JPH1115248A - Toner supply device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To supply toner almost equal in amount to consumed toner by supplying the toner to a developing device only for a specific length of time each time the value of the total of the pixels of image data reaches a specific number. SOLUTION: When the input of the image data is applied to an interface, a printing operation starts. As information representing the number of the pixels of image data, the value of the total of the pixels is found by a pixel totalization/storage means 120. When the value of the total reaches the specific value, a motor control means 126 drives a toner supply motor only for the length of driving time corresponding to a grade selected by a selection means 124, and also the value of the total is zeroed again to make a flesh start of totalizing pixels. Then, only during a period of time that the toner supply motor is driven, toner is supplied to the first developing device and the second developing device from the toner supply device. Thus, each time the value of the total of the pixels of the image data reaches the specific value, the specific amount of toner is supplied.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a toner supply device for supplying toner to a developing device of an image forming apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, copiers, laser printers, etc.
An image forming apparatus using a developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image formed by an electrophotographic method or the like has been put to practical use. In the developing device in this image forming apparatus, for example, a two-component developer containing a toner and a carrier is used as a developer.

In the developing device, the toner in the developer is consumed by development, so it is necessary to replenish the consumed toner. To obtain an appropriate image, it is necessary to keep the toner concentration in the developer constant. Therefore, it is ideal that the toner is supplied in real time by the consumed amount. Then, the toner concentration in the developer is kept constant as long as the toner supply amount and the toner consumption amount are balanced. However, it is practically difficult to accurately grasp the consumed toner amount and supply the toner in that amount in real time.

In order to solve this problem, a conventional toner supply control method includes a method of driving a toner supply device for a predetermined time or a predetermined time for each predetermined number of sheets.
As disclosed in JP-A No. 14-107915, a method of detecting the area of a latent image, a document, or a sheet and determining a time for driving a driving unit of a toner supply device according to the area is disclosed in JP-A-5-107915. As shown in the figures, a method of detecting an image forming time and determining a time for driving a driving unit of a toner supply device in accordance with the detected time is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. Hei.
As disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 107916, there has been a method of detecting the width of a latent image, a document, or a sheet and determining a driving speed of a driving unit of a toner supply device according to the width.

[0005]

In the prior art, a method of detecting the width or area of an image or the image forming time and controlling the time or speed of driving the driving means of the toner supply device is based on the method of supplying toner only by the amount consumed. In the ideal case, the toner consumption amount cannot be substituted for the toner consumption amount, and the toner consumption amount changes due to the difference in image density due to the difference between the originals, which cannot be said to be a method capable of supplying an appropriate amount of toner. .

Further, if the amount of supplied toner is adjusted to the amount of consumed toner, ideally, a means must be provided for continuously changing the amount of supplied toner. However, when a motor or the like is used as a driving device of the toner supply device, the control of the driving time can be changed only in a range of about 0.1 second at most. Therefore, if the number of steps for changing the toner supply amount is to be increased, the driving time of the driving device becomes longer, and accordingly, the toner supply interval becomes longer, deviating from the ideal of supplying in real time.

[0007] Further, there is a toner supply device in which toner is attached to a roll formed by a foaming member, and the roll is rubbed against a member having a hole to drop the toner. In the case of such a method, the toner drop amount, that is, the toner supply amount decreases with the deterioration of the firing member. Therefore, when the toner supply amount decreases, the driving time of the toner supply device is increased. However, in the case where the toner drop amount is reduced due to the deterioration of the firing member and the toner supply amount is reduced, even if the driving time of the toner supply device is increased by the same time as compared to before the firing member is deteriorated, the toner The amount of increase is small. Further, the ratio of the increase in the amount of toner to the increase in the drive time differs depending on the amount of toner fall per unit time at that time.
Therefore, it is difficult to appropriately increase the toner amount with respect to the decrease in the toner supply amount due to the deterioration of the firing member, and there has been a problem that normal control cannot be performed.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and it is a first object of the present invention to provide a toner supply device capable of detecting the number of pixels of an image and supplying an amount of toner close to a consumption amount. The purpose of.

It is a second object of the present invention to provide a toner supply apparatus capable of substantially finely changing the toner supply amount at a shorter toner supply interval, in addition to the first object.

A third object of the present invention is to provide, in addition to the above-mentioned second object, a toner supply apparatus which can supply toner in accordance with the toner concentration and thereby reduce fluctuations in the toner concentration. I do.

Further, in addition to the second object, the present invention provides a toner supply device which can easily return to the toner supply amount before the decrease even if the toner supply amount per unit time decreases. As a fourth object.

Further, the present invention provides, in addition to the third object, a toner supply device which can easily return to the toner supply amount before the decrease even if the toner supply amount per unit time decreases. Is the fifth object.

[0013]

In order to achieve the first object of the present invention, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a toner is supplied to a developing device of an image forming apparatus using a developer containing at least a toner. A toner supply unit, a pixel number detection unit that detects the number of pixels of image data, and an integration unit that calculates an integrated value of the number of pixels detected by the pixel number detection unit,
A storage unit that stores the toner supply time in the toner supply unit in correspondence with a plurality of stages for each predetermined number of pixels; and an arbitrary one of the plurality of stages of the toner supply time stored in the storage unit. Selecting means for selecting, and when the integrated value of the number of pixels obtained by the integrating means reaches a predetermined number of pixels at the stage selected by the selecting means, the toner supplying means is provided for the toner supply time at that stage. And a driving control means.

In the toner supply device having the above structure, the integrated value of the number of pixels obtained by the integration means is selected from the storage means for storing the toner supply time in the toner supply means in correspondence with a plurality of stages for each predetermined number of pixels. When the predetermined number of pixels at the stage selected by the unit is reached, the toner supply unit is driven by the control unit for the toner supply time at that stage.

According to the first aspect of the invention, the toner is supplied to the developing device for a predetermined time every time the integrated value of the number of pixels of the image data reaches the predetermined number of pixels. Of toner can be supplied. In order to achieve the second object of the present invention, the invention described in claim 2 is:
Toner supply means for supplying toner to a developing device of an image forming apparatus using a developer containing at least toner,
A pixel number detecting means for detecting the number of pixels of the image data; an integrating means for obtaining an integrated value of the number of pixels detected by the pixel number detecting means; a predetermined value of the integrated value of the pixel number obtained by the integrating means; A storage unit for storing a combination of the toner supply time corresponding to the predetermined value in a plurality of stages, a selection unit for selecting one of the plurality of stages stored in the storage unit, and the integration unit. When the integrated value of the number of pixels reaches a predetermined value at the stage selected by the selection unit, the control unit drives the toner supply unit for the toner supply time at that stage.

In the toner supply device having the above-described configuration, the integrated value of the number of pixels obtained by the integrating means stores a plurality of combinations of the predetermined value of the integrated value and the toner supply time corresponding to the predetermined value. When the predetermined value is reached at the stage selected by the selection unit, the control unit drives the toner supply unit for the toner supply time at that stage.

According to the invention described in claim 2, according to claim 1
In the invention described in (1), a plurality of steps of the toner supply amount are set by a combination of the predetermined value of the integrated value of the number of pixels of the image data and the toner supply time. In addition, the toner supply amount can be substantially finely changed at a shorter toner supply interval.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a toner supply unit for supplying toner to a developing device of an image forming apparatus using a developer containing at least toner. A pixel number detecting means for detecting the number of pixels of the image data, an integrating means for obtaining an integrated value of the number of pixels detected by the pixel number detecting means, and a toner supply speed in the toner supply means for each predetermined integrated pixel number Storage means for storing a plurality of levels, a selection means for selecting one of the plurality of levels stored in the storage means, and an integrated value of the number of pixels obtained by the integration means selected by the selection means And control means for driving the toner supply means at the toner supply speed at that stage when the predetermined value is reached at that stage.

In the toner supply device having the above structure, the integrated value of the number of pixels obtained by the integration means is stored in the storage means for storing the toner supply speed in the toner supply means in a plurality of stages for each predetermined number of pixels. When the predetermined value at the selected stage is reached, the toner supply unit is driven by the control unit at the toner supply speed at that stage.

According to the present invention, the toner is supplied to the developing device at a predetermined speed each time the integrated value of the number of pixels of the image data reaches a predetermined value. In addition to the effects of the invention, the toner supply amount can be substantially finely changed at a shorter toner supply interval.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus using a developer containing at least a toner, wherein the toner supply means supplies the toner to a developing device of the image forming apparatus. A pixel number detecting means for detecting the number of pixels of the image data; an integrating means for obtaining an integrated value of the number of pixels detected by the pixel number detecting means; a predetermined value of the integrated value of the pixel number obtained by the integrating means; A storage unit that stores a combination of a toner supply time corresponding to a predetermined value in a plurality of stages; a toner concentration detection unit that detects a toner concentration in the developer; and a toner concentration detection unit that detects a toner concentration detected by the toner concentration detection unit. Selecting means for selecting one of a plurality of steps stored in the storage means,
When the integrated value of the number of pixels obtained by the integrating means reaches a predetermined value at the stage selected by the selecting device, the control device drives the toner supplying device for the toner supply time at that stage. It is characterized by the following.

In the toner supply device having the above structure, the integrated value of the number of pixels obtained by the integrating means stores the combination of the predetermined value of the integrated value and the toner supply time corresponding to the predetermined value in a plurality of stages. When the predetermined value is reached at the stage selected by the selection unit, the control unit drives the toner supply unit for the toner supply time at that stage.

According to the invention of claim 3, according to claim 2,
According to the invention described in (1), the stage of the toner supply amount is selected in accordance with the detected toner concentration. Can be further reduced.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus using a developer containing at least a toner, wherein the toner supply means supplies the toner to a developing device of the image forming apparatus. A pixel number detecting means for detecting the number of pixels of the image data, an integrating means for obtaining an integrated value of the number of pixels detected by the pixel number detecting means, and a toner supply speed in the toner supply means for each predetermined integrated pixel number Storage means for storing a plurality of levels; toner density detection means for detecting a toner density in the developer; and a plurality of levels stored in the storage means in accordance with the toner density detected by the toner density detection means. Selecting means for selecting one of the steps, and the integrated value of the number of pixels obtained by the integrating means has reached a predetermined value in the step selected by the selecting means To come, and having a control means for driving said toner supplying means in the toner supply rate at that stage.

In the toner supply device having the above structure, the integrated value of the number of pixels obtained by the integration means is stored in the storage means for storing the toner supply speed in the toner supply means in a plurality of stages for each predetermined number of pixels. When the predetermined value at the selected stage is reached, the toner supply unit is driven by the control unit at the toner supply speed at that stage.

According to the invention of claim 7, according to claim 6,
In the invention described in the above item, the step is selected according to the detected toner concentration, so that in addition to the effect of the invention described in the above item 2, the toner supply according to the toner concentration is performed to reduce the fluctuation of the toner concentration. Can be smaller.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus using a developer containing at least a toner. A pixel number detecting means for detecting the number of pixels of the image data; an integrating means for obtaining an integrated value of the number of pixels detected by the pixel number detecting means; a predetermined value of the integrated value of the pixel number obtained by the integrating means; A plurality of steps in combination with a toner supply time corresponding to a predetermined value, wherein a plurality of steps are set such that a value of a ratio between the toner supply time and the predetermined value is equal between adjacent steps. Storage means for storing, and a selection means for selecting any one of the plurality of steps stored in the storage means,
When the integrated value of the number of pixels obtained by the integrating means reaches a predetermined value at the stage selected by the selecting device, the control device drives the toner supplying device for the toner supply time at that stage. It is characterized by the following.

In the toner supply device having the above structure, the integrated value of the number of pixels obtained by the integrating means is a combination of the predetermined value of the integrated value of the number of pixels obtained by the integrating means and the toner supply time corresponding to the predetermined value. And a plurality of stages selected by a selection unit from a storage unit that stores a plurality of stages set so that a value of a ratio between the toner supply time and the predetermined value is an equal ratio between adjacent stages. When the predetermined value at the stage is reached, the control unit drives the toner supply unit for the toner supply time at that stage.

According to the invention set forth in claim 4, according to claim 2,
In the invention described in (2), a plurality of stages of the toner supply amount are set so that the value of the ratio between the toner supply time and the predetermined value is equal between adjacent stages. In addition to the effect, even if the toner supply amount per unit time decreases, it is possible to easily return to the toner supply amount before the decrease.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus using a developer containing at least a toner, wherein the toner supply means supplies the toner to a developing device of the image forming apparatus. A pixel number detecting means for detecting the number of pixels of the image data, an integrating means for obtaining an integrated value of the number of pixels detected by the pixel number detecting means, and a toner supply speed in the toner supply means for each predetermined integrated pixel number Storage means for storing a plurality of predetermined steps, wherein the plurality of steps are set such that the value of the toner supply speed is equal between adjacent steps; and a plurality of steps stored in the storage means. Selecting means for selecting one of the steps, and when the integrated value of the number of pixels obtained by the integrating means reaches a predetermined value in the step selected by the selecting means, And having a control means for driving the toner supply means by the toner feed rate.

In the toner supply device having the above configuration, the integrated value of the number of pixels obtained by the integration means is determined at a plurality of stages where the toner supply speed in the toner supply means is determined for each predetermined number of integrated pixels. When the value of the supply speed reaches a predetermined value in the stage selected by the selection unit from the storage unit that stores a plurality of stages set so as to have the same ratio between adjacent stages, the toner supply speed in that stage , The toner supply means is driven by the control means.

According to the eighth aspect, in the invention according to the sixth aspect, a plurality of stages are set so that the ratio of the toner supply speed to the predetermined value is equal between adjacent stages. In addition to the effect of the invention described in claim 6, even if the toner supply amount per unit time decreases, it is possible to easily return to the toner supply amount before the decrease.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus using a developer containing at least a toner. A pixel number detecting means for detecting the number of pixels of the image data; an integrating means for obtaining an integrated value of the number of pixels detected by the pixel number detecting means; a predetermined value of the integrated value of the pixel number obtained by the integrating means; A plurality of steps in combination with a toner supply time corresponding to a predetermined value, wherein a plurality of steps are set such that a value of a ratio between the toner supply time and the predetermined value is equal between adjacent steps. A toner concentration detecting means for detecting a toner concentration in the developer, and a plurality of storage means stored in the storage means in accordance with the toner concentration detected by the toner concentration detecting means. Selecting means for selecting one of the floors; and when the integrated value of the number of pixels obtained by the integrating means reaches a predetermined value at the level selected by the selecting means, the toner supply time at that level And a control unit for driving the toner supply unit.

In the toner supply device having the above structure, the integrated value of the number of pixels obtained by the integrating means is a combination of the predetermined value of the integrated value of the number of pixels obtained by the integrating means and the toner supply time corresponding to the predetermined value. From a storage unit storing a plurality of stages in which the ratio of the toner supply time to the predetermined value is set to be equal between adjacent stages. When a predetermined value is reached at a stage selected according to the toner density detected by the detection unit, the control unit drives the toner supply unit for the toner supply time at that stage.

According to the invention described in claim 5, according to claim 3,
In the invention described in the above, a plurality of stages are set so that the value of the ratio between the toner supply time and the predetermined value is equal between adjacent stages, so that in addition to the effect of the invention described in the third embodiment, Even if the toner supply amount per unit time decreases, it is possible to easily return to the toner supply amount before the decrease.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a toner supply means for supplying toner to a developing device of an image forming apparatus using a developer containing at least toner. A pixel number detecting means for detecting the number of pixels of the image data, an integrating means for obtaining an integrated value of the number of pixels detected by the pixel number detecting means, and a toner supply speed in the toner supply means for each predetermined integrated pixel number A storage unit for storing a plurality of predetermined stages, wherein the toner supply speed value is set to have an equal ratio between adjacent stages, and a toner concentration in the developer is detected. Toner concentration detecting means, selecting means for selecting one of a plurality of steps stored in the storage means in accordance with the toner concentration detected by the toner concentration detecting means, Control means for driving the toner supply means at the toner supply speed at the stage when the integrated value of the number of pixels determined by the stage reaches a predetermined value at the stage selected by the selection unit. And

In the toner supply device having the above structure, the integrated value of the number of pixels obtained by the integration means is determined by the toner supply speed in the toner supply means in a plurality of stages determined for each predetermined number of integrated pixels. A storage unit that stores a plurality of stages in which the value of the supply speed is set to be equal between adjacent stages is stored at a predetermined stage in a stage selected by the selection unit in accordance with the toner density detected by the toner density detection unit. When the value reaches the value, the toner supply unit is driven by the control unit at the toner supply speed at that stage.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, in the invention of the seventh aspect, a plurality of stages are set so that the ratio of the toner supply speed to the predetermined value is equal between adjacent stages. In addition to the effects of the present invention, even if the toner supply amount per unit time decreases, it is possible to easily return to the toner supply amount before the decrease.

[0039]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an overall schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

This image forming apparatus prints digital image information on paper by electrophotography. Many of these devices record images in one color, but image forming devices also record in two or multiple colors due to the effects of computer color image processing and multicolor printing. Widespread. In this example, an apparatus capable of recording in two colors will be described.

First, the paper transport system of the image forming apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. Two paper feed trays 12 are arranged below the housing 10. Paper is stored in the paper feed tray 12, and the paper is sent out of the paper feed tray by the paper feed roller 14. The paper passes through the transport path 22,
The toner image reaches the lower part of the photoconductor 16 and the toner image is transferred by the transfer device 26. Further, the sheet is conveyed to the fixing device 34 by the conveying belt 28 and is fixed. Further, the paper is transported on the transport path 3
6 and is discharged to a discharge tray 38.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing the vicinity of the photosensitive member 16 of the image forming apparatus. Around the photoreceptor 16, two developing devices, a first developing device 18 for developing with a first recording color and a second developing device 20 for developing with a second recording color, are arranged. . In this figure, the photoconductor 16 rotates in the direction of arrow A. A charger 2 for initially uniformly charging the surface of the photoconductor 16 is provided upstream of the first developing device 18.
4 are arranged. Further, a first laser beam scanning mechanism 40 is provided between the charger 24 and the first developing device 18.
The first laser beam scanning mechanism 40 causes the laser beam 41 to scan over the photoconductor 16.

A laser beam 43 is scanned between the first developing device 18 and the second developing device 20 by a second laser beam scanning mechanism 42.

The first developing device 18 emits a laser beam 41
The first electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor 16 by the scanning is developed with, for example, black toner, and a black toner image is created on the surface of the photoconductor 16.

The second developing device 20 is the first developing device 18
Is a developing device having substantially the same structure as that of the photoreceptor 16. The second electrostatic latent image formed by the scanning of the laser beam 43 is developed with a toner having a polarity opposite to that of the toner used in the first developing device 18. For example, a red toner image is added to the surface of. Thus, a two-color toner image is formed on the surface of the photoconductor 16. In the present embodiment, a laser light source is used as the exposure device, but the same applies when a light source such as an LED array is used.

On the downstream side of the second developing device 20, a pre-transfer corotron 44, a pre-transfer lamp 46 and a transfer corotron 26 are arranged in this order. The pre-transfer corotron 44 has a role of aligning the polarities of the two-color toners having different polarities on the photoconductor 11 to the polarity of one of the toners. The pre-transfer lamp 46 has a role of removing the charge of the toner during transfer. A transfer corotron (transfer device) 26 transfers a toner image to a sheet conveyed in the direction of arrow B. After unnecessary toner is removed from the photoreceptor 16 after the transfer by the cleaning blade 31, the photosensitive member 16 is irradiated with a static elimination lamp (static eliminator) 30 to remove unnecessary charges.

Next, the developing device and the toner supply device will be described. Since the first developing device 18 and the second developing device 20 have substantially the same structure, the first developing device 18
Will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the developing device 18 includes a toner supply device 5 for supplying toner to the developing device.
0 is integrally assembled. At the end of the toner supply device 50, a toner reservoir (not shown) for supplying toner to the toner supply device 50 is provided.

The developing device 18 includes a developer stirring roll 52 disposed below the toner supply device 50, a developing roll 54 disposed at a position facing the photoconductor 16, and a developer And a developer transport roll 56 for transporting the developer, and each of the rolls 52, 54, 56 rotates in the direction of the arrow in the figure. A layer thickness regulating member 58 for regulating the layer thickness of the developer on the developing roller 54 is provided above the developing roller 54.
Above 6, a reverse plate 60 for returning the developer from the developing roll 54 to the developer stirring roll 52 is provided.

A carrier (not shown) is accommodated in the developing device 18.
The toner supplied from 0 is mixed and stirred by the developer stirring roll 52 to become a developer. This developer is transported to the developing roll 54 side by the developer transporting roll 56, and is regulated by the developing roll 54 in the developing unit 18 a while being regulated by the layer thickness regulating member 58.
Attached to the upper electrostatic latent image.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a part of the toner supply device 50, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a firing member roll and a perforated member of the toner supply device. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4,
In the toner supply device 50, an opening 64 is formed at the bottom of the housing 62 along the rotation direction of the developer stirring roll 52, and a perforated member 66 is attached to the opening 64. The perforated member 66 has a large number of holes formed in a plate as shown in FIG. A firing member roll 68 is disposed above the perforated member 66. Two screws 72 and 74 are disposed above the firing member roll 68 with a partition 70 therebetween. This screw 72, 7
Numerals 4 rotate in opposite directions to each other so as to circulate the toner above the firing member port 68 and drop the toner substantially evenly onto the firing member roll 68. Further, a hole 76 for receiving the toner supplied from the toner reservoir is formed on the upper surface of the housing 62. Although one end of the housing 62 is open in FIG. 4, a lid is actually attached here.

The toner held in the toner reservoir falls to the toner supply device 50 by gravity, and the screws 72, 74
And falls on the firing member roll 68, and adheres to the firing member roll 68. Firing member roll 68
Is rotated by a toner supply motor 112 described later, so that the attached toner is rubbed against the perforated member 66 to drop the toner and supply the toner to the first developing device 18.

The second developing device 20 is also provided with a toner supply device having substantially the same structure.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a process for forming an image in such an image forming apparatus. This process will be described with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 3A, the surface of the photosensitive member 16 is uniformly charged to -750 V by the charger 24.
FIG. 3B shows a state where the laser beam 41 is scanned by the first laser beam scanning mechanism 40 in this state. The charge of the exposed portion is discharged by the first exposure, and the potential of the portion increases to -100V. In this state, the first development by the first developing device 18 is performed.

FIG. 3C shows the state of the first development. During the development, the developing bias of the first developing device 18 is set to -430V. Thus, the portion of the first image potential (−100 V) scanned by the laser beam 41 becomes relatively +330 V. Therefore, the negatively charged black toner 78 is electrostatically attracted to the first image potential portion.

FIG. 3D shows a state where the laser beam 43 is scanned by the second laser beam scanning mechanism 42 thereafter. The laser beam 43 is applied to the background portion of the image, and the potential of the portion is, for example, −350.
It rises to V. For example, the image portion may be
740V.

FIG. 3E shows a state of development by the second developing device 20. At this time, the developing bias is set to -450 V, and the development of the second image with the positively charged red toner 80 is performed. The red toner 80 is electrostatically attracted to the image portion. In this way, a two-color toner image is created.

Next, the image data will be described. Image data is usually input as digital data from the output of an image reading device or a computer to the image forming apparatus. This digital image data represents image information by dots called dots, and the more the number of dots per unit length of image information, the more detailed image output is possible. This dot is called a pixel. The number of dots per unit length of the image information is called a resolution, and is usually expressed as the number of dots per inch of image information in units of dpi (dot p
ar inch). The resolution of this embodiment is 400d
pi, and the number of pixels for each image size when the image density of the image data is 4% is shown in Table 1.

[0059]

[Table 1]

Next, a configuration related to toner supply control in the toner supply device according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a control section of the toner supply device. As shown in this figure, the control unit includes a central processing unit (hereinafter, referred to as CPU) 100 and a read-only memory (hereinafter, referred to as R) connected by a bus 114.
Recorded as OM. ) 102, a random access memory (hereinafter referred to as RAM) 104, and the input / output control device 1
06. The input / output control device 106 includes an interface 108 to which the image data is input,
Console 1 provided on the front of housing 10 of the image forming apparatus
10, a toner supply motor 112 for driving the firing member roll 68 of the toner supply device 50 and the like are connected. The control unit controls the toner supply by causing the CPU 100 to execute a program stored in the ROM 102 using the RAM 104 as a work area. Note that the RAM 104 is preferably nonvolatile. Further, this control unit may also serve as a control unit that controls the entire image forming apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram showing the function of the control unit of the toner supply device realized by the configuration of FIG. As shown in this figure, the control unit integrates and stores the number of pixels of the image data with the number of pixels,
Storage means 122 for storing the driving time of the toner supply motor 112 per a predetermined number of integrated pixels in a plurality of stages.
Selecting means 12 for selecting an arbitrary one of a plurality of driving time steps stored in storage means 122
4, and when the integrated value obtained by the pixel number integrating / storing means 120 reaches a predetermined value, the toner supply motor 112 has a driving time corresponding to the stage selected by the selecting means 124.
And a motor control means 126 for driving the motor. Here, the number-of-pixels accumulation / storage means 120 is the interface 10
CPU 100, RAM 104 and ROM 102 for calculating and storing the number of pixels from the image data input to
It is realized by. Further, the motor control means 126 is realized by the CPU 100, the ROM 102, and the RAM 104 in FIG. The pixel number accumulation / storage means 120 of FIG.
Sends the integrated value 127 of the number of pixels to the motor control means 126 and resets the integrated value of the number of pixels in response to the reset signal 128 from the motor control means 126. Further, when the integrated value of the number of pixels transmitted from the number-of-pixels integration / storage means 120 reaches a predetermined value, the motor control means 126 uses the drive signal 129 for a drive time corresponding to the stage selected by the selection means 124. , The toner supply motor 112 and the reset signal 12
8 is sent to the pixel number accumulation / storage means 120.

Here, the selection means 124 selects the stage of the toner supply time corresponding to the toner consumption per unit pixel number unique to the image forming apparatus in order to maintain the reference output density required for the image forming apparatus. However, even in the same image forming apparatus, the steps that can be selected for each apparatus vary depending on the potential state on the photosensitive material, developability, transferability, and the like.

Table 2 shows information on the driving time per a predetermined number of pixels corresponding to a plurality of stages stored in the storage means 122. In this table, the predetermined number of pixels is a predetermined value (a fixed value) of the integrated value 127 of the number of pixels integrated by the number-of-pixels integration / storage unit 120 when the motor control unit 126 starts driving the toner supply motor 112. value)
The driving time is the driving time of the toner supply motor 112. The predetermined number of pixels is, for example, 5,000.
It is 0000 pixels. The plurality of stages stored in the storage unit 122 are set for each of the predetermined number of pixels.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. First, an arbitrary one of a plurality of stages shown in Table 2 is selected by the input of the console 110.

[0066]

[Table 2]

When image data is input to the interface 108, a printing operation starts. As for the pixel number information of the image data, an integrated value of the number of pixels is obtained by the pixel number integrating and storing means 120. When the integrated value reaches a predetermined value, the motor control means 126 in FIG. 7 drives the toner supply motor 112 for a drive time corresponding to the stage selected by the selecting means 124, resets the integrated value, and newly sets the number of pixels. Is started. The toner is supplied from the toner supply device 50 of FIG. 2 to the first developing device 18 and the second developing device 20 only while the toner supply motor 112 is being driven. Thus, in the present embodiment, a predetermined amount of toner is supplied each time the integrated value of the number of pixels of the image data reaches the predetermined value. Note that the toner supply motor 11
The drive speed of No. 2 is constant, for example, 3 rpm.

As described above, according to the toner supply device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the toner supply interval is set according to the number of pixels of the image data. In this case, the fluctuation of the amount of toner consumption is reduced, and the amount of toner close to the amount of consumption can be supplied.

Next, a toner supply device according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The configuration of the toner supply device according to the second embodiment is substantially the same as that of the toner supply device according to the first embodiment, but the storage unit 122 in FIG. A plurality of stages are stored in accordance with a combination of a predetermined value of the integrated pixel number obtained by the integrating and storing means 120 and the driving time of the toner supply motor 112 according to the integrated pixel number. And selecting means 1
24 selects an arbitrary one of a plurality of stages stored in the storage unit 122, and selects a motor control unit 126
When the integrated value of the number of pixels obtained by the number-of-pixels integration / storage means 120 reaches the number of integrated pixels at the stage selected by the selection device 124, the toner supply motor 112 is driven for the drive time at that stage. I do.

[0070]

[Table 3]

As shown in Table 3, in the toner supply device according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the toner supply motor 11
By changing not only the driving time of No. 2 but also the integrated pixel number, that is, the toner supply interval, the toner supply amount is substantially finely changed at a shorter toner supply interval. Table 3
In the column to the right of, the integrated pixel number is set to 5,000 for reference.
It shows the drive time when the same supply amount is obtained when the pixel is fixed to 0000 pixels. (In Table 3, in order to control the toner supply time more finely than in Table 2, 5,0 is used as an example.
The conversion drive time per number of 00000 pixels is set to change in 0.05 second steps per step. When the number of integrated pixels is fixed as described above, the drive time interval becomes as small as 0.05 second.

However, since the driving time of the toner supply motor 112 can be changed only at most 0.1 second, it is difficult to set the driving time as shown for reference.
Therefore, if the same number of steps as in this embodiment is provided by fixing the number of integrated pixels, the toner supply interval has to be lengthened, and if so, the fluctuation of the toner density increases.

Therefore, in the example of Table 3, the number of integrated pixels is determined by the following formula so that the driving time changes in 0.1 second steps.

The total number of pixels = driving time × 5,000,000 / 5,000,
Therefore, in the toner supply device according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the change in the drive time can be set to 0.1 second intervals by changing the integrated pixel number together with the drive time. it can. Therefore, the toner supply amount can be substantially finely changed at a shorter toner supply interval, and the fluctuation of the toner density can be reduced.

Other structures, operations and effects are the same as those of the toner supply device according to the first embodiment.

Next, a toner supply device according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The toner supply device according to the third embodiment differs from the toner supply device according to the second embodiment in that the toner concentration in the developer is detected, and the toner supply motor 112 is controlled in accordance with the detected toner concentration. The drive time stage is selected.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control unit of the toner supply device in this embodiment. As shown in the figure, in the toner supply device according to the third embodiment,
A density sensor 116 for detecting the toner density in the developer is added to the configuration of the control unit shown in FIG. This density sensor 116 is connected to the input / output control device 106.

FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram showing the function of the control unit of the toner supply device realized by the configuration of FIG. As shown in this figure, in the present embodiment, a toner density detecting means 130 constituted by a density sensor 116 is added to the control section shown in FIG.
Is designed to select a stage in accordance with the toner density detected by the toner density detecting means 130.

FIGS. 10 to 12 are explanatory diagrams showing examples of the density sensor 130, respectively. The density sensor 116 shown in FIG. 10 is provided to face the developing roller 54, and includes a lamp 134 and a lens 13 for condensing light emitted from the lamp 134 and irradiating the light to the developing roller 54.
5 and a light receiving element 136 for receiving the reflected light on the developer surface on the developing roll 54. The density sensor 130 is controlled by the light receiving element 136 to the developing roll 54.
The intensity of the reflected light from the surface of the developer is detected and used as a substitute for the toner density.

The density sensor 116 shown in FIG. 11 is provided in the housing of the first developing device 18 or the second developing device 20 and measures the magnetic permeability, and measures the change in the toner density in the developer. The resulting change in magnetic permeability is detected and used as a substitute for toner density.

The density sensor 116 shown in FIG.
Is similar to that shown in FIG. 1, but provided so as to face the photoconductor 16. In this example, photoconductor 1
6, a predetermined potential pattern is created, developed, and the intensity of the reflected light of the image is detected to be used as a substitute for the toner density.

The toner concentration detecting means 130 shown in FIG.
Any of the density sensors shown in FIGS. 0 to 12 may be used, and any other means for detecting the toner density may be used.

The other configuration is the same as that of the toner supply device according to the second embodiment. Therefore, the information shown in Table 3 is stored in the storage unit 122.

Next, referring to FIG. 13 and FIG.
The operation of the toner supply device according to the embodiment will be described. FIG. 13 shows the operation of toner concentration control in the toner supply device according to the third embodiment, and FIG. 14 shows the operation of toner concentration control in the toner supply device according to the third embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 13, in the toner density control, first, in step 200, a predetermined initial stage is selected from a plurality of stages in Table 3 and set. Next, step 202
Then, the number of pixels integration / storage means 1 shown in FIG.
The number of pixels of the image data is integrated by 20 and the motor control unit 126 determines whether or not the integrated value of the number of pixels of the image data has reached a predetermined value (integrated number of pixels) at the selected stage. If not reached ("N"), the determination in step 202 is repeated. If it has reached ("Y"), in step 204, the toner density in the developer is detected by the toner density detecting means 130 in FIG. Next, step 2
In step 06, a stage is selected by the selection means 124 of FIG. 9 according to the detected toner concentration, and the drive time in that stage is passed to the motor drive routine. As a result, the toner supply motor 112 is driven for the drive time, and toner is supplied. Then, the process returns to step 202 and waits until the predetermined value (the number of integrated pixels) at the stage selected in step 206 is reached.
Step 6 is repeated.

As shown in FIG. 14, a predetermined value (integrated pixel number) P according to the toner density detected at time T (n)
If the stage of (n) and the drive time D (n) is selected, the toner supply motor 112 is driven for the drive time D (n). Next, assuming that the number of pixels of the image data reaches P (n) at time T (n + 1), the toner density is detected again, and a new stage is selected according to the toner density. Assuming that the predetermined value (the number of integrated pixels) P (n + 1) and the driving time D (n + 1) at the stage selected here are the driving time D (n + 1).
And the next toner density detection is performed when the number of pixels of the image data reaches P (n + 1).

Here, a specific example of step selection according to the detected toner density will be described. Predetermined concentrations _TL , _TH ( _TL <
T _H ), the detected toner concentration T _S is T _S <T _L
Replenished toner per unit time T _D1 when the, T _L ≦
T _S <T T per unit time when the _{H D2 (T D1> T D2} )
, And when T _H ≦ T _S , no toner is supplied. Then, for example, applying the example step "10" to the replenishment amount T _D1, applying the example step "7" replenishment amount T _D2. Then, when T _S <T _L , step “10” is selected, and when T _L ≦ T _S <T _H , step “7” is selected, and an amount of toner corresponding to the detected density is supplied. , T _H ≦ T _S, no toner is supplied. Further, which stage is to be applied to the replenishment amounts T _D1 and T _D2 can be changed by the input of the console 110 in FIG.

Alternatively, when the appropriate toner density is t, the detected toner density is T, and the proportional constant is K, K (t−
The value of T) may be associated with each step, K (t−T) may be calculated from the detected toner density, and the step may be selected based on the value.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, since the toner supply interval is set according to the number of pixels of the image data, the fluctuation of the toner consumption within the toner supply interval is reduced, and the detected toner density is changed in accordance with the detected toner density. Since the stage is selected and the toner is supplied in an amount corresponding to the toner density, the fluctuation of the toner density can be further reduced.

The other structures, operations and effects are the same as those of the toner supply device according to the second embodiment.

Next, a toner supply device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. The configuration of this embodiment is shown in FIG.
The storage means 122 stores a plurality of stages of the drive time of the toner supply motor 112 as shown in Table 4.

[0092]

[Table 4]

As shown in Table 4, in the toner supply device according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, the ratio of the drive time to the number of integrated pixels is R, the stage is N, and the drive time in stage "1" is When the ratio to the number of integrated pixels is R ₀ and the coefficient is C, R = R
Each stage is set so as to be ₀ × C ^N−1 .
That is, the ratio R between the drive time and the number of integrated pixels is set to be equal between adjacent stages. Other configurations are the same as those of the toner supply device according to the second embodiment.

In the toner supply device according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, the firing member roll 68 of the toner supply device 50 is used.
In the case where the amount of toner falling per unit time decreases due to the deterioration of the toner supply amount and the toner supply amount decreases, if the steps are shifted by the reduced ratio, the same per unit time as before the deterioration of the firing member roll 68 etc. Toner supply amount. For example, in the example of Table 4, the ratio between the driving time and the number of integrated pixels is set so that R becomes 1.1 times for each step, so that the toner supply amount per unit time is 1/1. 1
If the level is increased by one every time the toner is reduced, the toner supply amount per unit time before the reduction can be returned.

In the toner supply device according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, the number of pixels is changed together with the drive time of the toner supply motor 112, so that the drive is performed at shorter toner supply intervals as described above. Ratio R between time and total number of pixels
Can be easily set so as to have an equal ratio between adjacent stages. Other functions and effects are the same as those of the toner supply device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

Next, a toner supply device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described. The configuration of the toner supply device according to the fifth embodiment is similar to that of the toner supply device according to the fourth embodiment, except that the drive time of the toner supply motor 112 as shown in Table 4 is stored in the storage unit 122 of FIG. It is the same as the toner supply device according to the third embodiment except that a plurality of stages are stored. Therefore, the stage corresponding to the detected toner density is selected from the plurality of stages shown in Table 4.

In the toner supply device according to the fifth embodiment, like the toner supply device according to the fourth embodiment,
If the amount of toner falling per unit time decreases due to the deterioration of the firing member roll 68 and the like of the toner supply device 50 and the toner supply amount decreases, the stages are shifted by the reduced ratio, and the firing member roll 68 and the like are reduced. Can be returned to the same amount of toner supply per unit time as before the deterioration. Other functions and effects are the same as those of the toner supply device according to the third embodiment or the fourth embodiment.

Next, a description will be given of a toner supply device according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. The configuration of the toner supply device according to the sixth embodiment is substantially the same as that of the toner supply device according to the first embodiment, but the storage unit 122 in FIG. A plurality of stages of the driving speed of the motor 112 are stored. The plurality of stages correspond to a predetermined value of the integrated value of the number of detected pixels (for example, 5,000
(0000 pixels). Then, the selecting unit 124 selects any one of the plurality of stages stored in the storage unit 122, and selects the motor control unit 12
6 is a selection means 1 when the integrated value of the number of pixels reaches a predetermined value.
24, the toner supply motor 112 is driven at the drive speed at the stage selected.

[0099]

[Table 5]

As the toner supply motor 112, for example, DC
If a motor is used, the driving speed of the toner supply motor 112 can be changed by changing the output voltage 129 from the motor control means 126. The driving time of the toner supply motor 112 is constant, for example, 0.2 sec.

As in the case of the toner supply device according to the sixth embodiment, when the driving speed is changed, even when the integrated pixel number is fixed, when the driving time is changed, the difference between adjacent stages can be obtained. The amount of change can be set without making it small, and the amount of toner supply can be finely changed at a shorter toner supply interval, so that fluctuations in toner density can be reduced. Other configurations, operations, and effects are the same as those of the toner supply device according to the first embodiment.

Next, a description will be given of a toner supply device according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention. The configuration of the toner supply device according to the seventh embodiment is similar to that of the toner supply device according to the third embodiment, except that the driving speed of the toner supply motor 112 as shown in Table 5 is stored in the storage unit 122 of FIG. It is the same as the toner supply device according to the third embodiment except that a plurality of stages are stored. However, the toner supply motor 11
For example, if a DC motor is used as 2, the driving speed of the toner supply motor 112 can be changed by changing the output voltage 129 from the motor control means 126. Therefore, from a plurality of stages shown in Table 5, the toner supply motor 11 according to the detected toner concentration
Two drive speed stages are selected.

According to the toner supply device of the seventh embodiment, since the toner supply interval is set according to the number of pixels of the image data, the fluctuation of the toner consumption within the toner supply interval is reduced and the toner supply is detected. Since the stage is selected according to the toner density and the amount of toner supply is performed according to the toner density, the fluctuation of the toner density can be further reduced.
Other functions and effects are described in the third embodiment or the sixth embodiment.
This is the same as the toner supply device according to the embodiment.

Next, a description will be given of a toner supply device according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention. The configuration of the toner supply device according to the eighth embodiment is substantially the same as that of the toner supply device according to the sixth embodiment, but a plurality of drive speeds as shown in Table 6 in the storage unit 122 of FIG. The steps are stored.

[0105]

[Table 6]

As shown in Table 6, in the eighth embodiment, when the driving speed is V, the stage is N, the driving speed at stage "1" is V ₀ , and the coefficient is C, V = V ₀ × Each stage is set for each predetermined number of integrated pixels so as to be C ^N-1 . That is, the values of the driving speed are set so as to have the same ratio between the adjacent stages.

In the eighth embodiment, similarly to the fourth embodiment, the amount of toner falling per unit time decreases with the deterioration of the firing member roll 68 of the toner supply device 50, and the amount of toner supply In the case where the toner supply amount is reduced, the toner supply amount per unit time can be returned to the same as before the deterioration of the firing member roll 68 and the like by shifting the stage by the reduced ratio. Other functions and effects are the same as those of the toner supply device according to the fourth embodiment or the sixth embodiment.

Next, a toner supply device according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention will be described. The configuration of the toner supply device according to the ninth embodiment is substantially the same as that of the toner supply device according to the seventh embodiment, but the toner supply motor 112 as shown in Table 6 is stored in the storage unit 122 of FIG. A plurality of driving speed stages are stored. Therefore, the stage corresponding to the detected toner density is selected from the plurality of stages shown in Table 6.

In the toner supply device according to the ninth embodiment, similar to the toner supply device according to the eighth embodiment,
When the amount of toner falling per unit time decreases due to the deterioration of the firing member roll 68 and the like of the toner supply device 50 and the toner supply amount decreases, the firing member roll 68 can be shifted by the reduced ratio. Can be returned to the same amount of toner supply per unit time as before the deterioration. Other functions and effects are the same as those of the toner supply device according to the seventh embodiment or the eighth embodiment.

Incidentally, the toner supply device is not limited to the one using the foaming member roll 68 as shown in FIG.
As long as the apparatus can supply the toner, such as the apparatus shown in JP-A-4-5300, any method may be used.

[0111]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the toner is supplied to the developing device for a predetermined time every time the integrated value of the number of pixels of the image data reaches the predetermined number of pixels. Therefore, it is possible to supply an amount of toner close to the consumption amount.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of steps of the toner supply amount are performed by combining a predetermined value of the integrated value of the number of pixels of the image data and the toner supply time. Since the setting is made, in addition to the effect of the invention described in the first aspect, the toner supply amount can be substantially finely changed at a shorter toner supply interval.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the stage of the toner supply amount is selected according to the detected toner concentration. In addition to the effects of the present invention, the toner supply can be performed in accordance with the toner density, and the fluctuation of the toner density can be reduced.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the invention, the toner supply time is set such that the ratio of the toner supply time to the predetermined value is equal between adjacent stages. Since a plurality of levels of the amount are set, in addition to the effect of the invention described in the second aspect, even if the toner supply amount per unit time decreases, it is possible to easily return to the toner supply amount before the decrease. .

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the present invention, a plurality of the toner supply times and a predetermined value are set so that the ratio between the toner supply time and the predetermined value is equal between adjacent stages. Since the stages are set, in addition to the effect of the invention described in the third aspect, even if the toner supply amount per unit time decreases, it is possible to easily return to the toner supply amount before the decrease.

Further, according to the present invention, the toner is supplied to the developing device at a predetermined speed each time the integrated value of the number of pixels of the image data reaches a predetermined value. In addition to the effects of the invention described in (1), the toner supply amount can be substantially finely changed at a shorter toner supply interval.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, in the sixth aspect of the present invention, the step is selected according to the detected toner concentration. In addition to the effects, it is possible to reduce the fluctuation of the toner density by supplying the toner according to the toner density.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, in the sixth aspect of the invention, the plurality of toner supply speeds and the predetermined value are set so that the ratio between the toner supply speed and the predetermined value is equal between adjacent stages. Since the stages are set, in addition to the effect of the invention described in claim 6, even if the toner supply amount per unit time decreases, it is possible to easily return to the toner supply amount before the decrease.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, in the seventh aspect of the present invention, the plurality of toner supply speeds and the predetermined value are set so that the ratio between the toner supply speed and the predetermined value is equal between adjacent stages. Since the stages are set, in addition to the effect of the invention described in claim 6, even if the toner supply amount per unit time decreases, it is possible to easily return to the toner supply amount before the decrease.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an entire image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a specific configuration near a photoconductor of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a process of forming an image in the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a main part of the toner supply device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a firing member roll and a perforated member in the toner supply device shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control unit of the toner supply device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram illustrating functions of a control unit of the toner supply device realized by the configuration of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control unit of a toner supply device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

9 is a functional block diagram illustrating functions of a control unit of the toner supply device realized by the configuration of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a specific configuration of the density sensor of FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is an explanatory view showing another example of a specific configuration of the density sensor of FIG. 8;

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing still another example of a specific configuration of the density sensor of FIG. 8;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of toner concentration control in a toner supply device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a timing chart showing an operation of toner density control in a toner supply device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 50 toner supply device 62 housing 64 opening 66 holed member 68 firing member roll 70 partition 72 screw 74 screw 76 hole 100 CPU 102 ROM 104 RAM 106 input / output control device 108 interface 110 console 112 toner supply motor 114 bus 116 density sensor 120 Pixel number accumulation / storage means 122 Storage means 124 Selection means 126 Motor control means 130 Toner density detection means

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Nobuyasu Hirayama 3-7-1, Fuchu, Iwatsuki-shi, Saitama Prefecture Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. Iwatsuki Office

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A toner supply unit for supplying toner to a developing device of an image forming apparatus using at least a developer containing toner, a pixel number detecting unit for detecting the number of pixels of image data, and the pixel number detecting unit Integrating means for obtaining an integrated value of the number of pixels detected by the above-mentioned method; storage means for storing the toner supply time in the toner supply means in correspondence with a plurality of stages for each predetermined number of pixels; and toner stored in the storage means. Selecting means for selecting any one of a plurality of stages of the supply time; and when an integrated value of the number of pixels obtained by the integrating means reaches a predetermined number of pixels in the stage selected by the selecting means. Then, only the toner supply time at that stage,
And a control means for driving the toner supply means. 2. A toner supply unit that supplies toner to a developing device of an image forming apparatus that uses a developer containing at least toner, a pixel number detecting unit that detects the number of pixels of image data, and a pixel number detecting unit. Means for calculating an integrated value of the number of pixels detected by the control means, and storage means for storing a combination of a predetermined value of the integrated value of the number of pixels obtained by the integrating means and a toner supply time corresponding to the predetermined value in a plurality of stages Selecting means for selecting one of a plurality of steps stored in the storage means; and calculating the integrated value of the number of pixels obtained by the integrating means to a predetermined value in the step selected by the selecting means. And a control means for driving the toner supply means for the toner supply time at that stage when the toner supply time is reached. 3. A toner supply unit that supplies toner to a developing device of an image forming apparatus that uses a developer containing at least toner, a pixel number detecting unit that detects the number of pixels of image data, and the pixel number detecting unit. Means for calculating an integrated value of the number of pixels detected by the storage means, and storage means for storing a combination of a predetermined value of the integrated value of the number of pixels obtained by the integrating means and a toner supply time corresponding to the predetermined value in a plurality of stages. A toner concentration detecting means for detecting a toner concentration in the developer; and, according to a toner concentration detected by the toner concentration detecting means, one of a plurality of steps stored in the storage means. Selecting means for selecting, when the integrated value of the number of pixels determined by the integrating means reaches a predetermined value at the stage selected by the selecting means, And a control means for driving the toner supply means for a toner supply time in the toner supply apparatus. 4. A toner supply unit that supplies toner to a developing device of an image forming apparatus that uses a developer containing at least toner, a pixel number detecting unit that detects the number of pixels of image data, and the pixel number detecting unit. Integrating means for obtaining an integrated value of the number of pixels detected by the method, and a plurality of stages by a combination of a predetermined value of the integrated value of the number of pixels obtained by the integrating means and a toner supply time corresponding to the predetermined value, A storage unit that stores a plurality of stages set so that the value of the ratio between the toner supply time and the predetermined value is equal between adjacent stages; and among a plurality of stages stored in the storage unit. Selecting means for selecting any one of the steps, when the integrated value of the number of pixels obtained by the integrating means reaches a predetermined value in the step selected by the selecting means, Only kicking toner supply time, the toner supply apparatus characterized by and a control means for driving said toner feeding means. 5. A toner supply unit that supplies toner to a developing device of an image forming apparatus that uses a developer containing at least toner, a pixel number detecting unit that detects the number of pixels of image data, and the pixel number detecting unit. Integrating means for obtaining an integrated value of the number of pixels detected by the method, and a plurality of stages by a combination of a predetermined value of the integrated value of the number of pixels obtained by the integrating means and a toner supply time corresponding to the predetermined value, Storage means for storing a plurality of steps set so that a value of a ratio between the toner supply time and the predetermined value is equal between adjacent steps; and a toner density for detecting a toner density in the developer. Detecting means; selecting means for selecting one of a plurality of steps stored in the storage means in accordance with the toner concentration detected by the toner concentration detecting means; When the integrated value of the number of pixels obtained by the step reaches a predetermined value at the stage selected by the selection unit, the control unit drives the toner supply unit for the toner supply time at that stage. A toner supply device. 6. A toner supply unit that supplies toner to a developing device of an image forming apparatus that uses a developer containing at least toner, a pixel number detecting unit that detects the number of pixels of image data, and the pixel number detecting unit. Integrating means for obtaining an integrated value of the number of pixels detected by the above-mentioned method; storage means for storing the toner supply speed in the toner supply means in a plurality of steps for each predetermined integrated pixel number; and a plurality of steps stored in the storage means Selecting means for selecting one of the steps, and when the integrated value of the number of pixels obtained by the integrating means reaches a predetermined value in the step selected by the selecting means, the toner supply speed at that step And a control means for driving the toner supply means. 7. A toner supply unit that supplies toner to a developing device of an image forming apparatus that uses a developer containing at least toner, a pixel number detecting unit that detects the number of pixels of image data, and the pixel number detecting unit. Integrating means for obtaining an integrated value of the number of pixels detected by the above; storage means for storing the toner supply speed in the toner supplying means in a plurality of stages for each predetermined integrated pixel number; and detecting the toner concentration in the developer. Toner concentration detecting means, selecting means for selecting one of a plurality of steps stored in the storage means in accordance with the toner concentration detected by the toner concentration detecting means, When the integrated value of the number of pixels reaches a predetermined value at the stage selected by the selection means, the toner supply speed at that stage And a control means for driving the means. 8. A toner supply unit that supplies toner to a developing device of an image forming apparatus that uses a developer containing at least toner, a pixel number detecting unit that detects the number of pixels of image data, and the pixel number detecting unit. Integrating means for obtaining an integrated value of the number of pixels detected by the method; and a plurality of stages in which the toner supply speed in the toner supply unit is determined for each predetermined integrated pixel number, wherein the toner supply speed values are adjacent to each other. Storage means for storing a plurality of steps set so as to have an equal ratio between them, selecting means for selecting one of the plurality of steps stored in the storage means, and Control means for driving the toner supply means at the toner supply speed at the stage when the integrated value of the number of pixels reaches a predetermined value at the stage selected by the selection unit Toner supply device, characterized in that it comprises a. 9. A toner supply unit that supplies toner to a developing device of an image forming apparatus that uses a developer containing at least toner, a pixel number detecting unit that detects the number of pixels of image data, and the pixel number detecting unit. Integrating means for obtaining an integrated value of the number of pixels detected by the method; and a plurality of stages in which the toner supply speed in the toner supply unit is determined for each predetermined integrated pixel number, wherein the toner supply speed values are adjacent to each other. Storage means for storing a plurality of steps set so as to have an equal ratio among them; toner concentration detection means for detecting a toner concentration in the developer; and a toner concentration detection means for detecting a toner concentration in the developer. Selecting means for selecting one of a plurality of steps stored in the storage means, and an integrated value of the number of pixels obtained by the integrating means is selected by the selecting means. And a control means for driving the toner supply means at the toner supply speed in the selected stage when the predetermined value is reached in the selected stage.