Foreign object detection device, image forming apparatus, foreign object detection method, and foreign object detection program

Abstract

To provide a foreign substance detection device, an image forming apparatus, a foreign substance detection method, and a foreign substance detection program that can precisely detect a foreign substance present inside a developing device.SOLUTION: A foreign substance detection device comprises: a suggestion information acquisition unit that acquires suggestion information suggesting transition of a foreign substance from a developing device that develops a latent image formed on an image carrier with toner to the image carrier; and a foreign substance detection unit that detects the presence of the foreign substance inside the developing device based on the acquired suggestion information. A foreign substance detection method acquires suggestion information suggesting transition of a foreign substance from a developing device that develops a latent image formed on an image carrier with toner to the image carrier, and detects the presence of the foreign substance inside the developing device based on the acquired suggestion information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Claims

1. An acquisition unit that acquires a detection amount for detecting the transfer of foreign matter to the image carrier from a developing device that develops a latent image formed on the image carrier with toner, A foreign matter detection unit detects the presence of foreign matter in the developing apparatus based on the acquired detection amount, Equipped with, The detected amount is the amount of toner deposited on the first pattern image formed on the image carrier and the development current associated with the movement of the toner and foreign matter from the developing roller of the developing device to the image carrier when the pattern image is formed, or the amount of toner deposited on the second pattern image of a predetermined grayscale value formed on the image carrier. Foreign object detection device.

2. The foreign matter detection unit detects the presence of a foreign matter with the same polarity as the toner in the developing device, using the first toner deposition amount and the developing current as the detection amount. The foreign object detection device according to claim 1.

3. The foreign matter detection unit detects the presence of a foreign matter with a polarity different from the toner in the developing apparatus using the second toner adhesion amount as the detection amount. The foreign object detection device according to claim 1.

4. The developing apparatus includes a discharge unit that discharges foreign matter with the same polarity as the toner when such foreign matter is detected within the developing apparatus. The foreign object detection device according to claim 2.

5. If the presence of a foreign substance with a polarity different from the toner is detected within the developing apparatus, the developing apparatus is equipped with a discharge unit that discharges the foreign substance from the developing apparatus. The foreign object detection device according to claim 3.

6. The discharge unit reduces the toner concentration in the developing device compared to when the presence of the foreign matter is detected, and discharges the foreign matter by developing the latent image formed on the image carrier together with the toner and the foreign matter. The foreign object detection device according to claim 4.

7. The discharge unit discharges the foreign matter by increasing the development bias applied to the developing roller compared to when the presence of the foreign matter is detected. The foreign object detection device according to claim 6.

8. The discharge unit increases the toner concentration in the developing device compared to when the presence of the foreign matter is detected, develops the latent image formed on the image carrier with the toner, and discharges the foreign matter by transferring it onto the image carrier. The foreign object detection device according to claim 5.

9. The discharge unit discharges the foreign matter by reducing the rotation speed of the developing rollers of the developing device compared to when the presence of the foreign matter is detected. The foreign object detection device according to claim 8.

10. The system includes a notification unit that notifies the detection result from the foreign object detection unit. A foreign object detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

11. An image forming apparatus comprising a foreign object detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. A developing device that develops a latent image formed on an image carrier with toner acquires a detection amount for detecting the transfer of foreign matter to the image carrier. Based on the acquired detection amount, the presence of foreign matter in the developing device is detected. In foreign object detection methods, The detected amount is the amount of toner deposited on the first pattern image formed on the image carrier and the development current associated with the movement of the toner and foreign matter from the developing roller of the developing device to the image carrier when the pattern image is formed, or the amount of toner deposited on the second pattern image of a predetermined grayscale value formed on the image carrier. Method for detecting foreign objects.

13. On the computer, A process to obtain a detection amount for detecting the transfer of foreign matter to the image carrier from a developing device that develops a latent image formed on the image carrier with toner, Based on the acquired detection amount, a process is performed to detect the presence of foreign matter in the developing device, In a foreign object detection program that executes, The detected amount is the amount of toner deposited on the first pattern image formed on the image carrier and the development current associated with the movement of the toner and foreign matter from the developing roller of the developing device to the image carrier when the pattern image is formed, or the amount of toner deposited on the second pattern image of a predetermined grayscale value formed on the image carrier. Foreign object detection program.

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