Patent EP0442527A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0442527A2
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EP
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An image forming apparatus
Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 1991-02-15
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2011-02-15
Abstract
Abstract An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device for forming an image on a recording material (P), the image forming device including an image bearing member (1), a movable charging member (5) for charging the image bearing member (1) and a power source for supplying electric power (10) to the charging member; a constant current controller (11) for supplying the charging member (5) with a predetermined constant level of electric current; and a second controller for controlling an image forming condition by the image forming device on the basis of plural voltages provided at different points of time during a constant current control operation with the same constant current level by the constant current controller (11): charger or transfer charger with periodes of constant current control and constant voltage control structure for charging or transfer charging unit digital control for charging or transfer charging unit setting means.
Inventors
- 👤 Akihiko Takeuchi
- 👤 Akihisa Kusano
- 👤 Junichi Kimizuka
- 👤 Kaoru Sato
- 👤 Toshiyuki Itoh
- 👤 Masanori Ishizu
- 👤 Toshihiko Inuyama
- 👤 Kazuhiko Okazawa
- 👤 Tatsuto Tachibana
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 07:55
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/14; G03G15/16; G03G15/1665; G03G15/167; G03G15/1675
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 95
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
An image forming apparatus, comprising: image forming means for forming an image on a recording material, said image forming means including an image bearing member, a movable charging member for charging the image bearing member and a power source for supplying electric power to the charging member; constant current control means for supplying the charging member with a predetermined constant level of electric current; and second control means for controlling an image forming condition by said image forming means on the basis of plural voltages provided at different points of time during a constant current control operation with the same constant current level by said constant current control means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein said charging member is an image transfer member for transferring the image from said image bearing member onto the recording material at a charging position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to Claim 2, wherein the image bearing member and the transfer member are opposed or contacted at the charging position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
An apparatus according to Claim 2, wherein said image forming means further includes developing means for developing a latent image formed on said image bearing member to a toner image, wherein said constant current control means constant-current controls the charging member when the toner image is not present at the charging position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus according to Claim 4, wherein said constant current control means constant-current controls the charging member when the recording material is not present at the charging position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
An apparatus according to Claim 1, further comprising constant voltage control means for supplying said charging member with a constant level of voltage, wherein said second control means controls the voltage level by said constant voltage control means in accordance with the plural voltage levels.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein said second control means controls the image forming condition on the basis of an average of the plural voltage levels.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus according to Claim 6, wherein said second control means controls the voltage level by said constant voltage control means on the basis of an average of the plural voltage levels.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
An apparatus according to Claim 5, further comprising constant voltage control means for supplying said transfer member with a predetermined constant level of voltage, wherein said second control means controls the voltage level by said constant voltage control means on the basis of the plural voltage levels.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus according to Claim 9, wherein said second control means controls the voltage level by said constant voltage control means on the basis of the plural voltage levels.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein said charging member is a rotatable member faced to the image bearing member at the charging position of said charging member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus according to Claim 11, wherein the rotatable member is contacted to the image bearing member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus according to Claim 11, wherein the plural voltage levels are produced by different portions of the rotatable member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
46 words
An apparatus according to Claim 11, wherein said image forming means further includes developing means for developing a latent image into a toner image, wherein said constant current control means constant-current controls the rotatable member when the toner image is not present at the charging position.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus according to Claim 14, wherein said constant current control means constant-current-controls the rotatable member when the recording material is not present at the charging position.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus according to Claim 15, further comprising constant voltage control means for supplying the rotatable member with a predetermined constant voltage, wherein said second control means constant-voltage controls the rotatable member on the basis of the plural voltage levels.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus according to Claim 16, wherein said second control means controls the voltage level by said constant voltage control means on the basis of an average of the plural voltage levels.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus according to Claim 11, wherein the plural voltage levels are produced during one full rotation of the rotatable member.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
105 words
An image forming apparatus, comprising: image forming means for forming an image on a recording material, said image forming means including an image bearing member, a rotatable charging member for charging the image bearing member and a power source for supplying electric power to the charging member; constant current control means for supplying the charging member with a predetermined constant level of electric current; and second control means for controlling an image forming condition of said image forming means on the basis of plural voltages provided during a constant current control by said constant current control means during one full rotation of said charging member.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus according to Claim 19, wherein said charging member is an image transfer member for transferring the image from said image bearing member onto the recording material at a charging position.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to Claim 20, wherein the image bearing member and the transfer member are opposed or contacted at the charging position.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
52 words
An apparatus according to Claim 20, wherein said image forming means further includes developing means for developing a latent image formed on said image bearing member to a toner image, wherein said constant current control means constant-current controls the charging member when the toner image is not present at the charging position.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus according to Claim 22, wherein said constant current control means constant-current controls the charging member when the recording material is not present at the charging position.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
45 words
An apparatus according to Claim 19, further comprising constant voltage control means for supplying said charging member with a constant level of voltage, wherein said second control means controls the voltage level by said constant voltage control means in accordance with the plural voltage levels.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus according to Claim 19, wherein said second control means controls the image forming condition on the basis of an average of the plural voltage levels.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus according to Claim 24, wherein said second control means controls the voltage level by said constant voltage control means on the basis of an average of the plural voltage levels.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
47 words
An apparatus according to Claim 23, further comprising constant voltage control means for supplying said transfer member with a predetermined constant level of voltage, wherein said second control means controls the voltage level by said constant voltage control means on the basis of the plural voltage levels.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus according to Claim 27, wherein said second control means controls the voltage level by said constant voltage control means on the basis of an average of the plural voltage levels.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus according to Claim 19, wherein said charging member is faced to the image bearing member at the charging position.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus according to Claim 29, wherein said charging member is contacted to the image bearing member.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus according to Claim 29, wherein the plural voltage levels are provided by different portions of said charging member.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
178 words
An image forming apparatus, comprising: image forming means for forming an image on a recording material, said image forming means including an image bearing member, a movable charging member for charging the image bearing member and a power source for supplying electric power to the charging member; constant current control means for supplying the charging member with a predetermined constant level of electric current; constant voltage control means for supplying the charging member with a predetermined constant level of voltage; analog/digital conversion means for converting an analog voltage provided during a constant current control by said constant current control means to a digital level; determining means for determining a digital level corresponding to the constant voltage level on the basis of the digital level by said analog/digital conversion means; and digital/analog conversion means for converting the digital level corresponding to the constant level determined by said determining means to an analog level, wherein the constant voltage control by said constant voltage control means is effected on the basis of the analog level provided by the digital-analog conversion means.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus according to Claim 32, wherein said charging member is a rotatable member faced to said image bearing member at a charging station by said charging means.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus according to Claim 33, wherein said rotatable member is contacted to said image bearing member.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus according to Claim 33, wherein said analog/digital conversion means converts the plural analog voltage levels produced during the constant current control by said constant current control means to respective digital levels.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus according to Claim 35, wherein said determining means determines an average of the plural digital levels.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus according to Claim 35, wherein the plural analog voltage levels are provided by different portions of the rotatable member.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus according to Claim 35, wherein the plural analog voltage levels are provided during one full rotation of the rotatable member.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus according to Claim 32, further comprising correcting means for correcting the constant voltage level toward a target level corresponding to the analog level produced during a constant current control by said constant current control means.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus according to Claim 32, further comprising correcting means for correcting the constant voltage level toward the analog level provided during the constant current control by said constant current control means.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus according to Claim 32, further comprising correcting means for correcting the analog level by said digital/analog conversion means toward the analog level produced during a constant current control by said constant currant control means.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus according to Claim 32, further comprising control means for correcting the constant voltage level on the basis of the analog/digital converted digital level and the digital level to which the analog level is returned.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus according to Claim 33, wherein the rotatable member is a transfer member for transferring the image from said image bearing member to the recording material.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
52 words
An apparatus according to Claim 43, wherein said image forming means further includes developing means for developing a latent image formed on said image bearing member to a toner image, wherein said constant current control means constant-current controls the charging member when the toner image is not present at the charging position.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus according to Claim 44, wherein said constant current control means constant-current controls the charging member when the recording material is not present at the charging position.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to Claim 32, wherein the image bearing member and the transfer member are opposed or contacted at the charging position.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
52 words
An apparatus according to Claim 46, wherein said image forming means further includes developing means for developing a latent image formed on said image bearing member to a toner image, wherein said constant current control means constant-current controls the charging member when the toner image is not present at the charging position.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus according to Claim 47, wherein said constant current control means constant-current controls the charging member when the recording material is not present at the charging position.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus according to Claim 32, wherein said determining means stores the digital level.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
108 words
An image forming apparatus, comprising: image forming means for forming an image on a recording material, said image forming means including an image bearing member, a movable charging member for charging the image bearing member and a power source for supplying electric power to the charging member; constant voltage control means for supplying the charging member with a predetermined constant level of voltage; and second control means for controlling an image forming condition of said image forming means on the basis of plural electric currents provided at different points of time during a constant voltage control with the same constant voltage level by said constant voltage control means.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus according to Claim 50, wherein said charging member is an image transfer member for transferring the image from said image bearing member onto the recording material at a charging position.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to Claim 51, wherein the image bearing member and the transfer member are opposed or contacted at the charging position.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
52 words
An apparatus according to Claim 51, wherein said image forming means further includes developing means for developing a latent image formed on said image bearing member to a toner image, wherein said constant voltage control means constant-voltage controls the charging member when the toner image is not present at the charging position.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus according to Claim 53, wherein said constant voltage control means constant-voltage controls the charging member when the recording material is not present at the charging position.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus according to Claim 53, further comprising third control means for supplying said charging member with a constant level of current, wherein said second control means controls the voltage level by said third control means in accordance with the plural current levels.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus according to Claim 50, wherein said second control means controls the image forming condition on the basis of an average of the plural current levels.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus according to Claim 55, wherein said second control means controls the voltage level by said third control means on the basis of an average of the plural voltage levels.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
46 words
An apparatus according to Claim 54, further comprising third control means for supplying said transfer member with a predetermined constant level of voltage, wherein said second control means controls the voltage level by said constant current control means on the basis of the plural current levels.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus according to Claim 58, wherein said second control means controls the voltage level by said third control means on the basis of the plural voltage levels.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus according to Claim 50, wherein said charging member is a rotatable member faced to the image bearing member at the charging position of said charging member.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus according to Claim 60, wherein the rotatable member is contacted to the image bearing member.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus according to Claim 60, wherein the plural current levels are produced by different portions of the rotatable member.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
46 words
An apparatus according to Claim 60, wherein said image forming means further includes developing means for developing a latent image into a toner image, wherein said constant voltage control means constant-voltage controls the rotatable member when the toner image is not present at the charging position.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus according to Claim 63, wherein said constant voltage control means constant-voltage-controls the rotatable member when the recording material is not present at the charging position.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus according to Claim 64, further comprising third control means for supplying the rotatable member with a predetermined constant current, wherein said second control means constant-controls the voltage level of said third control means on the basis of the plural current levels.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus according to Claim 65, wherein said second control means controls the voltage level by said third control means on the basis of an average of the plural current levels.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus according to Claim 67, wherein the plural current levels are provided during one full rotation of said rotatable member.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus according to Claim 50, further comprising setting means for setting an image forming condition of said image forming means on the basis of the plural current levels.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus according to Claim 68, wherein said determining means determines the image forming condition on the basis of the average of the plural current levels.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
97 words
An image forming apparatus, comprising: image forming means for forming an image on a recording material, said image forming means including an image bearing member, a rotatable charging member for charging the image bearing member and a power source for supplying electric power to the charging member; constant voltage control means for supplying the charging member with a predetermined constant level of voltage; and second control means for controlling an image forming condition of said image forming means on the basis of plural electric currents provided during a constant voltage control by said constant voltage control means,
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus according to Claim 70, wherein said charging member is an image transfer member for transferring the image from said image bearing member onto the recording material at a charging position.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to Claim 71, wherein the image bearing member and the transfer member are opposed or contacted at the charging position.
Claim 73
Dependent Claim
52 words
An apparatus according to Claim 72, wherein said image forming means further includes developing means for developing a latent image formed on said image bearing member to a toner image, wherein said constant voltage control means constant-voltage controls the charging member when the toner image is not present at the charging position.
Claim 74
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus according to Claim 72, wherein said constant voltage control means constant-voltage controls the charging member when the recording material is not present at the charging position.
Claim 75
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus according to Claim 70, further comprising third control means for supplying said charging member with a constant level of current, wherein said second control means controls the voltage level by said third control means in accordance with the plural voltage levels.
Claim 76
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus according to Claim 70, wherein said second control means controls the image forming condition on the basis of an average of the plural current levels.
Claim 77
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus according to Claim 74, wherein said second control means controls the voltage level by said third control means on the basis of an average of the plural voltage levels.
Claim 78
Dependent Claim
46 words
An apparatus according to Claim 73, further comprising third control means for supplying said transfer member with a predetermined constant level of voltage, wherein said second control means controls the voltage level by said constant current control means on the basis of the plural current levels.
Claim 79
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus according to Claim 77, wherein said second control means controls the voltage level by said third control means on the basis of an average of the plural voltage levels.
Claim 80
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus according to Claim 70, wherein said charging member is faced to the image bearing member at the charging position.
Claim 81
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus according to Claim 79, wherein said charging member is contacted to said image bearing member.
Claim 82
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus according to Claim 79, wherein the plural current levels are provided by different portions of the charging member.
Claim 83
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus according to Claim 70, further comprising setting means for setting an image forming condition of said image forming means on the basis of the plural current levels.
Claim 84
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus according to Claim 83, wherein said determining means determines the image forming condition on the basis of the average of the plural current levels.
Claim 85
Dependent Claim
152 words
An image forming apparatus, comprising: image forming means for forming an image on a recording material, said image forming means including an image bearing member, a charging member for charging the image bearing member and a power source for supplying electric power to the charging member; constant voltage control means for supplying the charging member with a predetermined constant level of voltage; analog/digital conversion means for converting an analog current level provided during a constant voltage control by said constant voltage control means to a digital level; determining means for determining a digital level corresponding to the constant voltage level on the basis of the digital level provided by said analog/digital conversion means; digital/analog conversion means for converting the digital level corresponding to the constant voltage level determined by said determining means, wherein the constant voltage control is effected on the basis of the analog level provided by said digital/analog conversion means.
Claim 86
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus according to Claim 85, wherein the charging member is in the form of a rotatable member formed to said image bearing member.
Claim 87
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus according to Claim 86, wherein said rotatable member is contacted to said image bearing member.
Claim 88
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus according to Claim 85, wherein said charging member is an image transfer member for transferring the image from said image bearing member onto the recording material at a charging position.
Claim 89
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to Claim 88, wherein the image bearing member and the transfer member are opposed or contacted at the charging position.
Claim 90
Dependent Claim
89 words
An apparatus according to Claim 87, wherein said image forming means further includes developing means for developing a latent image into a toner image, wherein said analog/digital conversion means converts to respective digital levels the plural analog currents provided by operation of said constant voltage control means when the toner image is not present at the charging position, and wherein on the basis of the analog level provided from the digital levels, the constant voltage control means is operated when the toner image is present at the charging position.
Claim 91
Dependent Claim
71 words
An apparatus according to Claim 89, wherein said analog/digital conversion means converts to respective digital levels the analog current levels provided during operation of said constant voltage control means when the recording material is not present at the charging position, and wherein on the basis of the analog level converted from the digital level, the constant voltage control means is operated when the recording material is present at the charging position.
Claim 92
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to Claim 89, wherein said determining means determines an average of the plural digital levels provided by said analog/digital conversion.
Claim 93
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus according to Claim 85, wherein the plural analog current levels provided by the constant voltage control are produced by different portions of said rotatable member.
Claim 94
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus according to Claim 85, wherein the plural analog current levels during operation of said constant voltage control means are provided during one full rotation of said rotatable member.
Claim 95
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus according to Claim 84, wherein said determining means stores the digital levels.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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