Image forming apparatus with a toner density control device

Claim 2

An image forming apparatus using a dual component developer, comprising: first detection means for detecting a toner density of a developer; second detection means for detecting an amount of a used toner; determination means for determining an amount of the toner to be supplied in accordance with the toner density detected by said first detection means; and revision means for revising the amount of the toner to be supplied determined by said determination means in accordance with the amount of used toner detected by said second detection means.

Claim 3

An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second detection means detects the amount of the used toner by measuring a number of pixel dots which form an image data.

Claim 4

A toner density control device for a dual component developer, comprising: toner density detection means for detecting a toner density; comparing means for comparing the toner density detected by said detection means with a reference value so as to control the toner density in accordance with the comparison result; first measuring means for measuring an accumulative time during which a developing device operates; second measuring means for measuring an amount of a toner used in a predetermined time; and revision means for revising a relationship between the detected toner density and the reference value, which are to be compared by said comparing means, in accordance with the accumulative time measured by said first measuring means and the amount of the used toner measured by said second measuring means.

Claim 5

A toner density control device for a dual component developer, comprising: toner density detection means for detecting a toner density; comparing means for comparing the toner density detected by said detection means with a reference value so as to control the toner density in accordance with the comparison result; first measuring means for measuring an accumulative time during which a developing device operates; second measuring means for measuring an amount of a toner used in a predetermined time; and revision means for revising a relationship between the detected toner density and the reference value, which are to be compared by said comparing means, in accordance with the accumulative time measured by said first measuring means and the amount of the used toner measured by said second measuring means.

Claim 6

An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 3, further comprising toner supply means for supplying the toner according to an amount calculated by the comparison result.

Claim 7

An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said revision means revises the reference value in accordance with the accumulative time measured by said first measuring means and the amount of the used toner measured by said second measuring means.

Claim 8

An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said first measuring means includes a first counter which counts an accumulative number of operations of the developing device and is reset when the developing device is renewed.

Claim 9

An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said second measuring means includes a second counter which counts a number of operations of the developing device and is reset each time a predetermined number is counted.

Claim 10

An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said toner density detection means detects the toner density by use of magnetism.

Claim 11

An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said toner density detection means detects the toner density by use of reflectance of a light emitted to a developer.

Claim 12

An image forming apparatus using a dual component developer, comprising: first detection means for detecting a toner density; second detection means for detecting a change of environment around a developing device; first measuring means for measuring an accumulative time during which the developing device operates; second measuring means for measuring an amount of a toner used in a predetermined time; comparing means for comparing the toner density detected by said first detection means with a reference value, said comparing means including revision means for revising a relationship between the toner density and the reference value in accordance with the accumulative time measured by said first measuring means, the amount of the used toner measured by said second measuring means and the change of environment detected by said second detection means; and toner supply means for supplying the toner according to the comparison result based on the relationship revised by said revision means.

Claim 13

An image forming apparatus using a dual component developer, comprising: first detection means for detecting a toner density; second detection means for detecting a change of environment around a developing device; first measuring means for measuring an accumulative time during which the developing device operates; second measuring means for measuring an amount of a toner used in a predetermined time; comparing means for comparing the toner density detected by said first detection means with a reference value, said comparing means including revision means for revising a relationship between the toner density and the reference value in accordance with the accumulative time measured by said first measuring means, the amount of the used toner measured by said second measuring means and the change of environment detected by said second detection means; and toner supply means for supplying the toner according to the comparison result based on the relationship revised by said revision means.

Claim 14

An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said revision means revises the reference value in accordance with the amount of the used toner, the accumulative time and the change of environment.

Claim 15

An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said second detection means detects a change of humidity.

Claim 16

An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said second measuring means measures an average amount of the used toner per copy.

Claim 17

An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said second measuring means measures the amount of the used toner by counting a number of pixel dots which form an image data.

Claim 18

An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said first measuring means includes a first counter which counts as accumulative number of operations of the developing device and is reset when the developing device is renewed.

Claim 19

An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said second measuring means includes a second counter which counts a number of operations of the developing device and is reset every time a predetermined number is counted.

Claim 20

An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said toner density detection means detects the toner density by use of magnetism.

Claim 21

An image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said toner density detection means detects the toner density by use of reflectance of a light emitted to a developer.

Claim 22

An image forming apparatus using a dual component developer, comprising: a digital image data generating portion for generating an image data with pixel dots each of which has a gradation; a developing portion for visualizing an electrostatic latent image formed in accordance with the image data generated by said digital image data generating portion; a count portion for counting a number of the pixel dots which form the image data and for outputting a toner data indicative of a consumption amount of a toner, said count portion including modification means for modifying the counting result in accordance with a degree of the gradation of each pixel dot to output the toner data; and a supply portion for supplying the toner in accordance with the toner data.

Claim 23

An image forming apparatus using a dual component developer, comprising: a digital image data generating portion for generating an image data with pixel dots each of which has a gradation; a developing portion for visualizing an electrostatic latent image formed in accordance with the image data generated by said digital image data generating portion; a count portion for counting a number of the pixel dots which form the image data and for outputting a toner data indicative of a consumption amount of a toner, said count portion including modification means for modifying the counting result in accordance with a degree of the gradation of each pixel dot to output the toner data; and a supply portion for supplying the toner in accordance with the toner data.