JP5023676B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to a technique for optimizing the timing of an image stabilization operation.

  In image forming apparatuses such as copiers, printers, and facsimile machines, various image-related conditions change over time due to changes in temperature and humidity in the machine, deterioration of the photosensitive drum and developer, etc. Adversely affects. Therefore, the image stabilization operation is intermittently performed to change the control variables of each part of the apparatus, thereby correcting the apparatus to an optimum state and maintaining a print image quality of a certain level or higher.

Such an image stabilization operation consumes toner, developer, etc., and takes a certain amount of operation time. Therefore, it is not desirable to perform it frequently. Generally, fluctuations in the temperature and humidity in the machine exceed the specified values. This is carried out when the time is reached or when a predetermined number of times are printed.
However, the image stabilization operation may be performed while printing multiple sheets, and the print operation is interrupted while the image stabilization operation is being performed, so the user has to wait just In addition, the user may mistakenly assume that the printing operation has been completed and forget to take out the paper, so that there is a problem that convenience for the user is significantly impaired.

  For example, if the image stabilization operation is set to be performed when the cumulative number of prints reaches 500, and the cumulative number of prints is 0, the print job is 499 sheets (499 times) for single-sided printing. The image stabilization operation is not performed even if is executed, but when the cumulative number of prints is 499, the first sheet is printed out simply by executing two (two) print jobs with single-sided printing. As soon as the image is stabilized, the image stabilization operation is performed, and the user waits for a long time and then the second sheet is printed out.

In addition, if the image stabilization operation is performed in the middle of a series of continuous print jobs, the color and image quality will be different from the middle of the page, and there is a problem that the deterioration of the print image quality becomes conspicuous.
In Patent Document 1, when the image density stabilization control is required at the end of printing of one job, the number of prints of a registered job that has not yet been printed is checked. An image forming apparatus is disclosed in which image density stabilization control is performed after printing of an unprinted job and image density stabilization control is performed at that point in time when the number of printed sheets is equal to or greater than a predetermined number. It is described that the printing process can be performed efficiently while keeping it (summary and paragraphs 0006, 0007, 0082, etc.).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-38704

However, the above conventional technique is effective if the number of prints for one job is within the predetermined number, but has no effect when the number of prints for one job is equal to or greater than the predetermined number. However, if the predetermined number is too large, the print image quality exceeding a certain level cannot be maintained, so the effective range is limited.
In recent image forming apparatuses, it has become possible to handle jobs with thousands of prints as the printing speed is increased and the performance of the memory is increased. Such a case where the number of prints of one job is large cannot be dealt with.

  The present invention keeps the print image quality above a certain level without interrupting the job as much as possible, does not impair the user's convenience, does not distrust the user, and has different colors and image quality from the middle of the page. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that can handle a job with a large number of prints.

To achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention is an image forming apparatus having a function of performing image stabilization process, after carrying out an image forming unit, the most recent image stabilization process, comprising counting means for counting the accumulated print number by the image forming unit, a first detecting means for detecting a di Yobuendo, second detection means for detecting a delimiter of each copy number, and the image stabilization processing unit, a The image stabilization processing unit does not perform the image stabilization process when the cumulative number of times printed by the counting unit is less than the first number, and once when the cumulative number of times printed by the counting unit exceeds the first number. Each time the print is counted up by the counting means, the detection result by the first detecting means is judged, and if the job end is detected by the first detecting means, an image is displayed. Stabilization processing is performed, and if the cumulative number of prints by the counting unit becomes a second number greater than the first number without detecting the job end by the first detection unit, one printing is counted by the counting unit. The detection result by the first detection means and the second detection means is determined each time the image is uploaded, and when the job end is detected by the first detection means, image stabilization processing is performed. If the second detection unit detects a break for each number of copies without detecting an end, the image stabilization process is performed, the job detection is not detected by the first detection unit, and the second detection unit detects the number of copies. If the cumulative number of prints by the counting means is greater than or equal to a third number greater than the second number without being detected, the image forming process Interrupt the image formation by in and performing image stabilization process.

  With the configuration described in the means for solving the problem, in the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the first number of times and a small number of jobs less than (second number-first number) have three stages of threshold values. The image stabilization operation is not performed in the middle of the job no matter how many times the print is performed before the job, and the number of prints per copy is not less than the first number and less than the second number. Depending on how many times printing was performed before the job, the image stabilization operation may not be performed in the middle of the job and the image stabilization operation may be performed in the middle of the job. However, even if the image stabilization operation is performed in the middle of the job, the image stabilization operation is performed at the division for each number of copies, so the color and image quality do not differ from the middle of the page. For multiple copies of a job where the number of prints per copy is greater than or equal to the second number and less than the third number of times, the image stabilization operation is performed at the end of each copy depending on how many times the print was performed before that job. The image stabilization operation is forcibly performed, and the image stabilization operation is forcibly performed for a job of one or a plurality of copies in which the number of prints per copy is the third or more. It will be.

  In this way, in the range where the print image quality above a certain level can be maintained, the job is not interrupted as much as possible, and when the job must be interrupted, the number of copies is limited within the range where the print image quality above a certain level can be maintained. The image stabilization operation is performed at the boundary, and if it exceeds the range that can maintain the print image quality above a certain level, the image stabilization operation can be forcibly performed, so the image stabilization operation is performed more frequently than necessary. Can be processed to a certain extent according to the number of times the job itself has been printed, and the user's convenience is not impaired, the user is not distrusted, and even a large number of print jobs can be handled. be able to.

Here, in the image forming apparatus, the second number of times may be twice the first number of times.
Thus, the first count and - since the (second number first number) is the same number, in the following job this number, no matter done many times printed before the job, the middle of a job In addition , the image stabilization operation is not performed at intervals of the number of copies.

Here, in the image forming apparatus, the third number of times may be twice the second number of times.
Thus, a second number - since the (3 times second number) is the same number, in the part or more portions job part is less than this number, times printed before the job Even if the image stabilization is performed, the image stabilization operation is performed at least at the division for each copy, and the image stabilization operation is not forcibly performed.

  In this way, no matter how many times printing is performed before the job, processing corresponding to the number of times the job itself is printed is performed to some extent, so that the user is not distrusted.

[Embodiment 1]
<Overview>
The first embodiment of the present invention counts the cumulative number of times of printing, has a three-stage threshold, performs an image stabilization operation when the cumulative number of times of printing is equal to or greater than the first threshold, and the cumulative number of times of printing is second. The image forming apparatus performs the image stabilization operation when the number of copies is greater than or equal to the threshold value, and performs the image stabilization operation regardless of the job end or the number of copies when the cumulative print count is the third threshold value. .

<Overall configuration>
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a copying machine 1 according to the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 1, a copying machine 1 of the present invention comprises a scanner unit 2 and a printer unit 3, and reads a document image and forms an image on a recording sheet based on the image data, an external terminal A so-called multiple function machine (MFP) that can execute a print job for forming an image on a recording sheet based on image data sent from a network via a network, a transmission job for transmitting image data to the outside, and the like Peripheral).

The scanner unit 2 is a known device that obtains image data by reading an image of a set original. The printer unit 3 forms an image by an electrophotographic method or the like, and here includes an image processing unit 4, a feeding unit 5, a fixing unit 6 and a control unit 7.
The image processing unit 4 includes image forming units 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K corresponding to the respective reproduction colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K), and an optical unit 11. And an intermediate transfer belt 12.

The intermediate transfer belt 12 is stretched around a driving roller 31, a driven roller 33, and a tension roller 32, and is driven to circulate in the direction of arrow B.
The image forming units 10 </ b> Y to 10 </ b> K are arranged in series at a predetermined interval from the upstream side to the downstream side in the belt running direction so as to face the intermediate transfer belt 12. The image forming unit 10Y includes a photosensitive drum 21 as an image carrier, a charging unit 22 disposed around the photosensitive drum 21, a developing unit 23, and a primary transfer facing the photosensitive drum 21 with the intermediate transfer belt 12 interposed therebetween. A roller 24 and a cleaner 25 are provided. This configuration is the same for the other image forming units 10M to 10K, and the reference numerals are omitted in FIG. Hereinafter, Y, M, C, and K as reproduction colors are added as subscripts to the numbers of the constituent parts of the image forming unit to distinguish the corresponding ones for each reproduction color.

  The optical unit 11 includes a print head 26, four reflection mirrors 27, a PH temperature detection sensor 28, and the like. The print head 26 includes four laser diodes for reproducing colors, a polygon mirror for deflecting the laser beam emitted from each laser diode, and exposing and scanning the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 21Y to 21K in the main scanning direction. A scanning lens and the like are provided. The four laser beams output from the print head 26 are reflected by the corresponding reflection mirrors 27 respectively. As a result, the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 21Y to 21K are exposed and scanned. The PH temperature detection sensor 28 sends a signal indicating the temperature in the optical unit 11 to the control unit 7.

  The feeding unit 5 transports the fed recording sheets S, the feeding cassettes 41 and 42 that store the recording sheets S, the feeding rollers 43 and 44 that feed the recording sheets S in the feeding cassettes 41 and 42 one by one, and the fed recording sheets S. A pair of conveying rollers 45, a timing roller pair 46 for taking the timing of sending the recording sheet S to the secondary transfer position 48, and a secondary transfer pressed against the drive roller 31 with the intermediate transfer belt 12 sandwiched between the secondary transfer positions 48. A roller 47 is provided. The fixing unit 6 includes a heater (not shown) and is maintained at a predetermined fixing temperature.

  In such a configuration, when an instruction to execute a job such as copying is accepted, reading of the original image is started by the scanner unit 2, and the read image data is sequentially sent to the control unit 7. The control unit 7 converts the received image data into image data of each reproduced color, performs necessary image correction for correcting the misregistration, and then generates a laser diode drive signal for each color. Each laser diode of the optical unit 11 is driven by the generated drive signal, and a laser beam is emitted.

  In the image forming units 10Y to 10K, the photosensitive drums 21Y to 21K rotating in the direction of arrow A are cleaned by the cleaners 25Y to 25K, and then uniformly charged by the charging units 22Y to 22K. A surface of ˜21K is exposed by a laser beam from the optical unit 11 to form a latent image. The formed latent image is developed with toner by the developing units 23Y to 23K. A primary transfer voltage is applied to the primary transfer rollers 24Y to 24K, and the developed color toner images are transferred from the photosensitive drums 21Y to 21K onto the intermediate transfer belt 12 by the action of the electric field of the primary transfer rollers 24Y to 24K. Primary transcription. At this time, the image forming operations for the respective colors are executed at different timings so that the toner images are superimposed and transferred at the same position on the intermediate transfer belt 12. Each color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 12 moves to the secondary transfer position 48 as the intermediate transfer belt 12 travels.

  The recording sheet S is fed from the sheet feeding cassette selected by the control unit 7 via the timing roller pair 46 from the feeding unit 5 in accordance with the movement timing of each color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 12. The recording sheet S is conveyed while being sandwiched between the intermediate transfer belt 12 and the secondary transfer roller 47 that are circulated and driven. The respective color toner images on the intermediate transfer belt 12 are secondarily transferred onto the recording sheet S electrostatically at the secondary transfer position 48 by the action of the electric field by the secondary transfer roller 47.

The recording sheet S that has passed the secondary transfer position 48 is conveyed to the fixing unit 6, where the toner image is heated and pressurized and fixed on the recording sheet S, and then discharged outside the apparatus by the discharge roller pair 51. And is accommodated in the accommodation tray 52.
Although the color image forming operation has been described above, the copying machine 1 can selectively form not only the color mode but also the monochrome mode, for example, only the black color. In the monochrome mode, only the black image forming unit 10K is driven, the black toner image is primarily transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 12, and the toner image is secondarily transferred to the recording sheet S. Is done.

  An operation panel 8 is provided at a position on the front surface of the image reader unit 13 that is easy to operate. On the operation panel 8, in addition to a numeric keypad for inputting the number of copies, a copy start key for instructing the start of copying, and a key for selecting an image forming mode, the state of the copying machine 1, for example, a job can be executed. A touch panel type liquid crystal display unit on which a message screen indicating the presence or the like is displayed is provided.

Further, a reference pattern detection unit is provided at a position downstream of the image forming unit 10K in the belt traveling direction of the intermediate transfer belt 12 and upstream of the secondary transfer position 48 so as to face the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 12. 34 is arranged.
FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a configuration example of the reference patterns 101 and 102 formed on the intermediate transfer belt 12 when the intermediate transfer belt 12 is viewed from the direction of arrow D shown in FIG.

  In the reference pattern detection unit 34, two pattern detection sensors 34a and 34b (FIG. 2) are arranged on one straight line in the main scanning direction (direction orthogonal to the belt running direction D (corresponding to the sub-scanning direction)). Become. Each of the pattern detection sensors 34a and 34b is a reflective optical sensor in which a light emitting element such as a light emitting diode and a light receiving element such as a photodiode are incorporated. As a result, the reference pattern 101 and the like (FIG. 2) formed on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 12 are detected.

Further, an in-machine temperature / humidity sensor 49 for detecting temperature / humidity in the apparatus is disposed in the apparatus and in the vicinity of the timing roller pair 46. A signal indicating the temperature from the in-machine temperature / humidity sensor 49 is sent to the control unit 7.
<Functional configuration>
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a functional configuration of the copying machine according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 3, the copying machine 60 of the present invention includes a count unit 61, a first detection unit 62, a second detection unit 63, a third detection unit 64, an image stabilization processing unit 65, and an image forming unit 66. Prepare.
The counting unit 61 is a counter that counts the cumulative number of prints after the most recent image stabilization processing and stores it in a non-volatile storage medium such as an EEPROM or a hard disk. The image stabilization processing unit 65 performs image stabilization. When the image forming process is performed, the cumulative number of prints is reset. When a job for forming an image such as a copy job or a print job is executed by the image forming unit 66, the cumulative number of prints is incremented by one for each print. To do.

The first detection unit 62 detects a job end when the cumulative number of prints is equal to or greater than the first number.
The second detection unit 63 detects the separation of the parts when the cumulative number of prints is equal to or greater than a second number greater than the first number.
Third detection unit 64 detects that the accumulated print number becomes the third number is greater than the 2nd speed.

Here, the relationship between the first number of times, the second number of times, and the third number of times is expressed by the following formula 1.

1st count <2nd count <3rd count ... Formula 1

In addition, it is desirable that the relationship between the first number of times and the second number of times approximately satisfies the relationship of the following formula 2.

Second number of times = first number of times × 2 Equation 2

Further, it is desirable that the relationship between the second number of times and the third number of times approximately satisfies the relationship of the following formula 3.

3rd number of times = second number of times × 2 Equation 3

Specific numerical values of the first number, the second number, and the third number are, for example, the first number = 500, the second number = 1000, and the third number = 2000.

The image stabilization processing unit 65 has the accumulated number of prints detected when the first detection unit 62 detects a job end, when the second detection unit 63 detects a break for each number of copies, and by the third detection unit 64. When it is detected that the number of times has reached three, image formation by the image forming unit 66 is interrupted and image stabilization processing is performed.
The image forming unit 66 forms an image in accordance with execution of a job for forming an image such as a copy job or a print job, and notifies the count unit 61 that the image has been formed for each printing.

<Control operation for image stabilization processing request>
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a control operation for an image stabilization process request according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
Hereinafter, the control operation of the image stabilization processing request will be described with reference to FIG.
(1) Wait until the count unit 61 receives a notification from the image forming unit 66 that an image to be output for each print is formed (step S1).

(2) Upon receiving a notification that an image has been formed (step S1: Yes), the count unit 61 counts up the cumulative number of prints (step S2).
(3) The first detection unit 62 determines whether or not the cumulative number of prints is equal to or greater than the first number (step S3). If the cumulative number of prints is not equal to or greater than the first number (step S3: No), the process returns to the contact waiting state in step S1. Here, it is determined whether or not the cumulative number of prints is 500 or more.

(4) If the cumulative number of prints is equal to or greater than the first number (step S3: Yes), whether or not the remaining number of unprinted jobs for the job being printed by the first detection unit 62 is zero. (Whether or not it is a job end) is determined (step S4).
(5) If the remaining number of prints that have not yet been printed is not 0 (no job end) (step S4: No), the second detection unit 63 determines whether or not the cumulative number of prints is greater than or equal to the second number. Judgment is made (step S5). If the cumulative number of prints is not greater than or equal to the second number (step S5: No), the process returns to the contact waiting state in step S1. Here, it is determined whether or not the cumulative print count is 1000 times or more.

(6) If the cumulative number of prints is equal to or greater than the second number (step S5: Yes), the second detection unit 63 determines whether the job being printed is a break for each number of copies (step S5). S6).
(7) If it is not a break for each number of copies (step S6: No), the third detection unit 64 determines whether or not the cumulative number of prints is equal to or greater than the third number (step S7). If the cumulative number of prints is not greater than or equal to the third number (step S7: No), the process returns to the contact waiting state in step S1. Here, it is determined whether or not the cumulative number of prints is 2000 or more.

  (8) If it is determined in step S4 that the remaining number of prints that have not yet been printed is 0 (job end) (step S4: Yes), it is determined in step S6 that the number of copies is a delimiter. If it is determined that the cumulative number of prints is greater than or equal to the third number in step S7 (step S7: Yes), the image stabilization processing unit 65 performs image stabilization. Processing is performed (step S8).

(9) After the image stabilization process is completed, the count unit 61 resets the cumulative number of prints, and returns to the contact waiting state in step S1 (step S9).
<Verification of effects>
The effect of Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be verified below.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a list comparing the image stabilization processing timings of the present invention and the prior art.

Here, in the example of the present invention, the first number is set to 500 times, the second number is set to 1000 times, and the third number is set to 2000 times. In the conventional example, the image stabilization operation is performed after printing 500 times. .
In addition, since the control operation of the image stabilization processing request slightly differs depending on the value of the cumulative print count at the start of the job, (a) when the cumulative print count immediately after the image stabilization processing is 0 The case where the job is started is shown, and (b) shows the case where the job is started when the accumulated print count is 499 which is the maximum value that can be taken.

  As can be seen from FIG. 5, no matter what value the cumulative number of prints is, or any number of jobs, there is no inferiority compared to the conventional case, especially for jobs exceeding 500 times. Or, when the cumulative number of prints is large, in the conventional example, the image stabilization process is forcibly performed only by the number of prints, or the image stabilization process is performed only by printing several sheets. In the example of the present invention, image stabilization processing is not performed forcibly only by the number of times in the example of the present invention. Since there is no unreasonable case where image stabilization processing is performed only by printing several sheets, the user's convenience is not impaired and the user is not distrusted.

6 to 8 are diagrams schematically comparing the timing of the image stabilization processing between the present invention and the related art.
6A and 6B show the case of job 1 where the number of jobs is 400 (400 sheets for single-sided printing or 200 sheets for double-sided printing). FIGS. Job 2 with 300 copies per sheet (300 sheets for single-sided printing or 150 sheets for double-sided printing) and a total of 1500 times (1500 sheets for single-sided printing or 750 sheets for double-sided printing) 8 (a) and 8 (b), the number of times per one copy is 800 times (800 sheets for single-sided printing or 400 sheets for double-sided printing), and a total of 1600 times for printing two copies continuously. This is the case of job 3 (1600 sheets for single-sided printing or 800 sheets for double-sided printing).

In each figure, (a) is when the cumulative number of prints is 0, and (b) is when the cumulative number of prints is 300, and the control of the present invention is shown in the upper part and the conventional control is shown in the lower part, respectively. is doing.
As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, in the present application, when the number of jobs is “first number or less” and “(second number−first number) or less”, the accumulation at the start of the job is performed. Regardless of the value of the number of times of printing, the image stabilization operation is performed at the job end, and the image stabilization operation is not performed in the middle of the job or at every segment.

As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, in the present application, when the number of times per copy is equal to or less than the “first number”, the value of the cumulative number of times of printing at the start of the job is whatever the value. The image stabilization operation is performed at the end of the job or at the number of copies, and the image stabilization operation is not performed in the middle of the copy.
As shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, in the present application, when the number of times per copy is “second number or less” and “(third number−second number) or less”, the job is started. Regardless of the value of the cumulative number of prints, the image stabilization operation is performed at the end of the job or the number of copies, and the image stabilization operation is not performed in the middle of the copy.

<Summary>
As described above, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the job from being interrupted as much as possible within a range where the print image quality of a certain level or more can be maintained, and to maintain the job when the job must be interrupted. Necessary because image stabilization operation is performed at the division for each number of copies within the range that can maintain the print image quality above the standard level, and the image stabilization operation can be forcibly performed when exceeding the range that can maintain the print image quality above a certain level. While avoiding frequent image stabilization operations as described above, processing corresponding to the number of prints of the job itself can be performed to some extent, and the user's convenience is not lost and the user is distrusted. It can also handle jobs with a large number of prints.

  The present invention can be widely applied to image forming apparatuses such as copying machines, printers, and facsimiles. According to the present invention, it is possible to perform processing corresponding to the number of times of printing of the job itself to some extent while avoiding the image stabilization operation more frequently than necessary, and without impairing the user's convenience and distrusting the user. Since it can handle jobs with a large number of prints without giving a feeling, the usability of the image forming apparatus can be improved and it can contribute to the spread of the image forming apparatus, and its industrial utility value is extremely high. .

1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a copying machine 1 according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a configuration example of reference patterns 101 and 102 formed on the intermediate transfer belt 12 when the intermediate transfer belt 12 is viewed from the direction of arrow D shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a copying machine according to the present invention. It is a figure which shows the control operation | movement of the image stabilization process request | requirement in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the list which compared the timing of the image stabilization process of this invention and the conventional. It is the figure which compared typically the timing of the image stabilization process of this invention and the conventional. It is the figure which compared typically the timing of the image stabilization process of this invention and the conventional. It is the figure which compared typically the timing of the image stabilization process of this invention and the conventional.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Copy machine 2 Scanner part 3 Printer part 4 Image process part 5 Feeding part 6 Fixing part 7 Control part 8 Operation panel 10 Image forming unit 10Y-10K Image forming unit 11 Optical unit 12 Intermediate transfer belt 13 Image reader part 21 Photoconductor Drum 21Y to 21K Photoconductor drum 22 Charging unit 22Y to 22K Charging unit 23 Developing unit 23Y to 23K Developing unit 24 Primary transfer roller 24Y to 24K Primary transfer roller 25 Cleaner 25Y to 25K Cleaner 26 Print head 27 Reflecting mirror 28 PH temperature detection sensor 31 Drive roller 32 Tension roller 33 Driven roller 34 Reference pattern detector 34a, 34b Pattern detection sensor 41, 42 Paper feed cassette 43, 44 Feed roller 45 Conveying roller pair 46 Timing roller pair 47 Secondary transfer low 48 the secondary transfer position 49 machine temperature and humidity sensor 51 discharge roller pair 52 accommodating tray 60 copier 61 counting section 62 first detector 63 the second detector 64 third detection unit 65 image stabilization processing unit 66 the image forming unit

Claims (3)

An image forming apparatus having a function of performing image stabilization processing,
Image forming means;
A counting means for counting the cumulative number of prints by the image forming means after the most recent image stabilization processing;
First detecting means for detecting a di Yobuendo,
Second detection means for detecting a delimiter of each copy number,
Image stabilization processing means ,
The image stabilization processing means includes
When the cumulative number of prints by the counting means is less than the first number, image stabilization processing is not performed,
When the cumulative number of times of printing by the counting means reaches a first number or more, each time one print is counted up by the counting means, the detection result by the first detecting means is determined, and a job is detected by the first detecting means. When the end is detected, image stabilization processing is performed.
When the cumulative number of prints by the counting unit becomes a second number greater than the first number without detecting the job end by the first detection unit, each time one print is counted up by the counting unit, The detection results of the first detection means and the second detection means are determined, and when the job end is detected by the first detection means, image stabilization processing is performed, and the job end is not detected by the first detection means. When the second detection means detects a break for each number of copies, it performs an image stabilization process,
When the job detecting end is not detected by the first detecting unit, and the separation for each number of copies is not detected by the second detecting unit, and the cumulative number of times printed by the counting unit becomes a third number greater than the second number, An image forming apparatus that performs image stabilization processing by interrupting image formation by the image forming means . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second number of times is twice the first number of times. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the third number of times is twice the second number of times.

Images