JPH11109834A - Supply cartridge and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) Abstract: A recording medium and an image visualizing agent can be supplied without discarding a main part having an image forming function. A supply cartridge (13) for storing a sheet-shaped recording medium and an image visualizing agent in an amount corresponding to the number of stored recording media is provided.
Is mounted on the image forming apparatus 1 and the recording medium and the image visualizing agent are supplied to the image forming apparatus 1. Accordingly, the time when the recording medium is used up and the time when the image visualizing agent is used up are set at about the same time, and the number of replenishment of the recording medium and the image visualizing agent is reduced. Further, by leaving the main parts having the image forming function in the image forming apparatus 1 when replenishing the recording medium and the image visualizing agent, the economical loss is reduced, and the amount of waste to be discarded is reduced.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a supply cartridge for supplying consumables to an image forming apparatus and an image forming apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the rapid spread of personal computers, the demand for image forming apparatuses as output devices for personal computers has increased. In particular, the demand for personal users is remarkable. The image forming apparatus for personal users is required to be inexpensive, compact, and easy to handle as well as home appliances.

Various proposals have been made for cost reduction and miniaturization. Regarding ease of handling, in the case of an ink jet printer, in particular, for the purpose of facilitating maintenance, a print head and an ink tank are assembled as a single unit to constitute a head / ink cartridge, and the inside of the ink tank is formed. When the ink has been used up, the entire head / ink cartridge is replaced.

In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus,
For example, JP-A-5-19541, JP-A-8-16
As described in JP 0841 and JP-A-8-179629, a process cartridge is constructed by assembling a photoreceptor and a process unit including a developing device, and when the developer of the developing device is used up. A proposal has been made to replace the entire process cartridge.

[0005]

As described above, in an image forming apparatus using an ink or a developer as an image visualizing agent,
The storage amount of the image visualizing agent stored in a so-called supply-type cartridge (hereinafter, referred to as a supply cartridge) such as a head / ink cartridge or a process cartridge is limited.

On the other hand, a head in an ink-jet printer (image forming apparatus), a developing unit and other process units (charger, cleaning unit, etc.) in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus are main parts of the image forming apparatus. The life of the main parts is set to a life close to the product life of the image forming apparatus. That is, the supply cartridge conventionally used is a mixture of main parts and an image visualizing agent as a consumable.
In such a supply cartridge, when the image visualizing agent is used up, the main parts which still have a life are discarded, which is very uneconomical. It also has a serious impact on garbage disposal, which has become a social problem in recent years.

The present invention enables replenishment of only a recording medium and an image visualizing agent without wasteful disposal of main parts.
Further, a supply cartridge and an image forming apparatus capable of facilitating handling of consumable supplies are provided.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a supply cartridge for storing a predetermined number of sheet-shaped recording media in a stacked state and supplying the recording media to an image forming unit of an image forming apparatus. Is formed, and an image visualizing agent for visualizing an image on the recording medium in the image forming unit is stored in accordance with the number of stored recording media, and the image visualizing agent is stored in the image forming unit. And an image visualizing agent storage chamber in which an image visualizing agent supply port to be supplied to the unit is formed.

Therefore, when the recording medium is used up, the image visualizing agent disappears almost at the same time. When the supply cartridge is replaced, the recording medium and the image visualizing agent can be supplied at the same time while the main parts having the image forming function remain in the image forming apparatus.

[0010] The supply cartridge according to claim 2 is
According to the first aspect of the present invention, the recording medium and the image visualizing agent are combined with each other having physical characteristics compatible with image forming conditions.

Therefore, even if there is a difference in the paper quality of the recording medium, an image visualizing agent suitable for the recording medium can be supplied to the image forming apparatus.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a supply cartridge.
The invention according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a display unit for displaying a type of the recording medium stored in the recording medium storage chamber.

Therefore, it is possible to recognize the type of the recording medium stored in the recording medium storage chamber.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a supply cartridge.
The invention according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a display unit for displaying the type of the recording medium stored in the recording medium storage chamber and the type of the image visualization agent stored in the image visualization agent storage chamber.

Therefore, it is possible to recognize the type of the recording medium stored in the recording medium storage chamber together with the type of the image visualizing agent corresponding thereto.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a supply cartridge comprising:
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the sheet supply port of the recording medium storage chamber is provided with an opening / closing door which is urged in the closing direction and is opened at the time of sheet supply.

Therefore, it is possible to reduce the degree to which the recording medium absorbs moisture when paper is not fed.

A supply cartridge according to claim 6,
In the first, second, third, fourth or fifth aspect of the present invention, the recording medium storage chamber is provided with a pressing plate for pressing the outermost recording medium of the laminated recording medium over a wide range.

Therefore, even if the thickness of the recording medium accommodated therein is smaller than the size of the recording medium storage chamber in the direction of the thickness of the recording medium, even if the thickness of the recording medium is smaller, Is prevented by the presser plate. Therefore, even when the orientation of the recording medium storage chamber is maintained so that the recording medium is in the vertical posture, the recording media can be maintained in a stacked state, and the occurrence of a bending habit can be suppressed.

[0020] The supply cartridge according to claim 7 is
In the invention of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6,
A tray for loading a recording medium is formed on the outer wall surface of the recording medium storage chamber.

Therefore, one surface of the supply cartridge can be used as a tray.

The supply cartridge according to claim 8 is
In the invention according to claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7, the image visualizing agent storage chamber is divided into a plurality of chambers corresponding to different colors of the image visualizing agent.

Therefore, when the supply cartridge is mounted on the color image forming apparatus, the image visualizing agent can be supplied without mixing colors.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus, comprising: a cartridge holding portion for detachably holding the supply cartridge according to the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh or eighth aspect;
The recording medium transport path includes a transport member that transports the recording medium fed from the supply cartridge, and an image forming unit disposed in the recording medium transport path.

Therefore, the supply cartridge is detachably held by the cartridge holding portion. The recording medium fed from the supply cartridge is conveyed along a recording medium conveyance path, and an image is formed by an image forming unit in the conveyance process. When the recording medium has been used up, the supply cartridge in the cartridge holding unit is replaced, so that the recording medium and the image visualizing agent are simultaneously replenished while the main parts having the image forming function remain in the image forming apparatus. It becomes possible.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the ninth aspect of the present invention, the cartridge holding portion is displaceably held in the main body of the image forming device so as to open and close the upper space of the image forming portion. .

Therefore, when the cartridge holding section is displaced in the opening direction, the upper space of the image forming section is opened, so that maintenance of the image forming section can be facilitated.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the ninth or tenth aspect of the present invention, the end of the recording medium transport path is opened toward the end of the tray of the supply cartridge according to the seventh aspect. I have.

Therefore, the recording medium on which an image has been formed by the image forming section can be discharged onto a tray formed on one surface of the supply cartridge.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the ninth, tenth, or eleventh aspect of the invention, the cartridge holding unit detects the display content of the display unit of the supply cartridge according to the third or fourth aspect. It has a part.

Therefore, when the supply cartridge is mounted on the cartridge holding unit, the type of the supply cartridge can be recognized on the image forming unit side by detecting the display unit of the supply cartridge by the display detection unit.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image forming apparatus according to the ninth, tenth, eleventh or twelfth aspect of the present invention, wherein And a paper feed unit for drawing out the recording medium.

Therefore, when the supply cartridge is replaced, it is possible to leave the sheet feeding section on the image forming apparatus side. Thus, the configuration of the supply cartridge can be simplified, and the number of waste components on the supply cartridge side can be reduced.

[0034]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing a state where a supply cartridge is mounted on an image forming apparatus, FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a process of mounting a supply cartridge on an image forming apparatus, and FIG. 3 is a state showing a state where the supply cartridge is mounted on the image forming apparatus. FIG. 4 is a front view showing a state where a supply cartridge is mounted on the image forming apparatus, FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state where the supply cartridge is mounted on the image forming apparatus, and FIG. 6 is an internal structure of the supply cartridge. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the overall structure of the supply cartridge, FIG. 8A is a perspective view showing the supply cartridge when viewed from diagonally below, and showing the mounted state of the display unit.
(B) is a plan view showing a display unit provided in the supply cartridge, FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a relationship between the display unit and the display detection unit, FIG. 10 is a circuit diagram showing a detection element of the display detection unit, and FIG.
1A is a perspective view of the supply cartridge viewed obliquely from below, showing a mounted state of another display unit. FIG. 11B is a perspective view of FIG.
FIG.
FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing the display state and display contents of the display unit.

1 to 5, reference numeral 1 denotes an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. Main body 2 of this image forming apparatus 1
Has a box-like shape with an open upper surface, and a cartridge holding portion 3 is held at the upper portion thereof so as to be rotatable up and down around a rear edge when viewed from the front.

The image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is for full color, and has a plurality of image forming sections 4 for forming yellow, magenta, cyan, and black images as shown in FIGS. These image forming units 4 are arranged in a horizontal line along the recording medium transport path 5. The recording medium transport path 5 is defined in a shape that forms a wide U-shaped transport path in which an intermediate portion is along the arrangement direction of the image forming units 4 and the upstream side and the downstream side are bent upward. , A plurality of transfer rollers 6, a plurality of transport rollers 7 as transport members, and a fixing roller 7a are arranged. Further, a slit-shaped paper discharge port 5a is formed at one end on the downstream side of the recording medium transport path 5, as shown in FIG.

The image forming section 4 according to the present embodiment includes a photosensitive member 8, a developing device 9, and an L provided inside the photosensitive member 8.
An ED array exposure device 10 is provided. The photoreceptor 8 has a three-layer structure in which a transparent electrode and a photoconductive layer are formed on the surface of a cylindrical transparent support. The developing device 9 has a magnetic roller 11 and a non-magnetic conductive sleeve 12 which is fitted around the outer periphery and rotates to convey toner as an image visualizing agent. The operation of the image forming unit 4 of this type is already known, so that its operation will be briefly described.
A developing bias is applied between the photoconductor 8 and the photoconductive layer of the photoconductor 8, the conductive toner is conveyed onto the photoconductor 8 by the rotation of the conductive sleeve 12, and the photosensitive toner is exposed by the LED array exposing device 10. A toner image is formed on the surface of the body 8.

The cartridge holding section 3 has a mounting plate 14 on which the supply cartridge 13 is mounted, supporting walls 15 and 16 rising from both ends thereof, and a guide groove 17 arranged near these supporting walls 15. The mounting plate 14 has an elongated connection opening 18 extending from the front side toward the back.
These connection openings 18 are opposed to a toner receiving port 9 a formed on the upper surface of the toner container of the developing device 9. The front edges 19 on the front side of the connection openings 18 are bent downward in a U-shape to allow the supply cartridge 13 to be attached and detached. A wide notch 16a is formed in the upper edge of the right support wall 16. The main body 2 of the image forming apparatus 1 has a holding mechanism (not shown) for holding the cartridge holding unit 3 in an upwardly opened position and a clamp (FIG. 9) for holding the cartridge holding unit 3 in a downwardly closed position. (Not shown).

As shown in FIG. 6, the supply cartridge 13 mounted on the mounting plate 14 of the cartridge holding section 3 has a flat case 20. The case 20 has a large number of sheet-shaped recording media. A recording medium storage chamber 22 for storing the storage medium 21 in a stacked state and a plurality of image visualizing agent storage chambers 23 disposed below the storage medium storage chamber 22 are formed. These image visualizing agent storage chambers 23 store toners, each being an image visualizing agent having a different color, and have an image visualizing agent supply port 24 formed on the lower surface thereof. These image visualizing agent supply ports 2
Reference numeral 4 denotes a position which is arranged at a position facing the toner receiving port 9a of the developing device 9 and whose opening surface is sealed by means such as sticking a film. Visualizer supply port 24
It is released by peeling it off. The amount of the image visualizing agent stored in each image visualizing agent storage room 23 is stored in the recording medium storage room 22 based on the average consumption per recording medium when visualizing an image at an average image density. The number is determined according to the number of recording media 21 to be recorded.

The recording medium storage chamber 22 has a fulcrum 2
A bottom plate 26 supported on the recording medium 21 so as to be rotatable about the center 5, a separation claw 27 for pressing both corners at the leading end of the recording medium 21 in the paper feeding direction (right side in FIG. 6), and a spring (see FIG. (Not shown) or the recording medium 2 with an urging force by its own weight.
A press plate 28 is provided to press the plate 1 toward the bottom plate 26. The separation claw 27 is formed at the tip of an arm (not shown) supported on both inner side surfaces of the case 20 so as to be vertically rotatable. Further, a window 2 for inserting a sheet feed roller 38 described later inward is provided on the separation claw 27 side on the upper surface of the case 20.
9 is formed, and an opening / closing door 30a for opening and closing the sheet feeding port 30 facing the notch 16a of the cartridge holding unit 3 is rotatably provided on the side surface on the separation claw 27 side. The bottom plate 26 is urged toward the window 29 by a spring (not shown), and a pad 31 made of a material having a high coefficient of friction is provided on the upper surface on the free end side. Further, guide ribs 32 are formed on both ends of the case 20 so as to be removably inserted into the guide grooves 17 of the cartridge holding portion 3. Further, a tray 33 is formed on the upper surface of the case 20.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the main body 2 of the image forming apparatus 1 is provided with a paper feed unit 34 for pulling out the recording medium 21 in the supply cartridge 13. The paper feed unit 34 includes a drive shaft 35 having one end connected to a motor (not shown) and rotatably supported by the main body 2, and a roller shaft 37 receiving the rotation of the drive shaft 35 via a belt 36.
And a paper feed roller 38 fixedly provided on the roller shaft 37 and inserted into the window 29 of the supply cartridge 13.
And a cover 39 that rotatably supports both ends of the roller shaft 37 and covers a part of the outer periphery of the paper feed roller 38. The main body 2 of the image forming apparatus 1 includes a paper feed roller 3
When the cover 39 is rotated counterclockwise in a direction in which the cover 8 is inserted into the window 29 of the supply cartridge 13, a clamp (not shown) for fixing the cover 39 at that position is provided.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 8 (a),
On the bottom surface of the supply cartridge 13, there is provided a display unit 40 indicating the type of the recording medium 21 and the image visualizing agent contained in the supply cartridge 13. A display detection unit 41 for detecting the display content of the display unit 40 is provided with a cartridge. It is provided on the holding unit 3. As shown in FIGS. 8B and 9, the display unit 40 has eight identification plates 42 supported so that a reflective surface and a non-reflective surface selectively appear on the surface. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the reference numeral 41 has a plurality of reflection-type optical sensors 43 arranged to face the identification plates 42 respectively. These optical sensors 43 irradiate light from the light emitting elements 43a toward the identification plate 42, and
The reflected light from 2 enters the light receiving element 43b. Therefore, the optical sensor 43 outputs a detection signal corresponding to 8-bit data depending on whether or not the reflecting surfaces of the eight discriminating plates 42 face the front. The display unit 40 may be provided on an end face of the case 20 as shown in FIG. In this case, the display detection unit 41 is arranged on the cartridge holding unit 3 so as to be located at a portion facing the display unit 40.

As described above, the display unit 40 displays which discrimination plate 4
The type of the supply cartridge 13 is displayed depending on whether 2 is selected and the reflection surface is directed to the front surface, and an example thereof will be described with reference to FIG. In the column of identification display in FIG. 12, a white mark indicates an identification plate 42 with the reflection surface facing the surface, and a black solid mark indicates the identification plate 42 with the non-reflection surface facing the surface. The type of the recording medium 21 (plain paper, high image quality, OHP), the type of the image visualizing agent, and the storage amount of the recording medium 21 can be known from the detected 8-bit data.
The recording medium 21 and the image visualizing agent housed in one supply cartridge 13 are combined with each other having physical characteristics suitable for image forming conditions. For example, when the recording medium 21 is plain paper, an A type image visualizing agent is stored, and when the recording medium 21 is for OHP, a C type image visualizing agent is stored.

In such a configuration, the image forming apparatus 1
When the supply cartridge 13 is mounted on the cover 3, as shown in FIG.
9 in a clockwise direction, the cartridge holding portion 3 is turned so that the edge on the front side is raised, and in this state, the guide rib 32 of the supply cartridge 13 is turned into the guide groove 17 of the cartridge holding portion 3 as shown in FIG. Then, as shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 4, and FIG. 5, the cartridge holding portion 3 is rotated downward and fixed by a clamp. As a result, the image visualizing agent supply port 24 is connected to the toner receiving port 9a of the developing device 9, and the film is peeled off to form the image visualizing agent storage chamber 2.
The image visualizing agent in 3 is supplied to the developing device 9. Thereafter, the cover 39 is rotated counterclockwise about the drive shaft 35 and fixed by a clamp. In this state, the paper feed roller 38 is inserted into the window 29 of the supply cartridge 13, and the bottom plate 26 urged upward presses the uppermost recording medium 21 against the paper feed roller 38.

In this state, when an operation for starting printing is performed, the image forming section 4 forms a toner image on the photosensitive member 8 as described above, and drives the paper feed roller 38 in synchronization with the image forming process. Accordingly, the recording medium 21 in the supply cartridge 13 is transported to the image forming unit 4 via the recording medium transport path 5. At this time, the opening / closing door 30a, which has been urged in the closing direction by the urging force of the spring, is pushed by the leading end of the recording medium 21 pulled out by the paper feed roller 38, and is opened in the opening direction as shown by a virtual line in FIG. Open to the public.

The toner image formed on the photosensitive member 8 of each image forming section 4 is transferred to the recording medium 21 thus fed by the transfer roller 6, and the transferred image is fixed by the fixing roller 7a. You. The fixed recording medium 21 is further conveyed to the supply cartridge 1 through the discharge port 5a.
The paper is discharged to a tray 33 formed on the upper surface of the printer 3.

When the recording medium 21 is used up, the supply cartridge 13 is replaced since the image visualizing agent runs out almost at the same time. In this case, since the recording medium 21 and the image visualizing agent can be supplied at the same time, the number of times of supply of consumables can be reduced. Further, since main parts having an image forming function such as the photoconductor 8 and the developing device 9 can be left in the image forming apparatus 1, economical loss is reduced and the amount of waste to be discarded can be reduced.

The recording medium 21 stored in one supply cartridge 13 includes plain paper, high-quality
For example, the recording medium 21 and the image visualizing agent are combined with each other having physical properties matching the image forming conditions. An image visualizing agent suitable for the medium 21 can be supplied to the image forming apparatus 1. As described above, the type of the supply cartridge 13 differs depending on the recording medium 21 and the image visualizing agent to be stored, but the type of the supply cartridge 13 can be identified by looking at the display unit 40. Further, since the cartridge holding unit 3 of the image forming apparatus 1 is provided with the display detecting unit 41 for detecting the display content of the display unit 40, the type of the supply cartridge 13 can be recognized on the image forming unit 4 side. it can. Control for automatically changing the image forming conditions of the image forming unit 4 based on this recognition is also possible.

Further, the paper feed port 30 of the recording medium storage chamber 22
Is provided with an opening / closing door 30a which is urged in the closing direction and is opened when paper is fed, so that the degree of moisture absorption of the recording medium 21 can be reduced by closing the opening / closing door 30a when paper is not fed. Can be.

Further, the recording medium storage chamber 22 is provided with a pressing plate 28 for pressing the recording medium 21 of the outermost layer of the laminated recording medium 21 over a wide range, so that recording in the thickness direction of the recording medium 21 is performed. Even in a state where the stacking thickness of the recording medium 21 stored in the medium storage chamber 22 is smaller than the size of the medium storage chamber 22, the movement of the recording medium 21 in the stacking direction can be prevented by the pressing plate 28. it can. Therefore, even when the orientation of the recording medium storage chamber 22 is maintained such that the recording medium 21 is in the vertical posture, the recording medium 21 can be maintained in a stacked state, and the occurrence of a bending habit can be suppressed.

Although the bottom plate 26 in this embodiment is rotatably supported, a bottom plate urged toward the paper feed roller 38 is provided while maintaining a posture substantially parallel to the bottom surface of the recording medium storage chamber 22. As a result, the recording medium 21
Can be used also as a holding plate in place of the holding plate 18.

Further, a tray 33 for loading the recording medium 21 is formed on the outer wall surface of the recording medium storage chamber 22, and the terminal end of the recording medium transport path 5 of the image forming apparatus 1 is opened toward the tray 33. Therefore, the recording medium 21 on which the image is formed by the image forming unit 4 can be discharged to the tray 33 of the supply cartridge 13. This eliminates the need to separately mount a paper discharge tray. Note that the tray 33 of the supply cartridge 13 may have a wall surface that determines the position of the leading end or side edge of the recording medium 21 to be discharged.

Further, in the supply cartridge 13, since the image visualizing agent accommodating chamber 23 is divided into a plurality of parts corresponding to the difference in the color of the image visualizing agent, the color image forming apparatus 1 as in the present embodiment is used. When the supply cartridge 13 is attached to the image forming apparatus, the image visualizing agent can be supplied without mixing colors.

Further, since the cartridge holding section 3 is displaceably held in the main body 2 of the image forming apparatus 1 so as to open and close the upper space of the image forming section 4, the cartridge holding section 3 is displaced in the opening direction. In this case, the upper space of the image forming section 4 can be opened. Thus, maintenance of the image forming unit 4 can be facilitated. In this case, the cartridge holding unit 3 is not limited to the support structure that rotates in the upward direction when viewed from the front.
It may be pivoted about one of the left and right sides, or may be detachably attached to the main body 2.

Further, since the image forming apparatus 1 is provided with the paper feed unit 34 for drawing out the recording medium 21 in the supply cartridge 13, when the supply cartridge 13 is replaced, the paper feed unit 34 is moved to the image forming apparatus 1. Can be left on the side. Thereby, the configuration of the supply cartridge 13 can be simplified, and the number of waste components on the supply cartridge 13 side can be reduced.

[0056]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the supply cartridge stores a recording medium and an image visualizing agent in an amount corresponding to the number of stored recording media, so that the time when the recording medium is used up and the image visualizing agent can be used up. The timing can be set at about the same time, whereby the number of replenishments of the recording medium and the image visualizing agent can be reduced. Furthermore, since the main parts having the image forming function can be left in the image forming apparatus when the recording medium and the image visualizing agent are supplied, the economical loss can be reduced, and the amount of waste to be discarded can be reduced.

The supply cartridge according to claim 2 is
According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the recording medium and the image visualizing agent are combined with each other having physical characteristics compatible with the image forming conditions, even if the recording medium has a different paper quality, the recording is performed. An image visualizing agent suitable for the medium can be supplied to the image forming apparatus.

The supply cartridge according to claim 3 is
According to the first or second aspect of the present invention, since the display unit for displaying the type of the recording medium stored in the recording medium storage chamber is provided, the recording medium storage chamber is sealed to prevent the deterioration of the recording medium. Can also recognize the type of the stored recording medium.

The supply cartridge according to claim 4 is
The invention according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a display unit for displaying the type of the recording medium stored in the recording medium storage chamber and the type of the image visualization agent stored in the image visualization agent storage chamber. The type of the recording medium stored in the medium storage chamber can be recognized together with the type of the image visualizing agent corresponding thereto.

The supply cartridge according to claim 5 is
In the invention according to any one of claims 1, 2, 3 and 4, the sheet supply port of the recording medium storage chamber is provided with an opening / closing door which is urged in the closing direction and opened at the time of sheet supply. At times, the paper feed port can be maintained in a closed state, whereby the degree to which the recording medium absorbs moisture can be reduced.

A supply cartridge according to claim 6,
In the invention described in any one of claims 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, the recording medium storage chamber is provided with a pressing plate for pressing the recording medium of the outermost layer of the laminated recording medium in a wide range. Even in a state where the thickness of the recording medium accommodated therein is smaller than the size of the recording medium storage chamber in the thickness direction of the stack, the movement of the recording medium in the direction of stacking is prevented by the presser plate. be able to. Therefore, even when the orientation of the recording medium storage chamber is maintained so that the recording medium is in the vertical posture, the recording media can be maintained in a stacked state, and the occurrence of a bending habit can be suppressed.

The supply cartridge according to claim 7 is
In the invention of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6,
A tray for loading the recording medium is formed on the outer wall surface of the recording medium storage chamber, so that one surface of the supply cartridge can be used as a tray, thereby making it possible to omit the tray as a separate member. Become.

The supply cartridge according to claim 8 is
In the invention according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7, the image visualizing agent storage chamber is divided into a plurality of sections corresponding to the difference in color of the image visualizing agent, so that a color image is stored. When a supply cartridge is mounted on the forming apparatus, the image visualizing agent can be supplied without mixing colors.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus comprising: a cartridge holding portion for detachably holding the supply cartridge according to the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh or eighth aspect;
Since the recording medium transport path and the image forming section are provided, the supply cartridge can be detachably held by the cartridge holding section. When the recording medium and the image visualizing agent are used up, the recording medium and the image visualizing agent can be replaced by replacing the supply cartridge in the cartridge holding unit with the main parts having the image forming function remaining in the image forming apparatus. Can be supplied at the same time. Thereby, economical loss can be reduced and the amount of waste to be discarded can be reduced.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the ninth aspect of the invention, the cartridge holding portion is displaceably held in the main body of the image forming device so as to open and close the upper space of the image forming portion. Therefore, when the cartridge holding unit is displaced in the opening direction, the upper space of the image forming unit is opened, so that maintenance of the image forming unit can be facilitated.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the ninth or tenth aspect, the end of the recording medium conveying path is opened toward an end of the tray of the supply cartridge according to the seventh aspect. Therefore, the recording medium on which the image is formed by the image forming unit can be discharged to a tray formed on one surface of the supply cartridge. Thereby, another discharge tray can be omitted.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the ninth, tenth or eleventh aspect of the present invention, the cartridge holding part is a display detection part for detecting the display content of the display part of the supply cartridge according to the third or fourth aspect. Since the display unit is provided, when the supply cartridge is mounted on the cartridge holding unit, the display unit of the supply cartridge is detected by the display detection unit, so that the image forming unit can recognize the type of the supply cartridge. Further, it is possible to perform control for automatically changing the image forming conditions of the image forming unit based on this recognition.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image forming apparatus according to the ninth, tenth, eleventh or twelfth aspect of the present invention, wherein Since the paper supply unit for drawing out the recording medium is provided, the paper supply unit can be left on the image forming apparatus side when the supply cartridge is replaced, thereby simplifying the configuration of the supply cartridge and the supply cartridge side. Waste parts can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which a supply cartridge is mounted on an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a process of attaching a supply cartridge to the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional front view showing a state where a supply cartridge is mounted on the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a front view illustrating a state where a supply cartridge is mounted on the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a state where a supply cartridge is mounted on the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional front view showing the internal structure of the supply cartridge.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the entire structure of the supply cartridge.

FIG. 8A is a perspective view showing a mounting state of a display unit when the supply cartridge is viewed obliquely from below, and FIG. 8B is a plan view showing a display unit provided on the supply cartridge.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a relationship between a display unit and a display detection unit.

FIG. 10 is a circuit diagram illustrating a detection element of a display detection unit.

11A is a perspective view showing a state in which another display unit is mounted when the supply cartridge is viewed obliquely from below, and FIG. 11B is a perspective view of the display unit as viewed in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 11A. .

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a display state and display contents of a display unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 2 Main body 3 Cartridge holding part 4 Image forming part 5 Recording medium transport path 7 Transport member 13 Supply cartridge 21 Recording medium 22 Recording medium storage chamber 23 Image visualization agent storage chamber 24 Image visualization agent supply port 28 Pressing plate 30 Feed Paper mouth 30a Opening / closing door 33 Tray 34 Paper feeder 40 Display 41 Display detector

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Shigeharu Uda 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Ricoh Company, Ltd.

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. A recording medium storage chamber in which a predetermined number of sheet-shaped recording media are stored in a stacked state and a paper feed port for supplying the recording media to an image forming unit of an image forming apparatus is formed. An image visualizing agent supply port for storing an image visualizing agent for visualizing an image on the recording medium according to the number of storages of the recording medium and supplying the image visualizing agent to the image forming unit in the unit; A supply cartridge comprising an image visualizing agent storage chamber. 2. The supply cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the recording medium and the image visualizing agent are combined with each other having physical characteristics compatible with image forming conditions. 3. The supply cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising a display unit for displaying a type of the recording medium stored in the recording medium storage chamber. 4. A display unit for displaying the type of recording medium stored in the recording medium storage chamber and the type of image visualization agent stored in the image visualization agent storage chamber. 3. The supply cartridge according to 1 or 2. 5. A paper feeding port of a recording medium storage chamber is provided with an opening / closing door which is urged in a closing direction and opened at the time of paper feeding. Supply cartridge described. 6. The recording medium storage chamber is provided with a holding plate for pressing a recording medium of the outermost layer of the laminated recording medium in a wide range.
Supply cartridge described. 7. The supply cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a tray for loading a recording medium is formed on a surface of an outer wall of the recording medium storage chamber. 8. The image visualizing agent storage chamber is divided into a plurality of compartments corresponding to different colors of the image visualizing agent. Supply cartridge. 9. A cartridge holding portion for detachably holding the supply cartridge according to claim 1, 2, 3, and 8, and a recording medium fed from the supply cartridge is conveyed. An image forming apparatus comprising: a recording medium conveying path having a conveying member; and an image forming unit disposed in the recording medium conveying path. 10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the cartridge holding section is displaceably held in a main body of the image forming apparatus so as to open and close an upper space of the image forming section. 11. The recording medium conveyance path according to claim 7, wherein:
The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the supply cartridge is opened toward an end of a tray of the supply cartridge. 12. The image according to claim 9, 10 or 11, wherein the cartridge holding unit includes a display detection unit that detects display contents of the display unit of the supply cartridge according to claim 3 or 4. Forming equipment. 13. A supply unit for drawing out a recording medium in a supply cartridge according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8.
13. The image forming apparatus according to 0, 11 or 12.