JP2000155460A - Developing device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a developing device capable of always stabilizing the amount of developer contained in the device. A developing device includes a toner sensor for detecting a toner concentration of a developer housed in a housing.
have. When discharging the developer through the discharge port 6b, the shutter 11 is opened, the motor 21 is driven to rotate the developing sleeve 2, and the upper and lower augers 3, 5,
The sensor output of the toner sensor 12 is checked. When the sensor output becomes substantially zero, it can be determined that most of the developer has been discharged.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a developing device for supplying a developer to a latent image formed on an image carrier and developing the latent image, and in particular, automatically replaces a developer whose service life has expired. The present invention relates to a developing device having a function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A developing device is mounted on an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer, and is arranged facing a surface of a photosensitive drum as an image carrier. The developing device includes a developing sleeve which is closely opposed to the drum surface of the photosensitive drum via a predetermined gap, a fixed magnet disposed in the developing sleeve, upper and lower augers adjacent to the developing sleeve,
And a housing accommodating the developing sleeve, the fixed magnet, and the upper and lower augers and accommodating the developer. The housing has an inlet for charging new developer (and New toner), an outlet for discharging the used developer, and a supply port for supplying developer to the drum surface via the developing sleeve. Have been.

When setting the image forming apparatus,
A developer cartridge containing the initial developer is mounted on the inlet, and the developer is injected into the housing via the inlet. The charged developer is agitated and transported by the upper and lower augers, and is supplied to the drum surface via the developing sleeve and the supply port to be consumed.

When the developer has reached the end of its useful life, the developer which has reached the end of its useful life is discharged through an outlet, and new developer is supplied through an inlet. At this time, since there is developer remaining without being completely discharged into the housing, another developer cartridge containing a smaller amount of developer than the initial developer is mounted on the inlet.

In order to keep the toner concentration of the developer constant during operation of the developing device, the toner concentration of the developer is monitored via a toner sensor. , High-density toner is supplied.

In the above-described conventional developing apparatus, when the developer whose service life has expired is to be replaced, an automatic developer replacement mode is selected via an operation panel (not shown), and the discharge port is automatically opened to allow the service life to be changed. Is discharged. Then, the discharge port is closed after a lapse of a predetermined time from the start of the discharge of the developer, new developer is supplied through the input port, and after the lapse of the predetermined time, the exchange of the developer is terminated.
During this series of operations, the developing sleeve and the upper and lower augers are constantly rotated, and the developer in the housing is agitated.

[0007]

However, in the above-described developing device, when the developer which has reached the end of its useful life is discharged through the discharge port, a predetermined time elapses due to a malfunction of a shutter provided in the discharge port. Even if all the developer in the housing is not discharged, when new developer is replenished through the charging port, the number of openings of the developer becomes abnormally large, and the overflow of the developer or the characteristic of the developer may occur. This causes a problem of deterioration.

Further, when a new developer is supplied through the charging port when the image forming apparatus is set or when the developer is exchanged, the supply port of the developer cartridge mounted on the charging port may not be normally operated. If a sufficient amount of the developer is not supplied into the housing even after a predetermined time has elapsed without being opened, a problem such as image dropout occurs in an image output after development.

Further, since it is necessary to prepare two types of cartridges, a developer cartridge to be inserted into the inlet when setting the image forming apparatus and a developer cartridge to be inserted into the inlet when replacing the developer, the cartridge management is required. There was a problem that took time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a developing device capable of always stabilizing the amount of developer contained in the device.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above object, a developing device according to the present invention is arranged to face an image carrier of an image forming apparatus, and stirs and transports a developer. Supplying the developer to the image carrier, and developing the latent image formed on the image carrier, which has an inlet for charging the developer, and an outlet for discharging the developer, Containing means for containing, and arranged in the containing means,
Stirring / transporting means for stirring and transporting the developer, detecting means for detecting the concentration of the developer stored in the storage means, and the developer stored in the storage means through the discharge port And control means for monitoring the amount of developer remaining in the storage means using the detection means when discharging.

Further, according to the developing device of the present invention, the control means controls the inside of the accommodating means via the detecting means at a point in time when a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the discharge of the developer. The amount of the developer remaining in the printer is detected, and if the detected amount of the developer exceeds a predetermined value, a warning for notifying the discharge failure is issued.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the developing device is disposed so as to face an image carrier of the image forming apparatus.
Agitating and transporting the developer to supply the image carrier, to develop the latent image formed on the image carrier,
A storage unit having a charging port for charging the developer, and a discharge port for discharging the developer, and storing the developer; and a stirring / transporting unit disposed in the storage unit and stirring and transporting the developer. Detecting means for detecting the concentration of the developer stored in the storage means; and loading the developer into the storage means via the input port, wherein the developer is injected into the storage means using the detection means. Control means for monitoring the amount of the developer.

According to the developing device of the present invention, the control means monitors the amount of the developer in the storage means via the detecting means after the start of the supply of the developer. In addition, it is characterized in that it is determined that the supply of the developer has been completed on condition that the amount of the developer in the storage means is stabilized at a predetermined value.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the developing device is disposed so as to face an image carrier of the image forming apparatus.
Agitating and transporting the developer to supply the image carrier, to develop the latent image formed on the image carrier,
A storage unit having a charging port for charging the developer, and a discharge port for discharging the developer, and storing the developer; and a stirring / transporting unit disposed in the storage unit and stirring and transporting the developer. Wherein a predetermined amount of the developer is stored in advance in the storage unit into which the developer is first supplied through the input port.

Further, according to the developing device of the present invention, the amount of the developer stored in the storage means in advance is determined after discharging the developer through the discharge port. It is characterized in that the amount is set to be substantially the same as the amount of the developer remaining in the storage means without being removed.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a developing device 1 of the present invention, together with its control system block. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the developing device 1.

The developing device 1 is mounted on an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer, and supplies a developer to an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum by a well-known electrophotographic process to develop the electrostatic latent image. . The developer image formed on the drum surface is transferred and fixed on recording paper fed by a paper feeding mechanism (not shown), and an image is output on the recording paper.

The developing device 1 has an axis extending substantially parallel to the rotation axis of the photosensitive drum 10 and a drum surface 10a.
A developing sleeve 2 as a developer carrier, which is disposed opposite to the developing sleeve 2 via a predetermined gap, a fixed magnet 4 disposed in the developing sleeve 2, an upper auger 3 disposed adjacent to the developing sleeve 2, and a lower auger 3. An auger 5 and a housing 6 (housing means) housing the developing sleeve 2, the fixed magnet 4, and the upper and lower augers 3 and 5 are provided. Developing sleeve 2, and upper and lower augers 3, 5
Is extended from the front side to the rear side of the apparatus, and is driven by a motor 21 connected to the CPU 20 of the developing device 1.

The housing 6 has an inlet 6a for replenishing new developer and toner and an outlet 6b for discharging old developer which has reached the end of its useful life. Further, a shutter 11 for opening and closing the outlet 6b is provided at the outlet 6b, and a shutter opening / closing mechanism 22 connected to the CPU 20 is connected to the shutter 11. Further, a toner sensor 12 for detecting the toner concentration of the developer accommodated in the housing 6 is attached near the outlet 6b. The toner sensor 12
CP via an amplifier 23 and an A / D converter 24
Connected to U20.

The developing sleeve 2 is formed in a rotatable cylindrical shape, a part of the outer peripheral surface thereof is exposed from the housing 6 toward the photosensitive drum 10, and a plurality of magnets having different magnetisms are set inside the developing sleeve. A combined fixed magnet 4 is provided. The fixed magnet 4 disposed in the developing sleeve 2 is arranged near the outer peripheral surface of the developing sleeve 2 and along the rotation direction of the developing sleeve 2 (the direction of arrow b), the transport start pole N2, the transport pole S1, and the developer supply pole N1. , A transport pole S2 and a peeling pole N3.

Around the developing sleeve 2, a lower auger 5 for recovering the developer from the developing sleeve 2, an upper auger 3 for supplying the developer on the outer peripheral surface of the developing sleeve 2, and a predetermined distance from the outer peripheral surface of the developing sleeve 2. The doctor blades 8 each having a distal end disposed through the gap are arranged in the rotation direction of the developing sleeve 2 in order. Photoconductor drum 1
0, developing sleeve 2, upper auger 3, and lower auger 5
Are rotated in the directions of arrows a, b, c and d, respectively.

The photosensitive drum 10 is arranged to face the developer supply pole N1 in the developing sleeve 2, the lower auger 5 is arranged to face the peeling pole N3 in the developing sleeve 2, and the upper auger 3 is 2, the doctor blade 8 is disposed at a substantially intermediate position between the transport start pole N2 and the transport pole S1. The upper auger 3 and the lower auger 5 have a length that exceeds the developing sleeve 2.

Between the upper auger 3 and the lower auger 5, there is provided a partition wall 7 for partitioning the upper auger 3 and defining a transport path of the developer transported in the housing 6. The partition 7 is
It extends integrally from the housing 6, and its tip is curled along the upper auger 3. The partition wall 7 is formed with two holes 7a and 7b penetrating the upper auger 3 and the lower auger 5 so as to communicate with each other. Hole 7 for dropping developer from upper auger 3 above partition 7 to lower auger 5
a is formed on the partition 7 on the front side of the apparatus, and the lower auger 5
Hole 7 for pushing up the developer from the upper auger 3
b is formed on the partition 7 on the rear side of the device.

In the present embodiment, a two-component developer is used in which a spherical powder carrier having magnetism and a toner having no magnetism are frictionally charged by stirring and are electrostatically attracted to each other. Then, the toner concentration of the developer is monitored by the CPU 20 via the toner sensor 12, and the amount of toner consumed by the development is supplied through the input port 6a so that the toner concentration of the developer is always within a certain range. It is circulated and used while replenishing.

FIG. 3 is a graph showing the relationship between the toner concentration of the developer and the sensor output of the toner sensor 12. The toner sensor 12 detects the toner concentration of the developer by detecting the amount (magnetic permeability) of the carrier present near the sensor. That is, the predetermined control voltage Vcont is supplied to the toner sensor 12 via the CPU 20.
Is input, and a voltage Vm corresponding to the amount of carriers present is output.

When the sensor output Vm is higher than a preset reference voltage VA, it is determined that the amount of carriers near the sensor is larger than the reference, and it is determined that the toner density has decreased, and the input port 6a Is supplied via the. On the other hand, when the sensor output Vm is smaller than the reference voltage VA, it is determined that the amount of the carrier present is relatively small, so that it is determined that the toner density has increased, and the supply of the high-density toner is stopped. As described above, in adjusting the toner density, the sensor output Vm of the toner sensor 12 is monitored and the high-density toner is replenished as necessary. Therefore, the sensor output is actually within the range of ΔVB with respect to the reference voltage VA. Is transitioned.

Further, since the toner density of the initial developer newly input through the input port 6a is set to the reference density in advance, the toner density is output from the toner sensor 12 when the toner density of the initial developer is detected. Control voltage V so that the sensor output Vm is close to the reference voltage VA.
Set cont (input as initial value).

Next, the developing device 1 constructed as described above
The flow of the developer in the inside will be described.

The both ends in the axial direction of the lower auger 5 are respectively
A transfer start end on the front side that extends beyond the axial length of the developing sleeve 2 and starts the transfer of the developer;
The transfer end end on the rear side close to b is formed. Further, both ends in the axial direction where the upper auger 3 exceeds the length of the developing sleeve 2 are a rear transfer start end facing the transfer end end of the lower auger 5 and a front transfer end facing the transfer start end of the lower auger 5. Side forming the transfer end. That is, the directions of transport of the developer by the augers 3 and 5 are opposite to each other.

The developer circulated in the housing 6 includes
Based on the sensor output of the toner sensor 12 described above, toner is replenished as needed through the inlet 6a, and the developer is stirred and mixed.

The developer replenished with the toner is supplied to the lower auger 5 through the hole 7a on the front side, and is conveyed by the rotation of the lower auger 5 from the conveyance start end of the lower auger 5 to the conveyance end end. It is sufficiently stirred and mixed and charged.

The developer transported to the transport end of the lower auger 5 is pushed upward toward the transport start end of the upper auger 3 through the rear hole 7b by its own transport pressure. In other words, the developer conveyed by the rotation of the lower auger 5 forms a developer pool filled with the developer near the transport end end of the lower auger 5, and the developer pool is further raised by the pressure of the transported developer. And the developer is supplied to the transport start end of the upper auger 3.

The developer pushed up to the transport start end of the upper auger 3 is transported by the rotation of the upper auger 3 from the transport start end of the upper auger 3 to the transport end end. At this time, a part of the developer being conveyed is transferred to the outer peripheral surface of the developing sleeve 2 by the upper auger 3.

The developer not transferred from the upper auger 3 to the developing sleeve 2 is transported to the transport end of the upper auger 3 as it is, and after the toner density is adjusted, the developer is transferred to the lower auger 5 through the hole 7a on the front side. It is dropped toward the transport start end.

On the other hand, the developer supplied from the upper auger 3 to the outer peripheral surface of the developing sleeve 2 is applied to the outer peripheral surface of the developing sleeve 2 by the influence of the magnetic field of the transport start pole N2 provided in the developing sleeve 2. Magnetically coupled. The developer magnetically coupled to the outer peripheral surface of the developing sleeve 2 is moved by the rotation of the developing sleeve 2 to a position where the doctor blade 8 is disposed to face.

The developer moved to the position of the doctor blade 8 passes through the doctor blade 8 while forming a magnetic chain under the influence of the magnetic field generated by the transport start pole N2 and the adjacent transport pole S1. Then, the magnetic chain mechanically collides with the doctor blade 8,
The magnetic chain passed through the doctor blade 8 is cut into appropriate lengths, and a magnetic brush is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the developing sleeve 2. The magnetic brush thus formed is
The developer is supplied to the developer supply pole N1 by the rotation of the developing sleeve 2 and is supplied to a development area facing the photosensitive drum 10 by a magnetic field generated by the developer supply pole N1. In this way, by forming a magnetic brush cut to a suitable length and supplying the developer onto the outer peripheral surface 10a of the photosensitive drum 10, an electrostatic latent image is formed with an appropriate amount of the developer. Can be developed.

As described above, the developer having passed through the developing area and having consumed the toner is moved to the peeling pole N3 via the transport pole S2 by the rotation of the developing sleeve 2, and is moved between the peeling pole N3 and the transport start pole N2. Due to the interruption of the magnetic field, the developing sleeve 2 is separated from the outer peripheral surface. The developer having a low toner concentration and peeled off from the developing sleeve 2 is collected by the lower auger 5 and reused.

It is known that, as described above, a two-component developer used while being circulated while adjusting the toner concentration has its developer characteristics deteriorated with time according to the frequency of use. Therefore, the two-component developer is replaced with a new developer when the number of sheets passed through the apparatus reaches a predetermined number, for example, 30K (kilo) sheets.

Hereinafter, the developer which has reached the end of its service life is discharged to the discharge port 6.
The control operation of the CPU 20 when discharging via b will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, when the number of sheets passed through the developing device 1 reaches 30K (step 1; Yes), the service life of the developer is determined, and the developing device 1 is stopped (step 2). In this state, the press of an unillustrated "developer automatic discharge button" for selecting the "developer automatic discharge mode" for automatically discharging the developer is awaited (step 3). The shutter 11b is opened (step 4).

Simultaneously with the opening of the shutter 11, the motor 21 of the developing device 1 for rotating the developing sleeve 2, the upper auger 3, and the lower auger 5 is driven (step 5), and the time t1 has elapsed since the motor 21 was driven. Is awaited (step 6). At this time, the developer in the housing 6 is conveyed while being stirred, and is discharged out of the apparatus through the discharge port 6b. The time t1 is set to such a time that the developing device 1 is driven and the developer in the housing is substantially discharged.

When the time t1 has elapsed since the motor 21 was driven (step 6; Yes), the toner sensor 12
Then, the amount of the developer remaining in the housing 6 is checked (step 7). At this time, the analog signal output from the toner sensor 12 is amplified to a predetermined level via the amplifier 23, is converted into a digital signal via the A / D converter 24, and is input to the CPU 20.

At this time, if the developer in the housing 6 has been almost completely discharged, there is almost no developer (carrier) near the toner sensor 12, so that the sensor when the control voltage Vcont is applied is applied. The output Vm becomes approximately 0V. However, since the toner sensor 12 is originally intended to detect the toner concentration of the developer, the above-described sensitivity near the reference voltage VA is guaranteed, but the sensitivity near the sensor output of 0 V is guaranteed. Not. Further, even if the shutter 11 is opened and the developing device 1 is driven, all the developer in the housing 6 cannot be completely discharged.
For this reason, the sensor output when the developer in the housing 6 is normally discharged has a variation as shown by a region F in FIG. 3, and the actual sensor output is in the range of ΔV0.

Therefore, when the sensor output is checked at step 7 and the sensor output Vm is equal to or less than ΔV0 (step 8; Yes), it is determined that most of the developer in the housing 6 has been discharged, and the discharge port The shutter 11 of 6b is closed, and the operation of discharging the developer is ended (step 9). On the other hand, as a result of the check in step 7, when it is determined in step 8 that the sensor output Vm exceeds ΔV0 (step 8; No), a warning for notifying the discharge failure is provided via a display unit (not shown). Is displayed (step 10).

As described above, when the developer is discharged, the sensor output of the toner sensor 12 is monitored to detect the amount of the developer remaining in the housing 6, thereby visually checking the state of the discharged developer. It is possible to determine that the developer has been normally discharged without performing. For this reason, it is possible to prevent a problem that new developer is supplied while the discharge of the developer is incomplete, and the amount of the developer in the housing 6 can always be controlled to an appropriate amount.

Next, the control operation by the CPU 20 when refilling the housing 6 through the inlet 6a with the initial developer at the time of setting the image forming apparatus or at the time of replacement due to the life of the developer will be described. This will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 5 and the graph of FIG.

First, a predetermined developer cartridge containing the developer to be replenished is mounted on the inlet 6a by the user (step 1), and the "developer automatic replenishment mode" for automatically replenishing the developer is selected. Press of an unillustrated "developer automatic supply button" (step 2).

When the automatic developer supply button is pressed (Step 2; Yes), the motor 21 of the developing device 1 for rotating the developing sleeve 2, the upper auger 3, and the lower auger 5 is driven (Step 3). The developer in the developer cartridge is gradually supplied into the housing 6.

FIG. 6 is a graph showing the change over time of the sensor output of the toner sensor 12 from the start of the supply of the developer to the end of the operation. According to this, as shown as a region a in the figure, it can be seen that the sensor output gradually increases for about 20 seconds after the replenishment of the developer is started.

After the replenishment of the developer is started,
At a predetermined time interval set in advance, the sensor output of the toner sensor 12 is checked (step 4).
As shown by the middle area b, for example, the reference voltage VA is successively five times.
(Step 5; Yes), it is determined that the toner concentration is stable, and that the amount of the supplied developer is stable.

On the other hand, as a result of the determination in step 5, when the sensor output is not stabilized to the reference voltage VA five consecutive times (step 5; No), after a standby time of 10 seconds, it is stabilized five consecutive times. The check of the sensor output by the toner sensor 12 is continued until the operation is completed.

As shown by the area b in FIG. 6, when the sensor output stabilizes five times in a row, it is determined that the supply of the developer has been completed, and the developer in the housing 6 is sufficiently leveled. And the motor 21 is driven for an additional 2 minutes to
The developer is further stirred for 2 minutes as shown by (step 6).

Thereafter, as shown by a region d in FIG. 6, the control voltage Vcont input to the toner sensor 12 is adjusted so that the sensor output Vm is adjusted to the reference voltage VA.
The sensor output is automatically adjusted (Step 7).

As described above, when the developer is replenished, the toner sensor 12 is monitored to determine whether or not the replenishing operation is performed well without checking the state of the replenished developer. be able to. As a result, it is possible to prevent an inconvenience that the apparatus is operated to output an image in a state where the developer supply operation is not performed normally, and the lack of the developer causes image omission.

Next, a developing device 1 'according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

As in the above-described embodiment, when a two-component developer that is used while circulating while supplying toner is used,
It is known that the developer deteriorates with time. Therefore, when a two-component developer is used, it is necessary to periodically replace the developer.

However, the old developer which has reached the end of its service life is:
All of the developer cannot be completely discharged from the developing device 1 by being attracted to the developing sleeve 2 or adhered to each member in the housing 6. For this reason, when the developer is replaced, a small amount of the developer remains in the housing 6, and the developer must be replenished by mounting a developer cartridge having a small amount of developer.

On the other hand, in the conventional apparatus, since there is no developer in the housing 6 of the developing device 1 at the time of setting the image forming apparatus, it is necessary to supply a larger amount of the developer than when replacing the developer. . For this reason, conventionally, two types of developer cartridges are provided, which are different in the amount of the stored developer, when the developer is replaced and when the apparatus is set.

In the developing device 1 'of the present embodiment, in order to solve the above-mentioned problem, when setting the image forming apparatus,
A predetermined amount of the initial developer D was previously placed in the housing 6 of the developing device 1 '.

For this reason, the developing device 1 'of this embodiment
A hole 30 for replenishing the initial developer is formed in a portion of the housing 6 close to the lower auger 5, and a predetermined amount of the initial developer is replenished through the hole 30 when setting the apparatus. The amount of the initial developer is set to be substantially the same as the amount of the developer remaining in the housing 6 when the developer is replaced. Further, a lid 32 is attached to the hole 30.

For example, the amount of the developer supplied to the housing 6 at the time of setting the image forming apparatus is 350 g, and the amount of the developer which will remain in the housing 6 when the developer which has reached the end of its useful life is discharged is discharged. Assuming that the amount is 50 g, one kind of developer cartridge containing 300 g may be prepared, and 50 g of the initial developer may be put through the hole 30 at the time of setting the apparatus.

As described above, by setting a predetermined amount of the initial developer in the developing device at the time of setting the device, it is not necessary to manage a plurality of types of developer cartridges. Can be reduced. Further, since it is not necessary to prepare a plurality of types of developer cartridges, it is possible to prevent a problem that cartridges having different amounts of developer are erroneously mounted.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be variously modified within the scope of the present invention.

[0066]

As described above, the developing device of the present invention has the above-described configuration and operation.
The amount of developer contained in the apparatus can be always stabilized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a developing device according to an embodiment of the present invention, together with blocks of a control system thereof.

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view showing the developing device of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a graph illustrating characteristics of a toner sensor used in the developing device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining a control operation when discharging a developer from the developing device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a control operation when replenishing a developer to the developing device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a change in sensor output from the start of replenishment of the developer to the automatic adjustment of the sensor output.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a developing device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Developing device, 2 ... Developing sleeve, 3 ... Upper auger, 4 ... Fixed magnet, 5 ... Lower auger, 6 ... Housing, 6a ... Input port, 6b ... Discharge port, 7 ... Partition wall, 7a, 7b ... Hole, 8 ... Doctor blade, 10 ... Photoconductor drum, 11 ... Shutter, 12 ... Toner sensor, 20 ... CPU, 21 ... Motor, 22 ... Shutter opening / closing mechanism, 23 ... Amplifier, 24 ... A / D converter.

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Yoshiyuki Fukuda 70 Yanagicho, Saiwai-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa F-term (reference) 2H077 AA03 AA05 AA09 AA37 AB02 AB14 AB18 AB22 AC02 AC12 AC16 AD02 AD06 AD13 AD18 AD23 AD31 AE01 BA02 BA03 BA07 DA10 DA15 DA42 DA52 DA83 DB02 EA03 GA03

Claims (6)

[Claims] A developing device that is arranged to face the image carrier of the image forming apparatus, agitates and conveys the developer, supplies the developer to the image carrier, and develops a latent image formed on the image carrier. A storage means for storing the developer, the storage means having an input port for charging the developer and an output port for discharging the developer, and a stirring / conveying means arranged in the storage means for stirring and conveying the developer. Means, detecting means for detecting the concentration of the developer contained in the containing means, and when the developer contained in the containing means is discharged through the outlet, the detecting means Control means for monitoring the amount of developer remaining in the storage means. 2. The control means detects the amount of developer remaining in the storage means via the detection means at a point in time when a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the discharge of the developer. 2. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein when the amount of the developer exceeds a predetermined value, a warning for notifying the discharge failure is issued. 3. A developing device which is arranged to face an image carrier of an image forming apparatus, and which agitates and conveys a developer to supply the developer to the image carrier, thereby developing a latent image formed on the image carrier. A storage means for storing the developer, the storage means having an input port for charging the developer and an output port for discharging the developer, and a stirring / conveying means arranged in the storage means for stirring and conveying the developer. Means, a detecting means for detecting the concentration of the developer stored in the storage means, and when the developer is charged into the storage means via the input port, the detection means is used to store the developer in the storage means. Control means for monitoring the amount of the supplied developer, a developing device comprising: 4. The control means monitors the amount of developer in the storage means via the detection means after the start of the supply of the developer, and controls the amount of developer in the storage means to a predetermined amount. 4. The developing device according to claim 3, wherein it is determined that the supply of the developer is completed on condition that the value is stabilized. 5. A developing device arranged to face an image carrier of an image forming apparatus, agitating and transporting a developer, supplying the developer to the image carrier, and developing a latent image formed on the image carrier. A storage means for storing the developer, the storage means having an input port for charging the developer and an output port for discharging the developer, and a stirring / conveying means arranged in the storage means for stirring and conveying the developer. A developing device, wherein a predetermined amount of the developer is stored in advance in the storage unit into which the developer is supplied first through the input port. 6. An amount of the developer previously stored in the storage means is substantially the same as an amount of the developer which cannot be completely discharged after the developer is discharged through the discharge port and remains in the storage means. The developing device according to claim 5, wherein the amount is set to an amount.