JPH01253764A - Image forming device with control parameter memory - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To perform image formation efficiently by writing a proper value of a key-inputted control parameter in the control parameter memory, or accessing the parameter memory directly with the key input and reading and writing the control parameter. CONSTITUTION:The control parameter is written in the control parameter memory 1 by a simulation mode execution device 2 or read out of or written in the memory 1 by a control parameter reading and writing device 3. Namely, the device 2 displays the control parameter inputted with keys 4 on a display part 5, performs simulation by an operation part 6 according to the parameter, and writes the control parameter in the memory 1 when an image of good quality is obtained. Further, the control parameter reading and writing device 3 writes and read the control parameter which is inputted with the keys 4 in and out of the memory 1 directly and displays it on the display part 5.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Al Industrial Field of Application) The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that includes means for setting control parameters necessary for controlling processing operations of the image forming apparatus.

(bl) Conventional technology When forming an image using an image forming apparatus, control parameters are required for each process operating section.For example, in an electrophotographic copying machine, which is an example of an image forming apparatus, , control parameters such as exposure voltage and paper feeding timing depending on the charging characteristics of the toner used are required.

Furthermore, in order to further improve the image quality, control parameters are required depending on the object to be processed.

For example, a full color image is yellow, magenta.

It is formed by forming toner images of each color using cyan toner and transferring them onto a sheet of paper, but because the photosensitive characteristics of the photoreceptor differ depending on the wavelength band of light (blue, green, red). , good images cannot be obtained unless individual exposure voltages (control parameters) are provided for each color.

Conventionally, the control parameters such as those mentioned above have been set using an arbitrary exposure voltage (
Copy processing (simulation) is performed based on the exposure voltage by inputting the control parameters), and if a good image is formed, the exposure at that time is Therefore, it was not possible to set the control parameters, and therefore it took too much time to set the control parameters. In recent years, copying performance has diversified, and the number of control parameters has accordingly increased, making setting the control parameters a difficult task. Furthermore, when replacing the board that stores control parameters, all control parameters must be set again through simulation, which requires a lot of effort and wastes time. .

The present invention provides a control parameter that allows the control parameters to be easily set by allowing the control parameters to be set in the simulation mode, and by directly accessing the control parameter memory by key operation to recall or write the control parameters. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus having a memory.

(d) Means for Solving the Problems This invention does not limit the paper feeding timing etc. input by key. 1) Perform simulation according to the parameters,
If the key-input control parameter is an appropriate value, the control parameter is executed by executing a simulation mode in which the value is written into the control parameter memory, and the control parameter is read or written by directly accessing the control parameter memory by key operation. It is characterized by comprising means for executing read/write mode;

(e) Effect FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of this invention.

The apparatus is equipped with a control parameter memory l, into which the simulation mode execution means 2 writes control parameters, or the control parameter read/write means 3 reads or writes control parameters. The simulation mode execution means 2 displays the control parameters input from the key 4 on the display section 5, and also controls the control ffl! Actuating part 6 based on the parameters
If a high-quality image is obtained as a result of simulation, the control parameters are written into the control parameter memory 1, and the control parameter read/write means 3 can both write and call the control parameter memory l. The function is to directly write the control parameters input from the key 4 into the control parameter memory 1, or to display the control parameters written in the control parameter memory 1 on the display section 5.0 The image forming apparatus actually performs image formation. When doing so, the actuating section 6 is controlled based on the control parameters stored in the control parameter memory 1. Conventionally, the control parameter memory l is only used by the simulation mode execution means 2.
All that was done was writing to.

(f) Embodiment FIG. 2 is a front configuration diagram of a copying machine which is an embodiment of an image forming apparatus having a control parameter memory of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a block diagram of its control section.

The overall control of this copying machine is performed by the CPU 61.
The program is stored in the ROM 62 in advance. When executing a program, the RAM 63 is used as a working area, and this RAM 63 is provided with an area for a control B parameter memory. FIG. 5 is a memory map of the control n-parameter memory area. Control parameter memory areas are provided at addresses 1 to m, and control parameters are stored in each area. For example address 1
．． 2... is a part that stores the exposure voltage of the light source that exposes the original. For example, at address l, the manual exposure level is 1 (a pale copy image is desired) and a full-color graph original is copied. Therefore, the exposure voltage used when forming a yellow toner image is stored. Further, the amount of voids at the leading edge of the image is stored at address m.

At the time of copying, the copying process is performed based on these control parameters such as exposure voltage and void amount.

A belt-shaped photoreceptor 1) having photoconductivity is provided approximately at the center of the main body of the copying machine, and is stretched between two rollers. Around the photoreceptor 1), a charger 12, a blank lamp 13, developing devices 14a to 14d, a transfer belt 15, a cleaning device 16, and a charge eliminating lamp 17 are arranged in the above order. The developing devices 14a to 14d are filled with yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toners, respectively, and the toner from any of the developing devices is attached to the photoreceptor 1). The transfer belt 15 is made of a dielectric sheet and is placed in contact with the photoreceptor 1). A first transfer charger 18 is provided at this contact position. Also, transfer belt 1
5, a second transfer charger 19, a peeling charger 20, and a cleaning device 22 are arranged in this order.

A document table 23 is provided on the upper surface of the main body of the copying machine, and an optical system 24 including a light source 24a, mirrors 24b to 24f, a color separation filter/lens 24, and a degree sensor 24h is arranged below the document table 23. The color separation filter of the color separation filter lens 24a is a filter that separates the reflected light from the original into wavelength band light of blue, green, and red, and is used during full-color copying. The light source 24a and the mirrors 24b to 24d scan the document on the document table 23 along the document table 23, and send the reflected light to the color separation filter lens 24g and the mirror 24a.
, 24f onto the photoreceptor 11.

In addition, the reflected light of the original is detected by the density sensor 24h,
The photoreceptor IT, which is A/D fi converted and input to the CPU 61, is charged to the charger 1 before the reflected light forms an image.
2, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface by exposure to reflected light. The blank lamp 13 is used to eliminate static electricity from unnecessary parts on the photoreceptor 1). When the photoconductor 1) on which the electrostatic latent image is formed faces the developing devices 14a to 14b, toner from one of the devices is transferred and the electrostatic latent image is visualized. The toner image is transferred onto the transfer belt 15 by the first transfer charger 18.

In parallel with these operations, paper for transfer is fed from the paper cassette 25a or 25b on the right side of the copying machine main body, and the toner image on the transfer belt 15 is transferred to the paper by the second transfer charger 19. The paper has a peeling charge.
The sheet is separated from the transfer belts 1 to 15 by p 20, sent to the fixing section 27 via the conveyor belt 2G, fixed with toner, and discharged to the sheet discharge tray 28.

This copying machine produces black and white images 3-. 1) When forming a one-color image of yellow, magenta, cyan, blue, green, and red, there is no need to use the color separation filter of the color separation filter/lens 24g, and the light reflected from the document is directly transmitted to the photoreceptor 1. ). However, when forming a full-color image, the light reflected from the original is separated into blue, green, and red, and the photoreceptor 1) is first exposed to blue light to adhere yellow toner and transferred to the transfer belt 15. let Next, the photoconductor 1) is exposed to green light to form a magenta toner image, and the transfer bell!・Transferred to transfer belt 15 ・U, photoreceptor 1) is further exposed to red light to form a cyan toner image, and transferred to transfer belt 15. In this way, a full-color toner image containing a mixture of three types of toner, yellow, magenta, and cyan, is formed on the transfer belt 15, and when this toner image is transferred to paper, a full-color image is obtained.

For example, when forming a full color image like this,
The intensity characteristics of the photoconductor 1) differ depending on the wavelength band of the light, and the amount of charge differs depending on the pigment used for yellow, magenta, etc. toners, so the light source 24a changes the original image depending on the exposure wavelength band and the toner used. Change the amount of light to expose the
It is necessary to control the electrostatic latent image (171). In addition, when forming almost binary images such as graphs and characters, and when forming images with halftones such as photographs,
It is necessary to expose the original with the appropriate exposure amount for each.
Exposure voltages corresponding to such exposure amounts are stored in the control parameter memory area.

A simulation mode setting switch and a control parameter read/write mode setting switch are provided inside the main body of the copying machine, and when each is turned on, the simulation mode or the control parameter read/write mode is set.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the operation panel on the top surface of the copying machine main body.

The production panel is equipped with an input key for inputting each copying condition and a display section for displaying the inputted copying conditions. In Figure 0, Δ is the exposure setting section, B is the magnification setting section, and C is the original document. Size display section, D is paper selection section, E is copy number setting section,
F is a toner selection section. The exposure amount setting section A includes an exposure key 30 for specifying on/off of automatic exposure, and exposure amount setting keys 31 and 32 for setting the shading of an image during manual exposure.

The magnification setting section B is the standard enlargement key 33. Standard reduction key 34.
Equipped with a zoom enlargement key 35 and a zoom reduction key 36,
During normal copying, these keys specify the copy magnification, but in the control parameter read/write mode, they are used as keys to specify the address of the control parameter memory area. The document size display section C displays the document size detected by a document size sensor (not shown), and the paper selection section selects which of the paper sheets 25a and 25b from which to feed the paper. The copy number setting section E includes a numeric keypad 27 and a display section 28. During normal copying, the number of copies is entered from the numeric keypad 27, and the value is displayed on the display section 28. However, it is used as a control parameter display panel during control parameter read/write mode or simulation mode. Furthermore, the toner selection section F is a key for selecting the color of an image when performing monochrome color copying.
Yellow, magenta. For cyan, toner of the respective color is used, and for red, green, and blue, magenta and yellow, yellow and cyan, and cyan and magenta are mixed and copied.

Note that 29 is a print switch for inputting a command to start black-and-white copying or color copying, and 37 is a key for inputting whether the original is a photographic original or not (original with graphs, characters, etc.). When the original is a photographic original, the reproducibility of halftones is important, so the amount of exposure light of the original is suppressed.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the copying machine in the simulation mode and the control parameter read/write mode.

In the same figure (A), when the power of the copying machine is turned on, the
In step 1, the initial setting of the memory section and preliminary operation processing are performed, and when these are completed, reading of various sensors and keys is started in step n2. When the copying machine is in simulation mode: When the inch is turned on, the simulation mode is set (n3), and when the control parameters such as the exposure voltage of the original and the charged potential of the photoreceptor are input and the print switch is operated ( Simulation copying is performed at n4-→n5) and n6. If the resulting copy image is good (if the clear key on the numeric keypad is pressed), write the control parameters to the appropriate address location in the control parameter memory area (n?=n8), press L. If the image quality is poor, the control parameters are input again and simulation copying is performed. After writing the control parameters, if the simulation switch inside the copying machine is turned off, the simulation mode is canceled.

As described above, simulation copying is performed and control parameters are written.

CB) in the same figure, when the control parameter read/write mode switch of the copying machine is turned on, the control parameter read/write mode is set, address M is cleared, and the control parameter at address 0 is displayed (n21.n2
2) As mentioned above, the magnification setting section B is used to set the address M in the control parameter read/write mode (n23), and if the regular enlargement = t--33, 107JO is added to the address M (n24). -・n 25), and if it is a regular reduction key t--34, lO is subtracted (n 2
G-n 27), if the zoom enlargement key 35, add l (n2B-・n29), if the zoom reduction key 36, add 1
If the address M input by these key operations is less than 0, set the address to O (n31→n32), and if the address exceeds the maximum address (m) of the control parameter memory Set it to the maximum address (m) (n33-・n34), n3
At step 5, the control parameters at address M are called and displayed on the display section 28. This allows you to check the control parameters simply by specifying the address using the hour wheel key operation.If the numeric keypad 27 is operated in the control parameter read/write mode, the input value will be treated as the control parameter and the input value will be used as the control parameter. It is stored in the memory and displayed on the display section 2.
8 (036-.n37), and then when the printer I switch is operated, the control parameters stored in the working memo are stored in the control parameter memory at address M (n38-.r139). That is, this makes it possible to easily write and paraphrase control parameters.

When the control parameter read/write mode switch of the copying machine main body is turned off, the old control parameter read mode is canceled and the process returns to n2.

In the simulation mode, you can set control parameters while performing simulation and comparing the quality of the formed image.In the control parameter read/write mode, you can specify the address of the control parameter memory area using the magnification key and read the control parameters directly from the control parameter memory area. Since you can directly store control parameters in the control parameter memory area without checking or simulating them, you can use them even when replacing the board.
The work time can be shortened by reading and recording the control parameters in advance and writing them to the new board in the old reading mode.

Note that n4 to n8 in FIG. 6(A) correspond to the "means for executing the system mode" of the present invention, and n36 to n39 in FIG. 6(B) correspond to the "control n parameter read/write mode" of the present invention. corresponds to "means for carrying out".

(ff) Effects of the Invention According to this invention, it is possible to both confirm and change the set control parameters. ; Even when a large number of control parameters need to be input, such as after replacing the i-board, the control parameter memory can be directly accessed, so there is no need to simulate each one as in the past, and °ζ is also improved, making it easier to input It can simplify labor and prevent time loss. In addition, since the input work can be done in a relatively short time and the work is also at the node i1''L, it is possible to prevent forgetting to input.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a conceptual diagram of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a schematic front view of a copying machine that is an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 3 is a plan view of the operation panel on the main body of the copying machine, and Fig. 4 is a copy of the same. FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the control section of the machine, FIG. 5 is a memory block of the control parameter memory area of the RAM, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the simulation mode and control parameter read/write mode of the copying machine. 1-control unit parameter memory, 2-simulation mode execution means, 3-control parameter read/write mode execution means, 4-keys, 5-display section, 6-operation section, 33 to 36-magnification keys (address designation keys), 27 -Numeric keypad (control parameter input key).

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A means for executing a simulation mode in which a simulation is performed according to key-input control parameters such as paper feeding timing, and if the key-input control parameter is an appropriate value, that value is written into the control parameter memory. An image forming apparatus having a control parameter memory, comprising: means for executing a control parameter read/write mode in which the control parameter memory is directly accessed by key operation to read or write control parameters.