JPH08248757A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a color image forming device capable of changing the delicate hue of a color image by supplying and mixing toner for deciding a main hue with color hue adjusting toner, etc., and using the obtained toner for development, in plural developing devices. CONSTITUTION: In the image forming device provided with plural developing devices 49 using the toner having a different color and plural toner suppling devices 63 provided to correspond to the developing devices 49 respectively and supplying the toner to the developing devices 49; each toner supplying device 63 is composed of plural toner housing parts 631 housing the toner which has the same color from a viewpoint of the decision of the main hue of an actual image formed by each corresponding developing device 49 and is classified in the range of a prescribed color difference and plural toner supplying rollers 633 for supplying the toner from the toner housing parts 631 into the developing device 49.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile and a printer, and more specifically, a developing device for developing a latent image on an image carrier and a toner for supplying toner to the developing device. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus including a replenishing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in this type of image forming apparatus, especially a color image forming apparatus, for example, four colors (yellow, magenta, cyan, black, four colors, hereinafter, Y, M,
Abbreviated as C and Bk. The full color image is formed by the development using the toner of (1), and the color reproducibility of the entire full color image is determined by the coloring range of the toner used (spectral distribution of the toner). For example, taking one color of magenta (M) as an example, there is a range of coloring agents from a toner near yellow to a toner near cyan even though it is a single color of magenta, and as a result, a flesh color original ( It is known that even in reproduction of, for example, a photograph of a person, the reproduced color tone changes depending on the coloring material of the toner used.

In addition, some users prefer a bright reddish reproduction for skin color reproduction, and a calm reproduced color that is a little soft and does not have a flashy tone (close to cyan).

In the past, reproduction of fluorescent originals was unsatisfactory, and the reproduction of fluorescent colors was often dull. In the case of photographic manuscripts, the silver salt image in the photograph is a highly transparent image due to the structure in which the coloring agent is dispersed in transparent gelatin, whereas the toner used in conventional copying machines is transparent. It was low and I was dissatisfied with the reproduction of the photograph. Conventionally, in order to faithfully reproduce a color original document having such a visual characteristic, it is provided with five or more developing devices,
Colors of which four each have yellow, magenta, cyan and black toners, and a developer for forming a visual feature by another developing device, such as silver powder, transparent white toner or transparent resin toner. A copying machine has been proposed (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-71867).

[0005]

The delicate control of the color tone as described above cannot be realized because the color reproduction range cannot be changed only by changing the color conversion characteristics in the conventional image processing. It was In addition, the above-mentioned JP-A-63
In the color copying machine proposed in No. 71867, it is necessary to provide an extra developing device for forming a visual spot color, and it is difficult to reproduce a subtle difference in color tone.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to mix a toner for determining a main color tone in a plurality of developing devices with a toner for toning and the like and use it for development. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus capable of changing a delicate color tone of a color image.

Conventionally, one developing device using a one-component developer is provided with three toner containing portions containing toners of three different colors (yellow, magenta, cyan), and a toner developing sleeve is provided. It has been proposed that multi-color development of the latent image on the image bearing member is carried out by repeating carrying on the toner, development, and recovery of the toner on the developing sleeve for each color toner (for example, JP-A-62-62). However, this does not suggest that a delicate color tone is reproduced by mixing toner having a predetermined color difference, a fluorescent powder, a transparent powder, and the like in a developing device and using them for development. It was

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 is a developing device for developing a latent image on an image carrier, and a toner replenishing device for replenishing the developing device with toner. In a color image forming apparatus including a toner, the toner replenishing device contains toners of the same color in determining the main color tone of the visible image formed by the developing device and classified within a range of a predetermined color difference. And a plurality of replenishing means for replenishing the developing device with toner from the toner containing section.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in an image forming apparatus including a developing device for developing a latent image on an image bearing member, and a toner replenishing device for replenishing the developing device with toner, the toner replenishing device comprises: In determining the main color tone of the developed image formed by the developing device, a plurality of toner containing portions for containing toners having the same color and different fluorescent powder or transparent powder contents, and the toner containing portion It is characterized in that it is constituted by a plurality of replenishing means for replenishing the toner in the developing device.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in an image forming apparatus including a developing device for developing a latent image on an image carrier, and a toner replenishing device for replenishing the developing device with toner, the toner replenishing device comprises: From the toner storage unit and the toner storage unit that stores the toner that determines the main color tone of the visible image formed by the developing device, the powder storage unit that stores the fluorescent powder, the transparent powder or a mixture thereof, and the toner storage unit and the powder storage unit. The developing device comprises a plurality of replenishing means for replenishing the toner and the powder, respectively.

The invention of claim 4 is the invention of claim 1, 2 or 3.
In the image forming apparatus, the control means for controlling the supply amount by each supply means is provided.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the fourth aspect, a color tone designating unit for designating a desired color tone is provided, and based on the color tone designated by the color tone designating unit,
It is characterized in that the replenishing amount of the toner, the fluorescent powder, the transparent powder or a mixture thereof by each replenishing means is controlled.

The invention of claim 6 is the invention of claim 1, 2 or 3.
In the image forming apparatus described above, the ratio of the capacity of the second and later storage sections of the toner storage section and the powder storage section to the maximum storage capacity is 1/2, 1 /
4,. ． ． It is characterized in that it is set to an integral multiple of 1/2 or less as follows.

[0014]

According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the main color tone of the visible image is determined from the plurality of toner accommodating portions of the toner replenishing device with respect to the developing device for developing the latent image on the image carrier. In, the plurality of toners having the same color and classified within a range of a predetermined color difference can be selected and supplied by the replenishing means. Then, by mixing the replenished toner and using it for development, a visible image having a desired color tone can be formed on the image carrier. The visible images of the respective colors may be transferred to the transfer material each time and superimposed on the transfer material, or the visible images of the respective colors may be formed so as to be superimposed on the image carrier, and later transferred to the transfer material at once. You may. Here, the plurality of toners are, for example, the same color in a large classification of colors Y, M, and C, but are 4 to 4 in terms of color difference in a fine classification of colors of a color system called L * a * b *. A toner within the range of 30 is desirable.

According to another aspect of the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the main color tone of the visible image is determined from a plurality of toner accommodating portions of the toner replenishing device with respect to the developing device for developing the latent image on the image carrier. In, the toners having the same color and different fluorescent powder or transparent powder contents can be replenished by selecting the replenishing means. Then, the replenished toner is mixed and used for development, whereby a visible image having desired fluorescence or transparency can be formed on the image carrier.

According to another aspect of the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the main color tone of the visible image is supplied to the developing device for developing the latent image on the image bearing member from the toner containing portion and the powder containing portion of the toner replenishing device. The toner to be decided and the fluorescent powder or the transparent powder can be selected and supplied by the supplying means. Then, the replenished toner is mixed and used for development, whereby a visible image having desired fluorescence or transparency can be formed on the image carrier.

In the image forming apparatus of the fourth aspect, since the control means can control the replenishment amount by each replenishment means,
Even during image forming operation or development by each developing device,
It becomes possible to replenish toner or powder in each developing device at various mixing ratios.

In the image forming apparatus according to the fifth aspect, the user simply specifies a desired color tone by the color tone designating means, and based on the designated color tone, the toner, the fluorescent powder, and the transparent toner by the respective replenishing means are provided. The replenishment rate of the dust or mixture thereof is determined and controlled. Here, the relationship between the color tone of the image and the replenishment amount of the toner or the like is obtained in advance by experiments or the like.

According to another aspect of the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the ratio of the capacity of the second and later storage sections of the toner storage section and the powder storage section to the maximum storage capacity is 1/2. 1/4 ,. ． ． By setting it to be an integral multiple of 1/2 or less as described below, the size of the accommodating portion can be combined so as to be substantially proportional to the amounts of the toner and powder used therein. (Hereinafter, margin)

[0020]

EXAMPLE An example in which the present invention is applied to a full-color electrophotographic copying machine (hereinafter referred to as a color copying machine) which is an image forming apparatus will be described below. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a color copying machine according to this embodiment. This color copying machine obtains a color image by superimposing a plurality of images of different colors from a photosensitive drum as an image carrier on a transfer paper as the same transfer material and transferring the color image. A scanner section 31 for performing, an image processing section 32 for electrically processing a digital image signal from the scanner section 31, and a printer for forming a color image on a transfer paper based on the image signal of each color from the image processing section 32. And a part 33.

In the scanner section 31, the color original document placed on the original document table 34 is illuminated by the light source 35, and the reflected light image thereof is reflected by the mirrors 36 to 38 and the imaging lens 3.
9 through the dichroic prism 40
Light receivers 41 to 41 including CCDs, which are color-separated into K (black), R (red), G (green), and B (blue).
The image is formed at 43. Then, the light source 35 and the mirror 36-
Sub scanning of the original is performed by the movement of the movable optical system composed of 38, and the light receivers 41 to 43 perform photoelectric conversion while main scanning the incident light image, and then perform A / D conversion to perform BK, R, G, and
The image signal of B is converted and output to the printer unit 33. In this case, the image signals of BK, R, G, B are Y, M,
It may be a C image signal.

In the printer section 33, BK (black), Y (yellow), M (magenta), and C (cyan) images are generated by the BK, R, G, and B image signals from the image processing section 32, respectively. Recording devices 44BK, 44Y, 44M and 44C for forming and transferring them onto the transfer paper are provided, and these recording devices 44BK, 44Y, 44M and 44 are provided.
C are photosensitive drums 45BK, 45Y, 45M,
45C, laser light emitting device 47B for image exposure for emitting laser lights 46BK, 46Y, 46M, 46C, respectively.
K, 47Y, 47M, 47C, charging charger 48B
K, 48Y, 48M, 48C, developing device 49BK, 49
Y, 49M, 49C, transfer charger 50BK, 50
Y, 50M, 50C, cleaning devices 51BK, 51
It has Y, 51M, 51C and the like.

In the recording device 44C, the photosensitive drum 4 is used.
5C is rotationally driven by a main motor and is uniformly charged by a charging charger 48C, and an electrostatic latent image of a C image is formed by exposure with a laser beam 46C from an image exposure laser high emission device 47C. In this case, the image exposure laser light emitting device 47C modulates and drives the laser light source by the C image signal from the image processing unit 32, and the laser light 46C having the intensity corresponding to the C image signal from the laser light source is not shown in the polygon mirror. The photosensitive drum 45C is irradiated while being scanned with. By this irradiation, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photoconductor drum 45C.

The electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 45C is developed by a developing device 49C with a two-component developer containing C toner and carrier to form a C toner image.
It is transferred by the transfer charger 50C onto the transfer paper on the conveyor belt 52. The sheet feeding devices 53 and 54 accommodate two types of transfer sheets, and the selected one feeds the transfer sheet to the registration roller 57 by the sheet feeding rollers 55 and 56. The registration roller 57 sends the transfer paper to the conveyor belt 52 at a predetermined timing. The conveyor belt 52 is rotatably driven by being stretched over the rollers 58 to 60, conveys the transfer paper sent from the registration roller 57, and the C toner image on the photosensitive drum 45C is transferred to the transfer paper as described above. Transferred by 50C. The cleaning device 51C has a brush roller for removing toner and a charge removing device, and
The residual toner on 5C is removed after the C toner image is transferred.

The recording devices 44BK, 44Y and 44M perform the image forming operation similarly to the recording device 44C. That is, the image exposure laser light emitting devices 47BK, 47Y, and 47M modulate the laser light sources by M, Y, and BK image signals from the image processing unit 32 to drive the laser light sources M, Y, and B, respectively.
Laser light 46BK, 46 having an intensity corresponding to the K image signal
Similarly, Y and 46M are irradiated onto the photosensitive drums 45BK, 45Y and 45M while scanning with a polygon mirror (not shown), and the photosensitive drums 45BK, 45Y and 45M are uniformly charged by the charging chargers 48BK, 48Y and 48M and the laser beam 46BK is emitted. , 46Y, 46M by exposure B
An electrostatic latent image of K, Y, M is formed.

These electrostatic latent images are developed by the developing devices 49BK, 4
9Y, 49M develops with a two-component developer containing BK toner, Y toner, M toner and carrier to form a visible image composed of a BK toner image, a Y toner image, and an M toner image. Transfer charger 50 to paper
BK, 50Y, and 50M are transferred together with the C toner image so as to overlap each other to form a full-color image. Also,
The transfer paper on the conveyor belt 52 is fixed to the fixing device 6 after the transfer of the visible image.
The visible image is fixed by 1 and is discharged to the outside by the transport roller 62. Further, after the transfer paper is conveyed, the transfer belt 52 erases the residual charges by the static eliminator 63, and the belt cleaning device 64 removes the residual toner.

FIG. 2 shows the developing devices 49Y, 49M,
49C, 49BK and toner replenishing devices 63Y, 63M,
It is a front view which shows schematic structure of 63C and 63BK. Since the developing devices 49Y, 49M, 49C, 49BK and the toner replenishing devices 63Y, 63M, 63C, 63BK have basically the same configuration, the member reference numerals are shown here to show correspondence with toner colors. The subscripts of Y, M, C, and BK used in step 2 are omitted.

In FIG. 2, in the developing device 49 of this example, a developing roller 491 having a built-in magnet is arranged so that a part thereof is exposed from the opening toward the photosensitive drum 45. Further, a toner replenishing device 63 having toner replenishing tanks 631a, 631b, 63b serving as three toner accommodating portions is provided above the developing device 49. Toner replenishing tanks 631a, 63b, and 63c have toner 64 of a similar color to be described later.
a, b, c are accommodated therein, and stirring paddles 632a,
Toner replenishing roller 6 as a replenishing means for replenishing toner to the openings facing b.
33a, b, c are provided. In addition, the developing device 49
Inside, a scooping roller 492, a developing doctor 493 serving also as a left side wall of the developing device 49, and the like are arranged so as to face the developing roller 491.

Of the toner replenishing tanks of the toner replenishing device 63, the central toner replenishing tank 631b is for the main toner 64b, and the left and right toner replenishing tanks 631.
a and c are for the toner 64a and c for toning. For example, M
Taking the case of (magenta) toner as an example, the main toner replenishing tank 631b has a main magenta toner, and the left toner replenishing tank 631a has a yellow tendency (close to red).
Magenta toner (4 in color difference of L * a * b * color space)
16 to 16) and magenta toner (L * a * b * color difference of 4 to 10) close to a pink color are stored in the right toner supply tank 631c. That is,
By mixing the main toner 64b and the toning toners 64a and 64c, the color tone can be controlled within the range from the color tone close to red to the color tone close to pink.

Similarly, regarding the toner replenishing device of the C (cyan) and Y (yellow) developing devices 49, L * a * b * for the main toner and the toners in the toner replenishing tanks 431a, 431b, 431c. Toning toner having a color difference of about 4 to 10 is stored. Then, by mixing the main toner and the toning toner for use in development, it is possible to control the color tone within the range of the color tone from bluish to purple in the case of cyan, and from brownish to orange in the case of yellow. The color tone can be controlled within the range of the color tone in the direction.

Tables 1 to 3 show L *, a *, and b * values of the Y, M, and C toners and the color-adjusting toner used in this embodiment, and FIG. 3 shows the color-adjusting using these toners. The possible range is a * b
* Displayed in space. (Hereinafter, margin)

[Table 1]

[Table 2]

[Table 3] (Hereinafter, margin)

Further, the toner supply tank 631a,
The ratio of the capacities of b, c, is set to 1/2 or less: 1: 1/4 or less so as to be substantially proportional to the usage amount of each toner 64a, b, c. Here, the toner 64b is the main toner that is used most, and the toners 64a and 64c are toning toners that are used less. By setting such a capacity ratio, the entire toner replenishing device can be stored in the minimum space.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the image processing section 32. Since the image processing operation is the same as the conventional one, detailed description thereof will be omitted. The system controller 100 as a control unit includes an operation panel 101, a color adjustment monitor screen 102, a toner control circuit 103, and a coordinate input device 105.
Etc. are connected. The toner supply roller 633a,
b and c are rotationally driven by a drive motor (not shown) via a replenishing clutch (not shown), and a replenishing bias voltage is applied to the developing roller 491 by a power source (not shown). By controlling the drive time of the drive motor and the magnitude of the replenishment bias voltage by the system controller via the toner control circuit 103 and the replenishment roller control circuit 104, the toner replenishment tanks 631a, 631b, 631c from the toner replenishment tank 631a, b It is possible to change the amount and timing of toner replenishment to the toner.

5A and 5B are a partial block diagram for toner replenishment control and an explanatory diagram of the display on the operation panel 101. The color tone of the color image is displayed on the operation panel 101 as to whether each of the three colors of M, C, and Y is to be a bright tone, a calm tone, or an intermediate tone. Move by moving the setting arrow. Whether or not the color tone set in this way is correct can be roughly checked on the color adjustment monitor screen 102 of FIG. This color adjustment monitor screen 1
The area of the color image displayed on 02 can be changed using the coordinate input device 105.

The mixture ratio of the toners 64a, 64b, 64c is calculated based on the color tone setting data input from the operation panel 101. The toner control circuit 103 determines the combination of each toner replenishment time and replenishment bias voltage according to the toner mixture ratio, and the copy start button is turned on.
After that, simultaneously with the rotation of the photosensitive drum 45, the toner supply roller 633 and the bias power source of each toner supply device 63 are controlled via the supply roller control circuit 104, and the toner mixing is started. The relationship between the color tone setting data and the toner mixture ratio, and the relationship between the toner mixture ratio and the toner replenishment time amount and the replenishment bias voltage are obtained in advance by experiments or the like.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the operation panel 10
It is impossible to change the data in the conventional image processing by deciding the mixing ratio of the main toner and the toner for the toner to be replenished in the developing device 49 of each color based on the color tone designated in 1 and replenishing the toner. It is possible to obtain a full-color image in which the color tone is slightly changed. Here, it is difficult to change the color tone for each copy because there is a history of the toner in the developing device 49, but when the user's favorite tendency is fixed to some extent, or about 50 to 100 copies are collected. In the case of changing the color tone in units, it is possible to make a desired color tone after confirming the change in color tone by making two or three adjustment copies.

In the above embodiment, the main toner that determines the main color tone is mixed with the toner of the neighboring color having the predetermined color difference. However, as shown in Table 4, the toner supply tank 63
1a may contain only the main toner 64a, and toner replenishment tanks 631b and 631c may contain toners having different mixing ratios of the fluorescent powder. In this case, the color tone can be changed as indicated by reference characters D to E in FIG. 6, and a full-color image with a fluorescent color tone can be obtained. In FIG. 6, D
The direction shows the case where the mixing ratio of the fluorescent powder is increased.

Further, as shown in Table 5, the toner replenishment tank 631a may contain only the main toner 64a, and the toner replenishment tanks 631b and 631c may contain toners having different mixing ratios of the transparent binder as the transparent powder. In this case, the color tone can be changed as shown by reference characters D to E in FIG. 6, and a full-color image with a transparent feeling can be obtained as in a photograph. In FIG. 6, the case where the mixing ratio of the transparent binder is increased in the D direction is shown.

[Table 4]

[Table 5]

The toner replenishment tanks 631b, 631c may contain only the above-mentioned fluorescent powder and transparent powder, and the replenishment of them may be controlled. Further, instead of the fluorescent powder or the transparent binder, a gold powder or a silver powder, or a mixture thereof with a toner may be contained in the toner supply tank. (Hereinafter, margin)

In the above embodiment, the main toner is stored in the middle toner supply tank 631b among the three sets of toner supply tanks and toner supply rollers.
It is preferable that the toner supply tank 631a on the most downstream side in the moving direction of the surface of the developing sleeve 491 contains the main toner and the other toner supply tanks 631b and 631c contain the toner for toning. In the case of this configuration, the distance and time from the replenishment of the toner for toning to the use of the toner for development become longer, and the time for the replenished toner for toning to be mixed and stirred is gained. Therefore, it is possible to quickly change the color tone after replenishing the toner.

Further, in order to promptly bring out the effect of changing the color tone of the toner for the color adjustment, the control shown in the flow chart of FIG. 8 may be performed. In the control of FIG. 8, first, a desired color tone is designated using the color matching keys on the operation panel 101, and the number of repeats is input using the ten keys (steps 1 and 2). When the number of repeat sheets is three or more, it is inputted whether or not the forced replenishment of toner and the forced consumption of toner in the developing device 49 are selected, and it is judged whether or not the forced replenishment and forced consumption are selected (step 3, 4, 5). When the forced replenishment and forced consumption are selected, the toner control circuit calculates the replenishment amount of each toner, the forced consumption sequence is turned on, and the replenishment of the forced replenishment amount is started (steps 6, 7, and 8). ). When the toner replenished by the above-mentioned forced replenishment is consumed, the toner replenishment mode using a normal toner concentration sensor or the like is turned on,
The copy image forming operation is repeated. In step 3, when the number of repeats is less than 3, the forced replenishment and forced consumption are executed without waiting for the selection input of forced replenishment and forced consumption of toner.

When the toner in the developing device 49 is forcibly consumed, only the developing device 49 whose color tone has been changed is controlled so as to form a halftone or solid image on the transfer paper. This compulsory consumption work is A4
It only takes time to transport one sheet in a horizontal feed. By forcibly consuming the toner in the developing device 49 prior to the mixing of the toning toner in this manner, the mixing ratio of the main toner and the toning toner in the developing device can be promptly set to a desired mixing ratio. Can be changed.

However, the above-mentioned forced consumption of toner requires extra work time for the user, and there is a problem of a charge for handling an extra copy. There is a method in which the formed toner image for forced toner consumption is directly cleaned by the cleaning device 51 without being transferred to the transfer paper. With this method, the amount of waste toner increases, but forced consumption of toner can be executed without the user's knowledge.

After the copy start button is pressed, the first black developing device 49BK of the four developing devices 49 performs development, and another color (Y,
Toners in the developing devices for the respective colors may be consumed to some extent before the start of image formation of M and C). Also in this case, the color tone of the newly supplied toner is promptly reflected.

After the toner is forcibly consumed, the toner replenishment amounts determined based on the color tone designation data are forcibly replenished to some extent, and then the normal copy image forming operation is repeated. After the toner that has been replenished at the beginning is consumed, the toner is replenished by a constant toner replenishment amount determined based on the output value of the toner concentration sensor. The ratio of each toner at the time of replenishment is set to the ratio determined by the color tone designation data. In this way, by forcibly replenishing the replenishment amount of each toner at a predetermined ratio to some extent at the beginning of the copy operation, the change in the color tone of the newly replenished toner is promptly reflected. This is especially effective when the number of repeats is small.

In the above embodiment, each developing device 49 is provided with a toner replenishing device having a plurality of toner replenishing tanks 631 so that the delicate color tone of the full-color image can be changed. As shown in the example of 1., a toner package 65M for the main toner and auxiliary agent packages 66M, 67M, 68M accommodating the toner for toning mixed with the main toner are prepared in combination, and the toner in this package is The toner replenishing tanks 631 shown in FIG. 2 are individually replenished by appropriately combining them according to the color tone desired by the user, or the toner replenishing devices 63 provided in the respective developing devices as shown in FIG. 10 are mixed and replenished. It may be used for development.

In the example of FIG. 9, auxiliary agent packages 66M, 67M, 68M of three types of toner for color adjustment a, b, c are prepared, and three packs of each are present. The amount of toning toner accommodated in the auxiliary agent package is set to ½ or less of the amount of main toner accommodated in the main toner package, and each package is packaged together. Here, 2 packs of toner for color matching a, 1 pack of toner b for color matching,
When 3 packs of the toner for color matching are used and the main toner is added to this to make a mixture, the characteristics of the mixture are MA2B1C3 depending on the amount of each toner for color matching used.
Is displayed. The notation of M means magenta. Similarly, in Y and C, it is possible to select colors and create a unique combination of admixtures according to the taste of each user. In this way, the mixing ratio of each toner for toning can be clarified by the number of auxiliary agent packages, and the mixing ratio can be kept stable.

The toning toner used for preparing the above-mentioned mixture is 4 in comparison with the main toner in the L * a * b * color display space.
Those having a color difference of -30 are used. Further, when the color tone of the toning toner is displayed in the coordinate space of the XYZ display system, it is formed by connecting the Y, M, and C main toner coordinates as shown in the example of the XY coordinates in FIG. The color-adjusting toner having a color tone located in an area (hatched portion) located outside the triangle of the same color is selected. As described above, by selecting the toning toner having the color tone located outside the triangle, the color reproduction range is expanded, and the color tone can be changed in the direction desired by the user.

Further, X in FIGS. 11 (b), 11 (c) and 11 (d)
As shown in the partial view of the Y color coordinate space, the X of the main toner is adjusted so that the color intensity of the toning toner becomes substantially equal.
It is preferable to select the toning toner so as to have X, Y, and Z values at positions on a concentric circle centered on the YZ coordinate. By selecting in this way, the amount of the color-adjusting toner to be added and the amount of change in the color tone become substantially proportional to each other, so that the toner package can be conveniently used.

In the examples of FIGS. 9 to 11, a toning toner having a predetermined color difference from the main toner is used as an auxiliary agent, but instead of this, a fluorescent powder, a transparent powder, a gold powder, a silver powder or Mixtures of these may also be used, whereby the tones of the full-color image may be changed as desired.

[0051]

According to the first aspect of the invention, the main color tone of the visible image can be determined from the plurality of toner accommodating portions of the toner replenishing device with respect to the developing device for developing the latent image on the image carrier. Then, a plurality of toners having the same color and classified within a range of a predetermined color difference are selected by a replenishing means and replenished, and the replenished toners are mixed and used for development, thereby Since a visible image with a desired color tone can be formed on
This has the effect of making it possible to make subtle changes in color tones, which could not be achieved by changing data in conventional image processing.

According to the second aspect of the invention, with respect to the developing device for developing the latent image on the image bearing member, the same toner is used for determining the main color tone of the visible image from the plurality of toner accommodating portions of the toner replenishing device. Toners having different colors and different fluorescent powder contents or transparent powder contents are replenished by replenishing means, and the replenished toners are mixed and used for development to obtain a desired toner on the image carrier. Since it is possible to form an image with a color tone having fluorescence or transparency, there is an effect that it is possible to make a subtle fluorescence or transparency color tone change that could not be realized by changing the data of the conventional image processing. is there.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, with respect to the developing device for developing the latent image on the image bearing member, the toner for determining the main color tone of the visible image from the toner accommodating portion and the powder agent accommodating portion of the toner replenishing device. And a fluorescent powder or a transparent powder are selected by a replenishing means and replenished, and the replenished toner is mixed and used for development to obtain a color tone having a desired fluorescence or transparency on the image carrier. Since a visible image can be formed, there is an effect that it is possible to make a delicate change in color tone of fluorescence or transparency, which cannot be realized by changing the data of the conventional image processing.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the replenishment amount by each replenishing means can be controlled by the control means. Therefore, even if the image forming operation or the development by each developing device is performed, the toner or Since powder can be supplied at various mixing ratios,
There is an effect that various color tones can be easily changed.

According to the invention of claim 5, the user simply specifies a desired color tone by the color tone designating means, and based on the designated color tone, the toner, the fluorescent powder agent, and the transparent powder agent by the respective replenishing means are provided. Alternatively, since the replenishment amount of the mixture is determined and controlled, there is an effect that various color tones can be easily changed according to the user's preference.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the ratio of the capacity of the second and subsequent storage sections of the toner storage section and the powder storage section to the maximum storage capacity is 1 /
2, 1/4 ,. ． ． Since the size of the containing portion can be combined so as to be substantially proportional to the amounts of the toner and powder used therein by setting the integral multiple of 1/2 or less as follows, the entire toner replenishing device can be minimized. The effect is that it can be stored in a limited space.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a full-color copying machine according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a developing device of the copying machine.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram in an a * b * color space in a range where toning can be performed by the developing device.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a control system of the copying machine.

FIG. 5A is a partial block diagram of the control system. (B) is an explanatory view of a display on an operation panel.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram in the a * b * color space of a tonable range when a fluorescent powder or a transparent binder is used in the developing device.

FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram of a developing device according to a modification.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of control according to a modified example.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a combination of a main toner package and a side agent package.

FIG. 10 is a schematic configuration diagram of a developing device using the package.

FIG. 11A is an explanatory diagram of coordinates in the XY color space of the main toner contained in the main toner package. (B) is Y
An enlarged view of the vicinity of the coordinates of the main toner. (C) is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the coordinates of the C main toner. (D) is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the coordinates of the M main toner.

[Explanation of symbols]

 45 Photoreceptor Drum 49 Developing Device 63 Toner Replenishing Device 100 System Controller 101 Operation Panel 103 Toner Control Circuit 104 Replenishing Roller Control Circuit 491 Developing Sleeve 631 Toner Replenishing Tank 632 Stirring Paddle 633 Toner Replenishing Roller

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A developing device for developing a latent image on an image carrier,
In a color image forming apparatus including a toner replenishing device that replenishes toner to the developing device, the toner replenishing device has the same color and has a predetermined color in determining a main color tone of a visible image formed by the developing device. The image forming apparatus is configured by a plurality of toner storage portions that store toner classified in the range of the color difference and a plurality of replenishment means that replenish the toner from the toner storage portion into the developing device. . 2. A developing device for developing a latent image on an image carrier,
In an image forming apparatus provided with a toner replenishing device for replenishing toner to the developing device, the toner replenishing device is the same color in determining a main color tone of a visible image formed by the developing device, and is mutually fluorescent. An image forming apparatus comprising: a plurality of toner containing portions for containing toners having different powder or transparent powder contents; and a plurality of replenishing means for replenishing the developing device with toner from the toner containing portions. . 3. A developing device for developing a latent image on an image carrier,
In an image forming apparatus including a toner replenishing device that replenishes toner to the developing device, the toner replenishing device includes a toner accommodating portion that accommodates toner that determines a main color tone of a visible image formed by the developing device, and a fluorescent substance. A powder agent, a transparent powder agent or a mixture thereof, and a plurality of replenishing means for replenishing the toner and the powder agent from the toner container and the powder agent reservoir into the developing device, respectively. A characteristic image forming apparatus. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising control means for controlling the amount of replenishment by each replenishing means. 5. A color tone designating unit for designating a desired color tone is provided, and based on the color tone designated by the color tone designating unit,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the replenishing amount of the toner, the fluorescent powder, the transparent powder or a mixture thereof by each replenishing means is controlled. 6. The ratio of the capacity of the second and subsequent storage units of the toner storage unit and the powder agent storage unit to the maximum capacity of the storage unit is 1/2, 1/4 ,. ． ． 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is set to an integral multiple of 1/2 or less as follows.