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:
Jan. 05, 2016
Filed:
Dec. 05, 2014
Kazuaki Kamihara, Ibaraki, JP;
Toshihiro Sugiyama, Ibaraki, JP;
Takuma Higa, Ibaraki, JP;
Masayoshi Nakayama, Ibaraki, JP;
Hiroyuki Kunii, Ibaraki, JP;
Masaki Sukesako, Ibaraki, JP;
Wakana Itoh, Kanagawa, JP;
Kazuaki Kamihara, Ibaraki, JP;
Toshihiro Sugiyama, Ibaraki, JP;
Takuma Higa, Ibaraki, JP;
Masayoshi Nakayama, Ibaraki, JP;
Hiroyuki Kunii, Ibaraki, JP;
Masaki Sukesako, Ibaraki, JP;
Wakana Itoh, Kanagawa, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus includes multiple image forming units each including a latent image bearer and a developing device, a transfer device to transfer toner images from the latent image bearers onto a surface of endless rotary member, a cleaner to clean the surface of the endless rotary member, and a control unit to execute a forcible toner consumption process to forcibly consume degraded toner stored in applicable one or more developing devices. The forcible toner consumption process includes a step of forming a toner image formed for forced consumption in a non-image region of the latent image bearer with an amount of toner corresponding to a difference between an image area ratio of a developed image and a prescribed threshold when the image area ratio of the developed image is lower than the prescribed threshold.