Developing device, process cartridge, electrophotographic image forming apparatus and agitating member

• US 6,208,816 B1
• Filed: 09/02/1999
• Issued: 03/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Koizumi, Toru, Nomura, Yoshiya
• Primary Examiner(s): BRASE, SANDRA L
• Application Number:
  US09/388,434
• Time in Patent Office: 572 Days
• Field of Search: 399/27, 399/30, 399/58, 399/61, 399/62
• US Class Current: 399/27
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0856 Detection or control means for the developer level
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/086 the level being measured by electro-magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0865 Arrangements for supplying new developer
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1867 for electrically connecting the process cartridge to the apparatus, electrical connectors, power supply
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2221/183 Process cartridge

Abstract

A developing device, a process cartridge and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus include a device for successively detecting the toner remaining amount throughout the service life of the process cartridge. A first antenna rod is provided on a rotating agitating member, and an amount of toner between them is detected successively. By using a second fixed antenna provided in a toner container, the toner amount is successively detected when the toner amount is small. A toner scraping-off member contacting the rotating agitating member is provided in the toner container.

Claims

1. A developing device detachably mountable to a main body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus and adapted to develop a latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member, comprising:

a developing member for developing the latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive member;

a toner containing portion for containing toner to be used by said developing member to develop the latent image;

an antenna member provided with electrodes and for detecting a remaining amount of the toner remaining in the developing device, said antenna member being movable within said developing device and said antenna member detecting the remaining amount of toner based on a change in electrostatic capacity between said electrodes; and

an electrical contact for electrically transmitting information corresponding to the electrostatic capacity of said antenna member to said main body of said electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

2. A developing device according to claim 1, wherein said antenna member is provided on a toner agitating member which is disposed in said toner containing portion and which is rotatable around a shaft.

3. A developing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the toner remaining amount is detected successively.

4. A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprising:

(a) an electrophotographic photosensitive member; and

(b) a developing device for developing a latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive member, said developing device including;

a developing member for developing the latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive member,

a toner containing potion for containing toner to be used by said developing member to develop the latent image,

an antenna member provided with electrodes and for detecting a remaining amount of the toner remaining in said developing device, said antenna member being movable within said developing device and said antenna member detecting the remaining amount of toner based on a change in electrostatic capacity between said electrodes, and

an electrical contact for electrically transmitting information corresponding to the electrostatic capacity of said antenna member to said main body of said electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

5. A process cartridge according to claim 4, wherein said antenna member is provided on a toner agitating member which is disposed in said toner containing portion and which is rotatable around a shaft.

6. A process cartridge according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the toner remaining amount is detected successively.

7. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus to which a process cartridge can detachably be mounted and which is adapted to form an image on a recording medium, comprising:

(a) a mounting member for detachably mounting a process cartridge, the process cartridge including an electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a developing device for developing a latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive member, said developing device having a developing member for developing the latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive member, a toner containing portion for containing toner to be used by said developing member to develop the latent image, an antenna member provided with electrodes and for detecting a remaining amount of the toner remaining in said developing device, said antenna member being movable within said developing device and said antenna member detecting the remaining amount of toner based on a change in electrostatic capacity between said electrodes, and a cartridge electrical contact for electrically transmitting information corresponding to the electrostatic capacity of said antenna member to a main body of said electrophotographic image forming apparatus;

(b) a main body electrical contact to be electrically connected to said cartridge electrical contact of said process cartridge when said process cartridge is mounted to said mounting member; and

(c) an informing member for informing information regarding the toner remaining amount based on information which is received by said main body electrical contact from said cartridge electrical contact.

8. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said antenna member is provided on a toner agitating member which is disposed in said toner containing portion and which is rotatable around a shaft.

9. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the toner remaining amount is detected successively.

10. An agitating member used with a toner containing portion containing toner to be used to develop a latent image by a developing member for developing the latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member provided in a main body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprising:

an agitating portion which is rotatable around a shaft when said agitating portion is mounted to said toner containing portion;

an antenna member provided with electrodes, said antenna member provided in said agitating portion and adapted to detect a remaining amount of toner remaining in said toner containing portion, said antenna member detecting the remaining amount of toner based on a change in electrostatic capacity between said electrodes; and

an electrical contact for electrically transmitting information corresponding to the electrostatic capacity of said antenna member to said main body of said electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

11. An agitating member according to claim 10, wherein the toner remaining amount is detected successively.

12. A developing device detachably mountable to a main body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus and adapted to develop a latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member, comprising:

a developing member for developing the latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive member;

a toner containing portion for containing toner to be used by said developing member to develop the latent image;

a first antenna member provided with electrodes and for detecting a remaining amount of the toner remaining in the developing device, said first antenna member being movable within said developing device and said first antenna member detecting the remaining amount of toner based on a change in electrostatic capacity between said electrodes;

a second antenna member which is fixed and which detects the toner remaining amount near said developing member based on a change in electrostatic capacity between said second antenna member and said developing member;

a first electrical contact for electrically connecting between said first antenna member and said main body of said electrophotographic image forming apparatus;

and a second electrical contact for electrically connecting between said second antenna member and said main body of said electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

13. A developing device according to claim 12, wherein said first antenna member is provided on a toner agitating member which is disposed in said toner containing portion and which is rotatable around a shaft.

14. A developing device according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the toner remaining amount is detected successively.

15. A developing device according to claim 12, wherein said second antenna member is disposed along a longitudinal direction of a developing roller as said developing member with a distance between said second antenna member and said developing roller.

16. A developing device according to claim 12, wherein said second antenna member detects the toner remaining amount based on a change in electrostatic capacity between said second antenna member and a developing roller as said developing member.

17. A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprising:

(a) an electrophotographic photosensitive member; and

(b) a developing device for developing a latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive member, said developing device including;

a developing member for developing the latent image forced on said electrophotographic photosensitive member,

a toner containing portion for containing toner to be used by said developing member to develop the latent image,

a first antenna member provided with electrodes and for detecting a remaining amount of the toner remaining in said developing device, said first antenna member being movable within said developing device and said first antenna member detecting the remaining amount of toner based on a change in electrostatic capacity between said electrodes,

a second antenna member which is fixed and which detects the toner remaining amount near said developing member based on a change in electrostatic capacity between said second antenna member and said developing member,

a first electrical contact for electrically connecting between said first antenna member and said main body of said electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and a

a second electrical contact for electrically connecting between said second antenna member and said main body of said electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

18. A process cartridge according to claim 17, wherein said first antenna member is provided on a toner agitating member which is disposed in said toner containing portion and which is rotatable around a shaft.

19. A process cartridge according to claim 17 or 18, wherein the toner remaining amount is detected successively.

20. A process cartridge according to claim 17, wherein said second antenna member is disposed along a longitudinal direction of a developing roller as said developing member with a distance between said second antenna member and said developing roller.

21. A process cartridge according to claim 17, wherein said second antenna member detects the toner remaining amount based on a change in electrostatic capacity between said second antenna member and a developing roller as said developing member.

22. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus to which a process cartridge is detachably mountable and which is adapted to form an image on a recording medium, comprising:

(a) a mounting member for detachably mounting a process cartridge, the process cartridge including an electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a developing device for developing a latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive member, said developing device having a developing member for developing the latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive member, a toner containing portion for containing toner to be used by said developing member to develop the latent image, a first antenna member provided with electrodes and for detecting a remaining amount of the toner remaining in the developing device, said first antenna member being movable within said developing device and said first antenna member detecting the remaining amount of the toner based on a change in electrostatic capacity between said electrodes, a second antenna member which is fixed and which detects the toner remaining amount near said developing member based on a change in electrostatic capacity between said second antenna member and said developing member, a first electrical contact for electrically connecting between said first antenna member and said main body of said electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and a second electrical contact for electrically connecting between said second antenna member and said main body of said electrophotographic image forming apparatus;

(b) a first main body electrical contact to be electrically connected to said first electrical contact of said process cartridge when said process cartridge is mounted to said mounting member;

(c) a second main body electrical contact to be electrically connected to said second electrical contact of said process cartridge when said process cartridge is mounted to said mounting member; and

(d) an informing member for informing information regarding the toner remaining amount based on information which is received by said first and second main body electrical contacts.

23. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium, comprising:

(a) an electrophotographic photosensitive member;

(b) a developing device for developing a latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive member, said developing device including a developing member for developing the latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive member, a toner containing portion for containing toner to be used by said developing member to develop the latent image, an antenna member provided with electrodes and for detecting a remaining amount of the toner remaining in said developing device, said antenna member being movable within said developing device and said antenna member detecting the remaining amount of toner based on a change in electrostatic capacity between said electrodes, and a developing device electrical contact for electrically transmitting information corresponding to the electrostatic capacity of said antenna member to a main body of said electrophotographic image forming apparatus;

(c) a main body electrical contact being electrically connected to said developing device electrical contact of said developing device; and

(d) an informing member for informing information regarding the toner remaining amount based on information which is received by said main body electrical contact from said developing device electrical contact.

24. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium, comprising:

(a) an electrophotographic photosensitive member;

(b) a developing device for developing a latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive member, said developing device including a developing member for developing the latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive member, a toner containing portion for containing toner to be used by developing member to develop the latent image, a first antenna member provided with electrodes and for detecting a remaining amount of the toner remaining in said developing device, said first antenna member being movable within said developing device and said first antenna member detecting the remaining amount of toner based on a change in electrostatic capacity between said electrodes, a second antenna member which is fixed and which detects the toner remaining amount near said developing member based on a change in electrostatic capacity between said second antenna member and said developing member, a first electrical contact for electrically connecting between said first antenna member said main body of said electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and a second electrical contact for electrically connecting between said second antenna member and said main body of said electrophotographic image forming apparatus;

(c) a first main body electrical contact being electrically connected to said first electrical contact of said developing device;

(d) a second main body electrical contact being electrically connected to said second electrical contact of said developing device; and

(e) an informing member for informing information regarding the toner remaining amount based in information which is received by said first and second main body electrical contacts.