JP2019003089A - Developer supply apparatus and image formation apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a developer supply apparatus capable of determining, with a simple structure, a cause of a failure of a developer supply operation as a clogging developer or improper attachment of a developer container.SOLUTION: A developer supply apparatus includes: a pump 51 for supplying, to a development tool 3, a toner inside a detachable toner bottle 50 containing the toner; a phase detection sensor 58 configured to detect a driving state of the pump 51; and a control part 70 configured to make the pump 51 execute a toner supply operation, or execute an operation with a changed content if the toner supply operation cannot be executed as a predetermined operation, and according to a status of the operation with the changed content, determine a state of the toner supply operation.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

  The present invention relates to a developer replenishing device that replenishes developer to a developing device mounted on an image forming apparatus. The present invention also relates to an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine, a laser beam printer, and a facsimile provided with a developer supply device.

  In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of a photosensitive drum, and the electrostatic latent image is developed by supplying a fine powder developer by a developing device. Thereafter, the developed developer image is transferred to a sheet and fixed by a fixing device.

  Here, in the image forming apparatus, since the developer is consumed as the image is formed, it is necessary to supply the developer to the developer. In view of this, a configuration has been proposed in which a developer replenishing device efficiently supplies developer to a developing device from a developer container that contains developer.

  For example, in Patent Document 1, in a configuration in which the pump unit is driven together with the developer container, and the developer is discharged and replenished to the developing device by changing the volume of the pump unit, the expansion and contraction state is set in advance from the detection result of the position detection unit. A configuration for controlling the pump unit to stop is described.

  Further, in Patent Document 2, when the developer container is not driven normally, it is determined whether or not the developer container is poorly mounted. If the developer container is not properly mounted, the user can re-install the developer container. A configuration for prompting notification is described.

JP 2014-174386 A JP 2009-151180 A

  Depending on the transport state and storage state of the developer container, the developer container may not be normally driven due to the aggregation of the developer and clogging. In particular, in the configuration in which the developer is supplied by changing the volume of the pump unit as in the configuration described in Patent Document 1, the pump portion is likely to be clogged with the developer. In this case, clogging of the developer can be eliminated by removing the developer container once and applying the vibration after applying the vibration.

  Here, in the configuration described in Patent Document 2, a mounting failure of the developer container can be detected, but a driving failure of the developer container due to clogging of the developer cannot be detected. For this reason, there is a concern that a developer supply operation failure due to clogging of the developer cannot be quickly dealt with.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of such a current situation, and regarding the cause of the failure of the developer supply operation, whether it is due to clogging of the developer or poor mounting of the developer container has a simple configuration. It is an object of the present invention to provide a developer replenishing device capable of determining.

  In order to achieve this object, a developer replenishing device according to the present invention includes a supply means for supplying a developer to a developing device, a detection means for detecting a drive state of the supply means, and a supply means. When the first operation is performed and the first operation is not a predetermined operation, a second operation different from the first operation is performed, and the first operation is performed based on the state of the second operation. Control means for determining the state of the operation.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to determine with a simple configuration whether the developer supply operation is caused by a clogged developer or a poorly mounted developer container.

1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus. It is an enlarged view of an image forming unit. FIG. 2 is a side view and a plan view of a toner supply device and a developing device. FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view and a schematic plan view of a toner replenishing device when a pump expands and contracts. It is sectional drawing and a side view of a conveyance path. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating a structure and detection operation | movement of a phase detection sensor. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the relationship between the light transmittance of a phase detection sensor, and the expansion-contraction state of a pump. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a system configuration of an image forming apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows a defect cause alerting | reporting sequence. It is a flowchart which shows a defect cause alerting | reporting sequence.

(First embodiment)
<Image forming apparatus>
First, the overall configuration of the image forming apparatus A including the developer supply device according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings together with the operation during image formation. The type, shape, arrangement, number, etc. of the members are not limited to those in the following embodiments, and are appropriately replaced within the scope not departing from the gist of the invention, such as appropriately replacing the constituent elements with those having the same effects. It can be changed.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus A includes an image forming unit 45 that transfers a toner image onto a sheet, an image reading unit 40 that reads an image of a document, and a sheet feeding unit that supplies a sheet to the image forming unit 45. And a fixing unit 5 for fixing the toner image on the sheet.

  FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the image forming unit 45. As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming unit 45 includes a photosensitive drum 1 (image carrier) made of an organic photosensitive member, a charging roller 2, a developing device 3, a transfer roller 4, a laser scanner unit 41, a cleaning blade 47, and the like. Prepare. In addition, a toner replenishing device 100 (developer replenishing device) that replenishes toner (developer) accommodated in the toner bottle 50 (developer accommodating container) to the developing device 3 via the conveyance path 60 is provided.

  In the image formation, as shown in FIG. 1, when the control unit 70 (see FIG. 8) receives an image forming job signal, the sheets S stacked and stored in the sheet stacking unit 43 by a feed roller and a conveyance roller (not shown). Is sent to the image forming unit 45.

  On the other hand, in the image forming unit 45, as shown in FIG. 2, first, a charging bias is applied to the charging roller 2, whereby the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 in contact with the charging roller 2 is charged.

  Thereafter, the laser scanner unit 41 emits laser light from a light source (not shown) provided therein, and irradiates the photosensitive drum 1 with laser light according to image information read by the image reading unit 40. As a result, the potential on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 is partially reduced, and an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image information is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1.

  Thereafter, a developing bias is applied to the developing sleeve 8 provided in the developing device 3, whereby toner is attached to the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 from the developing sleeve 8 to form a toner image. In this embodiment, a developing bias in which an AC voltage and a DC voltage are superimposed is applied from a high voltage application substrate (not shown). The toner of the present embodiment is a magnetic one-component toner by a pulverization method, the toner particle size is about 5 to 10 μm, and the charge amount is about −5 to −20 uC / g. However, the configuration of the present invention is not limited to this, and nonmagnetic one-component toner or nonmagnetic two-component toner may be used.

  The toner image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 is sent to a transfer nip portion formed between the photosensitive drum 1 and the transfer roller 4. When the toner image arrives at the transfer nip portion, a transfer bias having a polarity opposite to that of the toner is applied to the transfer roller 4, and the toner image is transferred to the sheet S.

  Thereafter, the sheet S on which the toner image has been transferred is sent to the fixing unit 5 (FIG. 1), and heated and pressed in a fixing nip portion formed between the heating unit and the pressing unit of the fixing unit 5, and the toner The image is fixed on the sheet. Thereafter, the sheet is conveyed to a discharge roller (not shown) and discharged to a discharge unit 42 (FIG. 1).

<Developer supply device>
Next, the configuration of the toner replenishing device 100 as a developer replenishing device that replenishes toner to the developing device 3 will be described in detail. FIG. 3 is a side view and a plan view of the toner replenishing device 100 and the developing device 3. 3A is a right view of FIG. 2, and FIG. 3B is a top view of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the toner replenishing device 100 is provided in the vicinity of the developing device 3. The toner supply device 100 includes a toner bottle 50 and a bottle mounting portion 9 that rotatably supports the toner bottle 50. In addition, a rotation driving mechanism 10 that receives a driving force from a bottle driving motor 74 (see FIG. 8) and rotates the toner bottle 50 is provided. Further, a transport path 60 for transporting toner from the toner bottle 50 to the developing device 3 is provided.

Inside the bottle mounting portion 9, there is provided a pump 51 (pump portion) which is a resin-made bellows-type variable volume type pump whose volume is variable with reciprocation. The pump 51 has a plurality of mountain folds and valley folds formed alternately and periodically. Then, the driving force received from the rotary drive mechanism 10 is converted into the reciprocating power of the pump 51, whereby compression and extension can be alternately repeated (stretched). In the present embodiment, the volume change amount when the pump 51 is expanded and contracted is set to 17 cm ³ (cc). A drive system for driving the pump 51 will be described later.

  The toner bottle 50 is a cylindrical member, and a spiral protrusion 50 a is formed on the inner peripheral surface so as to protrude inward of the toner bottle 50. Then, the toner is transported to the bottle mounting portion 9 side by the protrusion 50 a by being rotationally driven by the rotational drive mechanism 10, and then the toner is transported into the pump 51. The toner bottle 50 is configured to be detachable from the bottle mounting portion 9 (the main body of the developer supply device), and when the toner bottle 50 is removed, the pump 51 portion is also removed as a unit. Further, when the toner bottle 50 is attached / detached, the bottle cover (not shown) is opened / closed for attachment / detachment. The opening / closing of the bottle cover is detected by a cover opening / closing detection unit (not shown).

  FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view and a schematic plan view of the toner replenishing device 100 when the pump 51 expands and contracts. Here, FIG. 4A is a schematic sectional view of the pump 51 in a state where the pump 51 is extended to the maximum extent in use. FIG. 4B is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state where the pump 51 is maximally contracted in use. FIG. 4C is a view of FIG. 4A viewed from above, and FIG. 4D is a view of FIG. 4B viewed from above.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the pump 51 includes a discharge port 52 for discharging the toner to the conveyance path 60. Then, the volume of the space including the toner bottle 50 is changed by repeatedly expanding and contracting at a predetermined cycle, the intake operation and the exhaust operation are repeated through the discharge port 52, and the toner is discharged from the discharge port 52 to the conveyance path 60.

  That is, the pump 51 is extended to the maximum and the volume is maximum (the state shown in FIGS. 4A and 4C), and the pump 51 is contracted the minimum to the minimum volume (FIGS. 4B and 4D). State), this operation is repeated at a predetermined cycle. As a result, an air flow directed to the inside of the toner bottle 50 through the discharge port 52 and an air flow directed to the outside from the toner bottle 50 are repeatedly generated, and the toner is efficiently transferred from the discharge port 52 having a small diameter (about 2 mm in diameter) to the conveyance path 60. Let it drain. Further, the discharged toner is supplied to the developing device 3 through the conveyance path 60. That is, the pump 51 and the bottle drive motor 74 that drives the pump 51 are supply means for supplying the toner in the toner bottle 50 to the developing device 3, and the drive (expansion / contraction) of the pump 51 is performed via the conveyance path 60. This can be said to be a supply operation for supplying toner to the developing device 3. The pump 51 is provided so that it does not rotate in the rotation direction of the cylindrical portion 57.

  Next, the drive system of the toner bottle 50 and the pump 51 will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the toner bottle 50 includes a gear portion 53, and the toner bottle 50 rotates when the gear portion 53 is driven to rotate. In addition, the gear portion 53 is provided with a cam groove 55 having a groove on the entire periphery thereof. Then, by the cam mechanism including the cam groove 55, the rotational driving force for rotating the toner bottle 50 is converted into a force in the direction in which the pump 51 is reciprocated. As described above, the configuration in which the driving force for rotating the toner bottle 50 and the reciprocating motion of the pump 51 is received by the single gear portion 53 makes it possible to compare the toner bottle 50 with the case where two drive receiving portions are separately provided. The configuration of the drive input mechanism can be simplified.

  Specifically, a reciprocating member 54 (drive transmission member) is used as a member interposed for converting the rotational driving force into the reciprocating power of the pump 51. First, when the gear portion 53 receives rotational driving from the rotational drive mechanism 10, the cam groove 55 integrated with the gear portion 53 rotates. The cam groove 55 is engaged with an engaging protrusion 56 partially protruding from the reciprocating member 54. The reciprocating member 54 is fixed so that it does not rotate in the direction of rotation of the cylindrical portion 57 (allows a backlash to be allowed). Therefore, the rotation of the cam groove 55 causes the engagement projection 56 to reciprocate along the shape of the cam groove 55, whereby the reciprocating member 54 reciprocates, and the pump 51 is alternately expanded and contracted. repeat.

  In the present embodiment, a plurality of engaging protrusions 56 are provided to engage with the cam groove 55. Specifically, two engaging projections 56 are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 57 so as to face each other by about 180 °. However, at least one engagement protrusion 56 may be provided. However, since a moment is generated in the drive conversion mechanism or the like due to the drag force when the pump 51 is expanded or contracted, smooth reciprocation may not be performed. Therefore, it is preferable to provide a plurality so that the relationship with the shape of the cam groove 55 does not break down. .

  Next, the configuration of the transport path 60 will be described. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the conveyance path 60. Here, FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view of the conveyance path 60, and FIG. 5B is a side view of the conveyance path 60.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the conveyance path 60 includes a conveyance path supply port 61 connected to the discharge port 52 (see FIG. 3). Further, the developing device 3 is provided with a conveying screw 13 for conveying the toner. Further, in the vicinity of the conveyance screw 13 and just below the conveyance path supply port 61, a sensor 14 in the conveyance path is provided. Further, a replenishing port 62 for replenishing toner to the developing device 3 is provided.

  Regarding toner conveyance from the conveyance path 60 to the developing device 3, first, toner is supplied into the conveyance path 60 from the conveyance path supply port 61. Thereafter, the driving screw 13 is rotated by receiving a driving force from the transport path motor 75 (see FIG. 8), so that the toner is transported to the supply port 62 side. When the toner is conveyed to the replenishing port 62, the toner is replenished from the replenishing port 62 to the developing device 3.

The toner used in the conveyance path 60 of the present embodiment has a bulk density of about 0.5 to 0.8 g / cm ^{3 in} an environment where the temperature is 20 to 25 ° C. and the humidity is 30 to 60%. The conveying screw 13 is driven at 180 rpm. Note that when the type of toner and the amount of toner supplied into the conveying path are significantly changed, the driving conditions of the conveying screw 13 are also changed as appropriate.

<Phase detection sensor>
Here, when the toner is replenished by the expansion / contraction operation of the pump 51, when the pump 51 stops in the middle of the intake operation and in the middle of the exhaust operation, the volume variable amount due to the subsequent expansion / contraction operation of the pump 51 is changed. In contrast, toner discharge performance may become unstable.

  Therefore, the toner supply device 100 includes a phase detection sensor 58 that detects the phase of the toner bottle 50 in order to make the volume change amount uniform when the pump 51 is driven and to stabilize the toner supply amount. Hereinafter, the configuration of the phase detection sensor 58 will be described.

  FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram for explaining the configuration and detection operation of the phase detection sensor 58. As shown in FIG. 6, the phase detection sensor 58 is an optical photosensor, and is interposed between a light receiving element and a light emitting element, a detection unit 58a composed of a light receiving element and a light emitting element. A lever 58b that blocks light emitted from the light emitting element to the light receiving element is provided. The detector 58a outputs an electrical signal corresponding to the transmittance of light emitted from the light emitting element. On the circumferential surface of the toner bottle 50, a phase detection recess 50b is formed.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 6A, when the concave portion 50b of the toner bottle 50 is not at the position of the lever 58b, the lever 58b is not interposed between the light receiving element and the light emitting element of the detecting portion 58a. The light transmittance increases. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6B, when the concave portion 50b comes to the position of the lever 58b by the rotation of the toner bottle 50 and the lever 58b is interposed between the light receiving element and the light emitting element of the detecting portion 58a, the detecting portion The light transmittance of 58a is reduced.

  In the present embodiment, the digital output value is 1 (ON) when the ratio of the light transmittance in the detection unit 58a is 90% or more, and the digital output value is 0 (OFF) when it is less than 90%. .

  FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the relationship between the light transmittance of the phase detection sensor 58 and the expansion / contraction state of the pump 51. Here, FIG. 7A shows an output change of the light transmittance of the detection unit 58a of the phase detection sensor 58 and the digital output value when the toner bottle 50 rotates with reference to the point X shown in FIG. 6A. It is a graph which shows the change of. FIG. 7B is a diagram illustrating the expansion / contraction state of the pump 51 corresponding to the light transmittance of the detection unit 58 a of the phase detection sensor 58.

  As shown in FIG. 7A, when the toner bottle 50 rotates, the rate at which the light from the detection unit 58a is blocked by the lever 58b changes, and the rate of light transmittance and the digital output value change. In the present embodiment, the pump 51 expands as the light transmittance of the detection unit 58a of the phase detection sensor 58 decreases, and the pump 51 contracts as the light transmittance increases. 58 and the shape of the recess 50b are set. When the digital output value of the phase detection sensor 58 is 1, it is set so that the pump 51 is contracted most and the volume is close to the minimum state.

  When supplying the toner, the control unit 70 continues to rotate the bottle drive motor 74 until the digital output value of the detection unit 58a is switched from 0 (OFF) to 1 (ON). Stop. For this reason, when the bottle drive motor 74 is stopped after the toner supply operation is finished, the volume of the pump 51 is in a state near the minimum.

  By controlling the driving of the toner bottle 50 and the pump 51 based on the detection result of the phase detection sensor 58 in this way, the expansion / contraction state of the pump 51 when the driving is stopped becomes substantially constant, and the volume change amount when the pump 51 is driven can be reduced. It can be made uniform.

<Toner replenishment timing>
Next, toner supply timing by the toner supply device 100 will be described.

  When the toner in the developing device 3 is reduced, the toner stored in the toner bottle 50 is replenished to the developing device 3 via the transport path 60. The transport path 60 and the developing device 3 are provided with a transport path sensor 14 and a developer sensor 16 as detection means for detecting the toner amount (FIG. 2). The presence or absence of toner is detected by these sensors, and the toner replenishment timing is determined based on the detection result.

  Specifically, the in-conveyance path sensor 14 detects the presence / absence of toner in the conveyance path 60 at a period of 100 msec when the toner bottle 50 is driven. When the in-conveyance path sensor 14 detects the absence of toner three times in succession, the control unit 70 determines that there is no toner in the conveyance path 60 and operates the bottle drive motor 74 for one cycle. Thus, toner is supplied from the toner bottle 50 to the conveyance path 60.

  The developing unit sensor 16 detects the presence or absence of toner in the developing unit 3 at a cycle of 100 msec when the developing sleeve 8 is driven. The control unit 70 determines that the toner in the developing device 3 is present when the presence of toner is detected three or more times out of the 15 detections of presence / absence of toner by the sensor 16 in the developing device, and develops when the presence of toner is detected twice or less. It is determined that there is no toner in the container 3. Further, when the controller 70 determines that the toner in the developing device 3 is absent, the controller 70 drives the conveyance path motor 75 until it is determined that the toner in the developing device 3 is present.

  As the in-conveyance path sensor 14 and the in-developer sensor 16, various sensors whose output changes according to the amount of toner near the detection surface of the sensor can be used. For example, a magnetic permeability sensor that exhibits a high output voltage when there is a large amount of magnetic toner near the detection surface and exhibits a low output voltage when there is a small amount can be used.

<Control unit>
Next, an outline of the system configuration of the image forming apparatus A will be described focusing on the part particularly related to the control of the developing device 3.

  FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a part of the system configuration of the image forming apparatus A. As shown in FIG. 8, the image forming apparatus A includes a control unit 70 (control unit) including a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM.

  In the control unit 70, various control programs and data are recorded in the ROM. The CPU performs various arithmetic processes based on control programs and data stored in the ROM. The RAM includes a program load area, a work area, a storage area for various data, and the like. That is, in the control unit 70, the CPU controls each device of the image forming apparatus A while using the RAM as a work area based on a control program stored in the ROM.

  In addition, the conveyance path sensor 14 and the developer sensor 16 are connected to the control unit 70 via the toner detection unit 71. A bottle drive motor 74, a transport path motor 75, and a developing device clutch 76 are connected via a drive control unit 72. The control unit 70 controls the driving of the toner replenishing device 100 and the developing unit 3 described above based on the detection result of the presence / absence of toner by the transport path sensor 14 and the developing unit sensor 16.

  In addition, a phase detection sensor 58 is connected to the control unit 70. The control unit 70 can determine whether the toner bottle 50 and the pump 51 are normally driven from the detection result of the phase of the toner bottle 50 by the phase detection sensor 58. That is, the phase detection sensor 58 is a detection unit that detects the driving state of the toner bottle 50 and the pump 51.

  A display unit 78 is connected to the control unit 70. The control unit 70 can display various types of information on the display unit 78.

<Defect cause notification sequence>
Next, a failure cause notification sequence for determining and notifying the cause of a failure when a toner supply operation failure by the toner replenishing device 100 is detected will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 9, first, the controller 70 detects the opening / closing operation of the bottle cover (S1), and detects the absence of toner in the transport path 60 by the transport path sensor 14 (S2). The signal is turned on to start driving the toner bottle 50 and the pump 51 (S3). In this way, the toner supply operation (first operation) is started.

  Next, the control unit 70 monitors whether or not the digital output value of the phase detection sensor 58 during the toner supply operation changes (S4). In the present embodiment, whether or not the digital output value changes is monitored for 10 seconds. Here, when the digital output value changes, the control unit 70 determines that the toner supply operation is normally performed and ends the sequence.

  On the other hand, when the digital output value of the phase detection sensor 58 does not change for 10 seconds, the control unit 70 determines that the toner supply operation is defective. Then, it is determined whether or not the light transmittance of the detection unit 58a of the phase detection sensor 58 has changed during the 10 seconds (S5).

  Here, when the light transmittance changes, it is considered that the toner bottle 50 has stopped due to toner clogging during rotation, and therefore the controller 70 determines that the cause of the toner supply operation failure is toner clogging. Then, the display unit 78 displays that the toner is clogged and that the toner bottle 50 is removed and shaken to be remounted, and the sequence is terminated (S6).

  On the other hand, when the light transmittance does not change, it means that the toner bottle 50 is not rotating. Here, in the pump 51, when toner clogging has occurred since the toner bottle 50 is initially mounted, the pump 51 is not driven in the contracting direction but is driven in the expanding direction. On the other hand, when the mounting failure of the toner bottle 50 occurs, the driving force of the bottle driving motor 74 is not transmitted to the pump 51, and therefore the pump 51 is not driven in the contraction direction or the expansion direction. At this stage, since the toner bottle 50 is in the initial mounting state, the above-described phase control of the toner bottle 50 is not performed.

  Therefore, if the light transmittance has not changed, the control unit 70 then reversely rotates the bottle drive motor 74 (S7), and again detects the change in the light transmittance of the detection unit 58a of the phase detection sensor 58. (S8). When the light transmittance is changed and the driving of the pump 51 (rotation of the toner bottle 50) is detected, it is considered that the pump 51 has expanded. Therefore, the controller 70 causes the toner supply operation to be defective due to toner clogging. judge. That is, when the toner supply operation does not become a predetermined operation, the control unit 70 rotates the bottle drive motor 74 in the reverse direction (executes the second operation), and determines the state of the toner supply operation based on the state at this time. . Then, the display unit 78 displays that the toner is clogged, and prompts the user to remove and shake the toner bottle 50 to remount it (S6), and the sequence is terminated.

  On the other hand, when the light transmittance of the detection unit 58a of the phase detection sensor 58 does not change and the driving of the pump 51 (rotation of the toner bottle 50) is not detected, the control unit 70 determines the cause of the toner supply operation failure as the toner bottle 50. It is determined that the attachment is defective. Then, the display unit 78 displays a message indicating that the toner bottle 50 is not installed properly and prompts the user to re-install the toner bottle 50 (S9), and the sequence ends.

  When a toner supply operation failure is detected in this way, the supply operation with the changed contents is executed, and based on the driving state of the pump 51 at that time, the cause of the toner supply operation failure is whether the toner is clogged or the toner bottle 50 It is determined and informed whether the attachment is defective. Thus, the user can determine whether the cause of the toner supply operation failure is due to toner clogging or the toner bottle 50 being mounted incorrectly with a simple configuration.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of an image forming apparatus including the developer supply device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. About the part which overlaps with the said 1st Embodiment, the same drawing and the same code | symbol are attached | subjected and description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In the first embodiment, in the failure cause notification sequence, when the volume of the pump 51 is in the maximum state, the pump 51 is not driven even if the bottle drive motor 74 is rotated in the reverse direction, and the light transmittance of the detection unit 58a does not change. For this reason, there is a possibility that the toner bottle 50 is erroneously determined to be poorly mounted.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, after the bottle cover is opened and closed, the phase detection sensor 58 determines whether or not the volume of the pump 51 is in the maximum state. Hereinafter, the failure cause notification sequence according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. In FIG. 10, steps that perform the same processes as those described with reference to FIG. 9 in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is simplified.

  First, when the opening / closing operation of the bottle cover is detected (S1), the control unit 70 acquires the light transmittance of the detection unit 58a of the phase detection sensor 58 in the initial state of mounting the toner bottle 50 (S100).

  Next, when the controller 70 detects the absence of toner in the transport path 60 by the transport path sensor 14 (S2), the controller 70 turns on the drive signal of the bottle drive motor 74 to start driving the toner bottle 50 and the pump 51 ( S3).

  Next, the control unit 70 monitors whether or not the digital output value of the phase detection sensor 58 during the toner supply operation changes for 10 seconds. If the digital output value changes, the control unit 70 performs normal toner supply operation. It is determined that the process is performed at the end of the sequence (S4).

  On the other hand, when the digital output value of the phase detection sensor 58 does not change for 10 seconds, the control unit 70 determines whether or not the light transmittance of the detection unit 58a of the phase detection sensor 58 has changed during the 10 seconds. (S5).

  If the light transmittance changes here, the control unit 70 determines that the cause of the toner supply operation failure is toner clogging, indicates that toner clogging has occurred, removes the toner bottle 50, shakes it, and then reinstalls it. The display unit 78 displays a message prompting the user to end the sequence (S6). On the other hand, if the light transmittance of the detection unit 58a of the phase detection sensor 58 has not changed, the bottle drive motor 74 is rotated reversely (S7).

  Next, the control unit 70 detects again a change in the light transmittance of the detection unit 58a of the phase detection sensor 58 (S8). Here, when the drive of the pump 51 is detected from the change in the light transmittance, it is determined that the cause of the toner supply operation failure is toner clogging. Then, the display unit 78 displays that the toner is clogged, and prompts the user to remove and shake the toner bottle 50 to remount it (S6), and the sequence is terminated.

  On the other hand, if the light transmittance does not change when the bottle drive motor 74 is rotated in the reverse direction and the drive of the pump 51 is not detected, the control unit 70 then transmits the light of the detection unit 58a acquired in step S100. It is determined whether the rate is 10% or more (S200).

  Here, when the light transmittance is 10% or more, the volume of the pump 51 is not in the maximum state, and therefore the control unit 70 determines that the cause of the toner supply operation failure is the mounting failure of the toner bottle 50. Then, the display unit 78 is displayed on the display unit 78 to indicate that the toner bottle 50 is not installed properly and prompts for re-installation (S9), and the sequence ends.

  On the other hand, if the light transmittance is less than 10%, there is a possibility that the volume of the pump 51 is in the maximum state, so that the display unit 78 prompts the user to remove and shake the toner bottle 50 and then remount it. To end the sequence (S300).

  As a result, even if the volume of the pump 51 is in the maximum state, it is not erroneously determined that the toner bottle 50 is not properly attached. For this reason, it is possible to improve the determination accuracy of the cause of the defective toner supply operation.

  Note that if it is determined repeatedly that the toner bottle 50 is not mounted correctly, there is a possibility that the motor is defective. Therefore, when the defective mounting of the toner bottle 50 is repeatedly determined more than a predetermined number of times, the control unit 70 may be configured to determine the cause of the toner supply operation failure as a motor failure and display the fact on the display unit 78.

  In the first embodiment and the second embodiment, the cause of the toner supply operation failure of the toner replenishing device 100 is displayed on the display unit 78 and notified, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, for example, a configuration may be adopted in which information about the cause of the failure of the toner supply operation is transmitted and notified to an external device such as a personal computer using a communication network (communication means) that communicates with the external device.

1 ... photosensitive drum (image carrier)
3 ... developer 50 ... toner bottle (developer container)
51 ... Pump (supply means, pump part)
58 ... Phase detection sensor (detection means)
74 ... Bottle drive motor (supply means, motor)
78 ... Display unit 100 ... Toner supply device (developer supply device)
A: Image forming apparatus

Claims (7)

Supply means for supplying developer to the developer;
Detecting means for detecting a driving state of the supplying means;
When the supply unit performs the first operation and the first operation is not a predetermined operation, the supply unit performs a second operation different from the first operation, and enters the state of the second operation. Control means for determining the state of the first operation based on;
A developer replenishing device comprising: The supply means has a variable volume, and includes a pump unit that performs a developer supply operation by changing the volume, and a motor that changes the volume of the pump unit,
The control means, when a failure in the first operation is detected, when the motor rotates reversely from the first operation as the second operation, and the pump unit is driven at that time, The developer replenishing device according to claim 1, wherein the developer clogging is notified. A mounting portion for mounting a detachable developer storage container for storing the developer;
If the pump unit is not driven when the second operation is performed and the volume of the pump unit is not at the maximum state, the developer container is not mounted properly on the mounting unit. The developer replenishing device according to claim 2, wherein: With a display,
The developer supply device according to claim 2, wherein the control unit performs the notification by displaying a cause of the failure of the first operation on the display unit. A communication means for communicating with an external device;
4. The developer replenishment according to claim 2, wherein the control unit performs the notification by transmitting the cause of the failure of the first operation to the external device using the communication unit. 5. apparatus. Supply means for supplying developer to the developer;
Detecting means for detecting a driving state of the supplying means;
When the supply unit performs the first operation and the first operation is not a predetermined operation, the supply unit performs a second operation different from the first operation, and enters the state of the second operation. An informing means for informing on the first operation based on;
A developer replenishing device comprising: An image carrier;
A developing device for supplying a developer to the image carrier;
A developer replenishing device according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
An image forming apparatus comprising:

Images