Image forming apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025314992-A1
Application number	US-202519242806-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 18, 2025
Priority date	Jul 29, 2021
Publication date	Oct 9, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

An image forming apparatus including an attachment portion, a storage portion, and an agitation member, an actuator, and a control unit, wherein the attachment portion includes an operation portion, including an engagement portion engaging with the shutter, configured to move with the shutter by the engagement portion being engaged with the shutter, the operation portion being movable between a first position where the shutter is at a closed position and a second position where the shutter is at an opened position, and a detection unit detecting a movement of the operation portion, and wherein the control unit controls the actuator so that driving of the agitation member is started based on the detection of a movement of the operation portion from the second position to the first position.

First claim

1 . An image forming apparatus to which a toner container is attachable, the toner container storing toner and including an opening portion for toner replenishment and a shutter movable between a closed position where the shutter closes the opening portion and an opened position where the shutter opens the opening portion, the image forming apparatus comprising:
an attachment portion to which the toner container is attachable; a storage portion configured to store toner to be supplied from the opening portion of the toner container in a state that the toner container is attached to the attachment portion; an agitation member configured to agitate toner in the storage portion; an actuator configured to drive the agitation member; and a control unit configured to control the actuator, wherein the attachment portion includes an operation member configured to move with the shutter between a first position where the shutter is at the closed position and a second position where the shutter is at the opened position, and a detection unit configured to detect a movement of the operation member, wherein the control unit controls the actuator in such a manner that driving of the agitation member is started based on detection by the detection unit detecting a movement of the operation member from the second position to the first position.

2 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein driving of the agitation member stops during a period from detection by the detection unit detecting a movement of the operation member from the first position to the second position until detection by the detection unit detecting the movement of the operation member from the second position to the first position.

3 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a toner remaining amount detection unit configured to output signal according to an amount of toner stored in the storage portion,
wherein the toner remaining amount detection unit outputs the signal after driving of the agitation member has been started based on detection by the detection unit detecting the movement of the operation member from the second position to the first position, and while the agitation member is being driven.

4 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the toner remaining amount detection unit starts outputting the signal after a predetermined time has elapsed from at a timing when the driving of the agitation member has been started based on detection by the detection unit detecting the movement of the operation member from the second position to the first position.

5 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 3 , further comprising a display unit configured to display a remaining amount of toner in accordance with the signal outputted by the toner remaining amount detection unit,
wherein the control unit controls the display unit in such a manner that display of a replenishment mode different from the display of the remaining amount of toner is started based on detection by the detection unit detecting the movement of the operation member from the first position to the second position, and the control unit changes the display of the replenishment mode to the display of the remaining amount of toner after completion of output of the signal from the toner remaining amount detection unit.

6 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 3 ,
wherein the control unit controls the actuator in such a manner that driving of the agitation member is started after a predetermined time has elapsed from at a timing when the detection unit has detected a movement of the operation member from the first position to the second position.

7 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the operation member includes an annular portion and a protruding portion protruding outward in a radial direction of the annular portion from a center of the annular portion.

8 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the display unit includes a plurality of graduations, and
wherein the display of the replenishment mode includes a pattern where the state with the plurality of graduations of the display unit being turned on one by one is repeated.

9 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the display unit includes a plurality of graduations, and
wherein the display of the replenishment mode includes a pattern where the state with all the graduations being turned off and being turned on are repeated.

10 . An image forming apparatus to which a toner container is attachable, the toner container storing toner and including an opening portion for toner replenishment and a shutter movable between a closed position where the shutter closes the opening portion and an opened position where the shutter opens the opening portion, the image forming apparatus comprising:
an attachment portion to which the toner container is attachable; a storage portion configured to store toner to be supplied from the opening portion of the toner container in a state that the toner container is attached to the attachment portion; an agitation member configured to agitate toner in the storage portion; an actuator configured to drive the agitation member; and a control unit configured to control the actuator, wherein the attachment portion includes an operation member configured to move with the shutter between a first position where the shutter is at the closed position and a second position where the shutter is at the opened position, and a detection unit configured to detect a movement of the operation member, and wherein driving of the agitation member is started before the detection unit detects a movement of the operation member from the second position to the first position, and the control unit controls the actuator in such a manner that a driving speed of the agitation member increases based on detection by the detection unit detecting the movement of the operation member from the second position to the first position.

11 . An image forming system comprising:
a toner container configured to store toner and including a pouch storing toner, an end portion member which is disposed in an end portion of the pouch and which has an opening portion for discharging toner in the pouch to outside of the toner container, and a container shutter movable relative to the end portion member between a closed position where the container shutter closes the opening portion and an opened position where the container shutter opens the opening portion; and an image forming apparatus to which the toner container is attachable, wherein the image forming apparatus includes an attachment portion to which the toner container is attachable; a storage portion configured to store the toner to be supplied from the opening portion of the toner container in a state that the toner container is attached to the attachment portion; an agitation member configured to agitate the toner in the storage portion; an actuator configured to drive the agitation member; and a control unit configured to control the actuator, wherein the attachment portion includes an operation member configured to move with the container shutter between a first position where the container shutter is at the closed position and a second position where the container shutter is at the opened position, and a detection unit configured to detect a movement of the operation member, and wherein the control unit controls the actuator in such a manner that driving of the agitation member is started based on detection by the detection unit detecting a movement of the operation member from the second position

Assignees

• Canon Kk

Inventors

• Suetsugu Masahiro
• Nishida Shinichi
• Uneme Tetsushi
• Ogawa Tsuyoshi

Classifications

• G03G15/556

  for toner consumption, e.g. pixel counting, toner coverage detection or toner density measurement · CPC title

• G03G15/5016

  User-machine interface; Display panels; Control console · CPC title

• G03G15/0889

  for agitation or stirring · CPC title

• G03G15/0874

  non-rigid containers, e.g. foldable cartridges, bags · CPC title

• G03G15/0877

  Arrangements for metering and dispensing developer from a developer cartridge into the development unit · CPC title