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US 10,884,369 B2Granted
Image forming apparatus having a density detecting unit
AssigneeFuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
InventorYuma Motegi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An image forming apparatus includes a latent-image forming unit that forms an electrostatic latent image onto an image carrier, a developing member that develops the electrostatic latent image held on the image carrier with a developer, a container that contains the developer supplied to the developing member, a stirring member that stirs the developer by rotating in the container, a density detecting unit that is disposed in the container and that detects a density of the developer, and a switching unit that switches an image formation condition by using a period of a signal output by the density detecting unit.
Claims8
An image forming apparatus comprising:
- a latent-image forming unit comprising a light source, wherein the latent-image forming unit is configured to form an electrostatic latent image onto an image carrier;
- a developing member comprising a developing roller, wherein the developing member is configured to develop the electrostatic latent image held on the image carrier with a developer;
- a container that contains the developer supplied to the developing member;
- a stirring member comprising an auger, wherein the stirring member is configured to stir the developer by rotating in the container;
- a sensor disposed in the container;
- at least one processor configured to execute a density detecting unit using the sensor,
- wherein the density detecting unit is configured to detect a density of the developer;
- a switching unit configured to switch an image formation condition by using a period of a signal output by the density detecting unit;
- and
- a single driving source configured to drive both the developing member and the stirring member,
- wherein the density detecting unit is configured to detect a change in a magnetic permeability in the container, and
- wherein the density detecting unit is configured to detect a change in the magnetic permeability in a region extending along an inner surface of the container, the inner surface being inclined with respect to a horizontal direction.
9 more elements
An image forming apparatus comprising:
- a latent-image forming unit comprising a light source, wherein the latent-image forming unit is configured to form an electrostatic latent image onto an image carrier;
- a developing member comprising a developing roller, wherein the developing member is configured to develop the electrostatic latent image held on the image carrier with a developer;
- a container that contains the developer supplied to the developing member;
- a stirring member comprising an auger, wherein the stirring member is configured to stir the developer by rotating in the container;
- a sensor disposed in the container;
- at least one processor configured to execute:
- a density detecting unit using the sensor;
- wherein the density detecting unit is configured to detect a density of the developer;
- a phase calculating unit configured to calculate a rotation phase of the stirring member;
- and
- a changing unit configured to change an image formation condition by using the rotation phase detected by the phase detecting unit;
- and
- a single driving source configured to drive both the developing member and the stirring member,
- wherein the density detecting unit is configured to detect a change in a magnetic permeability in the container, and
- wherein the density detecting unit is configured to detect a change in the magnetic permeability in a region extending along an inner surface of the container, the inner surface being inclined with respect to a horizontal direction.
12 more elements
An image forming apparatus comprising:
- a latent-image forming means for forming an electrostatic latent image onto an image carrier;
- a developing means for developing the electrostatic latent image held on the image carrier with a developer;
- a container means for containing the developer supplied to the developing means;
- a stirring means for stirring the developer by rotating in the container;
- a density detecting means, disposed in the container means, for detecting a density of the developer;
- a switching means for switching an image formation condition by using a period of a signal output by the density detecting means;
- and
- a single driving means configured to drive both the developing means and the stirring means,
- wherein the density detecting means is configured to detect a change in a magnetic permeability in the container means, and
- wherein the density detecting means is configured to detect a change in the magnetic permeability in a region extending along an inner surface of the container means, the inner surface being inclined with respect to a horizontal direction.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.