Patent ID: 6493010
Filing Date: 2002-12-10
Classification: B41J,G02B,G03G,H04N

Abstract:
A color image forming apparatus comprising:a latent image carrier; an image exposure mechanism configured to scan a surface of said latent image carrier with exposure light beams in accordance with image information of different colors to form a plurality of latent images; a development mechanism configured to develop the plurality of latent images formed by said image exposure mechanism into visible images to form a color image on said latent image carrier; at least one reflector provided on said latent image carrier; at least one detector for detecting reflected light beams of the exposure light beams from said at least one reflector and outputting a detection signal; and a correction mechanism configured to control relative positions of the plurality of latent images to be formed by said image exposure mechanism, on the basis of the detection signal from said at least one detector wherein said correction mechanism measures time intervals between reception timing of the detection signal from said at least one detector and start timings of scanning timing signals of the plurality of exposure light beams, and delays timings for supplying the image information of the respective colors to said image exposure mechanism in accordance with the measured time intervals, in order to control the relative positions of the plurality of latent images in a main scanning direction of the exposure light beams, the main scanning direction being perpendicular to a rotational direction of the latent image carrier.