JP2006098490A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus which accurately detects the residual amount of toner, enabling control of printing operation with an appropriate timing. <P>SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus 1 is provided with a reserve tank 17 for temporarily storing toner replenished from a toner cartridge 12 and enables the toner cartridge 12 to be replaced during execution of a job and has an open/close detection sensor 24 and a controller 20, with the sensor 24 detecting the opening/closing of a replacing door 23 for replacing the toner cartridge 12; and the controller counting the time of opening of the replacing door 23 and the driving time of a development unit 5 during the opening of the replacing door 23 and controls the operations of the image forming apparatus, on the basis of the time of opening of the replacing door 23 and the driving time of the development unit 5 during the opening of the replacing door 23. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus provided with a toner replenishing mechanism by replacing a toner cartridge, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus capable of replacing a toner cartridge while a print job is being executed.

  In recent years, an image forming apparatus capable of replacing a toner cartridge while executing a print job has been proposed. In this apparatus, by providing a toner intermediate storage section called a reserve tank between the toner cartridge and the developing device, the print output is continued using the toner stored in the reserve tank even after the toner cartridge is removed. be able to.

  However, if printing is continued with the toner cartridge removed, there is a problem that the toner stored in the reserve tank is used up and printing becomes gradually thinner.

  For this reason, when the toner cartridge is removed from the main body of the image forming apparatus, a message that prompts the user to attach the toner cartridge (see Patent Document 1) and a sensor that monitors the remaining amount of toner in the developing device are provided. A technique (see Patent Document 2) that stops a printing operation when it is determined that the remaining amount has decreased is disclosed.

JP 2000-162925 A JP 2003-271020 A

  However, if only the remaining amount of toner in the developing device is monitored, the printing operation cannot be stopped at an appropriate timing.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of accurately detecting the remaining amount of toner and controlling the printing operation at an appropriate timing.

  In order to achieve such an object, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention is an image forming apparatus that includes a reserve tank that temporarily stores toner replenished from a toner cartridge and that can replace the toner cartridge during execution of a job. Open / close detecting means for detecting opening / closing of the replacement door for replacing the toner cartridge, first timing means for measuring a time for which the replacement door is open, and when the replacement door is open. The operation of the image forming apparatus based on the second time measuring means for measuring the driving time of the developing device, the opening time of the replacement door, and the driving time of the developing device when the replacement door is open And a control means for controlling. Accordingly, it is possible to accurately detect the remaining amount of toner and control the printing operation at an appropriate timing.

  When the time measured by the first time measuring means exceeds a preset first threshold, or when the time measured by the second time measuring means exceeds a preset second threshold, the control means You may want to stop accepting new jobs. It is determined that there is no toner remaining when the time measured by the first time measuring means exceeds a preset first threshold or when the time measured by the second time measuring means exceeds a preset second threshold. Thus, printing can be stopped at an appropriate timing.

  An image forming apparatus of the present invention is an image forming apparatus that includes a reserve tank that temporarily stores toner replenished from a toner cartridge housed in a cartridge housing portion, and is capable of replacing the toner cartridge during job execution. Open / close detecting means for detecting opening / closing of the replacement door for replacing the toner cartridge, first timing means for measuring a time for which the replacement door is open, and when the replacement door is open. A second time measuring means for measuring the driving time of the developing device; and a driving time of the first motor for supplying the toner stored in the reserve tank to the developing device, wherein the replacement door is closed, and A third time measuring means for measuring the time when the toner cartridge is stored in the cartridge storage portion; a time measured by the first time measuring means; and a time counting by the second time measuring means. It has a configuration and a control means for controlling the operation of the image forming apparatus based on the time obtained by subtracting the counted time of the third time counting means from. Accordingly, it is possible to accurately detect the remaining amount of toner and control the printing operation at an appropriate timing.

  When the time measured by the first time measuring means exceeds a preset first threshold, or when the time measured by the third time measuring means is subtracted from the time measured by the second time measuring means, When the set second threshold is exceeded, the acceptance of a new job may be stopped. Printing can be stopped at an appropriate timing.

  The controller has a remaining amount detecting means for detecting the remaining amount of toner in the reserve tank, and the control means accepts a new job when the remaining amount detecting means detects no toner even when the replacement door is open. It is good to cancel. When it is detected that there is no toner in the reserve tank, the acceptance of a new job is stopped, so that printing can be stopped at an appropriate timing.

  The control means may clear the time measured by the first time measuring means to zero when the replacement door is closed.

  The control means may control so that a subtraction time obtained by subtracting the time measured by the third time measuring means from the time measured by the second time measuring means does not become a negative value.

  The control means may display on the display means a message to cancel the acceptance of the new job. A message can be displayed to the user.

  The control means may stop driving the second motor for supplying toner from the toner cartridge to the reserve tank while the opening / closing detection means detects the open state of the replacement door. . Therefore, toner is not supplied from the toner cartridge to the reserve tank, and the toner cartridge can be replaced.

  When the toner cartridge is not stored in the cartridge storage portion even when the replacement door is closed, the control means is configured so that the toner cartridge stored in the cartridge storage portion does not meet a predetermined standard. The driving of the second motor for supplying toner from the toner cartridge to the reserve tank may be stopped. Printing can be stopped at an appropriate timing.

  It is preferable that the wireless communication means attached to the toner cartridge detect whether the toner cartridge is stored in the storage unit and whether the toner cartridge conforms to a predetermined standard. It is possible to control the printing operation appropriately by detecting the storage and matching of the toner cartridge in the storage unit.

  The wireless communication unit can control the printing operation appropriately by detecting whether the toner cartridge is stored in the cartridge storage unit and meeting a predetermined standard at regular intervals.

  The control means includes fourth time measuring means for measuring time when the replacement door is closed and the toner cartridge is not stored in the cartridge storage portion, and can appropriately control the printing operation.

  The control means causes the display means to display a message indicating that the toner cartridge is not accommodated when the toner cartridge is not accommodated in the cartridge accommodating portion even when the replacement door is closed, and the fourth timing means When the measured time exceeds a preset third threshold, it is preferable to stop accepting a new job. Printing can be stopped at an appropriate timing.

  The control means indicates that the toner cartridge does not conform to a predetermined standard when the toner cartridge stored in the cartridge storage portion does not conform to a predetermined standard even when the replacement door is closed. A message may be displayed on the display means to stop accepting a new job. Printing can be stopped at an appropriate timing.

  The present invention can accurately detect the remaining amount of toner and control the printing operation at an appropriate timing.

  The best embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. A corona charger 3 that charges the photosensitive drum 2 to a predetermined potential around a photosensitive drum (image carrier) 2 that rotates in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 1, and a laser that writes an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 2 An image writing device such as a scanning device (ROS: Raster Output Scanner) (only laser light from the device is shown in this example), and the discharge product generated by the discharge operation of the corona charger 3 is the longitudinal length of the corona charger 3. Photosensitive from transfer means such as a suction duct 4 that uniformly sucks and removes in the direction, a developing device 5 that visualizes the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 2 with toner, a transfer belt 9, and a transfer roller 10. A static elimination device 6 for neutralizing charges injected into the photosensitive drum 2, a cleaning device 7 for cleaning untransferred toner on the surface of the photosensitive drum 2, and an electrostatic afterimage on the surface of the photosensitive drum 2 The image forming apparatus includes an erasing lamp 8 that removes charge, a transfer belt 9 that conveys a transfer material, and a transfer unit that includes a transfer roller 10 that transfers a developed image developed by the developing device 5 to the transfer material.

  An image forming process of the image forming apparatus will be described. First, after the photosensitive drum 2 is charged by the corona charging device 3, an electrostatic latent image is written on the photosensitive drum 2 by laser light from the image writing device. Thereafter, the electrostatic latent image is visualized as a toner image by the developing device 5 and moved to a transfer site at a predetermined timing. On the other hand, the transfer material is transported to the transfer site at a predetermined timing by the transfer belt 9, and a transfer bias is applied by the transfer roller 10 and the charged transfer belt 9, whereby the toner on the photoconductive drum 2. The image is transferred to a transfer material. The transfer means including the transfer belt 9 and the transfer roller 10 applies a transfer electric field so as to have a polarity opposite to that of charging by the corona charger 3.

  FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view of a peripheral portion of the photosensitive drum 2 and a toner supply mechanism that supplies toner to the developing device 5. As shown in FIG. 2, the toner supply mechanism includes a toner storage unit 11 that stores the toner cartridge 12 and a reserve tank 17 that temporarily stores toner supplied from the toner cartridge 12. The toner cartridge 12 and the reserve tank 17 are connected via a supply path 15, and when the toner supply mechanism 14 provided in the toner cartridge 12 is rotated, the toner in the toner cartridge 12 is sent to the supply path 15 to be reserved. The toner is supplied into the tank 17. A cartridge motor 21 shown in FIG. 3 is connected to the toner replenishing mechanism 14, and as the motor rotates, the toner replenishing mechanism 14 also rotates and feeds toner to the replenishment path 15. The reserve tank 17 and the developing device 5 are connected via a replenishment path 19. When the toner replenishing mechanism 16 provided in the reserve tank 17 is rotated, the toner in the reserve tank 17 is replenished to the developing device 5. To do. A dispense motor 22 shown in FIG. 3 is connected to the toner replenishing mechanism 16, and by rotating this motor, the toner replenishing mechanism 16 also rotates and feeds toner to the replenishment path 19.

  The reserve tank 17 is provided with a toner sensor 18 for detecting the remaining amount of toner in the reserve tank 17. The output of the toner sensor 18 is connected to the control device 20.

  The cartridge motor 21 is connected to the control device 20 and controls rotation by a control signal from the control device 20. For example, when the toner sensor 18 detects the absence of toner in the reserve tank 17, a signal from the toner sensor 18 is output to the control device 20. When the control device 20 determines that the toner in the reserve tank 17 is low, the control device 20 transmits a signal instructing the cartridge motor 21 to rotate. The cartridge motor 21 rotates according to the signal to rotate the toner replenishing mechanism 14 to supply toner to the reserve tank 17.

  A cartridge door 23 shown in FIG. 4 is provided in the cartridge storage portion 11 that stores the toner cartridge 12. When the cartridge door 23 is opened, the toner cartridge 12 can be taken out. As shown in FIG. 3, an open / close detection sensor 24 for detecting opening / closing of the cartridge door 23 and a cartridge for detecting whether or not the toner cartridge 12 is stored in the cartridge storage unit 11 are included in the cartridge storage unit 11. A detection sensor 13 is provided. When the cartridge detection sensor 13 receives a wireless signal from the wireless communication means attached to the toner cartridge 12, the storage of the toner cartridge 12 in the cartridge storage portion 11 can be detected. The cartridge detection sensor 13 that detects the toner cartridge 12 using wireless communication means stores the toner cartridge 12 in the cartridge storage unit 11 at regular intervals, and the toner cartridge 12 stored in the cartridge storage unit 11 has a predetermined value. Whether it conforms to the standard is detected. The open / close detection sensor 24 is connected to the control device 20, and transmits a signal indicating that the cartridge door 23 is closed or opened to the control device 20.

  When the cartridge motor 21 and the toner supply mechanism 14 rotate to supply toner from the toner cartridge 12 and the cartridge door 23 of the cartridge storage unit 11 is opened, the open / close detection sensor 24 indicates that the cartridge door 23 has been opened. Detect and output a signal indicating that to the control device 20. The control device 20 transmits a control signal for stopping the rotation to the cartridge motor 21, and the cartridge motor 21 stops the rotation in accordance with the control signal. Therefore, even during the printing operation, the cartridge door 23 can be opened and the toner cartridge 12 can be replaced.

  When the control device 20 determines that the above-described toner sensor 18, open / close detection sensor 24, and cartridge detection sensor have made it impossible for the image forming apparatus 1 to accept a job, the control device 20 displays a message on the display unit 25 that the job acceptance is stopped. Display.

  The control device 20 of the present embodiment controls the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 according to three determination conditions. The first is the time during which the cartridge door 23 is open. When this time exceeds the first threshold, acceptance of a new job is stopped. Second, the drive time of the dispense motor 22 when the toner cartridge 12 is replaced and the cartridge door 23 is closed is determined from the drive time of the developing device 5 when the cartridge door 23 is open. When this time exceeds the second threshold, the acceptance of a new job is stopped. The drive time of the developing device 5 when the cartridge door 23 is in an open state represents the amount of toner used, and the dispense motor 22 is driven when the toner cartridge 12 is replaced and the cartridge door 23 is closed. The time represents the supply amount of toner. Third, when no toner is detected in the reserve tank 17 by the toner sensor 18, the acceptance of a new job is stopped.

  Next, the operation procedure of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. First, a flow for controlling the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 by counting the open time of the cartridge door 23 will be described with reference to FIG. When the opening / closing detection sensor 24 detects that the cartridge door 23 has been opened (step S1 / YES), the timer T1 starts measuring time (step S2). Subsequently, the open / close detection sensor 24 detects the opening / closing of the cartridge door 23. If the cartridge door 23 is closed (step 3 / YES), the timer T1 is cleared to zero (step S4). When the time T1 during which the cartridge door 23 is open exceeds the preset first threshold (step S5 / YES), the acceptance of a new job is stopped (step S6).

  Next, a flow for controlling the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 by counting the drive time of the developing device 5 and the drive time of the dispense motor 22 will be described with reference to FIG. When the opening / closing detection sensor 24 detects that the cartridge door 23 has been opened (step S11 / YES), the timer T2 that counts the driving time of the developing device 5 is started (step S12). The timer T2 measures the drive time of the developing device 5 when the cartridge door 23 is open. Next, it is determined whether or not the toner cartridge 12 has been replaced (step S13). When the replacement of the toner cartridge 12 is detected (step S13 / YES), the replaced toner cartridge 12 is suitable for this apparatus. It is determined whether or not there is (step S14). If it is not suitable (step S14 / NO), a non-conforming display is displayed on the display unit 25 (step S15). The toner is supplied from the toner cartridge 12 to the reserve tank 17 when the toner cartridge 12 is not stored in the cartridge storage unit 11 or when the toner cartridge stored in the cartridge storage unit 11 does not meet a predetermined standard. The operation of the cartridge motor 21 is preferably stopped. Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the cartridge door 23 is closed (step S16). When the cartridge door 23 is closed (step S16 / YES), a timer T3 for measuring the drive time of the dispense motor 22 is started (step S17). The time measured by the timer T2 or the time obtained by subtracting the time measured by the timer T3 from the time measured by the timer T2 is obtained, and it is determined whether or not this value exceeds the second threshold (step S18). When the time measured by the timer T2 or the time obtained by subtracting the time measured by the timer T3 from the time measured by the timer T2 exceeds the second threshold (step S18 / YES), the acceptance of a new job is stopped (step S18 / YES). Step S19). Note that the control device 20 performs control so that the time obtained by subtracting the time measured by the timer T3 from the time measured by the timer T2 does not become a negative value.

  Even when the cartridge door 23 is closed, when the toner cartridge 12 is not stored in the cartridge storage unit 11, a message indicating that the toner cartridge is not stored is displayed on the display unit 25, and the counting operation by the titer T4 is performed. When the count value exceeds a preset threshold value, the acceptance of a new job may be stopped.

  Even if the cartridge door 23 is closed, if the standard of the toner cartridge 12 stored in the cartridge storage unit 11 does not match the regular one, this is displayed on the display unit 25 to accept a new job. You may cancel.

  As described above, this embodiment can accurately detect the remaining amount of toner and control the printing operation at an appropriate timing.

  The embodiment described above is a preferred embodiment of the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a toner supply mechanism that supplies toner to a developing device. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a toner supply mechanism that supplies toner to a developing device. It is a figure which shows a cartridge door. It is a flowchart which shows an operation | movement procedure. It is a flowchart which shows an operation | movement procedure.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 2 Photoconductor drum 3 Corona charger 4 Suction duct 5 Developing device 6 Static elimination charging device 7 Cleaning device 8 Erase lamp 9 Transfer belt 10 Transfer roller 11 Cartridge storage part 12 Toner cartridge 13 Cartridge detection sensor 14, 16 Toner supply Mechanisms 15, 19 Supply path 17 Reserve tank 18 Toner sensor 20 Controller 21 Cartridge motor 22 Dispense motor 23 Cartridge door 24 Opening / closing detection sensor

Claims (15)

An image forming apparatus comprising a reserve tank for temporarily storing toner replenished from a toner cartridge, wherein the toner cartridge can be replaced during execution of a job,
Open / close detecting means for detecting opening / closing of a replacement door for replacing the toner cartridge;
First timing means for timing the time during which the replacement door is open;
A second timing means for timing the drive time of the developing device when the replacement door is open;
An image forming system comprising: control means for controlling an operation of the image forming apparatus based on an opening time of the replacement door and a driving time of the developing device when the replacement door is open. apparatus.   When the time measured by the first time measuring means exceeds a preset first threshold, or when the time measured by the second time measuring means exceeds a second preset threshold, the control means 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein reception of a simple job is stopped. An image forming apparatus comprising a reserve tank for temporarily storing toner replenished from a toner cartridge housed in a cartridge housing section and capable of replacing the toner cartridge during job execution,
Open / close detecting means for detecting opening / closing of a replacement door for replacing the toner cartridge;
First timing means for timing the time during which the replacement door is open;
A second timing means for timing the drive time of the developing device when the replacement door is open;
The drive time of the first motor for supplying the toner stored in the reserve tank to the developing device is counted when the replacement door is closed and the toner cartridge is stored in the cartridge storage unit. A third timing means;
Control means for controlling the operation of the image forming apparatus based on the time measured by the first time measuring means and the time obtained by subtracting the time measured by the third time measuring means from the time measured by the second time measuring means. An image forming apparatus.   When the time measured by the first time measuring means exceeds a preset first threshold value, or when the control means subtracts the time measured by the third time measuring means from the time measured by the second time measuring means in advance. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein when the set second threshold value is exceeded, reception of a new job is stopped. A remaining amount detecting means for detecting a remaining amount of toner in the reserve tank;
5. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein the control unit stops accepting a new job when the remaining amount detecting unit detects no toner even when the replacement door is open. 6. The image forming apparatus described.   6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the replacement door is closed, the control unit clears a time measured by the first time measuring unit to zero. 6.   7. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein the control unit performs control so that a subtraction time obtained by subtracting the time measured by the third time measuring unit from the time measured by the second time measuring unit does not become a negative value. The image forming apparatus described in the item.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit causes a display unit to display a message indicating that reception of the new job is stopped.   The control means stops driving the second motor for supplying toner from the toner cartridge to the reserve tank while the open / close detection means detects the open state of the replacement door. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is an image forming apparatus.   When the toner cartridge is not stored in the cartridge storage portion even when the replacement door is closed, the control means is configured so that the toner cartridge stored in the cartridge storage portion does not meet a predetermined standard. 10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein driving of a second motor for supplying toner from the toner cartridge to the reserve tank is stopped. 11.   11. The wireless communication unit attached to the toner cartridge detects whether the toner cartridge is stored in the cartridge storage unit or whether the toner cartridge conforms to a predetermined standard. The image forming apparatus according to one item.   12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the wireless communication unit detects whether the toner cartridge is stored in the cartridge storage unit and meets a predetermined standard at regular intervals.   13. The control unit according to claim 1, further comprising a fourth timing unit that counts time when the replacement door is closed and the toner cartridge is not stored in the cartridge storage unit. The image forming apparatus described in 1.   The control means causes the display means to display a message indicating that the toner cartridge is not accommodated when the toner cartridge is not accommodated in the cartridge accommodating portion even when the replacement door is closed. 14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 13, wherein when the measured time exceeds a preset third threshold value, the acceptance of a new job is stopped. The control means indicates that the toner cartridge does not conform to a predetermined standard when the toner cartridge stored in the cartridge storage portion does not conform to a predetermined standard even when the replacement door is closed. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a message is displayed on a display unit and reception of a new job is stopped.

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