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US4707114A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method of automatically adjusting image density in image forming device

Assignee: Ricoh Co Ltd
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Filing: 1986-11-05
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Granted: 1987-11-17
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Expires: 2006-11-05
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Abstract

Abstract An automatic image density adjusting method for an image forming device is disclosed which selects image density adequately in matching relation to any of various kinds of documents. There are selectively set up a first mode in which image density is sensed over a predetermined region of a document and, then, the operation directly enters into a copying cycle; and a second mode which occurs when the document density level sensed is different from a predetermined one and performs a different document density sensing operation. When density sensing which is performed on a density sensing region in the first mode is insufficient, the second mode is set up so that document density is sensed by prescanning an enlarged density sensing region so as to enter into a copying cycle after selecting a particular imaging condition. While ordinary documents are processed in the first mode to increase the copying rate, those documents which contain solid portions are processed in the second mode to provide images with adequate density which matches with the background density of such a document.

Inventors

  • 👤 Minoru Aoki

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 17:51
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/50; G03G15/5025

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim 157 words
A method of automatically adjusting image density in an image forming device which controls an imaging condition on the basis of a density of a document, comprising the steps of: (a) at a start of a copying operation, setting up a first mode in which a first document density is sensed by scanning a first predetermined region of said document and, then, said copying operation is continued while controlling said imaging condition based on said first document density; (b) if said first document density sensed lies in a predetermined range of density levels, executing said first mode directly; and (c) if said first document density does not lie in said predetermined range of density levels, replacing said first mode with a second mode in which a second predetermined region of said document is scanned to produce a second document density and, then, performing a copying operation while controlling said imaging condition based on said second document density.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 157 words
A method of automatically adjusting image density in an image forming device which controls an imaging condition on the basis of a density of a document, comprising the steps of: (a) at a start of a copying operation, setting up a first mode in which a first document density is sensed by scanning a first predetermined region of said document and, then, said copying operation is continued while controlling said imaging condition based on said first document density; (b) if said first document density sensed lies in a predetermined range of density levels, executing said first mode directly; and (c) if said first document density does not lie in said predetermined range of density levels, replacing said first mode with a second mode in which a second predetermined region of said document is scanned to produce a second document density and, then, performing a copying operation while controlling said imaging condition based on said second document density.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 29 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said copying operation comprises forming a latent image, said step (c) comprising the step of (d) dicarding said latent image formed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 19 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said imaging condition to be controlled comprises a developing bias voltage.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 20 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said imaging condition to be controlled comprises an amount of exposing light.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 27 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first predetermined region is a part of a size of said document which extends in a scanning direction.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 25 words
A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein said second predetermined region extends over substantially the whole size of said document in the scanning direction.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4200391A Cited
US4372674A Cited
US4572654A Cited
US4619522A Cited
US4627712A Cited
US4618248A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1990-11-16 1991-05-18 1991-11-17 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1994-11-16 1995-05-18 1995-11-17 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1998-11-16 1999-05-18 1999-11-17 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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