Image Forming Apparatus Toner Concentration Sensor Calibration

The patent performs preliminary adjustment of the first light-emitting portion's emission light amount based on regular reflection light from the image-carrying member surface. This preliminary calibration enables the second light-emitting portion to operate at normal emission levels without requiring excessive light intensity, as the system has already compensated for attachment errors and optical variations in advance.

The patent introduces the first light-emitting portion and its adjustment mechanism as an intermediary system. By first calibrating the reference light path using regular reflection, the system creates a baseline that mediates the measurement process, allowing the second light-emitting portion to function accurately without requiring increased emission intensity.

The patent changes the parameter being adjusted from emission light amount to operation conditions of the toner image forming portion. By adjusting development bias, toner supply, or other forming parameters based on measurements from the first concentration sensor, the system achieves accurate colored toner concentration sensing without increasing light emission intensity, thereby avoiding additional energy consumption.

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the first concentration sensor measures black toner concentration, and this measurement feeds back to adjust the operation conditions of the toner image forming portion. This closed-loop control ensures accurate color toner formation without requiring increased light emission, as the system self-corrects through process parameter adjustment rather than intensity escalation.

The patent makes the first concentration sensor serve multiple functions: it primarily measures black toner concentration for controlling the black toner image forming portion, but also serves as a reference for adjusting the operation conditions of colored toner image forming portions. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate sensors or adjustment mechanisms for each color, thereby avoiding increased device complexity while achieving precise colored toner formation.

The patent merges the adjustment functions for black and colored toner images into a unified control system. The first concentration sensor and its adjustment processing portion handle both black toner concentration control and colored toner formation adjustment, combining what could have been separate systems into one integrated mechanism, thus avoiding additional complexity.