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. 10, 2012
Filed:
Jul. 26, 2006
Hitoshi Ishibashi, Kamakura, JP;
Osamu Ariizumi, Yokohama, JP;
Shinji Kobayashi, Atsugi, JP;
Kazumi Kobayashi, Tokyo-to, JP;
Fukutoshi Uchida, Kawasaki, JP;
Takashi Enami, Chigasaki, JP;
Ryohta Morimoto, Ebina, JP;
Shin Hasegawa, Zama, JP;
Shinji Kato, Kawasaki, JP;
Kohta Fujimori, Yokohama, JP;
Nobutaka Takeuchi, Yokohama, JP;
Kayoko Tanaka, Tokyo, JP;
Yuushi Hirayama, Sagamihara, JP;
Naoto Watanabe, Atsugi, JP;
Hitoshi Ishibashi, Kamakura, JP;
Osamu Ariizumi, Yokohama, JP;
Shinji Kobayashi, Atsugi, JP;
Kazumi Kobayashi, Tokyo-to, JP;
Fukutoshi Uchida, Kawasaki, JP;
Takashi Enami, Chigasaki, JP;
Ryohta Morimoto, Ebina, JP;
Shin Hasegawa, Zama, JP;
Shinji Kato, Kawasaki, JP;
Kohta Fujimori, Yokohama, JP;
Nobutaka Takeuchi, Yokohama, JP;
Kayoko Tanaka, Tokyo, JP;
Yuushi Hirayama, Sagamihara, JP;
Naoto Watanabe, Atsugi, JP;
Ricoh Co., Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus includes an image carrying member, an image forming mechanism, an optical sensor, and a controller. The image forming mechanism performs an image forming operation for forming a reference toner image on the image carrying member under a specific setting associated with the image forming mechanism. The optical sensor is arranged in a vicinity to the image carrying member. The controller performs an optical toner test for checking, by using the optical sensor, optical characteristics of the reference toner image formed on the image carrying member and to adjust the specific setting based on a result of the optical toner test.