Abstract: There is provided an information processing apparatus for communicating with a database storing information on errors which have occurred in an image forming apparatus. The information processing apparatus includes a controller configured to acquire, from the database, information on an error to be analyzed and information on a related error which occurred before an occurrence of the error to be analyzed, and determine a causal part being a cause of the error to be analyzed, based on error timing information related to a timing of occurrence of the error to be analyzed and error timing information related to a timing of occurrence of the related error.

Abstract: There is provided an information processing apparatus for communicating with a database storing information on errors which have occurred in an image forming apparatus. The information processing apparatus includes a controller configured to acquire, from the database, information on an error to be analyzed and information on a related error which occurred before an occurrence of the error to be analyzed, and determine a causal part being a cause of the error to be analyzed, based on error timing information related to a timing of occurrence of the error to be analyzed and error timing information related to a timing of occurrence of the related error.

Abstract: An apparatus is configured to obtain operating information related to an operation amount of an image forming apparatus through the communication circuit, obtain another operating information related to another operation amount of another image forming apparatus located in a same installation location at which the image forming apparatus is located, determine, based on the operating information and the another operating information, a replacement timing for replacing a consumable component used in the image forming apparatus, and output the replacement timing.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus, which is configured to form measurement images for detecting color misregistration exhibited in a main scanning direction on an intermediate transfer belt in the order of: a measurement image of a reference color, a measurement image of a second color, a measurement image of the reference color, a measurement image of a third color, a measurement image of the reference color, a measurement image of a fourth color, and a measurement image of the reference color in a sub-scanning direction. The image forming apparatus is also configured to detect the measurement images for detecting color misregistration over an entire area of the intermediate transfer belt in the main scanning direction by a line sensor unit, and to correct color misregistration exhibited in the main scanning direction based on detection results.

Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus according to one aspect of this invention includes a light source that outputs a light beam having a light power based on a supplied driving current, a detection unit that detects the light power of the light beam, and a voltage holding unit that holds a charged voltage used to control the driving current. The optical scanning apparatus further includes a control unit that controls a charging unit so that the voltage holding unit is charged in a state where the driving current is not supplied to the light source, and controls the charging unit based on a detection result of the detection unit so that the voltage held in the voltage holding unit is controlled from the voltage of the voltage holding unit charged in the state where the driving current is not supplied to the light source.

Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus according to one aspect of this invention includes a light source that outputs a light beam having a light power based on a supplied driving current, a detection unit that detects the light power of the light beam, and a voltage holding unit that holds a charged voltage used to control the driving current. The optical scanning apparatus further includes a control unit that controls a charging unit so that the voltage holding unit is charged in a state where the driving current is not supplied to the light source, and controls the charging unit based on a detection result of the detection unit so that the voltage held in the voltage holding unit is controlled from the voltage of the voltage holding unit charged in the state where the driving current is not supplied to the light source.

Abstract: The optical scanning apparatus correctly measures a gap between the laser beams of a plurality of the laser beams even when the scanning speed is changed and when the variation is caused, rightly corrects the variation. Thus, the optical scanning apparatus inputs detection signal BD_IN to the edge detecting unit at timing at which the laser beam is detected. During the enable gating, the count value representing the distance between the head laser beam and the end laser beam is counted in the counting unit. A plurality of speed ratio parameters according to the degree of changes in the scanning speed is input in the selector. The selector selects any one of the speed ratio parameters and multiplies by the count value by the multiplier, it is controlled to obtain the same multiplication result whichever scanning speed may be selected.

Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus according to one aspect of this invention includes a light source that outputs a light beam having a light power based on a supplied driving current, a detection unit that detects the light power of the light beam, and a voltage holding unit that holds a charged voltage used to control the driving current. The optical scanning apparatus further includes a control unit that controls a charging unit so that the voltage holding unit is charged in a state where the driving current is not supplied to the light source, and controls the charging unit based on a detection result of the detection unit so that the voltage held in the voltage holding unit is controlled from the voltage of the voltage holding unit charged in the state where the driving current is not supplied to the light source.

Abstract: A droop characteristic or an inverse droop characteristic may fail to be sufficiently corrected depending on the temperature of a semiconductor laser. An image forming apparatus includes a droop correction unit configured to supply a correction current of which an attenuation tendency or a gradual increase tendency changes according to data about the temperature.

Abstract: A droop characteristic or an inverse droop characteristic may fail to be sufficiently corrected depending on the temperature of a semiconductor laser. An image forming apparatus includes a droop correction unit configured to supply a correction current of which an attenuation tendency or a gradual increase tendency changes according to data about the temperature.

Abstract: The optical scanning apparatus correctly measures a gap between the laser beams of a plurality of the laser beams even when the scanning speed is changed and when the variation is caused, rightly corrects the variation. Thus, the optical scanning apparatus inputs detection signal BD_IN to the edge detecting unit at timing at which the laser beam is detected. During the enable gating, the count value representing the distance between the head laser beam and the end laser beam is counted in the counting unit. A plurality of speed ratio parameters according to the degree of changes in the scanning speed is input in the selector. The selector selects any one of the speed ratio parameters and multiplies by the count value by the multiplier, it is controlled to obtain the same multiplication result whichever scanning speed may be selected.

Abstract: An exposure apparatus according to this invention uses, as a correction value, the difference between a threshold current obtained from the light emitting characteristics of a single laser light source when only the single laser light source emits a laser beam, and a threshold current obtained from the light emitting characteristics of the single laser light source when the single laser light source emits a laser beam while the bias currents are supplied to the remaining laser light sources other than the single laser light source. The exposure apparatus uses the correction value to correct bias currents and switching currents determined by APC, and exposes the surface of an image carrier with laser beams output from the plurality of laser light sources based on the corrected bias currents and switching currents.

Abstract: An exposure apparatus according to this invention uses, as a correction value, the difference between a threshold current obtained from the light emitting characteristics of a single laser light source when only the single laser light source emits a laser beam, and a threshold current obtained from the light emitting characteristics of the single laser light source when the single laser light source emits a laser beam while the bias currents are supplied to the remaining laser light sources other than the single laser light source. The exposure apparatus uses the correction value to correct bias currents and switching currents determined by APC, and exposes the surface of an image carrier with laser beams output from the plurality of laser light sources based on the corrected bias currents and switching currents.

Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus controls an output of a light source for forming an electrostatic latent image on an image carrier. The optical scanning apparatus includes a correction amount control unit configured to variably control a light quantity correction amount of the light source according to a scanning position on the image carrier during one scanning operation with a beam generated from the light source, an output signal level changing unit configured to change a level of an output signal from the correction amount control unit, and a light quantity control unit configured to control a light quantity of the light source according to the scanning position based on a signal from the output signal level changing unit.

Abstract: A scanning optical apparatus includes, for example, a light source that outputs a light beam that has been pulse width modulated in accordance with input image data and a deflection unit that deflects the light beam so that the light beam scans the surface of an image carrier in the main scanning direction. The scanning optical apparatus furthermore includes a correction unit that corrects the pulse width and light amount applied to the light beam at each scanning position in the main scanning direction on the image carrier in accordance with focus error in the light beam at each scanning position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a calibration mode in which a calibration image is formed on a print medium to correct image forming conditions. The image forming apparatus detects print medium information to determine, on the basis of the print medium information, whether the print medium is a sheet recommended as a print medium for use in the calibration mode. The image forming apparatus sets calibration conditions corresponding to the determined recommended sheet. The image forming apparatus corrects the image forming conditions on the basis of the set calibration conditions.

Abstract: A scanning optical apparatus includes, for example, a determination unit, a correction unit, a creating unit, and a drive control unit. The determination unit determines an amount of correction of an image clock for controlling an output timing of a beam for each pixel constituting one line in a main scanning direction of the beam. The correction unit corrects the image clock in accordance with the amount of correction that is determined. The creating unit creates an image signal that is utilized for driving a light source in accordance with the image clock that is corrected. The drive control unit controls driving of the light source in accordance with the image signal.

Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus controls an output of a light source for forming an electrostatic latent image on an image carrier. The optical scanning apparatus includes a correction amount control unit configured to variably control a light quantity correction amount of the light source according to a scanning position on the image carrier during one scanning operation with a beam generated from the light source, an output signal level changing unit configured to change a level of an output signal from the correction amount control unit, and a light quantity control unit configured to control a light quantity of the light source according to the scanning position based on a signal from the output signal level changing unit.

Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus controls an output of a light source for forming an electrostatic latent image on an image carrier. The optical scanning apparatus includes a correction amount control unit configured to variably control a light quantity correction amount of the light source according to a scanning position on the image carrier during one scanning operation with a beam generated from the light source, an output signal level changing unit configured to change a level of an output signal from the correction amount control unit, and a light quantity control unit configured to control a light quantity of the light source according to the scanning position based on a signal from the output signal level changing unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a calibration mode in which a calibration image is formed on a print medium to correct image forming conditions. The image forming apparatus detects print medium information to determine, on the basis of the print medium information, whether the print medium is a sheet recommended as a print medium for use in the calibration mode. The image forming apparatus sets calibration conditions corresponding to the determined recommended sheet. The image forming apparatus corrects the image forming conditions on the basis of the set calibration conditions.