Image forming apparatus

• US 20070183794A1
• Filed: 02/02/2007
• Published: 08/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyocera MITA Corporation (Kyocera Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kyocera MITA Corporation (Kyocera Corporation)
• Inventors: Okada, Masanori
• Granted Patent: US 7,532,829 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 399/12
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0855 the concentration being measured by optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0863 provided with identifying means or means for storing process- or use parameters, e.g. an electronic memory
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0865 Arrangements for supplying new developer
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/0697 being an electronically readable memory

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes: a main body; a toner container detachably mounted to the main body; a wireless tag provided on the toner container; and a communicator provided in the main body and being capable of performing a wireless communication with the wireless tag, wherein the communicator includes: a communication strength detector for detecting a communication strength of the wireless communication performed with the wireless tag; and a communication output adjuster for changing the communication output of the communicator so that the communication strength detector detects a predetermined communication strength, when a communication strength detected by the communication strength detector is not the predetermined communication strength.

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:

a main body;

a toner container detachably mounted to the main body;

a wireless tag provided on the toner container; and

a communicator provided in the main body and being capable of performing a wireless communication with the wireless tag, wherein

the communicator includes;

a communication strength detector for detecting a communication strength of the wireless communication performed with the wireless tag; and

a communication output adjuster for changing the communication output of the communicator so that the communication strength detector detects a predetermined communication strength, when a communication strength detected by the communication strength detector is not the predetermined communication strength.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication output adjuster includes a frequency modulator for changing the communication output by modulating the communication frequency.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the frequency modulator sets the communication frequency at a value to realize a communication strength which enables at least the wireless communication to be performed.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein:

the communication strength detector respectively detects communication strengths at a plurality of frequencies set by the frequency modulator; and

the frequency modulator sets as the communication frequency the one of the plurality of frequencies that causes the greatest communication strength to be detected by the communication strength detector.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:

the communication strength detector respectively detects communication strengths at a plurality of frequencies set by the frequency modulator; and

the frequency modulator sets as the communication frequency the one of the plurality of frequencies that causes the greatest communication strength to be detected by the communication strength detector.

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

the wireless tag obtains electric power from an output of the communicator and responds to the communicator; and

the communication strength detector detects a communication strength of the wireless communication with the wireless tag based on a strength of a response from the wireless tag when the communicator communicates with the wireless tag at a predetermined communication output.

7. An image forming apparatus comprising:

a main body;

a communicator provided in the main body and being communicable with a wireless tag provided on a toner container detachably mounted to the main body, wherein

the communicator includes;

a communication strength detector for detecting a communication strength of the wireless communication performed with the wireless tag; and

a communication output adjuster for changing the communication output of the communicator so that the communication strength detector detects a predetermined communication strength, when a communication strength detected by the communication strength detector is not the predetermined communication strength.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the communication output adjuster includes a frequency modulator for changing the communication output by modulating the communication frequency.

9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the frequency modulator sets the communication frequency at a value to realize a communication strength which enables at least the wireless communication to be performed.

10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein:

the communication strength detector respectively detects communication strengths at a plurality of frequencies set by the frequency modulator; and

the frequency modulator sets as the communication frequency the one of the plurality of frequencies that causes the greatest communication strength to be detected by the communication strength detector.

11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein:

the communication strength detector respectively detects communication strengths at a plurality of frequencies set by the frequency modulator; and

the frequency modulator sets as the communication frequency the one of the plurality of frequencies that causes the greatest communication strength to be detected by the communication strength detector.

12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, the communication strength detector detects a communication strength of the wireless communication with the wireless tag based on a strength of a response from the wireless tag when the communicator communicates with the wireless tag at a predetermined communication output.

13. An image forming apparatus comprising:

a main body;

a toner container detachably mounted to the main body;

a wireless tag provided on the toner container;

a communicator provided in the main body and being capable of performing a wireless communication with the wireless tag, wherein

the communicator includes;

a toner amount information acquirer for obtaining toner amount information showing an amount of toner particles contained in the toner container;

a storage section for storing a relationship between the toner amount information and the communication output of the communicator; and

a communication output adjuster for reading out a communication output corresponding to a toner amount information acquired by the toner amount information acquirer and setting the read communication output as the communication output of the communicator.

14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the communication output adjuster includes a frequency modulator for changing the communication output by modulating a communication frequency.

15. An image forming apparatus comprising:

a main body;

a communicator provided in the main body and being communicable with a wireless tag provided on a toner container detachably mounted to the main body, wherein

the communicator includes;

a toner amount information acquirer for obtaining toner amount information showing an amount of toner particles contained in the toner container;

a storage section for storing a relationship between the toner amount information and the communication output of the communicator; and

a communication output adjuster for reading out a communication output corresponding to a toner amount information acquired by the toner amount information acquirer and setting the read communication output as the communication output of the communicator.

16. The image forming apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the communication output adjuster includes a frequency modulator for changing the communication output by modulating a communication frequency.