The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 25, 2000
Filed:
Apr. 03, 1998
Shigeru Watanabe, Yokohama, JP;
Masaru Tanaka, Yokohama, JP;
Haruji Mizuishi, Tokyo, JP;
Kenzou Tatsumi, Yokohama, JP;
Toshitaka Yamaguchi, Ohmiya, JP;
Takeo Suda, Tokyo, JP;
Hiroshi Yoshinaga, Ichikawa, JP;
Ken Amemiya, Tokyo, JP;
Mayumi Oh-Hori, Kawasaki, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a latent image forming device that forms a latent image on the image bearing member, a developing device that develops latent image on said image bearing member to a toner image with a two-component developer, and a toner density detecting device that detects toner density of the two-component developer in which the toner image is formed and outputted as a visible image onto a transfer member. A control device is provided for agitating the developer for a predetermined time period during an initial setting is performed for the developer, detecting a toner density of said developer after the predetermined agitation, and performing an abnormal process when a result of the detection is out of the predetermined range. A corresponding method recovers from a deterioration of an amount of charge of the toner and decreased bulk of the developer, and includes the steps of detecting a developer amount with an unused-state detection switch, detecting an output value of a toner density detecting sensor, agitating the developer, measuring an agitating time period, stopping the agitating operation indicating warning, and indicating error message.