Patent · US Expired

Image forming apparatus with improved toner density control

US6148161A · kind A · utility

33Cited by
6References
25Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 12, 1999
Grant dateNov 14, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 12, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG03G2215/00042
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier and a developing device to develop a latent image formed on the image carrier by applying two-component developer, including toner, onto the latent image. The developing device includes a developing part containing the two-component developer and a developer stirring device to stir the two-component developer. A toner supplying device supplies toner to the developing part of the developing device, and a toner density detection device detects a toner density of the two-component developer in the developing device. A toner control device calculates a difference between an output value VT of the toner density detection device and a criterion value VTref for controlling the toner density of the two-component developer and controls the toner supplying device based upon the difference. An image density detection device detects an image density of a criterion image formed on the image carrier, and a criterion value correcting device corrects the criterion value VTref based upon an output value of the criterion image density detection device. A decision as to whether to stir the developer in the developing device with the developer stirr…

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