JPH03137663A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate the manual toner charging operation at the time of actuation by automatically replenishing a developer when there is no developer in a developer container. CONSTITUTION:A toner concentration sensor 13 indirectly detects the presence or absence of the developer in a developing device 4. Without the developer, actuation is needed, and a developer supply device 11 is controlled to replenish a predetermined amount of toner to the developing device 4, whereby the developer is automatically charge at the time of actuation.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to image forming apparatuses such as copying machines and laser printers, and in particular to an image forming apparatus that simplifies the task of filling developer into a developing device at the time of startup. Regarding.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, copying machine service personnel have gone to the user's installation site to carry out start-up work and initial adjustment of the copying machine at the location where the copying machine is used. One of the startup tasks is to fill the developing device with developer called a starter. This is the process of evenly filling the developing device with the developer (in the case of two-component, a mixture of toner and carrier) contained in a container. Conventionally, service personnel removed the developing device from the main body and filled it.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, when a service person is dispatched to the installation site to perform start-up and adjustment work, various costs are incurred, which affects and increases the cost of the copying machine. This has been a major factor in increasing costs, especially for low-priced small machines.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and detects whether or not there is developer in the developing device, and when there is no developer, automatically replenishes the developer from the container into the developing device. To provide an image forming apparatus which eliminates the need for developer filling work by a service person during start-up work, allows a user to easily perform start-up work, and suppresses an increase in price.

[Means to solve the problem]

An image forming apparatus according to the present invention is an image forming apparatus that develops a latent image formed on a photoreceptor with a developer supplied from a developing means to visualize the image, and wherein the image forming apparatus supplies a developer to the developing means. a supplying means; a developer detection means for detecting the presence or absence of developer in the developing means; and a developer detecting means for supplying a predetermined amount of the developer to the developing means when no developer is present in the developing means. and means for controlling the developer supply means.

[Effect]

In the present invention, the presence or absence of developer in the developing means is detected, and if there is no developer, it is determined that startup work is necessary, and the development is performed so that a predetermined amount of developer is replenished into the developing means. Controls the developer supply means and automatically performs the developer filling operation at startup.

〔Example〕

The present invention will be described in detail below based on the drawings showing one embodiment thereof.

FIG. 1 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view showing the internal structure of a copying machine (hereinafter referred to as the device of the present invention) which is an image forming device according to the present invention;
The figure is a schematic perspective view of the copying machine showing the state in which the image forming unit is attached and detached. In the figure, l is a main body of the copying machine, and a glass document table 15 is provided on the upper surface of the main body 1. A document placed on a document table 15 is scanned by an optical scanning device 10 driven by a scan motor (not shown), and its image is formed on the photoreceptor drum 2 as an electrostatic latent image.

The optical scanning device 10 includes an exposure lamp 9 and a movable mirror 17°1.
8a, 18b, lens 8 and fixed mirror 19a,
It is composed of optical systems such as 19b and 20, and the reflected light from the document that is reflected or transmitted in this order exposes the photosensitive drum 2 at a predetermined exposure position E. Further, a first slider to which an exposure lamp 9 and a movable mirror 17 are attached, and a second slider to which movable mirrors 18a and 18b are attached are moved in the direction indicated by the arrow by the scan motor. At this time, the first slider moves at twice the speed of the second slider to scan the document. Note that FIG. 1 shows the positions when the first slider and the second slider are scanning at the maximum.

A cover 16 is pivotally supported on the document table 15 so that it can move up and down on the back side, and the document table 15 is opened and closed by moving the front end up and down. The cover 16 is opened to place a single sheet or bound book original on the original platen 15 with the image facing downward, and then closed to allow copying of the original.

In addition, on the front side of the main body 1, as shown in FIG. 2, a front cover 110 is pivotally supported on its lower surface side so as to be rotatable back and forth, and the main body 1 can be opened and closed by moving the front upper part back and forth. , the image forming unit 40, which will be described later, is attached and detached.

The photosensitive drum 2 has a photoconductive layer on its outer peripheral surface, and can be driven to rotate in the counterclockwise direction indicated by the arrow.

A charging charge 5 is arranged above the photoreceptor drum 2, and applies an electric charge of a constant potential to the surface of the photoreceptor drum 2.

The circumferential speed (2) of the photosensitive drum 2 is constant, and the moving speeds of the first slider and the second slider of the optical scanning device 10 are V and V/2, respectively.

A developing device 4 is provided downstream of the exposure position E of the photosensitive drum 2 in the rotational direction. The developing device 4 uses a magnetic brush method to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photoreceptor drum 20 into a toner image. A transfer charger 6 is provided below the photosensitive drum 2.
applies an electric field to the copy paper P conveyed from the cassette 120 (described later) from the back surface thereof, and transfers the toner image formed on the surface of the photoreceptor drum 2 to the developing device 4 into the copy paper P.
Transfer on top.

A cleaning device 3 is provided in the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 20 of the transfer charger 6 . Cleaning device 3
The toner remaining on the surface of the photoreceptor drum 2 is removed using a blade method. An eraser lamp 7 is provided between the cleaning device 3 and the charger 5. The eraser lamp 7 removes the charge remaining on the surface of the photoreceptor drum 2 by irradiating light in preparation for the next copying process.

Further, the photosensitive drum 2. Erase Lamb 7. Developing device 4
．． Cleaning device8. The charger 5 is integrated as an image forming unit 40, and the image forming unit 40 is detachable from the main body 1. Further, a conveyor 12 for conveying the developer is arranged opposite to the photosensitive drum 2 of the developing device 4 in the image forming unit 40 .

The conveyor 12 uses conveyor blades 72, which will be described later, and its rotation agitates the developer and supplies the developer to the magnetic brush type developing device 4.

A developer supply device 11 is provided above the image forming unit 40. The developer supply device 11 supplies a fixed amount of developer to the transport conveyor 12. The image forming unit 40 also includes an E"FROM 203 (once electrically
Erasable & PrograIlable
(abbreviation of ROM) is provided and the conveyor 12
Below is a toner concentration sensor 1 that detects the toner concentration.
3 is provided.

The toner concentration indicates the composition ratio of toner and carrier, and the composition ratio is detected by detecting the carrier, which is a magnetic substance, by a toner concentration sensor 13 using a magnetic sensor.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the memory contents of E"FROM, and is a diagram showing the memory contents of E"FROM.
The PROM 203 has an address space of 2' (=3FH), and the address space 00 to 01)l is assigned to the image forming unit l-4.
02.02. In order to detect toner empty, 03° is set in the toner empty flag area, and 04. If the toner empty flag is set, the toner concentration is less than 4%,
This is used for each area with a 4% or less flag indicating that toner replenishment is required. Further, predetermined data is stored in a specific area at the time of shipment, and by detecting this data, it is possible to determine whether the image forming unit 40 is used or not.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the structure of a developer supply container (hereinafter referred to as container), and FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the structure of the developer supply device. In the figure, reference numeral 141 denotes a container, which consists of a cylindrical body 142 with one end open and the other end closed, and a lid 150 detachably attached to the open part of the cylindrical body 142. In addition,
The other end of the cylindrical body 142 may also be closed with a lid.

The cylindrical body 142 is integrally formed by blow molding using thermoplastic resin, and has protrusions 143 that protrude inward.
are formed in a spiral shape along the inner circumferential surface, and a spiral groove 144 is formed between the protrusions 143. Also,
On the open side of the cylindrical body 142, there is a terminal end 14 of the spiral groove 144.
An opening 146 is provided near 5.

The lid 150 is provided with a conical regulating portion 151 whose inner surface bulges toward the closed side of the cylindrical body 142 and has an apex on the central axis of the cylindrical body 142, and which engages in the center of the outer surface of the lid 150. A recess 152 is provided. In addition, the regulation section 151
The container 141 having the above structure may have a hemispherical shape or a semi-elliptic spherical shape, and the opening 146 of the cylindrical body 142 is covered with a sealing tape (not shown), and the toner is loaded and the Mlo
sealed. Note that instead of toner, a starter, which is a developer made of toner and magnetic carrier, may be loaded.

Next, in FIG. 5, 160 is a holding section for the container 141, 170 is a conveying section, and 180 is a driving section.

The holding part 160 has a cylindrical part 161 with one end open, and the inner diameter of this cylindrical part 161 is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the cylindrical body 142. Further, the inner diameter of the open side of the cylindrical portion 161 is enlarged to form a guide portion 162, and a hole 163 is formed in the center of the closed side. And, the holding part 160 is
It is supported by the transport section 170 in a substantially horizontal state.

As described above, the conveying section 170 includes a conveyor blade 172 provided on the conveyor 12 connected to the developing device 4, and the conveyor blade 172 is rotatably driven by a motor or the like (not shown). A drop port 173 is formed at the connection portion with the portion 160. Seal members 174 and 174 are provided on the inner peripheral surfaces of the cylindrical portion 161 on the rear side and the front side sandwiching the drop port 173.

The drive unit 180 includes a motor 181 and a drive shaft 182 thereof.
is inserted into the hole 163 of the cylindrical portion 161.

In the developer supply device 11 having the above configuration, the container 141
As shown in FIG. 5, the sealing tape of the opening 146 is peeled off, and the opening 146 is inserted into the cylindrical part 161 from one end side having the lid 150 with the opening 146 facing upward, and the engaging recess 1
A drive shaft 182 is fitted into 52 and supported by this drive shaft 182 and the cylindrical portion 161.

The container 141 supported by the holding part 160 is
The rotation of the drive shaft 182 based on the drive causes the drive shaft 182 to rotate in the direction of arrow C.

As a result, the developer or toner in the container 141 moves toward the lid along the spiral groove 144. Then, when the lid 150 is transported to the space (hereinafter referred to as "regulated space") 143 between the regulating part 151 and the inner surface of the container 141, the regulating space 1
43, the spatial cross-sectional area is reduced toward the open side, so the movement of the developer or toner toward the open side is regulated, and the amount of developer or toner that reaches the open side end becomes constant.

The developer or toner that has reached the open side along the spiral groove 144 falls and is supplied to the conveyor 12 from the opening 146 through the drop port 173 when the opening 146 is positioned downward as the container 141 rotates. be done.

That is, a fixed amount of the developer or toner is supplied to the conveyor 12 each time the container 141 rotates once. The toner or developer supplied to the conveyor 12 is then conveyed to the developing device 4 based on the rotation of the conveyor blades 172.

On the other hand, 120 is a cassette for storing copy paper P, which is detachable from the main body 1, and is provided with a paper feed roller 31 for feeding the paper.

Further, the paper feed roller 31 is connected to a motor (not shown) provided inside the paper feed roller 31 and driven to rotate. The copy paper P sent out from the cassette 120 is sent to the timing roller 33 via the intermediate roller 32, and the timing roller 33 takes the timing and transfers it to the photosensitive drum 2.
and the transfer charger 6.

Here, the copy paper P onto which the toner image has been transferred is sent to the fixing device 34 via the conveyance path 22. The fixing device 34 fuses and fixes the toner image onto the copy paper P using heat. The copy paper P on which the image has been fixed is discharged to the paper discharge tray 121.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing an operation panel provided at the front of the document table 15. As shown in FIG. A print key 71 for starting the copying operation is disposed at the right corner of the operation panel 70, and a copy number display 72 consisting of two 7-segment LEDs is disposed approximately in the middle.

Numeric keys 80 to 89 arranged on the left side of the print key 71
is mainly used to input and set the number of copies. 90 is a clear stop key (C/S) for canceling the setting and interrupting copying.
key). Further, the density of the copied image can be continuously set using an exposure volume 92 located below the display 72. On the left side of the exposure volume 92 are arranged an exposure automatic/manual switching key 93 for selecting whether or not to perform automatic exposure, and an LIl'D 94 that lights up when automatic exposure is set. Above the automatic/manual switching key 93 An image forming unit replacement indicator LED 95 is arranged to instruct replacement depending on the lifespan (=number of image formations) of the image forming unit 40, and on the left side thereof is a jam/trouble indicator LE to indicate a paper jam or other malfunction.
D96 is placed. Also above it is a cassette 1.
Paper empty L indicating that there is no copy paper P in the 20
A toner empty LED 99 is arranged to indicate that the ED 98 and the container 141 are empty, and a jam indicator 97 is arranged to the left of the LED 99 to indicate the location of the paper jam in two parts: the main body 1 and the cassette 120. ing. Further, above the print key 71, there are provided a copy prohibition LED 100 for indicating that copying is prohibited in case of trouble, jam, etc., and a copy waiting display LED 101 for indicating various types of copy waiting.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a control circuit for a copying machine according to the present invention, which includes a microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as CPU') 200 for controlling the copying machine. CPU
200 includes a switch matrix 201 consisting of a group of keys on the operation panel 70 and switch sections for various sensors, a display section 72 for displaying the number of copies, and LEDs 94 to 1 for various displays.
01 is connected. Further, the output port section for controlling the copying operation and the scanning operation is provided with respective drive circuits (
(not shown) are connected. Furthermore, chip select terminals C5I, CS2, serial clock terminal SCK,
Data input/output terminal Sl.

The SO is an E"Pl?0M 202, which is provided on the main body side and stores various information such as mode information and sheet number information, and an E"PROM 203, which is provided in the image forming unit 40 and stores information indicating the state of the image forming unit 40. connected to the corresponding terminal. Furthermore, a RAM 204 temporarily stores a control program for the main body 1 and a flag indicating the state of the main body 1.
is connected.

Next, refer to the flowcharts in Figures 8 to 18 to
The control procedure by U200 will be explained. Before explaining the flowchart, the terms on-edge and off-edge used therein will be defined.

On-edge is defined as when the state of a switch, sensor, signal, etc. changes from an off state to an on state.

Off-edge is defined as an off-edge when the state of a switch, sensor, signal, etc. changes from an on state to an off state.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the main flow of the apparatus of the present invention, and the overall general operation will be explained along this flowchart.

First, when the power is turned on, reset of the CPU 200 is canceled and initialized (step #l). Next, E”
Perform initial settings for PROM202.203 (Step 112) This initial setting is E”PROM202.203.
connection check and reading data stored in E2FROM 202.203. When the initial setting of the E"FROM is completed, the operation mode of the copying machine is set using the data read from the E"PROM 202 and 203 (step 113). For example, when the image forming unit 1-40 is not in use, the developer (starter) set mode is entered by detecting specific data in a predetermined area of the E''PROM 203.

Next, the operation panel 70 connected to the outside of the CPt1200
Input processing to read the status of each key, switch, and sensor above, A/D manual processing to read the level of the analog input terminal of the CPU 200, output processing to set the level of the output terminal of the CPU 200, etc. Various input/output processes are performed (step #4).

Next, a subroutine for reading and writing to the E"PROM 202 and 203 is executed (step 15).
).

Read/write processing for the E"PROM202.203 is performed by each control program's E"PROM202.2.
Reading and writing of 03 is performed when necessary. When this is completed, in step #6, an operation panel key manual process is performed to determine the input of keys on the operation panel 70 and perform control processing for each key.

Next, in step 17, display data for setting the display contents of the display 72 of the operation panel 70 is created.

When this is completed, check to see if there are any troubles such as a paper jam in the copying machine main body 1 or an abnormal temperature in the fixing device 34 (step #8). If a trouble occurs, the following control will not be performed and the main routine will start. Wait until the time is up. If no trouble has occurred, the photosensitive drum 2 around the image forming unit 40. Controls each device such as the developing device 4.

(Step #9).

In addition, in this subroutine, if it is determined in the E"FROM initial setting subroutine (step #2) that the image forming unit 40 is not used, developer cent control is performed. When this is completed, the toner concentration is detected. Then, toner density control is executed at a predetermined timing of the copying cycle (step +110), and then a toner replenishment control subroutine is executed to replenish toner when the toner level is low (step #11).

Next, in step #12, it is determined whether a predetermined time period for one loop of the main routine has elapsed, and the system waits until the predetermined time period has elapsed.
Once the time has elapsed, the process returns to step #4.

Next, the subroutines related to the present invention among the subroutines will be explained.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the E"FROM initial setting subroutine of step #2.

First, a read/write test is performed on a predetermined address of the E"PROM 202 provided in the main body 1 (step 11), and then a read/write test is performed on a predetermined address of the E"PROM 203 provided in the image forming unit 40 (step 1).
2). Through these tests, E”PROM202.20
Detects whether there is an abnormality in the connection status of step 3. Next, E”PRO
Read data at a second address different from the address of M202, and based on the content of the data E21)R
Perform initial check of OM (step 1203
).

When E2PROM202 is initialized, step #2
At 04, initial data is written to the second address. When it is not the initial state, the data of various modes and flags stored in the E"PROM 202 are read, and the RAM 2
04 (step 11205). Next, in the same manner as step #203, the E
” Performs initial check of PROM 203 (step 1206).

When the E"PROM 203 is initialized, set the developer no flag (step 1120?), set the developer set mode flag (step 11208), and return to the main routine. That is, the E"PROM 203
Step 12 detects whether the image forming unit 40 is unused by determining the data written in the image forming unit 40, and supplies developer as a starter to the developing device 4 when the image forming unit 40 is unused.
07. Set each flag at 1208. [72FRO
If M203 is not the initial, E”PROM2
The information such as the lifespan of the developing device 4 and the toner empty flag stored in 03 is read out and written to the RAM 204 (
Step +1209), return to the main routine.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the E"PROM read/write processing subroutine, step 115.
If there is a data write command in each control program in #01 to #503, it is detected, the data is written, and then it is read out again and compared with the writing data to determine whether the writing was performed correctly. Check.

Next, the manual processing of keys (step head 6) arranged on the operation panel 70 will be explained. FIG. 11 is a flowchart of the operation panel key manual processing subroutine. First, in step #601, an input check of the clear/stop key 90 is performed. If the clear/stop key 90 is input, a clear/stop key processing subroutine is executed in step #605, and the process returns. If there is no input from the clear/stop key 90, then step #602
Performs a manual check of print key 71. If there is an input, print key processing is performed in step #606; if there is no input, an input check is performed on the numeric keys 80 to 89; if there is an input, the numeric key processing is performed in step #607. If there is no input, the input of the exposure automatic/manual switching key 93 is checked in step 11604. If there is input, automatic exposure processing is performed, and if there is no input, the process returns.

In addition, in the print key subroutine (step +1606) of the operation panel key manual processing, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. During use, it is determined whether or not it is necessary to supply developer into the interior of the device, and whether or not the heating amplifier is in the process of heating the fixing device 34, etc., and when it is in the developer set mode or in the warming amplifier, it is operated without doing anything. Returns to the panel key manual processing subroutine and does not accept copies. Further, in step 16063, the no-developer flag is checked, and if it is sent, that is, there is no developer, no copying will be accepted. In other cases, step 11
At 6064, a copy start flag is set to issue a command to start copying.

Next, the display data creation subroutine will be explained. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing this subroutine. First, in step 1701, it is determined whether or not the developer empty flag is set. If it is set, the display data displayed on the display 72 is set to "O", and if it is not set, it is set to "1". ” and return to the main routine.

Next, the procedure for controlling the surroundings of the image forming unit will be explained. FIGS. 14(a) to 14(f) are flowcharts showing this subroutine. In this subroutine, O□~33. The devices around the image forming unit are controlled in 18 states.

In state = OM, a copy start check subroutine to be described later checks whether copying can be started.
If it is OK to start, set the state to I11, stop the timing roller, and turn on the timer that turns on the main motor. Also, if the developer start mode is determined in the coby start check subroutine, the status stays = 3.
It is cented to 0H. Next state = 1. Then, start control of the main motor is performed, and state = 2. Then, the transfer charger 6 and the exposure lamp 9 are turned on, and the paper feed roller 31 is allowed to feed the paper.

In state-3□, a paper feed confirmation and toner density check request is sent, in state = 4, a timer for starting scanning is set, and in state = 5. Then, the charger 5 is turned on and the toner density check flag is set. Then, in state -6, l, the trailing edge of the copy paper sent to the transfer charger 6 is detected, and in state =78, the completion of scanning after the timer knob is confirmed, and the charger 5 is turned off. State=8. Then, when the completion of scanning is confirmed, the scanning completion flag is reset and the exposure lamp 9 is turned off.

In state = 9H, a copy stop check is performed by a copy stop change subroutine to be described later, and when copying is stopped, that is, when the Chiary flag is set, the exposure lamp 9 is turned off, and when copying is not stopped, that is, when the Chiary flag is cleared. If so, it depends on whether the scan has been completed or not. If not, the exposure lamp 9 is turned on, and the process returns to step 3) to perform the next scan.

During stages A to D, various stopping operations are performed. Especially in state-A, the optical scanning device IO is at the home position (first
(on the right side of the figure), in state -C11, a copy start check is performed by the copy start check subroutine shown in FIG. 15 until the main motor stops, and the copy operation is constantly monitored.

FIG. 14 (eL (fl) is a flowchart regarding the developer set mode which is the gist of the present invention. When the developer set mode is detected, step # of state=30o
In step 901, the replenishment motor 181 is turned on (step #902). Then, the number of replenishments is cleared to O (step 11903), a timer for the replenishment clutch (not shown) is set, and the state is incremented by 1 (step 1904). In state -31o, after time amplification in step #911 (step #911), the clutch connected to the motor 181 is turned on, a timer that determines the clutch operating time is set, and the state is incremented by one. In state = 32M, after time up (step +1
921), step 1192 to turn off the replenishment clutch.
2) Set the stirring time by the conveyor 12 (Step +1923), and increment the number of times of replenishment by 1 (Step #924). And the number of replenishments is 151
Step 1925) Check whether the number of replenishments has been exceeded (step 1925).
6) Set the toner density check request flag (step 11927), reset the toner low density flag (step a928), and increment the state by 1 (step +1929).

When the number of replenishments is 151 or less, the state is set to 3io and the replenishment operation is repeated.

Next, in state=33N, the timer counts up (step +1931), and if the count does not increase, the process returns to the main routine. This timer is a timer that determines the time until the toner density check ends, and when the timer times out, the toner low density flag is checked (step 1932). Normally, the toner low concentration flag is sent when the toner concentration is less than 6%, but especially in the developer set mode, the toner low concentration flag is sent. A cent is given when the a degree is less than 10%. That is, when the toner concentration in the developing device 4 is at a level of 10% or less after the developer cent operation has been performed for a predetermined number of replenishments, it is determined that the developer cent operation has been performed normally. Therefore, the set state of the developer, that is, the presence or absence of the developer is indirectly determined by the toner concentration sensor 13.

When the toner density is lower than 10%, the image forming unit 7
It is determined whether 0 is in the initial state, that is, whether it is unused (step u933). This judgment is E”Pl?O?
The determination is made based on the contents of the data stored at the predetermined address of +203. When not in use, the data in the E2PROM 203 is initialized (step #934). Furthermore, if the E"FROM 203 is not unused, the E"FROM 203 has already been initialized and is considered to be operating in the developer set mode after developer replacement work, so the E"FROM 203 is not initialized. Next, in step #935, the operating flag indicating that the operation is in progress is cleared, and the process proceeds to the next step 193.
In step 6, the developer no flag is cleared, and the developer set mode flag is cleared so that the developer set mode will not operate again (step 1I937), and the process proceeds to the motor stop operation in state=CH.

Further, if the toner low swamp level flag is not set in step l932, it is determined that the developer is not being supplied,
Skip to step #937. This makes it possible to stop the developer cent mode and prohibit the next copy. This is because the copy start flag is not set as long as the developer no flag is set in step 116063 in FIG.

In this embodiment, when the developer cent is confirmed, the count value of the image forming counter of the E"PROM 203 in the image forming unit 40 is initialized to 0. In other words, the counter is automatically cleared. , the counter value can be cleared more reliably without any errors than the method using the reset button.

In addition, the initial setting of the image creation counter may be such that the count value is set to an arbitrary lifespan value, and is counted down every time a copying operation is performed, so that when the count value reaches O, it is determined that the lifespan has expired.

Next, the aforementioned state-OH1 state=A.

The copy start check subroutine performed in C8 will be explained. In the copy start check subroutine shown in FIG. 15, the copy start flag is first checked in step #951, and if the copy start flag is set, the state is set to 1□ (step 11952).
, so that from now on the state will be 1. It will start from. Next, set the operating flag to step #9.
53) Set the Chiary flag used for branch judgment and return to step #954.

Also, if the copy start flag is not set in step #951, check whether or not warming-up is in progress (step #955); if warming-up is in progress, the fixing device 34 will not operate to protect it. Step 11956) returns to the original state and checks whether there is a request to set the developer, that is, the developer cent flag is set and there is a request to operate the developer cent if the program is not warming up. If there is no request, clear the Chiarii flag in step 195.
7) Return to the main routine. Also, when there is a request, the aforementioned state = 30. To execute the developer set mode from 30. (step 1958), the process moves to step #953.

Next, the copy stop check subroutine shown in FIG. 16 will be explained. First, in step 1961, it is checked whether the copy start flag is set, and if it is not, the copying must be stopped, so the in-operation flag is cleared (step 11962).
, cent Chiarii flag (step 1963)
Return to original routine. Furthermore, when the copy start flag is set, in order to continue the copy operation, the Chiary flag is cleared and the original routine is returned. Note that the Chiary flag is used here as an index for determining whether to continue or stop copying in the original routine.

Next, the toner density detection control subroutine in step #10 of the main routine will be described. FIG. 17 is a flowchart of this subroutine. During normal copying, the toner density within the developing device 4 is detected to obtain an index for controlling the internal toner density to a constant level. Furthermore, in the developer set mode, the toner concentration is similarly detected to detect whether or not the developer is set in the developing device 4. Here, control is performed separately in stages O and 1. In state 0, preparations for detection are made, and in state 1, the actual detection operation is performed.

First, in step #1001, the state branch is checked, and if the state is 0, it is detected whether or not a toner density check request has been made by setting the toner density request flag (step 11002); if no request has been made, then Return to the main routine without doing anything, and if a request has been made, step 1110
03 clears the toner density check request flag. Subsequently, the value of the detection counter is set to 8 in step #111004, and the value of the sampling counter is set to 16 in step #1005. The detection counter is a counter that is decremented each time it is detected that the toner concentration is low when the toner concentration is detected in the next state 1, and if it finally reaches O, the toner concentration is It is determined that the concentration is low. The sampling counter is a counter that indicates the number of times the toner concentration level is determined.
Each time the level is determined, the counter is decremented.

When the sampling counter reaches O, that is, 1
It is determined whether the toner concentration is low or not based on whether the detection counter is O when the toner concentration is detected six times, that is, whether the toner concentration is determined to be low after the 8th collection. It is. After setting these counters, clear the toner low concentration flag in step 1.
1006), and increments the state by 1 to proceed to the next state (step 111007).

In state 1, the sampling counter is first decremented by 1, and it is determined whether the result is 0 or not. Step #1
00, when the sampling counter is not 0, i.e. 1
If six detections have not been completed, step #102
Proceed to the 0 toner density check subroutine. When the sampling counter is O, that is, when the toner concentration has been detected 16 times, it is checked whether the detection counter is O, that is, whether the toner concentration is low (step 11100).
9). When the detection counter is O, that is, when the toner density is low, a toner low density flag is set (step 111010).
). When the value is not 0, that is, when the toner concentration is high, the process proceeds to step 11016, sets the toner empty detection counter to 0, and stores the count value in E''FROM 203 (step 11017), returning the state to O (step 1101B).

On the other hand, when the toner low density flag is set in step 11010, it is then determined from the flag whether or not the developer set mode is set (step $1011). If it is not the developer set mode, the toner replenishment count is set and the toner empty state is set. Count up the detection counter (step $1013). The toner empty detection counter is a counter that detects whether or not the toner is empty. When copying is performed 15 times in a row with the toner concentration lower than 6%, it is determined that the toner is empty. Next, in step 11014, it is determined whether or not the count value of the toner empty detection counter that has been counted up is greater than 15. If it is, it is determined that the toner is empty, and a toner empty flag is set.Step 11015
), steps 111016 to 1101 described above
7, set the state to 0, and return to the main routine.

On the other hand, if it is the developer set mode in step 11011, the process advances to step 111018, and if the count value of the toner empty detection counter is less than 15 in step #1014, no processing is performed and the process returns to the main routine.

Next, the toner density check subroutine shown in FIG. 18 will be explained. In this subroutine, it is checked whether the output voltage from the toner concentration sensor 13 is higher than a predetermined threshold. However, since the darkness value is different between the developer set mode and normal copying, the developer is set first. If it is the developer set mode, it is determined in step #1022 whether the toner concentration is 10% or more based on the detected voltage. Since the output voltage of this toner concentration sensor 13 decreases as the toner concentration increases, it is determined that the toner concentration is 10% or more when the detected voltage is lower than the first darkness value. Toner density is 10
% or more, the processing of this routine ends.

Also, when not in the developer set mode, that is, during normal copying, it is determined whether the toner density is 6% or less (step 1).
1023), when the toner concentration is 6% or more, that is, when the detection voltage is lower than the second darkness value, no processing is performed and the processing of this subroutine is ended. If the toner concentration is 10% or less in step 11022 or 6% or less in step 111023, it is determined that the toner concentration is low, and the value of the detection counter is checked (step 1110
24). When the value of the detection counter is 0, low toner density has already been detected eight times, so return to the original toner density detection subroutine.If the value of the detection counter is not O, decrement the value of the detection counter by 1. (Step 1
11025) Go back.

In this embodiment, the display on the operation panel displays 0 in the developer set mode to indicate that the developer is being stored, so the user can know the status of the copying machine and the user can perform no action. Misrecognition of the status can be prevented.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, it is possible to detect whether or not the developer is set correctly based on the detection voltage of the toner density sensor, so if the developer is not set correctly, it is possible to prohibit copying and prevent the starter from being set correctly. Blank copies do not sometimes appear, making it possible to prevent erroneous copies and to allow developer to be set again.

In this embodiment, the presence or absence of developer in the developing means is detected by determining whether the developer is unused or not by determining the content of data written in a specific address of EgFROM in the image forming unit. Although the present invention is not limited to this, the presence or absence of developer may be directly detected by providing a detector within the developing device.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, whether or not the E2FROM is unused is determined by determining the content of data written at a specific address of the E2FROM, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the image forming unit is provided with a switch. , it may be determined based on this.

Further, in this embodiment, the developer is supplied to the developing device in 151 times, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the operation may continue until the container is empty.
It goes without saying that a fixed amount may be supplied using a timer or the like.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, a two-component developer consisting of toner and magnetic carrier was used, but -
It goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to even component developers.

〔effect〕

As explained above, in the present invention, the presence or absence of developer in the developing means is detected, for example, by determining whether the developing means is used or unused. Since the IIJ is controlled so that it is supplied by the supply means, there is no need for a service person to fill the developer at the time of start-up work, and the developer can be easily filled by the user, which is an equivalent product that can suppress price increases. It has a great effect.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic vertical sectional view showing the structure of a copying machine which is an image forming apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the copying machine showing the attachment and detachment state of the image forming unit, and FIG. 3 is an image forming apparatus. Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the developer supply container; Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view showing the configuration of the developer supply device; Figure 6 is the operation panel. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control circuit, and FIGS. 8 to 18 are flowcharts illustrating the control procedure of the copying operation by the CPU. 2...Photoreceptor 4...Development Device 11... Developer supply device 40... Image forming unit 200 ・CPIJ
203-E”PROM Address Memory Contents Figure 4 Figure 8 Figure #606 Figure 2 Figure 9 Figure 0 Figure 13 Figure 4 (f) Figure 15 Figure 6

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. In an image forming apparatus that develops and visualizes a latent image formed on a photoreceptor with a developer supplied from a developing means, the developer supplying the developer to the developing means. means for detecting the presence or absence of developer in the developing means; and a means for detecting the presence or absence of developer in the developing means; and a means for detecting the presence of developer in the developing means; An image forming apparatus comprising: means for controlling agent supply means.