Patent ID: 12223374

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, various exemplary embodiments, features, and aspects will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Note, the following embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the claimed invention. Multiple features are described in the embodiments, but limitation is not made to embodiments that use all such features, and multiple such features may be combined as appropriate. Furthermore, in the attached drawings, the same reference numerals are given to the same or similar configurations, and redundant description thereof is omitted.

First Embodiment

An electrophotographic laser beam printer will be described as an example of an image forming apparatus. However, the image forming apparatus is not limited to only a laser beam printer and may be another type of image forming apparatus, such as a printer, a copy machine, a facsimile machine, a microfilm reader printer, and a recording machine.

<Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus>

In a first embodiment, an image forming apparatus including as image forming modes for forming an image on a printing material a normal mode (first mode) and a wide color gamut mode (second mode) in which a color gamut of an image to be formed on a printing material is expanded from a normal mode will be described. An image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment includes as the wide color gamut mode a single-color wide color gamut mode (second single-color mode) for forming a single-color image and a multicolor wide color gamut mode (second multicolor mode) for forming a multicolor image. In the single-color wide color gamut mode (second single-color mode), the image forming apparatus is configured to form a toner image only in a first image forming unit corresponding to a first color (K color) among a plurality of image forming units, each for forming a toner image of a different color. In the following, an example of such an image forming apparatus will be described in detail.

FIG.1is a cross-sectional diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus100according to the first embodiment. The image forming apparatus100is configured to form an image on a printing material with an electrophotographic method. The image forming apparatus100is configured as an in-line laser beam printer employing an intermediate transfer method and is capable of forming a full-color image. The image forming apparatus100uses an intermediate transfer belt as an intermediate transfer member. The image forming apparatus may be configured as a laser beam printer employing a direct transfer method in which a toner image is transferred from a photosensitive member (photosensitive drum) to a printing material without going through the intermediate transfer member (intermediate transfer belt). The printing material on which an image is to be formed may be referred to as a sheet, printing paper, a printing medium, paper, a transfer material, transfer paper, and the like.

The image forming apparatus100includes image forming units30Y,30M, and30K as a plurality of image forming units, each for forming an image (toner image) of a different color. The image forming units30Y,30M,30C, and are sequentially arranged in a line from an upstream side to a downstream side in a direction R1of movement of a surface of an intermediate transfer belt8for carrying toner images. The image forming units30Y,30M,30C, and30K each form an image using toner of their respective colors, yellow, magenta, cyan, and black. The image forming units30Y,30M,30C, and30K have the same configuration. The characters, Y, M, C, and K, attached to the reference numerals indicate toner colors, yellow (Y color), magenta (M color), cyan (C color), and black (K color), and are omitted when matters common to each of the colors are described.

The image forming units30each include a process cartridge40capable of being attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus100. The process cartridge40includes a photosensitive drum1, a charging roller2, a developing unit20including a developing roller3, a cleaning blade4, and a waste toner container24. The developing unit20includes the developing roller3. The image forming units30each further include a primary transfer roller6and a laser unit7. The primary transfer roller6is arranged at a position on an inner side of the intermediate transfer belt8, opposing the photosensitive drum1via the intermediate transfer belt8. The laser unit7is arranged below the process cartridge40.

The photosensitive drum1is an image bearing member for carrying an electrostatic latent image and a toner image formed by developing the electrostatic latent image with toner. The photosensitive drum1is driven to rotate at a predetermined peripheral speed in a direction of an arrow (clockwise direction) illustrated inFIG.1.

The charging roller2uniformly charges a surface of the photosensitive drum1by a voltage applying unit (voltage applying unit401or402ofFIG.4) applying a predetermined charging voltage. The laser unit7forms an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum1by exposing the photosensitive drum1based on an image signal (image data). The developing roller3forms a toner image on the photosensitive drum1by developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum1using developer (toner) supplied from a toner container in the developing unit20. Specifically, the toner on the developing roller3moves onto and adheres to the photosensitive drum1by a voltage applying unit (voltage applying unit411ofFIG.4) applying a predetermined developing voltage to the developing roller3. Thus, the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum1is developed into a toner image.

In the present embodiment, the photosensitive drum1is an example of an image bearing member (photosensitive member), and the developing roller3is an example of a developing unit for forming a toner image on the image bearing member by developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the image bearing member with toner. The primary transfer roller6is an example of a primary transfer unit for transferring the toner image formed on a corresponding image bearing member to the intermediate transfer member.

The image forming apparatus100includes the flexible, endless belt-like intermediate transfer belt8, which is arranged at a position opposing each of the photosensitive drums1. The intermediate transfer belt8is stretched over a driving roller9for rotating the intermediate transfer belt8and a driven roller10for applying appropriate tension to the intermediate transfer belt8. The intermediate transfer belt8is rotationally driven in a direction of an arrow R1(counterclockwise direction) while contacting the photosensitive drums1by a driving motor (not illustrated) transmitting a driving force to the driving roller9. The intermediate transfer belt8moves at a speed corresponding to a peripheral speed of the photosensitive drums1.

The primary transfer rollers6are arranged on the inner side of the intermediate transfer belt8as transfer members, each for transferring a toner image from the photosensitive drum1to the intermediate transfer belt8. The toner images formed on their respective photosensitive drums1are transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt8at their respective transfer positions (primary transfer portions) by voltage applying units (voltage applying units421and422ofFIG.4) each applying a primary transfer voltage to their respective primary transfer rollers6. For example, negative toner images are transferred from their respective photosensitive drums1to the intermediate transfer belt8by a positive voltage being applied to the intermediate transfer belt8via the primary transfer rollers6. At that time, the toner images of four colors, the Y color, the M color, the C color, and the K color, formed on their respective photosensitive drums1Y,1M,1C, and1K are sequentially transferred so as to be overlapped on the intermediate transfer belt8.

The toner images formed on the intermediate transfer belt8are conveyed to a secondary transfer portion17, which is a point of contact between the intermediate transfer belt8and a secondary transfer roller11, according to the rotation of the intermediate transfer belt8. At the secondary transfer portion17, the toner images on the intermediate transfer belt8are transferred to a printing material P conveyed from a printing material cassette13along a conveyance path. As described above, the intermediate transfer belt8of the present embodiment is an example of the intermediate transfer member (transfer-receiving member) to which the toner images formed on the respective image bearing members (photosensitive drums1) of the plurality of image forming units30are transferred so as to be overlapped, and the toner images transferred to the intermediate transfer member are transferred to a printing material.

The printing material cassette13stores sheet-like printing materials P in a state in which they are stacked. A feeding and conveyance apparatus12includes a paper feeding roller14and a pair of conveyance rollers15. The paper feeding roller14is configured to feed a printing material P from the printing material cassette13to the conveyance path. The pair of conveyance rollers15are configured to convey the printing material P fed to the conveyance path toward a pair of registration rollers16. The printing material P conveyed to the pair of registration rollers16is conveyed to the secondary transfer portion17by the pair of registration rollers16at a speed corresponding to a rotational speed of the intermediate transfer belt8at a predetermined control timing. The toner images on the intermediate transfer belt8are transferred onto the printing material P at the secondary transfer portion17by a voltage applying unit (voltage applying unit431ofFIG.4) applying a secondary transfer voltage to the secondary transfer roller11. For example, negative toner images are transferred from the intermediate transfer belt8to the printing material P by a positive voltage being applied to the printing material P via the secondary transfer roller11.

The printing material P to which the toner image has been transferred at the secondary transfer portion17is conveyed to a fixing unit18. The fixing unit18includes a fixing roller18a, which is a heating member, and a pressing roller18b, which is a pressing member and is arranged opposing the fixing roller18a. The fixing unit18performs fixing processing for fixing the transferred toner images to the printing material P by applying heat and pressure to the printing material P while the printing material P passes through a point of contact between the fixing roller18aand the pressing roller18b. The printing material P on which the fixing processing has been performed is discharged onto a discharge tray50by a pair of discharging rollers19.

Toner remaining on the surfaces of the photosensitive drums1after the transfer of the toner images from the photosensitive drums1to the intermediate transfer belt8is removed by cleaning blades4. The cleaning blades4each collect the toner on the photosensitive drum1into a waste toner container24while being in contact with the photosensitive drum1. Further, toner remaining on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt8after the transfer of toner images from the intermediate transfer belt8to the printing material P and paper dust transferred from the printing material P to the intermediate transfer belt8during the transfer are removed by a cleaning blade31. The cleaning blade31collects the toner and paper dust on the intermediate transfer belt8into a waste toner container32while being in contact with the intermediate transfer belt8.

FIG.2is a block diagram illustrating an example of a schematic control configuration of the image forming apparatus100. The image forming apparatus100includes a control unit200for controlling the operation of the entire apparatus. The control unit200includes a printer control unit201and an engine control unit202.

The printer control unit201communicates with a host computer211(external apparatus). When a print job is received from the host computer211, the printer control unit201expands printing data included in the print job into image data that can be used for image formation. The printer control unit201includes a function for performing image processing, such as character code bitmapping processing or image halftoning processing, on image data received from the host computer211. The printer control unit201transmits the expanded image data to the engine control unit202.

The engine control unit202communicates with the printer control unit201, for example, by serial communication and controls the image forming units30M,30C, and30K. When image data is received from the printer control unit201, the engine control unit202controls the image forming units30Y,30M, and30K to perform an image forming operation for forming an image on a printing material P based on the received image data.

The engine control unit202includes a central processing unit (CPU), a read-only memory (ROM), and a random access memory (RAM). The ROM is a non-volatile storage apparatus storing a program, such as a control program for controlling the operation of the image forming apparatus100. The RAM is a volatile storage apparatus used as a temporary storage region for programs and data and as a working region for the CPU. The CPU includes one or more processors, circuitry, or combinations thereof, and controls the operation of each of the devices (such as the image forming units30) of the image forming apparatus100by reading out a program stored in the ROM to the RAM and executing the program. As described above, the engine control unit202(or the control unit200) of the present embodiment is an example of a control unit for controlling the first image forming unit and a second image forming unit. In the present embodiment, the image forming unit30K is an example of the first image forming unit, and the image forming units30M,30C, and30K are each an example of the second image forming unit.

<Driving Configuration>

FIG.3is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a driving configuration of the image forming units30and the intermediate transfer belt8in the image forming apparatus100of the present embodiment. The image forming apparatus100includes driving units301to305. The operation of the driving units301to305is controlled by the engine control unit202. The developing unit20of each image forming unit30includes the developing roller3, a supply roller21, and a stirring member22. The stirring member22is configured to stir the toner in the toner container of the developing unit20by being driven to rotate. The supply roller21is configured to supply the toner in the toner container to the developing roller3by being driven to rotate.

The photosensitive drums1Y,1M, and1C are driven to rotate by the driving unit301. The driving unit301includes a driving motor (first driving source) and a series of gears for transmitting a driving force from the driving motor. The photosensitive drum1K is driven to rotate by the driving unit302. The driving unit302includes a driving motor (second driving source). The driving unit302is further configured to rotate (circulatingly move) the intermediate transfer belt8by driving the driving roller9for the intermediate transfer belt8.

The developing rollers3Y,3M,3C, and3K are driven to rotate by the driving unit303. The driving unit303includes a driving motor (third driving source) and a series of gears for transmitting a driving force from the driving motor. Although not illustrated inFIG.3, the driving unit303is further configured to rotationally drive a rotational shaft of each of the stirring members22Y,22M,22C, and22K via another series of gears.

The image forming apparatus100includes the driving unit304for switching a state of each developing roller3between a contact state in which the roller is in contact with the corresponding photosensitive drum1and a separated state in which the roller is separated from the photosensitive drum1. The driving unit304includes a driving motor (fourth driving source), a series of gears for transmitting a driving force from the driving motor, and a clutch. The engine control unit202can individually switch each developing roller3between a state of contact with and a state of separation from the corresponding photosensitive drum1by using the driving unit304(developing contact and separation mechanism).

The image forming apparatus100includes the driving unit305for switching a state of each primary transfer roller6between a contact state in which the roller is in contact with the corresponding photosensitive drum1via the intermediate transfer belt8and a separated state in which the roller is separated from the photosensitive drum1. The driving unit305includes a driving motor (fifth driving source), a series of gears for transmitting a driving force from the driving motor, and a clutch. The engine control unit202can individually switch each primary transfer roller6between a state of contact with and a state of separation from the corresponding photosensitive drum1by using the driving unit305. Although not illustrated inFIG.3, the driving unit305is further configured to drive the fixing roller18a.

When the photosensitive drum1and the developing roller3are driven by the same driving source (driving motor) via a series of gears, a ratio of peripheral speeds between the photosensitive drum1and the developing roller3is fixed to a value determined by a gear ratio of gears corresponding to each of them. In contrast, the image forming apparatus100of the present embodiment is configured such that the photosensitive drum1and the developing roller3are each driven by a different driving source (driving motor) in each of the image forming units30. Thus, the ratio of peripheral speeds between the photosensitive drum1and the developing roller3in each of the image forming units is variable.

<Voltage Application Configuration>

FIG.4is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a voltage application configuration in the image forming apparatus100of the present embodiment. As illustrated inFIG.4, the image forming apparatus100includes the voltage applying units401,402,411(411Y,411M,411C, and411K),421,422, and431, and the voltage applying units each include a high-voltage power supply. The voltage application (power supply) from each of the voltage applying units in the image forming apparatus100is controlled by the engine control unit202.

The voltage applying units401and402are each configured to generate a charging voltage by a high-voltage power supply and apply the charging voltage to their respective charging rollers2. The voltage applying unit401is provided in common to the image forming units30Y,30M, and30C and is configured to apply a charging voltage to each of the charging rollers2Y,2M, and2C. The voltage applying unit402is provided for the image forming unit30K and is configured to apply a charging voltage to the charging roller2K of the image forming unit30K.

The voltage applying units411Y,411M,411C, and411K are each configured to generate a developing voltage by a high-voltage power supply and apply the developing voltage to their respective developing rollers3. The voltage applying units411Y,411M,411C, and411K are provided for the image forming units30Y,30M,30C, and30K, respectively, and are each configured to apply a developing voltage to their respective developing rollers3Y,3M,3C, and3K.

The voltage applying units421and422are each configured to generate a primary transfer voltage by a high-voltage power supply and apply the primary transfer voltage to their respective primary transfer rollers6. The voltage applying unit421is provided in common to the image forming units30Y,30M, and30C and is configured to apply a primary transfer voltage to each of the primary transfer rollers6Y,6M, and6C. The voltage applying unit422is provided for the image forming unit30K and is configured to apply a primary transfer voltage to the primary transfer roller6K of the image forming unit30K. A power supply separate for each of the image forming units or a power supply common to all of the image forming units may be provided for applying a primary transfer voltage.

The voltage applying unit431is configured to generate a secondary transfer voltage by a high-voltage power supply and apply the secondary transfer voltage to the secondary transfer roller11. The image forming apparatus100may be configured to apply a voltage outputted from the voltage applying unit431to each of the primary transfer rollers6as a primary transfer voltage via the intermediate transfer belt8without the above-described voltage applying units421and422being provided.

<Normal Mode and Wide Color Gamut Mode>

As described above, the image forming apparatus100of the present embodiment has a driving configuration in which the photosensitive drum1and the developing roller3can be driven at individual rotational speeds for each image forming unit. Using such a driving configuration, the image forming apparatus100(engine control unit202) includes as image forming modes the normal mode (first mode) and the wide color gamut mode (second mode) in which a color gamut of an image (output image) to be formed on a printing material is expanded from that of the normal mode. The color gamut represents a range of colors that an image forming apparatus can reproduce (a color reproduction range) when forming an image on a printing material. The normal mode is an image forming mode for obtaining a normal density as a density of an output image. As will be described later, the image forming apparatus100of the present embodiment includes a single-color mode and a multicolor (full-color) mode for each of the normal mode and the wide color gamut mode.

The wide color gamut mode has image forming conditions that are different from those of the normal mode. In the wide color gamut mode, the ratio of peripheral speeds between the photosensitive drum1and the developing roller3is changed from the ratio of peripheral speeds in the normal mode. Here, the ratio of peripheral speeds between the photosensitive drum1and the developing roller3is a ratio of the peripheral speed (rotational speed) of the developing roller3to the peripheral speed (rotational speed) of the photosensitive drum1. Specifically, in the wide color gamut mode, the engine control unit202sets for each image forming unit the ratio of peripheral speeds between the photosensitive drum1and the developing roller3to be higher than the ratio of peripheral speeds in the normal mode. An operation for thus rotating the photosensitive drum1and the developing roller3at a ratio of peripheral speeds higher than that in the normal mode corresponds to an operation for increasing an amount of toner per unit area supplied from the developing roller3to the photosensitive drum1(a toner supply capability) from that in the normal mode.

Further, in the wide color gamut mode, a developing contrast may be changed from a developing contrast in the normal mode. Here, the developing contrast is a potential difference (an absolute value of a difference) between a potential of an exposed portion (image portion) (a light portion potential) on the surface of the photosensitive drum1and a potential of the developing roller3. Specifically, in the wide color gamut mode, the engine control unit202sets for each image forming unit the developing contrast for developing an electrostatic latent image to be formed on the photosensitive drum1with toner to be greater than the developing contrast in the normal mode. Thus, for example, the maximum amount of toner that can be adhered to the developing roller3is used for developing the electrostatic latent image. An operation for thus increasing the developing contrast from that in the normal mode corresponds to the operation for increasing the amount of toner per unit area supplied from the developing roller3to the photosensitive drum1(the toner supply capability) than that in the normal mode.

By increasing the amount of toner per unit area supplied from the developing roller3to the photosensitive drum1as described above, a wide color gamut mode in which a color gamut of an image (output image) to be formed on a printing material is expanded from that in the normal mode can be realized. Tables 1A and 1B indicate examples of settings for image forming conditions in the normal mode and the wide color gamut mode. Table 1A indicates an example of settings for various processing speeds and the ratio of peripheral speeds between the photosensitive drum1and the developing roller3, and Table 1B indicates an example of settings for various potentials and the developing contrast.

TABLE 1APROCESSING SPEED [mm/s]INTERMEDIATERATIOTRANSFEROFIMAGEBELT ANDPHOTO-DEVEL-PERIPH-FORMINGPRINTINGSENSITIVEOPINGERALMODEMATERIALDRUMROLLERSPEEDSNORMAL32132128990%MODEWIDE112112129115%COLORGAMUTMODE

TABLE 1BDEVELOPING CONDITION [−V]DEVEL-DARKLIGHTOPINGDEVEL-PORTIONPORTIONROLLEROPINGIMAGEPOTEN-POTEN-POTEN-CONTRASTFORMINGTIALTIALTIAL(|Vdev −MODE(Vd)(Vl)(Vdev)Vl|)NORMAL550130400270MODEWIDE700150450300COLORGAMUTMODE

In the example indicated in Table 1A, the ratio of peripheral speeds between the photosensitive drum1and the developing roller3in the wide color gamut mode is set to be 1.28 times (≈115/90) the ratio of peripheral speeds in the normal mode. By thus increasing the ratio of peripheral speeds in the wide color gamut mode from the ratio of peripheral speeds in the normal mode, the amount of toner supplied per unit time from the developing roller3to the photosensitive drum1can be increased compared to that of the normal mode. A method of changing the ratio of peripheral speeds between the photosensitive drum1and the developing roller3is not limited to this. For example, a method of changing the ratio of peripheral speeds by fixing a linear speed of the photosensitive drum1and increasing a linear speed of the developing roller3may be used.

In the example indicated in Table 1B, the developing contrast in the wide color gamut mode is set to be greater than the developing contrast in the normal mode. The setting is intended for allowing the maximum amount of toner that can be adhered to the developing roller3being used in developing an electrostatic latent image. Specifically, in the normal mode, a potential of the charging roller2is set to V0=−1100 [V], a dark portion potential (potential of a non-image portion) on the photosensitive drum1after charging is set to Vd=−550 [V], a light portion potential (potential of an image portion) on the photosensitive drum1after charging is set to V1=−130 [V], and a potential of the developing roller3is set to Vdev=−400 [V]. Thus, the developing contrast (=|Vdev=−V1|) becomes 270 [V]. Meanwhile, in the wide color gamut mode, the setting is performed such that V0=−1250 [V], Vd=−700 [V], V1=−150 [V], and Vdev=−450 [V]. Thus, the developing contrast becomes 400 [V] and greater than that of the normal mode.

Further, in the wide color gamut mode, the potential difference between the dark portion potential Vd and the light portion potential V1 is set to be greater than that of the normal mode in order to improve the reproducibility of a fine line. That is, in the wide color gamut mode, the engine control unit202sets for each image forming unit the potential difference between the dark portion potential Vd and the light portion potential V1 on the photosensitive drum1on which an electrostatic latent image is formed to be greater than the potential difference in the normal mode. This makes it possible to improve the reproducibility of a fine line in an output image in the wide color gamut mode. In the image forming apparatus100of the present embodiment, it is possible to provide as image forming modes a plurality of image forming modes, each with a different potential difference (that is, the potential difference between the light portion potential and the dark portion potential) of an electrostatic latent image.

<Single-Color Wide Color Gamut Mode>

Next, a case where a single-color image (such as a black (K color) single-color image) is formed on a printing material in the wide color gamut mode in the image forming apparatus100will be described. As will be described below, the image forming apparatus100of the present embodiment includes a wide color gamut mode (multicolor wide color gamut mode) as described above and a wide color gamut mode (single-color wide color gamut mode) suitable for when forming a single-color image on a printing material (that is, suitable for forming a single-color image).

Normally, an image forming apparatus including a wide color gamut mode as described above uses image forming conditions that are similar to those for when forming an image of a plurality of colors (multicolor) (a multicolor image), such as a full-color image, even when forming a K single-color image in the wide color gamut mode. That is, image forming conditions (such as a transfer setting) corresponding to the amount of toner for expanding a color gamut of an image to be formed on the printing material is used in each of the image forming units30Y,30M,30C, and30K.

However, the use of such image forming conditions when forming a single-color image in the wide color gamut mode does not necessarily meet the needs of a user. For example, there is a demand for allowing output of an image of higher quality and density by applying image forming conditions that are suitable for forming a black single-color image (are for forming a black single-color). Thus allowing output of an image of higher quality and density when forming a single-color image in the wide color gamut mode has, for example, the following problems.For example, normally, transfer setting is performed in an image forming apparatus employing an intermediate transfer method so as to prevent a toner image transferred to the intermediate transfer belt in an image forming unit that is upstream in the direction of movement of the intermediate transfer belt from being retransferred to a photosensitive drum in an image forming unit that is downstream in the direction of movement of the intermediate transfer belt. Therefore, it is difficult to perform unique transfer setting only for the image forming unit corresponding to the K color so as to generate at a primary transfer portion an electric field of an intensity suitable for forming a K single-color image.A decrease in transfer efficiency may occur due to a charge of a toner image being reversed by an electric field of excess intensity occurring at the secondary transfer portion.In the fixing unit, when excess heat is supplied by the heating member, a decrease in gloss or density in an output image may occur due to occurrence of a toner offset in which a part of the toner image adheres to the heating member.When an image in which a ratio of an area covered by toner to the entire output image is low is formed as a K single-color image (monochrome image) using the wide color gamut mode for forming a multicolor image, a defined single-color image cannot be obtained. This is due to the effect of the color cast toner caused by primary transfer of a toner image from the photosensitive drum1being possible in the plurality of image forming units.In the image forming units30corresponding to their respective toner colors other than the K color, the developing units20(the developing rollers3) are driven even though development of electrostatic latent images using toner is not performed. This leads to shortening of lives of the developing units corresponding to their respective toner colors other than the K color.

Accordingly, in order to address one or more of the above-described problems, the image forming apparatus100of the present embodiment includes the single-color wide color gamut mode (second single-color mode) suitable for forming a single-color image. In the single-color wide color gamut mode, the engine control unit202causes only the image forming unit30K (first image forming unit) corresponding to the K color (first color) to form an image among the plurality of image forming units30. In the present embodiment, when a single-color image (K single-color image) for which a color gamut is expanded from what is normal is formed, it becomes possible to form an image according to image forming conditions for forming a single-color image by using the single-color wide color gamut mode. This makes it possible to output a single-color image of higher quality and density.

Specifically, the engine control unit202controls the image forming units according to driving conditions illustrated inFIG.5A. In the single-color wide color gamut mode, the engine control unit202controls the driving unit304so as to bring the developing roller3K into contact with the photosensitive drum1K while separating the developing rollers3Y,3M, and3C from the photosensitive drums1Y,1M, and1C, respectively. In this state, the engine control unit202controls an image forming operation performed by the image forming units30so as to form a K single-color image using the image forming unit30K and transfer the K single-color image onto a printing material P. In the single-color wide color gamut mode, the engine control unit202further controls the driving unit305so as to bring the primary transfer roller6K into contact with the photosensitive drum1K via the intermediate transfer belt8while separating the primary transfer rollers6Y,6M, and6C from the photosensitive drums1Y,1M, and1C, respectively.

In the single-color wide color gamut mode, the engine control unit202thus brings the developing roller3K of the image forming unit30K into contact with the corresponding photosensitive drum1K and separates the developing rollers3of the image forming units30other than that of the image forming unit from the corresponding photosensitive drums1. Further, in the single-color wide color gamut mode, the engine control unit202brings the primary transfer roller6K of the image forming unit30K into contact with the photosensitive drum1K via the intermediate transfer belt8and separates the primary transfer rollers6of the image forming units30other than that of the image forming unit30K from the corresponding photosensitive drums1. This makes it possible to set image forming conditions (such as a transfer setting) for forming a single-color image (K single-color image), allowing output of an image of higher quality and density.

As illustrated inFIG.5A, the image forming apparatus100may include a single-color normal mode and a multicolor normal mode also for the normal mode. In this case, in the single-color normal mode, the engine control unit202controls states of contact with and separation from the photosensitive drum1for the developing rollers3and the primary transfer rollers6similarly to in the multicolor wide color gamut mode. This makes it possible to set image forming conditions (such as transfer setting) for forming a single-color image (K single-color image) even in the normal mode.

<Transfer Current Settings>

In the image forming apparatus100of the present embodiment, in the single-color wide color gamut mode (second single-color mode), the engine control unit202controls the image forming unit30K (first image forming unit) to form an image according to image forming conditions for forming a single-color image. This makes it possible to output an image of higher quality and density when forming a single-color image in the wide color gamut mode. Here, transfer current settings will be further described with reference to Table 2 below as settings for image forming conditions in the image forming apparatus100according to the present embodiment. Table 2 indicates an example of settings for transfer conditions (target transfer currents) in each of the image forming mode.

TABLE 2TARGET TRANSFER CURRENTVALUE [mA]PRIMARYSECONDARYTRANSFERTRANSFERIMAGE FORMING MODEPORTIONPORTIONNORMALFOR SINGLE-16.523.2MODECOLORFOR1529MULTICOLORWIDE COLORFOR SINGLE-812GAMUT MODECOLORFOR715MULTICOLOR

During non-image formation (such as during a pre-rotation operation for each print job), the engine control unit202adjusts a primary transfer voltage to be applied from the voltage applying units421and422to their respective primary transfer rollers6such that values of currents (primary transfer currents) flowing in the primary transfer portions are target values. During image formation thereafter, the adjusted primary transfer voltage is applied from the voltage applying units421and422to their respective primary transfer rollers6.

Specifically, the engine control unit202detects as a primary transfer current a current caused to flow between the photosensitive drums1uniformly charged to the dark portion potential Vd and the primary transfer rollers6by a voltage being applied from the voltage applying units421and422to their respective primary transfer rollers6. The primary transfer current is detected using a current detection circuit (not illustrated). The engine control unit202performs constant current control using the current detection circuit and the target value of the primary transfer current corresponding to the image forming mode illustrated in Table 2. That is, the engine control unit202adjusts the primary transfer voltage such that a value of the primary transfer current detected using the current detection circuit is constant at the target value of the primary transfer current corresponding to the image forming mode.

During non-image formation, the engine control unit202adjusts a secondary transfer voltage applied from the voltage applying unit431to the secondary transfer roller11such that a value of a current (secondary transfer current) flowing in the secondary transfer portion is a target value. During image formation thereafter, the adjusted secondary transfer voltage is applied from the voltage applying unit431to the secondary transfer roller11.

Specifically, the engine control unit202detects as the secondary transfer current a current that is made to flow between the driving roller9and the secondary transfer roller11via the intermediate transfer belt8by a voltage being applied from the voltage applying unit431to the secondary transfer roller11while a printing material is not passing through the secondary transfer portion. The secondary transfer current is detected using a current detection circuit (not illustrated). The engine control unit202performs constant current control using the current detection circuit and the target value of the secondary transfer current corresponding to the image forming mode illustrated in Table 2. That is, the engine control unit202adjusts the secondary transfer voltage such that a value of the secondary transfer current detected using the current detection circuit is constant at the target value of the secondary transfer current corresponding to the image forming mode.

In the example of settings of Table 2, the target value of the primary transfer current in the single-color wide color gamut mode is set to a value that is higher than the target value of the primary transfer current in the multicolor wide color gamut mode. In the single-color wide color gamut mode, the primary transfer rollers6corresponding to their respective toner colors other than the K color are each separated from the corresponding photosensitive drums1. Therefore, when setting the target value of the primary transfer current for the primary transfer of the single-color (K color) toner image, it is not necessary to consider preventing toner images from being retransferred to the photosensitive drums1corresponding to their respective toner colors other than the K color. Therefore, in the example of settings of Table 2, the target value of the primary transfer current in the single-color wide color gamut mode is set to a higher target value suitable for forming a K color solid image.

Meanwhile, in the example of settings of Table 2, the target value of the secondary transfer current in the single-color wide color gamut mode is set to a value that is lower than the target value of the secondary transfer current in the multicolor wide color gamut mode. In the single-color wide color gamut mode, it is sufficient so long as a single-color toner image (for which the amount of toner has been increased to expand the color gamut) can be transferred to a printing material P in the secondary transfer portion. For this reason, in the single-color wide color gamut mode, the target value of the secondary transfer current is set to be lower than a target value for transferring a multicolor toner image to a printing material in the multicolor wide color gamut mode.

In the examples of settings of Tables 1A and 1B, a ratio of a processing speed in the wide color gamut mode to a processing speed in the normal mode is set to about ⅓ for the intermediate transfer belt8and a printing material P. Nevertheless, in the example of settings of Table 2, a ratio of the target value of the primary transfer current in the wide color gamut mode to the target value of the primary transfer current in the normal mode is set to be larger than the ratio of the processing speeds for both the single-color mode and the multicolor mode. It is similar for the target value of the secondary transfer current. This is because, in the wide color gamut mode, a larger amount of toner can be transferred, which is carried on the photosensitive drum1or the intermediate transfer belt8, than in the normal mode, onto a transfer-receiving member (the intermediate transfer belt8or a printing material P) in each of the transfer portions.

The reason for this is explained as follows. Equation (1) below represents a transfer current for transferring a toner image having a certain amount of charge as an amount of charge per unit area, a weight M, and a width (image width) W to a transfer-receiving member at a predetermined processing speed PS.
It=Q/M×M/S×PS×W
=Q/S×PS×W(1)

Here, Q is a total amount of charge of the toner image, Q/M is an amount of charge per unit weight of the toner, M/S is a weight of the toner per unit area, and Q/S is an amount of charge of the toner per unit area. In the wide color gamut mode, the amount of toner to be transferred to a transfer-receiving member is increased from that of the normal mode as described above. The total amount of charge Q increases in accordance with the increase in the amount of toner. Therefore, in the wide color gamut mode, it can be said that a transfer current that is greater than about ⅓ of the transfer current in the normal mode is used as the transfer current in the primary transfer portions and the secondary transfer portion, even when the processing speed is set to be about ⅓ of the processing speed in the normal mode.

<Processing Procedure>

FIG.6is a flowchart for explaining an example of a procedure of image forming processing to be executed in the image forming apparatus100of the present embodiment. The processing of each step ofFIG.6is executed by the control unit200(the printer control unit201and the engine control unit202).

First, in step S601, when a print job is received from the host computer211(external apparatus), the printer control unit201expands print data included in the print job into image data (an input image according to the print job) that can be used for forming an image. The host computer211can perform specification of an image forming mode and the like using a printer driver. The printer control unit201transmits the expanded image data and an instruction for executing image formation to the engine control unit202. The execution instruction includes setting information, such as the image forming mode specified in the print job.

Next, in step S602, the engine control unit202determines the image forming mode to be used for forming an image on a printing material based on the specification of the image forming mode and the input image in the print job received by the printer control unit201and advances the processing to step S603. For example, if the wide color gamut mode is specified as the image forming mode and the input image is a single-color image in the received print job, the engine control unit202determines to use the single-color wide color gamut mode (second single-color mode). In this case, the engine control unit202controls the plurality of image forming units30to form an image on a printing material in the single-color wide color gamut mode. For example, if the wide color gamut mode is specified as the image forming mode and the input image is a multicolor image in the received print job, the engine control unit202determines to use the multicolor wide color gamut mode (second multicolor mode). In this case, the engine control unit202controls the plurality of image forming units30to form an image on a printing material in the multicolor wide color gamut mode.

In step S603, the engine control unit202determines image forming conditions corresponding to the determined image forming mode according to that image forming mode. For example, when the single-color wide color gamut mode is used, the engine control unit202determines image forming conditions for forming a single-color image. The image forming conditions may include the ratio of peripheral speeds between the photosensitive drum1and the developing roller3, the developing contrast, and the target transfer current value at the primary transfer portion and the target transfer current value at the secondary transfer portion as described above with reference to Tables 1A and 1B and Table 2. The image forming conditions may further include the driving conditions of the respective driving units (FIG.3) for the image forming units30described above with reference toFIG.5A.

Next, in step S604, the engine control unit202controls a state of contact with/separation from the photosensitive drum1for the developing roller3and the primary transfer roller6for each of the image forming units according to the image forming conditions determined in step S603. When the single-color wide color gamut mode is used, the engine control unit202brings the developing roller3K into contact with the corresponding photosensitive drum1K and separates the developing rollers3Y,3M, and3K from the corresponding photosensitive drums1Y,1M, and1K, as illustrated inFIG.5A. Further, the engine control unit202brings the primary transfer roller6K into contact with the corresponding photosensitive drum1K via the intermediate transfer belt8and separates the primary transfer rollers6Y,6M, and6K from the corresponding photosensitive drums1Y,1M, and1K.

In addition, in step S605, the engine control unit202adjusts the primary transfer voltage outputted from the voltage applying units421and422and the secondary transfer voltage outputted from the voltage applying unit431based on the target transfer current value at the primary transfer portion and the target transfer current value at the secondary transfer portion determined in step S603. Then, in step S606, the engine control unit202starts forming an image based on the print job and ends the processing according to the procedure ofFIG.6.

As described above, in the image forming apparatus100of the present embodiment, the engine control unit202performs control so as to be allow execution of the normal mode (first mode) and the wide color gamut mode (second mode) in which a color gamut of an image to be formed on a printing material is expanded from that of the normal mode, as an image forming mode. The wide color gamut mode includes the single-color wide color gamut mode (second single-color mode) and the multicolor wide color gamut mode (second multicolor mode), for forming a single-color image and a multicolor image, respectively. The single-color wide color gamut mode (second single-color mode) is a mode in which an image is formed using only the first image forming unit (image forming unit30K). The multicolor wide color gamut mode (second multicolor mode) is a mode in which an image is formed using the first image forming unit and the second image forming unit (image forming units30Y,30M, or30C). In the single-color wide color gamut mode, the engine control unit202is configured so as not to use image forming units other than the image forming unit30K among the plurality of image forming units30and cause only the image forming unit30K corresponding to the K color (first color) to form a K color toner image.

This makes it possible to form an image according to image forming conditions for forming a single-color image, even when forming a single-color image in the wide color gamut mode. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to output a single-color image of higher quality and density when outputting a single-color image in the wide color gamut mode in an image forming apparatus including the wide color gamut mode.

Second Embodiment

In a second embodiment, another example of the single-color wide color gamut mode (second single-color mode) described in the first embodiment will be described. In the single-color wide color gamut mode in the present embodiment, an image is formed in a state in which not only the developing roller3K corresponding to the K color but also the developing rollers3Y,3M, and3C corresponding to toner colors other than the K color are in contact with the corresponding photosensitive drums1Y,1M, and1C, respectively. Alternatively, an image is formed in a state in which not only the primary transfer roller6K corresponding to the K color but also the primary transfer rollers6Y,6M, and6C corresponding to toner colors other than the K color are in contact with the photosensitive drums1Y,1M, and1C via the intermediate transfer belt8. In the following, descriptions will be omitted for parts common to the first embodiment, and parts different from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

Normally, when an image in which a ratio of an area covered by toner to the entire output image is high, formed based on an input image is formed as a K single-color image, most of the base of a printing material is hidden by K color toner, which has the lowest brightness among a plurality of colors of toner. In this case, the effect of the color cast toner caused by primary transfer of a toner image from the photosensitive drum1being possible in the plurality of image forming units is relatively small.

Meanwhile, slipperiness between a printing material and toner for when the toner is transferred to the printing material increases. Blurring and banding (light and dark bands) are likely to occur in a transferred toner image, attributable to an image pattern to be outputted. In the single-color wide color gamut mode in the first embodiment, the aforementioned slipperiness may be further increased due to the amount of toner supplied to the photosensitive drum1K being increased compared to that of the normal mode. This may make it more likely for blurring and banding to occur in the transferred toner image. Examples in which such a phenomenon becomes apparent include blurring of a toner image to be transferred to the intermediate transfer belt8next, which occurs when a trailing end of a printing material P exits the secondary transfer roller11on the conveyance path; blurring during development on the photosensitive drum1; and the like.

In addition, the image forming apparatus100may receive, for example, a print job in which a multicolor image and a single-color image are included as input images from the host computer211. When executing such a print job in the wide color gamut mode, an operation is performed for switching the developing unit20between a state of contact with and a state of separation from the photosensitive drum1for three colors other than the K color when printing a multicolor image and when printing a single-color image. In addition, an operation is also performed for switching the primary transfer roller6between a state of contact with and a state of separation from the photosensitive drum1for three colors other than the K color. Repeating such an operation increases the time it takes until the execution of the print job is completed, thereby decreasing the productivity of the image forming apparatus100.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, in order to address one or more of the above-described problems, the engine control unit202includes a setting1and a setting2illustrated inFIG.5Bas settings for driving conditions of the respective driving units (FIG.3) in the single-color wide color gamut mode. Specifically, when a print job received from an external apparatus does not satisfy a predetermined condition, the engine control unit202uses the driving conditions of the setting1in the single-color wide color gamut mode. The setting1is similar to the setting for driving conditions for the single-color wide color gamut mode illustrated inFIG.5A. Meanwhile, when a print job received from an external apparatus satisfies a predetermined condition, the engine control unit202uses the driving conditions of the setting2in the single-color wide color gamut mode.

The aforementioned predetermined condition is, for example, an input image according a print job being a single-color image and a ratio of an area covered by toner to the entire output image formed based on the input image exceeds a threshold. Alternatively, the predetermined condition is a single-color image and a multicolor image being included as input images according to a print job. When such a condition is met, the engine control unit202uses the setting2illustrated inFIG.5Bin the single-color wide color gamut mode.

When the setting2illustrated inFIG.5Bis used, the engine control unit202brings not only the developing roller3K of the image forming unit30K but also the developing rollers3Y,3M, and3C of the image forming units other than the image forming unit30K into contact with the respective corresponding photosensitive drums1in the single-color wide color gamut mode. In addition, the engine control unit202brings not only the primary transfer roller6K of the image forming unit30K but also the primary transfer rollers6Y,6M, and6C of the image forming units other than the image forming unit30K into contact with the respective corresponding photosensitive drums1via the intermediate transfer belt8.

In the present embodiment, the control unit200(the printer control unit201and the engine control unit202) executes image forming processing according to a procedure similar to that in the first embodiment (FIG.6). However, when the single-color wide color gamut mode is used, the engine control unit202controls contact/separated states of the developing roller3and the primary transfer roller6in steps S603and S604using the driving conditions of the setting2according to the predetermined condition as described above.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the single-color wide color gamut mode (second single-color mode) is used, the wide color gamut mode of the setting2is used according to the predetermined condition. This makes it possible to address an increase in the slipperiness between a printing material and toner for when the toner is transferred to the printing material, thereby making it possible to reduce occurrence of blurring and banding in a transferred toner image attributable to an image pattern to be outputted. Further, when a multicolor image and a single-color image are included as input images according to a print job, it is possible to output a single-color image of higher quality while maintaining the productivity of the image forming apparatus100.

Each of the above-described embodiments can be modified in various ways. For example, the engine control unit202may drive the photosensitive drums1Y,1M, and1C to rotate at a rotational speed different from that of the photosensitive drum1K so as to attain more of a braking effect (for reducing banding by suppressing the unevenness of rotation of the photosensitive drum1) in an additional mode. In the single-color wide color gamut mode, the mode may be set so as to set not only a developing setting and the transfer setting but also, for example, a setting for fixing temperature adjustment in the fixing unit18, to a setting suitable for forming a single-color image.

While the present disclosure has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.

This application claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2022-091072, filed Jun. 3, 2022, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.