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. 19, 2011
Filed:
Feb. 26, 2008
Nobutaka Takeuchi, Yokohama, JP;
Shin Hasegawa, Zama, JP;
Hitoshi Ishibashi, Kamakura, JP;
Shuji Hirai, Ohta-ku, JP;
Kohta Fujimori, Yokohama, JP;
Kayoko Tanaka, Machida, JP;
Yushi Hirayama, Sagamihara, JP;
Kentaroh Tomita, Sagamihara, JP;
Akira Yoshida, Kawasaki, JP;
Chiemi Hirano, Hamura, JP;
Nobutaka Takeuchi, Yokohama, JP;
Shin Hasegawa, Zama, JP;
Hitoshi Ishibashi, Kamakura, JP;
Shuji Hirai, Ohta-ku, JP;
Kohta Fujimori, Yokohama, JP;
Kayoko Tanaka, Machida, JP;
Yushi Hirayama, Sagamihara, JP;
Kentaroh Tomita, Sagamihara, JP;
Akira Yoshida, Kawasaki, JP;
Chiemi Hirano, Hamura, JP;
Ricoh Company Limited, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier configured to carry an electrostatic latent image, a developing device configured to develop the electrostatic latent image with a two-component developer including toner and magnetic carrier, a toner supplier configured to supply the toner to the developing device, a toner concentration detector configured to detect toner concentration in the two-component developer inside the developing device, and a controller. The controller is configured to detect first information to determine toner replacement amount in the developing device during a predetermined time period and second information to determine a charge characteristic of the toner in the developing device, change a toner concentration control reference value based on the first information and the second information, and control the toner concentration based on an output from the toner concentration detector and the toner concentration control reference value.