Reflection type optical sensor and image generation apparatus

Abstract

A reflection type optical sensor that detect a surface condition of a moving body and that is used for an image generation apparatus which forms images on a recording media includes a light-emitting device which has a plurality of light emitter systems including at least two light-emitting members and a light-emitting optical system having a plurality of light-emitting lenses corresponding to a plurality of the light emitter systems and guiding light emitted from the light emitter systems to the moving body and a light-receiving device which has a light receiver system including at least two light-receiving members and a light-receiving optical system having light-receiving lenses corresponding to the at least two light-receiving members and guiding light reflected by the moving body to the light receiver system. The image generation apparatus has further a surface condition judging device in addition to the reflection type optical sensor.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]The present application is based on and claims priority from each of Japanese Patent Application Number 2012-199379, filed on Sep. 11, 2012 and Japanese Patent Application Number 2012-204291, filed on Sep. 18, 2012, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates to an image generation apparatus regarding copy machines, laser beam printers, facsimile terminals and plotter machines.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]Image generation apparatuses that make color images have been widely used for or applied to color copy machines, printers and facsimile terminals, plotter machines etc. and moreover applied to multi-function printers (MFP), such as those shown in references 1-3. Such image generation apparatus develops images by forming a latent image on the surface of an image carrier holder and transfer de...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011]According to the reference 2, an invention of image generation apparatuses such that whole of surface of the fixing members is abraded to prevent such a concentration that the scratches are generated on a particular portion of the resultant image is provided. However, the invention does not disclose the method to detect the generation of scratches or the status of the scratches. According to the reference 3, an invention of image generation apparatuses such that more developer is supplied to the portion where scratches are found than the portion where no scratches are found for the developing process and the scratches can be obscured. As the result, frequent exchange or replacement of parts is not necessary so that it is possible to cut the maintenance costs. However, new technology for the image generation apparatuses is recently required so that precise detection of the scratches and / or the status of the scratched in a quick fashion and maintaining high quality images.

Problems solved by technology

An endless fixing belt that is popularly used for the fixing member has problems such that degradation of optical performance or reliability of operation since the optical sensor cannot detect the reflected light that reflected on the fixing belt due to the deviations in the distance from the optical source to the light-illuminated position thereof or the angle of the light-illuminated portion against the optical source due to ruffling, floppy or curling thereof likely happens.

Due to such deviations, the optical sensor cannot exactly detect the reflected light from the fixing belt since the light is diffused on the surface of the belt and therefore the optical detection system results into losing reliability.

Due to such unreliable capability of optical detection, there is a problem such that an alarm is generated in despite the time to exchange the fixing member has not come yet.