JPH09207381A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus capable of maintaining the image quality stably by adjusting/controlling the image formation processing conditions immediately before the image forming operation. SOLUTION: Whether or not data outputted from an external device 1 require the image formation is judged by a judging means 17 when the data are received so that image formation processing conditions are adjusted/controlled before the image forming operation. Accordingly, the image quality can be maintained stably, coping with fluctuation of the supply by providing the optimum image formation processing conditions while processing/developing the data.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus capable of outputting an image based on image data transmitted from an external device (host computer).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic system, the functions / characteristics of a supply used therein are
Since it varies with time / environment, the image quality cannot be stably maintained unless the image forming condition (image forming process condition) is adjusted / controlled according to the variation. Therefore, it is most preferable to adjust / control the image forming process condition immediately before performing the image forming operation and perform the image forming operation under the optimum image forming process condition at that time.

However, since it is not known when an image forming operation command is given, conventionally, the image quality maintaining operation is performed while the machine is warming up (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-256).
No. 359), or based on the temperature setting mode of the fixing heater (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 58-40561), and based on the measurement of the non-operating time of the apparatus (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-2912).
No. 73).

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned prior art, since the image quality maintaining operation is performed at regular intervals, it is not said that the image forming process condition is optimum when the image forming operation is performed. Not exclusively. Further, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-269551 discloses a technique of performing an image quality maintaining operation when the received data reaches a certain amount. However, in this case, since the content of the received data is not judged, the control data is activated even if a certain amount or more is transmitted. In addition, there is a drawback that the time until reaching a certain amount is wasted.

The present invention has been made based on such a background, and the image quality can be stably maintained by adjusting / controlling the image forming process condition immediately before the image forming operation. An object is to provide an image forming apparatus.

[0006]

In order to achieve this object, an image forming apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention is based on a data receiving means for receiving data transmitted from an external device and the received data. An image forming means for outputting an image,
In the image forming apparatus provided with the image quality maintaining means for stably maintaining the image quality produced by the image forming means, the data receiving means has a determining means for determining whether or not a process for outputting an image is requested. When the determination means determines that the image output processing is performed, the image quality maintenance operation is performed by the image quality maintenance means prior to the image forming operation to come.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, when the image forming operation based on the received data becomes possible before the image quality maintaining operation is completed,
Alternatively, when the image forming operation command is forcibly given, the image forming operation is performed after completion of the image quality maintaining operation being executed at this time, or the image forming operation is performed by interrupting the image quality maintaining operation. Is set in advance, and the image quality maintaining operation or the image forming operation is performed based on the setting.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect, when the image quality maintaining operation is interrupted to perform the image forming operation, the image forming operation is performed with the image forming parameter before the image quality maintaining operation is executed. It is characterized by performing.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First, the outline of the present invention will be described. According to the present invention, when data transmitted from an external device is received, it is first determined whether the data requires image formation, and adjustment / control of image forming process conditions is executed prior to the image forming operation. It As a result, by adjusting the image forming process conditions to the optimum while processing / developing the data, it is possible to cope with supply fluctuations and the like and to stably maintain the image quality.

Further, when the image forming operation based on the received data becomes possible before the adjustment / control operation of the image forming process condition performed prior to the image forming operation is completed, or the image is forcibly forced. Given the formation operation command, the adjustment / control operation being executed at this time is
It is possible to preset whether the image forming operation is performed after the completion or the image forming operation is interrupted and the operation is performed based on the setting, so that an option that can meet the urgent image output request can be obtained.

When the adjustment / control operation is interrupted by this setting and the image forming operation is performed, the image forming operation is performed under the image forming process condition before the adjustment / control operation is executed. Even if the above operation is interrupted in the state of incomplete adjustment / control stage, the image forming operation can be performed without being affected by the interruption.

A detailed description will be given below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is an overall block diagram of a digital color printer system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The digital color printer system (image forming apparatus) 10 is an external computer (personal computer; host device).
The data from 1 can be received. The system 10 includes a controller section (data receiving means) 11,
A scanner 12 and a printer section (image forming means) 13 are provided. Since the scanner 12 is provided, the copy original can be read and the copy operation can be performed.

The controller unit 11 includes an interface processing unit 14, a reception buffer 15, a command analysis unit 16,
Judgment means 17, data processing unit 18, raster buffer 19
Having. The printer unit 13 also has an engine control unit 20.

In such a system configuration, the data file created by the computer 1 is converted into a printer command by the printer driver 2 when a print instruction is given, and becomes a print file. This is transferred to the printer system 10 via the interface.

On the printer system 10 side, the command received from the interface processing unit 14 is stored in the reception buffer 15. The command analysis unit 16 sequentially takes this out and creates a display list for expanding the data in the page in accordance with commands such as characters and graphics.

In the display list, data are arranged in the order of print direction, and the data processing unit 18 is arranged accordingly.
The print image is processed in the raster buffer 19
Sent to The print image data is sent from the raster buffer 19 to the printer unit 13, and an image is output by performing an image forming operation.

According to the present invention, in the command analysis section 16 in the controller section 11 in the printer system 10,
It is characterized in that it is provided with a judging means 17 for judging whether or not a process for outputting an image is requested from the received data.

The data sent from the computer 1 includes not only image output data but also control data for instructing printing conditions and the like in some cases. By providing the determination means 17 for determining the image data and the control data, it is possible to minimize the instruction to the printer unit 13. When the determining unit 17 determines that the image output processing is requested, the printer unit 13 is instructed to adjust / control the image forming process condition and maintain the image quality prior to the image forming operation to be performed. Is sent,
Be executed.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the image forming system of the printer unit. Around the photosensitive drum 21 as an image carrier,
A charger 22 for charging the photoconductor, a laser exposure device 23 for forming an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor after charging, a potential sensor 24 for measuring the surface potential of the photoconductor, and a potential sensor 24 formed on the photoconductor. A developing device 26 having a developing sleeve 25 that carries and conveys a developer containing toner for visualizing the electrostatic latent image to a developing area facing the photoconductor, and between the developing sleeve 25 and the photoconductor in the developing area. A developing bias power source 27 for applying a voltage to the developing sleeve 25 to generate an appropriate potential difference, an optical sensor 28 for detecting a toner pattern formed on the photoconductor, and a toner image formed on the photoconductor. A transfer device 29 for transferring to a transfer sheet, a cleaning device 30 for cleaning the photoconductor after the toner transfer, and a discharge lamp 31 for discharging the photoconductor after cleaning are arranged.

In such a configuration, as is well known,
A toner image is formed on the photoconductor drum 21 by an electrophotographic process of charging, exposure, and development, and the toner image is transferred to the transfer paper conveyed from a paper supply unit (not shown) by the operation of the transfer device 29. The transfer sheet after the transfer is sent to a fixing device (not shown), and after the unfixed toner image is fixed, the transfer sheet is discharged to the discharge section. Further, the surface of the photoconductor after the transfer is cleaned by the cleaning device 30, and further the static elimination lamp 3 is used.
After 1 the charger 22 is reached again. Charger 22, laser exposure device 23, potential sensor 24, developing bias power supply 27,
The optical sensor 28 and the like are controlled by the controller 32.

In the present embodiment, the potential sensor 24 detects the potential variation of the electrostatic latent image such as the sensitivity characteristic of the photoconductor, the variation of residual potential, the temperature variation of the photoconductor, and the like.
The LD current value and the developing bias are controlled by the control unit 32, whereby the image forming process conditions are adjusted / controlled and optimized. Therefore, the image quality maintaining unit described in the claims is configured by the control unit 32.

The adjustment / control of the image forming process conditions will be described in more detail. Create a predetermined number of patch patterns on the photoconductor and develop from the individual potentials and the amount of toner adhesion.
Then, the potential potential necessary to secure the maximum toner adhesion amount is calculated, and the grid potential, LD
The amount of current and the developing bias are controlled.

The potential is converted from the detection value of the potential sensor 24, and the toner adhesion amount is converted from the detection value of the optical sensor 28 according to a table given in advance. FIG.
3 is a flowchart of a first control example (corresponding to the invention according to claim 1). When data is input from the computer 1 to the printer system 10 (S1), as described above, the determination unit 17 of the controller unit 11 determines whether the data requires image output (S2), and if so, the control unit 3
2 executes the adjustment / control of the image forming process condition (S
3).

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a second control example (corresponding to the invention of claims 2 and 3). When the image forming operation based on the received data becomes possible before the adjustment / control operation of the image forming process condition performed prior to the image forming operation is completed (that is, the processing in the controller unit 11 is completed. However, when the preparation for transmitting the print image data to the printer unit 13 is completed), or when the image forming operation command is forcibly given (for example, when the data is transmitted from the scanner 12, that is, a copying operation) ( S1
1, S12), whether the image forming operation is performed after the adjustment / control operation executed at this time is completed (S14,
S15), or whether the image forming operation is performed after interruption (S15)
16, S17, S18) can be set in advance (S13), and by operating based on the setting, an option that can meet the urgent image output request can be obtained.

With this setting, if the above-mentioned adjustment / control operation is interrupted (S16) and the image forming operation is performed, the image forming process conditions before the execution of the above-mentioned adjustment / control operation are restored (S17). By performing the image forming operation (S18), the image forming operation can be performed without being affected by the interruption even if the above operation is interrupted in the state of incomplete adjustment / control stage.

[0026]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, while the print data is processed / developed, the adjustment / control of the image forming process condition is executed prior to the image forming operation. The image forming operation can be performed in an environment where the image processing conditions are optimum, and stable image quality can be maintained.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to obtain options that can respond to the urgent image output request.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, even if the above operation is interrupted in a state where the adjustment / control stage is incomplete,
The image forming operation can be performed without being affected by the influence.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall block diagram of a digital color printer system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming system of a printer unit.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a first control example.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a second control example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 controller section 13 printer section 17 judging means 32 control section

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A data receiving means for receiving data transmitted from an external device, an image forming means for outputting an image based on the received data, and an image produced by the image forming means for maintaining stable image quality. In the image forming apparatus including the quality maintaining unit, the data receiving unit has a determining unit that determines whether or not a process for outputting an image is requested, and the determining unit is a process for outputting an image. If judged,
An image forming apparatus, characterized in that the image quality maintaining operation is executed by the image quality maintaining means prior to an upcoming image forming operation. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein an image forming operation based on the received data becomes possible before the image quality maintaining operation is completed, or an image forming operation command is forcibly given. At this time, it is possible to set in advance whether the image forming operation is performed after the image quality maintaining operation being executed is completed or the image quality maintaining operation is interrupted and the image forming operation is performed based on the setting. Alternatively, the image forming apparatus is characterized by performing an image forming operation. 3. The image forming method according to claim 2, wherein when the image quality maintaining operation is interrupted and the image forming operation is performed, the image forming operation is performed with the image forming parameter before the image quality maintaining operation is executed. apparatus.