Toner supply control system and method.

摘要

In a toner supply control system for a printing device, a toner supply unit (14, 140-143) supplies a developing unit of the printing device with a two-component developer containing toner particles and carrier particles in accordance with a first control signal. A storage unit (21, 22, 222) stores information concerning a plurality of toner marks formed on an electrostatic latent image carrying member of the printing device and developed by the developing unit. The toner marks respectively have patterns related to condition of the two-component developer. A selecting unit (120, 221) selects one of the toner marks in accordance with a second control signal. A sensor (18) optically reads the toner mark formed on the electrostatic latent image carrying member and generates a detection signal. A first control unit (120, 221) generates the second control signal on the basis of the condition of the two-component developer. A second control unit (120, 221) generates the first control signal on the basis of the detection signal. <IMAGE>