Image forming apparatus, and unit removably installed in an image forming apparatus

• US 7,796,901 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2008
• Issued: 09/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Hanamoto, Hidetoshi, Kokubo, Yoshitaka
• Primary Examiner(s): Gray; David M
• Assistant Examiner(s): GRAY, FRANCIS C
• Application Number:
  US12/047,730
• Publication Number:
  US 20080240750A1
• Time in Patent Office: 915 Days
• Field of Search: 399/45, 399/69, 399/121, 399/302
• US Class Current: 399/45
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1623 Means to access the interior of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/168 for the transfer unit
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/00751 of sheet type, e.g. OHP
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2221/1642 for the transfer unit

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes a controller which sets fixing conditions in a fixing unit in accordance with the type of printing medium sensed by a sensor. An intermediate transfer member and sensor are configured as an intermediate transfer member unit. The intermediate transfer member unit is removably installed in the main body of the image forming apparatus. The intermediate transfer member unit has a storage unit which stores information used to determine the type printing medium by the sensor.

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:

a sensor which senses type of printing medium;

an image forming unit which forms an image on an image carrier;

an intermediate transfer member to which the image that has been formed on the image carrier is transferred by primary transfer;

a secondary transfer member which transfers the image that has been formed on said intermediate transfer member to the printing medium by secondary transfer;

a fixing unit which fixes the image to the printing medium by applying heat and pressure to the printing medium to which the image has been transferred by secondary transfer; and

a controller which sets fixing conditions in said fixing unit in accordance with the type of printing medium sensed by said sensor;

wherein said intermediate transfer member and sensor are configured as an intermediate transfer member unit and are removably installed in a main body of the image forming apparatus; and

said intermediate transfer member unit has a storage unit which stores information used to determine the type of printing medium by said sensor.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said storage unit includes a resistor which holds the information as a resistance value;

and

said controller sets a threshold value, which is for determining the type of printing medium using said sensor, in accordance with the resistance value.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said sensor includes:

a light-emitting unit which irradiates the printing medium with light; and

a light-receiving unit which receives light from the printing medium;

said storage unit includes a resistor capable of being set to a resistance value; and

photosensitivity of said light-receiving unit or quantity of light emitted by said light-emitting unit is set in accordance with the resistance value.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a light-emitting unit, which is used in order to sense thickness or grammage of the printing medium, provided on a side opposing said sensor with a conveyance path of the printing medium interposed therebetween;

and

said light-emitting unit is provided on the main body of the image forming apparatus.

5. A unit removably installed in an image forming apparatus, comprising:

an intermediate transfer member to which an image that has been formed on an image carrier is transferred by primary transfer;

a sensor which senses the type of the printing medium; and

a storage unit which stores information for determining the type of printing medium using said sensor.

6. The unit according to claim 5, wherein said storage unit includes a resistor which holds the information as a resistance value;

and

a controller of the image forming apparatus sets a threshold value, which is for determining the type of printing medium, in accordance with the resistance value.

7. The unit according to claim 5, wherein said sensor includes:

a light-emitting unit which irradiates the printing medium with light; and

a light-receiving unit which receives light from the printing medium;

said storage unit includes a resistor capable of being set to a resistance value; and

photosensitivity of said light-receiving unit or quantity of light emitted by said light-emitting unit is set in accordance with the resistance value.

8. The unit according to claim 5, further comprising a collecting unit which collects a developer remaining on said intermediate transfer member.