JPS59149794A - Control system for image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable to control each drive source at high speed smoothly in high accuracy without an exclusive circuit for each drive source by providing main processor groups and sub processor groups. CONSTITUTION:A control circuit has a main processor group 41, the first, second sub processor groups 42, 43, and a motor drive command is applied from the processor 41 to the processor 42, 43. The processors 42, 43 control pulse motors 31-34, 36, 38, 39 in accordance with the driven command, and the processor group 41 controls the other functions of a copying machine. Accordingly, it is not necessary to provide an exclusive circuit for each pulse motor, but the motor can be controlled rapidly and smoothly in high accuracy.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to a control system for an image forming apparatus of a distributed driving source type.

[Technical background of the invention and its problems]

Recently, for example, copying machines using pulse Tanabata as a driving source for optical systems and the like have been considered. In this case, since high speed a is required to control the pulse motor, one processor (control means) can only control one or two pulse motors. This is because the processor not only controls the pulse motor, but also controls the entire copying machine. Therefore, in a copying machine equipped with more pulse motors, that is, a so-called distributed driving source type copying machine,
It is not possible to perform high-speed control of each pulse motor by one processor, and it is common to provide a dedicated circuit for each pulse motor for control. However, with such a control method,
A dedicated circuit is required for each pulse motor, which not only increases cost, but also poses problems such as the inability to control each pulse motor at high speed, smoothly, and with high precision.

[Purpose of the invention]

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus with a distributed driving source.
Provides a control method for image forming apparatuses that enables high-speed, smooth, and highly accurate control of each drive source without requiring a dedicated circuit for each drive source, thereby achieving optimal control and reducing costs. It's about doing.

[Summary of the invention]

The present invention provides an image forming apparatus of a distributed drive source type, comprising a slave control means for controlling the drive sources, and a main control means for giving a drive command for the drive sources to the slave control means, the slave control means It is characterized in that the drive source is drive-controlled in accordance with a drive command from the main control means.

[Embodiments of the invention]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 schematically shows a copying machine with distributed driving sources according to the present invention. In other words, 1 is the main body of the copying machine, and on the top surface of this main body 1 is a document table (transparent glass) 2 that supports the document.
is fixed, and a document cover 3 is provided on the document table 2 so as to be openable and closable. The original set on the original platen 2 is exposed to an exposure lamp 4 and a mirror 5.6.
．． An optical system consisting of 7 is reciprocally moved in the direction of arrow a while resting on the lower surface of the document table 2, so that exposure scanning is performed during the reciprocating movement.

In this case, mirror 6.7 moves at a speed of 1/2 of mirror 5 so as to keep the optical path length constant.

The light reflected from the original by the scanning of the optical system, that is, the light reflected from the original by the light irradiation of the exposure lamp 4, is reflected by the mirrors 5, 6.7, passes through the variable magnification lens block 8, and is further reflected by the mirror. 9 and guided to the photoreceptor drum IO, the image of the document is reflected by the photoreceptor drum 10.
The image is formed on the surface of the

The photosensitive drum IO rotates in the direction of arrow C, and the surface is first charged by the charger II, and then the image of the original is exposed to slit light to form an electrostatic latent image. The latent image is made visible by applying toner by a developing device I2.

On the other hand, the paper P is taken out one by one by the selected upper paper feed cassette 13 or lower paper feed cassette 14, or by the delivery roller 15 or 16.
8 to a registration roller pair 19, and is sent to a transfer section by this pair of rollers 19.

Here, each of the paper feed cassettes 13 and 14 is removably provided at the lower right end of the main body l, and one can be selected from an operation panel (not shown). The paper P sent to the transfer section comes into close contact with the surface of the photoreceptor drum IO at the transfer charger 20, and the toner image on the photoreceptor drum 10 is transferred by the action of the charger 20. be done. The transferred paper P is also peeled off from the photosensitive drum 1o by the action of the peeling charger 21 and conveyed through the paper transport path 22'', and is sent to a pair of fixing rollers 23 as a fixing device provided at the end thereof. By passing through this, the transferred image is fixed.The fixed paper P is then discharged to a tray 25 outside the main body 1 by a pair of paper discharge rollers 24.

Further, the photoreceptor drum 10 after the transfer is transferred to a charger 26 for removing static electricity.
After the static electricity is removed by the cleaner 27, residual toner on the surface is removed, and the residual image is erased by the static electricity removal pump 28, so that the image returns to the initial state. Note that 29 is a cooling fan for preventing the temperature inside the main body 1 from rising.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the configuration of a drive source for each drive section of the copying machine configured as described above, and is composed of the following motors. That is, 31 is a lens motor, which is a motor for moving the position of the lens block 8 for performing variable magnification. Reference numeral 32 is a mirror motor, and is a septa for changing the distance (optical path length) between the mirror 5 and the mirror 6.7 for changing the magnification.

A scanning motor 33 is a motor for moving the exposure slab 4, the mirror 5, and the mirror 6.7 for scanning the original. A shutter motor 34 is a motor for moving a shutter (not shown) for adjusting the charging width of the photosensitive drum 10 by the charger 11 during zooming. A developing motor 35 is a motor for driving the developing row 2 of the developing device 12 and the like.

A drum motor 36 is a motor for driving the photosensitive drum 10. A fixing motor 37 is a motor for driving the paper conveying path 22, the pair of fixing rollers 23, and the pair of paper ejecting rollers 24. A paper feeding motor 38 is a motor for driving the delivery rollers 15 and 16. Reference numeral 39 denotes a paper feed motor, which is a motor for driving the registration rows 2 and 19. A fan motor 40 is a motor for driving the cooling fan 29. Here, the above motor 31~34°36.38
．． 39 is, for example, a four-phase pulse motor 1, and the motors 35, 37, and 40 shown in FIG.
This shows the main processor 941 and the first processor 941. Second
It is mainly composed of sub-processor groups 42 and 43. The main processor group 41 detects inputs from an operation panel 44 and input devices 45 such as various switches and sensors, and includes a high-voltage transformer 46 that drives the various chargers, the static elimination lamp 28, and a platen lenoid of the cleaner 27. 27a.

controlling the heaters 23a of the fixing rows 2 and 23, the exposure lamp 4, and each of the motors 31 to 4ofx;
Perform the copying operation described above. Among the motors 31 to 40,
Motors 35, 37.

40 and the toner motor 47 that supplies toner to the developing unit 12 is controlled by the main processor group 41 via a motor driver 48 , and the motors 31 to 34 are controlled by the first sub-processor group 42 via a pulse motor driver 49 . The motors 36, 38, 39 are controlled by the second sub-processor #43 via the pulse motor driver 50. Further, the exposure lamp 4 is controlled by the main processor group 4Z via the two-angle regulator 51, and the heater 23a
is controlled by the main processor group 41 via the heater control section 52.

Then, the first one from the main processor group 4I. The drive and stop commands for each Tanabata are sent to the second sub-processor group 42.43, and the status indicating the drive and stop state of each motor is sent from the 11th and second sub-processor group 42.43 to the main processor group 41. Sent. Further, the first sub-processor group 42 is inputted with position information about the position sensors 53 that detect the initial positions of the motors 31 to 34.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the configuration of the main processor group 41. In other words, 61 is a one-chip microcomputer (hereinafter simply referred to as microcomputer), which has input and output ports.
Via the controller 2, key human power detection and various display controls on an operation panel (not shown) are performed. In addition, the microcomputer 61 is expanded by input/output capotros 3 to 66.The high voltage transformer 46, motor driver 4B, 2-amp regulator 51, and other outputs are connected to the input/output capotro 3. 4 is connected to a size switch for detecting paper size and its respective input, and input/output capotro 5 is connected to a copy setting switch and its respective input. Note that the input/output capotro 6 is an option.

FIG. 5 shows an example of the configuration of the sub-processor group 42. As shown in FIG. That is, s71 is a microcomputer and is connected to the main processor group 41. 72 is a programmable interval timer for controlling the phase switching interval time of the pulse motor, and when a set value is set from the microcomputer 7I, it counts based on it, and when it has counted out, the end pulse is sent to the interrupt line of the microcomputer 71. Output to. A reference clock pulse is input to the timer 72. Also, position information from the position sensor 53 is input to the microcomputer 71, and Okawa cabots 73 and 74 are connected to the microcomputer 71. The motors 31 to 34 are connected to the input/output board 74 via the pulse motor driver 49. The input/output coupler door 3 is used for outputting status signals of each pulse motor to the main processor group 41, etc.

FIG. 6 shows an example of the configuration of the second sub-processor group 43. That is, 81 is a microcomputer, which is connected to the main processor group 41. 82 is a programmable interval timer for controlling the phase switching interval time of the pulse motor, and when a setting value is set by the microcomputer 81, it counts based on the setting value, and outputs a termination pulse when the count is out. This termination pulse is doubled in the latch circuit 83, and its output is supplied to the interrupt line and input/output board input line of the microcomputer 81. Further, an input/output board 84 is connected to the microcomputer 81, and motors 36, 38, and 39 are connected to this input/output board 84 via the pulse motor driver 50.

FIG. 7 shows the interface between the main processor group 41 and the first and second sub-processors W4z*4s, including a command bus 94, fast 2-in/95, send 2-in 961°961, and an acknowledge line 97□.
, 972 and status buses 9B, , 9g. The command bus 94 is the first. The first line 95, which is an instruction sending line to the second sub-processor group 42.43, is a line indicating the first scan of an instruction, and the send line 961.96. is the 11th second sub-processor group 42.4
The acknowledgment fin 971.97° is the line that notifies the command to be sent to No. 3. 2nd subprocessor group 4
2.43 to the main processor group 41, the above-mentioned status buses 98□, 98. is a signal line indicating the operating state of the pulse motor controlled by the first and second sub-processor groups 42 and 43. Note that the exchange of commands on this interface takes the form of software handshake. FIG. 8 also shows a main processor group 41 and a main processor group 41. 2nd subprocessor group 42.43
O shows a timing chart when sending an instruction between the main processor group 41 and
The operation will be explained with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. After turning on the power, the fan motor 40 is turned on, and the lens motor 31. Mirror motor 32, scanning motor 33
, issues a Yesha2ize command for the shutter motor 34@
Then, it is checked based on the status of the first sub-processor group 42 whether or not the initialization has been completed;
When the fixing roller pair 23 is finished, a heat-up check is performed on the pair of fixing rollers 23. When the fixing roller pair 23 heats up due to this check, it is checked whether or not the copy key has been pressed.
If it is pressed, the copy operation will begin. That is, first, the platen renoid 2711 is turned on, the static elimination lamp 28 and the developing motor 35 are turned on, and a command to turn on the drum motor 36 is issued. Next, the transfer charger 2o and the peeling charger 2I are turned on, the first fixing motor 37 is turned on, and a command to turn on the paper feed motor 38 is issued. Next, the lightless lamp 4 is turned on, the charging charger 11 is turned on, the scanning motor 33 is commanded to turn on in the normal direction, the paper feed motor 38 is commanded to turn off, and the paper feed motor 39 is turned off. A command is issued to turn off the charging device 11.

Next, it is checked whether the scanning motor 33 has completed normal rotation or not, and if the scanning motor 33 has completed its normal rotation, an instruction to turn on the scanning motor 33 in reverse is issued. Next, the exposure lamp 4 is turned off, and the paper feed motor 39 is turned off.
, the developing motor 35 is turned off, the fixing motor 37 , the transfer charger 20 and the peeling charger 21 are turned off.
Next, issue a command to turn off the drum motor 36, and turn off the static electricity removal pump 28 and platen renoids 2'la.
Turn off , and if you are making multiple copies, proceed to ■ and repeat the same operation.

Next, the operation of the first sub-processor group 42 will be explained with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. After the power is turned on, the CPU waits until a command is received from the main processor group 41, and when it is received, it is checked to see if it is an initial setting command, and if it is an initial setting command, the process proceeds to (2). That is, after setting the amount and direction of movement of the scanning motor 33, the scanning motor 33 is turned on, its position sensor (home switch) is turned on, and then the scanning motor 33 is turned off. Next, after setting the amount and direction of movement of the lens motor 31, turn on the lens motor 31, turn on its position sensor (lens switch), and then turn on the lens motor 31.
Turn off. Next, after setting the amount and direction of movement of the mirror motor 32, the mirror motor 32 is turned on, its position sensor (mirror switch) is turned on, and then the mirror motor 32 is turned off. Finally, the shutter
After setting the amount and direction of movement of the shutter 34, the shutter motor 34 is turned on, its position sensor (shutter switch) is turned on, and then the shutter motor 34 is turned off. This completes the processing of the initial setting command and returns to the state after power-on. On the other hand, if the received command is not an initial setting command, it is checked whether or not it is a command to turn on the shutter motor 34, and the command to turn on the shutter motor 34 is checked. If so, set the amount of movement and direction of movement, and turn on the shutter motor 34. If it is not a command to turn on the shutter motor 34, then it is checked whether it is a command to turn on the lens motor 31, and if it is a command to turn on the lens motor 31, the amount of movement and direction of movement are set, and the lens motor 31 is turned on. If it is not a command to turn on the lens motor 31, then it is checked whether it is a command to turn on the mirror motor 32, and if it is a command to turn on the mirror motor 32, the amount of movement and direction of movement are set, and the mirror motor 32 is turned on. If it is not a command to turn on the mirror motor 32, that is, if it is not any of the commands mentioned above, it is a command to turn on the scanning motor 33, so set the amount and direction of movement, and turn the scanning motor 33 on.
Turn on 3.

Next, the operation of the second sub-processor group 43 will be explained with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. Check whether As a result of this check, in the case of a drive start command, it is first checked whether or not it is a command to turn on the drum motor 36, and if it is a command to turn on the drum motor 36, the drum motor 36 is turned on. If it is not a command to turn on the drum motor 36, then it is checked whether or not there is a command to turn on the upper and lower paper feed 38, and if it is the command to turn on the paper feed motor S8, the paper feed motor S8 is turned on. If it is not a command to turn on the paper feed motor 38, then it is checked whether it is a command to turn on the paper feed motor 39, and if it is an on command, the paper feed motor 38 is turned on. If none of these commands is given, the process returns to the state after power-on.

On the other hand, if the received command is not a drive start command, it is first checked to see if it is a command to turn off the drum motor 36, and if it is a command to turn off the drum motor 36, the drum motor 36 is turned off. If it is not a command to turn off the drum motor 36, then it is checked whether or not there is a command to turn off the paper feed motor 38, and if it is the command to turn off the paper feed motor 38, the paper feed motor 38 is turned off.

If none of these commands, the paper feed motor 38
Turn off.

Figure 12 shows the control path of the pulse motor.
I/O boat 9I (I/O boat 14 in Figures 5 and 6)
．． 84) is a pulse soter driver 92CIN3.
A pulse motor driver 93 (corresponding to pulse motor drivers 4s and so in the figure) is connected to this pulse motor driver 92.
The windings A, A, B, and B of the pulse motors 31 to 34, 36, 38, and 39 are connected to each other.

Figure 13 shows the speed control method of a pulse motor.
(a) The figure is the speed curve of the pulse motor, (b) rE
J indicates the phase switching interval. As is clear from this figure, the phase switching intervals are long at first, gradually become shorter, then become equal intervals, gradually become longer again, and then stop. That is, this indicates the through-up and through-down of the pulse motor, starting from the self-starting region, being used in the high-speed region, and finally falling down. In addition, t.

t2...tx indicates the time of the phase switching interval.

In this way, the control circuit is connected to the main processor group 41 and the first
, a second sub-processor group 42j43,
The 1st and 2nd sub-processor groups 4z and 4sKN give motor drive commands from the main processor group 4, and follow this drive command.
The main processor group 4 controls other functions of the copying machine. Therefore, without providing a dedicated circuit for each pulse motor, it is possible to control each pulse Tanabata at high speed, smoothly, and with high precision.This makes it possible to optimally control copying machines with distributed drive sources and to reduce costs. It is also possible to reduce the

In the above embodiment, the case where the application is applied to a copying machine has been explained, but the application is not limited to this, but can also be applied to, for example, an electronic printer or a facsimile, and in short, the image forming apparatus has a configuration in which the drive source of the drive unit is distributed. If so, it is applicable.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As detailed above, according to the present invention, in a drive source distributed type image forming apparatus, each drive source can be controlled at high speed, smoothly, and with high precision without providing a dedicated circuit for each drive source. Therefore, it is possible to provide a control method for an image forming apparatus that can perform optimal control and reduce costs.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings are for explaining one embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a copying machine, Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of a drive source of a drive unit, and Fig. g3 is an overall control diagram. Figure 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of the main processor group, Figure 5 is the configuration diagram of the first sub-processor group, Figure 6 is the configuration diagram of the second sub-processor group, and Figure 7 is the configuration diagram of the main processor group. FIG. 8 is a timing chart when a command is sent between the main processor group and the first and H2 sub-processor groups, and FIG. FIG. 1O is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the first sub-processor group, FIG. TI is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the second sub-processor group, and FIG. 12 is a pulse FIG. 13 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a motor control circuit, and is a diagram for explaining a speed control method of a pulse motor. 2...Original platen, 4...Exposure 2 pump%5#6#1*9
...Mirror, 8...Lens block, 70-...
Photosensitive drum s 15*16... Delivery roller s19.
... Registration roller burnt, 23 ... Fixing roller pair, 31
~34.36.38.39...Pulse motor, 35°37.40,47...DC brushless motor, 41.
・・Main processor group convex・4. ,i! , 43...
・Sub-Glucesor group, 61.71.81...Microcomputer. 62~ed', 7s, v4. s, t
...I/O boat, f/2, 82...Programmable interval mates. Patent attorney representing the applicant Takehiko Suzue! 611 1I7 Figure @9 Figure @9 ■

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1) In an image forming apparatus having a configuration in which drive sources for a drive section are dispersed, a slave control means for driving and controlling the drive sources;
An image forming apparatus comprising a main control means for giving a drive command for a drive source to the slave control means, the slave control means driving and controlling the drive source in accordance with a drive command from the main control means. control method. (2) A control method for an image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a pulse motor is used as the dispersed drive source. (3) A control method for an image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the control means is mainly constituted by a one-chip microcombiner.