JP5241134B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming equipment which performs registration correction for forming accurately an image on a recording material.

  2. Description of the Related Art Image forming apparatuses such as printers, copiers, and facsimiles use an intermediate transfer member (for example, a transfer belt) that conveys a developed toner image and transfers it onto a sheet. Such an image forming apparatus performs registration correction in order to adjust the position where the toner image is transferred on the paper. Registration correction forms a pattern for registration correction on the transfer belt. From the timing when the pattern is detected, the arrival timing of the toner image to the transfer position where the toner image is transferred to the paper, and the arrival of the recording material Adjust the timing.

  Patent Document 1 corrects an image position to be transferred onto a sheet by forming a toner pattern for specifying an image position on a transfer belt and adjusting a sheet conveyance speed according to the detection timing of the toner pattern. 1 shows an image forming apparatus. In such an image forming apparatus, a specular reflection type optical sensor is used to detect the amount of reflected light from the background of an intermediate transfer member such as a transfer belt and the amount of reflected light from a toner pattern, and the difference between these amounts of light. Thus, the position of the pattern is detected. Therefore, the difference between the reflected light amount from the ground and the reflected light amount from the toner pattern must be sufficiently large.

Patent Document 2 proposes a method of adjusting the amount of light so that the sensor output becomes a constant level in an optical sensor that receives reflected light of light irradiated on the transfer belt.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-194561 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 06-127039

  However, in the conventional method, there is a possibility that the toner pattern is erroneously detected due to scratches and dust on the belt and a decrease in glossiness of the belt surface. For example, when the method described in Patent Document 2 is applied, it can cope with a certain decrease in glossiness, but cannot cope with a significant decrease in glossiness due to a limit in the amount of light of the sensor.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating the transition of the difference between the reflected light amount from the background of the transfer belt and the reflected light amount from the toner pattern. When the glossiness of the belt is high, the level difference between the belt and the pattern is sufficient as shown in FIG. Therefore, a sufficient difference between the amount of light reflected from the background and the threshold value is secured, so that the position of the toner pattern can be accurately detected.

  However, as shown in FIG. 13B, when the glossiness decreases due to problems such as defective cleaning of the transfer belt, the amount of reflected light from the belt gradually decreases. Further, when the glossiness is lowered, as shown in FIG. 13C, the amount of light reflected from the background becomes equal to the threshold value, and the toner pattern is erroneously detected.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide an image forming equipment which performs registration correction in accordance with the decrease in the glossiness of the intermediate transfer member.

In the present invention, for example, a toner image is formed on an intermediate transfer member based on input image data, and an adjustment toner pattern is formed downstream of the toner image formation position in the conveyance direction of the toner image. And an image forming unit that transfers the toner image formed on the intermediate transfer member to a recording material in a transfer unit, a conveyance unit that conveys the recording material to the transfer unit, the intermediate transfer member, and the intermediate transfer member. The adjustment toner pattern formed on the intermediate transfer member is detected by irradiating the adjustment toner pattern formed on the substrate with light and receiving reflected light from the adjustment toner pattern and the intermediate transfer member. A pattern detection unit that determines the amount of light that the detection unit irradiates the adjustment toner pattern and the intermediate transfer member, and the detection unit determines the light amount. Determining means for determining whether or not the intermediate transfer member and the adjustment toner pattern can be irradiated with the light amount determined by the means; and the light amount determined by the light amount determining means by the determining means. Is determined to control the conveyance timing of the recording material to the transfer unit by the conveyance unit based on the detection timing of the adjustment toner pattern detected by the pattern detection unit, and the determination unit If the detection means determines that the light of the light quantity determined by the light quantity determination means is not irradiable, the transport means determines the image formation start signal generated by inputting the input image data. Transport control means for controlling the transport timing of the recording material to the transfer unit. .

The present invention is, for example, it is possible to provide an image forming equipment which performs registration correction in accordance with the decrease in the glossiness of the intermediate transfer member.

  An embodiment of the present invention is shown below. The individual embodiments described below will help to understand various concepts, such as the superordinate concept, intermediate concept and subordinate concept of the present invention. Further, the technical scope of the present invention is determined by the scope of the claims, and is not limited by the following individual embodiments.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 13. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the overall configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. Here, an electrophotographic color printer will be described as an example of the image forming apparatus, but the present invention is not limited to the printer. In other words, the image forming apparatus may be realized as a printing apparatus, a copier, a multifunction machine, a facsimile, or the like.

  The printer main body 1 is equipped with various units and devices that constitute an image forming unit. Each of the photosensitive drums 2a to 2d is an example of an image carrier that carries developers of different colors (hereinafter referred to as toners). The chargers 3a to 3d uniformly charge the surface of the corresponding photosensitive drum. The drum cleaners 4a to 4d remove the toner remaining on the surface of the corresponding photosensitive drum. The laser scanning units 5a to 5d scan the uniformly charged photosensitive drum with laser light to form an electrostatic latent image. The transfer blades 6 a to 6 d are blades for primarily transferring a toner image formed on the corresponding photosensitive drum to the transfer belt 8. The developing units 7a to 7d develop the electrostatic latent image with toner. The transfer belt 8 is an example of an intermediate transfer member. To the transfer belt 8, toner images of different colors are transferred from the respective photosensitive drums so as to overlap each other. The rollers 10 and 11 are rollers that mainly rotate when the transfer belt 8 is supported. The belt cleaner 12 removes toner remaining on the transfer belt 8.

  The manual feed tray 13 is a storage device that stores the recording paper S. The recording paper is sometimes called a recording material, a recording medium, a paper, a sheet, a transfer material, or a transfer paper. Further, as the material of the recording paper, not only paper but also other materials such as fiber and resin may be adopted. The pickup rollers 14 and 15 are rollers that pick up the recording sheet S from the manual feed tray 13 and convey it. A registration roller (also referred to as a registration roller) 16 is a roller for adjusting the conveyance timing of the conveyed recording paper S to the transfer position. The paper feed cassette 17 is a storage device that stores the recording paper S. The pickup rollers 18 and 19 are rollers that pick up the recording paper S from the paper feed cassette 17 and convey it. The vertical pass roller 20 is one of the rollers that convey the recording paper S from the paper feed cassette 17. The rotating roller 21 is a roller for rotating the transfer belt 8. The secondary transfer roller 22 is a roller for secondary transfer of the toner image on the transfer belt 8 to the recording paper S. The fixing device 23 is a device that fixes the toner image to the recording paper S by heating and pressing. The paper discharge roller 24 is a roller for discharging the recording paper S to the paper discharge tray 25.

  During duplex printing, the recording paper S is guided to the duplex reversing path 27 and further conveyed to the duplex path 28. The recording paper S that has passed through the double-sided pass 28 passes through the vertical pass roller 20 again, and forms, transfers, and fixes the image on the second side in the same manner as the first side, and is discharged.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the positional relationship between the image and the adjustment pattern and the arrangement position of the optical sensor during image formation. The pattern detection sensors 40 and 44 are reflection type optical sensors for detecting a toner pattern formed on the transfer belt 8. For example, the pattern detection sensor 40 detects a toner pattern for color misregistration correction. The pattern detection sensor 44 detects, for example, a toner pattern (adjustment pattern 42) for correcting a shift of the image forming position (tip position) with respect to the recording paper. The roles of the pattern detection sensors 40 and 44 may be reversed.

  The adjustment pattern 42 is an example of a developer image (toner image) used for correcting an image forming position and color misregistration. The adjustment pattern 42 may be called an image leading edge detection pattern, a toner patch, a registration mark, a patch pattern, a patch image, or the like. The adjustment pattern 42 is formed at a distance from the image 43 that is originally transferred onto the paper. The adjustment pattern 42 is formed outside the image area (so-called non-image area) on the transfer belt 8. Therefore, the adjustment pattern 42 formed in the non-image area is not transferred onto the recording paper S.

  The registration roller 16 adjusts the conveyance speed of the recording paper according to the timing at which the adjustment pattern 42 is detected by the pattern detection sensor 44 and the timing at which the leading edge of the recording paper is detected by the paper leading edge detection sensor 45. As a result, the positions of the leading edge of the image and the leading edge of the sheet exactly coincide with each other at the secondary transfer position.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a pattern detection sensor according to the present embodiment. The pattern detection sensor 40 includes a light emitting unit 52 and a light receiving unit 53. Light emitted from the light emitting unit is reflected by the transfer belt 8 and the adjustment pattern 42, and the reflected light enters the light receiving unit 53. The light receiving unit 53 photoelectrically converts the reflected light and outputs a voltage corresponding to the amount of reflected light. The light emitting unit 52 is an example of a light emitting unit that emits light applied to the image carrier. In addition, the light receiving unit 53 calculates the amount of ground light, which is the amount of reflected light reflected by the ground of the image carrier, and the amount of image light, which is the amount of reflected light reflected by the developer image formed on the image carrier. It is an example of the detection means to detect. A lens 54 is provided between the light receiving unit 53 and an object to be detected such as the transfer belt 8. A lens may also be provided between the light emitting unit 52 and the object to be detected. These lenses are installed to converge the light and receive the reflected light efficiently.

  FIG. 3 shows an analog output waveform obtained by reading a pattern, a digital output waveform corresponding to the analog output waveform, and a threshold value (broken line). The output waveform is a waveform of the voltage output from the sensor. Of the analog output waveform, the portion exceeding the threshold is 1 for the digital output waveform, and the portion below the threshold is 0 for the digital output waveform.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of the image position correction control unit according to the present embodiment. The CPU 400 is a control device that plays a central role in the image position correction control unit. Signals output from the pattern detection sensors 40 and 44 are input to the comparator 102 and the A / D converter 103. The output signal is a signal obtained by photoelectrically converting the amount of reflected light from the background of the transfer belt 8 or the toner pattern.

  The comparator 102 compares the output signal from the pattern detection sensor with the threshold value output from the CPU 400, and determines whether or not the output signal exceeds the threshold value. If exceeded, the comparator 102 outputs 1, and if not exceeded, outputs 0. The A / D converter 103 converts an output signal (analog output voltage) from the pattern detection sensor into a digital signal and outputs it to the CPU 400.

  The ASIC 104 that is an application specific integrated circuit includes, for example, a pattern generation unit 105, a pattern reading control unit 106, a registration deviation calculation unit 107, a registration timing adjustment unit 108, and the like. Some or all of these units may be realized by the CPU 400 and a computer program stored in the ROM 111. The pattern generation unit 105 generates image data of the adjustment pattern 42. When the image data is stored in the ROM 111 or the like, the pattern generation unit 105 may be omitted. The pattern reading control unit 106 reads an output signal from the pattern detection sensor and temporarily stores the read data. The registration deviation calculation unit 107 calculates a timing deviation amount between the recording paper and the image based on the read pattern data. The registration timing adjustment unit 108 controls the paper conveyance speed based on the calculated timing deviation.

  Using these control blocks, the ASIC 104 functions as a first adjustment unit or a second adjustment unit. For example, when functioning as the first adjustment unit, the ASIC 104 uses the adjustment pattern 42 to adjust the paper conveyance speed. Hereinafter, such adjustment control is referred to as image position pattern correction. On the other hand, when functioning as the second adjustment unit, the ASIC 104 adjusts the conveyance speed using an adjustment signal output in accordance with a detection timing at which the adjustment pattern 42 is detected instead of the adjustment pattern 42. This adjustment signal is output by the CPU 400, for example. Hereinafter, such adjustment control is referred to as ITOP correction.

  The CPU 400 executes various processes according to the present invention by reading and executing a computer program (for example, a light amount adjustment program) 109 stored in the ROM 111. Therefore, the CPU 400 functions as a light emission amount determination unit, a light emission determination unit, a selection unit, a first derivation unit, a second derivation unit, a threshold value determination unit, a sampling unit, a glossiness determination unit, and a switching unit. The SRAM 112 is a storage device that stores various data such as a drive current value and a threshold value of the light emitting unit 52 determined by the CPU 400 according to the light amount adjustment program. Needless to say, the amount of light emitted from the light emitting section 52 is controlled by this drive current.

  The CPU 400 adjusts the value of the drive current of the light emitting unit 52 so that the amount of reflected light from the background of the transfer belt 8 (background light amount) becomes an appropriate reflected light amount at the time of startup or the like. The amount of reflected light corresponds to the voltage of the output signal output from the light receiving unit 53. The reason for adjusting the amount of light is that the gloss or reflectivity of the base decreases due to aging. This light amount adjustment is desirably executed in a state where no toner pattern is formed on the transfer belt 8. This is to eliminate the influence of the toner pattern.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the voltage (output voltage) of the analog output waveform corresponding to the background light amount after this light amount adjustment is a specified value (eg, 5 V). Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the threshold value is set so that the analog output voltage when the toner pattern is detected is equal to or lower than the threshold value. That is, the CPU 400 sets a threshold value so that the toner pattern can be detected with high accuracy. Note that the CPU 400 calculates the rising and falling gravity center positions of the digitized output waveform, and stores the gravity center positions in the SRAM 112 as position data indicating the position of the toner pattern.

  The image processing control unit 202 functions as a forming unit and causes the transfer belt 8 to form a toner image and an adjustment pattern to be formed on a sheet using each component illustrated in FIG. Further, the image processing control unit 202 starts image formation by receiving a start signal (synchronization signal) for starting image formation. The start signal is notified from the CPU 400, for example.

<Registration correction>
Next, control of image position pattern correction and ITOP correction, which are registration corrections, will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a timing chart showing control of image position pattern correction and ITOP correction. Reference numeral 501 denotes the timing of a start signal for starting the formation of an image output from the CPU 400 to the image processing control unit 202. Reference numeral 502 denotes the timing of the adjustment signal output from the CPU 400. Reference numeral 503 denotes the timing of the detection signal when the adjustment pattern 42 is detected by the output from the pattern detection sensor 44. This detection signal is output from the pattern reading control unit 106. Reference numeral 504 denotes the timing of a signal that detects the leading edge of the paper output from the paper leading edge detection sensor 45. Reference numeral 505 denotes a control timing of the sheet conveyance speed by the registration roller 16.

  First, image position pattern correction will be described. In the image position pattern correction, the paper conveyance speed is adjusted according to the detection timing of the adjustment pattern 42 by the pattern detection sensor 44 and the detection timing of the paper by the paper leading edge detection sensor 45. Specifically, first, the pattern reading control unit 106 detects the adjustment pattern 42 conveyed on the transfer belt 8 at the speed Vd. By detecting the adjustment pattern 42, a detection signal 503 is output. Subsequently, when the registration timing adjustment unit 108 detects the output of the detection signal, the time Tpp until the paper leading edge detection sensor 45 detects the paper conveyed by the registration roller 16 at the speed Vu (here, Vu> Vd). Time. Here, the two speeds have a relationship of Vu> Vd.

  When the time Tpp is measured, the adjustment unit 203 calculates a time Trd that is a deceleration timing of the registration roller 16. The calculation formula is Trd = Tpp−T. Here, T is the distance from the pattern detection sensor 44 to the transfer position, the distance from the sheet front end detection sensor 45 to the transfer position, the distance between the rear end of the adjustment pattern 42 in the conveyance direction and the front end of the image 106, It is a constant determined by the speed Vd and the speed Vu. The adjustment unit 203 controls the conveyance speed of the registration roller 16 from the speed Vu to the speed Vd after the time Trd has elapsed since the paper leading edge detection sensor 45 detected the paper. Thereby, the ASIC 104 can adjust the position of the sheet to which the image 106 is transferred. Here, the speed control by the registration roller 16 ends before the paper reaches the transfer position.

  Next, ITOP correction will be described. Here, only the control different from the image position pattern correction will be described. The ITOP correction is selected when the gloss of the transfer belt 8 decreases, and unlike the image position pattern correction described above, the adjustment pattern 42 is not formed. Therefore, in the ITOP correction, control is performed using the adjustment signal 61 that is a pseudo pattern signal output from the CPU 400 instead of using the detection signal from the pattern detection sensor 44 as a trigger. A start signal 60 indicated by reference numeral 501 is a synchronization signal (ITOP_Bk) for forming a latent image on the photosensitive drum 101d by the Bk exposure unit 115d. The adjustment signal 61 is a pseudo signal that is output at the timing of a detection signal that is output when the pattern detection sensor 44 detects the adjustment pattern 42, and is output after a time Tdm has elapsed since the start signal 60 was output. . That is, the time Tdm is a time assumed in advance from the output of the start signal 60 to the output of the detection signal.

  Thereafter, the ASIC 104 measures the time Tpp ′ from when the adjustment signal 61 is output until the paper leading edge detection sensor 45 detects the paper conveyed at the speed Vu by the registration roller 16. When measuring the time Tpp ', the ASIC 104 calculates the time Trd, which is the deceleration timing of the registration rollers. The calculation formula is Trd = Tpp′−T.

  ΔT indicates the amount of deviation between the adjustment signal 61 and the detection signal from the pattern detection sensor 44 (hereinafter referred to as pattern timing). This pattern timing ΔT is a shift amount of the image position on the paper in the ITOP correction. Therefore, it is desirable to set the output timing of the adjustment signal 61 so as to eliminate the image position shift due to the pattern timing ΔT.

  Next, a method of selecting registration correction control will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for selecting registration correction control according to the present embodiment. Note that the processing described below is comprehensively controlled by the CPU 400.

  In step S601, when the user requests image formation, the CPU 400 adjusts the light amount (light emission amount) of the pattern detection sensor 44 before starting image formation. Here, the CPU 400 functions as a light emission amount determination unit, and determines the light emission amount X of the light emitting unit 52 necessary for detecting the adjustment pattern 61 according to the glossiness of the background of the transfer belt 8. Hereinafter, the light amount adjustment performed before image formation is referred to as a first light amount adjustment. Detailed description of the first light amount adjustment will be described later with reference to FIGS.

  When the light emission amount X of the light emitting unit 52 is determined, the CPU 400 determines whether or not the light emitting unit 52 can emit light in step S602. Here, the CPU 400 functions as a light emission determination unit. Specifically, the CPU 400 determines whether or not the light emission amount X exceeds Xmax, which is the maximum light emission amount of the light emitting unit 52.

  If the light emission amount X does not exceed the maximum light emission amount Xmax, in step S603, the CPU 400 selects image position pattern correction as registration correction, and notifies the ASIC 104 of it. Thereafter, in step S604, when image formation is started, the CPU 604 monitors the decrease in gloss of the transfer belt 8 during image formation and adjusts the light emission amount X. Hereinafter, the light amount adjustment performed during image formation on a plurality of sheets is referred to as a second light amount adjustment. Detailed description of the second light amount adjustment will be described later with reference to FIGS. 10 and 12.

  On the other hand, if the light emission amount X exceeds the maximum light emission amount Xmax, in step S605, the CPU 400 selects ITOP correction as registration correction and notifies the ASIC 104 of it. In this case, the gloss of the transfer belt 8 is lowered to a level where the adjustment pattern 61 cannot be detected unless the light quantity is increased beyond a predetermined value.

<First light intensity adjustment>
Next, the first light amount adjustment process will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the first light amount adjustment according to the present embodiment. FIG. 8 is a graph showing the relationship between the light emission amount (drive current) of the light emitting unit 52 and the output voltage from the light receiving unit 53. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a method for detecting the amount of image light. Further, the processing described below is comprehensively controlled by the CPU 400.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the first function Aref shows the relationship between the light emission amount related to the background light amount and the output voltage. The second function Bref indicates the relationship between the light emission amount related to the reflected light amount (image light amount) from the adjustment pattern 42 and the output voltage. In the flowchart shown in FIG. 7, the first function Aref and the second function Bref are determined, and the light emission amount X when the difference Cref between them becomes a predetermined value C is determined.

  In step S701, the CPU 400 sends a command signal for starting the rotation of the transfer belt 8 to a drive circuit (not shown). As a result, the drive motor connected to the rotating roller 21 rotates and the transfer belt 8 starts to rotate. In step S702, the CPU 400 sets the light emission amount of the light emitting unit 52 to the maximum. Let Xmax be the maximum value of light emission. In step S703, the CPU 400 measures the background light amount at this time. The measured background light amount is stored in the SRAM 112 as the maximum background light amount Amax. In step S704, the CPU 400 sets the light emission amount of the light emitting unit 52 to the minimum. Let Xmin be the minimum value of light emission. In step S705, the CPU 400 measures the background light amount at this time. The measured background light amount is stored in the SRAM 112 as the minimum background light amount Amin.

  In step S706, the CPU 400 sends a command to the pattern generation unit 105 to form a toner pattern for adjusting the light amount (light amount adjustment pattern) while maintaining the light emission amount Xmin. The pattern generation unit 105 generates image data of the light amount adjustment pattern and sends it to the laser scanning units 5a to 5d. Thereby, a light amount adjustment pattern image is formed on the transfer belt 8.

  In step S707, the CPU 400 measures the amount of image light that is reflected light from the light amount adjustment pattern. The measured image light quantity is stored in the SRAM 112 as the minimum image light quantity Bmin. In this detection method, as shown in FIG. 9, when the light amount adjustment pattern 201 reaches the pattern detection sensor 44, the output is not sampled until the light amount is stabilized, and is sampled after a certain time has elapsed. In step S708, CPU 400 sets the light emission amount of light emitting unit 52 to maximum value Xmax again. In step S709, the CPU 400 sends a command to the pattern generation unit 105 to form the light amount adjustment pattern 201, as in step S706. The reason why the light amount adjustment pattern 201 is formed again is that the light amount adjustment pattern 201 used for obtaining the minimum image light amount Bmin has been cleaned by the belt cleaner 12. In step S <b> 710, the CPU 400 measures the maximum image light amount Bmax and stores it in the SRAM 112.

  In step S711, the CPU 400 reads the maximum background light amount Amax and the minimum background light amount Amin from the SRAM 112, and calculates an equation representing the first function Aref. Here, the CPU 400 functions as a first derivation unit, and derives a first function Aref representing the relationship between the light emission amount of the light irradiated to the background and the background light amount. A specific calculation formula is Aref = (Amax−Amin) / (Xmax−Xmin).

  In step S712, the CPU 400 reads the maximum image light amount Bmax and the minimum image light amount Bmin from the SRAM 112, and calculates an equation representing the second function Bref. Here, the CPU 400 functions as a second deriving unit, and derives a second function Bref representing the relationship between the light emission amount of the light irradiated to the adjustment pattern 42 and the image light amount. A specific calculation formula is Bref = (Bmax−Bmin) / (Xmax−Xmin). The difference between the first function Aref and the second function Bref is represented as Cref.

  In step S713, the CPU 400 calculates the light emission amount X when the difference Cref becomes the predetermined value C. Here, the CPU 400 functions as a light emission amount determining means. Specifically, the CPU 400 determines that the difference between the light amount obtained when substituting the arbitrary light emission amount into the first function Aref and the light emission amount obtained when substituting the arbitrary light emission amount into the second function Bref is obtained. When the predetermined value C is exceeded, the arbitrary light emission amount is determined as the light emission amount X. In step S <b> 714, the CPU 400 determines a threshold value Th used for detecting the adjustment pattern 42 and sets it in the comparator 102. Here, the CPU 400 functions as a threshold value determination unit. The threshold value Th is set to a value that can sufficiently distinguish the background and the toner pattern. For example, a sum value obtained by adding a predetermined value to the image light amount at the light amount X determined in step S713 may be used as the threshold value Th. Alternatively, it may be an intermediate value between Aref and Bref at the light amount X determined in step S713. The pattern reading control unit 106 determines whether or not the output from the pattern detection sensor 44 indicates the adjustment pattern 42 using the determined threshold value Th. Specifically, the pattern reading control unit 106 determines that the pattern is the adjustment pattern 42 when the output from the pattern detection sensor 44 falls below the threshold value Th. Here, the pattern reading control unit 106 is an example of a pattern determination unit.

  The first light amount adjustment has been described above, but the present invention can also employ other light amount adjustment sequences. This is because the present invention is not limited by the content of the initial light amount adjustment sequence itself. It is sufficient that the light emission amount X and the threshold value Th that can detect the toner pattern at least at the time of activation can be set. Although the first light amount adjustment method performed before the start of image formation is described here, the first light amount adjustment is performed when the image forming apparatus main body is turned on in addition to the above method, and is not performed thereafter. The method may be used.

<Second light amount adjustment>
Next, the second light amount adjustment process will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of the second light amount adjustment according to the present embodiment. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating timing for sampling the background light amount in the second light amount adjustment. FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of the periphery of the photosensitive drum 1d and the pattern detection sensor 44 of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. Further, the processing described below is comprehensively controlled by the CPU 400. Note that the second light quantity adjustment is executed when image position pattern correction is selected as registration correction, as shown in FIG. Further, according to the present embodiment, it is desirable that the second light amount adjustment process be executed in a print job in which the gloss of the transfer belt 8 may be reduced during image formation. Specifically, a print job that may reduce gloss refers to a job that requests printing on a large number of sheets (for example, 20 sheets or more).

  When image formation on a plurality of sheets using image position pattern correction is started, in step S1001, the CPU 400 samples the background light amount for each image formation on the sheet. Here, the CPU 400 functions as a sampling unit. The sampled result is stored in the SRAM 112 as needed. As shown in FIG. 11, the sampling is performed at a portion where the adjustment pattern 42 is not formed between the image 43 and the image 43 formed on the paper. This detection timing will be described below with reference to FIG.

  Reference numeral 301 shown in FIG. 12 indicates a position where the start signal 60 is generated on the transfer belt 8. The belt conveyance time from the generation position 301 of the start signal 60 to the pattern detection sensor 44 is Ti. Ti can be calculated from the distance between the generation position 301 of the start signal 60 and the pattern detection sensor 44 and the conveyance speed Vd of the transfer belt 8. Therefore, the CPU 400 performs sampling after the conveyance time Ti has elapsed since the start signal 60 was output. Here, the start signal 60 is a start signal indicating the start of formation of the adjustment pattern 42 formed for each recording material by the CPU 400.

  After that, when image formation of a predetermined number of sheets (here, 20 sheets) is executed from the first sheet, in step S1002, the CPU 400 averages the data sampled up to the 20th sheet. A value (first average value) A ′ is calculated. Here, the CPU 400 functions as a first calculation unit. Further, the CPU 400 samples the background light amount for the 20th and subsequent sheets.

  Thereafter, in step S1003, the CPU 400 calculates an average value (second average value) B ′ of the sampled background light amount for each predetermined number of sheets. Here, the CPU 400 functions as a second calculation unit. The average value B ′ is calculated using sampling data from the sheet after the average value A ′ is calculated up to a predetermined number of sheets. For example, sampling data from the 21st sheet to the 40th sheet is used.

  When the average value B ′ is calculated, in step S1004, the CPU 400 determines whether the difference between the calculated average value A ′ and the average value B ′ exceeds a predetermined upper limit value (here, 2.0 V). Determine whether or not. If A′−B ′> 0.2V (when it is determined that the gloss level is the third level), in step S1005, the CPU 400 performs image position pattern correction to ITOP correction in image formation from the next sheet. Switch the registration correction to. That is, the CPU 400 determines that it is difficult to detect the adjustment pattern 42 because the gloss of the transfer belt 8 is reduced when the gloss level is the third level.

  On the other hand, when the difference does not exceed 0.2 V in S1004, the CPU 400 shifts the process to S1006. In step S1006, the CPU 400 determines whether or not the difference between the calculated average value A ′ and average value B ′ exceeds 0.1V. When exceeding 0.1 V, that is, when the difference between the calculated average value A ′ and average value B ′ is 0.2 ≧ A′−B ′ ≧ 0.1 V (determined that the glossiness is the second level) The CPU 400 shifts the processing to S1007. Here, 0.1V indicates a lower limit value. In step S <b> 1007, the CPU 400 determines that the gloss reduction within the assumed range has been detected during image formation, and performs the first light amount adjustment again to determine the light emission amount X corresponding to the reduced gloss. Thereafter, the CPU 400 causes the process to transition to S1008. In step S1008, the CPU 400 continues to select image position pattern correction as registration correction.

  When the calculated average value A ′ and average value B ′ are A′−B ′ <0.1 V (when it is determined that the gloss level is the first level), the CPU 400 performs processing from S1006 to S1008. Transition. That is, the CPU 400 determines that there is no gloss reduction, and continuously performs image position pattern correction without performing the first light amount adjustment. In the processing from S1004 to S1008, the CPU 400 functions as a level determination unit and a switching unit.

  The above gloss reduction determination is performed every time the number of formed sheets reaches a predetermined number. Here, the CPU 400 always stores the average value A ′ at the beginning of the job in the SRAM 112, and reads A ′ when comparing A′−B ′ for each predetermined number of pages. However, when the next job starts, the average value A ′ is obtained and stored in the SRAM 112 when 20 sheets are reached again. That is, the average value A ′ is updated for each job.

  In addition, the gloss reduction determinations are A′−B ′> 0.2 V and A′−B ′ ≧ 0.1 V, respectively, but the determination is made in consideration of the characteristics of the transfer belt 8 and the characteristics of the pattern detection sensor 44. The value to be used may be arbitrarily determined.

  Further, as a sampling method of the background light amount, in order to eliminate errors due to noise removal and partial belt contamination, sampling may be performed a plurality of times (n times) by one detection. In this case, it is desirable that the average value of the remaining n-2 pieces of sampling data excluding the maximum value and the minimum value among the data sampled n times is used as one detection value.

  Further, when calculating the average values A ′ and B ′ for 20 sheets, the average value may be calculated from the remaining sampling data excluding the maximum value and the minimum value among the data sampled n times.

  As described above, the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment determines the light emission amount of the light emitting unit necessary for detecting the adjustment pattern in accordance with the glossiness of the background before starting image formation. . Further, the image forming apparatus determines whether or not the determined light emission amount can be emitted by the light emitting unit, selects image position pattern correction when light emission is possible, and selects ITOP correction when light emission is not possible. . That is, the image forming apparatus increases the light amount of the light emitting portion in accordance with the decrease in the gloss of the transfer belt 8 and performs registration correction without using the adjustment pattern when the maximum light amount of the light emitting portion is exceeded. As a result, the image forming apparatus can perform an optimum registration correction according to the gloss of the transfer belt 8. Therefore, the image forming apparatus can suitably adjust the position where the toner image is formed on the paper, and can improve the image forming accuracy.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made. For example, in the image forming apparatus, as a method for determining the light emission amount of the light emitting unit, a method using a first function that represents the relationship between the background light amount and the light emission amount and a second function that represents the relationship between the image light amount and the light emission amount is applied. May be. Accordingly, the image forming apparatus can reduce the number of detections of the background light amount and the image light amount detected to determine the light emission amount of the light emitting unit. Therefore, the image forming apparatus can perform registration correction with high accuracy without reducing the image forming throughput.

  The image forming apparatus may determine a threshold value for determining the adjustment pattern using the first function and the second function. Further, the threshold value may be determined as an intermediate value between the background light amount and the image light amount obtained by substituting the determined light emission amount into the first function and the second function. Accordingly, the image forming apparatus can easily determine the adjustment pattern, and can easily determine the threshold value used for determination of the adjustment pattern.

  Further, when image formation is started, the image forming apparatus may monitor the decrease in the gloss of the transfer belt 8 by sampling the amount of background light. Accordingly, the image forming apparatus can adjust the light emission amount according to the decrease in gloss during image formation. Further, the image forming apparatus can switch the registration correction from the image position pattern correction to the ITOP correction when a significant decrease in gloss is detected during image formation. Therefore, the image forming apparatus can always suppress a decrease in image forming accuracy even when a large number of images are continuously formed.

1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an overall configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment. It is a figure which shows the positional relationship of the image and adjustment pattern at the time of image formation, and the arrangement position of an optical sensor. It is a figure which shows an example of the pattern detection sensor which concerns on this embodiment. It is a schematic block diagram of the image position correction control unit according to the present embodiment. It is a timing chart which shows control of image position pattern correction and ITOP correction. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence which selects control of the registration correction | amendment concerning this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the 1st light quantity adjustment which concerns on this embodiment. 5 is a graph showing the relationship between the light emission amount (drive current) of the light emitting unit 52 and the output voltage from the light receiving unit 53. It is a figure which shows the detection method of an image light quantity. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the 2nd light quantity adjustment which concerns on this embodiment. It is the figure which showed the timing which samples background light quantity in 2nd light quantity adjustment. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a peripheral portion of a photosensitive drum 1d and a pattern detection sensor 44 of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a transition of a difference between a reflected light amount from a background of a transfer belt and a reflected light amount from a toner pattern.

Explanation of symbols

1: Printer body 40, 44: Pattern detection sensor 45: Paper leading edge detection sensor

Claims (14)

A toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer body based on the input image data, and an adjustment toner pattern is formed on the downstream side of the intermediate transfer body in the transport direction of the toner image from the formation position of the toner image. Image forming means for transferring the toner image formed on the recording material to a recording material at a transfer portion ;
Conveying means for conveying the recording material to the transfer section;
By the light is irradiated on the intermediate transfer member and the toner pattern for the formed adjustment on the intermediate transfer body, for receiving reflected light from the adjusting toner pattern and the intermediate transfer member, the intermediate transfer member Pattern detecting means for detecting the formed toner pattern for adjustment;
A light amount determination means the amount of light Ru determined Teisu said detecting means for irradiating the adjusting toner pattern and the intermediate transfer member,
And determine the constant means light in the determined light amount Ru irradiatable whether determine Teisu the intermediate transfer member and the adjustment toner pattern by said detecting means said light amount determining means,
When it is determined by the determination unit that the detection unit can irradiate light of the light amount determined by the light amount determination unit, the transport unit is based on the detection timing of the adjustment toner pattern detected by the pattern detection unit. If the determination means determines that the detection means cannot irradiate the amount of light determined by the light quantity determination means, the input image data is A conveyance control unit that controls a conveyance timing of the recording material to the transfer unit by the conveyance unit based on an image formation start signal generated by being input;
An image forming apparatus comprising: Before Symbol light amount determining means,
A light amount of the reflected light reflected by the intermediate transfer body, which is reflected by said adjusting toner pattern when a light amount of the light irradiated to the adjustment toner pattern when the light quantity of the reflected light was obtained to exceed the value difference is a predetermined the light amount of the reflected light, according to claim 1, wherein said detecting means and determining the amount of light illuminating the toner pattern and the intermediate transfer member Image forming apparatus. Light amount of the a first derivation means for deriving a relationship between a light amount of the light irradiated onto the intermediate transfer member and said intermediate transfer light reflected by the body quantity, light irradiated to the adjustment toner pattern And a second derivation unit for deriving a relationship between the amount of reflected light reflected by the adjustment toner pattern ,
Before Symbol light amount determining means,
Any light quantity of the reflected light reflected by the intermediate transfer body obtained based on the relationship derived by said first derivation means in the light quantity, the arbitrary relationship derived by said second derivation means in the light amount in the arbitrary optical amount exceeding the value difference is a predetermined and is that the light amount obtained on the basis, said detecting means is determined as the light amount of the toner pattern and the light that irradiates the intermediate transfer member The image forming apparatus according to claim 2. And the amount of reflected light reflected by the intermediate transfer body obtained based on the relationship derived by said first derivation means in said determined light amount is derived by the second derivation means in said determined light amount Threshold value determining means for determining a threshold value for determining whether or not the adjustment toner pattern is detected from the amount of reflected light reflected by the adjustment toner pattern obtained based on the relationship ,
4. The apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising pattern determination means for determining that the adjustment toner pattern has been detected when the amount of reflected light received by the pattern detection means falls below the determined threshold value. The image forming apparatus described in 1. The threshold value determining means includes
Obtained based on the relationship derived light quantity of the reflected light reflected by the intermediate transfer body obtained by substituting the determined light amount in the first function, the determined light amount by the second deriving means The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein an intermediate value between the amount of reflected light reflected by the adjustment toner pattern and the threshold value is determined as the threshold value. Said first deriving means derives the first function representing the relationship between the amount of reflected light that is reflected light amount of the light irradiated to the intermediate transfer member and by the intermediate transfer member,
The second deriving means derives the second function representing the relationship between the amount of the reflected light by the adjusting toner pattern and the light amount of the light irradiated to the adjustment toner pattern,
Before Symbol light amount determining means,
By substituting the arbitrary light quantity to the first function and the second function, according to claim 3, characterized in that said detecting means determines the amount of light illuminating the toner pattern and the intermediate transfer member The image forming apparatus described in 1. When image formation on a plurality of recording materials using the adjustment toner pattern is started, sampling means for sampling the amount of reflected light reflected by the intermediate transfer body for each image formation on the recording material;
Glossiness by monitoring the amount of reflected light reflected by the sampled intermediate transfer member to determine whether or not the glossiness of the intermediate transfer member is a level at which the adjustment toner pattern can be detected. Degree determination means;
When it is determined that the glossiness of the intermediate transfer member is not at a level at which the adjustment toner pattern can be detected, the conveyance control unit controls the image formation from control based on the detection timing of the adjustment toner pattern. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a switching unit that switches to control based on the start signal . The gloss level judging means
First calculating means for calculating a first average value, which is an average value of the amount of reflected light reflected by the intermediate transfer member sampled from the first recording material up to a predetermined number;
A second average value, which is an average value of the amount of reflected light reflected by the sampled intermediate transfer member, is calculated for each predetermined number of sheets from the recording material after the first average value is calculated. 2 calculating means;
When the difference between the first average value and the second average value is less than a predetermined lower limit value, the glossiness of the intermediate transfer member is determined to be the first level, and the difference exceeds the lower limit value. together determine the glossiness of the intermediate transfer member when a predetermined lower than the upper limit value is a second level, the glossiness of the intermediate transfer member when the difference exceeds the upper limit value at the third level Level determination means for determining that there is,
The switching means is
If it is determined that the first level, the control based on the detection timing of the adjustment toner pattern is continued,
If it is determined that the said second level, said control causes continue based on the detection timing of adjusting toner pattern, the said detecting means again by pre-Symbol light amount determining means toner pattern and the intermediate transfer member Determine the amount of light to irradiate
8. The image formation according to claim 7, wherein when it is determined to be the third level, the control is switched from the control based on the detection timing of the adjustment toner pattern to the control based on the image formation start signal. 9. apparatus. The first calculation means and the second calculation means are:
An average value is calculated from the amount of reflected light reflected by the remaining intermediate transfer members excluding the maximum value and the minimum value among the sampled amounts of reflected light reflected by the plurality of intermediate transfer members. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8. Comprising a recording material detection means for detecting the recording material before being conveyed to the transfer section;
  The conveyance control unit detects the adjustment toner pattern detected by the pattern detection unit when the determination unit determines that the detection unit can irradiate the light of the light amount determined by the light amount determination unit. And the conveyance timing of the recording material to the transfer unit by the conveyance unit with respect to the conveyance timing of the toner image to the transfer unit based on the detection timing of the recording material detected by the recording material detection unit. When the determination unit determines that the detection unit is not capable of irradiating the light amount determined by the light amount determination unit, the image formation start signal generated by inputting the input image data and the recording Based on the detection timing of the recording material detected by the material detecting means. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the controller controls the conveyance timing of the recording material to the transfer portion by the conveying means for conveying timing of the toner image. The determination unit determines that the detection unit cannot irradiate light to the intermediate transfer body and the adjustment toner pattern when the light amount determined by the light amount determination unit is larger than a predetermined light amount. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is an image forming apparatus. 12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the predetermined light amount is a maximum light amount that the detection unit can irradiate the intermediate transfer member and the adjustment toner pattern. 13. The image formation according to claim 1, wherein the conveyance timing of the recording material to the transfer unit by the conveyance unit with respect to the conveyance timing of the toner image to the transfer unit is controlled. apparatus. 14. The conveyance control unit according to claim 1, wherein the conveyance control unit controls the conveyance timing by controlling acceleration / deceleration of a conveyance speed of the recording material conveyed by the conveyance unit. Image forming apparatus.

Images