JP2001166578A - Toner replenishing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a toner replenishing device that toner can be stably ejected from a toner container. SOLUTION: Relating to the device, a table where a relationship between accumulated number of rotations of a toner replenishing motor 34 and driven time of the toner replenishing motor 34 so that the quantity of the toner that is replenished by one toner replenishing action is almost constant is recorded is arranged and when the toner is replenished, driven time of the toner replenishing motor 34 is determined from the accumulated number of rotations of the toner replenishing motor 34 and the toner replenishing motor 34 is driven according to the determined driving time.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a toner replenishing device for replenishing a developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image on a photoreceptor using a two-component developer comprising a toner and a carrier.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in image formation in which an electrostatic latent image on a photoreceptor is developed using a two-component developer composed of a toner and a carrier, the amount of toner consumed by developing during image formation is reduced. In order to compensate for this, there is provided a toner replenishing device that replenishes an amount of toner corresponding to the consumption amount to the developing device and maintains a constant toner concentration, which is a ratio of the toner in the developer.

As an example of such a toner supply device,
One end face is opened, and a toner container filled with toner is rotated by rotating a bottomed cylindrical container having a spiral groove formed in a circumferential surface, thereby transferring toner from the open end face to a developing device. There is a toner replenishing device that discharges toner and replenishes toner to the developing device.

[0004]

However, the toner replenishing device having the above configuration has the following problems.
(1) FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between the cumulative number of rotations of the toner container and the amount of toner discharged by one rotation of the toner container.

As can be seen from the figure, when the amount of toner remaining in the toner container is large (when the number of cumulative rotations of the toner container is small), a substantially constant amount of toner is discharged. As the amount of toner decreases, the amount of discharged toner significantly decreases.

Therefore, there is a problem that the toner cannot be stably discharged from the toner container. (2) After the toner container is replaced, it is necessary to provide some kind of detection mechanism on the toner container side in order to judge whether the replaced container is new or old, which increases the cost of the toner container, which is a consumable part. There is a point.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and a first object of the present invention is to provide a toner replenishing device capable of stably discharging toner from a toner container.
A second object is to provide a toner replenishing device in which the cost of the toner container is reduced.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image on a photoreceptor using a two-component developer comprising a toner and a carrier. In the toner replenishing device for replenishing the toner, a bottle supporting portion that detachably supports a toner container that is filled with toner and that rotates to discharge the toner to the outside, and the toner container that is discharged to the outside from the toner container. An intermediate chamber which receives toner and replenishes the developing device with the toner;
A toner supply motor that rotates the toner container supported by the bottle support at a constant speed and discharges the toner to the intermediate chamber; a counter that cumulatively adds the number of rotations of the toner supply motor; The cumulative number of rotations of the toner supply motor such that the amount of toner supplied in the toner supply operation is substantially constant, the driving time of the toner supply motor, and the rotation speed of the toner supply motor. Is stored, a toner presence / absence detection means for detecting whether or not a predetermined amount of toner is present in the intermediate chamber, and a signal from the toner presence / absence detection means. For example, the cumulative number of rotations of the toner supply motor is fetched from the counter unit, and the toner supply And a control unit that determines at least one of the driving time and the rotation speed of the toner and drives the toner supply motor in accordance with the determined drive time and / or rotation speed to perform the toner supply operation. A toner replenishing device characterized by having

The control section takes in a signal from the toner presence / absence detection means, and if there is not a predetermined amount of toner in the intermediate chamber, takes in the cumulative number of rotations of the toner supply motor from the counter means. Relationship between the cumulative number of rotations of the toner supply motor such that the amount of toner supplied in the supply operation is substantially constant, the driving time of the toner supply motor, and the rotation speed of the toner supply motor With reference to the table on which is recorded, the drive time of the toner supply motor, at least one of the rotation speed is determined, and the toner supply motor is driven according to the determined drive time and / or drive speed. By performing the toner supply operation, the toner can be stably discharged from the toner container.

[0010] According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, a display unit for displaying a message to a user is provided, and the control unit is operable when the value of the counter reaches a predetermined value. And a display that indicates on the display that it is time to replace the toner container.

When the value of the counter reaches a predetermined value, the control section displays on the display section that it is time to replace the toner container, thereby indicating to the user that the toner container should be replaced. Can be accurately informed.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, a toner container presence / absence detecting means for detecting whether or not the toner container is set on the bottle supporting portion is provided, and Captures a signal from the toner presence / absence detecting means after the toner replenishing operation is performed, and, if the predetermined amount of toner is not present in the intermediate chamber, displays on the display unit that it is time to replace the toner container. Further, the toner replenishing apparatus is characterized in that the toner container presence / absence detecting means is monitored even in the power saving mode, and the replacement of the toner container is detected.

In general, the control unit of the present invention is stopped when the apparatus enters the power saving mode. However, when the toner supply operation is performed, a signal from the toner presence / absence detection means is taken in, and the control unit receives the signal. If the amount of the toner in the chamber is not a predetermined amount, the display unit indicates that it is time to replace the toner container, and monitors the toner container presence / absence detecting means even in the power saving mode, and The replacement of the toner container can be reliably detected by detecting the replacement of the toner container.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the control section of the third aspect of the present invention resets the counter means after the toner container is replaced, performs the toner supply operation, and detects the presence or absence of the toner. A toner replenishing device is characterized in that a signal of the means is taken, and when the toner returns to a predetermined amount in the intermediate chamber, a new or old replacement of the toner container is detected.

After the toner container has been replaced, the control unit resets the counter means, performs the toner replenishing operation, and receives a signal from the toner presence / absence detecting means.
When the toner returns to the predetermined amount in the intermediate chamber, it is possible to detect the replacement of the toner container with a new one, and it is not necessary to provide any detection mechanism on the toner container side, and the cost of the toner container is reduced.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a main part of an image forming apparatus provided with a toner supply device of the present embodiment.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a drum-shaped photoreceptor, which is composed of, for example, an organic photoreceptor using an organic compound as a photoconductive material or an inorganic photoreceptor using an inorganic compound. Is driven to rotate.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a charger for uniformly charging the surface of the photosensitive member, for example, a scorotron charger. The charger 5 includes a band electrode 5a and a grid 5b.
The image exposure on the photoreceptor 1 is performed by irradiating a laser beam from a light source 21 of the image exposure means 20, for example, a laser. The irradiated laser beam light is guided to the surface of the photoreceptor 1 via the reflection mirror 22, and forms an electrostatic latent image by image exposure.

A developing device 6 for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoreceptor surface by visualizing the electrostatic latent image with a two-component developer comprising a toner and a carrier to form a toner image;
Reference numeral 6a denotes a developing sleeve serving as a developer conveying body which rotates in the direction of the arrow to carry the developer and convey the developer to the developing area, and is provided on the outer periphery of the fixed magnet 6b in the developing device 6.

In the developing device 6, for example, a toner density detecting means 7 for detecting the toner density by using the fact that the magnetic permeability changes depending on the toner density is provided. 2a
Is a transfer unit for transferring the toner image formed on the surface of the photoconductor to the transfer paper P, and 2b is a separator for separating the transfer paper P from the surface of the photoconductor. Reference numeral 40 denotes a cleaner for cleaning the surface of the photoconductor, and a blade 4 for scraping and removing the toner remaining on the surface of the photoconductor is provided.

Reference numeral 32 denotes a toner replenishing means for replenishing the developing device 6 with toner. A toner container 31 having a bottomed cylindrical shape having one end face opened and a helical groove formed in a circumferential surface and filled with toner therein is rotatably supported by a bottle support portion 38, and supplies toner. The toner is discharged to the intermediate chamber 35 by being rotated by the motor 34.

The intermediate chamber 35 receives the toner discharged from the toner container 31 and replenishes the developing unit 6 with the toner by using a replenishing roller 37. A toner presence / absence detecting means 36 for detecting whether or not a predetermined amount of toner is present in the intermediate chamber 35 is provided. In the bottle supporting portion 38, whether or not the toner container 31 is set in the bottle supporting portion 38 is determined. A toner container presence / absence detecting means 40 for detecting is provided.

Next, the electrical configuration of this embodiment is shown in FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. In the drawing, reference numeral 100 denotes a table in which the relationship between the cumulative number of rotations of the toner supply motor 34 and the drive time of the toner supply motor 34 is recorded such that the amount of toner supplied in one toner supply operation is substantially constant. is there.

Reference numeral 500 denotes a counter 501 for accumulatively adding the number of rotations of the toner supply motor 34. The counter 500 fetches signals from the toner presence / absence detection means 36 and the toner container presence / absence detection means 40, The control unit drives the supply motor 34 and displays a message on the display unit 102 such as a liquid crystal display.

Next, the control unit 5 will be described with reference to FIGS.
The operation of the 00 configuration will be described. First, the counter 501
Then, the cumulative number of rotations of the toner supply motor 34 is obtained (step 1), and if the cumulative number of rotations is less than a predetermined value (step 1).
2), a signal from the toner presence / absence detecting means 36 is fetched (step 3), and if there is a predetermined amount of toner in the intermediate chamber 35,
Return to step 1 (step 4).

When there is no predetermined amount of toner in the intermediate chamber 35
(Step 4), a toner supply operation is performed (Step 5). The toner supply operation is performed as shown in FIG.

First, referring to the table 100, FIG.
The driving time of the toner supply motor 34 is determined from the accumulated number of rotations of the toner supply motor 34 obtained in step 1 of FIG.
(Step 1), the toner supply motor 34 is driven for the driving time (Steps 2, 3, 4, and 5).

Returning to FIG. 3, when the toner replenishing operation is completed, a signal from the toner presence / absence detecting means 36 is fetched.
(Step 3) If there is a predetermined amount of toner in the intermediate chamber 35 (Step 7), the process returns to Step 1.

When there is no predetermined amount of toner in the intermediate chamber 35,
The display unit 102 displays "Replace toner container" (step 8). In step 2, even when the cumulative number of rotations of the toner supply motor 34 is equal to or more than the predetermined value, the display section 102 displays "Replace toner container" (step 8).

The subsequent operations are executed even when the apparatus is in the power saving mode. After the display of "toner container replacement" is displayed on the display unit 102, as shown in FIG. 4, the toner container presence / absence detecting means 40 is monitored (step 9). Reset to "0", that is, reset the accumulated number of rotations of the toner supply motor 34 to "0" (step 10), and perform the toner supply operation shown in FIG. 5 (step 11). When the toner replenishment operation is completed, a signal from the toner presence / absence detection means 36 is taken in.
(Step 12) If there is a predetermined amount of toner in the intermediate chamber 35 (Step 13), the display of "Replace toner container" on the display unit 102 is turned off (Step 14), and the process returns to Step 1.

On the other hand, if there is no predetermined amount of toner in the intermediate chamber 35 in step 13, the process returns to step 8. According to the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

(1) The controller 500 takes in the signal from the toner presence / absence detecting means 36, and if the predetermined amount of toner in the intermediate chamber 35 is not present, takes in the cumulative number of rotations of the toner supply motor 34 from the counter 501, A table 100 in which the relationship between the cumulative number of rotations of the toner supply motor 34 and the drive time of the toner supply motor 34 is recorded such that the amount of toner supplied in one toner supply operation is substantially constant.
, The drive time of the toner supply motor 34 is determined,
By driving the toner replenishing motor 34 according to the determined driving time and performing the toner replenishing operation, the toner can be stably discharged from the toner container 31.

(2) When the value of the counter 501 reaches a predetermined value, the control unit 500 displays the toner container 31 on the display unit 102.
Is displayed, it is possible to accurately notify the user that the toner container 31 needs to be replaced.

(3) Generally, the control unit 50 of the present embodiment
0 indicates that the apparatus is stopped when the apparatus enters the power saving mode. However, when the toner supply operation is performed, a signal from the toner presence / absence detecting means 36 is taken in, and the toner 33 is stored in the intermediate chamber 35.
If there is no predetermined amount, the display unit 102 displays that it is time to replace the toner container, and monitors the toner container presence / absence detecting means 40 to detect the replacement of the toner container 31 even in the power saving mode. Thus, the replacement of the toner container 31 can be reliably detected.

(4) After the toner container 31 is replaced, the control unit 500 resets the counter 501, performs a toner replenishing operation, takes in the signal of the toner presence / absence detecting means 36, and stores the toner 33 in the intermediate chamber 35. By returning to the fixed amount, the old and new replacement of the toner container 31 can be detected, and there is no need to provide any detection mechanism on the toner container 31 side.
The cost of the toner container 31 is reduced.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the table 100 stores the cumulative number of rotations of the toner supply motor 34 such that the amount of toner supplied in one toner supply operation is substantially constant, and the driving time of the toner supply motor 34. The toner replenishing motor 34 is configured such that the amount of toner replenished in one toner replenishing operation is substantially constant.
The relationship between the cumulative number of rotations and the rotation speed of the toner supply motor 34 may be recorded, and the rotation speed of the toner supply motor 34 may be changed according to the determined rotation speed.

Further, the table 100 shows the relationship between the cumulative number of rotations of the toner supply motor 34 such that the amount of toner supplied in one toner supply operation is substantially constant, and the driving time and driving speed of the toner supply motor 34. The relationship may be recorded, and the driving time and rotation speed of the toner supply motor 34 may be changed according to the determined driving time and rotation speed.

[0038]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the control unit fetches a signal from the toner presence / absence detecting means, and if there is no predetermined amount of toner in the intermediate chamber, the control unit receives the signal. Means for obtaining the cumulative number of rotations of the toner supply motor, the cumulative number of rotations of the toner supply motor such that the amount of toner supplied in one toner supply operation is substantially constant, and the drive time of the toner supply motor. Referring to a table in which the relationship with at least one of the rotation speeds of the toner supply motor is recorded, at least one of the drive time and the rotation speed of the toner supply motor is determined and determined. The toner replenishing motor is driven according to the driving time and / or the driving speed, and the toner replenishing operation is performed, so that the toner is stably discharged from the toner container. Can be drained.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the value of the counter reaches a predetermined value, the control section displays on the display section that it is time to replace the toner container. The user can be accurately notified that it is time to replace the toner container.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the control unit of the present invention is generally stopped when the apparatus enters the power saving mode. If a signal from the detection means is taken in and the predetermined amount of toner is not present in the intermediate chamber, the display unit indicates that it is time to replace the toner container. By monitoring presence / absence detection means and detecting replacement of the toner container,
Replacement of the toner container can be reliably detected.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the control unit includes:
After the toner container is replaced, the counter unit is reset, the toner replenishment operation is performed, a signal from the toner presence / absence detection unit is captured, and the toner returns to a predetermined amount in the intermediate chamber. The replacement of the old and new containers can be detected, so that there is no need to provide any detection mechanism on the toner container side, and the cost of the toner container is reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a main part of an image forming apparatus provided with a toner supply device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an electrical configuration of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a problem of a conventional toner supply device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 31 toner container 33 toner 34 toner replenishment motor 35 intermediate chamber 36 toner presence / absence detection means 40 toner container presence / absence detection means 100 table 102 display section 500 control section 501 counter

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Hiroshi Koyama 2970 Ishikawa-cho, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo F-term in Konica Corporation (reference) 2H027 DA38 DA41 DD02 EA06 ED10 2H077 AA03 AA33 BA01 DA13 DA16 DA78 DB02 DB10 EA03 GA04

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A toner replenishing device for replenishing a developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image on a photoreceptor using a two-component developer comprising a toner and a carrier, wherein the toner is filled and rotated. A bottle supporting portion that detachably supports a toner container that discharges the toner to the outside, an intermediate chamber that receives the toner discharged to the outside from the toner container, and supplies the toner to the developing device; A toner supply motor that rotates the toner container supported by the bottle support at a constant speed and discharges the toner to the intermediate chamber; a counter that cumulatively adds the number of rotations of the toner supply motor; Cumulative number of rotations of the toner supply motor such that the amount of toner supplied in the toner supply operation is substantially constant;
A table in which a relationship between at least one of a driving time of the toner replenishment motor and a rotation speed of the toner replenishment motor is recorded; and a toner presence / absence detection means for detecting whether a predetermined amount of toner is present in the intermediate chamber. Fetching a signal from the toner presence / absence detecting means, and if the amount of toner in the intermediate chamber is not a predetermined amount, fetching the cumulative number of rotations of the toner replenishing motor from the counter means and referencing the table, A control unit that determines at least one of the driving time of the motor and the rotation speed, drives the toner supply motor in accordance with the determined driving time and / or rotation speed, and performs a toner supply operation. A toner replenishing device characterized by having. 2. A display unit for displaying a message to a user, wherein the control unit indicates that the toner container is to be replaced when the value of the counter means reaches a predetermined value. 2. The toner replenishing device according to claim 1, wherein the following is displayed. 3. A toner container presence / absence detection means for detecting whether or not the toner container is set on the bottle support portion, wherein the control portion, when performing the toner replenishment operation, outputs the toner presence / absence detection means If the predetermined amount of toner is not present in the intermediate chamber, the display unit indicates that it is time to replace the toner container. The toner supply device according to claim 1, wherein the toner container is monitored to detect replacement of the toner container. 4. The control section resets the counter means after the toner container is replaced, performs the toner replenishing operation, captures a signal from the toner presence / absence detecting means, and stores the toner in the intermediate chamber. 4. The toner replenishing device according to claim 3, wherein when the toner container returns to the predetermined amount, the replacement of the toner container is detected.