JP2018106107A - Image formation apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a toner container from being discarded having toner left inside by mistake when no toner is detected in an intermediate hopper.SOLUTION: A lock control part 112 makes a lock part 86 unlock a container cover 82 exceptionally when an empty state detection part 71 detects an intermediate hopper being empty although a toner recognition part 111 recognizes that toner is left in the toner container 8. An identification information acquisition part 113 acquires identification information stored in an IC tag 83 fitted to the toner container 8 through communication. A collation part 114 collates identification information, acquired by the identification acquisition part 113 before the container cover 82 is opened, with identification information acquired after the container cover 82 is closed. A collation result of the collation part 114 indicates a discrepancy after the intermediate hopper empty state is detected, an operation part 5 urges the toner container 8 to be set again.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus in which a toner container is configured to be replaceable, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus in which a container cover that opens and closes a mounting opening of a toner container is locked.

  Conventionally, image forming apparatuses such as copiers and multifunction peripherals perform image formation using toner contained in a toner container. When the toner in the toner container runs out, a new toner container containing toner is used. It is configured to be exchangeable. Some of these image forming apparatuses are provided with a container cover that can be locked in order to prevent the toner container from being freely replaced before the toner is used up (see, for example, Patent Document 1). When it is detected that the toner in the toner container has run out, the container cover is unlocked and can be opened. In an image forming apparatus having an intermediate hopper between a toner container and a developing unit, the toner in the toner container is temporarily stored in the intermediate hopper, and the toner is fed from the intermediate hopper to the developing unit (for example, see Patent Document 2). ). For this reason, in the technique of Patent Document 2, a detection sensor for detecting the remaining amount of toner is provided in the intermediate hopper, and when the detection sensor detects that the toner in the intermediate hopper has run out, the toner in the toner container has run out. As a thing, the container cover is unlocked.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-258941 JP 2011-8142 A

  By the way, in the image forming apparatus, the toner in the toner container may be tightened and not supplied to the intermediate hopper. In this case, the toner container is removed and shaken and then reset, so that the toner jamming in the toner container is eliminated and the toner container can be used continuously.

  However, in the prior art, when the toner remains in the toner container and the toner is not supplied to the intermediate hopper, the container cover is unlocked as in the case where the toner in the toner container runs out. As a result, the user may replace the toner container. Therefore, the lock control should have been performed so that the toner container can be discarded after the toner has been used up, but there has been a problem that a toner container that is discarded with the toner remaining is generated.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problem, and when it is detected that there is no toner in the intermediate hopper, it can be prevented from being accidentally discarded with the toner remaining in the toner container. The purpose is to provide technology.

An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a developing unit that develops a toner image using toner contained in a toner container, a container cover that opens and closes a mounting opening of the toner container, and a remaining amount of toner in the toner container. An image forming apparatus comprising: a toner recognition unit that recognizes; and a lock unit that locks the container cover in a closed state while toner remains in the toner container. An intermediate hopper provided between the intermediate hopper for supplying toner in the toner container to the developing unit, an empty detection unit for detecting an intermediate hopper empty in which the toner amount in the intermediate hopper is equal to or less than a predetermined amount, and the toner recognition unit Although the toner is recognized as remaining in the toner container, the empty detector detects the medium. When a hopper empty is detected, the lock control unit that exceptionally releases the lock of the container cover by the lock unit and the identification information stored in the identification information storage unit attached to the toner container are communicated. The identification information acquisition unit acquired by the above, an open / close detection unit that detects opening and closing of the container cover, the identification information acquired by the identification information acquisition unit before the container cover is opened, and the container cover is closed A collation unit that collates the identification information acquired by the identification information acquisition unit later, and a notification that prompts the toner container to be reset if the collation result by the collation unit does not match after the detection of the intermediate hopper empty And a section.
The lock control unit may lock the container cover to the lock unit and enable the toner container when the collation result by the collation unit coincides after detection of the intermediate hopper empty.
In addition, the lock control unit may prevent the lock cover from locking the container cover when a non-genuine toner container is mounted and the collation result by the collation unit does not match after the detection of the intermediate hopper empty. The toner container may be usable.

  According to the present invention, when it is detected that there is no toner in the intermediate hopper, it is possible to prevent the toner from being accidentally discarded while remaining in the toner container.

1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an internal configuration of an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic control configuration of the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a container cover lock control process of the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1.

  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes a document reading unit 2, a document feeding unit 3, a main body unit 4, and an operation unit 5. The document reading unit 2 is disposed on the top of the main body unit 4, and the document feeding unit 3 is disposed on the top of the document reading unit 2. The operation unit 5 is disposed on the front side of the main body unit 4.

  The document reading unit 2 includes a scanner 21, a platen glass 22, and a document reading slit 23. The scanner 21 includes an exposure lamp 24, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) sensor 25, and the like, and is configured to be movable in the conveyance direction of the document MS by the document feeding unit 3. The platen glass 22 is an original table made of a transparent member such as glass. The document reading slit 23 has a slit formed in a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the document MS is conveyed by the document feeding unit 3.

  When reading the document MS placed on the platen glass 22, the scanner 21 is moved to a position facing the platen glass 22 and reads the document MS while scanning the document MS placed on the platen glass 22. Image data is acquired, and the acquired image data is output to the main unit 4. When reading the document MS conveyed by the document feeding unit 3, the scanner 21 is moved to a position facing the document reading slit 23, and the document MS by the document feeding unit 3 is moved through the document reading slit 23. The document MS is read in synchronism with the conveying operation to acquire image data, and the acquired image data is output to the main unit 4.

  The document feeding unit 3 includes a document placement unit 31, a document discharge unit 32, and a document transport mechanism 33. The document MS placed on the document placement unit 31 is sequentially fed out one by one by the document transport mechanism 33, transported to a position facing the document reading slit 23, and then output to the document discharge unit 32. The document feeding unit 3 is configured to be retractable, and the upper surface of the platen glass 22 can be opened by lifting the document feeding unit 3 upward.

  The main body 4 includes a recording unit 6, and includes a paper feed unit 41, a paper feed roller 42, a transport roller 43, a discharge roller 44, and a discharge space 45. The paper feed unit 41 is a paper feed cassette that stores a plurality of recording papers P, and is disposed at the lower part of the main body unit 4. The paper feed roller 42 feeds the recording paper P from the paper feed unit 41 one by one toward the transport roller 43. The transport roller 43 transports the recording paper P from the paper feeding unit 41 to the recording unit 6. The recording sheet P printed by the recording unit 6 is discharged by a discharge roller 44 into a discharge space 45 formed between the document reading unit 2 and the main body unit 4.

  The recording unit 6 includes a photosensitive drum 61 that is an image carrier, a charging unit 62, an exposure unit 63, a developing unit 64, a transfer unit 65, a fixing device 66, and a cleaning unit 67. The exposure unit 63 is an optical unit that includes a laser device, a mirror, and the like. The charging unit 62 is a charging roller that uniformly charges the photosensitive drum 61. The exposure unit 63 outputs a laser beam based on image data to the photosensitive drum 61 uniformly charged by the charging unit 62 and exposes the photosensitive drum 61 to form an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 61. The developing unit 64 is a developing unit that develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 61 using toner, and forms a toner image based on the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 61. The transfer unit 65 transfers the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 61 by the developing unit 64 to the recording paper P. The fixing device 66 heats the recording paper P on which the toner image is transferred by the transfer unit 65 to fix the toner image on the recording paper P. The toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 61 is removed by the cleaning unit 67. The cleaning unit 67 stores the removed toner as waste toner in a waste toner container.

  Further, the main body 4 is provided with a container cover 82 for opening and closing the attachment port 81 of the toner container 8 on the housing surface, and an open / close detection unit 85 for detecting opening and closing of the container cover 82 and the container cover 82 in a closed state. A lock portion 86 for locking is provided. When the lock of the container cover 82 is released, the container cover 82 can be opened in the direction of arrow A, and the toner container 8 can be detached and attached via the attachment port 81. A known technique can be used for the open / close detection unit 85 and the lock unit 86.

  When the toner container 8 is attached to the main body 4 from the attachment port 81, the toner container 8 is connected to the intermediate hopper 7. The intermediate hopper 7 is connected to the developing unit 64, acquires the toner stored in the toner container 8, temporarily stores it inside, and replenishes the developing unit 64. The amount of toner in the intermediate hopper 7 is monitored by an empty detection unit 71 provided in the main body unit 4. When the amount is less than a specified amount, the empty detection unit 71 detects intermediate hopper empty. The main body unit 4 is provided with a tag communication unit 84 that communicates with an IC tag 83 attached to the toner container 8. The IC tag 83 stores identification information such as a manufacturing number of the toner container 8. Note that the toner container 8 is not limited to the IC tag 83, but may be provided with an identification information storage unit such as a nonvolatile memory storing identification information.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a control configuration of the image forming apparatus 1. Document reading unit 2, document feeding unit 3, operation unit 5, recording unit 6 (photosensitive drum 61, charging unit 62, exposure unit 63, developing unit 64, transfer unit 65, fixing device 66), intermediate hopper 7 described above. The empty detection unit 71, the open / close detection unit 85, the lock unit 86, and the tag communication unit 84 are connected to the control unit 11 and controlled in operation by the control unit 11. The control unit 11 is connected to the image processing unit 9 and the storage unit 10.

  The image processing unit 9 is a unit that performs predetermined image processing on the image data. For example, image improvement processing such as rotation processing, enlargement / reduction processing, gradation adjustment, and density adjustment is performed.

  The storage unit 10 is a storage unit such as a semiconductor memory or an HDD (Hard Disk Drive). The storage unit 10 stores image data read by the document reading unit 2 or image processed by the image processing unit 9, and various kinds of data. Management information is stored.

  The control unit 11 is an information processing unit such as a microcomputer including a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like. The ROM stores a control program for controlling the operation of the image forming apparatus 1. The CPU of the control unit 11 reads the control program stored in the ROM and develops the control program in the RAM, thereby controlling the entire apparatus according to predetermined instruction information input from the operation unit 5. The control unit 11 also functions as a toner recognition unit 111, a lock control unit 112, an identification information acquisition unit 113, and a collation unit 114.

  The toner recognizing unit 111 has a function of recognizing the remaining amount of toner in the toner container 8 based on the number of printed sheets from the start of use of the toner container 8 and image data.

  The lock control unit 112 has a lock function that allows the toner container 8 to be used until the toner in the toner container 8 is used up by controlling the lock unit 86 to lock / unlock the container cover 82. The user can set whether to enable or disable the lock function via the operation unit 5. When the lock function is set to invalid, the lock control unit 112 does not perform lock control of the container cover 82 by the lock unit 86. In this case, the user can freely open and close the container cover 82. Here, the description will be made assuming that the lock function is set to be valid.

  When the lock function is set to be effective, the lock control unit 112 causes the lock unit 86 to lock the container cover 82 while the toner recognition unit 111 recognizes that toner remains in the toner container 8. .

  Exceptionally, when the toner recognition unit 111 recognizes that toner remains in the toner container 8 and the empty detection unit 71 detects intermediate hopper empty, the lock control unit 112 The lock unit 86 is made to unlock the container cover 82, and the user is requested to reset the toner container 8. Then, when the same toner container 8 as the toner container 8 before detecting the intermediate hopper empty is reset, the lock control unit 112 causes the lock unit 86 to lock the container cover 82 and continues to use the attached toner container 8. to enable. Accordingly, even when the toner in the toner container 8 is tightened by its own weight and the toner is not supplied from the toner container 8 to the intermediate hopper 7, the user can remove the toner container 8 and shake it again to reset the toner. It becomes possible to continue using the toner container 8 from which the above has been eliminated. When the reset toner container 8 is different from the toner container 8 before the intermediate hopper empty detection, the lock control unit 112 requests the user to reset the correct toner container.

  The identification information acquisition unit 113 has a function of communicating with the IC tag 83 attached to the toner container 8 via the tag communication unit 84 and acquiring the identification information of the toner container 8. The identification information acquisition unit 113 acquires predetermined identification information indicating that the toner container 8 is a non-genuine product as the identification information of the toner container 8 when the toner container 8 is a non-genuine product and cannot communicate normally. The identification information acquisition unit 113 may randomly determine predetermined identification information indicating that it is a non-genuine product each time it is acquired.

  The collation unit 114 identifies the toner container 8 identification information acquired by the identification information acquisition unit 113 before the container cover 82 is opened, and the toner container 8 identification acquired by the identification information acquisition unit 113 after the container cover 82 is opened and closed. It has a function to collate with information.

  Next, a flow of lock control of the container cover 82 in the case where the intermediate hopper empty is detected by the empty detection unit 71 will be described with reference to FIG.

  When the empty detection unit 71 detects intermediate hopper empty indicating that the amount of toner in the intermediate hopper 7 is equal to or less than the specified amount (step s11), the toner recognition unit 111 determines whether toner is present in the toner container 8. Is determined (step s12).

  When the toner recognizing unit 111 determines that no toner is present in the toner container 8 (No in step s12), the toner in the toner container 8 has been used up, so that the lock control unit 112 includes the container cover 82 in the lock unit 86. The lock is released (step s13), a message for prompting the operation unit 5 to replace the toner container 8 is notified by the operation unit 5 (step s14), and the process ends. In this case, the remaining amount of toner recognized by the toner recognizing unit 111 is cleared, and the remaining amount of toner since the replacement of the toner container 8 is recognized.

  On the other hand, when the toner recognizing unit 111 determines that toner is present in the toner container 8 (Yes in step s12), the identification information acquiring unit 113 is connected to the toner container 8 via the tag communication unit 84. (Step s15), the identification information of the toner container 8 is acquired and stored in the storage unit 10 (Step s16).

  Subsequently, the lock control unit 112 causes the lock unit 86 to unlock the container cover 82 (step s17), and causes the operation unit 5 to notify a message prompting the resetting of the toner container 8 (step s18). The message is notified, for example, by voice output or display output to the display unit. In response to this message, the user opens the container cover 82 to remove the toner container 8, shakes the toner container 8, resets (reattaches) the toner container 8, and closes the container cover 82.

  The identification information acquisition unit 113 waits until the opening / closing detection unit 85 detects that the container cover 82 has changed from the open state to the closed state (No in Step s19 and Step s19). When the opening / closing detection unit 85 detects that the container cover has changed from the open state to the closed state (Yes in step s19), the identification information acquisition unit 113 is attached to the toner container 8 via the tag communication unit 84. The identification information of the toner container 8 is acquired (step s21).

  Subsequently, the collation unit 114 includes the identification information (identification information stored in the storage unit 10) acquired by the identification information acquisition unit 113 before the container cover 82 is opened, and the identification information acquisition unit after the container cover 82 is opened and closed. It collates with the identification information acquired by 113 (step s22).

  Subsequently, the lock control unit 112 determines whether or not the collation result by the collation unit 114 matches (step s23). When the collation result by the collation unit 114 does not match (No in step s23), the lock control unit 112 determines whether the product is a non-genuine product based on the identification information (step s24). If it is a non-genuine product (Yes in step s24), the lock control unit 112 makes the toner container 8 usable without causing the lock unit 86 to lock the container cover 82 (step s25), and ends this process. This is because the non-genuine product cannot guarantee the function of locking the container cover 82 until the toner in the toner container 8 is used up. In this case, the remaining amount of toner recognized by the toner recognition unit 111 is also cleared.

  On the other hand, if it is a genuine product (No in step s24), the lock control unit 112 informs the operation unit 5 to reset the removed toner container 8, that is, the correct toner container 8 (step s26). The process returns to s19.

  Although it is a genuine product, the lock control unit 112 does not lock the container cover 82 in the lock unit 86 even when the collation result by the collation unit 114 becomes inconsistent for a predetermined number of times such as three times. The toner container 8 may be usable. Also in this case, the remaining amount of toner recognized by the toner recognition unit 111 is cleared. Even if it is a genuine product, there is a possibility that the toner container 8 used elsewhere is mounted, and there is a possibility that the toner recognizing unit 111 cannot recognize the accurate remaining amount of toner.

  When the collation results by the collation unit 114 match (step s23), the lock control unit 112 locks the container cover 82 to the lock unit 86 to enable the use of the toner container 8 (step s27), and ends this process. . In this case, the toner recognition unit 111 continuously recognizes the remaining amount of toner in the toner container 8.

  As described above, the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes the developing unit 64 that develops a toner image using the toner contained in the toner container 8, and the container cover 82 that opens and closes the attachment port 81 of the toner container 8. The image forming apparatus includes a toner recognition unit 111 that recognizes the remaining amount of toner in the toner container 8 and a lock unit 86 that locks the container cover 82 in a closed state while the toner remains in the toner container 8. An intermediate hopper 7 provided between the toner container 8 and the developing unit 64, for supplying toner from the toner container 8 to the developing unit 64, and an intermediate hopper empty in which the amount of toner in the intermediate hopper 7 is equal to or less than a specified amount Although the empty detection unit 71 detects the toner and the toner recognition unit 111 recognizes that toner remains in the toner container 8. When the intermediate hopper empty is detected by the empty detection unit 71, the lock control unit 112 exceptionally releases the lock of the container cover 82 by the lock unit 86, and the identification information storage unit (attached to the toner container 8) An identification information acquisition unit 113 for acquiring identification information stored in the IC tag 83) by communication, an opening / closing detection unit 85 for detecting opening / closing of the container cover 82, and an identification information acquisition unit 113 before the container cover 82 is opened. The collation unit 114 that collates the identification information acquired by the above and the identification information acquired by the identification information acquisition unit 113 after the container cover 82 is closed, and after the detection of the intermediate hopper empty, the verification result by the verification unit 114 is Provided with an informing unit (operation unit 5) that prompts the toner container 8 to be reset if they do not match. To have.

  Thus, when the empty detection unit 71 detects intermediate hopper empty but the toner recognition unit 111 recognizes that toner remains in the toner container 8, the lock control unit 112 locks Even when the container cover 82 is unlocked by the portion 86, it is possible to prevent the toner container 8 from being discarded in a state where the toner remains. Therefore, when the waste toner container has the same shape as the toner container 8 and the container of the toner container 8 that has been used can be reused as a waste toner container, the remaining toner container 8 is reused as a waste toner container. Can be prevented.

  Note that in the image forming apparatus 1 capable of full color printing, C (cyan) is formed so that color image data of four different colors C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow), and K (black) can be formed. ), M (magenta), Y (yellow), and K (black) toner containers 8 that contain toner are mounted. Among these, for example, both the C (cyan) toner container 8 and the K (black) toner container 8 are recognized as having no toner by the toner recognition unit 111 (step s12), and the toner container 8 needs to be replaced. Suppose there was. When it is necessary to reuse the empty K (black) toner container 8 as a waste toner container, the lock control unit 112 removes only the container cover 82 of the K (black) toner container 8. First, the lock unit 86 releases the lock. When the safely emptied K (black) toner container 8 is mounted as a waste toner container, the lock control unit 112 unlocks the container cover 82 corresponding to the C (cyan) toner container 8. The color toner container 8 may be prevented from being erroneously attached to the waste toner container.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it goes without saying that various changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 2 Original reading part 3 Original feeding part 4 Main-body part 5 Operation part (notification part)
6 Recording section 7 Intermediate hopper 8 Toner container 9 Image processing section 10 Storage section 11 Control section 21 Scanner 22 Platen glass 23 Document reading slit 24 Exposure lamp 25 CCD sensor 31 Document placement section 32 Document discharge section 33 Document transport mechanism 41 Paper feed Unit 42 paper feed roller 43 transport roller 44 discharge roller 45 discharge space 61 photosensitive drum 62 charging unit 63 exposure unit 64 developing unit 65 transfer unit 66 fixing device 67 cleaning unit 71 empty detection unit 81 mounting port 82 container cover 83 IC tag ( Identification information storage unit)
84 Tag communication unit 85 Open / close detection unit 86 Lock unit 111 Toner recognition unit 112 Lock control unit 113 Identification information acquisition unit 114 Verification unit A Arrow MS Document P Recording paper

Claims (3)

A developing unit that develops a toner image using toner stored in a toner container; a container cover that opens and closes a mounting port of the toner container; a toner recognition unit that recognizes a remaining amount of toner in the toner container; An image forming apparatus including a lock unit that locks the container cover in a closed state while toner remains in the toner container;
An intermediate hopper that is provided between the toner container and the developing unit and replenishes the toner in the toner container to the developing unit;
An empty detection unit for detecting an intermediate hopper empty in which the toner amount in the intermediate hopper is equal to or less than a specified amount;
When the intermediate hopper empty is detected by the empty detection unit even though it is recognized by the toner recognition unit that toner remains in the toner container, the container is exceptionally placed in the lock unit. A lock control unit for unlocking the cover;
An identification information acquisition unit for acquiring identification information stored in an identification information storage unit attached to the toner container by communication;
An opening / closing detection unit for detecting opening / closing of the container cover;
A collation unit that collates the identification information acquired by the identification information acquisition unit before the container cover is opened and the identification information acquired by the identification information acquisition unit after the container cover is closed;
An image forming apparatus comprising: a notifying unit that prompts resetting of the toner container when the collation result by the collation unit does not match after detection of the intermediate hopper empty. The lock control unit
The toner container can be used by locking the container cover to the lock unit when the collation result by the collation unit matches after the detection of the intermediate hopper empty. Image forming apparatus. The lock control unit
After the detection of the intermediate hopper empty, the toner container can be used without locking the container cover to the lock unit when the non-genuine toner container is mounted and the collation result by the collation unit is inconsistent. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is an image forming apparatus.

Images