Image forming apparatus that applies necessary amount of lubricant to image bearing member

{
  "publication_number": "US2013017006A1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "A1",
  "title": "Image forming apparatus that applies necessary amount of lubricant to image bearing member",
  "abstract": "An image forming apparatus configured to apply a necessary amount of a lubricant to an image bearing member while preventing the lubricant from being excessively consumed. An intermediate transfer belt drive motor controlled by a PID controller drives an intermediate transfer belt. A brush rotation controller for controlling an application brush drive motor detects fluctuation in a frictional force between a cleaning blade and the intermediate transfer belt, and controls the application brush drive motor such that an amount of lubricant to be applied is an amount corresponding to the detected fluctuation in the frictional force.",
  "claims": [
    "1. An image forming apparatus comprising: an image bearing member configured to bear a toner image; a first drive unit configured to drive said image bearing member; a first control unit configured to control said first drive unit; a cleaning unit configured to clean a surface of said image bearing member; a lubricant application unit configured to apply a lubricant to the surface of said image bearing member; a second drive unit configured to drive said lubricant application unit; and a second control unit configured to control said second drive unit, wherein said second control unit detects fluctuation in a frictional force between said cleaning unit and said image bearing member, and controls said second drive unit such that an amount of lubricant to be applied becomes an amount corresponding to the detected fluctuation in the frictional force. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said lubricant application unit is configured to bring a rotating fur brush into sliding contact with a solid lubricant and the surface of said image bearing member, and wherein said second control unit controls a rotational speed of the fur brush to thereby control an amount of application of the solid lubricant to the surface of said image bearing member. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when said first control unit drivingly controls said image bearing member at a constant speed, said second control unit detects the fluctuation in the frictional force based on a value obtained by subtracting a minimum value of a control output value output from said first control unit to said first drive unit from a maximum value of the control output value, during a predetermined sampling period. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when said first control unit drivingly controls said image bearing member at a constant speed, said second control unit detects the fluctuation in the frictional force based on a value obtained by subtracting a minimum value of a speed of said image bearing member from a maximum value of the speed, during a predetermined sampling period. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when said first control unit drivingly controls said image bearing member at a constant speed, said second control unit detects the fluctuation in the frictional force based on a value obtained by subtracting a minimum value of a motor drive current value indicative of a motor drive current flowing through said first drive unit from a maximum value of the motor drive current value, during a predetermined sampling period. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said image bearing member is a photosensitive drum. 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said image bearing member is an intermediate transfer member."
  ],
  "cpc": [
    "G03G 15/5008",
    "G03G 21/0005",
    "G03G 21/0094",
    "G03G 2215/0129"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "CANON KK",
    "SUDA TAKEYUKI"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2012-07-10",
  "publication_date": "2013-01-17",
  "priority_date": "2011-07-13",
  "application_number": "US-201213545151-A",
  "family_id": "46969967",
  "citations": [
    "JP2009294248A",
    "US2008069614A1",
    "US2009324310A1",
    "US2011064433A1",
    "US6775511B2",
    "US7209699B2"
  ]
}