Image forming apparatus
AssigneeCanon Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorTakeshi Kawamura
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Loading patent…
AssigneeCanon Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorTakeshi Kawamura
Estimating the term…
An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member on which an electrostatic latent image is to be formed; and a developing device for developing the electrostatic latent image by supplying a developer to the image bearing member. The developing device includes a developer container for containing the developer; a rotatable developer carrying member, including a first electrode member, for carrying and supplying the developer to the image bearing member; and a developer supplying member, which is provided in contact with the developer carrying member and includes a surface foam layer and a second electrode member for rotatably supporting the developer supplying member, for supplying the developer to the developer carrying member. The apparatus further includes a measuring device capable of measuring a remaining developer amount in the developer container by detecting electrostatic capacity between the first electrode member and the second electrode member; and a replenishing device for performing a replenishing operation for replenishing the developer supplying member with the developer by rotating the developer supplying member at a speed slower than that during image formation. When the remaining developer amount measured by the measuring device is not more than a threshold, the replenishing operation is performed by the replenishing device and thereafter the remaining developer amount is measured again by the measuring device.
An image forming apparatus comprising:
An image forming apparatus comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.