JP2007147772A - Image forming apparatus, image forming method, image forming program, and recording medium thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus and an image forming method which are capable of executing a toner save mode which can flexibly cope with print quality which a user desires, and various print objects; and to provide an image forming program and a recording medium thereof. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus includes a toner residual amount calculation means 107 for calculating a residual amount of a toner and a toner saving means (an image processing part 102) capable of adjusting the consumption of the toner. In the case that the value of the residual amount of the toner calculated by the toner residual amount calculation means 107 is equal to or smaller than a prescribed value, a mode is switched to the toner save mode by control of a CPU 105 and the toner consumption is reduced by a prescribed amount by the toner saving means, and then an image is formed while reducing the toner consumption furthermore in accordance with the reduction in the toner residual amount value by the toner saving means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a laser printer that forms an image based on image data, an image forming method, an image forming program, and a recording medium thereof.

  Conventionally, printers of various principles have been proposed as output terminals such as personal computers and workstations. In particular, laser beam printers using electrophotographic technology and laser exposure technology are highly advantageous in terms of printing speed and printing quality, and have been rapidly spreading in recent years. By the way, in the recent market, along with higher printing quality and higher recording speed, from the standpoint of environmental protection on a global scale, there has been a lot of screaming to save recording paper and toner as a developer for image formation. It has come to be released. In view of this, various image forming apparatuses having a toner saving function for performing printing processing while suppressing the amount of toner consumption compared to normal printing have been proposed.

As for toner saving in a conventional image forming apparatus, a technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 is known. In Patent Document 1, the image data stored in the image information storage means 6 is recorded by the image recording means 3 based on the image data from the usual for the purpose of reducing toner consumption and obtaining high image quality. In addition, there has been proposed an image forming apparatus provided with an image processing unit 7 which performs a saving process so as to be performed with smaller or / and fewer image dots and gives the image recording unit 3. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 proposes an image forming apparatus that can execute an optimum toner save mode corresponding to the type of print data in order to effectively save toner.
JP 7-107280 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-132006

  However, when image printing is executed in the toner save mode described above, the toner consumption is saved and the quality of the printed image is deteriorated. The quality of the printed image varies depending on how the toner save mode is executed. Conventionally, various toner save modes have been proposed, but there has been a problem that a toner save mode that flexibly corresponds to print quality required by a user and various print targets has not been realized.

  In view of the above-described problems, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus, an image forming method, and an image forming apparatus capable of executing a toner save mode that can flexibly cope with print quality required by a user and various print targets. An object is to provide an image forming program and a recording medium thereof.

  The invention according to claim 1 comprises a toner remaining amount calculating means for calculating a toner remaining amount and a toner saving means capable of adjusting a toner consumption amount, and the toner remaining amount calculated by the toner remaining amount calculating means. When the value is equal to or less than a predetermined value set in advance, the toner save mode is switched to the toner save mode by the control of the CPU, the toner consumption amount is decreased by a predetermined amount, and then the toner remaining amount is reduced by the toner save unit. The image forming apparatus forms an image while further reducing the toner consumption as the value decreases.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a toner remaining amount calculating means for calculating a toner remaining amount, an image area calculating means for calculating an image area, and a toner saving means capable of adjusting a toner consumption amount. A predetermined value in which the image area calculated by the image area calculating unit is set in advance when the CPU determines that the toner is near the end by referring to the toner remaining value calculated by the remaining amount calculating unit. In the above case, the CPU switches to the toner save mode under the control of the CPU, the toner consumption amount is decreased by a predetermined amount by the toner saving means, and then the toner consumption amount is further decreased as the toner remaining amount value is decreased by the toner saving means. The present invention is characterized in that the image forming apparatus forms an image while decreasing the number.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a toner remaining amount calculating means for calculating a toner remaining amount and a toner saving means capable of adjusting a toner consumption amount, and when forming a color image, the toner remaining amount calculating means. When the CPU determines that the image area of the color corresponding to the toner determined to be toner near-end is equal to or larger than a predetermined value with reference to the toner remaining value calculated by the The toner consumption amount of the color corresponding to the toner determined to be the toner near-end is reduced by a predetermined amount by switching to the mode, and then the remaining amount of toner of the color corresponding to the toner determined to be the toner near-end The image forming apparatus forms an image while further reducing the toner consumption as the value decreases.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, when the toner save mode is set, it is necessary to cancel the toner save mode by referring to the toner remaining amount value and / or the image area by toner replenishment. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the CPU determines, the toner save mode is canceled under the control of the CPU. 5.

  5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a toner save mode switching enable / disable setting unit capable of setting whether to switch to the toner save mode under the control of the CPU. It is characterized by that.

  The invention described in claim 6 is the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the toner consumption is changed in two or more stages.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, when the toner remaining amount value calculated by the toner remaining amount calculating means for calculating the toner remaining amount is equal to or less than a predetermined value set in advance, the toner save mode is switched by the control of the CPU. Then, the toner saving means capable of adjusting the toner consumption reduces the toner consumption by a predetermined amount, and then forms an image while further reducing the toner consumption as the residual toner value decreases by the toner saving means. An image forming method is provided.

  The invention described in claim 8 is characterized in that the image forming method according to claim 7 is an image forming program for causing a computer to execute the image forming method.

  The invention according to claim 9 is a recording medium on which the image forming program according to claim 8 is recorded.

  According to the present invention, an image forming apparatus, an image forming method, an image forming program, and a recording medium thereof capable of executing a toner save mode that can flexibly cope with print quality required by a user and various print targets Can be provided.

  In the image forming apparatus, the best mode for carrying out the present invention is provided with a toner remaining amount calculating means for calculating a remaining amount of toner and a toner saving means capable of adjusting a toner consumption amount, and a remaining toner amount calculating means. When the toner remaining amount value calculated by the above is equal to or less than a predetermined value set in advance, the toner save mode is switched by the control of the CPU and the toner consumption amount is decreased by a predetermined amount by the toner saving means, and then the toner saving means As a result, the image forming apparatus forms an image while further reducing the toner consumption as the remaining toner value decreases.

  Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiments described below are preferable specific examples of the present invention, and thus various technically preferable limitations are given. However, the scope of the present invention is particularly limited in the following description. Unless otherwise described, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.

(Embodiment 1)
First, the configuration and function of the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a configuration block diagram for explaining the configuration and functions of the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment includes an image reading unit 101, an image processing unit 102, an image output unit 103, an image area calculating unit 104, a CPU 105, an operation unit 106, and a remaining toner calculating unit 107. I have.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image reading unit 101 reads a document and transmits image data to the image processing unit 102. Note that the image reading unit 101 may be another unit that inputs an image, such as a PC or a FAX. The image processing unit 102 performs predetermined processing on the image data transmitted from the image reading unit 101, and transmits the processed image data to the image output unit 103.

  The image output unit 103 receives the image data transmitted from the image processing unit 102 and outputs an image based on the image data. The image area calculation unit 104 calculates the image area based on the number of dots of the output image and the writing intensity. The CPU 105 controls the entire image forming apparatus. In particular, the CPU 105 determines whether or not to save toner based on information such as the image area and the remaining amount of toner, and controls it.

  When performing toner save, the CPU 105 operates the image processing unit 102 or the image output unit 103 in the toner save mode. The operation unit 106 makes a request for image formation or sets automatic toner save. The toner remaining amount calculating unit 107 calculates the toner remaining amount based on information such as the toner end sensor, the operation time of the toner supply mechanism, and the output image area.

Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the image forming apparatus of this embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 2, first, in step 101, whether or not to save toner automatically is selected by an input operation on the operation unit 106 by the user.

  If the setting for automatically saving toner is not made by the operation unit 106 (No in step 101), the process proceeds to step 106, and the image output unit 103 shown in FIG. The operation of the image forming apparatus is finished.

  On the other hand, when the operation unit 106 is set to automatically save toner (Yes in step 101), the toner remaining amount calculation unit 107 shown in FIG. 1 operates the toner end sensor, the operation time of the toner supply mechanism, and the output image area. Based on such information, the remaining amount of toner is calculated (step 102). The toner remaining amount calculating means 107 is configured by applying a known technique.

  Next, in step 103, the image area calculation means 104 shown in FIG. 1 calculates the output image area based on information such as the number of dots of the output image and the writing intensity. The image area calculation unit 104 is configured by applying a known technique. The calculation of the image area in step 103 may be omitted if the obtained image area is not used as reference information for determining whether to switch between the normal mode and the toner save mode. it can.

  Next, in step 104, the toner save amount is calculated by the CPU 105 shown in FIG. For example, the CPU 105 refers to the toner remaining amount calculated by the toner remaining amount calculating unit 107 in step 102 and calculates the toner save amount.

  Specifically, the CPU 105 determines that the toner is not saved when the remaining amount of toner calculated by the toner remaining amount calculation unit 107 is large (when it is equal to or larger than a predetermined amount set in advance), and the remaining amount of toner is small. In this case (when the toner save amount is within a predetermined range set in advance), it is determined that the toner save amount is “small” and the toner remaining amount is so small that it can be determined that the end of the toner is approaching the end (below the preset predetermined amount or less). In the case), it is determined that the toner save amount is “large”, and the corresponding toner save amount (a predetermined amount set in advance) is calculated.

  Further, the CPU 105 calculates in step 103 when the toner remaining amount calculated by the toner remaining amount calculating unit 107 is small (below a predetermined amount set in advance) and the toner end is approaching (during toner near end). When it is determined that the output image area is small, the toner save amount is set to 0. When it is determined that the output image area is medium, the toner save amount is determined to be “small” and the output image area is large. If it is determined that the toner save amount is “large”, the corresponding toner save amount (predetermined amount set in advance) can be calculated.

  It should be noted that the toner save condition is controlled based only on the remaining amount of toner, the toner save condition is controlled only based on the output image area, or the toner save condition is controlled based on a combination thereof. good. In addition, when the image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied is capable of color printing and uses a plurality of toners, the toner save mode of the present embodiment may be applied only to the corresponding color that consumes the largest amount of toner. good. Needless to say, the toner save mode of this embodiment may be applied to all colors.

  Next, proceeding to step 105, the CPU 105 determines whether or not to save toner by referring to the toner save amount calculated at step 104. If the toner save amount is 0, the process proceeds to step 106, and the image is output in the normal mode without performing toner save (step 105 No → step 106). If the toner save amount is not 0, the process proceeds to step 107, and an image is output in the toner save mode in accordance with the calculated toner save amount (step 105 Yes → step 107).

  Note that toner saving may be performed by image processing or by changing process conditions for image output. Both are realized by applying known techniques. Also, changing the toner save amount can be realized by applying a known technique. In this embodiment, as the toner save amount approaches the toner end, the toner save amount is increased stepwise (one step or two steps or more) or for each image (toner consumption amount is reduced). It may be. Furthermore, in the case of color printing, the toner save amount may be increased (the toner consumption amount may be reduced) as the image area of a certain color increases at the time of toner near-end.

  According to the present embodiment, the quality of the image is not deteriorated at normal time, and the toner save mode is set at the toner near end, so that it becomes difficult to become the toner end. Therefore, the downtime due to the toner end can be reduced. In addition, since the image is thinly output in the toner save mode, an effect of visually confirming that the toner end is close can be obtained.

  In addition, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to select whether to automatically switch to the toner save mode or prohibit the switch to the toner save mode. It is possible to prevent toner saving.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, as the toner end is approached, the toner save amount can be increased stepwise or for each image (toner consumption amount is reduced). Therefore, it is possible to prevent the quality of the image to be deteriorated and to prevent the toner end.

  In addition, according to the present embodiment, the toner save mode can be operated only when the image area of the color that is the toner near-end is large and the toner usage amount of the color is large. Can be executed.

  In addition, according to the present embodiment, the larger the image area of the color that is near the toner end, the more the toner save amount (the toner consumption amount is reduced), so that the quality of the formed image is not deteriorated so much. It is possible to make the toner end difficult.

  Next, the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, this image forming apparatus is supplied from an external device via, for example, a copying function for copying a document image, a facsimile function for transmitting / receiving image data via a communication line, and an external I / F. An image forming apparatus having a printer function for printing based on image data, that is, a composite digital image forming apparatus (hereinafter abbreviated as an image forming apparatus) is configured.

  FIG. 3 is a sectional view schematically showing the internal structure of the image forming apparatus. As shown in FIG. 3, an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied, for example, an electrophotographic digital image forming apparatus 50, reads an original image and functions as a reading unit that generates image data. The scanner unit 50a includes an image forming unit that functions as an image forming unit that forms an image based on image data, that is, a printer unit 50b. Further, the image forming apparatus 50 includes an automatic document feeder 51 as a conveying unit above the scanner unit 50a. The image forming apparatus 50 is formed so as to be openable and closable with respect to a later-described document table or document table of the scanner unit 50a. The document D as an object is fed one by one toward the document table, and functions as a document pressing unit that brings the document D placed on the document table into close contact with the document table.

  The scanner unit 50 a is disposed at the top of the document table 52 made of transparent glass, facing the automatic document feeder 51 in a closed state and on which the document D is set, and one end of the document table 52. A document scale 53 indicating the position where the document D should be set on the document table 52 is also provided.

  Below the document table 52, an exposure lamp 54 that illuminates the document D placed on the document table 52, an auxiliary reflector 58 for condensing the light beam from the exposure lamp 54 on the document D, and the document D A first mirror 56 that bends the reflected beam from the left side in the figure is arranged. The exposure lamp 54, the auxiliary reflecting plate 58, and the first mirror 56 are fixed to the first carriage 57, and are arranged to be movable in parallel with the document table 52 as the first carriage 57 moves. The first carriage 57 is moved in parallel along the document table 52 by receiving a driving force of a pulse motor (not shown) via a toothed belt (not shown).

  A second carriage 59 is disposed on the left side of the document table 52 in the drawing, that is, in the direction in which the reflected beam reflected by the first mirror 56 is guided. In the second carriage 59, a second mirror 60 for bending the reflected beam from the document D guided by the first mirror 56 downward and a third mirror 61 for bending rightward in the drawing are arranged at right angles to each other. The second carriage 59 is driven by the first carriage 57 by a toothed belt (not shown) that drives the first carriage 57 and parallel to the first carriage 57 along the document table 52 at a speed of 1/2. Moved to.

  An imaging lens that forms an image of the reflected beam from the second carriage 59 at a predetermined magnification in a plane below the first carriage 57 and including the optical axis of the beam folded back through the second carriage 59. 62, and a line sensor 63 including a plurality of CCD image sensors for converting the reflected beam, which is focused by the imaging lens 62, into an electrical signal, that is, image data.

  Here, the direction in which the plurality of CCD image sensors in the line sensor 63 are arranged is the main scanning direction, and the direction in which the first carriage 57 and the second carriage 59 move is the sub-scanning direction. In the present embodiment, this reading device portion is a sheet-through type image reading system in which the scanner unit 50a is fixed and the automatic document feeder 51 reads an image while conveying the document.

  Next, the printer unit 50b will be described. The printer unit 50 b includes a photosensitive drum 12, a charging charger 13, developing units 14 and 15, a static elimination lamp (PTL) 17, a transfer charger 18, a separation charger 19, an eraser 20, a cleaning unit 21, It has a polygon mirror (laser light generator) 22 and an optical system (lens) 23, and performs image formation and output of image data stored in an image memory.

  That is, at the same time as the photosensitive drum 12 is rotated in the direction of the arrow, the residual toner and non-uniform potential adhering to the photosensitive drum 12 do not reach the charging charger 13 and the developing units 14 and 15, so QL) 16, a pre-transfer static elimination lamp (PTL) 17, a transfer charger 18, a separation charger 19, an eraser 20, and a cleaning unit 21, and the surface potential of the photosensitive drum 12 after passing through the static elimination lamp 16 is substantially equal. Try to be zero.

  Thereafter, the surface of the photosensitive drum 12 is uniformly charged by the charging charger 13, the image data stored in the image memory is read, and a laser beam is emitted from a semiconductor laser (not shown) accordingly. Laser light emitted from the semiconductor laser is incident on a polygon mirror (laser light generator) 22 that is condensed and rotated by a cylinder lens (not shown), and reflected light passes through an optical system (lens) 23 and a mirror 24. The surface of the photosensitive drum 12 is irradiated to form an electrostatic latent image.

  Next, the latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 12 is subjected to development with black toner after the charge of the non-image portion (unnecessary portion protruding from the image forming area) is removed by the eraser 20 or with the black toner. The color developing unit 15 that performs development with toner attaches toner to form a visible image. At this time, the density of the image can be adjusted by changing the developing bias potential.

  On the other hand, one of the calling roller 25 and the three paper supply rollers 26 is driven by turning on a paper supply clutch that can selectively take out the drive of a main motor (not shown) to a preselected paper supply stage (described later). The set recording paper is fed toward the stopped registration roller pair 27. A registration sensor 28 is disposed in front of the registration roller pair 27. The registration sensor 28 is, for example, a reflection type photosensor, and is turned on when the leading edge of the recording paper reaches the opposite position. Then, after a predetermined time has elapsed, the paper feeding clutch is returned to the OFF state, and the recording paper being conveyed is stopped.

  The timing for turning off the paper feed clutch is set longer than the time during which the recording paper is conveyed between the registration sensor 28 and the registration roller pair 27. Accordingly, the leading edge of the recording paper is abutted against the pair of registration rollers 27, and the recording paper stands by in a state where the leading edge is bent to prevent skew and the like. Thereafter, the registration clutch is turned on at a timing in accordance with the leading edge of the image on the photosensitive drum 12, and the registration roller pair 27 is driven to rotate, whereby the standby recording paper is conveyed again toward the transfer unit. .

  When the recording paper reaches the transfer portion, the toner image on the photosensitive drum 12 is transferred onto the paper surface by the action of the transfer charger 18, and then on the paper surface by the action of the separation charger 19 held integrally with the transfer charger 18. Then, the recording paper is separated from the surface of the photosensitive member by the separation claw 29.

  Next, the recording paper is fed to the fixing unit by the conveying belt 30 stretched by two rollers, and the toner image is thermally fixed by the fixing roller 31. After that, if the single-side mode is selected as the copy mode, the switching claw 32 By switching, the sheet is fed into the lower sheet refeeding conveyance path 33.

  The residual toner on the photosensitive drum 12 after the image transfer is removed by the cleaning brush 21a and the cleaning blade 21b constituting the cleaning unit 21 and recovered in the toner recovery tank 21c. The surface is exposed to the front by the charge eliminating lamp 16.

  By the way, this copying machine is equipped with three paper feed cassettes 34 to 36, each of which has a different size of recording paper, detachably attached as a normal paper feed cassette that can store only recording papers of a specific size. Also provided is a manual feed table (manual feed tray) 37 on which recording paper that is not stored in any paper feed cassette, that is, recording paper of an unspecified size can be set.

  When copying using recording paper stored in any of the paper cassettes 34 to 36, the cassette size is selected by a size selection key on an operation panel (not shown), and then the copy start key is pressed. Thus, the recording paper is fed from the paper feed cassette.

  Reference numerals 38a to 38c are size detection sensors for detecting the size of each storage sheet of each of the paper feed cassettes 34 to 36, and for example, five photo interrupters are used. In addition, a light-shielding plate for size identification (not shown) is attached to the front end of each of the paper feed cassettes 34 to 36. The light shielding plate has a notch that varies depending on the size of the recording paper to be stored in the cassette.

  When the paper feed cassettes 34 to 36 are mounted, the size detection sensors 38a to 38c are configured so that only the photo interrupter sandwiching the light shielding portion of the light shielding plate blocks the optical path. Can be output. The control unit is a CPU or the like. On the other hand, when copying using recording paper of an unspecified size, the manual feed table 37 is opened from the closed state indicated by the phantom line in the direction indicated by arrow A to the use state indicated by the solid line, and then the desired surface is displayed on the upper surface. By setting the recording paper and pressing the copy start key, the recording paper is fed from the manual feed table 37.

  When the manual feed table 37 is rotated in the opening direction, the bottom plate raising arm 39 that has lifted the recording paper placement bottom plate provided in the first paper feed cassette 34 is lowered in conjunction therewith. An open / close detection sensor (not shown) for detecting opening / closing of the manual feed table 37 is installed at a position facing the manual feed table 37 of the copying machine.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration and functions of an image forming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Image reading part 102 Image processing part 103 Image output part 104 Image area calculation means 105 CPU
106 Operation unit 107 Toner remaining amount calculating means

Claims (9)

A toner remaining amount calculating means for calculating a toner remaining amount;
A toner saving means capable of adjusting a toner consumption amount,
When the toner remaining amount calculated by the toner remaining amount calculating means is less than or equal to a predetermined value set in advance, the toner saving mode is switched by the control of the CPU and the toner consumption is decreased by a predetermined amount. And then forming an image while further reducing the toner consumption as the remaining toner value decreases by the toner saving means. A toner remaining amount calculating means for calculating a toner remaining amount;
Image area calculating means for calculating the image area;
A toner saving means capable of adjusting a toner consumption amount,
When the CPU determines that the toner is near the end by referring to the toner remaining amount value calculated by the toner remaining amount calculating means, the image area calculated by the image area calculating means is preset. When the value is equal to or greater than the predetermined value, the toner save mode is switched to the toner save mode by the control of the CPU, the toner consumption amount is decreased by a predetermined amount, and then the toner consumption value is further decreased as the toner remaining amount value is decreased by the toner save unit. An image forming apparatus that forms an image while reducing the amount. A toner remaining amount calculating means for calculating a toner remaining amount;
A toner saving means capable of adjusting a toner consumption amount,
When forming a color image, referring to the toner remaining amount value calculated by the toner remaining amount calculating means, the image area of the color corresponding to the toner determined to be toner near-end is equal to or larger than a predetermined value set in advance. When the CPU determines that the toner save mode is switched under the control of the CPU, the toner consumption amount of the color corresponding to the toner determined to be the toner near end is decreased by a predetermined amount by the toner saving means, and then the toner near end An image forming apparatus that forms an image while further reducing a toner consumption amount as the toner remaining amount value of a color corresponding to a determined toner decreases.   When the CPU determines that it is necessary to cancel the toner save mode with reference to the remaining toner value or / and the image area by toner replenishment when the toner save mode is set. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the toner save mode is canceled under control of a CPU.   5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a toner save mode switching enable / disable setting unit capable of setting whether to switch to the toner save mode under the control of the CPU.   6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the toner consumption is changed in two or more steps.   When the toner remaining amount value calculated by the toner remaining amount calculating means for calculating the toner remaining amount is equal to or less than a predetermined value set in advance, the toner consumption mode can be adjusted by controlling the CPU to control the toner consumption amount. Forming an image while reducing the toner consumption by a predetermined amount by the toner saving means and then further reducing the toner consumption as the remaining toner value is reduced by the toner saving means. Method.   An image forming program for causing a computer to execute the image forming method according to claim 7.   A recording medium on which the image forming program according to claim 8 is recorded.

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