Patent · US Expired

Image forming method

US5327196A · kind A · utility

47Cited by
4References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 25, 1992
Grant dateJul 5, 1994
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 25, 2012

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG03G2215/00118
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

In an image forming method using an electrophotographic process, an amount of toner to be supplemented for maintaining a desired image density is estimated in response to input data which are a ratio of reflection densities produced by an optical sensor responsive to a pattern for control and an estimated toner consumption signal. Toner supplement control is executed on the basis of the result of estimation. The method sharply responds to a change in environment due to aging and a change in the kind of documents to thereby insure stable image density, compared to a conventional method relaying on an optical sensor or a toner sensor.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.