The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, a printing machine, and the like, which is structured so that a sensor can be accurately positioned relative to a belt unit such as an intermediary transfer belt unit of the apparatus.
In the field of an image forming apparatus which uses an electrophotographic image forming method, image forming apparatuses of a so-called intermediary transfer type, which form a full-color toner image on an intermediary transfer belt (ITB), are known. Among high speed image forming apparatuses of this type, some are enabled to keep their endless belt within a preset range in terms of the lengthwise direction of one of rollers by which the endless belt is suspended and kept tensioned (direction parallel to one of rollers), by detecting an amount of positional deviation of the endless belt such as the intermediary transfer belt, conveyance belt, and the like, and controlling the roller in alignment.
One of the primary problems which image forming apparatuses such as those described above suffer is color deviation attributable to the positional deviation of their endless belt in terms of a primary scanning direction, and a secondary scanning direction (parallel to belt conveyance direction), of a laser scanner, stretching or shrinking of toner image in terms of the primary scanning direction, angular deviation of toner image relative to the primary scanning direction, and the like. Another problem is that the apparatuses change in toner density due to inaccuracy in the components related to development, transfer, and the like, changes in ambient temperature and humidity, cumulative usage of apparatus, and the like factors, and therefore, the apparatuses become nonuniform in terms of image density.
Thus, some image forming apparatuses of the above-described type are structured to form a pattern to be used for compensating for color deviation density deviation, as means for measuring the amount of color deviation, on the intermediary transfer belt with preset intervals, detect the pattern with the use of a sensor, and correct the apparatuses in image formation position and image density. In the case of these apparatuses, in order to accurately detect the amount of color deviation and image density, the inaccuracy in the positional relationship between the endless belt and sensor has to be minimized.
In the past, there has been disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3473346, for example, an apparatus structured so that a sensor of a reflection type is attached to a frame of a belt unit, and the frame is positioned relative to a shaft of an idler roller which is one of rollers by which an intermediary transfer belt is suspended and kept tensioned, with the placement of a positioning plate between the frame and the shaft (rotational axle) of the idler roller. According to this art, the belt unit is equipped with an endless belt such as an intermediary transfer belt, for example, and a preset detection mark (test patch) is formed on the endless belt by an image forming section. Then, the information which can be obtained by detecting the test patch with the use of an optical sensor is used.
According to the conventional arts which include the one described in Japanese Patent No. 3473346, the distance between the endless belt and the sensor of the reflection type can be kept stable with the use of the positioning plate. However, with the use of only the conventional arts, it is difficult to keep the sensor stable in its angle relative to the surface of the intermediary transfer belt, for the following reason. That is, the angle of the belt unit in terms of the direction indicated by a referential mark θ (angle of belt unit at plane perpendicular to shaft (rotational axle) of belt-suspending-tensioning roller) is determined by a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, whereas the angle of the belt surface is determined by the belt-suspending-tensioning roller of the belt unit. On the other hand, the angle of the optical sensor relative to the belt surface in terms of the direction indicated by the arrow mark θ is determined by the positioning plate attached to the main assembly of the image forming apparatus.
That is, the angle of the sensor of the reflection type relative to the belt surface is determined by a combination of the angle of the belt surface relative to the belt unit, and the angle between the positioning plate and sensor, including their deviation. Therefore, with the use of any of the conventional arts, it has been difficult to ensure that the angular deviation of the optical sensor relative to the belt surface in terms of the direction indicated by the referential mark θ remains minimum.
The present invention is characterized in that an image forming apparatus comprises a belt unit having an endless belt supported to be rotatable in a circumferential direction, an image forming unit for forming an image on the belt unit, and an optical sensor for detecting light projected onto the endless belt. The image forming apparatus further comprises a sensor supporting member for supporting the sensor, and a positioning portion including, as a unit, a first positioning portion for positioning the belt unit by being contacted by the belt unit and a second positioning portion positioning the sensor supporting member by being contacted by the sensor supporting member.
Part (a) of
Parts (a) and (b) of
Part (a) of
Hereinafter, one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention in the form of an image forming apparatus 100 is described with reference to appended drawings. By the way, if a given component, a section thereof, or the like, of the image forming apparatus 100 in a given drawing are the same in referential code as a given component, a section thereof, or the like, of the image forming apparatus 100 in another drawing, the former are the same as, or similar to, the latter.
(Image Forming Apparatus 100)
The image forming apparatus 100 has an apparatus main assembly 100a. There is an intermediary transfer belt unit 200 as a belt unit, in the top portion of the apparatus main assembly 100a. Further, there are disposed four image forming sections 1Y, 1M, 1C and 1Bk, in the apparatus main assembly 100a. More specifically, the four image forming sections 1Y, 1M, 1C and 1Bk are aligned in tandem in the listed order, in the upstream-to-downstream direction in terms of the circular movement (counterclockwise direction in
The image forming apparatus 100 is structured so that its image forming sections 1Y, 1M, 1C and 1Bk, which are image formation units for forming an image on the intermediary transfer belt 8, form yellow, magenta, cyan and black monochromatic toner images, respectively. The image forming sections 1Y, 1M, 1C and 1Bk are provided with electrophotographic photosensitive component metallic cores 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d (which will be referred to simply as “photosensitive drums”). The image forming apparatus 100 is structured so that these photosensitive drums 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d are rotationally driven in the clockwise direction of
The intermediary transfer belt unit 200 (belt unit) is provided with a driver roller 10, an idler roller 13, and a tension roller 11, which are positioned in a preset relationship, and the intermediary transfer belt 8 which is an endless belt. The intermediary transfer belt 8 is suspended and kept tensioned by the three rollers 10, 13 and 11. That is, the intermediary transfer belt unit 200 has driver roller 10, tension roller 11, and idler roller 13, as belt-suspending-tensioning rollers, which support the intermediary transfer belt 8 so that the intermediary transfer belt 8 can be circularly moved in its circumferential direction (indicated by arrow mark R in
Referring to
Referring to
The primary transfer rollers 5a, 5b, 5c and 5d are on the inward side of the loop which the intermediary transfer belt 8 forms, and oppose the photosensitive drums 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d, forming thereby primary transfer nips Ta, Tb, Tc and Td, respectively, as primary transferring sections, between the photosensitive drums 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d, and the intermediary transfer belt 8. To each of the primary transfer rollers 5a, 5b, 5c, and 5d, positive DC voltage is applied as transfer bias from an unshown bias applying means. Thus, a negatively charged toner image borne on each of the photosensitive drums 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d is transferred (primary transfer) onto the intermediary transfer belt 8 which is being conveyed through the primary transfer nips Ta, Tb, Tc, and Td.
As the driver roller 10, which doubles as a roller which opposes a secondary transfer roller 12, is rotated in the counterclockwise direction, the intermediary transfer belt 8 is rotated in the same direction by the rotation of the driver roller 10. The rotational speed of the intermediary transfer belt 8 is set to be roughly the same as the rotational speed (process speed) of each of the photosensitive drums 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d.
There is disposed in the adjacencies of the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 2a (2b, 2c and 2d), a charge roller 3a (3b, 3c and 3d) as a charging means, and a developing device 4a (4b, 4c and 4d) as developing means, in the listed order in terms of the rotational direction of the photosensitive drum 2a (2b, 2c, and 2d). There is also disposed in the adjacencies of the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 2a (2b, 2c and 2d), the primary transfer roller 5a (5b, 5c and 5d), and a cleaning device 6a (6b, 6c and 6d), in the listed order in terms of the rotational direction of the photosensitive drum 2a (2b, 2c and 2d). Further, there is disposed on the underside of the combination of the image forming sections 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1Bk, an exposing device 7 as a means for forming a latent image in each of the image forming sections 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1Bk.
The charge roller 3a (3b, 3c and 3d) is rotated by the rotation of the photosensitive drum 2a (2b, 2c and 2d). As an oscillatory voltage, which is a combination of a negative DC voltage, and an AC voltage, is applied to the charge roller 3a (3b, 3c and 3d) while the photosensitive drum 2a (2b, 2c and 2d) is rotated, the charge roller 3a (3b, 3c and 3d) uniformly charges the photosensitive drum 2a (2b, 2c and 2d) to a negative polarity. The exposing device 7 writes an electrostatic image on the peripheral surface of each of photosensitive drums 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d, by outputting a beam of laser light while modulating the beam according to image data obtained by separating an original (image to be formed) into monochromatic images of primary colors, and reflecting the beam with the use of a rotational mirror in such a manner that the beam scans the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 2a (2b, 2c, and 2d). The developing device 4a (4b, 4c and 4d) develops the electrostatic image on the photosensitive drum 2a (2b, 2c and 2d) into a visible image, that is, an image formed of toner (which hereafter will be referred to as “toner image”), by transferring toner onto the photosensitive drum 2a (2b, 2c and 2d).
There is disposed on the underside of the developing devices 4a, 4b, 4c, and 4d, toner bottles 70a, 70b, 70c and 70d, respectively. As the toner in the developing devices 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d is consumed by image formation, they are replenished with toner by the toner bottles 7a, 7b, 7c, and 7d, respectively.
The cleaning device 6a (6b, 6c and 6d) removes transfer residual toner, that is, the toner remaining on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 2a (2b, 2c, and 2d) on the downstream side of the primary transfer nip Ta (Tb, Tc and Td), by rubbing the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 2a (2b, 2c, and 2d) with its cleaning blade. The removed toner is conveyed to an unshown toner outlet, by a toner conveyance screw 60a (60b, 60c and 60d), with which the cleaning device 6a (6b, 6c and 6d) is provided. Then, it is discharged through a toner outlet.
There is disposed the secondary transfer roller 12 in contact with the outward surface of the intermediary transfer belt 8, in such a manner that it opposes the driver roller 10. The secondary transfer roller 12 is positioned in such a manner that the intermediary transfer belt 8 is sandwiched between the intermediary transfer belt 8 and driver roller 10. The nip formed between the secondary transfer roller 12 and intermediary transfer belt 8 is the secondary transferring section T2.
The secondary transfer section T2 is formed by placing the secondary transfer roller 12 in contact with the intermediary transfer belt 8 in such a manner that the secondary transfer roller 12 opposes the driver roller 10 which is one of the rollers by which the intermediary transfer belt 8 is suspended and kept tensioned. The secondary transfer section T2 transfers the toner images formed on the intermediary transfer belt 8, onto a sheet P of recording medium sent from a recording feeding section 21. To the secondary transfer roller 12 of the secondary transferring section T2, a positive DC voltage is applied as the secondary transfer bias, whereby an electric field for transferring toner images is formed between the secondary transfer roller 12 and the grounded driver roller 10. As the secondary transfer bias is applied to the secondary transferring section T2 through the secondary transfer roller 12, the four monochromatic toner images, different in color, on the intermediary transfer belt 8 are transferred (secondary transfer) onto the sheet P of recording medium delivered to the secondary transferring section T2 by a pair of registration rollers 14.
Further, there is disposed a belt cleaning device 9, as a cleaning device of an intermediary transfer component, in contact with the portion of the outward surface of the intermediary transfer belt 8, which corresponds in position to the tension roller 11. The belt cleaning device 9 removes the transfer residual toner, that is, the toner remaining on the surface of the intermediary transfer belt 8 on the downstream side of the secondary transferring section T2 in terms of the moving direction of the intermediary transfer belt 8, by rubbing the surface of the intermediary transfer belt 8 with its cleaning blade (unshown).
On the downstream side of the secondary transferring section T2 in terms of the recording medium conveyance direction, a fixing device 16 having a fixation roller 16a and a pressure roller 16b is disposed. After the transfer of the toner images onto the sheet P of recording medium, the sheet P is conveyed to a fixation nip, which is between the fixation roller 16a and pressure roller 16b. In the fixation nip, heat and pressure are applied to the sheet P and the toner images thereon by the fixation roller 16a and pressure roller 16b. Thus, the toner images on the sheet P become fixed to the sheet P. Further, on the downstream side of the fixing device 16, a pair of discharge rollers 15 and a delivery tray 17 are disposed. By the way, a referential code 24 designates a manual feed tray.
There is disposed in the bottom portion of the apparatus main assembly 100a, the recording feeding section 21 having a sheet feeder cassette 18, in which sheets P of recording medium which are to be used for image formation are stored in layers. In the recording feeding section 21, the sheets P of recording medium in the sheet feeder cassette 18 are conveyed one by one toward the pair of registration rollers 14 by way of a separation roller 19. Then, each sheet P of recording medium is delivered to the secondary transferring section T2 with preset timing, by way of the pair of registration rollers 14. The separation roller 19 separates one by one the sheets P as it pulls out the sheets P from the sheet feeder cassette 18, and sends each sheet P toward the pair of registration rollers 14. The pair of registration rollers 14 catch each sheet P while remaining stationary. Then, they keep the sheet P on standby. Then, they send each sheet P to the secondary transferring section T2 with the same timing as the timing with which the toner images on the intermediary transfer belt 8 arrive at the secondary transferring section T2.
In the image forming apparatus 100 structured as described above, the toner images formed on the photosensitive drums 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d are sequentially transferred (primary transfer) onto the intermediary transfer belt 8 while the intermediary transfer belt 8 is circularly moved in the counterclockwise direction. The transfer of the toner images from the photosensitive drums 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d onto the intermediary transfer belt 8 is done by the application of the positive bias to the primary transfer rollers 5a, 5b, 5c, and 5d, respectively. The four toner images, different in color, layered on the intermediary transfer belt 8, as described above, are moved to the secondary transferring section T2.
Meanwhile, the toner remaining on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 2a (2b, 2c and 2d) after the transfer of the toner image therefrom, is removed by the cleaning device 6a (6b, 6c and 6d). As for the toner remaining on the intermediary transfer belt 8 after the secondary transfer, it is removed by the belt cleaning device 9. The removed toner is recovered into a container for recovered toner, through a recovery toner conveyance passage (unshown).
Next, referring to
To begin with, referring to parts (a) and (b) of
In comparison, referring to part (a) of
(Details of Positioning Device 120)
Next, referring to
The image forming apparatus 100 forms a test patch 80, which has a preset pattern, on the intermediary transfer belt 8, with the use of the image forming sections 1Y, 1M, 1C and 1Bk which are in the form of a drum cartridge, with preset timing. The test patch 80 having the preset pattern is formed on the intermediary transfer belt 8 through the same process as the normal process for forming an image, in order to detect the density deviation, positional (color) deviation, and toner image formation timing.
As the test patch 80 is detected by the reflection type sensor 31 as a sensor, the control section 22 carries out the control for optimizing the image forming apparatus 100 in the density of the toner image formed by each of the image forming sections 1Y, 1M, 1C and 1Bk, and the timing with which the toner image is formed by each of the image forming sections 1Y, 1M, 1C and 1Bk, based on the information obtained by the detection. The reflection type sensor 31 has the light emitting section 31a (
Next, a density detection test patch formed as the test patch 80 in this embodiment, and how the density is detected by the reflection type sensor 31 in this embodiment, are described.
Referring to
Next, referring to
That is, the sensor unit frame 32 is positioned so that its lengthwise direction becomes parallel to the widthwise direction (indicated by arrow mark W) of the intermediary transfer belt 8. The lengthwise ends of the sensor unit frame 32 are provided with a pair of bent sections 33 and 34, one for one, which are perpendicular to the main section of the sensor unit frame 32, and have protrusive sections 33a and 34a, and surfaces 33b and 34b, respectively. The two reflection type sensors 31 are fixed to the sensor unit frame 32, close to the lengthwise ends of the sensor unit frame 32, one for one. Therefore, the test patches 80 can be positioned relative to the surface 8a of the intermediary transfer belt 8 with a high level of accuracy. The surface 33b as the first positioning section remains in contact with sensor positioning protrusions 401a and 401b as the second positioning section, whereas the surface 34b as the first positioning section remains in contact with sensor positioning protrusions 501a and 501b as the second positioning section. The sensor positioning protrusions 401a, 401b, 501a and 501b position the sensor unit frame 32 by remaining in contact with the sensor unit frame 32.
The sensor unit 300 is also provided with a pair of pressure application springs 301a and 301b such as compression springs as pressure applying means for pressing the sensor unit frame 32. It is structured so that a combination of the protrusive section 33a, and a combination of surfaces 33b and surface 34b remain pressured diagonally upward in the left-to-right direction from the bottom-right portion of
That is, the pressure application springs 301a and 301b press the sensor unit frame 32 so that the surface 33b remains in contact with the sensor positioning protrusions 401a and 401b; the surface 34b, in contact with the sensor positioning protrusions 501a and 501b; and protrusive sections 33a and 34a remain in contact with bearings 202a and 202b. The sensor unit frame 32 is pressed by the opposite lengthwise end of each of the pressure application springs 301a and 301b, from the lengthwise end by which the pressure application springs 301 are supported by the apparatus main assembly 100a.
The bearings 202a and 202b which are parts of the intermediary transfer belt unit 200 make up the supporting sections. These supporting sections support axle 13a of the idler roller 13 which is one of the belt-suspending-tensioning rollers and is in the adjacencies of the sensor positioning protrusions 401a, 401b, 501a and 501b.
The sensor positioning protrusions 401a and 401b are parts of a positioning component 400, and protrude from a main section 400H of the positioning component 400. The sensor positioning protrusions 501a and 501b are parts of a positioning component 500, and protrude from a main section 500H of the positioning component 500. Further, the sensor positioning protrusions 401a and 501a are the first positioning protrusions, and the positioning protrusions 401b and 501b are the second positioning protrusions. Further, an interface D1 (part (a) of
The positioning components 400 and 500 are fixed to preset positions in the apparatus main assembly 100a (
The positioning components 400 and 500 are disposed on the front and rear sides, respectively, of the intermediary transfer belt unit 200 in terms of the widthwise direction (indicated by arrow mark W) which is intersectional (perpendicular) to the circumferential direction (indicated by arrow mark R) of the intermediary transfer belt 8. Thus, the intermediary transfer belt unit 200 can be mounted on the positioning surfaces 400a and 500a while remaining in balance in terms of the widthwise direction (W).
Referring to parts (a) and (b) of
That is, in order to control the intermediary transfer belt unit 200 in attitude in terms of the direction θ, the positioning component 400 has the positioning surface 400a, with which the protrusive section 207a of the belt unit frame 198 and the protrusive section 208a of tension roller bearing 203a, are placed in contact. In order to control the intermediary transfer belt unit 200 in attitude in terms of the direction θ, the positioning component 500 has the positioning surface 500a, with which the protrusive section 207b of the belt unit frame 199, and the protrusive section 208b of tension roller bearing 203b, are placed in contact.
Thus, the protrusive sections 207a and 207b of the belt unit frames 198 and 199, respectively, and the protrusive sections 208a and 208b of the tension roller bearings 208a and 203b, respectively, contact the positioning surfaces 400a and 500a, respectively. Therefore, the belt unit frame 198 and belt unit frame 199 are controlled in position in terms of the direction Z, and also, in angle in terms of the direction θ. Therefore, the surface 8a of the intermediary transfer belt 8 which is suspended and kept tensioned by the driver roller 10, tension roller 11, and idler roller 13 which are in connection to the frames 198 and 199, is controlled in angle in terms of the direction θ.
Further, the protrusive sections 33a and 34a control the sensor unit 300 in position in terms of the direction which is roughly parallel to the interfaces D1 and D2. Each of the sensor positioning protrusions 401a and 401b has a surface which coincides with the above-described interface D1, and contacts the sensor unit frame 32 which is under the pressure generated by the pressure application springs 301a and 301b. Further, each of the sensor positioning protrusions 501a and 501b has a surface which coincides with the above-described interface D2, and contacts the sensor unit frame 32 which is under the pressure generated by the pressure application springs 301a and 301b.
The intermediary transfer belt unit 200 is structured so that the interfaces D1 and D2 become roughly perpendicular to the surface 8a of the intermediary transfer belt 8, which the reflection type sensors 31 face. That is, referring to part (a) of
With the provision of the above-described structural arrangement, the protrusive sections 33a and 34a of the sensor unit frame 32 remain in contact with the bearings 202a and 202b, respectively, and the surfaces 33b and 34b of the sensor unit frame 32 remain in contact with the sensor positioning protrusions 401a and 401b and the sensor positioning protrusions 501a and 501b, respectively. Thus, the sensor unit frame 32 is accurately positioned relative to the surface 8a of the intermediary transfer belt 8, with reference to the positioning components 400 and 500.
As described above, the positioning components 400 and 500 have the positioning surfaces 400a and 500a as the first positioning sections, and sensor positioning protrusions 401a, 401b, 501a and 501b. Therefore, the positioning components 400 and 500 function as shared positioning sections for both the intermediary transfer belt unit 200 and sensor unit frame 32, while remaining fixed to the apparatus main assembly 100a. Therefore, the intermediary transfer belt unit 200 in this embodiment is substantially higher in the level of accuracy with which the reflection type sensors 31 are positioned relative to the intermediary transfer belt 8 than any conventional intermediary transfer belt unit.
The positioning surfaces 400a and 500a as the first positioning sections control the position of the intermediary transfer belt unit 200 in terms of vertical direction (indicated by arrow mark V in
In this embodiment, the idler roller 13 is attached to pivotal bearings 205a and 205b attached to the belt unit frames 198 and 199. The intermediary transfer belt unit 200 is structured so that the belt unit frame 198 and 199 can be slid out of the apparatus main assembly 100a, along with the intermediary transfer belt unit 200, in the direction indicated by the arrow mark X in part (a) of
As described above, the angular deviation of the reflection type sensor 31 relative to the surface 8a of the intermediary transfer belt 8 in terms of the direction θ is as follows. That is, it is a combination of the angular deviation of the protrusive sections 207a, 208a, 207b and 208b which control the surface 8a and intermediary transfer belt unit 200 in attitude, and the accuracy of the positioning components 400 and 500. Therefore, it is minimized that the angle (attitude) of the reflection type sensor 31 relative to the surface 8a is affected by the inaccuracy of the apparatus main assembly 100a and the components thereof in terms of size and shape.
Further, because the sensor unit frame 32 is directly in contact with the bearings 202a and 202b for the idler roller 13, the distance between the intermediary transfer belt 8 and reflection type sensor 31 is unlikely to be affected by the inaccuracy in the shape and size of the components other than the pivotal bearings 205a and 205b. Therefore, the inaccuracy in the preset distance d (
Therefore, in the case of the image forming apparatus 100, it is ensured that the test patches 80 which are formed on the intermediary transfer belt 8 by the image forming sections 1Y, 1M, 1C and 1Bk are accurately detected by the reflection type sensors 31 which remain highly precisely positioned as described above. The information obtained by the detection of the test patches 80 is sent to the control section 22 (
By the way, in this embodiment, the test patches 80 for detecting image density are formed on the intermediary transfer belt 8, and are detected by the reflection type sensors 31. However, this embodiment is not intended to limit the present invention in scope. That is, the image forming apparatus 100 may be structured so that test patches for positional deviation (color deviation) are formed on the intermediary transfer belt 8, and are detected by the reflection type sensors 31.
Further, the image forming apparatus 100 may be structured so that both the test patches 80, and the patches for detecting positional deviation (unshown), are formed on the intermediary transfer belt 8, and are detected by reflection type sensors 31 dedicated to the test patches 80, and the reflection type sensors dedicated to the test patches for detecting positional deviation. In other words, this embodiment is not intended to limit the present invention in terms of the number, usage, position, and the like, of the reflection type sensors 31 to be attached to the sensor unit frame 32, and also, in terms of the pattern in which the test patches 80, and the test patches for detecting positional deviation (unshown), are formed.
Moreover, in this embodiment, the image forming apparatus 100 is provided with four image forming sections 1Y, 1M, 1C and 1Bk. However, this embodiment is not intended to limit the present invention in scope. That is, the present invention is also applicable to an image forming apparatus having one image formation unit comprising one photosensitive drum, and four developing devices disposed in the adjacencies of the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum.
Furthermore, in this embodiment, the test patches 80 are formed on the intermediary transfer belt 8. However, the present invention is also applicable to an image forming apparatus which forms the test patches 80 on its sheet conveyance belt, with the same effects as those described above.
According to this embodiment, the angle of the sensor unit 300 in terms of the direction θ is controlled by the positioning components 400 and 500 which controls the attitude of the intermediary transfer belt unit 200. Therefore, the angular deviation of the sensor unit 300 relative to the intermediary transfer belt 8, in terms of the direction θ, which is attributable to the inaccuracy of the components of the intermediary transfer belt unit 200, can be extremely effectively minimized.
Further, the bearings 202a and 202b are directly placed in contact with the sensor unit frame 32 in terms of the direction Z. Therefore, the bearings 202a and 202b are positioned without being affected by the accuracy of the positioning components 400 and 500, and the other components of the intermediary transfer belt unit 200 than the sensor unit frame 32. Therefore, the image forming apparatus 100 in this embodiment is superior to any conventional image forming apparatus in terms of the level of accuracy with which the combination of the apparatus main assembly 100a and intermediary transfer belt unit 200 is corrected in color deviation. That is, this embodiment (present invention) can provide an image forming apparatus (100) which affords more latitude for the color deviation and density deviation which are attributable to the environmental changes, and repetition of image formation (cumulative length of usage of image forming sections).
As described above, in this embodiment, positioning of the intermediary transfer belt unit 200 and sensor unit frame 32 (sensor unit 300) relative to each other is done by pressing sensor unit 300 diagonally upward from the bottom right end of the sensor unit 300 through the positioning components 400 and 500. Further, referring to part (a) of
Therefore, the angle of the beams L1 and L2 of light emitted by the reflection type sensor 31, relative to the surface 8a of an endless belt such as the intermediary transfer belt 8, sheet conveyance belt, and the like, is precisely controlled. Further, it is ensured that the test patches 80 formed on an endless belt such as the intermediary transfer belt 8 are precisely detected by the reflection type sensors 31.
According to the present invention, the angle of a sensor relative to an endless belt can be precisely controlled. Therefore, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus which can precisely detect test patches with its sensor.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2013-190280 | Sep 2013 | JP | national |
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8301060 | Mori | Oct 2012 | B2 |
8467709 | Kogure et al. | Jun 2013 | B2 |
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Number | Date | Country |
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11-65397 | Mar 1999 | JP |
3473346 | Mar 1999 | JP |
11-220586 | Aug 1999 | JP |
2002-131997 | May 2002 | JP |
3462067 | Aug 2003 | JP |
2003-248350 | Sep 2003 | JP |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20160187819 A1 | Jun 2016 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | PCT/JP2014/074761 | Sep 2014 | US |
Child | 15065063 | US |