JPH04162062A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable loading without unsealing a toner container so as to prevent the scattering of a toner by loading without unsealing the releasable peripheral wall part of the toner container, and then opening the peripheral wall part by an unsealing means to replenish the toner. CONSTITUTION:A toner containing cartridge 112 inserted from an insert window 117 is conveyed normally by a conveyor belt 121 and transferred to a hopper opening part 124, and a seal member 114 for sealing the cartridge 112 is removed on the opening part 124 so as to replenish a toner into a hopper 109. The empty cartridge 112 finished with toner replenishment is then conveyed reversely by the conveyor belt 121 and transferred to an empty cartridge storage box 133 from the opening part 124 before the replenished toner is consumed and a following cartridge 112 is inserted. When the box 133 becomes full of empty cartridges 112, an operator takes the whole box 133 with the empty cartridges 112 enclosed therein out of a device for the disposal of the empty cartridges 112.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to image forming apparatuses such as electrophotographic or electrostatic recording type copying machines, facsimile machines, printers, etc. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that is used by being attached to the main body of the apparatus.

[Conventional technology]

In this type of image forming apparatus, fine particles called toner stored in a developing unit, which is a developing device within the apparatus, are used to form a visible image on a recording medium such as a transfer paper. This toner is a consumable item, and if the amount of toner in the developing unit falls below a predetermined amount, it must be replenished into the developing unit each time.

Various proposals have been made regarding the method of replenishing toner to the developing unit.
(hereinafter referred to as "direct replenishment method"), and a method in which a toner cartridge, which is a container containing toner, is installed in a toner replenishment position such as above the toner hopper opening of the developing unit, and toner is replenished from this toner cartridge (hereinafter referred to as "toner cartridge method"). It can be broadly classified into.

In the direct replenishment method, when toner is directly refilled into the toner replenishing unit, the toner scatters inside and outside the device, easily staining the device and the operator's hands and clothes, so the toner cartridge method is currently frowned upon in most cases. It has reached this point.

However, with conventional toner cartridge systems, when the amount of toner in the developing unit falls below a predetermined amount and a new toner cartridge containing toner (hereinafter referred to as a cartridge) is installed, the operator must It is necessary to remove the seal or other sealing member that seals the refilling opening, and when this sealing member is removed, the toner adhering to the sealing means will scatter, causing damage to the equipment and the operator's hands. rrRIIi, which can stain clothes.
A point was left.

Therefore, the cartridge loading section of the main body of the apparatus is provided with an opening section that engages with the seal of the toner replenishment opening and tears the seal when loading the cartridge there, so that the operator can easily access the cartridge loading section. It has been proposed to open the seal of the toner replenishment opening at the same time as the loading operation, so that the operator can replenish toner without getting his hands dirty (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-1
88172 Publication, Utility Model Application Publication No. 1988-122326)
.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, according to the above configuration, the seal of the toner replenishment opening is opened at the same time as the operator loads the cartridge into the loading section. Even if you notice that the cartridge is the wrong color, the wrong size of the cartridge, the wrong direction of loading the cartridge, etc. and stop the loading operation, a part of the seal has already been opened, and if you pull it out, it will come out from this opened part. There was a problem in that there was a risk that the toner would scatter inside and outside the device.

Further, according to the above structure, the seal around the part torn by the opening part is usually bent inside the cartridge to open the cartridge, and since toner remains in this bent part, all the toner cannot be replenished into the replenishing part. There is a problem in that there is a risk that the toner cannot be used up completely, resulting in poor economic efficiency, and that there is also a risk of toner scattering when the empty cartridge is collected.

The present invention has been made in view of the problems of the prior art, and its first purpose is to enable an operator to load a toner container into an apparatus main body without opening the toner replenishment opening of the toner container. The purpose of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that allows the toner container to be refilled without opening the toner replenishment opening of the toner container. To provide an image forming apparatus in which an operator can load a toner container into an apparatus main body, and in which the amount of toner remaining in the vicinity of a refilling opening of the toner container after replenishment can be reduced compared to the above-mentioned prior art. It is.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above first object, the invention according to claim 1 provides an image forming apparatus including a replenishing section for replenishing toner from a toner container containing toner. a toner container that is removable from the main body of the apparatus and has an openable peripheral wall for replenishing the replenishing section with toner; a loading section for loading the toner container; and a loading section for loading the toner container by an operator. In order to achieve the second object, the invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that it includes an opening means for opening the peripheral wall after the loading of the toner container is completed. In an image forming apparatus equipped with a replenishment unit that is replenished with toner from a toner container, an opening for accommodating toner and replenishing the replenishment unit with the stored toner, and a removal member for sealing the opening. a toner container that is removably attached to the main body of the apparatus, and a removing means that removes the sealing member from the toner container installed at a replenishing position for replenishing toner to the replenishing section. This is a characteristic feature.

[Effect]

In the invention according to claim 1, the toner container is loaded into the loading section without opening the openable peripheral wall part for refilling the replenishing part, and after this loading is completed, the peripheral wall part is opened by the unsealing means. The toner container is refilled with toner in the replenishing part using a removing means, thereby preventing the toner container from being opened at least until loading is completed. The sealing member is removed from the toner container installed in the refilling position of the toner container, and the toner container is thereby opened without leaving the sealing member in a folded state near the refilling opening of the toner container. be.

〔Example〕

A digital copying machine (hereinafter referred to as a copying machine), which is an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, will be described.

In FIG. 1, this digital copying machine is composed of a reading device (scanner) 10 that is a document reading means, and a copying device (printer) 90 that executes a series of processes for copying the read document information onto paper. Ru.

The electrical components of this digital copying machine will be outlined below with reference to FIG.

In the housing of the reading device 10, a reading control circuit 2o,
A reading drive device 30, an image reading circuit 40, and an image processing circuit 50 are housed, and an image information storage device 60, which is a storage means for storing read document information, and a copying circuit 70 are housed in the housing of the copying device 90. , system control device 6
1. The system control device 61 houses an operating device 8Q, which is an operating means for manually operating keys. This information storage device 60 includes an image memory s62 and the system control device 61.
It consists of The read control circuit 20, the write drive control circuit 71 and the operating device 80 included in the copying circuit 7o are connected to the system control circuit 61 and the signals MLI, L2, L
3, and perform data transmission with each other.

The reading control circuit 20 is connected to the system control circuit 61 through Ll.
It receives signals via the scanner motor 31, controls the rotation speed of the scanner motor 31, controls the heater of the fluorescent lamp 32, instructs the fluorescent lamp 32 to turn on, controls the filter solenoid 33 for detecting the document size, controls the scanner power supply cooling fan, etc. The image reading circuit 40 reads the reflected light from the original at 80dp.
CCD4 L, CCD4 to convert to analog signal of i
An amplifier 42 that amplifies the L/Rano signal by dividing it into odd numbers (ODD) and even numbers (EVEN) (because the time per pixel is very short, it can be divided into two parts due to the performance of the amplifier), and from the amplifier 42 (7 ) The switching element 43 synthesizes the ODD and EVEV signals into a serial analog signal, and the analog signal from the switching element 43 is processed by the amplification degree instruction data AGC from the image processing circuit 5o for correcting the fluctuation in brightness of the fluorescent lamp 32. It includes a variable amplifier 44 for amplification, an A/D converter 45 for converting an analog signal from the variable amplifier 44 into a digital signal, and the like. Image processing circuit 5
0 includes five gate arrays 51 to 55, a clock generation circuit 56, a ROM 57, a RAM 58, etc. for processing image signals sent from the image reading circuit 4o. The gate array 51 detects the amount of light, corrects shading,
Timing control, command control, data editing/output, COD drive grout generation, etc., gate array 52 performs magnification in the main scanning direction, gate array 53 performs halftone processing, binarization processing, document size detection, gate array 54 performs Character/halftone separation, hollow editing, gate array 5
5 are respectively in charge of mark area detection. Image memory section 6
2 is composed of a memory board and a memory control board. A system control circuit 61 controls the entire system and gives instructions for reading and writing image data.

Control of this entire system includes monitoring the system's ready status, detecting the size and amount of transfer paper remaining, instructing the start of document reading and paper feeding, controlling the scanner copy mode and printer copy mode, and reading image data and writing. When instructing to load data, the remaining amount of memory is checked. The copying circuit 70 includes a line driver circuit 72 that receives image data from the image memory section 62, a laser driver circuit 73 that amplifies the image data signal from the line driver circuit 72, and a semiconductor laser driven by the laser driver circuit 73. LD) 74, read drive control circuit 7
5, a write drive control circuit 71, a drive device 76, etc. are provided. The operating device 80 includes an operating panel 81 equipped with a display and a human key for displaying various information, and an operating control circuit 82.
is provided.

Next, the schematic structure and operation of the mechanism section will be explained using FIG. 1, which is a front view showing the schematic structure.

First, the reading device 10 will be explained.

The reading device 10 has a contact glass 306 on which the original is placed.
, a document scale 305 provided on the edge of the contact glass. An original pressure plate 307 that can cover the entire area of the contact glass 306, and a fluorescent lamp 301 that illuminates the original below the contact glass 306. First to third mirrors 302, 303, 304, and third mirrors that reflect the reflected light from the W draft.
L/lens 308 covered with a cover 309 through which reflected light from the mirror enters; CCD 3 placed at the imaging position of lens 308; O, CCD 310 attached and A/D
It includes an image reading plate 311 incorporating a converter 45, a substrate 312 on which an image processing circuit 50 is formed, a cooling fan 313 for cooling the inside of the apparatus, and the like.

When the original is set on the contact glass 306 and the copy start button on the operation panel 81 is turned on, the optical system such as the fluorescent lamp 301 is moved below the contact glass 306 to scan the original. The reflected light is imaged on the CCD 310 via the lens 308 etc.
Read the manuscript information. The original image formed on the CCD 310 is output as an analog signal in synchronization with the clock from the image processing circuit 50, and after being subjected to signal amplification, signal synthesis, and variable amplification, it is converted into a digital signal by the A/D converter 45. The signal is processed by the image processing circuit 50 and converted into digitally recorded image information, and the copying machine I! 90 image information storage device [output to 60;

Firstly, the copying apparatus 70 will be explained.

In FIG. 1, a photoreceptor belt 1o○ serving as an image carrier is supported by upper and lower support rollers 381, . The hook is passed between 382 and rotated clockwise. Photoconductor belt 0
A transfer charger 352 is provided to face the portion where the roller 0 is wound around the upper support roller 381 to form a transfer portion. A conveyance guide plate 383, a first relay roller pair 327, and an intermediate roller pair 34 are provided between this transfer section and a paper tray 348 which is provided horizontally at the top of the device and accommodates transfer paper.
A transport path consisting of 9 is formed.

A big up roller 0324, a paper feeding roller 325, and a reverse roller 326 are arranged in this paper tray 348, and constitute a paper feeding device 390. Further, a pair of registration rollers 353 is provided near the transfer portion of the conveyance path. Furthermore, a pair of paper ejection rollers 33 provided at the upper right of the transfer unit and the device
A conveyance path is formed between the conductor separation conveyance belt 351, a fixing device consisting of a fixing roller 335 and a pressure roller 334 equipped with a fixing heater inside, a conveyance roller pair 332, and a conveyance guide plate 384. ing. At the part where the upper support roller 381 of the photoreceptor belt 10Q is wrapped, a separating claw 337 is provided downstream from the transfer part in the photoreceptor surface movement direction (hereinafter referred to as the photoreceptor movement direction), and a cleaning fur brush is provided further downstream. 338 and a cleaning blade 339 are provided. A waste toner bottle 340 that stores the toner removed from the photoreceptor belt surface by the cleaning fur brush 338 and cleaning blade 339 is provided on the right side of the downward movement area of the photoreceptor belt surface.

Below the waste toner bottle 340, a static elimination lamp 341 and a charging charge 342 including a grid 343 are provided facing the surface of the photoreceptor belt. This charging charge 342 is connected to a high voltage generating device for negative voltage, and uniformly charges the surface of the photoreceptor belt to minus 80 volts. Lower support roller 382 of photoreceptor belt 100
An exposure portion is formed in the winding portion to which a laser beam from a writing optical system unit 385 provided horizontally at the bottom of the device is irradiated. 20 Writing optical system unit 38
5 includes a semiconductor laser 74 (not shown here).
), cylinder lens, polygon mirror 344 rotationally driven by polygon mirror motor 345, f-
θ lens 355, reflective mirror 356, synchronization detection plate 357
etc. are provided. A developing device 386 is provided above the writing optical system unit 385 and includes a developing tank 101 equipped with a developing roller 102 facing an upward moving region of the surface of the photoreceptor belt, and a toner hopper 109. In this developing tank 101, as shown with reference numerals in FIG. 4, in addition to a developing roller 102, a developing roller 1
A developing doctor 105 that regulates the amount of developer on the developing doctor 102, a separator LO6 that guides the developer that is regulated by the developing doctor 105 and returned to the lower part, and stirring of the developer in the axial direction of the developing roller 102 in the developing tank 102. Fin 1
07 and a conveying screw 108, a paddle 103 that stirs the developer in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the developing roller 102 in the developing tank 101, and a mixing device that mixes the toner supplied from the toner hopper 109, which is a toner replenishing section, with the developer. A roller 104 and the like are provided. Also, toner hopper 10
9 has an opening at its lower part into the developing tank 101, a toner replenishing roller 110 is provided in this opening, and an agitator 111 for stirring the toner inside is provided.

The upper part of the hopper is opened upward, and this opening (hereinafter referred to as hopper opening) 124 serves as a toner replenishment section into which a cartridge 112 containing toner is attached. On the front side of this toner hopper 109,
A cartridge storage box 133 is provided because it constitutes an empty cartridge storage section in which the toner hopper 109 is refilled with toner and the empty cartridge 112 is stored therein (see FIGS. 4 and 5). Furthermore, on the earthen wall of the copying device 70, there are paper trays 346, 347, pickup rollers 314, 319, and paper feed rollers [:1315, 32].
Additional (optional) paper feeders 391, 392 with reverse rollers 316, 321, etc. are arranged.

This paper feeding device 391 includes a third relay roller pair 31.
7, the paper feeding device 392 is provided with a second relay roller pair 322, respectively. Each paper tray 348, 347, 34
6 can be freely drawn out, and is also provided with a set detection sensor and a size detection sensor (not shown). When the set detection sensor detects the set state, 1 drives a lift motor (not shown) to remove the transfer paper in the paper tray. pickup roller 3
24. ．． 314, 319 to the position where it abuts.

In addition, in order to detect the conveyance status of the transfer paper within the conveyance path, a third relay sensor 318, a second relay sensor 323, and a first relay sensor 318, a second relay sensor 323, and a
A relay sensor 328% intermediate sensor 350, a registration sensor 354, a fixing sensor 331, and a discharge sensor 329 are provided.

Furthermore, a cooling fan 359 for cooling the polygon motor 345 is provided inside the lower part of the left side exterior part of the device, and the aerodynamic force generated by this suction force - from the airflow flowing from the vicinity of the ridge storage part 133 to this cooling fan, A dust filter 358 for removing toner is also provided.

Each of the above sensors is connected to the CPU 70 via input gate arrays 701 and 702 of the write drive control circuit shown in FIG.
It is incorporated into 3. Sensor groups 390a and 391a in the paper feed device 390, 391, and 392 connected to the input gate array 701.

392a includes a paper size detection sensor, a paper end detection sensor, a tray set detection sensor, and a connection detection sensor, and includes first to third relay sensors 328, 323, 3
I8 and the door oven sensor 704 of the paper feeder 390 are also connected. The sensor group 705 connected to the input gate array 702 includes the above-mentioned sensors 3 for paper feeding and conveyance.
50, 354, 331, 329, each sensor 119, 130 (described later) for cartridge insertion, a main body door oven detection sensor, an optical sensor 360 which is a toner concentration sensor, and the like. Further, the actuator group 707 connected to the output gate array 706 includes a relay clutch and an intermediate clutch for feeding and conveying paper.

Registration clutch, cartridge-related actuators 120, 122, 128, 132 (described later), main motor, cleaning blade solenoid, toner replenishment solenoid, polygon motor 345, fixing heater 336,
High-voltage power supply circuit for charging, high-voltage power supply circuit for transfer, static elimination lamp 341. ), a color concentration sensor 360, etc. Paper feeding device 39o.

391.392 actuator group 390b, 391b
, 392b (backup solenoid, paper feed clutch, and e.g. lock solenoid, lift motor) are connected to the output port of CPU 703 via serial parallel receivers 708-710.

In the above configuration, the semiconductor laser 74 in the writing optical system unit 385 is operated by the laser driver circuit 73 in response to digitally recorded image information, which is a binary signal of 1 bit (recorded/unrecorded #i) per pixel. The laser light emitted from the semiconductor laser 74 is energized to emit light, is reflected by the polygon mirror 344, passes through the cylinder lens and the f-theta lens 355, is reflected by the reflection mirror 356, and is irradiated with an image onto the photoreceptor belt 100. be done. polygon mirror 34
4 is rotated at a constant speed by a polygon motor 345,
The aforementioned laser beam is scanned in the horizontal direction, which is a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the photoreceptor belt 100.

The surface of the photoreceptor belt 100 is uniformly charged to -800 volts by the charger 342. When a laser beam emitted based on digitally recorded image information is irradiated onto the uniformly charged surface of the photoreceptor, the charge on the surface of the photoreceptor is transferred to the device via the conductive layer of the photoreceptor belt 100 due to a photoconductive phenomenon. It flows to earth and disappears. Here, the laser is not turned on in areas where the original density is low (the binary signal is at a non-recording level), and the laser is turned on in areas where the original density is high (the binary signal is at the recording level). As a result, the part of the surface of the photoreceptor belt 100 corresponding to the light density part of the original has a potential of approximately minus 800 volts, and the part of the original with high original density has a potential of about -100 volts, which corresponds to the density of the original. An electrostatic latent image is formed. This electrostatic latent image is developed by a developing device 386, and the photoreceptor belt 10
A toner image is formed on the surface of 0. In addition, the developing device 386
The toner in the developer tank 10 is negatively charged by stirring, and
The developing roller 102 in the photoreceptor belt 100 is biased to about -550 volts by a developing bias generator, and adheres to the area of the photoreceptor belt 100 where the surface potential is higher than the developing bias, forming a toner image corresponding to the original image.

On the other hand, transfer paper is stored in three paper trays 348, 347.3.
The paper is selected from among the 46, fed and conveyed,
The toner image formed on the photoreceptor belt 100 is transferred by the registration roller 353 to the transfer section at a predetermined timing, and by the action of the transfer charger 352. The transfer paper on which the toner image has been transferred is attracted by the conductor separation conveyance belt 351 and separated from the surface of the photoreceptor bell. Thereafter, the transfer paper passes between a fixing roller 335 and a pressure roller 334, toner is fixed thereon, and the paper is discharged onto a paper discharge tray (not shown) by a pair of paper discharge rollers 330.

After the toner image has been transferred to the transfer paper, residual toner is removed from the surface of the photoreceptor belt by a cleaning fur brush 338 and a cleaning blade 339, and then the surface is prepared for the next uniform charging.

Cartridge (hereinafter referred to as cartridge) 11
Toner hopper (hereinafter referred to as hopper) 109 using 2
This section explains how to replenish toner.

This is done by loading the cartridge 112 containing toner onto a hopper opening 124, which is a toner replenishment position within the apparatus, and replenishing the hopper 109 with toner through the hopper opening 124.

First, regarding the cartridge 112 used in this embodiment,
This will be explained using FIGS. 4 to 9.

The cartridge 112 used in this embodiment has an outer peripheral shape like a square pyramid with a rectangular bottom cut by a plane parallel to the bottom, and a portion corresponding to the bottom is an opening 113, and the inside is It is a container that can store toner in a cavity. An air vent window is formed on the top wall, and a filter 153 through which toner cannot pass is provided in this window. Further, a magnet 152 is provided approximately at the center of the inner surface of the top wall. A flange 115a extending outward is provided at the edge of the opening of the cartridge 112. Approximately at the center in the long side direction of the flanges 115a provided on both long sides, there is a wing portion 115b extending further outward. It is formed to be longer than that of the original. Both end portions of the wing portions 115b in the long side direction are inclined portions that are inclined upward. A sealing member 114 is provided to cover the entire opening by gluing the flange 115a while containing toner. When this seal member 114 is loaded onto the toner hopper opening, a seal removal mechanism (described later)
Since it is located on the left flange 5115a side of No. 12, the left flange 115 among the front, rear, left, and right flanges 115a after the adhesive is applied.
It starts pasting from point a and is pasted up to the right flange 115a, then it is folded back and its free end is extended to the outer edge of the left shoulder 5l15b, and the edge of this free end is glued to the left wing 115b. ing.

Next, the mechanism of the main body of the apparatus related to toner replenishment will be explained.

As shown in FIG. 10, the main body of the apparatus includes a cartridge insertion section consisting of an insertion window 117 for inserting a cartridge 112 formed in an exterior part 11 (hereinafter referred to as front exterior part) 116 on the front of the apparatus, and a cartridge insertion part located on the back side of the apparatus. a toner replenishing section consisting of a hopper 109, an opening means for the cartridge 112 having an opening roller 150 disposed on the left side of the hopper opening 124, and a sealing member storage section consisting of a seal storage box 151 disposed opposite the opening roller 150. , hopper 1
09 and an empty cartridge storage section consisting of an empty cartridge storage box 133 disposed between the front exterior portion 116;
Further, a transfer means having a conveyor belt device 121 and a relay guide plate 123 is provided. And the front exterior part 1
16, as shown in FIG. 11, in addition to the insertion window 117, there is also formed a window 116a for putting in and taking out the empty cartridge storage box 133 constituting the empty cartridge storage section.

The insertion window 117 of the insertion section is formed in a shape that is slightly larger than the cross-sectional shape when the cartridge 112 is cut perpendicularly to the insertion direction;
As a result, the lengths in the horizontal direction of the wing portion 115b of the cartridge 112 and the left and right passage portions 117a, 117b of the collar portion 115a are also different in accordance with the lengths of the left and right wing portions 115b in the short side direction. This prevents the cartridge 112 from being inserted sideways or from inserting the cartridge 112 in the wrong direction.

The lower part of the front exterior part 116 is rotatably supported on the inside of the front exterior part 116 on a horizontal axis parallel to the exterior part, and an insertion window 117 is supported in the closed state.
A door 118 is provided which can cover the whole area. The door 118 is normally kept in a closed state by being constantly applied with a turning force in the closing direction by a biasing means (not shown). By pushing the door 118 inward against this turning force, the door 118 is rotated around the horizontal axis. It can be rotated up to about 90 degrees. In the closed state, the surface of the door 118 facing inside the device (
A protruding plate 118a having a protruding portion extending outward from the tip edge is provided on the upper part of the inner surface (hereinafter referred to as the inner surface).

Above the insertion window 117 on the inner surface of the front exterior part 11116, there is provided a door sensor 119 including a light emitting element and a light receiving element, a lock mechanism including a lock release solenoid 120, and a lock plate 120a fixed to the plunger thereof. It is being The door sensor 119 is installed at a position where the protruding portion of the protruding plate 118a is interposed between the light emitting element and the light receiving element when the door 118 is closed, and the locking mechanism is locked when the plunger is pulled out with the door 118 closed. The plate 120a is attached to the protruding plate 118a in the front exterior part 1.
The lock plate 120a is engaged from the opposite side to the protruding plate 118a, and is attached to a position where it does not engage with the protruding plate 118a when the plunger is sucked.

The upper surface of the peripheral edge of the hopper opening 124 of the toner replenishing section and the flange 115a of the cartridge 112 are connected to each other.
A seal 125 is pasted on the bottom surface to prevent voids from forming. Further, on the side of the front exterior part 116 from the hopper opening m124, there is an entry guide part 109a extending from the peripheral part.
A vertical cartridge abutment wall 126 for positioning the cartridge 112 on the hopper opening 124 is formed on the rear side of the apparatus from the hopper opening 124. Further, as shown in FIG. 13, above the hopper opening 124, there is a swingable support plate 131, a roller 131 rotatably supported by a, and a roller 131 that is moved upward by the support plate 131a. A pressing force composed of a spring 131b that constantly applies a swinging force in the direction, and a pressing solenoid 132 that can apply a swinging force that moves the roller 131 downward to the support plate 131a against the swinging force of the spring 131b. A combined impact applying means is provided.

The unsealing roller 150 of the unsealing means is shown in FIGS. 14 and 15.
As shown in the figure, an upper roller pair 150a is fixed to the upper rotation shaft at a constant interval corresponding to the length of the left wing portion 115b of the cartridge 112 in the long side direction, and a lower roller pair 150a is fixed to the lower rotation shaft. A sealing member 1 for sealing the cartridge 112, consisting of a pair of lower rollers 150b fixed at a fixed distance from each other so as to face the respective lower rollers 150a.
14, the lower roller pair 150b
is a cylindrical roller made of elastic material, upper roller pair 15
0a is a roller with unevenness. The upper rotation shaft and the lower rotation shaft are rotatably supported by a link mechanism that allows the distance between them to be changed, and an unsealing motor 12 (not shown)
9 (see FIG. 15). As shown in FIG. 14, in this link mechanism, the distance between the upper and lower rotating shafts is set to at least the blade f! between the upper and lower rollers. 1tll15b
a spring that constantly applies a biasing force to create a distance that allows the rollers to pass through; and a seal that resists the biasing force of the spring and seals the cartridge 112 between the pair of upper and lower rollers to reduce the distance between the upper and lower rotating shafts. A tear layer pinch solenoid 128 is connected that can be used to pinch the member 114.

The seal storage box 151, which is the sealing member storage section, has a receiving opening into which the sealing member 114 removed from the opening of the cartridge 112 by the unsealing roller 150 is received.

The empty cartridge storage box 113, which is the empty cartridge storage section, has an opening for receiving the cartridge 112 at the top and is configured to be detachable from the main body of the apparatus. As shown in FIG. 11, a window 116a for taking out the device from the main body is provided with a door 116b that can be opened and closed. This empty cartridge storage box 133 will be described in detail later.

The conveyor belt device of the above-mentioned conveyance means is shown in FIGS. 14 and 16.
As shown in the figure, it is composed of left and right conveyor belts 121 driven by a conveyor motor 122 that can rotate forward and backward, and is configured so that it can make surface contact with the left and right inclined walls of the cartridge 112, respectively.
The shaft of the belt pulley is provided parallel to the left and right inclined walls of the cartridge 112. The output $122a of the conveyance motor 122 is provided parallel to the left inclined wall of the cartridge 112, and the belt pulley fixed in the middle thereof and the belt pulley on the back side of the left conveyor belt 121. The driving force can be transmitted to the left conveyor belt 121 by the belt 170 that is passed between the belt pulley and the belt pulley coaxially provided above. On the other hand, the right conveyor belt 121 is connected to the right conveyor belt 122 via a bevel gear 172 coaxially provided below the belt wheel on the back side of the right conveyor belt 121 that meshes with a bevel gear 171 provided at the lower end of the output shaft 122a of the conveyor motor 122. can transmit driving force to. The left and right conveyor belts 121 are driven so that the output shaft of the conveyor motor 122 rotates counterclockwise so that the cartridge 112 can be conveyed to the back side of the apparatus, and vice versa. By rotating the output shaft clockwise, the cartridge 112 is driven to be transported toward the front side of the apparatus. Hereinafter, the case where the conveyor belt 121 rotates as shown in FIG. 16 to convey the cartridge 112 to the back side of the apparatus is referred to as normal conveyance, the rotation of the conveyor motor 122 at this time is referred to as forward rotation, and the opposite case is referred to as reverse rotation. This is called conveyance and reverse rotation.

Note that the position of the belt base on the front side of the left and right conveyor belts 121 is such that when inserting the cartridge 112 through the insertion window 117, the operator has to forcefully reach inside the device and push the entire cartridge 112 into the device. It is desirable to set the front end of the cartridge 112 to reach the conveyor belt 121 while the rear end of the cartridge 112 is outside the apparatus so that the empty cartridge storage box 133 It is set to be approximately above the middle shaft in the front-back direction. Also, conveyor belt 1
The frictional force between 21 and the inclined wall of cartridge 112 is
The material of the conveyor belt 121 and the contact pressure of the cartridge 112 to the inclined wall are set so that the empty cartridge 112 would fall downward under its own weight if there was nothing to support the empty cartridge 112 from below. The relay guide plate 123 of the transfer means has the cartridge 11 on it.
The left and right flanges 115a are placed so that only the wing portions 115b of No. 2 are placed on them.
A pair of guide plates 12 provided parallel to the insertion direction of the cartridge 112 with an interval wider than the width between the outer edges of the cartridge 112.
The end of each guide plate 123 on the front side of the device extends above the opening of the empty cartridge storage box 133, and the end on the back side of the device extends from the peripheral edge of the hopper opening 124. It extends to the side of the entry guide portion 109a. The front edge of the portion of the empty cartridge storage box 133 that extends above the opening is
As shown in FIG. 21, when the cartridge 112 is reversely conveyed by the conveyor belt 121, when the end of the wing 5115b of the cartridge 112 comes off the front edge, the cartridge 112 is transferred to the empty cartridge storage box 1.
It is set so that it is located approximately in the middle of the front and back direction of 33. Note that during this reverse conveyance, the wings 1 of the cartridge 112
When the end of the cartridge 15b comes off the front edge, the positional relationship between the conveyor belt 121 and the cartridge 112 in the conveyance direction is such that reverse conveyance is possible; Since the door IJ,8 is retracted and there is nothing to support the cartridge 112 from below, the cartridge 112 starts to fall into the empty cartridge storage box 133, and no further reverse transport is performed.

In addition, in order to detect the conveyance state of the cartridge 112,
A cartridge passage detection filler 130a is provided on the conveyance path between the empty cartridge storage box 133 and the hopper opening 124, and is pressed down by the lower surface of the left flange 11, 5a of the cartridge 112 passing therethrough. (See Figure 10). As shown in FIG. 17, this cartridge passage detection filler 130a is connected to a swinging arm 130 fixed to a rotating shaft 130c to which a counterclockwise rotational force is applied by a spring coil (not shown) or the like.
It is attached to the tip of d. On this rotating shaft 130c is a cartridge opening detection filler 130, the tip of which is pushed to the left side of the apparatus by the sealing member 114 removed from the bottom surface of the cartridge 112 by an opening roller 150.
b is also attached. The counterclockwise rotational force is balanced with the rotational moment due to the weight of the swinging arm 130d etc. when both the detection fillers 130a and 1.30b are free, and the rotational force of the cartridge opening detection filler 130b is balanced with the rotation moment due to the weight of the swinging arm 130d. The lower end portion is set to be interposed between the light emitting element and the light receiving element of the abutting and opening sensor 130.

Next, the operation of the above toner replenishment mechanism will be explained.

18 to 22 are left side views showing the state of the toner replenishment mechanism in each operating state, and FIGS. 23 and 24 are timing charts.

First, the operation from inserting the cartridge 112 into the apparatus main body to toner replenishment on the hopper opening 124 will be explained.
This will be explained using FIGS. 18 to 20 and FIG. 23.

The door 118 of the insertion window 117 is normally in a locked state with the lock release solenoid 120 turned OFF by the lock release solenoid control described later, and the lock release solenoid 120 is turned ON when it is necessary to insert the cartridge 112, such as when the toner is near end. and becomes unlocked.

First, when inserting the cartridge 112 with the sealing member 114 of the cartridge 112 facing downward and the longer right wing portion 115b facing to the right, push the door 118 inside the device with the tip of the cartridge 112 and insert the cartridge 112, as shown in FIG. As shown, the door 118 rotates around the horizontal axis at the bottom, rotates approximately 90 degrees, and then stops to partially cover the opening of the empty cartridge storage box 133, allowing the cartridge 112 to open. In order to prevent empty cartridges from falling into the opening of the storage box 133 and to form a transport path for the cartridges 112 onto the hopper opening 124 together with the relay guide plate 123, the door 118 is closed at the beginning of the rotation of the door 118.
The tip of the protruding plate 118a attached to the upper part of the inner surface of the door sensor 1190 comes out from between the light emitting element and the light receiving element of the door sensor 1190, and the door sensor 119 is turned on to detect the door oven state.

A transport motor 12 for transporting a cartridge 112 inserted after a certain period of time after the door oven is detected.
As a result, the cartridge 112 is subsequently drawn into the apparatus by the conveyor belt 121 without the operator pushing the cartridge 112. The cartridge 112 has a door 118 and a relay guide plate 123.
is transferred onto the hopper opening 124 while being guided by the
When the leading end (traveling direction of the cartridge 112) reaches the cartridge passage detection filler 130a, the abutting and unsealing sensor 130 is turned ON, and as it is further conveyed, the rear end passes through the cartridge passing detecting filler 130a and the abutting and unsealing sensor 130 is turned on. Turn it off (■ in Figure 23).

During this time, as the rear end of the cartridge 112 passes through the door 1]8, the door 118 rotates upward and the insertion window 117
Close the door to turn off the door sensor 119. When this butt-opening sensor 130 is turned off (■ in Fig. 22)
), the cartridge 112 has been transported to a position where its tip abuts against the cartridge face wall 126 above the hopper opening @+-24, which is the toner replenishment position. 122 is rotated forward (T12 in FIG. 23), thereby positioning it at the toner replenishment position as shown in FIG. Further, from this point on, the process shifts from the operation of transporting the cartridge 112 to the operation of unsealing the cartridge 112.

In the unsealing operation of the cartridge 112 on the hopper opening 124, the above-mentioned abutting and unsealing sensor 130 is first set at 0F.
At timing Ft (■ in FIG. 23), it is confirmed by the output of the door sensor 119 that the cartridge 112 insertion door 118 is closed, and the door lock release solenoid 120 is turned OFF. Lock opening/closing.

In addition, the unsealing pinch solenoid 128 is turned on and the unsealing roller 150 releases the seal member 11 on the left side of the cartridge 112.
While holding the free end of 4, turn on the unsealing motor 129.
Then, rotation of the unsealing roller 150 is started, and removal of the seal member 114 on the lower surface of the cartridge 112 is started.

As a result, the opening of the cartridge casing 112 is gradually opened by removing the sealing member 114, and the tip of the sealing member 114 reaches the tampering detection fin 130b and pushes the opening, turning on the tampering sensor 130. , the unsealing operation continues to remove the cartridge 112 and the unsealed seal member 1.
14 is completely separated and the rear end of the sealing member 114 passes through the opening detection fin 130b.
30 is turned off (■ in Fig. 23). Since this indicates that the unsealing has been completed, the unsealing pinch solenoid 128 and the opening motor 129 are turned off, and the process shifts from the unsealing operation to an operation for surely dropping the toner inside the cartridge 112.

In the operation to ensure that the toner in the cartridge 112 is dropped, the pressing solenoid 132 is activated several times at regular intervals (in this example 5 times) ON-O
The roller 131 is turned FF and the upper surface of the cartridge 112 is hit, thereby giving an impact to the cartridge 112 and causing the toner remaining in the cartridge 112 to fall into the hopper. After this, turn the pressing solenoid 132 to
In the N state, the upper surface of the cartridge 112 is pressed by the roller 131, whereby the flange 1 of the cartridge 112 is pressed.
The hopper is opened in the cartridge 112 by bringing the lower surface of the hopper opening 15a into close contact with the upper surface of the seal 125 (see FIG. 10) on the peripheral edge of the hopper opening 124! It serves as a lid for I1124.

On the other hand, at the timing when the abutment opening sensor 130 is turned OFF (■ in FIG. 23), the main drive motor, which becomes the drive source for the supply roller 110 and the agitator 111 of the developing device 386, is turned ON until the motor starts up. After the delay time (T14 in FIG. 23), turn on the toner replenishment solenoid for a predetermined time (T15 in FIG. 23),
The drive is transmitted to the replenishment roller 110 and the agitator 111, thereby transferring the toner in the hopper 109 to the developing tank 1.
Replenish within 01. This ON time T15 is determined from the result of calculating the toner concentration from the output from the toner concentration detection sensor 360 at the time of toner end, as will be described later.

Status flags indicating the status of the above series of operations are set and reset (1 or 0) in nonvolatile RAM during and at the end of the series of operations, so that the operation will continue even if the power is momentarily cut off during processing. This enables continuous execution.

Next, the operation of storing the cartridge 112 on the hopper opening 124 into the empty cartridge storage box 133 will be explained using FIGS. 21, 22, and 24.

This operation starts after first storing the near-end state in the non-volatile RAM at the toner near-end time.

It is sufficient that the evacuation of the empty cartridge 112 from above the hopper opening 124 is completed before the next cartridge is inserted due to the toner near end, but in this embodiment, the empty cartridge 112 is placed above the hopper opening 124. In order to prevent toner from scattering into the apparatus by acting as a lid, the hopper opening 12
4, the transfer to the empty cartridge storage box 133, which is the evacuation operation of the empty cartridge 112 from above, is started.

First, the pressing solenoid 132 that was pressurizing the upper part of the cartridge 112 is turned off to retract the roller 131 from the upper surface of the cartridge 112, and the unsealing pinch solenoid 1 is turned off so as not to interfere with the conveyance of the cartridge 112.
28 is also turned off, the unsealing roller 150 is also retracted, thereby securing a conveyance path, and the conveyance motor 122 is reversely rotated to start reverse conveyance of the cartridge 112. After a timing that takes into consideration the sleeve ratio between the transport section and the cartridge 112, the rear end of the cartridge 112 (the end on the insertion window 117 side)
When the cartridge 112 reaches the cartridge passage detection fin 130a, the abutting and unsealing sensor 130 is turned ON, and when the entire cartridge 112 is further conveyed reversely and completely passes through the cartridge passage detecting fin 130a, the abutting and unsealing sensor 130 is turned OFF. At this point, the cartridge 112 has almost reached the position where the front end of the wings of the cartridge 112 (the side of the hopper opening part 124) has come off from above the relay guide plate 123, which is the fall start position. T2 in the diagram
2) Continue the reverse rotation of the conveyance motor 122, thereby ensuring that the toner falls to the starting position as shown in FIG. 21. This fixed time T22 is the period when the cartridge 112
This is set longer than the time it takes for the bag to fall due to its own weight at the drop position and the time from the time it passes through the abutment/opening sensor 130 to the time it is conveyed to the drop position (taking into consideration the sleeve ratio, etc.). When the above operation is completed, the empty cartridge 11 in the empty cartridge storage box 133 on the non-volatile RAM is
Add (+1) the counter that counts 2. Also, since it is possible to insert a new cartridge 112 from this point on, the door unlocking solenoid 120 is turned on to unlock the door 118. Also, at this point, toner near end display starts.

As described above, in this embodiment, the cartridge 112 containing toner inserted through the insertion window 117 on the front side of the main body of the image forming apparatus by the operator is forwardly conveyed by the conveyor belt 12 and transferred to above the hopper opening 124, and then Opening 124
Seal member 1 sealing cartridge 112 at the top
14 is removed and toner is replenished into the hopper 109. The cartridge 112 that is empty after toner replenishment is
The refilled toner is consumed and the next cartridge 112
Before the empty cartridge is inserted, it is reversely conveyed by the conveyor belt 121 and placed in the empty cartridge storage box 133 from above the hopper opening 124.
will be transferred to. When the empty cartridge 112 becomes full in the empty cartridge storage box 133, the operator moves the empty cartridge 112 into the empty cartridge storage box 1.
33 out of the apparatus and discard the empty cartridge 112.

Therefore, when replenishing toner, the operator usually only has to insert the cartridge 112 containing toner into the insertion window 117, and when the empty cartridge storage box 133 is full, the operator can also insert the cartridge 112 containing toner into the insertion window 117.
All you have to do is take out the empty cartridge 112 and throw it away.
12 becomes easier, and the opportunity and possibility of contaminating the operator and surroundings can be drastically reduced.

For example, if the toner capacity of the toner cartridge 112 of this embodiment is 300 grams, the empty cartridge storage box 13
If the number of cartridges that can be accommodated is 10, the 11th cartridge 112 can be inserted before discarding the empty cartridge 112 in the empty cartridge storage box 133.
Until 3,300 grams of toner is consumed, the operator only has to insert the cartridge 112 from outside the apparatus main body, which facilitates toner replenishment work. On the other hand,
When this mechanism is not used and the space is occupied by a toner hopper and toner is replenished from a bottle or the like, the capacity of the hopper 109 is approximately equal to four cartridges 112 due to the layout (for example, see FIG. 12). It becomes about 12
Toner must be replenished every time 00 grams of toner is consumed.

Next, the empty cartridge storage box 133 of the above embodiment
An example of this will be explained using FIGS. 25 to 40.

This empty cartridge storage box 133 is directly aerodynamically
A cardboard box 410 that receives the ridge 112 is detachably housed and used.

A drawer handle 421 is fixed to the front of the empty cartridge storage box 133, and a locking frame member 430 is fixed to the lower part of the back. As shown in FIG. 27, when the empty cartridge storage box 133 is set in the device main body, the device main body portion located below the frame member 430 has a plunger facing upward to release the lock. solenoids 43] are arranged in an identified manner. This lock release solenoid 431 is provided with a spring that always biases the plunger in the direction of pulling it out, and when the lock release solenoid 431 is turned off, the plunger pulled out by the spring penetrates the frame of the frame member 430 of the empty cartridge 112. , when the plunger is turned on, the plunger sucked against the biasing force of this spring is empty cartridge 1.
The arrangement height is set so that it can be in an unlocked state in which it exits from the frame No. 12. Further, a set detection sensor 432 consisting of a light emitting element and a light receiving element is provided at a position facing the frame member 430 when the empty cartridge storage box 133 is set in the main body of the apparatus. Aerodynamics
The ridge storage box 133 moves the lid member 413 of the cardboard box 410 housed therein by aerodynamic forces to close the opening 411 of the cardboard box 410 in conjunction with the pulling operation of the ridge storage box 133 from the main body of the apparatus. Equipped with a mechanism. This lid moving mechanism has a claw 42 that engages with an upper folding member 414 fixed to the tip edge of the lid member 413 of the cardboard box 410.
5. A movable arm 424 to which the claw 425 is fixed, and a movable arm 424 to the empty cartridge storage box 133.
Guide members 422, 42 movably supported relative to the main body
It is composed of 3. This moving arm 424 has claws 4
25 is fixed and empty cartridge storage box 133
An upper horizontal part 424a that is longer than the horizontal width of the main body, left and right arm parts 424b extending downward at a right angle from both ends of the upper horizontal part 424a, and an empty cartridge storage section extending at right angles from the lower end of each of the left and right arms 1424b. It consists of left and right lower horizontal portions 424c extending toward the left and right side surfaces of the box 133. The guide members 422, 423 are composed of left and right groove forming members 422, 4.23 fixed to the left and right side surfaces of the empty cartridge storage box 133, respectively. It is provided with guide grooves into which the tip portions of the left and right lower horizontal portions 424c can slide. These guide grooves include upper and lower horizontal grooves 450 and 451 that have the same length and the upper horizontal groove 450 is formed closer to the back surface, and front and rear inclined grooves 453 that connect both ends of these upper and lower horizontal grooves 450 and 451 at the front and rear, respectively. It consists of 454. This upper horizontal groove 450 is
It has a bottom portion that guides the movable arm 424 relatively to the left as shown by a solid line in the front view of FIG. It has a bottom part that guides in a close position. In guiding the moving arm 424 from the front end of the lower horizontal groove 450 to the front end of the lower horizontal groove 451, the front inclined groove 453 first has a bottom portion that guides it at the same position as the upper horizontal groove 450 in the left and right direction. It consists of an inclined part 453a, then a first transition part 453b having a guiding bottom while moving to the right, and finally a second vertical part 453c having a guiding bottom in the same position as the lower horizontal groove 451. Then, from the lower end of this second vertical portion, a lower horizontal groove 451
A corner connected to the corner has a corner that allows movement from the second vertical part 453c to the lower horizontal groove 451 by rotation around the eccentric axis, and prohibits movement from the opposite lower horizontal groove 451 to the second vertical part 453c. 1 eccentric member 426a is provided. Similarly, the rear inclined groove 454 moves the moving arm 424 into the lower horizontal groove 45.
1 to the rear end of the upper horizontal groove 450, in the left-right direction, first, the third vertical portion 454a having the bottom that guides at the same position as the lower horizontal groove 451, and then moved to the left side. and finally a fourth vertical portion 454C having a guiding bottom in the same position as the upper horizontal groove 450. The corner that connects the upper end of the fourth vertical portion 454c to the upper horizontal groove 450 has a corner that allows movement from the fourth vertical portion 454c to the lower horizontal groove 450 by rotation around the eccentric axis, and vice versa. 4th from horizontal groove 450
Second eccentric member 42 that prohibits movement to the vertical portion 454c
6b is provided. Note that this upper horizontal groove 450 is provided with the claw 42 of the movable arm 424 when being guided here.
The height position is set so that the upper folding member 414, which is fixed to the tip edge of the lid member 413 of the cardboard box 410 in the empty cartridge storage box 133, is maintained at a height. Also, the lower horizontal groove 451
On the contrary, the moving arm 42 when being guided here
The height position is set so as to maintain a height at which the claw 425 of No. 4 can engage with the upper folding member 414 fixed to the tip edge of the lid member 413 of the cardboard box 410 in the empty cartridge storage box 133. ing.

A cardboard box 410 that is removably placed in the empty cartridge storage box 133 has an opening 411 formed at the top to receive the empty cartridge 112, and has an opening 411 on the front inner surface when placed in the empty cartridge storage box 133. For example, the lid member 413 made of a flexible sheet for covering the upper opening 411 is
As shown in the figure, the rear end is connected to a cardboard box 410.
It is glued and fixed to the inner surface, and the whole is folded in half. In the figure, 500 is an adhesive area of the lid member 413;
Reference numeral 501 indicates a guide rod when the lid member 413 is pulled out. The upper folding member 414 and the lower folding member 415 are provided at the tip of the lid member 413. In the long direction of the upper folding member 414, the moving arm 42
4 is the first transition portion 453b and the second transition portion 4 of the guide groove.
A notch 416 for starting and releasing the engagement is formed in a region where the claw 425 faces when being guided by the guide 54b. When placed in the empty cartridge storage box 133 of the cardboard box 4-0, a lower folding member 415 at the tip of the lid member 413 is placed on the upper edge of the back side with the lid member 413 covering the opening 411. An upwardly sloping portion 412 is formed to which the holder is locked.

Then, as shown in FIGS. 36 to 39, on both sides of the empty cartridge storage box 133 outlet 116a on the inner surface of the front exterior part 116 of the apparatus main body, the front exterior part 116 is moved while the movable arm 424 is kept in an upright position. A support member is provided that supports the support member movably in a plane parallel to the . This support member has a mounting base 440 fixed perpendicularly to the front exterior part 116, one end of which is fixed to the base 440, and the other end protrudes parallel to the front exterior part 116 to the inside of the outlet 116a. The front side support arm 443 is formed as shown in FIG. A pair of upper and lower support rods 44 are formed to protrude in parallel to the inside of the outlet 116a of the empty cartridge 112.
1, and a biasing means (not shown) that applies an upward rotational force to the rear side support member 442. Normally, the rotational force of this biasing means causes the rear side support member 442 to move upward. The back support member 442 that is about to rotate comes into contact with a stopper portion 444 provided on the base 440, and the upper and lower support rods 441 are aligned in the vertical direction. The vertical support surface of this front side support arm 443 and the pair of upper and lower support rods 441,
The horizontal length of the portion of the empty cartridge 112 that protrudes inward from the outlet is determined by the length of the moving arm 4 by the guide member.
24 in the horizontal direction.

The arm portion 4 of the movable arm 424 is connected to the vertically arranged vertical support rods 441 and the vertical plane of the front side support arm 443.
24b is interposed.

In the above configuration, when the empty cartridge 112 is pulled out the most from the main body of the apparatus, FIGS. 28 to 30,
The state shown in FIGS. 38 and 39 is taken. That is, the distal end portion of the lower horizontal 5422C of the moving arm 424 is supported at the rear end of the upper horizontal groove 450 of the guide member by the second eccentric member 426b while being prohibited from entering the rear inclined groove 454, and the arm portion 424b is supported by a support member within the main body of the apparatus, thereby taking the highest position in the vertical direction and the position furthest to the left in the left-right direction when viewed from the front. In this state, the cardboard box 410 can be attached and detached.

When the new cardboard box 410 is set and the operation of inserting the empty cartridge storage box 133 into the device is started, the arm portion 424b of the moving arm 424 is supported by the support member inside the device and takes a fixed position in the insertion direction. , the moving arm 424 moves relative to the empty cartridge storage box 133 while being guided by the upper horizontal groove 450 of the guide member, and as shown in FIG. The front end of the upper horizontal groove 450 is reached. If you continue the insertion operation,
While the tip of the lower horizontal portion 422 of the moving arm 424 is guided by the front inclined groove 453 of the guide member, the entire moving arm 424 is pulled down, and while being guided by the first transition portion 453b of the front inclined groove 453. Moving arm 42
4 is moved to the right side, and the insertion is completed as shown in FIG. The claw 425 fixed to the upper horizontal 5424a of the moving arm 424 is fixed to the tip of the M member 413 of the cardboard box 410 while the entire moving arm 424 is being pulled down, as shown in FIG. It passes through the notch 416 of the upper folding member 414 and comes into engagement with the upper folding member 414 while the entire moving arm 424 is further moved to the right. Also, the front inclined groove 4
53 and the lower horizontal groove 451, the first eccentric member 426a is rotated.
The eccentric member 426a prevents the front inclined groove 453 from moving backward. Furthermore, upon completion of the insertion, the frame member 430 fixed to the lower back of the empty cartridge storage box 133
When detected by the set detection sensor 432, the lock release solenoid 431 is turned off and the plunger is pulled out by the spring, passes through the inside of the frame member 430, and enters the locked state. A copy operation is performed in this state.

A predetermined number of empty cartridges 112 that can be stored are stored,
When it is necessary to replace the cardboard box 410 with a new one, the lock release solenoid 431 is turned ON by controlling the lock release solenoid 431, which will be described later, to pull the plunger out of the frame member 430 and store the empty cartridge. Box 133 can now be pulled out.

When the operation of pulling out the empty cartridge storage box 133 from the main body of the apparatus is started in this state, the moving arm 424
Since the arm of the moving arm 4 is supported by a support member within the device and takes a fixed position in the drawing direction, the moving arm 4
24 moves relative to the empty cartridge storage box 133 while being guided by the lower horizontal groove 451 of the guide member, and as a result, the lid member 413 with the upper folding member 414 engaged with the claw 425 of the moving arm 424 They are successively pulled out from inside the cardboard box 410 and cover the opening 411 of the cardboard. After the tip of the lower horizontal portion 424c of the moving arm 424 reaches the rear end of the lower horizontal groove 451 of the guide member, the entire moving arm 424 is pushed up by being guided by the rear inclined groove 454. Here, the tip of the lower horizontal portion 424C of the moving arm 424 is connected to the rear inclined groove 45.
The entire movable arm 424 is moved to the left while being guided by the second transition portion 454b of the movable arm 424, and the claw 425 fixed to the upper horizontal portion 424a of the movable arm 424 moves as shown in FIG. While the entire arm 424 is moved to the left, the lid member 413 of the cardboard box 410
The notch 416t of the upper folding member 414, which is fixed to the tip of the upper folding member 414, moves and then passes through the notch 416 upwardly by the upward movement of the entire moving arm 424.

Also, during this time, as shown in FIG. 33, a lower folding member 415 fixed to the tip of the lid member 413 is engaged with an upwardly inclined portion 412 formed on the upper edge of the back surface of the cardboard box 410. By continuing to pull out after this, the fourth vertical portion 454c of the guide groove and the upper horizontal groove 45
While rotating the second eccentric member 426b provided at the corner with 0, the second eccentric member 426b reaches the upper horizontal groove 450, and becomes the most extended state.

Note that when pulled with even greater force from this fully pulled out state, the back side support member 442 of the support member inside the device rotates as shown by the broken line in FIG. 37, and the movable arm 424
While the arm portion 424b changes from the standing position to the inclined position,
It is also possible to completely remove the entire empty cartridge storage box 133 from the apparatus by slipping out between the front support arm 443 and the upper and lower support rods 441.

Next, using FIG. 41, a description will be given of the jam detection that the abutment opening sensor has not reached when the cartridge is inserted.

This abutment-opening sensor unreached jam detection occurs after the cartridge starts being transported to the toner replenishment position after insertion.
This process detects a state in which the leading end of the cartridge 112 does not reach the cartridge passage detection filler even after a predetermined period of time has elapsed, and is a process performed in the first half of the period (1) to (2) in the timing chart of FIG.

While the cartridge 112 is not inserted, the rising signal of the door oven sensor 119 is not generated and the door oven sensor 119 is not turned on, so the process progresses from the first step to the second step, and then from the third step to the fifth step. Reset the reached jam flag, turn off the insertion unreached jam display, reset the insertion unreached retry counter, and return.

When the cartridge 112 is inserted, the process proceeds from the first step to the sixth step and the seventh step in response to the rising signal from the door oven sensor 119 output, and starts the insertion unreached jam timer and sets the insertion flag. After that, the door oven sensor 119 output turns ON from the rising edge.
In the transition to the state, from the first step to the second step to the eighth step
Steps proceed, and in this eighth step, it is determined whether or not the abutment opening sensor 130 is ON. Here, when the cartridge is inserted, the tip of the cartridge hits the opening sensor 1.
Since it takes a predetermined time for the cartridge passage detection filler 130a of No. 30 to be reached and the abutment/opening sensor 130 to turn on, proceed to the ninth step and start with the rise of the door oven sensor 119 when the cartridge is inserted. It is determined whether or not the count of the insertion jam timer exceeds the set value T6 and returns, and thereafter, the first step, the second step, the eighth step, and the ninth step are performed in the eighth step and the package is opened. The process is repeated until it is determined that the sensor 130 is in the ON state, or until it is determined in the ninth step that the content of the insertion unreached jam timer exceeds the set value T6.

This set value T6 is determined by the door open sensor 11 when the cartridge is inserted during normal cartridge 112 transportation.
9 This is a count value corresponding to the time required for the cartridge tip to reach the cartridge passage detection filler 130a from the time of rising 9 and the dispersion time α, and the count of the insertion unreached jam timer is larger than this set value T6. It is determined whether or not a jam that has not reached the abutment opening sensor has occurred.

When the cartridge 112 is transported normally, the leading edge of the cartridge reaches the cartridge passage detection filler 130a before the count of the insertion unreached jam timer exceeds the set value T6, and the abutment opening sensor 130 is turned on. Therefore, the process advances from the eighth step to the fifth step, resets the insertion unreached retry counter, and returns.

On the other hand, if the cartridge 112 is not transported normally due to a tilted posture of the cartridge 112, etc., the count of the insertion reaching jam timer becomes larger than the set value T6, and the process proceeds from the 9th step to the 10th step. Thereafter, processing is executed when a jam does not reach the abutment opening sensor.

To deal with a jam that has not reached the abutment opening sensor, the transport motor 122, which is currently rotating in the normal direction, is temporarily stopped, reversed, and then rotated in the normal direction again in order to restore the inclined posture of the cartridge 112 in the transfer path to a normal state. For example, perform this operation up to 3 times while determining whether or not the push-open sensor 130 is in the ON state. If the push-open sensor 130 is not turned ON even after performing this operation 3 times, the insertion This turns on the unreached jam indicator and stops the conveyance motor 122.

First, in the tenth step, it is determined whether the content of the insertion unreached retry counter is 3 or more. If it is not 3 or more, the transport motor 122 is stopped for 500 milliseconds in the 11th step, reversed for 2 seconds in the 12th step, and then the insertion unreached retry counter is incremented in the 13th step.

Next, the transport motor 122 is stopped again in the 14th step, started to rotate forward in the 15th step, and then
In the step, the insertion reaching jam timer is reset and restarted, and the process returns to the eighth step. Since this eighth step is immediately after the first retry, it is determined that the normal abutment opening sensor 130 is not in the ON state, and the process proceeds to the ninth step. In this case as well, since the insertion unreached jam timer has just restarted as described above, the content is determined to be less than the set value T6 and returns, and from then on, the first step,
2nd step, 8th step and 9th step
The process is repeated until it is determined that the abutment/opening sensor 130 is in the ON state in step 3 or it is determined that the content of the insertion/unreached jam timer exceeds the set value T6 in step 9.

Then, in this first retry, cartridge 112
If the paper is transported normally, the abutment opening sensor 130 will be turned on before the count of the jam timer for insertion exceeds the set value T6, so the process will proceed from the eighth step to the fifth step to check whether the paper has been inserted or not. Reset the arrival retry counter and return.

On the other hand, if the conveyance state of the cartridge 112 remains abnormal, the abutment opening sensor ]-30 is not turned on and
Since the count of the insertion arrival jam timer exceeds the set value T6, the process advances from the 9th step to the 10th step, and further, from the 11th step to the 16th step, the second retry and the insertion unreached retry counter are incremented. Then, restart the insertion unreached jam timer, return to the 8th step, proceed to the 8th step, and then return to the 9th step in the same way as after the first retry, and then return to the 1st step, 2nd step, 8th step and 9th step
The opening sensor 13 hits the step with the eighth step.
The process is repeated until it is determined that 0 is in the ON state, or it is determined in the ninth step that the content of the insertion unreached jam timer exceeds the setting IT6.

And even in this second retry, cartridge 11
If the conveyance status of No. 2 remains abnormal, the count of the insertion arrival jam timer reaches the set value T without the abutment opening sensor 130 being ONL, as after the first retry.
6, a third retry is performed, the insertion unreached retry counter is incremented, and the insertion unreached jam timer is restarted, and the process returns to the eighth step.

If the conveyance status of the cartridge 112 remains abnormal even after this third retry, the content of the insertion not reached retry counter is 3, so proceed from the 10th step to the 17th step. The jam flag is set, the push-in unreached jam indicator is lit in the 18th step, the conveyance motor 122 is stopped in the 19th step, and the process returns.
Wait until the cartridge 112 jammed in the transfer path is removed by the operator.

When the operator removes the cartridge 112 jammed in the transfer path and closes the door 118, the door oven sensor 119 turns OFF, so the first step and the second step are
After proceeding through the steps, in the third to fifth steps, the insertion unreached jam flag is reset, the insertion unreached jam display is turned off, and the insertion unreached retry counter is reset, and the process returns.

As described above, when the conveyance of the cartridge 112 is delayed due to a slight inclination in the conveyance path of the cartridge 112, it is possible to restore the normal conveyance state, and,
When recovery is not possible, it is possible to prevent a serious jam condition from occurring due to continuous driving of the conveyance motor 122, and to notify the operator of the jam that has not been inserted yet.

In addition, if this insertion-unreached jam occurs when the cartridge 112 is inserted at the near end and the conveyance motor 122 is stopped, the conveyance motor 122 is stopped or the jammed cartridge 112 is simply removed from the conveyance path. Even if the new cartridge 112 is not inserted, the image forming operation itself can continue to be performed, but since toner is not replenished from the new cartridge 112, the remaining toner in the developing tank 101 may be consumed and the toner end may be reached. At this point, the image forming operation is prohibited by control at the time of toner end detection, which will be described later.

Next, a description will be given of detection of a jam by the abutting and unsealing sensor when the cartridge is inserted.

This abutment opening sensor retention jam detection detects a state in which the rear end of the cartridge does not pass through the cartridge passage detection filler 130a even after a predetermined period of time has passed after the leading end of the cartridge reaches the cartridge passage detection filler 130a. This is the process in the latter half of the period from 1 to 2 in the timing chart of FIG. 23. 6 The cartridge 112 is inserted, and the conveyance motor 122 is finally stopped by the control of the unreached jam detection by the abutment opening sensor. (See step 19 in Figure 41)
When the cartridge 112 continues to be conveyed without any problems, the insertion flag is set, and the leading edge of the cartridge passes through the cartridge passage detection filler 130a, and the cartridge 112 is placed on the lower surface of the left side flange 115a of the cartridge 112. Since the passage detection filler 130a is in the depressed state, the abutment opening sensor 130 is in the ON state. When the leading end of the cartridge reaches the cartridge passage detection filler 130a and the abutment opening sensor 130 starts up, the process proceeds through the first step, second step, and third step, and starts the insertion retention jam timer. , proceeding from the second step to the fourth step, and in this fifth step, the abutment opening sensor 13 is activated.
Determine whether 0 is ON. Here, when the leading end of the cartridge reaches the cartridge passage detection filler 130a, the abutting and unsealing sensor 130 turns on, and it is determined whether or not the sensor 30 is turned on. Here, the tip of the cartridge reaches the cartridge passage detection filler 130a and hits the opening sensor 13.
Since it takes a predetermined time after 0 is turned ON until the rear end of the cartridge finishes passing through the cartridge passage detection filler 130a and the abutting and opening sensor 130 turns OFF, the process is performed from the fourth step to the fifth step. Advance,
It is determined whether or not the contents of the insertion retention jam timer, which starts at the rising edge of the output of the abutment opening sensor 130 when the cartridge tip reaches the cartridge passage detection fissure, exceeds the set value T7, and the process returns to the first step. Second
step, fourth step, and fifth step, in the fifth step it is determined that the content of the insertion retention jam timer exceeds the setting @T7, or in the fourth step it is determined that the abutment opening sensor 130 is not in the ON state. Execute repeatedly until

This set value T7 is set when the cartridge 112 is normally conveyed, and when the front end of the cartridge reaches the cartridge passage detection filler 130a, the opening sensor 130 starts up and the rear end of the cartridge reaches the cartridge passage detection filler 1.
This is a count value corresponding to the time required to pass through 30a plus the variation time α, and a jam jam occurs in the push-open sensor depending on whether the contents of the insertion retention jam timer are greater than this set value T7. We are determining whether or not we are doing so.

When the cartridge 112 is transported normally, the rear end of the cartridge passes through the cartridge passage detection filler 130a before the count of the insertion retention jam timer exceeds the set value T7, and as a result, the abutment opening sensor 1
30 falls from the ON state, and the rear end of the cartridge has already passed through the free edge of the door 118
returns to the closed state and door oven sensor 119 also turns off.
Since the current state is reached, the program proceeds from the fourth step to the sixth to eighth steps, resets the insertion retention retry counter at the eighth step, and returns.

On the other hand, if the cartridge 112 is not transported normally due to a tilted posture of the cartridge 112, etc., the count of the insertion retention jam timer becomes larger than the set value T7, and the process proceeds from the fifth step to the ninth step. onwards,
Executes the process when a jam occurs in the abutment opening sensor.

In order to restore the tilted posture of the cartridge 112 in the transfer path to a normal state, the processing when the jam is caused by the abutment and unsealing sensor remaining is similar to the processing when the abutment and the unseal sensor has not reached the jam described above. The transport motor is once stopped, then reversely rotated, and then forwardly rotated again, for example, up to three times while determining whether or not the abutment opening sensor 130 is in the ON state. If the abutment/opening sensor 130 does not turn on even after the insertion, the insertion/retention jam indicator is turned on and the conveyance motor 22 is stopped.

First, in the ninth step, it is determined whether the content of the insertion retention retry counter is 3 or more. If it is not 3 or more, the transport motor 122 is stopped for 500 milliseconds in the 10th step, reversely rotated for 2 seconds in the 11th step, and then the insertion retention retry counter is incremented in the 12th step. Next, the conveyance motor 122 is stopped again in the 13th step, started to rotate forward in the 14th step, and then the insertion retention jam timer is reset and restarted in the 15th step, and the process returns to the second step. Since this second step is immediately after the first retry, the abutment opening sensor 130 normally remains in the ON state, and the second step and the fourth retry are performed.
Proceed step by step, step 5. In this fifth step as well, since the insertion jam timer has just restarted, it is determined that the contents of the insertion retention jam timer have not exceeded the setting @T7, and the process returns to the first step and the second step.
step, the fourth step, and the fifth step, in the fourth step, it is determined that the abutment opening sensor 130 is not in the ON state, or in the fifth step, it is determined that the content of the insertion retention jam timer exceeds the setting @T7. Execute repeatedly until

Then, in this first retry, cartridge 112
If the conveyance state becomes normal, the rear end of the cartridge passes through the cartridge passage detection filler 130a and the output of the abutment opening sensor 130 falls from the ON state before the insertion retention jam timer exceeds the set value T7, and The rear end of the cartridge has already passed through the free edge of the door 118 and is now in the door 1.
18 returns to the closed state and the door oven sensor 119 also turns O.
Since the state is FF, the process proceeds from the fourth step to the sixth to eighth steps, resets the insertion retention retry counter at the eighth step, and returns.

On the other hand, if the conveyance state of the cartridge 112 remains abnormal, the count of the insertion retention jam timer exceeds the set value T7 while the abutment opening sensor 130 remains in the ON state, so the process proceeds from the fifth step to the ninth step. Furthermore, the first
Second retry from step 0 to step 15,
Increment the insertion retention retry counter and restart the insertion retention jam timer, return to the second step, proceed to the fourth step, then return to the fifth step in the same way as after the first retry, Hereafter, the first step, second step, fourth step, and fifth step are as follows:
The process is repeated until it is determined in the fourth step that the abutment opening sensor 130 is not in the ON state, or it is determined in the fifth step that the content of the insertion retention jam timer exceeds the set value T7.

And even in this second retry, cartridge 11
If the conveyance status of No. 2 remains abnormal, the abutment opening sensor 130 remains ON and the count of the insertion retention jam timer reaches the set value T, as in the case after the first retry.
7, proceed from the 5th step to the 9th step, and further execute the 3rd retry, increment the insertion retention retry counter, and restart the insertion retention jam timer in the 10th step to the 15th step. , return to the second step.

If the conveyance state of the cartridge 112 remains abnormal even after this third retry, the content of the insertion retention retry counter is 3, so the steps from the 9th step to the first
Proceed to step 6 and set the insertion retention jam flag.
In the 17th step, the insertion jam indicator is lit and the 1st
The transport motor 122 is stopped and returned in 8 steps, and the cartridge 112 that is jammed in the transport path is removed by the operator.
wait for it to be removed.

When the cartridge 112 jammed in the transfer path is removed by the operator, the output of the abutment opening sensor 130 falls from the ON state during this removal operation, and the door 118 closes and the door oven sensor 119 turns on. OFF, so the first step, second step, fourth step,
The process proceeds to the sixth step, seventh step, and eighth step, and in the eighth step, resets the insertion unreached retry counter and returns. In this example, turning off the insertion jam indicator and resetting the insertion retention jam flag are executed by a reset button provided on the device. These resets may also be reset by the cartridge removal operation, similar to the above-described removal of the jam that has not reached the abutment/opening sensor.

As described above, when the conveyance of the cartridge 112 is delayed due to a slight inclination in the conveyance path of the cartridge 112, it is possible to restore the normal conveyance state, and
When recovery is not possible, it is possible to prevent a serious jam condition from occurring due to continuous driving of the conveyance motor 122, and to notify the operator of the insertion retention jam.

In addition, if this insertion retention jam occurs when inserting the cartridge 112 at the near end and the conveyance motor 122 is stopped, the conveyance motor 122 is stopped or the jammed cartridge 112 is simply removed from the conveyance path. Even if the new cartridge 112 is not inserted, the image forming operation itself can continue to be performed, but since toner is not replenished from the new cartridge 112, the remaining toner in the developing unit is consumed and the toner runs out. At this point, the image forming operation is prohibited by the control at the time of toner end detection, which will be described later, which is similar to the control for the jam not reaching the abutment opening sensor described above.

Next, using FIG. 43, a description will be given of the jam detection that the abutting unsealing sensor has not reached when the cartridge is unsealed.

When the cartridge 112 is opened, the jam that has not reached the hopper opening 124 is detected when the cartridge 112 reaches the hopper opening 124.
The abutment opening sensor 1 when the rear end of the cartridge passes through the cartridge passage detection filler 130a after being conveyed to the top
This is to detect failure in removal of the seal member 114 on the lower surface of the cartridge by the unsealing roller 150 rotated by the unsealing motor 129 which is turned on at the same time as the timing chart 30 is turned off. This is the processing in the first half.

Since the cartridge 112 is inserted and the insertion flag is set, the process proceeds from the first step to the second step, and when the output of the abutment opening sensor 130 falls and a signal is present, the process proceeds to the third to fifth steps, where the insertion flag is set. After resetting the opening flag, setting the opening flag, and starting the opening/unreachable jam timer, the process returns to the first step.

Since the insertion flag is reset in the third step and the unsealing flag is set in the fourth step, the process progresses from the first step to the sixth step and then to the seventh step. See. Here, the free end edge of the sealing member 114 removed from the lower surface of the cartridge from the start of rotation of the opening roller 150 reaches the cartridge opening detection filler 130b of the butting and opening sensor 130.
Since it takes a predetermined time for the sensor 13 to turn on, the process proceeds from the seventh step to the eighth step, and the abutment opening sensor 13
It is determined whether or not the count of the unopened jam timer that starts at the fall of the output of 0 exceeds the set value T8, and then the process returns to the first step, the sixth step, and so on.
In the 7th and 8th steps, it is determined that the content of the unopened jam timer exceeds the set value T8 in the 8th step, or
The process is repeated until it is determined that 30 rising signals are present.

This set value T8 is determined by the self-F! of the sealing member 114 from the time when the output of the abutment opening sensor 130 falls during a normal cartridge 112 opening operation. Cartridge tamper detection filler 1.3 of tamper sensor 130 with edge edge pierced
This is a count value corresponding to the time required to reach 0b plus the variation time α, and depending on whether the count of the unopened jam timer is greater than this setting @T8 or not, the unopened sensor will not be reached at 100. It is determined whether or not a reaching jam has occurred.

When cartridges 1 and 2 are opened normally, the free edge of the seal member 114 reaches the cartridge tamper detection filler 1.30b before the count of the unopened jam timer exceeds the set value T8. As a result, the output of the unseal sensor 130 rises, so the program proceeds from the seventh step to the ninth step, resets the unopened retry counter, and returns.

On the other hand, if the cartridge 112 is not opened normally due to a problem such as poor gripping of the free end of the seal member 114 by the unsealing roller 150, the count of the unopened jam timer becomes larger than the set value T8 and The process advances from the 8th step to the 10th step, whereupon a process is executed when the jam has not reached the abutment/opening sensor.

To handle the jam when the abutment opening sensor has not reached the unsealing sensor, the unsealing motor 129 is temporarily stopped and the unsealing pinch solenoid 128 0FF
L, this causes the pinch solenoid 12 to be released again after the free end of the sealing member 114 is released from the unsealing roller 150.
8 and starts driving the unsealing motor 129.
Abutment opening sensor 130 is executed up to three times, for example, while determining whether or not the abutment opening sensor 130 rises, and if the abutment opening sensor 130 does not start up even after performing this operation three times,
Turn on the unopened jam indicator, stop the unopened motor 129, and turn the pinch solenoid 128 to ○F.
Ft, the operation of opening the cartridge 112 is stopped.

First, in the first O step, it is determined whether the contents of the unopened and unreached retry counter are 3 or more. If it is not 3 or more, the opening motor 129 is stopped in the 11th step, the pinch solenoid 128 is set to ○FFL in the 12th step, the unopened retry counter is incremented in the 13th step, and the pinch solenoid is turned on again in the 14th step. 128
At the same time, the unsealing motor 129 is turned on in the 15th step.
ONL, a retry of opening the cartridge is started, the unopened jam timer is reset in the 16th step, and the process returns to the 7th step. Since this seventh step is immediately after the first retry, it is determined that there is no rising signal from the normal abutment/opening sensor 130, and the process proceeds to the eighth step. Since this is also right after the unopened jam timer is restarted, it is determined that the content is less than the set value T8, and the process returns.From then on, the first step, the sixth step, the seventh step, and the eighth step are repeated. The process is repeated until it is determined that a rising signal from the abutment/opening sensor 130 is present in the step, or it is determined that the content of the unopened jam timer exceeds the set value T8 in the eighth step.

Then, in this first retry, cartridge 112
If the jam is opened normally, the jam sensor 130 starts up before the count of the unopened jam timer exceeds the set value T8, so the process proceeds from the 7th step to the 9th step, and the unopened jam timer is restarted. Reset try counter and return.

On the other hand, if the opening operation state remains abnormal, the count of the unopened jam timer exceeds the set value T8 without the abutment opening sensor 130 starting up.
The process proceeds from the step to the 10th step, and further, from the 11th step to the 16th step, the second retry, incrementing the unopened unreached retry counter, and restarting the unopened unreached jam timer are executed. Go back to the 7th step, proceed to the 8th step and return in the same way as after the first re-lie, and then repeat the 1st, 6th, 7th, and 8th steps at the 7th step. The process is repeated until it is determined that there is a rising signal from the unsealed sensor 130, or it is determined that the content of the unopened jam timer exceeds the set value T8 in the eighth step.

If the unsealing operation status remains abnormal even after this second retry, the unopened jam timer continues to count without the abutting unsealing sensor 130 starting up, just like after the first retry. When the set value T8 is exceeded, the process advances from the 8th step to the 10th step, and furthermore, from the 11th step to the 16th step, the second retry is performed, the unopened unreached retry counter is incremented, and the unopened unreached jam timer is incremented. Execute a restart and restart the 7th
Return to step.

If the opening operation status remains abnormal even after this third retry, the content of the unopened unreached retry counter is 3, so proceed from the 10th step to the 17th step and check the unopened unreached jam flag. is set, the unopened jam indicator lights up in the 18th step, the unopened motor 129 is stopped in the 19th step, and the Vinci solenoid 128 is turned OFF in the 20th step to return to the cartridge in the refill position by the operator. Wait for 112 to be removed.

After the cartridge 112 jammed in the transfer path is removed by the operator, when the cartridge 112 is reinserted, the insertion flag is set, and in the same way as above, the cartridge 112 is detected when the cartridge is opened. Detection is performed again.

As described above, the sealing member 114 by the unsealing roller 150
If the cartridge 112 cannot be opened due to poor clamping of the free end of the cartridge 112, it is possible to restore the normal unsealing operation state, and if the unsealing operation cannot be restored, the seal member may be seriously damaged due to continued unsealing operation. 114 or the main body of the cartridge 112, and can notify the operator of a jam that has not reached the abutment opening sensor when opening the cartridge.

Next, using FIG. 44, a description will be given of how the abutting unsealing sensor retains jam when the cartridge is unsealed.

This abutment unsealing sensor retention jam detection at the time of cartridge unsealing is performed even if the unsealing operation of the cartridge 112 continues after the free edge of the sealing member 114 reaches the cartridge tampering detection filler 130b of the abutting unsealing sensor 130. This is to detect the state in which the rear end of the cartridge remains without coming out of the cartridge opening detection filler 130b, and is the process in the latter half of the period (1) to (2) in the timing chart of FIG.

When the cartridge 112 is on the hopper opening 124 and the unsealing operation is continued without being stopped under the control of the abutment unsealing sensor unreached jam detection during cartridge unsealing, the unsealing flag is set. , and the free end of the seal is the cartridge tamper detection filler 13.
0b, the cartridge opening detection filler 1 is detected by the seal removed from the bottom surface of the cartridge by the opening roller 150.
Since 30b is pressed down, the butt opening sensor 1
30 is in the ON state. When the free end of the seal reaches the cartridge tamper detection filler 130b and the tamper sensor 130 rises, the first step
After proceeding to the second step and third step and starting the unseal retention jam timer, the process proceeds from the second step to the fourth step, and in the fourth step, it is determined whether or not the abutting and opening sensor 130 is ON. . Here, from the time when the free end of the seal reaches the cartridge tampering detection filler 130b and the push-open sensor 130 turns ON, until the rear end of the seal member passes through the cartridge tamper-detection filler 130b and the push-open sensor 130 turns OFF. Since it takes a certain amount of time, proceed from the fourth step to the fifth step.
The content of the tamper retention jam timer that starts at the rising edge of the abutment tamper sensor 130 output when the free end of the seal reaches the cartridge tamper detection filler 130b is the set value T9.
After determining whether or not the value exceeds the
The second step, the fourth step and the fifth step are
The process is repeated until it is determined that the abutment/opening sensor 130 is not in the ON state in step 1, or it is determined that the content of the insertion retention jam timer exceeds the set value T9 in step 5. This set value T9 is determined from when the free end of the seal reaches the cartridge tamper detection filler 130b and when the tamper sensor 130 rises, the rear end of the seal member reaches the cartridge tamper detection filler 130b.
This is a count value corresponding to the time required to pass through 0b plus the variation time α, and a jamming jam in the abutment opening sensor occurs depending on whether the content of the opening jamming timer is greater than this set value T9. is determining whether or not it is.

When the cartridge 112 is opened normally, the rear end of the sealing member reaches the cartridge opening detection filler 13 before the content of the opening retention jam timer exceeds the set value T9.
0b and the output of the abutting and opening sensor 130 falls from the ON state, so the process proceeds from the fourth step to the sixth step and the seventh step, and in the seventh step, the unsealing retention retry counter is reset, and further, In the eighth step, the opening flag is reset, and in the ninth step, the toner near end flag is set, and the process returns.

On the other hand, if the cartridge 112 is not opened normally due to a failure of the sealing member 114 to be held tightly by the unsealing roller 150, the abutment opening sensor 130 remains ON and the contents of the unsealing retention jam timer exceed the set value T9. Therefore, proceed from the 5th step to the 10th step, and from there on,
Executes the process when a jam occurs in the abutment opening sensor.

To deal with jamming caused by the abutment and unsealing sensor retention, the unsealing motor 129 is temporarily stopped and the unsealing pinch solenoid 128 is turned to ○FFL in order to restore the normal state due to poor gripping of the seal member 114 by the unsealing roller 150. After the sealing member 114 is released from the unsealing roller 150, a retry operation is performed in which the unsealing pinch solenoid 128 is turned on again and the unsealing motor 129 is started to be driven, and it is determined whether or not the abutting unsealing sensor 130 is no longer in the ON state. If the abutment opening sensor 130 remains in the ON state even after performing this retry operation three times, the opening jamming indicator is lit and the opening motor 1 is turned on.
29 and the unsealing pinch solenoid 128 is set to FFL to stop the unsealing operation of the cartridge 112.

First, in the 10th step, it is determined whether the contents of the unsealing retention retry counter are 3 or more. If it is not 3 or more, the opening motor 129 is stopped in the 11th step, the opening pinch solenoid 128 is set to 0FFL in the 12th step, the unopened retry counter is incremented in the 13th step, and the opening motor 129 is set to OFF again in the 14th step. The pinch solenoid 128 is turned on, and at the 15th step, the unsealing motor 129 is turned on to start a retry operation, and at the 16th step, the unopened jam timer is reset and restarted, and the process returns to the second step. Since this second step is immediately after the first retry, the abutment opening sensor 130 is normally ON, so the fourth and fifth steps
Proceed step by step.

In this fifth step as well, since the opening jam timer has just been restarted as described above, the contents are determined to be less than the set value T9 and the process returns. The fifth step is repeatedly executed until it is determined in the fourth step that the abutting and opening sensor 130 is not in the ON state, or until it is determined in the fifth step that the content of the insertion retention jam timer exceeds the setting [T9.

If the seal opening operation status becomes normal in this first retry, the rear end of the seal member will pass through the cartridge passage detection filler 130a before the count of the opening retention jam timer exceeds the set value T9&, and the rear end of the seal member will pass through the cartridge passage detection filler 130a, and the seal will be opened when it hits the cartridge. Since the sensor 130 falls from the ON state, the process proceeds from the fourth step to the sixth to ninth steps and returns.

On the other hand, if the seal opening operation status remains abnormal, the abutment opening sensor 130 remains ON and the content of the opening retention jam timer exceeds the setting *T9, so the process proceeds from the 5th step to the 1st O step, and further, From the 11th step to the 16th step, execute the second retry, increment the unsealed jam retry counter, and restart the unsealed jam timer, return to the second step, and after the first retry. Similarly, the process proceeds to the 4th step, the 5th step and returns, and thereafter the 1st step, the 2nd step, the 4th step, and the 5th step are performed until the opening sensor 130 is not in the ON state. The process is repeatedly executed until a judgment is made, or it is judged in the fifth step that the content of the unsealed jam timer exceeds the set value T9.

If the unsealing operation remains abnormal even after this second retry, the contents of the unseal retention jam timer are set while the abutment opening sensor 130 is not ONL, just as after the first retry. When the value T9 is exceeded, the process proceeds from the 5th step to the 10th step, and further, in steps 11 to 16, the third retry, the increment of the open and hold retry counter, and the restart of the open and hold jam timer are executed. Then, return to the second step.

If the opening operation remains abnormal even after this third retry, the content of the opening retention retry counter is 3, so proceed from step 10 to step 17 to set the opening retention jam flag. In the 18th step, the unsealing jam indicator is lit, in the 19th step the unsealing motor 129 is stopped, and in the 20th step, the unsealing pinch solenoid 128 is set to 0FFL and returned to OFF, so that the cartridge 112 in the replenishment position is removed by the operator. Wait for it to be removed.

After the cartridge 112 in the replenishment position is removed by the operator, the re-inserted cartridge 112 is conveyed to the replenishment position and then the unsealing operation of the cartridge 112 is started, the abutment and unsealing retention at the time of seal unsealing is performed in the same manner as above. Execute jam detection again.

As described above, the sealing member 114 by the unsealing roller 150
If the seal cannot be opened due to poor clamping of the free end of the seal, the normal opening operation can be restored.
In addition, when recovery is not possible, the system prevents the occurrence of a serious jam in the seal member 114 or the cartridge 112 body due to continued unsealing operation, and also notifies the operator of the jam that has accumulated in the unsealing sensor when the seal is opened. I can do it.

Next, using FIG. 45, a description will be given of the jam detection that the abutment opening sensor has not reached when the cartridge is dropped.

This jam detection when the cartridge is dropped and the unsealing sensor has not reached the end is detected even if a predetermined period of time has elapsed after the conveyance motor 122 is reversely rotated and reverse conveyance from above the hopper opening 124 to the empty cartridge storage box 133 is started. This detects the state in which the rear end of the cartridge (the rear end in the transport direction at the time of insertion) does not reach the cartridge passage detection filler 130a, and is indicated by ■ to ■ in the timing chart of FIG.
This is the processing for the first half of the period.

This reverse conveyance is started by the rise of toner end detection, so from the first step to the second step,
Proceed to the 3rd step, start the fall l unreached jam timer and set the fall 1 flag, then return to the 1st step and proceed to the 4th step. Decide whether or not. Here, since it takes a predetermined time from the start of reverse conveyance until the rear end of the cartridge reaches the cartridge passage detection filler 130a of the abutment-opening sensor 130 and the abutment-opening sensor 130 turns ON, the fifth step is performed. Proceeding, it is determined whether the count of the falling 1 unreached jam timer that has started exceeds the set value T3, and the process returns.
The first step, the fourth step and the fifth step are
The process is repeated until it is determined that the abutment/opening sensor 130 is in the ON state in step 3 or it is determined that the content of the insertion/unreached jam timer exceeds the set value T3 in step 5.

This set value T3 is set such that during normal reverse conveyance of the cartridge 112, the rear end of the cartridge reaches the cartridge passage detection filler 13 from the time when the toner near end rising signal is generated.
This is a count value corresponding to the time required to reach 0a plus the dispersion time α, and it is determined whether or not the cartridge is hit when the cartridge falls depending on whether the count of the jam timer that does not reach 1 is greater than this set value T3. It is determined whether a jam that has not reached the opening sensor has occurred.

Then, when the cartridge 112 is normally reversely conveyed, the count of the drop 1 unreached jam timer reaches the set value T.
3, the rear end of the cartridge reaches the cartridge passage detection filler 130a, and the abutment opening sensor 13
0 is in the ON state, the process advances from the fourth step to the sixth step, resets the fall 1 unreached retry counter, and returns.

On the other hand, if the cartridge 112 is not transported normally due to a tilted posture of the cartridge 112, etc., the count of the drop 1 unreached jam timer becomes larger than the set value T3, and the process is stopped from the fifth step to the seventh step. Proceed to
Thereafter, processing is executed when a jam does not reach the abutment opening sensor.

To deal with a jam that has not reached the abutment opening sensor, in order to restore the inclined posture of the cartridge 112 in the transfer path to a normal state, the transport motor 122 that is currently rotating in reverse is temporarily stopped, then rotated in the forward direction, and then rotated in the reverse direction again. Rotating retry motion,
For example, perform this operation up to three times while determining whether or not the abutment opening sensor 130 is in the ON state. If the abutment opening sensor 130 is not ON even after performing this retry operation three times, it is determined that the fall 1 has not been reached. This turns on the jam indicator and stops the transport motor 122.

First, in the seventh step, it is determined whether the content of the retry counter for falling 1" is 3 or more. If it is not 3 or more, the transport motor 122 is stopped for 500 milliseconds in the 8th step, rotated forward in the 9th step, and then the drop l unreached retry counter is incremented in the 10th step. Next, the conveyance motor 122 is stopped again in the 11th step, started to rotate in reverse in the 12th step, and then the drop 1 unreached jam timer is reset and restarted in the 13th step. return. In this fourth step, since it is immediately after the first retry, it is determined that the first normal butt opening sensor 130 is not in the ON state, and the fifth step
Proceed to step. Here again, as mentioned above, immediately after the fall 1 unreached jam timer has been restarted, the content is determined to be less than the set value T3 and returns. From then on, the first step, fourth step, and step The 5 steps are repeated until it is determined in the 4th step that the abutment/opening sensor 130 is in the ON state, or until it is determined in the 5th step that the content of the insertion/unreached jam timer exceeds the set value T3.

Then, in this first retry, cartridge 112
When the reverse conveyance state becomes normal, the rear end of the cartridge reaches the cartridge passage detection filler 130a before the content of the drop 1 unreached jam timer exceeds the set value T3, and the abutment opening sensor 130 turns ON. Therefore, proceed from the fourth step to the fifth step, reset the fall 1 unreached retry counter, and return.

On the other hand, if the reverse transport state of the cartridge 112 remains abnormal, the abutment opening sensor 130 remains ON and the cartridge 112 is dropped.
Since the content of the unreached jam timer exceeds the set value T3, the process advances from the 5th step to the 7th step, and then from the 8th step to the 13th step, the second retry and the falling I unreached retry counter are set. Increment and restart the falling 1 unreached jam timer, return to the 4th step, and do the same as after the first retry.
Proceed to the 4th step, the 5th step, return, and then return to the 1st step.
step, the fourth step, and the fifth step, in the fourth step, it is determined that the abutment opening sensor 130 is in the ON state, or in the fifth step, it is determined that the content of the drop 1 unreached jam timer exceeds the set value T3. Execute repeatedly until

If the reverse conveyance status remains abnormal even after this second retry, the abutment opening sensor 130 remains ON and the drop 1 unreached jam timer is set as after the first retry. The content is set! Beyond T3, proceed from the 5th step to the 7th step, and then proceed from the 8th step to the 1st step.
In step 3, a third retry is performed, the retry counter for fall 1 not reached is incremented, and the jam timer for fall 1 not reached is restarted, and the process returns to step 4.

If the reverse conveyance status remains abnormal even after this third retry, the content of the retry counter for fall 1 not reached is 3, so proceed from the 7th step to the 14th step. The jam flag is set, the fall 1 unreached jam indicator is lit in the 15th step, and the transport motor 122 is stopped and returned to the 16th step, and the cartridge 112 jammed in the transport path is removed by the operator. wait for.

As described above, when the reverse transport of the cartridge 112 is delayed due to a slight inclination in the reverse transport path of the cartridge 112, it is possible to restore the normal reverse transport state, and when it is impossible to restore the reverse transport, the transport It is possible to prevent a serious jam condition from occurring due to continuous driving of the motor 122, and to notify the operator of a jam that has not reached the first drop.

Next, using FIG. 46, a description will be given of how the abutting and unsealing sensor retains a jam when the cartridge is dropped.

This abutment and unsealing sensor retention jam detection when the cartridge falls is performed even after a predetermined period of time has elapsed after the rear end of the cartridge reaches the cartridge passage detection filler 130a during reverse conveyance of the cartridge 112. This is a process for detecting a state in which it cannot be removed, and is a process in the first half of the period ① to ② in the timing chart of FIG.

The reverse conveyance of the cartridge 112 is started, and the conveyance motor 122 is finally stopped by the control of the jam detection that the unsealing sensor has not reached when the cartridge is dropped (the fourth
(See step 16 in FIG. 5), while the reverse transport of the cartridge 112 continues, the fall 1 flag is set, and the rear end of the cartridge passes through the cartridge passage detection filler 130a. Since the cartridge passage detection filler 130a is pressed down on the lower surface of the left side flange 115a of the cartridge 112, the abutment opening sensor 130 is in the ○N state. and,
The rear end of this cartridge is the cartridge passage detection filler 1.
30a and the abutment opening sensor 130 starts up, the process proceeds through the first step, second step, and third step, starts the drop 1 retention jam timer, and then moves from the second step to the fourth step. Proceeding to this fifth step, it is determined whether or not the abutment opening sensor 130 is ON.

Here, the rear end of the cartridge reaches the cartridge passage detection filler 130a and the abutment opening sensor 130 turns ON.
Then, the tip of the cartridge passes through the cartridge passage detection filler 130a and hits the opening sensor 130.
Since it takes a predetermined time to complete F, the program proceeds from the fourth step to the fifth step, determines whether the contents of the falling 1 retention jam timer that has started exceeds the set value T4, and then returns. First step, second step.

In the fourth step and the fifth step, it is determined that the abutment opening sensor 130 is not in the ON state in the fourth step, or
Alternatively, the process is repeatedly executed until it is determined in the fifth step that the content of the drop 1 retention jam timer exceeds the set value T4.

This set value T4 varies depending on the time required from when the rear end of the cartridge reaches the cartridge passage detection filler 130a and the abutment opening sensor 130 rises until the cartridge passes through the cartridge passage detection filler 130a at the front end of the cartridge during normal reverse conveyance of the cartridge 112. This is a count value corresponding to the time obtained by adding time α, and it is determined whether or not a jamming jam has occurred in the abutment opening sensor depending on whether the contents of the fall 1 jamming jam timer are larger than this set value T4. There is.

Then, when the cartridge 112 is normally reversely conveyed, the count of the fall 1m jam timer is set to T4.
The leading end of the cartridge passes through the cartridge passage detection filler 130a before the cartridge passes through the cartridge passage detection filler 130a, and as a result, the output of the abutment opening sensor 130 falls from the ON state. Reset the flag and fall 1 retention retry counter and return.

On the other hand, if the cartridge 112 is not transported normally due to a tilted posture of the cartridge 112, etc., the count of the fall 1 retention jam timer will be lower than the set value T4 while the abutment opening sensor 130 remains in the ON state. When the number of jams increases, the process proceeds from the fifth step to the ninth step, and thereafter, processing for the case of jamming due to the abutting and opening sensor retention is executed.

In order to restore the tilted posture of the cartridge 112 in the transfer path to a normal state, the process for jamming when the cartridge is dropped and the unsealing sensor is not reached is as follows: Similarly to the process, the retry operation of stopping the reversely rotating conveyance motor 122, then rotating it forward, and then rotating it backwards again is repeated, for example, three times while determining whether or not the abutment opening sensor 130 is no longer in the ON state. If the abutment/opening sensor 130 does not return to the t)N state even after performing this operation three times, the drop 1 retention jam indicator is turned on and the conveyance motor 122 is stopped.

First, in the ninth step, it is determined whether the content of the fall 1 retention retry counter is 3 or more. If it is not 3 or more, the transport motor 122 is stopped for 5oO milliseconds in the 10th step,
After rotating forward for 2 seconds in the 11th step, the drop 1 retention retry counter is incremented in the 12th step.

Next, the transport motor 122 is stopped again in the 13th step, started to rotate in reverse in the 14th step, and then the transport motor 122 is stopped in the 15th step.
In step 1, reset the fall 1 retention jam timer and restart it, return to step 2, and proceed to step 4. Since this fourth step is immediately after the first retry, the abutting/opening sensor 130 normally remains in the ON state and the process advances to the fifth step. Even in this fifth step,
Immediately after the falling jam jam timer has restarted, it is determined that the content of the falling jam jam timer is less than the set value T4, and the process returns to the first step, the second step, the fourth step, and the fourth step. Step 5 is repeated until it is determined in the fourth step that the push-open sensor 130 is not in the ON state, or until it is determined in the fifth step that the content of the drop 1 retention jam timer exceeds the set value T4.

Then, in this first retry, cartridge 112
If the reverse conveyance state becomes normal, the leading end of the cartridge passes through the cartridge passage detection filler 130a and the output of the abutment opening sensor 130 falls from the ON state before the drop l retention jam timer exceeds the set value T4. The process proceeds from the fourth step to the sixth to eighth steps, resets the fall 1 flag and fall 1 retention retry counter, and returns.

On the other hand, if the reverse conveyance state of the cartridge 112 remains abnormal, the count of the fall 1 retention jam timer exceeds the set value T4 while the abutting and opening sensor 130 remains in the ON state, so the process moves from the fifth step to the ninth step. Proceed further,
At the 1st o step to the 15th step, execute the second retry, increment the fall 1 retention retry counter, and restart the fall 1 retention jam timer, return to the 2nd step, and perform the first retry. In the same way as before, proceed to the 4th step, then return to the 5th step, and from then on,
In the first step, second step, fourth step, and fifth step, it is determined that the abutment opening sensor 130 is not in the ON state in the fourth step, or the content of the drop 1 retention jam timer is set in the fifth step. The process is repeated until it is determined that the value exceeds T4.

And even in this second retry, cartridge 11
If the reverse conveyance state of No. 2 remains abnormal, the count of the fall 1 retention jam timer exceeds the set value T4 while the abutment opening sensor 130 remains ON, as after the first retry. Proceed from the 5th step to the 9th step,
Further, in steps 10 to 15, a third retry, incrementing of the fall 1 retention retry counter, and restart of the fall 1 retention jam timer are executed, and the process returns to the second step.

If the reverse transport status of the cartridge 112 remains abnormal even after this third retry, the content of the drop 1 retention retry counter is 3, so the process proceeds from the 9th step to the 16th step and the drop 1 The stuck jam flag is set, the falling 1 stuck jam indicator is turned on in the 17th step, and the conveyance motor 122 is stopped and returned in the 18th step, and the cartridge 112 jammed in the conveying path is removed by the operator. wait for.

When the cartridge 112 jammed in the transfer path is removed by the operator, the output of the abutment opening sensor 130 falls from the ON state during this removal operation, so that the first, second, and fourth steps are performed. , the sixth step, the seventh step, and the eighth step to reset the drop 1 flag and the insertion unreached retry counter, and then return.

In this example, turning off the falling 1 accumulated jam indicator is executed by a reset button provided on the device. These resets may also be reset by the cartridge removal operation, as in the case of removing the jam that has not reached the abutment opening sensor when inserting the cartridge. Alternatively, the resetting of the drop 1 retention jam flag, the reset of the drop 1 retention retry counter, and the extinguishing of the drop 14 retention jam indicator may be performed using a reset button provided on the device.

As described above, when the reverse transport of the cartridge 112 is delayed due to a slight inclination in the reverse transport path of the cartridge 112, it is possible to restore the normal reverse transport state, and when it is impossible to restore the reverse transport, the transport It is possible to prevent the occurrence of a serious jam condition due to continuous driving of the motor 122, and to notify the operator of a falling jam.

Next, using FIG. 47, a description will be given of the jam detection that the drop sensor has not reached when the cartridge is dropped.

This jam detection when the cartridge falls does not reach the drop sensor, and the tip of the cartridge is the cartridge passing detection filler 1.
30a, the cartridge 112 does not reach the drop sensor placed at a predetermined position in the empty cartridge storage box 133' even after a predetermined period of time has elapsed. This is a period-based process.

When the empty cartridge storage box 133 falls to the bottom,
Since the process starts after the leading end of the cartridge passes through the cartridge passage detection filler 130a due to reverse conveyance of the cartridge 112, the fall 1 flag is set. and,
The tip of the cartridge is the cartridge passage detection filler 130
When the fall signal of the abutment opening sensor 130 is generated after passing through a, the process proceeds from the first step to the fifth step, resetting the fall l flag, setting the fall 2 flag, and starting the fall 2 unreached jam timer. Execute and return to the first step. Since we have already reset the fall 1 flag and set the fall 2 flag, we proceed from this 1st step to the 6th step, the 7th step, and this 7th step.
In this step, it is determined whether there is a falling signal from the fall sensor.

Here, a predetermined time is required for cartridges 1 and 2 to reach the drop sensor in the empty cartridge storage box 133 after the tip of the cartridge passes through the cartridge passage detection filler 130a and the unsealing sensor 130 falls. , proceeds from the seventh step to the eighth step, judges whether the content of the falling 2 unreached jam timer that has started exceeds the set value T5, and returns, and thereafter proceeds to the first, sixth, and sixth steps. 7th step and 8th step
The steps are repeated until it is determined in the seventh step that there is a falling signal from the fall sensor, or until it is determined in the eighth step that the fall 2 unreached jam timer exceeds the set value T5.

This set value T5 is the time required for the tip of the cartridge to pass through the cartridge passage detection filler 130a, start falling normally, and reach the drop sensor in the empty cartridge storage box 133, plus the variation time α. It is determined whether or not a drop sensor retention jam has occurred depending on whether the corresponding count value of the drop 2 unreached jam timer is larger than the set value T5.

When the cartridge 112 starts falling normally, the count of the fall 2 unreached jam timer is set to T.
5, the cartridge 112 reaches the drop sensor, and as a result, the output of the drop sensor rises, so the program proceeds from the seventh step to the ninth step, resets the drop 2 retry counter, and returns.

Conversely, if the cartridge 112 does not start falling normally due to the attitude of the cartridge 112 being tilted near the falling position, the fall sensor does not stand up and the count of the fall 2 unreached jam timer reaches the set value T5. The process proceeds from the 8th step to the 10th step, and thereafter processes are executed when the fall sensor does not reach the jam.

The process for jamming when the drop sensor does not reach the cartridge when it is dropped is to reverse the transport motor 122, which has stopped at the end of reverse transport, for a predetermined period of time in order to restore the inclined posture of the cartridge 112 near the drop position to the normal state. Execute the rotation retry operation up to three times, for example, while determining whether or not the drop sensor starts up. If the fall sensor does not start up even after performing this operation three times, the fall 2 unreached jam indicator lights up. It is something that makes you

First, in the 10th step, it is determined whether the content of the fall 2 unreached retry counter is 3 or more. If it is not 3 or more, the first
In one step, the transport motor 122 is rotated in reverse for 2 seconds, and the first
In step 2, the retry counter for falling 2 not reached is incremented, and in step 13, the jam timer for falling 2 not reached is reset and restarted, and the process returns to the first step. Thereafter, in the 1st step, 6th step, 7th step, and 8th step, it is determined that there is a rising signal of the fall sensor in the 7th step, or the fall 2 unreached jam timer is set to the set value in the 8th step. Repeat execution until it is determined that T5 has been exceeded.

Then, in this first retry, cartridge 112
If the cartridge 112 starts falling normally, the cartridge 112 reaches the drop sensor and the output of the drop sensor rises before the drop 2 unreached jam timer exceeds the set value T5.
Proceed from the 7th step to the 9th step, reset the fall 2 unreached retry counter, and return.

On the other hand, if the cartridge 112 does not start falling normally, the fall sensor will not start up and the count of the fall 2 unreached jam timer will exceed the set value T5.
The process proceeds from the step to the 10th step, and further, from the 11th step to the 13th step, the second retry, the increment of the fall 2 unreached retry counter, and the restart of the fall 2 unreached jam timer are executed. Return to step 1, and repeat steps 1, 6, 7, and 8 in the same way as after the first retry.
The steps are repeated until it is determined in the seventh step that there is a rising signal from the fall sensor, or until it is determined in the ninth step that the fall 2 unreached jam timer exceeds the set value T5.

And even in this second retry, cartridge 11
2 does not start falling normally, as after the first retry, the fall sensor does not start up and the count of the fall 2 unreached jam timer exceeds the set value T5, and the process starts from the 8th step. Proceed to step 10, and then proceed to step 1.
In steps 1 to 13, the third retry, the increment of the fall 2 unreached retry counter, and the restart of the fall 2 unreached jam timer are executed, and the process returns to the first step.

If the cartridge 112 does not start falling normally on this third retry, the contents of the retry counter will be 3, so the process proceeds from the 10th step to the 14th step and the cartridge 112 does not start falling normally. The jam flag is set, and in the 15th step, the drop 2 unreached jam indicator is turned on and the process returns, waiting for the cartridge 112 remaining near the drop position to be removed by the operator.

When the operator removes the cartridge 112 remaining near the drop position and operates the reset button provided on the device, the drop 2 not reached jam flag is reset, the drop 2 not reached retry counter is reset, and the drop 2 not reached is reset. Turn off the jam indicator.

As described above, the cartridge 112 near the drop position
If the cartridge 112 does not start falling due to some inclination of the cartridge 112, it is possible to make it start falling normally.
Further, when the falling cannot be started, the operator can be informed that the falling jam has not yet reached 2.

Next, using FIG. 48, a description will be given of the drop sensor retention jam detection when the cartridge is dropped.

This drop sensor retention jam detection when a cartridge is dropped is to detect a state in which the cartridge 112 does not come out of the drop sensor even after a predetermined period of time has passed after the cartridge 112 starts falling and reaches the drop sensor. Second
This is the processing in the latter half of the timing chart in FIG.

When the cartridge 112 starts falling, reaches the drop sensor, and continues to fall and is passing through the sensor, the fall 2 flag is set (see step 4 in FIG. 47).
, the fall sensor is in the ON state. When the cartridge 1.12 reaches the drop sensor, the drop sensor starts up, and the process proceeds through the first step, second step, and third step, starts the drop 2 retention jam timer, returns to the second step, and starts the second step. Proceed to step 4.

Here, since it takes a predetermined time from when the cartridge 112 reaches the drop sensor and the drop sensor stands up until the cartridge 11.2 passes through the drop sensor, proceed from the fourth step to the fifth step and start. It is determined whether or not the content of the fall 2 retention jam timer exceeds the set value T6, and the process returns. From then on, the first step, the second step, the fourth step, and the fifth step are performed, and the fall sensor is It is determined that it is not in the ON state, or
In the fifth step, the process is repeated until it is determined that the content of the drop 2 retention jam timer exceeds the set value T6.

This set value T6 is a count value corresponding to the time required for the cartridge 112 to pass through the drop sensor from the time when the drop sensor rises when the cartridge 112 reaches the drop sensor in a normal fall of the cartridge 112, plus the variation time α. It is determined whether or not a drop sensor retention jam has occurred depending on whether the content of the drop 2 retention jam timer is greater than the set value T6.

When the cartridge 112 continues to fall normally, the cartridge 112 passes through the drop sensor and the output of the drop sensor falls from the ON state before the content of the drop 2 retention jam timer exceeds the set value T6. The process proceeds from the 4th step to the 6th step and to the 7th step, and in the 7th step, the fall 2 flag is reset, and in the 8th step, the toner near end flag is set, and the process returns.

On the other hand, if the cartridge 112 is tilted from the horizontal position when it starts falling and falls with its opening facing sideways, the entire cartridge 112 cannot pass through the drop sensor and a part of the cartridge 112 is empty. If the cartridge reaches the bottom of the storage box 133 or the empty cartridge 112 already stored there, the fall sensor remains ON and the content of the fall 2 retention jam timer exceeds the set value T6. The process proceeds from the step to the ninth step, in which the falling 2 retention jam flag is set, and in the 10th step, the falling 2flF retention jam indicator is turned on.

This notifies the operator that a fall 2 jam has occurred.

Next, the control of locking and releasing the cartridge insertion section door will be explained using FIG. 49.

Since there is a risk that floating toner inside the device may scatter out of the device through the cartridge insertion window 117, it is desirable that the door 118 of the cartridge insertion window 117 cannot be opened except when necessary.

Therefore, in this embodiment, a lock release solenoid 120 is used to enable the door 118 of the insertion window 117 to be opened.
is driven only when all certain conditions are satisfied, and door 1 is opened.
18 can be opened.

The first condition is that toner near end or toner end is detected by toner concentration detection control.
Judge by steps. When these are detected,
This is because it is necessary to insert the cartridge 112 containing the toner.

The second condition is that the fall flag is not set, and this is determined in the second step. This fall flag is set by a toner near end rising signal that starts the reverse transport of the cartridge 112 (see the third step in FIG. 45), and when the cartridge 112 is reversely transported, the leading end of the cartridge touches the cartridge passage detection filler 130a. The drop 1 flag is reset by the falling signal of the abutment opening sensor 130 when the package is pulled out (see step 3 in FIG. 47), and the drop 1 flag is set simultaneously with the reset of the drop 1 flag (see step 3 in FIG. (see step 4), and is reset by the falling signal of the drop sensor when the entire cartridge 112 passes through the drop sensor in the empty cartridge storage box 133 (see step 7 in FIG. 48). Includes 2 falling flags. When the drop 1 flag is set, the cartridge 112 is being transported in reverse and the cartridge 112 is being transported in the reverse direction.
exists, and when the fall 2 flag is set, the cartridge 112 has started falling to the bottom of the empty cartridge storage box 133, but the cartridge 112 has started falling with its opening turned sideways. This is to prevent the insertion of the next cartridge 112 when at least one of them is in the set state, since there is a possibility that some of the cartridges 112 are present in the transfer path.

The third condition is that the open flag is not set, and this is determined in the third step. This opening flag is set by the falling signal of the abutment opening sensor 130 when the rear end of the cartridge passes through the cartridge passage detection filler 130a when the cartridge is inserted (see step 4 in FIG. 43), and is set by the opening roller 150. When the rear end of the seal removed from the bottom surface of the cartridge passes through the cartridge tamper detection filler 130b, it is reset by a signal at the falling edge of the tamper sensor 130 (fourth
(See step 8 in Figure 4). Therefore, when this unsealing flag is set, the cartridge 112 is on the hopper opening 124 and the unsealing roller 150
This is to prohibit the insertion of the next cartridge 112 since the unsealing operation of cartridge 112 has already been performed.

The fourth condition is that toner is not being replenished, and this is determined in the fourth step. This is to prevent the insertion of the next cartridge 112 since the cartridge 112 is placed above the hopper opening 5124 to serve as a lid for the hopper opening 124 during toner replenishment.

The fifth condition is that the number of inserted cartridges is not greater than the number of cartridges that can be stored in the empty cartridge storage box 133 plus one, and this is determined in the fifth step. This number of inserted cartridges is the total number of cartridges 112 inserted into the device while using one cardboard box 410, and is the total number of cartridges 112 inserted into the device after the insertion operation of the cartridges 112 is completed (for example, after the third step in FIG. 43). It is counted up and stored in, for example, a non-volatile memory so that it is not cleared even when the main power of the device is turned off. The number of cartridges that can be inserted into the device is the number of cartridges that can be stored in the empty cartridge storage box 133 plus the number of cartridges that can be installed on the hopper opening 124.
This is because the insertion of the next cartridge 112 is prohibited after the number of inserted cartridges reaches this number.

The sixth condition is that the empty cartridge storage box 133 exists at a predetermined location, and this is determined in the sixth step. When the empty cartridge storage box 133 is pulled out from the apparatus, the empty cartridge 112 cannot be reversely conveyed or dropped into the empty cartridge storage box 133, so insertion of the primary cartridge 112 is prohibited.

If all of the above conditions are satisfied, the door lock release solenoid 120 is turned ON in a seventh step to make it possible to open the door. If any one of these is not satisfied, the door lock release solenoid 120 is turned off in the eighth step to maintain the door lock state.

Next, the inhibition control of toner replenishment operation will be explained using FIG. 50.

When the toner concentration detection control detects that the toner concentration has decreased below the desired concentration and the toner replenishment request flag is set (if YES in the first step)
Also, the toner replenishment operation is prohibited if any of the following conditions are satisfied.

The first condition is that the number of dropped cartridges is not equal to the number of inserted cartridges minus 1, and this is set as the second condition.
Judge by steps. This number of dropped cartridges is the total number of cartridges 112 that have fallen into the cardboard box 410 while one cardboard box 410 is being used, and is the total number of cartridges 112 that have fallen into the cardboard box 410 while one cardboard box 410 is being used. ) is counted up by the fall counter, and the main power of the device is turned off.
For example, it is stored in a non-volatile memory so that it is not cleared even if F is executed. If the number of dropped cartridges is equal to the number of inserted cartridges minus 1, hopper opening 1
If this condition is satisfied, for example, if the number of dropped cartridges is equal to the number of cartridges pushed in, the cartridge 112 inserted last is transported backwards by the toner near-end rising signal and becomes an empty cartridge. After being stored in the storage box 133, the cartridge 112 does not exist above the hopper opening 5124. If toner is replenished when the cartridge 112 is not present on the hopper opening 124, the agitator 111 inside the hopper 109 due to toner replenishment
Toner replenishment is prohibited because toner may scatter from the hopper opening 124 into the apparatus, particularly into the cartridge transfer path, due to mechanical vibrations caused by the drive of the cartridge.

The second condition is that the insertion flag is set, and this is determined in the third step. The insertion flag is set by the rising signal of the door open sensor (step 7 in FIG. 41), and the insertion flag is set by the rising signal of the door open sensor 130 when the rear end of the cartridge passes through the cartridge passage detection filler 130a due to conveyance during cartridge insertion. It is reset by a falling signal (third step in FIG. 43). Therefore, if this insertion flag is set, the hopper opening 12 after the cartridge 112 is inserted.
4 and the cartridge is being transported onto the hopper opening 12.
Since the cartridge 112 is not present on the cartridge 4, toner replenishment is prohibited because the toner will scatter into the device in the same manner as described above.

The third condition is that the open flag is set, and this is determined in the fourth step. As described above, this unsealing flag is set during the unsealing operation of the cartridge 112 by the unsealing roller 150, and during this cartridge unsealing operation, the roller 131 that presses the cartridge clay wall toward the hopper opening 124 is in an inactive state. Even if the cartridges 1 and 2 are present above the hopper opening 124, they cannot sufficiently serve as a lid and the toner will scatter into the device in the same way as above, so toner replenishment is prohibited. .

The fourth condition is that the fall flag is set, and this is determined in the fifth step. These fall flags include the above-mentioned fall 1 flag and fall 2 flag. Since the cartridge 112 is not present on the hopper opening 124 during the period in which one of these cartridges is in the set state, toner replenishment is prohibited in the same manner as described above.

The fifth condition is that the toner end flag is set, and this is determined in the sixth step. This toner end flag is set in the copy operation prohibition control based on toner end detection, which will be described later (step 4 in FIG. 51), and is reset in the toner density detection control. Immediately after the toner near-end flag, which is set when the cartridge 112 is reversely transported and dropped into the empty cartridge storage box 133 (step 8 in FIG. 48), is reset, the toner near-end flag is Since the cartridge 112 is not present, toner replenishment is prohibited in the same manner as above.

The sixth condition is that the toner end flag is set, and this is determined in the sixth step. This toner end flag is set when the process of dropping the cartridge 112 into the empty cartridge storage box 133, which is executed when the toner near end is detected by the toner density detection control, is completed (step 8 in FIG. 48). Copy operation prohibition control (fifth) by toner end detection, which will be described later.
(5th step in Figure 1) or toner concentration detection control, and this is set immediately after the empty cartridge has finished dropping into the storage box 133. Cartridge 11
2 does not exist, toner replenishment is prohibited in the same way as above.

If any of the above conditions are satisfied, toner replenishment is prohibited, and only when all of these conditions are not satisfied, the sixth
Toner is replenished in steps.

Next, copy operation prohibition control based on toner end detection will be explained using FIG. 51.

Copy operation prohibition control based on toner end detection is performed because the desired image density cannot be obtained at toner end when there is almost no toner in the developing tank 101.
This prohibits copy operations.

In the first step, it is determined whether the toner near-end flag is set. This toner near-end flag is set at the time when the process of dropping the cartridge 112 into the empty cartridge storage box 1.33, which is executed when the toner near-end is detected by the toner concentration detection control as described above, is completed (48th (8th step in the figure).

If the toner near-end flag is set, the second step increments the near-end copy counter when paper is fed during the copy operation, and the third step determines whether the content of the near-end copy counter is 50 or more, and increments the near-end copy counter by 50.
If not, the process returns and the first to third steps are repeated until the third step determines that the content of the near-end copy counter is 50 or more. If it is determined in the third step that the content of the near-end copy counter is 50 or more, the toner end flag is set in the fourth step, and the toner near-end flag is reset in the fifth step and the process returns. Thereafter, the process proceeds from the first step to the sixth and seventh steps, and in the seventh step, new paper feeding operations are prohibited, thereby prohibiting copying operations. The above toner near end flag and toner end flag are
It is reset when the toner concentration increases due to toner replenishment, and when these are in the reset state, the steps proceed through the first step, the sixth step, and the eighth step, and in the eighth step, the near-end copy counter is cleared.

Note that this near-end copy counter is stored in, for example, a non-volatile memory so that it is not cleared even when the main power of the device is turned off.6 Next, using Fig. Permissive control will be explained.

When the empty cartridge storage box 133 is pulled out from the apparatus, the empty cartridge 112 cannot be reversely transported from above the hopper opening 124 even when toner near-end is detected and the next cartridge 112 needs to be inserted. As a result, a situation occurs in which the next cartridge 112 cannot be inserted. Therefore, it is desirable that the empty cartridge storage box 133 cannot be removed from the apparatus except when necessary.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the empty cartridge storage box 13
The lock release solenoid 431 (see FIGS. 25 and 27) that enables empty cartridge storage box 133 to be removed from the apparatus is activated only when certain conditions are satisfied.

The first condition is that the content of the drop counter is greater than or equal to the number N of cartridges that can be stored, and this is determined in the first step. The drop counter counts the number of empty cartridges 112 that have fallen into the empty cartridge storage box 133 as described above, and if this stored number is smaller than N, then it is possible to store more empty cartridges 112. , N or more.

The second condition is that the contents of the opening counter be greater than or equal to N+1, and this is determined in the second step. This opening counter counts the number of cartridges 112 whose openings have been opened, and is incremented after the opening operation is completed (for example, after the eighth step in FIG. 44), and the main power of the device is turned off. For example, it is stored in a non-volatile memory so that it is not cleared even if the data is changed. The reason for this condition is as follows. As mentioned above, the total number of cartridges 112 that can be inserted into the device is N+1, which is the number of cartridges that can be stored in the empty cartridge storage box 133 and one cartridge on the hopper opening 124, so the number of cartridges to be inserted is N+1. It is not necessary to take out the empty cartridge storage box 133 during the period when there are 8 empty cartridges. On the other hand, in order to insert the next cartridge 112 after this N+1st cartridge 112, the N+1st cartridge 112 on the hopper opening 124 must be inserted into the empty cartridge storage box 112.
33, the empty cartridge storage box 13 of the N+1st cartridge 112 at the latest.
It is necessary to make the empty cartridge storage box 133 removable before the reverse transport to No. 3 starts. Therefore, N+
It may be possible to remove the first cartridge 112 when the insertion operation is completed, but after the insertion operation is completed, a jam that does not reach the abutment sensor or a stuck jam may occur for that cartridge 112 after the insertion operation is completed. As a result of being removed from above the hopper opening 5124 by the operator, there is a possibility that it will not be subject to reverse conveyance. Therefore, in order to judge whether or not it is necessary to make the cartridge 112 ready for removal based on the number of cartridges in the device at the stage when the cartridge 112 to be the target of reverse transport is determined, after the unsealing operation is completed when the cartridge 112 is determined to be the target of reverse transport. An opening counter is used to count the number of cartridges, and the condition is that the content is N+1 or more.

Then, all of these conditions can be taken out when titrating.

First, in the first step, it is determined whether the contents of the drop counter are greater than or equal to the number N of cartridges that can be stored.

If the content of the fall counter is not greater than N, the process proceeds to the third step and assumes a locked state. Conversely, if the content of the drop counter is N or more, it is determined in a second step whether the content of the opening counter is N+1 or more. Here, if the contents of the opening counter are not N+1 or more, the process proceeds to the second step and a locked state is established. Conversely, if the contents of the opening counter are N+1 or more, the process proceeds to a fourth step to release the locked state, thereby making the empty cartridge storage box 133 ready for removal. Next, in the fifth step, the empty cartridge storage box 133 (storage box
) has been taken out, and if it has been taken out, clear the fall counter in the 6th step, and clear the fall counter in the 7th step.
In this step, the contents of the opening counter and the insertion counter are subtracted by N and the contents are returned. From then on, the program proceeds from the first step or the second step to the third step until the above two conditions are titrated again, and the lock state is maintained. I take the. On the contrary, the fifth
If it is determined in the step that the empty cartridge storage box 133 has not been taken out, it is determined in the eighth step whether or not the toner has run out. Until it is determined that the cartridge storage box 133 has been taken out or it is determined that the toner has run out in the eighth step.
In the fourth step, the first step, second step, fourth step, fifth step, and eighth step are repeatedly executed while the locked state is released.

If it is determined that the empty cartridge storage box 133 has been taken out in the fifth step, the drop counter is cleared in the sixth step, and the contents of the opening counter and the insertion counter are cleared in the seventh step, in the same way as above.
Subtract and return.

Conversely, if it is determined in the eighth step that the toner has run out, a new paper feeding operation is prohibited in the ninth step, thereby prohibiting the copying operation. At this time, the empty cartridge storage box 133 remains unlocked.

Incidentally, when the lock release solenoid 431 is turned on and the lock is released, reverse conveyance of the empty cartridge 112 above the hopper opening 124 is not started.

Next, the lighting control process of the toner near-end indicator will be explained using FIG. 54.

Conventionally, when toner near-end is detected by toner concentration detection control, a toner near-end indicator is lit to prompt toner replenishment. However, in this embodiment, when the toner near end is detected by the toner concentration detection control, first, a process for dropping the empty cartridge 112 above the hopper opening 124 into the empty cartridge storage box 133 is executed. During this drop process, since the empty cartridge 112 is present in the cartridge transport path,
The next cartridge 112 cannot be inserted.

Further, the door 118 of the cartridge insertion window 117 of the cartridge 112 is locked by the cartridge insertion section door lock/release control described above (second step in FIG. 49). Therefore, if the toner near-end indicator is unconditionally turned on when the toner near-end is detected, the door 118 of the insertion window 117 will not open even if the operator tries to insert the cartridge 112 as prompted by the toner near-end indicator. This situation occurs. Therefore, in this embodiment, the toner near-end indicator is not turned on immediately after the toner near-end is detected in the toner concentration detection control, but after the above-mentioned toner near-end flag is set. This near-end flag is executed when the cartridge 112 detects the toner near-end in the toner concentration detection control.
It is set when the process of dropping the empty cartridge into the empty cartridge storage box 133 is completed (step 8 in FIG. 48).
, which is reset by copy operation prohibition control based on toner end detection (step 5 in FIG. 51) or toner density detection control, which will be described later. When this is in the set state, the empty cartridge 112 is moved to the empty cartridge storage box 133. The dropping process for the cartridge 112 has been completed and the cartridge conveyance path is now empty, so that the next cartridge 112 can be inserted.

In the first step, it is determined whether or not the toner near-end flag is set. If the toner near-end flag is set, in the second step, it is determined whether the toner near-end indicator is lit or not. If not, the toner near end indicator is lit in the third step.

Next, using FIG. 52, the determination of the toner replenishment time when the cartridge is inserted will be explained.

The determination of the toner replenishment time when the cartridge is inserted is to determine the toner replenishment time T15 in the toner replenishment that is executed immediately after opening the cartridge at the toner replenishment position, and is determined at the timing of ■ in the timing chart of FIG. It is processing.

In this embodiment, the toner replenishment amount is determined in accordance with the difference □ between the latest detected toner concentration in the toner concentration detection control and the desired appropriate toner concentration targeted by the toner concentration detection* control. For this purpose, for example, it is possible to create a data table of correspondence data between toner concentration and toner replenishment time determined in advance through experiments, and look up this data to determine toner replenishment time. The correspondence with the toner replenishment time may be expressed as an arithmetic expression, and the toner replenishment time may be determined by executing this arithmetic expression.

For example, in this embodiment, a predetermined potential portion formed by irradiating laser light from the semiconductor laser 74 is developed, and the amount of light reflected from the toner adhesion portion is measured by the sensor 36.
The toner concentration is detected by detecting at 0, and the relationship between the output of this optical sensor 360 and the toner concentration and the relationship between the toner concentration and the toner replenishment time are determined as shown in FIG.

In the first step and the second step, it is determined whether or not the cartridge unsealing by the unsealing roller has been completed. When the cartridge unsealing operation is completed, the toner replenishment time is determined using the final toner sensor output in the third step. This final toner sensor output is stored while updating the read data in the final toner sensor output memory each time when reading the density data from the optical sensor 360 for every 10th sheet in the fourth and fifth steps. use something

Next, a modification of the toner replenishment mechanism will be described.

In the above toner replenishment mechanism, the cartridge 112
Since the seal member 114 removed from the bottom surface is stored in the seal storage box 151, this seal storage box 1
51 is full, the seal storage box 15
It is necessary to take out the stored seal member 114 by, for example, taking out the seal member 114 from the device. Also, the cartridge 112
When opening the package, it is necessary to rotate the seal roller 150 while pinching the free end of the seal extending from the bottom surface of the cartridge 112 with the roller 150 on the main body side. When the cartridge 112 is unsealed, there is a possibility that a jam that does not reach the unsealing sensor or a jam that remains there may occur.

Therefore, this embodiment improves the workability of removing the seal member 114 removed from the bottom surface of the cartridge 112, and also improves the reliability of opening the cartridge 112.

This embodiment differs from the toner replenishment mechanism in the above embodiments in the structure of the cartridge 112 and the structure of the opening means.

First, using FIGS. 56 to 60, the cartridge 1 is
12 will be explained.

The cartridge 112 in this embodiment includes a seal storage container 500 that includes a seal take-up roller (hereinafter referred to as a take-up roller) 136 on the rear end side in the direction in which the cartridge 112 is inserted into the apparatus. This seal storage container 500 has joints 12 on the main body side, which will be described later, on both end faces.
A rotating plate 137 connectable to the winding roller 136 is provided at the center of the inner surface of the rotating plate 137.
The axis of is fixed. Further, the rotating plate 137 is formed with a hole into which the conical positioning projection 127a and the pair of square driving projections 127b of the joint 127 fit. The seal member 114 on the bottom surface of the cartridge 112 is
After the adhesive is applied, among the front, rear, left and right flanges 115a,
The pasting starts from the front flange 115a on the side of the seal storage container 500 and is pasted to the rear flange 115a on the opposite side, then it is folded back and its free end is sealed through the seal intake opening on the bottom surface of the seal storage container 500. Take-up roller 1
36, and the edge of this free end is glued to the surface of the seal take-up roller 136.

Next, the opening means on the main body side will be explained using FIGS. 61 to 63.

The unsealing means includes a joint 127 connectable to the rotary plate 137, and a positioning projection 1 of the joint 827.
27a and the pair of drive protrusions 127b enter holes in a rotary plate 137 fixed to both left and right ends of the shaft of the take-up roller 136 of the cartridge 112 above the hopper opening 124, and are connected to the rotary plate 137; The joint 127 is made up of a moving mechanism that moves the joint 127 to an inoperative position that is retracted outward in the left-right direction, and a rotation drive mechanism that rotates the joint 127. This moving mechanism has a joint 127 fixed at its tip, is always biased outward in the left and right directions by a spring, and has a rotary shaft 5o1 (provided on each of the left and right sides of the device) rotatably supported by a side plate in the gw. The tip of the rotary shaft 501 is in contact with the rear end of the rotation shaft 501 provided on the left side of the device, the lower end is connected to the plunger of the opening angle pinch solenoid 128, and the left shaft is swingably supported by the support shaft. A lever 134a, a right lever whose tip abuts the rear end of a rotating shaft 501 provided on the right side of the device and is swingably supported by a support shaft at approximately the center; a right lever 134b, whose one end is a left lever 134a; is rotatably supported above the support shaft, and the other end is the right lever 134b.
A connecting rod 13 rotatably supported below the support shaft of
It consists of 5. A gear 502 is fixed approximately at the center of the rotating shaft 501. In the rotational drive mechanism, an input gear 503 that decelerates and inputs the drive from the unsealing motor 129 (see FIG. 61) is fixed to the left end, and the right end extends below the gear 504 fixed to the right rotation shaft 501. A gear shaft 505 is rotatably supported.
A left output gear 506 is fixed on the gear shaft 505 to a portion facing the gear 502 fixed to the left rotation shaft #501, and a left output gear 506 is fixed on the gear shaft 505 to a portion facing the gear 502 fixed to the left rotation shaft #501.
The right output gear 507 is fixed to a portion opposite to the gear 504 fixed to the right output gear 504. These left and right output gears 506 and 507 are meshed with gears 502 and 504 on the left and right rotating shafts 501 that are opposed to each other, respectively.
In addition, even if the rotation #501 is displaced in the left and right direction to move the joint 127 between the operating position and the non-operating position, the gears 502 on the left and right rotating shafts 501, which face each other.
, 504 are set so that they can slide relative to each other and maintain an engaged state.

The operation of this unsealing means will be explained.

When not performing opening operation, use pinch solenoid 1 for opening.
28 and the unsealing motor 129 are turned off. As a result, the rotating shaft 501 of the moving mechanism is pushed outward in the left-right direction by the spring, and as a result, the rotating shaft 501
A joint 127 fixed at the tip is in an inoperative position.

On the other hand, when starting the unsealing operation, the unsealing pinch solenoid 128 and the unsealing motor 129 are turned on. By turning on the opening pinch solenoid 128, the left lever 134a
rotates clockwise around the support shaft, and pushes the rear end of the left rotating shaft 501 with its tip to position the joint 127 at the tip of the left rotating shaft 501 in the operating position, while the left lever 134
The entire connecting rod 135, one end of which is supported at a, moves to the right, rotates the right lever 134b counterclockwise around the support shaft, and rotates the right rotation shaft 501 with the tip of the right lever 134b.
is pressed to position the joint 127 at the tip of the right rotating shaft 501 to the operating position, whereby the left and right rotating shafts 501 are connected to the winding roller 136 shaft from the left and right, respectively. In addition, by turning on the unsealing motor 129, the input gear 503, gear shaft 505, left and right output gears 506, 507, and left and right rotation shaft 50 are activated.
Gears 502 and 504 on 1, left and right rotating shaft 501, joint! 27. The rotating disk 137 and the shaft of the take-up roller 136 transmit driving force to rotate the take-up roller 136. As a result, the seal portion vJ on the bottom surface of the cartridge 112
14 onto the take-up roller 136 and the cartridge 112 is unsealed.

Procedure for inserting the cartridge 112 into the main body of the apparatus in this embodiment, transporting the cartridge 112'wJ control (forward and reverse transport)
And unsealing control is the same as in the above embodiment. However, since there is a low possibility that a jam that does not reach the abutment-open sensor or a jam that remains when the cartridge 112 is opened is generated, the jam detection control and the unseal detection fixture 130b that constitutes the sensor for these controls are omitted. I can do it.

In the above embodiment, a conveyor belt device is used to load the cartridge from the insertion window 117) onto the hopper opening 124, which is the replenishment position. The cartridge may be left in the inactive state and the operator inserts and installs the cartridge up to the hopper opening @1 (124).

In addition, the storage section is composed of an empty cartridge storage box 133 that is detachable from the main body of the device, but instead of this, it is fixed at a position that can be operated by the operator when the door of the exterior of the device that can be opened and closed is opened. It may also be composed of boxes.

Further, although the cartridge is automatically opened by an opening means provided in the device, instead of this, the operator may open the cartridge before inserting the cartridge into the device. The operator may open the cartridge after the operator has installed the cartridge in the replenishment position within the device. In the former case, for example, after opening the cartridge outside the device with the opening facing upward, the cartridge is inserted into the device with the opening facing upward, and the cartridge is opened automatically or
The cartridge is manually installed on the replenishment position, and the cartridge is manually or automatically rotated upside down and installed on the replenishment position. In the latter case, for example, start pasting the sealing member that seals the opening of the cartridge/slot from the front edge in the cartridge insertion direction, pasting it all the way to the back, then folding it back, and inserting the free end into the cartridge. When the cartridge is installed in the refilling position of the device, the cartridge is extended toward the front side by a length that can be operated by the operator, and after the cartridge is installed in the refilling position of the device, the free end of the seal is pulled to open the seal.

Also, the window for loading and unloading the empty cartridge storage box 133 and the cartridge insertion window are located on the front exterior F!, which is the same outer peripheral surface of the device. ! 5116, but instead of this, they may be formed on exterior parts of different outer peripheral surfaces of the device. For example, the empty cartridge storage box 113 may be removably disposed on the back side of the device rather than the hopper opening 124, and a window for loading and unloading may be formed in the exterior portion of the back side of the device. In this case, a conveyor belt device is provided between the hopper opening 124 and the empty cartridge storage box on the rear side.

Furthermore, although the above embodiment is for replenishing toner in a developing device using a two-component developer using toner and a carrier, the present invention is directed to a two-component developer whose main component is toner. The present invention can also be applied to replenishment of one-component toner, which is a developer, in a developing device using the present invention.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the invention according to claim 1, the empty toner container after being replenished with toner at the replenishment position by the transfer means is provided at a location different from the replenishment position in the apparatus. Therefore, when installing the next toner container, the operator can install the next toner container in the replenishment position without having to take out the empty toner container from the replenishment position to the outside of the apparatus each time. In addition, the transfer means secures a replenishment position for the next developer container containing toner, and the empty toner container is stored in a storage section provided in a separate location from the replenishment position within the apparatus. An excellent effect is that it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus in which toner remaining on an empty toner container does not scatter even if airflow occurs when the next toner container is installed at the replenishment position. There is.

Furthermore, since the empty toner container is stored in a storage section that is located in a separate location from the refilling position in the device, the multilayer core is placed inside the empty toner container while leaving the empty toner container at the refilling position. Unlike the conventional toner container in which other toner containers are sequentially attached to the toner container, there is no restriction that the sizes of the plurality of toner containers must be made different, and there is an advantage that toner containers of the same shape can be used.

According to the invention according to claim 2, since the operator can take out the empty toner container along with the storage means outside the apparatus and dispose of it, there is no possibility that the empty toner container will stick to the empty toner container when the empty toner container is taken out from the apparatus. This has the excellent effect of providing an image forming apparatus in which toner does not scatter.

According to the invention according to claim 3, since the opening for attaching and detaching the storage means into the apparatus and the opening for attaching the toner container containing toner to the apparatus are formed on the same outer circumference side of the apparatus, the operator However, it is possible to attach and detach the storage means and to attach the toner container from the same outer peripheral surface of the device, which has the effect of improving operability.

According to the invention according to claim 4, the guided member of the toner container that is guided by the guide member of the transfer means to a predetermined position above the opening of the storage means is located approximately in the center of the toner container in the direction of transfer by the transfer means. Therefore, when the toner container is stored in the storage means through the opening of the storage means after the guidance of the guided member by the guide member is completed, the toner container is stored while maintaining a relatively horizontal posture. According to the invention according to claim 5, the toner container is provided with a suction means for sucking other toner containers, and thereby, the toner container can be accumulated in the storage means in a good manner. Since the toner containers attract each other and gather together, there is an effect that the number of toner containers that can be stored in the storage means can be relatively increased.

According to the invention according to claim 6, when it is detected that the amount of toner in the developing device has reached a predetermined amount, the driving of the transfer means is automatically started, and thereby the toner container containing the toner in the fall is moved. Since the empty toner container is transferred from the replenishment position to the storage section when toner needs to be replenished, the operator can avoid the trouble of starting the transfer operation.

According to the invention according to claim 7, the toner container emptied by execution of the replenishment step at the replenishment position is transported to a storage section provided separately from the replenishment position in the developing device; The toner container that has been transferred to the storage section by the execution of the process is stored in the storage section. Therefore, each time the operator installs the next toner container, the operator places the empty toner container in the replenishment position. The next toner container can be installed in the refilling position without having to be taken out of the device, and even if airflow occurs when installing the next toner container in the refilling position, it will not stick to the empty toner container. This has the excellent effect of providing a method for handling a toner container in which the remaining toner does not scatter.

According to the invention according to claim 8, a plurality of toner containers each having a shape capable of at least partially accommodating another toner container having an opening facing downward,
When sequentially carrying out the transfer process and transferring the toner containers to the storage section for storage, the toner containers are housed with their openings facing downward, and the toner containers that are transferred by performing the next transfer process are
Since the stacking process is carried out to at least partially accommodate the already accommodated toner containers (with their #1 openings facing downward, the storage space for multiple toner containers is made relatively small, thereby reducing the storage space inside the storage section. This has the advantage that it is possible to provide a method for handling toner containers that allows a relatively large number of toner containers to be stored.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of a digital copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the electrical equipment section of the digital copying machine shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of write drive control circuit 71 of FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a front view of a cartridge used in a digital copying machine. FIG. 5 is a left side view of the cartridge. FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the cartridge. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the cartridge seen from above. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the cartridge seen from below. FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a state in which the opening of the cartridge is sealed with a sealing member. FIG. 10 is a perspective view schematically showing the toner replenishment mechanism of the digital copying machine shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 11 is a front view showing the exterior of the digital copying machine shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 12 is a front view showing the structure of the toner replenishing mechanism near the hopper opening 124. FIG. 13 is a left side view showing the structure of the toner replenishment mechanism near the hopper opening 124. FIG. 14 is a front view showing the structure of the toner replenishing mechanism near the opening roller 150. FIG. 15 is a plan view showing the positional relationship between the unsealing roller 150 and the cartridge. FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing the drive structure of the conveyor belt 121 of the toner replenishment mechanism. Figure 17 shows the abutment opening sensor 13 of the toner replenishment mechanism.
0 is a perspective view showing the structure of 0. FIG. 18 is a left side view showing the toner replenishment mechanism in a state where the cartridge is not inserted. FIG. 19 is a left side view showing the toner replenishing mechanism in a state in which the cartridge has been completely inserted. FIG. 20 is a left side view showing the toner replenishment mechanism in a state where the cartridge has been conveyed onto the hopper opening 124. FIG. 21 is a left side view showing the toner replenishment mechanism in a state in which the reverse transport of the cartridge is completed. FIG. 22 is a left side view showing a state in which the cartridge of the toner replenishment mechanism is stored in the empty cartridge storage box 133. FIG. 23 is a timing chart of the operation of the toner replenishing mechanism when inserting a cartridge. FIG. 24 is a timing chart of the operation of the toner replenishment mechanism when the cartridge is transported in reverse. FIG. 25 is a perspective view of the empty cartridge storage box 133 of the same toner replenishment mechanism. FIG. 26 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the structure for moving the lid member 413 of the cardboard box 410 stored in the same empty cartridge storage box 133. FIG. 27 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the structure for locking the empty cartridge storage box 133 within the apparatus. FIG. 28 is a plan view of the empty cartridge storage box 133. FIG. 29 is a front view of the same empty cartridge storage box 133. FIG. 30 is a right side view of the empty cartridge storage box 133. FIG. 31 is a perspective view showing a state in which the empty cartridge storage box 133 is being pulled out from the main body of the apparatus. FIG. 32 is an enlarged perspective view showing the vicinity of the tip of the lid member 413 of the cardboard box 410 housed in the empty cartridge storage box 133 in the state shown in FIG. 31. FIG. 33 shows a lid member 413 of the same cardboard box 410.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the closing configuration. FIG. 34 shows a lid member 413 of the same cardboard box 410.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the moving configuration near the end of movement. FIG. 35 is a perspective view showing the state when the empty cartridge storage box 133 starts to be inserted into the main body of the apparatus. FIG. 36 is a perspective view showing a main part of the support structure for the moving arm 424 of the empty cartridge storage box 133. FIG. 37 is a left side view showing the main parts of the support structure. FIG. 38 is a plan view of the support structure. FIG. 39 is a rear view of the same support structure. FIG. 40 is a sectional view of the same cardboard box 410. FIG. 41 is a flowchart of control for detecting a jam that does not reach the opening sensor when inserting a cartridge according to the embodiment. FIG. 42 is a flowchart of control for detecting jamming due to abutting and opening sensor retention during cartridge insertion according to the embodiment. FIG. 43 is a flowchart of the control for detecting a jam that has not reached the abutment-opening sensor when the cartridge is opened according to the embodiment. FIG. 44 is a flowchart of control for detecting jamming due to abutment and unsealing sensor retention during cartridge unsealing according to the embodiment. FIG. 45 is a flowchart of control for detecting a jam that has not reached the abutment/opening sensor when a cartridge falls in the embodiment. FIG. 46 is a flowchart of control for detecting jamming due to abutting and unsealing sensor retention when a cartridge is dropped according to the embodiment. FIG. 47 is a flowchart of control for detecting a jam that does not reach the drop sensor when a cartridge falls according to the embodiment. FIG. 48 is a flowchart of control for detecting a jam remaining in the drop sensor when a cartridge falls according to the embodiment. FIG. 49 is a flowchart of control for locking and releasing the cartridge insertion door in the embodiment. No. 50iJ is a fuco chart of prohibition control of toner replenishment operation in the embodiment. FIG. 51 is a flowchart of copy operation prohibition control based on toner end detection according to the embodiment. FIG. 52 is a flowchart of control for determining toner replenishment time when a cartridge is inserted in the embodiment. FIG. 53 is a flowchart of the empty cartridge storage box attachment/detachment permission control when the empty cartridge storage box is full according to the embodiment. FIG. 54 is a flowchart of lighting control of the toner near end indicator according to the embodiment. FIG. 55 is a characteristic diagram showing the relationship between toner concentration and replenishment toner amount in the example. FIG. 56 is a perspective view showing a modification of the toner replenishment mechanism employed in the digital copying machine of FIG. 1. FIG. 57 is a left side view of the cartridge in the toner replenishment mechanism of FIG. 56. FIG. 58 is a bottom view of the cartridge. FIG. 59 is an enlarged view of the joint 127 of the toner replenishment mechanism. FIG. 60 is an explanatory diagram showing the positional relationship between the joint 127 and the rotating disk 137 of the cartridge. FIG. 61 is a front view of the same toner replenishment mechanism. FIG. 62 is a front view showing the configuration of the left side of the cartridge in the cartridge opening mechanism of the toner replenishment mechanism. FIG. 63 is a front view showing the structure of the right side of the cartridge of the cartridge opening mechanism. 1, 01...Developing tank, 109...Hopper 11
2... Cartridge, 113... Opening 114.41
8...Seal member 115a...flange part, 115b...wing part 116
...Front exterior part 1 Cor-6a...Empty cartridge storage box inlet/outlet 117...Insertion window, 118...Door 1, 1.
9...Door sensor 120...Lock release solenoid 121...Transport belt, 123...Relay guide plate 124...Hopper opening, 125...Seal 130...
・Abutment opening sensor 131...Roller 133・Empty cartridge storage box 150...Opening roller 151...Seal storage box 152...Magnet

Claims (5)

[Claims] (1) In an image forming apparatus equipped with a replenishment unit that is refilled with toner from a toner container containing toner, an openable replenishment unit that stores toner and replenishes the stored toner to the replenishment unit A toner container having a peripheral wall portion and detachable from the apparatus main body; a loading portion for loading the toner container; and an unsealing device for opening the peripheral wall portion after an operator has completed loading the toner container into the loading portion. An image forming apparatus comprising: means. (2) The toner container, which has been completely loaded into the loading section by the operator, is placed at a location different from the loading section;
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a transport means for transporting the toner to a replenishing position where the toner is replenished to the replenishing section. (3) In an image forming apparatus equipped with a replenishment unit in which toner is replenished from a toner container containing toner, an opening for accommodating toner and replenishing the replenishment unit with the stored toner; a toner container that is removable from the apparatus main body and has a removable sealing member that seals an opening; and a removal means that removes the sealing member from the toner container that is installed at a replenishment position that replenishes toner to the replenishment section. An image forming apparatus characterized by being provided with. (4) The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a housing means for housing the sealing member removed by the removing means. (5) Toner replenishment method for an image forming apparatus using a toner container that is detachable from the apparatus main body and has an openable peripheral wall for storing toner and replenishing the replenishing section with the stored toner. a loading step of loading the toner container into a toner container loading section provided in the image forming apparatus; and a step of loading the toner container loaded into the loading section by executing the loading step into the image forming apparatus. a transfer step of transferring toner to a replenishment position for replenishing toner to the provided toner replenishing unit; and opening the peripheral wall portion of the toner container transferred to the replenishment position by executing the transfer step, and releasing the toner inside the toner container. A toner replenishing method for an image forming apparatus, comprising a replenishing step of replenishing the replenishing unit with toner.