US 11,841,639 B2 · Image forming apparatus having an abnormality detection mode

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes a toner container, a first conveyance unit, and an apparatus main body. The apparatus main body includes a photosensitive drum, a development roller, a second conveyance unit, a toner conveyance passage, light sensor, an acquisition unit, and a control unit configured to execute an abnormality detection mode. In an abnormality detection mode, the acquisition unit acquires a first acquired value after the driving of the second conveyance unit with the driving of the first conveyance unit stopped. When the first acquired value satisfies a first condition, the acquisition unit further acquires a second acquired value after the driving of the second conveyance unit with the driving of the first conveyance unit stopped. The apparatus main body further includes a notification unit to make notification of the abnormality when the second acquired value satisfies a second condition.

An image forming apparatus comprising:

a toner container configured to accommodate toner, wherein the toner container is provided with an outlet and includes a first conveyance unit where the first conveyance unit has a first screw for conveying the toner and is configured to discharge toner to an outside of the toner container through the outlet;
and
an apparatus main body on which the toner container is detachably mounted,
wherein the apparatus main body includes:
a photosensitive drum,
a development roller configured to supply toner to the photosensitive drum,
a second conveyance unit including a second screw for conveying toner and configured to convey toner toward the development roller,
a toner conveyance passage in which the second conveyance unit is provided and which is provided with a receiving inlet to receive toner discharged from the outlet of the toner container,
a sensor including a light emitting portion configured to emit light toward an inside of the toner conveyance passage, and a light receiving portion configured to receive light emitted from the light emitting portion and passing through the inside of the toner conveyance passage, where the sensor is configured to output a signal based on a quantity of light received by the light receiving portion, and
a central processing unit that is configured to control driving of the first conveyance unit and the second conveyance unit independently, is configured to execute an abnormality detection mode, and is configured to acquire an acquired value based on an output value from the sensor,
wherein, in the abnormality detection mode, the central processing unit is configured to acquire a first acquired value after execution of the driving of the second conveyance unit for a first predetermined time in a state where the driving of the first conveyance unit is stopped,
wherein, in a case where the first acquired value satisfies a first condition, the central processing unit is configured to further acquire a second acquired value after execution of the driving of the second conveyance unit for a second predetermined time in the state where the driving of the first conveyance unit is stopped,
wherein the central processing unit further is configured to make notification of an abnormality in the toner conveyance passage, and, in a case where the second acquired value satisfies a second condition, the central processing unit is configured to make notification of the abnormality in the toner conveyance passage, and
wherein the central processing unit further is configured to perform first control to control the first conveyance unit so that a quantity of toner supply per unit time from the toner container to the toner conveyance passage becomes a first quantity of supply, and, in the abnormality detection mode executed after the first control, in a case where the first acquired value satisfies the first condition and the second acquired value does not satisfy the second condition, the central processing unit is configured to execute second control to control the first conveyance unit so that the quantity of toner supply per unit time becomes a second quantity of supply that is smaller than the first quantity of supply.

11 more elements

Image forming apparatus having an abnormality detection mode

Life of this patent

Image forming apparatus having an abnormality detection mode

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims10