JP2010072379A - Particle behavior analysis device, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the use of memory for analysis of a particle behavior using a cell method. <P>SOLUTION: Whether each cell is within an analysis area is determined (determination whether inside/outside an analysis area), an analysis object cell setting part 260 is configured to specify the cell where the behavior analysis is truly required, based on the results of determination whether the cell is within the analysis area. The cells as a non-movable area where the particles never move in the analysis area are excluded from the analysis object and regarded as excluded cells JS, and only the cells where the analysis is truly required are set as analysis object cells KS. The memory is allocated to only the analysis object cells KS, and correspondence information between the particle and the analysis object cell KS is formed, and used for an interaction force calculation with respect to a short distance and a long distance. Regarding the excluded cells, mapping of particles is not performed. As compared with a comparison example where the particle behavior is analyzed after forming correspondence information with the particle is formed with respect to all the cells including the excluded cells JS, the use of memory is reduced by the amount of the excluded cells JS. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a particle behavior analysis apparatus and a program.

  A mechanism for analyzing the behavior of powder and granules (both meaning the aggregate of individual particles) by simulation is considered. For example, a state in which one or more kinds of particles are mixed in powder (toner particles, carrier particles, etc.) used in an image forming apparatus such as a printer device, a facsimile device, or a multifunction device having the functions thereof Analyzes the behavior of particles in the simulation.

  For example, when an electrophotographic system is used in an image forming apparatus, generally, a uniform electrostatic charge is applied to a photoconductive insulator such as a photosensitive drum, and the photoconductive insulator is applied to the photoconductive insulator by various means. An electrostatic latent image is formed by irradiating a light image, and then the formed latent image is developed and visualized using a magnetic powder using a developing device, and the toner powder image is transferred to a recording medium such as paper. Fix to obtain printed matter.

  In such an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the magnetic powder contained in the container is agitated, conveyed to the magnetic roller, adsorbed to the magnetic roller, and charged according to the recorded image to form a latent image. The behavior such as flight to the existing photoconductor affects the quality of the recorded image. Therefore, analysis of the behavior of the magnetic powder is important for the development of the electrophotographic apparatus main body and the developing apparatus.

  A method called individual element method or discrete particle method is widely used for behavior simulation of individual particles (see Patent Documents 1 and 2). The discrete element method is a method of accurately simulating the behavior of powder by tracking the behavior of individual particles constituting the powder based on the equation of motion. Particle behavior analysis that handles the properties of powder as individual particles is also called particle simulation.

JP 2005-122354 A JP 2007-286514 A

  For example, in Patent Document 1, the cell method is applied to the calculation of the interaction force between particles, and the cell size is optimized according to the effective distance of the interaction between particles.

  In Patent Document 2, the cell method is applied to the calculation of the interaction force between particles, and the cell size is optimized according to the particle size ratio and the particle density.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism capable of reducing the amount of memory used compared to the prior art when performing particle behavior analysis by applying the cell method.

  The invention according to claim 1 is a particle behavior calculation unit that calculates the behavior of particles included in each of the small regions divided into a plurality of small regions with respect to the analysis region that is a target region for particle behavior analysis, A storage unit that stores data used in the calculation process in the particle behavior calculation unit, and an exclusion that is a small region corresponding to a non-moving region in which particles cannot move among the small regions obtained by dividing the analysis region Analysis target instructing the particle behavior calculation unit to calculate the behavior of particles by setting the part excluding the small region as the analysis target small region, creating the correspondence information between the particles and the small region for this analysis target small region And a small region setting unit.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the analysis target small region setting unit takes in moving boundary specifying information that can specify a boundary where particles move, and the moving boundary specifying information is included in the moving boundary specifying information. And determining whether or not there is a non-moving region in the analysis region, and when there is a non-moving region, a non-analysis small region specifying unit that excludes the small region corresponding to the non-moving region from the analysis target. Have.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, when a part of the small area is included in the non-moving area but the rest is not included in the non-moving area, the small area is A determination condition for determining whether or not to exclude from the analysis target is defined, and the non-analysis small region specifying unit includes a part of the small region to be determined as the non-moving region, but the rest is the non-moving region When it is not included in the region, it is determined whether or not to exclude the small region from the analysis target based on the determination condition.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the present invention, the determination condition is whether or not an area ratio occupied by the non-moving region in the small region exceeds a threshold value.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the third or fourth aspect of the present invention, the information processing apparatus further includes a change receiving unit that receives a change in the determination condition.

  The invention according to claim 6 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the analysis target small region setting unit is partially included in the non-moving region, but the rest For a small area that is not included in the non-moving area, an area setting receiving unit that receives an instruction as to whether or not to exclude the small area from the analysis target is provided, and the small area is selected according to the instruction received by the area setting receiving unit. Decide whether to exclude from analysis.

  The invention according to claim 7 is the analysis region information presentation unit that presents information on the excluded small region and / or the analysis target small region in the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 6. Is further provided.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an analysis region dividing unit that divides an analysis region, which is a target region for particle behavior analysis, into a plurality of regions, and a plurality of small analysis regions for each divided analysis region divided by the analysis region dividing unit. A particle behavior calculation unit that calculates the behavior of particles contained in each of the small regions divided into regions, and a storage unit that stores data used in the calculation process in the particle behavior calculation unit. It is a particle behavior analyzer.

  According to a ninth aspect of the invention, in the ninth aspect of the invention, the analysis region dividing unit is further configured to determine whether the divided analysis region is divided based on information on a non-moving region where particles cannot move. The analysis area is divided into a plurality of areas so that there are those that do not include the non-moving area.

  The invention according to claim 10 is a particle behavior calculation unit that calculates the behavior of particles included in each of the small regions divided into a plurality of small regions for the analysis region that is a target region of particle behavior analysis, Of the sub-regions that divide the analysis region, the portion excluding the exclusion sub-region that corresponds to the non-moving region where particles cannot move is set as the sub-region to be analyzed. And the analysis target small region setting unit that instructs the particle behavior calculation unit to create the correspondence information between the small region and calculate the particle behavior.

  The invention described in claim 12 includes an analysis region dividing unit that divides an analysis region, which is a target region for particle behavior analysis, into a plurality of regions, and a plurality of small analysis regions for each divided analysis region divided by the analysis region dividing unit. This is a program that causes a computer to function as a particle behavior calculation unit that calculates the behavior of particles contained in each small region divided into regions.

  According to the first aspect of the invention, when the particle behavior analysis is performed by applying the cell method, the memory usage can be reduced as compared with the case where the invention according to the first aspect is not adopted.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to automatically perform processing for excluding a small region corresponding to a non-moving region from the analysis target.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to automatically perform processing for excluding a small region corresponding to a non-moving region from the analysis target according to the determination condition.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to automatically perform processing for excluding a small region corresponding to the non-moving region from the analysis target in accordance with the area ratio occupied by the non-moving region in the small region.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to change the determination condition when performing the process of excluding the small area corresponding to the non-moving area from the analysis target.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the process of excluding the small area corresponding to the non-moving area from the analysis target can be performed manually.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, it is possible to confirm the excluded small area and / or the analysis target small area.

  According to the invention described in claim 8, when the particle behavior analysis is performed by applying the cell method, the memory usage can be reduced as compared with the case where the invention according to claim 8 is not adopted.

  According to the ninth aspect of the invention, when the particle behavior analysis is performed by applying the cell method, the memory usage can be reduced as compared with the case where the invention according to the ninth aspect is not adopted.

  According to the invention described in claim 10, when performing the particle behavior analysis by applying the cell method, there is provided a program capable of reducing the memory usage as compared with the case where the invention according to claim 10 is not adopted. It becomes possible.

  According to the eleventh aspect of the invention, there is provided a program capable of reducing the amount of memory used when performing the particle behavior analysis by applying the cell method as compared with the case where the invention according to the eleventh aspect is not adopted. It becomes possible.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following, an image forming apparatus such as a printer apparatus, a facsimile apparatus, or a multifunction machine having these functions will be described as an example of an apparatus in which particles to be analyzed exist.

  In relation to the analysis target particles, attention is paid to developer behavior analysis in a developing device of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus using only toner particles or a developer composed of carrier particles and toner particles. However, this is merely an example, and an apparatus to which the mechanism of the present embodiment is applied is not limited to an image forming apparatus.

<Outline of image forming apparatus>
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus such as a printing apparatus (printer) or a copying apparatus (copier). As shown in the figure, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a charging device 20 including a DC power source 22, an AC bias power source 24, and a charging unit 26 arranged around the photoreceptor 10, a laser light source 32, and a polygon mirror. 34, a developing device 40 having a stirring mechanism (not shown), a transfer device 50 having a transfer power source 52 and a transfer unit 54, a cleaning device 60 having a blade mechanism, and a paper transport path. And a fixing device 70 having a roll mechanism arranged at a predetermined position on the wake side.

  The developing device 40 is filled with developer particles 102. In the figure, one developer particle 102 is indicated by one circle for convenience. Actually, the developer particle 102 is, for example, a two-component system constituted by containing carrier particles made of magnetic materials having different physical properties and particle sizes and non-magnetic toner particles (for example, black toner particles). Is. A magnetic powder is formed as a whole by a pair of carrier particles and toner particles. The toner particles are adsorbed to the carrier particles by electrostatic force. In general, the particle size of the carrier particles is larger than the particle size of the toner particles. Note that magnetic toner may be used as the toner particles.

  The developing device 40 includes a developing roll 140 (also referred to as a mag roll, a magnet roller, or a magnetic transport roller), which is an example of a carrying roll carrying the developer particles 102 on the surface, in the storage container 101, and a peripheral surface having an opening 101a. Prepare to stick out a little. A predetermined number of magnets 142 are arranged in the developing roll 140 at predetermined intervals along the inner peripheral edge thereof.

  Further, the developing device 40 includes a regulating blade 150 that functions as a height regulating member or a layer forming member in the vicinity of the developing roll 140, and a magnetic brush (earing up) of the developer particles 102 formed along the lines of magnetic force of the magnet 142. ) Height is regulated.

  The developing roll 140 rotates together with the photoconductor 10 rotated in the direction of arrow X, and the rotational movement direction of the surface on the side facing the photoconductor 10 rotates in the same direction as the movement direction X of the photoconductor 10 (arrow Y direction). Is done. The photosensitive member 10 may be driven to rotate in the direction opposite to the moving direction X.

  The developer particles 102 are conveyed to the developing roll 140 side while being agitated and frictionally charged by an agitating and conveying roll (not shown) having an agitating function. The amount of adsorption of the developer particles 102 to the developing roll 140 is regulated by the regulating blade 150, and the developer particles 102 adhere to the periphery of the developing roll 140 at a certain height. The carrier particles constitute a magnetic brush by a magnetic field from a magnet 142 built in the developing roll 140. The toner particles are transported together with the carrier particles to a portion facing the photoreceptor 10.

  When the image forming apparatus 1 is configured as a copying apparatus, first, the charging device 20 generates a charging potential (initial potential) by superimposing the AC bias voltage from the AC bias power source 24 on the DC voltage from the DC power source 22. With this charging potential, the surface of the photoreceptor 10 is charged to a uniform surface potential.

  After that, a polygon mirror 34 that is rotated by a motor 36 with a laser beam emitted from a laser light source 32 provided on the exposure device 30 on the surface of the photoreceptor 10 in accordance with image data obtained by scanning the original with a reading device (not shown). Scanning, the surface of the photoconductor 10 is exposed to form an electrostatic latent image having a desired latent image potential.

  Subsequently, the developing device 40 forms the toner particles in the developer particles 102 on the surface of the photoconductor 10 while mixing the developer particles 102 such as output color toner particles and carrier particles in a stirring mechanism (not shown). A toner image is formed on the surface of the photoconductor 10 by being superimposed on the electrostatic latent image.

  That is, the developing roller 140 is provided to face the photoconductor 10, and the toner particles among the developer particles 102 adsorbed to the developing roller 140 are charged and are adsorbed to the photoconductor 10 by electrostatic force. The At this time, the surface of the photoconductor 10 is charged according to the recorded image to form an electrostatic latent image, and the toner particles are adsorbed according to the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor 10. The As a result, the latent image formed on the surface of the photoconductor 10 is developed. The carrier particles after the development processing and the toner particles that have not been ejected to the photoconductor 10 are collected in the storage container 101.

  Thereafter, the transfer device 50 transfers the toner image formed on the surface of the photoreceptor 10 onto the printing paper conveyed from the outside. A predetermined range where the photoconductor 10 and the transfer unit 54 face each other is referred to as a transfer region.

  The transferred sheet is conveyed to the fixing device 70 side, and the fixing device 70 fixes the toner image onto a printing sheet as a transfer body by heating, melting and pressing. The fixed paper is discharged out of the image forming apparatus 1 by a discharge device (not shown).

  On the other hand, the cleaning device 60 removes residual toner remaining on the surface of the photoreceptor 10 after being transferred by the transfer device 50. Although the residual potential remains on the surface of the photoreceptor 10 after cleaning, it is used in the next electrophotographic process after the initial potential is applied by the charging device 20.

  In the case where the image forming apparatus 1 for color image formation is configured, as a configuration of a main part related to image formation, for example, the toner image of the photoconductor 10 is directly applied to a sheet by a transfer device 50 on a sheet as a transfer body. For example, a plurality of engines corresponding to output colors of K (black), Y (yellow), M (magenta), and C (cyan) are inlined in the order of K → Y → M → C, for example. The K, Y, M, and C images are processed in parallel (simultaneously) by four engines, that is, the photosensitive member 10 is placed on the intermediate transfer belt one color at a time according to the arrangement position. The toner image may be transferred (particularly referred to as primary transfer), and then the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt may be transferred onto the paper (particularly referred to as secondary transfer). .

  In such an electrophotographic process, charging of the photoconductor 10, exposure of a scanned original image, development, that is, toner superimposition on the photoconductor 10, toner transfer to a sheet and toner fixing, and cleaning of the photoconductor 10 are performed. Become. In the electrophotographic process, for example, by applying a powder behavior analysis simulation in each process such as stirring, development, and transfer, an image to be formed is predicted and evaluated without actually performing an image forming experiment. Analysis of the behavior of carrier particles and toner particles is an important factor for the development of the electrophotographic apparatus main body and the developing apparatus 40.

  In the analysis of the developing device 40, an agitation process, a development process, and the like are analyzed. For example, a predetermined range area on the stirring and conveying roll side of the regulating blade 150 is referred to as a layer formation area, and in the particle behavior analysis for the developer particles 102, the effects of a magnetic field and a gravitational field are considered. In addition, a predetermined range area stirred and conveyed by the agitating and conveying roll is referred to as an agitating and conveying area, and the action of the gravitational field is considered in the particle behavior analysis for the developer particles 102.

  A predetermined area where the developer particles 102 between the agitating and conveying area and the layer forming area are magnetically attracted to the developing roll 140 is referred to as a pickup area. In the particle behavior analysis of the developer particles 102, the action of a magnetic field and a gravitational field Consider.

  A range area where the peripheral edges of the photoconductor 10 and the developing roll 140 face each other and a developing action is performed is referred to as a developing nip area. . A predetermined range area in which the developer particles 102 are collected is referred to as a pick-off area. In the particle behavior analysis of the developer particles 102, the effects of a magnetic field and a gravitational field are taken into consideration.

  The surface of the photoconductor 10 is charged according to the recorded image, and the toner particles fly to the surface of the photoconductor 10 by electrostatic force. The flying toner particles adhere to the surface of the photoconductor 10, and a toner image corresponding to the recorded image is formed. At this time, the image quality of the recorded image depends on how the toner particles are attracted to the photoreceptor 10. Since the toner particles are conveyed to the photoconductor 10 by the carrier particles, how the toner particles are adsorbed to the photoconductor 10 is determined by the carrier particles in the developing nip region between the developing roll 140 and the photoconductor 10 and It is determined by the behavior of the toner particles.

  Further, in the transfer process in the transfer device 50, while changing condition parameters in the transfer process such as the surface roughness of the photoreceptor, the speed difference between the transfer bodies such as the photoreceptor / intermediate transfer belt and paper, and the contact width of the transfer body, By repeating the powder behavior analysis simulation, the image quality formed is evaluated while reproducing the transfer process. Incidentally, in the particle behavior analysis for the transfer process, an electric field and a gravitational field acting on the developer particles 102 (particularly toner particles) are considered.

<Particle behavior analysis system; basics>
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the basic configuration of the particle behavior analysis system. The particle behavior analysis system 200 having a basic configuration is configured by connecting a plurality of particle behavior analysis devices 202 each having a particle behavior analysis function to a network.

  Each particle behavior analysis device 202 communicates main processing data to each other via a network 208, and can perform particle behavior analysis processing in parallel. It is configured as a parallel computing device (cluster computer). The network 208 is managed by a network management device 208a whose communication state has a routing function.

  As an example, each particle behavior analysis device 202 may be configured by the same as a general electronic computer. In the illustrated example, one of the particle behavior analysis devices 202 constituting the particle behavior analysis system 200 functions as a main particle behavior analysis device 202a having a function of a calculation management node that controls the whole. ing. The remaining particle behavior analysis device 202 is connected to the main particle behavior analysis device 202a as a sub particle behavior analysis device 202b controlled by the main particle behavior analysis device 202a.

  In the figure, for convenience, one network line is drawn from the network management device 208a, and the main particle behavior analysis device 202a and the secondary particle behavior analysis device 202b are connected to the network line. Each particle behavior analysis device 202 is connected to an individual port provided in the network management device 208a, and communication between each particle behavior analysis device 202 is performed via the network management device 208a. .

  Connected to the main particle behavior analysis device 202a are an instruction input device 210 such as a keyboard and a mouse for performing various operations for particle behavior analysis processing, and a display device 212 for presenting the processing results as image information to the operator. Has been.

  By adopting such a basic system configuration, when performing particle behavior analysis processing for a system with multiple types of multi-particle interactions, each particle's magnetic interaction, electrostatic interaction, or mechanical interaction For each interaction such as an action (contact force; contact force between a wall or the like and contact between particles), a behavior analysis is executed by parallel processing by applying a predetermined division method. The mechanical interaction is, for example, a contact force between a wall or other object and particles, or a contact force due to contact between particles.

  For example, the magnetic force is calculated for carrier particles using a magnetic field analysis method based on the Maxwell equation, the electrostatic field analysis focusing on the Coulomb force is performed for the toner particles, and the contact between the carrier particles and the toner particles is further performed. The force is calculated from the contact amount of the particles, and finally, the equations of motion are solved by combining the acting forces to predict the behavior of the developer particles 102 with high accuracy.

  In the basic configuration of the particle behavior analysis system 200 shown in FIG. 2, the configuration of a virtual parallel computer (cluster computer) is shown, but this is only an example. Although not shown in the figure, a plurality of particle behavior analysis systems each configured with a plurality of particle behavior analysis devices each having a particle behavior analysis function connected to the first network as a parallel computer are further separated. It is good also as what was connected and comprised by the 2nd network. In this case, each particle behavior analysis system can transmit main processing data to each other via an external network (second network), and can execute different particle behavior analysis processing for different objects in parallel. The particle behavior analysis system of a modified example is configured as a grid-type computing device formed by connecting a virtual parallel computing device over a network.

<Particle behavior analysis apparatus; first embodiment>
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the first embodiment of the particle behavior analysis apparatus 202. Here, the main particle behavior analysis apparatus 202a having the function of the calculation management node is particularly shown.

  As shown in the figure, the main particle behavior analysis device 202a uses a command input device 210 or the like to input data to be processed 220, a data processing unit 230 for performing particle behavior analysis processing, and a processing result display device 212. Etc., and an information presentation unit 240 that presents it to the operator. The data input unit 220 and the information presentation unit 240 are provided in a portion corresponding to the calculation management node of the main particle behavior analysis apparatus 202a.

  The data input unit 220 accepts commands and data input by the operator via the keyboard and mouse constituting the instruction input device 210 and passes them to the data processing unit 230.

  The data processing unit 230 performs a particle behavior analysis process described later based on the data input from the data input unit 220. More specifically, the data processing unit 230 includes a data receiving unit 232, a numerical operation processing unit 234 (particle behavior calculation unit), an output data processing unit 236, and a data storage unit 238 (hereinafter also referred to as a memory). The data processing unit 230 is included in the secondary particle behavior analysis apparatus 202b.

  The data receiving unit 232 includes a data storage unit (not shown), stores the data input from the data input unit 220 in the data storage unit, and supplies data necessary for numerical calculation to the numerical operation processing unit 234. To do. The data storage unit of the data receiving unit 232 stores, for example, data on the configuration of the developing device 40 to be analyzed, the coordinates of the developer particles 102, physical property values, and the like.

  Based on the data supplied from the data receiving unit 232, the numerical calculation processing unit 234 performs magnetic interaction, electrostatic interaction, or the like on the developer particles 102 (specifically, carrier particles and toner particles) that are examples of particles. Analyze particle behavior that considers multiple interactions such as mechanical interaction (contact force) at the same time by simulation processing by applying force division method or region division method. The numerical operation processing unit 234 supplies the analysis result to the output data processing unit 236.

  The data storage unit 238 is a device that stores parameter table data for calculating an interaction, and is connected to the numerical operation processing unit 234 via a memory bus (MBUS). Here, the data storage unit 238 is also referred to as a temporary storage unit 238a similar to a built-in memory (also referred to as a cache memory) built on the same semiconductor substrate as a so-called CPU and a so-called main memory. It is composed of an external semiconductor storage medium (for example, having a capacity of several hundred MB to several GB) and an external storage device 238b such as a hard disk drive (HDD) having a larger capacity (several hundred GB or more) than the main memory. As is well known, the CPU access is faster in the cache memory than in the main memory.

  Further, the main particle behavior analysis apparatus 202a divides the processing target element into a part corresponding to the calculation management node by a predetermined division method, and each calculation system (also referred to as a processor; the particle behavior analysis apparatus 202 in FIG. 2). Is provided with a division processing unit 250 having a boundary setting function for allocating each divided portion.

  The data processing unit 230 and the division processing unit 250 of the present embodiment perform processing that introduces periodic boundary conditions so that the calculation load can be reduced as compared with the application of only the simple force division method. For example, when calculating the interaction of a plurality of particles such as a long-distance force and a short-distance force, the analysis processing time is shortened by adopting a particle behavior analysis process using the force division method without using the region division method. However, in the particle behavior analysis process using such a force division method, particle information (coordinates) is communicated every step in order to calculate the short distance force, so the communication load is less than when applying region division. It becomes large and high parallelization performance cannot be obtained.

  It is not limited to the force division method that the communication load increases when the division method is applied to perform parallel processing on a plurality of computers. As a general problem in parallel processing, when a plurality of processors are used, the ratio of communication time in the total processing time increases according to the number of parallel processing, and the effect of parallelization becomes saturated. On the other hand, in relation to the analysis target area size, regardless of the division method, if the analysis target area size is large, it is considered that the number of analysis target particles in that area will increase. Calculation load increases.

  Here, as a method of reducing the calculation load without reducing the analysis accuracy, there is a method of introducing a periodic boundary condition into the region division method. In the method of introducing the periodic boundary condition, when an analysis is performed assuming an analysis region, an analysis region (copy region) having a virtual predetermined shape with respect to the region of interest is repeatedly arranged in a one-dimensional direction. It handles particle motion and magnetic interaction. Specifically, the upper and lower surfaces of the region of interest are assumed to have mechanical interaction with particles as normal fixed boundaries, but the boundary in the depth direction of the region of interest (the side surface in the axial direction if a roll) It is assumed that there is no mechanical interaction with the particles and that the particles can pass through. However, particles that have moved beyond the region of interest beyond the boundary are placed in the copy region on the opposite side while maintaining the state of motion at that time. In addition, it is assumed that particles near the boundary in the depth direction are subjected to magnetic interaction from particles virtually existing outside the region of interest (that is, the copy region).

  In the method of the present embodiment, such a concept of the periodic boundary condition is introduced when the force division method is applied.

  The numerical calculation processing unit 234 of the present embodiment divides the analysis region (calculation target region) into a plurality of small regions regardless of what the division method is, and the behavior of the particles included in each of the divided small regions. Apply the cell method to calculate the behavior.

  The output data processing unit 236 receives the calculation result in the numerical calculation processing unit 234, converts the calculation result in the numerical calculation processing unit 234 into display data, and supplies the display data to the display device 212. The display device 212 displays a processing result image based on the display data supplied from the output data processing unit 236. The behavior prediction of the developer particle 102 is visualized and displayed on the display device 212 so that the behavior of the developer particle 102 that is actually difficult to confirm can be visually grasped.

  The data processor 230 of each processor applies a particle behavior analysis method to which an individual element method for tracking the behavior of individual particles based on the equation of motion is applied. In addition, at least when applying the individual element method, a region division method, a force division method, a particle division method, a combination of these methods, or a plurality of computers applying any of the other division methods Apply parallel processing. The region division method is a method in which an analysis region (calculation target region) that is a processing target element is divided and all particles existing in the region are allocated to each processor for each divided region. The particle division method is a method of dividing a calculation target particle, which is a processing target element, by a predetermined number and assigning it to each processor. The force division method is a method using an algorithm using a force matrix.

  The division processing unit 250 divides the analysis target region into a plurality of regions instead of collectively setting the entire analysis target device, and further divides the analysis target region into a plurality of regions, It is preferable to apply a particle division method or a force division method. For example, when analyzing the entire developing device 40, the analysis may be performed separately for the agitating and conveying area, the pickup area, the layer forming area, the developing nip area, and the pick-off area.

  The secondary particle behavior analysis apparatus 202b includes, as characteristic features of the present embodiment, an analysis target small region setting unit 260 that sets a small region (cell) to be analyzed in the numerical calculation processing unit 234, and an analysis region information presentation unit 270. Is provided. The analysis target small region setting unit 260 includes a non-analysis target small region specifying unit 262, a change receiving unit 264, and a manual region setting receiving unit 266. The analysis-target small region specifying unit 262 determines whether each cell is within the analysis region or outside the analysis region (analysis inside / outside determination), and the analysis target small region setting unit 260 determines whether the analysis region is inside or outside the analysis region. Based on the results, the cells that really need behavioral analysis are identified.

  The analysis target small region setting unit 260 may automatically set the cell size (small region size) based on the particle size. Further, the analysis target small region setting unit 260 may automatically set a cutoff distance (range) from the cell size. Further, the analysis target small region setting unit 260 may automatically set the cell size (range) from the cutoff distance. The analysis target small region setting unit 260 may determine an effective distance for each interaction acting between particles, and may automatically set the cell size according to the maximum value and the minimum value of the effective distance of the interaction.

  Information on the configuration of the analysis target device (for example, the developing device 40) is input from the data receiving unit 232 to the non-analysis target small region specifying unit 262. The information on the configuration of the analysis target device includes information (movement boundary specifying information) that can specify the boundary where the particles move. For example, in the case of the developing device 40, the position information is a position of a member (such as a developing roll 140 or an agitating / conveying roll) corresponding to an area where the developer particles 102 in the storage container 101 cannot move (referred to as a non-moving area).

  The non-analysis small area specifying unit 262 automatically determines whether or not there is a non-moving area in the analysis area based on the moving boundary specifying information from the data receiving unit 232. A cell corresponding to the non-moving area is excluded from the analysis target. For example, in the developing device 40, the developer particles 102 can move outside the developing roll 140, but cannot move into the developing roll 140. In such a case, the cell corresponding to the developing roll 140 is excluded from the analysis target.

  The analysis target small region setting unit 260 allocates memory to cells (referred to as analysis target cells KS) excluding cells (referred to as excluded cells JS) that are excluded from the analysis target specified by the non-analysis target small region specifying unit 262. However, no memory is allocated to the excluded cell JS. Accordingly, the memory usage in this embodiment is reduced.

  The analysis target small region setting unit 260 notifies the analysis region information presentation unit 270 of the information on the analysis target cell KS and the excluded cell JS. The analysis area information presentation unit 270 presents information on the analysis target cell KS and / or the exclusion cell JS to the operator via the information presentation unit 240 using the display device 212 or the like.

  The manual area setting receiving unit 266 receives the designation of the excluded cell JS from the operator and notifies the information to the non-analysis target small area specifying unit 262. For example, the operator may manually change after the separation by the non-analysis region setting unit 262 based on the separation condition. For example, the majority is determined by the non-analyzed region setting unit 262 according to the area ratio occupied by the non-moving region, but the fine portions are manually distinguished according to the substance. When the analysis region has a complicated shape, the area ratio is large, and the non-analysis region setting unit 262 operates the manual region setting reception unit 266 from the viewpoint of placing importance on the analysis accuracy from the viewpoint of placing importance on the analysis accuracy. Change to analysis target cell KS according to the instructions of the operator. Conversely, when the analysis area has a complicated shape, the area ratio is small, and the non-analysis area setting unit 262 sets the manual area setting from the viewpoint of emphasizing the reduction in memory usage in the analysis target cell KS. The cell is changed to the excluded cell JS according to the operator's instruction via the receiving unit 266.

  The non-analysis target small area specifying unit 262 notifies the numerical calculation processing unit 234 of information on the analysis target cell KS and the excluded cell JS. When the behavior analysis is performed by applying the cell method, the numerical calculation processing unit 234 performs the analysis while paying attention only to the analysis target cell KS set by the non-analysis target small region specifying unit 262.

[Processing Example: First Embodiment]
[Method of separating analysis target cells and excluded cells]
FIG. 3A is a diagram for explaining a method of separating the analysis target cell KS and the exclusion cell JS. Not only the case where the entire cell corresponds to the non-moving area, but a part of the cell may be included in the non-moving area, but the rest may not be included in the non-moving area. In the case of such a cell, it may be determined based on a predetermined determination condition whether the cell corresponds to the excluded cell JS or the analysis target cell KS. The determination condition (the separation condition) may be set in advance in the non-analysis region setting unit 262, or a change may be received from the operator via the change receiving unit 264.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 3A (2), the non-analysis target small area specifying unit 262 may set the excluded cell JS when the cell includes any non-moving area. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3A (3), the non-analysis small region specifying unit 262 does not set the cell to be excluded JS when only a part of the cell includes a non-moving region (that is, the analysis target cell KS). You may do it.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 3A (4), the non-analysis target small area specifying unit 262 may determine the area ratio occupied by the non-moving area with respect to the cell size. When determining according to the area ratio, it may be determined by whether or not the area ratio occupied by the non-moving region with respect to the cell size exceeds a predetermined threshold. For example, when the threshold is set to “half” and the area ratio occupied by the non-moving area is more than half (or more than half) of the cell, it is excluded cell JS, and when it is less than half (or less than half), the analysis target Make cell KS.

  Further, based on the instruction from the operator, the manual region setting receiving unit 266 sets the analysis target cell KS based on the area ratio occupied by the non-moving region by the non-analysis target small region specifying unit 262 as shown in FIG. 3A (5). Change some of the set to excluded cells JS.

[Example of processing]
4 to 4B are diagrams illustrating a method for analyzing the interaction force of particles. Here, FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the first and second comparative examples. FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating a problem when the second comparative example is applied. FIG. 4B is a diagram for explaining a processing mechanism of the first embodiment.

  In the particle behavior calculation based on the individual element method, the analysis load increases. Therefore, when the number of particles increases, the calculation amount becomes enormous and the memory usage also enormously. In this connection, the individual element method is a method in which all the forces acting on each particle forming the powder are obtained, and the particle behavior is analyzed by sequentially solving the equation of motion of each particle by the acting force.

  As the force acting on the particles, in addition to external force such as gravity, contact between the wall and the particles and contact force due to the contact between the particles can be considered. The magnitude of the force is calculated according to the contact model. In order to calculate the contact state of each particle, it is necessary to calculate the distance between each particle. Therefore, the calculation load for determining the interaction force between particles in the particle behavior calculation increases. In general, in the particle behavior calculation algorithm based on the individual element method, the calculation load increases approximately by the square of the number of particles (see FIG. 4A). Therefore, as the number of particles increases, the amount of calculation becomes enormous, and it is often difficult to perform calculations with the same number of particles as the actual system, although the performance of the computer is improved.

  Various methods have been proposed to solve such problems. For example, the calculation target region is divided into small regions, and the particles for which contact determination (distance calculation) is performed are limited to particles existing in the small region with the target particle and the small region in the vicinity thereof (Fig. 4 (2)). In FIG. 4B, particles included in a small region including the target particle (black circle in the drawing) and a region including 8 or 15 cells around it are set as target particles for distance calculation. Other particles do not perform distance calculations.

  In the present embodiment, the analysis target small region setting unit 260 divides the analysis region (calculation target region) into a plurality of small regions regardless of what the division method is, and the numerical operation processing unit 234 is divided. Behavior analysis is performed by applying the cell method to calculate the behavior of particles contained in a small region.

  When the cell method is applied, the search area for the interaction calculation particles is limited, the analysis load is reduced, and the processing speed is increased. For example, the calculation load increases approximately in proportion to the number of particles.

  However, when there is a region where particles cannot move in the analysis region, the region actually corresponds to a non-analysis region. However, when the cell method is applied, it is necessary to associate a cell number and secure a memory even for a cell in a non-analysis region where particles cannot actually move, which is useless. Especially in large-scale analysis, there may be a memory shortage. When the analysis area has a complicated shape, for example, when the analysis area is not a rectangular area, a lot of unnecessary memory is secured.

  For example, FIG. 4A (1) is an example in which cells are set in an orthogonal coordinate system. A relatively large rectangular structure in which particles cannot enter is present in the rectangular analysis region. In this case, in the cell method, since the cell is set so as to include the structure, a cell in which all the structures are formed may be generated. That part becomes a useless cell that is not used in the calculation. In the illustrated example, useless cells occupy more than half, and useless memory is used.

  FIG. 4A (2) shows an example in which cells are set in a cylindrical coordinate system. This corresponds to the case of analyzing the particle behavior around the developing roll 140.

  In the circular analysis region, there is a relatively large circular structure (for example, the developing roll 140) in which particles cannot enter. In this case, in the cell method, since the cells are set so as to include the developing roll 140, all the cells that become the developing roll 140 are generated. That part becomes a useless cell that is not used in the calculation. In the illustrated example, useless cells occupy more than half, and useless memory is used.

  In order to eliminate such waste, it is conceivable to set the analysis region so as to exclude the region where the particles cannot actually move. However, when the area shape is complicated, the setting becomes difficult.

  On the other hand, in the first embodiment, when the cell method is applied to the calculation of the interaction force (far distance, far distance) of many kinds of particles, the analysis target small region setting unit 260 can move the particles within the analysis region. A cell corresponding to a non-moving region (non-analyzing region) that is not present is excluded from the analysis target, and only cells that really need analysis are set as the analysis target cell KS.

  The numerical calculation processing unit 234 allocates memory only for the analysis target cell KS based on the information of the analysis target cell KS set by the non-analysis target small region specifying unit 262, and information on correspondence between particles and the analysis target cell KS Is used to calculate the interaction force between short distance and long distance. Particles are not associated with the exclusion cell JS. Compared to the comparative example in which the correspondence information with the particles is generated and analyzed for all the cells including the excluded cell JS, the memory usage is reduced by the amount of the excluded cell JS.

  For example, if the memory usage for each cell when the analysis target area is divided into N × N cells is m0, the total memory usage M0 is m0 × N × N when the first embodiment is not applied. . On the other hand, when the first embodiment is applied, for example, if the number of excluded cells JS is m1, the number of analysis target cells KS is “m0−m1”, and the total memory usage M2 is (m0−m1) × N. × N. The memory usage is reduced by m1 × N × N.

  For example, if the cell numbering and the correspondence between the particle numbers contained in the cell are conventional, all of the cells obtained by dividing the analysis region into small regions as in the comparative example shown in FIG. 4B (1). Done about. Therefore, the second cell from the top and the second from the left, the second from the top and the third from the left, the third from the top and the second from the left, the third from the top and the third from the left are the cells outside the calculation area. Then, cell numbering and memory allocation are performed even for cells outside this calculation area. For example, when two-dimensional memory allocation is applied, IN (4, 2) is numbered and the memory is allocated to the second cell from the top and the fourth cell from the left. Four cells outside the calculation area are also numbered, but the number of particles is zero, there is no particle ID attached, and the memory is wasted.

  On the other hand, in the first embodiment, cells outside the calculation area in the analysis area are not numbered or allocated to memory. For example, as shown in FIG. 4B (2), when two-dimensional memory allocation is applied, IN (2, 2) is numbered and the memory is allocated to the second cell from the top and the fourth cell from the left. . As shown in FIG. 4B (3), when one-dimensional memory allocation is applied, IN (6) is numbered and the memory is allocated to the second cell from the top and the fourth cell from the left. In any case, the four cells outside the calculation area are not numbered, and the memory is not wasted.

<Particle Behavior Analysis Device; Second Embodiment>
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the particle behavior analysis apparatus 202. Here, the main particle behavior analysis apparatus 202a having the function of the calculation management node is particularly shown.

  In the second embodiment, the analysis region is divided into a plurality of regions, and the cell method is applied to each of the divided analysis regions. That is, the division analysis area is divided into cells, and the particles are associated with the cells. At this time, it is more preferable to apply the mechanism of the first embodiment. Hereinafter, an example in combination with the first embodiment will be described.

  The secondary particle behavior analysis apparatus 202b of the second embodiment includes an analysis region dividing unit 280 that divides an analysis region into a plurality of regions. The analysis region dividing unit 280 notifies the analysis target small region setting unit 260 of information on each divided analysis region. The analysis target small region setting unit 260 applies the same method as in the first embodiment for each divided analysis region divided by the analysis region dividing unit 280.

  Information on the configuration of the analysis target device (for example, the developing device 40) is input from the data receiving unit 232 to the analysis region dividing unit 280. The information on the configuration of the analysis target device includes information (movement boundary specifying information) that can specify the boundary where the particles move. For example, in the case of the developing device 40, it is position information of members (such as the developing roll 140 and the agitation transport roll) corresponding to the non-moving area where the developer particles 102 in the storage container 101 cannot move.

  The analysis area dividing unit 280 divides the analysis area into a plurality of areas, and based on the information of the non-moving area where the particles cannot move, the non-moving area (non-analyzing area) is included in the divided analysis area. Divide into small areas so that some are not included. The size of each divided analysis region does not have to be the same. In addition, each divided analysis region may be divided in an orthogonal coordinate system (the shape is a quadrangle) or may be divided in a cylindrical coordinate system.

  For example, the analysis region dividing unit 280 automatically determines whether or not there is a non-moving region in the analysis region based on the moving boundary specifying information from the data receiving unit 232. When there is a non-moving area, the analysis area dividing unit 280 sets the division size so that some of the divided analysis areas do not include any non-moving area, Divide into areas.

[Process Example: Second Embodiment]
FIG. 5A is a diagram illustrating a mechanism of processing according to the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5A (1), when the analysis region is complicated, for example, when non-moving regions are scattered in the analysis region, it is difficult to distinguish between the inside and outside of the analysis region, and the correspondence between the cell and the particle is difficult. It's not easy.

  On the other hand, in 2nd Embodiment, as shown to FIG. 5A (2), an analysis area | region is divided | segmented into a some area | region, cell division | segmentation is performed for every division | segmentation analysis area | region, and a particle | grain and a cell are matched.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5A (3), the divided analysis area is divided into areas that are small enough to contain no non-moving areas, and cell division is performed for each divided analysis area. And the cell may be associated with each other.

  As described above, in the second embodiment, the analysis region is divided into a plurality of divided analysis regions, and the behavior analysis is performed by applying the cell method to each divided analysis region. Even when the analysis region is complex, the cell method can be easily applied, and the number of cells in the behavior analysis for each divided analysis region can be smaller than when the second embodiment is not applied. And the processing can be completed in a short time (speeding up the processing). In addition, since the number of cells corresponding to the non-moving area is smaller than when the second embodiment is not applied, the useless memory usage is also reduced.

  When combined with the first embodiment, the shape of the non-moving region existing in the divided analysis region is considered to be simpler than the case where the second embodiment is not applied, and thus the first embodiment can be easily applied.

<Particle behavior analyzer; computer configuration>
FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating another configuration example of each particle behavior analysis apparatus 202. This configuration uses an electronic computer such as a personal computer constructed from a microprocessor or the like that executes software, and shows a more realistic hardware configuration of the particle behavior analysis apparatus 202 that performs particle behavior analysis.

  That is, in this embodiment, the mechanism for analyzing the behavior of particles is not limited to being configured by a hardware processing circuit, but is realized by software using a computer (computer) based on a program code that realizes the function. It is also possible. Therefore, a program suitable for realizing the mechanism according to the present embodiment by software using an electronic computer (computer) or a computer-readable recording medium (storage medium) storing this program is extracted as an invention. By adopting a mechanism that is executed by software, the calculation process procedure of the particle behavior analysis can be easily changed without changing the hardware of the existing computer system.

  The series of particle behavior analysis described above can be realized not only by hardware or software alone but also by a combined configuration of both. When executing processing by software, a program showing the processing procedure is installed (installed) in a storage medium in a computer embedded in hardware and executed, or a general-purpose electronic computer capable of executing various types of processing is used. Incorporate and execute the program.

  A program for causing a computer to execute the particle behavior analysis function is distributed through a recording medium such as a CD-ROM. Alternatively, this program may be stored in an FD (flexible disk) instead of a CD-ROM. In addition, an MO drive may be provided to store the program in the MO, or the program may be stored in another recording medium such as a nonvolatile semiconductor memory card such as a flash memory. Furthermore, the program constituting the software is not limited to being provided via a recording medium, but may be provided via a wired or wireless communication network. For example, the program may be obtained by downloading from another server or the like via a network such as the Internet, or may be updated. Furthermore, the program is provided as a file describing a program code for realizing the function of performing the particle behavior analysis. In this case, the program is not limited to being provided as a batch program file, and the system hardware configured by the computer Depending on the configuration, it may be provided as an individual program module.

  For example, the computer system 900 includes a controller unit 901 and a recording / reading control unit 902 for reading and recording data from a recording medium such as a hard disk device, an FD drive, a CD-ROM drive, and a semiconductor memory controller. . In addition, the computer system 900 includes an operation unit 903 as a functional unit that forms a user interface, and an interface unit (IF unit) 909 that performs an interface function between the functional units. Note that an image forming unit that outputs the processing result to an output medium (for example, printing paper) may be provided so that the analysis processing result is printed out and presented to the user.

  The controller unit 901 includes a CPU 912, a ROM 913 that is a read-only storage unit, a RAM 915 that is an example of a volatile storage unit that can be written and read at any time, and a RAM (NVRAM) that is an example of a nonvolatile storage unit. 916).

  The operation unit 903 is for accepting an operation by an operator or for providing various types of information with a display device. As an instruction input device of the operation unit 903, for example, an operation key on the operation panel may be used, or a keyboard, a mouse, or the like may be used. As a display device of the operation unit 903, for example, an operation panel may be used, or another display unit such as a CRT or LCD may be used. In addition, by setting it as the display part which has a touchscreen on a display surface, it is good also as a structure which inputs information not only with a display but with a fingertip or a pen.

  The interface unit 909 includes, for example, a communication IF unit 999 that mediates transfer of communication data with a network in addition to a system bus 991 that is a transfer path of processing data and control data. The communication IF unit 999 performs data transmission / reception with another computer system 900 by being connected to an external network such as the Internet, LAN, and WAN. Thus, by applying a predetermined division method and executing parallel processing by cooperative processing of a plurality of computer systems 900, the analysis time is shortened. Although not shown, the interface unit 909 includes, for example, a printer IF unit that functions as an interface with an image forming unit and other printers.

  With such a configuration, the particle behavior analysis program is stored in the RAM 915 from a readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM in which a program for executing the particle behavior analysis method is stored in accordance with an instruction from the operator via the operation unit 903. The particle behavior analysis program is activated by an instruction or automatic processing by an operator via the operation unit 903.

  The CPU 912 controls the entire system via the system bus 991 and performs calculation processing associated with the particle behavior analysis method according to the particle behavior analysis program. The ROM 913 stores a control program for the CPU 912 and the like. The RAM 915 is configured by SRAM, flash memory, or the like, and stores program control variables, data for various processes, and the like. The RAM 915 includes an area for temporarily storing data obtained by calculation according to an application program, data obtained from the outside, and the like. The processing result is stored in a storage device such as a RAM 915 or a hard disk, and information on the processing result is output to an operation panel, a display device such as a CRT or LCD.

  Here, the control configuration of the particle behavior analysis apparatus 202 is described as a configuration example that is realized by software on a computer. However, each part (functional block) of the control configuration for realizing the particle behavior analysis of the present embodiment. The specific means (including the above) can be hardware, software, communication means, a combination thereof, and other means, and this is obvious to those skilled in the art. Moreover, the functional blocks may be combined and integrated into one functional block. Also, software that causes a computer to execute program processing is installed in a distributed manner according to the combination.

  For example, a processing circuit 908 may be provided in which not all processing of each functional part for particle behavior analysis processing is performed by software, but a part of these functional parts is performed by dedicated hardware. Although the mechanism performed by software can flexibly cope with parallel processing and continuous processing, the processing time becomes longer as the processing becomes complicated, so that a reduction in processing speed becomes a problem. On the other hand, when constructed with a hardware processing circuit, even if the process is complicated, a reduction in processing speed can be prevented, and an accelerator system capable of achieving high throughput can be constructed.

  For example, as the processing circuit 908, the data receiving unit 908a corresponding to the data receiving unit 232 and the numerical operation processing unit 908b corresponding to the numerical operation processing unit 234 respectively constituting the data processing unit 230 shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. The output data processing unit 908c corresponding to the output data processing unit 236 may be configured by hardware. In addition, an analysis region dividing unit 908e corresponding to an analysis target small region setting unit 908d corresponding to an analysis target small region setting unit 260 and an analysis region dividing unit 280 corresponding to a function unit for reducing memory usage upon application of the cell method. May be configured by hardware. Further, if the main particle behavior analysis apparatus 202a that controls the whole is configured, the division processing unit 908x corresponding to the division processing unit 250 illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5 may be configured by hardware.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated using embodiment, the technical scope of this invention is not limited to the range as described in the said embodiment. Various changes or improvements can be added to the above-described embodiment without departing from the gist of the invention, and embodiments to which such changes or improvements are added are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

  Further, the above embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims (claims), and all combinations of features described in the embodiments are not necessarily essential to the solution means of the invention. Absent. The embodiments described above include inventions at various stages, and various inventions can be extracted by appropriately combining a plurality of disclosed constituent elements. Even if some constituent requirements are deleted from all the constituent requirements shown in the embodiment, as long as an effect is obtained, a configuration from which these some constituent requirements are deleted can be extracted as an invention.

  The mechanism of the above-described embodiment for reducing the amount of memory used when applying the cell method is also applied to, for example, a transfer process in an electrophotographic transfer device, a stirring process or a development process in a developing device 40, and a cleaning process in a cleaning device. You can do it. Moreover, you may apply similarly to the simulation of the system which handles all particle | grains (powder) irrespective of a particle | grain kind and action force. Other than the electrophotographic method, the present invention may be applied to rock fall simulation of rocks, powder flow simulation in a hopper, powder flow simulation in a pharmaceutical preparation device, and the like.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the basic composition of a particle behavior analysis system. It is a block diagram which shows 1st Embodiment of a particle behavior analysis apparatus. It is a figure explaining the method of dividing an analysis object cell and an exclusion cell. It is a figure explaining the 1st comparative example and the 2nd comparative example. It is a figure explaining a problem when the 2nd comparative example is applied. It is a figure explaining the mechanism of processing of a 1st embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows 2nd Embodiment of a particle behavior analyzer. It is a figure explaining the mechanism of processing of a 2nd embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example when comprising a particle behavior analyzer using an electronic computer.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image forming apparatus, 10 ... Photoconductor, 20 ... Charging apparatus, 30 ... Exposure apparatus, 40 ... Developing apparatus, 50 ... Transfer apparatus, 60 ... Cleaning apparatus, 70 ... Fixing apparatus, 140 ... Developing roll, 200 ... Particle behavior Analysis system 202 ... Particle behavior analysis device 202a ... Main particle behavior analysis device 202b ... Secondary particle behavior analysis device 208 ... Network 208a ... Network management device 210 ... Instruction input device 212 ... Display device 220 ... Data Input unit 230 ... Data processing unit 232 Data reception unit 234 Numerical operation processing unit (particle behavior calculation unit) 236 Output data processing unit 238 Data storage unit 240 Information presentation unit 250 Division Processing unit 260 ... Analysis target small region setting unit 262 ... Non-analysis target small region specifying unit 264 ... Change receiving unit 266 ... Manual region setting reception Department, 270 ... analysis area information presentation unit, 280 ... analyzing region dividing unit, 900 ... Computer system

Claims (11)

A particle behavior calculation unit for calculating the behavior of particles contained in each of the small regions divided into a plurality of small regions for the analysis region that is the target region of particle behavior analysis;
A storage unit for storing data used in the calculation process in the particle behavior calculation unit;
Of the small areas obtained by dividing the analysis area, the amount excluding the excluded small area corresponding to the non-moving area where particles cannot move is set as the small area to be analyzed. An analysis target small region setting unit that instructs the particle behavior calculation unit to create the correspondence information of particles and small regions and calculate the behavior of particles;
Particle behavior analysis device equipped with. The analysis target small region setting unit takes in moving boundary specifying information that can specify a boundary where particles move, and determines whether or not there is a non-moving region in the analysis region based on the moving boundary specifying information. The particle behavior analysis apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a non-analysis target small region specifying unit that excludes a small region corresponding to the non-moving region from the analysis target when there is a non-moving region. When a part of the small area is included in the non-moving area but the rest is not included in the non-moving area, a determination condition for determining whether to exclude the small area from the analysis target is defined,
The non-analysis target small area specifying unit, when a part of the small area to be determined is included in the non-moving area but the rest is not included in the non-moving area, based on the determination condition, The particle behavior analysis apparatus according to claim 2, wherein it is determined whether or not to be excluded from the analysis target. The particle behavior analysis device according to claim 3, wherein the determination condition is whether or not an area ratio of the non-moving region to the small region exceeds a threshold value. The particle behavior analysis apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a change receiving unit that receives a change in the determination condition. The analysis target small region setting unit includes:
An area setting receiving unit that receives an instruction as to whether or not to exclude a small area from the analysis target for a small area that is partly included in the non-moving area but the rest is not included in the non-moving area;
The particle behavior analysis apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein whether or not to exclude the small region from the analysis target is determined according to an instruction received by the region setting reception unit. The particle behavior analysis apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising an analysis region information presentation unit that presents information on the excluded small region and / or the analysis target small region. An analysis region dividing unit that divides an analysis region, which is a target region of particle behavior analysis, into a plurality of regions;
A particle behavior calculation unit for calculating the behavior of particles included in each small region divided into a plurality of small regions for each divided analysis region divided by the analysis region dividing unit;
A storage unit for storing data used in the calculation process in the particle behavior calculation unit;
Particle behavior analysis device equipped with. The analysis region dividing unit determines the analysis region based on information on a non-moving region where particles cannot move, so that each divided analysis region does not include the non-moving region. The particle behavior analysis device according to claim 9, wherein the particle behavior analysis device is divided into a plurality of regions. A particle behavior calculation unit for calculating the behavior of particles included in each of the small regions divided into a plurality of small regions with respect to the analysis region that is the target region of the particle behavior analysis;
Of the small areas obtained by dividing the analysis area, a portion excluding the excluded small area corresponding to the non-moving area where particles cannot move is set as the small area to be analyzed. An analysis target small region setting unit that instructs the particle behavior calculation unit to create the correspondence information of particles and small regions and calculate the behavior of particles;
Program that causes the computer to function. An analysis region dividing unit that divides an analysis region, which is a target region of particle behavior analysis, into a plurality of regions;
A particle behavior calculation unit for calculating the behavior of particles included in each small region divided into a plurality of small regions for each divided analysis region divided by the analysis region dividing unit;
Program that causes the computer to function.

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