JP2011095325A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus using a multiple-color toner which reduces its downtime by eliminating the labor of work, such as a replacement of a toner container by an operator. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus includes: a plurality of developing means for making visible images as toner images by multiple-color toner; and a transfer means for transferring the toner images with respective colors to sheet material. In the image forming apparatus, during toner empty detection for the smallest amount of remaining toner, when it can be estimated that the amount of remaining toner of another color reaches the state of being nearly empty before the amount of remaining toner of first color toner decreases to a predetermined amount, the image forming apparatus is shifted into the state (display waiting mode) of not displaying an empty state of the toner of the first color; and when an amount of remaining toner of M color toner reaches the state of being nearly empty, the image forming apparatus displays the state of being nearly empty of the first color toner and the M color toner. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to near-empty of a plurality of colors of toner, control of empty display, improvement of accuracy, and the like.

A color image forming apparatus generally uses four colors of toner, and toner replenishment and toner container replacement are performed with the image forming apparatus being stopped each time the remaining amount of each color is reduced or lost. Yes. For this reason, generally, a warning is displayed by detecting that the amount has decreased to a predetermined amount (toner near empty, for example, an amount capable of image formation of about 100 sheets until an empty state where replacement is essential). For reference, FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the total number of printed pages and the remaining amount of toner and the display state of toner near empty in this type of apparatus, and an example of a flowchart related to the already known toner remaining amount detection process. Is shown in FIG.
In the process of FIG. 9, the remaining amount of toner of each color is monitored to determine whether the amount of remaining toner has decreased and has reached a near empty state (step; S21). When the near empty of the toner with the minimum remaining amount (denoted as color A in FIG. 9) is detected, this is immediately displayed (S22). After that, when the remaining amount of toner reaches the specified value (S25: Yes), the empty state is displayed. Display and stop the device (S26). The operator can replace the toner in the near empty state at any time, and if the toner container is replaced before detecting the empty state of the color toner (S23: Yes), the near empty is released (S24). If the toner container is replaced after the empty display (S26) (S27: Yes), the empty state is canceled (S28). At this time, the remaining amount of the color B in FIG. 8 is not involved at all. Of course, the remaining toner amount detection process for color B is performed in exactly the same manner as described above.

However, as described above, it is complicated and time-consuming for the operator to change the toner for each color, and the downtime of the image forming apparatus is increased. Also, even if any near empty is displayed, printing can be continued until empty. Therefore, there are many users who simultaneously replace a plurality of toner containers when a plurality of colors become near empty. In this case, since it is continuously displayed that the LED is near empty by an LED or the like, the operator is always alerted.
For example, in the case of an image forming apparatus that uses four color toners and detects near empty when the remaining amount of toner in each color is 10% of the initial amount, the probability that at least one color toner is in the near empty state is about 34%. In the case of an image forming apparatus that detects near empty when toner of four colors is used and the remaining amount of toner is 15%, at least one toner is near The probability of being in an empty state is about 48% (= 1−0.85 ^ 4), and both appear with a relatively high probability. In the case of an apparatus using five or more colors of toner, this probability is further increased.

As described above, in the conventional toner remaining amount display method, the toner remaining amount of each color is reduced, and each time the near empty is displayed, the toner container is replaced to endure the trouble, or the near empty is displayed. Even when printing is continuously performed and the toner containers of a plurality of colors are replaced at the same time, there is a problem that the operator is always in a state of being alerted by the near empty display.
Therefore, in order to cope with the above-described problems, in Patent Document 1, in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus using a plurality of color toners, frequent toner supply due to a difference in toner consumption by color is avoided, and a toner supply cycle is set to a certain level or more. The toner case has a sensor disposed at a position for detecting a state where the toner is less than half, and a sensor disposed at a position for detecting a state where the toner is almost empty, and the display means Can display the remaining amount of toner in each toner case in two stages according to the detection signal of the above sensor, and when the operator becomes close to empty one of the toner cases, A configuration has been proposed in which toner can be replenished even when the remaining amount of the toner case is less than half, and frequent toner replenishment can be avoided.

  Further, in Patent Document 2, regarding the toner replenishment structure of the electrophotographic color printing apparatus, the remaining amount of toner of other colors is checked when toner of a certain color is replenished, and the toner hopper of that color is reduced to a certain amount or less. In order to perform toner replenishment and reduce the number of times of toner replenishment, a toner hopper in which toner of each color is put, a first sensor for detecting the remaining amount of toner, and a position where a certain amount of toner is consumed from the remaining amount detection of the first sensor And a second sensor for detecting the presence or absence of toner, and the output of the first sensor of the toner hopper of another color is selected by the output of the second sensor of the toner hopper of a certain color, and a toner replenishment instruction for the other color is issued. A configuration is proposed in which a logical product circuit for outputting is provided, and toner is supplied to the toner hopper of a certain color and the toner hopper of another color for which the logical product circuit has been instructed to supply toner simultaneously. There.

However, in order to solve the problems to be improved in both Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 described above, it is necessary to provide two sensors in one toner case or toner hopper, which complicates the configuration and reduces the cost. Also rises. In addition, replenishing only half of the toner can be achieved in a system in which toner is directly replenished to the toner container. However, in recent years, in order to prevent spillage or the like during toner replenishment, there are many systems in which the toner container previously filled with toner is replaced. It is used. There is a problem that a method of replenishing an arbitrary amount of toner cannot be applied to such a method of replacing the toner container.
The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and on the premise of an image forming apparatus that uses toner of a plurality of colors in a system that replaces a toner container, the operator's trouble of toner container replacement work is saved, and the image forming apparatus An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that can reduce downtime.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the invention described in claim 1 includes an exposure unit that forms latent images on a plurality of photoconductors, and a plurality of latent images that are formed into toner images with different color toners. An image forming apparatus comprising: a developing unit; a transfer unit that transfers the toner image of each color to a sheet material; and a fixing unit that fixes a toner image superimposed on the sheet material. Toner of any other color until the remaining amount of toner of the first color toner is reduced to a predetermined amount when toner empty of the toner (hereinafter referred to as first color toner) is detected. When it can be predicted that the remaining amount of toner (hereinafter referred to as M-th color toner) will reach near empty, it is not displayed that the toner of the first color toner is in an empty state (hereinafter referred to as a toner empty table). The remaining amount for simultaneously displaying that the first color toner and the Mth color toner are near empty when the remaining amount of the Mth color toner reaches near empty. A display means is provided.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, a prediction that the remaining amount of toner in each of the developing units reaches near empty is calculated using a predicted value of a toner consumption rate. And
When the remaining amount of toner for one color reaches near empty, if it is predicted that the remaining amount of toner for another color will become near empty before the remaining amount of toner for this color decreases to the specified value, the near empty display is suspended. In addition, when the remaining amount of toner of another color is detected as being near empty, the fact that the near empty state is displayed at the same time eliminates the trouble of replacing the toner container for each color and reduces the downtime of the image forming apparatus. It becomes possible to do.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the predicted value of the toner consumption rate is corrected based on the total number of printed pages of the photoconductor.
By correcting the predicted value of the remaining amount of toner based on the number of pages printed on the photoconductor in the past, the accuracy of predicting the remaining amount of toner is increased, and it is detected with higher accuracy whether or not to shift to the near empty display standby mode. It becomes possible.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, the predicted value of the toner consumption rate is corrected based on a difference in a print area rate and a print pattern. To do.
It is possible to detect with higher accuracy whether or not to shift to the near empty display standby mode by correcting the predicted value of the remaining amount of toner based on the image area ratio and the characteristics of the print pattern.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, in the toner empty display standby mode, the toner empty display standby mode is set according to an operation of an operator. It is characterized by displaying.
In addition to the effects described above, it is possible to provide a mechanism for displaying whether or not the state of the toner remaining amount can be confirmed by displaying whether or not the near empty display is suspended by operating the operation panel or the like. .

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, after the transition to the toner empty display standby mode, the remaining amount of toner of the first color toner is the specified amount. When the ratio of the number of times that the toner of the Mth color toner reaches near empty before reaching the amount of toner is lower than a predetermined ratio, the condition for shifting to the toner empty display standby mode is narrowed. Features.
If necessary, it is possible to detect with higher accuracy whether or not to shift to the near empty display standby mode by narrowing the conditions for shifting to the near empty display standby mode.
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, when the toner empty of the first color toner is detected, the toner remaining amount is defined in advance. When it is predicted that the predetermined periodic replacement part will reach the replacement time before the amount becomes less than the amount, the mode shifts to the toner empty display standby mode, and the first color toner is transferred when the periodic replacement part reaches the replacement time. The toner near empty and the replacement time notification of the periodic replacement parts are displayed at the same time.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, the remaining amount display means immediately becomes near empty when black toner is detected. It is characterized by displaying a certain thing.
In general, black toner having a high toner consumption rate including monochrome printing is notified in advance that the toner container needs to be replaced.
The invention according to claim 9 is the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein even in the toner empty display standby mode, by executing printing that has received the output request, the toner is obtained. When it is predicted that the toner will reach empty, it is displayed that the toner of the first color toner is in an empty state.
As a result, when there is a print request that the remaining amount of toner is expected to reach empty, it is possible to notify in advance that the toner container needs to be replaced.
According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to ninth aspects, an operator can set whether to apply the transition to the toner empty display standby mode. It is characterized by that.
As a result, the functions of the present invention can be optimally used depending on the printing frequency, toner area ratio, toner container inventory, and the like.

  According to the present invention, in an image forming apparatus using a plurality of color toners and exchanging toner containers, an image forming apparatus capable of reducing the downtime of the image forming apparatus by omitting the operator's trouble of replacing the toner container. can do.

1 is a front sectional view of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a total number of printed pages and a remaining amount of toner and a display state of toner near empty according to the first embodiment. 3 is a flowchart relating to toner remaining amount detection according to the first embodiment; FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a total number of printed pages and a remaining amount of toner and a display state of toner near empty in the first embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a total number of printed pages and a remaining amount of toner and a display state of toner near empty in the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a total number of printed pages and a remaining amount of toner and a display state of toner near empty according to a third embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a total number of printed pages and a remaining amount of toner and a display state of toner near empty according to a fifth embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a total number of printed pages and a remaining amount of toner and a display state of toner near empty in a conventional image forming apparatus. 10 is a flowchart relating to toner remaining amount detection in a conventional image forming apparatus.

[First Embodiment]
Hereinafter, referring to the drawings, as a best mode for carrying out the present invention, a tandem type color laser copier (hereinafter simply referred to as “copier 1”) in which a plurality of photoconductors are arranged in parallel is exemplified. Will be described in detail. However, the configuration, flowchart, and the like described in this embodiment should be changed as appropriate according to the mechanism and various conditions of the apparatus to which the invention is applied, and the scope of the present invention is limited to the following embodiment. It is not intended.
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a copying machine 1 according to the present embodiment. The copier 1 includes a printer unit 100, a paper feeding device 200 disposed below the printer unit 100, a document reading device 300 (scanner) incorporating an automatic document feeder fixed on the printer unit 100, and the like.
The printer unit 100 is an image forming unit including four sets of process cartridges 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K for forming images of each color of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). 20 is provided. “Y”, “M”, “C”, and “K” appended to the numerals of the respective symbols indicate members for yellow, magenta, cyan, and black (the same applies hereinafter). In addition to the process cartridges 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K, the exposure device 4, the transfer roller 7 as the transfer device, the transfer belt 9, the registration roller pair 49 (registration roller pair), the heating roller 26, and the pressure roller 27 roller A fixing type fixing device 25 and the like are provided.

The exposure device 4 (optical writing unit) includes a light source, a polygon mirror, an f-θ lens, a reflection mirror, and the like (not shown), and irradiates laser light onto the surface of a photoconductor described later based on image data.
The process cartridges 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K each include a drum-shaped photosensitive member 3, a charging device 5, a developing device 6, a cleaning device 8, a static eliminator (not shown), and the like.
The four process cartridges 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K have substantially the same configuration except that the colors of the toners to be handled are different. The yellow process cartridge 10Y will be described below. The surface of the photoreceptor 3 is charged by a charging device while rotating in the direction of arrow G in the figure. The charged surface of the photosensitive member 3 is supplied with toner from the developing device 6 to the latent image on which the electrostatic latent image is formed by the laser light emitted from the exposure device 4 to form a toner image.
The developing device 6 of the present embodiment has a developing roller as a toner carrier for supplying toner to the latent image on the surface of the photoreceptor 3 while developing in the direction of the arrow in the drawing. The developing roller includes a rotatable developing sleeve, and a magnetic body (not shown) including a plurality of magnetic poles is disposed therein. The magnetic material is necessary to hold the toner on the surface of the developing roller.
The toner is separated from the developing roller by setting the magnetic material in the developing sleeve described above to a state where there is no magnetic pole only at a position where the toner is desired to be separated. Further, a magnetic body having a magnetic pole arrangement in which a repulsive magnetic field is formed at a location to be separated may be used.

The developing device 6 is provided with a stirring unit 13 in parallel with the axial direction of the developing roller. The stirring unit 13 includes a spiral stirring screw disposed in parallel to the axial direction as a stirring and transporting member that transports the toner while stirring the toner along the axial direction of the developing roller.
A toner concentration detection unit is provided below the stirring unit 13. The toner concentration detection means also functions as a developer amount detection means, and determines whether the amount of toner in the toner replenishing portion is sufficient or insufficient. An appropriate developer amount detection means independent of the toner density detection means may be provided at an appropriate position. There are many known process controls based on toner density, and a description thereof is omitted here.
In the stirring unit 13, the toner is stirred and conveyed by the stirring screw. A magnetic permeability sensor as a developer amount detecting unit is provided below the stirring unit 13. As necessary, toner is supplied from the toner container 11 to the stirring unit 13 through a toner supply port provided on the upper side of the stirring unit 13 in the vicinity of the supply opening.

The image forming process for the yellow process cartridge 10 will be described below. The surface of the photoreceptor 3Y is uniformly charged by the charging device as charging means. The surface of the photoreceptor 3Y subjected to the charging process is irradiated with laser light modulated and deflected by the exposure device 4. Thereby, the potential of the surface of the photoreceptor 3Y of the irradiation part (exposure part) is attenuated. Due to the attenuation of the surface potential, an electrostatic latent image for Y is formed on the surface of the photoreceptor 3Y. The formed electrostatic latent image for Y is developed by the developing device 6Y as developing means to become a Y toner image.
The Y toner image formed on the Y photoconductor 3Y is transferred to a recording medium conveyed on a transfer belt 9 described later. The transfer residual toner is cleaned by a cleaning device on the surface of the photoreceptor 3Y after the transfer. In the Y process cartridge 10Y, the photoconductor 3Y cleaned by the cleaning device 8 is discharged by the charge eliminator. Then, it is uniformly charged by the charging device and returns to the initial state. The series of image forming process as described above is the same for the other process cartridges 10M, 10C, and 10K.

The subsequent process will be briefly described. Each color toner image is superimposed and transferred onto a transfer sheet conveyed on the transfer belt 9. The transfer belt 9 includes a stretching roller 14, a driving roller 15, and four transfer rollers 7Y, M, C, and K. It also has a belt cleaning device (not shown). The transfer belt 9 is tensioned by a plurality of rollers including a tension roller 14. Then, it is endlessly moved counterclockwise in the drawing by rotation of a driving roller driven by a belt driving motor (not shown).
The four transfer rollers 7Y, M, C, and K are disposed so as to contact the inner peripheral surface side of the transfer belt 9, and the transfer belt 9 is exposed to the photoreceptors 3Y, M, C, and K from the inner peripheral surface side. To form a transfer nip. Further, a transfer bias is applied from a power source (not shown). In each transfer nip, a transfer electric field is formed between the photosensitive member 3 and the transfer roller 7 due to the influence of the transfer bias. The above-mentioned Y toner image formed on the Y photoconductor 3Y is transferred onto a transfer sheet (not shown) as a recording medium on the transfer belt 9 due to the influence of the transfer electric field and nip pressure.

A Y toner image is first transferred to the transfer paper during conveyance, and is formed on the Y toner image in the same manner as described above on the M, C, and K photoconductors 3M, C, and K. M, C, and K toner images are sequentially superimposed and transferred.
In this manner, each color toner image is closely transferred to the transfer paper conveyed on the transfer belt 9 at each transfer nip, and the four-color toner image is superimposed and transferred onto the transfer paper, so that a full color image is formed on the white transfer paper. It becomes. The transfer paper on which the full-color image is formed passes through the transfer nip group and is then conveyed to the fixing device 25. The four-color toner image superimposed and transferred on the transfer paper is heated and fixed in the fixing device 25. Incidentally, the transfer residual toner remaining on the surface of the transfer belt 9 after passing through each transfer nip is cleaned by a belt cleaning device (not shown) provided near the drive roller 15 on the left side in the drawing.

The fixing device 25 includes a heating roller 26 and a pressure roller 27 that is pressed toward the roller. The heating roller 26 and the pressure roller 27 are in contact with each other to form a fixing nip, and the transfer paper received from the paper transport mechanism is sandwiched here. Of the two rollers in the belt unit, the heating roller 26 that is pressed from the pressure roller 27 has a heat source (not shown) inside, and heats the nip portion by generating heat. The heated fixing nip section heats the sandwiched transfer paper. A full color image is fixed on the transfer paper by the action of the heating and the nip pressure.
The transfer paper that has been subjected to the fixing process in the fixing device 25 forms the toner image on the other side, and the tandem image forming unit described above is provided below the transfer device (transfer roller 7) and the fixing device 25. 20 is returned to the above-described transfer nip group via a sheet reversing device for reversing the transfer paper S provided in parallel with the paper 20 or on a paper discharge tray 85 provided outside the left side plate in the drawing of the printer housing. Stacked.

The copying machine 1 includes a control unit (not shown) composed of a CPU and the like for controlling each device in the copying machine 1, and an operation display unit (not shown) composed of a liquid crystal display, various key buttons as operation instruction means, and the like. And. The operator can select a copy mode and a print mode by sending a command to the control unit by a key input operation on the operation display unit.
When copying a document (not shown) in the copying mode, for example, a bundle of sheet documents is set on a document table of an automatic document feeder of the document reading device 300. However, when the original is a single-sided original that is closed in a main form, it is set on the contact glass. Prior to this setting, the automatic document feeder is opened with respect to the copying machine main body 2, and the contact glass is exposed. Thereafter, the one-sided original is pressed by the closed automatic document feeder.

When a copy start switch (not shown) is pressed after the document is set in this way, the document reading operation by the document reading device 300 starts. However, when a sheet document is set on the automatic document feeder, the automatic document feeder automatically moves the sheet document to the contact glass prior to this document reading operation. In the document reading operation, as is well known, first, the first traveling body and the second traveling body start traveling together, and light is emitted from a light source provided in the first traveling body. Then, the reflected light from the document surface is reflected by the mirror provided in the second traveling body, passes through the imaging lens, and then enters the reading sensor. The reading sensor constructs image information based on the incident light.
In parallel with such document reading operation, each device in each of the process cartridges 10Y, 10M, 10C, 10K, the transfer belt 9, the transfer roller 7, and the fixing device 25 starts driving. Then, the exposure device 4 is driven and controlled based on the image information constructed by the reading sensor, and the Y, M, C, and K toner images are respectively formed on the photosensitive members 3Y, 3M, 3C, and 3K as described above. Is formed.

In addition, the paper feeding operation is started almost simultaneously with the start of the document reading operation in the paper feeding device 200 provided in the lower part of the copying machine 1 main body. In the paper feeding device 200, a plurality of paper feeding trays 44 in which a plurality of transfer sheets can be stacked and accommodated in a bundle of sheets are arranged so as to overlap in the vertical direction. Each paper feed tray 44 presses a paper feed roller 45 against the uppermost transfer paper in the paper bundle. Then, by rotating the paper feed roller 45, the uppermost transfer paper is sent out toward the paper feed path 46.
In the paper feeding operation, one of the paper feeding rollers 45 is selectively rotated, and the transfer paper is sent out from one of the paper feeding trays 44 accommodated in multiple stages in the paper bank 43 at the lower part of the apparatus. The transferred transfer paper is separated one by one by the separation roller 45 and enters the paper feed path 46. The paper feed path 46 that receives the transfer paper fed from the paper feed tray 44 includes a plurality of conveying roller pairs 47 and a registration roller pair 49 provided near the end in the paper feed path 46. The paper is conveyed toward the registration roller pair 49.
The transfer sheet conveyed toward the registration roller pair 49 is sandwiched between the rollers of the registration roller pair 49. The registration roller pair 49 sends the transfer paper sandwiched between the rollers toward the transfer nip at a timing at which the transfer paper can be brought into close contact with the four-color toner image at each transfer nip. The above-described toner images of Y, M, C, and K on the photoreceptors 3Y, 3M, 3C, and 3K become four-color toner images that are superimposed and transferred onto the transfer paper on the transfer belt 9. .

Next, a toner remaining amount detecting operation characterizing the embodiment will be described. This operation is comprised of a remaining amount display means (a sensor for detecting the remaining amount of toner, an operation instruction means, a display means, a control unit, etc., and the control unit controls each related unit according to a predetermined program and executes necessary calculations, etc. Realized by).
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the total number of printed pages and the remaining amount of toner and the display state of toner near empty in the apparatus of the present embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart relating to toner remaining amount detection in the present embodiment. In FIG. 2, P1 indicates that the remaining amount of toner of the first color toner detects near empty, P2 indicates that the remaining amount of toner of the first color toner detects empty, and P3 indicates that The remaining amount of toner of the Mth color toner represents a point at which near empty is detected.

In the configuration of the present embodiment, the developer amount detection means monitors the output of a sensor (not shown) that detects the remaining amount of toner of each color, and the remaining amount of toner decreases and the near empty state is reached. (Step; S1), and when near empty of a toner of a color with the least remaining amount (referred to as a first color toner) is detected (P1) (S2), a pixel number counter or the like is used. The predicted remaining toner amount of each of the other colors is checked, and the remaining amount of the first color toner (lowest remaining color) reaches another specified value between near empty and empty (P2) before another color. It is determined whether the remaining amount of toner of (Mth color toner) is likely to reach a near empty state (P3) (S3). If it is determined that there is a possibility (S3: Yes), the near empty of the first color toner is determined. Hold status display and do not display State (hereinafter, referred to as a near empty display standby mode) to migrate (S5). However, if it is determined that there is no possibility that another color will reach the near empty state (S3: No), the near empty state of the first color toner is immediately displayed (S4).
The specified value can be arbitrarily set between near empty and empty. Also, with the above configuration, the timing for displaying the near empty of the color that first detected near empty is delayed, and there is less time to empty, but there is an inventory of toner containers in preparation for replacement, and an environment that can be replaced immediately after empty If this is the case, the image forming apparatus stops, and there is no problem of downtime.

Whether or not the remaining amount of toner has reached the specified value is determined by an integrated value of the number of pixels exposed by the image pattern requested to be printed based on the near empty state.
Thereafter, when a near empty state of the M color toner other than the first color toner is detected before the remaining amount of the first color toner reaches the specified value (S6: Yes), the first color toner and the first color toner are detected. At the same time, it is displayed that the M color toner is in the near empty state (S7).
The operator can know and replace the toner in the near empty state at any time by operation, and when the toner container of the first color toner is replaced before the Mth color toner detects the near empty state (S8). : Yes), the above state (toner empty display standby mode) is canceled (S9).
Further, if the remaining amount of the first color toner exceeds the near empty and reaches a specified value and the empty display state is required, the Mth color toner does not detect the near empty state (S10: Yes), Only the first color toner is displayed in an empty state, and the apparatus is stopped (S11).
If it is determined that there are two colors of toner that are likely to reach the near empty state before the remaining amount of the first color toner reaches the specified value, these are designated as the Mth color toner and the Nth toner. When the color toner is changed to the toner empty display standby mode by performing a procedure substantially the same as that in FIG. 3, the M-th color toner and the N-th color before the remaining amount of the first color toner reaches the specified value. When both near-empty states of the toner are detected, it is simultaneously displayed that the first color toner, the Mth color toner, and the Nth color toner are in a near empty state.

Further, when the remaining amount of the first color toner reaches the specified value, if either the Mth color toner or the Nth color toner does not detect the near empty state, the first color toner and the near empty state are detected. Only the color in which the color is detected is displayed as being in a near empty state.
When the toner container for the first color toner is replaced before the Mth color toner or the Nth color toner detects the near empty state, the toner empty display standby mode is canceled.
Further, the same applies to the case where there are three or more colors of toner that are expected to reach the near empty state before the remaining amount of the first color toner reaches the specified value.
As related control, in the present embodiment, when the operator performs a predetermined operation such as pressing a predetermined key button (operation instruction means) on the operation panel in the near empty display standby mode, this is displayed. To do. As a result, it is possible to recognize whether the operator is in the near empty display standby mode (whether the near empty display is on hold) and to check the status of the remaining toner amount.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between the total number of printed pages and the remaining amount of toner and the display state of toner near empty in this case.

As described above, in this embodiment, when the remaining amount of toner for a certain color reaches near empty, the remaining amount of toner for another color becomes near empty before the remaining amount of toner decreases to a specified value. Since the near empty display is suspended when predicted, the toner container that is near empty for each color by displaying that the remaining amount of toner of another color is near empty at the same time when the near empty is detected. Can be saved, and the downtime of the image forming apparatus can be shortened.
Note that the number of colors is not limited to the case of four colors generally used in a color image forming apparatus, and any number of colors can be applied, and the number of colors is not limited.

[Second Embodiment]
In the configuration of the first embodiment, correction may be performed when a decrease in the remaining amount of toner of each color is predicted by an integrated value of the number of printed pixels. The overall configuration is exactly the same as already described, and the description will not be repeated.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the relationship between the total number of printed pages and the remaining amount of toner in this case, and the display state of toner near empty.
Along with the area ratio of the image with respect to the sheet area, the predicted value of the consumed toner amount calculated from the number of pixels is corrected based on the number of pages printed by the photoconductor in the past, and the remaining amount of toner is predicted.
That is, when the number of pages printed on the photoconductor in the past is larger than that when the number of printed pages is small, toner adheres to the periphery of the exposed area due to deterioration of the photoconductor, and the number of exposed pixels is reduced. On the other hand, since the amount of toner consumed increases, the predicted value of toner consumption is corrected according to the number of pages printed on the photoconductor in the past, and a more accurate toner remaining amount is predicted. In FIG. 5, L1 represents the relationship between the total number of printed pages and the remaining amount of toner when the total number of past printed pages of the photosensitive member is large, and L2 represents the printing when the total number of printed pages of the photosensitive member is small. The relationship between the total number of pages and the remaining amount of toner is shown.
Since it is configured to improve the prediction accuracy of the remaining amount of toner by correcting the predicted value of the remaining amount of toner based on the number of pages printed in the past on the photoconductor, it is higher whether or not to shift to the near empty display standby mode. It can be detected with accuracy. The same correction may be performed for the first color toner.

[Third Embodiment]
Furthermore, when the decrease in the remaining amount of toner for each color is predicted based on the integrated value of the number of printed pixels, the toner includes the area ratio of the image with respect to the paper area, the presence / absence of a partially filled area, and the area thereof. The remaining amount of toner may be predicted by correcting the predicted values of the number of pixels and the amount of consumed toner based on the density information of the image. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between the total number of printed pages and the remaining amount of toner in this case, and the display state of toner near empty.
This is because when there is a part that is partially filled, that is, when the toner is discretely adhered, the toner also appears around the exposed area. Reflects that there is a large amount of toner consumed with respect to the number of exposed pixels, and the predicted value of toner consumption is corrected by the density of the exposed image, and the near empty display standby mode It is possible to detect with higher accuracy whether or not to shift to, and to predict a more accurate toner remaining amount.
In FIG. 6, L3 indicates the relationship between the total number of printed pages and the remaining amount of toner when a discrete image pattern is printed, and L4 indicates the total number of printed pages and toner when a continuous image pattern is printed. The relationship between the remaining amount is shown. The same correction may be performed for the first color toner.

[Fourth Embodiment]
In the configuration of each of the embodiments described above, after the transition to the near-empty display standby state, the near-empty state of the M-th color toner is detected before the remaining amount of the first-color toner reaches a specified value, Information indicating whether the near-empty state of the M-th color toner has been displayed at the same time is recorded and stored in an appropriate memory, and before the remaining amount of the first-color toner reaches a specified value, When the ratio when the near empty state is not detected is higher than a predetermined value, the condition for shifting to the near empty display standby mode may be narrowed. For example, the current specified amount is moved to a lower value when the near-empty state of the M-th toner is not detected twice after seeing the results after the last three transitions to the near-empty display standby mode. Or you may make it correct | amend in the prediction process mentioned above. As a result, it is possible to detect with higher accuracy whether or not to shift to the near empty display standby mode, and to perform the remaining toner amount display operation more accurately.

[Fifth Embodiment]
In the configurations of the above-described embodiments, the number of maintenance operations may be reduced by combining the remaining amount of toner of the first color toner (minimum remaining color) and the replacement time display of the periodic replacement parts.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between the total number of printed pages and the remaining amount of toner and the display state of toner near empty when a photoconductor unit as a regular replacement part is taken as an example.
In this configuration, when a toner of a certain color detects near empty, one of the periodic replacement parts, in this example, the time for replacement of the photosensitive unit is close, and the toner remaining amount reaches the specified amount. If it is predicted that the replacement time of the photoreceptor unit will be reached, the toner near-empty display is suspended, and if the photoreceptor unit reaches the replacement time before the remaining amount of toner of a certain color decreases to the specified value, the toner Displays near-empty and photoconductor unit replacement instructions at the same time.
According to the fifth embodiment, in addition to the effects of the above-described embodiments, when the toner near empty is detected, if the replacement time of the regular replacement parts other than the toner is near, it is shifted to the near empty display standby mode. , It is possible to urge the operator to replace the toner container and the periodic replacement parts at the same time without replacing the periodic replacement parts immediately after the toner container replacement. The downtime of the image forming apparatus can be reduced.

[Other Embodiments]
In addition, in all the above-described embodiments, an additional function can be further provided. For example, when the toner that has detected near empty is black, it may be configured to display that it is in the near empty state immediately after detection without determining whether or not to enter the near empty display standby mode. . In general, black toner having a high toner consumption rate including monochrome printing can be notified in advance that the toner container needs to be replaced.
Further, in each embodiment, in the case of the near empty display standby mode, the image data of the requested printing is analyzed, and any color for which the near empty is detected by printing is predicted to be in the empty state. In this case, the near-empty display standby mode may be canceled and the near-empty states of all colors for which near-empty is detected may be displayed.
In addition to the effects already mentioned, when there is a print request that the remaining amount of toner is expected to reach empty, it is configured to cancel this even in the near empty display standby mode and display near empty. Therefore, it can be notified in advance that the toner container needs to be replaced.

Moreover, in each embodiment, it can also be easily comprised so that an operator can select whether it transfers to a near empty display standby mode, and it can set with an operation panel etc. As a result, since the operator can select the near empty display standby mode, it is an easy-to-use device that can optimally use the functions of the present invention depending on the printing frequency, toner area ratio, toner container inventory, etc. Can be provided.
Needless to say, each of the above-described embodiments shows an example of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited thereto, and is within the scope not departing from the gist thereof. Various modifications are possible and are within the scope of the present invention.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Copying machine (image forming apparatus), 2 Copying machine main body, 3 Photoconductor, 4 Exposure apparatus (optical writing unit), 5 Charging apparatus, 6 Developing apparatus, 7 Transfer roller (transfer bias roller), 8 Cleaning apparatus, 9 Transfer belt, 10Y, M, C, K process cartridge, 11 toner container (replenishment container), 12 waste toner container, 13 stirring unit, 14 stretching roller, 15 stretching roller (driving roller), 20 tandem image forming unit, 25 fixing device, 26 fixing roller, 27 pressure roller, 44 paper feed tray (paper cassette), 45 paper feed roller, 47, 48 transport roller pair, 49 registration roller pair, 81 transport roller, 84 paper discharge roller_, 85 Paper discharge tray (stack unit), 100 Printer unit, 200 Paper feeding device, 300 Document reading device 300 (scanner), P1 1st The point that the toner remaining amount of the toner detects near empty, the point that the remaining amount of toner of the P2 first color toner detects empty, the point that the remaining amount of toner of the P3 M color toner detects near empty, The relationship between the total number of printed pages and the remaining amount of toner when the total number of past printed pages is large, the relationship between the total number of printed pages and the remaining amount of toner when the total number of printed pages on the L2 photoreceptor is small, and L3 A discrete image pattern was printed Relationship between the total number of printed pages and the remaining amount of toner in the case of L4, and the relationship between the total number of printed pages and the remaining amount of toner when L4 continuous image patterns are printed.

JP-A-6-3957 JP-A-7-64386

Claims (10)

Exposure means for forming latent images on a plurality of photoconductors, a plurality of developing means for developing the formed latent images into toner images with different color toners, and transfer means for transferring the color toner images to a sheet material. An image forming apparatus provided with fixing means for fixing a toner image superimposed and transferred onto a sheet material,
When the toner empty of the minimum remaining amount of toner (hereinafter referred to as the first color toner) is detected among the respective color toners, the toner remaining amount of the first color toner is reduced to a predetermined specified amount. When it can be predicted that the remaining amount of toner of any other color toner (hereinafter referred to as the Mth color toner) will reach near empty, it indicates that the toner of the first color toner is in an empty state. When the toner remaining amount of the M-th color toner has reached near empty, the first color toner and the M-th color toner are near empty. What is claimed is: 1. An image forming apparatus comprising: a remaining amount display means for simultaneously displaying a certain thing.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a prediction that the remaining amount of toner in each of the developing units reaches near empty is calculated using a predicted value of a toner consumption rate.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predicted value of the toner consumption rate is corrected based on a total number of printed pages of the photoconductor.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predicted value of the toner consumption rate is corrected based on a difference in a print area rate and a print pattern.   5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in the toner empty display standby mode, the toner empty display standby mode is displayed according to an operation of an operator.   After the transition to the toner empty display standby mode, the ratio of the number of times that the toner of the M-th color toner reaches near empty and the number of times that the toner of the M-color toner does not reach the predetermined amount is reduced in advance. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the ratio is lower than a predetermined ratio, a condition for shifting to the toner empty display standby mode is narrowed.   When the toner empty of the first color toner is detected, if it is predicted that a predetermined periodic replacement part will reach the replacement time before the remaining amount of toner becomes equal to or less than a predetermined amount, the toner empty display is displayed. 7. The system according to claim 1, wherein a transition is made to a standby mode, and when the regular replacement part reaches a replacement time, a near empty of the first color toner and a replacement time notification of the periodic replacement part are simultaneously displayed. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.   The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the remaining amount display unit immediately displays that the black toner is near empty when near empty is detected.   Even when in the toner empty display standby mode, if it is predicted that the toner empty will be reached by executing the printing in response to the output request, the fact that the toner of the first color toner is in an empty state is displayed. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is an image forming apparatus.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an operator can set whether to apply the transition to the toner empty display standby mode.

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