Image forming apparatus having automatic initial adjustment system

Claim 2

An initial adjustment system for an image forming apparatus, comprising: means for forming a latent image of an original on a photosensitive body; means for supplying the photosensitive body with a toner, so as to develop the latent image and thereby obtain a toner image; means for transferring the toner image onto an image forming medium; means for detecting as an image forming condition a concentration of the toner, to provide a detection result; means for comparing predetermined reference data with input data representing said detection result, so as to provide first input data when the input data is less than the reference data, and to provide second output data when the input data is larger than the reference data, said second output data being less than said first output data; and means for controlling said detecting means in accordance with either of said first and second output data, so that a difference between the reference data and the input data is reduced to a predetermined value.

Claim 3

An initial adjustment system for an image forming apparatus, comprising: means for forming a latent image of an original on a photosensitive body; means for supplying the photosensitive body with a developer material containing a toner, so as to develop the latent image and thereby obtain a toner image; means for transferring the toner image onto an image forming medium; means for detecting as an image forming condition a concentration of the toner in the developer material, to provide a detection result; means for performing an adjustment of said image forming condition in accordance with said detection result, the adjustment by said performing means being performed in accordance with a predetermined adjustment sequence when the image forming apparatus is installed; means for cleaning the toner on the photosensitive body; and means for controlling the supply of the toner to the photosensitive body, as well as cleaning of the toner at the photosensitive body, in accordance with a predetermined cleaning sequence.

Claim 4

An initial adjustment system for an image forming apparatus, comprising: means for forming a latent image of an original on a photosensitive body; means for supplying the photosensitive body with a developer material containing a toner, so as to develop the latent image and thereby obtain a toner image; means for transferring the toner image onto an image forming medium; means for detecting as an image forming condition a concentration of the toner in the developer material, to provide a detection result; means for performing an adjustment of said image forming condition in accordance with said detection result, the adjustment by said performing means being performed in accordance with a predetermined adjustment sequence when the image forming apparatus is installed; means for cleaning the toner on the photosensitive body; and means for controlling the supply of the toner to the photosensitive body, as well as cleaning of the toner at the photosensitive body, in accordance with a predetermined cleaning sequence.

Claim 5

An initial adjustment system for an image forming apparatus, comprising: means for forming a latent image of an original on a photosensitive body; means for supplying the photosensitive body with a developer material containing a toner, so as to develop the latent image and thereby obtain a toner image; means for transferring the toner image onto an image forming medium; means for detecting as an image forming condition a concentration of the toner in the developer material, to provide a detection result; means for performing an adjustment of said image forming condition in accordance with said detection result, the adjustment by said performing means being performed in accordance with a predetermined adjustment sequence when the image forming apparatus is installed; means for scraping the toner off the photosensitive body; and means for controlling the supply of the toner to the photosensitive body, as well as scraping the toner off the photosensitive body, in accordance with a predetermined second sequence.

Claim 6

An initial adjustment system for an image forming apparatus, comprising: means for forming a latent image of an original on a photosensitive body; means for supplying the photosensitive body with a developer material containing a toner, so as to develop the latent image and thereby obtain a toner image; means for transferring the toner image onto an image forming medium; means for detecting as an image forming condition a concentration of the toner in the developer material, to provide a detection result; means for performing an adjustment of said image forming condition in accordance with said detection result, the adjustment by said performing means being performed in accordance with a predetermined adjustment sequence when the image forming apparatus is installed; means for scraping the toner off the photosensitive body; and means for controlling the supply of the toner to the photosensitive body, as well as scraping the toner off the photosensitive body, in accordance with a predetermined second sequence.

Claim 7

An initial adjustment system for an image forming apparatus, comprising: a) first means for forming an image of an original, including: means for capturing a latent image of the original; means for developing the latent image using a developer material containing a toner, to provide a toner image; and means for transferring the toner image onto an image forming medium; b) second means for detecting as an image forming condition of said first means, including: means for detecting as said image forming condition a concentration of the toner in the developer material, to provide a detection result; and means for performing an adjustment of said image forming condition in accordance with said detection result, the adjustment by said performing means being performed in accordance with a predetermined adjustment sequence when the image forming apparatus is adjusted at a place of installation, and c) third means for manipulating a state of the toner, including: means for sticking the toner to the capturing means; means for cleaning the toner on the capturing means; and means for controlling the toner sticking and the toner cleaning in accordance with a predetermined cleaning sequence.

Claim 8

An initial adjustment system for an image forming apparatus, comprising: a) first means for forming an image of an original, including: means for capturing a latent image of the original; means for developing the latent image using a developer material containing a toner, to provide a toner image; and means for transferring the toner image onto an image forming medium; b) second means for detecting as an image forming condition of said first means, including: means for detecting as said image forming condition a concentration of the toner in the developer material, to provide a detection result; and means for performing an adjustment of said image forming condition in accordance with said detection result, the adjustment by said performing means being performed in accordance with a predetermined adjustment sequence when the image forming apparatus is adjusted at a place of installation, and c) third means for manipulating a state of the toner, including: means for sticking the toner to the capturing means; means for cleaning the toner on the capturing means; and means for controlling the toner sticking and the toner cleaning in accordance with a predetermined cleaning sequence.

Claim 9

A system according to claim 4, wherein said controlling means includes: means for automatically performing, after said predetermined adjustment sequence is completed, said predetermined cleaning sequence by which said sticking means performs an operation of the toner sticking and then said cleaning means performs an operation of the toner cleaning.

Claim 10

A system according to claim 4, wherein said first means includes means for forming an electrostatic image of the original on the image forming medium, using the developer material formed of a magnetic toner and a carrier, and said second means includes means for detecting the magnetic reluctance of the developer material to provide said detection result which represents the concentration of said toner.

Claim 11

A system according to claim 4, further comprising: means for retaining a concentration of the toner at a prescribed constant value.

Claim 12

A system according to claim 4, wherein i) said first means includes: means for forming an electrostatic image of the original on the image forming medium, using the developer material formed of a toner having magnetism and a carrier, and ii said second means includes: means for sensing a reluctance of the developer material to provide a toner concentration signal depending on the concentration of said toner; means for comparing the toner concentration signal with a reference signal, to provide said detection result; means for changing said detection result in response to a control signal; and means for controlling an amount of supply of the toner in accordance with said detection result, so that a concentration of the toner in said developer material is kept substantially at a constant value defined by said control signal.

Claim 13

An initial adjustment system for an image forming apparatus, comprising: means for capturing a latent image of an original; means for developing the latent image using a developer material containing a toner, to provide a toner image; means for transferring the toner image onto an image forming medium; means for detecting as an image forming condition a concentration of the toner in the developer material, to provide a detection result; means for performing an adjustment of said image forming condition in accordance with said detection result, the adjustment by said performing means being performed in accordance with a first computer sequence when the image forming apparatus is to be adjusted at the place of installation; means for sticking the toner to the capturing means; means for scraping the toner off the capturing means; and means for controlling the toner sticking and the toner scraping-off in accordance with a second computer sequence.

Claim 14

An initial adjustment system for an image forming apparatus, comprising: means for capturing a latent image of an original; means for developing the latent image using a developer material containing a toner, to provide a toner image; means for transferring the toner image onto an image forming medium; means for detecting as an image forming condition a concentration of the toner in the developer material, to provide a detection result; means for performing an adjustment of said image forming condition in accordance with said detection result, the adjustment by said performing means being performed in accordance with a first computer sequence when the image forming apparatus is to be adjusted at the place of installation; means for sticking the toner to the capturing means; means for scraping the toner off the capturing means; and means for controlling the toner sticking and the toner scraping-off in accordance with a second computer sequence.

Claim 15

A system according to claim 9, further comprising: means for retaining a concentration of the toner at a prescribed constant value.

Claim 16

A system according to claim 9, wherein said controlling means includes: means for automatically performing said second computer sequence after said first computer sequence is completed, wherein said sticking means performs the toner sticking and then said scraping means performs the toner scraping-off.

Claim 17

A system according to claim 9, further comprising means for forming an electrostatic image of the original onto the image forming medium, using a developer material which is formed of a toner having magnetism and a carrier, and means for detecting a reluctance of the developer material to provide said detection result which represents the concentration of said toner.

Claim 18

A system according to claim 12, wherein said detecting means includes: means for sensing a reluctance of the developer material to provide a toner concentration signal depending on the concentration of said toner; means for comparing the toner concentration signal with a reference signal to provide said detection result; means for setting said detection result in response to a setting signal; and means for controlling an amount of supply of the toner in accordance with said detection result, so that a concentration of the toner in said developer material is substantially kept at a constant value which depends on said setting signal.

Claim 19

A system according to claim 9, further comprising: means for checking whether or not the adjustment of the toner concentration is completed, and, if not, executing the toner concentration adjustment.