Image forming apparatus determining an indicating level of a utilized amount of a developing apparatus and a control method thereof

A control method for an image forming apparatus to which a developing apparatus for developing a latent image on an image bearing member corresponding to image information is detachably attachable and which comprises a first detection device for presuming a first remaining amount of developer in the developing apparatus based upon the image information, and a second detection device for detecting a second remaining amount of developer in the developing apparatus, the control method comprising:

• a first judging step of judging whether or not a first remaining amount of the developer detected by the first detection device is equal to or less than a predetermined amount;
• and
• a second judging step of judging whether or not a second remaining amount of the developer detected by the second detection device is equal to or more than the predetermined amount;
• a determining step for determining, in a case that the first remaining amount of the developer judged in said first judging step is equal to or less than the predetermined amount, and the second remaining amount of the developer detected in said second judging step is equal to or more than the predetermined amount an indicating level of the remaining amount of the developer in the developing apparatus so that the indicating level is different from both an indicating level according to the first remaining amount of the developer detected by said first detection device and an indicating level according to the second remaining amount of the developer detected by said second detection device.

An image forming apparatus to which a developing apparatus including a developer carrying member for developing a latent image on an image bearing member is detachably attachable, comprising:

• a first detection device for detecting a utilized amount of said developer carrying member of the developing apparatus;
• a second detection device for detecting a remaining amount of developer in said developing apparatus;
• and
• a processing unit for determining an indicating level of a utilized amount of said developing apparatus based upon results of detection of said first detection device and said second detection device,
• wherein in a case that the utilized amount of said developer carrying member detected by said first detection device is equal to or less than a predetermined amount, and the remaining amount of the developer detected by said second detection device is equal to or more a predetermined level, the indicating level of a utilized amount of said developing apparatus determined by said processing unit is different from both an indicating level of a utilized amount of said developing apparatus according to the utilized amount of said developer carrying member detected by said first detection device and an indicating level of a utilized amount of said developing apparatus according to the remaining amount of the developer detected by said second detection device.

A control method for an image forming apparatus to which a developing apparatus including a developer carrying member for developing a latent image on an image bearing member is detachably attachable and which comprises a first detection device for detecting a utilized amount of the developer carrying member of the developing apparatus and a second detection device for detecting a remaining amount of developer in the developing apparatus, the control method comprising:

• a first judging step of judging whether or not a utilized amount of the developer carrying member detected by the first detection device is equal to or less than a predetermined amount;
• a second judging step of judging whether or not a remaining amount of the developer detected by the second detection device is equal to or more than a predetermined amount;
• and
• a determining step of determining in a case that the utilized amount of the developer carrying member judged in the first device is equal to or less than the predetermined amount, and the remaining amount of the developer judged in said second judging step is equal to or more than the predetermined amount, the indicating level of a utilized amount of the developing apparatus is different from both an indicating level of a utilized amount of the apparatus according to the utilized amount of the developer carrying member detected by the first detection device and an indicating level of a utilized amount of the developing apparatus according to the remaining amount of the developer detected by the second detection device.