JP2000172127A - Electrophotographic image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow a driving system to surely start at the time of toner tapping, and to enable controlling without consuming an excess power at the non-tapping time by providing a drive current switching means or the like for switching the derive current of a motor, based on the information from a processing cartridge detachment detecting means. SOLUTION: A cover open close detecting part transmits a state of detachment of the processing cartridge to an engine controlling part. The current limiter 404 is provided with the function for switching the current value starting the current limitation, based on the logic of the control signal LIMIT signal from the engine controlling part. That is, resistance R1 and R2 are switched by the LIMIT signal to be inputted to detecting part 404a. The engine controlling part controls the LIMIT signal based on the open/close signal from the cover open/close detecting part, and when the open/close the cover is executed, in assuming that the detachment of process cartridge is executed, the current limit value at the time of the start of the drive motor is switched to the higher value.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus capable of detachably attaching a process cartridge and forming an image on a recording medium by an electrophotographic process.

Here, the electrophotographic image forming apparatus forms an image on a recording medium using an electrophotographic image forming method. Examples of the image forming apparatus include, for example, an electrophotographic copying machine, an electrophotographic printer (for example, a laser beam printer, an LED printer, and the like), a facsimile machine, a word processor, and the like.

The above-mentioned process cartridge is one in which a charging means or a cleaning means, a developing means, and an electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally formed into a cartridge, and this cartridge is detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus main body. . In addition, at least one of the charging unit and the cleaning unit, the developing unit and the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally formed as a cartridge so that the cartridge can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body. Further, the developing means and the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally formed as a cartridge so that the developing means and the electrophotographic photosensitive member can be detachably attached to the image forming apparatus main body.

[0004]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus of this type, for example, an electrophotographic printer has a configuration as shown in FIG.

[0005] Here, 1 is a photosensitive drum for forming an electrostatic latent image, 2 is a charging roller for uniformly charging the photosensitive drum 1, and 3 is a laser beam that scans the photosensitive drum 1 on the photosensitive drum 1. Is a laser beam emitted from the optical unit 3, 5 is a developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 1 by the laser beam with toner, and 6 is a developing device. A transfer roller charger for transferring the toner image on the photosensitive drum 1 to a predetermined sheet, a fixing unit 7 for melting the toner on the sheet and fixing the same on the sheet, and a reference numeral 8 for loading the sheet for printing A cassette 9, a paper feed roller 9 for picking up the paper from the cassette, a discharge roller 10 for discharging the paper out of the machine, a registration sensor 11 for detecting a leading end for printing the conveyed paper, and a reference numeral 12 Is paper Registration rollers for correcting skew of the end, discharge sensor for checking the whether the paper is discharged from the normally fixing device 13, 14 is a cassette 8
Paper presence / absence sensor for detecting presence / absence of paper inside
Reference numeral denotes a process cartridge which accommodates the photosensitive drum 1, the charging roller 2, the developing device 5, and toner in one unit and is detachable from the printer main body. Reference numeral 16 denotes a main body cover for taking out the process cartridge from the printer main body 17.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a control system in a conventional system.

Reference numeral 101 denotes communication with a host computer, reception of image data, development of the received image data into information that can be printed by a printer, and transmission of a signal with a printer engine control unit 102 described later. A printer controller 102 for performing communication and serial communication;
Exchanges signals with the printer controller 101, and controls each unit of the printer engine via serial communication. The engine control unit 103 feeds paper from the cassette 8 based on a command from the engine control unit 102. A paper transport control unit that transports the paper to the transfer unit and then controls the transport of the paper to the fixing paper discharge and controls the ON / OFF of a drive motor serving as a drive source for driving the transport rollers. An optical system control unit 105 that executes based on instructions from an engine control unit, such as ON / OFF and laser ON / OFF, and performs ON / OFF and output control of each high voltage for charging, development, and transfer based on a command from the engine control unit 102. And a high-voltage controller 106 for transmitting information such as the remaining amount of toner to the engine controller 102.
Reference numeral 107 denotes a fixing temperature control unit for controlling the temperature of the fixing unit 7 to a predetermined temperature; 107, a paper presence / absence sensor input which takes in information of each paper presence / absence sensor of a cassette paper presence / absence sensor, a registration sensor, and a paper ejection sensor and transmits the information to the engine control unit 102; Part 108
A jam detection unit 109 that detects a failure in sheet conveyance and transmits the same to the engine control unit 102, and a failure detection unit 109 that detects an abnormality of a functional component such as a drive motor, a scanner motor, or a laser and transmits the abnormality to the engine control unit 102.

When the engine controller 102 receives a print request from the printer controller 101, it feeds paper from the paper cassette 8 and transports the paper to the registration unit, where it temporarily synchronizes with the printer controller 102 for image writing (vertical). (Synchronization), and then restart the sheet conveyance. Thereafter, the sheet is transported to the fixing unit and the sheet discharging unit, and the sheet is discharged to a predetermined position outside the apparatus.

The process cartridge 15 develops the latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 1 with the developing device 5 using the toner stored in the toner storing section 18. The toner accommodating portion 18 is provided with a toner stirring member 19 for stirring and sending out the toner.

In addition, when the conventional process cartridge is new, the toner inside the toner tends to harden relatively. Therefore, after the use of the process cartridge has started and the resistance to agitate the toner has decreased, the rotation of the motor has been reduced from the normal time. By setting the output to be higher, the specifications have been made so that the driving of the motor can be started reliably even when a new cartridge is inserted.

[0011]

However, in the above conventional example, since the drive output of the motor is always constant,
Even in the case of a machine in which the amount of toner in the process cartridge is small, the motor output must always be increased and extra power is consumed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an electrophotographic image forming apparatus capable of reliably starting up a drive system even when toner is being tapped in a process cartridge and capable of performing control without extra power consumption during non-tapping.

[0013]

The main aspects of the present invention are as described below with reference to the claims.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electrophotographic image forming apparatus which detachably attaches a process cartridge and forms an image on a recording medium, comprising: a. An electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a developing unit that develops a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum using toner, a toner storage unit that stores toner using the developing unit, and a toner in the toner storage unit A cartridge agitator for detachably mounting a process cartridge having a toner agitating member for agitating the toner; b. Process cartridge attachment / detachment detection means for estimating or detecting that the process cartridge has been attached / detached to / from the cartridge mounting portion; c. A motor for driving the toner stirring member; d. Drive current switching means for switching the drive current of the motor based on information from the process cartridge attachment / detachment detection means; e. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprising: a conveying unit for conveying the recording medium.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium by detachably attaching a process cartridge, comprising: a. An electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a developing unit that develops a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum using toner, a toner storage unit that stores toner using the developing unit, and a toner in the toner storage unit A cartridge agitator for detachably mounting a process cartridge having a toner agitating member for agitating the toner; b. Process cartridge attachment / detachment detection means for estimating or detecting that the process cartridge has been attached / detached to / from the cartridge mounting portion; c. A motor for driving the toner stirring member; d. Based on the information from the process cartridge detection means, when starting the drive for the first time, the upper limit value of the time required for starting the motor for detecting the abnormality of the motor is set to the upper limit value of the process cartridge. Switching for a longer time than usual, e. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprising: a conveying unit for conveying the recording medium.

[0016]

(Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

Reference numeral 201 denotes a photosensitive drum for forming an electrostatic latent image; 202, a charging roller for uniformly charging the photosensitive drum 201; and 203, a laser beam is scanned on the photosensitive drum 1. Optical unit 204 for the laser beam emitted from the optical unit 203, 20
Reference numeral 5 denotes a developing unit for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 1 by a laser beam with toner.
Is a transfer roller charger for transferring the toner image on the photosensitive drum 1 to a predetermined sheet, 207 is a fixing unit for melting the toner on the sheet as a recording medium and fixing it on the sheet, and 208 is a sheet for loading the sheet to be printed 209, a cassette feed roller for picking up paper from the cassette, 210, a discharge roller for discharging paper out of the machine,
Reference numeral 211 denotes a registration sensor for detecting the leading edge for printing the conveyed paper, reference numeral 212 denotes a registration roller for correcting skew of the leading edge of the paper, and reference numeral 213 denotes whether or not the paper has been normally discharged from the fixing unit 207. Sensor 214 for detecting the presence or absence of a sheet in the cassette 208, 215 a photosensitive drum 201, a charging roller 202, a developing unit 205, and toner in one unit A process cartridge 216 that can be attached to and detached from the printer main body 117 is a main body cover for taking out the process cartridge 215 from the printer main body 117. This process cartridge 215
Is driven from a drive motor 406 (see FIG. 3) provided in the apparatus main body 117 via a drive transmission member. Then, the photosensitive drum 201 first receives the driving force, and the photosensitive drum 2
From 01, the rotation is transmitted to the developing device 205 and the toner stirring member 219 by a gear train (not shown).

When the cover 216 is opened, the main body 117 of the apparatus is opened.
A cartridge mounting portion S provided with a guide member is provided on the left and right walls. Therefore, the process cartridge 215
The guides provided on both sides in the longitudinal direction (the axial direction of the photosensitive drum 201) are fitted into guide grooves provided in guide members provided on left and right walls of the cartridge mounting portion S, and the process cartridge 215 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion S. Is done. The removal of the process cartridge 215 from the cartridge mounting portion S is performed by the reverse operation.

Reference numeral 217 denotes a main body cover 216 for removing the process cartridge from the printer main body 216.
Cover open / close detection sensor for detecting the open / close of the process cartridge, and serves as a process cartridge attachment / detachment detection unit.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the control system.

Reference numeral 301 denotes communication with a host computer, reception of image data, development of the received image data into information that can be printed by a printer, and exchange of signals with a printer engine control unit described later. And a printer controller 302 for performing serial communication, an engine control unit 302 for exchanging signals with the printer controller 301 and controlling each unit of the printer engine via the serial communication, and 303 for an engine control unit 302.
And feeds the paper from the cassette 208 to the transfer unit based on a command from the printer, controls the conveyance of the paper until the fixing paper is discharged, and agitates the conveyance rollers and the toner provided in the toner storage unit 218 of the process cartridge 215. Member 219
ON / OFF of the drive motor which is the drive source for the drive of
304 is a scanner motor 2
An optical system control unit 305 that is executed based on an instruction of the engine control unit 302 such as ON / OFF of the laser 03a and ON / OFF of the laser.
And a high-voltage control unit 306 for transmitting information such as the remaining amount of toner to the engine control unit 302.
Reference numeral 307 denotes a fixing temperature control unit that controls the temperature of the fixing roller 207a to a predetermined temperature. Reference numeral 307 denotes a paper that takes in information of the cassette paper presence, registration sensor 211, and paper presence / absence sensor of the paper ejection sensor 213 and transmits the information to the engine control unit 302. A presence / absence sensor input unit 308 is a jam detection unit that detects a failure in sheet conveyance and notifies the engine control unit 302 309 is a drive motor 406 (see FIG. 3) that drives the process cartridge 215 and a recording medium conveyance unit, and a scanner. A failure detection unit as a motor abnormality detection unit that detects abnormality of a functional component such as a motor and a laser and transmits the abnormality to an engine control unit;
Reference numeral 10 denotes a cover opening / closing detection unit that notifies the engine control unit 302 of the state of attachment / detachment of the process cartridge 215.

FIG. 3 shows a control section of the drive motor 406 which forms a part of the sheet transport control section 303. The drive motor 406 also drives the toner stirring member 219.

A control unit 401 controls the current supply to an output amplifier based on the FG signal and speed difference information of the speed control unit 403 when a motor drive signal MOTOR-ON signal from the engine control unit 302 is received. Amplifier 403 that supplies a current to the control unit 401 based on information from the control unit 401.
The control unit 401 compares the rotation speed information from the
A speed control unit 404 for transmitting speed difference information to the control unit 401. The speed control unit 404 monitors the current flowing from the output amplifier 402, and transmits information for limiting the current value to the control unit 401 when the current value exceeds a predetermined current value. It is a limiter. Here, as shown in FIG. 4, the current limiter 404 has a function of switching a current value to be subjected to current limitation based on the logic of the control signal LIMIT signal from the engine control unit 302. That is, the resistors R1 and R2 are switched by the LIMIT signal and input to the current detector 404a. Here, the resistance values are R1 and R2. The engine control unit 302 controls the LIMIT signal based on the opening / closing information from the cover opening / closing detection unit 310, and
When the opening / closing of the cartridge 16 is performed, it is assumed that the attachment / detachment of the process cartridge 215 has been carried out, and thereafter, the current limit value when starting the drive motor 406 is switched to a higher value. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing these sequences.

In FIG. 5, first, in step S1, it is determined whether or not there is a print request from the controller 301.
During the period in which no request is received, the state of the cover open / close sensor 217 (see FIG. 1) for constantly determining whether the cover 216 for removing the process cartridge 215 has been opened and closed is read as shown in step S1-1. 6 at time t1, the cover 216 opens as shown in FIG. 6A, and at time t2, the cover 216 as shown in FIG.
Is closed and the opening / closing operation is performed, a flag indicating that fact is set as shown in step S1-2 in FIG.
Set as shown in (c).

Thereafter, when a print request is received from the printer controller 301 at time t3, as shown in FIG. 6D, it is determined in step S2 whether or not the cover 216 has been opened or closed earlier by using a flag. If it is determined that the cover 216 has not been opened or closed, the process proceeds to step S5. Here, when it is determined in step 2 that the cover 216 has been opened and closed, the upper limit value of the drive current of the motor 406, that is, the current value that can be energized when the motor 406 starts up, is determined as shown in step S3 in FIG. ), Switch to the maximum. Then, in step S4, the door open / close flag is reset as shown in FIG.
Then, in step S5, the motor 406 is started at time t4 as shown in FIG. 6G, and in step S7, when the motor 406 detects the steady rotation state, ie, the ready state, at time t5 as shown in FIG. In step S8, the sheet pick-up operation is started as shown in FIG.
At 9 the printing process starts. Here, since the possibility that the process cartridge 215 has been replaced by the user by opening and closing the cover 216 is high, the starting torque of the main motor 406 is increased on the assumption that the toner is hardened by tapping. However, with the cover 216 not opened, the process cartridge 21 once stirred
If it is 5, the tapping of the toner is improved,
The starting current to the motor 406 can be reduced.

If the cover 216 is opened and closed before the print request, the cover open / closed flag is set. If this flag is set, the print request is received immediately before the motor 406 is started. To
Increase the upper limit of the drive current. When the switching is completed, this flag is reset and the motor drive is started. When the motor 406 enters the ready state, paper feed, scanner drive, and high-voltage drive for a print operation are started.

In the flowchart (FIG. 5) described above, the motor failure detection timer is started in step S6, and if the motor ready signal is not output within the set time of the timer as shown in step S7-1, the process proceeds to step 10. Then, the process displays a motor failure (abnormal) process and ends.

After time t3 in FIG. 6, charging, exposure,
Development and transfer are performed.

According to the first embodiment, the main body cover 2
When the opening and closing of the button 16 is performed, a flag is set, and based on the flag, a current larger than a normal current value is supplied to the motor for a certain time at the time of starting the motor, so that the toner can be agitated even if toner tapping occurs. Then, when the predetermined time has elapsed, the current is reduced to a normal current, so that power is saved.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 7 is a diagram showing Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

In the present embodiment, the condition for switching the motor drive current is at the time of executing the pre-multi-rotation process immediately after turning on the power.

That is, when the power is turned on, it is impossible to determine whether or not the process cartridge 215 has been replaced before that. Therefore, immediately after the power is turned on, the upper limit of the motor driving current is set high at the time when the motor 406 is first rotated. It is a thing corresponding to the tapping of.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation. In FIG. 7, when the power is turned on in step S1, initialization processing of the CPU and the like in the engine control unit 302 is performed, and then in step 6, the multi-rotation processing is started. At the beginning of the pre-multi-rotation process, in step S3, the motor 406
Drive. At this time, in step S2, the maximum value of the current supplied to the motor 406 is set higher than usual, and then the motor driving is started. When the motor 406 enters a steady rotation state, that is, a ready state in step S4 after the start, step S5
In step S6, various high pressures such as charging and development are started, and the temperature control of the fixing device 207 is started.
Starts the pre-multi-rotation process. The flow of motor failure detection is the same as in the previous embodiment.

Third Embodiment FIGS. 8 and 9 show a third embodiment of the present invention.

This embodiment has a function of switching a failure detection time for detecting a motor abnormality at the time of starting the motor, instead of controlling the drive current of the motor 406 as in the above-described embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the motor control unit. As shown here, there is no motor starting current switching function.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the control of the engine control unit 302 during printing.

First, in step S1, a print request from the printer controller 301 is monitored, and it is determined whether or not the cover 216 has been opened and closed to remove and attach the process cartridge 215 during a period when there is no request. If the cover 216 has been opened or closed, a flag indicating that fact is set.

Thereafter, when a print instruction is received from the printer controller 301 in step 1, driving of the drive system is started in step S2. At this time, if the cover 216 has been opened and closed, that is, if the flag has been set in step S3, the door open / close flag is reset in step 4 to detect a failure when the motor starts. Is extended by the motor failure detection timer 2 in step 5 and the timer 1 in the normal step S3-1.
The time until failure detection is longer than the set time of. By doing so, the cover 216 is opened and closed to form a new process cartridge 215, and a sufficient rise time is secured even if the toner is tapped. In addition, during a period in which there is no possibility of tapping other than that, the start-up time at the time of starting the motor can be detected at an optimal time, and the reliability of the device can be ensured.

(Fourth Embodiment) FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

This embodiment describes a method of extending the failure detection time for detecting a motor abnormality at the time of starting the motor at the time of performing the multi-rotation before the power is turned on.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the processing from power-on to execution of pre-multiple rotations.

First, when the power is turned on in step S1 and initialization in the engine control unit 302 is completed, step S2
To start driving the motor 406. At this time, step S3
Then, the timer 2 sets a failure detection time for detecting a motor failure, that is, an upper limit value of a time period from the start of driving of the motor 406 to the time when the motor 406 reaches a steady rotation, longer than usual.

As described above, when it is not possible to determine whether or not the process cartridge 215 has been replaced when the power is turned on, the motor 406 startup time is lengthened to erroneously detect a motor failure, for example, even if toner is tapped. The motor 406 can be started without the need. Further, in a state where there is no normal tapping, a motor failure can be detected in an appropriate time, so that the reliability of the system is not impaired.

In each of the above-described embodiments, a system in which it is assumed that the process cartridge has been attached or detached when the power is turned on or the cover is opened / closed, and the subsequent control is performed is described.

However, the present invention is naturally applicable to a system having a function of directly detecting the attachment / detachment of the process cartridge 216 using a sensor or a switch.

FIG. 11 and FIG.
Process cartridge presence / absence detection switch 21
8 shows a configuration of a printer device equipped with the printer device 8.

Reference numeral 218 denotes a switch for detecting the presence or absence of the process cartridge.
Is inserted, the switch 218 is pressed. If the detection switch 218 is used, the attachment / detachment of the process cartridge 215 can be directly detected, so that the attachment / detachment can be detected by the state of the switch 218 without predicting the attachment / detachment by opening and closing the cover as described above.

Therefore, the subsequent control is not guessed, and control of the motor drive current in accordance with the actual detached state or control of failure detection at the time of starting the motor can be executed.

[0050]

As described above, when the process cartridge is newly inserted and there is a possibility of the tapping of toner, the motor can be reliably started.

At that time, during normal use where there is no possibility of tapping, the motor can be operated with proper specifications such as a low current value and a short abnormality detection time, greatly contributing to the improvement of the reliability of the system. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control system according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a control unit of a drive motor.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a current limiter.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a sequence when driving the motor according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a timing chart corresponding to FIG.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a control unit of a drive motor according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart according to the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to the embodiment which can directly detect the attachment / detachment of the process cartridge.

FIG. 12 is a longitudinal sectional view of a conventional electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram of a conventional control system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Photoreceptor drum 2 ... Charging roller 3 ... Optical unit 4 ... Laser beam 5 ... Developing device 6 ... Transfer roller charging device 7 ... Fixing device 8 ... Cassette 9 ... Feeding roller 10 ... Discharge roller 11 ... Resist sensor 12 ... Resist Roller 13 ... Discharge sensor 14 ... Paper presence sensor 15 ... Process cartridge 16 ... Main body cover 17 ... Printer main body (apparatus main body) 18 ... Toner storage unit 101 ... Printer controller 102 ... Engine control unit 103 ... Paper conveyance control unit 104 ... Optical system Control unit 105 High-voltage control unit 106 Fixing temperature control unit 107 Paper presence sensor input unit 108 Jam detection unit 109 Failure detection unit 201 Photosensitive drum 202 Charging roller 203 Optical unit 203a Scanner motor 204 Laser Beam 205: developing unit 206: transfer roller charging 207: Fixing device 207a: Fixing roller 208: Cassette 209: Cassette feeding roller 210: Discharge roller 211: Registration sensor 212: Registration roller 213: Discharge sensor 214: Paper presence sensor 215: Process cartridge 216: Main body cover 217: Cover opening / closing Detection sensor 218 ... Process cartridge presence / absence detection switch 219 ... Toner stirring member 301 ... Printer controller 302 ... Engine control unit 303 ... Paper transport control unit 304 ... Optical system control unit 305 ... High pressure control unit 306 ... Fixing temperature control unit 307 ... Paper presence / absence Sensor input unit 308 Jam detection unit 309 Failure detection unit 310 Cover open / close detection unit 401 Control unit 402 Output amplifier 403 Speed control unit 404 Current limiter 404a Current detection unit 405 Oscillator 4 6 ... the drive motor

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus which detachably attaches a process cartridge and forms an image on a recording medium, comprising: a. An electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a developing unit that develops a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum using toner, a toner storage unit that stores toner using the developing unit, and a toner in the toner storage unit. A toner agitating member for agitating the toner cartridge; and a cartridge mounting portion for detachably mounting a process cartridge having the toner cartridge. B. Process cartridge attachment / detachment detection means for estimating or detecting that the process cartridge has been attached / detached to / from the cartridge mounting portion; c. A motor for driving the toner stirring member; d. Drive current switching means for switching the drive current of the motor based on information from the process cartridge attachment / detachment detection means; e. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprising: conveying means for conveying the recording medium. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said process cartridge attachment / detachment detection means estimates that the process cartridge has been attached / detached by detecting opening / closing of a cover of the cartridge mounting portion when attaching / detaching the process cartridge. 2. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to 1. 3. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said process cartridge attachment / detachment detection unit estimates that the attachment / detachment of the process cartridge has been carried out immediately after power-on. 4. The motor drive current switching means receives the information indicating that the process cartridge has been detached from the process cartridge detachment detection means, and then starts driving the motor for the first time. 2. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a switching unit for switching an upper limit value of the driving current from the other driving times. 5. The motor drive current switching means detects an abnormality of the motor when the drive of the motor is started first after receiving information from the process cartridge detachment detection means that the detachment has been performed. 2. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the upper limit value of the time required for starting the motor is switched to a longer time than in a normal case where the process cartridge is not detached. 6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the motor drives a recording medium conveying unit and the toner stirring member.
2. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to 1. 7. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus which detachably attaches a process cartridge and forms an image on a recording medium, comprising: a. An electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a developing unit that develops a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum using toner, a toner storage unit that stores toner using the developing unit, and a toner in the toner storage unit. A toner agitating member for agitating the toner cartridge; and a cartridge mounting portion for detachably mounting a process cartridge having the toner cartridge. B. Process cartridge attachment / detachment detection means for estimating or detecting that the process cartridge has been attached / detached to / from the cartridge mounting portion; c. A motor for driving the toner stirring member; d. Based on the information from the process cartridge detection means, when starting the drive for the first time, the upper limit value of the time required for starting the motor for detecting the abnormality of the motor is set to the upper limit value of the process cartridge. Switching for a longer time than usual, e. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprising: conveying means for conveying the recording medium. 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said process cartridge attachment / detachment detection means estimates that the process cartridge has been attached / detached by detecting opening / closing of a cover of the cartridge mounting portion when attaching / detaching the process cartridge. 8. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to 7. 9. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said process cartridge attachment / detachment detection unit estimates that the attachment / detachment of the process cartridge has been carried out immediately after power-on. 10. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the motor drives a recording medium conveying unit and the toner stirring member.