JP3248116B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile, and a printer, and more particularly, to a cleaning and collecting developer in an image forming apparatus for cleaning and collecting a residual developer on an image carrier. It relates to a detection method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an image forming apparatus of this type, a residual developer on an image carrier is cleaned and collected, and the residual developer is stored in a collecting container such as a casing of a cleaning device or a container detachably attached to the casing. What is stored is known. When such a collecting container is full of the collecting developer, there occurs a problem that the collecting developer that cannot be accommodated in the container leaks from an opening of the cleaning device facing the image carrier and stains around the image carrier. . For this reason, the state in which the collection container is full or close to this state is detected by using a total amount of collected developer detection means such as a piezoelectric sensor provided in the container, and the effect is detected. Display, etc.,
The operator is urged to remove and clean the collected developer from the collection container, or to replace the collection container itself.

Further, unlike the direct detection of the total amount of the collected developer using such a piezoelectric sensor or the like, an image forming apparatus for obtaining the total amount of the collected developer by calculation using various information in the image forming apparatus has also been proposed. Have been. For example, a method of calculating the total amount of collected developer from the number of rotations and time of the image carrier (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 59-26774 and 59-2677)
No. 5, 59-36276, JP-A-2-62579), for obtaining the total amount of the recovered developer from the number of image formations (for example, refer to JP-A-63-30878), from the hopper of the developing device to the inside of the developing device. To determine the total amount of recovered developer from the amount of developer supplied to the developer and the amount of developer used in the developing device (for example, JP-A-62-159171 and JP-A-1-155).
No. 383), a method of calculating the total amount of collected developer from the number of replacements of a replenishment developer container containing a developer to be replenished to a developing device (for example, see JP-A-60-15668 and 64-64).
4787, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 1-79071, JP-A-3-1665
And Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 62-105180, and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-105180.
-106477, 63-247778, JP-A-2-2-2
93886) and the like. In these image forming apparatuses, the cost can be reduced by not using the piezoelectric sensor, and a problem due to erroneous detection due to insufficient sensor accuracy can be avoided.

[0004]

However, the amount of developer adhering to the image carrier during development differs depending on the image to be formed, and the amount of developer adhering to the image carrier depends on the amount of developer adhering to the image carrier. Because the amount of collected developer is different,
If the total amount of the collected developer is obtained only from the number of rotations and the time of the image carrier or the number of times of image formation as in the above or the related art, the total amount of the collected developer cannot be obtained accurately. In this regard, in the above-described or related art, the total amount of the collected developer is obtained in a form that reflects the amount of the developer adhering to the image carrier in the development to some extent, so that the total amount of the collected developer is relatively accurately calculated. You can ask.

However, according to the study of the present inventor, as in the above or the prior art, the total amount of the recovered developer is obtained in a manner that the amount of the developer adhering to the image carrier in the development is reflected to some extent. Even in such a case, the prediction of the time when the collection container becomes full is erroneously predicted, and the display of the full state is performed when the collection container is not full, or the display of the full state is delayed and the collection agent leaks from the opening of the cleaning device. Was found to be a risk.

Then, when the cause was examined diligently,
Not only the amount of developer adhering to the image carrier during development differs depending on the image to be formed, but also the image which is the ratio of the total area of the developer adhering portion (such as a character portion) in the image to the entire area of the image. It became clear that the transfer ratio, which is the ratio of the amount of the transfer developer to the transfer member to the amount of the developer attached to the image carrier, differs depending on the ratio. As a result, for example, as shown by a characteristic line a in FIG. 2A, the agent recovery ratio (vertical axis on the left side), which is the ratio of the cleaning recovery developer amount to the image carrier adhesion developer amount, is the image ratio (horizontal). Axis). Further, even if the image ratio is the same, for example, the developer constituting the solid image portion and the developer constituting the line image portion on the image carrier have different adsorption forces on the image carrier, and as a result, the transfer It also became clear that the efficiency was different. That is, in the prior art for obtaining the total amount of the collected developer in a form in which the amount of the developer adhering to the image carrier in the development is reflected to some extent, for example, the total amount of the collected developer is obtained in advance by considering the setting of the transfer electric field condition in the transfer device. Since the amount of collected developer and the total amount of collected developer are calculated assuming a constant transfer rate, if the transfer rate changes depending on the image ratio of the image to be formed, it is necessary to accurately calculate the amount of collected developer. I couldn't do it.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, it is an object of the images forming apparatus, by reflecting the change of the transfer rate, more accurate cleaning in comparison with the conventional The purpose is to make it possible to detect the amount of the collected developer.

[0008]

[0009]

[0010]

[MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEMS] To achieve the above object
According to a first aspect of the present invention, an image is formed on an image carrier with a replenished developer using a replenishing container containing a replenishing developer, and the residual developer on the image carrier is cleaned. Replenishing time detecting means for detecting information on the timing of replenishment using the replenishing container such as a shortage of the developer in the hopper portion of the developing device and a replenishing operation by the replenishing container, counting means for counting the number of times of image formation in the interval period,-out based on the count contents of the counting means, said counting content smaller value
, A collection developer amount calculating means for calculating the collection developer amount by a predetermined calculation such that the cleaning collection developer amount per one replenishing container increases. It is assumed that.

The invention according to claim 2 provides a replenishing developer.
Image by the developer replenished using the replenishment container containing
An image is formed on the carrier and the residual
Image forming equipment that cleans and collects developer
Shortage of developer in the hopper of the developer
At the time of replenishment using the replenishment container such as replenishment operation by
Replenishment time detecting means for detecting information about
Counting means for counting the number of image formations in alternate periods
And the replenishment based on the count content of the counting means.
Calculate the amount of cleaning and collecting developer per container
Means for calculating the amount of collected developer and storing the collected developer for cleaning.
A collection container for storing, a total amount of collected developer for storing the amount of the collected developer obtained by the amount of collected developer calculated by the means for calculating the amount of collected developer with the replenishment, and the collected developer with the replenishment; Based on the amount of collected developer obtained by the amount calculating means, the amount of collected developer stored in the total amount of collected developer storage means, and the capacity of the collection container, the amount of collected and developed The prediction determining means for determining whether or not the total amount of the developer exceeds the capacity, and the value obtained by the recovered developer amount calculating means when the prediction and determination means determines that the total amount of the recovered developer exceeds the capacity. Image formation for calculating the number of image formations until the collection container is full or almost full based on the collected developer amount, the collected developer amount stored in the collected developer storage means, and the capacity. Means for calculating the number of times It is an butterfly.

The invention according to claim 3 provides a replenishing developer.
Image by the developer replenished using the replenishment container containing
An image is formed on the carrier and the residual
Image forming equipment that cleans and collects developer
Shortage of developer in the hopper of the developer
At the time of replenishment using the replenishment container such as replenishment operation by
Replenishment time detecting means for detecting information about
Counting means for counting the number of image formations in alternate periods
And the replenishment based on the count content of the counting means.
Calculate the amount of cleaning and collecting developer per container
Means for calculating the amount of collected developer and storing the collected developer for cleaning.
A collecting container to be stored, a collecting container empty detecting means for detecting information on replacement or cleaning of the collecting container, and accumulating and storing the amount of the collecting developer obtained by the collecting developer amount calculating means with the replenishment. A collecting developer total amount storing means, a count value storing means for storing the count content of the counting means, and the counting when the collecting container is replaced or cleaned at a time different from the replenishing time. Means for storing the count content of the means in the count value storage means, and control means for clearing the count content of the count means and the storage content of the collected developer total amount storage means; and With the first replenishment after the predetermined processing by the control means,
The apparatus is characterized in that the amount of cleaning / recovery developer per replenishing container is calculated based on the count content stored in the count value storage means and the count content of the count means. It is.

Further, according to the invention of claim 4 , the developer is replenished using a replenishing container containing a replenishing developer, respectively.
And a plurality of developing devices having different replenishment frequencies from one another
One of are opposed to each other disposed against the image bearing member, and, according to claim 1 for storing the cleaning recovered developer in a predetermined collection container
Alternatively, in the image forming apparatus of 2, the counting means is provided for each of the developing devices, and for the developing devices other than the developing device having the highest replenishment frequency, the counting is performed based on the count content of the counting device for the developing device. A collecting developer amount calculating means for calculating a collecting developer amount according to the contents, and a developing device other than the developing device having the highest replenishment frequency with the replenishment of the developing device having the highest replenishing frequency. 4. The collected developer amount calculation means according to claim 3, wherein said collected developer amount calculating means calculates the collected collected developer by image formation using said developing device up to that time, and the collected developer amount of the developing device having the highest replenishment frequency. And control means for calculating the amount of cleaning and collecting developer per replenishing container by the calculating means.

[0014]

[0015]

[0016]

[0017]

According to the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, an image is formed on an image carrier by a replenished developer using a replenishing container containing a replenishing developer, and a residual developing agent on the image carrier is formed. In the image forming apparatus that cleans and collects the developer, information on the timing of replenishment using the replenishing container such as a shortage of the developer in the hopper portion of the developing device or a replenishing operation by the replenishing container is detected by the replenishing time detecting means And
The number of image formations during the replenishment interval is counted by a counting means. On the basis of the count content of the counting means, that is, the number of image formations within the replenishment interval period, which can be a substitute characteristic of the image ratio as follows , the amount of the cleaning recovery developer per one replenishing container is determined by the recovered developer. It is calculated by the quantity calculation means. For example, as shown by a characteristic line b in FIG.
The image ratio (horizontal axis) of the image to be formed and the
With a single replenishment of developer, that is, a certain amount of developer,
The number of image formations that can form that image (right vertical axis)
A fixed relationship between them (in the example shown, the relationship is inversely proportional)
Exists. Therefore, one supplementation using this container
The number of image formations per filling can be a substitute for image ratio
You.

[0018] Particularly, in the invention of claim 2, with the upper Symbol supplement, the collected developer amount obtained by the collected developer amount calculating means and cumulatively stored in the recovered developer amount storing means Based on the collected developer amount obtained by the collected developer amount calculating means, the collected developer amount stored in the collected developer total amount storage means, and the capacity of the collected container, until the next replenishment. During the period, whether or not the total amount of the collected developer exceeds the capacity is determined by the prediction determining means. And
When the predicting and judging means judges that the total amount of the collected developer exceeds the capacity, the collected developer amount obtained by the collected developer amount calculating means and the collected developer stored in the collected developer storage means. Based on the amount of developer and the capacity, the number of image formations until the collection container is full or almost full is calculated by the image formation number calculation means.

[0019] In the invention of claim 3, the information about the exchange or cleaning times container, while detection in the collection container empty detection means, with the additional supply, determined by the collected developer amount calculation means The collected developer amount is accumulated and stored by the collected developer total amount storage means. Then, when the collection container is replaced or cleaned at a time different from the replenishment time, the control means stores the count content of the count means in the count value storage means, and stores the count content of the count means. And the stored contents of the collected developer total amount storage means are cleared. Then, with the replenishment for the first time after the predetermined processing by the control means, based on the count content stored in the count value storage means and the count content of the count means, one refill container is provided. The cleaning developer amount is calculated by the recovered developer amount calculating means.

Further, in the invention of claim 4 ,
The developer is replenished using a replenishing container containing the replenishing developer, and a plurality of developing devices having different replenishment frequencies are arranged to face one image carrier, and the image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 for storing cleaning recovered developer in a predetermined collection container, providing the counting means in each of the developing devices. Then, for the developing devices other than the developing device having the highest replenishment frequency, based on the count content of the counting device for the developing device, the collected developer amount corresponding to the counted content is calculated by the collected developer amount calculating device. Calculate. With the replenishment of the developing device having the highest replenishment frequency, the control means controls the collected developer amount calculating means and the collected developer amount calculating means of claim 3 as follows. That is, for the developing devices other than the developing device with the highest replenishment frequency, the cleaning / recovered developer by image formation using the developing device up to that time is calculated by the recovered developer amount calculating means, and the replenishment frequency is calculated. 4. The amount of developer collected and recovered per replenishing container for the developing device having the highest value.
Of the collected developer amount calculating means.

[0021]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to an electrophotographic copying machine (hereinafter, referred to as a copying machine) as an image forming apparatus will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a main part of a copying machine according to the present embodiment.

First, the overall outline will be described. This copying machine uses a drum-shaped photoreceptor 1 as an image carrier, and is provided with a device for executing a well-known electrophotographic process around the photoreceptor. That is, the surface of the photoconductor 1 rotated and driven clockwise by the arrow is uniformly charged by the charging charger 2, and a latent image is formed on the charged surface of the photoconductor 1 using an exposure optical system (not shown). I have. Then, when the latent image on the photoreceptor 1 passes through a portion facing the developing device 3 (hereinafter referred to as a margin), toner is supplied as a developer and development is performed.
A toner image is formed on the photoreceptor 1, and the toner image is transferred by a transfer charger 4 to transfer paper 5 as a transfer body sent from a paper feeding / conveying device (not shown). The transfer paper 5 onto which the toner image has been transferred is separated from the photoconductor 1 by a separation charger 6, and the toner image is fixed by a fixing device (not shown). After the transfer, the surface of the photoreceptor 1 is cleaned by a cleaning device 7, and after the residual toner is removed, the residual charge is removed by an unillustrated static elimination lamp or the like to prepare for the next copy.

The developing device 3 includes a developing roller 31 as a developer carrier and a developing device 32 containing a two-component developer containing iron powder and toner as a carrier. And the developing device 32
A hopper 34 provided with a toner supply roller 33 is provided at a communication port with the inside. A toner residual sensor 35 for detecting the remaining amount of toner in the hopper 34 is provided on a side surface of the hopper 34, and a replenished toner contained therein is replenished into the hopper 34 at an upper portion of the opening. The cartridge 36 as an empty replenishing container is mounted as it is as an opening lid of the hopper 34. The developing device 3 below the toner supply roller 33
Inside 2, there is provided a mixing and stirring mechanism 37 for mixing and stirring the supplied toner and the two-component developer.

Further, the cleaning device 7 includes a cleaning blade 71 whose leading end contacts the surface of the photoreceptor 1, an opening facing the photoreceptor 1, and a cleaning blade 7.
The scraped residual toner is 1, and a fur brush roller 72 for conveying the casing inner back side, is detachably toner collecting container 73 on the opposite side is attached to the photosensitive member 1. A rotating member 74 for feeding the collected toner into the toner collecting container 73 is provided at a communication portion between the toner collecting container 73 and the main casing of the cleaning device 7.

Further, a cartridge replacement display means 22 for displaying that the cartridge needs to be replaced and a cleaning display means 16 for showing that the toner collection container 73 needs to be cleaned are provided on the operation display section of the copying machine. And so on. Further, a cleaning detecting unit 19 for detecting the detachment of the toner collecting container 73 is provided. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing, for example, functions performed by a microcomputer for calculating and controlling the amount of toner collected by cleaning, which will be described later.

Next, the calculation of the amount of toner collected by cleaning in the copying machine of this embodiment will be described. Copier of this embodiment includes a characteristic as shown in the aforementioned FIG. 2 (a), taking into account the change in the dosage recovery such as image ratio, to calculate the cleaning collected toner amount, the image The number of copies per cartridge 36 as a substitute characteristic such as a ratio is counted, and the amount of collected toner for cleaning per cartridge 36 is calculated using the number of copies.

In FIG. 3, first, the toner collecting container 73
The inside is empty and the inside of the hopper 35 is the first cartridge 36
It is assumed that copying is started from an initial state in which toner has just been replenished. It is also assumed that a first counter n (block 12 in FIG. 1) for counting the number of copies during the replacement interval of the cartridge 36 is initialized to 0. When copying is started from this initial state, the first counter n is counted up for each copy operation, and it is determined whether or not toner remains in the hopper 34 by using a signal from the toner remaining amount sensor 35 ( Steps 1-3).
With this determination, the replenisher end detecting means in FIG. 1 is realized.

Here, it is determined that the replenishment toner from the cartridge 36 remains in the hopper 34, and the process returns to the main flow (step 4). Thereafter, the copying operation is repeated while repeating steps 1 to 4, and it is determined that there is no toner remaining in the hopper 35 (hereinafter, referred to as a replenisher end), that is, it is time to replace the cartridge 36 with the second one. Based on the contents of the first counter n at that time, the amount Yf of the collected toner collected by the cleaning device 7 is calculated by the end of the first replenishment (step 5). In this calculation step 5, the collected toner amount calculation means 11 in FIG. 1 is realized.

More specifically, as shown in the flow, for example, the collected toner amount Yf is determined by using variables a and b experimentally determined in advance according to the count value n of the first counter n.
Is calculated. The variables a and b may be stored in a data table to be looked up using the count value n, or may be stored as an arithmetic expression for obtaining the values a and b using the count value n. In any case, when calculating the cleaning consumption toner amount Yf from the toner consumption amount per one cartridge 36, that is, the replenishment toner amount per one cartridge 36, the smaller the count value n, that is, the larger the image ratio, the more the experiment. and as cleaning collected toner amount Yf becomes large value in a manner consistent, variable a, previously set to b.

This collected toner amount Yf is added to the collected toner accumulation memory (13 in FIG. 1), and further, it is determined whether or not the added collected toner accumulation amount Y is equal to or larger than the capacity K of the toner collection container 73 ( Steps 6, 7). At the stage of the first replenisher end, there is a sufficient margin in the toner collection container 73, so here, it is determined that the accumulated amount of collected toner Y is not more than the capacity K of the toner collection container 73. The collected toner amount Y is superimposed on the accumulated collected toner amount Y after the addition.
It is determined whether or not the amount obtained by adding f is equal to or larger than the collection container capacity K (step 8). This judgment is made for the second cartridge 3
In the case where the same amount of collected toner as the amount of collected toner up to the first replenisher end is detected by the time the second replenisher end is detected after the replacement, the total amount of collected toner is equal to the collection container capacity K. It is to make a prediction judgment in advance as to whether or not the above is the case. This step implements the prediction judgment means 18 in FIG. At the stage of the first replenisher end, there is sufficient room in the toner collecting container 73, so that it is determined that the capacity of the collecting container is not more than K, and the first counter is cleared (step 9). Thereafter, steps 1, 2, 3, and 4 are performed until the second replenisher end is detected.
repeat.

When the end of the second replenishing agent is detected in step 3, the process proceeds to steps 5 to 7 in the same manner as in the detection of the end of the first replenishing agent. It is determined whether the capacity is equal to or larger than the capacity K of the container 73. At this stage of the second replenisher end, if there is sufficient room in the toner collection container 73 as in the first replenishment, steps 7 and 8 are performed in the same manner as in the first replenisher end detection. , 9 and 4.

In the same manner, the first counter n is cleared in step 9 even in the fourth and subsequent replenisher end detections, as long as there is sufficient room in the toner collection container 73 and the process proceeds to steps 7, 8, and 9. After that, it counts up for each copy operation, counts the number of copies until the next replenisher end is detected, and, based on this number of copies, collects the toner collected between the last replenisher end and the current replenisher end. The amount Yf and the accumulated amount of collected toner Y at that time are calculated (steps 5 and 6), and the accumulated amount of collected toner Y and the like are used to determine whether the collection container 73 is full or to detect the next replenisher end. By this time, it is determined whether or not the collection container 73 is not likely to be full (steps 7 and 8).

The replenishment of the toner by the cartridge 36 is repeated, and when the end of the replenisher is detected, the process proceeds to steps 5 to 7,
When it is determined in step 7 that the accumulated amount of collected toner Y is equal to or larger than the capacity K of the toner collection container 73, for example, 250 is set in the second counter n '(step 10).
For example, 2 as a set value to the second counter n '
Numeral 50 indicates that overflow can be ensured by utilizing the space in the main casing of the cleaning device 7 and / or by setting the calculation of the cleaning recovery amount Yf in the step 5 so as to be large for safety. The value can be copied without copying. Then, in order to promote cleaning for removing the collected toner in the toner collecting container 73, the display starts blinking (step 11), and the second counter n 'is counted down every copy operation (step 12).
15) When the count value becomes 0, the display is switched to continuous lighting (step 16) and the copy operation is prohibited. When it is determined from the output of the cleaning detecting means that the toner collection container 73 has been cleaned, the display is turned off and the collected toner amount accumulation memory Y is cleared (step 18).

In contrast, in step 7, it is determined that the accumulated amount of collected toner Y is not larger than the capacity K of the toner collection container 73, and in step 8, the collection container 73 is full by the time the next replenisher end is detected. If it is determined that there is a risk of becoming, the process proceeds to step 19. In this step 19,
The difference between the collected container capacity K and the accumulated collected toner amount Y after addition in step 6, ie, the spare capacity of the collected container, is obtained by dividing the collected toner amount Y obtained in step 5 by the count number of the first counter n, ie, copying. The value is divided by the average value of the amount of collected toner per time, and the value is set in a second counter n ′ (block 15 in FIG. 1). In this step 19, the image forming frequency calculating means 17 in FIG. 1 is realized. The set value of the second counter n 'is determined when the same amount of collected toner per copy as in the copy from the previous replenisher end to the current replenisher end occurs after the current replenisher end. , The predicted number of copies that can be taken until the collection container 73 is full. And this second
It is determined whether the set value of the counter n 'is 250 or less (step 20). If the number is 250 or less, the process immediately proceeds to step 11 to start blinking the display to prompt the cleaning of the toner collection container 73.
Step 18 is executed. If it is not less than 250 sheets, the second
The second counter n 'is counted down for each copy operation until the content of the counter n' reaches 250 (steps 21 to 23). When the counter reaches 250, the process proceeds to step 11 where the toner collection container 73 is cleaned. The display starts blinking to prompt the user, and thereafter, the above-described steps 12 to 18 are executed.

The cleaning display control means 14 in FIG.
Steps 7, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17, 18
Has been realized. Further, the control means 20 in FIG. 1 is realized by 2, 9, and 18 described above.

Next, FIGS. 2 (b) to 2 (d), FIGS.
A modified example of the above control will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2B, there is also a certain relationship between the agent recovery rate and the humidity in the copying machine. Generally, the higher the humidity, the higher the agent recovery rate. Therefore, it is desirable to calculate the cleaning recovery amount Yf in step 5 in FIG. 3 in consideration of the relationship with the humidity. FIG. 4 (a) shows an example of a process related to this. In step A1, for example, a signal from a humidity sensor indicated by reference numeral 8 in FIG. 1 is read, and in step A2, the above-mentioned relationship is stored. The constant C for calculation is looked up from the table, and in step 5A, the constant C is also used to collect the cleaning recovery amount Yf.
Is calculated.

As shown in FIG. 2C, there is also a certain relationship between the rotation time of the image carrier (photoconductor 1) and the agent recovery rate. In general, the longer the rotation time, the higher the agent recovery rate. Will be higher. Therefore, it is desirable to calculate the cleaning recovery amount Yf in step 5 in FIG. 3 in consideration of the relationship with the rotation time. FIG. 4 (b) shows an example of a process relating to this. In step b1, the rotation time of the photoconductor during the copying operation is counted, and at the end of the replenishing agent, the above-mentioned relationship is stored in step B2. The constant D for calculation is looked up from the table, and in step 5B, the constant C is also used to collect the cleaning recovery amount Yf.
Is calculated.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2D, there is also a certain relationship between the driving time of the developing device (developing device rotation time) and the agent recovery rate. The agent recovery rate increases. Therefore, step 5 in FIG.
It is desirable to perform the calculation of the cleaning recovery amount Yf in consideration of the relationship with the driving time of the developing device.
The processing example in this case is the same as that in FIG. 4B. In each of the above-described modified examples, the amount of change in the amount of toner collected by cleaning due to background contamination or background contamination is reflected.

Next, another modification will be described with reference to FIG. When cleaning of the toner collecting container 73 is detected by the cleaning detecting means 19 (step C1).
Next, after the count content of the first counter n at that time is stored in the count value memory (block 21 in FIG. 1) (step C2), the first counter n and the collected toner accumulation memory Y are cleared ( C3 ). . If the end of the replenisher is detected after this cleaning (Y in step C4), the count number nx before cleaning stored in the count value memory and the count value n of the first counter n at that time are read. The cleaning recovery toner amount Yf is calculated by the sum (nx + n) (step C5), and the calculation result is added to the count value n of the first counter n at that time and the sum (n
multiplied by the ratio of x + n), the toner recovery container 7 at that time
Then, the amount of the collected cleaning toner is stored in the cleaning cartridge 3 (step C6 ).

Next, still another modification will be described with reference to FIG. This control is an example of control in an apparatus configuration in which, for example, a developing device using black toner and a monocolor developing device using red toner or the like face the same photoconductor.
In this case, the above-described first counter (the count value is shown in nm for black and ns for red) is provided for each developing device, and these are counted up for each copy (steps 2, 3, and 4). . When the replenisher end is detected for the black developing device that consumes a large amount of toner and frequently replaces the cartridge 36 (step 5).
In step (Y), the amount of toner Yf for cleaning is calculated for the black developing device in the same manner as in the above embodiment (step 7).
On the other hand, for the mono-color developing apparatus at the same time, the first
Using the count value ns, the cleaning recovery toner amount Ys
Is calculated (step 8 ) . Then, the sum of the two is added to the collected toner accumulation memory (13 in FIG. 1) (steps 9 and 10). Then, the accumulated amount Y of the collected toner in the above embodiment is calculated using the accumulated amount of the sum.
(Steps 14, 15, 1)
6 etc.). The first counter is cleared for each developing device (step 13).

[0041]

[0042]

[0043] According to the invention of 請 Motomeko 1 to 4, thereby forming an image on an image carrier by replenished developer using the refill container containing a developer for replenishment, on the image bearing member In an image forming apparatus that cleans and collects the residual developer, it can be a substitute for the image ratio as described above.
The number of image formations within the replenishment interval period is obtained by the replenishment timing detection means and the predetermined counting means, and based on the number of image formations, the amount of the cleaning recovery developer per one replenishing container is determined. Since the calculation is performed by the calculation means, usually,
A simple configuration that effectively uses the replenishment timing detection means and the like provided in the image forming apparatus, and more accurately cleans and recovers than the conventional image forming apparatus that does not consider the change in the transfer rate due to the image ratio etc. The developer amount can be detected.

[0044] In particular, according to the second aspect of the invention, with the upper Symbol replenishment, as well as to store accumulated collected developer amount recovered developer amount storing means, based on such the collected developer amount, Whether or not the total amount of the collected developer exceeds the capacity before the next replenishment is determined by the prediction determining means, and when the prediction determining means determines that the total amount of the collected developer has exceeded the capacity, Based on the amount of collected developer and the like, the number of image formations until the collection container is full or almost full is calculated by the image formation number calculation means. A more accurate detection of the amount of the cleaning / collecting developer can be performed with a simpler configuration, and it is possible to accurately predict that the collecting container is full or almost full at times other than the replenishing time.

[0045] According to the third aspect of the present invention, at a different time from the timing of the upper Symbol replenishment, when the rotating container is exchanged or the like, the count value storing means to count the contents of the counting means so far And clears the count contents of the counting means and the stored contents of the collected developer total amount storage means, and stores the contents in the count value storage means with the first replenishment after the predetermined processing. Based on the count content of the number of image formation before replacement and the like, and the count content after replacement and the like by the counting means,
Since the amount of the cleaning and collecting developer per one replenishing container is calculated, basically, the more accurate detection of the amount of the cleaning and collecting developer compared to the conventional image forming apparatus is performed with a simple configuration as described above. However, even when the replacement of the collection container is performed at a time different from the replenishment time, it is possible to detect the amount of the cleaning recovery developer in consideration of the amount of the cleaning recovery developer by the image forming before the replacement. it can.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, a plurality of developing devices each of which is replenished with a replenishing developer using a replenishing container containing a replenishing developer and whose replenishment frequency is different from each other are provided. Disposed opposite to one image carrier, and
5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the cleaning recovery developer is stored in a predetermined recovery container. The amount of the cleaning recovery developer per one replenishing container is calculated, and the cleaning recovery developer by image formation using the developing device is calculated for the developing devices other than the developing device having the highest replenishment frequency. Therefore, basically, as described above, the developing device other than the developing device having the highest replenishment frequency is detected while performing a more accurate detection of the amount of the cleaning and collecting developer than the conventional image forming device with a simple configuration. Even when replenishment is not performed for a long period of time, detection of the amount of cleaning and collecting developer by taking into account the amount of cleaning and collecting developer by image formation of the developing device It can be carried out.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a copying machine according to an embodiment.

FIGS. 2A to 2D are characteristic diagrams of the copying machine.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of control of the copying machine.

FIGS. 4A to 4C are flowcharts each showing a part of the same control according to a modification.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a part of the control according to another modification.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Photoconductor 3 Developing device 4 Transfer charger 5 Transfer paper 7 Cleaning device 8 Humidity sensor 10 Replenisher end detecting means 11 Recovered toner amount calculating means 12 First counter 13 Collected toner accumulation memory 16 Cleaning display means 17 Image forming frequency calculating means 18 Prediction determination means 19 Cleaning detection means 20 Control means 21 Count value memory 34 Hopper 35 Toner remaining amount sensor 36 Cartridge 73 Toner collection container

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G03G 21/10-21/12 G03G 21/00 370-540 G03G 21/14

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] An image formed on an image carrier by a replenished developer using a replenishing container containing a replenishing developer, and an image recovered by cleaning the residual developer on the image carrier. A replenishing time detecting means for detecting information on a replenishing time using the replenishing container such as a shortage of a developer in a hopper portion of a developing device or a replenishing operation using the replenishing container; counting means for counting the number of times of image formation,-out based on the count contents of the counting means, in said count
More capacity is a smaller value, by a predetermined calculation for cleaning collected developer amount per one said refill container is increased, the
An image forming apparatus characterized by providing the collected developer amount calculating means for calculating a collected developer amount. 2. A replenishing container containing a replenishing developer.
Forming an image on the image carrier with the replenished developer
At the same time, clean the residual developer on the image carrier
In the image forming apparatus to be collected , the shortage of the developer in the hopper of the developing device or
The replenishment time using the replenishment container,
Replenishing time detecting means for detecting information to be collected and a counter for counting the number of image formations during the replenishing interval.
And the refill container based on the counting content of the counting means.
Collection that calculates the amount of cleaning collection developer per one
A developer amount calculating means, a collecting container for storing a cleaning collected developer, and a collected developer total amount storing means for accumulating and storing the collected developer amount obtained by the collected developer amount calculating means with the replenishment. With the replenishment, the collected developer amount obtained by the collected developer amount calculation means, the collected developer amount stored in the collected developer total amount storage means, and the capacity of the collection container A predictive determining means for determining whether or not the total amount of the collected developer exceeds the capacity before the next replenishment, when the predictive determining means determines that the total amount of the collected developer has exceeded the capacity. Based on the collected developer amount obtained by the collected developer amount calculating means, the collected developer amount stored in the collected developer storage means, and the capacity, the collection container is full or almost full. Number of image formation until An image forming apparatus characterized in that the number of times of image formation computing means for computing, the provided. 3. A replenishing container containing a replenishing developer.
Forming an image on the image carrier with the replenished developer
At the same time, clean the residual developer on the image carrier
In the image forming apparatus to be collected , the shortage of the developer in the hopper of the developing device or
The replenishment time using the replenishment container,
Replenishing time detecting means for detecting information to be collected and a counter for counting the number of image formations during the replenishing interval.
And the refill container based on the counting content of the counting means.
Collection that calculates the amount of cleaning collection developer per one
A developer container calculating means, a collecting container for storing the cleaning collected developer, a collecting container empty detecting means for detecting information related to replacement or cleaning of the collecting container, and a collecting developer amount calculating means in association with the replenishment. A collected developer total amount storing means for accumulating and storing the obtained collected developer amount; a count value storing means for storing the count content of the counting means; When the container is replaced or cleaned, the count value of the counting means is stored in the count value storage means, and the count content of the counting means and the storage content of the collected developer total amount storage means are cleared. The replenished developer amount calculation means is provided with the count value storage means at the time of the first replenishment after the predetermined processing by the control means. A count content stored in, based on the count contents of the counting means, the image formation according to claim 1, characterized by being configured to compute the cleaning recovered developer amount per one said refill container apparatus. 4. A plurality of developing devices, each of which is replenished with a replenishing container containing a replenishing developer and whose replenishing frequency is different from each other, are opposed to one image carrier. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the counting means is provided in each of the developing devices, and the replenishment frequency is other than the developing device having the highest replenishment frequency. A developing developer amount calculating means for calculating a collecting developer amount according to the count content based on the count content of the counting device for the developing device; and a developing device having the highest replenishment frequency. With the above-mentioned replenishment of the apparatus, for the developing apparatus other than the developing apparatus having the highest replenishment frequency, the collected developer amount calculating means performs image forming using the developing apparatus up to that time. Control means for calculating the amount of cleaning / recovery developer to be used, and for the developing device having the highest replenishment frequency, calculating the amount of cleaning / recovery developer per replenishing container by means of the amount of recovered developer for replenishment. 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein
Or the image forming apparatus of 2 .