JP4537184B2 - Particle behavior display method, program, and storage medium - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for visualizing particle behavior.

  In general, in a copying machine or a printer using electrophotographic technology, a visible image made of toner is formed on the surface of a photosensitive member by a developing device.

  In this developing device, in order to control the behavior of the toner and perform appropriate development, a stirring member or a transport member is generally used, and the toner or toner is transported by the movement or rotation of the stirring member or the transport member. Therefore, the behavior of the carrier particles is appropriately controlled.

  In recent years, particle behavior calculation has been performed to analyze the behavior of particles in such a stirred state and transported state, and is being utilized for elucidating the phenomenon of electrophotography and optimizing the structure of a developing device. For the analysis results, the particle behavior is visualized by displaying the particle position, velocity, and trajectory at an arbitrary time, and further displaying them continuously, and used for grasping and evaluating the particle behavior phenomenon. ing.

  Hereinafter, a specific method for displaying the particle behavior used in Patent Document 1 and Non-Patent Document 2 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIGS. 13A to 13D show an example in which the particles and the stirring member at each time of t0 to t3 seconds are displayed with respect to the result obtained by the two-dimensional particle behavior analysis of the stirring phenomenon caused by the rotation of the stirring member. FIG. Here, it is assumed that the particles in the container are stirred by a stirring member that rotates counterclockwise. In FIG. 13, reference numeral 501 represents a container, 502 represents a stirring member, and 503 represents particles.

By performing the display of FIG. 13, it is possible to visually grasp the particles and the position of the stirring member at each time. In addition, by continuously displaying the four displays, the movement of the particles can be displayed as an animation, and the dynamic behavior can be grasped.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-147048 Proceedings of Japan Opportunity Association B, 62,601, p3335

  However, with the display method as shown in FIG. 13, it is difficult to visually grasp how much each particle is moving.

  For example, in FIG. 13, it is difficult to grasp how much particles are mixed between t0 seconds and t3 seconds only by comparing the display of times at t0 seconds and t3 seconds. Also, in the animation display by the continuous display of FIGS. 13A to 13D, the overall behavior of the particles can be grasped, but it is difficult to grasp the mixing condition. In particular, in the display of a three-dimensional analysis result, this problem becomes significant due to the large number of particles.

  Also, in the analysis of electrophotography, for example, evaluate how the particles transported from a specific area are transported, such as how the toner supplied from the developing hopper is transported in the developing container. However, it is difficult to confirm this phenomenon with the conventional display method.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object thereof is to easily and interactively determine the agitation state and the conveyance state of particles at an arbitrary place and condition using the result of one particle behavior analysis. It is possible to display and grasp.

The particle behavior display method according to the present invention is a particle behavior display method for displaying the behavior of a plurality of particles on a display means, and a designation step for designating a designated particle at the time based on the state of the particle at a predetermined time. And a control step for displaying the designated particles designated in the designation step on the display means in a manner different from the non-designated non-designated particles, wherein the designated particles are updated as time passes. Features.

Further, the particle behavior display method according to the present invention, in the designation step, and judging the particles present in the specified area in the predetermined time and the specified particle.

The particle behavior display method according to the present invention is characterized in that a particle that has passed through the designated region after the predetermined time is determined as a designated particle.

  In the particle behavior display method according to the present invention, the analysis result of the behavior of the developer contained in the electrophotographic apparatus is displayed.

  A program according to the present invention causes a computer to execute the above display method.

  A storage medium according to the present invention stores the above-mentioned program so as to be readable by a computer.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to easily and interactively display and grasp the agitation state and the conveyance state of particles at an arbitrary place and condition using the result of one particle behavior analysis.

  Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
The first embodiment of the present invention will be described below. In the present embodiment, an example will be described in which the results of particle behavior analysis based on particles, stirring members, and containers in a two-dimensional cross section are displayed. Note that the stirring member rotates around the rotation axis.

  FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a processing program of a particle behavior analysis result display device. FIG. 1A is a program configuration diagram showing an overall result display, and FIG. 1B is a program configuration diagram showing a schematic configuration of a setting unit 101 for designated particles. is there.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 100 denotes a control unit, which controls the entire processing of the program. Reference numeral 101 denotes a designated particle setting unit, which selects a particle designation method, sets designation conditions such as designated region information, determines designated particles, and updates a designated particle table. Reference numeral 102 denotes a particle behavior display unit that displays each particle and a structure based on the information of the designated particle.

  In the following, three processes denoted by reference numerals 103 to 105 constituting the designated particle setting unit 101 shown in FIG.

  Reference numeral 103 denotes a designation method selection unit for selecting a particle designation method. In the present embodiment, one of the two methods of “in-region particles” and “direct designation of display particles” is selected.

  Reference numeral 104 denotes a setting unit for in-region particles, which sets time data and region data used for determination of designated particles, and determines whether all particles are in the region based on the position of the particles at the set time. And the specified particle table is updated based on the result.

  Reference numeral 105 denotes a direct designation unit for display particles, which directly designates the particles displayed on the display device and updates the designated particle table based on the result.

  The designated particle setting unit 101 and the particle behavior display unit 102, which are features of the present embodiment, will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the particle behavior analysis display device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Before explaining the processing in the designated particle setting unit 101 and the particle behavior display unit 102 with reference to FIG. 3, the configuration of the particle behavior analysis display device will be explained with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the particle behavior analysis display device includes a CPU 200, a RAM 201, a display device 202, an input unit 203, an external storage device 204, and a bus 205. Further, the RAM 201 includes a program storage unit 201a, a calculation result data storage unit 201b, a particle color data storage unit 201c, a current display time data storage unit 201d, a designated particle table storage unit 201e, and a designation method data storage unit. 201f and a specified condition data storage unit 201g.

  The configuration of each unit will be described in detail. The CPU 200 is a central processing unit and controls each unit connected via the bus 205. Each of the storage units 201a to 201g of the RAM 201 stores the program, calculation result data, particle color data, current display time data, designated particle table, designation method data, and designation condition data shown in FIG. The display device 202 includes a display, a printer, and the like, and displays data to be displayed under the control of the CPU 200. The input unit 203 includes a keyboard, a mouse, and the like, and inputs input data from the outside into the apparatus. The external storage device 204 is composed of a hard disk or the like and stores various data.

  Here, the contents of each data will be described.

  The calculation result data is a value related to calculation conditions such as time-series data of particle positions and velocities obtained by particle behavior analysis, the number of particles, radius and mass. The particle color data is display color information for designated particles and non-designated particles when particles are displayed on a display device. The current display time data is the time of data displayed on the display device. The specified particle table is information indicating whether the particle is a specified particle or a non-specified particle. The designation method data is data indicating a method selected as a particle designation method. The designation condition data is information representing conditions used when the particles are designated, and is time data used when selecting the designated particles, coordinate data representing a region, or the like.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure of processing executed by the designated particle setting unit 101 shown in FIG. A procedure for setting designated particles will be described with reference to FIG. 2 showing a particle behavior analysis display device.

  (1) First, the designation method selection unit 103 selects which method “in-region particles” or “direct designation of display particles” is used, and stores it in the designation method data 201f (step S301).

(2) When “in-region particle” is selected (step S302), the particle setting unit 104 in the region performs the processes (2-1) to (2-4).
(2-1) First, time data used at the time of designation determination is set and stored in the designation condition data 201g (step S303). In this case, time data currently displayed on the display device is used.
(2-2) Next, a rectangular area is set for the display, which is a display apparatus, using a mouse, which is one of the input apparatuses, and coordinate data representing the area is stored in the designated condition data 201g (step S304). . The area can be set by clicking two diagonal points with the mouse.
(2-3) Next, it is determined whether or not an arbitrary particle is in the designated area (step S305). If it is in the area, the data of the designated particle table 201e for the particle is updated (step S306). ). As a determination method, it is only necessary to determine whether or not the position coordinates of the particles are within the rectangular area, and it is possible to compare the coordinates of the two.
(2-4) By performing the processing of (2-3) on all the particles (step S307), the specified particle table 201e corresponding to all the specified particles in the region is created.

(3) If “direct designation of display particles” is selected (step S308), the direct designation unit 105 for display particles performs the processes (3-1) to (3-4).
(3-1) First, time data used at the time of determination of designation is set and stored in the designation condition data 201g (step S303). This may be the same method as (2-1).
(3-2) Next, a particle is specified by clicking one of the displayed particles using the mouse which is one of the input devices on the display which is the display device (step S309). . In general, a method of obtaining a particle at a position closest to the coordinates on the clicked display is used.
(3-3) Update the data in the designated particle table 201e for the clicked particle (step S306).
(3-4) Until picking is completed (until the click of a plurality of particles to be designated is finished), (3-2) to (3-3) are repeated (step S310). A designated particle table 201e corresponding to the particles is created.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure of processing executed by the particle display unit 102 shown in FIG. The particle display processing procedure will be described with reference to FIG.

  (1) First, the display color of the designated particle is set and stored in the particle color data 201c (step S401). Note that the display color (for example, white, black, etc.) used in the conventional display is used as the display color of the non-designated particles.

  (2) Next, the display time is counted (step S402) and stored in the current display time data 201d.

  (3) Next, with respect to a certain particle, it is determined whether or not the particle is a designated particle using the designated particle table 201e (step S403). In the case of a designated particle, particle color data of the designated particle is obtained (step S404). In the case of non-designated particles, display of the particles is created using display color data of the non-designated particles (step S405). At this time, the display position of the particle is obtained based on the current display time data 201d and the calculation result data 201b, and a mark is displayed at the particle position with respect to the current time.

  (4) The process of (3) is performed on all particles (step S307).

  (5) A display of the structure is created (step S406).

  (6) The display of the particles and the display of the structure are output to the display device (step S407).

  The feature of this embodiment is that the behavior of the designated particles and the non-designated particles can be visually expressed by displaying the designated particles and the non-designated particles with different colors, for example. An example in which the method of the present embodiment is applied to the analysis result of FIG. 13 shown in the conventional example will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 5A shows the setting of the region when “particle in region” is selected as the particle selection method, FIG. 5B shows the designated particle table, and FIGS. 5C to 5F show the time t0. Examples of display from second to t3 seconds are shown. Here, reference numeral 501 denotes a container, 502 denotes a stirring member, 503 denotes non-designated particles, 504 denotes a rectangular area selected by the mouse, 505 denotes the contents of the designated particle table, and 506 denotes designated particles. .

  First, the designated particle designation method and the designated particle table update method will be described.

  The rectangular area is set by clicking two points on the diagonal line of the rectangular area 504 with the mouse on the analysis result at the time t0 seconds shown in FIG. Then, the eight particles in the rectangular area 504 are determined as the designated particles, and the designated particle table for the eight designated particles including the particle numbers 1 and 4 is stored as “1” representing the designated particles.

  FIGS. 5C to 5F show the particle behavior display results from t1 seconds to t3 seconds when the designated particles are displayed in gray and the non-designated particles are displayed in white. As can be seen from this figure, it is possible to visually grasp the state that the designated particles in the right half of the figure at the time of t0 seconds are sufficiently stirred at the time of t3 seconds.

  As described above, by using this embodiment, it is possible to visually grasp how particles are being stirred and transported using designated particles and non-designated particles. In addition, by using this embodiment, the operator can interactively set the region, so that it is possible to display how particles in an arbitrary region are stirred and transported for one analysis result. This makes it easier to visually grasp the phenomenon.

  In particular, when there are particles moving in the same region as shown in FIGS. 5C to 5F or many particles, the flow and agitation state of the particles are regarded as a mixture of the colors of the designated particles and the non-designated particles. Can be seen at a glance. In addition, by continuously displaying the four displays in FIGS. 5C to 5F, the behavior of the particles can be displayed in an animated manner, so that the speed and direction of the particles can be evaluated.

  In addition, by enabling display / non-display of designated particles and non-designated particles, it is possible to display only designated particles or only non-designated particles. FIG. 6 shows an example in which only (a) designated particles are displayed and (b) only non-designated particles are displayed with respect to the analysis result at time t3 seconds in FIG. 5 (f). . Thus, since only the particles in the region of interest can be displayed, it becomes easier to confirm the behavior of the particles of interest. In particular, in the case of three-dimensional analysis, not only the number of particles is large, but also particles in the depth direction cannot be seen. Therefore, by using the method of this embodiment, the behavior of the particles in the region of interest can be easily confirmed. It becomes like this. Furthermore, the time required for display can be shortened by reducing the number of particles to be displayed.

  FIG. 7 shows an example in which the designated particles are set using the analysis result at the time t3 seconds with respect to the analysis result of FIG. 13 shown in the conventional example. In the figure, reference numerals 501 to 504 and 505 are the same as those in FIG. In this way, by setting the designated particles based on the result at time t3 seconds after a lapse of a fixed time, it is possible to confirm from the display of the time from t0 seconds to t2 seconds.

  In the above description, the display of the two-dimensional analysis has been described, but the present invention can also be applied to the display of the three-dimensional analysis result.

  In the above description, a method using a mouse has been described as a method for setting designated particles. However, a method of directly inputting region data using a keyboard or the like is also applicable. Furthermore, as a region for defining the designated particles, besides a rectangular region, a two-dimensional circle, ellipse, polygon, and the like, a three-dimensional rectangular parallelepiped, a cylinder, a sphere, and a polyhedron are also applicable. Furthermore, the same algorithm can be used for not only the particles inside the region but also the outside of the region.

  In addition, it is easy to apply the determination of the designated particle using a physical quantity unique to the particle such as a particle size. This makes it possible to visually grasp the behavior of particles having a specified particle size.

  In the above description, the method of differentiating the particle color is used as a method of distinguishing between the designated particle and the non-designated particle. However, a method of changing the type of mark (symbol) (circle, square, polygon, etc.) is also applicable. Yes, and can be distinguished for monochrome display. In addition, it is possible to change the display color according to the types of designated particles, and for example, it is possible to display how particles in a plurality of regions are mixed.

  In the following, a case where the method of the present embodiment is applied to developer behavior analysis in an electrophotographic apparatus will be described as one specific application example of the present embodiment.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a part of an image forming apparatus in an electrophotographic apparatus. In the figure, 1201 is a photosensitive drum, 1202 is a developing device, 1203 is a transfer member, 1204 is a cleaning device, 1205 is a charging member, and 1206 is a developing hopper.

  The developing hopper 1206 is equipped with an agitating member 1207 for agitating the toner that is a developer, and the toner is agitated by the rotation of the agitating member 1207. By applying this embodiment to the developing device 1202, the toner conveyance state in the developing device 1202 can be displayed and evaluated. The present embodiment can also be applied to the display of analysis results for devices such as the developing hopper 1206 and the cleaning device 1204 that stir and transport toner.

(Second Embodiment)
In the first embodiment, each particle is set as either a designated particle or a non-designated particle, and is displayed based on the information. Therefore, individual particles are displayed as either designated particles or non-designated particles at all display times.

  By the way, for example, when displaying how particles that have passed through a certain area are subsequently conveyed, the number of particles that pass through the area increases with time. In order to display this state, it is necessary to display as non-designated particles before passing through the region and as designated particles after passing through the region, which cannot be realized in the first embodiment.

  The second embodiment is for solving such a problem, characterized in that a designated particle table for each time is created and particles are displayed according to designated / non-designated particles for the time to be displayed. Yes. The behavior of the particles after passing through the region can be displayed by displaying them as non-designated particles before the time determined to be designated particles and as designated particles at a later time.

  The block diagram showing the configuration of the processing program of the second embodiment and the configuration of the particle behavior analysis display device is the same as the configuration shown in the first embodiment, so the description is omitted here. Similarly to the description of the first embodiment, a result display of particle behavior analysis based on particles, stirring members, and containers in a two-dimensional cross section will be described as an example. Further, the stirring member rotates around the rotation axis.

  Hereinafter, the processing of the designated particle setting unit 101 using this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 2.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of processing performed in the designated particle setting unit 101 according to the second embodiment. With reference to the particle behavior analysis display apparatus shown in FIG. 2, the procedure for setting the designated particles will be described.

  (1) First, a rectangular area is set on the display, which is a display apparatus, using a mouse, which is one of the input apparatuses, and coordinate data representing the area is stored in the designation condition data 201g (step S304).

  (2) Next, the time is counted and stored in the designated condition data 201g (step S801). The first time uses the calculation start time.

  (3) Next, the data of each particle in the designated particle table one step before is copied to the designated particle table for the current time (step S802). However, this process is not performed for the first time.

  (4) Next, it is determined whether or not an arbitrary particle is within the designated area (step S305). If it is within the area, the data of the designated particle table 201e at the current time for the particle is updated (step S305). Step S306).

  (5) By performing the processes (3) to (4) for all particles (step S307), the specified particle table 201e corresponding to all the specified particles in the region is updated at the current time. That's right.

  (6) By executing the processes (1) to (5) for all times (step S803), the designated particle table 201e at all times is created.

  As for the processing of the particle display unit in the present embodiment, it is possible to divert the processing flow of FIG. 4 described in the first embodiment as it is by using the designated particle table for the display time.

  A feature of this embodiment is that particles that have passed through the region can be displayed as designated particles by displaying them as non-designated particles before the time regarded as designated particles and as designated particles at a later time. An example in which the method of the present embodiment is applied to the analysis result of FIG. 13 shown in the conventional example will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 9A shows the designated particle table, and FIGS. 9B to 9E show examples of display from time t0 seconds to time t3 seconds. Here, reference numeral 901 shows an example of the designated particle table in the present embodiment. Reference numerals 501 to 504 and 506 are the same as those in FIG.

  First, using FIG. 9A, the creation of a designated particle table for four particles (particle numbers 1 to 4) at a time (n-2) Δt seconds to nΔt seconds (Δt is a display time step), This will be described below.

  (1) First, the designated particle is determined using the particle position at the time of (n-2) Δt seconds. As a result, it is determined that the particles with the particle numbers 1 to 4 are not in the rectangular region set in step S304, and “0” representing the non-designated particle is stored.

  (2) Next, (n-1) Δt seconds are determined. First, data of (n-2) Δt seconds (particle numbers 1 to 4 are all “0”) are copied to data of (n−1) Δt seconds. Next, the inside / outside of the rectangular area is determined, and “1” representing the designated particle is stored for the particle number 2 in the rectangular area.

  (3) Next, nΔt seconds are determined. First, data of (n-1) Δt seconds (particle numbers 1 and 3 to 4 are “0” and particle number 2 is “1”) is copied to data of nΔt seconds. Next, the inside / outside of the rectangular area is determined, and “1” representing the designated particle is stored for the particle number 3 in the rectangular area.

  By performing the above processing, the particle number 2 is set as a non-designated particle at a time before (n-1) Δt seconds determined as a designated particle, and as a designated particle after (n-1) Δt seconds. It will be. Similarly, the particle number 3 is set as a non-designated particle at a time before nΔt seconds determined as a designated particle, and as a designated particle at nΔt seconds.

  FIGS. 9B to 9E show the particle behavior display results from t0 seconds to t3 seconds when the designated particles are displayed in gray and the non-designated particles are displayed in white. In this way, it is possible to display how the particles that have passed through the rectangular area are transported over time.

  As described so far, by using this embodiment, particles that have passed through the rectangular area are designated by displaying them as non-designated particles before the time determined to be designated particles and as designated particles at a later time. Since the particles are displayed as particles, it is possible to visually grasp how the particles that have passed through the region are stirred and transported. Further, by using this embodiment, the operator can interactively set the region, so that it is possible to display how particles passing through an arbitrary region are stirred and transported for one analysis result. It becomes easy to grasp the phenomenon visually.

  In addition, by setting display / non-display of designated particles and non-designated particles, it is possible to display only designated particles or only non-designated particles. In addition, by displaying a figure representing a region simultaneously with the display of particles, it is possible to confirm at a glance which region has passed.

  Further, in the above description, in the flowchart of FIG. 8, the time count is advanced from the calculation start time to the calculation end time, so that it is displayed as non-designated particles before the time determined to be designated particles and designated particles after. By reversing the time count from the calculation end time, it is possible to display the designated particles before the time when the designated particles are determined, and the non-designated particles after that. This makes it possible to display not only where the particles that have passed through the region are transported but also where the particles that are passing through the region.

  As an example of creating a designated particle table when the time count is reversed, four particles (particle numbers 1 to 4) at a time of (n-1) Δt seconds to (n + 1) Δt seconds (Δt is a display time step) The creation of a designated particle table for the above will be described with reference to FIG. Incidentally, reference numeral 901 in the figure is the same as FIG.

  (1) First, the designated particle is determined using the particle position at the time of (n + 1) Δt seconds. As a result, it is determined that the particles with the particle numbers 1 to 4 are not in the rectangular region set in step S304, and “0” representing the non-designated particle is stored.

  (2) Next, nΔt seconds are determined. First, data at a time of (n + 1) Δt seconds (particle numbers 1 to 4 are all “0”) are copied to data at a time of nΔt seconds. Next, the inside / outside of the rectangular area is determined, and “1” representing the designated particle is stored for the particle number 3 in the rectangular area.

  (3) Next, (n-1) Δt seconds are determined. First, data at time of nΔt seconds (particle numbers 1 to 2 and 4 are “0” and particle number 3 is “1”) is copied to data of (n−1) Δt seconds. Next, the inside / outside of the rectangular area is determined, and “1” representing the designated particle is stored for the particle number 2 in the rectangular area.

  By performing the above processing, the particle number 2 is set as a designated particle at a time before (n-1) Δt seconds determined as a designated particle, and as a non-designated particle after (n-1) Δt seconds. It will be. Similarly, the particle number 3 is set as a designated particle at a time before nΔt seconds determined as a designated particle, and as a non-designated particle after nΔt seconds.

  In the above description, since the process of S802 in FIG. 8 is performed at time steps other than the calculation start time, the particles determined to be designated particles are set as designated particles until the calculation end time, but are determined to be designated particles. The processing of S802 is executed for a predetermined time from the specified time, and when the predetermined time is exceeded, the processing of S802 is not performed, so that particles that do not pass through the region again during the predetermined time are returned to non-designated particles again. Is also possible. As a result, only the particles immediately after passing through the region can be set as the designated particles, so even if the particles pass through the same region many times, the particles immediately after passing through the region are not affected by whether or not they have passed through the region in the past. It becomes possible to distinguish.

  In addition, the processing of S802 is not performed before the arbitrary time, and only the particles that have passed through the region after the arbitrary time can be displayed as the designated particles by performing the processing of S802 only for the subsequent time. Thereby, it is possible to display particles passing through the region at the time when the user is paying attention.

  In the above description, the display of the two-dimensional analysis has been described, but the present invention can also be applied to the display of the three-dimensional analysis result.

  In the above description, a method using a mouse has been described as a method for setting designated particles. However, it is also possible to directly input region data using a keyboard or the like. Furthermore, as a region for defining the designated particles, besides a rectangular region, a two-dimensional circle, ellipse, polygon, and the like, a three-dimensional rectangular parallelepiped, a cylinder, a sphere, and a polyhedron are also applicable. Furthermore, the same algorithm can be used not only for particles inside the region but also for the outside of the region.

  Furthermore, a method for determining whether or not the particle has passed through a set line segment or surface is also applicable. FIG. 11 shows an example of line segment passage determination in the case of two dimensions.

  In the figure, reference numeral 1101 indicates a line segment set for determining the designated particle, 1102a indicates a particle at a certain time, 1102b indicates a particle one step before, and 1102c indicates a line segment connecting the particles 1102a and 1102b. Corresponds to the trajectory of particles. The same applies to 1103a, 1103b, and 1103c. It is determined whether or not the line segments 1102c and 1103c representing the trajectory of the particle intersect with the line segment 1201 for determining the designated particle, and the intersecting 1102a particle is determined as a specified particle, and the non-intersecting 1103a is determined as a non-specified particle. This makes it possible to determine whether or not the line segment has been passed.

  In the above description, the method of differentiating the color of the particles is used as a method for distinguishing between the designated particles and the non-designated particles. However, a method of different types of marks (circle, square, polygon, etc.) is also applicable. Yes, and can be distinguished for monochrome display. In addition, by designating a plurality of regions and changing the color of the designated particles for each region, it is possible to display the movement of particles conveyed from a plurality of locations. This is made possible by identifying the contents of the designated particle table for each region. At this time, it is possible to identify the particles that have passed through the plurality of regions by changing the colors of the particles that have passed through the plurality of regions.

  Furthermore, when identifying particles that have passed through a region a plurality of times, the contents of the designated particle table are used as the number of passes, and the number of passes is displayed by changing the color according to the number of passes. It becomes possible.

  It is also possible to easily apply the designated particle using a physical quantity representing the state of the particle such as the pressure applied to the particle. As a result, it is possible to grasp how the particles that have received a pressure higher than a certain threshold value behave thereafter.

  As described above in detail, according to the above-described embodiment, it is possible to easily and interactively display and grasp the agitation state and the conveyance state of particles at an arbitrary place and condition using the result of one particle behavior analysis. Is possible.

  In addition, since the particles that have passed through the designated area are displayed as designated particles, it is possible to visually grasp how the particles that have passed through the area are being stirred and transported.

  Moreover, since the behavior of particles can be displayed in an animated manner by continuously displaying the particles, the velocity and direction of the particles can be evaluated.

  In addition, by applying the above embodiment to the developer behavior analysis of an electrophotographic apparatus, the developer behavior can be improved with respect to a device that controls the behavior of the developer using a stirring member such as a developing hopper or a developing device. Be able to predict.

(Other embodiments)
An object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the embodiments to the system or apparatus, and the computer of the system or apparatus (or CPU, MPU, etc.) stores it. It is also achieved by reading and executing the program code stored on the medium.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

  Examples of the storage medium for supplying the program code include a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a hard disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a CD-RW, a DVD-ROM, a DVD-RAM, and a DVD. -RW, DVD-R, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, etc. can be used.

  Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above embodiments are realized, but also an OS (operating system) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code Includes a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by performing part or all of the actual processing.

  Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion is performed based on the instruction of the program code. This includes the case where the CPU or the like provided in the board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

In the particle behavior analysis display device of the embodiment of the present invention, it is a program configuration diagram schematically showing a configuration example of a processing program It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the particle behavior analysis display apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure in a “designated particle setting unit” illustrated in FIG. 1. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure in a “particle display unit” shown in FIG. 1. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the setting part of the designated particle of the particle behavior analysis display apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention, and the display part of particle | grains. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the display part of the particle | grains of the particle behavior analysis display apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the display part of the particle | grains concerning the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the process in the "designated particle | grain setting part" in the particle behavior analysis display apparatus which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the setting part of the designation | designated particle | grain of the particle behavior analysis display apparatus which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention, and the display part of particle | grains. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the setting part of the designated particle | grains of the particle behavior analysis display apparatus which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the setting part of the designated particle | grains of the particle behavior analysis display apparatus which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. 1 is a diagram illustrating a part of an image forming apparatus in an electrophotographic apparatus. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the display part of the particle | grains of the conventional process.

Explanation of symbols

100 control unit 200 CPU
201 RAM
202 Display device 203 Input unit 204 External storage device 205 Bus

Claims (6)

A particle behavior display method for displaying the behavior of a plurality of particles on a display means ,
A designation step for designating the designated particles at the time based on the state of the particles at a predetermined time;
A control step of displaying the designated particles designated in the designation step on the display means in distinction from non-designated non-designated particles,
The particle behavior display method, wherein the designated particles are updated as time passes. Wherein in the specifying step, particle behavior display method according to claim 1, wherein the determining the particles present in the specified area in the predetermined time and the specified particle. The particle behavior display method according to claim 2, wherein particles that have passed through the designated region after the predetermined time are determined as designated particles. The particle behavior display method according to claim 1 , wherein the analysis result of the behavior of the developer contained in the electrophotographic apparatus is displayed. The program for making a computer perform the display method of any one of Claims 1 thru | or 4 . A storage medium storing the program according to claim 5 in a computer-readable manner.

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