Image forming apparatus including controller to detect condition of image developer
US7639957B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 20, 2007 |
| Grant date | Dec 29, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 25, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG03G15/5058
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a developing unit, a concentration sensor, a toner supplying unit, a developer supplying unit, an ejector, and a condition detector. The image carrier forms a latent image thereon. The developing unit develops the latent image formed on the image carrier with a two-component image developer including toner particles and carrier particles. The concentration sensor detects a toner ratio in the developing unit. The toner supplying unit supplies fresh toner particles to the developing unit. The developer supplying unit supplies fresh image developer to the developing unit. The ejector ejects the image developer to an outside of the developing unit. The condition detector detects a condition of the image developer used for an image forming operation to determine a supply amount of the image developer to supply to the developing unit. The condition includes a degradation level of the image developer.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.