Patent Grant
9110405
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that forms an image by charging an image bearing member by a charging device having a bias voltage applied thereto and supplying a developer to the image bearing member by a developer carrying member having a bias voltage applied thereto.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventionally known image forming apparatus irradiates a uniformly charged photosensitive member with laser light to form an electrostatic latent image thereon, develops the electrostatic latent image with toner carried by a developing roller to form a toner image, and transfers and fixes the toner image to a transfer material to form an image thereon.
In the conventional image forming apparatus, a developing device which forms a toner image on the photosensitive member includes, for example, an agitating member which agitates toner while transporting the toner, a layer regulating member which regulates a toner layer on the developing roller, and a toner remaining amount detection element, in addition to the developing roller. The toner in the developing device reaches a predetermined charge amount due to the friction charging caused by the agitation by the agitating member and the rotation of the developing roller. Then, after a toner layer is formed uniformly by the layer regulating member, the toner is transported to a developing region opposed to the photosensitive member by the rotating developing-roller to develop an electrostatic latent image with or without contact to the photosensitive member.
The development of toner depends upon a toner charge and a developing electric field. If the toner charge is high, the toner can be developed onto the photosensitive member even when the developing electric field is low.
Further, the characteristics such as chargeability of toner that is a powder particle are varied depending upon respective toner particle diameters. Therefore, all the toner particles are not charged by friction to a desired charge amount, and the charge amount has a distribution (a certain range) with a desired charge amount as a peak.
Further, when the toner in the developing device is supplied to the photosensitive member and the toner is consumed for image formation, toner is replenished from a developer replenishment container to the developing device according to the detection result of the toner remaining amount detection element. For example, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H05-46027, at a time of setting a developing device to be used for the first time, an operation of replenishing toner to the developing device containing no toner is performed. Specifically, at a time of a toner install (setting sequence) for replenishing toner to the developing device containing no toner, toner continues to be replenished from the developer replenishment container to the developing device until a toner amount in the developing device reaches an appropriate amount. At this time, simultaneously, in order to make the toner in the developing device to have a desired charge amount, an operation of rotating the developing roller is also performed during the replenishment of toner.
However, according to the related art, toner continues to be replenished to the developing device successively at a time of setting the developing device to be used for the first time. Therefore, it is difficult to make toner replenished first and toner replenished later to have a uniform charge amount in the developing device, and toner having an excessive charge amount higher than an appropriate value and toner having a small charge amount lower than the appropriate value are mixed.
As shown in
The present invention has been made by further improving the above-mentioned related art, and an object thereof is to reduce toner having an excessive charge amount, which causes electrostatic aggregation at a time of replenishment of toner, to thereby reduce a defective image caused by the electrostatic aggregation of toner.
In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus, including:
Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail illustratively with reference to the drawings. Note that, the dimensions, materials and shapes of components, and the relative arrangements thereof described in the following embodiments are to be modified appropriately depending upon the configuration and various conditions of an apparatus to which the present invention is applied. Thus, unless otherwise described particularly, the scope of the present invention is not limited only thereto.
(First Embodiment)
An image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment will be described.
An image forming operation by the image forming apparatus will be described. The charging device 2 has a charging roller 2a having a charging bias applied thereto to charge the photosensitive member 1 to a predetermined surface potential uniformly. The surface of the photosensitive member 1 is charged uniformly by the charging roller 2a of the charging device 2 so that the photosensitive member 1 is charged to a predetermined potential. Next, the photosensitive member 1 is exposed to light according to image information (image signal) in the exposure device 3 so that an electrostatic latent image according to the image information is formed on the photosensitive member 1.
The developing device 4 has a developing roller 4a serving as a developer carrying member having a developing bias applied thereto to supply developer to the photosensitive member 1. In the developing device 4, the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member 1 is developed with toner serving as developer. In the developing device 4, toner dropped from a developer replenishment container 46 is transported into a developing container 40 by a screw 4c, and is further transported toward the developing roller 4a while being agitated by an agitating member 4d. The developing roller 4a is a developer carrying member in which a rotatable sleeve is placed on the outer circumference of a plurality of fixed magnetic poles. The toner carried by the developing roller 4a is regulated into a uniform layer thickness by a layer regulating member 4b, and then transported to a developing region to develop the electrostatic latent image in or out of contact with the photosensitive member 1.
The transfer device 5 transfers the toner image developed on the photosensitive member 1 by the developing device 4 onto a sheet that is a transfer material transported to a transfer region opposed to the photosensitive member 1. Transfer guides (transfer material guide members) 9 for guiding the sheet to a nip portion of the photosensitive member 1 and the transfer device 5 are provided in the vicinity of the nip portion. The transfer device 5 may be any one of an electrostatic transfer system and a bias transfer system. According to the electrostatic transfer system, the transfer device 5 which generates direct current corona discharge is placed so as to be opposed to the photosensitive member 1 via the sheet, and the direct current corona discharge is allowed to act on the sheet from the back side of the sheet. Thus, the toner image carried on the photosensitive member 1 is transferred onto the sheet.
The sheet with the toner image transferred thereon by the transfer device 5 is sent to the fixing device 7, and the toner image is fixed on the sheet by fixing processing. Then, the sheet is discharged out of the device.
Meanwhile, residual toner remaining on the photosensitive member 1 that has finished the transfer step is removed by the cleaning device 6 and collected. The cleaning device 6 has a cleaning blade 6a serving as a cleaning member placed in contact with the surface of the photosensitive member 1 and scrapes off the residual toner by the cleaning blade 6a rubbing against the surface of the photosensitive member 1. Further, the cleaning device 6 has a cleaning container 6b serving as a collecting member which collects developer, and collects the residual toner scraped off by the cleaning blade 6a. Further, the cleaning device 6 has a scooping sheet 6c (see
As illustrated in
A memory device is provided in the control portion 300. The memory device is not particularly limited, and a well-known electronic memory can be used suitably. As the memory, various forms can be adopted, such as a non-volatile memory and a combination of a volatile memory and a backup battery. Here, the memory includes a ROM 10 that stores preset information described later and an NVRAM 120 in which the detection result of a toner remaining amount can be written.
Further, a display portion 130 is provided in the image forming apparatus. Further, there is provided an interface portion 140 which connects the image forming apparatus main body to an external device 150 such as a personal computer so that the image forming apparatus and the external device 150 can communicate with each other. The display portion 130 and the interface portion 140 are each connected to the CPU 100 of the control portion 300.
Further, the control portion 300 includes a charging bias control portion 160, a developing bias control portion 170, and a toner replenishment control portion 180, each of which is connected to the CPU 100. As described later, the control portion 300 controls biases applied to the charging roller 2a and the developing roller 4a, respectively, via the charging bias control portion 160 and the developing bias control portion 170.
As illustrated in
When the toner remaining amount detection element 4e outputs a signal indicating the shortage of toner to the CPU 100, the CPU 100 outputs a signal to the toner replenishment control portion 180 to allow the developer replenishment container 46 to drop toner. Then, the toner is transported by the screw 4c to be replenished to the developing container 40. Further, when the toner is replenished from the developer replenishment container 46 to the developing container 40, and the toner remaining amount detection element 4e outputs, to the CPU 100, a signal indicating that the developing container 40 is filled with the toner, the CPU 100 outputs a signal to the toner replenishment, control portion 180 to stop the supply of the toner.
The control portion 300 includes the charging bias control portion 160 and is capable of outputting a direct current bias and an alternate current bias serving as a charging bias to the charging roller 2a via a charging bias generating portion 210. When the charging roller 2a has a charging bias applied thereto, the photosensitive member 1 can be uniformly charged to a predetermined surface potential. Here, in the case where a direct current bias of −570 V and an alternate current bias with an amplitude of 1,500 V at a sine wave having a frequency of 1,200 Hz are applied to the charging roller 2a by the charging bias generating portion 210, the photosensitive member 1 is charged to −550 V.
Similarly, the control portion 300 includes the developing bias control portion 170 and is capable of outputting a direct current bias and an alternate current bias serving as a developing bias to the developing roller 4a via a developing bias generating portion 220. When the developing roller 4a has a developing bias applied thereto, toner on the developing roller 4a can be developed onto an electrostatic latent image of the photosensitive member 1. Here, a direct current bias of −400 V and an alternate current bias with an amplitude of 800 V at a rectangular wave having, a frequency of 2,400 Hz are applied to the developing roller 4a by the developing bias generating portion 220. The developing bias to be applied to the developing roller 4a is applied with a direct current component (direct current bias) and an alternate current component (alternate current bias) superimposed on each other during an image forming operation. On the other hand, as described later, during a potential control sequence, only the direct current component (direct current bias) is applied, unlike the image forming operation.
Vcont1=(½)Vpp+|Vdc|−|Vl|
Here, the dark section potential Vd of the photosensitive member 1 is set to be −550 V based on
In the above-mentioned image forming apparatus, at a time of non-image formation, for example, at a time of setting the developing device 4 to be used for the first time, toner continues to be replenished from the developer replenishment container 46 to the developing container 40 of the developing device 4 successively. At this time, in the developing container 40, the charge amount cannot be made uniform between the toner replenished first and the toner replenished later, and toner having a charge amount higher than an appropriate value and toner having a charge amount lower than the appropriate value may be mixed. Then, the toner having an excessive charge amount which is higher than the appropriate value and the toner having a small charge amount which is lower than the appropriate value aggregate electrostatically, and a defective image such as flecks and streaks may be generated on a transfer material in a rotation period of the developing roller 4a.
Thus, in the image forming apparatus of the present invention, at the time of the replenishment of toner (at the time of non-image formation), when a user or a service personnel performs an operation from the display portion 130 or an external device 150 such as a personal computer, an instruction signal for instructing to perform the developer install mode for replenishing the developing device 4 with toner is input from the display portion 130 or the external device 150 to the CPU 100 in the control portion 300. In time with the start of replenishment of the developing device 4 with the toner, the CPU 100 adjusts a potential difference between the image bearing member and the developer carrying member. The control portion 300 adjusts one or both of biases to be applied to the charging device and the developer carrying member to generate, between the developing roller and the photosensitive member, a developing electric field Vcont2 smaller than the developing electric field Vcont1 during an image forming operation. That is, the CPU 100 adjusts the developing electric field Vcont2 which is the potential difference between the photosensitive member 1 and the developing roller 4a at the time of the developer install mode to a value smaller than the developing electric field Vcont1 which is the potential difference between the area of the bright section potential Vl of the photosensitive member 1 at the time of image formation and the developing roller 4a. This can remove the toner having an excessive charge amount by developing (supplying toner having an excessive charge amount from the developing roller to the photosensitive member), and the toner having an excessive charge amount that causes the electrostatic aggregation during the replenishment of toner can be reduced.
The potential control sequence for performing the above developer install mode is performed in accordance with a flowchart of
When the control portion 300, starts the potential control sequence, in order to use the developing device for the first time; the control portion 300 starts the toner install mode for replenishing toner from the developer replenishment container 46 into the developing container 40 (S11). The control portion 300 (see
Next, the control portion 300 starts the rotation of the developing roller 4a, the screw 4c, and the agitating member 4d, and at the same time, based on the detection result of the toner remaining amount detection element 4e, the control portion 300 intermittently replenishes toner from the developer replenishment container 46 to the vacant developing container 40 (S12).
Then, the control portion 300 applies a charging bias to the charging roller and applies only the direct current bias of the developing biases to the developing roller (S13) so that a second developing electric field Vcont2 (see
Vcont2=|Vdc′|−|Vset|
Vcont1>Vcont2>0
The second developing electric field Vcont2 is a developing electric field that allows the photosensitive member 1 to carry toner (toner having an excessive charge amount) having charge larger by a predetermined value than the peak value of the charge amount of the toner carried by the developing roller 4a. Further, the second developing electric field Vcont2 is not only smaller than the first developing electric field Vcont1 during the image forming operation, but also is larger than 0. That is, the absolute value of the developing direct bias Vdc′ is larger than the absolute value of the surface potential Vset of the photosensitive member 1. This is because, if the second developing electric field Vcont2 is smaller than 0, the direction of the developing electric field is reversed, and this direction is a direction in which toner flies from the photosensitive member to the developing roller, not a direction in which toner flies from the developing roller to the photosensitive member.
More specifically, in S13, the charging bias and the direct current bias of the developing bias to be applied are derived from a relationship between the toner charge amount and the development starting electric field with reference to
At this time, only a highly charged toner on the developing roller 4a is developed over the entire developing region of the photosensitive member 1 and collected by the cleaning device 6. Thus, the toner having a charge amount within an, appropriate range (up to a predetermined value above or below the peak value) remains on the developing roller 4a. By removing the toner having an excessive charge amount, the electrostatic aggregation of the toner is reduced, and a defective image caused by the electrostatic aggregation is also reduced.
When the control portion 300 determines that the toner remaining amount detection element 4e has detected the toner presence (S14), the control portion 300 stops the replenishment of the toner (S15). After the stop of the replenishment, the control portion 300 starts a timer count (S16), and the developing roller 4a, the screw 4c, and the agitating member 4d continue to perform idle rotations for a predetermined period of time to stabilize the charge amount of toner.
Then, when the control portion 300 determines that the predetermined period of time has elapsed (S17), the control portion 300 stops the application of the charging bias and the developing direct current bias (S18). At the same time, the control portion 300 stops the rotation of the developing roller 4a, the screw 4c, and the agitating member 4d (S19) to end the toner install mode (S20), and thus, the control portion 300 ends the potential control sequence.
(Second Embodiment)
An image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment will be described.
In the sequence performed in the first embodiment, in which only toner having a certain high charge amount or more is developed onto the photosensitive member, the charge amount has a wide distribution at a low peak value when the number of revolutions of a developing roller is small, and hence, the effect thereof is insufficient.
Therefore, in the second embodiment, toner having a charge amount higher than the peak of an appropriate charge amount according to the cumulative number of revolutions of the developing roller is developed onto the photosensitive member. Thus, only toner having a charge amount within an appropriate range (up to a predetermined value above or below the peak value) remains in a developing device, which prevents a defective image caused by electrostatic aggregation of toner.
In the second embodiment, a control portion (control unit) 400 changes a developing electric field Vcont2 in a potential control sequence so as to increase in stages, every time the cumulative number of revolutions of the developing roller in the potential control sequence reaches a predetermined cumulative number of revolutions. Here, the toner is successively replenished to the developing device at a time of setting the developing device to be used for the first time, and the developing electric field Vcont2 is adjusted, with a period being divided into an initial period, an intermediate period, and a later period, until the replenishment is ended.
Specifically, the developing electric field Vcont2 in the initial period of the cumulative number of revolutions of the developing roller is designated by Vcont221, the developing electric field Vcont2 in the intermediate period of the cumulative number of revolutions of the developing roller is designated by Vcont222, and the developing electric field Vcont2 in the later period of the cumulative number of revolutions of the developing roller is designated by Vcont223. The control portion 400 controls a bias to be applied to a charging roller and a bias to be applied to the developing roller so that those developing electric fields Vcont2 satisfy the following relationships under the condition that the developing electric fields Vcont2 satisfy the above-mentioned relationships of the first embodiment:
Vcont1>Vcont222≧Vcont221
Vcont1>Vcont222≧Vcont223
Hereinafter, a description is made in detail with reference to the drawings.
In this embodiment, as illustrated in
Next, the potential control in the image forming apparatus according to this embodiment will be described. The potential control sequence at a time of replenishment according to this embodiment is performed for control in accordance with flowcharts of
When the control portion 400 starts the potential control sequence, in the same way as in the first embodiment, in order to use the developing device for the first time, the control portion 400 starts a toner install mode for replenishing toner from the developer replenishment container 46 to the developing container 40 (S21).
Then, the control portion 400 starts the rotation of the developing roller 4a, the screw 4c, and the agitating member 4d, and at the same time, based on the result of the toner remaining amount detection element 4e, the control portion 400 intermittently replenishes toner from the developer replenishment container 46 to the vacant developing container 40 (S22). Further, at the same time of starting the rotation of the developing roller 4a, the control portion 400 starts the measurement of a cumulative number “n” of revolutions of the developing roller 4a, and the control portion 400 stores the measured number “n” of revolutions in the NVRAM 120 (S23).
Then, the control portion 400 applies a charging bias to the charging roller and applies a direct current bias of the developing biases to the developing roller (S24) so that the developing electric field Vcont2 is created. Then, the control portion 400 starts a charging bias varying sequence (S25). Here, the developing direct current bias (direct current bias of the developing biases) to be applied to the developing roller is fixed, and only the charging bias to be applied to the charging roller 2a is varied every predetermined cumulative number of revolutions, based on the measured value of the cumulative number “n” of revolutions of the developing roller 4a.
As shown in
Therefore, the charging bias varying sequence is performed so as to transfer the toner having an excessive charge amount shown in
The charge amount distribution is low and stable in the initial period of the rotation of the developing roller, and hence the developing electric field Vcont221 may be small. When the cumulative number of revolutions of the developing roller increases, the charge amount of toner increases to have a wide distribution, and the amount of toner that causes the electrostatic aggregation increases. Therefore, the developing electric field Vcont222 in the intermediate period is set to be larger than the developing electric field Vcont221 in the initial period. Thus, the toner having an excessive charge amount that causes the electrostatic aggregation is transferred from the developing roller onto the photosensitive member. Then, when the number of revolutions of the developing roller increases further, the charge amount of toner has a high and stable charge amount distribution, and the amount of toner that causes the electrostatic aggregation decreases. Therefore, the developing electric field Vcont223 in the later period is set to be smaller than the developing electric field VCont222 in the intermediate period. Here, regarding the charging bias and the developing bias to be applied, the developing electric field Vcont2 is regulated by varying only the charging bias in the same way as in the first embodiment.
When the control portion 400 determines that the cumulative number “n” of revolutions of the developing roller, for which the measurement is started in S23, is 0≦n<50 (YES in S31), the control portion 400 applies a charging bias of −340 V to the charging roller (S32). Thus, the developing electric field Vcont2 becomes 60 V that is smaller than the developing electric field Vcont1 (700 V) during the image forming operation. This developing electric field Vcont2 enables the toner having an excessive charge amount (toner having a charge “q” of 9.0 or more) to be carried onto the photosensitive member from the developing roller.
When the control portion 400 determines that the cumulative number “n” of revolutions of the developing roller is 50≦n<100 (YES in S33), the control portion 400 applies a charging bias of −320 V to the charging roller (S34). Thus, the developing electric field Vcont2 becomes 0.80 V that is smaller than the developing electric field Vcont1 (700 V) during the image forming operation. This developing electric field Vcont2 enables the toner having an excessive charge amount (toner having a charge “q” of 8.0 or more) to be carried onto the photosensitive member from the developing roller.
When the control portion 400 determines that the cumulative number “n” of revolutions of the developing roller is 100≦n<200 (YES in S35), the control portion 400 applies a charging bias of −300 V to the charging roller (S36). Thus, the developing electric field Vcont2 becomes 100 V that is smaller than the developing electric field Vcont1 (700 V) during the image forming operation. This developing electric field Vcont2 enables the toner having an excessive charge amount (toner having a charge “q” of 7.0 or more) to be carried onto the photosensitive member from the developing roller.
When the control portion 400 determines that the cumulative number “n” of revolutions of the developing roller is 200≦n<400 (YES in S37), the control, portion 400 applies a charging bias of −310 V to the charging roller (S38). Thus, the developing electric field Vcont2 becomes 90 V that is smaller than the developing electric field. Vcont1 (700 V) during the image forming operation. This developing electric field Vcont2 enables the toner having an excessive charge amount (toner having a charge “q” of 7.5 or more) to be carried onto the photosensitive member from the developing roller.
When the control portion 400 determines that the cumulative number “n” of revolutions of the developing roller is 400≦n<600 (YES in S39), the control portion 400 applies a charging bias of −320 V to the charging roller (S40). Thus, the developing electric field Vcont2 becomes 80 V that is smaller than the developing electric field Vcont1 (700 V) during the image forming operation. This developing electric field Vcont2 enables the toner having an excessive charge amount (toner having a charge “q” of 8.0 or more) to be carried onto the photosensitive member from the developing roller.
When the control portion 400 determines that the cumulative number “n” of revolutions of the developing roller is 600≦n<800 (YES in S41), the control portion 400 applies a charging bias of −330 V to the charging roller (S42). Thus, the developing electric field Vcont2 becomes 70 V that is smaller than the developing electric field Vcont1 (700 V) during the image forming operation. This developing electric field Vcont2 enables the toner having an excessive charge amount (toner having a charge “q” of 8.5 or more) to be carried onto the photosensitive member from the developing roller.
When the control portion 400 determines that the cumulative number “n” of revolutions of the developing roller is 800≦n<1000 (YES in S43), the control portion 400 applies a charging bias of −340 V to the charging roller (S44). Thus, the developing electric field Vcont2 becomes 60 V that is smaller than the developing electric field Vcont1 (700 V) during the image forming operation. This developing electric field Vcont2 enables the toner having an excessive charge amount (toner having a charge “q” of 9.0 or more) to be carried onto the photosensitive member from the developing roller.
When the control portion 400 determines that the cumulative number “n” of revolutions of the developing roller is 1000≦n, the control portion 400 applies a charging bias of −340 V to the charging roller until the replenishment of toner is ended (S45). Thus, the developing electric field Vcont2 becomes 60 V that is smaller than the developing electric field Vcont1 (700 V) during the image forming operation, and the charging bias varying sequence is ended. This developing electric field Vcont2 enables the toner having an excessive charge amount (toner having a charge “q” of 9.0 or more) to be carried onto the photosensitive member from the developing roller.
As described above, by adjusting the developing electric field Vcont2 every time the cumulative number “n” of revolutions of the developing roller reaches predetermined cumulative number of revolutions, only the toner having a high charge amount (toner having an excessive charge amount) on the developing roller 4a is transferred onto the entire developing region of the photosensitive member 1, and collected by the cleaning device 6. Thus, the toner having a charge amount within an appropriate range (within a predetermined value range centered on the peak value) remains on the developing roller 4a. This can reduce the electrostatic aggregation of the toner having an excessive charge amount and the toner having a small charge amount, and reduce the occurrence of a defective image such as flecks and streaks in the rotation period of the developing roller caused by the electrostatic aggregation.
In
The developing electric field Vcont2 created by the potential control is always the same in the first embodiment, whereas the developing electric field Vcont2 (here, each of Vcont21, 22, and 23) is varied every cumulative number “n” of revolutions of the developing roller in this embodiment. Therefore, the toner having an excessive charge amount can be transferred selectively from the developing roller onto the photosensitive member with higher accuracy. This enables the toner whose charge amount is becoming excessive to be transferred onto the photosensitive member 1 with higher accuracy, to thereby reduce the electrostatic aggregation further.
(Third Embodiment)
An image forming apparatus according to a third embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, the developing electric field Vcont2 is adjusted according to the detection result of the toner remaining amount detection element 4e in the developing container 40. The other configuration is the same as that of the above-mentioned first embodiment. Therefore, members having the same functions as those of the members therein are designated by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.
In this embodiment, the toner remaining amount detection element 4e detects the presence/absence of toner. In a case of “out of toner (toner absence)”, the developer replenishment container 46 replenishes toner to the developing container 40. In the control portion 300 illustrated in
The toner in the developing container is agitated constantly by the agitating member 4d. Therefore, as the amount of the toner in the developing container is larger, the number of detections of toner every one period increases. For example, in a case of using a toner remaining amount detection element that detects the presence/absence of toner every 0.05 second, assuming that two seconds correspond to one period, 40 times of detections can be performed. Here, a case where the toner remaining amount detection element 4e detects toner is defined as “ON”, and a case where the toner remaining amount detection element 4e does not detect toner is defined as “OFF”. When the number of times of “ON” in which toner has been detected is 10 or more out of the 40 times, the control portion 300 determines that the “toner presence” has been detected, and when the number of times of “ON” is less than 10, the control portion 300 determines that the “out of toner” has been detected.
Next, initial potential control in the image forming apparatus according to this embodiment will be described. The potential control sequence according to this embodiment is performed for control in accordance with the flowcharts of
When the control portion 300 starts the potential control sequence, in the same way as in the first embodiment, in order to use the developing device for the first time, the control portion 300 starts a toner install mode for replenishing toner from the developer replenishment container to the developing container 40 (S51).
Then, the control portion 300 starts the rotation of the developing roller 4a, the screw 4c, and the agitating member 4d, and at the same time, based on the result of the toner remaining amount detection element 4e, the control portion 300 intermittently replenishes toner from the developer replenishment container 46 to the vacant developing container 40 (S52). Further, the Control portion 300 counts the number of detections of toner every predetermined time, using the toner remaining amount detection element 4e (S53). The number “n” of detections of toner every predetermined time is the number of times at which the toner remaining amount detection element 4e is turned “ON” every predetermined time.
Then, the control portion 300 starts applies a charging bias to the charging roller and applies a direct current bias of the developing biases to the developing roller (S54) so that a developing electric field Vcont2 is created. Then; the control portion 300 starts a charging bias varying sequence (S55). Here, the developing direct current bias (direct current bias of the developing biases) to be applied to the developing roller is fixed, and only the charging bias to be applied to the charging roller is varied every predetermined number of detections, based on the above-mentioned number of detections of toner.
In this embodiment, the control portion 300 changes the developing electric field Vcont2 in the potential control sequence so as to increase in stages, every time the number “n” of detections of toner every predetermined time by the toner remaining amount detection element 4e in the setting sequence reaches a predetermined number. Here, the toner is successively replenished to the developing device at a time of setting the developing device to be used for the first time, and the developing electric field Vcont2 is adjusted, with a period being divided into an initial period, an intermediate period, and a later period, until the replenishment is ended.
Specifically, the developing electric field Vcont2 in the initial period of the number “n” of detections of toner is designated by Vcont231, the developing electric field Vcont2 in the intermediate period of the number of detections of toner is designated by Vcont232, and the developing electric field Vcont2 in the later period of the number of detections of toner is designated by Vcont233. The control portion 300 controls a bias to be applied to the charging roller and a bias to be applied to the developing roller so that those developing electric fields Vcont2 satisfy the following relationships under the condition that the developing electric fields Vcont2 satisfy the above-mentioned relationships of the first embodiment:
Vcont1>Vcont232≧Vcont231
Vcont1>Vcont232≧Vcont233
When the toner weight in the developing container is small, the developing roller is in an initial rotation period. Therefore, in the same way as in the above-mentioned embodiments, the charge amount of the toner on the developing roller 4a is not stable, and the toner having an excessive charge amount and the toner having a small charge amount are mixed, and the electrostatic aggregation is likely to occur.
Therefore, the charging bias varying sequence is performed so as to transfer the toner having an excessive charge amount (toner having a high charge amount having charge larger by a predetermined value than the peak value) from the developing roller 4a onto the photosensitive member 1. Specifically, as shown in a relationship between the result of the detection of the toner remaining amount detection element and the development start potential difference in
When the control portion 300 determines that the number “n” of detections of toner every predetermined time in S53 satisfies 0≦n<1 (YES in S61), the control portion 300 applies a charging bias of −340 to the charging roller (S62). Thus, the developing electric field Vcont2 becomes 60 V that is smaller than the developing electric field Vcont1 (700 V) during the image forming operation. This developing electric field Vcont2 enables the toner having an excessive charge amount (toner having a charge “q” of 9.0 or more) to be carried onto the photosensitive member from the developing roller.
When the control portion 300 determines that the number “n” of detections of toner is n<2 (YES in S63), the control portion 300 applies a charging bias of −320 V to the charging roller (S64). Thus, the developing electric field Vcont2 becomes 80 V that is smaller than the developing electric field Vcont1 (700 V) during the image forming operation. This developing electric field Vcont2 enables the toner having an excessive charge amount (toner having a charge “q” of 8.0 or more) to be carried onto the photosensitive member from the developing roller.
When the control portion 300 determines that the number “n” of detections of toner is n<3 (YES in S65), the control portion 300 applies a charging bias of −300 V to the charging roller (S66). Thus, the developing electric field Vcont2 becomes 100 V that is smaller than the developing electric field Vcont1 (700 V) during the image forming operation. This developing electric field Vcont2 enables the toner having an excessive charge amount (toner having a charge “q” of 7.0 or more) to be carried onto the photosensitive member from the developing roller.
When the control portion 300 determines that the number “n” of detections of toner is n<4 (YES in S67), the control portion 300 applies a charging bias of −310 V to the charging roller (S68). Thus, the developing electric field Vcont2 becomes 90 V that is smaller than the developing electric field Vcont1 (700 V) during the image forming operation. This developing electric field Vcont2 enables the toner having an excessive charge amount (toner having a charge “q” of 7.5 or more) to be carried onto the photosensitive member from the developing roller.
When the control portion 300 determines that the number “n” of detections of toner is n<5 (YES in S69), the control portion 300 applies a charging bias of −320 V to the charging roller (S70). Thus, the developing electric field Vcont2 becomes 80 V that is smaller than the developing electric field Vcont1 (700 V) during the image forming operation. This developing electric field Vcont2 enables the toner having an excessive charge amount (toner having a charge “q” of 80 or more) to be carried onto the photosensitive member from the developing roller.
When the control portion 300 determines that the number “n” of detections of toner is n<6 (YES in S71), the control portion 300 applies a charging bias of −330 V the charging roller (S72). Thus, the developing electric field Vcont2 becomes 70 V that is smaller than the developing electric field Vcont1 (700 V) during the image forming operation. This developing electric field Vcont2 enables the toner having an excessive charge amount (toner having a charge “q” of 8.5 or more) to be carried onto the photosensitive member from the developing roller.
When the control portion 300 determines that the number “n” of detections of toner is n<7 (YES in S73), the control portion 300 applies a charging bias of −340 V to the charging roller (S74). Thus, the developing-electric field Vcont2 becomes 60 V that is smaller than the developing electric field Vcont1 (700 V) during the image forming operation. This developing electric field Vcont2 enables the toner having an excessive charge amount (toner having a charge “g” of 9.0 or more) to be carried onto the photosensitive member from the developing roller.
When the control portion 300 determines that the number “n” of detections of toner is 7≦n, the control portion 300 applies a charging bias of −340 V to the charging roller until the replenishment of toner is ended (S75). Thus, the developing electric field Vcont2 becomes 60 V that is smaller than the developing electric field Vcont1 (700 V) during the image forming operation, and the charging bias varying sequence is ended. This developing electric field Vcont2 enables the toner having an excessive charge amount (toner having a charge “q” of 9.0 or more) to be carried onto the photosensitive member from the developing roller.
As described above, by adjusting the developing electric field Vcont2 every time the number “n” of detections of toner reaches a predetermined number of detections, only the toner having a high charge amount (toner having an excessive charge amount) on the developing roller 4a is transferred onto the entire developing region of the photosensitive member 1, and collected by the cleaning device 6. Thus, the toner having a charge amount within an appropriate range (within a predetermined value range centered on the peak value) remains on the developing roller 4a. This can reduce the electrostatic aggregation of the toner having an excessive charge amount and the toner having a small charge amount, and reduce the occurrence of a defective image such as flecks and streaks in the rotation period of the developing roller caused by the electrostatic aggregation.
In
The developing electric field Vcont2 created by the potential control is always the same in the first embodiment, whereas the developing electric field Vcont2 is varied every number “n” of detections of toner by the toner remaining amount detection element in this embodiment. Therefore, the toner having an excessive charge amount can be transferred selectively from the developing roller onto the photosensitive member with higher accuracy. This enables the toner whose charge amount is becoming excessive to be developed onto the photosensitive member 1 with higher accuracy, to thereby reduce the electrostatic aggregation further.
(Fourth Embodiment)
A fourth embodiment will be described with reference to
In this embodiment, the control portion 300 controls an application timing of ON/OFF of biases to be applied to the charging roller and the developing roller at the time of the potential control sequence in order to remove toner having an excessive charge amount more suitably in addition to the above-mentioned embodiments.
As described above, at the time of the potential control sequence, the toner having an excessive charge amount is supplied to the photosensitive member 1 by applying biases to the charging roller and the developing roller. The toner supplied to the photosensitive member 1 is collected by the cleaning device. At this time, the toner supplied to the photosensitive member 1 slips through the scooping sheet 66 of cleaning device 6 that is in contact with the photosensitive member 1, so as to reach the cleaning blade. However, when the biases continue to be applied to the charging roller and the developing roller, a part of the toner supplied to the photosensitive member 1 may be unable to slip through the scooping sheet 6c, and stopped by the scooping sheet 6c before reaching the cleaning blade 6a, as illustrated in
Therefore, in this embodiment, the control portion 300 repeats ON/OFF of the biases to be applied to the charging roller and the developing roller at the time of the potential control sequence so as to apply the biases for a period of time corresponding to at least one revolution or more of the developing roller when the biases are ON.
The timing of ON/OFF of the biases by the control portion 300 may be varied depending upon the design such as characteristics of the toner. For example, toner whose charge amount tends to rise is likely to generate toner having an excessive charge amount. Therefore, control is performed so that the biases are repeatedly turned ON during 5 revolutions of the developing roller, turned OFF during the subsequent two revolutions, turned ON during the subsequent 5 revolutions, and turned OFF during the subsequent two revolutions. By turning OFF the biases intermittently in this manner, a timing at which the toner stopped by the scooping sheet 6c is collected into the cleaning device can be taken, which can prevent the amount of the stopped toner from increasing successively so that the toner is dropped inside the apparatus.
As described above, the potential control sequence is performed by switching the timing of ON/OFF of the charging bias and the developing bias depending on the characteristics of the toner. Thus, toner on the photosensitive member can be collected by the cleaning device without being dropped inside the apparatus at the time of the potential control sequence, and unnecessary toner having an excessive charge amount can be removed more effectively.
(Fifth Embodiment)
Next, a fifth embodiment will be described with reference to
In this embodiment, in order to realize the above-mentioned embodiments more suitably, a control potion (control unit) 500 performs control so that a cleaning bias is applied to the transfer device 5 at a time of a potential control sequence. As illustrated in
For example, in a case of negatively charged toner, the toner on the photosensitive member 1 is transferred onto a sheet by applying a positive direct current bias serving as a transfer bias to the transfer device 5 at a time of an ordinary image formation. However, during the potential control sequence in which a sheet is not conveyed, when the toner on the photosensitive member 1 reaches a transfer region opposed to the transfer device 5, the toner may adhere to the transfer device 5 to contaminate the transfer device 5.
Therefore, the toner on the photosensitive member 1 is prevented from adhering to the transfer device 5 by applying, during the potential control sequence, a transfer bias (cleaning bias) with a polarity opposite to that of a direct current bias at a time of the image formation to the transfer device 5.
In this embodiment, at the time of the ordinary image formation, the control portion 500 applies a positive direct current bias of +4 kV as a transfer bias to the transfer device 5. Further, the control portion 500 applies a negative direct current bias of −2 kV as a cleaning bias, which has a polarity opposite to that at a time of the image formation, to the transfer device 5 at the time of non-passage of a sheet, such as inter-sheet spacing (between sheets) and operations before or after the image formation. This can prevent the negatively charged toner on the photosensitive member 1 from adhering to the transfer device 5.
However, when a negative direct current bias of −2 kV continues to be applied so as to clean the transfer device 5 as described above even during the potential control sequence, a memory in which charge remains on the photosensitive member 1 may be generated to cause density unevenness at the time of the image formation.
Therefore, in this embodiment, the toner on the photosensitive member 1 is only the negatively charged toner having an excessive charge amount. Therefore, considering that it is possible to clean the transfer device 5 sufficiently even with a weak negative direct current cleaning bias, the control portion 500 applies a negative direct current bias (cleaning bias) smaller than that at the time of non-passage of a sheet to the transfer device 5 during the potential control sequence. Specifically, during the potential control sequence, the control portion 500 applies a negative direct current bias of −1 kV to the transfer device 5 as a cleaning bias. This can prevent a memory in which charge remains on the photosensitive member 1 and prevent the toner on the photosensitive member 1, from adhering to the transfer device 5.
Further, in order to realize the above-mentioned embodiments more suitably, during the initial potential control sequence, the above-mentioned cleaning bias may also be applied to the transfer guide (transfer material guide member) 9 that guides a sheet that is a transfer material to a nip portion between the photosensitive member 1 and the transfer device 5.
The transfer guide 9 is formed of a conductive member and is provided in the vicinity of the nip portion so as to convey the transfer material to the nip portion between the photosensitive member 1 and the transfer device 5. Therefore, during the potential control sequence, the toner on the photosensitive member 1 may adhere to the transfer guide 9 in the vicinity of the photosensitive member 1 to contaminate the transfer guide 9.
Therefore, during the potential control sequence, the control portion 500 applies a bias with the same polarity as that of the toner to the transfer guide 9. This can prevent the toner on the photosensitive member 1 from adhering to the transfer guide 9. For example, in this embodiment, the negatively charged toner on the photosensitive member 1 is prevented from adhering to the transfer guide 9 by applying a negative direct current bias of −2 kV to the transfer guide 9.
As a structure which applies a bias to the transfer guide 9, the transfer bias control portion and the transfer bias generating portion for the transfer device 5 described above may be used, or a structure separately provided for the transfer guide 9 may be used.
(Other Embodiment)
Further, in the above-mentioned embodiments, the reverse development (discharged area development) system for transferring developer onto an exposed portion of the photosensitive member is exemplified, but the present invention is not limited thereto and is also effective in the regular development (charged area development) of developing developer onto a non-exposed portion of the photosensitive member. In this case, the developing electric field Vcont1 at a time of the image forming operation and the developing electric field Vcont2 at a time of the potential control sequence are expressed by the following expressions.
Vcont1=|Vl|−(½)Vpp+|Vdc|
Vcont2=|Vset|−Vdc′|
Note that, the relationships of the developing electric fields Vcont1 and Vcont2 are the same as those of the above-mentioned embodiments.
In the embodiments so far, the embodiments of the invention is described with reference to the image forming apparatus, as an example, having a development method in which the developing bias to be applied to the developing roller 4a of the developing device 4 contains the direct current component and the alternate current component superimposed on each other.
As the present invention utilizes a development characteristic in which a charge amount of toner flying from the developing roller 4a to the photosensitive member 1 varies in accordance with the amount of the direct current component of the developing electric field between the developing roller 4a and the photosensitive member 1, there is no need to limit the invention to the developing bias containing the alternate current bias component at the time of the image formation. The invention may be applied to a developing device using a development method in which a development condition is satisfied by applying a direct current bias component to the developing bias at the time of the image formation.
In that case, if the control is performed in such a manner that the following expression is satisfied: Vcont1=|Vdc|−|Vl|, where Vcont1 represents a developing electric field for supplying the toner from the developing roller to the photosensitive member, Vdc represents a potential of the direct current component of the developing bias, and Vl represents a bright section potential of the photosensitive member charged by the charging device and exposed to light by the exposure device, and at a time of the potential control sequence, the bias of the direct current component is applied to the developing roller so that the following expressions are satisfied: Vcont2=|Vdc′|−|Vset|; and Vcont1>Vcont2>0, where Vcont2 represents a developing electric field for supplying the toner from the developing roller to the photosensitive member, Vdc′ represents a potential of the direct current component, and Vset represents a potential of the photosensitive member charged by the charging device, the toner having an excessive charge amount can be removed by development (transfer of the toner having the excessive charge amount from the developing roller to the photosensitive member) so that the toner having the excessive charge amount which causes the electrostatic aggregation at the time of replenishment of the toner can be reduced.
Incidentally, in the embodiment, the potential control sequence is performed at the time of replenishment of developer performed at the installation of a developing device which is used for the first time. However, the invention is not limited to the developing device which is used for the first time. After the start of use of the developing device, in the case of replenishing the developing device, of which developer is consumed, with developer, the potential control sequence can be performed so that the developer having an excessive charge amount is transferred from the developer carrying member to the image bearing member so as to be removed from the developing device.
Further, the condition for performing the potential control sequence may be limited to a low-humidity environment in which the charge amount of toner is likely to become large. For example, an environment detection device (environment detection unit) which detects the temperature and humidity of an environment is used. As the humidity is lower, the charge amount peak of toner is more likely to become large and a defective image caused by the electrostatic aggregation occurs more easily. Therefore, when the detection result of the environment detection device is higher than a predetermined humidity, the potential control sequence may not be performed, and when the detection result of the environment detection device is lower than a predetermined humidity, the potential control sequence may be performed.
In the above-mentioned embodiments, non-contact corona discharge is exemplified as the transfer device, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and for example, a transfer roller of a contact type may be used.
Further, in the developer in the developing device immediately after installation, or in a little developer remaining in the developing device before a fresh developer is replenished, a developer having an insufficient amount of imparted charge of an electric polarity which the developer should intrinsically have, or a developer having an electric polarity opposite to the electric polarity which the developer should intrinsically have may exist. Such a developer having one different from the electric polarity which the developer should intrinsically have may cause a problem such as a so-called reverse fogging phenomenon in which a developer may be supplied to a non-image forming area to which the developer is not wanted to be supplied when developing a latent image on an image bearing member. The present embodiments are effectively used as means for removing such a developer different in electric polarity or a so-called reversely charged toner.
Further, as the image forming apparatus, an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a copier, or a facsimile machine, or an image forming apparatus such as a multifunctional peripheral having a combination of those functions may be used. In the case of replenishing toner to a developing device of those image forming apparatuses, the same effects can be obtained by carrying out the above-mentioned potential control sequence.
Furthermore, according to the embodiments, at the time of the developer install mode, a predetermined charge bias is applied to the charge roller as the charge device to charge the image bearing member to the desired surface potential Vset, and a developing direct current bias Vdc′ is applied to the developer carrying member as the developing device to form the developing electric field Vcont2 for supplying the developer from the developer carrying member to the image bearing member. However, both of the charging bias and the developing bias may be but need not be applied. The application of one of the charging bias and the developing bias may form the developing electric field Vcont2.
For example, according to the first embodiment, the surface potential Vset of the image bearing member is charged at −320 V and the developing direct current bias Vdc′ of −400 V is applied to form the developing electric field Vcont2 of 80 V. However, in the case that the charging bias is turned off, that is, when the surface potential of the image bearing member is 0 V, in order to form the developing electric field Vcont2 of 80 V, the developing direct current bias Vdc′ may be set, at −80 V to form the developing electric field Vcont2 of 80 V.
On the other hand, in the case that developing direct current bias is turned off, that is, when the developing bias Vdc′ is 0 V, in order to form the developing electric field Vcont2 of 80 V, the charging direct current bias Vdc′ of +100 V may be applied to the image bearing member to set the surface potential of the image bearing member at 80 V to form the developing electric field Vcont2 of 80 V.
The case in that the voltage Vdc of the direct current component of the bias to be applied to the developing device at the time of the image forming operation has the same value as the voltage Vdc′ of the direct current component of the bias to be applied to the developing device at the time of the developer install mode is described above. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The voltage Vdc may have a different value from the voltage Vdc′.
In this way, a bias is applied to one of the charging device and the developer carrying member to form the developing electric field Vcont2 to perform the potential control sequence. Therefore, the developer having an excessive charge amount can be supplied from the developer carrying member to the image bearing member so as to be removed from the developing device.
While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.
This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Applications No. 2010-283799, filed Dec. 20, 2010 and No. 2011-249450, filed Nov. 15, 2011, which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-283799 | Dec 2010 | JP | national |
| 2011-249450 | Nov 2011 | JP | national |
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5512981 | Hirsch | Apr 1996 | A |
| 5594539 | Murano et al. | Jan 1997 | A |
| 7076182 | Osawa et al. | Jul 2006 | B2 |
| 7340189 | Itagaki et al. | Mar 2008 | B2 |
| 7460798 | Toda et al. | Dec 2008 | B2 |
| 8036544 | Toda et al. | Oct 2011 | B2 |
| 20020122673 | Sakai et al. | Sep 2002 | A1 |
| 20030081960 | Osawa et al. | May 2003 | A1 |
| 20030202806 | Katoh et al. | Oct 2003 | A1 |
| 20060182456 | Naoi et al. | Aug 2006 | A1 |
| 20060198644 | Itagaki et al. | Sep 2006 | A1 |
| 20090142078 | Niijima | Jun 2009 | A1 |
| 20110280594 | Tanaka | Nov 2011 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 5-46027 | Feb 1993 | JP |
| 2001075341 | Mar 2001 | JP |
| 2002-244413 | Aug 2002 | JP |
| 2004-170650 | Jun 2004 | JP |
| 2005062487 | Mar 2005 | JP |
| 2005308900 | Nov 2005 | JP |
| 2006-126801 | May 2006 | JP |
| 2006-243115 | Sep 2006 | JP |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20120155901 A1 | Jun 2012 | US |
