JPS6161182A - Color image recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the use convenience by constituting a titled device so that image recording of a color mode for using a color material in which a smaller measured quantity value than a prescribed value has been detected is inhibited, and image recording of a color mode for using other color material is allowed. CONSTITUTION:A color image recording device checks a no-toner signal of each toner in a step 1, a step 2 and a step 3, inhibits a color mode of each toner in a step 1, a step 2 and a step 3, inhibits a color mode of yellow, red and green.full color, in a step 4, in case when there is no yellow (Y) toner, and inhibits a color mode of magenta, red and blue.full color color, in a step 5, in case when there is magenta-free (M) toner. A user selects and designate one color mode from among a yellow lamp 202Y, a cyan mode lamp 202C, and a green mode lamp 202G, which are turned on, and can execute the copying work continuously by the green color mode.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Technical Field] The present invention relates to a color image recording device constituting an output section of a multi-color or full-color electrophotographic copying machine, a computer, a facsimile IJ, and the like.

[Prior art]

In conventional recording devices that form multi-color (monochromatic colors of two or three or more colors) or full-color images, such as color electrophotographic copying machines, , detects the remaining amount of the replenishment color material (toner) and compares it with a predetermined standard remaining amount value, and if the remaining amount of toner in at least one developing device is low, Generally, a method is adopted in which a toner out signal is output, a toner replenishment display is displayed on the operation panel, and the copying machine is stopped when the copying process that is currently being performed is completed.

However, in such color copying machines, the amount of toner consumed by each color developing device naturally varies depending on the original and the color mode used, so even if the toner replenishment display is displayed, there may be insufficient toner remaining. There may be different color toners that are not used. However, in conventional devices, the copying process cannot be restarted unless the toner is replenished when the amount of remaining toner is low.
This was extremely inconvenient, especially when the replenishment toner was out of stock.

〔the purpose〕

The present invention has been made in view of the following problems, and when it is detected that the remaining amount of each color material for each color is smaller than a predetermined value, that color material is removed. The objective is to provide a device with improved usability by prohibiting image recording in the color mode used, but allowing image recording in a color mode using only other color materials.
I am myself.

〔Example〕

Therefore, in a color copying machine implementing the present invention,
A toner detector is provided for determining the amount of toner remaining in each of the plurality of color-based developing devices installed, and when the measured value of a certain toner is smaller than a predetermined value,
The configuration is such that only color mode image recording using the toner is prohibited.

The present invention will be described below with reference to Examples.

FIG. 1 shows a sectional view of essential parts of an example of a color electrocopying machine to which the present invention can be applied. Reference numeral 1 denotes a photosensitive drum serving as a latent image carrier, which rotates in the direction of the arrow in the figure. Around it,
In order of rotation direction, charger 2, exposure optical system 3, developing device 4.
A transfer system 5 and a cleaning device 6 are provided. The optical system 3 includes a document scanning section 3a and a color separation filter section 3b, and the developing device 4 includes a yellow developer 4Y using yellow toner, a magenta developer 4M using magenta toner, and a cyan developer using cyan toner. It consists of a developing device 4C.

Further, the transfer section 5 includes a drum 5b having a gripper 5a, and a transfer discharger 5C inside the drum 5b.

The color image is a toner image on the photoreceptor drum 1 obtained by operating one of the three developing devices 4Y, 4M, and 4C for - times of document scanning.

Formation and recording can be completed by repeating the process of transferring onto the transfer material supported on the transfer drum 5b as many times as necessary.

This transfer material is supplied from a cassette 7, and the transfer material that has completed the transfer process is separated by a one-separation means 8 and brought onto a tray 10 via a fixing device 9.

A full-color image can be obtained by sequentially operating the three color developing units 4Y, 41VI, and 4C. On the other hand 1
For example, a yellow image can be obtained by operating only the yellow developing device 4Y, or a green image can be obtained by sequentially operating the yellow developing device 4Y and the cyan developing device 4C. The type of image to be formed can be arbitrarily selected by specifying the color mode, as will be described later.

Although the three developing units 4Y, 41v'l, and 4C have different shapes, they have the same structure, and a sectional view of the main part is shown in FIG. When the developing device is in operation, the magnet roller 41 and stirring screws 42a and 42b rotate in the direction of the arrow shown in the figure. Further, the blade 43 is spaced a certain distance from the hard roller 41, and the developer 45 made of toner and magnetic material is magnetically attracted to the surface of the magnet roller 41 and rotates together with the magnet roller. After the thickness is made uniform, the photosensitive drum 1 is brought into contact with the photosensitive drum 1.

At this time, some of the toner is electrostatically attracted onto the photoreceptor drum 1 to form a toner image. Further, the developer 45 is scraped off from above the magnetic roller 41 by a scraping plate 44, and is uniformly stirred by stirring screws 42a and 42b.

At the end of the operation of the developing device, the blade 43 comes close to the magnet roller 41 and scrapes off the developer 45 on the magnet roller, so that it is out of contact with the photosensitive drum 1.

On the other hand, while the developing device is in operation, the light from the density detection lamp 46 illuminates the developer 45 on the magnet roller 41, and the amount of reflected light is detected by the density detection photosensor 47.

The toner concentration (that is, the concentration of the developer, hereinafter referred to as such) contained in the developer 45 decreases each time development is performed, but since the concentration of the developer corresponds to the reflected photoelectricity, it is determined by a predetermined standard. The reflected light value is compared with the actually measured reflected light amount value, and if the measured reflected light amount value is low, that is, if the developer density is lower than the standard, a toner replenishment signal is sent.

Each of the developing devices 4Y, 4M, and 4C has a hopper 50 that stores toner for replenishment, and when the toner replenishment signal is sent, the hopper motor 51 rotates the hopper screw 52 for a certain period of time, and develops a certain amount of toner 53. Supply into the vessel.

The supplied toner is stirred by the stirring screw 42a.

It is mixed with the developer 45 by 42b, and the concentration of the developer is maintained within a certain range.

Further, a lamp 54 and a photosensor 55 constituting a toner amount detector are disposed on opposing side walls of the hopper 50, and the hopper 54 is turned on for a certain period of time after power is turned on and for each copy operation.

The light from the lamp 54 is blocked by the toner 53 while the amount of toner in the hopper 50 is sufficient, but as the amount of toner decreases, it begins to pass through the hopper 50, and the amount of transmitted light is reduced. It is detected by the photosensor 55. This amount of transmitted light is compared with a preset standard value, and if it is larger, a toner out signal is sent to indicate toner replenishment.

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of a remaining toner amount detection/display circuit according to the present invention. The amount of transmitted light detected by each of the photosensors 55Y, 55M, and 55C disposed in the three hoppers corresponding to the three developing devices, that is, the yellow hopper 50Y, the magenta hopper 50M, and the cyan hopper 50C, is determined by each comparator 101Y, 101M.

The signal is binarized by 101C and input to the control unit 103 as a toner present signal or a toner absent signal. The control unit 103 controls the driver 104 in response to the input signal.
Toner replenishment indicator 20 on display panel 200 via
1 yellow toner replenishment lamp 201Y, magenta toner replenishment lamp 201M, cyan toner replenishment lamp 201
The toner replenishment display is performed by turning on or off C respectively.

Further, the control unit 103 stops the copying operation scheduled to be performed primarily every time a new toner out signal is input, and stops the machine when the copying operation being performed at that time is completed. Further, the control unit 103 stops the color mode function using the toner for which the toner out signal has been output, as shown in the flowchart of FIG.

That is, step 1. Step 2. In step 3, each toner (Y) toner and M toner.

Check the out-of-toner signal for yellow (C toner).
If there is no η toner, disable the yellow, red, green, and full color color modes in step 4. If there is no magenta toner, disable the magenta, red, blue, and full color color modes in step 5. If there is no cyan (C) toner, then in step 6, the -color modes of cyan, blue, green, and full color are prohibited. Color modes that are not prohibited are indicated by color mode lamp 202, which is an indicator provided on display panel 200 in FIG. For example, when copying in full color mode, if the amount of toner remaining in the magenta hopper 50M becomes low and a toner out signal is input, the magenta (incorporated) toner replenishment lamp 201M lights up, and then When the machine stops, the magenta mode lamp 2 of the color mode lamps
02M, the red mode lamp 202R, blue mode lamp 202B, and full color mode lamp 202F are turned off.

The user can resume the copying operation by replenishing the magenta hopper 50M with replenishing magenta M) toner in accordance with the illuminated toner replenishment lamp.

However, even without replenishing magenta toner, you can select and specify one color mode from the yellow mode lamp 202Y, cyan mode lamp 202C, and green mode lamp 202G that are lit, for example, in the green color mode. If you continue to make copies, you will be able to do so.

In this case, the next time the amount of toner remaining in the yellow hopper 50Y becomes low and a toner out signal is input, the yellow toner replenishment lamp 201Y will light up again, the machine will stop, and the color mode lamp will turn off. The lights go out except for the mode lamp 202C. 1. Users can continue copying work only in cyan color mode, and if they replenish yellow toner and magenta toner,
The toner supply lamp and color mode lamp return to their initial states, and all color modes can be selected.

Although this embodiment has been described using a copying machine as an example, the present invention can also be applied to a color recording device that records data output from a computer or the like.

Furthermore, although this embodiment has been described using an electrophotographic apparatus as an example, it is also applicable to inkjet and the like.

〔effect〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, the insufficient color material is detected among the color materials of the color recording device, and only image recording in color mode using that color material is prohibited, but only when other color materials are used. Since the configuration is configured such that image recording in a color mode using .

Furthermore, by displaying color modes that are not prohibited, the user can easily identify and select the mode and quickly switch.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a main part of an example of a color electrophotographic copying machine to which the present invention can be applied, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a main part of a developing device.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a remaining toner amount detection/display circuit according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a flow chart thereof. 1...Photosensitive drum 4...Developing device 5...Transfer drum 41...Magnetic roller 45・・・・・・
...Developer 47...Concentration detection sensor 50...
..... Toner hopper 53 ..... Toner 55 ..... Photo sensor 200 ..... Display panel

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A recording device that records a color image consisting of a plurality of colors using a plurality of different coloring materials, which includes a detection means for measuring the amount of each of the coloring materials, and detects a measured quantity value smaller than a predetermined value. What is claimed is: 1. A color image recording apparatus characterized in that the apparatus is configured to prohibit image recording in a color mode using a coloring material such as a color material, and permit image recording in a color mode using another coloring material. (2) Claim 1, further comprising a display means for displaying a color mode in which the image recording is allowed.
The color image recording device described in Section 1.