MOTOR CONTROL APPARATUS, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND MOTOR CONTROL METHOD

• US 20160026107A1
• Filed: 07/08/2015
• Published: 01/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: TAKAHASHI, Yoshihiro, IWASAKI, Hiroyuki
• Granted Patent: US 9,787,223 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0877 Arrangements for metering and dispensing developer from a developer cartridge into the development unit
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 1/04 Means for controlling progress of starting sequence in dependence upon time or upon current, speed, or other motor parameter
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 3/08 for stopping or slowing a dc motor

Abstract

A motor control apparatus controls a start/stop operation of a motor and includes a counting unit that performs a count-up or count-down operation from a predetermined initial value with a lapse of time in response to receiving an operation start instruction for the motor; a signal output unit that outputs a first state signal in response to receiving the operation start instruction, and outputs a second state signal only when a result of the counting by the counting unit falls outside a predetermined range; and a drive unit that outputs an ON signal to the motor in response to receiving the first state signal from the signal output unit, and outputs an OFF signal to the motor in response to receiving the second state signal from the signal output unit.

Claims

1. A motor control apparatus which controls a start/stop operation of a motor, comprising:

a counting unit that performs a count-up or count-down operation from a predetermined initial value with a lapse of time in response to receiving an operation start instruction for the motor;

a signal output unit that outputs a first state signal in response to receiving the operation start instruction, and outputs a second state signal only when a result of the counting by the counting unit falls outside a predetermined range; and

a drive unit that outputs an ON signal to the motor in response to receiving the first state signal from the signal output unit, and outputs an OFF signal to the motor in response to receiving the second state signal from the signal output unit.

2. The motor control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit that outputs a control instruction,

wherein the control unit outputs a counter clear instruction to the counting unit.

3. The motor control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the drive unit is made of a field-effect transistor.

4. The motor control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the drive unit is made of a DC brush motor driver IC.

5. The motor control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the counting unit is made of a free run timer and counter of an input/output control device incorporated in the control unit.

6. The motor control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the signal output unit is made of a comparator of an input/output control device incorporated in the control unit.

7. An image forming apparatus comprising:

a toner supply system; and

an image formation unit that forms an image using the toner supply system;

wherein the toner supply system includes the motor control apparatus according to claim 1.

8. A motor control method for use in a motor control apparatus which controls a start/stop operation of a motor, comprising:

performing by a counting unit a count-up or count-down operation from a predetermined initial value with a lapse of time in response to receiving an operation start instruction for the motor;

outputting by a signal output unit a first state signal in response to receiving the operation start instruction, and outputting a second state signal only when a result of the counting by the counting unit falls outside a predetermined range; and

outputting by a drive unit an ON signal to the motor in response to receiving the first state signal from the signal output unit, and outputting an OFF signal to the motor in response to receiving the second state signal from the signal output unit.