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:
Nov. 08, 2016
Filed:
Nov. 12, 2015
Makoto Yasuda, Kanagawa, JP;
Jun Hitosugi, Tokyo, JP;
Takamasa Ozeki, Kanagawa, JP;
Mutsuki Morinaga, Kanagawa, JP;
Emiko Shiraishi, Tokyo, JP;
Wakana Itoh, Kanagawa, JP;
Hitoshi Yamamoto, Kanagawa, JP;
Takatsugu Komori, Chiba, JP;
Kunio Hasegawa, Kanagawa, JP;
Tadashi Kasai, Kanagawa, JP;
Kazuaki Kamihara, Tokyo, JP;
Kazumi Kobayashi, Tokyo, JP;
Hiroyuki Kunii, Kanagawa, JP;
Masaki Sukesako, Kanagawa, JP;
Yuichi Aizawa, Kanagawa, JP;
Masakazu Terao, Ishikawa, JP;
Masayoshi Nakayama, Kanagawa, JP;
Takuma Higa, Kanagawa, JP;
Masahiro Katoh, Kanagawa, JP;
Kohei Matsumoto, Tokyo, JP;
Makoto Yasuda, Kanagawa, JP;
Jun Hitosugi, Tokyo, JP;
Takamasa Ozeki, Kanagawa, JP;
Mutsuki Morinaga, Kanagawa, JP;
Emiko Shiraishi, Tokyo, JP;
Wakana Itoh, Kanagawa, JP;
Hitoshi Yamamoto, Kanagawa, JP;
Takatsugu Komori, Chiba, JP;
Kunio Hasegawa, Kanagawa, JP;
Tadashi Kasai, Kanagawa, JP;
Kazuaki Kamihara, Tokyo, JP;
Kazumi Kobayashi, Tokyo, JP;
Hiroyuki Kunii, Kanagawa, JP;
Masaki Sukesako, Kanagawa, JP;
Yuichi Aizawa, Kanagawa, JP;
Masakazu Terao, Ishikawa, JP;
Masayoshi Nakayama, Kanagawa, JP;
Takuma Higa, Kanagawa, JP;
Masahiro Katoh, Kanagawa, JP;
Kohei Matsumoto, Tokyo, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus includes a latent image bearer; a developing device containing two-component developer and including a developer bearer, a development voltage source, and a toner concentration detector; a toner supply device to supply toner to the developing device; a transfer device; and a controller to keep a toner concentration in the developer in the developing device at a target toner concentration during image formation. The controller executes forced toner consumption in which the developing device supplies the toner to the latent image bearer the toner at a predetermined forced toner consumption timing, while inhibiting the toner supply device from supplying toner. When the toner concentration falls to a prescribed toner density lower than the target toner concentration, the controller completes the forced toner consumption and executes a post-consumption toner supply operation.