Image forming apparatus and method capable of reducing density irregularity in toner images
OwnerKeigo NAKAMURAinventor
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Abstract
An image forming apparatus includes an image bearer to bear a latent image formed thereon, a developing device to render visible the latent image borne on the image bearer as a toner image, and a transfer device to transfer the toner image onto a recording medium either directly or via an intermediate transfer member. A granularity detector is provided to detect granularity of the toner image transferred onto the recording medium. A controller is provided to control a transfer rate of toner in the toner image transferred onto the recording medium to reduce the image degradation when the granularity detected by the granularity detector exceeds a prescribed threshold.
Claims20
An image forming apparatus, comprising:
- an image bearer to bear a latent image formed thereon;
- a developing device to render visible the latent image borne on the image bearer into a toner image;
- a transfer device to transfer the toner image from the image bearer onto a recording medium either directly or via an intermediate transfer member;
- a granularity detector to detect granularity of the toner image transferred onto the recording medium;
- and
- a controller to control a transfer rate of toner in the toner image transferred onto the recording medium to reduce the image degradation when the granularity detected by the granularity detector exceeds a prescribed threshold.
A method of forming an image, comprising the steps of:
- forming and bearing a latent image on an image bearer;
- rendering visible the latent image borne on the image bearer into a toner image using a developing device;
- transferring the toner image from the image bearer onto a recording medium either directly or via an intermediate transfer member using a transfer device;
- detecting granularity of the toner image transferred onto the recording medium using a granularity detector;
- and
- controlling a transfer rate of toner in the toner image transferred onto the recording medium to reduce the image degradation using a transfer rate controller when the detected granularity exceeds a prescribed threshold.
An image forming apparatus, comprising:
- means for forming and bearing a latent image on an image bearer;
- means for rendering visible the latent image borne on the image bearer into a toner image;
- means for transferring the toner image from the image bearer onto a recording medium either directly or via an intermediate transfer member;
- means for detecting granularity of the toner image transferred onto the recording medium;
- and
- means for controlling a transfer rate of toner in the toner image transferred onto the recording medium to reduce the image degradation when the granularity detected by the granularity detecting means exceeds a prescribed threshold.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.