JP2017138550A - Powder replenishing apparatus and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a powder supplying device and an image forming apparatus that can supply powder from a powder storage container to a powder storage section while suppressing unnecessary supply of powder to a powder supply target. [Solution] A powder supplying device includes a powder storage container, a powder storage section, powder supplying means for supplying powder from the powder storage container to the powder storage section, a powder agitating and transporting member rotatably provided in the powder storage section, a powder agitating and transporting member driving means, and a powder amount detecting means for detecting the amount of powder in the powder storage section, and performs a powder supplying operation to supply powder from the powder storage section to a powder supply target by rotating the powder agitating and transporting member. The powder amount detecting means has a control means for controlling the powder supplying means to perform a powder supplying operation to supply powder from the powder storage container to the powder storage section in response to the powder supplying operation by driving the powder agitating and transporting member to rotate. [Selected Figure] FIG.

Description

  The present invention relates to a powder replenishing apparatus and an image forming apparatus.

  Conventionally, a powder storage unit that temporarily stores powder discharged to a powder supply target, a powder amount detection device that detects the amount of powder in the powder storage unit, and a powder amount storage unit There is known a powder replenishing device including a powder container for storing powder to be produced.

  Patent Document 1 describes a powder replenishing device that detects the amount of developer in a developer storage section supplied with a developer from a developer container by a developer amount detection device. When the developer supply operation for supplying the developer from the developer container to the developer storage unit is performed, and when the developer amount in the developer storage unit is detected by the developer amount detection device, the developer storage unit is provided in the developer storage unit. An agitating and conveying member that agitates and conveys the developer is driven to rotate. Further, when the developing device consumes the developer for image formation and the developer in the developing device decreases, the agitating and conveying member is driven to rotate to supply the developer to the developing device from the developer reservoir. Perform the replenishment operation.

  However, when detecting the amount of developer in the developer storage portion to which the developer has been supplied in the developer supply operation, the developing device is not in a state where the developer needs to be replenished by rotating the agitating and conveying member. Further, there may be a problem that the developer is unnecessarily replenished from the developer reservoir.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides a powder storage container for storing powder, a powder storage section for temporarily storing powder supplied from the powder storage container, and the powder storage A powder supply means for supplying powder from a container to the powder storage unit, a powder agitation transport member that is rotatably provided in the powder storage unit and stirs and transports the powder in the powder storage unit, A powder agitating / conveying member driving means for rotationally driving the powder agitating / conveying member; and a powder amount detecting means for detecting the amount of powder in the powder reservoir, wherein the powder agitating / conveying member is rotationally driven. In the powder replenishing apparatus for performing the powder replenishing operation for replenishing the powder to the powder replenishment target from the powder storage unit, the powder amount detection means is accompanied with the rotation of the powder agitating and conveying member. Using the information on the amount of powder in the powder storage unit obtained by The powder supply is for detecting the amount of powder, and triggered by the powder supply operation, the powder supply operation is performed to supply the powder from the powder container to the powder reservoir. It has the control means which controls a means, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

  As described above, according to the present invention, there is an excellent effect that the powder supply operation from the powder container to the powder reservoir can be performed while suppressing unnecessary powder supply to the powder supply target. .

6 is a timing chart when the user replaces a new toner bottle containing toner and the recovery filling operation ends normally. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a printer according to an embodiment. Schematic which shows the structure of a process unit. The external appearance perspective view of a process unit. FIG. 3 is an exploded configuration diagram showing the inside of the developing unit. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a part of an electric circuit of the printer. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a state where a toner container is installed in the toner supply device. FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing a container mounting portion of the copier in a state where a toner container is set. The perspective view of a container mounting part and a toner supply apparatus. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a container mounting portion and a toner replenishing device showing a state where a toner container is installed in the container mounting portion. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the container mounting portion and the toner supply device as viewed from the toner supply device side. FIG. 3 is an external view of a container side drive mechanism unit and a sub hopper side drive mechanism unit of a drive mechanism provided in a toner supply device. The schematic block diagram of a sub hopper side drive mechanism part. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a toner container. FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating a toner replenishing device and a front end portion of the toner container before the toner container is mounted. FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view showing a toner replenishing device in a state in which a toner container is mounted and a front end side of the toner container. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a toner replenishing device and a front end portion of the toner container before the toner container is mounted. FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a toner replenishing device with a toner container mounted thereon and a front end portion of the toner container. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a toner supply device. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the toner container and the toner replenishing device showing the internal configuration from the toner container to the toner replenishing device. The perspective view which shows the external appearance of the sub hopper which concerns on this embodiment. The perspective view which shows the external appearance of the sub hopper which concerns on this embodiment. The figure which shows the circuit structure of the magnetic flux sensor which concerns on this embodiment. The figure which shows the count aspect of the output signal of the magnetic flux sensor which concerns on this embodiment. The perspective view which shows the external appearance of the magnetic flux sensor which concerns on this embodiment. The block diagram which shows the structure of the controller which acquires the signal of the magnetic flux sensor which concerns on this embodiment. The figure which shows the arrangement | positioning relationship between the magnetic flux sensor which concerns on this embodiment, and a diaphragm. The figure which shows the effect | action at the time of a magnetic flux passing the diaphragm which concerns on this embodiment. The figure which shows the oscillation frequency of the magnetic flux sensor according to the distance of the diaphragm which concerns on this embodiment, and a magnetic flux sensor. The perspective view which shows the arrangement | positioning state of the diaphragm and metal bar which concern on this embodiment. The side view which shows the arrangement | positioning relationship between the diaphragm which concerns on this embodiment, and a stirring member. The side view which shows the arrangement | positioning relationship between the diaphragm which concerns on this embodiment, and a stirring member. The top view which shows the arrangement | positioning relationship between the diaphragm which concerns on this embodiment, and a stirring member. The side view which shows the arrangement | positioning relationship between the diaphragm which concerns on this embodiment, and a stirring member. FIG. 6 is a top view illustrating a vibration state of the diaphragm according to the embodiment. The side view which shows the relationship between the vibration state of the diaphragm which concerns on this embodiment, and a color developer. The figure which shows the time-dependent change of the count value according to the oscillation frequency of the magnetic flux sensor which changes according to attenuation | damping of the vibration of the diaphragm which concerns on this embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a toner remaining amount detection operation according to the embodiment. The figure which shows the analysis aspect of the count value which concerns on this embodiment. The figure which shows the relationship between the sampling period of the count value which concerns on this embodiment, and the vibration period of a diaphragm. The figure which shows the space | interval of the magnetic flux sensor which concerns on this embodiment, and a diaphragm. The figure which shows the example of arrangement | positioning height of the magnetic flux sensor which concerns on this embodiment, and a diaphragm. The figure which shows the example of arrangement | positioning height of the magnetic flux sensor which concerns on this embodiment, and a diaphragm. The timing chart when there is a false detection in the presence of toner detection. 6 is a timing chart when the toner bottle is used as it is without being replaced (including resetting the toner bottle). 6 is a timing chart when the user replaces the toner bottle with almost no toner and the toner slightly enters the sub hopper. The flowchart which shows an example of the control flow in a fixed near end.

  An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to an electrophotographic printer (hereinafter simply referred to as “printer”) as an image forming apparatus will be described below. First, a basic configuration of the printer according to the embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating the printer according to the embodiment. The printer includes four process units 1Y, 1C, 1M, and 1K for yellow, cyan, magenta, and black (hereinafter referred to as Y, C, M, and K). These use Y, C, M, and K toners of different colors as image forming substances for forming an image, but the other configurations are the same.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a process unit 1Y for generating a Y toner image. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the process unit 1Y. In these drawings, the process unit 1Y has a photoreceptor unit 2Y and a developing device 7Y. As shown in FIG. 4, the photoreceptor unit 2Y and the developing device 7Y are configured to be detachable as a process unit 1Y integrally with the printer main body. However, the developing device 7Y can be attached to and detached from the photoreceptor unit 2Y in a state where it is detached from the printer main body. The photoreceptor unit 2Y includes a drum-shaped photoreceptor 3Y as a latent image carrier, a drum cleaning device 4Y, a charge eliminating device, a charging device 5Y, and the like.

  The charging device 5Y as the charging means uniformly charges the surface of the photoreceptor 3Y, which is driven to rotate clockwise in FIG. 2 by the driving means, with the charging roller 6Y. Specifically, in FIG. 3, a charging bias is applied from a power source to a charging roller 6Y that is driven to rotate counterclockwise, and the charging roller 6Y is brought close to or in contact with the photoconductor 3Y, thereby causing the photoconductor 3Y to move. Charge uniformly. Instead of the charging roller 6Y, another charging member such as a charging brush may be used in proximity or contact. Further, a charger that uniformly charges the photosensitive member 3Y by a charger method, such as a scorotron charger, may be used. The surface of the photoreceptor 3Y uniformly charged by the charging device 5Y is exposed and scanned by a laser beam emitted from an optical writing unit 20 serving as a latent image forming unit, which will be described later, and carries an electrostatic latent image for Y.

  FIG. 5 is an exploded configuration diagram showing the inside of the developing device 7Y. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the developing device 7 </ b> Y as a developing unit has a first agent storage chamber 9 </ b> Y in which a first developer conveying screw 8 </ b> Y as a developer conveying unit is disposed. Further, it also has a second agent storage chamber 14Y in which a toner concentration sensor 10Y comprising a magnetic permeability sensor as a toner concentration detecting means, a second developer conveying screw 11Y, a developing roll 12Y, a doctor blade 13Y and the like are disposed. . Y developer, which is a two-component developer composed of a magnetic carrier and a negatively chargeable Y toner, is contained in these two agent storage chambers forming a circulation path.

  The first developer conveying screw 8Y is rotationally driven by the driving means to convey the Y developer in the first agent containing chamber 9Y to the near side in FIG. 3 (in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 5). The Y developer in the middle of conveyance is a portion (hereinafter referred to as “replenishment position”) facing the toner replenishing port 17Y in the first agent storage chamber 9Y by the toner concentration sensor 10Y fixed above the first developer conveyance screw 8Y. ), The toner concentration of the Y developer passing through a predetermined detection position located downstream of the developer circulation direction is detected. Then, the Y developer transported to the end of the first agent storage chamber 9Y by the first developer transport screw 8Y enters the second agent storage chamber 14Y through the communication port 18Y.

  The second developer transport screw 11Y in the second agent storage chamber 14Y is rotationally driven by the driving means, thereby transporting the Y developer to the back side in FIG. 3 (in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 5). In this way, the developing roller 12Y is arranged in a posture parallel to the second developer conveying screw 11Y above the second developer conveying screw 11Y that conveys the Y developer in FIG. The developing roll 12Y includes a magnet roller 16Y fixedly disposed in a developing sleeve 15Y made of a non-magnetic sleeve that is driven to rotate counterclockwise in FIG. A part of the Y developer conveyed by the second developer conveying screw 11Y is pumped up to the surface of the developing sleeve 15Y by the magnetic force generated by the magnet roller 16Y. Then, after the layer thickness is regulated by a doctor blade 13Y disposed so as to maintain a predetermined gap from the surface of the developing sleeve 15Y, the layer is conveyed to a developing region facing the photosensitive member 3Y, and is transferred onto the photosensitive member 3Y. Y toner is adhered to the electrostatic latent image for Y. This adhesion forms a Y toner image on the photoreceptor 3Y. The Y developer that has consumed Y toner by the development is returned to the second developer conveying screw 11Y as the developing sleeve 15Y rotates. Then, the Y developer transported to the end of the second agent storage chamber 14Y by the second developer transport screw 11Y returns to the first agent storage chamber 9Y through the communication port 19Y. In this way, the Y developer is circulated and conveyed in the developing unit.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a part of the electric circuit of the printer. The detection result of the toner density of the Y developer by the toner density sensor 10Y is sent to the control unit 90 as an electric signal. The control unit 90 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 221 that is a calculation means, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 102 that is a storage unit, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 103, and the like. Various arithmetic processes and control programs can be executed. The control unit 90 stores data on the target voltage V _tref for Y, which is the target value of the output voltage from the toner density sensor 10Y, in the RAM 102. Further, data of C, M, and K target voltages V _tref that are target values of output voltages from the toner density sensors 10C, 10M, and 10K mounted in the other developing devices 7C, 7M, and 7K are also stored. ing.

  For the developing device 7Y for Y, the value of the output voltage from the toner density sensor 10Y is compared with the target voltage Vtref for Y, and an amount of Y toner corresponding to the comparison result is supplied from the toner supply port 17Y. The drive mechanism 180 of the Y toner supply device 60 is controlled. Specifically, the drive mechanism 180 is divided into a container-side drive mechanism 181a (see FIG. 12) and a sub-hopper side drive mechanism 181b (see FIG. 12), which will be described later. And the drive with the 1st drive motor 182a (refer FIG. 12) provided in the container side drive mechanism part 181a and the 2nd drive motor 182b (refer FIG. 12) provided in the sub hopper side drive mechanism part 181b is controlled. The unit 90 controls. Further, the container side drive mechanism 181a and the sub hopper side drive mechanism 181b are independently driven. With this control, an appropriate amount of Y toner is supplied in the first agent storage chamber 9Y to the Y developer whose Y toner density has decreased due to consumption of Y toner during development. For this reason, the toner concentration of the Y developer in the second agent storage chamber 14Y is maintained within the target toner concentration range. The same applies to the developers in the developing devices 7C, 7M, and 7K for other colors.

  The control unit 90 is also connected to a magnetic flux sensor 210 that detects the amount of toner in the sub hopper 200 provided in the toner replenishing device 60. In FIG. 2 described above, the Y toner image formed on the photoreceptor 3Y is intermediately transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 41 which is an intermediate transfer body. The drum cleaning device 4Y of the photoreceptor unit 2Y removes toner remaining on the surface of the photoreceptor 3Y after the intermediate transfer process. As a result, the surface of the photoreceptor 3Y that has been subjected to the cleaning process is neutralized by the neutralization device. By this charge removal, the surface of the photoreceptor 3Y is initialized and prepared for the next image formation. Similarly, in the process units 1C, 1M, and 1K for other colors, C toner images, M toner images, and K toner images are formed on the photoreceptors 3C, 3M, and 3K, and the intermediate transfer belt 41 is subjected to intermediate transfer. Is done.

  An optical writing unit 20 is disposed below the process units 1Y, 1C, 1M, and 1K in FIG. The optical writing unit 20 emits a laser beam L based on image information (pixel information) acquired by the control unit 90 from an externally connected computer or the like to each of the process units 1Y, 1C, 1M, and 1K. , 3C, 3M, 3K. As a result, electrostatic latent images for Y, C, M, and K are formed on the photoreceptors 3Y, 3C, 3M, and 3K, respectively. The optical writing unit 20 deflects the laser light L emitted from the light source by the polygon mirror 21 that is rotationally driven by a motor, and passes through the photoreceptors 3Y, 3C, 3M, and 3K via a plurality of optical lenses and mirrors. Is irradiated. Instead of such a configuration, an LED array may be used.

  A first paper feed cassette 22 and a second paper feed cassette 23 are disposed below the optical writing unit 20 so as to overlap in the vertical direction. In each of these paper feed cassettes, a plurality of recording papers P, which are recording materials, are stored in a bundle of recording papers, and the top recording paper P includes a first paper feed roller. 22a and the second paper feed roller 23a are in contact with each other. When the first paper feed roller 22a is driven to rotate counterclockwise in FIG. 2 by the driving means, the uppermost recording paper P in the first paper feed cassette 22 extends vertically on the right side of the cassette in FIG. The paper is discharged toward the paper feed path 24 arranged to exist. Further, when the second paper feeding roller 23 a is driven to rotate counterclockwise in FIG. 2 by the driving means, the uppermost recording paper P in the second paper feeding cassette 23 is discharged toward the paper feeding path 24.

  A plurality of transport roller pairs 25 are arranged in the paper feed path 24, and the recording paper P fed into the paper feed path 24 is sandwiched between the rollers of the transport roller pair 25 while being fed. 2 is conveyed from the lower side to the upper side in FIG. A registration roller pair 26 is disposed at the end of the paper feed path 24. The registration roller pair 26 temporarily stops the rotation of both rollers as soon as the recording paper P sent from the conveyance roller pair 25 is sandwiched between the rollers. Then, the recording paper P is sent out toward a secondary transfer nip described later at an appropriate timing.

  Above each of the process units 1Y, 1C, 1M, and 1K in FIG. 2, a transfer unit 40 that endlessly moves counterclockwise in FIG. 2 while stretching the intermediate transfer belt 41 is disposed. In addition to the intermediate transfer belt 41, the transfer unit 40 includes a belt cleaning unit, four primary transfer rollers 45Y, 45C, 45M, and 45K, a secondary transfer backup roller 46, a drive roller 47, and a tension roller 49. The intermediate transfer belt 41 is endlessly moved counterclockwise in FIG. 2 by the rotation of the driving roller 47 while being stretched around these rollers. The four primary transfer rollers 45Y, 45C, 45M, and 45K sandwich the intermediate transfer belt 41 that moves endlessly between the photoreceptors 3Y, 3C, 3M, and 3K to form primary transfer nips. A transfer bias having a polarity opposite to that of the toner (in this embodiment, a positive polarity) is applied to the inner peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 41. As the endless movement of the intermediate transfer belt 41 passes through the primary transfer nips for Y, C, M, and K in sequence, the intermediate transfer belt 41 is placed on the outer surface of the photoreceptor 3Y, 3C, 3M, 3K. The color toner images are primarily transferred so as to overlap each other. As a result, a four-color superimposed toner image (hereinafter referred to as “four-color toner image”) is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 41.

  The secondary transfer backup roller 46 sandwiches the intermediate transfer belt 41 with the secondary transfer roller 50 disposed outside the loop of the intermediate transfer belt 41 to form a secondary transfer nip. The registration roller pair 26 feeds the recording paper P sandwiched between the rollers toward the secondary transfer nip at a timing at which the recording paper P can be synchronized with the four-color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 41. The four-color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 41 is affected by the secondary transfer electric field formed between the secondary transfer roller 50 to which the secondary transfer bias is applied and the secondary transfer backup roller 46, and the influence of the nip pressure. Then, the secondary transfer is batch-transferred onto the recording paper P in the secondary transfer nip. Then, combined with the white color of the recording paper P, a full color toner image is obtained. Transfer residual toner that has not been transferred to the recording paper P adheres to the intermediate transfer belt 41 after passing through the secondary transfer nip. This is cleaned by a belt cleaning unit. In the belt cleaning unit, a cleaning member such as a cleaning blade is brought into contact with the front surface of the intermediate transfer belt 41, whereby the transfer residual toner on the belt is scraped off and removed.

  A fixing device 80 as a fixing unit is disposed above the secondary transfer nip in the drawing. The fixing device 80 includes a pressure heating roller 81 that includes a heat source such as a halogen lamp, and a fixing belt unit 82. The fixing belt unit 82 includes a fixing roller 84, a heating roller 83 containing a heat source such as a halogen lamp, a tension roller 85, a driving roller 86, a temperature sensor, and the like. Then, the endless fixing belt 84 is endlessly moved in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 2 while being stretched by the heating roller 83, the tension roller 85, and the driving roller 86. In the process of endless movement, the fixing belt 84 is heated from the back side by the heating roller 83. A pressure heating roller 81 that is driven to rotate in the clockwise direction in FIG. 2 is in contact with the surface of the fixing belt 84 that is heated in this manner. Thus, a fixing nip where the pressure heating roller 81 and the fixing belt 84 abut is formed.

  A temperature sensor is disposed outside the loop of the fixing belt 84 so as to face the front surface of the fixing belt 84 with a predetermined gap, and the surface temperature of the fixing belt 84 immediately before entering the fixing nip. Is detected. This detection result is sent to the fixing power supply circuit. The fixing power supply circuit performs on / off control of power supply to the heat generation source included in the heating roller 83 and the heat generation source included in the pressure heating roller 81 based on the detection result of the temperature sensor. As a result, the surface temperature of the fixing belt 84 is maintained at about 140 [° C.]. The recording paper P that has passed through the secondary transfer nip is separated from the intermediate transfer belt 41 and then fed into the fixing device 80. Then, in the process of being conveyed from the lower side to the upper side in the figure while being sandwiched between the fixing nips in the fixing device 80, the full-color toner image is applied to the recording paper P by being heated or pressed by the fixing belt 84. To settle. The recording sheet P subjected to the fixing process in this manner is discharged outside the apparatus after passing between the rollers of the discharge roller pair 87. A stack unit 88 is formed on the top surface of the printer body, and the recording paper P discharged to the outside by the discharge roller pair 87 is sequentially stacked on the stack unit 88.

  Above the transfer unit 40, toner containers 32Y, 32C, 32M, and 32K, which are four toner storage containers for storing Y toner, C toner, M toner, and K toner, are disposed in the toner bottle storage section. Yes. The color toners in the toner containers 32Y, 32C, 32M, and 32K are appropriately supplied by the toner replenishing device 60 to the developing devices 7Y, 7C, 7M, and 7K of the process units 1Y, 1C, 1M, and 1K, respectively. The toner containers 32Y, 32C, 32M, and 32K are detachable from the printer main body independently of the process units 1Y, 1C, 1M, and 1K.

  As previously shown in FIG. 5, the toner concentration sensor 10Y has a toner concentration in the developer immediately before entering the second agent storage chamber 14Y as the supply region in the first agent storage chamber 9Y as the non-supply region. Is detected. The toner supply port 17Y is provided at a position for supplying toner to the developer immediately after entering the first agent storage chamber 9Y from the second agent storage chamber 14Y. That is, in the first agent storage chamber 9Y, the toner concentration sensor 10Y detects the toner concentration of the developer at a position downstream of the toner supply port 17Y.

  Next, the toner replenishing devices 60Y, 60C, 60M, and 60K will be described. FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing a state in which the toner container 32Y is installed in the toner replenishing device 60Y, and FIG. 8 is a container mounting state in which four toner containers 32Y, 32C, 32M, and 32K are set. FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view showing a part 70. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the container mounting portion 70 and the toner supply device 60. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the container mounting portion 70 and the toner replenishing device 60, showing a state where the toner container 32 is installed in the container mounting portion 70. FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the container mounting portion 70 and the toner supply device 60 as viewed from the toner supply device side. 12 is an external view of the container side drive mechanism 181a and the sub hopper side drive mechanism 181b of the drive mechanism 180 provided in the toner replenishing device 60. FIG. FIG. 13 is a schematic configuration diagram of the sub hopper side drive mechanism 181b.

  The toner in the toner containers 32Y, 32C, 32M, and 32K installed in the container mounting portion 70 is provided for each toner color according to the toner consumption in the developing devices 7Y, 7C, 7M, and 7K of the respective colors. The developing devices 7Y, 7C, 7M, and 7K are appropriately replenished by the toner replenishing devices 60Y, 60C, 60M, and 60K. The four toner replenishing devices 60Y, 60C, 60M, and 60K and the toner containers 32Y, 32C, 32M, and 32K have substantially the same structure except that the colors of toner used in the image forming process are different. Therefore, only the toner replenishing device 60Y and toner container 32Y corresponding to yellow will be described below, and the toner replenishing devices 60C, 60M, and 60K and toner containers 32C, 32M, and 32K corresponding to the other three colors will be described. The description will be omitted as appropriate.

  The toner replenishing devices 60Y, 60C, 60M, and 60K include a container mounting portion 70, transport nozzles 611Y, 611C, 611M, and 611K, transport screws 614Y, 614C, 614M, and 614K, toner dropping transport paths 64Y, 64C, 64M, and 64K, The drive mechanism is composed of 180Y, 180C, 180M, 180K, and the like. When the toner container 32Y is inserted in the direction of the arrow Q in the drawing and attached to the container mounting portion 70, the transport nozzle 611Y of the toner replenishing device 60Y is inserted from the front end side of the toner container 32Y in conjunction with the mounting operation. The inside of the toner container 32Y and the inside of the transport nozzle 611Y communicate with each other. The toner container 32Y has a cylindrical shape, such as a container tip cover 34Y fixed to the container mounting portion 70 in a non-rotating state, a toner bottle 33Y integrally formed with a container rotation gear 301Y, and the like. It is composed of The container front end cover 34Y as a holding unit rotatably holds the toner bottle 33Y while receiving the front end of the toner bottle 33Y in the rotation axis direction. The container mounting part 70 is comprised from the front-end | tip receiving part 73, the container receiving part 72, the insertion port formation part 71 grade | etc.,. The tip receiving portion 73 is for fixing the container tip cover 34Y of the toner container 32Y. The container receiver 72 is for receiving the toner bottle 33Y of the toner container 32Y. The insertion port forming part 71 forms an insertion port during the mounting operation of the toner container 32Y.

  When the main body cover installed on the front side of the printer (the front side in the direction perpendicular to the paper in FIG. 2) is opened, the insertion port forming portion 71 of the container mounting portion 70 is exposed. The toner containers 32Y, 32C, 32M, and 32K are attached and detached from the front side of the printer with the longitudinal direction of the toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32K set in the horizontal direction (the length of the toner container 32 is long). An attachment / detachment operation with the direction as the attachment / detachment direction is performed. The set cover 608Y in FIG. 7 is a part of the tip receiving portion 73 of the container mounting portion 70. The container receiving portion 72 is formed so that its length in the longitudinal direction is substantially equal to the length of the toner bottle 33Y in the longitudinal direction. Further, the tip receiving portion 73 is provided on one end side in the longitudinal direction (attachment / detachment direction) of the container receiving portion 72, and the insertion port forming portion 71 is provided on the other end side in the longitudinal direction of the container receiving portion 72. The container tip cover 34Y slides on the container receiving portion 72 for a while after passing through the insertion port forming portion 71 in accordance with the mounting operation of the toner container 32Y, and is then attached to the tip receiving portion 73.

  With the container front end cover 34Y mounted on the front end receiving portion 73, the drive mechanism 180 constituted by a drive motor, a drive gear, and the like transmits a rotational driving force to the container rotation gear 301Y, so that the toner bottle 33Y is shown in FIG. 7 is driven to rotate in the direction of arrow A. By rotating the toner bottle 33Y itself, the toner contained in the toner bottle 33Y is transferred from the rear end side to the front end side (from the rear end side of the bottle) by the spiral protrusion 302Y formed spirally on the inner peripheral surface of the toner bottle 33Y. It is conveyed from the left side to the right side in FIG. And it is supplied in the conveyance nozzle 611Y from the container front end cover 34Y side. A transport screw 614Y is disposed in the transport nozzle 611Y, and the transport screw 614Y rotates and transports the toner in the transport nozzle 611Y when rotation driving is input from the drive mechanism 180Y to the transport screw gear 605Y. . The downstream end of the transport nozzle 611Y in the transport direction is connected to the toner drop transport path 64Y, and the toner transported by the transport screw 614Y falls under its own weight on the toner drop transport path 64Y and is transported into the sub hopper 200Y.

  Each of the toner containers 32Y, 32C, 32M, and 32K is replaced with a new one when it reaches the end of its life (when almost all the toner to be stored is consumed and emptied). A handle 303 is provided at the end of the toner container 32 opposite to the container tip cover 34 in the longitudinal direction. When replacing, the operator holds the handle 303 and pulls it out. The toner container 32 can be removed.

  Next, the toner containers 32Y, 32C, 32M, and 32K and the toner replenishing devices 60Y, 60C, 60M, and 60K will be described in more detail. As described above, the toner containers 32Y, 32C, 32M, and 32K and the toner replenishing devices 60Y, 60C, 60M, and 60K have substantially the same configuration except that the colors of the toners used are different. Therefore, in the following description, Y, C, M, and K, which indicate the color of the toner to be used, are omitted.

  FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing the toner container 32 according to the embodiment. FIG. 15 is an enlarged perspective view showing the toner replenishing device 60 before the toner container 32 is mounted and the front end side end of the toner container 32. FIG. 16 is an enlarged perspective view showing the toner replenishing device 60 with the toner container 32 attached and the front end side of the toner container 32. FIG. 17 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the toner replenishing device 60 before the toner container 32 is mounted and the tip of the toner container 32. FIG. 18 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the toner replenishing device 60 with the toner container 32 attached and the tip of the toner container 32. FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view of the toner supply device 60. FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view of the toner container 32 and the toner supply device 60 showing the internal configuration from the toner container 32 to the toner supply device 60.

  As shown in FIG. 17, the toner replenishing device 60 includes a transport nozzle 611 having a transport screw 614 therein. A nozzle shutter member 612 is also provided. The nozzle shutter member 612 closes the nozzle opening 610 formed in the transport nozzle 611 when the toner container 32 is not mounted before being mounted (the state shown in FIGS. 15 and 18). Further, when the toner container 32 is mounted (the state shown in FIGS. 17 and 16), the nozzle opening 610 is opened. In the center of the front end surface of the toner container 32, a nozzle receiving port 331 into which the transport nozzle 611 is inserted when mounted and a container shutter member 332 that closes the nozzle receiving port 331 when not mounted are provided.

  As shown in FIG. 15, the container front end cover 34 of the toner container 32 has a lock for allowing a container lock member 609 provided on the set cover 608 of the toner replenishing device 60 to penetrate from the outside of the container toward the inside. An opening 339 is provided. The container tip cover 34 is also provided with an ID chip 700 that records data such as the usage status of the toner container 32. Furthermore, a color non-compatible rib 34b is provided to prevent the toner container 32 having a different toner color from being attached to the set cover 608 of another color. As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the toner replenishing device 60 includes a nozzle holder 607 that fixes the transport nozzle 611 to the frame 602 of the printer body, and the set cover 608 is fixed to the nozzle holder 607. ing. Further, a toner dropping conveyance path 64 is fixed to the nozzle holder 607 so as to communicate with the inside of the conveyance nozzle 611 from below the conveyance nozzle 611.

  As shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, the toner drop conveyance path 64 extends in the vertical direction, which is the height direction of the apparatus. In the toner drop transport path 64, the toner transported by the transport screw 614 is dropped, so that the toner drop transport path 64 is always hollow. The toner conveyed from the toner container 32 through the toner dropping conveyance path 64 into the sub hopper 200 is conveyed to the magnetic flux sensor 210 in the sub hopper 200. A coil-like swing member 65 is provided in the toner dropping conveyance path 64. Then, by swinging the swing member 65 in the toner drop transport path 64, the toner stays in the toner drop transport path 64 by dropping the toner adhering to the inner wall surface of the toner drop transport path 64. Is suppressed.

  A drive mechanism 180 is fixed to the frame 602. The drive mechanism 180 includes a drive motor 603 and a container drive output gear 601, a worm gear 603 a that transmits the rotational drive of the drive motor 603 to the rotation shaft of the container drive output gear 601, and the like. A drive transmission gear 604 is fixed to the rotating shaft of the container drive output gear 601, and is configured to mesh with the conveying screw gear 605 fixed to the rotating shaft of the conveying screw 614. With such a configuration, the toner container 32 is rotated via the container drive output gear 601 and the container rotation gear 301 by rotating the drive motor 603. Then, the transport screw 614 is rotated via the drive transmission gear 604 and the transport screw gear 605. A clutch may be provided in a drive transmission path from the drive motor 603 to the container rotation gear 301 or a drive transmission path from the drive motor 603 to the transport screw gear 605. By providing such a clutch, it is possible to realize a configuration in which only one of the toner container 32 and the conveying screw 614 is rotated when the drive motor 603 is driven to rotate.

Next, a process of attaching the toner container 32 to the toner supply device 60 will be described.
As shown by an arrow Q in FIGS. 15 and 17, when the toner container 32 moves in the direction of the toner replenishing device 60, the nozzle tip 611 a of the transport nozzle 611 is brought into contact with the end surface on the tip side of the container shutter member 332. Contact. When the toner container 32 further moves in the direction of the toner replenishing device 60, the transport nozzle 611 presses the end surface on the front end side of the container shutter member 332. Thus, when the container shutter spring 336 contracts, the container shutter member 332 is pushed into the inner side (rear end side) of the toner container 32 and the nozzle front end side of the transport nozzle 611 is inserted into the nozzle receiving port 331. At this time, the nozzle shutter cylindrical portion 612 b on the nozzle tip side of the nozzle shutter flange 612 a in the nozzle shutter member 612 is also inserted into the nozzle receiving port 331 together with the transport nozzle 611.

  When the toner container 32 further moves in the direction of the toner replenishing device 60, the surface opposite to the nozzle shutter spring receiving surface of the nozzle shutter collar 612 a comes into contact with the end surface on the front end side of the container seal member 333 and the container seal. The member 333 is crushed a little. As a result, the surface opposite to the nozzle shutter spring receiving surface of the nozzle shutter collar 612a abuts against the nozzle shutter abutment rib, so that the relative position of the nozzle shutter member 612 in the rotation axis direction with respect to the toner container 32 is fixed. Is done. When the toner container 32 further moves in the direction of the toner supply device 60, the transport nozzle 611 is further inserted into the toner container 32. At this time, the nozzle shutter member 612 that has abutted against the nozzle shutter abutment rib is pushed back toward the nozzle base with respect to the transport nozzle 611. As a result, the nozzle shutter spring 613 contracts, and the relative position of the nozzle shutter member 612 with respect to the transport nozzle 611 moves to the nozzle base side. Along with the movement of the relative position, the nozzle opening 610 covered with the nozzle shutter member 612 is exposed inside the toner bottle 33, and the inside of the toner bottle 33 and the inside of the transport nozzle 611 communicate with each other.

  In a state where the transport nozzle 611 is inserted into the nozzle receiving port 331, the following force acts by the biasing force of the container shutter spring 336 and the nozzle shutter spring 613 in a contracted state. That is, the force is in the direction in which the toner container 32 is pushed back against the toner replenishing device 60 (the direction opposite to the arrow Q in the figure). However, when the toner container 32 is attached to the toner replenishing device 60, the toner container 32 resists the above-described force until the container opening member 609 of the set cover 608 is received by the lock opening 339. Then, it is moved in the direction of the toner supply device 60. Thus, the toner container 32 is positioned in the rotation axis direction with respect to the toner replenishing device 60 by the urging force of the container shutter spring 336 and the nozzle shutter spring 613 and the hook of the container lock member 609 with respect to the lock opening 339.

  When the toner container is positioned in the rotation axis direction, the outer peripheral surface of the tip opening forming portion 305 is slidably fitted on the inner peripheral surface of the container setting portion 615. For this reason, the toner container 32 is positioned with respect to the toner replenishing device 60 in the plane direction orthogonal to the rotation axis. Thereby, the mounting of the toner container 32 to the toner supply device 60 is completed. In a state where the toner container 32 is completely installed, the drive motor 603 is rotated to rotate the toner bottle 33 of the toner container 32 and the transport screw 614 in the transport nozzle 611. As the toner bottle 33 rotates, the toner in the toner bottle 33 is conveyed to the front end side of the toner bottle 33 by the spiral protrusion 302. The toner that has reached the pumping unit 304 by this conveyance is lifted above the nozzle opening 610 by the pumping unit 304 as the toner bottle 33 rotates.

  The toner that has been lifted above the nozzle opening 610 falls into the nozzle opening 610, whereby the toner is supplied into the transport nozzle 611. The toner supplied into the transport nozzle 611 is transported by the transport screw 614 and transported to the sub hopper 200 through the toner dropping transport path 64. In FIG. 18, the toner flow from the toner bottle 33 to the toner dropping conveyance path 64 at this time is indicated by an arrow β in FIG. 18. In FIG. 18, α represents a position where the tip opening forming portion 305 is slidably in contact with the container setting portion 615 and the toner container 32 is positioned with respect to the toner supply device 60. This position is not limited to a configuration having both functions of the sliding portion and the positioning portion, and may have a configuration having either function of the sliding portion or the positioning portion.

  The nozzle receiving member 330 of the toner container 32 has a nozzle receiving port 331, a shutter support opening 335 b, and a container shutter member 332. A nozzle receiving port 331 provided at the position of the opening of the toner bottle 33 receives a transport nozzle 611 having a nozzle opening 610 that is a powder receiving port. The shutter support opening 335 b functions as a replenishing port for supplying toner, which is powder in the toner bottle 33, to the nozzle opening 610 at least partially. Further, the container shutter member 332 is supported by the nozzle receiving member 330, and is opened and closed to slide the moving nozzle 611 in the direction of the rotation axis and open / close the nozzle receiving port 331 by an operation of inserting or extracting the conveying nozzle 611 from the nozzle receiving member 330. Functions as a member. With such a configuration, the toner container 32 maintains the state in which the nozzle receiving port 331 is closed until the transport nozzle 611 is inserted, and the toner leakage in the state before being attached to the toner supply device 60. And can prevent scattering.

  When the transport nozzle 611 is inserted into the nozzle receiving port 331 and the container shutter member 332 pushed by the transport nozzle 611 slides toward the back of the container, the toner accumulated in the vicinity of the shutter support opening 335b is pushed away. For this reason, it is possible to secure a space for the conveyance nozzle 611 in the portion where the nozzle receiving port 331 is formed to enter the periphery of the shutter support opening 335b, and to reliably supply toner from the shutter support opening 335b to the nozzle receiving port 331. Yes. As described above, the toner container 32 is reliably attached to the toner replenishing device 60 when it is attached to the toner replenishing device 60 while preventing leakage and scattering of the toner stored in the toner bottle 33 in a state before the toner replenishing device 60 is attached. The toner can be discharged out of the toner bottle 33. When the toner container 32 is attached to the toner supply device 60, the container seal member 333 is crushed by the nozzle shutter collar 612a. As a result, the nozzle shutter collar 612a is brought into close contact with the container seal member 333 and toner leakage can be prevented.

  FIG. 21 is a perspective view showing an overview of the sub hopper 200 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 21, a magnetic flux sensor 210 is attached to the outer wall of the casing constituting the sub hopper 200. In FIG. 21, the upper portion of the sub hopper 200 is an opening, and a cover in which the toner bottle supply path 120 is formed is attached to the opening. The toner held in the sub hopper 200 is sent out from the sub hopper supply path 119 shown in FIG.

  FIG. 22 is a perspective view showing the inside of the sub hopper 200. As shown in FIG. 22, a diaphragm 201 is provided on the inner wall inside the sub hopper 200. The inner wall on which the diaphragm 201 is provided is the back side of the outer wall to which the magnetic flux sensor 210 is attached in FIG. Therefore, the diaphragm 201 is disposed so as to face the magnetic flux sensor 210.

  The vibration plate 201 is a rectangular plate-shaped component, and is arranged in a cantilever state in which one end in the longitudinal direction is fixed to the housing of the sub hopper 200. A weight 202 is disposed at the end of the diaphragm 201 that is not fixed in the longitudinal direction. The weight 202 has a function of adjusting the frequency when the vibration plate 201 vibrates and a function of vibrating the vibration plate 201.

  In the sub hopper 200, a stirring and conveying member including a rotating shaft 204 and a stirring member 205 is provided as a configuration for stirring and conveying the toner inside. The rotating shaft 204 is a shaft that rotates inside the sub hopper 200. An agitating member 205 is fixed to the rotating shaft 204, and the agitating member 205 rotates with the rotation of the rotating shaft 204 to agitate the toner in the sub hopper 200. Further, the longitudinal direction of the diaphragm 201 is disposed substantially parallel to the axial direction of the rotating shaft 204. The stirring member 205 has a function of flipping the weight 202 provided on the vibration plate 201 by rotation in addition to the stirring of the toner. Thus, each time the stirring member 205 rotates once, the weight 202 is repelled and the diaphragm 201 vibrates. That is, the vibration plate 201 functions as a vibration unit, and the stirring member 205 functions as a vibration applying unit.

  Next, the internal configuration of the magnetic flux sensor 210 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 23, the magnetic flux sensor 210 according to this embodiment is an oscillation circuit based on a Colpitts LC oscillation circuit. The magnetic flux sensor 210 includes a planar pattern coil 211, a pattern resistor 212, a first capacitor 213, a second capacitor 214, a feedback resistor 215, unbuffered ICs 216 and 217, and an output terminal 218.

The planar pattern coil 211 is a planar coil constituted by signal lines patterned in a planar shape on a substrate constituting the magnetic flux sensor 210. As shown in FIG. 23, the planar pattern coil 211 has an inductance L obtained by the coil. In the planar pattern coil 211, the value of the inductance L changes due to the magnetic flux passing through the space facing the plane on which the coil is formed. As a result, the magnetic flux sensor 210 according to this embodiment is used as an oscillating unit that oscillates a signal having a frequency corresponding to the magnetic flux passing through the space where the coil surfaces of the planar pattern coil 211 face each other. Further, the magnetic flux sensor 210 has a circuit resistance _RL whose resistance value is determined by the length of the signal line. In the magnetic flux sensor 210 of this embodiment, most signal lines are used to form the planar pattern coil 211. Therefore, the circuit resistance R _L substantially matches the resistance value of the signal line of the planar pattern coil.

  The pattern resistor 212 is a resistor configured by a signal line patterned in a planar shape on the substrate, like the planar pattern coil 211. The pattern resistor 212 according to the present embodiment is a pattern formed in a zigzag shape, thereby creating a state in which current does not flow more easily than a linear pattern. Providing the pattern resistor 212 is one of the gist according to the present embodiment. Note that the zigzag folded shape is, in other words, a shape folded so as to reciprocate a plurality of times in a predetermined direction. As shown in FIG. 23, the pattern resistor 212 has a resistance value RP. As shown in FIG. 23, the planar pattern coil 211 and the pattern resistor 212 are connected in series.

  The first capacitor 213 and the second capacitor 214 are capacitors that together with the planar pattern coil 211 constitute a Colpitts LC oscillation circuit. Accordingly, the first capacitor 213 and the second capacitor 214 are connected in series with the planar pattern coil 211 and the pattern resistor 212. A resonance current loop is constituted by a loop constituted by the planar pattern coil 211, the pattern resistor 212, the first capacitor 213, and the second capacitor 214.

  The feedback resistor 215 is inserted to stabilize the bias voltage. Due to the functions of the unbuffered IC 216 and the unbuffered IC 217, the fluctuation of the potential of a part of the resonant current loop is output from the output terminal 218 as a rectangular wave corresponding to the resonant frequency.

With such a configuration, the magnetic flux sensor 210 according to the present embodiment oscillates at a frequency f corresponding to the inductance L, the resistance value R _P , the circuit resistance R _L , the capacitance C of the first capacitor 213 and the second capacitor 214. To do. The frequency f can be expressed by the following formula 1.

  The inductance L also changes depending on the presence of the magnetic substance in the vicinity of the planar pattern coil 211 and its concentration. Therefore, it is possible to determine the magnetic permeability in the space near the planar pattern coil 211 based on the oscillation frequency of the magnetic flux sensor 210.

  Further, as described above, the magnetic flux sensor 210 in the sub hopper 200 according to the present embodiment is disposed to face the diaphragm 201 via the housing. Accordingly, the magnetic flux generated by the planar pattern coil 211 passes through the diaphragm 201. That is, the diaphragm 201 affects the magnetic flux generated by the planar pattern coil 211 and affects the inductance L. As a result, the presence of the diaphragm 201 affects the frequency of the oscillation signal of the magnetic flux sensor 210.

FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating an aspect of the count value of the output signal of the magnetic flux sensor 210 according to the present embodiment. If there is no change in the magnetic flux generated by the planar pattern coil 211 included in the magnetic flux sensor 210, the magnetic flux sensor 210 continues to oscillate at the same frequency in principle. As a result, as shown in FIG. 24, the count value of the counter increases uniformly over time. Then, as shown in FIG. _24, in _{t 1, t 2, t 3} , t 4, t 5 respective timing, aaaah, bbbbh, cccch, ddddh , the count value is obtained such AAAAh.

By calculating the count value at each timing based on the periods T ₁ , T ₂ , T ₃ , and T ₄ shown in FIG. 24, the frequency in each period is calculated. For example, when a reference clock corresponding to 2 [ms] is counted and an interrupt signal is output and the frequency is calculated, the count value in each period is divided by 2 [ms]. Thus, to calculate the oscillation frequency f [Hz] of _{T 1, T 2, T 3} , T 4 flux sensor 210 in the period of each shown in Figure 24. Further, as shown in FIG. 24, if the upper limit of the count value of the counter is FFFFh, when calculating the frequency in the period _{T 4,} a value obtained by subtracting ddddh from FFFFh, the sum of the values of the AAAAh 2 [ms ]. Thereby, the oscillation frequency f [Hz] can be calculated.

  As described above, in the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, the frequency of the signal oscillated by the magnetic flux sensor 210 is acquired, and an event corresponding to the oscillation frequency of the magnetic flux sensor 210 can be determined based on the acquisition result. it can. In the magnetic flux sensor 210 according to the present embodiment, the inductance L changes according to the state of the diaphragm 201 disposed to face the planar pattern coil 211, and as a result, the signal output from the output terminal 218 is changed. The frequency changes. As a result, in the controller that acquires the signal, it is possible to check the state of the diaphragm 201 that is disposed to face the planar pattern coil 211. As described above, the frequency is obtained by dividing the count value of the oscillation signal by the period. However, if the period for acquiring the count value is fixed, the acquired count value is used as a parameter for indicating the frequency. It is also possible to use it as it is.

  FIG. 25 is a perspective view showing an overview of the magnetic flux sensor 210 according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 25, the surface on which the planar pattern coil 211 and the pattern resistor 212 described in FIG. 23 are formed, that is, the detection surface facing the space where the magnetic permeability is to be detected is directed to the upper surface. As shown in FIG. 25, a pattern resistor 212 connected in series with the planar pattern coil 211 is patterned on the detection surface on which the planar pattern coil 211 is formed. As described with reference to FIG. 23, the planar pattern coil 211 is a signal line pattern formed in a spiral shape on a plane. Further, the pattern resistor 212 is a signal pattern formed in a zigzag pattern on the plane, and the function of the magnetic flux sensor 210 as described above is realized by these patterns. A portion formed by the planar pattern coil 211 and the pattern resistor 212 is a magnetic permeability detection unit in the magnetic flux sensor 210 according to the present embodiment. When the magnetic flux sensor 210 is attached to the sub hopper 200, the detector is attached so as to face the diaphragm 201.

  Next, a configuration for acquiring the output value of the magnetic flux sensor 210 in the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the controller 220 and the magnetic flux sensor 210 that acquire the output value of the magnetic flux sensor 210. As shown in FIG. 26, the controller 220 has a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 221, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) 222, a timer 223, a crystal oscillation circuit 224, and an input / output control ASIC 230.

  The CPU 221 is a calculation means, and controls the overall operation of the controller 220 by performing calculations according to a program stored in a storage medium such as a ROM (Read Only Memory). The ASIC 222 functions as a connection interface between the system bus to which the CPU 221 and RAM (Random Access Memory) are connected and other devices.

  The timer 223 generates an interrupt signal and outputs it to the CPU 221 every time the reference clock count value input from the crystal oscillation circuit 224 reaches a predetermined value. The CPU 221 outputs a read signal for acquiring the output value of the magnetic flux sensor 210 in accordance with the interrupt signal input from the timer 223. The crystal oscillation circuit 224 oscillates a reference clock for operating each device in the controller 220.

  The input / output control ASIC 230 acquires the detection signal output from the magnetic flux sensor 210 and converts it into information that can be processed in the controller 220. As shown in FIG. 26, the input / output control ASIC 230 includes a magnetic permeability counter 231, a read signal acquisition unit 232, and a count value output unit 233. As described above, the magnetic flux sensor 210 according to the present embodiment is an oscillation circuit that outputs a rectangular wave having a frequency corresponding to the magnetic permeability in the detection target space.

  The magnetic permeability counter 231 is a counter that increments a value in accordance with a rectangular wave output from such a magnetic flux sensor 210. That is, the magnetic permeability counter 231 functions as a target signal counter that counts the number of signals for which the frequency is to be calculated. Note that the magnetic flux sensor 210 according to the present embodiment is provided for each of the sub hoppers 200 connected to the CMYK developing devices 112, and a plurality of permeability counters 231 are also provided.

  The read signal acquisition unit 232 acquires a read signal, which is a command for acquiring the count value of the magnetic permeability counter 231 from the CPU 221, via the ASIC 222. When the read signal acquisition unit 232 acquires the read signal from the CPU 221, the read signal acquisition unit 232 inputs a signal for causing the count value output unit 233 to output the count value. The count value output unit 233 outputs the count value of the magnetic permeability counter 231 according to the signal from the read signal acquisition unit 232.

  Note that the CPU 221 accesses the input / output control ASIC 230 via, for example, a register. Therefore, the above-described read signal is performed by writing a value into a predetermined register included in the input / output control ASIC 230 by the CPU 221. The count value output unit 233 outputs the count value by storing the count value in a predetermined register included in the input / output control ASIC 230 and acquiring the value by the CPU 221. The controller 220 illustrated in FIG. 26 may be provided separately from the magnetic flux sensor 210, or may be mounted on the substrate of the magnetic flux sensor 210 as a circuit including the CPU 221.

  In such a configuration, the CPU 221 detects the vibration state of the diaphragm 201 based on the count value acquired from the count value output unit 233, and detects the remaining amount of toner in the sub hopper 200 based on the detection result. That is, the detection processing unit is configured by the CPU 221 performing calculations according to a predetermined program. In addition, the count value acquired from the count value output unit 233 is used as frequency related information indicating the frequency of the magnetic flux sensor 210 that changes according to the vibration of the diaphragm 201.

  Next, the influence of the diaphragm 201 on the oscillation frequency of the magnetic flux sensor 210 according to this embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 27, the surface on which the planar pattern coil 211 is formed in the magnetic flux sensor 210 and the diaphragm 201 are disposed to face each other with the housing of the sub hopper 200 interposed therebetween. Then, as shown in FIG. 27, a magnetic flux is generated centering on the center of the planar pattern coil 211, and the magnetic flux penetrates the diaphragm 201.

Diaphragm 201, for example, stainless steel plate is constituted by, the magnetic flux G ₁ as shown in FIG. 28 eddy current is generated in the vibrating plate 201 by penetrating the vibrating plate 201. This eddy current generates a magnetic flux G _2, acts so as to cancel out the magnetic fluxes G ₁ by a plane pattern coil 211. By thus magnetic flux G ₁ is canceled, the inductance L is reduced in magnetic flux sensor 210. As shown in the above formula 1, when the inductance L decreases, the oscillation frequency f increases.

  The strength of the eddy current generated inside the vibration plate 201 by receiving the magnetic flux from the planar pattern coil 211 varies depending on the distance between the planar pattern coil 211 and the vibration plate 201 in addition to the strength of the magnetic flux. FIG. 29 is a diagram illustrating the oscillation frequency of the magnetic flux sensor 210 in accordance with the distance between the planar pattern coil 211 and the diaphragm 201. The strength of the eddy current generated inside the diaphragm 201 is inversely proportional to the distance between the planar pattern coil 211 and the diaphragm 201. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 29, the narrower the distance between the planar pattern coil 211 and the diaphragm 201, the higher the oscillation frequency of the magnetic flux sensor 210. When the distance is smaller than the predetermined distance, the inductance L becomes too low and the oscillation occurs. No longer.

  In the sub hopper 200 according to the present embodiment, the vibration of the diaphragm 201 is detected based on the oscillation frequency of the magnetic flux sensor 210 by utilizing the characteristics as shown in FIG. The gist of the present embodiment is to detect the remaining amount of toner in the sub hopper 200 based on the vibration of the vibration plate 201 thus detected. That is, the structure which processes the output signal of the diaphragm 201 shown in FIG. 27, the magnetic flux sensor 210, and the magnetic flux sensor 210 is used as a powder detection apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. This powder detection device is a developer remaining amount detection device if used for detection of the remaining amount of toner. Further, the magnetic flux sensor 210 functions as a vibration detection unit.

  The vibration of the diaphragm 201 repelled by the stirring member 205 is represented by a natural frequency determined by the rigidity of the diaphragm 201 and the weight of the weight 202 and an attenuation factor determined by an external factor that absorbs the vibration energy. As external factors for absorbing vibration energy, in addition to fixing factors such as fixing strength and air resistance for fixing the vibration plate 201 in a cantilever state, toner in contact with the vibration plate 201 inside the sub hopper 200 is used. There exists. The toner that contacts the diaphragm 201 inside the sub hopper 200 varies depending on the remaining amount of toner in the sub hopper 200. Therefore, by detecting the vibration of the vibration plate 201, it is possible to detect the remaining amount of toner in the sub hopper 200. For this reason, in the sub hopper 200 according to the present embodiment, the stirring member 205 for stirring the internal toner repels the vibration plate 201 and periodically vibrates the vibration plate 201 according to the rotation.

  Next, the arrangement of components around the diaphragm 201 in the sub hopper 200 and the configuration for the stirring member 205 to flip the diaphragm 201 will be described. FIG. 30 is a perspective view showing a positional relationship around the diaphragm 201. As shown in FIG. 30, one end in the longitudinal direction of the diaphragm 201 is welded to the fixed portion 201 a and is integrally fixed and fixed to the fitting portion 203 provided in the housing 200 a of the sub hopper 200 shown in FIG. 22. The fixing part 201a is press-fitted and attached from above. FIG. 31 is a side view showing a state before the stirring member 205 comes into contact with the weight 202 attached to the vibration plate 201 as the rotation state of the rotating shaft 204. In FIG. 31, the rotating shaft 204 rotates so that the stirring member 205 rotates clockwise. As shown in FIG. 31, the weight 202 is a protruding portion that protrudes from the plate surface of the diaphragm 201 and has a shape that is inclined with respect to the plate surface of the diaphragm 201 when viewed from the side. This inclination is configured such that the inclined surface approaches the rotating shaft 204 along the rotation direction of the stirring member 205. The inclined surface of the weight 202 is a portion that is pushed by the stirring member 205 when the stirring member 205 repels and vibrates the vibration plate 201.

  FIG. 32 is a side view showing a state where the stirring member 205 is further rotated from the state shown in FIG. By further rotating the stirring member 205 in contact with the weight 202, the vibration plate 201 is pushed and deformed with the inclination provided in the weight 202. In FIG. 32, the positions of the diaphragm 201 and the weight 202 in a state where no external force is applied (hereinafter referred to as “steady state”) are indicated by broken lines. As shown in FIG. 32, the diaphragm 201 and the weight 202 are pushed in by the stirring member 205.

  33 is a top view showing the state shown in FIG. Since the vibration plate 201 is fixed to the inner wall of the housing of the sub hopper 200 via the fixing portion 201a, the position on the fixing portion 201a side does not change. On the other hand, the end on the opposite side which is provided with the weight 202 and is a free end moves to the side opposite to the side on which the rotating shaft 204 is provided by being pushed by the stirring member 205. As a result, the diaphragm 201 bends as shown in FIG. 33 with the fixed portion 201a as a base point. In such a bent state, energy for vibrating the diaphragm 201 is stored.

  As shown in FIG. 33, the stirring member 205 according to this embodiment is provided with a cut 205a between a portion that contacts the weight 202 and the other portion. As a result, it is possible to prevent the stirring member 205 from being damaged by applying an excessive force when the stirring member 205 pushes the weight 202. In addition, a round portion 205b is provided at the starting point of the cut 205a. Thereby, when the amount of bending of the stirring member 205 differs from the notch 205a as a boundary, the stress applied to the starting point of the notch 205a can be dispersed, and the stirring member 205 can be prevented from being damaged.

  FIG. 34 is a side view showing a state where the stirring member 205 is further rotated from the state shown in FIG. 34, the position of the diaphragm 201 in a steady state is indicated by a broken line, and the position of the diaphragm 201 shown in FIG. 32 is indicated by a chain line. The position of the diaphragm 201 that has been deflected to the opposite side when the vibration energy stored by being pushed in by the stirring member 205 is released is indicated by a solid line. FIG. 35 is a top view showing the state shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 34, when the pressing of the weight 202 by the stirring member 205 is released, the end portion on the side where the weight 202 which is a free end is provided is opposite to the opposite side due to the bending energy stored in the vibration plate 201. Move to bend. In the state shown in FIG. 34 and FIG. 35, the diaphragm 201 is in a state of being away from the magnetic flux sensor 210 that is opposed to the sub hopper 200 through the housing. Thereafter, the vibration plate 201 vibrates to return to the steady state by damping the vibration while repeating the state closer to the magnetic flux sensor 210 than the steady state and the state away from the steady state.

  FIG. 36 is a diagram schematically showing the state of toner held in the sub hopper 200 with dots. As shown in FIG. 36, when toner is present inside the sub hopper 200, the vibration plate 201 and the weight 202 come into contact with the toner while vibrating. Therefore, the vibration of the diaphragm 201 is attenuated faster than when no toner is present in the sub hopper 200. The remaining amount of toner in the sub hopper 200 can be detected based on the change in vibration attenuation.

FIG. 37 is a diagram illustrating a change in the count value of the oscillation signal of the magnetic flux sensor 210 every predetermined period after the weight 202 is bounced by the stirring member 205 until the vibration of the diaphragm 201 is attenuated and the vibration stops. is there. The count value of the oscillation signal of the magnetic flux sensor 210 increases as the oscillation frequency increases. Therefore, the vertical axis in FIG. 37 can be replaced with the oscillation frequency instead of the count value. As shown in FIG. 37, when the stirring member 205 comes into contact with the weight 202 and pushes in the weight 202 at timing t ₁ , the diaphragm 201 approaches the magnetic flux sensor 210. As a result, the oscillation frequency of the magnetic flux sensor 210 increases and the count value for each predetermined period increases. Then, the release pressing of the weight 202 by a stirring member 205 at the timing t _2, since the diaphragm 201 is vibrated by the vibration energy stored. When the vibration plate 201 vibrates, a state where the distance between the vibration plate 201 and the magnetic flux sensor 210 is wider and narrower is repeated centering on a steady state. As a result, the frequency of the oscillation signal of the magnetic flux sensor 210 vibrates with the vibration of the diaphragm 201, and the count value for each predetermined period also vibrates in the same manner.

The amplitude of vibration of the diaphragm 201 becomes narrower as the vibration energy is consumed. That is, the vibration of the diaphragm 201 attenuates with time. For this reason, the change in the distance between the vibration plate 201 and the magnetic flux sensor 210 also decreases with time, and the time change in the count value also changes as shown in FIG. Here, as described above, the vibration of the vibration plate 201 is attenuated earlier as the amount of remaining toner in the sub hopper 200 increases. Therefore, by analyzing how the vibration of the oscillation signal of the magnetic flux sensor 210 as shown in FIG. 37 is analyzed, it is recognized how the vibration of the diaphragm 201 has been attenuated, and thereby the remaining amount of toner in the sub hopper 200. Can know. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 37, assuming that the vibration of the count value is P ₁ , P ₂ , P ₃ , P ₄ ,... The rate ζ can be determined. By referring to the ratio of peak values with different timings as shown in Equation 2, it is possible to cancel an error due to environmental fluctuations and obtain an accurate attenuation rate. In other words, the CPU 221 according to the present embodiment obtains the attenuation rate ζ based on the ratio of the count values acquired at different timings.

In the above formula 2, P ₁ , P ₂ and P ₅ , P ₆ are used among the peaks shown in FIG. 37, but this is an example, and other peaks may be used. However, the peak value at timing t ₂ when the diaphragm 201 is pushed in by the stirring member 205 and is closest to the magnetic flux sensor 210 is an error or the like in which sliding noise due to friction between the stirring member 205 and the weight 202 is superimposed. Including. Therefore, it is preferable not to be a calculation target. Even if the attenuation of vibration is accelerated by the presence of toner inside the sub hopper 200 as shown in FIG. 36, the vibration frequency of the vibration plate 201 does not change greatly. Therefore, by calculating the ratio of the amplitude of a specific peak as shown in the above formula 2, it is possible to calculate the attenuation of the amplitude in a predetermined period.

Next, the operation of detecting the remaining amount of toner in the sub hopper 200 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The operation of the flowchart shown in FIG. 38 is the operation of the CPU 221 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 38, the CPU 221 first detects that the weight 202 is pushed in by the stirring member 205 as shown in FIG. 32 and vibration is generated (S2201). As described above, the CPU 221 acquires the count value of the output signal of the magnetic flux sensor 210 from the count value output unit 233 every predetermined period. This count value is C ₀ as shown in FIG. 37 in the steady state. In contrast, when the weight 202 is pushed in as shown in FIG. 32, the count value increases as the diaphragm 201 approaches the magnetic flux sensor 210. Accordingly, the CPU 221 detects that vibration has occurred in S2201 when the count value acquired from the count value output unit 233 exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

  Regardless of the time before and after S2201, the CPU 221 continues to acquire the count value every predetermined period as a normal process. Then, after S2201, the CPU 221 acquires the peak value of the vibration of the count value corresponding to the vibration of the diaphragm 201 as shown in FIG. 37 (S2202). In 2202, the CPU 221 identifies the peak value by continuously analyzing the count value acquired every predetermined period.

FIG. 39 is a diagram showing an analysis mode of the count value. Regarding the count value acquired every predetermined period, in addition to the “number n” and “count value S _n ” of each count value, The difference code “S _n−1 −S _n ” is shown in the order of acquisition. In the result as shown in FIG. 39, the value immediately before the sign of “S _n−1 −S _n ” is inverted is the peak value. In the case of FIG. 39, No. 5 and No. 10 are adopted as peak values. That is, the CPU 221 calculates “S _n−1 −S _n ” shown in FIG. 39 for the count values acquired in order after S 2201. Then, “count value S _n ” at the timing when the sign obtained as a calculation result is inverted is adopted as a peak value such as P ₁ , P ₂ , P ₃ ... Shown in FIG. As described above, the value at the timing t ₂ is preferably avoided. The value of the timing _{t 2} is the first peak after S2201. Therefore, the CPU 221 discards the first value among the peak values extracted by performing the analysis as shown in FIG.

The actually obtained count value may contain high-frequency component noise, and the timing at which the sign of “S _n−1 −S _n ” is reversed at a position that is not a peak due to vibration of the diaphragm 201. May occur. In order to avoid erroneous detection in such a case, the CPU 221 preferably performs the analysis shown in FIG. 39 after smoothing the value acquired from the count value output unit 233. In the smoothing process, a general process such as a moving average method can be employed.

When the peak value is acquired in this way, the CPU 221 calculates the attenuation rate ζ by the calculation of the above formula 2 (S2203). For this reason, in S2202, the count value is analyzed in the manner shown in FIG. 39 until the peak value used for calculating the attenuation rate is obtained. When using the number 2, CPU 221 analyzes the count value to a peak value corresponding to P ₆ is obtained. When the attenuation rate ζ is calculated in this way, the CPU 221 determines whether or not the calculated attenuation rate ζ is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold (S2204). That is, the CPU 221 determines that the toner in the sub hopper 200 has fallen below a predetermined amount based on the magnitude relationship between the ratio of the count values acquired at different timings and the predetermined threshold value. As described with reference to FIG. 36, when sufficient toner remains in the sub hopper 200, the vibration of the diaphragm 201 is quickly attenuated. Therefore, the attenuation rate ζ becomes small. On the other hand, when the toner in the sub hopper 200 decreases, the vibration of the vibration plate 201 is attenuated accordingly, and the attenuation factor ζ increases. Therefore, by setting the attenuation rate ζ _S corresponding to the remaining amount of toner to be detected as a threshold value, the remaining amount of toner in the sub hopper 200 to be detected (hereinafter referred to as “specified” based on the calculated attenuation rate ζ). It is possible to determine that the amount has decreased to “amount”.

  The remaining amount of toner in the sub hopper 200 does not directly affect the vibration attenuation mode of the vibration plate 201, but the contact state of the toner with respect to the vibration plate 201 changes according to the remaining amount of toner. The vibration damping mode is determined. Therefore, even if the remaining amount of toner in the sub hopper 200 is the same, if the toner contact mode with respect to the vibration plate 201 is different, the attenuation mode of the vibration plate 201 will be different. On the other hand, when detecting the remaining amount of toner in the sub hopper 200 according to the present embodiment, the toner in the sub hopper 200 is always stirred by the stirring member 205. Therefore, the contact state of the toner with respect to the vibration plate 201 can be determined to some extent according to the remaining amount of toner. Thereby, even if the remaining amount of toner is the same amount, it is possible to avoid the adverse effect that the detection result differs due to the difference in the toner contact mode with respect to the vibration plate 201.

  If the calculated attenuation rate ζ is less than the threshold value as a result of the determination in S2204 (S2204 / NO), the CPU 221 determines that a sufficient amount of toner is held in the sub hopper 200 and ends the process as it is. . On the other hand, if the calculated attenuation rate ζ is equal to or greater than the threshold (S2204 / YES), the CPU 221 determines that the amount of toner in the sub hopper 200 is below the specified amount, detects toner out, and ends the processing ( S2205). The CPU 221 that has detected that the toner has run out in the process of S2205 outputs a signal indicating that the remaining amount of toner has fallen below the specified amount to a higher-order controller that controls the image forming apparatus 100. Accordingly, the controller of the image forming apparatus 100 can recognize that the specific color is out of toner and supply toner from the toner bottle 33.

Next, the relationship among the frequency of the oscillation signal of the magnetic flux sensor 210 according to the present embodiment, the acquisition period of the count value by the CPU 221 (hereinafter referred to as “sampling period”), and the natural frequency of the diaphragm 201 will be described. FIG. 40 is a diagram illustrating sampled count values for vibrations in one period of the vibration plate 201. In FIG. 40, the vibration period of the diaphragm 201 is T _plate and the sampling period is T _sample .

In order to calculate the attenuation factor ζ of the diaphragm 201 with high accuracy according to the mode described with reference to FIGS. 37 to 39, it is necessary to acquire the peak value of vibration of the diaphragm 201 with high accuracy. For this purpose, the number of samples having a sufficient count value for T _plate is necessary, and therefore, T _sample needs to be sufficiently small for T _plate . In the example of FIG. 40, the number of samples of the count value is 10 for one cycle of T _plate . That is, T _sample is 1/10 of T _plate . According to the aspect of FIG. 40, sampling is always performed within the period of T _{peak in} the figure, and the peak value can be acquired with high accuracy.

Therefore, if the sampling period T _{sample of the} CPU 221 is 1 [ms], the vibration period T _plate of the diaphragm 201 is preferably 10 [ms] or more. In other words, with respect to the sampling frequency of 1000 [Hz] of the CPU 221, the natural frequency of the diaphragm 201 is preferably about 100 [Hz], more preferably less than that. Such a natural frequency of the diaphragm 201 is realized by adjusting the material of the diaphragm 201, the dimensions including the thickness of the diaphragm 201, and the weight of the weight 202. On the other hand, if the value of the count value sampled at each sampling period is too small, the change in the count value for each sample according to the vibration of the diaphragm 201 becomes small, and the attenuation rate ζ cannot be calculated accurately. Here, the value of the count value to be sampled is a value according to the oscillation frequency of the magnetic flux sensor 210.

Generally, the oscillation frequency of the magnetic flux sensor 210 is on the order of several [MHz]. When sampling is performed at a sampling frequency of 1000 [Hz], a count value of 1000 or more can be obtained at each sampling timing. Therefore, the attenuation rate ζ can be calculated with high accuracy according to the order of T _plate and T _sample as described above. However, if the amount of change in the oscillation frequency of the magnetic flux sensor 210 is not sufficient with respect to the change in the distance between the magnetic flux sensor 210 and the vibration plate 201 due to the vibration of the vibration plate 201, the count value with respect to time as shown in FIG. The amplitude of vibration becomes small. As a result, the change in the attenuation rate ζ is also reduced, and the accuracy of toner remaining amount detection due to vibration of the vibration plate 201 is also lowered.

  In order to increase the amount of change in the oscillation frequency of the magnetic flux sensor 210 with respect to the change in the distance between the magnetic flux sensor 210 and the diaphragm 201, the arrangement of the magnetic flux sensor 210 and the diaphragm 201 is based on the characteristics shown in FIG. The interval needs to be determined. For example, as shown in the section indicated by the arrow in the figure, the interval between the magnetic flux sensor 210 and the diaphragm 201 is set to the interval in which the change in the oscillation frequency with respect to the change in the interval between the magnetic flux sensor 210 and the diaphragm 201 is included in a steep range. It is preferable to determine the interval.

  FIG. 41 is a diagram illustrating an adjustment mode of the arrangement interval between the magnetic flux sensor 210 and the diaphragm 201. As shown in FIG. 41, the arrangement interval g between the magnetic flux sensor 210 and the diaphragm 201 is adjusted by fixing the thickness of the housing 200a of the sub hopper 200 to which the magnetic flux sensor 210 and the diaphragm 201 are attached, and the diaphragm 201. It is possible to adjust according to the thickness of the fixing portion 201a.

  As described above, according to the method for detecting the remaining amount of toner according to the present embodiment, the influence of the toner on the delicate event of vibration of the vibration plate 201 is detected. Also, unlike the case of directly detecting the toner pressure or the like, since the detection is performed through the vibration of the diaphragm, the remaining amount of toner in the container is increased without using a pressure sensor that is difficult to improve accuracy. It becomes possible to detect with accuracy.

  Moreover, it is a premise that the diaphragm 201 to be sensed by the magnetic flux sensor 210 used as a sensor in this embodiment is vibrating. Therefore, even if the toner adheres to the vibration plate 201, the toner attached by the vibration is shaken off, and it is possible to avoid a decrease in detection accuracy due to the adhesion of the toner. Further, no physical contact is required between the magnetic flux sensor 210 used as a sensor in the present embodiment and the diaphragm 201 that is a sensing target. Therefore, even if the magnetic flux sensor 210 is provided outside the toner container, it is not necessary to make a hole in the container case to ensure physical access. Therefore, it can be easily attached and productivity can be improved.

  Further, according to the aspect according to the present embodiment, detection of the remaining amount of toner is triggered by the fact that the vibration plate 201 is displaced by being pressed by the stirring member 205 as in S2201, and the subsequent peak value is acquired. Executed. Therefore, in the state where the vibration plate 201 is pushed in by the stirring member 205 as shown in FIG. On the other hand, in the case of detecting the pressure corresponding to the remaining amount of toner with a pressure sensor or the like, the pressure pressed by the stirring member for stirring the toner in the container and the pressure generated according to the remaining amount of toner It is difficult to distinguish and it is difficult to improve detection accuracy. According to the aspect which concerns on this embodiment, such a subject can be solved.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the diaphragm 201 that is a plate member made of a metal material is used as an object to be sensed by the magnetic flux sensor 210 has been described as an example. However, this is an example. The conditions required for the diaphragm 201 are that vibration with a predetermined frequency as described in FIG. 40 occurs, the magnetic flux is affected according to the change in the distance from the magnetic flux sensor 210, and the oscillation signal of the magnetic flux sensor 210 is It affects the frequency.

  In the above embodiment, a metal material that cancels the magnetic flux and decreases the inductance L as it approaches the magnetic flux sensor 210 is used. Conversely, a ferromagnetic material that increases the magnetic flux and increases the inductance L as it approaches the magnetic flux sensor 210. The material may be used. In the above embodiment, the vibration plate 201 that is a plate-like member is the sensing target of the magnetic flux sensor 210 from the viewpoint of affecting the magnetic flux generated by the planar pattern coil 211 of the magnetic flux sensor 210 and from the viewpoint of the natural frequency. However, this is only an example, and as long as the condition that it vibrates and affects the magnetic flux is satisfied, it is not limited to a plate shape but may be a rod-shaped component. Moreover, in the said embodiment, the diaphragm 201 was formed using the material which affects magnetic flux, and the aspect which detects attenuation | damping of the vibration of the diaphragm 201 with the magnetic flux sensor 210 was demonstrated as an example. However, this is merely an example, and any mode may be used as long as the remaining amount of toner in the container is detected by the influence of the toner on the delicate event of damping the vibration of the plate-like member.

  Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to the aspect in which the magnetic flux sensor 210 is provided and the diaphragm 201 is formed of a material that affects the magnetic flux, and the same effect as described above is provided by providing a function of detecting vibration of the diaphragm 201 provided in the container. It is possible to obtain As such a mode, for example, a mode in which a sensor for directly detecting the vibration is provided at a position where the vibration of the diaphragm 201 is transmitted can be considered. As a position where the sensor is provided, for example, a fixing portion 201a, a weight 202, or the like can be considered.

  Further, the above-mentioned specified amount can be adjusted by the arrangement of the diaphragm 201 and the magnetic flux sensor 210 in the sub hopper 200. 42 and 43 are diagrams showing the relationship between the arrangement and the prescribed amount of the diaphragm 201 and the magnetic flux sensor 210 in the sub hopper 200. FIG. In the case of FIG. 42, when the height of the toner held inside the sub hopper 200 becomes lower than the height of the broken line A shown in the figure, the toner does not contact the vibration plate 201. Accordingly, it is detected that the remaining amount of toner is below the specified amount in the vicinity of the height of the broken line A in the drawing. On the other hand, in the case of FIG. 43, the arrangement height of the diaphragm 201 and the magnetic flux sensor 210 is lower than that of FIG. Then, when the height of the toner held inside the sub hopper 200 becomes lower than the height of the broken line B shown in the drawing, the toner does not contact the vibration plate 201. Therefore, in the vicinity of the height of the broken line B in the figure, it is detected that the remaining amount of toner is below the specified amount.

  In this way, the mode in which the specified amount is adjusted by the arrangement of the vibration plate 201 and the magnetic flux sensor 210 can be used, for example, to adjust the supply state of the CMYK color toners. For example, for CMYK frequently used colors, the diaphragm 201 and the magnetic flux sensor 210 are arranged relatively high as shown in FIG. On the other hand, for colors that are used infrequently, the diaphragm 201 and the magnetic flux sensor 210 are arranged relatively low as shown in FIG. Such adjustment makes it possible to efficiently supply toner according to the frequency of use.

  Next, the operation timing of the toner replenishing device 60 will be described. When the toner in the developing device 7 is consumed by the printing operation, the toner replenishing device 60 is driven to supplement the toner, and the developing device 7 is replenished with toner from the sub hopper 200. When the toner is supplied to the developing device 7 and the toner in the sub hopper 200 is consumed in this way, the control unit 90 determines the presence or absence of toner in the sub hopper 200 based on the detection result of the magnetic flux sensor 210. When the control unit 90 determines that “no toner”, the first drive motor 182 a is driven to convey the toner from the toner container 32 to the sub hopper 200. On the other hand, when the control unit 90 determines that “toner is present”, the first drive motor 182a is not driven, and the toner is not conveyed from the toner container 32 to the sub hopper 200.

  When the stirring member 205 of the sub hopper 200 is rotated around the magnetic flux sensor 210, the vibration plate 201 vibrates to detect the presence or absence of toner. In the present embodiment, the agitating member 205 is driven so as to be able to rotate at a cycle of 145 [ms] or less as the rotation shaft 204 rotates. The toner in the sub hopper 200 consumes the toner for image formation (printing) by the developing device 7 and when it is determined that the toner in the developing device 7 is insufficient, the necessary amount of toner is supplied from the sub hopper 200 to the developing device 7. To supply.

  When the toner replenishing operation is performed on the developing device 7 by the toner replenishing device 60, the printing operation is performed while calculating how much toner is left in the toner bottle 33 by using the number of sheets to be passed and the pixel count. When the amount of toner in the toner bottle 33 obtained by the calculation becomes equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value, it is estimated that the printing operation is possible but the remaining amount of toner is low. Such a state is defined as “estimated near end” in the present embodiment. At this estimated near end, the remaining amount of toner in the toner bottle 33 is low, and the user is notified through the display unit of the image forming apparatus that a new toner bottle 33 should be prepared.

  When the toner in the toner bottle 33 is actually used up and a small amount of toner remains in the sub hopper 200, the printing operation is possible, but the toner bottle 33 needs to be replaced with a new one. In this embodiment, such a state is defined as “determined near end”. At this determined near end, the user is notified through the display unit of the image forming apparatus that there is no toner in the toner bottle 33 and the toner bottle 33 needs to be replaced.

  When the printing operation is performed without replacing the toner bottle 33 from the confirmed near end, and the toner replenishing operation is performed from the sub hopper 200 to the developing device 7 by the toner replenishing device 60, the toner in the sub hopper 200 is also used up. If the printing operation is performed in this state, toner cannot be replenished from the sub hopper 200 to the developing device 7, so that the amount of toner in the developing device 7 becomes too small, and the developed image becomes thinner than the target image density. End up. Therefore, the toner consumption amount of the developing device 7 by the printing operation from the fixed near end is obtained by calculation based on the number of sheets and the pixel count, and the printing operation cannot be performed when the obtained toner consumption amount exceeds a predetermined threshold value. . In this embodiment, such a state is defined as “toner end”. At this toner end, a notification to replace the toner bottle 33 is given to the user through the display unit of the image forming apparatus.

  The fixed near-end operation is described below. When the printing operation is started and toner is consumed from the developing device 7 by image formation, the toner amount necessary for the developing device 7 is calculated from the number of sheets to be passed, the pixel count, and the like. 7 is supplied. At this time, the toner replenishing motor that rotationally drives the rotating shaft 204 provided with the stirring member 205 is driven in a range of 0.1 to 0.21 [s] according to a necessary toner replenishing amount to the developing device 7, and the sub hopper The stirring member 205 in 200 is driven once at 180 ± 20 [ms] or more. Thus, the stirring member 205 is driven once, so that the presence or absence of toner in the sub hopper 200 can be detected by the magnetic flux sensor 210 without fail.

  In the present embodiment, when the sub hopper 200 is driven once, toner presence / absence detection is performed twice during the driving of the sub hopper 200 and immediately after the driving of the sub hopper 200. When the toner presence / absence detection result indicates that there is no toner, the toner bottle 33 is driven for 2 [s]. In the present embodiment, this is defined as “recovery filling operation”. Note that, when toner is supplied from the toner bottle 33 to the sub hopper 200 at times other than the fixed near end, the toner bottle 33 is driven for 0.9 [s]. On the other hand, when there is toner, the toner bottle 33 is not driven. In this embodiment, the toner supply capability from the toner bottle 33 to the sub hopper 200 is set larger than the toner supply capability from the sub hopper 200 to the developing device 7.

  When the toner presence detection is continued four times (for the sub hopper driven twice), it is determined that the recovery filling operation has been properly performed, and is completed. This is based on the assumption that the magnetic flux sensor 210 erroneously detects the presence of toner. If the presence of toner is detected four times, it is determined that the presence of toner is correct.

  FIG. 44 is a timing chart when there is a false detection in the presence of toner detection. The toner presence count is updated once during driving of the toner replenishing motor and once after the toner replenishing motor is turned off. As indicated by a square frame in the main body detection output chart of FIG. 44, since the presence of toner is detected while the first toner replenishing motor is being driven and after being turned off, the presence of toner is detected twice consecutively. However, since the absence of toner is detected during the driving of the next toner replenishing motor and after it is turned off, the presence of toner continues only twice in the timing chart of FIG. In this way, if the presence of toner continues only three times or less, it is determined that the detection of presence of toner is due to erroneous detection, and the absence of toner is determined to be correct. When the result of detection of the presence / absence of toner in the sub hopper 200 by the magnetic flux sensor 210 is determined that no toner is continuously present and the toner in the sub hopper 200 has run out, the replacement display of the toner bottle 33 and the printing become impossible and the toner end state It becomes.

  For example, the following three types of user actions during the fixed near-end are conceivable.

  FIG. 1 is a timing chart when the user replaces a new toner bottle 33 containing toner and the recovery filling operation ends normally. As a first operation by the user during the confirmed near end, there is a case where after the user is informed that the toner bottle 33 needs to be replaced at the confirmed near end, the user is replaced with a new toner bottle 33 containing toner. Conceivable. In this case, the image forming apparatus detects that the toner bottle 33 has been replaced by a communication tag 35 disposed on the toner bottle 33. Thereafter, as described above, the sub hopper 200 and the toner bottle 33 are driven by the printing operation. In the middle of this, the recovery filling operation is completed when the detection result of the presence or absence of toner in the sub hopper 200 by the magnetic flux sensor 210 is detected four times. If it is determined that the recovery and filling operation is not completed even if the toner bottle 33 is driven for a cumulative 40 [s] or more after replacement of the toner bottle 33 and there is no toner in the sub hopper 200 due to some trouble. It becomes the state of. As indicated by the square frame in the main body detection output chart of FIG. 1, since the presence of toner is detected after the toner bottle motor is turned off and during the first toner supply motor driving and after it is turned off, the presence of toner is detected twice consecutively. doing. Then, the presence of toner is detected twice consecutively while the next toner replenishing motor is being driven and after it is turned off. Therefore, in the timing chart of FIG. 1, since the presence of toner is detected four times, it is determined that the presence of toner is correct, and the recovery filling operation is completed.

  The toner bottle 33 is driven when the main body detection output is “no toner”. Further, the toner count is updated once during driving of the toner replenishing motor and once after the toner replenishing motor is turned off. The magnetic flux sensor output updates the detection result when the diaphragm 201 is bounced. Further, the control unit 90 of the apparatus main body looks at the magnetic flux sensor output every 200 [ms]. If the magnetic flux sensor output is “no toner” at least eight times out of the last ten times, the main body detection output is “ It is determined that there is no toner.

  FIG. 45 is a timing chart when the toner bottle 33 is used without being replaced (including resetting of the toner bottle 33). As a second operation by the user during the confirmed near end, there is a case where the toner bottle 33 is used without being replaced even after the user is informed that the toner bottle 33 needs to be replaced at the confirmed near end. In this case, toner is not supplied from the toner bottle 33 into the sub hopper 200, and the result of detecting the presence / absence of toner in the sub hopper 200 by the magnetic flux sensor 210 indicates that there is no toner at any timing as shown by the square frame shown in FIG. Continue. For this reason, the toner bottle 33 has been replaced, but the presence of toner has not been detected four times in succession. After the toner bottle has been replaced, the recovery and filling operation has not been completed even if the toner bottle 33 is driven for a cumulative 40 [s] or more. The toner end state is entered.

  FIG. 46 is a timing chart when the user replaces the toner bottle 33 containing almost no toner and the toner slightly enters the sub hopper 200. As a third operation by the user during the confirmed near end, when the user is informed that the toner bottle 33 needs to be replaced at the confirmed near end, the user replaces the toner bottle 33 with almost no toner. Can be considered. In this case, when the sub hopper 200 and the toner bottle 33 are driven by the printing operation, the toner slightly enters the sub hopper 200, and 2 as shown by the square frame in the main body detection output chart of FIG. The presence of toner is detected continuously. However, after that, toner is not supplied from the toner bottle 33 into the sub hopper 200, and the result of detecting the presence / absence of toner in the sub hopper 200 by the magnetic flux sensor 210 continues as no toner as shown by the square frame in the chart of the main body detection output. . For this reason, the toner bottle 33 has been replaced, but the presence of toner has not been detected four times in succession. After the toner bottle has been replaced, the recovery and filling operation has not been completed even if the toner bottle 33 is driven for a cumulative 40 [s] or more. The toner end state is entered.

  During the determined near-end, the recovery filling operation is performed in response to the printing operation, so that the user can perform the printing operation without waiting for the filling operation. If the toner end has been reached, printing is not possible, and printing cannot be started until the sub hopper 200 has been filled with toner, and the user must wait for the recovery filling operation to be completed. It can cause dissatisfaction. Although the operation of the recovery filling operation may be applied to the filling operation after the toner end, there is a case where the toner in the developing device 7 is insufficient due to the absence of toner in the sub hopper 200, which may cause a decrease in image density. .

  FIG. 47 shows an example of the control flow during the fixed near end. First, when the determined near end is reached (S1), the toner bottle driving time SP value is set to 0 (S2). Next, the toner presence count is set to 0 (S3). Then, it is determined whether the toner replenishment motor is driven (S4). If the toner supply motor is not driven (No in S4), the same determination is repeated until the toner supply motor is driven. On the other hand, if the toner supply motor is driven (Yes in S4), it is determined whether the magnetic flux sensor 210 detects the presence of toner (S5). If the presence of toner is detected by the magnetic flux sensor 210 (Yes in S5), the toner presence count is incremented by 1 (S6), and it is determined whether the toner presence count is 4 or more (S7). If the toner presence count is 4 or more (Yes in S7), it is determined that the confirmed near-end recovery has succeeded (S8), and the operation flow during the confirmed near-end is terminated. On the other hand, if the toner presence count is less than 4 (No in S7), the process returns to the process of S4 described above, and the same process as described above is performed.

  If the presence of toner is not detected by the magnetic flux sensor 210 in the process of S5 described above, in other words, the absence of toner is detected (No in S5), the toner presence count is set to 0 (S9). Then, it is determined whether the toner bottle 33 is being driven (S10). If the toner bottle 33 is not being driven (No in S10), the toner bottle 33 is driven (S11), the toner bottle driving time SP value is set to 0, and then the toner bottle driving time SP value is added (S12). ). Next, it is determined whether or not the user needs to replace the toner bottle 33 through the display unit of the image forming apparatus (determined near-end toner replacement flag = 1) (S13). If it is informed that the toner bottle 33 needs to be replaced (Yes in S13), it is determined whether the filling time count is 40000 [ms] or more (S14). If the filling time count is 40000 [ms] or more (Yes in S14), it is determined whether the toner end is determined by the toner end determination based on the number of sheets to be passed and the pixel count (S15). If it is determined that the toner end has been reached (Yes in S15), the process moves to the toner end (S16), and the operation flow during the determined near end is terminated.

  If the toner bottle 33 is being driven in the process of S10 described above, it is determined whether the user has been informed that the toner bottle 33 needs to be replaced (determined near-end toner replacement flag = 1) (S13). Thereafter, the same processing as described above is performed. If it is not notified in the above-described processing of S13 that the toner bottle 33 needs to be replaced (No in S13), it is determined that the toner end is determined by the toner end determination based on the number of sheets to be passed and the pixel count. (S15), and then the same processing as described above is performed. If the filling time count is less than 40000 [ms] in the process of S14 described above (No in S14), the process returns to the process of S4 described above and the same process as described above is performed. If it is not determined that the toner end has occurred in the process of S15 described above (No in S15), the process returns to the process of S4 described above, and the same process as described above is performed.

  As a method for detecting the toner amount in the sub hopper 200, the toner amount may be detected from the driving torque of a driving motor that rotationally drives the stirring member. In other words, the smaller the amount of toner in the sub hopper 200, the smaller the drive torque of the drive motor necessary to drive the stirring member to rotate. Therefore, for example, when the drive torque of the drive motor is higher than a predetermined value, it is detected that there is toner in the sub hopper 200, and when it is lower than the predetermined value, it is detected that there is no toner in the sub hopper 200. Good.

What was demonstrated above is an example, and there exists an effect peculiar for every following aspect.
(Aspect A)
A powder container such as a toner bottle 33 that stores powder such as toner, a powder reservoir such as a sub hopper 200 that temporarily stores powder supplied from the powder container, and the powder container Powder supply means for supplying powder from the container to the powder storage unit, and powder such as a stirring member 205 that is rotatably provided in the powder storage unit and stirs and conveys the powder in the powder storage unit An agitation conveyance member, a powder agitation conveyance member driving means for rotating the powder agitation conveyance member, and a powder amount detection means such as a magnetic flux sensor 210 for detecting the amount of powder in the powder reservoir. In the powder replenishing device such as the toner replenishing device 60 for performing the powder replenishing operation for replenishing the powder from the powder reservoir to the powder replenishing target by rotating the powder agitating and conveying member, The body weight detecting means is the powder agitating and conveying Using information on the amount of powder in the powder storage unit obtained with the rotation of the material, the amount of powder in the powder storage unit is detected, triggered by the powder replenishment operation, It has control means such as a control unit 90 for controlling the powder supply means so as to carry out a powder supply operation for supplying powder from the powder container to the powder reservoir.
In (Aspect A), the powder agitating and conveying member is driven to rotate, and the powder replenishment operation of replenishing the powder from the powder reservoir to the powder replenishment target for which the powder has been consumed is an opportunity. The powder supply operation from the powder container to the powder reservoir is performed by the body supply means. As a result, the amount of powder in the powder storage unit to which powder has been supplied in the powder supply operation is detected from the powder storage unit to the powder supply target that consumes the powder and needs to be replenished. This can be performed during the powder supply operation. Further, from the information regarding the amount of powder in the powder storage unit obtained by the rotational drive of the powder agitating and conveying member in the powder replenishment operation, the powder in the powder storage unit to which the powder has been supplied in the powder supply operation is obtained. It becomes possible to detect the body weight. Therefore, while suppressing unnecessary powder replenishment to the powder replenishment target, the amount of powder in the powder storage unit is detected by the powder amount detection means, and the desired amount of powder in the powder storage unit is obtained. Thus, the powder supply operation from the powder container to the powder reservoir can be performed.
(Aspect B)
In (Aspect A), it has a notifying means for notifying a user of predetermined information, and the notifying means is configured to determine the amount of powder in the powder storing unit based on the detection result of the powder amount detecting means. Is notified to urge the replacement of the powder container, and the powder supply means performs the powder supply operation in response to the powder replenishment operation after the notification. carry out. According to this, as described in the above embodiment, the recovery filling operation of the powder reservoir can be performed without sending excessive powder to the powder replenishment target.
(Aspect C)
In (Aspect A) or (Aspect B), the operation time per operation of the powder replenishment operation is a time equal to or longer than one rotation cycle of the powder agitating and conveying member. According to this, as described in the above embodiment, the powder amount can be detected by the powder amount detection means whenever the powder stirring and conveying member is operated.
(Aspect D)
In any one of (Aspect A) to (Aspect C), the driving time per one time of the powder supply means is fixed. According to this, as described in the above embodiment, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of powder clogging due to an excessive amount of powder transport from the powder container to the powder reservoir.
(Aspect E)
In any one of (Aspect A) to (Aspect D), it has powder storage container replacement detection means for detecting that the powder storage container has been replaced, and the powder storage container replacement detection means After detecting that the powder container has been replaced, if the powder supply operation from the powder container to the powder reservoir is not performed for a certain period of time, it is determined that the powder container is empty. The notification means does not notify. According to this, as described in the above embodiment, it is possible to suppress notification that the powder container is empty, even though the powder container has been replaced. Further, when the powder container is replaced with a powder container that hardly contains powder, the slightly remaining powder can be sent to the powder reservoir.
(Aspect F)
In any one of (Aspect A) to (Aspect E), the condition for determining that a predetermined amount or more of powder has been filled from the powder container into the powder reservoir is that the powder replenishing operation is not The detection result of the powder amount detection means when it is performed more than once is based on the result that all the detected detection results are present in the powder storage unit with the predetermined amount or more of powder. According to this, as described in the above-described embodiment, even if the powder amount detection means temporarily detects erroneously, it is possible to suppress reporting erroneous information to the user.
(Aspect G)
In any one of (Aspect A) to (Aspect F), the powder amount detection means includes a vibration member provided in the powder storage section so as to vibrate, a vibration applying means for vibrating the vibration member, Vibration detecting means for detecting the vibration state of the vibration member, and detecting the amount of powder stored in the powder storage section based on the detection result of the vibration detecting means, and applying the vibration The means is the powder agitating / conveying member, and is provided so as to be rotatable about a rotation shaft. By vibrating the vibrating member, the vibrating member is repeatedly elastically deformed and restored to vibrate the vibrating member. Is. According to this, as described in the above embodiment, the detection accuracy of the powder amount can be improved.
(Aspect H)
In (Aspect G), the vibration detection unit includes an oscillation unit that outputs a signal having a frequency corresponding to a state of magnetic flux passing through the facing space, and the vibration member constitutes the powder storage unit. It is formed of a material that opposes the oscillating unit via a casing and vibrates in a direction facing the oscillating unit and affects magnetic flux. The powder amount detection unit is configured to detect an oscillation signal of the oscillating unit. Based on the detection result of the vibration state of the vibration member detected based on the change of the frequency related information that is acquired according to the vibration of the vibration member, the frequency related information on the frequency is acquired at a predetermined cycle. The amount of powder in the body reservoir is detected. According to this, as described in the above embodiment, the detection accuracy can be improved as compared with the case where the amount of powder is detected by a pressure sensor or the like.
(Aspect I)
An image carrier, a developing unit that develops a latent image on the image carrier using a developer, a developer container that contains a developer used in the developing unit, and development in the developer container In the image forming apparatus provided with the developer supply means for supplying the developer to the developing means, the powder supply device according to any one of (Aspect A) to (Aspect H) is used as the developer supply means. . According to this, as described in the above embodiment, it is possible to suppress the image density from becoming too high.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Process unit 2 Photoconductor unit 3 Photoconductor 4 Drum cleaning apparatus 5 Charging apparatus 6 Charging roller 7 Developing apparatus 8 First developer conveyance screw 9 First agent storage chamber 10 Toner density sensor 11 Second developer conveyance screw 12 Developing roll 13 Doctor blade 14 Second agent storage chamber 15 Developing sleeve 16 Magnet roller 17 Toner supply port 18 Communication port 19 Communication port 20 Optical writing unit 21 Polygon mirror 22 First paper feed cassette 22a First paper feed roller 23 Second paper feed Cassette 23a Second paper feed roller 24 Paper feed path 25 Transport roller pair 26 Registration roller pair 32 Toner container 33 Toner bottle 34 Container tip cover 34b Color incompatible rib 35 Communication tag 40 Transfer unit 41 Intermediate transfer belt 45 Primary transfer roller 46 Secondary transfer bag Cup roller 47 Drive roller 49 Tension roller 50 Secondary transfer roller 60 Toner replenishing device 64 Toner drop conveying path 65 Oscillating member 70 Container mounting portion 71 Insert port forming portion 72 Container receiving portion 73 Tip receiving portion 80 Fixing device 81 Pressurization Heating roller 82 Fixing belt unit 83 Heating roller 84 Fixing belt 85 Tension roller 86 Driving roller 87 Paper discharge roller pair 88 Stacking unit 90 Control unit 100 Image forming apparatus 112 Developer 117 Toner bottle 119 Sub hopper supply path 120 Toner bottle supply path 180 Drive Mechanism 181a Container side drive mechanism 181b Sub hopper side drive mechanism 182a First drive motor 182b Second drive motor 200 Sub hopper 200a Housing 201 Diaphragm 201a Fixing part 202 Weight 203 Inserting part 20 4 Rotating shaft 205 Agitating and conveying member 205b Round portion 210 Magnetic flux sensor 211 Planar pattern coil 212 Pattern resistor 213 First capacitor 214 Second capacitor 215 Feedback resistor 216 Unbuffered IC
217 Unbuffer IC
218 Output terminal 220 Controller 221 CPU
222 ASIC
223 Timer 224 Crystal oscillation circuit 230 Input / output control ASIC
231 Permeability counter 232 Read signal acquisition unit 233 Count value output unit 301 Container rotation gear 302 Spiral protrusion 303 Handle part 304 Pumping part 305 Tip opening forming part 330 Nozzle receiving member 331 Nozzle receiving member 332 Container shutter member 333 Container seal member 335b Shutter support opening 336 Container shutter spring 339 Lock opening 601 Container drive output gear 602 Frame 603 Drive motor 603a Worm gear 604 Drive transmission gear 605 Transport screw gear 607 Nozzle holder 608 Set cover 609 Container lock member 610 Nozzle opening 611 Transfer nozzle 611a Nozzle Front end portion 612 Nozzle shutter member 612a Nozzle shutter collar 612b Nozzle shutter cylindrical portion 613 Nozzle shutter spring 614 Feed screw 615 container setting section 700 ID chip

JP 2014-174530 A

Claims (9)

A powder container for containing powder; and
A powder reservoir for temporarily storing the powder supplied from the powder container;
Powder supply means for supplying powder from the powder container to the powder reservoir;
A powder agitating and conveying member that is rotatably provided in the powder reservoir and agitates and conveys the powder in the powder reservoir;
Powder agitating and conveying member driving means for rotationally driving the powder agitating and conveying member;
Powder amount detection means for detecting the amount of powder in the powder storage unit,
In the powder replenishing apparatus that rotates the powder agitating and conveying member and performs a powder replenishing operation for replenishing powder from the powder reservoir to a powder replenishment target,
The powder amount detection means detects the amount of powder in the powder storage unit using information on the amount of powder in the powder storage unit obtained along with the rotation of the powder stirring and conveying member. Yes,
Having a control means for controlling the powder supply means so as to carry out a powder supply operation for supplying powder from the powder container to the powder storage section in response to the powder supply operation; A powder replenishing device. The powder supply device according to claim 1,
Having notification means for notifying the user of predetermined information;
The notifying means issues a notification for urging replacement of the powder container when the amount of powder in the powder storage unit is less than a predetermined amount based on the detection result of the powder amount detecting means. The powder replenishing apparatus is characterized in that the powder supplying means performs the powder supplying operation in response to the powder replenishing operation after the notification. The powder supply device according to claim 1 or 2,
An operation time per operation of the powder replenishing operation is a time equal to or longer than one rotation period of the powder agitating / conveying member. In the powder supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A powder replenishing device, wherein a driving time per one time of the powder supplying means is fixed. In the powder supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
It has a powder container replacement detection means for detecting that the powder container has been replaced,
After detecting that the powder container has been replaced by the powder container replacement detection means, if the powder supply operation from the powder container to the powder reservoir is not performed for a certain time, the powder The powder replenishing device, wherein the notification means does not notify that the body container is empty. The powder supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The condition for determining that a predetermined amount or more of powder has been filled from the powder container into the powder reservoir is that the powder amount detection means when the powder replenishment operation is performed twice or more. A powder replenishing apparatus characterized by referring to a detection result, and all the detection results referred to are based on a result that powder equal to or larger than the predetermined amount is present in the powder storage unit. The powder supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
The powder amount detection means includes a vibration member provided in the powder storage section so as to be vibrated,
Powder having vibration imparting means for vibrating the vibration member and vibration detection means for detecting a vibration state of the vibration member, and stored in the powder reservoir based on a detection result of the vibration detection means Is to detect the amount of
The vibration applying means is the powder agitating / conveying member, and is provided so as to be rotatable around a rotation shaft. By repelling the vibration member, the vibration member is repeatedly elastically deformed and restored. A powder replenishing device characterized by being made to vibrate. The powder replenishing device according to claim 7,
The vibration detecting means has an oscillating unit that outputs a signal having a frequency corresponding to a state of magnetic flux passing through an opposing space;
The vibrating member is formed of a material that opposes the oscillating unit via a casing constituting the powder storage unit, vibrates in a direction facing the oscillating unit, and affects magnetic flux,
The powder amount detection means acquires frequency-related information related to the frequency of the oscillation signal of the oscillating unit at a predetermined period, and is detected based on a change in the frequency-related information that changes according to vibration of the vibration member. A powder replenishing device that detects the amount of powder in the powder reservoir based on the detection result of the vibration state of the vibration member. An image carrier;
Developing means for developing the latent image on the image carrier using a developer;
A developer container for containing a developer used in the developing means;
An image forming apparatus comprising: a developer replenishing unit that replenishes the developing unit with the developer in the developer container;
An image forming apparatus using the powder replenishing device according to claim 1 as the developer replenishing unit.

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