IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND DEVELOPER REMAINING AMOUNT DETECTING METHOD

Abstract

An image forming apparatus, which uses a developing device including: a developer carrying member; a developer containing portion; an agitating member agitating a developer; a developer amount detecting member outputting a signal for detecting the remaining amount of the developer contained in the developer containing portion, the image forming apparatus comprising a main body controller detecting the remaining amount using a first detecting unit that sets a reference value as a reference for detecting the remaining amount by the signal, and thereafter calculates the remaining amount based on an amount of change in the signal from the reference value, and a second detecting unit that detects the remaining amount based on a band of fluctuation in the signal corresponding to a rotational period of the agitating member.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional configuration view illustrating an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional configuration view illustrating an embodiment of a developing device to which the present invention is applicable.

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional configuration view illustrating an embodiment of a process cartridge to which the present invention is applicable.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a developer remaining amount detecting circuit.

FIG. 5 is a graph illustrating a relationship between a remaining amount of toner and a detected value.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a main body controller.

FIG. 7 is a graph illustrating a relationship between a remaining amount of toner and a deviation of detected value.

FIG. 8A, FIG. 8B, FIG. 8C and FIG. 8D are schematic cross-sectional views illustrating a movement of toner and agitation within a developing device.

FIG. 9 is a graph illustrating a relationship between a remaining amount of toner and an average output value.

FIG. 10 is a graph illustrating a relationship between a remaining amount of toner and a band of fluctuation in detected value.

FIG. 11 is a graph illustrating a relationship between a remaining amount of toner, and an average output value and an output fluctuation value in a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a graph illustrating a relationship between a remaining amount of toner, and an average output value, an output fluctuation value and an ideal value in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a graph illustrating a relationship between a remaining amount of toner, and an average output value, an output fluctuation value, and an ideal value in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a flow chart illustrating a toner remaining amount detecting control in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a graph illustrating a relationship between a remaining amount of toner, and an average output value, an output fluctuation value and an ideal value in the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a flow chart illustrating a toner remaining amount detecting control in the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a graph illustrating a relationship between a remaining amount of toner, and an average output value, an output fluctuation value and an ideal value in the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a graph illustrating another example of a relationship between a remaining amount of toner and an ideal value in the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a flow chart illustrating a toner remaining amount detecting control in the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a graph illustrating a relationship between a remaining amount of toner, and an average output value, an output fluctuation value and a reference value in the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a flow chart illustrating a toner remaining amount detecting control in the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a schematic cross-sectional configuration view illustrating another embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 23A and FIG. 23B are schematic cross-sectional configuration views illustrating another embodiment of a developing device to which the present invention is applicable.

FIG. 24 is a block diagram illustrating another embodiment of a developer remaining amount detecting circuit.

FIG. 25A is a graph illustrating a relationship between a remaining amount of toner and a capacitance value in a developer remaining amount detecting unit. FIG. 25B is a graph illustrating a relationship between a radius of a cross-section of developing sleeve and a difference A in capacitance.

FIG. 26A and FIG. 26B are graphs illustrating a relationship between a remaining amount of toner and a deviation of detected value.

FIG. 27A, FIG. 27B, FIG. 27C and FIG. 27D are schematic cross-sectional diagrams illustrating a movement of toner and agitation within a developing device.

FIG. 28 is a block diagram of a main body controller.

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus, which uses a developing device including: a developer carrying member developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member with a developer; a developer containing portion containing the developer; an agitating member provided rotatably in the developer containing portion to agitate the developer; and a developer remaining amount detecting member outputting a signal for detecting a remaining amount of the developer contained in the developer containing portion, the image forming apparatus comprising a main body controller to which the signal is input, and which detects the remaining amount by using a first detecting unit that sets a reference value serving as a reference for detecting the remaining amount by the signal, and thereafter calculates the remaining amount based on an amount of change in the signal form the reference value, and a second detecting unit that detects the remaining amount based on a band of fluctuation in the signal corresponding to a rotational period of the agitating member.

2. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reference value is set in a state in that the developer containing portion contains a full amount of the developer.

3. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus has an indicating unit that indicates the remaining amount of the developer detected by the main body controller.

4. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the developer amount detecting member has a first electrode that is provided along a longitudinal direction of the developer carrying member, above a line connecting between a center of the developer carrying member and a center of the agitating member, and between the developer carrying member and the agitating member, the first electrode outputting a signal corresponding to a capacitance between the developer carrying member and the developer amount detecting member, the capacitance being generated by a voltage applied to the developer carrying member.

5. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the developer amount detecting member has: a first electrode that is provided along a longitudinal direction of the developer carrying member, above a line connecting between a center of the developer carrying member and a center of the agitating member, and between the developer carrying member and the agitating member, the first electrode outputting a signal corresponding to a capacitance between the developer carrying member and the developer amount detecting member, the capacitance being generated by a voltage applied to the developer carrying member; anda second electrode that is provided along a longitudinal direction of the first electrode, above the line connecting between the center of the developer carrying member and the center of the agitating member, and between the developer carrying member and the agitating member,the first electrode outputting a signal based on the capacitance generated between the developer carrying member and the developer amount detecting member and a capacitance generated between the first electrode and the second electrode by voltage applied to the developer carrying member and the second electrode.

6. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the developing device is detachably mountable to a main body of the image forming apparatus.

7. An image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the electrophotographic photosensitive member and the developing device are integrally made into a process cartridge, the process cartridge being detachably mountable to the main body of the image forming apparatus.

8. An image forming apparatus, which uses a developing device including: a developer carrying member developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member with a developer; a developer containing portion containing the developer; an agitating member provided rotatably in the developer containing portion to agitate the developer; and a developer amount detecting member outputting a signal for detecting a remaining amount of the developer contained in the developer containing portion, the image forming apparatus comprising a main body controller to which the signal is input, and which detects the remaining amount of the developer; the main body controller including: a reference value setting unit that sets a reference value serving as a reference for detecting a remaining amount of the developer by the signal; a remaining amount detecting unit that calculates a remaining amount of the developer based on an amount of change in the signal from the reference value; a band of fluctuation detecting unit that detects a band of fluctuation in the signal corresponding to a rotational period of the agitating member; and a reference value changing unit that changes the reference value to a new reference value derived from the band of fluctuation.

9. An image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the reference value changing unit changes the reference value to the new reference value, when the band of fluctuation in the signal reaches a predetermined value.

10. An image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein a time point when the band of fluctuation in the signal reaches the predetermined value is: (1) a time point when the band of fluctuation in the signal begins to be detected;(2) a time point when the band of fluctuation in the signal reaches a peak value; or(3) a time point when the band of fluctuation in the signal has converged after the band of fluctuation in the signal has reached the peak value once.

11. An image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the reference value is set in a state in that the developer containing portion contains a full amount of the developer.

12. An image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the image forming apparatus has an indicating unit that indicates the remaining amount of the developer detected by the main body controller.

13. An image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the developer amount detecting member has a first electrode that is provided along a longitudinal direction of the developer carrying member, above a line connecting between a center of the developer carrying member and a center of the agitating member, and between the developer carrying member and the agitating member, the first electrode outputting a signal corresponding to a capacitance between the developer carrying member and the developer amount detecting member, the capacitance being generated by a voltage applied to the developer carrying member.

14. An image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the developer amount detecting member has: a first electrode that is provided along a longitudinal direction of the developer carrying member, above a line connecting between a center of the developer carrying member and a center of the agitating member, and between the developer carrying member and the agitating member, the first electrode outputting a signal corresponding to a capacitance between the developer carrying member and the developer amount detecting member, the capacitance being generated by a voltage applied to the developer carrying member; anda second electrode that is provided along a longitudinal direction of the first electrode, above the line connecting between the center of the developer carrying member and the center of the agitating member, and between the developer carrying member and the agitating member,the first electrode outputting a signal based on the capacitance generated between the developer carrying member and the developer amount detecting member and a capacitance generated between the first electrode and the second electrode by voltage applied to the developer carrying member and the second electrode.

15. An image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the developing device is detachably mountable to a main body of the image forming apparatus.

16. An image forming apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the electrophotographic photosensitive member and the developing device are integrally made into a process cartridge, the process cartridge being detachably mountable to the main body of the image forming apparatus.

17. An image forming apparatus, which uses a developing device including: a developer carrying member developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member with a developer; a developer containing portion containing the developer; an agitating member provided rotatably in the developer containing portion to agitate the developer; and a developer amount detecting member outputting a signal for detecting a remaining amount of the developer contained in the developer containing portion, the image forming apparatus comprising a main body controller to which the signal is input, and which detects the remaining amount of the developer, the main body controller including: a reference value setting unit that sets a reference value serving as a reference for detecting the remaining amount of the developer by the signal; a remaining amount detecting unit that calculates a remaining amount of the developer based on an amount of change in the signal from the reference value; a band of fluctuation detecting unit that detects a band of fluctuation in the signal corresponding to a rotational period of the agitating member; and a correcting unit that corrects the remaining amount of the developer calculated by the remaining amount detecting unit based on a corrected value derived from the band of fluctuation.

18. An image forming apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the corrected value is a difference between a remaining amount of the developer derived from the band of fluctuation and a remaining amount of the developer calculated in the remaining amount detecting unit, when the band of fluctuation in the signal reaches a predetermined value.

19. An image forming apparatus according to claim 18, wherein a time point when the band of fluctuation in the signal reaches the predetermined value is: (1) a time point when the band of fluctuation in the signal begins to be detected;(2) a time point when the band of fluctuation in the signal reaches a peak value; or(3) a time point when the band of fluctuation in the signal has converged after the band of fluctuation in the signal has reached the peak value once.

20. An image forming apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the reference value is set in a state in that the developer containing portion contains a full amount of the developer.

21. An image forming apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the image forming apparatus has an indicating unit that indicates the remaining amount of the developer detected by the main body controller.

22. An image forming apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the developer amount detecting member has a first electrode that is provided along a longitudinal direction of the developer carrying member, above a line connecting between a center of the developer carrying member and a center of the agitating member, and between the developer carrying member and the agitating member, the first electrode outputting a signal corresponding to a capacitance between the developer carrying member and the developer amount detecting member, the capacitance being generated by a voltage applied to the developer carrying member.

23. An image forming apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the developer amount detecting member has: a first electrode that is provided along a longitudinal direction of the developer carrying member, above a line connecting between a center of the developer carrying member and a center of the agitating member, and between the developer carrying member and the agitating member, the first electrode outputting a signal corresponding to a capacitance between the developer carrying member and the developer amount detecting member, the capacitance being generated by a voltage applied to the developer carrying member; anda second electrode that is provided along a longitudinal direction of the first electrode, above the line connecting between the center of the developer carrying member and the center of the agitating member, and between the developer carrying member and the agitating member,the first electrode outputting a signal based on the capacitance generated between the developer carrying member and the developer amount detecting member and a capacitance generated between the first electrode and the second electrode by voltage applied to the developer carrying member and the second electrode.

24. An image forming apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the developing device is detachably mountable to a main body of the image forming apparatus.

25. An image forming apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the electrophotographic photosensitive member and the developing device are integrally made into a process cartridge, the process cartridge being detachably mountable to the main body of the image forming apparatus.

26. A detecting method of detecting a remaining amount of a developer contained in a developer containing portion in an image forming apparatus, which uses a developing device including: a developer carrying member developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member with a developer; the developer containing portion containing the developer; an agitating member provided rotatably in the developer containing portion to agitate the developer; and a developer amount detecting member outputting a signal for detecting the remaining amount of the developer contained in the developer containing portion, the detecting method comprising: a first step of setting a reference value serving as a reference for detecting the remaining amount by the signal, and thereafter calculating the remaining amount based on an amount of change in the signal from the reference value; anda second step of detecting the remaining amount based on a band of fluctuation in the signal corresponding to a rotational period of the agitating member.

27. A detecting method according to claim 26, wherein the reference value is set in a state in that the developer containing portion contains a full amount of the developer.

28. A detecting method according to claim 26, further comprising an indicating step of indicating the remaining amount of the developer by an indicating unit provided on the image forming apparatus.

29. A detecting method of detecting a remaining amount of a developer contained in a developer containing portion in an image forming apparatus, which uses a developing device including: a developer carrying member developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member with the developer; the developer containing portion containing the developer; an agitating member provided rotatably in the developer containing portion to agitate the developer; and a developer amount detecting member outputting a signal for detecting a remaining amount of the developer contained in the developer containing portion, the detecting method, comprising: a reference value setting step of setting a reference value to be a reference for detecting the remaining amount of the developer by the signal;a remaining amount detecting step of calculating the remaining amount of the developer based on an amount of change in the signal from the reference value;a band of fluctuation detecting step of detecting a band of fluctuation in the signal corresponding to a rotational period of the agitating member; anda reference value changing step of changing a reference value to a new reference value derived from the band of fluctuation.

30. A detecting method according to claim 29, wherein, in the reference value changing step, the reference value is changed to the new reference value when the band of fluctuation in the signal reaches a predetermined value.

31. A detecting method according to claim 30, wherein a time point when the band of fluctuation in the signal reaches the predetermined value is: (1) a time point when the band of fluctuation in the signal begins to be detected;(2) a time point when the band of fluctuation in the signal reaches a peak value; or(3) a time point when the band of fluctuation in the signal has converged after the band of fluctuation in the signal has reached the peak value once.

32. A detecting method according to claim 29, wherein the reference value is set in a state in that the developer containing portion contains a full amount of the developer.

33. A detecting method according to claim 29, further comprising an indicating step of indicating the remaining amount of the developer by an indicating unit provided on the image forming apparatus.

34. A detecting method of detecting a remaining amount of a developer contained in a developer containing portion in an image forming apparatus, which uses a developing device including: a developer carrying member developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member with the developer; a developer containing portion containing the developer; an agitating member provided rotatably in the developer containing portion to agitate the developer; and a developer amount detecting member outputting a signal for detecting the remaining amount of the developer contained in the developer containing portion, the detecting method comprising: a reference value setting step of setting a reference value to be a reference for detecting the remaining amount of the developer by the signal;a remaining amount detecting step of calculating the remaining amount of the developer based on an amount of change in the signal from the reference value;a band of fluctuation detecting step of detecting a band of fluctuation in the signal corresponding to a rotational period of the agitating member; anda correction step of correcting the remaining amount of the developer calculated by the remaining amount detecting unit based on a corrected value derived from the band of fluctuation.

35. A detecting method according to claim 34, wherein the corrected value is a difference between a remaining amount of a developer derived from the band of fluctuation and a remaining amount of the developer calculated in the second step, when the band of fluctuation in the signal reaches a predetermined value.

36. A detecting method according to claim 35, wherein a time point when the band of fluctuation in the signal reaches the predetermined value is: (1) a time point when the band of fluctuation in the signal begins to be detected;(2) a time point when the band of fluctuation in the signal reaches a peak value; or(3) a time point when the band of fluctuation in the signal has converged after the band of fluctuation in the signal has reached the peak value once.

37. A detecting method according to claim 34, wherein the reference value is set in a state in that the developer containing portion contains a full amount of the developer.

38. A detecting method according to claim 34, further comprising an indicating step of indicating the remaining amount of the developer by an indicating unit provided on the image forming apparatus.