Image forming apparatus that permits or prohibits a calibration process depending on a type of a mounted fixing device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10185265-B2
Application number	US-201815903561-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 23, 2018
Priority date	Sep 12, 2016
Publication date	Jan 22, 2019
Grant date	Jan 22, 2019

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes a correcting portion to correct gradation of inputted image data on the basis of a correction condition, an image forming device to form, on a recording material, a toner image corresponding to the corrected image data, a mounting portion, an executing portion to execute an output process for forming and outputting, on the recording material, a predetermined toner image for generating the correction condition, the predetermined toner image including a plurality of image regions different in density, an input portion to permit input of an execution instruction of the output process by an operator, and a controller to control notification of information to the operator. The controller provides notification prompting exchange of the fixing portions in certain cases.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a correcting portion configured to correct gradation of inputted image data on the basis of a correction condition;
an image forming device configured to form, on a recording material, a toner image corresponding to the image data corrected by said correcting portion;
a mounting portion, wherein a first fixing device includes a pair of rotatable members forming a first nip under a first load and configured to fix, on the recording material in the first nip, the toner image formed by said image forming device, said first fixing device being mountable in said mounting portion so as to be replaceable with a second fixing device including a pair of rotatable members forming a second nip under a second load that is less than the first load and configured to fix, on the recording material in the second nip, the toner image formed by said image forming device;
an executing portion configured to execute an output process for forming and outputting, on the recording material, a predetermined toner image for generating the correction condition, wherein the predetermined toner image includes a plurality of image regions different in density;
an input portion configured to permit input of an execution instruction of the output process by an operator; and
a controller configured to control notification of information to the operator, wherein said controller provides a notification prompting exchange of said second fixing device in a case that the execution instruction of the output process is inputted to said input portion when said second fixing device is mounted in said mounting portion, and permits execution of the output process in a case that the execution instruction of the output process is inputted to said input portion when said first fixing device is mounted in said mounting portion.

2. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a display portion, wherein, in the case that the execution instruction of the output process is inputted to said input portion when said second fixing device is mounted in said mounting portion, said controller causes said display portion to display, as the notification, information prompting the exchange of said second fixing device.

3. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a display portion, wherein, in the case that the execution instruction of the output process is inputted to said input portion when said second fixing device is mounted in said mounting portion, said controller causes said display portion to display, as the notification, information indicating that execution of the output process is undesirable.

4. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein, in the case that the execution instruction of the output process is inputted to said input portion when said first fixing device is mounted in said mounting portion, in the output process, said controller causes said first fixing device to fix the predetermined toner image, formed by said image forming portion on the recording material, on the recording material, and then causes said executing portion to output the recording material on which the predetermined toner image is fixed by said first fixing device.

5. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein, in the case that the execution instruction of the output process is inputted to said input portion when said second fixing device is mounted in said mounting portion, said executing portion executes the output process is response to mounting of said first fixing device in said mounting portion.

6. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein, when said second fixing device is mounted in said mounting portion, said controller prohibits execution of the output process.

7. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said first fixing portion includes a first storing portion configured to store information indicating said first fixing device,
wherein said second fixing device includes a second storing portion configured to store information indicating said second fixing device, and
wherein said image forming apparatus further comprises an acquiring portion configured to acquire the information stored in one of the first storing portion of said first fixing device and the second storing portion of said second fixing device stored in said mounting portion.

8. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a detector configured to detect a density of an image fixed on the recording material, wherein, in the output process, said executing portion causes said detector to detect a density of the predetermined toner image formed and fixed on the recording material, and then generates the correction condition on the basis of a result of detection by said detector.

9. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a reading portion configured to read an image of an original, wherein, when the output process is executed, said executing portion prompts the operator so as to cause said reading portion to read the predetermined toner image carried on the recording material outputted by the output process, and then generates the correction condition on the basis of a result of reading by said reading portion.

10. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a correcting portion configured to correct gradation of inputted image data on the basis of a correction condition;
an image forming device configured to form, on a recording material, a toner image corresponding to the image data corrected by said correcting portion;
a mounting portion, wherein a first fixing device configured to fix the toner image on a predetermined type of a recording material, not including a predetermined envelope, is mountable in said mounting portion so as to be replaceable with a second fixing device configured to fix the toner image on a predetermined type of a recording material, including the predetermined envelope;
an executing portion configured to execute an output process for forming and outputting, on the recording material, a predetermined toner image for generating the correction condition, wherein the predetermined toner image includes a plurality of image regions different in density;
an input portion configured to permit input of an execution instruction of the output process by an operator; and
a controller configured to control notification of information to the operator, wherein said controller provides a notification prompting exchange of said second fixing device in a case that the execution instruction of the output process is inputted to said input portion when said second fixing device is mounted in said mounting portion, and permits execution of the output process in a case that the execution instruction of the output process is inputted to said input portion when said first fixing device is mounted in said mounting portion.

11. An image forming apparatus according to claim 10 , further comprising a display portion, wherein, in the case that the execution instruction of the output process is inputted to said input portion when said second fixing device is mounted in said mounting portion, said controller causes said display portion to display, as the notification, information prompting the exchange of said second fixing device.

12. An image forming apparatus according to claim 10 , further comprising a display portion, wherein, in the case that the execution instruction of the output process is inputted to said input portion when said second fixing device is mounted in said mounting portion, said controller causes said display portion to display, as the no

Assignees

• Canon Kk

Inventors

• Chiyoda Yasuharu

Classifications

• G03G15/5062 Primary

  by measuring the characteristics of an image on the copy material · CPC title

• G03G2215/00514

  Envelopes · CPC title

• G03G2215/00042

  Optical detection · CPC title

• G03G2221/1639

  for the fixing unit · CPC title

• G03G15/5016 Primary

  User-machine interface; Display panels; Control console · CPC title