Image forming apparatus with control feature based on transfer material discrimination

• US 6,980,749 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2003
• Issued: 12/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Kawaguchi, Hiroshi, Nishizawa, Yuki, Ishiyama, Tatsunori, Yoda, Yasuo, Iida, Kenichi, Maebashi, Yoichiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Grimley, Arthur T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GLEITZ, RYAN M
• Application Number:
  US10/669,015
• Publication Number:
  US 20040126125A1
• Time in Patent Office: 825 Days
• Field of Search: 399/45, 399/66, 399/302, 399/308
• US Class Current: 399/45
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/1625 on a base other than paper
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/5029 by measuring the copy material characteristics, e.g. weight, thickness

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes a movable image bearing member, a movable intermediary transfer member, wherein an image on the image bearing member is transferred onto the intermediary transfer member by primary transfer and the image transferred onto the intermediary transfer member is transferred onto a transfer material by secondary transfer, a discriminator for discriminating a kind of the transfer material, and a controller for controlling a moving speed ratio between the image bearing member and the intermediary transfer member on the basis of an output of the discriminator.

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus, comprising:

a movable image bearing member;

a movable intermediary transfer member, wherein an image on said image bearing member is transferred onto said intermediary transfer member by a primary transfer and the image transferred onto said intermediary transfer member is transferred onto a transfer material by a secondary transfer;

discrimination means for discriminating a kind of the transfer material; and

control means for controlling a moving speed ratio between said image bearing member and said intermediary transfer member on the basis of an output of said discrimination means.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said discrimination means is external input means provided to said image forming apparatus.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said discrimination means is a light reflection type optical sensor.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said discrimination means is a light transmission type optical sensor.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said primary transfer is performed a plurality of times before the secondary transfer, and said control means independently controls the moving speed ratio.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an environmental sensor for detecting an ambient environment of said image forming apparatus, said control means controls the moving speed ratio on the basis of an output of said environmental sensor.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a developing apparatus, and said control means controls the moving speed ratio on the basis of a cumulative operation time of said developing apparatus.