JP7237597B2 - image forming device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a developer storage container that stores developer to be supplied to a developing device .

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus, when the amount of developer in a developing device decreases due to image formation, developer is supplied from a developer container to the developing device through a developer conveying path (Patent Document 1). When the amount of developer in the developer becomes equal to or less than a predetermined amount, the screw in the developer transport path is rotated to supply the developer in the developer transport path to the developer. After that, the developer container is rotated by the motor to supply the developer from the developer container to the developer transport path. By controlling the rotation of the developer container by the motor, a stable amount of developer can be supplied from the developer container to the developing device.

JP-A-2017-90708

However, when the user removes the developer container or unnecessarily rotates the mounted developer container, the developer may be replenished in a state where replenishment is unnecessary.

Accordingly, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus that reduces unnecessary replenishment of developer due to unnecessary rotation of the developer container by the user.

In order to solve the above problems, the image forming apparatus
a photoreceptor;
a developing device for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoreceptor;
a rotatable developer container containing a developer to be supplied to the developing device and detachably attached to the image forming device;
a mounting portion having a receiving portion for receiving the developer discharged from the developer container and to which the developer container is mounted;
a cover that opens and closes the mounting portion;
a motor for rotating the developer container;
a rotation detection unit that detects rotation of the developer container attached to the attachment unit;
an open/close detection unit that detects opening/closing of the cover;
a display for displaying information;
When the opening/closing detection unit detects that the cover is open and the rotation detection unit detects the rotation of the developer container by a predetermined amount while the motor is stopped . a control unit for controlling the display unit so that information regarding the rotation of the developer container is displayed on the display unit;
characterized by comprising

According to the present invention, unnecessary replenishment of developer due to unnecessary rotation of the developer container by the user can be reduced.

2 is a cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus; FIG. Schematic diagram showing the configuration of a developing device. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a control system that controls the developing device; FIG. 4 is a flow chart diagram showing a main body control operation of the image forming apparatus; FIG. 4 is a flow chart diagram showing a manual rotation detection sequence;

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the following examples should not be construed as limiting the claimed invention. Moreover, it is not to be construed that all combinations of structures described in the examples are essential constituent elements of the present invention.

<Image forming apparatus>
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus 100. As shown in FIG. In this embodiment, the image forming apparatus 100 will be described by taking as an example a printing apparatus (printer) that forms an image on a sheet using an electrophotographic method. However, image forming apparatus 100 is not limited to a printing apparatus, and may be, for example, a copier, a multifunction peripheral (MFP), or a facsimile apparatus. A multi-function device is an image forming apparatus having at least two functions out of a plurality of types of functions including, for example, a print function, a scan function, a copy function, and a facsimile function. A sheet is a recording medium on which an image is formed using an electrophotographic method, and is, for example, paper, an OHP sheet, cloth, or the like. The sheet may also be referred to as recording paper, recording material, recording medium, paper, transfer material, transfer paper, and the like.

The image forming apparatus 100 may be a color image forming apparatus that forms a color image using toner of a plurality of colors as developer. The forming apparatus 100 will be described. The image forming apparatus 100 includes a sheet feeding section 10, an image forming section 20, a fixing section 30, and a sheet discharging section 40 in order from the lower side (upstream in the sheet conveying direction) to the upper side (downstream in the sheet conveying direction) in FIG. is provided. A sheet re-feeding section 50 is provided on the right side of the image forming section 20 and the fixing section 30 . A CPU 400 as a control unit controls the operation of each unit of the image forming apparatus 100 in order to form an image on a sheet.

The sheet feeding section 10 feeds the sheets P stacked on the cassette 11 or the tray 16 to the image forming section 20 . A sensor S<b>1 detects a sheet P stored in the cassette 11 . The CPU 400 determines whether or not the sheet P is stored in the cassette 11 based on the detection result of the sensor S1. The sheet P stored in the cassette 11 is fed to the separation roller pair 13 as the pickup roller 12 rotates. When the sheets P are multi-fed, two or more sheets are separated one by one by a separation roller pair 13 consisting of a forward roller 13a and a reverse roller 13b. The sheet P separated by the separation roller pair 13 is transported to the transport path PS1 indicated by the solid line. The sheet P conveyed to the conveying path PS1 is further conveyed by the pair of feeding rollers 14 . The skew of the sheet P is corrected by causing the leading edge of the sheet P to follow the nip of the registration roller pair 15 whose rotation is stopped.

When the sheet P is fed from the tray 16 , the sheet P is separated one by one by the feeding roller 17 and the separation pad 18 . The separated sheet P is conveyed to the feeding roller pair 14 by the conveying roller pair 19 . Skew of the sheet P is corrected by the registration roller pair 15 . The skew-corrected sheet P is conveyed to the image forming section 20 by the registration roller pair 15 that starts rotating at a predetermined timing. The sensor S<b>2 detects the timing when the leading edge of the sheet P reaches the nip of the registration roller pair 15 .

In the image forming section 20, a photosensitive drum 21 as a photosensitive member is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow. The surface of the photosensitive drum 21 is charged by the charging roller 22 . The laser scanner 23 emits laser light modulated according to image data transmitted from the outside to the surface of the charged photosensitive drum 21 . A portion of the surface of the photosensitive drum 21 irradiated with the laser light is freed from the electric charges charged by the charging roller 22, thereby forming an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 21 according to the image data. A developing roller 24 of a developing device 26 develops the electrostatic latent image with a developer (hereinafter referred to as toner) and visualizes it as a toner image. The developing device 26 has a developer storage container (hereinafter referred to as a toner bottle) 302 that stores toner, and a developing device 309 as a developing container in which the developing roller 24 is provided. The toner bottle 302 supplies toner to the developing device 309 as needed. The developing device 26 will be described later.

The photosensitive drum 21 contacts the transfer roller 25 to form a transfer nip portion N1. The toner image on the photosensitive drum 21 is conveyed to the transfer nip portion N1 as the photosensitive drum 21 rotates. At this timing, the sheet P is conveyed from the registration roller pair 15 to the transfer nip portion N1. The toner image on the photosensitive drum 21 is transferred by the transfer roller 25 while the sheet P is nipped and conveyed between the photosensitive drum 21 and the transfer roller 25 at the transfer nip portion N<b>1 . The sheet P onto which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed to the fixing section 30 .

The fixing section 30 has a fixing roller 31 and a pressure roller 32 . The fixing roller 31 is an aluminum roller in which a halogen lamp 31a as a heat source is arranged. Halogen lamp 31a heats fixing roller 31 to a predetermined fixing temperature. The pressure roller 32 contacts the fixing roller 31 with a predetermined pressure to form a fixing nip portion N2. The sheet P onto which the toner image has been transferred is nipped and conveyed by the fixing roller 31 and the pressure roller 32 at the fixing nip portion N2, thereby being heated and pressurized. An image is formed thereon. A sensor S3 detects that the trailing edge of the sheet P has passed through the fixing nip portion N2. The heating method of the fixing section 30 may be an on-demand fixing method using a ceramic heater as a heat source and an endless film instead of the heating roller method for heating by the fixing roller 31 . In the on-demand fixing method, the pressure roller 32 presses the ceramic heater via the endless film to form the fixing nip portion N2. The sheet P onto which the toner image has been transferred is nipped and conveyed by the endless film and the pressure roller 32 at the fixing nip portion N2, thereby being heated and pressurized. An image is formed.

The sheet P on which the image is formed is conveyed to the sheet discharge section 40 and discharged to the tray 42 by the discharge roller pair 41 . When images are formed on both sides of the sheet P, the discharge roller pair 41 is temporarily stopped after the trailing edge of the sheet P on which the image is formed on the first side passes through the sensor S3 and before it passes through the discharge roller pair 41. be. The sheet P is conveyed to the sheet re-feeding portion 50 by rotating the discharge roller pair 41 in the reverse direction. The sheet P conveyed to the sheet refeeding unit 50 is conveyed along a conveying path PS2 indicated by a broken line by the refeeding roller pairs 51 and 52, and is conveyed to the registration roller pair 15 by the refeeding roller pair 53. FIG. After the sheet P is skew-corrected by the registration roller pair 15, the sheet P is conveyed to the transfer nip portion N1, and the toner image is transferred to the second surface of the sheet P. FIG. After that, the toner image is fixed on the second side of the sheet P by being conveyed through the fixing nip portion N2 in the same manner as the image formation on the first side. The sheet P having images formed on both sides is discharged to the tray 42 by the discharge roller pair 41 .

<Developing device>
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the developing device 26. As shown in FIG. The toner bottle 302 is detachably attached to the main body 101 of the image forming apparatus 100 . The toner bottle 302 is detachably attached to an attachment portion 330 provided in the main body 101 of the image forming apparatus 100 . Mounting portion 330 has a receiving portion 331 that receives toner discharged from toner bottle 302 . The toner bottle 302 has a rotatable storage portion 302a that stores toner, and a discharge portion 302b that has a discharge port 302c that discharges toner and is attached to the mounting portion 330 in a substantially non-rotating state. The toner bottle 302 has a conveying portion 302d provided in the containing portion 302a for conveying the toner in the containing portion 302a to the discharging portion 302b. The toner cover 300 is provided on the main body 101 of the image forming apparatus 100 so as to be openable and closable. The toner cover 300 is opened when the toner bottle 302 is attached to and detached from the attachment portion 330 of the main body 101 . A user can access toner bottle 302 by opening toner cover 300 . When the toner in the toner bottle 302 is used up by image formation, the user opens the toner cover 300 and replaces the toner bottle 302 with a new one. Accordingly, image formation is continuously performed. A toner cover sensor (cover detector) 301 detects opening and closing of the toner cover 300 . The toner supply section 150 includes a toner bottle 302 , a bottle motor (first driving means) 304 and a toner conveying path 306 . Toner transport path 306 is provided between toner bottle 302 and developing device 309 and has an inlet 321 for receiving toner discharged from toner bottle 302 and an outlet 322 for discharging toner to developing device 309 .

The toner bottle 302 is connected to a bottle motor 304 via a drive gear train 311 . The rotation of the bottle motor 304 causes the toner bottle 302 to rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow A. As shown in FIG. As the toner bottle 302 is rotated by the bottle motor 304 , the toner is discharged from the toner bottle 302 . Toner discharged from toner bottle 302 flows into toner conveying path 306 . The toner supply unit 150 has a home position sensor (hereinafter referred to as HP sensor) 303 . The HP sensor 303 is a rotation detection unit that detects a rotational reference position (home position) of the toner bottle 302 . The detection result of HP sensor 303 is also used to detect the rotational speed of toner bottle 302 . In addition to the HP sensor 303 , a rotation detection unit that detects the rotation speed of the toner bottle 302 based on the rotation detection signal output from the bottle motor 304 may be provided.

The toner conveying path 306 is provided with a screw 312 as toner conveying means for conveying the toner received at the inlet 321 to the outlet 322 . The screw 312 is connected to the transport path motor 305 via a drive gear train 313 . A rotational driving force is transmitted from the conveying path motor 305 to the screw 312 via the driving gear train 313 . The screw 312 is driven by the conveying path motor 305 to rotate, and conveys the toner flowing into the toner conveying path 306 from the toner bottle 302 in the direction indicated by the arrow B. FIG. The toner conveyed through toner conveying path 306 is discharged to developing device 309 at the end of toner conveying path 306 . The toner replenishment unit 150 has a conveying path toner sensor 307 . A conveying path toner sensor 307 detects toner in the toner conveying path 306 . If the transport path toner sensor 307 does not detect toner in the toner transport path 306 even when the toner bottle 302 is rotated, the CPU 400 determines that the toner bottle 302 is empty.

A screw 314 is provided in the developing device 309 . The screw 314 is connected to the development motor 308 via a drive gear train 315 . Rotational drive is transmitted from the developing motor 308 to the screw 314 via the driving gear train 315 . The toner in the developing device 309 is agitated by the screw 314 rotated by the developing motor 308 and stably supplied to the developing roller 24 . Further, the developing device 309 is provided with a developing device toner sensor 310 that detects the amount of toner in the developing device 309 .

<Control system>
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a control system 600 that controls the developing device 26. As shown in FIG. The control system 600 has a CPU 400 , a system controller 408 and a display panel (operation unit) 409 . A CPU 400 as control means has a ROM 401 , a RAM 402 and an EEPROM 403 . A control program for controlling the entire image forming apparatus 100 is stored in the ROM 401 . A RAM 402 is a volatile storage device used as a work area for the CPU 400 and used to temporarily store various data such as image data. The EEPROM 403 is a non-volatile storage device, and stores various data such as the remaining amount of toner in the developing device 309 . The CPU 400 controls the entire image forming apparatus 100 by reading the control program stored in the ROM 401 to the RAM 402 and executing it. The CPU 400 is electrically connected to the toner cover opening/closing detector 317 , the toner supply unit 150 and the developing device 309 of the developing device 26 .

The CPU 400 controls the operation of the toner supply unit 150 by controlling the operations of the bottle motor 304 and the transport path motor 305 . A signal output from the conveying path toner sensor 307 of the toner supply unit 150 and a signal output from the developer toner sensor 310 of the developer 309 are input to the CPU 400 . The CPU 400 controls toner supply from the toner supply unit 150 to the developing device 309 based on signals output from the conveying path toner sensor 307 and the developing device toner sensor 310 .

When the output signal from the transport path toner sensor 307 indicates that there is no toner in the toner transport path 306 , the CPU 400 drives the bottle motor 304 to supply toner from the toner bottle 302 into the toner transport path 306 . The CPU 400 uses the transport path toner sensor 307 to control the bottle motor 304 to rotate the toner bottle 302 every time the toner in the toner transport path 306 runs out. Also, the CPU 400 determines whether the amount of toner in the developing device 309 is less than a predetermined amount based on the output signal from the developing device toner sensor 310 . When the CPU 400 determines that the amount of toner in the developing device 309 is less than a predetermined amount, it drives the conveying path motor 305 to rotate the screw 312 and supplies toner from the toner conveying path 306 to the developing device 309 . The CPU 400 uses the developing device toner sensor 310 to control the conveying path motor 305 to rotate the screw 312 every time the amount of toner in the developing device 309 becomes less than a predetermined amount.

The conveying path toner sensor 307 outputs an ON state signal when toner is detected in the toner conveying path 306 and outputs an OFF state signal when no toner is detected in the toner conveying path 306 . The CPU 400 monitors the output signal from the transport path toner sensor 307 at predetermined time intervals, and determines the presence or absence of toner in the toner transport path 306 based on the output signal from the transport path toner sensor 307 . For example, the CPU 400 determines that there is no toner in the toner transport path 306 when the output signal from the transport path toner sensor 307 is an OFF state signal consecutively for a predetermined number of times.

The developer toner sensor 310 outputs an ON signal when the amount of toner in the developer 309 is greater than a predetermined amount, and outputs an OFF signal when the amount of toner in the developer 309 is less than a predetermined amount. Output. The CPU 400 monitors the output signal from the developer toner sensor 310 at predetermined time intervals, and determines the presence or absence of toner in the developer 309 based on the output signal from the developer toner sensor 310 . For example, the CPU 400 may determine that the amount of toner in the developing device 309 is less than a predetermined amount when the output signal of the developing device toner sensor 310 is an OFF state signal consecutively a predetermined number of times.

By the way, except when the CPU 400 controls the bottle motor 304 to rotate the toner bottle 302 to supply toner to the toner conveying path 306 (toner conveying control), the toner bottle 302 is unintentionally moved from the toner conveying path 306 by an external force. Toner may be supplied to the In such a case, there is a possibility that toner may clog the toner transport path 306 due to excessive supply of toner, or the toner may overflow from the toner transport path 306 and contaminate the inside of the image forming apparatus 100 . Therefore, the CPU 400 detects that the toner bottle 302 is rotated by a force other than the driving force of the bottle motor 304 and prevents toner clogging in the toner conveying path 306 and toner contamination inside the image forming apparatus 100 .

<Toner bottle manual rotation detection control>
The toner bottle rotation detection control for detecting rotation of the toner bottle 302 by the user's hand will be described below. First, with reference to FIG. 4, the main body control operation for controlling the image forming apparatus 100 will be described. FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing processing in the main body control operation of the image forming apparatus 100. As shown in FIG. The CPU 400 reads the program stored in the ROM 401 to the RAM 402 and executes the main body control operation.

When the power of the image forming apparatus 100 is turned on (S501), the CPU 400 executes startup processing such as register setting and jam (paper jam) detection (S502). When the startup process is completed, the CPU 400 shifts the image forming apparatus 100 to standby mode (S503). In the standby mode, the image forming apparatus 100 is ready for image formation so that it can immediately start a print operation upon receiving an instruction to start a print job from the display panel 409 or an external device. The CPU 400 shifts from the standby mode to the manual rotation detection sequence (S504). The manual rotation detection sequence will be described later. When the print job is accepted, the CPU 400 starts printing (S505). When the printing operation ends, the CPU 400 executes post-rotation processing such as cleaning (S506). CPU 400 shifts image forming apparatus 100 to the standby mode again (S507). CPU 400 determines whether or not the power has been turned off (S508). If the power is not turned off (NO in S508), the CPU 400 shifts from the standby mode to the manual rotation detection sequence (S504). If the power is turned off (YES in S508), the CPU 400 terminates the main body control operation.

Next, the manual rotation detection sequence in S504 of FIG. 4 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing a manual rotation detection sequence. CPU 400 executes a manual rotation detection sequence for detecting rotation of toner bottle 302 by the user's hand during the standby mode.

When the manual rotation detection sequence is started, CPU 400 determines whether or not toner cover 300 has been opened based on the detection result of toner cover sensor 301 (S601). If the toner cover 300 is not opened (NO in S601), the CPU 400 terminates the manual rotation detection sequence. If toner cover 300 is opened (YES in S601), CPU 400 starts polling HP sensor 303 to detect rotation of toner bottle 302 (S602). CPU 400 determines whether or not toner bottle 302 has been rotated based on the detection result of HP sensor 303 (S603).
If toner bottle 302 is not rotated (NO in S603), CPU 400 returns the process to S601. If toner bottle 302 has been rotated (YES in S603), CPU 400 counts the number of rotations of toner bottle 302 based on the detection result of HP sensor 303 (S604). The CPU 400 functions as counting means for counting the number of rotations of the toner bottle 302 while the toner cover 300 is open.
When toner bottle 302 is rotated, toner in toner bottle 302 is discharged from toner bottle 302 to toner transport path 306 . The CPU 400 drives the transport path motor 305 to rotate the screw 312 (S605). As the screw 312 rotates, the toner in the toner conveying path 306 is discharged to the developing device 309 . This prevents the toner conveying path 306 from being clogged with toner.

CPU 400 determines whether count value M of the number of rotations of toner bottle 302 is greater than a first predetermined value (predetermined number) (S606). The first predetermined value is set to 3 in this embodiment. However, the first predetermined value is not limited to 3 and may be other numerical values. The count value M of the number of rotations of the toner bottle 302 represents the number of times the user opened the toner cover 300 and rotated the toner bottle 302 by hand in the standby mode. If count value M is 3 or less (NO in S606), CPU 400 returns the process to S601. If count value M is greater than 3 (YES in S606), CPU 400 drives development motor 308 to rotate screw 314 (S607). The rotation of the screw (stirring means) 314 stirs the toner in the developing device 309 and prevents the toner discharged from the toner conveying path 306 to the developing device 309 from clogging the inlet 316 of the developing device 309 .

CPU 400 detects whether or not toner bottle 302 is further turned by the user's hand. Specifically, CPU 400 determines whether count value M of the number of rotations of toner bottle 302 is greater than a second predetermined value (predetermined number) (S608). The second predetermined value is set to five in this embodiment. However, the second predetermined value is not limited to 5, and may be another numerical value. The second predetermined value is greater than the first predetermined value. If count value M is 5 or less (NO in S608), CPU 400 returns the process to S601. If count value M is greater than 5 (YES in S608), CPU 400 displays a message (information on rotation) "Do not rotate toner bottle" on display panel 409 as a display unit (S609). This message prompts the user to stop turning the toner bottle 302 by hand.

CPU 400 determines whether or not a print job has been accepted (S610). If no print job has been accepted (NO in S610), the CPU 400 returns the process to S601. If the print job has been accepted (YES in S610), CPU 400 resets count value M to zero (S611). This is because when the printing operation is started, the toner in the developing device 309 is consumed and the amount of toner in the developing device 309 returns to the proper amount. CPU 400 terminates the manual rotation detection sequence.

If the toner bottle 302 is rotated by an external force such as a user's hand while image formation is not being performed, the toner discharged from the toner bottle 302 clogs the toner conveying path 306, or toner leaks, resulting in image formation. The inside of the device 100 becomes dirty. Therefore, according to this embodiment, when the toner cover 300 is opened during the standby mode in which image formation is not performed, it is detected whether or not the toner bottle 302 is being rotated. When it is detected that the toner bottle 302 is rotating, the conveying path motor 305 is driven to rotate the screw (conveying member) 312 and discharge the toner in the toner conveying path 306 to the developing device 309 . This prevents the toner from clogging the toner conveying path 306 . When it is detected that the toner bottle 302 is being rotated further, the developing motor 308 is driven to rotate the screw 314 to agitate the toner in the developing device 309 . This prevents toner from clogging the entrance 316 of the developer 309 . When it is detected that the toner bottle 302 has been rotated further, a message is displayed on the display panel 409 to urge the user not to rotate the toner bottle 302 . Image forming apparatus 100 may issue a warning regarding rotation of toner bottle 302 .

In this embodiment, an example is shown in which the user's operation is detected when the toner cover sensor 301 detects that the toner cover sensor 301 is open and the HP sensor 303 detects rotation. However, it is not limited to this. For example, when the HP sensor 303 detects rotation when there is no rotation signal to the bottle motor 304, the user's operation may be detected. In addition, some toner may be discharged from the toner bottle 302 even when the toner bottle 302 is inserted and removed. Therefore, the HP sensor 303 detects the user's insertion/removal operation, and if it is detected that this is repeated in a short period of time of about 10 seconds, it may be detected as an operation in which toner is discharged more than the allowable amount. Also, although the display panel is shown as the notification means, an error sound or the like may be used. Furthermore, effects can be obtained only by controlling the drive of the downstream unit and only by reporting.

According to this embodiment, the image forming apparatus 100 can reduce unnecessary replenishment of the developer caused by the user rotating the developer container unnecessarily.

21 Photosensitive drum (photosensitive body)
26 Developing device 100 Image forming device 101 Main body 300 Toner cover 301 Toner cover sensor (cover detector)
302 Toner bottle (developer storage container)
303... HP sensor (rotation detector)
304 Bottle motor 306 Toner conveying path 309 Developing device 312 Screw (toner conveying means)
321... Entrance 322... Exit 330... Mounting part 331... Receiving part 400... CPU (control means)
409 Display panel (display unit)
P: sheet (recording medium)

Claims (30)

An image forming apparatus,
a photoreceptor;
a developing device for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoreceptor;
a rotatable developer container containing a developer to be supplied to the developing device and detachably attached to the image forming device;
a mounting portion having a receiving portion for receiving the developer discharged from the developer container and to which the developer container is mounted;
a cover that opens and closes the mounting portion;
a motor for rotating the developer container;
a rotation detection unit that detects rotation of the developer container attached to the attachment unit;
an open/close detection unit that detects opening/closing of the cover;
a display for displaying information;
When the opening/closing detection unit detects that the cover is open and the rotation detection unit detects the rotation of the developer container by a predetermined amount while the motor is stopped . a control unit for controlling the display unit so that information regarding the rotation of the developer container is displayed on the display unit;
An image forming apparatus comprising: further comprising a developer amount detection unit that detects the amount of developer in the developing device;
The control section drives the motor to rotate the developer container when the amount of developer in the developing device detected by the developer amount detection section is less than a predetermined amount of developer.
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: The mounting portion has a transport path for transporting the developer supplied from the receiving portion to the developing device, and a transport member provided in the transport path for transporting the developer,
3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation of the conveying member is stopped when the open/close detector detects that the cover is open. The developer storage container includes a rotatable storage portion that stores the developer, a discharge portion that has a discharge port for discharging the developer, and is mounted to the mounting portion in a substantially non-rotating state. 4. The image according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising: a conveying section provided in the accommodating section for conveying the developer in the accommodating section toward the discharging section. forming device. When the open/close detecting section detects that the cover is open and the number of rotations of the developer container detected by the rotation detecting section reaches a predetermined number while the motor is stopped. 5 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the information regarding the rotation of the developer container is not displayed on the display unit when the developer container is not set . An image forming apparatus,
a photoreceptor;
a developing device for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoreceptor;
a rotatable developer container containing a developer to be supplied to the developing device and detachably attached to the image forming device;
a mounting portion having a receiving portion for receiving the developer discharged from the developer container and to which the developer container is mounted;
a cover that opens and closes the mounting portion;
a motor for rotating the developer container;
a rotation detection unit that detects rotation of the developer container attached to the attachment unit;
an open/close detection unit that detects opening/closing of the cover;
When the opening/closing detection unit detects that the cover is open and the rotation detection unit detects the rotation of the developer container by a predetermined amount while the motor is stopped. a control unit that issues a warning regarding the rotation of the developer container;
An image forming apparatus comprising: further comprising a developer amount detection unit that detects the amount of developer in the developing device;
The control section drives the motor to rotate the developer container when the amount of developer in the developing device detected by the developer amount detection section is less than a predetermined amount of developer.
7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein: The mounting portion has a transport path for transporting the developer supplied from the receiving portion to the developing device, and a transport member provided in the transport path for transporting the developer,
8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the operation of the conveying member is stopped when the open/close detector detects that the cover is open. The developer storage container includes a rotatable storage portion that stores the developer, a discharge portion that has a discharge port for discharging the developer, and is mounted to the mounting portion in a substantially non-rotating state. 9. The image according to any one of claims 6 to 8, further comprising a conveying section provided in the accommodating section for conveying the developer in the accommodating section toward the discharging section. forming device. When the open/close detecting section detects that the cover is open and the number of rotations of the developer container detected by the rotation detecting section reaches a predetermined number while the motor is stopped. 10. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the controller does not issue the warning regarding the rotation of the developer storage container when the rotation is not performed . An image forming apparatus,
a photoreceptor;
a developing device for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoreceptor;
a rotatable developer container containing a developer to be supplied to the developing device and detachably attached to the image forming device;
a mounting portion having a receiving portion for receiving the developer discharged from the developer container and to which the developer container is mounted;
a cover that opens and closes the mounting portion;
a motor for rotating the developer container;
a rotation detection unit that detects rotation of the developer container attached to the attachment unit;
an open/close detection unit that detects opening/closing of the cover;
a display for displaying information;
When the open/close detection unit detects that the cover is open and the rotation of the developer container is detected by the rotation detection unit in a state where the motor is stopped, the a control unit that controls the display unit so that information regarding the rotation of the developer container is displayed on the display unit;
An image forming apparatus comprising: further comprising a developer amount detection unit that detects the amount of developer in the developing device;
The control section drives the motor to rotate the developer container when the amount of developer in the developing device detected by the developer amount detection section is less than a predetermined amount of developer.
12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein: The mounting portion has a transport path for transporting the developer supplied from the receiving portion to the developing device, and a transport member provided in the transport path for transporting the developer,
13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the operation of the conveying member is stopped when the open/close detector detects that the cover is open. The developer storage container includes a rotatable storage portion that stores the developer, a discharge portion that has a discharge port for discharging the developer, and is mounted to the mounting portion in a substantially non-rotating state. 14. The image according to any one of claims 11 to 13, further comprising a conveying section provided in the accommodating section for conveying the developer in the accommodating section toward the discharging section. forming device. An image forming apparatus,
a photoreceptor;
a developing device for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoreceptor;
a rotatable developer container containing a developer to be supplied to the developing device and detachably attached to the image forming device;
a mounting portion having a receiving portion for receiving the developer discharged from the developer container and to which the developer container is mounted;
a cover that opens and closes the mounting portion;
a motor for rotating the developer container;
a rotation detection unit that detects rotation of the developer container attached to the attachment unit;
an open/close detection unit that detects opening/closing of the cover;
When the open/close detection unit detects that the cover is open and the rotation of the developer container is detected by the rotation detection unit in a state where the motor is stopped, the a control unit for the image forming apparatus to issue a warning about the rotation;
An image forming apparatus comprising: further comprising a developer amount detection unit that detects the amount of developer in the developing device;
The control section drives the motor to rotate the developer container when the amount of developer in the developing device detected by the developer amount detection section is less than a predetermined amount of developer.
16. The image forming apparatus according to claim 15, characterized by: The mounting portion has a transport path for transporting the developer supplied from the receiving portion to the developing device, and a transport member provided in the transport path for transporting the developer,
17. The image forming apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the operation of the conveying member is stopped when the open/close detector detects that the cover is opened. The developer storage container includes a rotatable storage portion that stores the developer, a discharge portion that has a discharge port for discharging the developer, and is mounted to the mounting portion in a substantially non-rotating state. 18. The image according to any one of claims 15 to 17, further comprising a conveying section provided in the accommodating section for conveying the developer in the accommodating section toward the discharging section. forming device. An image forming apparatus,
a photoreceptor;
a developing device for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoreceptor;
a rotatable developer container containing a developer to be supplied to the developing device and detachably attached to the image forming device;
a mounting portion having a receiving portion for receiving the developer discharged from the developer container and to which the developer container is mounted;
a cover that opens and closes the mounting portion;
a motor for rotating the developer container;
an open/close detection unit that detects opening/closing of the cover;
a display for displaying information;
When the open/close detection unit detects that the cover is open and the developer storage container attached to the attachment unit is rotated by a predetermined amount or more while the motor is stopped. a control unit for controlling the display unit so that information regarding the rotation of the developer container is displayed on the display unit;
An image forming apparatus comprising: further comprising a developer amount detection unit that detects the amount of developer in the developing device;
The control section drives the motor to rotate the developer container when the amount of developer in the developing device detected by the developer amount detection section is less than a predetermined amount of developer.
20. The image forming apparatus according to claim 19, characterized by: The mounting portion has a transport path for transporting the developer supplied from the receiving portion to the developing device, and a transport member provided in the transport path for transporting the developer,
21. The image forming apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the operation of the conveying member is stopped when the open/close detector detects that the cover is opened. The developer storage container includes a rotatable storage portion that stores the developer, a discharge portion that has a discharge port for discharging the developer, and is mounted to the mounting portion in a substantially non-rotating state. 22. The image according to any one of Claims 19 to 21, further comprising a conveying section provided in the accommodating section for conveying the developer in the accommodating section toward the discharging section. forming device. When the open/close detection unit detects that the cover is open and the motor is stopped, the developer storage container attached to the attachment unit is not rotated by the predetermined amount or more. 23. The image forming apparatus according to claim 19 , wherein the information about the rotation of the developer container is not displayed on the display unit when the rotation of the developer storage container is in the state of the rotation. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 19 to 23, wherein the amount of rotation of the developer container is the number of rotations. An image forming apparatus,
a photoreceptor;
a developing device for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoreceptor;
a rotatable developer container containing a developer to be supplied to the developing device and detachably attached to the image forming device;
a mounting portion having a receiving portion for receiving the developer discharged from the developer container and to which the developer container is mounted;
a cover that opens and closes the mounting portion;
a motor for rotating the developer container;
an open/close detection unit that detects opening/closing of the cover;
When the open/close detection unit detects that the cover is open and the developer storage container attached to the attachment unit is rotated by a predetermined amount or more while the motor is stopped. , a control unit that issues a warning regarding the rotation of the developer container;
An image forming apparatus comprising: further comprising a developer amount detection unit that detects the amount of developer in the developing device;
The control section drives the motor to rotate the developer container when the amount of developer in the developing device detected by the developer amount detection section is less than a predetermined amount of developer.
26. The image forming apparatus according to claim 25, characterized by: The mounting portion has a transport path for transporting the developer supplied from the receiving portion to the developing device, and a transport member provided in the transport path for transporting the developer,
27. The image forming apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the operation of the conveying member is stopped when the open/close detector detects that the cover is open. The developer storage container includes a rotatable storage portion that stores the developer, a discharge portion that has a discharge port for discharging the developer, and is mounted to the mounting portion in a substantially non-rotating state. 28. The image according to any one of claims 25 to 27, further comprising a conveying section provided in the accommodating section for conveying the developer in the accommodating section toward the discharging section. forming device. When the open/close detection unit detects that the cover is open and the motor is stopped, the developer storage container attached to the attachment unit is not rotated by the predetermined amount or more. 29. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 25 to 28, wherein the control unit does not issue the warning regarding the rotation of the developer container in this case. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 25 to 29, wherein the amount of rotation of the developer container is the number of rotations.

Images