Multi-color image forming apparatus and method of setting image data for same

A method of forming an image by supporting a plurality of kinds of toner images on a photosensitive member, comprising the steps of:

• charging the photosensitive member with a first latent image voltage-potential;
• forming a first electrostatic latent image by exposing the charged photosensitive member with a first amount of exposure;
• developing the first electrostatic latent image with first toner so as to form a reference image with the first toner with a first developing bias voltage;
• detecting a density of the reference image so as to generate a detection output;
• charging the photosensitive member with a second latent image voltage-potential;
• forming a second electrostatic latent image by exposing the charged photosensitive member with a second amount of exposure;
• developing the second electrostatic latent image with second toner which is different from the first toner with a second developing bias voltage;
• and
• changing at least one of the first latent image voltage-potential, the first amount of exposure and the first developing bias voltage in accordance with the detection output;
• and
• setting at least one of the second latent image voltage-potential, the second amount of exposure and the second developing bias voltage in accordance with a predetermined relationship of the first latent image voltage-potential, the second latent image voltage-potential, the first amount of exposure, the second amount of exposure, the first developing bias voltage and the second developing bias voltage, which predetermined relationship is stored in a memory, when at least one of the first latent image voltage potential, the first amount of exposure and the first developing bias voltage have been changed in accordance with the detection output.

A method of forming an image by supporting a plurality of kinds of toner images on a photosensitive member, comprising the step of:

• forming a first electrostatic latent image on a surface of the photosensitive member on the basis of first image forming conditions;
• developing the first electrostatic latent image with first toner;
• forming a reference electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive member on the basis of reference image forming conditions;
• developing the reference electrostatic latent image with the first toner so as to form a reference image;
• outputting an image density signal corresponding to a density of the reference image;
• executing, in response to an output of the image density signal, a program for setting second image forming conditions for forming a second electrostatic latent image;
• forming the second electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive member in accordance with the second image forming conditions;
• and
• developing the second electrostatic latent image with second toner which is different from the first toner;
• wherein the program selects, on the basis of a difference between the output of the image density signal and a predetermined reference value, the second image forming conditions from a plurality of preset image forming conditions.

A method of forming an image by supporting a plurality of kinds of toner images on a photosensitive member, comprising the steps of:

• forming a first electrostatic latent image on a surface of the photosensitive member in accordance with first image forming conditions;
• developing the first electrostatic latent image with a first color toner;
• forming a reference electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive member in accordance with reference image forming conditions;
• developing the reference electrostatic latent image with the first color toner;
• outputting an image density signal corresponding to a density of the developed reference image;
• executing, by an output of the image density signal, a program for setting second image forming conditions for forming a second electrostatic latent image to be developed with a second color toner;
• forming the second electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive member on the basis of the second image forming conditions;
• and
• developing the second electrostatic latent image with the second color toner,
• wherein the program selects, on the basis of a difference between the output of the image density signal and a predetermined reference value, the second image forming conditions from a plurality of preset image forming conditions.

An image forming apparatus having a plurality of developing devices, comprising:

• an electrostatic latent image support member;
• a latent image forming means for forming an electrostatic latent image on the electrostatic latent image support member;
• a first developing means for developing with first toner on the basis of first image conditions, the electrostatic latent image formed by the latent image forming means;
• a second developing means for developing with second toner on the basis of second image conditions, the electrostatic latent image formed by the latent image forming means;
• a storage means for storing a predetermined relationship between the first image conditions and the second image conditions;
• a first change means for changing the first image conditions;
• and
• a second change means for automatically changing, each time the first image conditions have been changed by the first change means, the second image conditions in accordance with the predetermined relationship stored in the storage means.

An image forming apparatus having a plurality of developing device, comprising:

• an image support member;
• means for forming an electrostatic latent image onto the support member;
• first developing means for developing the formed latent image with a first developer including a first toner and a first carrier in accordance with first image conditions;
• means for maintaining a ratio of the first toner of the first developer to be fixed value;
• second developing means for developing the formed latent image with a second developer including a second toner and a second carrier in accordance with second imaged conditions;
• means for maintaining a ratio of the second toner of the second developer to be a fixed value;
• means for detecting the toner image developed with the first toner to produce a detection signal;
• first changing means for changing the first image conditions in response to the detection signal;
• means for storing a predetermined relationship between the first image conditions and the second image conditions;
• and
• second changing means for changing the second image conditions in accordance with the predetermined relationship when the first image conditions have been changed by the first changing means.