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:
Jul. 17, 2012
Filed:
May. 18, 2009
Applicant:
Yoshinori Maruyama, Toyokawa, JP;
Inventor:
Yoshinori Maruyama, Toyokawa, JP;
Assignee:
Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc., Chiyoda-Ku, Tokyo, JP;
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G03G 15/08 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
Abstract
An image forming apparatus calculates the amount of staying toner based on the amount of drive of the developer roller and the amount of toner consumed for a print job performed. When the amount of staying toner exceeds a threshold, the toner is discharged. The threshold used upon completion of image stabilization is larger than that used upon completion of a print job. Even when performing image stabilization temporarily increases the amount of staying toner in the developing device, immediate toner discharge based on that condition is prevented. Thus, toner consumption can be minimized.