Image forming apparatus having a developer detecting unit
First Claim
1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
- a developer container unit includingan agitating member configured to rotate and agitate developer,a frame body configured to contain the agitating member and the developer, the frame body including a first wall surface and a second wall surface,a first electrode disposed on the first wall surface, the first electrode including a first end, the first end located below a rotation center of the agitating member, anda second electrode disposed on the second wall surface, the second electrode including a second end located below the rotation center, the second electrode facing the first electrode with a gap therebetween such that the gap has a smallest portion and a remote portion, wherein the smallest portion is located below the rotation center of the agitating member and located between the first end and the second end, and the remote portion is wider than the smallest portion and located above the smallest portion; and
a developer detecting unit configured to detect an amount of the developer based on an output generated in accordance with a capacitance between the first electrode and the second electrode, the developer detecting unit capable of detecting a first amount of developer and a second amount of developer that is smaller than the first amount of developer,wherein if a magnitude of the output when the developer detecting unit detects the first amount of developer is defined as a first reference value, the developer detecting unit is configured to detect the second amount of developer when a magnitude of the output is a second reference value which has a first difference from the first reference value, andwherein the developer detecting unit includes a controller and is configured to determine a magnitude of the first difference based on a magnitude of the first reference value such that the second reference value and the magnitude of the first difference are varied in accordance with the magnitude of the first reference value.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An image forming apparatus includes an agitating member, a first electrode, a second electrode disposed with a gap from the first electrode such that the gap has a smallest portion located below a rotation center of the agitating member and a remote portion wider than the smallest portion and located above the smallest portion, and a frame body having a first wall surface having the first electrode disposed thereon and a second wall surface having the second electrode disposed thereon, and a developer detecting unit configured to detect an amount of developer from an output value output in accordance with a capacitance formed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The image forming apparatus performs correction and detects the amount of developer.
8 Citations
30 Claims
-
1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
-
a developer container unit including an agitating member configured to rotate and agitate developer, a frame body configured to contain the agitating member and the developer, the frame body including a first wall surface and a second wall surface, a first electrode disposed on the first wall surface, the first electrode including a first end, the first end located below a rotation center of the agitating member, and a second electrode disposed on the second wall surface, the second electrode including a second end located below the rotation center, the second electrode facing the first electrode with a gap therebetween such that the gap has a smallest portion and a remote portion, wherein the smallest portion is located below the rotation center of the agitating member and located between the first end and the second end, and the remote portion is wider than the smallest portion and located above the smallest portion; and a developer detecting unit configured to detect an amount of the developer based on an output generated in accordance with a capacitance between the first electrode and the second electrode, the developer detecting unit capable of detecting a first amount of developer and a second amount of developer that is smaller than the first amount of developer, wherein if a magnitude of the output when the developer detecting unit detects the first amount of developer is defined as a first reference value, the developer detecting unit is configured to detect the second amount of developer when a magnitude of the output is a second reference value which has a first difference from the first reference value, and wherein the developer detecting unit includes a controller and is configured to determine a magnitude of the first difference based on a magnitude of the first reference value such that the second reference value and the magnitude of the first difference are varied in accordance with the magnitude of the first reference value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. An image forming apparatus comprising:
-
a developer container unit including a developer bearing member configured to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on an image bearing member, an agitating member configured to rotate and agitate developer, a frame body including a developing chamber containing the developer bearing member, a developer chamber containing the agitating member, a partition wall provided with an opening that allows the developing chamber to communicate with the developer chamber, a first wall surface disposed in the developer chamber, and a second wall surface disposed in the developer chamber, a first electrode disposed on the first wall surface, the first electrode including a first end, the first end located below a rotation center of the agitating member, and a second electrode disposed on the second wall surface, the second electrode including a second end located below the rotation center, the second electrode facing the first electrode with a gap therebetween such that the gap has a smallest portion and a remote portion, wherein the smallest portion is located below the rotation center of the agitating member and located between the first end and the second end, and the remote portion is wider than the smallest portion and located above the smallest portion; and a developer detecting unit configured to detect an amount of the developer based on an output generated in accordance with a capacitance between the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein the first wall surface extends upward with respect to a gravity direction and extends away from the smallest portion with respect to a horizontal direction, and the second wall surface extends upward with respect to the gravity direction and extends away from the smallest portion with respect to the horizontal direction, and wherein the developer detecting unit includes a controller and is configured to correct the output on the basis of at least one of a rotational speed of the agitating member, an ambient temperature, an ambient humidity, and a deterioration degree of the developer and detects the amount of developer. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
-
Specification