JP2023030922A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an image forming apparatus that can prevent blocking of toner.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus 100 comprises an image forming unit 20, a first container Ca1 and a second container Ca2, and a control unit 80. The image forming unit 20 forms an image on a recording medium S. The first container Ca1 and the second container Ca2 selectively supply toner in the same color to the image forming unit 20. The control unit 80 controls to stir the toner in the first container Ca1 at a predetermined frequency in a period during which the first container Ca1 closer to a conveyance path 14 of the recording medium S than the second container Ca2 does not supply the toner to the image forming unit 20.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

The image forming apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-200002 selectively uses toner containers in two stages, upper and lower, for each color. While the upper toner container is supplying toner to the developing section, the lower toner container is at rest. When the upper toner container becomes empty, toner supply from the lower toner container to the developing section automatically starts. Replacement of the upper toner container can be performed while the lower toner container is supplying toner to the development station.

While the lower toner container is supplying toner to the developing section, the upper toner container is at rest. When the lower toner container becomes empty, toner supply from the upper toner container to the developing section automatically starts. Replacement of the lower toner container can be performed while the upper toner container is supplying toner to the development station.

JP 2019-56801 A

In the image forming apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-200011, for example, the sheet heated and pressurized by the fixing section passes near the upper toner container. When the upper toner container is at rest, the toner in the upper toner container in which the stirring operation is not performed is left for a long period of time. As a result, there is a possibility that the toner in the upper toner container during rest may be blocked due to the heat generated from the paper.

An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of suppressing toner blocking.

An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes an image forming section, first and second containers, and a control section. The image forming section forms an image on a recording medium. The first container and the second container selectively supply toner of the same color to the image forming section. The control unit supplies the toner in the first container to the image forming unit while the first container, which is closer to the conveying path of the recording medium than the second container, does not supply the toner to the image forming unit. Control to agitate at a predetermined frequency.

According to the present invention, an image forming apparatus capable of suppressing toner blocking is provided.

1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment; FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the circuit configuration of the image forming apparatus; FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of processing of a control unit;

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will not be repeated.

First, an image forming apparatus 100 according to an embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of an image forming apparatus 100. As shown in FIG. Image forming apparatus 100 is, for example, a color printer.

As shown in FIG. 1 , the image forming apparatus 100 includes a conveying section 10 , an image forming section 20 and an operating section 30 . The conveying unit 10 conveys the sheet S. As shown in FIG. The sheet S is, for example, paper and corresponds to an example of a "recording medium." The image forming unit 20 forms an image on the sheet S by electrophotography. The operation unit 30 has a touch panel 31 so as to receive user input operations.

The transport section 10 has a feed section 12 , a transport path 14 and a discharge section 16 . The feeding section 12 accommodates a plurality of sheets S and feeds the sheets S to the conveying path 14 . The transport path 14 includes a plurality of transport rollers and transports the sheet S thereon. The discharge unit 16 includes a discharge roller and discharges the sheet S on which an image is formed to the outside of the image forming apparatus 100 . A conveying speed sensor 42 is arranged on the conveying path 14 downstream of the image forming section 20 . A conveying speed sensor 42 detects the conveying speed of the sheet S. FIG. The conveying speed sensor 42 corresponds to an example of a "sensor".

The image forming apparatus 100 is equipped with upper toner containers Ca1 to Cd1 and lower toner containers Ca2 to Cd2. Each of the upper toner containers Ca1 to Cd1 and the lower toner containers Ca2 to Cd2 is detachable from the image forming apparatus 100. As shown in FIG. The upper toner containers Ca1 to Cd1 are mounted at positions closer to the transport path 14 for the sheets S than the lower toner containers Ca2 to Cd2. The upper toner containers Ca1 to Cd1 correspond to an example of the "first container", and the lower toner containers Ca2 to Cd2 correspond to an example of the "second container".

Each of the upper toner containers Ca1 to Cd1 contains toner of a different color. The lower toner container Ca2 contains toner of the same color as the upper toner container Ca1. The upper toner container Ca1 and the lower toner container Ca2 selectively supply yellow toner to the image forming section 20, for example. The lower toner container Cb2 contains toner of the same color as the upper toner container Cb1. The upper toner container Cb1 and the lower toner container Cb2 selectively supply magenta toner to the image forming section 20 . The lower toner container Cc2 contains toner of the same color as the upper toner container Cc1. The upper toner container Cc1 and the lower toner container Cc2 selectively supply cyan toner to the image forming section 20, for example. The lower toner container Cd2 contains toner of the same color as the upper toner container Cd1. The upper toner container Cd1 and the lower toner container Cd2 selectively supply black toner to the image forming section 20, for example. The image forming section 20 forms images using toner supplied from the upper toner containers Ca1 to Cd1 or the lower toner containers Ca2 to Cd2.

The image forming section 20 forms an image on the sheet S based on the image data using toner supplied from the upper toner containers Ca1 to Cd1 or the lower toner containers Ca2 to Cd2. The image forming section 20 includes an exposure section 21 , a photosensitive drum 22 a , a charging section 22 b , a developing section 22 c , a primary transfer roller 22 d , a cleaning section 22 e , an intermediate transfer belt 23 , a secondary transfer roller 24 and a fixing section 25 . .

The photosensitive drum 22a, charging section 22b, developing section 22c, primary transfer roller 22d, and cleaning section 22e are provided corresponding to the toner colors of the upper toner containers Ca1 to Cd1 and the lower toner containers Ca2 to Cd2, respectively. A plurality of photoreceptor drums 22a abut on the outer surface of the intermediate transfer belt 23 and are arranged along the rotation direction of the intermediate transfer belt 23 . A plurality of primary transfer rollers 22d are provided corresponding to a plurality of photosensitive drums 22a. The plurality of primary transfer rollers 22d face the plurality of photosensitive drums 22a with the intermediate transfer belt 23 interposed therebetween.

The charging section 22b charges the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 22a. The exposure unit 21 irradiates each of the photoreceptor drums 22a with light based on image data to form an electrostatic latent image on the circumferential surface of the photoreceptor drum 22a. The developing unit 22c develops the electrostatic latent image by attaching toner to the electrostatic latent image to form a toner image on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 22a. Therefore, the photosensitive drum 22a carries a toner image. The primary transfer roller 22 d transfers the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 22 a to the outer surface of the intermediate transfer belt 23 . The cleaning unit 22e removes toner remaining on the peripheral surface of the photoreceptor drum 22a.

The photosensitive drums 22a corresponding to the upper toner container Ca1 and the lower toner container Ca2 form a yellow toner image based on the electrostatic latent image. The photosensitive drums 22a corresponding to the upper toner container Cb1 and the lower toner container Cb2 form a magenta toner image based on the electrostatic latent image. The photosensitive drums 22a corresponding to the upper toner container Cc1 and the lower toner container Cc2 form a cyan toner image based on the electrostatic latent image. The photosensitive drums 22a corresponding to the upper toner container Cd1 and the lower toner container Cd2 form a black toner image based on the electrostatic latent image.

Toner images of a plurality of colors are superimposed and transferred onto the outer surface of the intermediate transfer belt 23 from the photosensitive drum 22a to form an image. Therefore, the intermediate transfer belt 23 carries an image. The secondary transfer roller 24 transfers the image formed on the outer surface of the intermediate transfer belt 23 onto the sheet S. As shown in FIG. The fixing unit 25 heats and presses the sheet S to fix the image on the sheet S. FIG.

Next, the circuit configuration of the image forming apparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the circuit configuration of the image forming apparatus 100. As shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 100 further includes stirring units 41 a to 41 d, a control unit 80 and a storage unit 90 .

The stirring units 41a-41d drive bi-directional rotation of screws provided inside the upper toner containers Ca1-Cd1. A description of the same configuration of the lower toner containers Ca2 to Cd2 will be omitted.

The storage unit 90 includes a storage device and stores data and computer programs. The storage unit 90 includes a main storage device such as a semiconductor memory and an auxiliary storage device such as a hard disk drive (HDD).

The control unit 80 includes a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit). Control unit 80 controls each component of image forming apparatus 100 by executing a computer program stored in storage unit 90 . More specifically, the control section 80 receives the output of the conveying speed sensor 42 and controls the image forming section 20, the operating section 30, the upper toner containers Ca1 to Cd1, and the stirring sections 41a to 41d.

While the upper toner containers Ca1 to Cd1 are supplying toner to the developing section 22c, the lower toner containers Ca2 to Cd2 are inactive. When the upper toner containers Ca1-Cd1 become empty, the control unit 80 controls so that toner supply from the lower toner containers Ca2-Cd2 to the developing unit 22c is started. While the lower toner containers Ca2-Cd2 are supplying toner to the developing section 22c, the upper toner containers Ca1-Cd1 can be replaced.

While the lower toner containers Ca2-Cd2 are supplying toner to the developing section 22c, the upper toner containers Ca1-Cd1 are at rest. When the lower toner containers Ca2-Cd2 are emptied, the control unit 80 controls to start supplying toner from the upper toner containers Ca1-Cd1 to the developing unit 22c. While the upper toner containers Ca1 to Cd1 are supplying toner to the developing section 22c, replacement of the lower toner containers Ca2 to Cd2 can be performed.

The sheet S heated and pressurized by the fixing section 25 passes near the upper toner containers Ca1 to Cd1. Conventionally, when the upper toner containers Ca1 to Cd1 are at rest, the heat generated from the sheet S may cause blocking of the toner in the at rest upper toner containers Ca1 to Cd1.

Next, the processing of the controller 80 for suppressing toner blocking will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of processing of the control unit 80. As shown in FIG.

Step S101: As shown in FIG. 3, the controller 80 determines whether the upper toner containers Ca1 to Cd1 are supplying toner. When the control unit 80 determines that toner is being supplied from the upper toner containers Ca1 to Cd1 (Yes in step S101), the process of the control unit 80 proceeds to step S107. When the control unit 80 determines that the upper toner containers Ca1 to Cd1 are not supplying toner but are inactive (No in step S101), the processing of the control unit 80 proceeds to step S103.

Step S<b>103 : The controller 80 detects the conveying speed of the sheet S based on the output of the conveying speed sensor 42 . When the process of step S103 is completed, the process of the control unit 80 proceeds to step S105.

Step S105: The control unit 80 controls the stirring units 41a to 41d so that the reverse toner stirring operation is performed for a certain period of time at a frequency corresponding to the conveying speed. The reverse direction means the direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the screw that causes the toner in the upper toner containers Ca1 to Cd1 to approach the supply port to the developing section 22c. The execution frequency of the reverse toner stirring operation is, for example, once every 1000 sheets S are conveyed. The certain period of time is, for example, 10 seconds. The control unit 80 performs control so that the execution frequency of the reverse toner stirring operation is inversely proportional to the sheet S conveying speed. As the conveying speed of the sheet S becomes slower, the influence of the heat of the sheet S on the toner becomes greater. When the process of step S105 is completed, the process of the control unit 80 returns to step S101.

Step S107: The control section 80 controls the stirring sections 41a to 41d so that the forward toner stirring operation is executed. The forward direction means the same direction as the direction of rotation of the screw that causes the toner in the upper toner containers Ca1 to Cd1 to approach the supply port to the developing section 22c. When the process of step S107 is completed, the process of the control unit 80 returns to step S101.

According to the embodiment, the control unit 80 removes toner from the upper toner containers Ca1 to Cd1 during a period when the upper toner containers Ca1 to Cd1 near the conveying path 14 of the sheet S do not supply toner to the developing unit 22c. Control to agitate at a predetermined frequency. Accordingly, the image forming apparatus 100 that can suppress toner blocking is provided.

The embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be implemented in various aspects without departing from the gist of the present invention. Further, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the above embodiments. For example, some components may be omitted from all components shown in the embodiments. In order to facilitate understanding, the drawings mainly show each component schematically, and the number of each component shown in the figure may differ from the actual number for convenience of drawing preparation. Also, each component shown in the above embodiment is an example and is not particularly limited, and various modifications are possible within a range that does not substantially deviate from the effects of the present invention.

For example, although the image forming apparatus 100 is a color printer in the embodiment, it is not limited to this. For example, image forming apparatus 100 may be a monochrome printer. Further, the image forming apparatus 100 may be a multifunctional machine such as a copier, a printer, and a facsimile machine.

Further, in the embodiment, since the upper toner containers Ca1 to Cd1 are closer to the transport path 14 of the sheet S than the lower toner containers Ca2 to Cd2, the toner in the upper toner containers Ca1 to Cd1 may be blocked. there were. Therefore, the control unit 80 controls to agitate the toner in the upper toner containers Ca1 to Cd1 at a predetermined frequency while the upper toner containers Ca1 to Cd1 do not supply toner to the developing unit 22c. However, if the lower toner containers Ca2 to Cd2 are closer to the transport path 14 of the sheet S than the upper toner containers Ca1 to Cd1, blocking may occur in the toner in the lower toner containers Ca2 to Cd2. In this case, the control unit 80 controls the toner in the lower toner containers Ca2 to Cd2 to be stirred at a predetermined frequency while the lower toner containers Ca2 to Cd2 do not supply toner to the developing unit 22c. good.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be used in the field of image forming apparatuses.

14 transport path 20 image forming units 41a to 41d stirring unit 42 transport speed sensor (sensor)
80 control unit 100 image forming apparatus Ca1 to Cd1 upper toner container (first container)
Ca2 to Cd2 Lower toner container (second container)
S sheet (recording medium)

Claims (3)

an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium;
a first container and a second container that selectively supply toner of the same color to the image forming unit;
The toner in the first container is agitated at a predetermined frequency during a period in which the first container, which is closer to the conveying path of the recording medium than the second container, does not supply the toner to the image forming unit. and an image forming apparatus comprising: further comprising a sensor for detecting the transport speed of the recording medium;
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control section performs control so that said frequency is inversely proportional to said conveying speed. Further comprising a stirring unit for driving bidirectional rotation of the screw provided inside the first container,
The controller rotates the screw in a direction opposite to a period in which the first container supplies the toner to the image forming unit while the first container does not supply the toner to the image forming unit. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said stirring unit is controlled so as to

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