Image recording method and apparatus using multiple laser beams
First Claim
1. An image recording apparatus, comprising:
- light beam output means comprising a plurality of light beam output elements for outputting a plurality of light beams each modulated with an image information;
means for detecting an event that triggers a pitch adjustment operation of said plurality of light beams, said event being at least one of a power-up condition, a predetermined time after a power-up condition, a pitch selection made on a user interface, and a predetermined number of image forming operations;
image recording means for recording said image information on a record medium by scanning said record medium with said plurality of light beams at a pitch; and
arrangement change means for changing the pitch of said plurality of light beams in response to the event.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus that prevent degradation of an image quality due to a change of a beam pitch in a subscanning direction of each optical beam on a record medium. At a given time, for example, when power is first turned on, a CPU detects a beam pitch on a record medium, e.g., a photosensitive drum, by using a CCD line image sensor. If the detected value differs from a value set according to a currently-selected scanning density, an LD arrangement change motor is rotated via a motor driver so that the beam pitch matches the set value so as to change an arrangement of laser diodes in a laser diode array. Control over the beam pitch occurs for a variety of conditions including control at regular intervals, power-on events, or when a scanning density specification signal indicates a different beam pitch than the detected beam pitch. Similarly, adjustment over the beam pitch is not typically made during a copying operation.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An image recording apparatus, comprising:
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light beam output means comprising a plurality of light beam output elements for outputting a plurality of light beams each modulated with an image information; means for detecting an event that triggers a pitch adjustment operation of said plurality of light beams, said event being at least one of a power-up condition, a predetermined time after a power-up condition, a pitch selection made on a user interface, and a predetermined number of image forming operations; image recording means for recording said image information on a record medium by scanning said record medium with said plurality of light beams at a pitch; and arrangement change means for changing the pitch of said plurality of light beams in response to the event. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for changing a pitch in an image recording apparatus, comprising the steps of:
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outputting a plurality of light beams from an arrangement of a plurality of light beam output elements; modulating said plurality of light beams with an image information; recording said image information on said record medium, comprising the step of scanning said record medium with said plurality of light beams at a first pitch; detecting an event that triggers a change from said first pitch to a second pitch, said detection event being at least one of a power-up condition, a predetermined time after a power-up condition, a number of image forming operations reaches a predetermined number, and a pitch selection made on a user interface; checking for an occurrence of the event; and changing an arrangement of said light beam output elements so as to change said first pitch to the second pitch when said event occurs. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. An image recording system, comprising:
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a light source comprising a plurality of light beam output elements each outputting respective light beams modulated with an image information; a record medium on which a latent image is formed; a scanner that scans said light beams at a first pitch to form said latent image on said record medium; a detection mechanism configured to detect an event that triggers a change in beam pitch, said event being at least one of a power-up condition, a predetermined time after the power-up condition, a number of image forming operations reaches a predetermined number, and a pitch selection made on a user interface; and a pitch adjustment mechanism configured to adjust the first pitch to a second pitch by changing a positional arrangement of said plurality of light beam output elements. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification