1. An integrated battery charger, comprising:
a casing, for containing charging components, and having a charging block disposed on a surface of the casing, a plurality of charging compartments formed in the charging block for placing a plurality of AA or AAA batteries respectively, and an end of the charging compartment being a positive terminal, and the other end of the charging compartment being a negative terminal, and the casing having a plug connectible to an external power source;
an input power source, for converting an external (AC or DC) power into an DC power to charge any one of the batteries in the charging block and supply a reference voltage source to a charging control unit;
a voltage control unit and a current control unit, coupled between an input terminal of the charging control unit and the input power source to form a charging circuit, and an output terminal of the charging control unit comprising a plurality of charging current control circuits, such that the charging block forms a plurality of independent separate charging circuits, and an output terminal of each charging circuit is coupled to a positive terminal of each of the charging compartments;
a manual switch, with a main body having a switchable insulated operating interface, and the insulated operating interface being exposed from a surface of the casing, and containing (n\u22121) sets of mechanical switching units (SW1\u02dcSWn\u22121) corresponding to a plurality of charging circuits (n) of the charging block, such that one set of mechanical switching unit is disposed between two adjacent charging circuits, and the last set of mechanical switching unit (SWn) of the manual switch is an independent chargingdischarging control module, and each of the mechanical switching units (SW1\u02dcSWn) has three contact points a, b, c, wherein the contact point a of the first to (n\u22121)th sets of mechanical switching units (SW1\u02dcSWn\u22121) is grounded or grounded through a current detection resistor, and the contact point b is coupled to a positive terminal of a next charging circuit, and the contact point c is electrically coupled to a negative terminal of each corresponding charging compartment, and the contact point a of the nth set of the mechanical switching unit (SWn) as the chargingdischarging control module is a charging control terminal, the contact point b is a discharging control terminal, and the contact point c is a power control terminal (CONTROL HL) coupled to the input power source or grounded, and when the insulated operating interface of the manual switch is switched, n pieces of independent conductive terminals disposed at the bottom of the manual switch are linked to shift synchronously, and when each of the conductive terminals is switched to any position, an end of the conductive terminal is always electrically coupled to the corresponding contact point c, and the other end of the conductive terminal is electrically coupled to the contact point a or the contact point b only;
a charging control circuit, composed of a contact point a and a contact point c of the chargingdischarging control module, and electrically coupled to the input power source, for controlling the ONOFF of outputting a charging power from the input power source to the charging block;
a discharging control switch, comprising an input terminal, an output terminal and a control terminal, and the input terminal being coupled to a positive terminal of the first charging compartment in the charging block, and the output terminal being coupled to a voltage regulator circuit, and the control terminal being electrically coupled to a contact point b of the chargingdischarging control module, for controlling the ONOFF of the input terminal with the output terminal, such that the serially connected and combined discharging current of each battery in the charging block is outputted to the voltage regulator circuit;
the voltage regulator circuit, for boosting or stepping down the input power to a predetermined DC voltage; and
at least one USB output port, coupled to an output terminal of the voltage regulator circuit, and having a socket exposed from the casing;
whereby, when the manual switch switches to a charging mode, each contact point c and each contact point a of all n sets of mechanical switching units (SW1\u02dcSWn) are turned ON synchronously, such that each battery on the charging circuit is in an independent separate charging mode, and the discharging control switch E is turned OFF synchronously, and the charging control circuit (A) is controlled to turn ON to charge each battery by the charging current, and when the manual switch switches to a discharging mode, each contact point c and each contact point b of all n sets of mechanical switching units (SW1\u02dcSWn) are turned ON synchronously, such that each battery on the charging circuit is in a serial connected and combined discharging mode, and the charging control circuit (A) is turned OFF and the discharging control switch (E) is turned ON synchronously, such that each battery is serially connected to output the discharging current, so as to form a single manual switch capable of integrating the independent separate charging or the serially connected and combined discharging between the charging and discharging circuits, and synchronously controlling the ONOFF of the charging current and discharging current.
2. The integrated battery charger as recited in claim 1, wherein the charging block has n sets of charging circuits, and n is equal to 2, 4 or 8, and the (n\u22121) sets of the mechanical switching units (SW1\u02dcSWn-1) corresponding to the manual switch is equal to 1 set, 3 sets or 7 sets, and the 1 set, 3 sets or 7 sets plus the last nth set of independent mechanical switching unit (SWn) form the chargingdischarging control module.
3. The integrated battery charger as recited in claim 2, wherein the manual switch is a slide switch, a press-button switch or a differential switch, and each set of the mechanical switching unit comprises at least three pins.
4. The integrated battery charger as recited in claim 1, wherein the operation modes of the charger include:
a) under the condition of having an external power source:
i) when the manual switch switches to the charging mode, the plurality of rechargeable batteries in the charging block forms independent and separate charging circuits, and the chargingdischarging control module synchronously controls the charging control circuit (A) to turn ON and the discharging control switch (E) to turn OFF, so as to constitute a battery charger;
ii) when the manual switch switches to the discharging mode, each battery of the charging block forms a serially connected and combined discharging circuit, and the chargingdischarging control module synchronously controls the charging control circuit (A) to turn OFF and the discharging control switch (E) to turn ON, such that the serially connected discharging current is outputted through the voltage regulator circuit for stabilizing the voltage, and then the USB output port supplies an electric power, so as to form a discharger;
b) under the condition of having no external power source:
i) when the manual switch switches to the charging mode, each charging circuit has no charging current, and the charger is in a non-using status; and
ii) when the manual switch switches to the discharging mode, a charged backup secondary battery or a primary battery in the charging block forms a serially connected and combined discharging circuit, and the chargingdischarging control module synchronously controls the discharging control switch (E) to turn ON, such that the serially connected and combined discharging current is stabilized by the voltage regulator circuit, and then the USB output port supplies an electric power to a portable electronic product, so as to form a portable power or an emergency power supply.
5. The integrated battery charger as recited in claim 4, wherein the input power source is further externally coupled to an auxiliary power supply, and the auxiliary power supply is coupled to the voltage regulator circuit for stabilizing the input power source and then supplying the power to the USB output port, such that the charger can charge the batteries concurrently, independently and separately and can output a USB power at the same time, so as to form a dual function device with the functions of a charger and an adaptor, and capable of charging a battery and supplying an electric power to an electronic product concurrently.
6. The integrated battery charger as recited in claim 4, wherein the input power source is further externally coupled to an auxiliary power supply, and the auxiliary power supply is coupled to the voltage regulator circuit for stabilizing the input power source and then supplying the power to the USB output port, such that if no battery is placed into the charger for charging, a USB power can be outputted, so as to form an adaptor device for supplying an electric power to an electronic product directly.
7. The integrated battery charger as recited in claim 1, wherein the negative terminal of the charging block comprises a current detection component, and the current detection component comprises a resistor coupled to the current control unit, and the output terminal of the charging current control circuit further comprises an anti-adverse-current element, and a switch is installed between the input power source and the current and voltage control unit.
8. The integrated battery charger as recited in claim 7, wherein the anti-adverse-current element is comprised of a diode or a MOSFET.
9. The integrated battery charger as recited in claim 1, wherein the discharging control switch (E) comprises a mechanical switch or an electronic switch linked with a contact point b of the chargingdischarging control module, and the discharging control switch (E) is coupled to the exterior of the voltage regulator circuit or built in the voltage regulator circuit.
10. The integrated battery charger as recited in claim 1, wherein the charging control unit further comprises a display unit coupled to the charging control unit and installed on a surface of the casing.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A developer recovery device, comprising:
a recovery container that receives and accommodates a developer recovered from an image carrier,
an agitator member that agitates the developer inside the recovery container,
two shafts to which mutually engageable cams are respectively provided and that transmit rotational force to the agitator member,
a spring that biases and causes to move one of the cams such that the two cams mutually engage and that causes a shaft connection between the two shafts to be joined,
a torque limiter that carries out joining of the shaft connection, in which the two cams are caused to mutually engage to join the shaft connection, and disjoining of the shaft connection, in which the two cams are caused to move apart to disjoin the shaft connection, and
a full-state determination portion that detects a disjoined state of the shaft connection and, based on the detected disjoined state, determines that the recovery container has become full of developer,
wherein the torque limiter is constituted by the two cams and the spring, and in a disjoined state of the shaft connection, due to the torque limiter, the one cam is stopped and the other cam rotates such that the two cams repetitively engage and move apart, and
the full-state determination portion is provided with a switch that turns onoff in response to the engaging and moving apart of the two cams and obtains an on-off period of the switch, and in a case where the on-off period is within a prescribed time range that is set in advance and has been repeated at least a prescribed number of times that is set in advance, determines that the recovery container has become full of developer.
2. A developer recovery device, comprising:
a recovery container that receives and accommodates a developer recovered from an image carrier,
an agitator member that agitates the developer inside the recovery container,
two shafts to which mutually engageable cams are respectively provided and that transmit rotational force to the agitator member,
a spring that biases and causes to move one of the cams such that the two cams mutually engage and that causes a shaft connection between the two shafts to be joined,
a torque limiter that carries out joining of the shaft connection, in which the two cams are caused to mutually engage to join the shaft connection, and disjoining of the shaft connection, in which the two cams are caused to move apart to disjoin the shaft connection, and
a full-state determination portion that detects a disjoined state of the shaft connection and, based on the detected disjoined state, determines that the recovery container has become full of developer,
wherein the torque limiter is constituted by the two cams and the spring, and in a disjoined state of the shaft connection, due to the torque limiter, the one cam is stopped rotating and the other cam rotates such that the two cams repetitively engage and move apart, and
the full-state determination portion is provided with a switch that turns onoff in response to the engaging and moving apart of the cams, obtains an on time of the switch and an off time of the switch, and in a case where the on time is within a first prescribed time range that is set in advance and the off time is within a second prescribed time range that is set in advance, determines that the recovery container has become full of developer.
3. The developer recovery device according to claim 1,
wherein the full-state determination portion, in rotationally driving the agitator member, when the switch changes to on or off and the onoff state after the change continues for at least a malfunction determination time that is set in advance, determines that a malfunction has occurred.
4. The developer recovery device according to claim 2,
wherein the full-state determination portion, in rotationally driving the agitator member, when the switch changes to on or off and the onoff state after the change continues for at least a malfunction determination time that is set in advance, determines that a malfunction has occurred.
5. The developer recovery device according to claim 1,
wherein the torque limiter comprises a second rotation member that is integrally secured to the one cam and that rotates and moves together with the one cam, and
the switch turns onoff by detecting a position of the second rotation member.
6. The developer recovery device according to claim 2,
wherein the torque limiter comprises a second rotation member that is integrally secured to the one cam and that rotates and moves together with the one cam, and
the switch turns onoff by detecting a position of the second rotation member.
7. The developer recovery device according to claim 5,
wherein the second rotation member is a gear and the gear meshes with a gear provided on a shaft of the agitator member.
8. The developer recovery device according to claim 6,
wherein the second rotation member is a gear and the gear meshes with a gear provided on a shaft of the agitator member.
9. A developer recovery device, comprising:
a recovery container that receives and accommodates a developer recovered from an image carrier,
an agitator member that agitates the developer inside the recovery container,
two shafts to which mutually engageable cams are respectively provided and that transmit rotational force to the agitator member,
a first rotation member that is integrally secured to the one cam and that rotates together with the one cam,
a second rotation member that is positioned along a shaft of the first rotation member, which is provided with the one cam, and that rotates together with the one cam,
a spring that is interposed between the first rotation member and the second rotation member, that biases and causes to move the one cam such that the two cams mutually engage, and that causes a shaft connection between the two shafts to be joined,
a torque limiter that includes the two cams and the spring, and that carries out joining of the shaft connection, in which the two cams are caused to mutually engage to join the shaft connection, and disjoining of the shaft connection, in which the two cams are caused to move apart to disjoin the shaft connection, and
a full-state determination portion that detects a disjoined state of the shaft connection and, based on the detected disjoined state, determines that the recovery container has become full of developer.
10. The developer recovery device according to claim 9,
wherein the second rotation member is a gear and the gear meshes with a gear provided on a shaft of the agitator member.
11. The developer recovery device according to claim 9,
wherein when a position of the first rotation member is detected at a time when the cams have slipped resisting the biasing force of the spring and the shaft connection has become disjoined, the full-state determination portion determines that the recovery container has become full of developer.
12. The developer recovery device according to claim 9,
wherein a shaft of the first rotation member is provided with a claw, and a rib is formed in the first rotation member,
a hole is provided and a groove is formed in the second rotation member,
the shaft of the first rotation member is inserted into the hole of the second rotation member so as to be movable,
the claw of the shaft of the first rotation member catches onto a peripheral edge of the hole of the second rotation member, and
the rib of the first rotation member engages with the groove of the second rotation member such that the first rotation member and the second rotation member rotate together.
13. The developer recovery device according to claim 9,
wherein the spring is a coil spring into which the shaft of the first rotation member is inserted.
14. An image forming apparatus comprising a developer recovery device according to claim 1.
15. An image forming apparatus comprising a developer recovery device according to claim 2.
16. An image forming apparatus comprising a developer recovery device according to claim 9.