.
However, as described above with reference to
Specifically, the developer container 28 is a consumable container (first container) that is installed in the image forming apparatus body 1 as an equipment body and is capable of supplying the refill developer G (consumable) contained in the refill developer container 100 (refill consumable container). In the present embodiment, the housing of the developer container 28 is formed of a highly rigid resin material or the like.
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
In addition, as illustrated in
Specifically, referring to
When the developer container 28 is detached (taken out) from the image forming apparatus body 1 (the developer supply device 80), the ID chip 281 (the information storage device 280) and the body-side terminal 81 are disconnected from each other in conjunction with the detachment operation.
The information stored in advance in the ID chip 281 (information storage device 280) includes information such as the date of manufacture, production lot number, color, type, amount, expiration date, and composition of the developer G (toner T and carrier C) contained in the developer container 28, and the date of manufacture, destination, manufacturing factory, presence or absence of recycling of the developer container 28. The information is sent to the controller of the image forming apparatus body 1 via the body-side terminal 81 (see
As illustrated in
Specifically, the holder 28a is formed in a substantially columnar shape so as to protrude from the side surface of the developer container 28, and has a male screw portion formed on the outer peripheral surface thereof. On the other hand, a female screw portion to engage with the male screw portion of the holder 28a is formed in a substantially cylindrical case formed in the information storage device 280. With such a configuration, the information storage device 280 is held by the holder 28a through screw engagement, and the information storage device 280 is removed from the holder 28a through screw disengagement.
In order to prevent variations in the posture of the information storage device 280 in the rotation direction (screwing direction) held by the holder 28a through screw engagement, it is preferable to provide a stopper that determines the posture of the information storage device 280 at the holder 28a in the rotation direction.
On the other hand, the refill developer container 100 is a refill consumable container (second container) that can supply the refill developer G (consumable) contained therein to the developer container 28 (consumable container) installed in the image forming apparatus body 1 as the equipment body. In the present exemplary embodiment, the refill developer container 100 can be formed into a bottle shape from a resin material, a glass material, a metal material, a paper material, or the like having high rigidity. Otherwise, the refill developer container 100 does not need to have so high rigidity as compared with the developer container 28, and thus can be formed into a bag shape from polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polystyrene (PS), or the like.
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
In the present exemplary embodiment, the refill information storage device 110 mainly includes an ID chip 111 that functions as a main part of the refill information storage device, and a substantially cylindrical case that holds ID chip 111 in an exposed state.
As illustrated in
Specifically, the refill holder 100a is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape (with the discharge port 100a) so as to protrude from the ceiling surface of the refill developer container 100, and has a male screw portion formed on the outer peripheral surface thereof. On the other hand, a female screw portion to engage with the male screw portion of the refill holder 10a is formed in a substantially cylindrical case formed in the refill information storage device 110. With such a configuration, the refill information storage device 110 is held by the refill holder 100a through screw engagement, and the refill information storage device 110 is removed from the refill holder 100a through screw disengagement.
According to the present exemplary embodiment, the discharge port 100al is formed in the refill holder 100a. Accordingly, the discharge port 100al is opened and closed in conjunction with attachment and detachment of the refill information storage device 110 to and from the refill holder 100a.
Specifically, when the refill information storage device 110 is attached to the refill holder 100a through screw engagement, the discharge port 100al is sealed (closed) by the refill information storage device 110 to prevent leakage of the developer G from the refill developer container 100. On the other hand, when the developer G is discharged from the refill developer container 100, the refill information storage device 110 is removed from the refill holder 100a through screw disengagement to open the discharge port 100a1.
By providing the discharge port 100al in the refill holder 100a as described above, the refill developer container 100 can be made compact as compared with the case where the discharge port 100al is provided separately from the refill holder 100a.
The information storage device 280 and the refill information storage device 110 have substantially the same shape. The holder 28a and the refill holder 100a (a portion other than the discharge port 100a 1 and functioning as a holder) have substantially the same shape.
Therefore, the holder 28a is configured such that the refill information storage device 110 that stores information on the refill developer G (consumable) and is removed from the refill developer container 100 can be attached to the holder 28a, in place of the information storage device 280.
Similarly, the refill holder 100a is configured such that the information storage device 280 can be attached to the refill holder 100a, in place of the refill information storage device 110.
That is, the information storage device 280 installed in the holder 28a of the developer container 28 in the image forming apparatus body 1 and the refill information storage device 110 installed in the refill holder 100a of the refill developer container 100 can be alternately replaced. As illustrated in
Referring to
The information stored in advance in the refill information storage device 110 (ID chip 111) includes information such as the date of manufacture, production lot number, color, type, amount, expiration date, and composition of the developer G (the developer G contained in the refill developer container 100) newly supplied to the developer container 28, and information such as the date of manufacture, destination, manufacturing factory, and presence or absence of recycling of the refill developer container 100. The information is sent to the controller of the image forming apparatus body 1 via the body-side terminal 81 (see
On the other hand, as illustrated in
In this way, when the empty refill developer container 100 is recycled, the information storage device 280 can also be recycled.
Hereinafter, with reference to
First, when the developer container 28 attached to the image forming apparatus body 1 enters in an end-of-toner state, the developer container 28 is removed from the image forming apparatus body 1.
Then, in the removed developer container 28, the cap 283 is removed from the supply port 28b and the information storage device 280 is removed from the holder 28a. Before and after such an operation, in the refill developer container 100 prepared in advance, the refill information storage device 110 is removed from the refill holder 100a to open the discharge port 100al.
Thereafter, the discharge port 100a 1 of the refill developer container 100 is fitted to the supply port 28b of the developer container 28 to supply the developer G in the refill developer container 100 to the developer container 28. Upon completion of the supply, the refill developer container 100 is removed from the supply port 28b, and the supply port 28b is sealed with the cap 283. Then, the developer container 28 completely refilled with the developer G is attached to the image forming apparatus body 1.
The information storage device 280 is attached to the refill holder 100a of the empty refill developer container 100 to seal the discharge port 100a1.
As described above, the consumable supply method according to the present embodiment includes:
(1) removing the refill information storage device 110 storing the information on the refill developer G (consumable) from the refill developer container 100 (refill consumable container);
(2) removing the information storage device 280 storing the information on the developer G (consumable) contained in the developer container 28 (consumable container) to be exchanged with the image forming apparatus body 1 (equipment body) from the developer container 28; and
(3) attaching the refill information storage device 110 removed from the refill developer container 100 to the developer container 28, as an information storage device, in place of the information storage device 280 removed from the developer container 28.
This allows the image forming apparatus body 1 to recognize the information on the refill developer G supplied from the refill developer container 1N to the developer container 28, so that it is unlikely to cause a defect that the image forming apparatus 1 is operated in a state in which the developer G of a different type such as a different color is erroneously supplied to the developer container 28, a defect that the image forming apparatus body 1 cannot be adjusted in accordance with the characteristics of the supplied refill developer G, and the like.
The consumable supply method according to the present exemplary embodiment includes attaching the information storage device 280 removed from the developer container 28 (consumable container) to the refill developer container 100 (refill consumable container), in place of the refill information storage device 110 removed from the refill developer container 100.
This makes it possible to increase the recycling efficiency of the refill developer container 100 that has become empty after the refilling and the information storage device 280.
The three steps (1) to (3) described earlier including the above-described steps do not indicate the order of performing the steps, and the steps can be performed in any possible order.
As described above, the consumable supply method according to the present embodiment includes: (1) removing the refill information storage device 110 storing the information on the refill developer G (consumable) from the refill developer container 100 (refill consumable container); (2) removing the information storage device 280 storing the information on the developer G (consumable) contained in the developer container 28 (consumable container) to be exchanged with the image forming apparatus body 1 (equipment body) from the developer container 28; and (3) attaching the refill information storage device 110 removed from the refill developer container 100 to the developer container 28, as an information storage device, in place of the information storage device 280 removed from the developer container 28.
This allows the image forming apparatus body 1 (equipment body) to recognize information on the refill developer G (consumable) supplied from the refill developer container 100 (refill consumable container) to the developer container 28 (consumable container).
In the present embodiment, the developer container 28 (consumable container) and the refill developer container 100 (refill consumable container) contain the developer G (two-component developer) as a consumable. However, the consumable container, the refill consumable container, and the consumable supply method according to the embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto, and may be, for example, a consumable container in which a one-component developer (toner), ink, food, machine oil, or the like is stored as a consumable, a refill consumable container in which such a consumable for refilling is stored, and a consumable supply method for supplying such a consumable.
In the present embodiment, the consumable container is the developer container 28. However, the consumable container according to the embodiments of the present disclosure is not limited to the developer container, and may be, for example, a developing device, a process cartridge, an ink cartridge, or another storage container (e.g., bin, mechanical container, or the like).
In the present embodiment, the information storage device 280 and the refill information storage device 110 are held in the holder 28a or the refill holder 100a by screw engagement. However, a method for holding the information storage device and the refill information storage device is not limited to the above. For example, the information storage device and the refill information storage device can be held in the holder or the refill holder by snap-on pins.
In the present exemplary embodiment, the information storage device 280 and the refill information storage device 110 are configured by the ID chips 281 and 111 and the case. However, the information storage device and the refill information storage device are not limited to this configuration. For example, the information storage device and the refill information storage device can be configured only by ID chips.
In the present exemplary embodiment, the contact-type ID chips 281 and 111 are used as the main parts (information storage media) of the information storage device 280 and refill information storage device 110. However, the main parts (information storage media) of the information storage device and refill information storage device are not limited to thereto, and for example, integrated circuit (IC) chips, IC tags, non-contact radiofrequency identifications (RFIDs), or the like can be used instead.
Note that embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to the above-described embodiments and it is apparent that the above-described embodiments can be appropriately modified within the scope of the technical idea of the present disclosure in addition to what is suggested in the above-described embodiments. Further, the number, position, shape, and so forth of components are not limited to those of the present embodiment, and may be any number, position, shape, and so forth that are suitable for implementing the present disclosure.
Numerous additional modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that, within the scope of the above teachings, the present disclosure may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. With some embodiments having thus been described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the scope of the present disclosure and appended claims, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present disclosure and appended claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
2021-067622 | Apr 2021 | JP | national |