JP2007078898A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus capable of controlling toner for use for toner band formation. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus provided with a rotary developing unit (3) including a plurality of developing devices (3a, 3b, 3c and 3d) different by toner colors is provided with a control part (71) which selects a toner by which the rotary developing unit (3) will form a toner band for cleaning in a non-image part of a surface of a photoreceptor (1), among toners on the basis of a prescribed condition. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

  In an image forming apparatus that cleans the surface of a photosensitive member with a cleaning blade, the friction coefficient between the cleaning blade and the photosensitive member is increased, and the edge of the cleaning blade may be damaged or the blade may be turned up. To solve these problems, a technology has been developed that protects the edge of the cleaning blade by developing toner on the surface of the photoreceptor that does not affect the image and supplying the toner to the cleaning blade (toner band). Has been. With this technique, the lubricity between the cleaning blade and the photosensitive member can be maintained, and the cleaning property of the photosensitive member can be maintained.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for preventing the cleaning blade from being worn by controlling the timing of forming a toner band. Patent Document 2 discloses a technique for preventing wasteful toner consumption by forming a toner band under a predetermined condition. Patent Document 3 discloses a technique for preventing the cleaning blade from curling.

JP 2000-214644 A JP2000-112298A JP-A-5-257360

  However, with the above-described technique, it is not possible to select a toner to be used for forming a toner band. For this reason, toner with a small remaining amount is used to form a toner band, and the amount of toner consumed is biased, and toner that is not desired to be consumed is also consumed for the toner band. Has occurred.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of controlling the toner used for forming a toner band.

  The object is to form a cleaning toner band on a non-image portion on the surface of a photoreceptor in an image forming apparatus including a developing rotary unit including a plurality of developing devices having different toner colors. This toner can be achieved by an image forming apparatus provided with a control unit that selects from the toners based on predetermined conditions.

  By selecting the toner for forming the toner band from the respective toners, the toner used for forming the toner band can be controlled. Thereby, the consumption amount and toner density of each toner can be controlled.

  In addition, a toner remaining amount detecting unit that detects the remaining amount of each toner is further provided, and the control unit detects the toner that is determined that the remaining amount of toner detected by the toner remaining amount detecting unit is greater than a predetermined amount. The image forming apparatus can be selected as a toner used for forming the toner band.

  By forming a toner band using toner that has been determined that the remaining amount is greater than a predetermined amount, it is possible to prevent unevenness in toner consumption.

  And a receiving unit that receives a selection of a toner to be used for forming the toner band from a user, and the control unit forms the toner band from the toner selected by the user by the receiving unit. This can be achieved by an image forming apparatus selected as a toner to be used.

  By forming the toner band using the toner selected by the user, the toner band can be formed using the toner desired by the user. Therefore, for example, when the user owns a large amount of toner of the same color, it is possible to set so as to form a toner band using the toner of the same color.

  A storage unit that stores toner used to create the toner band, and the control unit is configured to form the previous toner band stored in the storage unit. Also, an image forming apparatus that selects a different toner as the toner used to form the toner band can be achieved.

  By forming a toner band using a different toner from the toner used to form the previous toner band, a toner band is formed using a different type of toner each time. Can be prevented.

  In addition, the image forming apparatus further includes a toner concentration detection unit that detects a toner concentration of the developer including the toner, and the control unit converts the toner determined by the toner concentration detection unit to have a toner concentration higher than a predetermined concentration. It can also be achieved by an image forming apparatus selected as a toner to be used for forming the toner.

  By forming a toner band using toner contained in the developer that has been determined to have a toner concentration higher than a predetermined concentration, the toner concentration can be lowered. Therefore, problems such as fogging caused by the high toner density can be solved.

  The control unit can also be achieved by an image forming apparatus that can select a plurality of toners used to create the toner band.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus capable of controlling the toner used for forming the toner band.

  FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. The image forming apparatus according to the present invention develops the photoreceptor 1, the latent image forming apparatus 2 that forms an electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor 1, and the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoreceptor 1 with toner. Developing rotary unit 3, transfer means 5 for transferring a toner image on photoreceptor 1 to transfer material 4 conveyed to a transfer area, cleaning means 6 for removing residual toner on photoreceptor 1 after transfer, toner And a band control device 7.

  The developing rotary unit 3 includes a plurality of developing devices 3a, 3b, 3c, and 3d having different toner colors. Each of the developing devices 3a, 3b, 3c, and 3d has a developing sleeve, and the first developing device 3a in which black toner is included as the first color toner, and magenta toner is included in the second color toner. A configuration in which the second developing device 3b, the third developing device 3c containing cyan toner as the third color toner, and the fourth developing device 3d containing yellow toner as the fourth color toner are integrated. First, the electrostatic latent image is developed and visualized by the first developing device 3a containing black toner as the first color toner. The normal polarity of these toners is negative.

  The cleaning unit 6 includes a cleaning blade 61. The cleaning blade 61 is made of polyurethane rubber and is in contact with the surface of the photoreceptor 1 in a so-called counter direction. That is, at least the tip of the cleaning blade 61 held by the support member contacts the surface of the photoreceptor 1, and at least a part of the contact surface of the cleaning blade 61 with respect to the surface of the photoreceptor 1 is downstream in the rotation direction of the photoreceptor. Along the surface of the photosensitive member. The cleaning unit 6 is not limited to the above configuration as long as the cleaning unit 6 is disposed in contact with the photoconductor 1 and deposits on the photoconductor 1 are written off.

  FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the toner band control device 7. The toner band control device 7 includes a control unit 71, a toner remaining amount detection unit 72, a toner concentration detection unit 73, a reception unit 74, and a storage unit 75. The control unit 71 can activate the latent image forming apparatus 2 and the developing rotary unit 3 to create a toner band on the surface of the photoreceptor 1.

  The toner remaining amount detection unit 72 detects the remaining amount of each toner. Specifically, the toner remaining amount detecting unit 72 detects the remaining amount of toner in each developing device based on the signal of the remaining toner detecting sensor 72a provided in the developing devices 3a, 3b, 3c, and 3d. . The toner remaining amount detection sensor 72a is

  The toner concentration detection unit 73 detects the toner concentration of the developer containing toner. Specifically, the toner concentration detection unit 73 detects the toner concentration based on a signal from the toner concentration detection sensor 73a that detects the toner / carrier mixing ratio of the two-component developer, that is, the toner concentration. The toner density detection sensor 73a may be of a type that develops the photosensitive member 1 with a predetermined toner density to form a reference patch and measures the density of the reference patch, or each developing device 3a, 3b, It may be provided in 3c and 3d and always monitor each toner density.

  The accepting unit 74 accepts selection of toner to be used for forming a toner band from the user. Specifically, the accepting unit 74 accepts selection of toner to be used for forming a toner band based on a signal from the operation unit 74a. The operation unit 74a includes a touch panel display (not shown) or the like, and the user can select a plurality of toners used for creating a toner band.

  The storage unit 75 stores toner used to create a toner band.

  Based on the predetermined condition, the control unit 71 sets the toner for forming a cleaning toner band on the non-image part on the surface of the photoreceptor 1 by the developing rotary unit 3 based on the predetermined condition. Choose from.

  In addition, the control unit 71 selects the toner that has been determined that the remaining amount of toner detected by the remaining toner detection unit 72 is greater than a predetermined amount as the toner used to form the toner band. In addition, the control unit 71 selects the toner contained in the developer that has been determined by the toner concentration detection unit 73 that the toner concentration is higher than a predetermined concentration as the toner used to form the toner band. Further, the control unit 71 selects the toner selected by the user by the receiving unit 74 as the toner used for forming the toner band. Further, the control unit 71 selects a toner different from the toner used for forming the previous toner band stored in the storage unit 75 as the toner used for forming the toner band.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the toner band control device 7 is realized by hardware such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 701, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 702, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 703, and necessary software. The Further, the toner band control device 7 includes an output interface 704 and an input interface 705.

  Next, an example of processing of the control unit 71 of the toner band control device 7 will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing in the case where a toner suitable for forming a toner band is selected in consideration of the remaining amount of toner.

  The controller 71 determines whether it is time to form a toner band (step S101). The timing for forming the toner band is, for example, when warming up or when the image density of the toner image is low. The timing for forming the toner band is not limited to these. If it is not time to form a toner band (No in step S101), this process ends.

  When it is time to form a toner band (Yes in Step S101), the control unit 71 determines the remaining amount of toner based on a signal from the remaining toner amount detection unit 72 (Step S102). Next, the control unit 71 determines whether or not the remaining amount of toner detected by the remaining toner amount detection unit 72 is greater than a predetermined remaining amount (step S103). When there is no toner whose remaining amount of toner detected by the toner remaining amount detecting unit 72 exceeds a predetermined amount (No in step S103), the control unit 71 forms a toner band with all the remaining toner. Then, the image is output to the latent image forming apparatus 2 and the developing rotary unit 3 (step S104). Thereby, even in a situation where the remaining amount of toner is low, uneven consumption of toner can be prevented.

  When there is a toner whose remaining amount of toner detected by the toner remaining amount detecting unit 72 is larger than a predetermined amount (Yes in step S103), the control unit 71 has a plurality of toners whose remaining amount of toner is larger than the predetermined amount. Whether or not (step S105). If there are a plurality of toners whose remaining amount of toner is greater than the predetermined amount (Yes in step S105), the control unit 71 forms a latent image so as to form a toner band with a plurality of toners determined to have a large remaining amount. The data is output to the forming apparatus 2 and the developing rotary unit 3 (step S106).

  When there are not a plurality of toners whose remaining amount of toner is greater than the predetermined amount (No in step S105), the control unit 71 forms the toner hand with a single toner so that the latent image forming device 2 and the developing rotary unit are formed. 3 (step S107).

  As described above, the toner used to form the toner band can be controlled by selecting the toner for forming the toner band from the respective toners. By forming a toner band using toner that has been determined that the remaining amount is greater than a predetermined amount, it is possible to prevent unevenness in toner consumption.

  Next, a process for selecting a toner suitable for forming a toner band in consideration of the toner density will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing when a toner suitable for forming a toner band is selected in consideration of the toner density. Detailed description of step S201 will be omitted.

  When it is time to form a toner band (Yes in step S201), the control unit 71 detects the toner density based on the signal from the toner density detection unit 73 (step S202). Next, the control unit 71 determines whether the toner density detected by the toner density detection unit 73 is higher than a predetermined density (step S203). When there is no toner whose toner density detected by the toner density detection unit 73 is higher than the predetermined density (No in step S203), the control unit 71 forms a latent image so as to form a toner band with all the remaining toner. Output to the apparatus 2 and the developing rotary unit 3 (step S204).

  When there is a toner whose toner density detected by the toner density detection unit 73 is higher than the predetermined density (Yes in step S203), the control unit 71 determines whether there are a plurality of toners whose toner density is higher than the predetermined density. (Step S205). When there are a plurality of toners whose toner density is higher than the predetermined density (Yes in Step S205), the control unit 71 forms a toner band with a plurality of toners determined to have a high toner density. 2 and the developing rotary unit 3 (step S206).

  If there are not a plurality of toners having a toner density higher than the predetermined density (No in step S205), the control unit 71 causes the latent image forming apparatus 2 and the development rotary unit 3 to form a toner hand with a single toner. Output (step S207).

  As described above, the toner density can be lowered by forming the toner band using the toner contained in the developer determined to have a toner density higher than the predetermined density. Therefore, problems such as fogging caused by the high toner density can be solved.

  Next, a process in the case where a toner suitable for forming a toner band is selected by user selection will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing in the case where a toner suitable for forming a toner band is selected by a user's selection. Detailed description of step S301 will be omitted.

  In the case of timing for forming the toner band (Yes in step S301), the control unit 71 forms a toner band with the toner selected by the user based on the signal from the receiving unit 74. 2 and the developing rotary unit 3 (step S302).

  As described above, the toner band can be formed using the toner desired by the user by forming the toner band using the toner selected by the user. Therefore, for example, when the user owns a large amount of toner of the same color, it is possible to set so as to form a toner band using the toner of the same color.

  Further, if the user knows the toner containing an external additive that promotes lubrication or wear in the developer, the user can form a toner band using the toner. By using such toner, the lubricity between the cleaning blade 61 and the photoreceptor 1 can be sufficiently exhibited. For example, a service person who inspects and adjusts an image forming apparatus installed in a company or the like may be implemented.

  Similarly, if the user knows the particle size of each toner, the toner band can be formed using the toner having the smallest toner particle size. Furthermore, if the user knows the circularity of each toner, the toner band can be formed using the toner having the smallest circularity of the toner. By using such a toner, the lubricity between the cleaning blade 61 and the photosensitive member 1 can be maintained, and the cleaning property of the photosensitive member can be maintained.

  Next, a process when a toner different from the toner used for forming the previous toner band is selected as the toner used for forming the toner band will be described. FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing when a toner different from the toner used for forming the previous toner band is selected. Detailed description of step S401 will be omitted.

  In the case of the timing for forming the toner band (Yes in step S401), the control unit 71 forms the toner band with a toner different from the toner used to form the previous toner band stored in the storage unit 75. In this manner, the image is output to the latent image forming apparatus 2 and the developing rotary unit 3 (step S402). Next, the control unit 71 stores the toner used to form the toner band in the storage unit 75 (step S403).

  As described above, the toner band is formed using a different type of toner each time by forming the toner band using a toner different from the toner used for forming the previous toner band. Can be avoided.

  Note that a plurality of processing examples of the control unit 71 of the toner band control device 7 described above may be combined. For example, when there is no toner whose remaining amount of toner is greater than a predetermined amount, a toner having a high toner concentration may be selected as a toner for forming a toner band.

  Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to such specific embodiments, and various modifications, within the scope of the gist of the present invention described in the claims, It can be changed.

1 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. 3 is a functional block diagram of a toner band control device 7. FIG. 3 is a hardware configuration diagram of a toner band control device 7. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing when a toner suitable for forming a toner band is selected in consideration of the remaining amount of toner. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing when a toner suitable for forming a toner band is selected in consideration of toner density. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing when a toner suitable for forming a toner band is selected by a user's selection. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing when a toner different from the toner used to form the previous toner band is selected.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Photoconductor 2 Latent image forming device 3 Developing rotary units 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d Developing device 4 Transfer material 5 Transfer device 6 Cleaning device 7 Toner band control device 61 Cleaning blade 71 Control unit 72 Toner remaining amount detection unit 73 Detection unit 74 Reception unit 75 Storage unit 701 CPU
702 ROM
703 RAM
704 Output interface 705 Input interface

Claims (6)

In an image forming apparatus including a developing rotary unit including a plurality of developing devices having different toner colors,
The developing rotary unit includes a control unit that selects toner for forming a toner band for cleaning on a non-image portion on the surface of the photosensitive member from among the toners based on a predetermined condition. An image forming apparatus. A toner remaining amount detecting unit for detecting the remaining amount of each toner;
The control unit selects, as a toner to be used for forming the toner band, a toner that has been determined that the remaining amount of toner detected by the remaining toner detection unit is greater than a predetermined amount. Item 2. The image forming apparatus according to Item 1. Receiving means for receiving selection of toner used to form the toner band from the user;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit selects a toner selected by a user by the accepting unit as a toner to be used for forming the toner band. A storage unit that stores toner used to create the toner band;
The control unit selects a toner different from the toner used for forming the previous toner band stored in the storage unit as a toner used for forming the toner band. Item 2. The image forming apparatus according to Item 1. A toner density detecting unit for detecting the toner density of the developer containing the toner;
2. The image according to claim 1, wherein the control unit selects, as the toner to be used for forming the toner band, a toner whose toner concentration is determined to be higher than a predetermined concentration by the toner concentration detection unit. Forming equipment. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is capable of selecting a plurality of toners used to create the toner band.

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