JP5450367B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus such as a copier, a printer, or a multifunction machine, toner used as an image forming developer is contained in a toner cartridge. As a method for detecting the remaining amount of toner in the toner cut ridge, there is a dot count method. This dot counting method is a method for obtaining the toner consumption based on the number of dots for printing and detecting the remaining amount of toner from the toner consumption. Further, as a method other than the dot counting method, there is a method of attaching a sensor for detecting the remaining amount of toner to the toner cartridge. In this method, for example, the remaining amount of toner is detected by causing the sensor to detect the amount of remaining toner from a hole provided in the toner cartridge.

  By the way, in the dot counting method in the above-described prior art, an error occurs in the toner consumption obtained based on the number of dots for printing, and therefore the remaining amount of toner in the toner cartridge cannot be detected strictly. Therefore, it must be notified that the toner is low at an early timing before the toner runs out. As a result, when the toner is replaced, the amount of toner remaining in the toner cartridge increases, that is, the amount of toner to be discarded increases, resulting in a waste of cost. Further, in the method of attaching the sensor to the toner cartridge, an expensive toner residual amount sensor such as an optical sensor must be attached to the toner cartridge, which increases the cost.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object thereof is to accurately notify the remaining amount of toner without causing an increase in cost.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, as a first solving means related to the image forming apparatus, a first accommodating portion for accommodating toner and a second accommodating portion are provided, and the first accommodating portion is provided. The unit is supplied with a toner cartridge having a larger amount of toner than the second storage unit, a toner cut ridge mounting unit to which the toner cartridge is mounted, a notification unit, and toner in the first storage unit. Direction detecting means for detecting whether the toner cartridge is mounted in the toner toner cartridge mounting portion, and the direction when the toner cartridge is replaced. When the detection unit detects that the toner in the first container is mounted in the direction in which the toner is supplied, the notification unit notifies the fact that printing is possible, and the toner cartridge When the direction detection means detects that the toner in the second storage unit is supplied in the direction in which the toner in the second storage unit is mounted at the time of replacement, the direction in which the toner in the first storage unit is supplied is changed. Informing the informing means, and when the toner in the first container is exhausted, the informing means is informed that the toner is changed to the direction in which the toner in the second container is supplied. After the use of the toner in the storage portion is completed, if the orientation detection unit detects that the toner in the second storage portion is installed in the direction in which the toner is supplied, the toner amount in the second storage portion is determined as the toner remaining amount. A means is provided that includes notification control means for informing the notification means as a quantity.

  In the present invention, as a second solving means related to the image forming apparatus, in the first solving means, the toner cartridge is provided with a first toner supply port in the first housing portion, and the second The container is provided with a second toner supply port, the first toner supply port and the second toner supply port have different shapes, and the orientation detection unit is in contact with the toner cartridge mounting unit. When it is detected that the first toner supply port is in contact with the toner cartridge mounting portion based on the shape of the toner supply port, the toner cartridge is mounted in the direction in which the toner is supplied. And when it is detected that the second toner supply port is in contact with the toner cartridge mounting portion, it is detected that the toner in the second storage portion is mounted in the direction in which the toner is supplied. To do To adopt a stage.

  In the present invention, as the third solving means relating to the image forming apparatus, in the first or second solving means, the notifying means is a display unit, and the notifying control means sends the notifying contents to the notifying means. A means of displaying is adopted.

  According to the present invention, after the use of the toner in the first container is completed, when the orientation detection unit detects that the toner is supplied in the direction in which the toner in the second container is supplied, the second The amount of toner in the container is notified as the remaining amount of toner. If the toner cartridge is mounted on the toner cut ridge mounting portion in the direction in which the toner in the second storage portion is supplied, the fact that the direction in which the toner in the first storage portion is supplied is not displayed is not displayed. In this state, the toner in the first container is exhausted, and only the toner in the second container is left in the toner cut ridge. At this timing, the amount of toner in the second storage unit is notified as the remaining amount of toner, so that the remaining amount of toner can be accurately notified.

  By using this technique, a predetermined small amount of toner is stored in the second storage unit, so that the toner can be mounted in the direction in which the toner in the second storage unit is supplied, that is, the toner in the toner cut ridge strictly. When the remaining amount becomes small, it can be notified that the remaining amount of toner has decreased. As a result, it is possible to prevent the toner cartridge from being replaced in a state in which a large amount of toner remains, and waste can be suppressed. Further, according to the present invention, since it is not necessary to mount an expensive toner residual amount sensor in the toner cartridge in order to detect the remaining amount of toner as in the prior art, it is possible to suppress an increase in cost.

1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of a multifunction peripheral A according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a toner cartridge 47 of a multifunction peripheral A according to an embodiment of the present invention. 7 is a diagram showing a screen displayed on the touch panel 12 according to the orientation of the toner cartridge 47 of the multifunction peripheral A according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
The multifunction peripheral (image forming apparatus) A according to the present embodiment has a copy function, a print function, a scan function, a facsimile transmission / reception function, and an e-mail transmission function. As shown in FIG. 1, the multifunction machine A includes an operation display unit 1, an image reading unit 2, an image data storage unit 3, a paper transport image forming unit 4, a communication unit 5, and a calculation control unit (orientation detection unit and notification control unit). ) 6 is provided.

  The operation display unit 1 includes an operation key 11 and a touch panel (notification unit) 12 and functions as a man-machine interface that relates the user and the multifunction peripheral A. The operation display unit 1 receives an operation instruction corresponding to the pressed operation key 11 or an operation button displayed on the touch panel 12, outputs the operation instruction to the calculation control unit 6, and based on a control signal of the calculation control unit 6. Various screens are displayed on the touch panel 12.

  The image reading unit 2 is based on a control signal input from the arithmetic control unit 6 and is automatically fed by an ADF (Automatic document feeder) or an image of a document sheet placed on a platen glass. (Original image) is read by the line sensor, converted into original image data, and the original image data is output. The image reading unit 2 outputs the document image data to the calculation control unit 6, while the calculation control unit 6 stores the document image data in the image data storage unit 3.

  The image data storage unit 3 is a semiconductor memory or a hard disk device or the like, and is based on a control signal input from the arithmetic control unit 6 and original image data or a print received by the communication unit 5 from an external client computer (not shown). The image data and the facsimile image data received from the facsimile apparatus by the communication unit 5 are stored.

  The paper transport image forming unit 4 transports the recording paper stored in the paper feed cassette 44 (see FIG. 1) under the control of the arithmetic control unit 6, and converts the recording paper into the image data stored in the image data storage unit 3. Based on this, a toner image is formed on a recording sheet. As shown in FIG. 1, an image forming unit 41 for forming an image made of toner corresponding to each color (K, Y, C, M), and an intermediate transfer belt 42, primary transfer roller 43, paper feed cassette 44, pickup roller 45, conveyance roller pair 46, toner cartridge 47, secondary transfer roller 48, fixing roller pair 49, paper discharge roller 50, and paper discharge tray 51. Yes.

  Each image forming unit 41 forms an image made of toner corresponding to each color of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (BK), and is viewed from the front of the multi-function device A. As shown in FIG. 1, the photosensitive drum 41a, the charging unit 41b, the laser scanning unit 41c, the developing unit 41d, and the cleaner 41e are arranged in the horizontal direction at predetermined intervals.

The photosensitive drum 41a is formed of a cylindrical member that carries a toner image formed on the peripheral surface based on the electrostatic latent image, and is disposed so as to extend in the depth direction when viewed from the front of the multifunction device A. Under the control of 6, the motor is rotated in the circumferential direction during image formation by a drive source (not shown) capable of adjusting the speed.
The charging unit 41b is disposed so as to face the photosensitive drum 41a, and makes the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 41a charged under the control of the arithmetic control unit 6.
The laser scanning unit 41c forms an electrostatic latent image on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 41a by irradiating the peripheral surface of the charged photosensitive drum 41a with laser light under the control of the arithmetic control unit 6. is there.

The developing unit 41d contains therein a two-component developer in which toner and a carrier (magnetic carrier) are mixed, and supplies the toner to the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 41a under the control of the arithmetic control unit 6. Thus, a toner image based on the electrostatic latent image is formed (developed) on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 41a. As shown in FIG. 2, the developing unit 41d includes a toner cartridge mounting portion 41d-1 on which the toner cartridge 47 is mounted.
The cleaner 41e removes the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 41a after the toner image is transferred from the photosensitive drum 41a to the recording paper under the control of the arithmetic control unit 6.

The intermediate transfer belt 42 is provided so as to be in contact with the image forming unit 41, and the toner image formed on the image forming unit 41 is primarily transferred thereto.
The primary transfer roller 43 is disposed opposite to the image forming unit 41 so as to sandwich the intermediate transfer belt 42, and applies voltage to the intermediate transfer belt 42 while being driven to rotate under the control of the arithmetic control unit 6. The toner image is primarily transferred from the image forming unit 41 to the intermediate transfer belt 42.

The paper feed cassette 44 is a container that stores a bundle of recording papers on which toner images are formed.
The pickup roller 45 is pivotally supported at a predetermined height on the paper feed cassette 44, is driven to rotate by a drive source such as a motor (not shown), and contacts the uppermost portion of the recording paper bundle accommodated in the paper feed cassette 44. Then, the uppermost recording sheet is picked up and conveyed to the conveying roller pair 46.
The conveyance roller pair 46 is rotationally driven by a driving source such as a motor (not shown) and conveys the recording paper picked up by the pickup roller 45 toward the secondary transfer roller 48.

  The toner cartridge 47 stores toner to be supplied to the developing unit 41d of the image forming unit 41 corresponding to each color of Y, M, C, and BK, and a toner cartridge mounting portion of the developing unit 41d of each image forming unit 41. 41d-1 is detachably mounted. As shown in FIG. 2, the toner cartridge 47 is provided with a first storage portion 47a for storing toner and a second storage portion 47b. The first accommodating portion 47a has a larger amount of toner than the second accommodating portion 47b. The second storage unit 47b stores a predetermined amount of toner that should remain when notifying the user that the remaining amount of toner has decreased.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the first container 47a is provided with a first toner supply port 47c for supplying the toner in the first container 47a to the developing unit 41d. The second storage portion 47b is provided with a second toner supply port 47d that supplies the toner in the second storage portion 47b to the developing unit 41d. The first toner supply port 47c and the second toner supply port 47d have different shapes as shown in FIG.

  As described above, the developing unit 41d is provided with the toner cut ridge mounting portion 41d-1 on which the toner cartridge 47 is mounted. Based on a mechanical mechanism such as a switch provided in the toner cut ridge mounting portion 41d-1, the arithmetic control unit 6 determines which of the first toner supply port 47c and the second toner supply port 47d is the toner cut. It is detected whether the toner cartridge 47 is in contact with the ridge mounting portion 41d-1, and based on the detection result, the toner cartridge 47 is mounted with the toner cut ridge so that the first storage portion 47a or the second storage portion 47b supplies the toner. It is detected whether the unit 41d-1 is attached.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the secondary transfer roller 48 is driven between the intermediate transfer belt 42 and the secondary transfer roller 48 by applying a voltage to the recording sheet while being rotated by a drive source under the control of the arithmetic control unit 6. The toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 42 is secondarily transferred to the recording paper conveyed to the printer.

The fixing roller pair 49 includes a heating roller provided with a heater therein and a pressure roller pressed against the heating roller. The recording paper is transferred by sandwiching and conveying the recording paper onto which the toner image is transferred by the two rollers. Heat and pressure are applied to fix the toner image on the recording paper.
The paper discharge roller 50 is rotationally driven by a motor (not shown), and discharges the recording paper conveyed from the fixing roller pair 49 to the paper discharge tray 51.
The paper discharge tray 51 is a tray that receives the recording paper discharged by the paper discharge roller 50.

  The communication unit 5 communicates with an external multifunction peripheral or facsimile apparatus via a telephone line based on a control signal from the arithmetic control unit 6, or with a client computer via a local area network. That is, the communication unit 5 has a communication function compliant with a LAN standard such as Ethernet (registered trademark) and a communication function compliant with a facsimile standard such as G3. The communication unit 5 can perform e-mail transmission or facsimile transmission / reception, for example.

  The arithmetic control unit 6 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), an interface circuit for inputting / outputting signals to / from the above-described units, and the like. The overall operation of the multi-function device A is controlled based on the control program. The control program stored in the ROM includes a toner remaining amount notification program, and the arithmetic control unit 6 notifies the toner remaining amount of the toner cartridge based on the toner remaining amount notification program. The details of the processing executed by the arithmetic control unit 6 will be described below as the operation of the multifunction device A.

Next, the operation of the MFP A according to the present embodiment having the above configuration will be described.
First, when the toner in the toner cartridge 47 of the multifunction device A runs out, the user attaches a new toner cartridge 47 to the multifunction device A.

  When the toner cartridge 47 is mounted on the toner cartridge mounting unit 41d-1, the arithmetic control unit 6 determines that the toner cartridge mounting unit 41d-1 is based on the shape of the toner supply port in contact with the toner cartridge mounting unit 41d-1. If it is detected that the first toner supply port 47c is in contact with the toner cartridge 47, the toner cartridge 47 is mounted on the toner cartridge mounting portion 41d-1 in the direction in which the toner in the first storage portion 47a is supplied. Is detected. Further, when the arithmetic control unit 6 detects that the second toner supply port 47d is in contact with the toner cartridge mounting unit 41d-1, it is mounted in the direction in which the toner in the second storage unit 47b is supplied. It is detected that

  When the arithmetic control unit 6 detects that the toner in the first container 47a is mounted in the direction in which the toner is supplied when the toner cartridge 47 is replaced, the arithmetic control unit 6 can print (for example, as shown in FIG. 3A). "Can be printed") is displayed on the touch panel 12. Further, when the arithmetic control unit 6 detects that the toner in the second container 47b is mounted in the direction in which the toner is supplied when the toner cartridge 47 is replaced, the toner in the first container 47a is supplied. (For example, as shown in FIG. 3B, “upside down. Insert the toner cut ridge correctly”) is displayed on the touch panel 12.

Further, when the toner in the first container 47a runs out, the arithmetic control unit 6 changes the direction in which the toner in the second container is supplied (for example, as shown in FIG. 3C). “Turn it over and switch to spare toner”) is displayed on the touch panel 12.
Further, when the calculation control unit 6 detects that the toner in the second storage unit 47b is mounted in the direction in which the toner is supplied after the use of the toner in the first storage unit 47a is completed, the second storage unit Is displayed on the touch panel 12 as the remaining amount of toner (“toner is low” as shown in FIG. 3D).

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the arithmetic control unit 6 detects that the toner in the second container 47b is mounted in the direction in which the toner is supplied after the use of the toner in the first container 47a is completed. In this case, the amount of toner in the second container 47b is displayed on the touch panel 12 as the remaining amount of toner. When the toner cartridge 47 is mounted on the toner cut ridge mounting portion 41d-1 in the direction in which the toner in the second storage portion 47b is supplied, the direction in which the toner in the first storage portion 47a is supplied may be changed. What is not displayed is a state in which the toner in the first container 47a has run out, and only the toner in the second container 47b remains in the toner cartridge 47. At this timing, the toner amount in the second container 47b is notified as the remaining toner amount, so that the remaining toner amount can be notified accurately.

  By using this technique, a predetermined small amount of toner is stored in the second storage portion 47b, so that the toner cartridge 47 can be mounted in a timing that allows mounting in the direction in which the toner in the second storage portion 47b is supplied. When the remaining amount of toner becomes small, it can be notified that the remaining amount of toner has decreased. As a result, it is possible to prevent the toner cartridge 47 from being replaced in a state where a large amount of toner remains, so that waste can be suppressed. Further, according to the present embodiment, it is not necessary to mount an expensive toner residual amount sensor in the toner cartridge 47 in order to detect the remaining amount of toner as in the prior art, and thus it is possible to suppress an increase in cost.

As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, For example, the following modifications can be considered.
(1) In the above embodiment, the arithmetic control unit 6 detects the orientation of the toner cartridge 47 based on the shape of the toner supply port, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a non-contact IC tag storing different information is attached to the first housing portion 47a and the second housing portion 47b, and the orientation of the toner cartridge 47 is changed according to the position where each non-contact IC tag can be read. You may make it detect.

(2) Although the said embodiment used the touch panel 12 as an alerting | reporting means, this invention is not limited to this. You may make it alert | report by an audio | voice using a speaker as an alerting | reporting means.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS A ... MFP, 1 ... Operation display part, 2 ... Image reading part, 3 ... Image data storage part, 4 ... Paper conveyance image formation part, 5 ... Communication part, 6 ... Calculation control part, 41 ... Image formation unit, 42 ... Intermediate transfer belt, 43 ... Primary transfer roller, 44 ... Feed cassette, 45 ... Pickup roller, 46 ... Conveying roller, 47 ... Toner cartridge, 48 ... Secondary transfer roller, 49 ... Fixing roller, 50 ... Discharge roller , 51 ... Paper discharge tray, 41a ... Photosensitive drum, 41b ... Charging part, 41c ... Laser scanning unit, 41d ... Development unit, 41e ... Cleaner, 41d-1 ... Toner cartridge mounting part, 47a ... First housing part, 47b: second accommodating portion, 47c: first toner supply port, 47d: second toner supply port

Claims (3)

A first accommodating portion for accommodating toner and a second accommodating portion, wherein the first accommodating portion is a toner cartridge having a larger amount of toner than the second accommodating portion;
A toner cut ridge mounting portion on which the toner cartridge is mounted;
Notification means;
It is detected whether the toner cartridge is mounted in the toner toner cartridge mounting portion in the direction in which the toner in the first storage portion is supplied or the direction in which the toner in the second storage portion is supplied. Orientation detection means;
When replacing the toner cartridge, when the orientation detection unit detects that the toner is supplied in the direction in which the toner in the first storage unit is supplied, the notification unit notifies the fact that printing is possible. When the direction detection unit detects that the toner in the second storage unit is supplied in the direction in which the toner is supplied, the notification unit notifies the fact that the toner is supplied in the first storage unit. When the toner in the first storage unit is exhausted, the notification unit is notified that the toner is supplied in the second storage unit and the toner in the first storage unit is changed. When the orientation detection unit detects that the toner in the second container is supplied in the direction in which the toner is supplied after the use is completed, the notification is made with the toner amount in the second container as the remaining amount of toner. To the means An image forming apparatus characterized by comprising a notification control means for knowledge. In the toner cartridge, a first toner supply port is provided in the first storage portion, a second toner supply port is provided in the second storage portion, and the first toner supply port and the second toner supply port are provided. The shape of the toner supply port is different,
When the direction detecting means detects that the first toner supply port is in contact with the toner cartridge mounting portion based on the shape of the toner supply port in contact with the toner cartridge mounting portion, When it is detected that the toner in the first storage portion is mounted in the direction in which the toner is supplied, and when it is detected that the second toner supply port is in contact with the toner cartridge mounting portion, The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus detects that the toner is loaded in a direction in which the toner is supplied. The notification means is a display unit,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the notification control unit displays notification content on the notification unit.

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