CN101424907A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides an image forming apparatus mounted with a toner cartridge including a storage portion, including: a toner cartridge including a storage portion and storing a plurality of toners corresponding to toner in the toner cartridge; control data; an acquiring unit that selects one of the plurality of control data from the storage unit to acquire information related to image formation; and a setting unit that sets image forming parameters based on the information related to image formation.

Description

image forming device

Cross References to Related Applications

This application claims to be based on a prior application No. filed in the United States on October 29, 2007.

60/983,518, earlier application No. filed in the United States on June 30, 2008

61/076,988, priority to prior application Ser. No. 61/086,767, filed August 6, 2008 in the United States, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

technical field

The present invention relates to an image control technique corresponding to toner filled in a toner cartridge.

Background technique

In the prior art, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-149051, it is known to propose a method of correcting image forming conditions that takes into consideration The characteristic data of the toner itself on the IC chip.

In addition, in order to improve color reproducibility of color images, an image forming device may form a specific dense image on a photoreceptor and read the density of toner through a sensor. In addition, when the density of the toner is light or thick, it is possible to adjust the development contrast and the unevenness of the toner deposition amount of each color to achieve an appropriate density of the toner. By adjusting the development contrast, it is possible to make the adhesion amount of each color toner uniform, so that the color reproducibility of the color image is more stable than when the development contrast is not adjusted.

However, in the structure described in the above-mentioned patent documents, changes in the physical properties of the toner due to factors such as the environment are not taken into account, so it cannot be said that the image forming conditions are properly corrected.

In addition, even if the amount of toner adhesion can be made uniform, when the toner cartridge is replaced with a new one and a toner cartridge filled with toner of a different color tone is installed, even if the adhesion amount of toner can be made uniform, there are color differences. A problem in which the color reproducibility of an image is different from that before toner replacement.

Therefore, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus capable of performing appropriate image control according to the toner cartridge.

Contents of the invention

An aspect of the present invention provides an image forming apparatus, including: a toner cartridge including a storage unit storing a plurality of control data corresponding to toner in the toner cartridge; A storage unit selects one of the plurality of control data to obtain image formation-related information; and a setting unit sets image formation parameters based on the image formation-related information.

Description of drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the appearance of an image forming apparatus to which a toner cartridge according to a first embodiment is applied;

2 is a schematic view of the internal structure of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment viewed from the front side;

3 is a block diagram illustrating the operation of the image forming apparatus and the toner cartridge according to the first embodiment;

4 is a flow chart of information writing when setting image forming parameters of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment;

5 is a schematic diagram of a control table for setting the image forming apparatus of the first embodiment;

6 is a diagram showing image forming parameters of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment;

7 is a diagram showing print processing when image forming parameters are set and not set in the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment;

8 is a flowchart of setting image forming parameters using color information in the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment;

9 is a schematic diagram of an image sensor provided in an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment;

10 is a block diagram illustrating the operation of the image forming apparatus and the toner cartridge according to the third embodiment.

Detailed ways

Embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an external structure of an image forming apparatus 101 in the first embodiment. The image forming apparatus 101 is a four-tandem color copier. The image forming apparatus 101 includes: an image forming section 1 for outputting image information, for example, as an output image called a hard copy or a printout; and a scanner 5 that reads, as image data, image information to be imaged by the image forming unit 1 from an object holding the image information (hereinafter referred to as a document). In addition, an automatic document feeder is provided above the image forming unit 1. When the document is in the form of a sheet, after the image information is read by the scanner 5, the document that has been scanned is ejected from the reading position to the ejection position. , and guides the next original to the reading position. In addition, the image forming apparatus 101 is provided with an instruction input unit, that is, a display unit 9 serving as a control panel for instructing the image forming unit 1 to start image formation and the scanner 5 to start reading document image information.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing the internal structure of the image forming unit 1 viewed from the front side. Toner cartridges 40 a , 40 b , 40 c , and 40 d are arranged side by side on the upper side of image forming unit 1 . The toner cartridges 40 a , 40 b , 40 c , and 40 d are detachable from a cartridge holding mechanism 60 provided on the front side of the image forming unit 1 . The toner cartridges 40a, 40b, 40c, and 40d can be replenished with yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toners.

The image forming unit 1 includes first to fourth photosensitive drums 11a to 11d for holding latent images, developing devices 13a to 13d for developing the latent images formed on the photosensitive drums 11a to 11d, and a laminated state to hold photosensitive drums 11a to 11d. The transfer belt 15 for the developer image developed on the drums 11a-11d, the cleaners 16a-16d for cleaning the toner remaining on the photosensitive drums 11a-11d from the respective photosensitive drums 11a-11d, and the photosensitive drums 11a-11d Charging chargers 17a to 17d for charging.

In addition, the image forming section 1 includes: a transfer device 18 for transferring the image of the developer laminated on the transfer belt 15 to a sheet-shaped output medium, such as commonly used plain paper or OHP sheet without special processing, etc. A transparent resin sheet; a fixing device 19 for fixing the developer image transferred on the transferred medium to an output medium; and an exposure device 21 for forming latent images on the photosensitive drums 11a to 11d, and the like.

The first to fourth photosensitive drums 11a to 11d hold electrostatic images (latent images) of colors to be developed by the developing devices 13a to 13d, respectively, and their arrangement order is predetermined according to the image forming process and the characteristics of the toner (developer). In this order, the developing devices 13a to 13d contain toners of any color among Y (yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan), and Bk (black). The transfer belt 15 holds developer images of respective colors formed by the first to fourth photosensitive drums 11a to 11d and the corresponding developing devices 13a to 13d in order (formation of developer images).

The paper supply unit 3 supplies the output medium to the transfer device 18 within a predetermined time when the transfer device 18 transfers the developer image.

Cassettes disposed in a plurality of cassette slots 31 are used to accommodate output media of any size. The pickup roller 33 takes out the output medium according to the image forming operation. The size of the output medium corresponds to the size of the developer image formed by the image forming unit body 1 . The separation mechanism 35 prevents the pickup roller 33 from taking out two or more output media from the cassette. A plurality of conveying rollers 37 conveys one output medium limited by the separating mechanism 35 to an aligning roller 39 . The positioning rollers 39 send the output medium to the transfer position where the transfer device 18 and the transfer belt 15 are joined according to the time when the transfer device 18 transfers the developer image from the transfer belt 15 . In addition, a plurality of cassette slots 31, pick-up rollers 33 and separation mechanisms 35 can be provided as required; cassettes can be installed on any different slots.

The output image formed by fixing the image information on the output medium by the fixing device 19 is located on the side of the image reading section 5 and is discharged to the discharge tray 51 defined above the image forming section main body 1 . In addition, the image forming apparatus 101 includes a side discharge tray 59 located on the side of the image forming unit 1 . The output medium discharged from the fixing device 19 can be guided to the side discharge tray 59 through the relay conveyance unit 71 connected to the switching unit 55 .

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating operations of the toner cartridge 40 a and the image forming apparatus 101 . Hereinafter, the description will be given for the case of the toner cartridge 40a, and the same applies to the toner cartridge 40b, the toner cartridge 40c, and the toner cartridge 40d.

First, an embodiment in which image forming parameters for process condition control are set when the toner cartridge 40 a is installed in the image forming apparatus 101 will be described.

Here, the process condition control refers to the operation control of various devices necessary for actually performing processes such as printing. Specifically, it relates to control of applying a bias voltage value to the charging charger 17 a necessary for charging the photosensitive drum. The process condition control includes not only the operation control of the charging charger 17a, but also the operation control of the developing device 13a, the cleaner 16a, the fixing device 19, and the like. The image forming parameters refer to setting values related to the operation of the photosensitive drum 11 a , the developing device 13 a , the cleaner 16 a , the charging charger 17 a , the fixing device 19 , and the like for printing and other processes.

The toner cartridge 40 a is provided with a memory 403 . The memory 403 stores collation data and a plurality of control tables described later. For the memory 403, a commonly used IC chip or the like can be used.

The control table includes a plurality of tables storing charging voltage values of the charging charger 17 a during printing or the like according to the physical properties of the toner contained in the toner cartridge. Instead of the charging voltage value of the charging charger 17a, the developing bias value of the developing device 13a, the toner density (or the amount of laser light), the peeling output voltage value of the cleaner 16a, the voltage control value of the fixing device 19, and the photosensitive drum 11a Set values such as motion-related values. In addition, the physical properties of the toner refer to, for example, the charge amount, resistance value, manufacturing lot, particle diameter, and the like of the toner; the present embodiment includes a plurality of control tables corresponding to these properties.

The image forming apparatus 101 includes a CPU 110, a memory 111, a temperature and humidity sensor 112, a transmitting and receiving unit 114, and a display unit 9.

CPU 110 controls each part in image forming apparatus 101; Memory 111 records various information;

The transmission and reception unit 114 reads and writes information recorded in the memory 403 provided on the toner cartridge 40a. Wired communication or wireless communication may be used between the transmitting and receiving unit 114 and the memory 403 . The display unit 9 displays various information according to the request of the CPU 110. The toner density sensors 115 are provided in the vicinity of the developing devices 13a to 13d, respectively. In addition, the toner density sensor 115 detects the toner density of the toner contained in the developing device 13a. The same applies to the developing devices 13b to 13d.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of writing information to the memory 111 and the memory 403 at the time of image formation parameter setting in the first embodiment.

First, when recognizing that the image forming apparatus 101 is powered on or that the front cover 1a is opened and closed (step A100), the CPU 110 performs the following processing. The CPU 110 compares whether the matching data A1 stored in a predetermined area of the memory 111 of the image forming apparatus 101 matches the matching data B1 stored in a predetermined area of the memory 403 of the toner cartridge (step A101). The image forming apparatus stores, as A1, the same code as the collation code B1 obtained in advance from the toner cartridge 40a.

When the collation data A1 does not match the collation data B1 (step A101, NO), the CPU 110 does not change the image forming parameters described in this embodiment, but performs normal printing processing (step A102). That is, the image forming apparatus 101 performs the process condition control for changing the value of the image forming parameter only when it recognizes that the toner cartridge 40a is inserted.

When the collation data A1 and collation data B1 match (step A101, YES), the CPU 110 selects one control table from the group of image forming control tables stored in the memory 403 and reads it out. Then, the CPU 110 writes the selected control table into the memory 111 (step A103).

Here, CPU 110 selects a control table as follows. Here, an example in which a plurality of control tables are created corresponding to the resistance value of the toner will be described.

As shown in FIG. 5 , the toner resistance value in the control table has three modes, which are less than 8.0, above 8.0 to less than 14.0 and above 14.0. The CPU 110 selects one control table from these tables. The method of selection is arbitrary. The reading table may be changed each time according to the setting of the operator (serviceman), or the reading table may be determined by default, and the reading table may be changed by setting.

As shown in Figure 6, under the control of the environment (temperature and humidity) or life (life), each control table sets the bias voltages C1, C2, C3... , or D1, D2, D3..., or E1, E2, E3.... In addition, the control table can also set the bias voltages F1, F2, F3... of the charging charger according to the number of printed pages. It is also possible to set a plurality of tables as one set for a certain toner resistance value by considering the environment, the life period, and the like. The three tables shown in FIG. 5 respectively set the changes in the bias voltages C1 , C2 , and C3 of the charging charger in the corresponding temperature ranges according to the resistance value of the toner.

Next, the CPU 110 sets the image forming parameters according to the selected table, using the values calculated by the temperature and humidity sensor 112 installed at a predetermined position of the image forming apparatus 101 and the number of printed sheets counter 116. That is, the CPU 110 extracts from the control table the environmental temperature, relative humidity, or operation set value for the number of printed pages specified as variables, and sets them as image forming parameters. Then, the CPU 110 performs optimum process condition control (image control) according to the set image forming parameters (step A104). Next, the CPU 110 performs processing such as printing of one job under control based on the most suitable process conditions (step A105).

In the embodiment described above, the CPU 110 reads the control data from the selected table according to the value detected by the temperature and humidity sensor 112 provided on the image forming apparatus 101, and writes the control data into the memory, thereby changing the image forming parameters. , so as to carry out the most suitable process condition control. Values other than temperature and humidity may also be used, and a control table formed based on the count value of the number of printed sheets of the image forming apparatus 101 and the usage time of consumables such as developer on the photosensitive drum 11a and the developing device 13a may be referred to. Change the image forming parameters to control the most suitable process conditions. In addition, based on the count value related to the fixing device 19, the value related to the voltage control of the fixing device 19 can be optimized to perform process condition control.

7 is a comparison diagram of the process condition control when the memory 403 of the toner cartridge 40 a stores a plurality of control tables and the process condition control when the memory 111 of the image forming apparatus 101 stores a predetermined control table according to the present embodiment.

From the viewpoint of image density and coverage, it was confirmed that when the memory 403 of the toner cartridge 40a stores a plurality of control tables, an appropriate printing process can be performed.

As described above, since the toner cartridge 40a stores a control table suitable for it in the memory 403, the image forming apparatus 101 can refer to the control table in the memory 403 and perform the optimum operation corresponding to each toner cartridge 40a. process condition control. This also enables long-term use of the toner cartridge 40a.

In the above embodiment, the toner cartridge 40a has been described, but the same applies to consumables such as the photosensitive drum 11a, the fixing device 19, the cleaner 16a, and the developing device 13a using developer. In addition, the above-described embodiments are applicable not only to the image forming apparatus 101 but also to printers.

Next, the change of the image forming parameters according to the color information recorded in the memory 403 when the toner cartridge 40a is mounted on the image forming apparatus 101 in the second embodiment will be described using the flow chart shown in FIG. 8 . .

Data for comparison is also stored in the memory 403 of the toner cartridge 40a. In addition, color information is recorded. The color information is information obtained by measuring the chromaticity coordinates (L ^* , a ^*, and b ^* ) of the toner filled in the toner cartridge 40a with X-Lite.

When the CPU 110 detects that the toner filled in the toner cartridge 40a is gone, "Please replace the toner cartridge 40a" is displayed on the display unit 9 (step A200). The user removes the used toner cartridge 40a from the image forming apparatus 101, and mounts a new toner cartridge 40a on the image forming apparatus 101 (step A201). When a new toner cartridge 40a is mounted on image forming apparatus 101, CPU 110 compares information in memory 111 of image forming apparatus 101 with information in memory 403 of toner cartridge 40a (step A202).

When the memory 403 is not provided in the toner cartridge 40a, or when the collation data cannot be read (step A202, No), the CPU 110 does not change the image forming parameters based on the color information, but supplements the color information to the developing device 13a. toner, and displays that the toner replenishment is in progress on the display unit 9 (step A203). The change of image formation parameters based on color information is valid only when a comparison can be confirmed.

When the comparison can be confirmed, the CPU 110 reads the color information recorded in the memory 403 (step A204), and changes the image forming parameters (step A205). The image forming parameters before change are recorded in the memory 111 of the image forming apparatus 101 . After the image forming processing parameters reflecting the color information are changed, the CPU 110 recognizes that the image sensor 16a is installed in the image forming device 101 as shown in FIG. ). The image sensor 16a is located on the lower surface side of the transfer belt 15, and detects the toner density of the electrostatic image on the photosensitive drum 11a. Image sensors are similarly provided for the developing devices 13b, 13c, and 13d.

When the toner replenishment of the developing device 13a is completed, the CPU 110 drives the image sensor 16a, thereby acquiring the toner density. Next, the CPU 110 adjusts the development contrast of the developing device 13a based on the acquired toner density (step A209).

After the adjustment of the development contrast is completed, the CPU 110 displays on the display unit 9 that printing is possible (step A210 ).

As shown in FIG. 10, when the image sensor 16a is not installed on the image forming device 101 (step A206, No), after the CPU 110 reflects and changes the color information in the image forming parameters, the developing device 13 starts replenishing toner (step A207 ).

According to the above configuration, even if the toner cartridge 40a is replaced, the image forming apparatus 101 can read the color information of the toner filled in the toner cartridge 40a, and can change the image forming parameters according to the color information, so stable color can be realized. Reproducibility. Of course, as in the first embodiment, color information is stored in a plurality of control tables according to the physical properties of the toner, and one of these control tables can be selected.

Next, the operations of the toner cartridge 40 a and the image forming apparatus 101 in the third embodiment will be described in accordance with the block diagram shown in FIG. 10 .

The memory 403 of the toner cartridge 40a records material characteristic information and characteristic information of a resistance change element.

The material characteristic information shows toner characteristic changes (such as charge amount, toner fluidity, toner resistance value, etc.) according to environmental conditions (such as absolute humidity inside the image forming apparatus 101). The characteristic information of the variable resistance element is, for example, the correspondence information between the toner resistance value and the absolute humidity of 20% to 85%, or the characteristic curve information of the absolute humidity converted from the toner resistance value.

First, when the toner cartridge 40a is mounted in the image forming apparatus 101, the CPU 110 acquires collation data from the memory 403 of the toner cartridge 40a. The CPU 110 performs comparison with collation data stored on the main body side to judge whether the desired toner cartridge 40a is installed.

When the CPU 110 judges that the required toner cartridge 40a is not installed, since the material properties of the toner filled in the toner cartridge 40a are unknown, setting of the image forming parameters as shown below is not performed. And the CPU 110 will control the display portion 9 to display that the toner cartridge 40a is not installed.

When the CPU 101 judges from the collation data that the required toner cartridge 40a has been installed, the CPU 101 acquires the material properties and the property information of the resistance variable element from the memory 403 of the toner cartridge 40a. Here, the toner resistance value measuring unit 113 includes: a variable resistance element 1131 whose resistance value changes according to environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity; 1131 and a power supply 1133 that applies a voltage of 5V or 12V to both ends of the resistance element 1132 ; and an OP amplifier (amplifier) 1134 that reads the voltage value across the resistance change element 1131 . The CPU 110 can calculate the variable resistance value of the resistance change element 1131 from the voltage value across the resistance change element 1131 read by the OP amplifier 1134 as the toner resistance value. Then, the toner resistance value measuring unit 113 measures the voltage value of the variable resistance element read by the OP amplifier 1134 , and measures the toner resistance value as the value of the variable resistance element. The CPU 110 compares the toner resistance value measured by the toner resistance value measuring unit 113 with the characteristic information of the resistance variable element acquired from the memory 403 of the toner cartridge 40a, thereby obtaining the environmental condition.

Here, the variable resistance element may be provided in the toner resistance value measuring unit 113 of the image forming apparatus 101 , or may be provided in the toner cartridge 40 a.

The CPU 110 acquires image formation parameters stored in the memory 111. The CPU 110 changes the image forming parameters specified based on the environmental conditions and material properties to optimum values corresponding to the environmental conditions and material property information acquired from the memory 403 of the toner cartridge 40a. The image forming parameter information refers to setting the voltage control values of the developing device 13a, the cleaner 16a, the charging charger 17a, and the fixing device 19, and the photosensitive Parameter data of physical property values such as the charge amount of the drum 11a, developing bias voltage, toner density (or laser light amount), particle size distribution, and thermal characteristics. The CPU 110 sets the most suitable image forming parameters in accordance with material characteristics and environmental conditions in each part, and performs printing processing.

According to the above configuration, the image forming apparatus 101 according to the present embodiment can set the printing process in accordance with the inherent characteristics of the toner filled in the toner cartridge 40a without requiring an increase in the size of the apparatus and setting time delays. image forming parameters. That is, even if the toner cartridge 40a is of a certain quality but the quality of filled toner is uneven, when the toner cartridge 40a filled with cheap and low-quality toner is installed in the image forming apparatus 101 Therefore, the image forming apparatus 101 can also perform the most appropriate printing process according to the inherent material properties of the toner and environmental conditions.

Claims (18)

1. an image processing system is equipped with the toner cartridge that comprises storage part, it is characterized in that, described image processing system comprises:

Toner cartridge, in described storage part, stored with toner cartridge in the corresponding a plurality of control datas of toner;

Acquisition unit, thus select one described a plurality of control data to obtain and image formation relevant information from described storage part; And

The configuration part is set image formation parameter according to described with image formation relevant information.

2. image processing system according to claim 1 is characterized in that, described a plurality of control datas comprise a plurality of data that the rerum natura according to described toner makes.

3. image processing system according to claim 2 is characterized in that,

The rerum natura of described toner is the resistance value of toner.

4. image processing system according to claim 2 is characterized in that,

The rerum natura of described toner is the particle diameter of toner.

5. image processing system according to claim 2 is characterized in that,

The rerum natura of described toner is the production batch of toner.

6. image processing system according to claim 2 is characterized in that,

The rerum natura of described toner is the color information of toner.

7. image processing system according to claim 2 is characterized in that,

Described configuration part design temperature analog value forms relevant information as described with image.

8. image processing system according to claim 2 is characterized in that,

Described configuration part is set the humidity analog value and is formed relevant information as described with image.

9. image processing system according to claim 2 is characterized in that,

Described configuration part is set printing number analog value and is formed relevant information as described with image.

10. image processing system according to claim 2 is characterized in that,

The life period analog value is set as forming relevant information with described image in described configuration part.

11. image processing system according to claim 7 is characterized in that,

The bias voltage of charged charger is set in described configuration part.

12. image processing system according to claim 8 is characterized in that,

The bias voltage of charged charger is set in described configuration part.

13. image processing system according to claim 1 is characterized in that, also comprises:

Determination part is used to measure the toner resistance value.

14. image processing system according to claim 1 is characterized in that, also comprises:

Measurement section is used for the measurement environment condition,

Described configuration part serves as that the basis is set and the corresponding image formation of described environmental baseline parameter with described control data.

15. image processing system according to claim 14 is characterized in that,

Described measurement section is measured humidity.

16. image processing system according to claim 2 is characterized in that,

When being provided with the imageing sensor of measuring described toner concentration, development contrast is adjusted in described configuration part.

17. image processing system according to claim 2 is characterized in that,

It is the material environment characteristic information that described and image forms relevant information.

18. image processing system according to claim 17 is characterized in that,

Described configuration part is set based on the environmental baseline that calculates according to described material environment characteristic information and described toner resistance value.

Images