Patent ID: 8488980
Filing Date: 2013-07-16
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus for forming a visual image on a recording medium, comprising: at least one photoconductive member configured to carry a latent image; at least one developing device configured to store toner and develop the latent image with the toner; at least one toner replacing device configured to replace the toner stored in the developing device with fresh toner; and a determiner configured to determine if a recording medium selected by a user necessitates replacement of toner; a transfer member configured to receive a toner image from the at least one photoconductive member, wherein said toner replacing device replaces the toner with fresh toner when the determiner determines that the recording medium necessitates replacement of the toner before a visual image is formed on the photoconductive member, wherein said at least one photoconductive member includes at least two photoconductive members configured to carry latent images, said at least one developing device includes at least two developing devices configured to develop the latent images formed on the at least two photoconductive members, respectively, wherein said toner is consumed before being replaced with fresh toner by forming toner consumption patterns on the surfaces of the at least two photoconductive members, respectively, and removing the toner consumption patterns from one of the at least two photoconductive members and a transfer member receiving toner consumption patterns from the at least two photoconductive members, wherein said respective toner consumption patterns are superimposed on the same section of the transfer member, and wherein no more than three-toner consumption patterns are superimposed on the same section of the transfer member.