JP2003043870A - Scanning optical device and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a scanning optical device and image forming device, which substantially saves space without greatly increasing the number of parts, detects the mounting state of a developer container attachable/detachable to/from the image forming device and units, and also detects the presence or absence of developer in the developer storage container and an amount of developer remaining in the container. SOLUTION: An exit aperture 11 is made in a position different from an exit window 6 of an optical path 8 for emitting light to a photoreceptor drum 21. A laser beam 9 for areas other than the image area is emitted from the exit aperture 11. Further, the developer storage container 22 is provided with a portion through which a laser beam can be passed. Additionally, a light detecting means 31 is disposed in the direction where light is emitted from the exit aperture 11, and opposite the exit aperture 11 with the developer storage container 22 between them.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a scanning optical device having a laser light source and an image forming apparatus equipped with such a scanning optical device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a scanning optical device has been used to write an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive member which is an electrostatic latent image carrier of an image forming apparatus, and emits laser light from a laser light source. There is an opening that is covered with a transparent member such as glass as an exit window. This opening is vacant in a size necessary for avoiding irradiation of laser light as much as possible except for the photoconductor. On the other hand, it is common to have an optical path of laser light for horizontal synchronization detection outside the image area, but processing of this optical path outside the image area is generally performed within the scanning optical device.

In addition, conventionally, a method of detecting a mounting state in a developer storage container which can be attached / detached to / from an image forming apparatus, or a unit attachable / detachable to / from an image forming apparatus, such as a developing unit, a fixing unit, or a photosensitive drum unit As a method of detecting the mounting state, there is a method of pressing the tact switch by the developer storage container or the unit at the time of mounting.

Further, as a method for detecting the presence / absence of the developer in the developer storage container and the remaining amount of the developer, a light-sensing sensor including a dedicated light emitting element and a light receiving element, and a magnetic permeability for measuring and detecting the magnetic permeability. There is a detection type or a method of detecting using a piezoelectric element. When the developer becomes less than a certain amount, an alarm is displayed to prompt replacement of the developer storage container.

[0005]

However, in the conventional image forming apparatus, a detecting means is individually provided to detect the mounting state of the developer storage container which can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus and the mounting state of the unit. However, there is a problem in that the number of parts is increased, and there is a problem that space saving is obstructed to secure a space for disposing the detection means.

Space saving is achieved by using a dedicated member for the developer presence / absence detecting means and the developer remaining amount detecting means in the developer storage container and using a complicated algorithm for detection. It was an obstacle to price reduction.
On the other hand, there is a method of detecting the end of the developer by not using a sensor in order to reduce the price, but by calculating the print rate of the print pattern and predicting the consumption amount commensurate with the print rate. There is a problem in that when the consumption amount deviates from the predicted value, it cannot be dealt with and the detection may be erroneous because the remaining amount is not automatically detected.

Further, in order to make a more accurate prediction, there is a table corresponding to a number of cases, and by referring to this table, it is possible to determine the accuracy of the state of the developer in the developer storage container. However, there is a problem that the amount of information in the table is large and a large memory is required. Also,
A temperature / humidity sensor or the like may be required to follow environmental changes, which causes problems such as an increase in cost and an increase in circuit board size.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and includes a laser light source, a rotary polygon mirror,
In the scanning optical device including the scanning optical system, an emission port for laser light is formed at a position different from the emission window for irradiating the electrostatic latent image carrier with laser light, The scanning optical device emits a laser beam from the emission port.

Further, a scanning optical device including a laser light source, a rotary polygon mirror, and a scanning optical system, a developing device for developing a latent image formed on an electrostatic latent image carrier, and the developing device. An image forming apparatus comprising a developer storage container for supplying a developer to the apparatus, wherein a laser is provided at a position different from an emission window for irradiating the scanning optical device with laser light on the electrostatic latent image carrier. An emission port for light is formed, a portion through which a laser beam can pass is formed in the developer storage container, and the developer storage container is sandwiched in the emission direction of the laser beam from the emission port to face the emission port. The light detecting means is disposed at a position where the laser light outside the image area of the scanning optical device is emitted from the emission port, passes through the permeable portion of the developer storage container, and reaches the light detecting means. This is an image forming apparatus.

An image forming apparatus further comprising a scanning optical device including a laser light source, a rotary polygon mirror, and a scanning optical system, and a unit that can be attached / detached to / from the device. An emission port for laser light is formed at a position different from the emission window for irradiating the electrostatic latent image carrier with laser light, and laser light outside the image area can be emitted from the emission port. The image forming apparatus is provided with a photodetector at a position facing the emission port with the unit sandwiched in the emission direction of the laser beam from the emission port.

As described above, by providing the light detecting means and causing the scanning optical device to emit laser light other than the scanning light directed to the electrostatic latent image carrier (photoconductor) from the emission port, the emission is performed. The light can be used to detect the presence or absence of the developer in the developer storage container or the mounted state of the unit, or the remaining amount of the developer in the developer storage container.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing the inside of the scanning optical device of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic side view including the periphery of the scanning optical device. Laser light emitted from a laser module 1 is polygonal by an optical element 2. It is focused on the mirror 3 in a substantially linear shape, deflected and scanned by the rotation of the polygon mirror 3, and an electrostatic latent image is drawn on the photosensitive drum 21 via the scanning optical system 4, the reflection mirror 5, and the exit window 6. . The range deflected by the polygon mirror 3 is the light ray line 7 for detecting the horizontal synchronizing signal and the image area light 8 for drawing the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 21.

The first aspect of the present invention is to provide an image area area 8
The outside laser beam 9 is emitted to the outside of the scanning optical device. In this embodiment, the galvano mirror 10 and the emission port 1 are used.
It is realized by the configuration of 1. Further, according to a second aspect of the present invention, at least a portion of the developer storage container 22 to which the light beam 9 is irradiated is a member through which the laser light 9 is transmitted, and the developer is emitted in the direction of the light emitted from the emission port 11 of the laser light 9. The light detection sensor 31 is arranged at a position facing the injection port 11 with the storage container 22 interposed therebetween.

With such a configuration, unlike the case where the laser light 9 takes the optical path of the image area light 8 toward the photoconductor drum 21, the emission port 11 and the developer storage container 22.
The optical path is set so as to pass through the path and be irradiated to the light detection sensor 31.

As a result, when the developer is stored in the developer storage container 22, the laser beam 9 does not reach the light detection sensor 31, and when there is no developer in the developer storage container 22, the light detection sensor 31 is detected. The laser light 9 reaches 31 and the presence or absence of the developer in the developer storage container 22 can be detected.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing the inside of the image forming apparatus of the present invention, in which the developer storage container 22 is arranged in the emission direction of the laser beam 9 from the emission port 11 and the light detection sensors 31a, 3a.
1b and 31c are arranged substantially vertically. Reference numeral 20 is a scanning optical device, and 23 is a developing device 23 which receives the supply of the developer from the developer storage container 22.

With such a configuration, the light detection sensor 31
When the laser beam 9 is not detected by any of a, 31b, and 31c, the developer is substantially full, and when the laser beam 9 is detected only by the light detection sensor 31c and not detected by the light detection sensors 31a and 31b, the remaining amount 2 / 3, light detection sensor 31
b and 31c detect the laser beam 9 to detect light
It is possible to detect the remaining amount of the developer when the remaining amount is about ⅓ when not detected by, and when the laser beam 9 is detected by all the light detection sensors 31a, 31b, 31c, the remaining amount is extremely small.

In the present embodiment, the case where three photodetection sensors are arranged has been described, but by increasing the number, the remaining amount level can be grasped more accurately. Further, in the present embodiment, the laser light 9 emitted from the emission port 11 needs to spread so as to irradiate the light detection sensors 31a, 31b, 31c, and a light beam is emitted in the vicinity of the emission port 11 in the scanning optical device. It suffices to dispose a deflector that scans a wide range of 9 such as a galvanometer mirror 10 as in the present embodiment, or a concave lens and a mirror, a concave mirror or a hologram, or a combination of a plurality thereof.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a further embodiment, showing a state in which one photodetector sensor 31 is moved in a substantially vertical direction by a spiral 32 and a motor 33 with an encoder. In this way, the light detection sensor 3
The remaining amount of the developer can be detected by setting the number 1 as one and arranging the irradiation range of the laser beam 9 that passes through the permeable portion of the developer storage container 22 in a linear or curved manner.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the operation of the image forming apparatus having the configuration of FIG. 4. First, when there is a print command (Step 1), the scanning optical device 20 and the motor 3a for the polygon mirror 3 are activated and the laser beam is emitted. After starting the substrate (Step 2) and confirming that the motor 3a and the laser substrate operate normally (Step 3, Step 3)
4) The scanning of the light detection sensor 31 is started, the motor 33 is started, and the scanning optical device 20 is operated (S).
step 5). Then, the light detection sensor 31 is moved downward until the laser light 9 is no longer received (Step 6, S
(Step 7, Step 8), when light is no longer received (S
(Step 9), the remaining amount of developer is estimated from the height of the stop position of the light detection sensor 31, and the gas gauge is displayed (Step 1).
0), printing is started (Step 11). It is necessary to prepare a table in the storage means in the image forming apparatus in which the height of the stop position of the light detection sensor 31 and the remaining amount of the developer in the developer storage container 22 are associated with each other.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the inside of a scanning optical device showing another embodiment of the present invention. The folding mirrors 10a, 10b, 1 are provided at positions before the laser beam 9 reaches the emission port 11.
0c is provided, and three light rays 9a, 9b,
9c is ejected in different directions. Then, as shown in FIG. 7, these rays 9a, 9
Each of b and 9c passes through the developer storage container 22 and reaches the light detecting means 31a, 31b, 31c, so that the detection of the laser light 9 by each of the light detecting means 31a, 31b, 31c is performed. The remaining developer amount can be detected in the same manner as in.

FIG. 8 is a view showing an embodiment of the third invention of the present invention, in which a developer storage container 22, a developing device 23, a photosensitive drum unit 24 and the like which are units which can be attached / detached to / from an image forming apparatus are provided. The light detection sensor 32 is disposed at a position facing each other with the laser beams 9d, 9e, 9f emitted from the emission port 11 in between (the developer storage container 22, the developing device 23, the photosensitive drum unit 24, etc.). 33,34
Are installed.

With such a configuration, the laser beams 9d, 9e, 9f from the emission port 11 are detected by the light detecting sensors 32, 33, 34.
By arriving at any one or all of them, it becomes possible to detect the mounting state of the developer storage container 22, the developing device 23, and the photosensitive drum unit 24. That is, if the light detection sensor 32 does not detect, the developer storage container 22 is in the mounted state, and if the light detection sensor 33 does not detect, the developing device 23 is in the mounted state, and the light detection sensor 34 does not detect. In this case, the photoconductor drum unit 24 is in the mounted state.

Here, as shown in FIG. 9, the detection of the developer amount in the developer storage container 22 of the present invention or the presence / absence of the unit installation is performed at a time other than during the printing operation period of the scanning optical device 20. As a result, it is possible to prevent image deterioration due to ghost light or leakage light in the print area. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 9, the scanning optical device 20 is started from the switch ON of the image forming apparatus, the system check, the developer amount detection, the main motor rotation start and the fixing heater are turned ON, and then the ready display is displayed. The printer is ready.

[0025]

As described above, according to the present invention,
By forming an emission port at a position different from the emission window that serves as an optical path for irradiating the electrostatic latent image bearing member with the laser beam, and by ejecting the laser beam outside the image area from the emission port, the developer is further developed. By forming a portion through which laser light can be transmitted in the storage container, and disposing the light detection means at a position facing the injection port with the developer storage container sandwiched in the emission direction of the laser beam, or By arranging the light detection means at a position facing the emission port with the unit sandwiched in the emission direction of the laser beam from the emission port, the number of parts is not significantly increased,
In addition, it is possible to detect the installed state of the developer storage container that can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus and the mounting state of the unit, and to detect the presence / absence of the developer in the developer storage container and the remaining amount of the developer while realizing a substantial space. It is possible to provide a scanning optical device and an image forming apparatus that can perform the scanning.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the inside of a scanning optical device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an optical scanning device and a developer storage container in the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the inside of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing another embodiment in the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

5 is a flowchart showing an operation of the image forming apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing another embodiment in the scanning optical device of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing another embodiment in the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing another embodiment in the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an operation in the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1: Laser module 2: Optical element 3: Polygon mirrors 3a, 33: Motor 4: Scanning optical system 5: Reflection mirror 6: Ejection windows 7, 9, 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d, 9e, 9f: Laser light 8: Image area area 10: Galvano mirrors 10a, 10b, 10c: Folding mirror 11: Ejection port 20: Scanning optical device 21: Photosensitive drum 22: Developer storage container 23: Developing device 24: Photosensitive drum units 31, 31a, 31b, 31c, 32, 33, 34: Light detection sensor 32: Spiral

Front page continuation (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) G03G 15/08 114 B41J 3/00 D 2H077 H04N 1/113 H04N 1/04 104A 5C072 F term (reference) 2C362 AA41 AA42 AA43 AA45 BA89 BA90 BB30 BB34 CB50 CB80 DA04 EA00 EA01 EA02 EA15 2H027 DA27 DD02 DE02 DE07 DE10 HB13 2H045 AA01 BA02 DA04 DA46 2H071 BA03 BA17 DA02 BA08 HA15 DA07 B02 DA08 HA15 DA32 DA32 EA21 2

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A scanning optical device comprising a laser light source, a rotary polygon mirror, and a scanning optical system, which is provided at a position different from an emission window for irradiating an electrostatic latent image carrier with laser light. A scanning optical device, characterized in that an emission port for laser light is formed, and laser light outside the image area is emitted from the emission port. 2. A scanning optical device comprising a laser light source, a rotary polygon mirror, and a scanning optical system, a developing device for developing a latent image formed on an electrostatic latent image carrier, and the developing device. An image forming apparatus comprising a developer storage container for supplying a developer to the apparatus, wherein a laser is provided at a position different from an emission window for irradiating the scanning optical device with laser light on the electrostatic latent image carrier. An emission port for light is formed, a portion through which a laser beam can pass is formed in the developer storage container, and the developer storage container is sandwiched in the emission direction of the laser beam from the emission port to face the emission port. The light detecting means is disposed at a position where the laser light outside the image area of the scanning optical device is emitted from the emission port, and passes through the permeable portion of the developer storage container to reach the light detecting means. An image forming apparatus characterized by the above. 3. A deflector for broadly scanning a received laser beam is provided in the vicinity of an emission port in the scanning optical device, and a plurality of deflectors are provided substantially vertically as the light detecting means. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2. 4. A plurality of light detecting means are arranged in a substantially vertical direction, and a deflector for forming and emitting a plurality of optical paths from the received laser light is provided in the vicinity of the exit in the scanning optical device. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the light detection means is movable within an irradiation range of the laser light. 6. An image forming apparatus comprising a scanning optical device including a laser light source, a rotary polygon mirror, and a scanning optical system, and a unit detachable from the device, wherein the scanning optical device. An emission port for laser light is formed at a position different from the emission window for irradiating the electrostatic latent image carrier with laser light, and laser light outside the image area can be emitted from the emission port. An image forming apparatus, wherein a photo-detecting unit is disposed at a position facing the emission port with the unit sandwiched in the emission direction of laser light from the emission port.