| 摘要 |
<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To properly regulate a toner amount, even if the number of times in which toner images are transferred on an intermediate transfer body becomes large. <P>SOLUTION: A toner amount regulating device comprises forming reference patch images on the intermediate transfer body, detecting its density, and determining a threshold in response to the number of processings. In other words, the toner amount regulating device comprises storing toner in a development apparatus in a proper amount, and storing a map indicating relationship of the number of processing, when properly preparing the reference patch images and a density value of the reference patch images being constant if the number of 3,000 sheets is processed, by decreasing the density value as the number of processing is increased. The toner amount regulating device determines the density value KP of the reference patch images corresponding to the number (p) of processing. The toner amount regulating device calculates an upper limit KUP, by adding a half the value of a density range ΔK to the determined density value KP and calculates a limiting value DK, by subtracting a ΔK/2 from the determined density value KP. The toner amount regulating device discharges the toner stored in the development apparatus when the density of the reference patch images is larger than KUP and executes discharge operation discharging the toner stored in the development apparatus, when the density of the reference patch images is larger than KUP. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI |
