Patent ID: 7991314
Filing Date: 2011-08-02
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. A method for monitoring absolute charge to mass ratio of toner in an image forming device, comprising: acquiring a dielectric thickness of a photoconductor layer; forming a latent charge image on a surface of the photoconductor layer; measuring a first surface potential of the latent charge image on the surface of the photoconductor layer; developing the latent charge image with toner to form a toner image on the photoconductor layer; measuring a second surface potential of the surface of the toner image on the photoconductor layer; measuring the mass per unit area of the toner forming the toner image on the photoconductor layer; determining, based on the dielectric thickness of the photoconductor layer, the first surface potential, the second surface potential, and the mass per unit area of the toner forming the toner image on the photoconductor layer, the absolute charge to mass ratio of the toner; and outputting a warning to a user if the charge to mass ratio of the toner is outside a first predetermined, range, wherein acquiring the dielectric thickness of the photoconductor layer comprises: