Loading patent…
AssigneesKabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorKyosuke Terada
Estimating the term…
An image forming apparatus includes a developing unit attachment part to which developing units are to be attached, each of the developing units being associated with a first criteria for performing developer refreshing and a second criteria for performing developer refreshing, wherein the second criteria is defined so as to be met prior to the first criteria, and a controller configured to control a timing of developer refreshing executed for each of the developing units according to the first and second criteria values thereof, and a first developer tank that is located at a position higher than the developing unit and configured to contain the developer. When the first criteria for performing developer refreshing is met for at least one of the developing units, the controller causes developer refreshing to be performed for all developing units whose first or second criteria is met.
An image forming apparatus, comprising:
A method for controlling refreshing process in an image forming apparatus having a developing unit attachment part to which developing units are attached, each of the developing units being associated with a first criteria for performing developer refreshing and a second criteria for performing developer refreshing, wherein the second criteria is defined so as to be met prior to the first criteria, the method comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.