Method and apparatus for controlling lens of image forming apparatus

Claim 5

A method according to claim 2, wherein the movement of said lens at said second speed is always executed in the same direction.

Claim 6

A method according to claim 2, wherein the movement of said lens at said second speed is executed in one of two directions depending on which side of said home position said lens was initially located.

Claim 7

A method according to claim 2, wherein said step of moving said lens at said second speed to stop at said home position comprises moving said lens in the same direction irrespective of which side of the home position the lens was initially located.

Claim 8

A method according to claim 2, wherein said step of moving said lens at said second speed is executed in a direction opposite to the direction at which said step of moving said lens at said first speed was executed.

Claim 9

A method according to claim 2, wherein said lens is moved according to a first operational sequence when said lens is initially located on one side of said home position and said lens is moved according to a second operational sequence when said lens is initially located on the other side of said home position, said first operational sequence comprising (i) moving said lens at said first speed in one direction past said home position, and (ii) moving said lens at said second speed in a direction opposite to said one direction to said home position to stop at said home position; said second operational sequence comprising (iii) moving said lens at said first speed in said opposite direction past said home position (iv) moving said lens at said first speed in said one direction until the lens again passes said home position, and (v) moving said lens at said second speed in said opposite direction to said home position to stop at said home position, whereby said lens is moved in said opposite direction to said home position to stop at said home position regardless of which side of the home position the lens was initially located.

Claim 10

A method according to claim 2, wherein said lens is moved according to a first operational sequence when said lens is initially located on one side of said home position and said lens is moved according to a second operational sequence when said lens is initially located on the other side of said home position, said first operational sequence comprising (i) moving said lens at said first speed in one direction past said home position, and (ii) moving said lens at said second speed in a direction opposite to said one direction to said home position to stop at said home position; said second operational sequence comprising (iii) moving said lens at said first speed in said opposite direction past said home position; and (iv) moving said lens at said second speed in said one direction to said home position to stop at said home position.

Claim 11

A method according to claim 2, further comprising the step of utilizing a sensor for detecting said home position of said lens.

Claim 12

A method according to claim 2, further comprising the steps of utilizing a first sensor for detecting said home position when said lens is moved at said second speed in one direction to stop at said home position, and utilizing a second sensor for detecting said home position when said lens moves at said second speed in a direction opposite to said one direction to stop said lens at said home position.

Claim 13

A method according to claim 2, further comprising the step of utilizing a stepping motor for moving said lens.

Claim 14

A method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of controlling said stepping motor utilizing a timer.

Claim 15

A method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of controlling said stepping motor utilizing a timer and a phase changer.

Claim 16

A method according to claim 2, further comprising the step of utilizing a servo motor for moving said lens.

Claim 21

Apparatus for controlling a lens of an image forming apparatus comprising operable means for moving said lens at a first speed from an initial position toward a home position to pass said home position, and control means for controlling said operable means such that said operable means reverses the direction of movement of said lens after said lens has past said home position and moves said lens at a second speed lower than said first speed to stop said lens at said home position.

Claim 22

Apparatus for controlling a lens of an image forming apparatus comprising operable means for moving said lens at a first speed from an initial position toward a home position to pass said home position, and control means for controlling said operable means such that said operable means reverses the direction of movement of said lens after said lens has past said home position and moves said lens at a second speed lower than said first speed to stop said lens at said home position.

Claim 23

Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said control means controls said operable means to always move said lens in the same direction at said second speed to stop said lens at said home position regardless of which side of said home position said lens was initially located.

Claim 24

Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said control means controls said operable means to move said lens in different directions at said second speed to stop said lens at said home position depending on which side of said home position said lens was initially located.

Claim 25

Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said control means comprises sensor means for detecting said home position of said lens.

Claim 26

Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said control means comprises a first sensor means to detect said home position when said lens moves at said second speed in one direction to stop at said home position, and second sensor means to detect said home position when said lens moves at said second speed in a direction opposite to said one direction to stop at said home position.

Claim 27

Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said operable means comprises a stepping motor.

Claim 28

Apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said control means comprises a timer for controlling said stepping motor.

Claim 29

Apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said control means comprises phase change means for effecting a phase change for controlling said stepping motor.

Claim 30

Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said operable means comprises a servomotor.

Claim 35

A method according to claim 27, wherein the movement of said lens at said second speed is always executed in the same direction.

Claim 36

A method according to claim 27, wherein the movement of said lens at said second speed is executed in one of two directions depending on which side of said home position said lens was initially located.

Claim 37

A method according to claim 27, wherein said step of moving said lens at said second speed to stop at said home position comprises moving said lens in the same direction irrespective of which side of the home position the lens was initially located.

Claim 38

A method according to claim 27, wherein said step of moving said lens at said second speed is executed in a direction opposite to the direction at which said step of initially moving said lens at said first speed was executed.

Claim 39

A method according to claim 27, wherein said lens is moved according to a first operational sequence when said lens is initially located on one side of said home position and said lens is moved according to a second operational sequence when said lens is initially located on the other side of said home position, said first operational sequence comprising (i) initially moving said lens at said first speed in one direction past said home position, (ii) moving said lens at said second speed in a direction opposite to said one direction to said home position to stop at said home position, and (iii) finally moving said lens at said first speed in said one direction from said home position to said selected position; said second operational sequence comprising (iv) initially moving said lens at said first speed in said opposite direction past said home position (v) moving said lens at said first speed in said one direction until the lens again passes said home position, (vi) moving said lens at said second speed in said opposite direction to said home position to stop at said home position, and (vii) finally moving said lens at said first speed in said opposite direction from said home position to said selected position, whereby said lens is moved in said opposite direction to said home position to stop at said home position prior to being moved to said selected position regardles of which side of the home position the lens was initially located.

Claim 40

A method according to claim 27, wherein said lens is moved according to a first operational sequence when said lens is initially located on one said of said home position and said lens is moved according to a second operational sequence when said lens is initially located on the other side of said home position, said first operational sequence comprising (i) initially moving said lens at said first speed in one direction past said home position, (ii) moving said lens at said second speed in a direction opposite to said one direction to said home position to stop at said home position, and (iii) finally moving said lens at said first speed in said one direction from said home position to said selected position; said second operational sequence comprising (iv) initially moving said lens at said first speed in said opposite direction past said home position, (v) moving said lens at said second speed in said one direction to said home position to stop at said home position, and (vi) finally moving said lens at said first speed in said opposite direction from said home position to said selected position.

Claim 41

A method according to claim 27, further comprising the step of utilizing a sensor for detecting said home position of said lens.

Claim 42

A method according to claim 27, further comprising the steps of utilizing a first sensor for detecting said home position when said lens is moved at said second speed in one direction to stop at said home position, and utilizing a second sensor for detecting said home position when said lens moves at said second speed in a direction opposite to said one direction to stop said lens at said home position.

Claim 43

A method according to claim 27, further comprising the step of utilizing a stepping motor for moving said lens.

Claim 44

A method according to claim 36, further comprising the step of controlling said stepping motor utilizing a timer.

Claim 45

A method according to claim 36, further comprising the step of controlling said stepping motor utilizing a timer and a phase changer.

Claim 46

A method according to claim 27, further comprising the step of utilizing a servo motor for moving said lens.

Claim 47

A method according to claim 27, wherein said steps as recited in claim 27 constitute a first operational sequence operable when said initial position and said selected position are on opposite sides of said home position, and further comprising the step of moving said lens according to a second operational sequence when said initial position and said selected position are both on the same side of said home position, said second operational sequence comprising moving said lens at said first speed from said initial position directly to said selected position without passing through said home position.

Claim 48

A method according to claim 40, wherein said second operational sequence comprises moving said lens in either one of two directions toward or away from said home position depending on the location of said initial position relative to said selected position.

Claim 49

Apparatus for moving a lens of an image forming apparatus from an initial position to a selected position comprising operable means for moving said lens at a first speed from an initial position toward a home position to pass said home position, and control means for controlling said operable means such that said operable means reverses the direction of movement of said lens after said lens has passed said home position and moves said lens at a second speed lower than said first speed to stop said lens at said home position followed by moving said lens at said first speed from said home position to said selected position.

Claim 50

Apparatus for moving a lens of an image forming apparatus from an initial position to a selected position comprising operable means for moving said lens at a first speed from an initial position toward a home position to pass said home position, and control means for controlling said operable means such that said operable means reverses the direction of movement of said lens after said lens has passed said home position and moves said lens at a second speed lower than said first speed to stop said lens at said home position followed by moving said lens at said first speed from said home position to said selected position.

Claim 51

Apparatus according to claim 42, wherein said control means controls said operable means to always move said lens in the same direction at said second speed to stop said lens at said home position regardles of which side of said home position said lens was initially located.

Claim 52

Apparatus according to claim 42, wherein said control means controls said operable means to move said lens in different directions at said second speed to stop said lens at said home position depending on which side of said home position said lens was initially located.

Claim 53

Apparatus according to claim 42, wherein said control means comprises sensor means for detecting said home position of said lens.

Claim 54

Apparatus according to claim 42, wherein said control means comprises a first sensor means to detect said home position when said lens moves at said second speed in one direction to stop at said home position, and second sensor means to detect said home position when said lens moves at said second speed in a direction opposite to said one direction to stop at said home position.

Claim 55

Apparatus according to claim 42, wherein said operable means comprises a stepping motor.

Claim 56

Apparatus according to claim 47, wherein said control means comprises a timer for controlling said stepping motor.

Claim 57

Apparatus according to claim 48, wherein said control means comprises phase change means for effecting a phase change for controlling said stepping motor.

Claim 58

Apparatus according to claim 42, wherein said operable means comprises a servomotor.