JP2016045455A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus capable of stably and accurately reading identification information attached to a storage container for toner supply.SOLUTION: A printer 100 includes: a supply body 431 for mounting and supplying a toner bottle 440; supply motor 603 for rotating the toner bottle 440 supported by the support body 431; a motor driving circuit 602 for adjusting the rotational speed of the supply motor 603; a sensor 606 for reading a bar code 605 attached to the toner bottle 440 during the rotation of the toner bottle 440; and a determination part (S101) for determining whether or not the rotation of the toner bottle 440 is rotation at the time of reading of the bar code 605. When it is detected that the rotation of the toner bottle 440 is rotation at the time of reading of the bar code 605 by the determination part, the rotational speed of the toner bottle 440 is adjusted to be a second speed lower than a first speed being a rotational speed at the time of toner supply by the motor driving circuit 602.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a mounting portion for a container for supplying toner to a developing device.

  Conventionally, in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, an electrostatic latent image based on image data is formed on the surface of a photosensitive member by exposure from an exposure device, and the electrostatic latent image is applied as a developer from the developing device. An image is formed by supplying and visualizing the toner.

  In such an image forming apparatus, a one-component development method or a two-component development method is adopted. The one-component development method is a method for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on a photoreceptor using a one-component developer containing toner as a main component. On the other hand, the two-component development method is a method for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on a photoreceptor using a two-component developer containing toner and a magnetic carrier.

  In either method, the amount of toner stock is limited, so it is necessary to replenish new toner as necessary. As a method for replenishing toner, there is known a method in which a toner-enclosed type developing device is replaced by assuming that the toner has run out as a lifetime. There is also known a system in which new toner is supplied to the developing device main body as it is or using a container. From the viewpoint of running cost, the latter method is advantageous.

  An image forming apparatus that replenishes toner by the latter method includes a toner reservoir (hopper) that stores toner for replenishing the developer, a toner remaining amount calculator that calculates the remaining amount of toner in the reservoir, and a calculation There is known an image forming apparatus including a display unit for displaying a result. In this image forming apparatus, the toner remaining amount calculation unit calculates the toner remaining amount based on, for example, the cumulative number of rotations of a motor that is a driving source of a movable member provided in the toner storage unit, and displays the calculated amount on the display unit. The user determines the necessity of toner replenishment based on the display on the display unit, and replenishes new toner in the toner storage unit as necessary. An image forming apparatus is also known in which a toner detection sensor is provided on the side wall of the toner storage unit and the toner amount in the toner storage unit is monitored by the toner detection sensor.

  However, if the toner supply operation is frequent, the burden on the user increases. Therefore, in order to lengthen the toner replenishment interval and reduce the burden on the user, it is conceivable to employ a large toner reservoir that can store a large amount of toner, but there is a limit to the enlargement of the toner reservoir. In view of this, a technique has been proposed in which a container for supplying toner is applied to the toner storage unit and a new container is automatically delivered when it is detected that the amount of residual toner in the container has decreased (for example, , See Patent Document 1).

  In addition, in an inkjet recording apparatus, as a technique for managing the ink consumption of an ink cartridge, a technique for attaching a barcode to an ink cartridge and individually managing ink consumption based on the barcode has been proposed (for example, , See Patent Document 2).

  Therefore, attempts have been made to manage the container in the image forming apparatus using an identification mark such as a barcode.

JP 2011-197293 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 08-039824

  However, if an attempt is made to manage the storage container mounted on the image forming apparatus using an identification mark such as a barcode, there are the following problems. In other words, since the reading of the identification mark attached to the surface of the storage container is performed in a rotating state with the storage container mounted, depending on the rotation conditions of the storage container, the identification mark is caused by rotational speed, rotation unevenness, etc. Cannot be read accurately. If the identification mark cannot be read accurately, the container cannot be managed.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that can stably and accurately read an identification mark attached to a developer supply container.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, an image forming apparatus according to claim 1 is provided with a mounting portion on which a storage container storing a developer is mounted, a driving unit that rotates the storage container mounted on the mounting portion, and Control means for controlling the rotational speed of the drive means, and reading means for reading the identification information of the storage container attached to the storage container during rotation of the storage container, the control means comprising the storage container When the developer in the container is discharged, the drive means is controlled so that the rotational speed of the storage container mounted on the mounting part becomes the first rotational speed, and the storage container mounted on the mounting part is controlled. When the identification information is read, the driving unit is controlled so that the rotation speed of the storage container mounted on the mounting portion is a second rotation speed different from the first rotation speed.

  According to the present invention, since the second rotation speed of the container at the time of reading the identification mark is different from the first rotation speed at the time of discharging the developer, for example, it is slower than the first rotation speed. The identified identification mark can be read stably and accurately.

1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing a configuration of a developing device and a hopper unit in the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1. It is a perspective view which shows the one end part of a developing device and a hopper unit. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing one end portion of the toner supply device together with one end portion of a hopper unit. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a toner supply device and a hopper unit corresponding to FIG. 4. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of an identification information reader. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the identification information reading process performed by an identification information reading apparatus. It is a figure which shows the relationship between a barcode and the sensor which reads a barcode.

  Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment. This image forming apparatus is an electrophotographic printer.

  In FIG. 1, the printer 100 includes a photoconductor 101 as an image carrier, and a charger 102, an exposure device 103, a developing device 104, a transfer roller 106, and a photoconductor cleaner 117 provided corresponding to the photoconductor 101. ing. The drum-shaped photoconductor 101 rotates, for example, clockwise in FIG. 1 at a predetermined linear velocity by a driving unit (not shown). The charger 102 uniformly charges the surface of the rotating photosensitive member 101. The exposure device 103 is uniformly charged and scans the surface of the photoreceptor 101 with light based on image information to form an electrostatic latent image. The image information is sent from an unillustrated personal computer, for example.

  The developing device 104 supplies toner to the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor 101 and visualizes it as a toner image. The developing device 104 includes a hopper unit 120, and a toner bottle 440 serving as a container is disposed on the hopper unit 120. The hopper unit 120 stores toner for supplying toner to the developing device 104. The toner is replenished from the toner bottle 440 to the hopper unit 120 by rotating the toner bottle 440 that is detachable and easily replaceable according to the remaining amount of toner in the hopper unit 120. As the toner, for example, a two-component developer containing toner and a magnetic carrier is applied.

  The transfer unit is configured by a transfer roller 106 disposed below the photoconductor 101, a driving unit that rotationally drives the transfer roller 106, a power source (not shown) that applies a transfer bias to the transfer roller 106, and the like. . While the transfer roller 106 is in contact with the photoconductor 101 with a predetermined pressure to form a transfer nip portion, the surface of the transfer roller 106 moves in the same direction as the surface of the photoconductor 101 in FIG. Rotate clockwise. A transfer electric field is formed in the transfer nip portion due to the influence of the transfer bias.

  Below the transfer means, paper feed cassettes 107a and 107b for accommodating a bundle of transfer papers on which a plurality of transfer papers P as transfer bodies are stacked are disposed so as to overlap in the vertical direction, for example. A transfer path 130 for the transfer paper P is formed from the paper feed cassettes 107a and 107b to the transfer nip where the photoconductor 101 and the transfer roller 106 abut. In the conveyance path 130, paper feed rollers 171a and 171b, a plurality of conveyance roller pairs 108a and 108b, and a registration roller pair 109 are arranged.

  The transfer paper P in the paper feed cassettes 107a and 107b is sent out to the conveyance path 130 when the paper feed rollers 171a and 171b that are in contact with the uppermost transfer paper P are rotationally driven at a predetermined timing. The transfer paper P sent out to the conveyance path 130 is conveyed by the conveyance roller pair 108a and 108b, and is sandwiched between the rollers of the registration roller pair 109 and stopped.

  The registration roller pair 109 sends the sandwiched transfer paper P toward the transfer nip portion at a timing at which it can be superimposed on the toner image formed on the photoconductor 101. As a result, the toner image on the photoconductor 101 and the transfer paper P sent out by the registration roller pair 109 are in close contact with each other at the transfer nip portion. The toner image on the photoconductor 101 is electrostatically transferred to the transfer paper P by the action of the transfer electric field and the nip pressure (transfer pressure).

  On the downstream side of the transfer roller 106 in the transport direction of the transfer paper P, for example, an endless transport belt 110a stretched around two rollers is disposed. The conveyance belt 110a rotates in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. A fixing device 111 and a paper discharge roller pair 112 are sequentially arranged further downstream of the transport unit 110 in the transport direction of the transfer paper P. The fixing device 111 has a heat source such as a halogen lamp inside, and forms a fixing nip portion by a fixing roller pair 111a that rotates at a constant speed while being in contact with each other. The surface temperatures of the two fixing rollers 111a are maintained at a predetermined value, for example, 165 to 185 (° C.) by controlling the power supply to the heat source based on a detection result by a surface temperature sensor (not shown). Is done.

  The transfer paper P on which the toner image is electrostatically transferred by the transfer roller 106 is transported onto the transport belt 110a of the transport unit 110 as the photoconductor 101 and the transfer roller 106 rotate, and is then transferred to the fixing device 111. . The transfer paper P delivered to the fixing device 111 is heated and pressed at a fixing nip where the two fixing rollers 111 a come into contact, whereby the toner image is fixed on the surface thereof. The transfer paper P on which the toner image is fixed is discharged out of the system from the fixing device 111 via the paper discharge roller pair 112.

  Untransferred toner remaining on the surface of the photoconductor 101 without being electrostatically transferred onto the transfer paper P at the transfer nip is removed from the photoconductor 101 by the photoconductor cleaner 117. The photoreceptor 101 from which the transfer residual toner has been removed is neutralized by a static eliminator (not shown), and then uniformly charged by a charger 102, and applied to the next image formation. Further, the toner transferred from the photosensitive member 101 to the conveyance belt 110 a at the transfer nip portion is removed from the conveyance belt 110 a by the belt cleaner 110 b of the conveyance unit 110.

  Next, the developing device 104 and the hopper unit 120 in the printer 100 will be described in detail.

  2 is an enlarged view showing the configuration of the developing device 104 and the hopper unit 120 in the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing one end of the developing device 104 and the hopper unit 120. As shown in FIG.

  2 and 3, a hopper unit 120 as a toner storage unit is connected to the developing device 104 disposed on the side of the photosensitive member 101. The hopper unit 120 includes a toner conveying screw 251, a gear-like toner supply roller 252 as a movable member, a toner supply amount regulating plate 253, and a toner detection sensor 254.

  A receiving port 355 for receiving toner supplied from an upper toner bottle (not shown) is provided on the upper wall in the vicinity of one end of the hopper unit 120 (see FIG. 3). The toner replenished into the hopper unit 120 from the receiving port 355 is detected by a toner detection sensor 254 as toner detection means fixed to the side surface of the hopper unit 120. As the toner detection sensor 254, for example, a sensor that detects the presence or absence of toner by utilizing the fact that the vibration of the detection surface vibrated by the piezoelectric vibrator is hindered by the adhesion of the toner is applied. Note that a reflective photosensor or the like can be used as the toner detection sensor.

  The toner supplied into the hopper unit 120 is conveyed in the screw axial direction by a toner conveying screw 251 disposed in parallel with the photosensitive member 101, and the toner supply roller 252 arranged at the lower right in FIG. 2 of the screw 251. It falls a little at a time. The dropped toner is supplied to the developing device 104 after its thickness on the roller is regulated by the toner supply amount regulating plate 253 while being rotated along the surface of the toner supply roller 252.

  The developing device 104 includes a developing roller 241, a stirring paddle 242, a stirring roller 243, a regulating blade 244, a conveying screw 245, and a toner concentration sensor 246. The developing device 104 includes a separator 247 disposed on the right side of the developing roller 241 in FIG. For example, a two-component developer is used as the developer. The two-component developer contains a toner and a magnetic carrier.

  Next, a toner replenishing device that supplies toner to the hopper unit 120 will be described.

  4 is a perspective view showing one end portion of the toner replenishing device 400 together with one end portion of the hopper unit 120, and FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the toner replenishing device and the hopper unit corresponding to FIG.

  4 and 5, the toner replenishing device 400 includes a support 431 that detachably supports the toner bottle 440, a driving gear 432 for rotationally driving the toner bottle 440, and a replenishing motor that transmits rotational driving force to the driving gear 432. 603 is provided. The support 431 functions as a mounting portion for the toner bottle 440. The toner supply device 400 supports the toner bottle 440 above the hopper unit 120. The end of the toner bottle 440 is positioned directly above the toner receiving port 355 of the hopper unit 120, and the toner bottle 440 is supported in a state of lying down and extending in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the hopper unit 120. ing.

  The toner bottle 440 includes a bottle-shaped bottle main body 441 and a cap portion 442 fixed to the head of the bottle main body 441. On the inner peripheral surface of the bottle main body 441, a spiral protrusion 443 extending in the bottle axis direction is provided. A gear part 444 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the cap part 442. The support body 431 of the toner replenishing device 400 supports the toner bottle 440 in a state where the drive gear 432 is engaged with the gear portion 444 of the toner bottle 440.

  When the replenishment motor 603 is driven by a control unit (CPU 601) described later, the rotational driving force is transmitted to the gear unit 444 of the toner bottle 440 via the drive gear 432. As a result, the toner bottle 440 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 4, and the toner inside the toner bottle 440 moves toward the cap portion 442 along with the spiral movement of the spiral protrusion 443. Then, a part thereof is discharged from a discharge port 445 which is an opening provided in the tip surface of the cap portion 442 and supplied to the hopper unit 120 through the receiving port 355 of the hopper unit 120.

  The toner (not shown) supplied to the hopper unit 120 falls onto the toner transport screw 251 provided just beside the toner detection sensor 254 (see FIG. 5). Then, the toner is gradually dropped toward the toner supply roller 252 while being conveyed in the screw axis direction of the toner conveying screw 251.

  A control unit (CPU 601), which will be described later, replenishes toner from the toner bottle 440 toward the hopper unit 120 by driving the replenishment motor 603 based on the detection result by the toner detection sensor 254. Specifically, when toner is supplied from the hopper unit 120 to the developing device 104 by toner density control and the amount of toner in the hopper unit 120 decreases, the toner detection sensor 254 does not detect the toner. When the toner is not detected by the toner detection sensor 254, the control unit (CPU 601) drives the replenishment motor 603 until the toner is detected by the toner detection sensor 254, rotates the toner bottle 440, and supplies the toner to the hopper unit 120. Supply. The toner supplied to the hopper unit 120 is temporarily stored in the hopper unit 120 and then supplied to the developing device 104.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the toner supply roller 252 is disposed below the toner conveying screw 251 in the vertical direction. Therefore, unless a sudden abnormal situation occurs, the toner supply roller 252 is buried in the toner, and the toner supply amount per one rotation is very stable. Thus, toner supply to the developing device 104 is performed with high accuracy.

  Incidentally, since there is a limit to the amount of toner stored in the toner bottle that supplies toner to the hopper unit 120, the toner bottle is replaced before it is emptied, that is, when the remaining amount of toner falls below a predetermined value. However, if the toner bottle 440 with sufficient toner remaining inside is replaced with a new one, the toner will be wasted, which is uneconomical. Further, if the user suddenly notifies the user that the toner in the toner bottle 440 has become empty without any prior notice, the user cannot be given sufficient time to prepare a new toner bottle 440. Therefore, it is necessary to quantitatively detect the remaining amount of toner in the toner bottle 440 by some method and notify the user.

  As a method of detecting the remaining amount of toner in the toner bottle 440, a method of calculating the accumulated driving time of the replenishing motor 603 that rotationally drives the toner bottle 440 and obtaining the remaining amount of toner based on the result is suitably employed. Yes.

  When replacing the toner bottle, the user first removes the toner bottle that has been attached to the printer 100 so far. After that, the user installs a new toner bottle. The installed toner bottle may be a new one, but the old bottle that has been used or has been removed for some reason during use may be attached again. . In such a case, the toner remaining amount cannot be managed based on the cumulative driving time of the replenishment motor 603 unless the new and old bottles are accurately detected.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, an identification mark represented by a barcode is attached to the toner bottle, and the individual information of the identification mark is read using an identification information reading device to determine whether the toner bottle is new or old.

  The identification information reading device applied to this embodiment will be described below.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the identification information reading device.

  In FIG. 6, the identification information reading apparatus includes a sensor 606 disposed opposite to a barcode 605 as an identification mark attached to the surface of the toner bottle 440, and a replenishment motor 603 that rotates the toner bottle 440. A motor drive circuit 602 that varies the speed is provided. A barcode 605 describes individual information unique to the toner bottle 440. The sensor 606 reads the barcode attached to the toner bottle 440 while the toner bottle 440 is rotating.

  The sensor 606 is a fixed sensor, and the toner bottle 440 needs to be rotated in order to read the barcode 605 with the fixed sensor.

  The motor drive circuit 602 is connected to the CPU 601 and adjusts the rotational speed of the replenishment motor 603 in accordance with instructions from the CPU 601. The sensor 606 is connected to the CPU 601 via, for example, a data reading circuit 607, reads individual information from the barcode 605 according to an instruction from the CPU 601, and transmits the reading result to the CPU 601 via the data reading circuit 607 as output data 608. To do. The CPU 601 is also connected to the RAM 604.

  Therefore, the CPU 601 functions as a reading control unit that controls the entire identification information reading device. The RAM 604 stores data read by the sensor 606, or a table that prescribes unique information recorded in a barcode as an identification mark corresponding to an individual toner bottle stored in advance for each toner bottle. To do.

  The toner bottle identification information reading process using the identification information reading device of FIG. 6 will be described below. This identification information reading process is executed by the CPU 601 of the identification information reading device 600 according to a program stored in a ROM (not shown).

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a procedure of identification information reading processing executed by the identification information reading device 600.

  In FIG. 7, when the identification information reading process is started, the CPU 601 first determines whether or not the toner bottle of the printer 100 has been replaced (step S101). Such a determination is realized by using a well-known sensor, switch, etc., not shown. If the result of the determination in step S101 is that the toner bottle has not been replaced (“NO” in step S101), the CPU 601 determines whether or not the toner supply operation is in progress (step S102). As a result of the determination in step S102, when the toner replenishing operation is being performed (“YES” in step S102), the CPU 601 controls the replenishing motor 603 to place the toner bottle 440 in the toner replenishing speed, for example, the surface speed 318 (mm / sec). ) (Step S103).

  Next, the CPU 601 determines whether or not the toner supply has been completed (step S104). As a result of the determination in step S104, if the toner supply is completed (“YES” in step S104), the CPU 601 ends the process. On the other hand, if the result of determination in step S104 is that toner supply has not been completed (“NO” in step S104), the CPU 601 returns the process to step S103 and rotates the toner bottle 440 at the toner supply speed. If the result of determination in step S <b> 102 is that the toner replenishing operation is not in progress (“NO” in step S <b> 102), the CPU 601 ends this process.

  On the other hand, if the result of the determination in step S101 is that the toner bottle has been replaced (“YES” in step S101), the CPU 601 advances the process to step S105. That is, the CPU 601 controls the motor drive circuit 602 to drive the replenishment motor 603, and rotates the toner bottle 440 at the barcode reading speed (step S105). The barcode reading speed is, for example, 119 (mm / sec) as the surface speed. Next, after confirming that the rotation speed of the toner bottle 440 is stable and the toner bottle 440 is rotating after a predetermined time has elapsed, the CPU 601 controls the sensor 606 to read the barcode 605 (step S106). . A signal (information) read by the sensor 606 is input to the data reading circuit 607, subjected to predetermined processing, and then input to the CPU 601. Data (information) input to the CPU 601 is stored in the RAM 604.

  8A and 8B are diagrams showing the relationship between the barcode 605 and the sensor 606 that reads the barcode. FIG. 8A is an enlarged view of the barcode, and FIG. 8B is each barcode code and its code. It is a figure which shows the relationship with detection time. FIG. 8C is a diagram showing the positional relationship between the barcode 605 and the sensor 606.

  In FIG. 8C, the sensor 606 includes an LED 902 as a light emitting unit and an optical sensor 903 as a light receiving unit. Light emitted from the LED 902 is reflected by the surface of the printing unit (code) 901 of the barcode 605 and received by the optical sensor 903. At this time, a difference occurs in the amount of light received by the optical sensor 903 depending on whether or not the printing unit 901 is on the barcode 605. Therefore, the code on the barcode 605 is binarized and recognized by using this and using the threshold inside the sensor 606.

  For example, when the toner bottle 440 rotates at the surface speed V (mm / sec) in the direction of the arrow 702, the front end margin of the barcode is D (mm) 701, and the width of the wide portion of the barcode is L ( mm) 703, and the width of the narrow barcode portion is S (mm) 704 (FIG. 8A).

At this time, the count time Lcnt (801) of the wide part of the barcode is expressed by the following formula (1).
Lcnt = L (mm) / V (mm / sec) (1)
Further, the count time Scnt (802) of the narrow barcode portion is expressed by the following formula (2).
Scnt = S (mm) / V (mm / sec) (2)
Therefore, it is possible to determine whether the detected code is a wide code or a narrow code by using the following formula (3).

Cref (803) = Scnt + {(Lcnt−Scnt) / 2} (3)
That is, when the count time of the code read by the sensor 606 is longer than Cref (803) of the expression (3), it is recognized as a thick code, and when it is smaller, it is recognized as a narrow code (FIG. 8B). ).

  Here, the surface speed V (mm / sec) of the toner bottle 440 increases as the rotation speed of the replenishment motor 603 that rotates the toner bottle 440 increases. Therefore, when the rotation speed of the replenishing motor 603 is high, a high-resolution sensor using a high-speed clock, such as a 16-bit counter, must be used to obtain an accurate barcode count value. However, in the present embodiment, the rotational speed of the replenishing motor 603, and hence the surface speed V () of the toner bottle 440, can be accurately detected without using an expensive counter. mm / sec) is different from that at the time of toner supply. That is, the rotation speed (second rotation speed) of the replenishment motor 603 at the time of barcode reading is made slower than the rotation speed (first rotation speed) of the replenishment motor 603 at the time of toner replenishment. As a result, the code detection time in the sensor 606 when reading the bar code becomes relatively long, and thus accurate detection is possible.

  Returning to FIG. 7, after reading the barcode 605 (step S106), the CPU 601 advances the process to step S107. That is, the CPU 601 corrects the threshold value (Cref) based on the rotation speed (measured value) of the toner bottle 440 and compares it with the count data stored in the RAM 604. Next, the CPU 601 decodes the barcode information and converts it into code information, and stores the obtained individual information in the RAM 604 (step S107). Next, the CPU 601 compares the identification information included in the read individual information with the table stored in the RAM 604 and preliminarily specifying unique identification information for each toner bottle, and has the barcode 605 of the same identification information. It is determined whether or not (step S108).

  If there is no barcode whose identification information matches as a result of the determination in step S108, the CPU 601 determines that the attached toner bottle 440 is new (step S109), and ends the identification information reading process. On the other hand, if there is individual information whose identification information matches as a result of the determination in step S108, the CPU 601 determines that the attached toner bottle has been used before and is an old toner bottle that has been attached again (step S110). Then, the identification information reading process is terminated.

  According to the process of FIG. 7, at the first rotation after the toner bottle 440 is replaced, the barcode 605 is read by setting the rotation speed of the toner bottle to the barcode reading speed. Accordingly, the barcode 605 attached to the toner bottle 440 can be reliably read, and it can be accurately determined whether the installed toner bottle is a new one or an old one that has been previously installed. As a result of the new / old determination, the remaining amount of toner in the toner bottle (inside the container) is monitored based on the accumulated rotational drive time of the replenishment motor 603 and so on. Done. When the remaining amount of toner becomes a predetermined value or less, the user is advised to replace the toner bottle by a known method. As described above, according to the processing of FIG. 7, the toner bottle can be effectively managed by using the barcode.

  In this embodiment, the recommendation for replacing the toner bottle is made by, for example, displaying “Toner remaining low. Please prepare replacement” on the operation display unit of the printer 100 (not shown). Is called.

  In the present embodiment, the second rotation speed when the barcode of the toner bottle 440 is read is slower than the first rotation speed when the toner is replenished, and is preferably, for example, 1/2 or less. The lower the rotation speed of the toner bottle 440 at the time of barcode reading than the rotation speed at the time of toner replenishment, the better the barcode reading accuracy. The rotation speed of the toner bottle 440 at the time of barcode reading is changed within a range in which the processing capability does not decrease. Note that the first rotation speed at the time of toner replenishment can be reduced to the same level as the second rotation speed at the time of barcode reading as long as desired processing capability can be ensured.

  In this embodiment, when a DC brush motor is applied as the replenishing motor 603, the driving voltage at the time of barcode reading is lowered as compared with the driving voltage at the time of toner replenishment. That is, when the drive voltage at the time of toner replenishment is 24V, for example, the drive voltage at the time of barcode reading is set to 12V or less, for example.

  In the present embodiment, for example, a two-dimensional barcode including a wide code and a narrow code is preferably applied as the identification information.

100 Image forming apparatus (printer)
104 Developing Device 120 Hopper Unit 431 Support 440 Toner Bottle 601 CPU
602 Motor drive circuit 603 Supply motor 605 Bar code 606 Sensor

Claims (6)

A mounting portion on which a storage container storing a developer is mounted;
Driving means for rotating the container mounted on the mounting portion;
Control means for controlling the rotational speed of the drive means;
Reading means for reading the identification information of the storage container attached to the storage container during rotation of the storage container;
The control means controls the driving means so that the rotation speed of the storage container mounted on the mounting section becomes a first rotation speed when the developer in the storage container is discharged, and the mounting section When reading the identification information of the storage container mounted on the control unit, the driving unit is controlled so that the rotation speed of the storage container mounted on the mounting portion is a second rotation speed different from the first rotation speed. An image forming apparatus.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second rotation speed is slower than the first rotation speed.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the second rotation speed is ½ or less of the first rotation speed. It further has a detecting means for detecting whether or not the storage container has been replaced in the mounting portion,
The control means controls the driving means so that the rotation speed of the storage container mounted on the mounting portion becomes the second rotation speed when the detection means detects that the storage container has been replaced. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is an image forming apparatus. Comprising reading control means for controlling the reading means;
5. The reading control unit according to claim 1, wherein the reading control unit determines whether the storage container mounted on the mounting unit is new using a reading result of the reading unit. The image forming apparatus described. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the identification information is a two-dimensional barcode including a wide code and a narrow code.