Liquid volume detector, liquid mixture supplying system adopting such liquid volume detector and image forming apparatus

A liquid mixture supply system, comprising:

• a liquid consuming device for consuming a liquid mixture containing a first component and a second component;
• a liquid regulator for forming the liquid mixture having a mixing ratio of the first and second components regulated;
• a first supply system for supplying the first component to the liquid regulator;
• a second supply system for supplying the second component to the liquid regulator;
• a third supply system for supplying the liquid mixture formed in the liquid regulator to the liquid consuming device;
• and
• a collection system for collecting the liquid mixture, which was supplied to the liquid consuming device, but not consumed by the liquid consuming device, and supplying it to the liquid regulator,
• wherein:
• the liquid regulator includes a container for containing the liquid mixture and a liquid volume detector for detecting the volume of the liquid mixture in the container, the liquid volume detector including:
• a liquid level detecting member which is provided at a specified height position in the container and on which a load acts by the liquid mixture when the liquid level in the container is located at the specified height position, and
• a first drive source connected to the liquid level detecting member for moving the liquid level detecting member.

An image forming apparatus, comprising:

• a photoconductive drum for bearing a toner image on the outer circumferential surface thereof;
• a developing device to be replenished with a liquid developer containing toner particles and a carrier and adapted to supply the liquid developer to the photoconductive drum;
• a developer former for forming the liquid developer having a mixing ratio of the toner particles and the carrier regulated;
• a first supply system for supplying a liquid developer having a toner density higher than the liquid developer used in the developing device to the developer former;
• a second supply system for supplying the carrier to the developer former;
• a third supply system for supplying the liquid developer formed in the developer former to the developing device via a reserve tank;
• and
• a collection system for collecting the liquid developer, which was supplied to the developing device, but not consumed by the developing device or the photoconductive drum, and supplying it to the developer former,
• wherein the developer former includes a container for containing the liquid developer and a liquid volume detector for detecting the volume of the liquid developer in the container, the liquid volume detector including:
• a liquid level detecting member which is provided at a specified height position in the container and on which a load acts by the liquid developer when the liquid level in the container is located at the specified height position, and
• a first drive source connected to the liquid level detecting member for moving the liquid level detecting member.