JPH03210586A - Toner replenishing control device in polychromatic electrophotographing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the operation convenience of toner replenishing control by automatically controlling the shape of toner replenishing control in accordance with the existence of operator's operation of an electrophotographing device. CONSTITUTION:Toner replenishing control which toner is replenished at the time of detecting under toner by checking toner density, if the under toner is not reset in spite of toner replenishing for a prescribed time decides toner empty and the empty state is display is successively executed in each of plural developing tanks 7Y, 7M, 7C, 7K. In this case, the existence of operator's operation of the electrophotographing device is detected, and when there is no operator's operation, sequential toner replenishing control is executed as it is. When the operation exists, the sequential toner replenishing control is stopped in accordance with toner empty decision. Thus, the state for executing the sequential toner replenishing control and the state for stopping the toner replenishing control can be switched in accordance with the existence of operator's operation of the electrophotographing device and the waiting time can be shortened.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] <Industrial Application Field> The present invention provides a method for detecting undertoner during warm-up in a multicolor electrophotographic apparatus such as a full-color copying machine or printer equipped with a plurality of developer tanks. Regarding control of toner supply.

<Prior Art> A developer tank is composed of a toner supply unit that stores toner, and a development unit that has a built-in developing roller and a toner concentration sensor and receives toner supply from the toner supply unit. Full-color electrophotographic equipment is equipped with multiple developer tanks that can handle toner of multiple colors, such as yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, and the toner concentration within each developer unit is adjusted during warm-up immediately after power is turned on. A check is performed, and if the toner density is below a specified value (undertoner), toner is replenished from the toner supply unit to the development unit 9.

In this case, due to the structure of the device, which supplies toner from each developing tank to the photoreceptor in sequence to avoid color mixing during normal operation after warm-up, toner concentration check and accompanying toner replenishment may be required. Also, the process is not performed on a plurality of developing tanks at the same time, but sequentially on each developing tank.

There are two conventional toner supply control methods as follows.

(i) In the first developer tank, if the result of checking the toner concentration in the developing unit is that there is under toner, replenish toner from the toner supply unit to the developing unit. Once the undertoner is eliminated, finish checking the toner concentration in that developer tank, perform the same process in the second developer tank, and continue the same process up to the last developer tank to ensure that all Check the toner concentration and replenish toner for the developer tanks in sequence.

In this case, in toner replenishment control for each developer tank, if undertoner is not eliminated even after toner replenishment over a predetermined period of time (for example, about 2 minutes), that developer tank is determined to be toner empty, and an empty display is displayed. At the same time, the process proceeds to the next developing tank.

(Ni) Toner concentration check and toner replenishment are performed sequentially for multiple developer tanks, and when toner empty is detected for the first time, an empty display is displayed for that developer tank, but the toner concentration for the next developer tank is The toner replenishment control is stopped at the first detection of toner empty without proceeding to check and toner replenishment.

<Problems to be Solved by the Invention> In method (i), toner replenishment control is performed from the first developer tank to the last developer tank regardless of whether or not toner empty is detected, so it is determined that the toner is empty. The greater the number of developer tanks used, the longer the time required for processing. If the toner replenishment duration (the above-mentioned predetermined time) for toner empty detection is, for example, 2 minutes and there are four developer tanks, if all the developer tanks are toner empty, the minimum toner replenishment control during warm-up is required. But it takes a long time of 8 minutes.

There is not much of a problem if the operator leaves the electrophotographic equipment after turning on the power and is doing other things, but if the operator is waiting next to the equipment, there may be multiple empty developing tanks. The problem is that the waiting time increases.

On the other hand, in method (U), toner replenishment control is stopped when the first empty developer tank is detected, so the waiting time is less bothersome, but if the remaining developer tanks are empty of toner, the toner replenishment control is stopped. The problem is that I don't know if it exists or not.

In particular, even if the operator is away from the electrophotographic device and waiting time is not an issue, in other words, even if there is sufficient time for toner replenishment, the operator The problem is that when you return, you only find one empty developer tank.

The present invention was devised in view of the above circumstances, and in principle, toner replenishment control is performed for all developer tanks regardless of whether toner empty is detected, and the operator can If you are near a multicolor electrophotographic device and the toner supply unit can be refilled immediately when toner empty is detected, toner replenishment control can be stopped based on some operation by the operator on the device and the waiting time can be reduced. The aim is to make it shorter.

<Means for Solving the Problems> In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has the following configuration.

That is, the present invention provides toner replenishment control that performs toner replenishment when undertoner is detected by toner concentration check, and determines that the toner is empty and displays an empty display when the undertoner is not resolved by toner replenishment over a predetermined period of time. In a toner replenishment control device for a multicolor electrophotographic apparatus configured to sequentially perform operations on a plurality of developing tanks one by one, it detects whether or not an operator has operated the electrophotographic apparatus, and when there is no operation, the toner replenishment control device performs the toner replenishment control system sequentially one by one for a plurality of developing tanks. The present invention is characterized in that the sequential toner replenishment control is executed as is, and when there is an operation, the sequential toner replenishment control is stopped according to the determination that the toner is empty.

<Function> As a general rule, when there is no operation on the electrophotographic device,
By executing the sequential toner replenishment control for all developer tanks as is, when an empty developer tank is detected, an empty display is performed for all the empty developer tanks. In this case, all developer tanks that need to be replenished with toner are known.

When the electrophotographic apparatus is operated and there is no determination that the toner is empty, sequential toner replenishment control is performed for all developer tanks in the same manner as described above.

When an operation is performed on the electrophotographic device and it is determined that the toner is empty, sequential toner replenishment control can be stopped, compared to when toner replenishment control is performed sequentially for all developer tanks. This reduces operator waiting time.

It is not known whether the remaining developer tanks are empty of toner or not, but since the operator is next to the device, he should check the remaining developer tanks while replenishing the empty developer tank with toner. If the operator does this himself, he can easily determine whether or not toner should be replenished without significantly impairing operability.

<Example> Hereinafter, an example in which the present invention is applied to a full-color copying machine will be described in detail based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a full-color copying machine.

In the case of full-color copying, a document on a document table 1 is exposed and scanned three times by an exposure lamp 2.

The reflected light each time is color-separated by a color separation filter 5 in an optical path indicated by a broken line by mirrors 3a to 3e and a lens 4, and an image is formed on a photoreceptor belt 6 to form an electrostatic latent image. A color separation filter 5 is placed on the path of the photoreceptor belt 6.
The three primary colors yellow (Y) and magenta (
Four developer tanks 7Y, 7M, 7C, and 7K containing toners of M), cyan (C), and black (K) are arranged.

The electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor belt 6 resulting from the first exposure scan is developed with toner supplied from the yellow developer tank 7Y, and the yellow toner image is transferred onto the transfer belt 8. The electrostatic latent image resulting from the second exposure scan is developed with toner supplied from the magenta developer tank 7M,
The cyan toner image is combined with the yellow toner image on the transfer belt 8, and during the third exposure scan, the cyan toner image is combined with the yellow and magenta toner images on the transfer belt 8. In this way, a visible image of the document is formed on the transfer belt 8 in three primary colors.

On the other hand, cassette 9. The paper fed from either the IO or the manual paper feed table 11 is transferred to the paper feed rollers 12 and 13.
, transport rollers 14, 15, and synchronous roller 16 between the transfer belt 8 and the transfer roller 17, and the visible image on the transfer belt 8 is transferred onto the paper. 'The solid line arrow indicates the conveyance path of the paper, and after the toner is sent to the fixing roller 19 by the conveyance belt 18 and fixed on the paper by the heat of the fixing roller 19, it is transferred to the paper output tray 20.
is discharged.

The cassette mounting sensor 9a is located at the mounting portion of the cassette 9 and 10.
, 10a are provided, and a temperature sensor 19m is provided near the fixing roller 19.

FIG. 2 shows a cross section of the yellow developer tank 7Y.

The structures of the other three developer tanks 7M, 7C, and 7 are also the same.

The developer tank 7Y includes an upper toner supply unit 21 and a lower developer unit 2, which can be opened and closed by a toner cover 21a.
It consists of 2. The toner supply unit 21 includes a toner agitation spring 24 connected to an agitation clutch 23, a toner supply roller 26 connected to a toner motor 25, and stores toner and carrier.

The developing unit 22 includes a stirring screw 28 connected to a developing clutch 27, a conveying screw 29, a developing roller 30, a conveying roller 31, a shutter 33 connected to a shutter clutch 32, and a height of the ears on the developing roller 30. a doctor blade 34 that adjusts the
A toner concentration sensor 35 is built in to detect the toner concentration using the upper ear. The stirring clutch 23, the developing clutch 27, and the shutter clutch 32 are connected to a developing motor 36 that is separate from the toner motor 25.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the control system.

41 is a CPU in a microcomputer, 42 is a ROM that stores a control program, 43 is a RAM used during control, 44 is an input/output interface for the sensor 1145, 46 is an input/output interface for a power system 47 such as a motor, a clutch, etc. An input/output interface of the display section 49, 50 a data bus, 51 an address bus, 5
2 is a control bus. The sensors 45 include a toner wetness sensor 35 and a temperature sensor 19a for the fixing roller 19.
, cassette mounting sensors 9a and 10a, operation keys (not shown) on the operation panel, and sensors (not shown) for monitoring the machine status of each part of the full-color copying machine.

Next, the operation of the toner replenishment control device in the full color copying machine in this embodiment will be explained.

First, the operation of toner replenishment control in the yellow developer tank 7Y, which is the first developer tank, will be explained based on the time chart shown in FIG. This time chart is for the case where the full-color copying machine is not operated by the operator (this operation is similar to the method (i) of the conventional example).

When the power is turned on, warm-up is performed, and in parallel with this, the developing motor 36 is started, the stirring clutch 23 and the developing clutch 27 are turned on, and the toner stirring spring 24 in the toner supply unit 21 is rotated. The toner and carrier are stirred and mixed, and the developing unit 22
In the case, a stirring screw 28, a conveying screw 29,
The developing roller 30 and the conveying roller 31 rotate to start circulating the mixture of toner and carrier stored in the developing unit 22 in advance. Immediately after that, the shutter clutch 32 is turned on, the shutter 33 is opened, and the toner/carrier mixture in the conveying screw 29 is transferred to the shutter 33.
is sent toward the developing roller 30 through the opening of the
A spike is formed on the developing roller 30 and the toner concentration sensor 3
5, it becomes possible to detect the toner concentration.

If the toner concentration is appropriate, turn the shutter clutch 32 to O.
After FF and closing the shutter 33, the stirring clutch 23,
After setting the developing clutch 27 to 0FFL and stopping the toner agitating spring 24, agitating screw 28, conveying screw 29, developing roller 30, and conveying roller 31, control shifts to toner replenishment of the magenta developer tank 7M at the next stage.

If it is determined that the toner concentration is under-toner, the toner motor 25 is driven to replenish the toner/carrier mixture from the toner supply unit 21 to the developing unit 22. As shown by the broken line, if the toner concentration is restored to an appropriate state before a predetermined time T0 (for example, 2 minutes) elapses due to this replenishment, the toner motor 25 is stopped and the shutter clutch 32, stirring clutch 23, and developing clutch are activated. 27 is turned off, the process shifts to toner replenishment control for the next stage developer tank 7M.

If the toner-carrier mixture continues to be replenished for a predetermined period of time T and the under-toner state continues,
After displaying an empty display on the display unit 49, stopping the toner motor 25, and turning off the shutter clutch 32, stirring clutch 23, and developing clutch 27,
The process moves to toner replenishment control for the next stage developer tank 7M.

Next, detailed toner replenishment control operations including the case where an operator operates the full color copying machine will be described based on the flowchart of FIG.

By turning on the power, toner replenishment control is started from step Sl. In step S1, each register,
Initialize the flag, counter, and timer, start the developing motor 36 in step S2, and select "1" in the developer tank number register R to select the yellow developer tank 7Y in step S3.
cent.

Then, the routine proceeds to step S4 and subsequent steps to check the toner density.

In step S4, the density check end flag F is set. .

is reset, and the stirring clutch 23, developing clutch 27, and shutter clutch 32 are turned on in step S5. As a result, the toner and carrier are stirred and mixed by the rotation of the toner stirring spring 24, and the stirring screw 28, the conveying screw 29, the developing roller 30, and the conveying roller 31.
Circulation of the toner/carrier mixture within the developing unit 22 by the rotation of , and feeding of the toner/carrier mixture toward the developing roller 30 by opening the shutter 33 are started.

A timer is started in step S6. In step S7, it is determined whether 1.5 seconds have elapsed. This determination of 1.5 seconds is based on the fact that it takes 1.5 seconds for the ears of toner/carrier mixture to be conveyed to the toner concentration sensor 35 after the shutter 33 is opened. Note that this time varies depending on the model, etc.

If 1.5 seconds have not elapsed, the process advances to step s8, and the machine status of each part of the full-color copying machine, such as whether the temperature sensor 19a of the fixing roller 19 has reached a predetermined temperature, is in the semi* If copying is possible, it is determined whether or not copying is possible, and if it is not ready, the process returns to step S7. When it is ready, the process proceeds to step S9, where it is determined whether there has been a key operation or a cassette attachment/detachment operation.
If there is not, the process returns to step S7, and if there is, the process proceeds to step SIO.

At step 310, the toner empty counter CTt is set to “
0". In the toner replenishment control cycle for the yellow developer tank 7Y, which is the first developer tank, this determination is affirmative, and steps Sll to 314
The process does not proceed to step S7, but returns to step S7.

When 1.5 seconds have elapsed, the process proceeds to step 315 to restart the timer, and in step S16 the toner concentration sensor 35
Determine whether the detection result is undertoner.

If the toner concentration is appropriate, the timer is cleared in step S17, and then the O of the toner motor 25 is reset in step 318.
FF is performed, but in this case, since the toner motor 25 is not originally turned on, this step is irrelevant.

Then, in step S19, the shutter clutch 32, stirring clutch 23, and developing clutch 27 of the developer tank corresponding to the contents set in the developer tank number register R (in this case, the yellow developer tank 7Y) are turned off. Step 32
0 and the content of developer tank number register R is black developer tank 7
14" corresponding to K. Since this is negative, the process proceeds to step S21, where the contents of the developer tank number register R are determined, and the step corresponding to the contents (step 532 in this case) and the next step are performed. The process proceeds to a step (in this case, step 533) for making the developer tank (in this case, the magenta developer tank 7M) the target of toner replenishment iww.

That is, when it is determined that the result of the toner concentration check in the first cycle is immediately appropriate (no undertoner), control immediately shifts to toner replenishment control for the next developer tank.

If it is under toner, the process advances to step S22, and the toner motor 25 in the developer tank corresponding to the contents of the developer tank number register R (in this case, the yellow developer tank 7Y) is turned on. As a result, the toner supply roller 26 is rotated to supply the toner/carrier mixture from the toner supply unit 21 to the development unit 22 . In step S23, it is determined whether two minutes have elapsed.

This 2 minutes is the time required to determine toner empty when undertoner is not eliminated even after 2 minutes of continuously replenishing the toner/carrier mixture to the toner supply unit 21 and the development unit 22 (see Fig. 4). ) and differs depending on the model etc.

If 2 minutes have not elapsed, the process advances to step 324 to determine whether the machine state including the temperature sensor 19a of the fixing roller 19 is in the ready state, and if it is not in the ready state, the process proceeds to step 316. Return to. When it is ready, the process advances to step 325 to determine whether there has been a key operation or a cassette attachment/detachment operation. If there has been no key operation or cassette attachment/detachment operation, the process returns to step 316, and if there has been, the process proceeds to step S26.

In step S26, the toner empty counter C0 is set to “0”.
’ or not. In the toner replenishment control cycle for yellow developer tank 7Y, which is the first developer tank,
This determination becomes affirmative and the process returns to step S16.

If the undertoner condition continues, step S1
6 →S 22 →S 23-324-325-326
-316 cycle is repeated, but when the toner density becomes appropriate during this process, step S16 → 317
-318→319-320-321, the process proceeds to a step corresponding to the contents of the developer tank number register R (in this case, step 532).

However, when two minutes have passed while the undertoner condition continues, that is, when the toner is empty, the process proceeds to step 327 to clear the timer, and in step 328, the content of the toner empty counter CTt is increased by +1.
In step S29, the empty indicator corresponding to the content of the toner empty counter CTt (in this case, the yellow empty indicator) among the plurality of empty indicators in the display section 49 is lit, and in step S30, the developer tank number The toner motor 25 of the developer tank corresponding to the contents of the register R (in this case, the yellow developer tank 7Y) is set to 0FFL, and the shutter clutch 32 of the developer tank corresponding to the contents of the developer tank number register R is set to 0FFL in step S31.
, the stirring clutch 23 and the developing clutch 27 are turned off.

Then, step S20. In S21, the content of the developer tank number register R is determined, and the step corresponding to the content (step 532 in this case) and the next developer tank (magenta developer tank 7M in this case) are targeted for toner replenishment control. The process advances to step 533 (in this case, step 533).

In step S32, it is determined whether the density check end flag FIMk is set to "1", but in the toner density check routine for the yellow developer tank 7Y, both step 310 and step S26 are affirmative, and step Since it does not proceed to 512, that is, it is Ftsi-0, step S32
The determination becomes negative and the process proceeds to step 333.

In step S33, the developer tank number register R is set to "2", which selects the magenta developer tank 7M. Then, the process returns to the toner density correction routine from step S4 onwards. Note that the developer tank number register R is
In step S35, the value is set to "3", which selects the cyan developer tank 7C, and in step S37, the value is set to "4", which selects the black developer tank 7K.

Now, in the toner concentration check routine in the toner replenishment control for the yellow developer tank 7Y, when toner empty is detected and the toner empty counter CTK is "1" in step S2B, the magenta developer tank 7M In the toner concentration check routine in toner replenishment control, if toner empty is detected, assuming that no key operation or cassette attachment/detachment operation is performed (No in steps S9 and S25), toner empty counter C is detected in step 528. After A becomes "2" and the magenta empty indicator lights up in step 329, step 530-S3
1-520→S21 to step S34. After S35, the process moves to toner replenishment control for the cyan developer tank 7C.

Similarly, in the toner density check routine for the cyan developer tank 7C, if toner empty is detected, the toner empty counter Cit becomes 13', the cyan empty indicator is lit correspondingly, and the step 7p520. From step S21 to step S35. S36
After that, Bra.

The process moves on to toner replenishment wtm for the developing tank 7K.

In the toner density check routine for the black developer tank 7K, when toner empty is detected, the toner empty counter CWt becomes 14", the black empty indicator is lit correspondingly, and step 513 or step Step 338 from 52G
All operations end after the developing motor 36 is turned off (END)
leading to.

Magenta, cyan, blank developer tanks 7M, 7C, 7K
In the case of the toner replenishment control for the yellow developer tank 7Y, the toner replenishment control for the yellow developer tank 7Y may be different, and the determination of whether the toner empty counter C□ is "0" in step SIG or step 326 may be negative. be. That is, if toner empty is detected in the previously performed toner replenishment control for the developer tank, the toner empty counter C□ is set to "11.'"2" or "3" in step 328. This is because

Until 1.5 seconds have elapsed since the shutter 33 was opened (NO in step S7), the machine state is not ready (NO in step S8), or a key operation or cassette removal/removal operation is performed. If not (No in step S9), the machine state is in the ready state, and a key operation or a cassette removal/removal operation has been performed, but the toner empty state occurred during the previous toner replenishment control in the developer tank. If there is no toner density (C□ to 0), the toner density check is performed from step S15 onwards.

Finally, in steps 320 and 521, the contents of the developer tank number register R are determined and steps corresponding to the contents are performed, and then steps (332, 334 or 536) for controlling toner replenishment for the next developer tank are performed. ).

However, if the machine state is ready (affirmative in step S8) and a key operation or cassette removal/removal operation is performed (affirmative in step S9), the toner supply control in the previous developer tank may cause the toner to be removed. If empty is detected and the toner empty counter CTt is other than "0", the determination in step 510 is negative, and the process proceeds to step Sll, where the toner clutch 32, stirring clutch 23, and developing clutch 27 are activated. 0FFL,, In step 312, the density check end flag F0° is set to @1'', and in step 313.814, the content of the developer tank number register R is determined, and the step corresponding to the content is executed (S3
4 or 536), and in that step, the judgment as to whether the density check end flag Ft,+s is set to 11" is affirmative, so the process proceeds to step 338, after stopping the developing motor 36, the toner Complete all replenishment control operations.

In other words, when the operator is near the full-color copying machine, toner replenishment for one or more developer tanks
As a result of the control, the operator can know whether or not the empty indicator is lit on the display section 49, and when it is lit, the operator knows that the corresponding developer tank must be refilled with toner. By operating the key, or in some cases by attaching or detaching the cassette 7), it is possible to prohibit the transition to the toner replenishment control for the next developer tank and complete the entire operation of the toner replenishment control. Therefore, it is not necessary to wait until the toner replenishment control for the last developer tank is completed, and toner can be replenished immediately.

Even if no key operation or cassette removal operation is performed within 1.5 seconds, no key operation or cassette removal operation is performed until 2 minutes have elapsed during the toner concentration check cycle. If this is done, all operations of toner replenishment control can be completed in the same way (step 326-).
311-314→...-537→END),) Gner can be refilled immediately.

Regarding the remaining developer tanks, whether the toner is empty or not is not displayed, but in addition to replenishing the toner in the developer tank that is displayed as empty, the operator should also check the remaining developer tanks and refill them if necessary. Bye.

Note that step S8 or step 324 is performed before step S9→5IO-3ll-312 or step 325→S26→Sll→s12 so that the machine state becomes ready (copying is possible if toner is replenished). The reason is that there is little point in replenishing toner quickly if it is not ready. This is because if the toner replenishment control is performed, the preparation state can be reached more quickly.

Even if the operator is near the full-color copying machine, if toner empty is not detected in each developer tank during the sequential toner replenishment control and the toner concentration is appropriate from the beginning, undertoner is detected immediately. However, when undertoner is eliminated by toner replenishment, the toner replenishment control for the next developer tank can be immediately started, and the waiting time is not too long.
In this case, regardless of whether a key operation or a cassette attachment/detachment operation is performed, the process proceeds to toner replenishment control for the next developer tank.

When the operator is not near the full-color copying machine, no key operations or cassette attachment/detachment operations are performed, and the process does not proceed to step S12. Toner replenishment control is performed, and empty indicators corresponding to all developer tanks in which empty toner has been detected are lit.

<Effect of the invention> According to the present invention, the following effects are achieved.

Depending on whether or not the operator operates the electrophotographic device, it is possible to switch between a state in which toner replenishment control is performed sequentially for all developer tanks and a state in which toner replenishment control is stopped according to a determination that the toner is empty. In this case, it is possible to know all the empty developing tanks that should be refilled with toner, and in the latter case, it is possible to shorten the waiting time.

In other words, the form of toner replenishment control is similar to the conventional example (i
) or (11), the toner replenishment control mode is automatically changed depending on whether or not the operator operates the electrophotographic device, so warm-up It is possible to improve the usability of toner replenishment control and increase added value.

As a supplement, when the operator is not near the device, even if the toner becomes empty, the toner cannot be refilled immediately, and there is time for toner replenishment. By sequentially performing toner replenishment control for all developer tanks without performing any operations, it is possible to know everything about empty developer tanks.

In addition, when an operator is near the device, by performing some operation on the device when the toner empty message is displayed, the sequential toner replenishment control can be stopped, and the toner can be immediately filled without having to wait. can be replenished.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 to 5 relate to an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a full-color copying machine, in which FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of the full-color copying machine, FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the control system, FIG. 4 is a time chart for explaining the operation, and FIG. 5 is a flow chart for explaining the operation. Junjin Sharp Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) Toner replenishment control that performs toner replenishment when undertoner is detected by toner density check, and determines that toner is empty and displays empty when the undertoner is not resolved after toner replenishment over a predetermined period of time. In a toner replenishment control device for a multicolor electrophotographic apparatus, which is configured to perform sequential toner replenishment for each tank one by one, the presence or absence of an operator's operation on the electrophotographic apparatus is detected, and when there is no operation, the toner replenishment control device is configured to sequentially supply toner toner tanks one by one. A toner replenishment control device for a multicolor electrophotographic apparatus, characterized in that the replenishment control is executed as is, and when an operation is performed, the sequential toner replenishment control is stopped according to a determination that the toner is empty.