U.S. patent application number 16/733319 was filed with the patent office on 2020-06-11 for image forming apparatus for correcting sheet conveyance misalignment.
This patent application is currently assigned to KONICA MINOLTA, INC.. The applicant listed for this patent is KONICA MINOLTA, INC.. Invention is credited to Yoshiteru KAWAKAMI, Takahiro OKUBO, Yasuo SHIOKAWA.
Application Number | 20200186654 16/733319 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 64401500 |
Filed Date | 2020-06-11 |
![](/patent/app/20200186654/US20200186654A1-20200611-D00000.png)
![](/patent/app/20200186654/US20200186654A1-20200611-D00001.png)
![](/patent/app/20200186654/US20200186654A1-20200611-D00002.png)
![](/patent/app/20200186654/US20200186654A1-20200611-D00003.png)
![](/patent/app/20200186654/US20200186654A1-20200611-D00004.png)
![](/patent/app/20200186654/US20200186654A1-20200611-D00005.png)
![](/patent/app/20200186654/US20200186654A1-20200611-D00006.png)
![](/patent/app/20200186654/US20200186654A1-20200611-D00007.png)
![](/patent/app/20200186654/US20200186654A1-20200611-D00008.png)
![](/patent/app/20200186654/US20200186654A1-20200611-D00009.png)
![](/patent/app/20200186654/US20200186654A1-20200611-D00010.png)
View All Diagrams
United States Patent
Application |
20200186654 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SHIOKAWA; Yasuo ; et
al. |
June 11, 2020 |
IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS FOR CORRECTING SHEET CONVEYANCE
MISALIGNMENT
Abstract
An image forming apparatus includes a transfer section that
transfers an image onto a sheet, a sheet conveying member that is
provided upstream of the transfer section in a sheet conveyance
direction and conveys the sheet, and a hardware processor that
controls displacement of the sheet conveying member in such a way
that the sheet is displaced along the width direction of the sheet.
The hardware processor performs first displacement control in which
the sheet conveying member is displaced in a direction which is
specified in advance with respect to the sheet and in which an edge
of the sheet in the width direction is directed toward a target
position and second displacement control in which the sheet
conveying member is displaced in the direction opposite the
direction of the first displacement.
Inventors: |
SHIOKAWA; Yasuo; (Tokyo,
JP) ; KAWAKAMI; Yoshiteru; (Tokyo, JP) ;
OKUBO; Takahiro; (Kanagawa, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
KONICA MINOLTA, INC. |
Tokyo |
|
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
64401500 |
Appl. No.: |
16/733319 |
Filed: |
January 3, 2020 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
15959399 |
Apr 23, 2018 |
10574845 |
|
|
16733319 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 3/1237 20130101;
H04N 1/00602 20130101; H04N 1/0066 20130101; G03G 15/206 20130101;
G03G 15/6564 20130101; H04N 1/00748 20130101; G03G 15/2053
20130101; G03G 15/6567 20130101; H04N 1/00824 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04N 1/00 20060101
H04N001/00; G03G 15/00 20060101 G03G015/00 |
Claims
1. An image forming apparatus comprising: a transfer section that
transfers an image onto a sheet; a sheet conveying member that is
provided upstream of the transfer section in a sheet conveyance
direction and conveys the sheet; and a hardware processor that
controls displacement of the sheet conveying member in such a way
that the sheet is displaced along a width direction of the sheet,
wherein the hardware processor sets a point of time of start of the
displacement in such a way that the sheet conveying member is
allowed to be displaced toward both sides of the width direction,
and displaces the sheet conveying member based on a result of
sensing performed by a deviation sensing unit that senses a
direction in which an edge of the sheet in the width direction
deviates from a target position in such a way that the sheet
conveying member is not moved in a direction in which the edge of
the sheet moves away from the target position.
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
hardware processor starts displacing the sheet conveying member,
then causes a detecting unit that detects the edge of the sheet in
the width direction to detect the edge of the sheet, and stops the
displacement based on a result of the detection when the edge of
the sheet reaches the target position.
3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
hardware processor displaces the sheet conveying member based on a
result of the sensing of the deviation direction after a front end
of the sheet enters the transfer section.
4. An image forming apparatus comprising: a transfer section that
transfers an image onto a sheet; a sheet conveying member that is
provided upstream of the transfer section in a sheet conveyance
direction and conveys the sheet; and a hardware processor that
controls displacement of the sheet conveying member in such a way
that the sheet is displaced along a width direction of the sheet,
wherein the hardware processor starts displacing the sheet
conveying member in a first direction, then causes a detecting unit
that detects an edge of the sheet in the width direction, and stops
the displacement in the first direction based on a result of the
detection performed by the detecting unit in such a way that the
edge of the sheet reaches a target position, and conveys the sheet
in such a way that the edge of the sheet in a position of the
detecting unit deviates in the direction opposite the first
direction with respect to the target position.
5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, further
comprising an offset unit that offsets, in a second direction
opposite the first direction, a portion of the sheet in the
position of the detecting unit.
6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the
offset unit conveys the sheet in such a way that the edge of the
sheet in the position of the detecting unit deviates in the second
direction with respect to the target position.
7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the
offset unit includes a roller having a shaft that deviates from the
sheet conveyance direction.
8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the
offset unit includes rollers having diameters that differ from each
other in the width direction.
9. An image forming apparatus comprising: an image writing unit
that writes an image; a displacing unit capable of displacing a
conveyed sheet; and a hardware processor that shifts a position
where the image writing unit writes the image in such a way that
the displacing unit is always displaced in a same direction.
10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the
hardware processor shifts the image writing position and a
displacement aim position aimed by the displacing unit in such a
way that the displacing unit is always displaced in the same
direction.
11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the
hardware processor shifts the displacement aim position and the
image writing position in such a way that the displacing unit is
always displaced in the same direction in a case where the
displacing unit is displaced multiple times on a same sheet.
12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the
hardware processor shifts the displacement aim position to a
position where the displacement aim position does not intersect a
side edge of the sheet from a front end thereof to a rear end
thereof in the direction in which the sheet is conveyed.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a divisional of U.S. Application No.
15/959,399 filed Apr. 23, 2018, which claims priority to Japanese
Patent Application No. 2017-102435 filed on May 24, 2017, Japanese
Patent Application No. 2017-102438 filed on May 24, 2017, Japanese
Patent Application No. 2017-102439 filed on May 24, 2017, and
Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-110550 filed on Jun. 5, 2017,
the entire content of all five of which is incorporated herein by
reference.
BACKGROUND
Technological Field
[0002] The present invention relates to an image forming
apparatus.
Description of Related Art
[0003] In general, an image forming apparatus (such as a printer, a
copier, and a facsimile machine) using an electrophotographic
processing technique applies (exposes) laser light on the basis of
image data to a charged photoconductor drum (image bearing member)
to form an electrostatic latent image. In the image forming
apparatus, a developing unit supplies toner to the photoconductor
drum provided with the electrostatic latent image to visualize the
electrostatic latent image to form a toner image. The image forming
apparatus further primarily or secondarily transfers the toner
image to a sheet and heats and pressurizes the sheet by a fixing
nip of a fixing unit to fix the toner image on the sheet. Some
image forming apparatus include registration rollers that are
disposed upstream of a transfer section, which transfers an image
onto a sheet, and correct a positional deviation of the sheet in
the width direction thereof, as described, for example, in Japanese
Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-133634 (hereinafter referred
to as PTL 1) and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.
2013-91563 (hereinafter referred to as PTL 2).
[0004] By the way, the image forming apparatus has a problem of
occurrence of a phenomenon (sub scanning obliqueness) in that a
conveyance direction of the sheet is passed obliquely in a sub
scanning direction due to misalignment from the registration
rollers to the fixing nip through the secondary transfer nip. In
addition to the case of the misalignment, the sub scanning
obliqueness is likely to occur when there is a difference between
the diameters at opposite ends of the rollers in the sheet width
direction (sub scanning direction) due to a durability issue or the
like. A long sheet with a long size in the conveyance direction is
easily affected, and the sub scanning obliqueness often occurs. The
sub scanning obliqueness leads to a poor image due to deviation,
distortion, or the like of the image transferred at the transfer
section, and a technique for reducing the sub scanning obliqueness
is demanded.
[0005] In contrast, PTL 1 and other references each describe a
technology for registration displacement control in which a line
sensor is disposed between the registration rollers and the
transfer rollers, the line sensor senses the position of the
width-direction end (side end) of a sheet while the transfer
rollers convey the sheet, and the registration rollers are moved
based on the result of the sensing.
[0006] In the technology described in PTL 1 and other references,
however, the line sensor senses deviation of the side end of a
sheet from the reference position, the amount of displacement of
the registration rollers is determined from the result of the
sensing, and the registration rollers are displaced based on the
determined value. The side end of the sheet therefore deviates from
the reference position in some cases when the displacement is
stopped.
SUMMARY
[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide an image
forming apparatus capable of more properly correct sub scanning
obliqueness of a sheet to suppress positional deviation of an
image.
[0008] In order to realize at least one of the above objects, an
image forming apparatus reflecting one aspect of the present
invention includes: a transferer that transfers an image onto a
sheet; a sheet conveyer that is provided upstream of the transferer
in a sheet conveyance direction and conveys the sheet; and a
hardware processor that controls displacement of the sheet conveyer
in such a way that the sheet is displaced along a width direction
of the sheet, in which the hardware processor performs first
displacement control in which the sheet conveyer is displaced in a
direction which is specified in advance with respect to the sheet
and in which an edge of the sheet in the width direction is
directed toward a target position and second displacement control
in which the sheet conveyer is displaced in a direction opposite
the direction of the first displacement.
[0009] An image forming apparatus reflecting still another aspect
of the present invention includes: a transferer that transfers an
image onto a sheet; a sheet conveyer that is provided upstream of
the transferer in a sheet conveyance direction and conveys the
sheet; and a hardware processor that controls displacement of the
sheet conveyer in such a way that the sheet is displaced along a
width direction of the sheet, in which the hardware processor sets
a point of time of start of the displacement in such a way that the
sheet conveyer is allowed to be displaced toward both sides of the
width direction, and displaces the sheet conveyer based on a result
of sensing performed by a deviation sensing unit that senses a
direction in which an edge of the sheet in the width direction
deviates from a target position in such a way that the sheet
conveyer is not moved in a direction in which the edge of the sheet
moves away from the target position.
[0010] An image forming apparatus reflecting still another aspect
of the present invention includes: a transferer that transfers an
image onto a sheet; a sheet conveyer that is provided upstream of
the transfer section in a sheet conveyance direction and conveys
the sheet; and a hardware processor that controls displacement of
the sheet conveyer in such a way that the sheet is displaced along
a width direction of the sheet, in which the hardware processor
starts displacing the sheet conveyer in a first direction, then
causes a detecting unit that detects an edge of the sheet in the
width direction, and stops the displacement in the first direction
based on a result of the detection performed by the detecting unit
in such a way that the edge of the sheet reaches a target position,
and conveys the sheet in such a way that the edge of the sheet in a
position of the detecting unit deviates in the direction opposite
the first direction with respect to the target position.
[0011] An image forming apparatus reflecting still another aspect
of the present invention includes: an image writer that writes an
image; a displacer capable of displacing a conveyed sheet; and a
hardware processor that shifts a position where the image writer
writes the image in such a way that the displacer is always
displaced in a same direction.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0012] The advantages and features provided by one or more
embodiments of the invention will become more fully understood from
the detailed description given hereinbelow and the appended
drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are
not intended as a definition of the limits of the present
invention:
[0013] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an overall configuration of
an image forming apparatus according to the present Embodiment;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing main parts of a control
system of the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1;
[0015] FIGS. 3A and 3B are diagrams describing conventional control
of registration displacement, FIG. 3A showing a state before
movement of a registration roller pair, FIG. 3B showing a state
after the movement of the registration roller pair;
[0016] FIGS. 4A and 4B are timing charts illustrating examples of
the action of a line sensor, FIG. 4A illustrating registration
displacement of related art and FIG. 4B illustrating registration
displacement in the present embodiment;
[0017] FIGS. 5A and 5B are diagrams describing an outline of the
registration displacement control in the present embodiment in a
case where a long sheet is conveyed, FIG. 5A illustrating the state
before the movement of the registration roller pair and FIG. 5B
illustrating the state after the movement of the registration
roller pair;
[0018] FIGS. 6A to 6D are diagrams describing displacement actions
in the present embodiment, FIG. 6A illustrating the state in which
the side edge of a sheet can be sensed, FIG. 6B illustrating the
direction in which the registration roller pair is displaceable,
FIG. 6C illustrating the displacement in a first direction, and
FIG. 6D illustrating the displacement in a second direction
opposite the first direction;
[0019] FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of conveyance
control relating to the registration displacement in the image
forming apparatus according to the present embodiment;
[0020] FIGS. 8A to 8D are diagrams describing the actions in the
registration displacement control performed by an image forming
apparatus according to Embodiment 2, FIG. 8A illustrating the state
in which the side edge of a sheet can be sensed, FIG. 8B
illustrating the direction in which the registration roller pair is
displaceable, FIG. 8C illustrating leftward displacement, and FIG.
8D illustrating rightward displacement;
[0021] FIGS. 9A and 9B are signal sequence diagrams describing the
registration displacement control in Embodiment 2, FIG. 9A
describing a case where the registration roller pair is displaced
rightward or leftward from the position at the time of position
deviation sensing performed by a line sensor, and FIG. 9B
illustrating a case where the registration roller pair is actually
displaced;
[0022] FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of conveyance
control relating to the registration displacement in the image
forming apparatus according to Embodiment 2;
[0023] FIG. 11 is a diagram describing an overview of the
registration displacement control in an image forming apparatus
according to Embodiment 3;
[0024] FIGS. 12A and 12B are diagrams describing a configuration
example in which an offset unit is provided in a transfer section
in Embodiment 3, FIG. 12A illustrating a usual case and FIG. 12B
illustrating a case where the offset unit is configured by causing
the shafts of members that form a secondary transfer nip to
incline;
[0025] FIGS. 13A and 13B are diagrams describing a case where the
offset unit is provided in a fixing unit in Embodiment 3, FIG. 13A
illustrating a usual case and FIG. 13B illustrating a case where
the offset unit is configured by causing the shafts of members that
form a fixing nip to incline;
[0026] FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating an example of conveyance
control relating to the registration displacement in the image
forming apparatus according to Embodiment 3;
[0027] FIG. 15 is a configuration diagram diagrammatically
illustrating an image forming apparatus in Embodiment 4;
[0028] FIG. 16 is a descriptive diagram illustrating the process of
displacing a sheet carried out by registration rollers;
[0029] FIG. 17 is a block diagram schematically illustrating the
configuration of a control system of the image forming apparatus in
FIG. 15;
[0030] FIG. 18 illustrates an example of data stored in a
displacement control table;
[0031] FIG. 19 illustrates an example of data stored in a writing
control table;
[0032] FIGS. 20A and 20B are descriptive diagrams illustrating the
relationship between variation in the position of the side edge of
a sheet and a displacement aim position;
[0033] FIGS. 21A and 21B are descriptive diagrams illustrating
examples of a case where the trajectory of the side edge of a sheet
intersects the displacement aim position; and
[0034] FIG. 22 illustrates an example of sub scanning
obliqueness.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0035] Hereinafter, one or more embodiments of the present
invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
However, the scope of the invention is not limited to the disclosed
embodiments.
Embodiment 1
[0036] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an overall configuration of
image forming apparatus 1 according to the present Embodiment. FIG.
2 shows main parts of a control system of image forming apparatus 1
according to the present Embodiment.
[0037] Image forming apparatus 1 of the present Embodiment uses a
long sheet or a non-long sheet as sheet S and forms an image on
sheet S.
[0038] In the present embodiment, the long sheet is a piece of
paper longer in a conveyance direction than regularly used sheets,
such as A4-sized and A3-sized sheets. In the following description,
a paper sheet simply referred to as a "sheet" can be either a long
sheet or a non-long sheet.
[0039] Image forming apparatus 1 is a color image forming apparatus
of an intermediate transfer system using an electrophotographic
process technique. More specifically, image forming apparatus 1
primarily transfers toner images of colors Y (yellow), M (magenta),
C (cyan), and K (black) formed on photoconductor drums 413 to
intermediate transfer belt 421 and places the toner images of four
colors on top of each other on intermediate transfer belt 421.
Image forming apparatus 1 then secondarily transfers the toner
images to the sheet to form a toner image.
[0040] A tandem system is adopted in image forming apparatus 1, in
which photoconductor drums 413 corresponding to four colors of YMCK
are disposed in series in a traveling direction of intermediate
transfer belt 421, and the toner images of the colors are
sequentially transferred to intermediate transfer belt 421 in one
procedure.
[0041] As shown in FIG. 2, image forming apparatus 1 includes image
reading unit 10, operation display unit 20, image processing unit
30, image forming section 40, sheet conveyance unit 50, fixing unit
60, control unit 100, and the like.
[0042] Control unit 100 includes CPU (Central Processing Unit) 101,
ROM (Read Only Memory) 102, RAM (Random Access Memory) 103, and the
like. CPU 101 reads a program according to details of processing
from ROM 102 and loads the program in RAM 103. CPU 101
comprehensively controls the operation of blocks of image forming
apparatus 1 in cooperation with the loaded program. In this case,
CPU 101 references various types of data stored in storage unit 72.
Storage unit 72 includes, for example, a non-volatile semiconductor
memory (so-called flash memory) or a hard disk drive.
[0043] Control unit 100 transmits and receives various types of
data to and from an external apparatus (for example, personal
computer) connected to a communication network, such as LAN (Local
Area Network) and WAN (Wide Area Network), through communication
unit 71. For example, control unit 100 receives image data
transmitted from the external apparatus and forms a toner image on
the sheet based on the image data (input image data). Communication
unit 71 includes, for example, a communication control card such as
a LAN card.
[0044] Image reading unit 10 includes automatic original sheet
feeding apparatus 11 called an ADF (Auto Document Feeder), original
image scanning apparatus 12 (scanner), and the like.
[0045] Automatic original sheet feeding apparatus 11 conveys
original D mounted on an original tray based on a conveyance
mechanism and sends out original D to original image scanning
apparatus 12. Automatic original sheet feeding apparatus 11 can
continuously read, without pausing, images (including double-sided)
of many pieces of original D mounted on the original tray.
[0046] Original image scanning apparatus 12 optically scans the
original conveyed onto a contact glass from automatic original
sheet feeding apparatus 11 or the original mounted on the contact
glass and forms an image on a light-receiving surface of CCD
(Charge Coupled Device) sensor 12a based on reflected light from
the original to thereby read the original image. Image reading unit
10 generates input image data based on the reading result of
original image scanning apparatus 12. Image processing unit 30
applies predetermined image processing to the input image data.
[0047] Operation display unit 20 includes, for example, a liquid
crystal display (LCD) with a touch panel and functions as display
unit 21 and operation unit 22. Display unit 21 displays various
operation screens, states of images, operation conditions of
functions, and the like according to display control signals input
from control unit 100. Operation unit 22 includes various operation
keys, such as numeric keys and a start key. Operation unit 22
receives various input operations by the user and outputs operation
signals to control unit 100.
[0048] Image processing unit 30 includes a circuit or the like that
applies digital image processing to the input image data according
to initial setting or user setting. For example, image processing
unit 30 performs tone correction based on tone correction data
(tone correction table LUT) in storage unit 72 under the control of
control unit 100. Other than the tone correction, image processing
unit 30 also applies various correction processes, such as color
correction and shading correction, compression processing, and the
like to the input image data. Image forming section 40 is
controlled based on the processed image data.
[0049] Image forming section 40 includes: image forming units 41Y,
41M, 41C, and 41K that form images using colored toners of Y
component, M component, C component, and K component based on the
input image data; intermediate transfer unit 42; and the like.
[0050] Image forming units 41Y, 41M, 41C, and 41K for Y component,
M component, C component, and K component have similar
configurations. For the convenience of the illustration and the
description, common constituent elements are indicated by the same
reference signs, and Y, M, C and K are attached to the reference
signs to distinguish the constituent elements. In FIG. 1, the
reference signs are provided only to the constituent elements of
image forming unit 41Y for Y component, and the reference signs are
not illustrated for the constituent elements of the other image
forming units 41M, 41C, and 41K.
[0051] Image forming unit 41 includes exposing device 411,
developing device 412, photoconductor drum 413, charging device
414, drum cleaning apparatus 415, and the like.
[0052] Photoconductor drum 413 is, for example, a negative charge
type organic photo-conductor (OPC) including an under coat layer
(UCL), a charge generation layer (CGL), and a charge transport
layer (CTL) sequentially laminated on a peripheral surface of an
aluminum conductive cylindrical body (aluminum tube). The charge
generation layer is made of an organic semiconductor in which a
charge generation material (for example, phthalocyanine pigment) is
dispersed on a resin binder (for example, polycarbonate), and the
charge generation layer generates a pair of positive charge and
negative charge based on exposure by exposing device 411. The
charge transport layer is a layer in which a hole transport
material (electron-donating nitrogen-containing compound) is
dispersed on a resin binder (for example, polycarbonate resin), and
the charge transport layer transports the positive charge generated
by the charge generation layer to the surface of the charge
transport layer.
[0053] Control unit 100 rotates photoconductor drum 413 at a
constant circumferential speed (linear speed) by controlling a
drive current supplied to a drive motor (not shown) that rotates
photoconductor drum 413.
[0054] Charging device 414 uniformly applies a negative charge to
the photoconductive surface of photoconductor drum 413. Exposing
device 411 includes, for example, a semiconductor laser and applies
laser light to photoconductor drum 413 according to the image of
each color component. As a result, an electrostatic latent image of
each color component is formed on the surface of photoconductor
drum 413 due to the potential difference between the surface and
the surroundings.
[0055] Developing device 412 is, for example, a two-component
development type developing device, and developing device 412
attaches the toner of each color component to the surface of
photoconductor drum 413 to visualize the electrostatic latent image
to form the toner image.
[0056] Drum cleaning apparatus 415 includes a cleaning member or
the like brought into sliding contact with the surface of
photoconductor drum 413. A cleaning blade in drum cleaning
apparatus 415 removes the remaining transfer toner left on the
surface of photoconductor drum 413 after the primary transfer.
[0057] Intermediate transfer unit 42 includes intermediate transfer
belt 421, primary transfer roller 422, a plurality of support
rollers 423, secondary transfer roller 424, belt cleaning apparatus
426, and the like.
[0058] Intermediate transfer belt 421 includes an endless belt and
is stretched by a plurality of support rollers 423 in a loop shape.
At least one of support rollers 423 is a driving roller, and other
support rollers 423 are driven rollers. For example, it is
preferable that roller 423A disposed on the downstream of primary
transfer roller 422 for K component in the belt traveling direction
be a driving roller. As a result, the traveling speed of the belt
in the primary transfer section can be easily maintained at a
constant speed. Driving roller 423A rotates, and intermediate
transfer belt 421 travels at a constant speed in an arrow A
direction.
[0059] Primary transfer roller 422 faces photoconductor drum 413 of
each color component and is disposed on an inner peripheral side of
intermediate transfer belt 421. Primary transfer roller 422 is
pressed against photoconductor drum 413 across intermediate
transfer belt 421, and a primary transfer nip for transferring the
toner image from photoconductor drum 413 to intermediate transfer
belt 421 is formed.
[0060] Secondary transfer roller 424 faces backup roller 423B
disposed on the downstream of driving roller 423A in the belt
traveling direction, and secondary transfer roller 424 is disposed
on an outer peripheral side of intermediate transfer belt 421.
Secondary transfer roller 424 is pressed against backup roller 423B
across intermediate transfer belt 421, and a secondary transfer nip
for transferring the toner image from intermediate transfer belt
421 to sheet S is formed.
[0061] The secondary transfer nip formed by intermediate transfer
belt 421, backup roller 423B, and secondary transfer roller 424
corresponds to a "transfer section" of the present invention.
[0062] When intermediate transfer belt 421 passes through the
primary transfer nip, the toner images on photoconductor drums 413
are primarily transferred to intermediate transfer belt 421 and
sequentially placed on top of each other. Specifically, a primary
transfer bias is applied to primary transfer roller 422 to provide
a charge with a polarity opposite the toner to the side of
intermediate transfer belt 421 coming into contact with primary
transfer roller 422, and the toner images are electrostatically
transferred to intermediate transfer belt 421.
[0063] Subsequently, when the sheet passes through the secondary
transfer nip, the toner images on intermediate transfer belt 421
are secondarily transferred to the sheet. Specifically, a secondary
transfer bias is applied to secondary transfer roller 424 to
provide a charge with a polarity opposite the toner to the side of
the sheet coming into contact with secondary transfer roller 424,
and the toner images are electrostatically transferred to the
sheet. The sheet provided with the toner images is conveyed toward
fixing unit 60.
[0064] Belt cleaning apparatus 426 includes a belt cleaning blade
or the like in sliding contact with the surface of intermediate
transfer belt 421 and removes the remaining transfer toner left on
the surface of intermediate transfer belt 421 after the secondary
transfer.
[0065] Fixing unit 60 includes: upper fixing unit 60A including a
fixing surface member disposed on the fixing surface side of the
sheet; lower fixing unit 60B including a back surface support
member disposed on the opposite side of the fixing surface of the
sheet; heat source 60C; and the like. The back surface support
member is pressed against the fixing surface member to form a
fixing nip for sandwiching and conveying the sheet.
[0066] Upper fixing unit 60A includes endless fixing belt 61, which
is the fixing surface member, heating roller 62, upper pressurizing
roller 63, and other components (belt heating type). Fixing belt 61
is stretched by heating roller 62 and upper pressurizing roller 63
at predetermined belt tension (400 N, for example).
[0067] Lower fixing unit 60B includes lower pressurizing roller 65,
which is, for example, the back surface support member (roller
pressurizing type). Lower pressurizing roller 65 is pressurized
against upper pressurizing roller 63 via fixing belt 61 at a
predetermined fixing load. The fixing nip that sandwiches and
conveys sheet S is thus formed between fixing belt 61 and lower
pressurizing roller 65.
[0068] Fixing unit 60 fixes the toner image to the sheet by heating
and pressurizing, in the fixing nip, the conveyed sheet on which
the toner images have been secondarily transferred. Fixing unit 60
is disposed as a unit in fixing device F. In fixing device F is
further disposed air separation unit 60D, which blows air to
separate sheet S from the fixing surface member.
[0069] Sheet conveyance unit 50 includes sheet feeding unit 51,
sheet ejection unit 52, conveyance path unit 53, and the like.
Three sheet feed tray units 51a to 51c of sheet feeding unit 51
hold sheets S (standard sheets, special sheets) according to preset
types identified based on the basis weight (stiffness), the size,
and the like. Conveyance path unit 53 includes a plurality of
conveyance rollers, such as registration roller pair 53a and loop
rollers 53b, a double-sided conveyance path for forming images on
both sides of the sheet, and the like. Registration roller pair 53a
corresponds to a "sheet conveyance member" of the present
invention.
[0070] Registration roller pair 53a corrects the position of sheet
S in the width direction under the control of control unit 100.
Specifically, when sheet S is sandwiched between nips of
registration roller pair 53a, control of registration displacement
for moving registration roller pair 53a in the width direction to
move sheet S is performed, and the position of sheet S in the width
direction is corrected. Details of the control of the registration
displacement will be described later.
[0071] Loop rollers 53b are a pair of rollers disposed upstream of
registration roller pair 53a in the conveyance direction. Loop
rollers 53b rotate under the control of control unit 100 in such a
way that sheet S is looped in the space between registration roller
pair 53a and loop rollers 53b to correct obliqueness of sheet
S.
[0072] Registration roller pair 53a is separated after the
correction of the position of sheet S in the width direction,
before sheet S finishes passing through registration roller pair
53a, that is, in the middle of the conveyance of sheet S, and is
returned to the position before the movement. Registration roller
pair 53a is pressed and attached again after the rear-end of sheet
S passes through registration roller pair 53a.
[0073] Under the control of control unit 100, the conveyance speed
of sheet S at registration roller pair 53a is set faster than the
conveyance speed of sheet S at the secondary transfer nip formed by
backup roller 423B and secondary transfer roller 424.
[0074] Line sensor 54 is disposed on the downstream of registration
roller pair 53a and the upstream of the secondary transfer nip in
the sheet conveyance direction. Line sensor 54 is a sensor that is
formed of linearly arranged photoelectric conversion elements and
serves as a component that detects a one-side edge of sheet S in
the width direction thereof (hereinafter referred to as side edge)
to sense an offset of sheet S (deviation from reference
position).
[0075] Sheets S housed in sheet feed tray units 51a to 51c are sent
out piece by piece from the top and are conveyed by conveyance path
unit 53 to image forming section 40. In this case, registration
roller pair 53a corrects (skew corrects) the inclination of the fed
sheet S and adjusts the conveyance timing.
[0076] In image forming section 40, the toner images of
intermediate transfer belt 421 are secondarily transferred
altogether to one of the surfaces of sheet S, and a fixing process
is applied by fixing unit 60. Sheet ejection unit 52 including
sheet ejection roller 52a ejects sheet S provided with the images
to the outside of the apparatus. Note that during double-sided
printing, sheet S after the image formation on a first surface
passes through the double-sided conveyance path, and the front and
the back are inverted. The toner images are secondarily transferred
and fixed to a second surface, and sheet ejection unit 52 ejects
sheet S to the outside of the apparatus.
[0077] By the way, the image forming apparatus has a problem of a
phenomenon that the conveyance direction of the sheet is passed
obliquely in the sub scanning direction (sub scanning obliqueness)
due to misalignment from the registration roller pair 53a to the
fixing nip through the secondary transfer nip. In addition to the
misalignment, the sub scanning obliqueness is also likely to occur
when there is a difference between the diameters at opposite ends
of the rollers in the sheet width direction (sub scanning
direction) due to a durability issue or the like. The long sheet
with a long size in the conveyance direction is easily affected,
and the sub scanning obliqueness often occurs (see FIG. 3A, FIG.
5A). The sub scanning obliqueness leads to a poor image due to
deviation or distortion of the image transferred at the transfer
section, and a technique of reducing the sub scanning obliqueness
is demanded.
[0078] To address the problem described above in related art,
registration displacement control is so performed that the position
of the side edge of sheet S sensed with line sensor 54 is
monitored, and registration roller pair 53a is displaced when
positional deviation of the side edge occurs. Further, the main
purpose of the registration displacement control in related art is
control of the displacement of registration roller pair 53a before
the front end of sheet S is thrusted into the transfer section. The
conventional registration displacement control will be described
with reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B.
[0079] FIG. 3 (FIGS. 3A and 3B) are diagrams describing the
conventional control of registration displacement when conveyed
sheet S is a long sheet. Arrow Y denotes the conveyance direction
of the sheet. A dotted line denotes the position of a reference end
of the sheet detected by line sensor 54. Arrow X denotes the
displacement direction of registration roller pair 53a. Further, a
roller separates from sheet S is drawn with the dotted line.
[0080] FIG. 3A illustrates an example in which sheet S (long sheet)
is so conveyed as to be passed obliquely rightward (toward far
side) as a whole in a position upstream of backup roller 423B,
which forms the secondary transfer nip. In this case, the control
unit 100 senses the direction and the amount of the deviation of
the side edge of sheet S from a signal output from line sensor 54
and calculates the direction and the amount of the displacement of
registration roller pair 53a from the result of the sensing. As
shown in FIG. 3B, control unit 100 then performs control of
displacing registration roller pair 53a in direction X orthogonal
to sheet conveyance direction Y according to the calculation
values.
[0081] To perform the registration displacement control, control
unit 100 further causes rollers upstream of registration roller
pair 53a (loop rollers 53b in example illustrated in FIGS. 3A and
3B) in the conveyance direction to be separate away from sheet S.
Sheet S is therefore conveyed only with registration roller pair
53a before and after the period for which the registration roller
pair 53a is displaced.
[0082] On the other hand, in the registration displacement control
of related art, in which registration roller pair 53a is displaced
only before the front end of sheet S is thrusted into the secondary
transfer nip, the sub scanning obliqueness (such as tilt) of sheet
S that occurs after the registration displacement undesirably
causes deviation, distortion, and other problems of an image. In
the case of a long sheet, in particular, the longer sheet S is, the
more often the problems occur.
[0083] In a case where skew correction using registration roller
pair 53a is performed on the aforementioned inclination (tilt) of
sheet S, the inclination of the front end side of sheet S is
corrected, but the inclination of the rear end side of the sheet
cannot be corrected in the case of a long sheet. Distortion remains
between the front end side and the rear end side, and the sub
scanning obliqueness is likely to occur.
[0084] To address the problem described above, it is conceivable to
repeatedly perform registration displacement after the front end of
sheet S (long sheet) is thrusted into the secondary transfer
nip.
[0085] The registration displacement control of related art is,
however, basically so performed that line sensor 54 senses
deviation of the side edge of sheet S from the reference position,
the amount of displacement of registration roller pair 53a is
determined from the result of the sensing, and registration roller
pair 53a is displaced by the determined value. Therefore, in the
registration displacement control of related art, the side edge of
sheet S deviates from the reference position in some cases when the
displacement is stopped.
[0086] In a case where sheet S has a long size of in the conveyance
direction, in particular, when registration roller pair 53a is
displaced, the secondary transfer nip and the fixing members
downstream of registration roller pair 53a and other conveyance
rollers upstream of registration roller pair 53a that include no
separation mechanism (such as sheet feed roller of optional
apparatus) are in contact with or pressurized against the sheet in
some cases. In such cases, the registration displacement control of
related art, in which registration roller pair 53a is displaced
only by the amount of deviation of the side edge of sheet S sensed
with line sensor 54, tends to result in excess or shortage of the
amount of displacement.
[0087] Although the obliquity manner or the amount of obliqueness
of the sub scanning obliqueness varies as described above due to
individual differences between machines, such as the alignment and
the difference between the depths of the rollers, the obliquity
manner or the amount of obliqueness is not significantly changed
after image forming apparatus 1 is installed in a room or the like,
and the obliquity manner or the amount of obliqueness is constant
in each machine. That is, as for the sub scanning obliqueness,
after image forming apparatus 1 is installed in a room or any other
place, the direction in which sheet S deviates, the timing when
sheet S starts deviating, and other factors are known (can be
estimated) in advance in many cases based on peculiarities and
other factors specific to each apparatus.
[0088] The present inventors have conducted a variety of
experiments based on the knowledge described above and found that
the start of registration displacement action for correction of the
sub scanning obliqueness does not basically need to rely on the
result of the sensing performed by line sensor 54 and the
registration displacement control only needs to be performed based
on preset values of, for example, the direction in which
registration roller pair 53a is displaced.
[0089] In the configuration described below, the control unit 100
does not basically use a value sensed with line sensor 54 to
determine the start of the displacement of registration roller pair
53a but performs the registration displacement control by using
pre-specified fixed values (preset values) of the direction in
which registration roller pair 53a is displaced, the number of
displacement actions, the amount of each of the displacement
actions, the timing when registration roller pair 53a is displaced
(displacement point), and other factors.
[0090] In the present embodiment, the number of displacement points
for each sheet S, the direction and the amount of displacement of
registration roller pair 53a at each of the displacement points,
and other factors can be arbitrarily defined as the preset
values.
[0091] On the other hand, in a case where registration roller pair
53a is always displaced in one direction (leftward, for example) at
each of the displacement points, and the side edge of sheet S
undesirably travels beyond a target position (what is called
overrun occurs) when the displacement is stopped, the side edge of
sheet S cannot be returned to the target position in some
cases.
[0092] In view of the problem described above, in the present
embodiment, the registration displacement is performed by using a
preset value so specified that registration roller pair 53a is
displaced both rightward and leftward (in width direction) relative
to single sheet S. Specifically, registration displacement is so
performed by using the preset value so specified that registration
roller pair 53a is displaced multiple times (N times, for example,
five times) relative to single sheet S and the side edge of sheet S
is alternately moved in a first direction in which the side edge
moves toward the target position and in a second direction opposite
the first direction.
[0093] In addition, in the present embodiment, the control unit 100
starts displacing registration roller pair 53a, that is, moving
registration roller pair 53a in the width direction of sheet S and
then performs stop control in which displacement of registration
roller pair 53a is stopped based on the result of the detection
performed by line sensor 54.
[0094] A basic method for performing the registration displacement
control (stop control) in the present embodiment will be described
below with reference to the timing chart illustrated in FIGS. 4A
and 4B in comparison with the control method of related art. FIG.
4A illustrates an example of a signal sequence in the registration
displacement control in the control method of related art, and FIG.
4B illustrates an example of a signal sequence in the registration
displacement control in the present embodiment. FIGS. 4A and 4B
each chronologically illustrate a control signal output for the
displacement of registration roller pair 53a and a control signal
output to the line sensor 54, and the state in which the signal has
risen is an ON state. That is, registration roller pair 53a is
moving in the width direction during the displacement ON period,
and the side edge of sheet S is sensed during the ON state of line
sensor 54.
[0095] In the registration displacement control of related art,
when a print job starts, sheet S is conveyed toward the secondary
transfer nip, the front end of sheet S passes by the position of
line sensor 54, and then line sensor 54 can sense the position of
side edge of sheet S (positional deviation). Control unit 100
therefore calculates the amount of displacement of registration
roller pair 53a, that is, the displacement direction of
registration roller pair 53a and the amount of movement thereof
from the result of the sensing (see FIG. 4A) and performs the
registration displacement control in which registration roller pair
53a is moved and stopped in the sheet width direction in accordance
with the result of the calculation.
[0096] That is, in the registration displacement control of related
art, line sensor 54 is operated before the displacement of
registration roller pair 53a starts, the amount of displacement of
registration roller pair 53a is calculated during the period
labeled with the double-head arrow illustrated in FIG. 4A, and the
displacement of registration roller pair 53a starts after the
calculation, as illustrated in FIG. 4A. Control unit 100 then stops
displacing registration roller pair 53a at the timing when
registration roller pair 53a is displaced by the calculated amount
of displacement (see FIG. 4A). In other words, in the registration
displacement control of related art, the result of the sensing of
the side edge of sheet S performed by line sensor 54 is used only
for the start of the displacement of registration roller pair 53a
and the calculation of the amount of displacement thereof.
[0097] Therefore, in the registration displacement control of
related art, the period from the sensing performed by line sensor
54 to the start of the movement of registration roller pair 53a is
a time lag resulting from the period required for the calculation
of the amount of displacement of registration roller pair 53a, as
illustrated with the double-head arrow in FIG. 4A. The longer the
time lag is, the more likely the amount of positional deviation at
the time of the measurement differs from the amount of positional
deviation at the start of the displacement (error), so that the
side edge of sheet S is undesirably likely to deviate from the
correct position (see dotted lines in FIGS. 3A and 3B) when the
movement of registration roller pair 53a is stopped.
[0098] Further, in the registration displacement control of related
art, when the displacement of registration roller pair 53a starts
(see FIG. 4A), the amount of displacement of registration roller
pair 53a (amount of movement in width direction) has been already
determined. Therefore, in a case of passage of a long sheet that is
long in the conveyance direction, for example, in a case where the
front end or rear end of sheet S is pressed with not only
registration roller pair 53a but another roller or any other
component (see FIG. 5A), slippage of sheet S relative to
registration roller pair 53a occurs during the displacement, and a
situation in which the positional deviation cannot be eliminated by
the determined amount of displacement occurs in some cases.
[0099] As described above, according to the registration
displacement control of related art using line sensor 54 for the
calculation of the amount of displacement of registration roller
pair 53a and the start of the displacement, the side edge of sheet
S does not coincide with the correct position when the displacement
of registration roller pair 53a is stopped (see FIG. 4A). In the
registration displacement control of related art, in particular,
the error is likely to occur in the case where a long sheet is
conveyed as sheet S.
[0100] In contrast, in the registration displacement control in the
present embodiment, since line sensor 54 is used to stop the
displacement of registration roller pair 53a, the frequency of the
error described above in the registration displacement can be
greatly reduced.
[0101] Specifically, in the present embodiment, the displacement of
registration roller pair 53a (movement in width direction) is
stopped at the timing when the side edge of sheet S coincides with
the target position (see dotted line in FIG. 3A). FIG. 4B
illustrates a case where after the start of the displacement of
registration roller pair 53a, the side edge of sheet S is sensed
with line sensor 54 (sensing operation) multiple times in a
constant cycle, the side edge of sheet S coincides with the target
position in the third sensing operation, and registration roller
pair 53a is then stopped. As another control example, control unit
100 may calculate (estimate) the timing when the side edge of sheet
S reaches the target position from the result of the first sensing
operation and perform the second sensing operation at the estimated
timing. Still instead, control unit 100 may omit the second sensing
operation and stop the movement (displacement) of registration
roller pair 53a at the estimated timing. The stop control described
above allows reduction in the number of actions of turning on line
sensor 54 for a longer life thereof.
[0102] As described above, according to the present embodiment, in
which the sensing signal from line sensor 54 is used to stop the
displacement of registration roller pair 53a, the movement of
registration roller pair 53a can be stopped at the timing when the
side edge of sheet S coincides with the target position. The
control described above allows large reduction in the frequency of
the aforementioned error that occurs when the registration
displacement is stopped.
[0103] The displacement stop control method in the present
embodiment in the case where a long sheet is conveyed as sheet S
will be described with reference to FIGS. 5A and 5B. In FIGS. 5A
and 5B, the sheet conveyance direction is indicated by the arrow Y,
the position of the sheet reference edge sensed with line sensor 54
is indicated by the dotted line, and the displacement direction of
registration roller pair 53a is indicated by the arrow X. In this
example, it is assumed that a sheet feeding apparatus as an
optional apparatus that is not illustrated is connected to image
forming apparatus 1 illustrated in FIG. 1, and sheet feed roller
500 of the sheet feeding apparatus is disposed upstream of
registration roller pair 53a.
[0104] In the registration displacement of related art, loop
rollers 53b and other rollers located upstream of registration
roller pair 53a and other rollers are so controlled as to be
separate away from sheet S, as described above with reference to
FIGS. 3A and 3B. In other words, in the registration displacement
control of related art, only registration roller pair 53a is
pressed against sheet S, and registration roller pair 53a is
displaced with no thrust resistance. On the other hand, in the case
of sheet S long in the conveyance direction (long sheet), when the
front end of the sheet is sandwiched by registration roller pair
53a, the rear end of the sheet is pressed against sheet feed roller
500 or any other sheet conveying member in some cases, as
illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B. In such cases, the position of the
rear end of the sheet cannot be corrected.
[0105] The registration displacement control in the present
embodiment, in which the side edge of sheet S can be aligned with
the target value, that is, the reference position even in the state
in which sheet S is pressed by a plurality of rollers upstream and
downstream of registration roller pair 53a as described above, is
effective particularly in this case. The registration displacement
control in the present embodiment is therefore preferably performed
after the front end of sheet S enters the secondary transfer nip
formed by backup roller 423B and other components, as illustrated
in FIGS. 5A and 5B.
[0106] On the other hand, in the case of sheet S short in the
conveyance direction, entire sheet S can be displaced (moved in
width direction) in a single displacement action, whereas in the
case of a long sheet long in the conveyance direction, sheet S is
not entirely moved in a single displacement action in some cases.
In other words, in the case of a long sheet that is sheet S long in
the conveyance direction, even when registration roller pair 53a is
displaced only in one direction (rightward or leftward) and stopped
when the side edge of sheet S coincides with the target position in
a single displacement action, the amount of displacement could be
still insufficient.
[0107] Specifically, in image forming apparatus 1, the secondary
transfer nip is located upstream of line sensor 54 in the sheet
conveyance direction, as illustrated in FIG. 1 and other figures.
In contrast, in the present embodiment, the side edge of sheer S is
basically aligned with the target position in the position of line
sensor 54. Therefore, assuming a case where the entire side edge of
the long sheet, for example, deviates rightward or leftward and a
sheet portion upstream of registration roller pair 53 is pressed by
the sheet feed roller or any other roller, the amount of
displacement could be insufficient even when the side edge of sheet
S is aligned with the target position. That is, even when the side
edge of sheet S reaches the target position in the position of line
sensor 54, the side edge of sheet S in the secondary transfer nip
is unlikely to reach the correct position.
[0108] To address the problem, in the present embodiment, in the
case of a long sheet having a length greater than a predetermined
value in the direction in which sheet S is conveyed, registration
displacement control is so performed that the preset values
described above are used to displace registration roller pair 53a
both rightward and leftward and the displacement in the two
directions is stopped based on the result of the sensing performed
by line sensor 54.
[0109] Specifically, control unit 100 starts first displacement
that displaces registration roller pair 53a in the direction in
which the side edge of sheet S is directed toward the target
position in accordance with the displacement timing (displacement
point) and the displacement direction specified as the preset
values, causes line sensor 54 to operate during the first
displacement, and stops the first displacement based on the result
of the sensing performed by line sensor 54. Control unit 100
subsequently starts second displacement that displaces registration
roller pair 53a in the direction opposite the direction of the
first displacement in accordance with the displacement timing
(displacement point) and the displacement direction specified as
the preset values, causes line sensor 54 to operate during the
second displacement, and stops the second displacement based on the
result of the sensing performed by line sensor 54. The control of
the first and second displacement will be described later in
detail.
[0110] The case where the length of sheet S in the conveyance
direction is greater than the predetermined value is a case where
sheet S cannot be housed in sheet feed tray units 51a to 51c in the
apparatus or cannot housed also in a sheet feed tray of the sheet
feeding apparatus that is not illustrated but is connected as an
optional apparatus to image forming apparatus 1. An example of such
a case is a case where the size of sheet S in the conveyance
direction is greater than 487.7 mm. A long sheet having the size
described above can be fed when a sheet feeding apparatus dedicated
to the long sheet is connected to image forming apparatus 1.
[0111] The case where the length of sheet S in the conveyance
direction is greater than the predetermined value is instead a case
where sheet S has a length greater than or equal to the distance
from the position of registration roller pair 53a to a roller that
is located upstream of registration roller pair 53a in the
conveyance direction, has no pressing/separating mechanism, and
therefore always presses the sheet.
[0112] In the case where the length of sheet S in the conveyance
direction is smaller than or equal to the predetermined value
described above, control unit 100 performs the registration
displacement control of related art described above with reference
to FIG. 4A and other figures, that is, displaces registration
roller pair 53a by the amount of displacement based on the result
of the sensing performed by line sensor 54.
[0113] An example of the registration displacement control in the
case where a long sheet that is sheet S having a length in the
conveyance direction greater than the predetermined value (487.7
mm, for example) will be described with reference to FIGS. 6A to
6D.
[0114] At the time of execution of a print job, sheet S (long
sheet) is fed, for example, from the sheet feeding apparatus
dedicated to the long sheet to image forming apparatus 1 and
successively conveyed via conveyance path unit 53 to registration
roller pair 53a and the secondary transfer nip, as described above
with reference to FIGS. 5A and 5B. FIG. 6A illustrates a case where
the side edge of sheet S deviates rightward in the state in which
the position of the side edge of sheet S can be sensed with line
sensor 54. Loop rollers 53b are separated from sheet S before the
registration displacement action, as indicated by the broken line
in FIG. 6A.
[0115] FIG. 6B illustrates a state immediately before the start of
the displacement of registration roller pair 53a. Registration
roller pair 53a is configured to be capable of making reciprocating
motion in the width direction (both rightward and leftward)
perpendicular to the direction of arrow Y, which is the sheet
conveyance direction, as indicated by arrows X1 and X2 in FIG.
6B.
[0116] At this point, control unit 100 starts displacing
registration roller pair 53a in the first direction (leftward, that
is, in direction of arrow X1 in example illustrated in FIG. 6C) in
which the side edge of sheet S is directed toward the target
position (see dotted line in FIG. 6C) in accordance with the preset
values, as illustrated in FIG. 6C. Control unit 100 subsequently
causes line sensor 54 to operate to sense the position of the side
edge of sheet S (see FIG. 4B) and stops the displacement of
registration roller pair 53a based on the result of the sensing. To
solve or otherwise address the aforementioned insufficient
displacement of the rear end of sheet S, control unit 100 may stop
the displacement of registration roller pair 53a in a position
where the side edge of sheet S is slightly beyond the target
position (see FIG. 6D).
[0117] Further, from this state, control unit 100 starts displacing
registration roller pair 53a in the second direction opposite the
first direction (rightward, that is, in direction of arrow X2 in
example illustrated in FIG. 6D) accordance with the preset values,
as illustrated in FIG. 6D. Control unit 100 subsequently causes
line sensor 54 to operate to sense the position of the side edge of
sheet S (see FIG. 4B) and stops the displacement of registration
roller pair 53a based on the result of the sensing. At this point,
control unit 100 can stop the displacement of registration roller
pair 53a in a position where the side edge of sheet S is slightly
beyond the target position (see FIG. 6D), as described above.
Instead, control unit 100 may stop the displacement of registration
roller pair 53a in such a way that the side edge of sheet S
reaches, that is, coincides with the target position.
[0118] For example, in a case where five displacement actions (five
displacement points) are specified as one of the present values for
each sheet S, control unit 100 displaces registration roller pair
53a in the direction of arrow Xl, the direction X2, the direction
X1, the direction X2, and the direction X1 in the order presented.
In each of these displacement actions, control unit 100 stops the
displacement of registration roller pair 53a based on the result of
the sensing performed by line sensor 54 when the amount of
displacement specified by the preset value is achieved.
[0119] During the series of actions described above, in the
displacement action in the first direction (direction of arrow X1)
or the second direction (direction of arrow X2), the deviation
position (amount of deviation) in the case where the side edge of
sheet S is offset from the position of the dotted line in FIGS. 6A
to 6D can be arbitrarily set as the preset value. The deviation
position (amount of deviation) may, for example, be adjusted by the
user via a setting screen or any other means that is not
illustrated.
[0120] As for the amounts of displacement of registration roller
pair 53a (movement distance in width direction) in the displacement
actions in the first and second directions, the amount of
displacement in the displacement action in the first direction is
greater in many cases. Control unit 100 may therefore displace
registration roller pair 53a in such a way that the displacement
speed in the first direction is greater than the displacement speed
in the second direction.
[0121] As described above, in the registration displacement control
in the present embodiment performed on single sheet S (long sheet),
the operation of start of the displacement in the first direction
and stop of the displacement based on the result of the sensing
performed by line sensor 54 and the operation of start of the
displacement in the second direction and stop of the displacement
based on the result of the sensing performed by line sensor 54 are
alternately performed in accordance with the preset value. The
present embodiment, in which registration roller pair 53a is so
displaced as to make reciprocating motion rightward and leftward,
effectively prevents occurrence of a poor image due to the sub
scanning obliqueness particularly in the case of a long sheet.
[0122] FIGS. 6A to 6D illustrate the start and stop of both the
rightward and leftward displacement actions before the front end of
sheet S is thrusted into the secondary transfer nip for ease of
description. On the other hand, when a long sheet is actually
conveyed, the sub scanning obliqueness (positional deviation) after
the front end of sheet S enters the secondary transfer nip is
particularly a problem in many cases. That is, since the conveying
members press sheet S both on the upstream and downstream sides of
registration roller pair 53a after the front end of sheet S enters
the secondary transfer nip, the error in the registration
displacement action (insufficient displacement in usual case) is
more likely to occur than before the front end of sheet S is
thrusted into the secondary transfer nip.
[0123] Therefore, in the present embodiment, in the case where the
length of sheet S in the conveyance direction is greater than the
predetermined value described above, the series of actions of the
first and second displacement described above with reference to
FIGS. 6A to 6D is performed basically after the front end of sheet
S enters the secondary transfer nip. The registration displacement
control in which both the first and second displacement actions are
performed may be performed before the front end of sheet S is
thrusted into the secondary transfer nip. In this case, however,
the control using the method of related art described above, that
is, the control in which registration roller pair 53a is displaced
by the amount of displacement based on the result of the sensing
performed by line sensor 54 (see FIG. 4A) may be basically
performed.
[0124] In the case where the length of sheet S in the conveyance
direction is smaller than or equal to the predetermined value
described above, the user can optionally perform the registration
displacement control formed of the first and second displacement,
for example, via a user selection screen that is not illustrated.
Instead, control unit 100 may determine whether or not the
registration displacement control formed of the first and second
displacement is performed based on the type of sheet S (such as
basis weight).
[0125] An example of the preset value will be described below in
more detail. The start timing of each of the displacement actions
of registration roller pair 53a performed after sheet S is thrusted
into the secondary transfer nip and until sheet S exits out of a
registration nip is specified as the preset value. That is, the
preset value is a specified value representing the timing when the
side edge of registration roller pair 53a starts being displaced
toward the target position (displacement timing) after the start of
the thrust of sheet S into the secondary transfer nip. A plurality
of displacement timings can be set for one piece of sheet S.
Intervals between the timings can be arbitrarily set when a
plurality of displacement timings are set for one piece of sheet S.
Overall, the preset values include a value that specifies,
throughout the entire length of sheet S in the conveyance
direction, the timing when or a point on sheet S where registration
roller pair 53a starts moving in the sheet width direction.
[0126] For example, in the case where sheet S is a long sheet, a
plurality of displacement start timings may be specified (set) as
the preset value so that the series of actions formed of the first
and second displacement described above is repeatedly
performed.
[0127] In the case of a long sheet that is sheet S having a length
in the conveyance direction greater than the predetermined value
(487.7 mm, for example), not only may a plurality of displacement
start timings be specified (set) as the preset value so that the
series of actions formed of the first and second displacement
described above is repeatedly performed in the period for which the
rear end of sheet S is pressed by the sheet feed roller and other
components, but the amount of displacement at each of the
displacement timings may be set. The settings also allow the rear
end of sheet S to approach the target position when the
displacement of registration roller pair 53a both rightward and
leftward is repeatedly performed.
[0128] Further, a value representing the period from the stop of
the first displacement to the start of the second displacement may
be specified as one of the preset values. That is, in the case of
an long sheet that is sheet S having a length greater than the
predetermined value (487.7 mm, for example), the second
displacement is not initiated immediately after the completion of
the first displacement, but the second displacement is initiated a
predetermine period after the completion of the first displacement,
whereby the rear end (of long sheet) is more likely to approach the
target position in some cases. The value representing the period
from the stop of the first displacement to the start of the second
displacement can be specified on a displacement timing
(displacement point) basis.
[0129] Further, the preset values may include a value representing
the displacement speed of registration roller pair 53a in the first
or second displacement described above. The displacement speed can
be specified on a displacement timing (displacement point)
basis.
[0130] On the other hand, in a case where the image forming
conditions in the execution of a print job vary, for example, the
environment around image forming apparatus 1, the type of sheet S
to be used, and other factors vary, the timing when the sub
scanning obliqueness of sheet S occurs may vary. In this case, a
fixed start timing of the displacement of registration roller pair
53a and a fixed time interval between the displacement actions
result in the error, that is, the start timing of the first
displacement could be delayed with respect to the occurrence of the
sub scanning obliqueness or the reverse situation could occur. In
other words, it is believed that a preferable timing of each of the
displacement actions of registration roller pair 53a varies in
accordance with the image forming conditions.
[0131] Control unit 100 may therefore change the timings of the
first and second displacement actions in accordance with the image
forming conditions. For example, control unit 100 corrects the
preset values in such a way that the start timing of each of the
actions of the displacement of registration roller pair 53a and the
inter-displacement interval specified by the preset values are
changed. In this case, control unit 100 adds a correction value or
a correction coefficient (ratio) to each of the present values or
multiplies each of the preset values by a correction value or a
correction coefficient (ratio) to change the present value for the
registration displacement control using the changed preset
values.
[0132] The image forming conditions may include a variety of
conditions, such as the type of sheet S (length, width, surface
glossiness, and basis weight (rigidity), for example), the
environment around image forming apparatus 1 (typically
temperature/humidity conditions), the coverage (coverage rate), and
the printed surface in the double-sided printing (first or second
surface). In consideration of the image forming conditions
described above, the correction values and the correction
coefficients described above are preferably registered in
individual tables according to the conditions. In this case,
control unit 100 identifies the type of sheet S or any other factor
before a print job is executed, reads a correction value or a
correction coefficient from a corresponding table, changes the
preset value, and performs the registration displacement control
using the changed preset value.
[0133] Instead, the displacement start timing and the
inter-displacement interval may be specified in advance as the
preset values according to the image forming conditions. In view of
the fact that the image forming conditions are formed of a large
number of factors as described above, the preset values may be
registered in individual tables according to the conditions. In
this case, control unit 100 identifies the type of sheet S and
other factors at the time of execution of a print job, reads a
preset value from the corresponding table, and performs the
registration displacement control.
[0134] An example of the actions in the displacement control of
registration roller pair 53a and in turn sheet S in image forming
apparatus 1 will be described below with reference to the flowchart
of FIG. 7. The flowchart illustrated in FIG. 7 is a flowchart in
the case of a long sheet that is sheet S having a size in the
conveyance direction greater than 487.7 mm, and the actions
illustrated in the flowchart are performed on each sheet S on which
an image is formed in the execution of a print job in the case
where the aforementioned sheet feeding apparatus dedicated to a
long sheet is connected to image forming apparatus 1.
[0135] At the time of the execution of a print job, control unit
100 acquires information on the type of sheet S on which the
printing is performed (such as length, width, glossiness, and basis
weight (rigidity)) from user set information on the print job (step
S100).
[0136] In step S120, control unit 100 reads the preset value
registered in a table corresponding to the acquired image forming
condition (type of sheet in this example) and sets the direction
and the amount of displacement of registration roller pair 53a at
each displacement point.
[0137] Control unit 100 then waits until sheet S is thrusted into
the secondary transfer nip (step S140, NO) and moves to step S160
once sheet S is thrusted into the secondary transfer nip (step
S140, YES).
[0138] In step S160, control unit 100 starts the displacement of
registration roller pair 53a in the first direction (first
displacement) at the timing and the direction according to the set
value, that is, the preset value (see FIG. 6C).
[0139] The control described above causes registration roller pair
53a to be displaced at the timing according to the preset value
relative to sheet S thrusted into the secondary transfer nip in the
direction in which the positional deviation of sheet S is
corrected, so that sheet S is displaced in the width direction
thereof in response to the displacement.
[0140] In this process, the front end of sheet S (long sheet) is
sandwiched by the secondary transfer nip and sheet S is conveyed
while the toner images are formed, whereas the sheet is conveyed
with the rear end thereof pressed by sheet feed roller 500 in the
sheet feed tray unit in the long sheet optional apparatus (see FIG.
5A).
[0141] In the subsequent step S180, control unit 100 turns on line
sensor 54 to sense the position of the side edge of sheet S and
stops the displacement of registration roller pair 53a in the first
direction based on the result of the sensing performed by line
sensor 54 when the amount of displacement specified by the preset
value is achieved. In the displacement action in the first
direction, control unit 100 does not stop registration roller pair
53a at the timing when the side edge of sheet S reaches the target
position (reference position) but can stop registration roller pair
53a in a position where the side edge is slightly beyond the
reference position (what is called overrun position).
[0142] Having stopped registration roller pair 53a, control unit
100 starts displacing registration roller pair 53a (second
displacement) at the following displacement timing (displacement
point) specified by the preset value in the second direction
opposite the first direction (see FIG. 6D) (Step S200). In the
displacement in the second direction, control unit 100 displaces
registration roller pair 53a at a displacement speed smaller than
the displacement speed in the first direction.
[0143] In subsequent step S220, control unit 100 turns on line
sensor 54 again to sense the position of the side edge of sheet S
and stops the displacement of registration roller pair 53a based on
the result of the sensing performed by line sensor 54 when the
amount of displacement specified by the preset value is
achieved.
[0144] Control unit 100 then repeats the start of the displacement
of registration roller pair 53a in the timing according to the
preset value and the stop of the displacement based on the result
of the sensing performed by line sensor 54 in accordance with the
setting made in step S120 (step S240).
[0145] The control described above allows the side edge of sheet S
in the region of the secondary transfer nip to be accurately
aligned with the target position (reference position), whereby
occurrence of a poor image is effectively avoided. As a result, the
sub scanning obliqueness of the sheet can be more properly
corrected.
[0146] After completion of the registration displacement performed
on a single sheet multiple times specified by the preset value,
control unit 100 evaluates in step 5260 whether or not the print
job is completed. In a case where the result of the evaluation
shows that the print job has not been completed (NO in step S260),
control unit 100 returns to step S100 and performs the displacement
of registration roller pair 53a and the printing, such as image
formation, on the following sheet S. On the other hand, in a case
where the result of the evaluation shows that the print job has
been completed (YES in step S260), control unit 100 terminates the
series of processes described above.
[0147] As described above in detail, the present embodiment allows
correction of the sub scanning obliqueness of sheet S resulting
from misalignment, differences in diameter among the rollers in the
width direction, and other factors and hence prevent occurrence of
deviation of an image and other problems resulting from the sub
scanning obliqueness. Further, the present embodiment, in which the
displacement of registration roller pair 53a is stopped based on
the result of the sensing of the side edge of sheet S performed by
line sensor 54, allows more proper correction of the sub scanning
obliqueness of a sheet than in the registration displacement
control of related art.
[0148] Further, the present embodiment, in which the series of
control actions formed of the first displacement (start and stop)
and the second displacement (start and stop) of registration roller
pair 53a are performed, allows alignment of the side edge of a long
sheet in the region of the secondary transfer nip with the correct
position. The present embodiment therefore allows more proper
correction of the sub scanning obliqueness of sheet S than in the
control of related art, that is, the correction to be made with
effective prevention of occurrence of a poor image.
Embodiment 2
[0149] Embodiment 2 of the image forming apparatus will next be
described with reference additionally to FIGS. 8A to 8D to FIG. 10.
The schematic configuration and control system of the image forming
apparatus in Embodiment 2 are the same as those in Embodiment 1
(see FIGS. 1 and 2) and will not be described.
[0150] In view of the problems described above with reference to
FIGS. 3A and 3B and other figures, in Embodiment 2, in the case
where the length of sheet S in the conveyance direction is smaller
than or equal to the preset value (predetermined value), the
aforementioned registration displacement control that is the same
as the registration displacement control of related art is
performed, whereas in the case where the length of sheet S in the
conveyance direction is greater than the predetermined value, the
following registration displacement control (stop control) is
performed. That is, the control unit 100 starts the displacement of
registration roller pair 53a in the direction in which the side
edge of sheet S is directed toward the target position based on the
result of the sensing of the direction of deviation of the side
edge of sheet S performed by line sensor 54 and then stops the
displacement based on the result of the sensing performed by line
sensor 54 when the side edge of sheet S reaches the target
position.
[0151] That is, in the registration control, line sensor 54 is
primarily used to stop the displacement of registration roller pair
53a, and only the direction of deviation of the position of sheet S
is determined by using line sensor 54 but the amount of
displacement is not calculated before the start of the
displacement.
[0152] The case where the length of sheet S in the conveyance
direction is greater than the predetermined value is a case where
sheet S cannot be housed in sheet feed tray units 51a to 51c in the
apparatus or cannot housed also in a sheet feed tray of the sheet
feeding apparatus that is not illustrated but is connected as an
optional apparatus to image forming apparatus 1. An example of such
a case is a case where the size of sheet S in the conveyance
direction is greater than 487.7 mm. A long sheet having the size
described above can be fed when a sheet feeding apparatus (not
illustrated) dedicated to the long sheet is connected to image
forming apparatus 1.
[0153] The case where the length of sheet S in the conveyance
direction is greater than the predetermined value is instead a case
where sheet S has a length greater than or equal to the distance
from the position of registration roller pair 53a to a roller that
is located upstream of registration roller pair 53a in the
conveyance direction, has no pressing/separating mechanism, and
therefore always presses the sheet.
[0154] An overview of the registration displacement control in the
present embodiment in the case of a long sheet that is sheet S
having a length in the conveyance direction greater than the
predetermined value (487.7 mm, for example) will be described with
reference to FIGS. 8A to 8D and FIGS. 9A and 9B.
[0155] At the time of execution of a print job, sheet S (long
sheet) is fed, for example, from the sheet feeding apparatus
dedicated to the long sheet to image forming apparatus 1 and
successively conveyed via conveyance path unit 53 to registration
roller pair 53a and the secondary transfer nip, as described above.
FIG. 8A illustrates a case where the side edge of sheet S deviates
rightward in the state in which the position of the side edge of
sheet S can be sensed with line sensor 54. Loop rollers 53b are
separated from sheet S before the registration displacement action,
as indicated by the broken line in FIG. 8A.
[0156] FIG. 8B illustrates the direction in which registration
roller pair 53a is displaceable. As illustrated with arrow X1 and
X2 in FIG. 8B, registration roller pair 53a is configured to be
movable in the width direction (both rightward and leftward)
perpendicular to the direction of arrow Y, which is the sheet
conveyance direction.
[0157] In the present embodiment, control unit 100 causes line
sensor 54 to operate and compares the reference position (target
position) with the position of the side edge of sheet S indicated
by the signal output from line sensor 54 to determine the direction
of deviation of the position of the side edge of sheet S. Based on
the result of the determination, control unit 100 starts the
displacement in such a way that registration roller pair 53a is
displaced in the direction in which the side edge of sheet S is
directed toward the target position. In the example illustrated in
FIGS. 8A and 8B, since the side edge of sheet S is shifted
rightward with respect to the target position indicated by the
dotted line, registration roller pair 53a is so controlled as to
start being displaced in the direction of the arrow X1 (leftward),
as illustrated in FIG. 8C. Control unit 100 subsequently stop the
displacement when the side edge of sheet S reaches the target
position based on the result of the sensing performed by line
sensor 54 after the start of the displacement.
[0158] The content of the control performed when the displacement
starts will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 9A
and 9B. FIGS. 9A and 9B each chronologically illustrate control
signals output for the displacement of registration roller pair 53a
and a control signal output to line sensor 54.
[0159] Before the start of the displacement of registration roller
pair 53a, control unit 100 turns on line sensor 54 and determines
the direction of deviation of the position of sheet S (shift
deviation) from the signal output from line sensor 54. Based on the
result of determination, control unit 100 displaces registration
roller pair 53a only in one of the rightward and leftward
directions in such a way that registration roller pair 53a is
displaced (moved in width direction) in the direction in which the
side edge of sheet S is directed toward the target position, that
is, the direction in which the positional deviation is eliminated.
For example, control unit 100 outputs a falling control signal
illustrated in FIG. 9A in the case where registration roller pair
53a is displaced leftward (in direction of arrow X1 in FIG. 8B),
whereas outputting a rising control signal illustrated in FIG. 9A
in the case where registration roller pair 53a is displaced
rightward (in direction of arrow X2 in FIG. 8B).
[0160] At the start of the displacement of registration roller pair
53a, control unit 100 only needs to be capable of determining the
direction of the deviation of sheet S and does not need to
calculate the amount of deviation of sheet S and hence the amount
of displacement of registration roller pair 53a. The present
embodiment therefore allows reduction in the period from the
detection performed by line sensor 54 to the start of the
displacement of registration roller pair 53a (time lag), as
compared with the control method of related art.
[0161] In the example illustrated in FIG. 8C, since the side edge
of sheet S deviates rightward from the target position, control
unit 100 outputs the rising control signal that starts displacing
registration roller pair 53a leftward (in direction of arrow X1),
as illustrated in FIG. 9B. Control unit 100 then causes line sensor
54 to operate again and stops the displacement of registration
roller pair 53a when the side edge of sheet S reaches the target
position.
[0162] On the other hand, in the example illustrated in FIG. 8D,
since the side edge of sheet S deviates leftward from the target
position, control unit 100 outputs the falling control signal that
starts displacing registration roller pair 53a rightward (in
direction of arrow X2). Control unit 100 then causes line sensor 54
to operate again and stops the displacement of registration roller
pair 53a when the side edge of sheet S reaches the target
position.
[0163] FIGS. 8A to 8D illustrate the start and stop of the
displacement actions before the front end of sheet S is thrusted
into the secondary transfer nip for ease of description. On the
other hand, when a long sheet is actually conveyed, the sub
scanning obliqueness (positional deviation) after the front end of
sheet S enters the secondary transfer nip is particularly a problem
in many cases. That is, since the conveying members press sheet S
both on the upstream and downstream sides of registration roller
pair 53a after the front end of sheet S enters the secondary
transfer nip, the error in the registration displacement action is
more likely to occur than before the front end of sheet S is
thrusted into the secondary transfer nip.
[0164] Therefore, in the present embodiment, in the case where the
length of sheet S in the conveyance direction is greater than the
predetermined value described above, the registration displacement
control described above with reference to FIG. 8A to 8D and other
figures is performed basically after the front end of sheet S
enters the secondary transfer nip. The registration displacement
control may be performed before the front end of sheet S is
thrusted into the secondary transfer nip. In this case, however,
the control using the method of related art described above, that
is, the control in which registration roller pair 53a is displaced
by the amount of displacement based on the result of the sensing
performed by line sensor 54 may be basically performed.
[0165] In the case where the length of sheet S in the conveyance
direction is smaller than or equal to the predetermined value
described above, the user can optionally perform the registration
displacement control described above with reference to FIGS. 8A and
8B and other figures, for example, via a user selection screen that
is not illustrated. Instead, control unit 100 may determine whether
or not the registration displacement control is performed based on
the type of sheet S (such as basis weight).
[0166] The content of the control of stopping the displacement of
registration roller pair 53a in the present embodiment will next be
described in detail with reference also to FIG. 4B. In the present
embodiment, the displacement of registration roller pair 53a
(movement in width direction) is stopped at the timing when the
side edge of sheet S coincides with the target position (see dotted
line in FIG. 8A), as illustrated in FIG. 4B. FIG. 4B illustrates
the case where after the start of the displacement of registration
roller pair 53a, the side edge of sheet S is sensed with line
sensor 54 (sensing operation) multiple times in a constant cycle,
the side edge of sheet S coincides with the target position in the
third sensing operation, and registration roller pair 53a is then
stopped. As another control example, control unit 100 may calculate
(estimate) the timing when the side edge of sheet S reaches the
target position from the result of the first sensing operation and
perform the second sensing operation at the estimated timing. Still
instead, control unit 100 may omit the second sensing operation and
stop the movement (displacement) of registration roller pair 53a at
the estimated timing. The stop control described above allows
reduction in the number of actions of turning on line sensor 54 for
a longer life thereof.
[0167] As described above, according to the present embodiment, in
which the sensing signal from line sensor 54 is also used to stop
the displacement of registration roller pair 53a, the movement of
registration roller pair 53a can be stopped at the timing when the
side edge of sheet S coincides with the target position. The
control described above allows large reduction in the frequency of
the aforementioned error that occurs when the registration
displacement is stopped.
[0168] On the other hand, depending on the type of sheet S, the
environment in which the apparatus is installed, and other factors,
there could be a case where the direction of deviation of sheet S
(in other words, behavior of sheet S) cannot be predicted. To
handle such a case, in the present embodiment, control unit 100
determines the direction in which sheet S deviates from the target
position based on the sensing signal from line sensor 54 before the
start of the displacement of registration roller pair 53a and
prevents or inhibits the displacement of registration roller pair
53a at the start of the displacement in the direction opposite the
direction in which the sheet position deviation is corrected. That
is, in the configuration in which registration roller pair 53a is
displaceable toward the opposite sides of the width direction of a
sheet, control unit 100 determines, based on the sensing signal
from line sensor 54 before the start of the displacement, not to
move (displace) registration roller pair 53a in the opposite
direction described above and displaces registration roller pair
53a only in the direction in which the sheet position deviation is
corrected. The control described above allows the side edge of
sheet S to quickly reach the target position.
[0169] The registration displacement control in the present
embodiment in the case where sheet S having a size in the
conveyance direction greater than the predetermined value (487.7
mm) (long sheet) is conveyed will next be described with reference
to FIGS. 5A and 5B. In this example, it is assumed that a sheet
feeding apparatus as an optional apparatus that is not illustrated
is connected to image forming apparatus 1 illustrated in FIG. 1,
and sheet feed roller 500 of the sheet feeding apparatus is
disposed upstream of registration roller pair 53a.
[0170] In the registration displacement of related art, loop
rollers 53b and other rollers located upstream of registration
roller pair 53a and other rollers are so controlled as to be
separate away from sheet S, as described above. In other words, in
the registration displacement control of related art, only
registration roller pair 53a is pressed against sheet S, and
registration roller pair 53a is displaced with no thrust
resistance. On the other hand, in the case of sheet S long in the
conveyance direction (long sheet), when the front end of the sheet
is sandwiched by registration roller pair 53a, the rear end of the
sheet is pressed against sheet feed roller 500 or any other sheet
conveying member in some cases, as illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B.
In such cases, the position of the rear end of the sheet cannot be
corrected.
[0171] The registration displacement control in the present
embodiment, in which the side edge of sheet S can be aligned with
the target value, that is, the reference position even in the state
in which sheet S is pressed by a plurality of rollers upstream and
downstream of registration roller pair 53a as described above, is
effective particularly in this case. The characteristic
registration displacement control in the present embodiment is
therefore preferably performed after the front end of sheet S
enters the secondary transfer nip formed by backup roller 423B and
other components, as illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B.
[0172] That is, when the front end of sheet S enters the secondary
transfer nip, control unit 100 starts displacing registration
roller pair 53a, that is, moving registration roller pair 53a in
the width direction of the sheet based on the sensing signal from
line sensor 54.
[0173] Specifically, the example illustrated in FIG. 9A illustrates
a case where the portion of sheet S excluding the front end in the
conveyance direction deviates leftward, and the deviation of sheet
S (deviation direction) can be sensed as the deviation of the
position of the side edge with line sensor 54.
[0174] On the other hand, in the case where the timing when sheet S
starts deviating is known (can be estimated) in advance based on
peculiarities and other factors specific to each apparatus, the
timing when registration roller pair 53a is displaced (in other
words, position of sheet S in the conveyance direction, hereinafter
referred to as "displacement point") is preferably specified in
advance as one of the preset values. Instead, the timing when the
direction of deviation of the position of sheet S is sensed with
line sensor 54 may be specified as the preset value and used to
determine the start of the displacement.
[0175] The preset value in this case is a value for setting the
timing of the displacement of registration roller pair 53a after
sheet S is thrusted into the secondary transfer nip and until sheet
S exits out of the registration nip, and a plurality of
displacement timings can be set for each sheet S. In the case where
a plurality of displacement timings are set for each sheet S, the
interval between the timings can be arbitrarily set.
[0176] In the present embodiment, in which the preset value is
configured as described above, the start timing of the displacement
of registration roller pair 53a with respect to single sheet S and
the number of displacement actions performed on single sheet S
(number of displacement points) can be freely set.
[0177] Further, the preset values may include a value representing
the movement speed of registration roller pair 53a. The movement
speed can be specified on a displacement timing (displacement
point) basis.
[0178] In the present embodiment, the preset values are values for
allowing registration roller pair 53a to be displaced both
rightward and leftward. On the other hand, in the displacement
action at each displacement point, control unit 100 displaces
registration roller pair 53a only in the direction in which the
sheet position deviation is corrected. In other words, in the
displacement action at each displacement point, control unit 100
determines not to displace registration roller pair 53a in the
direction opposite the direction in which the sheet position
deviation is corrected. That is, in the displacement action at each
displacement point, displacement of registration roller pair 53a in
the direction opposite the direction in which the sheet position
deviation is corrected is inhibited.
[0179] On the other hand, in a case where the image forming
conditions in the execution of a print job vary, for example, the
environment around image forming apparatus 1, the type of sheet S
to be used, and other factors vary, the timing when the sub
scanning obliqueness of sheet S occurs may vary. In this case, a
fixed start timing of each of the displacement actions of
registration roller pair 53a and a fixed time interval between the
displacement actions result in the error, that is, the start timing
of the displacement could be delayed with respect to the occurrence
of the sub scanning obliqueness or the reverse situation could
occur. In other words, it is believed that a preferable timing of
each of the displacement actions of registration roller pair 53a
varies in accordance with the image forming conditions.
[0180] Control unit 100 may therefore change the timing of each of
the displacement actions of registration roller pair 53a in
accordance with the image forming conditions. For example, control
unit 100 corrects the preset values in such a way that the start
timing of each of the displacement actions of registration roller
pair 53a and the inter-displacement interval specified by the
preset values are changed. In this case, control unit 100 adds a
correction value or a correction coefficient (ratio) to each of the
present values or multiplies each of the preset values by a
correction value or a correction coefficient (ratio) to change the
present value for the registration displacement control using the
changed preset values.
[0181] The image forming conditions may include a variety of
conditions, such as the type of sheet S (length, width, surface
glossiness, and basis weight (rigidity), for example), the
environment around image forming apparatus 1 (typically
temperature/humidity conditions), the coverage (coverage rate), and
the printed surface in the double-sided printing (first or second
surface). In consideration of the image forming conditions
described above, the correction values and the correction
coefficients described above are preferably registered in
individual tables according to the conditions. In this case,
control unit 100 identifies the type of sheet S or any other factor
before a print job is executed, reads a correction value or a
correction coefficient from a corresponding table, changes the
preset value, and performs the registration displacement control
using the changed preset value.
[0182] Instead, the displacement start timing and the
inter-displacement interval may be specified in advance as the
preset values according to the image forming conditions. In view of
the fact that the image forming conditions are formed of a large
number of factors as described above, the preset values may be
registered in individual tables according to the conditions. In
this case, control unit 100 identifies the type of sheet S and
other factors at the time of execution of a print job, reads a
preset value from the corresponding table, and performs the
registration displacement control.
[0183] An example of the actions in the displacement control of
registration roller pair 53a and in turn sheet S in image forming
apparatus 1 will be described below with reference to the flowchart
of FIG. 10. In the example illustrated in FIG. 10, it is assumed
that the displacement of registration roller pair 53a is initiated
by using the preset values. The flowchart illustrated in FIG. 10 is
a flowchart in the case of a long sheet that is sheet S having a
size in the conveyance direction greater than 487.7 mm, and the
actions illustrated in the flowchart are performed on each sheet S
on which an image is formed in the execution of a print job in the
case where the aforementioned sheet feeding apparatus dedicated to
the long sheet is connected to image forming apparatus 1.
[0184] At the execution of the print job, control unit 100 acquires
information of the type (such as length, width, glossiness and
basis weight (stiffness)) of sheet S to be printed from the user
setting information of the print job (step S300).
[0185] In step S320, control unit 100 reads the preset value
registered in a table corresponding to the acquired image forming
condition (type of sheet in this example) and sets the start timing
of the displacement of registration roller pair 53a at each
displacement point.
[0186] Control unit 100 subsequently waits until sheet S is
thrusted into the secondary transfer nip (NO in step S340) and
moves to step S360 once sheet S is thrusted into the secondary
transfer nip (YES in step S340).
[0187] In step S360, control unit 100 causes line sensor 54 to
operate at the timing based on the preset value, for example, a
timing immediately before the displacement start timing set in step
S320 to sense the side edge of sheet S. In subsequent step S380,
control unit 100 evaluates whether or not the position of the side
edge of sheet S deviates from the reference position (target
position) based on the signal output from line sensor 54. Control
unit 100, when it determines that the side edge of sheet S deviates
from the reference position (target position) (YES in step S380),
determines the direction in which the side edge of sheet S deviated
(step S390) and moves to step S400. On the other hand, control unit
100, when it determines that the side edge of sheet S does not
deviate from the reference position (target position) (NO in step
S380), moves to step S480 but skips the processes in the steps
before step S480.
[0188] In step S400, control unit 100 starts the displacement of
registration roller pair 53a (movement of registration roller pair
53a toward one side of width direction) in such a way that
registration roller pair 53a is displaced only in the direction in
which the side edge of sheet S approaches the target position. The
control described above displaces registration roller pair 53a
rightward or leftward at the timing based on the preset value
relative to sheet S thrusted into the secondary transfer nip,
whereby sheet S is displaced in the width direction thereof in
response to the displacement of registration roller pair 53a.
[0189] In this process, the front end of sheet S (long sheet) is
sandwiched by the secondary transfer nip and sheet S is conveyed
while the toner images are formed, whereas the long sheet is
conveyed with the rear end thereof pressed by sheet feed roller 500
in the sheet feeding apparatus in the long sheet optional apparatus
(see FIG. 5A).
[0190] Control unit 100 subsequently causes line sensor 54 to
operate again to start sensing the position of the side edge of
sheet S (step S420) and evaluates whether or not the side edge of
sheet S has reached the target position (see dotted line in FIGS.
5A and 5B) (Step S440). Control unit 100 then keeps sensing the
position until it determines that the side edge of sheet S has
reached the target position (NO in step S440 and S420), and when
control unit 100 determines that the side edge of sheet S has
reached the target position (see FIG. 5B) (YES in step S440),
control unit 100 moves to step S460.
[0191] In step S460, control unit 100 stops the displacement of
registration roller pair 53a. The stop control allows the side edge
of sheet S to be precisely aligned with the target position
(reference position), whereby the sub scanning obliqueness of the
sheet is corrected more properly than in related art.
[0192] Control unit 100 then evaluates whether or not there is a
next displacement point (step S480). In a case where there is a
next displacement point (YES in step S480), control unit 100
returns to step S360 and repeats the processes in steps S360 to
S460 described above.
[0193] Therefore, in the case where a plurality of displacement
points are set for each sheet S as described above, the control of
the start and stop of the displacement of registration roller pair
53a in the direction toward the target position is performed
multiple times.
[0194] On the other hand, control unit 100, when it determines that
there is no next displacement point (NO in step S480), moves to
step S500.
[0195] In step S500, control unit 100 evaluates whether or not the
print job is completed. As a result of the evaluation, in a case
where the print job has not been completed (NO in step S500),
control unit 100 returns to step S300 and performs the displacement
of registration roller pair 53a and the printing, such as image
formation, on the following sheet S. On the other hand, in a case
where the result of the evaluation shows that the print job has
been completed (YES in step S500), control unit 100 terminates the
series of processes described above.
[0196] As described above in detail, the present embodiment allows
correction of the sub scanning obliqueness of sheet S resulting
from misalignment, differences in diameter among the rollers, and
other factors and hence prevent occurrence of deviation of an image
and other problems resulting from the sub scanning obliqueness.
Further, the present embodiment, in which the displacement of
registration roller pair 53a is stopped based on the result of the
sensing of the side edge of sheet S performed by line sensor 54,
allows more proper correction of the sub scanning obliqueness of a
sheet than in the registration displacement control of related
art.
[0197] Further, the present embodiment, in which registration
roller pair 53a is displaced only in one of the rightward and
leftward directions based on the result of the sensing of the
deviation direction of the side edge of sheet S while the
displacement in both the rightward and leftward directions are
allowed, allows the side edge of sheet S to quickly reach the
target position irrespective of rightward or leftward deviation of
the position of sheet S.
Embodiment 3
[0198] Embodiment 3 of the image forming apparatus will next be
described with reference additionally to FIGS. 11 to 14. The
schematic configuration and control system of the image forming
apparatus in Embodiment 3 are the same as those in Embodiment 1
(see FIGS. 1 and 2) and will not be described.
[0199] In view of the problems described above with reference to
FIGS. 3A and 3B and other figures, in Embodiment 3, control unit
100, after starting the displacement action of registration roller
pair 53a, that is, movement of sheet S in the width direction
thereof, causes line sensor 54 to operate and stops the
displacement action based on the result of the sensing performed by
line sensor 54 in such a way that the edge of sheet S reaches the
target position.
[0200] At this point, control unit 100 displaces registration
roller pair 53a always toward one side of the width direction
(first direction) whenever the displacement action starts. That is,
in the present embodiment, after the start of the displacement
action of registration roller pair 53a in the first direction along
the width direction (rightward or leftward), control unit 100 stops
the displacement action in the first direction based on the
position of the edge detected with line sensor 54 in such a way
that the edge of sheet S reaches the target position.
[0201] Therefore, in the present embodiment, an offset unit is
provided. The offset unit always moves (that is, offsets) a portion
of sheet S in the position of line sensor 54 in the direction
(second direction) opposite the direction in which registration
roller pair 53a is displaced. The specific configuration of the
offset unit will be described later.
[0202] Also in Embodiment 3, the displacement of the displacement
roller (movement in width direction) is stopped at the timing when
the side edge of sheet S coincides with the target position (see
dotted line in FIG. 3A), as illustrated in FIG. 4B, as in the
embodiments described above. The control described above allows
more proper correction of the sub scanning obliqueness of sheet S
than in the control of related art, that is, the correction to be
made with effective prevention of occurrence of a poor image.
[0203] In the case of a long sheet that is sheet S long in the
width direction, it is conceivable that sub scanning obliqueness,
such as what is called serpentine behavior, occurs depending on the
alignment of the rollers and other components, the temperature and
humidity, the basis weight (rigidity) of a sheet, and other
conditions. In this case, registration roller pair 53a can be
displaced multiple times relative to sheet S both rightward and
leftward to correct the positional deviation and hence prevent the
occurrence of a poor image. On the other hand, in the case where
the multiple registration displacement actions relative to single
sheet S are performed both rightward and leftward, the stress
induced in sheet S increases as compared with the case where sheet
S is displaced only rightward or leftward, and the content of the
control is relatively complicated.
[0204] In view of the fact described above, in the present
embodiment, registration roller pair 53a is always displaced in one
direction (rightward or leftward) in the displacement action to
displace sheet S only in one direction (first direction) along the
width direction of sheet S. The following description will be made
of a case where registration roller pair 53a is always displaced
leftward (direction of arrow X in FIG. 11) for ease of description,
as illustrated in FIG. 11.
[0205] In this case, at the start of each displacement action,
control unit 100 always displaces registration roller pair 53a
leftward to move the portion of sheet S sandwiched by registration
roller pair 53a leftward but does not displace registration roller
pair 53a or the portion of sheet S rightward. At the end of the
displacement, control unit 100 causes registration roller pair 53a
to be separate from sheet S and return to the home position, as in
related art.
[0206] On the other hand, in each displacement action, to allow the
action of displacing registration roller pair 53a leftward and
stopping the displacement to effectively function, it is assumed
that sheet S deviates in the fixed direction. In other words, sheet
S needs to be so conveyed that the position of the side edge
thereof always deviates from the target position in the same
direction when line sensor 54 detects the position of the side edge
of sheet S.
[0207] To this end, in the present embodiment, a sheet shift unit
or a sheet offset unit (hereinafter simply referred to as "offset
unit") is so provided as to give a tendency to the traveling
direction of conveyed sheet S in such a way that sheet S always
deviates in a fixed direction. In the present embodiment, the
offset unit is a mechanism that offsets the portion of sheet S in
the position of line sensor 54 in the direction (second direction,
rightward in this example) opposite the displacement direction of
registration roller pair 53a (leftward). In more detail, the offset
unit is a mechanism that moves or conveys sheet S in such a way
that the side edge of sheet S in the position of line sensor 54
deviates rightward (in second direction) with respect to the target
position (see dotted line in FIG. 11).
[0208] A specific configuration example of the offset unit in the
present embodiment will be described below. FIG. 11 illustrates an
example in which it is assumed that the offset unit is provided
upstream of registration roller pair 53a in the conveyance
direction and a sheet is so fed into image forming apparatus 1 that
the offset unit shifts the left side edge of sheet S rightward in
the width direction beyond the target position (reference position)
illustrated in FIG. 11. In this case, control unit 100 displaces
registration roller pair 53a only in the direction of arrow X
(leftward) in FIG. 11 and stops the displacement.
[0209] In the aspect in which the offset unit moves (shifts) sheet
S, the entire side edge of sheet S may be offset from the target
position (reference position), as illustrated in FIG. 11, or sheet
S may be tilted, as will be described later.
[0210] As an example of the configuration of the offset unit that
offsets the entire side edge of sheet S from the target position, a
sheet conveying guide (not illustrated) in image forming apparatus
1 is so misaligned as to be shifted in the width direction
(rightward) perpendicular to the sheet conveyance direction. In the
case where the sheet feeding apparatus that is not illustrated is
connected to image forming apparatus 1, the sheet feeding apparatus
may be caused to function as the offset unit. For example, the
sheet feeding apparatus is so connected to image forming apparatus
1 that the position of a sheet ejection port of the sheet feeding
apparatus is shifted in the width direction (rightward) with
respect to the sheet conveyance path in image forming apparatus
1.
[0211] As an example of the configuration of the offset unit that
tilts sheet S, the orientation (parallelism) of the shaft of a
roller disposed upstream of registration roller pair 53a in the
sheet conveyance direction (conveyance rollers including sheet feed
roller and loop rollers 53b) is so shifted (caused to incline
rightward) that the sheet is passed obliquely toward one side
(rightward). Instead, rollers upstream of registration roller pair
53a may be configured to differ from each other in terms of
diameter in the width direction (diameter of left roller in width
direction is made greater in this example). In the case where the
sheet feeding apparatus that is not illustrated is connected to
image forming apparatus 1, the sheet feed roller of the sheet
feeding apparatus may be configured as described above, or the
entire sheet feeding apparatus (unit) may be so connected to image
forming apparatus 1 as to incline with respect to the sheet
conveyance path in image forming apparatus 1.
[0212] As another example of the configuration of the offset unit
that tilts sheet S, registration roller pair 53a may be configured
as the offset unit. That is, the orientation (parallelism) of the
shaft of registration roller pair 53a is shifted (caused to incline
rightward), or the rollers of registration roller pair 53a are
configured to differ from each other in terms of diameter in the
width direction (diameter of left roller is made greater).
Registration roller pair 53a thus functions as the offset unit.
[0213] As described above, in the sheet conveyance path from the
sheet feeding side to registration roller pair 53a, the offset unit
is formed by misaligning any of the rollers, the sheet conveying
guide, or any other member with respect to the usual correct
alignment or changing the diameter of any of the variety of rollers
in the width direction. The thus configured offset unit allows
sheet S to be so conveyed on the side upstream of the secondary
transfer nip that the side edge of sheet S deviates toward one side
(rightward) from the target position.
[0214] As described above, in the case where the offset unit is
provided in the sheet conveyance path from the sheet feeding side
to registration roller pair 53a, control unit 100 displaces
registration roller pair 53a only in the direction of arrow X
(leftward) in FIG. 11 before the front edge of sheet S reaches the
secondary transfer nip.
[0215] The aforementioned configuration examples have been
described with reference to the case where the offset unit is
provided upstream of the secondary transfer nip as the
configuration applicable to both a long sheet and a non-long sheet.
On the other hand, as a configuration example suitable primarily
for a long sheet, the members that form the secondary transfer nip
may be configured as the offset unit, or the offset unit may be
provided downstream of the secondary transfer nip.
[0216] The configuration in which the offset unit is provided in
the secondary transfer nip will be described with reference to
FIGS. 12A and 12B. FIG. 12A illustrates the usual state in which no
offset unit is provided, and FIG. 12B illustrates the case where
the members that form the secondary transfer nip are so misaligned
as to also function as the offset unit.
[0217] FIG. 12B exaggeratedly illustrates an example in which the
shaft of backup roller 423B is caused to incline leftward as the
misalignment so that sheet S is passed obliquely leftward. In this
case, the shaft of secondary transfer roller 424, which faces
backup roller 423B via intermediate transfer belt 421, is also so
caused to incline in the same direction as to maintain the
secondary transfer nip. In the example illustrated in FIG. 12B, in
which sheet S is so conveyed as to be passed obliquely leftward
(tilted leftward) by the secondary transfer nip, the side edge of
sheet S deviates rightward beyond the target position in the
position of line sensor 54. Control unit 100 therefore displaces
registration roller pair 53a leftward at the start of the
displacement.
[0218] As another configuration example, backup roller 423B and
secondary transfer roller 424 may be configured to differ from each
other in terms of diameter in the width direction.
[0219] In the configuration example illustrated in FIG. 12B, sheet
S starts being passed obliquely leftward after the front end of
sheet S enters the secondary transfer nip, and the side edge of
sheet S deviated rightward in the position of line sensor 54.
Control unit 100 therefore displaces registration roller pair 53a
only leftward (in direction of arrow X in FIG. 12B) after the front
end of sheet S enters the secondary transfer nip.
[0220] The configuration in which the offset unit is provided in
the fixing unit 60 will be described with reference to FIGS. 13A
and 13B. FIG. 13A illustrates the usual state in which no offset
unit is provided, and FIG. 13B illustrates a case where the members
that form the fixing nip are so misaligned as to also function as
the offset unit.
[0221] FIG. 13B exaggeratedly illustrates an example in which the
shaft of upper pressurizing roller 63 is caused to incline leftward
as the misalignment so that sheet S is passed obliquely leftward.
In this case, the shaft of lower pressurizing roller 65, which
faces upper pressurizing roller 63 via fixing belt 61, is also so
caused to incline in the same direction as to maintain the fixing
nip. In the example illustrated in FIG. 13B, in which sheet S is so
conveyed as to be passed obliquely leftward by the fixing nip, the
side edge of sheet S deviates rightward in the position of line
sensor 54. Control unit 100 therefore displaces registration roller
pair 53a leftward at the start of the displacement.
[0222] As another configuration example, upper pressurizing roller
63 and lower pressurizing roller 65 may be configured to differ
from each other in terms of diameter in the width direction.
[0223] In the configuration example illustrated in FIG. 13B, since
sheet S starts being passed obliquely leftward after the front end
of sheet S enters the fixing nip, control unit 100 displaces
registration roller pair 53a only leftward (in direction of arrow X
in FIG. 13B) after the front end of sheet S enters the fixing
nip.
[0224] As described above, providing the offset unit, which moves
or conveys sheet S in such a way that the side edge of sheet S
intentionally deviates from the target position, allows
registration roller pair 53a to always start being displaced in one
direction at the time of registration displacement. According to
the present embodiment, in which registration roller pair 53a is
always displaced only in one direction, the stress induced in sheet
S can be reduced, as compared with the case where registration
roller pair 53a is displaced toward both the sides of the width
direction.
[0225] The registration displacement control in the present
embodiment will be more specifically described below.
[0226] In the present embodiment, control unit 100 starts
displacing registration roller pair 53a, that is, moving
registration roller pair 53a in the width direction when the front
end of sheet S passes by a pre-specified position (predetermined
position) and enters the secondary transfer nip. The predetermined
position varies in accordance with the position of the offset unit
in the sheet conveyance path, as described above. Further, the
action of starting the displacement may be performed based on the
sensing signal from line sensor 54 (see FIG. 4A) or a preset value
(fixed value) that will be described later.
[0227] In the present embodiment, at the start of the displacement,
the amount of movement of registration roller pair 53a does not
need to be calculated (see FIG. 4A), and the displacement direction
is specified in advance. Therefore, in the present embodiment, even
in the case where the displacement starts based on the sensing
signal from line sensor 54, the time lag from the sensing performed
by line sensor 54 to the start of the movement of the displacement
rollers can be reduced.
[0228] On the other hand, in the present embodiment in which the
offset unit is provided, the deviation direction of sheet S is
known in advance. The timing when registration roller pair 53a is
displaced (in other word, position of sheet S in conveyance
direction, hereinafter referred to as "displacement point") can
therefore be specified in advance as the preset value. Therefore,
the start timing of the registration displacement for correction of
the sub scanning obliqueness does not basically need to rely on the
result of the sensing performed by line sensor 54, and the
registration displacement control may be performed based on the
preset value that specifies the displacement start timing in
advance.
[0229] In the configuration described below, control unit 100, when
it starts the displacement of registration roller pair 53a, does
not use a value sensed with line sensor 54 but uses the preset
value that specifies the timing of the displacement of registration
roller pair 53a to perform registration displacement control. That
is, control unit 100 uses the preset value described above to
control registration roller pair 53a in such a way that sheet S is
displaced in the first direction (leftward).
[0230] The preset value is a value for setting the timing of the
displacement of registration roller pair 53a after the front end of
sheet S is thrusted into registration roller pair 53a (hereinafter
also referred to as registration nip) and until the rear end of
sheet S exits out of the registration nip. That is, the preset
value is a specified value representing the timing when
registration roller pair 53a moves in the sheet width direction
(displacement timing) after the start of the thrust of sheet S into
the registration nip. In the case where a plurality of displacement
timings are set for each sheet S, the interval between the timings
can be arbitrarily set.
[0231] The displacement timing is a value representing the point of
time (movement start time) when registration roller pair 53a starts
being displaced leftward, in other words, a value representing the
distance over which sheet S has been conveyed by the registration
nip (or secondary transfer nip) before registration roller pair 53a
starts being displaced. The displacement timing can be referred to
as the displacement point for convenience. In this case, for
example, a plurality of displacement points (positions in direction
Y in FIG. 11) where registration roller pair 53a is displaced after
the front end of sheet S is thrusted into the registration nip (or
secondary transfer nip) are specified as the preset value for a
long sheet. Overall, the preset value is a value that specifies,
throughout the entire length of sheet S in the conveyance
direction, the timing when or a point on sheet S where registration
roller pair 53a starts being displaced leftward.
[0232] In the present embodiment, in which the preset value is
configured as described above, the start timing of the displacement
of registration roller pair 53a with respect to single sheet S and
the number of displacement actions performed on single sheet S
(number of displacement points) can be freely set. Another preset
value may be a value representing the displacement speed of
registration roller pair 53a. The displacement speed can be
specified on a displacement timing (displacement point) basis.
[0233] At the time of execution of a print job, control unit 100
therefore uses the preset value described above to start displacing
registration roller pair 53a leftward. In the case where sheet S on
which printing is performed is a long sheet, in the state in which
sheet S is conveyed and fed at the start of the displacement with
the front end thereof sandwiched by the secondary transfer nip and
the rear end thereof pressed by the sheet feed roller, the portion
of sheet S between the front end and the rear end thereof moves
leftward with the portion sandwiched by registration roller pair
53a.
[0234] Control unit 100 subsequently turns on line sensor 54,
starts sensing the position of the side edge of sheet S, and stops
the displacement of registration roller pair 53a based on the
result of the sensing. Specifically, control unit 100 monitors the
sensing signal from line sensor 54 (see FIG. 4B) and stops the
leftward displacement of registration roller pair 53a at the timing
when the side edge of sheet S reaches the target position described
above.
[0235] Stopping registration roller pair 53a as described above
allows the side edge of sheet S to coincide with the target
position set in advance at each displacement point, whereby the sub
scanning obliqueness of sheet S can be more properly corrected than
in related art.
[0236] An example of setting of the start timing of displacement of
registration roller pair 53a and the like will be described
below.
[0237] In the case where the image forming conditions in the
execution of a print job vary, for example, the environment around
image forming apparatus 1, the type of sheet S to be used, and
other factors vary, it is conceivable that the aspect of the
deviation of sheet S and the degree of the deviation (the manner
the deviation occurs) vary. In this case, a fixed start timing of
each of the displacement actions of registration roller pair 53a
and a fixed time interval between the displacement actions result
in the error, that is, the start timing of the displacement could
be delayed with respect to the manner sheet S deviates or the
reverse situation could occur.
[0238] In general, the longer sheet S in the conveyance direction
is, the greater the number of displacement actions of (displacement
points on) registration roller pair 53a needs to be. Further, since
sheet S having high glossiness and sheet S having low glossiness
differ from each other in terms of the degree of slippage of the
sheet sandwiched by registration roller pair 53a and conveyed
therethrough (the former is more slippery), it may be necessary to
change the displacement start timing and the number of displacement
actions even when the same-size sheet is conveyed. Further, since
the smaller the basis weight (rigidity) of sheet S is, the softer
the stiffness of the sheet is and hence the more slippery the sheet
is in the conveyance, it may be necessary to change the
displacement start timing and the number of displacement actions
even when the same-size sheet is conveyed.
[0239] As described above, the appropriate start timing of the
displacement of registration roller pair 53a varies in accordance
with the type of sheet S and other image forming conditions in some
cases. In consideration of this, the preset values may be
registered in individual tables according to the type of sheet S
and other image forming conditions, and control unit 100 may
identify the type of sheet S and other factors at the time of
execution of a print job, read a preset value from the
corresponding table, and perform the registration displacement
control.
[0240] An example of the actions in the displacement control of
registration roller pair 53a and in turn sheet S in image forming
apparatus 1 will be described below with reference to the flowchart
of FIG. 14. In the control example illustrated in FIG. 14, it is
assumed that the offset unit is provided in fixing unit 60 (see
FIG. 13B) and the displacement of registration roller pair 53a is
initiated by using the preset value. The processes illustrated in
FIG. 14 are processes in the case of a long sheet that is sheet S
having a size that does not allow sheet S to be accommodated in
sheet feed tray units 51a to 51c in the apparatus (size greater
than 487.7 mm, for example), and the processes are carried out on
each sheet S in the case where the sheet feeding apparatus
dedicated to the long sheet is connected to image forming apparatus
1.
[0241] At the time of the execution of a print job, control unit
100 acquires information on the type of sheet S on which printing
is performed (such as length, glossiness, and basis weight
(rigidity)) from user set information on the print job (step
S600).
[0242] In step S620, control unit 100 reads the preset value
registered in a table corresponding to the acquired image forming
condition (type of sheet in this example) and sets the start timing
of the displacement of registration roller pair 53a in each
displacement action.
[0243] Control unit 100 subsequently waits until sheet S is
thrusted into the secondary transfer nip (NO in step S640) and
moves to step S660 once sheet S is thrusted into the secondary
transfer nip (YES in step S640).
[0244] In step S660, control unit 100 starts displacing
registration roller pair 53a in one direction specified in advance
(leftward in this case) in accordance with the value set in step
S620. The displacement start control described above allows
registration roller pair 53a to be displaced leftward (in first
direction) relative to sheet S thrusted into the secondary transfer
nip at the timing according to the present value, and the portion
of sheet S sandwiched by registration roller pair 53a is displaced
in the width direction (leftward) in response to the displacement
of registration roller pair 53a.
[0245] Control unit 100 subsequently turns on line sensor 54 to
start sensing the position of the side edge of sheet S (step S680)
and evaluates whether or not the side edge of sheet S has reached
the target position (see dotted line in FIG. 13B) (step S700).
Control unit 100 then keeps sensing the position until it
determines that the side edge of sheet S has reached the target
position (NO in step S700 and S680), and when control unit 100
determines that the side edge of sheet S has reached the target
position (see FIG. 4B) (YES in step S700), control unit 100 moves
to step S720.
[0246] In step S720, control unit 100 stops the displacement of
registration roller pair 53a. The stop control allows the side edge
of sheet S to be precisely aligned with the target position at the
displacement point. As a result, a situation in which the side end
of sheet S in the secondary transfer nip, which is located in a
position more upstream of registration roller pair 53a, deviates
from the reference position (see dotted line in FIG. 12B) can be
effectively avoided.
[0247] Control unit 100 then evaluates whether or not there is a
next displacement point (step S740). In a case where there is a
next displacement point (YES in step S740), control unit 100
returns to step S660 and repeats the processes in steps S660 to
S720 described above. On the other hand, in a case where there is
no next displacement point (NO in step S740), control unit 100
moves to step S760.
[0248] In step S760, control unit 100 evaluates whether or not the
print job is completed. As a result of the evaluation, in a case
where the print job has not been completed (NO in step S760),
control unit 100 returns to step S600 and performs the displacement
of registration roller pair 53a and the printing, such as image
formation, on the following sheet S. On the other hand, in a case
where the result of the evaluation shows that the print job has
been completed (YES in step S760), control unit 100 terminates the
series of processes described above.
[0249] As described above, the present embodiment allows correction
of the sub scanning obliqueness of sheet S and hence prevent
occurrence of deviation of an image and other problems resulting
from the sub scanning obliqueness. Further, the present embodiment,
in which the displacement of registration roller pair 53a is
stopped based on the result of the sensing of the side edge of
sheet S performed by line sensor 54, allows more proper correction
of the sub scanning obliqueness of a sheet than in the registration
displacement control of related art.
[0250] Further, according to the present embodiment, in which
registration roller pair 53a is displaced only in the first
direction in each displacement action, the stress induced in sheet
S can be reduced.
[0251] The control example described with reference to FIG. 14 and
other figures have been described with reference to the case where
the preset value is used to start the displacement of registration
roller pair 53a in one direction. On the other hand, the present
embodiment is also applicable to the displacement action method
described above with reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B, that is, the
control method in which deviation of the side edge of sheet S is
sensed with line sensor 54, the amount of displacement of
registration roller pair 53a is calculated from the result of the
sensing, and registration roller pair 53a is displaced by the
calculated amount in one direction.
[0252] The aforementioned embodiments have been described with
reference to the image forming apparatus including the transfer
section that secondarily transfers an image to be printed onto a
sheet by using the intermediate transfer belt. On the other hand,
the embodiments described above are also applicable in the same
manner to an image forming apparatus based on a transfer method for
primarily transferring an image to be printed onto a sheet
(monochromatic printer, for example).
[0253] The aforementioned embodiments have been described with
reference to the case where the sheet conveying member provided
upstream of the secondary transfer nip and displaced by the control
unit is the registration roller pair. As another example, the sheet
conveying member can, for example, be a roller other than the
registration roller pair or the sheet conveying guide in addition
to or in place of the registration roller pair.
[0254] The aforementioned embodiments have been described with
reference to the case where a piece of paper is used as the sheet.
On the other hand, the aforementioned embodiments are applicable to
a rolled sheet in the same manner.
Embodiment 4
[0255] Embodiment 4 of the image forming apparatus will next be
described with reference to FIGS. 15 to 22.
[0256] In recent years, a multifunctional image forming apparatus
that also serves as a printer, a scanner, a copier, a facsimile
machine, and other apparatus is widely used. In the image forming
apparatus, in which a sheet is conveyed from the sheet feeding unit
and the inverting path to the transfer section at the time of image
formation, the sheet is in some cases undesirably offset in the
direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction (hereinafter
also referred to as sheet width direction in some cases) due, for
example, to a mechanical factor in the apparatus. When printing is
performed with the sheet being offset as described above, the
position where an image is formed on the sheet undesirably deviates
from an original proper position.
[0257] To precisely align an image with a sheet in consideration of
the offset of the sheet, the registration displacement control, in
which the sheet is sandwiched between the registration rollers and
displaced in the sheet width direction for correction of the offset
of the sheet, is performed. For example, PTL 2 describes an image
forming apparatus in which registration rollers are disposed
upstream of the image forming position, a line sensor is disposed
downstream of the registration rollers but upstream of the
secondary transfer roller, and the sheet is displaced in the sheet
width direction based on the amount of offset of the sheet sensed
with the line sensor for correction of the offset of the sheet.
[0258] In related-art technology representatively used in PTL 2,
the registration rollers are displaced before the front end of a
sheet reaches the secondary transfer roller for alignment of the
side edge of the sheet. Only the displacement before the sheet
reaches the secondary transfer roller, however, results in
occurrence of sub scanning obliqueness, which is obliqueness of the
sheet with respect to the conveyance direction (sub-scanning
direction), due to misalignment among the registration rollers, the
secondary transfer roller, and the fixing roller and the difference
in diameter between a roller on the near side and a roller on the
far side when the image forming apparatus is viewed from the front.
The skew correction, in which the front end of a sheet is caused to
come into contact with the registration rollers for correction of
tilt of the sheet, corrects tilt of the front end of the sheet but
does not correct tilt of the rear end of the sheet, and distortion
therefore remains between the front end and the rear end,
undesirably resulting in the sub scanning obliqueness (see FIG. 2).
In particular, a long sheet, which is likely to be affected by the
sub scanning obliqueness, noticeably experiences the sub scanning
obliqueness. When printing is performed in the presence of the sub
scanning obliqueness, the position where an image is formed on the
sheet deviates in the middle of the printing.
[0259] In view of the problems described above, Embodiment 4 of the
image forming apparatus for suppressing the positional deviation of
an image on a sheet due to the sub scanning obliqueness is
proposed.
[0260] FIG. 15 is a configuration diagram diagrammatically
illustrating image forming apparatus 1000 in Embodiment 4. Image
forming apparatus 1000 is, for example, electrophotographic image
forming apparatus 1000, for example, a copier, and is what is
called a tandem-color image forming apparatus in which a full-color
image is formed by a plurality of vertically arranged
photoconductors facing a single intermediate transfer belt.
[0261] Image forming apparatus 1000 is primarily formed of document
reading apparatus SC, image forming unit 1010, fixing unit 1050,
image reading unit 1060, and control unit 1011, which are
accommodated in a single enclosure.
[0262] Document reading apparatus SC scans an image of a document
and exposes light thereto by using an optical system of a scanning
light exposure apparatus, reads the light reflected off the
document with a line image sensor, and produces an image signal
based on the read reflected light. The image signal undergoes A/D
conversion, shading correction, compression, and other types of
processing and is then input as image data to control unit 1011.
The image data input to control unit 1011 is not limited to the
image data read by document reading apparatus SC and may be image
data received from a personal computer or any other image forming
apparatus connected to image forming apparatus 1000 via
communication unit 1013.
[0263] Image forming unit 1010 includes four sets of image forming
units (image writing units) 1010Y, 1010M, 1010C, and 1010K,
intermediate transfer belt 1006, secondary transfer roller 1009,
and other components. Image forming units 1010Y, 1010M, 1010C, and
1010K are formed of image forming unit 1010Y, which forms a yellow
(Y) image, image forming unit 1010M, which forms a magenta (M)
image, image forming unit 1010C, which forms a cyan (C) image, and
image forming unit 1010K, which forms a black (K) image.
[0264] Image forming unit 1010Y is formed of photoconductor drum
1001Y and charging unit 1002Y, light writing unit 1003Y, developing
apparatus 1004Y, and drum cleaner 1005Y disposed around
photoconductor drum 1001Y. Similarly, image forming units 1010M,
1010C, and 1010K are formed of photoconductor drums 1001M, 1001C,
and 1001K and charging units 1002M, 1002C, and 1002K, light writing
units 1003M, 1003C, and 1003K, developing apparatus 1004M, 1004C,
and 1004K, and drum cleaners 1005M, 1005C, and 1005K disposed
around photoconductor drums 1001M, 1001C, and 1001K.
[0265] Photoconductor drums (photoconductors) 1001Y to 1001K each
have a surface uniformly charged by the charging units 1002Y to
1002K, and scanning light exposure performed by light writing units
1003Y to 1003K form latent images on photoconductor drums 1001Y to
1001K. Further, developing apparatus 1004Y to 1004K perform toner
development to visualize the latent images on photoconductor drums
1001Y to 1001K. Toner images having predetermined colors
corresponding to yellow, magenta, cyan, and black are therefore
formed on photoconductor drums 1001Y to 1001K. The toner images
formed on photoconductor drums 1001Y to 1001K are sequentially
transferred to predetermined positions on rotating intermediate
transfer belt 1006 via primary transfer rollers 1007Y, 1000M,
1007C, and 1007K.
[0266] The color toner images transferred onto intermediate
transfer belt 1006 are transferred by secondary transfer roller
1009 onto sheet S conveyed at a predetermine timing by sheet
conveying unit 1020, which will be described later. Secondary
transfer roller 1009 is a pressure contact unit that is in contact
with intermediate transfer belt 1006 under pressure, and secondary
transfer roller 1009 and intermediate transfer belt 1006 form a nip
unit (hereinafter referred to as "transfer nip unit").
[0267] Sheet conveying unit 1020 conveys sheet S along the path
along which sheet S is conveyed. Sheets S are accommodated in sheet
feed trays 1021, and each sheet S accommodated in each of sheet
feed trays 1021 is captured by sheet feed unit 1022 and delivered
into a conveyance path. Instead, sheets S are accommodated in a
sheet feed tray provided in a sheet feeding apparatus (not
illustrated) connected to image forming apparatus 1000, and each
sheet S in the sheet feeding apparatus is supplied from the sheet
feeding apparatus to image forming apparatus 1000 and delivered
into the conveyance path.
[0268] In the conveyance path, a plurality of conveyance means for
conveying sheet S are provided upstream of the transfer nip unit.
The transfer means are each formed of a pair of rollers in contact
with each other under pressure and convey sheet S when at least one
of the rollers is driven and rotated by a drive mechanism primarily
formed of an electric motor. The pair of rollers, which form each
of the conveyance means, is configured to be capable of switching
the inter-roller state between the pressure contact state and a
separate state.
[0269] In the present embodiment, intermediate conveyance rollers
1023 to 1025, loop rollers 1026, and registration rollers 1027 are
provided as the conveyance means over the range from the upstream
side of the path along which sheet S is conveyed to the downstream
side thereof. The conveyance means are not necessarily formed of a
pair of rollers and may instead be formed of the combination of
belts, the combination of a belt and a roller, or any of a wide
variety of other configurations each formed of a pair of rotating
members.
[0270] In the thus configured conveyance path, sheet S fed from any
of the sheet feed trays 1021 or the sheet feed tray of the sheet
feeding apparatus is conveyed sequentially by the plurality of
intermediate conveyance rollers 1023 to 1025 and loop rollers 1026,
which are provided over the range from the upstream side of the
conveyance path to the downstream side thereof and travels along
the conveyance path. When the front end of sheet S approaches
registration rollers 1027, sheet S conveyed by intermediate
conveyance rollers 1023 to 1025 and loop rollers 1026 is caused to
come into contact with registration rollers 1027 that is not
rotating, and loop rollers 1026 keep rotating for a predetermined
period to loop sheet S. The formation of the loop corrects
obliqueness of the front end of sheet S (skew correction).
[0271] Thereafter, when registration rollers 1027 start rotating at
a predetermined timing in synchronization with the toner images
carried by intermediate transfer belt 1006, the state of
intermediate conveyance rollers 1023 to 1025 and loop rollers 1026
is switched from the pressure contact state to the separate state.
That is, after the loop rollers 1026 transition to the separate
state, sheet S is conveyed only by registration rollers 1027.
Registration rollers 1027, which serve as the displacing unit
(displacement rollers), perform displacement, which will be
described later, while conveying sheet S and conveys sheet S to the
transfer nip unit formed of intermediate transfer belt 1006 as the
transfer belt and secondary transfer roller 1009 as the transfer
section.
[0272] FIG. 16 is a descriptive diagram illustrating the
displacement of sheet S performed by registration rollers 1027.
Registration rollers 1027 are configured to be displaceable in the
sheet width direction CD (direction perpendicular to sheet
conveyance direction (sub-scanning direction) FD). Drive mechanism
1034 primarily formed of an electric motor is linked to
registration rollers 1027. When driven by mechanism 1034,
registration rollers 1027 can move in sheet width direction CD from
a predetermined home position as a start point.
[0273] Registration rollers 1027 can move sheet S being conveyed
along sheet width direction CD by moving sheet S along sheet width
direction CD in accordance with the passage period for which sheet
S passes through registration rollers 1027 (displacement process).
Registration rollers 1027 thus adjust the conveyance position of
sheet S in sheet width direction CD in such a way that sheet S is
aligned with the position of the toner images to be transferred.
The position where the side edge of sheet S should pass through in
sheet width direction CD is called displacement aim position Tp.
Displacement aim position Tp is a position where the positional
relationship between sheet S and the toner images in sheet width
direction CD is optimized (for example, center of sheet S in width
direction thereof coincides with center of tonner images in width
direction) when the side edge of sheet S passes through the
displacement aim position Tp, and registration rollers 1027 adjust
the conveyance position of sheet S in sheet width direction CD in
such a way that the side edge of sheet S coincides with
displacement aim position Tp.
[0274] The conveyance path is provided with registration sensor SE1
and position sensing sensor SE2, and control unit 1011 controls the
action of registration rollers 1027 based on the results of the
detection performed by the sensors.
[0275] Registration sensor SE1 is disposed between registration
rollers 1027 and loop rollers 1026 in the conveyance path and
detects that the front end of sheet S has reached the position
where the sensor performs the detection (position upstream of
registration rollers 1027 by predetermined distance). The result of
the detection performed by registration sensor SE1 is used, for
example, to sense the start timing of the rotation of registration
rollers 1027.
[0276] Position sensing sensor SE2 is a sensing unit that senses
the position of the side edge of sheet S in sheet width direction
CD. Position sensing sensor SE2 can, for example, be a linear image
sensor having a plurality of light receiving elements linearly
arranged along sheet width direction CD (CCD line sensor, for
example). The result of the detection performed by position sensing
sensor SE2 is used to determine the amount of movement of
registration rollers 1027 in the displacement process and grasp the
timing when the front end of sheet S reaches the transfer nip unit
(that is, timing when front end of sheet S is thrusted into
secondary transfer roller 1009).
[0277] As illustrated in FIG. 15 again, fixing unit 1050 is an
apparatus that performs fixing on sheet S on which the toner images
have been transferred, that is, sheet S delivered from the transfer
nip unit and is formed, for example, of a pair of fixing members
(pair of rollers, for example) and a heater that heats one or both
of the fixing members. Fixing unit 1050 fixes the toner images onto
sheet S in the course of conveyance of sheet S with the aid of
pressurization performed by the pair of fixing members and the heat
transferred from the fixing members.
[0278] Sheet S on which the fixing process has been carried out by
fixing unit 1050 is read by image reading unit (ICCU) 1060 and then
ejected by sheet ejection rollers 1028 into ejected sheet tray 1029
attached to the outer side surface of the enclosure. In a case
where an image is formed also on the rear surface of sheet S, sheet
S having undergone image formation on the front surface of the
sheet is read by image reading unit 1060 and then conveyed by
switching gate 1030 to inverting rollers 1031, which is located
below switching gate 1030. Inverting rollers 1031 sandwich the rear
end of conveyed sheet S, then convey sheet S in the opposite
direction to invert sheet S, and deliver sheet S into a sheet
re-feeding conveyance path. Sheet S delivered into the sheet
re-feeding conveyance path is conveyed by a plurality of conveyance
means for re-feeding a sheet, which return sheet S to the transfer
nip unit via registration rollers 1027. Sheet ejection rollers
1028, switching gate 1030, inverting rollers 1031, and the
conveyance means for re-feeding a sheet also form sheet conveying
unit 1020 described above.
[0279] Image reading unit 1060 is formed, for example, of a linear
image sensor (CCD line sensor, for example), an optical system, and
a light source, reads sheet S on which the toner images have been
transferred, and outputs the resultant read image to control unit
1011. In the present embodiment, image reading unit 1060 can
measure the colors of the toner images on sheet S but is not
limited to a specific apparatus and may be any apparatus at least
capable of recognizing the region of sheet S and the region of the
toner images. Further, in this example, image reading unit 1060 is
disposed downstream of fixing unit 1050 but upstream of the
position where switching gate 1030 switches the conveyance path. On
the other hand, the position of image reading unit 1060 is not
limited to a specific position and may be a position which is
downstream of secondary transfer roller 1009 (transfer nip unit)
and where both surfaces of sheet S can be read (or one surface of
sheet S may be read at a time). Image reading unit 1060 may, of
course, instead be disposed as an optional apparatus in a position
downstream of image forming apparatus 1000.
[0280] FIG. 17 is a block diagram schematically illustrating the
configuration of a control system of image forming apparatus 1000
according to the present embodiment.
[0281] Control unit 1011 is connected to storage unit 1012,
communication unit 1013, operation unit 1014, document reading
apparatus SC, image forming unit 1010, sheet conveying unit 1020,
fixing unit 1050, image reading unit 1060, registration sensor SE1,
position sensing sensor SE2, and environment sensor SE3, as
illustrated in FIG. 17. Control unit 1011 is formed, for example,
of a CPU (central processing unit) and a RAM (random access
memory). The CPU in control unit 1011 reads a system program and a
variety of processing programs stored in storage unit 1012,
develops the read programs in the RAM, and concentrically controls
the actions of the portions of image forming apparatus 1000 in
accordance with the developed programs.
[0282] Storage unit 1012 is formed, for example, of a nonvolatile
semiconductor memory and an HDD (hard disk drive) and stores a
variety of programs executed by control unit 1011, parameters,
data, and other pieces of information necessary for the portions of
image forming apparatus 1000.
[0283] For example, storage unit 1012 stores displacement control
table 1121 (see FIG. 18) and writing control table 1122 (see FIG.
19).
[0284] Communication unit 1013 includes an NIC (network interface
card), MODEM (modulator-demodulator), an USB (universal serial
bus), and a variety of other interfaces and connects image forming
apparatus 1000 to an external apparatus.
[0285] Operation unit 1014 outputs a variety of pieces of
information set by the user to control unit 1011. Operation unit
1014 can be a touch panel that allows the user to input operation
in accordance with information displayed on a display. The user can
set, via the thus configured operation unit 1014, printing
conditions, that is, the type of sheet S (basis weight, size, and
quality of paper, for example), a sheet feed tray to be used, the
density of an image, the magnification of the image, double-sided
printing or not, and other factors. The user can further input a
job execution instruction and an action instruction in an
adjustment mode via the operation unit 1014. Control unit 1011 can
control operation unit 1014 to issue a variety of messages to the
user via operation unit 1014.
[0286] Environment sensor SE3 includes, for example, a temperature
sensor and a humidity sensor, senses the temperature and humidity
in the enclosure of image forming apparatus 1000, and outputs the
results of the sensing to control unit 1011.
[0287] The action of image forming apparatus 1000 in the present
embodiment will next be described.
[0288] In the present embodiment, control unit 1011 of image
forming apparatus 1000 shifts displacement aim position Tp, to
which registration rollers 1027 are displaced, and image writing
position (wiring center) Wc, where image forming units 1010Y,
1010M, 1010C, and 1010K write images.
[Process of Determining Amounts of Shift of Displacement Aim
Position and Image Writing Position]
[0289] Image forming apparatus 1000 first carries out the process
of determining the amounts of shift of displacement aim position Tp
and image writing position Wc. In the present embodiment, image
forming apparatus 1000 has an adjustment mode and can determine the
amounts of shift of displacement aim position Tp and image writing
position Wc in advance (before job is executed) in the adjustment
mode.
[0290] Specifically, when the user or a service person instructs an
action in the adjustment mode via the operation unit 1014, control
unit 1011 of image forming apparatus 1000 starts the adjustment
mode for determining the amounts of shift of displacement aim
position Tp and image writing position Wc. To determine the amounts
of shift, it is necessary to consider variation in the position of
the side edge of a conveyed sheet. To this end, in the adjustment
mode, control unit 1011 causes a predetermined number of sheets (20
sheets, for example) to deliver from any of sheet feed trays 1021
or the sheet feed tray of the sheet feeding apparatus, causes
position sensing sensor SE2 to sense the position of the side edge
of each of the sheets, and determines the amounts of shift of
displacement aim position Tp and image writing position Wc in such
a way that these positions are each shifted by an amount greater
than the average +.sigma. (3.sigma., for example) of the results of
the sensing.
[0291] Determining the amounts of shift in the adjustment mode in
such a way that displacement aim position Tp and image writing
position Wc are each shifted by an amount greater than the
variation in the positon of the side edge of a sheet as described
above allows adjustment that allows registration rollers 1027 to be
always displaced in one direction (same direction).
[0292] The location where the position of the side edge of a sheet
is measured (that is, location to which displacement aim position
Tp and image writing position Wc are shifted) may be one location
or a plurality of locations. Further, the location where the
position of the side edge of a sheet is measured may be the
location at the timing when the registration rollers 1027 are
displaced. Whenever a sheet is conveyed, the position of the side
edge of the sheet may be measured to acquire a sheet profile.
[0293] The variation in the position of the side edge of a sheet
varies in accordance with the conditions on the sheet conveyance
(predetermined conditions that affect sheet conveyance). It is
therefore necessary to change the amounts of shift of displacement
aim position Tp and image writing position Wc in accordance with
the variation in the position of the side edge of a sheet for each
condition on the sheet conveyance. The conditions on the sheet
conveyance include the type of sheet (such as basis weight, size,
and quality of paper), the environment (temperature and humidity,
for example), the sheet surface on which an image is formed (front
surface/rear surface), and/or the sheet feed tray. For example, in
the case where the type of sheet is thin paper, which is more
likely to be passed obliquely than normal paper and thick paper, it
is necessary to increase the amount of shift.
[0294] In the present embodiment, tables that memorize the amounts
of shift of shift of displacement aim position Tp and image writing
position Wc are stored in storage unit 1012 for each of the
conditions on the sheet conveyance. FIGS. 18 and 19 illustrate an
example of tables that store the amounts of shift of displacement
aim position Tp and image writing position Wc on a sheet type basis
(displacement control table 1121 and writing control table
1122).
[0295] In the present embodiment, registration rollers 1027 are so
controlled as to be displaced at a plurality of timings specified
in advance (called displacement timings), and displacement control
table 1121 and writing control table 1122 store the amounts of
shift of displacement aim position Tp and image writing position Wc
used at each of the displacement timings (timings 1 to n). To write
the toner images precisely in an optimum image position on sheet S,
displacement control table 1121 and writing control table 1122
preferably store the amounts of shift of displacement aim position
Tp and image writing position Wc used at each of the displacement
timings (timings 1 to n) for each type of sheet, for each
environment, for each sheet surface on which an image is formed,
for each sheet feed tray, and for each of the combinations
thereof.
[0296] Writing control table 1122 illustrated in FIG. 19 is, by way
of example, configured to store the amounts of offset from image
writing position Wc (central position in width direction of sheet)
automatically determined from displacement aim position Tp, but not
necessarily, and may store the amounts of shift of image writing
position Wc, as in the format of displacement control table 1121
illustrated in FIG. 18.
[0297] Storing displacement control table 1121 and writing control
table 1122 in storage unit 1012 as described above allows
appropriate determination of the amounts of shift in accordance
with each of the conditions.
[Process of Shifting Displacement Aim Position and Image Writing
Position]
[0298] Image forming apparatus 1000 then carries out the process of
shifting displacement aim position Tp and image writing position Wc
based on the amounts of shift determined in the process described
above. Specifically, control unit 1011 of image forming apparatus
1000 shifts displacement aim position Tp and image writing position
Wc based on the amounts of shift so determined that registration
rollers 1027 are always displaced toward one side (in same
direction). The adjustment can be so made that registration rollers
1027 are always displaced toward one side (in same direction).
[0299] In a technology of related art, variation Br in the position
of the side edge of sheet S undesirably causes the position of the
side edge of sheet S to overlap with displacement aim position Tp,
as illustrated in FIG. 20A. In this case, since registration
rollers 1027 are displaced alternately toward the near side
(downward in FIG. 20A) and the far side (upward in FIG. 20A), the
control of the displacement is undesirably complicated.
[0300] On the other hand, in the present embodiment, in which
displacement aim position Tp is shifted by an amount greater than
variation Br in the sheet edge position (image writing position Wc
is shifted in accordance with displacement aim position Tp),
registration rollers 1027 can be displaced only in the same
direction. The displacement of registration rollers 1027 can
therefore be readily controlled.
[0301] The distance between displacement aim position Tp and image
writing position Wc is typically half the width of a sheet. In this
case, the amounts of shift of displacement aim position Tp and
image writing position Wc are equal to each other. However, since
the distance from registration rollers 1027 to secondary transfer
roller 1009 is long, the position of the side edge of a sheet is
shifted in some cases in the position of the transfer performed by
secondary transfer roller 1009 even after registration rollers 1027
align the sheet with displacement aim position Tp, and the
resultant image undesirably deviates. In this case, the amount of
shift of image writing position Wc may be corrected in anticipation
of the shift in the transfer position. That is, the amounts of
shift of displacement aim position Tp and image writing position Wc
may be equal to each other or differ from each other.
[0302] In the case where the amounts of shift of displacement aim
position Tp and image writing position Wc differ from each other,
displacement control table 1121 and writing control table 1122 may
be separately provided, as illustrated in FIGS. 18 and 19.
[Process of Shifting Displacement Aim Position and Image Writing
Position Multiple Times on Same Sheet]
[0303] The control described above in which displacement aim
position Tp and image writing position Wc are so shifted that
registration rollers 1027 are always displaced in the same
direction is not necessarily performed in the pattern in which the
displacement action is performed on a sheet basis and may be
performed in a pattern in which registration rollers 1027 are
displaced multiple times on the same sheet. The latter control is
performed in consideration of the possibility of displacement both
toward the near side and the far side on the same sheet
particularly in a case where the sheet is originally passed
obliquely or a case where the sheet is passed obliquely in the
course of conveyance due, for example, to misalignment of the
rollers.
[0304] Specifically, control unit 1011 of image forming apparatus
1000 shifts displacement aim position Tp to a position where
displacement aim position Tp does not intersect the side edge of
the sheet from the front end thereof to the rear end thereof in the
conveyance direction (side edge/trajectory/inclination). Image
writing position Wc is shifted in accordance with displacement aim
position Tp.
[0305] In the technology of related art, in the case where sheet S
is passed obliquely, the trajectory of the side edge of the sheet
intersects displacement aim position Tp in some cases, as
illustrated in FIG. 21A. In such cases, the same sheet is displaced
in both directions toward the near side and the far side, for
example, the front end of sheet S is displaced toward the near side
and the rear end of sheet S is displaced toward the far side.
[0306] On the other hand, in the present embodiment, displacement
aim position Tp is shifted to a position where displacement aim
position Tp does not intersect the trajectory of sheet S (image
writing position Wc is shifted in accordance with displacement aim
position Tp), as illustrated in FIG. 21B. That is, registration
rollers 1027 are displaced by a greater amount than in the
technology of related art. Registration rollers 1027 can therefore
always be displaced in the same direction even when the sheet
experiences sub scanning obliqueness or variation.
[Timing of Displacement Action]
[0307] The displacement action in the present embodiment (action of
displacing registration rollers 1027 to move the position of the
side edge of a sheet to displacement aim position Tp so shifted
that registration rollers 1027 are always displaced in the same
direction) may be performed, for example, after the front end of
the sheet is thrusted into secondary transfer roller 1009 (that is,
during sheet conveyance performed by secondary transfer roller
1009).
[0308] In this case, before the front end of the sheet is thrusted
into secondary transfer roller 1009, the displacement action of
related art (action of displacing registration rollers 1027 to move
the position of the side edge of the sheet to displacement aim
position Tp before the shift) is performed. The displacement action
in the present embodiment may, of course, be performed irrespective
of the timing when the front end of the sheet is thrusted into
secondary transfer roller 1009, that is, performed both before and
after the thrust.
[Specific Examples of Displacement Action]
[0309] The displacement action in the present embodiment is the
action of displacing registration rollers 1027 to move the position
of the side edge of a sheet to displacement aim position Tp so
shifted that registration rollers 1027 are always displaced in the
same direction, as described above.
[0310] An example in which the displacement action in the present
embodiment is performed is an action of causing position sensing
sensor SE2 to sense the distance from the position of the side edge
of a sheet to displacement aim position Tp and displacing
registration rollers 1027 based on the sensed distance (first
displacement action).
[0311] Another example in which the displacement action in the
present embodiment is performed is an action of starting the
displacement of registration rollers 1027 in the width direction of
a sheet, then causing position sensing sensor SE2 to sense whether
or not the position of the side edge of the sheet has reached
shifted displacement aim position Tp, and stopping the displacement
of registration rollers 1027 when position sensing sensor SE2
senses that the position of the side edge of the sheet has reached
displacement aim position Tp (second displacement action). In the
present embodiment, either displacement action may be performed. In
the present embodiment, before the front end of the sheet is
thrusted into secondary transfer roller 1009, the first
displacement action may be performed, and after the front end of
the sheet is thrusted into secondary transfer roller 1009, the
second displacement action may be performed.
[0312] As described above, image forming apparatus 1000 includes
image forming units 1010Y, 1010M, 1010C, and 1010K, which write
images, registration rollers 1027, which can displace a conveyed
sheet, and control unit 1011, which shifts the positions where
image forming units 1010Y, 1010M, 1010C, and 1010K write images.
Specifically, image forming apparatus 1000 includes photoconductor
drums 1001Y, 1001M, 1001C, and 1001K, on which image forming units
1010Y, 1010M, 1010C, and 1010K write images, and secondary transfer
roller 1009, which transfers the images written on photoconductor
drums 1001Y, 1001M, 1001C, and 1001K by image forming units 1010Y,
1010M, 1010C, and 1010K onto the sheet. The displacing unit is
registration rollers 1027, which are a pair of rollers that convey
the conveyed sheet toward secondary transfer roller 1009 and is
displaceable in the direction perpendicular to the sheet conveyance
direction, and control unit 1011 shifts the positions where image
forming units 1010Y, 1010M, 1010C, and 1010K write images in such a
way that registration rollers 1027 are always displaced in the same
direction.
[0313] Therefore, even in a case where deviation in the amount of
actual displacement from an instructed value due, for example, to
play of an assembled roller and backlash of a gear, variation in
sheet position (conveyance), and other factors displace
registration rollers 1027 both toward the near side and the far
side, variation in the displacement direction of registration
rollers 1027 can be suppressed, whereby the displacement of
registration rollers 1027 can be stably controlled, and positional
deviation of an image with respect to a sheet due to the sub
scanning obliqueness can therefore be suppressed.
[0314] Further, for example, in the case where registration rollers
1027 are displaced on the same sheet multiple times, and even in
the case where control unit 1011 shifts displacement aim position
and image writing position in such a way that registration rollers
1027 are always displaced in the same direction to displace
registration rollers 1027 multiple times on the same sheet, the
displacement of registration rollers 1027 can be stably controlled,
and positional deviation of an image with respect to the sheet due
to the sub scanning obliqueness can therefore be suppressed.
[0315] Specifically, even in a case where control unit 1011 shifts
the displacement aim position to a position where the displacement
aim position does not intersect the side edge of a sheet from the
front end thereof to the rear end thereof in the conveyance
direction to displace registration rollers 1027 multiple times on
the same sheet, the displacement of registration rollers 1027 can
be stably controlled, and positional deviation of an image with
respect to the sheet due to the sub scanning obliqueness can
therefore be suppressed.
[0316] Further, for example, after a sheet is thrusted into
secondary transfer roller 1009, control unit 1011 displaces
registration rollers 1027 to move the position of the side edge of
the sheet to the shifted displacement aim position to allow
correction of the position of the rear-end-side side edge of the
sheet, whereby positional deviation of an image on the rear side of
the sheet can be suppressed with high precision.
[0317] Further, for example, after registration rollers 1027 start
being displaced in the width direction of a sheet, and when
position sensing sensor SE2 senses that the position of the side
edge of the sheet has reached the shifted displacement aim
position, control unit 1011 stops the displacement of registration
rollers 1027 to allow the position of the side edge of the sheet to
be reliably moved to the displacement aim position in the transfer
position, whereby positional deviation of an image with respect to
the sheet due to the sub scanning obliqueness can be more reliably
suppressed.
[0318] Further, for example, providing the adjustment mode, in
which a predetermined number of sheets are delivered and the
amounts of shift of the displacement aim position and the image
writing position are determined based on the position of the side
edge of the sheet sensed with position sensing sensor SE2, allows
the amounts of shift of the displacement aim position and the image
writing position to be set in advance at optimum values before job
execution, whereby registration rollers 1027 can be appropriately
displaced from the first sheet.
[0319] Further, for example, providing storage unit 1012, which
stores tables that memorize the amounts of shift of the
displacement aim position and the image writing position for each
type of sheet, for each environment, for each sheet surface on
which an image is formed, for each sheet feed tray, and for each of
the combinations thereof, allows the amounts of shift of the
displacement aim position and the image writing position to be more
appropriate, whereby positional deviation of an image with respect
to a sheet due to the sub scanning obliqueness can be more reliably
suppressed.
[0320] The description of the aforementioned embodiments each show
a preferable example of the image forming apparatus according to
the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to
the description of the embodiments.
[0321] For example, in the embodiment described above, displacement
aim position Tp and image writing position Wc are shifted, but not
necessarily. For example, only image writing position Wc may be
shifted as long as the condition that registration rollers 1027 are
always displaced in the same direction is satisfied.
[0322] Even in the case where only image writing position Wc is
shifted as described above, variation in the displacement direction
of registration rollers 1027 can be suppressed, whereby the
displacement of registration rollers 1027 can be stably controlled,
and positional deviation of an image with respect to a sheet due to
the sub scanning obliqueness can therefore be suppressed.
[0323] Further, in the embodiments described above, the amounts of
shift of displacement aim position Tp and image writing position Wc
are determined in advance in the adjustment mode, but not
necessarily. For example, the position of the side edge of a
conveyed sheet (certain sheet) may be sensed with position sensing
sensor SE2, and displacement aim position Tp and image writing
position Wc for the sheet that is conveyed next (next sheet) may be
shifted based on the result of the sensing. In this case, since the
amounts of shift can be fed forward to the next sheet and the
following sheets, the amount of displacement of registration
rollers 1027 can be adjusted in real time, whereby positional
deviation of an image with respect to a sheet due to the sub
scanning obliqueness can be more reliably suppressed.
[0324] The user or a service person may be allowed to arbitrarily
rewrite displacement aim position Tp and image writing position Wc.
For example, in the case where tables are so provided that the
amounts of shift of displacement aim position
[0325] Tp and image writing position Wc are related for each type
of sheet, as illustrated in FIGS. 18 and 19, the position of the
side edge of a sheet and variation therein change in some cases
whenever the brand of sheet changes even under the same sheet type
condition (coated paper of 120 g/m.sup.2, for example).
[0326] Therefore, configuring operation unit 1014 as a setting unit
to be capable of setting displacement aim position Tp and image
writing position Wc and allowing the user or a service person to
arbitrarily set displacement aim position Tp and image writing
position Wc via operation unit 1014 allows the amount of
displacement of registration rollers 1027 to be adjusted as
circumstances demand, whereby positional deviation of an image with
respect to a sheet due to the sub scanning obliqueness can be more
reliably suppressed.
[0327] Further, in the embodiments described above, the amounts of
shift are determined based on the position of the side edge of a
sheet, and displacement aim position Tp and image writing position
Wc are shifted by the determined amounts, but not necessarily. For
example, the position of the side edge of intermediate transfer
belt 1006 may be sensed with a sensor (not illustrated), the amount
of deviation of intermediate transfer belt 1006 may be calculated
based on the sensed position of the side edge of intermediate
transfer belt 1006, and displacement aim position Tp and image
writing position Wc may each be shifted by an amount greater than
the calculated amount of deviation. That is, even when the position
of the side edge of a sheet is correct at the time of transfer
performed by intermediate transfer belt 1006, but in a case where
intermediate transfer belt 1006 deviates from a correct position,
it is conceivable that correct transfer is not performed in image
writing position Wc on the sheet. To address the problem described
above, shifting displacement aim position Tp and image writing
position Wc in consideration of the transfer deviation due to an
offset of intermediate transfer belt 1006 allows suppression of
positional deviation of an image with respect to the sheet. Also in
this case, displacement aim position Tp and image writing position
Wc may each be shifted by an amount greater than the amount of
deviation of intermediate transfer belt 1006 so that registration
rollers 1027 are displaced in the same direction.
[0328] Image writing position Wc may be changed in accordance with
the amount of shift of intermediate transfer belt 1006. For
example, in a case where intermediate transfer belt 1006 is
displaced, for example, by steering control, the position of the
side edge of intermediate transfer belt 1006 may be sensed with a
sensor (not illustrated), and image writing position Wc may be
shifted based on the sensed position of the side edge of
intermediate transfer belt 1006. Also in this case, displacement
aim position Tp and image writing position Wc may each be shifted
by an amount greater than the amount of deviation of intermediate
transfer belt 1006 so that registration rollers 1027 are displaced
in the same direction.
[0329] Further, the aforementioned embodiments have been described
with reference to the color image forming apparatus in which images
formed on the photoconductor drums are primarily transferred to the
intermediate transfer roller and the images are transferred from
the intermediate transfer roller onto a sheet via the secondary
transfer roller, and the present invention is also applicable to a
monochrome image forming apparatus that directly transfers an image
from a photoconductor drum onto a sheet via a transfer roller.
[0330] Further, the aforementioned embodiments have been described
with reference to the case where the displacement rollers are
registration rollers 1027, but not necessarily. For example, the
displacement rollers may instead be rollers different from
registration rollers 1027.
[0331] Further, the aforementioned embodiments have been described
with reference to the configuration in which when registration
rollers 1027 are displaced, they are displaced in sheet width
direction CD, but not necessarily. That is, registration rollers
1027 may be displaced in a direction other than sheet width
direction CD (direction rotated by 5.degree. from sheet width
direction CD, for example) as long as conveyed sheet S can be moved
along sheet width direction CD.
[0332] Further, the aforementioned embodiments have been described
with reference to the configuration in which position sensing
sensor SE2 is provided between registration rollers 1027 and
secondary transfer roller 1009, but not necessarily. For example,
position sensing sensor SE2 may be disposed upstream of
registration rollers 1027 in the conveyance direction.
[0333] Further, the aforementioned embodiments have been described
with reference to the configuration in which the positions where
image forming units 1010Y, 1010M, 1010C, and 1010K write images are
so shifted that registration rollers 1027 are always displaced in
the same direction, but not necessarily. That is, the positions
where image forming units 1010Y, 1010M, 1010C, and 1010K write
images only need to be so shifted that the same displacement
direction is always achieved. For example, as the displacing unit
of the present embodiment, a configuration in which the position of
a sheet is moved by rotating the sheet may be employed in place of
registration rollers 1027.
[0334] Further, the aforementioned embodiments have been described
with reference to an electrographic image forming apparatus, but
not necessarily. For example, the present invention is also
applicable to an inkjet-type image forming apparatus that
discharges ink through a nozzle onto a recording medium and lands
the ink in a desired pattern to record an image on the recording
medium (for example, inkjet-type recording apparatus that
discharges ink that cures when exposed with a predetermined energy
line through a nozzle and causes the discharged ink on the
recording medium to be irradiated with the predetermined energy
line so that the cured ink is fixed on the recording medium).
[0335] In the aforementioned description, as a computer readable
medium on which a program according to the present invention is
recorded, a nonvolatile memory, a hard disk drive, and other
components are disclosed, but not necessarily. As another computer
readable medium, a portable recording medium, such as a CD-ROM, can
be used. Further, as a medium that provides data used in the
program according to the present invention over a communication
line, a carrier wave is also used.
[0336] In addition, the detailed configurations and actions of the
image forming apparatus can be changed as appropriate to the extent
that the changes do not depart from the substance of the present
invention.
[0337] Although embodiments of the present invention have been
described and illustrated in detail, the disclosed embodiments are
made for purpose of illustration and example only and not
limitation. The scope of the present invention should be
interpreted by terms of the appended claims.
* * * * *