JP2010072324A - Optical scanning apparatus and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To more reliably count an image signal, indicative of turning ON of a light source, based upon received image data compared with the case where this constitution is not available. <P>SOLUTION: An output from an OR circuit 30 is input to the first input terminal 42A of a comparator 42 separately from the one led to an LD driver 22. A threshold signal is input to a second input terminal 42B. When the ON signal of the light source (LD) 18 is accumulated, electric charges are accumulated in a capacitor 46, and discharged when reaching a fully charged state, and a signal having a predetermined voltage is made to flow to the first input terminal 42A. This is compared with the threshold signal, and then the signal of one count is sent out to an image formation controller 12. The image formation controller 12 once receiving the count signal sends out a reset signal to the base of an npn transistor 48 and also computes a predictive toner consumption on the basis of a count value. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical scanning device and an image forming apparatus.

  In recent years, color image forming apparatuses have become widespread in image forming apparatuses such as printers and copiers. In this type of image forming apparatus, for example, each image forming unit provided for each color of black (K), yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) moves a transfer target such as a recording sheet. Some are arranged along the direction.

  In the image forming apparatus, a light beam is irradiated based on image data received by the optical scanning device, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum by the light beam (main scanning and sub scanning), and color development is performed by developing processing. Are developed in different images (toner images), and the toner images are sequentially superimposed and transferred onto a transfer object conveyed at a constant speed, thereby obtaining a color image.

  The control system of the image forming apparatus receives a first control unit that receives image data from the outside and sends the image data to the optical scanning device, a second control unit that controls a series of operations of the image forming unit, and the light And an optical scanning control unit that controls irradiation of a light beam based on image data received by the scanning device.

  Here, as a means for monitoring the consumption amount of the toner as the developer, it is conceivable to count the ON signal of the light beam of the binarized image data. The count value is generally monitored by the second control unit.

  Patent Document 1 proposes that the first control unit sends image data to the optical scanning control unit, generates a count value based on the image data, and sends the count value to the second control unit.

In Patent Literature 2, the image data is sent from the first control unit to the optical scanning control unit via the second control unit, so that the second control unit generates a count value based on the image data, and It has been proposed to send image data to an optical scanning device.
JP-A-11-208024 JP 2005-227589 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide an optical scanning device and an image forming apparatus that can reliably count an image signal instructing to turn on a light source based on received image data, as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided. is there.

  The invention according to claim 1 is an image signal receiving unit that receives an image signal, a light source control unit that controls on / off of a light source based on the image signal received by the image signal receiving unit, and the light source lighting control unit A scanning unit that scans and outputs the light beam output from the light source, and an image that instructs to turn on the light source based on the light source control unit among the image signals output from the image signal receiving unit Counting means for counting signals.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, at least two image signals are input sources, and an output result is a logical sum of the at least two image signals. Light source control means for controlling on / off of a light source based on an image signal, scanning means for scanning and outputting a light beam output from the light source by being controlled by the light source lighting control means, and receiving the image signal Counting means for counting image signals instructing to turn on the light source based on the light source control means among the image signals output from the means.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the counting means detects a driving current or a driving voltage when the light source is turned on in the light source lighting control means, Count.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the counting means outputs an output signal from a monitoring means for monitoring an on / off state of the light source in the light source lighting control means. Count based on

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, an optical scanning device is provided that controls on / off of a light source by receiving an image signal and outputs a light beam output from the light source while performing main scanning, and is output from the optical scanning device. The latent image is formed by irradiating the main scanning light, which is uniformly charged in advance and moving in the sub-scanning direction, to form a latent image, supplying the developer to the image holding body, and developing the paper. Image forming means for transferring to the image forming means, image forming means provided with a plurality of image forming portions for forming an image on the image holding body based on the light beam output from the optical scanning device, and first of the image signals. A first control unit that outputs the image signal to the optical scanning device, and a second image signal of the image signals that is output to the optical scanning device, and a series of image forming processes in the image forming unit. Second control means for controlling related operations A counting means provided in the optical scanning device for counting an image signal instructing consumption of the developer in the light source control means from each of the first image signal and the second image signal; ,have.

  The invention according to claim 6 is the invention according to claim 5, wherein the counting means detects and counts the driving current or driving voltage when the light source is turned on by the light source lighting control means.

  The invention according to claim 7 is the invention according to claim 5, wherein the counting means is based on an output signal from a monitoring means for monitoring an on / off state of the light source in the light source lighting control means. Count.

  The invention according to claim 8 is the developer consumption amount for predicting the consumption amount of the developer based on the detection result by the counting means in the invention according to any one of claims 5 to 7. It further has a prediction means.

  According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the fifth to seventh aspects of the present invention, the deterioration prediction for predicting the degree of deterioration with time of the optical scanning device based on the detection result by the counting means. It further has means.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to reliably count the image signal based on the received image data and instructing the light source to be turned on, as compared with the case where this configuration is not provided.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to reliably count the image signal instructing to turn on the light source based on the image data received from the two systems as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to detect and count the drive current or drive voltage when the light source is turned on.

  According to the fourth aspect of the invention, counting can be performed based on the output signal from the monitoring means for monitoring the on / off state of the light source.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to count more reliably the image signal instructing to turn on the light source based on each of the image data received from the two systems as compared with the case where this configuration is not provided.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to detect and count the drive current or drive voltage when the light source is turned on.

  According to the seventh aspect of the invention, counting can be performed based on the output signal from the monitoring means for monitoring the on / off state of the light source.

  According to the invention described in claim 8, it is possible to predict the consumption amount of the developer based on the detection result by the counting means.

  According to the ninth aspect of the invention, it is possible to predict the degree of deterioration over time of the optical scanning device.

(Overall configuration of image forming apparatus)
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus 110 according to the present embodiment.

  The image forming apparatus 110 includes four process cartridges 120 that perform full color image formation with four color toners (yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K)) in the vertical direction corresponding to each color. Are arranged.

  The toners Y, M, C, and K are not particularly limited by the manufacturing method, and various toners can be used.

  Here, the process cartridge 120 is provided for the photosensitive drum 116, the charging roll 118 disposed around the photosensitive drum 116, the erase lamp 122, and the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 116. The developing devices 111A, 111B, 111C, 111D and the like for developing the toner of each color.

  On the other hand, a paper feed cassette 124 in which the paper P is stored is provided at the lower part of the image forming apparatus 110. In the vicinity of the paper feed cassette 124, a pickup roll 126 that feeds the paper P at a predetermined timing is provided.

  The pick-up roll 126 sends out the paper P from the paper feed cassette 124 and transports the paper P to the transport device 144 that transports the paper P to the process cartridge 120 via the transport roll 128, the paper transport path 132, and the registration roll 130.

  The process cartridge 120 is arranged in the order of the aforementioned Y, M, C, and K colors from the upstream side (the lower side of the paper surface) of the paper transport path 132. An optical scanning device 20 that irradiates the process cartridge 120 with scanning light is disposed on the left side of the process cartridge 120 in FIG.

  The optical scanning device 20 is covered by a housing 20A, and condenses light beams emitted from monolithic semiconductor lasers (surface emitting lasers) of Y to K4 colors with a collimator lens and a cylindrical lens. It is deflected (scanned) in the main scanning direction, enters the fθ lens, and is divided in the sub-scanning direction by two colors.

  The light beam emitted from the fθ lens is finally divided one by one in the sub-scanning direction by the plurality of reflecting mirrors 25 and forms an image on each photosensitive drum 116.

  The conveyance device 144 includes a pair of tension rolls 146 and 148 provided along the side wall 110 </ b> A of the image forming apparatus 110, and a conveyance belt 150 wound around the tension rolls 146 and 148.

  An adsorption roll 154 is disposed in the vicinity of the tension roll 146, and the paper P is electrostatically adsorbed to the transport belt 150 by applying a bias voltage to the adsorption roll 154. The tension roll 148 is rotated by a motor (not shown) and moves the conveyor belt 150 along the side wall 110A. A density sensor 155 (image position detector) that detects the density of the reference patch is provided at a position facing the stretching roll 148 with the conveyance belt 150 interposed therebetween.

  Transfer rolls 152 are disposed at positions on the inner peripheral side of the conveyance belt 150 and facing the photosensitive drums 116 of the respective colors. Each transfer roll 152 sequentially transfers the toner images Y, M, C, and K formed on the photosensitive drum 116 onto the paper P that is being conveyed by the conveyance belt 150.

  The fixing device 156 fixes the toner image transferred to the paper P. The discharge roll 158 discharges the paper P on which the toner image is fixed to the discharge tray 160.

  The control unit 166 controls the entire apparatus. For example, the control unit 166 controls the exposure device 134 and the developing device 111 based on image data input from the outside and the output of the density sensor 155.

  Further, each transfer roll 152 sequentially transfers the toner images Y, M, C, and K of the image position detection pattern (reference patch) formed on the photosensitive drum 116 to the conveyance belt 150. Here, the image position detection pattern is used to measure the toner density and the reference patch position in the developing device 111. Specifically, image forming conditions such as toner supply to the developing device 111 and exposure amount are controlled in accordance with the density of the image position detection pattern detected by the density sensor 155. The image position detection pattern position is measured by measuring the timing at which each image position detection pattern passes through the density sensor 155, and the amount of deviation is detected. An image formation start timing correction amount and a main scanning direction magnification shift correction amount are determined according to the measured shift amount.

  FIG. 2 is a detailed hardware configuration diagram of the control unit 166.

  The control unit 166 includes a video controller 10 serving as a first control unit and an image forming controller 12 serving as a second control unit. The video controller 10 and the image forming controller 12 are arranged in the optical scanning device 20. Are linked to each other.

  For example, the video controller 10 has a function of receiving image data from a host computer or a server or image data read by a scanner via a communication network and generating a binarized video signal (image data signal). is doing.

  Note that the video signal is an LVDS signal, and the LVDS is an on / off signal whose amplitude is suppressed by superimposing the same signal with the phase inverted on the TTL signal displayed at 0V / 3.3V. Generated with a signal.

  The image forming controller 12 has a role of controlling the operation of each unit of the image forming unit described above, and is synchronized with the video controller 10 based on a synchronizing signal.

  The optical scanning controller 14 receives a video signal (binary signal) from the outside, and an LD driver that controls lighting of the light source (LD) 18 in the optical scanning device 20 based on the image data received by the receiving unit 16. 22. When a video signal (binary signal) is input to the LD driver 22, the lighting state of the light source (LD) is controlled.

  The video signal generated by the video controller 10 is directly input to the receiving unit 16 of the optical scanning controller 14. That is, the LD driver 22 is driven based on the image signal from the video controller 10.

  On the other hand, the image forming controller 12 periodically (for example, every predetermined number of processed sheets) or irregularly (for example, when an error occurs) makes an image forming state (position shift amount or density) with respect to the optical scanning controller 14. In some cases, an instruction to form an image position detection pattern image for determining a displacement amount or the like is given. In the image forming controller 12, a video signal (TTL) based on this image position detection pattern image is uniquely generated, converted into an LVDS signal by the TTL-LVDS conversion OP amplifier 24, and then transmitted to the optical scanning controller 14. It has become.

  For this reason, the receiving unit 16 of the optical scanning controller 14 includes input terminals 16A and 16B that receive two sets of image data separately. It has a structure. That is, the input terminal 16A is a terminal that receives a video signal from the video controller 10, and the input terminal 16B is a terminal that receives a video signal from the image forming controller 12.

  The receiving unit 16 includes a pair of LVDS-TTL conversion OP amplifiers 26 and 28 connected to the input terminals 16A and 16B, respectively, and an OR having the output terminals of the pair of LVDS-TTL conversion OP amplifiers 26 and 28 as input sources. Circuit 30.

  An output terminal of the OR circuit 30 is connected to the LD driver 22.

  The output of the OR circuit 30 is a composite signal of the video signal received from the video controller 10 and the video signal received from the image forming controller 12. Normally, there is almost no synthesis, and the respective light sources (LD) are controlled to be turned on and off by being input to each other and sent to the LD driver 22 in a state shifted in time.

  Here, one end of the branch line 34 is connected to the signal line 32 connecting the output terminal of the OR circuit 30 and the LD driver 22.

  The other end of the branch line 34 is connected to a pixel counter 36 as counting means. All video signals from the OR circuit 30 to the LD driver 22 are input to the pixel counter 36.

  Here, the video signal is a binarized signal for controlling on / off of the light source (LD), and the pixel counter 36 counts a signal for turning on the light source (LD) among the binary signals. . Here, the ON signal is a pixel in which toner is consumed in the image forming unit. Depending on the electrostatic latent image method, the off signal may be a pixel that consumes toner. The pixel counter 36 may be configured to count signals corresponding to pixels for which toner is consumed.

  FIG. 3 shows a detailed configuration of the optical scanning controller 14 including the pixel counter 36.

  A branch line 34 connected to the signal line 22 connecting the OR circuit 30 and the LD driver 22 has a NOT circuit (inverting circuit) 38 and a resistor 40 interposed therebetween, and is connected to the first input terminal 42A of the comparator 42. Has been.

  A reference signal line 44 from the image forming controller 12 is connected to the second input terminal 42 </ b> B of the comparator 42. The signal sent from the reference signal line 44 is a threshold value for discriminating a predetermined number of accumulated amounts of the ON signal and OFF signal of the light source (LD) 18 (see FIG. 1), and is generated by the image forming controller 12, The signal is input to the second input terminal 42B.

  In the threshold value for determining the accumulated amount, the highest resolution is 1 count with one ON signal. However, if the resolution is increased more than necessary, the control is excessively burdened. For example, the toner consumption amount is 1 g. It is preferable to count 1 by a corresponding predetermined number of ON signals.

  In addition, one end of a capacitor 46 is connected between the resistor 40 and the first input terminal 42 A, and the other end of the capacitor 46 is connected to the collector of the npn transistor 48. A reset signal line 50 to which a reset signal from the image forming controller 12 is input is connected to the base of the npn transistor 48. The emitter of the npn transistor 48 is grounded.

  The npn transistor 48 has a function of discharging charges accumulated in the capacitor 46 based on a reset signal from the image forming controller 12.

  That is, when the capacitor 46 is fully charged, when the signal input to the first input terminal 42A of the comparator 42 exceeds the reference signal (threshold value), one count is given to the image forming controller 12 side. When a minute signal is output, a reset signal is output from the image forming controller 12 side.

  The operation of this embodiment will be described below.

(Image formation processing based on image data)
During the image forming process, the video controller 10 outputs to the image forming controller 12 that the image forming is executed as a synchronization signal, and directly outputs a video signal (image data) for actually forming an image to the optical scanning controller 14. Send it out.

  In the optical scanning controller 14, this video signal (image data) is input to the LVDS-TTL conversion OP amplifier 26 via the input terminal 16A. The LVDS-TTL conversion OP amplifier 26 converts the LVDS signal into a TTL signal and reaches the LD driver 22 via the OR circuit 30.

  The LD driver 22 performs on / off control of the light source (LD) 18 based on the input video signal (image data). In synchronization with the lighting control of the light source (LD), an image forming operation by the image forming controller 12 is started. The light from the light source (LD) is main-scanned by the polygon mirror 23 and reflected by the reflecting mirror 25. It reaches the photosensitive drum 116 (see FIG. 1).

  The surface of the photosensitive drum 116 is uniformly charged in advance by the synchronous control, and the surface of the photosensitive drum 116 is static based on a voltage difference between a position where light from the light source (LD) 18 is irradiated and a position where the light is not irradiated. An electrostatic latent image is formed and then developed with toner. There are cases where toner adheres to an area irradiated with the light source (LD) 18 and toner adheres to an area not irradiated with the light. In any case, the light source (LD) 18 is turned on or off. Any of the number of times of lighting has a correlation with the toner consumption.

The toner-developed image on the photosensitive drum 116 (see FIG. 1) is transferred to the paper P, fixed, and discharged outside the apparatus.
(Image formation processing based on image position detection pattern)
Incidentally, in the image forming apparatus 110, periodically (for example, when a predetermined number of processed sheets (Print Volume) is processed) or irregularly (when a factor for stopping the apparatus such as a paper jam or toner shortage occurs). A video signal (image position detection pattern) is formed on the photosensitive drum 116 for adjustment of toner condition (TC) and correction of color registration shift (position shift), and the result detected by the density sensor 155 is fed back. Corrections are made.

  The video signal of such an image position detection pattern is generated not by the video controller 10 but by the image forming controller 12 and sent directly to the optical scanning controller 14.

  In the optical scanning controller 14, this video signal (image position detection pattern) is input to the LVDS-TTL conversion OP amplifier 28 via the input terminal 16B. The LVDS signal is converted into a TTL signal by the LVDS-TTL conversion OP amplifier 28 and reaches the LD driver 22 via the OR circuit 30.

  The LD driver 22 performs on / off control of the light source (LD) 18 based on the input video signal (image position detection pattern). The image forming operation by the image forming controller 12 is started so as to synchronize with the lighting control of the light source (LD) 18, and the light from the light source (LD) 18 is main-scanned by the polygon mirror 23 and reflected by the reflecting mirror 25. Thus, the photosensitive drum 116 (see FIG. 1) is reached.

  The surface of the photosensitive drum 116 is uniformly charged in advance by the synchronous control, and the surface of the photosensitive drum 116 is static based on a voltage difference between a position where light from the light source (LD) 18 is irradiated and a position where the light is not irradiated. An electrostatic latent image is formed and then developed with toner. There are cases where toner adheres to an area irradiated with the light source (LD) 18 and toner adheres to an area not irradiated with the light. In any case, the light source (LD) 18 is turned on or off. Any of the number of times of lighting has a correlation with the toner consumption.

  The toner-developed image on the photosensitive drum 116 (see FIG. 1) is transferred to the paper P, and the density or relative position of the image position detection pattern is measured by the density sensor 155 disposed on the passage trajectory of the paper P. Is detected.

  The image forming process based on the image data and the image forming process based on the image position detection pattern are the same in operation, although the ratio is different, and the toner consumption based on the video signal is also the same.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the toner consumption prediction amount, which has conventionally been determined based on only one video signal (only image data), is set as a determination target for both systems (image data, image position detection data). The prediction determination element is executed by the optical scanning controller 14. Note that the element of prediction determination is a count value of the number of times of turning on / off of the light source (LD).

  A procedure for counting the number of times of ON will be described with reference to FIG.

  The video signal (image data) from the video controller 10 and the video signal (image position detection data) from the image forming controller 12 are respectively input to the OR circuit 30 after passing through the LVDS-TTL conversion OP amplifier 26. Therefore, the output of the OR circuit 30 is a synthesized video signal, and as a result, all video signals can be acquired. Basically, there is no problem of inputting simultaneously. Even if it exists, it can be processed as an allowable error range.

  Here, the output from the OR circuit 30 is input to the first input terminal 42 </ b> A of the comparator 42 through the diode 38 and the resistor 40 via the branch line 34 separately from the output to the LD driver 22.

  A threshold signal is input from the image forming controller 12 to the second input terminal 42B of the comparator 42. This threshold signal is a signal corresponding to one count.

  The counting of the light source (LD) 18 is performed in a so-called analog manner. That is, when the ON signal of the light source (LD) 18 is accumulated, a corresponding amount of electric charge is accumulated in the capacitor 46, and when the full charge is reached, it is discharged. A signal flows. By comparing this with the threshold signal, a signal of 1 count is sent to the image forming controller 12 (output from the output terminal 42C of the comparator 42).

  On the other hand, when the image forming controller 12 receives the count signal, it sends a reset signal to the base of the npn transistor 48.

  As a result, the npn transistor 48 is turned on, the charge accumulated in the capacitor 46 is discharged, and a new count is possible.

  The image forming controller 12 accumulates the input count value and compares it with a predetermined threshold value to obtain the toner replenishment time. This threshold value may be determined based on the capacity of the toner replacement bottle, for example.

  Although the weight of 1 count is the highest, the highest resolution is 1 count with one ON signal. However, if the resolution is increased more than necessary, the control is overburdened. For example, the toner consumption amount is 1 g. It is preferable to count 1 by a corresponding predetermined number of ON signals.

  The count value is not an estimated toner consumption amount, but is an element that determines, for example, the degree of deterioration over time of a motor for rotating the polygon mirror 23 of the optical scanning device 20 and the deterioration over time of the light source (LD) 18. You may apply as

  In this embodiment, a logic circuit (see the OR circuit 30 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3) is used when integrating two systems of video signals. However, without using a logic circuit, a light source (LD ) On / off control, other signals that vary in correlation with the on / on may be used.

(Modification 1)
For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the drive current of the light source (LD) in the LD driver 22 may be extracted and pixel counted. The drive current of the light source (LD) 18 is equivalent to the on / off control of the light source (LD) 18. In this case, the drive voltage may be extracted.

(Modification 2)
Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the pixel 18 may be counted by extracting a drive signal of the photodiode 18 </ b> A that monitors the light emission of the light source (LD) 18. The photodiode 18 </ b> A is a device in which a current flows by light from the light source (LD) 18, and is equivalent to on / off control of the light source (LD) 18.

(Modification 3)
Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 6, the operating current of the LD driver 22 may be extracted and pixel counted. The operating voltage of the LD driver 22 is equivalent to the on / off control of the light source (LD) 18 because the load varies depending on the on / off control of the light source (LD) 18 and the power consumption is different.

1 is a schematic diagram of an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. It is a hardware block diagram of the control controller which concerns on this Embodiment. It is a detailed view of an optical scanning controller including a counter for counting a light source on signal based on a video signal according to the present embodiment. FIG. 10 is a detailed diagram of an optical scanning controller according to Modification 1 and including a counter for counting a light source on signal based on a video signal. FIG. 10 is a detailed diagram of an optical scanning controller according to Modification 2 and including a counter for counting a light source on signal based on a video signal. FIG. 10 is a detailed diagram of an optical scanning controller according to Modification 3 and including a counter for counting a light source on signal based on a video signal.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Video controller 12 Image formation controller 14 Optical scanning controller 16 Reception part (reception means)
18 Light source (LD)
20 Optical scanning device (scanning means)
22 LD driver (light source control means)
23 Polygon mirror 25 Reflecting mirror 24 TTL-LVDS conversion OP amplifier 16A, 16B Input terminal 26, 28 LVDS-TTL conversion OP amplifier 30 OR circuit 32 Signal line 34 Branch line 36 Pixel counter (counting means)
38 diode 40 resistor 42 comparator 42A first input terminal 42C output terminal 42B second input terminal 44 reference signal line 46 capacitor 48 npn transistor 50 reset signal line P paper 110 image forming apparatus 110A side wall 111 (A, B, C, D) Developing device 116 Photosensitive drum 118 Charging roll 120 Process cartridge 122 Erase lamp 124 Paper feed cassette 126 Pickup roll 128 Transport roll 130 Registration roll 132 Paper transport path 146, 148 Stretch roll 150 Transport belt 152 Transfer roll 154 Adsorption roll 155 Density sensor 156 Fixing device 158 Discharge roll 160 Discharge tray 166 Control unit

Claims (9)

Image signal receiving means for receiving an image signal;
A light source control means for controlling on / off of the light source based on the image signal received by the image signal receiving means;
A scanning unit that scans and outputs a light beam output from the light source by being controlled by the light source lighting control unit;
Counting means for counting image signals instructing to turn on a light source based on the light source control means among the image signals output from the image signal receiving means,
An optical scanning device. An image signal receiving means having at least two image signals as input sources and an output result being a logical sum of the at least two image signals;
A light source control means for controlling on / off of the light source based on the image signal output from the image signal receiving means;
A scanning unit that scans and outputs a light beam output from the light source by being controlled by the light source lighting control unit;
Counting means for counting image signals instructing to turn on a light source based on the light source control means among the image signals output from the image signal receiving means,
An optical scanning device.   3. The optical scanning device according to claim 1, wherein the counting unit detects and counts a driving current or a driving voltage when the light source is turned on in the light source lighting control unit.   The optical scanning device according to claim 1, wherein the counting unit counts based on an output signal from a monitoring unit that monitors an on / off state of the light source in the light source lighting control unit. It includes an optical scanning device that controls on / off of a light source by receiving an image signal and outputs a light beam output from the light source while performing main scanning, and the main scanning light output from the optical scanning device is preliminarily set. Image forming means for forming a latent image by irradiating an image carrier charged in the same manner and moving in the sub-scanning direction, supplying the developer to the image carrier, developing the image, and transferring the image to a sheet;
An image forming unit including a plurality of image forming units for forming an image on an image holding body based on a light beam output from the optical scanning device;
First control means for outputting a first image signal of the image signals to the optical scanning device;
A second control unit that outputs a second image signal of the image signals to the optical scanning device and controls operations related to a series of image forming processes in the image forming unit;
A counting unit provided in the optical scanning device and counting an image signal instructing consumption of the developer in the light source control unit from the first image signal and the second image signal;
An image forming apparatus.   6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the counting unit detects and counts a driving current or a driving voltage when the light source is turned on in the light source lighting control unit.   6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the counting unit counts based on an output signal from a monitoring unit that monitors an on / off state of the light source in the light source lighting control unit.   8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a developer consumption amount prediction unit configured to predict the consumption amount of the developer based on a detection result by the counting unit.   9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a deterioration prediction unit that predicts a degree of deterioration with time of the optical scanning device based on a detection result of the counting unit.

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