US 7,003,233 B2 · Image forming apparatus with a toner replenishing control feature based on stored toner density and fluidity information, related method, and developing agent replenishing container for same

Abstract

There is provided an image forming apparatus including the first developing agent storing section which stores toner, a toner replenishing member for supplying the toner in the first developing agent storing section to the second developing agent storing section, and a controller which controls operation of the toner replenishing member on the basis of information about the amount of toner used in the first developing agent storing section and information about the fluidity of the toner. By more accurately controlling a toner discharge amount of a toner replenishing container and detecting the remaining toner, the toner density in a developing unit can always be kept constant to meet the demand for higher-quality images. There can be provided an inexpensive compact image forming apparatus in which the replacement timing of a developing agent replenishing container is delayed to obtain a longer service life.

Claims36

Dependent claims

An image forming apparatus comprising:

a first developing agent storing section which stores toner;
a toner replenishing member for supplying the toner stored in said first developing agent storing section to a second developing agent storing section;
a density detector for detecting a toner density in said second developing agent storing section;
a detecting section for detecting information relating to fluidity of the toner;
a use amount detector for detecting information relating to an amount of toner used in said first developing agent storing section;
a storage section for storing information relating to a toner replenishing amount in accordance with information relating to fluidity of the toner detected by said detecting section and information relating to the amount of toner used detected by said use amount detector;
and
a controller which controls an operation of said toner replenishing member on the basis of information relating to a detected toner density, and information relating to the toner replenishing amount.

5 more elements

A method of controlling an image forming apparatus comprising a first developing agent storing section which stores toner, a toner replenishing member for supplying the toner in the first developing agent storing section to a second developing agent storing section a density detector for detecting a toner density in the second developing agent storing section, and a storage section for storing information, the method comprising:

a use amount detecting step of detecting information relating to an amount of toner used in the first developing agent storing section;
a detection step for detecting information relating to fluidity of the toner;
a reading step for reading information relating to a toner replenishing amount in accordance with information relating to fluidity of the toner and information relating to the amount of toner used from said storage section;
and
an operation control step of controlling an operation of the toner replenishing member on the basis of information relating to a detected toner density and information relating to the toner replenishing amount.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Image forming apparatus with a toner replenishing control feature based on stored toner density and fluidity information, related method, and developing agent replenishing container for same

Life of this patent

Image forming apparatus with a toner replenishing control feature based on stored toner density and fluidity information, related method, and developing agent replenishing container for same

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims36