Patent ID: 7360886

Claim:
A position deviation detecting method for use in an image forming device which forms a multi-color or color image on a printing material by transferring images of a plurality of colors, formed on image supporting mediums arranged in parallel, to the printing material which is conveyed with an intermediate transfer medium or a transfer medium such that different colored images are formed on top of each other, the position deviation detecting method comprising the steps of: transferring first and second patterns formed in different colors on the image supporting mediums to the intermediate transfer medium or the transfer medium in an overlapping manner, the first patterns formed in a color with high sensor sensitivity and the second patterns formed in a color with low sensor sensitivity; reading the first and second patterns on the intermediate transfer medium or the transfer medium using a light-receiving unit of a pattern detection sensor; and detecting an amount of position deviation in a main scanning direction between two of the plurality of colors, wherein the first patterns are arranged in a fixed position in the main scanning direction and the second patterns are shifted in the main scanning direction such that the second patterns are overlapped over the first patterns, and output values of the light-receiving unit of the sensor are measured from the first and second patterns, and the amount of position deviation in the main scanning direction is computed based the measured output values.