Developer pump with restricted detection time and image forming device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9547257-B2
Application number	US-201414547574-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 19, 2014
Priority date	Nov 21, 2013
Publication date	Jan 17, 2017
Grant date	Jan 17, 2017

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes a developer conveyance device to transport developer, using a positive-displacement pump to alternately generate positive pressure and negative pressure by changing a volume of an internal space thereof, a destination developer container to which the developer conveyance device transports developer, a sensor provided to the destination developer container, to detect developer in the destination developer container, and a controller to control the positive-displacement pump according to a detection result generated by the sensor. The controller disabled detection of developer by the sensor in a non-detection period that starts from a stop of the positive-displacement pump.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a developer conveyance device to transport developer, the developer conveyance device including a positive-displacement pump to alternately generate positive pressure and negative pressure by changing a volume of an internal space thereof;
a destination developer container to which the developer conveyance device transports developer;
a sensor provided to the destination developer container to detect developer in the destination developer container; and
a controller to control the positive-displacement pump according to a detection result of developer generated by the sensor, wherein
the positive-displacement pump takes in air and developer and discharges the developer together with air to the destination developer container, and
the controller disables detection of developer by the sensor in a non-detection period that starts from a stop of the positive-displacement pump, and wherein the controller disables the detection of developer by the sensor while the positive-displacement pump is operating.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a duration of the non-detection period is determined in accordance with an operating time of the positive-displacement pump.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the non-detection period is increased when an operating time of the positive-displacement pump is increased.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the destination developer container comprises a hopper to temporarily store developer,
the positive-displacement pump is disposed above the hopper, and
the sensor is attached to a side wall of the hopper and positioned to substantially coincide with a vertical face that passes through an outlet of the positive-displacement pump.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the outlet of the positive-displacement pump is at a position deviated upstream from the sensor in a direction in which developer is circulated in the hopper.

6. A developer conveyance device to transport developer to a destination developer container, the developer conveyance device comprising:
a sensor provided to the destination developer container, the sensor to detect developer in the destination developer container; and
a positive-displacement pump to alternately generate positive pressure and negative pressure by changing a volume of an internal space thereof, the positive-displacement pump controlled according to a detection result generated by the sensor, wherein
the positive-displacement pump takes in air and developer and discharges the developer together with air to the destination developer container, and
wherein detection of developer by the sensor is disabled in a non-detection period that starts from a stop of the positive-displacement pump, and wherein the detection of developer by the sensor is disabled while the positive-displacement pump is operating.

7. The developer conveyance device according to claim 6 , wherein a duration of the non-detection period is determined in accordance with an operating time of the positive-displacement pump.

8. The developer conveyance device according to claim 6 , wherein the non-detection period is increased when an operating time of the positive-displacement pump is increased.

9. The developer conveyance device according to claim 6 wherein the positive-displacement pump is disposed above the destination developer container, and
the sensor is attached to a side wall of the destination developer container and positioned to substantially coincide with a vertical face that passes through an outlet of the positive-displacement pump.

10. The developer conveyance device according to claim 9 , wherein the outlet of the positive-displacement pump is at a position deviated upstream from the sensor in a direction in which developer is circulated in the destination developer container.

11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to enable the sensor following a non-detection period which is a toner rest period during which the positive-displacement pump is inactive and the sensor is disabled.

12. The developer conveyance device according to claim 6 , wherein the sensor is enabled following the non-detection period which is a toner rest period during which the positive-displacement pump is inactive and the sensor is disabled.

13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a toner supply container connected to a toner inlet of the positive-displacement pump.

14. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a developer conveyance device to transport developer, the developer conveyance device including a positive-displacement pump to alternately generate positive pressure and negative pressure by changing a volume of an internal space thereof;
a destination developer container to which the developer conveyance device transports developer;
a sensor provided to the destination developer container to detect developer in the destination developer container; and
a controller to control the positive-displacement pump according to a detection result of developer generated by the sensor, wherein
the positive-displacement pump takes in air and developer and discharges the developer together with air to the destination developer container, and
wherein the controller neglects output from the sensor in a non-detection period that starts from a stop of the positive-displacement pump, and wherein the controller neglects output from the sensor while the positive-displacement pump is operating.

Assignees

• Matsumoto Junichi
• Tsuda Kiyonori
• Takami Nobuo
• Takahashi Yutaka
• Mikuniya Kentaro
• Kondoh Keinosuke
• Kawakami Akihiro
• Koike Toshio
• Ricoh Co Ltd

Inventors

• Matsumoto Junichi
• Tsuda Kiyonori
• Takami Nobuo
• Takahashi Yutaka
• Mikuniya Kentaro
• Kondoh Keinosuke
• Kawakami Akihiro
• Koike Toshio

Classifications

• G03G15/0879 Primary

  for dispensing developer from a developer cartridge not directly attached to the development unit · CPC title

• G03G15/0858

  the level being measured by mechanical means · CPC title