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

• US 7,095,964 B2
• Filed: 09/22/2003
• Issued: 08/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Suzuki, Koichi, Koyama, Shoichi
• Primary Examiner(s): BEATTY, ROBERT B
• Application Number:
  US10/664,888
• Publication Number:
  US 20040114946A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,065 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 399/24
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0856 Detection or control means for the developer level
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0862 the level being measured by optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/556 for toner consumption, e.g. pixel counting, toner coverage detection or toner density measurement
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/0177 Rotating set of developing units

Abstract

The 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, includes, a first detection device for detecting an amount of developer in the developing apparatus; a second detection device for detecting a utilized amount of the developer in the developing apparatus based upon the image information, and a processing unit for judging a utilized amount level of the developing apparatus based upon results of detection of the first detection device and the second detection device, wherein the processing unit judges the utilized amount level of the developing apparatus using the result of detection of the first detection device and the result of detection of the second detection device until the result of detection of the first detection device reaches a predetermined value, and judges the utilized amount level of the developing apparatus using the result of detection of the first detection device after the result of detection of the first detection device has reached the predetermined value. Consequently, it becomes possible to detect the residual amount of developer with high accuracy.

Claims

1. 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, comprising:

a first detection device for presuming a first remaining amount of the developer in said developing apparatus based upon the image information;

a second detection device for detecting a second remaining amount of the developer in said developing apparatus; and

a processing unit for determining an indicating level of the remaining amount of the developer in said developing apparatus based upon results of detections of said first detection device and said second detection device,

wherein in a case that the first remaining amount of the developer presumed by said first detection device is equal to or less than an amount defined as a predetermined amount, and the second remaining amount of the developer detected by said second detection device is equal to or more than the predetermined amount, the indicating level determined by said processing unit of the remaining amount of the developer in said developing apparatus is different from both an indicating level according to the first remaining amount of the developer by said first detection device and an indicating level according to the second remaining amount of the developer detected by said second detection device.

2. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second detection device is an optical detection device.

3. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said developing apparatus has memory means for storing information relating to a result of detection of said first detection device or a result of detection of said second detection device.

4. An image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said memory means is nonvolatile memory means which is capable of communicating with a main body of said image forming apparatus in a contact state or in a non-contact state.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. An image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said second detection device is an optical detection device.

8. An image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said first detection device detects an operation time of said developer carrying member to judge the utilized amount of said developer carrying member.

9. An image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said developing apparatus includes memory means for storing information relating to a result of detection of said first detection device or a result of detection of said second detection device.

10. An image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said memory means is nonvolatile memory means which is capable of communicating with a main body of said image forming apparatus in a contact state or in a non-contact state.

11. 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.