JP4844668B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an image forming apparatus such as a color laser printer, for example, a plurality of image forming units are arranged along a belt for conveying paper, and each image forming unit is arranged on a sheet conveyed on the belt. A system in which toner images of respective colors are sequentially transferred is known. In such an image forming apparatus, if a transfer position shift (color shift) with respect to the sheet occurs between the image forming units, the quality of the formed image deteriorates.

  Therefore, in order to ensure image quality, a technique called registration or the like that corrects the shift in the formation position of each color is employed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). According to this technique, a predetermined pattern is formed on the belt surface by each image forming unit, the position of the pattern is detected by an optical sensor, and the deviation of the formation position of each color is corrected based on the result. A similar technique is also known in which a density correction pattern is formed on a belt, the density of the pattern is detected by an optical sensor, and the density of the formed image is corrected based on the result. .

JP 2003-98795 A

  By the way, in the above-described positional deviation correction or density correction, if toner or the like adheres to the belt surface and becomes dirty, the pattern cannot be detected with high accuracy. Therefore, such an image forming apparatus is generally provided with a cleaning device for cleaning the belt, and after the correction process is completed, the toner attached to the belt surface is removed by the cleaning device.

  However, conventionally, the belt immediately before executing the correction is not always in a clean state. In other words, even if the belt cleaning is executed after the correction is completed, the belt surface may become dirty after that, for example, when the image forming unit is attached or detached. As a result, the pattern detection accuracy is lowered, and as a result, the quality of the formed image may be lowered.

  The present invention has been completed based on the above-described circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of ensuring pattern detection accuracy during correction execution.

As means for achieving the above object, an image forming apparatus according to the first invention is formed on a carrier, a forming means for forming an image, a cleaning means for cleaning the carrier, and the carrier. A detection means for detecting the corrected pattern, a state detection means for detecting a situation in which the contamination state of the carrier changes, and a situation in which the contamination state of the carrier changes by the state detection means Before the formation of the pattern in the pattern formation region of the carrier by the forming unit, the cleaning unit performs cleaning of the pattern formation region, and the state detection unit changes the contamination state of the carrier. If not detected, when the result of measuring the degree of contamination of the carrier is equal to or higher than a reference contamination degree threshold, the forming means causes the pattern Control means for cleaning the pattern formation area by the cleaning means before forming the pattern in the formation area, and correction of image forming characteristics in the formation means based on the detection result of the pattern by the detection means Correction processing means for executing correction processing.

  According to the first aspect of the invention, when the state detection means detects a change in the contamination state of the carrier, the carrier is cleaned before the pattern is formed in the pattern formation region by the formation means, and In the case where the state where the contamination state of the carrier changes is not detected by the state detection means, the pattern formation is performed by the formation means when the result of measuring the contamination degree of the carrier is equal to or greater than the reference contamination degree threshold. The carrier is cleaned before the pattern is formed in the region, and then the pattern is formed on the cleaned portion on the carrier to detect and correct the pattern. By carrying out the cleaning of the carrier before forming the pattern, the accuracy of pattern detection can be ensured, and as a result, the quality of the image formed can be ensured by increasing the accuracy of correction.

  According to a second aspect, in the first aspect, the threshold value is a first threshold value when the forming unit forms a pattern for correcting misalignment that corrects a misalignment of an image formed by the forming unit. And a second threshold value for forming a density correction pattern for correcting the density of the image formed by the means. The first threshold value is higher than the second threshold value.

  According to the second aspect of the invention, when detecting a pattern for density correction, it is more susceptible to the contamination of the carrier than when detecting a pattern for positional deviation correction. For this reason, when detecting a pattern for density correction, it is desirable to make it easier to clean the carrier before forming the pattern than when detecting a pattern for correcting misregistration. Further, the processing time can be shortened by not performing unnecessary cleaning processing.

  According to the present invention, when a state in which the state of contamination of the carrier changes is detected by the state detector, the carrier is cleaned before the pattern is formed in the pattern formation region by the forming unit. If the detection unit does not detect a change in the contamination state of the carrier, the formation unit sets the pattern formation region when the result of measuring the contamination of the carrier is equal to or higher than a reference contamination degree threshold. The carrier is cleaned before the pattern is formed, and then the pattern is formed on the cleaned portion on the carrier to detect and correct the pattern. As a result, the accuracy of pattern detection can be ensured, and as a result, the quality of an image formed by increasing the accuracy of correction can be ensured.

1 is a side sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a printer which is an example of an image forming apparatus of the present invention. Block diagram schematically showing the electrical configuration of the printer Flow chart showing the flow of contamination level detection processing Flow chart showing the flow of correction processing The figure explaining the positional relationship of a belt, the pattern detection sensor provided in the circumference | surroundings, a cleaning apparatus, and a photosensitive drum. Diagram showing misalignment correction pattern Diagram showing density correction pattern

  <Embodiment 1> Next, Embodiment 1 of this invention is demonstrated with reference to FIGS.

(Entire printer configuration)
FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a printer 1 which is an example of an image forming apparatus of the present invention. In the following description, the right side in FIG.

  The printer 1 includes a main casing 2. A bottom of the main casing 2 is provided with a supply tray 4 on which sheets 3 serving as recording media are stacked. A paper feed roller 5 is provided above the front end of the supply tray 4, and the paper 3 stacked at the top in the paper feed tray 4 is sent to the registration roller 6 as the paper feed roller 5 rotates. The registration roller 6 corrects the skew of the sheet 3 and then conveys the sheet 3 onto the belt unit 11 of the image forming unit 10.

  The image forming unit 10 (an example of a forming unit) includes a belt unit 11, a scanner unit 19, a process unit 20, a fixing unit 31, and the like.

  The belt unit 11 has a configuration in which a belt 13 (an example of a carrier) made of polycarbonate or the like is stretched between a pair of front and rear belt support rollers 12. Then, the belt support roller 12 on the rear side is driven to rotate, whereby the belt 13 circulates in the counterclockwise direction in the drawing, and the sheet 3 on the upper surface of the belt 13 is conveyed backward. Further, on the inner side of the belt 13, transfer rollers 14 are provided at positions facing each photosensitive drum 28 of the process unit 20, which will be described later, across the belt 13.

  Further, a pair of pattern detection sensors 15 (an example of detection means) for detecting a pattern formed on the belt 13 are provided opposite to the lower surface of the belt 13. The pattern detection sensor 15 irradiates the belt 13 with light, receives the reflected light with a phototransistor or the like, and outputs a signal having a level corresponding to the amount of light received. A cleaning device 17 (an example of a cleaning unit) for cleaning the surface of the belt 13 is provided below the belt unit 11 (the cleaning device 17 will be described in detail later).

  The scanner unit 19 irradiates the surface of the corresponding photosensitive drum 28 with laser light for each color emitted from a laser light emitting unit (not shown).

  The process unit 20 includes a developing cartridge 22 (22Y, 22Y, respectively) corresponding to four colors (yellow, magenta, cyan, and black) that are detachably mounted on a frame 21 and four cartridge mounting portions provided on the frame 21. 22M, 22C, 22K). The process unit 20 can be pulled forward by opening the front cover 2A provided on the front surface of the main body casing 2. Further, the process unit 20 is detached from the main body casing 2, and the belt unit 11 and the cleaning unit described above are removed. The device 17 can be attached to and detached from the main casing 2. A photosensitive drum 28 whose surface is covered with a positively chargeable photosensitive layer and a scorotron charger 29 are provided below the frame 21 corresponding to each developing cartridge 22.

  Each developing cartridge 22 is provided with a toner storage chamber 23 for storing toner of each color as a developer in an upper portion inside a box-shaped casing, and a supply roller 24, a developing roller 25, a layer thickness regulating blade 26, An agitator 27 and the like are provided. The toner discharged from the toner storage chamber 23 is supplied to the developing roller 25 by the rotation of the supply roller 24, and is positively frictionally charged between the supply roller 24 and the developing roller 25. Further, as the developing roller 25 rotates, the toner supplied onto the developing roller 25 enters between the layer thickness regulating blade 26 and the developing roller 25, where it is further sufficiently frictionally charged to have a constant thickness. It is carried on the developing roller 25 as a thin layer.

At the time of image formation, the photosensitive drum 28 is rotationally driven, and accordingly, the surface of the photosensitive drum 28 is uniformly positively charged by the charger 29. The positively charged portion is exposed by high-speed scanning of laser light from the scanner unit 19, and an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image to be formed on the paper 3 is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 28.

  Next, the electrostatic latent toner formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 28 when the positively charged toner carried on the developing roller 25 contacts the photosensitive drum 28 by the rotation of the developing roller 25. Supplied to the image. As a result, the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 28 is visualized, and the surface of the photosensitive drum 28 carries a toner image with toner attached only to the exposed portion.

  Thereafter, the toner image carried on the surface of each photosensitive drum 28 is transferred to the transfer roller 14 while the paper 3 conveyed by the belt 13 passes through each transfer position between the photosensitive drum 28 and the transfer roller 14. The images are sequentially transferred to the paper 3 by the applied negative transfer voltage. The sheet 3 having the toner image transferred thereon is then conveyed to the fixing device 31.

  The fixing device 31 includes a heating roller 31A having a heat source and a pressure roller 31B that presses the paper 3 toward the heating roller 31A, and heat-fixes the toner image transferred onto the paper 3 on the paper surface. Then, the paper 3 thermally fixed by the fixing device 31 is conveyed upward and discharged onto a discharge tray 32 provided on the upper surface of the main casing 2.

(Cleaning device)
The cleaning device 17 includes a case 40 that stores toner, paper dust, and the like collected from the surface of the belt 13, and a cleaning roller 41 and a collection roller 42 are provided in pressure contact with each other above the case 40. The cleaning roller 41 faces the metal backup roller 43 provided in the belt unit 11 with the belt 13 interposed therebetween. A rubber scraping blade 44 is in pressure contact with the lower side of the collection roller 42.

  The entire cleaning device 17 can be displaced up and down by a displacement mechanism (not shown). When the cleaning device 17 is turned on under the control of a CPU 50 described later, the cleaning roller 41 is displaced to a position where it contacts the belt 13. The cleaning roller 41 is driven in the direction opposite to the moving direction of the belt 13 by the power from the main motor 57 (see FIG. 2) provided on the main casing 2 side, and the cleaning roller 41 and the backup roller A predetermined bias is applied between the terminal 43 and the terminal 43. Thereby, the toner or the like adhering to the belt 13 is physically scraped to the cleaning roller 41 side and is electrically sucked. Further, when the cleaning device 17 is turned off, the displacement mechanism lowers the cleaning roller 41 to a position where it does not contact the belt 13, and the bias between the cleaning roller 41 and the backup roller 43 is turned off.

(Electrical configuration of printer)
FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing the electrical configuration of the printer 1. As shown in the figure, the printer 1 includes a CPU 50 (an example of a control unit and a correction processing unit), a ROM 51, a RAM 52, an NVRAM (nonvolatile memory) 53, and a network interface 54, and the image forming unit 10 described above. The pattern detection sensor 15 and the cleaning device 17, the display unit 55, the operation unit 56, the main motor 57, the cover open / close sensor 58 (an example of a state detection unit), and the like are connected.

The ROM 51 stores a program for executing various operations of the printer 1 such as a contamination level detection process and a correction process, which will be described later. The CPU 50 stores the processing result in the RAM 52 or according to the program read from the ROM 51. Each unit is controlled while being stored in the NVRAM 53. The network interface 54 is connected to an external computer or the like via a communication line (not shown), thereby enabling mutual data communication.

  The display unit 55 includes a liquid crystal display, a lamp, and the like, and can display various setting screens and operation states of the apparatus. The operation unit 56 includes a plurality of buttons, and various input operations can be performed by the user.

  The main motor 57 rotates the registration roller 6, the belt support roller 12, the transfer roller 14, the developing roller 25, the photosensitive drum 28, the heating roller 31A, the cleaning roller 41, and the like described above in synchronization. The cover open / close sensor 58 detects the open / closed state of the front cover 2A.

(Pollution degree detection processing)
Next, a contamination level detection process for detecting the contamination level of the belt 13 will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the flow of the contamination degree detection process.

  This contamination level detection process is always executed in the background under the control of the CPU 50 after the printer 1 is turned on, and determines the contamination level value stored in the RAM 52. This degree of contamination is a numerical value indicating the degree of contamination on the surface of the belt 13, and takes a value from 0 to 1, with 1 indicating the most contaminated state and 0 indicating the cleanest state.

  When starting the contamination level detection process, the CPU 50 first sets the contamination level to 1 (S101). Then, it is checked whether the opening / closing operation of the front cover 2A is detected by the cover opening / closing sensor 58 (S102). Here, when the opening / closing operation of the front cover 2A is detected (S102: Yes), the contamination level is set to 1 (S103). In addition, when the contamination level is originally 1 or when the opening / closing operation of the front cover 2A is not detected (S102: No), the contamination level is not changed.

  Subsequently, the CPU 50 checks whether a jam (paper jam) has occurred (S104). A plurality of paper sensors (not shown) are provided on the paper 3 conveyance path, and the CPU 50 detects when the paper 3 is not detected by the paper sensors at a predetermined timing during the conveyance of the paper 3. Determines that a jam has occurred. When the jam occurs (S104: Yes), the CPU 50 sets the contamination degree to 1 (S105). Again, if the contamination level is originally 1 or if no jam has occurred (S104: No), the contamination level value is not changed.

  Next, the CPU 50 measures the amount of light reflected from the belt 13 by the pattern detection sensor 15, and stores the measured value in the RAM 52 (S106). This measurement value is accumulated in the RAM 52 every time measurement is performed, and when the contamination level is set to 1 in the above-described S103 and S105, all measurement values are cleared. Then, the CPU 50 determines whether or not the measured values are obtained by a number corresponding to one revolution of the belt 13 (S107), and if it is less than one revolution (S170: No), the process from S102 is predetermined. Repeat at intervals.

  When the CPU 50 obtains the number of measurement values corresponding to one rotation of the belt 13 (S107: Yes), the CPU 50 determines the highest value (the most of the points measured on the belt 13) from those measurement values. The contamination degree (that is, a numerical value from 0 to 1) corresponding to the dirty portion is calculated. Then, the value is written in the RAM 52 as a new contamination level (S108), and each measurement value stored in the RAM 52 is cleared. Then, it returns to S102 and repeats the same process.

As described above, in this contamination level detection process, the amount of reflected light from the belt 13 is measured at predetermined intervals, and the contamination level (contamination information) of the belt 13 is determined based on the measurement result.
Stored on the AM 52. When a situation in which the contamination state of the belt 13 changes, such as when the front cover 2A is opened or closed or a jam occurs, the contamination degree is overwritten (invalidated).

(Correction process)
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of the correction process.

  The CPU 50 performs the correction process when a predetermined condition is satisfied, for example, when the opening / closing operation of the front cover 2A is performed, or when the number of printed sheets or the elapsed time from the previous correction process reaches a predetermined value. Is started, and either position shift correction or density correction is executed.

  When starting the correction process, the CPU 50 refers to the contamination level stored on the RAM 52 by the above-described contamination level detection process, and determines whether the value is smaller than 0.8 (an example of the first threshold) (S201). ). Here, when the contamination degree is 0.8, is it possible to accurately detect the misalignment correction pattern P1 formed on the belt 13 when performing misalignment correction as described later? This is a reference value for determining whether or not.

  When the contamination level is less than 0.8 (that is, the contamination level of the belt 13 satisfies the criteria for correcting the positional deviation) (S201: Yes), whether or not the positional deviation correction is executed in this correction processing. Is determined (S202). When the positional deviation correction is executed (S202: Yes), the process proceeds to S208 described later, and the formation of the positional deviation correction pattern P1 is started.

  When density correction is executed (S202: No), it is determined whether the contamination level of the belt 13 is smaller than 0.5 (an example of a second threshold value) (S203). Here, when the degree of contamination is 0.5, it is determined whether or not the density can be accurately measured by the density correction pattern P2 formed on the belt 13 when density correction described later is performed. This is the reference value to be used. In other words, the density correction requires a lower standard of contamination than the positional deviation correction, and the belt 13 is required to be cleaner. If the contamination level is smaller than 0.5 (that is, the contamination level of the belt 13 satisfies the criteria for performing density correction) (S203: Yes), the process proceeds to S215 to be described later, and the density correction pattern is formed. To start.

  When the contamination degree of the belt 13 is 0.8 or more (S201: No), or when the density correction is performed and the contamination degree is 0.5 or more (S203: No), the CPU 50 cleans the cleaning device 17. Is turned on to start operation (S204). As a result, the cleaning roller 41 comes into contact with the belt 13, and as the belt 13 moves, the portion of the surface of the belt 13 that faces the cleaning roller 41 is cleaned.

  Subsequently, the CPU 50 determines whether or not to perform misregistration correction (S205). When the misregistration correction is performed (S205: Yes), the pattern detection sensor continues to clean the belt 13 by the cleaning device 17. It waits until the period in which the output level V of 15 satisfies the following formula 1 continues for the length La of the belt 13 (S206).

[Formula 1]
V0 / 2> V * (K0-K) / K0
K0: Assumed maximum toner layer thickness on belt 13 K: Cleaning capability by cleaning device 17, that is, toner layer thickness removable when belt 13 passes cleaning device 17 once V: Pattern detection sensor 15 Output level V0: the maximum value of the expected output level of the pattern detection sensor 15 (the output level when the maximum toner layer thickness portion is measured)
In Equation 1, “K0−K” corresponds to the maximum toner layer thickness on the surface of the belt 13 on the downstream side of the cleaning device 17, that is, after being cleaned by the cleaning device 17. The right side “V * (K0−K) / K0” in Equation 1 is the output level when it is assumed that the reflected light is measured by the pattern detection sensor 15 on the downstream side of the cleaning device 17, that is, the cleaning device. This corresponds to the output level obtained by subtracting the cleaning amount due to 17.

  Further, the left side is a threshold value for determining the degree of contamination of the belt 13, and its value is half of the maximum value of the output level of the pattern detection sensor 15, and the amount of reflected light from the pattern surface is measured. Is an intermediate value between the output level V0 and the output level when the amount of reflected light from the surface of the belt 13 is measured. If the value on the right side is less than the value on the left side, Equation 1 is satisfied. When Formula 1 is satisfied, the contamination degree of the portion measured by the pattern detection sensor 15 on the belt 13 is lower than the reference.

  Here, FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the positional relationship between the belt 13 and the pattern detection sensor 15, the cleaning device 17, and the photosensitive drum 28 provided around the belt 13, and FIG. 6 is an example of a positional deviation correction pattern. FIG. 7 shows an example of the density correction pattern.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the misregistration correction pattern P <b> 1 includes a plurality of marks 60 that are formed on the left and right sides of the surface of the belt 13 in a line at a predetermined interval. The pair of pattern detection sensors 15 are arranged at positions facing the marks 60 in the left and right columns. Each mark 60 corresponds to each color of toner used in the process unit 20, and includes a plurality of sets of four marks 60 of yellow (60Y), magenta (60M), cyan (60C), and black (60K). The marks 60 are arranged so as to be repeatedly arranged in a predetermined order along the paper transport direction. The length range on the belt 13 where the misregistration correction pattern P1 is formed is La, and this length La is the first image forming position (yellow photosensitive drum) from the pattern detection sensor 15 as shown in FIG. 28 is smaller than the length L0 on the belt 13 up to (position facing 28).

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7, the density correction pattern P <b> 2 includes a plurality of marks 61 formed in a line on one side of the surface of the belt 13. In this density correction pattern P2, the toner colors (yellow (61Y), magenta (61M), cyan (61C), and black (61K)) used in the process unit 20 have a density of 10%, 50%, and 100%, respectively. A plurality of marks 61 having different values are formed. The length range on the belt 13 on which the density correction pattern P2 is formed is Lb. As shown in FIG. 5, the length Lb is from the pattern detection sensor 15 to the first image forming position. It is smaller than the length L0 above.

  When the state in which Equation 1 is satisfied in S206 described above continues for a period until the position of the pattern detection sensor 15 passes the length 13 of the belt 13 (S206: Yes), the belt 13 The region of the upper length La is defined as a pattern formation region for forming the misregistration correction pattern P1. Then, after the rear end of the pattern formation region passes through the cleaning device 17, the cleaning device 17 is turned off (S207). As a result, when the degree of contamination of the belt 13 is large (the standard of Formula 1 is not satisfied), the amount of operation of the cleaning device 17 (the number of times the same portion is cleaned on the belt 13, the range to be cleaned, the operation Time).

Subsequently, when the front end of the pattern formation area on the belt 13 moves the length L0 from the position of the pattern detection sensor 15, that is, when the CPU 50 reaches the first image formation position, the CPU 50 detects the first yellow color from the photosensitive drum 28. Formation of the misregistration correction pattern P1 is started at the timing when the mark 60Y is transferred (S208). As described above, when the positional deviation correction is performed, if the contamination degree of the belt 13 is smaller than the reference 0.8 (S202: Yes), the cleaning device 17 is not operated and the process immediately starts in S208. The formation of the misregistration correction pattern P1 is started.

Subsequently, the CPU 50 sets a threshold value Vt used when measuring the position of the misregistration correction pattern P1 (S209). This threshold value Vt is determined using the following formula 2, for example.
[Formula 2]
When (Vm−V0 / 2) /V0≧0.3, Vt = (Vm−V0 / 2) * 1.2
When (Vm−V0 / 2) / V0 <0.3, Vt = V0 * 0.3
Vm: the maximum value of the measured output level V of the pattern detection sensor 15 On the belt 13, a portion where the output level Vm of the pattern detection sensor 15 is somewhat large and the degree of contamination is relatively large passes through the cleaning device 17 and is cleaned. As a result, it is considered that the output when the reflected light is measured by the pattern detection sensor 15 is reduced by at least V0 / 2. Therefore, “Vm−V0 / 2” in Expression 2 corresponds to the maximum output level when the amount of reflected light from the surface of the belt 13 is measured by the pattern detection sensor 15 on the downstream side of the cleaning device 17. In Formula 2, when the value obtained by dividing “Vm−V0 / 2” by V0 is 0.3 or more, a value obtained by multiplying the value by 1.2 is set as the threshold value Vt. Thus, the threshold value Vt is set to an intermediate value between the output level when the amount of reflected light from the belt surface is measured and the output level V0 when the amount of reflected light from the mark 60 is measured, and the belt. The larger the amount of reflected light from the surface, the larger the value. When the value obtained by dividing “Vm−V0 / 2” by V0 is less than 0.3, the threshold value Vt is set to 0.3 times V0 (lower limit value).

  Subsequently, when the pattern detection area in which the position deviation correction pattern P1 is formed reaches the position of the pattern detection sensor 15, the CPU 50 starts measuring the position of the position deviation correction pattern P1 (S210). The CPU 50 compares the output V from the pattern detection sensor 15 with the above-described threshold value Vt, and when the output V is larger than the threshold value Vt, that is, the amount of reflected light from the belt 13 becomes the amount of reflected light V0 from the pattern surface. When it is close, it is determined that there is a mark 60 at a position facing the pattern detection sensor 15, and when the output V is smaller than the threshold value Vt, that is, when it is close to the amount of reflected light from the surface of the belt 13, it is on the belt 13. It is determined that the mark 60 is not present.

  Based on the result of measuring the position of each mark 60 as described above, the CPU 50 obtains a deviation amount of the image forming position of each color with reference to the black color, and puts a position correction amount corresponding to the deviation amount on the NVRAM 53. Register (S211). At the time of image formation, based on this position correction amount, the writing position on each photosensitive drum 28 is corrected when exposure by the scanner unit 19 is performed.

  After completing the positional deviation correction (S208 to S211), the CPU 50 turns on the cleaning device 17 and performs the cleaning process of the belt 13 (S212). In this cleaning process, the amount of reflected light from the belt 13 is measured by the pattern detection sensor 15, and the cleaning of the belt 13 is continued until the output level of the pattern detection sensor 15 falls below a predetermined threshold value on the entire circumference of the belt 13. Then, the misregistration correction pattern P1 is removed.

  On the other hand, when the CPU 50 executes density correction in S205 (S205: No), there is a period in which the output of the pattern detection sensor 15 satisfies the following Expression 3 while continuing to clean the belt 13 by the cleaning device 17. It waits until it continues for the length Lb of the belt 13 (S213).

[Formula 3]
V0 / 3> V * (K0-K) / K0
Formula 3 is different from Formula 1 only in that the value on the left side is V0 / 3. That is, if it is assumed that the reflected light is measured by the pattern detection sensor 15 on the downstream side of the cleaning device 17, the maximum output level is less than one third of the maximum value of the output level of the pattern detection sensor 15. Equation 3 is satisfied. In Equation 3, the value on the left side, which is a threshold value for determining the degree of contamination of the belt 13, is smaller than that in Equation 1. That is, the belt 13 is more subject to correction of density than that of correction of positional deviation. It is required to be cleaner.

  When the state where Expression 3 is satisfied continues for a period until the belt 13 length Lb passes through the position of the pattern detection sensor 15 (S213: Yes), the CPU 50 determines the region of the length Lb on the belt 13. A pattern forming region for forming the density correction pattern P2 is used. Then, after the rear end of the pattern formation region passes through the cleaning device 17, the cleaning device 17 is turned off (S214). When the density correction is performed, the requirement expressed by Equation 3 is stricter than that for the positional deviation correction. Therefore, depending on the degree of contamination of the belt 13, the operation amount of the cleaning device 17 becomes larger than that for the positional deviation correction.

  Subsequently, the CPU 50 detects the first mark 61 from the photosensitive drum 28 when the front end of the pattern formation region on the belt 13 moves a length L0 from the position of the pattern detection sensor 15, that is, when it reaches the first image formation position. The formation of the density correction pattern P1 is started at the timing when the image is transferred (S215). As described above, when the density correction is performed, if the contamination level of the belt 13 is smaller than 0.5 which is the reference (S203: Yes), the density is immediately determined in S215 without operating the cleaning device 17. The formation of the correction pattern P2 is started.

  Subsequently, when the pattern detection area reaches the position of the pattern detection sensor 15, the CPU 50 starts measuring the density correction pattern P2 (S216). Here, the CPU 50 measures the density of each mark 61 and registers a density correction value based on the measurement result on the NVRAM 53 (S217). At the time of image formation, the density of each color when performing exposure by the scanner unit 19 is corrected based on the density correction amount.

  After completing the density correction (S213 to S217), the CPU 50 turns on the cleaning device 17 and performs the cleaning process of the belt 13 in S212. In this cleaning process, the amount of reflected light from the belt 13 is measured by the pattern detection sensor 15, and the cleaning of the belt 13 is continued until the output level of the pattern detection sensor 15 falls below a predetermined threshold value on the entire circumference of the belt 13. Then, the density correction pattern P1 is removed. Thus, the correction process is completed.

(Effect of this embodiment)
As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the correction process is executed, the belt 13 is first cleaned, and then a pattern is formed on the cleaned portion on the belt 13 to detect the pattern. Make corrections. By performing the cleaning of the belt 13 before forming the pattern, the accuracy of pattern detection can be ensured, and as a result, the quality of the image formed can be ensured by increasing the accuracy of correction.

  Moreover, since the operation amount at the time of cleaning by the cleaning device 17 can be changed, the operation amount can be changed according to the situation. For example, when the belt 13 is not very dirty, it is possible to reduce the amount of operation and reduce the waiting time of the user.

In the correction process, since it is possible to select whether or not cleaning is performed before pattern formation, for example, in a hurry, cleaning can be omitted and correction can be completed at an early stage.

  In addition, the density of the belt 13 is more susceptible to contamination of the belt 13 when detecting the pattern than when correcting the positional deviation. For this reason, the pattern detection accuracy can be ensured by increasing the amount of operation of the cleaning device 17 at the time of density correction compared to that at the time of positional deviation correction. In addition, the time required for processing can be shortened by making the operating amount of the cleaning device 17 smaller than that at the time of density correction at the time of positional deviation correction.

  Moreover, moderate cleaning can be performed by determining the degree of contamination of the belt 13 and changing the amount of operation during cleaning according to the degree of contamination.

  Further, since the amount of reflected light from the belt 13 is measured and the degree of contamination is determined based on the result, the degree of contamination is determined more accurately than when the degree of contamination is estimated based on the number of printed sheets, for example. be able to.

  In addition, the degree of contamination can be determined appropriately by comparing whether the measured light quantity is close to the light quantity of the reflected light from the surface of the belt 13 or the light quantity of the reflected light from the pattern surface with reference to the threshold value. Can do.

  In addition, when the portion measured by the pattern detection sensor 15 on the belt 13 passes through the cleaning device 17 and reaches the image forming position of the image forming unit 10, the cleaning amount by the cleaning device 17 is determined from the measurement result. Subtract the to determine the degree of contamination. For this reason, compared with the case where the degree of contamination is determined based only on the measured result, the actual degree of contamination can be determined at an early stage, and therefore pattern formation can be started earlier.

  Further, the amount of reflected light from the belt 13 is measured at a predetermined interval, contamination information based on the measurement result is stored, and when the correction is executed, the degree of contamination is determined based on the contamination information. As a result, the degree of contamination can be determined in a shorter time than when measurement is started after correction is performed.

  Further, for example, when a situation in which the contamination state of the belt 13 changes occurs, more appropriate determination can be made by invalidating the contamination information.

  When it is determined that the degree of contamination of the belt 13 is less than the reference, the operation amount of the cleaning device 17 is set to zero, so that the processing time can be shortened by not performing unnecessary cleaning processing.

  In addition, since the amount of reflected light from the surface of the belt 13 changes depending on the degree of damage on the surface of the belt 13, the pattern detection accuracy can be improved by changing the position detection threshold according to the amount of light.

<Other embodiments>
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described with reference to the above description and drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.
(1) In the correction process, before the pattern is formed, the user may select whether or not the belt cleaning is performed by a selection unit such as an operation unit. Thereby, in the case of a hurry, for example, cleaning can be omitted and correction can be completed early.
(2) In the above embodiment, the amount of the reflected light from the belt is optically measured to directly determine the contamination degree. However, according to the present invention, the contamination degree is determined from the rotational speed of the carrier. It is good also as a structure which guesses. Moreover, it is good also as a structure which divides | segments a belt into a some area and memorize | stores the contamination degree regarding each area.
(3) In the above embodiment, the cleaning device that can be switched on and off has been shown. However, in the present invention, for example, the tip of a fixed blade is in contact with the surface of a carrier such as a belt. Also, the present invention can be applied to a configuration in which the carrier is always cleaned (cannot be switched on / off) as the carrier moves.
(4) In the above embodiment, a belt is used as a carrier for forming a pattern. However, according to the present invention, for example, an image forming apparatus using a transfer drum forms a pattern on the transfer drum. It is good also as composition to do.

1 ... Printer (image forming apparatus)
10: Image forming unit (forming unit)
13 ... belt (carrier)
15 ... Pattern detection sensor (detection means)
17 ... Cleaning device (cleaning means)
50 ... CPU (control means, correction processing means)
58 .. Cover open / close sensor (state detection means)

Claims (2)

A carrier,
Forming means for forming an image;
Cleaning means for cleaning the carrier;
Detecting means for detecting a correction pattern formed on the carrier;
State detection means for detecting a situation in which the contamination state of the carrier changes,
When the state detection unit detects a change in the contamination state of the carrier, the cleaning unit cleans the pattern formation region before the formation unit forms the pattern on the pattern formation region of the carrier. When the state of the contamination state of the carrier is not detected by the state detection means, when the result of measuring the contamination degree of the carrier is equal to or greater than a reference contamination degree threshold, Control means for performing cleaning of the pattern forming area by the cleaning means before forming the pattern in the pattern forming area by the forming means;
Correction processing means for executing correction processing for correcting image forming characteristics in the forming means based on the detection result of the pattern by the detecting means;
An image forming apparatus comprising: The threshold value includes a first threshold value when the forming unit forms a pattern for correcting misalignment for correcting a positional shift of an image formed by the forming unit, and a density of an image formed by the forming unit. A second threshold value when the forming unit forms a pattern for density correction for correcting
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first threshold is higher than the second threshold.