JP4039900B2 - Toner supply system and transfer means - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a toner supply system and transfer means , and more particularly, to a toner supply system and transfer means for supplying toner filled in a filling container to an image forming apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
For example, a toner container and a toner bottle (hereinafter collectively referred to as a toner container) as an example of a filling container are built in or mounted in the image forming apparatus. Since the structure of the toner container is downsized with the downsizing of the image forming apparatus, the amount of toner that can be filled cannot be increased.
[0003]
Therefore, since there are many opportunities to use up the toner filled in the toner bottle in the conventional image forming apparatus, for example, by using a technique as described in JP-A-6-149851, The order was placed automatically or semi-automatically.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, since a customer who consumes a large amount of toner has many opportunities to use up the toner, many empty toner containers are generated. The empty toner container is often collected for use as a recycled product, and there is a problem that the collection and transportation costs increase.
[0005]
Therefore, it is considered to reduce the collection and transportation costs by preparing a large-capacity toner container and transferring the toner from the large-capacity toner container to the image forming apparatus.
[0006]
However, when a large-capacity toner container is used, it is necessary to measure the amount of toner consumed every predetermined period and settle the toner price according to the amount of toner consumed. Further, since the interval for filling the toner becomes long, there is a problem that it is very difficult to set the timing for filling the toner in the large capacity toner container.
[0007]
SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides a toner supply system and a transfer unit that can easily determine and settle a toner price and can reduce toner distribution costs. And
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
Accordingly, in order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus that performs image forming processing using toner, and a toner filling apparatus that is replaceably attached to the outside of the image forming apparatus and is filled with the toner. A toner supply system comprising: a container; and a transfer unit configured to transfer the toner from the toner filling container to the image forming apparatus, wherein the transfer unit supplies a toner flow rate supplied from the toner filling container to the image forming apparatus. And the transfer means is connected to a network, and the toner flow rate measured by the flow meter exists outside the image forming apparatus of a supplier who replaces the filling container via the network. It transmits to the computer terminal which performs .
[0009]
In such a toner supply system, the toner consumption amount for each predetermined period can be accurately and easily managed by measuring the flow rate of the toner supplied from the filling container to the image forming apparatus with a flow meter.
[0010]
Further, the present invention is characterized in that the transfer means determines a toner price according to a toner flow rate for a predetermined period measured by the flow meter.
[0011]
In such a toner supply system, by determining the toner price according to the toner flow rate for a predetermined period measured by the flow meter, it is possible to easily set the toner price to be charged according to the toner consumption amount for each predetermined period.
[0012]
Further, the present invention is characterized in that the transfer means transmits the toner flow rate measured by the flow meter to a computer terminal of a supplier who fills the filling container with toner.
[0013]
In such a toner supply system, by sending the toner flow rate measured by the flow meter to the computer terminal of the supplier, the remaining amount of toner in the container can be calculated on the supplier side, and the toner is replenished to the filler container. It is possible to easily set the timing to be performed.
[0014]
Therefore, it is possible to reduce the frequency of filling the filling container with the toner while preventing the toner filled in the filling container from being emptied, and to reduce the toner distribution cost.
[0015]
Further, according to the present invention, the transfer unit detects an excess or deficiency of the toner flow rate with respect to the toner consumption amount based on a toner flow rate for a predetermined period measured by the flow meter and a toner consumption amount according to an image forming process. It is characterized by that.
[0016]
In such a toner supply system, it is possible to detect an abnormality in the image forming apparatus and the toner supply by detecting whether the toner flow rate is excessive or insufficient with respect to the toner consumption amount according to the toner flow rate and the toner consumption amount for a predetermined period.
[0017]
Further, according to the present invention, the transfer means transmits the toner flow rate measured by the flow meter and the toner consumption amount corresponding to the image forming process to a computer terminal of a supplier who fills the filling container with toner. It is characterized by doing.
[0018]
In such a toner supply system, a toner flow rate and a toner consumption amount for a predetermined period are transmitted to a computer terminal of a supplier, and an excess or deficiency of the toner flow rate with respect to the toner consumption amount is detected on the supplier side. In addition, the supplier can monitor abnormalities in toner supply.
[0019]
In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus that performs image forming processing using toner, and a toner filling apparatus that is replaceably attached to the outside of the image forming apparatus and is filled with the toner. A transfer means connected to the container for transferring the toner from the toner filling container to the image forming apparatus, wherein the transfer means measures the flow rate of toner supplied from the toner filling container to the image forming apparatus. And the transfer means is connected to a network, and the computer is present outside the image forming apparatus of a trader who replaces the filling container with the toner flow rate measured by the flow meter via the network. It transmits to a terminal, It is characterized by the above-mentioned .
[0020]
In such a transfer unit , the toner consumption amount for each predetermined period can be accurately and easily managed by measuring the toner flow rate supplied from the filling container to the image forming apparatus with a flow meter.
[0021]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, this invention is not limited to the following Example, A various deformation | transformation and change are possible within the scope of the present invention.
[0022]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a first embodiment of a toner supply system according to the present invention. The toner supply system 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes an image forming apparatus 10, a toner transfer / relay mechanism 20, and a large-capacity toner container 30.
[0023]
The image forming apparatus 10 performs image forming processing such as a printer, a facsimile machine, and a copying machine. Here, the configuration of the image forming apparatus 10 will be briefly described. In the image forming apparatus 10, a charging device, an exposure device, a developing device, a transfer device, a cleaning device, and a static elimination lamp are sequentially arranged around a photosensitive drum that is an electrostatic latent image carrier itself.
[0024]
The charging device is for charging the surface of the photosensitive drum. The exposure apparatus is for forming a latent image on the uniformly charged surface of the surface of the photosensitive drum using a laser beam. The developing device is for forming a toner image by attaching charged toner to the latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum. The transfer device is for transferring a toner image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum to a recording sheet. The cleaning device is for removing residual toner on the surface of the photosensitive drum. The static elimination lamp is for removing the residual potential on the surface of the photosensitive drum.
[0025]
The surface of the photosensitive drum of the image forming apparatus 10 is uniformly charged by the charging roller of the charging device, and an electrostatic latent image is formed by the exposure device. Then, a toner image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum by a developing device. The toner image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum is transferred onto a recording sheet conveyed from, for example, a paper feed tray by a transfer device such as a transfer belt.
[0026]
The recording paper is electrostatically attached to the photosensitive drum when the toner image is transferred, and is separated from the photosensitive drum by the separation claw. The unfixed toner image on the recording paper is fixed on the recording paper by a fixing device. The residual toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum without being transferred from the photosensitive drum to the recording paper is removed and collected by a cleaning device. The photosensitive drum from which the residual toner has been removed is initialized by removing the residual potential on the surface by the charge eliminating lamp. Then, the photosensitive drum is supplied to the next image forming process.
[0027]
The toner transfer / relay mechanism 20 is for transferring the toner filled in the large-capacity toner container 30 to the image forming apparatus 10 using mechanically generated force or gravity. Here, an example will be described in which toner filled in the large-capacity toner container 30 is transferred to the image forming apparatus 10 using a mechanically generated force.
[0028]
The toner transfer / relay mechanism 20 is configured to include a flow meter 22 and a powder pump (not shown). As the powder pump, one that sucks toner from the large-capacity toner container 30 or one that feeds air into the large-capacity toner container 30 and discharges the toner by increasing the internal pressure can be used. When the toner is dry, the fluidity of the toner can be improved by flowing air into the large capacity toner container 30. For example, the powder pump described in JP 2000-81778 A can be used as the powder pump.
[0029]
The flow meter 22 is for measuring the toner flow rate, and measures the toner flow rate transferred from the large-capacity toner container 30 to the image forming apparatus 10. As the flow meter 22, for example, a weight detection type or a volume detection type can be used. When the weight detection type flow meter 22 is used, the measured toner flow rate becomes highly reliable. Further, if the volume detection type flow meter 22 is used, the cost of the toner flow meter 22 can be reduced.
[0030]
The flow meter 22 has a recording device such as a memory, and records the measured toner flow rate in the recording device. The flow meter 22 may have an interface for connecting to a computer device, and the toner flow rate may be recorded in the computer device.
[0031]
As described above, the toner transfer / relay mechanism 20 can accurately measure the amount of toner transferred from the large-capacity toner container 30 to the image forming apparatus 10, in other words, the toner consumption amount, by using the flow meter 22.
[0032]
The large-capacity toner container 30 is for filling wet or dry toner. The large-capacity toner container 30 has a larger capacity than a conventional toner container and can be filled with a larger amount of toner than in the past. Therefore, even a customer who consumes a large amount of toner can reduce the frequency of filling the large-capacity toner container 30 with the toner, and can reduce the toner distribution cost.
[0033]
In such a toner supply system 1, since the toner consumption can be accurately measured by the flow meter 22, the toner consumption for a predetermined period can be accurately measured. As a result, the toner consumption for each predetermined period can be managed accurately and easily, and the toner price to be charged can be easily set according to the toner consumption.
[0034]
Further, the image forming apparatus 1 calculates the toner consumption amount from the image information data (for example, writing area, image density, etc.) related to the image forming process, and the toner amount and the toner consumption amount supplied to the image forming apparatus 10 in a predetermined period. Can be used to detect an abnormality in the image forming apparatus 10 and toner supply. When an abnormality is detected, for example, an abnormality can be notified to a customer or the like by displaying a warning on a screen of a computer device connected to the operation panel of the image forming apparatus 10 or the flow meter 22.
[0035]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a second embodiment of the toner supply system according to the present invention. The toner supply system 2 in FIG. 2 is the same as the toner supply system 1 in FIG.
[0036]
The toner supply system 1 shown in FIG. 2 includes an image forming apparatus 10, a toner transfer / relay mechanism 20, a large-capacity toner container 30, a customer terminal 40, a vendor terminal 50, and a network 100 such as the Internet. The customer terminal 40 is a computer device of a customer who uses the image forming apparatus 10. Further, the vendor terminal 50 is a computer device of a vendor that enters into a toner delivery contract with a customer and fills the large capacity toner container 30 with toner.
[0037]
The customer terminal 40 and the merchant terminal 50 are connected directly or indirectly to the flow meter 22 via the network 100, for example. For example, the flow meter 22 may have an interface for connecting to the network 100 and may be connected to the network 100. The flow meter 22 may have an interface for connecting to a computer device, and may be connected to the network 100 via the computer device.
[0038]
The flow meter 22 transmits the measured toner flow rate to the vendor terminal 50 via the network 100. The vendor terminal 50 can calculate the toner consumption amount and the toner remaining amount in the large-capacity toner container 30 from the received toner flow rate. Therefore, the trader can easily monitor and manage the customer's toner consumption and the toner remaining amount in the large-capacity toner container 30 using the trader terminal 50.
[0039]
For example, the trader can accurately and easily calculate the toner consumption amount for each predetermined period using the trader terminal 50, and can determine the toner price according to the toner consumption amount and issue a bill. As a result, it is possible to efficiently determine the toner price and issue a bill. Since the toner consumption amount for a predetermined period can be accurately measured, the customer can automatically pay the toner price by contract such as account transfer between the customer and the trader. As a result, the contractor can efficiently collect the toner price corresponding to the toner consumption amount of the customer.
[0040]
Further, since the trader can monitor the remaining amount of toner in the large-capacity toner container 30 using the trader terminal 50, the toner is put into the large-capacity toner container 30 after the remaining amount of toner in the large-capacity toner container 30 falls below a predetermined amount. Can be filled. Thus, since the remaining amount of toner in the large-capacity toner container 30 can be accurately monitored, the frequency of filling the large-capacity toner container 30 with toner can be reduced while preventing the large-capacity toner container 30 from becoming empty. Is possible. As a result, toner distribution costs can be reduced.
[0041]
Further, the vendor terminal 50 receives the toner consumption amount from the image forming apparatus 1, and compares the toner amount supplied to the image forming apparatus 10 with the toner consumption amount in a predetermined period, thereby comparing the image forming apparatus 10 and the toner supply amount. Abnormalities can be detected. When the supplier terminal 50 detects an abnormality, it can notify the supplier of the abnormality by displaying a warning on the screen. As a result, the contractor can perform predetermined service maintenance promptly and appropriately when an abnormality is detected.
[0042]
The large-capacity toner container 30 can be a stationary type, and may be filled with toner from another toner container. In this case, the large-capacity toner container 30 can be simplified and the cost can be reduced. When using the stationary large-capacity toner container 30, a contractor may pay the price of a part or all of the large-capacity toner container 30.
[0043]
The large-capacity toner container 30 can also be replaced, and is replaced with a new large-capacity toner container 30 instead of filling the large-capacity toner container 30 with toner. As a result, since the recovery rate of the large-capacity toner container 30 can be increased, the reuse rate of the large-capacity toner container 30 can be significantly increased.
[0044]
A volume-reducible container can be used as the large-capacity toner container 30. By using a volume-reducible container, it is possible to reduce the cost of collecting and transporting an empty large-capacity toner container 30. Further, by using the large-capacity toner container 30 that can be refilled with toner again, it is possible to improve the recycling rate, reduce the cost of the large-capacity toner container 30, and save the earth resources.
[0045]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a third embodiment of the toner supply system according to the present invention. The toner supply system 3 of FIG. 3 is the same as the toner supply system 1 of FIG.
[0046]
The toner supply system 3 shown in FIG. 3 includes an image forming apparatus 10, a toner transfer / relay mechanism 20, a large-capacity toner container 30, and a recycled toner supply unit 60.
[0047]
The recycled toner supply means 60 is supplied with the residual toner removed and collected from the surface of the photosensitive drum by the cleaning device. The recycled toner supply unit 60 supplies the supplied residual toner again between the flow meter 22 and the image forming apparatus 10, in other words, downstream from the flow meter 22.
[0048]
The reason why the residual toner is supplied downstream from the flow meter 22 is that the characteristics of the residual toner are shifted in an inappropriate direction compared to the new toner (for example, fluidity, charging ability, foreign matter, etc.). This is because it tends to cause measurement errors and troubles in the toner flow rate. Further, when the residual toner is supplied upstream from the flow meter 22, a new flow meter that measures the amount of recycled toner is required to accurately calculate the toner consumption, which causes an increase in cost.
[0049]
Therefore, in the toner supply system 3 of FIG. 3, the supplied residual toner is supplied again between the flow meter 22 and the image forming apparatus 10, in other words, downstream from the flow meter 22. The toner supply system 3 can reduce the toner consumption amount by using the residual toner as the recycled toner without affecting the measurement of the toner flow rate by the flow meter 22.
[0050]
By using the toner supply systems 1 to 3 of the present invention, various costs for filling the toner in the large-capacity toner container 30 can be reduced, so that the trader can lower the toner price.
[0051]
In the toner supply systems 1 to 3 of this embodiment, the toner transfer / relay mechanism 20 and the large-capacity toner container 30 are provided outside the image forming apparatus 10. However, the toner transfer / relay is provided inside the image forming apparatus 10. The mechanism 20 and the large-capacity toner container 30 may be provided.
[0052]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the toner consumption amount for each predetermined period can be accurately and easily managed by measuring the flow rate of toner supplied from the filling container to the image forming apparatus with the flow meter.
[0053]
According to the present invention, the toner price to be charged can be easily set according to the toner consumption amount for each predetermined period by determining the toner price according to the toner flow rate for the predetermined period measured by the flow meter.
[0054]
Further, according to the present invention, the toner flow rate measured by the flow meter is transmitted to the computer terminal of the supplier, so that the remaining amount of toner in the filling container can be calculated by the supplier, and the timing at which the toner should be replenished to the filling container. Can be easily achieved.
[0055]
Therefore, it is possible to reduce the frequency of filling the filling container with the toner while preventing the toner filled in the filling container from being emptied, and to reduce the toner distribution cost.
[0056]
In addition, according to the present invention, it is possible to detect an abnormality in the image forming apparatus and the toner supply by detecting the excess or deficiency of the toner flow rate with respect to the toner consumption amount according to the toner flow rate and the toner consumption amount for a predetermined period.
[0057]
Further, according to the present invention, the toner flow rate and the toner consumption amount for a predetermined period are transmitted to the computer terminal of the supplier, and the excess or deficiency of the toner flow rate with respect to the toner consumption amount is detected on the supplier side. In addition, the supplier can monitor abnormalities in toner supply.
[0058]
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a first embodiment of a toner supply system according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a second embodiment of a toner supply system according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a toner supply system according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 to 3 Toner supply system 10 Image forming apparatus 20 Toner transfer / relay mechanism 22 Flow meter 30 Large capacity toner container 40 Customer terminal 50 Commercial terminal 60 Recycled toner supply means 100 Network

Claims (5)

An image forming apparatus that performs image forming processing using toner;
  A toner filling container, which is replaceably attached to the outside of the image forming apparatus and filled with the toner;
  A toner supply system comprising transfer means for transferring the toner from the toner filling container to the image forming apparatus;
  The transfer means includes a flow meter for measuring the flow rate of toner supplied from the toner filling container to the image forming apparatus,
  The transport means is connected to a network;
  A toner supply system, wherein the toner flow measured by the flowmeter is transmitted to a computer terminal existing outside the image forming apparatus of a trader who replaces the filling container via the network.   The toner supply system according to claim 1, wherein the transfer unit determines a toner price according to a toner flow rate for a predetermined period measured by the flow meter.   The transfer means detects an excess or deficiency of the toner flow rate with respect to the toner consumption amount based on a toner flow rate for a predetermined period measured by the flow meter and a toner consumption amount corresponding to an image forming process. Item 2. The toner supply system according to Item 1.   The transfer means transmits a toner flow rate for a predetermined period measured by the flow meter and a toner consumption amount corresponding to an image forming process to a computer terminal of a supplier who fills the filling container with toner. The toner supply system according to claim 1. An image forming apparatus that performs image forming processing using toner;
  A toner filling container, which is replaceably attached to the outside of the image forming apparatus and filled with the toner;
A transfer means for transferring the toner from the toner filling container to the image forming apparatus,
  The transfer means includes a flow meter for measuring the flow rate of toner supplied from the toner filling container to the image forming apparatus,
  The transport means is connected to a network;
  Transfer means for transmitting the toner flow rate measured by the flow meter to a computer terminal existing outside the image forming apparatus of a trader who replaces the filling container via the network.

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