CN118092104A - Image forming apparatus having a plurality of image forming units - Google Patents

Abstract

An image forming apparatus, to which a first toner container and a second toner container are mountable, includes an apparatus main body and a moving unit including a first developing unit and a second developing unit, the moving unit being configured to move relative to the apparatus main body between an inner position and an outer position. The first developing unit and the second developing unit are configured to replenish toner from a first toner container and a second toner container mounted on the image forming apparatus, respectively, in a state in which the moving unit is at an external position and supported by the apparatus main body. The moving unit is configured to be movable from an external position to an internal position in a state where the first toner container and the second toner container are mounted on the image forming apparatus.

Description

Image forming apparatus having a plurality of image forming units

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording material.

Background

Generally, an image forming apparatus of an electrophotographic system forms an image by transferring a toner image formed on a surface of a photosensitive drum to a transfer material as a transfer medium. For example, the process cartridge system or the toner container replenishment system is called a developer replenishment system. The process cartridge system is a system in which a photosensitive drum and a developer container are integrated into a process cartridge, and when the developer is exhausted, the process cartridge is replaced with a new process cartridge. On the other hand, the toner container replenishment system is a system in which, when toner is exhausted, toner is replenished from a toner container (such as a toner bag or a toner bottle) to a developer container.

JP 2020-154300A proposes an image forming apparatus in which a replenishment port of a developer container can be exposed by opening an opening and closing member opened in a top cover. The user may install a toner pack for toner replenishment on the exposed replenishment port and replenish the toner from the toner pack to the developer container.

In recent years, various forms of image forming apparatuses of toner container replenishment systems have been demanded by users.

Disclosure of Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention, an image forming apparatus, on which a first toner container configured to store toner of a first color and a second toner container configured to store toner of a second color different from the first color are mountable, includes an apparatus main body and a moving unit including a first developing unit configured to store toner of the first color and a second developing unit configured to store toner of the second color, the moving unit being configured to move relative to the apparatus main body between an inner position at which image formation is executable using the first developing unit and the second developing unit, and an outer position different from the inner position at which at least a part of the moving unit is exposed to the outside of the apparatus main body. The first developing unit and the second developing unit are configured to replenish toner from a first toner container and a second toner container mounted on the image forming apparatus, respectively, in a state in which the moving unit is at an external position and supported by the apparatus main body. The moving unit is configured not to be movable from an external position to an internal position in a state where the first toner container and the second toner container are mounted on the image forming apparatus.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, an image forming apparatus to which a toner container storing toner is mountable, the image forming apparatus comprising: a device body provided with an opening; a mounting portion on which the toner container is mountable; a moving unit including a developing unit and configured to move through the opening between an inner position at which image formation can be performed using the developing unit and an outer position different from the inner position at which at least a portion of the moving unit is exposed to the outside of the apparatus main body, the developing unit including a toner storage portion configured to store toner and to be replenished with toner from a toner container mounted on the mounting portion, a developing roller configured to carry the toner in the toner storage portion, and a stirring member configured to stir the toner in the toner storage portion; an opening and closing member configured to move between a closed position in which the opening of the apparatus body is closed and an open position in which the opening is opened; an actuator configured to drive the stirring member; a first detection unit configured to output an output value based on an amount of toner stored in the toner storage portion; an indication unit configured to perform remaining toner amount indication based on the output value output from the first detection unit; a second detection unit configured to detect movement of the opening and closing member; and a control unit configured to control the actuator, the first detection unit, and the indication unit. The moving unit is configured to supply toner from a toner container mounted on the image forming apparatus to the toner storage portion in a state in which the moving unit is at an external position and supported by the apparatus main body, and is configured not to be movable from the external position to the internal position in a state in which the toner container is mounted on the image forming apparatus. The control unit performs: (i) A first control of controlling the actuator to start driving the stirring member based on the second detection unit detecting that the opening and closing member is moved from the open position to the closed position; (ii) A second control of controlling the first detection unit to output the output value; and (iii) a third control, i.e., a control instruction unit performs the remaining toner amount instruction.

Further features of the invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view illustrating an image forming apparatus.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view illustrating a state in which the replenishment pack is mounted on the process cartridge.

Fig. 4 is a plan view illustrating a cartridge tray and a process cartridge.

Fig. 5A is a perspective view illustrating the replenishment part in a state where the operation lever is positioned at the operation position.

Fig. 5B is a perspective view illustrating a replenishment part in a state where the operation lever is positioned at a replenishment position.

Fig. 5C is a perspective view illustrating the replenishment part in a state where the operation lever is positioned at the operation position.

Fig. 6A is an exploded perspective view illustrating a replenishment part.

Fig. 6B is another exploded perspective view illustrating the replenishment part.

Fig. 7A is a side view illustrating the operation lever and the switch positioned at the operation position.

Fig. 7B is a side view illustrating the operation lever and the switch positioned at the replenishment position.

Fig. 8A is a perspective view illustrating a replenishment pack.

Fig. 8B is another perspective view illustrating the replenishment pack.

Fig. 9A is an exploded perspective view illustrating a replenishment pack.

Fig. 9B is another exploded perspective view illustrating the replenishment pack.

Fig. 9C is another exploded perspective view illustrating the replenishment pack.

Fig. 10A is a perspective view illustrating an image forming apparatus in a state where a front door is closed.

Fig. 10B is a perspective view illustrating an image forming apparatus in a state where a front door is opened.

Fig. 10C is a perspective view illustrating the image forming apparatus in a state where the cassette tray is pulled out.

Fig. 10D is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the replenishment pack is mounted on the process cartridge.

Fig. 11A is a perspective view illustrating a state immediately before the replenishment pack is mounted on the replenishment part.

Fig. 11B is another perspective view illustrating a state immediately before the replenishment pack is mounted on the replenishment part.

Fig. 12A is a perspective view illustrating a modification of the indicator arrangement.

Fig. 12B is a perspective view illustrating a modification of the indicator arrangement.

Fig. 12C is a perspective view illustrating a modification of the indicator arrangement.

Fig. 12D is a perspective view illustrating a modification of the indicator arrangement.

Fig. 13 is a block diagram illustrating a control system of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment.

Fig. 14A is a perspective view illustrating an image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment in a state where a front door is closed.

Fig. 14B is a perspective view illustrating an image forming apparatus in a state where a front door is opened.

Fig. 14C is a perspective view illustrating the image forming apparatus in a state where the cassette tray is pulled out.

Fig. 14D is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the replenishment pack is mounted on the replenishment port.

Fig. 15A is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a replenishment pack is mounted on a replenishment port provided in a device main body.

Fig. 15B is a plan view illustrating a state in which a replenishment pack is mounted on a replenishment port provided in a device main body.

Fig. 15C is a cross-sectional view taken along line 15C-15C of fig. 15B.

Fig. 16A is a sectional view illustrating a state in which the mounting portion shutter is positioned at the closed position.

Fig. 16B is a sectional view illustrating a state in which the mounting portion shutter is positioned at the open position.

Fig. 17 is a block diagram illustrating a control system of an image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment.

Fig. 18A is a perspective view illustrating an image forming apparatus according to the third embodiment in a state where a front door is closed.

Fig. 18B is a perspective view illustrating an image forming apparatus in a state where a front door is opened.

Fig. 18C is a perspective view illustrating the image forming apparatus in a state where the cassette tray is pulled out.

Fig. 18D is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the replenishment pack is mounted on the replenishment port.

Fig. 19A is a plan view illustrating the inside of the replenishment port.

Fig. 19B is a perspective view illustrating the replenishment pack.

Fig. 19C is an exploded perspective view illustrating the replenishment port and the replenishment pack.

Fig. 19D is a plan view illustrating a replenishment path for each process cartridge.

Fig. 20A illustrates a side view of the locking mechanism and the cassette tray.

Fig. 20B is a sectional view illustrating the locking mechanism and the cassette tray.

Fig. 20C is a sectional view illustrating a state in which the stopper of the lock mechanism is positioned at the lock position.

Fig. 21A is a side view illustrating a stopper positioned at an unlock position.

Fig. 21B is a side view illustrating the stopper positioned at the locking position.

Fig. 21C is a side view illustrating the stopper and the solenoid positioned at the unlock position.

Fig. 21D is a side view illustrating the stopper and the solenoid positioned at the lock position.

Fig. 22 is a block diagram illustrating a control system of the image forming apparatus according to the third embodiment.

Fig. 23 is a side view illustrating a supporting portion of the front door.

Fig. 24 is a plan view illustrating an image forming apparatus according to a fourth embodiment.

Fig. 25A is a perspective view illustrating an image forming apparatus according to the fourth embodiment in a state where a front door is closed.

Fig. 25B is a perspective view illustrating an image forming apparatus in a state where a front door is opened.

Fig. 25C is a perspective view illustrating the image forming apparatus in a state in which the process cartridge is pulled out.

Fig. 25D is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the replenishment pack is mounted on the replenishment port.

Fig. 26 is a block diagram illustrating a control system of an image forming apparatus according to the fifth embodiment.

Fig. 27 is a perspective view illustrating an image forming apparatus according to a fifth embodiment.

Fig. 28A is a perspective view in which an indication portion indicates an almost depletion level.

Fig. 28B is a perspective view in which the indication portion indicates a low level.

Fig. 28C is a perspective view in which the indication portion indicates a medium level.

Fig. 28D is a perspective view in which the indication portion indicates a full level.

Fig. 29 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a threshold value for switching the remaining toner amount display and the toner amount in the storage portion.

Fig. 30A is a view illustrating an example of the replenishment mode display on the instruction section.

Fig. 30B is a view illustrating another example of the replenishment mode display on the instruction section.

Fig. 31 is a flowchart illustrating control in the toner replenishing operation according to the fifth embodiment.

Fig. 32 is a flowchart illustrating control in the toner replenishing operation according to the sixth embodiment.

Detailed Description

First embodiment

Overall configuration

First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described. The image forming apparatus 1 is a full-color laser printer of an electrophotographic system, which includes four process cartridges. The number of process cartridges mounted on the image forming apparatus 1 is not limited thereto, and is appropriately set as necessary.

As shown in fig. 1 to 3, the image forming apparatus 1 includes an apparatus main body 2 and a front door 3, the apparatus main body 2 being provided with an opening 2a, the front door 3 serving as an opening and closing member openable and closable with respect to the apparatus main body 2. In the image forming apparatus 1, four process cartridges can be pulled out by pulling out a cartridge tray 40 (see fig. 2) described below through the opening 2a in a state in which the front door 3 is opened. The front door 3 is movable relative to the apparatus body 2 between a closed position for closing the opening 2a and an open position for opening the opening 2 a.

Here, the side of the image forming apparatus 1 on which the front door 3 is provided is defined as a front surface, and the surface opposite to the front surface is defined as a back surface (rear surface). The right side of the image forming apparatus 1 when viewed from the front is referred to as a driving side, and the left side of the image forming apparatus 1 is referred to as a non-driving side. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus 1 when seen from the non-driving side, in which the front side of the drawing is the non-driving side of the image forming apparatus 1, the right side of the drawing is the front side of the image forming apparatus 1, and the back side of the drawing is the driving side of the image forming apparatus 1.

As shown in fig. 2, includes an image forming unit 70 that forms an image on the recording material S, a sheet feeding unit 18, a fixing unit 21, and a sheet discharging roller pair 22. The image forming unit 70 includes four process cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK, a cartridge tray 40, and a scanner unit LB, which form toner images of four colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K), respectively. The cartridge tray 40 serving as a movable frame body is configured to be pullable from the apparatus body 2 of the image forming apparatus 1, and supports four process cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK. The recording material S includes paper (such as a sheet or envelope), plastic film (such as a sheet for overhead projector (OHP)), cloth, and the like.

In the apparatus main body 2, the process cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK in a state supported by the cartridge tray 40 are arranged in the horizontal direction. The direction in which the four process cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK are arranged is defined as the X direction. The four process cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK are mounted on a cartridge tray 40, and the cartridge tray 40 can be pulled out from the apparatus main body 2 toward the front side (that is, downstream in the X direction), and arranged in black (K), cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y) from the front side. Although details are described below, in the present embodiment, toner is supplied to the process cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK in a state where the front door 3 is opened and the cartridge tray 40 is pulled out forward from the apparatus main body 2. In addition, in a state where each of the process cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK serving as cartridges is mounted on the apparatus main body 2, a rotational driving force is transmitted from a drive output unit (not shown) of the apparatus main body 2, and a bias is applied from the apparatus main body 2.

The mobile unit MU includes the process cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK and a cartridge tray 40. The mobile unit MU is configured to be movable between an inner position and an outer position with respect to the apparatus main body 2. The internal position is a position where image formation can be performed using the process cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK, the external position is a position different from the internal position, and is a position where at least a part of the mobile unit MU is exposed to the outside of the apparatus main body 2. The developing roller 6 of each of the process cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK is rotatable about a rotation axis extending in the Y direction, and the movement unit MU is movable in the X direction intersecting the Y direction. In other words, the developing roller 6 serving as the first developing roller of the process cartridge PK is rotatable about the first rotation axis extending in the Y direction. The developing roller 6 serving as a second developing roller of the process cartridge PK is rotatable about a second rotation axis extending in the Y direction.

The four process cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK have the same configuration, except for the colors of the images to be formed. Therefore, only the configuration of the process cartridge PY and the image forming process will be described, and the descriptions of the process cartridges PM, PC, and PK will be omitted.

The process cartridge PY includes a cleaning unit 8 and a developing device 9, the cleaning unit 8 including the photosensitive drum 4 and the charging roller 5, and the developing device 9 including the developing roller 6 and the developing frame body 29. The photosensitive drum 4 serving as an image bearing member is configured by applying an organic photoconductive layer to the outer periphery of an aluminum cylinder, and is rotated by a rotational driving force transmitted from the apparatus main body 2. The photosensitive drum 4 is irradiated with laser light Z from the scanner unit LB via an exposure window 10 of the process cartridge PY. A photosensitive belt may be used in place of the photosensitive drum 4. The developing frame body 29 stores yellow (Y) toner, and rotatably supports the developing roller 6 serving as a developing member.

The intermediate transfer belt 12 wound around the driving roller 14, the tension rollers 13 and 15, and the like is provided in the image forming unit 70, and the intermediate transfer belt 12 is rotated in the direction of arrow C in drawing by the driving roller 14. Primary transfer rollers 16Y, 16M, 16C, and 16K are provided inside the intermediate transfer belt 12. The photosensitive drum 4 and the primary transfer roller 16Y of the process cartridge PY abut each other to form the primary transfer nip 30.

The fixing unit 21 includes a fixing film 21a and a pressure roller 21b, the fixing film 21a being heated by a heater, the pressure roller 21b being in pressure contact with the fixing film 21 a. The sheet feeding unit 18 is provided at a lower portion of the image forming apparatus 1, and includes a feeding cassette 19, and the feeding cassette 19 can be pulled out from the apparatus main body and mounted on the apparatus main body 2.

Next, an image forming operation of the image forming apparatus 1 configured as described above will be described. When an image signal is input to the scanner unit LB from a personal computer (not shown) or the like, laser light Z corresponding to the image signal is emitted from the scanner unit LB onto the photosensitive drum 4 of the process cartridge PY.

At this time, the surface of the photosensitive drum 4 is uniformly charged to a predetermined polarity and potential by the charging roller 5 in advance, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 4 by irradiation of laser light from the scanner unit LB. The electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 4 is developed by the developing roller 6, and a yellow (Y) toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 4.

Similarly, the respective photosensitive drums of the process cartridges PM, PC, and PK are also irradiated with laser light from the scanner unit LB, and toner images of magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) are formed on the respective photosensitive drums. The toner image of each color formed on each photosensitive drum is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 12 by the primary transfer rollers 16Y, 16M, 16C, and 16K, and is conveyed to the secondary transfer roller 17 by the intermediate transfer belt 12 rotated by the driving roller 14.

The image forming process for each color is performed at the timing of superimposing the toner image on the upstream toner image primary-transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 12. After the toner images of the respective colors are transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 12, the toners remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 4 are collected by the cleaning unit 8. A cleanerless configuration may be employed in which residual toner after transfer on the photosensitive drum 4 is collected by the developing device 9 and reused.

In parallel with this image forming process, the recording material S accommodated in the feed cassette 19 of the sheet feeding unit 18 is fed by the pickup roller 20. The recording materials S fed by the pickup roller 20 are separated one by one at a separation nip formed by the feed roller 20a and the separation roller 20 b.

A torque limiter (not shown) is mounted on the separation roller 20b, and the separation roller 20b does not rotate in the case where two or more sheets enter the separation nip, and the separation roller 20b rotates following the feed roller 20a in the case where one sheet enters the separation nip. A so-called retard roller system may be employed in which a rotational drive in a direction opposite to the sheet feeding direction is input to the separation roller 20b.

The recording materials S separated one by the separation nip are conveyed to the registration roller pair 20c. The recording material S whose skew feed has been corrected by the registration roller pair 20c is conveyed at a predetermined conveyance timing according to the image forming process. Then, the full-color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 12 is transferred to the recording material S by the secondary transfer bias applied to the secondary transfer roller 17.

The predetermined heat and pressure are applied to the recording material S to which the toner image has been transferred through the fixing film 21a and the pressure roller 21b of the fixing unit 21. The recording material S having passed through the fixing unit 21 is discharged to a sheet discharge tray 23 by a sheet discharge roller pair 22.

Replenishing part

Next, replenishment parts 200Y, 200M, 200C, and 200K respectively arranged on top surface portions of the process cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK will be described with reference to fig. 3 to 7B. Fig. 3 is a sectional view illustrating a state in which replenishment packs 210Y, 210M, 210C, and 210K are mounted on the process cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK, respectively. Fig. 4 is a plan view illustrating the cartridge tray 40 and the process cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK. In fig. 4, the grip portion 201b (see fig. 5A) of the operation lever 201 is omitted.

As shown in fig. 3 and 4, when the user pulls out the cartridge tray 40 from the apparatus main body 2, the process cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK are exposed to the outside. The cassette tray 40 includes a handle portion 41, and the handle portion 41 is gripped when a user pulls out the cassette tray 40. The process cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK include replenishment portions 200Y, 200M, 200C, and 200K for replenishing toner, respectively. The replenishment portions 200Y, 200M, 200C, and 200K are positioned at the same position in the Y direction, which serves as an intersecting direction intersecting the X direction serving as the movement direction of the mobile unit MU. In other words, the replenishment portions 200Y, 200M, 200C, and 200K are arranged to overlap each other when viewed from the X direction. For example, a replenishment portion 200K serving as a first developing mounting portion is provided at one end of the process cartridge PK in the Y direction. The replenishment part 200C serving as the second developing mounting part is provided at an end of the process cartridge PC on the side where the replenishment part 200K is positioned in the Y direction. The replenishment sections 200Y, 200M, 200C, and 200K are included in the mounting section 200U, and are exposed to the outside when the cartridge tray 40 is pulled out from the apparatus main body 2. That is, when the mobile unit MU is at the external position, the replenishment parts 200Y, 200M, 200C, and 200K are exposed to the outside of the apparatus main body 2. At this time, there are no components of the image forming apparatus 1 and the like, and there is an open space immediately above the replenishment portions 200Y, 200M, 200C, and 200K.

The replenishment packs 210Y, 210M, 210C, and 210K store yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) toners, respectively, and the toners are supplied to the storage portion 9a of the developing device 9 via replenishment portions 200Y, 200M, 200C, and 200K. That is, the replenishment parts 200Y, 200M, 200C, and 200K are configured such that replenishment packages 210Y, 210M, 210C, and 210K are attachable to and detachable from the replenishment parts 200Y, 200M, 200C, and 200K, respectively, and when toner is replenished, a user performs a toner replenishment operation described below. As shown in fig. 3, replenishment packs 210Y, 210M, 210C, and 210K do not have to be mounted on replenishment parts 200Y, 200M, 200C, and 200K at the same time, and one to three replenishment packs may be mounted thereon.

The replenishment portions 200Y, 200M, 200C, and 200K have the same configuration except that the colors of toners to be replenished are different. Therefore, in the case where the replenishing portions 200Y, 200M, 200C, and 200K are not particularly distinguished from each other, reference characters "Y", "M", "C", and "K" are omitted, and the replenishing portions 200Y, 200M, 200C, and 200K will be described as the replenishing portion 200 below. Similarly, the replenishment packs 210Y, 210M, 210C, and 210K have the same configuration except that the colors of the stored toners are different. Accordingly, in the case where the replenishment packs 210Y, 210M, 210C, and 210K are not particularly distinguished, reference characters "Y", "M", "C", and "K" are omitted, and the replenishment packs 210Y, 210M, 210C, and 210K will be described below as replenishment packs 210. The image forming apparatus 1 and the replenishment pack 210 are included in an image forming system.

A detailed configuration of the replenishment part 200 on which the replenishment pack 210 is mounted will be described. Fig. 5A and 5B are perspective views of the replenishment part 200 when seen from the same direction. Fig. 5C is a perspective view of the replenishment part 200 when viewed from a different angle from that in fig. 5A. Fig. 6A and 6B are exploded perspective views of the replenishment part 200.

As shown in fig. 6A and 6B, the replenishment part 200 includes an operation lever 210 serving as an operation part, a rotation restriction member 247, a cover 248, a sealing member 243, a main body shutter 206, and a passage member 202. The body shutter 206 is configured to be rotatable (movable) with respect to the passage member 202 about the rotation axis RA. The body shutter 206 is disposed inside the tubular passage member 202, and has a body shutter opening 206a. In addition, the body shutter 206 includes a body shutter engagement portion 206b, and a container shutter to be described below with the container shutter 214 is engaged by the engagement portion 214 b. When a virtual circle centered on the rotation axis RA is the virtual circle VC, the body shutter engagement portion 206b is a protruding portion protruding inward in the radial direction r of the virtual circle VC.

In the case where the main body shutter 206 is positioned at the closed position shown in fig. 5A, the main body shutter opening 206a and the side surface opening 202a (see fig. 6B) of the passage member 202 do not overlap with each other. That is, the body shutter opening 206a and the side surface opening 202a of the passage member 202 do not communicate with each other. Therefore, the side surface opening 202a is blocked by the main body shutter 206, and the toner is not discharged to the extending portion 202b of the passage member 202. When the body shutter 206 is positioned in the open position shown in fig. 5B, the body shutter opening 206a and the side surface opening 202a of the passage member 202 overlap each other. That is, the body shutter opening 206a and the side surface opening 202a of the passage member 202 communicate with each other. Accordingly, the toner replenished from the replenishment bag 210 mounted on the replenishment part 200 can pass through the main body shutter opening 206a and the side surface opening 202a to be discharged to the extension portion 202b of the passage member 202.

As will be described in detail below, when the operation lever 201 is rotated in a state where the replenishment pack 210 is mounted on the replenishment part 200, the main body shutter 206 moves (rotates) between the closed position and the open position. That is, when the operation lever 201 is rotated 90 degrees counterclockwise by the user, the main body shutter 206 moves from the closed position shown in fig. 5A to the open position shown in fig. 5B.

The sealing member 243 is attached to the inner peripheral surface side of the body shutter 206 around the body shutter opening 206 a. The sealing member 243 has a sealing opening 243a. The sealing member 243 is attached to the body shutter 206 such that the sealing opening 243a overlaps with the body shutter opening 206 a. When the body shutter 206 is in the open position, the sealing member 243 seals a gap between the periphery of an insertion portion opening 212a of an insertion portion 212 of the replenishment pack 210 described below and the body shutter 206.

The rotation restriction member 247 is fixed to the passage member 202, and is provided inside the body shutter 206 in the radial direction r of the virtual circle VC. The rotation restriction member 247 includes a rotation restriction portion 247a, and the rotation restriction portion 247a engages with a rotation restricted portion 212b of the insertion portion 212 of the replenishment pack 210 described below to restrict rotation of the insertion portion 212 about the rotation axis RA.

The operation lever 201 includes a ring portion 201a and a grip portion 201b integrally provided with the ring portion 201a, the ring portion 201a having a replenishment port 204, and an insertion portion 212 of a replenishment pack 210 being inserted into the replenishment port 204. The lever 201 includes a lever engagement portion 201d, and the lever engagement portion 201d serves as an engagement portion that protrudes inward in the radial direction r of the virtual circle VC from the inner peripheral surface forming the replenishment port 204. As shown in fig. 5C, when the main body shutter 206 is at the closed position, the lever engagement portion 201d is in the same phase as the main body shutter engagement portion 206b in the circumferential direction of the virtual circle VC. In other words, when the main body shutter 206 is at the closed position, the lever engagement portion 201d overlaps with the main body shutter engagement portion 206b as seen from the direction of the rotation axis RA. The cover 248 is a member fixed to the passage member 202 and covers the body shutter opening 206a when the body shutter 206 is in the closed position as shown in fig. 5A.

When image formation is performed on the recording material P, the toner in the storage portion 9a is stirred by the stirring member 34 (see fig. 3), and the side surface opening 202a is blocked by the main body shutter 206 so that the toner does not leak from the side surface opening 202a of the passage member 202. Therefore, at the time of image formation, the operation lever 201 is positioned at the operation position (restricting position) shown in fig. 5A, so that the main shutter 206 is positioned at the closed position. On the other hand, when toner is replenished to the storage portion 9a serving as a toner storage portion from a replenishment pack 210 described below, it is necessary to open the side surface opening 202a. Therefore, at the time of toner replenishment, the operation lever 201 is positioned at the replenishment position (permission position) shown in fig. 5B, so that the body shutter 206 is positioned at the open position. The operation lever 201 restricts toner replenishment of the storage portion 9a from the replenishment pack 210 mounted on the replenishment portion 200 at the operation position, and allows replenishment of the storage portion 9a from the replenishment pack 210 at the replenishment position.

Fig. 7A and 7B are side views illustrating the operation lever 201 and the switch 55. As shown in fig. 6A and 7A, the operation lever 201 includes a rib 201c to be detected, the rib 201c being integrally formed with the ring portion 201 a. A switch 55 serving as a third detection unit is provided below the ring portion 201 a. When the operation lever 201 is positioned at the operation position, the switch 55 is turned off without contact with the rib 201c to be detected. When the operation lever 201 is positioned at the replenishment position, the switch 55 is in contact with the rib 201c to be detected, and is closed.

As described above, when the switch 55 is opened or closed, it can be detected that the operation lever 201 is positioned at the operation position or the replenishment position. When the switch 55 is switched from the open state to the closed state, it can be detected that the operation lever 201 has moved from the operation position to the replenishment position. When the switch 55 is switched from the open state to the closed state, it can be detected that the operation lever 201 has moved from the replenishment position to the operation position.

Replenishment bag

Next, the configuration of the replenishment pack 210 will be described with reference to fig. 8A to 9C. Fig. 8A and 8B are perspective views of the refill 210 from different angles. Fig. 9A, 9B, and 9C are exploded perspective views of the replenishment pack 210 from different angles. In fig. 8B, the insertion portion opening 212a is covered by the container shutter 214 and is practically invisible, and is thus indicated by a dotted line.

As shown in fig. 8A to 9C, the replenishment pack 210 includes a bag 211, an insertion portion 212 (end member), a container shutter 214, and a container shutter seal 231. The rotation axis RA is a rotation axis when the container shutter 214 rotates relative to the insertion portion 212.

The bag 211 is a container in which a polypropylene sheet is formed into a bag shape by a process of being in a bag shape, and in which toner is stored. The pocket 211 has a shape in which the pocket 211 becomes flat toward the side opposite to the insertion portion 212, and has a pocket end portion 211a extending in a direction orthogonal to the rotation axis RA at the tip of the pocket 211. In the present embodiment, a bag is used as the toner storage portion of the replenishment pack 210, but a resin bottle or a container made of paper or vinyl may be used.

The insertion portion 212 is a cylindrical member that can be inserted into the replenishment port 204 of the operation lever 201, and an insertion portion opening 212a is provided in a side surface extending in the direction of the rotation axis RA. The insertion portion 212 is a member provided at an end of the bag 211 in the direction of the rotation axis RA, and discharges the toner in the bag 211 to the outside of the replenishment pack 210 through the insertion portion opening 212 a. The insertion portion 212 further includes a rotation-restricted portion 212b. Rotation of the insertion portion 212 about the rotation axis RA is restricted by engagement of the rotation-restricting portion 212b with the rotation-restricting portion 247a of the rotation-restricting member 247 of the replenishment portion 200.

The container shutter 214 is a cylindrical member concentric with the insertion portion 212. The container shutter 214 is rotatable with respect to the insertion portion 212 about the rotation axis RA outside the insertion portion 212 in the radial direction r of the virtual circle VC. The container shutter 214 is configured to move (rotate) between a closed position where the container shutter 214 closes the insertion portion opening 212a and an open position where the container shutter 214 opens the insertion portion opening 212a.

The container shutter 214 has a container shutter opening 214c (opening portion). When the container shutter 214 is at the open position, the container shutter opening 214c and the insertion portion opening 212a overlap each other and communicate with each other. At this time, the toner can be discharged from the replenishment pack 210 to the outside of the replenishment pack 210 through the container shutter opening 214c and the insertion portion opening 212 a. When the container shutter 214 is at the closed position, the insertion portion opening 212a is closed by the container shutter 214. At this time, the toner is not discharged from the replenishment pack 210 to the outside of the replenishment pack 210. When the replenishment pack 210 is not mounted on the image forming apparatus 1, the container shutter 214 is at the closed position. When the container shutter 214 is at the closed position, the rotation restricted portion 212b of the insertion portion 212 is exposed from the container shutter opening 214 c. This will be described below.

When the replenishment pack 210 is mounted on the replenishment part 200, a container shutter engaged portion 214b that engages with the lever engaging portion 201d of the lever 201 and the main body shutter engaging portion 206b of the main body shutter 206 is provided at the outer peripheral surface of the container shutter 214. The container shutter engaged portion 214b serving as an engaged portion is a recessed portion recessed inward from the outer peripheral surface of the container shutter 214 in the radial direction r of the virtual circle VC, and extends to the distal end of the container shutter 214 on the side away from the bag 211 in the direction of the rotation axis RA. When the container shutter engaged portion 214b receives a force from the lever engaging portion 201d of the lever 201 in the rotation direction around the rotation axis RA, the container shutter 214 rotates relative to the insertion portion 212. The container shutter engaged portion 214b need not be a recessed portion as long as the container shutter engaged portion 214b is engaged with the operation lever 201 and the container shutter 214 is rotated by the rotation of the operation lever 201.

The container shutter seal 231 is attached to the inner peripheral surface of the container shutter 214. When the container shutter 214 is in the closed position, the container shutter seal 231 seals between the periphery of the insertion portion opening 212a of the insertion portion 212 and the container shutter 214.

Toner replenishment operation

Next, an operation of supplying toner to the process cartridge by the user will be described with reference to fig. 10A to 11B. Fig. 10A is a perspective view illustrating the image forming apparatus 1 in a state where the front door 3 is positioned at the closed position, and fig. 10B is a perspective view illustrating the image forming apparatus 1 in a state where the front door 3 is positioned at the open position. Fig. 10C is a perspective view illustrating the image forming apparatus 1 in a state where the cartridge tray 40 is pulled out, and fig. 10D is a perspective view illustrating the image forming apparatus 1 in a state where the replenishment pack 210K is mounted on the process cartridge PK. Fig. 11A and 11B are perspective views of the replenishment part 200 of the image forming apparatus 1 and the replenishment pack 210 mounted on the replenishment part 200 immediately before, viewed from different directions.

As shown in fig. 10A and 10B, in the case of replenishing the toner, the user first moves the front door 3 from the closed position to the open position. The front door 3 is rotatable about a fulcrum provided at the lower portion and can be opened from a closed position to an open position by about 90 ^°. When opening the front door 3, the user may directly hold and open the front door 3, or may open the front door 3 by pressing a button 50 provided in a side surface of the apparatus body 2. When the button 50 is pressed, the front door 3 is unlocked, and the front door 3 is opened by a spring (not shown) or its own weight to move to the open position.

As shown in fig. 10B, the front door 3 is held at the open position by the link members 51L and 51R, and the link members 51L and 51R are attached to the frame of the apparatus main body 2. Further, the opening and closing (that is, the movement) of the front door 3 is detected by a door opening and closing sensor 54.

Next, as shown in fig. 10B and 10C, the user puts his/her hand on the grip portion 41 of the cartridge tray 40, and pulls out the cartridge tray 40 toward the front side (that is, downstream in the X direction) with respect to the apparatus main body 2. As a result, the process cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK supported by the cartridge tray 40 are also pulled out toward the front side (that is, downstream in the X direction) with respect to the apparatus main body 2, and the user can take the process cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK. The cartridge tray 40 can be pulled out to a position where the four process cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK can be taken by the user, and locked so as not to be pulled out toward the front side from the position. The state in which the cartridge tray 40 is pulled out is a state in which the cartridge tray 40 is mounted on the apparatus main body 2 in the X direction and the image formation can be performed is pulled out downstream, and is a state in which the cartridge tray 40 is supported by the apparatus main body 2. That is, the cartridge tray 40 is supported by a rail or the like provided in the apparatus main body 2 in a state of being pulled out from the apparatus main body 2, and is not separated from the apparatus main body 2.

In the present embodiment, the replenishment part 200 is provided at the downstream end portion of the process cartridge in the Y direction, but is not limited thereto. For example, the replenishment portion 200 may be provided at a center portion or an upstream end portion of the process cartridge in the Y direction. When the cartridge tray 40 is pulled out from the apparatus main body 2, the cartridge tray 40 is supported from below by the front door 303 positioned at the open position. For this reason, the front door 3 is configured to support the load even when the user pushes down the replenishment part 200 at the time of toner replenishment.

As shown in fig. 10C and 10D, indicators 208Y, 208M, 208C, and 208K corresponding to yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) are provided in the apparatus main body 2. More specifically, the apparatus main body 2 includes a front surface portion 63, the front surface portion 63 serving as an outer surface of a front surface forming an exterior of the apparatus main body 2 together with the front door 3 positioned at the closed position, and indicators 208Y, 208M, 208C, and 208K are provided at the front surface portion 63.

The indicators 208Y, 208M, 208C, and 208K are indication portions that notify the user of which of the process cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK the toner can be replenished to. In the case of a toner replenishment container such as the replenishment bag 210, it is possible to discharge all toner in the container to the outside of the container at the time of replenishment, or to discharge the remaining toner at another timing after the completion of toner replenishment while some toner remains in the container. Hereinafter, in the present embodiment, a case where all the toners in the replenishment pack 210 are discharged in one replenishment will be considered.

In this case, the amount of toner that can be additionally stored in the storage portion 9a of each process cartridge needs to be larger than the toner capacity of the replenishment pack 210. Therefore, in the present embodiment, an indicator corresponding to a process cartridge in which the amount of toner that can be additionally stored in the storage portion 9a is larger than the toner capacity of the replenishment pack 210 is lit based on the remaining toner amount detection result of the remaining amount detection unit 62 described below. That is, in the case where the amount of toner that can be added to the storage portion 9a is larger than the toner capacity of the replenishment pack 210, toner replenishment can be performed. In other words, when all the toners in the toner container of the new replenishment package 210 can be supplied to the storage section 9a of the process cartridge, toner replenishment can be performed. By confirming which of the indicators 208Y, 208M, 208C, and 208K is lit, the user can recognize which process cartridge (PY, PM, PC, or PK) the toner can be replenished to without opening the front door 3. This is because the indicators 208Y, 208M, 208C, and 208K are provided at the front surface portion 63, and the front surface portion 63 is a part of the outer surface of the apparatus main body 2. That is, the indicator 208K serving as the first indicating portion may indicate that toner may be replenished to the process cartridge PK, and the indicator 208C serving as the second indicating portion may indicate that toner may be replenished to the process cartridge PC.

In addition, the replenishing portion 200 includes a lock member 65 (see fig. 13), and the lock member 65 restricts rotation of the operation lever 201 of the process cartridge that can replenish toner from the operation position to the replenishment position. As shown in fig. 13, according to the control of the solenoid 66 by the control unit 90, the lock member 65 is movable to a lock position where the rotation of the operation lever 201 is restricted and an unlock position where the rotation of the operation lever 201 is not restricted.

The control unit 90 controls the solenoid 66 based on the remaining toner amount detection result of the remaining amount detection unit 62 so that the lock member 65 corresponding to the process cartridge that can be replenished with toner is positioned at the unlock position. The control unit 90 controls the solenoid 66 based on the remaining toner amount detection result of the remaining amount detection unit 62 so that the lock member 65 corresponding to the process cartridge to which toner is not replenishable is positioned at the lock position. The timing at which the control unit 90 controls the solenoid 66 to change the position of the lock member 65 from the lock position to the unlock position may be the timing at which the front door 3 is opened or the timing at which the cassette tray 40 is pulled out. Further, the lock member 65 and the solenoid 66 may be omitted.

Modifications of the indicators 208Y, 208M, 208C, and 208K will be described with reference to fig. 12A to 12D. As shown in fig. 12A, indicators 208Y, 208M, 208C, and 208K may be provided side by side on the upper surface 67a of the apparatus main body 2 in the X direction of the cassette tray 40. In addition, as shown in fig. 12B, each of the indicators 208Y, 208M, 208C, and 208K may be provided on the upper surface 67B of the corresponding process cartridge. As shown in fig. 12C, the indicators 208Y, 208M, 208C, and 208K may be arranged side by side in the Y direction on the front door facing surface 67C of the apparatus main body 2. The front door facing surface 67c is a surface that faces the front door 3 positioned at the closed position and is covered by the front door 3, and is exposed to the outside when the front door 3 is opened to move from the closed position to the open position. As shown in fig. 12D, the indicators 208Y, 208M, 208C, and 208K may be arranged side by side in the Z direction on the front door facing surface 67C of the apparatus main body 2.

In the case of the configuration shown in fig. 12A, the user can recognize which process cartridge can be replenished with toner without opening the front door 3. In the case of the configuration shown in fig. 12C and 12D, the user can recognize which process cartridge can be replenished with toner without pulling out the cartridge tray 40. Further, in the case of the configuration shown in fig. 12B, the user can recognize which process cartridge can be replenished with toner without installing the replenishment pack 210 or moving the lever 201.

The arrangement of the indicators 208Y, 208M, 208C, and 208K is not limited to the arrangement shown in fig. 10D and fig. 12A to 12D. The indicators 208Y, 208M, 208C, and 208K may have any configuration or arrangement as long as the user can recognize which process cartridge can be replenished with toner before toner replenishment is performed. The four indicators 208Y, 208M, 208C, and 208K are provided to correspond to the four process cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK, but are not limited thereto. For example, the indicators each including one liquid crystal panel or the like may be lighted with colors corresponding to the respective process cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK. In addition, a message or image indicating the toner-replenishable process cartridge may be displayed on an external PC connected to the control unit 90.

The description returns to the toner replenishment operation. As shown in fig. 10D, the user mounts the replenishment pack 210 (replenishment pack 210K in fig. 10D) to the replenishment part 200 of any process cartridge (process cartridge PK in fig. 10D) supported by the cartridge tray 40. At this time, as shown in fig. 23, the tray 40 is supported from below by the support portion 3a of the front door 3 positioned at the open position. Accordingly, the cartridge tray 40 can be prevented from being bent downward when the replenishment pack 210 is mounted on the replenishment part 200, and the replenishment pack 210 can be stably mounted on the replenishment part 200.

As shown in fig. 11A and 11B, when the replenishment pack 210 is mounted on the replenishment part 200 of the image forming apparatus 1, it is necessary to align the replenishment pack 210 with the replenishment part 200 at two points. This alignment is in a rotational direction about the rotational axis RA and is enabled when the container shutter 214 is in the closed position. The alignment at the first point is, as shown in fig. 11A, the alignment of the rotation-restricted portion 212b of the insertion portion 212 exposed from the container shutter opening 214c of the container shutter 214 and the rotation-restricting portion 247a of the rotation-restricting member 247. As shown in fig. 11B, the alignment at the second point is the alignment of the container shutter engaged portion 214B and the lever engagement portion 201 d. With the alignment at the second point enabled, the container shutter engaged portion 214b and the body shutter engagement portion 206b may also be aligned with each other. This is because the lever engagement portion 201d and the main body shutter engagement portion 206b overlap each other when seen from the direction of the rotation axis RA.

In a state where the mounting of the replenishment pack 210 on the replenishment part 200 is completed, the container shutter is engaged with the lever engagement portion 201d by the engagement portion 214b and with the main body shutter engagement portion 206b of the main body shutter 206. The rotation restricted portion 212b of the insertion portion 212 is engaged with the rotation restricting portion 247 a. In this state, when the user grips the grip portion 201b and rotates the operation lever 201 by 90 degrees clockwise, the operation lever 201 is rotated from the operation position to the replenishment position with respect to the insertion portion 212.

At this time, when the container shutter is pushed by the lever engagement portion 201d by the engagement portion 214b, the container shutter 214 is rotated from the closed position to the open position together with the lever 201. When the body shutter engagement portion 206b is pushed by the container shutter by the engagement portion 214b, the body shutter 206 is rotated from the closed position to the open position together with the operation lever 201 and the container shutter 214. As described above, since the main body shutter 206 is configured to be rotated by the operation lever 201 via the container shutter 214, in a state where the replenishment pack 210 is not mounted on the replenishment part 200, the main body shutter 206 is not rotated even when the operation lever 201 is rotated from the operation position to the replenishment position. Therefore, in a state where the replenishment pack 210 is not mounted, the main body shutter 206 is not opened even when the operation lever 201 is operated by the user.

When the operation lever 201 is at the replenishment position in a state where the replenishment pack 210 is mounted on the replenishment part 200, both the container shutter 214 and the main body shutter 206 are at the open position, and the container shutter opening 214c and the main body shutter opening 206a communicate with each other. In this state, when the user opens the bag 211 with his/her hand, the toner in the bag 211 moves toward the insertion portion 212 together with air. Then, the toner moved into the insertion portion 212 passes through the insertion portion opening 212a, the container shutter opening 214c, and the main body shutter opening 206a, and is replenished to the storage portion 9a of the developing device 9.

When the replenishment pack 210 is separated from the replenishment part 200 after the completion of the toner replenishment, the user grips the grip part 201b and rotates the operation lever 201 counterclockwise by 90 degrees. With this operation, the operation lever 201 is rotated from the replenishment position to the operation position with respect to the insertion portion 212. At this time, when the container shutter is pushed by the lever engagement portion 201d by the engagement portion 214b, the container shutter 214 is rotated from the open position to the closed position together with the lever 201. When the body shutter engagement portion 206b is pushed by the container shutter by the engagement portion 214b, the body shutter 206 is rotated from the open position to the closed position together with the operation lever 201 and the container shutter 214. In a state where the operation lever 201 is at the operation position, the replenishment pack 210 is separated from the replenishment part 200. In a state where the replenishment pack 210 is separated from the replenishment part 200, the container shutter 214 is positioned at the closed position, and therefore, leakage of toner from the insertion part opening 212a of the replenishment pack 210 can be prevented.

Residual amount detection unit

Next, a remaining amount detecting unit 62 for detecting the remaining amount of toner stored in the storage portion 9a of the developing device 9 will be described with reference to fig. 3. As shown in fig. 3, the process cartridge PY includes a remaining amount detecting unit 62, and the remaining amount detecting unit 62 serving as a first detecting unit includes a light emitting portion 62a and a light receiving portion 62b. The light emitting portion 62a and the light receiving portion 62b are arranged side by side in the X direction. The light emitted from the light emitting portion 62a passes through the inside of the storage portion 9a and is received by the light receiving portion 62b. That is, the light emitting portion 62a and the light receiving portion 62b form the optical path Q1 inside the storage portion 9 a. The optical path Q1 extends in the X direction. Further, a light emitting portion 62a and a light receiving portion 62b are provided at a central portion of the storage portion 9a in the Y direction. Since the light emitting portion 62a and the light receiving portion 62b are provided at the central portion of the storage portion 9a as described above, the remaining amount of toner in the storage portion 9a can be satisfactorily detected. That is, the developer (toner) may be unevenly distributed at the end portion of the storage portion 9a in the Y direction, but since the developer is more evenly distributed at the center portion of the storage portion 9a, the actual remaining amount of the toner may be detected.

In the light emitting portion 62a and the light receiving portion 62b, the light emitting element and the light receiving element may be provided inside the storage portion 9a, or the light emitting element and the light receiving element may be provided outside the storage portion 9a, and light may be guided into and out of the storage portion 9a by the light guiding portion. Further, in the present embodiment, the light emitting portion 62a and the light receiving portion 62b are arranged side by side in the X direction, but is not limited thereto. For example, the light emitting portion 62a and the light receiving portion 62b may be arranged side by side in the Y direction.

In the present embodiment, a Light Emitting Diode (LED) is used for the light emitting portion 62a, and a phototransistor that is turned on by light from the LED is used for the light receiving portion 62b. However, the light emitting portion 62a and the light receiving portion 62b are not limited thereto. For example, a halogen lamp or a fluorescent lamp may be applied to the light emitting portion 62a, and a photodiode or an avalanche photodiode may be applied to the light receiving portion 62b.

The light receiving portion 62b, which is a photodiode, receives the light emitted from the light emitting portion 62a, and outputs a signal (current) corresponding to the amount of the received light. The signal is converted into a voltage, and is input to the control unit 90 (see fig. 13). That is, the light receiving portion 62b outputs an output value based on the amount of toner (developer) stored in the storage portion 9 a.

As shown in fig. 3, the stirring member 34 that rotates about the rotation shaft 60a is provided inside the storage portion 9a, and the rotation shaft 60a extends in the Y direction. The stirring member 34 includes a blade portion 34b fixed to the rotation shaft 34a, and rotates by being driven by a motor M1 (see fig. 13), thereby stirring the toner replenished from the replenishing bag 210 into the storage portion 9a, and uniformly distributing the toner in the storage portion 9a, and conveying the toner toward the developing roller 6. In the present embodiment, the stirring member 34 includes the rotation shaft 34a and the blade portion 34b, but a spiral stirring member may also be used as an assembly for spreading the toner over the entire length of the storage portion 9 a.

The stirring member 34 serves to circulate the toner which is not used for development and which is peeled off from the developing roller 6 in the storage portion 9a, and to homogenize the toner in the storage portion 9 a. The stirring member 34 is not limited to a rotating member. For example, an oscillating stirring member may be employed. In addition to the stirring member 34, another stirring member may be provided in the storage portion 9 a.

Fig. 13 is a block diagram illustrating a control system of the image forming apparatus 1. The control unit 90 of the image forming apparatus 1 includes a Central Processing Unit (CPU) 91, a Random Access Memory (RAM) 92, and a Read Only Memory (ROM) 93, the CPU 91 serving as an arithmetic device, the RAM 92 serving as a work area of the CPU 91, the ROM 93 storing various programs. In addition, the control unit 90 includes an input/output (I/O) interface 94 and an analog/digital (a/D) converter 95, the I/O interface 94 serving as an input/output port connected to an external device, and the a/D converter 95 converting an analog signal into a digital signal.

The remaining amount detecting unit 62, the door opening and closing sensor 54, and the switch 55 are connected to the input side of the control unit 90. The door opening and closing sensor 54 or switch 55 is implemented by, for example, a photo interrupter, a pressure sensitive switch, or a magnetic sensor.

The CPU 91 of the control unit 90 determines whether the light receiving portion 62b has received light from the light emitting portion 62a based on the voltage level input to the remaining amount detecting unit 62. Then, the CPU 91 calculates the light detection time of the remaining amount detection unit 62 when the toner in the storage portion 9a is stirred by the stirring member 34 for a certain period of time. The ROM 93 stores in advance a remaining toner amount determination threshold value for determining the amount of remaining toner based on the light detection time of the remaining amount detection unit 62 as a table. The CPU 91 calculates (predicts) the remaining toner amount in the storage portion 9a based on the light detection time of the remaining amount detection unit 62 and the remaining toner amount determination threshold stored in the table. Then, the CPU 91 stores the calculated remaining toner amount in the RAM 92.

The method of detecting and estimating the amount of remaining toner is not limited to the above-described method, and various known methods of detecting and estimating the amount of remaining toner may be employed. For example, two or more metal plates or conductive resin sheets extending in the longitudinal direction of the developing roller may be provided on the inner wall of the storage portion 9a, and the electrostatic capacitance between the two metal plates or conductive resin sheets may be measured, thereby detecting and estimating the remaining toner amount. Alternatively, a loading member may be provided to support the developing device 9 from below, and the remaining toner amount may be calculated based on the weight measured by the loading member.

Motor M1, indicators 208Y, 208M, 208C, and 208Y, and solenoid 66 are connected to the output side of control unit 90. The motor M1 serving as an actuator supplies driving force to various rollers in the process cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK, and the apparatus main body 2. More specifically, the motor M1 drives the photosensitive drum 4, the charging roller 5, the developing roller 6, the stirring member 34, and the like of each process cartridge.

In the present embodiment, all the rollers and stirring members 34 in the image forming apparatus 1 are driven by one motor M1, but the driving source of the rollers and stirring members 34 is not limited thereto. For example, some of the rollers in the agitation member 34 and the image forming apparatus 1 may be driven by the motor M1, and other rollers may be driven by another motor. Alternatively, the motor M1 may be directly connected to all the rollers by a drive transmission member (such as a gear), and an electromagnetic clutch may be provided between the motor M1 and the stirring member 34. In this case, the electromagnetic clutch serves as an actuator that starts or stops the driving of the stirring member 34.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the toner replenishing operation is performed as follows. That is, after opening the front door 3, the user pulls out the cartridge tray 40 from the apparatus main body 2, and the cartridge tray 40 detachably supports a plurality of process cartridges storing toners of different colors. Then, the user mounts the replenishment pack 210 on the replenishment part 200 of any of the process cartridges supported by the cartridge tray 40, and discharges toner from the replenishment pack 210 to the replenishment part 20 to perform toner replenishment. The state in which the cartridge tray 40 is pulled out is a state in which the cartridge tray 40 is mounted on the apparatus main body 2 in the X direction and the image formation can be performed is pulled out downstream, and is a state in which the cartridge tray 40 is supported by the apparatus main body 2.

In other words, the replenishment pack 210K serving as the first toner container stores toner of black serving as the first color, and the replenishment pack 210C serving as the second toner container stores toner of cyan serving as the second color different from black. The process cartridge PK serving as the first developing unit can supply toner from the replenishment pack 210K in a state where the cartridge tray 40 is pulled out from the apparatus main body 2 and the process cartridge PK is supported by the cartridge tray 40. The process cartridge PC serving as the second developing unit can replenish toner from the replenishment pack 210C in a state where the cartridge tray 40 is pulled out from the apparatus main body 2 and the process cartridge PC is supported by the cartridge tray 40. In other words, when the mobile unit MU is at an external position and supported by the apparatus main body 2, the process cartridges PC and PK are configured to replenish toner from replenishment packs 210C and 210K mounted on the image forming apparatus 1, respectively. In addition, in a state where replenishment packs 210C and 210K are mounted on image forming apparatus 1, mobile unit MU is configured not to be movable from the external position to the internal position. Further, when the cartridge tray 40 is pulled out from the apparatus main body 2, the replenishment port 204 serving as the first replenishment port of the replenishment part 200K and the replenishment port 204 serving as the second replenishment port of the replenishment part 200C are exposed. At this time, the cartridge tray 40 is supported by a rail member (not shown) or the like of the apparatus main body 2, and is not separated from the apparatus main body 2.

As described above, also in the image forming apparatus 1 including the plurality of process cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK, the replenishment pack 210 may be mounted on the process cartridge supported by the pulled-out cartridge tray 40. For example, when toner is supplied to two or more of the process cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK, the replenishment part 200 of all of the process cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK may be taken out only by pulling out the cartridge tray 40 once. Therefore, it is not necessary to insert the process cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK into the device body 2 one by one and remove the process cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK from the device body 2 one by one, and toner replenishment can be easily performed. Therefore, usability in connection with toner replenishment can be improved. In addition, an embodiment of the image forming apparatus 1 including a plurality of process cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK for replenishing toner by replenishment packs may be provided.

Second embodiment

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the second embodiment, a plurality of main body mounting portions for mounting the replenishment pack 210 are provided in the apparatus main body 2B. Therefore, a configuration similar to that of the first embodiment will be described in a manner that the illustration is omitted or the same reference numerals are attached in the drawings.

Toner replenishment operation

Fig. 14A is a perspective view illustrating an image forming apparatus 1B according to the second embodiment in a state in which a front door 3 is positioned at a closed position, and fig. 14B is a perspective view illustrating the image forming apparatus 1B in a state in which the front door 3 is positioned at an open position. Fig. 14C is a perspective view illustrating the image forming apparatus 1B in a state where the cartridge tray 40 is pulled out, and fig. 14D is a perspective view illustrating the image forming apparatus 1B in a state where the replenishment pack 210Y is mounted on the process cartridge PY.

As shown in fig. 14A and 14B, in the case of replenishing the toner, the user first moves the front door 3 from the closed position to the open position. In the present embodiment, when the front door 3 is opened to move from the closed position to the open position, the body mount portions 301Y, 301M, 301C, and 301K provided on the replenishment table 302 of the apparatus body 2B are exposed. The replenishment stage 302 is fixed to, for example, a frame of the apparatus main body 2B, and main body mounting portions 301Y, 301M, 301C, and 301K provided on the replenishment stage 302 are arranged side by side in the Y direction.

The main body mounting portions 301Y, 301M, 301C, and 301K correspond to the replenishment portions 200Y, 200M, 200C, and 200K of the process cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK, respectively. In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 14C, the replenishment parts 200Y, 200M, 200C, and 200K of the process cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK are arranged obliquely with respect to the X direction and the Y direction. The replenishment portions 200Y, 200M, 200C, and 200K are positioned at different positions in the Y direction.

Next, as shown in fig. 14B and 14C, the user puts his/her hand on the grip portion 41 of the cartridge tray 40, and pulls out the cartridge tray 40 toward the front side (that is, downstream in the X direction) with respect to the apparatus main body 2B. As a result, the process cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK supported by the cartridge tray 40 are also pulled out toward the front side (that is, downstream in the X direction) with respect to the apparatus main body 2B, and the user can take the process cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK.

Fig. 14D illustrates a state in which toner is supplied from the supply pack 210Y to the yellow (Y) process cartridge PY as an example. As shown in fig. 14D, when toner is supplied to the process cartridge PY, the cartridge tray 40 is pulled out to a position where the supply portion 200Y and the main body mounting portion 301Y of the process cartridge PY overlap each other in the Z direction. In this state, the user mounts the replenishment pack 210Y on the main body mounting portion 301Y. At this time, the replenishment pack 210Y is positioned in the installation direction of the replenishment pack 210Y by abutting against the replenishment table 302. Specifically, a flange portion 212f (see fig. 15C) integrally formed with the insertion portion 212 of the replenishment pack 210Y abuts against an edge portion of the main body mounting portion 301Y or the upper surface 302a of the replenishment table 302, whereby the replenishment pack 210Y is positioned in the mounting direction (direction of the rotation axis RA) with respect to the replenishment table 302. The replenishment pack 210Y is inserted into the replenishment part 200Y positioned below the main body mounting part 310Y in a state of being positioned with respect to the replenishment table 302.

That is, when the replenishment pack 210Y is mounted on the replenishment part 200Y, the replenishment platform 302 receives the force from the replenishment pack 210Y, and therefore, the force received from the replenishment pack 210Y by the replenishment part 200Y of the process cartridge PY supported by the cartridge tray 40 can be reduced. Then, the toner is supplied from the supply bag 210Y mounted on the main body mounting portion 301Y to the supply portion 200Y.

The toner replenishing operation for the replenishing portion 200Y is performed by rotating the operation lever 201 (see fig. 11B) of the replenishing portion 200Y from the operation position to the replenishing position as in the first embodiment, but is not limited thereto. For example, when the replenishment pack 210Y is inserted into the replenishment part 200Y, toner can be replenished from the replenishment pack 210Y to the replenishment part 200Y without rotating the operation lever 201. That is, the operation lever 201, the container shutter 214 of the replenishment pack 210Y, and the main body shutter 206 of the replenishment part 200Y may be omitted. In this case, it is preferable to attach the movable cap to the replenishment pack 210Y so that the toner in the replenishment pack 210Y does not leak to the outside in a state where the cap is attached.

Mounting part shutter

Next, the mounting portion shutter 410 will be described with reference to fig. 15A to 16B. Fig. 15A is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the replenishment pack 210K is mounted on a main body mounting portion 301K provided in the apparatus main body 2B. Fig. 15B is a plan view illustrating a state in which the replenishment pack 210K is mounted on a main body mounting portion 301K provided in the apparatus main body 2B, and fig. 15C is a sectional view taken along a line 15C-15C of fig. 15B. Fig. 16A is a sectional view illustrating a state in which the mount-section shutter 410 is positioned at the closed position, and fig. 16B is a sectional view illustrating a state in which the mount-section shutter 410 is positioned at the open position.

A case where the replenishment pack 210K of black (K) as shown in fig. 15A and 15B is mounted on the main body mounting portion 301K will be described as an example. The main body mounting portions 301Y, 301M, 301C, and 301K have the same configuration except that the colors of toners to be replenished are different. Therefore, in the case where the body mount sections 301Y, 301M, 301C, and 301K are not particularly distinguished from each other, reference characters "Y", "M", "C", and "K" are omitted, and the body mount sections 301Y, 301M, 301C, and 301K will be described below as the body mount section 301. Similarly, the mounting section shutters 410Y, 410M, 410C, and 410K provided in the main body mounting sections 301Y, 301M, 301C, and 301K also have the same configuration. Therefore, in the case where the mounting-section shutters 410Y, 410M, 410C, and 410K are not particularly distinguished from each other, reference characters "Y", "M", "C", and "K" are omitted, and the mounting-section shutters 410Y, 410M, 410C, and 410K will be described below as the mounting-section shutters 410.

As shown in fig. 15A to 15C, a mounting portion shutter 410 is provided in the vicinity of each main body mounting portion 301. The mounting portion shutter 410 is rotatably supported by the replenishment table 302 about a rotation shaft 410 b. The plunger 400a of the solenoid 400 is connected to the sleeve portion 410a of the mounting portion shutter 410, and the mounting portion shutter 410 is opened and closed by the operation of the solenoid 400 to move between the open position and the closed position. The mounting portion shutter 410 covers at least a portion of the main body mounting portion 301 at the closed position, and restricts the mounting of the replenishment pack 210 on the main body mounting portion 301. Further, the mounting portion shutter 410 opens the main body mounting portion 301 at the open position, and allows the refill 210 to be mounted on the main body mounting portion 301. As shown in fig. 17, in the present embodiment, a solenoid 400 is provided in place of the solenoid 66 of the first embodiment. Further, the lock member 65 of the first embodiment is omitted. In addition, four solenoids 400 are provided to correspond to the mounting-section shutters 410Y, 410M, 410C, and 410K, respectively.

The control unit 90 (see fig. 17) controls the solenoid 400 so as to rotate the mounting portion shutter 410 corresponding to the process cartridge that can be replenished with toner from the closed position shown in fig. 16A to the open position shown in fig. 16B. The timing at which the control unit 90 controls the solenoid 400 to change the position of the mounting portion shutter 410 from the closed position to the open position may be the timing at which the front door 3 is opened or the timing at which the cassette tray 40 is pulled out.

As shown in fig. 16A and 16B, the replenishment part 200 includes an upwardly protruding projection 310. As shown in fig. 16A, when the mounting portion shutter 410 is positioned at the closed position, the protruding portion 310 provided in the replenishment portion 200 does not interfere with the mounting portion shutter 410 even when the cartridge tray 40 is inserted into the apparatus main body 2B and removed from the apparatus main body 2B. On the other hand, as shown in fig. 16B, when the mounting portion shutter 410 is positioned at the open position, the protruding portion 310 provided in the replenishment portion 200 abuts against the mounting portion shutter 410 when the cartridge tray 40 is pulled out from the apparatus main body 2B.

As a result, further pulling out of the cartridge tray 40 toward the front side (that is, downstream in the X direction) is restricted so that the cartridge tray 40 is positioned. In this way, the mounting portion shutter 410 positioned at the open position and the protruding portion 310 provided in the replenishment portion 200 corresponding to the mounting portion shutter 410 abut each other, whereby the main body mounting portion 301 and the replenishment portion 200 can be easily aligned. The user can arbitrarily select a process cartridge to be supplied with toner from among process cartridges that can be supplied with toner through an operation panel (not shown) or the like. In this case, only the mounting portion shutter 410 corresponding to the selected process cartridge can be rotated from the closed position to the open position.

When the replenishment pack 210 is separated from the replenishment part 200 after the completion of the replenishment of the toner, the user rotates the operation lever 201 from the replenishment position to the operation position. When it is detected by the switch 55 that the operation lever 201 has been rotated from the replenishment position to the operation position and the replenishment pack 210 is pulled out from the replenishment port 401, the control unit 90 controls the solenoid 400 to rotate the mounting portion shutter 410 from the open position to the closed position. When the mounting portion shutter 410 is positioned at the closed position, the cartridge tray 40 may be mounted on the apparatus main body 2B upstream in the X direction.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the main body mounting portions 301Y, 301M, 301C, and 301K are provided in the apparatus main body 2B, and the replenishment packs 210Y, 210M, 210C, and 210K are mounted on the main body mounting portions 301Y, 301M, 301C, and 301K, respectively. For this reason, the impact or load when the replenishment packs 210Y, 210M, 210C, and 210K are mounted does not directly act on the process cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK, and there is no need to increase the strength of the cartridge tray 40 or the supporting members of the cartridge tray 40.

In addition, the mounting portion shutter 410 corresponding to the process cartridge in which toner cannot be replenished due to insufficient toner capacity is positioned at the closed position. Therefore, it is possible to allow only the replenishment pack 210 to be mounted on the process cartridge that can replenish toner with a simple configuration.

In other words, a main body mounting portion 301K serving as a first main body mounting portion and a main body mounting portion 310C serving as a second main body mounting portion are provided in the apparatus main body 2B. The process cartridge PK can be replenished with toner in a state where the replenishment package 210K is mounted on the main body mounting portion 301K, the cartridge tray 40 is pulled out from the apparatus main body 2B, and the process cartridge PK is supported by the cartridge tray 40. The process cartridge PC can be replenished with toner in a state where the replenishment pack 210C is mounted on the main body mounting portion 301K, the cartridge tray 40 is pulled out from the apparatus main body 2B, and the process cartridge PC is supported by the cartridge tray 40. In other words, when the mobile unit MU is positioned at the first position belonging to the external position, the process cartridge PK is configured to replenish toner from the replenishment pack 210K mounted on the main body mounting portion 301K through the replenishment port 204. Similarly, when the mobile unit MU is positioned at a second position different from the first position belonging to the external position, the process cartridge PC is configured to replenish toner from the replenishment pack 210C mounted on the main body mounting portion 301C through the replenishment port 204.

In addition, the mounting portion shutter 410K is movable between a closed position serving as a first restricting position for restricting the mounting of the replenishment pack 210K on the main body mounting portion 301K and an open position serving as a first permitting position for permitting the mounting of the replenishment pack 210K on the main body mounting portion 301K. The mounting portion shutter 410C is movable between a closed position serving as a second restricting position for restricting the mounting of the replenishment pack 210C on the main body mounting portion 301C and an open position serving as a second permitting position for permitting the mounting of the replenishment pack 210C on the main body mounting portion 301C. In the case where it is difficult to replenish the entire amount of toner in the new replenishment package to the corresponding process cartridge, the mounting portion shutters 410K and 410M serving as the first and second regulating members are positioned at the closed positions. In addition, in the case where the entire amount of toner of the new replenishment package can be replenished to the corresponding process cartridge, the mounting portion shutters 410K and 410M are positioned at the open positions.

The cartridge tray 40 is positioned at a first position where the process cartridge PK can be replenished with toner from the replenishment pack 210K mounted on the main body mounting portion 301K, since the protruding portion 330 abuts the mounting portion shutter 410K positioned at the open position. Further, the cartridge tray 40 is positioned at the second position where the process cartridge PC can replenish toner from the replenishment pack 210C mounted in the main body mounting portion 301C, since the protruding portion 330 abuts the mounting portion shutter 410C positioned at the open position. In other words, the mobile unit MU is positioned at the first position by abutting the mounting portion shutter 410K positioned at the open position, and is positioned at the second position by abutting the mounting portion shutter 410C positioned at the open position.

Third embodiment

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the third embodiment, only one main body mounting portion for mounting the replenishment pack 210 is provided in the apparatus main body 2C. Accordingly, a configuration similar to that of the first embodiment will be described in a manner that the illustration is omitted or the same reference numerals are attached in the drawings.

Toner replenishment operation

Fig. 18A is a perspective view illustrating the image forming apparatus 1C according to the third embodiment in a state where the front door 3 is positioned at the closed position, and fig. 18B is a perspective view illustrating the image forming apparatus 1C in a state where the front door 3 is positioned at the open position. Fig. 18C is a perspective view illustrating the image forming apparatus 1C in a state where the cartridge tray 40 is pulled out, and fig. 18D is a perspective view illustrating the image forming apparatus 1C in a state where the replenishment pack 1210Y is mounted on the process cartridge PK. In fig. 18B, the cartridge tray 40 and the process cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PY are omitted.

As shown in fig. 18A and 18B, in the case of replenishing the toner, the user first moves the front door 3 from the closed position to the open position. In the present embodiment, when the front door 3 is opened to move from the closed position to the open position, the main body mounting portion 1301 provided on the replenishment table 302 in the apparatus main body 2C is exposed. The replenishment table 302 is fixed to, for example, a frame of the apparatus main body 2C, and the main body mounting portion 1301 is provided on one side (right side in the present embodiment) of the image forming apparatus 1C in the Y direction. The arrangement of the main body mounting portion 1301 is not limited thereto, and the main body mounting portion 1301 may be arranged at, for example, the left side or the center of the image forming apparatus 1C.

As shown in fig. 18A and 18B, in the case of replenishing the toner, the user first moves the front door 3 from the closed position to the open position. In the present embodiment, when the front door 3 is opened to move from the closed position to the open position, the main body mounting portion 1301 provided on the replenishment table 302 in the apparatus main body 2C is exposed. Next, as shown in fig. 18B and 18C, the user puts his/her hand on the grip portion 41 of the cartridge tray 40, and pulls out the cartridge tray 40 toward the front side (that is, downstream in the X direction) with respect to the apparatus main body 2C. As a result, the process cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK supported by the cartridge tray 40 are also pulled out toward the front side (that is, downstream in the X direction) with respect to the apparatus main body 2C, and the user can take the PYs, PMs, PCs, and PK.

In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 18C, replenishment parts 1200Y, 1200M, 1200C, and 1200K are provided on the process cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK, respectively. In the present embodiment, each of the replenishment parts 1200Y, 1200M, 1200C, and 1200K is provided at the downstream end portion of the process cartridge in the Y direction, but is not limited thereto. Depending on the arrangement of the main body mounting portion 1301, the replenishment portions 1200Y, 1200M, 1200C, and 1200K may be arranged, for example, on the left side or the center of the image forming apparatus 1C.

Fig. 18D illustrates a state in which toner is supplied from the supply pack 1210Y to the yellow (Y) process cartridge PY as an example. As shown in fig. 18D, when toner is supplied to the process cartridge PY, the cartridge tray 40 is pulled out to a position where the supply portion 1200Y and the main body mounting portion 1301 of the process cartridge PY overlap each other in the Z direction. The cassette tray 40 is locked in this position as described below. In this state, the user mounts the replenishment pack 1210Y on the main body mounting portion 1301, and supplements the toner from the replenishment pack 1210Y to the replenishment portion 1200Y of the process cartridge PY.

Supply route

Next, the replenishment paths 500Y, 500M, 500C, and 500K provided inside the main body mounting portion 1301 and the replenishment pack 1210 will be described with reference to fig. 19A to 19D. Fig. 19A is a plan view illustrating the inside of the main body mounting portion 1301, and fig. 19B is a perspective view illustrating the replenishment pack 1210. Fig. 19C is an exploded perspective view illustrating the main body mounting portion 1301 and the replenishment pack 1210, and fig. 19D is a plan view illustrating the replenishment path of each process cartridge.

The replenishment portions 1200Y, 1200M, 1200C, and 1200K have the same configuration except that the colors of toners to be replenished are different, and receiving ports 320Y, 320M, 320C, and 320K described below are provided at different positions. Therefore, in the case where the replenishment parts 1200Y, 1200M, 1200C, and 1200K are not particularly distinguished from each other, reference characters "Y", "M", "C", and "K" are omitted, and the replenishment parts 1200Y, 1200M, 1200C, and 1200K will be described as the replenishment part 1200 below. Similarly, the replenishment packs 1210Y, 1210M, 1210C, and 1210K have the same configuration except that the colors of stored toners are different, and the discharge ports 233 described below are provided at different positions. Accordingly, in the case where the replenishment packs 1210Y, 1210M, 1210C and 1210K are not particularly distinguished from each other, reference characters "Y", "M", "C" and "K" are omitted, and the replenishment packs 1210Y, 1210M, 1210C and 1210K will be described as replenishment packs 1210 below.

As shown in fig. 19A, the replenishment paths 500Y, 500M, 500C, and 500K and the groove portion 510 are provided inside a main body mounting portion 1301, and the main body mounting portion 1301 is provided in the image forming apparatus 1C. As shown in fig. 19B, the replenishment pack 1210 includes a bag 211 for storing toner, and a substantially cylindrical insertion portion 1212 communicating with the bag 211. The discharge port 233 is provided at the downstream end portion of the insertion portion 1212 in the insertion direction, and the protruding portion 232 is provided on the side surface of the insertion portion 1212. The discharge port 233 is provided at a position displaced from the center of the bottom surface of the insertion portion 1212 in the radial direction, and the position of the discharge port 233 is different between the replenishment packs 1210Y, 1210M, 1210C, and 1210K.

As shown in fig. 19C, for example, when a replenishment pack 1210K storing toner of black (K) is mounted on the main body mounting portion 1301, the protruding portion 232 of the replenishment pack 1210K is aligned with the groove portion 510 of the main body mounting portion 1301. Therefore, the phase (posture) of the replenishment pack 1210K with respect to the main body mounting portion 1301 is uniquely determined. When the protruding portion 232 of the replenishment pack 1210K is mounted on the groove portion 510 of the main body mounting portion 1301, the discharge port 233K (see fig. 19B) provided at the bottom surface of the replenishment pack 1210K is engaged with the replenishment path 500K, and the replenishment path 500K serves as the first replenishment path of the main body mounting portion 1301. As a result, the discharge port 233K and the replenishment path 500K communicate with each other, and the toner discharged from the replenishment port 233K can reliably pass through the replenishment path 500K.

The replenishment paths 500Y, 500M, 500C, and 500K provided inside the main body mounting portion 1301 are arranged to match the discharge ports 233 of the respective replenishment paths 1210Y, 1210M, 1210C, and 1210K. That is, in a state where the replenishment pack 1210Y is mounted on the main body mounting portion 1301, the discharge port 233 of the replenishment pack 1210Y is engaged with the replenishment path 500Y. In a state where the replenishment pack 1210M is mounted on the main body mounting portion 1301, the discharge port 233 of the replenishment pack 1210M is engaged with the replenishment path 500M. In a state where the replenishment pack 1210C is mounted on the main body mounting portion 1301, the discharge port 233 of the replenishment pack 1210C is engaged with the replenishment path 500C serving as the second replenishment path. The replenishment paths 500Y, 500M, 500C, and 500K are configured such that the toners discharged from the replenishment packages 1210Y, 1210M, 1210C, and 1210K mounted on the main body mounting portion 1301 can pass through the replenishment paths.

As shown in fig. 19D, receiving ports 320Y, 320M, 320C, and 320K are provided in replenishment parts 1200Y, 1200M, 1200C, and 1200K of the process cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK, respectively. The receiving ports 320Y, 320M, 320C, and 320K coincide with the replenishment paths 500Y, 500M, 500C, and 500K of the main body mounting portion 1301, respectively, according to the position of the cartridge tray 40.

Hereinafter, it is assumed that the cartridge tray 40 may be sequentially positioned at the fourth position, the third position, the second position, and the first position as the cartridge tray 40 is pulled downstream in the X direction from the mounting position where the cartridge tray 40 is mounted on the apparatus main body 2C. When the cartridge tray 40 is positioned at the fourth position, the receiving port 320Y of the replenishment part 1200Y coincides with the replenishment path 500Y of the main body mounting part 1301. When the cartridge tray 40 is positioned at the third position, the receiving port 320M of the replenishment part 1200M coincides with the replenishment path 500M of the main body mounting part 1301. When the cartridge tray 40 is positioned at the second position, the receiving port 320C of the replenishment part 1200C coincides with the replenishment path 500C of the main body mounting part 1301. When the cartridge tray 40 is positioned at the first position, the receiving port 320K of the replenishment part 1200K coincides with the replenishment path 500K of the main body mounting part 1301.

The process cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK are each provided with a protruding portion 330 on a downstream end surface (that is, a right side surface) in the Y direction. Each of the protruding portions 330 is used to lock the cassette tray 40 at the first to fourth positions. Each of the protruding portions 330 may be provided on the cartridge tray 40 instead of the process cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK.

Locking mechanism

Next, a locking mechanism 620 for locking the cassette tray 40 at the first to fourth positions will be described with reference to fig. 20A to 21D. Fig. 20A is a side view illustrating the locking mechanism 620 and the cassette tray 40. Fig. 20B is a sectional view illustrating the locking mechanism 620 and the cassette tray 40. Fig. 20C is a sectional view illustrating a state in which the stopper 611Y of the lock mechanism 620 is positioned at the lock position. Fig. 21A is a side view illustrating the stopper 611Y positioned at the unlock position. Fig. 21B is a side view illustrating the stopper 611Y positioned at the lock position. Fig. 21C is a side view illustrating the stopper 611Y and the solenoid 1400 positioned at the unlock position. Fig. 21D is a side view illustrating the stopper 611Y and the solenoid 1400 positioned at the lock position.

As shown in fig. 20A and 20B, a lock mechanism 620 is provided in the apparatus main body 2C (see fig. 18B), and the lock mechanism 620 includes a pinion gear 600, a lock member 610, and four stoppers 611Y, 611M, 611C, and 611K. The cartridge tray 40 includes a holder portion 42 that mates with the pinion gear 600, and when the cartridge tray 40 is pulled out from the apparatus main body 2C, the pinion gear 600 rotates. When the cassette tray 40 is pulled out from the fourth position to the third position, the pinion 600 rotates 90 ^°. Similarly, when the cassette tray 40 is pulled out from the third position to the second position, and from the second position to the first position, the pinion 600 rotates 90 ^°.

The concentrically rotating lock member 610 is fixed to the pinion 600, and the stoppers 611Y, 611M, 611C, and 611K are rotatably supported by the lock member 610 so as to have phases different from each other by 90 ^° in the circumferential direction. The stopper 611Y is configured to be rotatable between an unlocking position shown in fig. 20B and a locking position shown in fig. 20C, and the configuration of the stoppers 611M, 611C, and 611K is similar to that of the stopper 611Y. The stoppers 611Y, 611M, 611C, and 611K, when positioned at the lock positions, abut the protruding portions 330 of the process cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK, respectively. As a result, the cassette tray 40 is locked to each of the fourth position, the third position, the second position, and the first position. That is, the locking mechanism 620 may position the cartridge tray 40 at a first position where toner may be replenished to the process cartridge PK from the replenishment pack 1210K mounted on the main body mounting portion 1301. Further, the locking mechanism 620 may position the cartridge tray 40 at a second position where toner may be replenished to the process cartridge PC from the replenishment pack 1210C mounted on the main body mounting portion 1301. In other words, the locking mechanism 620 may position the mobile unit MU including the cassette tray 40 at the first position and the second position. In addition, the stoppers 611Y, 611M, 611C, and 611K, when positioned at the unlock position, do not interfere with the protruding portions 330 of the process cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK.

As shown in fig. 21C and 21D, in the apparatus main body 2C, a solenoid 1400 including a plunger 1401 that is linearly movable is supported. The plunger 1401 can rotate the stoppers 611Y, 611M, 611C, and 611K from the unlock position to the lock position by pressing the stoppers 611Y, 611M, 611C, and 611K. The stoppers 611Y, 611M, 611C, and 611K are biased toward the unlock position by, for example, a spring (not shown), and are positioned at the unlock position in a state where the solenoid 1400 is not operated. As shown in fig. 22, in the present embodiment, a solenoid 1400 is provided instead of the solenoid 66 of the first embodiment. Further, the lock member 65 of the first embodiment is omitted.

For example, in fig. 21A and 21B, the cartridge tray 40 is positioned at a first position (that is, a position for replenishing toner to the process cartridge PK). As shown in fig. 21A, in a state where the solenoid 1400 is not energized, the stopper 611Y facing the plunger 1401 is positioned at the unlock position. As shown in fig. 21B, when the solenoid 1400 is energized, the plunger 1401 presses the stopper 611Y, and the stopper 611Y rotates from the unlock position to the lock position.

In this way, when the stopper 611Y is positioned at the lock position, even when the cartridge tray 40 is further pulled out from the first position as shown in fig. 21B and 21D, the protruding portion 330 provided in the process cartridge PK abuts the stopper 611Y. Accordingly, the cartridge tray 40 is positioned at the first position for replenishing the toner to the process cartridge PK, and the above toner replenishing operation can be easily performed.

As described above, in the present embodiment, since the four replenishment paths 500Y, 500M, 500C, and 500K are provided in one main body mounting portion 1301, the main body mounting portion 1301 can be shared by replenishment packs storing toners of different colors, and the apparatus main body 2C can be downsized.

In other words, when the mobile unit MU is positioned at the first position, the process cartridge PK is configured to replenish toner from the replenishment pack 1210K mounted on the main body mounting portion 1301 via the replenishment path 500K and the replenishment port 204. Similarly, when the mobile unit MU is positioned at the second position, the process cartridge PC is configured to replenish toner from the replenishment pack 1210C mounted on the main body mounting portion 1301 via the replenishment path 500C and the replenishment port 204.

In addition, in the present embodiment, since the four stoppers 611Y, 611M, 611C, and 611K are configured to be rotatable from the unlock position to the lock position by one solenoid 1400, the cost of the device can be reduced and the size can be reduced.

For example, a rotary encoder, potentiometer, or the like may be provided on the pinion gear 600 or the lock member 610 so that the position of the cassette tray 40 may be detected. Then, the energization timing of the solenoid 1400 may be determined based on the position of the cassette tray 40.

In the present embodiment, the operation lever 201 (see fig. 11B) as in the first and second embodiments is not provided, and when the replenishment pack 1210 is mounted on the main body mounting portion 1301, the discharge of toner from the discharge port 233 is started. With such a configuration, it is preferable to attach the movable cap to the replenishment pack 1210 so that the toner in the replenishment pack 1210 does not leak to the outside with the cap attached. Further, as in the first embodiment and the second embodiment, the container shutter provided in the replenishment pack 1210 may be moved to the open position by rotating the operation lever 201 (see fig. 11B) from the operation position to the replenishment position, and the toner replenishment operation may be started.

Fourth embodiment

Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the fourth embodiment, the reading unit 700 is provided above the apparatus main body 2B of the second embodiment. Therefore, a configuration similar to that of the second embodiment will be described in a manner that the illustration is omitted or the same reference numerals are attached in the drawings.

Fig. 24 is a plan view illustrating an image forming apparatus 1D according to the fourth embodiment. Fig. 25A is a perspective view illustrating an image forming apparatus 1D according to the fourth embodiment in a state in which a front door 3 is positioned at a closed position, and fig. 25B is a perspective view illustrating the image forming apparatus 1D in a state in which the front door 3 is positioned at an open position. Fig. 25C is a perspective view illustrating the image forming apparatus 1D in a state in which the process cartridge 40 is pulled out, and fig. 25D is a perspective view illustrating the image forming apparatus 1D in a state in which the replenishment pack 210Y is mounted on the process cartridge PY.

As shown in fig. 24 to 25D, the image forming apparatus 1D includes an apparatus main body 2B, a moving unit MU, a front door 3, and a reading unit 700, the reading unit 700 being disposed on the upper surface of the apparatus main body 2B. Since the apparatus main body 2B, the mobile unit MU, and the foregoing 3 have the same configurations as those of the second embodiment, their descriptions will be omitted.

The reading unit 700 includes a reading portion 710 and an Automatic Document Feeder (ADF) 720, and the ADF 720 is supported so as to be openable and closable with respect to the reading portion 710. The reading section 710 incorporates an imaging element, such as a Contact Image Sensor (CIS), which can read an image of an original by scanning the original placed on the platen glass 711.

The ADF 720 includes a document tray 721 on which a document can be placed, and a plurality of conveying rollers (not illustrated) by which the document placed on the document tray 721 is conveyed. Then, the image of the original is read by the image forming element of the reading portion 710 while being conveyed by the plurality of conveying rollers. The ADF 720 may continuously convey a plurality of originals placed on the original tray 721, and the reading portion 710 may continuously read images of the plurality of originals.

As shown in fig. 24, the reading unit 700 is shorter than the apparatus main body 2B in the X direction. Specifically, in the X direction, the upstream end 701 of the reading unit 700 is disposed flush with the upstream end 702 of the apparatus main body 2B, and the downstream end 703 of the reading unit 700 is positioned upstream of the downstream end 704 of the apparatus main body 2B. Further, the downstream end 703 of the reading unit 700 is provided upstream of the replenishment stage 302 of the apparatus main body 2B in the X direction. That is, the reading unit 700 is provided so as not to overlap with the main body mounting portion 301Y of the replenishment stage 302 when seen from above. In other words, the reading unit 700 is provided so as not to overlap the main body mounting portion 301Y when seen from the mounting direction of the replenishment pack 210Y on the main body mounting portion 301Y. Similarly, the reading unit 700 is provided so as not to overlap with the main body mounting portions 301M, 301C, and 301K when seen from above. The upstream end 701 of the reading unit 700 may protrude upstream of the upstream end 702 of the apparatus body 2B in the X direction.

Therefore, as shown in fig. 25B and 25C, when the replenishment pack 210Y is mounted on the main body mounting portion 301Y of the replenishment table 302 from above, the reading unit 700 does not interfere with the replenishment table 210Y, so that usability can be improved.

In the present embodiment, the reading unit 700 includes the reading section 710 and the ADF 720, but is not limited thereto. For example, a pressure plate that presses an original placed on the platen glass 711 from above may be applied instead of the ADF 720. The pressure plate does not include the original tray 721 or the conveying roller.

Fifth embodiment

Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described. The fifth embodiment has a configuration in which the indication portions 415Y, 415M, 415C, and 415K are provided on the outer surface of the printer of the first embodiment. Therefore, a configuration similar to that of the first embodiment will be described in a manner that the illustration is omitted or the same reference numerals are attached in the drawings.

Control system for image forming apparatus

Fig. 26 is a block diagram illustrating a control system of the image forming apparatus 1E (see fig. 27). Similar to the first embodiment, the remaining amount detecting unit 62, the door opening and closing sensor 54, and the switch 55 are connected to the input side of the control unit 90.

The motor M1, the indicators 208Y, 208M, 208C, and 208Y, the solenoid 66, and the indication portions 415Y, 415M, 415C, and 415K are connected to the output side of the control unit 90. The CPU 91 of the control unit 90 calculates the amount of toner stored in the storage portion 9a based on the remaining amount detection signal output from the remaining amount detection unit 62 provided in the developing device 9. The I/O interface 94 transmits the remaining amount of toner stored in the storage portion 9a to an external PC or the like.

Here, for example, the remaining amount of toner is sent using a% notation, and 100% represents the amount of toner that can be stored in the storage portion 9 a. In addition, the remaining amount detection signal is dependent on the configuration of the remaining amount detection unit 62, and is, for example, an analog signal in which the voltage is changed based on the current remaining amount, or a pulse signal in which a pulse of a constant period is output and the H/L pulse width is changed according to the remaining toner amount. In the present embodiment, the remaining amount detection signal output from the remaining amount detection unit 62 is a pulse signal. Then, when the optical path Q1 (see fig. 3) of the remaining amount detecting unit 62 is blocked by the toner in the storage portion 9a, a low pulse is output, and when the optical path Q1 is not blocked by the toner, a high pulse is output. The control unit 90 measures, as a pulse count, a high pulse output when the stirring member 34 rotates once. The pulse count serving as the output value increases as the time during which the optical path Q1 transmits light increases (that is, as the toner in the storage portion 9a decreases), and the pulse count decreases as the time during which the optical path Q1 is blocked from light increases (that is, as the toner in the storage portion 9a increases). That is, the control unit 90 estimates that the amount of toner in the storage portion 9a becomes smaller as the pulse count becomes larger, and that the amount of toner in the storage portion 9a becomes larger as the pulse count becomes smaller. The remaining amount detecting unit 62 is provided in each of the process cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK, and the remaining toner amounts in the process cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK are detected, respectively.

Remaining toner quantity indication

Next, the remaining toner amount indication of the present embodiment will be described. As shown in fig. 27, indication portions 415Y, 415M, 415C, and 415K serving as indication units are provided on the right side of the upper surface of the apparatus main body 2 of the image forming apparatus 1E, and indicate information on the remaining amount of toner in the storage portion 9a of each of the process cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK. The indication sections 415Y, 415M, 415C, and 415K have the same configuration, and are also applicable to control except for the corresponding process cartridges. Therefore, in the case where the indication portions 415Y, 415M, 415C, and 415K are not particularly distinguished from each other, reference characters "Y", "M", "C", and "K" are omitted, and the indication portions 415Y, 415M, 415C, and 415K will be described as the indication portion 415.

Fig. 28A to 28D are enlarged views of the indication portion 415. As shown in fig. 28A to 28D, the indication portion 415 is a panel member configured to be turned on and off, and includes a plurality of (in the present embodiment, three) graduations arranged vertically. As shown in fig. 28A, in the case where only the lower scale blinks, the indication portion 415 indicates that the remaining toner amount in the storage portion 9a is at the almost consumed level. As shown in fig. 28B, in the case where only the lower scale is continuously lighted, the indication portion 415 indicates that the remaining toner amount in the storage portion 9a is at a low level. As shown in fig. 28C, in the case where the lower scale and the center scale are lit and the upper scale is turned off, the indicating portion 415 indicates that the amount of remaining toner in the storage portion 9a is at a medium level. As shown in fig. 28D, in the case where all three graduations are lit, the indicating portion 415 indicates that the amount of remaining toner in the storage portion 9a is at the full level.

The indication portion 415 is not limited to a liquid crystal panel, and may be implemented by a light source (such as an LED or an incandescent lamp) and a diffusion lens. In addition, the indication portion 415 does not have to be provided separately, and the remaining toner amount may be indicated on the display by each scale as described in the present embodiment, on the display, the user may change various settings, or the like. Although the indication portion 415 of the present embodiment has three graduations, the number of graduations is not limited thereto, and may be appropriately set according to the configuration of the image forming apparatus or the like.

Next, the instruction switching on the instruction section 415 in the present embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 29. Fig. 29 is a schematic diagram illustrating a threshold value for switching the indication on the indication portion 415 according to the result of detecting the remaining toner amount in the storage portion 9a and the indication pattern of the indication portion 415.

As shown in fig. 29, when the remaining toner amount in the storage portion 9a fluctuates according to the toner consumption amount or toner replenishment in the image forming mode, instruction switching on the instruction portion 415 is performed based on the detection result obtained by the remaining amount detection unit 62. That is, the indicating section 415 indicates the remaining toner amount based on the remaining amount detection signal output from the remaining amount detecting unit 62. Specifically, in the case where the result of detecting the remaining toner amount in the storage portion 9a by the remaining amount detecting unit 62 is equal to or greater than the threshold D, the control unit 90 controls the indicating portion 415 to indicate the full level (first indication) in which all three graduations are lighted. In the case where the result of detecting the remaining toner amount in the storage portion 9a by the remaining amount detecting unit 62 is smaller than the threshold D and equal to or larger than the threshold C, the control unit 90 controls the indicating portion 415 to indicate a medium level (second indication) in which two scales are lighted. In the present embodiment, the value of the threshold D is set to 5.0k. Various thresholds including the threshold D described below may be appropriately set according to the amount of toner to be replenished or various configurations of the image forming apparatus.

In the case where the result of detecting the remaining toner amount in the storage portion 9a by the remaining amount detecting unit 62 is smaller than the threshold C (2.5 k in the present embodiment) and equal to or larger than the threshold B, the control unit 90 controls the indicating portion 415 to indicate a low level (third indication) in which one scale is lighted. In addition, in the case where the result of detecting the remaining toner amount in the storage portion 9a by the remaining amount detecting unit 62 is smaller than the threshold B (0.5 k in the present embodiment) and equal to or larger than the threshold a, the control unit 90 controls the indicating portion 415 to indicate the almost depletion level (fourth indication) in which one lower scale blinks. Then, in the case where the result of detecting the remaining toner amount in the storage portion 9a by the remaining amount detecting unit 62 is smaller than the threshold a (0 k in the present embodiment), the control unit 90 determines that the toner in the storage portion 9a has been used up, and sets a toner end state in which all three scales are closed.

That is, in the case where the result of detecting the remaining toner amount in the storage portion 9a by the remaining amount detecting unit 62 is equal to or greater than 5.0k, the control unit 90 controls the indicating portion 415 to indicate the first indication. The control unit 90 instructs the control instruction section 415 to instruct the second instruction in the case where the result of the detection of the remaining toner amount in the storage section 9a by the remaining amount detection unit 62 is between 2.5k and 5.0k, and instructs the third instruction in the case where the detection result is between 0.5k and 2.5 k. In addition, the control unit instructs the control instruction section 415 to instruct the fourth instruction in the case where the result of the remaining amount detection unit 62 detecting the remaining toner amount in the storage section 9a is between 0k and 0.5k, and turns off all scales in the case where it is determined that there is no remaining toner.

The image forming apparatus 1E according to the present embodiment can be replenished with toner by installing various types of replenishment packs 210. For example, in the image forming apparatus 1E, a replenishment pack 210 (hereinafter, simply referred to as a small pack) and a large replenishment pack 210 (hereinafter, simply referred to as a large pack) may be installed. The large bag stores a larger amount of toner than the small bag. In other words, the small packet is a refill packet capable of storing a first amount of toner, and the large packet is a refill packet capable of storing a second amount of toner greater than the first amount.

The difference between the toner amount corresponding to the threshold D and the toner amount corresponding to the threshold C in the present embodiment (that is, the difference between the toner amounts corresponding to the threshold values related to the instruction switching of the highest scale) is set to the replenishment amount (2.5 k) for one packet. Similarly, the difference between the toner amount corresponding to the threshold C and the toner amount corresponding to the threshold a in the present embodiment (that is, the difference between the toner amounts corresponding to the threshold values related to the instruction switching of the intermediate scale) is also set as the replenishment amount for one packet. The difference between the toner amount corresponding to the threshold D and the toner amount corresponding to the threshold a in the present embodiment is set to the replenishment amount (5.0 k) for one large packet. That is, when toner is replenished from a small bag, the number of lighted scales of the indication part 415 is increased by one, and when toner is replenished from a large bag, the number of lighted scales of the indication part 415 is increased by two. By setting the difference between the toner amounts corresponding to the threshold values related to the instruction switching of the scale in this way, the instruction switching on the instruction section 415 is performed by normally replenishing the toner from the new replenishment pack 210, and the user can recognize that replenishment is completed. In addition, since the user can easily recognize the number of replenishment packages 210 that can be used for replenishment, the visibility of whether the user is possible or impossible for toner replenishment can be improved.

In the present embodiment, the indication portion 415 may perform the replenishment mode indication as shown in fig. 30A and 30B separately from the toner replenishment indication described with reference to fig. 29. The replenishment mode indication is an indication for the user to recognize that the replenishment mode is being initiated. For the replenishment mode indication, a pattern in which the states of the three scales of the indication section 415 are repeatedly illuminated one by one as shown in fig. 30A, a pattern in which the states of all three scales are repeatedly turned off and the states of all three scales are illuminated as shown in fig. 30B, and the like can be considered. In addition, the replenishment mode indication is not limited to these two modes. For example, a pattern in which switching of the first to fourth indications is performed randomly on the indication section 415, such as a pattern in which a state in which the scales are turned off one by one is repeated in a state in which all three scales are lit, may be considered. It is sufficient if at least two of the five states including the first to fourth indications shown in fig. 28A to 28D and the totally-off state (toner-out state) in which none of the scales is lit can be repeatedly indicated as the replenishment mode indication. As a result, an indication other than the above-described five states can be made, and the user can visually recognize that the replenishment mode is being started.

Control in toner replenishment operation

Next, control in the toner replenishing operation will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in fig. 31. Steps S3, S4, and S8 to S13 shown in fig. 31 are separately executed for the process cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK.

As shown in fig. 31, the control unit 90 determines whether the front door 3 has been opened from the closed position to the open position based on the detection result of the door opening and closing sensor 54 serving as the second detection unit (step S1). In the case where it is determined that the front door 3 has been opened (step S1: yes), the control unit 90 stops driving the motor M1 (step S2). As a result, the supply of driving forces to the process cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK and the various rollers in the apparatus main body 2 is blocked. More specifically, the photosensitive drum 4, the charging roller 5, the developing roller 6, the stirring member 34, and the like of each process cartridge are stopped. Accordingly, the cartridge tray 40 can be pulled out from the apparatus body 2 by releasing the connection between the apparatus body 2 and each of the process cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK.

Next, the control unit 90 determines whether the operation lever 201 has been operated based on the detection result of the switch 55 (step S3). For example, when the operation lever 201 is rotated from the operation position to the replenishment position, toner may be replenished to the replenishment portion 200 of the process cartridge as described above. However, at this time, it is unclear whether the toner has actually been replenished. Specifically, although the replenishment pack 210 is mounted on the replenishment part 200, the user can detach the replenishment pack 210 from the replenishment part 200 without releasing the bag 211 and without discharging toner from the replenishment pack 210 to the replenishment part 200. Therefore, as in step S9 described below, it is necessary to detect the remaining toner amount in the storage portion 9 a.

In the case where it is determined in step S3 that the operation lever 201 has been operated (yes in step S3), the control unit 90 records the detection result of the switch 55 (that is, information on the operation of the operation lever 201) in the RAM 92 (step S4), and proceeds to step S5. In the case where it is determined in step S3 that the operation lever 201 has not been operated (step S3: no), the control unit 90 proceeds to step S5 without going through step S4. In the present embodiment, in the case where the switch 55 is switched from on to off or from off to on, it is determined that the operation lever 201 has been operated, but the determination of the operation lever 201 is not limited thereto. For example, in the case where the switch 55 is further switched from open to closed after being switched from closed to open, it may be determined that the operation lever 201 has been operated. That is, it can be determined that the operation lever 201 has been operated only in the case where the operation lever 201 is rotated in the order of the operation position, the replenishment position, and the operation position.

Next, the control unit 90 determines whether the front door 3 has been closed to move from the open position to the closed position based on the detection result of the door opening and closing sensor 54 (step S5). In the case where it is not determined that the front door 3 has been closed (no in step S5), the process returns to step S3. In the case where it is determined that the front door 3 has been closed (step S5: yes), the control unit 90 starts the replenishment mode indication described with reference to fig. 30A and 30B on the indication section 415 (step S6). Next, the control unit 90 starts driving the motor M1 (step S7). As a result, the toner in the storage portion 9a is stirred by the stirring member 34. In a state where the front door 3 is closed, the cartridge tray 40 is mounted on the apparatus main body 2, and the driving force can be transmitted from the motor M1 to the process cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK supported by the cartridge tray 40. Further, steps S6 and S7 may be performed simultaneously, or step S6 may be performed after step S7. The start of the replenishment mode instruction in step S6 may be performed simultaneously with step S2 based on the opening of the front door 3, or may be performed at a timing between step S1 and step S2.

Next, the control unit 90 determines whether the operation lever 201 has been operated when the front door 3 is positioned at the open position based on the record in the RAM 92 (step S8). That is, in the case where information on the operation of the operation lever 201 is recorded in the RAM 92 in step S4, the control unit 909 determines that the operation lever 201 has been operated in step S8. In the case where it is determined in step S4 that the information on the operation of the operation lever 201 is not recorded in the RAM 92 and the operation lever 201 has not been operated (step S8: no), the control unit 90 stops the driving of the driving motor M1 (step S14).

In the case where it is determined that the operation lever 201 has been operated (step S8: yes), the control unit 90 controls the remaining amount detecting unit 62 to perform remaining toner amount detection for detecting the amount of remaining toner in the storage portion 9a (step S9). In the present embodiment, only the process cartridge (that is, the process cartridge corresponding to the lighted one of the indicators 208Y, 208M, 208C, and 208K) that can replenish the toner is moved from the lock position to the unlock position. Then, the remaining amount detecting unit 62 of only the process cartridge that can replenish the toner detects the remaining amount of toner in step S9.

For the process cartridge in which toner is not replenishable, steps S9 to S13 are not performed. For the process cartridge to which toner is not replenishable, in step S15, the indicating portion 415 indicates the remaining toner amount based on the remaining toner amount before toner replenishment, not the remaining toner amount after toner replenishment. Similarly, in the case where it is determined that the operation lever 201 has not been operated (step S8: NO), steps S9 to S13 are not performed for the process cartridge including the operation lever 201. For the process cartridge in which the operation lever 201 has not been operated, in step S15, the indicating portion 415 indicates the remaining toner amount based on the remaining toner amount before toner replenishment, not the remaining toner amount after toner replenishment. For example, the indicating section 415 indicates the remaining toner amount based on the output value of the remaining amount detecting unit 62 stored in the RAM 62 immediately before step S1 (that is, immediately before the front door 3 is opened).

Next, the control unit 90 determines whether the amount of toner in the storage portion 9a has increased based on the remaining toner amount detection in step S9 (step S10). Whether or not the amount of toner in the storage portion 9a has increased may be determined by any method.

For example, the output value output from the remaining amount detecting unit 62 in step S9 is set to the first output value, and the output value output from the remaining amount detecting unit 62 immediately before the front door 3 is opened in step S1 is set to the second output value. The control unit 90 stores the second output value in the RAM 92 serving as a storage unit, and in step S10, compares the first output value with the second output value. In the case where the toner amount corresponding to the first output value is larger than the toner amount corresponding to the second output value, the control unit 90 determines in step S10 that the toner amount in the storage portion 9a has increased. Then, in the case where the toner amount corresponding to the first output value is equal to or smaller than the toner amount corresponding to the second output value, the control unit 90 determines in step S10 that the toner amount in the storage portion 9a has not increased yet. In the remaining toner amount detection in step S9, the remaining toner amount detection may be performed at the first timing and at a second timing subsequent to the first timing. Then, by comparing the output values output at the first timing and the second timing, the control unit 90 may determine in step S10 that the toner amount in the storage portion 9a has increased. In addition, in the remaining toner amount detection in step S9, it may be determined whether the toner amount in the storage portion 9a has increased based on the slope of the moving average of the pulse count output from the remaining amount detecting unit 62 every time the stirring member 34 rotates once.

In the case where it is determined that the toner amount in the storage portion 9a has not increased (step S10: no), the control unit 90 stops the driving of the motor M1 (step S14). In the case where it is determined that the toner amount in the storage portion 9a has increased (step S10: yes), the control unit 90 stores the remaining toner amount in the storage portion 9a detected in step S9 (that is, the remaining toner amount after toner replenishment) in the RAM 92 (step S11). Next, the control unit 90 starts a new-old toner mixing sequence (step S12). Here, the toner (developer) stored in the new replenishment pack 210 tends to have low cohesion and high toner fluidity. In addition, the toner (developer) remaining in the storage portion 9a and the toner (developer) just replenished to the storage portion 9a may have different amounts of electric charges. In addition, since the toner is replenished from the replenishing portion 200 provided at the downstream end side of the process cartridge in the Y direction, the toner in the storage portion 9a may be unevenly distributed in the Y direction. Therefore, there is a possibility that an image defect occurs when image formation is performed in a state where the toner (developer) remaining in the storage portion 9a and the toner (developer) just supplied to the storage portion 9a are not sufficiently mixed.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the driving of the motor M1 started in step S7 is prolonged (continued) by performing the old and new toner mixing sequence in step S12. The control unit 90 determines whether a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of driving of the stirring member 34 (that is, the motor M1) (step S7) (step S13). In the case where the predetermined time has not elapsed (step S13: NO), the driving of the motor M1 is continued, and in the case where the predetermined time has elapsed (step S13: yes), the driving of the motor M1 is stopped (S14). That is, the motor M1 is controlled such that in the case where the amount of remaining toner in the storage portion 9a increases, the time for which the stirring member 34 is driven becomes longer than in the case where the amount of remaining toner in the storage portion 9a does not increase.

Then, the control unit 90 switches the instruction section 415 from the replenishment mode instruction to the remaining toner amount instruction (step S15). As a result, for example, in the case where the remaining toner amount after toner replenishment is stored in the RAM 92 in step S11, the instruction on the instruction section 415 is switched based on the remaining toner amount after toner replenishment. Thus, the control in the toner replenishing operation ends.

Further, as described with reference to fig. 31, the control unit 90 performs the first control, that is, controls the motor M1 so that the driving of the stirring member 34 is started, based on the closing of the front door 3 (step S5). Further, the control unit 90 may perform second control of controlling the remaining amount detecting unit 62 to output the output value (pulse count) and third control of causing the indicating portion 45 to perform the remaining toner amount indication. In addition, the control unit 90 may execute the following fourth control based on the second control. In the fourth control, in the case where it is determined that toner has been replenished to the storage portion 9a when the front door 3 is positioned at the open position, the control unit 90 controls the motor M1 to drive the stirring member 34 for a predetermined time. In the fourth control, in the case where it is determined that toner has not been replenished to the storage portion 9a when the front door 3 is positioned at the open position, the control unit 90 controls the motor M1 to stop before the stirring member 34 is driven for a predetermined time.

In addition, the control unit 90 performs the first control such that, in the case where the operation lever 201 has been moved between the operation position and the replenishment position within the period of time at which the front door 3 is at the open position immediately before the front door 3 is moved from the open position to the closed position, the time for which the stirring member 34 is driven becomes longer than in the case where the operation lever 201 has been moved between the operation position and the replenishment position during the period of time. The period of time is, for example, a period of time between steps S1 to S5 in fig. 31, during which the front door 3 is positioned at the open position. Then, the control unit 90 performs third control so as to perform remaining toner amount indication based on the output value of the remaining amount detection unit 62 in the second control based on the movement of the front door 3 from the open position to the closed position. In the case where the front door 3 has moved from the open position to the closed position and the operation lever 201 has not moved between the operation position and the replenishment position within the period of time, the control unit 90 does not execute the second control.

In a configuration in which a plurality of (four in the present embodiment) process cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK are placed on the cartridge tray 40 as in the present embodiment, it is difficult to detect whether toner has been replenished to each of the process cartridges. However, in the process cartridge in which toner is replenished from the replenishment pack 210, it is preferable that the storage portion 9a is stirred by the stirring member 34 in order to reduce image defects. In the present embodiment, as described above, based on the opening of the front door 3, the stirring member 34 is driven, and the new toner and the old toner in the storage portion 9a are mixed. Therefore, image defects can be reduced.

Further, in the case where it is determined that the amount of toner in the storage portion 9a has increased based on the detection of the amount of toner stored in the storage portion 9a by the remaining amount detecting unit 62 after the stirring member 34 starts to be driven, it is estimated that the toner has been replenished. Then, such toner in the storage portion 9a is sufficiently stirred by driving the stirring member 34 for a predetermined time (step S13), so that image defects can be reduced.

For example, in the case where it is determined in step S8 that the operation lever 201 has not been operated, or in the case where it is determined in step S10 that the amount of toner in the storage portion 9a has not been increased, it is estimated that toner is not replenished. In this case, since there is no new toner in the storage portion 9a, the motor M1 is stopped before the stirring member 34 is driven for a predetermined time. Therefore, it is possible to quickly respond to the image forming operation after closing the front door 3. In addition, an embodiment of the image forming apparatus 1E may be provided, the image forming apparatus 1E including the process cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK that can be pulled out from the apparatus main body 2 by the cartridge tray 40 and can be replenished with toner by the replenishment pack 210.

Sixth embodiment

Next, a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described, but the sixth embodiment is different from the fifth embodiment in control in the toner replenishing operation. Therefore, a configuration similar to that of the fifth embodiment will be described in a manner that the illustration is omitted or the same reference numerals are attached in the drawings.

In the sixth embodiment, the switch 55 shown in fig. 7A, 7B and 26 is omitted from the replenishment parts 200Y, 200M, 200C and 200K of the process cartridges PY, PM, PC and PK. Therefore, the image forming apparatus 1E can be downsized and the cost can be reduced.

Control in toner replenishment operation

Next, control in the toner replenishing operation will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in fig. 32. In the flowchart shown in fig. 32, steps S3, S4, and S8 of the flowchart shown in fig. 31 are omitted. Steps S9 to S13 shown in fig. 32 are separately performed for the process cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK.

Steps S1 and S2 shown in fig. 32 are the same as those in the fifth embodiment, and thus, the description will start from step S5. The control unit 90 determines whether the front door 3 has been closed to move from the open position to the closed position based on the detection result of the door opening and closing sensor 54 (step S5). In the case where it is determined that the front door 3 has been closed (step S5: yes), the control unit 90 starts the replenishment mode indication described with reference to fig. 30A and 30B on the indication section 415 (step S6). Next, the control unit 90 starts driving the motor M1 (step S7). As a result, the toner in the storage portion 9a is stirred by the stirring member 34.

Next, the control unit 90 controls the remaining amount detecting unit 62 to perform remaining toner amount detection for detecting the amount of remaining toner in the storage portion 9a (step S9). Then, steps S10 to S15 are the same as those described in the fifth embodiment.

As described above, even in the configuration in which the switch 55 of the replenishment part 200 is omitted, the remaining toner amount is detected by the remaining amount detecting unit 62 after the stirring member 34 is driven as triggered by the previous closing of the door 3. Then, in the case where it is determined by the remaining toner amount detection that the toner amount in the storage portion 9a has increased, it is estimated that the toner has been replenished. The motor M1 is controlled so that the time for which the stirring member 34 is driven becomes longer in the case where the amount of remaining toner in the storage portion 9a increases than in the case where the amount of remaining toner has not increased. Such toner in the storage portion 9a is sufficiently stirred by driving the stirring member 34 for a predetermined time (step S13), so that image defects can be reduced.

In addition, since the switch 55 is not installed in the replenishment part 200, the image forming apparatus 1E can be downsized and the cost can be reduced. In the present embodiment, only the remaining amount detecting unit 62 of the process cartridge that can replenish the toner detects the remaining toner amount in step S9. Accordingly, the remaining toner amount detection can be performed only for the least necessary process cartridge in step S9, and the standby state in which the next image formation can be performed can be quickly returned.

Other embodiments

In any of the above embodiments, the replenishment pack including the bag 211 is used, but the present embodiment is not limited thereto. For example, even when a resin container in which toner is pushed to the outside when the user pushes the plunger, or a resin container in which toner is discharged to the outside when the user collides with or deforms the plunger is used, the effect of the present embodiment can be obtained.

In any of the above embodiments, the four process cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK are supported by the cartridge tray 40, but the present embodiment is not limited thereto. For example, three process cartridges having toners of red (R), green (G), and blue (B) may be supported by the cartridge tray 40. Further, only one or two process cartridges may be supported by the cartridge tray 40. In addition, instead of each process cartridge being supported by the cartridge tray 40, a developing cartridge including a developing container and a developing roller or a toner cartridge including a toner storage portion may be supported by the cartridge tray 40.

In any of the above embodiments, the process cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK are configured to be detachable from the cartridge tray 40, but the present embodiment is not limited thereto. The process cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK may be configured not to be detachable from the cartridge tray 40.

In any of the above embodiments, the process cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK are replenished with toner while being supported by the cartridge tray 40 pulled out from the apparatus main body, but the present embodiment is not limited thereto. For example, the process cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK may be replenished with toner from the replenishment pack 210 in a state of being detached from the cartridge tray 40.

In any of the above embodiments, when the operation lever 201 is operated in a state where the replenishment pack 210 is mounted on the replenishment part 200, a state transition between a replenishable state and an unrepairable state may be generated, but the present embodiment is not limited thereto. For example, instead of operating the lever 201, the replenishment pack 210 itself may be rotated to transition between a replenishable state and an unrepairable state. That is, the container shutter 214 and the body shutter 206 may be configured to rotate in conjunction with the rotation operation of the replenishment pack 210.

Instead of the solenoids 66, 400, and 1400 of the first to third embodiments, another actuator such as a motor may be applied.

In the fifth and sixth embodiments, only the remaining amount detecting unit 62 of the process cartridge that can supply toner performs the remaining toner amount detection in step S9, but the embodiment is not limited thereto. For example, driving of the stirring member 34 and remaining toner amount detection by the remaining amount detecting unit 62 may be performed for all the process cartridges PY, PM, PC, and PK based on the closing of the front door 3.

In the fifth and sixth embodiments, both the indication portions 415Y, 415M, 415C, and 415K and the indicators 208Y, 208M, 208C, and 208K are provided, but the present embodiment is not limited thereto. For example, only one of the indication portions 415Y, 415M, 415C, and 415K and the indicators 208Y, 208M, 208C, and 208K may be provided. In addition, the arrangement of the indication portions 415Y, 415M, 415C, and 415K, and the arrangement of the indicators 208Y, 208M, 208C, and 208K may be interchanged.

In addition, the above embodiments may be arbitrarily combined. For example, the lock mechanism 620 of the third embodiment may be applied to the first embodiment or the second embodiment, and the mount portion shutter 410 of the second embodiment may be applied to the third embodiment. In addition, the indication portion 415 may be provided in the image forming apparatus 1B of the second embodiment, and the control in the toner replenishing operation described in the fifth embodiment and the sixth embodiment may be applied to the image forming apparatus 1B of the second embodiment.

Embodiments of the present invention may also be implemented by a computer of a system or apparatus that reads out and executes computer-executable instructions (e.g., one or more programs) recorded on a storage medium (also may be more precisely referred to as a "non-transitory computer-readable storage medium") that perform the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiments, and/or one or more circuits (e.g., an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC)) that include the functions for performing one or more of the above-described embodiments, and by a method that the computer of the system or apparatus performs by, for example, reading out computer-executable instructions from the storage medium that perform the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiments and executing those computer-executable instructions and/or controlling the one or more circuits to perform the functions of one or more of the above-described embodiments. The computer may include one or more processors (e.g., a Central Processing Unit (CPU), a Micro Processing Unit (MPU)), and may include a separate computer or a network of separate processors that read out and execute the computer-executable instructions. The computer-executable instructions may be provided to the computer, for example, from a network or the storage medium. The storage medium may include, for example, one or more of the following: hard disk, random Access Memory (RAM), read Only Memory (ROM), storage for distributed computing systems, optical disks (such as Compact Disk (CD), digital Versatile Disk (DVD), or blu-ray disc (BD) ^TM), flash memory devices, memory cards, etc.

OTHER EMBODIMENTS

The embodiments of the present invention can also be realized by a method in which software (program) that performs the functions of the above embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus, a computer of the system or apparatus or a method in which a Central Processing Unit (CPU), a Micro Processing Unit (MPU), or the like reads out and executes the program, through a network or various storage mediums.

While the invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.

Claims (41)

1. An image forming apparatus to which a first toner container configured to store toner of a first color and a second toner container configured to store toner of a second color different from the first color are mountable, the image forming apparatus comprising:

A device body; and

A moving unit including a first developing unit configured to store toner of a first color and a second developing unit configured to store toner of a second color, the moving unit configured to move relative to the apparatus main body between an inside position where image formation can be performed using the first developing unit and the second developing unit and an outside position different from the inside position where at least a part of the moving unit is exposed to the outside of the apparatus main body,

Wherein the first developing unit and the second developing unit are configured to replenish toner from a first toner container and a second toner container mounted on the image forming apparatus, respectively, in a state in which the moving unit is at the external position and supported by the apparatus main body, and

The moving unit is configured not to move from the external position to the internal position in a state where the first toner container and the second toner container are mounted on the image forming apparatus.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first developing unit includes a first developing mounting portion to which the first toner container is mountable, and is configured to be able to replenish toner from the first toner container mounted on the first developing mounting portion,

The second developing unit includes a second developing mounting portion to which the second toner container can be mounted and is configured to be able to replenish toner from the second toner container mounted on the second developing mounting portion, and

The first developing mounting portion and the second developing mounting portion are exposed to the outside of the apparatus main body with the moving unit at the outside position.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first developing mounting portion is positioned at the same position as the second developing mounting portion in an intersecting direction intersecting with a moving direction of the moving unit.

4. An image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said first developing mounting portion is provided at one end of said first developing unit in said intersecting direction, and

The second developing mounting portion is provided at an end of the second developing unit on a side where the first developing mounting portion is positioned in the intersecting direction.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first developing mounting portion and the second developing mounting portion are positioned at different positions in an intersecting direction intersecting with a moving direction of the moving unit.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the apparatus main body includes a main body mounting portion to which the first toner container can be mounted, and

The first developing unit includes a first replenishment port, and is configured to replenish toner from a first toner container mounted on the main body mounting portion through the first replenishment port in a case where the moving unit is positioned at a first position belonging to the external position.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the main body mounting portion is a first main body mounting portion,

The apparatus main body includes a second main body mounting portion provided at a position different from a position of the first main body mounting portion in the intersecting direction, and on which the second toner container can be mounted, and

The second developing unit includes a second replenishment port, and is configured to replenish toner from a second toner container mounted on the second main body mounting portion through the second replenishment port in a case where the moving unit is positioned at a second position different from the first position, which belongs to the external position.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising:

A first restricting member configured to move between a first restricting position at which the first toner container is restricted from being mounted on the first main body mounting portion and a first permitting position at which the first toner container is permitted to be mounted on the first main body mounting portion; and

A second restricting member configured to move between a second restricting position at which the second toner container is restricted from being mounted on the second main body mounting portion and a second permitting position at which the second toner container is permitted to be mounted on the second main body mounting portion.

9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the first regulating member is positioned at the first regulating position in a case where the first developing unit cannot supply the entire amount of toner in the new first toner container, is positioned at the first permitting position in a case where the first developing unit can supply the entire amount of toner in the new first toner container, and

The second regulating member is positioned at the second regulating position in a case where the second developing unit cannot supply the entire amount of toner in the new second toner container, and is positioned at the second permitting position in a case where the second developing unit can supply the entire amount of toner in the new second toner container.

10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the moving unit is positioned at the first position by abutting with a first restricting member positioned at the first permitting position, and is positioned at the second position by abutting with a second restricting member positioned at the second permitting position.

11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the main body mounting portion includes:

A first replenishment path through which toner discharged from the first toner container passes in a state where the first toner container is mounted on the main body mounting portion; and

A second replenishment path through which toner discharged from the second toner container passes in a state where the second toner container is mounted on the main body mounting portion,

The first developing unit is configured to replenish toner from a first toner container mounted on the main body mounting portion through the first replenishment path and the first replenishment port with the moving unit positioned at the first position, and

The second developing unit includes a second replenishment port, and is configured to replenish toner from a second toner container mounted on the main body mounting portion through the second replenishment path and the second replenishment port in a case where the moving unit is positioned at a second position different from the first position, which belongs to the external position.

12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the apparatus main body includes a locking mechanism configured to position the moving unit at the first position and the second position.

13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a reading unit provided above the apparatus main body and configured to read an image of an original,

Wherein the reading unit is provided so as not to overlap the main body mounting portion when seen from a mounting direction of the first toner container on the main body mounting portion.

14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first developing unit includes:

A first toner storage portion; and

A first developing roller configured to carry the toner stored in the first toner storage portion and to rotate about a first rotation axis,

The second developing unit includes:

a second toner storage portion; and

A second developing roller configured to carry the toner stored in the second toner storage portion and rotate around a second rotation axis, and

The extending directions of both the first rotation axis and the second rotation axis intersect with the moving direction of the moving unit.

15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the moving unit includes a movable frame body, and

The first developing unit and the second developing unit are configured to be attachable to and removable from the movable frame body.

16. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the moving unit includes a movable frame body, and

The first developing unit and the second developing unit are configured not to be removable from the movable frame body.

17. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

A first indicating portion configured to indicate that the first developing unit is capable of replenishing toner; and

And a second indicating portion configured to indicate that the second developing unit is capable of replenishing toner.

18. The image forming apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the first indicating portion and the second indicating portion are provided on an outer surface of the apparatus main body.

19. The image forming apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising an opening and closing member supported to be movable between a closed position and an open position with respect to the apparatus main body,

Wherein the moving unit is configured to move between the inner position and the outer position with respect to the device body with the opening and closing member positioned at the opening position, and

The first indicating portion and the second indicating portion are covered by the opening and closing member in a case where the opening and closing member is positioned at the closing position, and are exposed in a case where the opening and closing member is opened from the closing position to the opening position.

20. The image forming apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the first indicating portion is provided in the first developing unit, and

The second indicating portion is provided in the second developing unit.

21. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 20, further comprising an opening and closing member supported so as to be movable relative to the apparatus main body between a closed position and an open position,

Wherein the moving unit is supported from below by the opening and closing member positioned at the open position in a state of being pulled out from the apparatus main body.

22. An image forming apparatus to which a toner container storing toner can be attached, comprising:

a device body provided with an opening;

a mounting portion on which the toner container can be mounted;

A moving unit including a developing unit and configured to move through the opening between an inner position where image formation can be performed using the developing unit and an outer position different from the inner position where at least a part of the moving unit is exposed to the outside of the apparatus main body, the developing unit including:

a toner storage portion configured to store toner and to replenish toner from a toner container mounted on the mounting portion;

a developing roller configured to carry the toner in the toner storage portion; and

A stirring member configured to stir the toner in the toner storage portion;

An opening and closing member configured to move between a closed position in which an opening of the apparatus body is closed and an open position in which the opening is opened;

an actuator configured to drive the stirring member;

A first detection unit configured to output an output value based on an amount of toner stored in the toner storage portion;

An indication unit configured to perform remaining toner amount indication based on an output value output from the first detection unit;

a second detection unit configured to detect movement of the opening and closing member; and

A control unit configured to control the actuator, the first detection unit and the indication unit,

Wherein the moving unit is configured to replenish toner from a toner container mounted on the image forming apparatus to the toner storage portion in a state in which the moving unit is at the external position and supported by the apparatus main body, is configured not to be movable from the external position to the internal position in a state in which the toner container is mounted on the image forming apparatus, and

The control unit performs:

(i) A first control of controlling the actuator to start driving the stirring member based on the second detection unit detecting that the opening and closing member is moved from the open position to the closed position;

(ii) A second control of controlling the first detection unit to output the output value; and

(Iii) And a third control of controlling the indicating unit to perform the remaining toner amount indication.

23. The image forming apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the mounting portion includes an operating portion configured to be operated to move between a restricting position for restricting toner replenishment from a toner container mounted on the mounting portion to the toner storage portion and a permitting position for permitting toner replenishment from the toner container to the toner storage portion,

The image forming apparatus further includes a third detection unit configured to detect movement of the operation portion, and

The control unit performs, in a case where movement of the opening and closing member from the open position to the closed position has been detected by the second detection unit:

(i) A first control that causes, in a case where movement of the operating portion between the restricting position and the permitting position has been detected by the third detecting unit, the stirring member to be driven for a longer time than in a case where movement of the operating portion between the restricting position and the permitting position has not been detected by the third detecting unit for the period of time immediately before the movement of the opening and closing member from the opening position to the closing position is detected by the second detecting unit, and

(Ii) And a third control that performs remaining toner amount indication based on an output value in the second control based on the second detection unit detecting movement of the opening and closing member from the opening position to the closing position.

24. The image forming apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the control unit does not execute the second control in a case where movement of the opening and closing member from the open position to the closed position has been detected by the second detection unit, and movement of the operating portion between the restricting position and the allowing position is not detected by the third detection unit for the period of time.

25. The image forming apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the apparatus main body includes a storage unit configured to store the output value, and

The control unit performs the third control to perform the remaining toner amount indication based on an output value stored in the storage unit immediately before the period of time.

26. The image forming apparatus according to claim 25, wherein in a case where movement of the opening and closing member from the opening position to the closing position has been detected by the second detecting unit, and movement of the operating portion between the restricting position and the permitting position has been detected by a third detecting unit within the period of time, the control unit performs the first control such that a time for which the stirring member is driven in a case where a remaining toner amount in the toner storage portion has increased within the period of time is longer than in a case where a remaining toner amount in the toner storage portion has not increased within the period of time.

27. The image forming apparatus according to claim 26, wherein whether or not the remaining toner amount in the toner storage portion has increased within the period of time is determined from an output value in a case where the second control is performed based on the second detection unit detecting movement of the opening and closing member from the opening position to the closing position, and an output value stored in the storage unit immediately before the period of time.

28. The image forming apparatus according to claim 22, wherein in a case where movement of the opening and closing member from the opening position to the closing position has been detected by the second detecting unit, the control unit performs the first control such that, in a case where a remaining toner amount in the toner storage portion has increased immediately before movement of the opening and closing member from the opening position to the closing position is detected by the second detecting unit, within a period of time in which the opening and closing member is at the opening position, the stirring member is driven for a longer time than in a case where the remaining toner amount has not increased.

29. The image forming apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the control unit executes the third control after the stirring member is stopped.

30. The image forming apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the control unit controls the actuator to stop the stirring member based on the second detection unit detecting movement of the opening and closing member from the closed position to the open position.

31. The image forming apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the control unit executes the first control, the second control, and the third control in a case where the developing unit is capable of replenishing the entire amount of toner in the new toner container, and does not execute the second control and the third control in a case where the developing unit is not capable of replenishing the entire amount of toner in the new toner container.

32. The image forming apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the control unit controls the indication unit to start a replenishment mode indication different from the remaining toner amount indication based on the movement of the opening and closing member from the open position to the closed position being detected by the second detection unit in the first control, and causes the indication unit to switch from the replenishment mode indication to the remaining toner amount indication in the third control.

33. The image forming apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the control unit controls the indication unit to start a replenishment mode indication different from the remaining toner amount indication based on the second detection unit detecting movement of the opening and closing member from the closed position to the open position before the first control, and in the third control, causes the indication unit to switch from the replenishment mode indication to the remaining toner amount indication.

34. The image forming apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the developing unit and the toner container are a first developing unit and a first toner container, respectively,

The moving unit includes the first developing unit configured to store toner of a first color, and a second developing unit configured to store toner of a second color different from the first color, and is configured to perform image formation at the internal position by using the first developing unit and the second developing unit,

The first developing unit and the second developing unit are configured to replenish toner from a first toner container and a second toner container mounted on the mounting portion, respectively, the first toner container being configured to store the toner of the first color, the second toner container being configured to store the toner of the second color, in a state where the moving unit is at the external position and supported by the apparatus main body, and

The moving unit is configured not to move from the external position to the internal position in a state where the first toner container and the second toner container are mounted on the mounting portion.

35. The image forming apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the mounting portion includes:

A first developing mounting portion provided in the first developing unit, and on which the first toner container is mountable; and

A second developing mounting portion provided in the second developing unit, and on which the second toner container can be mounted,

The first developing unit is configured to replenish toner from a first toner container mounted on the first developing mounting portion,

The second developing unit is configured to replenish toner from a second toner container mounted on the second developing mounting portion, and

The first developing mounting portion and the second developing mounting portion are exposed to the outside of the apparatus main body with the moving unit at the outside position.

36. The image forming apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the mounting portion includes a main body mounting portion provided in the apparatus main body, and the first toner container is mountable on the main body mounting portion, and

The first developing unit includes a first replenishment port, and is configured to replenish toner from a first toner container mounted on the main body mounting portion through the first replenishment port in a case where the moving unit is positioned at a first position belonging to the external position.

37. The image forming apparatus according to claim 36, wherein the main body mounting portion is a first main body mounting portion,

The apparatus main body includes a second main body mounting portion provided at a position different from a position of the first main body mounting portion in an intersecting direction intersecting with a moving direction of the moving unit, and on which the second toner container is mountable, and

The second developing unit includes a second replenishment port, and is configured to replenish toner from a second toner container mounted on the second main body mounting portion through the second replenishment port in a case where the moving unit is positioned at a second position different from the first position, which belongs to the external position.

38. The image forming apparatus according to claim 36, wherein the main body mounting portion includes:

A first replenishment path through which toner discharged from the first toner container passes in a state where the first toner container is mounted on the main body mounting portion; and

A second replenishment path through which toner discharged from the second toner container passes in a state where the second toner container is mounted on the main body mounting portion,

The first developing unit is configured to replenish toner from a first toner container mounted on the main body mounting portion through the first replenishment path and the first replenishment port with the moving unit positioned at the first position, and

The second developing unit includes a second replenishment port, and is configured to replenish toner from a second toner container mounted on the main body mounting portion through the second replenishment path and the second replenishment port in a case where the moving unit is positioned at a second position different from the first position, which belongs to the external position.

39. The image forming apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the moving unit includes a movable frame body, and

The first developing unit and the second developing unit are configured to be attachable to and detachable from the movable frame body.

40. The image forming apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the moving unit includes a movable frame body, and

The first developing unit and the second developing unit are configured not to be detachable from the movable frame body.

41. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 22 to 40, wherein the first detection unit includes:

a light emitting portion configured to emit light; and

A light receiving portion configured to receive light emitted from the light emitting portion and passing through the toner storage portion, the first detecting unit detecting an amount of toner stored in the toner storage portion by outputting an output value corresponding to a time at which the light emitting portion receives the light emitted from the light emitting portion.