Image forming apparatus, method for controlling image forming apparatus, and toner cartridge
US11156936B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 13, 2020 |
| Grant date | Oct 26, 2021 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 13, 2040 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG03G15/0865
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
According to one embodiment, a developing device forms a toner image on a photoconductive image carrier with toner supplied from a toner cartridge. A toner concentration sensor detects a toner concentration in the developing device. A toner supply motor supplies the toner from the toner cartridge to the developing device based on the toner concentration. A processor detects an empty toner based on a toner supply rate, a print rate of the image data, and toner characteristics that are characteristics of the toner supplied from the toner cartridge to the developing device, the toner supply rate being calculated based on a pixel count value that is an integrated value of pixel values of the image data and a toner supply motor count value that is an integrated value of drive times of the toner supply motor.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.