Image forming apparatus which changes its tone reproducing property in accordance with ambient conditions

• US 5,313,308 A
• Filed: 08/29/1990
• Issued: 05/17/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Hasegawa, Takashi, Gu, Sono
• Primary Examiner(s): Coles, Sr., Edward L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rogers, Scott A.
• Application Number:
  US07/574,050
• Time in Patent Office: 1,357 Days
• Field of Search: 358/300, 358/406, 358/401, 358/504, 358/501, 346/160, 346/157, 355/208, 355/214, 355/246, 355/203, 355/30, 355/35
• US Class Current: 358/406
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/12 by photographic printing , e.g. by laser printers
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/129 Colour printing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/295 Circuits or arrangements for the control thereof, e.g. using a programmed control device, according to a measured quantity
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/4072 dependent on the contents of the original

Abstract

A color image forming apparatus includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member; a device for forming latent images by optical scanner with light information corresponding to colors; plural developing devices for developing in different colors; a detector for an ambient condition; and a device for changing a tone reproducing property of the latent image forming device using one of stored tables in accordance with an output of the detector.

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus, comprising:

means for forming an image from image input data on a recording material with a tone reproducing property;

means for detecting an ambient condition; and

means for changing the tone reproducing property of said image forming means in accordance with a parameter determined by predetermined tables made for a plurality of predetermined ambient conditions, wherein when the detected ambient condition is deviated from any of said predetermined ambient conditions, the parameter is determined by interpolation using said tables.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the input data are produced by reading original by a CCD.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the input data are produced from an original by a CCD and an A/D converter.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said detecting means detects a humidity.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said detecting means detects a humidity and a temperature.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said image forming means including an electrophotographic photosensitive member and latent image forming means for forming a latent image thereon.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said changing means adds to data of the stored table data in accordance with an output of said detecting means.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said changing means modifies the stored table using a coefficient in accordance with an output of said detecting means.

9. A color image forming apparatus, comprising:

an electrophotographic photosensitive member;

means for forming latent images by optical scanning means with light information corresponding to colors;

plural developing means for developing in different colors;

means for detecting an ambient condition; and

means for changing a tone reproducing property of said image forming means in accordance with a parameter determined by predetermined tables made for a plurality of predetermined ambient conditions, wherein when the detected ambient condition is deviated from any of said predetermined ambient conditions, the parameter is determined by interpolation using said tables.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the light information corresponds to color separated images of a full-color image, and said developing means develops the latent images with yellow, magenta and cyan developers.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the light information is data produced by reading an original by a CCD.

12. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the light information is data produced by reading an original by a CCD and an A/D converter.

13. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said apparatus is an electrophotographic copying apparatus.

14. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said optical scanning means uses a laser beam.

15. A color image forming apparatus, comprising:

an electrophotographic photosensitive member;

means for forming latent images by optical scanning means with light information corresponding to colors;

plural developing means for developing in different colors;

means for detecting an ambient condition; and

means for changing a tone reproducing property of said image forming means in accordance with a parameter determined by predetermined tables made for a plurality of predetermined ambient conditions, wherein when the detected ambient condition is deviated from any of said predetermined ambient conditions, the parameter is determined by interpolation using said tables.

16. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the light information corresponds to color separated images of a full-color image, and said developing means develops the latent images with yellow, magenta and cyan developers.

17. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the light information is data produced by reading an original by a CCD.

18. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the light information is data produced by reading an original by a CCD and an A/D converter.

19. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said apparatus is an electrophotographic copying apparatus.

20. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said optical scanning means uses a laser beam.

21. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said changing means adds to data of the stored table data in accordance with an output of said detecting means.

22. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said changing means modifies the stored table using a coefficient in accordance with an output of said detecting means.

23. A color image forming apparatus, comprising:

an electrophotographic photosensitive member;

means for forming latent images by optical scanning means with light information corresponding to colors;

plural developing means for developing in different colors;

means for detecting an ambient condition;

means for changing a tone reproducing property of said image forming means in accordance with a parameter determined by predetermined tables made for a plurality of predetermined ambient conditions, wherein when the detected ambient condition is deviated form any of said predetermined ambient conditions, the parameter is determined by interpolation using said tables; and

means for receiving an output of said charging means, for comparing it with a predetermined triangular wave and for producing a pulse-width-modulated binary signal to drive said optical scanning means.

24. An apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the light information corresponds to color separated images of a full-color image, and said developing means develops the latent images with yellow, magenta and cyan developers.

25. An apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the light information is data produced by reading an original by a CCD.

26. An apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the light information is data produced by reading an original by a CCD and an A/D converter.

27. An apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said apparatus is an electrophotographic copying apparatus.

28. An apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said optical scanning means uses a laser beam.

29. A color image forming apparatus, comprising:

an electrophotographic photosensitive member;

means for forming latent images by optical scanning means with light information corresponding to colors;

plural developing means for developing in different colors;

means for detecting an ambient condition;

means for changing a tone reproducing property of said image forming means in accordance with a parameter determined by predetermined tables made for a plurality of predetermined ambient conditions, wherein when the detected ambient condition is deviated from any of said predetermined ambient conditions, the parameter is determined by interpolation using said tables; and

means for receiving an output of said changing means, for comparing it with a predetermined triangular wave and for producing a pulse-width-modulated binary signal to drive said optical scanning means.

30. An apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the light information corresponds to color separated images of a full-color image, and said developing means develops the latent images with yellow, magneta and cyan developers.

31. An apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the light information is data produced by reading an original by a CCD.

32. An apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the light information is data produced by reading an original by a CCD and an A/D converter.

33. An apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said apparatus is an electrophotographic copying apparatus.

34. An apparatus according to claim 29, wherein said optical scanning means uses a laser beam.

35. An apparatus according to claim 29, wherein said changing means adds to data of the stored table data in accordance with an output of said detecting means.

36. An apparatus according to claim 29, wherein said changing means modifies the stored table using a coefficient in accordance with an output of said detecting means.