JPH05330196A - Image recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To achieve the accurate replenishment of toner and eliminate wastefulness discarding a developing device in such a state that toner is left in an image recordable amount by preliminarily storing the relation between the amount of the part to be recorded of a recording image and the consumption amount of ink or toner in an image recording apparatus using ink or toner. CONSTITUTION:An operation device 10 reads a count number from a pulse counter 13 counting the number of the black data of one recording paper and divides the count number by the total number of black data determined by the size of the recording paper to calculate a black ratio. The relation between the black ratio and the consumption amount of toner is preliminarily stored in a memory 11. The black ratio is grasped from a recording image signal to calculate the consumption amount of toner and the average toner consumption amount of a user is stored and, from the relation between the average toner consumption amount and a residual toner amount, the recordable number of recording papers, a toner exhaustion estimate time and toner exhaustion estimate day are calculated to be displayed. As a result, the replenishment of toner can be accurately performed and wastefulness discarding a developing divice in such a state that toner is left in an image recordable amount is eliminated.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus such as a printer or a facsimile which uses powder or liquid ink or toner.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional printer or facsimile machine which uses powder or liquid ink or toner, the remaining amount of ink or toner (hereinafter collectively referred to as toner) is proportional to the number of recorded sheets, for example, In the case of an electrophotographic printer, the method of decelerating the rotation of the photosensitive drum or the developing device is displayed, or when a toner non-detection sensor is attached to the toner container, the toner out or toner replacement It was displaying a message or making a warning sound to stop the device and prompt toner replenishment. Further, as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 63-84139,
A detection unit for detecting the toner cartridge replacement timing is provided, and when the output of this detection unit indicates the replacement of the toner cartridge, the number is incremented by 1 each time copying is performed from a predetermined value indicating the remaining number of sheets that can be copied. And then display
There was a copy number display device that stopped copying when the value reached the end.

[0003]

In the prior art which uses the toner remaining amount display proportional to the number of recorded sheets, the toner consumption amount is a ratio of a recorded portion of a recorded image, that is, a black portion of the recorded image in a monochrome image, for example. (Because the amount of the recorded area is called the black ratio below), if the image with a black ratio lower than the black ratio that sets the toner amount initially put in the container continues, the image will be displayed even if there is no toner. Since there is a case where a sufficient amount of toner remains in the recording, it is difficult to grasp the number of recordable sheets because the toner can be wasted or recording can be performed even when a message indicating no toner is displayed. In addition, in the conventional technology in which the toner-free detection sensor is provided in the toner container, unattended operation cannot be performed because the toner-free display suddenly appears and the device stops, or even when two or more detection sensors are attached, the toner It was only possible to display the remaining amount, and it was not possible to grasp how many recording sheets or how much time the toner will run out. Even in the apparatus disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 63-84139, the remaining number of sheets that can be copied is determined by a predetermined value after the detection unit for detecting the toner cartridge replacement timing indicates the toner cartridge replacement. Since the counting is performed based on this numerical value, it is conceivable that sufficient toner remains for image recording even if the apparatus is stopped depending on the black ratio of the recording unit.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an image recording apparatus capable of accurately supplying toner by displaying that the toner is exhausted at an estimated time and an estimated number of recorded sheets.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention stores a relationship between a black ratio of a recorded image and a toner consumption amount of an image recording apparatus in advance and records the recorded image from an electric signal of the recorded image. The black consumption rate is grasped to calculate the toner consumption amount from the relationship between the black ratio and the toner consumption amount, and based on this, the number of recording sheets in which the toner is exhausted is predicted and displayed.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention further stores the relationship between the black ratio of the recorded image and the toner consumption amount of the image recording apparatus in advance, and records from the electric signal of the recorded image for each day of the week and each hour. The black ratio of the image is grasped, and the table of the toner consumption amount is created from the relation between the black ratio and the toner consumption amount for each day of the week or hour, and the time when the toner is exhausted is predicted and displayed based on this table.

[0007]

According to the image recording apparatus having the above structure, the relationship between the black ratio of the recorded image and the toner consumption amount of the image recording device is stored in advance, and the black ratio of the recorded image is grasped from the electric signal of the recorded image. The toner consumption is calculated from the relationship between the black rate and the toner consumption, and based on this, the number of recordings that run out of toner is predicted and displayed, or the relationship between the black rate and the toner consumption of the recorded image of the image recording device is calculated in advance. It is stored, and the black ratio of the recorded image is grasped from the electric signal of the recorded image for each day of the week and time, and a table of the toner consumption amount for each day and hour is created based on the relationship between the black ratio and the toner consumption amount. In order to predict and display the time when the toner runs out, the user can accurately know the time of toner replacement, and it is also possible to discard the cartridge containing the toner container with a large amount of toner remaining. Ku, it is possible to eliminate waste.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a facsimile equipped with an image recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2
FIG. 3 is a characteristic diagram showing the relationship between the black ratio and the amount of developing toner in the image recording apparatus, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a characteristic diagram showing the relationship between time and toner consumption amount, and FIG. 5 is a characteristic diagram showing day of the week and toner consumption amount.

First, the configuration of the facsimile shown in FIG. 1 will be described. The facsimile mechanism section is roughly divided into an image recording section for recording an image according to an image signal and a reading section for optically reading a document and converting it into an electric signal. The reading unit includes a tray 101 for accumulating read documents, document separation rollers 102 and 103, a recording sheet guide 104, a document discharge roller 105, a document discharge tray 106, and a document reading device 100.
Composed of. The image recording unit includes a paper cassette 20 for storing the recording paper 25 stored in the apparatus main body 60, and a paper feed roller 2 for feeding the recording paper 25 in the paper cassette 20.
1, a motor 50 for driving the paper feed roller 21 via a gear system (not shown), a registration roller 23 for correcting skew of the fed recording paper, paper guides 22, 24, 26, and a photoconductor having a photoconductor on its surface. Body drum 30, photoconductor drum 30
32 for uniformly charging the surface of the photosensitive drum 3
Scanning optical system 40 for irradiating a laser beam according to an image signal to form an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 30, a developing device 37 for developing the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 30 into a toner image, and the photosensitive drum A transfer roller 31 that transfers the toner image on the recording sheet onto the recording sheet, a thermal fixing device 41 that fixes the toner image transferred onto the recording sheet, a photoconductor drum 30, a developing device 37, and a resist via a gear system (not shown). Roller 23, heat fixing device 4
It is composed of a main motor 51 that gives a driving force to the motor 1.

The developing device 37 includes a hopper 38 for storing the toner 36, a stirring blade 34 for stirring and transporting the toner 36 in the hopper 38, a developing roller 33 for developing the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 30 with the toner, and a developing device. It is composed of a doctor blade 39 that regulates the amount of toner on the roller 33, and a toner sensor 35 installed below the hopper 38 at a position where it can be detected that the remaining amount of toner has become small. When the toner runs out, the developer 37 is replaced.

Next, the structure of the control circuit shown in FIG. 1 will be described. From the arithmetic unit 10, the memory 11, the sensor input interface 14, the operation keys and the input / output interface 15 for the display panel, the display operation unit 16 including the operation keys and the display panel, the pulse counter 13, the parallel-serial conversion unit 12, and the signal line 17. It is configured. To the sensor input interface 15, a toner sensor 35 or a sensor (not shown) in the image recording device is connected. The memory 11 stores the relationship between the black ratio and the developing toner amount of the image recording apparatus having the standard density and the remaining toner amount when the toner sensor 35 outputs a signal that the remaining amount of the toner 36 is small as shown in FIG. I remember. It should be noted that FIG. 1 shows a control unit according to the present invention, and does not show a control unit for performing transmission / reception of a facsimile, a modulation / demodulation circuit, an encoding circuit, a sequence of a reading unit and an image recording unit.

The operation of the embodiment having the above configuration will be described below.

In the reading section, the original document is sent to the tray 10 for transmission.
When it is set to 1, the document set sensor (not shown) operates and the transmission preparation is completed. The transmission procedure is started by performing a dial operation and pressing a start button (not shown) of the display operation unit 16. When the document can be transmitted, the document separating roller 102,
103 rotates to separate and convey the originals one by one, and the originals are read by the original reading device 100 in a conveyance path constituted by the recording paper guide 104, and the originals are converted into electric signals and transmitted. The original document is conveyed while receiving this reading operation, and the original document ejection roller 105 is used to convey the original document.
It is discharged to 06. At the time of copying, the transmission procedure is omitted and the electric signal of the original is sent to the image recording unit.

In the image recording section, the thermal fixing device 41 and the scanning optical system 40 are set up when the receiving state is established, and the sheet feeding operation is started when the operational state is established. The recording paper 25 in the paper cassette 20 is separated and conveyed by the paper feed roller 21 driven by the motor 31. The recording sheet 25 that has been separated and conveyed is further conveyed by the sheet feeding roller 21 and passes through the conveyance path formed by the sheet guide 22 to the registration roller 2
To 3. The recording paper 25 is abutted against the registration roller 23 for a certain period of time, and the motor 31 is stopped. This recording paper 25
The skew of the recording paper 25 can be corrected by abutting the registration roller 23 against the registration roller 23 for a certain period of time. afterwards,
The registration roller 23 is rotated to further convey the recording paper 25 to the toner image transfer section.

On the other hand, the parallel image signal is converted into serial data by the parallel-serial converter 12 and sent to the scanning optical system 40. The photoconductor drum 30 is uniformly charged by the scorotron 32, and a laser corresponding to an image signal is irradiated from the scanning optical system 40 onto the photoconductor drum 30 rotating clockwise in the drawing to form an electrostatic latent image. Form. The image signal of serial data is simultaneously sent to the pulse counter 13 to count the number of black data of the image. The electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 30 is developed by the developing roller 33 in the developing device 37 and becomes a toner image. When the recording paper 25 reaches the toner image transfer portion, the toner image on the photoconductor drum 30 is transferred onto the recording paper 25 by the electrostatic force due to the effect of the voltage applied to the transfer roller. The recording paper 25 on which the toner image is transferred is further sent to the thermal fixing device 41 and is fixed on the recording paper by heat.

Next, the display of the number of recordable sheets will be described with reference to FIG. The arithmetic unit 10 reads the count number from the pulse counter 13 that counts the number of black data on one recording sheet, and divides the count number by the total black data number determined by the size of the recording sheet to obtain the black ratio. .. The developing toner amount is obtained by referring to the relationship between the black percentage and the developing toner amount stored in the memory shown in FIG. The developing toner amount of each page is integrated to obtain the total toner consumption amount, which is stored in the memory 11, and the average toner consumption amount is further determined and stored in the memory 11. This procedure is repeated until the toner sensor 35 outputs a low toner signal.
When the low toner flag is set immediately after the developing device is replaced and the toner sensor 35 does not output the low toner signal, the low toner flag is turned down. Toner sensor 35
I memorized it in advance when I issued a signal that the toner was low,
The recordable number of sheets corresponding to the size of the recording paper is calculated from the average toner consumption amount with reference to the toner amount when the toner sensor 35 outputs the toner low signal, and the display operation unit 16 predicts each recording paper size. The number of recordable images is displayed,
In addition, the arithmetic unit 10 sets a low toner flag. If the recordable number is not 0, the process returns to the loop for counting the pulse of the image signal. When the flag is set while the low toner signal is output from the sensor, the remaining toner is obtained by subtracting the consumed toner amount from the toner amount before recording one sheet.

When the number of recordable sheets becomes 0, an alarm indicating no toner is issued. Note that the relationship between the black ratio and the developing toner amount shown in FIG. 2 does not necessarily have to be the relationship between the black ratio and the developing toner amount, and may be the relationship between the number of black data and the developing toner amount. Calculation can be omitted. Since the relationship between the black ratio and the amount of developing toner changes depending on the size of recording paper and the adjustment of the density of recording density, the relationship in each case must be stored in a memory or correction calculation must be performed. Furthermore, it is not necessary to count the black data of the image signal for each page, and it is possible to allow even once for a plurality of sheets.
Also, once the expected recordable number is displayed, the process goes out of the loop of the flowchart shown in FIG. 3, and each time recording is performed,
The estimated number of recorded sheets may be reduced and displayed. Note that the total toner consumption amount and the number of recorded sheets in this embodiment are not cleared when the developing device is replaced, and the user's data is accumulated,
The recordable number of sheets can be predicted. If the memory of the total toner consumption and the number of recorded sheets is cleared when the developing device is replaced, the recordable number can be predicted using the data for each developing device.

Further, a method of storing the toner consumption amount will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, the time and the day of the week are tabulated as parameters, and the toner amount when the toner sensor 35 outputs a low toner signal is applied to the table to display the expected toner dead time and the expected date. It is also possible.

According to this embodiment, since the expected number of recordable images is displayed when the toner amount becomes small, the developer can be replaced accurately, and the facsimile is stopped by the alarm of no toner when unattended. It can be prevented from doing.

[0021]

According to the present invention, the relationship between the black ratio of the recorded image and the toner consumption amount of the image recording apparatus is stored in advance, and the black ratio of the recorded image is grasped from the electric signal of the recorded image to determine the black ratio. The toner consumption is calculated from the relationship between the toner consumption and the toner consumption, and based on this, the number of recorded sheets at which the toner runs out is predicted and displayed, or the relationship between the black ratio of the recorded image of the image recording apparatus and the toner consumption is stored in advance. Every other day or hour, the black ratio of the recorded image is grasped from the electric signal of the recorded image, and a table of the toner consumption amount for each day of the week or hour is created based on the relation between the black ratio and the toner consumption amount. The time, day of the week, and day of the day can be predicted and displayed, so that the user can accurately know when to replace the toner, and the cartridge containing the toner container with a large amount of toner left can be discarded. Door without, it is possible to eliminate waste.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a facsimile equipped with an image recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a characteristic diagram showing a relationship between a black ratio and a developing toner amount in the image recording apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for displaying a recordable number of sheets.

FIG. 4 is a characteristic diagram showing a relationship between time and toner consumption.

FIG. 5 is a characteristic diagram showing a day of the week and a toner consumption amount.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... Arithmetic device, 11 ... Memory, 13 ... Pulse counter, 16 ... Display operation part, 30 ... Photosensitive drum, 35 ... Toner sensor, 37 ... Developing device, 40 ... Optical scanning system, 41 ...
Thermal fuser.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification code Office reference number FI Technical indication location G03G 15/00 102 15/08 114 9222-2H H04N 1/29 E 9186-5C (72) Inventor Eiho Shimizu 216 Totsuka-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa, Ltd.Hitachi, Ltd. Information & Communication Division (72) Inventor Shiina, Toba-216, Totsuka-cho, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture, Hitachi, Ltd., Information & Communication Division (72) Inventor Yasuaki Suzuki 4026 Kuji Town, Hitachi City, Ibaraki Prefecture

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An image recording apparatus using ink or toner, wherein the relationship between the amount of a recorded portion of a recorded image and the consumption amount of ink or toner is stored in advance. 2. An image recording apparatus using ink or toner, the remaining number of the ink or the toner, the number of recordable sheets, the time when the toner runs out, the time, the date,
An image recording device characterized by displaying by day of the week. 3. In an image recording apparatus using ink or toner, the remaining amount of the ink or the toner can be estimated as the number of recordable sheets, or the estimated toner run-out time, time,
An image recording device characterized by displaying the date and the day of the week. 4. An image recording apparatus using ink or toner, wherein the relationship between the amount of a recorded portion of a recorded image and the consumption amount of the ink or the toner is stored in advance,
An image recording apparatus, wherein a toner consumption amount is calculated from a recording image signal with reference to a relationship between an amount of the recording portion of the recording image and the consumption amount of the ink or the toner. 5. An image recording apparatus using ink or toner, wherein the relationship between the amount of a recording portion of a recorded image and the consumption amount of the ink or the toner is stored in advance,
The toner consumption amount is calculated from the recording image signal by referring to the relationship between the amount of the recording portion of the recording image and the ink or toner consumption amount, the average toner consumption amount for each recording sheet is calculated, and the number of recordable sheets is calculated from the remaining toner amount. And an image recording apparatus for displaying the number of recordable sheets. 6. An image recording apparatus using ink or toner, wherein the relationship between the amount of a recorded portion of a recorded image and the consumption amount of the ink or the toner is stored in advance,
The toner consumption amount is calculated from the recording image signal with reference to the relationship between the amount of the recording portion of the recording image and the ink or toner consumption amount, and the relationship between the time, day of the week and the toner consumption amount is stored. The image recording apparatus is characterized in that the toner dead time, the day of the week, and the date are obtained from the remaining amount of the toner, and the toner dead time, the day of the week, and the date are displayed.