# US 9,753,408 B2 · Image forming apparatus with controller to reduce attachment of development agent to transfer roller

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- Number: US 9,753,408 B2
- Document ID: US9753408B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/177,648
- Filed: 2016-06-09
- Published: 2016-12-22
- Granted: 2017-09-05
- Earliest claimed: 2015-06-22
- Assignees: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
- Applicants: Yasuko Yoshikawa; Junichi Mizawa; Ichiro Komuro; Shuuichi Endoh; Yohsuke Saitoh; Toru Ohmine; Kenji Sato; Masato Mukai
- Inventors: Yasuko Yoshikawa; Junichi Mizawa; Ichiro Komuro; Shuuichi Endoh; Yohsuke Saitoh; Toru Ohmine; Kenji Sato; Masato Mukai
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9753408B2

## CPC

- G03G 15/0894: {Reconditioning of the developer unit, i.e. reusing or recycling parts of the unit, e.g. resealing of the unit before refilling with toner}
- G03G 15/0877: {Arrangements for metering and dispensing developer from a developer cartridge into the development unit}
- G03G 15/5041: {Detecting a toner image, e.g. density, toner coverage, using a test patch (G03G15/553 takes precedence)}
- G03G 15/168: {with means for conditioning the transfer element, e.g. cleaning}
- G03G 2215/1652: of transfer roll
- G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY

## Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes an image bearer to bear a latent electrostatic image thereon, a developing device to supply a development agent to the latent electrostatic image to obtain a visible image, a transfer roller to contact the image bearer to transfer the visible image to a recording medium, a replenishing device to replenish the developing device with the development agent when a density value read from a density detection pattern formed on the image bearer by the developing device is equal to or less than a threshold, a processing device to conduct a predetermined processing to reduce attachment of the development agent to the transfer roller, and a control device to control the number of times the predetermined processing is performed or processing time in performing the predetermined processing for the processing device, based on whether there is replenishment of the development agent to the developing device.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An image forming apparatus comprising:
an image bearer configured to bear a latent electrostatic image thereon;
a developing device configured to supply a development agent to the latent electrostatic image to obtain a visible image;
a transfer roller configured to contact the image bearer to transfer the visible image to a recording medium;
a replenishing device configured to replenish the developing device with the development agent when a density value read from a density detection pattern formed on the image bearer by the developing device is equal to or less than a threshold;
a processing device configured to conduct a predetermined processing to reduce attachment of the development agent to the transfer roller; and
a control device configured to control a number of times the predetermined processing is performed or processing time in performing the predetermined processing for the processing device, based on whether there is replenishment of the development agent to the developing device by the replenishing device.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the processing device includes a cleaning mechanism configured to clean the transfer roller,
wherein the control device controls, as the number of times of the predetermined processing or the processing time, a number of times of cleaning for the transfer roller by the cleaning mechanism based on whether there is replenishment of the development agent to the developing device by the replenishing device.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control device sets the number of times of cleaning according to the density value read from the density detection pattern.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the processing device includes a stirring mechanism configured to stir the development agent, and
wherein the control device controls, as the number of the predetermined processing or the processing time, a stirring time of the development agent by the stirring mechanism based on whether there is replenishment of the development agent to the developing device by the replenishing device.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the control device sets the stirring time according to the density value read from the density detection pattern.