Patent ID: 8718493
Filing Date: 2014-05-06
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus, comprising: irradiating means for irradiating light to output irradiated light; receiving means for receiving light, the light including ambient light received from the outside of the image forming apparatus and the irradiated light received from the irradiating means; detecting means for detecting a light intensity level of the light received by the receiving means; preventing means for preventing or suppressing the receiving means from receiving the light when a recording sheet passes through a sheet transfer path; and controlling means for controlling at least two operations including: 1) operation of detecting a jam of the recording sheet in the sheet transfer path based on the light intensity level detected by the detecting means when image forming is performed; and 2) operation of controlling switching of an operation mode of the image forming apparatus to an energy save mode based on the light intensity level detected by the detecting means, wherein the controlling means determines that the recording sheet is passing through the sheet transfer path when the light intensity level detected by the detecting means is less than a first reference level, wherein the controlling means causes the irradiating means to increase a light intensity level of the irradiated light when the light intensity level detected by the detecting means is less than a second reference level, and wherein the controlling means includes means for gradually increasing the light intensity level of the irradiated light until the light intensity level detected by the detecting means reaches the second reference level or a maximum level.