Image forming apparatus with judging device for judging whether to continue or stop an initialization process

• US 5,710,956 A
• Filed: 09/08/1995
• Issued: 01/20/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Konica Corporation (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Konica Corporation (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Inventors: Kobayashi, Chiharu, Akutsu, Kojiro, Taki, Kenji, Kurohata, Takao, Yamaguchi, Yasuhiko
• Primary Examiner(s): BEATTY, ROBERT B
• Application Number:
  US08/525,911
• Time in Patent Office: 865 Days
• Field of Search: 355/200, 355/210, 355/211, 355/245, 355/203, 355/204, 355/208, 355/209, 399/13, 399/24, 399/31, 399/75-77
• US Class Current: 399/24
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/50 Machine control of apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern, e.g. regulating differents parts of the machine, multimode copiers, microprocessor control sequencing control G03G21/14

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes a sequence memory to store a sequence of an initialization processing to be conducted only at an installation of the apparatus, an adjuster to adjust the apparatus in accordance with the initialization, an apparatus status indicator to indicate whether the apparatus is new or not. The apparatus further includes a controller so that the adjuster adjusts the apparatus on the basis of the status of the indicator. A judging device judges whether to continue or stop the initialization process on the basis of a predetermined state of the apparatus such as whether a process unit is new or old or whether a cover is attached to a photoreceptor or not.

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:

(a) a sequence memory for storing an initialization processing sequence to be conducted only at installation of the apparatus;

(b) an adjusting means for adjusting the apparatus in accordance with the initialization processing sequence stored in said sequence memory;

(c) apparatus status indicating means for indicating whether the apparatus is new;

(d) control means for controlling said adjusting means so that said adjusting means adjusts the apparatus when said apparatus status indicating means indicates that the apparatus is new; and

(e) judging means for judging whether to continue or interrupt the initialization processing sequence on the basis of a predetermined state of the apparatus,

wherein said judging means includes means for judging to continue the initialization processing sequence when all units of the apparatus to be initially adjusted are new, and to stop the initialization processing sequence when at least one unit of the apparatus to be initially adjusted is old.

2. The image forming apparatus of claim 1, wherein said said judging means further includes means for judging whether to continue or interrupt the initialization processing sequence on the basis of whether or not an abnormal state occurs in the apparatus.

3. The image forming apparatus of claim 1, wherein said said judging means further includes means for judging whether to continue or interrupt the initialization processing sequence on the basis of whether or not a remaining amount of toner in a toner hopper is sufficient.

4. The image forming apparatus of claim 1, wherein said said judging means further includes means for judging whether to continue or interrupt the initialization processing sequence on the basis of whether or not at least one developing unit of the apparatus is not new.

5. The image forming apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means for interrupting the initialization processing sequence on the basis of a judgment result judged by said judging means.

6. The image forming apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means for interrupting the initialization processing sequence on the basis of a judgment result judged by said judging means, and a display for displaying the judgment result judged by said judging means.

7. The image forming apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of units each of which is respectively required to be initially adjusted when new;

an apparatus status memory for changing and storing a status of the apparatus at installation thereof in accordance with a progression of the initialization processing sequence; and

a unit status memory for changing and storing a status of each of the plurality of units in accordance with respective adjustments thereof,

wherein said adjusting means carries out the initialization processing sequence on the basis of the status information stored in the apparatus status memory and the unit status memory.

8. An image forming apparatus comprising:

(a) a sequence memory for storing an initialization processing sequence to be conducted only at installation of the apparatus;

(b) an adjusting means for adjusting the apparatus in accordance with the initialization processing sequence stored in said sequence memory;

(b) an adjusting means for adjusting the apparatus in accordance with the initialization processing sequence stored in said sequence memory;

(c) apparatus status indicating means for indicating whether the apparatus is new;

(d) control means for controlling said adjusting means so that said adjusting means adjusts the apparatus when said apparatus status indicating means indicates that the apparatus is new; and

(e) judging means for judging whether to continue or interrupt the initialization processing sequence on the basis of a predetermine state of the apparatus;

wherein said judging means includes means for judging whether to continue or interrupt the initialization processing sequence on the basis of whether or not a cover is attached to a photoreceptor drum of the apparatus.