JPH10116002A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the increase of power source capacity from being caused by a starting current by respectively optimally controlling the lighting of an original exposure means, and the timing of a driving means for an original platen and paper feeding and a driving means around a fixing means and a photoreceptor drum. SOLUTION: When the original exposure means 8 becomes in a lit state, light quantity is detected by a light quantity detection means 18. A CPU compares the detected value with a specified value 1 set in advance and controls the exposure means 8 so that the light quantity is being kept to the specified value 1, obtained. The CPU transmits a control signal so as to start to drive a motor M1 14. The motor M1 14 drives the fixing device 12, the photoreceptor drum 9 and a developing device 10. A lighting control part inside the exposure means 8 sets the light quantity to a specified value 2 necessary to form an image when the light quantity of a lamp rises. After a specified time, the CPU transmits the control signal so as to start to drive a motor M2 15. The motor M2 15 drives the original platen 3 and carries recording material 4.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus,
In particular, the present invention relates to control of an image forming apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in a conventional image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine, when a copy start signal is given by an operator, an original exposure lamp is turned on to drive an original platen to start image formation. At the time when the original exposure lamp is moved to the position where the image can be formed, and at the same time, the conditions necessary for image formation such as the temperature of the fixing unit are checked. To start copying.

[0003]

However, the above-mentioned conventional example has the following problems. In other words, among these image forming apparatuses, particularly in the case of a small apparatus, when driving means such as an exposure lamp and a motor are simultaneously driven, their starting currents and the like are overlapped. Therefore, the size of the power source tends to be large, which has been a factor that restricts the miniaturization of the device.

The present invention has been made in view of the above situation, and has as its object to solve the above-mentioned problems and to provide a driving means which can contribute to downsizing of this type of image forming apparatus.

[0005]

Therefore, in the present invention, a driving means 1 for driving and feeding a document table, and driving a fixing means, a photosensitive member and a developing device in an image forming apparatus of a document table moving type. Driving means 2, a document exposing means,
A light amount detecting unit for detecting a light amount when the document is exposed, a comparing unit for comparing an output value of the light amount detecting unit with a predetermined value, and adjusting a light amount of the document exposing unit based on a result of the comparing unit And a copy start detection unit. When the copy start signal is input by the copy start detection unit, the document exposure unit is turned on, and when it is turned on, the document exposure unit is started up with the maximum light amount. At the same time, the driving unit 1 and the driving unit 2 are stopped, and the light amount of the document exposing unit is detected by the light amount detecting unit, and the light amount exceeds a predetermined value 1 required for image formation. Judge whether or not
When the predetermined value 1 is exceeded, the light amount of the document exposing means is controlled to a predetermined value 2, and then the driving means 1 is driven, and after a predetermined time has elapsed, the driving of the driving means 2 is started. This aims to achieve the above object.

[0006]

According to the construction of the present invention as described above, the power supply of the original exposing means and the timing of the driving means for feeding the original table and the paper supply and the fixing means and the driving means around the photosensitive drum are optimally restricted, so that a limited power supply is provided. An optimal device configuration can be achieved with the capacity, which can contribute to downsizing of the machine.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings based on a plurality of examples.

[0008]

【Example】

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing the structure of a first embodiment of a movable image forming apparatus according to the present invention. The image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is an electrophotographic image forming apparatus of a document table moving type that reads an image by moving a document table while fixing an optical system.

<Structure> In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a platen glass, and 2 denotes a platen cover. An original table 3 includes an original table glass 1 and an original table cover 2. 4 is a recording material such as paper, 5 is a recording material supply tray, 6 is a recording material transport roller for transporting the recording material 4 from the recording material supply tray 5, and 7 is an electrostatic image formed on a photoconductor. Is an image position adjustment roller for matching the image position of the recording material 4 with the transfer position of the recording material 4.

Reference numeral 8 denotes a document irradiating lamp for copying a document and a document exposing means including a driving circuit of the lamp.
A photosensitive (body) drum 10 for forming a reflected light image of the document irradiated by the document exposure means 8 as an electrostatic image (latent image);
Is a developing device for visualizing the electrostatic image using toner; 11 is a transfer charger for transferring and separating the toner visualized by the developing device 10 onto the recording material 4; 1 shows a fixing device for heat-fixing a toner image transferred onto a recording material 4.

Reference numeral 13 denotes a sensor for detecting a scan (scanning) start position, and reference numeral 14 denotes a transfer / separation of an electrostatic image formed on the photosensitive member from the image position adjustment roller 7 onto the recording material 4, The motors M1 and M15 of the driving means 1 for driving the photosensitive material and the developing device 10 to drive the photosensitive material and the developing device 10 until the toner transferred to the recording material 4 are discharged through the fixing device 12 for thermally fixing the toner are mounted on the document table. 3 and recording material supply tray 5
A motor M2 is used as a driving unit 2 for driving the conveyance of the recording material 4 from the printer to the image destination position adjusting roller 7.

Reference numeral 16 denotes an A direction indicating the direction of movement of the document table 3 until the scan start position detection sensor 13 detects the document table 3 in order to scan the document. 17 denotes scanning of the document from the scan start position. The direction B indicates the direction of movement of the document table 3 when performing.

Reference numeral 18 denotes a light amount detection time for detecting light of a document irradiation lamp for irradiating a document. Reference numeral 19 denotes a copy start detecting means which is a switch for detecting a copy start input.

In the image forming apparatus of the original platen moving type, the original platen 3 on which the original is set by the copy start signal starts moving in the A direction 16 toward the scanning (scanning) start position by the motor M215. Then, the driving of the recording material transport roller 7 is started, and the supply of the recording material 4 from the recording material supply toilet 5 is started.

When the platen 3 reaches the scanning start position, the platen 3 reverses the motor M215 to start the scanning operation.

The image tip of the electrostatic image formed on the photoreceptor is fed by the image tip position adjusting roller 7 so that the leading end of the transfer position of the recording material 4 is aligned, and the original illuminated by the original illuminating lamp 8 The reflected light image is formed as an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 9, the electrostatic image is visualized using a toner from the developing device 10, and the toner is transferred to the recording material 5 by the transfer band device 11. The fixing device 12 fixes the toner image transferred onto the recording material 4, and the fixed recording material 4 such as paper is discharged from the fixing device 12.

At this time, when the scanning of the document table 3 for forming an image is started, the light amount of the document exposing means 8 is determined by comparing the result detected by the light amount detecting means 18 with a CP value.
The light is taken into U20 and sent to the document exposing means 8 as a control signal to restrict the light amount to a predetermined light amount, and the light amount is controlled.

<Operation> The following operation is performed in this state: FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the drive control portion of the configuration shown in FIG. 1. In FIG.
It is mainly configured with U20. The operation will be described below with reference to FIGS.

When a copy start signal is input to the copy start detecting means 19, the document exposing means 8 is turned on. At this time, the light amount is detected by the light amount detecting means 18 and this value is
In the CPU 20, a comparison is made with a predetermined value 1 in the CPU 20, and the result is sent to the document exposing means 8. As a result, the document exposure means 8 is controlled to the light amount of the predetermined value 1.

However, when a fluorescent lamp or the like is used as the lamp of the exposure means 8, the target light amount may not reach the target light amount at the start of lighting depending on the ambient temperature. The internal lighting control unit waits for the light amount of the lamp to rise under the control condition of the maximum light amount for the lamp when the lighting state is set.

After that, when the light amount of the lamp rises,
The light amount is set to a predetermined value 2 required for image formation. The above-mentioned predetermined value 1 and this predetermined value 2 can be the same value, and in this case, the above-mentioned predetermined value 2 can be omitted.

Next, a control signal is sent from the CPU 20 to start driving the motor M1 14 so as to start driving the motor M1 14.
14 is started. After a predetermined time after the driving of the motor M1 14 is started, a control signal is sent from the CPU 20 to start the driving of the motor M2 15 in order to start the driving of the motor M2 15 this time.

The starting operation is performed by the above operation, and thereafter, the document table 3 starts moving in the A direction 16 toward the scanning start position by the motor M215, and at the same time, the above-described image forming operation is performed.

FIG. 3 shows a flowchart of an operation sequence after the paper as the recording material 4 is discharged. As described above, in step S1, when the image forming operation is started, when it is detected that the copy start switch 19 is pressed (step S2), the document illumination lamp of the document exposure unit 8 is turned on (step S2). In step S3, the light amount of the illumination lamp is detected by the light amount detecting means 18 (step S3).
4).

When the light amount reaches the predetermined value 1 (step S5), the light amount is controlled to the predetermined value 2 (step S6), and the driving of the motor M1 is started (step S7). The operation waits (step S8), and then the motor M2
15 is driven (step S9), and a normal image forming operation is performed (step S10).

If the light quantity does not reach the predetermined value 1 in step S5, the process returns to step S4 and repeats the above sequence.

(Embodiment 2) <Structure> In Embodiment 1 described above, the operation of the fixing unit 12 after the discharge of paper is completed will be described with reference to FIGS.
The driving means is a motor M1 14 and a motor M2 15
Although the description is made in terms of two configurations, the same applies to an image forming apparatus having a configuration of a single driving unit.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of the first embodiment corresponding to FIG. 1 showing the second embodiment.
Instead of / M2, one motor M of the driving means is represented by 14, and the basic operation of this figure has been described in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the drive control section (corresponding to FIG. 2).
The PU 20 is mainly configured.

<Structure> The operation will be described below with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5; when an input is made to the copy start detecting means 19 in FIG. 4, the document exposing means 8 is turned on. At this time, the light amount is detected by the light amount detecting means 18, the value is taken into the CPU 20, compared with a predetermined value 1 in the CPU 20, and the result is sent to the document exposing means 8. As a result, the document exposure means 8 is controlled to the light amount of the predetermined value 1.

However, when a fluorescent lamp or the like is used as the lamp of the exposure means 8, the target light amount may not be reached at the start of lighting depending on the ambient temperature. The lighting control unit waits until the light amount of the lamp rises under the control condition of the maximum light amount for the lamp.

After this, when the light intensity of the lamp rises,
The light amount is set to a predetermined value 2 necessary for image formation. The above-mentioned predetermined value 1 and the predetermined value 2 can be the same value,
In this case, the above-mentioned predetermined value 2 can be omitted.

Next, in order to start driving the motor M14, a control signal is sent from the CPU 20 to start driving the motor M14.

The start operation is performed by the above operation, and thereafter, the document table 3 is moved in the A direction 16 toward the scan start position.
The image forming operation described above is performed simultaneously with the start of the movement.

FIG. 6 shows a flow chart of the operation sequence after the above-described paper ejection (corresponding to FIG. 3). Overlapping,
When the image forming operation is started in step S11, when it is detected in step S12 that the copy start switch 19 is pressed, the document illumination lamp of the document exposure means 8 is turned on in step S13, and the light amount is detected as the light amount detection. It is detected by the means 18 (step S14).

If the light amount has not reached the predetermined value 1 in step S15, the process returns to step S14. If the light amount has reached the predetermined value, the process proceeds to step S16, where the light amount is controlled to the predetermined value 2. When the value is reached, step S
The drive of the motor M14 is started at 17 to perform a normal image forming operation (step S18).

[0037]

As described above, according to the present invention,
By optimally controlling the lighting of the document exposure means and the timing of the drive means for feeding the document table and paper feed, and the drive means for the fixing means and the photosensitive drum, the power supply capacity due to the start-up current when the drive means is started up. It is possible to prevent an increase, and an optimal device configuration can be realized with a limited power supply capacity, which can contribute to downsizing of the device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a drive control unit in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an operation sequence flowchart of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a configuration corresponding to FIG. 1 of a second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram corresponding to FIG. 2 of a second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart corresponding to FIG. 3 of the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 3 document table 4 recording material 8 document exposure means (document irradiation lamp) 9 photosensitive (body) drum 10 developing device 12 fixing device 14 motor M1, motor M15 motor M2 18 light quantity detection means 19 copy start detection means (switch) 20 CPU

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on front page (72) Inventor Naoto Watanabe 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Hiroshi Mogi 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inside the Company (72) Inventor Satoshi Ogawara 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Shinichi Takada 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus of a platen moving type, comprising: a driving unit 1 for driving and feeding a platen; a driving unit 2 for driving a fixing unit, a photoconductor, and a developing unit; A light amount detecting unit for detecting a light amount when the document is exposed, a comparing unit for comparing an output value of the light amount detecting unit with a predetermined value, and adjusting a light amount of the document exposing unit based on a result of the comparing unit And a copy start detecting unit. When the copy start signal is input by the copy start detecting unit, the original exposing unit is turned on, and when the light is turned on, the document exposing unit is started up at the maximum light amount. At the same time, the driving means 1 and the driving means 2
Are stopped, and the light amount of the document exposing means is detected by the light amount detecting means, and it is determined whether the light amount exceeds a predetermined value 1 required for image formation. When it exceeds 1, the light amount of the document exposing means is controlled to a predetermined value 2, and then the driving means 1 is driven.
An image forming apparatus configured to start driving of the image forming apparatus.