Image forming apparatus and method for detecting amount of remaining toner
US7415214B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 21, 2006 |
| Grant date | Aug 19, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 17, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG03G15/553
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The image forming apparatus according to the present invention detects the amount of remaining toner by using (i) the result of calculation carried out by a toner supply amount calculation section based on an accumulated rotational time measurement section in a region where the amount of remaining toner is not less than a predetermined amount and toner supply is stabilized, (ii) the result of calculation carried out by a pixel count section in a region where the amount of remaining toner gets small and the amount of toner supply gets uneven, and (iii) the result of ATC carried out by a toner density control section. As a result, it is possible to exactly detect the amount of remaining toner without providing a special remaining toner detection device.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.