JP2012252169A - Image forming apparatus, control method and control program thereof, and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To manually move an arbitrary toner cartridge to a replaceable position, it is necessary to wait for a movement to be completed after giving a movement instruction, and then to wait for a next movement instruction.
By accepting a movement instruction again during movement, the movement is instructed without waiting for completion of movement, and movement to an arbitrary toner cartridge is performed.
[Selection] Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to a control method for moving a recording agent to a replaceable position in an image forming apparatus including a plurality of recording agents.

  2. Description of the Related Art Image processing apparatuses that store a plurality of recording agents in separate storage units are known. For example, color printers such as color laser printers usually use multiple toners (YMCK, etc.) to perform color printing. However, considering the simple maintenance of the user, each toner is made into a cartridge so that it can be handled easily during replacement. It is. These toner cartridges are housed in a printer main body, and are operated by communicating with an engine to move a toner cartridge to be replaced to a position where it can be removed. In such a printer, it is common to perform a button operation while looking at the display on the operation panel and to move the target toner cartridge by following a menu to perform replacement.

  However, there are printers that reduce the cost by simplifying the operation panel of the printer body and supporting the lack of functions on the host side. In such a printer, there is no character display such as an LCD on the operation panel, and only a minimum number of buttons are provided. Therefore, it is generally performed by operating from the host side in order to replace the toner cartridge.

  Conventionally, such a printer has a function of detecting the remaining amount of the toner cartridge, and detects that the remaining amount of each toner cartridge is in an end state (empty state) or a low state close to the end state. A method is known in which a toner cartridge that is to be replaced is automatically determined based on the detection result, and a toner cartridge that is determined to be replaced is moved to a replaceable position (for example, see Patent Document 1).

JP-A-9-185253

  In the conventional method, the toner determined to be necessary when the toner cartridge is replaced can be efficiently moved to the replacement position. However, when there is a request to replace a specific toner cartridge regardless of the remaining amount, for example, to remove all toner, it is necessary to designate the toner cartridge and instruct movement. Further, when the printer has only a minimum number of buttons, specifically, there may be cases where a toner cartridge button for each color is not prepared.

  In order to move an arbitrary toner cartridge to the replacement position in the printer main body, one toner replacement button is pressed a plurality of times to move to a desired toner cartridge replacement position. Instruct to move with the button. At this time, after the movement is instructed, it is necessary to wait for the movement to end and stop, to repeat the instruction, to move the toner cartridge, and to wait for the movement to be completed.

A plurality of toner containers (403) that store toners of different colors, and a moving body (402) that carries the plurality of toner containers and moves along a path including a predetermined replaceable position, and has a predetermined replaceable position (401) An image forming apparatus configured to be replaceable only in a toner container that has stopped.
Instruction means (S502) for instructing to move the toner container (403) at the next position to be mounted on the movable body (402) to the replaceable position (401);
While the moving body (402) is being moved by the instructing means (S502), the toner container (403) designated by the instructing means (S502) is not stopped at the replaceable position (401) and the next toner container ( 403) and instructing means (S506) to instruct movement to the exchangeable position (401);
An accepting means for accepting said moving means (303);
An image forming apparatus comprising:

  When it is desired to replace a specific toner cartridge regardless of the remaining amount, there is a case where it is desired to move an arbitrary toner cartridge to a replaceable position. The user can press the button on the printer main body and move it to an exchangeable position in any order without operating from the host side. At this time, when it is necessary to repeat the operation several times until the target toner cartridge is moved, the waiting time until the movement is completed after confirming that the movement to the replaceable position is completed and then pressing the button. Can be omitted.

2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an internal structure of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a control configuration of the image forming apparatus. FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of an operation panel. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a toner cartridge replacement method. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an operation when a notification that a toner replacement button is pressed is received.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[Explanation of FIG. 1]
FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the internal structure of a color laser beam printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The scanner (711) includes a laser output unit (not shown) that converts an image signal into an optical signal, a polygon mirror (712) of a polyhedron (for example, octahedron), a motor (not shown) that rotates the mirror (712), and It has an f / θ lens (imaging lens, 713), etc. Laser light emitted from the laser output section is reflected on one side of the polygon mirror (712), and passes through the f / θ lens (713) and the reflection mirror (714). The surface of the photosensitive drum (715) rotating in the direction indicated by the arrow is linearly scanned (raster scan), whereby an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the original image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum (715). Around the photosensitive drum (715), there are a primary charger (717), an entire exposure lamp (718), and a cleaner (723) for collecting residual toner that has not been transferred. ), A pre-transfer charger (724), and a developing unit (726) is a unit that develops an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum (715) by laser exposure. The developing sleeves (731Y, 731M, 731C, 731Bk) are directly developed in contact with the photosensitive drum 715. The toner hoppers (730Y, 730M, 730C, 730Bk) hold spare toner. ) Transports the developer, the sleeve (731Y, 731M, 731C, 731Bk), the toner hopper (730Y, 730M, 730C, 730Bk) and the screw (732) around the central axis P of the developer unit (726). It is arranged.

  Note that the symbols Y, M, C, and Bk of the above-described constituent elements indicate colors. That is, “Y” is yellow, “M” is magenta, “C” is cyan, and “Bk” is black. The developer unit position sensor (742) detects the rotational position of the developer unit (726). When forming a yellow toner image, yellow toner development processing is performed at the position shown in FIG. When a magenta toner image is formed, the developing unit (726) is rotated about the axis P in the drawing so that the developing sleeve (731M) in the magenta developing unit is in contact with the photosensitive drum (715). To. Cyan and black development work in the same way.

  The transfer drum (716) transfers the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum (715) to a sheet. The actuator plate (719) detects the moving position of the transfer drum (716). The position sensor (720) detects that the transfer drum (716) has moved to the home position by approaching the actuator plate (719). The actuator plate (719), the position sensor (720), the transfer drum cleaner (725), the paper pressing roller (727), and the gradual charger (729) are transfer chargers and are arranged around the transfer roller (716). Yes. On the other hand, the paper feed cassettes (735, 736) store paper (paper sheets, 791). In the embodiment, it is assumed that, for example, A4 size paper is stored in the paper feed cassette (735), and A3 size paper is stored in the paper feed cassette (736). When the paper is fed and conveyed, the paper is fed from the cassette (735, 736) by the paper feed rollers (737, 738). The timing of feeding and transporting is taken by timing rollers (739, 740, 741). Through these, the paper guide (490) is guided to the paper guide (490) and the leading end is wound around the transfer drum (716) while being held by the gripper (728), and the process proceeds to the image forming process.

  Note that which one of the paper feed cassettes (735, 736) is selected is determined by an instruction from the printer controller (700), and only the selected paper feed roller rotates. With the above configuration, full-color printing with four colors of YMCK is realized.

[Explanation of FIG. 2]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a color laser beam printer control system showing an embodiment of the present invention. Here, a color laser beam printer will be described as an example. As long as the functions of the present invention are executed, the present invention can be used for a single device, a system composed of a plurality of devices, or a system in which processing is performed via a network such as a LAN. It goes without saying that the invention can be applied.

  In the printer (200), the controller unit (210) is connected to a printing mechanism unit (206) functioning as an image output device and an operation unit panel (208) as a user I / F, whereby image data and devices are connected. Input and output information.

  The printer CPU (201) comprehensively controls access to various devices connected to the system bus (209) based on a control program stored in the program ROM of the ROM (202). An image signal as a conjunction and output information is output to the printing mechanism unit (206) via the printing unit I / F (205). Further, the program ROM of the ROM (202) stores a control program for the CPU (201) as shown in the flowchart of FIG. The CPU (201) can communicate with the host computer (300) via the input unit (204), and is configured to notify the host computer (300) of information in the printer. The RAM (203) functions as a main memory, work area, and the like for the CPU (201).

  The RAM (203) is used as a drawing memory for storing drawing commands and image bitmap data received from the host computer (300), a video signal ON / OFF information storage area, and other work areas. . The operation unit I / F (207) is an interface unit with the operation unit panel (208), and outputs a signal for lighting an LED of the operation unit panel (208) to the operation unit panel (208). Also, it plays a role of transmitting information input by the user from the operation unit panel (208) to the CPU (201).

[Explanation of FIG. 3]
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an operation unit panel according to an embodiment of the present invention. The operation unit panel (208) inputs and outputs signals by connecting to the operation unit I / F (207) of the controller unit. Upon receiving the information notification from the CPU (201), the information is output to the user. In response to a notification from the operation unit panel (205), information is output to the CPU (201) to input information from the user. The error notification LED (301) is means for notifying the user of an error, and lights up when receiving a signal from the CPU (201). The toner notification LEDs (302Y, 302M, 302C, 302Bk) are means for notifying the user of information about the toner of each color, and light up when receiving a signal from the CPU (201). The toner replacement button (303) is a means for receiving a toner replacement button (303) from the user. When the toner exchange button (303) is pressed, the CPU (201) is notified of information.

[Explanation of FIG. 4]
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a toner cartridge replacement method of the color laser beam printer. The upper cover (400) is a cover that is opened when the toner cartridge is replaced.

  When the upper cover (400) is opened, the position directly below becomes the replaceable position (401), and the toner cartridge at that position can be taken out. A plurality of toner cartridges are arranged on concentric circles of the developing unit (402). The toner cartridges indicated by YMCK are a yellow cartridge (403Y), a magenta cartridge (403M), a cyan cartridge (403C), and a black cartridge (403Bk), respectively. By rotating around the central axis P of the developing unit (402), it is possible to move an arbitrary toner cartridge to the replaceable position (402). The developer unit (402) rotates in the direction of the arrow in the figure and moves to the replaceable position (401) in the order of Yellow cartridge (403Y) → Magenta cartridge (403M) → Cyan cartridge (403C) → Black cartridge (403Bk). . Whether the toner cartridge at the replaceable position (401) is (403Y), M (403M), C (403C), or Bk (403Bk) is determined by the CPU (201) via the printing unit I / F (205). To tell. The CPU (201) notifies the corresponding toner LED (302Y, 302M, 302C, 302Bk) to the operation unit panel (208) via the operation unit I / F (207) and lights up.

  When a notification is received from the toner replacement button (303), an engine control command is transmitted from the controller unit (210) to the printing mechanism unit (206). By this command, the developing unit (402) is rotated to sequentially move the cartridges to the replaceable position (401).

[Explanation of FIG. 5]
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the printer (200) when the toner replacement button (303) is pressed. This program is stored in the ROM (202) and is executed under the control of the CPU (201).

  First, it is monitored in step S501 whether a notification that the toner replacement button (303) has been pressed is received. When the notification that the toner replacement button (303) is pressed is received, the process proceeds to step S502. In step S502, an engine control command is transmitted to the printing mechanism unit (206) so that the toner cartridge next to the toner cartridge at the replaceable position (401) is moved to the replaceable position (401). In step S503, an engine control command is transmitted to the printing mechanism unit (206) to acquire the state of the developing unit (402). In step S504, it is determined whether the state of the developing device unit (402) acquired in step S503 is rotating. If it is rotating, the process proceeds to step S505. In step S505, it is monitored whether a notification that the toner replacement button (303) has been pressed is received. If a notification is received, the process proceeds to step S506, and if there is no notification, the process returns to step S503. In step S506, an instruction to continue the rotation of the developing unit (402) is transmitted to the printing mechanism unit (206) so as to move to the next toner cartridge without stopping at the next toner cartridge, and the process returns to step S503. . In step S504, when the state of the developing device unit (402) acquired in step S503 is not rotating, this flow is finished.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the toner cartridge is manually moved, it is not necessary to provide a plurality of buttons or an LCD, so only one button is required, and the toner cartridge can be replaced at low cost. There is an effect that it is possible to shorten the time for performing.

711 Scanner 712 Polygon mirror 713 Imaging lens

Claims (1)

A plurality of toner containers (403) that store toners of different colors, and a moving body (402) that carries the plurality of toner containers and moves along a path including a predetermined replaceable position, and has a predetermined replaceable position (401) An image forming apparatus configured to be replaceable only in a toner container that has stopped.
Instruction means (S502) for instructing to move the toner container (403) at the next position to be mounted on the movable body (402) to the replaceable position (401);
While the moving body (402) is being moved by the instructing means (S502), the toner container (403) designated by the instructing means (S502) is not stopped at the replaceable position (401) and the next toner container ( 403) and instructing means (S506) to instruct movement to the exchangeable position (401);
An accepting means for accepting said moving means (303);
An image forming apparatus comprising:

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