JP6413718B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material using a developer.

  In an image forming apparatus, a charged photosensitive member is exposed based on image data to form an electrostatic latent image, and a developer (toner) is attached to the photosensitive member, whereby the electrostatic latent image is converted into a toner image. develop. The toner image is transferred to an intermediate transfer belt, and the toner image transferred to the intermediate transfer belt is transferred to a recording medium such as paper (hereinafter referred to as paper). Then, the toner image is fixed on the paper by heating and pressurizing the paper on which the toner image is transferred by the fixing roller.

  The image forming apparatus is detachably loaded with a developer container for supplying a developer made of toner or carrier to the developing unit. Further, the amount of developer supplied to the developing unit of the image forming apparatus varies depending on the state of the developer stored in the container main body of the developer storage container. Therefore, it is known to change the conditions for stirring the developer according to the state of the developer.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for changing the conditions for stirring the developer based on the date and time when the developer container is loaded in the image forming apparatus. Further, Patent Document 2 discloses a technique for changing the conditions for stirring the developer based on usage environment information such as the temperature of the image forming apparatus loaded with the developer container.

JP 2002-207356 A JP 2009-251564 A

  In recent years, in order to fill a large amount of developer in the developer container, it is required to increase the filling density of the developer. However, the techniques disclosed in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 did not know the information when the developer was filled in the developer container.

  When the filling density is increased and the developer is filled, the developer is compressed and hardened in the space of the container main body, and so-called soft aggregation may occur. As a result, when a developer in a soft aggregation state is used for development, a lump of the developer adheres to the paper, which may cause image defects such as a so-called firefly phenomenon.

In view of the conventional problems as described above, that the mass of the developer is adhered to the paper, to provide an image forming apparatus which can prevent the image defects occur, such as so-called firefly phenomenon Objective.

In order to solve the above problems and achieve the object of the present invention, an image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a loading unit, a stirring mechanism, a filling information reading unit, and a control unit.
A developer container is detachably loaded in the loading unit. The agitation mechanism is supplied with the developer filled in the container body of the developer container and agitates the developer. The filling information reading unit reads filling information when the developer is filled in the container body from a filling information recording unit provided in the developer container. The control unit controls the stirring condition of the stirring mechanism based on the filling information read by the filling information reading unit. The filling information is information indicating the date and time when the developer was filled in the container body. The control unit obtains remaining amount information indicating the remaining amount of the developer in the container body, and has a stirring condition determination table in which the stirring condition of the stirring mechanism is preset from the remaining amount information and the filling information. And a control part determines the stirring conditions of a stirring mechanism with reference to stirring condition determination table based on residual amount information and filling information.

According to the image forming apparatus having the above-described configuration, it is possible to prevent the developer from adhering to the sheet and causing image defects such as a so-called firefly phenomenon.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a hopper member of a developing unit in the image forming apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating another example of a developing unit in an image forming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a developer storage container loaded in the image forming apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control system of an image forming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation in the image forming apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a graph showing a relationship between date information when a developer container is filled with a developer and a discharge amount of the developer. It is explanatory drawing which shows the table which determines the stirring conditions of the stirring mechanism in the image forming apparatus concerning the embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out an image forming apparatus and a developer container according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the common member in each figure. The present invention is not limited to the following form.

1. First, the overall configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as “this example”) will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus 1 of the present example.
The image forming apparatus 1 of this example forms an image on a sheet by an electrophotographic method, and superimposes toners of four colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (Bk). This is a tandem color image forming apparatus.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 of the present example includes a document conveying unit 10, a paper storage unit 20, an image reading unit 30, an image forming unit 40, an intermediate transfer belt 50, and a cleaning device 70. , A transport unit 23, a secondary transfer unit 60, and a fixing unit 80.

  The document transport unit 10 includes a document feeder 11 on which a document G is set, a plurality of rollers 12, a transport drum 13, a transport guide 14, a document discharge roller 15, and a document discharge tray 16. . The documents G set on the document feeder 11 are conveyed one by one to the reading position of the image reading unit 30 by the plurality of rollers 12 and the conveying drum 13. The conveyance guide 14 and the document discharge roller 15 discharge the document G conveyed by the plurality of rollers 12 and the conveyance drum 13 to the document discharge tray 16.

  The image reading unit 30 reads an image of the document G transported by the document transport unit 10 or the document placed on the document table 31 and generates an image signal. Specifically, the image of the original G is irradiated by the lamp L. The reflected light from the document G is guided in the order of the first mirror unit 32, the second mirror unit 33, and the lens unit 34 and forms an image on the light receiving surface of the image sensor 35. The image sensor 35 photoelectrically converts incident light and outputs it as a predetermined image signal. Image data is created by A / D converting the output image signal.

  Further, the image reading unit 30 includes an image processing unit 36. The image processing unit 36 performs processing such as shading correction, dither processing, and compression on the image data created by the A / D conversion, and stores the image data in the RAM 203 (see FIG. 4) of the control unit 200 (see FIG. 4). The image data is not limited to data output from the image reading unit 30 and may be data received from an external device such as a personal computer connected to the image forming apparatus 1 or another image forming apparatus.

  The paper storage unit 20 is disposed in the lower part of the apparatus main body, and a plurality of paper storage units 20 are provided according to the size of the paper S. The sheet S is fed by the sheet feeding unit 21 and sent to the transport unit 23. Further, a manual feed portion 22 is provided in the vicinity of the paper storage portion 20. From the manual feed section 22, paper of a size not stored in the paper storage section 20, tag paper having a tag, special paper such as an OHP sheet is sent to the transfer position.

  The conveyance unit 23 is provided on the upstream side of the secondary transfer unit 60 and includes a conveyance roller and a registration roller pair 28 provided in the vicinity of the secondary transfer unit 60. The registration roller pair 28 includes a pair of rollers including a driving roller 28a and a driven roller 28b disposed in pressure contact with the upper side of the driving roller 28a. A nip portion formed between the driving roller 28a and the driven roller 28b becomes a conveyance path of the paper S.

  The paper S fed from the paper feed unit 21 and sent to the transport unit 23 is transported by the transport roller and registration roller pair 28 to the secondary transfer unit 60 which is a transfer position. The registration roller pair 28 sends the paper S to the secondary transfer unit 60 at a timing at which the toner image can be transferred in the secondary transfer unit 60.

  An image forming unit 40 and an intermediate transfer belt 50 are disposed between the image reading unit 30 and the paper storage unit 20. The image forming unit 40 includes four image forming units 40Y, 40M, 40C, and 40K in order to form toner images of respective colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (Bk). .

  The first image forming unit 40Y forms a yellow toner image, and the second image forming unit 40M forms a magenta toner image. The third image forming unit 40C forms a cyan toner image, and the fourth image forming unit 40K forms a black toner image. Since these four image forming units 40Y, 40M, 40C, and 40K have the same configuration, the first image forming unit 40Y will be described as a representative here.

  The first image forming unit 40Y includes a drum-shaped photoconductor 41, a charging unit 42 arranged around the photoconductor 41, an exposure unit 43, a developing unit 44, and a cleaning unit 45. The photoreceptor 41 is rotated counterclockwise by a drive motor (not shown). The charging unit 42 applies a charge to the photoconductor 41 and uniformly charges the surface of the photoconductor 41. The exposure unit 43 forms an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor 41 by performing an exposure operation on the surface of the photoconductor 41 based on image data read from the document G.

  The developing unit 44 attaches yellow toner to the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor 41. As a result, a yellow toner image is formed on the surface of the photoreceptor 41. The developing unit 44 of the second image forming unit 40M attaches magenta toner to the photoconductor 41, and the developing unit 44 of the third image forming unit 40C attaches cyan toner to the photoconductor 41. Then, the developing unit 44 of the fourth image forming unit 40K adheres black toner to the photoconductor 41.

  Further, a hopper member 401 is connected to the developing section 44 of each of the image forming units 40Y, 40M, 40C, and 40K. The hopper member 401 is detachably loaded with a developer container 300 described later, and the developer is supplied from the loaded developer container 300. The hopper member 401 agitates the supplied developer and conveys it to the developing unit 44. The detailed configuration of the hopper member 401 will be described later.

  The toner adhered on the photoreceptor 41 is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 50. The cleaning unit 45 removes the toner remaining on the surface of the photoreceptor 41 after being transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 50.

  The intermediate transfer belt 50 is formed in an endless shape, and is rotated clockwise by a drive motor (not shown) in a direction opposite to the rotation direction of the photoconductor 41. A primary transfer portion 51 is provided at a position on the intermediate transfer belt 50 that faces the photoreceptor 41 of each of the image forming units 40Y, 40M, 40C, and 40K. The primary transfer unit 51 applies a polarity opposite to that of the toner to the intermediate transfer belt 50 to transfer the toner image formed on the photoreceptor 41 to the intermediate transfer belt 50.

  As the intermediate transfer belt 50 rotates, the toner images formed by the four image forming units 40Y, 40M, 40C, and 40K are sequentially transferred onto the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 50. As a result, yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toner images are superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt 50 to form a color image.

  A secondary transfer unit 60 is disposed in the vicinity of the intermediate transfer belt 50 and on the downstream side of the transport unit 23. The secondary transfer unit 60 includes a transfer roller pair including a transfer upper roller 52 with an intermediate transfer belt 50 stretched thereon and a transfer lower roller 61 pressed against the transfer upper roller 52 with the intermediate transfer belt 50 interposed therebetween. ing.

  In the secondary transfer unit 60, the sheet S that is nipped and conveyed by the registration roller pair 28 in the conveyance unit 23 is pressed by the lower transfer roller 61 toward the intermediate transfer belt 50. The secondary transfer unit 60 transfers the color toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 50 onto the sheet S sent from the transport unit 23.

  The cleaning device 70 is provided in the vicinity of the intermediate transfer belt 50. The cleaning device 70 is disposed at a position downstream of the secondary transfer unit 60 and upstream of the photoconductor 41 constituting the image forming unit 40 with respect to the rotation direction of the intermediate transfer belt 50. Yes. The cleaning device 70 removes the toner (residual toner) remaining on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 50 after being transferred to the paper S, or generates a deteriorated toner discharge band or JAM for discharging deteriorated toner. The toner (untransferred toner) that is not transferred to S and is attached to the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 50 is removed.

  The fixing unit 80 is provided on the downstream side (discharge side) of the secondary transfer unit 60 where the paper S is conveyed, and includes a pair of fixing rollers including a pair of upper fixing rollers 81 and a lower fixing roller 82. The fixing unit 80 fixes the toner image on the paper S by holding the paper S having an unfixed toner image between the upper fixing roller 81 and the lower fixing roller 82 and pressurizing and heating.

  A switching gate 24 is disposed downstream of the fixing unit 80. The switching gate 24 switches the transport path of the paper S that has passed through the fixing unit 80. That is, the switching gate 24 moves the paper S straight when performing face-up paper discharge in single-sided image formation. As a result, the paper S is discharged by the pair of paper discharge rollers 25. In addition, the switching gate 24 guides the paper S downward when performing face-down paper discharge for discharging the image forming surface downward in single-sided image formation and double-sided image formation.

  When face-down paper discharge is performed, the paper S is guided downward by the switching gate 24, and then the front and back sides are reversed by the paper reverse conveyance unit 26 and conveyed upward. As a result, the paper S is discharged by the pair of paper discharge rollers 25. When double-sided image formation is performed, the sheet S is guided downward by the switching gate 24, the front and back sides are reversed by the sheet reversing conveyance unit 26, and the sheet is sent again to the transfer position by the refeed path 27.

  Further, a post-processing device that folds the paper S or performs a stable process or the like on the paper S may be disposed downstream of the pair of paper discharge rollers 25.

2. Configuration of Hopper Member Next, the configuration of the hopper member 401 of this example will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the hopper member 401 of this example.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the hopper member 401 includes a loading unit 402, a storage unit 403, and a stirring mechanism 404. The loading unit 402 is detachably loaded with a container main body 302 of a developer container 300 described later. The loading unit 402 rotatably supports the container main body 302 of the developer storage container 300. Further, a filling information reading unit 101 (see FIG. 5) is provided in the vicinity of the loading unit 402. The loading unit 402 is provided with a passage hole 402a through which the developer discharged from the developer container 300 passes. The passage hole 402 a is connected to the storage unit 403.

  The reservoir 403 is formed in a hollow container shape. The storage unit 403 stores the developer supplied from the developer storage container 300. The storage unit 403 is provided with a stirring mechanism 404. The stirring mechanism 404 stirs the developer stored in the storage unit 403. As a result, the toner and the carrier constituting the developer are agitated. Then, the developer stirred by the stirring mechanism 404 is transported to the developing unit 44 by a transport mechanism (not shown). The transport mechanism is composed of a screw or the like, and transports the developer to the developing unit 44 by being driven to rotate.

  In this example, the example in which the developer is temporarily stored in the developing unit 44 and the hopper member 401 for stirring is provided has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the developer may be supplied directly from the developer container 300 to the developing unit 44 without providing the hopper member 401.

Next, the developing unit 44A without the hopper member 401 will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of the developing unit 44A.

  As illustrated in FIG. 3, the developing unit 44 </ b> A includes a loading unit 440, a developer transport unit 441, a storage unit 442, a stirring mechanism 443, and a developing roller 444. The loading unit 440 is detachably loaded with a container main body 302 of a developer container 300 described later. The loading unit 440 rotatably supports the container main body 302 of the developer storage container 300. A filling information reading unit 101 (see FIG. 5) is provided in the vicinity of the loading unit 440. The loading unit 440 is provided with a passage hole 440a through which the developer discharged from the developer container 300 passes. The passage hole 440a is connected to the developer transport unit 441.

  The developer transport unit 441 is provided between the loading unit 440 and the storage unit 442. The developer transport unit 441 transports the developer that has passed through the passage hole 440 a of the loading unit 440 to the storage unit 442.

  The reservoir 442 is formed in a hollow container shape. The storage unit 442 stores the developer supplied from the developer storage container 300. Similar to the hopper member 401, the storage unit 442 is provided with a stirring mechanism 443. The stirring mechanism 443 stirs the developer stored in the storage unit 442. As a result, the toner and the carrier constituting the developer are agitated.

  In addition, a developing roller 444 is provided in the storage unit 442. The developing roller 444 causes the toner in the agitated developer to adhere to the photoreceptor 41 (see FIG. 1).

3. Configuration of Developer Storage Container Next, the configuration of the developer storage container 300 of this example will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the developer container 300 of this example.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the developer storage container 300 includes a hollow container main body 302 that stores the developer, a discharge member 303 attached to the container main body 302, and a cap 304 attached to the discharge member 303. . Hereinafter, in the developer container 300, the side on which the cap 304 and the ejection member 303 are provided is referred to as a front end, and the side opposite to the front end is referred to as a rear end.

  The container main body 302 is formed in a hollow substantially cylindrical shape, and an opening (not shown) is provided on the distal end side. The container main body 302 is filled with a developer with an increased filling density. For example, when the developer is in a normal state of 100%, the container main body 302 is filled with the developer compressed to 100% or more.

  In addition, on the side wall of the container main body 302, a ridge portion 302a that protrudes inward from the side wall of the container main body 302 is formed. The protruding portion 302a is formed in a spiral shape from the rear end portion of the container main body 302 toward the front end portion. In addition, the direction of the spiral of the protrusion 302a is set corresponding to the rotation direction of the container body 302.

  In addition, the shape of the container main body 302 is not limited to what was mentioned above, and is formed in a hollow prismatic shape and other various shapes.

  The container main body 302 is loaded into the image forming apparatus 1 with its axial direction being substantially horizontal (see FIG. 1). Then, when the container main body 302 rotates around the axial direction, the protrusion 302a conveys the developer contained in the container main body 302 to the opening. A discharge member 303 is provided at the tip of the container body 302. The developer is discharged from the discharge member 303.

  The container main body 302 is provided with a filling information recording unit 306. The filling information recording unit 306 records filling information when the developer is filled in the container main body 302. The filling information includes, for example, the date and time when the container main body 302 is filled with the developer, the filling density when filling the developer, the temperature and humidity when filling, the date and time when the developer container 300 is shipped, and the like. Can be mentioned. The filling information recording unit 306 records at least date and time information of filling the developer in the container main body 302 as filling information. Further, as the filling information recording unit 306, various other recording media such as an IC tag, a barcode, and a matrix type two-dimensional code can be used.

  The filling information recorded in the filling information recording unit 306 is read by the filling information reading unit 101 (see FIG. 5) provided in the image forming apparatus 1.

3. Configuration of Control System Next, the configuration of the control system of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control system of the image forming apparatus 1.

  As illustrated in FIG. 5, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a control unit 200. The control unit 200 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 201, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 202 for storing programs executed by the CPU 201, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 203 used as a work area of the CPU 201. And having. Further, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a hard disk drive (HDD) 204 as a mass storage device and an operation display unit 205. As the ROM 202, a programmable ROM that is normally electrically erasable is used.

  The control unit 200 is connected to the image reading unit 30, the image processing unit 36, the image forming unit 40, the paper feeding unit 21, the filling information reading unit 101, the operation display unit 205, and the HDD 204 via the system bus 107. To control.

  The HDD 204 stores image data of an original image obtained by reading by the image reading unit 30 and stores output image data and the like. The operation display unit 205 is a touch panel including a display such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) or an organic ELD (Electro Luminescence Display). The operation display unit 205 displays an instruction menu for the user, information about the acquired image data, and the like. Further, the operation display unit 205 includes a plurality of keys, and serves as an input unit that receives input of various instructions, characters, numbers, and other data by user key operations.

  The image reading unit 30 optically reads a document image and converts it into an electrical signal. For example, when reading a color original, image data having luminance information of 10 bits for each of RGB per pixel is generated. Image data generated by the image reading unit 30 and image data transmitted from a PC (personal computer) 220 showing an example of an external device connected to the image forming apparatus 1 are sent to the image processing unit 36 for image processing. Is done. The image processing unit 36 performs image processing such as shading correction, image density adjustment, and image compression on the received image data as necessary.

  The image forming unit 40 receives the image data processed by the image processing unit 36 and forms an image on the paper S based on the image data.

  The filling information reading unit 101 reads filling information from the filling information recording unit 306 of the developer container 300 loaded in the image forming apparatus 1. The filling information reading unit 101 transmits the read filling information to the control unit 200. The control unit 200 controls the stirring mechanisms 404 and 443 of the image forming unit 40 based on the received filling information.

  In this example, a personal computer is used as an external device. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and various other devices such as a facsimile device can be used as the external device.

4). Operation of Image Forming Apparatus Next, an example of the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 having the above-described configuration will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation when determining the stirring conditions of the stirring mechanisms 404 and 443 in the image forming apparatus 1.

  First, as shown in FIG. 6, the control unit 200 acquires developer filling information (step S11). Specifically, when the developer container 300 is loaded in the image forming apparatus 1, the filling information reading unit 101 reads the filling information from the filling information recording unit 306 provided in the developer containing container 300. Then, the filling information reading unit 101 transmits the read filling information to the control unit 200.

  As described above, the filling information includes the date and time when the developer is filled in the container main body 302, the filling density when filling the developer, the temperature and humidity when filling, and the time when the developer container 300 is shipped. Date and time. As the filling information, at least date / time information when the container main body 302 is filled with the developer is used.

Here, with reference to FIG. 7A to FIG. 7C, the relationship between the date and time information on which the developer is filled and the discharge amount of the developer is described.
FIG. 7A is a graph showing the discharge amount of the developer immediately after being filled with the developer, FIG. 7B is a graph showing the discharge amount of the developer after 72 hours have passed since the developer was filled, and FIG. 6 is a graph showing the discharge amount of developer after two months have passed since the agent was charged.

  As shown in FIG. 7A, it can be seen that immediately after the developer is filled in the container main body 302, the discharge amount of the developer is small compared to the state shown in FIGS. 7B and 7C. This is because immediately after the developer main body 302 is filled with the developer, the developer is compressed and hardened in the space of the container main body 302, and the fluidity of the developer is lowered. As a result, the amount of developer discharged from the container body 302 decreases. At this time, the developer is discharged from the container main body 302 in a solidified state, that is, in a so-called soft aggregation state.

  When the developer is discharged from the container main body 302 and the amount of the developer remaining in the container main body 302 is reduced, the space in the container main body 302 in which the developer can move is expanded. Therefore, the density of the developer is lowered and the dense developer is loosened. As a result, the developer fluidity is improved and the amount of developer discharged from the container body 302 is increased. At this time, the developer discharged from the container main body 302 is discharged in a state where the soft aggregation state is eliminated and the fluidity is improved.

  As shown in FIG. 7B, it can be seen that even after 72 hours have elapsed since the developer was filled in the container main body 302, the amount of developer discharged is smaller than in the state shown in FIG. 7C. This is because, as in the state shown in FIG. 7A, the developer is still in a soft-aggregated state even after 72 hours have passed since the container body 302 was filled.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7C, after two months have passed since the developer was filled in the container main body 302, even if a large amount of developer remains in the container main body 302, it is shown in FIG. 7A. It can be seen that the amount of developer discharged is greater than immediately after filling. This is because a gas such as air in the container main body 302 is mixed into the gap between the aggregated developers when a sufficient time has elapsed after the container main body 302 is filled with the developer. Therefore, the density of the developer is reduced, the soft aggregation state of the developer is eliminated, and the fluidity of the developer is improved. As a result, even when a large amount of developer remains in the container main body 302, the amount of developer discharged from the container main body 302 increases. At this time, the developer discharged from the container main body 302 is discharged in a state where the soft aggregation state is eliminated.

  Returning to FIG. 6, next, the control unit 200 acquires the remaining amount information of the developer in the container main body 302 (step S12). The remaining amount information of the developer is calculated as follows, for example. For example, the developer remaining amount is calculated from the cumulative number of rotations of the transport mechanism transported from the hopper member 401 to the developing unit 44, starting from when the developer container 300 is loaded in the image forming apparatus 1.

  Alternatively, from the time when the developer container 300 is loaded in the image forming apparatus 1, the cumulative number of rotations when the developer container 300 is rotated by the loading units 402 and 440 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) is used. The remaining amount of developer may be calculated. Further, a detection unit that detects the amount of toner transferred to the photoconductor 41 (see FIG. 1) is provided. Then, the developer remaining amount may be calculated from the accumulated toner amount detected by the detection unit, starting from when the developer container 300 is loaded in the image forming apparatus 1.

  Note that the remaining amount of developer in the container body 302 is not limited to the above-described method, and may be calculated using various other methods.

  Next, the control unit 200 refers to the stirring condition determination table shown in FIG. 8A based on the acquired developer filling information and developer remaining amount information, and determines the stirring conditions of the stirring mechanisms 404 and 443. (Step S13).

FIG. 8A is an explanatory diagram showing a stirring condition determination table for determining the stirring conditions of the stirring mechanism.
The agitation condition determination table shown in FIG. 8A is a table that defines the agitation conditions of the agitation mechanisms 404 and 403 based on the remaining amount (%) of the developer and the passage from the developer filling date. In the stirring condition determination table, “1”, “2”, and “3” are defined as stirring conditions.

  The stirring condition “1” is a state where the stirring strength of the stirring mechanisms 404 and 443 is the smallest, that is, a state where the rotation speed of the stirring bar of the stirring mechanisms 404 and 443 is the slowest. Furthermore, the stirring condition “3” is a state where the stirring strength of the stirring mechanisms 404 and 443 is the highest, that is, a state where the rotation speed of the stirring bar of the stirring mechanisms 404 and 403 is the fastest. The stirring condition “2” is an intermediate state between the stirring condition “1” and the stirring condition “3”.

  This stirring condition determination table is stored in the ROM 202, for example. And the control part 200 calls the stirring condition determination table from ROM202 from ROM202, and determines stirring conditions. Thereby, the operation | movement which determines the stirring conditions of a stirring mechanism is completed.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, immediately after the developer is filled and in a state where the remaining amount of the developer is large, the developer is discharged in a soft aggregation state. Therefore, it is necessary to increase the stirring strength of the developer in the stirring mechanisms 404 and 443 to loosen the soft aggregation state. Therefore, in the stirring condition determination table shown in FIG. 8A, “3” having the highest stirring strength is defined.

  As described above, in this example, the optimum stirring conditions of the stirring mechanisms 404 and 443 are determined based on the filling information in which the developer is filled in the container main body 302 of the developer container 300. Thus, even when the developer is compressed and filled in the container main body 302 with a high density, it is possible to prevent the developer from adhering to the paper and preventing image defects such as a so-called firefly phenomenon.

  Also, when a sufficient number of days have passed since the developer was filled, for example, when 60 days or more have elapsed, as shown in FIG. 7C, even when the amount of remaining developer is large, the developer is softly aggregated. Is eliminated and the fluidity of the developer is improved. Further, when the remaining amount of the developer decreases, for example, when it is 25% or less, as shown in FIGS. 7A to 7C, the space in the container main body 302 in which the developer can move is expanded, so that the developer soft agglomerates. The state is eliminated and the fluidity of the developer is improved.

  Here, when the stirring strength of the stirring mechanisms 404 and 443 is increased in a state where the flowability of the developer is high, the developer may be scattered or the developer may be deteriorated. Therefore, in the stirring condition determination table shown in FIG. 8A, “1” having the lowest stirring intensity is defined. As described above, in this example, it is possible to prevent the scattering of the developer and the deterioration of the developer by determining the optimum stirring condition based on the developer filling information and the remaining amount information.

  Further, the shape, size, and the like of the developer vary depending on the type of developer. Therefore, depending on the type of developer, the soft aggregation state and the fluidity are different. Therefore, a stirring condition determination table may be prepared for each type of developer.

  The stirring condition determination table illustrated in FIG. 8B is a developer stirring condition determination table different from the stirring condition determination table illustrated in FIG. 8A. As shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the stirring conditions of the stirring mechanisms 404 and 403 are changed according to the type of developer.

  Further, the filling information recording unit 306 may record not only filling information but also information indicating the type of developer. The filling information reading unit 101 also reads information indicating the type of developer when reading the filling information. Next, the control unit 200 selects an agitation condition determination table for determining the agitation conditions from information indicating the type of developer. And the control part 200 determines stirring conditions based on filling information and residual amount information using the selected stirring condition determination table. Thereby, the stirring conditions of the stirring mechanisms 404 and 443 can be determined in a more optimal state.

  In the image forming apparatus 1 of this example, the example in which the stirring conditions of the stirring mechanisms 404 and 443 are defined in three stages of “1”, “2”, and “3” in the stirring condition determination table has been described. It is not limited. In the stirring condition determination table, the stirring conditions of the stirring mechanisms 404 and 443 may be defined, for example, in two stages or four or more stages.

  The embodiment of the image forming apparatus and the developer container has been described above including the effects thereof. However, the image forming apparatus and the developer container of the present invention are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention described in the claims. It is.

  In the above-described embodiment, the color image is formed using the four sets of image forming units 40Y, 40M, 40C, and 40K. However, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes one image forming unit. It may be configured to form a monochromatic image by using it. Further, the image forming apparatus is not limited to a copying machine, but may be a printer, a facsimile, or a multifunction machine having a plurality of functions.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image forming apparatus, 10 ... Document conveyance part, 20 ... Paper storage part, 30 ... Image reading part, 40 ... Image forming part, 50 ... Intermediate transfer belt, 60 ... Secondary transfer part, 70 ... Cleaning apparatus, 44, 44A ... developing part 101 ... filling information reading part 200 ... control part 202 ... ROM 300 ... developer container, 302 ... container main body 306 ... filling information recording part 401 ... hopper member 402, 440 ... loading Part, 404, 443 ... stirring mechanism

Claims (3)

A loading section in which the developer container is detachably loaded;
An agitation mechanism for agitating the developer supplied with the developer filled in the container body of the developer accommodating container;
A filling information reading unit for reading filling information when the developer is filled in the container body from a filling information recording unit provided in the developer container;
Based on the filling information read by the filling information reading unit, a control unit for controlling the stirring conditions of the stirring mechanism;
Equipped with a,
The filling information is information indicating a date and time when the developer is filled in the container body,
The control unit obtains remaining amount information indicating the remaining amount of the developer in the container main body, and has a stirring condition determination table in which the stirring condition of the stirring mechanism is preset from the remaining amount information and the filling information. And
The control unit refers to the stirring condition determination table, and determines the stirring condition of the stirring mechanism based on the remaining amount information and the filling information . The remaining amount information, the starting and when the developer container is loaded on the loading section, according to claim 1, which is calculated using the number of rotations of said developer accommodating container loaded in said loading section Image forming apparatus. The filling information reading unit reads information on the type of the developer filled in the container body from the filling information recording unit,
Wherein the control unit, said filling information reading unit has read based on the type of information of the developer, an image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 for controlling the stirring conditions of the stirring mechanism.

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