IP Library Granted Patent US 12,656,721
Granted Patent B2
US 12,656,721 · App. 18/664,107 · Granted Jun 16, 2026

Image forming apparatus

Inventors: Suguru Kurita (Sunto Shizuoka, JP); Ken Iguchi (Numazu Shizuoka, JP)
Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
G03G21/06G01N21/31G03G15/0121G03G15/0189G03G15/50
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,656,721
App. No.
18/664,107
Granted
Jun 16, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

According to an embodiment, an image forming apparatus supplies toner to a photoreceptor on which an electrostatic latent image is formed. A toner sensor of the image forming apparatus outputs a signal corresponding to the amount of adhering toner on an image carrier to which the toner is transferred from the photoreceptor. A memory of the image forming apparatus stores a target value including a correction value of image stabilization control of stabilizing an image for each type of toner. The image forming apparatus performs the image stabilization control of setting an output value of the toner sensor to the target value including the correction value for each type of toner.

Claims (30)

1 . An image forming apparatus comprising:

a photoreceptor;

a static eliminator that emits static eliminating light to be applied to the photoreceptor;

a charger that charges the photoreceptor from which electric charge is removed by the static eliminator;

an exposure device that forms an electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor charged by the charger;

a developing device that supplies toner to the photoreceptor on which the electrostatic latent image is formed by the exposure device;

a toner sensor that outputs a signal corresponding to an amount of adhering toner on an image carrier to which the toner is transferred from the photoreceptor;

a memory that stores a target value including a correction value of image stabilization control of stabilizing an image for each type of toner; and

a processor that performs the image stabilization control of setting an output value of the toner sensor to the target value including the correction value for each type of toner, wherein

the correction value is an amount of correction that varies depending on the type of toner and a wavelength of the static eliminating light emitted by the static eliminator,

the toner sensor includes

a light-emitting element that applies light to a detection surface,

a first light-receiving element that receives regular reflected light on the detection surface, and

a second light-receiving element that receives diffused light on the detection surface, and

the memory stores, as the correction value, the amount of correction for toner of a specific color selected on a basis of a spectral reflectivity for each color of toner with respect to the wavelength of the static eliminating light.

2 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the amount of correction varies also depending on a sensor sensitivity of the toner sensor.

3 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the static eliminator emits static eliminating light having a wavelength of 570 nm or more, and

the memory stores, as the correction value, the amount of correction for toner of yellow and the amount of correction for toner of magenta.

4 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the processor updates the correction value stored in the memory in accordance with the number of recording media to which a toner image is transferred from the image carrier by the image forming apparatus.

5 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the processor updates the correction value stored in the memory in accordance with a driving time of the photoreceptor.

6 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the processor updates the correction value stored in the memory in accordance with a driving time of the developing device.

7 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the processor updates the correction value stored in the memory in accordance with a driving time of the image carrier.

8 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the processor updates the correction value stored in the memory in accordance with a light-emission time during which the static eliminator emits the static eliminating light.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 14, 2024
From: KURITA, SUGURU; IGUCHI, KEN
To: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 067411/0542 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2023-184106 · Oct 26, 2023 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250138471A1 · May 1, 2025
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