Electrophotography – Control of electrophotography process – Control of developing
Reexamination Certificate
2006-09-14
2010-12-21
Gray, David M (Department: 2852)
Electrophotography
Control of electrophotography process
Control of developing
C399S062000, C399S063000, C399S064000, C399S258000, C399S262000
Reexamination Certificate
active
07856189
ABSTRACT:
An image forming apparatus includes an optical sensor configured to optically detect a density of a reference pattern image, a toner density sensor configured to detect a density of toner in a developing unit, a storing unit configured to store an image area coverage of an output image, a determining unit configured to determine whether a state of toner accommodated in a toner supplying unit is an almost empty state and an empty state or neither based on detection results obtained by the sensors, a controlling unit configured to continuously perform a toner state check when the image area coverage of the output image is greater than a predetermined image area coverage value and the density of the reference pattern image is greater than a predetermined density level after the determination of the state of toner is the almost empty state or the empty state or neither.
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Evans Geoffrey T
Gray David M
Oblon, Spivak McClelland, Maier & Neustadt, L.L.P.
Ricoh Company, Ltd
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