JP2007286231A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processing device that ensures high image quality such that color shift is within a permissible limit, and to provide an image forming apparatus having the image processing device. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus includes: a plurality of process units 11 to 14 for forming images on their respective image forming bodies; a secondary transfer roller 28 for transferring images formed by the process units 11 to 14 to a recording sheet 3; a first conveyance roller 50 for conveying the recording sheet 3 to the secondary transfer roller 28; a color shift detection sensor 36 for detecting relative color shifts between images formed by the process units 11 to 14; and a speed control means for controlling at least the drive speed of the first conveyance roller 50 or secondary transfer roller 28 according to color shift information detected by a color shift detection sensor 36. The apparatus is capable of eliminating color shift caused by a speed change in the paper drive motor or belt drive motor affected by a recording sheet. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that synthesizes toner images of respective colors formed on a plurality of photosensitive drums on a transfer body such as a transfer belt.

  An electrophotographic process unit for each color of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) is arranged along the transfer belt, and a toner image for each color is superimposed on the transfer belt. The so-called tandem color image forming apparatus is widely used.

  In this type of tandem color image forming apparatus, after a toner image is individually formed on the photosensitive drum in the electrophotographic process unit for each color, the toner image for each color is sequentially transferred onto the transfer belt ( Alternatively, when the image for each color is misaligned, color misregistration occurs in the superimposed image and image quality is deteriorated.

  As one of the causes of such color misregistration, it has been found that in an image forming apparatus using a transfer belt, it is due to uneven speed of the transfer belt.

In order to eliminate the color misregistration caused by the speed unevenness of the transfer belt, a scale is provided on the transfer belt, the scale is read by a sensor and the belt speed is corrected (refer to Patent Document 1), or a speed detection is performed on the transfer belt. A method of forming a mark, reading it with a sensor and correcting the speed (see Patent Document 2), and further, the cause of uneven speed of the transfer belt is due to load fluctuations on the belt running. Assuming the timing when load fluctuation occurs, a method of correcting the speed for a predetermined duration at this timing (see Patent Document 3) has been proposed.
JP 2004-205627 A JP 2005-107268 A JP-A-2005-107118

  However, in the above-described conventional method, since the transfer belt speed is detected, it is necessary to form a scale and a measurement pattern on the belt, which complicates the configuration of the apparatus and causes an increase in cost.

  In addition, in the method of assuming the timing at which load fluctuation occurs from a predetermined timing, the starting point of load fluctuation depending on the position of the recording paper can be assumed, but the timing of returning to the original load after continuing for a predetermined time depends on the recording paper size. Because it is different, it cannot be assumed.

  Further, the load fluctuation timing cannot always be correctly determined due to the deflection of the recording sheet.

  The present invention has been made to solve such problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a color image forming apparatus capable of eliminating color misregistration caused by uneven speed of a transfer belt. To do.

  The image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a plurality of process units that form images on an image forming body, an image transfer unit that transfers images formed by the plurality of process units, respectively, to a recording sheet, and a recording sheet on the image transfer unit. In accordance with information on color misregistration detected by the color misregistration detection means, a color misregistration detection means for detecting a relative color misregistration of each image formed by a plurality of process units, And a speed control means for controlling at least one of the driving speed of the recording sheet conveying means and the driving speed of the image transfer means.

  With this configuration, in order to control at least one of the speed of the recording sheet conveying means and the speed of the image transfer means in accordance with information on the relative color shift of each image formed by a plurality of process units, the recording sheet It is possible to eliminate the color misregistration caused by the speed fluctuation of the recording sheet conveying means or the image transferring means due to the influence of the above.

  In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the color misregistration information is information based on the color misregistration of the image printed in the first half of the recording sheet and the color misregistration of the image printed in the second half of the recording sheet. .

  With this configuration, it is possible to prevent color misregistration with high accuracy based on the color misregistration of the image printed in the first half of the recording sheet and the color misregistration of the image printed in the second half of the recording sheet.

  In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the image transfer means transfers the image formed on the image forming body by a plurality of process units to the intermediate image holding body, and then records the image transferred to the intermediate image holding body. It has a configuration for transferring to a sheet.

  With this configuration, the images formed by the plurality of process units can be once transferred to the intermediate image holding member and then transferred to the recording sheet.

  In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the image transfer unit directly transfers the image formed on the image forming body by a plurality of process units onto a recording sheet.

  With this configuration, the images formed on the image forming body by the plurality of process units can be directly transferred to the recording sheet.

  In addition, the image forming apparatus of the present invention has a configuration in which color misregistration information is obtained from an image transferred to an intermediate image holding member.

  With this configuration, color misregistration information can be obtained from the image transferred to the intermediate image holding member.

  The image forming apparatus of the present invention has a configuration in which color misregistration information is obtained from an image on a recording sheet transferred by an image transfer unit.

  With this configuration, color misregistration information can be obtained from the image of the recording sheet transferred by the image transfer means.

  In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the speed control unit controls the drive clock frequency of the motor that drives the recording sheet conveying unit or the image transfer unit.

  With this configuration, it is possible to control the speed of the recording sheet conveyance unit or the image transfer unit by controlling the drive clock frequency of the motor that drives the recording sheet conveyance unit or the image transfer unit.

  In the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the color misregistration detecting unit detects a relative color misregistration of an image formed based on a predetermined test pattern.

  With this configuration, color misregistration is detected based on the test pattern printing result.

  In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the detection of the relative color misregistration of the image by the color misregistration detection means is performed by a predetermined test pattern formed by a process unit located at the most downstream among at least a plurality of process units. To detect an image based on the above.

  With this configuration, color misregistration is detected based on the test pattern image formed by the process unit located on the most downstream side.

  The present invention provides a color misregistration detection unit that detects a relative color misregistration of each image formed by a plurality of process units, and a recording sheet conveying unit according to information on the color misregistration detected by the color misregistration detection unit. Equipped with a speed control means that controls at least one of the drive speed and the drive speed of the image transfer means, eliminating color misregistration caused by uneven speed of the belt drive motor and paper drive motor due to the position in the travel path of the recording sheet can do.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, the color image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment includes an image forming unit 1 that forms an image on a recording sheet through processes of charging, exposure, development, transfer, and fixing. The recording sheets 3 stored in the paper feed cassette of the paper feed unit 2 are sequentially fed through the paper feed path A from the paper feed unit 2 toward the image forming unit 1, and a required image is formed in the image forming unit 1. The recording sheet 3 is discharged to the paper discharge unit 4 through a paper discharge path B from the image forming unit 1 to the outside of the apparatus.

  The image forming unit 1 includes a plurality of process units 11 to 14 that form toner images for respective color components of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K), and the process units 11. To 14 for scanning the image forming surface of each of the photoconductive drums 11a to 14a with a light beam for exposure (dotted line arrow) 16 and each process unit 11 to 14. And an intermediate transfer belt (intermediate transfer member) 17 as an intermediate image holding member on which toner images of respective colors formed on the respective photosensitive drums 11a to 14a are sequentially transferred and synthesized. The photoconductive drums 11 a to 14 a are arranged in tandem along the intermediate transfer belt 17.

  In each of the process units 11 to 14, the electrostatic latent image is obtained by scanning the light beam for exposure from the LSU 16 on the image forming surfaces of the photosensitive drums 11a to 14a uniformly charged by the chargers 11b to 14b. An image is formed, and the electrostatic latent images on the respective photoconductive drums 11a to 14a are developed with the respective color toners supplied from the respective developing units 11c to 14c, and single color toner images for the respective color components are formed on the respective photoconductive drums 11a. To 14a.

  The intermediate transfer belt 17 is supported by being wound around a driving roller 21 and a driven roller 22, and the intermediate transfer belt 17 is pressed inside the intermediate transfer belt 17 to press the toner images on the photosensitive drums 11 a to 14 a. Are provided with primary transfer rollers 24 to 27 for each color for transferring the toner image to the intermediate transfer belt 17. Below the driving roller 21, a color misregistration detection sensor 36 is provided as a color misregistration detection unit that detects an image on the intermediate transfer belt 17. Further, a secondary transfer roller 28 that transfers the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 17 to the recording sheet 3 is disposed on the side of the end of the intermediate transfer belt 17. That is, in this embodiment, the intermediate transfer belt 17, the drive roller 21, the driven roller 22, the primary transfer rollers 24-27, and the secondary transfer roller 28 constitute an image transfer unit.

  The recording sheet 3 onto which the toner image has been transferred by the secondary transfer roller 28 is conveyed to the fixing device 19 where the toner image is fixed to the recording sheet 3 by heat and pressure. Thereafter, the recording sheet 3 is discharged onto the paper discharge unit 4 by the paper discharge roller 20 through the paper discharge path B.

  A secondary transfer inlet sensor 33 that detects the passage of the recording sheet 3 is disposed in the vicinity of the inlet of the secondary transfer roller 28 and detects the passage of the recording sheet 3 to the secondary transfer roller 28.

  Further, a fixing inlet sensor 34 is disposed in the vicinity of the inlet of the fixing device 19, and a fixing outlet sensor 35 is disposed in the vicinity of the outlet of the fixing device 19. These two sensors confirm passage of the recording sheet 3 through the fixing device 19. However, if the recording sheet 3 does not pass within a predetermined time, heating by the fixing device 19 is stopped as an apparatus abnormality, and heating of the recording sheet 3 is stopped.

  Position alignment between the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 17 and the recording sheet 3 is performed on the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the recording sheet 3 of the secondary transfer unit 29 by the secondary transfer roller 28 and the driving roller 21. A registration roller 31 is provided, and the recording sheet feeding timing is adjusted by the rotation and stop of the registration roller 31 under the control of a registration clutch (not shown).

  That is, the recording sheet 3 supplied from the sheet feeding unit 2 temporarily stops after a predetermined time after the registration sensor 32 arranged in the sheet feeding path A detects the recording sheet 3. The predetermined time is set so that the recording sheet 3 is bitten by the registration roller 31 with an appropriate deflection, so that the recording sheet 3 can be sent out when the registration roller 31 next rotates.

  Thereafter, at the timing of alignment between the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 17 and the recording sheet, the registration clutch is turned on, the registration roller 31 rotates, and the recording sheet 3 passes through the paper guide 5 and 2 The toner is supplied to a secondary transfer unit 29 including a secondary transfer roller 28 and a driving roller 21.

  Here, the paper guide 5 guides the recording sheet 3 so that the leading end of the recording sheet 3 is smoothly inserted between the secondary transfer roller 28 and the driving roller 21.

  Further, since the secondary transfer roller 28 is grounded and the driving roller 21 is charged with the same polarity as the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 17 by a high voltage power source (not shown), the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 17 is It is transferred to the recording sheet 3.

  FIG. 2 is a layout diagram of drive motors showing the relationship between each drive motor and the driven part in the present embodiment.

  In FIG. 2, a paper drive motor 41 rotationally drives the first transport roller 50, the registration roller 31, the fixing device 19, the second transport roller 60, and the paper discharge roller 20 by a paper drive transmission system 42 (not shown in detail).

  The belt drive motor 43 rotationally drives the drive roller 21 by a belt drive transmission system 44 (not shown in detail).

  The image forming unit drive motor 45 rotates the process units 11 to 14 by an image forming unit drive transmission system 46 (not shown) constituted by, for example, a plurality of gears.

In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the speed at which the recording sheet 3 is transported is from the paper feed speed at the position of the secondary transfer roller 28 and from the paper feed cassette of the paper feed unit 2 on the lower side to the secondary transfer roller. Is set as follows between the paper feeding speed of the path A and the paper feeding speed of the path B from the fixing device 19 on the upper side to the discharge from the secondary transfer roller.
Paper feed speed of path B <paper feed speed of secondary transfer roller position <paper feed speed of path A, that is, between the registration roller 31 and the secondary transfer roller 28 with respect to paper feed by the secondary transfer roller 28, and The speed is set so that the recording sheet 3 is deflected between the secondary transfer roller 28 and the fixing device 19.

  This is to prevent the feeding speed fluctuation of the recording sheet 3 from affecting the speed of the intermediate transfer belt 17 as much as possible by giving the recording sheet 3 deflection before and after the secondary transfer roller 28. It is consideration.

  However, even if the speed is set as described above, the deflection of the recording sheet 3 between the registration roller 31 and the secondary transfer roller 28 may reach an amount that does not fit within the paper guide 5.

  For example, when an A3 size recording sheet 3 is used such that its longitudinal direction is the sheet feeding direction, the time during which the recording sheet 3 is held and conveyed by both the secondary transfer roller 28 and the registration roller 31 is A4 size. The deflection is likely to increase because it is longer than the case.

  In this state, the recording sheet 3 sent by the registration roller 31 cannot have any more deflection, and the recording sheet 3 drives the secondary transfer roller 28 and the intermediate transfer belt 17 in order to release the further deflection. To do. As a result, the drive roller 21 is reversely driven, and the belt speed changes.

  3, 4, and 5 are schematic views showing the passage of paper over time in the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment, and the above phenomenon will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5.

  3 shows a state in which the leading edge of the first recording sheet 3a has reached the secondary transfer roller 28, and FIG. 4 shows a state in which the leading edge of the first recording sheet 3a has reached the position of the fixing outlet sensor 35. FIG. 5 shows a state where the first recording sheet 3 a has passed the position of the fixing exit sensor 35 and the leading edge of the second recording sheet 3 b has reached the secondary transfer roller 28.

  As shown in FIG. 4, normally, at the timing when the leading edge of the recording sheet 3a reaches the position of the fixing exit sensor 35, the recording sheet 3a is bent before and after the secondary transfer roller 28 by the above speed setting. Paper is fed in the state.

  However, the deflection becomes large especially in a large size recording sheet such as A3 size, and it does not fit between the paper guides 5, and from the time after FIG. 4 until the rear end of the recording sheet 3a passes through the registration roller 31, the above-mentioned. As described above, since the paper feed speed in the path A is higher than the paper feed speed at the secondary transfer roller position, the drive roller 21 is driven in reverse.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the relationship between the driving load torque of the belt drive transmission system 44 and the phase of the driving roller 21. The vertical axis represents the load torque, the horizontal axis represents the position of the motor shaft indicating phase and the belt driving roller phase. The phase difference is shown.

  In the belt drive transmission system 44 having at least a pair of gears, the relative phase difference between the motor shaft of the belt drive motor 43 and the drive roller 21 varies greatly around a load torque of 0 due to gear backlash (BR) or the like. When it becomes a load torque (for example, T1 or more), it is stabilized at a constant phase position regardless of the load torque.

  In the present embodiment, the load torque T1 is used until the deflection of the recording sheet 3 reaches a predetermined value that fits within the paper guide 5, but the load torque gradually decreases when the deflection amount exceeds the predetermined value. It has changed until T2. As the load torque changes, the phase changes and color misregistration occurs.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the state of color misregistration recorded on the recording sheet 3.

  In FIG. 7, the horizontal axis indicates the distance in the sub-scanning direction from the leading edge of the recording sheet 3, and the vertical axis indicates the color misregistration amount between the C color and the K color.

  In the present embodiment, the color misregistration at the rear end of the recording sheet 3 increases and exceeds the allowable range AD shown in the figure.

  Further, the color misregistration in the sub-scanning direction has a periodicity for each predetermined length (P1) depending on, for example, the circumferential length of the photosensitive drums 11a to 14a and the gear cycle of the drive transmission system.

  When the size of the recording sheet 3 is small, the trailing edge of the paper reaches the registration roller 31 before the deflection of the recording sheet 3 between the registration roller 31 and the secondary transfer roller 28 becomes sufficiently large. The speed of 17 does not change greatly. However, when the size of the recording sheet 3 is large, the speed of the intermediate transfer belt 17 changes greatly.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a test pattern used for acquiring color misregistration information in the present embodiment.

  In FIG. 8, this test pattern is a pattern set in which C and K horizontal lines CL and KL are recorded at a predetermined short distance YB0 (5 mm in this embodiment) at a predetermined pitch P1 and in the sub-scanning direction. It is arranged in.

  When this test pattern is printed by the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment, the test pattern printed and recorded on the intermediate transfer belt 17 is detected by the color misregistration detection sensor 36 shown in FIG. The color misregistration detection sensor 36 is provided to face the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 17 and can detect a toner image on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 17 by detecting reflected light.

  In the present embodiment, the test pattern of FIG. 8 is printed on the recording sheet 3, and at the same time, the C color image formed by the process unit 13 by the color misregistration detection sensor 36 held inside the apparatus and the process unit 14. The position of the formed K color image transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 17 is directly detected.

  Next, when the test pattern shown in FIG. 8 is recorded on the recording sheet 3 and the color misregistration amount corresponding to each position from the front end of the recording sheet 3 is detected and corrected by the color misregistration detection sensor 36 inside the apparatus. Will be explained.

  FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram of a motor drive unit that controls the paper drive motor 41 in the present embodiment.

  In FIG. 9, a color misregistration amount calculation circuit 81 connected to the color misregistration detection sensor 36 calculates a color misregistration amount and compares it with a reference value based on a detection signal from the color misregistration detection sensor 36, and uses the information as a motor This is transmitted to the clock frequency setting circuit 82. Based on this information, the motor clock frequency setting circuit 82 outputs the frequency of the motor clock set in the motor drive control unit 83 that drives the paper drive motor 41.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of operation of the motor drive unit that controls the paper drive motor 41 of the present embodiment.

  10, first, the color image forming apparatus prints the test pattern shown in FIG. 8 on the recording sheet 3 (S101).

  FIG. 11 is a print sample obtained as a result. In FIG. 11, YB1 to YB5 indicate the distances between the black (K) and cyan (C) print patterns KP and CP transferred onto the recording sheet 3, and are printed from the top to the bottom of the figure. ing. That is, the upper part is printed first and the lower part is printed later.

  The color image forming apparatus detects the passage time of the C color and the K color patterns CP and KP on the intermediate transfer belt 17 while detecting the output of the color misregistration detection sensor 36 in the apparatus, and stores it as color misregistration information. A plurality of C and K color misregistration data in the sub-scanning direction can be obtained as YB1, YB2, YB3, YB4, YB5 for each predetermined pitch P1 (S102).

  The sub-scanning color misregistration data located at the leading end of the recording sheet 3 is compared with the sub-scanning color misregistration data located at the trailing end of the recording sheet 3 to determine whether the color misregistration amount change is larger than a predetermined reference value. Perform (S103).

  If it is determined that the value is within the reference value (Yes in S103), the process ends. When it is determined that the change in color misregistration amount is larger than the reference value (No in S103), it is determined that the balance between the paper feeding speed at the secondary transfer roller 28 and the paper feeding speed at the path A is not appropriate (S104). ). Therefore, in this case, the drive frequency of the paper drive motor 41 is finely adjusted to reset the speed of the paper drive motor 41 (S105).

In the case of this embodiment, fine adjustment was performed so that the following relationship was established.
Reference value <| YB5- (YB1 + YB2) / 2 |
That is, in this embodiment, as shown by the print sample in FIG. 11, the distance YB1 between the black (K) and cyan (C) print patterns KP and CP at the image position transferred to the first half of the recording sheet 3 or Compared to YB2, the distance YB5 between the black (K) and cyan (C) print patterns KP and CP at the image position transferred in the second half of the recording sheet 3 is relatively small.

  As described above, if the paper feed speed in the path A is too fast, the deflection of the recording sheet 3 between the registration roller 31 and the secondary transfer roller 28 becomes large and cannot be stored in the paper guide 5. The recording sheet 3 reversely drives the intermediate transfer belt 17. As a result, the speed of the intermediate transfer belt 17 is increased when the transfer at the position YB5 is performed compared to the positions YB1 and YB2. Therefore, when the test pattern image is transferred from the cyan process unit 13 and the black process unit 14 to the intermediate transfer belt 17, the image is transferred in the correct positional relationship at the positions YB1 and YB2, but at the position YB5, The cyan (C) image previously transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 17 reaches the position of the black (K) process unit 14 earlier than the correct time, and is shifted to the front end side of the paper as compared with the black (K) image. Since YB5 is transferred, YB5 is smaller than YB1 and YB2.

  On the other hand, if the feeding speed of the recording sheet 3 in the path A is slow, the recording sheet 3 is pulled between the registration roller 31 and the secondary transfer roller 28, and thereby the speed of the intermediate transfer belt 17 is slowed. Since this is the reverse of the above, YB5 is larger than YB1 and YB2.

  As described above, the color misregistration becomes larger than the specified value regardless of whether the paper conveyance speed in the path A becomes too fast or too slow.

In the present embodiment, when the above-described determination formula has the following relationship, it is determined that the sheet conveyance speed in the path A is slow.
YB5- (YB1 + YB2) / 2> 0
If the following relationship is satisfied, it is determined that the sheet conveyance speed in the route A is high.
YB5- (YB1 + YB2) / 2 <0
In FIG. 10, when the result of the print sample in FIG. 11 is obtained as in the present embodiment, it is determined that the sheet conveyance speed in the path A is fast because YB5− (YB1 + YB2) / 2 <0. The apparatus slightly reduces the drive frequency of the paper drive motor 41 (for example, about 0.2%). As a result, the speed of the paper drive motor 41 is reduced, and the speed of the recording sheet 3 conveyed by the registration roller 31 is also reduced, so that the deflection of the recording sheet 3 with the secondary transfer roller 28 is reduced. As a result, the intermediate transfer belt 17 is not driven by the recording sheet 3, and the speed of the intermediate transfer belt 17 becomes the speed before being driven by the recording sheet 3, and the color misregistration caused by this speed fluctuation is eliminated. The

  Further, in the present embodiment, again, the test pattern of FIG. 8 is recorded with the setting of the speed of the paper drive motor 41 whose setting has been changed, and simultaneously, the color misregistration information of each paper position is acquired (S101).

  Here, if the reference value <| YB5− (YB1 + YB2) / 2 |, the driving frequency of the paper drive motor 41 is further slowed down, the test pattern of FIG. Measure.

  This is repeated and if the reference value> | YB5− (YB1 + YB2) / 2 | (Yes in S103), the speed setting of the paper drive motor 41 is terminated.

  In general, it is conceivable that a test pattern is recorded on the intermediate transfer belt 17 and the test pattern position is read by a color misregistration detection sensor without actually transporting the recording paper. However, in this case, the speed fluctuation of the intermediate transfer belt 17 due to the recording sheet 3 as described above cannot be detected, and the pattern is detected by printing on the actual recording sheet 3 as in the present invention. Accordingly, it can be determined that a large color shift occurs in the second half compared to the first half of the sheet.

  In the present embodiment, for example, if the fine adjustment of the speed of the paper drive motor 41 accompanied with the conveyance of the recording sheet 3 according to the present embodiment is performed when the color image forming apparatus is installed, the recording sheet 3 is conveyed thereafter. There may be no color misregistration adjustment. Thereby, it is possible to prevent unnecessary consumption and correction time of the paper due to the color misregistration adjustment accompanying the conveyance of the paper every time.

  In this embodiment, the test pattern is first recorded and adjusted by adjusting the speed of the paper drive motor. For example, when a normal copy is made using a recording sheet having an inconspicuous test pattern. In addition, the effect of the present invention can be obtained by adjusting the speed of the paper drive motor 41 or the belt drive motor 43 while performing normal copying using the test pattern of the recording sheet.

  In the present embodiment, the drive speed of the paper drive motor is finely adjusted. Similarly, the same effect can be obtained even if the drive speed of the belt drive motor 43 is finely adjusted.

  In this embodiment, the toner image is once transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 17 and then transferred onto the recording sheet 3 again. However, the recording sheet 3 is directly held while being transported by the intermediate transfer belt 17. The same effect can be obtained in the structure in which the toner images for the respective colors formed on the photosensitive drums 11a to 14a in the process units 11 to 14 are transferred to the recording sheet 3. In this case, the intermediate transfer belt 17, the driving roller 21, the driven roller 22, and the primary transfer rollers 24 to 27 constitute an image transfer unit.

  As described above, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention has an effect of correcting color misregistration caused by the traveling speed of the recording sheet, and can be applied to a color image forming apparatus or the like.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a color image forming apparatus in an embodiment of the present invention. Arrangement of drive motors showing the relationship between each drive motor and driven part in the embodiment of the present invention FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a first sheet passing state in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention Schematic diagram showing a second sheet passing state in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. Schematic diagram showing a third sheet passing state in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a characteristic diagram showing the influence of load torque of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. Explanatory drawing of color misregistration of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a test pattern used for controlling the paper drive motor of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a configuration diagram illustrating control of a paper drive motor of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a flowchart showing control of a paper drive motor of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. The figure which shows the printing sample of the image forming apparatus of embodiment of this invention

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image formation part 2 Paper feed part 3 Recording sheet 4 Paper discharge part 5 Paper guide 11, 12, 13, 14 Process unit 11a, 12a, 13a, 14a Photosensitive drum 11b, 12b, 13b, 14b Charger 11c, 12c, 13c, 14c Developer 16 LSU
17 Intermediate Transfer Belt 19 Fixing Device 20 Paper Discharge Roller 21 Drive Roller 22 Driven Roller 24, 25, 26, 27 Primary Transfer Roller 28 Secondary Transfer Roller 29 Secondary Transfer Section 31 Registration Roller 32 Registration Sensor 33 Secondary Transfer Entrance Sensor 34 Fixing entrance sensor 35 Fixing exit sensor 36 Color misregistration detection sensor 41 Paper drive motor 42 Paper drive transmission system 43 Belt drive motor 44 Belt drive transmission system 45 Image forming unit drive motor 46 Image forming unit drive transmission system 50 First transport roller 60 Second conveyance roller 81 Color misregistration amount calculation circuit 82 Motor clock frequency setting circuit 83 Motor drive control unit

Claims (9)

A plurality of process units each for forming an image on an image forming body; an image transfer means for transferring an image formed by each of the plurality of process units to a recording sheet; and a recording sheet for conveying the recording sheet to the image transfer means In accordance with information on color misregistration detected by the color misregistration detecting means and color misregistration detecting means for detecting relative color misregistration of each image formed by the plurality of process units, the recording sheet An image forming apparatus comprising: a speed control unit that controls at least one of a driving speed of a conveying unit and a driving speed of the image transfer unit. 2. The color misregistration information is information based on color misregistration of an image printed in the first half of the recording sheet and color misregistration of an image printed in the second half of the previous recording sheet. Image forming apparatus. The image transfer unit transfers an image formed on the image forming body by the plurality of process units to an intermediate image holding body, and then transfers the image transferred to the intermediate image holding body to the recording sheet. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image transfer unit directly transfers an image formed on the image forming body by the plurality of process units to the recording sheet. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the color misregistration information is obtained from an image transferred to the intermediate image holding member. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the color misregistration information is obtained from an image of a recording sheet transferred by the image transfer unit. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the speed control unit controls a driving clock frequency of a motor that drives the recording sheet conveying unit or the image transfer unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the color misregistration detecting unit detects a relative color misregistration of an image formed based on a predetermined test pattern. The detection of the relative color misregistration of the image by the color misregistration detection means detects an image based on the predetermined test pattern formed by the process unit located at the most downstream among the plurality of process units. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8.

Images