JPH1128836A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To provide a copying machine capable of obtaining a high quality image. The present copying machine forms an electrostatic latent image on a photoconductor based on controlling the amount of light using a plurality of solid-state scanning elements corresponding to each of a plurality of pixels. In this copier,
The light amount unevenness detection sensor 23 can detect the light amount for one pixel corresponding to each solid-state scanning element. The light amount unevenness detection sensor 23 is attached to the screen shaft 30. The screen shaft 30 is a motor M for moving the sensor.
1, the light amount unevenness detection sensor 23 is moved in the arrangement direction of the solid-state scanning elements 17 (the direction of arrow c). In this copying machine, the light amount for forming an image is corrected based on such detection of the light amount.

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 for forming an image based on controlling the amount of light from a plurality of solid-state scanning elements.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, digital image forming apparatuses have been used for forming images. In digital image forming equipment,
Image data generated from document information read by an image reader in the apparatus, or image data directly obtained from outside the apparatus via a transmission path or the like is loaded into an image memory. These image data are converted into print data to be output by a printer unit in the apparatus, and a digital optical system in the printer unit exposes a photoconductor based on the print data to form an electrostatic latent image, An image is formed on a sheet based on the development of the electrostatic latent image.

In the case of a digital image forming apparatus, when a photosensitive member is exposed to form an electrostatic latent image, exposure of the image to the photosensitive member is performed in pixel units. In exposing an image to these photoconductors, the amount of exposure is changed according to the light emission time within a unit pixel, and halftone is reproduced by controlling the light emission time.

An optical scanning element such as a laser and a solid scanning element such as an LED, a liquid crystal shutter, and a PLZT shutter are used for a printer head for exposing an image to a photosensitive member.

[0005] A printer head using a solid-state scanning element does not need to use a rotating part such as a polygon motor required for a printer head using an optical scanning element, and high reliability is realized. Further, the solid-state scanning element printer head has many advantages, such as no standby sound and space saving.

A printer head using a solid-state scanning element will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the outline of the operation of each part of the printer head using the solid-state scanning element.

The photoreceptor 68 is exposed by the printer head 60. The printer head 60 includes a light source 61, an optical fiber 62, a rod lens 63, a polarizer 64, an optical shutter array (solid scanning element) 65, an analyzer 66, and a rod lens array 67. Contains.

The light from the light source 61 passes through the optical fiber 62 to form a linear light beam and reaches the rod lens 63. After the linear light beam is condensed by the rod lens 63, it is condensed on the optical shutter array 65 via the polarizer 64. The polarizer 64 selectively passes only light having a certain polarization direction from incident light having a random polarization plane.

The light passing through the polarizer 64 reaches an optical shutter array 65. The optical shutter array 65 is composed of optical shutter elements arranged in units of minute pixels, and the optical shutter elements have an electro-optical effect. When a voltage is applied to the optical shutter element, the optical shutter element rotates the deflection surface of the light incident on the optical shutter element to transmit the light. If no voltage is applied to the optical shutter element, the optical shutter element transmits light without changing the deflection surface of the light incident on the optical shutter element.

Light having a fixed deflection direction by the polarizer 64 rotates the deflection surface only when a voltage is applied to the optical shutter element. Due to the rotation of the deflecting surface, the light passing through the polarizer 64 is applied to the polarizer 64 by 9
It passes through an analyzer 66 which is deflected by 0 degrees. The light that has passed through the analyzer 66 is converged by the rod lens array 67 and irradiated onto the uniformly charged surface of the photoreceptor 68.

When such light irradiation (exposure) is performed based on the print data and the photosensitive member is rotated while synchronizing with the light irradiation, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive member. After that, an output image is obtained through a development, transfer step, and the like, which are ordinary electrophotographic techniques.

When forming an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive member, the optical shutter array 65 used as described above is driven as follows.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining an optical shutter drive circuit for driving the optical shutter array 65, and FIG.
FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a relationship between a driving pulse voltage applied to the optical shutter element in the optical shutter driving circuit and the light intensity of light transmitted through the optical shutter element.

An optical shutter drive circuit for driving an optical shutter array 65 composed of a number of optical shutter elements includes a shift register 71, a latch circuit 72, and a driver 73.

The image data DATA is transferred to the shift register 71 in synchronization with the clock signal CLK. This image data DATA is latched by the latch circuit 72 by the latch strobe signal LS. The BLK signal is turned ON / OFF, and the driving pulse voltage VD is applied to each optical shutter element of each optical shutter array 65 by the driver 73 according to a signal from the inside of the latch circuit 72. As shown in FIG. 13, during the time T during which the driving pulse voltage VD is applied, the light transmitted from each optical shutter element to the analyzer changes from the light intensity Id to the light intensity Ip, and the ON / OFF of each optical shutter element is performed. Is controlled.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the relationship between the applied voltage V applied to the optical shutter element and the transmitted light intensity I of the light transmitted through the analyzer.

When the applied voltage V for driving the optical shutter element is plotted on the horizontal axis, and the transmitted light intensity I transmitted through the analyzer is plotted on the vertical axis, when a voltage for deflecting the light transmitted through the optical shutter element by 90 degrees is applied, The transmitted light intensity I becomes maximum. This voltage is defined as a half-wavelength voltage Vh / 2. The magnitude of the driving pulse voltage VD described with reference to FIGS. 12 and 13 is normally set to a half-wavelength voltage, and by adjusting the time T for applying the driving pulse voltage VD, the opening / closing time of the optical shutter is changed to reduce the exposure amount. Adjusted. By adjusting the exposure amount, a halftone is expressed.

In an image forming apparatus using an optical shutter element, one optical shutter element corresponds to one pixel, and thousands of optical shutter elements are used in one image forming apparatus. These optical shutter elements have variations, and even when the same print data (image data) is used, the obtained exposure amounts are different, and these cause unevenness in the light amount (unevenness in the obtained light amount).

Conventionally, when the image forming apparatus is assembled, the light amount unevenness is measured, and the above-described driver and the like are adjusted so that the light amount becomes uniform in the arrangement direction for the same print data.
At the time of this adjustment, the measurement of the light amount unevenness is performed only for the maximum light amount.

[0020]

However, even if the above-described adjustment is performed during the assembly of the image forming apparatus, the durability characteristics and the temperature characteristics of the respective optical shutter elements may cause unevenness in the light amount, and the assembly of the image forming apparatus may become uneven. It is not possible to prevent the light amount unevenness from occurring due to the adjustment at the time. For example, even if the drive pulse voltage VD is set to be a half-wavelength voltage at room temperature, if the temperature of the optical shutter element rises due to heat generation of an integrated circuit around the optical shutter array, the light transmitted through the optical shutter element The light intensity decreases, the exposure amount to the photoreceptor decreases, and fog or the like occurs when used as a recording head.

Further, even if the above adjustment is performed, variations in shutter characteristics of individual optical shutter elements,
The drive voltage for obtaining the maximum transmission intensity is slightly different for each shutter due to contamination of the optical shutter element and the like.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing variations in the amount of light obtained through such an optical shutter element. The light amounts obtained from the optical shutter arrays A and B are different from each other, and the light amounts obtained by the optical shutter elements corresponding to the pixels also vary within one optical shutter array.

Further, since the light quantity measurement for adjusting the light quantity unevenness is performed only for the maximum light quantity, there is no particular problem when outputting an image based on binary image data. When adjusting the shutter opening and closing time to output a halftone image by multi-valued image data,
Light intensity unevenness may occur in halftone.

As described above, the quantity of light (or light intensity) irradiated through the optical shutter array for exposing the photoreceptor varies with each optical shutter element, so that a high quality image can be obtained. The problem of disappearing has occurred.

An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of obtaining a high quality image.

[0026]

According to the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus for forming an image by controlling the amount of light of a plurality of solid-state scanning elements corresponding to a plurality of pixels.

This image forming apparatus includes a detecting means for detecting the light quantity of the solid-state scanning element, a moving means for moving the detecting means in the arrangement direction of the solid-state scanning elements, and a detecting means for detecting the light quantity detected by the moving means. Light amount correcting means for correcting the light amount of the solid-state scanning element accordingly.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the light amount from each of the plurality of solid state scanning elements is detected by moving the detecting means for detecting the light amount in the arrangement direction of the solid state scanning elements, and the detected light amount , The light quantity of the solid-state scanning element is corrected. Accordingly, it is not necessary to consider variations in the characteristics of the detection unit due to the detection of the light amount by the plurality of detection units, and the light amount can be corrected for each of the plurality of solid-state scanning elements. Even if there is a cause that the amount of light obtained from the image becomes uneven, a high-quality image can be obtained.

[0029]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A copying machine using a solid-state scanning element for a printer head, which is one embodiment of the present invention, will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a copying machine using a solid-state scanning element for a printer head.

In this copying machine, an image is formed as follows. The original placed on the original glass 11 is exposed by the exposure lamp 13 as the image reader unit 12 moves. The reflected light from the original is transmitted through the lens array 14.
Is applied to the line sensor 15 via the. The image signal obtained by the reflected light from the original is
Is converted into an electric signal, and transmitted to the solid-state scanning element 17 as image data while being controlled by the printer control unit 16.

The solid-state scanning device 17 exposes the photosensitive member 21 uniformly charged by the charging charger 18 based on the image data, and forms a latent image corresponding to the original image on the photosensitive member. Image exposure is performed on a pixel-by-pixel basis, and by controlling the light emission time within the unit pixel, the exposure amount of the unit pixel is changed and halftone is reproduced. The electrostatic latent image moves in the direction of arrow a with the rotation of the photoconductor 21 and is developed by the developing device 22.

On the other hand, the transfer paper sent from the paper feed tray 24 is sent to the timing roller 25 along the transport path. The timing roller 25 sends out the transfer paper in synchronization with the toner image on the photoconductor 21. Timing roller 2
The transfer paper sent from 5 moves in the direction of arrow b by the transfer belt 27 and reaches the transfer section.

The transfer section is provided with a transfer charger 26, and the developed toner image is transferred to a transfer sheet at a portion facing the transfer charger 26. Transfer paper is transfer belt 27
And is conveyed to the fixing device 28. In the fixing device 28, the toner image is fixed, and is discharged to a paper discharge tray 29.

The photoreceptor 21 continues to rotate in the direction of the arrow a after the transfer. The residual toner on the photoreceptor 21 is removed by the cleaner 20, and the residual charge is erased by the main eraser 19 to prepare for the next copy.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining processing for an image signal from the line sensor 15 to the solid-state scanning element 17 in FIG.

The user operates the printer control unit 1 from the operation unit 57.
The printer control unit 16 controls the γ correction unit 54 based on image data from the line sensor 15, correction data from the light amount unevenness sensor 23, and γ data from the γ data ROM 59. Further, the printer control unit 16 controls the light emission signal generation unit 58 so that the D / D
The A conversion unit 55 is controlled.

In the line sensor 15, an electric signal is generated from reflected light from the illuminated document. The electric signal having the document information is converted into an A / D signal by the image data A / D converter 51.
After being converted and subjected to image processing by the image processing unit 52,
It is stored in the image data memory 53. The image data stored in the image data memory 53 is stored in the γ data ROM 5.
The γ correction is performed by the γ correction unit 54 based on the γ data from the data 9.

On the other hand, the light amount unevenness sensor 23 detects
The electric signal having the light amount unevenness information is A / D converted by the light amount unevenness A / D converter 60 and stored in the light amount unevenness memory 61. The light amount unevenness data stored in the light amount unevenness memory 61 creates a light amount correction table 63 by the arithmetic processing unit 62.

The gamma-corrected image data is further corrected by the light amount correction table 63 and D / A converted by the D / A converter 55. The optical system control unit 56 controls the solid-state scanning device 17 based on the image data.

Next, the light amount unevenness detection sensor 23 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 shows the solid-state scanning element 17.
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a configuration around the sensor and the light amount unevenness detection sensor 23. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the solid-state scanning elements 17 shown in FIG.

The solid-state scanning element 17 has a plurality of light-emitting elements or optical shutter elements arranged in one row or in a staggered pattern (as shown in FIG. 4). One light emitting element or optical shutter element corresponds to one pixel in the arrangement direction. In order to detect the light amount unevenness of the solid-state scanning element 17, a light amount unevenness detection sensor 23 is provided near the solid-state scanning element 17.

In the present embodiment, a light receiving sensor such as a photodiode for detecting the light amount of the solid-state scanning element is used as the light amount unevenness detecting sensor 23. The light amount unevenness detection sensor 23
It is possible to move in the arrangement direction of the solid-state scanning elements 17 (direction of arrow c), and to detect the amount of light for one pixel corresponding to each solid-state scanning element.

The light amount unevenness detection sensor 23 is attached to the screen shaft 30. The screen shaft 30 is rotated by the sensor movement motor M1, and accordingly, the light amount unevenness detection sensor 23 is moved. The light amount unevenness detection sensor 23 detects light amount unevenness of the solid-state scanning element 17 at a predetermined timing.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are views showing the light amount unevenness detecting sensor 23 and the solid-state scanning element 17 when the light amount unevenness detecting operation is performed.

When the light quantity unevenness detection operation is performed, the solid-state scanning element 17 is placed at a position facing the light quantity unevenness detection sensor 23 as shown in FIG. 5 or at the photosensitive member 21 as shown in FIG. By adopting a configuration in which the reflected light is moved to a position where the reflected light can be detected, it is possible to detect light amount unevenness. The light amount detected by the copying machine is a light amount at a halftone level near a development range value where light amount unevenness is conspicuous and a maximum light amount that affects image density.

In FIG. 5, the light emitting surface of the solid-state scanning element 17 which is directed on the surface of the photoconductor 21 to expose the photoconductor 21 performs the light amount unevenness detection operation under the control of the printer control unit 16. At this time, it is rotated in the direction of arrow d and moved to a position facing the light amount unevenness detection sensor 23.

Also, in FIG. 6, the solid-state scanning element 17 directed on the surface of the photoconductor 21 to expose the photoconductor 21 is shown.
When the light amount unevenness detecting operation is performed based on the control of the printer control unit 16, the light emitting surface of the light emitting surface is rotated in the direction of arrow e, and the reflected light on the surface of the photoconductor 21 is changed to the light amount unevenness detection sensor 2.
3 is moved so as to be incident on the detection surface.

Next, the procedure for controlling such light amount unevenness detection will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. FIG. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a control procedure from when the power is turned on until the warm-up ends, and FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining a control procedure in the S1 light amount detection mode in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 7, when the power supply of the main body is turned on, first, the light quantity unevenness detection mode is activated in S1, and in S2
Then, the warm-up ends.

In the light amount unevenness detection mode of S1, as shown in FIG. 8, first, the sensor moving motor M1 (see FIG. 3) is driven in S11, and the light amount unevenness detection sensor 23 is arranged in the direction in which the solid-state scanning elements 17 are arranged. Moved to the solid state scanning element 17
Is moved to a position where the amount of light from the pixel can be detected. At this time, the light emitting surface of the solid-state scanning element 17 is directed in the direction shown in FIG. 5 or FIG. 6, and the light amount is detected. In this movement, all of the solid-state scanning elements 17 may emit light simultaneously with the start of the movement of the light amount unevenness detection sensor 23, or may sequentially emit light with the movement of the light amount unevenness detection sensor 23.

Next, at step S12, the maximum light emission amount of the solid-state scanning element 17 is turned on.
3, the maximum light quantity is detected. The A / D conversion unit 60 for uneven light amount is used based on the maximum light amount detected here (see FIG. 2).
The maximum light amount data is transferred to the light amount non-uniformity memory 61 via. Subsequently, in S14, the sensor return position detection unit 32 (see FIG. 3) determines whether or not the light amount unevenness detection sensor 23 is at the sensor return position (the position where the light amount unevenness detection sensor 23 faces the sensor return position detection unit 32). Is determined.

If the light amount unevenness detection sensor 23 is not at the sensor return position (No in S14), the process proceeds to S11, and subsequently the maximum light amount is detected while the light amount unevenness detection sensor 23 is moved. Light intensity unevenness detection sensor 23
Is in the sensor return position (Yes in S14),
It is determined that the light amount unevenness detection sensor 23 has detected the maximum light amounts of all the pixels, and the light amount unevenness detection sensor 23 moves to a position where the solid-state scanning element 17 is not provided. When 23 is detected, the motor M1 for sensor movement is reversely rotated in S15.

Thereafter, in step S16, the light emission amount of the solid-state scanning element 17 is changed to a predetermined halftone light amount and turned on. In step S17, the light amount unevenness detection sensor 23 detects the halftone light amount. Based on the light amount detected here, the halftone light amount data becomes A / A for light amount unevenness similarly to the maximum light amount data.
The data is transferred to the light amount unevenness memory 61 via the D conversion unit 60. Next, in S18, the sensor home position detection unit 3
1 (see FIG. 3), it is determined whether or not the light amount unevenness detection sensor 23 is at the home position (the position where the light amount unevenness detection sensor 23 faces the sensor home position detection unit 31).

If the light amount unevenness detection sensor 23 is not at the home position (NO in S18), the process proceeds to S15, and subsequently the light amount unevenness detection sensor 23 is moved to detect the halftone light amount. Light intensity unevenness detection sensor 23
Is in the home position (Yes in S18), it is determined that the light amount unevenness detection sensor 23 has detected the halftone light amounts of all the pixels, and a light amount correction table (described later) is created in S19. This routine ends.

As described above, the light amount unevenness detection sensor 23 is set to 1
By reciprocating, light amount unevenness is detected. The maximum light amount data and the halftone light amount data stored in the memory are processed by the arithmetic processing unit for each pixel, and then the light amount unevenness is corrected as shown in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the correction of the light quantity in the copying machine. In this copying machine, three light amount data (exposure amount data) of maximum light amount, halftone light amount, and minimum light amount (factory shipment value) are used for each pixel in S19 of FIG. A light quantity correction table for correction is created, and the driving duty of the solid-state scanning element 17 for each pixel is changed.

The procedure for creating a light quantity correction table used in the copying machine will be described with reference to FIG.
To (3). (0) When the copier is shipped from the factory,
The light amount Eoff corresponding to the gradation Go of the image data is set. (1) When the copier performs the warming-up described with reference to FIGS.
1 and the gray level Gh as the halftone light quantity.
The light amount corresponding to “alf” is read by the light amount unevenness detection sensor 23. For image data other than these, assuming linearity, points (Go, Eof)
f), point (Ghalf, Ehalf), point (Gall,
By connecting Eon) with a straight line, it is assumed that the solid-state scanning element corresponding to a certain pixel has the characteristic of the light amount with respect to the gradation of the image data. (2) Of the maximum light amounts Eon of the plurality of solid-state scanning elements arranged in one line, the minimum one is Eonmin. In addition, the minimum light amount E of the plurality of solid-state scanning elements arranged in one line.
Of the off, the largest one is Eoffmax. Further, a predetermined light amount (a maximum light amount, a minimum light amount, an average, etc. among the light amounts corresponding to the image data Ghalf of the all solid-state scanning elements) is set to E corresponding to the gradation Ghalf of the image data.
ref. Point (Go, Eoffmax), point (Gh
alf, Eref) and the point (Gall, Eonmin) are connected by a straight line to obtain a correction curve of the light amount of the solid-state scanning element. At this time, the points may be connected not by a straight line but by a curve based on an approximate expression. (3) Gradation Dn that determines light quantity for each solid-state scanning element
Is mapped to the gradation Dn ′ in the following manner, whereby a light quantity correction table can be created. For example, when the photoconductor is exposed corresponding to the gradation Go of the image data, the gradation Go is the gradation G exposed at the light amount Eoffmax.
replaced with o '. As a result, the light amount of Eoffmax on the correction curve corresponding to the gradation Go is obtained.

The correction based on such a procedure can be performed by using the following correction expression of [Equation 1]. Here, the image data of the nth pixel from the image reader is Dn, and the corrected image data is Dn '.

[0060]

(Equation 1)

When creating a light quantity correction table in S19 of FIG. 8 in the light quantity detection mode at the time of setup when the light source lamp is replaced or at the time of normal warm-up, corrected image data is calculated by the above equation. Is completed, the warm-up of the solid-state optical element 17 ends.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the effect of the present invention. By correcting the light amount unevenness as described above, the light amount unevenness as shown in FIG. 15 is corrected as shown in FIG. 10, and the light amount obtained from each optical shutter element in the optical shutter arrays A and B. Can be made substantially constant irrespective of the optical shutter element.

As described above, according to the present invention, the light amount detecting means movable in the arrangement direction of the solid-state scanning elements is provided in the apparatus, and the light amount of each pixel of the solid-state scanning element is detected at a predetermined timing. In addition to correcting the decrease in light amount due to deterioration or dirt, the light amount to be detected includes light amount including halftone light amount, so that a high quality image without any unevenness can be always obtained even with multi-value output. In addition, since the light amount detecting means itself detects the light amount for each pixel while moving, there is no detection unevenness.

In this embodiment, data for correcting unevenness in light amount is generated at the time of normal warm-up or the like, and the light amount correction table is created. Thus, the light amount unevenness may be detected at a timing that does not hinder the normal image forming operation. Further, when the input image data correction is performed by detecting the light amounts at a plurality of halftone levels, the accuracy of the light amount correction is improved and the reproducibility of the halftone is improved.

In this embodiment, the detection of the minimum light amount is not performed. However, the detection accuracy of the minimum light amount can further improve the correction accuracy of the light amount unevenness.

Further, in the present embodiment, the uneven light amount is corrected by detecting the actual light amount of the solid-state scanning element 17. A latent image corresponding to the maximum light amount and a latent image corresponding to the halftone light amount are formed, and by detecting the potential of the latent image, light amount unevenness can be detected and light amount correction can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of a copying machine using a solid-state scanning element for a printer head.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of the line sensor 15 to the solid-state scanning element 17 in FIG.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram for explaining processing for image signals up to FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a configuration around a solid-state scanning element 17 and a light amount unevenness detection sensor 23;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the solid-state scanning elements 17 shown in FIG. 3 arranged in a staggered manner.

FIG. 5 is a first diagram illustrating a light amount unevenness detection sensor and a solid-state scanning element when a light amount unevenness detection operation is performed.

FIG. 6 is a second diagram showing the light amount unevenness detection sensor 23 and the solid-state scanning element 17 when the light amount unevenness detection operation is performed.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a control procedure from when the power is turned on to when the warm-up is completed.

8 is a flowchart for explaining a control procedure in the S1 light amount detection mode of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining light amount correction in the copying machine.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining an effect of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining an outline of an operation of each unit of the printer head using the solid-state scanning element.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining an optical shutter drive circuit that drives an optical shutter array 65.

FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining a relationship between a driving pulse voltage applied to the optical shutter element in the optical shutter driving circuit and a light intensity of light transmitted through the optical shutter element.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between an applied voltage V applied to an optical shutter element and a transmitted light intensity I of light transmitted through an analyzer.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a variation in the amount of light obtained via an optical shutter element.

[Explanation of symbols]

 17 Solid-state scanning element 23 Light intensity unevenness detection sensor 30 Screen shaft 31 Sensor home position detection unit 32 Sensor return position detection unit M1 Sensor movement motor

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus for forming an image by controlling the light amount of a plurality of solid-state scanning elements corresponding to each of a plurality of pixels, wherein: a detecting unit for detecting the light amount of the solid-state scanning element; Moving means for moving the solid-state scanning elements in the arrangement direction; and light amount correcting means for correcting the light amount of the solid-state scanning elements according to the light amount detected by the detecting means moved by the moving means. Characteristic image forming apparatus.