US 2011/0211848 A1Published application

Image forming apparatus

AssigneeCanon Kabushiki Kaisha

InventorYoshihiro MITSUI

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

An image forming apparatus include an image bearing member, a developing container receiving a developer, a developer carrying member for carrying and conveying the developer, a developer feed member for supplying the developer to the developer carrying member, a detection device for detecting an amount of developer in the developing container by detecting an electrostatic capacitance between the developer carrying member and the developer feed member, and a control device for changing a rotational speed of the developer feed member into a plurality of speeds corresponding to the plurality of image forming speeds. The control unit controls the rotational speed of the developer feed member prior to the execution of a detection operation of the detection device so as to be faster than the slowest speed of said plurality of speeds.

Claims10

Dependent claims

An image forming apparatus having a plurality of image forming speeds, said apparatus comprising:

an image bearing member on which an electrostatic image is formed;
a developing container that receives a developer;
a developer carrying member that is arranged to be rotatable and conveys said developer so as to develop said electrostatic image;
a developer feed member that is arranged in contact with said developer carrying member and to be rotatable, and feeds said developer to said developer carrying member;
a detection device that detects an amount of developer in said developing container by detecting an electrostatic capacitance between said developer carrying member and said developer feed member;
and
a control unit that changes a rotational speed of said developer feed member into a plurality of speeds corresponding to said plurality of image forming speeds;
wherein said control unit controls the rotational speed of said developer feed member prior to the execution of a detection operation of said detection device so as to be faster than the slowest speed of said plurality of speeds.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/105,085Filed 11 May 2011
Priority: JP 2008-11325223 Apr 2008
Published: 1 Sep 2011
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification4 codes

G03G 15/0856
Arrangements for testing or measuring developer properties or quality, e.g. charge, size, flowability: detection or control means for the…
G03G 15/086
Detection or control means for the developer level: the level being measured by electro-magnetic means
G03G 15/0891
Arrangements for conveying and conditioning developer in the developing unit, e.g. agitating, removing impurities or humidity: for conveying or…
G03G
Electrography

Family

Application12/425,037Continuation · filed 16 Apr 2009
Application12/939,443Division · filed 4 Nov 2010
Application13/105,085Division
Application12/939,443Continuation
US 2009/0269094 A1Published application
US 2011/0044709 A1Published application
US 7,912,390 B2Related patent
US 7,957,658 B2Related patent
US 8,548,344 B2Related patent
US 2011/0211848 A1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.