Cartridge Loading Device for a Copying Machine

The present invention relates to a cartridge loading device built into a copying machine, more particularly, to a device for loading a cartridge into a copying machine capable of identifying the condition and color of toner in the loaded developer bath or cartridge.

Conventionally, either a developer bath or toner cartridge can be freely loaded into and unloaded from a copying machine. In addition, when performing a color copying operation by applying toners other than black, such as red, blue, and yellow, the operator can easily replace the unnecessary developer bath or toner cartridge with one containing the desired color. However, when operating any of the conventional copying machines using the method mentioned above, the operator is unable to easily identify the condition and kind of loaded developer bath or color toner cartridge.

In the light of such a disadvantage as described above, the present invention aims at providing a cartridge loading device having the capability of allowing the operator to clearly identify both the condition and the color of either developer bath or color toner cartridge loaded into a copying machine so that the operator can be prevented from incorrectly performing a copying operation using a wrong color and, in addition, the cartridge loading device embodied by the present invention automatically sets all the copying conditions in accordance with the color toners selected.

Briefly, a copying machine incorporating a cartridge loading device embodied by the present invention comprises the following: a lamp illuminating the color display unit; a switch that turns itself on when any of plural kinds of developer baths or color toner cartridges is loaded into the copying machine; and a sensor means that receives reflected light from the color display unit when the unit is illuminated by the said lamp.

Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparatus from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only and thus are not limitative of the present invention and wherein:

FIG. 1 is the enlarged perspective view of the main part, in which the drawn-out developer bath is shown after opening the external cover of the copying machine embodied by the present invention;

FIG. 2 is the control panel of the copying machine embodied by the present invention; and

FIGS. 3 and 4 are respectively simplified configurations of the main part of the coping machine reflecting the preferred embodiments of the present invention.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, the preferred embodiments of the present invention are described below. FIG. 1 is an enlarged perspective view of the main part of the copying machine embodied by the present invention, from which the developer bath 3 is drawn out after opening the external cover 1 of the copying machine. The control panel 2 is provided in front of the draft-setter 1 on the upper surface of the copying machine. The control panel 2 is provided with a toner depth adjustment knob 2a, copied-paper number indicator 2b, a transparent window 2c, copying-paper number setter 2d, clear key 2e, and the copy-start button 2f, respectively. The color display unit 3a is installed in a position opposite from the transparent window 2c of the copying machine and at the upper end of the box-like developer bath 3, while the developer bath 3 is loaded in the periphery of the sensitizing drum 4. The color display unit 3a is composed of a selected transparent material of the same color as that of the toner stored inside and is capable of softening permanent light from the lamp 5 (to be described later on) so that there is no incident light glare when the operator visually checks through the window 2. As shown in the lateral view of FIG. 3, when the developer bath 3 is loaded, the lamp 5 illuminating the color display 3a and sensor means 6 that first receives reflected light from the color display unit 3a illuminated by this lamp and then outputs such signals for establishing the copying process condition such as exposure and developing bias voltage in response to the incoming reflected light, are respectively installed in positions immediately below the transparent window 2c of the copying machine. The copying machine uses a sensor means 6 that varies its own sensitivity in accordance with the colors of the reflected light. For example, when the color display unit 3a reflects black light, the sensor 6 delivers maximum output, while the output level lowers in the order of red and blue respectively. The developer bath 3 is loaded inside the copying machine with its convex part 3c coupled to the concave part 7 of the copying machine as shown in FIG. 4. This causes the convex part 3f come into contact with contact 8 a, thus causing microswitch 8 to turn the lamp 5 on. A projecting flat board 3d is horizontally installed inside the developer bath 3, while spongy-like cleaning member 3e is fixed on the bottom part of the projecting flat board 3d. The cleaning member 3e moves in contact with the surfaces of lamp 5 and sensor 6 so that these surfaces can be cleaned while the developer bath 3 is in either a loaded or unloaded condition. The color display unit 3a inside the developer bath 3 contains the same color as that of the toner internally stored. However, independent of the stored toner color, the convex part 3f that activates the microswitch 8 constantly remains in the same position in relation to each toner color in the developer bath 3. The operation of the copying machine comprising the above configuration is described below.

Before starting a copying operation, a developer bath 3 containing the desired color toner is first loaded into the copying machine. This causes the convex part 3f to come into contact with contact 8a to activate microswitch 8 so that lamp 5 can light. When lamp 5 lights, light from this lamp partly passes thorough the color display unit 3a composed of selected semi-transparent material having the same color as that of the stored toner, thus allowing the operator to correctly identify the internal color through the window 2c. As a result, since the operator can confirm the condition and kind of loaded developer bath 3, he will not perform a copying operation using a wrong color. Light reflected by the color display unit 3a illuminated from lamp 5 is partly received by sensor 6. The output level from sensor 6 is variable according to the color content of the reflected light, i.e. by the toner color. The built-in microcomputer correctly identifies the color of toner in the developer bath 3 by referring to the output level from sensor 6 even when changing the toner color, and then determines the optimum exposure value suited for the color toner and also the optimum condition such as the developing bias voltage needed for correctly performing the copying process.

The above preferred embodiment uses a copying machine storing the desired color toner inside the developer bath 3. The present invention also covers a copying machine that loads the toner cartridge separately from the developer bath. Also, with reference to the preferred embodiment described above, a microswitch 8 is provided, which turns itself on when the developer bath 3 is loaded. This switch may also be of a non-contact photoswitch type such as a photosensor.

As is clear from the foregoing description, since the preferred embodiments of the present invention allow the operator to identify the condition of the loaded developer bath or toner cartridge as well the colors, the operator will rarely perform an incorrect copying operation through use of a wrong color. In addition, the preferred embodiments securely provide the advantages that, on receipt of the sensor output, the CPU automatically provides both the optimum exposure value suitable for the desired color toner and the optimum condition, such as the developing bias voltage, needed for correctly performing the copying process.

While only certain embodiments of the present invention have been described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as claimed.