Image forming apparatus

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes an image supporting member; a developer supporting member for attaching developer to the image supporting member to form a developer image; a transfer unit for transferring the developer image to a recording medium; a driving unit for driving at least one of the image supporting member, the developer supporting member, and the transfer unit; an external temperature detection unit for detecting an environmental temperature outside the image forming apparatus; and a control unit for setting a driving speed of the driving unit according to the environmental temperature.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing an image forming unit according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a printer according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a side view showing the printer according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a side view showing the printer with an external member removed according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the printer with the external member removed according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram No. 1 of a control system of the printer according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram No. 2 of the control system of the printer according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a flow chart of an operation of the printer according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing a control table of an external thermistor according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing a control table of an internal thermistor according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a schematic view showing an example of an installation location of the internal thermistor according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a graph showing a relationship between a temperature detected by the internal thermistor and a printing time when the printer starts a printing operation according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a graph showing a relationship between the temperature detected by the internal thermistor and the printing time when the printer stops the printing operation according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a schematic view showing a printer according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a schematic sectional view showing an image forming unit according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 16 is a block diagram of a control system of the printer according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 17 is a flow chart No. 1 of an operation of the printer according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 18 is a flow chart No. 2 of the operation of the printer according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 19 is a view showing a control table of a sheet number storage unit according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 20 is a block diagram of a control system of a printer according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 21 is a flow chart No. 1 of an operation of the printer according to the third embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 22 is a flow chart No. 2 of the operation of the printer according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus comprising: an image supporting member;a developer supporting member for attaching developer to the image supporting member to form a developer image;a transfer unit for transferring the developer image to a recording medium;a driving unit for driving at least one of the image supporting member, the developer supporting member, and the transfer unit;an external temperature detection unit for detecting an environmental temperature outside the image forming apparatus; anda control unit for setting a driving speed of the driving unit according to the environmental temperature.

2. An image forming apparatus comprising: an image supporting member;a developer supporting member for attaching developer to the image supporting member to form a developer image;a transfer unit for transferring the developer image to a recording medium;a fixing unit for fixing the developer image to the recording medium;an external temperature detection unit for detecting an environmental temperature outside the image forming apparatus; anda control unit for setting a fixing temperature of the fixing unit according to the environmental temperature.

3. The developing device according to claim 1, further comprising an external member having an air hole, said external temperature detection unit being disposed adjacent to the air hole.

4. The developing device according to claim 2, further comprising an external member having an air hole, said external temperature detection unit being disposed adjacent to the air hole.

5. The developing device according to claim 2, wherein said external temperature detection unit is disposed below the fixing unit.

6. The developing device according to claim 2, wherein said external temperature detection unit is disposed at an upstream side relative to the fixing unit in a direction that the recording medium is transported.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control unit decreases the driving speed as the environmental temperature increases.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said control unit decreases the fixing temperature as the environmental temperature increases.

9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an internal temperature detection unit for detecting an internal temperature inside the image forming apparatus, said control unit setting the driving speed according to the environmental temperature and the internal temperature.

10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said internal temperature detection unit detects a surface temperature of the image supporting member.

11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said internal temperature detection unit detects a surface temperature of a transfer member arranged to face the image supporting member.

12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a sheet number counting unit for counting a number of the recording media to be printed, said control unit further storing the number of the recording media in a sheet number storage unit and setting the driving speed according to the number of the recording media thus stored.

13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said sheet number counting unit is disposed in a transportation path for counting the number of the recording media passing through the transportation path.

14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an operation time measuring unit for measuring an operation time of the image forming apparatus, said control unit further storing the operation time thus measured in an operation time storage unit and setting the driving speed according to the operation time thus stored.