Image forming apparatus and method enabling toner amount control without actual measurement of toner characteristic
US5812903A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 26, 1996 |
| Grant date | Sep 22, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 26, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG03G2215/00037
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Operation variables such as laser power, grid voltage, and developing bias are corrected by using image-density controlling rules so as to control the image density. Control of toner supply is also effected by using the image-density controlling rules. A solid density reference pattern corresponding to actual values of the operation variables is measured, and a rule which fits the solid density is used to correct the operation variables. A solid density to be obtained with standard values of the operation variables is calculated by using the composed rule. A standard solid density for a standard toner concentration or a standard toner charge amount is outputted, and is compared with the calculated solid density. The toner supply is controlled in such a manner that an error between the two solid densities becomes zero, to thereby ensure that the toner concentration in a developing device or the toner charge amount reaches a standard value.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.