JPH03216668A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus using a belt-like photoreceptor, and more specifically, in the same image forming apparatus, a belt-like photoreceptor with a joint, The present invention also relates to an image forming apparatus capable of selectively attaching both seamless belt-shaped photoconductors.

[Conventional technology]

Electrophotographic equipment, facsimile. Photoreceptors used in image forming apparatuses such as laser printers are broadly classified into drum type using a photoreceptor drum, belt type using a belt-shaped photoreceptor, and . There are three types of sheet methods that use sheet-like photoreceptors, and the drum method and belt method are widely used.

Conventionally, a belt-shaped photoreceptor has a seam, and if the seam is used for image formation, tomography or the like will occur in the image, so image formation has been performed while avoiding the seam. Therefore, since one image is formed per rotation of the belt-shaped photoreceptor while avoiding the joint position,
There is a problem in that the seam hinders an increase in image forming process speed (specifically, printing speed).

In recent years, as a solution to this problem, seamless belts with no seams have been developed, and belt-shaped photoreceptors that can form images at any position on the belt have been developed, making it possible to speed up the image forming process. It has become.

However, when a seamless belt is used as a belt-shaped photoreceptor, although it can speed up the image forming process, it is more expensive than a belt with seams, and therefore has the disadvantage of increasing the price of the image forming apparatus. For this reason, users desire a reduction in the price of the image forming apparatus rather than speeding up the image forming process, and have expressed a desire to purchase an inexpensive image forming apparatus that uses a belt with seams.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, in conventional image forming apparatuses, although the process unit (a unit equipped with a belt-shaped photoreceptor and its peripheral devices) installed in the image forming apparatus is detachable for repair or replacement, As mentioned above, the image forming process using a seamless belt-like photoreceptor and the image forming process using a seamed belt-like photoreceptor differ in paper feeding and image forming process control. If the belt-shaped photoreceptor in an image forming device that controls the seamless paper feeding and image forming process is replaced with a belt-shaped photoreceptor with seams, the seams will be used for image formation, causing image tomography, etc. Therefore, there was a problem in that the user could not select whether to use a seamless belt or a belt with joints according to his/her wishes.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and provides an inexpensive belt-shaped photoreceptor with seams. Alternatively, it is an object of the present invention to enable selective use of a seamless belt-shaped photoreceptor that can speed up the image forming process in an image forming apparatus according to the user's wishes.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a process unit which is equipped with a belt-shaped photoreceptor and its peripheral devices, and which is removably attached to the main body of an image forming apparatus, and a belt-shaped photoreceptor that has a seam, or A detection means for detecting whether it is seamless, and paper feeding and image forming process control for seams based on the detection results of the detection means. Alternatively, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus including a control means for seamless paper feeding and image forming process control.

[Effect]

The image forming apparatus of the present invention is equipped with either a process unit using a belt-like photoreceptor with seams or a process unit using a seamless vent-like photoreceptor, depending on the user's wishes. The detection means is
It detects whether the mounted belt-shaped photoreceptor has seams or is seamless. Based on the detection result of this detection means, the control means controls the paper feeding and image forming process for the seam. Alternatively, seamless paper feeding and image forming process control may be selectively executed.

[Example] Hereinafter, the image forming apparatus of the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings.

1 and 2(a) and 2(b) show the configuration of an embodiment of a printing device (laser printer) to which the image forming device of the present invention is applied. The image light beam (laser beam) from the optical unit 101 is directed to the belt-shaped photoreceptor 102.
, forming an electrostatic latent image. Around the belt-shaped photoreceptor 102, a charging charger 103 for uniformly charging the belt-shaped photoreceptor 102 and a belt-shaped photoreceptor 10 are provided.
A developing device 104 that develops the electrostatic latent image on 2 and a transfer paper (not shown) guided through a paper conveyance system are given a potential of opposite polarity to the toner, and the developed image information is transferred to the transfer paper. transfer charger 105 and belt-shaped photoconductor 102 for
cleaning device 10 for removing residual toner on
6th grade is placed.

FIG. 2(a) shows a process unit (so-called OPC magazine) that is equipped with a belt-shaped photoreceptor 102 and its peripheral devices and is detachably attached to the printing apparatus main body 100.
200 is shown. An OPC magazine sensor portion 201 is disposed at a predetermined position of the process unit 200 (in the present embodiment, at the bottom of the process unit 200). The OPC magazine sensor part 201 is an OPC magazine sensor, as shown in FIG. Gazin sensor 201a, 20lb
The detection button 202 is connected to the OPC magazine sensor 2.
By fitting the 01a 20lb, each ON/OFF is set.

Note that 203 is a control for inputting the detection results of the OPC magazine sensor part 201 and selectively executing paper feeding/image forming process control for joints or 5 seamless paper feeding/image forming process control. Show part.

The operation of the above configuration will be explained with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

After turning on the power of the printing apparatus main body 100. Alternatively, after the cover is opened and closed, the control unit 203 reads the OPC magazine sensors 201a and 201b, and
Execute the following controls.

When the OPC magazine sensor 201a is ON (i.e.
If the detection button 202 is set on the OPC magazine sensor 201a), it is determined that there is a seam, and seam control is executed so as not to display an image at the seam (steps 301, 303). Next, when the OPC magazine sensor 20lb is ON (that is, when the detection button 202 is set on the OPC magazine sensor 20lb), it is determined to be seamless, and after one sheet of image writing is completed, the next transfer paper is fed. Feeding of the second sheet and image writing are executed to avoid duplication (steps 302 and 3).
04). If both OPC magazine sensors 201a and 20lb are not ONL, the process unit 20
It is determined that 0 is not set, and an error message such as "ropc unit not set" is displayed.

Figures 4(a) and 4(b) show joint control and seamless control (step 303 and step 304), respectively.
) shows the timing chart of image writing in
If there is a seam, as shown in the same figure (a), OPC
The mark (a mark indicating the seam of the belt provided on the belt-like photoconductor 102) is detected by the OPC mark SN (not shown), and the OPC mark is applied again on the next page so as not to write an image at the seam of the belt. After detecting the mark,
Execute image writing. Specifically, when a print command (PRINT is a low signal) is input when a print command can be received (PRDY is a low signal), the OPC mark is detected by the OPC mark SN. When an OPC mark is detected (OPC mark SN is a High signal), image writing is executed after a predetermined time B has elapsed. After writing the image, issue the print command (PRINT) again.
When the OPC mark is detected manually (OPC mark SN is l-1 i g h signal),
After the predetermined time B has elapsed, the next image writing is executed. Therefore, in the joint control, the time A during which writing is not performed is wasted time.

In the case of seamless control, as shown in the same figure (b),
Immediately after the writing of the previous page is completed, the print command for the next page can be received (PRDY is a Low signal), and image writing of the next page can be started immediately, thereby increasing the speed.

In addition, in FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b), the control unit 203
The difference was shown using the timing of image writing in paper feeding and image forming process control as an example, but it goes without saying that the timing of paper feeding and paper ejection is different, so the control of related motors, clutches, solenoids, etc. Alternatively, it goes without saying that the developing device 104, the charger 103, etc. are also controlled in the same manner.

Further, in this embodiment, the detection means is constituted by the OPC magazine sensors 201a and 20lb and the detection button 202, and the detection method is performed by setting the detection button 202 to the corresponding OPC magazine sensor 201a or 20lb. It is not limited.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, the image forming apparatus of the present invention is equipped with a belt-shaped photoreceptor and its peripheral devices, and the belt-shaped photoreceptor has a joint with a process unit that is detachable from the main body of the image forming apparatus. , or. A detection means for detecting whether it is seamless, and based on the detection result of the detection means, paper feeding and image forming process control for seams, or
Equipped with a control means for seamless paper feeding and image forming process control, it is possible to use either an inexpensive belt-like photoreceptor with seams or a seamless belt-like photoreceptor that can speed up the image forming process. It is possible to selectively use it in the image forming apparatus according to the user's wishes.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of a printing device (laser printer) to which the image forming device of the present invention is applied;
Figure (a) is an explanatory diagram showing the external appearance of the process unit;
FIG. 4(b) is an explanatory diagram showing the OPC magazine sensor section, FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the image forming apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 4(a) is a timing chart of image writing in joint control, FIG. 4(b) shows a timing chart of image writing in seamless control. Explanation of symbols 100 - Printing device main body 1 0 1 - - Optical unit 1 0 2 - Belt-shaped photoreceptor 103 - -
---Charging charger 1 0 4--Developing device 1 0 5-1-1 Transfer charger 1 0 6 ---Cleaning device 2 0 0-111--Process unit 2 0 1
-----OPC magazine sensor part 201a
, 20l b---OPC? Gazin sensor 202- Detection button 203-・Control section

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] An image forming apparatus that develops an electrostatic latent image formed on a belt-like photoreceptor using a developer, and then transfers it to transfer paper, comprising the belt-like photoreceptor and its peripheral devices. A process unit mounted on the image forming apparatus and detachable from the image forming apparatus main body and the belt-shaped photoreceptor have a joint, or
a detection means for detecting whether the paper is seamless; and a control means for executing paper feeding/image forming process control for seams or seamless paper feeding/image forming process control based on the detection result of the detection means. An image forming apparatus comprising: