Imaging device

Abstract

Provided is an imaging apparatus (1) to which a replenishment container (40) for containing toner can be attached and detached. The imaging apparatus is capable of forming a toner image on a recording material and includes: an image carrier member (21); a developer container (32) for containing toner; a developing device (31) that uses the toner contained in the developer container and develops an electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier member into a toner image; a replenishment port through which the developer container can be replenished with toner from the replenishment container by attaching the replenishment container provided outside the imaging apparatus to the replenishment port; a restricting member that can be switched to a permitted state in which rotation of the replenishment container attached to the replenishment port is permitted and a restricting state in which the rotation is restricted; a notification device (300) that notifies a replenishment procedure for replenishing the developer container with toner from the replenishment container; and a control device that causes the notification device to notify at least one procedure in the replenishment procedure.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus for forming an image on a recording material. Background Art

[0002] Generally, an imaging apparatus of an electrophotographic system forms an image on a recording material by developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of a photosensitive member with toner and then transferring the toner image from the photosensitive member to the recording material. As methods for replenishing the toner consumed by repeatedly performing imaging for the imaging apparatus, a process cartridge system and a continuous replenishment system are known. The process cartridge system is a system in which a photosensitive member and a developer container containing toner are integrated into a process cartridge, and when all the toner in the developer container is consumed, the process cartridge is replaced with a brand-new one.

[0003] Meanwhile, Patent Document 1 discloses a developing unit of a continuous replenishment system, which includes a toner conveyance path and a developer supply tank. Toner is supplied to a developing roller through the toner conveyance path. The developer supply tank is connected to the toner conveyance path, and the developing unit supplies toner from the developer supply tank to the toner conveyance path according to the detection result of the remaining amount of toner.

[0004] Citation List

[0005] Patent Document

[0006] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. H08-30084 Summary of the Invention

[0007] Technical Problem

[0008] In recent years, in addition to the above-described process cartridge system and continuous replenishment system, the demand for wider use of imaging apparatuses by users has been increasing.

[0009] Solution to the Problem

[0010] One aspect of the present invention is an imaging device to which a replenishment container for containing toner can be attached and detached, and the imaging device is configured to form a toner image on a recording material. The imaging device includes: an image carrier member; a developer container configured to contain toner; a developing device configured to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier member into a toner image by using the toner contained in the developer container; a replenishment port through which toner from the replenishment container can be replenished to the developer container by attaching the replenishment container provided outside the imaging device to the replenishment port; a restricting member capable of transitioning to a permitted state that permits rotation of the replenishment container attached to the replenishment port relative to the replenishment port and a restricting state that restricts rotation of the replenishment container attached to the replenishment port relative to the replenishment port; a notification device configured to notify a replenishment procedure for replenishing toner from the replenishment container to the developer container; and a control device configured to cause the notification device to notify at least one step of the replenishment procedure.

[0011] Another aspect of the present invention is an imaging device to which a replenishment container for containing toner can be attached and detached, and the imaging device is capable of communicating with an information processing device having a notification device and is configured to form a toner image on a recording material. The imaging device includes: an image carrier member; a developer container configured to contain toner; a developing device configured to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier member into a toner image by using the toner contained in the developer container; a replenishment port through which toner from the replenishment container can be replenished to the developer container by attaching the replenishment container provided outside the imaging device to the replenishment port; a restricting member capable of transitioning to a permitted state that permits rotation of the replenishment container attached to the replenishment port relative to the replenishment port and a restricting state that restricts rotation of the replenishment container attached to the replenishment port relative to the replenishment port; and a control device configured to output information to the information processing device for causing the notification device to notify at least one step of the replenishment procedure for replenishing toner from the replenishment container to the developer container.

[0012] Advantageous Effects of the Invention

[0013] According to the present invention, embodiments of an imaging device can be provided.

[0014] Other features and advantages of the present invention will be revealed by the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that in the drawings, the same or substantially the same elements will be denoted by the same reference numerals. Description of the Drawings

[0015] Figure 1A is a cross-sectional view of an imaging device according to a first embodiment.

[0016] Figure 1BIs a perspective view of an imaging apparatus according to a first embodiment.

[0017] Figure 2A Is a cross-sectional view of an imaging apparatus according to a first embodiment.

[0018] Figure 2B Is a perspective view of an imaging apparatus according to a first embodiment.

[0019] Figure 3 Is a diagram for describing the attachment and detachment of a process cartridge according to a first embodiment.

[0020] Figure 4A Is a diagram for describing an openable and closable member of an imaging apparatus according to a first embodiment.

[0021] Figure 4B Is a diagram for describing an openable and closable member of an imaging apparatus according to a first embodiment.

[0022] Figure 4C Is a diagram for describing an openable and closable member of an imaging apparatus according to a first embodiment.

[0023] Figure 5A Is a diagram for describing toner replenishment using a toner pack according to a first embodiment.

[0024] Figure 5B Is a diagram for describing toner replenishment using a toner pack according to a first embodiment.

[0025] Figure 6A Is a diagram for describing toner replenishment using a toner pack according to a first embodiment.

[0026] Figure 6B Is a diagram for describing toner replenishment using a toner pack according to a first embodiment.

[0027] Figure 6C Is a diagram for describing toner replenishment using a toner pack according to a first embodiment.

[0028] Figure 7A Is a perspective view of a toner pack according to a first embodiment.

[0029] Figure 7B Is a side view of a toner pack according to a first embodiment.

[0030] Figure 8A Is a perspective view of a toner pack according to a first embodiment.

[0031] Figure 8B Is a side view of a toner pack according to a first embodiment.

[0032] Figure 8CIt is a diagram showing how to discharge toner from a toner pack according to the first embodiment.

[0033] Figure 9A It is a perspective view of a replenishment container attachment portion according to the first embodiment.

[0034] Figure 9B It is a top view of a replenishment container attachment portion according to the first embodiment.

[0035] Figure 9C It is an enlarged view of a replenishment container attachment portion according to the first embodiment.

[0036] Figure 10A It is a diagram for describing the operation of a replenishment container attachment portion according to the first embodiment.

[0037] Figure 10B It is a diagram for describing the operation of a replenishment container attachment portion according to the first embodiment.

[0038] Figure 11A It is a diagram showing the position of a locking member according to the first embodiment.

[0039] Figure 11B It is a diagram showing the position of a locking member according to the first embodiment.

[0040] Figure 12 It is a perspective view of a toner pack according to the first embodiment.

[0041] Figure 13 It is a diagram showing the pressing mechanism of a locking member according to the first embodiment.

[0042] Figure 14A It is a diagram showing a panel according to the first embodiment.

[0043] Figure 14B It is a diagram showing a panel according to the first embodiment.

[0044] Figure 14C It is a diagram showing a panel according to the first embodiment.

[0045] Figure 15A It is a perspective view of a toner bottle unit according to the first modification example.

[0046] Figure 15B It is a perspective view of a toner bottle unit according to the first modification example.

[0047] Figure 15C It is a side view of a toner bottle unit according to the first modification example.

[0048] Figure 15D It is a cross-sectional view of a toner bottle unit according to the first modification example.

[0049] Figure 16A It is a diagram for describing the internal structure of the toner bottle unit according to the first modification example.

[0050] Figure 16B It is a diagram for describing the internal structure of the toner bottle unit according to the first modification example.

[0051] Figure 16C It is a diagram for describing the internal structure of the toner bottle unit according to the first modification example.

[0052] Figure 16D It is a diagram for describing the internal structure of the toner bottle unit according to the first modification example.

[0053] Figure 16E It is a diagram for describing the rotation detection of the toner bottle unit according to the first modification example.

[0054] Figure 16F It is a diagram for describing the rotation detection of the toner bottle unit according to the first modification example.

[0055] Figure 17A It is a perspective view of the processing cartridge according to the second modification example.

[0056] Figure 17B It is a top view of the processing cartridge according to the second modification example.

[0057] Figure 17C It is a cross-sectional view of the processing cartridge according to the second modification example.

[0058] Figure 17D It is a cross-sectional view of the processing cartridge according to the second modification example.

[0059] Figure 18A It is a perspective view of the processing cartridge according to the third modification example.

[0060] Figure 18B It is a top view of the processing cartridge according to the third modification example.

[0061] Figure 18C It is a cross-sectional view of the processing cartridge according to the third modification example.

[0062] Figure 19 It is a block diagram for explaining the control system of the imaging device according to the first embodiment.

[0063] Figure 20A It is a diagram for explaining the operation unit according to the first embodiment.

[0064] Figure 20B It is a diagram for explaining the display unit according to the first embodiment.

[0065] Figure 21 It is a diagram for explaining the system configuration of the imaging system according to the first embodiment.

[0066] Figure 22 It is a flowchart illustrating the process of a notification operation for the toner replenishment procedure according to Example 1.

[0067] Figure 23A It is a diagram showing an example of a message notified in the notification operation for the toner replenishment procedure according to Example 1.

[0068] Figure 23B It is a diagram showing an example of a message notified in the notification operation for the toner replenishment procedure according to Example 1.

[0069] Figure 23C It is a diagram showing an example of a message notified in the notification operation for the toner replenishment procedure according to Example 1.

[0070] Figure 23D It is a diagram showing an example of a message notified in the notification operation for the toner replenishment procedure according to Example 1.

[0071] Figure 23E It is a diagram showing an example of a message notified in the notification operation for the toner replenishment procedure according to Example 1.

[0072] Figure 23F It is a diagram showing an example of a message notified in the notification operation for the toner replenishment procedure according to Example 1.

[0073] Figure 24 It is a flowchart illustrating the process of a notification operation for the toner replenishment procedure according to Example 2.

[0074] Figure 25A It is a diagram showing an example of a replenishment container according to Example 3.

[0075] Figure 25B It is a diagram showing an example of a replenishment container according to Example 3.

[0076] Figure 25C It is a diagram showing an example of a replenishment container according to Example 3.

[0077] Figure 26 It is a diagram showing an example of the structure of a replenishment container according to Example 3.

[0078] Figure 27 It is a flowchart illustrating a control method for an imaging device according to Example 3.

[0079] Figure 28 It is a diagram showing another example of the structure of a replenishment container according to Example 3.

[0080] Figure 29AIt is a diagram showing the circuit configuration of the imaging device and the replenishment container according to the second embodiment.

[0081] Figure 29B It is a diagram showing the circuit configuration of the imaging device and the replenishment container according to the second embodiment.

[0082] Figure 30 It is a flowchart showing a control method for the imaging device according to the second embodiment.

[0083] Figure 31A It is a diagram showing the circuit configuration of the imaging device and the replenishment container according to the second embodiment.

[0084] Figure 31B It is a diagram showing the circuit configuration of the imaging device and the replenishment container according to the second embodiment.

[0085] Figure 31C It is a diagram showing the circuit configuration of the imaging device and the replenishment container according to the second embodiment.

[0086] Figure 32 It is a diagram showing a modified example of the circuit configuration of the imaging device and the replenishment container according to the third embodiment.

[0087] Figure 33A It is a diagram showing an example of the replenishment container according to the fourth embodiment.

[0088] Figure 33B It is a diagram showing an example of the replenishment container according to the fourth embodiment.

[0089] Figure 33C It is a diagram showing an example of the replenishment container according to the fourth embodiment.

[0090] Figure 34 It is a diagram showing the configuration of the imaging device and the replenishment container according to the fourth embodiment.

[0091] Figure 35 It is a diagram showing a modified example of the imaging device and the replenishment container according to the fourth embodiment.

[0092] Figure 36 It is a diagram showing the selection screen displayed on the display unit of the imaging device in the fifth embodiment.

[0093] Figure 37 It is a diagram showing the selection screen displayed on the display of the external device in the fifth embodiment.

[0094] Figure 38 It is a flowchart showing a control method for the imaging device according to the fifth embodiment.

[0095] Figure 39 It is a diagram showing the panel according to the sixth embodiment.

[0096] Figure 40A It is a diagram showing a display example of the panel according to the sixth embodiment.

[0097] Figure 40B It is a diagram showing a display example of the panel according to the sixth embodiment.

[0098] Figure 40C It is a diagram showing a display example of the panel according to the sixth embodiment.

[0099] Figure 40D It is a diagram showing a display example of the panel according to the sixth embodiment.

[0100] Figure 41 It is a perspective view of the panel according to the seventh embodiment.

[0101] Figure 42A It is a diagram showing a display example of the panel according to the seventh embodiment.

[0102] Figure 42B It is a diagram showing a display example of the panel according to the seventh embodiment.

[0103] Figure 42C It is a diagram showing a display example of the panel according to the seventh embodiment.

[0104] Figure 42D It is a diagram showing a display example of the panel according to the seventh embodiment. Detailed implementation manners

[0105] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0106] <First Embodiment>

[0107] (1) Imaging device

[0108] Figure 1A It is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the imaging device 1 according to the first embodiment. The imaging device 1 is a monochrome printer that forms an image on a recording material based on image information input from an external device. Examples of the recording material include sheets having different properties, such as papers like ordinary paper and cardboard, plastic films like sheets for overhead projectors, irregularly shaped sheets like envelopes and index sheets, and cloth.

[0109] (1-1) Overall configuration

[0110] As Figure 1A and 1BAs shown, the imaging device 1 includes a printer main body 100 serving as a device main body, a reading device 200 that is openably and closably supported on the printer main body 100, and an operation unit 300 attached to the outer surface of the printer main body 100. The printer main body 100 includes an imaging unit 10, a feeding unit 60, a fixing unit 70, and a discharge roller pair 80. The feeding unit 60 feeds a recording material to the imaging unit 10, and the imaging unit 10 forms a toner image on the recording material. The fixing unit 70 fixes the toner image formed by the imaging unit 10 onto the recording material, and the discharge roller pair 80 discharges the recording material that has passed through the fixing unit 70 to the outside of the device. In addition, the processing cartridge 20 of the present embodiment adopts a direct replenishment system, in which toner is directly replenished from the outside of the imaging device 1 by using a toner pack 40 filled with replenishing toner.

[0111] The imaging unit 10 is an imaging device (imaging unit) of an electrophotographic system, and includes a scanner unit 11, a processing cartridge 20, and a transfer roller 12. The processing cartridge 20 includes a photosensitive drum 21, a charging roller 22 provided near the photosensitive drum 21, a developing roller 31, and a cleaning blade 24.

[0112] The photosensitive drum 21 serving as an image bearing member of the present embodiment is a photosensitive member formed in a cylindrical shape. The photosensitive drum 21 of the present embodiment includes a drum-shaped base body formed of aluminum and a photosensitive layer formed of an organic photoconductor capable of being negatively charged on the base body. In addition, the photosensitive drum 21 is rotationally driven by a motor at a predetermined processing speed in a predetermined direction (the clockwise direction shown).

[0113] The charging roller 22 contacts the photosensitive drum 21 with a predetermined pressure contact force, thereby forming a charging portion. In addition, a desired charging voltage is applied from a charging high-voltage power source, so that the surface of the photosensitive drum 21 is uniformly charged to a predetermined potential. In the present embodiment, the photosensitive drum 21 is negatively charged by the charging roller 22.

[0114] The scanner unit 11 irradiates the photosensitive drum 21 with a laser L corresponding to image information input from an external device or the reading device 200 by using a polygon mirror, so that the surface of the photosensitive drum 21 is exposed in a scanning manner. As a result of such exposure, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image information is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 21. Note that the scanner unit 11 is not limited to a laser scanner unit. For example, an LED exposure unit including an LED array can be adopted, in which a plurality of LEDs are arranged along the longitudinal direction of the photosensitive drum 21.

[0115] The developing unit 802 includes a developing roller 31 serving as a developer carrier member configured to carry a developer, a developer container 32 serving as a frame member of the developing unit 802, and a supply roller 33 capable of supplying the developer to the developing roller 31. The developing roller 31 and the supply roller 33 are rotatably supported by the developer container 32. In addition, the developing roller 31 is disposed in an opening portion of the developer container 32 so as to face the photosensitive drum 21. The supply roller 33 is rotatably in contact with the developing roller 31, and the toner serving as the developer accommodated in the developer container 32 is applied onto the surface of the developing roller 31 through the supply roller 33.

[0116] The developing unit 802 of the present embodiment employs a contact developing system as the developing system. That is, the toner layer carried on the developing roller 31 serving as a developing device (developer carrier member) comes into contact with the photosensitive drum 21 in a developing portion (developing area) where the photosensitive drum 21 and the developing roller 31 face each other. A developing voltage is applied from a developing high-voltage power source to the developing roller 31. Under the influence of the developing voltage, the toner carried on the developing roller 31 is transferred from the developing roller 31 to the drum surface according to the potential distribution on the surface of the photosensitive drum 21, and thus the electrostatic latent image is developed into a toner image. Note that in the present embodiment, an inversion developing system is employed. That is, a toner image is formed by attaching toner to an area on the surface of the photosensitive drum 21 charged in the charging step, where the amount of electric charge has decreased due to exposure in the exposure step.

[0117] In addition, in the present embodiment, a toner having a particle diameter of 6 μm and a normal charging polarity of negative polarity is used. For example, a polymer toner generated by a polymerization method is used as the toner of the present embodiment. In addition, the toner of the present embodiment is a so-called non-magnetic one-component developer that does not contain a magnetic component and is mainly carried on the developing roller 31 by intermolecular forces and electrostatic forces (image forces). However, a one-component developer containing a magnetic component can be used. In addition, in some cases, the one-component developer contains additives (e.g., wax and fine silica particles) in addition to toner particles for adjusting the fluidity and charging performance of the toner. In addition, a two-component developer composed of a non-magnetic toner and a magnetic carrier can be used as the developer. In the case of using a magnetic developer, a cylindrical developing sleeve provided with a magnet is used as the developer carrier member. That is, the developer accommodated in the developer container 32 is not limited to a one-component developer containing only toner components, but can be a two-component developer containing toner and a carrier.

[0118] The agitating member 34 serving as an agitating device is disposed within the developer container 32. The agitating member 34 is driven to pivot, thereby agitating the toner within the developer container 32 and conveying the toner toward the developing roller 31 and the supply roller 33. Additionally, the agitating member 34 has a function of circulating the toner that has not been used for development and has peeled off from the developing roller 31 within the developer container, thereby making the toner within the developer container uniform.

[0119] Furthermore, a developing blade 35 that controls the amount of toner carried on the developing roller 31 is disposed at the opening portion of the developer container 32 where the developing roller 31 is provided. According to the rotation of the developing roller 31, the toner supplied to the surface of the developing roller 31 passes through the portion opposite to the developing blade 35, thereby forming a uniform thin layer and becoming negatively charged due to triboelectrification.

[0120] The feeding unit 60 includes a front door 61 that is supported by the printer main body 100 in an openable and closable manner, a support tray 62, an inner plate 63, a tray spring 64, and a pickup roller 65. The support tray 62 constitutes the bottom surface of the recording material accommodation space that can be exposed by opening the front door 61, and the inner plate 63 is supported on the support tray 62 in a manner capable of rising and falling. The tray spring 64 pushes the inner plate 63 upward and presses the recording material P supported on the inner plate 63 against the pickup roller 65. Note that the front door 61 closes the recording material accommodation space in a state where it is closed relative to the printer main body 100, and supports the recording material P together with the support tray 62 and the inner plate 63 in a state where it is opened relative to the printer main body 100.

[0121] A transfer roller 12 serving as a transfer device (transfer member) transfers the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 21 of the process cartridge 20 onto the recording material. Note that although a direct transfer system in which the toner image formed on the image carrier member is directly transferred from the image carrier member onto the recording material will be described in this embodiment, an intermediate transfer system in which the toner image is transferred from the image carrier member onto the recording material via an intermediate transfer member (such as an intermediate transfer belt) can be employed. In this case, for example, a transfer unit composed of an intermediate transfer belt, a primary transfer roller that transfers the toner image from the photosensitive drum to the intermediate transfer belt by primary transfer, and a secondary transfer roller that transfers the toner image from the intermediate transfer belt to the recording material serves as the transfer device.

[0122] The fixing unit 70 is a heat fixing system that performs an image fixing process by heating and melting the toner on the recording material. The fixing unit 70 includes a fixing film 71, a fixing heater (such as a ceramic heater) that heats the fixing film 71, a thermistor that measures the temperature of the fixing heater, and a pressure roller 72 that is in pressure contact with the fixing film 71.

[0123] Next, the imaging operation of the imaging device 1 will be described. When a command for imaging is input to the imaging device 1, the imaging unit 10 starts the imaging process based on the image information input from an external computer connected to the imaging device 1 or from the reading device 200. The scanner unit 11 irradiates the photosensitive drum 21 with the laser beam L based on the input image information. At this time, the photosensitive drum 21 has been pre-charged by the charging roller 22, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 21 by irradiating the photosensitive drum 21 with the laser beam L. Then, the electrostatic latent image is developed by the developing roller 31, and a toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 21.

[0124] In parallel with the above-described imaging process, the pickup roller 65 of the feeding unit 60 feeds out the recording material P supported on the front door 61, the support tray 62, and the inner plate 63. The recording material P is fed by the pickup roller 65 to the registration roller pair 15, and the skew of the recording material P is corrected by the clamping portion that abuts against the registration roller pair 15. In addition, the registration roller pair 15 is driven according to the toner image transfer timing obtained from the start time of the exposure performed by the scanner unit 11, and the recording material P is conveyed to the transfer portion, which is the clamping portion formed between the transfer roller 12 and the photosensitive drum 21.

[0125] A transfer voltage is applied from the transfer high-voltage power supply to the transfer roller 12, and the toner image carried on the photosensitive drum 21 is transferred onto the recording material P conveyed by the registration roller pair 15. After the transfer, the transfer residual toner on the surface of the photosensitive drum 21 is removed by the cleaning blade 24, which is an elastic blade that contacts the photosensitive drum 21. The recording material P on which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed to the fixing unit 70 and passes through the clamping portion formed between the fixing film 71 and the pressure roller 72 of the fixing unit 70, whereby the toner image is heated and pressed. As a result, the toner particles melt and then adhere to the recording material P, so that the toner image is fixed to the recording material P. The recording material P that has passed through the fixing unit 70 is discharged to the outside of the imaging device 1 by the discharge roller pair 80 and is supported on the discharge tray 81 formed on the upper portion of the printer main body 100.

[0126] The discharge tray 81 is inclined upward toward the downstream side in the discharge direction of the recording material, and the trailing end of the recording material discharged onto the discharge tray 81 is aligned by the control surface 84 by sliding downward along the discharge tray 81.

[0127] (1-2) Openable and closable members of the imaging device

[0128] As Figure 2A 、 2B shown in 3, a first opening 101 that opens upward is provided in the upper portion of the printer main body 100. The first opening 101 is covered by the top cover 82 during use ( Figure 1B), the processing cartridge 20 is exposed by opening the top cover 82 upward. Figure 2B ) The top cover 82 is supported so as to be opened and closed relative to the printer main body 100 by rotating about a rotation axis 82c extending in the left - right direction. Figure 3 ) The discharge tray 81 is provided on the upper surface of the top cover 82. When the reading device 200 is opened relative to the printer main body 100, the top cover 82 is opened from the front side toward the rear side. Note that the reading device 200 and the top cover 82 are configured to be held in the open state and the closed state by a holding mechanism (such as a hinge mechanism).

[0129] For example, in the case where a recording material is jammed in the conveyance path CP (through which the recording material fed by the pickup roller 65 passes), the user opens the top cover 82 together with the reading device 200. Then, the user approaches the processing cartridge 20 via the first opening 101 exposed by opening the top cover 82, and pulls out the processing cartridge 20 along the cartridge guide 102. A protrusion 21a provided at the end of the processing cartridge 20 in the axial direction of the photosensitive drum 21 Figure 5A ) slides on the cartridge guide 102, so that the processing cartridge 20 is guided by the cartridge guide 102.

[0130] Then, since the processing cartridge 20 is pulled out to the outside through the first opening 101, a space where the hand can reach inside the conveyance path CP is created. The user can put his / her hand into the printer main body 100 through the first opening 101 to approach the recording material causing the jam in the conveyance path CP, and thus remove the recording material causing the jam.

[0131] In addition, in the present embodiment, as Figure 1B and 4C shown, an opening / closing member 83 is provided on the top cover 82 so as to be openable and closable. An upward - opening opening 82a is provided in the upper surface of the top cover 82 on which the discharge tray 81 is provided, and the opening 82a is covered by closing the opening / closing member 83. The opening / closing member 83 and the opening 82a are provided on the right side of the top cover 82. In addition, the opening / closing member 83 is supported on the top cover 82 so as to be opened and closed about a pivot axis 83a extending in the front - rear direction, and is opened to the left by hooking a finger by a groove portion 82b provided on the top cover 82. The opening / closing member 83 is formed in an approximately L - shape according to the shape of the top cover 82. Note that the opening / closing member 83 is not limited to the above - described opening / closing mechanism. For example, the opening / closing member 83 may be provided on the top cover 82 so as to cover the replenishment container attachment portion 701, and may be configured to open and close the opening 82a by sliding on the upper surface of the top cover 82 and pivoting about a pivot axis perpendicular to the top cover 82. Here, sliding on the upper surface of the top cover 82 means restricting the movement of the opening / closing member 83 in the direction of the pivot axis.

[0132] The opening 82a is opened to expose the replenishment container attachment portion 701 provided in the upper part of the processing cartridge 20 for toner replenishment. By opening the opening / closing member 83, the user can access the replenishment container attachment portion 701 without opening the top cover 82. The user can replenish the toner for the processing cartridge 20 by attaching the toner pack 40 to the replenishment container attachment portion 701.

[0133] In the present embodiment, such a system (direct replenishment system) is employed, in which: the user replenishes the toner for the processing cartridge 20 from the toner pack 40 filled with replenishment toner as shown while the processing cartridge 20 remains attached to the imaging apparatus 1 Figure 1A and 1B ). Therefore, when the amount of toner remaining in the processing cartridge 20 becomes small, it becomes unnecessary to remove the processing cartridge 20 from the printer main body 100 and replace the processing cartridge 20 with a brand-new one, thus improving usability. Note that the imaging apparatus 1 and the toner pack 40 constitute an imaging system.

[0134] Note that in the present embodiment, the reading device 200 is provided in the upper part of the imaging apparatus 1, and when the opening / closing member 83 is opened, the reading device 200 needs to be opened first to expose the top cover 82. However, a configuration can be adopted in which the reading device 200 is omitted and the opening / closing member 83 is exposed in the upper part of the imaging apparatus 1 from the beginning.

[0135] (1 - 3) Reading device

[0136] As Figure 4A and 4B shown, the reading device 200 includes a reading unit 201 having a reading portion (not shown) therein, and a pressure plate 202 that is supported by the reading unit 201 so as to be openable and closable. A platen glass 203 is provided on the upper surface of the reading unit 201, and the platen glass 203 transmits the light emitted from the reading portion and supports the document placed thereon.

[0137] When the reading device 200 reads a document image, the user places the document on the platen glass 203 while the pressure plate 202 is open. Then, the pressure plate 202 is closed to suppress the displacement of the document on the platen glass 203, and a read command is output to the imaging apparatus 1 by operating the operation unit 300, for example. When the reading operation starts, the reading portion in the reading unit 201 reciprocates in the sub-scanning direction, that is, in the left-right direction with the operation unit 300 of the imaging apparatus 1 facing the front side. The reading portion radiates light from the light emitting portion onto the document and receives the light reflected from the document through the light receiving portion, and reads the image of the document by performing photoelectric conversion.

[0138] Note that in the following description, as a standard, the front-back direction, left-right direction, and up-down direction (gravity direction) of the imaging device 1 are defined based on the state where the operation unit 300 faces forward. The positional relationship between the components will be described based on the state where a component (such as the processing cartridge 20) that can be attached to and detached from the printer main body 100 is attached to the printer main body 100. In addition, the "longitudinal direction" of the processing cartridge 20 refers to the axial direction of the photosensitive drum 21.

[0139] (1-4) Structure of the processing cartridge

[0140] Next, the structure of the processing cartridge 20 will be described. Figure 5A is a perspective view of the processing cartridge 20 and the toner pack 40, Figure 5B is a side view of the processing cartridge 20 and the toner pack 40. Figure 6A is along Figure 5B the cross-sectional view taken along the line 6A-6A, Figure 6B is along Figure 5B the cross-sectional view taken along the line 6B-6B, Figure 6C is along Figure 6A and 6B the cross-sectional view taken along the line 6C-6C. Note that in Figures 5A to 6C , the external shape of the replenishment container attachment portion 701 is shown in a simplified manner (for the detailed shape, see, for example, Figure 9A ).

[0141] As Figures 5A to 6C shown, the processing cartridge 20 is composed of a toner receiving unit 801, a developing unit 802, and a cleaning unit 803. The toner receiving unit 801, the cleaning unit 803, and the developing unit 802 are arranged in this order from the upper side to the lower side in the gravity direction. Each unit will be described in sequence below.

[0142] The toner receiving unit 801 is provided in the upper portion of the processing cartridge 20. A toner storage portion 8011 composed of a frame member for storing toner is provided in the toner receiving unit 801, and a replenishment container attachment portion 701 connected to the toner pack 40 is provided at an end in the longitudinal direction of the toner receiving unit 801. Note that the frame member constituting the toner storage portion 8011 may be composed of a single member or a combination of multiple members. The replenishment container attachment portion 701 includes a replenishment port 8012 through which toner discharged from the toner pack 40 is received. The detailed structure of the replenishment container attachment portion 701 and the attachment of the toner pack 40 to the replenishment container attachment portion 701 will be described later.

[0143] In addition, a first conveying member 8013, a second conveying member 8014, and a third conveying member 8015 are provided inside the toner receiving unit 801. The first conveying member 8013 is along the arrow H direction (Figure 6C )Transport the toner that has fallen into the toner storage unit 8011 through the replenishment port 8012 to the central part of the toner storage unit 8011 at the end in the longitudinal direction. The second transport member 8014 transports the toner in the direction of arrow J perpendicular to the longitudinal direction ( Figure 6C )The toner transported by the first transport member 8013 is transported to the upper part of the developing unit 802, that is, the discharge port 8016. The third transport member 8015 mainly receives the toner from the second transport member 8014 at the central part in the longitudinal direction, and transports the toner to one side and the other side in the longitudinal direction (arrow K direction and arrow K' direction). Note that the first to third transport members are operated to move the toner, so they can also be called the first to third developer moving members.

[0144] When the toner from the toner pack 40 used as a replenishment container flows into the toner receiving unit 801, air also flows in. The toner receiving unit 801 includes an air filter 8017 (see Figure 5A ) for allowing air to flow in the direction of arrow H when replenishing toner, so that it is easier to replenish toner. The air filter 8017 suppresses the ejection of toner from the replenishment port 8012 due to the increase in the internal pressure of the toner receiving unit 801 when replenishing toner and part of the air flowing in the direction opposite to the direction of arrow H.

[0145] Furthermore, the discharge ports 8016 for discharging the toner from the toner storage unit 8011 to the developing agent container 32 of the developing unit 802 ( Figure 6B ) are respectively provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the toner receiving unit 801. The toner that has reached the discharge port 8016 by being transported by the third transport member 8015 falls into the developing agent container 32 according to gravity. Note that a transport member can be further provided in the path of the discharge port 8016 to facilitate the movement of the toner according to gravity.

[0146] The developing unit 802 located in the lower part of the processing cartridge 20 includes an opening 8021 for receiving the toner discharged through the discharge port 8016 ( Figure 6B )A sealing member (not shown) is provided between the discharge port 8016 and the opening 8021 so that the toner does not leak through the gap between the discharge port 8016 and the opening 8021.

[0147] The toner that has fallen into the toner receiving unit 801 from the toner pack 40 through the replenishment port 8012 is conveyed in the toner receiving unit 801 by a first conveying member 8013, a second conveying member 8014, and a third conveying member 8015. Then, the toner is transferred from the toner receiving unit 801 to the developing unit 802 through discharge ports 8016 and openings 8021 provided at two ends in the longitudinal direction. In this way, the toner supplied through the replenishment port 8012 (which is positioned at an end in the longitudinal direction of the process cartridge 20 and is horizontally away from the developer container 32 when viewed in the longitudinal direction) is conveyed into the process cartridge 20 and reaches the developer container 32.

[0148] As described above, the toner storage portion 8011 of the toner receiving unit 801 and the developer container 32 of the developing unit 802 communicate with each other, thus constituting a storage container in the process cartridge 20 that defines a space for storing toner. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the replenishment port 8012 for externally replenishing toner is provided as part of the storage container of the process cartridge 20. However, a replenishment port directly connected to a replenishment container may be provided in the printer main body, and the process cartridge may receive toner through this replenishment port. In this case, parts of the process cartridge 20 other than the replenishment port can be detached from the imaging device 1, as Figure 3 shown.

[0149] The toner supplied to the developing unit 802 through the opening 8021 is stored in a conveyance chamber 36 formed in the developer container 32 constituted by the frame members of the developing unit 802 ( Figure 6A and 6B ). Note that the frame members constituting the developer container 32 may be formed of a single member or a combination of multiple members. Here, an agitation member 34 is provided in the conveyance chamber 36. The agitation member 34 includes a shaft member 34a provided near the rotation center of the agitation member 34, and a blade portion 34b extending in the radial direction from the shaft member 34a. In a cross-sectional view, the toner within the rotation locus of the distal end of the blade portion 34b is pushed and moved according to the movement of the blade portion 34b. The toner replenished through the opening 8021 is conveyed toward the developing roller 31, supply roller 33, and developing blade 35 while being agitated by the agitation member 34.

[0150] The cleaning unit 803 includes a fourth conveying member 8031, a fifth conveying member 8032, and a waste toner chamber 8033 constituted by frame members ( Figure 6A and 6B) Note that the frame members constituting the waste toner chamber 8033 may be composed of a single member or a combination of multiple members. The waste toner chamber 8033 is a space for storing the collected material (so-called waste toner) such as the transfer residual toner collected from the photosensitive drum 21 by the cleaning blade 24, and is independent of the internal spaces of the toner receiving unit 801 and the developing unit 802. The waste toner collected by the cleaning blade 24 is conveyed in the direction of arrow M by the fourth conveying member 8031 and the fifth conveying member 8032, and accumulates gradually from the rear portion 8033a of the waste toner chamber toward the front side.

[0151] Here, the laser is confined between the cleaning unit 803 and the developing unit 802 through the space SP ( Figure 6A ), and the laser passing space is a gap through which the laser L emitted from the scanner unit 11 ( Figure 1A ) toward the photosensitive drum 21 can pass. As described above, the discharge port 8016 and the opening 8021 for transferring the toner from the toner receiving unit 801 to the developing unit 802 are provided at the ends in the longitudinal direction of the respective units. Therefore, while ensuring the laser passing space SP in a configuration where the entire process cartridge 20 is small in size, the toner replenished from the outside of the imaging device 1 (particularly through the replenishment port opening in the upper surface of the device) can be conveyed to the developer container 32 provided in the lower portion of the process cartridge 20.

[0152] (1-5) Structure of the toner pack

[0153] The structure of the toner pack 40 will be described. Figure 7A is a perspective view of the toner pack 40 in a state where the baffle member 41 is closed, Figure 7B and is its bottom view. Figure 8A is a perspective view of the toner pack 40 in a state where the baffle member 41 is open, Figure 8B and is its bottom view, Figure 8C showing how a user squeezes the toner pack 40 by hand when replenishing the toner. Additionally, Figure 12 is a perspective view of the toner pack 40 when viewed from below in a state where the baffle member 41 is closed.

[0154] As Figures 7A to 8CAs shown in the figure, the toner pack 40 serving as an example of the replenishment container includes a bag member 43 filled with toner, a discharge portion 42 formed of resin and attached to the bag member 43, and a shutter member 41 capable of opening and closing the opening portion of the discharge portion 42. In addition, a memory unit 45 serving as a storage device (storage portion) for storing information of the toner pack 40 is attached to the discharge portion 42. The memory unit 45 includes a plurality of metal plates (metal terminals) exposed to the outside of the toner pack 40 as contact portions 45a, and the contact portions are in contact with contact portions 70133 (see Figure 9A and 9B ) of the replenishment container attachment portion 701. In addition, as the material of the bag member 43, PP resin (polypropylene), PET resin (polyethylene terephthalate), cardboard, paper, etc. can be used. In addition, the thickness can be set to 0.01 mm to 1.2 mm. Further, from the viewpoints of squeezability by the user and durability of the bag, 0.05 mm to 1.0 mm is more preferable.

[0155] As Figure 7B , 8B and 12 show, the shutter member 41 has a shape obtained by cutting off a part of a disk-shaped member that can rotate relative to the discharge portion 42. The side surface constituting the thickness of the shutter member 41 at the cut portion serves as a joint surface 41s. At the same time, the discharge portion 42 also has a shape including a cut portion. The cut portion of the discharge portion 42 includes a joint surface 42s parallel to the joint surface 41s. Further, the discharge port 42a is provided at a position approximately 180° in the circumferential direction of the discharge port 42a from the joint surface 42s. Note that the details of the joint surfaces 41s and 42s are shown in Figure 12 .

[0156] As Figure 7B and 12 show, when the positions of the cuts of the shutter member 41 and the discharge portion 42 are aligned when viewed from above or below, the discharge port 42a is covered by the shutter member 41 (closed state). As Figure 8B shows, when the shutter member 41 rotates 180° relative to the discharge portion 42, the discharge port 42a is exposed through the cut portion of the shutter member 41, and the internal space of the bag member 43 communicates with the space outside the toner pack 40. Note that as Figure 12 shows, the shutter member 41 preferably has a structure in which a sealing layer 41b formed of an elastic material (such as sponge) is adhered to a main body portion 41a having rigidity. In this case, the sealing layer 41b is in firm contact with a sealing layer 42c covering the peripheral edge portion of the discharge port 42a in the closed state, so that toner leakage can be suppressed. The sealing layer 42c is shown in Figure 12 , and is formed of an elastic material such as sponge similar to the sealing layer 41b.

[0157] As will be described later, when replenishing the imaging device 1 with toner from the toner pack 40, the toner pack 40 is inserted and connected to the replenishment container attachment portion 701 by aligning the discharge portion 42 with a predetermined position. Then, when the discharge portion 42 is rotated 180°, the discharge portion 42 rotates relative to the baffle member 41 to open the discharge port 42a, and the toner in the bag member 43 falls into the toner receiving unit 801 according to gravity. At this time, the baffle member 41 does not move relative to the replenishment container attachment portion 701.

[0158] As Figure 8C shown, the user squeezes the bag member 43 in a state where the toner pack 40 is attached to the replenishment container attachment portion 701 and rotated 180°, so that the discharge of toner from the toner pack 40 can be promoted.

[0159] Note that although the rotary type baffle member 41 has been described as an example herein, the baffle member may be omitted, and a sliding type baffle member may be used instead of the rotary type baffle member 41. In addition, the baffle member 41 may be configured to be broken by attaching the toner pack 40 to the replenishment port 8012 or rotating the toner pack 40 in the attached state, or may have a detachable cover structure such as a sticker.

[0160] In addition, it is preferable to attach a protective cap to the discharge portion 42 of the unused toner pack 40 so that the toner does not leak during transportation or the like. For example, the protective cap can engage with the baffle member 41 and the cutout portion of the discharge portion 42 in a state of being attached to the discharge portion 42 to restrict the relative rotation of the baffle member 41 and the discharge portion 42. By removing the protective cap, the user can attach the toner pack 40 to the replenishment container attachment portion 701.

[0161] (1-6) Structure of the replenishment container attachment portion

[0162] The baffle opening / closing mechanism of the toner pack 40 and the toner receiving unit 801, and the locking mechanism of the baffle member 41 will be described. Figure 9A is a perspective view of the replenishment container attachment portion 701, Figure 9B is a top view of the replenishment container attachment portion 701. The replenishment container attachment portion 701 includes a replenishment port 8012, a replenishment port baffle 7013, a locking member 7014, and a rotation detection portion 7015.

[0163] The replenishment port 8012 is connected to the toner storage portion 8011 of the toner receiving unit 801 (see Figures 6A to 6C) The communicating opening portion is fixed to the frame member 8010 of the toner receiving unit 801. The replenishment port baffle 7013 includes a lid portion 70131 that covers the replenishment port 8012, a cylindrical portion 70132 that receives the discharge portion 42 of the toner pack 40, and a contact portion 70133 that is connected to the memory unit 45 of the toner pack 40 (see Figure 8B ) The contact portion. In the figure, a part of the cylindrical portion 70132 that covers the contact portion 70133 is indicated as the cylindrical portion 70132a. The replenishment port baffle 7013 is a member in which the lid portion 70131, the cylindrical portion 70132, and the contact portion 70133 are integrated, and is rotatably attached to the frame member 8010 of the toner receiving unit 801. Each conductor exposed on the contact portion 70133 is electrically connected to the control portion included in the printer main body 100 of the image forming apparatus 1 via the wiring provided in the process cartridge 20 and the contact member between the process cartridge 20 and the printer main body 100.

[0164] The rotation detection portion 7015 that serves as a rotation detection sensor is a mechanism that detects the rotation of the replenishment port baffle 7013. The rotation detection portion 7015 of the present embodiment is composed of two conductive leaf springs 70151 and 70152. The leaf spring 70152 exhibits a spring phenomenon in the clockwise direction and contacts the leaf spring 70151 at the distal end portion 701521 when pressed by the protrusion 70135a provided on the outer periphery of the replenishment port baffle 7013. That is, the rotation detection portion 7015 is a circuit configured such that the connection state and the disconnection state are switched according to the rotation angle (rotation position) of the replenishment port baffle 7013. As will be described later, based on whether the rotation detection portion 7015 is in the connected state or the disconnected state, the control portion 90 of the image forming apparatus 1 ( Figure 19 ) identifies whether the discharge port 42a of the toner pack 40 communicates with the replenishment port 8012 of the replenishment container attachment portion 701. In other words, the control portion 90 can determine whether the replenishment operation using the toner pack 40 by the user has been at least normally executed until the discharge port 42a and the replenishment port 8012 are in communication.

[0165] A plurality of protrusions 70135a and 70135b are provided at the outer peripheral portion of the cylindrical portion 70132 of the replenishment port baffle 7013. In addition, a plurality of protrusions 70125a and 70125b are also provided in the portion of the frame member 8010 that supports the cylindrical portion 70132 (the cylindrical portion 7011a of 7011). The plurality of protrusions 70125a and 70125b are located below the protrusion 70135a ( Figure 10A the right side in) in the direction of gravity. The protrusion 70125b allows the protrusion 70135a ( Figure 10A the right side in) to pass through by rotational movement. In contrast, the protrusion 70135a ( Figure 10AOn the left side) extends downward at the same height as the protrusion 70135a ( Figure 10A On the right side) to overlap with the protrusion 70125a and the protrusion 70125b. Therefore, the protrusion 70125b abuts against the protrusion 70135a ( Figure 10A On the left side) according to the rotation angle (rotation position) of the replenishment port baffle 7013 to limit the rotational movement of the protrusion 70135a ( Figure 10A On the left side).

[0166] In addition, before the replenishment port baffle 7013 rotates in the R1 direction, the protrusion 70125a abuts against the protrusion 70135a (left side) and restricts the rotational movement of the protrusion 70135a in the R2 direction. In addition, the protrusion 70135a ( Figure 10A On the right side) abuts against the locking member 7014 and restricts the rotational movement of the locking member 7014 in the R1 direction. In contrast, after the replenishment port baffle 7013 rotates in the R1 direction, the protrusion 70135b abuts against the locking member 7014 that has moved to the locking position and restricts the rotational movement of the locking member 7014 in the R2 direction. In addition, the protrusion 70135a ( Figure 10A On the right side) abuts against the protrusion 70125b and restricts the further rotational movement of the protrusion 70135a in the R1 direction. Note that the rotation direction of the replenishment port baffle 7013 is the R1 direction when the toner pack 40 is attached, and the rotation direction of the replenishment port baffle 7013 is the R2 direction when the toner pack 40 is removed.

[0167] The locking member 7014 is a member that restricts the rotation of the replenishment port baffle 7013. Figure 11A The state where the locking member 7014 is in the locking position P1 is shown, Figure 11B The state where the locking member 7014 is in the lock release position P2 is illustrated. The locking member 7014 can be switched between the locking position (restriction position) P1 and the lock release position (permissible position) P2 by moving in the vertical direction. As Figure 9B and 11A shown, when the locking member 7014 abuts against the protrusion 70135a of the replenishment port baffle 7013 at the locking position P1, the rotation of the replenishment port baffle 7013 is restricted. When the locking member 7014 moves to the lock release position P2 as shown in Figure 11B , the locking member 7014 retracts from the movement locus of the protrusion 70135a during the rotation of the replenishment port baffle 7013, thus allowing the replenishment port baffle 7013 to rotate.

[0168] (1-7) Pressing mechanism of the locking member

[0169] Figure 13The pressing mechanism 600 that moves the locking member 7014 between the locked position and the lock release position is shown. The pressing mechanism 600 is composed of a motor 601, an input gear 602, a cam gear 603, and a forward / retract pin 604. The input gear 602 is a helical gear attached to the output shaft of the motor 601. The cam gear 603 includes a gear portion 6032 composed of a helical gear engaged with the input gear 602 and a cam portion 6031 for reciprocating the forward / retract pin 604.

[0170] The forward / retract pin 604 is supported by a holding member so as to be linearly movable in the direction of gravity and its opposite direction (vertical direction). When the motor 601 rotates, the cam gear 603 rotates via the input gear 602, and the forward / retract pin 604 reciprocates in the up and down directions by being pressed by the cam portion 6031. Accordingly, the locking member 7014 also moves in the up and down directions between the locked position and the lock release position. Figure 13 The locked state is shown.

[0171] Note that although the drive transmission structure of the pressing mechanism 600 of the present embodiment is composed of a combination of helical gears and spur gears, this is not restrictive as long as the structure can convert the rotation of the motor into linear motion. For example, bevel gears can be used, or a structure in which the input gear 602 is omitted and the cam gear 603 is directly driven by the motor 601 can be adopted. In addition, an actuator such as a solenoid that outputs linear motion can be used as a drive source instead of the motor 601.

[0172] In addition, the components Figure 13 constituting the pressing mechanism 600 shown in are supported by the frame member 609 of the printer main body. In contrast, the pivot shaft 7014a of the locking member 7014 is supported by a holding portion provided in the frame member 8010 of the toner receiving unit 801 so as to be pivotable and slidable in the vertical direction. Therefore, when the process cartridge 20 is replaced, the locking member 7014 is also replaced at the same time, while the pressing mechanism 600 remains in the printer main body. The pivot shaft 7014a and the forward / retract pin 604 are formed as different components. When the locking member 7014 is in the lock release position, the forward / retract pin 604 is away from the locking member, and the process cartridge 20 is removed from the main body while the forward / retract pin 604 remains in the main body. However, this structure is not restrictive, and for example, the pivot shaft 7014a of the locking member 7014 can be supported by the printer main body.

[0173] (1-8) Procedures for the replenishment operation using the toner pack

[0174] A procedure for the operation performed when the toner pack 40 is detached after attaching the toner pack 40 to the replenishment container attachment portion 701 and replenishing the toner will be described based on the above-described configuration of the toner pack 40, the replenishment container attachment portion 701, and the pressing mechanism 600. Figure 10A is a top view of the replenishment container attachment portion 701 when the replenishment port 8012 is in the closed state, Figure 10B is a top view of the replenishment container attachment portion 701 when the replenishment port 8012 is in the open state.

[0175] As Figure 10A shown, the replenishment port shutter 7013 in the closed state is fixed so as not to be rotatable relative to the replenishment port 8012 by bringing the protrusion 70135a into contact with the locking member 7014 located at the locking position in the rotational direction. At this time, the lid portion 70131 of the replenishment port shutter 7013 completely closes the replenishment port 8012. In addition, the leaf springs 70151 and 70152 of the rotation detection portion 7015 are separated from each other, and the rotation detection portion 7015 is in the off state.

[0176] When the toner pack 40 is inserted into the replenishment container attachment portion 701, the user aligns the discharge portion 42 of the toner pack 40 and the cutout portion of the shutter member 41 ( Figure 12 ) with the replenishment port 8012 and the lid portion 70131 of the replenishment port shutter 7013, and inserts the toner pack 40. In this case, the engagement surface 42s of the discharge portion 42 engages with the engagement surface 7013s which is the side surface of the lid portion 70131 (see Figure 9C ), and the engagement surface 41s of the shutter member 41 engages with the engagement surface 8012s provided on the outer peripheral portion of the replenishment port 8012 (see Figure 9C ). At this time, the discharge portion 42 engaged with the lid portion 70131 of the replenishment port shutter 7013 is non-rotatable until the locking of the replenishment port shutter 7013 by the locking member 7014 is released later, and becomes rotatable together with the replenishment port shutter 7013 after the locking is released. In addition, the shutter member 41 of the toner pack 40 is in a non-rotatable state by engaging with the replenishment port 8012 fixed to the frame member 8010 of the toner receiving unit 801. Note that, as a different engagement mechanism between the lid portion 70131 and the discharge portion 42, a protrusion protruding upward may be provided on the upper surface of the lid portion 70131, and a recess engaging with the protrusion may be provided on the lower surface 42b of the discharge portion 42 (see Figure 12 ).

[0177] In addition, by inserting the toner pack 40, the contact portion 45a (Fig. 7) of the memory unit 45 contacts the contact portion 70133 of the replenishment container attachment portion 701, and the information stored in the memory unit 45 is read by the control unit 90 of the imaging device. The memory unit 45 stores information (brand new product flag) indicating whether there is toner in the toner pack 40 (whether the toner pack has been used). When the control unit 90 reads the brand new product flag and determines that the currently attached toner pack 40 contains toner (unused), the control unit 90 controls the pressing mechanism 600 to push the locking member 7014 upward. As a result, the locking member 7014 moves from the locking position P1 to the unlocking position P2 ( Figure 11B ).

[0178] In a state where the locking member 7014 has moved to the unlocking position P2, the locking member 7014 is separated from the protruding portion 70135a of the replenishment port baffle 7013, so that the replenishment port baffle 7013 becomes rotatable along the Figure 10A and 10B R1 direction ( Figure 11B ). However, since the protruding portion 70125a provided on the frame member 8010 of the toner receiving unit 801 interferes with the protruding portion 70135a ( Figure 10A ), the rotation of the replenishment port baffle 7013 along the R2 direction is restricted. That is, in Figure 10A , 70125a and 70125b are located below 70135a and 70135b, so that 70135a and 70135b can move and pass along the rotation direction.

[0179] When the user grasps the toner pack 40 and rotates the discharge portion 42 or the portion of the bag member 43 close to the discharge portion 42 by 180° in the R1 direction, the state shown in Figure 10B is obtained. The replenishment port baffle 7013 also rotates 180° together with the discharge portion 42 of the toner pack 40, so that the cover portion 70131 moves from the position covering the replenishment port 8012, and the replenishment port 8012 is exposed. The side surface of the cover portion 70131 is pushed by the engagement surface 42s (the engagement surface 42s is a part of the rotating discharge portion 42), so that the cover portion 70131 moves rotationally together with the engagement surface 42s. In addition, since the discharge portion 42 rotates 180° with the baffle member 41 fixed, the discharge port 42a ( Figure 8B ) of the toner pack 40 is exposed and faces the replenishment port 8012. As a result, the internal space of the toner pack 40 and the internal space of the toner receiving unit 801 communicate with each other through the discharge port 42a and the replenishment port 8012, and the toner stored in the bag member 43 flows downward into the toner storage portion 8011.

[0180] As described above, the toner that has fallen into the toner storage unit 8011 is conveyed inside the toner receiving unit 801, reaches the developer container 32, and becomes available for the developing process. Note that a configuration may be adopted in which: as long as there remains in the developer container 32 a toner amount sufficient to maintain the image quality, the developing unit 802 can perform the developing process even before the newly replenished toner reaches the developer container 32. That is to say, a configuration may be adopted in which: regardless of whether the imaging unit 10 ( Figure 1A ) is performing an imaging operation, toner can be supplied from a replenishment container provided outside the imaging device to the developer container.

[0181] In addition, the protruding portion 70125b is arranged to abut against the protruding portion 70135a ( Figure 10A ) of the replenishment port shutter 7013 when the replenishment port shutter 7013 rotates 180° in the R1 direction from the Figure 10B state. That is to say, the protruding portion 70125b, similar to the protruding portion 70125a, is also located below the protruding portions 70135a and 70135b. As a result, the pivoting of the replenishment port shutter 7013 in the R1 direction beyond 180° is restricted. At the same time, the protruding portion 70135a of the replenishment port shutter 7013 presses the leaf spring 70152 of the rotation detection unit 7015, and the distal end portion 701521 of the leaf spring 70152 contacts the leaf spring 70151. When the rotation detection unit 7015 is in the connected state, the control unit 90 recognizes that the replenishment port shutter 7013 has been changed to the open state, and operates the pressing mechanism 600 to move the locking member 7014 again to the locking position. Then, the locking member 7014 engages with the protruding portion 70135b of the replenishment port shutter 7013 to restrict rotation in the R2 direction, so that both the replenishment port shutter 7013 and the toner pack 40 become non-rotatable in any direction.

[0182] Furthermore, in the positional relationship in the Figure 10B state in which the discharge portion 42 of the toner pack 40 and the replenishment port shutter 7013 have been rotated 180°, the cover portion 70131 of the replenishment port shutter 7013 covers the upper portion of the shutter member 41 of the toner pack 40. Therefore, when an attempt is made to lift the toner pack 40 from the replenishment container attachment portion 701, the shutter member 41 interferes with the cover portion 70131, so that the movement of the toner pack 40 is restricted. Therefore, unless the user performs the disassembly operation of the toner pack 40 according to a predetermined procedure described below, the disassembly of the toner pack 40 from the replenishment container attachment portion 701 is prevented.

[0183] After starting to discharge the toner from the toner pack 40, if the condition for determining that the discharge of the toner has been completed is satisfied, the control unit 90 operates the pressing mechanism 600 to move the locking member 7014 to the lock release position. In the present embodiment, the completion of the toner discharge is determined based on the time elapsed since the rotation detection unit 7015 has transitioned to the connected state.

[0184] After the locking member 7014 has moved to the lock release position, the user can remove the toner pack 40 by following the procedure opposite to the procedure performed when attaching the toner pack 40. That is, the user grasps the discharge portion 42 of the toner pack 40 or the portion of the bag member 43 near the discharge portion 42, and rotates the grasped portion 180° in the R2 direction opposite to the attachment direction. In this case, the replenishment port baffle 7013 rotates 180° together with the discharge portion 42, and the replenishment port 8012 is covered by the lid portion 70131 of the replenishment port baffle 7013, as Figure 10A shown. In addition, the protrusion 70135a ( Figure 10A left side in ) of the replenishment port baffle 7013 abuts against the protrusion 70125a, thereby restricting the replenishment port baffle 7013 from rotating more than 180° in the R2 direction.

[0185] In a state where the discharge portion 42 of the toner pack 40 has rotated 180° in the R2 direction, the position of the cutout portion of the discharge portion 42 is aligned with the position of the cutout portion of the baffle member 41 ( Figure 12 ). Therefore, even if the toner pack 40 is moved upward, the baffle member 41 does not interfere with the lid portion 70131 of the replenishment port baffle 7013, so the user can remove the toner pack 40 from the replenishment container attachment portion 701 by grasping and lifting the toner pack 40.

[0186] Note that during the process of rotating the replenishment port baffle 7013 180° in the R2 direction, the protrusion 70135a is separated from the leaf spring 70152, and the rotation detection unit 7015 returns to the disconnected state. Then, the control unit 90 recognizes that the replenishment port baffle 7013 has transitioned to the closed state, and operates the pressing mechanism 600 to move the locking member 7014 to the locked position. As a result, the replenishment container attachment portion 701 returns to the initial state before performing the toner replenishment operation. For example, the control unit 90 can determine that the predetermined condition for moving the locking member 7014 to the lock release position is satisfied when a predetermined time has elapsed after the rotation detection unit 7015 has transitioned to the connected state. Note that the trigger for moving the locking member 7014 to the locked position can be, for example, the contact portion 70133 of the replenishment container attachment portion 701 and the contact portion 45a of the toner pack (see Figure 7A and 7B)Conduction losses due to the detachment of the toner pack 40 from the replenishment container attachment portion 701.

[0187] Although the positional relationship is set in this embodiment such that the discharge port 42a of the toner pack 40 and the replenishment port 8012 communicate with each other after a 180° rotation, the rotation angle required for communication can be changed as long as the toner pack 40 can be detached by an operation similar to the operation of this embodiment.

[0188] (1 - 9) Panel

[0189] Next, the panel 400 will be described. For example, the panel 400 is provided on the front surface of the housing of the printer main body 100, as shown in Figure 1B and 14A to 14C. The panel 400 is an example of a display device (display unit) that displays information related to the remaining amount of toner in the developer container 32 (or the remaining capacity of the developer container 32). The panel 400 is composed of a liquid crystal panel including a plurality of indicators (indicating devices). In this embodiment, three indicators 4001, 4002, and 4003 are arranged in this order from the upper side to the lower side in the vertical direction. The panel 400 indicates the amount of toner that can be added to the developer container 32 for replenishment by the gradually changing display of the indicators 4001 to 4003. The control unit 90 continuously updates the display of the panel based on the recognition of the completion of the replenishment operation described later. In addition, in the case where the completion of the replenishment operation is not reflected in the remaining amount of toner, the remaining amount of toner can be subsequently detected, and the display of the panel can be updated. For example, when the control unit 90 has detected by an optical sensor (51a and 51b, see Figure 6A ) that the toner has not actually been sufficiently replenished after the lamp of the indicator 4002 has been turned on, the control unit 90 updates the display of the panel 400 by turning off the lamp of the indicator 4002. In addition, the lowermost indicator 4003 also indicates whether the toner in the developer container 32 is at the Low level or the Out level. Note that the Low level is a level at which, although the developer container 32 needs to be replenished with toner, at least the amount of toner required to maintain image quality remains and imaging operations can still be performed. The Out level is a level at which almost no toner remains in the developer container 32 and imaging operations cannot be performed.

[0190] In the shown configuration example of the panel 400, the lights of all three indicators 4001, 4002, and 4003 being turned off indicates that the toner in the developer container 32 is at the Out level (fourth state).

[0191] In as Figure 14AWhen only the lamp of the lower indicator 4003 is on as shown, it indicates that the remaining amount of toner in the developing agent container 32 is at the Low level. In this state, the lamps of both indicators are off, so it can be seen that the amount of toner corresponding to two toner packs 40 can be added for replenishment (third state). Additionally, from the fact that the lamps of the digital panels “+1” and “+2” next to the indicators are on, it can also be seen that the amount of toner corresponding to two toner packs 40 can be added for replenishment.

[0192] When, as Figure 14B shown, the lamps of the middle and lower indicators 4002 and 4003 are on while the lamp of the upper indicator 4001 is off, the remaining amount of toner in the developing agent container 32 is greater than the remaining amount of toner at the Low level but less than the remaining amount of toner at the Full level (fully filled). In this state, the lamp of one indicator is off, so it can be seen that, for example, the amount of toner corresponding to one toner pack 40 can be added for replenishment (second state). Additionally, from the fact that the lamp of the digital panel “+1” next to the indicator is on while the lamp of the digital panel “+2” is off, it can also be seen that the amount of toner corresponding to one toner pack 40 can be added for replenishment.

[0193] When, as Figure 14C shown, all three indicators 4001 to 4003 are on, it indicates that the remaining amount of toner in the developing agent container 32 is at the Full level. In this state, no indicator lamp is off, so it can be seen that, for example, toner cannot be added from the toner pack 40 for replenishment (first state). Additionally, from the fact that the lamps of the digital panels “+1” and “+2” next to the indicators are off, it can also be seen that toner cannot be added from the toner pack 40 for replenishment.

[0194] Note that the panel 400 shown in FIG. 14 is an example of a display device whose display content changes according to the remaining amount of toner in the developing agent container 32, and different configurations can be adopted. For example, instead of a liquid crystal panel, the panel can be composed of a combination of a light source such as an LED or an incandescent lamp and a diffusing lens. Alternatively, a configuration that omits the indicator and only uses the digital panel, or a configuration that omits the digital panel and only uses the indicator, can be adopted.

[0195] Additionally, the number and display method of the indicators of the panel 400 can be appropriately modified. For example, when the remaining amount of toner in the developing agent container 32 is at the Low level, the user can be prompted to replenish the toner by making the lamp of the lower indicator blink.

[0196] (2) First modification example

[0197] Next, reference will be made to Figures 15A to 15DA first modified example will be described. As another example of a replenishment container, a toner bottle unit having a bottle shape is used instead of the toner pack having a bag shape. Note that, similar to the toner pack 40 described above, the toner bottle unit is configured to be attachable to the replenishment container attachment portion 701 and detachable from the replenishment container attachment portion. Therefore, description of the same elements as those in the first embodiment of the imaging device will be omitted.

[0198] (2-1) Structure of the toner bottle unit

[0199] Figure 15A is a perspective view showing the appearance of the toner bottle unit 900, Figure 15B is a perspective view of the toner bottle unit 900 after discharging the toner. Figure 15C is a view showing the toner bottle unit 900 when viewed from the lower side of the piston, Figure 15D is the toner bottle unit 900 along Figure 15C A cross-sectional view taken along the cross-sectional position D-D.

[0200] In addition, Figure 16A is a perspective view of the toner bottle unit 900 in which the outer cylinder 903 (see Figure 15A ) is omitted, Figure 16B is a perspective view of the toner bottle unit 900 after discharging the toner, in which the outer cylinder 903 is omitted. Figure 16C is a view showing the state before the pushing operation of the member related to the push detection of the toner bottle unit 900, Figure 16D is a view showing the state after the pushing operation of the member related to the push detection. Figure 16E is a view showing the state before the rotation operation of the member related to the rotation detection of the toner bottle unit 900, Figure 16F is a view showing the state after the rotation operation of the member related to the rotation detection of the toner bottle unit 900.

[0201] As Figure 15A and 15D shown, the toner bottle unit 900 generally includes an outer cylinder 903, an inner cylinder 901, a piston 902, a baffle member 904, and a memory unit 911. The outer cylinder 903 and the inner cylinder 901 have a cylindrical shape, the inner cylinder 901 is assembled inside the outer cylinder 903, and the piston 902 is assembled inside the inner cylinder 901 and is slidable relative to the inner cylinder 901. In the following description, the direction in which the piston 902 moves (the axial direction of the outer cylinder 903 and the inner cylinder 901) will be referred to as the axial direction of the toner bottle unit 900. In addition, the piston 902 serves as an example of a pressing member.

[0202] The inner cylinder 901 includes a toner storage portion 9014 having a cylindrical shape and storing toner, a bottom portion 9013 provided at one end side in the axial direction, and a discharge port 9011 provided in the bottom portion 9013. The inner cylinder 901 has a cylindrical shape, wherein one end of the toner storage portion 9014 in the axial direction is closed by the bottom portion 9013. An opening portion 9012 is provided at the other end side of the toner storage portion 9014, and a piston 902 is inserted into the toner storage portion 9014 through the opening portion 9012. In addition, a weight member 905 having a spherical shape and capable of freely moving in the toner storage portion 9014 is included in the inner cylinder 901.

[0203] The outer cylinder 903 includes: an inner cylinder accommodating portion 9034 having a cylindrical shape, which accommodates the toner storage portion 9014 of the inner cylinder 901 therein; a bottom portion 9033 provided at one end side in the axial direction; and a discharge port 9031 provided in the bottom portion 9033. The outer cylinder 903 has a cylindrical shape, wherein one end of the inner cylinder accommodating portion 9034 in the axial direction is closed by the bottom portion 9033 similarly to the inner cylinder 901, and the outer cylinder 903 holds the inner cylinder 901 relatively immovably. An opening portion 9032 through which the piston 902 is inserted is provided at the other end side of the inner cylinder accommodating portion 9034.

[0204] The discharge port 9011 of the inner cylinder 901 has a thin cylindrical shape extending from the bottom portion 9013 toward one end side in the axial direction. The discharge port 9031 of the outer cylinder 903 is provided in the bottom portion 9033 at a position corresponding to the discharge port 9011 of the inner cylinder 901. The discharge port 9031 of the outer cylinder 903 is a discharge port through which the toner stored in the toner storage portion 9014 is discharged to the outside of the toner bottle unit 900. Note that a retraction space 9013a is provided adjacent to the discharge port 9011 of the inner cylinder 901 for retracting the weight member 905 into the retraction space when the piston is pushed so as not to block the discharge port 9011.

[0205] Note that the bottom portion 9013 of the inner cylinder 901 has an inclined shape with a smaller cross-sectional area on the discharge port side in the axial direction (particularly a conical shape with a smaller inner diameter on the discharge port side in the axial direction). The bottom portion 9033 of the outer cylinder 903 opposite to the bottom portion 9013 of the inner cylinder 901 also has a similar inclined shape. The discharge port 9011 and the retraction space 9013a of the inner cylinder 901 are provided at the vertex portion of the inclined shape of the bottom portion 9033. The weight member 905 has a spherical shape and is guided by the bottom portion 9013 to move to the retraction space 9013a by gravity.

[0206] The piston 902 includes an elastic member 906 attached to an end portion 9023 on one end side (the discharge port side) in the axial direction, and a push rib 9021 provided near the other end portion 9022 (the portion pushed by the user when pushing the piston). The elastic member 906 is configured to be in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the toner storage portion 9014 without a gap therebetween, and has a function of suppressing toner leakage when the piston is pushed. In addition, the push rib 9021 has a protruding shape that protrudes radially outward from the outer peripheral surface of the piston 902.

[0207] The configuration of the baffle member 904 is similar to the configuration of the baffle member 41 provided in the toner pack 40 described above. That is, as Figure 15C shown, the baffle member 904 has a disk shape that is partially cut away and is rotatable relative to the outer cylinder 903. The side surface forming the thickness of the baffle member 904 at the cut portion serves as the engagement surface 904s. At the same time, the outer cylinder 903 also has a cut shape. The outer cylinder 903 includes an engagement surface 903s parallel to the engagement surface 904s at the cut portion. In addition, the discharge port 9031 is provided at a position approximately 180° away from the engagement surface 903s in the circumferential direction of the outer cylinder 903.

[0208] Figure 15C A state where the discharge port 9031 has been exposed is shown, but in the state when the toner bottle unit 900 is being transported, the positions of the cut engagement surfaces 903s and 904s of the baffle member 904 and the outer cylinder 903 are aligned. In this case, the discharge port 9031 is covered by the baffle member 904, and the sealed state of the toner storage portion 9014 is maintained (closed state). As Figure 15C shown, when the baffle member 904 rotates 180° relative to the outer cylinder 903, the discharge port 9031 is exposed through the cut portion of the baffle member 904, thus releasing the seal of the toner storage portion 9014, and toner can be discharged (open state). The configuration of the discharge port 9031, the engagement surface 903s, and the baffle member 904 is basically the same as the configuration described in reference Figures 7A to 8C and Figure 12 described.

[0209] A memory unit 911 serving as a storage device (storage portion) for storing information of the toner bottle unit 900 is attached to a portion near the discharge port 9031 of the outer cylinder 903. The memory unit 911 includes a plurality of metal plates 9111, 9112, and 9113 ( Figure 16A ) exposed to the outside of the toner bottle unit 900, as a contact portion 911a that contacts the contact portion 70133 ( Figure 9A ) of the replenishment container attachment portion 701.

[0210] (2-2) Piston Pushing Detection Mechanism

[0211] In addition, as Figure 16A and 16C shown, as a pushing detection mechanism for detecting the pushing operation of the piston 902, a pushing detection rod 907, a first contact plate 908, and a second contact plate 909 are provided between the outer cylinder 903 and the inner cylinder 901. The pushing detection rod 907 is formed of an insulating material such as resin, and the first contact plate 908 and the second contact plate 909 are formed of a conductive material such as metal. The pushing detection rod 907 includes a contact release portion 9072 located at one end side (discharge port side) in the axial direction, and a piston contact portion 9071 located at the other end side in the axial direction and capable of abutting against the pushing rib 9021 of the piston 902. As a result of the pushing rib 9021 pressing the piston contact portion 9071, the pushing detection rod 907 moves in the axial direction according to the pushing operation of the piston 902.

[0212] For example, the pushing detection rod 907 is assembled into a groove shape defined in the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylinder 901 or the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder 903 in the axial direction, and thus is held so as to be movable in the axial direction relative to the inner cylinder 901 and the outer cylinder 903, but its movement in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction is restricted. In addition, the piston contact portion 9071 has a shape bent perpendicular to the axial direction, that is, a shape bent into an L shape, so that the pushing rib 9021 can contact it more reliably. Note that although the pushing rib 9021 is provided to extend completely around the outer peripheral surface of the piston 902 in Figure 16A , a configuration in which the pushing rib 9021 is formed only at a position corresponding to the piston contact portion 9071 in the circumferential direction can be adopted.

[0213] The first contact plate 908 and the second contact plate 909 are metal plates, and the connection state and separation state of the metal plates are switched according to the position of the pushing detection rod 907 formed of insulating resin. A new product detection method of the toner bottle unit 900 using the first contact plate 908 and the second contact plate 909 will be described later.

[0214] In addition, a cylindrical cover 910 ( Figure 15A ) is provided at the end of the outer cylinder 903 on the opening side to prevent the pushing detection rod 907 from falling off. That is, the cylindrical cover 910 that defines the opening 9032 of the outer cylinder 903 is narrowed so that the cylindrical cover 910 is closer to the inside in the radial direction than the outer edge position (16B) of the piston contact portion 9071 ( Figure 15D ). Therefore, even when a force is applied to move the pushing detection rod 907 in the axial direction toward the opening side, the piston contact portion 9071 will interfere with the cylindrical cover 910, so the pushing detection rod 907 will not fall off from the toner bottle unit 900.

[0215] (2-3) Determination of new / used for the toner bottle unit

[0216] Next, a configuration for detecting whether the toner bottle unit 900 is unused (brand new) or used when the toner bottle unit 900 is attached to the replenishment container attachment portion 701 will be described. As Figure 16C and 16D shown, the contact release portion 9072 of the push detection lever 907 is positioned near the first contact plate 908 and the second contact plate 909.

[0217] Figure 16C Corresponding to Figure 16A the state before the piston is pushed as shown, the first contact plate 908 and the second contact plate 909 are in contact with each other and thus in a connected state. At this time, preferably, one of the first contact plate 908 and the second contact plate 909 formed of metal is formed in the shape of a leaf spring and is in pressure contact with the other contact plate. In addition, for example, by applying conductive grease to the contact surfaces of the first contact plate 908 and the second contact plate 909, the conduction between the first contact plate 908 and the second contact plate 909 can be made more reliable.

[0218] Figure 16D Corresponding to Figure 16B the state after the piston is pushed as shown, the first contact plate 908 and the second contact plate 909 are in a separated state. In this state, the contact release portion 9072 of the push detection lever 907 pushed by the push rib 9021 reaches between the first contact plate 908 and the second contact plate 909, thus physically separating the two. At least the contact release portion 9072 of the push detection lever 907 is formed of an insulating material, and the conduction between the first contact plate 908 and the second contact plate 909 is disconnected when the contact release portion 9072 is located between the first contact plate 908 and the second contact plate 909 Figure 16D state.

[0219] The first contact plate 908 and the second contact plate 909 are connected to different ones of the plurality of metal plates 9111 to 9113 at ends opposite to the ends that contact the contact release portion 9072 of the push-in detection lever 907. Here, the first contact plate 908 is connected to the metal plate 9111, and the second contact plate 909 is connected to the metal plate 9113. In this case, it is possible to determine whether the toner bottle unit 900 is in a state before the piston is pushed in (unused) or in a state after the piston is pushed in (used) by detecting whether a current is generated when a minute voltage is applied between the metal plates 9111 and 9113. That is, in a state where the toner bottle unit 900 is attached to the replenishment container attachment portion 701, the control unit 90 of the image forming apparatus can determine whether the toner bottle unit 900 has been used or not based on the presence or absence of conduction between the metal plates 9111 and 9113. In addition, the control unit 90 can determine that the user has completed the replenishment operation based on the disconnection between the first contact plate 908 and the second contact plate 909. Based on this determination, the control unit 90 performs display control of the above-described panel 400. In addition, the control unit 90 changes a new product flag (new: 1, used: 0) indicating that the toner bottle unit 900 has been used and written in the memory unit 45 according to the conduction between the metal plates 9111 and 9113.

[0220] Note that, in the case of the above-described configuration, the memory unit 911 is preferably provided in a circuit connecting the metal plates 9111 and 9112. As a result, the control unit 90 of the image forming apparatus can access the memory unit 911 through the metal plates 9111 and 9112 while monitoring the push-in operation of the toner bottle unit 900 through the metal plates 9111 and 9113.

[0221] (2-4) Rotation detection of toner bottle unit

[0222] Next, a method for detecting the rotation of the toner bottle unit 900 will be described with reference to Figure 16E and 16F Note that the rotation detection method in this embodiment is the same as the rotation detection method in the above-described embodiment using the toner pack 40, except that a baffle member 904 for sealing the discharge port of the replenishment container is attached to the outer cylinder 903 of the toner bottle unit 900.

[0223] As Figure 16E and 16F shown, two conductive leaf springs 70151 and 70152 are provided as a rotation detection unit 7015 in the replenishment container attachment portion 701 of the process cartridge. In addition, a protrusion 70135b is provided on the outer peripheral portion of the replenishment port baffle 7013.

[0224] As Figure 16EAs shown, before the toner bottle unit 900 inserted into the replenishment container attachment portion 701 rotates, the distal end 701521 of the leaf spring 70152 does not contact the leaf spring 70151, so the rotation detection portion 7015 is in an off state. That is, when a small voltage is applied between the leaf springs 70151 and 70152, no current flows. As Figure 16F shown, when the toner bottle unit 900 is rotated 180°, the leaf spring 70152 is pressed by the protrusion 70135a, so the distal end 701521 contacts the leaf spring 70151, and the rotation detection portion 7015 switches to a connected state. In this state, when a small voltage is applied between the leaf springs 70151 and 70152, current flows. The control unit 90 of the imaging device 1 identifies whether the discharge port 9031 of the toner bottle unit 900 and the replenishment port 8012 of the replenishment container attachment portion 701 communicate with each other based on whether the rotation detection portion 7015 is in a connected state or an off state.

[0225] (2-5) Procedure of replenishment operation using the toner bottle unit

[0226] A series of operations for detaching the toner bottle unit 900 after attaching the toner bottle unit 900 to the replenishment container attachment portion 701 and replenishing toner will be described. Note that the description of the elements identical to those in the above-described embodiment using the toner pack 40 will be omitted.

[0227] First, the user attaches an unused toner bottle unit 900 to the replenishment container attachment portion 701. Specifically, by aligning the cut joint surfaces 903s and 904s ( Figure 15C ) of the outer cylinder 903 and the baffle member 904 with the replenishment port 8012 and the lid portion 70131 of the replenishment port baffle 7013 ( Figure 9A ) for insertion. In this case, the joint surface 903s of the outer cylinder 903 engages with the joint surface 7013s that is the side surface of the lid portion 70131, and the joint surface 904s of the baffle member 904 engages with the joint surface 8012s provided on the outer peripheral portion of the replenishment port 8012. At this time, the outer cylinder 903 engaged with the lid portion 70131 of the replenishment port baffle 7013 is non-rotatable until the locking of the replenishment port baffle 7013 by the locking member 7014 is released later, and becomes rotatable together with the replenishment port baffle 7013 after the locking is released. In addition, the baffle member 904 is in a non-rotatable state by engaging with the replenishment port 8012 fixed to the frame member 8010 of the toner receiving unit 801. Further, the leaf springs 70151 and 70152 of the rotation detection portion 7015 are away from each other, and the rotation detection portion 7015 is in an off state ( Figure 16E ).

[0228] When the unused toner bottle unit 900 is inserted into the replenishment container attachment portion 701, the control unit 90 identifies that the toner bottle unit 900 is new through the above-described new product detection mechanism. The control unit 90 can identify the conduction between the metal plates 9111 and 9113 or determine it by reading the new product flag (new: 1, used: 0) in the memory unit 45. In this case, the control unit 90 operates the pressing mechanism 600 to move the locking member 7014 to the unlock position, so that the toner bottle unit 900 becomes rotatable.

[0229] Then, when the user grasps the toner bottle unit 900 and rotates the toner bottle unit 900 by 180°, the baffle member 904 and the replenishment port baffle 7013 are opened, and the discharge port 9031 of the toner bottle unit 900 communicates with the replenishment port 8012 of the replenishment container attachment portion 701. The operation of opening the baffle member 904 and the replenishment port baffle 7013 according to the rotation of the toner bottle unit 900 is similar to that of the toner pack 40 described in Figure 10A and 10B described.

[0230] As Figure 16F shown, in the state where the toner bottle unit 900 is rotated by 180°, the distal end 701521 of the leaf spring 70152 pressed by the protrusion 70135b of the replenishment port baffle 7013 contacts another leaf spring 70151. When the rotation detection unit 7015 switches to the connected state in this way, the control unit 90 of the imaging device detects that the rotation operation of the toner bottle unit 900 has been performed. That is, the control unit 90 recognizes that the sealing by the baffle member 904 and the replenishment port baffle 7013 has been released and the discharge port 42a of the toner pack 40 and the replenishment port 8012 of the replenishment container attachment portion 701 communicate with each other. In addition, the control unit 90 operates the pressing mechanism 600 to move the locking member 7014 to the locked position, thus restricting the rotation of the toner bottle unit 900.

[0231] Next, the user presses the piston 902 of the toner bottle unit 900 to start discharging the toner. The toner that has fallen into the toner storage portion 8011 is conveyed within the toner receiving unit 801 and reaches the developer container 32. In addition, in this modification example, when the piston 902 is pushed to the deepest position, the above-described push detection mechanism detects that the pushing operation of the piston 902 has been completed. That is, as Figure 16B shown, the push rib 9021 of the piston 902 presses the piston contact portion 9071 of the push detection lever 907, so that the push detection lever 907 moves in conjunction with the piston 902. Then, as Figure 16DAs shown, the contact release portion 9072 of the push-in detection lever 907 disconnects the conduction between the first contact plate 908 and the second contact plate 909. The control unit 90 of the imaging device identifies the completion of the push-in of the piston 902 based on the fact that no current flows even when a voltage is applied between the metal plate 9111 connected to the first contact plate 908 and the metal plate 9113 connected to the second contact plate 909. That is, in this modified example, the push-in detection mechanism for detecting the completion of the push-in operation of the piston 902 is used to determine the condition for the completion of the toner discharge. Note that a configuration may be adopted in which: the control unit 90 rewrites the new product flag in the memory unit 911 when the conduction between the first contact plate 908 and the second contact plate 909 is disconnected, and determines that the toner discharge has been completed based on the rewrite of the new product flag.

[0232] The control unit 90, which has detected the completion of the toner discharge from the toner bottle unit 900, operates the pressing mechanism 600 again to move the locking member 7014 to the unlocking position, thereby making the toner bottle unit 900 rotatable. The user grasps the toner bottle unit 900 and rotates the toner bottle unit 900 by 180°. In this case, the discharge port 9031 of the toner bottle unit 900 is covered by the baffle member 904, and the replenishment port 8012 of the replenishment container attachment portion 701 is covered by the lid portion 70131 of the replenishment port baffle 7013. Additionally, as Figure 16E shown, the leaf springs 70151 and 70152 are separated, and the rotation detection unit 7015 returns to the off state. Then, the control unit 90 recognizes that the replenishment port baffle 7013 has been switched to the closed state, and operates the pressing mechanism 600 to move the locking member 7014 to the locking position. As a result, the replenishment container attachment portion 701 returns to the initial state before toner replenishment.

[0233] (3) Second Modified Example

[0234] Next, a second modified example in which the configuration of the processing cartridge is different will be described. This modified example has the same elements as the first embodiment except for the elements related to the processing cartridge, and thus the description of the same elements will be omitted.

[0235] (3-1) Processing Cartridge

[0236] Figures 17A to 17D are respectively a perspective view, a side view, a cross-sectional view, and another cross-sectional view of the processing cartridge 20A according to this modified example. Figure 17C and 17D are cross-sectional views taken at the cutting positions shown in Figure 17B respectively.

[0237] As Figures 17A to 17DAs shown, the processing cartridge 20A of this modified example includes a toner receiving unit 801, a developing unit 802, and a drum unit 803A. Compared with the first embodiment, the drum unit 803A does not include a cleaning blade 24 for cleaning the surface of the photosensitive drum 21 or a waste toner chamber 8033 for accommodating waste toner ( Figure 6A ). This is because in this modified example, a cleaner-less configuration is adopted, in which the transfer residual toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 21 and not transferred to the recording material is collected into the developing unit 802 and reused. Note that, for example, a non-magnetic or magnetic one-component developer is also used here.

[0238] In the example shown, the developing unit 802 is located in the lower part of the processing cartridge 20A, and the toner receiving unit 801 and the drum unit 803A are located above the developing unit 802 in the direction of gravity. Although as Figure 17B shown the toner receiving unit 801 and the drum unit 803A do not overlap when viewed in the direction of gravity, the two can be at least partially aligned in the vertical direction. In addition, the toner receiving unit 801 is arranged in the space where the cleaning blade 24 and the waste toner chamber 8033 are provided in the first embodiment. The structure of the replenishment container attachment portion 701 provided in the toner receiving unit 801 is the same as that in the first embodiment, Figures 17A to 17D and its simplified shape is shown.

[0239] Laser passes through the space SP defined between the developing unit 802, the drum unit 803A, and the toner receiving unit 801, and the laser passing through space serves as a gap for the laser L emitted from the scanner unit 11 (see Figure 1A ) to pass through toward the photosensitive drum 21. In addition, preferably, in the drum unit 803A, the pre-exposure unit for removing the electrostatic latent image by irradiating light onto the surface of the photosensitive drum 21 is provided downstream of the transfer portion in the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 21 and between the transfer portion and the charging roller 22.

[0240] (3-2) Toner Behavior in Cleaner-less Configuration

[0241] The toner behavior in a cleaner-less configuration will be described. The transfer residual toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 21 at the transfer section is removed according to the following procedure. The transfer residual toner includes a mixture of positively charged toner and negatively charged but charge-insufficient toner. The charge on the photosensitive drum 21 after transfer is removed by the pre-exposure unit, and the transfer residual toner is recharged to a negative polarity again by causing uniform discharge from the charging roller 22. The transfer residual toner recharged to a negative polarity by the charging section reaches the developing section according to the rotation of the photosensitive drum 21. Then, the surface area of the photosensitive drum 21 that has passed through the charging section is exposed by the scanner unit 11, and an electrostatic latent image is drawn on the surface area while the transfer residual toner still adheres to the surface area.

[0242] Here, the behavior of the transfer residual toner that has reached the developing section will be described separately for the exposed portion and the non-exposed portion of the photosensitive drum 21. In the developing section, the transfer residual toner adhering to the non-exposed portion of the photosensitive drum 21 is transferred to the developing roller 31 due to the potential difference between the developing voltage and the potential of the non-exposed portion of the photosensitive drum 21 (dark area potential), and is collected in the developer container 32. This is because it is assumed that the normal charging polarity of the toner is negative, and the polarity of the developing voltage applied to the developing roller 31 is relatively positive with respect to the potential of the non-exposed portion. Note that the toner collected in the developer container 32 is dispersed into the toner in the developer container 32 by being agitated by the agitating member 34, and is reused for the developing process by being carried onto the developing roller 31.

[0243] In contrast, the transfer residual toner adhering to the exposed portion of the photosensitive drum 21 is not transferred from the photosensitive drum 21 to the developing roller 31 at the developing section, but remains on the drum surface. This is because it is assumed that the normal charging polarity of the toner is negative, and the polarity of the developing voltage applied to the developing roller 31 is more negative with respect to the potential of the exposed portion (bright area potential). The transfer residual toner remaining on the drum surface is carried on the photosensitive drum 21 moving to the transfer section together with other toner particles transferred onto the exposed portion from the developing roller 31, and is transferred to the recording material at the transfer section.

[0244] By adopting a cleaner-less configuration, the space for installing a collection container for collecting transfer residual toner etc. becomes unnecessary, so the size of the imaging device 1 can be further reduced, and the printing cost can be reduced by reusing the transfer residual toner.

[0245] (4) Third Modification Example

[0246] Next, a third modification example in which the configuration of the processing cartridge is different from any of the above embodiments will be described. Except for the elements related to the processing cartridge, this modification example has the same elements as those in the first embodiment, and thus the description of the same elements will be omitted.

[0247] (4-1) Third mode of the processing cartridge

[0248] Figures 18A to 18C They are respectively a perspective view, a side view, and a cross-sectional view of the processing cartridge 20B according to this modification example. Figure 18C Shows Figure 18B The cross-section at the cutting position shown in

[0249] As Figures 18A to 18C shown, the processing cartridge 20B of this modification example includes a developing unit 802 and a drum unit 803A. Compared with the third embodiment, the toner receiving unit 801 is omitted, and instead, a replenishment container attachment portion 701, a first conveying member 8013, and a second conveying member 8014 are provided in the developing unit 802. That is, this modification example has a configuration in which a replenishment container (such as a toner pack 40 or a toner bottle unit 900) is attached from the outside of the imaging device to a replenishment port 8012 provided in the developer container 32 to perform toner replenishment. The configuration of the replenishment container attachment portion 701 is the same as that of the first embodiment, and its simplified shape is shown.

[0250] The laser passes through a space SP defined between the developing unit 802, the drum unit 803A, and the toner receiving unit 801, and the laser passing through space serves as a gap through which the laser L emitted from the scanner unit 11 (see Figure 1A ) toward the photosensitive drum 21 passes. Additionally, preferably, in the drum unit 803A, an exposure pre-unit for removing an electrostatic latent image by irradiating light onto the surface of the photosensitive drum 21 is provided downstream of the transfer portion in the rotational direction of the photosensitive drum 21 and between the transfer portion and the charging roller 22. A cleanerless configuration is adopted in this modification example. The behavior of the toner in the cleanerless configuration is the same as that in the second modification example, so its description will be omitted.

[0251] (5) Control system of the imaging device

[0252] Figure 19 is a block diagram showing the control system of the imaging device 1 according to the first embodiment. A control unit 90 serving as a control device (controller) of the imaging device 1 includes a CPU 91 serving as a processing device, a RAM 92 serving as a working area of the CPU 91, and a non-volatile memory 93 storing various programs. Additionally, the control unit 90 includes an I / O interface 94 serving as an input / output port connected to an external device, and an A / D conversion unit 95 for converting an analog signal into a digital signal. The CPU 91 reads and executes a control program stored in the non-volatile memory 93, thereby controlling each component of the imaging device 1. Therefore, the non-volatile memory 93 serves as an example of a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing a control program for operating the imaging device by a specific method.

[0253] In addition, the control unit 90 is connected to a T memory 57 and a P memory 58. The T memory is a non-volatile memory included in a replenishment container such as a toner pack 40 or a toner bottle unit 900, and the P memory is a non-volatile memory included in the process cartridge 20. Examples of the T memory 57 serving as a storage device (storage unit) provided in the replenishment container include the memory unit 45 included in the toner pack 40 described above and the memory unit 911 included in the toner bottle unit 900 described above. In addition, the T memory 57 also stores toner information indicating that the toner stored in a replenishment container such as the toner pack 40 or the toner bottle unit 900 can be supplied to the developer container 32 for replenishment. The toner information is, for example, information describing whether the toner pack 40 has not been used, and information describing the initial amount, expiration date, etc. of the toner. In addition, the P memory 58 stores the remaining amount of toner accommodated in the developer container 32, the total amount of toner supplied from the replenishment container, the life information of the photosensitive member, the replacement timing information of the process cartridge 20, etc.

[0254] Further, the control unit 90 is connected to a rotation locking mechanism 59 and an imaging unit 10. Examples of the rotation locking mechanism 59 include a locking member 7014 provided in the replenishment container attachment portion 701 ( Figure 9A , 9B , 11A and 11B), and a pressing mechanism 600 that moves the locking member 7014 ( Figure 13 ). The imaging unit 10 includes a motor M1 as a drive source for driving the photosensitive drum 21, the developing roller 31, the supply roller 33, the agitating member 34, etc. Note that it is not necessary to share the same drive source among these rotating members, and for example, the photosensitive drum 21, the developing roller 31, the supply roller 33, and the agitating member 34 can be driven by different motors respectively. In addition, the imaging unit 10 also includes a power supply unit 211 for applying a voltage to each member such as the developing roller 31, and an exposure control unit 212 for controlling the scanner unit 11.

[0255] A toner remaining amount detection device 51 (toner remaining amount detection unit), a waste toner fullness detection device 52 (waste toner fullness detection unit), an attachment detection device 53 (attachment detection unit), an open / close detection device 54 (open / close detection unit), a rotation detection device 55 (rotation detection unit), and a push-in detection device 56 (push-in detection unit) are connected to the input side of the control unit 90.

[0256] The toner remaining amount detection device 51 detects the remaining amount of toner accommodated in the developer container 32. Examples of the toner remaining amount detection device 51 include Figure 6AThe optical sensors (51a and 51b) shown. The optical sensors include a light emitting portion 51a that emits detection light toward the inside of the developer container 32, and a light receiving portion 51b that detects the detection light. In this case, the ratio (Duty) of the time during which the optical path of the detection light is blocked by toner with respect to the rotation period of the agitation member 34 is related to the remaining amount of toner in the developer container 32. Accordingly, the remaining amount of toner can be obtained based on the current Duty value by preparing in advance the correspondence relationship between the Duty value and the remaining amount of toner. Note that such an optical sensor is merely an example of a toner remaining amount detection device, and alternatively, a pressure sensor or an electrostatic capacitance sensor may be used. The waste toner fullness detection device 52 detects that the amount of waste toner accumulated in the waste toner chamber 8033 ( Figure 6A ) of the cleaning unit 803 has reached a predetermined upper limit. As the waste toner fullness detection device 52, for example, a pressure sensor provided in the waste toner chamber 8033 can be used. In addition, the control unit 90 can estimate the amount of waste toner by performing a calculation based on the image information on the assumption that a certain proportion of the toner corresponding to the image information is collected as waste toner.

[0257] The attachment detection device 53 detects that a replenishment container such as the toner pack 40 is attached to the replenishment container attachment portion 701. For example, the attachment detection device 53 is constituted by a pressure switch provided in the replenishment container attachment portion 701 and outputting a detection signal when pressed by the bottom surface of the toner pack 40. In addition, the attachment detection device 53 may be a detection circuit that detects that the T memory 57 has been electrically connected to the control unit 90 via the contact portion 70133 (FIG. 9) of the replenishment container attachment portion 701.

[0258] The rotation detection device 55 detects the rotation of the replenishment container attached to the replenishment container attachment portion 701. Examples of the rotation detection device 55 include a rotation detection portion 7015 constituted by leaf springs 70151 and 70152 ( Figure 9A , 9B , 16E and 16F). The rotation detection portion 7015 is an example of the rotation detection device 55, and alternatively, for example, a photoelectric sensor that blocks light by a protrusion provided on the replenishment port shutter 7013 can be used as the rotation detection sensor. In addition, as another example of the rotation detection sensor, a configuration may be adopted in which conduction between the leaf springs 70151 and 70152 of the rotation detection portion 7015 is caused by a protrusion provided on the discharge portion 42 of the toner pack 40.

[0259] The push-in detection device 56 is an element additionally provided in the case of using the toner bottle unit 900 of the first modification example, and detects the completion of the pushing-in of the piston 902 of the toner bottle unit 900. Examples of the push-in detection device 56 include a detection circuit that is provided in the image forming apparatus 1 and detects a change in the state of the push-in detection mechanism ( Figures 16A to 16D ) constituted by the push-in detection lever 907, the first contact plate 908, and the second contact plate 909 provided in the toner bottle unit 900. The detection circuit monitors the current value when a voltage is applied between the metal plates 9111 and 9113 respectively connected to the first contact plate 908 and the second contact plate 909, and thus detects whether the piston 902 has been pushed in or not.

[0260] In addition, the control unit 90 is connected to the operation unit 300, which serves as a user interface of the image forming apparatus 1 and as a notification device (reporting device, notification unit) that guides the user in the toner replenishment procedure. Further, the control unit 90 is connected to the panel 400, which notifies the user of information regarding the remaining amount of toner in the developer container 32. Here, the information related to the remaining amount of toner is not limited to the information indicating the remaining amount of toner itself. In addition to this, examples of the information related to the remaining amount of toner include information indicating the amount of toner that has been supplied from the toner pack 40 or the toner bottle unit 900 for replenishment. In addition, examples of the information related to the remaining amount of toner include information indicating the remaining capacity of the developer container 32, which indicates the amount of toner that the developer container 32 can accept for replenishment in terms of the quantity of the toner pack 40 or the toner bottle unit 900.

[0261] The operation unit 300 includes a display unit 301 that can display various setting screens, as Figure 20A shown. For example, the display unit 301 is constituted by a liquid crystal panel. In addition, the operation unit 300 includes an input unit that receives an input operation from the user. For example, the input unit is constituted by a physical button such as the button 310, or a touch panel function unit of the liquid crystal panel. Further, the operation unit 300 may include a sound output unit that notifies the user of information regarding the remaining amount of toner or information regarding the toner replenishment procedure by sound.

[0262] In addition, the image forming apparatus 1 is communicably connected to an information processing device constituted by hardware such as a CPU, a RAM, and a ROM, such as a PC 2A or a portable information processing terminal 2B similar to a smart phone (see Figure 21)). The information processing device serves as a notification device (notification unit) that guides the user in the toner replenishment program instead of the operation unit 300. Information transmitted from the PC 2A and the portable information processing terminal 2B is input to the control unit 90 via the I / O interface 94. In addition, information transmitted from the imaging device 1 to the PC 2A or the portable information processing terminal 2B is output from the control unit 90 via the I / O interface 94 and is input to the control units of the PC 2A or the portable information processing terminal 2B. The operation states of the PC 2A and the portable information processing terminal 2B are respectively displayed on the display units 320 ( Figure 20B ) provided therein. Note that the PC 2A and the portable information processing terminal 2B may be provided with a sound generation unit such as a speaker. The imaging device 1, the PC 2A, and the portable information processing terminal 2B constitute an information processing system.

[0263] (6) Guidance of the toner replenishment program

[0264] <Example 1>

[0265] As described above, the process cartridge 20 is a direct replenishment system in which toner can be directly replenished from the outside of the imaging device 1 by using a replenishment container such as the toner pack 40 or the toner bottle unit 900. Therefore, when replenishing the toner, the user needs to perform a predetermined operation on the toner pack 40 or the toner bottle unit 900. In this example, the guiding operation of the replenishment program in the case of using the toner pack 40 as the replenishment container for replenishing the toner will be described.

[0266] (6-1) Guidance of the replenishment program using the toner pack

[0267] First, the notification operation of the replenishment program for this example will be described with reference to Figure 22 . Figure 22 is a flowchart showing an example of the notification operation of the replenishment program in the direct replenishment system. In this example, the toner remaining amount detection device 51, the attachment detection device 53, the rotation detection device 55, and the push detection device 56 all serve as examples of the progress detection devices that detect the progress of the toner replenishment program and change their output values. Note that the "output value" of the progress detection device refers to the signal value (for example, an electrical signal such as a voltage value or a current value) for conveying information about the progress of the toner replenishment program, and is determined according to the specific structure of the progress detection device. For example, in the case of the rotation detection device 55 including the above-mentioned rotation detection units 7015 ( Figure 9A , 9B , 16E, and 16F), the current flowing in the circuit including the leaf springs 70151 and 70152 is used as the output signal of the rotation detection device 55, and the output value of the rotation detection device that can be used as the current value will be described below. The flow of the guiding operation according to the progress of the toner replenishment operation will be described.

[0268] The toner remaining amount detection device 51 is a sensor whose output value changes according to the remaining amount of toner contained in the developer container 32 and serves as the toner amount detection device (toner amount detection unit) in this example. The control unit 90 determines the remaining amount of toner in the developer container 32 by obtaining the output value of the toner remaining amount detection device 51. When the remaining amount of toner in the developer container 32 is an amount that enables toner replenishment equivalent to one or more toner cartridges 40 to be performed (S501), the control unit 90 causes the operation unit 300 to display a first message 56a( Figure 23A )(S502). The first message 56a indicates the first step for attaching the toner cartridge 40 to the replenishment port 8012. Note that the "first" in the "first step" is used to identify one of the multiple steps included in the replenishment procedure, and for example, the step of attaching the toner cartridge 40 to the replenishment port 8012 does not have to be the first to be executed in a series of replenishment procedures. In this example, the predetermined amount of the remaining toner in the developer container 32 is the remaining amount that enables the addition of toner equivalent to one or more toner cartridges 40 for replenishment, and the notification operation of the replenishment procedure starts with the remaining amount of toner in the developer container 32 becoming less than the predetermined amount as a trigger. As Figure 23A shown, the first message 56a can replenish toner for the process cartridge 20 and displays a phrase prompting the user to attach the toner cartridge 40 to the replenishment container attachment portion 701 as one of the toner replenishment procedures. The user attaches the toner cartridge 40 to the replenishment container attachment portion 701 according to the first message 56a displayed on the display unit 301 (S503).

[0269] Note that Figures 23A to 23F character information shown as messages (56a to 56f) is shown as an example of the content indicating the toner replenishment procedure displayed on the display unit 301. In addition to this, for example, the procedure for replenishing the developer container 32 with toner from the toner cartridge 40 can be displayed on the display unit 301 as information such as an image or a video. Further, in the case where the imaging device 1 includes a sound - emitting portion such as a speaker, the procedure for replenishing the developer container 32 with toner from the toner cartridge 40 can be notified to the user as sound.

[0270] As described above, when replenishing the toner, the toner pack 40 is attached to the replenishing container attachment portion 701. In addition, a rotation locking mechanism 59 serving as a restricting member is provided in the toner receiving unit 801, and the restricting member restricts the position of the discharge port 42a of the toner pack 40 in a state where the toner pack 40 is attached to the replenishing container attachment portion 701. As described above, if the position of the locking member 7014 is not the unlocking position, the replenishing port 8012 and the discharge port 42a do not communicate with each other even in a state where the toner pack 40 is attached to the replenishing container attachment portion 701 (see Figure 11A and 11B ). In the present embodiment, for example, as a result of the T memory 57 being electrically connected to the control unit 90 via the contact portion 70133 ( Figure 9A and 9B ) of the replenishing container attachment portion 701, the attachment detection device 53 detects that the toner pack 40 has been attached to the replenishing container attachment portion 701. According to such a configuration, the attachment detection device 53 is configured to be able to detect whether the toner pack 40 is attached to a position suitable for reliably discharging the toner. That is, it is configured such that even if the toner pack 40 is attached to the toner receiving unit 801, the toner is not discharged from the toner pack 40 unless the position of the discharge port 42a relative to the replenishing port 8012 is a position suitable for reliably discharging the toner.

[0271] The control unit 90 obtains the output value of the attachment detection device 53 and determines whether the toner pack 40 is attached to the replenishing container attachment portion 701 (S504). For example, when successful communication with the memory unit 45 of the toner pack 40 is achieved, the control unit 90 determines that the toner pack 40 is attached to the replenishing container attachment portion 701. When the toner pack 40 is not attached to the replenishing container attachment portion 701 (S504 / No), the control unit 90 does not raise the locking member 7014 and maintains the current state. When the toner pack 40 is attached to the replenishing container attachment portion 701 (S504 / Yes (Yes)), the control unit 90 obtains toner information from the T memory 57 of the toner pack 40. Then, the control unit 90 determines whether the toner accommodated in the toner pack 40 is a toner that can replenish the developer container 32 based on the toner information obtained from the T memory 57 (S505). Note that the control unit 90 is configured to be able to determine whether the toner accommodated in the toner pack 40 is a toner that can replenish the developer container 32 based on the toner information. For example, when the toner pack 40 is brand new, the toner in the toner pack 40 and the developer container 32 has the same color, and the expiration date of the toner pack 40 has not been reached (S505 / Yes), the control unit 90 determines that the toner in the toner pack 40 can be used for replenishment.

[0272] When it has been determined that the toner in the toner pack 40 can be used for replenishment, the control unit 90 determines whether the process cartridge 20 can be replenished with toner based on the information stored in the P memory 58 of the process cartridge 20 (S506). As described above, the P memory 58 stores the remaining amount of toner contained in the developer container 32, the total amount of toner that has been supplied from the replenishment container so far, the life information of the photosensitive member, the replacement timing information of the process cartridge 20, and the like. For example, there is a case where: even when the lights of the indicators 4002 and 4003 on the panel 400 are on, the remaining amount of toner in the developer container 32 is such that toner replenishment cannot be performed using the toner pack 40. In such a case, the control unit 90 determines that the process cartridge 20 cannot be replenished with toner (S506 / No). On the contrary, when the remaining amount of toner in the developer container 32 is such that toner replenishment can be performed using the toner pack 40, the control unit 90 determines that the process cartridge 20 can be replenished with toner (S506 / Yes). A case where the remaining amount of toner in the developer container 32 is such that toner replenishment can be performed using the toner pack 40 is, for example, a case where at least the light of the indicator 4003 on the panel 400 is off. Note that a configuration can be adopted in which: the control unit 90 determines whether the process cartridge 20 can be replenished with toner only based on the information indicating whether the remaining amount of toner in the developer container 32 is such that toner replenishment can be performed using the toner pack 40.

[0273] In this way, the control unit 90 determines whether the toner contained in the toner pack 40 attached to the replenishment container attachment portion 701 can be replenished into the developer container 32. Note that when any one of S504, S505, and S506 is N (No), the control unit 90 maintains the restricted state of the toner pack 40 by the rotation locking mechanism 59 (S523), and ends a series of operations. As a result, even when the user uses a toner pack that cannot be used to replenish the developer container 32 or when the life of the process cartridge 20 is about to end, it is possible to prevent toner from being erroneously discharged into the developer container 32.

[0274] When the toner accommodated in the toner pack 40 can be used to replenish the developer container 32 and the toner replenishment can be performed on the process cartridge 20 (S506 / Yes), the control unit 90 releases the restricted state of the toner pack 40 by the locking mechanism. As a result, the locking mechanism takes an allowable state that allows the toner pack 40 to rotate relative to the replenishment port 8012 (S507). Next, the control unit 90 displays a second message 56b prompting an operation to rotate the toner pack 40 (S508). The second message 56b indicates the second step in the toner replenishment procedure for communicating the toner pack 40 and the replenishment port 8012 with each other. The user rotates the toner pack 40 according to the displayed second message 56b (S509). As a result of the user rotating the toner pack 40, the toner pack 40 attached to the replenishment container attachment portion 701 and the replenishment port 8012 communicate with each other. In this example, for instance, when the leaf springs 70151 and 70152 of the rotation detection unit 7015 are connected by the protrusion provided in the discharge unit 42, the rotation detection device 55 detects that the rotation angle of the toner pack 40 has reached the angle for communicating with the replenishment port 8012. Additionally, the rotation detection device 55 can be configured to detect that the rotation angle of the toner pack 40 has reached the angle for communicating with the replenishment port 8012 when the light in the photosensor (not shown) is blocked by the protrusion provided in the replenishment port shutter 7013.

[0275] The control unit 90 determines the rotation angle of the toner pack 40 based on the output value of the rotation detection device 55, and determines whether the toner pack 40 and the replenishment port 8012 communicate with each other (S510). Here, it is assumed that when the rotation angle of the toner pack 40 has reached 180° (S510 / Yes), the replenishment port 8012 is exposed to the discharge unit 42, and the toner pack 40 and the replenishment port 8012 communicate with each other (see Figure 10B ). That is, the rotation detection device 55 serves as an example of the communication detection device (communication detection unit) in this example.

[0276] When it has been determined that the toner pack 40 and the replenishment port 8012 communicate with each other (S510 / Yes), the control unit 90 moves the position of the locking member 7014 of the rotation locking mechanism 59 to the locking position to switch the toner pack 40 to the restricted state again (S511). If the toner pack 40 is detached from the replenishment port 8012 while the toner pack 40 and the replenishment port 8012 still communicate with each other, there is a risk that the toner accommodated in the toner pack 40 scatters. Therefore, in this example, when the toner pack 40 and the replenishment port 8012 communicate with each other, detachment of the toner pack 40 from the replenishment port 8012 is restricted before toner discharge to prevent toner scattering.

[0277] After switching the toner pack 40 to the restricted state, the control unit 90 causes the operation unit 300 to display a third message 56c that prompts the user to perform an operation of discharging the toner from the toner pack 40 to the replenishment port 8012 (S512). The third message 56c indicates the third step in the toner replenishment program for discharging the toner from a replenishment container such as the toner pack 40 to the replenishment port 8012. When replenishing the toner for the process cartridge 20 by using the toner pack 40, a screen that prompts the user to perform an operation (such as manually squeezing the bag member 43) is displayed as the third message 56c.

[0278] In addition, the control unit 90 alternately displays the third message 56c and the fourth message 56d (S513). The fourth message 56d is a screen that indicates the step for stopping the toner replenishment program. The fifth step in this example is the step for stopping the progress of the toner replenishment program. Here, as an example of the stop operation, operating a button 310 in the operation unit 300 that can perform a stop operation for stopping the toner replenishment program is used as the stop operation (see Figure 20A ). Since the operation unit 300 changes its output value according to whether the button 310 is operated, the button 310 and the operation unit 300 cooperate to serve as the stop operation detection device (stop operation detection unit) in this example.

[0279] In the case where a stop operation is performed during the display of the third message 56c or the fourth message 56d (S514 / Yes), the control unit 90 stops the progress of the toner replenishment program and releases the restricted state of the toner pack 40 by the rotation locking mechanism 59 (S524). When the toner pack 40 is switched to the allowable state, the control unit 90 displays a fifth message 56e that prompts the user to perform an operation of detaching the toner pack 40 from the replenishment container attachment portion 701 (S525). The user rotates the toner pack 40 according to the displayed fifth message 56e, and as a result, the toner pack 40 is detached from the replenishment container attachment portion 701.

[0280] If the stop operation has not been performed before a predetermined time (e.g., 3 minutes) has passed since the third message 56c started to be displayed (S514 / No), it can be considered that an operation for discharging toner from the toner pack 40 is being performed. At this time, the control unit 90 determines that the toner has been discharged from the toner pack 40 to the replenishment port 8012 (S515), and the discharge of the toner from the toner pack 40 to the replenishment port 8012 has been completed (S516 / Yes). The control unit 90 measures the time elapsed since the third message 56c started to be displayed based on the CPU clock or the system clock. That is, the control unit 90 serves as an example of the discharge detection device (discharge detection unit) in this example. When it is determined that the discharge of the toner has been completed, the control unit 90 increases the display of the indicator on the panel 400 (S517). The increase in the display of the indicator indicates a state where the remaining amount of toner in the process cartridge 20 has increased, or indicates that the discharge of the toner from the toner pack 40 has been completed.

[0281] Next, the control unit 90 updates the toner information in the T memory 57 (S518). Updating the toner information in the T memory 57 includes a description indicating that the toner pack 40 has been used. Further, the control unit 90 moves the position of the locking member 7014 of the rotation locking mechanism 59 to the lock release position and releases the restricted state of the toner pack 40 (S519). Then, the control unit 90 causes the operation unit 300 to display a sixth message 56f prompting the user to perform an operation for detaching the used toner pack 40 from the replenishment container attachment portion 701 (S520). The fourth step of this embodiment is an operation for detaching a replenishment container such as the toner pack 40 from the replenishment port 8012. The user rotates the toner pack 40 according to the notified sixth message 56f (S521), and as a result, the toner pack 40 becomes detachable from the replenishment container attachment portion 701 (S522).

[0282] As described above, when the toner replenishment program is displayed on the operation unit 300, the control unit 90 changes the program according to the detection results of the toner remaining amount detection device 51, the attachment detection device 53, the rotation detection device 55, and the push detection device 56. In this example, by displaying the toner replenishment program while the user is performing toner replenishment, the user can recognize the progress status of the replenishment operation, so the toner replenishment burden on the user can be reduced. Further, since the structure is such that toner does not scatter when the toner pack 40 is detached after being attached to the replenishment container attachment portion 701, the convenience of toner replenishment can be improved.

[0283] <Example 2>

[0284] (6-2) Guidance on the replenishment program using the toner bottle unit

[0285] Next, the procedure for guiding the replenishment process using the toner bottle unit 900 will be described. Figure 24 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure for guiding the replenishment process in the direct replenishment system. As described above, in the toner bottle unit 900, toner can be discharged when the piston 902 is pushed in. Here, between the replenishment process using the toner bottle unit 900 and the replenishment process using the toner pack 40 in Example 1, the only difference in the element of determining the completion of toner discharge is based on the output value of the push detection device 56. That is, in the configuration of this example, the completion of toner discharge is determined based on whether the pushing operation of the piston 902 has been performed. In Figure 24 the description of the flowchart, the operation steps that are the same as those in the flowchart of Figure 22 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions will be omitted.

[0286] When replenishing toner to the process cartridge 20 using the toner bottle unit 900, a screen prompting the operation of pushing the piston 902 is displayed as the third message 56c. After the third message 56c starts to be displayed, the control unit 90 determines whether the piston 902 has been pushed in based on the output value of the push detection device 56. In the case of performing a stop operation when the piston 902 has not been pushed in (S514 / Yes), the control unit 90 stops the progress of guiding the toner replenishment process. Then, the control unit 90 releases the restricted state of the toner bottle unit 900 by changing the position of the locking member 7014 of the rotation locking mechanism 59 to the unlocked position (S524). On the contrary, when the piston 902 is pushed in, toner is discharged from the toner bottle unit 900 to the replenishment port 8012 (S515). In this example, for example, when the first contact plate 908 and the second contact plate 909 in the connected state are switched to the separated state, the push detection device 92 detects the pushing of the piston 902. When it is detected that the piston 902 has been pushed in based on the output value of the push detection device 56 (S530 / Yes), the control unit 90 determines that the toner discharge has been performed, and increases the display of the indicator on the panel 400 (S517). That is, the push detection device 56 serves as an example of the discharge detection device in this example. The subsequent steps of the replenishment operation are the same as those in the case of using the toner pack 40, so the description thereof will be omitted.

[0287] (Other Examples)

[0288] In Examples 1 and 2, the first message 56a, the second message 56b, the third message 56c, the fourth message 56d, the fifth message 56e, and the sixth message 56f are displayed according to the progress of the toner replenishment operation. As a different embodiment, for example, the first message 56a, the second message 56b, the third message 56c, and the sixth message 56f can be displayed together on the display unit 301. Additionally, at least one of the first message 56a, the second message 56b, the third message 56c, the fourth message 56d, the fifth message 56e, and the sixth message 56f can be displayed.

[0289] Additionally, as a configuration for restricting the rotation of a replenishment container such as the toner pack 40 or the toner bottle unit 900, for example, the movement of the replenishment container can be restricted by providing a horizontal pin at the discharge port 42a or 9031. Note that the movement mode of a replenishment container such as the toner pack 40 or the toner bottle unit 900 is not limited to rotational movement, and linear movement can be restricted by a horizontal pin or the like.

[0290] Additionally, the discharge mode of discharging toner from the toner pack 40 is not limited to the operation of squeezing by the user's hand, but toner can be discharged from the discharge port 42a by pulling down a clip provided in the upper portion of the toner pack 40.

[0291] Additionally, as a stop operation, in addition to the operation of the button 310, a stop command can be transmitted to the imaging device 1 from a PC 2A or a portable information processing terminal 2B that can communicate with the imaging device 1. Additionally, a toner replenishment program can be displayed on the PC 2A or the portable information processing terminal 2B. When the PC 2A or the portable information processing terminal 2B is made to execute the display of the toner replenishment program, the control unit 90 and the I / O interface 94 serve as input / output devices (input / output units) that provide various information for guiding the toner replenishment program to an external information processing device and receive various information for guiding the toner replenishment program from the external information processing device.

[0292] (7) Control according to the replenishment container type

[0293] The operation when replenishing toner from a replenishment container to the imaging device 1 will be described below. In this embodiment, multiple types of replenishment containers that accommodate different amounts of toner can be connected to one imaging device 1. The user's selection of the amount of toner to be supplied in one toner replenishment has the advantage of enabling more flexible use of the imaging device 1. Here, the case where multiple types of toner bottles with different capacities (filling amounts) are used as examples of replenishment containers will be described (Example 3).

[0294] <Example 3>

[0295] (7-1) Types of Toner Bottle Units

[0296] Figures 25A to 25C The types of the above-described toner bottle unit 900 are shown. Figure 25A A small-capacity toner bottle unit 991 is shown, which accommodates toner for 1000 sheets in terms of the number of sheets to be printed. Figure 25B A medium-capacity toner bottle unit 992 is shown, which accommodates toner for 2000 sheets in terms of the number of sheets to be printed. Figure 25C A large-capacity toner bottle unit 993 is shown, which accommodates toner for 4000 sheets in terms of the number of sheets to be printed. Note that the "number of sheets to be printed" indicates the increased amount obtained by performing toner replenishment using the toner bottle unit in terms of the number of sheets of recording material on which an image can be formed by the imaging device. In addition, the "toner amount equivalent to 1000 sheets in terms of the number of sheets to be printed" indicates the toner consumption amount when outputting an image on 1000 sheets of paper with a standard average image coverage ratio (the area ratio of the toner image to the effective image area of the recording material).

[0297] Note that except for the different capacities from each other, the toner bottle units 991 to 993 each have the same configuration as the above-described toner bottle unit 900. Therefore, each of the toner bottle units 991 to 993 includes a T memory 57 (such as a memory unit 911) serving as a storage device, and a first contact plate 908, a second contact plate 909, and a push-in detection lever 907 that constitute a push-in detection device 56.

[0298] (7-2) Circuit Configuration of Toner Bottle Unit

[0299] Figure 26 The circuit configurations of the toner bottle units 991 to 993 including the T memory 57 and the push-in detection mechanism are shown. The T memory 57 is connected to metal plates 9111 and 9112, the first contact plate 908 is connected to the metal plate 9111, and the second contact plate 909 is connected to the metal plate 9113. In addition, when the toner bottle units 991 to 993 are attached to the replenishment container attachment portion 701, the metal plates 9111 to 9113 of the contact portion 911a are electrically connected to the control portion of the imaging device via the contact portion 70133 of the replenishment container attachment portion 701 ( ​ and 9B ).

[0300] The T memory 57 stores different capacity information (toner amount information) according to the types of the toner bottle units 991 to 993. The T memory 57 is an example of a carrier device that carries information by which the type of the replenishment container to which the T memory 57 is attached can be identified among various types of replenishment containers, and in this example, the T memory 57 carries capacity information as electronic information stored in the memory. In the case of the small-capacity toner bottle unit 991, capacity information indicating the toner amount equivalent to 1000 sheets to be printed is stored in the T memory 57. Further, in the case of the medium-capacity and large-capacity toner bottle units 992 and 993, capacity information indicating the toner amounts equivalent to 2000 sheets and 4000 sheets to be printed is stored in the T memory 57. Further, the T memory 57 stores a brand-new flag as information indicating whether the toner bottle units 991 to 993 are unused (brand-new) or have been used for toner replenishment.

[0301] The control unit 90 of the image forming apparatus 1 connected to the T memory 57 via the contact portion 70133 obtains the capacity information stored in the T memory 57 via the metal plate 9111 and the metal plate 9112. That is, the contact portion 70133 is an example of an acquisition device by which the image forming apparatus acquires information indicating the type of the replenishment container. In this example, as a result of the control unit 90 reading the capacity information from the T memory 57 via the contact portion 70133, the types of the toner bottle units 991 to 993 are specified. The method for communicating with the T memory 57 is a so-called two-wire communication system in which a power supply line and a communication signal line are integrated, and communication is performed via the metal plate 9111 and the metal plate 9112. Note that a different method may be used as the communication method.

[0302] Note that the information obtained by the control unit 90 from the T memory 57 is not limited to information directly indicating the capacity of the toner bottle unit, and may be information capable of identifying which of the multiple types with different capacities the toner bottle unit is. In this case, the control unit 90 can determine the capacity of the toner bottle unit by referring to the correspondence between the type of the toner bottle unit and its capacity pre-stored in the non-volatile memory.

[0303] As described with reference to Figures 16A to 16D When the pistons 902 of the toner bottle units 991 to 993 are pushed, the contact release portion 9072 (which is an insulator) of the push-in detection lever 907 enters between the first contact plate 908 and the second contact plate 909, and conduction is released. That is, Figure 26 shows the circuit state after the piston 902 is pushed in. Note that in Figure 26In this case, the switch mechanism composed of the first contact plate 908 and the second contact plate 909 is shown as an equivalent circuit symbol turned on / off by pushing the detection lever 907.

[0304] When no current flows even when a voltage is applied between the metal plates 9111 and 9113, the control unit 90 of the imaging device 1 determines that the piston 902 has been pushed in and the discharge of the toner contained in the toner bottle units 991 to 993 has been completed. Conversely, when conduction is established between the first contact plate 908 and the second contact plate 909, the control unit 90 determines that the piston 902 has not been pushed in (brand-new state) based on the current flow caused by applying a voltage between the metal plates 9111 and 9113.

[0305] (7-3) Control during toner replenishment

[0306] Next, the operation of the imaging device when performing toner replenishment using any one of the toner bottle units 991 to 993 with different capacities will be described.

[0307] When toner replenishment is not performed, the control unit 90 of the imaging device 1 changes the display level of the panel 400 ( Figure 19 ) based on the detection result of the toner remaining amount detection device 51 ( Figures 14A to 14C ). In the following example, it is assumed that the display state of the panel 400 can be changed among five display levels. In the case of the panel configuration shown in Figures 14A to 14C , for example, as the display level between Figure 14A and 14B , a state can be set in which the lamp of the lower indicator 4003 is on and the lamp of the middle indicator 4002 blinks. Additionally, as the display level between Figure 14B and 14C , a state can be set in which the lamps of the middle indicator 4002 and the lower indicator 4003 are on and the lamp of the upper indicator 4001 blinks.

[0308] As a result, the display level of the panel 400 can be changed among at least a total of six levels including the display state shown in Figures 14A to 14C and the above-mentioned Low-level display state. At this time, one level of the display level corresponds to the toner amount of a small-capacity toner bottle unit 991, that is, the toner amount equivalent to 1000 sheets in terms of the number of sheets to be printed. In other words, when the imaging device 1 repeats the imaging operation without performing toner replenishment, the display level of the panel 400 decreases by one level every time imaging is performed on approximately 1000 sheets of recording material.

[0309] Reference will be made to Figure 27Describe the operations during toner replenishment. In the procedures of this flowchart, S501, S508, S511, S519, and S520 indicate operations performed by the user. The other steps are implemented by the CPU 91 ( Figure 19 ) in the control unit 90 of the imaging device 1, and the CPU 91 executes a program read from the non-volatile memory 93.

[0310] First, the user opens the opening / closing member 83 ( Figure 4C ), and attaches one of the small-capacity, medium-capacity, and large-capacity toner bottle units 991, 992, and 993 to the replenishment container attachment portion 701 (S501). Since the T memory 57 and the control unit 90 are thus connected, the control unit 90 communicates with the T memory 57 and obtains the brand-new flag and capacity information stored in the T memory 57 (S502). Further, the control unit 90 communicates with the P memory 58 and obtains the remaining capacity information of the developer container 32 (S503). Note that when necessary, the control unit 90 updates the remaining capacity information of the developer container 32 in the P memory 58 based on the detection result of the toner remaining amount detection device 51.

[0311] The control unit 90 determines whether the toner bottle units 991 to 993 currently attached to the replenishment container attachment portion 701 are brand-new based on the value of the brand-new flag obtained from the T memory 57 (S504). In addition, the control unit 90 compares the capacity information of the toner bottle units 991 to 993 obtained from the T memory 57 with the remaining capacity information of the P memory 58, and determines whether the developer container 32 has sufficient remaining capacity (S505). That is, when the remaining capacity of the developer container 32 is greater than the capacity of the toner bottle units 991 to 993 currently attached to the replenishment container attachment portion 701, it is determined that the developer container 32 has sufficient remaining capacity.

[0312] When the currently attached toner bottle units 991 to 993 are brand-new and the developer container 32 has sufficient remaining capacity, the control unit 90 operates the rotation locking mechanism 59 to release the lock on the replenishment port baffle 7013 (see S506 and Figure 11A ).

[0313] On the contrary, when the currently attached toner bottle units 991 to 993 are not brand-new, the control unit 90 maintains the locked state of the replenishment port baffle 7013 (see S507 and Figure 11B ). Similarly, when the developer container 32 does not have sufficient remaining capacity, the control unit 90 also maintains the locked state of the replenishment port baffle 7013 (see S507 and Figure 11B) Note that, while the lock of the replenishment port shutter 7013 is not released, the user cannot rotate the toner bottle units 991 to 993, so the process does not proceed to the subsequent steps S506 to S519. In this case, the program ends (S520) by the user pulling out the toner bottle units 991 to 993, and the image forming apparatus 1 returns to the state before the toner replenishment operation is performed. As described above, the rotation lock mechanism 59 serves as a locking device that restricts the operation (rotation operation in this embodiment) of bringing the discharge port of the replenishment container attached to the replenishment port into communication with the replenishment port, and determines whether to release the restriction based on the capacity information of the attached replenishment container and the like.

[0314] When the lock of the replenishment port shutter 7013 is released (S506), the user rotates the toner bottle units 991 to 993 by 180° (S508). Then, the rotation detection device 55 detects that the replenishment port shutter 7013 has been rotated by 180° (S509), and the control unit 90 locks the rotation lock mechanism 59 based on this (S510). As a result, the state in which the discharge ports of the toner bottle units 991 to 993 attached to the replenishment container attachment portion 701 communicate with the replenishment port 8012 is maintained without accepting the rotation operation of the user on the toner bottle units 991 to 993.

[0315] When the user pushes the pistons 902 of the toner bottle units 991 to 993 to discharge the toner (S511), the push detection device 56 detects that the pistons 902 have been pushed (S512). That is to say, in this configuration example, the push detection device 56 serves as a discharge detection device that detects the completion of the toner discharge from the replenishment container. When the completion of the toner discharge is detected, the control unit 90 turns on the lights of at least one of the indicators in the panel 400 that have not been turned on, thus notifying the user that the toner replenishment has been performed.

[0316] Here, the control unit 90 changes the increase amount of the display level of the panel 400 according to which toner bottle among the plurality of types of toner bottle units 991 to 993 having different capacities has been used to replenish the toner (S513 to S516).

[0317] For example, assume that toner replenishment is performed when the remaining amount of toner in the developer container 32 is indicated to be at the Low level. In this case, when the capacity information indicating the small-capacity toner bottle unit 991 has been obtained in S502, the control unit 90 increases the display level of the panel 400 by one level (S514). When the capacity information indicating the medium-capacity toner bottle unit 992 has been obtained in S502, the control unit 90 increases the display level of the panel 400 by two levels (S515). When the capacity information indicating the large-capacity toner bottle unit 993 has been obtained in S502, the control unit 90 increases the display level of the panel 400 by four levels (S516).

[0318] As described above, the increment and decrement unit of the indicator in the display device of this example corresponds to the replenishment container (the first replenishment container) with the smallest capacity among the multiple types of replenishment containers. That is, when toner replenishment has been performed using the first replenishment container (e.g., the small-capacity toner bottle unit 991) with the smallest capacity among the multiple types of replenishment containers, the indicator of the display device changes by one level. When toner replenishment has been performed using the second replenishment container (e.g., the medium-capacity toner bottle unit 992) with a capacity larger than that of the first replenishment container among the multiple types of replenishment containers, the indicator of the display device changes by multiple levels.

[0319] After changing the display of the panel 400, the control unit 90 records in the T memory 57 that the toner pack has been used (S517), and releases the rotation locking mechanism 59 (S518). The user rotates the toner bottle units 991 to 993 by 180° (S519), and pulls out the toner bottle units 991 to 993 from the replenishment container attachment portion 701 (S520). As a result, the toner replenishment program of the imaging device 1 ends.

[0320] Note that although the toner replenishment program using the toner bottle units 991 to 993 has been described, when using a different replenishment container such as the toner pack 40, the toner replenishment is performed in substantially the same manner. Therefore, the control unit 90 can determine the type of the toner pack by accessing the T memory 57 (memory unit 45) of the toner pack 40 attached to the replenishment container attachment portion 701.

[0321] However, in the case of the toner pack, since the pushing operation of the piston is not performed, a different discharge detection method is used instead of Figure 27Steps S511 and S512 to detect the completion of toner discharge. Specifically, there is a method of determining the completion of discharge in response to a predetermined time elapsed since the time point when the toner bottle rotation is detected in S509. Additionally, for example, there is a method in which, after detecting the rotation of the toner bottle in S509, a button notifying that the toner discharge has been completed is displayed on the operation unit 300, and the completion of toner discharge is determined based on the user pressing this button.

[0322] As described above, in the present example, in a configuration where multiple types of toner bottle units 991 to 993 with different capacities can be used, when a toner bottle unit is attached to the imaging device, the control unit 90 reads the capacity information from the T memory 57 of the toner bottle unit. In other words, in a configuration where multiple types of replenishment containers that hold different amounts of toner can be used, the control unit 90, which serves as a determination device, determines the type of the replenishment container by reading the capacity information stored in the T memory 57, which is an example of a carrier device ([ Figure 27 of S502).

[0323] Based on this determination result, the control unit 90 can perform appropriate operations of the imaging device corresponding to the type of replenishment container used by the user for toner replenishment. For example, in Figure 27 of S505, it is possible to prevent toner from overflowing from the developer container 32 by monitoring whether the amount of toner contained in the replenishment container exceeds the remaining capacity of the developer container 32. Additionally, in Figure 27 of S513 to S516, the display level of the panel 400 is changed according to the type of replenishment container used in this toner replenishment. As a result, the user can quickly recognize the change in the amount of toner with which the developer container 32 can be replenished without waiting for the detection result of the toner remaining amount detection device to be reflected in the display level of the panel 400 after toner replenishment.

[0324] Note that the determination of the remaining capacity (S505) and the display control of the panel (S513 to S516) described above are both examples of operations performed based on the determination result of the replenishment container type, and the control unit 90 can use the determination result of the replenishment container type for different operations. For example, it is possible to Figure 27 after S502, display a message on the display unit 301 of the operation unit 300 ( Figure 20A ) or the display 560 of an external device ( Figure 20B ) indicating that the replenishment container has been attached to the replenishment container attachment portion 701 and indicating the type of the replenishment container.

[0325] Additionally, although in Figure 26An example of the circuit configuration of the push detection mechanism of the toner bottle unit is shown, but different circuit configurations may be used. Although in this circuit configuration the same metal plate 9111 is used as the contact connected to the storage unit 911 and the contact of the push detection mechanism, these contacts may be provided separately, as Figure 28 shown. In this circuit configuration, the memory unit 911 is connected to metal plates 9111 and 9112, the first contact plate 908 of the push detection mechanism is connected to metal plate 9114, and the second contact plate 909 is connected to metal plate 9113. Also in this case, in a state where the toner bottle unit is attached to the replenishment container attachment portion 701, the control unit 90 can read the capacity information by accessing the T memory 57 via metal plates 9111 and 9112. Note that also in this circuit configuration, the control unit 90 can also detect whether the piston of the toner bottle unit has been pushed in and the discharge of toner has been performed based on the presence or absence of conduction between metal plates 9113 and 9114.

[0326] In addition, the T memory 57 used as the carrier device in the present embodiment serves as an example of a storage medium that stores capacity information as electronic information, and the capacity information is information indicating the type of replenishment container. However, the carrier device (storage device for information indicating the type of replenishment container) of the present disclosure is not limited to an electronic storage medium, as will be described in the following embodiments.

[0327] <Second Embodiment>

[0328] The second embodiment will be described. The difference between this embodiment and Example 3 of the first embodiment lies in the configuration and method for determining the types of replenishment containers having different capacities. Other elements having the same configuration and effects as those in the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment, and their description will be omitted.

[0329] (Capacity Detection Using a Resistor)

[0330] Also in this embodiment, as an example of multiple types of replenishment containers having different capacities, the Figures 25A to 25C shown small-capacity, medium-capacity, and large-capacity toner bottle units 991, 992, and 993 will be described. Note that in this embodiment, instead of a storage unit as a storage medium for storing electronic information, a resistor 912 is used as a carrier device (storage device) for carrying replenishment container information, as Figure 29A shown.

[0331] Prepare a plurality of types of resistors 912 having different resistance values, and attach resistors of types corresponding to the types of the toner bottle units 991 to 993 to the toner bottle units 991 to 993, respectively. Specifically, attach a resistor 912 having a resistance value Ra to the small-capacity toner bottle unit 991 that accommodates toner for 1000 sheets in terms of the number of sheets to be printed. Attach a resistor 912 having a resistance value 2Ra to the medium-capacity toner bottle unit 992 that accommodates toner for 2000 sheets in terms of the number of sheets to be printed. Attach a resistor 912 having a resistance value 4Ra to the large-capacity toner bottle unit 993 that accommodates toner for 4000 sheets in terms of the number of sheets to be printed. In any case, the resistor 912 is connected to the metal plates 9111 and 9112 of the contact portion 911a.

[0332] As described above, the resistor 912 serving as the carrier device (storage device) of the present embodiment carries information (capacity information) related to the type of the replenishment container as the value of the resistance value. That is, the resistance value Ra indicates the capacity information corresponding to the toner amount for 1000 sheets, the resistance value 2Ra indicates the capacity information corresponding to the toner amount for 2000 sheets, and the resistance value 4Ra indicates the capacity information corresponding to the toner amount for 4000 sheets.

[0333] The control unit 90 of the imaging device can confirm the resistance value of the resistor 912 by applying a voltage to the resistor 912 via the contact portion 70133 provided in the replenishment container attachment portion 701. That is, a voltage is applied to the metal plate 9112 via the contact member 91120 of the contact portion 70133. Note that it is assumed that the voltage applied to the metal plate 9112 is obtained by dividing the voltage Vcc by the resistor having the resistance value Ra, and the contact member 91110 in contact with the other metal plate 9111 is grounded. The control unit 90 confirms the resistance value of the resistor 912 by obtaining the voltage value on the resistor 912 side via the A / D conversion unit 95.

[0334] Here, reference will also be made to Figure 29A the operation of the push-in detection device 56 ( Figure 19 ). The structure of the push-in detection mechanism in the toner bottle unit is the same as the structure described with reference to Figures 16A to 16D . That is, the first contact plate 908 is connected to the metal plate 9111 of the contact portion 911a, and the second contact plate 909 is connected to the other metal plate 9113 of the contact portion 911a. Further, when the piston 902 is pushed in, the push-in detection lever 907 slides according to the piston 902, and the contact release portion 9072 of the push-in detection lever 907 releases the conduction between the first contact plate 908 and the second contact plate 909 (see also Figures 16A to 16D)。In addition, the contact member 91130 of the contact portion 70133 is connected to the second contact plate 909 via the metal plate 9113, and the contact member 91110 is connected to the first contact plate 908 via the metal plate 9111. Note that in FIG. 29, the switch mechanism constituted by the first contact plate 908 and the second contact plate 909 is shown as an equivalent circuit symbol turned on / off by pushing the detection lever 907.

[0335] The control unit 90 of the imaging device can detect the pushing of the piston 902 by monitoring whether there is conduction between the first contact plate 908 and the second contact plate 909 via the contact portion 70133 provided in the replenishment container attachment portion 701. That is, in a state where the toner bottle unit is attached to the replenishment container attachment portion 701 but the piston 902 is not pushed in, the contact member 91130 is grounded via the first contact plate 908 and the second contact plate 909 in a connected state. Therefore, the voltage value detected by the CPU 91 is 0 [V]. On the contrary, when the piston 902 is pushed in, the conduction between the first contact plate 908 and the second contact plate 909 is released, so the voltage value detected by the CPU 91 becomes Vcc [V]. Based on this change in the voltage value, the control unit 90 determines that the piston has been pushed in.

[0336] (Control during toner replenishment)

[0337] Next, the control of the panel 400 when performing toner replenishment by using the toner bottle units 991 to 993 having different capacities will be described.

[0338] Reference will be made to Figure 30 Describe the operations performed during toner bottle replenishment. In this flowchart, steps other than S601, S608, S611, S619, and S620 (which are user operations) are implemented by the CPU 91 ( Figure 19 ) provided in the control unit 90 of the imaging device 1, and the CPU executes a program read from the non-volatile memory 93.

[0339] First, the user opens the opening / closing member 83 ( Figure 4C ) and attaches one of the toner bottle units 991 to 993 with small, medium, and large capacities to the replenishment container attachment portion 701 (S601). As a result, the resistor 912 is connected to the control unit 90, so the control unit 90 obtains a voltage value from the circuit including the resistor 912 via the A / D conversion unit 95 and obtains the capacity information of the toner bottle units 991 to 993 based on the obtained voltage value (S602). Specifically, by Figure 29AWhen the voltage value obtained by the A / D conversion unit 95 is Vcc×Ra / (Ra+Rb), the control unit 90 determines that the capacity information indicates the toner amount for 1000 sheets to be printed. Further, when the voltage value obtained by the A / D conversion unit 95 is Vcc×2Ra / (2Ra+Rb), the control unit 90 determines that the capacity information indicates the toner amount for 2000 sheets to be printed. Further, when the voltage value obtained by the A / D conversion unit 95 is Vcc×4Ra / (4Ra+Rb), the control unit 90 determines that the capacity information indicates the toner amount for 4000 sheets to be printed. Further, the control unit 90 communicates with the P memory 58 to obtain the remaining capacity information stored in the P memory 58 of the developer container 32 (S603).

[0340] The control unit 90 compares the capacity information of the toner bottle units 991 to 993 determined based on the resistance value of the resistor 912 with the remaining capacity information of the P memory 58, and determines whether the developer container 32 has sufficient remaining capacity (S605). That is, when the remaining capacity of the developer container 32 is greater than the capacity of the toner bottle units 991 to 993 currently attached to the replenishment container attachment portion 701, it is determined that the developer container 32 has sufficient remaining capacity.

[0341] When the developer container 32 has sufficient remaining capacity, the control unit 90 operates the rotation locking mechanism 59 and releases the lock on the replenishment port baffle 7013 (see S606 and Figure 11A ). Conversely, when the developer container 32 does not have sufficient remaining capacity, the control unit 90 maintains the locked state of the replenishment port baffle 7013 (see S607 and Figure 11B ). When the lock on the replenishment port baffle 7013 is not released, since the user cannot rotate the toner bottle units 991 to 993, the process does not proceed to the subsequent steps S606 to S619. In this case, the user pulls out the toner bottle units 991 to 993, and thus the program ends (S620), and the imaging device 1 returns to the state before performing the toner replenishment operation.

[0342] Note that a step for checking whether the pistons 902 of the toner bottle units 991 to 993 are pushed in by pushing the detection device 56 can be provided between S603 and S605. At this time, when the toner bottle unit is in the state before the piston is pushed in (when the first contact plate 908 and the second contact plate 909 are in the connected state), it is determined that the toner bottle unit is brand new, and the process proceeds to S605. In addition, when the toner bottle unit is in the state after the piston is pushed in (when the conduction between the first contact plate 908 and the second contact plate 909 is disconnected), it is determined that the toner bottle unit has been used, and the process proceeds to S607.

[0343] When the lock of the replenishment port baffle 7013 is released (S606), the user rotates the toner bottle units 991 to 993 by 180° (S608). Then, the rotation detection device 55 detects that the replenishment port baffle 7013 has been rotated by 180° (S609), and the control unit 90 locks the rotation locking mechanism 59 based on this (S610). As a result, the state where the discharge ports of the toner bottle units 991 to 993 attached to the replenishment container attachment portion 701 communicate with the replenishment port 8012 is maintained without accepting the rotation operation of the user on the toner bottle units 991 to 993.

[0344] The user pushes the pistons 902 of the toner bottle units 991 to 993 to discharge the toner (S611), and the push detection device 56 detects that the pistons 902 have been pushed in (S612). That is, in this structural example, the completion of the toner discharge from the replenishment container is determined based on the detection result of the push detection device 56. When the completion of the toner discharge is detected, the control unit 90 turns on the lights of at least one of the indicators in the panel 400 that have not been turned on, thus notifying the user that the toner replenishment has been performed.

[0345] Here, the control unit 90 changes the increase amount of the display level of the panel 400 according to which toner bottle among the multiple types of toner bottle units 991 to 993 with different capacities has been used to replenish the toner (S613 to S616).

[0346] For example, assume that toner replenishment is performed in a state where the toner remaining amount in the developer container 32 is indicated as being at the Low level. In this case, when the capacity information indicating the small-capacity toner bottle unit 991 has been obtained in S602, the control unit 90 increases the display level of the panel 400 by one level (S614). When the capacity information indicating the medium-capacity toner bottle unit 992 has been obtained in S602, the control unit 90 increases the display level of the panel 400 by two levels (S615). When the capacity information indicating the large-capacity toner bottle unit 993 has been obtained in S602, the control unit 90 increases the display level of the panel 400 by four levels (S616).

[0347] After changing the display of the panel 400, the control unit 90 releases the rotation lock mechanism 59 (S618). The user rotates the toner bottle units 991 to 993 by 180° (S619), and pulls out the toner bottle units 991 to 993 from the replenishment container attachment portion 701 (S620). As a result, the toner replenishment procedure of the image forming apparatus 1 ends.

[0348] As described above, in the present embodiment, when the toner bottle unit is attached to the image forming apparatus, the control unit 90 measures the resistance value of the resistor 912 of the toner bottle unit, thereby obtaining the capacity information of the toner bottle unit. In other words, in a configuration in which a plurality of types of replenishment containers that can accommodate different amounts of toner can be used, the control unit 90 that serves as a determination device determines the type of the replenishment container based on the resistance value of the resistor 912 that serves as an example of a carrying device ( Figure 27 of S502). By using this determination result, the control unit 90 can appropriately operate the image forming apparatus according to the type of the replenishment container that the user attempts to use for toner replenishment.

[0349] Note that although the same metal plate 9111 is used as the contact connected to the resistor 912 and the contact of the push-in detection mechanism in this circuit configuration, these contacts can be provided separately, as Figure 29B shown. In this circuit configuration, the resistor 912 is connected to the metal plates 9111 and 9112, the first contact plate 908 of the push-in detection mechanism is connected to the metal plate 9114, and the second contact plate 909 is connected to the metal plate 9113. Also in this case, in a state where the toner bottle unit is attached to the replenishment container attachment portion 701, the control unit 90 can obtain the capacity information of the toner bottle unit based on the resistance value of the resistor 912 via the metal plates 9111 and 9112. Note that also in this circuit configuration, the control unit 90 can detect whether the piston of the toner bottle unit has been pushed in and the discharge of the toner has been performed based on whether there is conduction between the metal plates 9113 and 9114.

[0350] Note that, although the toner replenishment procedure using the toner bottle units 991 to 993 has been described, in the case of using a different replenishment container such as the toner pack 40, the toner replenishment is performed in substantially the same manner. Therefore, the control unit 90 can determine the type of the toner pack by detecting the resistance value of the resistor provided in the toner pack 40 attached to the replenishment container attachment portion 701.

[0351] <Third Embodiment>

[0352] As a third embodiment, a mode will be described in which: the wiring pattern between a plurality of contacts provided in the replenishment container is different according to the type of the replenishment container. This embodiment is different from the first and second embodiments in the configuration and method for determining the type of replenishment container having different capacities. Other elements having the same configuration and effects as those in the first and second embodiments will be denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the first and second embodiments, and their description will be omitted.

[0353] Figures 31A to 31C An example of the configuration of the wiring pattern 913 of the metal plates 9111, 9112, and 9115 exposed to the contact portion 911a in the case of using the toner bottle units 991, 992, and 993 of small, medium, and large capacities as the replenishment container is shown.

[0354] Note that the contact portion 70133 of the replenishment container attachment portion 701 includes contacts 91110, 91120, 91130, and 91150 that are respectively connected to the metal plates 9111, 9112, 9113, and 9115 when the toner bottle units 991 to 993 are attached to the replenishment container attachment portion. The contact 91110 is connected to the ground potential. The contacts 91120 and 91150 are respectively connected to the power supply voltage (Vcc) via resistors having resistance values Rd and Re.

[0355] Figure 31A The circuit configuration of the small-capacity toner bottle unit 991 is shown, in which metal plates JP1 and JP2 are provided. In this case, the metal plates 9112 and 9115 are respectively conducted with the metal plate 9111 through the metal plates JP1 and JP2 all the time.

[0356] Figure 31B The circuit configuration of the medium-capacity toner bottle unit 992 is shown, in which the metal plate JP1 is provided but the metal plate JP2 is not provided. In this case, the metal plate 9112 is conducted with the metal plate 9111 through the metal plate JP1 all the time, but the metal plate 9115 is insulated from the metal plate 9111.

[0357] Figure 31CThe circuit configuration of the large-capacity toner bottle unit 993 is shown, where the metal plate JP2 is provided but the metal plate JP1 is not. In this case, the metal plate 9112 is insulated from the metal plate JP1, while the metal plate 9115 is always conductive with the metal plate 9111 via the metal plate JP2.

[0358] When the toner bottle units 991 to 993 are attached to the replenishment container attachment portion 701, the control unit 90 can determine the types of the toner bottle units 991 to 993 by electrically detecting the presence or absence of the metal plates JP1 and JP2. That is, when the toner bottle units 991 to 993 are attached, the current flowing through the contact 91120 is Vcc / Rd when the metal plate JP1 is present ( Figure 31A and 31B ), and 0 when the metal plate JP1 is absent ( Figure 31C ). In addition, the current flowing through the contact 91150 when the toner bottle units 991 to 993 are attached is Vcc / Re when the metal plate JP2 is present ( Figure 31A and 31C ), and 0 when the metal plate JP2 is absent ( Figure 31B ).

[0359] As described above, in the present embodiment, the wiring pattern 913 of the circuit provided in the replenishment container differs according to the type of the replenishment container. In other words, in the present embodiment, the wiring pattern 913 that differs according to the presence or absence of the metal plates JP1 and JP2 serves as a carrier device that carries replenishment container information.

[0360] When the replenishment container is connected to the replenishment container attachment portion 701, the control unit 90 can determine the type of the replenishment container by detecting the difference in the wiring path in the replenishment container based on whether there is a current flowing through each contact of the contact portion 70133 and the replenishment container. The method for controlling the operation of the image forming apparatus when the user performs toner replenishment using the determination result is the same as in the first and second embodiments, and thus the description thereof will be omitted.

[0361] Note that although in the present embodiment, a difference is created in the wiring pattern 913 by changing the presence or absence of the metal plates JP1 and JP2 according to the type of the replenishment container, for example, a difference can be created in the wiring pattern 913 by changing the presence or absence of the metal plates 9112 and 9115. Also in this case, in a state where the replenishment container is attached to the replenishment container attachment portion 701, the control unit 90 can determine the type of the replenishment container based on the presence or absence of the current flowing through each contact of the contact portion 70133.

[0362] In addition, although in Figures 31A to 31CIn the example shown, the metal plate 9111 is used as a contact of the wiring pattern 913 indicating the supplementary container type and a contact of the push-in detection mechanism. However, these contacts may be provided separately, as Figure 32 shown. In this circuit configuration, the metal plate 9111 is part of the wiring pattern 913. The first contact plate 908 of the push-in detection mechanism is connected to the metal plate 9114, and the second contact plate 909 is connected to the metal plate 9113.

[0363] <Fourth Embodiment>

[0364] As a fourth embodiment, a mode in which the shape of a part of the supplementary container differs according to the supplementary container type will be described. This embodiment is different from the first to third embodiments in the configuration and method for determining the types of supplementary containers having different capacities. Other elements having the same configuration and effects as those in the first to third embodiments will be denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the first to third embodiments, and their description will be omitted.

[0365] Figures 33A to 33C Toner bottle units 991, 992, and 993 serving as the supplementary containers of this embodiment are shown. Figure 33A The small-capacity toner bottle unit 991 is shown. Two protrusions 994 and 995 are provided at the end on the downstream side in the insertion direction into the supplementary container attachment portion 701. Figure 33B The medium-capacity toner bottle unit 992 is shown. One protrusion 994 is provided at the end on the downstream side in the insertion direction into the supplementary container attachment portion 701. Figure 33C The large-capacity toner bottle unit 993 is shown. Another protrusion 995 is provided at the end on the downstream side in the insertion direction into the supplementary container attachment portion 701.

[0366] As described above, the plurality of types of toner bottle units 991 to 993 having different capacities have a shape pattern 914 formed in different shapes for the corresponding types. The shape pattern 914 serves as an example of a carrier device (storage device) that carries information of the supplementary container as a physical shape.

[0367] When the toner bottle units 991 to 993 are attached to the supplementary container attachment portion 701, the control unit 90 of the imaging device determines the types of the toner bottle units 991 to 993 by detecting the shape of the shape pattern 914. Specifically, two switches SW1 and SW2 that operate by contacting the protrusions 994 and 995 of the shape pattern 914 are provided in the supplementary container attachment portion 701 of this embodiment.

[0368] When the toner bottle unit is provided with the protrusion 994, the protrusion 994 switches the switch SW1 to the on state according to the attachment of the toner bottle unit. If the protrusion 994 is not provided, the switch SW1 remains in the off state. Similarly, when the toner bottle unit is provided with the protrusion 995, the protrusion 995 switches the switch SW2 to the on state according to the attachment of the toner bottle unit. If the protrusion 995 is not provided, the switch SW2 remains in the off state. The control unit 90 determines the types of the currently attached toner bottle units 991 to 993 based on the on / off modes of the switches SW1 and SW2.

[0369] The above switches SW1 and SW2 are examples of detection devices that can detect differences in the shape pattern 914 of the replenishment container, and different detection devices can be used. For example, it can be considered to provide optical sensors PI1 and PI2 as shown in Figure 35 wherein the light is blocked by the protrusions 994 and 995 respectively. Also in this case, the control unit 90 can determine the types of the currently attached toner bottle units 991 to 993 based on the modes of the output signals of the optical sensors PI1 and PI2.

[0370] In the above first to fourth embodiments, such a configuration has been described as an example, in which: the information of the replenishment container is carried by a carrying device (storage device) provided in the replenishment container, and the control unit 90 of the imaging device determines the type of the replenishment container by reading the information from the carrying device. The carrying device is not limited to those described in the above embodiments, and any device can be used as long as it can carry information capable of specifying which one of the multiple types of replenishment containers attached to the attachment portion 701 of the replenishment container is. For example, a two-dimensional barcode encoding information such as the type (capacity) or expiration date of the replenishment container can be added to the surface of the replenishment container, and the type of the replenishment container can be determined by reading the information by the image sensor of the imaging device.

[0371] <Fifth Embodiment>

[0372] As a fifth embodiment, such a mode will be described, in which: the user is required to input the type of the replenishment container during toner replenishment, and the imaging device determines the type of the replenishment container based on the user input. The difference between this embodiment and the first to fourth embodiments lies in the configuration and method for determining the types of replenishment containers with different capacities. Other elements having the same configuration and effects as those in the first to fourth embodiments will be denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the first to fourth embodiments, and their descriptions will be omitted.

[0373] As shown in Figure 36 the display unit 301 of the operation unit 300 of this embodiment displays a selection screen 562 that prompts the user to select the type of the replenishment container for toner replenishment. Here, fromFigures 25A to 25C It is selected from the three types of toner bottle units 991 to 993 shown. The user inputs the type of replenishment container for toner replenishment in the imaging device by operating one of the buttons of the input unit 302 according to the instructions on the selection screen 562.

[0374] In addition, as a modification example, the selection screen 562 for prompting the user to select the type of replenishment container for toner replenishment may be displayed on the display 560 of the host computer connected to the imaging device. In this case, the host computer executes the display of the selection screen 562 based on the information received from the imaging device, and transmits the replenishment container type information input by the user via the input device to the imaging device.

[0375] Reference will be made to Figure 38 describe the operations performed in the toner replenishment of this embodiment. In this flowchart, steps other than S701 to S703, S706, S711, and S712 (which are user operations) are implemented by the CPU 91 ( Figure 19 ) provided in the control unit 90 of the imaging device 1, and the CPU 91 executes the program read from the non-volatile memory 93.

[0376] First, the user opens the opening / closing member 83 ( Figure 4C ), and attaches one of the small-capacity, medium-capacity, and large-capacity toner bottle units 991 to 993 to the replenishment container attachment portion 701 (S701). Next, the user rotates the toner bottle units 991 to 993 by 180° (S702). As a result, the discharge ports of the toner bottle units 991 to 993 currently attached to the replenishment container attachment portion 701 communicate with the replenishment port 8012. When the user pushes the piston 902 of the toner bottle units 991 to 993 to discharge the toner (S703), the push detection device 56 detects that the piston 902 has been pushed (S704).

[0377] Here, the control unit 90 that has detected the completion of toner discharge in S704 executes the process (display process) of displaying the selection screen 303 ( Figure 36 ) for prompting the selection of the toner bottle type on the display unit 301 (S705 and S706). Note that in the case of the above modification example, the control unit 90 that has detected the completion of toner discharge in S704 executes the display process by transmitting a notification to the host computer via the I / O interface 94 ( Figure 19 ) to display the selection screen 562 ( Figure 37 ) on the display 560.

[0378] Then, when the control unit 90 receives the type information of the toner bottle unit from the operation unit 300, the control unit 90 changes the display level of the panel 400 based on the input information (S707 to S710). For example, when the information indicating the small-capacity toner bottle unit 991 has been obtained in S706, the control unit 90 increases the display level of the panel 400 by one level (S708). When the information indicating the medium-capacity toner bottle unit 992 has been obtained in S706, the control unit 90 increases the display level of the panel 400 by two levels (S709). When the information indicating the large-capacity toner bottle unit 993 has been obtained in S706, the control unit 90 increases the display level of the panel 400 by four levels (S710).

[0379] After the types of the toner bottle units 991 to 993 are input in S706, the user rotates the toner bottle units 991 to 993 by 180° (S711), and pulls out the toner bottle units 991 to 993 from the replenishment container attachment portion 701 (S712). As a result, the toner replenishment program of the image forming apparatus 1 ends.

[0380] As described above, in the present embodiment, when performing toner replenishment, the selection screen 303 and / or 562 is displayed on at least one of the display unit 301 of the image forming apparatus and the external display 560. The control unit 90 determines the type of the toner bottle unit for this toner replenishment based on the information input by the user according to the selection screen 303 and / or 562. In other words, the control unit 90, which serves as a determination device, requests the user to input the type information of the replenishment container via the image forming apparatus or the external display unit, and determines the type of the replenishment container based on the information input by the user. By using this determination result, the control unit 90 can appropriately operate the image forming apparatus according to the type of the replenishment container that has been used by the user for toner replenishment.

[0381] Note that, in the present embodiment, the timing at which the selection screen 303 and / or 562 is displayed is the moment when the piston of the toner bottle unit is pushed in. However, for example, the selection screen 303 and / or 562 may be displayed when it is detected that the toner bottle unit is attached to the replenishment container attachment portion 701. In this case, it is preferable that the replenishment port shutter 7013 is rotationally locked by the rotation locking mechanism 59 in the initial state, and the locking is released when the capacity of the toner bottle unit selected by the user is equal to or less than the remaining capacity obtained from the P memory 58 of the developer container 32 (see Figure 27 S505 to S507).

[0382] In addition, although the toner replenishment procedure using the toner bottle units 991 to 993 has been described in this embodiment, the toner replenishment is also performed in substantially the same manner when using a different replenishment container such as the toner pack 40. Therefore, the control unit 90 can determine the type of the toner pack by detecting the resistance value of the resistor provided in the toner pack 40 attached to the replenishment container attachment portion 701.

[0383] <Sixth Embodiment>

[0384] The sixth embodiment will be described. This embodiment is different from Example 3 of the first embodiment in the configuration of the panel 400. Other elements having the same configuration and effects as those in the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment, and their descriptions will be omitted.

[0385] The panel 400 according to this embodiment is provided on the front surface of the housing of the printer main body 100, as Figure 39 shown. The panel 400 is an example of a display device that displays replenishment amount information indicating the amount of toner with which the developer container 32 has been replenished or can be replenished. The panel 400 is constituted by a liquid crystal panel including a plurality of indicators (indicating devices), and the light emission states (such as on, off, and blinking) of the indicators can be independently controlled. Note that in the following description, instead of "off", the light may be in a state with a lower brightness than the normal on state, or may emit light of a color different from the normal on state.

[0386] In this embodiment, a four-stage indicator 401 in which four indicators 4011, 4012, 4013, and 4014 are arranged in the vertical direction from the upper side to the lower side is used as the panel 400. The panel 400 indicates the amount of toner with which the developer container 32 has been replenished or can be replenished by the stepwise changed display of the indicators 4011 to 4014. In addition, the lowermost indicator 4014 also indicates whether the toner in the developer container 32 is at the Low level or the Out level.

[0387] In the illustrated configuration example of the panel 400, when the lights of all four indicators 4011 to 4014 are off, it indicates that the toner in the developer container 32 is at the Out level. In the case where Figure 40A shown only the light of the lowermost indicator 4014 blinks, it indicates that the remaining amount of toner in the developer container 32 is at the Low level.

[0388] In the case where Figure 40B shown only the light of the lowermost indicator 4014 is on, it indicates that the remaining amount of toner in the developer container 32 is at the first level higher than the Low level. In the case where Figure 40CWhen the lights of the two lower indicators 4013 and 4014 are on and the lights of the two upper indicators 4011 and 4012 are off, it indicates that the toner remaining amount in the developer container 32 is at a second level higher than the first level. When the lights of the three lower indicators 4012 to 4014 are on and only the light of the uppermost indicator 4011 is off, it indicates that the toner remaining amount in the developer container 32 is at a third level higher than the second level.

[0389] When, as Figure 40D shown, the lights of all the indicators 4011 to 4014 are on, it indicates that the toner remaining amount in the developer container 32 is at the Full level higher than the third level. In this state, for example, since no indicator light is off, it can be seen that toner cannot be added from the toner pack 40 for replenishment.

[0390] As will be described later, in the present embodiment, when a plurality of types of replenishment containers containing different amounts of toner are connectable and the developer container is replenished with toner from a replenishment container outside the imaging device, the display of the panel 400 changes. At this time, the increase amount of the indicators on the panel 400 during toner replenishment changes according to the type of the replenishment container.

[0391] Note that Figure 39 the shown panel 400 is an example of a display device whose display content changes according to the level of the toner amount with which the developer container 32 can be replenished, and different configurations can be used. For example, the panel can be composed of a combination of a light source such as an LED or an incandescent lamp and a diffusing lens. A configuration that omits the indicators and uses only a digital panel or a configuration that omits the digital panel and uses only the indicators can be adopted. In addition, the panel 400 of the present embodiment also has a remaining amount display function of displaying the toner remaining amount level in the developer container 32 based on the detection result of the toner remaining amount detection device 51 ( Figure 19 ) during the period when toner replenishment is not performed, which will be described later. However, as long as the display device has at least a function of displaying the replenishment amount information indicating the toner amount with which the developer container 32 has been replenished or can be replenished to the user, the display device does not have to have a remaining amount display function.

[0392] (6-3) Display control of replenishment amount information during toner replenishment

[0393] Next, the control of the panel 400 ( Figure 39 and 40A to 40D) when performing toner replenishment by using one of the toner bottle units 991 to 993 having different capacities will be described.

[0394] When toner replenishment is not performed, the control unit 90 of the image forming apparatus 1 changes the display of the operation panel 400 based on the detection result of the toner remaining amount detection device 51( Figure 19 ). Each indicator corresponds to the toner amount of one small-capacity toner bottle unit 991, that is, the toner amount for 1000 sheets to be printed. In other words, when the image forming apparatus 1 repeats the image forming operation without toner replenishment, every time imaging is performed on about 1000 sheets of recording material, the lamp of one of the turned-on indicators in the operation panel 400 is turned off.

[0395] For example, in the state where the lamp of one of the Figure 40B indicators is turned on, it indicates that there is a remaining capacity to add toner equivalent to three small-capacity toner bottle units 991 (3000 sheets in terms of the number of sheets to be printed) for replenishment. In other words, it indicates that toner equivalent to one small-capacity toner bottle unit 991 (1000 sheets in terms of the number of sheets to be printed) has been added for replenishment. In the state where the lamps of two of the Figure 40C indicators are turned on, it indicates that there is a remaining capacity to add toner equivalent to two small-capacity toner bottle units 991 (2000 sheets in terms of the number of sheets to be printed) for replenishment. In other words, it indicates that toner equivalent to two small-capacity toner bottle units 991 or one medium-capacity toner bottle unit 992 (2000 sheets in terms of the number of sheets to be printed) has been added for replenishment. In the state where the lamps of all of the Figure 40D indicators are turned on, it indicates that toner replenishment cannot be performed using any toner bottle unit (the toner remaining amount is at the Full level). In other words, it indicates that toner equivalent to four small-capacity toner bottle units, two medium-capacity toner bottle units, or one large-capacity toner bottle unit (4000 sheets in terms of the number of sheets to be printed) has been added for replenishment. Further, when the toner remaining amount in the developing agent container 32 is at the Low level, the control unit 90 turns off the lamps of the three upper indicators and blinks the lamp of the lowermost indicator, as shown in Figure 40A . In the state of Figure 40A , it indicates that there is a remaining capacity to add toner equivalent to four small-capacity toner bottle units 991 (4000 sheets in terms of the number of sheets to be printed) for replenishment. As described above, in the present embodiment, "the number of indicators whose lamps are turned off or blinking" corresponds to the replenishment amount information indicating the toner amount for which the developing agent container 32 has been replenished or can be replenished.

[0396] In the present embodiment, the method for controlling the display of the operation panel 400 during toner replenishment is the same as that in reference Figure 27 and 30The situation of Example 3 of the first described embodiment is substantially the same as that of the second embodiment. Note that the configuration and determination method for determining the types of replenishment containers having different capacities are not particularly limited, and those described in the third to fifth embodiments can be used.

[0397] That is, the control unit 90 changes the increase amount of the indicator display on the panel 400 according to which toner bottle unit among the multiple types of toner bottle units 991 to 993 having different capacities has been added for replenishment ( Figure 27 S513 to S516). Note that in the panel 400 of the present embodiment, different from the first and second embodiments, turning on or off the light of one indicator corresponds to changing the display level of the panel 400 by one level. Therefore, in Figure 27 S514, S515, and S516, the CPU 91 turns on the lights of the required number of indicators for the panel 400 based on the capacity information obtained from the T memory 57 of the toner bottle unit 991, 992, or 993.

[0398] For example, assume that toner replenishment is performed in a state where the toner remaining amount in the developer container 32 is indicated as being at the Low level. Figure 40A In this case, when the capacity information indicating the small-capacity toner bottle unit 991 has been obtained in S502, the control unit 90 turns on the light of one indicator on the panel 400 to transition to Figure 40B the state (S514). When the capacity information indicating the medium-capacity toner bottle unit 992 has been obtained in S502, the control unit 90 turns on the lights of two indicators on the panel 400 to transition to Figure 40C the state (S515). When the capacity information indicating the large-capacity toner bottle unit 993 has been obtained in S502, the control unit 90 turns on the lights of four indicators on the panel 400 to transition to Figure 40D the state (S516).

[0399] In addition, for example, assume that toner replenishment is performed in a state where the toner remaining amount in the developer container 32 is indicated as being at the first level. Figure 40B In this case, when the capacity information indicating the small-capacity toner bottle unit 991 has been obtained in S502, the control unit 90 turns on the light of one indicator on the panel 400 to transition to Figure 40CState (S514). When the capacity information indicating the medium-capacity toner bottle unit 992 has been obtained in S502, the control unit 90 turns on the lights of the two indicators on the panel 400 to shift to the state where the lights of a total of three indicators are on (S515). Note that when the capacity information indicating the high-capacity toner bottle unit 993 has been obtained in S502, the rotation lock mechanism 59 is maintained locked in S505, and toner replenishment is not performed, and thus S516 is not executed.

[0400] As described above, the increment / decrement unit of the indicator in the display device of the present embodiment corresponds to the replenishment container (first replenishment container) having the smallest capacity among a plurality of types of replenishment containers. That is, when toner replenishment has been performed using the first replenishment container (e.g., the low-capacity toner bottle unit 991) having the smallest capacity among a plurality of types of replenishment containers, the indicator of the display device changes by one level. When toner replenishment has been performed using the second replenishment container (e.g., the medium-capacity toner bottle unit 992) having a capacity larger than that of the first replenishment container among a plurality of types of replenishment containers, the indicator of the display device changes by multiple levels.

[0401] Note that although the toner replenishment procedure using the toner bottle units 991 to 993 has been described in the present embodiment, when a different replenishment container such as the toner pack 40 is used, toner replenishment and the display of the panel 400 are performed in substantially the same manner. For example, in the case of an imaging system in which three types of toner packs of low capacity, medium capacity, and high capacity can be used, the above-described display control of the panel 400 can be applied as it is.

[0402] Note that in the case of a toner pack, since the pushing operation of the piston is not performed, instead of Figure 27 Steps S511 and S512, the completion of toner discharge is detected by a different discharge detection device. Specifically, there is a method of regarding the elapse of a predetermined time from the time point when the rotation of the toner pack is detected in S509 as the completion of discharge. In addition, for example, there is a method in which after the rotation of the toner pack is detected in S509, a button notifying that the discharge of toner has been completed is displayed on the operation unit 300, and the pressing of the button by the user is regarded as the completion of toner discharge.

[0403] As described above, in the present embodiment, in a configuration in which a plurality of types of replenishment containers that can accommodate different amounts of toner can be used, the replenishment amount displayed on the display device (such as the panel 400) is determined according to the type of replenishment container used in the toner replenishment this time. As a result, based on the display content of the panel 400 or the like, the user can quickly recognize the change in the amount of toner with which the developer container 32 has been replenished or can be replenished, which leads to an improvement in convenience.

[0404] In particular, in the above-described configuration example, the toner amount that the developer container 32 has been replenished or can be replenished is visually displayed by using the panel 400 including an indicator that changes stepwise according to the remaining toner amount. As a result, the user can be notified in an intuitively understandable manner of the type and quantity of the replenishment container with which toner replenishment can be performed without exceeding the capacity of the developer container 32. In this case, as described in the above configuration example, it is preferable that the number of indicators whose lights are turned on after toner replenishment increases as the toner amount contained in the replenishment container becomes larger.

[0405] In addition, in the present embodiment, when the discharge detection device detects the completion of toner discharge from the replenishment container, the replenishment amount information displayed on the display device is changed regardless of the detection result of the toner remaining amount detection device provided in the developer container 32. Therefore, the time from when the user performs the operation of discharging toner from the replenishment container until the result is reflected in the reduction of the toner amount that has been added for replenishment or can be added for replenishment indicated by the replenishment amount information on the display device can be made shorter, and convenience can be further improved. For example, in the present embodiment, the timing at which the indicators of the panel 400 increase does not depend on whether the toner conveyance by the conveyance members (8013 to 8015, see Figures 6A to 6C ) of the toner receiving unit 801 is completed.

[0406] Note that, as the display device for displaying the replenishment amount information indicating the toner amount with which the developer container 32 has been replenished or can be replenished, an element different from the panel 400 can be used. For example, a configuration can be considered in which: the type and quantity of the replenishment container that can be used to perform toner replenishment are displayed as an image or a numerical value on the display unit 301 of the operation unit 300, and the display content is changed according to the type of the replenishment container used for this toner replenishment when toner replenishment is performed.

[0407] In addition, although Figure 26 shows an example of the circuit configuration of the push-in detection mechanism of the toner bottle unit, a different circuit configuration can be used, as described in reference Figure 28 in Example 3.

[0408] <Seventh Embodiment>

[0409] In the seventh embodiment, different configuration examples of the panel will be further described. As Figure 41As shown, the panel 400 of the present embodiment is provided on the front surface of the housing of the printer main body. The panel 400 is another example of a display device that displays replenishment information indicating the amount of toner for which the developer container has been replenished or can be replenished. In the present embodiment, the indicator 402 in which two indicators 4021 and 4022 are arranged vertically one above the other is used as the panel 400. The panel 400 indicates the amount of toner for which the developer container 32 has been replenished or can be replenished by the stepwise changed display on the indicators 4021 and 4022.

[0410] In the case where, as Figure 42A shown, the lights of all the indicators 4021 and 4022 are turned off, it is indicated that the remaining amount of toner in the developer container 32 is at the Low level. In the case where, as Figure 42B shown, only the light of the lowermost indicator 4014 blinks, it is indicated that the remaining amount of toner in the developer container 32 is at the first level higher than the Low level. In other words, it is indicated that toner equivalent to one small-capacity toner bottle unit 991 (1000 sheets in terms of the number of sheets to be printed) has been added for replenishment.

[0411] In the case where, as Figure 42C shown, only the light of the lowermost indicator 4022 is turned on, it is indicated that the remaining amount of toner in the developer container 32 is at the second level higher than the first level. In other words, it is indicated that toner equivalent to two small-capacity toner bottle units 991 or one medium-capacity toner bottle unit 992 (2000 sheets in terms of the number of sheets to be printed) has been added for replenishment. In the case where, as Figure 42D shown, the lights of all the indicators 4021 and 4022 are turned on, it is indicated that the remaining amount of toner in the developer container 32 is at the Full level higher than the second level. In this state, for example, it can be seen that since there is no indicator light turned off, toner cannot be replenished from the toner pack 40. In other words, it is indicated that toner equivalent to four small-capacity toner bottle units, two medium-capacity toner bottle units, or one large-capacity toner bottle unit (4000 sheets in terms of the number of sheets to be printed) has been added for replenishment. As described above, in the present embodiment, the number of indicators whose lights are turned off and the number of indicators whose lights blink correspond to the replenishment amount information indicating the amount of toner for which the developer container 32 has been replenished or can be replenished.

[0412] (Display control of replenishment amount information during toner replenishment)

[0413] In the present embodiment, the method for controlling the display of the panel 400 during toner replenishment is the same as that in reference Figure 27 and 30The situation of Example 3 of the described first embodiment and the situation of the second embodiment are basically the same. Note that the configuration and determination method for determining the type of replenishment container having different capacities are not particularly limited, and those described in the third to fifth embodiments can be used.

[0414] That is, the control unit 90 changes the indicator display of the panel 400 according to which toner bottle unit among the multiple types of toner bottle units 991 to 993 having different capacities has had its toner added for replenishment ( Figure 30 in S613 to S616). Note that in S614 to S616, the increase in the remaining toner amount expressed by the indicator display of the panel 400 is described as the increase amount of the display level (such as "+1" and "+2").

[0415] For example, assume that toner replenishment is performed in a state where the remaining toner amount in the developer container 32 is indicated as being at the Low level Figure 42A In this case, when the capacity information indicating the small-capacity toner bottle unit 991 has been obtained in S602, the control unit 90 causes one indicator of the panel 400 to blink to switch to Figure 42B the state (S614). When the capacity information indicating the medium-capacity toner bottle unit 992 has been obtained in S602, the light of one indicator of the panel 400 is turned on to switch to Figure 42C the state (S615). When the capacity information indicating the large-capacity toner bottle unit 993 has been obtained in S602, the lights of two indicators of the panel 400 are turned on to switch to Figure 42D the state (S616).

[0416] In addition, for example, assume that toner replenishment is performed in a state where the remaining toner amount in the developer container 32 is indicated as being at the first level Figure 42B In this case, when the capacity information indicating the small-capacity toner bottle unit 991 has been obtained in S602, the control unit 90 switches the lower indicator of the panel 400 from the blinking state to the on state to switch to Figure 42C the state (S614). When the capacity information indicating the medium-capacity toner bottle unit 992 has been obtained in S602, the light of the lower indicator of the panel 400 is turned on and the light of the upper indicator blinks (S615). Note that when the capacity information indicating the large-capacity toner bottle unit 993 has been obtained in S602, the rotation locking mechanism 59 is maintained locked in S605 and toner replenishment is not performed, so S616 is not executed.

[0417] As described above, similarly, in the present embodiment, in a configuration where a plurality of types of replenishment containers that accommodate different amounts of toner can be used, for example, the display on the display device such as the panel 400 changes according to the type of the replenishment container used in the toner replenishment. At this time, the display on the display device changes based on the capacity information obtained by the obtaining device, regardless of the detection result of the toner remaining amount detection device provided in the developer container 32. As a result, based on the display content of the panel 400 or the like, the user can quickly recognize the change in the amount of toner that has been replenished or can be replenished in the developer container 32, which leads to an improvement in convenience.

[0418] In addition, the panel 400 of the present embodiment is composed of two indicators that are fewer than the types of replenishment containers, and serves as a specific example in which the display corresponding to the type of replenishment container can be changed even in such a case.

[0419] <Summary of the present disclosure>

[0420] (A-1)

[0421] As described in the above embodiments with reference to specific examples (for example, see Examples 1 and 2 of the first embodiment), one aspect of the imaging device according to the present disclosure is:

[0422] An imaging device, a replenishment container that accommodates toner can be attached to and detached from the imaging device, and the imaging device is configured to form a toner image on a recording material. The imaging device includes:

[0423] An image carrier member;

[0424] A developer container configured to accommodate toner;

[0425] A developing device configured to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier member into a toner image by using the toner accommodated in the developer container;

[0426] A replenishment port through which toner from the replenishment container can be replenished to the developer container via the replenishment port by attaching the replenishment container provided outside the imaging device to the replenishment port;

[0427] A restricting member that can be switched to a permitted state that permits the replenishment container attached to the replenishment port to rotate relative to the replenishment port, and a restricting state that restricts the replenishment container attached to the replenishment port from rotating relative to the replenishment port;

[0428] A notification device configured to notify a replenishment procedure for replenishing toner from the replenishment container to the developer container; and

[0429] A control device configured to cause the notification device to notify at least one step of the replenishment procedure.

[0430] (A-2)

[0431] In the imaging apparatus described above in (A-1), preferably,

[0432] a progress detection device configured to detect the progress of the replenishment container is provided, and

[0433] the control device changes the step to be notified by the notification device in the replenishment process according to the detection result of the progress detection device.

[0434] (A-3)

[0435] In the imaging apparatus described above in (A-2), preferably,

[0436] the progress detection device includes a toner amount detection device whose output value changes according to the amount of toner contained in the developer container, and

[0437] based on the output value of the toner amount detection device, when the amount of toner contained in the developer container is less than a predetermined amount, the control device causes the notification device to notify a first step for attaching the replenishment container to the replenishment port.

[0438] (A-4)

[0439] In the imaging apparatus described above in (A-2) or (A-3), preferably,

[0440] the progress detection device includes an attachment detection device whose output value changes according to whether the replenishment container is attached to the replenishment port, and

[0441] based on the output value of the attachment detection device, when the replenishment container is attached to the replenishment port, the control device causes the notification device to notify a second step for communicating the replenishment container with the replenishment port.

[0442] (A-5)

[0443] In the imaging apparatus described above in (A-4), preferably,

[0444] the second step is an operation of rotating the replenishment container attached to the replenishment port to communicate the replenishment port and the replenishment container with each other.

[0445] (A-6)

[0446] In the imaging apparatus described above in any one of (A-2) to (A-5), preferably,

[0447] the progress detection device includes a connection detection device whose output value changes according to the connection between the replenishment container and the replenishment port, and

[0448] Based on the output value of the connection detection device, when the replenishment container is in communication with the replenishment port, the control device causes the notification device to notify a third step of discharging the toner contained in the replenishment container to the developer container through the replenishment port.

[0449] (A-7)

[0450] In the image forming apparatus described above in (A-6), preferably,

[0451] The third step is an operation of discharging the toner contained in the replenishment container by pushing a pressing member provided in the replenishment container.

[0452] (A-8)

[0453] In the image forming apparatus described above in any one of (A-2) to (A-7), preferably,

[0454] The progress detection device includes a discharge detection device whose output value changes according to the discharge of the toner contained in the replenishment container to the developer container, and

[0455] Based on the output value of the discharge detection device, when the toner contained in the replenishment container has been discharged, the control device causes the notification device to notify a fourth step of detaching the replenishment container from the replenishment port.

[0456] (A-9)

[0457] In the image forming apparatus described above in any one of (A-2) to (A-8), preferably,

[0458] The progress detection device includes a stop operation detection device whose output value changes according to whether a stop operation for stopping the progress of the replenishment program has been performed, and

[0459] Based on the output value of the stop operation detection device, when the stop operation has been performed, the control device causes the notification device to notify a fourth step of detaching the replenishment container from the replenishment port.

[0460] (A-10)

[0461] In the image forming apparatus described above in (A-5), preferably,

[0462] The progress detection device includes a rotation detection device whose output value changes according to the rotation angle of the replenishment container relative to the replenishment port, and

[0463] Based on the output value of the rotation detection device, when the rotation angle has reached the angle at which the replenishment container communicates with the replenishment port, the control device causes the restricting member to transition to the restricted state, and then causes the notification device to notify a third step of discharging the toner accommodated in the replenishment container to the developing container through the replenishment port.

[0464] (A-11)

[0465] In the image forming apparatus described above in (A-10), preferably,

[0466] When the replenishment container communicates with the replenishment port, the control device causes the notification device to alternately notify the third step and a fifth step of stopping the progress of the replenishment program.

[0467] (A-12)

[0468] In the image forming apparatus described above in (A-11), preferably,

[0469] The fifth step is to perform a stop operation on the operation unit, whereby a stop operation for stopping the progress of the replenishment program can be performed, and

[0470] When a predetermined time has elapsed after the notification device has notified the third step and the stop operation has not been performed, the control device causes the restricting member to transition to the allowable state, and then causes the notification device to notify a fourth step of detaching the replenishment container from the replenishment port.

[0471] (A-13)

[0472] In the image forming apparatus described above in (A-11), preferably,

[0473] The fifth step is to perform a stop operation on the operation unit, whereby a stop operation for stopping the progress of the replenishment program can be performed, and

[0474] When a stop operation is performed during the period when the notification device notifies the third step or the fifth step, the control device causes the restricting member to transition to the allowable state, and then causes the notification device to notify a fourth step of detaching the replenishment container from the replenishment port.

[0475] (A-14)

[0476] In the image forming apparatus described above in (A-1), preferably,

[0477] The replenishment program includes a first step of attaching the replenishment container to the replenishment port, a second step of causing the replenishment container to communicate with the replenishment port, a third step of discharging the toner accommodated in the replenishment container to the developing container through the replenishment port, and a fourth step of detaching the replenishment container from the replenishment port.

[0478] (A-15)

[0479] In the imaging apparatus described above in (A-14), preferably,

[0480] The control device causes the notification device to commonly notify the first step, the second step, the third step, and the fourth step.

[0481] (A-16)

[0482] One aspect of the imaging apparatus according to the present disclosure is that

[0483] An imaging apparatus, a replenishment container for accommodating toner is attachable to and detachable from the imaging apparatus, and the imaging apparatus is capable of communicating with an information processing apparatus including a notification device, the imaging apparatus being configured to form a toner image on a recording material, the imaging apparatus including:

[0484] An image carrier member;

[0485] A developer container configured to accommodate toner;

[0486] A developing device configured to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier member into a toner image by using toner accommodated in the developer container;

[0487] A replenishment port through which toner from the replenishment container can be replenished to the developer container via the replenishment port by attaching the replenishment container provided outside the imaging apparatus to the replenishment port;

[0488] A restricting member capable of transitioning to a permitted state that permits rotation of the replenishment container attached to the replenishment port relative to the replenishment port, and a restricting state that restricts rotation of the replenishment container attached to the replenishment port relative to the replenishment port; and

[0489] A control device configured to output to the information processing apparatus information for causing the notification device to notify at least one step of a replenishment procedure for replenishing toner from the replenishment container to the developer container.

[0490] (A-17)

[0491] In the imaging apparatus described in any one of (A-1) to (A-16) above, preferably,

[0492] The notification device includes a display unit for displaying the replenishment procedure.

[0493] (A-18)

[0494] In the imaging apparatus described in any one of (A-1) to (A-17) above, preferably,

[0495] The notification device includes a sound generating unit for expressing the replenishment procedure by sound.

[0496] (B-1)

[0497] As described in the above embodiments with reference to specific examples (e.g., see Example 3 of the first embodiment and the second to sixth embodiments), one aspect of the imaging device according to the present disclosure is:

[0498] An imaging device, a replenishment container for accommodating toner is attachable to and detachable from the imaging device, and the imaging device is configured to form a toner image on a recording material. The imaging device includes:

[0499] An image carrier member;

[0500] A developer container configured to accommodate toner;

[0501] A developing device configured to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier member into a toner image by using the toner accommodated in the developer container;

[0502] A replenishment port through which the replenishment container provided outside the imaging device is attached to the replenishment port, and toner from the replenishment container is replenished to the developer container via the replenishment port, and a plurality of types of replenishment containers accommodating different amounts of toner can be connected to the replenishment port; and

[0503] A determination device configured to determine the type of the replenishment container for toner replenishment based on information carried by a carrier device provided in the replenishment container when replenishing the developer container with toner from the replenishment container.

[0504] (B-2)

[0505] In the imaging device described above in (B-1), preferably,

[0506] The carrier device is a storage medium storing information different according to the type of the replenishment container, and

[0507] The determination device determines the type of the replenishment container for toner replenishment by reading information from the storage medium in a state where the replenishment container is attached to the replenishment port.

[0508] (B-3)

[0509] In the imaging device described above in (B-1), preferably,

[0510] The carrier device is a resistor whose resistance value is different according to the type of the replenishment container, and

[0511] The determination device determines the type of the replenishment container for toner replenishment by detecting the resistance value of the resistor in a state where the replenishment container is attached to the replenishment port.

[0512] (B-4)

[0513] In the image forming apparatus described above in (B-1), preferably,

[0514] The carrier device is a wiring pattern formed in the replenishment container, and the wiring pattern is formed such that the current flow path varies depending on the type of the replenishment container when a voltage is applied from a plurality of contacts provided in the image forming apparatus, and

[0515] The determination device determines the type of the replenishment container for toner replenishment based on whether there is current flowing through each of the plurality of contacts when a voltage is applied to the wiring pattern through the plurality of contacts in a state where the replenishment container is attached to the replenishment port.

[0516] (B-5)

[0517] In the image forming apparatus described above in (B-1), preferably,

[0518] The carrier device is a shape pattern whose physical shape varies depending on the type of the replenishment container, and

[0519] The determination device determines the type of the replenishment container for toner replenishment by detecting the shape pattern in a state where the replenishment container is attached to the replenishment port.

[0520] (B-6)

[0521] In the image forming apparatus described above in (B-5), preferably,

[0522] The determination device includes a switch that operates by contacting the shape pattern.

[0523] (B-7)

[0524] In the image forming apparatus described above in (B-5) or (B-6), preferably,

[0525] The determination device includes an optical sensor that detects the shape pattern by using light.

[0526] (B-8)

[0527] Further, another aspect of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is:

[0528] An image forming apparatus, a replenishment container for accommodating toner is attachable to and detachable from the image forming apparatus, and the image forming apparatus is configured to form a toner image on a recording material, the image forming apparatus including:

[0529] An image bearing member;

[0530] A developer container configured to accommodate toner;

[0531] A developing device configured to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrier member into a toner image by using toner accommodated in a toner container;

[0532] A replenishing port through which toner from a replenishing container is replenished to the toner container by attaching the replenishing container provided outside the imaging device to the replenishing port, and a plurality of types of replenishing containers containing different amounts of toner can be connected to the replenishing port; and

[0533] A determining device configured to perform a display process of prompting an input of type information of a replenishing container for toner replenishment when the toner container is replenished with toner from the replenishing container, and determine the type of the replenishing container for toner replenishment based on the input information.

[0534] (B-9)

[0535] In the imaging device described above in (B-8), preferably,

[0536] A display unit configured to display an image is provided, and

[0537] In the display process, the determining device causes the display unit to display a selection screen for selecting the type of the replenishing container for toner replenishment.

[0538] (B-10)

[0539] In the imaging device described above in (B-8), preferably,

[0540] An interface connectable to an external device is provided, and

[0541] In the display process, the determining device transmits, via the interface, a notification for displaying a selection screen for selecting the type of the replenishing container for toner replenishment on a display device of the external device.

[0542] (B-11)

[0543] In the imaging device described in any one of (B-1) to (B-10) above, preferably,

[0544] A toner remaining amount detection device configured to detect the remaining amount of toner in the toner container is provided, and

[0545] A locking device configured to restrict an operation of bringing the discharge port of the replenishing container attached to the replenishing port into communication with the replenishing port is provided, and

[0546] When the replenishing container is attached to the replenishing port, it is determined whether to release the locking of the locking device based on the detection result of the toner remaining amount detection device and the determination result of the determining device.

[0547] (B-12)

[0548] In the image forming apparatus described in any one of (B-1) to (B-11) above, preferably,

[0549] a display device configured to display information indicating the amount of toner for which the developer container can be replenished is provided, and

[0550] a discharge detection device configured to detect completion of discharge of toner from the replenishment container is provided, and

[0551] when the discharge detection device has detected completion of toner discharge, the information displayed on the display device is changed based on the determination result of the determination device.

[0552] (C-1)

[0553] As described in the above embodiments with reference to specific examples (for example, see the sixth and seventh embodiments), one aspect of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is:

[0554] An image forming apparatus, to which a replenishment container for accommodating toner can be attached and detached, and the image forming apparatus is configured to form a toner image on a recording material, the image forming apparatus including:

[0555] an image bearing member;

[0556] a developer container configured to accommodate toner;

[0557] a developing device configured to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on the image bearing member into a toner image by using the toner accommodated in the developer container;

[0558] a replenishment port through which toner from the replenishment container can be replenished to the developer container by attaching the replenishment container provided outside the image forming apparatus to the replenishment port, and a plurality of types of replenishment containers accommodating different amounts of toner can be connected to the replenishment port;

[0559] a display device configured to display replenishment amount information indicating the amount of toner for which the developer container has been replenished or can be replenished;

[0560] an obtaining device configured to obtain information on the replenishment container connected to the replenishment port; and

[0561] a control device configured to determine, based on the information obtained by the obtaining device, the replenishment information to be displayed on the display device when the developer container has been replenished with toner, and to cause the amount of toner indicated by the replenishment amount information to change according to the type of the replenishment container used for toner replenishment in a state after toner replenishment.

[0562] (C-2)

[0563] In the image forming apparatus described above in (C-1), preferably,

[0564] the display device is configured to display replenishment amount information by an indicator that changes step by step, and

[0565] the control device determines the number of indicators to be changed in the case of replenishing toner to the developer container based on the information obtained by the obtaining device.

[0566] (C-3)

[0567] In the image forming apparatus described above in (C-2), preferably,

[0568] the display device can control the light emission state of each indicator, and is configured such that the larger the amount of toner with which the developer container has been replenished or can be replenished, the larger the number of indicators whose lights are turned off.

[0569] (C-4)

[0570] In the image forming apparatus described above in (C-2) or (C-3), preferably,

[0571] In the case where toner replenishment has been performed using a first replenishment container having the smallest capacity among a plurality of types of replenishment containers, the control device changes the indicator of the display device by one level, and in the case where toner replenishment has been performed using a second replenishment container having a capacity larger than that of the first replenishment container among a plurality of types of replenishment containers, the control device changes the indicator of the display device by multiple levels.

[0572] (C-5)

[0573] In the image forming apparatus described above in any one of (C-1) to (C-4), preferably,

[0574] a discharge detection device configured to detect the completion of discharging toner from a replenishment container attached to the replenishment port is further provided, and

[0575] a toner remaining amount detection device configured to detect the remaining amount of toner in the developer container is further provided, and

[0576] In the case where the discharge detection device has detected the completion of discharging toner from the replenishment container, the control device determines the replenishment amount information to be displayed on the display device based on the information obtained by the obtaining device regardless of the detection result of the toner remaining amount detection device.

[0577] (C-6)

[0578] In the image forming apparatus described above in (C-5), preferably,

[0579] the replenishing container is configured to discharge toner by pushing a piston, and

[0580] a discharge detecting device detects the pushing operation of the piston.

[0581] (C-7)

[0582] In the image forming apparatus described above in (C-5), preferably,

[0583] the replenishing container includes a discharge port for discharging toner and a shutter member for sealing the discharge port, and is configured such that the discharge port and the replenishing port communicate with each other by rotation in a state of being attached to the replenishing port, and

[0584] the discharge detecting device detects the completion of discharging toner from the replenishing container based on the time elapsed since the time point when the operation of rotating the replenishing container is performed.

[0585] (C-8)

[0586] In the image forming apparatus described in any one of (C-5) to (C-7) above, preferably,

[0587] a stirring member is further provided, which is configured to stir the toner in the developing agent container to supply the toner in the developing agent container to the developing device, and

[0588] a conveying member is further provided, which is configured to convey the toner received from the replenishing container through the replenishing port toward the space in the developing agent container where the developing device and the stirring member are provided in a case where toner replenishment has been performed from the replenishing container, and

[0589] in a case where the discharge detecting device has detected the completion of toner discharge, the replenishment amount information to be displayed on the display device is determined based on the information obtained by the obtaining device, regardless of whether the conveyance of toner by the conveying member has ended.

[0590] (C-9)

[0591] In the image forming apparatus described in any one of (C-1) to (C-8) above, preferably,

[0592] the obtaining device includes a contact portion, which is configured to be electrically connected to a storage medium attached to the replenishing container in a case where the replenishing container is connected to the replenishing port, and

[0593] the control device determines the capacity of the replenishing container based on the information read from the storage medium via the contact portion.

[0594] (C-10)

[0595] In the imaging apparatus described in any one of (C-1) to (C-8) above, preferably,

[0596] the acquisition device includes a contact portion configured to be electrically connected to a resistor attached to the replenishment container when the replenishment container is connected to the replenishment port, and

[0597] the control device determines the capacity of the replenishment container based on the resistance value of the resistor obtained via the contact portion.

[0598] The present invention can also be implemented by providing a program for implementing one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or device via a network or a storage medium and by processing the program by one or more processors in a computer of the system or device to read and execute the program. Additionally, the present invention can be implemented by a circuit (e.g., ASIC) that implements one or more functions.

[0599] Industrial Applicability

[0600] For example, the present invention is applicable to an imaging apparatus such as a printer, a copying machine, a facsimile machine, or a multifunctional device having the functions of these machines. In particular, the present invention is applicable to an imaging apparatus including a developer container to which a replenishment container for accommodating a developer for replenishment can be attached and detached from the imaging apparatus.

[0601] This embodiment is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can be modified and deformed in various ways without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the following claims are appended to disclose the scope of the present invention.

[0602] List of Reference Numerals

[0603] 1: Imaging apparatus

[0604] 2A, 2B: Information processing devices (PC, portable information processing terminal)

[0605] 21: Image carrier member (photosensitive drum)

[0606] 31: Developing device (developing roller)

[0607] 32: Developer container

[0608] 400, 900: Replenishment container (toner pack, toner bottle unit)

[0609] 51: Progress detection device, toner amount detection device (toner remaining amount detection device)

[0610] 53: Progress detection device (attachment detection device)

[0611] 55: Progress detection device, connection detection device (rotation detection device)

[0612] 56: Progress detection device (push-in detection device)

[0613] 90: Control device (control unit)

[0614] 300, 320: Notification device (operation unit, display unit)

[0615] 300, 310: Progress detection device, stop operation detection device (button, operation unit)

[0616] 902: Pressing member (piston)

[0617] 7014: Restricting member (locking member)

[0618] 8012: Supplementary port

Claims

1. An imaging device, to which a replenishment container can be attached and detached, the replenishment container including a storage portion for storing toner, a discharge portion provided with a discharge port, a shutter member configured to move between an open position and a closed position, in the open position the shutter member opening the discharge port, and in the closed position the shutter member closing the discharge port, and the imaging device being configured to form a toner image on a recording material, the imaging device including: An image carrier member; A developer container configured to store toner; A developing device configured to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier member into a toner image by using the toner stored in the developer container; A replenishment port through which toner from the replenishment container can be replenished to the developer container via the replenishment port by attaching the replenishment container provided outside the imaging device to the replenishment port; A restricting member capable of transitioning to a permitted state in which a replenishment container attached to the replenishment port is permitted to rotate relative to the replenishment port so as to move the shutter member between the open position and the closed position, and a restricting state in which rotation of the replenishment container attached to the replenishment port relative to the replenishment port is restricted to restrict movement of the shutter member; A notification device configured to notify a replenishment procedure for replenishing toner from the replenishment container to the developer container; and A control device configured to cause the notification device to notify at least one step of the replenishment procedure.

2. The imaging device according to claim 1, including a progress detection device configured to detect the progress of the replenishment container, Among them, The control device changes the step to be notified by the notification device in the replenishment procedure according to the detection result of the progress detection device.

3. The imaging device according to claim 2, Among them, The progress detection device includes a toner amount detection device whose output value changes according to the amount of toner stored in the developer container, and wherein, based on the output value of the toner amount detection device, when the amount of toner stored in the developer container is less than a predetermined amount, the control device causes the notification device to notify a first step of attaching the replenishment container to the replenishment port.

4. The imaging device according to claim 2, Among them, The progress detection device includes an attachment detection device whose output value changes according to whether the replenishment container is attached to the replenishment port, and wherein, based on the output value of the attachment detection device, when the replenishment container is attached to the replenishment port, the control device causes the notification device to notify a second step of communicating the replenishment container with the replenishment port.

5. The imaging device according to claim 4, wherein, The second step is an operation of communicating the replenishment port and the replenishment container with each other by rotating the replenishment container attached to the replenishment port.

6. The imaging device according to any one of claims 2 to 5, Among them, The progress detection device includes a communication detection device whose output value changes according to communication between the replenishment container and the replenishment port, and wherein, based on the output value of the communication detection device, when the replenishment container and the replenishment port are in communication, the control device causes the notification device to notify a third step of discharging the toner stored in the replenishment container to the developer container through the replenishment port.

7. The imaging device according to claim 6, wherein, The third step is an operation of discharging the toner stored in the replenishment container by pushing a pressing member provided in the replenishment container.

8. The imaging device according to any one of claims 2 to 5, Among them, wherein the progress detection device includes a discharge detection device whose output value changes according to the discharge of toner from the replenishment container to the developer container, and wherein, based on the output value of the discharge detection device, when the toner accommodated in the replenishment container has been discharged, the control device causes the notification device to notify a fourth step of detaching the replenishment container from the replenishment port.

9. The imaging device according to any one of claims 2 to 5, Among them, wherein the progress detection device includes a stop operation detection device whose output value changes according to whether a stop operation for stopping the progress of the replenishment process has been performed, and wherein, based on the output value of the stop operation detection device, when the stop operation has been performed, the control device causes the notification device to notify a fourth step of detaching the replenishment container from the replenishment port.

10. The imaging device according to claim 5, Among them, wherein the progress detection device includes a rotation detection device whose output value changes according to the rotation angle of the replenishment container relative to the replenishment port, and wherein, based on the output value of the rotation detection device, when the rotation angle has reached an angle at which the replenishment container communicates with the replenishment port, the control device causes the restricting member to transition to a restricted state, and then causes the notification device to notify a third step of discharging the toner accommodated in the replenishment container to the developer container through the replenishment port.

11. The imaging device according to claim 10, wherein, When the replenishment container communicates with the replenishment port, the control device causes the notification device to alternately notify the third step and a fifth step of stopping the progress of the replenishment process.

12. The imaging device according to claim 11, Among them, wherein the fifth step is to perform a stop operation in the operation unit, whereby a stop operation for stopping the progress of the replenishment process can be performed, and wherein, when a predetermined time has elapsed after the notification device has notified the third step and the stop operation has not been performed, the control device causes the restricting member to transition to an allowable state, and then causes the notification device to notify a fourth step of detaching the replenishment container from the replenishment port.

13. The imaging device according to claim 11, Among them, wherein the fifth step is to perform a stop operation in the operation unit, whereby a stop operation for stopping the progress of the replenishment process can be performed, and wherein, when the stop operation is performed during the period when the notification device notifies the third step or the fifth step, the control device causes the restricting member to transition to an allowable state, and then causes the notification device to notify a fourth step of detaching the replenishment container from the replenishment port.

14. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein, The replenishment process includes a first step of attaching the replenishment container to the replenishment port, a second step of communicating the replenishment container with the replenishment port, a third step of discharging the toner accommodated in the replenishment container to the developer container through the replenishment port, and a fourth step of detaching the replenishment container from the replenishment port.

15. The imaging device according to claim 14, wherein, The control device causes the notification device to commonly notify the first step, the second step, the third step, and the fourth step.

16. An imaging device, to which a replenishment container can be attached and detached, the replenishment container including a storage portion for storing toner, a discharge portion provided with a discharge port, a shutter member configured to move between an open position and a closed position, in which the shutter member opens the discharge port in the open position and closes the discharge port in the closed position, and the imaging device being capable of communicating with an information processing device having a notification device and being configured to form a toner image on a recording material, the imaging device including: An image bearing member; A developer container configured to store toner; A developing device configured to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on the image bearing member into a toner image by using the toner stored in the developer container; A replenishment port through which toner from the replenishment container can be replenished to the developer container via the replenishment port by attaching the replenishment container provided outside the imaging device to the replenishment port; A restricting member capable of transitioning to a permitted state in which a replenishment container attached to the replenishment port is permitted to rotate relative to the replenishment port to move the shutter member between the open position and the closed position, and a restricting state in which rotation of the replenishment container attached to the replenishment port relative to the replenishment port is restricted to restrict movement of the shutter member; And A control device configured to output to the information processing device information for causing the notification device to notify at least one step of a replenishment procedure for replenishing toner from the replenishment container to the developer container.

17. The imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, 7, 10 to 16, wherein, The notification device includes a display portion for displaying the replenishment procedure.

18. The imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, 7, 10 to 16, wherein, The notification device includes a sound emitting portion for expressing the replenishment procedure by sound.

Images