IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS

• US 20090110417A1
• Filed: 10/23/2008
• Published: 04/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation), Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation), Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Nakajima, Takahiro, Tohata, Nobuo, Ajima, Hisanobu, Hashidume, Hiroshi, Homma, Toru, Hatano, Takumi
• Application Number:
  US12/257,268
• Publication Number:
  US 20090110417A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 399/44
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0849 Detection or control means for the developer concentration
• 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 15/0868 Toner cartridges fulfilling a continuous function within the electrographic apparatus during the use of the supplied developer material, e.g. toner discharge on demand, storing residual toner, acting as an active closure for the developer replenishing opening
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1878 Electronically readable memory
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1889 for auto-setting of process parameters, lifetime, usage
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/0697 being an electronically readable memory

Abstract

An image forming apparatus mounted with a toner cartridge having a memory unit includes a toner cartridge which stores a plurality of control data depending on toner in the memory unit, an acquisition unit which selects one of the plurality of control data in the memory unit and acquires image formation-related information and a setting unit which sets image formation parameters on the basis of the image formation-related information.

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus mounted with a toner cartridge having a memory unit, comprising:

a toner cartridge which stores a plurality of control data depending on toner in the memory unit;

an acquisition unit which selects one of the plurality of control data in the memory unit and acquires image formation-related information; and

a setting unit which sets image formation parameters on the basis of the image formation-related information.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of control data includes a plurality of data prepared depending on a physical property of the toner.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the physical property of the toner is a resistance value of the toner.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the physical property of the toner is a particle diameter of the toner.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the physical property of the toner is a manufacturing lot of the toner.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the physical property of the toner is color information of the toner.

7. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the setting unit sets a value depending on the temperature as the image formation-related information.

8. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the setting unit sets a value depending on the humidity as the image formation-related information.

9. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the setting unit sets a value depending on the number of printed sheets as the image formation-related information.

10. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the setting unit sets a value depending on the life time as the image formation-related information.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the setting unit sets a bias voltage of a charger.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the setting unit sets a bias voltage of a charger.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a measuring unit which measures a resistance value of the toner.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a measuring unit which measures an environmental condition,

wherein the setting unit sets the image formation parameter depending on the environmental condition on the basis of a control table.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the measuring unit measures the humidity.

16. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising an image sensor which measures a concentration of the toner,

wherein the setting unit adjusts development contrast.

17. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the image formation-related information is material and environment characteristic information.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the setting unit sets the image formation parameter on the basis of an environment condition calculated from the material and environment characteristic information and the resistance value of the toner.