US 12,259,672 B2
Toner concentration sensing apparatus capable of accurately sensing toner concentration of toner image, image forming apparatus, and toner concentration sensing method
Ayato Morikami, Osaka (JP); Yasuaki Sakamoto, Osaka (JP); Masaru Watanabe, Osaka (JP); Kenichi Hayashi, Osaka (JP); Hideyuki Ogasawara, Osaka (JP); and Yukiko Yoshimura, Osaka (JP)
Assigned to KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc., Osaka (JP)
Filed by KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc., Osaka (JP)
Filed on Sep. 20, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/471,146.
Claims priority of application No. 2022-154706 (JP), filed on Sep. 28, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0103399 A1, Mar. 28, 2024
Int. Cl. G03G 15/00 (2006.01)
CPC G03G 15/5041 (2013.01) [G03G 15/5058 (2013.01); G03G 2215/00042 (2013.01); G03G 2215/00059 (2013.01)] 5 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A toner concentration sensing apparatus, comprising:
a light-emitting portion which emits light toward an image-carrying member which carries a toner image;
a light-receiving portion which receives light that is emitted from the light-emitting portion and is reflected by the image-carrying member, and outputs a sensing value corresponding to a received light amount;
a first acquisition processing portion which acquires a first sensing value that is output from the light-receiving portion and corresponds to light that is emitted from the light-emitting portion and is reflected by a first region of the image-carrying member where a toner image is not formed;
a second acquisition processing portion which acquires a second sensing value that is output from the light-receiving portion and corresponds to light that is emitted from the light-emitting portion and is reflected by a second region of the image-carrying member where a predetermined specific toner image has been formed; and
a third acquisition processing portion which acquires a toner concentration of the specific toner image, using the first sensing value, the second sensing value, and a predetermined specific calculation formula, wherein
the specific calculation formula is represented by: Y=(Sout−Sg)/(A−Sg), where the toner concentration of the specific toner image is Y, the second sensing value is Sout, the first sensing value is Sg, and the second sensing value when the toner concentration of the specific toner image is 100% is A.