JP2018005039A5

JP2018005039A5 -

Info

Publication number: JP2018005039A5
Application number: JP2016133440A
Authority: JP
Filing date: 2016-07-05
Publication date: 2019-08-15
Anticipated expiration: 2036-07-05

Claims

An image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording medium using a developer contained in a developer container,
The amount of developer remaining in the developer container after the current image forming operation is executed as the remaining amount A, and the amount of developer remaining in the developer container after the previous image forming operation is executed as the remaining amount A1. When the amount of developer consumed in the current image forming operation is defined as consumption amount ΔA, the consumption amount ΔA is acquired, and the remaining amount A is acquired by subtracting the consumption amount ΔA from the remaining amount A1. A first acquisition unit;
A second acquisition unit that acquires, as a remaining amount B, the amount of developer remaining in the developer container after the previous or current image forming operation is executed;
A notification unit that notifies the user of the remaining amount A,
The first acquisition unit performs correction to increase the consumption amount ΔA when the remaining amount A1> the remaining amount B, and acquires the remaining amount A,
When the remaining amount A1 <the remaining amount B, the image forming apparatus is characterized in that the remaining amount A is obtained by performing a correction to reduce the consumption amount ΔA.

The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the correction is performed such that the difference between the consumption amount ΔA before and after the correction increases as the difference between the remaining amount A1 and the remaining amount B increases.

An image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording medium using a developer contained in a developer container,
The amount of developer remaining in the developer container after the current image forming operation is executed as the remaining amount A, and the amount of developer remaining in the developer container after the previous image forming operation is executed as the remaining amount A1. The remaining amount A is acquired as A = A1−k × ΔA, where the amount of developer consumed in the current image forming operation is defined as consumption amount ΔA and the first coefficient consisting of a positive number is defined as k. A first acquisition unit;
A second acquisition unit that acquires, as a remaining amount B, the amount of developer remaining in the developer container after the previous or current image forming operation is executed;
A notification unit that notifies the user of the remaining amount A,
The first acquisition unit includes:
When the remaining amount A1 ≧ the remaining amount B, the remaining amount A is acquired by correcting the k to be 1 or more,
When the remaining amount A1 <the remaining amount B, the remaining amount A is obtained by correcting the k so that it is less than 1.

The first acquisition unit, when a second coefficient consisting of a positive number is n,
When the remaining amount A1 ≧ the remaining amount B, the remaining amount A is acquired as k = (A1−B + n) / n,
4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein when the remaining amount A1 <the remaining amount B, the remaining amount A is acquired as k = n / (B−A1 + n).

The first acquisition unit includes:
When the remaining amount A1 or the remaining amount B is outside a predetermined range, k = 1 and the remaining amount A is acquired.
When the remaining amount A1 or the remaining amount B is within a predetermined range and the remaining amount A1 ≧ the remaining amount B, the remaining amount A is set as k = (A1−B + n) / n. Acquired,
When the remaining amount A1 or the remaining amount B is within a predetermined range, and the remaining amount A1 <the remaining amount B, the remaining amount A is set as k = n / (B−A1 + n). The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the image forming apparatus acquires the image forming apparatus.

The image formed on the recording medium is formed by collecting a plurality of unit dots,
The first acquisition unit acquires the consumption amount ΔA based on the number of unit dots constituting an image and a unit toner amount consumed to form the unit dots. Item 6. The image forming apparatus according to any one of Items 1 to 5.

A storage unit for storing information;
The storage unit stores in advance a unit toner amount consumed to form the unit dots,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the first obtaining unit obtains the consumption amount ΔA based on a unit toner amount consumed to form the unit dot stored in the storage unit. apparatus.

An image carrier on which a developer image is formed;
An exposure device that forms an electrostatic latent image on the image carrier by exposing the image carrier, and
The first acquisition unit acquires the consumption amount ΔA based on a first relationship between an exposure time during which the exposure apparatus exposes the image carrier and a consumed developer amount. Item 8. The image forming apparatus according to any one of Items 1 to 7.

A storage unit for storing information;
The storage unit stores in advance the first relationship between the exposure time for the exposure apparatus to expose the image carrier and the amount of developer consumed,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the first acquisition unit acquires the consumption amount ΔA based on the first relationship.

A sensor for acquiring the remaining amount of developer in the developer container;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second acquisition unit acquires the remaining amount B using a signal detected by the sensor.

A plurality of electrodes provided in the developer container;
The second acquisition unit acquires the remaining amount B based on a capacitance between the electrodes and a second relationship between the developer in the developer container. The image forming apparatus according to any one of 10.

A storage unit for storing information;
The storage unit stores in advance a second relationship between the capacitance between the electrodes and the developer in the developer container,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the second acquisition unit acquires the remaining amount B based on the second relationship.

A light emitting member for emitting light in the developer container;
A light receiving member that receives light emitted from the light emitting member and passed through the developer container;
Have
The second acquisition unit determines the remaining amount B based on a third relationship between the intensity of light received by the light receiving member or the length of time received and the remaining amount of developer in the developer container. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus acquires the image forming apparatus.

A storage unit for storing information;
The storage unit stores in advance a third relationship between the intensity of light received by the light receiving member or the length of time received and the remaining amount of developer in the developer container,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the second acquisition unit acquires the remaining amount B based on the third relationship.

A storage unit for storing information;
The remaining amount A acquired by the first acquisition unit is stored in the storage unit, and when the first acquisition unit acquires the remaining amount of developer in the developer container in the next image forming operation. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is used as the remaining amount A <b> 1.