Patent ID: 8184998
Filing Date: 2012-05-22
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus comprising: an electrostatic latent image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed based on an image signal; a developing device that gives toner to the electrostatic latent image to form a toner image; a detecting portion that detects a toner density in the developing device; a toner replenishing device that supplies toner to the developing device based on a detection result from the detecting portion so that the toner density takes a given value; an accumulated actual time memory portion that counts a time for toner replenishment actually carried out by the toner replenishing device, accumulates the count results and stores therein the accumulated count results as an accumulated actual toner replenishment time; an accumulated expected time memory portion that calculates an expected required time for toner replenishment based on the image signal, accumulates calculation results and stores therein the calculation results as an accumulated expected toner replenishment time; a determining portion that determines in given timing whether or not to execute an image quality adjusting processing, based on a difference between the accumulated actual toner replenishment time and the accumulated expected toner replenishment time; a reflection density sensor that detects light reflected from a toner patch formed on the electrostatic latent image carrier; and an image quality adjusting portion that, during an image quality adjustment processing, causes a reference toner patch to be formed on the electrostatic latent image carrier, wherein the reflection density sensor detects light reflected from the reference toner patch, and wherein the image quality adjusting processing is suspended when the reflection light quantity of the reference toner patch is equal to or more than a given value, and the accumulated expected toner replenishment time in the following determination is corrected.