JP4365336B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic system.

  In an electrophotographic color image forming apparatus, an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of an electrophotographic photosensitive member is, for example, a color toner such as yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) toners. Then, the electrophotographic process of developing with black (Bk) toner and transferring the developed toner image onto the transfer paper is repeated, and each color toner is sequentially superimposed on the transfer paper to form a full color image.

  Such a color image forming apparatus is equipped with a developing device that develops using yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toners, and each developing device stores the toner of each color, and supplies the toner to the developing device. A toner cartridge is provided. Generally, a color image forming apparatus is used not only for forming a color image but also for forming a monochrome image, so that the consumption amount of black toner inevitably increases.

  In particular, when the image forming capability of the image forming apparatus (for example, expressed by the number of images that can be formed on recording paper per minute) is increased, the amount of black toner consumed is further increased, and the black toner cartridge is replaced. Therefore, the capacity of the black toner cartridge is made larger than the capacity of the color toner cartridge in order to store a larger amount of black toner that is used frequently and consumes more than other color toners. There is an image forming apparatus.

  However, such an image forming apparatus has the following problems. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a comparison of cartridge dimensions when the capacity of the black toner cartridge is made larger than that of the color toner cartridge. In FIG. 11, the cylinder in the case where the capacity of the rotating black toner cartridge 1 having a cylindrical shape is almost twice the capacity of the toner cartridges 2, 3, 4 of each color (C, M, Y). It is a figure which compares the magnitude | size of the diameter of a part. When the cylinder length of each cartridge is formed to be the same, the diameter D of the cylindrical portion of the black toner cartridge 1 formed to be twice the capacity of the color toner cartridges 2, 3, 4 is equal to the color toner cartridge 2. , 3 and 4 is approximately 1.5 times the diameter d of the cylindrical portion. Therefore, when such a black toner cartridge 1 and color toner cartridges 2, 3, and 4 are mounted on the image forming apparatus, the mounting space for the cartridge is determined by the size of the largest black toner cartridge 1, and the apparatus becomes larger. There is a problem of doing.

  In addition, by increasing the shape and size of a specific toner cartridge in order to increase the capacity, the standard of the toner cartridge tends to become special, and the toner cartridge of a special standard is used in various image forming apparatuses. Since it becomes difficult to mount, it lacks versatility and causes problems in mass productivity.

  Such a problem also occurs when the toner cartridge is packaged during transportation. FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a state of the toner cartridge housed in the packing material. Since the size of the black toner cartridge 1 and the size of the color toner cartridges 2, 3, and 4 are significantly different, the black toner cartridge 1 and the color toner cartridges 2, 3, and 4 are separately packed with different sizes, that is, When stored in the black packaging package 5 and the color packaging package 6, the toner cartridges that should be used as a set are separated and handled, so that the transportation work becomes complicated. If the black toner cartridge 1 and the color toner cartridges 2, 3, 4 are forcibly placed in the same packaging material, the size of the packaging material must be matched to the size of the largest black toner cartridge 1. Therefore, there is a problem that an unnecessary gap is generated in the storage portion of the color toner cartridges 2, 3, and 4, and a padding for preventing the shaking in the packing material has to be used.

  In order to improve the workability from the disadvantages of a specific color, for example, a black toner cartridge that is larger than that of other color toner cartridges, the toner cartridge is formed in a rectangular tube shape, which is blacker than the color toner cartridge. There has been proposed a color image forming apparatus in which the cylinder length of each toner cartridge is increased to increase the capacity, and the arrangement and accommodation of each toner cartridge are devised to prevent deterioration in replacement workability (for example, patents) Reference 1).

  In the color image forming apparatus of Patent Document 1, the toner cartridge is formed in a rectangular tube shape, the width of the rectangular tube is the same for the black toner cartridge and the color toner cartridge, and the rectangular tube that is the insertion direction with respect to the receiving member of the apparatus main body. By increasing the length of the black toner cartridge so that the black toner cartridge is longer than the color toner cartridge, the long black toner cartridge is disposed on the most front side in the depth direction of the apparatus main body. The toner cartridge replacement workability is improved.

  However, also in the color image forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, the black toner cartridge is accommodated in a form protruding significantly inward of the apparatus body as compared with the color toner cartridge. Thus, there is a problem that a large space for accommodating the toner cartridge is required, the problem that the apparatus becomes large cannot be solved, and the versatility of the black toner cartridge having a specific size is lost.

JP 2002-99130 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus including a toner cartridge capable of realizing space saving of the apparatus.

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus including a toner cartridge that has a cylindrical shape and is supplied for use in developing toner contained therein by rotating.
Including a toner cartridge for storing a plurality of color toners and a black toner,
Each of the multi-color and black toner cartridges is formed in the same shape and size,
Toner cartridge
A central container portion having a cylindrical shape and having a recess recessed in the radial direction formed on the outer periphery thereof, and transporting the toner accommodated therein by rotating around the axis toward the toner discharge port;
A support member which rotatably supports the central container part and is provided so as to cover the outer periphery of the central container part, and a conduction hole through which the toner conveyed to the toner discharge port passes is formed at a position corresponding to the recess;
A guide member that is slidable in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the central container portion;
Toner remaining amount detecting means for detecting the remaining amount of toner contained inside based on the number of rotations of the central container portion;
A non-volatile memory,
The non-volatile memory is composed of a base film, an antenna unit mounted on the base film, and an integrated circuit chip unit. The nonvolatile memory receives detection information from the toner remaining amount detecting means and identifies the type of toner cartridge. The image forming apparatus is characterized in that identification information and toner remaining amount detection information by a toner remaining amount detecting means can be stored.

  According to the present invention, the toner cartridge is characterized in that a corner portion in a cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the rotation axis is formed in a curved shape without having a corner.

According to the present invention, the toner cartridges of a plurality of colors and black are formed in the same shape and size. Therefore, the space for accommodating the toner cartridge in the apparatus main body is matched with the toner cartridge of the same shape and size. The entire apparatus can be designed to save space. Also, by making the cartridges the same shape and size, the toner cartridge can be used not only for one model but also for other models and can be used in common. Will improve.
The toner cartridge is provided with a nonvolatile memory capable of storing identification information for identifying the type of the toner cartridge and toner remaining amount detection information by the remaining toner amount detecting means. As a result, it is possible to easily determine the remaining amount of toner in the toner cartridge and to prevent erroneous mounting of the toner cartridge to the apparatus main body.

  In addition, according to the present invention, a large number of toner cartridges containing at least one color toner selected from a plurality of color toners and a black toner are provided as the image forming capability increases. As a result, when the image forming capability increases, that is, when the number of images formed per unit time increases, for example, the consumption of black toner increases. However, as the image forming capability increases, the number of black toner cartridges increases. Accordingly, the image forming operation can be continued without performing the toner cartridge replacement operation for a long time. Furthermore, since the toner cartridges are formed to have the same shape and size, an image forming apparatus configured to be able to mount toner cartridges of that shape is mounted in a desired number of color cartridges of any color regardless of the model. In addition, the toner cartridge can be used in common across multiple models.

  Further, according to the present invention, since the corner portion in the cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the rotation axis is formed in a curved shape without a corner, the inside of the toner cartridge is easily cleaned, and the toner remains. The toner cartridge can be removed almost completely without causing the toner cartridge to be recycled.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a simplified configuration of an image forming apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a configuration around a developing unit 24 for a black image provided in the image forming apparatus 10 shown in FIG. It is an enlarged view shown. The image forming apparatus 10 is a full-color image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic system, and is a multifunction machine having functions such as a copying machine and a printer.

  The image forming apparatus 10 generally performs image processing on image information reading unit (not shown) that reads image information of an original, image information read by the image information reading unit, or image information input from an external device such as a personal computer. Processing unit 11, image forming unit 12 that forms an image based on image information output from image processing unit 11, paper supply unit 14 that supplies recording paper 13 as a recording medium to image forming unit 12, and image forming unit 12, a fixing unit 15 that fixes the image formed and transferred to the recording paper 13, a paper discharge unit 16 that discharges the recording paper 13 on which the image is fixed, and a control that controls the operation of the entire image forming apparatus 10. The unit 17 is configured to be included.

  The image forming unit 12 includes a photoreceptor 21 on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, a charger 22 that is provided around the photoreceptor 21 and uniformly charges the photoreceptor 21, and a charged photoreceptor. An exposure unit 23 that forms an electrostatic latent image by exposing the surface of 21 with light according to image information output from the image processing unit 11, and develops the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive member 21 to form a toner image. Then, a developing unit 24 that visualizes the image and a transfer unit 25 that transfers the developed image onto the recording paper 13 are included.

  The image forming unit 12 is provided with each unit for black image formation, cyan image formation, magenta image formation, and yellow image formation except that the exposure unit 23 is formed integrally. In FIG. 1, each part is described with an alphabet Bk (black), C (cyan), M (magenta), or Y (yellow) representing each color at the end of the reference symbol.

  The developing unit 24 will be described with a black image developing unit 24Bk as a representative example with reference to FIG. The other color developing units 24 are the same as the black image developing unit 24Bk except that only one toner cartridge is provided.

  The developing unit 24Bk is provided facing the photoconductor 21Bk, and supplies a developing roller 31Bk that supplies toner to the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photoconductor, a stirring roller 32Bk that stirs and conveys the developer to the developing roller 31Bk, and a developing unit. A developing casing 33Bk that accommodates the roller 31Bk and the agitation roller 32Bk and in which both rollers 31Bk and 32Bk are rotatably mounted, and toner cartridges 34Bk1 and 34Bk2 for supplying developer toner to the developing casing 33Bk. The toner cartridges 34Bk1 and 34Bk2 have a cylindrical shape, and are rotated around a rotation axis of the toner cartridge 34, which will be described later, and are supplied to the developing casing 33Bk for use in development. .

  In the image forming apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, the toner cartridge 34 includes two black toner cartridges (referred to as a first black toner cartridge 34Bk1 and a second black toner cartridge 34Bk2 for convenience), a cyan cartridge 34C, a magenta cartridge 34M, and a yellow cartridge. One cartridge 34Y is provided. The black, cyan, magenta, and yellow cartridges are all formed in the same shape and size.

  The image forming apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment exemplifies a medium-speed machine (30 image forming capabilities per minute), and the number of black toner cartridges 34Bk1 and 34Bk2 is two. However, if the image forming apparatus is a low speed machine (image forming capacity 20 sheets / min), the number of black toner cartridges is one, and if the image forming apparatus is a high speed machine (image forming capacity 40 sheets / min), the number of black toner cartridges. It is preferable to provide a larger number of black toner cartridges as the image forming capability increases, such as three.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of the toner cartridge 34 in a simplified manner, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the central container portion 41 provided in the toner cartridge 34 shown in FIG. The toner cartridge 34 has a generally cylindrical shape with a bottom, and a corner portion in a cross section perpendicular to the rotation axis 35 is formed in a curved shape without a corner, and is made of, for example, a hard synthetic resin. For example, the external dimensions of the toner cartridge are, for example, a diameter D: 78 mm, a length L: 450 mm, and a toner storage volume of about 2000 cm ³ .

  As described above, in the image forming apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, two black toner cartridges 34 (34Bk1, 34Bk2) having the above-described shape and dimensions are provided. In order to satisfy the same accommodation volume as that of the two black toner cartridges having the above shape and size with one toner cartridge, the diameter: 110 mm and the length: 450 mm are required, and the black toner cartridge 34Bk1 or 34Bk2 of this embodiment is required. The size is about 1.5 times that of. Therefore, in other words, as in the present invention, the black toner cartridge is made up of two articles having the same shape and size as the color toner cartridge so as to increase the capacity. The space can be saved to 2/3 compared with the case of using a cartridge.

  The toner cartridge 34 includes a central container portion 41 provided substantially at a substantially central portion in the length direction, and first and second container portions mounted so as to extend on both sides in the length direction with the central container portion 41 interposed therebetween. 42, 43, a support member 44 provided so as to cover the outer periphery of the central container portion 41, a toner remaining amount detecting means 45 for detecting the remaining amount of toner stored in the toner cartridge 34, and the central container portion 41. And a non-volatile memory 46 to be mounted. The toner cartridge 34 is driven to rotate around the rotation axis 35 in the direction of the arrow 36 by a rotation driving unit (not shown).

  Each of the first and second container portions 42 and 43 of the toner cartridge 34 is a bottomed cylindrical container having an opening portion on one side, and the opening portion communicates with the internal space of the central container portion 41. Each is attached to the container part 41. The central container portion 41 is substantially cylindrical, and a recess 47 having an inclination over a length of about ¼ of the outer periphery is formed in a substantially central portion in the length direction.

  The recess 47 is formed such that a stepped portion 48 that is recessed in the radial direction of the central container portion 41 and the depth of the recess become shallower from the downstream side to the upstream side in the rotation direction 36 of the toner cartridge 34. And an inclined portion 49. An opening 50 that communicates with the internal space of the central container portion 41 is formed in a radially inward falling portion 48 a of the step portion 48. As the toner cartridge 34 rotates in the direction of the arrow 36, the toner accommodated in the toner cartridge 34 is discharged from the opening 50. Therefore, the opening 50 is referred to as a toner discharge port 50.

  The support member 44 provided so as to cover the central container portion 41 is a member that rotatably supports the central container portion 41 and the first and second container portions 42 and 43 of the toner cartridge 34. The support member 44 is formed with a conduction hole 51 that extends to the outer peripheral surface of the central container part 41 at a position corresponding to the recess 47 formed in the central container part 41 in the length direction. A shutter member 52 is provided for opening and closing at any time. The shutter member 52 extends in the length direction of the toner cartridge 34, and the guide member 52 a is slidable in the length direction of the toner cartridge 34 while being guided by the guide member 52 a and opens and closes the conduction hole 51. The member 52b and a driving unit (not shown) that slides the lid member 52b are configured.

  The conduction hole 51 of the support member 44 is configured to be connected to the developing casing 33 of the developing unit 24 via the conduction member 37. Accordingly, when the container portion of the toner cartridge 34 rotates in the direction of the arrow 36, a predetermined amount of toner stored in the toner cartridge 34 is discharged from the toner discharge port 50, and the discharged toner is discharged by the inclined portion 49. The toner transported to the outer peripheral surface of the central container portion 41 is supplied to the developing casing 33 through the conductive hole 51 and the conductive member 37 in the open state.

  5A and 5B are cross-sectional views illustrating an outline of a toner supply operation to the developing unit 24 of the toner cartridge 34. FIG. Hereinafter, the operation of the toner cartridge when a predetermined amount of toner is supplied from the toner cartridge 34 into the developing casing 33 will be further described with reference to FIGS. 5A and 5B.

  In FIG. 5A (a), the rotational position of the toner cartridge 34 is such that the recess 47 formed in the central container portion 41 and the toner discharge port 50 are the upper surface 80a (of the developer 80 accommodated in the central container portion 41). Hereinafter, it is referred to as the developer layer surface 80a). The central container portion 41 of the toner cartridge 34 rotates around the rotation axis 35 in the direction of the arrow 36, and as shown in FIG. 5A (b), the toner discharge port 50 is located below the developer layer surface 80a. When the state is reached, the developer 80 in the central container portion 41 flows into the recess 47 through the toner discharge port 50 as indicated by an arrow 82.

  When the toner cartridge 34 further rotates and moves in the direction of the arrow 36, as shown in FIG. 5B (c), the toner discharge port 50 is positioned above the developer layer surface 80a, and the development through the toner discharge port 50 is performed. The flow of the agent 80 into the recess 47 is stopped, and a predetermined amount of developer 80 b is held in a space 81 formed by the recess 47 of the central container portion 41 and the inner wall of the support member 44. Thus, the amount of the developer 80b retained in the space 81 formed by the recess 47 and the inner wall of the support member 44 is, for example, 6 grams.

  When the toner cartridge 34 further rotates and moves in the direction of the arrow 36 from the state shown in FIG. 5B (c), a space 81 formed by the recess 47 and the inner wall of the support member 44 as shown in FIG. 5B (d). The developer 80b held by the toner is guided to a toner discharge port 50 by being guided by a guide member 83 that is elastically brought into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the central container 41 and is slidable. At this time, the guide member 83 slides in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the central container portion 41, so that all the developer 81 held in the recess 47 can be guided to the toner discharge port 50 as much as possible. The developer 80 b guided to the toner discharge port 50 is supplied to the developing unit 24 through the conducting member 37. In this manner, a predetermined amount of the developer 80 accommodated in the toner cartridge 34 is supplied to the developing unit 24 every rotation of the toner cartridge 34.

  Further, another recess 84 is formed in the central container portion 41 at a position that is substantially point-symmetric with respect to the rotation axis 35 with respect to the recess 47. Therefore, another space 85 is formed between the other recess 84 and the inner wall of the support member 44. The other space 85 holds the developer leaked in this way when the developer 81b held in the space 81 leaks from the upstream side in the rotation direction indicated by the arrow 36 of the space 81. Formed. Similarly to the developer 80b held in the space 81, the developer held in the other space 85 abuts against the outer peripheral surface of the central container portion 41 as the central container portion 41 rotates in the direction of the arrow 36. It is guided to the toner discharge port 50 by a guide member 83 that slides in contact therewith. Even if the developer 80b leaks out of the space 81 in this way, the leaked developer 80b is held by another space 85, and further guided by the guide member 83 and guided to the toner discharge port 50. The predetermined amount of developer can be reliably supplied to the developing unit 24.

  As described above, the shape of the toner cartridge 34 is formed so that the corner portion in the cross section perpendicular to the rotation axis 35 has a corner without a corner, and the inner space thereof has no corner. The As a result, the toner is smoothly discharged along with the rotation so that the toner hardly remains in the internal space, and the inside of the toner cartridge that has been used up to the lower limit and separated from the apparatus main body can be easily cleaned. Therefore, the toner cartridge can be removed almost completely without remaining, and the toner cartridge can be easily recycled.

  The toner remaining amount detecting means 45 is attached to one end of the toner cartridge 34, that is, the bottom of the second container portion 43, and in this embodiment, the number of rotation detecting means for counting the number of times the container portion of the toner cartridge 34 has rotated. It is. As the number-of-rotations detection means 45, a known tachometer of a type that outputs a signal every rotation is provided with a transmission unit that transmits a signal output to the nonvolatile memory 46. Hereinafter, the rotation number detecting means 45 is simply referred to as a tachometer 45.

  The nonvolatile memory 46 is provided in the inclined portion 49 of the central container portion 41 and includes a base film 53, an antenna portion 54 mounted on the base film 53, and an integrated circuit (IC) chip portion 55. This nonvolatile memory 46 is hereinafter referred to as an IC tag 46.

  The base film 53 is a film made of, for example, polyester. When the base film 53 is attached to the inclined portion 49 of the central container portion 41, the base film 53 is attached such that one end portion slightly protrudes from the inclined portion 49 onto the outer periphery of the central container portion 41. The base film protruding portion 53 a protruding from the inclined portion 49 smoothly feeds the toner discharged from the toner discharge port 50, transported by the inclined portion 49 and moved to the vicinity of the outer peripheral surface of the central container portion 41, into the conduction hole 51. Functions as a scraper.

  The antenna unit 54 is a communication unit for exchanging information with the main body communication device 56 provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus 10 and the above-described tachometer 45.

  The IC chip unit 55 is a storage unit that forms a main part of the nonvolatile memory 46. The IC chip portion 55 can store identification information for identifying the type of the toner cartridge 34 and information for detecting the remaining amount of toner by the tachometer 45. Here, the identification information for identifying the type of the toner cartridge 34 is whether the toner contained in the toner cartridge 34 is black toner, cyan toner, magenta toner, or yellow toner. Means. This identification information is input to the IC chip portion 55 by a dedicated input device when a toner cartridge is manufactured and filled with toner of each color.

  The toner remaining amount detection information is stored as a cumulative value of the number of rotations detected by the tachometer 45. As described above, since a predetermined amount of toner is discharged each time the container portion of the toner cartridge 34 rotates, information on the total amount of discharged toner can be obtained based on the cumulative value of the number of rotations. Information on the number of rotations detected by the tachometer 45 is rewritten and input to the IC chip unit 55 via the antenna unit 54 of the IC tag 46 in real time as the image forming apparatus 10 is operated. In addition to the above information, the IC tag 46 may store information such as the number of image-recorded recording sheets, process conditions, and development conditions.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration relating to the operation of the control unit 17 based on information stored in the IC tag 46. The detection output of the number of rotations of the tachometer 45 is given from the communication unit of the tachometer 45 to the IC chip unit 55 via the antenna unit 54 of the IC tag 46 and stored as a cumulative value of the number of rotations. Information on the accumulated value of the number of rotations is read out by signal exchange between the main body communication device 56 provided in the apparatus main body and the antenna unit 54 of the IC tag 46 in accordance with an operation command of the control unit 17 provided in the image forming apparatus 10.

The storage unit (not shown) provided in the control unit 17 stores in advance an initial value of the amount of toner accommodated when the toner cartridge is manufactured and a toner discharge amount per rotation of the toner cartridge 34. The unit 17 can obtain the remaining amount of toner by executing the calculation shown in the following equation (1).
Toner remaining amount = (initial value of toner amount−toner discharge amount per rotation × cumulative number of rotations)
... (1)

  When the remaining amount of toner obtained by the equation (1) is equal to or less than a lower limit amount that is determined in advance and stored in the storage unit (when the lower limit of the usable amount is cut, so-called empty), The control unit 17 displays, for example, on the display unit 57 of the image forming apparatus 10 that the toner cartridge is to be replaced. The operator of the image forming apparatus 10 executes a toner cartridge replacement operation, which will be described later, in accordance with the display content.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the transfer unit 25 will be described. The transfer unit 25 is connected to the four photosensitive members 21 via the driving roller 61, the driven roller 62, the endless intermediate transfer belt 63 stretched between the driving roller 61 and the driven roller 62, and the intermediate transfer belt 63. And four intermediate transfer rollers 64 provided opposite to each other and a transfer roller 65 provided opposite to the driven roller 62.

  A transfer bias having a reverse polarity to the toner is applied to the intermediate transfer roller 64, and the toner image formed on the surface of the photoreceptor 21 is transferred to the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 63. Toner images formed of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toners are sequentially superimposed and transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 63 to form a full-color toner image. The toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 63 is transferred to the recording paper 13 that is conveyed while adjusting the timing between the driven roller 62 and the transfer roller 65. The transfer roller acts similarly to the intermediate transfer roller 64 described above. 65 is transferred.

  The recording paper 13 to which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed to the fixing device 15. The fixing device 15 includes a heating roller 15a that is heated up to a predetermined temperature and a pressure roller 15b that is provided so as to be pressed against the heating roller 15a, and the recording paper 13 on which the toner image is transferred is heated. When the roller 15a and the pressure roller 15b pass through a nip formed by pressure contact, the toner image is fixed by being heated and pressurized. The fixed recording paper 13 is discharged to the paper discharge unit 16 by a pair of paper discharge rollers 66.

  The overall operation of the image forming apparatus 10 relating to image formation will be briefly described below. For example, image information of a document read by the image reading unit is sent to the image processing unit 11 for image processing. The image information subjected to the image processing is given to the exposure unit 23, and the exposure unit 23 exposes the surface of the photoconductor 21 charged to a uniform potential by the charger 22 to form an electrostatic latent image. The electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photoconductor 21 is developed by the developing unit 24 to form a toner image.

  The toner images formed on the photoconductors 21 of the respective colors are laminated and transferred in the order of a yellow toner image, a magenta toner image, a cyan toner image, and a black toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 63 in the transfer unit 25 to form a full color toner image. It is formed. The full color toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 63 is transferred by the transfer roller 65 onto the recording paper 13 conveyed between the driven roller 62 and the transfer roller 65.

  The recording paper 13 onto which the toner image has been transferred passes through the contact portion between the heating roller 15a and the pressure roller 15b of the fixing unit 15, whereby the toner image is fixed. The image-formed recording paper 13 that has been subjected to the fixing process is discharged to the paper discharge unit 16 and a series of image forming operations is completed.

  In the course of this image forming operation, when the amount of toner in the developing casing 33 decreases, the toner cartridge 34 rotates, and the toner in the toner cartridge 34 is discharged and replenished to the developing casing 33. For the rotation operation of the toner cartridge 34, for example, the control unit 17 outputs an operation command to the rotation driving unit of the toner cartridge 34 according to the detection output of the toner concentration by the toner concentration sensor provided in or near the development casing 33. And executed.

  By replenishing toner from the toner cartridge 34 to the developing casing 33, the remaining amount of toner in the toner cartridge 34 obtained by the above equation (1) becomes empty when it reaches a predetermined lower limit (empty). The toner cartridge 34 is replaced with a toner cartridge 34 containing a predetermined amount of toner.

  Since the toner cartridge used for replacement is formed in the same shape and size for both black and color, the shape and size of the toner cartridge should be determined in advance to be compatible with a wide variety of image forming apparatus models. Accordingly, it is possible to use a common one regardless of the model of the image forming apparatus that requires replacement of the toner cartridge. In this way, by unifying the shape and size of the toner cartridge, it can be expanded and used in common for many models, so that the mass productivity of the toner cartridge is improved.

  FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a state in which the toner cartridge 34 of the present invention is stored in the packing material. In the toner cartridge 34 of the present invention, the black toner cartridges 34Bk1 and 34Bk2 and the cyan, magenta, and yellow color toner cartridges 34C, 34M, and 34Y are formed in the same shape and size. Accordingly, when storing in the packing package 71, the black toner cartridges 34Bk1 and 34Bk2 can be enclosed in one packing package 71 without being separately sealed. Therefore, wasteful packing materials can be reduced, and the effect of simplifying handling during transportation can be achieved.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the toner remaining amount detecting means is the tachometer 45. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the toner for detecting the toner amount in the toner cartridge as follows. A remaining amount sensor may be used.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a configuration for detecting the presence or absence of a remaining amount of toner by providing a remaining toner sensor on the conductive member 37. In FIG. 8, the case of black toner is shown as a representative example. When there is no toner T to be supplied from the toner cartridge 34Bk to the developing casing 33Bk, the toner remaining amount sensor 91 detects the state. In other words, when the remaining toner sensor 91 detects that the toner cartridge selected from the toner supply device, for example, the black toner cartridge 34Bk is rotated, the toner cartridge 34Bk does not discharge the toner, the detection information is displayed. The information is output to the control unit 17, and the control unit 17 displays on the display unit that there is no toner in the selected toner cartridge 34Bk. As a result, the operator can identify the presence or absence of toner in the toner cartridge.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a configuration in which the presence / absence of toner remaining is detected by the position sensor. FIG. 9 also shows the case of black toner as a representative example. The spring members 92Bk1 and 92Bk2 are disposed below the toner cartridges 34Bk1 and 34Bk2, and the toner cartridges 34Bk1 and 34Bk2 are disposed thereon. When the toner is filled in the toner cartridge, the toner cartridge is sunk by compressing and deforming the spring member with the weight of the filled toner. However, as the toner is consumed, the toner is Since the weight of the entire cartridge is reduced, the position of the toner cartridge is displaced upward by the repulsive force of the spring member, that is, the extension deformation. When empty, the toner cartridge rises by the repulsive force of the spring member until it contacts the ceiling wall 93 of the casing of the toner supply device. Position sensors 94Bk1 and 94Bk2 are attached to the ceiling wall 93 in advance, and the presence or absence of toner in the toner cartridge can be identified by detecting that the toner cartridge has come into contact with the position sensor.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a configuration in which the presence / absence of toner remaining is detected by a toner weight sensor. FIG. 10 also shows the case of black toner as a representative example. By installing toner weight sensors 95Bk1 and 95Bk2 below the toner cartridges 34Bk1 and 34Bk2 and detecting the weight of the toner cartridge, it is possible to identify the presence or absence of toner in the toner cartridge.

1 is a diagram showing a simplified configuration of an image forming apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing a configuration around a developing unit 24 for a black image provided in the image forming apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1. 3 is a diagram showing a simplified configuration of a toner cartridge 34. FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a central container portion 41 provided in the toner cartridge 34 shown in FIG. 3. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an outline of a toner supply operation to the developing unit 24 of the toner cartridge 34. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an outline of a toner supply operation to the developing unit 24 of the toner cartridge 34. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration related to the operation of the control unit 17 based on information stored in an IC tag 46. FIG. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state in which the toner cartridge of the present invention is housed in a packing material. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration for detecting the presence or absence of a remaining amount of toner by providing a remaining toner sensor on a conductive member 37. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration for detecting presence / absence of toner remaining by a position sensor. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration for detecting presence or absence of a remaining amount of toner by a toner weight sensor. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a comparison of cartridge dimensions when the capacity of a black toner cartridge is made larger than the capacity of a color toner cartridge. FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a state of a toner cartridge stored in a packing material.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image forming apparatus 11 Image processing part 12 Image forming part 13 Recording paper 14 Paper supply part 15 Fixing part 16 Paper discharge part 17 Control part 21 Photoconductor 22 Charger 23 Exposure part 24 Developing part 25 Transfer part 31 Developing roller 33 Developing casing 34 toner cartridge 41 central container part 42 first container part 43 second container part 44 support member 45 tachometer 46 IC tag 56 main body communication device 57 display part 71 packaging package

Claims (2)

In an image forming apparatus including a toner cartridge that has a cylindrical shape and that is supplied for use in developing toner accommodated therein by rotating.
Including a toner cartridge for storing a plurality of color toners and a black toner,
Each of the multi-color and black toner cartridges is formed in the same shape and size,
Toner cartridge
A central container portion having a cylindrical shape and having a recess recessed in the radial direction formed on the outer periphery thereof, and transporting the toner accommodated therein by rotating around the axis toward the toner discharge port;
A support member which rotatably supports the central container part and is provided so as to cover the outer periphery of the central container part, and a conduction hole through which the toner conveyed to the toner discharge port passes is formed at a position corresponding to the recess;
A guide member that is slidable in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the central container portion;
Toner remaining amount detecting means for detecting the remaining amount of toner contained inside based on the number of rotations of the central container portion;
A non-volatile memory,
The nonvolatile memory includes a base film, an antenna unit mounted on the base film, and an integrated circuit chip unit. The nonvolatile memory receives detection information from the toner remaining amount detection unit and identifies the type of the toner cartridge. An image forming apparatus characterized in that identification information and toner remaining amount detection information by a toner remaining amount detecting means can be stored. Toner cartridge
Claim 1 Symbol placing the image forming apparatus characterized in that it is formed in a rather curved to have a corner portion angle of the cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the axis of rotation.

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