Image forming apparatus

Abstract

To determine whether a developer storage part is a genuine product or a non-genuine product with a simple configuration.SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus 1 is provided with an image forming unit 6 having an image forming part 8 and a toner cartridge 9 for supplying toner to the image forming part 8, a toner sensor for detecting the amount of toner in the image forming part 8, and a main control part 4 capable of reading and writing information stored in the toner cartridge 9 and controlling the operation of the image forming unit 6. The main control portion 4 performs control so that the toner can be supplied from the toner cartridge 9 to the image forming portion 8 when the empty flag in the set state is stored in the toner cartridge 9, and writes a non-genuine flag in the set state indicating that the toner cartridge 9 is a non-genuine product into the toner cartridge 9 when the main control portion 4 detects that the amount of toner in the image forming portion 8 has increased by a predetermined amount or more from the time when the control is performed so that the toner can be supplied from the toner cartridge 9 to the image forming portion 8.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and is suitable for application to an image forming apparatus that determines whether a toner cartridge is a genuine product or a non-genuine product, for example. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, image forming devices (also called printers) have been widely used that perform printing processes by forming a developer image (also called a toner image) using an image forming unit using a developer (also called a toner image) based on an image supplied from a computer device or the like, transferring the image to a medium such as paper, and then applying heat and pressure to fix the image.

[0003] In some of these image forming devices, a toner cartridge containing toner is detachably mounted on the image forming device. The toner cartridge may also be equipped with a tag IC memory that stores identification information such as a serial number and manufacturing date. In such cases, the image forming device can determine whether the toner cartridge is installed in the image forming device by reading the tag IC memory of the toner cartridge.

[0004] In response to this, there is an image forming device that compares the identification information read from the tag IC memory of the toner cartridge with a list of non-genuine products stored in the memory area of ​​the image forming device, and determines whether the toner cartridge installed in the image forming device is a genuine product or a non-genuine product (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2019-61063 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, in such image forming apparatuses, there is a limit to the storage area, so it is difficult to identify the identification information of non-genuine products and continuously update the non-genuine product list for all non-genuine products.

[0007] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and aims to propose an image forming apparatus that can determine, with a simple configuration, whether the developer storage section contains genuine or non-genuine products. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to solve this problem, the image forming apparatus of the present invention is provided with an image forming unit having an image forming section and a developer storage section that supplies developer to the image forming section, a developer amount detection section that detects the amount of developer in the image forming section, and a control section that can read and write information stored in the developer storage section and controls the operation of the image forming unit, and when specified information is stored in the developer storage section, the control section controls the developer storage section so that developer can be supplied to the image forming section from the developer storage section, and when the developer amount detection section detects that the amount of developer in the image forming section has increased by more than a specified amount since the point at which control was performed so that developer could be supplied from the developer storage section to the image forming section, the control section writes information to the developer storage section indicating that the developer storage section is a non-genuine product.

[0009] The present invention can determine whether a developer storage unit is genuine or non-genuine, based on predetermined information read from the developer storage unit and the supply of developer from the developer storage unit to the image forming unit, without storing identification information of the non-genuine developer storage unit in the image forming device. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present invention, it is possible to determine whether a developer storage unit is genuine or non-genuine based on predetermined information read from the developer storage unit and the state of developer supply from the developer storage unit to the image forming unit, without storing identification information of the non-genuine developer storage unit in the image forming apparatus.Thus, the present invention can realize an image forming apparatus that can determine whether a developer storage unit is genuine or non-genuine with a simple configuration. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a left side view showing the overall configuration of an image forming apparatus. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control configuration of the image forming apparatus. [Figure 3] 10 is a flowchart showing a procedure for determining whether a toner cartridge is a non-genuine product. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Hereinafter, modes for carrying out the invention (hereinafter referred to as embodiments) will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0013] [1. Overall configuration of image forming device] As shown in FIG. 1, image forming apparatus 1 is, for example, an electrophotographic printer that performs a printing operation using a developer such as toner to form a color image on a medium P, such as paper or film. This image forming apparatus 1 has various components arranged inside a roughly box-shaped housing 2. The housing 2 has an opening on its top surface that connects the internal space enclosed by the housing 2 to the outside, and a cover 3 that can open and close the opening is provided on the opening side, i.e., the top surface. During printing, image forming apparatus 1 protects the interior of housing 2 by closing cover 3. Meanwhile, during maintenance work, such as replacing a toner cartridge 9, image forming apparatus 1 opens cover 3 to facilitate work inside housing 2. In the following description, the right end portion of FIG. 1 is defined as the front of image forming apparatus 1, and the up-down, left-right, and front-to-back directions are defined when viewed from the front.

[0014] The image forming apparatus 1 is controlled overall by a main control unit 4. The main control unit 4 has a CPU (Central Processing Unit), ROM (Read Only Memory), RAM (Random Access Memory), etc., and performs various processes by reading and executing predetermined programs.

[0015] Four image forming units 6K, 6C, 6M, and 6Y are arranged in this order from front to rear on the upper side of the interior of the housing 2. The image forming units 6K, 6C, 6M, and 6Y correspond to the colors black (K), cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y), respectively, but differ only in color and are all configured the same. Hereinafter, the image forming units 6K, 6C, 6M, and 6Y will also be collectively referred to as image forming units 6.

[0016] The image forming unit 6 is broadly composed of an image forming section 8 and a toner cartridge 9. The image forming section 8 has a charging roller 10, an image exposure section 11, a developing roller 12, a supply roller 13, a photosensitive drum 14, and a toner-low detection bar 15.

[0017] The charging roller 10 charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 14. The image exposure unit 11 has an LED (Light Emitting Diode) head 16 and selectively exposes the charged surface of the photosensitive drum 14 to light to form an electrostatic latent image. The developing roller 12 electrostatically attaches a thin layer of toner to the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 14, thereby forming a toner image. The supply roller 13 supplies toner to the surface of the developing roller 12 and rubs the toner between the supply roller 13 and the developing roller 12, thereby causing frictional charging. The photosensitive drum 14 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow, transferring the toner image formed on its surface to the intermediate transfer belt 21 (also referred to as primary transfer). These rotating bodies of the image forming unit 8 are rotated by power transmitted from the photosensitive drum motor 71 (FIG. 2) via gears and the like.

[0018] Toner-low detection bar 15 is a rod-shaped member that is provided in a toner storage space that stores toner supplied from toner cartridge 9 in image forming unit 8, and rotates while in contact with the toner, thereby stirring the toner inside the toner storage space. The resistance that toner-low detection bar 15 receives from the toner changes depending on the amount of toner stored in image forming unit 8 (i.e., the amount of toner remaining in image forming unit 8), and the time required for one rotation of toner-low detection bar 15 changes accordingly. Specifically, the smaller the amount of toner stored in image forming unit 8, the smaller the resistance that toner-low detection bar 15 receives from the toner, and the shorter the time required for one rotation, whereas the more toner stored in image forming unit 8, the greater the resistance that toner receives from the toner, and the longer the time required for one rotation.

[0019] The toner sensor 30 (FIG. 2) detects the time required for the toner-low detection bar 15 to make one rotation and supplies the detection result to the main control unit 4. The main control unit 4 determines the remaining amount of toner in the image forming unit 8 based on the detection result obtained from the toner sensor 30. At this time, if the remaining amount of toner in the image forming unit 8 is equal to or greater than a predetermined toner full level threshold, the main control unit 4 determines that the image forming unit 8 is in a toner full state, meaning that the toner is full. On the other hand, if the remaining amount of toner in the image forming unit 8 is equal to or less than a predetermined toner low level threshold, the main control unit 4 determines that the image forming unit 8 is in a toner low state, meaning that the toner is empty.

[0020] The toner cartridge 9 contains toner as a developer and is detachably attached to the image forming unit 8. For example, when the toner stored in the toner cartridge 9 becomes empty, the toner cartridge 9 is removed from the image forming unit 8 by an operator after opening the cover 3 of the housing 2 and replaced with a new toner cartridge 9. A toner supply bar 17 is provided at a lower portion of the interior of the toner cartridge 9. The toner supply bar 17 receives power from the photosensitive drum motor 71 and rotates when a toner supply clutch 74 (FIG. 2), an electromagnetic clutch, is turned on by control of the transport control unit 60 under control of the main control unit 4. When a new toner cartridge 9 is installed in the image forming unit 8, the image forming apparatus 1 starts the rotation of the toner supply bar 17 under control of the main control unit 4 to start the toner supply operation to the image forming unit 8, and then rotates the toner supply bar 17 for a supply time setting value t. When the supply time setting value t has elapsed, the rotation of the toner supply bar 17 is stopped, and the transport of toner from the toner cartridge 9 to the image forming unit 8 is stopped.

[0021] The toner cartridge 9 is also equipped with a tag IC memory 18. This tag IC memory 18 is an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tag and stores consumables identification information. The consumables identification information includes a unique ID, which is an identifier specific to each toner cartridge 9 and allows the toner cartridge 9 to be uniquely identified. The consumables identification information also includes an empty flag that can be set or cleared. In the case of a genuine, new toner cartridge 9 filled with toner, the toner cartridge 9 is shipped with the empty flag cleared. On the other hand, when the toner cartridge 9 runs out of toner and reaches the end of its life, the empty flag is set by the main control unit 4. Once the toner cartridge 9 runs out of toner and the empty flag is set, the empty flag remains set and is not cleared, even if the toner cartridge 9 is subsequently distributed on the market and refilled with toner (i.e., refilled) and becomes usable.

[0022] Furthermore, the consumables identification information includes a non-genuine flag that can be set or cleared. In the case of a non-genuine toner cartridge 9, the non-genuine flag is set by the main control unit 4. Once the non-genuine flag is set, the non-genuine flag remains set even after the toner cartridge 9 is distributed on the market. Here, a genuine toner cartridge 9 is a toner cartridge 9 manufactured and sold by the manufacturer (the same manufacturer) that manufactures the image forming device 1. A non-genuine toner cartridge 9 is a used genuine toner cartridge 9 that is collected by a manufacturer other than the manufacturer of the image forming device 1, reused, or repaired, and refilled with toner, making it usable again. For example, this is called a recycled toner cartridge. By reading the non-genuine flag when a toner cartridge 9 is collected, the image forming device 1 can easily distinguish whether the toner cartridge 9 is genuine or non-genuine. This can be useful for evaluating the durability and performance of recycled toner cartridges when they are remanufactured.

[0023] Furthermore, the consumable item identification information also stores a drum initial drive counter ctS and a drum cumulative drive counter ctE, which indicate the rotational speed of the photosensitive drum 14. The drum initial drive counter ctS indicates the rotational speed of the photosensitive drum 14 before a new toner cartridge 9 is installed and printing begins, and is a value that does not change for each toner cartridge 9. The drum cumulative drive counter ctE records and updates the latest rotational speed of the photosensitive drum 14 every time printing is performed.

[0024] In the image forming apparatus 1, a tag IC reader / writer 19 is provided near the tag IC memory 18 in the toner cartridge 9 when it is attached to the image forming unit 8. The tag IC reader / writer 19 is capable of reading and rewriting information from and to the tag IC memory 18 under the control of the main control unit 4.

[0025] An intermediate transfer unit 20 is disposed below each image forming unit 6 within the housing 2. The intermediate transfer unit 20 includes an intermediate transfer belt 21, a drive roller 22, a driven roller 23, a backup roller 24, four primary transfer rollers 25, and a secondary transfer roller 26.

[0026] The intermediate transfer belt 21 is an endless belt made of a high-resistance semiconductive plastic film, and is stretched so as to circle around a drive roller 22, a driven roller 23, and a backup roller 24, and rotates in the direction of arrow A.

[0027] When a driving force is supplied from the intermediate transfer belt motor 72 (FIG. 2), the drive roller 22 rotates in the direction of the arrow. The driven roller 23 rotates in the direction of the arrow along with the intermediate transfer belt 21. The backup roller 24 is disposed below and in front of the drive roller 22 and below and in rear of the driven roller 23.

[0028] The four primary transfer rollers 25 are disposed below the portion of the intermediate transfer belt 21 that is stretched between the drive roller 22 and the driven roller 23, i.e., directly below each of the four image forming units 6, and are positioned opposite each of the photosensitive drums 14 across the intermediate transfer belt 21. A predetermined voltage is applied to these primary transfer rollers 25 under the control of the main control unit 4. Each primary transfer roller 25 is biased toward the photosensitive drum 14, forming a primary transfer nip between itself and the photosensitive drum 14.

[0029] The secondary transfer roller 26 is located directly below the backup roller 24 and is biased toward the backup roller 24, forming a secondary transfer nip portion between itself and the backup roller 24. Hereinafter, the secondary transfer roller 26 and the backup roller 24 will be collectively referred to as a secondary transfer portion 28. In the intermediate transfer portion 20, the intermediate transfer belt 21 is sandwiched between the secondary transfer roller 26 and the backup roller 24. A predetermined voltage is applied to the secondary transfer roller 26 under the control of the main control portion 4.

[0030] A cleaning blade 31 is provided near the intermediate transfer belt 21. The cleaning blade 31 has its tip abutting against the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 21, and cleans the intermediate transfer belt 21 by scraping off toner, including waste toner, adhering to the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 21 and dropping it into a waste toner box 32 for collection.

[0031] The intermediate transfer unit 20 rotates the drive roller 22 in the direction of the arrow by the driving force supplied from the intermediate transfer belt motor 72 (FIG. 2), thereby causing the intermediate transfer belt 21 to travel in the direction of the arrow A. Each primary transfer roller 25 rotates clockwise with a predetermined bias voltage applied. As a result, each image forming unit 6 transfers the toner image that has reached the lower end of the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 14 to the intermediate transfer belt 21, and sequentially superimposes the toner images of each color. At this time, the toner images of each color are sequentially superimposed on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 21, starting with black (K) on the upstream side. By running the intermediate transfer belt 21, the intermediate transfer unit 20 causes the toner images transferred from each image forming unit 6 to reach the vicinity of the backup roller 24.

[0032] Inside the housing 2, a transport path W is formed, which is a path for transporting the medium P. This transport path W extends horizontally from the front end of the housing 2 toward the rear, proceeds rearward below the intermediate transfer unit 20, and reaches the rear end of the housing 2.

[0033] The pair of conveying rollers 35 is positioned toward the front of the conveying path W and is driven by a conveying motor 70 (Figure 2).The pair of conveying rollers 35 rotates while clamping the medium P fed from a paper feed unit (not shown) outside the housing 2, thereby moving the medium P backward along the conveying path W.

[0034] A fixing unit 37 is disposed behind the secondary transfer unit 28. The fixing unit 37 is composed of a fixing roller 38 and a pressure roller 39, which are disposed opposite each other across the conveyance path W. The fixing roller 38 has a fixing heater 40, such as a halogen lamp, disposed inside a hollow cylindrical core, and is driven by a fixing motor 73 (FIG. 2). The pressure roller 39 is cylindrical with its central axis aligned in the left-right direction. The pressure roller 39 presses its upper surface against the lower surface of the fixing roller 38, forming a fixing nip. A temperature sensor 41 is disposed above the fixing roller 38 to detect the surface temperature of the fixing roller 38. The temperature sensor 41 is, for example, a thermistor, and supplies the temperature detection result to the main control unit 4. The main control unit 4 determines the surface temperature of the fixing roller 38 based on the detection result obtained from the temperature sensor 41.

[0035] Based on the control of the main control unit 4, the fixing unit 37 heats the fixing heater 40 of the fixing roller 38 to a predetermined temperature and rotates it appropriately, and also rotates the pressure roller 39. Then, when the fixing unit 37 receives the medium P onto which the toner image has been transferred by the secondary transfer unit 28, it sandwiches (i.e., nips) it between the fixing roller 38 and the pressure roller 39 and applies heat and pressure to fix the toner image to the medium P, and then sends it out rearward. The medium P is transported along the transport path W until it reaches the rear end of the housing 2, where it is ejected to the outside of the housing 2.

[0036] In this configuration, the image forming device 1 sandwiches the medium P fed from a paper feed unit (not shown) between a pair of transport rollers 35 and transports it along a transport path W from front to rear. Next, the image forming device 1 transfers the toner images formed on the photosensitive drums 14 of each image forming unit 6 to the intermediate transfer belt 21 at the primary transfer nip (i.e., primary transfer), and sequentially overlays the toner images of each color. Next, the image forming device 1 runs the intermediate transfer belt 21, transports the toner image transferred to its surface to the secondary transfer nip and transfers it to the medium P (i.e., secondary transfer), transports the medium P to the fixing unit 37, fixes the toner image to the medium P at the fixing nip, and discharges the medium P to the outside of the housing 2.

[0037] [2. Control configuration of image forming device] 2, the image forming apparatus 1 is controlled overall by a main control unit 4. This main control unit 4 has a CPU, ROM, RAM, input / output ports, a timer, etc., and performs various processes by reading and executing predetermined programs. The main control unit 4 is also connected wirelessly or by wire to a host device 50 such as a computer, and when it receives a print instruction 51, which is a print command consisting of control data, print data, and control signals, from the host device 50 via a data receiving unit 52, it interprets the print instruction 51 and performs program control of the entire sequence of the image forming apparatus 1 to perform a printing operation.

[0038] The main control unit 4 is connected to a memory circuit unit 54, an operation panel unit 56, a detection circuit unit 58, a transport control unit 60, a fixing unit 37, an image exposure unit 11, an image forming unit 8, and a transfer control unit 62.

[0039] The memory circuit unit 54 has a nonvolatile memory that stores various setting information for the image forming apparatus 1, and a buffer memory for expanding print data sent from the higher-level device 50 into a temporary storage area that temporarily stores the print data. When the main control unit 4 writes the unique ID stored in the tag IC memory 18 of the toner cartridge 9 currently attached to each image forming unit 8, the nonvolatile memory stores the unique ID.

[0040] The operation panel unit 56 has operation keys 56a that accept various operations, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) panel 56b that displays the operation status, and an LED lamp 56c that displays the power on / off status, etc., and allows the user to set operating mode information, etc. during printing processing of the image forming device 1.

[0041] The detection circuit unit 58 has a tag IC reader / writer 19, a toner sensor 30, and a temperature sensor 41. The transport control unit 60 controls the operations of the transport motor 70, the photosensitive drum motor 71, the intermediate transfer belt motor 72, the fixing motor 73, and the toner supply clutch 74. The fixing unit 37 has a fixing heater 40, and controls the fixing heater 40 to heat the fixing roller 38 (FIG. 1) to a predetermined temperature.

[0042] The image exposure unit 11 controls the operation of the LED head 16 that forms an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 14 in each of the four image forming units 6. The image forming unit 8 controls the voltages applied to the charging roller 10, supply roller 13, and developing roller 12 in each of the four image forming units 6. The transfer control unit 62 controls the voltages applied to the primary transfer roller 25 and the secondary transfer roller 26 in each of the four image forming units 6.

[0043] Thus, the image forming device 1 includes an intermediate transfer belt 21 that carries a toner image, an image forming unit 6 that forms a toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 21 based on image data (i.e., performs primary transfer), a secondary transfer roller 26 that transfers the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 21 to a medium P (i.e., performs secondary transfer), a cleaning blade 31 that removes and cleans any remaining toner image from the intermediate transfer belt 21 that has not been transferred to the medium P, and a fixing unit 37 that fixes the toner image to the medium P, and has a main control unit 4 and a detection circuit unit 58 that control the operation of the intermediate transfer belt 21, image forming unit 6, secondary transfer roller 26, and fixing unit 37.

[0044] [3. Toner supply time setting value] One of the purposes of the non-genuine toner cartridge determination process described below is to determine whether the toner cartridge 9 attached to the image forming unit 8 is a genuine product or a non-genuine product.

[0045] When the empty flag is set in tag IC memory 18 of toner cartridge 9 installed in image forming unit 8, normally, the toner in this toner cartridge 9 is empty and has reached the end of its life. Therefore, even if toner is supplied from toner cartridge 9 to image forming unit 8, the amount of toner remaining in image forming unit 8 does not increase or change, and image forming unit 8 should not enter a toner full state. This occurs, for example, when a toner cartridge 9 installed in image forming unit 8 becomes empty and is replaced, and then an empty genuine toner cartridge 9 with the empty flag set is mistakenly installed in image forming unit 8. When toner cartridge 9 is replaced, toner needs to be transported from toner cartridge 9 into image forming unit 8 by rotating toner supply bar 17. However, if the replaced toner cartridge 9 is empty, toner will not be transported from toner cartridge 9 into image forming unit 8 even when toner supply bar 17 rotates.

[0046] In such a case, the image forming apparatus 1 sets the supply time setting value t to a first time, which is the minimum time (for example, 20 seconds), and notifies the user that the image forming unit 8 is not in a toner full state but in a toner empty state after the first time has elapsed since the start of the toner supply operation, and therefore printing cannot be performed. As a result, the image forming apparatus 1 notifies the user as soon as possible after the start of the toner supply operation that the replaced toner cartridge 9 is empty and cannot supply toner to the image forming unit 8, and therefore the image forming unit 8 cannot perform printing, thereby reducing the user's unnecessary waiting time and improving convenience. For this reason, the image forming apparatus 1 sets the supply time setting value t to the first time, which is the minimum time (for example, 20 seconds), for toner cartridges 9 for which the empty flag is set in the tag IC memory 18.

[0047] On the other hand, in the case of a non-genuine toner cartridge 9, although the empty flag is set in the tag IC memory 18 of the installed toner cartridge 9, the toner cartridge 9 is filled with toner, so when the toner supply operation is started, non-genuine toner is transported from the toner cartridge 9 to the image forming unit 8, and after a predetermined time has passed, the image forming unit 8 becomes full of toner.

[0048] On the other hand, if the empty flag is cleared in the tag IC memory 18 of the toner cartridge 9 installed in the image forming unit 8, the toner cartridge 9 is genuine, is not empty, is sufficiently filled with toner, and is not at the end of its life. In such a case, the image forming device 1 sets the supply time setting value t to a second time, which is the maximum time (for example, 90 seconds), and continues the toner supply operation until the second time has elapsed since the start of the toner supply operation. Normally, the image forming unit 8 reaches the toner full state between the start of the toner supply operation and the second time.

[0049] [4. Non-genuine toner cartridge detection process] The specific processing steps of the non-genuine toner cartridge determination process performed by the image forming apparatus 1 will be described using the flowchart in Figure 3. When the image forming apparatus 1 is powered on or the cover 3 is opened or closed, the main control unit 4 starts the non-genuine toner cartridge determination processing procedure RT1 and proceeds to step SP1. In step SP1, the main control unit 4 reads the unique IDs from the consumable identification information in the tag IC memories 18 of all toner cartridges 9 and determines whether these unique IDs differ from the unique IDs of each toner cartridge 9 already stored in the memory circuit unit 54. If a positive result is obtained here, this indicates that the toner cartridge 9 has been replaced, and the main control unit 4 then proceeds to step SP2.

[0050] On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step SP1, this indicates that all toner cartridges 9 have not been replaced because the unique IDs in the tag IC memories 18 of all toner cartridges 9 match the unique IDs already stored in the memory circuit unit 54, and in this case the main control unit 4 skips steps SP2 to SP15 and proceeds to step SP16.

[0051] In step SP2, the main control unit 4 stores the unique ID read from the tag IC memory 18 of the replaced toner cartridge 9 in the memory circuit unit 54, thereby making it possible to detect the replacement of the toner cartridge 9 if the toner cartridge 9 is replaced after this, and also reads the empty flag from the consumable identification information of the tag IC memory 18 of the replaced toner cartridge 9 and stores it in the memory circuit unit 54, and proceeds to step SP3.

[0052] In step SP3, the main control unit 4 determines whether the empty flag stored in the memory circuit unit 54 is set. If a positive result is obtained here, this indicates that if the toner cartridge 9 is genuine, the toner is empty and the cartridge has reached the end of its life, and if it is non-genuine, the empty flag is set but the cartridge may still be filled with non-genuine toner, and in this case the main control unit 4 proceeds to step SP4. In step SP4, the main control unit 4 sets the supply time setting value t to a first time period that is the minimum time (for example, 20 seconds), and proceeds to step SP6.

[0053] On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step SP3, this indicates that the toner cartridge 9 is not empty and has not yet reached the end of its life, and is sufficiently filled with toner, and in this case the main control unit 4 proceeds to step SP5. In step SP5, the main control unit 4 sets the supply time setting value t to a second time period that is the maximum time period (for example, 90 seconds), and proceeds to step SP6.

[0054] In step SP6, the main control unit 4 turns on the toner supply clutch 74 to transmit power from the photosensitive drum motor 71 to the toner supply bar 17, thereby rotating it, thereby starting the toner supply operation from the toner cartridge 9 to the image forming unit 8, and also starts measuring the supply elapsed time, which is the time that has elapsed since the toner supply operation started, and then proceeds to step SP7.

[0055] In step SP7, the main control unit 4 determines whether the remaining toner in the image forming unit 8 has reached the toner full level, and the image forming unit 8 is in a toner full state, based on the detection result from the toner sensor 30. If a negative result is obtained here, this means that the remaining toner has not reached the toner full level and the image forming unit 8 is not in a toner full state, and therefore the toner supply operation will continue until the supply elapsed time reaches the supply time setting value t, and in this case the main control unit 4 proceeds to step SP8.

[0056] In step SP8, the main control unit 4 determines whether the amount of remaining toner in the image forming unit 8 has increased compared to a predetermined time ago. At this time, if this is the first step SP8 after the start of the toner supply operation, the main control unit 4 determines whether the current amount of remaining toner in the image forming unit 8 has increased compared to when the toner supply operation started. If a positive result is obtained here, this means that the replaced toner cartridge 9 is not empty and toner is being supplied from the toner cartridge 9 to the image forming unit 8, and the main control unit 4 then returns to step SP7 and repeats the above-described process until the image forming unit 8 becomes full of toner or the elapsed supply time reaches the supply time setting value t.

[0057] On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step SP8, this indicates that the replaced toner cartridge 9 is, for example, empty, and that the toner cartridge 9 does not contain enough toner to make the image forming unit 8 full of toner, and in this case the main control unit 4 proceeds to step SP9.

[0058] In step SP9, the main control unit 4 determines whether the elapsed supply time has reached the supply time setting value t, i.e., whether the time equivalent to the supply time setting value t has elapsed since the start of the toner supply operation. If a negative result is obtained here, the main control unit 4 returns to step SP7 and repeats the above-described process until the image forming unit 8 becomes full of toner or the elapsed supply time reaches the supply time setting value t.

[0059] On the other hand, if a positive result is obtained in step SP9, this indicates that the image forming unit 8 has not yet reached the toner full state even after the supply time setting value t has elapsed since the start of the toner supply operation, and therefore it can be determined that the replaced toner cartridge 9 is not sufficiently filled with toner or is empty, and the main control unit 4 then proceeds to step SP10. In step SP10, the main control unit 4 notifies the user that the image forming unit 8 is out of toner and cannot print by displaying a toner empty error screen on the liquid crystal panel 56b of the operation panel 56, indicating that the image forming unit 8 is out of toner, and then proceeds to step SP11. In step SP11, the main control unit 4 stops any further printing operations, proceeds to step SP19, and ends the non-genuine toner cartridge determination processing procedure RT1.

[0060] On the other hand, if a positive result is obtained in step SP7, this means that the remaining toner has reached the toner full level, the image forming unit 8 is in a toner full state, and printing is possible, and in this case the main control unit 4 proceeds to step SP12. In step SP12, the main control unit 4 notifies the user that printing is possible by displaying an Online status screen indicating that printing is possible on the liquid crystal panel 56b of the operation panel unit 56, and then proceeds to step SP13.

[0061] In step SP13, the main control unit 4 determines whether the empty flag stored in the memory circuit unit 54 is set. If a positive result is obtained here, this indicates that the replaced toner cartridge 9 is a non-genuine product, and the main control unit 4 proceeds to step SP14. In step SP14, the main control unit 4 sets a non-genuine flag in the consumable product identification information in the tag IC memory 18, and proceeds to step SP16.

[0062] On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step SP13, this indicates that the replaced toner cartridge 9 is a genuine product, and the main control unit 4 then proceeds to step SP15. In step SP15, the main control unit 4 records the current drive counter of the photosensitive drum 14 in the drum first drive counter ctS in the consumables identification information of the tag IC memory 18 of the replaced toner cartridge 9, and then proceeds to step SP16.

[0063] In step SP16, if a print job has been received, the main control unit 4 executes printing and proceeds to step SP17. In step SP17, the main control unit 4 determines whether the empty flag stored in the memory circuit unit 54 is set. If a positive result is obtained here, this indicates that the replaced toner cartridge 9 is a non-genuine product, and the main control unit 4 then proceeds to step SP19, where the non-genuine toner cartridge determination processing procedure RT1 ends.

[0064] On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step SP17, this indicates that the replaced toner cartridge 9 is a genuine product, and the main control unit 4 then proceeds to step SP18. In step SP18, the main control unit 4 updates the drum cumulative drive counter ctE by recording the current drive counter of the photosensitive drum 14 in the drum cumulative drive counter ctE in the consumables identification information of the tag IC memory 18, for which the empty flag has been cleared, and then proceeds to step SP19, where the non-genuine toner cartridge determination processing procedure RT1 is terminated.

[0065] [5. Effects, etc.] In the recent trend of reducing environmental impact, the reuse (recycling) of toner cartridges 9 has become a very important initiative. By having the manufacturer of the image forming device 1 collect used toner cartridges 9 and promote their reuse, it is possible to conserve resources and reduce waste emissions. To achieve this, by recording information on the toner cartridge 9 indicating whether it is a genuine or non-genuine product, the manufacturer can easily trace the origin of the toner cartridge 9. Even if the manufacturer determines that the collected toner cartridge 9 is a non-genuine product, the manufacturer can evaluate the quality of the toner cartridge 9 and ensure that the toner cartridge 9 will be properly recycled and reused.

[0066] In response to this, the image forming device 1 starts to supply toner from the toner cartridge 9 to the image forming unit 8 when an empty flag indicating that the toner cartridge 9 has been emptied in the past is set in the tag IC memory 18 of the replaced toner cartridge 9, and when the image forming unit 8 becomes full of toner, it sets (i.e., writes) a non-genuine flag in the tag IC memory 18 indicating that the toner cartridge 9 is a non-genuine product.

[0067] There is a possibility that such toner cartridges 9 will be distributed on the market with a non-genuine flag set in the tag IC memory 18. Therefore, when a toner cartridge 9 is subsequently collected by the image forming apparatus 1, the image forming apparatus 1 can easily determine whether the toner cartridge 9 is a genuine product or a non-genuine product by determining whether an empty flag is set in the tag IC memory 18 of the toner cartridge 9.

[0068] Furthermore, the image forming device 1 can determine whether the toner cartridge 9 is genuine or non-genuine based on the empty flag read from the toner cartridge 9 and the amount of toner supplied from the toner cartridge 9 to the image forming unit 8, without storing the identification information of the non-genuine toner cartridge 9 itself.

[0069] Furthermore, the image forming device 1 continues printing even if it recognizes that the installed toner cartridge 9 is a non-genuine product. This prevents the image forming device 1 from not printing because the toner cartridge 9 is a non-genuine product, thereby maintaining user convenience.

[0070] Furthermore, the image forming apparatus 1 writes the initial drum drive counter ctS and the cumulative drum drive counter ctE to the tag IC memory 18 of the toner cartridge 9. Therefore, when the toner cartridge 9 is collected at the image forming apparatus 1, the image forming apparatus 1 can determine the lifetime drive amount of the toner cartridge 9 by subtracting the initial drum drive counter ctS from the cumulative drum drive counter ctE. This allows the image forming apparatus 1 to determine the deterioration state of the drive parts of the toner cartridge 9, which can be useful for evaluating durability and performance when producing recycled toner cartridges at the company.

[0071] According to the above configuration, the image forming device 1 includes an image forming unit 6 having an image forming section 8 and a toner cartridge 9 as a developer storage section that supplies toner as developer to the image forming section 8, a toner sensor 30 that detects the amount of toner as developer in the image forming section 8, and a main control section 4 that can read and write information stored in the toner cartridge 9 and controls the operation of the image forming unit 6. When a set empty flag is stored in the toner cartridge 9 as predetermined information, the main control section 4 controls the toner cartridge 9 so that toner can be supplied to the image forming section 8, and when the toner sensor 30 detects that the amount of toner in the image forming section 8 has increased by more than a predetermined amount since the time when control was performed so that toner could be supplied from the toner cartridge 9 to the image forming section 8, the main control section 4 writes a set non-genuine flag to the toner cartridge 9 as information indicating that the toner cartridge 9 is a non-genuine product.

[0072] This allows the image forming device 1 to determine whether the toner cartridge 9 is genuine or non-genuine based on the empty flag read from the toner cartridge 9 and the amount of toner supplied from the toner cartridge 9 to the image forming unit 8, without having to store identification information of the non-genuine toner cartridge 9 in the image forming device 1.

[0073] 6. Other Embodiments In the above-described embodiment, the image forming apparatus 1 sets a non-genuine flag in the consumables identification information in the tag IC memory 18 of the toner cartridge 9 if the image forming unit 8 becomes full of toner before the supply time setting value t has elapsed since the start of the toner supply operation and the empty flag stored in the memory circuit unit 54 has been set. However, the present invention is not limited to this. If the amount of toner remaining in the image forming unit 8 has increased by at least a predetermined amount since the start of the toner supply operation, the replaced toner cartridge 9 is not empty. Therefore, even if the image forming unit 8 does not become full of toner before the supply time setting value t has elapsed since the start of the toner supply operation, the image forming apparatus 1 may set a non-genuine flag in the consumables identification information in the tag IC memory 18 of the toner cartridge 9 if the amount of toner remaining in the image forming unit 8 has increased by at least a predetermined amount since the start of the toner supply operation and the empty flag stored in the memory circuit unit 54 has been set.

[0074] In the above-described embodiment, the image forming apparatus 1 has been described as setting the empty flag for the toner cartridge 9 when the toner in the toner cartridge 9 runs out and the toner cartridge 9 reaches the end of its life. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the image forming apparatus 1 may also set the empty flag for the toner cartridge 9 when the toner in the toner cartridge 9 falls to at least a predetermined amount or less.

[0075] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, when the toner cartridge 9 is replaced, the image forming device 1 records information, such as a drum counter, that determines the consumption level of the toner cartridge 9 in the consumables identification information of the toner cartridge 9, and if the image forming unit 8 does not enter a toner low state even when the drum counter, which should normally indicate that the toner in the toner cartridge 9 is empty, continues printing, and determines that there is a high possibility that the toner cartridge 9 was removed from the image forming unit 8 and refilled with toner, and may set a non-genuine flag in the consumables identification information of the toner cartridge 9.

[0076] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the image forming apparatus 1 may notify the user that the toner cartridge 9 is a non-genuine product by setting a non-genuine flag in the consumables identification information of the tag IC memory 18 of the toner cartridge 9 and displaying a warning screen (e.g., a message such as "Consumables not specified by our company are installed") on the liquid crystal panel 56b of the operation panel unit 56 to indicate that the replaced toner cartridge 9 is a non-genuine product.

[0077] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the image forming apparatus 1 has been described as being configured such that the toner cartridge 9 is detachable from the image forming section 8. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the image forming apparatus 1 may be configured such that the toner cartridge 9 and the image forming section 8 are integrally formed in the image forming unit 6, and the image forming unit 6 is detachable from the image forming apparatus 1.

[0078] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the image forming apparatus 1 has been described as setting the first time to 20 seconds and the second time to 90 seconds, which is longer than the first time. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the image forming apparatus 1 may set the second time to various times longer than the first time depending on the configuration, usage conditions, and toner components of the image forming apparatus 1, or may set the second time to be equal to the first time, even though it takes the first time from the start of toner supply until notifying the user of the toner empty state.

[0079] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the image forming apparatus 1 has been described as recording the drum cumulative drive counter ctE in the consumables identification information of the toner cartridge 9 as a value indicating the consumption state (amount used, state of deterioration) of the toner cartridge 9. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the image forming apparatus 1 may record various other values, such as the cumulative number of printed pages, whose cumulative value increases in accordance with the amount of use of the toner cartridge 9, in the consumables identification information of the toner cartridge 9 as a value indicating the consumption state of the toner cartridge 9.

[0080] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the present invention has been described as being applied to an image forming apparatus 1 that employs an intermediate transfer method in which a toner image that has been primarily transferred from the image forming unit 6 to the intermediate transfer belt 21 is secondarily transferred onto the medium P. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention may also be applied to an image forming apparatus that employs a direct transfer method in which a toner image is directly transferred from the image forming unit 6 to the medium P.

[0081] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the present invention has been described as being applied to a tandem image forming apparatus 1 having image forming units 6 for each color arranged in series along the front-to-rear direction. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be applied to various other types of image forming apparatuses, such as a four-cycle type.

[0082] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the present invention has been described as being applied to an image forming apparatus 1 that has four image forming units 6 and forms color images using toner of four colors. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be applied to an image forming apparatus that has two, three, five or more image forming units 6 and forms images using toner of a predetermined number of colors.

[0083] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the present invention has been described as being applied to the image forming apparatus 1, which is a single-function printer. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be applied to image forming apparatuses having various other functions, such as an MFP (Multi Function Peripheral) having the functions of a copier or facsimile machine.

[0084] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment and other embodiments. That is, the scope of application of the present invention extends to embodiments in which the above-described embodiment and the other embodiments are combined in part or in whole. The scope of application of the present invention also extends to embodiments in which part of the configuration described in any of the above-described embodiment and other embodiments is extracted and used as part of the configuration of any of the above-described embodiment and other embodiments, or in which part of the extracted configuration is added to any of the above-described embodiment.

[0085] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the image forming apparatus 1 is configured as an image forming apparatus by the image forming unit 6 as an image forming unit, the toner sensor 30 as a developer amount detection unit, and the main control unit 4 as a control unit. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the image forming apparatus may be configured by an image forming unit, a developer amount detection unit, and a control unit having various other configurations. [Industrial Applicability]

[0086] The present invention can be used in an image forming apparatus that determines whether a toner cartridge is a genuine product or a non-genuine product. [Explanation of symbols]

[0087] 1...image forming apparatus, 2...casing, 3...cover, 4...main control section, 6...image forming unit, 8...image forming section, 9...toner cartridge, 10...charging roller, 11...image exposure section, 12...developing roller, 13...supply roller, 14...photosensitive drum, 15...toner low detection bar, 16...LED head, 17...toner supply bar, 18...tag IC memory, 19...tag IC reader / writer, 20...intermediate transfer section, 21...intermediate transfer belt, 22...drive roller, 23...driven roller, 24...backup roller, 25...primary transfer roller, 26...secondary transfer roller, 28...secondary transfer section, 30...toner sensor, 31...cleaning blade grade, 32...waste toner box, W...conveyance path, 35...pair of conveyance rollers, 37...fixing unit, 38...fixing roller, 39...pressure roller, 40...fixing heater, 41...temperature sensor, 50...host device, 51...print instruction, 52...data receiving unit, 54...memory circuit unit, 56...operation panel unit, 56a...operation keys, 56b...LCD panel, 56c...LED lamp, 58...detection circuit unit, 60...conveyance control unit, 62...transfer control unit, 70...conveyance motor, 71...photosensitive drum motor, 72...intermediate transfer belt motor, 73...fixing motor, 74...toner supply clutch, ctS...drum initial drive counter, ctE...drum cumulative drive counter.

Claims

1. an image forming unit having an image forming section and a developer container that supplies developer to the image forming section; a developer amount detection unit that detects the amount of developer in the image forming unit; a control unit capable of reading and writing information stored in the developer container and controlling the operation of the image forming unit; and The control unit When predetermined information is stored in the developer storage unit, control is performed so that the developer can be supplied from the developer storage unit to the image forming unit, and when the developer amount detection unit detects that the amount of developer in the image forming unit has increased by a predetermined amount or more since the time when control was performed so that the developer can be supplied from the developer storage unit to the image forming unit, information indicating that the developer storage unit is a non-genuine product is written into the developer storage unit. Image forming device.

2. The predetermined information is information indicating that the developer container is a reused one. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 .

3. The predetermined information is information indicating that the amount of the developer in the developer container has fallen below a predetermined amount. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 .

4. The predetermined information is information indicating that the developer in the developer container has become empty. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3 .

5. The control unit Determining whether the predetermined information is stored in the replaced developer container The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 .

6. The control unit If the identification information unique to the developer accommodating unit read from the developer accommodating unit before replacement differs from the identification information unique to the developer accommodating unit read from the developer accommodating unit after replacement, it is determined whether the predetermined information is stored in the developer accommodating unit after replacement. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5 .

7. The control unit When the predetermined information is stored in the developer storage unit, control is performed so that the developer can be supplied from the developer storage unit to the image forming unit, and when the developer amount detection unit detects that the amount of developer in the image forming unit has not increased by more than a predetermined amount since the time when control was performed so that the developer can be supplied from the developer storage unit to the image forming unit, it is determined that the amount of developer in the developer storage unit is less than the predetermined amount, and printing is not performed. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 .

8. The control unit After the developer storage unit is replaced, if the predetermined information is not stored in the developer storage unit, information indicating the current consumption state of the developer storage unit is written to the developer storage unit before starting printing, and thereafter, information indicating the cumulative consumption state of the developer storage unit is written to the developer storage unit every time printing is repeated. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 .

9. The control unit When the predetermined information is stored in the developer storage unit, control is performed so that the developer can be supplied from the developer storage unit to the image forming unit, and when the developer amount detection unit detects within a predetermined time that the amount of developer in the image forming unit has increased by a predetermined amount or more since the time when control was performed so that the developer can be supplied from the developer storage unit to the image forming unit, information indicating that the developer storage unit is a non-genuine product is written into the developer storage unit, When the predetermined information is stored in the developer storage section, the predetermined time is set to be shorter than when the predetermined information is not stored in the developer storage section. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 .

Images