Image forming apparatus, toner-adhesion calculation method and data processing method
AssigneeSeiko Epson Corporation
InventorsTakashi Hama, Hidetsugu Shimura, Keiichi Taguchi, Hiroshi Nakazato
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Abstract
Output signals Vp from a density sensor are sampled for plural positions on an intermediate transfer belt and an amount of toner adhesion is determined based on the results of sampling. Since these sample data pieces may contain noises, each predetermined number of data pieces of higher order and of lower order are removed from the resultant sample data string. The removed data pieces are each replaced by an average value Vpavg of the other sample data pieces. The amount of toner adhesion is calculated based on the data string thus replaced.
Claims23
An image forming apparatus arranged to determine an amount of toner adhered to a predetermined subject region of calculation in a surface of an image carrier, comprising:
- an optical sensor which irradiates light on a smaller measurement area than said subject region of calculation for receiving light therefrom, and which outputs a signal corresponding to an amount of received light;
- and
- control means which acquires N1 (N1 being a natural number of 2 or more) sample data pieces by sampling output signals from said optical sensor with respect to said measurement areas present at different N1 places in said subject region of calculation and determines the amount of toner adhered to said subject region of calculation based on N2 sample data pieces out of said N1 sample data pieces (N2 being a smaller natural number than N1).
A toner-adhesion calculation method for determining an amount of toner adhered to a predetermined subject region of calculation in a surface of an image carrier comprising the steps of:
- irradiating light on a smaller measurement area than said subject region of calculation for receiving light therefrom;
- acquiring N1 sample data pieces by sampling signals corresponding to amounts of received light;
- and determining the amount of toner adhered to said subject region of calculation based on N2 sample data pieces out of said N1 sample data pieces (N2 being a smaller natural number than N1).
A data processing method for determining an amount of toner adhered to a predetermined subject region of calculation in a surface of an image carrier comprising the steps of:
- irradiating light on a smaller measurement area than said subject region of calculation for receiving light therefrom;
- acquiring N1 sample data pieces by sampling signals corresponding to amounts of received light;
- removing a predetermined number of data pieces of higher order and/or lower order from said N1 sample data pieces;
- and using the remaining N2 sample data pieces as valid data for calculating the amount of toner adhered to said subject region of calculation.
An image forming apparatus arranged to determine an amount of toner adhered to a predetermined subject region of calculation in a surface of an image carrier, comprising:
- an optical sensor which irradiates light on a measurement area in the surface of said image carrier for receiving light therefrom, and which outputs a signal corresponding to an amount of received light;
- and
- control means which acquires sample data pieces by sampling output signals from said optical sensor with respect to individual measurement areas, regarding each of said subject region of calculation and its plural neighboring regions as said measurement area, and which determines the amount of toner adhered to said subject region of calculation based on the sample data pieces.
A toner-adhesion calculation method for determining an amount of toner adhered to a predetermined subject region of calculation in a surface of an image carrier comprising the steps of:
- irradiating light on individual measurement areas for receiving light therefrom, regarding each of said subject region of calculation and its plural neighboring regions as said measurement area;
- acquiring sample data pieces by sampling signals corresponding to amounts of received light from said individual measurement areas;
- and determining the amount of toner adhered to said subject region of calculation based on the sample data pieces.
A data processing method for determining an amount of toner adhered to a predetermined subject region of calculation in a surface of an image carrier comprising the steps of:
- irradiating light on (2M1+1) measurement areas for receiving light therefrom, said measurement areas including said subject region of calculation and areas at M1 places (M1 being a natural number) upstream from said subject region along a predetermined direction and at M1 places downstream therefrom along said predetermined direction;
- acquiring sample data pieces by sampling signals corresponding to amounts of received light;
- replacing the sample data piece on said subject region of calculation with a median of said (2M1+1) sample data pieces;
- and using the replaced data piece as valid data for calculating the amount of toner adhered to the subject region of calculation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.