Patent ID: 6374064
Filing Date: 2002-04-16
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
In an electrostatographic printing system in which there is provided a primary supply of developer material, the developer material comprising toner and carrier, wherein the developer material in the primary supply is used for developing electrostatic latent images on a charge receptor, a secondary supply of developer material, and dispense means for conveying developer material from the secondary supply to the primary supply, a control method comprising the steps of:monitoring a dispense rate of toner being used to develop electrostatic latent images, thereby determining a pixel dispense in substantially real time; monitoring a ratio of toner to carrier (T/C) in the primary supply, thereby determining a TIC dispense in substantially real time; developing a test patch with the developer material, the test patch being of a predetermined target reflectivity, and monitoring an actual reflectivity of the test patch, thereby determining a patch dispense in substantially real time; and controlling the dispense means according to an algorithm which takes into account the pixel dispense, the T/C dispense, and the patch dispense.