Determination method and recovery method

A determination method for determining whether or not a plurality of kinds of toner are mixed within a toner storage portion in an image forming apparatus which is capable of being replenished with toner by using a replenishment container,

• the determination method comprising:
• outputting a pattern image on a recording material by using the image forming apparatus, the pattern image including a first region where a halftone image is formed and a second region where another halftone image is formed, the halftone image of the second region being constituted by dots of an average dot size smaller than an average dot size of dots constituting the halftone image of the first region;
• comparing a density of the first region with a density of the second region in the pattern image output on the recording material;
• and
• determining that the plurality of kinds of toner are mixed within the toner storage portion in a case where, in the comparing, the density of the first region is higher than the density of the second region and a difference between the density of the first region and the density of the second region satisfies a predetermined condition in a condition of an illuminance of 30 lux or more.

A determination method for determining whether or not a plurality of kinds of toner are mixed within a toner storage portion in an image forming apparatus which is capable of being replenished with toner by using a replenishment container, the determination method comprising:

• outputting a first pattern image on a first recording material by using the image forming apparatus, the first pattern image including a boundary Line indicating a boundary of a predetermined region in a main scanning direction of image formation;
• checking whether or not there is an image other than the first pattern image in the predetermined region on the first recording material;
• and
• determining, on a basis of a result of the checking, whether or not the plurality of kinds of toner are mixed within the toner storage portion in a condition of an illuminance of 30 lux or more.

A recovery method for causing an image forming apparatus to recover from an image defect, the image forming apparatus including a toner storage portion capable of being replenished with toner by using a replenishment container, the recovery method comprising:

• outputting a pattern image on a recording material by using the image forming apparatus, the pattern image including a first region where a halftone image is formed and a second region where another halftone image is formed, the halftone image of the second region being constituted by dots of an average dot size smaller than an average dot size of dots constituting the halftone image of the first region;
• comparing a density of the first region with a density of the second region in the pattern image output on the recording material;
• and
• replenishing the toner storage portion with toner,
• wherein the replenishing is executed in a case where a visual density of the halftone image of the first region is higher than a visual density of the halftone image of the second region in the comparing in a condition of an illuminance of 30 lux or more.

A recovery method for causing an image forming apparatus to recover from an image defect, the image forming apparatus including a toner storage portion capable of being replenished with toner by using a replenishment container, the recovery method comprising:

• outputting a pattern image on a recording material by using the image forming apparatus, the pattern image including a first region where a halftone image is formed and a second region where another halftone image is formed, the halftone image of the second region being constituted by dots of an average dot size smaller than an average dot size of dots constituting the halftone image of the first region;
• comparing a density of the first region with a density of the second region in the pattern image output on the recording material;
• and
• replenishing the toner storage portion with toner,
• wherein the replenishing is executed in a case where, in the comparing, the density of the first region is higher than the density of the second region and a difference between the density of the first region and the density of the second region satisfies a predetermined condition in a condition of an illuminance of 30 lux or more.

A recovery method for causing an image forming apparatus to recover from an image defect, the image forming apparatus including a toner storage portion capable of being replenished with toner by using a replenishment container, the recovery method comprising:

• outputting a first pattern image on a first recording material by using the image forming apparatus, the first pattern image including a boundary fine indicating a boundary of a predetermined region in a main scanning direction of image formation;
• checking whether or not there is an image other than the first pattern image in the predetermined region on the first recording material;
• and
• replenishing the toner storage portion with toner,
• wherein the replenishing is executed in a case where there is the image other than the first pattern image in the predetermined region in the checking in a condition of an illuminance of 30 lux or more.