JP5751120B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus such as a printer, a copier, and a FAX. More specifically, the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus using a developer containing toner and carrier.

  Conventionally, an image forming apparatus using a so-called two-component developer including a toner and a carrier consumes only the toner by image formation. Therefore, the carrier can be used repeatedly if only the toner is replenished according to the amount of toner decreased by consumption. However, the carrier deteriorates gradually with repeated use, and continuing to use the carrier with advanced deterioration causes a decrease in image quality. In contrast, by supplying a developer containing not only toner but also a new carrier, while discharging a part of the used developer containing a deteriorated carrier, the state of the carrier is kept within a certain range. There is technology.

  In an image forming apparatus using this technique, it is required to maintain the mixing ratio of the developer toner and the carrier within an appropriate range. Therefore, for example, it has been proposed to detect the magnetic permeability of the developer and appropriately control the amount of developer discharged and the amount of developer supplied based on the result (for example, Patent Document 1). , See Patent Document 2). According to Patent Document 1, the toner ratio is detected based on the change in the magnetic permeability of the developer, and the supply amount or discharge amount of the developer is controlled according to the result. According to Patent Document 2, a magnetic permeability detector is provided in the developing device to determine whether or not the developer contains an appropriate magnetic material, that is, a carrier.

JP 2006-3682 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-211962

  However, in any of the image forming apparatuses described in any of the above patent documents, it is necessary that the mixing ratio of the developer contained in the toner bottle attached by the user is known in advance. For example, if the carrier ratio of the developer contained in the toner bottle is different from that set, there is a possibility that the carrier content will change as it is used and the image quality may be adversely affected.

  Depending on the model of the image forming apparatus, there are some types in which a plurality of types of toner bottles having different mixing ratios can be attached. Such models generally use methods such as having the user input the type of toner bottle attached using a panel, etc., or providing a dedicated discrimination mechanism for discriminating the type of bottle. I came. However, such input is complicated for the user, and there is a risk of erroneous input. In addition, the provision of a dedicated discrimination mechanism has a problem that the cost of the apparatus is increased.

  The present invention has been made to solve the problems of the conventional image forming apparatus described above. That is, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that can automatically determine the type of attached toner bottle without adding a new apparatus.

  An image forming apparatus of the present invention, which has been made for the purpose of solving this problem, includes an image carrier, a latent image forming unit that forms an electrostatic latent image on the image carrier, and an electrostatic image formed by the latent image forming unit. An image forming apparatus having a developing section for supplying toner to a latent image and developing the developer, wherein the developing section contains a developer container containing a toner and a carrier, and a developer contained in the developer container A developing member that supplies the toner to the image carrier, a TC ratio detection unit that detects a TC ratio that is a ratio of toner in the developer contained in the developer container, and a part of the developer contained in the developer container A discharge member that discharges the developer from the developing container, a toner bottle mounting portion that detachably mounts a toner bottle that stores the developer to be replenished to the developing container, a replenishing member that replenishes the developer from the toner bottle to the developing container, And control of discharge by discharge members And a transport control unit for controlling replenishment by the replenishment member, and a method for forming an image after the toner bottle mounted on the toner bottle mounting unit is replaced. An image forming control unit that changes according to the type of toner bottle that is in use, and the image forming control unit prohibits driving of the discharge member and replenishes when the toner bottle mounted on the toner bottle mounting unit is replaced. The image is formed in the confirmation mode that allows the driving of the member, and the TC ratio detection unit detects the TC ratio after completion of the image formation in the confirmation mode, and the detected TC ratio is equal to or greater than the lower limit value of the predetermined normal range. In some cases, image formation is performed in the single toner bottle mode in which the driving of the discharge member is prohibited and the replenishment member is allowed to drive, and the detected TC ratio is lower than the predetermined lower limit of the normal range When have is for performing image formation of a drive of the drive and reinforcing member of the discharge member together permit mixing bottle mode.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, when the toner bottle is replaced, image formation is first performed in the confirmation mode. Since this confirmation mode is a mode for prohibiting driving of the discharge member, the developer contained in the developer container is not discharged. Further, since the driving of the supply member is allowed, the developer is supplied from the toner bottle into the developing container. Therefore, if image formation in the confirmation mode is performed to some extent, the TC ratio of the developer in the developer container changes depending on toner consumption by the image formation and supply of the developer from the toner bottle. Therefore, the type of toner bottle can be determined by obtaining the tendency of the change. That is, when the TC ratio is equal to or higher than the lower limit value of the normal range, it can be determined that the toner bottle is a single toner bottle. Further, when the TC ratio is lower than the lower limit value of the normal range, it can be determined as a mixed bottle. As a result, the image forming apparatus of the present invention can automatically determine the type of the attached toner bottle without adding a new apparatus.

Further, in the present invention, the image formation control unit is in an abnormality confirmation mode in which both the driving of the discharge member and the replenishment member are prohibited when the TC ratio detected after the confirmation mode is equal to or higher than the lower limit value of the normal range. Image formation is performed for a predetermined time, and after the image formation in the abnormality confirmation mode is completed, the TC ratio detection unit detects the TC ratio, and the detected TC ratio is higher than a predetermined abnormality threshold value higher than the upper limit value of the normal range. In this case, it is desirable to prohibit image formation and shift to the single toner bottle mode when the detected TC ratio is lower than the abnormal threshold.
In this way, it is possible to easily detect whether or not the replenishment member is abnormal.

Further, according to the present invention, the image forming control unit allows the replenishment member to be driven and the discharge member when the TC ratio detected after the completion of the abnormality confirmation mode is lower than the abnormality threshold and outside the normal range. A transition period mode in which the TC ratio detection unit repeatedly detects the TC ratio while the image formation prohibiting the driving of the image and the image forming that allows the replenishment member to be driven and allows the discharge member to be driven by dividing the time. When the detected TC ratio is within the predetermined normal range, the mode is shifted to the single toner bottle mode, and the TC ratio detected after completion of the abnormality confirmation mode is within the normal range. In this case, it is desirable to immediately shift to the single toner bottle mode.
In this way, it is possible to shift to the single toner bottle mode in a stable state.

Further, according to the present invention, the image formation control unit, when the TC ratio detected after the end of the confirmation mode is lower than the lower limit of the normal range, allows image formation that allows both the replenishment member drive and the discharge member drive, and replenishment. TC detected by performing image formation in an excessive discharge mode in which the TC ratio detection unit repeatedly detects the TC ratio while allowing the member to be driven and driving the discharge member excessively than usual. It is desirable to shift to the mixed bottle mode after the ratio is within a predetermined normal range.
In this way, it is possible to shift to the mixed bottle mode in a stable state.

Further, according to the present invention, an empty signal is sent when the amount of the developer in the sub hopper and the sub hopper that temporarily stores a part of the developer contained in the toner bottle is smaller than a predetermined amount. The replenishment member includes a toner bottle motor for conveying developer from the toner bottle to the sub hopper, and a sub hopper screw for replenishing developer from the sub hopper to the developer container. The image forming control unit continuously performs image formation in an empty mode that prohibits both the discharge member driving and the toner bottle motor driving and allows the sub hopper screw to be driven. If an empty signal is sent by the sub hopper empty detector before the end of Discontinue mode performs image formation by allowing the driving of the toner bottle motor, if empty signal is sent by the sub hopper empty detection unit also reached the end of the empty mode, it is desirable to inhibit the image formation.
In this way, it is possible to surely check whether there is an abnormality in the sub hopper empty detection unit.

Further, in the present invention, it is desirable that the image formation control unit executes the empty mode before shifting to the excessive discharge mode when the TC ratio detected after the end of the confirmation mode is lower than the lower limit value of the normal range.
In this way, it is possible to easily confirm whether or not there is an abnormality in the sub hopper empty detection unit following the processing in another mode.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to automatically determine the type of attached toner bottle without adding a new apparatus.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a main part of an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing main parts of an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating toner bottle determination processing. It is a flowchart which shows a process in case the mixing bottle is mounted | worn. It is a graph which shows the change of TC ratio when a single toner bottle is mounted | worn. It is a graph which shows the change of TC ratio when a mixing bottle is mounted | worn.

  DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the best mode for embodying the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this embodiment, the present invention is applied to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus using a two-component developer.

  A schematic configuration of a main part of the image forming apparatus 1 of the present embodiment is shown in FIG. The image forming apparatus 1 includes a photoconductor 11 and a charging unit 12, an exposure unit 13, a developing unit 14, and a transfer unit 15 arranged around the photoconductor 11. This figure further shows an eraser 17 and a cleaner 18. These members may be of any known configuration except for the developing section 14, and are not limited to the shape shown in this figure. Further, although only one photoconductor 11 is shown in this drawing, the present invention can be applied to a color printer provided with a similar configuration for each color, for example.

  The developing unit 14 in this embodiment uses a two-component developer containing toner and carrier. As shown in FIG. 1, the developing unit 14 includes four types of containers: a developing container 21, a toner bottle 22, a sub hopper 23, and a waste toner container 24. The developing container 21 is provided with a developing roller 31 and three stirring rollers 32. Further, a TCR magnetic sensor 34 for detecting the toner carrier ratio of the developer stored therein is provided at the bottom of the developing container 21.

  The toner bottle 22 contains a new developer and is a replenishing member that can be attached to and detached from the main body. In this embodiment, since the sub hopper 23 is provided, the mounting location of the toner bottle 22 is formed in the sub hopper 23. As the types of the toner bottles 22, there are a mixing bottle containing toner and a carrier at a ratio appropriate for the model of this embodiment, and a single toner bottle containing only toner. Any of these can be appropriately attached to the image forming apparatus 1.

  The image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment normally receives replenishment of a developer containing a new carrier from the toner bottle 22 and discharges a part of the used developer containing a deteriorated carrier in the developer container 21 to a waste toner container 24. The control which performs is performed. Thereby, the state of a carrier can be kept favorable. In the case of such control, a mixing bottle is recommended as the toner bottle 22 to be mounted. However, as described later, the image forming apparatus 1 can also use a single toner bottle as a temporary relief measure.

  The sub hopper 23 is supplied with a new developer when the replenishing port of the toner bottle 22 is attached, and temporarily stores the new developer. The capacity is considerably smaller than that of the toner bottle 22 and the developing container 21. The sub hopper 23 is provided with a toner empty sensor 36 which is a liquid level sensor for detecting the upper surface of the developer stored (hereinafter referred to as “liquid level” for convenience). The waste toner container 24 is a container for storing the developer discharged from the developing container 21. The developer discharged into the waste toner container 24 includes a carrier that has been used to some extent.

  Further, the developing unit 14 of the present invention has three transport members for transporting the developer from each container to the container. A toner bottle motor 41 that conveys developer from the toner bottle 22 to the sub hopper 23, a sub hopper screw 42 that conveys developer from the sub hopper 23 to the developing container 21, and a developer from the developing container 21 to the waste toner container 24 It is the discharge screw 43 which conveys. Among these, the developer is supplied from the toner bottle 22 to the developing container 21 by the toner bottle motor 41 and the sub hopper screw 42. That is, at least one of the toner bottle motor 41 and the sub hopper screw 42 corresponds to a supply member.

  FIG. 2 shows a system configuration diagram of main parts of the image forming apparatus 1 of the present embodiment. The image forming apparatus 1 has a controller CPU 51 for controlling the whole. An operation panel 52, an image processing device 53, a door sensor 54, and the like are connected to the controller CPU 51. The controller CPU 51 performs control of instruction input and display output from the operation panel 52, image formation processing by the image processing device 53, and the like. Further, the controller CPU 51 can detect that the doors of the respective parts of the image forming apparatus 1 are opened and closed based on the detection result of the door sensor 54. Further, an engine CPU 61 is provided connected to the controller CPU 51.

  The engine CPU 61 controls the toner bottle motor 41, the sub hopper screw 42, and the discharge screw 43 through the motor drive circuit 62, respectively. Further, the engine CPU 61 receives detection results from the toner empty sensor 36 provided in the sub hopper 23 and the TCR magnetic sensor 34 provided in the developing container 21. The engine CPU 61 controls the transport devices 41, 42, and 43 using the detection results of the sensors 34 and 36.

  Further, the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment monitors the TC ratio of the developer in the developing container 21 and controls it to be within an appropriate range. The TC ratio is a numerical value relating to the mixing ratio of toner and carrier, and is expressed as the ratio of toner contained in the entire developer. For example, a high TC ratio indicates that the proportion of toner in the developer is large. Hereinafter, the TC ratio of the developer in the developing container 21 is simply referred to as TC ratio.

  In the image forming apparatus 1 of this embodiment, the TC ratio is acquired based on the detection result of the TCR magnetic sensor 34. The TCR magnetic sensor 34 detects the magnetic permeability of the developer in the developing container 21. The image forming apparatus 1 calculates the TC ratio based on the detection result of the TCR magnetic sensor 34.

  The TC ratio takes a different value depending on the status of the apparatus at that time. This is because only the toner is consumed by printing, and the carrier is used repeatedly. And controller CPU51 of this form is controlling each part so that TC ratio may become in the predetermined range. By doing so, the image quality of the formed image can be maintained satisfactorily. Hereinafter, an appropriate range determined in advance for the TC ratio targeted by the controller CPU 51 is referred to as a normal range.

  For example, a state where the TC ratio is high beyond the normal range occurs when toner is replenished to the developing container 21 excessively. The state where the TC ratio is lower than the normal range is, for example, the state of the developer in the developing container 21 immediately after printing an image with much larger toner consumption than usual, such as black solid. The TC ratio of the developer contained in the mixing bottle of the toner bottle 22 is higher than the median value of the normal range.

  The engine CPU 61 of the image forming apparatus 1 drives and controls the toner bottle motor 41, the sub hopper screw 42, and the discharge screw 43 based on the control of the controller CPU 51. When the toner is consumed by the printing process, the sub hopper screw 42 is driven, and a new developer stored in the sub hopper 23 is supplied into the developing container 21. When the developer is added, the discharge screw 43 is also driven as appropriate, and a part of the developer in the developer container 21 is discharged to the waste toner container 24. When the developer stored in the sub hopper 23 is reduced, the toner bottle motor 41 is driven to add the developer to the sub hopper 23.

  That is, at the time of normal image formation, the controller CPU 51 of the image forming apparatus 1 compensates for the toner decreased by the image formation by supplying the developer from the sub hopper 23 and appropriately discharges the old developer in the developing container 21. Take control. Furthermore, the controller CPU 51 of the present embodiment performs control for prohibiting or permitting driving of each of the conveying members 41 to 43 independently in addition to the normal control as necessary. Here, prohibiting driving means performing control that does not drive even at the driving timing in the case of normal control. In addition, to permit driving means to perform driving control at a driving timing in normal control.

  Normally, a new developer replenished from the sub hopper 23 is a developer contained in the toner bottle 22. The TC ratio of the developer in the toner bottle 22 varies depending on the type of the toner bottle 22. However, since the TC ratio of the developer in the toner bottle 22 is a value determined for each type of the toner bottle 22, the TC ratio of the supplied developer is a constant value while the toner bottle 22 is not replaced. .

  In the image forming apparatus 1 of this embodiment, it is recommended that a mixing bottle is used as the toner bottle 22. However, a single toner bottle can be temporarily attached. For example, when a mixing bottle is not at hand, a single toner bottle can be used as a provisional periodic relief measure. However, when the single toner bottle is attached, the image forming apparatus 1 performs control for the single toner bottle, which is different from the normal control when the mixing bottle is attached. Hereinafter, normal control when a mixing bottle is attached is referred to as a mixing bottle mode, and control for a single toner bottle when a single toner bottle is attached is referred to as a single toner bottle mode.

  When a single toner bottle is attached as the toner bottle 22, the replenished developer contains no carrier. Therefore, when the developer in the developer container 21 is discharged, the carrier in the developer in the developer container 21 is discharged. The amount may be insufficient. Therefore, in the single toner bottle mode, the image forming apparatus 1 does not discharge the developer but only replenishes the developer from the toner bottle 22 and controls the toner concentration of the developer to be within an appropriate range. . The replacement of the toner bottle 22 can also be performed in a state where the developer remains in the currently installed toner bottle 22.

  Therefore, when there is a possibility that the toner bottle 22 has been replaced, the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment determines whether the toner bottle 22 that is currently attached is a mixing bottle or a single toner bottle. . The case where there is a possibility that the toner bottle 22 has been replaced includes, for example, a case where the door sensor 54 detects that the door of the toner bottle storage location is opened and closed, a case where the power switch is turned on and off, and the like. The image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment can perform this determination automatically by the controller CPU 51 without input by the user.

  3 and 4 show a flowchart of the toner bottle determination process executed by the controller CPU 51 and the control process in the transition period executed subsequently. In addition, FIGS. 5 and 6 show changes in the TC ratio during execution of these processes.

  If it is determined that there is a possibility that the toner bottle 22 has been replaced, the controller CPU 51 controls the motor drive circuit 62 via the engine CPU 61 and prohibits the drive of the discharge screw 43 (S101). Then, the printing process is executed with the discharge screw 43 stopped. This is the confirmation mode. At this time, the toner bottle motor 41 and the sub hopper screw 42 are allowed to be driven, and are driven by normal control. That is, when the toner is reduced by printing, the developer in the toner bottle 22 is supplied to the developing container 21 via the sub hopper 23.

  When printing for a predetermined time is performed in the confirmation mode, the controller CPU 51 acquires the TC ratio based on the detection result of the TCR magnetic sensor 34 (S102). This time point is indicated by P1 in FIGS. Furthermore, the acquired TC ratio is compared with a predetermined normal range value (S103). Here, the predetermined time P1 is determined so that the TC ratio does not deviate from the limit range wider than the normal range even under the worst conditions. That is, it is determined within a range where printing is impossible.

  As in the example shown in FIG. 6, if the TC ratio acquired in S102 of FIG. 3 has fallen to outside the normal range (S103: No), it indicates that the carrier is also being supplied, and the controller CPU 51 It is determined that the bottle is mounted (S104). Here, the controller CPU 51 performs the normal control, that is, the replenishment amount control on the premise that the developer including the deteriorated carrier is also discharged. The developer replenished corresponding to the amount of toner consumed by the printing process includes a carrier. Therefore, if the printing with the discharge screw 43 stopped is continued, the carrier ratio increases, and the TC ratio decreases. In this case, the process proceeds to (A), and then the process of FIG. 4 is performed. This process will be described later.

  On the other hand, as in the example shown in FIG. 5, if the TC ratio acquired in S102 of FIG. 3 is within the normal range or higher (S103: Yes), the TC ratio acquired by printing is higher than that used in printing. Indicates that a lot of toner has been replenished. In this case, a single toner bottle may be attached. Or some abnormality may have occurred. Therefore, in this case, the controller CPU 51 forcibly stops the sub hopper screw 42 (S105).

  Then, the controller CPU 51 continues printing while monitoring the TC ratio (S106 in FIG. 3). This is the abnormality confirmation mode. As a result, if the TC ratio is further increased (S107: Yes), or as shown in L1 of FIG. , It is determined that the sub hopper screw 42 is abnormal (S108). That is, it is determined that the sub hopper screw 42 that should have stopped continues to rotate. In this case, the controller CPU 51 displays a message notifying the user of the abnormality and stops the printing process. The upper judgment threshold is higher than the upper limit of the normal range and is a predetermined abnormality threshold.

  The processing of S106 in FIG. 3 does not further increase the TC ratio. As shown by L2 in FIG. 5, when the value before S106 is approximately maintained or decreased even at the time point P2, ( (S107: No), the controller CPU 51 determines that a single toner bottle is mounted (S109). Therefore, the controller CPU 51 allows the sub hopper screw 42 to be driven (S110), and further performs the printing process in the single toner bottle mode while prohibiting the driving of the discharge screw 43.

  When a certain amount of time has passed and the TC ratio is displaced higher or lower than the normal range at time P3 in FIG. 5 (S111: Yes in FIG. 3), the controller CPU 51 determines in advance. The discharge screw 43 is driven for a predetermined time. And controller CPU51 stops the discharge screw 43 again after predetermined time progress (S112). Thereafter, the controller CPU 51 repeats the determination of S111 and S112 until the TC value falls within the normal range. This is the transition mode.

  When the TC ratio is stabilized within the normal value range at time P4 in FIG. 5 (S113 in FIG. 3: Yes), the controller CPU 51 prohibits the drive of the discharge screw 43 and performs the replenishment control operation for the single toner bottle. The process returns to the execution of the single toner bottle mode (S114). This state is a state where only the consumed toner is supplied from the single toner bottle without replacing the carrier. As a result, carrier deterioration proceeds. This condition is only allowed as a temporary remedy and should be promptly replaced with a mixing bottle. Therefore, the controller CPU 51 displays a message notifying the user of information about the toner bottle 22.

  Next, the case where it is determined in S104 of FIG. 3 that the mixing bottle is attached will be described with reference to FIG. In this case, first, the controller CPU 51 stops the driving of the toner bottle motor 41 and performs printing (S201). This is the empty mode. Then, the controller CPU 51 repeats printing in the empty mode for a while while acquiring the TC ratio (S202). Then, the controller CPU 51 checks whether or not a toner empty signal is transmitted from the toner empty sensor 36 provided in the sub hopper 23 (S203).

  If a toner empty signal is transmitted from the toner empty sensor 36 while the printing in S201 is repeated (S203: Yes), the controller CPU 51 proceeds to S204 in FIG. However, if the signal of the toner empty sensor 36 is not transmitted even after a predetermined time has elapsed (time P5 in FIG. 6) (S205: Yes), it is determined that the toner empty sensor 36 is abnormal ( S206). In this case, the controller CPU 51 displays a message notifying the user of the abnormality and stops the printing process. The predetermined time here is the time that should be toner empty regardless of the printing conditions.

  On the other hand, when the signal of the toner empty sensor 36 is transmitted by time P5 (S203: Yes in FIG. 4), the controller CPU 51 allows the stopped toner bottle motor 41 and the discharge screw 43 to be driven. (S204). As a result, all three transport units are allowed to be driven. This state is the mixed bottle mode. Further, printing is continued while monitoring the TC ratio (S207).

  Then, after a certain amount of time has elapsed (time point P6 in FIG. 6), when the TC ratio is lower than the normal range (S208: Yes in FIG. 4), the controller CPU 51 drives the discharge screw 43 more than usual. (S209). That is, the developer is discharged in a larger amount than in the normal control by making the drive duration of the discharge screw 43 longer than usual or increasing the drive speed. This is the excessive discharge mode.

  Thereafter, the controller CPU 51 further acquires the TC ratio and confirms whether the TC ratio is stable within the normal range (S210). If it is not stable (S210: No), the controller CPU 51 monitors the TC ratio for a while, and if the TC ratio is lower than the normal range (S208: Yes in FIG. 4), the controller CPU 51 turns the discharge screw 43 on. Repeatedly drive more than usual (S209).

  When the TC ratio is stabilized within the normal range (S210: Yes), the controller CPU 51 returns to normal processing (S211) (time point P7 in FIG. 6). This normal processing is a mixing bottle mode performed when a mixing bottle is mounted, and performs image formation while allowing the toner bottle motor 41, the sub hopper screw 42, and the discharge screw 43 to be driven. . This concludes the description of this process.

  As described above in detail, according to the image forming apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, it is possible to automatically determine the type of attached toner bottle without adding a new apparatus.

  In the above embodiment, since the sub hopper 23 is provided, the toner bottle 22 is mounted on the sub hopper 23 and the developer contained in the toner bottle 22 is developed through the sub hopper 23. The container 21 is supplied. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. The developer may be directly supplied from the toner bottle 22 to the developing container 21 without the sub hopper 23.

  In this case, the toner bottle 22 is attached to the place where the developing container 21 is attached. Further, in S105 and S110 of FIG. 3, instead of stopping the sub hopper screw 42, the supply from the toner bottle 22 to the developing container 21 may be stopped. Even in this case, the type of the toner bottle 22 can be determined by monitoring the TC ratio.

In addition, this form is only a mere illustration and does not limit this invention at all. Therefore, the present invention can naturally be improved and modified in various ways without departing from the gist thereof.
For example, some models cannot be temporarily repaired. If it is determined that the single toner bottle is not installed and it is determined that the single toner bottle is installed, a message for requesting replacement of the toner bottle 22 is displayed on the operation panel 52 and printed. It is good to stop. The model in which the single toner bottle is not preferably attached is a model that does not have an appropriate control unit when the single toner bottle is attached. Alternatively, in a model in which both a single toner bottle and a mixing bottle are mounted and control is performed separately, the printing process may be similarly stopped when the single toner bottle is mounted at a position where the mixing bottle is to be mounted.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 11 Photoconductor 12 Charging part 13 Exposure part 14 Developing part 21 Developing container 23 Sub hopper 31 Developing roller 34 TCR magnetic sensor 36 Toner empty sensor 41 Toner bottle motor 42 Sub hopper screw 43 Discharge screw 51 Controller CPU
61 Engine CPU

Claims (6)

An image bearing member; a latent image forming unit that forms an electrostatic latent image on the image bearing member; and a developing unit that supplies toner to the electrostatic latent image formed by the latent image forming unit and develops the toner. In an image forming apparatus,
The developing section is
A developer container containing a developer including toner and carrier;
A developing member for supplying the developer contained in the developing container to the image carrier;
A TC ratio detector that detects a TC ratio, which is a ratio of toner in the developer contained in the developer container;
A discharge member for discharging a part of the developer contained in the developer container to the outside of the developer container;
A toner bottle mounting portion for detachably mounting a toner bottle containing developer to be replenished to the developer container;
A replenishment member for replenishing developer from a toner bottle to the developer container;
A transport control unit that performs control of discharge by the discharge member and control of supply by the supply member;
An image forming control unit that changes a subsequent image forming method according to the type of toner bottle currently mounted on the toner bottle mounting unit when the toner bottle mounted on the toner bottle mounting unit is replaced. And
The image formation control unit
When the toner bottle mounted on the toner bottle mounting portion is replaced, image formation is performed in a confirmation mode in which driving of the discharge member is prohibited and driving of the replenishing member is permitted, and image in the confirmation mode is performed. After the formation, the TC ratio detection unit detects the TC ratio,
When the detected TC ratio is equal to or greater than a lower limit value of a predetermined normal range, image formation is performed in a single toner bottle mode in which driving of the discharging member is prohibited and driving of the replenishing member is permitted;
When the detected TC ratio is lower than a predetermined lower limit of a normal range, image formation is performed in a mixed bottle mode that allows both the discharge member and the replenishment member to be driven. Forming equipment. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
The image formation control unit
When the TC ratio detected after the end of the confirmation mode is equal to or greater than the lower limit value of the normal range, image formation in the abnormality confirmation mode that prohibits both the driving of the discharge member and the replenishment member is determined in advance. The TC ratio is detected by the TC ratio detection unit after completion of image formation in the abnormality confirmation mode.
When the detected TC ratio is equal to or higher than a predetermined abnormality threshold value higher than the upper limit value of the normal range, image formation is prohibited,
When the detected TC ratio is lower than the abnormal threshold, the image forming apparatus is shifted to the single toner bottle mode. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2,
The image formation control unit
When the TC ratio detected after the end of the abnormality confirmation mode is lower than the abnormality threshold and outside the normal range, the replenishment member is allowed to be driven and the discharge member is prohibited from being driven. An image in a transient mode in which the formation and the image formation that allows the replenishment member to be driven and allows the discharge member to be driven by dividing the time are repeatedly performed while detecting the TC ratio by the TC ratio detection unit. And after the detected TC ratio is within a predetermined normal range, the mode is shifted to the single toner bottle mode.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the TC ratio detected after completion of the abnormality confirmation mode is within the normal range, the image forming apparatus immediately shifts to the single toner bottle mode. In the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The image formation control unit
When the TC ratio detected after the end of the confirmation mode is lower than the lower limit value of the normal range, image formation that allows both the driving of the replenishing member and the driving of the discharging member and the driving of the replenishing member are permitted. The image formation in which the discharge member is driven excessively than usual is repeatedly performed in the excessive discharge mode while the TC ratio detection unit detects the TC ratio, and the detected TC ratio is determined in advance. An image forming apparatus that shifts to the mixed bottle mode after being within a normal range. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein:
A sub hopper for temporarily storing a part of the developer stored in the toner bottle;
A sub hopper empty detection unit for sending an empty signal when the amount of the developer in the sub hopper becomes smaller than a predetermined amount;
The supply member is
A toner bottle motor for conveying developer from the toner bottle to the sub hopper;
A sub hopper screw for supplying developer from the sub hopper to the developer container,
The image formation control unit
Both the drive of the discharge member and the drive of the toner bottle motor are prohibited, and the image formation in the empty mode that allows the drive of the sub hopper screw is continuously performed for a predetermined time,
If an empty signal is sent out by the sub hopper empty detection unit by the end of the empty mode, the empty mode is stopped and the toner bottle motor is allowed to be driven to form an image.
An image forming apparatus for prohibiting image formation if an empty signal is not sent out by the sub hopper empty detecting unit even when the empty mode ends. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5,
The image formation control unit
When the TC ratio detected after the end of the confirmation mode is lower than the lower limit value of the normal range, the empty mode is executed before shifting to the excessive discharge mode.

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