JP2012189964A - Image forming apparatus, image forming method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the detecting accuracy of a residual amount of toner to be stored in a developing unit.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus includes: a development roller 22 that is a developer carrier carrying a developer including a toner and being used for development; a developer storage chamber 201 for storing the developer to be supplied to the developer roller 22; a screw 206 disposed in the developer storage chamber 201 and rotating about a shaft part 208 to stir and carry the developer; a light emitting part 212 provided projecting in the radial direction of the shaft part 208, rotating about the shaft part 208, and emitting the light to the interior of the developer storage chamber 201; and a light receiving part 216 provided in the developer storage chamber 201 above a position in which the developer is stored, and receiving the light emitted from a light emitting window 212a to the interior of the developer storage chamber 201. The image forming apparatus specifies the amount of the developer stored in the developer storage chamber 201 at a rotation period of the shaft part 208 according to a time when the light receiving part 216 receives the light, and supplies the developer storage chamber 201 with the developer according to the specified amount of the developer.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, an image forming method, and a program.

  In the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, by gradually replenishing the developer from the developer box attached to the developer, and maintaining the amount of toner accommodated in the developer within a predetermined range, It is possible to improve background contamination due to excessive toner from the developing device.

  By the way, in order to maintain the amount of toner in the developing device within a predetermined range, the amount of toner in the developing device must not exceed a preset upper limit and not lower than a preset lower limit. Need to ensure. Therefore, in order to maintain the amount of toner in the developing device within a predetermined range with higher accuracy, it is desirable to be able to detect a continuous change in the amount of toner in the developing device.

  Therefore, in Patent Document 1, the developing device includes a light emitting portion that emits light and a light receiving portion that receives light emitted from the light emitting portion, and the inside of the developing device is agitated by toner contained in the developing device. The remaining amount of toner stored in the developing device is detected from the length of time during which the toner splashed or lifted by the toner falls between the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion and light reception is blocked. Thus, a technique for continuously detecting the remaining amount of toner in the developing device with a small number of sensors is disclosed.

  However, according to the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, the remaining amount of toner in the developing device is detected while splashing up the toner in the developing device. As a result, there is a problem that it is difficult to increase the detection accuracy of the remaining amount of toner.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and provides an image forming apparatus, an image forming method, and a program capable of improving the detection accuracy of the remaining amount of toner stored in a developing device. Objective.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the present invention carries a developer containing a developer containing toner, and a developer carrying member used for development, and a developer containing the developer supplied to the developer carrying member. A developer storage chamber; a screw portion that is disposed in the developer storage chamber and that stirs and conveys the developer by rotating about the shaft portion; and a shaft portion that protrudes in a radial direction of the shaft portion. And a light emitting portion that emits light in the developer accommodating chamber, and a position above the position where the developer is accommodated in the developer accommodating chamber. The light emitting portion is provided in the developer accommodating chamber from the light emitting portion. A light-receiving unit that receives the emitted light, and a specifying unit that specifies the amount of developer accommodated in the developer-accommodating chamber according to the time when light is received by the light-receiving unit in the rotation period of the shaft portion; According to the amount of developer specified above Characterized in that it and a replenishing means for replenishing the developer to the developer chamber Te.

  The present invention also provides a developer carrying member for carrying a developer containing toner and used for development, a developer containing chamber for containing the developer supplied to the developer carrying member, and a developer containing chamber disposed in the developer containing chamber. A screw portion that stirs and conveys the developer by rotating around the shaft portion, and projects in the radial direction of the shaft portion, and rotates around the shaft portion, and the developer containing chamber. A light emitting unit that emits light, and a light receiving unit that is provided above a position where the developer is accommodated in the developer accommodating chamber and that receives light emitted from the light emitting unit into the developer accommodating chamber. An image forming method executed by an image forming apparatus provided, wherein the image forming apparatus includes a control unit, and the control unit receives light by the light receiving unit during a rotation period of the shaft unit. Depending on the time taken And specifying the amount of developer contained in the vessel chamber, replenishing means, characterized in that and a step of supplying a developer to said developer chamber according to the amount of the specified developer.

  The present invention further includes a developer carrying member for carrying a developer containing toner and used for development, a developer containing chamber for containing the developer supplied to the developer carrying member, and a developer containing chamber disposed in the developer containing chamber. A screw portion that stirs and conveys the developer by rotating around the shaft portion, and projects in the radial direction of the shaft portion, and rotates around the shaft portion, and the developer containing chamber. A light emitting unit that emits light, and a light receiving unit that is provided above a position where the developer is accommodated in the developer accommodating chamber and that receives light emitted from the light emitting unit into the developer accommodating chamber. A computer that controls the image forming apparatus provided with a specifying unit that specifies an amount of developer accommodated in the developer accommodating chamber according to a time when light is received by the light receiving unit in a rotation period of the shaft; The specified development And replenishing means for replenishing the developer to the developer chamber according to the amount of, to function as a.

  According to the present invention, since the remaining amount of toner can be detected without being influenced by how the toner jumps up, the detection accuracy of the remaining amount of toner can be improved.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a color laser printer according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a front sectional view and a side sectional view of the developing unit. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a light emitting unit provided in the developing unit. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the operation of specifying the remaining amount of developer when the remaining amount of developer in the developer storage chamber is large. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the operation of specifying the remaining amount of developer when the remaining amount of developer in the developer containing chamber is small. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a screw unit and a light emitting unit included in the developing unit. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a light emitting unit provided in the developing unit.

  Exemplary embodiments of an image forming apparatus, an image forming method, and a program according to the present invention are explained in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the present embodiment, the image forming apparatus, the image forming method, and the program according to the present invention will be described with reference to an example in which the image forming apparatus, the image forming method, and the program are applied to a color laser printer. The present invention can be applied to any image forming apparatus such as a multifunction machine, a copier, a scanner device, and a facsimile machine having at least two functions.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a color laser printer according to the present embodiment. The color laser printer according to this embodiment is a color laser printer provided with an intermediate transfer member.

  The color laser printer includes a photosensitive belt 1 as an image carrier, a charger 2 around it, a writing unit 3 that performs laser irradiation as an image forming unit, and a four-color developing unit 4 (4M, 4C, 4Y, 4BK). ), A photoconductor cleaning means 5 and a charge eliminating lamp 6 are arranged.

  Further, the color laser printer has an intermediate transfer belt 7 for intermediately holding an image latent image on the photosensitive belt 1, and is disposed around the intermediate transfer belt 7 so as to face the intermediate transfer belt 7. A secondary transfer roller 8 for transferring an image to a sheet and a cleaning roller 9 for cleaning the intermediate transfer belt 7 are arranged. A fixing unit 10 for fixing the toner image on the paper and a paper feed tray 11 for storing the paper are provided.

  In the color laser printer, the photosensitive belt 1 is uniformly charged by the charger 2, a laser beam is irradiated from the writing unit 3, a latent image is written on the photosensitive belt 1, and the developing unit 4 is applied to the photosensitive belt 1. A toner image is obtained by contact. The toner image formed on the photosensitive belt 1 is transferred again onto the intermediate transfer belt 7. Thereafter, the waste toner on the photosensitive belt 1 is removed by the photosensitive member cleaning means 5, and is discharged by LED irradiation by the neutralizing lamp 6, thereby forming an image of one color on the photosensitive member. Exit.

  In the case of the full color mode, four color images are formed for four rounds, and the toner images are superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt 7 at the same timing, and then the paper is fed from the paper feed tray 11 to the intermediate color. A toner image is transferred onto the paper by applying a bias during conveyance at the junction between the transfer belt 7 and the secondary transfer roller 8. Thereafter, the sheet on which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed to the fixing unit 10 and passes through the nip between the heating roller and the pressure roller in the fixing unit 10 to fix the unfixed toner image, and is then fed to the paper discharge unit. The paper is ejected.

  The developing unit 4 carries a developer containing toner supplied from a developer storage chamber 201 (see FIG. 2) via a supply roller 23 (see FIG. 2), and the latent image written on the photosensitive belt 1 is supported. A developing roller 22 which is a developer carrier used for development is provided. Since the developing unit 4 needs to contact the sleeve (developing roller 22) with the surface of the photosensitive belt only when developing on the photosensitive belt 1, a contact / separation mechanism is provided. When development is not performed, each developing unit 4M, 4C, 4Y, 4BK is pushed to the left side of the main body and positioned away from the photosensitive belt 1 by the action of a compression spring (not shown) of the main body. . When the drive is transmitted by the developing clutch, the developing unit 4 is drawn toward the photosensitive belt 1 by meshing of a gear (not shown), and the developing roller 22 contacts the photosensitive belt 1 to perform development.

  FIG. 2 is a front sectional view and a side sectional view of the developing unit. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a light emitting unit provided in the developing unit. The developing unit 4 has a developer storage chamber 201 that stores the developer supplied to the developing roller 22. The developer storage chamber 201 is provided with a developer supply port 202 through which the developer is supplied into the developer storage chamber 201. A developer replenishing device 204 for replenishing the developer gradually from the developer box 203 into the developer storage chamber 201 is attached to the developer replenishing port 202. The developer supply device 204 is controlled by a control device 219, which will be described later, and replenishes the developer into the developer storage chamber 201 in accordance with the remaining amount of the developer.

  The developer storage chamber 201 is provided with a threshold 205 that divides the developer storage chamber 201 into two upper and lower regions. Further, the developer storage chamber 201 is provided in two upper and lower areas divided by the threshold 205 and is already stored in the developer storage chamber 201 with the developer replenished from the developer supply port 202. Screw portions 206 and 207 for mixing the developer are provided.

  The screw portions 206 and 207 agitate the developer in the developer storage chamber 201 by rotating around shaft portions 208 and 209 having portions protruding on the side surfaces of the developer storage chamber 201, and are denoted by reference numeral 210. The developer is conveyed in the direction of the arrow. The shaft portions 208 and 209 have portions 208 a and 209 a protruding on one side surface of the developer storage chamber 201. Gears 208c and 209c for transmitting the driving force from the motor 211 to the shaft portions 208 and 209 via the gear 211a attached to the motor 211 are attached to the portions 208a and 209a.

  Further, of the screw portions 206 and 207 provided in the developer storage chamber 201, the shaft portion 208 of the screw portion 206 provided in the upper region divided by the threshold 205 has a radial direction of the shaft portion 208. A light emitting portion 212 that emits light is provided in the developer storage chamber 201. The light emitting unit 212 is provided with a light emitting window 212 a at the tip thereof for emitting light guided through a light guide path 213 described later into the developer accommodating chamber 201. The light emission window 212a is connected to a shaft portion 208 and a light guide path 213 (for example, a prism or an optical fiber) incorporated in the light emission portion 212. The light guide 213 rotates integrally with the shaft portion 208 and the light emitting portion 212.

  Further, the shaft portion 208 has a portion 208b that protrudes from the side surface of the developer storage chamber 201 on the side opposite to the portion 208a. The portion 208b is rotatably fitted to a cover 214 that does not rotate integrally with the shaft portion 208. The cover 214 has a light source 215 such as an LED (Light Emitting Diode) therein. The light source 215 is controlled to be turned on and off by a control device 219 described later. The light emitting unit 212 emits the light guided from the light source 215 by the light guide path 213 into the developer accommodating chamber 201 through the light emitting window 212a.

  The developer accommodating chamber 201 is shielded from the outside of the developing unit 4, and a light receiving unit 216 that receives light emitted from the light emitting unit 212 is provided above the screw unit 206. The light receiving unit 216 receives the light emitted from the light emitting unit 212 and notifies the control device 219, which will be described later, of a signal indicating that the light has been received, and the light received by the light emitting unit 212. A light receiving window 216b for guiding to 216a is provided.

  The light emitting unit 212 only needs to illuminate the developer storage chamber 201 to some extent, and does not need to illuminate the entire developer storage chamber 201. Further, the light receiving unit 216 does not need to be provided at a position facing the light emitting unit 212 when the light emitting unit 212 is positioned above the shaft unit 208 by the rotation of the shaft unit 208, and is emitted from the light emitting unit 212. It suffices if it is provided within a range where it can receive light.

  Further, the light emitting unit 212 and the light receiving unit 216 are provided in a position separated from the developer supply port 202 in the developer storage chamber 201. Thus, while the developer is being replenished into the developer storage chamber 201 from the developer replenishment port 202, the light emitted from the light emitting unit 212 is blocked by the splashing of the developer and the like, and the light receiving unit 216 It can be prevented that light cannot be received.

  In addition, the shaft portion 208 is provided to protrude in the radial direction of the shaft portion 208 at a position opposite to the position where the light emitting portion 212 is provided, and rotates around the shaft portion 208 and rotates above the shaft portion 208. In this case, it has a light receiving portion cleaning plate 217 that touches the light receiving window 216b and cleans the developer attached to the light receiving window 216b. As a result, when the light emitting unit 212 rotates below the shaft portion 208, the light receiving unit cleaning plate 217 can be brought into contact with the light receiving window 216b, so that the light receiving unit cleaning plate 217 touches the light receiving window 216b to emit light. It can be prevented that the light emitted from the unit 212 is incident on the light receiving unit 216, and the light reception by the light receiving unit 216 can be reduced.

  A light emitting unit cleaning plate 218 that touches the light emitting unit 212 and cleans the developer attached to the light emitting unit 212 when the light emitting unit 212 rotates below the shaft unit 208 is provided below the shaft unit 208. ing. In the present embodiment, the light emitting portion cleaning plate 218 is fixed above the threshold 205 and cleans the developer attached to the light emitting portion 212 when the light emitting portion 212 rotates below the shaft portion 208. Thereby, while the light emitted from the light emitting unit 212 is received by the light receiving unit 216, the light emitting unit 212 is cleaned by the light emitting unit cleaning plate 218, and the light emitted from the light emitting unit 212 is blocked. It is possible to reduce the influence of light reception by the light receiving unit 216.

  In addition, when the adhesion of the developer to the light emitting window 212a is sufficiently suppressed due to friction between the light emitting window 212a and the developer accompanying the rotation of the light emitting unit 212, the light emitting unit cleaning plate 218 may not be provided.

  The control device 219 changes the remaining amount of the developer stored in the developer storage chamber 201 according to the time when the notification from the light receiving unit 216 (notification that the light emitted from the light emitting unit 212 is received) is received. Specify the amount. Then, the control device 219 controls the developer supply device 204 to supply the developer into the developer storage chamber 201 according to the specified remaining amount of developer.

  Further, the controller 219 replenishes the developer so that the remaining amount of the developer in the developer accommodating chamber 201 becomes a predetermined amount again within a predetermined time after the developer is replenished in the developer accommodating chamber 201. When the developer 204 is replenished in the developer storage chamber 201 by controlling the apparatus 204, the amount of the developer in the developer box 203 is running out, so that the display panel 220 or the display unit of a PC (Personal Computer) 221 is displayed. On the other hand, a message is displayed to notify that the amount of developer stored in the developer storage chamber 201 is small.

  Next, an operation for specifying the remaining amount of developer in the developer storage chamber 201 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the operation of specifying the remaining amount of developer when the remaining amount of developer in the developer storage chamber is large. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the operation of specifying the remaining amount of developer when the remaining amount of developer in the developer containing chamber is small.

  When the screw portions 206 and 207 which are toner circulation mechanisms in the developer storage chamber 201 operate and the shaft portion 208 starts to rotate, the light emitting portion 212 rotates around the shaft portion 208 as the shaft portion 208 rotates. The light receiving sensor 216 a emits light from the light emitting unit 212 into the developer accommodating chamber 201 while the light emitting unit 212 appears on the developer during the rotation period in which the light emitting unit 212 rotates around the shaft unit 208. The received light is received, and a signal indicating that the light has been received is output to the control device 219 (t1).

  When the light emitting unit 212 is moved by the rotation of the shaft unit 208 and sinks into the developer, the light emitted from the light emitting unit 212 is blocked by the developer and does not reach the light receiving unit 216, and the light receiving sensor 216a is controlled. The output of the signal to the device 219 is stopped (t2). When the output of the signal from the light receiving sensor 216a to the control device 219 is stopped and the light emitting part 212 is moved directly below the shaft part 208, the light emitting part cleaning plate 218 touches the light emitting window 212a of the light emitting part 212, and the light emitting window The toner adhering to 212a is removed, and the light receiving unit cleaning plate 217 touches the light receiving window 216b of the light receiving unit 216 to remove the toner adhering to the light receiving window 216b (t3).

  Further, when the shaft portion 208 rotates and the light emitting portion 212 appears again on the developer, the light receiving sensor 216a receives the light emitted from the light emitting portion 212 into the developer accommodating chamber 201 and receives the light. A signal indicating that it has been started starts to be output to the control device 219 (t4).

  With the above operation, the light receiving sensor 216a receives the light emitted from the light emitting unit 212 while the light emitting unit 212 appears on the developer (t4 → t1 → t2). On the other hand, the light receiving sensor 216a emits light from the light emitting unit 212 because the light emitted from the light emitting unit 212 is blocked while the light emitting unit 212 is submerged in the developer (t2 → t3 → t4). Does not receive light.

  The time during which the light emitting unit 212 appears on the developer is shorter as the remaining amount of developer in the developer accommodating unit 201 is larger, and is longer as the remaining amount of developer in the developer accommodating unit 201 is smaller. Become. Therefore, the waveform of the signal output from the light receiving sensor 216a changes as shown in FIGS. 4B and 5B. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the control device 219 associates the time when the signal indicating that light is received from the light receiving sensor 216a with the remaining amount of the developer in the developer storage unit 201. Using the table, the remaining amount of the developer associated with the time when the signal indicating that light is received from the light receiving sensor 216a is output from the table, and the remaining amount of the developer in the developer storage unit 210. As specified.

  As described above, according to the color laser printer of the present embodiment, the developer containing toner is carried, and the developing roller 22 that is a developer carrying member used for development and the developer supplied to the developing roller 22 are accommodated. A developer storage chamber 201, a screw portion 206 that is disposed in the developer storage chamber 201 and stirs and conveys the developer by rotating around the shaft portion 208, and projects in the radial direction of the shaft portion 208. The light emitting portion 212 rotates around the shaft portion 208 and emits light into the developer accommodating chamber 201, and is provided above the position where the developer is accommodated in the developer accommodating chamber 201, and the light emitting window 212a. And a light receiving unit 216 that receives light emitted from the developer storage chamber 201 to the developer storage chamber 201, and develops light according to the time at which the light receiving unit 216 receives light during the rotation period of the shaft unit 208. By specifying the amount of the developer stored in the storage chamber 201 and replenishing the developer in the developer storage chamber 201 according to the specified amount of developer, the remaining developer remains without being influenced by how the developer jumps up. Since the amount can be detected, the detection accuracy of the remaining amount of the developer can be improved.

(Second Embodiment)
This embodiment is an example in which a light source that emits light by receiving power through a terminal provided in the shaft portion of the screw portion is provided in a light emitting portion that protrudes in the radial direction of the shaft portion of the screw portion. In the following description, description of the same parts as those of the first embodiment will be omitted, and only parts different from the first embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a screw unit and a light emitting unit included in the developing unit. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a light emitting unit provided in the developing unit. In the present embodiment, the shaft portion 208 of the screw portion 206 has a coaxial terminal 602 that supplies power from the power supply portion 601 therein. The coaxial terminal 602 supplies power to a light source 603, which will be described later, by bringing the outer shaft terminal 602a and the middle shaft terminal 602b into contact with each other. Note that the power supply unit 601 is controlled by the control device 219 and supplies power to the light source 603 through the coaxial terminal 602.

  The light emitting unit 212 includes a light source 603 such as an LED that emits light by receiving power supplied from the power supply unit 601 through a coaxial terminal 602 provided in the shaft unit 208 inside the light emitting window 212a.

  As described above, according to the color laser printer of the present embodiment, the coaxial terminal provided in the shaft portion 208 of the screw portion 206 is provided in the light emitting portion 212 protruding in the radial direction of the shaft portion 208 of the screw portion 206. By providing the light source 603 that emits light upon receiving electric power through 602, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained.

  The program executed by the color laser printer according to the present embodiment is provided by being incorporated in advance in a ROM or the like.

  A program executed by the color laser printer of the present embodiment is a file in an installable format or an executable format, and is a computer such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk (FD), a CD-R, a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk). The information may be provided by being recorded on a recording medium that can be read by the user.

  Furthermore, the program executed by the color laser printer according to the present embodiment may be stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and provided by being downloaded via the network. The program executed by the color laser printer of this embodiment may be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet.

  The program executed by the color laser printer according to the present embodiment has a module configuration including the above-described units (such as the control device 219). As actual hardware, a CPU (processor) reads the program from the ROM. As a result, the above-described units are loaded onto the main storage device, and the control device 219 is generated on the main storage device.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 4 Developing unit 22 Developing roller 201 Developer accommodation chamber 202 Developer supply port 204 Developer supply device 206 Screw part 208 Shaft part 212 Light emission part 212a Light emission window 213 Light guide path 215,603 Light source 216 Light reception part 216a Light reception sensor 216b Light reception window 217 Light-receiving unit cleaning plate 218 Light-emitting unit cleaning plate 219 Control device 601 Power supply unit 602 Coaxial terminal 602a Outer shaft terminal 602b Middle shaft terminal

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-288884

Claims (11)

A developer carrying member for carrying a developer containing toner and used for development;
A developer storage chamber for storing a developer to be supplied to the developer carrier;
A screw portion that is disposed in the developer containing chamber and that stirs and conveys the developer by rotating around a shaft portion;
A light emitting portion that protrudes in the radial direction of the shaft portion, rotates around the shaft portion, and emits light into the developer containing chamber;
A light receiving portion that is provided above a position where the developer is accommodated in the developer accommodating chamber, and receives light emitted from the light emitting window into the developer accommodating chamber;
Specifying means for specifying the amount of developer accommodated in the developer accommodating chamber according to the time when light is received by the light receiving portion in the rotation period of the shaft portion;
Replenishment means for replenishing the developer storage chamber according to the amount of the specified developer;
An image forming apparatus comprising: The shaft portion includes light guide means for guiding light emitted from a light source provided outside the developer storage chamber to the light emitting portion,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light emitting unit emits light guided from the light source by the light guide unit into the developer accommodating chamber.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light emitting unit includes a light source that emits light by receiving power supplied through a terminal provided in the shaft portion.   A light receiving portion cleaning that protrudes in the radial direction of the shaft portion at a position opposite to the position where the light emitting portion of the shaft portion is provided, rotates around the shaft portion, and touches and cleans the light receiving portion. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a unit.   5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a light emitting unit cleaning unit that is provided below the shaft part and that touches the light emitting unit to clean the light emitting unit.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the replenishing unit replenishes the developer in the developer storage chamber while light is not received by the light receiving unit.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the developer storage chamber has a supply port for supplying developer at a position spaced apart from the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit.   The specifying unit includes a table in which a time during which light is received by the light receiving unit and an amount of developer stored in the developer storage chamber are associated with each other, and light is received by the light receiving unit in the table. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the amount of developer associated with the measured time is specified as the amount of developer accommodated in the developer accommodating chamber.   After the developer is replenished to the developer accommodating chamber by the replenishing means, when the developer is accommodated again in the developer accommodating chamber by the replenishing means within a predetermined time, it is accommodated in the developer accommodating chamber. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a notification unit that notifies that the amount of developer is low. A developer carrying member that carries a developer containing toner and is used for development, a developer containing chamber that contains a developer to be supplied to the developer carrying member, and a developer containing chamber that is disposed in the developer containing chamber and has a shaft portion as a center. And a screw portion that stirs and conveys the developer by rotating to the shaft, and a light emission that protrudes in the radial direction of the shaft portion, rotates around the shaft portion, and emits light into the developer storage chamber And a light receiving portion that is provided above a position where the developer is accommodated in the developer accommodating chamber and receives light emitted from the light emitting window into the developer accommodating chamber. An image forming method to be executed,
The image forming apparatus includes a control unit,
The controller is
A step of specifying the amount of the developer stored in the developer storage chamber according to a time when the specifying unit receives light by the light receiving unit in the rotation period of the shaft;
Replenishing means for replenishing the developer in the developer accommodating chamber according to the amount of the identified developer;
An image forming method comprising: A developer carrying member that carries a developer containing toner and is used for development, a developer containing chamber that contains a developer to be supplied to the developer carrying member, and a developer containing chamber that is disposed in the developer containing chamber and has a shaft portion as a center. And a screw portion that stirs and conveys the developer by rotating to the shaft, and a light emission that protrudes in the radial direction of the shaft portion, rotates around the shaft portion, and emits light into the developer storage chamber And a light receiving portion that is provided above a position where the developer is accommodated in the developer accommodating chamber and receives light emitted from the light emitting window into the developer accommodating chamber. The computer to control,
Specifying means for specifying the amount of developer accommodated in the developer accommodating chamber according to the time when light is received by the light receiving portion in the rotation period of the shaft portion;
Replenishment means for replenishing the developer storage chamber according to the amount of the specified developer;
Program to function as.

Images