Developing device

Abstract

Abstract PURPOSE:To reduce a cost by detecting the remaining quantity of a developer in a container by allowing a light beam to transmit through from the outside of the container, so that even at a non-returnable container in which the developer is contained a remaining quantity detecting means of the developer is not thrown away. CONSTITUTION:A developer T left on a developing roller which has ended a development can be scraped down by the scraping roller 34. A light emitting part 39A and light receiving part 39B of an optical sensor being a detecting means 38 for detecting the existence of the developer detect the remaining quantity of the developer in a container 32 by allowing a light beam to transmit through the inside of a container 32 through a window part 32a consisting of a light transmissive transparent member formed on the bottom face corresponding to a developer remaining quantity detecting part of the container 32. The window part 32a is always brought to cleaning by the cleaning action of a cleaning member, which follows the rotation of a replenishing plate 36 placed on the upper part in the container 32, it is prevented that a light beam of the optical sensor 38 is shut off by the developer T adhering to the window part 32a, and whether a stable developer exists or not can be exactly detected.

Inventors

• 👤 Kiyoshi Tomimori
• 👤 富森　清
• 👤 Tomoyuki Asada
• 👤 浅田　智幸
• 👤 Hironobu Machida
• 👤 町田　弘信

Bibliographic Details