Control of toner concentration in a developer
AssigneeRicoh Company, Ltd.
InventorYasushi Koichi
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A toner concentration control method and system for controlling the toner concentration of a developer which includes toner and carrier for use in electrophotography. A controller, typically including a central processing unit or CPU, first determines a degree of deviation of the current toner concentration from a predetermined reference level and then replenishes the toner to the developer at an optimal replenishing condition which is varyingly set in accordance with the detected degree of deviation. In the preferred embodiment, the flow rate of toner to be supplied and time period of replenishing operation are varyingly set. Besides, the frequency of toner concentration detecting operation is also varyingly set so as to alleviate the load of the CPU.
Claims11
A method for controlling the toner concentration of a developer including toner and carrier, comprising the steps of:
- comparing a current toner concentration of said developer with a predetermined reference level for determining a degree of deviation of toner concentration from said reference level;
- setting a timing of a next toner concentration detecting operation depending on said degree of deviation;
- and
- replenishing toner to said developer in accordance with a result of said comparison while carrying out said toner concentration detecting operation at said timing thus set.
A system for controlling the toner concentration of a developer comprised of toner and carrier for use in developing an electrostatic latent image, comprising:
- first storing means for storing therein a quantity of said developer for use in developing said latent image;
- second storing means for storing therein a quantity of said toner to be supplied to said first storing means;
- regulating means interposed between said first and second storing means for regulating the flow of said toner from said second storing means to said first storing means;
- detecting means for detecting a current toner concentration of said developer;
- and
- means for setting a timing of a next toner concentration detecting operation by said detecting means in accordance with a degree of deviation of a current toner concentration level detected by said detecting means from a predetermined reference level.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.