US 2010/0135685 A1 · IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF

Abstract

An image forming apparatus and a control method thereof are disclosed. A charge unit charges a surface of an organic photo conductor (OPC) to a predetermined electric potential. A developing unit develops an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the OPC by coating a developer on the same. A power supply unit supplies power to the charge unit and the developing unit. A control unit regulates the power supplied to the charge unit and the developing unit. After a developing process in the developing unit, the control unit regulates the power applied to at least one of the charge unit and the developing unit so as to collect a residual developer on the surface of the OPC to the developing unit. Accordingly, contamination of the charge unit and the transfer unit can be prevented and an image of a good quality can be achieved.

Claims25

Dependent claims

An image forming apparatus, comprising:

a charge unit configured to charge a surface of an organic photo conductor (OPC) to a predetermined electric potential during a charging operation;
a developing unit configured to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the OPC by applying developer on the electrostatic latent image during a developing operation;
a power supply unit configured to supply voltages to the charge unit and the developing unit;
and
a control unit configured to control the voltages supplied to the charge unit and the developing unit,
wherein, during a non image forming operation in which no image is formed, the control unit is configured to control the power supply unit so as to cause at least one of the charge unit and the developing unit to be supplied with a voltage that is different from a normal charge voltage that is supplied to the charge unit during the charging operation and from a normal developing voltage that is supplied to the developing unit during the developing operation.

3 more elements

A method of controlling an image forming apparatus that includes a charge unit, a developing unit and an organic photo conductor (OPC), the image forming apparatus having an image forming mode in which a developer image is formed on the OPC and a non-image-forming mode in which no image is formed, the method comprising:

determining whether the image forming apparatus is in the non-image-forming mode;
and
when the image forming apparatus is in the non-image-forming mode, regulating a supply of voltage to at least one of the charge unit and the developing unit so as to cause the developer unit to collect residual developer from a surface of the OPC.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Image forming apparatus and control method thereof

Life of this patent

Image forming apparatus and control method thereof

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims25