Image forming apparatus and control method for the same

摘要

An image forming apparatus and a control method for the same, which ensure acquisition of a high-quality image by controlling physical-states of toner on a developer roller based on sensed variation in states of internal components of a developer cartridge, and which enable sensing and determination of the lifespan of the developer cartridge, is provided. The control method for the image forming apparatus includes applying a current detection bias to a developer roller blade of a developer cartridge, detecting the magnitude of current of the developer roller blade when the current detection bias is applied to the developer roller blade, and variably controlling a developer cartridge bias to be applied to the developer cartridge for image formation based on the detected magnitude of current of the developer roller blade, so as to allow a target magnitude of constant current to flow through the developer roller blade during image formation.

主权项

1. A control method for an image forming apparatus, the method comprising:
applying a current detection bias to a developer roller blade of a developer cartridge; detecting the magnitude of current flowing through the developer roller blade when the current detection bias is applied to the developer roller blade; and variably controlling a developer cartridge bias to be applied to the developer cartridge for image formation based on the detected magnitude of current of the developer roller blade, so as to allow a target magnitude of constant current to flow through the developer roller blade during image formation, wherein the current detection is performed at a plurality of trigger times to acquire a plurality of current values, and the average of the plurality of current values is utilized as a representative value of the magnitude of current of the developer roller blade, and wherein the magnitude of current detection bias is determined with reference to a previously stored current detection bias table that defines a relationship between a Pulse Width Modulation index which represents a current detection bias level and an Analog-to-Digital Conversion index which provides a representative current value corresponding to the current detection bias level.