JPH1138701A - Image forming device and its processing condition setting method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To shorten the setting time of processing condition and work time and to improve work efficiency by inputting the processing condition on one mode, then setting the processing condition on other modes based on the processing condition. SOLUTION: The processing condition on the basic mode, i.e., the mode of the 400-dpi normal paper, is adjusted at the time of an adjustment, and it is inputted from a processing condition input means 53 to set the processing condition. The inputted processing condition is stored and set in the 400-dpi normal paper mode region 58A of a second memory 58. The processing condition on the modes other than the basic mode are stored and set in memory regions 58B-58D of the second memory 58 based on the processing condition on the basic mode inputted from the processing condition input means 53, i.e., the processing conditions on other modes are calculated and set after the processing condition on the basic mode is inputted.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus capable of forming an image in a plurality of modes and forming an image by changing a process condition for each mode, and a process condition setting method therefor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As is well known, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus forms a toner image by performing charging, exposure, and development processes on a photosensitive member, and the toner image is separately conveyed. After transferring (further separating) onto the transfer material, the image is formed by fixing. In this image forming apparatus, if the process conditions such as charging, exposure, development, transfer, and separation are the same as those set at the time of designing the image forming apparatus, it is necessary to perform appropriate image formation due to individual differences in the machine. Can not. Therefore, after assembly of the image forming apparatus (at the time of shipment from the factory) or during maintenance (hereinafter, referred to as
(Also referred to as adjustment), the process conditions are set to be optimum values so as to form an optimum image. In other words, the intended process conditions (at the time of design) do not become the intended process conditions due to individual differences in the actual machine, so the set values are adjusted (finely adjusted).

[0003]

In this image forming apparatus, the type of transfer material (for example, plain paper, thick paper, OHP, etc.) and / or recording density (formed on a uniformly charged photoreceptor by exposure) Latent image density)
Process conditions are different. For this reason, in the conventional image forming apparatus, each mode is provided (for example, plain paper / 400 dpi (dot / inch) mode, plain paper / 600 dpi mode, cardboard / 400 dpi mode, cardboard / 600 dpi mode, etc.) Are changed to process conditions for forming an optimum image.

[0004] Even in such an image forming apparatus, it is necessary to set (finely adjust) the process conditions so that the process conditions become optimum values during the adjustment. In particular, since such an image forming apparatus can form an image in a plurality of modes having different process conditions, it is necessary to set process conditions for each mode. Therefore, when setting the process conditions in a plurality of modes, the setting operation is performed a plurality of times, and the operation time for performing the setting is lengthened, which leads to the deterioration of the operation efficiency.

Therefore, the present invention is capable of forming an image in a plurality of modes, and in an image forming apparatus for forming an image by changing the process conditions for each mode, the time required for setting the process conditions and the working time are reduced. Another object of the present invention is to improve work efficiency.

[0006]

The above object can be attained by the following constitution.

In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus capable of forming an image in a plurality of modes and forming an image by changing process conditions for each mode, basic input means for inputting process conditions for one mode, An image forming apparatus comprising: a setting unit configured to set a process condition for another mode based on a process condition input by a basic input unit. Alternatively, in a method for setting an image of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus in which an image can be formed in a plurality of modes and an image is formed by changing a process condition for each mode, a process condition for one mode is input and set. And setting a process condition for another mode based on the input process condition.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a copying machine as an example of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and FIG.
FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the scanning optical system of No. 0. The image forming apparatus includes an image reading unit 10, a laser writing unit 20, an image forming unit 30, and a paper feeding unit 40.

The first mirror unit 11 including the illumination lamp 11A and the mirror 11B of the image reading section 10 moves in parallel from a position indicated by a solid line to a position indicated by a broken line. Further, the second mirror unit 12 including the pair of mirrors (V mirrors) 12 </ b> A moves following the moving speed of the first mirror unit 11 at half the moving speed. By the movement of the first and second mirror units 11 and 12, the image of the document D placed on the document table is scanned and exposed, and is photoelectrically converted by the line CCD 14, which is an image sensor extending in the main scanning direction. The photoelectrically converted electric signal is temporarily stored as an image signal in a memory (not shown) serving as image storage means through image processing.

Next, when the image signal stored in the memory is inputted to the laser writing section 20, as shown in FIG. 2, a set of laser units U arranged so that the optical axes are orthogonal to each other is provided.
A laser beam is generated from each of the semiconductor lasers U1 and U2. The two generated laser beams are adjusted by the adjusting prism P
The positions of the main scanning and sub-scanning directions are adjusted by 1 and P2, respectively. The directions are matched by the combining prism P3, and the polygon mirror 22 is rotated in the direction of the arrow by the drive motor 21 through the cylindrical lens 28. It is projected on the rotating surface of.

The two projected laser beams are reflected and scanned by the movement of the rotating surface of the polygon mirror 22, and are scanned.
Through the fθ lens 23 and the cylindrical lens 28, the photosensitive surface of the photosensitive drum 32, which is an image carrier, to which a charge is applied (uniformly charged) in advance by a scorotron discharger serving as a charger 31, is scanned and exposed. . Therefore, an electrostatic latent image of a document image is formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 32 by the main scanning with the laser beam and the sub-scanning accompanying the rotation of the photosensitive drum 32. This electrostatic latent image is reversely developed by the toner carried on the developing sleeve 33A by applying a developing bias to the developing sleeve 33A of the developing device 33 as a developing means, and becomes a toner image.

On the other hand, from each paper feed cassette 41 loaded in the paper feed unit 40, a transfer material P of a designated size (or type) is fed out of the paper feed cassette 41 to be stored.
The sheet is carried out by the operation of A, and is fed to the image transfer section via the conveyance roller 43. The fed transfer material P is fed to the transfer unit in synchronization with the above-described toner image on the peripheral surface of the photoconductor drum 32 by the registration roller 44 and synchronized with the timing. Then, the toner image is transferred onto the transfer material P by the corona discharger which is the transfer device 34.

Next, the transfer material P is separated from the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 32 by a corona discharger as a separator 35,
The sheet is conveyed to a fixing device 37 via a conveying belt 36. In the fixing device 37, the toner is deposited on the transfer material P by pressurizing and heating the upper roller 37A and the lower roller 37B, and the transfer material P is discharged from the fixing device 37 via the transport roller 38. Then, the discharged transfer material P is discharged onto a discharge tray 47 via a discharge roller 45.

On the other hand, the photosensitive drum 3 from which the transfer material P is separated
In 2, after the residual toner remaining on the peripheral surface is removed and cleaned by the blade 39 </ b> A which is pressed against the cleaning device 39, the charge is applied again by the charger 31 to start the next image forming process.

The image forming apparatus of the present embodiment can form an image in a plurality of modes. There are a plurality of modes depending on the recording density of the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 32 and / or the type of the transfer material P. For example,
In the following description, the recording density is 400 dpi.
(400 dots per inch per inch), 600 dpi, and plain paper and thick paper as transfer materials. An image forming apparatus having four modes in combination of these will be described. That is, the image forming apparatus has a 400 dpi plain paper mode, a 600 dpi plain paper mode, a 400 dpi thick paper mode, and a 600 dpi thick paper mode. Switching between these four modes is performed as shown in FIG. 3 showing a control circuit diagram.
When the user selects a transfer material selection switch 51, which is a transfer material selection means, and a recording density selection switch 52, which is a recording density selection means, provided in an operation panel 50 provided in the image forming apparatus. Some CPU
55 selects a mode. The transfer material selection switch 5
Reference numeral 1 denotes a unit for selecting whether the transfer material is plain paper or thick paper. The recording density selection switch 52 is a unit for selecting whether to set the recording density to 400 dpi or 600 dpi.

In this image forming apparatus, the laser writing unit 20 follows the recording density change or the transfer material P
It is necessary to change the process speed (linear speed of the photoconductor drum 32) and the process conditions in order to stabilize the fixing property accompanying the change in the image quality. In order to respond to the process speed, there is an optimum process condition for forming an optimum image for each mode. Table 1 shows an example of optimum process conditions in each mode.

[0017]

[Table 1]

The process conditions shown in Table 1 indicate only one part, and there are other conditions (for example, the rotation speed of the polygon mirror 22).

These process conditions are stored in a storage means 56 (which will be described in detail later, but in detail, is a second memory 58). When a mode is selected as described above, the CPU 55 Are read out from the storage means 56. For example, the drive speed (linear speed) of the photosensitive drum 32, the rotation speed of the developing sleeve 33A of the developing device 33, the transfer speed of the transfer material P (means for transferring the transfer material) 41A, 43, 44, 36, 37A,
B, 38, 45, etc.), the charging current applied to the charger 31, and the power of the semiconductor laser (Table 1 shows the power applied to the semiconductor laser necessary to obtain the maximum density, but in practice, In accordance with this, the power applied to the semiconductor laser required to obtain each concentration is made different depending on the mode using a table or the like), the transfer current applied to the transfer device 34, the separation current applied to the separator 35, and the like. Is controlled based on the read process conditions. As described above, since the image is formed by changing the process conditions for each mode, an optimum image can be obtained.

By the way, as described in the section of the prior art, in the image forming apparatus, if the process conditions are the same as the conditions set at the time of designing the image forming apparatus, the process conditions are not appropriate due to differences in the machine. Image formation cannot be performed.
For this reason, the process conditions are set so that the optimum values are obtained so that an optimum image is formed after assembly of the image forming apparatus (at the time of shipment from the factory) or during maintenance (hereinafter also referred to as adjustment). . For this reason, in an image forming apparatus that forms an image by changing the process conditions for each mode as in the present embodiment, setting the process conditions for each mode requires a large amount of work time. Therefore, in the present embodiment, by setting the process conditions as described below, the time required for setting the process conditions and the working time are reduced, and the working efficiency is improved.

First, the outline of the process condition setting will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 3 which are functional block diagrams relating to the process condition setting.

The process condition input means 53, which is a basic input means (also a change input means in this embodiment),
As described later, the operation panel 50 is provided on the operation panel 50 and is a means for inputting the adjusted process conditions, and is configured with ten keys and the like. The second memory 58 is a condition storage unit that stores process conditions read out according to a mode in which image formation is performed at the time of adjusted image formation.
Is a nonvolatile readable and writable memory. This second
The memory 58 has areas 58A to 58D for storing process conditions for each mode. In addition, C
As will be described in detail later, the PU 55 calculates a process condition for another mode based on the process condition for the basic mode (400 dpi plain paper mode in the present embodiment) input from the process condition input unit 53 (table (A method that uses a method or function to refer to)
This is a means for storing and setting each of the calculated process conditions relating to the other modes in each storage area of the second memory 58.

In the present embodiment, the setting of the process conditions is basically performed only in the basic mode. That is, the process conditions are set by adjusting the process conditions for the 400 dpi plain paper mode which is the basic mode at the time of adjustment, and inputting the process conditions from the process condition input means. This input process condition is stored in the second memory 58 at 400 dp.
It is stored in the i-plain paper mode area 58A, and conditions are set. Then, based on the process condition regarding the basic mode input from the process condition input means 53, the arithmetic unit 55 calculates the process condition regarding the mode other than the basic mode, and calculates each of the calculated process conditions regarding the other mode. , Each storage area 58B of the second memory 58,
58D and set. That is, when a process condition for the basic mode is input, a process condition for another mode is calculated and automatically registered (set).

As a result of the inventor's intensive study, basically, the process conditions between the modes have a correlation, and even if there is an individual difference in the airframe, the correlation remains. It was found that it could be maintained or predicted. In the present embodiment, by setting the process conditions using this correlation, the time required for setting the process conditions,
Work time is shortened, and work efficiency is improved.

Even in the case of setting as described above, the correlation may be broken due to an environmental change or the like. Therefore, in this embodiment, the process conditions for modes other than the basic mode are independently set. It is configured to be able to set. That is, one of the other modes
For example, when a process condition relating to the 600 dpi plain paper mode is input from the process condition input means 53 (in this case, a change input means), the input process condition is:
600 dpi plain paper mode area 58B of the second memory 58
And the conditions are set. At this time, the process conditions in modes other than the input mode are not changed, that is, the process conditions recorded in the areas 58A, 58C, and 58D of the second memory 58 have the same values. As described above, when at least one process condition among the process conditions related to modes other than the basic mode is input from the process condition input unit 53, the second memory 58
Since only the process conditions related to the mode of the input process condition among the process conditions stored in the process condition are changed to the input process condition, detailed setting is possible.

Further, in this embodiment, a first memory 57 which is a nonvolatile memory is provided separately from the second memory 58 for storing the set process conditions. This first
The memory 57 is a storage unit that stores an initial value of a process condition (for example, a process condition set at the time of design) for each mode, and is a ROM (Read Only Mem).
ory). As a result, the second memory 58
Even if an error occurs, for example, when the process condition stored in the second memory 58 disappears, all or individual process conditions stored in the second memory 58 are changed to all modes or individual modes. Each time, it can be easily returned to the initial value, and furthermore, it is possible to form an image in an emergency evacuation.

Next, the setting of the process conditions will be specifically described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the process condition setting, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart relating to the adjustment of the charging current as an example of the process condition.

First, at S1, the transfer material selection switch 5
1 and one of the four modes are selected by the recording density selection switch 52 and the like. Then, in S2, the process conditions for the selected mode are adjusted (input). This S2 will be described in more detail by taking as an example the adjustment of the charging current among the process conditions to be adjusted.

To adjust the charging current, first, the operation panel 50
The charging current adjustment is selected from the adjustments of various process conditions by a selection switch (not shown) provided in the step (a), and the mode is shifted to the charging current adjustment mode (S11). After or before this, when adjusting the charging current, a cartridge for current measurement is inserted instead of the photosensitive drum 32 of the image forming apparatus. Then, by pressing the copy button, the image forming process is started.
Charging current stored in the memory 58 (process condition)
Current flows through the charger 31 (S1).
2). At this time, the charging current actually flowing is measured by a tester or the like (S13). Then, the measured charging current is
It is determined whether or not the current value is within a predetermined range (a current value set at the time of design is obtained in the actual machine) (S14). If the current value is outside the predetermined range, charging is performed from the process condition input means 53 so as to fall within the predetermined range. The value of the current is input (S15). The input charging current value is stored (registered) as a set value in the second memory 58 (the area of the mode selected in S1). Then, S12 to S15 are repeated until the measured charging current falls within a predetermined range. When the measured charging current falls within a predetermined range, the adjustment (input) of the charging current ends (S16).

Taking the above as an example, other process conditions can also be adjusted. The process conditions to be adjusted (set) include a charging current, a grid voltage of a charger, a transfer current, a separation current, a laser power for writing, a ratio of a linear velocity of a developing sleeve to a linear velocity of a photoconductor, or a developing bias. At least one of them is sufficient.

When the process conditions are set as described above,
Next, it is determined whether the mode selected in S1 is the setting of the 400 dpi plain paper mode, which is the basic mode (S3). If the basic mode is set, a process condition for another mode is calculated based on the set process condition, and overwritten (registered, set) in the second memory 58.
(S4). The overwriting may include only the process condition adjusted in S2 among the plurality of process conditions, or may include a process condition other than the adjusted process condition. On the other hand, if the mode is other than the basic mode, the setting of the process condition is ended as it is (S5).

In the present embodiment described above, the process conditions for all the modes are stored in the second memory 58 at the time of adjustment (prior to image formation). Although the image forming apparatus is configured to be controllable by simply reading out the process conditions related to the mode for forming an image, and the speed can be increased, the second memory 58 stores only the process conditions for the basic mode. Alternatively, the image forming apparatus may calculate the process condition of the image forming mode based on the process condition of the basic mode stored in the second memory 58 at the time of image formation, and control the image forming apparatus with the calculated process condition. . Further, the second memory 58 includes the first memory 5.
7, the difference between the initial value stored in the first memory 57 and the second value stored in the first memory 57 during image formation.
A process condition may be calculated from the difference stored in the memory to control the image forming apparatus.

In the above description, the first memory 5
7 and the form stored in the second memory 58, each value itself as shown in Table 1 may be stored.
Each value may be stored as a step value. For example, in the case of the charging current, −600 μA to −1400 μA are represented by step values 0 to 255, and 400 dpi plain paper mode, 6
00 dpi plain paper mode, 400 dpi thick paper mode, 6
00 dpi cardboard mode, the initial values (the values stored in the first memory 57 and the step values) of 135 and 6
0, 16, and 16. At this time, when the step value of the process condition (charging current) in the basic mode is adjusted to 140 in the above-described process condition setting, 600 dp
i plain paper mode, 400 dpi thick paper mode, 600 dpi
i thick paper mode, each set value (step value) is 6
5, 21, and 21 are automatically set. That is, in this case, the basic mode and the other mode are (600 dp
(i. step value in plain paper mode) = (step value in basic mode) −75, (step value in 400 dpi cardboard mode) = (step value in basic mode) −119, (600)
There is a correlation of step value in dpi cardboard mode) = (step value in basic mode) -119, and based on this correlation, process conditions (charge current) in other modes.
Is calculated and stored in the second memory 58.

[0034]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention,
In an image forming apparatus that can form an image in a plurality of modes, and forms an image by changing a process condition for each mode, it is possible to shorten the time required for setting the process conditions, shorten the work time, and improve the work efficiency. it can.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram of a copying machine of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a scanning optical system of a laser writing unit.

FIG. 3 is a control circuit diagram relating to mode switching.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram related to process condition setting.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a process condition setting.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating adjustment of a charging current as an example of a process condition.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 50 operation panel 51 transfer material selection switch 52 recording density selection switch 53 process condition input means (basic input means, change input means) 55 CPU (calculation means) 56 storage means 57 first memory (initial value storage means) 58 second memory (Condition storage means)

Claims (7)

[Claims] An image can be formed in a plurality of modes.
An electrophotographic image forming apparatus that forms an image by changing a process condition for each mode, comprising: a basic input unit for inputting a process condition for one mode; and an other based on the process condition input by the basic input unit. An image forming apparatus comprising: setting means for setting a process condition relating to the mode. 2. A condition storage device for storing a process condition input by the basic input device and a process condition set by the setting device, wherein the condition storage device stores the process condition in accordance with a mode in which an image is formed. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control is performed based on the set process conditions. 3. A change input means for inputting at least one process condition among the process conditions relating to the other mode, wherein the change input means inputs the process condition stored in the condition storage means. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a process condition related to the mode of the changed process condition is changed to the process condition input by the change input unit. 4. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an initial value storage means for storing an initial value of a process condition for each mode.
4. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of modes are classified according to a type of a transfer material and / or a recording density. 6. The process conditions include a charging current, a grid voltage of a charger, a transfer current, a separation current, a laser power for writing, a ratio of a linear velocity of a developing sleeve to a linear velocity of a photosensitive member, or a developing bias. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the number is at least one. 7. An image can be formed in a plurality of modes,
In a method for setting a process condition of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image by changing a process condition for each mode, a process condition for one mode is input and set, and based on the input process condition, another A process condition setting method for an image forming apparatus, wherein a process condition for a mode is set.