JP2000003116A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device capable of continuously detecting remaining quantity of toner instead of the fixed value in a hopper feeding the toner to a developing device, finding out the remaining quantity of the toner in detail, and being free from problems of the large mounting space like, a photo-interrupter. SOLUTION: This device is allowed to display the toner consumption Vd and the residual toner Vr, a residual toner displaying means 45, and to inform a user of them by setting the initial value Vp of the toner quantity contained in the hopper of a first developing device by a toner quantity initial value setting means 41, detecting the number of rotation R of a replenishing motor by a rotation number detecting means 42, and determining the toner consumption Vd from the hopper = (k)×R, and the residual toner Vr in the hopper = Vp-Vd (or Vr=Vo-Vd), from the number of rotation R, and the toner quantity (k) consumed from the hopper per unit number of rotation of a motor recognized by toner consumption recognizing means 42, by residual toner determining means 44.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, such as a laser printer or a copying machine, for visualizing an electrostatic latent image formed on a photoreceptor by developing it with a developer. is there.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a copying machine using an electrophotographic system,
2. Description of the Related Art Some image forming apparatuses such as a laser printer develop an electrostatic latent image formed on a photoconductor using a developer called a toner including a pigment and a magnetic material.

The toner is accommodated in a developing device, carried on a developing sleeve of the developing device, transported to a photoreceptor, and used for developing an electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor. Since the toner in the developing device is consumed by this development, the remaining amount of toner in the developing device is detected by, for example, a metal toner remaining amount detection electrode provided in the developing device.

The detecting electrode is electrically insulated from the developing sleeve in the developing device, and is arranged at a predetermined distance from the developing sleeve. When the remaining amount of toner in the developing container changes, the capacitance between the developing sleeve and the detection electrode changes accordingly. An AC voltage appears on the detection electrode due to capacitive coupling due to the AC component of the developing bias applied to the developing sleeve. However, when the capacitance changes, the amplitude of the AC voltage changes. can do.

More specifically, the amplitude of the AC voltage on the detection electrode side is sampled and measured at a predetermined interval which is sufficiently short compared to the case where one image is formed by a system controller, and the measured value is measured by a predetermined value. The number of times when the detection level was equal to or lower than the detection level was counted, and when the count number became equal to or higher than the predetermined number during one image forming period, it was determined that the toner in the developing device was not lower than the predetermined amount. Perform processing to make a judgment.

When it is detected that the remaining amount of toner in the developing device has become equal to or less than a predetermined amount, toner is supplied to the developing device. In the case of a cartridge-type developing device, the toner is supplied from a replenishing means integrated with the developing device. In a normal developing device, the toner is supplied from a hopper separate from the developing device.

[0007]

The replenishment of the toner from the hopper is performed by rotating a screw provided in the lower part of the hopper by a motor to cut out the toner and dropping the toner into a developing device. If the toner in the hopper runs out due to the toner replenishment, the toner cannot be replenished thereafter. Therefore, it is necessary to detect the remaining amount of the toner in the hopper and replenish the toner in the hopper.

Conventionally, a photo interrupter is generally used for detecting the remaining amount of toner in a hopper. However, in this method, the remaining amount of toner can only be detected at a fixed value. In order to know in detail, the number of photointerrupters must be increased, and there is a problem that the mounting space for the photointerrupters becomes large.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to continuously detect the remaining amount of toner in a hopper for replenishing toner to a developing unit instead of a fixed value, to know the remaining amount of toner in detail, and to use a photo interrupter. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus which does not have such a large mounting space problem.

[0010]

The above object is achieved by an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. In summary, the present invention includes developing means for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrier using a developer, and the developing means includes a developer replenishing means for replenishing a developer on an upper portion thereof. The replenishing means is attached, a storage container storing the developer, a rotating member installed in a lower portion of the storage container, for supplying the developer to the developing means by rotating, and a rotating member mounted on the rotating member. And a motor for rotating a member. The image forming apparatus outputs a transfer material after transferring and fixing the visible image obtained by the development onto a transfer material. Rotation speed detecting means for detecting the rotation speed, a consumption amount recognition means for recognizing a consumption amount k per unit rotation speed of the motor of the developer consumed from the storage container by replenishment to the developing means, and a rotation speed detection means. Output value R and consumption A remaining amount calculating unit that compares the output value k of the recognizing unit to calculate a remaining amount Vr of the developer remaining in the storage container, and An image forming apparatus including a remaining amount display unit that displays an output value of a developer remaining amount calculation unit.

According to the present invention, the initial value Vp of the developer amount in the storage container (where 0 <Vp ≦ V0 with respect to the maximum possible developer amount V0 in the storage container) is input to the image forming apparatus main body. It can have initial value input means. Further, the developer remaining amount in the storage container is Vs (where 0 <Vs <
Vp), a developer remaining amount fixing detecting means is installed at an arbitrary position, and when the fixing detecting means detects that the developer remaining amount in the storage container has reached Vs, the developer remaining amount is detected by the motor rotation speed detection. The detection of the developer remaining amount Vr by the amount detecting means and the display of the remaining amount display means can be started.

Consumption k per unit rotation speed of the motor
Can be experimentally obtained in advance and recognized by the consumption amount recognition means. Alternatively, the initial value Vp of the developer
From the amount of toner consumed and the number of rotations of the motor between the remaining amount Vs and the remaining amount Vs, the amount of consumption k per unit number of rotations of the motor can be obtained and recognized by the consumption amount recognizing means.

Further, the output sheet number detecting means for counting the number of output sheets of the transfer material is compared with the output value of the remaining developer amount of the developer remaining amount detecting means and the output value of the output sheet number detecting means based on the detection of the motor speed. By this means, the output possible number calculating means for calculating the possible output number of the transfer material by the remaining amount of developer by the developer remaining amount detecting means by the motor rotation speed detection, and the output value of the output possible number calculating means Means for displaying the number of printable sheets.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail.

Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 is a schematic structural view showing an embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 15 denotes a platen glass serving as a platen. A document (not shown) placed on the platen glass 15 is driven by a document illumination lamp 16 and the like which reciprocate in a predetermined direction by a motor (not shown). Optical scanning is performed by the provided scanner, and the reflected light from the original is focused on the CCD sensor 18 from the mirror 17a and the like via the imaging lens 17b, and is converted into an electric signal. The electric signal is sent to the image processing unit 19, where it is subjected to predetermined image processing to be formed into an image signal.

Reference numeral 1 denotes a drum-shaped electrophotographic photosensitive member as an image carrier, that is, an electrophotographic photosensitive drum. Around the photosensitive drum 1, a first charger 2, a first exposure device 3, a first developing device 4, a second charger (recharger) 5, a second exposure device 6, a second developing device 7, a transfer charger 8, a separation charger 9, a cleaner 10, and a pre-exposure lamp 11 are provided. A transport belt 12 is provided on the lower left side of the photosensitive drum 1, and a fixing device 13 is provided ahead of the transport belt 12. A plurality of sheet cassettes 20 are provided below the photosensitive drum 1.

In order to form an image, first, the photosensitive drum 1 is rotated in one direction, and the surface is uniformly charged by a first charger 2 during the rotation process. As a result, a first-color electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1. The laser light is generated by driving the semiconductor laser of the exposure device 3 based on an image signal from the image processing unit 19. The latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 1 is developed by a first developing device 4 using a developer, and a black toner image is formed as a first color, for example.

Next, the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 is uniformly charged again by the second charger 5, and the photosensitive drum 1 is irradiated with laser light from the second exposure device 6, thereby forming an electrostatic latent image of the second color. You. This latent image is supplied to the first developing device 4 by the second developing device 7.
Developed using a different color, for example red developer,
A red toner image is formed as the second color. In this manner, two color toner images are formed on the photosensitive drum 1 in a superimposed manner.

In a paper feed cassette 20 below the photosensitive drum 1, paper is stacked and stored on a lifter 21. In accordance with the formation of the toner image, one sheet of paper is taken out from a predetermined cassette 20 by a paper feed roller 22, and this paper is
The sheet is conveyed to a registration roller 26 via a plurality of vertical path rollers 24 and a pre-registration roller 25 by a conveyance roller 23. The paper conveyed to the registration roller 26 is sent to the photosensitive drum 1 at a timing when the toner image on the photosensitive drum 1 reaches the transfer charger 8, and the toner image on the photosensitive drum 1 is transferred by the transfer charger 8.
The color toner images are collectively transferred to the paper.

The paper on which the toner images of two colors have been transferred is separated from the photosensitive drum 1 by the action of the separation charger 9 and sent to a fixing device 13 by a conveyor belt 12, where it is heated and pressed to form a paper for the toner image. After the image is fixed on the image forming apparatus to form a permanent image, the image is ejected outside the image forming apparatus by the sheet ejection roller 14. The transfer-completed photosensitive drum 1 is used for the next image formation after the transfer residual toner remaining on the surface is removed by a cleaner 10 and the surface is electrically initialized by a pre-exposure lamp 11.

According to the present embodiment, the first developing device 4 is provided with a toner replenishing means having the hopper 30.
The hopper 30 is mounted on the upper part of the developing device 4 and stores toner for replenishment therein. In the lower part of the hopper 30, a screw 31 is provided as a toner supply member,
A supply motor 32 is attached to the screw 31. By rotating the motor 31 and the screw 31, the toner in the hopper 30
1, falls through the opening at the bottom of the hopper 30 and falls into the developing device 4 to be supplied.

A major feature of the present invention is that the hopper 30
Is to detect the remaining amount of toner in the printer using the rotation speed of the supply motor 32. The means used in the present invention for detecting the amount of remaining toner is shown in the block diagram of FIG. Each unit including the toner amount initial value setting unit 41 in FIG. 2 is controlled by a CPU (not shown) of the image forming apparatus main body.

In the present invention, as described above, the motor 32
And the remaining amount detecting means is constituted by utilizing the rotation speed detection means.
2. A consumption amount recognizing unit 43 for recognizing a toner consumption amount k per unit rotation speed of the motor, a remaining amount calculating unit 44 for calculating a remaining amount of toner remaining in the hopper 30, and a toner amount initial value setting. Means 41 are provided.

As shown in FIG. 3, the toner amount initial value setting means 41 stores the initial value Vp of the toner amount stored in the hopper 30 through the operation unit of the image forming apparatus.
The initial value Vp of the toner amount is set in the apparatus main body by this input. This toner amount initial value V
p is an amount in the range of 0 <Vp ≦ V0 with respect to the maximum toner amount V0 that can be stored in the hopper 30. If there is no input of the toner amount initial value, the toner amount initial value is set to V0.

The rotation number detecting means 42 is for detecting the rotation number R of the motor 32. When the motor 32 is a stepping motor, the rotation number of the motor 32 is detected by counting the number of pulses. Motor 32 is DC
In the case of a brushless motor, the rotation speed of the motor 32 is detected by the FG output in the unit of the motor 32 or by providing a flag on the motor shaft and the number of times the flag cuts the photo interrupter.

The hopper 3 per unit rotation speed of the motor 32
The amount of toner supplied from 0 to the developing device 4, that is, the amount of toner consumed from the hopper 30, is represented by k. In the present embodiment, the toner consumption k per unit motor rotation is experimentally obtained in advance and is recognized by the toner consumption recognition unit 42.

Therefore, using the rotation speed R of the motor 32 detected by the rotation speed detecting means 42 and the value k recognized by the toner consumption recognizing means 42, the toner consumption Vd from the hopper 30 and the hopper 30 remaining toner amount Vr
Can be calculated from Vd = kR and Vr = Vp-Vd or Vr = V0-Vd.

The toner remaining amount calculating means 44 calculates the toner consumption amount Vd and the toner remaining amount Vr by the above formula, and displays the toner consumption amount Vd and the toner remaining amount Vr on the toner remaining amount displaying means 45. Is notified to the user.

The output sheet number detecting means 46 detects the number of output sheets P of the image forming apparatus (the number of copies if the image forming apparatus is a copying machine, the number of print sheets if the output apparatus is a computer (printer), and the reception of a fax if the output apparatus is a fax machine. The number of sheets that can be output is calculated.
Calculates the toner consumption amount Vj per output sheet from the output sheet number P and the toner consumption amount Vd from the hopper 30 according to Vj = Vd ÷ P.

After calculating the toner consumption Vj per sheet by the above equation, the outputable sheet number calculating means 47 further calculates the remaining toner amount Vr in the hopper 30 and the toner consumption Vj per sheet. , The output possible number Pr of the image forming apparatus is calculated by Pr = Vr ÷ Vj. The calculation result Pr is notified to the user by displaying it on the outputtable number display means 48.

The present embodiment is configured as described above, and the replenishing motor 3 for replenishing toner from the hopper 31 to the developing device 4 is provided.
Since the toner remaining amount detecting means of the hopper 4 is constructed using the rotation speed detection of 2, the remaining amount of toner can be detected continuously instead of a fixed value, and the user can determine the remaining amount of toner in real time. Knowing the details in a similar manner makes it possible to manage the remaining amount of toner. Further, there is no problem of the mounting space as in the case of detecting the remaining amount of toner using the photo interrupter, and the number of components is reduced.

Further, the number of outputs of the image forming apparatus (the number of copies of the copying machine, the number of prints of the printer, the number of received facsimile) is counted, and this is combined with the detection result of the remaining amount of toner, and the remaining toner is used. Since the number of output sheets is obtained and notified to the user, it is very useful for the use of the user.

Embodiment 2 Another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

In the present embodiment, in order to determine the amount of toner k consumed from the hopper 30 per unit number of rotations of the supply motor 32, the toner amount Vs <Vp is determined with respect to the initial value Vp of the amount of toner stored in the hopper 30. A toner remaining amount sensor 3 is provided at a height position of the hopper 30 corresponding to the remaining amount Vs.
3 was installed.

When the sensor 33 detects that the remaining amount of toner in the hopper 30 has reached the set value Vs, the Vp input from the toner remaining amount initial value setting means 41 to Vs
Difference between Vp and Vs (Vp−V
s) is calculated, and the rotation speed R of the motor 32 during that time is compared with the toner consumption amount. From k = (Vp−Vs) ÷ R, the toner is supplied to the developing device 4 per unit rotation speed of the motor 32, and 30 to calculate and determine the consumption amount k of the consumed toner.

As described above, the toner consumption k per unit rotation speed of the motor 32 for the hopper 4 is determined on the spot by the toner consumption up to the installation position of the sensor 33, so that k is determined with high accuracy. Can be. The toner consumption recognition unit 43 recognizes k as a set value.

Thereafter, similarly to the first embodiment, the remaining amount of toner is detected by detecting the number of rotations of the supply motor 32 on the basis of Vs.

That is, using the rotation speed R of the motor 32 detected by the rotation speed detection means 42 and the value k recognized by the toner consumption recognition means 42, the toner remaining amount calculation means 4
4, the toner consumption amount Vd from the hopper 30 and the remaining toner amount Vr in the hopper 30 are calculated from Vd = k × R and Vr = Vs−Vd.

Next, after calculating the toner consumption Vd and the toner remaining amount Vr, the user is notified by displaying it on the toner remaining amount display means 45.

The output number detection means 46 counts the output number P (copy number, print number, fax reception number) of the image forming apparatus, and outputs possible number calculation means 47.
From the output sheet number P and the toner consumption amount Vd from the hopper 30, the toner consumption amount per output sheet Vj
(Vj = Vd ÷ P), and further, based on the remaining amount Vr of toner in the hopper 30 and the toner consumption Vj per output sheet, the number of output sheets Pr of the image forming apparatus (Pr = Vr ÷ P).
Vj) is calculated. Then, the calculation result Pr is displayed on the output possible number display means 48 to notify the user.

The present embodiment is configured as described above. By installing the toner remaining amount sensor 33 in the hopper 4 and detecting the toner consumption up to the sensor position,
Since the amount of toner k consumed from the hopper 30 per unit number of rotation of the supply motor 32 is determined on the spot of the hopper 4, the k value can be determined with high accuracy, and the remaining amount of toner can be detected by detecting the number of rotations of the motor 32. Accuracy can be further improved.

In the first and second embodiments, the first
The case where the present invention is applied to the developing device 4 has been described.
The present invention can be similarly applied if the second developing device 7 includes a hopper for supplying toner.

[0044]

As described above, according to the present invention,
By rotating the rotating member below the storage container of the developer supply means,
The number of rotations of the motor that supplies toner to the developing means from the storage container is detected, and this is used to detect the remaining amount of toner in the storage container. Therefore, the remaining toner amount is continuously detected instead of a fixed value. It is possible to know the remaining amount of toner in near real time and manage the remaining amount of toner. Further, there is no problem of the mounting space as in the case of detecting the remaining amount using the photo interrupter, and the number of components can be reduced.

Further, the number of outputs of the image forming apparatus (the number of copies of the copying machine, the number of prints of the printer, the number of received facsimile) is counted, and this is combined with the detection result of the remaining amount of toner to make it possible to use the remaining toner. Since the number of output sheets is obtained and notified to the user, it is very useful for the user.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an embodiment of an image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a unit used for detecting a remaining toner amount according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a maximum toner amount V0 that can be stored in a hopper of a developing device for detecting a remaining toner amount in the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a positional relationship between a toner amount and a toner amount initial value Vp.

FIG. 4 shows a maximum toner amount V that can be stored in a hopper of a developing device for detecting a remaining amount of toner in another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a positional relationship among 0, a toner amount initial value Vp, and a toner remaining amount Vs at a toner remaining amount detection sensor position.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 4 First developing device 30 Hopper 31 Screw 32 Supply motor 41 Initial toner amount setting means 32 Motor rotation number detecting means 43 Toner consumption recognition means 44 Toner remaining amount calculating means 45 Toner remaining amount displaying means

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Akio Ito 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Tomofumi Nakayama 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon F term in reference (reference) 2H027 DA41 DA42 DA45 DD02 DE07 GB03 GB10 GB11 2H077 DA12 DA15 DA35 DA42 DB10

Claims (6)

[Claims] A developing means for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier using a developer, wherein the developing means is provided with a developer replenishing means for replenishing the developer at an upper portion thereof; The replenishing unit rotates a storage container storing the developer, a rotating member installed in a lower portion of the storage container, and supplying the developer to the developing unit by rotating, and a rotating member attached to the rotating member. An image forming apparatus that transfers a visible image obtained by the development onto a transfer material and fixes the same, and then outputs the transfer material, and detects a rotation speed R of the motor. Rotation speed detection means, consumption amount recognition means for recognizing consumption k per unit rotation speed of the motor of developer consumed from the storage container by replenishment to the development means, and output value R of the rotation speed detection means
And a remaining amount calculating unit for calculating the remaining amount Vr of the developer remaining in the storage container by comparing the output value k of the consumption amount recognizing unit with the output value k of the consumption amount recognizing unit. And a remaining amount display unit for displaying an output value of the developer remaining amount calculation unit. 2. An initial value Vp of a developer amount in the storage container.
(However, with respect to the maximum possible developer amount V0 of the storage container, 0
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an initial value input unit for inputting <Vp ≦ V0) to the image forming apparatus main body. 3. A developer remaining amount fixing detecting means is provided at an arbitrary position where the remaining amount of developer in the storage container is Vs (where 0 <Vs <Vp), and the fixing detecting means detects the remaining amount of developer in the storage container. When detecting that the remaining amount of developer has reached Vs, detection of the remaining amount of developer Vr by the remaining amount of developer detecting means by detecting the number of rotations of the motor and display of the remaining amount displaying means are started. 1 or 2 image forming apparatus. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a consumption amount k per unit rotation speed of the motor is experimentally obtained in advance and is recognized by the consumption amount recognition unit. . 5. A consumption k per unit rotation speed of the motor is obtained from a consumption amount of toner between an initial value Vp of the developer and a remaining amount Vs and a rotation speed of the motor, and the consumption amount is calculated. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the recognition unit recognizes the image. 6. An output sheet number detecting means for counting the number of output sheets of the transfer material, and a developer remaining amount output value of the developer remaining amount detecting means based on the motor rotation number detection and an output value of the output sheet number detecting means are compared. By this means, the output possible number calculating means for calculating the possible output number of the transfer material by the remaining amount of developer by the developer remaining amount detecting means by the motor rotation speed detection, and the output value of the output possible number calculating means The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising an outputable number display unit for displaying.