JP3471997B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image signal transmitted from peripheral equipment such as a facsimile or other remote equipment, an image reading apparatus, or a computer. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that forms an image corresponding to. 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image forming apparatus of this kind has received a facsimile image signal transmitted from a remote place through a telephone line, or an image reading apparatus or a computer arranged around the image forming apparatus. An image corresponding to the plurality of types of image signals sent is formed as a toner image on an image carrier. Hereinafter, these image forming operations corresponding to the types of image signals are referred to as a facsimile mode, a copy mode, and a printer mode, respectively. In such an image forming apparatus,
When the electrophotographic method is used as the visualization means, an electrostatic latent image formed by a laser scanner, an LED array, or the like that emits light corresponding to an image signal on a uniformly charged image carrier surface is developed by a developing device. Development is performed as a toner image, and this toner image is transferred and fixed to a transfer material and output as a visualized image. [0004] Each time an image corresponding to an image signal is formed, the toner in the developing device is consumed and reduced. However, if the toner in the developing device runs out, only a blank sheet is output even if image formation is performed. Therefore, a visualized image cannot be obtained. In order to avoid such a situation, the conventional image forming apparatus is provided with a toner remaining amount detecting means for detecting a remaining amount of toner in the developing device, and detects that the remaining amount of toner in the developing device has decreased to a predetermined amount. In such a case, a method of prompting the user to replenish the toner and, at the same time, prohibiting the execution of image formation has been adopted. In the above-described conventional image forming apparatus, when the execution of image formation is prohibited because the remaining amount of toner in the developing device has decreased to a predetermined amount, the image is sent from a remote place via a telephone line. Even if a facsimile image signal is received, image formation is not performed, and this situation continues until toner is supplied into the developing device. Therefore, there is a serious problem that the image forming apparatus temporarily ignores the received signal from the facsimile. As another image forming apparatus, there is adopted a method in which the level of the remaining amount of toner, which is a criterion for judging whether or not image formation can be executed, is set to a different amount or timing according to the type of image signal. There is something. For example, when the toner remaining amount detecting means detects that the remaining amount of toner in the developing device has decreased to a predetermined amount, the image forming operation is prohibited in the copy mode, but the toner remaining amount decreases to the predetermined amount in the facsimile mode or the printer mode. There is known a method of controlling the restriction on whether or not the image forming operation can be performed such that the image forming operation can be performed a predetermined number of times even after detecting that the image forming operation is performed. In this method, the amount of toner consumed in a predetermined number of image forming operations can be predicted in advance, and therefore, the key of this method is that the image forming operation is permitted a predetermined number of times to reduce the second toner remaining amount. It is to detect. However, there is provided a toner remaining amount detecting means for detecting the remaining amount of toner in the developing device in a plurality of stages as described above, so that the image forming apparatus can form an image in accordance with the type of image signal. A conventional image forming apparatus that controls whether operation is possible has the following disadvantages. That is, an operator who sets the facsimile mode or the printer mode in a position to transmit an image signal from a remote place to the image forming apparatus cannot supply toner to the developing apparatus. Therefore, if the image forming operation in the facsimile mode or the like continues even after the toner remaining amount detecting unit detects that the remaining amount of toner in the developing device has decreased to a predetermined amount, the toner amount in the developing device is changed as described above. In some cases, the quantification was much lower. When the remaining amount of toner in the developing device becomes extremely small as described above, even if the toner is replenished thereafter, the replenished toner does not reach the developing portion immediately, and the toner is temporarily exhausted. In some cases, white spots occurred. [0009] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, processing the toner remaining in the toner to be replenished region and an object
It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus which can supply a sufficient amount of toner replenished to a toner replenishing area to a vicinity of a developer carrier irrespective of an amount level to constantly form a good image stably. In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an image carrier for carrying a latent image, a developer carrier for carrying a developer and transporting the developer to a developing position. A developer carrier side area where the developer carrier is provided, and toner supply
And a toner to be replenished area to be an opening for allowing the movement of the toner to the developer carrier side region from the toner to be replenished region, One stirring toner of the toner to be replenished in the region
One and stirring member for feeding to said developer carrying member side region through the opening, toner provided on the toner to be replenished in the region
Detectable preparative plurality of toner remaining amount level that requires over replenishing
Means for detecting the remaining amount of toner,
When toner supply is performed in an image forming apparatus having a toner supply detection unit that detects that supply has been performed.
Toner at the point where the remaining amount of toner is smaller among the plurality of levels
When the remaining toner level is reached, the toner
The toner agitating operation in the supply area is more frequently performed among the plurality of levels.
After executing after extending the toner level,
It is characterized in that it has means for enabling image formation to be started . According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, the apparatus comprises the toner coating device.
Cover that can be opened to supply toner to the supply area
And a cover opening / closing detecting means for detecting opening / closing of the cover.
And opening and closing of the cover by the cover detecting means.
Is detected, and the toner amount is detected by the toner amount detecting means.
After detecting that the level of the
In accordance with the level of the last toner amount, the stirring unit
It is characterized in that the stirring operation of the material is changed. Therefore, according to the present invention, toner supply is performed.
When the remaining amount of toner at the time
Toner supply level when the toner level is
The toner stirring operation in the supply area
-Make it run longer than at the remaining level ,
For example, even when the toner consumption reaches a level at which the remaining amount of toner in the toner replenishment area is the minimum, the toner in the toner replenishment area is stirred before the image formation is started after the toner is replenished. sufficiently stirred, if to carry, can feed the supplied toner to the developer carrying member near a result, toner of the toner to be replenished region by
-Regardless of the remaining amount level , a sufficient amount of toner is supplied to the vicinity of the developer carrying member, so that a good image without a white spot or the like is always stably formed. Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. <Embodiment 1> FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus 1 according to the present invention. The image forming apparatus 1 has functions of a facsimile, a printer, and a copying machine. When the image forming operation is set to the facsimile mode in the image forming apparatus 1, the image signal from the facsimile transmitted via the telephone line 10 is converted into a bitmap-like image in the decoding apparatus 8. After being decoded into an image signal, it is input to the visualization device 4 via the interface 3 and is visualized by the visualization device 4. or,
When the image forming operation is set to the printer mode,
The image signal from the computer 9 is input to the visualization device 4 via the interface 3 and is visualized by the visualization device 4. Further, when the image forming operation is set to the copy mode, the image signal from the reader 2 is input to the visualization device 4 via the interface 3 and is visualized by the visualization device 4. The reader 2, the interface 3, the visualizing device 4, and the display unit 5 are controlled by mutually communicating with the CPU 6. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 7 denotes an encoding device. Next, the visualizing device 4 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a configuration of a main part of the visualization device 4. In the visualization device 4, the primary charging device 1
The laser beam 12 emitting light corresponding to the input image signal is provided on the surface of the image carrier 30 uniformly charged by
To form an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the image carrier 30, develop the electrostatic latent image with a developing device 13 to visualize it as a toner image, and transfer the toner image with a transfer device 14. Transfer to the transfer material 15. Then, the transfer material 15 to which the toner image has been transferred is sent to a fixing device (not shown), the toner image is fixed to the transfer material 15 by the fixing device, and the transfer material 15 to which the toner image has been fixed is discharged out of the apparatus. . In this embodiment, the uniform charging potential of the surface of the image carrier 30 is -700 V, the electrostatic potential corresponding to the white portion of the image is -700 V, and the electrostatic potential corresponding to the black portion of the image. The position is -250V. Further, the developing device 1
Reference numeral 3 denotes a developing device which applies a developing bias voltage including a DC component to the image carrier 30 so that the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the image carrier 30 is developed to be developed as a toner image. It is one that reduction, the developing device 13 in the current
A developer carrier side region S1 on which the image material carrier 16 is provided;
It is divided into a toner supply area S2 where toner is supplied.
From the toner supply area S2 to the developer carrying member side area.
The movement of the toner to S1 is allowed by the opening 13a.
You. Here, as a developing method in the developing device 13, a reversal developing method using negative polarity toner is adopted. By the way, inside the developing device 13, there are provided a toner presence / absence detecting means 18 for detecting the remaining amount of toner and a stirring member 17 which rotates in the direction of arrow K in FIG. Have been. Incidentally, the toner presence / absence detecting means 18 is constituted by a piezoelectric element, which detects the presence / absence of toner in a portion immediately before the toner presence / absence detecting means 18 inside the developing device 13 and detects the detection signal to determine the remaining toner amount. Notify device 19. The toner remaining amount determination device 19 determines the remaining amount of toner in three stages by a determination method described below, and transmits the result to the CPU 6. That is, when the toner remains in the developing device 13 up to the level indicated by A in FIG.
Even if 7 rotates, toner presence detecting means 18 always outputs a signal indicating that there is toner. In this case, the CPU 6 is notified of the fact that the remaining amount of toner is sufficient and the first remaining amount level is considered to be the case where no toner supply is necessary. If toner remains in the developing device 13 to the level indicated by B in FIG.
In synchronism with the rotation of, the output signal of the presence or absence of toner of the toner presence / absence detecting means 18 is output alternately and repeatedly. In this case, the CPU 6 determines that the remaining amount of toner is the second remaining amount level at which the next toner supply is considered necessary.
Tell Further, when toner remains in the developing device 13 to a level indicated by C in FIG.
Even if 7 rotates, the toner presence detecting means 18 always outputs a signal indicating that there is no toner. In this case, the CPU determines that the remaining amount of toner is the third remaining amount level at which it is considered that one image forming operation cannot be permitted unless the next toner supply is performed.
Tell 6 When toner is supplied into the developing device 13, a toner supply cover 20, which is a part of the developing device 13, is opened as shown in FIG. The toner is supplied into the developing device 13 using the container. As means for detecting whether or not toner replenishment has been performed, a toner replenishing cover 20 is provided.
Is provided with a toner supply detecting means (not shown) for detecting the opening and closing thereof. Each time the toner supply cover 20 is opened or closed, the toner supply
Tell Thus, the CPU 6 controls the toner remaining amount determining device 1
9 to control the visualization device 4, the display unit 5, and the like. That is, from the toner remaining amount determining device 19 to the CPU
6 is the first remaining level,
When an image signal is received from any of the telephone line 10, the computer 9, and the reader 2, an image is formed immediately. Further, from the toner remaining amount determining device 19 to the CPU 6
When the signal sent to the second unit is at the second remaining level, a toner supply lamp (not shown) on the display unit 5 is turned on, and when the received image signal is an image signal from the telephone line 10 or the computer 9, Perform image formation. Then, when the received image signal is an image signal from the reader 2,
The image forming is not executed, and a message is displayed on the display unit 5 indicating that the image forming in the copy mode is prohibited due to the insufficient amount of toner. Further, from the toner remaining amount determining device 19 to the CPU
6 is at the third remaining level,
The toner supply lamp (not shown) on the display unit 5 is turned on, and even if the received image signal is an image signal from any of the telephone line 10, the computer 9, and the reader 2, the image forming is not executed and the display unit 5 A message is displayed to inform that all image formation is prohibited due to a shortage of the remaining amount of toner. Here, the operation after toner replenishment in the image forming apparatus 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. When the image forming operation is started, the flag T is set to 1 (T = 1) (STEP 1), and the toner presence detecting means 18 and the remaining toner determining device 19 determine the level of the remaining toner. You. That is, it is determined whether the remaining amount of toner is at the second remaining amount level (STEP 2). If the remaining amount is at the second remaining amount level, the flag T is set to 2 (T = 2) (STEP 2).
4) If the remaining toner level is not the second remaining level, it is determined whether the remaining toner level is the third remaining level (STEP 3).
If the remaining amount of toner is the third remaining amount level, the flag T is set to 3 (T = 3) (STEP 5), and if the remaining amount is not the third remaining amount level (that is, the first remaining amount level). ), The above operation is repeated. Therefore, when the remaining amount of toner is the first remaining amount level, T = 1 is set (STEP 1), and when the remaining amount of toner is the second remaining amount level, T = 2 is set (STEP 4). Is set to T = 3 (STEP 5). When the remaining amount of toner is at the second or third remaining amount level (that is, when the flag T is T = 2 or T = 3
Is set), it is determined whether or not the toner replenishment detecting means has detected the opening and closing of the toner replenishing cover 20 after the end of the image forming operation (STEP 6). In this case, regardless of the image forming operation, while the stirring member 17 is rotated for 10 seconds, the remaining toner amount is again determined by the toner presence / absence detecting means 18 and the remaining toner determining device 19 (STEP 7). Check that the remaining battery level has recovered to the first remaining battery level (STEP
8). That is, it is confirmed that the toner has been surely supplied after the toner supply cover 20 is opened and closed. By performing this check, it is possible to prevent a malfunction such as returning the image forming apparatus 1 to a normal state in which toner supply is not necessary after opening and closing the toner supply cover 20 without actual toner supply. If the opening / closing of the toner supply cover 20 is not detected, the operations up to that point (STEP 1 to STEP 1) are not performed.
5) are repeated. Then, when the CPU 6 confirms that the remaining amount of toner has recovered to the first remaining amount level, it is determined whether the remaining amount of toner is at the second remaining amount level at the time when the toner is supplied (the current remaining amount level). (Whether or not the flag T is set to 2)
Is determined (STEP 9), and when the remaining amount of toner is at the second remaining amount level (T = 2), the toner supply lamp of the display unit 5 is turned off and all of the copy mode, the facsimile mode, and the printer mode are performed. And returns to the normal standby state in which the image signal is received and the image forming operation is executed (STEP 10). Further, when the remaining amount of toner is at the third remaining amount level (T =
In the case of 3), the stirring member 17 is continuously rotated for 60 seconds, and at the same time, a message indicating that the toner is being stirred is displayed on the display unit 5 (STEP 11). The replenishment lamp is turned off, and all image signals in the copy mode, the facsimile mode, and the printer mode are accepted, and the process returns to a normal standby state in which an image forming operation is executed (STEP 10). Thus, according to the present embodiment, even when the consumption of the toner has reached the third remaining level, the toner in the developing device 13 is sufficiently stirred and transported by the stirring member 17 after the toner is supplied. As a result, the replenished toner can be sent to the vicinity of the developer carrier 16, and as a result, a sufficient amount of toner is supplied to the development site, and therefore, a good image without white spots or the like can be always stabilized. Can be formed. <Second Embodiment> Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the developing device of the image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. In this figure, the same elements as those shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, a method of detecting the remaining amount of toner in the developing device 17 in a plurality of stages by providing two toner presence / absence detecting means 18 and 21 in the developing device 13 is adopted. . That is, in the developing device 13, two first and second toner presence / absence detecting units 18 and 21 having different mounting heights are arranged, and the toner is detected based on the outputs of the two toner presence / absence detecting units 18 and 21. The remaining amount determination device 19 determines the remaining amount of toner. When the first and second toner presence detecting means 18 and 21 both output a signal indicating that toner is present, the remaining toner amount determining device 19 determines that the remaining toner amount is the first remaining amount level. , First toner presence detecting means 1 installed above
8 outputs a signal indicating that there is no toner, the remaining toner amount is the second remaining amount level. If both the first and second toner presence / absence detecting units 18 and 21 output a signal indicating that there is no toner, the remaining toner level is equal to the second remaining level. It is determined that the remaining amount is the third remaining amount level.
The operation of the image forming apparatus after the determination of the remaining amount of toner is the same as that of the first embodiment (see the flowchart shown in FIG. 1). <Third Embodiment> Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. In this embodiment, the same as in the first embodiment,
The number of image formations performed after the remaining amount of toner has changed from the first remaining amount level to the second remaining amount level. Is counted by the CPU 6, and the stirring time of the toner by the stirring member 17 in the developing device 13 after toner replenishment is switched according to the number of counts. For example, when the number of counts is 500 or less, return after toner replenishment is performed by the same operation as the return from the second remaining level in the first embodiment, and when the count exceeds 500, the first embodiment is used. After the toner in the developing device 13 is sufficiently stirred and transported by the same operation as the return from the third remaining amount level in the above, the return after the toner replenishment is performed. <Fourth Embodiment> Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. The image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment is of a type in which the developing device is detached from the main body of the image forming device and toner is supplied thereto. The detection unit detects that toner has been supplied by the output of the detection unit. < Reference Example > Next, a reference example of the present invention will be described. [0051] In this reference example, showing another embodiment for changing the operation of the stirring means. That is, in this embodiment , when the toner is replenished at the second remaining level, the operation is returned to the normal state by the same operation as in the first embodiment. When the toner is replenished at the third remaining level, the receiving state for the image signal is returned to the normal state, and the rotation time of the stirring member is reduced by 2 in the 50 image forming operations performed thereafter.
A method is adopted in which the stirring and conveyance of the toner are sufficiently performed by extending each second. Thus, according to the present embodiment, there is an advantage that the image forming operation immediately after toner supply can be executed immediately. As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, an image carrier for carrying a latent image, a developer carrier for carrying a developer and transporting it to a developing position, Receiving a toner replenishment from the developer carrier side area where the developer carrier is provided;
That toner and the replenishment region, an opening allowing the movement of the toner to the developer carrier side region from the toner to be replenished region, said through said opening while stirring the toner in the toner to be replenished in the region a stirring member for feeding the developer carrier side region, the toner supply is provided in the toner to be replenished in the region
Remaining toner that can detect multiple toner remaining levels that require
The amount detection means and toner supply to the toner supply area.
And a toner replenishment detecting means for detecting that the toner is replenished .
The remaining toner level is the smaller of the plurality of levels.
In the case of the bell, the toner replenishment area where the toner is replenished
The toner agitation operation within the plurality of levels
After forming an image longer than the remaining level,
Because having a means for enabling the start, the toner to be replenished region of
Irrespective of the remaining toner level , the toner replenished in the toner replenishment area is sufficiently supplied to the vicinity of the developer carrying member, so that a good image can always be formed stably.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing an operation after toner supply in an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a main part of a visualization device of the image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a developing device of the image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. [Description of Signs] 1 Image forming device 4 Visualizing device 5 Display unit 6 CPU 13 Developing device (developing device) 17 Stirring member (Stirring device) 18 Toner presence / absence detecting device 19 Toner remaining amount determining device 20 Toner replenishing cover 21 Toner presence detection means 30 Image carrier

Claims (1)

(57) An image carrier for carrying a latent image, a developer carrier for carrying a developer and transporting the developer to a developing position, and the developer carrier are provided. Developer carrier side area and toner supply
And a toner to be replenished area to be an opening for allowing the movement of the toner to the developer carrier side region from the toner to be replenished region, One stirring toner of the toner to be replenished in the region
One and stirring member for feeding to said developer carrying member side region through the opening, toner provided on the toner to be replenished in the region
Detectable preparative plurality of toner remaining amount level that requires over replenishing
Means for detecting the remaining amount of toner,
And a toner replenishment detecting means for detecting that the replenishment has been performed.
Replenish toner when the toner level is low
Before the toner stirring operation in the toner supply area
Than when the toner level is higher than the other levels.
There is a means to enable image formation start after extended execution
An image forming apparatus, comprising: