Patent ID: 9223278
Filing Date: 2015-12-29
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming unit including an image carrier having a surface configured to be charged, an exposure unit configured to expose the image carrier with laser light based on an image signal to form an electrostatic latent image on the image carrier, and a development unit configured to develop the electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier using toner; a gradation correction unit configured to perform first gradation correction including forming a patch image on the image carrier using the image forming unit, and correcting gradation characteristics of the image formed by the image forming unit based on a correction amount corresponding to a result of measurement of the patch image; a detection unit configured to detect or estimate a charge amount of toner possessed by the development unit; and a light power correction unit configured to perform light power correction including correcting light power of laser light emitted from the exposure unit, based on a difference between the toner charge amount detected or estimated by the detection unit and a reference value, wherein the gradation correction unit further performs second gradation correction including correcting the gradation characteristics based on a correction amount corresponding to the toner charge amount detected or estimated by the detection unit when the light power correction unit performs the light power correction.