JP2001022241A - Electrophotographic device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform the detection of the existence of a toner recovery container and a full state with recovered toner, the control of the operation of a machine main body caused thereby and control to display recovery circumstances to a user at any time with simple device constitution. SOLUTION: This device is equipped with a waste toner detecting device constituted of the toner recovery container 1 for recovering waste toner, a receiving base 2 on which the recovery container is placed and which moves up and down, an abutting member 4 abutting on the container 1 in the case of placing the container 1 on the base 2, an elastic member for supporting the base 2, and a sensor detecting the position of the base 2 on which the container 1 is placed and outputting a signal changed in accordance with the position of the base 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a waste toner detecting device in an electrophotographic apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, and a facsimile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an electrophotographic apparatus, in order to remove toner remaining on a photosensitive drum by a cleaning means and to discard the removed toner outside the electrophotographic apparatus main body,
It is necessary to detect a waste toner storage state in the waste toner storage device.

[0003] In the conventional waste toner detecting method, waste toner is received from an opening provided in the upper part of the waste toner container. Then, as the amount of toner in the waste toner container increases, the movable cradle on which the container is placed is displaced downward, and finally the cradle abuts a switch arranged at the bottom of the cradle. By operating the switch, it was determined that the waste toner container was full of waste toner.

In another method, a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element are arranged opposite to each other with a light-transmitting collection container interposed therebetween, so that the amount of toner is filled in the container, and light from the light-emitting element passes through the collection container. Then, the light does not enter the light receiving element. This was detected by the control device, and it was determined that the waste toner container was full of waste toner. Regarding the presence / absence of the collection container, a switch such as a micro switch is separately provided on the machine body to detect the presence / absence.

[0005]

In such a waste toner detecting device, it is necessary to detect the presence or absence of the recovery container and to detect the recovery of the waste toner by providing respective detection switches. Further, in the detection method using transmitted light, when the waste toner is not full, a condition is that light from the light emitting element passes through the collection container.

[0006] However, even when the collection container is not full of toner, light is blocked due to contamination of the outer or inner surface of the collection container with waste toner for some reason, and replacement of the collection container is also required. As a result, the light-receiving element and the light-emitting element are contaminated by the waste toner, so that the light-receiving element cannot receive light, which may cause erroneous control. A malfunction of the sensor may occur due to the scattering of the toner into the machine.

Further, in either method, it is only possible to determine whether or not the waste toner is full, and it is not possible to confirm the current amount of collected toner. There is also a problem that is stopped. In particular, in the case of a device having a FAX function, printing cannot be performed when a user is absent for a long period of time, which is fatal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is an object of the present invention to detect the presence or absence of a toner collection container, to detect that the collected toner is full, to control the operation of the machine body, and to collect the toner. An object of the present invention is to provide a control for displaying a situation as needed with a simple device configuration.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a toner collection container for collecting waste toner, a vertically movable receiving tray for mounting the collection container, and a collection container. A contact member that comes into contact with the collection container when placed on the cradle, an elastic member for supporting the cradle, and the position of the cradle on which the collection container is placed is detected and changed according to the cradle position. A waste toner detecting device including a sensor for outputting a signal to perform the operation is provided in the electrophotographic apparatus.

[0010]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a waste toner detecting device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The waste toner detecting device is attached to a predetermined position of a printer (not shown). Note that the configuration of the printer is well known, and a description thereof will be omitted. FIG. 1 shows a waste toner detecting device of the present invention. In the state shown in FIG. 1A, the collection container 1 is placed on the cradle 2 in an empty state. Since the receiving table 2 is supported by the spring 3 in a well-balanced manner, the collection container 1 is held in a horizontal state in the printer main body. The pedestal 2 is located in the upper and lower directions E and F
The position is regulated in the printer body so that it can move only in the direction. Also, place the collection container 1 in the empty state
2, the upper surface of the collection container 1 comes into contact with the contact member 4 located above the collection container 1, and the collection container 1 is pressed in the F direction against the elastic force of the spring 3. Therefore, collection container
In the state where there is no 1, the cradle 2 is located in the direction E from the state shown in FIG. Rack 2 on the side wall of cradle 2
a, and the rack 2a is engaged with a pinion 6 having a fulcrum on the apparatus main body. The pinion 6 meshes with a slide lever 5a that slides up and down, and the slide lever 5a is fixed to the main body. The detection member 5 that slides on the surface of the collection detection member 5 is provided with different volume resistances in the vertical position, and detects the displacement of the cradle 2 as a change in resistance value at the contact position of the slide lever 5a.

FIG. 1B shows a state in which the waste toner is removed from the drum by cleaning, falls into the container 1 from the transport pipe 7, and accumulates.

The cradle 2 is displaced in the direction F by the weight of the toner accumulated in the collection container 1. With this displacement, the receiving table 2, the rack 2a, the pinion 6, and the slide lever
The slide lever 5a also slides in the E direction by the link mechanism 5a. This slide changes the resistance value.

FIG. 2 shows the relationship between the displacement of the pedestal 2 and the resistance value of the slide volume resistance of the detection member 5. A resistance value Re corresponding to the position of the cradle 2 in a state where the empty collection container 1 is mounted is set in advance. Therefore, this resistance value Re becomes a threshold value for the presence or absence of the collection container 1. At the same time, a resistance value corresponding to a state where the collected toner overflows from the collection container 1 such as a state where the toner is damaged when the toner is collected any more, such as a state where the collected toner overflows from the collection container 1, and a position which prompts a user or service person to replace the collection container. Is set in advance. The resistance value is arbitrarily set between the resistance value Re and the resistance value Rc.

In FIG. 2, two resistance values R1 and R2 are set between the resistance value Re and the resistance value Rc. Based on the set resistance values Re, R1, R2, Rc, and Rf and the resistance value Rx read from the slide volume resistance, the control unit controls the mechanical operation. This control flow
Figure 3 shows.

First, the read resistance value Rx and the collection container 1
Resistance value Re, which is a threshold value for the presence or absence of
If so, it is determined that there is no collection container 1 and the machine operation is stopped. At the same time, information indicating that there is no collection container is displayed on the user / serviceman interface of the printer body. Here, the user / serviceman interface indicates a display unit on the main body or a display screen of a personal computer or the like instructing the printer to print. This will be described in detail later.

Next, if Rx> Re, the resistance is compared with a resistance value Rc corresponding to a position urging a user or a serviceman to replace the collection container, and if Rx <Rc, the machine is operated without any problem.

However, if Rx> Rc, if the toner is collected any more, it is compared with a resistance value Rf corresponding to a state where the machine is damaged. If Rx <Rf, the machine operation is possible, but the toner consumption is reduced. Is switched to a control that allows only a single print operation. At the same time, information prompting replacement of the collection container 1 is displayed on the user / serviceman interface. Conversely, if Rx> Rf, the machine operation stops. Naturally, when such a determination is made during the operation of the machine, the operation is stopped after the end of the single-shot printing operation.

As shown in FIG. 4, for example, the display unit is mounted on the front side of the main body and has a configuration using LEDs.
On the left side of the display, "non" indicating that there is no collection container 1
Is displayed by turning on the LED. To the right are five LEs
D, "INDICATOR" is written in the upper part, and "FUL" is displayed on the right side of the five LEDs.
"L", and "CHANGE" on the left side thereof, all of which are displayed by turning on the LED. The resistance values Re, Rf, Rc, R
The LED lighting control is performed in the control unit based on the resistance value Rx read from the slide volume resistor 1 and R2.

That is, this indicator display informs the user of the presence / absence of the collection container 1, the amount of collection, and the information of replacement of the collection container 1. In this embodiment, a description is given of a display unit using an LED. However, it is naturally possible to display information by a similar control on a display screen using a liquid crystal or an interface of a personal computer or the like connected to a printer. .

Next, FIG. 5 shows another example of a waste toner detecting device using a light receiving / emitting element.

In the state of FIG. 5A, the collection container 1
Are placed on the cradle 2 in an empty state. Cradle 2
Is supported by the spring 3 in a well-balanced manner, so that the collection container 1 is held in a horizontal state. This cradle 2 is E
It is restricted so that only vertical movement in the direction F and the direction F can be performed. When the collection container 1 is mounted on the receiving table 2 in an empty state, the collection container 1 comes into contact with the contact member 4 located above the collection container 1 and the container 1 is pressed in the F direction. Therefore, when there is no collection container 1, the receiving table 2 is located in the direction E from the state shown in the figure. A light emitting element 8 and a light receiving element 9 are arranged below the pedestal 2.

FIG. 5B shows a state in which the waste toner drops from the transport pipe 7 and accumulates.

Cradle 2 according to the weight of the deposited waste toner
Are displaced in the F direction. With this displacement, the distance between the pedestal 2 and the light emitting element 8 and the light receiving element 9 described above is reduced, and the amount of reflected light is also changed accordingly.

FIG. 6 shows the relationship between the displacement of the receiving table 2 and the amount of reflected light. The amount of reflected light Re corresponding to the position of the cradle 2 with the empty collection container 1 mounted is set in advance. Therefore, the amount of reflected light Re is a threshold value for the presence or absence of the collection container 1.

At the same time, the reflected light amount Rf, which corresponds to a state where the collected toner overflows from the collection container 1 so as to cause damage to the machine when the toner is collected any more, is provided to the user or service person. A reflected light amount Rc corresponding to a position prompting replacement is set in advance. The amount of reflected light is set arbitrarily between the amount of reflected light Re and the amount of reflected light Rc.

In this embodiment, two reflected light amounts R1 and R2 are set between the reflected light amount Re and the reflected light amount Rc. Based on the set reflected light amounts Re, Rf, Rc, R1, R2 and the reflected light amount Rx read from the light receiving element 9, a control unit (not shown) controls the mechanical operation. This control flow is the same as that in FIG.

First, the read reflected light amount Rx and the collection container 1
The reflected light amount Re, which is a threshold value for the presence or absence, is compared, and Rx <Re
If so, it is determined that there is no collection container 1, and the machine operation is stopped. At the same time, information indicating that there is no collection container is displayed on the user / serviceman interface. Here, the user / serviceman interface refers to a display unit on the main body or a display screen of a personal computer or the like instructing the printer to print. A detailed description and an example of this will be described later. Next, if Rx> Re, the amount of reflected light Rc is compared to a position that prompts the user or service person to replace the collection container, and if Rx <Rc, the mechanical operation is performed without any problem. However, if Rx> Rc, if the toner is collected any more, it is compared with the reflected light amount Rf corresponding to a state in which the device is damaged. Become. At the same time, information prompting replacement of the collection container 1 is displayed on the user / serviceman interface. Conversely, if Rx> Rf, the machine operation stops. Of course, when such a determination is made during the operation of the machine, the operation is stopped after the end of the single-shot printing operation.

The display control of the user / serviceman interface is the same as that of the above-described slide volume resistance method, and the description is omitted.

In this embodiment, it is realized by receiving the reflected light from the pedestal 2. However, some of the materials of the pedestal 2 hardly reflect the light. At that time, a reflection member is attached below the receiving table 2. The detection of presence / absence of the collection container 1 is also determined by using a preset amount of reflected light as a threshold. However, a hole is formed in the cradle 2 to determine the presence / absence of reflected light on the bottom surface of the collection container 1. Is also possible. However, it is necessary to select a material for the collection container 1 that reflects even if the collected toner is deposited.

[0030]

As described above, according to the configuration and the method of the present invention, it is possible to detect whether or not the collection container is set by one sensor, to detect the replacement of the collection container, and to always detect the collection amount. Can be achieved with a simple configuration.

Based on the result of the detection, electrical processing is performed, and permission / prohibition control of the machine operation, warning display, and collection status display are performed, so that the user can be informed clearly and easily. Further, the manufacturing cost can be reduced with a simple configuration.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a waste toner detection device using a slide volume resistance method. FIG. 1A is an explanatory diagram of a toner uncollected state, and FIG. 1B is an explanatory diagram of a toner collected state.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between displacement of a cradle of the waste toner detecting device of FIG. 1 and a resistance value of a slide volume resistor.

FIG. 3 is a control flow.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a user / serviceman interface.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a waste toner detecting device using a light emitting element and a light receiving element. FIG. 5 (A) is an explanatory diagram of a toner uncollected state, and FIG. It is explanatory drawing of a state.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between displacement of a cradle of a waste toner detection device using a light emitting element and a light receiving element and a reflected light amount;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Collection container 2 Receiving stand 2a Rack 3 Spring 4 Contact member 5 Detection member 5a Slide lever 6 Pinion 7 Transport pipe 8 Light emitting element 9 Light receiving element

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A toner collection container for collecting waste toner,
A vertically movable receiving table on which the collection container is mounted, a contact member that contacts the collection container when the collection container is mounted on the reception table, an elastic member for supporting the reception table, An electrophotographic apparatus, comprising: a waste toner detecting device configured to detect a position of a cradle on which a container is mounted and output a signal that changes according to the cradle position. 2. A command for judging the presence or absence of the collection container and the collection amount of waste toner based on an output signal of the sensor, and displaying on the display unit of the apparatus body the collection amount of waste toner and permission / prohibition of the printing operation. 2. The electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit configured to perform the control.