JPS6188284A - Toner end detecting method of image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To detect the end of toner in a toner hopper accurately by detecting the end of toner in the toner hopper from the state of the amount of toner sticking on a photosensitive body. CONSTITUTION:A reference pattern 13 which has a specific reflection factor is fitted to the reverse surface of contact glass 12 and its light image is formed through an optical system except at the original image formation area on the photosensitive body 1. The photosensitive body 1 rotates as shown by an arrow and reflected light from the visualized toner image of the electrostatic latent image of the reference pattern is detected by a sensor 14 composed of a pair of a light emitting part and a photodetection part, thereby sending an output VSO to a CPU. The CPU compares VSP with VSO and turns on a display device 16 when judging the end of toner in the toner hopper 8.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Technical Field) The present invention relates to a method for detecting the end of toner in an image forming apparatus, and more particularly, when a toner bottle attached to a developing device of an electronic 4-speed copying machine is crossed: g)' 7) Applicable to detection, in image forming devices!・Relates to a method for detecting the end of a girder.

(Prior art) Conventionally, as an image forming apparatus, an optical image to be used for image formation is formed on a uniformly charged photoreceptor and exposed to light, and the electrostatic cleaner thus carried is exposed to light. There are two methods: one method is to apply toner to adhere to the surface of the paper, and this toner fixes insects to obtain a recorded image, or the other method is to further transfer the toner image onto paper to obtain a recorded image. .

In these systems, a developing device is used as a means for supplying toner to the photoreceptor, and a replaceable container called a toner bottle or toner cartridge is attached to supplement the consumed toner. -C3゜For example, Figure 4 shows an example of a developing device having a toner bottle, and since its configuration is well known, the names of the main components will only be listed. 2 is a drum-shaped photoreceptor, 2 is a developing sleeve that has a fixed magnet inside and rotates in the direction of the arrow, 3 is a doctor blade, G is a developer consisting of toner T and carrier, and 4 is a developer G. Deflection plate that regulates the conveyance direction, reference numeral 5 is deflection plate 4
Cross spreader 1 that sends the developer in the opposite direction to the conveying direction of
The number 6 is the paddle wheel, the number 7 is the notch on the circumferential surface, and the toner to be cut ((4 jig roller, mark → go 8 (is the toner hono, 2-121: the number 0 is the front press: ・gone, the mark - Bow 10 (τ Nitner Otl c'r.

With such a configuration V, the toner T in the toner bottle 10
is supplied into the toner hopper 8. Then, an appropriate amount of toner T in the toner hopper 8 is replenished into the casing 11 according to the rotation of the toner supply roller 7, and an appropriate mixing ratio with the carrier is maintained.

This false phenomenon: One amount of the dye G is stirred in the case 11, and the toner T is adsorbed to the photoreceptor 1 page by page through the dye sleeve 2 and is consumed.

By the way, the stirring spring 9 is provided as a means for controlling the flow of the toner T in the toner hopper 8; It rotates when replenishing toner to agitate the toner and prevent toner blocking, and also detects the lightness and weight of the load with a lux sensor to determine the amount of toner remaining. However, since the alternating rotation range of the stirring spring 9 does not extend to the bottom of the hopper 8, the signal to prompt the replacement of the toner amount (10) is detected by the lightest torque. Even if one toner is taken out, toner T remains at the bottom.The amount of residual toner is generally 50 to 100 g, and the toner hopper 8 is designed to accommodate this residual toner. Moreover, an unnecessary volume is occupied in the limited space within the image forming apparatus.

Next, FIG. 5 shows another conventional example. In this example: Toner T 7' stored in the toner bottle 10' is in the form of a so-called cartridge, which is discarded once it runs out, and is removably stored in the hopper 8'. Inside the toner bottle 10', a stirring basin 9' is installed which also serves to supply toner. In this example, there is a useless volume for residual toner in the hopper 8 part, as in the previous example, but in order to increase the blueness of the tank and torque detection r, there is a high volume part attached to the stirring spring 9'. Toner bottle 10, along with precision bearings and other parts that account for considerable high costs.
'There is a problem that the entire device is consumed as a disposable part. In addition, an expensive torque detector must also be used.

In addition to the above, it is also possible to use an ultrasonic sensor as a means of detecting the amount of toner remaining in the toner bottle.
This is not cost-effective, and since it is necessary to install a cleaning member to prevent toner from adhering to the sensor surface, there are restrictions on where it can be installed. There are many practical problems such as the existence of

(Objective) Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a method for detecting the end of toner in an image forming apparatus, which can accurately detect the end of toner in a toner hopper.

(f14) In order to achieve the above object in a mathematical manner, the present invention has a special feature 2 of detecting the end of the toner in the toner hopper depending on the state of the amount of toner adhering to the one- and three-element body. It is something. Hereinafter, a detailed explanation will be given based on one embodiment of the present invention.

The mechanical configuration of the toner end detection system is as shown in FIG. 2, and a reference pattern 13 having a predetermined reflectance is attached to the lower surface of the contact glass 12. The optical image of the reference pattern 13 is set to be focused on a portion of the photoreceptor 1 outside the image forming area of the document image via an imaging optical system, a mirror, or the like.

Further, in the rotational direction of the photoconductor 1, behind the developing sleeve 2Q distribution section, and at a portion through which the pigtail region of the reference pattern 13 passes, a pair of sensors 14 consisting of a pair of light emitting section and light receiving section is installed. is provided. The sensor 111 detects the reflected light from the toner image (hereinafter referred to as sensor detection pattern) that visualizes the electrostatic latent state of the reference pattern 13, photoelectrically converts it, and outputs the sensor output VSP.

After the reference pattern 13 passes, the reflected light from the exposed portion of the photoconductor, that is, the portion where toner is not originally deposited, is detected and photoelectrically converted, and a sensor output VS (1) is output.

Detection signals ji from these sensors 14 are determined by the central processing unit CPU, and based on the results, the cumulative system 15
The king's name is sent to the central processing unit CPU, and the transfer roller 7 and the stirrer 9 are moved. When the toner for par 8 is finished, the display 2 indicates that the toner has been used, and it lights up, prompting the operator to change the toner bottle. Here, the VC is set to prompt, and two types of values, 1 and 2, are used as predetermined control standards, which are data stored in the central processing unit CPU and compared with the output VSI' of the sensor 14. For example, 11] 1 is 1 in Fig. 3, and in order to obtain a high image 1.?, richness 5 degrees (rD = 1.3) or more; 0.5v) as a guide. Therefore, the sensor output VSP
is less than the control criterion Phi, which means that there is sufficient toner deposition on the sensor detection pattern. In this case, it is considered that sufficient developer G is retained in the Kuhnong 11, and the toner replenishing roller 7
There is no need to replenish the toner or replace the toner bottle.

In addition, in Figure 3, the control standard 2 is the upper limit of the sensor output (1.5V) that is necessary to obtain the minimum image density (ID = 1.0) for a proper image.
The Treasure Tower is -1 for cheap. Therefore, the sensor output VSP is 'Tj'MiE29L'.

I (2 to 6.j.:1;'j is the sensor pattern while it is not present, CI",; since the density is maintained, it is determined that there is toner in the toner bottle. If the control standard exceeds 2, it means that there is no toner in the toner bottle, provided that the toner replenishment rate is at its maximum.

Here, the toner replenishment rate means that the toner T is transferred from the toner cartridge or the toner bottle into the cane puffer 11 by i′1.
Amount of rotation of the toner replenishing roller 7 for zero feeding: A value that increases or decreases by a ratio of 91j, at least 2 stages or more. - Enables switching of S supply. When the toner replenishment roller 7 is driven at a low level, the toner replenishment rate is low (but when the toner replenishment roller 7 is driven at high speed, the toner replenishment rate is high. For example, the toner replenishment rate is based on the black area ratio 20). .

The toner replenishment rate is set to correspond to 40% and 60%, and the toner replenishment rate is initially set to correspond to a black solid area ratio of 20%.

Next, the process of toner replenishment control will be explained using the first step.

10 seconds have passed since the main switch of the image forming apparatus was turned on.
Toner replenishment 10111 is performed by the sensor 14 once for each exposure. Zunai, Pro 1 Sp, i
Come on, stay, l'i! 'I recorded myself with elephant S5'/
・While turning on the switch/chi
The values of L+1 and L+1 are compared, and if these values match, a standard pattern toner image is formed on the J photoreceptor in process P2, and the sensor functions to detect the density retention. Here, n is a natural number and means the number of times the sensor 14 detects reflected light from the sensor detection pattern after the main switch is turned on. Therefore, when the main switch is turned on and one copy is made, n = O, so 10η, +1 = 1, and since it matches the number of copies, 1, j is determined to be yes in process P1. Process P2
Proceed to. From then on, since toner 4-1 has already been counted, lon+1=11, so sensor chart 1 does not function until the number of copies reaches 11, and in process P3, the same toner 4- as before is used. The +/δ supply state continues. Hereinafter, following the same concept, toner density control is executed by the function of Sensato 1 once for every 10 copies.

Now, when the sensor detection pattern is created in process P2, the sensor output V is then created in process P1.
SI' and VSO are each spared. First, in process I)5, the sensor output V,. The 'direction is the standard mixture E e;,
) For example, it is compared to 2.5 V. For example, sensor output VSO: 4 is set to be about 4.0V for sensor output 3:i, 2, and 4, where there is no toner stain on sensor 1, so if sensor output VSG is less than 2.5V, In this case, it is determined that the sensor output is not increased due to the degree of sensor blurring, and in process P6, toner supply is suspended, a display corresponding to Ia is made, and the dirt on the sensor sensor 1 is removed.

On the other hand, when the sensor output VSO exceeds 2.5V,
Since there is no dirt on the sensor 14, in the next process P7, the magnitude relationship between the sensor output VSI and the control reference , K2 is determined to be H.

Set process P7, sensor output ■, 1. When it does not reach the above-mentioned -1j inverted radical Kl (-0,5V), '1, the high concentration 7":j", 5: 2: [Because it is a 5-point river in China et al.:・na Must be replenished;1,;
:, In process P8, action 1 is taken, the content of which is not to perform the 1st na:'ilj lining.

Also, [in the process P7, the output VSI'
+ (-〇, 5v) to 2 (-1, 5v)
), it is determined that the toner level is 7 to obtain an image with an appropriate density, and in process P9, the initial setting V is used to select the toner corresponding to the black solid area ratio of 20%. Toner replenishment at the replenishment rate is repeated 10 times.

Alternatively, in the same process P7, the sensor output VS,
, crab 2 (,' = 1.5V), it is judged that the toner concentration is lower than the one that can obtain the appropriate JJ-g degree, so the toner concentration is determined by the process PIO. It is checked whether the replenishment rate is at the maximum or not, and if it is not at the maximum, the toner replenishment rate is increased by one step from the existing state at the process pH, and the process PI is increased.
In step 2, toner replenishment is executed at the toner replenishment rate after being raised by one level.

For example, if the toner replenishment rate after being raised one step higher than the existing toner replenishment rate is at a level corresponding to the black solid area ratio of 40, then the process P7 and KI
If s p < K2 and 1 (then 771
The level is lowered to a toner supply rate of 6 which corresponds to period settings 1 and 5, i.e., lj, ili, solid area, and a product factor of 2.

At the end, if it is determined that the toner replenishment rate is the maximum in the above process P1, the image density has not reached the appropriate level even though the toner replenishment rate is the maximum, so the toner bottle Or there is no toner in the toner hopper. Therefore, in process P13, a toner completion display is displayed to prompt the user to take measures to replenish the toner on the first day of operation.

In this manner, in this example, since the remaining amount of toner is known from the toner replenishment state and the 14 degree image, more accurate toner 1:multiple page display can be performed than in the prior art.

In addition, in carrying out the present invention, as a sensor,
Not only can it be installed exclusively for the present invention, but it can also be used as a sensor installed for image and 4 degree adjustment.

Further, the sensor is not limited to an optical sensor, and a sensor that measures the magnetic permeability of the agent can also be used.

(Effects) The present invention does not require an expensive torque detector as in the prior art, and can display a 3-accurate toner grid display even when residual toner is completely removed, reducing costs. In addition to this, it is advantageous because the space efficiency can be improved by the amount of space required to accommodate the residual toner.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an algorithm for carrying out the present invention; The figure is a graph explaining the relationship between sensor output and image density, and FIGS. 1 and 5 are sectional views of essential parts of the developing device. 1.1...Sensor. ■Z shaku 7? dc -CQ one- fF>D island

Claims (1)

[Claims] A sensor detects the degree of toner adhesion in a toner image obtained by forming a light image of a reference pattern having a predetermined reflectance on a uniformly charged photoreceptor, and the toner is transferred to a developing device according to the sensor output. A toner replenishment method for image forming apparatuses that controls the replenishment amount, in which the sensor output is compared with a predetermined control standard (K2) that is the upper limit for obtaining the minimum density required for an appropriate image, and the actual toner A toner end detection method in an image forming apparatus, which takes into account the replenishment state and displays a toner end indication when a toner replenishment operation is being performed and a sensor output exceeds the control reference (K2). .