Image forming apparatus and pattern detection method by image forming apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10599082-B2
Application number	US-201916298350-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 11, 2019
Priority date	Mar 19, 2018
Publication date	Mar 24, 2020
Grant date	Mar 24, 2020

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes an image bearer, an image forming unit, a toner image detecting unit, and a detection processing unit. The image bearer is configured to bear a toner image. The image forming unit is configured to sequentially form groups of pattern images for a plurality of colors in a sub-scanning direction of the image bearer, each of the groups including pattern images of the same color at a predetermined interval. The toner image detecting unit is configured to detect the pattern images formed on the image bearer. The detection processing unit is configured to recognize whether an interval between adjacent pattern images of the same color corresponds to a set interval, to exclude an image for which the interval does not correspond to the set interval among the detected pattern images.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
an image bearer configured to bear a toner image;
an image forming unit configured to sequentially form groups of pattern images for a plurality of colors in a sub-scanning direction of the image bearer, each of the groups including pattern images of a same color, the pattern images of the same color formed at a predetermined interval, and each of the groups corresponds with a different color;
a toner image detecting unit configured to detect the pattern images formed on the image bearer; and
a detection processing unit configured to recognize whether an interval between adjacent pattern images of the same color corresponds to a set interval, and to exclude an image for which the interval does not correspond to the set interval among the detected pattern images.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
a first group includes a plurality of first patterns adjacent to each other and formed using a first color,
a second group includes a plurality of second patterns adjacent to each other and formed using a second color, and
the first group and the second group are formed at a first interval.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein
the plurality of first patterns and the plurality of second patterns are each formed at a second interval, and
the second interval is smaller than the first interval.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein
the toner image further has a third color and a fourth color that are different from the first color and the second color, and
the third color and the fourth color are different from each other.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the detection processing unit is configured to, when another pattern image is not present at a position that is not separated by the predetermined interval at a time of detection from an image among the pattern images having been detected for each of the groups by the toner image detecting unit, determine the image as a defect on the image bearer, and to exclude the defect from color shift correction calculation.

6. A pattern detection method implemented by an image forming apparatus including:
an image bearer configured to bear a toner image;
an image forming unit configured to sequentially form groups of pattern images for a plurality of colors in a sub-scanning direction of the image bearer, each of the groups including pattern images of a same color, the pattern images of the same color formed at a predetermined interval, and each of the groups corresponds with a different color; and
a toner image detecting unit configured to detect the pattern images formed on the image bearer,
the pattern detection method comprising:
recognizing whether an interval between adjacent pattern images of the same color corresponds to a set interval; and
excluding an image for which the interval does not correspond to the set interval among the detected pattern images.

Assignees

• Kemmochi Takuya
• Ishizuka Natsuko
• Takei Kazushi
• Shimoda Junichi
• Funada Naohiro
• Ricoh Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kemmochi Takuya
• Ishizuka Natsuko
• Takei Kazushi
• Shimoda Junichi
• Funada Naohiro

Classifications

• G03G15/0194

  primary transfer to the final recording medium (G03G15/0184 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G03G15/0121

  for developing · CPC title

• G03G15/5058 Primary

  using a test patch · CPC title

• G03G15/5062 Primary

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

• G03G15/0822

  Arrangements for preparing, mixing, supplying or dispensing developer · CPC title