Seiko Epson Corporation

Hiroshi Nakazato

Takashi Hama

Keiichi Taguchi

Ken Ikuma

Hidetsugu Shimura

Hidenori Kin

Yoshio Nakazawa

Toru Fujita

Hiroshi Miyazawa

Yutaka Takada

Kuniaki Tanaka

Katsumi Shinkai

Hisako Mizutani

Akihito Uetake

Junichiro Shinozaki

An image forming device, including: rewritable memory that stores firmware composed of a plurality of modules; and a controller that performs print processing based on the firmware stored in the memory, wherein the image forming device is structured including a detachable, consumable unit having a storage unit that stores at least one of the modules; and when the storage unit in the consumable unit set in the image forming device has a module that defines control content unique to the consumable unit (hereinafter called the 'unit unique module'), the controller overwrites the firmware in units of unit unique modules.

Image forming device and firmware overwriting method

An image It is formed as a patch image which includes a header image portion Ih of a solid image having a length of a circumferential length of a developing roller or more, and a gradation image portion Ig progressively varied in the tone level thereof from the maximum level to the minimum level. The densities of the patch image on an intermediate transfer belt are sampled. However, the sampling results contain errors resulting from noises or variations and hence, are subjected to a noise removal process, a periodical variation correction process and a reverse correction process. The results detected on the intermediate transfer belt do not always coincide with image densities (OD values) on a recording material. Therefore, the detection results are converted into the OD values, based on which tone characteristics of an apparatus is estimated. Then a tone correction table is updated in a manner to compensate for the tone characteristics. This approach is taken to improve image quality on the recording material.

Image forming apparatus and method for controlling tone characteristics based on tone-control patch image

An image forming apparatus adapted for a smooth mounting/dismounting of a process unit and for the reduction of wasteful power consumption is provided. Unless a new image signal is applied after completion of an image forming operation, the apparatus starts a clocking operation by an internal timer (Step S). If the apparatus is left standstill for a predetermined length of time (Step S), a sleep process (Step S) is executed to shift the apparatus to a power save mode to consume less power. When an outside cover is opened (Step S), on the other hand, the apparatus is shifted to a replacement operation mode (Step S) in which only the rotation of a development rotary is permitted. However, if the apparatus is left with the outside cover opened (Step S), the sleep process is executed.

Image forming apparatus and control method of that apparatus

Image forming apparatus and method including canceling a power save mode

When the remaining toner amount within a developer is relatively large, a control target value of a toner amount is set to Ttgtand a lower limit value of a toner amount which can regarded proper is set to TL. When the density of a patch image formed under a predetermined condition is smaller than a minimum guaranteed density Dma, it is determined abnormality has occurred in the apparatus. Since the characteristic of toner within the developer changes as the remaining toner amount decreases, the control target value is changed to Ttgtand the lower limit value is set to TLin light of this. In this fashion, regardless of whether the toner characteristic has changed, abnormality in the apparatus is detected without fail.

Image forming apparatus, control method and toner consumption calculating apparatus and method

When an apparatus is turned on, one developer is positioned to a reading/writing position and a specific area of a cartridge memory is read to judge whether or not an improper detachment flag is set. Unless the improper detachment flag is set, the improper detachment flag is set in the specific area of the cartridge memory after information on life saved in the cartridge memory is read and written in a main-body memory.

Image forming apparatus and a storage controlling method for information on an improper detachment of a developer cartridge to be written in a cartridge storage means

As a user turns on the power, patch processing (Step S) is executed and image forming conditions are accordingly adjusted. However, when a setting entry for prohibiting the patch processing has been made at the time of power-on (Step S, Step S), after setting the image forming conditions to predetermined default conditions without performing the patch processing (Step S), execution of an image forming operation is permitted (Step S). The setting entry in this context is pressing of a particular switch by the user at the time of power-on.

Image forming apparatus and control method for the same

Image forming apparatus and a storage controlling method for information on an improper detachment of developer cartridge to be written in a cartridge storage means

During an ordinary image forming operation, the number of print dots is counted based on an image signal, and a toner consumption amount is calculated from the result. Meanwhile, during an operation under a non-ordinary mode which is different from the ordinary image forming operation, a test pattern offset value Totn is extracted as a toner consumption amount which corresponds to the operation (Step S). The test pattern offset value Totn and a drive offset value Todn, which corresponds to the amount of toner which is scattered into inside an apparatus, are subtracted from a remaining toner amount Tr which is stored in a memory, whereby a remaining toner amount of toner remaining in the developerY after the operation is calculated (Steps Sthrough S).

Image forming apparatus and method of calculating toner consumption amount

Output signals Vp from a density sensor are sampled for plural positions on an intermediate transfer belt and an amount of toner adhesion is determined based on the results of sampling. Since these sample data pieces may contain noises, each predetermined number of data pieces of higher order and of lower order are removed from the resultant sample data string. The removed data pieces are each replaced by an average value Vpavg of the other sample data pieces. The amount of toner adhesion is calculated based on the data string thus replaced.

Image forming apparatus, toner-adhesion calculation method and data processing method

A condition controlling process is executed when parameters expressing a state of toner within a developer reaches predetermined threshold values. On each one of two parameters, namely, a dot count value which is indicative of a toner consumption amount (an integrated value of the number of dots formed using an exposure beam) and a developer roller rotating time which is indicative of the degree of toner fatigue, a threshold value (denoted at the dotted lines) which triggers execution of the condition controlling process is set. At the time that the path d of dots which are expressed as combinations of these parameters intersects each dotted line (the intersections (1) through (6)), the condition controlling process is executed.

Apparatus for and method of forming image under controlled image forming condition

A light emitting element irradiates light upon a surface area of an intermediate transfer belt which is wound around a roller, i.e., upon a wind area, and light receiving units receive light reflected at the wind area. Based on a signal outputted from a sensor, the quantity of toner is measured. In the wind area, the intermediate transfer belt does not flap in a direction which is approximately perpendicular to a direction in which the belt travels. This suppresses a change in distance (sensing distance) between the sensor and the intermediate transfer belt.

Method of and apparatus for measuring quantity of toner on belt-shaped image carrier

A development bias calculation and an electrifying bias calculation are executed in this order. In the development bias calculation, a plurality of toner images are formed as first patch images while changing the development bias. An optimal development bias, which is necessary to obtain the target density, is determined based on densities of the first patch images. In the electrifying bias calculation, toner images are formed as second patch images while changing the electrifying bias with the development bias fixed to the optimal development bias. An optimal electrifying bias, which is necessary to obtain the target density, is determined based on densities of the second patch images.

Image forming apparatus with predetermined target density and method

A toner quantity measuring apparatus in which an input offset voltage is applied to the output side of an irradiation quantity monitoring light receiving element, so that a light emitting element remains turned off unless a light quantity control signal exceeds a predetermined signal level. Prior to irradiation of light upon an intermediate transfer belt and measurement of a toner quantity, a light quantity control signal below the predetermined signal level is supplied to an irradiation quantity adjusting unit and the light emitting element is turned off without fail. A memory stores, as a dark output voltage, an output voltage from a reflection quantity detecting unit upon the turning off. Light reflected from the intermediate transfer belt is split into p-polarized and s-polarized light to detect a toner quantity and colors of the toner. In actual measurement of the toner quantity, with light irradiated upon the intermediate transfer belt, the dark output voltage is subtracted from the output voltage outputted from the reflection quantity detecting unit, whereby an influence of the dark output voltage is eliminated.

Apparatus for measuring quantity of toner, and image forming apparatus comprising measuring apparatus

An image forming apparatus having first and second basic cells each containing a predetermined number of cells in a main scanning direction and a sub-scanning direction and disposed adjacent to each other in the sub-scanning direction, a gradation processing portion arranged to perform a gradation expressing process for each basic cell in accordance with a density of a supplied image and a dot forming portion capable of forming dots on a recording medium to correspond to each pixel subjected to the gradation expressing process by the gradation processing portion. The gradation processing portion performs the gradation expressing process in such a manner that enlargement of dots in the first and second basic cells adjacent to each other in the sub-scanning direction is inhibited in the sub-scanning direction until the dots are enlarged and connected to each other in the main scanning direction. Thus, the distance in the sub-scanning direction between dots in the first and second basic cells in a low density region is kept to a predetermined width.

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Nagano-ken, Japan

Hiroshi Nakazato