JP2020052111A - Image forming apparatus and image forming method - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an image forming apparatus and an image forming method that can reduce the waiting time for a user who is restricted from executing a print job due to forcible supply of toner.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus 10 comprises: a developing unit that develops an electrostatic latent image by using a developer containing toner and carrier; a supply processing unit 51 that, when the amount of toner remaining in the developing unit becomes less than a first threshold, restricts execution of a print job, and executes forcible supply processing of supplying a toner to the developing unit until the amount of toner remaining in the developing unit exceeds a second threshold; and a stop processing unit 52 that, when the print job in a standby state becomes executable with the use of the toner in the developing unit during the execution of the forcible supply processing, can stop the forcible supply processing and execute the print job in a standby state.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus and an image forming method.

  2. Related Art An image forming apparatus including a developing unit that develops an electrostatic latent image using a developer containing a toner and a carrier is known. In this type of image forming apparatus, when the remaining amount of toner in the developing unit is less than a predetermined first threshold, a forced replenishment process of restricting the execution of a print job and replenishing the developing unit with toner is performed. (See, for example, Patent Document 1). In the forcible replenishment process, toner is supplied to the developing unit until the remaining amount of toner in the developing unit exceeds a second threshold larger than the first threshold, and the toner concentration in the developer is made uniform. The developer in the developing section is agitated.

JP-A-2006-114709

  By the way, during the execution of the forced replenishment process, the remaining amount of toner in the developing unit may exceed the amount of toner consumed by the waiting print job. In this case, the user who has input the instruction to execute the waiting print job executes the print job until the forced replenishment process ends, although the image forming apparatus can execute the print job. You will have to wait.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus and an image forming method capable of reducing the waiting time of a user who is restricted from executing a print job by forcibly replenishing toner.

  An image forming apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention includes a developing unit, a replenishment processing unit, and a stop processing unit. The developing unit develops an electrostatic latent image using a developer containing a toner and a carrier. The replenishment processing unit restricts the execution of a print job when the remaining amount of toner in the developing unit becomes less than a predetermined first threshold, and the remaining amount of toner in the developing unit becomes smaller than the first threshold. A forced replenishment process for replenishing the developing unit with toner is performed until a large second threshold is exceeded. The stop processing unit stops the forced replenishment process and stops the printing in a standby state when the print job in a standby state using the toner in the developing unit becomes executable during the execution of the forced replenishment process. The job can be executed.

  An image forming method according to another aspect of the present invention is performed in an image forming apparatus including a developing unit that develops an electrostatic latent image using a developer including a toner and a carrier, and the remaining amount of toner in the developing unit is determined in advance. When the value falls below a predetermined first threshold, the execution of a print job is restricted and toner is supplied to the developing unit until the remaining amount of toner in the developing unit exceeds a second threshold larger than the first threshold. Executing the forced replenishment process, and stopping the forcible replenishment process when the print job in the standby state using the toner in the developing unit becomes executable during the execution of the forced replenishment process. The print job can be executed.

  According to the present invention, an image forming apparatus and an image forming method capable of reducing a user's waiting time in which execution of a print job is restricted by forcible toner supply are realized.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming system including an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a peripheral configuration of the intermediate transfer belt in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming unit in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a developing unit in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a replenishment control process performed by the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following embodiments are examples embodying the present invention and do not limit the technical scope of the present invention.

[Image Forming System 100]
The image forming system 100 includes the image forming apparatus 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention, and a plurality of mobile terminals 60. As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 10 and the mobile terminal 60 are communicably connected via a communication network 70. For example, the communication network 70 is the Internet or a LAN (local area network).

  The image forming apparatus 10 can execute a print job that forms an image based on image data. For example, the image forming apparatus 10 is a multifunction peripheral having a plurality of functions, such as a scan function, a facsimile function, and a copy function, in addition to a print function. Note that the image forming apparatus 10 may be a printer device, a facsimile device, or a copy machine.

  The mobile terminal 60 is a smartphone or a tablet terminal possessed by a user of an information processing apparatus (not shown) capable of transmitting the print job to the image forming apparatus 10. Note that the mobile terminal 60 may be a mobile phone, a PDA, a notebook computer, or the like.

[Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus 10]
Next, the configuration of the image forming apparatus 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view showing the configuration of the image forming apparatus 10.

  For convenience of description, the vertical direction in the installation state in which the image forming apparatus 10 can be used (the state shown in FIG. 2) is defined as a vertical direction D1. The front-rear direction D2 is defined as the front surface (front surface) of the image forming apparatus 10 shown in FIG. Further, a left-right direction D3 is defined based on the front of the image forming apparatus 10 in the installed state.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 10 includes an ADF (automatic document feeder) 1, an image reading unit 2, an image forming unit 3, a paper feeding unit 4, a control unit 5, an operation display unit 6, and a communication unit 7. , And a storage unit 8.

  The ADF 1 includes a document setting unit, a plurality of conveyance rollers, a document pressing unit, a paper discharge unit, and the like, and conveys a document read by the image reading unit 2.

  The image reading unit 2 includes a document table, a light source, a plurality of mirrors, an optical lens, a CCD, and the like, and can read image data from a document.

  The image forming unit 3 can form a color or monochrome image by an electrophotographic method based on the image data read by the image reading unit 2. Further, the image forming section 3 can also form an image based on image data input from the information processing device. Note that the image forming unit 3 may be configured to be able to form only a monochrome image.

  The paper feed unit 4 includes a paper feed cassette and a plurality of transport rollers, and supplies sheets to the image forming unit 3. The image forming unit 3 forms an image based on image data on a sheet supplied from the sheet feeding unit 4.

  The control unit 5 includes control devices such as a CPU 5A, a ROM 5B, and a RAM 5C. The CPU 5A is a processor that executes various arithmetic processes. The ROM 5B is a nonvolatile storage device in which information such as a control program for causing the CPU 5A to execute various processes is stored in advance. The RAM 5C is a volatile storage device. The RAM 5C is used as a temporary storage memory (work area) for various processes executed by the CPU 5A. In the control unit 5, various control programs stored in the ROM 5B in advance are executed by the CPU 5A. Thus, the control unit 5 controls the image forming apparatus 10 as a whole. The control unit 5 may be configured by an electronic circuit such as an integrated circuit (ASIC), and is a control unit provided separately from a main control unit that controls the image forming apparatus 10 in an integrated manner. You may.

  The operation display unit 6 includes a display unit such as a liquid crystal display that displays various information according to a control instruction from the control unit 5, and an operation key or a touch panel that inputs various information to the control unit 5 according to a user operation. And the like.

  The communication unit 7 can execute wired or wireless data communication with an external communication device including the mobile terminal 60 via the communication network 70.

  The storage unit 8 is a nonvolatile storage device. For example, the storage unit 8 is a storage device such as a nonvolatile memory such as a flash memory and an EEPROM (registered trademark), a solid state drive (SSD), and a hard disk drive (HDD).

  In the image forming apparatus 10, the device identification information of each of the information processing devices is stored in the storage unit 8 in advance. For example, the device identification information is an IP address or a MAC address.

  In the image forming apparatus 10, terminal identification information of each of the mobile terminals 60 is stored in the storage unit 8 in advance. Specifically, the terminal identification information is stored in the storage unit 8 in association with the device identification information of the information processing device used by the user having the mobile terminal 60 identified by the terminal identification information. I have. For example, the terminal identification information is an IP address or a MAC address.

[Configuration of Image Forming Unit 3]
Next, the configuration of the image forming unit 3 will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view showing the configuration of the four image forming units 11, the intermediate transfer belt 13, and the secondary transfer roller 14.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming unit 3 includes four image forming units 11, two optical scanning devices 12, an intermediate transfer belt 13, a secondary transfer roller 14, a fixing device 15, a paper discharge tray 16, and 4 And two toner containers 17.

  The four image forming units 11 are provided side by side along the front-back direction D2 of the image forming apparatus 10. The four image forming units 11 correspond to colors of Y (yellow), C (cyan), M (magenta), and K (black), respectively, in order from the front side of the image forming apparatus 10. Each of the four image forming units 11 can form a toner image of a corresponding color.

  As shown in FIG. 3, each of the image forming units 11 includes a photosensitive drum 21, a charging roller 22, a developing unit 23, a primary transfer roller 24, and a drum cleaning unit 25. The four image forming units 11 have a common configuration except for the color of the toner stored in the developing unit 23.

  The photoconductor drum 21 carries a toner image. The charging roller 22 charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 21. The developing unit 23 develops an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 21 using a developer containing a toner. Specifically, the developer is a two-component developer including a magnetic carrier and a non-magnetic toner. The primary transfer roller 24 transfers the toner image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 21 by the developing unit 23 to the intermediate transfer belt 13. The drum cleaning unit 25 removes toner attached to the surface of the photosensitive drum 21.

  The two optical scanning devices 12 are provided side by side along the front-back direction D2 of the image forming apparatus 10. Of the two optical scanning devices 12, the optical scanning device 12 on the front side of the image forming device 10 is a photosensitive drum 21 of the image forming unit 11 corresponding to Y (yellow) and an image forming device corresponding to C (cyan). An electrostatic latent image is formed on each of the photosensitive drums 21 of the unit 11. Of the two optical scanning devices 12, the optical scanning device 12 on the rear side of the image forming device 10 is a photosensitive drum 21 of the image forming unit 11 corresponding to M (magenta) and an image forming device corresponding to K (black). An electrostatic latent image is formed on each of the photosensitive drums 21 of the unit 11.

  The intermediate transfer belt 13 is an endless belt member to which a toner image formed on each surface of the photosensitive drum 21 is transferred. The intermediate transfer belt 13 is stretched with a predetermined tension by a driving roller and a stretching roller that are arranged separately in the front-rear direction D2 of the image forming apparatus 10. The intermediate transfer belt 13 moves in the front-rear direction D2 of the image forming apparatus 10 when the driving roller is rotationally driven by a driving force supplied from a power source (not shown).

  The secondary transfer roller 14 transfers the toner image attached to the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 13 to a sheet supplied from the paper supply unit 4.

  The fixing device 15 melts and fixes the toner image transferred to the sheet by the secondary transfer roller 14 to the sheet.

  The sheet on which the toner image is fixed by the fixing device 15 is discharged to the discharge tray 16.

  The four toner containers 17 are provided side by side along the front-back direction D2 of the image forming apparatus 10. The four toner containers 17 correspond to colors of Y (yellow), C (cyan), M (magenta), and K (black), respectively, in order from the front side of the image forming apparatus 10. Each of the toner containers 17 stores a toner of a corresponding color. Each of the toner containers 17 supplies the toner contained therein to the developing unit 23 of the image forming unit 11 corresponding to the color of the toner. For example, each of the toner containers 17 includes a toner discharge port connected to a toner supply path (not shown) leading to the corresponding developing unit 23, and a transport member that transports the toner stored therein to the toner discharge port. Each of the toner containers 17 supplies the toner contained therein to the corresponding developing unit 23 by driving the transport member by the driving force supplied from the power source.

[Configuration of Developing Unit 23]
Next, the configuration of the developing unit 23 will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a configuration of an image forming unit 11A (see FIG. 3) corresponding to Y (yellow) among the four image forming units 11. FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line VV in FIG. In FIG. 5, the position of the carry-in port 47 in the developing section 23 is indicated by a dashed line.

  4 and 5, the developing unit 23 includes a housing 31, a first transport member 32, a second transport member 33, a magnet roller 34, a developing roller 35, and a toner sensor 36.

  The housing 31 is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape elongated in the left-right direction D3. As shown in FIG. 4, the housing 31 contains a first transport member 32, a second transport member 33, a magnet roller 34, and a developing roller 35. The housing 31 contains the developer. The developing unit 23 forms a toner image using the developer contained in the housing 31.

  The housing 31 has a first transport path 41 and a second transport path 42. Specifically, a partition wall 44 extending in the left-right direction D3 is provided on the bottom 43 (see FIG. 4) of the housing 31. A long first transport path 41 and a second transport path 42 are formed in the left-right direction D3 by the bottom 43, the side wall, and the partition 44 of the housing 31.

  The first transport member 32 is provided on the first transport path 41. For example, the first transport member 32 is a screw-shaped member that is long in the left-right direction D3 and has a rotation axis extending in the left-right direction D3. The first transport member 32 is supported by the housing 31 so that the rotation axis thereof can be rotated. The first transport member 32 is driven to rotate by the driving force supplied from the power source, thereby transporting the developer in the transport direction D31 (see FIG. 5) and agitating the developer.

  The second transport member 33 is provided on the second transport path 42. For example, like the first transport member 32, the second transport member 33 is a screw-shaped member that is long in the left-right direction D3 and has a rotation axis extending in the left-right direction D3. The second transport member 33 is supported by the housing 31 so that the rotation axis thereof is rotatable. The second transport member 33 is driven to rotate by the driving force supplied from the power source, thereby transporting the developer in the transport direction D32 (see FIG. 5) and agitating the developer.

  As shown in FIG. 5, a communication path 45 that connects the first conveyance path 41 and the second conveyance path 42 is provided at a downstream end of the partition wall 44 in the conveyance direction D31. On the other hand, a communication path 46 that communicates the second conveyance path 42 and the first conveyance path 41 is provided at a downstream end of the partition wall 44 in the conveyance direction D32. Thus, the developer contained in the housing 31 is circulated and conveyed by the first conveying member 32 and the second conveying member 33 through the first conveying path 41 and the second conveying path 42.

  The housing 31 has a carry-in entrance 47. Specifically, the carry-in port 47 is provided above a predetermined carry-in position P1 (see FIG. 5) in the first transport path 41. For example, the loading position P1 is a position near the upstream end of the first transport path 41 in the transport direction D31. The carry-in port 47 is connected to the toner supply path, and is used for carrying the toner supplied from the toner container 17 into the housing 31.

  The magnet roller 34 pumps up the developer from the second transport path 42 and supplies the toner contained in the pumped up developer to the developing roller 35.

  The developing roller 35 develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 21 using the toner supplied from the magnet roller 34.

  The toner sensor 36 can detect the remaining amount of toner in the developing unit 23. For example, the toner sensor 36 is a magnetic permeability sensor that includes an LC oscillation circuit that outputs an electric signal according to the magnetic permeability of the developer contained in the housing 31. For example, the toner sensor 36 detects the magnetic permeability of the developer at a detection position P2 (see FIG. 5) downstream of the carry-in position P1 in the first conveyance path 41 in the conveyance direction D31. As shown in FIG. 4, the toner sensor 36 is provided on the outer surface of the bottom 43. Note that the toner sensor 36 may be a piezoelectric sensor or the like capable of detecting the pressure on the inner surface of the bottom 43.

  In the image forming apparatus 10, the print job is executed using the image forming unit 3. In the image forming apparatus 10, during execution of the print job, the remaining amount of toner in the developing unit 23 is determined based on an electric signal output from a toner sensor 36 included in the developing unit 23 driven by the print job. Is monitored. Then, when the remaining amount of toner in the developing unit 23 becomes less than a predetermined third threshold, the developing is performed until the remaining amount of toner in the developing unit 23 exceeds a fourth threshold larger than the third threshold. A normal replenishment process for replenishing toner to the unit 23 is performed.

  In the normal supply process, the toner is supplied from the toner container 17 corresponding to the developing unit 23 to be supplied to the developing unit 23 at a predetermined first supply speed. Here, the toner supply speed refers to the toner supply amount per unit time. For example, in the normal supply process, the transport member of the toner container 17 corresponding to the developing unit 23 to be supplied is continuously driven at a first speed corresponding to the first supply speed. The normal supply process is performed in parallel with the print job.

  Further, in the image forming apparatus 10, when the remaining amount of toner in the developing unit 23 becomes less than the first threshold value smaller than the third threshold value, the execution of the print job is restricted to restrict the toner in the developing unit 23. Until the remaining amount exceeds a second threshold larger than the first threshold, a forced supply process for supplying toner to the developing unit 23 is performed. Note that the second threshold may be larger or smaller than the third threshold.

  In the forcible replenishment process, toner is supplied from the toner container 17 corresponding to the developing unit 23 having the remaining toner amount smaller than the first threshold value to the developing unit 23 at a second supply speed higher than the first supply speed. Is done. For example, in the forcible replenishment process, the transport member of the toner container 17 corresponding to the developing unit 23 to be replenished corresponds to the second supply speed and has a second speed higher than the first speed. Driven continuously.

  During the execution of the forced supply process, the execution of the print job is prohibited. Specifically, if the print job is being executed at the start of the execution of the forced supply process, the execution of the print job is stopped. If the print job is input during the execution of the forced supply process, the execution of the print job is suspended until the forced supply process ends.

  In the forcible replenishment process, the developer in the developing unit 23 is agitated until a predetermined agitation time elapses during and after the replenishment of the toner to the developing unit 23 to be replenished. Specifically, in the forced replenishment process, the first transport member 32 and the second transport member 33 of the developing unit 23 to be replenished are driven, and the developer in the developing unit 23 is agitated. The stirring time is set to be longer as the second supply speed is higher. Further, the stirring time is set to a shorter time as the driving speed of the first transport member 32 and the second transport member 33 in the forced replenishment process increases. Note that the stirring time may be zero.

  By the way, during the execution of the forced replenishment process, the remaining amount of toner in the developing unit 23 may exceed the amount of toner consumed by the print job in a standby state. Here, in the conventional image forming apparatus, a user who has input an instruction to execute the print job in a standby state is capable of executing the print job in the image forming apparatus. The execution of the print job has been waited until the process is completed.

  On the other hand, in the image forming apparatus 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention, as described below, it is possible to reduce the waiting time of the user whose execution of the print job is restricted by the forced supply of toner. .

  Specifically, a replenishment control program for causing the CPU 5A to execute a replenishment control process (see the flowchart in FIG. 6) described below is stored in the ROM 5B of the control unit 5 in advance. The replenishment control program may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD, DVD, or flash memory, and may be read from the recording medium and installed in the storage unit 8.

  Then, the control unit 5 includes a supply processing unit 51, a stop processing unit 52, and a restart processing unit 53, as shown in FIG. Specifically, the CPU 5A of the control unit 5 executes the supply control program stored in the ROM 5B. Thus, the control unit 5 functions as a supply processing unit 51, a stop processing unit 52, and a restart processing unit 53.

  The replenishment processing unit 51 executes the forced replenishment process when the remaining amount of toner in the developing unit 23 becomes less than the first threshold.

  Specifically, the replenishment processing unit 51 monitors the remaining amount of toner in the developing unit 23 including the toner sensor 36 based on an electric signal output from each of the toner sensors 36. Then, the replenishment processing unit 51 executes the forced replenishment process when the remaining amount of toner in any one of the developing units 23 becomes less than the first threshold.

  The stop processing unit 52 stops the forced supply process and executes the waiting print job when a predetermined stop condition is satisfied during the execution of the forced supply process.

  For example, the stop condition is to satisfy both of the following first condition and second condition.

  That is, the first condition is that the print job on standby can be executed using the toner in the developing unit 23 to be supplied.

  For example, the stop processing unit 52 determines that the first condition is satisfied when the toner replenishment amount in the forcible replenishment process becomes equal to or larger than the toner consumption amount in the waiting print job. Here, the amount of toner consumption for each print color by the print job in a standby state can be calculated based on image data printed by the print job.

  Note that the stop processing unit 52 may determine that the first condition is satisfied when the remaining amount of toner in the developing unit 23 to be supplied becomes equal to or larger than the amount of toner consumed by the waiting print job. In addition, the stop processing unit 52 performs a process when the amount obtained by multiplying the remaining amount of toner in the developing unit 23 to be replenished by a predetermined ratio becomes equal to or larger than the amount of toner consumed by the print job in standby. , It may be determined that the first condition is satisfied. Further, the stop processing unit 52 is configured to execute a case where the replenishment amount of the toner by the forcible replenishment processing becomes equal to or more than the toner consumption amount of the waiting print job, and the printing rate in the print job is set to a predetermined allowable value. In the following cases, it may be determined that the first condition is satisfied.

  Here, when there are a plurality of the waiting print jobs, the stop processing unit 52 determines whether or not the first condition is satisfied, for example, based on a toner consumption amount in the print job having the earliest execution order. I do. In this case, when determining that the stop condition is satisfied, the stop processing unit 52 executes only the print job having the earliest execution order. Note that, when there are a plurality of print jobs waiting, the stop processing unit 52 may determine whether the first condition is satisfied based on the amount of toner consumption in the plurality of print jobs. In this case, the stop processing unit 52 sequentially executes the plurality of print jobs when determining that the stop condition is satisfied.

  In addition, the second condition is that a user who has input an instruction to execute the waiting print job exists within a predetermined range from the image forming apparatus 10. For example, the range is a range from the image forming apparatus 10 to 10 meters. Note that the range may be arbitrarily determined.

  For example, the stop processing unit 52, based on the device identification information and the terminal identification information stored in the storage unit 8, when an instruction to execute the waiting print job is input from the information processing device, The portable terminal 60 corresponding to the information processing device is specified. When the specified mobile terminal 60 is within the range, the stop processing unit 52 determines that the user who has input the instruction to execute the waiting print job is within the range from the image forming apparatus 10. I do. For example, the stop processing unit 52 acquires terminal position information indicating the current position of the mobile terminal 60 acquired from the mobile terminal 60 and device position information indicating the installation position of the image forming apparatus 10 registered in the image forming apparatus 10 in advance. It is determined whether or not the mobile terminal 60 is within the range based on the above. The stop processing unit 52 determines whether the mobile terminal 60 exists within the range based on whether wireless communication with the mobile terminal 60 according to Bluetooth (registered trademark) can be performed. May be determined. In this case, the range is a communicable range of wireless communication according to Bluetooth.

  Further, when an execution instruction of the waiting print job is input on the operation display unit 6, the stop processing unit 52 determines that the user who has input the execution instruction unconditionally exists within the range from the image forming apparatus 10. I judge it. Note that the image forming apparatus 10 may include a human sensor that can detect the presence or absence of a person within a predetermined detection range. In this case, the stop processing unit 52 inputs the execution instruction when the presence sensor is detected by the motion sensor when the execution instruction of the waiting print job is input on the operation display unit 6. The determined user may be determined to be within the range from the image forming apparatus 10. In this case, the range is the detection range. Further, when the execution instruction of the waiting print job is input on the operation display unit 6, the stop processing unit 52 sets the mobile terminal 60 corresponding to the logged-in user at the time of inputting the execution instruction to be within the range. If there is, it may be determined that the user who has input the execution instruction is within the range from the image forming apparatus 10. Here, by storing the authentication information used for user authentication and the terminal identification information in the storage unit 8 in association with each other, it is possible to specify the mobile terminal 60 corresponding to the login user.

  For example, the stop processing unit 52 executes the stirring process for stirring the developer in the developing unit 23 to be supplied from the time when the forced supply process is stopped until the stirring time elapses, and then executes the print job waiting. Execute When the stirring time is zero, the stop processing unit 52 may execute the waiting print job without executing the stirring processing. Further, the stop processing unit 52 may reduce the stirring time by an amount corresponding to a difference between the second threshold value and the remaining amount of toner in the developing unit 23 to be supplied at the time of stopping the forced supply process. .

  Note that the stop condition may be that only the first condition is satisfied. Further, the stop condition may satisfy the first condition, or the first condition and the second condition, and satisfy the following third condition.

  For example, the third condition is that the moving speed of the user who has input the instruction to execute the waiting print job exceeds a predetermined reference speed. Here, the moving speed of the user who has input the instruction to execute the waiting print job can be calculated based on the terminal position information acquired at predetermined intervals from the portable terminal 60 corresponding to the user. .

  The resumption processing unit 53 restarts the forced replenishment process when the remaining amount of toner in the developing unit 23 to be replenished in the forcible replenishment process is equal to or less than the second threshold value after the stop processing unit 52 executes the print job. I do.

  For example, the resumption processing unit 53 is in a case where the remaining amount of toner in the developing unit 23 to be replenished in the forcible replenishment process after the execution of the print job by the stop processing unit 52 is equal to or less than the second threshold, and If the print job does not exist, the forced supply process is restarted.

  Note that, regardless of the presence or absence of the waiting print job, the restart processing unit 53 sets the remaining toner amount in the developing unit 23 to be replenished in the forcible replenishment process after the execution of the print job by the stop processing unit 52 to the second level. If the difference is equal to or less than two thresholds, the forced supply process may be restarted. Further, the control unit 5 may not include the restart processing unit 53.

[Configuration of Mobile Terminal 60]
Next, the configuration of the mobile terminal 60 will be described with reference to FIG.

  As illustrated in FIG. 1, the mobile terminal 60 includes a control unit 61, an operation display unit 62, a communication unit 63, a GPS communication unit 64, and a storage unit 65.

  The control unit 61 includes control devices such as a CPU 61A, a ROM 61B, and a RAM 61C, like the control unit 5 of the image forming apparatus 10. In the control section 61, various control programs stored in the ROM 61B in advance are executed by the CPU 61A. As a result, the mobile terminal 60 is controlled by the control unit 61 as a whole.

  The operation display unit 62 includes a display unit such as a liquid crystal display that displays various information according to a control instruction from the control unit 61, and an operation key or a touch panel that inputs various information to the control unit 61 according to a user operation. And the like.

  The communication unit 63 is a communication interface that can execute wireless data communication with an external communication device such as the image forming apparatus 10 connected via the communication network 70.

  The GPS communication unit 64 can receive radio waves transmitted from GPS satellites. The mobile terminal 60 can acquire the terminal position information based on information included in the radio wave received by the GPS communication unit 64.

  The storage unit 65 is a nonvolatile storage device, like the storage unit 8 of the image forming apparatus 10. An application program corresponding to the image forming apparatus 10 is stored in the storage unit 65 in advance. When the CPU 61A executes the application program, the control unit 61 can communicate with the image forming apparatus 10 and execute a process according to an instruction transmitted from the image forming apparatus 10. Specifically, when a transmission request for the terminal position information is transmitted from the image forming apparatus 10, the control unit 61 acquires the terminal position information using a GPS communication unit 64, and acquires the acquired terminal position information. Is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 10.

[Supply control processing]
Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 6, an example of a procedure of a replenishment control process performed by the control unit 5 in the image forming apparatus 10 and a procedure of the image forming method according to the present invention will be described. Here, steps S11, S12,... Represent the numbers of the processing procedures (steps) executed by the control unit 5.

<Step S11>
First, in step S11, the control unit 5 determines whether or not the remaining amount of toner in any one of the developing units 23 is less than the first threshold.

  Here, when the control unit 5 determines that the remaining toner amount is less than the first threshold value in any of the developing units 23 (Yes in S11), the control unit 5 shifts the processing to step S12. If the remaining toner amount is not less than the first threshold value in any of the developing units 23 (No in S11), the control unit 5 determines in step S11 that the remaining toner amount in any of the developing units 23 is equal to the first threshold value. Wait for it to be less than the threshold.

<Step S12>
In step S12, the control unit 5 executes the forcible supply process. Here, the processing of step S11 and step S12 is executed by the supply processing unit 51 of the control unit 5.

<Step S13>
In step S13, the control unit 5 determines whether or not the forced replenishment process has been completed.

  Here, when the control unit 5 determines that the forced replenishment process has been completed (Yes in S13), the control unit 5 shifts the process to step S11. If the forced replenishment processing has not been completed (No in S13), the control unit 5 shifts the processing to step S14.

<Step S14>
In step S14, the control unit 5 determines whether or not the stop condition is satisfied.

  Here, when determining that the stop condition is satisfied (Yes in S14), the control unit 5 shifts the processing to step S15. If the stop condition is not satisfied (No in S14), the control unit 5 shifts the processing to step S13.

<Step S15>
In step S15, the control unit 5 stops the forced supply process.

<Step S16>
In step S16, the control unit 5 executes the stirring process. This suppresses variation in the toner concentration of the developer in the developing unit 23 caused by the fact that the toner supply speed in the forced supply process is higher than that in the normal supply process. Therefore, in the print job executed in step S17, it is possible to suppress a decrease in print quality due to a variation in the toner concentration of the developer in the developing unit 23.

<Step S17>
In step S17, the control unit 5 executes the print job after the end of the stirring process executed in step S16. Here, the processing from step S13 to step S17 is executed by the stop processing unit 52 of the control unit 5.

<Step S18>
In step S18, after the print job executed in step S17 ends, the control unit 5 sets the remaining toner amount in the developing unit 23 in which the toner has been replenished in the forced replenishment process stopped in step S15. It is determined whether the difference is equal to or less than two thresholds.

  Here, when the controller 5 determines that the remaining amount of toner is equal to or less than the second threshold in the developing unit 23 to which toner has been supplied in the forced supply process (Yes in S18), the process proceeds to step S19. Migrate. If the remaining amount of toner is not less than the second threshold value (No in S18) in the developing unit 23 to which the toner has been replenished in the forcible replenishment process, the control unit 5 shifts the process to step S11.

<Step S19>
In step S19, the control unit 5 determines whether or not the waiting print job exists.

  If the control unit 5 determines that the print job waiting is present (Yes in S19), the control unit 5 shifts the processing to step S11. If there is no waiting print job (No in S19), the control unit 5 shifts the processing to step S20.

<Step S20>
In step S20, the control unit 5 restarts the forced supply process stopped in step S15. As a result, the toner is resupplied to the developing unit 23 to which the toner has been replenished in the stopped forced replenishment process. Therefore, during the execution of the print job executed by the image forming apparatus 10, To suppress the remaining amount of toner from being less than the first threshold. Here, the processing from step S18 to step S20 is executed by the restart processing unit 53 of the control unit 5.

  Note that the process of step S16 may be omitted. Further, the processing of step S19 may be omitted. Further, the processing from step S18 to step S20 may be omitted.

  As described above, in the image forming apparatus 10, when the stop condition is satisfied during the execution of the forced replenishment process, the forced replenishment process is stopped and the print job that is on standby is executed. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the waiting time of the user who is restricted from executing the print job by forcibly replenishing the toner.

  In the image forming apparatus 10, the stop condition includes the second condition. This makes it possible to prevent the forced replenishment process from being stopped and giving priority to the execution of the waiting print process even when the user does not urgently need the printed material.

1 ADF
2 Image reading unit 3 Image forming unit 4 Paper feeding unit 5 Control unit 6 Operation display unit 7 Communication unit 8 Storage unit 10 Image forming device 11 Image forming unit 12 Optical scanning device 13 Intermediate transfer belt 14 Secondary transfer roller 15 Fixing device 16 Discharge tray 17 Toner container 21 Photoreceptor drum 22 Charging roller 23 Developing unit 24 Primary transfer roller 25 Drum cleaning unit 51 Supply processing unit 52 Stop processing unit 53 Restart processing unit 60 Mobile terminal 70 Communication network 100 Image forming system

Claims (7)

A developing unit that develops an electrostatic latent image using a developer including a toner and a carrier,
When the remaining amount of toner in the developing unit becomes less than a predetermined first threshold value, the execution of a print job is restricted so that the remaining amount of toner in the developing unit exceeds a second threshold value larger than the first threshold value. A replenishment processing unit that executes a forced replenishment process of replenishing the developing unit with toner;
When the waiting print job can be executed by using the toner in the developing unit during the execution of the forced replenishment process, the forcible replenishment process is stopped to stop the print job in a standby state. A processing unit;
An image forming apparatus comprising: The stop processing unit determines that the print job is executable when the toner supply amount in the forced supply process is equal to or larger than the toner consumption amount in the print job.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. The stop processing unit, when the toner replenishment amount by the forced replenishment process is equal to or more than the toner consumption amount by the print job, and when the printing rate in the print job is equal to or less than a predetermined allowable value, Determine that the print job is executable,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. A restart processing unit that restarts the forced replenishment process when the remaining amount of toner in the developing unit is equal to or less than the second threshold after the print job is executed by the stop processing unit;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. The forced replenishment process restricts execution of the print job and replenishes the developing unit with toner until the remaining amount of toner in the developing unit exceeds the second threshold. A process of stirring the developer in the developing unit until a predetermined stirring time has elapsed from the end of replenishment,
The stop processing unit executes the waiting print job after executing the stirring process of stirring the developer in the developing unit until the stirring time elapses from the time of stopping the forced supply process,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. The stop processing unit is configured to execute the standby print job using the toner in the developing unit during the execution of the forced replenishment process. If it is within a predetermined range from its own device, stop the forced replenishment process and execute the waiting print job,
An image forming apparatus according to claim 1. An image forming method executed by an image forming apparatus including a developing unit that develops an electrostatic latent image using a developer including a toner and a carrier,
When the remaining amount of toner in the developing unit becomes less than a predetermined first threshold value, the execution of a print job is restricted so that the remaining amount of toner in the developing unit exceeds a second threshold value larger than the first threshold value. Performing a forced replenishment process of replenishing the developing unit with toner,
When the waiting print job can be executed using the toner in the developing unit during the execution of the forced replenishment process, the forcible replenishment process can be stopped to execute the waiting print job. When,
And an image forming method.

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