JPH05204247A - Device for detecting remaining amount of toner - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To detect the remaining amount of toner without imposing physical load and having the effect of light on the toner by providing a signal projecting means and a signal detecting means for detecting the signal of the light, a sound wave and a radio wave in an area where the toner is not sensitized. CONSTITUTION:This device is provided with a toner tank 21 where the toner 22 is stored, the signal projecting means 26 which is provided at an upper part than the upper surface of the toner in the toner tank 21 and projects the signal of the light, the sound wave and the radio wave in the area where the toner 22 is not sensitized, and the signal detecting means 27 which is installed on a base inside the toner tank 21 and detects the signal of the light, the sound wave and the radio wave in the area where the toner 22 is not sensitized from the means 26. In a state where the toner 22 exists in the toner tank 21, the light, the sound wave and the radio wave in the area where the toner 22 is not sensitized from the means 26 are not detected by the means 27. However, the intensity of the signal received by the means 27 gets higher as the toner 22 is decreased. Thus, the remaining amount of the toner 22 is detected and known.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a toner remaining amount detecting device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there are various methods for detecting the remaining amount of toner.

For example, there is a method of detecting the remaining amount of toner from the change in the load applied by the toner. As such a method, there is a toner remaining amount detecting device as shown in FIG. A toner feed screw 74 for feeding the toner 70 to the toner supply unit is provided in the toner tank 72 that stores the toner 70 of the toner remaining amount detecting device. A switch 78 is provided on the shaft of the toner feed screw 74 protruding from the toner tank 72 so as to interlock with the toner feed screw 74, and the switch 78 is attached to a switch lever 76.

The switch 78 can be moved by the thrust load received by the toner feed screw 74 depending on the amount of the toner 70 in the toner tank 72. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, when the toner 70 is filled in the toner tank 72, the thrust load of the feed screw 74 overcomes the spring pressure of the switch lever 76, and the switch lever 76 is pushed to switch the switch. Is in the OFF state. On the other hand, when the toner 70 in the toner tank 72 decreases, the thrust load of the feed screw 74 decreases, and the spring pressure of the switch lever 76 moves the switch lever 76 in the direction of arrow B to open the switch 78. .. Therefore, the switch is turned on and a toner end signal is generated.

Further, in the method using the piezoelectric vibrator,
A piezoelectric vibrator is provided at the bottom of the toner tank as a toner remaining amount sensor. Then, a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric vibrator, and the applied voltage is cut off immediately after the vibration. After that, the remaining amount of toner in the toner tank is detected by detecting the output voltage output by the amplitude of the piezoelectric vibrator. That is, the change in the amplitude due to the decrease in the remaining amount of toner in the toner tank is detected as the change in the output voltage, and the remaining amount of toner is detected. That is, when the toner is filled in the toner tank, the amplitude of the piezoelectric vibrator is small and the voltage output from the piezoelectric vibrator is low due to the amplitude, so that the toner end signal is not generated. On the other hand, when there is no toner in the toner tank, the amplitude of the piezoelectric vibrator is large, and the voltage output from the piezoelectric vibrator is high due to the amplitude.
Toner end signal is generated.

In the method using ultrasonic waves, the toner remaining amount detecting device is composed of an ultrasonic wave transmitter provided in the toner tank and a receiver exposed when the toner in the toner tank decreases. When the toner is sufficiently filled in the toner tank, the toner blocks the ultrasonic wave from the ultrasonic transmitter and the ultrasonic wave is not received by the receiver. On the other hand, when the toner in the toner tank is exhausted, the ultrasonic wave from the ultrasonic wave transmitter is received by the receiver, so that the toner end signal is generated.

Further, there is also a method in which a window is provided in the lower portion of the side surface of the toner tank and a reflector is provided inside the window to optically detect the remaining amount of toner. In the remaining toner amount detecting device, a detector for detecting the light from the reflecting plate is provided at a position outside the toner tank corresponding to the window. Then, when the toner tank is filled with toner, the detector does not detect the light from the reflector. On the other hand, when the toner in the toner tank is exhausted, the light entering through the window is reflected by the reflecting plate and detected by the detector, so that the toner end signal is generated.

[0008]

However, there is a problem that the conventional method as described above cannot be used for the photosensitive toner. Since the photosensitive toner reacts when exposed to light, the ordinary optical method described above cannot be used. Further, when a method using a vibrator or ultrasonic waves is used, a physical load is applied to the toner, and especially when a photosensitive microcapsule toner is used, there is a problem that the capsule in the toner tank is destroyed.
Further, in the above-described method of detecting the remaining amount of toner by the change in the load applied by the toner, the switch 78 is pressed by the thrust load applied to the toner feed screw 74 by the toner 70 in the toner tank 72.
Also takes a load. Therefore, when the photosensitive microcapsule toner is used, there is also a problem that the load destroys the photosensitive microcapsule toner.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a toner remaining amount detecting device which does not affect the toner by a physical load and light.

[0010]

In order to achieve this object, a toner remaining amount detecting apparatus of the present invention exposes a toner tank for storing toner and a toner provided above the toner upper surface of the toner tank. A signal irradiating means for irradiating a signal such as light, sound wave, or radio wave in a non-use area, and a signal for light, sound wave, radio wave, or the like in an area which is provided at the bottom of the toner tank and does not expose the toner from the signal irradiating means And signal detection means for detecting.

[0011]

In the toner remaining amount detecting device of the present invention having the above-mentioned structure, when the toner is present in the toner tank, the signal detecting means is used to detect light, sound waves, radio waves, etc. from the signal irradiating means in the area where the toner is not exposed. Not detected. However, the strength of the signal received by the signal detecting means increases as the toner decreases. In this way, the remaining amount of toner is detected, and the remaining amount of toner can be known.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus using a photosensitive microcapsule toner mounted with the toner remaining amount detecting apparatus of this embodiment.

First, the structure will be described.

A support 41 for supporting the photosensitive microcapsule toner (hereinafter, simply referred to as toner) 22 on its surface is rotatably provided in the image forming apparatus. The support 41 is made of aluminum or the like, and is connected to a power source 42.

As means for applying the toner 22 to the support 41, a toner tank 21 for storing the toner 22 in the vicinity of the support 41, a stirrer 23 for stirring the toner 22,
A toner application unit is provided that includes a toner carrier 25 that carries the toner 22 and a supply unit 24 that supplies the toner 22 to the toner carrier 25. And the support 41
Since a power source 42 is connected to, a field is formed in the region between the support 41 and the toner carrier 25.

A toner remaining amount detecting device is provided in the toner tank 21. The toner remaining amount detecting device is installed on the bottom of the toner tank 21 and an infrared light emitting element 26 using an infrared light emitting diode, which is provided on a side surface of the toner tank 21 so as not to contact the toner 22. And an infrared light receiving element 27.

The structure and operation of the toner remaining amount detecting device will be described with reference to FIG.

The infrared light emitting element 27 is connected to the power source 80 and is connected to the comparator 33. The comparator 33 is connected to the A / D converter 34, and the A / D converter 34 is connected to the display 35 via the controller 40. A predetermined reference voltage is sent to the comparator 33.

When the infrared light emitted from the infrared light emitting element 26 is received by the infrared light receiving element 27, the infrared light receiving element 27 changes linearly according to the amount of received infrared light. Flow the current. Then, the current from the infrared light receiving element 27 is converted into a voltage by a predetermined resistance value. The converted voltage is sent to the comparator 33 and compared with the reference voltage. Here, only when the voltage exceeds the reference voltage, the voltage is sent to the A / D converter 34,
It is converted from an analog signal to a digital signal. The display content corresponding to the converted digital signal is the controller 40.
Selected and displayed by. For example, 3/4, 1 /
Display of 2, 1/4, 0, etc. is made on the display 35.

The toner 22 used in this embodiment is a microcapsule toner containing at least a pigment body and a photocurable substance, and having mechanical strength changed in response to light. The photocurable substance is a mixture of a polymerizable compound and a photoinitiator. This inclusion is emulsified in water, an interfacial polymerization method,
A microcapsule is obtained by encapsulating the resin inside the outer wall by a known microencapsulation method such as an in situ method or a powder atomization granulation method. This is dried by a spray drying method, a vacuum drying method or the like to obtain a powdery microcapsule toner. Here, when fluidity and chargeability are required, fine powder of inorganic organic material, powder of charge control agent, or the like may be externally added around the microcapsules. For these, known techniques relating to surface modification of toner can be used.

Next, the wavelength of the photosensitive microcapsule toner and the wavelength of infrared light emitted from the infrared light emitting element 26 will be described with reference to the graph of FIG.

In the toner used in this embodiment, three kinds of toners of yellow, magenta and cyan are uniformly mixed, and the sensitizing dyes of the three colors cure at a specific wavelength. That is, the microcapsules encapsulating the cyan sensitizing dye are hardened by exposure to light having a wavelength of about 650 nm (red). The microcapsules encapsulating the magenta sensitizing dye are hardened by the exposure with the wavelength 62 near 550 nm (green). By exposure with a wavelength of 64 near 450 nm (blue), the microcapsules containing the yellow sensitizing dye are solidified.

The infrared light emitted from the infrared light emitting element 26 has a wavelength near 950 nm as shown by the wavy line 66. Therefore, since this infrared light has a wavelength that is irrelevant to the sensitivity of the toner 22, it does not affect the toner 22. .

In the direction of rotation of the support 41 indicated by the arrow A, the exposure lamp 11, the platen glass 15, and the document cover 13
And an exposure unit including a filter 14 for adjusting the color tone of the image.

Further, a transfer roller 53 is provided so as to be in close contact with the support 41, and further in the rotation direction of the support 41,
A cleaning box 32 having a cleaning blade 31 that is in close contact with the support 41 is installed.

Further, a paper feed cassette 51 for storing the transferred paper 52 is provided in the rotation direction of the transfer roller 53 indicated by the arrow B from the contact portion between the support 41 and the transfer roller 53. Further, in order to bring the transfer paper 53, which is supplied from the paper feed cassette 51 below the transfer roller 53, into close contact with the transfer roller 53, the transfer roller 53 is sandwiched between the transfer paper 53.
A pressure roller 54 is installed on the opposite side of the.

Next, the operation will be described.

When a start switch (not shown) is turned on,
The support 41 rotates in the direction of arrow A, and the toner 22 is charged and carried on the toner carrier 25 by the rotation of the stirrer 23 and the feeder 24 in the toner application section. The carried toner 22 is subjected to electrostatic attraction in the direction of the support body 41 due to an electric field formed between the support body 41 and the toner support body 25, and flies toward the support body 41. Therefore, the toner 22 is held on the surface of the support 41.

The support 41 holding the toner 22 continues to rotate, and the holding surface of the toner 22 is exposed to the exposed portion by the rotation of the support 41. Here, the exposure lamp 11 lights up,
The platen glass 15 supporting the original 12 moves together with the exposure cover 13. As a result, the exposure operation is performed according to the original 12, and the light reflected from the original 12 passes through the filter 14 for adjusting the color tone of the image and passes through the support 41.
An image is formed on the surface of the toner 22 applied to the. The exposed toner 22 is cured because the inclusions undergo a polymerization reaction.

The support 41 is further rotated, the exposed toner 22 on the support 41 is conveyed to the vicinity of the transfer roller 53, and when it is sandwiched between the support 41 and the transfer roller 53, the toner 22 is pressed. It Therefore, the outer wall of the toner 22 which is not exposed and not completely cured and has low strength is destroyed, and the inclusions flow out, and the inclusions adhere to the transfer roller 53.

Next, the transfer paper 52 is transferred from the paper feed cassette 51.
Are taken out and sent between the transfer roller 53 and the pressure roller 54. Then, the inclusions attached to the transfer roller 53 are transferred to the transfer paper 52 by the pressure of the pressure roller 54. In this way, an image is formed on the transfer paper 52.

The toner 22 is pressed by the transfer roller 53,
After the image is formed on the transfer paper 52, the support 41 is rotated to come into contact with the cleaning blade 31, and the toner 22 that is cured and not transferred and the outer wall of the destroyed photosensitive microcapsule are the support. Stripped from 41.

Next, the operation of the toner remaining amount detecting device will be described.

When the toner 22 is sufficiently stored in the toner tank 21, the infrared light emitted from the infrared light emitting element 26 is blocked by the toner 22 stored in the toner tank 21. Only a small amount of infrared light is received by the infrared light receiving element 27. Therefore, the amount of current in the infrared light receiving element 27 is small, the voltage converted by the predetermined resistance value is low, and the voltage is the comparator 3
Since it is judged to be lower than the reference voltage by 3 and is not sent to the A / D converter 34, nothing is displayed on the display 35.

On the other hand, when the remaining amount of the toner 22 in the toner tank 21 becomes small, the infrared light receiving element 27 normally buried in the toner 22 is exposed to the outside, and the infrared light emitting element 26 emits light. The infrared light emitted is the infrared light receiving element 27.
Is completely received by. The infrared light receiving element 27
The amount of current in the inside increases, and the voltage converted by the predetermined resistance value increases. Since the voltage is judged to be higher than the reference voltage by the comparator 33, it is sent to the A / D converter 34, converted from an analog signal to a digital signal, and the amount of remaining toner is small by the display 35 through the controller 40. Is displayed.

It is also possible to display only the presence or absence of toner without providing the controller 40. In that case, by changing the reference voltage supplied to the comparator 33, the amount of toner in the toner tank 21 when notifying the user of the remaining amount of toner can be adjusted. For example, when the reference voltage is set high, it is possible to display that the remaining amount of toner is low when the toner 22 in the toner tank 21 is almost exhausted. On the other hand, when the reference voltage is set low, it is possible to display that the remaining amount of toner is low when the toner is still in the toner tank 21.

As is apparent from the above description, according to the toner remaining amount detecting device of the present embodiment, the toner 22 in the toner tank 21 is not affected by physical load and light on the toner 22. You can know the remaining amount. Further, since the toner remaining amount detecting device of the present embodiment is provided in the toner tank 21 and does not require a large space, it is possible to downsize the toner tank 21 and the image forming apparatus.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

For example, in order to detect the remaining amount of toner,
Sound waves or radio waves may be used instead of emitting infrared light.

[0041]

As is clear from the above description,
According to the toner remaining amount detecting device of the present invention, it is possible to know the toner remaining amount without exerting a physical load and light on the toner.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus on which a toner remaining amount detecting device is mounted.

FIG. 2 is a graph showing the sensitivity of a photosensitive microcapsule toner and the wavelength of the relative radiant intensity of infrared light from an infrared light emitting element.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a toner remaining amount detecting device.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional toner remaining amount detecting device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 21 toner tank 22 photosensitive microcapsule toner 26 infrared light emitting element 27 infrared light receiving element

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A toner tank for storing toner, a signal irradiating means provided above the toner upper surface of the toner tank for irradiating signals such as light, sound waves, and radio waves in a region where the toner is not exposed, and the toner. A toner remaining amount detecting device, which is provided at a bottom portion inside a tank, and includes signal detecting means for detecting signals such as light, sound waves, and radio waves in a region where the toner is not exposed from the signal irradiating means.