Image forming apparatus and method

摘要

Certain embodiments provide an image forming apparatus including: an image carrier; a latent image forming unit; a developing unit; a fixing unit; a toner cartridge; a battery in the toner cartridge; a temperature sensor in the toner cartridge driven by the battery; a first controller which causes the temperature sensor to measure an ambient temperature periodically in the toner cartridge and be supplied with power from the battery; a recording medium which is provided in the toner cartridge and records a result of measurement by the temperature sensor in timing controlled by the first controller; and a second controller which reads out information recorded in the recording medium, and changes an operating condition of the latent image forming unit, the developing unit and the fixing unit according to a state of preservation of the supply of toner, based on the information.

主权项

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
an image carrier; a latent image forming unit configured to form an electrostatic latent image on the image carrier; a developing unit configured to develop the electrostatic latent image with a two-component developer containing toner particles and carrier particles; a fixing unit configured to fix, on a sheet, a toner image formed on the image carrier by the developing unit; a toner cartridge configured to hold and supply toner for the developing unit; a battery provided on the toner cartridge; a temperature sensor provided in the toner cartridge and powered by the battery; a first controller provided on the toner cartridge and configured to cause the temperature sensor to measure an ambient temperature periodically after enclosing the toner in the toner cartridge and be powered by the battery; a recording medium provided on the toner cartridge and configured to record information including a result of the periodic measurements by the temperature sensor; and a second controller configured to control execution of an image forming process, read out information recorded in the recording medium after the toner cartridge is loaded into the image forming apparatus, and change at least one operating condition of at least one of the latent image forming unit, the developing unit, and the fixing unit, based on the information.