JP4670499B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic system such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile machine, or a multifunction machine of these.

  In general, in electrophotography or electrostatic recording, an electrostatic latent image is formed on an image carrier such as a photosensitive drum, and the electrostatic latent image is visualized using toner as a developer. Turn into. Then, an image is formed and output on a recording paper (recording material, recording medium, paper) through a transfer process and a fixing process for the visualized toner image. Information such as the number of output recording sheets and the sheet size is displayed on the display panel to notify the user. With such a display, the user can confirm whether or not the content is output as desired.

On the other hand, in such an image forming method, since a residual toner (residual toner) remains on the image carrier after the normal transfer process, a cleaning device is provided to clean the residual toner. As this cleaning device, for example, there is one configured by placing an elastic cleaning blade or brush in contact with an image carrier.
The toner dropped from the image carrier by the cleaning by such a cleaning device is collected and conveyed to, for example, a waste toner bottle. Then, when the waste toner bottle is full or almost full with the collected toner, a message to that effect is displayed on the display panel to alert the user that the waste toner bottle should be replaced.

  Furthermore, a collection system called toner reclaim that collects residual toner by such a cleaning device and actively reuses the collected toner has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This collection system can be differentiated from an image forming apparatus that does not include a collection system in recent years when environmental problems are attracting attention in that it can reduce toner consumption.

JP-A-8-297405 (pages 3 to 4, FIG. 1)

However, the fact that the collection system is provided is, for example, a user who simply viewed the appearance of the image forming apparatus even if it may be listed in a product catalog or the like. It is not easy to determine whether or not it is. More specifically, this collection system automatically operates and collects toner when an image is formed by the image carrier without receiving an instruction from the user. For this reason, even if the toner is collected by the collection system, the user usually remains unaware of the operation of the collection system.
On the other hand, if the user can easily confirm with the image forming apparatus that the residual toner is collected, it can be understood that the residual toner is reused, and the cost of the toner is reduced. I can be conscious. In addition, since the user can continue to have awareness of promoting recycling and consideration of the environment, it can contribute to energy saving as a result.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an image forming apparatus in which a user can easily grasp a toner collection state.

For this purpose, an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied includes an image forming unit that forms a toner image based on an image that has received a print instruction and transfers the toner image to a sheet, and an image forming unit that transfers the toner image to the sheet after being transferred to the sheet. A cleaning unit that removes residual toner, a collection unit that collects toner removed by the cleaning unit, a calculation unit that calculates a toner collection amount based on a drive time of the collection unit and a pixel count number of an image, and a calculation A generation unit that generates a collection screen that indicates a toner collection amount calculated by the unit and a state in which the toner is collected by the collection unit, and a display device that displays the collection screen generated by the generation unit.
The generating means further includes a switching means for generating a paper information screen indicating information relating to the paper onto which the toner image is transferred, and switching the screen displayed on the display device to the collection screen or the paper information screen generated by the generating means. Can be characterized. The switching means preferably switches to the collection screen in conjunction with the toner collection by the collection means.
The generation unit generates a collection amount display screen indicating the amount of toner collected by the collection unit, and switches the screen displayed on the display device to the collection amount display screen or the paper information screen generated by the generation unit. It may be characterized by further comprising means. The switching means preferably switches to the collected amount display screen in accordance with an instruction from the user.

The image forming means includes an image carrier, a plurality of developing units for developing the electrostatic latent image formed by the image carrier with black and color toners to form a toner image, and a toner formed by the image carrier. A transfer body that transfers an image onto a sheet of paper, and the same color that collects toner of the same color by developing the electrostatic latent image with a developer and then removing the toner remaining on the image carrier and transporting it to the developer of the same color comprising a toner collecting unit, the recovery means is adapted to collect the toner by conveying removed by a cleaning unit the toner remaining on the transfer member black to the developing device, the image forming apparatus, the transfer member A recovery bottle that collects residual toner through a different path from the recovery unit; and a switching unit that can select to collect the toner remaining on the transfer body in the recovery unit or the recovery bottle. It can be.
A display unit that includes a display device, and displays a first recovery screen indicating a state in which toner is recovered by the same color toner recovery unit and a second recovery screen indicating a state in which toner is recovered by the recovery unit on the display device ; It can be characterized by including .
The display means may be characterized in that the first collection screen and the second collection screen are arranged on the same screen and displayed on the display device. Further, the first collection screen displayed by the display means displays the path of the toner conveyed from the image carrier to the developing device by a plurality of display elements of the display device, and the second collection screen displayed by the display means. Displays the path of the toner conveyed from the transfer body to the developing device with a plurality of display elements of the display device, and the display elements on the first collection screen and the display pixels on the second collection screen It can be characterized that the shapes are different from each other.

  According to the present invention, the user can easily grasp the toner collection state.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a printer 1 as an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. The printer 1 includes an image process system 10 that forms an image corresponding to gradation data of each color, and a sheet conveyance system 40 that conveys recording paper P (sheet). The printer 1 includes an IPS (Image Processing System) 50 that is connected to, for example, a personal computer or an image reading apparatus and performs predetermined image processing on received image data. A CPU 60 is provided for controlling the operation of each device (each unit).

The image processing system 10 includes four image forming units 11Y, 11M, and 11C of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) that are arranged in parallel at regular intervals in the horizontal direction. , 11K. Further, the image process system 10 includes a transfer unit 20 that multiplex-transfers toner images of respective colors formed on the photosensitive drums 12 of these image forming units 11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11K onto an intermediate transfer belt (transfer body) 21. I have.
Above the transfer unit 20, developer bottles 17Y, 17M, 17C, and 17K are provided in which developer corresponding to each color is stored for the image forming units 11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11K. These developer bottles 17Y, 17M, 17C, and 17K are detachably attached to the printer 1, and can be replaced by, for example, a user. In each developer bottle 17Y, 17M, 17C, 17K, supply pipes 18Y, 18M, 18C, 18K for transporting new developer to each color developing device 14 (see FIG. 2) to be described later. Is attached.
Further, the image process system 10 includes a ROS (Raster Output System) 30 that is an optical system unit that irradiates the image forming units 11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11K with laser light. The printer 1 also includes a fixing device 29 that fixes the toner image on the recording paper P, secondarily transferred by the transfer unit 20, to the recording paper P using heat and pressure.

The transfer unit 20 secondarily transfers a drive roll 22 that drives the intermediate transfer belt 21, a tension roll 23 that applies a certain tension to the intermediate transfer belt 21, and the superimposed toner images of each color onto the recording paper P. Backup roll 24 and a belt cleaner (cleaning unit, second recovery means) 25 for removing residual toner and the like existing on the intermediate transfer belt 21.
The intermediate transfer belt 21 is stretched between the drive roll 22, the tension roll 23, and the backup roll 24 with a constant tension. The intermediate transfer belt 21 is driven to circulate at a predetermined speed in the arrow direction by a drive roll 22 that is rotationally driven by a dedicated motor (not shown) having excellent constant speed. As the intermediate transfer belt 21, for example, a belt whose resistance is adjusted with a belt material (rubber or resin) that does not cause charge-up is used.
The belt cleaner 25 includes a cleaning brush 25 a and a cleaning blade 25 b that are disposed in contact with the intermediate transfer belt 21. The belt cleaner 25 is configured to remove residual toner and the like from the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 21 after the secondary transfer process of the toner image is completed and prepare for the next image forming process. Residual toner or the like removed by the cleaning brush 25a and the cleaning blade 25b is transported to the outside of the belt cleaner 25 along the direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the intermediate transfer belt 21 below the belt cleaner 25. A discharge auger 25c is provided.

  In addition to a laser diode and a modulator (not shown), the ROS 30 includes a polygon mirror 31 that deflects and scans laser light (LB-Y, LB-M, LB-C, and LB-K) emitted from the laser diode. In the example shown in FIG. 2, since the ROS 30 is provided below the image forming units 11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11K, there is a risk of contamination due to dropping of toner or the like. Accordingly, the ROS 30 is provided with a rectangular parallelepiped frame 32 for sealing each constituent member, and a glass window 33 through which the laser light (LB-Y, LB-M, LB-C, LB-K) passes. Is mounted above the frame 32 so as to enhance the shielding effect together with the scanning exposure.

The sheet transport system 40 includes a transport path 44 through which the recording paper P separated one by one is transported in time toward the secondary transfer position. Further, the sheet conveying system 40 is provided at a secondary transfer position, presses against the backup roll 24 via the recording paper P, and transfers the image onto the recording paper P for secondary transfer. And a discharge tray 48 on which the recorded recording paper P is stacked. Further, the sheet conveying system 40 includes a duplex conveying unit 49 that enables recording on both sides by inverting the recording sheet P on which the image is fixed by the fixing device 29.
Further, in the printer 1, a collection bottle 70 indicated by a broken line in the drawing is attached to the front side in the drawing from the image forming units 11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11K. In this collection bottle 70, a waste developer described later is collected and stored.

  Next, the image forming units 11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11K in the image process system 10 will be described in detail. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the image forming units 11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11K. In FIG. 2, a yellow (Y) image forming unit 11Y and a magenta (M) image forming unit 11M are shown. The other image forming units 11C and 11K (not shown) are configured in substantially the same manner.

  The image forming units 11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11K include a photosensitive drum 12 as a latent image carrier that is rotatably arranged, and a charger 13 that charges the photosensitive drum 12 using a charging roll 13a. ing. Further, the image forming units 11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11K are charged by the charger 13, and are applied onto the photosensitive drum 12 by the laser light (LB-Y, LB-M, LB-C, LB-K) from the ROS 30. A developing unit 14 is provided for developing the formed electrostatic latent image using toner. Further, the image forming units 11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11K are provided to face the photosensitive drum 12 with the intermediate transfer belt 21 interposed therebetween, and a toner image developed on the photosensitive drum 12 is placed on the intermediate transfer belt 21. A primary transfer roll 15 for transferring is provided. In addition, the image forming units 11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11K include a drum cleaner (cleaning unit, first recovery unit) 16 that removes residual toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 12 after the primary transfer. In the present embodiment, the charger 13 and the ROS 30 constitute a latent image forming unit.

  In the present embodiment, the photosensitive drum 12 is formed by forming an organic photosensitive layer on the surface of a metal thin cylindrical drum. This organic photosensitive layer is made of a material having a negative charging polarity. The charger 13 applies a negative bias to the charging roll 13a to charge the organic photosensitive layer of the photosensitive drum 12 to a negative polarity. The development by the developing device 14 is performed by a reversal development method. Therefore, the toner used in the developing device 14 is of a negative polarity charging type. Further, a primary transfer bias having a polarity (positive polarity) opposite to the charging polarity of the toner is applied to the primary transfer roll 15, and the toner image on the photosensitive drum 12 is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 21. I am letting. Further, the drum cleaner 16 has a cleaning blade 16 a as a blade member arranged in pressure contact with the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 12 in the counter direction. The drum cleaner 16 scrapes off residual toner adhering to the photosensitive drum 12 by the cleaning blade 16a. Inside the drum cleaner 16, a discharge auger 16 b is provided that conveys residual toner scraped off by the cleaning blade 16 a to the outside of the drum cleaner 16 along the axial direction of the photosensitive drum 12. .

Next, the developer D used in the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIG. The developer D includes a magnetic carrier C and a toner T colored yellow, magenta, cyan, or black. That is, in the present embodiment, a two-component development method using a developer containing toner and carrier is employed in the developing device 14.
The developer D also includes a cleaning aid (auxiliary agent) A that reduces the frictional force acting between the photosensitive drum 12 and the cleaning blade 16a and suppresses wear of the photosensitive layer provided on the photosensitive drum 12. It is. Further, an appropriate amount of an external additive (not shown) is added to the developer D.

In such a developer D, as the carrier C, ferrite beads having an average particle diameter of about 35 μm are used.
As the cleaning aid A, zinc stearate that is substantially colorless and transparent and has an average particle diameter set to be approximately the same as that of toner T described later is used. This zinc stearate has a charging polarity opposite to that of the toner (positive polarity in this embodiment). The content of cleaning aid A (zinc stearate) in developer D is about 0.5%.
As the external additive, inorganic fine particles such as silica and titania having an average particle diameter of 5 to 200 nm are used.

  As described above, the toner T has a polarity that is negatively charged, and a colorant is added to a binder resin such as polyester or styrene acrylic by a suspension polymerization method, an emulsion aggregation coalescence method, a dissolution suspension method, or the like. These are fine particles formed by internally adding wax. As a result of measurement with a Coulter counter (manufactured by Coulter, Inc.), the volume average particle size was about 5 μm, and the particle size distribution index (GSD) was 1.23. The toner shape (degree of sphere) is represented by a shape factor, and an enlarged photo of the toner obtained with an optical microscope (Microphoto FXA: manufactured by Nikon Corporation) is subjected to image analysis with an image analyzer Luzex3 (manufactured by Nireco Corporation), and the following formula Calculated with

  This expression is expressed as a ratio between the projected area of the toner T and the area of a circle circumscribing the area. The shape factor according to this equation is 100 for a true sphere, and the number increases as the shape moves away from the sphere. If the shape factor is small, the amount of residual toner that remains without being transferred during transfer decreases. Therefore, the shape factor of the toner T is preferably about 100 to 140. In this embodiment, the shape factor of the toner T is in the range of 129 to 134. The volume average particle diameter of the toner T is preferably in the range of 3 to 10 μm from the viewpoint of forming a good image.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the flow from the supply of the developer D to the disposal in the printer 1.
In the printer 1 according to the present embodiment, a new developer D is newly supplied to the developing devices 14Y, 14M, 14C, and 14K of the image forming units 11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11K at a predetermined timing. As a result, a trickle system is employed in which the developer D which is excessive inside is discharged as waste developer to the outside. By adopting such a trickle system, each of the developing units 14Y, 14M, 14C, and 14K simultaneously performs the replenishment of the toner T that has decreased due to the development and the removal of the carrier C that has deteriorated due to long-term use. ing.

  Specifically, a new developer D for each color is supplied from each developer bottle 17Y, 17M, 17C, 17K to each developer 14Y, 14M, 14C, 14K via each supply pipe 18Y, 18M, 18C, 18K. The Further, the waste developer is discharged from the developing units 14Y, 14M, 14C, and 14K to the collection bottle 70 through the waste pipes 71Y, 71M, 71C, and 71K. Each of the developing devices 14Y, 14M, 14C, and 14K is provided with a toner concentration detection sensor 77 that detects the toner concentration in the developer D accommodated therein. Shutters 19Y, 19M, 19C, and 19K are attached to the supply pipes 18Y, 18M, 18C, and 18K, respectively. Each shutter 19Y, 19M, 19C, 19K is normally set in a closed state. When a decrease in toner density is detected by the toner density detection sensors 77Y, 77M, 77C, and 77K provided in the developing units 14Y, 14M, 14C, and 14K, the shutters 19Y, 19M, 19C, and 19K are controlled by a control unit (not shown). Is set to an open state, and a new developer D is supplied to the corresponding developing device 14. Note that the supply of the developer D to each of the developing devices 14Y, 14M, 14C, and 14K is independently controlled. In the present embodiment, the developer bottles 17Y, 17M, 17C, and 17K, the supply pipes 18Y, 18M, 18C, and 18K, and the shutters 19Y, 19M, 19C, and 19K constitute a new developer supply unit. . Furthermore, in the present embodiment, each of the waste pipes 71Y, 71M, 71C, 71K functions as a developer discharge means.

In the printer 1, the drum cleaners 16Y, 16M, 16C, and 16K provided in the image forming units 11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11K are collected and discharged by the discharge auger 16b (see FIG. 2). The collected toner of each color component is returned to the developing devices 14Y, 14M, 14C, and 14K of the same color through the respective transport pipes (first collecting means and first collecting path) 72Y, 72M, 72C, and 72K. Further, in the printer 1, all or part of the mixed color collected toner collected by the belt cleaner 25 provided on the intermediate transfer belt 21 shown in FIG. It is returned to the black developing device 14K via the second collecting means 73 (second collecting path) 73. As described above, in each of the image forming units 11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11K, a toner reclaim (toner recycling) method is employed in which residual toner that has not been used for image formation is reused without being discarded.
The remaining collected toner that has been collected by the belt cleaner 25 but has not been returned to the black developing device 14K is discharged into the collection bottle 70. A transport auger (not shown) is attached to the inside of the transport pipes 72Y, 72M, 72C, 72K and the transport pipe 73. By rotating the transport auger, the collected toner is transferred to each developer. Transports to 14Y, 14M, 14C, 14K.

Here, in the printer 1, the collected toner containing the respective color component toners of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black is discharged from the belt cleaner 25. This collected toner is returned to the black developing device 14K. As a result, it will be mixed in a large amount of black toner, so that there is no particular problem.
It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which all the collected toner collected by the belt cleaner 25 is conveyed to the collection bottle 70 without being returned to the black developing device 14K according to an input instruction from the user. That is, a configuration is also conceivable in which the selection of whether or not to return the mixed color collected toner to the black developing device 14K is switched according to an instruction from the user.
In the present embodiment, the drum cleaners 16Y, 16M, 16C, and 16K and the transport pipes 72Y, 72M, 72C, and 72K function as collected toner supply means.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the CPU 60.
As shown in FIG. 5, the CPU 60 displays a display screen in the display mode I, the display mode II, and the display mode III using the calculation unit 61 that performs a predetermined calculation based on the input information, and the calculation result of the calculation unit 61. A screen generation unit (generation unit) 62 that generates data and display screen data generated by the screen generation unit 62 are output to a display drive unit described later, and predetermined control is performed by a drive control unit described later as necessary. And an output unit 63 that outputs a signal. Information output to the display drive unit is displayed on a display unit described later.
Here, the display mode I is a mode of a paper information screen for displaying the number of prints and the like, and the display mode II is a mode for displaying a toner recovery state (recovery display). The display mode III is a mode for displaying the amount of collected toner (recovery amount display).

Next, the display mode II will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram for explaining the display mode II on the display unit 84.
As shown in FIG. 6, the printer 1 includes a CPU 60, a drive control unit 81 and a display drive unit 83 connected to the CPU 60, a drive unit 82 such as an electric motor connected to the drive control unit 81, and a display. And a display unit (UI: User Interface) 84 as a display device connected to the drive unit 83.
The drive unit 82 drives a discharge auger 16b (see FIG. 2) for returning the collected toner collected by the drum cleaner 16 (see FIG. 2) to the developing devices 14Y, 14M, 14C, and 14K of the same color. is there. The drive unit 82 drives a discharge auger 25c (see FIG. 1) for returning a part or all of the collected toner collected by the belt cleaner 25 (see FIG. 1) to the black developing device 14K. It is. When a control signal is sent from the CPU 60 to the drive control unit 81, the drive control unit 81 controls the drive of the drive unit 82 based on the control signal.
The display unit 84 includes a touch panel display for displaying various types of information and notifying the user, and has three display modes. The three display modes are display modes I to III described later. Among the display modes I to III, the display mode is forcibly switched to the display mode selected by the CPU 60 itself. Further, a user can switch to a desired display mode by a display mode selection button (not shown).
The display unit 84 can also serve as a control panel (panel) that the printer 1 normally has. That is, it is not necessary to separately provide a display device for displaying the display modes I to III. For this reason, an additional cost increase can be suppressed.

7A and 7B are diagrams illustrating a screen (collection screen) 102 displayed on the display unit 84 in the display mode II. 7A is a screen in which toner is not collected, and FIG. 7B is a screen in which collected toner collected by the belt cleaner 25 is returned to the black developing device 14K (second display). Screen). 7C is a screen (first recovery screen) in a state where the recovered toner recovered by the drum cleaner 16 is returned to the developing devices 14Y, 14M, 14C, and 14K of the same color. (D) shows a screen in a state where the toner collected by the belt cleaner 25 is returned to the black developing device 14K and the toner collected by the drum cleaner 16 is returned to the developing devices 14Y, 14M, 14C, and 14K of the same color. Is shown.
As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, in the display mode II, a display portion 102a in which the belt cleaner 25 as a toner collection place is symbolized into a long rectangular shape, and yellow A display portion 102b in which four image forming units 11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11K of (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) are symbolized in a square shape is graphically displayed. Then, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the screen that is collected by the belt cleaner 25 and the screen that is collected by the drum cleaner 16 are the same. Arranged in the screen.
When the toner is not collected, as shown in FIG. 7A, only the display portion 102a and the display portion 102b are displayed. On the other hand, when the toner is actually collected, the state is displayed. That is, when the toner is being collected by the image forming units 11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11K, as shown in FIG. 7B, the display portion 102d indicating the toner conveyance path is adjacent to the display portion 102b. Displayed. Further, when the toner is being collected by the belt cleaner 25, as shown in FIG. 7C, the display portion 102c indicating the toner conveyance path includes the display portion 102a and the black (K) display portion 102b. Are displayed with a wide line. In the toner collection state, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B and FIGS. 7B and 7D, the display portion 102e including the character portion “toner collection display” blinks.

Here, the display portion 102c includes a plurality of pixels (display elements) arranged in parallel with each other so as to cross in an oblique direction. The display portion 102d is also composed of a plurality of pixels (display elements) arranged in parallel to each other so as to cross in an oblique direction. In addition, the pixels of the display portion 102c and the pixels of the display portion 102d are arranged so that the diagonally extending directions are different from each other. That is, as shown in (d) of FIG. 7-2, the display portion 102c is a right-down diagonal line in the figure, and the display portion 102d is a right-up diagonal line in the figure. As described above, the toner collection in the image forming units 11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11K and the toner collection from the intermediate transfer belt 21 are displayed separately, so that it is visually easy to distinguish between different paths and different collections. Can be confirmed. Note that the pixels of the display portion 102c and the pixels of the display portion 102d can be said to be so-called line-symmetric elements.
Each of the display portions 102c and 102d blinks so that adjacent pixels are alternately displayed. In this way, the blinking display (transition image) of adjacent pixels notifies the user that the toner is being collected. Then, the direction of the collection is also displayed visually as an animation display, so that the user can easily perceive that the toner is being collected.
In addition to the above-described blinking display method for adjacent pixels, only a plurality of adjacent pixels among the plurality of pixels are turned on, and the display is sequentially repeated so as to be lit on the downstream side of the toner transport path. It is also possible.

Next, the display mode III will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 8 is a block diagram for explaining the display mode III on the display unit 84. Since the CPU 60, the drive control unit 81, the drive unit 82, the display drive unit 83, and the display unit 84 have already been described with reference to FIG. 6, their description is omitted in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 8, the printer 1 includes an image pixel count unit 85 that counts the number of pixels of an image that has received a print instruction, and a data table for converting the pixel number data counted by the image pixel count unit 85 ( LUT: Look Up Table (86) 86 and an operation time data transmission unit 87 for transmitting print operation time data to the CPU 60. The operation time data transmission unit 87 can use the drive time (rotation time) of the discharge auger 25c (see FIG. 1) as the print operation time data.

In the CPU 60, based on the data transmitted from the image pixel count unit 85 and the data table 86 and the data transmitted from the operation time data transmission unit 87, the calculation unit 61 calculates the toner collection amount, and the result is displayed on the screen. The data is sent to the generation unit 62. It is possible to improve the accuracy of the amount of collected toner by inputting time-lapse data such as transfer efficiency into the data table 86 and using it in the above-described calculation.
The display screen generated by the screen generation unit 62 is displayed on the display unit 84 via the display driving unit 83 at a predetermined timing.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a screen (collected amount display screen) 103 displayed on the display unit 84 in the display mode III.
As shown in FIG. 9, in the display mode III, a display portion 103a for displaying the accumulated recovery amount is displayed. This cumulative recovery amount is the actual toner recovery amount (g), and is calculated by the above-described calculation method. In the display mode III, a display portion 103b for displaying a carbon (C) conversion value obtained by converting the toner recovery amount into the carbon dioxide discharge amount is also displayed. That is, in the display portion 103b, the environmental load indicating how much carbon dioxide emission can be suppressed by the toner recovery is displayed in kilograms as the carbon dioxide emission reduction amount.

Next, the transition timing of the display modes I to III will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart for switching the display mode.
As shown in FIG. 10, the initial screen (default) is the display mode I (step 201). The display mode I remains until the machine main body (image forming units 11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11K of the printer 1) operates, but the display mode II is switched when the machine main body operates (step 202). That is, the drive unit 82 connected to the discharge auger 16b (see FIG. 2) is activated by the drive control unit 81 based on a control signal from the CPU 60 of the machine body, and the discharge auger 16b (see FIG. 2) Receives rotational force. As a result, the transport of the collected toner starts. At the same time, the CPU 60 operates the display driving unit 83 to switch the display of the screen from the display mode I that is the initial screen to the display mode II that notifies that it is being collected (step 203). The CPU 60 and the drive control unit 81 constitute switching means for switching the display mode or the display screen in the display unit 84.
As described above, the display mode I is shifted to the display mode II in synchronization with or in synchronization with the machine operation, and the collection state is displayed on the display unit 84. While the machine main body is operating, the display mode II is maintained, but when the machine main body is stopped, the display mode II is automatically switched to the display mode III (steps 204 and 205).

Here, the timing of supplying the new developer D from each developer bottle 17Y, 17M, 17C, 17K (timing at which the shutters 19Y, 19M, 19C, 19K are set to the open state) is used as a trigger. It is also possible to perform display.
It is also conceivable to set display mode III during machine operation. Further, when a button (not shown) is pressed, the display mode I or the display mode II is set to shift to the display mode III, or conversely, the display mode III is switched to the display mode I or the display mode II. It can also be set.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, it is possible to confirm that the user is recycling the toner in normal use by the display unit 84 during the machine operation regardless of the timing of replacing the toner bottle, etc. It is possible to provide an image forming apparatus using a toner recycling method effective in terms of surface. That is, in this embodiment, the user can easily visually confirm that the toner is being collected and reused when the machine is operating, and can know the outline of the toner collection amount by operating a button. Furthermore, since the amount of collected toner is converted into CO2 emissions and displayed, the environmental load can be displayed directly and appeal to the user who viewed the display that the product is environmentally friendly. Can do.

1 is a diagram illustrating an outline of a printer to which the exemplary embodiment is applied. It is a figure for demonstrating the structure of an image forming unit. It is a figure for demonstrating the structure of a developing agent. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a flow from supplying a developer to discarding in a printer. It is a block diagram of CPU. It is a block diagram for demonstrating display mode II. It is a figure which shows the display content of the display part in the display mode II. It is a figure which shows the display content of the display part in the display mode II. It is a block diagram for demonstrating display mode III. It is a figure which shows the display content of the display part in the display mode III. It is a flowchart about switching of a display mode.

Explanation of symbols

60 ... CPU, 81 ... drive control unit, 82 ... drive unit, 83 ... display drive unit, 84 ... display unit, 85 ... image pixel count unit, 86 ... LUT, 87 ... operating time data transmission unit, 102,103 ... screen , 102a, 102b, 102c, 102d, 103a, 103b... Display portion

Claims (9)

An image forming unit that forms a toner image based on an image that has received a print instruction and transfers the toner image to a sheet;
A cleaning unit for removing toner remaining on the image forming unit after being transferred to a sheet;
A collecting means for collecting the toner removed by the cleaning unit;
A calculation unit that calculates a toner recovery amount based on a driving time of the recovery unit and a pixel count of the image;
Generating means for generating a collection screen indicating a toner collection amount calculated by the calculation unit and a state in which toner is collected by the collection means;
A display device for displaying the collection screen generated by the generating unit;
An image forming apparatus including: The generation unit generates a paper information screen indicating information about the paper on which the toner image is transferred,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a switching unit that switches a screen displayed on the display device to a collection screen or a paper information screen generated by the generation unit.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the switching unit switches to a collection screen in conjunction with toner collection by the collection unit. The generation unit generates a collection amount display screen indicating the amount of toner collected by the collection unit,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a switching unit that switches a screen to be displayed on the display device to a collection amount display screen or a paper information screen generated by the generation unit.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the switching unit switches to a collection amount display screen according to an instruction from a user. The image forming unit includes:
An image carrier;
A plurality of developing devices for forming a toner image by developing the electrostatic latent image formed by the image carrier with black and color toners;
A transfer body for transferring a toner image formed by the image carrier to a sheet;
Toner of the same color that collects toner of the same color by removing the toner remaining on the image carrier after developing the electrostatic latent image by the developer and transporting the toner to the developer of the same color ;
With
The collecting means collects the toner by removing the toner remaining on the transfer body by the cleaning unit and transporting the toner to the black developing device ,
The image forming apparatus includes:
A collection bottle for collecting the toner remaining on the transfer body through a different path from the collection unit;
A switching unit that can select to collect the toner remaining on the transfer body in the collecting unit or the collecting bottle;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: The display device includes a first collection screen showing a state in which toner is collected by the same color toner collection unit and a second collection screen showing a state in which toner is collected by the collection unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a display unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the display unit arranges the first collection screen and the second collection screen on the same screen and displays them on the display device. The first collection screen displayed by the display means displays a path of toner conveyed from the image carrier to the developing device by a plurality of display elements of the display device,
The second collection screen displayed by the display means displays a path of toner conveyed from the transfer body to the developing device by a plurality of display elements of the display device,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the plurality of display elements in the first collection screen and the display pixels in the second collection screen have different shapes when displayed.

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