JP6919587B2 - Information processing equipment and information processing system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and an information processing system used when inspecting an image forming apparatus.

An electrophotographic image forming apparatus is inspected before shipment from the factory. In the image forming apparatus, a reference irradiation start position at which the image carrier starts to be irradiated with modulated light, which is light based on image data, is predetermined at the design stage. In the inspection, the image forming apparatus scans the light scanned by the photodetector, and the modulated light is directed toward the image carrier after a predetermined waiting time elapses from the detection of the light by the photodetector. Is emitted. Hereinafter, the position where the modulated light starts to be irradiated on the image carrier is referred to as an irradiation start position. The person in charge of inspection actually measures the irradiation start position using a dedicated measuring device. When the irradiation start position deviates from the reference irradiation start position, the person in charge of inspection derives the deviation amount by using an information processing device. The amount of deviation is stored in a storage device provided in the image forming apparatus before shipment.

The man-hours of the person in charge of the inspection at the time of the inspection have been regarded as a problem, and various techniques have been disclosed in order to reduce the man-hours (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2015-114564

The inspector inspects a large number of items in the inspection. Therefore, it is desired to reduce the man-hours of the inspector required for the actual measurement of the irradiation start position and the derivation of the deviation amount.

An object of the present invention is to provide an information processing device and an information processing system capable of reducing the man-hours of an inspector.

The information processing apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention includes an acquisition processing unit, a deviation amount derivation unit, and a transmission processing unit. The acquisition processing unit associates the characteristic data of the optical scanning device corresponding to the first identification information for identifying the optical scanning device included in the image forming apparatus with the first identification information and the characteristic data. Obtained from the stored first storage unit. The shift amount derivation unit irradiates the image carrier of the image forming apparatus with modulated light based on image data after a predetermined waiting time elapses after the light scanned by the optical scanning device is detected by the light detecting unit. The amount of deviation between the irradiation start position at which the image is to be started and the reference irradiation start position predetermined in the image carrier is derived based on the characteristic data. The transmission processing unit transmits the deviation amount derived by the deviation amount derivation unit to the image forming apparatus.

The information processing system according to another aspect of the present invention includes an image forming apparatus and an information processing apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes an optical scanning apparatus having a photodetector for detecting incident light from a light source, and an image carrier having a predetermined reference irradiation start position at which modulated light based on image data starts to be irradiated. Be prepared. The information processing device stores the characteristic data of the optical scanning device corresponding to the first identification information for identifying the optical scanning device in association with the first identification information and the characteristic data. An irradiation start position obtained from the storage unit, and after a predetermined waiting time elapses after the incident light is detected by the light detection unit, the modulated light starts to be irradiated on the image carrier, and the reference irradiation start position. The deviation amount is derived based on the characteristic data, and the deviation amount is transmitted to the image forming apparatus.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an information processing device and an information processing system capable of reducing the man-hours of the person in charge of inspection.

FIG. 1A is a schematic view showing the configuration of an image forming apparatus. FIG. 1B is a schematic view showing an image forming region of the photoconductor drum shown in FIG. 1A. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the optical scanning apparatus shown in FIG. 1A. FIG. 3 is a top view of the polygon mirror shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing information stored in the storage unit shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a timing chart showing control of the irradiation start position by the control unit shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information processing device and a server device according to an embodiment of the present invention and a configuration of a main part of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1A. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the data structures of the first database and the second database stored in the server device shown in FIG. FIG. 8A is a diagram showing the first half of the processing procedure in the server device, the information processing device, and the image processing device shown in FIG. 6 and the first half of the data communication performed between them. FIG. 8B is a diagram showing the latter half of the processing procedure in the server device, the information processing device, and the image processing device shown in FIG. 6 and the latter half of the data communication performed between them.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings for the purpose of understanding the present invention. It should be noted that the following embodiment is an example embodying the present invention and does not limit the technical scope of the present invention.

[Embodiment]
In FIG. 1A, the image forming apparatus 1 is a printer that prints a color image on a sheet based on image data. The image forming apparatus 1 is not limited to a printer, and a facsimile, a copying machine, or a multifunction device having the functions of the printer, the facsimile, and the copying machine is also an example of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

The image forming apparatus 1 is a so-called tandem type color image forming apparatus, and includes image forming units 2 to 5, an intermediate transfer unit 6, a secondary transfer device 7, a fixing device 8, an optical scanning device 9, and a supply. A paper unit 10 and a paper ejection unit 11 are provided.

The image forming units 2 to 5 are arranged side by side in the left-right direction of the image forming apparatus 1. The image forming unit 2 forms the black toner image, the image forming unit 3 forms the yellow toner image, the image forming unit 4 forms the cyan toner image, and the image forming unit 5 forms the magenta toner image. Form a toner image.

More specifically, the image forming unit 2 includes a photoconductor drum 12, a charging device 16, a developing device 20, a primary transfer device 24, and the like. Similarly, the image forming units 3, 4, 5 include photoconductor drums 13, 14, 15, charging devices 17, 18, 19, developing devices 21, 22, 23, primary transfer devices 25, 26, 27, and the like. ..

The photoconductor drums 12 to 15 are an example of an image carrier in the present invention, and have a long cylindrical shape in the main scanning direction MD1. The photoconductor drums 12 to 15 have a central axis parallel to the main scanning direction MD1 and rotate in the sub-scanning direction SD1 orthogonal to the main scanning direction MD1 about the central axis. The main scanning direction MD1 is a direction parallel to the front-rear direction and the like of the image forming apparatus 1, and is a direction from one end side to the other end side of the central axis.

The optical scanning device 9 is provided below the image forming units 2 to 5 in the image forming device 1. The optical scanning device 9 can generate the modulated light ML1 to ML4. The modulated light ML1, ML2, ML3, ML4 is light modulated based on the image data for the black, the yellow, the cyan and the magenta. be. The optical scanning device 9 deflects and scans the modulated lights ML1 to ML4 in the main scanning direction MD1 and irradiates the image forming region FR1 predetermined on the peripheral surface of the photoconductor drums 12 to 15. The image forming region FR1 is a line-shaped region parallel to the main scanning direction MD1 as shown in FIG. 1B. The image forming region FR1 is a region within a range from a predetermined reference irradiation start position SP1 on the peripheral surface of the photoconductor drums 12 to 15 to a predetermined distance RD in the main scanning direction MD1. The reference irradiation start position SP1 and the distance RD are determined based on the size and resolution of the toner image formed on the sheet. More specifically, the modulated lights ML1 to ML4 irradiate the corresponding image forming region FR1 from the reference irradiation start position SP1 along the main scanning direction MD1. As a result, the electrostatic latent images of the corresponding colors are sequentially formed line by line on the peripheral surfaces of the photoconductor drums 12 to 15.

The developing devices 20 to 23 visualize the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor drums 12 to 15 with the toner of the corresponding color. As a result, a toner image of the corresponding color is formed on the peripheral surfaces of the photoconductor drums 12 to 15.

The intermediate transfer unit 6 includes an intermediate transfer belt 6A, a drive roller 6B, and a driven roller 6C. Since the intermediate transfer belt 6A is rotatably supported by the driving roller 6B and the driven roller 6C, the intermediate transfer belt 6A can travel while its outer peripheral surface is in contact with the peripheral surface of the photoconductor drums 12 to 15. When the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 6A passes between the photoconductor drums 12 to 15 and the primary transfer devices 24 to 27, toner images are sequentially transferred from the photoconductor drums 12 to 15 and superimposed on the outer peripheral surface. Can be matched. As a result, a synthetic toner image as the color image is formed on the outer peripheral surface.

The secondary transfer device 7 transfers the synthetic toner image transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 6A to the sheet conveyed from the paper feeding unit 10. The sheet on which the synthetic toner image is transferred is conveyed toward the fixing device 8. The fixing device 8 fixes the synthetic toner image on the sheet. The sheet on which the synthetic toner image is fixed is discharged to the paper ejection unit 11.

Next, the detailed configuration of the optical scanning device 9 and the control of the irradiation start positions of the modulated lights ML1 to ML4 by the control unit 67 will be described in detail.

In FIG. 2, in the optical scanning device 9, the light source unit 40, the first optical system unit 41, the deflection unit 42, the imaging unit 43, and the second optical system unit 44 are molded from a resin or the like. It is provided inside the housing (not shown). The optical scanning device 9 does not have a storage unit such as a non-volatile memory for storing information. Further, in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a control unit 67 and a storage unit 68. The control unit 67 and the storage unit 68 are provided outside the optical scanning device 9.

The light source unit 40 includes a plurality of light sources 45 to 48 such as a laser diode. The light sources 45 to 48 are provided corresponding to the photoconductor drums 12 to 15. The light sources 45 to 48 can emit light under the control of the control unit 67.

The first optical system unit 41 includes a plurality of first optical systems 49 to 52. The first optical systems 49 to 52 are provided corresponding to the light sources 45 to 48. Each of the first optical systems 49 to 52 includes a collimator lens and a cylindrical lens (both not shown). The first optical systems 49 to 52 convert the emitted light of the light sources 45 to 48 into a parallel luminous flux by the collimator lens. Further, the first optical systems 49 and 50 linearly collect the incident light from the collimator lens in the previous stage by the cylindrical lens, and are on the deflection surfaces P1 and P2 (see FIG. 3) of the polygon mirror 53. To form an image. The first optical systems 51 and 52 linearly collect the incident light from the collimator lens in the previous stage by the cylindrical lens, and image the incident light on the deflection surfaces P3 and P4 (see FIG. 3) of the polygon mirror 54. Let me.

The deflection unit 42 includes polygon mirrors 53 and 54 and polygon motors 55 and 56. The polygon mirrors 53 and 54 are examples of a plurality of optical scanning units in the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 3, each of the polygon mirrors 53 and 54 is a rotating multifaceted mirror having a regular hexagonal shape or the like in a top view and having a plurality of deflection surfaces along each side of the regular hexagon. The polygon mirrors 53 and 54 rotate around the respective rotation centers Q1 and Q2 by a driving force given by the polygon motors 55 and 56 (see FIG. 2). The polygon mirror 53 deflects the light formed on the polarizing surfaces P1 and P2 and repeatedly scans in the main scanning direction MD1. Similarly, the polygon mirror 54 deflects the light formed on the polarizing surfaces P3 and P4 and repeatedly scans in the main scanning direction MD1. In this embodiment, the polygon mirrors 53 and 54 are rotated clockwise (see arrow A4) in top view. Due to this rotation, the light deflected by the deflection surfaces P1 and P3 is scanned in the main scanning direction MD1 indicated by the arrow A2 in FIG. 3, and the light deflected by the deflection surfaces P2 and P4 is indicated by the arrow A3 in FIG. It is scanned in the main scanning direction MD1.

The imaging unit 43 has fθ lenses 57 to 60 as shown in FIG. Light deflected by the deflection surfaces P1 and P3 is incident on the fθ lenses 57 and 58. Light deflected by the deflection surfaces P2 and P4 is incident on the fθ lenses 59 and 60. The fθ lenses 57 to 60 scan the incident light in the main scanning direction MD1 at a predetermined constant scanning speed SV (see equations (1) and (2) described later).

In FIG. 2, the second optical system unit 44 includes optical systems 61 to 64 including a plurality of reflection mirrors (not shown) and the like. The optical systems 61 to 64 guide the incident light from the fθ lenses 57 to 60 in the previous stage to the image forming region FR1 of the photoconductor drums 12 to 15. As a result, the light from the optical scanning device 9 is scanned into the image forming region FR1 in the main scanning direction MD1 at a scanning speed SV.

Further, the optical scanning device 9 includes photodetectors 65 and 66 that detect the light emitted from the light sources 45 and 47. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the photodetectors 65 and 66 include the image forming region FR1 of the photoconductor drums 12 and 14 (see FIG. 1B) in the light scanned by the deflection surfaces P1 and P3. The light scanned on the upstream side of the main scanning direction MD1 is arranged in the photodetector 9 so as to be incidental. When the photodetectors 65 and 66 detect the incident light, they transmit the synchronization signals SS1 and SS2 (see FIGS. 3 and 5) to the control unit 67. The control unit 67 uses the image data of the corresponding color as a light source after the waiting time described later elapses from the reception of the synchronization signal SS1 (in other words, after the light scanned by the optical scanning device 9 is detected by the photodetector 65). Start giving to 45,46. Further, the control unit 67 starts to give the image data of the corresponding colors to the light sources 47 and 48 after the waiting time described later elapses from the reception of the synchronization signal SS2.

The optical scanning device 9 is assigned the first identification information ID 1 (see FIG. 6). The first identification information ID 1 is information for identifying the optical scanning device 9 mounted on the image forming apparatus 1, and is a serial number or the like of the optical scanning device 9. Since the optical scanning device 9 does not include the storage unit, the first identification information ID 1 is not stored in the optical scanning device 9.

The control unit 67 includes a CPU, ROM, and RAM (not shown). The control unit 67 may be an electronic circuit such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) or a DSP (Digital Signal Processor). The CPU controls the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 by executing a program stored in the ROM.

The storage unit 68 is a non-volatile memory such as EEPROM. The storage unit 68 stores the synchronization signals SS1 and SS2 in advance as deviation amounts D1 and D2 (see FIG. 4). here,
In the image forming apparatus 1 before shipment from the factory, it is assumed that the control unit 67 gives the image data of the corresponding color to the optical scanning apparatus 9 when a predetermined standby time elapses after receiving the synchronization signals SS1 and SS2. do. Further, it is assumed that the image forming apparatus 1 before shipment from the factory actually measures the irradiation start position where the modulated lights ML1 to ML4 start to be irradiated on the image forming region FR1. The irradiation start position may deviate from the reference irradiation start position SP1 due to manufacturing variations of the optical scanning device 9 mounted on the image forming apparatus 1 before shipment from the factory. The deviation amounts D1 and D2 indicate the deviation amount between the irradiation start position and the reference irradiation start position SP1 before shipment from the factory, and are processed by the information processing device 72 during the inspection of the image forming apparatus 1 (FIGS. 8A and 8A). It is stored in the storage unit 68 by (see FIG. 8B).

Further, the second identification information ID 2 is stored in advance in the storage unit 68 for the processing and the like shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B. The second identification information ID 2 is information for identifying the image forming apparatus 1, and is a serial number or the like of the image forming apparatus 1.

In the image forming apparatus 1 after shipment from the factory, the control unit 67 functions as a drive control unit 67A and a light emission control unit 67B when the CPU executes the program.

The drive control unit 67A controls the drive of the polygon motors 55 and 56. Specifically, the drive control unit 67A rotates the polygon mirrors 53 and 54 in the clockwise direction indicated by the arrow A4 in FIG. 3 at a predetermined angular velocity during image formation by the image forming apparatus 1.

The light emission control unit 67B controls the light emission of the light sources 45 to 48. Specifically, the light emission control unit 67 is static on the photoconductor drums 12 to 15 based on the synchronization signals SS1 and SS2 input from the light detection unit 65 while the drive control of the polygon motors 55 and 56 is being performed. In order to form an electro-latent image, the image data of the corresponding colors are started to be output to the light sources 45 to 48.

Specifically, after the start of image formation by the image forming apparatus 1, the light emitting control unit 67B reads out the deviation amounts D1 and D2 in the storage unit 68 into the RAM. The light emission control unit 67B adjusts the reference standby time described in the program in advance with the deviation amounts D1 and D2 to obtain the standby times Δt1 and Δt2. The reference standby time is the standby time of the light emission control unit 67B when there is no manufacturing variation in the optical scanning apparatus 9. When there is no manufacturing variation in the optical scanning apparatus 9, the image forming apparatus 1 transmits the image data of the corresponding colors to the light sources 45 to 48 after the reference standby time elapses after the light emission control unit 67B receives the synchronization signals SS1 and SS2. By giving, the modulated lights ML1 to ML2 are designed to be scanned from the reference irradiation start position SP1.

After the start of image formation, the light emission control unit 67B emits unmodulated light that is not modulated by the image data from the light sources 45 to 48. When the unmodulated light emitted from the light sources 45 and 47 is incident, the photodetectors 65 and 66 transmit the synchronization signals SS1 and SS2 to the control unit 67. In the control unit 67, as shown in FIG. 5, the light emission control unit 67B starts to give the image data of the corresponding colors to the light sources 45 and 46 after the waiting time Δt1 has elapsed from the reception of the synchronization signal SS1, and as a result, The light sources 45 and 46 start emitting modulated lights ML1 and ML2 (see FIG. 2). The light emission control unit 67B starts to give the image data of the corresponding colors to the light sources 47 and 48 after the waiting time Δt2 has elapsed from the reception of the synchronization signal SS2, and as a result, the light sources 47 and 48 emit the modulated lights ML3 and ML4. start.

Conventionally, in a factory for manufacturing an image forming apparatus, an inspection is performed on each of the image forming apparatus before shipment. One item of the inspection is an inspection of the amount of deviation of the irradiation start position with respect to the reference irradiation start position SP1. The person in charge of inspection actually measures the irradiation start position using a dedicated measuring device. When the irradiation start position deviates from the reference irradiation start position SP1, the person in charge of inspection derives the deviation amount by using the information processing device. The amount of deviation is stored in a storage device provided in the image forming apparatus before shipment. After shipping the image forming apparatus, the optical scanning apparatus starts emitting the modulated light toward the image carrier based on the waiting time adjusted based on the deviation amount.

However, the inspector inspects a large number of items in the inspection. Therefore, it is desired to reduce the man-hours of the inspector required for the actual measurement of the irradiation start position and the derivation of the deviation amount.

In FIG. 6, the information processing system 100 is provided in the manufacturing factory of the image forming apparatus 1. In the information processing device 100, the server device 71 and the information processing device 72 are connected so as to be capable of data communication via the communication network 73. Further, the information processing device 72 is connected to the image forming device 1 before shipment so as to be capable of data communication via a communication cable 74.

The server device 71 includes a control unit 71A, a storage unit 71B, and a communication interface 71C. In FIG. 6, the communication interface is abbreviated as communication IF.

The control unit 71A includes a CPU, ROM, and RAM (not shown). The CPU controls the operation of the server device 71 by executing a program stored in the ROM.

The storage unit 71B is a storage device such as a hard disk drive that can store a relatively large amount of information, and is provided in a server device 71 separate from the optical scanning device 9. The storage unit 71B is an example of the first storage unit and the second storage unit in the present invention. As shown in FIG. 7, the storage unit 71B stores the first database DB1 and the second database DB2. The first database DB1 and the second database DB2 may be stored in different server devices. Further, when the information processing apparatus 72 described later includes a storage unit capable of storing a large amount of information, the first database DB1 and the second database DB2 may be stored in the storage unit.

In the first database DB1, the first identification information ID1 and the characteristic data CD1 are associated with each other and recorded for each optical scanning device 9 delivered to the manufacturing factory. In other words, a set of the first identification information ID1 and the characteristic data CD1 is recorded in the first database DB1 for each optical scanning device 9. The characteristic data CD1 is characteristic data of the optical scanning apparatus 9 identified by the first identification information ID1 of the same set. In the present embodiment, the LD1_Timing corresponding to the polygon mirror 53 and the LD2_Timing corresponding to the polygon mirror 54 are provided. include. LD1_Timing and LD2_Timing are characteristic data indicating the scanning time required for the modulated lights ML1 and ML3 to be scanned at the scanning speed SV by the distance RD of the image forming region FR1. Here, LD1_Timing and LD2_Timing indicate the scanning time peculiar to each optical scanning device 9. That is, when the optical scanning apparatus 9 does not have the manufacturing variation, each of the LD1_Timing and the LD2_Timing shows the same scanning time for each optical scanning apparatus 9.

A plurality of optical scanning devices 9 are delivered to the manufacturing factory from the manufacturer of the optical scanning device 9. Before delivery of its own product, the manufacturer of the optical scanning device 9 measures LD1_Timing and characteristic data CD1 including LD2_Timing for each optical scanning device 9 before delivery using a dedicated data collection device (not shown). do. When the optical scanning device 9 is delivered, the manufacturer passes an electronic file in which the characteristic data CD1 is recorded for each first identification information ID 1 to the inspection person or the like on the factory side. By operating the server device 71, the person in charge of inspection registers the first identification information ID1 and the characteristic data CD1 included in the electronic file in the first database DB1 (see FIG. 7). It is also conceivable that the manufacturer of the optical scanning device 9 registers the first identification information ID1 and the characteristic data CD1 in the first database DB1 before and after the delivery of the plurality of optical scanning devices 9.

In the second database DB2, the first identification information ID1 and the second identification information ID2 are stored in association with each image forming apparatus 1 before shipment. In other words, the set of the first identification information ID1 and the second identification information ID2 is stored in the second database DB2 for each image forming apparatus 1 before shipment. Here, the optical scanning device 9 that can be identified by the first identification information ID 1 is mounted in the manufacturing factory on the image forming apparatus 1 that can be identified by the second identification information ID 2 of the same set. Before and after mounting, the person in charge at the factory determines the optical scanning device 9 and the image forming device 1 on which the optical scanning device 9 is mounted, and then provides the corresponding first identification information ID 1 and the second identification information ID 2 on the server device 71. The unit (not shown) is operated and registered in the second database DB2 (see FIG. 7).

In FIG. 6, the information processing apparatus 72 is used for inspection of the image forming apparatus 1 before shipment from the factory, and includes a control unit 72A and a communication interface 72B.

The control unit 72A includes a CPU, ROM, and RAM (not shown). By executing the program stored in the ROM, the CPU functions as an acquisition processing unit 72E, a deviation amount derivation unit 72F, and a transmission processing unit 72G.

The acquisition processing unit 72E sets the characteristic data (that is, LD1_Timing and LD2_Timing) corresponding to the first identification information ID 1 for identifying the optical scanning device 9 included in the image forming apparatus 1 with the first identification information ID 1 and the characteristic data. Is acquired from the first database DB1 of the storage unit 71B which is stored in association with each other.

In the shift amount derivation unit 72F, the modulated light based on the image data is emitted from the photoconductor drum 12 of the image forming apparatus 1 after a predetermined waiting time elapses after the light scanned by the optical scanning device 9 is detected by the photodetector 65. The amount of deviation between the irradiation start position at which irradiation starts at 13 and 13 and the predetermined reference irradiation start position at the photoconductor drums 12 and 13 is derived based on the characteristic data (specifically, LD1_Timing). Similarly, the shift amount derivation unit 72F is irradiated with the modulated light based on the image data on the photoconductor drums 14 and 15 after the waiting time elapses after the light scanned by the optical scanning device 9 is detected by the photodetector 66. The amount of deviation between the irradiation start position to be started and the reference irradiation start position predetermined in the photoconductor drums 14 and 15 is derived based on the characteristic data (specifically, LD2_Timing).

The transmission processing unit 72G transmits the deviation amount derived by the deviation amount extraction unit 72F to the image forming apparatus 1.

Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 8A and 8B, the processing procedures in the server device 71, the information processing device 72, and the image processing device 1 and the data communication performed between them will be described in more detail.

In FIG. 8A, when the optical scanning device 9 is delivered to the factory, the control unit 71A acquires a set of the first identification information ID1 and the characteristic data CD1 of the optical scanning device 9 in the server device 71, and stores the storage unit 71B. It is recorded in the first database DB1 of FIG. 8A (step ST1 in FIG. 8A).

In the manufacturing factory, the optical scanning device 9 is attached to a predetermined position in the image forming device 1. In the server device 71, the control unit 71A acquires a set of the first identification information ID1 and the second identification information ID2 and records them in the second database DB2 of the storage unit 71B (step ST2).

Next, the image forming apparatus 1 before shipment is inspected at the manufacturing factory. During the inspection, the information processing apparatus 72 is connected to the pre-shipment image forming apparatus 1 by a communication cable 74 so as to be capable of data communication, and is operated by the inspector. According to this operation, in the information processing apparatus 72, the control unit 72A generates the transmission request RS1 of the second identification information ID 2 and sends it to the communication cable 74 via the communication interface 72C (step ST3).

The transmission request RS1 is transmitted through the communication cable 74 (sequence SQ1), and in the image forming apparatus 1, the control unit 67 receives the transmission request RS1 via the communication interface 69 (step ST4). After that, the control unit 67 acquires the second identification information ID 2 from the storage unit 68 and sends it to the communication cable 74 via the communication interface 69 (step ST4).

The second identification information ID 2 is transmitted through the communication cable 74 (sequence SQ2), and in the information processing device 72, the control unit 72A acquires the second identification information ID 2 via the communication interface 72C (step ST5). After that, the control unit 72A generates the transmission request RS2 of the first identification information ID1. The transmission request RS2 includes the second identification information ID 2 received in step ST6. The control unit 72A sends a transmission request RS2 to the communication network 73 via the communication interface 72C (step ST5).

The transmission request RS2 is transmitted through the communication network 73 (sequence SQ3), and in the server device 71, the control unit 71A receives the transmission request RS2 via the communication interface 71C (step ST6). After that, the control unit 71A acquires the first identification information ID1 of the same set as the second identification information ID2 included in the transmission request RS2 from the second database DB2 of the storage unit 71B, and of the communication network 73 via the communication interface 71C. Send (step ST6).

The first identification information ID1 is transmitted through the communication network 73 (sequence SQ4), and in the information processing device 72, the control unit 72A acquires the first identification information ID1 via the communication interface 72C (step ST7). After that, the control unit 72A generates the transmission request RS3 of the characteristic data CD1. The transmission request RS3 includes the first identification information ID1 received in step ST7. The control unit 72A sends a transmission request RS3 to the communication network 73 via the communication interface 72C (step ST7).

The transmission request RS3 is transmitted through the communication network 73 (sequence SQ5), and in the server device 71, the control unit 71A receives the transmission request RS3 via the communication interface 71C (step ST8). After that, the control unit 71A acquires LD1_Timing and LD2_Timing included in the characteristic data CD1 of the same set as the first identification information ID1 included in the transmission request RS3 from the first database DB1 of the storage unit 68, and obtains them from the first database DB1 of the storage unit 68 via the communication interface 71C. It is transmitted to the communication network 73 (step ST8).

LD1_Timing and LD2_Timing are input to the information processing device 72 via the communication network 73 (sequence SQ6). The control unit 72A receives LD1_Timing and LD2_Timing via the communication interface 72C (step ST9). In steps ST7 and ST9, the control unit 71A functions as the acquisition processing unit 72E in the present invention.

Here, the deviation amounts D1 and D2 can be calculated by substituting LD1_Timing and LD2_Timing into a predetermined calculation formula. The calculation formula is specifically expressed by the following formulas (1) and (2). The calculation formula is appropriately and appropriately determined according to the configuration of the image forming apparatus 1.

D1 = ((RD / (SV) -LD1_Timing) × SV × (RL / MD)… (1)
D2 = ((RD / (SV) -LD2_Timing) × SV × (RL / MD)… (2)

In the above equations (1) and (2), D1 and D2 are examples of the deviation amount D in the present invention. RD is a distance from the reference irradiation start position SP1 in the image forming region FR1, and is, for example, 28.88 mm. Also, π is the pi. Further, SV is the scanning speed of light by the imaging unit 43, and for example, SV is 0.36 × π. Further, RL is a resolution per unit inch of the toner image formed on the sheet, and is, for example, 600. Further, MD is a value obtained by converting 1 inch into millimeters, which is 25.4.

The control unit 72A derives the deviation amount D1 or D2 based on the difference between the LD1_Timing or LD2_Timing indicating the scanning time of the optical scanning apparatus 9 and the predetermined reference scanning time RD / SV. Specifically, the control unit 72A substitutes the LD1_Timing and LD2_Timing received in step ST9 into the calculation formulas (1) and (2) to derive the deviation amounts D1 and D2 (step ST10 in FIG. 8B). In other words, the control unit 72A derives the deviation amounts D1 and D2 for each of the polygon mirrors 53 and 54. In step S10, the control unit 71A functions as the deviation amount derivation unit 72F in the present invention.

Next, the control unit 72A generates a storage instruction SC1 for storing the deviation amounts D1 and D2 in the storage unit 68. The storage instruction SC1 includes the deviation amounts D1 and D2. The control unit 72A sends a storage instruction SC1 to the communication cable 74 via the communication interface 72C (step ST11). In step S11, the control unit 71A functions as the transmission processing unit 72G in the present invention.

The storage instruction SC1 is input to the image forming apparatus 1 (sequence SQ7). The control unit 67 receives the storage instruction SC1 via the communication interface 69 (step ST12). After that, the control unit 67 takes out the deviation amounts D1 and D2 from the storage instruction SC1 and stores them in the storage unit 68 (step ST12). In the image forming apparatus 1, the light emission control unit 67B derives the standby times Δt1 and Δt2 based on the deviation amounts D1 and D2, and controls the light emission of the light sources 45 to 48 (see FIG. 5).

As described above, by using the information processing device 72 for the inspection of the image forming apparatus 1, it is not necessary for the inspection person to actually measure the irradiation start position, and the man-hours of the inspection person required for the deviation adjustment are reduced. It will be reduced.

In particular, the information processing apparatus 72 derives the deviation amounts D1 and D2 based on the characteristic data CD1 obtained from the manufacturer of the optical scanning apparatus 9 and stored in the server apparatus 71. Therefore, even if the optical scanning device 9 does not have the storage unit in which the LD1_Timing and the LD2_Timing are stored, the characteristic data CD1 obtained by the manufacturer can be utilized by the information processing device 72, so that the man-hours of the inspector can be used. Can be reduced.

Further, the information processing unit 72 acquires the second identification information ID 2 stored in the image forming apparatus 1, and acquires the first identification information ID 1 corresponding to the second identification information ID 2 from the server device 71.
Therefore, the person in charge of inspection does not need to visually confirm the second identification information ID 2 assigned to the image forming apparatus 1. This makes it possible to reduce the man-hours of the person in charge of inspection.

The first database DB1 can be used for various purposes other than the inspection. For example, by displaying the characteristic data CD1 of each of the optical scanning devices 9 delivered to the factory on a display (not shown), the worker of the factory can use the individual optical scanning devices 9 or the light for each lot. It becomes possible to grasp the characteristic data CD1 of the scanning device 9. In addition, when the specific data CD1 is displayed on the display at each delivery time, the operator can also check the quality of the optical scanning device 9 at each delivery time. Further, when the characteristic data CD1 of the optical scanning device 9 is acquired after shipment, the worker of the factory can grasp the secular change of the optical scanning device 9 on the display.

100 Information processing system 1 Image forming device 12 to 15 Photoreceptor drum 67 Control unit 68 Storage unit 9 Optical scanning device 45 to 48 Light source 65, 66 Light detection unit 71 Server device 72 Information processing device 72E Acquisition processing unit 72F Deviation amount derivation unit 72G transmission processing unit

Claims (7)

By acquiring the second identification information for identifying the image forming apparatus from the image forming apparatus and transmitting a transmission request including the second identification information to the server apparatus, the optical scanning apparatus included in the image forming apparatus is identified. The first identification information and the characteristic data are the characteristic data of the optical scanning device corresponding to the first identification information which is the first identification information to be associated with the second identification information in advance. An acquisition processing unit acquired from the first storage unit of the server device that is associated and stored, and
An irradiation start position at which the modulated light based on the image data starts to be irradiated on the image carrier of the image forming apparatus after a predetermined waiting time elapses after the light scanned by the optical scanning apparatus is detected by the optical detection unit. A deviation amount deriving unit that derives a deviation amount from a predetermined reference irradiation start position in the image carrier based on the characteristic data.
A transmission processing unit that transmits the deviation amount derived by the deviation amount derivation unit to the image forming apparatus, and a transmission processing unit.
Information processing device equipped with. The characteristic data indicates a scanning time in which the modulated light emitted by the optical scanning device scans a predetermined image forming region in the image carrier.
The deviation amount deriving unit derives the deviation amount based on the difference between the scanning time of the optical scanning apparatus and a predetermined reference scanning time.
The information processing device according to claim 1. The deviation amount deriving unit derives the deviation amount by substituting the characteristic data into a predetermined calculation formula.
The information processing device according to claim 2. The deviation amount is D, the distance of the image forming region from the reference irradiation start position is RD, the scanning speed at which the optical scanning apparatus scans the image forming region is SV, the scanning time is LD_Timing, and the above. When the resolution of the image formed by the image forming apparatus is RL / MD,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the calculation formula is the following formula (1).
D = ((RD / (SV) -LD_Timing) x SV x (RL / MD) ... (1) The acquisition processing unit acquires the first identification information from a second storage unit that is provided separately from the optical scanning device and stores the first identification information corresponding to the optical scanning device.
The information processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The optical scanning device includes a plurality of optical scanning units, and the optical scanning device includes a plurality of optical scanning units.
In the first storage unit, the first identification information and the characteristic data of the plurality of optical scanning units are stored in association with each other.
The acquisition processing unit acquires characteristic data of the plurality of optical scanning unit corresponding to the first identification information from the first storage unit,
The deviation amount deriving unit derives the deviation amount for each of the plurality of optical scanning units based on the characteristic data of the plurality of optical scanning units.
The information processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 5. An image forming apparatus including an optical scanning device having a photodetector for detecting incident light from a light source, and an image carrier having a predetermined reference irradiation start position at which modulated light based on image data starts to be irradiated.
The second identification information for identifying the optical scanning apparatus is obtained by acquiring the second identification information for identifying the image forming apparatus from the image forming apparatus and transmitting a transmission request including the second identification information to the server apparatus. The characteristic data of the optical scanning device corresponding to the first identification information which is 1 identification information and is previously associated with the second identification information is stored in association with the first identification information and the characteristic data. An irradiation start position obtained from the first storage unit of the server device and the modulated light starts to be irradiated on the image carrier after a predetermined waiting time elapses after the incident light is detected by the light detection unit. An information processing device that derives the amount of deviation from the reference irradiation start position based on the characteristic data and transmits the amount of deviation to the image forming apparatus.
Information processing system equipped with.

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