Image forming apparatus

Claim 2

An image forming apparatus, comprising: scanning means for scanning an original, and having a reciprocating member; driving means for causing said reciprocating member to move in a forward direction for original scanning and in a reverse direction; and control means for controlling said driving means to position said reciprocating member at a predetermined position, regardless of whether said reciprocating member is at the predetermined position, before the performance of an image forming operation, by a setting operation involving movement of the reciprocating member in both the forward and the reverse directions, said control means being arranged to determine, as an improper state of said apparatus, the failure of said reciprocating member to become positioned by the setting operation at the predetermined position.

Claim 3

An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means changes the direction of the movement of said reciprocating member after the movement thereof in the forward direction for a predetermined time to set said reciprocating member at the predetermined position.

Claim 4

An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a sensor associated with one of the moving and setting operations.

Claim 5

An image forming apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising timer means for clocking time in synchronism with said control means, and means for determining an improper state of said apparatus if said sensor does not sense within a predetermined time.

Claim 6

An image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said sensor is used to control the sequence for forming the image.

Claim 7

An image forming apparatus comprising: instructing means for instructing initiation of an image forming operation; means, including a reciprocating scanning member, for scanning an original to be reproduced in the image forming operation; driving means for causing said scanning member to move in reciprocation; detection means for detecting when said scanning member is at a predetermined position; and means for identifying first and second faults in the movement of said scanning member every scanning of the original after the initiation of the image forming operation is instructed by said instructing means, said identifying means being arranged to identify the first fault in response to the failure of said detection means to detect said scanning member within a first predetermined period during which said driving means is operating, said identifying means also being arranged to identify the second fault in response to the continuous detection by said detection means of said scanning member over a second predetermined period following the detection by said detection means of said scanning member within the first predetermined period.

Claim 8

An image forming apparatus comprising: instructing means for instructing initiation of an image forming operation; means, including a reciprocating scanning member, for scanning an original to be reproduced in the image forming operation; driving means for causing said scanning member to move in reciprocation; detection means for detecting when said scanning member is at a predetermined position; and means for identifying first and second faults in the movement of said scanning member every scanning of the original after the initiation of the image forming operation is instructed by said instructing means, said identifying means being arranged to identify the first fault in response to the failure of said detection means to detect said scanning member within a first predetermined period during which said driving means is operating, said identifying means also being arranged to identify the second fault in response to the continuous detection by said detection means of said scanning member over a second predetermined period following the detection by said detection means of said scanning member within the first predetermined period.

Claim 9

An image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said identifying means includes timer means operable to time the first predetermined period in accordance with the operation of said driving means.

Claim 10

An image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said identifying means includes timer means operable to time the second predetermined period in accordance with the detection of said scanning member by said detection means.

Claim 11

An image forming apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising control means for controlling said driving means to cause said scanning member to move in accordance with an output of said detection means.

Claim 12

An image forming apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising image forming means for forming on a recording member an image derived from the scanning of the original by said scanning means.

Claim 13

An image forming apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said timer means comprises a counter for counting clock pulses generated in synchronism with the image forming operation.

Claim 14

An image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said timer means comprises a counter for counting clock pulses generated in synchronism with the image forming operation.

Claim 15

An image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the image forming operation is stopped upon the identification of a fault by said identifying means.

Claim 16

An original image scanning apparatus, comprising: scanning means for scanning an original, said means including a reciprocating member; driving means for causing said reciprocating member to move in a forward direction and in a reverse direction for original scanning; control means for controlling said driving means such that said reciprocating member is moved in both the forward and the reverse directions before the performance of said original scanning; and identifying means for identifying a fault in the movement of said reciprocating member before the performance of said original scanning.

Claim 17

An original image scanning apparatus, comprising: scanning means for scanning an original, said means including a reciprocating member; driving means for causing said reciprocating member to move in a forward direction and in a reverse direction for original scanning; control means for controlling said driving means such that said reciprocating member is moved in both the forward and the reverse directions before the performance of said original scanning; and identifying means for identifying a fault in the movement of said reciprocating member before the performance of said original scanning.

Claim 18

An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein an image forming operation is inhibited when said identifying means identifies the fault.

Claim 19

An apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising means for performing image formation based on an image of the original scanned by said scanning means.

Claim 20

An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said control means controls said driving means such that said reciprocating member is moved in the backward direction after being moved in the forward direction.

Claim 21

An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said control means controls said driving means to set said reciprocating member at a predetermined position.

Claim 22

An image forming apparatus, comprising: a reciprocable member for image formation; driving means for causing said member to reciprocate; and control means for controlling said driving means to cause said member to reciprocate prior to the performance of an image forming operation so as to set said member at a predetermined position, and for identifying a fault in the movement of said member if it is not set at the predetermined position.

Claim 23

An image forming apparatus, comprising: a reciprocable member for image formation; driving means for causing said member to reciprocate; and control means for controlling said driving means to cause said member to reciprocate prior to the performance of an image forming operation so as to set said member at a predetermined position, and for identifying a fault in the movement of said member if it is not set at the predetermined position.

Claim 24

An apparatus according to claim 19 wherein the image forming operation is inhibited when said control means identifies the fault.

Claim 25

An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said control means controls said driving means such that after a power source turns on, said moving member is reciprocated to be set at the predetermined position.

Claim 26

An apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising means for detecting a position of said moving member, and wherein said control means identifies the fault when said detecting means does not detect said moving member within a predetermined time.

Claim 27

An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said moving member is a scanning means for scanning an original.