JP2014119515A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus capable of accurately detecting replacement of a toner container 11.SOLUTION: A toner consumption amount determining unit 21 determines a toner consumption amount consumed to perform printing based on print data from the print data. A toner remaining amount determining unit 22 determines a toner remaining amount in the toner container 11 from the toner consumption amount determined from the print data. A toner remaining amount data updating unit 23 updates toner remaining amount data 31 in response to a change of the toner remaining amount determined by the toner remaining amount determining unit 22. A toner container replacement detection unit 24 determines that the toner container 11 is replaced when the toner remaining amount determined by the toner remaining amount determining unit 22 is larger than the toner remaining amount based on the toner remaining amount data 31.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

  In the image forming apparatus, printing is performed by developing with toner supplied from a toner container. For this reason, the toner remaining amount in the toner container is estimated from the output of the physical sensor, and when the toner in the toner container is in a near empty state, it is notified that the toner remaining amount is low (for example, Patent Documents 1 to 3). 3).

JP 2002-372847 A JP 2005-309322 A JP-A-10-301385

  As described above, when the remaining amount of toner is estimated from the output of the physical sensor, the estimation error when the remaining amount of toner is low is increased due to uneven distribution of toner in the toner container.

  Normally, the user prepares a new toner container when the near empty state is notified. However, when a near empty condition is notified, a user once removes the toner container from the apparatus, shakes the toner container, and then reattaches the toner container to the apparatus in order to use the remaining toner effectively. .

  As a result, the uneven distribution of toner in the toner container is eliminated, the toner remaining amount estimated from the sensor output is increased, and the near empty state may be temporarily eliminated. In that case, when the near empty state is detected thereafter, the near empty state is notified again.

  On the other hand, in general, events that occur in the apparatus are recorded as various event logs. A service person or user checks the event log to grasp the state of the device. As one of such event logs, a toner replacement log indicating that the toner container has been replaced is recorded.

  Normally, the toner replacement log is stored in the toner container when a near empty state (for example, a state where the remaining amount of toner by the sensor is 5% or less) or an empty state (for example, a state where the remaining amount of toner by the sensor is 0%) is detected. Is recorded when is attached or detached.

  However, as described above, once the toner container is removed and reattached in the near empty state (or empty state), the near empty state (or empty state) is detected a plurality of times, and the toner for one toner container is detected. A plurality of exchange logs are recorded, and there is a possibility that the service person or the user cannot accurately grasp the state of the apparatus.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to obtain an image forming apparatus that accurately detects replacement of a toner container.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is configured as follows.

  An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a non-volatile storage device, a toner consumption specifying unit that specifies a toner consumption amount consumed by printing based on the print data, and the print data specified by the print data. A non-volatile storage device stores a toner remaining amount specifying unit that specifies a toner remaining amount in a toner container from a toner consumption amount, and toner remaining amount data that indicates the toner remaining amount specified by the toner remaining amount specifying unit. A toner remaining amount data updating unit for updating the toner remaining amount data according to a change in the toner remaining amount specified by the toner remaining amount specifying unit, and the toner remaining amount specified by the toner remaining amount specifying unit. If the toner container is greater than the remaining amount of toner based on the remaining amount of toner data stored in the non-volatile storage device, the toner container is determined to have been replaced. And a container exchange detection unit.

  In addition to the image forming apparatus described above, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention may be configured as follows. In this case, the toner remaining amount data updating unit updates the toner remaining amount data every time the toner remaining amount specified by the toner remaining amount specifying unit changes by a predetermined amount. The toner container replacement detection unit detects the remaining toner amount and the remaining toner amount based on the remaining toner amount data before the update every time the remaining toner amount specified by the remaining toner amount specifying unit changes by a predetermined amount. The remaining toner amount specified by the toner remaining amount specifying unit is greater than the remaining toner amount based on the remaining toner data stored in the nonvolatile storage device. It is determined whether or not.

  In addition to the image forming apparatus described above, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention may be configured as follows. In this case, the toner container has a container storage device for storing toner consumption data indicating the toner consumption of the toner container. The toner consumption amount specifying unit updates the toner consumption amount data in the container storage device based on a toner consumption amount consumed in printing based on the print data. The toner remaining amount specifying unit reads out and reads out the toner consumption data in the container storage device when it detects opening / closing of the cover necessary for attaching / detaching the toner container or attaching / detaching the toner container. The remaining amount of toner in the toner container is specified from the value of the toner consumption amount data and the toner consumption amount specified from the print data.

  In addition to the image forming apparatus described above, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention may be configured as follows. In this case, when it is determined that the toner container has been replaced, the toner container replacement detection unit stores a toner replacement log indicating replacement of the toner container in the nonvolatile storage device.

  According to the present invention, the replacement of the toner container is accurately detected in the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a part of a mechanical internal configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the main controller in FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a side view showing a part of a mechanical internal configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. This image forming apparatus is an image forming apparatus having an electrophotographic printing function, such as a printer, a facsimile machine, a copying machine, or a multifunction machine.

  The image forming apparatus of this embodiment has a tandem color developing device. The color developing device includes photosensitive drums 1a to 1d, exposure devices 2a to 2d, and developing devices 3a to 3d. The photoconductor drums 1a to 1d are four-color photoconductors of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. The exposure apparatuses 2a to 2d are apparatuses that form electrostatic latent images by irradiating the photosensitive drums 1a to 1d with laser light. The exposure apparatuses 2a to 2d are laser scanning units having a laser diode that is a light source of laser light and optical elements (lens, mirror, polygon mirror, etc.) that guide the laser light to the photosensitive drums 1a to 1d.

  Further, around the photosensitive drums 1a to 1d, a charger such as a scorotron, a cleaning device, a static eliminator and the like are arranged. The cleaning device removes residual toner on the photosensitive drums 1a to 1d after the primary transfer, and the static eliminator neutralizes the photosensitive drums 1a to 1d after the primary transfer.

  To the developing devices 3a to 3d, toner containers filled with toners of four colors of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black are respectively mounted. The toner is supplied from the toner containers, and constitutes a developer together with the carrier. The developing devices 3a to 3d form toner images by attaching the toner to the electrostatic latent images on the photosensitive drums 1a to 1d. The toner container is detachable and is replaced by a service person or a user.

  The photosensitive drum 1a, the exposure device 2a, and the developing device 3a develop magenta, and the photosensitive drum 1b, the exposure device 2b, and the developing device 3b develop cyan, the photosensitive drum 1c, and the exposure device. Yellow development is performed by the device 2c and the developing device 3c, and black development is performed by the photosensitive drum 1d, the exposure device 2d, and the developing device 3d.

  The intermediate transfer belt 4 is an annular image carrier that contacts the photosensitive drums 1a to 1d and primarily transfers the toner images on the photosensitive drums 1a to 1d. The intermediate transfer belt 4 is stretched around the driving roller 5 and circulates in the direction from the contact position with the photosensitive drum 1d to the contact position with the photosensitive drum 1a by the driving force from the driving roller 5.

  The transfer roller 6 brings the conveyed paper into contact with the intermediate transfer belt 4 and secondarily transfers the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 4 to the paper. The sheet on which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed to the fixing device 9 and the toner image is fixed on the sheet.

  The roller 7 has a cleaning brush, and the cleaning brush is brought into contact with the intermediate transfer belt 4 to remove the toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 4 after the transfer of the toner image onto the paper.

  The sensor 8 is a sensor used for toner density adjustment, and irradiates the intermediate transfer belt 4 with a light beam and detects the reflected light.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a toner container 11 filled with toner of each toner color is attached to the developing devices 3a to 3d. In the toner container 11, an RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) 11a is fixedly installed. The RFID 11a has a built-in nonvolatile memory, and stores information related to the toner container 11. For example, information such as the toner color and toner consumption of the toner container 11 is written to the RFID 11a by the image forming apparatus.

  Further, the developing devices 3a to 3d are provided with a toner remaining amount sensor 12 for estimating a toner remaining amount state (near empty state, empty state, etc.) of the toner container 11. The remaining toner sensor 12 outputs an electrical signal corresponding to the amount of toner supplied from the toner container 11 to the developing devices 3a to 3d. The engine controller 13 detects a near empty state, an empty state, and the like based on the output signal of the toner remaining amount sensor 12. As the toner remaining amount sensor 12, a piezoelectric sensor, an optical sensor, or the like is used.

  The image forming apparatus further includes an engine controller 13, a main controller 14, and a nonvolatile storage device 15. For example, the engine controller 13 and the main controller 14 are ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuits), and the nonvolatile storage device 15 is a flash memory.

  The engine controller 13 receives print data (here, CMYK image data after screen processing), controls the internal device based on the print data, and executes printing. The engine controller 13 controls the above-described driving source (not shown) for driving the roller and the like, a bias applying circuit for applying the developing bias and the primary transfer bias, and the exposure devices 2a to 2d to form an electrostatic latent image. , Toner development, transfer and fixing, and paper feeding, printing and paper ejection are executed.

  Further, the engine controller 13 includes a toner consumption specifying unit 21 and a toner remaining amount specifying unit 22.

  The toner consumption amount specifying unit 21 specifies the toner consumption amount consumed in printing based on the print data from the print data. Specifically, the toner consumption amount specifying unit 21 counts the number of toner dots based on the print data, and specifies the toner consumption amount based on the count value of the number of dots. The toner consumption specifying unit 21 specifies the toner consumption for each of the toner colors (CMYK).

  Further, the toner consumption amount specifying unit 21 updates the toner consumption amount data in the RFID 11a based on the toner consumption amount consumed in printing based on the print data. For example, every time printing based on one print job is completed, the toner consumption amount specifying unit 21 calculates the toner consumption amount (dot count value from the beginning of the toner container 11) when the print job is completed, and the toner The toner consumption data in the RFID 11a is updated with the consumption value.

  The toner remaining amount specifying unit 22 specifies the remaining amount of toner in the toner container from the toner consumption specified from the print data. That is, the remaining toner amount specifying unit 22 specifies the remaining toner amount without using the output of the remaining toner amount sensor 12.

  The toner remaining amount specifying unit 22 reads toner consumption data in the RFID 11a when the sensor or the like detects opening / closing of a cover (not shown) necessary for attaching / detaching the toner container 11 or attaching / detaching the toner container 11. The remaining amount of toner in the toner container 11 is specified from the value of the read toner consumption data and the toner consumption specified from the print data after that point.

  That is, the sum of the toner consumption amount based on the read toner consumption amount data and the toner consumption amount specified from the print data is the total toner consumption amount from the beginning of the toner container 11.

  The main controller 14 receives jobs such as printing and copying, executes a printing job with the engine controller 13 and the like, and monitors internal devices.

  Further, the main controller 14 has a toner remaining amount data update unit 23 and a toner container replacement detection unit 24.

  The remaining toner data update unit 23 stores the remaining toner data 31 indicating the remaining toner specified by the remaining toner specifying unit 22 in the nonvolatile storage device 15, and the toner specified by the remaining toner specifying unit 22. The toner remaining amount data 31 is updated in accordance with the change in the remaining amount.

  The toner container replacement detection unit 24 detects the toner container 11 when the toner remaining amount specified by the toner remaining amount specifying unit 22 is greater than the toner remaining amount based on the toner remaining amount data 31 stored in the nonvolatile storage device 15. Determined to have been replaced.

  Further, when it is determined that the toner container 11 has been replaced, the toner container replacement detection unit 24 stores a toner replacement log 32 indicating replacement of the toner container in the nonvolatile storage device 15.

  For example, the toner replacement log 32 includes the toner color of the replaced toner container 11, the machine life counter value at the time of replacement (the number of printed pages from the beginning of the image forming apparatus), the toner consumption data value at the time of replacement, and the like. .

  In this embodiment, the remaining toner amount data updating unit 23 updates the remaining toner amount data every time the remaining amount of toner specified by the remaining toner amount specifying unit 22 changes by a predetermined amount (for example, 1%). Then, the toner container replacement detection unit 24 changes the toner remaining amount data before update every time the toner remaining amount specified by the toner remaining amount specifying unit 22 changes by a predetermined amount (that is, at the update timing of the toner remaining amount data). Whether the remaining amount of toner specified by the remaining toner amount specifying unit 22 is greater than the remaining amount of toner determined by the remaining toner amount data 31 or not. Determine whether.

  Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus will be described.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the main controller 14 in FIG.

  In the engine controller 13, the toner consumption amount specifying unit 21 specifies the toner consumption amount for each toner container 11 every time an image is printed, and the toner remaining amount specifying unit 22 sets the toner remaining amount corresponding to the toner consumption amount. An amount (any one of 0 to 100%) is specified, and a toner remaining amount notification is output to the main controller 14 every time the remaining amount of toner decreases by 1%.

  In the main controller 14, when the toner remaining amount data update unit 23 receives a toner remaining amount notification for a certain toner container 11 (step S <b> 1), first, the toner remaining amount for the toner container 11 (that is, the toner color). Data 31 is read from the nonvolatile memory device 15 (step S2).

  The toner container replacement detecting unit 24 determines whether or not the value of the remaining amount of toner notified by the remaining toner amount notification is larger than the value of the remaining toner amount data 31 read from the nonvolatile storage device 15 (Step S <b> 1). S3).

  When the value of the remaining amount of toner notified by the toner remaining amount notification is larger than the value of the remaining toner amount data 31 read from the nonvolatile storage device 15, the toner container replacement detection unit 24 replaces the toner container 11 The toner replacement log 32 for the toner container 11 is generated and written in the nonvolatile storage device 15 (step S4).

  On the other hand, when the value of the remaining toner amount notified by the toner remaining amount notification is equal to or less than the value of the remaining toner data 31 read from the nonvolatile storage device 15, the toner container replacement detection unit 24 detects the toner container. It is determined that the exchange of 11 has not occurred.

  Thereafter, the remaining toner data update unit 23 updates the remaining toner data 31 for the toner container 11 (that is, the toner color) with the value of the remaining toner notified by the remaining toner notification (step S5). ).

  As described above, according to the embodiment, the toner consumption amount specifying unit 21 specifies the toner consumption amount consumed by printing based on the print data from the print data, and the toner remaining amount specifying unit 22 The toner remaining amount in the toner container 11 is specified from the toner consumption specified from the print data, and the toner remaining amount data updating unit 23 indicates the toner remaining amount data indicating the toner remaining amount specified by the toner remaining amount specifying unit 22. 31 is stored in the nonvolatile storage device 15, and the remaining toner data 31 is updated in accordance with the change in the remaining amount of toner specified by the remaining toner amount specifying unit 22. Then, the toner container replacement detection unit 24 determines that the amount of toner remaining when the toner remaining amount specified by the toner remaining amount specifying unit 22 is greater than the toner remaining amount based on the toner remaining amount data 31 stored in the nonvolatile storage device 15. It is determined that the container 11 has been replaced.

  Thus, even if the user removes and remounts the toner container 11 in the near empty state (or the empty state), the toner remaining amount specified by the toner remaining amount specifying unit 22 does not increase. Is not judged. Therefore, the replacement of the toner container 11 is accurately detected.

  The above-described embodiments are preferred examples of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to these, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. is there.

  For example, the image forming apparatus according to the above embodiment is a color image forming apparatus, but may be a monochrome image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to the above embodiment is an indirect transfer type image forming apparatus, but may be a direct transfer type image forming apparatus.

  The present invention can be applied to, for example, a printer, a copier, and a multifunction machine.

11 Toner container 11a RFID (an example of a container storage device)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 15 Nonvolatile storage device 21 Toner consumption specific | specification part 22 Toner residual amount specific | specification part 23 Toner residual quantity data update part 24 Toner container replacement | exchange detection part 31 Toner residual quantity data 32 Toner exchange log

Claims (4)

A non-volatile storage device;
A toner consumption specifying unit for specifying a toner consumption consumed by printing based on the print data from the print data;
A toner remaining amount identifying unit that identifies a toner remaining amount in a toner container from the toner consumption amount identified from the print data;
The remaining amount of toner data indicating the remaining toner amount specified by the remaining toner amount specifying unit is stored in the nonvolatile storage device, and the toner remaining amount data specified by the remaining toner amount specifying unit is changed according to the change in the remaining toner amount. A toner remaining amount data updating unit for updating toner remaining amount data;
A toner container that determines that the toner container has been replaced when the toner remaining amount specified by the toner remaining amount specifying unit is greater than the toner remaining amount based on the toner remaining amount data stored in the nonvolatile storage device An exchange detection unit;
An image forming apparatus comprising: The toner remaining amount data update unit updates the toner remaining amount data each time the toner remaining amount specified by the toner remaining amount specifying unit changes by a predetermined amount,
The toner container replacement detection unit uses the remaining toner amount based on the remaining toner data before update and the remaining toner amount specifying unit every time the remaining toner amount specified by the remaining toner amount specifying unit changes by a predetermined amount. Whether or not the toner remaining amount specified by the toner remaining amount specifying unit is compared with the specified toner remaining amount and greater than the toner remaining amount based on the toner remaining amount data stored in the nonvolatile storage device. To determine whether
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. The toner container has a container storage device for storing toner consumption data indicating the toner consumption of the toner container;
The toner consumption amount specifying unit updates the toner consumption data in the container storage device based on a toner consumption amount consumed in printing based on the print data,
The toner remaining amount specifying unit reads out the toner consumption data in the container storage device when detecting the opening / closing of the cover necessary to attach / detach the toner container or the toner container, and read the toner consumption Specifying the remaining amount of toner in the toner container from the value of the amount data and the toner consumption specified from the print data;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.   The toner container replacement detection unit stores a toner replacement log indicating replacement of the toner container in the nonvolatile storage device when it is determined that the toner container has been replaced. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.

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