【００１４】
【課題を解決するための手段】
上記目的は本発明に係る異常検知システム及び現像剤残量表示システムにて達成される。要約すれば、本発明の第１の態様によると、現像剤収納容器と、前記現像剤収納容器内の現像剤残量を逐次検知できる現像剤残量検知手段と、現像剤残量に係わる情報を記憶する記憶手段と、を有するカートリッジが着脱自在であり、前記現像剤残量検知手段からの検知出力を統計的手法により処理して現像剤残量を確定する処理手段と、前記統計的手法により確定した現像剤残量と前記記憶手段に記憶されている現像剤残量とを比較する比較手段と、を備えた画像形成装置における画像形成装置及び／又は画像形成装置に用いられるカートリッジの異常検知システムであって、前記比較手段の比較の結果、前記統計的手法により確定した現像剤残量と前記記憶手段に記憶されている現像剤残量との差の値が所定量より大きい場合は前記画像形成装置及び／又は前記カートリッジの異常と判断し、前記装置が備える情報表示部及び／又は前記装置と通信可能なディスプレイを有する機器に異常を判断したことを示す情報を出力することを特徴とする前記異常検知システムが提供される。
0014.
[Means for solving problems]
The above object is achieved by the abnormality detection system and the developer remaining amount display system according to the present invention. In summary, according to a first aspect of the present invention, a developer container, a developer remaining amount detecting means for the developer remaining amount of the developer accommodating container can be sequentially detected, according to the current image-remaining-amount A processing means having a storage means for storing information and a cartridge having the removable, processing means for determining the remaining amount of the developer by processing the detection output from the developer remaining amount detecting means by a statistical method, and the statistical means. A cartridge used in an image forming apparatus and / or an image forming apparatus in an image forming apparatus provided with a comparison means for comparing the remaining amount of the developing agent determined by the method with the remaining amount of the developing agent stored in the storage means. In an abnormality detection system, when the value of the difference between the remaining amount of the developing agent determined by the statistical method and the remaining amount of the developing agent stored in the storage means is larger than a predetermined amount as a result of comparison of the comparison means. that determines an abnormality of the image forming apparatus and / or the cartridge, for outputting information indicating that it has determined the abnormality in the device having an information display unit and / or the apparatus which can communicate with a display that the device comprises The characteristic abnormality detection system is provided.
本発明の第２の態様によると、現像剤収納容器と、前記現像剤収納容器内の現像剤残量を逐次検知できる現像剤残量検知手段と、現像剤残量に係わる情報を記憶する記憶手段と、を有するカートリッジが着脱自在であり、前記現像剤残量検知手段からの検知出力を統計的手法により処理して現像剤残量を確定する処理手段と、前記統計的手法により確定した現像剤残量と前記記憶手段に記憶されている現像剤残量とを比較する比較手段と、を備えた画像形成装置における現像剤残量表示システムであって、前記比較手段の比較の結果、前記統計的手法により確定した現像剤残量と前記記憶手段に記憶されている現像剤残量との差の値が所定量よりも小さく、且つ、前記統計的手法により確定した現像剤残量が前記記憶手段に記憶されている現像剤残量よりも小さい場合は現像剤残量を更新し、前記装置が備える情報表示部及び／又は前記装置と通信可能なディスプレイを有する機器に現像剤残量を表示し、前記記憶手段に記憶された現像剤残量を更新することを特徴とする現像剤残量表示システムが提供される。
According to a second aspect of the present invention stores a developer accommodating container, wherein the developer remaining amount detecting means for the developer remaining amount of the developer accommodating container can be sequentially detected, information related to the current image-remaining-amount The cartridge having the storage means is removable, and the processing means for determining the remaining amount of the developing agent by processing the detection output from the developing agent remaining amount detecting means by the statistical method and the processing means for determining the remaining amount of the developing agent are determined by the statistical method. A developer remaining amount display system in an image forming apparatus including a comparison means for comparing the remaining amount of the developing agent and the remaining amount of the developing agent stored in the storage means, and as a result of comparison of the comparison means, The value of the difference between the remaining amount of the developer determined by the statistical method and the remaining amount of the developer stored in the storage means is smaller than the predetermined amount, and the remaining amount of the developer determined by the statistical method is If less than the developer remaining amount stored in the storage unit updates the developer remaining amount, the developer remaining amount in the device material has a device capable of communicating with the information display unit and / or the device comprises a display Is provided, and a developer remaining amount display system is provided, which updates the remaining amount of the developer stored in the storage means.
【０１１３】
【発明の効果】
以上説明したように、本発明によれば、現像剤収納容器と、現像剤収納容器内の現像剤残量を逐次検知できる現像剤残量検知手段と、現像剤残量に係わる情報を記憶する記憶手段と、を有するカートリッジが着脱自在であり、現像剤残量検知手段からの検知出力を統計的手法により処理して現像剤残量を確定する処理手段と、統計的手法により確定した現像剤残量と記憶手段に記憶されている現像剤残量とを比較する比較手段と、を備えた画像形成装置における画像形成装置及び／又は画像形成装置に用いられるカートリッジの異常検知システムは、
（Ａ）比較手段の比較の結果、統計的手法により確定した現像剤残量と記憶手段に記憶されている現像剤残量との差の値が所定量より大きい場合は画像形成装置及び／又はカートリッジの異常と判断し、装置が備える情報表示部及び／又は装置と通信可能なディスプレイを有する機器に異常を判断したことを示す情報を出力する構成とされるか、
（Ｂ）処理手段が現像剤残量を確定するまでの期間には、現像剤残量検知手段の検知出力を上記統計的手法とは異なる簡略な統計的手法により処理して現像剤残量を概算し、概算した現像剤残量と記憶手段に記憶されている現像剤残量とを比較し、処理手段が現像剤残量を確定してからは、確定された現像剤残量と記憶手段に記憶されている現像剤残量とを比較し、比較手段の比較結果が所定量より大きい場合は画像形成装置及び／又はカートリッジの異常と判断し、装置が備える情報表示部及び／又は装置と通信可能なディスプレイを有する機器に異常を判断した旨を出力する構成とされ、又、本発明によれば、現像剤残量表示システムは、
（Ｃ）比較手段の比較の結果、統計的手法により確定した現像剤残量と記憶手段に記憶されている現像剤残量との差の値が所定量よりも小さく、且つ、統計的手法により確定した現像剤残量が記憶手段に記憶されている現像剤残量よりも小さい場合は現像剤残量を更新し、装置が備える情報表示部及び／又は装置と通信可能なディスプレイを有する機器に現像剤残量を表示し、記憶手段に記憶された現像剤残量を更新する構成とされるか、
（Ｄ）処理手段が現像剤残量を確定するまでの期間には、記憶手段に記憶された現像剤残量を表示し、処理手段が現像剤残量を確定してからは、比較手段の比較結果が所定量よりも小さく、且つ、統計的手法により確定した現像剤残量が記憶手段に記憶されている現像剤残量よりも小さい場合は現像剤残量を更新し、装置が備える情報表示部及び／又は装置と通信可能なディスプレイを有する機器に現像剤残量を表示し、記憶手段に記憶された現像剤残量を更新する構成とされるので、
（１）カートリッジ及び画像形成装置の異常検知を可能とし、異常が発生したカートリッジ及び画像形成装置が使用されることで更に甚大な破損に到ることを未然に防ぐことができる。
（２）現像剤収納容器内の現像剤残量レベルを、いつでも、時間をかけずに、正確に使用者に知らせることができる。
といった効果を奏し得る。
[0113]
【Effect of the invention】
As described above, according to the present invention, stores a developer container, a developer remaining amount detecting means for the developer remaining amount of the developer accommodating container can be sequentially detected, and the information related to the current image-remaining-amount A processing means for determining the remaining amount of the developer by processing the detection output from the developer remaining amount detecting means by a statistical method and a developing process determined by the statistical method. An image forming apparatus in an image forming apparatus including a comparison means for comparing the remaining amount of the agent and the remaining amount of the developing agent stored in the storage means and / or an abnormality detection system of a cartridge used in the image forming apparatus may be used.
(A) As a result of comparison of the comparison means, if the value of the difference between the remaining amount of the developer determined by the statistical method and the remaining amount of the developer stored in the storage means is larger than a predetermined amount, the image forming apparatus and / or Is it configured to output information indicating that an abnormality has been determined to a device that has an information display unit and / or a display that can communicate with the device, which is determined to be an abnormality in the cartridge?
(B) During the period until the processing means determines the remaining amount of the developing agent, the detection output of the developing agent remaining amount detecting means is processed by a simple statistical method different from the above statistical method to determine the remaining amount of the developing agent. Approximately, the estimated remaining amount of developer is compared with the remaining amount of developer stored in the storage means, and after the processing means determines the remaining amount of developer, the determined remaining amount of developer and the storage means When the comparison result of the comparison means is larger than the predetermined amount, it is determined that the image forming apparatus and / or the cartridge is abnormal, and the information display unit and / or the apparatus provided in the apparatus is used. A device having a communicable display is configured to output that an abnormality has been determined, and according to the present invention, the developer remaining amount display system is.
(C) As a result of comparison of the comparison means, the value of the difference between the remaining amount of the developing agent determined by the statistical method and the remaining amount of the developing agent stored in the storage means is smaller than the predetermined amount, and by the statistical method. If the determined remaining amount of developer is smaller than the remaining amount of developer stored in the storage means, the remaining amount of developer is updated, and the device has an information display unit provided in the device and / or a display capable of communicating with the device. Is it configured to display the remaining amount of developer and update the remaining amount of developer stored in the storage means?
(D) During the period until the processing means determines the remaining amount of the developer, the remaining amount of the developer stored in the storage means is displayed, and after the processing means determines the remaining amount of the developer, the comparison means is used. If the comparison result is smaller than the predetermined amount and the remaining amount of the developing agent determined by the statistical method is smaller than the remaining amount of the developing agent stored in the storage means, the remaining amount of the developing agent is updated and the information provided in the apparatus is provided. Since the remaining amount of the developing agent is displayed on the display unit and / or the device having a display capable of communicating with the device, and the remaining amount of the developing agent stored in the storage means is updated.
(1) It is possible to detect an abnormality in the cartridge and the image forming apparatus, and it is possible to prevent further serious damage by using the cartridge and the image forming apparatus in which the abnormality has occurred.
(2) The level of the remaining amount of the developing agent in the developing agent storage container can be accurately notified to the user at any time without spending time.
It can produce such an effect.