JP5322628B2 - Toner adhesion amount measuring apparatus, image forming apparatus, and toner adhesion amount measuring method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve accuracy in measuring an amount of attached color toner and an amount of attached black toner. <P>SOLUTION: A reflection position detecting section 502 detects reflection position where light is reflected from a toner image. An irregular reflection light quantity detecting section 503 and a specular reflection light quantity detecting section 504 detect an amount of light reflected from the toner image. An attached toner amount detecting section 505 calculates an amount of attached toner of a toner image according to the density of the toner image, on the basis of the reflection position detected by the reflection position detecting section 503 or the amount of reflected light detected by the irregular reflection light quantity detecting section 503 and the specular reflection light quantity detecting section 504. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for measuring a toner adhesion amount in a toner image formed on a carrier of an image forming apparatus.

  The color of an image formed by an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic method varies depending on changes in various physical parameters even if the setting of the apparatus at the time of image formation is constant. In particular, the development / transfer process has a high contribution to color variation. This is because the latent image potential, toner replenishment amount, transfer efficiency, and the like change due to environmental fluctuations such as temperature and humidity, and the amount of toner adhering to the photosensitive drum and transfer belt is not stable.

  Therefore, it is necessary to measure the adhesion amount of toner on the photosensitive drum or the transfer belt, and to stabilize the development / transfer process by feedback control of the exposure amount, the development voltage, the transfer current, etc. based on the measurement result. .

  In general, these controls are performed when a change in the printer environment occurs, such as after replacement of a toner cartridge, after printing a predetermined number of sheets, or after turning on the printer main body. When measuring the toner adhesion amount, a plurality of toner patches of various densities from low density to high density are formed on a drum or belt. Then, the toner adhesion amount of these patches is measured by a toner adhesion amount measuring device, and various controls are performed under appropriate image forming conditions based on the measurement result.

Here, Patent Documents 1 to 3 disclose techniques for measuring the adhesion amount of toner.
For example, in Patent Documents 1 and 2, the amount of reflected light when the carrier is irradiated with light and the amount of reflected light when the toner patch is irradiated with light are detected, and the amount of adhered toner is measured by the change in the amount of reflected light. A method for controlling the image density parameter based on the measured value is disclosed.

  Patent Document 3 discloses a method for detecting the toner adhesion amount by measuring the thickness (layer thickness) of a toner patch using a laser displacement meter. In this conventional example, spot light is irradiated on the image carrier, and reflected light is imaged at a position corresponding to the layer thickness of the toner patch attached on the carrier. Then, a change in the imaging position is detected by a PSD (Position Sensing Device), the toner adhesion amount is measured, and the image density parameter of the imaging system is feedback controlled based on the measurement result.

  Note that when the toner adhesion amount is measured based on the reflection position, the physical amount of the toner patch is measured, so that the adhesion amount measurement can be performed regardless of the toner color.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Sho 62-280869 JP-A-3-209281 JP-A-8-327331

  The method of detecting the toner adhesion amount with the amount of reflected light deteriorates the measurement accuracy in the high density region. This is because the change in the amount of reflected light with respect to the amount of applied toner in the high density region is minute and an effective S / N cannot be obtained.

  On the other hand, in the method of detecting the toner adhesion amount at the reflection position, in the toner adhesion amount measurement in the low density region where the toner is thinly adhered, the position change of the peak point of the reflection waveform with respect to the toner applied amount is slight, The S / N ratio cannot be obtained and the measurement accuracy deteriorates.

  In addition, when expressing gradation of image density with a halftone or dither in a digital image, the toner thickness is constant and the density is changed by the ratio of the area of the toner dot to be printed and the area of the carrier. In the case of a toner image having a density change due to this area gradation, since the thickness is constant, the peak positions of the toner reflection waveform and the support reflection waveform are constant, and the amount of toner adhesion can be accurately detected only by detecting the peak position. Cannot be detected. Therefore, in the low density region where the toner layer thickness is thin and the area gradation effect increases, the measurement accuracy due to the reflection position deteriorates.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to improve the measurement accuracy of the color toner and black toner adhesion amounts.

A toner adhesion amount measuring apparatus according to the present invention is a toner adhesion amount measuring apparatus for measuring a toner adhesion amount in a toner image formed on a carrier of an image forming apparatus, and irradiates the toner image with light. Means, a position detecting means for detecting a reflection position of the reflected light irregularly reflected by the toner image by a line sensor, and a light quantity detecting means for detecting the reflected light amount of the reflected light from the toner image by the line sensor and a photodiode. And a calculating means for calculating the toner adhesion amount of the toner image based on the reflection position detected by the position detecting means or the reflected light quantity detected by the light quantity detecting means in accordance with the density of the toner image. The light amount detecting means includes a diffused light amount detecting means for detecting the light amount of the reflected light irregularly reflected by the toner image by the line sensor, and a positive light intensity for the toner image. A regular reflection light amount detection unit that detects the amount of reflected light emitted by the photodiode, and the calculation unit detects the light amount detected by the irregular reflection light amount detection unit or the light amount according to the color of the toner image. Based on the light amount detected by the regular reflection light amount detection means, the toner adhesion amount of the toner image is calculated , and the reflection position detected by the position detection means when the density of the toner image is equal to or higher than a predetermined density. The toner adhesion amount of the toner image is calculated based on the above .

  According to the present invention, the toner adhesion amount of the toner image is calculated based on the reflection position or the reflected light amount of the reflected light from the toner image according to the density of the toner image. It becomes possible to improve the measurement accuracy of the black toner adhesion amount.

  In addition, according to the present invention, the toner adhesion amount of the toner image is calculated based on the reflected light amount irregularly reflected by the toner image or the regularly reflected light amount according to the color of the toner image. Therefore, it is possible to improve the measurement accuracy of the toner adhesion amount.

  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments to which the invention is applied will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<First Embodiment>
First, the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment and second to third embodiments described later.

  The image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1A includes a photosensitive drum 101 as an image carrier, an exposure laser 102, a polygon mirror 103, a charging roller 104, a developing device 105, a transfer belt 106, and a toner adhesion amount measuring device 107. Is done. First, the image forming apparatus charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 101 with the charging roller 104, and creates an electrostatic latent image with the exposure laser 102 and the polygon mirror 103. Next, the image forming apparatus forms a toner patch (toner image) 108 on the photosensitive drum 101 by the developing device 105, and the toner adhesion amount of the toner patch 108 is measured by the toner adhesion amount measuring device 107 installed at a position after development. taking measurement. As shown in FIG. 1B, the toner adhesion amount may be measured on the transfer belt 106 after the toner patch 108 is transferred from the photosensitive drum 101 to the transfer belt 106. The toner adhesion amount measuring device 107 is an application example of the toner adhesion amount measuring device.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a control configuration when the controller 207 controls the image forming process 201 based on the adhesion amount data measured by the toner adhesion amount measuring device 107.

  The controller 207 sets the density and color of a toner patch to be printed by the print image setting unit 211 based on the patch density information 208 and the patch color information 209, and drives the image forming process 201 by the controller 207. The toner patch is formed at a desired density on the photosensitive drum 101 in FIG. 1 after passing through the charging process 202, the exposure process 203, and the developing process 204 or on the transfer belt 106 after passing through the transfer process 205. .

  Subsequently, the toner adhesion amount measuring device 107 measures the toner adhesion amount of the formed toner patch 108 and feeds back the measured toner adhesion amount data to the controller 207.

  The fed toner adhesion amount data is converted into a density value by the density converter 210. The controller 207 compares the toner patch density information (set value) set by the print image setting unit 211 with the density (actually measured value) actually measured by the toner adhesion amount measuring apparatus 107 and stores these data. And the print image setting unit 211 is appropriately corrected.

  FIG. 3 shows the configuration of the toner adhesion amount measuring apparatus 107. The toner adhesion amount measuring device 107 is a laser light source 301 for irradiating light to the photosensitive drum 101 or the transfer belt 106 (hereinafter referred to as a carrier) and the toner patch 108, and condenses the laser light in a small spot shape. A condensing lens 302 for imaging, a light receiving lens 303 for forming an image of reflected light on an image pickup device corresponding to the layer thickness of the toner patch, a line sensor 304 for imaging a reflected waveform of light imaged by the light receiving lens 303, A photodiode 305 that measures the amount of reflected light, a line sensor 304, and a toner adhesion amount calculation unit 306 that calculates a toner adhesion amount from a signal detected by the photodiode 305. Note that the laser light source 301 has a configuration serving as an application example of an irradiation unit and an irradiation unit.

  In the first embodiment, the light receiving lens 303 and the line sensor 304 are disposed at a solid angle position where only irregularly reflected light is received, and the reflection position of the light irregularly reflected by one line sensor 304 and the amount of irregularly reflected light are detected simultaneously. To do. Further, the amount of regular reflection is detected by the photodiode 305 installed at the regular reflection position.

  The procedure for measuring the toner adhesion amount, the reflected waveform detected by the line sensor 304, and the amount of reflected light detected by the photodiode 305 will be described with reference to FIG.

  When the toner adhesion amount is measured, as shown in FIG. 4A, first, a laser beam is irradiated on the surface of the carrier on which the toner patch 108 is not formed, and the line sensor 304 detects the irregular reflection waveform 401 (FIG. c)) is detected. The photodiode 305 detects the regular reflection light quantity 402 (FIG. 4E).

  Next, as shown in FIG. 4B, the carrier is driven, the laser irradiation position is moved to the toner patch 108, and the irregular reflection waveform 403 (FIG. 4D) from the toner patch and the regular reflection light quantity 404 are detected. To do. In the calculation of the toner adhesion amount, the toner adhesion amount calculation unit 306 executes signal processing described later on the data obtained from the carrier (reference) thus obtained and the toner patches (changes) on the carrier. . Then, the amount of toner adhesion is calculated by calculating the amount of change in the data detected by each reflecting portion.

Next, a toner adhesion amount calculation process in the first embodiment will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG.
The reflection data detected by the line sensor 304 and the photodiode 305 is stored in the reflection data storage unit 501. The reflection position detection unit 502 detects the reflection position by detecting the peak position indicating the highest intensity of the irregular reflection waveform data stored in the reflection data storage unit 501, and changes between the carrier and the toner patch. The peak movement amount 405 in 4 (d) is detected. The irregular reflection light amount calculation unit 503 calculates the area of the peak portion of the irregular reflection waveform data stored in the reflection data storage unit 501, and detects the amount of change in the irregular reflection light amount between the carrier and the toner patch. The regular reflection light quantity calculation unit 504 detects a change amount 406 of the regular reflection light quantity in FIG. 4 that has changed between the carrier and the toner patch stored in the reflection data storage unit 501. The reflection position detection unit 502 is a configuration serving as an application example of position detection means. The irregularly reflected light amount calculation unit 503 has a configuration as an application example of the irregularly reflected light amount calculation unit. The regular reflection light quantity calculation unit 504 is a configuration that is an application example of the regular reflection light quantity calculation unit.

  In addition, as a method of detecting the peak position from the irregular reflection waveform data in the reflection position detection unit 502, for example, by performing curve fitting by a least square method using a Gaussian function, calculation is performed from the parameters of the Gaussian function after the fitting. A method is mentioned. As shown in Equation 1, the Gaussian function is a function having a bell-shaped peak centered at x = μ, μ is the X coordinate of the peak position, and A is a parameter indicating increase / decrease in the height or width of the peak. .

  By fitting this equation to the reflected waveform data, the feature amount representing the shape of the reflected waveform can be calculated as the parameter value of the equation. The parameter μ thus obtained can be used as the reflection position of the light reflected from the sample.

  The fitting may be performed on an expression other than a Gaussian function, for example, a Lorentz function (Expression 2) or a quadratic function (Expression 3). Further, it is possible to perform only maximum value detection without performing fitting.

  The toner adhesion amount calculation unit 505 calculates the toner adhesion amount based on the reflection position data, the irregular reflection light amount data, the regular reflection light amount data, the patch density information and the patch color information acquired from the controller 207, and feeds back to the controller 207. To do. Note that the toner adhesion amount calculation unit 505 is an application example of the calculation unit.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the processing of the toner adhesion amount calculation unit 306 in the first embodiment. Steps S601 to S608 represent each step.

  First, the toner adhesion amount calculation unit 505 acquires reflection position data, irregular reflection light amount data, and regular reflection light amount data from the reflection position detection unit 502, the irregular reflection light amount calculation unit 503, and the regular reflection light amount detection unit 504, respectively (step S601).

  Subsequently, the toner adhesion amount calculation unit 505 acquires the patch density information 208 and the patch color information 209 from the controller 207 (step S602).

  Subsequently, the toner adhesion amount calculation unit 505 determines whether the acquired patch density information is equal to or higher than a predetermined density (threshold value) (step S603).

  When the patch density information is greater than or equal to the threshold value, the toner adhesion amount calculation unit 505 determines that the area is a high density area with high accuracy by reflection position detection, and calculates the toner adhesion amount from the reflection position data (step S604). Then, the toner adhesion amount calculation unit 505 outputs the calculated toner adhesion amount (step S608). The image forming apparatus controls various parameters (image forming parameters) such as an exposure amount, a developing voltage, and a transfer current based on the toner adhesion amount output here.

  On the other hand, if the patch density information is equal to or less than the threshold value, the toner adhesion amount calculation unit 505 determines that the low density region is highly accurate by the reflected light amount detection, and proceeds to steps S605 to S607 for calculating light amount data.

  In step S605, the toner adhesion amount calculation unit 505 determines whether the patch color is black toner.

  In the case of black toner, the toner adhesion amount calculation unit 505 determines that the toner adhesion amount calculation based on the regular reflection light amount detection is more accurate, and calculates the toner adhesion amount from the regular reflection light amount data (step S606). Then, the toner adhesion amount calculation unit 505 outputs the calculated toner adhesion amount (step S608).

  On the other hand, when the patch color is color toner (CMY), the toner adhesion amount calculation unit 505 determines that the toner adhesion amount calculation based on the irregular reflection light amount detection is more accurate, and calculates the toner adhesion amount from the irregular reflection light amount data. (Step S607). Then, the toner adhesion amount calculation unit 505 outputs the calculated toner adhesion amount (step S608).

  The controller 207 controls the image forming apparatus based on the toner adhesion amount measured with high accuracy by the toner adhesion amount measuring apparatus 107 described above.

  According to this embodiment, the method of calculating the toner adhesion amount from the reflected light amount and the method of calculating the toner adhesion amount from the reflection position are switched according to the density of the patch to be measured. Thereby, it is possible to measure with high accuracy from the low concentration region to the high concentration region.

  The surface of the transfer belt or the photosensitive drum has high flatness. Therefore, when laser light is incident at 45 °, most of the light is reflected in the regular reflection direction (that is, the regular reflection component is large and the irregular reflection (scattering) component is small). Further, the incident light is absorbed as the black toner adheres to the transfer belt or the photosensitive drum, so that the amount of specular reflection decreases. On the other hand, as the color toner adheres, the incident light is scattered (diffuse reflection) by the color toner, so that the amount of diffuse reflection increases. Therefore, in this embodiment, the toner adhesion amount is calculated from the reflected light amount of the regular reflection component for the low density black patch, and the toner adhesion amount is calculated from the reflected light amount of the irregular reflection component for the color patch of the low density portion. By doing so, it is possible to improve the measurement accuracy of the color toner and black toner adhesion amounts.

<Second Embodiment>
Next, a second embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, without acquiring the patch density information 208 and the patch color information 209 from the controller 207, the information is automatically determined from the amount of reflected light, and the toner adhesion amount is calculated. In the present embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 7 is a block diagram for explaining a toner adhesion amount calculation process according to the second embodiment. Similarly to the first embodiment, each measurement value is calculated by the reflection position detection unit 702, the irregular reflection light amount calculation unit 703, and the regular reflection light amount detection unit 704 using the reflection data stored in the reflection data storage unit 701.

  The toner adhesion amount calculation unit 705 includes a density determination unit 707 that determines the density of the measured toner patch, and a color determination unit 708 that determines the color of the measured toner patch. These two determination units determine the state of the toner patch. judge.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the processing of the toner adhesion amount calculation unit 306 in the second embodiment. Steps S801 to S808 indicate each step.

  First, the toner adhesion amount calculation unit 705 acquires measurement data (reflection position data, irregular reflection light amount data, and regular reflection light amount data) from the reflection position detection unit 702, the irregular reflection light amount calculation unit 703, and the regular reflection light amount detection unit 704, respectively. Step S801).

  Subsequently, the toner adhesion amount calculation unit 705 determines a patch color (step S802). The color of the toner patch can be determined from the irregular reflection light amount data. As shown in FIG. 9A, since the irregular reflectance is substantially equal between the black toner and the carrier, the change in the amount of irregularly reflected light of the irradiated light is close to zero regardless of the density of the toner patch. On the other hand, since the irregular reflectance is greatly different between the color toner and the carrier, the amount of irregularly reflected light varies depending on the density of the patch as shown in FIG. 9B. Accordingly, in step S802, it is determined that the toner is black toner when the irregularly reflected light amount is less than or equal to the set light amount threshold A, and color toner when it is greater than or equal to the light amount threshold.

  If it is determined that the patch color is black toner, the toner adhesion amount calculation unit 705 determines the density of the black toner patch (step S803).

  The density of the black toner patch can be determined from the regular reflection light amount data. As shown in FIG. 10A, since the regular reflectance differs greatly between the black toner and the carrier, the patch density can be determined from the regular reflected light amount data.

  When the specular reflection light amount data is equal to or smaller than the set light amount threshold B, the toner adhesion amount calculation unit 705 determines that the region is a high density region with high accuracy by reflection position detection, and calculates the toner adhesion amount from the reflection position data ( Step S804). On the other hand, when the regular reflection light amount data is equal to or greater than the light amount threshold B, the toner adhesion amount calculation unit 705 determines that the region is a low density region and calculates the toner adhesion amount from the regular reflection light amount data.

  In step 805, the toner adhesion amount calculation unit 705 determines the density of the color toner patch. The density of the color toner patch can be determined from the irregular reflection light amount data. As shown in FIG. 10B, since the irregular reflectance is greatly different between the color toner and the carrier, the patch density can be determined from the amount of irregularly reflected light.

  When the irregular reflection light amount data is equal to or larger than the set light amount threshold C, the toner adhesion amount calculation unit 705 determines that the region is a high density region, and calculates the toner adhesion amount from the reflection position data (step S804).

  On the other hand, when the irregular reflection light amount data is equal to or smaller than the light amount threshold C, the toner adhesion amount calculation unit 705 determines that the region is a low density region, and calculates the toner adhesion amount from the irregular reflection light amount data (step S807).

  In step S808, the toner adhesion amount calculation unit 705 outputs the toner adhesion amount calculated in step S806, S804, or S807. The image forming apparatus controls various parameters (image forming parameters) such as an exposure amount, a developing voltage, and a transfer current based on the toner adhesion amount output here.

  The controller 207 controls the image forming apparatus based on the toner adhesion amount measured with high accuracy by the toner adhesion amount measuring apparatus 107 described above.

<Third Embodiment>
Next, a third embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, the amount of irregular reflection is measured with a photodiode, and the amount of regular reflection and the reflection position are measured with one line sensor. In the present embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the toner adhesion amount measuring device 107 according to the third embodiment.
In this embodiment, the toner adhesion amount measuring device 107 includes a laser light source 1101 for irradiating the carriers 101 and 106 and the toner patch 108 with light, a condensing lens 1102 for condensing the laser light in a small spot, and reflection. A light receiving lens 1103 for forming an image on the image sensor corresponding to the layer thickness of the toner patch 108, a line sensor 1104 for imaging a reflected waveform of the light imaged by the light receiving lens 113, and measuring the amount of reflected light. A photodiode 1105, a line sensor 1104, and a toner adhesion amount calculation unit 1106 that calculates a toner adhesion amount from a signal detected by the photodiode 1105.

  In the present embodiment, the light receiving lens 1103 and the line sensor 1104 are arranged in a solid angle position that receives only specularly reflected light, and the reflection position of the light regularly reflected by one line sensor 1104 and the amount of specularly reflected light are simultaneously displayed. To detect. Further, the amount of diffusely reflected light is detected by the photodiode 1105 installed at the diffusely reflected position.

  Thereafter, in this embodiment as well, as in the first and second embodiments, the toner adhesion amount is measured with high accuracy from the reflection position data, the irregular reflection light amount data, and the regular reflection light amount data based on the patch density information and the patch color information. The image forming apparatus is controlled.

  According to the embodiment described above, the reflection position of the light reflected by the toner patch, the regular reflection light amount, and the irregular reflection light amount are detected. Since an appropriate detection result is selected according to the density and color of the toner patch to be measured, or the toner adhesion amount is calculated with a certain weight, the measurement regions that are insufficient in accuracy are corrected. Measurement accuracy, measurement range and linearity are improved.

  Further, by arranging an imaging lens for detecting a reflection position and an imaging element at a position where only regular reflection light or only irregular reflection light is imaged and received, two pieces of information (reflection position information and It is possible to simultaneously measure specularly reflected light or irregularly reflected light amount information). Accordingly, since the number of sensors to be used is reduced by one, effects such as reduction in the size of the toner adhesion amount measuring device and reduction in cost and signal wiring can be obtained.

  Each means and each step constituting the embodiment of the present invention described above can be realized by operating a program stored in a RAM, a ROM, or the like of a computer. This program and a computer-readable recording medium recording the program are included in the present invention.

  Further, the present invention can be implemented as, for example, a system, apparatus, method, program, or recording medium, and may be applied to an apparatus composed of a single device.

  The present invention supplies a software program for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments directly or remotely to a system or apparatus. In addition, this includes a case where the system or the computer of the apparatus is also achieved by reading and executing the supplied program code.

  Accordingly, since the functions of the present invention are implemented by computer, the program code installed in the computer also implements the present invention. In other words, the present invention includes a computer program itself for realizing the functional processing of the present invention. In that case, as long as it has the function of a program, it may be in the form of object code, a program executed by an interpreter, script data supplied to the OS, and the like.

  Further, the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the computer executing the read program. Furthermore, based on the instructions of the program, an OS or the like running on the computer performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments can be realized by the processing.

  As another method, a program read from a recording medium is first written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer. Then, based on the instructions of the program, the CPU or the like provided in the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to first to third embodiments. FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a control configuration when an image forming process is controlled by a controller based on adhesion amount data measured by a toner adhesion amount measuring device. It is a figure which shows the structure of the toner adhesion amount measuring apparatus in 1st and 2nd embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the procedure which measures the toner adhesion amount, the reflected waveform detected with a line sensor, and the reflected light amount detected with a photodiode. FIG. 5 is a block diagram for explaining a toner adhesion amount calculation process in the first embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating processing of a toner adhesion amount calculation unit according to the first embodiment. FIG. 10 is a block diagram for explaining a process for calculating a toner adhesion amount according to a second embodiment. 10 is a flowchart illustrating processing of a toner adhesion amount calculation unit in the second embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a color of a toner patch and an amount of irregularly reflected light. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a color of a toner patch and a regular reflection light amount. It is a figure which shows the structure of the toner adhesion amount measuring apparatus in 3rd Embodiment.

Claims (11)

A toner adhesion amount measuring device for measuring a toner adhesion amount in a toner image formed on a carrier of an image forming apparatus,
Irradiating means for irradiating the toner image with light;
Position detection means for detecting a reflection position of reflected light irregularly reflected by the toner image by a line sensor;
A light amount detection means for detecting a reflected light amount of reflected light from the toner image by the line sensor and the photodiode;
Calculation means for calculating the toner adhesion amount of the toner image based on the reflection position detected by the position detection means or the reflected light quantity detected by the light quantity detection means according to the density of the toner image. ,
The light amount detecting means includes
Irregularly reflected light amount detecting means for detecting the amount of reflected light irregularly reflected by the toner image by the line sensor;
A regular reflection light amount detection means for detecting the amount of reflected light regularly reflected by the toner image by the photodiode;
The calculating means, depending on the color of the toner image, based on the detected light amount by the light amount or the amount of specular reflected light detection means detected by the irregular reflection light quantity detecting section, and calculates the toner attachment amount of the toner image A toner adhesion amount measuring apparatus that calculates the toner adhesion amount of the toner image based on the reflection position detected by the position detection means when the density of the toner image is equal to or higher than a predetermined density . A toner adhesion amount measuring device for measuring a toner adhesion amount in a toner image formed on a carrier of an image forming apparatus,
Irradiating means for irradiating the toner image with light;
Position detection means for detecting a reflection position of the reflected light regularly reflected by the toner image by a line sensor;
A light amount detection means for detecting a reflected light amount of reflected light from the toner image by the line sensor and the photodiode;
Calculation means for calculating the toner adhesion amount of the toner image based on the reflection position detected by the position detection means or the reflected light quantity detected by the light quantity detection means according to the density of the toner image. ,
The light amount detecting means includes
Irregularly reflected light amount detecting means for detecting the amount of reflected light irregularly reflected by the toner image by the photodiode;
A regular reflection light amount detection means for detecting the amount of reflected light regularly reflected by the toner image by the line sensor;
The calculating means, depending on the color of the toner image, based on the detected light amount by the light amount or the amount of specular reflected light detection means detected by the irregular reflection light quantity detecting section, and calculates the toner attachment amount of the toner image A toner adhesion amount measuring apparatus that calculates the toner adhesion amount of the toner image based on the reflection position detected by the position detection means when the density of the toner image is equal to or higher than a predetermined density . Said position detecting means, by detecting the position of the peak of the detected reflected wave data from the reflected light from the toner image, according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that detecting the reflection position of the reflected light Toner adhesion amount measuring device.   The irregularly reflected light amount detecting means or the regular reflected light amount detecting means detects a reflected light amount of reflected light by calculating an area of a peak portion of reflected waveform data detected from reflected light from the toner image. The toner adhesion amount measuring device according to claim 1 or 2. 5. The toner adhesion amount measuring apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the irregularly reflected light amount detecting means or the regular reflected light amount detecting means detects a reflected light amount using a photodiode.   An image forming apparatus comprising the toner adhesion amount measuring device according to claim 1. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein an image forming parameter is controlled based on a toner adhesion amount of the toner image calculated by the calculating unit. A toner adhesion amount measuring method for measuring a toner adhesion amount in a toner image formed on a carrier of an image forming apparatus,
An irradiation step of irradiating the toner image with light;
A detection step of detecting a reflection position of the reflected light irregularly reflected by the toner image by a line sensor, and detecting a reflected light amount of the reflected light from the toner image by the line sensor and a photodiode;
Calculating a toner adhesion amount of the toner image based on the reflection position detected by the detection step or the reflected light amount detected by the detection step according to the density of the toner image;
The detecting step includes
An irregularly reflected light amount detecting step for detecting the amount of reflected light irregularly reflected by the toner image by the line sensor;
A regular reflection light amount detection step of detecting the amount of reflected light regularly reflected by the toner image by the photodiode;
The calculation step, depending on the color of the toner image, the irregular reflection light intensity detecting step by the detected light amount or on the basis of the amount of light detected by the regular reflection light quantity detecting step calculates the toner attachment amount of the toner image A toner adhesion amount measuring method, wherein the toner adhesion amount of the toner image is calculated based on the reflection position detected by the detection step when the density of the toner image is equal to or higher than a predetermined density . A toner adhesion amount measuring device for measuring a toner adhesion amount in a toner image formed on a carrier of an image forming apparatus,
An irradiation step of irradiating the toner image with light;
A detection step of detecting a reflection position of the reflected light regularly reflected by the toner image by a line sensor, and detecting a reflected light amount of the reflected light from the toner image by the line sensor and a photodiode;
Calculating a toner adhesion amount of the toner image based on the reflection position detected by the detection step or the reflected light amount detected by the detection step according to the density of the toner image;
The detecting step includes
An irregularly reflected light amount detecting step for detecting the amount of reflected light irregularly reflected by the toner image by the photodiode;
A regular reflection light amount detection step of detecting the amount of reflected light regularly reflected by the toner image by the line sensor,
The calculation step, depending on the color of the toner image, the irregular reflection light intensity detecting step by the detected light amount or on the basis of the amount of light detected by the regular reflection light quantity detecting step calculates the toner attachment amount of the toner image A toner adhesion amount measuring method, wherein the toner adhesion amount of the toner image is calculated based on the reflection position detected by the detection step when the density of the toner image is equal to or higher than a predetermined density . A program for causing a computer to execute a toner adhesion amount measuring method for measuring a toner adhesion amount in a toner image formed on a carrier of an image forming apparatus,
The line sensor detects the reflection position of the reflected light that is irradiated from the irradiation unit to the toner image and is irregularly reflected by the toner image, and the reflected light amount of the reflected light from the toner image is detected by the line sensor and the photodiode. A detection step to detect;
Based on the density of the toner image, the computer executes a calculation step of calculating the toner adhesion amount of the toner image based on the reflection position detected by the detection step or the amount of reflected light detected by the detection step. ,
The detecting step includes
An irregularly reflected light amount detecting step for detecting the amount of reflected light irregularly reflected by the toner image by the line sensor;
A regular reflection light amount detection step of detecting the amount of reflected light regularly reflected by the toner image by the photodiode;
The calculation step, depending on the color of the toner image, the irregular reflection light intensity detecting step by the detected light amount or on the basis of the amount of light detected by the regular reflection light quantity detecting step calculates the toner attachment amount of the toner image A program for calculating a toner adhesion amount of the toner image based on the reflection position detected by the detection step when the density of the toner image is equal to or higher than a predetermined density . A program for causing a computer to execute a toner adhesion amount measuring method for measuring a toner adhesion amount in a toner image formed on a carrier of an image forming apparatus,
The line sensor detects the reflection position of the reflected light irradiated from the irradiation unit to the toner image and specularly reflected by the toner image, and the amount of reflected light from the toner image is detected by the line sensor and photodiode. A detection step to detect at
Based on the density of the toner image, the computer executes a calculation step of calculating the toner adhesion amount of the toner image based on the reflection position detected by the detection step or the amount of reflected light detected by the detection step. ,
The detecting step includes
An irregularly reflected light amount detecting step for detecting the amount of reflected light irregularly reflected by the toner image by the photodiode;
A regular reflection light amount detection step of detecting the amount of reflected light regularly reflected by the toner image by the line sensor,
The calculation step, depending on the color of the toner image, the irregular reflection light intensity detecting step by the detected light amount or on the basis of the amount of light detected by the regular reflection light quantity detecting step calculates the toner attachment amount of the toner image A program for calculating a toner adhesion amount of the toner image based on the reflection position detected by the detection step when the density of the toner image is equal to or higher than a predetermined density .

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