JP3912026B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a copying machine, and a facsimile machine.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image forming apparatus that develops an electrostatic latent image formed on a photosensitive member by attaching toner to the toner image and transferring the resulting toner image to a transfer medium such as an intermediate transfer belt, an intermediate transfer drum, or a transfer sheet. In this case, since the tank containing the developer toner is housed inside the housing of the developing unit, the remaining amount of toner cannot be visually confirmed from the outside. For this reason, there has been conventionally proposed a technique for measuring the remaining amount of toner using a dot counter and notifying the user of a warning when the remaining amount of toner reaches a predetermined warning value. For example, in the conventional apparatus described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-324569, the dot counter value from when the toner bottle or the developing unit is replaced with a new one is stored in the nonvolatile memory in the engine control unit, and the total When the dot counter value exceeds a certain value (warning value), the toner near end is displayed, and the user is requested to replace the toner bottle or the developing unit.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, the user request regarding the replacement of the toner bottle and the developing unit is not uniform and is different for each user. For example, if you are a user who prints a large amount of external materials, the quality of the output image will be emphasized. To prevent the image from fading due to a decrease in the remaining amount of toner during printing, It is often desirable to replace the remaining amount as soon as possible. In this case, even if a relatively large amount of toner remains, the toner near end needs to be displayed. On the other hand, for example, a user who prints in-house materials often desires to reduce running cost by using as much toner as possible in the developing unit rather than the quality of the output image. In this case, it is necessary to configure so that the toner near end is displayed when the remaining amount of toner becomes relatively small. However, as described above, since the warning value is fixed in the conventional apparatus, it is not possible to flexibly respond to the user request and the apparatus is not user-friendly.
[0004]
In addition, the toner bottle and the developing unit are so-called consumables, and there are many users who order these consumables after the toner near end is displayed. For such a user, after the toner near end is displayed in advance, it would be desirable to continue printing for at least the delivery date of the consumables. However, there has been no such device standing on the user side, and it is desired to provide a user-friendly device.
[0005]
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of accurately notifying the user of the toner out while appropriately and flexibly responding to the user's request. .
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to a first aspect of the image forming apparatus of the present invention, an electrostatic latent image formed on a photoconductor while being attached to the apparatus main body and detachably attached to the apparatus main body is visualized with toner. And developing means for forming a toner image corresponding to the image signal, and a control means for notifying the user of a warning about running out of toner when the remaining amount of toner remaining in the developing means reaches a warning value. The image forming apparatus is provided with a warning value, and one of the plurality of warning values can be selected by the user. In order to achieve the above object, one of the warning values is selected. Storage means for storing the latest near-end value, and when the user selects the latest near-end value, the control means is configured to store the toner remaining in the developing means when the remaining amount of toner reaches the latest near-end value. And notifying a warning of over breakage user, it is characterized by updating the latest near-end value stored in the storage means based on the remaining amount of toner at the time the developing means is replaced after the alert.
According to a second aspect of the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the apparatus main body and the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor, which is attached to the apparatus main body, are visualized with toner to cope with an image signal. A plurality of warning values are provided, comprising: a developing unit that forms a toner image; and a control unit that notifies a user of a toner out warning when the remaining amount of toner remaining in the developing unit reaches a warning value. An image forming apparatus in which one of a plurality of warning values can be selected by a user, and a storage unit that stores the latest near-end value as one of the plurality of warning values in order to achieve the above object Further, the developing means can replenish the toner by exchanging the toner cartridge with respect to the developing main body, and the control means can develop the toner when the latest near-end value is selected by the user. When the remaining amount of toner remaining in the stage reaches the latest near-end value, the user is notified of an out-of-toner warning, and the latest stored in the storage means based on the remaining amount of toner when the toner cartridge is replaced after that warning. It is characterized by updating the near-end value.
[0008]
In the invention (image forming apparatus) configured as described above, the user can select one warning value from a plurality of warning values, and when the remaining amount of toner reaches the selected warning value. The user is notified of the toner out warning. Therefore, the user can flexibly set the warning notification timing for running out of toner by selecting a warning value according to his / her device usage mode.
[0014]
In addition to notifying the user of a warning about running out of toner when the remaining amount of toner remaining in the developing unit reaches the latest near-end value, the remaining amount of toner when the developing unit and the toner cartridge are replaced after the warning is also issued. The latest near-end value may be updated based on By doing so, the latest near-end value is automatically updated according to the use state of the user and becomes the one according to the replacement timing of the user, so that it is possible to notify the user of toner out more accurately.
[0015]
Further, the latest near-end value may be obtained based on the dot count value corresponding to the remaining amount of toner at the time of replacement. Then, the number of dots obtained during image formation is counted to determine the remaining amount of toner, and the toner remaining can be detected by comparing the remaining amount of toner with the latest near-end value.
[0016]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an engine controller of the image forming apparatus of FIG. This image forming apparatus forms a full color image by superposing four color toners of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K), or uses only black (K) toner. This is an apparatus for forming a monochrome image. In this image forming apparatus, when an image signal is supplied from an external device such as a host computer to the main controller of the control unit, the engine controller 1 controls each part of the engine unit EG in response to a command from the main controller. Then, an image corresponding to the image signal is formed on a sheet S such as transfer paper, paper, and an OHP transparent sheet.
[0017]
In this engine section EG, there are seven units: (a) photosensitive unit 2; (b) yellow developing unit 3Y; (c) magenta developing unit 3M; (d) cyan developing unit 3C; (e) black. The developing unit 3K; (f) the intermediate transfer unit 4 and (g) the fixing unit 5 are detachable from the apparatus main body 6. Then, with all the units 2, 3Y, 3M, 3C, 3K, 4, 5 mounted on the apparatus main body 6, as shown in FIG. 1, the photoconductor 21 of the photoconductor unit 2 is in the direction of the arrow in FIG. The rotary developing unit 3 and the cleaning unit 23 including the charging unit 22, the developing units 3Y, 3M, 3C, and 3K are arranged around the photosensitive member 21 along the rotation direction D1.
[0018]
Of the seven units 2, 3Y, 3M, 3C, 3K, 4 and 5, the photosensitive unit 2 contains a photosensitive member 21, a charging unit 22 and a cleaning unit 23, which are integrated into the apparatus main body 6. On the other hand, it is detachable. The charging unit 22 is applied with a charging bias, and uniformly charges the outer peripheral surface of the photoreceptor 21.
[0019]
Further, the photosensitive unit 2 is provided with a cleaning unit 23 on the upstream side of the charging unit 22 in the rotational direction D1 of the photosensitive unit 21, and the toner remaining on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive unit 21 after the primary transfer. Scrap off. In this way, the surface of the photoreceptor 21 is cleaned.
[0020]
A serial EEPROM 71 for storing data indicating the remaining life of the unit 2 is attached to the photoconductor unit 2 configured as described above. When the photoconductor unit 2 is attached to the apparatus main body 6, a connector ( (Not shown) is electrically connected to the engine controller 1 of the apparatus main body 6, performs data transfer with the engine controller 1, and manages consumables of the photosensitive unit 2. The other units 3Y, 3M, 3C, 3K, 4 and 5 are also provided with serial EEPROMs 72 to 77 for storing various data in the same manner as the photosensitive unit 2, and the main body of the apparatus when the units are mounted. 6 is electrically connected to the engine controller 1 and transfers data to and from the engine controller 1 to manage consumables of the unit.
[0021]
In this image forming apparatus, as shown in FIG. 1, laser light L is irradiated from the exposure unit 8 to the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive member 21 charged by the charging unit 22. The exposure unit 8 scans and exposes the laser beam L onto the photoconductor 21 in accordance with an image signal from the engine controller 1 to form an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image signal on the photoconductor 21.
[0022]
The electrostatic latent image thus formed is developed with toner by the developing unit 3. That is, in this embodiment, as the developing unit 3, a black developing unit 3K, a cyan developing unit 3C, a magenta developing unit 3M, and a yellow developing unit 3Y are provided to be rotatable about an axis. . The developing units 3K, 3C, 3M, and 3Y are rotationally positioned and selectively positioned at the contact or separation positions with respect to the photosensitive member 21, and the DC component or the development in which the AC component is superimposed on the DC component is developed. A selected color toner is applied to the surface of the photoreceptor 21 by applying a bias. As a result, the electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor 21 is visualized with the selected toner color.
[0023]
The toner image developed by the developing unit 3 as described above is primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 41 of the intermediate transfer unit 4 in the primary transfer region TR1. That is, the intermediate transfer unit 4 includes an intermediate transfer belt 41 spanned by a plurality of rollers, and a drive unit (not shown) that rotationally drives the intermediate transfer belt 41, and transfers a color image to the sheet S. The color toner images formed on the photosensitive member 21 are superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt 41 to form a color image. On the other hand, when a monochrome image is transferred to the sheet S, the toner image is formed on the photosensitive member 21. Only the black toner image is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 41 to form a monochrome image.
[0024]
The image thus formed on the intermediate transfer belt 41 is secondarily transferred onto the sheet S taken out from the cassette 9 in a predetermined secondary transfer region TR2. Further, the sheet S on which the image is formed in this way is conveyed via the fixing unit 5 to a discharge tray portion provided on the upper surface portion of the apparatus main body 6.
[0025]
Next, the configuration of the engine controller 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The engine controller 1 functions as a control unit of the present invention, and a CPU 11 executes a toner remaining amount warning program, which will be described later, and the remaining amount of toner remaining in the developing units 3Y, 3M, 3C, 3K reaches the near end. Alert you when you do. The CPU 11 is connected to a ROM 12 for storing a toner remaining amount warning program and other data, and a RAM 13 for temporarily storing various data.
[0026]
The CPU 11 is connected to a serial EEPROM 14 used for an electronic counter via a serial I / F (interface) 15. As shown in FIG. 3, the serial EEPROM 14 has a toner remaining amount warning, which will be described later, in addition to the total number of monochrome pages, which is the cumulative number of pages subjected to monochrome printing, and the total number of color pages, which is the cumulative number of pages subjected to color printing. The following data required to execute the program:
Dot count value for each toner color,
Near-end setting mode,
Fixed near-end value (dot count value),
Average user usage time per day,
days left,
User compatible near-end value (dot count value) for each toner color,
Average dot count value for each toner color,
Latest near-end value (dot count value) for each toner color,
Is remembered. Note that the meaning of each data will be described in detail when the remaining toner amount warning process is described later.
[0027]
The CPU 11 is connected not only to the serial EEPROM 14 but also to serial EEPROMs 71 to 77 provided in the units 2, 3Y, 3M, 3C, 3K, 4 and 5 via the serial I / F 15. Data can be transferred to and from the EEPROMs 14 and 71 to 77, and a chip select signal CS can be input to the serial EEPROMs 14 and 71 to 77 via the input / output port 16.
[0028]
Further, the engine controller 1 is provided with a voltage monitoring circuit 17, and when the power supply voltage falls below a predetermined voltage, the voltage monitoring circuit 17 detects the voltage drop and sends a reset signal indicating that to the CPU 11 and peripheral devices. 15 and 16 are output.
[0029]
Further, the CPU 11 is connected to the operation unit 18 and the display unit 19 functioning as a man-machine interface via the input / output port 16, and when an instruction or setting data from the user is input by the operation unit 18, While data is given to the CPU 11, information such as toner near-end is displayed on the display unit 19 as a result of executing the toner remaining amount warning program.
[0030]
Next, a toner remaining amount warning operation in the image forming apparatus configured as described above will be described. In this image forming apparatus, when the apparatus is turned on, necessary data out of the data stored in the serial EEPROM is read and stored in the RAM 13 as shown in FIG. 3, for example. This data group includes a dot count value indicating the remaining amount of toner for each toner color. These dot count values are obtained when the electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image signal is formed on the photosensitive member 21 by scanning and exposing the laser beam L on the photosensitive member 21 according to the image signal immediately after replacement of the developing unit. , A value obtained by counting up the number of dots of the latent image, and indicates a toner consumption amount, that is, a toner remaining amount relating to the toner color corresponding to the electrostatic latent image.
[0031]
Further, in this image forming apparatus, as shown in FIG. 4, an “image quality guarantee mode”, a mode for determining whether or not the remaining amount of toner remaining in each of the developing units 3Y, 3M, 3C, and 3K has reached the near end. A total of three types of modes, “utilization mode” and “automatic update mode”, are prepared. In each mode, a warning value for determining the near end of toner is set as follows and stored in the RAM 13. The toner remaining amount warning process is executed in one of the above three types of modes according to the near-end setting mode. Hereinafter, a description will be given with reference to FIGS.
[0032]
As shown in FIG. 4, when the toner remaining amount warning program is executed, a dot count value indicating the remaining amount of toner is first read from the RAM 13 (step S1), and the user selects any one of the three modes. A setting mode indicating whether the setting is made is read from the RAM 13 (step S2). Then, by executing steps S3 to S5, the toner remaining amount warning process corresponding to the setting mode in step S2 is selected and executed.
[0033]
First, the case where the image quality guarantee mode (step S6) is selected will be described. This image quality assurance mode places importance on the quality of the output image, and replaces the remaining amount of toner as soon as possible, in order to prevent the remaining amount of toner from decreasing during printing and preventing the image from fading. It is a mode to do. In order to execute this image quality guarantee mode, the above-described apparatus is verified in advance to obtain a dot count value at the time when a predetermined toner remaining amount is reached, and this is stored in the ROM 12 as a fixed near-end value. The fixed near-end value is desirably set so that a relatively large amount of toner remains in consideration of, for example, a user who prints a large amount at a time.
[0034]
In this image quality guarantee mode, as shown in FIG. 5, when the CPU 11 executes steps S61 to S66 and the remaining amount of toner becomes less than the toner amount corresponding to the fixed near-end value, the near end is displayed on the display unit 19 and “toner” is displayed. A warning of “out” is notified to the user. Specifically, when the printing process is performed (step S61), the number of dots of the toner image formed in the printing process is added to the dot count value and updated (step S62). Then, the dot count value is compared with the fixed near-end value (step S63), and while it is less than the fixed near-end value, the near-end display is not performed and steps S61 and S62 are repeated.
[0035]
On the other hand, if the dot count value is equal to or greater than the fixed near-end value and the current toner remaining amount is less than the toner remaining amount corresponding to the fixed near-end value, the near-end, for example, “Toner remaining amount has decreased, replace the development unit. Please display "message on the display unit 19 to warn the user of" out of toner "(step S64).
[0036]
In the next step S65, it is determined whether or not the replacement of the developing unit has been completed for the toner color for which “toner out” has been warned. The process returns to step S64 until the replacement of the developing unit is completed, and the near end is displayed on the display unit 19. Continue to display. On the other hand, when a new developing unit is installed, the near-end display is canceled and the dot count value is cleared (step S66), and then the process returns to step S2 to end the “image quality guarantee mode”.
[0037]
Next, a case where the usage rate corresponding mode (step S7) is selected will be described. This usage rate corresponding mode is a mode in which the toner in the developing units 3K, 3C, 3M, and 3Y is efficiently used by obtaining a near end value corresponding to the user according to the usage status for each user. It should be noted that, in executing this usage rate correspondence mode, the average usage time per day in the mode setting process described later, and the remaining number of days that the toner image can be formed from when the “toner out” warning is notified, Are set via the operation unit 18, and these values are stored in the serial EEPROM 14.
[0038]
In this usage rate corresponding mode, as shown in FIG. 6, the CPU 11 executes steps S71 to S79 to develop each toner up to a toner amount (hereinafter referred to as “reserve amount”) that can continue printing for the remaining days. When the remaining amount of toner in the units 3K, 3C, 3M, 3Y decreases, a near end is displayed on the display unit 19 to notify the user of a “toner out” warning. Specifically, in step S71, the dot count value per unit time is calculated from the number of printed pages per unit time and the average dot count value per page.
[0039]
Then, in the next step S72, the user set values, that is, the average usage time per day and the remaining days are read from the RAM 13, and then in the next step S73, the reserve amount corresponding to the user remains in the developing unit. The dot count value at that time is calculated, and this is set as a user-appropriate near-end value. Normally, the usage status of each user is different, but by executing steps S71 to S73 as in the present embodiment, an optimum user corresponding near end can be obtained for each user. For example, when the user has set the remaining days relatively large, the reserve amount is inevitably set to be large, and the near end is displayed earlier than when the remaining days are reduced. Here, the remaining number of days can be arbitrarily set by the user in consideration of the delivery period of the development unit and the like.
[0040]
When the printing process is performed (step S74), the number of dots of the toner image formed in the printing process is updated by adding to the dot count value as in the case of the “image quality guarantee mode” (step S74). S75). Then, the dot count value is compared with the near end value corresponding to the user set in step S73 (step S76). While the near end value is less than the near end value corresponding to the user, the near end is not displayed, and steps S74 to S76 are repeated. .
[0041]
On the other hand, when the dot count value becomes equal to or greater than the user-supported near-end value and the current toner remaining amount reaches the toner remaining amount corresponding to the user-supported near-end value, that is, the reserve amount, A message “Please replace the development unit. Replace the development unit” is displayed on the display unit 19 to warn the user that “toner has run out” (step S77). Thus, in this embodiment, the near end value corresponding to the user corresponds to the “first warning value” of the present invention.
[0042]
In the next step S78, it is determined whether or not the replacement of the developing unit has been completed for the toner color for which “out of toner” has been warned, and the process returns to step S74 until the replacement of the developing unit is completed and the near end is displayed on the display unit 19. Continue to display. In this embodiment, after the remaining amount of toner remaining in the developing unit is less than the reserve amount, the remaining amount of toner, the dot count value per unit time obtained in step S71, and the user's per day Based on the average usage time, the remaining number of days until the toner remaining amount reaches the toner end is calculated and updated and displayed on the display unit 19 (step S77). Therefore, when the near end is first displayed on the display unit 19, the remaining number of days set by the user is displayed on the display unit 19. On the other hand, if the printing process is continued without replacing the developing unit, the display is performed according to the printing process. The remaining days displayed in the part 19 gradually decrease.
[0043]
On the other hand, if it is confirmed in step S78 that a new developing unit has been installed, the near-end display is canceled and the dot count value is cleared (step S79). Then, the process returns to step S2 and the “usage corresponding mode” is set. finish.
[0044]
Next, the case where the automatic update mode (step S8) is selected will be described with reference to FIG. This “automatic update mode” is a mode in which the near-end value is updated according to the user's replacement timing and the near-end display timing is made to correspond to the user's usage mode. In this “automatic update mode”, first, the latest near-end value is read from the RAM 13 (step S81).
[0045]
When the printing process is performed (step S82), the number of dots of the toner image formed in the printing process is updated by adding to the dot count value as in the “image quality guarantee mode” (step S82). S83). Then, the dot count value is compared with the latest near-end value read in step S81 (step S84). While the dot count value is less than the latest near-end value, the near-end display is not performed and steps S82 to S84 are repeated.
[0046]
On the other hand, if the dot count value is equal to or greater than the latest near-end value and the current toner remaining amount is less than the toner remaining amount corresponding to the latest near-end value, the near end, for example, “Toner remaining amount has decreased, replace the development unit. Please display "message on the display unit 19 to warn the user of" out of toner "(step S85).
[0047]
In the next step S86, it is determined whether or not the replacement of the developing unit is completed for the toner color for which “toner out” is warned, and the process returns to step S85 until the replacement of the developing unit is completed, and the near end is displayed on the display unit 19. Continue to display. On the other hand, when a new developing unit is mounted, the latest near-end value is updated by comparing this replacement time with the near-end display start time. This is because, depending on the user, the printing process may continue even after the near-end display, and the developing unit may be replaced at the time when image blurring appears, and the near-end display timing and the actual replacement timing are significantly different. In such a case, it is not preferable to display the near end for a long time, and it is desirable to delay the display of the near end so as to approach the actual replacement timing.
[0048]
Therefore, in this embodiment, the latest near-end value is updated and stored by comparing the current latest near-end value Dn with the dot count value Dr at the time of replacement of the developing unit (step S87). Specifically, when the conditional expression (Dr−Dn <α) is satisfied, that is, the dot count value (Dr−Dn) from the near end display to the development unit replacement is less than a predetermined value α, the near end display time point and the unit When the replacement time is relatively close, the latest near-end value is set as it is. On the other hand, when the conditional expression (Dr−Dn ≧ α) is satisfied, that is, the dot count value (Dr−Dn) from the near end display to the development unit replacement is a predetermined value α or more, and the time from the near end display to the unit replacement The latest near-end value Dn
Dn = 0.9 × Dr
And stored in the RAM 13 (step S87). Thus, in this embodiment, the latest near-end value corresponds to the “second warning value” of the present invention.
[0049]
Subsequently, after the dot count value is cleared (step S88), the process returns to step S2 to end the “automatic update mode”.
[0050]
Incidentally, when the user selects and sets one mode from the above three modes, the mode setting process shown in FIG. 8 is appropriately executed. In this mode setting process, steps S91 and S92 are executed to determine which of the three modes has been selected by the user. If “image quality guarantee mode” or “automatic update mode” is selected, the selection mode is set (steps S93 and S94).
[0051]
On the other hand, when the “usage corresponding mode” is selected, the “usage corresponding mode” is set in step S95 and the user is prompted to input the “average usage time per day” and the “remaining days”. When each data is input, it is stored in the RAM 13 (steps S96 and S97).
[0052]
As described above, according to this embodiment, three types of near-end values “image quality guarantee mode”, “usage usage support mode”, and “automatic update mode” are prepared in advance, and the user can set a plurality of near-end values. One near end value can be selected from among them, and a warning of “out of toner” is notified to the user when the remaining amount of toner reaches the selected near end value. Therefore, the user can flexibly set the warning notification timing of “out of toner” by selecting a mode according to his / her device usage mode.
[0053]
In addition, when the “usage support mode” is selected, when the remaining amount of toner remaining in the developing unit reaches the reserve amount, not only the near-end display but also the remaining days are displayed. Makes it possible to continue the printing process for the remaining number of days after the “out of toner” warning, and to order development units based on the remaining number of days, making it more user-friendly. Yes. The “remaining days” can be arbitrarily set according to the usage status of the user, the delivery date of the development unit, and the like. Of course, it is not essential to display the remaining days on the display unit 19 together with the near end. It is needless to say that only the air end may be displayed on the display unit 19 to notify the “toner out” warning. Absent.
[0054]
Further, in this “utilization rate correspondence mode”, since the dot count value per unit time is predicted from the number of printed pages per unit time and the average dot count value per page, the near end value corresponding to the user is obtained. The near end value corresponding to the user can be brought close to the usage mode of the user, and the near end value can be reported more accurately than when the near end value is fixedly set.
[0055]
In addition, the “average usage time per day” is used to obtain the near end value corresponding to the user. However, this value may be input by the user as in the embodiment, or may be fixedly set in advance. However, by setting the user setting as in the above embodiment, the user-corresponding near-end value can correspond to the usage mode of the user, and this is preferable.
[0056]
Furthermore, when the “automatic update mode” is selected, the near-end value is automatically updated according to the exchange timing of the user, so that it is possible to notify more accurately than when the near-end value is fixedly set. . In addition, it is possible to effectively prevent the near end from being displayed for a long time by adjusting the near end display timing.
[0057]
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications other than those described above can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, three modes are prepared, and one is substantially selected from three types of near-end values by mode setting. However, two modes, or four or more modes are selected. May be set and the near-end value may be selected.
[0058]
In the above embodiment, the remaining amount of toner in the developing unit is obtained based on the dot count value. However, the means for deriving the remaining amount of toner is not limited to this, and is arbitrary. The remaining amount of toner may be obtained based on the cumulative rotation amount of the photosensitive member 21 and the cumulative rotation amount of the intermediate transfer belt 41.
[0059]
In the above-described embodiment, the near end is displayed on the display unit 19 provided in the image forming apparatus to notify the “toner out” warning. However, an external device such as a host computer connected to the image forming apparatus is notified. A warning signal may be output to notify a “toner out” warning. In the above embodiment, data such as the mode setting and the remaining days are input via the operation unit 18, but the operation of the keyboard of an external device such as a host computer connected to the image forming apparatus is performed. You may comprise so that it may input via a part.
[0060]
In the above embodiment, the present invention is applied to the image forming apparatus that replaces the entire developing unit when the remaining amount of toner reaches the near-end value. However, the developing unit can be attached to and detached from the developing body. The present invention can also be applied to an image forming apparatus that includes only a toner cartridge and replaces only the toner cartridge.
[0061]
In the above-described embodiment, the present invention is applied to an image forming apparatus that issues a “out of toner” warning based on the near-end value. However, the application target of the present invention is not limited to this, The present invention can also be applied to an image forming apparatus that issues a warning based on a toner end value.
[0062]
Furthermore, the image forming apparatus according to the above embodiment is a printer that prints an image given from an external device such as a host computer on a sheet such as copy paper, transfer paper, paper, and an OHP transparent sheet. The present invention can be applied to all electrophotographic image forming apparatuses including copying machines and facsimile machines.
[0063]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the user can select one warning value from among a plurality of warning values, and when the remaining amount of toner reaches the selected warning value, the toner exhaustion is completed. Since the warning is notified to the user, it is possible to accurately notify the user of the toner exhaustion while appropriately and flexibly responding to the user's request.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.
2 is a block diagram showing an engine controller of the image forming apparatus of FIG.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a part of a memory map of a RAM.
4 is a flowchart showing a remaining toner warning process in the image forming apparatus of FIG.
5 is a flowchart showing an “image quality guarantee mode” in the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1;
6 is a flowchart showing a “utilization rate corresponding mode” in the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1;
7 is a flowchart showing an “automatic update mode” in the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1;
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing mode setting processing in the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1;
[Explanation of symbols]
1 ... Engine controller (control means)
6 ... Main unit
11 ... CPU (control means)
12 ... ROM (storage means)
13 ... RAM (memory means)
14, 71-77 ... Serial EEPROM (storage means)

Claims (3)

An apparatus main body and a toner image that is detachable from the apparatus main body and that corresponds to an image signal by developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive member with the toner in a state of being attached to the apparatus main body. And a control means for notifying a user of a toner out warning when the remaining amount of toner remaining in the developing means reaches a warning value, and a plurality of warning values are prepared. In the image forming apparatus in which one can be selected from the plurality of warning values by:
Storage means for storing the latest near-end value as one of the plurality of warning values;
When the user selects the latest near-end value, the control unit notifies the user of a toner out warning when the remaining amount of toner remaining in the developing unit reaches the latest near-end value. An image forming apparatus, wherein the latest near-end value stored in the storage unit is updated based on a remaining amount of toner when the developing unit is replaced. An apparatus main body, a developing unit that is mounted on the apparatus main body and visualizes an electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive member with toner, and forms a toner image corresponding to an image signal; Control means for notifying the user of a toner out warning when the remaining toner amount reaches a warning value, and a plurality of warning values are prepared, and the user selects one of the plurality of warning values In an image forming apparatus that is possible,
Storage means for storing the latest near-end value as one of the plurality of warning values;
The developing means can be replenished with toner by replacing the toner cartridge with respect to the developing body, and
When the user selects the latest near-end value, the control unit notifies the user of a toner out warning when the remaining amount of toner remaining in the developing unit reaches the latest near-end value. An image forming apparatus, wherein the latest near-end value stored in the storage unit is updated based on a remaining amount of toner when a toner cartridge is replaced.   The control means obtains the remaining amount of toner by counting individual image signals forming the dots of the image, and calculates the latest near-end value based on the dot count value corresponding to the remaining amount of toner at the time of replacement after warning. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 to be obtained.

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