Abstract: Until an output voltage of a converter reaches a threshold value, a control part performs switching control, and after the output voltage reaches the threshold value, the control part performs supply voltage control while the state of a switching control signal at the time when the output voltage reaches the threshold value is maintained. Switching control is a control method in which the output voltage is adjusted by adjusting the frequency or duty ratio of the switching control signal that drives a driving part. Supply voltage control is a control method in which the output voltage is adjusted by adjusting the supply voltage that is applied to the primary side of the converter.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, an image forming means for forming a patch image on the image carrier, a light emitting means, a plurality of light receiving means adjacently arranged so as to receive light reflected from the patch image when light is irradiated by the light emitting means onto the patch image which moves with movement of the image carrier and each including one or more light receiving elements, and an output means for outputting an output signal that depends on a difference between a received light quantity of a first light receiving means and a received light quantity of a second light receiving means that are respectively odd-numbered and even-numbered in the arrangement order of the light receiving means.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to form a patch image on an image carrier; a light receiving unit configured to receive light reflected by the patch image irradiated with light by a light emitting unit, and including one or more light receiving elements; and a setting unit configured to set the number of the light receiving elements in the light receiving unit. The setting unit is further configured to set the number of light receiving elements for when receiving reflected light from a first patch image formed by the image forming unit and the number of light receiving elements for when receiving reflected light from a second patch image formed by the image forming unit that differs from the first patch image to different numbers.

Abstract: In a high voltage power supplying apparatus, a pulse generation unit generates a pulse signal with a predetermined frequency. A piezoelectric transformer outputs a voltage in accordance with the frequency of the pulse signal. A detection unit detects an output voltage of the piezoelectric transformer. A control unit controls the pulse generation unit to change the frequency of the pulse signal by a predetermined value towards a frequency corresponding to a target voltage until the output voltage becomes equal to the target voltage. A storage unit stores data indicating the frequency when the output voltage reaches the target voltage. The control unit controls the output voltage to be equal to the target voltage by variably controlling the frequency of the pulse signal by a value smaller than the predetermined frequency from the frequency corresponding to the data stored in the storage unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, a sheet discharging device and method of controlling the sheet discharging device are disclosed. They require no instructions from users and no recording materials for initial setting of a staple when the users exchange a staple cartridge.

Abstract: In a high voltage power supplying apparatus, a pulse generation unit generates a pulse signal with a predetermined frequency. A piezoelectric transformer outputs a voltage in accordance with the frequency of the pulse signal. A detection unit detects an output voltage of the piezoelectric transformer. A control unit controls the pulse generation unit to change the frequency of the pulse signal by a predetermined value towards a frequency corresponding to a target voltage until the output voltage becomes equal to the target voltage. A storage unit stores data indicating the frequency when the output voltage reaches the target voltage. The control unit controls the output voltage to be equal to the target voltage by variably controlling the frequency of the pulse signal by a value smaller than the predetermined frequency from the frequency corresponding to the data stored in the storage unit.

Abstract: A power supply device generates an output voltage by driving a piezoelectric transformer using a frequency signal. The power supply device includes a comparison unit configured to compare an output voltage and a voltage setting signal that sets the output voltage, and a voltage control oscillation unit configured to generate the frequency signal to drive the piezoelectric transformer based on comparison results of the comparison unit. The voltage control oscillation unit generates the frequency signal within a range between the resonant frequency and a spurious resonant frequency closest to the resonant frequency.

Abstract: A power supply apparatus with a plurality of power supply circuits each having a piezoelectric transformer and a voltage-controlled oscillator which generates a signal at an operating frequency used to drive the piezoelectric transformer in accordance with a control signal, includes a frequency-dividing circuit which divides the operating frequency generated by a voltage-controlled oscillator in at least one power supply circuit, and outputs a signal at a driving frequency to drive a piezoelectric transformer in the one power supply circuit. When at least one power supply circuit and remaining power supply circuits output voltages, the operating frequency generated by the voltage-controlled oscillator in the one power supply circuit is controlled to be higher than the operating frequency generated by the voltage-controlled oscillator in another power supply circuit.

Abstract: A power supply unit in an image forming apparatus is provided. The power supply unit includes a piezoelectric transformer, an output voltage detecting circuit which detects the output voltage of the piezoelectric transformer, an output voltage control circuit which controls an output voltage from the piezoelectric transformer, and includes a comparator which receives an output voltage setting signal, together with an output voltage detecting signal fed back from the output voltage detecting circuit, to compare the output voltage setting signal and the output voltage detecting signal. The power supply unit also includes a driving frequency supplying circuit which generates a driving frequency signal of the piezoelectric transformer in accordance with a comparison result by the comparator, and supplies the driving frequency signal to the piezoelectric transformer. The time constant of the output voltage control circuit is longer than the time constant of the output voltage detecting circuit.

Abstract: A power supply apparatus includes a piezoelectric transformer which outputs a voltage, a voltage-controlled oscillator which controls the frequency of an output signal in accordance with an input control signal, a power supply voltage supply element which is driven by a signal output from the voltage-controlled oscillator and applies a power supply voltage to the piezoelectric transformer, and an output voltage stop circuit (118) which outputs a signal for stopping driving the piezoelectric transformer on the basis of a control signal (Vcont).

Abstract: In a power supply apparatus including a plurality of power supply circuits, each of the power supply circuits has a piezoelectric transformer, a rectification element which rectifies and smoothes a voltage output from the piezoelectric transformer in accordance with a load and outputs the voltage, a voltage-controlled oscillator which controls the frequency of an output signal in accordance with an input control signal, and a power supply voltage supply element which is driven by a signal output from the voltage-controlled oscillator and supplies a power supply voltage to the piezoelectric transformer. One power supply circuit includes a resonance frequency change unit which is connected to the output side of the piezoelectric transformer.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, a sheet discharging device and method of controlling the sheet discharging device are disclosed. They require no instructions from users and no recording materials for initial setting of a staple when the users exchange a staple cartridge.

Abstract: A power supply apparatus with a plurality of power supply circuits each having a piezoelectric transformer and a voltage-controlled oscillator which generates a signal at an operating frequency used to drive the piezoelectric transformer in accordance with a control signal, includes a frequency-dividing circuit which divides the operating frequency generated by a voltage-controlled oscillator in at least one power supply circuit, and outputs a signal at a driving frequency to drive a piezoelectric transformer in the one power supply circuit. When at least one power supply circuit and remaining power supply circuits output voltages, the operating frequency generated by the voltage-controlled oscillator in the one power supply circuit is controlled to be higher than the driving frequency.

Abstract: A power supply device generates an output voltage by driving a piezoelectric transformer using a frequency signal. The power supply device includes a comparison unit configured to compare an output voltage and a voltage setting signal that sets the output voltage, and a voltage control oscillation unit configured to generate the frequency signal to drive the piezoelectric transformer based on comparison results of the comparison unit. The voltage control oscillation unit generates the frequency signal within a range between the resonant frequency and a spurious resonant frequency closest to the resonant frequency.

Abstract: A power supply apparatus includes a piezoelectric transformer which outputs a voltage, a voltage-controlled oscillator which controls the frequency of an output signal in accordance with an input control signal, a power supply voltage supply element which is driven by a signal output from the voltage-controlled oscillator and applies a power supply voltage to the piezoelectric transformer, and an output voltage stop circuit (118) which outputs a signal for stopping driving the piezoelectric transformer on the basis of a control signal (Vcont).

Abstract: In a power supply apparatus including a plurality of power supply circuits, each of the power supply circuits has a piezoelectric transformer, a rectification element which rectifies and smoothes a voltage output from the piezoelectric transformer in accordance with a load and outputs the voltage, a voltage-controlled oscillator which controls the frequency of an output signal in accordance with an input control signal, and a power supply voltage supply element which is driven by a signal output from the voltage-controlled oscillator and supplies a power supply voltage to the piezoelectric transformer. One power supply circuit includes a resonance frequency change unit which is connected to the output side of the piezoelectric transformer.

Abstract: A power supply unit in an image forming apparatus is provided. The power supply unit includes a piezoelectric transformer, an output voltage detecting circuit which detects the output voltage of the piezoelectric transformer, a comparator which receives an output voltage setting signal, together with an output voltage detecting signal fed back from the output voltage detecting circuit, to compare the output voltage setting signal and the output voltage detecting signal, and a driving frequency supplying circuit which generates the driving frequency of the piezoelectric transformer in accordance with a comparison result by the comparator, and supplies the resultant driving frequency to the piezoelectric transformer. The time constant of the output voltage setting signal is longer than the time constant of the output voltage detecting circuit.

Abstract: In general, an image forming apparatus for transferring an image formed on an image carrier onto a recording sheet can attain higher-accuracy control by density control based on the patch density detected on a recording sheet after fixing than the patch density formed on the image carrier. In this case, recording sheets are wasted. Since a calibration process is executed at a predetermined timing, calibration is executed even during execution of a print job, in which calibration is not preferable. In this invention, whether a patch formed on an intermediate transfer member or recording sheet is detected is selected in accordance with a set control mode, and density control is done based on the obtained patch density, thus selectively executing density control that saves recording sheets, and more accurate density control using recording sheets. Since a print job is started after calibration is forcibly executed based on a user instruction, the calibration is never executed during the job.