Patent · US Expired

Image forming apparatus including a plurality of developing devices with a toner density detecting feature

US7027746B2 · kind B2 · utility

14Cited by
4References
5Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 21, 2004
Grant dateApr 11, 2006
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 21, 2024

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG03G15/01
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member for bearing an electrostatic latent image; a developing device for developing the latent image on the image bearing member with a developer including toner and carrier particles at a developing position, the developing device including a developer carrying member for carrying the developer, a plurality of developing devices containing toner particles which have colors different from each other, and a moving mechanism for carrying the developing devices to move a selected one of the developing devices to the developing position. The apparatus further includes a density detector for detecting a toner density on the developer carrying member the devices located at a position different from the developing position; a controller, responsive to an output of the density detector, for controlling toner contents in the developing devices. When the density operation in an operation mode, in which only one of the developing devices is used, the controller effects the density detecting operation after the developer carrying member is rotated through a predetermined period of time, for the developing device which comes to a detecting p…

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