| 摘要 |
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus enabling an operator to perform exact processing for a waste toner collecting container (hereinafter simply referred to as container) just by monitoring rotation of an encoder without adding a dedicated sensor, and to provide a method of determining a state of the container thereof. SOLUTION: In a mechanism where a rotary shaft of a waste toner carrying-in screw incorporated in the container is coupled with an encoder on an apparatus part side when the container is attached to an attaching part, the encoder does not rotate if the container is not attached to the attaching part, and the encoder rotates normally if the new empty container is attached to the attaching part. In the mechanism, when the container is nearly full of waste toner, a notice that the container should be exchanged is given, on the basis of a delay of the rotation of the encoder, when the delay of the rotation of the encoder is detected after detecting that the container is attached to the attaching part by confirmation in an early stage of operation, and when the stop of the rotation of the encoder is detected, an instruction that the container should be exchanged because it is full of the waste toner is given if the notice has been already given, and a warning that a connection state of the container should be confirmed is given if the notice has not been given yet. COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT |
