Image forming apparatus

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes: a photoconductive drum on which an electrostatic latent image is formed. A developer develops the electrostatic latent image to form a toner image on the photoconductive drum. A transfer-fixer transfers the toner image from the photoconductive drum to a recording sheet and fixes the toner image on the recording sheet. A waste toner particle collector collects toner particles remaining in the developing section into a collection container. A toner amount detector detects the amount of toner particles collected in the collection container. A notifying portion notifies a user when the amount of toner detected reaches a predetermined observing amount. A collection amount setting portion enables a reduced collection amount to be set for the collection of waste toner particles in the developing section in accordance with an increase in the detected toner amount after the detected toner amount reaches the observing amount.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view mainly showing an internal configuration of a copying machine embodying an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of a developing section shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing an example of a configuration of a cleaning device and a collection container.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an electric configuration of the copying machine shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation of the copying machine shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation of the copying machine shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation of the copying machine shown in FIG. 4.

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus comprising: a photoconductive drum on which an electrostatic latent image is formed;a developing section for developing the electrostatic latent image to form a toner image on the photoconductive drum,a transfer-fixing section for transferring the toner image from the photoconductive drum to a recording sheet and fixing the toner image on the recording sheet;a waste toner particle collecting portion for collecting toner particles remaining in the developing section into a collection container;a toner amount detecting portion for detecting a toner amount of toner particles collected in the collection container;a notifying portion for notifying a user of a reach of a toner amount detected by the toner amount detecting portion to a predetermined observing amount; anda collection amount setting portion for setting a reduced collection amount for the collection of waste toner particles in the developing section by the waste toner collecting portion in accordance with an increase in the detected toner amount after the detected toner amount reaches the observing amount.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the notifying portion notifies a user that a quality of image forming by the photoconductive drum, the developing section and the transfer-fixing section is degraded.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the notifying portion notifies a user to input an instruction of whether or not continuing an image forming operation performed by the photoconductive drum, the developing section and the transfer-fixing section; andwherein the image forming apparatus further comprises:a receiving portion for receiving an operative instruction of whether or not performing the image forming operation when the notifying portion notifies a reach of the toner amount detected by the toner amount detection portion to the predetermined observing amount; andan image formation controller for controlling the photoconductive drum, the developing section and the transfer-fixing portion to continue the image forming operation when the receiving portion receives the instruction to perform the image forming operation.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the notifying portion notifies a user to input an instruction of whether or not continuing image forming operation performed by the photoconductive drum, the developing section and the transfer-fixing section, and also notifies that a quality of the image to be formed is degraded.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising an emptiness detecting portion for detecting that the collection container is substantially empty, wherein when the receiving portion receives an operative instruction of not performing the image forming operation, the image formation controller restricts the image forming operation until the emptiness detecting portion detects that the collection container is substantially empty.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: the emptiness detecting portion for detecting that the collection container is substantially empty; anda compulsive collection processing portion for controlling the waste toner particle collecting portion to collect toner particles remaining in the developing section into the collection container when the emptiness detecting portion detects that the collection container is substantially empty in a state where the collection amount setting portion sets a reduced collection amount for the collection of waste toner particles.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein when the waste toner particles collecting portion performs the compulsive collection operation, the compulsive collection processing portion increases the collection amount of waste toner particles in the developing section in accordance with a decrease in the collection amount of the toner particles by the collection amount setting portion at the time when the emptiness detecting portion detects that the collection container is substantially empty.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the toner amount detecting portion includes: a setting amount detecting portion for outputting a detection signal indicating a reach of the observing toner amount when the amount of toner particles collected into the collection container reaches the observing toner amount; anda toner amount calculating portion for calculating the collection toner amount based on the number of sheets onto which the photoconductive drum, the developing section and the transfer-fixing section performs the image forming after when the setting amount detecting portion outputs the detection signal indicating a reach of the observing toner amount.

9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the toner amount detecting portion includes: the setting amount detecting portion for outputting a detection signal indicating a reach of the observing toner amount when the amount of toner collected in the collection container reaches the observing toner amount; andthe toner amount calculating portion for calculating the collection toner amount based on the number of sheets onto which the photoconductive drum, the developing section and the transfer-fixing section performs the image forming after when the setting amount detection outputs the detection signal indicating a reach of the observing toner amount; andwherein when the toner amount detecting portion detects that the collection toner amount reaches a second observing toner amount which is greater than the observing toner amount after the receiving portion receives an operative instruction to perform the image forming operation and the image formation controller continues the image forming operation, the notifying portion notifies a user to input an instruction of whether or not continuing the image forming; andwherein in a case where the receiving portion receives an operative instruction to perform the image forming operation, the collection amount setting portion sets further reduced collection amount of toner particles remaining in the developing section into the collection container by the waste toner collecting potion, and the image formation controller performs the image forming.