Monochrome image forming apparatus and optical scanning device mountable thereto

Abstract

To solve the problem in which: in a monochrome image forming apparatus on which a laser scanner unit for a color image forming apparatus is mounted as a replacement part, when a register setting error occurs for a laser driver IC not used for image formation, image formation cannot be executed.SOLUTION: Even when a register setting error occurs for a laser driver IC not used for image formation, an image forming apparatus permits image formation. Alternatively, the image forming apparatus does not execute register settings for the laser driver IC not used for image formation.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a color image forming apparatus to which an optical scanning device can be attached as a replacement part, and to the optical scanning device. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, image forming apparatuses using an electrophotographic process have a laser scanner unit (optical scanning device) that exposes a photosensitive body such as a photosensitive drum. As shown in Fig. 1, these laser scanner units form an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive body by deflecting a light beam emitted from a light source with a rotating polygon mirror so that the light beam scans the photosensitive body.

[0003] Known image forming devices for forming color images include photoconductors for forming yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toner images. The color image forming device includes a laser scanner unit having multiple laser diode chips corresponding to the respective photoconductors as a laser light source for exposing the photoconductors. The laser scanner unit includes multiple laser driver ICs for driving the multiple laser diode chips, and a memory that stores register setting values, which are control data set in a register built into the laser driver IC.

[0004] In recent years, it has become known to manufacture color image forming apparatuses and monochrome image forming apparatuses based on a base engine, as described in Patent Document 1. While units necessary for color image formation are installed in the color image forming apparatus, units necessary for monochrome image formation are installed in the monochrome image forming apparatus, and units necessary for color image formation are not installed as a rule.

[0005] In the design concept of such a common base engine, the laser scanner unit for a color image forming apparatus includes the structure of a laser scanner for a monochrome image forming apparatus, so that when the laser scanner unit installed in the monochrome image forming apparatus breaks down and needs to be replaced in the market, it is also possible to install the laser scanner unit for a color image forming apparatus in the monochrome image forming apparatus and operate it. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] JP 2014-232130 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] However, in a monochrome image forming apparatus in which a laser scanner unit for a color image forming apparatus is installed as a replacement part, if a register setting error occurs in a laser driver IC that is not used for image formation, a problem occurs in which image formation cannot be performed. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and is a monochrome image forming apparatus that forms an image based on an input job, the monochrome image forming apparatus comprising: a plurality of laser driver ICs; a plurality of laser diode chips that are driven by the plurality of laser driver ICs to emit laser light; Multiple Laser Diode Tipsa mounting section capable of mounting an optical scanning device as a replacement part, the optical scanning device comprising: a memory for storing register setting values ​​to be set for each of the plurality of laser driver ICs to drive the laser driver ICs; one photosensitive member; and a controller for controlling the optical scanning device mounted on the mounting section such that the register setting values ​​stored in the memory are set for each of the plurality of laser driver ICs, the controller receiving an error signal from the optical scanning device indicating a setting error of the register setting value for the laser driver IC, wherein the one photosensitive member is a photosensitive member that is exposed to laser light emitted from one of the plurality of laser diode chips, and an electrostatic latent image formed by exposure to the laser light is developed with black toner, and when register setting for a laser driver IC corresponding to a laser diode chip among the plurality of laser diode chips that is driven to form a black toner image is completed and the controller receives the error signal for a laser driver IC other than the laser driver IC corresponding to the laser diode chip among the plurality of laser diode chips that is driven to form a black toner image, the controller permits image formation based on the job regardless of the received error signal.

[0009] Further, the present invention is a monochrome image forming apparatus that forms an image based on an input job, comprising: a mounting section in which an optical scanning device including a plurality of laser driver ICs, a plurality of laser diode chips that are driven by the plurality of laser driver ICs to emit laser light, and a memory that stores a register setting value to be set for each of the plurality of laser driver ICs to drive the laser diode; one photosensitive body; and a controller that controls the optical scanning device mounted on the mounting section so that the register setting value stored in the memory is set for each of the plurality of laser driver ICs, wherein the one photosensitive body is a photosensitive body that is exposed to laser light emitted from one of the plurality of laser diode chips, and an electrostatic latent image formed by exposure to the laser light is developed with black toner, and the controller controls the optical scanning device so that the register setting value is set for a laser driver IC among the plurality of laser driver ICs that corresponds to a laser diode chip that is driven to form a black toner image, and the register setting value is not set for laser driver ICs among the plurality of laser driver ICs other than the laser driver IC that corresponds to the laser diode chip for forming a black toner image.

[0010] The present invention also provides an optical scanning device that can be installed in a color image forming apparatus and can also be installed in a monochrome image forming apparatus as a replacement part, the optical scanning device comprising: a plurality of laser driver ICs; a plurality of laser diode chips that are driven by the plurality of laser driver ICs to emit laser light, respectively; a memory that stores register setting values ​​to be set for the plurality of laser driver ICs in order to drive the laser diode chips; and a control IC that can set the register setting values ​​stored in the memory for the plurality of laser driver ICs, the control IC transmitting an error signal indicating a setting error of the register setting value to the laser driver IC to a controller provided in the image forming apparatus. and when the image forming apparatus to be mounted is a color image forming apparatus, the control IC sets the register setting value stored in the memory in each of the plurality of laser driver ICs and transmits an error signal indicating the setting error from the memory to the plurality of laser driver ICs to a controller of the color image forming apparatus; and when the image forming apparatus to be mounted is a monochrome image forming apparatus, the control IC transmits an error signal indicating the setting error from the memory to the image forming apparatus to a laser driver IC corresponding to a laser diode chip driven to form a black toner image, and does not set the register setting value to laser driver ICs other than the laser driver IC in question.

[0011] Furthermore, the present invention provides an optical scanning device that can be installed in a color image forming apparatus and can also be installed in a monochrome image forming apparatus as a replacement part, comprising: a plurality of laser driver ICs; a plurality of laser diode chips that are driven by the plurality of laser driver ICs to emit laser light, a memory that stores register setting values ​​to be set for each of the plurality of laser driver ICs to drive the laser diode chips; and a control IC that sets the register setting values ​​stored in the memory to each of the plurality of laser driver ICs, wherein the control IC is capable of transmitting an error signal indicating a setting error of the register setting value to the laser driver IC to a controller provided in the image forming apparatus, and when the image forming apparatus to be installed is a color image forming apparatus, the control IC transmits the error signal indicating the setting error from the memory to the plurality of laser driver ICs to a controller of the color image forming apparatus, and when the image forming apparatus to be installed is a monochrome image forming apparatus, the control IC transmits the error signal indicating the setting error to the laser driver IC corresponding to the laser diode chip driven to form a black toner image to the image forming apparatus, and does not transmit the error signal indicating the setting error to laser driver ICs other than the laser driver IC. Effect of the Invention

[0012] According to the present invention, it is possible to suppress the problem that image formation cannot be performed due to a register setting error in a laser driver IC that is not used for image formation. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] Schematic diagram of an optical scanning device [Diagram 2] Schematic cross-sectional view of a monochrome image forming apparatus [Diagram 3] Comparative Example of Optical Scanning Device Attached to Monochrome Image Forming Apparatus [Figure 4]Comparative example of a control block diagram of an optical scanning device mounted on a monochrome image forming apparatus [Diagram 5] Schematic diagram of an optical scanning device according to the present embodiment. [Figure 6] Control block diagram of an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. [Figure 7] Control block diagram of the optical scanning device [Figure 8] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a monochrome image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 9] Setting data for the register [Figure 10] Control flow executed by the main CPU in the first embodiment [Figure 11] Modification of the control flow executed by the main CPU in the first embodiment [Figure 12] Control flow executed by the main CPU and the sub CPU in the second embodiment [Figure 13] Modification of the control flow executed by the main CPU and the sub CPU in the second embodiment [Figure 14] Control flow executed by the main CPU in the third embodiment DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] [Example 1] 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a digital single-color printer (monochrome image forming apparatus) that forms an image using toners of multiple colors. An image forming apparatus 100 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

[0015] The image forming apparatus shown in Fig. 2 is a monochrome image forming apparatus that uses the same base engine as a color image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus shown in Fig. 2 is a monochrome image forming apparatus as shipped from the factory, and is an apparatus in which as much structure as possible has been removed except for the unit that forms the black toner.

[0016] The image forming apparatus 100 includes a process unit 101 for forming a black toner image. In a color image forming apparatus, process units for forming yellow, magenta, and cyan toner images are provided in the dotted line portion of Fig. 2, but the image forming apparatus of this embodiment does not include these. The process unit 101 includes a photosensitive drum 102 that is driven to rotate as a photosensitive member. The process unit 101 further includes a charging roller 103 that acts on the photosensitive drum 102, a developing unit 105, and a drum cleaning blade 109.

[0017] The image forming apparatus 100 includes a laser scanner unit (optical scanning device) 104. The laser scanner unit 104 is a unit for forming an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive drum .

[0018] The image forming apparatus 100 includes a transfer device for transferring a toner image formed on a photosensitive drum 102 to a recording medium. The transfer device includes a primary transfer roller 107, an intermediate transfer belt 108, a secondary transfer roller, a drive roller, and a tension roller. The intermediate transfer belt 108 is tensioned by the rollers and rotates in the direction of the arrow in the figure during image formation. The primary transfer roller 107 is disposed at a position facing the photosensitive drum 102 across the intermediate transfer belt 108. The image forming apparatus 100 includes a secondary transfer roller 110 for transferring the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 108 to a recording medium P, and a fixing roller 117 and a pressure roller 118 for fixing the toner image on the recording medium S.

[0019] Here, we will explain the image forming process executed by the image forming apparatus 100. A photosensitive drum 102 that is rotated and driven is charged by a charging roller 103. A laser scanner unit 104 emits a laser beam to form an electrostatic latent image on the charged photosensitive drum 102. A developing device 105 develops the electrostatic latent image with black toner.

[0020] The visible toner image developed on the photosensitive drum 102 is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 107 by the primary transfer roller 107 applying a transfer bias to the intermediate transfer belt 107. The toner image transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 107 is secondarily transferred by the secondary transfer roller 110 onto the recording medium P conveyed from the manual feed cassette 116 or the paper feed cassette 113.

[0021] The toner image transferred onto the recording medium P is transported to a fixing roller 117 and a pressure roller 118, where it is heated and fixed, and then discharged to a paper discharge section 120, where an image is formed on the recording medium P. Residual toner remaining after the secondary transfer is collected by a transfer cleaning blade 111, and the above-mentioned image forming process is continued.

[0022] (Comparative example of laser scanner unit) Next, as a comparative example, the laser scanner unit 104 provided in Fig. 2 will be described with reference to Fig. 3. Fig. 3(a) is a schematic top view of the laser scanner unit, and Fig. 3(b) is a schematic cross-sectional view of the laser scanner unit.

[0023] The laser scanner unit 104 includes laser boards 208a and 208b, connectors 210a to 210c, a cable 209a, a laser light source 201k, a rotating polygon mirror 204, and a polygon mirror drive motor 210. The laser scanner unit 104A also includes scanning lenses 205a and 205b, a folding mirror 206a, and a BD sensor 207 (Beam Detecting sensor) as a light receiving unit.

[0024] The laser light source 201k is a CAN package type laser diode chip. The laser diode chip in this embodiment includes a plurality of laser diodes, and each laser diode emits a laser beam based on image data. The laser light source 201k is mounted on a laser driver board 208a together with a laser driver IC 330k, which will be described later. A connector 210a is further mounted on the laser board 208a. The BD sensor 207 may be mounted on the laser board 208a.

[0025] The BD sensor 207 generates a main scanning synchronization signal by receiving the laser light emitted from the laser diode chip 201K and deflected by the rotating polygon mirror 204. Note that the laser scanner may be configured so that the BD signal is generated by the laser light emitted by a laser diode chip other than the black laser diode chip.

[0026] The laser board 208b is mounted with connectors 210b and 210c, a sub-CPU 321, a ROM 322, a RAM 323, a serial communication I / F, a serial communication unit 327, and an EEPROM 328. The laser board 208b may also be mounted with a motor control unit 325 and a BD measurement timer 326, which will be described later.

[0027] A cable such as a flexible flat cable is connected to the connector 210b mounted on the laser board 208b, so that the sub-CPU 321 mounted on the laser board 208b can communicate with the main CPU 301 described below. The connector 210b mounted on the laser board 208b and the connector 210a mounted on the laser board 208a are connected by a cable such as a flexible flat cable. Therefore, the sub-CPU 321 can control the laser driver IC mounted on the laser board 208b.

[0028] The rotating polygon mirror 204 deflects the laser light emitted from the laser diode chip 201k so that the laser light scans the photosensitive drum 102. The laser light deflected by the rotating polygon mirror 204 is guided onto the photosensitive drum 102 by scanning lenses 205a and 205b and a folding mirror 206a having predetermined optical performance, and scans the photosensitive drum 102.

[0029] The laser scanner unit shown in FIG. 3 is a unit that is assembled in the image forming apparatus 100 at a factory, and is assembled in a brand new image forming apparatus. The laser scanner unit shown in FIG. 3 is attached with a structure for exposing the photosensitive drum corresponding to black. However, since the object to be attached is a monochrome image forming apparatus assembled in a factory, structures for exposing the photosensitive drums corresponding to yellow, magenta, and cyan are not attached. The laser scanner unit shown in FIG. 3 has a lower parts cost than the laser scanner shown in FIG. 5 described later because structures for exposing the photosensitive drums corresponding to yellow, magenta, and cyan are not attached. Note that, although a laser scanner unit having two laser boards is illustrated, an embodiment may have one laser board.

[0030] (Comparative example of control block diagram of laser scanner unit) Fig. 4 is a comparative example of the control block diagram of the laser scanner unit shown in Fig. 3. As shown in Fig. 4, the laser scanner unit is provided with a laser driver IC 330K corresponding to black and a laser diode chip 201k, but is not provided with a laser driver IC or a laser diode chip for yellow, magenta, or cyan. The details of the control block diagram of the laser scanner unit will be described later.

[0031] (Control block diagram of an image forming apparatus) 5 is a control block diagram of the image forming apparatus of this embodiment. A printer engine controller 300 of the image forming apparatus of this embodiment is connected to the laser scanner unit 104, and includes a main CPU 301, a ROM 302, a RAM 303, a serial communication I / F 304, a video I / F 305, a liquid crystal display unit 307, and a LAN-I / F 308.

[0032] The main CPU 301 controls the image forming apparatus in accordance with a control program stored in the ROM 302. The RAM 303 is used by the main CPU 301 and each image forming unit to store work data of paper transport information. The serial communication I / F 304 is an asynchronous serial communication I / F, and is a unit through which the main CPU 301 transmits register setting values ​​(data) that are operation instructions to the laser scanner unit 104. It is also used to receive a transfer signal from the laser scanner unit 104 to the main CPU 301. The video I / F 305 is an I / F for differential transmission signals through which the main CPU 301 transmits a video signal for exposure to the laser scanner unit 104.

[0033] The operation unit 307 has a touch panel type display panel, and functions as an input unit through which the user inputs information, and as a notification unit that notifies the user of information. The display panel of the operation unit 307 displays print job settings input by the CPU 301 to the image forming apparatus, accepts input by the user to change settings, and displays abnormal conditions (such as jams and setting errors) of the image forming apparatus. The LAN-I / F 308, which serves as a communication unit for communicating with an external information device, is used by the CPU 301 to accept print jobs from a terminal connected to the network, and to transmit abnormal conditions (error information) of the image forming apparatus 100 to a management server (management device) connected to the network.

[0034] The control block diagram shown in FIG. 5 is used for a color forming apparatus and a monochrome image forming apparatus having an engine obtained by removing the yellow, magenta, and cyan image forming units from this color image forming apparatus.

[0035] (Laser scanner unit of this embodiment) Next, the laser scanner unit (optical scanning device) 104 of this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 6. As shown in Fig. 6, the laser scanner unit 104 of this embodiment is different from the laser scanner shown in Fig. 3, which is a comparative example, in that in addition to the laser diode chip 201K for the black laser, laser diode chips 201Y, 201M, and 201C corresponding to yellow, cyan, and magenta are provided.

[0036] Also, the laser scanner unit 104 shown in Fig. 6 differs from the laser scanner unit shown in Fig. 3 in that it has optical members for guiding the laser beams of each color to the respective photosensitive drums. Specifically, in addition to the scanning lens 205a, scanning lens 205b, and folding mirror 206a of the laser scanner unit shown in Fig. 3, the laser scanner unit 104 shown in Fig. 6 has scanning lenses 205c-f and folding mirrors 206b-f.

[0037] Next, a control block diagram of the laser scanner unit 104 will be described with reference to FIG. 7. A block diagram of the laser board of the laser scanner unit 104 shown in the figure will be described with reference to FIG. 5. The laser scanner unit 104 includes a sub-CPU 321 (control integrated circuit, hereinafter referred to as control IC), a ROM 322, a RAM 323, a serial communication I / F 324, a motor control unit 325, a BD measurement timer 326, a BD sensor 207, and a serial communication unit 327. The laser scanner unit 104 also includes laser driver ICs 330Y to 330K (hereinafter referred to as laser drivers), a laser diode chip 331 including laser diodes 331A to D, a laser diode chip 332 including laser diodes 332A to D, a laser diode chip 333 including laser diodes 333A to D, and a laser diode chip 334 including laser diodes 334A to D. The laser scanner unit 104 also includes an EEPROM 328, which is a memory in which register setting values ​​set in the internal registers of each laser driver are stored. The EEPROM 328 may be provided for each laser driver IC, or one EEPROM may be provided for a plurality of laser driver ICs as in this embodiment.

[0038] The sub-CPU 321 is a CPU that controls communication, motors, and sensors within the laser scanner unit 104, and operates according to a program stored in a ROM 322. Although it is described as a CPU for convenience of explanation, it may be configured as an IC or ASIC if control is possible with standardized logic. The RAM 323 is a memory for temporarily storing information controlled by the sub-CPU 321.

[0039] The serial communication I / F 324 is a transmitter / receiver of asynchronous serial communication for receiving operation instructions (signals) from the printer engine controller 300 and transmitting operation responses (signals). The motor control unit 325 is a control unit that controls the rotation speed of the polygon mirror drive motor, which is a DC motor, to a constant speed using ACC and DEC signals in accordance with instructions from the sub-CPU 321.

[0040] The BD measurement timer 326 measures the timing and period of the main scanning synchronization signal from the BD sensor 207 according to instructions from the sub-CPU 321. The sub-CPU 321 instructs the motor control unit 325 so that the period of the main scanning synchronization signal from the BD sensor 207 becomes a desired period. The main scanning synchronization signal is also used to align the writing start position in the main scanning direction, which is the laser scanning direction, in each scanning period.

[0041] The serial communication unit 327 is a three-wire serial communication unit for the sub-CPU 321 to give instructions to the laser drivers 330Y to 330K, read control values, and read information (register setting values) stored in the EEPROM 328. The serial communication unit 327 is connected by three serial signals, namely, a transmission, reception, and CLK signal, and one CS signal for each device for selecting a communication target. A communication method other than the three-wire serial communication may be used, in which a two-wire communication signal is used for both transmission and reception, and information for selecting a communication target device is included in the communication information.

[0042] When the laser scanner unit 104 is connected to a color printer engine, the laser driver Y 330 controls the laser diodes 331A-D by the video signal from the video I / F and the control command from the serial communication unit 327, and forms an image in the yellow process unit. When the laser scanner unit 104 is connected to a monochrome printer engine, the video signal from the video I / F is not connected.

[0043] Similarly, when the laser driver 330M is connected to a color printer engine, it controls the laser diode 332 and forms an image in the magenta process unit, but when it is connected to a monochrome printer engine, the video signal from the Video I / F is not connected.

[0044] Similarly, when the laser driver 330C is connected to a color printer engine, it controls the laser diode 333 and forms an image in the cyan process unit, but when it is connected to a monochrome printer engine, the video signal from the Video I / F is not connected.

[0045] The laser driver K330 controls the laser diodes 334A-D by the video signal from the video I / F and the control command from the serial communication unit 327, and forms an image in the black process unit. It is exposed whether it is connected to a color printer engine or a monochrome printer engine.

[0046] Laser diodes 331A-D are detailed versions of laser light source 201 in Fig. 1 and laser light source 201Y in Fig. 4, and are driven by current from laser driver 330Y, so that laser diodes 331A-D each emit four beams. Similarly, laser diode 332 is detailed versions of laser light source 201 in Fig. 1 and laser light source 201M in Fig. 4, and is driven by current from laser driver 330M, so that laser diodes A-D included in laser diode 332 each emit four beams.

[0047] Similarly, laser diode 333 is a detailed version of laser light source 201 in FIG. 1 and laser light source 201C in FIG. 4, and is driven by current from laser driver 330C so that laser diodes A to D included in laser diode 332 each emit four beams.

[0048] The laser diodes 334A to 334D are detailed versions of the laser light source 201 in FIG. 1 and the laser light source 201Y in FIG. 4, and are driven by a current from a laser driver 330K, so that the laser diodes 334A to 334D each irradiate four beams.

[0049] In this embodiment, since the printer engine is a monochrome black printer engine, only the laser driver 330K and the laser diodes 334A-D are driven as shown in FIG. 3, but depending on the configuration of the optical system of the color scanner, the laser drivers Y-C and some of the laser diodes 331-333 may be used only for the purpose of BD detection to emit light as a light source.

[0050] As described above, the laser scanner unit 104 of this embodiment is equipped with an optical unit compatible with a color image forming apparatus. The laser scanner unit 104 is a unit that functions when attached to a color image forming apparatus, but since the laser scanner unit 104 is equipped with an optical unit compatible with black, it can also be attached to a monochrome image forming apparatus as shown in FIG. 8. The position of the laser scanner shown in FIG. 8 is the attachment position, and the laser scanner is supported by an attachment part such as a stay (not shown). This embodiment illustrates an example of solving a problem that occurs when the laser scanner unit 104 is used as a replacement part when the laser scanner shown in FIG. 3 breaks down.

[0051] 7, each of the laser drivers 330Y, 330M, 330C, and 330K is provided with a control register that can be read and written by a control command from the serial communication unit 328. In order to operate the laser scanner unit, the main CPU 301 sets the control register in response to turning on the main power supply of the image forming apparatus or in response to receiving an instruction to execute an image forming job.

[0052] (Register settings) 9 is set in the registers. The control registers include a drive current setting register 381 for laser diode A, a drive current setting register 382 for laser diode B, a drive current setting register 383 for laser diode C, a drive current setting register 384 for laser diode D, a gain value register 385 for the drive current corresponding to the set value of the current setting register, a register 386 for defining the signal voltage level of the input video signal, and a register 387 for setting the logic of the input video signal.

[0053] The driving current setting registers 381-384 of the laser diodes A-D are 10-bit registers, and are used to set the driving current by multiplying the set values ​​of the driving current setting registers 381-384 by a gain corresponding to the type of the laser diode connected. The input video signal level setting register 386 is a 10-bit register, and is used to set the level of the video signal input from the Video I / F 305 of the printer engine controller 300 to the laser drivers 330Y, M, C, and K, and is used to set the level according to the signal amplitude of the video signal output from the printer engine controller connected to the laser driver. The input video signal register 387 is a 1-bit register, and is used to set the polarity of the video signal input from the Video I / F 305 of the printer engine controller 300 to the laser drivers 330Y, M, C, and K.

[0054] The set values ​​of these registers are set in designated registers within the control registers under instructions from main CPU 301 in accordance with the values ​​stored in EEPROM 329 .

[0055] There may be cases where register setting is not completed within a predetermined time due to malfunction of the control register or communication failure between serial communication I / F 304 and serial communication I / F 324. There may also be cases where a notification of completion of register setting to the control register is not transferred to the main CPU due to communication failure between serial communication I / F 304 and serial communication I / F 324. In such cases, main CPU 301 determines that register setting is not completed, that is, that a so-called register setting error has occurred, and does not permit image formation, so image formation based on the input job is not performed.

[0056] Here, consider a monochrome image forming apparatus in which the laser scanner unit shown in Fig. 6 is installed as a replacement part. If a register setting error occurs in a control register that is not used for image formation, the main CPU 301 will not permit image formation even though black image formation is possible, which may result in a problem that image formation is not performed.

[0057] To solve this problem, the main CPU 301, which is the controller in this embodiment, allows image formation based on the input job when a register error occurs in a control register not used for image formation, an error signal is sent to the main CPU 301, and it is determined that the black register setting has been completed.

[0058] The control flow executed by the main CPU 301 will be described below with reference to Fig. 10. Steps S501 to S537 in Fig. 10 are a flow chart showing the process when the main CPU 301 issues an instruction to the laser scanner 104 via the serial communication I / F 304.

[0059] First, in step S501, the main CPU 301 transmits an instruction to communicate to write settings to the Y laser driver, which is the laser driver 330Y, via the serial communication I / F 304. Next, in step S502, the main CPU 301 transmits an instruction to communicate to read the setting values ​​previously written to the Y laser driver via the serial communication I / F 304. Then, in step S503, the value instructed to be written is compared with the read value, and regardless of the result, the process proceeds to step S511.

[0060] Next, in step S511, the main CPU 301 transmits an instruction to communicate to write settings to the M laser driver, which is the laser driver 330M, via the serial communication I / F 304. Next, in step S512, an instruction is transmitted to communicate to read the setting values ​​previously written to the M laser driver. Then, in step S513, the value instructed to be written is compared with the read value, and regardless of the result, the process proceeds to step S521.

[0061] Similarly, in step S521, the main CPU 301 transmits an instruction to communicate to write settings to the C laser driver, which is the laser driver 330C, via the serial communication I / F 304, and transmits an instruction to communicate to read setting values ​​from the C laser driver in step S522. Then, in step S523, the value instructed to be written is compared with the read value, and regardless of the result, the process proceeds to step S531.

[0062] Next, in step S531, the retry count counter value n is initialized to 0, and in step S532, an instruction is sent via the serial communication I / F 304 to communicate to write the settings to the K laser driver, which is the laser driver 330K. Next, in step S533, an instruction is sent via the serial communication I / F 304 to communicate to read the previously written setting values ​​to the K laser driver.

[0063] Then, in step S534, the value instructed to be written is compared with the read value, and if the result is a match, the setting procedure for the laser scanner is terminated, but if the comparison result is not a match, it is determined that an abnormality such as noise has occurred in the communication, and the process proceeds to step S535, where 1 is added to the retry counter value n, and in step S536, it is determined whether the number of times is less than 5, and if the number of times is less than 5, the process branches to step S532 and transmits an instruction to retry the communication. If the number of times is more than 5, the process branches to step 537, and the main CPU 301 displays an error code on the liquid crystal display unit 307 indicating that an abnormality has occurred in the laser scanner 104, and the setting procedure for the laser scanner is terminated. The error code is transmitted to the management server via the network, and a service staff member is dispatched to perform maintenance.

[0064] If the values ​​instructed to be written in step S534 match the values ​​read, main CPU 301 permits image formation based on the input job. That is, the image forming device is in a state where image formation is possible. On the other hand, if the operation unit error message in step S537 is displayed, main CPU 301 does not permit image formation due to a black register setting error.

[0065] In the above example, the serial communication unit 327 of the laser scanner unit 104 is connected by a three-wire serial communication signal and a device select signal, but the scope of application of this embodiment is not limited to this.

[0066] (Modification) A case where the serial communication unit 327 uses a two-wire communication signal for both transmission and reception and the communication information includes information for selecting a device to communicate with will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

[0067] 11 is a flow chart showing steps S601 to S637 when the main CPU 301 issues an instruction to the laser scanner 104 via the serial communication I / F 304.

[0068] First, in step S601, the main CPU 301 transmits an instruction to communicate to write settings to the Y laser driver via the serial communication I / F 304. Next, in step S602, the main CPU 301 obtains the result of the above-mentioned write communication via the serial communication I / F 304 and obtains the result of whether or not there was a response from the laser driver, and transitions to step S611 regardless of whether or not there was a result of no response from the Y laser driver.

[0069] Next, in step S611, the main CPU 301 transmits an instruction to communicate to write the settings to the M laser driver via the serial communication I / F 304. Next, in step S612, the result of the above-mentioned write communication is obtained via the serial communication I / F 304, and the result of whether or not there was a response from the laser driver M is obtained. Regardless of whether or not there is a result of no response from the laser driver, the process proceeds to step S621.

[0070] Similarly, in step S621, an instruction is sent to communicate to write the settings to the C laser driver via the serial communication I / F 304. Next, in step S622, the result of the above-mentioned write communication is obtained via the serial communication I / F 304, and the result of whether or not there was a response from the C laser driver is obtained. Regardless of whether or not there was a result of no response from the C laser driver, the process proceeds to step S631.

[0071] Next, in step S631, the retry count counter value n is initialized to 0, and in step S632, an instruction is sent to the K laser driver via the serial communication I / F 304 to communicate to write the settings. Next, in step S634, the result of the above-mentioned write communication is obtained via the serial communication I / F 304, and the result is obtained as to whether or not there was no response from the laser driver K. In step S634, the setting procedure for the laser scanner is terminated unless the result indicates that there was no response from the laser driver K. If the result indicates that there was no response, it is determined that an abnormality such as noise or a momentary power interruption has occurred in the communication, and the process proceeds to step S635, where the retry count counter value n is incremented by 1, and in step S636, it is determined whether the number of times is less than 5, and if the number of times is less than 5, the process branches to step S632 and an instruction is sent to retry the communication. If the number of times is not less than 5, the process branches to step 637, and the main CPU 301 displays an error code on the liquid crystal display unit 307 indicating that an abnormality has occurred in the laser scanner 104, and the setting procedure for the laser scanner is terminated.

[0072] By the operation described above, when a laser scanner for a color printer engine is connected to a monochrome printer engine, it is possible to provide an image forming device that uses the same communication timing as the color printer engine while not performing communication anomaly judgment only for colors that do not form images, so that even if communication with the image forming unit for a color that does not form an image fails, the user will not be able to use the image forming device and performance will not be impaired by having to retry communication.

[0073] 10 and 11, the main CPU 301 may omit both or either of the "read communication" steps (S502, S512, S522) and the "write / read result match?" steps for yellow, magenta, and cyan. Also, "start" in Fig. 10 and 11 includes returning from sleep, inputting an image formation job, and issuing an instruction to execute an image formation job, in addition to turning on the main power for image formation. The control flows in Fig. 10 and 11 may be configured to be executed by the sub CPU 321.

[0074] [Example 2] In the second embodiment, a configuration is exemplified in which some of these determinations are performed by the sub-CPU 321 depending on the configuration of the sub-CPU 321 included in the laser scanner 104. In such a configuration, a control procedure in the case where the color laser scanner unit 104 is connected to a monochrome printer engine will be described with reference to FIG.

[0075] 12(a) shows a flowchart of steps S701 to S737 when the main CPU 301 issues an instruction to the laser scanner 104 via the serial communication I / F 304. FIG. 12(b) shows a flowchart of steps S751 to S758 when the sub CPU 321 issues an instruction to the laser scanner 104 via the serial communication unit 327 based on the instruction received from the serial communication I / F 324.

[0076] First, in step S701, the main CPU 301 transmits an instruction to initialize the Y laser driver via the serial communication I / F 304. Next, in step S703, it is confirmed whether the response is an initialization OK response, and regardless of the result, the process proceeds to step S711.

[0077] Next, in step S711, the main CPU 301 transmits an instruction to initialize the M laser driver via the serial communication I / F 304. Next, in step S712, it is confirmed whether the response was an initialization OK response, and regardless of the result, the process proceeds to step S721.

[0078] Similarly, in step S721, the main CPU 301 transmits an instruction to initialize the C laser driver via the serial communication I / F 304. Next, in step S712, it is confirmed whether the response was an initialization OK response, and regardless of the result, the process proceeds to step S721.

[0079] Next, in step S731, the retry counter value n is initialized to 0, and in step S732, an instruction to initialize the K laser driver is sent via the serial communication I / F 304. Then, in step S734, if the initialization OK response is received, the setting procedure for the laser scanner is terminated, but if the initialization OK response is not received, it is determined that an abnormality such as noise has occurred in the communication, and the process proceeds to step S735, where the retry counter value n is incremented by 1, and in step S736, it is determined whether the number of times is less than 5, and if the number of times is less than 5, the process branches to step S732 and an instruction to retry the communication is sent. If the number of times is not less than 5, the main CPU 301 displays a step error code on the liquid crystal display unit 307 to the effect that an abnormality has occurred in the laser scanner 104, and the setting procedure for the laser scanner is terminated.

[0080] On the other hand, when the sub-CPU 321 is powered on, in step S751, the sub-CPU 321 waits to receive a communication request from the serial communication I / F 324, and when the sub-CPU 321 receives a laser driver initialization instruction, the process branches to step S752. Next, in step S752, communication is performed to write an initial value of the laser driver to the laser driver of the laser driver target color included in the communication information of the laser driver initialization instruction.

[0081] Next, in step S753, communication is performed to read out the setting values ​​written to the laser driver of the target color. Furthermore, in step S754, it is determined whether the values ​​written to the laser driver match the values ​​read out, and if the write and read results match, the sub-CPU 321 transmits a laser driver initialization OK response via the serial communication I / F 324. If the write and read results do not match, the process branches to step S758, and a laser driver initialization OK response is transmitted via the serial communication I / F 324.

[0082] In the second embodiment, the initialization of the laser driver means that the register setting values ​​are set in the laser drivers other than the laser driver IC used for image formation, and the registers are reset immediately after that, resulting in no register setting. It may also be a process in which the register setting values ​​are not set in the laser drivers other than the laser driver IC used for image formation in the first place.

[0083] When the laser scanner unit described in the second embodiment is attached to a color image forming apparatus during the assembly process in a factory or during maintenance, the sub-CPU 321 sets registers for the yellow, magenta, cyan, and black laser drivers.

[0084] (Modification) In the above example, the case where the serial communication unit 327 of the laser scanner unit 104 is connected by a three-wire serial communication signal and a device select signal is illustrated. On the other hand, a case where the serial communication unit 327 uses a two-wire communication signal for both transmission and reception and includes information for selecting a device to communicate with in the communication information is described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

[0085] 13(a) shows a flowchart of steps S801 to S837 when the main CPU 301 issues an instruction to the laser scanner 104 via the serial communication I / F 304. FIG. 13(b) shows a flowchart of steps S851 to S858 when the sub CPU 321 issues an instruction to the laser scanner 104 via the serial communication unit 327 based on the instruction received from the serial communication I / F 324.

[0086] Steps S801 to S837 are similar to steps S701 to S737 in FIG. 12(a), and therefore the description will be omitted.

[0087] On the other hand, when the sub-CPU 321 is powered on, it waits to receive a communication request from the serial communication I / F 824 in step S851, and when it receives a laser driver initialization instruction, the process branches to step S852.

[0088] Next, in step S852, communication is performed to write the initial values ​​of the laser drivers to the laser drivers of the target colors included in the communication information of the laser driver initialization instruction.

[0089] Next, in step S854, the serial communication unit 327 determines whether or not there has been a response as a result of the write communication to the laser driver, and if it is determined that there has been no response from the laser driver, the process branches to step S855, and the sub-CPU 321 sends a laser driver initialization OK response via the serial communication I / F 324.

[0090] If there is no response from the laser driver, the process branches to step S858, and a laser driver initialization OK response is transmitted via the serial communication I / F 324.

[0091] By the operation described above, when a laser scanner for a color printer engine is connected to a monochrome printer engine, even if the configuration detects a communication abnormality with the laser driver using a procedure such as a sub-CPU or ASIC on the laser scanner side, it is possible to provide an image forming device that uses the same communication timing as the color printer engine but does not perform communication abnormality judgment only for colors that do not form images, so that if communication with the image forming unit for a color that does not form an image fails, the user will not be able to use the image forming device and performance will not be impaired by retrying communication.

[0092] [Example 3] In this embodiment, a configuration in which the main CPU 301 does not communicate with laser drivers that are not used for image formation is illustrated.

[0093] A control procedure in such a configuration in which the color laser scanner unit 104 is connected to a monochrome printer engine will be described with reference to Fig. 14. Steps S931 to S940 in Fig. 14 are a flowchart showing how the main CPU 301 issues instructions to the laser scanner 104 via the serial communication I / F 304.

[0094] First, in step S931, since main CPU 301 itself is a monochrome printer engine, it waits for a dummy time equivalent to the serial communication setting time of laser drivers Y, M, and C. Next, in step S934, retry count counter value n is initialized to 0, and in step S935, an instruction is sent via serial communication I / F 304 to communicate with the K laser driver to write the settings. Next, in step S936, an instruction is sent via serial communication I / F 304 to communicate with the K laser driver to read the previously written setting values.

[0095] Then, in step S937, the value instructed to be written is compared with the read value, and if the results match, the procedure for setting the laser scanner is terminated, but if the comparison results are not a match, it is determined that an abnormality such as noise has occurred in the communication, and the process proceeds to step S938, where 1 is added to the retry count counter value n, and in step S939 it is determined whether the number of times is less than five, and if the number of times is less than five, the process branches to step S532 and an instruction to retry communication is sent. If the number of times is not less than five, the process branches to step 940, and main CPU 301 displays on liquid crystal display unit 307 that an abnormality has occurred in laser scanner 104, and the procedure for setting the laser scanner is terminated.

[0096] By the operation described above, when a laser scanner for a color printer engine is connected to a monochrome printer engine, it is possible to provide an image forming device that does not suffer from impaired performance due to abnormalities in colors that are not used for image formation, by not communicating only for colors that are not used for image formation, while maintaining the same communication timing as the color printer engine.

[0097] It is not necessary to provide the "dummy WAIT" in step S933. If the main CPU 301 determines in step S932 that the EEPROM information is the register setting data of the color scanner, the main CPU 301 may advance the control to step S934 without providing a wait time. [Explanation of symbols]

[0098] 104 Optical Scanning Device 201Y Laser Diode Chip 201M Laser Diode Chip 201C Laser Diode Chip 201K Laser Diode Chip 330Y Laser Driver IC 330M Laser Driver IC 330C Laser Driver IC 330K Laser Driver IC 301 Main CPU 321 Sub CPU

Claims

1. 1. A monochrome image forming apparatus that forms an image based on an input job, a mounting section capable of mounting an optical scanning device as a replacement part, the optical scanning device including: a plurality of laser driver ICs; a plurality of laser diode chips each driven by the plurality of laser driver ICs to emit laser light; and a memory for storing register setting values ​​to be set for each of the plurality of laser driver ICs in order to drive the plurality of laser diode chips; One photoconductor; a controller that controls the optical scanning device mounted on the mounting section so that the register setting value stored in the memory is set in each of the plurality of laser driver ICs, and that receives an error signal indicating a setting error of the register setting value for the laser driver IC from the optical scanning device; the one photoconductor is a photoconductor that is exposed to laser light emitted from one of the plurality of laser diode chips, and an electrostatic latent image formed by the exposure to the laser light is developed with black toner; The image forming apparatus is characterized in that, when register setting in a laser driver IC corresponding to a laser diode chip among the plurality of laser diode chips that is driven to form a black toner image is completed and the controller receives an error signal regarding a laser driver IC other than the laser driver IC corresponding to the laser diode chip among the plurality of laser diode chips that is driven to form a black toner image, the controller allows image formation based on the job regardless of the received error signal.

2. a notification unit that notifies an occurrence of an error in the image forming apparatus, The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that when the controller receives an error signal relating to a laser driver IC other than the laser driver IC corresponding to the laser diode chip driven to form a black toner image, the controller does not cause the notification unit to notify error information corresponding to the error signal.

3. The notification unit includes a display panel, 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when the controller receives an error signal regarding the laser driver IC corresponding to the laser diode chip driven to form a black toner image, the controller displays an error code as the error information on the display panel and does not allow image formation based on the job.

4. the notification unit includes a communication unit that communicates with a management device for managing the image forming apparatus via a network, The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that, when the controller receives an error signal regarding the laser driver IC corresponding to the laser diode chip driven to form a black toner image, the controller causes the communication section to transmit the error information to the management device and does not allow image formation based on the job.

5. 1. A monochrome image forming apparatus that forms an image based on an input job, a mounting section capable of mounting an optical scanning device as a replacement part, the optical scanning device including: a plurality of laser driver ICs; a plurality of laser diode chips each driven by the plurality of laser driver ICs to emit laser light; and a memory for storing register setting values ​​to be set for each of the plurality of laser driver ICs in order to drive the plurality of laser diode chips; One photoconductor; a controller that controls the optical scanning device mounted on the mounting portion so that the register setting value stored in the memory is set in each of the plurality of laser driver ICs; Equipped with the one photoconductor is a photoconductor that is exposed to laser light emitted from one of the plurality of laser diode chips, and an electrostatic latent image formed by the exposure to the laser light is developed with black toner; an image forming apparatus characterized in that the controller controls the optical scanning device so that the register setting value is set for a laser driver IC among the plurality of laser driver ICs corresponding to a laser diode chip driven to form a black toner image, and so that the register setting value is not set for laser driver ICs among the plurality of laser driver ICs other than the laser driver IC corresponding to the laser diode chip for forming a black toner image.

6. the controller receives from the optical scanning device an error signal indicating a setting error of the register setting value for the laser driver IC corresponding to the laser diode chip driven to form a black toner image; 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the controller does not permit image formation based on the job when the error signal is received.

7. a display panel as a notification unit that notifies an occurrence of an error in the image forming apparatus; 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the controller, when receiving the error signal, causes the display panel to display an error code as information about the setting error.

8. a communication unit that communicates with a management device for managing the image forming apparatus via a network as a notification unit that notifies an occurrence of an error in the image forming apparatus, 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein, when the controller receives the error signal, the controller causes the communication unit to transmit information about the setting error to the management device.

9. 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the memory is a single IC that stores the register setting values ​​for each of the plurality of laser driver ICs.

10. 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the memory is a plurality of ICs provided individually for the plurality of laser diode chips, each IC storing the register setting value for each of the plurality of laser driver ICs.

11. 11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the optical scanning device includes a deflection means for deflecting a laser beam emitted by a predetermined one of the plurality of laser diode chips so that the laser beam scanned the photosensitive member and a light receiving unit that generates a main scanning synchronization signal, and a predetermined one of the laser driver ICs corresponding to the predetermined one of the plurality of laser diode chips is a laser driver IC corresponding to a laser diode chip that is driven to form a black toner image among the plurality of laser diode chips.

12. 11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the optical scanning device includes a deflection means for deflecting a laser light emitted by a predetermined one of the plurality of laser diode chips so that the laser light emitted by the predetermined one of the plurality of laser diode chips scans the photosensitive member, and a deflection means for deflecting a laser light emitted by a laser diode chip other than the predetermined one of the plurality of laser diode chips so that the laser light emitted by the other one of the plurality of laser diode chips scans a light receiving unit that generates a main scanning synchronization signal, and wherein a laser driver IC corresponding to each of the two laser diode chips that emit the respective laser lights is a laser driver IC corresponding to a laser diode chip that is driven to form a black toner image among the plurality of laser diode chips.

13. An optical scanning device that can be installed in a color image forming apparatus and can also be installed in a monochrome image forming apparatus as a replacement part, A plurality of laser driver ICs; a plurality of laser diode chips each emitting a laser beam by being driven by the plurality of laser driver ICs; a memory that stores register setting values ​​to be set for each of the plurality of laser driver ICs in order to drive the laser diode chip; a control IC capable of setting the register setting value stored in the memory to each of the plurality of laser driver ICs; the control IC is capable of transmitting an error signal indicating a setting error of the register setting value to the laser driver IC to a controller provided in the image forming apparatus; When the image forming apparatus to be mounted is a color image forming apparatus, the control IC sets the register setting value stored in the memory to each of the plurality of laser driver ICs, and transmits an error signal indicating the setting error from the memory to a controller of the color image forming apparatus to the plurality of laser driver ICs; When the image forming device to be installed is a monochrome image forming device, the control IC sends an error signal indicating the setting error to the image forming device from the memory to a laser driver IC corresponding to a laser diode chip driven to form a black toner image, and does not set the register setting value to laser driver ICs other than the laser driver IC.

14. An optical scanning device that can be installed in a color image forming apparatus and can also be installed in a monochrome image forming apparatus as a replacement part, A plurality of laser driver ICs; a plurality of laser diode chips each emitting a laser beam by being driven by the plurality of laser driver ICs; a memory that stores register setting values ​​to be set for each of the plurality of laser driver ICs in order to drive the laser diode chip; a control IC that sets the register setting value stored in the memory to each of the plurality of laser driver ICs; the control IC is capable of transmitting an error signal indicating a setting error of the register setting value to the laser driver IC to a controller provided in the image forming apparatus; When the image forming apparatus to be mounted is a color image forming apparatus, the control IC transmits an error signal indicating the setting error from the memory to the plurality of laser driver ICs to a controller of the color image forming apparatus; When the image forming device to be attached is a monochrome image forming device, the control IC transmits an error signal indicating the setting error to a laser driver IC corresponding to a laser diode chip driven to form a black toner image to the image forming device, and does not transmit an error signal indicating the setting error to a laser driver IC other than the laser driver IC to a controller of the monochrome image forming device.

15. 15. The optical scanning device according to claim 13, wherein the memory is a single IC that stores the register setting values ​​for each of the plurality of laser driver ICs.

16. 15. The optical scanning device according to claim 13, wherein the memory is a plurality of ICs provided individually for the plurality of laser diode chips, each IC storing the register setting value for each of the plurality of laser driver ICs.

Images