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:
May. 04, 2004
Filed:
Aug. 07, 2002
Mitsuhisa Kato, Yokohama, JP;
Other;
Abstract
An image forming device is provided including a plurality of developing devices changeable between at least a developing position and a standby position. The image forming device estimates a toner coverage rate for a first developing device at the developing position. If the estimated toner coverage rate is higher than a predetermined value, the first developing device is replenished with toner when a first print is printed before being changed to the standby position. If the estimated toner coverage rate is equal to or less than the predetermined value, the first developing device is replenished with toner before being changed to the developing position for a second print from the standby position.