Motor control apparatus and image forming apparatus

• US 6,222,301 B1
• Filed: 11/16/1998
• Issued: 04/24/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Sakai, Akihiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Dougherty, Thomas M.
• Application Number:
  US09/192,194
• Time in Patent Office: 890 Days
• Field of Search: 310/316.01, 310/316.02
• US Class Current: 310/316.01
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 2/14 Drive circuits; Control arrangements or methods
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 29/02 Providing protection against overload without automatic interruption of supply protection against faults of stepper motors H02P8/36

Abstract

When a fact that a motor cannot rotate at a target speed in a stationary state is detected by a speed controller (rotation control means, detecting means), this fact is alarmed to the operator. The rotational speed of the motor is switched to a different speed and the other drivers are also driven in accordance with the switched speed.

Claims

1. A motor control apparatus for controlling first and second portions of a motor-driven apparatus, the first portion of the motor-driven apparatus comprising a motor and rotation means for rotating the motor, and the second portion of the motor-driven apparatus being operated, in cooperation with the rotation of the motor, to carry out a predetermined function, said motor control apparatus comprising:

rotation control means for controlling the rotational speed of the motor;

detecting means for detecting a rotation error of said motor, wherein said detecting means is connected to said rotation control means;

alarm means for warning an operator when said detecting means detects a rotation error of said motor, wherein said alarm means is connected to said detecting means, and

wherein said rotation control means controls the motor so that the motor is switched to a different speed and driven in accordance with the switched speed when said detecting means detects a rotation error of the motor; and

means for controlling the second portion of said motor-driven apparatus in accordance with the switched different speed when said detecting means detects a rotation error of the motor, wherein said means for controlling is connected to said detecting means and the second portion of said motor-driven apparatus.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said rotation control means can switch the rotational speed of the motor to two or more speeds.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising memory means for storing data relating to the controlling of the second portion of the apparatus when said rotation control means switches the rotational speed of the motor to the different speed and the motor is driven in accordance with the different speed.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a speed feedback control connected to said rotation control means and rotational speed detecting means for detecting the rotational speed of the motor and for generating a rotational speed detection signal representing the detected rotational speed of the motor, said rotational speed detecting means being connected to said rotation control means, wherein said rotation control means controls the rotational speed of the motor using said speed feedback control and the rotational speed detection signal.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising rotational speed detecting means for detecting the rotational speed of the motor and for generating a rotational speed detection signal representing the detected rotational speed of the motor, said rotational speed detecting means being connected to said rotation control means, wherein said rotation control means controls the rotational speed of the motor in accordance with the rotational speed detection signal, wherein said detecting means detects the rotation error of the motor on the basis of the occurrence of a difference between a rotational speed of the motor represented by the rotational speed detection signal and a target rotational speed.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the motor is an ultrasonic motor, and wherein said apparatus further comprises an ultrasonic vibration control for controlling the ultrasonic motor.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising rotational speed detecting means for detecting the rotational speed of the motor and for generating a rotational speed detection signal representing the detected rotational speed of the motor, said rotational speed detecting means being connected to said rotation control means, wherein said rotation control means controls the rotational speed of the ultrasonic motor in accordance with the rotational speed detection signal, wherein the rotational speed detection signal is an encoder output signal.

8. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said rotation control means produces a signal and controls at least one of an ultrasonic wave pulse width and an ultrasonic wave frequency of the signal.

9. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said rotation control means continuously changes the rotational speed of said motor in such a direction as to be decelerated when said detecting means detects a rotation error of the motor.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising:

memory means for storing data representing control parameters according to which the second portion of the apparatus is controlled, wherein said memory means stores data representing different values of the control parameters, depending on the rotational speed determined by said rotation control means; and

means for continuously changing the control parameters with which the second portion of the apparatus are controlled when said rotation control means switches the rotational speed of the motor to a different rotational speed.

11. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising selecting means for enabling the operator to select whether the driving of the apparatus is interrupted or continued in response to an alarm produced by said alarm means, thereby enabling the operator to select whether or not the driving of said apparatus by speed switching is executed.

12. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus includes an operation panel and wherein alarm means is provided for the operation panel.

13. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said alarm means comprises a pubic telephone line communication terminal connected to said apparatus.

14. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said alarm means comprises a network communication terminal connected to said apparatus.

15. An image forming apparatus comprising:

image forming means for forming an image comprising at least one portion and other portions;

a motor, connected to said image forming means for driving said at least one portion of said image forming means to assist in forming the image; and

a motor control apparatus, connected to said motor, wherein said motor control apparatus controls said motor, and wherein said motor control apparatus comprises;

rotation control means for controlling the rotational speed of said motor;

detecting means for detecting a rotation error of said motor, wherein said detecting means is connected to said rotation control means;

alarm means for warning an operator when said detecting means detects a rotation error of said motor, wherein said alarm means is connected to said detecting means, and

wherein said rotation control means controls said motor so that said motor is switched to a different speed; and

means for controlling said other portions of said image forming means in accordance with the switched different speed when said detecting means detects a rotation error of said motor.

16. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said motor comprises one of a photosensitive-member driving motor and a transfer-member driving motor for rotating at least one of a photosensitive member and a transfer member.

17. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said rotation control means switches the rotational speed of said motor to at least two speeds.

18. An apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising memory means for storing data relating to the controlling of the other portions of the apparatus when said rotation control means switches the rotational speed of the motor to the different speed and the motor is driven in accordance with the different speed.

19. An apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising a speed feedback control connected to said rotation control means and rotational speed detecting means for detecting the rotational speed of the motor and for generating a rotational speed detection signal representing the detected rotational speed of the motor, said rotational speed detecting means being connected to said rotation control means, wherein said rotation control means controls the rotational speed of the motor using said speed feedback control and the rotational speed detection signal.

20. An apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising rotational speed detecting means for detecting the rotational speed of the motor and for generating a rotational speed detection signal representing the detected rotational speed of the motor, said rotational speed detecting means being connected to said rotation control means, wherein said rotation control means controls the rotational speed of the motor in accordance with the rotational speed detection signal, wherein said detecting means detects the rotation error of the motor on the basis of the occurrence of a difference between a rotational speed of the motor represented by the rotational speed detection signal and a target rotational speed.

21. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the motor is an ultrasonic motor, and wherein said apparatus further comprises an ultrasonic vibration control for controlling the ultrasonic motor.

22. An apparatus according to claim 21, further comprising rotational speed detecting means for detecting the rotational speed of the motor and for generating a rotational speed detection signal representing the detected rotational speed of the motor, said rotational speed detecting means being connected to said rotation control means, wherein said rotation control means controls the rotational speed of the ultrasonic motor in accordance with the rotational speed detection signal, wherein the rotational speed detection signal is an encoder output signal.

23. An apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said rotation control means produces a signal and controls at least one of an ultrasonic wave pulse width and an ultrasonic wave frequency of the signal.

24. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the transfer member, which is driven by said transfer-member driving motor, is a transfer drum.

25. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the photosensitive member, which is driven by said photosensitive-member driving motor, is a photosensitive drum.

26. An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said memory means stores data relating to the controlling of optical image reading means for inputting an original image to form an image.

27. An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said memory means stores data relating to the controlling of developing means for performing a development operation on a photosensitive member to form an image.

28. An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said memory means stores data relating to the controlling of transfer processing means for forming an image.

29. An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said memory means stores data relating to the controlling of fixing processing means for forming an image.

30. An apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising:

means for operating said image forming means in a plurality of driving speed modes according to image forming conditions in a normal state so that said rotation control means controls said motor to rotate at different speeds depending on the image forming conditions; and

means for switching the driving speed mode to a mode in which said motor can be driven during error detection by said detecting means when said detecting means detects a rotation error of said motor.

31. An apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said image forming means forms an image on one of a plurality of types of media, wherein said switching means switches the driving speed mode in accordance with the tape of media which said image forming means forms the image.

32. An apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said switching means switches the driving speed mode in response to a discrimination about whether the type of media on which said image forming means forms the image is an OHP film or a paper.

33. An apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said switching means switches the driving speed mode based on the thickness of the medium on which said image forming means forms the image.

34. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said rotation control means continuously changes the rotational speed of said motor in such a direction as to be decelerated when said detecting means detects a rotation error of the motor.

35. An apparatus according to claim 34, further comprising:

memory means for storing data representing control parameters according to which the other portions of the apparatus are controlled, wherein said memory means stores data representing different values of the control parameters, depending on the rotational speed determined by said rotation control means; and

means for continuously changing the control parameters with which the other portions of the apparatus are controlled when said rotation control means switches the rotational speed of the motor to a different rotational speed.

36. An apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising selecting means for enabling the operator to select whether the driving of the apparatus is interrupted or continued in response to an alarm produced by said alarm means, thereby enabling the operator to select whether or not the driving of said apparatus by speed switching is executed.

37. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said apparatus includes an operation panel and wherein alarm means is provided for the operation panel.

38. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said alarm means comprises a pubic telephone line communication terminal connected to said apparatus.

39. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said alarm means comprises a network communication terminal connected to said apparatus.