JP5637273B2 - Conveying device, image forming apparatus, semiconductor device, and motor control method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a conveyance device, an image forming apparatus, a semiconductor device, and a motor control method having a middle transfer driving motor that drives an intermediate transfer belt and a secondary transfer motor that rotates a secondary transfer roller.

  In the image forming apparatus, when the toner image primarily transferred from the photosensitive drum to the intermediate transfer belt is transferred to the recording paper, the secondary transfer roller and the intermediate transfer belt are brought into pressure contact with the secondary transfer roller and the intermediate transfer belt. In some cases, the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt is transferred to the recording paper by sandwiching the recording paper.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a secondary transfer roller and an intermediate transfer belt of the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus 10 includes a secondary transfer roller 11, an intermediate transfer driving roller 12, a repulsive roller 13, an intermediate transfer belt 14, and an intermediate transfer driving motor 15. The intermediate transfer drive roller 12 is a roller that drives the intermediate transfer belt 14, and the intermediate transfer drive motor 15 is a motor that rotates the intermediate transfer drive roller 12. The secondary transfer roller 11 is a roller for transferring the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 14 to a recording sheet.

  The intermediate transfer belt 14 is supported by the intermediate transfer driving roller 12, the repulsive roller 13 and other rollers. The intermediate transfer belt 14 is driven in the direction of the arrow 16 when the intermediate transfer driving roller 12 is rotated by the intermediate transfer driving motor 15. In the image forming apparatus 10, recording is performed by bringing the intermediate transfer belt 14 supported by the repulsive roller 13 and the secondary transfer roller 11 into pressure contact with each other by pressing the repulsive roller 13 at a position facing the secondary transfer roller 11. The paper 17 is clamped. The toner image primarily transferred from the photosensitive drum 18 to the intermediate transfer belt 14 is secondarily transferred to the recording paper 17 when the secondary transfer roller 11 and the intermediate transfer belt 14 are in pressure contact with each other.

  When the toner image is transferred to the recording paper 17, the peripheral speed of the secondary transfer roller 11 and the surface speed of the intermediate transfer belt 14 need to coincide with each other in order to prevent image displacement.

  However, the surface speed of the intermediate transfer belt 14 in the image forming apparatus 10 as shown in FIG. 1 varies under the influence of various peripheral mechanisms such as a roller that supports the photosensitive drum 18 and the recording paper 17. Further, the peripheral speed of the secondary transfer roller 11 varies depending on factors such as roller expansion due to temperature. If a difference in speed occurs between the peripheral speed of the secondary transfer roller 11 and the surface speed of the intermediate transfer belt 14, the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 14 cannot be correctly transferred to the recording paper 17, and image quality such as color misregistration. Causes a drop.

  In order to solve the problem due to the speed difference, for example, Patent Document 1 describes a multicolor image forming apparatus that uses a torque limiter to eliminate the speed fluctuation of the intermediate transfer belt and prevent the toner image forming position from shifting. ing.

  However, in the above prior art, since the torque limiter is a mechanical part, its life is limited. Also, the cost increases due to the installation of the torque limiter.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and has been made to solve this problem, and without causing an increase in parts or costs, the peripheral speed of the secondary transfer roller and the speed fluctuation of the surface speed of the intermediate transfer belt. An object of the present invention is to provide a transport apparatus, an image forming apparatus, a semiconductor device, and a motor control method that perform appropriate speed control so as to eliminate the above-described problem.

  The present invention employs the following configuration in order to achieve the above object.

The present invention includes a first rotating member to the intermediate transfer belt driven to rotate, which can convey the medium body with a second rotating member for transferring the medium the toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt A transport device, a first motor for driving the first rotating body, a second motor for driving the second rotating body, and a current detection for detecting a current value flowing through the first motor And a speed control means for controlling to reduce the rotation speed of the second motor when the current value detected by the current detection means falls below a predetermined first value.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to perform appropriate speed control so as to eliminate speed fluctuations in the peripheral speed of the secondary transfer roller and the surface speed of the intermediate transfer belt without causing an increase in parts or cost.

  The present invention employs the following configuration in order to achieve the above object.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a secondary transfer roller and an intermediate transfer belt of the image forming apparatus. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overview of an image forming apparatus 100 as a whole. 2 is a diagram illustrating an intermediate transfer belt 51 of the image forming apparatus 100 and a peripheral configuration for driving it. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus 100. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus 100A of a first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between torque, which is a load acting on the shaft of the intermediate transfer driving roller, and the relative speed of the secondary transfer roller 71 with respect to the surface speed of the intermediate transfer belt 51. 4 is a flowchart for explaining an initial operation of the image forming apparatus 100A. It is a flowchart explaining detection of the PWM value by the output monitoring unit 500A. 5 is a flowchart for explaining rotation speed control of a secondary transfer roller 71 in the image forming apparatus 100A. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the relationship between the peripheral speed of the secondary transfer roller 71 and the temperature. It is a block diagram of the image forming apparatus 100B of 2nd embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a peripheral speed and torque of a secondary transfer roller 71 in the image forming apparatus 100B. It is a figure explaining the PWM drive of the intermediate transfer drive motor 200 in a control impossible state. It is a figure explaining the operating point in an uncontrollable state. It is a figure explaining the case where the intermediate transfer drive motor drive part 300 continues the control which makes a PWM value small. It is a flowchart explaining the detection by the output monitoring part 500B. It is a block diagram of 100 C of image forming apparatuses of 3rd embodiment. It is a figure which shows the relationship between PWM value and time in the image forming apparatus 100C. 10 is a flowchart illustrating calculation of a PWM value Ps in the image forming apparatus 100C. It is a block diagram of image forming apparatus 100D of 4th embodiment. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the PWM value and current value in image forming apparatus 100D. It is a figure explaining the detection of the electric current value in the image forming apparatus 100E of 5th embodiment. It is a block diagram of the image forming apparatus 100F of 6th embodiment. It is a flowchart explaining control of the current limiting value in 6th embodiment. FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a torque command value for the intermediate transfer drive motor 200 and a current value flowing through the secondary transfer motor 410 in the sixth embodiment. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the electric current value which flows into the secondary transfer motor 410 in 6th embodiment, and a torque command value.

  The present invention detects the torque command value for the intermediate transfer drive motor, and controls the peripheral speed of the secondary transfer roller based on the detection result of the torque command value, so that the second transfer roller is in contact with the intermediate transfer belt and the secondary transfer roller. Control is performed so that the peripheral speed of the secondary transfer roller and the surface speed of the intermediate transfer belt are made equal by eliminating the fluctuations in the peripheral speed of the secondary transfer roller and the surface speed of the intermediate transfer belt.

  The image forming apparatus 100 of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an outline of the entire image forming apparatus 100 of the present invention.

  The document is scanned while irradiating the document with a light source by the image forming apparatus 100 and the scanning unit 21, and an image is read by reflected light from the document by a 3-line CCD (Charge Coupled Device) sensor. The read image is subjected to image processing such as scanner γ correction, color conversion, image separation, and gradation correction processing by the image processing unit, and then sent to the image writing unit 20. The image writing unit 20 modulates the driving of an LD (Laser Diode) according to the image data. In the photoconductor unit 30, an electrostatic latent image is written by a laser beam from the LD on a uniformly charged rotating photoconductor drum 31, and toner is attached by the developing unit 40 to be visualized.

  The image formed on the photosensitive drum is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 51 of the intermediate transfer unit of the intermediate transfer unit 50. When full-color copying is performed in the image forming apparatus 100, toner images of four colors (black, cyan, magenta, yellow) are sequentially superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt 51. When image formation and transfer of all colors are completed, the recording paper is fed from the paper feed tray 60 in time with the intermediate transfer belt 51, and the secondary transfer unit 70 simultaneously records four colors from the intermediate transfer belt 51. The toner image is secondarily transferred to the paper. The recording paper on which the toner image has been transferred is sent to the fixing unit 90 through the conveying unit 80, and is discharged after the toner image is fixed on the recording paper by the fixing roller and the pressure roller.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the intermediate transfer belt 51 of the image forming apparatus 100 and the periphery for driving it.

  The intermediate transfer driving roller 52 is a first rotating body that drives the intermediate transfer belt 51, and the intermediate transfer driving motor 200 is a first motor that rotates the intermediate transfer driving roller 52. The secondary transfer roller 71 is a second rotating body for secondary transfer of the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 51 to the recording paper.

  The image forming apparatus 100 drives the intermediate transfer belt 51 by rotating the intermediate transfer driving roller 52 by the intermediate transfer driving motor 200. The toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 51 is conveyed to a pressure contact portion between the intermediate transfer belt 51 and the secondary transfer roller 71. The conveyed toner image is formed by the repulsive roller 72 pressing the secondary intermediate transfer belt 51 and the secondary transfer roller 71 at the press contact portion between the intermediate transfer belt 51 and the secondary transfer roller 71 to sandwich the recording paper. Secondary transfer is performed from the intermediate transfer belt 51 to the recording paper.

  FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of the image forming apparatus 100.

  The image forming apparatus 100 includes a intermediate transfer drive motor 200, a pre-driver 210, an FET (Field effect transistor) 220, a intermediate transfer drive motor drive unit 300, a secondary transfer motor drive unit 400, an output monitoring unit 500, and a drive control unit 600. Have

  The intermediate transfer drive motor 200 rotates the intermediate transfer drive roller 52 that drives the intermediate transfer belt 51. The intermediate transfer drive motor driving unit 300 controls the drive of the intermediate transfer drive motor 200. In the image forming apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, the intermediate transfer drive motor drive unit 300 controls the intermediate transfer drive motor 200 so that the surface speed of the intermediate transfer belt is constant. The pre-driver 210 and the FET 220 amplify the output signal from the intermediate transfer drive motor drive unit 300 and transmit the amplified signal to the intermediate transfer drive motor 200.

  The secondary transfer motor driving unit 400 controls driving of a secondary transfer motor (not shown) that rotates the secondary transfer roller 71. The output monitoring unit 500 monitors the torque command value for the intermediate transfer drive motor 200. The drive control unit 600 controls driving of the secondary transfer motor driving unit 400 based on the monitoring result of the output monitoring unit 500.

  The output monitoring unit 500 of the image forming apparatus 100 includes a lower limit setting unit 501, a torque command value detection unit 502, and a determination unit 503. The lower limit setting unit 501 sets the lower limit value of the torque command value. The torque command value detection unit 502 detects the PWM value in the intermediate transfer drive motor drive unit 300 as a torque command value. The determination unit 503 determines whether the PWM value detected by the torque command value detection unit 502 exceeds the lower limit value set in the lower limit setting unit 510. Details of the lower limit value and the intermediate transfer drive motor drive 300 will be described later.

  The drive control unit 600 outputs a signal (drive control signal) for controlling the drive of the secondary transfer roller 71 to the secondary transfer motor drive unit 400 based on the determination result by the output monitoring unit 500. In response to the drive control signal, the secondary transfer motor drive unit 400 controls a torque command value for the secondary transfer motor that rotates the secondary transfer roller 71. The secondary transfer motor drive unit 400 controls the torque command value to bring the peripheral speed of the secondary transfer roller 71 closer to the surface speed of the intermediate transfer belt 51.

  In the image forming apparatus 100 of the present invention, an allowable range of a speed difference between the peripheral speed of the secondary transfer roller 71 and the surface speed of the intermediate transfer belt 51 is set, and the secondary transfer is performed so that the speed difference falls within the allowable range. The driving of the roller 71 is controlled. In the following description, the speed difference between the peripheral speed of the secondary transfer roller 71 and the surface speed of the intermediate transfer belt 51 is referred to as the relative speed of the secondary transfer roller 71 with respect to the surface speed of the intermediate transfer belt 51. Further, the allowable range of speed difference is called a relative speed allowable range. In the image forming apparatus 100, as the relative speed of the secondary transfer roller 71 is closer to 0, the positional deviation can be reduced when the toner image is transferred onto the recording paper, and the image quality can be improved.

  In the present invention, the intermediate transfer drive motor drive unit 300, the output monitoring unit 500, and the drive control unit 600 can be integrated to form the semiconductor device 700. Further, the intermediate transfer drive motor driving unit 300 and the output monitoring unit 500 may be integrated to form a semiconductor device, or the output monitoring unit 500 and the drive control unit 600 may be integrated to form a semiconductor device. The output monitoring unit 500, the drive control unit 600, and the secondary transfer motor drive unit 400 may be integrated to form a semiconductor device, or the drive control unit 600 and the secondary transfer motor drive unit 400 may be integrated to form a semiconductor device. Also good.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the image forming apparatus 100 of the present invention, drive control by the drive control unit 600 is realized by the following two methods. The first method is a method for controlling the rotation speed of the secondary transfer roller 71. The second method is a method of controlling a current limit value (details of the current limit value will be described later) supplied to the secondary transfer roller.

Among the following embodiments of the present invention, the first to fifth embodiments are modes in which drive control is performed by a method for controlling the rotational speed of the secondary transfer roller 71. In the sixth embodiment, drive control is performed by a method for controlling the current limit value supplied to the secondary transfer roller 71.
(First embodiment)
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of the image forming apparatus 100A according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The image forming apparatus 100A of the present embodiment includes an intermediate transfer drive motor 200, a pre-driver 210, an FET (Field effect transistor) 220, an intermediate transfer drive motor drive unit 300, a secondary transfer motor drive unit 400, an output monitoring unit 500A, a speed. And a control unit 600A.

  The intermediate transfer drive motor 200 includes a Hall element 230 and a frequency generator (hereinafter referred to as FG) 240. The hall element 230 detects the rotation angle of the intermediate transfer drive motor 200 and outputs the result as a hall signal. The FG 240 detects the rotation speed of the intermediate transfer drive motor 200.

  The intermediate transfer drive motor driving unit 300 includes a speed reference clock generation unit 310, a phase comparison unit 320, a speed comparison unit 330, a digital filter 340, a PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) unit 350, and a phase switching unit 360. The speed reference clock generation unit 310 receives a speed instruction value and converts it into a clock that gives a speed instruction. The phase comparison unit 320 compares the phase of the rotation speed detected by the FG 240 and the clock generated by the speed reference clock generation unit 210. The speed comparison unit 330 compares the rotational speed detected by the FG 240 with the speed generated by the speed reference clock generation unit 210.

  The digital filter 340 adds and smoothes the comparison result from the phase comparison unit 320 and the comparison result from the speed comparison unit 330 and outputs the result to the PWM unit 350 as a PWM value. The PWM unit 350 outputs the output of the digital filter 340 as a PWM signal. Here, the PWM value is a current command value that determines the duty of the PWM signal output from the PWM unit 350. The phase switching unit 360 performs phase switching of the intermediate transfer drive motor 200 based on the PWM signal output from the PWM unit 350 and the Hall signal from the Hall element 230.

  The secondary transfer motor drive unit 400 has the same configuration as the intermediate transfer drive motor drive unit 300. That is, the secondary transfer motor driving unit 400 of this embodiment includes a speed reference clock generation unit, a phase comparison unit, a speed comparison unit, a digital filter, a PWM unit, and a phase switching unit (not shown). The secondary transfer motor drive unit 400 controls the rotation speed of the secondary transfer roller 71 based on the speed reference clock generated by the speed reference clock generation unit.

  The output monitoring unit 500A includes an upper limit / lower limit setting unit 510, a torque command value detection unit 520, a determination unit 530, a flag set unit 531, and a target value instruction unit 540. The upper / lower limit setting unit 510 sets an upper limit value and a lower limit value of the torque command value. Details of the upper limit value and the lower limit value of the torque command value will be described later.

  Torque command value detection unit 520 detects a torque command value output from intermediate transfer drive motor drive unit 300 to intermediate transfer drive motor 200. The torque command value detection unit 520 of the present embodiment detects the PWM value output from the digital filter 340 as a torque command value. Torque command value detector 520 periodically detects the PWM value at predetermined intervals.

  Determination unit 530 determines whether or not the PWM value detected by torque command value detection unit 520 exceeds the upper limit value or lower limit value set in upper limit / lower limit setting unit 510. The determination unit 530 of the present embodiment determines that the PWM value has exceeded the upper limit value when the PWM value has exceeded the upper limit value. The determination unit 530 determines that the PWM value exceeds the lower limit value when the PWM value falls below the lower limit value. The flag setting unit 531 sets a flag indicating that speed control is performed on the speed control unit 600A when the PWM value detected by the torque command value detection unit 520 exceeds the upper limit value or the lower limit value.

  When the determination unit 530 determines that the PWM value has exceeded the upper limit value, the target value instruction unit 540 outputs an instruction to increase the rotation speed of the secondary transfer roller 71 to the speed control unit 600A. In addition, when the determination unit 530 determines that the PWM value has exceeded the lower limit value, the target value instruction unit 540 outputs an instruction to decrease the rotation speed of the secondary transfer roller 71 to the speed control unit 600A.

  The speed control unit 600A includes a target value storage unit 610, a flag detection unit 612, a target value selection unit 620, a speed instruction output unit 630, and a speed correction unit 640.

  The target value storage unit 610 stores a plurality of target values for controlling the speed of the secondary transfer roller 71. The target value in the present embodiment is a speed instruction value for controlling the secondary transfer motor that rotates the secondary transfer roller 71. Details of the target value will be described later. The flag detector 612 determines whether or not a speed control flag is set.

  The target value selection unit 620 sets a target value for increasing the rotational speed of the secondary transfer roller 71 or a target value for decreasing the speed of the secondary transfer roller 71 in accordance with an instruction from the target value instruction unit 540 of the output monitoring unit 500A. Selection is made from among a plurality of target values stored in the storage unit 610. The speed instruction output unit 630 outputs the target value selected by the target value selection unit 620 to the secondary transfer motor driving unit 400. The speed correction unit 640 performs speed correction in accordance with the temperature characteristics of the secondary transfer roller 71. Details of the speed correction will be described later.

  Here, the upper limit value and the lower limit value of the torque command value stored in the upper limit / lower limit setting unit 510 will be described. The upper limit value and the lower limit value of the torque command value set in the upper limit / lower limit setting unit 510 of the present embodiment are determined in advance based on experimental values. For example, when the image forming apparatus 100A is shipped, the upper limit / lower limit setting unit 510 is previously set. It was supposed to be set.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the relationship between the torque that is the load acting on the shaft of the intermediate transfer driving roller and the relative speed of the secondary transfer roller 71 with respect to the surface speed of the intermediate transfer belt 51. In FIG. 6, the vertical axis represents torque and the horizontal axis represents relative speed.

  First, the relative speed allowable range H2 of this embodiment will be described. In the present embodiment, the relative speed allowable range H2 is set, and the rotational speed of the secondary transfer roller 71 is controlled so that the relative speed falls within the relative speed allowable range H2. This makes it possible to perform appropriate speed control so as to eliminate speed fluctuations in the peripheral speed of the secondary transfer roller 71 and the surface speed of the intermediate transfer belt 51.

  The relative speed allowable range H2 is a range in which a margin H3 is given to the relative speed range H1 defined from the image quality. For example, the relative speed range H1 may be obtained by defining the image quality based on a result of comparing an image output from the image forming apparatus 100A with an image having a constant image quality defined by the standard.

  In FIG. 6, the lower limit value of the relative speed determined by the definition of image quality is S1, the upper limit value is S2, and the relative speed range S1 to the relative speed S2 is the relative speed range H1. Therefore, the relative speed allowable range H2 is a range from the relative speed S3 obtained by adding the margin H3 to the relative speed S1 to the relative speed S4 obtained by subtracting the margin H3 from the relative speed S2.

  The relative speed range H1 is preferably about 0.5% of the peripheral speed of the secondary transfer roller 71 and the surface speed of the intermediate transfer belt 51, for example. Further, the relative speed allowable range H2 and the margin H3 may be set so that the relative speed allowable range H2 is about 0.4% of the peripheral speed of the secondary transfer roller 71 and the surface speed of the intermediate transfer belt 51, for example. preferable.

  Next, the upper limit value and the lower limit value of the torque command value of this embodiment will be described.

  The torque upper limit value T1 shown in FIG. 6 is defined from the maximum output torque of the intermediate transfer drive motor 200. The torque lower limit value T2 is defined by the control performance of the intermediate transfer drive motor drive unit 300. In this embodiment, the torque upper limit value T1 and the torque lower limit value T2 are each provided with a margin. An output torque margin I1 is provided for the torque upper limit value T1, and a controllable margin I2 is provided for the torque lower limit value T2. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the torque variable range I3 is a range from the torque T3 obtained by subtracting the output torque margin I1 from the torque upper limit T1 to the torque T4 obtained by adding the controllable margin I2 to the torque lower limit T2.

  The image forming apparatus 100A according to the present embodiment controls the peripheral speed of the secondary transfer roller 71 so that the operating point falls within a region Z determined by the relative speed allowable range H2 and the torque variable range I3 shown in FIG. To control the relative speed. Therefore, the upper limit / lower limit setting unit 510 of the present embodiment sets the upper limit value and the lower limit value of the torque command value based on the torque in the region Z.

  According to the relationship between the torque and the relative speed in the image forming apparatus 100A of the present embodiment, the upper limit value of the torque command value set in the upper limit / lower limit setting unit 510 is the torque command value (PWM) based on the torque T3 at the operating point B. Value). The lower limit value of the torque command value is a torque command value (PWM value) based on the torque T5 at the operating point A.

  Next, the target value stored in the target value storage unit 610 of the speed control unit 600A will be described.

  In the image forming apparatus 100A of the present embodiment, the secondary transfer motor drive unit 400 controls the torque of the secondary transfer motor, thereby changing the rotational speed of the secondary transfer roller 71 and increasing the peripheral speed of the secondary transfer roller 71. Control. The target value stored in the target value storage unit 610 is a speed instruction value for changing the rotation speed of the secondary transfer roller 71. Specifically, the speed instruction value of the present embodiment is a speed instruction value for changing the period of the speed reference clock generated in the speed reference clock generation unit included in the secondary transfer motor driving unit 400.

  The target value storage unit 610 stores a plurality of target values. The plurality of target values are, for example, a value that slows the rotational speed of the secondary transfer roller 71 at a certain point in time by 0.10%, a value that slows 0.05%, a value that speeds up 0.05%, and a value that speeds up 0.10%. Etc. Note that the target value stored in the target value storage unit 610 of the present embodiment is not limited to a value that changes the rotational speed of the secondary transfer roller 71 in increments of 0.05%, but is subjected to secondary transfer at a predetermined interval. Any value that changes the rotational speed of the roller 71 may be used.

  Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus 100A of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining an initial operation of the image forming apparatus 100A.

  When the image forming apparatus 100A is activated, the intermediate transfer driving motor 200 and the secondary transfer motor start driving, and the intermediate transfer driving roller and the secondary transfer roller 71 start rotating. In step S41, when the rotation of the intermediate transfer driving roller and the secondary transfer roller 71 is stabilized, the rotational speed of the secondary transfer roller 71 in a stable state is set as the initial speed in the rotational speed control of the secondary transfer roller 71. The Progressing to step S42 following step S41, a detection mode for detecting the torque command value of the intermediate transfer drive motor 200 is set. Progressing to step S43 following step S42, the timer interrupt permission is set.

  Next, detection of a PWM value by the output monitoring unit 500A will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating detection of a PWM value by the output monitoring unit 500A. The output monitoring unit 500A periodically detects a PWM value output from the digital filter of the intermediate transfer drive motor drive unit 300 to the PWM unit 350.

  In step S51, the output monitoring unit 500A determines whether or not the detection mode is set. When the detection mode is set, the process proceeds to step S52 following step S51, and the output monitoring unit 500A detects the PWM value by the torque command value detection unit 520. Progressing to step S53 following step S52, the determination unit 530 determines whether the detected PWM value exceeds the upper limit value or the lower limit value set in the upper limit / lower limit setting unit 510.

  When the PWM value exceeds the upper limit value or the lower limit value, the process proceeds to step S54 following step S53, and the flag setting unit 531 sets a speed control flag for the speed control unit 600A.

  Further, in the output monitoring unit 500A, when the PWM value exceeds the upper limit value or the lower limit value, an instruction to lower the rotation speed of the secondary transfer roller 71 or an instruction to lower the rotation speed of the secondary transfer roller 71 is issued by the target value instruction unit 540. It is output to the controller 600A.

  Next, the speed control of the secondary transfer roller 71 in the image forming apparatus 100A of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining the rotational speed control of the secondary transfer roller 71 in the image forming apparatus 100A.

  In step S61, the speed control unit 600A confirms that the PWM value detection mode is set in the output monitoring unit 500A. Progressing to step S62 following step S61, the speed control unit 600A determines whether or not the speed control flag is set by the flag detection unit 612.

  If the speed control flag is set in step S63, the process proceeds to step S64, and the speed control unit 600A controls the rotational speed of the secondary transfer roller 71.

  Hereinafter, speed control in the speed control unit 600A of the present embodiment will be described. In the present embodiment, a case where the determination unit 530 determines that the PWM value exceeds the lower limit value will be described.

  If the PWM value exceeds the lower limit value, the PWM value can be kept within the relative speed allowable range H2 by performing control to reduce the rotational speed of the secondary transfer roller 71. Therefore, in this case, an instruction to decrease the rotation speed of the secondary transfer roller 71 is output from the target value instruction unit 540 of the output monitoring unit 500A to the speed control unit 600A.

  In the speed control unit 600A of the present embodiment, the target value selection unit 620 has a target value that is larger by one than the target value selected at the time of receiving an instruction to reduce the rotation speed of the secondary transfer roller 71. Select. For example, the target values stored in the target value storage unit 610 are values that slow down the rotational speed of the secondary transfer roller 71 by 0.10% and values that slow down by 0.05%, and were selected when the instruction was received. When the target value is a value that slows the rotational speed of the secondary transfer roller 71 by 0.05%, the target value selection unit 540 selects a value that slows the rotational speed of the secondary transfer roller 71 by 0.10%. .

  When the target value is selected by the target value selection unit 620, the speed control unit 600A outputs the target value (speed instruction value) selected from the speed instruction output unit 630 to the secondary transfer motor driving unit 400. The secondary transfer motor drive unit 400 generates a speed reference clock based on this target value (speed instruction value), and varies the rotational speed of the secondary transfer roller 71 rotated by the secondary transfer secondary transfer motor.

  When the speed of the secondary transfer roller 71 is fluctuated in step S64, the process proceeds to step S65, and the speed correction unit 640 performs speed correction in accordance with the temperature characteristics of the secondary transfer roller 71, and the speed of the secondary transfer roller 71 is reached. Control ends.

  In the present embodiment, the target value may be a torque command value. In this case, the target value selection unit 620 may calculate the difference between the PWM value detected by the torque command value detection unit 520 and the target value (torque command value), for example, and may select the target value based on this difference. . In this case, the target value selection unit 620 has a table in which, for example, the difference and the target value are associated with each other, and the target value associated with the difference calculated by the output monitoring unit 500A with reference to this table is stored as the target value. You may select from the part 610.

  The target value selection unit 620 may simply select a target value that keeps the relative speed within the relative speed variable range H, or may select a target value that makes the relative speed closest to zero.

  For example, when selecting a target value that brings the relative speed closest to 0, the target value selection unit 620 selects a target value corresponding to the PWM value corresponding to the torque Tc at the operating point C when the relative speed is 0 shown in FIG. May be held as an ideal value. The target value selection unit 620 may select a target value that makes the relative speed closest to 0 using the difference calculated by the output monitoring unit 500A and the ideal value.

  The speed correction by the speed correction unit 640 will be described below.

  When the temperature of the secondary transfer roller 71 or the temperature in the housing of the image forming apparatus 100A rises, the secondary transfer roller 71 expands to increase its radius and the peripheral speed varies. Therefore, the speed correction unit 640 corrects the peripheral speed of the secondary transfer roller 71 based on the relationship between the peripheral speed of the secondary transfer roller 71 and the temperature. FIG. 10 shows the relationship between the peripheral speed of the secondary transfer roller 71 and the temperature. The speed correction unit 640 corrects the peripheral speed by the correction formula Vc = V × (1 + αΔK). Where α is the coefficient of thermal expansion and K is the temperature.

  Returning to FIG. 9, the process proceeds to step S <b> 66 following step S <b> 65, and the output monitoring unit 500 </ b> A detects the PWM value after the speed control of the secondary transfer roller 71. The output monitoring unit 500A determines whether the PWM value after control exceeds the upper limit value or the lower limit value by the determination unit 530, and monitors whether the relative speed is within the relative speed allowable range H2. In this embodiment, the allowable relative speed range H2 is set to 0.4% of the peripheral speed of the secondary transfer roller 71 and the surface speed of the intermediate transfer belt 51. If the relative speed is not within the relative speed allowable range H2 in step S66, the processing from step S61 to step S65 is repeated. The output monitoring unit 500A outputs an operation stop instruction of the image forming apparatus 100A as an operation error when the relative speed exceeds the relative speed range H1. In this embodiment, the relative speed range H1 is set to 0.5% of the peripheral speed of the secondary transfer roller 71 and the surface speed of the intermediate transfer belt 51.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the relative speed of the secondary transfer roller 71 with respect to the surface speed of the intermediate transfer belt 51 is allowed based on the torque command value for the intermediate transfer drive motor that drives the intermediate transfer belt 51. The rotational speed of the secondary transfer roller 71 is controlled so as to be maintained within the range. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to perform appropriate speed control so as to eliminate speed fluctuations in the peripheral speed of the secondary transfer roller 71 and the surface speed of the intermediate transfer belt 51 without causing an increase in parts or cost. it can. Further, according to the present embodiment, by controlling the relative speed to be within the allowable range, the intermediate transfer drive motor is prevented from entering an uncontrollable state, and the intermediate transfer belt 51 is moved by the secondary transfer roller 71. Occurrence of rotation can be prevented.

  Note that the intermediate drive motor driving unit 300, the output monitoring unit 500A, and the speed control unit 600A in this embodiment may be integrated to form the semiconductor device 700A. In this case, the image forming apparatus 100A can realize the functions of the above-described units by mounting the semiconductor device 700A.

  In the present embodiment, the surface speed of the intermediate transfer belt 51 is assumed to be constant. However, even when the rotation speed of the secondary transfer roller 71 is changed, the surface speed of the intermediate transfer belt 51 may be finely adjusted. good. In this case, the intermediate transfer drive motor drive unit 300 may control the intermediate transfer drive motor 200 by changing the torque command value for the intermediate transfer drive motor 200 based on the speed instruction value output to the secondary transfer motor drive unit 400. good.

  In addition, the image forming apparatus 100A according to the present embodiment may include an alarm unit (not shown) that issues an alarm when the relative speed is out of the relative speed allowable range H2. Further, the image forming apparatus 100 </ b> A of the present embodiment may include a temperature sensor (not shown) that detects the temperature of the secondary transfer roller 71.

In the present embodiment, the second rotating body has been described as the secondary transfer roller. However, the speed control described in the present embodiment is also applicable to the case where the second rotating body is the secondary transfer belt. . When the second rotator is a secondary transfer belt, the speed controller rotates the roller that rotates the secondary transfer belt so that the surface speed of the intermediate transfer belt and the secondary transfer belt are within a predetermined range. Adjust the speed.
(Second embodiment)
A second embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the second embodiment of the present invention, the configuration of the output monitoring unit 500 is different from that of the first embodiment. Therefore, in the description of the second embodiment, only differences from the first embodiment will be described, and the reference numerals used in the description of the first embodiment will be used for those having the same functional configuration as the first embodiment. The same code | symbol is provided and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In the image forming apparatus 100B of the present embodiment, the intermediate transfer drive motor 200 determines that the control is impossible and controls the rotation speed of the secondary transfer roller 71. In the image forming apparatus 100B, when the PWM value that is the torque command value decreases from the first lower limit value to the second lower limit value within a predetermined time, the intermediate transfer drive motor 200 is determined to be in an uncontrollable state. Details of the non-controllable state of the intermediate transfer drive motor 200 will be described later.

  FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus 100B according to the second embodiment.

  The output monitoring unit 500C included in the image forming apparatus 100B of the present embodiment includes an upper limit / lower limit setting unit 510A, a timer value holding unit 511, a torque command value detection unit 520, a determination unit 530A, a flag setting unit 531 and a target value instruction unit 540. Have.

  In addition to the upper limit value and the lower limit value of the torque command value based on the torque in the region Z shown in FIG. 6, a first lower limit value P and a second lower limit value Q, which will be described later, are set in the upper limit / lower limit setting unit 510A. . The first lower limit value P and the second lower limit value Q set in the upper limit / lower limit setting unit 510A are values obtained in advance by experiments. For example, when the image forming apparatus 100B is shipped, the upper limit / lower limit setting unit 510A is used. Is set. The timer value holding unit 511 holds a value counted by a timer (not shown) provided in the image forming apparatus 100B.

  Here, the first lower limit value P and the second lower limit value Q set in the upper limit / lower limit setting unit 510A will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The first lower limit value P and the second lower limit value Q set in the upper limit / lower limit setting unit 510A of the present embodiment are values for determining whether or not the intermediate transfer drive motor 200 is in an uncontrollable state. . Hereinafter, the uncontrollable state of the intermediate transfer drive motor 200 will be described.

  FIG. 12 shows the relationship between the peripheral speed and torque of the secondary transfer roller 71 in the image forming apparatus 100B.

  As shown in FIG. 12, when the peripheral speed of the secondary transfer roller 71 is slower than the peripheral speed of the intermediate transfer driving roller, the slip with respect to the intermediate transfer belt 51 at the pressure contact portion between the secondary transfer roller 71 and the intermediate transfer belt 51. The torque of the intermediate transfer driving roller increases due to friction. When the peripheral speed of the secondary transfer roller 71 is faster than the peripheral speed of the intermediate transfer driving roller, the torque of the intermediate transfer driving roller becomes small. When the peripheral speed of the secondary transfer roller 71 becomes faster than a certain value, the torque value becomes negative, the intermediate transfer belt 51 is rotated by the secondary transfer roller 71, and the intermediate transfer driving roller is in an uncontrollable state. It becomes.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining PWM drive of the intermediate transfer drive motor 200 in an uncontrollable state. In the image forming apparatus 100B, when the intermediate transfer belt 51 is rotated by the secondary transfer roller 71 and the intermediate transfer drive motor 200 is in an uncontrollable state, the torque with respect to the intermediate transfer drive motor 200 has a negative value. An electromotive force E works on the coil in the opposite direction.

  As shown in FIG. 13A, when the current flows rightward through the coil during the PWM off period, a regenerative current flows. As shown in FIG. 13B, when the current flows to the left of the coil, no regenerative current flows. Due to this asymmetric phenomenon, the intermediate transfer drive motor 200 falls into an uncontrollable state.

  FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining an operating point in an uncontrollable state. In FIG. 14, the vertical axis represents the average current and the horizontal axis represents the PWM value, and the relationship between the current value of the intermediate transfer drive motor 200 and the PWM value is shown.

  As shown in FIG. 14, due to the asymmetric phenomenon described in FIG. 13, when the operating point is between points AC in the relationship between the current value of the intermediate transfer drive motor 200 and the PWM value, the current that follows the dotted line B The value cannot be controlled, and the operation at the operating point is point A-O-C. That is, when the operating point is between points A and D, the current is controlled according to the PWM value. However, when the operating point comes to the point F to the left of the point A, no effect appears even if the PWM value is decreased. The intermediate transfer drive motor 200 falls into an uncontrollable state.

  When the intermediate transfer drive motor 200 falls into an uncontrollable state, the torque does not change even if the PWM value is reduced. Therefore, the intermediate transfer drive motor drive unit 300 further performs control to reduce the PWM value.

  In normal control of the PWM value, the PWM value for the intermediate transfer drive motor 200 does not rapidly decrease, and the PWM value rapidly decreases when the control is disabled. Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the PWM value rapidly decreases, it is determined that the control is impossible, and the control of the rotation speed of the secondary transfer roller 71 is started.

  FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a case where the intermediate transfer drive motor drive unit 300 continues control to reduce the PWM value.

  In the present embodiment, a first lower limit value P and a second lower limit value Q are set in order to determine an uncontrollable state. The second lower limit value Q is set as a value that does not change the current value even if the PWM value is further reduced. The first lower limit value P is set to a value having a predetermined margin from the second lower limit value Q. In the present embodiment, when the PWM value decreases from the first lower limit value P to the second lower limit value Q within the predetermined time t, it is determined that the PWM value has rapidly decreased and is in an uncontrollable state. Note that the first lower limit value P, the second lower limit value Q, and the predetermined time t were values determined based on experimental values.

  Next, detection of a PWM value by the output monitoring unit 500C of the image forming apparatus 100B of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 16 is a flowchart for explaining detection by the output monitoring unit 500C.

  The output monitoring unit 500C of the present embodiment periodically detects a PWM value output from the digital filter of the intermediate transfer drive motor driving unit 300 to the PWM unit 350. The initial operation of the image forming apparatus 100B is the same as that of the first embodiment.

  In step S1301, the output monitoring unit 500C determines whether or not the detection mode is set. When the detection mode is set, the process proceeds to step S1302 following step S1301, and the output monitoring unit 500C detects the PWM value by the torque command value detection unit 520. Progressing to step S1303 following step S1302, the determination unit 530A determines whether or not the detected PWM value is smaller than the first lower limit value P. When the PWM value is smaller than the first lower limit P, the process proceeds to step S1304 following step S1303, and the determination unit 530A determines whether the detected PWM value is smaller than the second lower limit value Q.

  When the PWM value is larger than the second lower limit value Q in step S1304, the process proceeds to step S1305 following step S1304, and the timer value holding unit 511 determines that the detected PWM value is smaller than the first lower limit value P. A timer value indicating the time from when the PWM value is compared with the second lower limit value Q (processing of step S1304) is detected and held.

  When the PWM value is smaller than the second lower limit value Q in step S1304, the process proceeds to step S1306, and the determination unit 530A reads the timer value held in the timer value holding unit 511. Progressing to step S1307 following step S1306, determination unit 530A determines whether or not the read timer value is equal to or shorter than predetermined time t. In step S1307, when the timer value is equal to or shorter than the predetermined time t, determination unit 530A determines that the control is impossible. If the determination unit 530A determines that the control is impossible, the process proceeds to step S1308, and the flag setting unit 531 sets a speed control flag for the speed control unit 600A.

  At this time, the target value instruction unit 540 outputs an instruction to decrease the rotation speed of the secondary transfer roller 71 to the speed control unit 600A.

  The speed control by the speed control unit 600A of the present embodiment is as described in the first embodiment.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the image forming apparatus 100B determines the uncontrollable state of the intermediate transfer drive motor 200 from the PWM value that is the torque command value for the intermediate transfer drive motor 200, and performs secondary transfer. The rotational speed of the roller 71 is controlled. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, appropriate speed control is performed so as to eliminate speed fluctuations in the peripheral speed of the secondary transfer roller 71 and the surface speed of the intermediate transfer belt 51 without causing an increase in parts or cost. Can do. In addition, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to prevent the intermediate transfer drive motor from continuing its operation in an uncontrollable state, and to perform appropriate speed control promptly.

In this embodiment, the intermediate drive motor driving unit 300, the output monitoring unit 500C, and the speed control unit 600A may be integrated to form the semiconductor device 700B. In this case, the image forming apparatus 100B can realize the functions of the above-described units by mounting the semiconductor device 700B.
(Third embodiment)
A third embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The third embodiment is a modified form of the second embodiment, and is a second embodiment in that a PWM value corresponding to the first lower limit P in the second embodiment is detected by the output detection unit 500C. Different from form. Therefore, in the description of the present embodiment, only differences from the second embodiment will be described, and those having the same functional configuration as those of the second embodiment will be given the reference numerals used in the description of the second embodiment. The description is omitted.

  FIG. 17 is a configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus 100C according to the third embodiment.

  The output monitoring unit 500C in the image forming apparatus 100C includes an upper limit / lower limit setting unit 510B, a torque command detection unit 520, a determination unit 530B, a flag setting unit 531, a PWM value holding unit 532, a PWM value replacement unit 533, a margin addition unit 534, A target value instruction unit 540 is provided.

  In the upper limit / lower limit setting unit 510B, the lower limit value Ps detected by the output monitoring unit 500C and the lower limit value Q1 corresponding to the second lower limit value Q described in the second embodiment are set. The lower limit value Q1 is a value set in advance based on experimental data. Details of the lower limit value Ps will be described later.

  Determination unit 530B determines whether or not the PWM value detected by torque command value detection unit 520 is smaller than the minimum value of PWM values held in PWM value holding unit 532 described later. The determination unit 530B determines whether the PWM value detected by the torque command value detection unit 520 is smaller than a PWM value Ps1 described later.

  The PWM value holding unit 532 holds the PWM value detected by the torque command value detection unit 520 so far. The PWM value replacement unit 533 replaces a certain PWM value with another PWM value. The margin adding unit 534 adds a predetermined margin to the PWM value replaced by the PWM value replacing unit 533. The predetermined margin in the present embodiment is determined in advance based on experimental values.

  Hereinafter, the lower limit value Q1 and the lower limit value Ps of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a PWM value and time in the image forming apparatus 100C according to the third embodiment.

  In the image forming apparatus 100 </ b> C, even if the PWM value for the intermediate transfer drive motor 200 decreases to Pa and Pb, it starts increasing again as time elapses. However, if the PWM value further decreases by a predetermined amount after decreasing to Pb, the PWM value does not increase while decreasing to the lower limit value Q1. If the PWM value does not increase while decreasing to the lower limit value Q1, it indicates that the intermediate transfer drive motor 200 is in an uncontrollable state.

  That is, when the PWM value decreases from the PWM value Pb to the PWM value Ps decreased by a predetermined amount, the PWM value then decreases to the WM value Q1, and the intermediate transfer drive motor 200 becomes uncontrollable.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the PWM value Ps that is reduced by a predetermined amount from the PWM value Pb is detected. Then, a value Ps1 obtained by adding a predetermined margin to the PWM value Ps is set in the upper limit / lower limit setting unit 510B. In the present embodiment, when the PWM value detected by the torque command value detector 520 becomes smaller than the PWM value Ps1, the rotational speed of the secondary transfer roller 71 is controlled.

  Hereinafter, detection of the PWM value Ps will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 19 is a flowchart for explaining the calculation of the PWM value Ps in the image forming apparatus 100C of the third embodiment.

  In step S1601, the output monitoring unit 500C determines whether or not the detection mode is set. When the detection mode is set, the torque command value detection unit 520 detects the PWM value. The PWM value detected by the torque command value detection unit 520 is defined as a PWM value P1. Progressing to step S1603 following step S1602, the determination unit 530B determines whether the PWM value P1 is smaller than the minimum PWM value Pmin of the PWM values detected so far held in the PWM value holding unit 532. judge.

  In step S1603, if the PWM value P1 is larger than the PWM value Pmin, the process proceeds to step S1604, and it is assumed that the PWM value has passed the minimum point (corresponding to Pb in FIG. 18). The PWM value replacement unit 533 replaces the PWM value Pmin with the minimum point value PB.

  If the PWM value P1 is smaller than the PWM value Pmin in step S1603, the process proceeds to step S1605, and the PWM value replacement unit 533 replaces the PWM value P1 with the PWM value Pmin as the minimum value of the PWM values detected so far.

  Progressing to step S1606 following step S1605, determination unit 530B determines whether or not PWM value P1 is smaller than lower limit value Q1 set in upper limit / lower limit setting unit 510B. When the PWM value P1 is smaller than the lower limit value Q1, the process proceeds to step S1607 following step S1606, and the PWM value replacement unit 533 replaces the PWM value Pmin with the minimum value PB of the PWM value Ps.

  That is, the PWM value replacement unit 533 replaces the value corresponding to the PWM value Pb in FIG. 18 with the PWM value Ps. Here, the PWM value Ps indicates a PWM value when the intermediate transfer drive motor 200 is in an uncontrollable state. Therefore, the PWM value (Ps shown in FIG. 18) at which the intermediate transfer drive motor 200 is actually in an uncontrollable state should be smaller than the PWM value Pb, but by repeating the processing described in FIG. 19, the processing in FIG. The PWM value Ps detected at 1 is approximately close to the PWM value Ps shown in FIG.

  When the PWM value Ps is detected as described above, a margin determined in advance by the margin adding unit 534 is added to the PWM value Ps to calculate the PWM value Ps1. The output monitoring unit 500C sets the PWM value Ps1 in the upper limit / lower limit setting unit 510B.

  In this embodiment, when the determination unit 530B determines that the PWM value P1 detected by the torque command value detection unit 520 is smaller than the PWM value Ps1, the flag setting unit 531 controls the speed control flag for the speed control unit 600A. Set. In addition, when it is determined that the PWM value P1 is smaller than the PWM value Ps1, the target value instruction unit 540 outputs an instruction to reduce the rotation speed of the secondary transfer roller 71 to the speed control unit 600A. The speed control of the secondary transfer roller 71 by the speed controller 600A is as described in the first embodiment.

  Thus, according to the present embodiment, the PWM value at which the intermediate transfer drive motor 200 enters the uncontrollable state is detected, and a value obtained by adding a predetermined margin to the detected PWM value is set as the lower limit value of the torque command value. . Therefore, according to the present embodiment, appropriate speed control is performed so as to eliminate speed fluctuations in the peripheral speed of the secondary transfer roller 71 and the surface speed of the intermediate transfer belt 51 without causing an increase in parts or cost. Can do. Further, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to prevent the intermediate transfer driving motor from being brought into an uncontrollable state and to prevent the secondary transfer roller 71 from being accompanied by the intermediate transfer belt 51.

In this embodiment, the intermediate drive motor driving unit 300, the output monitoring unit 500C, and the speed control unit 600A may be integrated to form the semiconductor device 700C. In this case, the image forming apparatus 100C can implement the functions of the above-described units by mounting the semiconductor device 700C.
(Fourth embodiment)
Hereinafter, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The fourth embodiment of the present invention is a modification of the first embodiment. The fourth embodiment of the present invention is different from the first embodiment in that the current value flowing through the intermediate transfer drive motor 200 is calculated and the calculated current value is detected as a torque command value. Therefore, in the following description of the present embodiment, only differences from the first embodiment will be described, and the reference numerals used in the description of the first embodiment will be used for those having the same functional configuration as the first embodiment. The same reference numerals are given, and the description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 20 is a configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus 100D of the fourth embodiment.

  The image forming apparatus 100D of the present embodiment includes a current value calculation unit 370. The current value calculation unit 370 acquires the PWM value output from the digital filter 340 to the PWM unit 350 and the rotation speed of the intermediate transfer drive motor 200 detected by the FG 240, and the current flowing through the intermediate transfer drive motor 200 Calculate the value. The relationship between the PWM value and the current value in the image forming apparatus 100 </ b> D changes as shown in FIG. 21 according to the rotation speed of the intermediate transfer drive motor 200. FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between the PWM value and the current value in the image forming apparatus 100D.

  The relationship between the PWM value and the current value in the image forming apparatus 100D is that the current value of the intermediate transfer drive motor 200 is I, the power supply voltage is V, the PWM value is D, the induced voltage coefficient is KE, and the rotation speed of the intermediate transfer drive motor 200 is ω, intermediate transfer drive motor 200 When the coil resistance is R, VD = IR + ωKE. Therefore, the current value calculation unit 370 calculates the current value I = (VD−ωKE) / R of the intermediate transfer drive motor 200 from the relationship between the PWM value and the current value.

  The output monitoring unit 500D of the image forming apparatus 100D of the present embodiment detects the current value calculated by the current value calculation unit 370 as a torque command value, and when the detected current value becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value, the secondary The rotational speed of the transfer roller 71 is controlled.

  The output monitoring unit 500D of the present embodiment has the same functional configuration as the output monitoring unit 500 of the first embodiment, but the first is that the torque command value is the current value calculated by the current value calculation unit 370. This is different from the embodiment.

  The upper limit value and the lower limit value of the torque command value based on the torque in the region Z shown in FIG. That is, the upper limit value of the torque command value set in the upper limit / lower limit setting unit 510C is a current value corresponding to the torque command value T3, and the lower limit value of the current value set in the upper limit / lower limit setting unit 510C is the torque command value T5. The corresponding current value.

  Torque command value detection unit 520C periodically detects the current value calculated by current value calculation unit 370. Determination unit 530C determines whether or not the current value detected by torque command value detection unit 520C exceeds the upper limit value or lower limit value set in upper limit / lower limit setting unit 510C. When it is determined that the current value detected by the torque command value detection unit 520C exceeds the upper limit value, the target value instruction unit 540 outputs an instruction to increase the rotation speed of the secondary transfer roller 71 to the speed control unit 600A. . Further, when it is determined that the current value detected by the torque command value detection unit 520C exceeds the lower limit value, the target value instruction unit 540 outputs an instruction to decrease the rotation speed of the secondary transfer roller 71 to the speed control unit 600A. To do.

  The operation of the image forming apparatus 100D of this embodiment is the same as that described in the first embodiment except that the PWM value in the first embodiment is the current value calculated by the current value calculation unit 370.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the current value of the intermediate transfer drive motor 200 is calculated, and the calculated current value is detected as a torque command value. Based on the detected torque command value, the rotational speed of the secondary transfer roller 71 is controlled. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, appropriate speed control is performed so as to eliminate speed fluctuations in the peripheral speed of the secondary transfer roller 71 and the surface speed of the intermediate transfer belt 51 without causing an increase in parts or cost. Can do.

In this embodiment, the intermediate drive motor driving unit 300, the output monitoring unit 500D, and the speed control unit 600AC may be integrated to form the semiconductor device 700D. In this case, the image forming apparatus 100D can realize the functions of the above-described units by mounting the semiconductor device 700D.
(Fifth embodiment)
The fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The fifth embodiment of the present invention is a modification of the first embodiment and the fourth embodiment. The fifth embodiment of the present invention is different from the first embodiment in that a current value flowing through the intermediate transfer drive motor 200 is detected as a torque command value. Therefore, in the following description of the present embodiment, only differences from the first embodiment will be described, and the reference numerals used in the description of the first embodiment will be used for those having the same functional configuration as the first embodiment. The same code | symbol is provided and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating detection of a current value in the image forming apparatus 100E according to the fifth embodiment.

  The output monitoring unit 500E of the image forming apparatus 100E of the present embodiment detects a current value flowing through the intermediate transfer drive motor 200 as a torque command value. The output monitoring unit 500E detects the value of the current flowing through the intermediate transfer drive motor 200 by detecting the voltage applied to the resistor RL connected between the FET 220 and the ground.

  The output monitoring unit 500E of this embodiment will be described below.

  The output monitoring unit 500E of this embodiment includes an upper limit / lower limit setting unit 510C, a torque command value detection unit 520D, a determination unit 530D, a flag set unit 531, and a target value instruction unit 540.

  The upper / lower limit setting unit 510C is as described in the fourth embodiment. Torque command value detection unit 520D samples the voltage applied to resistor RL based on the PWM signal output from PWM unit 350 at a predetermined timing, and detects the current value flowing through intermediate transfer drive motor 200. Determination unit 530D determines whether or not the current value detected by torque command value detection unit 530D exceeds the upper limit value or lower limit value set in upper limit / lower limit setting unit 510C. When it is determined that the current value detected by the torque command value detection unit 530D exceeds the upper limit value, the target value instruction unit 540D outputs an instruction to increase the rotation speed of the secondary transfer roller 71 to the speed control unit 600A. . Further, when it is determined that the current value detected by the torque command value detection unit 520C exceeds the lower limit value, the target value instruction unit 540 outputs an instruction to decrease the rotation speed of the secondary transfer roller 71 to the speed control unit 600A. To do.

  The operation of the image forming apparatus 100E of this embodiment is the same as that described in the first embodiment except that the PWM value in the first embodiment is the current value that flows through the intermediate transfer drive motor 200.

  Thus, in the present embodiment, the value of the current flowing through the intermediate transfer drive motor 200 is detected as the torque command value. Based on the detected torque command value, the rotational speed of the secondary transfer roller 71 is controlled. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, appropriate speed control is performed so as to eliminate speed fluctuations in the peripheral speed of the secondary transfer roller 71 and the surface speed of the intermediate transfer belt 51 without causing an increase in parts or cost. Can do.

In this embodiment, the intermediate drive motor driving unit 300, the output monitoring unit 500E, and the speed control unit 600A may be integrated to form a semiconductor device. In this case, the image forming apparatus 100E can realize the functions of the above-described units by mounting the semiconductor device including the intermediate transfer drive motor driving unit 300, the output monitoring unit 500E, and the speed control unit 600A.
(Sixth embodiment)
The sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the sixth embodiment of the present invention, a limit value (hereinafter, current limit value) of the current flowing through the secondary transfer motor is controlled. In the description of this embodiment described below, the same reference numerals as those used in the description of the first embodiment are given to those having the same functional configuration as the first embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted. To do.

  FIG. 23 is a configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus 100F according to the sixth embodiment. The image forming apparatus 100F includes a intermediate transfer drive motor 200, a pre-driver 210, an FET (Field effect transistor) 220, a intermediate transfer drive motor drive unit 300, a secondary transfer motor drive unit 400A, an output monitoring unit 500F, and a current limiting unit 600B. Have.

  In the present embodiment, the current value supplied to the secondary transfer motor driving unit 400A is limited based on the output from the output monitoring unit 500F. Specifically, the current value is limited by controlling the current limit value supplied to the secondary transfer motor driving unit 400A. The current limit value is a value set in advance in the secondary transfer motor driving unit 400A, and is an upper limit value of the current value supplied to the secondary transfer motor 410.

  First, the secondary transfer motor driving unit 400A of the present embodiment will be described. The secondary transfer motor driving unit 400A rotates the secondary transfer motor 410. The secondary transfer motor drive unit 400A includes a reference clock generation unit 420, a pre-driver 430, an FET 440, and a DAC (Digital to Analog Converter) 650. The speed reference clock generation unit 420 receives the speed instruction value and converts it into a clock that gives a speed instruction.

  The pre-driver 430 is a driver provided in front of the FET 440. The pre-driver 430 includes a phase comparison unit 431, a speed comparison unit 432, a digital filter 433, a PWM unit 434, a phase switching unit 435, and a comparator 436.

  The phase comparison unit 431 compares the rotational speed detected by the FG (not shown) of the secondary transfer motor 410 with the phase of the clock generated by the speed reference clock generation unit 420. The speed comparison unit 432 compares the rotation speed detected by the FG and the speed generated by the speed reference clock generation unit 420.

  The digital filter 433 adds the comparison result by the phase comparison unit 431 and the comparison result by the speed comparison unit 432 and smoothes the result, and outputs the result to the PWM unit 434 as a PWM value. The PWM unit 434 outputs the output of the digital filter 433 as a PWM signal. The PWM value is a current command value that determines the duty of the PWM signal output from the PWM unit 434. The phase switching unit 435 performs phase switching of the secondary transfer motor 410 based on the PWM signal output from the PWM unit 434 and a hall signal from a hall element (not shown) included in the secondary transfer motor 410.

  The comparator 436 compares the current limit value output from the DAC 650 with the current value flowing through the secondary transfer motor 410. The value of the current flowing through the secondary transfer motor 410 is detected by a resistor RL1 connected between the FET 440 and the ground.

  The DAC 650 converts the current limit value output from the current limiter 600B into an analog value. The converted analog value is input to the comparator 436 in the pre-driver 430. The output signal of the comparator 436 is inverted when the current value flowing through the secondary transfer motor 410 exceeds the converted analog value.

  The output monitoring unit 500F of this embodiment includes an upper limit / lower limit setting unit 510, a torque command value detection unit 520, a determination unit 530, and a flag set unit 531. The flag setting unit 531 sets a flag indicating that current limit value control is performed on the current limit unit 600B when the PWM value detected by the torque command value detection unit 520 exceeds the upper limit value or the lower limit value.

  The current limiting unit 600B includes a flag detection unit 660 and a current value setting unit 670. Flag detection unit 660 detects whether or not a flag for performing current limit value control is set for current limiter 600B. The current value setting unit 670 resets the current limit value of the secondary transfer motor 410 when the flag is set.

  Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus 100F of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 24 is a flowchart for explaining the control of the current limit value in the sixth embodiment.

  In step S2401, the current limiting unit 600B of the present embodiment confirms that the detection mode for detecting the PWM value is set in the output monitoring unit 500F. Progressing to step S2402 following step S2401, the flag detection unit 660 checks whether or not a flag for performing current limit value control is set in the current limit unit 600B. Following step S2402, the process proceeds to step S2403, and if the flag is set, the process proceeds to step S2404. In the output monitoring unit 500F of this embodiment, a flag may be set in the current limiting unit 600B only when the PWM value is below the lower limit value (when the PWM value exceeds the lower limit value).

  In step S2404, the current value setting unit 670 resets the current limit value of the secondary transfer motor 410 and changes the current limit value. Specifically, the current value setting unit 670 changes the setting of the current limit value so as to decrease the current limit value of the secondary transfer motor 410 from the threshold value Is in increments of ΔIs when the PWM value falls below the lower limit value. . Progressing to step S2505 following step S2404, output monitoring unit 500F determines whether or not the PWM value after the setting change of the current limit value is below the lower limit value.

  If the PWM value is still below the lower limit value in step S2405, the current value setting unit 670 repeats the process of step S2404 as an error, and performs control to decrease the current limit value Is in increments of ΔIs until the PWM value exceeds the lower limit value. Do.

  The current limit value set by the current value setting unit 670 is converted into an analog value by the DAC 650. The converted analog value is supplied to one input of the comparator 436. The other input of the comparator 436 is supplied with the value of the current flowing through the secondary transfer motor 410 detected by the resistor RL1. The output of the comparator 436 is supplied to the phase switching unit 435. The output of the comparator 436 is inverted when the value of the current flowing through the secondary transfer motor 410 becomes larger than the analog value.

  Upon receiving the inversion of the output signal of the comparator 436, the phase switching unit 435 determines that the current value flowing through the secondary transfer motor 410 has exceeded the current limit value. The phase switching unit 435 limits the current supplied to the secondary transfer motor 410 by cutting the on-duty of the PWM signal having a period when it is determined that the current limit value is exceeded. The PWM signal is a signal output from the PWM unit 434 to the phase switching unit 435.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the current flowing through the secondary transfer motor 410 is limited by the configuration including the current limiting unit 600B, the DAC 650, and the comparator 436. In the present embodiment, the DAC 650 is included in the secondary transfer motor driving unit 400A. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The DAC 650 may be provided outside the secondary transfer motor driving unit 400A.

  FIG. 25 is a diagram showing the relationship between the torque command value for the intermediate transfer drive motor 200 and the current value flowing through the secondary transfer motor 410 in the sixth embodiment.

  In the present embodiment, for example, when the torque command value for the intermediate transfer drive motor 200 falls below the lower limit value T10, the current limit value of the secondary transfer motor 410 is gradually changed from Is to Is1 by the current limit value control (by ΔIs). )Change. The torque command value T10 is a torque command value based on, for example, the torque T5 at the operating point A shown in FIG.

  FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a current value flowing through the secondary transfer motor 410 and a torque command value according to the sixth embodiment.

  In the secondary transfer motor 410, current starts to flow when the torque command value for the secondary transfer motor 410 exceeds the counter electromotive voltage due to the rotation of the motor. The value of the current flowing through the secondary transfer motor 410 increases as the torque command value is increased. When the current value flowing through the secondary transfer motor 410 reaches the current limit value, the current value becomes constant regardless of the torque command value.

  As shown by the solid line 26A in FIG. 26, when the current limit value is Is in the secondary transfer motor 410 of this embodiment, when the current value flowing through the secondary transfer motor 410 reaches Is, regardless of the torque command value. The current value is constant at Is. When the current limit value is set to Is2 in the secondary transfer motor 410, the current value flowing through the secondary transfer motor 410 is constant at Is2, as indicated by the solid line 26B.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the drive of the secondary transfer roller 71 can be controlled by controlling the current limit value flowing through the secondary transfer motor 410. Therefore, in this embodiment, the rotational speed of the secondary transfer roller 71 is controlled so that the relative speed of the secondary transfer roller 71 with respect to the surface speed of the intermediate transfer belt 51 is within the relative speed allowable range H2 (see FIG. 6). Can do.

  In the present embodiment, the intermediate transfer driving motor driving unit 300, the output monitoring unit 500F, and the current limiting unit 600B may be integrated to form the semiconductor device 700E.

  As described above, the present invention has been described based on each embodiment, but the present invention is not limited to the requirements shown here, such as the shapes described in the above embodiment and combinations with other elements. With respect to these points, the present invention can be changed within a range that does not detract from the gist of the present invention, and can be appropriately determined according to the application form.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 50 Intermediate transfer part 51 Intermediate transfer belt 52 Intermediate transfer drive roller 70 Secondary transfer part 71 Secondary transfer roller 72 Repulsive roller 100, 100B, 100C, 100D, 100E, 100F Image forming apparatus 200 Intermediate transfer drive motor 210, 430 Pre-driver 220, 440 FET
300 Intermediate transfer drive motor drive unit 310, 420 Speed reference clock generation unit 320, 431 Phase comparison unit 330, 432 Speed comparison unit 340, 433 Digital filter 350, 434 PWM unit 360, 435 Phase switching unit 370 Current value calculation unit 400, 400A Secondary transfer motor drive unit 410 Secondary transfer motor 436 Comparator 500, 500C, 500C, 500D, 500E Output monitoring unit 510, 510A, 510B, 510C Upper / lower limit setting unit 520, 520C, 520D Torque command value detection unit 530, 530A 530B, 530C, 530D Determination unit 540 Target value instruction unit 600 Drive control unit 600A Speed control unit 610 Target value storage unit 620 Target value selection unit 630 Speed instruction output unit 640 Speed correction unit 650 DAC
660 Flag detection unit 670 Current value setting unit 700, 700A, 700B, 700C, 700D, 700E Semiconductor device

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-52757

Claims (7)

A first rotating body to the intermediate transfer belt driven to rotate, there by the transport device capable of transporting a medium body with a second rotating member for transferring the intermediate transfer belt toner image formed on the medium And
A first motor for driving the first rotating body;
A second motor for driving the second rotating body;
Current detection means for detecting a current value flowing through the first motor;
Speed control means for controlling to reduce the rotation speed of the second motor when the current value detected by the current detection means falls below a predetermined first value;
A conveying device comprising: The speed control means, when the current value exceeds a second value greater than the first value, to control to increase the rotational speed of the second motor;
The conveying apparatus according to claim 1. The transport apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the second value is defined from a maximum output torque of the first motor . The first value and the second value are:
Wherein the surface speed of the intermediate transfer belt, the difference between the circumferential speed of the second rotating body transporting device according to claim 3, characterized in that it is determined to be within a predetermined range. It said speed control means, based on said second temperature of the rotating body neighborhood, conveying device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that to control the rotational speed of the second motor. A first motor for driving a first rotating body for rotating the intermediate transfer belt ;
A second motor for driving a second rotating body for transferring the toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt to a medium ;
Current detection means for detecting a current value flowing through the first motor;
A semiconductor device provided in a transport device capable of transporting a storage medium using at least the first rotating body and the second rotating body,
Speed control means for controlling to reduce the rotation speed of the second motor when the current value detected by the current detection means falls below a predetermined first value;
A semiconductor device comprising: A first motor for driving a first rotating body for rotating the intermediate transfer belt ;
A second motor for driving a second rotating body for transferring the toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt to a medium ;
Current detection means for detecting a current value flowing through the first motor;
A control method of a second motor implemented by a transport device capable of transporting a storage medium using at least the first rotating body and the second rotating body,
If the current value detected by the current detection means falls below a predetermined first value, control to slow down the rotation speed of the second motor;
A second motor control method characterized by the above.

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