JP2016066040A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus of an electrophotographic system using a plurality of types of developer having different conveyability, and properly control the execution of formation and output of images while a container storing a developer to be disposed is removed.SOLUTION: There is provided an image forming apparatus that transfers, to a sheet, an image formed by developing an electrostatic latent image with a plurality of different types of toner, the image forming apparatus including: a temporary retention part 225 that temporarily retains the toner inside the apparatus while a waste toner bottle 226 recovering a toner not transferred and remaining on photoreceptors is removed; and a developer retention control part that performs control of at least one of conveyance of the toner to the temporary retention part 225 and processing of the toner retained in the temporary retention part 225, and changes the state of control when a predetermined type of developer is used on the basis of the details of a print job.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to waste toner processing in an image forming apparatus that uses a plurality of types of toner.

  In recent years, there has been a tendency to digitize information, and image processing apparatuses such as printers and facsimiles used for outputting digitized information and scanners used for digitizing documents have become indispensable devices. Such an image processing apparatus is configured as an MFP (Multi Function Peripheral) that can be used as a printer, a facsimile, a scanner, and a copier by providing an imaging function, an image forming function, a communication function, and the like. Many.

  Among such image processing apparatuses, as an image formation output method, an electrostatic latent image formed by exposing a photosensitive member is developed with toner as a developer, and an image formed is transferred onto a sheet. Thus, there is known an electrophotographic direction type that performs image formation output. Such an electrophotographic image forming apparatus is provided with a waste toner mechanism that collects and discards toner remaining on the photosensitive member and toner remaining on the conveyance belt that conveys the toner image before being transferred onto the paper. There is something that was done.

  In an image forming apparatus provided with such a waste toner mechanism, a waste toner bottle is provided as a disposal destination of discarded toner. At the same time, a temporary storage unit for temporarily storing the waste toner may be provided so that a predetermined amount of image formation output is possible even when the waste toner bottle is removed.

  A technique for preventing a state in which waste toner exceeding the capacity of the temporary storage unit is conveyed to the temporary storage unit by continuing image formation output with the waste toner bottle removed is proposed. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1). In the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, the period in which image formation output is executed with the waste toner bottle removed is counted, and execution of image formation output is forcibly performed when the count value exceeds a threshold value. It is stopped.

  In the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to appropriately set a threshold value for the count value in order to suitably perform the timing for forcibly stopping the execution of the image forming output. This threshold value is set based on the amount of waste toner that is transported to the temporary storage unit per unit time based on the transportability of the waste toner.

  On the other hand, a plurality of types of toners having different transportability may be used in one image forming apparatus. For example, in addition to toners corresponding to the colors of CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Key Plate), special color toners such as transparent and white are used, and the transportability of the special color toners is CMYK. This is different from the toner transportability.

  When a plurality of types of toner having different transport properties are used in this way, the amount of waste toner that is transported to the temporary storage unit per unit time is large in some cases, and in some cases, the toner is transported to the temporary storage unit in unit time values. A state occurs in which the amount of waste toner is small. As a result, the threshold setting described above is not appropriate, and the image forming output is forcibly stopped even though there is room in the storage capacity of the temporary storage unit, or the limit of the storage capacity of the temporary storage unit is exceeded. In some cases, the waste toner is conveyed and a malfunction occurs in the apparatus.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus using a plurality of types of developers having different transportability, a container for storing the developer to be discarded is removed. It is an object of the present invention to appropriately control execution of image forming output in a state in which the image is output.

  In order to solve the above problems, one embodiment of the present invention is an image forming apparatus that transfers an image formed by developing an electrostatic latent image with a plurality of different types of developers onto a recording medium. A developer holding part for temporarily holding the developer inside the apparatus in a state where the developer collecting container for collecting the remaining developer is removed, and the developer on the developer holding part Control of at least one of the transport of the developer and the processing of the developer held in the developer holding unit, and a predetermined type of developer is used based on the content of the execution instruction of the image formation output And a developer holding control unit that changes the control state when the control state is maintained.

  According to the present invention, in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus using a plurality of types of developers having different transportability, an image forming output is executed in a state in which a container for storing a developer to be discarded is removed. It becomes possible to control appropriately.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a print engine of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a waste toner mechanism of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a toner conveyance mode with poor conveyance properties. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a toner transport mode with good transportability. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a state of a temporary storage unit when toner having poor transportability is transported. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a state of a temporary storage unit when toner having good transportability is transported. It is a figure which shows the control structure concerning waste toner conveyance which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the database of the toner type which concerns on embodiment of this invention. 6 is a flowchart showing a waste toner conveyance control operation according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the control structure concerning waste toner conveyance which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, an example of an image forming apparatus in which different types of toner are used in a developing unit corresponding to each photosensitive drum in a tandem type image forming apparatus including a plurality of photosensitive drums will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, an image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment has the same configuration as an information processing apparatus such as a general PC (Personal Computer) or a server. That is, the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 10, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 20, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 30, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 40, and an I / F 50. 90 is connected. Further, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) 60, an operation unit 70, and a dedicated device 80 are connected to the I / F 50.

  The CPU 10 is a calculation unit and controls the operation of the entire image forming apparatus 1. The RAM 20 is a volatile storage medium capable of reading and writing information at high speed, and is used as a work area when the CPU 10 processes information. The ROM 30 is a read-only nonvolatile storage medium and stores a program such as firmware. The HDD 40 is a non-volatile storage medium that can read and write information, and stores an OS (Operating System), various control programs, application programs, and the like.

  The I / F 50 connects and controls the bus 90 and various hardware and networks. The LCD 60 is a visual user interface for the user to check the state of the image forming apparatus 1. The operation unit 70 is a user interface for a user to input information to the image forming apparatus 1 and includes a touch panel, hard keys, and the like. The dedicated device 80 is hardware for realizing a dedicated function in the image forming apparatus 1, and is a print engine that executes image forming output, a scanner unit that reads a document, or the like.

  In such a hardware configuration, the software control unit is configured by the CPU 10 performing calculations in accordance with a program stored in the ROM 30 or a program read to the RAM 20 from a recording medium such as the HDD 40 or an optical disk (not shown). The A functional block that realizes the functions of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is configured by a combination of the software control unit configured as described above and hardware.

  Next, the functional configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes a controller 100, an ADF (Auto Document Feeder) 110, a scanner unit 120, a paper discharge tray 130, a display panel 140, and a paper feed table. 150, a print engine 160, a paper discharge tray 170, and a network I / F 180.

  The controller 100 includes a main control unit 101, an engine control unit 102, an input / output control unit 103, an image processing unit 104, and an operation display control unit 105. As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is configured as a multifunction machine having a scanner unit 120 and a print engine 160. In FIG. 2, the electrical connection is indicated by solid arrows, and the flow of paper is indicated by broken arrows.

  The display panel 140 is an output interface that visually displays the state of the image forming apparatus 1 and is an input when the user directly operates the image forming apparatus 1 or inputs information to the image forming apparatus 1 as a touch panel. It is also an interface (operation unit). The network I / F 180 is an interface for the image forming apparatus 1 to communicate with other devices via the network, and an Ethernet (registered trademark) or USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface is used.

  The controller 100 is configured by a combination of software and hardware as described above. The controller 100 functions as a control unit that controls the entire image forming apparatus 1.

  The main control unit 101 plays a role of controlling each unit included in the controller 100, and gives a command to each unit of the controller 100. The engine control unit 102 serves as a drive unit that controls or drives the print engine 160, the scanner unit 120, and the like. The input / output control unit 103 inputs a signal or a command input via the network I / F 180 to the main control unit 101. The main control unit 101 also controls the input / output control unit 103 to access other devices via the network I / F 180.

  The image processing unit 104 generates drawing data based on print information included in a print job, which is an execution instruction for an input image formation output, under the control of the main control unit 101. This drawing data is information for drawing an image to be formed in the image forming operation by the print engine 160 as an image forming unit, and pixel information in which an image to be image-formed output is expressed as information for each pixel. That is, bitmap data.

  Also, the print information included in the print job is information converted into a format that can be recognized by the image forming apparatus 1 by a printer driver installed in an information processing apparatus such as a PC, and is described by PDL (Page Description Language). Information. In other words, the print information is page information in which information on a page to be imaged and output is described.

  The gist of the present embodiment is the above-described drawing information generation processing by the image processing unit 104, and more specifically, the allocation of processing for efficiently operating the hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus 1. is there. The function of the image processing unit 104 will be described in detail later. The operation display control unit 105 displays information on the display panel 140 or notifies the main control unit 101 of information input via the display panel 140.

  When the image forming apparatus 1 operates as a printer, first, the input / output control unit 103 receives a print job via the network I / F 180. The input / output control unit 103 transfers the received print job to the main control unit 101. When receiving the print job, the main control unit 101 controls the image processing unit 104 to generate drawing data based on the print information included in the print job.

  When drawing data is generated by the image processing unit 104, the engine control unit 102 executes image formation on a sheet conveyed from the paper feed table 150 based on the generated drawing data. That is, the print engine 160 functions as an image forming unit. The print engine 160 according to this embodiment is an electrophotographic image forming mechanism. The document on which the image has been formed by the print engine 160 is discharged to the discharge tray 170.

  When the image forming apparatus 1 operates as a copying machine, the image processing unit 104 is based on image information received by the engine control unit 102 from the scanner unit 120 or image information generated by the image processing unit 104 based on friction information. Generates drawing data. Based on the drawing data, the engine control unit 102 drives the print engine 160 as in the case of the printer operation.

  Next, the configuration of the print engine 160 according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 is a side view showing the configuration of the print engine 160 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, the print engine 160 according to the present embodiment has a configuration in which image forming units 206Y to 206P of respective colors are arranged along a conveyance belt 205 which is an endless moving unit. It is said to be a type. In other words, along the conveying belt 205, which is an intermediate transfer belt on which an intermediate transfer image for transfer to a sheet (an example of a recording medium) 204 that is separated and fed by the sheet feeding roller 202 from the sheet feeding table 150 is formed. A plurality of image forming units (electrophotographic process units) 206Y, 206M, 206C, 206K, and 206P (hereinafter collectively referred to as image forming units 206) are arranged in order from the upstream side of the conveying belt 205 in the conveying direction.

  Further, the sheet 204 fed from the sheet feeding table 150 is stopped once by the registration roller 203 and sent out to the image transfer position from the conveying belt 205 in accordance with the image forming timing in the image forming unit 206.

  The plurality of image forming units 206Y, 206M, 206C, 206K, and 206P have the same internal configuration except that the colors of toner images to be formed are different. The image forming unit 206K is a black image, the image forming unit 206M is a magenta image, the image forming unit 206C is a cyan image, the image forming unit 206Y is a yellow image, and the image forming unit 206P is a special color image. Respectively. The special color is a color used for improving the printing quality in addition to CMYK used for full color output, such as white or transparent color.

  In the following description, the image forming unit 206Y will be described in detail. However, since the other image forming units 206M, 206C, 206K, and 206P are the same as the image forming unit 206Y, the image forming units 206M and 206C are the same. 206K. About each component of 206P, it replaces with Y attached | subjected to each component of the image formation part 206Y, only the code | symbol distinguished by M, C, K, and P is displayed on a figure, and description is abbreviate | omitted.

  The conveyor belt 205 is an endless belt, that is, an endless belt that is stretched between a driving roller 207 and a driven roller 208 that are rotationally driven. The drive roller 207 is driven to rotate by a drive motor (not shown), and the drive motor, the drive roller 207, and the driven roller 208 function as a drive unit that moves the conveyance belt 205 that is an endless moving unit. .

  At the time of image formation, the first image forming unit 206Y transfers a yellow toner image to the conveyance belt 205 that is rotationally driven. The image forming unit 206Y includes a photoconductor drum 209Y as a photoconductor, a charger 210Y disposed around the photoconductor drum 209Y, an optical writing device 211, a developing device 212Y, a photoconductor cleaner 213Y, and a static eliminator (not shown). ) Etc. The optical writing device 211 is configured to irradiate the respective photoconductive drums 209Y, 209M, 209C, 209K, and 209P (hereinafter collectively referred to as “photosensitive drum 209”).

  In the image formation, the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 209Y is uniformly charged by the charger 210Y in the dark, and then writing is performed by light from the light source corresponding to the yellow image from the optical writing device 211. An electrostatic latent image is formed. The developing device 212Y visualizes the electrostatic latent image with yellow toner, thereby forming a yellow toner image on the photosensitive drum 209Y.

  This toner image is transferred onto the conveyance belt 205 by the action of the transfer unit 215Y at a position (transfer position) where the photosensitive drum 209Y and the conveyance belt 205 are in contact with or closest to each other. By this transfer, an image of yellow toner is formed on the conveyor belt 205. After the transfer of the toner image is completed, the photosensitive drum 209Y is wiped away with unnecessary toner remaining on the outer peripheral surface by the photoconductor cleaner 213Y, and then is neutralized by the static eliminator and stands by for the next image formation. In some cases, static elimination is provided upstream of the photoreceptor cleaner 213Y.

  As described above, the yellow toner image transferred onto the conveying belt 205 by the image forming unit 206Y is conveyed to the next image forming unit 206M by driving the rollers of the conveying belt 205. In the image forming unit 206M, a magenta toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 209M by a process similar to the image forming process in the image forming unit 206Y, and the toner image is superimposed and transferred onto the already formed yellow image. Is done.

  The yellow and magenta toner images transferred onto the conveyance belt 205 are further conveyed to the next image forming units 206C, 206K, and 206P, and a cyan toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 209C by the same operation. The black toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 209K and the special color toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 209P are superimposed and transferred onto the already transferred image. Thus, full-color and special color intermediate transfer images are formed on the conveyor belt 205.

  The paper 204 stored in the paper feed table 150 is sent out in order from the top, and the intermediate transfer image formed on the transport belt 205 is transferred onto the paper surface at a position where the transport path is close to the transfer roller 217. Is done. As a result, an image is formed on the paper surface of the paper 204. The sheet 204 on which the image is formed on the sheet surface is further conveyed, and after the image is fixed by the fixing device 216, the sheet 204 is discharged outside the image forming apparatus.

  Further, a belt cleaner 218 is provided for the conveyor belt 205. As shown in FIG. 1, the belt cleaner 218 is a cleaning blade pressed against the conveyance belt 205 on the downstream side of the transfer roller 217 and on the upstream side of the photosensitive drum 209. It is a developer removing unit that scrapes off the adhered toner.

  Waste toner collected by the photoreceptor cleaners 213Y to 213P and the belt cleaner 218 provided in the image forming unit 206 is transported for disposal and collected in one place. The waste toner mechanism in the print engine 160 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a waste toner mechanism of the print engine 160 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the photoconductor cleaners 213Y to 213P are connected to the first waste toner conveyance path 221. The waste toner collected from the photoconductor drum 209 by the photoconductor cleaners 213Y to 213P is the first waste toner. The toner is sent to the toner conveyance path 221. The belt cleaner 218 is connected to the second waste toner transport path 222, and the waste toner collected from the transport belt 205 by the belt cleaner 218 is sent out to the second waste toner transport path 222.

  The first waste toner transport path 221 and the second waste toner transport path 222 are connected to the third waste toner transport path 223, and the waste toner sent to the first waste toner transport path 221 and the second waste toner transport path 222. Is conveyed toward the third waste toner conveyance path 223 by a screw provided inside. The third waste toner transport path 223 is connected to the fourth waste toner transport path 224, and the waste toner transported to the third waste toner transport path 223 is transferred to the fourth waste toner transport path 224 by a screw provided therein. It is conveyed toward.

  The fourth waste toner conveyance path 224 is connected to the temporary storage unit 225 inside the apparatus, and the waste toner conveyed to the fourth waste toner conveyance path 224 is directed toward the temporary storage unit 225 by a screw provided inside. Be transported. A waste toner bottle 226 is connectable to the temporary storage unit 225. When the waste toner bottle 226 is connected, the waste toner transported to the temporary storage unit 225 is sent to the waste toner bottle 226. . The temporary storage unit 225 functions as a developer holding unit that temporarily holds the waste toner in a state where the waste toner bottle 226 that is the developer collecting container is removed.

  Here, as described above, in the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, in addition to the full-color CMYK toner, a special color toner is used. The CMYK toner and the special color toner are different in toner type. In this embodiment, a polymerized toner is used as the CMYK toner, and a pulverized toner is used as the special color toner.

  The polymerized toner has a merit in terms of high image quality since the uniformity of the size of each particle is higher than that of the pulverized toner. On the other hand, the pulverized toner is not only uniform in size for each particle, but also has a different shape for each particle, so that physical interference with the outside is strong and excellent in terms of cleaning.

  Also, these different types of toners have different transportability in the waste toner transport path shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the state of the polymerized toner in the conveyance path. As shown in FIG. 5, each particle of the polymerized toner has a relatively uniform spherical shape. Therefore, the density in the conveying path is uniform and high, and the toner is suitably conveyed by conveying with a screw. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of the state of pulverized toner in the conveyance path. As shown in FIG. 6, since the particles of the pulverized toner have non-uniform shapes, the density in the transport path is low, and the transportability is worse than the above-described polymerized toner. That is, the conveyance of the waste toner to the temporary storage unit 225 tends to be delayed in the conveyance path.

  As described above, due to the difference in the transportability, the amount of waste toner transported to the temporary storage unit 225 in a predetermined time is different. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example when the polymerized toner is conveyed. As shown in FIG. 7, in the case of a polymer toner having good transportability, the amount of waste toner transported per unit time is large, so that the amount of the storage capacity of the temporary storage unit 225 is saturated by transport for a predetermined time. Be transported.

  On the other hand, FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example in which the pulverized toner is conveyed for the same time as in FIG. As shown in FIG. 8, in the case of pulverized toner having poor transportability, the amount of waste toner transported per unit time is small, so that it is a time when the storage capacity of the temporary storage unit 225 is saturated for polymerized toner. However, in the case of pulverized toner, waste toner that does not saturate the capacity of the temporary storage unit 225 is not conveyed.

  When the image forming output is continuously executed in a state where the waste toner bottle 226 described with reference to FIG. 4 is removed, the transported waste toner is temporarily stored in the temporary storage unit 225. If the waste toner is further transported in a state where the temporary storage unit 225 is saturated, there is a possibility that a malfunction may occur in the apparatus, such as damage to the screw in the transport path or damage to the temporary storage unit 225. Therefore, when the image forming output is continuously executed in a state where the waste toner bottle 226 is removed, it is necessary to perform control so that the image forming output is not further executed when the temporary storage unit 225 is saturated.

  If the amount of waste toner in the temporary storage unit 225 can be directly detected, such control is easy. However, for this purpose, it is necessary to provide a sensor in the temporary storage unit 225, which increases the size and cost of the apparatus. Leads to. On the other hand, if the amount of waste toner stored in the temporary storage unit 225 is estimated by counting the period during which the screw of the conveyance path is driven in the waste toner mechanism shown in FIG. The above control can be performed without any problem.

  However, as described above with reference to FIGS. 5 to 8, when a plurality of types of toner having different transportability are used and the type of toner used varies depending on the contents of the print job, the transport path screw is driven as described above. In a simple count of the period during which the toner is stored, the amount of waste toner stored in the temporary storage unit 225 cannot be accurately estimated. The image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment realizes control for solving such a problem.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a control configuration related to waste toner conveyance control in the controller 100 of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 9, the main control unit 101 includes a job control unit 111, a job confirmation unit 112, a toner type setting unit 113, a setting storage unit 114, and a waste toner conveyance setting unit 115. The engine control unit 102 includes a waste toner conveyance control unit 121, a conveyance time counter 122, and a waste toner bottle detection unit 123.

  The job control unit 111 is a control unit that acquires a print job and controls execution of image formation output. The job confirmation unit 112 refers to the content of the print job acquired by the job control unit 111 and confirms the type of toner used in the print job. The job confirmation unit 112 according to the present embodiment confirms whether or not the special color toner used in the image forming unit 206P is used.

  The toner type setting unit 113 receives settings of toners having different transportability based on a user operation on the display panel 140. In the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, it is set that a toner of a type having poorer transportability than the CMYK toner is used as the toner used in the image forming unit 206P.

  The setting storage unit 114 stores a pre-constructed toner type database, and data to be referred to in control among the data stored in the toner type database in accordance with the setting by the toner type setting unit 113. I will provide a. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a toner type database.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the toner type database includes information on “toner type”, “transportability”, “transport speed setting”, and “threshold value setting”. “Toner type” is information for identifying different types of toner. “Transportability” is information indicating whether the transportability is good or bad as described with reference to FIGS. “Conveyance speed setting” is information indicating the setting of the conveyance speed to be applied for each toner type. “Threshold setting” is threshold setting information applied to determine that the temporary storage unit 225 is saturated for each toner type.

  In the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, as shown by being surrounded by a broken line in FIG. 10, a case where “toner C” shown in FIG. 10 is used as an example of the special color toner is taken as an example. In this case, the user operates the display panel 140 to set that the toner C is being used. As a result, the toner type setting unit 113 notifies the setting storage unit 114 that the toner C has been selected.

  The waste toner conveyance setting unit 115 notifies the engine control unit 102 of waste toner conveyance setting information based on the confirmation result of the job content by the job confirmation unit 112. The waste toner conveyance setting unit 115 according to the present embodiment acquires the “toner C” record of FIG. 10 from the setting storage unit 114 when the job confirmation unit 112 confirms that the special color toner is used. Then, it notifies the engine control unit 102 as setting information.

  The waste toner conveyance control unit 121 controls the driving of the screw in the waste toner conveyance path described with reference to FIG. Further, the waste toner conveyance control unit 121 adjusts the rotation of the screw based on the setting information input from the waste toner conveyance setting unit 115, thereby conveying the waste toner according to the “conveyance speed setting” in FIG. Realize.

  The conveyance time counter 122 counts a period during which the waste toner conveyance control unit 121 conveys the waste toner by driving the screw of the waste toner conveyance path. Then, when the count value reaches a predetermined threshold, the conveyance time counter 122 outputs a stop signal to the main control unit 101 assuming that the temporary storage unit 225 is saturated with waste toner. As a result, the image forming output is forcibly stopped by the job control unit 111. The conveyance time counter 122 adjusts a threshold value applied to the count value based on “threshold setting” included in the setting information input from the waste toner conveyance setting unit 115.

  The waste toner bottle detection unit 123 detects whether or not the waste toner bottle 226 described with reference to FIG. 4 is attached. When the waste toner bottle 226 is not attached, the waste toner bottle detection unit 123 issues a count request to the transport time counter 122. Output. Only when the count request is acquired from the waste toner bottle detection unit 123, the transport time counter 122 counts a period during which the waste toner transport control unit 121 transports the waste toner by driving the screw of the waste toner transport path. .

  As described above, the components shown in FIG. 9 work in conjunction with each other as a developer holding control unit that controls the waste toner transport to the temporary storage unit 225 and the processing of the waste toner held in the temporary storage unit 225. Function. In such waste toner control, the gist of the present embodiment is to change the control state based on the contents of the print job.

  Next, the operation of waste toner conveyance control according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 11, when the job control unit 111 receives a print job (S1101), the job confirmation unit 112 refers to the contents of the job and confirms whether or not the toner to be controlled is used (S1102). .

  As a result of the confirmation in S1102, if the target toner, that is, a special color toner in this embodiment is used (S1102 / YES), then the job confirmation unit 112 refers to the contents of the job, Whether or not the area of the image formed by the toner is equal to or larger than a predetermined threshold is checked (S1103). The confirmation in S1103 is executed to confirm whether control according to the type of toner is necessary.

  Even if a special color toner is used, the problem described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8 does not occur if the amount is very small. Accordingly, the threshold value in S1103 is set according to the amount of images that can cause the problem described with reference to FIGS. In other words, the job confirmation unit 112 determines that a predetermined amount or more of the toner is used when the area of the image formed by the target toner is equal to or more than a predetermined amount, and will be described with reference to FIGS. It is determined that control for avoiding such a problem is necessary.

  As a result of the determination in S1103, if the image area is equal to or larger than the predetermined value (S1103 / YES), the job confirmation unit 112 notifies the waste toner conveyance setting unit 115 that adjustment is necessary for the conveyance of the waste toner. Accordingly, the waste toner conveyance setting unit 115 acquires the setting information provided from the setting storage unit 114, that is, the record surrounded by the broken line in FIG. The conveyance speed and the threshold value of the counter are changed (S1104).

  In step S <b> 1104, the waste toner conveyance setting unit 115 inputs a “conveyance speed setting” value to the waste toner conveyance control unit 121. As a result, the set value when the waste toner conveyance control unit 121 controls driving of the screw of the waste toner conveyance path is changed. Further, the waste toner conveyance setting unit 115 inputs a value of “threshold setting” to the conveyance time counter 122. Thereby, the setting of the threshold value for the conveyance time counter 122 to determine that the temporary storage unit 225 is saturated is changed.

  When the change of the waste toner setting is completed, the job control unit 111 starts a print job (S1105). At the start of the print job, the waste toner bottle detection unit 123 detects whether or not the waste toner bottle 226 is attached (S1106), and if the waste toner bottle is connected (S1106 / YES), the job control unit 111. The engine control unit 102 continues the job until the print job is completed (S1107 / NO). When the job is completed (S1107 / YES), the process is terminated.

  On the other hand, when the waste toner bottle is not connected (S1106 / NO), the waste toner bottle detection unit 123 outputs a signal indicating that the waste toner bottle is not connected. Accordingly, the waste toner conveyance control unit 121 stops the driving of the discharge screw that discharges the waste toner from the temporary storage unit 225 to the waste toner bottle 226 (S1108). Further, the transport time counter 122 starts counting of the temporary storage unit counter for counting a state in which the waste toner is stored in the temporary storage unit in a state where the waste toner bottle 226 is not connected (S1109).

  After the count of the temporary storage counter is started and before the count value reaches the threshold value (S1110 / NO), when the print job is completed (S1112 / YES), the main control unit 101 ends the process as it is. On the other hand, before the print job ends (S1112 / NO), if the count value reaches the threshold value (S1110 / YES), the transport time counter 122 outputs a stop signal to the job control unit 111. As a result, the job control unit 111 stops obtaining the print job (S1111) and ends the process. With this operation, the control related to waste toner conveyance at the time of image formation output according to the present embodiment is completed.

  As described above, in the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the temporary storage unit 225 is provided so that the image forming output can be continued even when the waste toner bottle for collecting the waste toner is removed. . Then, the waste toner bottle 226 is removed in order to avoid the occurrence of a malfunction in the apparatus due to further waste toner being conveyed to the temporary storage unit 225 while the amount of waste toner in the temporary storage unit 225 is saturated. The execution engine of the image forming output at the time is counted, and when the count value reaches a predetermined threshold, the image forming output is forcibly stopped.

  When it is detected that a specific developer is used in the print job, the waste toner transport setting and the threshold value for the count value set according to the developer are used. Controls forced stop of image formation output by conveyance and count value. By such a control, by using a plurality of types of developers having different transportability, avoiding a state where it is impossible to appropriately determine that the temporary storage unit 225 is saturated with a single threshold value, In any case, the saturation state of the temporary storage unit 225 can be appropriately detected.

  In the above-described embodiment, as described in FIG. 10, as the setting when the developer having different transportability is used, the transport speed setting and the threshold setting are described as examples. However, this is merely an example, and other settings may be used as long as the saturation state of the temporary storage unit 225 can be appropriately detected according to the transportability of the developer used. For example, the count value that the transport time counter 122 counts per unit time may be changed according to the type of the developer.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where “toner C” is used has been described as an example, as shown by being surrounded by a broken line in FIG. “Toner C” is a developer that has poor transportability and has a transport speed that is slower than other developer even when transported by a screw at a normal transport speed. And in this case, the case where the setting of the conveyance speed by a screw is made quick and the setting of the threshold value for judging that the temporary storage part 225 was saturated is made into an example is taken as an example.

  In addition, for example, “toner D” and “toner E” have good transportability, and when the developer is transported by a screw at a normal transport speed, the developer has a transport speed higher than that of the other developer. It is an agent. In this case, as shown in FIG. 10, the setting of the threshold value is reduced, the control for avoiding the driving of the apparatus in the state where the temporary storage unit 225 is saturated, and the setting of the conveying speed by the screw are delayed, and the temporary storage is performed. Control for increasing the time until the unit 225 is saturated is performed.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the area of the image formed by the target toner is adopted as the determination target in S1103 and the usage amount of the target toner is determined has been described as an example. On the other hand, when white toner is used for a recording medium with low brightness, it is necessary to increase the density of white toner as the brightness of the recording medium decreases. For this reason, even if the area is the same, the toner adhesion amount may change within a range of several times depending on the brightness of the recording medium.

  Therefore, the job confirmation unit 112 may determine the toner adhesion amount per unit area, that is, the toner density, in order to determine the amount of target toner used in S1103. In this case, in step S1103, the job confirmation unit 112 compares the density value of the image formed by the target toner with a threshold value, and if it is equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold value, control according to the toner type is necessary. to decide. Further, both the area of the image formed by the target toner and the density of the image may be determined.

  In the above embodiment, the control based on the premise that the waste toner bottle 226 is removed has been described. Here, the case where the waste toner bottle 226 is removed is, for example, during the replacement of the waste toner bottle 226 in a saturated state. Therefore, as described above, the operation period of the apparatus with the waste toner bottle 226 removed is not continued for a long time, and the waste toner bottle 226 is eventually connected.

  When the waste toner bottle 226 is connected again, waste toner has been accumulated in the temporary storage unit 225 until just before, and therefore, the amount of waste toner accumulated in the temporary storage unit 225 may be increased. Therefore, when the waste toner bottle detection unit 123 detects that the waste toner bottle 226 is connected again, the waste toner conveyance control unit 121 sets the conveyance speed of the waste toner from the temporary storage unit 225 to the waste toner bottle 226. It is preferable to increase the speed than usual.

  Accordingly, the waste toner accumulated in the temporary storage unit 225 can be quickly discharged to the waste toner bottle 226, and a state in which the waste toner is saturated in the temporary storage unit 225 is more preferably avoided, and a device associated therewith Can be prevented.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, the case where the drive period of the screw which the conveyance time counter 122 counts and a threshold value were compared was demonstrated as an example. This is an example for grasping the process in which the image forming output is repeatedly executed and the waste toner is accumulated in the temporary storage unit 225. As another example for grasping the process of collecting the waste toner in the temporary storage unit 225, for example, an aspect of counting the area of the range in which each color toner is transferred in the output image can be considered.

  The waste toner transported to the temporary storage unit 225 through the waste toner mechanism described with reference to FIG. 4 remains on the photosensitive drum 209 side without being transferred onto the transport belt 205 by the transfer device 215, and is photosensitive by the photosensitive cleaner 213. It has been removed from the body drum 209. The amount of toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 209 side without being transferred onto the conveying belt 205 in the transfer unit 215 is a substantially constant ratio.

  Therefore, the amount of waste toner conveyed to the temporary storage unit 225 can be estimated based on the amount of toner formed on the photosensitive drum 209, that is, the area of each color transfer image in the output image. . Then, by setting an appropriate threshold for the area of the transfer image of each color, the saturation state of the temporary storage unit 225 can be determined in the same manner as described above.

  As described above, when determining the saturation state of the temporary storage unit 225 based on the image area, as shown in FIG. 12, the main control unit 101 has the same configuration as that in FIG. 9, and the engine control unit 102 An output area counter 124 is included instead of the time counter 122. The main control unit 101 has a function related to counting of the image area.

  The job confirmation unit 112 has a function of obtaining the image area of each color of CMYK and special colors based on the contents of the print job, in addition to the above-described function of confirming the type of toner. Information on the image area of each color obtained in this way is input to the engine control unit 102 by the waste toner conveyance setting unit 115 together with the setting information described above.

  The job confirmation unit 112 obtains the image area of each color with reference to drawing data of each color, for example. The drawing data is data in which the pixels constituting the image for each color are expressed as colored / colorless. Accordingly, the job confirmation unit 112 obtains the image area by counting the number of colored pixels in the drawing data of each color. In addition, when the data for each pixel has density information, it is possible to obtain an image area in which density is taken into account by performing weighting according to density.

  In the engine control unit 102, the output area counter 124 acquires and counts the information on the image areas of the respective colors described above. When the count value reaches the threshold value acquired from the main control unit 101, the stop signal is output in the same manner as described above.

  As described above, the amount of waste toner accumulated in the temporary storage unit 225 is an amount corresponding to the area of the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 209. However, the polymer toner and the pulverized toner have different particle shapes as described with reference to FIGS. Therefore, even if the toner amount corresponds to the same image area, the temporary storage unit 225 is used when there are many gaps between particles such as pulverized toner and when there are few gaps between particles such as polymerized toner. The volume required when it is accumulated in is different.

  That is, even if the count value of the image area is such that the temporary storage unit 225 is saturated with the pulverized toner, the volume of the temporary storage unit 225 is still in the case of the superposed toner. On the other hand, when the count value of the image area is such that the temporary storage unit 225 is saturated with the polymerized toner, the pulverized toner exceeds the allowable amount, which may cause a malfunction of the apparatus. Accordingly, when pulverized toner is used, it is necessary to make the saturation determination of the temporary storage unit 225 early by lowering the threshold value.

  Further, the amount of waste toner accumulated in the temporary storage unit 225 also varies depending on the transfer efficiency at the time of transfer onto the conveyor belt 205 in the transfer unit 215. Of the pulverized toner and the polymerized toner, the pulverized toner has lower transfer efficiency, and as a result, a lot of waste toner is generated. Therefore, even when the image area is the same, when the pulverized toner is used, it is necessary to make the saturation determination of the temporary storage unit 225 early by lowering the threshold value.

  Accordingly, even in the aspect of determining the saturation state of the temporary storage unit 225 by counting the area of the image to be output by image formation, the threshold value can be changed or conveyed when it is detected that a specific developer is used. By changing the speed, the same effect as described above can be obtained.

  In such a case, in the case of a toner type that tends to increase in volume when it is accumulated in the temporary storage unit 225, such as pulverized toner, “threshold setting” shown in FIG. Is set to “decrease”, ie small. On the other hand, in the case of a toner type that tends to have a small volume in the state of being accumulated in the temporary storage unit 225, such as polymerized toner, the “threshold setting” shown in FIG. That is, it is set large.

  9 and 12 exemplify a mode that employs either the case where the drive period is counted or the case where the image area is counted. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and both the drive period and the image area may be counted and the saturation of the temporary storage unit 225 may be determined for both. Thereby, it is possible to improve the accuracy of the determination or more reliably prevent the toner image from being conveyed to the temporary storage unit 225 beyond the legal state.

10 CPU
20 RAM
30 ROM
40 HDD
50 I / F
60 LCD
70 Operation Unit 80 Dedicated Device 90 Bus 100 Controller 101 Main Control Unit 102 Engine Control Unit 103 Input / Output Control Unit 104 Image Processing Unit 105 Operation Display Control Unit 110 ADF
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 111 Job control part 112 Job confirmation part 113 Toner kind setting part 114 Setting memory | storage part 115 Waste toner conveyance setting part 120 Scanner unit 121 Waste toner conveyance control part 122 Conveyance time counter 123 Waste toner bottle detection part 124 Output area counter 130 Output tray 140 Display Panel 150 Paper Feed Table 160 Print Engine 170 Paper Tray 180 Network I / F
202 Feed roller 203 Registration roller 204 Paper 205 Conveying belt 206K, 206C, 206M, 206Y, 206P Image forming unit 207 Drive roller 208 Driven roller 209K, 209C, 209M, 209Y, 209P Photosensitive drum 210K Charger 211 Optical writing device 212K , 212C, 212M, 212Y, 212P Developer 213K, 213C, 213M, 213Y, 213P Photoconductor cleaner 215K, 215C, 215M, 215Y, 215P Transfer device 216 Fixing device 217 Transfer roller 218 Belt cleaner 221 First waste toner transport path 222 Second waste toner transport path 223 Third waste toner transport path 224 Fourth waste toner transport path 225 Temporary storage unit 226 Waste toner bottle

JP 2010-26031 A

Claims (14)

An image forming apparatus for transferring an image formed by developing electrostatic latent images with different types of developers onto a recording medium,
A developer holding section for temporarily holding the developer inside the apparatus in a state where the developer collection container for collecting the developer remaining without being transferred is removed;
Control of at least one of the transport of the developer to the developer holding unit and the processing of the developer held in the developer holding unit, and predetermined based on the contents of the execution instruction of the image formation output An image forming apparatus comprising: a developer holding control unit that changes a control state when a developer of a given type is used.   The developer holding control unit counts a period during which the image forming output is executed in a state where the developer collecting container is removed, and stops the image forming output when the count value reaches a predetermined threshold value. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the threshold value is changed when a predetermined type of developer is used.   The developer holding control unit uses a developer that tends to be slower to transport to the developer holding unit than other types of developer as a predetermined type of developer. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the threshold value is increased in a case where the threshold value is larger.   The developer holding control unit uses a developer that tends to be transported to the developer holding unit faster than other types of developer as a predetermined type of developer. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the threshold value is reduced in the case of the image forming apparatus.   The developer holding control unit counts an area of an image to be imaged and output in a state where the developer collecting container is removed, and when the count value reaches a predetermined threshold value, image forming output 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the threshold value is changed when a predetermined type of developer is used. 5. .   The developer holding control unit is a developer having a tendency that the volume of the developer held in the developer holding unit tends to be larger than other types of developer as a predetermined type of developer. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the threshold value is decreased when an agent is used.   The developer holding control unit is a developer of a predetermined type, and the developer tends to have a smaller volume held in the developer holding unit than other types of developer. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the threshold value is increased when an agent is used.   2. The developer holding control unit changes a transport speed of the developer to the developer holding unit when a predetermined type of developer is used. 8. The image forming apparatus according to any one of items 7 to 7.   The developer holding control unit uses a developer that tends to be slower to transport to the developer holding unit than other types of developer as a predetermined type of developer. 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the developer transport speed to the developer holding portion is increased when the developer is held.   The developer holding control unit uses a developer that tends to be transported to the developer holding unit faster than other types of developer as a predetermined type of developer. 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the developer conveying speed to the developer holding portion is slowed down when the developer is held.   The developer holding control unit stores a set value according to the type of the developer accommodated in the developing unit that develops the electrostatic latent image based on the information of the set value according to the type of the different developer. The control state is changed based on a set value stored in the storage medium and stored in the storage medium when a predetermined type of developer is used. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.   12. The developer according to claim 1, wherein the developer holding control unit changes a control state when a predetermined amount or more of a predetermined type of developer is used. Image forming apparatus.   The developer holding control unit is configured to determine a predetermined type of developer when the area of the image corresponding to the predetermined type of developer is greater than or equal to a predetermined value based on the content of the image formation output execution command. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein it is determined that the colorant is used in a predetermined amount or more.   The developer holding control unit, based on the content of the image formation output execution command, when a density of an image corresponding to a predetermined type of developer is equal to or higher than a predetermined level, The image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein it is determined that the colorant is used in a predetermined amount or more.