# US 11,221,576 B2 · Imaging device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,221,576 B2 - Document ID: US11221576B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/050,732 - Filed: 2019-06-12 - Published: 2021-04-22 - Granted: 2022-01-11 - Earliest claimed: 2018-07-11 - Assignees: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. - Applicants: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. - Inventors: Yoichi Yoshida; Yasuyuki Ishii; Koichiro Takashima - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11221576B2 ## CPC - G03G 15/5037: {the characteristics being an electrical parameter, e.g. voltage} - G03G 15/0216: {by bringing a charging member into contact with the member to be charged, e.g. roller, brush chargers} - G03G 15/0806: {on a donor element, e.g. belt, roller (complete developer unit G03G15/0896)} - G03G 15/0862: {the level being measured by optical means} - G03G 15/556: {for toner consumption, e.g. pixel counting, toner coverage detection or toner density measurement} - G03G 21/0094: {fatigue treatment of the photoconductor} - G03G 15/0813: {characterised by means in the developing zone having an interaction with the image carrying member, e.g. distance holders} - G03G 21/14: Electronic sequencing control - G03G 2215/00679: Conveying means details, e.g. roller - G03G 2215/207: Type of toner image to be fixed - G03G 2221/0084: Liquid - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY ## Abstract An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a toner supply unit, an application roller adjacent to the image carrier, a toner measuring unit, and a control unit. The toner supply unit supplies toner to the image carrier. The application roller applies a lubricant to the image carrier. The toner measuring unit measures an amount of toner transferred from the image carrier to the application roller. The control unit adjusts the supply of toner to be supplied to the image carrier in accordance with the amount of toner measured by the toner measuring unit. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An image forming apparatus comprising: an image carrier; a toner supply unit to supply toner to the image carrier; an application roller located at a position adjacent to the image carrier and to apply a lubricant to the image carrier; a toner measuring unit to measure an amount of toner transferred from the image carrier to the application roller; and a control unit to adjust the supply of toner to be supplied to the image carrier in accordance with the amount of toner measured by the toner measuring unit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image carrier is a photoreceptor, the application roller is a brush roller, and the control unit to increase an amount of toner to be supplied to the photoreceptor when a measured amount of toner of the brush roller is equal to or less than a toner amount threshold value. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, the toner measuring unit to measure the amount of toner by measuring electrostatic capacity of the application roller. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, the toner measuring unit to measure the amount of toner by measuring electrical resistance of the application roller. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the toner measuring unit includes an optical sensor to measure an amount of toner adhered to the application roller, and the optical sensor includes an irradiation unit to irradiate the application roller with light, and a detection unit to detect light radiated from the irradiation unit and passing through the application roller. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the toner measuring unit includes an optical sensor to measure an amount of toner adhered to the application roller, and the optical sensor includes an irradiation unit to irradiate the application roller with light, and a detection unit to detect light radiated from the irradiation unit and reflected from the application roller. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, the toner measuring unit to measure the amount of toner by measuring a torque transmitted to the application roller. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, the control unit to supply toner to the application roller by formation of an electrostatic latent image on the image carrier. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, the control unit to change a voltage applied to the application roller, to supply the toner to the application roller. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, the control unit to change a rotation speed of the application roller, to supply the toner to the application roller. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, the control unit to reduce the rotation speed of the application roller, to supply the toner to the application roller. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, the control unit to rotate the application roller in a direction opposite to the rotation direction of the image carrier, to supply the toner to the application roller. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a transfer member on which an image developed on the image carrier is transferred, the control unit to supply toner to the application roller by stopping transfer of the image developed on the image carrier to the transfer member. ### Claim 14 A method comprising; measuring an amount of toner transferred from an image carrier to a lubricant application roller in an imaging device; comparing the amount of toner measured to a threshold toner amount; and increasing a supply of toner to the image carrier when the measured amount of toner transferred to the lubricant application roller is below the threshold toner amount. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, wherein the lubricant application roller comprises a brush roller having bristles, and wherein the amount of toner transferred from the image carrier to the lubricant application roller is measured based on at least one parameter selected from the group consisting of: an electrostatic capacity of the bristles, an electrical resistance of the bristles, an amount of light radiated through the bristles, an amount of light reflected from the bristles, a torque transmitted to the lubricant application roller.