JP5545161B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus including a facsimile machine, a printer, a copying machine, and a multifunction machine.

Facsimile apparatus and printer for forming an image on an image carrier by reflecting the laser beam emitted from the light source while deflecting it by a light deflecting means and scanning the reflected laser beam on an image carrier such as a photosensitive member There are image forming apparatuses including copiers and multifunction machines.
In such an image forming apparatus, an apparatus using a polygon mirror or a galvanometer mirror that deflects the reflection direction of the laser beam by rotating it with a motor as the light deflecting unit is well known. There is an image forming apparatus using a vibrating mirror that is expected to have an energy saving effect.

  The vibrating mirror is formed by integrally forming a vibrating mirror portion and a torsion beam portion that pivotally supports it on a silicon substrate by a micro electro mechanical system (MEMS) technology based on semiconductor manufacturing technology. This is a mirror (also called “MEMS mirror”) that applies a voltage to the oscillating mirror to cause reciprocal oscillation by resonance and deflects the laser light incident on the oscillating mirror, and also drives the oscillating mirror to vibrate. Therefore, the power consumption can be greatly reduced, and the energy saving effect is expected.

  However, in conventional image forming apparatuses using a vibrating mirror, image writing becomes inefficient in one-sided scanning in which laser light is scanned only in one direction on the image carrier including the photosensitive member. When the laser beam is reciprocally scanned on the carrier, the inclination of the scanning line of the laser beam generated in the main scanning direction on the image carrier is reversed between the forward path and the backward path. As a result, the forward path and the backward path are adjacent to each other. In the portion, there is a problem that density of image formation is dense at both ends in the main scanning direction, and density unevenness occurs at both ends in the main scanning direction of the image formed on the image carrier.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram when two laser beams are reciprocally scanned on the image carrier using a vibrating mirror.
The effective scanning width Dp between the effective scanning end L and the effective scanning end R in the figure corresponds to the image area on the image carrier, and the line La1 and the line La1 in the direction indicated by the arrow in the main scanning direction in the figure by two laser beams. Scan La2 and move it in the sub-scanning direction by a predetermined line sensor, scan lines Lb1 and Lb2 in the direction opposite to the folded main scanning direction, scan the lines Lc1 and Lc2 in the main scanning direction in the same way, and turn up When the lines Ld1 and Ld2 are scanned in the direction opposite to the main scanning direction, the portion indicated by the solid line frame A in the drawing has a gap in the interval between adjacent lines (portions where the image is formed). The density of the formed image is reduced and the density of the formed image is reduced. In the portion indicated by the solid line frame B in the figure, a part of the adjacent line is overlapped, and the density of the formed image is increased. Darkens, in the main scanning direction of the image Uneven density is generated in the end.

  Therefore, conventionally, as an image forming apparatus using the vibrating mirror as described above, an optical path switching unit that switches the optical path of the laser light from the light source unit in the sub-scanning direction is provided, and the optical path switching unit performs switching in the sub-scanning direction. The forward scanning in the main scanning direction of the laser beam by the oscillating mirror and the backward scanning are performed on the photosensitive surface which is a different surface to be scanned, so that the scanning lines of the forward and backward paths are not zigzag on one photosensitive body surface. An image forming apparatus that can perform reciprocating scanning (see, for example, Patent Document 1) has been proposed.

However, in the above-described conventional image forming apparatus, since the different surface of the photosensitive member is scanned by the forward scanning and the backward scanning of the vibrating mirror, the single-side scanning is not changed on one photosensitive member surface, and the image on the photosensitive member is not changed. The problem of the inefficiency of writing has not been solved yet.
The present invention has been made in view of the above points. When an image is written by reciprocating a laser beam with respect to the same scanning surface using a vibrating mirror, the main image formed on the scanning surface is recorded. It is an object of the present invention to reduce density unevenness generated at the image edge in the scanning direction.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a plurality of light sources, light deflecting means for deflecting the light emitted from each light source so as to reciprocately scan in the main scanning direction on the surface to be scanned, and the light deflecting means. In the image forming apparatus provided with an image forming unit that guides the light deflected by the light beam on the same scanning surface in the forward path and the backward path and forms an image, the light on the main scanning surface on the same scanning surface When the reciprocating scan is performed in the scanning direction, the exposure energy is small at a position where the lighting interval in the sub-scanning direction is narrow on the scanned surface of the forward scan and the backward scan for each of the forward and backward scan lines. The exposure energy applied to the surface to be scanned is increased stepwise in the scanning direction within the effective scanning width so that the exposure energy becomes large at a position where the lighting interval is wide and for each channel of each light source. Or to be smaller To provide an image forming apparatus provided with control means for varying the pulse width during light emission of each light.

  Further, the control means includes a table storing values for changing the pulse width, and means for changing the pulse width at the time of light emission based on the values stored in the table. Good.

Further, the values stored in the table are the lower limit value of the correction value of the pulse width: Lvl_L, the upper limit value of the correction value of the pulse width: Lvl_H, the channel number value to be corrected: n, and the number of channels of the light source: N The number of pixels within the effective scanning width: Dp, the main scanning position when the left end L with respect to the main scanning direction on the scanned surface is 0, x, the main scanning direction on the scanned surface The pulse width of the left end portion L: (Lvl_L) + (n−1) × {(Lvl_H) − (Lvl_L)} / (N−1) (1) and the scanned surface Pulse width at the right end R with respect to the upper main scanning direction: (Lvl_H) − (n−1) × {(Lvl_H) − (Lvl_L)} / (N−1) (2) , Correction value for each main scanning position x: Rx = ((2) − (1)) / Dp × A value set to satisfy x + (1) may be used.

Further, detection means for detecting the density of the formed pattern image at both ends as a line of the effective scanning width by the reciprocating scanning in the surface to be scanned, based on the concentration detected by the detection means, the concentration It is preferable to provide a correction means for correcting the pulse width so that the exposure energy is increased in a thin portion, and the exposure energy is decreased in a dark portion .

  In the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, when an image is written by reciprocally scanning the same scanning surface with laser light using a vibrating mirror, the image is formed at the image end in the main scanning direction of the image formed on the scanning surface. Density unevenness can be reduced.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of Example 1 of a control system of the exposure apparatus illustrated in FIG. 2. 1 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of a digital color copying machine which is an embodiment of an image forming apparatus of the invention. It is a perspective view which shows the structural example of the optical system of the exposure apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the LUT circuit shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of pulse widths stored in 0th to 15th LUTs shown in FIG. 4. It is explanatory drawing of the correspondence of each area | region divided | segmented in the main scanning direction, and 16 LUTs (LUT0-LUT15). It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the change of a pixel shape at the time of changing a pulse width for every pixel of image data by a forward scan and a backward scan.

An explanatory view showing an example of a change in pixel shape and a correction value of the pulse width when the pulse width is changed for each pixel of the image data by the reciprocating scanning using the laser beam of 10 beams and the forward scanning and the backward scanning. It is. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of 2nd Example of the control system of the exposure apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a density detection pattern image formed on the intermediate transfer belt illustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of processing for storing a pulse width correction value in the control system shown in FIG. 9. It is a figure which shows an example of the density | concentration level each detected with the 1st detection sensor-3rd detection sensor shown in FIG. It is explanatory drawing at the time of reciprocatingly scanning two laser beams with respect to an image carrier using the conventional vibration mirror.

Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the internal configuration of a digital color copying machine which is an embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.
The digital color copying machine 1 is an image forming apparatus, and includes a paper feeding unit 2, a document conveying unit 3, a document reading unit 4, and an image forming unit 5.

The paper feed unit 2 includes a plurality of tray units 6, and feeds the paper 65 of each tray unit 6 to the image forming unit 5 by the transport unit 7 during printing and copying.
The document conveying unit 3 conveys the document to the document reading unit 4 when reading an image.
The document reading unit 4 has a plurality of parts including a light source and a mirror (not shown) inside, and is a scanner mechanism unit that reads an image of a document fed from the document transport unit 3 and inputs the image data. . Since each of the above components is known, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The image forming unit 5 is provided with an intermediate transfer belt 8 around which four photosensitive members (also referred to as “photosensitive drums” in the case of a drum-shaped photosensitive member) 9y to 9k are arranged side by side. .
The photoreceptor 9y is an image carrier on which a yellow (Y) toner image is written on the surface and the yellow toner image is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 8. The photoreceptor 9m has magenta (M) on the surface. And an image carrier for transferring the magenta toner image to the intermediate transfer belt 8.

The photoreceptor 9c is an image carrier for transferring a cyan toner image onto the intermediate transfer belt 8 on which a cyan (C) toner image is written. The photoreceptor 9k has a black ( This is an image carrier for transferring the black toner image onto the intermediate transfer belt 8 on which the toner image K) is written.
That is, the image forming unit 5 functions as an image forming unit that forms an image made up of images of different colors by superimposing a plurality of different color images on the intermediate transfer belt 8.

The intermediate transfer belt 8 transfers a single color toner image written on any one of the photoconductors 9y to 9k, and transfers a plurality of color toner images written on the photoconductors 9y to 9k in an overlapping manner. An image carrier.
In addition to the intermediate transfer belt 8, the intermediate transfer unit for endlessly moving the intermediate transfer belt 8 while being stretched is a plurality of primary transfer bias rollers, cleaning, which are well known and omitted from being labeled. The apparatus includes a secondary transfer backup roller, a cleaning backup roller, a tension roller, and the like.

  The image forming unit 5 is formed on the surfaces of the photosensitive members 9y to 9k and the charging devices 10y to 10k for charging the surfaces of the photosensitive members 9y to 9k and the surfaces of the photosensitive members 9y to 9k. Each of the developing devices (also referred to as “developing units”) 11y to 11k that visualizes the formed electrostatic latent images with toners of the respective colors, and toner images (possible respectively) formed on the respective photoreceptors 9y to 9k. Each of the cleaning devices 12y to 12k is provided for collecting the toner remaining on the photoreceptors 9y to 9k after the image is transferred so as to overlap the intermediate transfer belt 8.

  An exposure unit (also referred to as a “writing unit”) including an exposure unit including a light source unit that forms an electrostatic latent image on each surface of each of the photoreceptors 9y to 9k, a vibrating mirror, and a plurality of lenses. A device 20 is provided.

  In the case of full-color printing (abbreviated as “FC printing”), the digital color copying machine 1 transfers the toner images written on the photoconductors 9y to 9k so as to overlap each other on the intermediate transfer belt 8 so that full-color printing is performed. A toner image is formed. In the case of monochrome printing (abbreviated as “Bk printing”), the black toner image written on the photosensitive member 9k is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 8 to form a monochrome toner image.

  On the other hand, the sheet (transfer sheet) 65 conveyed from the tray unit 6 of the sheet feeding unit 2 by the conveying unit 7 temporarily stops at the registration roller unit 13 and is re-supplied in synchronization with the rotation of the intermediate transfer belt 8. Then, the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 8 is transferred to the paper 65 by the transfer roller unit 14. The sheet 65 on which the toner image has been transferred is subjected to a fixing process by a fixing device (also referred to as a “fixing unit”) 15, and is finally discharged to a discharge storage unit 17 by a discharge unit 16.

Next, the configuration of the optical system of the exposure apparatus 20 of the digital color copying machine 1 will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of the optical system of the exposure apparatus 20 shown in FIG.
The exposure apparatus 20 includes two light source units 21 and 22 as a plurality of light sources, and four laser beams (“light beams”) emitted from the two light source units 21 and 22 respectively. Are also periodically reciprocated by a sine-oscillating oscillating mirror 23, which is an optical scanning means, and the surfaces of the four photoconductors 9y, 9m, 9c, and 9k are respectively indicated by arrows (this arrow direction). Is called a “main scanning direction”).
In the first embodiment, a case in which two light sources are provided will be described. However, a digital color copying machine having three or more light sources can be similarly implemented.

The photoconductors 9y, 9m, 9c, and 9k are image carriers that form toner images of four colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K), respectively. It is provided in the image forming unit 5 of the machine 1.
The light source unit 21 includes two light sources 21y and 21m each including a light emitting element including a laser diode (LD) and a collimator lens, and the two laser lights emitted from the light sources 21y and 21m. Is incident on the vibrating mirror 23 through the cylinder lens 24.

  Similarly to the above, the light source unit 22 includes two light sources 22c and 22k each including a light emitting element and a collimator lens, and the two laser beams emitted from the light sources 22c and 22k are mirror 25. Then, the light is incident on the oscillating mirror 23 through the cylinder lens 24.

The oscillating mirror 23 is also called a micro scanner, and is an ultra-small oscillating mirror created by using MEMS technology. A movable piece 23b serving as a mirror is elastically supported on a support substrate 23a made of silicon. A movable electrode is provided on the end face of 23b, and a fixed electrode is provided at a position facing the movable electrode of the support substrate 23a.
By applying a periodically intermittent voltage between the movable electrode and the fixed electrode, the movable plate 23b sine-oscillates due to the electrostatic attractive force acting between the electrodes and the torsional elasticity of the support shaft.
That is, the oscillating mirror 23 corresponds to light deflecting means for deflecting light emitted from a plurality of light sources so as to reciprocately scan in the main scanning direction on the surface to be scanned. Since its structure and operation are known techniques, detailed description thereof is omitted.

The positions of the four laser beams incident on the oscillating mirror 23 are slightly shifted in the vertical direction, and the two laser beams from the light source unit 21 and the two laser beams from the light source unit 22 have an incident angle. Slightly different.
An fθ lens 26 and four folding mirrors 27, 28, 29, and 30 are arranged in parallel at intervals in the scanning range of the reflected light by the oscillating mirror 23, and four transmission windows 31, 32, 33 are disposed below the fθ lens 26. , 34 and three second mirrors 35, 36, 37 are arranged in parallel so as to correspond to the respective photoreceptors 9y, 9m, 9c, 9k. The fθ lens 26, the four folding mirrors 27, 28, 29, 30, the four transmission windows 31, 32, 33, 34 and the three second mirrors 35, 36, 37 are deflected by the light deflecting means. It corresponds to an image forming means for forming an image by guiding each of the light beams to the same scanning surface in the forward path and the backward path.

All the reflected light from the vibration mirror 23 is transmitted through the fθ lens 26, and the laser light from the light source 21 y of the light source unit 21 is deflected so as to be folded downward by the folding mirror 27 and directed toward the photosensitive member 9 y, and passes through the transmission window 31. The photosensitive member 9y is exposed and exposed.
The laser light from the light source 21m is deflected so as to be folded obliquely downward by the folding mirror 28, emitted through the transmission window 32, and further deflected downward by the second mirror 35 to expose the photoreceptor 9m.

On the other hand, the laser light from the light source 22c of the light source unit 22 is deflected so as to be folded obliquely downward by the folding mirror 29, emitted through the transmission window 33, and further deflected downward by the second mirror 36 to expose the photoreceptor 9c. To do.
The laser light from the light source 22k is deflected so as to be folded obliquely downward by the folding mirror 30, is emitted through the transmission window 34, is further deflected downward by the second mirror 37, and exposes the photoreceptor 9k.

  Further, the laser beam deflected and scanned by the oscillating mirror 23 and passed through the fθ lens 26 is sent to a predetermined position on the side of one turning point outside the image area for writing an image in the scanning area (on the front side from the writing start end). Position synchronization) 38, which is a first light detection sensor received at the position), and a second position received at a predetermined position on the other folding point side (position after the end of writing). A rear end synchronization detection sensor (also referred to as a “rear end synchronization sensor”) 39, which is a light detection sensor, is disposed.

  Each of the front end synchronization sensor 38 and the rear end synchronization sensor 39 includes a photodetection sensor (photoelectric conversion element) such as a photodiode or a phototransistor and a signal waveform shaping circuit, and responds to the amount of light when a laser beam is detected. The leading edge synchronization detection signal and the trailing edge synchronization detection signal are obtained by shaping the output signals, and the leading edge synchronization sensor 38 and the trailing edge synchronization sensor 39 are described in the following description to simplify the description. However, a description will be given assuming that when a laser beam is detected, the detection signal is output as a synchronization detection signal.

  Since the four laser beams deflected and scanned by the vibration mirror 23 are slightly shifted in the vertical direction, the four laser beams are actually emitted at predetermined positions on the front side and the rear end of the main scanning. Each of the cylinder mirrors is arranged so that it can also be incident, the light collected by each cylinder lens is detected by the front end synchronization sensor 38 and the rear end synchronization sensor 39, and a synchronization detection signal is output. The cylinder mirror is omitted.

  Further, the laser light from the light source unit 21 and the laser light from the light source unit 22 change the incident angle to the vibration mirror 23, and the reflected light is received by the front end synchronization sensor 38 and the rear end synchronization sensor 39. The timing is off. For this reason, each synchronization detection signal output from the leading edge synchronization sensor 38 and the trailing edge synchronization sensor 39 becomes a time-series pulse signal and can be separated.

Next, the configuration of the first embodiment of the control system of the exposure apparatus 20 of the digital color copying machine 1 will be described with reference to FIG.
[Example 1]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the first embodiment of the control system of the exposure apparatus 20 shown in FIG.

  The internal configuration of the control system of the exposure apparatus 20 is realized by a microcomputer including a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM. As shown in FIG. 1, a line memory 40, a look-up table (LUT) circuit 41, a pulse width modulation (PWM). A circuit 42, a light source unit (U) driver 43, and a memory control circuit 44, which scan the forward path and the backward path when each laser beam is reciprocally scanned in the main scanning direction on the same scanning surface. For each line and for each channel of each light source, the pulse width at the time of emission of each light is set so that the exposure energy given to the scanned surface gradually increases or decreases in the scanning direction within the effective scanning width. It performs the function of changing control means.

  In addition, the light source units (U) 21 and 22 of the optical system, the oscillating mirror 23, the photosensitive member 9, the front end synchronization sensor 38, and the rear end synchronization sensor 39 are also illustrated. 2 and FIG. 3 are illustrated as a single unit in FIG. 1 for simplicity of explanation.

  In FIG. 1, after the photoreceptors 9 y to 9 k are charged by a charging device (not shown), the laser beams emitted from the light source units 21 and 22 are subjected to main scanning on the photoreceptors 9 y to 9 k by the vibrating mirror 23. Reciprocating scanning is performed in each direction by deflection scanning, and images are formed on the photoreceptors 9y to 9k through lenses not shown, and electrostatic latent images are formed on the photoreceptors 9y to 9k, respectively.

Thereafter, development of an electrostatic latent image with toner of a developing device (not shown), transfer of a visualized image to a transfer material by a transfer device, fixing of an image transferred to the transfer material by a fixing device, etc. Through the image forming process, a transfer material onto which the image has been transferred is output.
The line memory 40 receives and accumulates image data of images to be formed as electrostatic latent images on the photoreceptors 9y to 9k from a control unit (not shown).
The memory control circuit 44 reads out the image data from the line memory 40 based on the respective synchronization detection signals of the laser light output from the front end synchronization sensor 38 and the rear end synchronization sensor 39, and the image data and each synchronization detection signal are read from the LUT circuit. 41 is output.

The LUT circuit 41 divides the image data received from the line memory 40 into a plurality of divided areas with respect to the image area, and laser light irradiation is performed with the pulse width of the laser light set in advance for each of the divided areas. A pulse start position signal to be started is sent to the PWM circuit 42.
Here, the internal configuration of the LUT circuit 41 will be described.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the LUT circuit 41 shown in FIG.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the pulse width stored in each of the 0th LUT 46a to the 15th LUT 46p shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a correspondence relationship between each area divided in the main scanning direction and 16 LUTs (LUT0 to LUT15).
As shown in FIG. 4, the LUT circuit 41 includes 16 LUTs (LUT0 to LUT15) of the 0th LUT 46a to the 15th LUT 46p, a first selector 45 and a second selector 47 provided on the input side and the output side thereof, respectively. And a main scanning position counter 48.
The 0th LUT 46a to the 15th LUT 46p correspond to a table storing values for changing the pulse width.

  The main scanning position counter 48 outputs a division position signal to the first selector 45 and the second selector 47 based on a write clock input from a clock generator (not shown), and a leading end synchronization sensor 38 and a trailing end synchronization sensor 39. Each time a synchronization detection signal is input from, the division position signal is reset, and a signal for switching the selection direction of the 0th LUT 46a to the 15th LUT 46p is sent to the first selector 45. When a synchronization detection signal from the leading edge synchronization sensor 38 is input, a switching signal for switching from the 0th LUT 46a to the 15th LUT 46p is selected. When a synchronization detection signal from the trailing edge synchronization sensor 39 is input, from the 15th LUT 46p to the 0th LUT 46a A switching signal for switching to select is sent.

  The first selector 45 divides the image data into a plurality of divided areas for the image area based on the division position signal input from the main scanning position counter 48, and divides the image data into the 0th LUT 46a to the 15th LUT 46p corresponding to each divided area. Supplied image data. At that time, when a switching signal for switching from the 0th LUT 46a to the 15th LUT 46p is received from the main scanning position counter 48, the divided image data is sequentially sent from the 0th LUT 46a to the 15th LUT 46p, and from the main scanning position counter 48 to the 15th LUT 46p. When a switching signal for switching to the 0th LUT 46a is received, the divided image data is sent in order from the 15th LUT 46p to the 0th LUT 46a.

  When the image data is supplied from the first selector 45, the 0th LUT 46a to the 15th LUT 46p are described only as a pulse width signal indicating a pulse width when generating laser light stored in advance ("pulse width" in the figure). ) And a pulse start position signal (denoted only as “pulse start position” in the drawing) indicating a pulse start position at which laser beam irradiation is started with the pulse width is output to the second selector 47.

The second selector 47 shows the pulse width signal and the pulse start position signal inputted from the 0th LUT 46a to the 15th LUT 46p for the image data in the image area based on the division position signal inputted from the main scanning position counter 48 in FIG. Are sequentially output to the PWM circuit 42.
In the first embodiment, the case where image data is divided into 16 divided areas with respect to the image area is shown, and the LUTs corresponding to the divided areas are the 0th LUT 46a to the 15th LUT 46p.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the 0th LUT 46a to the 15th LUT 46p store the pulse widths a to (a-15α), respectively, and a is used to form a normal circular pixel (dot). Α is a coefficient for thinning a normal circular pixel into an elliptical shape, and the pulse width is stepped from a to (a-15α) or from (a-15α) to a. Can be changed. Α is set so as to satisfy a <15α.

  As shown in FIG. 6, in the case of laser beam irradiation, the main scanning position counter 48 in FIG. 4 inputs the synchronization detection signal (synchronization detection signal from the tip synchronization detection sensor 38) in FIG. , After the preset offset, a switching signal for sequentially selecting from the 0th LUT 46a to the 15th LUT 46p is sent to the first selector 1, and the first selector of FIG. 4 is shown as 0-15 in FIG. The division position signal is supplied to 45, and the first selector 45 in FIG. 4 divides the image data for each division position signal, and supplies the divided image data in the order of the 0th LUT 46a to the 15th LUT 46p in FIG.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 6C, the 0th LUT 46a to the 15th LUT 46p in FIG. 4 are each in the forward path when generating laser light for the image data for the image data supplied to the own LUT. A pulse width and a pulse start position at which laser beam irradiation is started with the pulse width are output to the PWM circuit 42 in FIG.

  Further, in the case of the return path of the laser light irradiation, the main scanning position counter 48 in FIG. 4 receives the synchronization detection signal (in this case, the synchronization detection signal from the rear end synchronization detection sensor 39) in FIG. After the preset offset, a switching signal for sequentially selecting from the 15th LUT 46p to the 0th LUT 46a is sent to the first selector 1, and the first selector 45 in FIG. 4 is sent to the first selector 45 as indicated by 0 to 15 in FIG. The division position signal is supplied, and the first selector 45 in FIG. 4 divides the image data for each division position signal and supplies the divided image data in the order of the 15th LUT 46p to the 0th LUT 46a in FIG.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 6D, the 15th LUT 46p to the 0th LUT 46a in FIG. 4 are each in a return path when generating laser light for the image data supplied to its own LUT. A pulse width and a pulse start position at which laser beam irradiation is started with the pulse width are output to the PWM circuit 42 in FIG.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the PWM circuit 42 can output a pulse width signal indicating the exposure time to be emitted by the laser light of each pulse width shown in FIG. 5, and the pulse width signal and the pulse position signal received from the LUT circuit 41. Based on the above, a PWM signal is sent to the light source U driver 43. This PWM signal is output in synchronization with the video clock signal. Note that a PWM signal that does not turn on the light source corresponding to the pixel that is not drawn in the divided area is output to the light source U driver 43.

The light source U driver 43 outputs a drive current for causing the light sources U21 and 22 to emit light according to the pulse position signal, and maintains the output for the exposure time indicated by the pulse width signal, and then outputs an offset current to output the light sources U21 and 22. Stop flashing.
The light sources U 21 and 22 emit laser light based on the PWM signal received from the PWM circuit 42 in synchronization with the vibration of the vibration mirror 23.
The oscillating mirror 23 reflects the laser beams emitted from the light sources U21 and 22 and scans the photoconductors 9y to 9k.

  As described above, the image data is divided into a plurality of divided areas, and by starting the irradiation of the forward and backward laser beams with the pulse width set for each divided area, the same scanned surface, for example, In the forward path with respect to the photoreceptor 9y, the pulse width of the laser beam is gradually reduced (narrowed) from the normal for the light source upstream in the sub-scanning direction, and the pulse width of the laser light for the downstream light source in the sub-scanning direction is returned. By gradually returning to the normal pulse width from the state in which the image is minimized, at the image end in the main scanning direction on the photoconductor 9y, the portion where the image formation density is high (the interval between adjacent lines is reduced or reduced). The part where the part overlaps) weakens the exposure energy to reduce the density of the formed image, and the part where the image formation density is rough (the part where the interval between adjacent lines is widened) increases the exposure energy. It is possible to thicken the density of the image to be.

  Accordingly, the density in the sub-scanning direction is made uniform for the entire image formed on each of the photoreceptors 9y to 9k, and density unevenness generated at the image edge in the main scanning direction of the image formed on the surface to be scanned can be reduced. it can.

  In the above description, the case where the pulse width is gradually reduced from the normal width (the width of the circle) on the forward path and is returned to the normal width on the return path has been described. Set the pulse width to the normal width for the divided area located in the center of the divided area, and gradually decrease or increase (widen) the pulse width in each divided area before and after the divided area located in the center. The pulse width of the laser light is gradually reduced from the normal for the upstream light source in the sub-scanning direction, and gradually from the state where the pulse width of the laser light is minimized for the downstream light source in the sub-scanning direction on the return path. Alternatively, the normal pulse width may be restored.

  In the above description, the image data is divided into a plurality of divided areas, and a different pulse width is set for each divided area. However, the pulse width may be changed for each pixel of the image data. In that case, with respect to the LUT circuit 41 shown in FIG. 4, the number of each LUT corresponding to each pixel within the effective scanning width of the photosensitive member is provided, and the pulse width for each pixel is set in each LUT. It may be configured to output.

  Next, changes in the pixel shape when the pulse width is changed for each pixel of the image data in the forward scanning and the backward scanning will be described. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a change in pixel shape when the pulse width is changed for each pixel of the image data in the forward scan and the backward scan.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the laser beam of two light beams reciprocally scans the effective scanning width Dp between the effective scanning end L (left) and the effective scanning end R (right) of each of the photoreceptors 9y to 9k. When a solid image is formed, the black circle and ellipse in the figure indicate the laser spot spot trace corresponding to one dot of the image, and the L_a1 line in the forward path is effective from the effective scanning end L The pulse width of each pixel up to the scanning end R is gradually changed from the set width (the vertically long ellipse blacked out in the figure) to the normal width (the blacked out circle in the figure), and the forward path L_a2 For the line, the pulse width of each pixel from the effective scanning end L to the effective scanning end R is gradually changed from the normal width to the smallest set width.

  For the L_b1 line on the return path, the pulse width of each pixel from the effective scanning end R to the effective scanning end L is gradually changed from the smallest set width to the normal width, and for the L_b2 line on the return path. The pulse width of each pixel from the effective scanning end R to the effective scanning end L is gradually changed from the normal width to the smallest set width.

Further, the forward path of L_c1 and L_c2 and the backward path of L_d1 and L_d2 are scanned in the same manner as described above, and scanning similar to that described above is repeated for other lines not shown in the figure.
Accordingly, the density in the sub-scanning direction is made uniform for the entire image formed on each of the photoreceptors 9y to 9k, and density unevenness generated at the image edge in the main scanning direction of the image formed on the surface to be scanned can be reduced. it can.

Next, a case where reciprocal scanning is performed using more light beams will be described.
FIG. 8 shows an example of a change in pixel shape when a pulse width is changed for each pixel of image data by reciprocal scanning using laser light of 10 beams and forward scanning and backward scanning, and a correction value of pulse width It is explanatory drawing which shows.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the effective scanning width Dp between the effective scanning end L (left) and the effective scanning end R (right) of each of the photoconductors 9y to 9k is reciprocally scanned with the laser beam of 10 light beams. In the case where a filled image is formed, the black circles and ellipses in the figure indicate laser beam irradiation spot traces corresponding to one dot of the image, and for the lines L_a1 to L_a5 in the forward path, For each pixel, among the pulse width correction values (correction amounts) in the lower part of the figure, the pulse width is gradually changed from the reduced value based on the change of the straight lines L_a1 to L_a5 with respect to the reference value.

For the forward lines L_a6 to L_a10, the pulse width is set for each pixel of the image data based on the change in the straight lines L_a6 to L_a10 with respect to the reference value among the pulse width correction values in the lower part of the figure. Gradually change from a larger state to a smaller one.
In this way, even when the writing speed is further increased by reciprocating scanning with the laser beam of 10 light beams, the density in the sub-scanning direction is made uniform for the entire images respectively formed on the photoreceptors 9y to 9k, It is possible to reduce density unevenness generated at the image edge in the main scanning direction of the image formed on the surface to be scanned.

In addition, when reciprocating the laser beam with one light beam, or when performing reciprocating scanning with a plurality of light beams other than the two or ten light beams described above, each pixel in the forward path and the backward path as described above, or By changing the pulse width of the laser beam for each divided region, it is possible to reduce density unevenness that occurs at the image edge in the main scanning direction of the image formed on the surface to be scanned.
As described above, in the first embodiment, the present invention can be applied not only to laser light of two light beams but also to writing with a larger number of light beams.

  As shown in FIG. 8, when the lighting position on the scanning surface of the forward scanning and the backward scanning is a position where the lighting interval in the sub-scanning direction is narrow, the pulse width of the light source is narrowed, and in the position where the lighting interval is wide, the pulse width is Change in the main scanning direction of the optical pulse width of each line when the line width is widened corresponds to the scanning lines that switch between the forward path and the backward path, the lines L_a1, L_a10, L_b1, and L_b10, and the pulse of each pixel of each line If only the width is changed, density unevenness occurs due to a difference in pulse width that occurs at the boundary between adjacent lines, that is, L_a2, L_a9, L_b2, and L_b9 in FIG. 8, and as shown in FIG. In addition, by changing the pulse width of all the scanning lines little by little, the density unevenness generated at the boundary between the forward path and the backward path can be made inconspicuous.

Further, Lvl_H and Lvl_L shown in FIG. 8 are respectively a correction value (correction amount to be added to the reference value) to be corrected to the + side with respect to the reference value of the pulse width, and a correction value (to be corrected from the reference value) to the − side. This represents the maximum value of the correction amount to be subtracted, and can be determined from the amount of skew in the effective scanning width obtained from the speed at which the surface to be scanned advances in the sub-scanning direction and the speed of reciprocating scanning.
Note that the greater the difference between Lvl_H and Lvl_L (Lvl_H−Lvl_L), the greater the effect of making the gap between the forward path and the backward path inconspicuous, but it is necessary to consider the overlap with adjacent pixels.

Each pulse width in the scan line can be calculated based on the following equation, and the calculated value is preferably set by the LUT circuit described above.
The setting value of the pulse width for each pixel of each line at the time of forward scanning, and the setting value of the pulse width for each pixel of each line of L_a1 to L_a10 shown in FIG. 8 are ( Lvl_L ) + (n-1). × (Lvl_H−Lvl_L) / (N−1) (1), and the correction value of the pulse width at the effective scanning end R is ( Lvl_H ) − (n−1) × (Lvl_H−Lvl_L) / (N-1) (2), and based on (1) and (2), the correction value of the pulse width is Rx = ((2)-(1)) / Dp × x + (1 ).

Further, the set value of the pulse width for each pixel of each line at the time of backward scanning, and the set value of the pulse width for each pixel of each line of L_b1 to L_b10 shown in FIG. 8 are the values of L_a1 to L_a10, respectively. This corresponds to the set value of the pulse width for each pixel of the line.
Lvl_L: correction value during scanning line (− side), Lvl_H: correction value during scanning line (+ side), n: correction target ch (n is an integer satisfying 1 ≦ n ≦ N), N: number of channels (for example, N = 2 when the two laser beams are used, and N = 10 when the ten laser beams are used), Dp: the number of pixels within the effective scanning width, and x: the effective scanning end L is 0. Is the main scanning position.

  In the forward and backward paths of the laser beam, different light amount correction is performed for each line in the main scanning direction, and at the boundary between the forward and backward paths, the light amount is reduced at a position where the lighting interval is narrow in the sub-scanning direction, and the lighting interval is wide. Although the boundary between the forward path and the return path can be made inconspicuous by increasing the light quantity at the position, if the exposure energy is changed by changing the pulse width as in the first embodiment, it is not desired to change the light quantity. There is an advantage that it is possible to cope with a case (for example, when the light quantity exceeds the rating of the LD or when the characteristic deteriorates when the light quantity becomes too low).

Next, a second embodiment of the control system of the exposure apparatus shown in FIG. 2 will be described.
[Example 2]
FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the second embodiment of the control system of the exposure apparatus shown in FIG. 2, and the portions common to FIG.
In the control system of the exposure apparatus of the second embodiment, the density of the density detection pattern image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 8 (which corresponds to the scanned surface) in FIG. 2 is detected, and the detected density is obtained. Based on this, the pulse width can be corrected.

  For this purpose, as shown in FIG. 9, first to third detection sensors 50a to 50c, AMPs 51a to 51c, filters 52a to 52c, A / D converters 53a to 53c, FIFO memory realized by a microcomputer. 54a to 54c, sampling control units 55a to 55c, I / O port 56, pulse width correction value calculation unit 57, pulse width correction value storage unit 58, and pulse width correction control unit 59 are provided.

  First, the first detection sensor 50a is a sensor for detecting the density of an image, outputs a signal corresponding to the density of the density detection pattern image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 8 in FIG. 2, and amplifies the signal value by the AMP 51a. Then, the frequency component higher than the frequency required by the filter 52a is cut. Thereafter, the A / D converter 53a converts analog data into digital data under the control of sampling from the sampling control unit 55a, and the sampling data is sequentially stored in the FIFO memory 54a.

  Similarly, the signals detected by the second detection sensor 50b and the third detection sensor 50c (also sensors for detecting the image density) are also used for the AMPs 51b and 51c, the filters 52b and 52c, and A / The D converters 53b and 53c and the sampling controllers 55b and 55c store the sampling data in the FIFO memories 54b and 54c, respectively.

The data stored in the FIFO memories 54a to 54c is sent to the pulse width correction value calculation unit 57 via the I / O port 56, and the pulse width correction value calculation unit 57 calculates the pulse width correction value. The calculated pulse width correction values are all stored in the pulse width correction value storage unit 58.
Thereafter, at the time of image formation, the pulse width correction control unit 59 corrects the value of each pulse width of the LUT circuit 41 based on each pulse width correction value stored in the pulse width correction value storage unit 58, and after the correction Laser light is emitted from the light sources U21 and 22 according to the value of the pulse width.

  In this way, it is possible to correct the pulse width of the laser light that is changed on the scanning line based on the density when the mark actually formed is read, and more accurate correction is possible. Further, not only density unevenness due to reciprocating scanning but also correction of shading characteristics of the optical system can be included.

Next, a process for obtaining the pulse width correction value will be described.
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a density detection pattern image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 8 of FIG.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart of processing for storing a pulse width correction value in the control system shown in FIG.
FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of density levels detected by the first detection sensor 50a to the third detection sensor 50c shown in FIG.

  When the pulse width correction value storing process is started, a density detection pattern image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 8 in FIG. 2 by the exposure device 20 in FIG. Then, the density detection pattern is detected, and in step 3, the first detection sensor 50a to the third detection sensor 50c are used based on the detection levels detected by the first detection sensor 50a to the third detection sensor 50c in FIG. The density of each detected position is calculated, and in step 4, the pulse width correction value of the position detected by each of the first detection sensor 50a and the third detection sensor 50c is calculated.

  In step 5, the pulse width correction values at the position of the region sandwiched between the first detection sensor 50a and the second detection sensor 50b and the position of the region sandwiched between the second detection sensor 50b and the third detection sensor 50c are calculated. In step 6, the pulse width correction value of the scanning line on which the pattern is not formed is calculated based on the pulse width correction value at the boundary between the forward path and the return path. In step 7, the pulse width correction value storage unit in FIG. The correction values for all the pulse widths are stored in 58, and this process is terminated.

For example, as shown in FIG. 10, the density detection pattern image is reciprocated in the main scanning direction to form lines at the left end L, the central portion, and the right end R within the effective scanning width Dp. In FIG. 10, due to the inclination of the scanning lines, the patterns 60b and 62b have line intervals that are normal densities when detected by the second detection sensor 50b.

Further, the patterns 60a and 62c have wider line intervals than the patterns 60b and 62b, and when detected by the first detection sensor 50a and the third detection sensor 50c, the density becomes lower than the normal density.
Furthermore, the patterns 60c and 62a have narrower line intervals than the patterns 60b and 62b, and when detected by the first detection sensor 50a and the third detection sensor 50c, the density becomes higher than the normal density.

  In the case of detection of the pattern 61a, as shown in FIG. 12A, in the portion where the dot between the patterns becomes rough, the two dots are detected separately, and the detected density level P1 is the normal level. The density levels P2 are smaller by Ra1 and Rb3, respectively. Therefore, the pulse width correction values Ra1 and Rb3 to be added to the set pulse width are calculated so that the pulse width is increased (expanded) so that the density becomes higher.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 12C, since the two dots overlap in a portion where the dots of the pattern are dense, the detected density level P3 is higher than the normal density level P2, Rb1, respectively. Ra3 increases. Therefore, the pulse width correction values Rb1 and Ra3 to be subtracted from the set pulse width are calculated so that the pulse width is reduced (narrowed) so that the density is reduced.

Then, each pulse width correction value obtained from the calculated pulse width correction values Ra1 and Rb1 and straight lines obtained by approximating Rb3 and Ra3 respectively is stored in the pulse width correction value storage unit 58.
Thus, the pulse width correction value stored in the pulse width correction value storage unit 58 is used as a pulse width correction value at the time of printing until the next pulse width correction value storage process is executed.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention can be applied to all image forming apparatuses including a facsimile machine, a printer, a copying machine, and a multifunction machine.

1: Digital color copier 2: Paper feeding unit 3: Document conveying unit 4: Document reading unit 5: Image forming unit 6: Tray unit 7: Conveying means 8: Intermediate transfer belt 9y-9k: Photoconductor 10y-10k: Charging Devices 11y to 11k: Developing devices 12y to 12k: Cleaning devices 13: Registration roller portions 14: Transfer roller portions 15: Fixing devices 16: Paper discharge means 17: Paper discharge storage portions 20: Exposure devices 21, 22: Light source units 21y, 21m, 22c, 22k: light source 23: vibrating mirror 23a: support substrate 23b: movable piece 24: cylinder lens 25: mirror 26: fθ lens 27, 28, 29, 30: folding mirror 31, 32, 33, 34: transmission window 35, 36, 37: second mirror 38: tip synchronization detection sensor 39: Rear end synchronization detection sensor 40: Line memory 41: LUT circuit 42: PWM circuit 43: Light source U driver 44: Memory control circuit 45: First selector 46a to 46p: 0th LUT to 16th LUT 47: Second selector 48: Main scanning position counters 50a to 50c: First detection sensor to third detection sensor 51a to 51c: AMP 52a to 52c: Filter 53a to 53c: A / D converter 54a to 54c: FIFO memory 55a to 55c: Sampling control unit 56 : I / O port 57: Pulse width correction value calculation unit 58: Pulse width correction value storage unit 59: Pulse width correction control unit 60a to 60c, 61a to 61c, 62a to 62c, 63a to 63c: Pattern 65: Paper

JP 2008-15210 A

Claims (4)

A plurality of light sources, light deflecting means for deflecting the light emitted from each light source so as to reciprocately scan in the main scanning direction on the surface to be scanned, and the light deflected by the light deflecting means for the forward path and the return path In an image forming apparatus including an imaging unit that guides an image to the same surface to be scanned with
When irradiating each light with reciprocating scanning in the main scanning direction on the same scanning surface, forward scanning and backward scanning are performed for each scanning line of the forward path and the backward path and for each channel of each light source . The exposure energy applied to the surface to be scanned is effective so that the exposure energy is small at a position where the lighting interval in the sub-scanning direction is narrow on the surface to be scanned , and the exposure energy is large at a position where the lighting interval is wide. An image forming apparatus, comprising: a control unit configured to change a pulse width at the time of emitting each light so as to increase or decrease stepwise within a scanning width in a scanning direction.   The control means includes a table storing a value for changing the pulse width, and means for changing a pulse width at the time of emitting each light based on the value stored in the table. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. The values stored in the table are the lower limit value of the correction value of the pulse width: Lvl_L, the upper limit value of the correction value of the pulse width: Lvl_H, the channel number value to be corrected: n, the number of channels of the light source: N, The number of pixels within the effective scanning width: Dp, the main scanning position when the left end L with respect to the main scanning direction on the scanned surface is 0, x, with respect to the main scanning direction on the scanned surface The pulse width of the left end L: (Lvl_L) + (n−1) × {(Lvl_H) − (Lvl_L)} / (N−1) (1) and on the surface to be scanned Pulse width at the right end R with respect to the main scanning direction: (Lvl_H) − (n−1) × {(Lvl_H) − (Lvl_L)} / (N−1) (2) In this case, the correction value for each main scanning position x: Rx = ((2) − (1)) / Dp × x + (1 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is a value set to satisfy Detection means for detecting the density of a pattern image formed as a line at both ends of the effective scanning width on the surface to be scanned by the reciprocating scanning , and the density is low based on the density detected by the detection means 4. The correction means for correcting the pulse width is provided so that the exposure energy is increased in a portion and the exposure energy is decreased in a portion where the density is high. The image forming apparatus described in the item.

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