Image forming method and apparatus that detect an image density
US8165481B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 21, 2008 |
| Grant date | Apr 24, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 5, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG03G2215/0888
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An image forming method includes detecting a toner degradation state by detecting an image density on an electrostatic latent image carrier with high sensitivity and low cost. The degraded toner is processed based on the detected information, so that the waste toner can be reduced and a good image can be obtained. An image density of an image that is transferred with a predetermined reference electric field is detected in a first detecting step. An image density of an image that is transferred with an electric field that is smaller or greater than the reference electric field is detected in a second detecting step. A processing step of processing the degraded toner is performed on the basis of the image density detected by each of the detecting steps.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.