JP2009075242A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus capable of preventing a toner hopper from being excessively replenished with a toner by controlling detection start timing of a toner sensor for detecting presence or absence of the toner in the toner hopper. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus 1 is equipped with: the toner hopper 11 in which the toner is temporarily reservoired; an agitating part (agitator 22) for agitating the toner in the toner hopper 11; the toner sensor for 24 detecting the presence or absence of the toner in the toner hopper 11 after agitating the toner by the agitating part (agitator 22); a stop time integrating part 32 for integrating the drive stop time of the agitating part (agitator 22); and a toner sensor control part 34 for changing the detection start timing of the toner sensor 24. The toner sensor control part 34 changes the detection start timing of the toner sensor 24 on the basis of length of the drive stop time integrated by the stop time integrating part 32. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technology of an image forming apparatus that prevents toner from being oversupplied to a toner hopper.

  A copier, a facsimile machine, or the like functions as an image forming apparatus that forms an image on recording paper based on image data read from a document. In these conventional image forming apparatuses, the photosensitive drum is charged by the charger in accordance with a print command from the user. An electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum by irradiating light corresponding to image data to be recorded from the exposure device. A toner image is formed by supplying toner from the developing unit to the electrostatic latent image. On the other hand, with the start of the printing operation, the recording paper set in the paper feed cassette is sequentially fed into the transport path by the pickup roller. As the recording paper passes through the transfer nip position where the photosensitive drum and the transfer roller are in pressure contact, the toner image on the photosensitive drum is transferred to the recording paper. Thereafter, the recording paper is further conveyed downstream along the conveying path, and is heated and pressurized by a fixing device, whereby the toner image on the recording paper is fixed. The recording paper on which the toner image is fixed is discharged to a paper discharge tray by a paper discharge roller provided at the most downstream portion of the transport path.

  The developing device has a casing containing a two-component developer composed of toner and a carrier. The developing roller for supplying the developer to the photosensitive drum and the two-component developer are stirred inside the casing. A pair of agitators that are conveyed to the developing roller side are provided. A toner hopper to which a toner cartridge is detachably attached is provided outside the casing.

  The developing device detects the toner density by a toner sensor provided in the casing. The toner is replenished from the toner hopper according to the toner concentration detected by the toner sensor, and the replenished toner and the carrier are agitated by an agitator as an agitation unit, thereby uniformizing the toner concentration in the developing device (for example, Patent Document 1).

  FIG. 7 is a schematic view of the vicinity of the toner hopper 110 in the conventional image forming apparatus 100. As shown in FIG. 7, a toner cartridge 120 and a developing device 130 are connected to the toner hopper 110. In the toner hopper 110, the toner stored inside is stirred by the agitator 111. The toner cartridge 120 replenishes toner according to the amount of toner in the toner hopper 110.

The toner amount in the toner hopper 110 is detected by the toner sensor 112. The toner sensor 112 detects the presence of toner when the toner contacts a detection unit of the sensor. When the toner sensor does not detect the presence of toner, the toner is replenished from the toner cartridge 120 to the toner hopper 110.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-142925

  Conventionally, the timing of detecting the amount of toner in the toner hopper is immediately after the start of stirring by the agitator. However, when the last stop time of the agitator is long, the toner in the toner hopper is not agitated, so that the toner sinks under the toner hopper under its own weight. Even if the toner amount is detected in a state where the toner sinks below the toner sensor, the toner sensor cannot detect the toner. Therefore, there is a problem that the toner sensor detects that there is no toner even though the toner in the toner hopper is not consumed, and the toner hopper is requested to supply toner more than necessary. There was a problem of oversupplying toner.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and prevents toner from being oversupplied to the toner hopper by controlling the detection start timing of a toner sensor that detects the presence or absence of toner in the toner hopper. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that can perform the above-described process.

  The problems to be solved by the present invention are as described above. Next, means for solving the problems will be described.

  That is, the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention provides a toner hopper for temporarily storing toner, an agitation unit for agitating the toner in the toner hopper, and the presence or absence of toner in the toner hopper by the agitation unit. A toner sensor that detects after stirring, a stop time integration unit that integrates the drive stop time of the stirring unit, and a toner sensor control unit that changes the detection start timing of the toner sensor, the toner sensor control unit comprising: The detection start timing of the toner sensor is changed based on the length of the drive stop time accumulated by the stop time integration unit.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus comprising: a toner hopper that temporarily stores toner; an agitation unit that agitates the toner in the toner hopper; and the presence / absence of toner in the toner hopper after the agitation unit agitates A toner sensor to detect, a stop time integration unit that integrates the drive stop time of the stirring unit, a drive time integration unit that integrates the drive time of the stirring unit, and a stop time correction unit that corrects the stop time of the stirring unit And a toner sensor control unit that changes the detection start timing of the toner sensor, and the stop time correction unit corrects the drive stop time based on the length of the drive time accumulated by the drive time accumulation unit. The toner sensor control unit changes the detection start timing of the toner sensor based on the length of the drive stop time corrected by the stop time correction unit. A.

  In the image forming apparatus according to a third aspect, in the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect, when the drive time of the stirring unit is equal to or less than a predetermined time, the stop time correction unit sets the drive time to the drive stop time. The driving stop time is corrected by adding to. Here, the predetermined time refers to a time during which the toner sinking under its own weight under the toner hopper becomes uniform in the toner hopper by being stirred by the stirring unit.

  As effects of the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

  In the first invention, since the detection start timing of the toner sensor is changed depending on the length of drive stop time of the stirring unit that stirs the toner in the toner hopper, even when the stop time of the immediately preceding stirring unit is long The toner sensor detection can be started after the toner in the toner hopper is sufficiently stirred. As a result, the influence of the toner sinking on the toner sensor is mitigated, and the toner hopper can be prevented from being oversupplied.

  In the second aspect of the invention, since the correction unit corrects the stop time of the agitator based on the length of the drive time before stopping the drive of the stirring unit for stirring the toner in the toner hopper, Thus, the start of detection by the toner sensor can be controlled. This makes it possible to accurately determine the presence or absence of toner in the toner hopper.

  In the third invention, when the drive time of the stirring unit is equal to or shorter than the predetermined time, the stop time correction unit corrects the drive stop time by adding the drive time to the drive stop time. When the driving time is short, the detection start timing of the toner sensor can be delayed. As a result, the influence of the toner sinking on the toner sensor is mitigated, and the toner hopper can be prevented from being oversupplied.

  Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an image forming apparatus 1. The image forming apparatus 1 is disposed on the downstream side of the pickup roller 4, a paper feed cassette 2 for storing the recording paper 50, a pickup roller 4 that feeds the recording paper 50 in the paper feed cassette 2 to the conveyance path 3, and The resist roller pair 5, a photosensitive layer formed on the surface thereof, a photosensitive drum 6 that is rotationally driven by a motor (not shown), a charger 7 that charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 6, and the surface of the photosensitive drum 6 is irradiated with light Exposure unit 8, developing unit 9 that supplies toner to the surface of the photosensitive drum 6, toner cartridge 10 that supplies toner, and toner supplied from the toner cartridge 10 are temporarily stored, and the toner amount of the developing unit 9 A transfer roller that nips between the photosensitive drum 6 and a toner hopper 11 that supplies toner in response to the photosensitive drum 6 and a recording paper 50 that is pressed against the photosensitive drum 6 and conveyed on the conveyance path 3. 2, a cleaning device 13 that removes foreign matters such as toner or paper dust from the surface of the photosensitive drum 6, a fixing device 14 that heats and pressurizes the recording paper 50, and a recording paper 50 that is disposed at the most downstream portion of the conveyance path 3. A pair of paper discharge rollers 16 for discharging the paper to the paper discharge tray 15.

  In the image forming apparatus 1, when a printing command is issued from the user, the surface of the photosensitive drum 6 is uniformly charged by the charger 7. Then, an electrostatic latent image is formed by irradiating light corresponding to the image data to be recorded from the exposure device 8 to partially remove charges on the photosensitive drum 6, and developing the electrostatic latent image from the developing device 9. A toner image is formed by supplying toner. On the other hand, along with the start of the printing operation, the recording paper 50 stored in the paper feeding cassette 2 is taken out from the uppermost paper one by one by the pickup roller 4 and fed into the transport path 3. The recording paper 50 is bent against the registration roller pair 5 to bend, and the skew generated during the conveyance is corrected. The recording paper 50 is fed to the transfer nip position 17 in synchronization with the image formation on the photosensitive drum 6 as the registration roller pair 5 rotates. The recording paper 50 is pressed against the photosensitive drum 6 by the transfer roller 12, and the toner image is transferred to the recording paper 50 by applying a voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the toner image on the photosensitive drum 6 to the transfer roller 12. . The recording paper 50 is conveyed downstream in the conveying path 3 and is heated and pressurized by the fixing device 14, whereby the toner image on the recording paper 50 is fixed. Thereafter, the recording paper 50 is discharged to the paper discharge tray 15 by the paper discharge roller pair 16.

  The toner hopper 11 is connected to the developing device 9 and supplies toner to the developing device 9 according to the toner amount of the developing device 9. On the other hand, the toner hopper 11 is connected to a removable toner cartridge 10 and temporarily stores the toner supplied from the toner cartridge 10. FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of the toner hopper 11. As shown in FIG. 2, the toner hopper 11 includes a toner supply port 20, a hopper 21, an agitator 22, a supply pipe 23, and a toner sensor 24.

  The toner supply port 20 is connected to the toner cartridge 10 and receives the toner supplied from the toner cartridge 10. The hopper 21 is provided below the toner supply port 20 and temporarily stores the toner supplied from the toner cartridge 10.

  The agitator 22 is provided in the hopper 21 as a stirring unit, and stirs the toner temporarily stored in the hopper 21. The agitator 22 is driven by a drive unit 31 described later. The supply pipe 23 is connected to the developing device 9 and supplies the toner temporarily stored in the hopper 21 to the developing device 9.

  The toner sensor 24 is provided on the wall surface of the hopper 21 and detects toner in the hopper 21. The toner sensor 24 is a piezoelectric sensor and normally vibrates. However, when the toner comes into contact with the detection unit, the vibration is stopped and the presence or absence of toner is detected. The toner sensor 24 is not limited to a piezoelectric sensor, and any sensor that can detect the presence or absence of toner in the hopper 21 may be used. The toner sensor 24 detects the presence of toner when the toner contacts the detection unit. If the toner sensor 24 does not detect toner for a certain period of time, the toner is replenished from the toner cartridge 10 to the toner hopper 11.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the first embodiment of the control mechanism 30 of the toner hopper 11. The toner hopper 11 is controlled by the control mechanism 30 for various operations. The control mechanism 30 includes a drive unit 31 that drives the agitator 22, a stop time integration unit 32 that integrates the stop time of the drive unit 31, a drive signal detection unit 33 that detects a drive signal of the drive unit 31, and a toner sensor 24. The toner sensor control unit 34 changes the detection start timing of the toner and the toner supply control unit 35 controls the supply of toner from the toner cartridge 10. Hereinafter, a first embodiment in the control of the toner hopper 11 will be described.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart for the first embodiment in the control of the toner hopper 11. When the drive unit 31 stops driving the agitator 22, the stop time integration unit 32 starts integrating the stop time of the drive unit 31 (S 1). The drive signal detector 33 detects whether or not there is a drive signal to be transmitted to the agitator 22 when the drive unit 31 drives the agitator 22 (S2). When there is no drive signal (S2-No), the drive signal detector 33 repeats signal detection until there is a drive signal. When there is a drive signal (S2-Yes), the drive signal detection unit 33 transmits the detection signal to the stop time integration unit 32. The stop time integrating unit 32 determines the stop time of the drive unit 31 based on the detection signal (S3). The toner sensor control unit 34 changes the detection start timing of the toner sensor 24 based on the determination result (S4). The detection start timing of the toner sensor 24 is controlled according to the length of the stop time of the drive unit 31. Specifically, when the stop time of the drive unit 31 is equal to or longer than a predetermined time, the detection start time of the toner sensor 24 is set to a time that is uniform because the toner submerged in the lower portion of the hopper 21 is agitated by the agitator 22. The On the other hand, when the stop time of the drive unit 31 is less than the predetermined time, the detection start time of the toner sensor 24 is set immediately after the rotation of the agitator 22. Here, the predetermined time refers to a time during which toner that is uniform in the hopper 21 sinks into the lower portion of the hopper 21 due to its own weight.

  When the toner sensor control unit 34 changes the detection start timing of the toner sensor 24, the stop time integration unit 32 resets the stop time of the driving unit 31 that has been integrated (S5). The agitator 22 starts stirring based on the drive signal transmitted from the drive unit 31 (S6). When stirring of the agitator 22 is started, the toner sensor control unit 34 determines whether to start detection by the toner sensor 24 based on the changed detection start timing (S7). When the detection start timing is reached (S7-Yes), the toner sensor control unit 34 transmits a detection start signal to the toner sensor 24. The toner sensor 24 starts detecting the toner in the hopper 21 by receiving the detection start signal (S8).

  When the toner sensor 24 does not detect the toner in the hopper 21, the toner replenishment control unit 35 controls the toner cartridge 10 to replenish the toner from the toner cartridge 10 (S9). The toner supply control unit 35 determines whether or not the toner supply to the hopper 21 is completed (S10). When the toner replenishment control unit 35 determines that the toner replenishment has been completed (S10—Yes), the drive unit 31 stops driving the agitator 22.

  According to the image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment in the control of the toner hopper 11 described above, the detection start timing of the toner sensor 24 is set according to the drive stop time of the agitator 22 that stirs the toner in the toner hopper 11. Since the change is made, detection of the toner sensor 24 can be started in accordance with the stirring state of the toner in the toner hopper 11. As a result, the influence of toner sinking can be alleviated and the presence or absence of toner in the toner hopper 11 can be accurately determined. In other words, even when the stop time of the agitator 22 is long, the toner in the hopper 21 can be sufficiently stirred before the detection by the toner sensor 24 can be started, so that the toner sinks under its own weight. As a result, the toner sensor 24 does not detect that there is no toner, and the toner hopper 11 can be prevented from being oversupplied.

  Next, a second embodiment for controlling the toner hopper 11 will be described. FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the second embodiment of the control mechanism 30 of the toner hopper 11. The control mechanism 30 in the second embodiment includes a drive unit 31 that drives the agitator 22, a stop time integration unit 32 that integrates the stop time of the drive unit 31, and a drive signal detection unit that detects a drive signal of the drive unit 31. 33, a toner sensor control unit 34 that changes the detection start timing of the toner sensor 24, a toner supply control unit 35 that controls the supply of toner from the toner cartridge 10, and a drive time integration that integrates the drive time of the drive unit 31. The unit 36 and a stop time correction unit 37 that corrects the stop time of the drive unit 31 based on the drive time accumulated by the drive time accumulation unit 36.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart for the second embodiment in the control of the toner hopper 11. When the drive unit 31 stops driving the agitator 22, the stop time integration unit 32 starts integrating the stop time of the drive unit 31 (S 20). When the stop time integration unit 32 starts integrating the stop time, the drive signal detection unit 33 detects whether or not there is a drive signal to be transmitted when the drive unit 31 drives the agitator 22 (S21). When there is no drive signal (S21-No), the drive signal detection unit 33 repeats signal detection until there is a drive signal. When there is a drive signal (S21-Yes), the drive signal detection unit 33 transmits the detection signal to the stop time correction unit 37. Based on the detection signal, the stop time correction unit 37 determines whether or not the drive time of the drive unit 31 before the drive is stopped is equal to or shorter than a predetermined time (S22). Here, the predetermined time is a time during which the toner sinking under its own weight under the hopper 21 becomes uniform in the hopper 21 by being stirred by the agitator 22. When the drive time is equal to or shorter than the predetermined time (S22-Yes), the stop time correcting unit 37 corrects the stop time of the drive unit 31 calculated by the stop time integrating unit 32. Specifically, the stop time correction unit 37 corrects the stop time of the drive unit 31 by adding the actual stop time of the drive unit 31 by assuming the drive time of the drive unit 31 before the drive stop as the stop time. The drive time of the drive unit 31 before the drive stop is assumed to be the stop time because when the drive time before the drive stop is shorter than the predetermined time, the toner in the hopper 21 is not uniformly stirred, and the toner sensor This is because the detection of 24 cannot be performed sufficiently. When the stop time correcting unit 37 corrects the stop time of the drive unit 31, the stop time integrating unit 32 determines the stop time of the drive unit 31 based on the stop time corrected by the stop time correcting unit 37 (S24). When the drive time is not less than the predetermined time (S22-No), the stop time correcting unit 37 does not correct the stop time of the drive unit 31, and the stop time integrating unit 32 determines the stop time of the drive unit 31 (S24). .

  The toner sensor control unit 34 changes the detection start timing of the toner sensor 24 based on the determination result (S25). The control of the detection start timing of the toner sensor 24 is the same as in the first embodiment. When the toner sensor control unit 34 changes the detection start timing of the toner sensor 24, the stop time integration unit 32 resets the stop time of the drive unit 31 that has been integrated (S26). The agitator 22 starts stirring based on the drive signal transmitted from the drive unit 31 (S27). When the stirring of the agitator 22 is started, the drive time integrating unit 36 starts integrating the drive time of the drive unit 31 (S28). When the drive time integrating unit 36 starts to accumulate the drive time, the toner sensor control unit 34 determines whether to start detection by the toner sensor 24 based on the changed detection start timing (S29). When the detection start timing is reached (S29-Yes), the toner sensor control unit 34 transmits a detection start signal to the toner sensor 24. The toner sensor 24 starts detecting the toner in the hopper 21 by receiving the detection start signal (S30).

  When the toner sensor 24 does not detect the toner in the hopper 21, the toner replenishment control unit 35 controls the toner cartridge 10 so as to replenish the toner from the toner cartridge 10 (S31). The toner supply control unit 35 determines whether or not the toner supply to the hopper 21 is completed (S32). When the toner supply control unit 35 determines that the toner supply is completed (S32—Yes), the drive unit 31 stops driving the agitator 22.

  According to the image forming apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment in the control of the toner hopper 11 described above, the agitator 22 is controlled based on the length of the driving time before the driving of the agitator 22 for stirring the toner in the toner hopper 11 is stopped. Since the correction means for correcting the stop time is provided, the start of detection by the toner sensor 24 can be controlled in accordance with the stirring state of the toner in the toner hopper 11. As a result, the influence of the toner sensor due to the sinking of the toner is alleviated, and the presence or absence of toner in the toner hopper 11 can be accurately determined. In other words, when the drive time of the agitator 22 is short, the detection time of the toner sensor 24 is changed by assuming the drive time as a stop time, so that the toner hopper 11 is sufficiently agitated. Since the sensor 24 can detect the toner, the toner hopper 11 can be prevented from being oversupplied.

1 is a schematic diagram of an image forming apparatus 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a toner hopper 11. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the first embodiment of the control mechanism 30 of the toner hopper 11. 5 is a flowchart for the first embodiment in the control of the toner hopper 11; FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a second embodiment of the control mechanism 30 of the toner hopper 11. 7 is a flowchart for a second embodiment in the control of the toner hopper 11; FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the vicinity of a toner hopper 110 in a conventional image forming apparatus 100.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 11 Toner hopper 22 Agitator (stirring part)
24 toner sensor 32 stop time integration unit 33 drive signal detection unit 34 toner sensor control unit

Claims (3)

A toner hopper for temporarily storing toner;
An agitation unit for agitating the toner in the toner hopper;
A toner sensor for detecting the presence or absence of toner in the toner hopper after stirring by the stirring unit;
A stop time integrating unit that integrates the drive stop time of the stirring unit;
A toner sensor control unit for changing the detection start timing of the toner sensor;
Comprising
The toner sensor control unit changes the detection start timing of the toner sensor based on the length of the drive stop time accumulated by the stop time accumulation unit. A toner hopper for temporarily storing toner;
An agitation unit for agitating the toner in the toner hopper;
A toner sensor for detecting the presence or absence of toner in the toner hopper after stirring by the stirring unit;
A stop time integrating unit that integrates the drive stop time of the stirring unit;
A driving time integrating unit that integrates the driving time of the stirring unit;
A stop time correction unit for correcting the stop time of the stirring unit;
A toner sensor control unit for changing the detection start timing of the toner sensor;
Comprising
The stop time correction unit corrects the drive stop time based on the length of the drive time accumulated by the drive time accumulation unit,
The image forming apparatus, wherein the toner sensor control unit changes the detection start timing of the toner sensor based on the length of the drive stop time corrected by the stop time correction unit.   3. The drive stop time is corrected by adding the drive time to the drive stop time when the drive time of the stirring unit is equal to or less than a predetermined time. Image forming apparatus.

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