Image forming apparatus, toner counter and toner consumption calculating method
AssigneeSeiko Epson Corporation
InventorShinsuke Yokote
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The number of toner dots to be formed or tone values of the respective dots are integrated and thus found count is multiplied by a predetermined coefficient, thereby calculating a toner consumption amount. As a value (E1 or E2) to which exposure power E is set to attain a target density Dlow is different from a theoretical optimal value (Eopt1 or Eopt2), an image density becomes slightly different from the target density, which causes an error in calculating the toner consumption amount. To suppress this, the coefficient substituted in a formula for calculating the toner consumption amount is changed depending upon a deviation (ΔE1 or ΔE2) between the set value and the optimal value.
Claims26
An image forming apparatus, comprising:
- an image forming unit which forms a toner image which corresponds to image data;
- a detector which detects density of the toner image formed by the image forming unit;
- and
- a toner consumption amount calculator which calculates a toner consumption amount demanded by the image forming unit,
- wherein the image forming unit forms a toner image serving as a calibration patch image, and
- the toner consumption amount calculator calculates the toner consumption amount based on the image data and a density detection result regarding the calibration patch image obtained by the detector.
An image forming apparatus, comprising:
- an image forming unit which forms a toner image which corresponds to image data;
- and
- a toner consumption amount calculator which calculates a toner consumption amount demanded by the image forming unit,
- wherein the toner consumption amount calculator calculates the toner consumption amount based on discrepancy information, which expresses a degree of a discrepancy between an actual density of the toner image formed by the image forming unit and a target density which the toner image is supposed to have, and the image data.
A toner counter for use within an image forming apparatus for forming a toner image corresponding to image data, which calculates a toner consumption amount demanded by formation of this toner image, comprising:
- a counting element which integrates number of toner dots to be formed or tone values of the toner dots based on the image data;
- and
- a calculator which calculates the toner consumption amount based on a density detection result regarding a toner image which serves as a calibration patch image and the count registered by the counting element.
A toner counter for use within an image forming apparatus for forming a toner image corresponding to image data, which calculates a toner consumption amount demanded by formation of the toner image, comprising:
- a counting element which integrates number of toner dots to be formed or tone values of the toner dots based on the image data;
- and
- a calculator which calculates the toner consumption amount based on discrepancy information, which is indicative of a degree of a discrepancy between an actual density of the toner image thus formed and a target density which is an image density which the toner is supposed to have, and the count registered by the counting element.
A toner consumption amount calculation method of calculating a toner consumption amount which an image forming apparatus for forming a toner image corresponding to image data demands for toner image formation, comprising the steps of:
- forming a toner image which serves as a calibration patch image;
- detecting density of the calibration patch image;
- and
- calculating the toner consumption amount based on the detected density of the calibration patch image and the image data.
A toner consumption amount calculation method of calculating a toner consumption amount which an image forming apparatus for forming a toner image corresponding to image data demands for toner image formation, comprising the steps of:
- acquiring discrepancy information, which is indicative of a degree of a discrepancy between an actual density of the toner image thus formed and a target density which is an image density which the toner is supposed to have;
- and
- calculating the toner consumption amount based on the discrepancy information and the image data.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.