Electrophotographic apparatus, main unit and sub-unit, both for use in the electrophotographic apparatus, and method of identifying the sub-unit
AssigneeToshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorShunichi Ono
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A sub-unit is fitted with a resistor film which is changed in conductivity when exposed. This resistor film is exposed by, for-example, a laser scanner 3 when the sub-unit enters an operative state. When the sub-unit is attached to a main unit, the main unit detects a conductivity of the resistor film fitted to this sub-unit and then decides whether it is unused on the basis of the thus detected conductivity.
Claims14
An electrophotographic apparatus, having a main unit and a sub-unit which is attachable, in such a way that it may be detached, to said main unit arbitrarily, for using said sub-unit in said main unit to thereby form an image, comprising:
- a resistive element which is fitted to said sub-unit and which is made of such a material that is changed in conductivity when exposed;
- an exposure section configured to expose said resistive element when said sub-unit attached to said main unit enters a predetermined operative state;
- a detection section configured to detect a conductivity of said resistive element fitted to said sub-unit attached to said main unit;
- and
- an identification section, provided on said main unit, configured to decide whether, as the attachment of said sub-unit is made, said attached sub-unit is unused on the basis of the conductivity detected by said detection section.
A main unit which, when a sub-unit fitted with a resistive element made of such a material that is changed in conductivity when exposed is arbitrarily attached thereto, constitutes an electrophotographic apparatus together with said sub-unit, comprising:
- a detection section configured to detect a conductivity of said resistive element fitted to said sub-unit attached;
- and
- an identification section configured to decide whether, as the attachment of said sub-unit is made, said attached sub-unit is unused on the basis of a conductivity detected by said detection section.
A sub-unit which is arbitrarily attached to a main unit and which constitutes an electrophotographic apparatus together with said main unit in order to enable image formation by said main unit,
- said sub-unit including a resistive element made of a material which is changed in conductivity when exposed.
An identification method for performing the identification of a sub-unit fitted with a resistive element made of a material which is changed in conductivity when exposed, by a main unit which forms an image by utilizing said sub-unit and also which constitutes an electrophotographic apparatus together with said sub-unit when said sub-unit is arbitrarily attached thereto, said method comprising:
- detecting a conductivity of said resistive element fitted to said sub-unit attached;
- and
- deciding, as the attachment of said sub-unit is made, whether said attached sub-unit is unused on the basis of said detected conductivity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.