JPS623268A - Image recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To supply toner accurately and to correct automatically the set number of sheets to the number of sheets by which images can be formed by providing a rest calculating circuit which judges whether images can be formed by a preset number of sheets from the rest of a developer and calculates the number of sheets by which images can be formed. CONSTITUTION:An exposing device 3 consists of a LED array 3a and a light converging lens array 3b and LEDs are turned on selectively with the signal of a driver circuit 12 which operates according to an image signal VD, thereby forming a dot type electromagnetic image on the surface of a photosensitive body 1 which is charged electrostatically and uniformly. Further, the image signal VD is sent out to a counter part 13 as a binary signal of '0' and '1' and when the signal '1', a LED illuminates to form a one-dot electrostatic latent image. When this part is a print image part, the counter part 13 counts '1' to obtain the total number of dots of one print. The output of the counter 13 is sent out to a toner consumption calculating circuit 14, and the amount of toner which is consumed by a developing device is calculated. Thus, the rest of the developing material is controlled accuately.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an image recording device that visualizes a latent image formed by electrophotography as a toner image.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, the developing methods used in this type of device include a two-component developing method that uses a mixture of polyester resin toner and iron powder, and a one-component developing method that uses only polyester resin toner. There is.

Among these, in the two-component development method, due to the decrease in toner in the developer due to the development operation or the increase in toner due to toner replenishment,
The toner concentration in the developer fluctuates. If the toner density is low, the image density on the recording material (recording paper) will be low, leading to blurring or even image disappearance, and if the toner density is high, fogging will occur in non-image areas. In order to overcome this problem, methods of controlling the toner concentration in the developer using methods (1) and (2) below have been proposed and implemented.

(1) When the number of rotations of the photoreceptor during image formation reaches a predetermined number of rotations, a predetermined amount of toner is replenished.

(2) A method of directly detecting the toner concentration in the developer in the developing device and replenishing a predetermined amount of toner when the detection signal falls below a predetermined level.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

However, in method (1) above, regardless of the type of recorded image (blackening rate), the toner density may be over or under due to constant replenishment, resulting in the recorded image being too light or too dark, resulting in poor image output. Not stable.

In addition, in method (2), replenishment control is easy because the toner concentration in the developer is directly detected, but highly accurate detection is difficult, and toner is not replenished until the toner concentration reaches a certain level. It will only be replenished once it reaches that level or below. This causes the toner concentration in the developer to change drastically, and when the same image is printed continuously, the density of the first output image and the subsequent output image differs, resulting in a light image and a dark image. It will be output. This is because in multi-color (two or three or more single colors) or full-color printers that have multiple developing devices, the density of each toner varies 1
, it becomes difficult to reproduce faithful colors.
□・Not only when printing continuously, but also when printing continuously.
The output recorded images also have different coloring characteristics. Human color vision is particularly sensitive.
Therefore, it is necessary to keep each toner density constant with high precision.

On the other hand, normally, toner is stored in a hopper, and a detection means is arranged to detect the amount of toner remaining in the hopper. With this detection means, it is easy to detect the presence or absence of toner, but depending on the placement position, it may be determined that there is no toner even though there is still enough toner, or the toner in the hopper may actually be almost consumed. Despite the condition
Because toner adheres to the detection means, the detection means may mistakenly detect that toner is present and continue the recording process, and during continuous copying, the image density output in the latter half may be significantly lower. In addition, when the operator specified continuous copying, even though the toner in the hopper was actually almost consumed, as mentioned above, the detection If toner adheres to the device and the device incorrectly detects that “toner is present,” the device presses the copy key, observes only the first two or three image output, and then leaves the device. In this case, poor density or image disappearance occurs in the images output in the latter half, resulting in a large amount of paper wastage.In addition, the number of available image output sheets must be subtracted from the set number of sheets and the number of copies per copy must be set again. There were problems such as it was time consuming and the operability was significantly reduced.

This invention was made to solve the above problems, and it is possible to accurately replenish toner by counting the amount of toner consumed according to image information, and also to display whether toner has run out within the set number of sheets. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image recording device that can automatically correct the set number of sheets to the number of sheets that can be formed.

[Means for solving problems]

The image recording apparatus according to the present invention includes a counting means for counting printed dots based on image information, a replenishment amount calculating means for calculating a developer replenishment amount from a count value counted by the counting means, and a replenishment amount calculating means. The remaining amount of developer filled in the replenishing means ′ is calculated from the calculated amount of developer supply, and it is determined from this remaining amount of developer whether or not images can be formed on a preset number of sheets, and the number of sheets on which images can be formed is determined. A remaining amount calculation circuit is provided.

[Effect]

In this invention, when the replenishment amount calculation means calculates the amount of developer replenishment according to the printed dots counted by the counting means, the remaining amount calculation means calculates the developer removal amount and also calculates the calculated amount of developer remaining. The possibility of forming images for the number of sheets set in advance is determined, and the number of sheets that can be formed is automatically set as the set number of sheets.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of an image recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 1 denotes a photoreceptor, which has a photoconductive layer on its surface and rotates in the direction of the arrow. A charger 2 charges the photoreceptor 1 uniformly. Reference numeral 3 denotes an exposure device, which includes an LED array 3a, a light converging lens array 3b, and the like.

A developing device 4 is provided with a replenishing device 5 comprising a toner storage container (hereinafter referred to as a hopper) 5b for replenishing developer (toner) and a replenishing roller 5a for replenishing toner.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a paper feed cassette in which transfer material P (recording paper) is accommodated. A transfer device 7 transfers the toner image formed on the photoreceptor 1 by, for example, corona discharge onto the transfer material P. A cleaning device 8 is composed of a blade, a cleaning roller, etc., and collects residual toner on the photoreceptor 1.

A conveying device 9 conveys the transfer material P to the fixing device 10.

Reference numeral 11 denotes a paper discharge tray on which the transfer material P that has been heat-pressed and fixed by the fixing device 10 is placed.

12 is a driver circuit that selectively drives the LED array 3a of the exposure device 3 according to the image signal Vo. Reference numeral 13 denotes a counter section constituting a counting means of the present invention, in which a non-printed dot is counted as an image signal Vo (for example, the number of printed dots).
The number of printed dots of the OJ signal) is counted. 1
Reference numeral 4 denotes a toner consumption amount calculation circuit which serves as the replenishment amount calculation means of the present invention, and calculates the toner consumption amount from the number of printed dots counted by the counter section 13, and calculates the remaining amount of toner, which serves as the remaining amount calculation means of the present invention. The amount of toner consumption is output to the circuit 15. Reference numeral 16 denotes a display device, which is provided on the operation unit or the host, and displays the toner replenishment request and the number of image formation sheets calculated from the remaining amount of toner.

A reset circuit 17 clears the counter value of the counter section 13 in response to a signal output from the toner consumption calculation circuit 14. Reference numeral 18 denotes a replenishment control section, which is composed of a pulse motor or the like, and outputs a predetermined amount of toner replenishment signal to the replenishment drive section 19.

Next, the operation will be explained.

The exposure device 3 has an LED array 3a consisting of a large number of LEDs.
and a light converging lens array 3b, and the image signal VD
According to the signal from the driver circuit 12, each LED is selectively emitted, and a dot-shaped electrostatic latent image is formed on the uniformly charged surface of the photoreceptor 1 through the light converging lens array 3b. The image signal VD is also sent to the counter section 13. For example, when the image signal Vo has two individual numbers, fOJ and rlJ, and flJ, I and ED emit light, and a one-dot electrostatic latent image is formed. , this part is the print image area (print dot)
If so, the counter section 13 counts up this 1rlJ and counts the total number of dots on one print. The output of the counter 13 is sent to a toner consumption calculation circuit 14, and the amount of toner consumed by the developing device 4 when printing one sheet is calculated from the number of dots. As is well known, there is a proportional relationship between the number of dots and the amount of toner consumption, and the amount of toner consumption can be accurately calculated from the number of dots. Further, the calculation result of the toner consumption calculation circuit 14 is sent to the replenishment control section 18 that controls the replenishment drive section 19 that drives the replenishment roller 5a.
Toner is replenished according to the calculation result. Supply drive section 19
When the replenishment roller 5a is configured with a pulse motor, the pulse motor outputs a pulse signal according to the driving time, and the replenishment roller 5a
control the drive of the

On the other hand, the calculation result of the toner consumption calculation circuit 14 is also sent to the remaining toner amount detection circuit 5 in the hopper 5b. Here, calculate the total amount of toner consumed up to now,
Comparing this total with the initial amount of toner in the hopper 5b,
Determine the remaining amount of toner and determine whether subsequent printing is possible. Further, the output signal of the toner consumption calculation circuit 14 is also sent to the reset circuit 17,
3 counter is reset to fOJ.

Next, the control operation of the present invention will be explained with reference to FIG.

Figure 2 is a flowchart explaining the control operation of this invention.
It is a chart. Note that (1) to (17) represent each step.

When printing of the i-th sheet is started, the counter section 13 counts up the number of dots Nl in that one print based on the image signal Vo (1), multiplies the counted up number of dots N+ by a conversion coefficient, Calculate the toner consumption amount (toner replenishment amount) T+ in printing this one sheet (2), and add T1 toner to the developing device 4 to the hopper 5.
Replenish from b (3).

Next, the total amount of toner replenished so far ΣT.

(4), and subtract it from the initial toner amount H in the hopper 5b to calculate 1 as the remaining amount of toner remaining in the hopper 5b (
5). Next, it is determined whether the set number of prints M input from the operation unit (not shown) is one print or not (8), and if YES, whether the remaining toner amount Ki calculated in step (5) is positive. In other words, it is necessary to judge whether Ki>0 or not (7), and if NO, the display device 16
Toner ``No 1'' is displayed on the hopper 5b to the user.
It notifies that it is time to replenish toner and waits for toner replenishment (8), and if YES, the copy sequence continues and waits for the next print start command (9).

On the other hand, if the judgment in step (8) is No, NOl
In other words, if it is determined that multiple copies are being printed, 1
Toner amount Ti required for sheet printing and remaining number of sheets (M-1)
Calculate the amount of toner X consumed in printing the remaining number of subsequent sheets by multiplying by
11) If the toner remaining amount Ki is large, the copy sequence will continue as is.12) If the toner remaining amount Ki is small, the toner remaining amount Ki is required for printing one sheet. Calculate the number of printable sheets (number of sheets on which images can be formed) S (S is a natural number) by dividing by the amount of toner Ti.13)
Start a print sequence for only S sheets (14)
. Next, count down the remaining number of sheets (15).
, sequentially executes image formation. Next, it is determined whether or not the image forming operation for S sheets has been completed (16), and if NO, the process returns to step (14), and if YES, a "Toner R Out" warning lamp is turned on on the display device 16 (17), and the user It notifies the user that it is time to replenish toner and waits for toner replenishment.

As a result, it is possible to accurately grasp the amount of toner consumed per print, achieve stable maintenance of toner density with higher precision, and also manage the remaining amount of toner with high precision.
It is possible to clearly notify when toner is to be refilled. Furthermore, even if there is a possibility that the toner will run out according to the number of copies of the same image set before the toner replenishment notification, it is possible to output images with stable density as many as the number of copies that can be formed with the remaining amount of toner.

Note that in the above embodiment, an image recording apparatus that forms a latent image on the photoreceptor 1 using the LED array 3a has been described.
The exposure device 3 may use a semiconductor laser, a gas laser, or the like.

Furthermore, image information is not limited to binary images;
It goes without saying that multivalued information including halftones may also be used. In this case, it is sufficient to use a counter that supports multi-value conversion and calculate the toner consumption amount from the sum of these values.Furthermore, the development method is not limited to a two-component development method, but a one-component development method that uses magnetic toner. It is also applicable to developing methods.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, the present invention includes a counting means for counting printed dots based on image information, a replenishment amount calculation means for calculating a replenishment amount of developer □ from the count value counted by the counting means, and a replenishment amount calculation means. The remaining amount of developer filled in the replenishing means is calculated from the calculated developer supply amount, and from this developer remaining amount, it is determined whether it is possible to form images for a preset number of sheets, and the number of sheets that can be imaged is calculated. Since the remaining amount calculation means is provided, it is possible to replenish the developer according to the image information, and it is possible to always output an image with a stable density. In addition, since the remaining amount of developer filled in the replenishing means can be accurately managed, even if there is a risk of running out of developer during continuous copying of a set number of prints, the image density will be uniform. It has the advantage of being able to output as many images as can be maintained.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of an image recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating the control operation of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a photoreceptor, 2 is a charger, 3 is an exposure device, 4 is a developing device, 5 is a replenishment device, 6 is a paper feed cassette, 7 is a transfer device, 8 is a cleaning device, 9 is a transport device, 10 11 is a fixing device, 11 is a paper output tray, 12 is a driver circuit, 13 is a counter section, 14 is a toner consumption calculation circuit, 15 is a remaining toner amount calculation circuit, 16 is a display device, 17 is a reset circuit, and 18 is a replenishment circuit. The control section 19 is a replenishment drive section.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) In an image recording device that forms an electrostatic latent image in the form of dots on an image carrier according to image information and visualizes it using a developing means having a developer replenishing means, printing dots are counted based on the image information. a counting means; a replenishment amount calculating means for calculating a developer replenishment amount from the count value counted by the counting means; and a replenishment amount calculating means for calculating the developer replenishment amount in the replenishment means based on the developer replenishment amount calculated by the replenishment amount calculation means. An image recording device comprising a remaining amount calculation circuit that calculates the number of sheets on which images can be formed by calculating the amount of developer and determining whether or not images can be formed on a preset number of sheets based on the remaining amount of developer. . (2) The image recording apparatus according to claim (1), wherein the developing means develops the latent image of the number of sheets that can be formed, which is calculated by the remaining amount calculation circuit.