JP2009092753A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus capable of appropriately detecting the lifetime of a toner supply device 30 and exerting control of it, by storing the number of rotations of a toner storage bottle 31 itself in a simple configuration. <P>SOLUTION: The toner supply device 30 includes: the toner storage bottle 31 for storing toner; and a support holder 32 for holding the toner storage bottle 31 so that it is rotatable around its axis. A magnetic member 45 is disposed on part of the outer peripheral face of the toner storage bottle 31. The support holder 32 has: a lead switch 70 that detects each passage of the magnetic member 45 near it from the supply of power; and a one-time memory IC that stores the number of passages of the magnetic members 45 by adding signals from the lead switch. A rotation control section 90 captures the number of rotations of the toner storage bottle 31 via a connector 75. Based on the number of the rotations, the rotation control section 90 determines and controls a quantity of remaining toner. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for detecting and controlling the remaining amount of toner in a toner container in an image forming apparatus that forms an image using a developer.

  In general, an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic system such as a multifunction machine, a facsimile machine, or a printer forms an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive drum by means such as laser irradiation, and visualizes the electrostatic latent image with toner. In order to achieve this, a developing device or the like disposed in the vicinity of the photosensitive drum is provided, and the toner supply to the developing device is performed by a toner supply device (toner cartridge), a toner storage container ( Toner storage bottle) is used.

  For example, in a developing device using a two-component developer composed of toner and a carrier composed of magnetic particles for imparting electric charge to the toner, a developer in which the toner and the carrier are uniformly stirred and mixed in the stirring chamber is contained inside. It is transported to the vicinity of a developing roller having a magnetic material. The developer transported in the vicinity of the developing roller is carried on the surface of the developing roller by the magnetic field of the developing roller to form a magnetic brush, and only toner that is negatively charged when facing the photosensitive drum is transferred to the photosensitive drum. The electrostatic latent image is struck to make it visible, and then the carrier from which the toner has been released falls again into the agitating chamber of the developing device when passing through the repulsive magnetic field of the developing roller.

  Therefore, as the image formation is repeated, the toner concentration in the developer in the developing device gradually decreases. When the toner concentration becomes low, a toner concentration sensor provided in the developing device senses this, and a toner replenishing device (toner hopper) that drives the toner in advance to prepare a state where it is easy to mix with the developer is driven to develop the toner. When the toner is replenished and the toner is restored to a predetermined density, the driving of the toner hopper is stopped.

  Further, when the amount of toner in the toner hopper decreases below a specified value, a sensor provided in the toner hopper senses this and drives the toner supply device, that is, rotates the toner storage bottle to eject from the toner discharge port of the toner storage bottle. The toner is replenished in the toner hopper, and when the toner is replenished to a predetermined amount, the driving of the toner supply device is stopped.

  As the toner replenishment is repeated, the toner in the toner storage bottle decreases, so when the toner in the toner storage bottle is almost empty, the operation panel of the image forming apparatus is instructed to replace the toner supply device. To prompt the user to replace the toner supply device.

  In order to notify the replacement timing of the toner supply device as described above, a technology for detecting the life of the toner supply device has been developed.

  For example, in an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic system, a serial number of a process cartridge including a photosensitive drum, a charging unit, a developing device, and a cleaning device is recorded as a barcode on a non-image area of the photosensitive drum. In the non-volatile memory provided in the apparatus, a technique for storing the serial number, the number of rotations of the photosensitive drum, the high voltage application time of the charging unit, and the like and determining the life of the process cartridge is disclosed (for example, Patent Document 1).

Alternatively, a technique relating to a toner replenishing device configured to read the specifications of the toner storage bottle by sticking a barcode on the peripheral surface of the toner storage bottle and reading the information recorded on the barcode with an optical sensor is disclosed. (For example, refer to Patent Document 2).
JP-A-11-143308 JP 2001-235936 A

  However, in the technology related to the image forming apparatus of Patent Document 1, since the signal unit is provided on the image forming apparatus main body side, a malfunction that does not operate normally due to the influence of contact failure or the like occurs, or the life of the nonvolatile memory is determined. For this reason, there are problems such as data becoming garbled and inaccurate, barcodes and optical sensors being contaminated by scattered toner, and reading errors of the optical sensors.

  Further, the technique related to the toner replenishing device of Patent Document 2 also has problems such as reading failure of the optical sensor due to the use of the optical sensor.

  Although it is conceivable to provide a cleaning member or the like for removing scattered toner on the barcode or the optical sensor, the structure becomes complicated and lacks in reliability, and the cost increases.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and stores the number of rotations of the toner storage bottle itself with a simple configuration to appropriately detect and control the life of the toner supply device. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus capable of performing the above.

  In view of such circumstances, the image forming apparatus according to the first invention is an image forming apparatus that forms an image using a developer, has a sensor for measuring the remaining amount of toner, and replenishes the developing device with toner. A toner replenishing device, a toner containing container that contains toner and replenishes toner to the toner replenishing device, a detectable member is disposed on a part of the outer peripheral surface, and the toner containing container is rotatably held A toner supply device that is configured by a support holder having detection means for detecting passage of the detectable member, and is detachably attached to the image forming apparatus; a rotation drive unit that rotates the toner storage container; A rotation control unit that controls the rotation drive unit, and when the sensor detects an insufficient amount of toner, the rotation control unit controls the rotation drive unit to rotate the toner storage container, The detection means outputs the rotation speed of the toner storage container obtained by detecting the passage of the detectable member to the rotation control section, and the rotation control section outputs the toner storage container according to the rotation speed of the toner storage container. It is characterized by detecting the remaining amount of toner in the container.

  In the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect of the invention, the rotation control unit includes storage means for storing a reference value for the remaining amount of toner in the toner storage container, and the rotation control unit rotates the toner storage container. The detection is performed by comparing the number and the reference value and calculating the remaining amount of toner.

  In the image forming apparatus according to a third aspect of the invention, the detectable member is a magnetic member, and the detection means adds a signal output from the reed switch by energizing the reed switch and the magnetic member. It is characterized by comprising a one-time memory.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the image forming apparatus includes a display unit, and the rotation control unit displays the calculated remaining toner amount and / or the printable number of sheets calculated from the remaining toner amount on the display unit. It is characterized by controlling.

  The image forming apparatus according to a fifth aspect of the invention stores, in the storage unit, a replacement reference value for determining a remaining amount of toner at the replacement timing of the toner storage container or the toner supply device, and the rotation control unit Control is performed to display a toner replacement message on the display unit when the rotation speed of the toner container reaches the replacement reference value.

  An image forming apparatus according to a sixth aspect of the invention is characterized in that the rotation control unit performs control to stop a printing process when the rotation number of the toner container reaches the replacement reference value.

  In the image forming apparatus according to a seventh aspect of the present invention, after the rotation control section has printed out a predetermined number of sheets after reaching the replacement reference value, the display of the toner replacement message and / or the stop of the printing process is controlled. It is characterized by performing.

  According to the present invention, since the toner supply device is provided with the detection means for detecting the rotation speed of the toner storage container and the remaining amount of toner in the toner storage container can be detected, it is necessary to provide the image forming apparatus itself with a detection means. Even if the toner supply device is attached to another image forming apparatus on the way, the usage information (the number of rotations of the toner storage container) does not disappear, and the life of the toner storage container can be reliably grasped. .

  In addition, the rotation control unit can maintain the reference value for the remaining amount of toner, compare the reference value with the rotation speed of the toner storage container, and easily calculate the remaining amount of toner.

  In addition, by using a magnetic member as the detectable member and a reed switch and a one-time IC memory as the detecting means, the number of rotations of the toner container can be counted with a simple configuration without using an optical sensor. Accurate measurement can be performed without causing defects.

  In addition, since the display unit for displaying the toner remaining amount in the toner storage container is provided, it is possible to appropriately notify the user of the replacement time of the toner storage container and to provide a preparation period for the replacement of the toner storage container. The output efficiency of the print job is not reduced.

  Further, by displaying a message indicating the number of pages that can be printed on the display unit, it is possible to notify the user of the approximate replacement time of the toner container, and the output efficiency of the print job is not reduced.

  In addition, if the rotation speed of the toner storage container exceeds the allowable range in terms of image density, the warning display and / or the printing process is stopped to prompt the user to replace the toner storage bottle. A stable image forming apparatus can be obtained, and further, deterioration of the image forming apparatus due to excessive use can be prevented, and problems can be prevented.

  Further, when the toner amount in the toner storage container decreases, the relationship between the toner discharge amount and the rotation speed of the toner storage container is constant, but the toner is not discharged at a constant rate. However, since printing is possible even at this final stage, calculate the number of rotations that can be printed after the rotation speed at which the toner is not discharged at a constant rate, and set the reference value. Is possible.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a multifunction peripheral (image forming apparatus) equipped with a toner supply device according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a main portion of the multifunction peripheral shown in FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of the toner supply device and the toner hopper as viewed from above, FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the drive plate shown in FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the toner supply device.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the toner supply device 30 according to the present exemplary embodiment includes a rotation drive unit 80 (see FIG. 3) that rotates the toner storage bottle 31 and a rotation control unit 90 that controls the rotation drive unit 80. The forming apparatus 100 is detachably mounted.

  The rotation control unit 90 includes, for example, an I / O port that receives an output from a magnetic detection unit provided in the toner supply device 30 described later, a CPU, a ROM that stores a control program, a RAM that stores various setting conditions, and a CPU. A driver circuit for applying a voltage to the rotation drive unit 80 based on the output of

  In addition to the rotation drive unit 80, the rotation control unit 90, and the toner supply device 30 described above, the multifunction peripheral 100 includes the photosensitive drum 1, the charging device 2, the laser exposure device 3, the developing device 4, the toner hopper 8, the transfer device 5, the supply device, and the like. A paper unit 6 and a fixing unit 7 are provided.

  In the multifunction device 100, the photosensitive drum 1, which is an electrostatic latent image carrier, is charged by the charging device 2, and then an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 by the laser exposure device 3.

  On the other hand, the developing device 4 stirs and mixes the toner supplied from the toner supply device 30 via the toner hopper 8 and the carrier with the stirring roller 4a to form a two-component developer, and this developer forms a plurality of magnetic fields. A magnetic brush is formed on the surface of the developed developing roller 4b.

  When the photosensitive drum 1 and the magnetic brush formed on the surface of the developing roller 4b face each other, negatively charged toner lands on the photosensitive drum 1, and the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 1 is visualized. .

  The toner image visualized on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 is transferred to the recording paper conveyed from the paper supply unit 6 by the transfer device 5, and the toner image transferred to the recording paper is heated by the fixing unit 7. Then, it receives pressure and is fixed on the recording paper, and is discharged to the outside of the multifunction peripheral 100.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the developing device 4 is provided with a density sensor (not shown) for measuring the toner density in the developer, and when the toner density becomes lower than a predetermined value, The stirring member 11 of the toner hopper 8 is driven to stir the toner, and the toner that is easily mixed with the developer is supplied into the developing device 4 via the supply roller 12.

  The toner hopper 8 is provided with a sensor (not shown) that measures the amount of toner. When the toner amount in the toner hopper 8 becomes less than a specified value, the rotation control unit 90 (see FIG. 1) 80 (see FIG. 3) is driven to supply toner from the toner supply device 30 to the toner hopper 8. In this way, the toner density of the developer in the developing device 4 is always kept within a certain range.

Here, the toner supply device 30 will be described in detail.
As shown in FIG. 5, the toner supply device 30 includes a cylindrical toner storage bottle 31 that stores toner, and a support holder 32 that holds the toner storage bottle 31 so as to be rotatable about the shaft.

  As shown in FIG. 3, two protrusions 37 a and 37 b for engaging with the two locking pieces 87 a and 87 b of the driving plate 81 of the rotation driving unit 80 are provided at the end 33 a of the first container 33. Is formed.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the drive plate 81 is attached to one end of a rotating shaft 84 that penetrates the housing 88, and the drive plate 81 is interposed between the housing 88 and the drive plate 81. A coil spring 83 for biasing the end portion 33a is provided.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, the other end of the rotating shaft 84 is connected to an electric motor 85 serving as a drive source via a plurality of reduction gears 86.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the toner supply device.
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the support holder 32 that supports the toner storage bottle 31 so as to be axially rotatable includes a cylindrical support portion 55 that supports the toner storage bottle 31 so as to be axially rotatable, and a support portion 55. And a supporting base portion 56.

  The support portion 55 is supported in the vicinity of the boundary portion between the first container portion 33 and the second container portion 34 via a seal member (not shown) having a V-shaped cross section.

  The base portion 56 has a mounting guide portion 56a in a part thereof, and the lead that is energized when the magnetic member 45 disposed in the toner storage bottle 31 passes in the vicinity of the mounting guide portion 56a. A switch 70, a one-time memory IC 74 that stores information on the number of rotations of the toner storage bottle 31 by adding input signals from the reed switch 70, and a one-time memory IC 74 when the toner supply device 30 is mounted. A connector 75 that electrically connects the rotation control unit 90 on the multifunction peripheral 100 side is attached.

  A part of the support portion 55 is formed with a toner conveyance path 52 through which toner is intermittently discharged from the toner discharge path 41 of the container section 35 via the scraper 20 when the toner storage bottle 31 rotates. The shutter member 58 is provided at the end, that is, the toner supply port 50 (see FIG. 5).

  The shutter member 58 opens as shown in FIG. 5 only when the toner supply device 30 is mounted on the multifunction peripheral 100, and the toner supply port 50 of the support holder 32 and the toner inlet of the toner hopper 8 as shown in FIG. 8a is made to communicate.

  That is, when the toner supply device 30 is attached to the multifunction peripheral 100, the toner supply port 50 of the toner supply device 30 and the toner inlet 8 a of the toner hopper 8 are in communication with each other, and toner is transferred from the toner supply device 30 to the toner hopper 8. It becomes possible to discharge.

  When the toner in the toner hopper 8 decreases below a specified amount, a sensor for measuring the amount of toner in the toner hopper 8 senses it and sends a signal to the rotation control unit 90, and the rotation control unit 90 supplies the toner to the toner hopper 8. To replenish the toner, the rotation drive unit 80 is driven and the toner storage bottle 31 of the toner supply device 30 is rotated to replenish the toner.

  In the toner supply device 30 configured as described above, a technique for appropriately detecting and controlling the remaining amount of toner in the toner storage bottle 31 based on the number of rotations of the toner storage bottle 31, which is a feature of the present invention, will be described in detail below. explain.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart for detecting and controlling the replacement time of the toner storage bottle 31. It demonstrates along a flowchart.

  For example, the rotation control unit 90 starts the toner remaining amount determination process periodically or triggered by the user starting the operation of the multifunction peripheral 100 using the operation panel. The rotation control unit 90 controls a sensor in the toner hopper 8 to acquire a measured value of the remaining amount of toner in the toner hopper 8. Based on the measured value, rotation control unit 90 determines whether or not the remaining amount of toner in toner hopper 8 is equal to or less than a predetermined value preset in RAM (step (S) 1).

  If the remaining amount of toner is equal to or greater than the predetermined value (“YES” in S1), the rotation control unit 90 outputs a control signal for continuing the printing process to the developing device 4 (S9), and ends this process.

  When the remaining amount of toner is less than the predetermined value (“NO” in S1), the rotation control unit 90 drives the rotation driving unit 80 to rotate the toner storage bottle 31 to supply toner to the toner hopper 8 (S2).

  When the toner storage bottle 31 rotates, when the magnetic member 45 provided in the toner storage bottle 31 passes near the reed switch 70, the magnetic member 45 and the reed switch 70 are energized and connected to the reed switch 70. A signal is input to the one-time memory IC 74. The one-time memory IC 74 can store the rotation speed of the toner storage bottle 31 by adding the signals (S3), and the rotation control section 90 can transmit the rotation speed of the toner storage bottle 31 through the connector 75. Output.

  The rotation control unit 90 obtains the output of the rotation speed of the toner storage bottle 31 and determines whether or not the rotation speed is equal to or higher than a predetermined value (hereinafter referred to as “predetermined value 1”) (S4). That is, a reference value for determination is stored in advance in the RAM, and the CPU of the rotation control unit 90 reads the reference value from the RAM, and whether or not the number of rotations from the one-time memory 75 exceeds the reference value. A determination is made.

  If the rotation speed of the toner storage bottle 31 is lower than the predetermined value 1, the rotation control unit 90 outputs a control signal to continue the printing process to the developing device 4 assuming that the remaining amount of toner is sufficient (S9). This process is terminated.

  If the number of rotations of the toner storage bottle 31 is equal to or greater than the predetermined value 1, the remaining amount of toner is low. Therefore, the rotation control unit 90 displays, for example, the remaining amount of toner (g) and the number of printable sheets on the operation panel. Control is performed to display a message (S5).

  Further, the rotation control unit 90 has a rotation number of the toner storage bottle 31 that is larger than a predetermined value 1 and exceeds a reference value (hereinafter referred to as “predetermined value 2”) indicating the replacement timing of the toner storage bottle 31. It is determined whether or not there is (S6). That is, in the rotation control unit 90, the reference value different from the predetermined value 1 and the predetermined value 2 are also stored in the RAM, and the CPU reads the predetermined value 2 and compares it with the rotation speed.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between the toner discharge amount (toner remaining amount) of the toner storage bottle 31 and the rotation time of the toner storage bottle 31. Here, the peripheral speed of the toner storage bottle 31 is, for example, 3.5 mm / sec.

  As shown in FIG. 8, since the toner discharge amount from the toner storage bottle 31 and the bottle rotation speed are in a fixed relationship, if the bottle rotation speed is stored, the toner remaining amount in the bottle can be easily determined. Can be calculated.

  Incidentally, as can be seen from FIG. 8, in the final stage (a) of the bottle rotation, the remaining amount of toner does not decrease at a constant rate. However, since printing is possible even in the final stage, it is possible to set the predetermined value 1 and the predetermined value 2 by calculating the number of rotations that can be printed after entering the area a. .

  If the number of rotations of the toner storage bottle 31 is equal to or greater than the predetermined value 2, printing beyond this exceeds the allowable range in terms of image density, so the rotation control unit 90 performs, for example, a printing process on the developing device 4. A stop control signal is output (S7), a warning message is displayed on the operation panel or the like (S8), and this process ends.

  If the rotation speed of the toner storage bottle 31 is lower than the predetermined value 2, the remaining amount of toner is displayed to the user, but printing is still possible, so a control signal for continuing the printing process is output to the developing device 4 (S9). ), This process is terminated.

  Alternatively, the rotation control unit 90 may perform only the warning process of S8 without stopping the printing process of S7.

  As described above, the toner storage bottle 31 is appropriately displayed to the user by displaying the remaining amount of toner (g) or the number of printable sheets based on the calculation result of the rotation speed of the toner storage bottle 31. Can be notified of the replacement time.

  If the rotational speed exceeds the allowable range in terms of image density, the printing process is stopped and / or a warning is displayed to prompt the user to replace the toner storage bottle 31 and the image with stable image density. A forming apparatus can be obtained, and further, deterioration of the image forming apparatus due to excessive use can be prevented, and problems can be prevented.

  By the way, when the remaining amount of toner is detected and the remaining amount is low, a warning is displayed and the user is prompted to replace the toner storage bottle 31, but the entire toner supply device 30 may be replaced.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention may be an apparatus that forms an image using toner, and the type thereof is not particularly limited. For example, an electrophotographic multifunction machine, a facsimile machine, a copying machine, and the like can be given.

  The rotation driving unit 80 may be any unit that can drive the toner storage bottle 31 to rotate, and the configuration thereof is not particularly limited.

  Further, the rotation control unit 90 only needs to be able to control the rotation driving unit 80 based on the output from the sensor in the toner hopper 8 and control the display process and the printing process based on the output from the magnetic detection unit. The configuration is not particularly limited.

  Further, the toner storage bottle 31 may be any container capable of rotating on a shaft in which a toner discharge port is partially formed, and the shape and configuration thereof are not particularly limited.

  The support holder 32 is not particularly limited as long as it can hold the toner storage bottle 31 so as to be rotatable about the shaft.

  Further, by changing and combining the length, the number, the arrangement interval, and the like of the magnetic member 45, it becomes possible to discriminate more information such as the destination, the toner storage amount, and the toner color. The magnetic member 45 may be any member that generates magnetism, and the type and form thereof are not particularly limited.

  In the toner supply device 30 of the present invention, the magnetic detection means may be any of a reed switch, a Hall element, or a magnetoresistive element, but a reed switch that is structurally simple and has high detection accuracy is preferable.

  As mentioned above, although preferred embodiment of this invention was described referring an accompanying drawing, it cannot be overemphasized that this invention is not limited to the example which concerns. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made within the scope of the claims, and these are naturally within the technical scope of the present invention. It is understood.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a multi-function peripheral equipped with a toner supply device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a main part of the multifunction peripheral according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of a toner supply device and a toner hopper as viewed from above. It is a perspective view of a drive plate. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a toner supply device. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a toner supply device. FIG. 10 is a flowchart for detecting and controlling the replacement timing of the toner storage bottle. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a toner discharge amount (toner remaining amount) of a toner storage bottle and a rotation time of the toner storage bottle.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Photosensitive drum 2 Charging device 3 Laser exposure device 4 Developing device 5 Transfer device 6 Paper feeding portion 7 Fixing portion 8 Toner hopper 8a Toner inlet 20 Scraper 30 Toner supply device 31 Toner storage bottle 32 Support holder 33 First container portion 33a First End portion 34 of one container portion Second container portion 41 Toner discharge path 45 Magnetic member 50 Toner supply port 52 Toner transport path 55 Support section 56 Base section 56a Mounting guide section 58 Shutter member 70 Reed switch 74 One-time memory IC
75 Connector 80 Rotation Drive Unit 90 Rotation Control Unit 100 Multifunction Machine

Claims (7)

An image forming apparatus that forms an image using a developer,
A toner replenishing device having a sensor for measuring the remaining amount of toner and replenishing toner to the developing device;
A toner storage container that contains toner and supplies toner to the toner supply device, and a member that can be detected is disposed on a part of the outer peripheral surface, and the toner storage container is rotatably held and can be detected. A toner supply device comprising a support holder having detection means for detecting passage of a member, and detachably attached to the image forming apparatus;
A rotation drive unit for rotating the toner container;
A rotation control unit for controlling the rotation drive unit,
When the sensor detects that the toner amount is insufficient, the rotation control unit controls the rotation driving unit to rotate the toner container, and the detection unit detects the passage of the detectable member. The rotation speed of the toner container is output to the rotation controller, and the rotation controller detects the remaining amount of toner in the toner container based on the rotation speed of the toner container. . The rotation control unit includes storage means for storing a reference value for the remaining amount of toner in the toner container,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rotation control unit detects the amount of toner by comparing the number of rotations of the toner storage container with the reference value and calculating a remaining amount of toner.   The detectable member is a magnetic member, and the detection means includes a reed switch and a one-time memory that adds a signal output from the reed switch by energizing the magnetic member. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2. With a display,
4. The control according to claim 2, wherein the rotation control unit controls the display unit to display the calculated remaining toner amount and / or the printable number of sheets calculated from the remaining toner amount. 5. Image forming apparatus.   The storage means stores a replacement reference value for determining the remaining amount of toner at the time of replacement of the toner storage container or the toner supply device, and the rotation control unit sets the rotation speed of the toner storage container to the replacement reference value. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image forming apparatus controls to display a toner replacement message on the display unit when the time is reached.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the rotation control unit performs a control to stop a printing process when the rotation number of the toner container reaches the replacement reference value.   6. The rotation control unit according to claim 5, wherein after the replacement reference value is reached and a predetermined number of sheets are printed out, the toner replacement message is displayed and / or the printing process is stopped. 6. The image forming apparatus according to 6.

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