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US 6,324,356 B1Granted
Toner save method and system for image duplicating devices
AssigneeRicoh Company, Ltd.
InventorYoshiya Inoue
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The color toner application level is flexibly adjusted to save the toner consumption by lowering the developing bias voltage value while color balance is maintained by adjusting gamma characteristics. The toner save mode is invoked based upon the detection of substantially unequal toner consumption among color components.
Claims14
A method of saving toner in image duplicating devices, toner having color components, comprising:
- selecting a reduced toner application level that is below a predetermined application level, the predetermined application level including information on a ratio of application levels of the toner color components, the ratio defining a toner application level ratio;
- determining a reduced toner application level ratio according to the selected reduced toner application level;
- adjusting the reduced toner application level ratio;
- and
- applying the toner based upon the adjusted toner application level ratio so as to generate a desired image and maintain a consistent appearance of color image.
2 more elements
A system for saving toner in image duplicating devices, toner having color components, comprising:
- an input unit for selecting a reduced toner application level that is below a predetermined application level, the predetermined application level including information on a ratio of application levels of the toner color components, the ratio defining a toner application level ratio;
- a processing unit connected to said input unit for determining a reduced toner application level ratio according to the selected reduced toner application level, said processing unit adjusting the reduced toner application level ratio;
- and
- an image generation unit connected to said processing unit for applying the toner based upon the adjusted toner application level ratio so as to generate a desired image and maintain a consistent appearance of color image.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.