JP2003302882A - Image forming apparatus, computer program, and computer system - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] (with correction) [PROBLEMS] To realize an image forming apparatus, a computer program, and a computer system for efficiently collecting a developer. A transfer medium for transferring a developer on an image carrier to a transfer material, a first transfer unit capable of transferring the developer on the image carrier to the transfer medium, and the first transfer unit A first collection unit for collecting the developer remaining on the image carrier without being transferred by the first transfer unit; a second transfer unit capable of transferring the developer on the transfer medium to the transfer material; A second collection unit for collecting the developer remaining on the transfer medium without being transferred by the two transfer units, and a developer in the first collection unit and a development in the second collection unit. Of the agents,
When the amount of one of the developers reaches a predetermined amount, the control for the first transfer unit is made different from the control for the first transfer unit before reaching the predetermined amount.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, a computer program, and a computer system.

[0002]

BACKGROUND ART As an image forming apparatus of this type, for example,
A rotary device having a plurality of developing devices for developing a latent image formed on a photoconductor as an example of an image bearing member with toner as an example of a developer, and these developing devices being arranged radially around a rotation axis. An image forming apparatus or the like provided with a developing unit of the type is known. When an image signal is transmitted from an external device such as a host computer, these image forming apparatuses rotate one of the plurality of developing devices to a developing position facing the photoconductor by rotating the developing unit around the rotation axis. Position. Then, the latent image formed on the photoconductor is developed to form a toner image, and the toner image is transferred onto an intermediate transfer body as an example of a transfer medium. At this time, while sequentially switching the plurality of developing devices, similarly developing and transferring are repeated to form a color image by superposing a plurality of toner images. Then, the color image is finally transferred to a transfer material such as paper.

By the way, it is necessary to collect the toner left on the photosensitive member or the toner left on the intermediate transfer member after the image formation is performed by such an image forming apparatus by some method. The remaining toner is collected by the photoconductor cleaning unit or the intermediate transfer member cleaning unit.

Further, when image formation with a low print ratio (image formation with a low print duty) is repeated, consumption of the toner carried on the developing roller is not promoted, and therefore toner left on the developing roller without being consumed. Is repeatedly rubbed by a toner supply roller, a regulation blade, or the like, which causes deterioration of the charging characteristics of the toner, resulting in deterioration of image quality.However, in order to eliminate such a problem, At the timing (for example, when it is determined that the printing ratio is low and the printing ratio is low), the toner carried on the developing roller is transferred to the non-image forming area on the photoconductor. A method of adhering, that is, a method of forcibly consuming toner has been proposed (for example, proposed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-75438).

Even in such a case, the toner after forced consumption attached to the non-image forming area on the photoconductor must be collected by some method. As described in the above publication, the toner remaining on the photoconductor after the forced consumption is collected by a photoconductor cleaning unit without being transferred from the photoconductor to the intermediate transfer body, or It is transferred from the body onto the intermediate transfer body and is collected by the intermediate transfer body cleaning unit.

However, the following problems occur in the above situation. That is, the maximum amount of toner that can be collected by the photosensitive member cleaning unit and the intermediate transfer member cleaning unit generally depends on the volume of the waste toner box provided in these cleaning units,
The volume of the waste toner box depends on the expected printing conditions (printing ratio, color / monochrome image forming ratio, etc.), etc., and how much toner is collected in which cleaning unit by normal image formation or forced consumption. It is designed by predicting whether or not However, the printing conditions and the like differ depending on how the image forming apparatus is used by the user (whether there are many characters or many pictures, whether many color images are formed or many monochrome images are formed, etc.). , Either of the waste toner boxes may fill up first. In such a case, generally, a new photoconductor waste toner box or intermediate transfer body waste toner box is purchased in order to replace the photoconductor waste toner box or the intermediate transfer body waste toner box filled with the toner T. This situation is inefficient, considering that the waste toner box that is not subject to replacement can still contain toner, which is necessary.

Further, the photoconductor waste toner box and the intermediate transfer body waste toner box are often sold as a set (as a set). In such a case, the waste toner full of the toner T is used. Since the user wants to replace the box, there is a disadvantage that the user also buys an unnecessary waste toner box that is not the replacement target. Also,
In such a situation, when there is a considerable amount of space in the waste toner box that is not the replacement target, the user does not replace the waste toner box with a new waste toner box, but replaces the new waste toner box. Such a situation is not desirable from the viewpoint of recycling the waste toner box and consideration for the environment because it may be discarded.
Therefore, a method for efficiently collecting the toner is desired.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide an image forming apparatus, a computer program, and a computer system for efficiently recovering a developer. Is to realize.

[0009]

The present invention mainly comprises an image bearing member capable of forming a latent image, and a developer bearing member for developing the latent image formed on the image bearing member with a developer. A transfer medium serving as a medium for transferring the developer on the image carrier to a transfer material, a first transfer unit capable of transferring the developer on the image carrier to the transfer medium, and the first transfer unit. First recovery means for recovering the developer remaining on the image bearing member without being transferred by the second transfer means, and second transfer means capable of transferring the developer on the transfer medium to the transfer material. A second recovery means for recovering the developer left on the transfer medium without being transferred by the second transfer means, and the developer adhered to the image carrier is transferred to the first recovery means and the second recovery means. In the image forming apparatus for collecting by either one or both of the second collecting means, When the amount of either one of the developer in the means and the developer in the second recovery means reaches a predetermined amount, the control for the first transfer means reaches the predetermined amount. The image forming apparatus is different from the previous control for the first transfer unit.

Other features of the present invention will become apparent from the description of this specification and the accompanying drawings.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS At least the following will be made clear by the description in the present specification and the accompanying drawings.

An image carrier on which a latent image can be formed, a developer carrier for developing the latent image formed on the image carrier with a developer, and the developer on the image carrier are used as a transfer material. A transfer medium to be a medium for transfer to the image carrier, a first transfer means capable of transferring the developer on the image carrier to the transfer medium, and a transfer medium on the image carrier without being transferred by the first transfer means. First recovery means for recovering the remaining developer, second transfer means capable of transferring the developer on the transfer medium to the transfer material, and the transfer medium without being transferred by the second transfer means. A second collecting unit for collecting the developer remaining on the image carrier, and the developer attached to the image carrier is either or both of the first collecting unit and the second collecting unit. In the image forming apparatus that collects the toner by the When the amount of either one of the developers inside reaches a predetermined amount, the control for the first transfer unit is the control for the first transfer unit before reaching the predetermined amount. An image forming apparatus characterized by being different.

When the amount of either one of the developer in the first recovery means and the developer in the second recovery means reaches a predetermined amount, control for the first transfer means is performed. Is different from the control for the first transfer unit before reaching the predetermined amount, the developer can be efficiently collected.

Further, according to either one of the first recovery means and the second recovery means, the recovery means of which the amount of the developer in the recovery means has not reached a predetermined amount, The control of the first transfer unit may be different from the control of the first transfer unit before reaching the predetermined amount so as to collect a larger amount of the developer attached to the image carrier. This increases the possibility that the replacement time of the first recovery means and the replacement time of the second recovery means will match.

Further, one or both of the first collecting means and the second collecting means has a detecting means for detecting the amount of the developer in the collecting means.
It may be possible to determine whether the amount of the developer has reached a predetermined amount by the detection means. By doing so, it is possible to reliably determine whether or not the amount of the developer has reached the predetermined amount.

Further, it has a consumption amount detecting means for detecting the consumption amount of the developer, and based on the developer consumption amount detected by the consumption amount detecting means, the developer in the first collecting means and the developer. It is also possible to determine the amount of one or both of the developers in the second recovery means and determine whether or not the determined amount of the developer has reached a predetermined amount. With this configuration, the device configuration of the image forming apparatus can be simplified.

Further, it has an operation mode for adhering the developer carried on the developer carrier to the non-image area on the image carrier, and the developer in the first collecting means and the second developer. When the amount of either one of the developers in the recovery unit reaches a predetermined amount, the control of the first transfer unit in the operation mode is performed before the first amount is reached. The control may be different from the control of the transfer unit. With this configuration, the control of the first transfer unit can be easily performed.

Further, the transfer bias applied to the first transfer means is controlled so that the control for the first transfer means in the operation mode is the control for the first transfer means before reaching the predetermined amount. It may be different. With this configuration, the control of the first transfer unit can be easily performed.

Further, by changing the magnitude of the transfer bias, the control of the first transfer means in the operation mode may be different from the control of the first transfer means before the predetermined amount is reached. . By doing so, it is possible to provide a simple transfer bias setting method for achieving the purpose that the developer can be efficiently collected.

Further, the transfer bias may be changed with time so that the control of the first transfer means in the operation mode is different from the control of the first transfer means before the predetermined amount is reached. Good. With this configuration, the fine control can be realized.

By setting the transfer bias for each operation mode, the control for the first transfer means in the operation mode is made different from the control for the first transfer means before the predetermined amount is reached. It may be that. By doing so, the type of transfer bias to be prepared can be minimized.

In the operation mode, the developer carried on the developer carrier is attached to the non-image forming area on the image carrier in order to peel off the deteriorated developer from the developer carrier. It may be that. When the developer carried on the developer carrying member is attached to the non-image forming area on the image carrying member in order to peel off the deteriorated developer from the developer carrying member, Since the amount is likely to increase, the above-mentioned effect, that is, the effect that the developer can be efficiently collected will be more effectively exhibited.

Further, the first collecting means has a first containing member for containing the collected developer, and the second collecting means has a second containing means for containing the collected developer. It is good also as having a member, the first housing member and the second housing member are replaceable, and the first housing member and the second housing member for the replacement are sold as a set. . In such a case, since it is desired to replace the accommodating member that is full of the developer, it is possible to eliminate the inconvenience of purchasing an unnecessary accommodating member that is not the replacement target. To be demonstrated.

Further, the developer may include a release agent. In such a case, the developer is likely to deteriorate, so that the operation mode for attaching the developer carried on the developer carrier to the non-image forming area on the image carrier becomes more important. The above-mentioned effect, that is, the effect that the developer can be efficiently collected can be more effectively exhibited.

Further, a developer stripping member for stripping off the developer carried on the developer carrying member is provided, and the rotating direction of the developer carrying member is the same as the rotating direction of the developer carrying member. May be in the opposite direction. In such a case, as compared with the case where the rotation direction of the developer stripping member is the same as the rotation direction of the developer carrying member, the developer is more likely to remain on the developer carrying member. Since the importance of the operation mode for attaching the developer carried on the carrier to the non-image forming area on the image carrier becomes high,
The above-described effect, that is, the effect that the developer can be efficiently collected can be more effectively exhibited.

The image forming apparatus may be a laser beam printer. In such cases,
Since there is a strong demand for downsizing of the laser beam printer, it is difficult to share the first housing member with the first housing member. Therefore, the effect described above, that is, the effect that the developer can be efficiently collected can be more effectively exhibited.

Next, an image bearing member capable of forming a latent image, a developer bearing member for developing the latent image formed on the image bearing member with a developer, and a developer on the image bearing member. A transfer medium which is a medium for transferring the toner to a transfer material, a first transfer unit capable of transferring the developer on the image carrier to the transfer medium, and the image carrier without being transferred by the first transfer unit. First recovery means for recovering the developer left on the body, second transfer means capable of transferring the developer on the transfer medium to the transfer material,
A second recovery unit for recovering the developer left on the transfer medium without being transferred by the second transfer unit, for removing the deteriorated developer from the developer carrier. A developer carrier having an operation mode for adhering the developer carried on the non-image area on the image carrier,
In a laser beam printer that collects the developer adhered to the non-image area by one or both of the first recovery unit and the second recovery unit, the developer in the first recovery unit and the second Of the developer in the collection means,
When the amount of one of the developers reaches a predetermined amount, the magnitude of the transfer bias applied to the first transfer unit is changed to change the transfer bias with time, and the operation mode is changed. By setting the transfer bias for each, either one of the first collecting means and the second collecting means, and the amount of the developer in the collecting means has not reached a predetermined amount. In order to collect a larger amount of the developer adhered to the image carrier by the other collecting means, the control for the first transferring means in the operation mode is performed for the first transferring means before reaching the predetermined amount. Differently from the control, one or both of the first collecting means and the second collecting means has a detecting means for detecting the amount of the developer in the collecting means, Developer by the detection means It is determined whether the amount has reached a predetermined amount, the first recovery means has a first storage member for storing the recovered developer, and the second recovery means is the recovered developer. A second accommodating member for accommodating, the first accommodating member and the second accommodating member are replaceable, the first accommodating member and the second accommodating member for the replacement as a set It is sold, and the developer is
It has a release agent, and has a developer stripping member for stripping the developer carried on the developer carrying body, and the rotation direction of the developer stripping member is the rotation of the developer carrying body. A laser beam printer characterized in that the direction is opposite to the direction. By doing so, most of the effects described above are achieved, and the object of the present invention is achieved more effectively.

Further, it is also possible to realize a computer program for causing the image forming apparatus to execute the above-described method, which has the above-described effect that the developer can be efficiently collected.

Next, a computer main body, a display device connectable to the computer main body, and an image forming apparatus connectable to the computer main body, which is capable of forming a latent image, and an image carrier formed on the image carrier. A developer carrier for developing the formed latent image with a developer, a transfer medium serving as a medium for transferring the developer on the image carrier to a transfer material, and a developer on the image carrier A first transfer means capable of transferring the toner to the transfer medium, and a first recovery means for recovering the developer left on the image carrier without being transferred by the first transfer means,
Second transfer means capable of transferring the developer on the transfer medium to the transfer material, and second recovery means for recovering the developer left on the transfer medium without being transferred by the second transfer means. And an image forming apparatus that collects the developer attached to the image carrier by either one or both of the first collecting unit and the second collecting unit. When the amount of either one of the developer and the developer in the second recovery unit reaches a predetermined amount, the control for the first transfer unit is performed before reaching the predetermined amount. An image forming apparatus, which is different from the control for the first transfer unit, in the computer system. The computer system realized in this way is superior to the conventional system as a whole system.

=== Overall Configuration Example of Image Forming Apparatus === An outline of a laser beam printer (hereinafter also referred to as a printer) 10 as an example of the image forming apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 shows a printer 10.
It is the figure which showed the main components which comprise. Note that FIG.
In the drawing, the up and down directions are indicated by arrows. For example, the paper feed tray 92 is arranged in the lower part of the printer 10, and the fixing unit 90 is arranged in the upper part of the printer 10.

The printer 10 according to this embodiment is shown in FIG.
As shown in, the charging unit 30, along the rotation direction of the photoconductor 20 as an example of an image carrier capable of forming a latent image,
Exposure unit 40, YMCK developing unit 50, primary transfer unit 60 as an example of a first transfer means capable of transferring the developer on the image carrier to a transfer medium, and transferring the developer on the image carrier to a transfer material. An intermediate transfer body 70 as an example of a transfer medium serving as a medium at the time, and an example of a first collecting means for collecting the developer left on the image carrier without being transferred by the first transfer means. A secondary transfer unit 80, which has a photoconductor cleaning unit 75 and is an example of a second transfer unit capable of transferring the developer on the transfer medium to a transfer material, and the secondary transfer unit 80 which is not transferred by the second transfer unit. An intermediate transfer member cleaning unit 85 as an example of a second recovery unit for recovering the developer remaining on the transfer medium, a fixing unit 90, and a liquid crystal panel without a notification unit to the user. Display unit 95 and has a control unit which controls the operation of the controls these units such as a printer (FIG. 2).

The photosensitive member 20 has a cylindrical conductive base material and a photosensitive layer formed on the outer peripheral surface thereof, and is rotatable about the central axis. In the present embodiment, the photosensitive member 20 shown in FIG. Rotate clockwise as shown by the arrow.

The charging unit 30 is a device for charging the photoconductor 20, and the exposure unit 40 is a device for forming a latent image on the charged photoconductor 20 by irradiating a laser. The exposure unit 40 has a semiconductor laser, a polygon mirror, an F-θ lens, and the like,
Based on the image information input from a host computer (not shown) such as a personal computer or a word processor or the image information included in the control unit, a modulated laser is irradiated onto the charged photoconductor 20.

The YMCK developing unit 50 includes the photoconductor 20.
The latent image formed on the toner was stored in each developing device as a toner T as an example of the developer, that is, in the black (K) toner stored in the black developing device 51, and in the magenta developing device 52. Magenta (M) toner, cyan (C) toner contained in the cyan developing device 53, and yellow (Y) contained in the yellow developing device 54.
This is a device for developing with toner.

In this embodiment, the YMCK developing unit 50 rotates to move the positions of the four developing devices 51, 52, 53 and 54. That is, this YMCK developing unit 5
0 designates the four developing devices 51, 52, 53, 54 as 4
The four developing devices 51, 52, 53, 54 are held by one holding portion 55a, 55b, 55c, 55d.
Can rotate about the central axis 50a while maintaining their relative positions. Each time the image formation for one page is completed, the toner T selectively faces the photoconductor 20 and is formed on the photoconductor 20 by the toner T accommodated in each of the developing devices 51, 52, 53, 54. Develop the latent image.

The primary transfer unit 60 is a device for transferring the monochromatic toner image formed on the photosensitive member 20 to the intermediate transfer member 70. When the four color toners are sequentially transferred in an overlapping manner, the intermediate transfer member 70 is transferred. A full-color toner image is formed on.

The intermediate transfer member 70 is an endless belt in which an aluminum vapor deposition layer is provided on the surface of a PET film, and a semiconductive paint is formed on the surface layer of the PET film to be laminated.
It is driven to rotate at almost the same peripheral speed as 0. A reading sensor for synchronization RS is arranged near the intermediate transfer body 70. The synchronization reading sensor RS is a sensor for detecting the reference position of the intermediate transfer member 70, and is a vertical synchronization reading for obtaining a synchronization signal in the sub-scanning direction substantially orthogonal to the main scanning direction, that is, a vertical synchronization signal Vsync. Functions as a sensor. More specifically, the synchronization reading sensor RS has a light emitting portion for emitting light and a light receiving portion for receiving light, and the hole formed at a predetermined position of the intermediate transfer member 70 is When passing the light emitted from the light emitting unit, the light is received by the light receiving unit, and the synchronization reading sensor RS outputs a pulse signal.

As described above, since one pulse signal is output every time the intermediate transfer body 70 makes one rotation, the synchronization reading sensor RS detects the moving amount (rotation speed) of the intermediate transfer body 70. It also serves as a moving amount (rotational speed) detecting means.

The photoconductor cleaning unit 75 is a device provided between the primary transfer unit 60 and the charging unit 30 for scraping and collecting the toner T remaining on the photoconductor 20. Further description will be given with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is an explanatory view schematically showing the photoconductor cleaning unit 75.

The photoconductor cleaning unit 75 has a rubber cleaning blade 76 which is in contact with the surface of the photoconductor 20, and is used after the toner image is transferred onto the intermediate transfer member 70 by the primary transfer unit 60. The toner T remaining on the photoconductor 20 is scraped off and collected by the cleaning blade 76. The toner T scraped and collected is stored in a photoconductor waste toner box 752 as an example of a first storage member for storing the collected developer. The photoconductor waste toner box 752 includes a near-end sensor 754 as an example of a detection unit for detecting the amount of the developer in the collection unit, and the sensor is the toner T in the photoconductor waste toner box 752. Plays a role in detecting when the vehicle is near full. Further, the photoconductor waste toner box 752 includes an end sensor 756, and the sensor is the photoconductor waste toner box 7
It plays a role of detecting that the toner T in 52 is full.

The secondary transfer unit 80 comprises the intermediate transfer member 70.
This is a device for transferring the single-color toner image or the full-color toner image formed on a recording medium such as paper, film or cloth as an example of a transfer material.

The intermediate transfer member cleaning unit 85 includes
This device is provided above the YMCK developing unit 50 and scrapes and collects the toner T remaining on the intermediate transfer member 70. Further description will be given with reference to FIG.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory view schematically showing the intermediate transfer member cleaning unit 85.

The intermediate transfer member cleaning unit 85 includes
A cleaning blade 87 made of rubber that is in contact with the surface of the intermediate transfer member 70 is provided, and after the toner image is transferred onto the transfer material by the secondary transfer unit 80, the intermediate transfer member 7
The toner T remaining on the surface 0 is scraped off and collected by the cleaning blade 87. The toner T scraped and collected is an intermediate transfer member waste toner box 852 as an example of a second storage member for storing the collected developer.
Housed in. The intermediate transfer member waste toner box 852
Includes a near-end sensor 854 as an example of a detection unit for detecting the amount of the developer in the collection unit,
The sensor plays a role of detecting that the toner T in the intermediate transfer member waste toner box 852 is almost full. Further, the intermediate transfer body waste toner box 852 is
An end sensor 856 is provided, and this sensor plays a role of detecting that the toner T in the intermediate transfer member waste toner box 852 is full.

The fixing unit 90 is a device for fusing a single color toner image or a full color toner image transferred onto a recording medium to a recording medium such as paper to form a permanent image. The control unit 100 is composed of a main controller 101 and a unit controller 102 as shown in FIG.
An image signal is input to the main controller 101, and the unit controller 102 controls the units and the like in accordance with a command based on the image signal to form an image.

Next, the printer 10 configured as described above.
The operation will be described with reference to other components.

First, when an image signal from a host computer (not shown) is input to the main controller 101 of the printer 10 through an interface (I / F) 112, the unit controller 102 of the unit controller 102 based on a command from the main controller 101. Control the photoconductor 20,
Also, the intermediate transfer member 70 rotates. Then, after that, the reference position of the intermediate transfer member 70 is detected by the synchronization reading sensor RS, and a pulse signal is output. The pulse signal is sent to the unit controller 102, and with the pulse signal as a reference, in other words, after a lapse of a predetermined time after the pulse signal is sent, development as an example of a developer carrier provided in the developing device. The rollers start to rotate.
Further, various operations described below are also performed based on the pulse signal.

The photoconductor 20 is sequentially charged by the charging unit 30 at the charging position while rotating. The charged region of the photoconductor 20 reaches the exposure position as the photoconductor 20 rotates, and the exposure unit 40 causes the first color,
For example, a latent image corresponding to yellow Y image information is formed in the area. Further, the YMCK developing unit 50 positions the yellow developing device 54 containing the yellow (Y) toner at the developing position facing the photoconductor 20.

The latent image formed on the photoconductor 20 reaches the developing position as the photoconductor 20 rotates, and is developed with yellow toner by the yellow developing device 54. As a result, a yellow toner image is formed on the photoconductor 20.

The yellow toner image formed on the photoconductor 20 reaches the primary transfer position as the photoconductor 20 rotates,
The image is transferred to the intermediate transfer body 70 by the primary transfer unit 60. At this time, the toner T
A primary transfer bias (voltage) as a transfer bias applied to the first transfer unit having a polarity opposite to the charging polarity of is applied. During this time, the secondary transfer unit 80 and the intermediate transfer body cleaning unit 85 are separated from the intermediate transfer body 70.

By repeating the above processing for the second color, the third color, and the fourth color, the toner images of four colors corresponding to the respective image signals are overlapped on the intermediate transfer member 70. Transcribed. As a result, a full-color toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer member 70.

The full-color toner image formed on the intermediate transfer member 70 reaches the secondary transfer position as the intermediate transfer member 70 rotates, and is transferred to the recording medium by the secondary transfer unit 80. The recording medium is conveyed from the paper feed tray 92 to the secondary transfer unit 80 via the paper feed roller 94 and the registration roller 96. When performing the transfer operation, the secondary transfer unit 80 is pressed against the intermediate transfer body 70, and a secondary transfer bias (voltage) having a polarity opposite to the charging polarity of the toner T is applied to the secondary transfer unit 80. To be done. The residual toner T on the intermediate transfer body 70 is scraped off by the cleaning blade 87 supported by the intermediate transfer body cleaning unit 85. The toner T scraped off is collected in the intermediate transfer body waste toner box 852 provided in the intermediate transfer body cleaning unit 85.

The full-color toner image transferred to the recording medium is heated and pressed by the fixing unit 90 and fused to the recording medium.

On the other hand, after the photoconductor 20 has passed the primary transfer position, the toner T adhering to the surface of the photoconductor 20 is scraped off by the cleaning blade 76 supported by the photoconductor cleaning unit 75 to form the next latent image. Prepare for charging to form. The scraped toner T is collected in the photoconductor waste toner box 752 provided in the photoconductor cleaning unit 75.

The photoconductor 20 is unitized as a photoconductor kit together with the charging unit 30 and the photoconductor cleaning unit 75, and is attachable to and detachable from the main body of the printer 10. Also, the intermediate transfer member cleaning unit 85 can be attached to and detached from the main body of the printer 10. Further, the photoconductor kit and the intermediate transfer body cleaning unit 85 are sold as a set, and the purchased photoconductor kit or the intermediate transfer body cleaning unit 85 can be replaced with an old one. Since the photosensitive member cleaning unit 75 is also included in the photosensitive member kit, the photosensitive member waste toner box 752 and the intermediate transfer member cleaning unit 85 included in the photosensitive member cleaning unit 75 are included.
It can be said that the intermediate transfer body waste toner box 852 included in is replaceable, and the photosensitive body waste toner box 752 and the intermediate transfer body waste toner box 852 are sold as a set.

=== Example of Configuration of Developing Device === Next, an example of the configuration of the developing device will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the main components of the developing device. Note that, similarly to FIG. 1, in FIG. 3 as well, the up and down direction is indicated by arrows, and for example, development as an example of a developer carrier for developing a latent image formed on the image carrier with a developer. The central axis of the roller 510 is below the central axis of the photoconductor 20. Further, in FIG. 3, the yellow developing device 54 is
It is shown in a state in which it is located at the developing position facing the photoconductor 20.

The YMCK developing unit 50 includes a black developing device 51 containing black (K) toner, a magenta developing device 52 containing magenta (M) toner, a cyan developing device 53 containing cyan (C) toner, and ,
Yellow developing device 54 containing yellow (Y) toner
However, since the configuration of each developing device is the same, the yellow developing device 54 will be described below.

The yellow developing device 54 includes a developing roller 510 as a developer carrying member, a seal member 520, a toner storage portion 530, a frame 540, a toner supply roller 550 as a developer stripping member, a regulating blade 560, and a regulating blade. It has a blade backing member 570 for biasing.

The developing roller 510 carries a toner T as an example of a developer and conveys the toner T to a developing position facing the photoconductor 20. The developing roller 510 is made of an aluminum alloy such as a 5056 aluminum alloy or a 6063 aluminum alloy, an iron alloy such as STKM, or the like, and is plated with nickel or chrome as necessary. Further, the developing roller 510 is rotatable about the central axis,
As shown in FIG. 3, the photoconductor 20 rotates in the opposite direction (counterclockwise in FIG. 3) to the rotation direction (clockwise in FIG. 3). The central axis is below the central axis of the photoconductor 20. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, when the yellow developing device 54 faces the photoconductor 20, there is a gap between the developing roller 510 and the photoconductor 20. That is, the yellow developing device 54 develops the latent image formed on the photoconductor 20 in a non-contact state. When the latent image formed on the photoconductor 20 is developed, a development bias is applied to the development roller 510 by the development bias generator 130 (FIG. 2) so that the development roller 510 and the photoconductor 20 are exposed to each other. An alternating electric field is formed.

The seal member 520 is the yellow developing device 5.
4 prevents the toner T inside 4 from leaking to the outside of the device, and the toner T on the developing roller 510 that has passed the developing position.
Are collected in the developing device without being scraped off. The seal member 520 is a seal made of polyethylene film or the like. The seal member 520 is a seal support metal plate 522.
Supported by the seal support sheet metal 522 and attached to the frame 540. Further, a seal urging member 524 made of maltoprene or the like is provided on the opposite side of the seal member 520 from the developing roller 510 side, and the seal member 520 is developed by the elastic force of the seal urging member 524. It is pressed against 510. The contact position where the seal member 520 contacts the developing roller 510 is above the central axis of the developing roller 510.

The toner storage portion 530 is a portion for storing the toner T, and is constituted by a part of the frame 540. The toner T stored in the toner storage portion 530
Although a stirring member for stirring the toner may be provided, in the present embodiment, the toner storage unit 530 is not provided with the stirring member.

The toner supply roller 550 applies the toner T stored in the toner storage portion 530, which will be described later, to the developing roller 51.
The toner T remaining on the developing roller 510 after development is supplied to the developing roller 510.
It has the function of peeling from. The toner supply roller 550 is made of polyurethane foam or the like and is in elastically deformed contact with the developing roller 510. The toner supply roller 550 is disposed below the toner storage unit 530, and the toner T stored in the toner storage unit 530 is stored in the toner storage roller 550.
The toner supply member 5 is provided below the toner storage portion 530.
It is supplied to the developing roller 510 by 30. The toner supply roller 550 is rotatable about a central axis, and the central axis is below the central axis of rotation of the developing roller 510. Further, the toner supply roller 550 rotates in the opposite direction (clockwise in FIG. 3) to the rotation direction of the developing roller 510 (counterclockwise in FIG. 3).

The regulating blade 560 is connected to the developing roller 510.
The toner T carried on the developing roller 510 is charged, and the layer thickness of the toner T carried on the developing roller 510 is regulated. The regulation blade 560 has a rubber portion 560a and a rubber support portion 560b. The rubber portion 560a is made of silicon rubber, urethane rubber, or the like, and has a rubber supporting portion 560b.
Is a thin plate having a spring property such as phosphor bronze and stainless steel. The rubber portion 560a is supported by the rubber supporting portion 560b, and the rubber supporting portion 560b is supported by the blade supporting sheet metal 562 with one end thereof sandwiched and supported by the pair of blade supporting sheet metal 562. Is attached to. Further, a blade backing member 570 made of malt plane or the like is provided on the opposite side of the regulation blade 560 from the developing roller 510 side.

Here, the rubber portion 560a is pressed against the developing roller 510 by the elastic force due to the bending of the rubber supporting portion 560b. Further, the blade back member 570 is
The toner T is placed between the rubber supporting portion 560b and the frame 540.
Of the rubber support portion 560b is stabilized, and the rubber portion 560a is biased from the backside of the rubber portion 560a toward the developing roller 510 to prevent the rubber portion 560a from developing. 51
I am pushing it to 0. Therefore, the blade backing member 57
0 improves the uniform contact of the rubber portion 560a with the developing roller 510.

The end of the regulating blade 560 opposite to the side supported by the blade supporting sheet metal 562, that is, the tip, is not in contact with the developing roller 510, and the portion apart from the tip by a predetermined distance is present. , Is in contact with the developing roller 510 with a certain width. That is, the regulation blade 560 is
The developing roller 510 is not in contact with the edge at the edge but is in contact with the abdomen. Further, the regulation blade 560 is arranged so that its tip end faces the upstream side in the rotation direction of the developing roller 510, and is in contact with what is called a counter.
The contact position where the regulation blade 560 contacts the developing roller 510 is below the central axis of the developing roller 510 and below the central axis of the toner supply roller 550.

The frame 540 is manufactured by joining a plurality of integrally molded frames (upper frame, lower frame, etc.) and has an opening at the bottom. The developing roller 510 is arranged in this opening with a part thereof exposed.

The yellow developing device 5 thus constructed
4, the toner supply roller 550 has the toner storage unit 5
The toner T contained in 30 is supplied to the developing roller 510. The toner T supplied to the developing roller 510 reaches the contact position of the regulating blade 560 with the rotation of the developing roller 510, and when passing through the contact position, an electric charge is applied and the layer thickness is regulated. To be done. The toner T on the developing roller 510 whose layer thickness is regulated is
Is further rotated to reach a developing position facing the photoconductor 20, and the latent image formed on the photoconductor 20 is developed under an alternating electric field at the developing position. The developing roller 5 that has passed the developing position by further rotation of the developing roller 510.
The toner T on 10 passes through the seal member 520 and is collected in the developing device without being scraped off by the seal member 520. Further, the toner T still remaining on the developing roller 510 is transferred to the toner supply roller 550.
Can be stripped by.

=== Outline of Control Unit === Next, the configuration of the control unit 100 will be described with reference to FIG. The main controller 101 of the control unit 100 is connected to a host computer via an interface 112 and includes an image memory 113 for storing an image signal input from the host computer. The unit controller 102 includes each unit (charging unit 30, exposure unit 40,
YMCK developing unit 50, transfer unit 58, fixing unit 90, display unit 95) are electrically connected,
By receiving signals from the sensors provided in them, each unit is controlled based on the signal input from the main controller 101 while detecting the state of each unit.

The unit controller 102 includes
An image information storage unit 144 and an image information switching unit 146 are provided. The image information switching unit 146 includes the exposure unit 40.
It has a function of switching the input destination of the image information that is the basis of the latent image formed by the main controller 101 or the image information storage unit 144 described later. The image information storage unit 144 has a function of storing image information that is a basis of a latent image and is used when the toner T is forcibly consumed.

That is, during normal image formation, image information is sent from the main controller 101, and a latent image is formed by the exposure unit 40 based on this image information. On the other hand, when the toner T is forcibly consumed, image information is sent from the image information storage unit 144, and a latent image is formed by the exposure unit 40 based on the image information.

Further, the charging unit 30 is provided with the above-mentioned near-end sensor 754 and end sensor 756, and these sensors respectively indicate that the toner T in the photoconductor waste toner box 752 is nearly full. Also, the toner T in the photoconductor waste toner box 752
Detects that is full. When these sensors perform the detection, the information is sent to the unit controller 102, and the display unit 95 notifies the user. Further, when the near-end sensor 754 detects that the toner T in the photoconductor waste toner box 752 is nearly full, the information is temporarily stored in the RAM 126 provided in the unit controller 102, and is transferred later. Used for bias control.

The exposure unit drive control circuit 122 connected to the exposure unit 40 is provided with a pixel counter 124 as an example of a consumption amount detecting means for detecting the consumption amount of the developer. The number of pixels of the image data input to is counted. Pixel counter 1
24 may be provided in the exposure unit 40 or may be provided in the main controller 101. The number of pixels is
The number of pixels in the basic resolution unit of the printer 10, in other words,
It is the number of pixels of the image actually printed. Since the amount of toner T consumed is proportional to the number of pixels, the amount of toner T consumed can be detected by counting the number of pixels.

The YMCK developing unit drive control circuit 122 connected to the YMCK developing unit 50 includes a developing bias generator 130 and a developing bias control circuit 1.
32 is provided. When developing the latent image formed on the photoconductor 20, a developing bias is applied to the developing roller 510 by the developing bias generator 130, and an alternating electric field is formed between the developing roller 510 and the photoconductor 20. .
Further, the developing bias control circuit 132 plays a role of controlling on / off of the developing bias and setting an appropriate developing bias value.

Further, the transfer unit 58 has the primary transfer unit 60, the secondary transfer unit 80, and the like, and the above-mentioned synchronization reading sensor RS, near-end sensor 854, and end sensor 856.

The vertical sync signal Vsync obtained by the sync reading sensor RS is sent to the unit controller 102. Further, the near-end sensor 854 and the end sensor 856 respectively indicate that the toner T in the intermediate transfer body waste toner box 852 is almost full, and that the toner T in the intermediate transfer body waste toner box 852 is full. Detect that. When these sensors perform the detection, the information is sent to the unit controller 102, and the display unit 95 notifies the user. When the near-end sensor 854 detects that the toner T in the intermediate transfer body waste toner box 852 is almost full, the information is temporarily stored in the RAM 126 provided in the unit controller 102,
It is used for controlling the transfer bias described later.

The transfer unit drive control circuit 134 connected to the transfer unit 58 includes a primary transfer bias generation circuit 136, a primary transfer bias control circuit 138, a secondary transfer bias generation circuit 140 and a secondary transfer bias control circuit 142. Is provided. The toner image formed on the photoconductor 20 reaches the primary transfer position as the photoconductor 20 rotates, and the primary transfer unit 60 causes the intermediate transfer member 7 to move.
When transferred to 0, the primary transfer bias generation circuit 136
Thus, the primary transfer bias is applied to the primary transfer unit 60. Further, the primary transfer bias control circuit 138 plays a role of controlling on / off of the primary transfer bias and setting an appropriate primary transfer bias value.

Similarly, when the toner image formed on the intermediate transfer body 70 reaches the secondary transfer position as the intermediate transfer body 70 rotates and is transferred to the recording medium by the secondary transfer unit 80. The secondary transfer bias generation circuit 140 applies the secondary transfer bias to the secondary transfer unit 80. Further, the secondary transfer bias control circuit 142 plays a role of controlling on / off of the secondary transfer bias and setting an appropriate secondary transfer bias value.

Further, the unit controller 102 includes
A RAM 126 is provided, and the RAM 126 is
The number of pixels of each YMCK color, the number of pulses of the vertical synchronization signal Vsync, information relating to the near-end sensors 754, 854, etc. are stored.

=== Toner Configuration === Next, the configuration of the toner T according to the present embodiment will be described. The toner T has mother particles and an external additive. The mother particles and the external additive are a Henschel mixer,
They are mutually dry-mixed and adhered to each other by a high-speed fluidized mixer such as Perpenmeier or a mixer such as mechanochemical method. The toner T may be either negative polarity or positive polarity toner.

The mother particles contain materials such as a colorant, a charge control agent, a release agent (WAX), and a resin. Using these materials, known kneading and pulverizing method, spray-drying method,
And the mother particles are produced by a polymerization method or the like. The mother particles may further contain a dispersant, a magnetic material, other additives and the like.

As the mother particles, polystyrene and copolymers such as hydrogenated styrene resin, styrene / isobutylene copolymer, ABS resin, ASA resin, AS resin, A
AS resin, ACS resin, AES resin, styrene / P-chlorostyrene copolymer, styrene / propylene copolymer,
Styrene / butadiene crosslinked polymer, styrene / butadiene / chlorinated paraffin copolymer, styrene / allyl /
Alcohol copolymer, styrene / butadiene rubber emulsion, styrene / maleic acid ester copolymer, styrene / isobutylene copolymer, styrene / maleic anhydride copolymer, acrylate resin or methacrylate resin and its copolymer, Styrene / acrylic resin and its copolymer, for example, styrene / acrylic copolymer, styrene / diethylamino / ethylmethacrylate copolymer, styrene / butadiene / acrylic acid ester copolymer, styrene / methylmethacrylate copolymer , Styrene / n-butyl methacrylate copolymer, styrene / methyl methacrylate / n-butyl acrylate copolymer, styrene / methyl methacrylate / butyl arylate / N- (ethoxymethyl) acrylamide copolymer Styrene / glycidyl methacrylate copolymer, styrene / butadiene / dimethyl / aminoethyl methacrylate copolymer, styrene / acrylic acid ester / maleic acid ester copolymer, styrene / methyl methacrylate / 2-ethylhexyl acrylate copolymer Coal, styrene / n-butyl arylate / ethyl glycol methacrylate copolymer, styrene / n-
Butylmethacrylate / acrylic acid copolymer, styrene / n-butylmethacrylate / maleic anhydride copolymer, styrene / butylacrylate / isobutylmaleic acid half ester / divinylbenzene copolymer, polyester and its copolymer, Polyethylene and its copolymer, epoxy resin, silicone resin, polypropylene and its copolymer, fluororesin, polyamide resin, polyvinyl alcohol resin, polyurethane resin, polyvinyl butyral resin, etc., one kind or a blend of two or more kinds. Can be used.

Examples of the colorant include carbon black, spirit black, nigrosine, rhodamine-based, triaminotriphenylmethane, cationic, dioxazine, copper phthalocyanine, berylylene, azo-based, gold-containing azo pigments, azochrome complex, carmine-based, Benzidine,
Solar Pure Yellow 8G, quinacridone, polytungstophosphoric acid, induslen blue, sulfonamide derivative and the like can be used.

As the charge control agent, an electron-accepting organic complex, chlorinated polyester, nitrofunnic acid, quaternary ammonium salt, pyridinyl salt and the like can be used.

As the releasing agent (WAX), paraffin wax such as low molecular weight polypropylene, low molecular weight polyethylene, ethylene bisamide, microcrystalline wax, carnauba wax, beeswax, etc. is preferably used. It is not particularly limited as long as it is incompatible and has a releasing property. In the present embodiment, “not compatible” means a state in which the wax is dispersed in the mother particles in an island shape and is not incorporated in the molecular chain of the resin when melt-kneaded.

Note that oil may be applied to the fixing roller in order to prevent the toner T from adhering to the fixing roller during the fixing process, but in the present embodiment, such oil application is unnecessary. Therefore, a large amount of release agent is included in the mother particles. The content of the release agent is 3 to 10% by weight based on the resin. Is.

As the dispersant, metal soap, polyethylene glycol or the like can be used. Other additives include
Zinc stearate, zinc oxide, cerium oxide and the like can be used.

As the magnetic agent, Fe, Co, Ni, C
Metal powder such as r, Mn, Zn, Fe3O4, Fe2O3, Cr
A metal oxide such as 2O3 or ferrite, an alloy that exhibits ferromagnetism by heat treatment such as an alloy containing manganese and an acid, or the like can be used, and a pretreatment such as a coupling agent may be performed in advance.

As the external additive, various ones having a surface subjected to a hydrophobic treatment can be used. In the toner T according to the present embodiment, silica is used as the external additive, but in addition to silica, fine particles of metal oxides such as aluminum oxide, titanium oxide, strontium titanate, cerium oxide, magnesium oxide, and chromium oxide, Fine particles of nitride such as silicon nitride,
Fine particles of a carbide such as silicon carbide, fine particles of a metal salt such as calcium sulfate, barium sulfate, calcium carbonate and the like, inorganic fine particles such as a composite thereof, and organic fine particles such as acrylic fine particles can be used. As the surface treatment agent, a silane coupling agent, a titanate coupling agent, a fluorine-containing silane coupling agent, a silicone oil, or the like can be used. The hydrophobicity of the external additive treated with these treating agents is preferably 60% or more according to the conventional methanol method. When it is less than this range, adsorption of water tends to cause deterioration of chargeability and fluidity at high temperature and high humidity, which is not preferable. The particle size of the external additive is 0.001 to 1 μ from the viewpoint of transportability and chargeability.
It is preferably m. Further, the external additive is not limited to one kind, and a mixture of two or more kinds can be used.

=== Forced Toner Consumption Operation Mode === Next, deteriorated development as an example of an operation mode for adhering the developer carried on the developer carrier to the non-image forming area on the image carrier. A forced toner consumption operation mode for stripping the developer from the developer carrying member will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6. FIG. 4 is a flowchart relating to the toner forced consumption operation mode. 5 and 6 will be described later.

As described above, when the image signal from the host computer is input to the main controller 101 of the printer 10 via the interface (I / F) 112, the control of the unit controller 102 based on the command from the main controller 101. Due to the photoconductor 20,
Also, the intermediate transfer member 70 rotates. Then, thereafter, the reference position of the intermediate transfer member 70 is detected by the synchronization reading sensor RS, and a pulse signal is output (step S).
2). The pulse signal is sent to the unit controller 102.
To the pulse signal, in other words, with reference to the pulse signal,
The developing roller 510 starts to rotate after a lapse of a predetermined time after the pulse signal is sent.

After the pulse signal is sent to the unit controller 102, the unit controller 10 concerned
Reference numeral 2 denotes the number of pixels My, Mm, Mc, Mk and the vertical synchronization signal Vsync for each YMCK color stored in the RAM 126 from the RAM 126 as a cumulative value accumulated in the past.
The pulse number V of is loaded (step S4).

Next, the unit controller 102 determines the number of pixels my, mm, mc, and mk for each color of YMCK of the image data input to the exposure unit 40, which is counted by the pixel counter 124, as described above. Add to the numbers My, Mm, Mc, Mk (step S
6). That is, My = My + my, Mm = Mm + m
The calculation represented by m, Mc = Mc + mc, and Mk = Mk + mk is performed. The number of pixels My, Mm, Mc, and Mk added to my, mm, mc, and mk is 1 for the intermediate transfer member 70.
It is the number of pixels of the image data input to the exposure unit 40 during rotation.

Furthermore, the unit controller 102
One is added to the pulse number V of the vertical synchronizing signal Vsync described above (step S6). That is, the calculation represented by V = V + 1 is performed.

Next, the pulse number V to which 1 is added in step S6 is compared with a predetermined threshold value V0 (step S8). In the present embodiment, V0 = 1000
However, the number of pulses is not limited to this.
It should be noted that it is desirable to set the threshold value to a value smaller than the number of pulses that does not deteriorate the toner even when printing is continued at a low printing rate.

In step S8, when the pulse number V is smaller than the threshold value V0, the system controller 102
Is the number of pixels My, Mm, Mc, Mk after addition is performed.
And the pulse number V are saved in the RAM 126 (step S10), and the process returns to step S2.

On the contrary, when the pulse number V becomes equal to or larger than the threshold value V0, the pixel numbers My, Mm and M after the addition is performed.
The result N obtained by dividing c and Mk by the pulse number V, respectively.
y, Nm, Nc, and Nk are compared with a predetermined threshold value N0 (step S12). That is, the pixel counter 12
The results Ny, Nm, Nc, and Nk obtained based on the number of pixels My, Mm, Mc, and Mk detected by No. 4 and the number of pulses V detected by the synchronization reading sensor RS are compared with a threshold value N0.

When the results Ny, Nm, Nc, and Nk are larger than the threshold value N0, the system controller 10
2 is the number of pixels My, Mm, Mc, M after the addition is performed.
RAM by resetting k and the pulse number V (as 0)
The reset result is saved in 126 (step S14), and the process returns to step S2.

On the contrary, when the results Ny, Nm, Nc, and Nk are less than the threshold value N0, it is determined that the printing rate is low, and the toner forcible consumption described in detail later is executed (step S
16), after performing the procedure shown in step S14, return to step S2.

As described above, every time the pulse number V detected by the synchronization reading sensor RS reaches a predetermined number, the pixel counter 124 detects the number of pixels My, Mm, Mc, M.
k as the average value of the developer consumption amount based on the pulse number V detected by the reading sensor RS for synchronization Ny, Nm, N
c and Nk are obtained, and if the results Ny, Nm, Nc, and Nk are less than or equal to a predetermined value, toner forced consumption is executed.

Whether or not the results Ny, Nm, Nc, and Nk are smaller than the threshold value N0 is determined for each YMCK color.
Depending on the result of this determination, whether or not to perform toner forced consumption is selected for each YMCK color.

Next, the forced toner consumption will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing a state where the photoconductor 20 is developed. In the figure, the arrow direction indicates the circumferential direction of the photoconductor 20. Further, in the drawing, the hatched regions X1 and X2 are the photoconductors 20.
The image forming area is formed on the. Of the image forming area, the hatched area X1 shown in the upper part of the drawing is
This shows that there is an image forming area on the entire surface of the recording medium. On the other hand, the hatched area X2 shown at the bottom of the figure is
This indicates that there is an image forming area in a part of the recording medium. That is, the area Y above the dotted line in the drawing indicates the non-image forming area on the recording medium. FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining forced toner consumption.

In the present embodiment, as an example, the forced consumption of the yellow (Y) toner when the result Ny becomes the predetermined value or less will be described, but the same applies to the forced consumption of other toners. Is. First, the photoconductor 2
0 is the charging unit 3 at the charging position while rotating.
It is sequentially charged by 0 (step S20). Photoconductor 2
The 0 charged area reaches the exposure position as the photoconductor 20 rotates, and the exposure unit 40 forms a latent image corresponding to the yellow Y image information in the area. As described above, when the toner is forcibly consumed, the image information is selected from the image information stored in the image information storage unit 144 (step S22), and the exposure unit 40 operates based on the selected image information. A latent image is formed (step S24).

Next, the YMCK developing unit 50 includes the yellow developing device 54 containing the yellow (Y) toner.
It is located at the developing position facing the photoconductor 20. Photoconductor 2
The latent image formed on 0 reaches the developing position as the photoconductor 20 rotates, and is developed with yellow toner by the yellow developing device 54. In the forced toner consumption operation, a latent image is formed in the non-image forming area on the photoconductor 20 (step S24), and the toner T carried by the developing roller 510 is attached to the non-image forming area (step S).
26). In FIG. 5, the non-image forming area is an area sandwiched between the hatched area X1 and the hatched area X2. It should be noted that the areas to which the toner T carried on the developing roller 510 is attached are hatched areas X1 and X2.
The area sandwiched by 2 may be a non-image forming area (area Y in the drawing) on the recording medium, or an area between recording media (hatched area X1 in the drawing) sandwiched between a plurality of recording media. It may be a region sandwiched between the regions Y). Further, as described above, when the latent image formed on the photoconductor 20 is developed, the developing bias is applied to the developing roller 510 by the developing bias generator 130 (FIG. 2) (step S2).
8).

Next, the toner T attached on the photoconductor 20
Reaches the primary transfer position as the photoconductor 20 rotates, and is transferred to the intermediate transfer body 70 by the primary transfer unit 60 (step S30). At this time, the primary transfer unit 6
0, the primary transfer bias is applied (step S
32) What kind of primary transfer bias should be applied?
It is determined based on the information from the near-end sensor 754 or the near-end sensor 854 described above.

As described above, the near end sensor 754
However, when it is detected that the toner T in the photoconductor waste toner box 752 is almost full, the information is stored in the RAM 126 provided in the unit controller 102, and similarly, the near-end sensor 854 outputs the intermediate information. When it is detected that the toner T in the transfer body waste toner box 852 is almost full, the information is stored in the RAM 126 provided in the unit controller 102. In the present embodiment, when each near-end sensor detects that the toner T is almost full, the RAM 12 is detected.
It is assumed that the area corresponding to each near-end sensor on 6 is rewritten from 0 to 1. Note that the detection can be performed separately from the toner forced consumption operation mode.

The unit controller 102 is the RAM 1
Information from the area corresponding to each near-end sensor on 26 is read (step S33). Then, if the information from both areas is 0 (this state is
(Also called state 00), the primary transfer bias to 100V,
If only the information from the region corresponding to the near-end sensor 754 is 1 (this state is also referred to as state 10 below), the primary transfer bias is set to 200 V and only the information from the region corresponding to the near-end sensor 754 is 1. If there is such a state (hereinafter, this state is also referred to as state 01), the primary transfer bias is set to 0 V, and if the information from both areas is 1 (this state is also referred to as state 11 below), the primary transfer bias is obtained. Is set to 100V.

The reason for setting the primary transfer bias in this way is as follows. First, considering the relationship between the primary transfer bias and the transfer efficiency, if the primary transfer bias is increased, the transfer efficiency is increased and the amount of the toner T transferred from the photoconductor 20 onto the intermediate transfer body 70 is increased. On the contrary, if the primary transfer bias is reduced, the transfer efficiency is lowered and the amount of the toner T transferred from the photoconductor 20 onto the intermediate transfer body 70 is reduced.

In the state 00, a predetermined primary transfer bias (100V) is set, and when the toner T in the photoconductor waste toner box 752 approaches the full state, that is, the state 10 is reached. In this case, the primary transfer bias is increased from 100V to 200V to set the photoconductor 2
The amount of the toner T transferred onto the intermediate transfer body 70 from 0 is increased, and a larger amount of the toner T is collected by the intermediate transfer body cleaning unit 85. vice versa,
When the toner T in the intermediate transfer member waste toner box 852 approaches full, that is, when the state 01 is reached,
The primary transfer bias is reduced from 100 V to 0 V to reduce the amount of toner T transferred from the photoconductor 20 onto the intermediate transfer body 70, and the photoconductor cleaning unit 75 collects more toner T. To do.

Further, when the state 10 is changed to the state 11, it means that the toner T in both of the waste toner boxes is nearly full, so that the primary transfer bias is set to 200.
The voltage is lowered from V to 100 V and is returned to the primary transfer bias set in the state 00. Similarly, when the state is changed from the state 01 to the state 11, the primary transfer bias is changed from 0V to 1
The voltage is raised to 00V and returned to the primary transfer bias set in the state 00. The setting of the primary transfer bias is performed by the above-mentioned primary transfer bias control circuit 138.

As described above, when the amount of one of the toner T in the photoconductor cleaning unit 75 and the toner T in the second collecting means reaches the predetermined amount, the primary transfer bias is applied. The control of the primary transfer unit 60 is made different from the control of the primary transfer unit 60 before the predetermined amount is reached by changing the size.

The toner T left on the photoconductor 20 is cleaned by the cleaning blade 76 supported by the photoconductor cleaning unit 75 after the photoconductor 20 has passed the primary transfer position.
Is scraped off by. The toner T scraped off is
The toner is collected in the photoconductor waste toner box 752 included in the photoconductor cleaning unit 75 (step S34). On the other hand, the toner T transferred and attached onto the intermediate transfer member 70
When the intermediate transfer member 70 reaches the secondary transfer position as the intermediate transfer member 70 rotates, it is not transferred onto the recording medium by applying a bias having a polarity opposite to the normal secondary transfer bias. The T is scraped off by the cleaning blade 87 supported by the intermediate transfer member cleaning unit 85. The toner T scraped off is collected in the intermediate transfer body waste toner box 852 provided in the intermediate transfer body cleaning unit 85 (step S36). The program for performing the above processing is stored in the ROM provided in the unit controller 102, and the program is executed by the CPU 120.

In this way, the toner T in the photosensitive member cleaning unit 75 and the intermediate transfer member cleaning unit 8 are
When the amount of one of the toners T among the toners T in 5 reaches a predetermined amount, the primary transfer unit 60 is controlled before the control of the primary transfer unit 60 reaches the predetermined amount.
It is possible to efficiently collect the toner T by making the control different from the control for.

That is, as described in the background section, the maximum amount of toner T that can be collected by the photoconductor cleaning unit 75 and the intermediate transfer member cleaning unit 85 is generally the maximum amount of waste toner provided in these cleaning units. Depending on the volume of the toner box, the volume of the waste toner box can be cleaned by normal image formation or forced consumption based on expected printing conditions (printing ratio, color / monochrome image forming ratio, etc.). It is designed by predicting how much toner T will be collected in the unit. However, the printing conditions and the like differ depending on how the image forming apparatus is used by the user (whether there are many characters or many pictures, whether many color images are formed or many monochrome images are formed, etc.). , Either of the waste toner boxes may fill up first. In such a case, in general, a new photoconductor waste toner box 752 or intermediate transfer body waste toner box 752 or intermediate transfer body waste toner box 852 for replacing the photoconductor waste toner box 752 or the intermediate transfer body waste toner box 852 filled with the toner T is generally used. Although it is necessary to purchase 852, the situation is inefficient considering that the waste toner box that is not the replacement target can still contain the toner T.

Therefore, the photoconductor cleaning unit 75
When the amount of either one of the toner T in the inside and the toner T in the intermediate transfer member cleaning unit 85 reaches a predetermined amount, the control for the primary transfer unit 60 is performed before reaching the predetermined amount. By making the control different from the control for the primary transfer unit 60, the toner T attached to the photoconductor 20 can be efficiently distributed to and collected by the photoconductor cleaning unit 75 and the intermediate transfer member cleaning unit 85. .

=== Other Embodiments Related to Primary Transfer Bias === In the above embodiment, which one of the toner T in the photoconductor cleaning unit 75 and the toner T in the intermediate transfer member cleaning unit 85 is used. When the amount of one of the toners T reaches the predetermined amount, the primary transfer unit 6 is controlled before the predetermined amount is controlled.
In order to make it different from the control for 0, the magnitude of the primary transfer bias is changed. This method provides a simple method of setting the primary transfer bias to achieve the purpose that the toner T attached to the photoconductor 20 can be efficiently collected, but here, other advantages are provided. Another embodiment relating to the primary transfer bias having the above will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the transfer bias applied to the primary transfer unit 60.

As described above, the toner T deposited on the photoconductor 20 reaches the primary transfer position with the rotation of the photoconductor 20, and the primary transfer unit 60 causes the intermediate transfer member 7 to move.
Transcribed to 0. At this time, in the primary transfer unit 60,
The primary transfer bias is applied. What kind of primary transfer bias is applied depends on the near-end sensor 7 described above.
54 or near-end sensor 854.

In the present embodiment, the primary transfer bias is set to the primary transfer bias shown in FIG. 7A in the above-mentioned state 00, and to the primary transfer bias shown in FIG. 7B in the state 10. In the state 01, the primary transfer bias shown in FIG. 7C is set, and in the state 11, the primary transfer bias shown in FIG. 7A is set.

The reason for setting the primary transfer bias in this way is as follows. First, FIG. 7A to FIG.
The primary transfer bias shown in (c) will be considered. In the previous embodiment, the transfer bias applied to the primary transfer unit 60 was set to be constant over time, but here,
The transfer bias applied to the primary transfer unit 60 is temporally changed. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the transfer bias is turned on / off under the control of the primary transfer bias control circuit 138 described above.

The difference between the transfer biases shown in FIGS. 7A to 7C is the ratio of the transfer bias on time to the transfer bias time. As is clear from the figure, the on time of the transfer bias shown in FIG. 7B is the longest, and the on time of the transfer bias shown in FIG. 7C is the shortest. Therefore, when the transfer bias shown in FIG. 7B is applied, the amount of the toner T transferred from the photoconductor 20 onto the intermediate transfer body 70 becomes the largest, and the transfer bias shown in FIG. When applied, the amount of the toner T transferred from the photoconductor 20 to the intermediate transfer body 70 is the smallest.

In the state 00, the primary transfer bias shown in FIG. 7A is set, and when the toner T in the photoconductor waste toner box 752 approaches the full state, that is, the state 10 is set. When it becomes
The primary transfer bias shown in FIG. 7A is changed to the primary transfer bias shown in FIG. 7B to increase the amount of the toner T transferred from the photoconductor 20 onto the intermediate transfer body 70. By 85, more toner T is collected. On the contrary, when the toner T in the waste toner box 852 of the intermediate transfer member approaches the full state, that is, when the state 01 is reached, the primary transfer bias shown in FIG. 7A is changed to the state shown in FIG. 7C. The primary transfer bias is changed to reduce the amount of the toner T transferred from the photoconductor 20 onto the intermediate transfer body 70, and the photoconductor cleaning unit 75 collects more toner T.

Further, when the state is changed from the state 10 to the state 11, it means that the toners T in both the waste toner boxes are nearly full, so that the primary transfer bias is set to the value shown in FIG.
The primary transfer bias shown in FIG. 7B is changed to the primary transfer bias shown in FIG. 7A, and the primary transfer bias set in the state 00 is restored. Similarly, when the state is changed from the state 01 to the state 11, the primary transfer bias is changed as shown in FIG.
The primary transfer bias shown in FIG. 7A is changed from the primary transfer bias shown in FIG. 7A, and the primary transfer bias set in the state 00 is restored.

As described above, when the transfer bias applied to the primary transfer unit 60 is changed with time, there is an advantage in that fine control can be realized.

In this embodiment, the primary transfer bias when the transfer bias is on is 200 as shown in the figure.
However, the bias value is not limited to this. Also, instead of turning the transfer bias on and off,
You may make it change between two types of transfer bias (for example, 50V and 100V). Further, the transfer bias to be changed is not limited to two types and may be three or more types. Further, the transfer bias may be changed continuously instead of being changed discretely.

Next, an embodiment relating to another primary transfer bias different from the above example will be described. In the above embodiment, how to control the transfer bias in one toner forced consumption operation mode has been considered, but in the present embodiment, a plurality of toner forced consumption operation modes will be described. Consider.

That is, while in the above-mentioned state 10,
A transfer bias is applied so as to increase the amount of the toner T transferred from the photoconductor 20 onto the intermediate transfer body 70 in a large number of operation modes among a plurality of toner forced consumption operation modes, Conversely, while in state 01,
A transfer bias that reduces the amount of the toner T transferred from the photoconductor 20 onto the intermediate transfer member 70 in a large number of operation modes among the plurality of toner forced consumption operation modes is applied. .

By thus setting the primary transfer bias for each operation mode, the control for the primary transfer unit 60 is made different from the control for the primary transfer unit 60 before reaching the predetermined amount in the operation mode. Then, there is an advantage in that the type of transfer bias to be prepared can be minimized.

Incidentally, in the above, the primary transfer unit 6
Although three embodiments relating to the primary transfer bias applied to 0 have been shown, it goes without saying that two or three of these measures may be combined.

In the above description, the transfer bias set in the state 00 and the transfer bias set in the state 11 are the same, but the present invention is not limited to this, and different transfer biases may be set. .

=== Other Embodiments Concerning Method for Determining Whether Toner Amount reaches Predetermined Amount === Next, a method for determining whether toner amount reaches a prescribed amount Another embodiment concerned will be described. In the above embodiment, the near-end sensor determines whether or not the amount of toner T has reached a predetermined amount.
In the present embodiment, the pixel counter 124 described above is used.
Of the toner T in the photoconductor cleaning unit 75 and the toner T in the intermediate transfer member cleaning unit 85, based on the consumption amount of the toner T detected by In this embodiment, the amounts of both toners T are obtained), and it is determined whether the obtained amount of toner T has reached a predetermined amount.

An example will be described. First, in the normal image formation, the photoconductor cleaning unit 75 and the intermediate transfer member cleaning unit 85 collect the Vsync signal for each pulse (in other words, for each rotation of the intermediate transfer member 70). Consider the amount of toner T.

As described above, the number of pixels of the image data input to the exposure unit 40 during one rotation of the intermediate transfer member 70 can be obtained by counting with the pixel counter 124. Further, since the amount of toner T used for development per pixel is known, the amount of toner T used for development can be obtained while the intermediate transfer member 70 makes one rotation. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the amount of toner T thus obtained is 30 mg.

The toner T which has been developed and adhered to the photosensitive member 20 is transferred to the intermediate transfer member 7 by the primary transfer unit 60.
However, since the primary transfer bias applied to the primary transfer unit 60 in the transfer is known,
Transfer efficiency corresponding to the primary transfer bias can be obtained.
In the present embodiment, if the transfer efficiency is 90%, the amount of toner T transferred to the intermediate transfer body 70 is 30 mg × 0.9 = 27 mg, while the photoconductor 2
The amount of toner T left at 0 is 30 mg × (1-0.9)
= 3 mg.

The toner T transferred onto the intermediate transfer member 70 is
The secondary transfer unit 80 transfers the transfer material onto the transfer material. Since the secondary transfer bias applied to the secondary transfer unit 80 in the transfer is known, the transfer efficiency corresponding to the secondary transfer bias can be obtained. In the present embodiment, if the transfer efficiency is 90%, the amount of toner T transferred to the transfer material is 27 mg × 0.9 = 24.3.
On the other hand, the amount of the toner T left on the intermediate transfer body 70 is 27 mg × (1−0.9) = 2.7 mg.

Next, in normal image formation, the amount of fog that occurs for each pulse of the Vsync signal described above (in other words, for each revolution of the intermediate transfer member 70) will be considered. It is known that the fog amount is a substantially constant amount regardless of the amount of the toner T used for development during one rotation of the intermediate transfer member 70. In the present embodiment, the amount of fogging generated during one rotation of the intermediate transfer member 70 is 5 mg. Also, most of the fog remains on the photoconductor 20 without being transferred to the intermediate transfer body 70 due to its polarity.

Based on the above, the amounts of the toner T remaining on the photosensitive member 20 and the toner T remaining on the intermediate transfer member 70 are calculated. The former is 3 mg + 5 mg = 8 mg, and the latter is 2.7 m.
It becomes g. Then, these toners T are collected by the photoconductor cleaning unit 75 and the intermediate transfer member cleaning unit 85, respectively.

In this way, the amount of toner T collected by the photosensitive member cleaning unit 75 and the intermediate transfer member cleaning unit 85 can be obtained for each revolution of the intermediate transfer member 70. Then, by accumulating these amounts each time the intermediate transfer body 70 rotates, it becomes possible to obtain the amounts of the toner T in the photoconductor cleaning unit 75 and the toner T in the intermediate transfer body cleaning unit 85. It is possible to determine whether or not the amount of the obtained toner T has reached a predetermined amount.

In the above description, the amount of the toner T collected by the photoconductor cleaning unit 75 and the intermediate transfer member cleaning unit 85 in the normal image formation is considered. However, the toner T collected by these cleaning units is considered. If a strict calculation of the amount of toner is required, the amount of toner T collected in operations other than normal image formation may be taken into consideration. For example, when calculating the amount of toner T collected by the photoconductor cleaning unit 75 and the intermediate transfer member cleaning unit 85 in the toner forced consumption operation mode described above, the number of pixels of the image data input to the exposure unit 40 Instead of, the image information stored in the image information storage unit 144 described above can be used to perform the same calculation.

Further, in the above description, two examples have been described as the method for determining whether or not the amount of toner has reached a predetermined amount, but the present invention is not limited to these.
However, in the case of the method of determining whether the amount of toner T has reached the predetermined amount by the near-end sensor, it is possible to reliably determine whether the amount of toner T has reached the predetermined amount. In the case of the method based on the consumption amount of the toner T detected by the pixel counter 124, there is an advantage in that the device configuration of the printer 10 can be simplified.

=== Other Embodiments === Although the image forming apparatus and the like according to the present invention have been described based on the above-described embodiments, the above-described embodiments of the present invention facilitate understanding of the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The present invention can be modified and improved without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and it goes without saying that the present invention includes equivalents thereof.

In the above-described embodiment, one of the photoconductor cleaning unit 75 and the intermediate transfer member cleaning unit 85 is a collecting means, and the amount of the toner T in the collecting means has not reached the predetermined amount. In order to collect a larger amount of the toner T attached to the photoconductor 20 by the other collecting unit, the control for the primary transfer unit 60 is made different from the control for the primary transfer unit 60 before the predetermined amount is reached. However, the present invention is not limited to this. However, in this case, the above embodiment is more preferable in that the replacement timing of the photoconductor cleaning unit 75 and the replacement timing of the intermediate transfer member cleaning unit 85 are more likely to coincide with each other.

Further, in the above embodiment, there is an operation mode for adhering the toner T carried on the developing roller 510 to the non-image area on the photoconductor 20, and the toner T in the photoconductor cleaning unit 75 is provided. When the amount of one of the toners T in the intermediate transfer member cleaning unit 85 reaches a predetermined amount, the control for the primary transfer unit 60 in the operation mode is performed before reaching the predetermined amount. Although the control is different from the control for the primary transfer unit 60, it is not limited to this.

For example, the photoconductor cleaning unit 75
When the amount of either one of the toner T in the inside and the toner T in the intermediate transfer body cleaning unit 85 reaches a predetermined amount, the primary transfer unit 60 is controlled in the normal image formation. The control for the primary transfer unit 60 before reaching the predetermined amount may be different.

However, in the case of normal image formation, it is necessary to achieve the original purpose of forming an image on the transfer material, and if the procedure already explained for the forced toner consumption operation mode is adopted as it is, the transfer material is transferred. There is a possibility that the image quality of will be affected. Further, in order to avoid such a situation, as control for the primary transfer unit 60,
The primary transfer bias is applied to the primary transfer unit 60 with a polarity opposite to the normal primary transfer bias, and the intermediate transfer member 70
It is necessary to take measures such as returning the toner T attached from the above to the photoconductor 20.

Therefore, the toner T carried on the developing roller 510 has no purpose of forming an image on the transfer material.
In the operation mode for attaching the toner to the non-image area on the photoconductor 20, the control for the primary transfer unit 60 is
It is more effective to make the control different from the control for the primary transfer unit 60 before reaching the predetermined amount, from the viewpoint of easy control.

In the above embodiment, the primary transfer bias applied to the primary transfer unit 60 is controlled so that the toner T carried on the developing roller 510 is transferred to the photosensitive member 2.
In the operation mode for adhering to the non-image area on 0, the control for the primary transfer unit 60 is made different from the control for the primary transfer unit 60 before reaching the predetermined amount, but it is not limited to this. Not a thing.

However, in this way, it is possible to easily control the primary transfer unit 60.
The above embodiment is more desirable.

In the above embodiment, the deteriorated toner T is peeled from the developing roller 510 as an operation mode for adhering the toner T carried on the developing roller 510 to the non-image forming area on the photoconductor 20. The operation mode in which the toner T carried on the developing roller 510 is adhered to the non-image forming area on the photoconductor 20 in order to take the toner, the so-called forced toner consumption operation mode has been described as an example, but the invention is not limited to this. For example, after the toner T carried by the developing roller 510 is adhered to the non-image forming area on the photoconductor 20 to form a patch to adjust various set values related to development and the like, and after the purpose is achieved, It is also applicable to the operation mode for collecting the patch.

However, in the so-called forced toner consumption operation mode, there is a high possibility that the amount of toner T to be collected will increase, so the above-mentioned effect, that is, the toner T can be collected efficiently. The above-described embodiment is more preferable in that the effect of becoming more effective can be exhibited more effectively.

In the above embodiment, the photoconductor waste toner box 752 and the intermediate transfer body waste toner box 852 are replaceable, and the photoconductor waste toner box 752 and the intermediate transfer body waste toner box 85 for replacement are replaced.
2 is sold as one set, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the photoconductor waste toner box 752 for replacement and the intermediate transfer body waste toner box 852 are sold separately. It may be that.

However, the photoconductor waste toner box 752 and the intermediate transfer body waste toner box 852 can be replaced, and the photoconductor waste toner box 752 and the intermediate transfer body waste toner box 852 for replacement are sold as a set. If the waste toner box full of toner T is desired to be replaced, it is possible to eliminate the inconvenience of purchasing an unnecessary waste toner box that is not the replacement target. In this respect, the above embodiment is more effective.

Further, since it is possible to prevent the situation in which the user discards a new waste toner box, which is described in the background art, it is possible to promote the recycling of the waste toner box and to consider the environment. The above-described embodiment is more effective in that the effect of being appropriately achieved is also exhibited.

Further, in the above embodiment, the toner T has the release agent, but the present invention is not limited to this. However, when the toner T has a releasing agent, the toner T is easily deteriorated, and therefore, the developing roller 51.
Since the importance of the operation mode for adhering the toner T carried on the photosensitive member 20 to the non-image forming area on the photoconductor 20 is high, the above-mentioned effect, that is, the toner T can be efficiently collected. The above-described embodiment is more preferable in that the effect of becoming more effective can be exhibited more effectively. Further, in the above embodiment, the developing roller 51
It has a toner supply roller 550 for peeling off the toner T carried on 0, and the rotation direction of the toner supply roller 550 is opposite to the rotation direction of the developing roller 510, but it is not limited to this. Not something.

However, in such a case, the toner T is applied to the developing roller 51 as compared with the case where the rotating direction of the toner supply roller 550 is the same as the rotating direction of the developing roller 510.
0, the operation mode for adhering the toner T carried on the developing roller 510 to the non-image forming area on the photoconductor 20 becomes more important. The above embodiment is more preferable in that the effect that the toner T can be collected can be more effectively exhibited.

In the above embodiment, the intermediate transfer type full-color laser beam printer was described as an example of the image forming apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to the intermediate transfer type full-color laser beam printer, monochrome laser beam printer, and the like. It can be applied to various image forming apparatuses such as copiers and facsimiles.

However, when the present invention is applied to a laser beam printer, since there is a strong demand for downsizing of the laser beam printer, the waste toner box for the photoconductor and the waste toner box for the intermediate transfer body are commonly used. It will be difficult to convert. Therefore, the above-described embodiment is more preferable in that the above-described effect, that is, the effect that the toner T can be efficiently collected can be more effectively exhibited.

Further, the photosensitive member is not limited to a so-called photosensitive roller constituted by providing a photosensitive layer on the outer peripheral surface of a cylindrical conductive base material, and a photosensitive layer is provided on the surface of a belt-shaped conductive base material. A so-called photosensitive belt configured as described above may be used.

Further, in the above embodiment, every time the pulse number V detected by the synchronization reading sensor RS reaches a predetermined number, the pixel counter 124 detects the number of pixels My, Mm, Mc, Mk for synchronization. Based on the pulse number V detected by the reading sensor RS, the results Ny, Nm, Nc, and Nk as the average value of the developer consumption are obtained, and the results Ny,
The forced toner consumption is executed when Nm, Nc, and Nk are equal to or less than a predetermined value, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, instead of the pulse number V, the number of printed recording media may be used. Alternatively, the forced toner consumption may be executed according to a command from the user interface by the user.

Further, in the above embodiment, the predetermined amount is the near end amount which is the amount of the toner T in the state where the toner T in the waste toner box is almost full, but the present invention is not limited to this. Instead, for example, it may be an end amount which is the amount of the toner T in a state where the toner T in the waste toner box is full, or may be another amount. When a plurality of the predetermined amounts are provided and the amount of the toner T reaches the predetermined amount, the primary transfer unit 60 is controlled each time the predetermined amount is reached, the primary transfer before the predetermined amount is reached. It may be different from the control for the unit 60.

Further, in the above embodiment, the photoconductor 20 is unitized as a photoconductor kit together with the charging unit 30 and the photoconductor cleaning unit 75, but the present invention is not limited to this. .

The photoconductor kit and the intermediate transfer body cleaning unit 85 can be attached to and detached from the main body of the printer 10, respectively, and the replacement photoconductor kit and the intermediate transfer body cleaning unit 85 are sold as a set. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and, for example, the photoconductor waste toner box 752 and the intermediate transfer body waste toner box 852 can be attached to and detached from the printer 10 main body, and the replacement photoconductor The body waste toner box 752 and the intermediate transfer body waste toner box 852 may be sold as a set.

=== Configuration of Computer System etc. === Next, an embodiment of a computer system as an example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing the external structure of the computer system. Computer system 100
0 is a computer main body 1102 and a display device 1104.
A printer 1106, an input device 1108, and a reading device 1110. Computer 1102
In the present embodiment, is housed in a mini-tower type housing, but is not limited to this. Display device 1104
In general, a CRT (CathodeRay Tube), a plasma display, a liquid crystal display device, or the like is used, but the invention is not limited to this. Printer 11
For 06, the printer described above is used.
The input device 1108 is the keyboard 110 in this embodiment.
8A and mouse 1108B are used, but are not limited thereto. In the present embodiment, the reading device 1110 includes flexible disk drive devices 1110A and C.
Although the D-ROM drive device 1110B is used, the D-ROM drive device 1110B is not limited to this.
o Optical) Disk drive device or DVD (Digital V
ersatile disk) and the like.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the computer system shown in FIG. An internal memory 1202 such as a RAM and a hard disk drive unit 1204 are housed in a housing accommodating the computer main body 1102.
An external memory such as is further provided.

In the above description, the printer 1 is used.
Reference numeral 106 denotes a computer main body 1102 and a display device 110.
4, an example in which the computer system is configured by being connected to the input device 1108 and the reading device 1110 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the computer system may include the computer main body 1102 and the printer 1106, and the computer system may not include any of the display device 1104, the input device 1108, and the reading device 1110.

Further, for example, the printer 1106 may include the computer main body 1102, the display device 1104, and the input device 1.
108, and a part of each function or mechanism of the reading device 1110. As an example, the printer 1106 includes an image processing unit for performing image processing, a display unit for performing various displays, and a recording medium attaching / detaching unit for attaching / detaching a recording medium recording image data photographed by a digital camera or the like. It may be configured to have.

The computer system realized in this way is superior to the conventional system as a whole system.

[0166]

According to the present invention, it is possible to realize an image forming apparatus, a computer program, and a computer system that efficiently collect a developer.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing main constituent elements constituting an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control unit of the image forming apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing main components of a developing device.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart relating to a toner forced consumption operation mode.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a photoconductor 20 is developed.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining forced toner consumption.

7 is a diagram showing an example of a transfer bias applied to the primary transfer unit 60. FIG.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory view schematically showing a photoconductor cleaning unit 75.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory view schematically showing an intermediate transfer member cleaning unit 85.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an external configuration of a computer system.

11 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the computer system shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Laser beam printer (main unit) 20 photoconductor 30 charging unit 40 exposure unit 50 YMCK development unit 50a rotating shaft 51 black developing device 52 Magenta Developing Device 53 Cyan developing device 54 yellow developing device 55 Support frame 55a, 55b, 55c, 55d Holding section 58 transfer unit 60 Primary transfer unit 70 Intermediate transfer body 75 Photoconductor cleaning unit 76 cleaning blade 80 Secondary transfer unit 85 Intermediate transfer member cleaning unit 87 Cleaning blade 90 fixing unit 92 paper feed tray 94 paper feed roller 95 display unit 96 cash register 100 control unit 101 Main controller 102 unit controller 112 interface 113 image memory 120 CPU 122 Exposure unit drive control circuit 124 pixel counter 126 RAM 128 YMCK developing unit drive control circuit 130 Development bias generator 132 Development bias control circuit 134 Transfer unit drive control circuit 136 Primary Transfer Bias Generator 138 Primary Transfer Bias Control Circuit 140 Secondary transfer bias generator 142 Secondary transfer bias control circuit 144 image information storage unit 146 Image information switching unit 510 developing roller 520 seal member 522 Seal support sheet metal 524 Seal biasing member 530 toner container 540 frames 550 Toner supply roller 560 regulation blade 560a rubber part 560b rubber support 562 blade support sheet metal 570 Blade back member 752 Photoconductor waste toner box 754 near-end sensor 756 End sensor 852 Intermediate transfer member waste toner box 854 near-end sensor 856 end sensor 1000 computer system 1102 Computer body 1104 display device 1106 printer 1108 Input device 1108A keyboard 1108B mouse 1110 reader 1110A flexible disk drive device 1110B CD-ROM drive device 1202 internal memory 1204 hard disk drive unit T toner RS synchronization reading sensor

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) G03G 21/10 G03G 21/00 326 15/08 507A F term (reference) 2H027 DA41 DB01 DD02 DD03 DE01 DE07 DE10 EA03 EC07 EC09 ED08 ED24 ED28 EE02 FA28 ZA07 2H077 AC04 AD06 AD13 AD17 AD23 AD36 BA03 BA08 CA12 CA19 DA16 DB08 DB12 DB14 DB15 DB22 FA22 GA01 GA13 2H134 GA01 GA06 GB02 HD01 JB01 JB06 JB07 KA25 KA28 KB20 KG03 KG04 KG07 KG08 KH12 KH16 2H200 FA01 FA02 FA08 FA18 GA23 GA34 GA46 GA47 GA50 GA56 GB12 GB22 HA03 HB12 HB22 JA02 JA28 JA29 JC03 JC12 LB02 LB09 LB13 NA02 PA03 PA10 PA20

Claims (17)

[Claims] 1. An image carrier capable of forming a latent image, a developer carrier for developing the latent image formed on the image carrier with a developer, and a developer on the image carrier. A transfer medium serving as a medium for transferring to a transfer material, a first transfer unit capable of transferring the developer on the image carrier to the transfer medium, and the image carrier without being transferred by the first transfer unit. First recovery means for recovering the developer remaining on the transfer medium, second transfer means capable of transferring the developer on the transfer medium to the transfer material, and the second transfer means without being transferred by the second transfer means. A second recovery means for recovering the developer remaining on the transfer medium, and the developer adhered to the image carrier is either the first recovery means or the second recovery means. Alternatively, in the image forming apparatus that collects by both, the developer in the first collecting unit and the second collecting unit When the amount of either one of the developers in the stage reaches a predetermined amount, the control for the first transfer unit is performed by the control for the first transfer unit before reaching the predetermined amount. An image forming apparatus characterized in that the different. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one of the first collecting unit and the second collecting unit is a collecting unit, and the amount of the developer in the collecting unit is different. The first transfer unit is controlled before reaching the predetermined amount by controlling the first transfer unit so as to collect a larger amount of the developer attached to the image carrier by the collection unit that has not reached the fixed amount. The image forming apparatus is characterized in that it is different from the control for the. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one or both of the first collecting unit and the second collecting unit is a developing unit in the collecting unit. An image forming apparatus having a detection unit for detecting the amount of the developer, and determining whether or not the amount of the developer has reached a predetermined amount by the detection unit. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a consumption amount detection unit for detecting the consumption amount of the developer, and the consumption amount of the developer detected by the consumption amount detection unit. Based on the above, the amount of the developer in either one or both of the developer in the first recovery unit and the developer in the second recovery unit is calculated, and the calculated amount of the developer becomes a predetermined amount. An image forming apparatus characterized by determining whether or not it has reached. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the developer carried on the developer carrier is attached to a non-image area on the image carrier. Mode, and when the amount of either one of the developer in the first recovery means and the developer in the second recovery means reaches a predetermined amount, in the operation mode, An image forming apparatus, wherein the control for the first transfer unit is different from the control for the first transfer unit before reaching the predetermined amount. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the transfer bias applied to the first transfer unit is controlled to control the first transfer unit in the operation mode to the predetermined amount. An image forming apparatus, which is different from the previous control for the first transfer unit. 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the magnitude of the transfer bias is changed to control the first transfer unit in the operation mode before the predetermined amount is reached. An image forming apparatus characterized in that it is different from the control for the means. 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the transfer bias is temporally changed to control the first transfer unit in the operation mode before reaching the predetermined amount. The image forming apparatus is different from the control of the first transfer unit of. 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the transfer bias is set for each operation mode to control the first transfer unit in the operation mode. An image forming apparatus, which is different from the control for the first transfer unit before reaching the predetermined amount. 10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein, in the operation mode, a deteriorated developer is carried on the developer carrier to peel off the developer from the developer carrier. An image forming apparatus, wherein the developed developer is attached to a non-image forming area on the image carrier. 11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first collecting unit has a first containing member for containing the collected developer, (2) The collecting means has a second containing member for containing the collected developer, the first containing member and the second containing member are replaceable, and the first containing member for the exchange is provided. An image forming apparatus, wherein the second containing member is sold as a set. 12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the developer contains a release agent. 13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a developer stripping member for stripping the developer carried by the developer carrying member, The image forming apparatus is characterized in that the rotation direction of the developer stripping member is opposite to the rotation direction of the developer carrying member. 14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is a laser beam printer. 15. An image carrier capable of forming a latent image, a developer carrier for developing the latent image formed on the image carrier with a developer, and a developer on the image carrier. A transfer medium serving as a medium for transferring to a transfer material, a first transfer unit capable of transferring the developer on the image carrier to the transfer medium, and the image carrier without being transferred by the first transfer unit. First recovery means for recovering the developer remaining on the transfer medium, second transfer means capable of transferring the developer on the transfer medium to the transfer material, and the second transfer means without being transferred by the second transfer means. A second recovery means for recovering the developer remaining on the transfer medium,
In order to peel off the deteriorated developer from the developer carrier, the developer carried on the developer carrier has an operation mode for adhering to the non-image area on the image carrier, In a laser beam printer for recovering the developer attached to the area by either one or both of the first recovery unit and the second recovery unit, the developer in the first recovery unit and the second recovery unit When the amount of one of the two developers reaches a predetermined amount, the magnitude of the transfer bias applied to the first transfer unit is changed to change the transfer bias with time. Then, by setting the transfer bias for each of the operation modes, the amount of the developer in either one of the first collecting unit and the second collecting unit can be reduced. For those who have not reached the prescribed amount By collection means,
In order to collect more of the developer attached to the image carrier, the control for the first transfer unit in the operation mode is different from the control for the first transfer unit before reaching the predetermined amount, Either one or both of the first recovery unit and the second recovery unit has a detection unit for detecting the amount of the developer in the recovery unit, and the detection unit detects the developer. The first collecting means has a first housing member for housing the collected developer, and the second collecting means collects the collected developer. It has a second containing member for containing the agent, the first containing member and the second containing member are replaceable, and the first containing member and the second containing member for the exchange are complete. The developer is released as And a developer stripping member for stripping the developer carried on the developer carrying member, wherein the rotation direction of the developer stripping member is the rotation direction of the developer carrying member. A laser beam printer characterized by being in the opposite direction. 16. An image carrier capable of forming a latent image, a developer carrier for developing the latent image formed on the image carrier with a developer, and a developer on the image carrier. A transfer medium serving as a medium for transferring to a transfer material, a first transfer unit capable of transferring the developer on the image carrier to the transfer medium, and the image carrier without being transferred by the first transfer unit. First recovery means for recovering the developer remaining on the transfer medium, second transfer means capable of transferring the developer on the transfer medium to the transfer material, and the second transfer means without being transferred by the second transfer means. A second recovery means for recovering the developer remaining on the transfer medium,
In the image forming apparatus that collects the developer attached to the image bearing member by one or both of the first collecting unit and the second collecting unit, the developer in the first collecting unit and the second collecting unit are collected. When the amount of either one of the developers in the recovery unit reaches a predetermined amount, the control for the first transfer unit is controlled to the control for the first transfer unit before reaching the predetermined amount. A computer program that makes it different from. 17. A computer main body, a display device connectable to the computer main body, and an image forming apparatus connectable to the computer main body, wherein an image carrier capable of forming a latent image, and an image carrier formed on the image carrier. A developer carrier for developing the latent image with a developer, a transfer medium serving as a medium for transferring the developer on the image carrier to a transfer material, and the developer on the image carrier. A first transfer means capable of transferring to the transfer medium; a first recovery means for recovering the developer remaining on the image carrier without being transferred by the first transfer means; A second transfer means capable of transferring the developer to the transfer material; and a second recovery means for recovering the developer left on the transfer medium without being transferred by the second transfer means, The developer adhered to the image carrier is transferred to the first recovery unit and the first recovery unit. An image forming apparatus for collecting by either one or both of the two collecting means, wherein the amount of the developer of either one of the developer in the first collecting means and the developer in the second collecting means. When a predetermined amount is reached, an image forming apparatus is provided, which makes the control for the first transfer unit different from the control for the first transfer unit before reaching the predetermined amount. system.