阅读说明：本技术 色调剂盒及图像形成装置 (Toner cartridge and image forming apparatus ) 是由 伊藤刚司 武田和久 生田真大 原誉史 三田村浩通 藤原茂 阿嶋久延 于 2019-06-04 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明提供能够实现高画质的色调剂盒及图像形成装置。实施方式所涉及的色调剂盒用于具有处理器的图像形成装置,处理器在感光体上形成色调剂图案图像,将所述色调剂图案图像转印到介质上,并基于对转印到所述介质上的所述色调剂图案图像进行光学检测而得的检测结果,变更图像形成条件,色调剂盒具备收容色调剂的色调剂收容容器和存储器。存储器存储多个基准数据,基准数据根据所述色调剂收容容器内的所述色调剂的特性及表示图像形成执行量的值而确定,并提供针对所述介质上的由所述色调剂形成的色调剂图案的光学检测结果的基准值。(The invention provides a toner cartridge and an image forming apparatus capable of realizing high image quality. The toner cartridge according to the embodiment is used in an image forming apparatus having a processor that forms a toner pattern image on a photoconductor, transfers the toner pattern image onto a medium, and changes image forming conditions based on a detection result obtained by optically detecting the toner pattern image transferred onto the medium, and includes a toner storage container that stores toner and a memory. The memory stores a plurality of reference data, which are determined based on the characteristics of the toner in the toner storage container and a value indicating an image formation execution amount and provide a reference value for an optical detection result of a toner pattern formed by the toner on the medium.)

1. A toner cartridge used in an image forming apparatus having a processor that forms a toner pattern image on a photoreceptor, transfers the toner pattern image onto a medium, and changes image forming conditions based on a detection result obtained by optically detecting the toner pattern image transferred onto the medium, the toner cartridge comprising:

a toner storage container for storing toner; and

and a memory that stores a plurality of reference data that are determined based on a characteristic of the toner in the toner storage container and a value indicating an image formation execution amount and that provide a reference value for an optical detection result of a toner pattern formed by the toner on the medium.

2. The toner cartridge according to claim 1,

the toner is an achromatic toner.

3. The toner cartridge according to claim 2,

the characteristic of the toner includes at least one of a toner particle diameter, information indicating a shape of the toner, and a BET specific surface area value.

4. An image forming apparatus to which a toner cartridge containing toner can be attached, the image forming apparatus forming an image on a medium with the toner,

the image forming apparatus includes a processor that counts a value indicating an image formation execution amount, and changes an image forming condition based on an optical detection result of a toner pattern image formed on a medium with the toner of the toner cartridge, a plurality of reference data determined according to a characteristic of the toner in the toner cartridge, and a count value of the value indicating the image formation execution amount, and the reference data is stored in a memory of the toner cartridge in association with the value indicating the image formation execution amount, and provides a reference value for the optical detection result.

5. A toner cartridge, used in an image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus having: a developing device for forming a toner pattern image on the photoreceptor by using toner supplied from the toner cartridge; a magnetic sensor that detects a toner concentration in the developer in the developing device; and a processor that transfers the toner pattern image onto a medium, changes image forming conditions based on a detection result obtained by optically detecting the toner pattern image transferred onto the medium, and controls supply of toner from the toner cartridge based on a detection result of the magnetic sensor and a preset reference value, the toner cartridge including:

a toner storage container for storing toner; and

and a memory that stores a plurality of reference data and a plurality of control values for correction, the reference data being determined based on a characteristic of the toner in the toner storage container and a value indicating an image formation execution amount and providing a reference value for an optical detection result of a toner pattern formed by the toner on the medium, the control values for correction being determined based on the characteristic of the toner and the value indicating the image formation execution amount and correcting a detection result of the magnetic sensor.

Technical Field

Embodiments of the invention relate to a toner cartridge and an image forming apparatus.

Background

An image forming apparatus that performs two-component development accommodates a developer including a toner and a carrier in a developing device, and performs development with the toner. When the toner concentration in the developing device decreases with the consumption of toner, the image forming apparatus supplies toner from the toner cartridge to the developing device. The image forming apparatus transfers a toner image on a photoconductive drum to a print medium.

The image forming conditions also need to take toner characteristics into consideration. Further, the toner characteristics may vary depending on the production lot of the toner. Therefore, a toner cartridge including a memory storing image forming condition control data (control data) according to toner characteristics of toner contained in the cartridge is being put to practical use. The image forming apparatus acquires control data such as a charging bias and a developing bias from a memory of the toner cartridge, and performs an image forming process based on the acquired control data.

However, depending on the state of the image forming apparatus, there are cases where the effect of improving the image quality cannot be sufficiently obtained even if the image forming process is performed based on the control data acquired as described above. In particular, when a special toner such as a color-reducing toner is used, the toner characteristics are greatly different from those of conventional toners, and there is a case where sufficient image quality cannot be maintained in the same control as that of conventional toners.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention aims to provide a toner cartridge and an image forming apparatus capable of realizing high image quality.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment.

Fig. 2 is a diagram for explaining a configuration example of a processing unit of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment.

Fig. 3 is a diagram for explaining a configuration example of the periphery of the primary transfer belt of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment.

Fig. 4 is a diagram for explaining an example of the ATC sensor output correction control value table according to the embodiment.

Fig. 5 is a diagram for explaining an example of the reference value table for toner pattern density detection according to the embodiment.

Fig. 6 is a diagram for explaining an example of the ATC sensor reference value correction processing according to the embodiment.

Fig. 7 is a diagram for explaining an example of the image quality stabilization processing according to the embodiment.

Description of the reference numerals

1 an image forming apparatus; 2a toner cartridge; 11 a housing; 12 a communication interface; 13 a system controller; 14 a display unit; 15 operating an interface; a 16 paper tray; 17 a paper discharge tray; 18 a conveying part; 19 an image forming section; 20 a fuser; 21 a processor; 22 a memory; 31 a paper feed conveyance path; 32 a paper discharge conveyance path; 33 a pickup roller; 41 a processing unit; 42 a transfer mechanism; 43 a concentration sensor; 51 a photosensitive drum; 52 a charger; 53 a developing device; 54 an exposure device; 55 a toner supply motor; 56 a communication interface; 61 a developer container; 62 a developing roller; 63 a scraper blade; 64 an automatic toner control sensor; 71 a primary transfer belt; 72 a secondary transfer opposed roller; 73 a primary transfer roller; 74 a secondary transfer roller; 75, illuminating; 76 an image sensor; 77 testing the pattern; 81 heating rolls; 82 a pressure roller; 91 a storage container; 92 screw rod; 94 IC chip.

The toner cartridge according to the embodiment is used in an image forming apparatus having a processor that forms a toner pattern image on a photoconductor, transfers the toner pattern image onto a medium, and changes image forming conditions based on a detection result obtained by optically detecting the toner pattern image transferred onto the medium, and includes a toner storage container that stores toner and a memory. The memory stores a plurality of reference data, which are determined based on the characteristics of the toner in the toner storage container and a value indicating an image formation execution amount and provide a reference value for an optical detection result of a toner pattern formed by the toner on the medium.