Abstract: An image forming apparatus which forms an image using toner includes: a data processor which performs data processing of input image data corresponding to a toner color and accordingly generates output image data needed to obtain a predetermined tone reproduction characteristic; an image forming unit which forms an image corresponding to the output image data; and a toner consumption amount calculator which executes data selection for selecting one of the input image data and the output image data in accordance with a scheme of the data processing, sums up values of the selected image data, and calculates amount of toner consumed as an image is formed based on resulting integration value.

Abstract: An image It is formed as a patch image which includes a header image portion Ih of a solid image having a length of a circumferential length of a developing roller or more, and a gradation image portion Ig progressively varied in the tone level thereof from the maximum level to the minimum level. The densities of the patch image on an intermediate transfer belt are sampled. However, the sampling results contain errors resulting from noises or variations and hence, are subjected to a noise removal process, a periodical variation correction process and a reverse correction process. The results detected on the intermediate transfer belt do not always coincide with image densities (OD values) on a recording material. Therefore, the detection results are converted into the OD values, based on which tone characteristics of an apparatus is estimated. Then a tone correction table is updated in a manner to compensate for the tone characteristics.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for forming an image corresponding to an image signal on a recording material, comprising: a signal processor which generates an image-formation control signal by subjecting the image signal to a signal processing process including a screening process selectively using one of plural types of different processing screens; an image forming unit which includes an intermediate transfer medium, and which forms the image by forming a toner image on the intermediate transfer medium corresponding to the image-formation control signal and transferring and fixing the toner image to a recording material; and a detector which detects a quantity of the toner carried on the intermediate transfer medium as the toner image, wherein the signal processing process performed by the signal processor includes a tone correction process for compensating for a gamma characteristics of the apparatus based on a detection result given by the detector detecting a toner image formed as a patch image by using the

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, includes: a developer which is attachable to and detachable from an apparatus main body and which holds toner; an image forming section which forms a toner image using the toner held inside the developer; and a controller which executes a density control operation of forming a patch image using the toner held inside the developer and controlling an image forming condition for the image forming section based on a density detection result of the patch image, wherein the developer includes a memory which stores specific information regarding an attribute which is specific to the developer, and the controller determines a mode of the density control operation based on the specific information read out from the memory.

Abstract: Based on a video signal, a toner dot counter and an off dot counter detect a size of a toner dot portion to carry an adherent toner thereto and a size of an off dot portion not to carry an adherent toner, respectively. Reference is made to a look-up table based on the detection results, so as to retrieve a coefficient Kv corresponding to a combination of the sizes of the toner dot portion and the off dot portion. A count value Cdot given by the toner dot counter is multiplied by the coefficient Kv, while the resultant product is integrated by an accumulator. An integration value for an image of one page is multiplied by a coefficient K0 equivalent to a toner adhesion percentage of solid image. Thus is determined a toner consumption TC on the page image.

Abstract: Based on a video signal, a toner dot counter and an off dot counter detect a size of a toner dot portion to carry an adherent toner thereto and a size of an off dot portion not to carry an adherent toner, respectively. Reference is made to a look-up table based on the detection results, so as to retrieve a coefficient Kv corresponding to a combination of the sizes of the toner dot portion and the off dot portion. A count value Cdot given by the toner dot counter is multiplied by the coefficient Kv, while the resultant product is integrated by an accumulator. An integration value for an image of one page is multiplied by a coefficient K0 equivalent to a toner adhesion percentage of solid image. Thus is determined a toner consumption TC on the page image.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of forming an image corresponding to image data is formed on a recording medium comprises a data processor which performs data processing of input image data so that a first correlation will be established between a target image density expressed by the input image data and the actual image density of an image formed on the recording medium, thereby generating output image data, an image forming unit which forms an image corresponding to the output image data on the recording medium, and a toner consumption amount calculator which calculates a toner consumption amount which is consumed for image formation based on the input image data and based on a second correlation between the input image data and an adhering toner amount on the recording medium.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a toner cartridge that is configured to be detachably attachable to a main body of the image forming apparatus and stores toner, a cartridge memory unit that is provided in the toner cartridge and stores information on the toner cartridge, an image forming unit that forms a toner image using toner supplied from the toner cartridge, a memory determining unit that determines whether the cartridge memory unit is in a normal state, a count unit that counts an amount of toner consumption consumed for the toner image formed by the image forming unit, and a life determination unit that determines the life of the toner cartridge corresponding to an amount of residual toner remaining in the toner cartridge, wherein the life determination unit shifts its mode between a first life-determination mode in which the life is determined on the basis of a count value of the count unit and a second life-determination mode in which the life is determined on the basis of the toner density of a

Abstract: Based on a video signal, a toner dot counter and an off dot counter detect a size of a toner dot portion to carry an adherent toner thereto and a size of an off dot portion not to carry an adherent toner, respectively. Reference is made to a look-up table based on the detection results, so as to retrieve a coefficient Kv corresponding to a combination of the sizes of the toner dot portion and the off dot portion. A count value Cdot given by the toner dot counter is multiplied by the coefficient Kv, while the resultant product is integrated by an accumulator. An integration value for an image of one page is multiplied by a coefficient K0 equivalent to a toner adhesion percentage of solid image. Thus is determined a toner consumption TC on the page image.

Abstract: Based on a video signal, a toner dot counter and an off dot counter detect a size of a toner dot portion to carry an adherent toner thereto and a size of an off dot portion not to carry an adherent toner, respectively. Reference is made to a look-up table based on the detection results, so as to retrieve a coefficient Kv corresponding to a combination of the sizes of the toner dot portion and the off dot portion. A count value Cdot given by the toner dot counter is multiplied by the coefficient Kv, while the resultant product is integrated by an accumulator. An integration value for an image of one page is multiplied by a coefficient K0 equivalent to a toner adhesion percentage of solid image. Thus is determined a toner consumption TC on the page image.

Abstract: Based on a video signal, a toner dot counter and an off dot counter detect a size of a toner dot portion to carry an adherent toner thereto and a size of an off dot portion not to carry an adherent toner, respectively. Reference is made to a look-up table based on the detection results, so as to retrieve a coefficient Kv corresponding to a combination of the sizes of the toner dot portion and the off dot portion. A count value Cdot given by the toner dot counter is multiplied by the coefficient Kv, while the resultant product is integrated by an accumulator. An integration value for an image of one page is multiplied by a coefficient K0 equivalent to a toner adhesion percentage of solid image. Thus is determined a toner consumption TC on the page image.

Abstract: When the remaining toner amount within a developer is relatively large, a control target value of a toner amount is set to Ttgt1, and a lower limit value of a toner amount which can regarded proper is set to TL1. When the density of a patch image formed under a predetermined condition is smaller than a minimum guaranteed density Dma, it is determined abnormality has occurred in the apparatus. Since the characteristic of toner within the developer changes as the remaining toner amount decreases, the control target value is changed to Ttgt2 and the lower limit value is set to TL2 in light of this. In this fashion, regardless of whether the toner characteristic has changed, abnormality in the apparatus is detected without fail.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, includes: a developer which is attachable to and detachable from an apparatus main body and which holds toner; an image forming section which forms a toner image using the toner held inside the developer; and a controller which executes a density control operation of forming a patch image using the toner held inside the developer and controlling an image forming condition for the image forming section based on a density detection result of the patch image, wherein the developer includes a memory which stores specific information regarding an attribute which is specific to the developer, and the controller determines a mode of the density control operation based on the specific information read out from the memory.

Abstract: The toner consumption amount in the image forming apparatus is calculated accurately. The printing dot subject to process (mark of a circle with hatching) is divided into classes depending upon the number of adjacent dot (mark of a white circle) present around the dot subject to process, and the number of dots is counted for each of the classes. The toner adhesion amount of the printing dot is different depending upon the number of the adjacent dots, hence weight coefficients K0 through K8 corresponding to the difference are set in advance. The count for each of the classes is multiplied by the coefficient corresponding to each of the classes and accumulated, whereby the toner consumption amount is calculated accurately in a state that dots are arranged in two dimension.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which forms an image using toner includes: a data processor which performs data processing of input image data corresponding to a toner color and accordingly generates output image data needed to obtain a predetermined tone reproduction characteristic; an image forming unit which forms an image corresponding to the output image data; and a toner consumption amount calculator which executes data selection for selecting one of the input image data and the output image data in accordance with a scheme of the data processing, sums up values of the selected image data, and calculates amount of toner consumed as an image is formed based on resulting integration value.

Abstract: The content of processing of an input image signal varies depending upon the conditions of an apparatus. In view of the fact that this results in the variations of correlation between tone data and toner consumption, a coefficient by which an integration value of the tone data is defined according to the content of the signal processing. In an image forming apparatus which performs tone correction as the signal processing and which has a characteristic (2) of forming images of higher densities relative to tone levels, for example, a larger amount of toner is consumed. Therefore, the coefficient of the apparatus is defined to be a higher value than that of an apparatus having a substantially linear characteristic (1). Conversely, in the case of an apparatus having a characteristic (3) of forming images of lower densities, thus consuming less toner, the coefficient is defined to be a lower value.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of forming an image corresponding to image data is formed on a recording medium comprises a data processor which performs data processing of input image data so that a first correlation will be established between a target image density expressed by the input image data and the actual image density of an image formed on the recording medium, thereby generating output image data, an image forming unit which forms an image corresponding to the output image data on the recording medium, and a toner consumption amount calculator which calculates a toner consumption amount which is consumed for image formation based on the input image data and based on a second correlation between the input image data and an adhering toner amount on the recording medium.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for forming an image corresponding to an image signal on a recording material, comprising: a signal processor which generates an image-formation control signal by subjecting the image signal to a signal processing process including a screening process selectively using one of plural types of different processing screens; an image forming unit which includes an intermediate transfer medium, and which forms the image by forming a toner image on the intermediate transfer medium corresponding to the image-formation control signal and transferring and fixing the toner image to a recording material; and a detector which detects a quantity of the toner carried on the intermediate transfer medium as the toner image, wherein the signal processing process performed by the signal processor includes a tone correction process for compensating for a gamma characteristics of the apparatus based on a detection result given by the detector detecting a toner image formed as a patch image by using the

Abstract: In a device for calculating a total amount of toner consumed from a toner cartridge, a first amount of the toner, which is consumed in a first region of a recording medium at which a toner image is formed, is obtained. A time period of which the toner cartridge is in operation is clocked. A second amount of the toner, which is consumed in a second region of the recording medium at which the toner image is not formed, is stored in advance. The second amount is associated with the time period. The second amount is added to the first amount in accordance with the clocked time period, in order to obtain the total amount.

Abstract: When the remaining toner amount within a developer is relatively large, a control target value of a toner amount is set to Ttgt1 and a lower limit value of a toner amount which can regarded proper is set to TL1. When the density of a patch image formed under a predetermined condition is smaller than a minimum guaranteed density Dma, it is determined abnormality has occurred in the apparatus. Since the characteristic of toner within the developer changes as the remaining toner amount decreases, the control target value is changed to Ttgt2 and the lower limit value is set to TL2 in light of this. In this fashion, regardless of whether the toner characteristic has changed, abnormality in the apparatus is detected without fail.