Toner storage device

Abstract

Abstract PURPOSE:To detect and display the quantity of a stored toner accurately without error by providing a toner floating preventing member near a photoelectric detecting member which detects the quantity of the stored toner. CONSTITUTION:A waste toner T removed from the surface of a photosensitive drum by a cleaning device is carried into a toner storage device 10 by a screw 9 and is dropped naturally into an inside vessel 11 from an aperture 13 provided on an outside vessel 12 through an aperture 18 on the upper face of the inside vessel. When the capacity of the toner in the inside vessel 11 reaches a certain level, the light from a light emitting element 15 is intercepted by the toner and does not reach a photodetector 16, and it is detected that the storage capacity of the toner T exceeds the certain level, and inhibition of print operation, display of warning on an operation panel, etc. are performed. Since a magnet 17 is arranged near the wall face of the inside vessel which the light emttting element 15 and the photodetector 16 face, the floating toner is attracted to the magnet 17 and is prevented from being stuck to the inside wall face of the inside vessel which the light emitting element 15 and the photodetector 16 face.

Inventors

• 👤 Masaaki Yanagi
• 👤 正明 柳
• 👤 Kazuo Kashiwagi
• 👤 柏木　和夫
• 👤 Yoshihiro Saito
• 👤 義広 斉藤

Bibliographic Details