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. 04, 2017
Filed:
Apr. 01, 2016
Masayoshi Nakayama, Kanagawa, JP;
Takuma Higa, Kanagawa, JP;
Hiroyuki Kunii, Kanagawa, JP;
Masaki Sukesako, Kanagawa, JP;
Kazuaki Kamihara, Tokyo, JP;
Yuichi Aizawa, Kanagawa, JP;
Masahiro Katoh, Kanagawa, JP;
Kohei Matsumoto, Tokyo, JP;
Masayoshi Nakayama, Kanagawa, JP;
Takuma Higa, Kanagawa, JP;
Hiroyuki Kunii, Kanagawa, JP;
Masaki Sukesako, Kanagawa, JP;
Kazuaki Kamihara, Tokyo, JP;
Yuichi Aizawa, Kanagawa, JP;
Masahiro Katoh, Kanagawa, JP;
Kohei Matsumoto, Tokyo, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus includes an image bearer, an image forming device, a toner concentration detector, a toner supply device, an image density detector, and a controller including a memory device. At a predetermined timing before image formation is started, the controller adjusts a developing potential to adjust an image density of a detection toner image on the image bearer and drives the toner supply device or the developing device to adjust a toner concentration in the developing device. After the image formation is started, the controller drives the toner supply device to adjust the toner concentration, and, in a predetermined sheet interval, adjusts the target concentration based on the image density of the detection toner image formed in a non-image area of the image bearer. When the toner concentration is higher than the target concentration plus a threshold, the controller suspends image formation and readjusts the developing potential.