JPH06337597A - Controller of image forming device using electrophotographic process - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make possible the automatic and more meticulous control of transfer conditions with the controller requiring multiple transfer processes. CONSTITUTION:The image forming device using the electrophotographic process constituted to once transfer the toner image on a photosensitive body by using an intermediate transfer body, such as intermediate transfer belt, in the transfer process then to transfer the toner image onto recording paper or to use a dielectric belt to transfer the toner image on this photosensitive body onto the recording paper while transporting the recording paper in contact with the photosensitive body in the transfer process is provided with a control means 10 which includes a transfer density detecting means for obtaining the density information of the toner image transferred on the intermediate transfer body or the dielectric belt and a calculating section 12 for calculating the optimum driving conditions, such as voltage, for driving the transfer process member, such as electrostatic charger for transfer, in accordance with the density information obtd. by this transfer density detecting means and controls the transfer process member.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a controller for an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic process such as an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, etc. for copying or printing an image by an electrophotographic process mechanism. Regarding

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a transfer process in an electrophotographic process is a process of moving and adhering a toner image formed on a surface of a photoconductor or an intermediate transfer member onto a recording paper, an intermediate transfer member or the recording paper. Here, the force used for transfer includes electrostatic force, mechanical force, and adhesive force.

Among them, the electrostatic transfer method utilizing electrostatic force is a transfer method in which an electric field is formed between a recording paper and a toner layer, and the charged toner is transferred to the recording paper or an intermediate transfer member by this electric field. Say. Such electrostatic transfer methods include: a. Corona transfer method in which corona ions are applied to the back side of the recording paper or the intermediate transfer body b. A roller transfer method in which a conductive roller to which a voltage is applied is pressed against the back surface of the recording paper or the intermediate transfer member to form a transfer electric field by the voltage. C. There is a dielectric belt transfer method that also serves as conveyance of recording paper. Since both are based on the same transfer mechanism by electrostatic force, the most commonly used corona transfer method will be described as an example here.

First, in order to perform good transfer, it is essential to properly control the transfer electric field.
Adhesion between the photoconductor and the recording paper or the intermediate transfer member is also important, and if the adhesion is poor, spotted white spots sometimes occur. , Referred to as Reference 1).

By the way, in recent years, applications of full-color electrophotographic processes such as color printers and color plain paper copiers are rapidly spreading. However, when the color electrophotographic process is compared with the black-and-white electrophotographic process, it is unique. There is "multiple transfer" as one of the technologies.

As such a multiple transfer system, according to a known document (for example, refer to page 5 in "Current State and Problems of Color Electrophotography" by Satomura), three systems are shown as typical examples. These are listed as follows: a. Transfer drum system b. An intermediate transfer method in which a toner image is temporarily transferred to an intermediate transfer member, and then three color (or four color) toner images are simultaneously transferred onto a recording paper (or an intermediate transfer member) c. This is a tandem system that uses a dielectric belt to convey the paper, although the transfer is performed directly from the photoconductor to the recording paper without using the intermediate transfer body.

In such multiple transfer, various conditions are required for good transfer. The electric resistance of the recording paper (including the intermediate transfer body and the dielectric belt) is one of the conditions. For example, if the resistance value decreases at high humidity, the charge on the recording paper due to corona discharge leaks to the ground side, resulting in transfer failure. On the other hand, when the electric resistance of the recording paper becomes high, the toner is likely to scatter due to peeling discharge that occurs between the toner layer and the photoconductor when the recording paper is separated. Further, in the case of the intermediate transfer body and the dielectric belt, the volume of the intermediate transfer body and the dielectric belt change due to the change of temperature and humidity due to the characteristics of the material (for example, polyester), but this may also change the adhesion. Is reported in Reference 1 mentioned above.

Therefore, in order to correct a change in characteristics such as electric resistance and a change in adhesion and obtain a stable and high transfer rate, the conventional method is as follows. By adjusting the belt tension manually, the adhesion is improved in a high humidity environment. B. A device in which the current value to be passed to the transfer charger is switched by instructing an operation from a control panel or the like (for example, refer to the service manual of the product "ARTAGE8000REALA") C. A method such as one in which a constant transfer current is obtained with respect to load fluctuations by returning the current flowing in the shield of the transfer charger (see, for example, Fuji Xerox Technical Report No. 7) has been proposed and put into practical use. Has been done.

[0009]

However, in the methods A and B, the user or service person has to manually operate the system, which is troublesome and requires a finely and optimally controlled operation environment condition. It's hard to do. Further, in the method C, factors other than changes in electrical characteristics, for example, fluctuations in the transfer rate due to changes in the transfer electric field due to changes in adhesion are not taken into consideration and are insufficient.

[0010]

Means for Solving the Problems An intermediate transfer member such as an intermediate transfer belt is used in a transfer process to transfer a toner image on a photosensitive member once and then transfer it onto a recording paper, or to record in contact with the photosensitive member. An image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic process, wherein a dielectric belt for transferring a toner image on a photoconductor onto a recording paper while transporting the paper is used in a transfer process. Transfer density detecting means for obtaining density information of the toner image transferred onto the body or the dielectric belt, and a voltage for driving a transfer process member such as a transfer charger based on the density information obtained by the transfer density detecting means. And a control means for controlling the transfer process member provided with a calculation unit for calculating the optimum driving conditions.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, an adhesion adjusting mechanism for adjusting the adhesion between the intermediate transfer member or the dielectric belt and the photosensitive member, and the toner image transferred onto the intermediate transfer member or the dielectric belt. Transfer concentration detecting means for obtaining the concentration information of
A control unit for controlling the adhesiveness adjusting mechanism is provided with a calculating unit for calculating an adjustment value of the adhesiveness adjusting mechanism based on the density information obtained by the transfer density detecting unit.

In these inventions, in addition to the transfer density detecting means, a developing density detecting means for obtaining density information of the toner image developed on the photoconductor is provided in addition to the transfer density detecting means. The concentration information obtained by the detection means is also taken into consideration.

With respect to the calculation unit of these inventions, in the invention described in claim 5, it is formed by fuzzy operation means, and in the invention described in claim 6, it is formed by a neural network.

[0014]

Since the monochrome electrophotographic process does not require multiple transfer, most of the transfer process is configured to directly transfer the toner image developed on the photoconductor onto the recording paper. In the process, an intermediate transfer belt such as an intermediate transfer belt or an intermediate transfer drum, or a dielectric belt used for transfer while transporting a recording sheet is used because of the necessity of multiple transfer as described above. If a reference toner image is transferred onto the intermediate transfer body or the dielectric belt and the density (that is, toner adhesion amount) is measured, the toner adhesion amount on the intermediate transfer body is determined from the photoconductor. It is considered that the transfer state onto the intermediate transfer body is represented, and the toner adhesion amount on the dielectric belt is considered to represent the transfer state from the photosensitive body onto the recording paper. It is possible.

Therefore, according to the first and third aspects of the present invention, the transfer state is known by providing the transfer density detecting means for obtaining the density information of the transferred toner image on the intermediate transfer body or the dielectric belt, and the density is measured. Since the control means uses information to automatically and finely control the optimum driving conditions such as the driving voltage of the transfer process member such as the transfer charger or the adjustment value for the adhesion adjusting mechanism, Fluctuations in the transfer rate caused by changes in the electrical resistance of the dielectric belt and the like can be minimized, and fluctuations in density and color tones in color recording are minimized.

According to the second and fourth aspects of the invention,
In addition to the above, since the developing density detecting means for obtaining the density information of the toner image on the photoreceptor before transfer is provided, the difference is calculated using the density information and the density information obtained by the transfer density detecting means. As a result, the transfer state can be known precisely, and more accurate and appropriate control becomes possible.

Further, according to the invention described in claim 5, by forming the calculating portion by the fuzzy calculating means, it becomes possible to obtain an appropriate driving condition and an adjustment value in consideration of information other than the density information. .

Further, according to the invention described in claim 6, by forming the calculation unit by the neural network, by utilizing the generalization ability, the calculation unit can be constructed with less experiments. The system development period and cost can be greatly reduced.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. First, regarding the basic configuration, a transfer charger (one of transfer process members) that is a corona charger for the corona transfer method and the dielectric belt transfer method.
FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a transfer device configuration according to No. 1. Here, even in the case of the roller transfer method in which a voltage is directly applied to the recording paper by using a conductive roller or a dielectric roller, the charger portion is simply replaced by the bias roller. Therefore, in this example, a transfer device using a transfer charger will be described below as an example. Further, in the case of a model equipped with a charger for pre-transfer charge removal, a pre-transfer charge remover (one of transfer process members) 2 is added as shown in FIG.

Here, the central processing unit of the image forming device (or a device above the transfer device) (hereinafter referred to as "C
When a drive request signal (timing signal) for the transfer charger 1 is sent by a control signal from the “PU”, the transfer charger controller 3 drives the transfer charger 1. The voltage is sent to the transfer charger driving unit 4. A mechanism such as a power pack that actually drives the transfer charger 1 is mounted on the transfer charger drive unit 4, and drives the transfer charger 1 at a required voltage. As shown in FIG. 3, even a model equipped with the pre-transfer static eliminator 2 is similarly driven by the pre-transfer static eliminator drive unit 5 under the control of the transfer charger control unit 3.

Further, in this embodiment, as a transfer density detecting means for measuring and detecting the density (toner adhesion amount) of the reference toner image transferred onto the transfer belt (intermediate transfer member) 6, as shown in FIG. A reflection type sensor 7 as shown in FIG. 7A or a transmission type sensor 8 as shown in FIG. In the case of the reflection type sensor 7, the light emitted from the light emitting element 7a such as a laser diode is reflected by the toner image 9 and returned and is received by the light receiving element 7b such as a photodiode, and the light is emitted according to the density of the toner image 9. The sensor output voltage is obtained. In the case of the transmissive sensor 8,
Since most of the transfer belt 6 (similarly in the case of the dielectric belt) is made of a transparent material such as polyester, it is possible to obtain density information by measuring the amount of light passing through the toner image 9. When the light emitted from the light emitting element 8a such as a laser diode passes through the toner image 9 and the transfer belt 6 and enters the light receiving element 8b such as a photodiode, a sensor according to the density of the toner image 9 is obtained. The output voltage is obtained.

The toner image 9 on the transfer belt 6 (same for the dielectric belt) thus transferred for density measurement is scraped off by the cleaning mechanism without being transferred onto the recording paper. , The toner shall be collected.

In this embodiment, however, the transfer charger control device 10, which basically has a function corresponding to the transfer charger controller 3 in FIGS. 2 and 3 and serves as a control means, transfers the transfer charger. It is provided instead of the device control unit 3. In general, CP
Based on the control signal from U, the optimum voltage value for driving the transfer charger 1 (in the case of the configuration of FIG. 3, in addition, the pre-transfer charge eliminator 2) is calculated, and the transfer charger drive unit is calculated. 4 (in the case of the configuration of FIG. 3, in addition, it is sent to the pre-transfer static eliminator drive unit 5).

The transfer charger control device 10 as described above is
An input / output management unit 11 and a drive voltage calculation unit (calculation unit) 12 are included. The input / output management unit 11 loads an interface with an external device, and, for example, based on various timings generated from a control signal (a photoconductor phase signal, a clock signal for the entire process, etc.) from the CPU, the sensor 7
Alternatively, the environmental signal such as the density information received from 8 or the like is sent to the drive voltage calculation unit 12 at a predetermined timing. Also,
When the result calculated by the drive voltage calculation unit 12 is received, CP
Based on various timings generated by the control signal from U, the driving voltage resulting from the calculation is transferred to the transfer charger driving unit 4
(In the case of the configuration of FIG. 3, in addition, it is sent to the pre-transfer static eliminator drive unit 5).

The drive voltage calculation unit 12 includes an input / output management unit 11
The drive voltage of the transfer charger 1 (in the case of the configuration of FIG. 3, in addition, the pre-transfer charge eliminator 2) is calculated based on the density information and the like sent from the device and sent to the input / output management unit 11. Is.
Here, the simplest method for obtaining the optimum drive voltage is to previously obtain the optimum drive voltage for the transfer charger 1 and the pre-transfer charge eliminator 2 with respect to typical density conditions by experiments or the like.
These may be stored as a table in a ROM or the like, and the drive voltage may be obtained by referring to this table.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the driving conditions such as the driving voltage of the transfer process member such as the transfer charger 1 and the pre-transfer charge eliminator 2 are determined by the density information detected from the toner image 9 on the transfer belt 6. Based on the above, the control is performed automatically and finely, so that the fluctuation of the transfer rate caused by the characteristic change of the electric resistance of the transfer belt 6 or the like can be minimized. As a result, variations in density and variations in color tone in full-color recording can be minimized.

Next, an embodiment of the invention described in claim 5 with respect to the invention described in claim 1 will be described with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, the driving voltage calculation unit 12 is configured by a fuzzy arithmetic unit, rules necessary for driving the fuzzy arithmetic unit, a memory of membership functions, and the like. Therefore, also in the case of the present embodiment, the basic operation is the same except for the following points.

That is, in the case of the driving voltage calculation unit 12 by the fuzzy calculation device, fuzzy calculation is performed based on the density information sent from the input / output management unit 11, and the optimum transfer charger 1 and pre-transfer charge eliminator 2 are selected. Drive voltage is calculated and sent to the input / output management unit 11. Here, in order to input the respective data including the density information from the input / output management unit 11 to the fuzzy arithmetic unit and generate the driving voltage, and to make the input / output parameters fuzzy / defuzzify. It is assumed that the membership function of is created by experimentation or the like and is incorporated in advance. Therefore, in the case of fuzzy calculation, as input information, not only concentration information but also environmental information including temperature, humidity, etc., as well as driving voltage of the charger and the static eliminator, paper type, potential information of the photoconductor It becomes possible to expand such that parameters and the like are input, and more appropriate drive voltage can be calculated.

An embodiment of the invention described in claim 6 with respect to the invention described in claim 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. In this embodiment, the drive voltage calculation unit 12 is constructed by a neural network. Therefore, also in the case of the present embodiment, the basic operation is the same except for the following points.

That is, in the case of the driving voltage calculation unit 12 by the neural network, the data sent from the input / output management unit 11 is converted into a parameter that can be input to the neural network by the normalization process or the like and is given to this neural network. For each input parameter, the neural network uses, for example, a back propagation learning rule (backpropagation method) as an optimum transfer charger drive voltage or pre-transfer charge eliminator drive voltage obtained in advance by experiments or the like as a teacher value. It is assumed that the learning has been completed by the predetermined learning method. The drive voltage parameter output from the neural network is converted to an actual drive voltage value and then sent to the input / output management unit 11. Therefore, in the case of a neural network, not only concentration information but also environmental information including temperature, humidity, etc., as well as driving voltage of a charger or a static eliminator, paper type, potential information of a photoconductor, etc. It becomes possible to extend it by parameterizing
A more appropriate drive voltage can be calculated.

FIG. 5 shows an example of the structure of a hierarchical neural network 13 which receives these various parameters as inputs. That is, the input layer 14 that inputs various parameters,
An intermediate layer 16 having an arbitrary number of layers, which receives the output from each neuron (nerve cell mimicking element) 15 of the input layer 14 via synaptic connections, and the final stage neuron 15 in these intermediate layers 16 The output layer 17 is composed of one neuron 15 that receives an output, and a learning value is given to the neuron 15 of the output layer 17 during learning. As shown in FIG. 6, for a model equipped with the pre-transfer charge eliminator 2 as shown in FIG. 3, the output layer 17 is composed of two neurons 15 so that each drive voltage parameter can be obtained. Good.

In any case, the driving voltage calculation unit 12 using the neural network 13 as in this embodiment can be realized with a smaller number of experiments due to the generalization capability of the neural network. That is, it means that the calculation function can be realized from a smaller number of combinations for each input parameter. This is because when trying to realize the same function by a table reference method, experiments must be performed for all combinations for each parameter (requires enormous experimentation), and an enormous amount of tables in the device. Considering that it has to be retained, the neural network can significantly reduce the development period and cost.

Next, an embodiment of the invention described in claim 3 will be described with reference to FIGS. In this embodiment, in order to obtain a good transfer, the adhesion between the photosensitive member and the intermediate transfer member or the dielectric belt is optimally controlled. For example, in the drum-shaped photosensitive member 21, FIG. 7 shows an example of the adhesion adjusting mechanism 23 for closely contacting the dielectric belt 22. The illustrated example is an eccentric cam rotatably provided at a position outside the contact point with the photoconductor 21 on the inner peripheral surface side of the dielectric belt 22 that is stretched and held by rollers 24 and driven to rotate. It is composed of a tension adjusting cam 25. The tension adjusting cam 25 is rotatably driven by a tension adjusting cam driving unit 26 having a motor or actuator structure, and is configured to displace the dielectric belt 22 via the operating plate 27. That is, by changing the angle θ of the tension adjusting cam 25 by the tension adjusting cam drive unit 26, the tension of the dielectric belt 22 can be continuously changed, as can be seen from FIGS. 7A and 7B. ,
As a result, the adhesion between the photoconductor 21 and the dielectric belt 22 is adjusted. Specifically, when the humidity is low, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7A, the tension is weakened to reduce the adhesion, and when the humidity is high, the tension is increased to increase the adhesion as shown in FIG. 7B.

However, the adhesion adjusting mechanism is not limited to this, and for example, a spring or the like is used to press the intermediate transfer member or the dielectric belt or the like against the photosensitive member, and the amount of displacement of the spring is changed. Therefore, a mechanism for adjusting the adhesion can be considered. In any case, it is necessary to adjust mechanical mechanisms such as cams and springs by electric means such as motors and actuators. In the following description, it is assumed that the tension adjusting cam 25 shown in FIG. 7 is used to change the adhesion of the dielectric belt 22 to the photoconductor 21.

The basic structure of the drive control device for the tension adjusting cam 25 is shown in the block diagram of FIG. When a drive request signal (timing signal) for the tension adjusting cam 25 is sent here by a control signal from the CPU, the tension adjusting cam control unit 28 adjusts the position (angle θ) information of the tension adjusting cam 25. Send to the cam drive unit 26. The tension adjusting cam drive unit 26 is equipped with a mechanism such as a motor that actually rotationally displaces and fixes the tension adjusting cam 25 by a predetermined angle θ, and the tension adjusting cam 25 is at the required position (angle).
Move to.

Also in this embodiment, it is assumed that the sensor 7 or 8 as shown in FIG. 4, for example, is provided on the dielectric belt 22.

In this embodiment, however, the tension adjusting cam control unit 29, which has a function basically corresponding to the tension adjusting cam control unit 28 in FIG. Is provided. In general, the CPU
The optimum position (angle θ = adjusted value) of the tension adjusting cam 25 is calculated by the control signal from the above and is sent to the tension adjusting cam drive unit 26.

The tension adjusting cam control device 29 as described above is
An input / output management unit 30 and a position information calculation unit (calculation unit) 31 are included. The input / output management unit 30 loads an interface with an external device and, for example, based on various timings generated from a control signal (a photoconductor phase signal, a clock signal of the entire process, etc.) from the CPU, the sensor 7
Alternatively, the environmental signal such as the density information received from 8 or the like is sent to the position information calculation unit 31 at a predetermined timing. Also,
When the result calculated by the position information calculation unit 31 is received, CP
Based on various timings generated by the control signal from U, the drive voltage resulting from the calculation is set to the tension adjustment cam drive unit 26.
Send to.

The position information calculation unit 31 includes an input / output management unit 30.
The optimum position (angle) of the tension adjusting cam 25 is calculated based on the density information and the like sent from the device, and the calculated position information is sent to the input / output management unit 30 as position information. Here, the simplest method for obtaining the optimum position information is to make an optimum angle θ of the tension adjusting cam 25 with respect to a typical concentration condition by an experiment or the like in advance.
Are calculated and stored as a table in a ROM or the like, and the rotation amount = adjustment value may be calculated by referring to this table.

Therefore, according to this embodiment, the adjustment value of the tension adjusting cam 25 is automatically and finely controlled on the basis of the density information detected from the toner image 9 on the intermediate transfer belt 6. It is possible to minimize the fluctuation of the transfer rate caused by the change in the characteristics such as the electrical resistance of the body belt 22. As a result, variations in density and variations in color tone in full-color recording can be minimized.

Next, an embodiment of the invention described in claim 5 with respect to the invention described in claim 3 will be described with reference to FIG. In this embodiment, the position information calculation unit 31 is configured by a fuzzy arithmetic unit, a rule necessary for driving the fuzzy arithmetic unit, a memory of a membership function, and the like. Therefore, also in the case of the present embodiment, the basic operation is the same except for the following points.

That is, in the case of the position information calculation unit 31 by the fuzzy calculation device, fuzzy calculation is performed based on the density information sent from the input / output management unit 30, and the optimum position information of the tension adjusting cam 25 is calculated. It is sent to the input / output management unit 30. Here, in order to input the respective data including the density information from the input / output management unit 30 to the fuzzy arithmetic unit and generate the position information, and the fuzzy / defuzzification of the respective input / output parameters. It is assumed that the membership function of is created by experimentation or the like and is incorporated in advance. Therefore, in the case of fuzzy operation, as its input information,
Not only concentration information but also environment information including temperature, humidity, etc., further, it is possible to expand by inputting parameterized information such as drive voltage of charger and static eliminator, paper type, potential information of photoconductor, etc. It becomes possible to calculate more appropriate position information.

An embodiment of the invention described in claim 6 with respect to the invention described in claim 3 will be described with reference to FIG. 9 while referring to FIG. In this embodiment, the position information calculation unit 31 is composed of a neural network. Therefore,
Also in the case of this embodiment, the basic operation is the same except for the following points.

That is, in the case of the position information calculation unit 31 by the neural network, the data sent from the input / output management unit 30 is converted into a parameter that can be input to the neural network by the normalization process or the like and is given to this neural network. The neural network uses a tension adjustment cam 2 for each input parameter with respect to a typical state of each input parameter previously obtained by experiments or the like.
It is assumed that learning has been performed by a predetermined learning method such as the back propagation learning rule (back propagation method) using the optimum position (angle) of 5 as a teacher value. The position information parameters output from the neural network are converted into actual position information of the tension adjusting cam 25, and then sent to the input / output management unit 30. Therefore, in the case of a neural network, not only concentration information but also environmental information including temperature, humidity, etc., as well as driving voltage of a charger or a static eliminator, paper type, potential information of a photoconductor, etc. Can be expanded by parameterizing and inputting, and a more appropriate drive voltage can be calculated.

FIG. 10 shows an example of the structure of a hierarchical neural network 32 which inputs these various parameters. Basically, it is similar to that shown in FIG. 5, and the output from each neuron (neuronal cell mimicking element) 34 of the input layer 33, which receives various parameters as an input, is mutually coupled via synapse coupling. The intermediate layer 35 having an arbitrary number of layers and the final stage neuron 3 in these intermediate layers 35.
The output layer 36 is composed of one neuron 34 which receives the output from the
The teaching value is given to the neuron 34 of.

In any case, the position information calculation unit 31 using the neural network 32 as in this embodiment can be realized with a smaller number of experiments due to the generalization capability of the neural network. That is, it means that the calculation function can be realized from a smaller number of combinations for each input parameter. This is because when trying to realize the same function by a table reference method, experiments must be performed for all combinations for each parameter (requires enormous experimentation), and an enormous amount of tables in the device. Considering that it has to be retained, the neural network can significantly reduce the development period and cost.

Further, an embodiment of the inventions described in claims 2 and 4 or the inventions described in claims 5 and 6 with respect to these inventions will be described with reference to the above-mentioned embodiments. In the embodiment described above, the intermediate transfer belt 6 and the dielectric belt 22 are
Density of toner image transferred and formed on toner (toner adhesion amount)
Is detected by the sensor 7 or 8 and the operation value of each control part (for example, the drive voltage of the transfer charger 1 or the adjustment value of the tension adjusting cam 25) is determined based on the transfer density information. However, in the present embodiment, in addition to such transfer density information on the intermediate transfer belt 6 and the dielectric belt 22, the toner image before transfer (therefore, the toner image developed and formed on the photoconductor 21) is transferred. A developing density detecting means (not shown) for detecting density information is provided, and the detected operating density information is also added to determine the operation value of each control portion. That is, by calculating the difference between the development density of the toner image on the photoconductor 21 and the transfer density of the toner image transferred onto the dielectric belt 22 or the like, the transfer rate can be known precisely. Therefore, the control can be performed with higher accuracy than the case where the control is performed only based on the density information after the transfer as in the above-described embodiment.

For example, when the density of the toner image transferred onto the dielectric belt 22 or the like is insufficient even though the density of the toner image on the photoconductor 21 is an appropriate value, the above-described embodiment is used. The density of the toner image on the photoconductor 21 itself is insufficient like the toner image transferred to the dielectric belt 22 or the like by controlling the transfer device side as described above. If so, it is desirable to control the density at an appropriate value by controlling not the transfer device side but the latent image generation or development process position.

In order to realize the invention described in claim 2, for example, in the configuration shown in FIG. 1 etc., in addition to the density information by the sensor 7 or 8, as input data,
The developing density information regarding the toner image on the photoconductor may be input and used for the calculation in the drive voltage calculation unit 12. In order to realize the invention according to claim 5 or 6 with respect to the invention according to claim 2, similarly, the fuzzy computing means and the neural network 13 are also made to input the development density information regarding the toner image on the photoconductor. Just configure it.

In order to realize the invention described in claim 4, for example, in the structure shown in FIG. 9 and the like, in addition to the density information from the sensor 7 or 8, the toner on the photoconductor 21 is used as input data. It may be configured such that the development density information regarding the image is also input and is used for the calculation in the position information calculation unit 31. In order to realize the invention of claim 5 or 6 with respect to the invention of claim 4, similarly,
It suffices that the fuzzy calculation means and the neural network 32 are made to input the development density information regarding the toner image on the photoconductor 21.

[0051]

Since the present invention is configured as described above, according to the first and third aspects of the present invention, the transfer density detecting means for obtaining the density information of the transfer toner image on the intermediate transfer member or the dielectric belt. Is provided to know the transfer state, and using such density information, the control means automatically and automatically adjusts the optimum drive conditions such as the drive voltage of the transfer process member such as the transfer charger or the adjustment value for the adhesion adjustment mechanism. It can be finely controlled, and minimizes fluctuations in the transfer rate caused by changes in electrical resistance and other characteristics of the intermediate transfer body and dielectric belt, and minimizes density fluctuations and color tone fluctuations in color recording. Is something that can be done.

According to the second and fourth aspects of the invention,
In addition to the above configuration, since the developing density detecting means for obtaining the density information of the toner image on the photoreceptor before transfer is provided, the difference is calculated using the density information and the density information obtained by the transfer density detecting means. By doing so, the transfer state can be known precisely, and more accurate and appropriate control becomes possible.

Further, according to the invention described in claim 5, since the calculating section in these inventions is formed by the fuzzy calculating means, it is possible to obtain an appropriate driving condition and an adjustment value in consideration of information other than the density information. It will be possible.

According to the invention described in claim 6, since the calculation unit in these inventions is formed by the neural network, the generalization ability can be utilized to construct the calculation unit with fewer experiments. As a result, the system development period and cost can be significantly reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the invention described in claim 1.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration example of a transfer drive control system.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration example of a transfer drive control system including a pre-transfer charge eliminator.

FIG. 4 is a principle configuration diagram showing a sensor configuration example for detecting a toner concentration.

5 is a schematic configuration diagram of a neural network showing one embodiment of the invention of claim 6 with respect to the invention of claim 1. FIG.

FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram of a neural network including a pre-transfer static eliminator.

FIG. 7 is a schematic side view including an adhesion adjusting mechanism showing an embodiment of the invention according to claim 3;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration example of a transfer drive control system.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a characteristic configuration example of a transfer drive control system.

FIG. 10 is a schematic configuration diagram of a neural network showing an embodiment of the invention of claim 6 with respect to the invention of claim 3;

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Transfer Charger = Transfer Process Member 2 Transfer Process Member 6 Intermediate Transfer Belt = Intermediate Transfer Body 7,8 Transfer Density Detection Means 9 Toner Image 10 Control Means 12 Calculator 13 Neural Network = Calculator 21 Photoconductor 22 Dielectric Belt 23 Adhesion Adjustment Mechanism 29 Control Means 31 Calculator 32 Neural Network = Calculator

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An intermediate transfer member such as an intermediate transfer belt is used in a transfer process to transfer a toner image on a photosensitive member once and then transfer it onto recording paper, or convey the recording paper in contact with the photosensitive member. However, in an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic process in which a dielectric belt that transfers the toner image on the photoconductor onto recording paper is used in the transfer process, the toner transferred onto the intermediate transfer body or the dielectric belt. Transfer density detecting means for obtaining image density information, and a calculating section for calculating optimum driving conditions such as a voltage for driving a transfer process member such as a transfer charger based on the density information obtained by the transfer density detecting means. And a control means for controlling the transfer process member, the control device for an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic process. 2. An intermediate transfer member such as an intermediate transfer belt is used in a transfer process so that a toner image on the photoconductor is once transferred and then transferred onto recording paper, or the recording paper is conveyed in contact with the photoconductor. However, in an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic process in which a dielectric belt that transfers the toner image on the photoconductor onto a recording paper is used in the transfer process, the density information of the toner image developed on the photoconductor is displayed. Developing density detecting means for obtaining, and transfer density detecting means for obtaining density information of the toner image transferred onto the intermediate transfer member or the dielectric belt,
Based on the density information obtained by the developing density detecting means and the transfer density detecting means, a calculating section for calculating an optimum driving condition such as a voltage for driving a transfer process member such as a transfer charger is provided, and the transfer is performed. A control device for an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic process, comprising: a control means for controlling a process member. 3. An intermediate transfer member such as an intermediate transfer belt is used in a transfer process to transfer a toner image on a photoreceptor once and then transfer it onto recording paper, or convey the recording paper in contact with the photoreceptor. However, in an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic process in which a dielectric belt that transfers the toner image on the photoconductor onto a recording paper is used in the transfer process, the intermediate transfer body or the dielectric belt and the photoconductor are An adhesion adjusting mechanism for adjusting the adhesion, a transfer density detecting means for obtaining density information of the toner image transferred on the intermediate transfer body or the dielectric belt, and a density information obtained by the transfer density detecting means A controller for an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic process, further comprising: a control unit for controlling the adhesiveness adjusting mechanism by including a calculating unit for calculating an adjustment value of the adhesiveness adjusting mechanism. 4. An intermediate transfer member such as an intermediate transfer belt is used in a transfer process so that a toner image on a photoconductor is once transferred and then transferred onto recording paper, or the recording paper is conveyed in contact with the photoconductor. However, in an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic process in which a dielectric belt that transfers the toner image on the photoconductor onto a recording paper is used in the transfer process, the intermediate transfer body or the dielectric belt and the photoconductor are Adhesion adjusting mechanism for adjusting adhesion, developing density detecting means for obtaining density information of toner image developed on the photoconductor, density information of toner image transferred on the intermediate transfer body or dielectric belt And a calculation unit for calculating the adjustment value of the adhesion adjustment mechanism based on the density information obtained by the development density detection unit and the transfer density detection unit. A control device for an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic process, characterized in that a control means for controlling the mechanism is provided. 5. The control device for an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic process according to claim 1, wherein the calculation unit is formed by fuzzy calculation means. 6. The control device for an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic process according to claim 1, wherein the calculation unit is formed by a neural network.