State detecting arrangement

Abstract: A copying apparatus, a printer or the like is internally provided with a state detecting arrangement for detecting a light emitting state or the brightness of a plurality of locations in the apparatus. The state detecting arrangement includes a plurality of optical fibers (1,2,3,4) having respective ends positioned at a plurality of locations to be detected so that standard levels of light to be received at the other ends of the optical fibers may be different from one another. The arrangement further includes at least one light receiving element (5) for simultaneously receiving light emitted from the other ends of the optical fibers and at least one circuit for judging the state of each location on the basis of a detection level of the light receiving element.

Description: The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying apparatus, a printer or the like including an arrangement for detecting a light emitting state or the brightness of a plurality of locations. In a copying apparatus, for example, it is necessary to assuredly catch the states of a plurality of locations. To this end, the copying apparatus is internally provided with a thermister for detecting the temperature of a fixing device, an optical sensor for detecting the amount of light emitted from a copy lamp, a reed switch for detecting the presence or absence of a copy paper sheet or for detecting the position thereof, and the like. A plurality of signals indicative of the states of these various portions are led to a circuit board constituting a control circuit by way of a plurality of lead wires. However, process to be executed in the copying apparatus necessitates a high-voltage discharge and the amount of light emitted from the copy lamp is regulated by the phase control. These facts produce a certain noise in high level and a noise signal undesirably enters a signal line such as a lead wire or the like, for example, by magnetic induction. This noise signal is sometimes erroneously detected in the conventional copying apparatus. In addition, static electricity produced outside the apparatus body occasionally causes another erroneous detection. Accordingly, the conventional copying apparatus needs a plurality of noise filters in a circuit for detecting the state or a program for repeatedly detecting the signal within a given period of time to serve as a filter. Otherwise, it is considered to utilize optical fibers so that the apparatus may not be subjected to the noise caused by the magnetic induction. In this case, however, a plurality of relatively expensive photoelectric elements and a plurality of conversion circuits must be inevitably provided for respective locations to be detected, thus resulting in that the state detecting arrangement costs undesirably high. Furthermore, a detection level varies in compliance with the state of each location to be detected. If the states of a plurality of locations are detected in a relatively wide range in detection level and when it is necessary to assuredly catch even a fine change, the detecting circuit becomes complicated or is lowered in its performance. From JP-A-57 173 848 it is known to detect the present state of a copy paper sheet fed along its transport path, by means of light barriers opened and closed by the copy paper sheet. Several optical fibers have their one ends in front of a common light source and have their other ends at different positions of the transport path. Further optical fibers are positioned with their one ends opposite to the ends of the optical fiber located along the transport path. The other ends of the further optical fibers are positioned in front of photodetecting elements. By way of detecting the light emitted from the further optical fibers, the present position of the fed copy paper sheet can be observed. The state of an operational light emitting means of the copying machine such as the light source for optically scanning the original is not detectable by means of the known arrangement. From JP-A-57 194 645 an optical multiplex transmission system is known in which several optical fibers are collected at their one ends. The bundled ends are positioned in front of a single photodetector. The photodetector sequentially receives light signal pulses from each of the optical fibers. From IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, Vol. 24, No. 5, October 1981, pages 2593 to 2595, a fiber-optic transmission system is known in which one fiber cable is used to transmit light emitted from several light emitting means to one light receiving means. It is the object of the invention to provide an image forming apparatus with a state detecting arrangement in which the state of a plurality of locations can be detected reliably even if the detection levels differ very largely at the locations to be detected and which is low in production costs, simplifying the state detections. This object is solved in an image forming apparatus with the features of claim 1. In the state detecting arrangement of the image forming apparatus of the present invention, each light receiving means simultaneously receives light emitted from at least one first and third optical fiber. The ends of these optical fibers are positioned at a plurality of locations to be detected with the levels of light to be received at the other ends of the optical fibers being different from one another. Accordingly, the detection level of the light receiving means is definitely determined in accordance with the state of each location. The state judging means associated to the light receiving means judges the state of each location on the basis of the detection level of the light receiving means. According to the present invention, a plurality of the optical fibers are gathered at their respective ends into a plurality of groups. The amount of light sent through one optical fiber is substantially close to that sent through another optical fiber of the same group. Furthermore, one light receiving means and one state judging means are provided for each group of the optical fibers. Accordingly, the state judging means can be enhanced in judging performance or the detection level of the light receiving means can be raised in resolving power, thus resulting in that it becomes possible to reliably detect the state of each location. The arrangement of the present invention due to the use of optical fibers is hardly affected by any noise. Furthermore, the arrangement is simple in construction and stable in functioning with the production cost being relatively low. These and other objects and features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the preferred embodiment thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, throughout which like parts are designated by like reference numerals, and in which: Fig. 1 is a sectional schematic diagram of a copying apparatus employing therein a state detecting arrangement according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of a plurality of optical fibers opposed at their respective ends to a single light receiving element, Fig. 3 is a circuit including a light detecting circuit for detecting the amount of light and a state judging circuit for judging the state at each location to be detected, and Fig. 4 shows two time-charts each illustrating the relationship between the state of specific locations to be detected and an output level from a light detecting circuit shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 1 depicts a copying apparatus employing therein a state detecting arrangement according to an embodiment of the present invention. The copying apparatus is internally provided with six optical fibers 1 to 6, each of which has one end disposed in the vicinity of a location to be detected and the other end facing a light receiving element provided on a circuit board 7. One end of the optical fiber 1 is directed to a suitable portion of a reflector 11 for receiving light from a copy lamp 10 which emits light towards a document platform 12. One end of the optical fiber 2 is located in the vicinity of a heater lamp 18a provided at a central portion of a fixing roller 18 for heating a paper sheet an which a toner image is transferred and for applying pressure thereto. One end of the optical fiber 3 is located at a suitable portion of a transport path 17 along which each copy paper sheet 14 is transported towards a photoreceptor drum 13 by means of a feed roller 15 and a pair of transport rollers 16. The optical fiber 4 leads light to be applied to the copy paper sheet being transported along the transport path 17. When the copy paper sheet exists on this transport path 17, the light reflected from the surface of the paper sheet enters the optical fiber 3 from its one end. Accordingly, both the optical fibers 3 and 4 adjoin or are arranged side by side in the apparatus. The optical fibers 5 and 6 are disposed in the vicinity of an inlet portion 17a of the fixing rollers 18. When any copy paper sheet exists in this portion, light sent through the optical fiber 6 is applied to the copy paper sheet and the light reflected thereby enters the optical fiber 5 from its one end. Although standard levels of light to be received at the other ends of the optical fibers 1 to 3 and 5 are different from one another in accordance with the kind of light emitting portions, the ends of the optical fibers 1 to 3 and 5 are so located as to render respective standard levels of light received thereby different from one another in a predetermined relationship as described hereinafter. In the copying apparatus according Fig. 1 the states of four locations are detected, namely the heater lamp, the copy lamp, a paper charge switch MS1 and a paper discharge switch MS2. When the heater lamp, the copy lamp, the switch MS1 and the switch MS2 are on, the detection level are 2V, 1V, 0.2V and 0.1V, respectively. Accordingly, the detection level varies in compliance with the state of each location to be detected. As in this case, if the states of a plurality of locations are detected in a relatively wide range in detection level by means of merely one light receiving means and one state judging means for all four optical fibers 1 to 3 and 5 and when it is necessary to catch even a fine change, the detecting circuit becomes complicated or is lowered in its performance. Under such circumstances, it is not preferable to tie a plurality of optical fibers in a single bundle so that the amount of light sent therethrough may be directed to a single light receiving element, as in the first embodiment. Because of this, in the state detecting arrangement according to the present invention, the optical fibers 1 and 2 are led to one light receiving element and the other two optical fibers 3 and 5 are led to another one. In Fig. 2 two optical fibers 1 and 2 are tied at their respective ends to a bundle by means of a tie member 30 so as to face the light receiving surface of the first light receiving element of a photodiode PD in the vicinity thereof. Accordingly, the photodiode PD receives the total amount of light emitted from the ends of the optical fibers 1 and 2. Likewise, the other two optical fibers 3 and 5 are so tied at their respective ends to a bundle as to face the second light receiving element of another photodiode PD in the vicinity thereof. In this embodiment, two circuits shown in Fig. 3 are independently provided for respective photodiodes PD. Fig. 3 depicts a circuit including a light detecting circuit employing therein the aforementioned photodiode PD for detecting the amount of light received thereby add a state judging circuit for judging the state of each location to be detected. As shown in Fig. 3, the photodiode PD is connected at its anode to a non-inverting input terminal of an operational amplifier OP and is put to earth through a resistor R1. The photodiode PD is further connected at its cathode to an inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier OP. A capacitor C1 and another resistor R2 are connected in parallel between an output terminal and the inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier OP. The capacitor C1 is provided for working this circuit as a low pass filter. An analogue signal outputted from the operational amplifier OP is inputted into the state judging circuit 20. Hereupon, when the electric current running in the photodiode PD and the output voltage of the operational amplifier OP are represented by (i) and (V), respectively, the following relationship can be obtained: V = i(R1+R2). In this way, the current running in the photodiode PD is converted into the voltage and inputted into the state judging circuit 20. The state judging circuit 20 judges the state of each location in accordance with a code signal obtained upon A/D conversion of a signal inputted thereinto. Fig. 4 is a time-chart showing the relationship between the state of each location to be detected and output voltages V1 and V2 of two operational amplifiers OP. In Fig. 4, reference characters MS1 and MS2 are signals indicative of whether or not the optical fibers 3 and 5 have received the light. The first light receiving element receives the amount of light in the ratio of 2:1, when the copy paper sheet exists on the transport path 17 and the switch MS1 is on, and when the copy paper sheet exists in the vicinity of the fixing rollers 18 and the switch MS2 is on. V1 represents the level of light received by the first light receiving element. The second light receiving element receives the amount of light in the ratio of 2:1, when the heater lamp is on and when the copy lamp is on. V2 represents the level of light received by the second light receiving element. It is to be noted that reference characters t1 to t12 used in Fig. 4 represent the following timings, respectively. t1 The heater lamp is turned on. t1-t2 The heater lamp is kept on and the level V2 becomes 2. When the temperature of the heater lamp has become the predetermined value at the timing t2, the heater lamp is turned off. In this event, the copying operation starts. t3 The copy paper sheet is supplied along the transport path. The switch MS1 is turned on and the level V1 becomes 2. t4 The copy lamp is turned on and the level V2 becomes 1. t5 The heater lamp is again turned on by virtue of the function of temperature control by the fixing rollers. The level V2 becomes 3 by adding the level at the time when the heater lamp is turned on to the level at the time when the copy lamp is kept on. t6 The switch MS2 is turned on. Accordingly, the level V1 becomes 3 and this value is obtained by adding the level at the time when the switch MS2 is turned on to the level at the time when the switch MS1 is kept on. t7 The heater lamp is turned off and V2 becomes 1 again. t8 Upon transportation of the copy paper sheet, its trailing end passes through the optical fiber 3 so that the switch MS1 is turned off. Accordingly, the level V1 becomes 1. t9 The copy lamp is turned off and the level V2 becomes zero. t10 The heater lamp is turned on again by virtue of the function of temperature control by the fixing rollers. t11 The copy paper sheet to which a toner image has been transferred passes through the fixing rollers to be discharged therefrom, resulting in that the switch MS2 is turned off and the level V1 becomes zero. t12 The heater lamp is turned off and the level V2 becomes zero again. As described above, the state of each location can be judged on the basis of the detection level of the two light receiving elements. As is clear from the above, according to the present invention, since a plurality of optical fibers transmit optical signals indicative of the states of a plurality of locations to the light receiving elements, the state detecting arrangement of the present invention is hardly affected by any noise resulting from magnetic induction or the like. Moreover, it is not necessary to provide a plurality of photoelectric converting elements at respective locations to be detected, and therefore, any undesirable heat is hardly generated at these locations. If the states of a plurality of locations are detected in a relatively wide range in detection level and when it is necessary to catch even a fine change, a plurality of optical fibers can be gathered into two or more groups as in the embodiment of the present invention. In this case, the amounts of light sent through the optical fibers in the same group are rendered substantially close to one another. Furthermore, one light receiving element and one state judging means are provided for each group of the optical fibers. The circuit required for detecting the state of each location can be simplified by using a relatively small number of the light receiving elements. Even when the amount of light largely vary in accordance with the kind of light emitting portions at respective locations, it is possible to assuredly detect the state of each location.

Claims: Image forming apparatus including light emitting means (10,18a) for forming an image, including several first optical fibers (1,2) each having the first end positioned at a light emitting means (10,18a) and having the second ends collected in a first group and positioned at a first light receiving means (PD), whereby the amounts of light transmitted through said first fibers are different from each other but within a narrow first range; a state judging means (20) connected to said first light receiving means (PD) and arranged to judge which light emitting means (10,18a) is switched on, several second optical fibers (4,6) each having the first end positioned at a signal light source and having the second ends positioned at different locations (17,17a) the states of which are to be detected, and several third optical fibers (3;5) having the first ends at said locations to receive or not receive the light transmitted by said second optical fibers (4,6), depending on the state of said locations, and having the second ends collected in a second group and positioned at a second light receiving means (PD), whereby the amounts of light transmitted through said third fibers (3,5) are different from each other but within a narrow second range different from said first range, a further state judging means (20) connected to said second light receiving means (PD) and arranged to judge the state of each of said locations (17,17a). Image forming apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that each light receiving means (PD) comprises a photodiode. Image forming apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said light emitting means include a copy lamp (10) for exposing an original to be copied and a heater lamp (18a) of a fixing roller (18). Image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said locations (17,17a) the state of which are to be detected, are provided at a transport path for copy paper sheets.

Inventors: NISHIYAMA HARUO, NISHIYAMA, HARUO
Applicants: SHARP KK, SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Application year: 1988
Main classification: G03G15
IPC codes: G03G15, G02B6