Image forming apparatus, and control system, cartridge and memory medium for the same apparatus
First Claim
1. An image forming apparatus to which a cartridge having a developing apparatus and memory medium is detachably mountable, the image forming apparatus comprising:
- a detector for detecting toner concentration; and
a control unit for selecting an operational mode of the image forming apparatus from a first operational mode and second operational mode, wherein the first operational mode supplies a toner to the developing apparatus on the basis of a value detected by the detector, and the second operational mode to supplies the toner to the developing apparatus on the basis of a cumulative value of image signals for printing,wherein the memory medium stores information to switch an operational mode of the image forming apparatus from the second operational mode to the first operational mode, the information being set in accordance with toner characteristics, andwherein when the image forming apparatus is operative in the second operational mode, the control unit switches the operational mode of the image forming apparatus from the second operational mode in operation to the first operational mode on the basis of information related to the cumulative value of image signals and information stored in the memory medium.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The image forming apparatus onto which a cartridge having a developing apparatus and memory medium is detachably mountable, a detector for detecting toner concentration, and a control unit for selecting an operational mode from a first operational mode and second operational mode, wherein a toner supply member starts to supply a toner to the developing apparatus on the basis of a value detected by the detector in the first operational mode, and on the basis of a cumulative value of image signals for printing in the second operational mode, wherein the memory medium stores information based on which the second operational mode is switched to the first operational mode, and the control unit works to switch the second operational mode in operation to the first operational mode on the basis of information related to the cumulative value of image signals and information stored in the memory medium. This structure allows the image forming apparatus to keep toner concentration in the cartridge at an adequate level.
25 Citations
12 Claims
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1. An image forming apparatus to which a cartridge having a developing apparatus and memory medium is detachably mountable, the image forming apparatus comprising:
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a detector for detecting toner concentration; and a control unit for selecting an operational mode of the image forming apparatus from a first operational mode and second operational mode, wherein the first operational mode supplies a toner to the developing apparatus on the basis of a value detected by the detector, and the second operational mode to supplies the toner to the developing apparatus on the basis of a cumulative value of image signals for printing, wherein the memory medium stores information to switch an operational mode of the image forming apparatus from the second operational mode to the first operational mode, the information being set in accordance with toner characteristics, and wherein when the image forming apparatus is operative in the second operational mode, the control unit switches the operational mode of the image forming apparatus from the second operational mode in operation to the first operational mode on the basis of information related to the cumulative value of image signals and information stored in the memory medium. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A cartridge detachably mountable onto an image forming apparatus including a detector for detecting toner concentration in a developing apparatus and supplying a toner on the basis of a value detected by the detector in a first operational mode and on the basis of a cumulative value of image signals for printing in a second operational mode, the cartridge comprising:
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the developing apparatus; and a memory medium having a memory region which stores information to switch an operational mode of the image forming apparatus from the second operational mode to the first operational mode, wherein the information is set according to toner characteristics. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. A memory medium to be set in a cartridge detachably mountable onto an image forming apparatus including a detector for detecting toner concentration in a developing apparatus and supplying a toner on the basis of a value detected by the detector in a first operational mode and on the basis of a cumulative value of image signals for printing in a second operational mode, wherein the cartridge includes the developing apparatus, and
the memory medium has a memory region which stores information to switch an operational mode of the image forming apparatus from the second operational mode to the first operational mode, wherein the information is set according to toner characteristics.
Specification