Image formation apparatus that executes misregistration correction

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10073403-B2
Application number	US-201715491223-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 19, 2017
Priority date	May 26, 2016
Publication date	Sep 11, 2018
Grant date	Sep 11, 2018

Abstract

An image formation apparatus that includes: first to third image formation units provided in this order in a traveling direction of a transfer target medium; a detector configured to detect first to third correction patterns formed on the transfer target medium by the first to third image formation units, respectively; and a control unit programed to control image misregistration correction based on a result of detection by the detector. The control unit causes the first and third image formation units to form the first and third correction patterns on the transfer target medium, respectively. When an amount of image misregistration between the first correction pattern and the third correction pattern is less than a predetermined value, the control unit neither causes the second image formation unit to form the second correction pattern, nor executes the image misregistration correction.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An image formation apparatus comprising:
a first image formation unit containing a first developer;
a second image formation unit disposed downstream of the first image formation unit in a traveling direction of a transfer target medium, the second image formation unit containing a second developer;
a third image formation unit disposed downstream of the second image formation unit in the traveling direction, the third image formation unit containing a third developer;
a detector configured to detect a first correction pattern formed on the transfer target medium by the first image formation unit, a second correction pattern formed on the transfer target medium by the second image formation unit, and a third correction pattern formed on the transfer target medium by the third image formation unit; and
a control unit programed to control image misregistration correction based on a result of detection by the detector, wherein
the control unit causes the first image formation unit to form the first correction pattern on the transfer target medium, and causes the third image formation unit to form the third correction pattern on the transfer target medium, and
when an amount of image misregistration between the first correction pattern and the third correction pattern is less than a predetermined value, the control unit neither causes the second image formation unit to form the second correction pattern, nor executes the image misregistration correction.

2. The image formation apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
when the amount of image misregistration between the first correction pattern and the third correction pattern is equal to or greater than the predetermined value, the control unit causes the second image formation unit to form the second correction pattern, and executes the image misregistration correction.

3. The image formation apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein
the control unit executes the image misregistration correction based on the result of detection of the first correction pattern, the second correction pattern, and the third connection pattern.

4. The image formation apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein
the first image formation unit is located at the uppermost stream in the traveling direction among image formation units including the first to third image formation units, and
the third image formation unit is located at the downmost stream in the traveling direction among the image formation units including the first to third image formation units.

5. The image formation apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a housing which includes an opening, and houses the first to third image formation units attached to an apparatus body; and
a cover configured to open and close the opening, wherein
when the opening is in the open state, the first image formation unit is made attachable to and detachable from the apparatus body via the opening, and the third image formation unit is not attachable to or detachable from the apparatus body.

6. The image formation apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the opening is formed into a shape with which, when the opening is in the open state, the first image formation unit is made attachable to and detachable from the apparatus body via the opening, and the third image formation unit is not made attachable to or detachable from the apparatus body.

7. The image formation apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first developer is a black developer.

8. The image formation apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first developer, the second developer, and the third developer are developers of colors that are different from one another.

9. The image formation apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the image misregistration correction is color misregistration correction.

10. The image formation apparatus according to claim 1 wherein
in response to a misregistration correction command during a continuous printing by the image formation units, the control unit:
suspends the continuous printing;
causes the first image formation unit to form the first correction pattern on the transfer target medium, and causes the third image formation unit to form the third correction pattern on the transfer target medium; and
resumes the continuous printing without causing the second image formation unit to form the second correction pattern and without executing the image misregistration correction, when the amount of image misregistration between the first correction pattern and the third correction pattern is less than the predetermined value.

Assignees

• Oki Data Kk

Inventors

• Shiraishi Toyokazu

Classifications

• G03G15/16

  of a toner pattern, e.g. a powder pattern {, e.g. magnetic transfer} · CPC title

• G03G15/6558 Primary

  Feeding path after the copy sheet preparation and up to the transfer point, e.g. registering; Deskewing; Correct timing of sheet feeding to the transfer point · CPC title

• G03G15/01

  for producing multicoloured copies · CPC title

• G03G15/5058 Primary

  using a test patch · CPC title

• G03G2215/0161

  Generation of registration marks · CPC title