Patent ID: 6721534
Filing Date: 2004-04-13
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
An image formation method, comprising:a latent image formation step of forming a plurality of latent images, sequentially on an image carrier, corresponding to a plurality of image colors for forming an image; a development step of supplying a plurality of specific color toners corresponding to the image colors, onto the formed latent images, from a plurality of developing devices holding the plurality of specific color toners therein, to develop the formed latent images into toner images; a image formation step of sequentially transferring the toner images to be superimposed on a recording material to form a multicolored image; a recycle step of collecting specific color toners resided after transferring the toner images on the image carrier and reusing the collected toners once returned to the developing devices as recycled toners; and a control step of controlling a mixture ratio of the recycled toner to the specific color toner in each of the developing devices below a limiting color mixture ratio, which is defined as a mixture ratio of a recycled toner to a specific color toner in a developing device when a tone variation in image is still on a permissible limitation level, which tone variation is caused from mixture of the recycled toner into the specific color toner in the developing device at the recycle step.