JP2000158696A - Imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate skew of image attributed to the inclination error of particle flight controller or flexible printed board. SOLUTION: A print timing alteration data for turning an image signal voltage to each ring electrode of a flexible printed circuit board FPC while shifting individually from normal timing is inputted to an input operating section 14 by an operator. A control section 12 operates the normal ON/OFF timing of the image signal voltage for each ring electrode of each FPC. These normal ON/OFF timings are corrected based on the print timing alteration data stored in a data memory 13 and image signals are transmitted to high voltage drivers IC10Y, 10M, 10C, 10BK based on the correction results. Inclination of an image being formed on a recording sheet 5 can be adjusted through correction of ON/OFF timing.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a copying machine, a facsimile, and the like, and more particularly, to an image forming apparatus using a flying recording system called direct toning or toner projection. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an image forming apparatus of this type, for example, an image forming apparatus disclosed in JP-A-6-234233 is known. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus having a similar configuration. As illustrated, the image forming apparatus includes four sets of toner flight control devices 100 as particle flight control devices. These toner flight control devices respectively apply yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (B) to the recording paper 5 conveyed on the paper conveyance belt 5 located below.
K), the color separation images are sequentially superimposed and formed. Each of the toner flight control devices 100 includes a toner carrying roller 101 that carries toner as image forming particles, a supply roller 103 that supplies toner in the hopper 104 to the toner carrying roller 101, a flexible printed circuit board 102,
Etc. are provided. In FIG. 1, subscripts Y, M, C, and BK corresponding to the toners of the respective colors are attached to the reference numerals of the members constituting each of the toner flight control devices 100.

In FIG. 1, a recording paper 5 before image formation set in a paper supply cassette 8 is discharged from the paper supply cassette by a paper supply roller 7 and passes through an arcuate conveyance path to a paper conveyance roller pair 6. After being sandwiched, the sheet is conveyed onto the sheet conveying belt 2. The paper transport belt 2 is a flexible printed circuit board 1
02 (hereinafter referred to as FPC 102) and endless movement in the direction of arrow A in the figure by driving the support roller 4 while being stretched between the support rollers 3 and 4 so as to pass between the opposing rollers 1 as opposing electrodes. I do. The recording paper 5 passes between each FPC 102 and each opposing roller 1 by this endless movement, and a yellow image, a magenta image, a cyan image, and a black image are sequentially superimposed on the surface thereof to form a full-color image. Then, after passing through the fixing device 9 and fixing the full-color image, the image is discharged outside the main body.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a flying state of toner between the toner carrying roller 101 and the opposing roller 1 of the image forming apparatus of FIG. As shown, the FPC 10
Reference numeral 2 includes, for example, a polyimide plate having a thickness of 75 [μm] and a plurality of ring electrodes 102b as flight control electrodes and a plurality of holes 102a which are minute openings provided inside the ring of the ring electrodes 102b. In FIG. 2, for example,
The toner carrying roller 101 carrying the toner 18 charged to the negative polarity is grounded, and the opposite roller 1 is applied with a voltage of several hundred [V] to several hundred [k] by a voltage applying means (not shown).
V] is applied. And for example +
When an image signal voltage as a flying bias of 325 [V] is applied to the ring electrode 102b corresponding to the image portion on the recording paper 5, the toner carrying roller 101 and the ring electrode 10
An electric field is formed between the two due to the potential difference from 2b. Due to this electric field, the toner 18 on the toner carrying roller 101 is
A Coulomb force attracting toward the ring electrode 102b acts on the ring electrode 102b. This Coulomb force is applied to the toner 18
If the toner 18 exceeds the sum of the adhesive force and the image force acting between the toner electrode 101 and the toner carrier 101, the toner 18
Start flying toward. In addition, some of them are FPC10
2 and the FPC 102 and the opposing roller 1
Is continued by the flying electric field formed between the recording paper 5 and the recording paper 5 on the paper transport belt 2 that moves endlessly on the opposing roller 1 and stops, and an image is formed on the recording paper 5.
On the other hand, the ring electrode 10 corresponding to the non-image portion on the recording paper 5
A non-image signal voltage such as 0 [V] that does not cause the toner 18 to fly toward the ring electrode 102b is applied to 2b. The application of the image signal voltage to each ring electrode 102b is individually turned ON / OFF by a high voltage driver IC (not shown). In order to reduce the image signal voltage value by promoting the toner flying from the toner carrying roller 101, the rotational speed of the toner carrying roller 101 is increased to some extent, and a sufficient centrifugal force is applied to the toner 18. It is desirable. The optimum value of the rotation speed varies depending on the characteristics of the toner 18 and the like, but is approximately three times the recording paper conveyance speed.

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view showing an example of the arrangement of the ring electrodes 102b in the FPC 102 of FIG. In the figure, reference numeral 102c denotes a lead for leading an image signal voltage to the ring electrode 102b, and a hole 10c in each ring electrode 102b.
The number attached to 2a indicates the name of the electrode group. As shown in the drawing, the FPC 102 includes eight rows of electrode groups having a plurality of ring electrodes 102b arranged so as to be parallel to a direction (main scanning direction) orthogonal to the arrow A direction (sub-scanning direction). , Each ring electrode 10 in each electrode group
2b are disposed so as to be shifted from each other in the sub-scanning direction. The installation pitch of the holes 102a in the main scanning direction is set according to the resolution of the image. For example, when the resolution is 300 [dpi], the installation pitch is set to 84.5 [μm].

In FIG. 3, for example, when a line image extending in the main scanning direction is formed on a recording paper (not shown), firstly, the recording paper is conveyed in the sub-scanning direction to form a line on the recording paper. Part is located immediately below the electrode group.
Then, the toner is caused to fly to the line forming target portion by each ring electrode 102b of the electrode group to form a dot group. Next, the recording paper is further conveyed in the sub-scanning direction, and the line formation target portion is positioned immediately below the electrode group,
A dot group is formed by causing toner to fly to the line forming target portion by each ring electrode 102b of the electrode group. And, similarly, the electrode group,.
,... Are sequentially formed on the line formation target portion by the respective ring electrodes 102b to form a line image.

As described above, in the image forming apparatus of the flying recording type, an image can be directly formed on the recording paper 5 by flying the toner 18 on the toner carrying roller 101.
Note that an intermediate recording belt is used instead of the paper transport belt 2, and an image is temporarily recorded on the intermediate transfer belt and then transferred to recording paper or the like, or an intermediate transfer belt also functions as a counter electrode. Are known. There is also known a device that forms a single-color image using one particle flight control device.

[0008]

By the way, in a flight recording type image forming apparatus, when assembling the apparatus, a so-called tilt error occurs in which the toner flight control device and the FPC are assembled with a slight inclination from a regular position. It is difficult to accurately extend the electrode group and the hole group in the main scanning direction from the beginning of assembly. If the electrode group or the hole group is inclined and extended with respect to the main scanning direction due to a tilt error, a phenomenon called so-called skew in which the image is formed on the recording member by tilting is caused, and the image quality is reduced. There was a problem of letting them do. In particular, in the full-color image forming apparatus as shown in FIG. 1, as a result of forming each color image at a different angle, color misregistration is caused and image quality is significantly reduced.

This problem can occur even after maintenance involving replacement of the toner flight control device or the FPC is performed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to provide an image forming apparatus capable of eliminating a skew of a formed image caused by a tilt error of a particle flight control device or FPC. To provide.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 comprises a particle flight control device, a counter electrode facing the particle flight control device, and a plurality of the particle flight control devices. ON / OFF of the flight bias for the flight control electrode
A control unit for controlling OFF, and a data storage device for storing data referred to by the control unit, wherein the particle flight control device controls the counter electrode or the particle flight control unit and the counter electrode. An image forming apparatus of a flight recording system for forming an image by attaching flying image forming particles to a recording surface of a recording member disposed therebetween, and applying the flying bias to each flight control electrode. Data for shifting the timing from the normal timing is stored in the data storage device, and the control unit shifts the application timing individually based on the data.

In the present invention, the term "recording member" refers to a member on which an image is finally recorded in an image forming process, such as recording paper, transfer paper, an OHP sheet, etc., or an intermediate recording of an image in the process. This is a concept that also indicates an intermediate recording medium.

In this image forming apparatus, a flight bias is applied to each of the flight control electrodes while being shifted from the regular timing, based on the data stored in the data storage device. As described above, the inclination of the formed image on the recording surface of the counter electrode or the recording member is adjusted by individually shifting the application timing of the flying bias to each flight control electrode. Therefore, the skew of the formed image can be corrected by storing the data set based on the image skew amount generated immediately after the apparatus is assembled in the data storage device.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus of the first aspect, data input means for inputting the data is provided, and the data stored in the data storage device can be updated. It is characterized by having done.

In this image forming apparatus, it is possible to correct not only the skew of the formed image immediately after the apparatus is assembled but also immediately after maintenance such as replacement of parts. For example, the inclination error amount of the particle flight control device or the FPC generated at the time of assembling the device may change at the time of maintenance such as component replacement. When the inclination error amount changes in this way, the skew amount of the formed image changes, and the skew cannot be properly corrected. Therefore, the present image forming apparatus is configured so that the data stored in the data storage device can be updated according to the skew amount of the formed image after the maintenance, so that the skew correction of the formed image can be properly performed. To be able to do it.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a plurality of the particle flight control devices each using image forming particles of a predetermined color are provided, and an image formed by each of the particle flight control devices is overlapped to form a multicolor image. Wherein the application timing in each particle flight control device can be shifted, and a linear image of each color is superimposed on the same position of the counter electrode or the recording member with respect to each particle flight control device. Image information to be formed together is stored in the data storage device, and an image is formed based on the image information by a predetermined operation of an operator.

In this image forming apparatus, the skew of each color formed image can be individually corrected by individually shifting the application timing of the flight bias to each flight control electrode in each particle flight control device. Immediately after maintenance such as replacement of parts, a linear image of each color is formed by overlapping the same position on the counter electrode or the recording member based on image information stored in the data storage device. The skew amount of each color formed image generated immediately after can be easily visually recognized.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a particle flight control device,
A counter electrode facing the particle flight control device; and a control unit for controlling ON / OFF of a flying bias for a plurality of flight control electrodes of each particle flight control device, wherein the counter electrode or the particle flight control is controlled. While the recording member disposed between the apparatus and the counter electrode is conveyed in a predetermined direction, the particle flying control device attaches the flying image forming particles to the counter electrode or the recording surface of the recording member. In a flight recording type image forming apparatus for forming an image by forming a linear image on the counter electrode or the recording member, the linear image formed at a predetermined timing is provided. Based on the theoretical inclination value and the actual measured inclination value, the application timing of the flight bias to each flight control electrode in the subsequent image forming operation is individually shifted from the regular timing. It is an butterfly.

In this image forming apparatus, the inclination of the linear image formed on the recording surface of the counter electrode or the recording member is detected at a predetermined timing by the inclination detecting means. Then, based on the theoretical inclination value and the measured inclination value of the linear image, the flying bias to each of the flight control electrodes in the subsequent image forming operation is applied while being shifted from the regular timing individually. By such an application, the skew generated in the formed image can be automatically corrected.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image forming apparatus according to the fourth aspect, wherein the image forming apparatus is positioned over the entire recording width of the counter electrode or the recording member in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the recording member. Thus, the linear image is formed, and the inclination detecting means detects the inclination of the linear image by detecting the vicinity of both ends of the linear image.

In this image forming apparatus, the configuration of the inclination detecting means can be simplified. For example, the inclination detecting means may be one that detects the entire linear image as image information by a scanner, a CCD camera, or the like, and calculates the inclination of the linear image based on the image information.
However, such a tilt detecting means has a complicated configuration and a high manufacturing cost due to a large and expensive sensor such as a scanner or a CCD camera.
Therefore, in the present image forming apparatus, the linear image is partially detected near both ends thereof, and the inclination of the linear image is detected based on a detection time lag for each of the vicinity of the ends. With this configuration, for example,
The inclination of the linear image can be detected using two small sensors, such as an optical sensor that detects the light reflectance of the test substance, and the configuration of the inclination detecting means can be simplified. Further, the inclination of the linear image can be detected more accurately by using the inclination detecting means having a simple configuration. For example, even if the inclination of the linear image is the same, the shorter the length of the linear image, the shorter the detection time lag of each sensor that detects the vicinity of both ends. Therefore, as the length of the linear image is reduced, it becomes more difficult to accurately detect the inclination of the linear image. Therefore, in the present image forming apparatus, in order to ensure the maximum length of the linear image, the linear image is formed so as to be positioned over the entire recording width of the counter electrode or the recording member, and the vicinity of both ends is detected. With such a configuration, the inclination of the linear image can be detected more accurately.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, a plurality of the particle flight control devices each using image forming particles of a predetermined color are provided, and a multicolor image is formed by superimposing images formed by the respective particle flight control devices. Alternatively, in the image forming apparatus of 5, the application timing in each particle flight control device is shifted based on the theoretical inclination value and the measured actual inclination value of each color linear image formed for each particle flight control device. It is characterized by the following.

In this image forming apparatus, the skew of each color formed image can be individually and automatically corrected by individually shifting the application timing of the flying bias to each flight control electrode in each particle flight control device. .

[0024]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a copying machine as an image forming apparatus will be described below. FIG.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration of a copying machine according to an embodiment together with control blocks. Note that the basic configuration of this copying machine is the same as that of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 4, the copying machine includes an input operation unit 14 as data input means and a data storage device 1
3, a control unit 12, a power supply 11 for supplying an image signal voltage to each ring electrode 102b, and a high-voltage driver I
C10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10BK.

High voltage driver ICs 10Y, 10M, 1
0C and 10BK are connected to the power supply 11, and based on image signals from the control unit 12, FPCs 102Y, 102M,
The application of the image signal voltage to each of the ring electrodes 102b of 102C and 102BK is individually turned on / off. By this ON / OFF, the toner carrying roller 101
The toner 18 selectively flies from Y, 101M, 101C, and 101BK to form a plurality of dots on the recording paper 5.

The input operation unit 14 is constituted by, for example, a touch panel or the like. The input operation unit 14 stores application timing change data for turning on / off the image signal voltage to each ring electrode 102b of each FPC 102 from the regular timing individually by turning it on / off. Entered by the operator. The input timing change data is sent to the data storage device 13 via the control unit 12 and stored therein. The operator operates the input operation unit 14
This application timing change data can be updated by an input operation to.

The data storage device 13 stores, in addition to the application timing change data, line image information for causing each toner flight control device 100 to form a line image of each color at the same position on the recording paper 5 in a superimposed manner. Stored.

The control unit 12 controls each FPC based on image information sent from, for example, a personal computer or the like.
The ON / OFF timing of the image signal voltage with respect to each ring electrode 102b of 102 is calculated. Then, these ON / OFF timings are corrected based on the application timing change data stored in the data storage device 13, and the high voltage driver IC 10 is corrected based on the correction result.
Image signals are transmitted to Y, 10M, 10C, and 10BK.
By correcting such ON / OFF timing, the inclination of the formed image on the recording paper 5 can be adjusted. Therefore, the skew of the formed image at the shipping destination can be corrected by shipping the copying machine after setting and inputting the application timing change data based on the image skew amount generated immediately after the copying machine is assembled. Further, even if a new inclination error occurs in each of the toner flight control devices 100 and each of the FPCs 102 due to maintenance such as component replacement at the shipping destination of the copying machine, the application timing is changed according to the skew amount of the formed image immediately after the maintenance. By updating the data, it is possible to appropriately correct the skew of the formed image due to the tilt error.

When predetermined information is input from the input operation unit 14 by the operator, the control unit 12 determines the same shape and size based on the line image information stored in the data storage device 13. An image signal is transmitted to each high-voltage driver IC 10 such that each color line image is superimposed on the same position on the recording paper 5. If the skew correction of each color line image has been properly performed, this transmission
A one-line image as shown in (a) is formed on the recording paper 5. However, when a new inclination error occurs in each of the toner flight control devices 100 and each of the FPCs 102 due to maintenance or the like, the skew correction is not properly performed, and a skew as shown in FIG. By observing each color line image of FIG. 5B with a loupe or the like, a service person or a user can easily and accurately recognize the skew amount of each color formed image generated immediately after maintenance. 5A and 5B, the direction of arrow A indicates the sub-scanning direction which is the direction in which the recording paper 5 is conveyed.

As described above, according to the copying machine of the present embodiment, each F
The skew of each color-formed image can be individually corrected by individually shifting the application timing of the image signal voltage to each ring electrode 102b in the PC 102, so that the skew of each toner flight control device 100 and each FPC 102 is caused. The color shift of the formed image can be eliminated. In addition, since the skew of each color formed image generated after maintenance such as replacement of parts can be properly corrected, the color shift of the formed image caused by the inclination error of each toner flight control device 100 or each FPC 102 can be more reliably eliminated. be able to. In addition, since the skew amount of each color formed image generated immediately after maintenance such as component replacement can be easily visually recognized, the input value of the update data to the data storage device 13 can be easily determined.

In the case where a cleaning device for removing the toner adhered on the paper transport belt 2 is provided, each color line image 16 may be formed on the paper transport belt 2. Also, a full-color image forming apparatus including four sets of toner flight control devices 100 has been described.
It is needless to say that the present invention is also applicable to an image forming apparatus that forms a single-color image by using one toner flying control device 100.

In the copying machine according to the present embodiment, not only the color shift due to skew but also each color image without skew is shifted in the sub-scanning direction by changing the manner of shifting the application timing of the image signal voltage. It is also possible to eliminate the color misregistration caused by this.

Next, a copying machine according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a main part configuration of the copying machine according to the present embodiment together with control blocks. Note that the basic configuration of this copying machine is the same as that of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 6, this copying machine is located above the paper transport belt 2 downstream of the toner flight control device 100 in the sub-scanning direction (direction of arrow A) and near both ends of the paper transport belt 2. And two image detection sensors 15a and 15b as inclination detecting means. Each of the image detection sensors 15a and 15b is configured by, for example, an optical sensor that detects the light reflectance of the surface of the paper conveyance belt 2, and can detect an image that passes immediately below the sensor.

The control unit 12 is provided with a predetermined timing, for example, when predetermined information is transmitted from the operator, when the main power of the copier is turned on, when a predetermined number of image forming operations are completed, when a predetermined time elapses, and the like. Thus, one line image 16 is formed so as to extend on the paper transport belt 2 in the main scanning direction (a direction orthogonal to the direction of arrow A). The line image 16 is formed so as to be located in the entire recordable area on the paper transport belt 2 in the main scanning direction, and both ends thereof are detected by these sensors when passing immediately below the image detection sensors 15a and 15b, respectively. You. Then, the detection signal of the end of the line image 16 is transmitted from the image detection sensors 15a and 15b to the control unit 12. The control unit 12 recognizes the inclination of the line image 16 based on the reception time lag between the detection signal from the image detection sensor 15a and the detection signal from the image detection sensor 15b. As described above, the line image 1 is determined based on the reception time lag of the detection signals from the image detection sensors 15a and 15b.
6, the configuration of the tilt detecting means can be simplified. For example, as the inclination detecting means, a unit that detects the entire line image 16 as image information with a scanner, a CCD camera, or the like, and calculates the inclination of the line image 16 based on the image information may be considered. However, such a tilt detecting means has a complicated structure and a high manufacturing cost due to a large and expensive sensor such as a scanner or a CCD camera.

When the controller 12 recognizes the inclination of the line image 16, the ON / OFF timing of the image signal voltage to each ring electrode 102b in the subsequent image forming operation is individually shifted from the normal timing. Specifically, the ON / OFF timing of the image signal voltage with respect to the ring electrode 102b whose distance from the image detection sensor 15a in the main scanning direction is L is shifted by the value of T in the following equation (1). . In the equation (1), T1 and T2 are the image detection sensors 15a and 15a, respectively.
L0 indicates the reception timing of the detection signal from 5b, and L0 indicates the separation distance between the image detection sensors 15a to 15b. When T is a positive value, each ON / OF
The F timing is advanced by the time of the value, and when the F timing is a negative value, each ON / OFF timing is delayed by the time of the value.

T = (T1-T2) × (L / L0)

By shifting the ON / OFF timing of the image signal voltage to each ring electrode 32 as described above,
The skew generated in the formed image on the recording paper 5 can be automatically corrected. The toner constituting the line image 16 on the paper transport belt 2 is removed by a belt cleaning device (not shown). In the copying machine according to the present embodiment, the line image 16 extending in the main scanning direction is used.
Is formed, and the theoretical value of the inclination of the line image 16 is treated as zero. However, the line image 16 is formed to be slightly inclined from the main scanning direction, and the theoretical value of the inclination is made larger than zero. May be. In this case,
The difference between (T1−T2) and the theoretical value T0 of the reception time lag may be multiplied by (L / L0) to obtain the T.

As described above, according to the copying machine of the present embodiment, the skew generated in the image formed on the recording paper 5 can be automatically corrected.
The skew of the formed image caused by the inclination error of 102 can be reliably eliminated. Further, since the configuration of the tilt detecting means can be simplified and the tilt of the line image 16 can be detected more accurately, the manufacturing cost of the apparatus can be reduced and the tilt can be detected accurately.

Next, a copying machine according to an embodiment in which a further characteristic configuration is added to this copying machine will be described. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration of the copying machine of this embodiment together with control blocks. As shown in the drawing, the copying machine includes toner flying control devices 100Y, 10Y for forming yellow, magenta, cyan, and black images on recording paper 5, respectively.
0M, 100C, and 100BK, and a full-color image is formed by superimposing these images.

The control unit 12 controls the toner flight control devices 100Y, 100M, 100C, and 1 at a predetermined timing when no recording paper is loaded on the paper transport belt 2.
A line image of each color is formed on the paper transport belt 2 for 00BK. In the copying machine of the present embodiment, in order to shorten the routine processing time for the skew correction, each toner flight control device 100 is configured to simultaneously form a line image of each color. It may be formed shifted.

Each line image formed on the paper transport belt 2 is detected by the image detection sensors 15a and 15b at both ends in the order of a black line, a cyan line, a magenta line, and a yellow line. Then, after passing immediately below these sensors, the paper is mechanically scraped off from above the paper transport belt 2 by the cleaning blade 17a of the cleaning device 17 and removed. The detection signals at both ends of each line image are sequentially transmitted from the image detection sensors 15a and 15b to the control unit 12, and the inclination of each line image is recognized by the control unit 12 based on the reception time lag.

When the control unit 12 recognizes the inclination of each line image, in the subsequent control, each of the toner flight control devices 10
0 of the image signal voltage to each ring electrode 102b at 0
The image signal is corrected and transmitted so that the N / OFF timing is individually shifted from the regular timing. By shifting the ON / OFF timing of the image signal voltage in each toner flight control device 100 for each ring electrode 102b in this manner, the skew of each color formed image can be individually and automatically corrected.

As described above, according to the copying machine of the present embodiment, the skew of each color formed image can be individually and automatically corrected, so that each toner flight control device 100 and each F
The color shift of the formed image caused by the inclination error of the PC 102 can be reliably eliminated.

In each of the embodiments and examples, a copying machine in which an image is formed directly on the recording paper 5 from each of the toner flight control devices 100 has been described. For example, an intermediate recording belt is used instead of the paper transport belt 2. The present invention is also applicable to an image forming apparatus having a configuration in which an image formed on the intermediate recording belt is used and is transferred onto recording paper.

Also, the copying machine having the configuration in which the opposing roller 1 is used as the opposing electrode has been described. However, an opposing voltage is applied to the paper transport belt or the intermediate recording belt so that these functions as the opposing electrode are exerted. May be.

[0047]

According to the first aspect of the invention, the skew of the formed image can be corrected by individually shifting the application timing of the flying bias to each of the flight control electrodes. There is an excellent effect that the skew caused by the inclination error can be eliminated.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to correct the skew of the formed image generated after maintenance such as replacement of parts, so that the skew of the image caused by the inclination error of the particle flight control device or the FPC can be more reliably reduced. There is an excellent effect that it can be eliminated.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the skew of each color formed image can be individually corrected.
There is an excellent effect that a color shift of a formed image caused by an inclination error of the particle flight control device or the FPC can be eliminated. Further, since the skew amount of each color formed image generated immediately after maintenance such as component replacement can be easily visually recognized, an excellent effect that the input value of the update data to the data storage device can be easily determined. is there.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the skew generated in the formed image can be automatically corrected, so that the skew of the formed image caused by the inclination error of the particle flight control device or the FPC can be reliably eliminated. There is an excellent effect that it can be done.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the structure of the inclination detecting means can be simplified, and the inclination of the linear image can be detected more accurately.
In addition, there is an excellent effect that the inclination can be accurately detected.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, since the skew of each color formed image can be individually and automatically corrected, the color misregistration of the formed image caused by the inclination error of the particle flight control device or the FPC can be ensured. There is an excellent effect that it can be eliminated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration of a conventional image forming apparatus using a flight recording method.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a flying state of toner between a toner carrying roller 1 and an opposing roller 2 of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view showing an example of an arrangement of ring electrodes 32 in an FPC 3 of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration of the copying machine according to the embodiment together with control blocks.

FIG. 5A is a schematic diagram showing a four-color superimposed line image in a state where no skew occurs. (B) is a schematic diagram showing a four-color line image in a state where skew has occurred.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a main configuration of a copying machine according to another embodiment together with control blocks.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration of the copying machine according to the embodiment together with control blocks.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 opposing roller 2 paper transport belt 3, 4 support roller 5 recording paper 6 paper transport roller pair 7 paper feed roller 8 paper feed cassette 9 fixing device 10 high voltage driver IC 11 power supply 12 control unit 13 data storage device 14 input operation unit Reference Signs List 15 image detection sensor 16 line image 17 cleaning device 17a cleaning blade 100 toner flying control device 101 toner carrying roller 102 FPC 102a hole 102b ring electrode 102c lead 103 supply roller 104 hopper

Claims (6)

[Claims] A particle flight control device, a counter electrode facing the particle flight control device, a control unit that controls ON / OFF of a flight bias for a plurality of flight control electrodes of each particle flight control device, A data storage device for storing data referred to the control unit, the particle flight control device, the counter electrode, or, a recording member disposed between the particle flight control unit and the counter electrode, An image forming apparatus of a flight recording system for forming an image by adhering the flying image forming particles to a recording surface of the same, wherein the application timing of the bias for flight to each of the flight control electrodes is shifted from a regular timing. An image forming apparatus, wherein data is stored in the data storage device, and the control unit shifts the application timing individually based on the data. 2. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a data input means for inputting said data, wherein said data stored in said data storage device can be updated. Image forming apparatus. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a plurality of the particle flight control devices each using image forming particles of a predetermined color, and forming a multi-color image by superimposing images formed by the respective particle flight control devices. Therefore, the application timing in each particle flight control device can be shifted,
Image data for forming a linear image of each color in the same position on the counter electrode or the recording member for each particle flight control device is stored in the data storage device, and a predetermined operation of the operator is performed. An image forming apparatus for forming an image based on the image information. 4. A particle flight control device, a counter electrode facing the particle flight control device, and a control unit for controlling ON / OFF of a flight bias for a plurality of flight control electrodes of each particle flight control device. The counter electrode, or, while transporting the recording member disposed between the particle flight control device and the counter electrode, in a predetermined direction, by the particle flight control device,
In a flight recording type image forming apparatus for forming an image by attaching flying image forming particles to the recording surface of the counter electrode or the recording member, the inclination of a linear image on the counter electrode or the recording member is determined. Providing a tilt detecting means for detecting, based on a theoretical tilt value and a measured tilt value of the linear image formed at a predetermined timing, application of the flight bias to each flight control electrode in a subsequent image forming operation An image forming apparatus characterized in that timings are individually shifted from regular timings. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the linear electrode is positioned over the entire recording width of the counter electrode or the recording member in a direction orthogonal to a conveying direction of the recording member. An image forming apparatus for forming an image, wherein the inclination detecting means detects the inclination of the linear image by detecting the vicinity of both ends of the linear image. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a plurality of said particle flight control devices each using image forming particles of a predetermined color, wherein a plurality of color images are formed by superimposing images formed by the respective particle flight control devices. The apparatus is characterized in that the application timing in each particle flight control device is shifted based on the theoretical inclination value and the measured actual inclination value of each color linear image formed for each particle flight control device. Image forming device.