JP3826640B2 - Developer supply device and image forming apparatus using the same - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image provided with a detection device for detecting the remaining amount of developer in a developer storage container for storing a developer to be supplied to a developing device of an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine, a facsimile machine, or a printer. The present invention relates to a forming apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
An electrophotographic method in which an electrostatic latent image is formed on a photoconductive photosensitive member, the latent image is developed with a developer in a developing device that is charged, and a developed image obtained from the developer is transferred onto a transfer material. In an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine, a facsimile machine, or a printer that uses a developer, a constant amount of developer is automatically replenished to the developing device from the developer replenishing device in order to keep the developer concentration in the developing device constant. is doing. For this reason, the user of the image forming apparatus needs to replenish the developer from the developer storage container to the developer replenishing device at regular intervals.
[0003]
Conventionally, as a means for replenishing the developer to the image forming apparatus, when replenishing the developer, the developer storage container is set in the apparatus main body, all the developer in the developer storage container is replenished to the developer storage unit, There was a type in which the developer container was removed from the apparatus main body after the replenishment. However, the above-mentioned type of replenishment system provides a means for preventing the developer from being excessively replenished because the developer may be excessively replenished in order to replenish the developer in the developer storage at once, and the developer may overflow from the developer storage. I had to. It is difficult to prevent the developer from being excessively replenished, and even if a means for preventing excessive replenishment can be installed in the apparatus main body, the cost and size of the apparatus are increased.
[0004]
Therefore, a developer storage container having a spiral protrusion inside the container is set with respect to the apparatus main body, and the developer storage container is rotated around the central axis of the developer storage container, and the developer is discharged from the developer discharge port of the developer storage container. Has been developed (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-295356). In this type, the developer storage container is always installed in the main body of the apparatus. Therefore, when the developer in the developer storage unit decreases, the developer storage container is rotated at any time, and the developer storage unit is loaded with the developer storage unit. Can be replenished. Therefore, the means for preventing oversupply has become unnecessary.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
An object of the present invention is to solve the following problems in a developer container and a developer replenishing device that supplies developer from the developer container to a developing device. The problems to be solved by the invention are listed below.
(1) The amount of developer remaining in the developer container is difficult to detect, and if the developer container is not prepared when the developer in the developer container is exhausted, the operation may be stopped. is there.
(2) For the above reasons, it may be possible to make the developer storage container transparent so that the remaining amount can be confirmed from the outside of the apparatus as needed. However, if the developer storage container is formed of a transparent material, the recycled material becomes There was a problem that it could not be used and the manufacturing cost was high, and it was easy to detect errors due to contamination of the container.
(3) When the detection sensor is directly attached to the storage container, the detection sensor must be discarded together with the storage container, which is wasteful and the connection with the image forming apparatus is troublesome.
(4) Furthermore, providing a sensor for directly measuring the remaining amount of the developer inside the developer storage container is because the sensor is inserted into the developer storage container when the developer storage container is replaced, or the developer After attaching the storage container, the sensor must be moved into the developer storage container, etc., which is not preferable from the viewpoint of easily causing a failure of the sensor and complicating the sensor mechanism.
[0006]
The present invention aims to solve the above problems.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In the developer replenishing device according to the first aspect of the present invention, the container body includes a cylindrical barrel portion and a tip portion having a diameter continuously reduced from the barrel portion, and a developer discharge port is provided on a side surface of the tip portion. And a developer storage container that includes a spiral protrusion inside the container body, and discharges the developer stored inside by rotating the drive device from the developer discharge port by the protrusion. wherein comprising a developer reservoir for storing the discharged developer from the developer container, a developer remaining amount detecting means for detecting the developer remaining amount of the developer reservoir, the developer from the developer storing portion In the developer supply device for supplying a developer to the apparatus, a remaining amount of developer in the developer storage container and a developer discharge amount per rotation of the developer storage container storing the remaining amount storage means for storing previously obtained relation, the developer And amount sensing means replenishment rate of decrease in developer by detecting when supplemented with developer in the developer storing portion from said developer accommodating container in said developer reservoir, by the drive device during該補charge to a rotation drive amount of the developer container, in light of the relationship which is stored in the storage unit, comprising a calculating means for calculating the amount of developer remaining in the developer storage container It is characterized by.
[0010]
In addition, the image forming apparatus is configured by including such a developer replenishing device, and the display unit is further installed.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
An embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described.
[0012]
As shown in FIG. 7, a digital copying machine 100 as an image forming apparatus includes a scanner unit 60 that reads a document, a control unit 62 that edits and processes an image, an image forming unit 64 that prints an image on paper, and an image forming unit. The paper feeding unit 66 supplies paper to the printing unit, the fixing unit 68 fixes the image onto the transfer paper, the sorter unit 70 that discharges the original, and the like.
[0013]
The scanner unit 60 has a glass plate on its upper surface, and when a document is placed on the glass plate and an operation switch is turned on, a reading lamp or the like moves to read the document. The document is read as a digital signal, and the read image signal is sent to the control unit. In the case of copying, an image signal is sent from the control unit to the image forming unit, the image is transferred to transfer paper from the paper supply unit, and is fixed by the fixing unit for printing. Note that an analog type may be used instead of a digital type.
[0014]
The image forming unit 64 is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming unit 64 includes a charger 51, a photosensitive drum 52 as an image carrier, an exposure unit 53 (see FIG. 7), a developing device 54, a transfer charger 55, and a separation charger. The image forming apparatus 56 and the cleaning unit 57 form an image from the sent image signal, and form a toner image on the transfer paper from the paper supply unit 66.
[0015]
The charger 51 is, for example, a scoroton charger, and uniformly charges the photosensitive drum to a predetermined voltage, for example, −800 v, prior to the latent image forming process.
[0016]
The photosensitive drum 52 is obtained by applying a photosensitive layer to the surface of a cylindrical base material made of, for example, aluminum having a diameter of 80 mm, a drive motor that drives the photosensitive drum 52, an encoder that detects the rotational phase of the photosensitive drum 52, and the like. (Both not shown). The photosensitive layer has a film thickness of 15 to 30 μm and a dielectric constant of 2.0 to 5.0, and the substrate is grounded. The photosensitive drum 52 rotates at a speed of, for example, 280 mm / sec, and the rotation is measured by an encoder. After being uniformly charged by the charger 51 while rotating, it is exposed by the exposure unit 53 to form an electrostatic latent image on the surface.
[0017]
The exposure unit 53 includes a laser, a polygon mirror, and an optical system (not shown) such as an f-θ lens, and the like, and a laser beam emitted from the laser is reflected by the polygon mirror, and f− The surface of the photosensitive drum 52 is irradiated via an optical system (not shown) such as a θ lens. The polygon mirror rotates at a constant rotation, the laser beam main scanning is performed by the rotation, and the sub scanning is performed by the rotation of the photosensitive drum 52. The formed electrostatic latent image is visualized by the toner of the developing device 54.
[0018]
As shown in FIG. 2, the developing device 54 includes a developing sleeve 31 facing the photosensitive drum 52, a stirring screw 32 for stirring the carrier and the developer, a concentration sensor 33 for detecting the developer concentration in the developing device 54, and the like. I have. A developer replenishing device 2 for replenishing the developer is attached above the developing device 54 as shown in FIG.
[0019]
The developer supply device 2 includes a developer storage container 10, a storage container mounting unit 20, a drive motor 15, a developer storage unit 4, etc., stores the developer inside the developer storage unit 4, and the developer storage container 10. The developer is appropriately supplied to the developer storage unit 4. The developer is a toner of polyester material having an average particle diameter of 8.5 μm, and is mixed with a ferrite coating carrier having an average particle diameter of 60 μm in the developing device 54.
FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the developer storage container 10 (hereinafter referred to as a storage container).
[0020]
The storage container 10 includes a container main body 12 that stores the developer, a fixed lid 14 that closes an opening of one end surface of the container main body 12, and development of the developer provided on the outer peripheral surface of the other end surface of the container main body 12. A developer discharge port 16, a movable slide lid (movable opening / closing lid) 18 that opens and closes the developer discharge port 16, and an endless (endless) flexibility that can be adhered and peeled around the developer discharge port 16. It is comprised from the sealing member 19 grade | etc.,.
[0021]
The container body 12 includes a barrel portion 22 that forms a cylindrical wall surface, an inclined portion 24 that forms a hollow conical wall surface, and a small-diameter distal end portion 26 that is connected to the distal end portion of the inclined portion 24. On the inner peripheral surfaces of the body portion 22 and the inclined portion 24, a spiral protrusion 23 protrudes inside the container body 12 to form a developer guide.
[0022]
A slide lid 18 is slidably attached to the outer peripheral surface of the distal end portion 26. The slide lid 18 engages with a bottomed long groove portion (not shown) formed on the outer peripheral surface portion of the tip end portion 26 and can move back and forth in the direction parallel to the rotation center axis R on the tip end portion 26. Yes. FIG. 4 shows the distal end portion 26 of the developer container 10 in a state where the slide lid 18 is moved to open the developer discharge port.
[0023]
Flange 28 and 30 are provided on both ends of the slide lid 18 in the direction of the rotation center axis R, respectively. A slit (not shown) is formed in each of the flanges 28 and 30, and a flexible seal member 19 formed in an endless (endless) belt shape is circulated. The flexible seal member 19 is formed in an endless shape by joining both ends of a film-like thin leaf such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The flexible seal member 19 is adhered to the periphery of the developer discharge port 16, and the developer discharge port 16 is connected to the flexible seal member 19. When the sealing lid 18 is moved in the X direction shown in the figure by an external force, the flexible seal member 19 wound around the sliding lid 18 is rotated to gradually open the developer discharge port 16. . When the slide lid 18 reaches the final position, the developer discharge port 16 is fully opened as shown in FIG. 4, and the developer can be discharged.
[0024]
Then, when the slide lid 18 is moved so as to return to the opposite direction of the X direction, the flexible seal member 19 rotates around the cylindrical portion of the slide lid 18 and gradually closes the developer discharge port 16. When the slide lid 18 reaches the final return position shown in FIG. 3, the flexible seal member 19 completely closes the developer discharge port 16. Even when the storage container 10 in which the developer discharge port 16 is closed is removed from the storage container mounting portion 20 (see FIG. 1), the developer stored in the storage container 10 does not leak out.
[0025]
The relative movement between the container body 12 and the slide lid 18 may be an operation method in which the container body 12 is placed at a predetermined position of the storage container mounting portion 20 and the slide lid 18 is moved, or the slide lid 18 is mounted on the storage container. Any of the operation methods in which the container main body 12 is moved by being installed at a predetermined position of the unit 20 is possible.
[0026]
Furthermore, a driven coupling 11 is provided at the end of the distal end portion 26, and is detachably engaged with a drive coupling 13 that is rotated by a drive device (drive motor 15) provided in a storage container mounting portion 20 described later. .
[0027]
The storage container mounting unit 20 includes a slide lid holding member (opening / closing lid holding member) 17, a fixed lid holding member 21, a drive motor 15, and the like. The groove portion of the slide lid holding member 17 holds the flange 28 of the slide lid 18.
[0028]
On the right side of the storage container mounting portion 20 in the figure, a drive motor 15 and a rotating shaft connected to the drive motor 15 are supported by bearings and are rotatably provided. An appropriate transmission mechanism such as a one-way clutch is connected to the drive motor 15 to appropriately rotate the storage container 10 and the rotation shaft. A drive coupling 13 biased by a spring is supported at the tip of the rotating shaft so as to be movable in the axial direction by a key (not shown), and is engaged with the driven coupling 11 formed at the tip 26 of the container body 12. It is possible to leave.
[0029]
Next, an example of attaching the storage container 12 will be described.
[0030]
The storage container 12 is gripped, and the slide lid 18 is inserted into the groove portion of the slide lid holding member 17 and positioned. In this installed state, the flange of the slide lid 18 is pressed against the porous member to prevent the developer from leaking out. When the operation lever (not shown) is operated to move the fixed lid holding member 21 in the right direction in the figure, the container body 12 moves in the right direction in the figure, and the container body 12 presses the inner peripheral surface of the porous member. , Slide forward. The driven coupling 11 abuts on the drive coupling 13 in the vicinity of the movement end point of the container body 12. The convex portion of the drive coupling 13 is spring-biased, and when the rotation shaft is driven and rotated by the motor 15, the convex portion of the driven coupling 11 engages with the concave portion of the driven coupling 11 to drive and rotate the storage container 10.
[0031]
Further, since the slide lid 18 is not moved by being engaged with the groove portion of the slide lid holding member 17, the flexible seal member 19 fully opens the developer discharge port 16 of the container body 12. When the storage container 10 is driven and rotated by the drive motor 15 with the developer discharge port 16 fully opened, the developer discharge port 16 coincides with an opening (not shown) formed in the storage container mounting portion 20. When the remaining amount of the developer is reduced after passing through these, and the remaining amount of the developer is reduced, the developer is conveyed by the spiral protrusions 23 formed inside the container body 12. Thus, the toner is similarly discharged from the developer discharge port 16.
[0032]
The developer storage unit 4 is provided with a developer remaining amount detecting means (residual detection sensor 5) composed of a piezoelectric element or the like to detect the amount of developer stored, and when the predetermined minimum value is reached, the maximum value is reached. A signal is emitted when The developer storage section 4 is provided with a developer transport means (hereinafter referred to as a transport screw) 6 for transporting the developer. When the transport screw 6 rotates, the developer storage section 4 is discharged from the developer supply port 7 and developed. Is supplied with a developer. The developer detection surface of the developer remaining amount detection means is in sliding contact with the tip of the developer stirring member that is driven to rotate, thereby preventing erroneous detection due to uneven distribution of the developer.
[0033]
On the other hand, a developing device density detecting means (density sensor 33) is installed inside the developing device 54 in FIG. For example, the density sensor 33 detects the reactance of the developer, and issues a signal to the control unit 62 when detecting that the developer in the housing of the developing device 54 has become a predetermined density or less.
[0034]
When the control unit 62 receives a signal indicating a decrease in density from the density sensor 33, the control unit 62 drives the conveying screw 6 to supply the developer in the developer storage unit 4 to the developing device 54, and outputs a signal that has reached an appropriate density. When the toner is received, the replenishment is stopped, and the toner density of the developing device 54 is controlled to be always 4 to 6%.
[0035]
Further, the control unit 62 accumulates the rotation amount of the conveying screw 6 every rotation, and the residual detection sensor 5 determines that the remaining amount of the developer has become a predetermined value or less, and rotates the storage container 10 to rotate the developer. The amount of rotation of the storage container 10 when the developer storage unit 4 is replenished is measured. And it is provided with a calculation means for calculating the remaining amount in the storage container 10 from the rotation amount of the storage container 10 for replenishment and the accumulated rotation amount of the conveying screw 6, and the calculation result is displayed in a remaining amount display section (not shown). When it is displayed, or when it is determined that the remaining amount is equal to or less than a predetermined value, the replacement display unit (not shown) displays replacement of the storage container 10.
[0036]
As the remaining amount display unit and the replacement display unit, a display unit (not shown) such as a panel of the digital copying machine 100 may be displayed by liquid crystal or the like, or the remaining amount may be displayed as a display unit installed alone. The display may be a figure or a numerical value. Further, the display color of the display device may be changed, or may be indicated by a lamp or the like. Further, an alarm may be issued using a buzzer or the like.
[0037]
A predetermined bias voltage (about −600 V) is applied to the developing sleeve 31, the voltage difference from the charging voltage of the photosensitive drum 52 is maintained at a predetermined value, and a magnetic brush is formed by a magnet roller. The exposed portion of the photosensitive drum 52 has a predetermined charging voltage difference with the toner, so that the toner adheres to the exposed portion. If the developing bias is changed here, the difference from the potential of the exposed portion of the photosensitive drum is changed, so that the image density is appropriately changed. The adhered toner is transferred from the photosensitive drum 52 onto the transfer paper by the transfer charger 55, and the transfer paper onto which the toner has been transferred by the separation charger 56 is separated from the photosensitive drum 52 and fixed by the fixing unit 68.
[0038]
The transfer charger 55 is disposed opposite to the photosensitive drum 52, and discharges electric charge from the back side of the transfer paper superimposed on the photosensitive drum 52 electrostatically carrying the toner image, so that toner is applied to the transfer paper. Transcript. The transfer charger 55 is preferably a scotron discharger, but may be a corotron charger, a charging roller, or the like.
[0039]
The separation charger 56 is composed of a scotron discharger, a corotron charger, a charging roller, or the like, and removes the transfer paper adsorbed on the photosensitive drum 52 to separate the transfer paper from the photosensitive drum.
[0040]
The paper feed unit 66 accommodates paper of various sizes so as to supply a predetermined size of paper to the image forming unit in accordance with an instruction from the control unit.
[0041]
The toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 52 without being transferred to the transfer paper is collected by the cleaning unit 57. As shown in FIG. 2, the cleaning unit 57 includes a blade that comes into contact with the photosensitive drum 52, scrapes off toner, dust, and the like adhering to the surface of the photosensitive drum 52 and stores them in the toner box.
[0042]
An image density detector may be installed in the cleaning unit 57. In this case, the image density detector is installed on the upstream side of the blade, measures the density of a portion (hereinafter referred to as a patch) that is exposed and developed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 52 with a constant exposure amount, and measures the density. Thus, the control unit 62 may detect the developer concentration of the developing device 54 from the measured toner adhesion state, and hold it at a predetermined concentration. .
[0043]
The fixing unit 68 is a device for fixing the toner on the transfer paper, and applies predetermined pressure and heat to the transfer paper on which the toner image is adhered. The sorter unit 70 is a discharge mechanism that discharges printed transfer paper in a predetermined state. A finishing unit may be provided to perform operations such as a stapling mechanism, a center folding mechanism, sorting, and grouping. The switch unit is installed on the upper surface of the digital copying machine, and can input, for example, enlargement / reduction of a print image, designation of printing paper, designation of the number of printed sheets, and the like.
[0044]
Next, the operation of the digital copying machine 100 will be described.
[0045]
When a copy start switch is input, predetermined operations such as reading an image, sending transfer paper, forming a latent image on the photosensitive drum 52, developing, and transferring a toner image onto the transfer paper are sequentially executed. . When the image is formed on the transfer paper, the developer toner is consumed. When the toner density ratio decreases and the magnetic permeability of the developer detected by the density sensor 33 exceeds a predetermined value, it is determined that the toner needs to be replenished, and the drive motor 15 is activated to enter the developing device 54. Toner is supplied. Further, when the residual sensor 5 senses that the amount of developer in the developer storage unit 4 has decreased, the storage container 10 is rotated and the developer is replenished.
[0046]
Next, the operation of detecting the remaining amount of the storage container 10 will be described using the flowchart shown in FIG.
[0047]
When the digital copying machine 100 waits for image formation (copying), the density sensor 33 in the developing device 54 detects the developer density (F-1), and when the decrease is detected (F-2), the drive motor 15 is driven. The carrier screw 6 rotates to rotate (F-3), and the developer in the developer storage unit 4 is supplied to the developing device 54.
[0048]
At the same time, the rotation amount S of the conveying screw 6 is integrated (F-4), and if the result of the concentration detection (F-5) satisfies the specified value (F-6), the conveying screw 6 is stopped (F− 7). If the amount of toner is not less than the minimum value by the residual detection sensor 5 in the developer storage unit 4, the process returns to F-1.
[0049]
When the residual sensor 5 determines that the amount of toner in the developer storage unit 4 has fallen below the minimum value, the control unit 62 drives the motor 15 to rotate the storage container 10 (F-10). The developer is supplied until the residual sensor 5 confirms that the toner amount reaches the maximum value in the developer storage unit 4 by the rotation of the storage container 10 (F-12) (F-13). When the residual detection sensor 5 confirms that the toner amount has reached the maximum value, the rotation of the storage container 10 is stopped (F-14), and the rotation amount B of the storage container 10 during that time is stored (F−). 11). Then, the developer storage amount in the storage container 10 is calculated from the rotation amount B of the storage container 10 and the rotation amount S of the conveying screw 6 (F-15).
[0050]
Next, a calculation method for calculating the amount of developer stored in the storage container 10 will be described.
[0051]
First, the amount of the developer discharged from the storage container 10 detected and operated by the residual detection sensor 5 is the amount of the developer supplied from the developer storage unit 4 to the developing device 54, and the rotation of the conveying screw 6. It can be calculated from the quantity S. Further, it is known that the developer discharge amount per one rotation of the storage container 10 changes according to the remaining amount as shown in FIG. 5, and is stored in a storage means (not shown). That is, since the discharge amount per rotation of the storage container 10 can be calculated from the rotation amount S of the transport screw 6 and the rotation amount of the storage container 10, the remaining amount of the developer in the storage container 10 is obtained based on the values. be able to. That is, when the developer stored in the storage container 10 is large, the discharge amount from the developer discharge port 16 depends on the internal storage amount, and the developer discharge amount per rotation is the remaining amount. Decrease gradually with decrease. Then, when the developer is reduced so that the upper surface of the developer in the storage container 10 is below the position of the developer discharge port 16, the developer is brought to the front end portion 26 by the protrusions 23 formed on the inner surface of the storage container 10. Since it is raised and discharged from the developer discharge port 16, the discharge amount is almost constant little by little without being affected by the remaining amount.
[0052]
Based on such a change in the discharge amount, the remaining amount of the developer in the storage container 10 can be calculated. When the remaining amount is calculated (F-15), the respective integrated values are returned to 0 (F-16), and it is determined whether the remaining amount is less than the threshold value (F-17). The remaining amount of the developer is displayed on the remaining amount display portion (F-18), and if it is less than the threshold value, the necessity for replacement is displayed on the replacement display portion (F-19).
[0053]
Note that the developer density is detected by detecting the image density of the developed image of the photosensitive drum 52 exposed by the exposure means (for example, laser beam) having a predetermined intensity instead of the density sensor 33, and determining by the detected image density. You may make it do.
[0054]
Further, the developer is not a rotation amount of the conveying screw 6 but a signal from a signal that the predetermined value detected by the residual detection sensor 5 is reached or less to a detection signal that the developer storage unit 4 is filled with the developer. The remaining amount in the storage container 10 may be calculated based on the replenishment amount (which can be estimated to be substantially constant).
[0055]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, the remaining amount of developer remaining in the developer container can be detected from the rotational drive amount of the developer container. This eliminates the need for complex sensors and many sensors, simplifies the structure, and detects the remaining amount of the storage container without attaching the sensor to the storage container or processing the storage container itself. Can do.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a developer replenishing device.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an image forming unit.
FIG. 3 is a view showing a developer container.
FIG. 4 is a view showing a tip portion of a developer storage container.
FIG. 5 is a graph showing the relationship between the remaining amount of developer storage container and the discharge amount.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a calculation procedure.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
2 Developer Supply Device 4 Developer Storage Unit 5 Residual Sensor 6 Transport Screw 7 Developer Supply Port 10 Storage Container 11 Followed Coupling 12 Container Body 13 Drive Coupling 14 Fixed Lid 15 Drive Motor 16 Developer Ejection Port 17 Slide Lid Holding member 18 Slide lid 19 Flexible seal member 20 Storage container mounting portion 22 Body portion 23 Projection line 24 Inclined portion 26 Tip portion 28, 30 Flange 31 Developing sleeve 33 Concentration sensor 51 Charger 52 Photosensitive drum 53 Exposure unit 54 Developing device 55 Transfer Charger 56 Separation Charger 57 Cleaning Unit 60 Scanner Unit 62 Control Unit 64 Image Forming Unit 66 Paper Feed Unit 68 Fixing Unit 70 Sorter Unit 100 Digital Copier

Claims (3)

The container body is composed of a cylindrical body and a tip part continuously narrowed from the body part. The container body has a developer discharge port on a side surface of the tip part, and has a spiral protrusion inside the container body. A developer storage container that includes a strip and discharges the developer stored inside by rotating the drive device from the developer discharge port by the protrusion;
A developer reservoir for storing the developer discharged from the developer accommodating container,
A developer remaining amount detecting means for detecting the developer remaining amount in the developer storage unit,
In the developer replenishing device for supplying the developer from the developer storage unit to the developing device,
Storage means for obtaining and storing in advance a relationship between a developer remaining amount in the developer storage container and a developer discharge amount per rotation of the developer storage container storing the remaining amount;
And replenishment amount when supplemented with developer a reduction of the developer from said developer accommodating container detection to the developer reservoirs of the developer remaining amount detecting means in the developer reservoir, during該補charge calculating means for a rotation drive amount of the developer container, in light of the relationship which is stored in the storage means, for calculating the amount of developer remaining in the developer storage container according to the driving device,
A developer replenishing device comprising: An image carrier for carrying an electrostatic latent image;
A developing device for visualizing the developer an electrostatic latent image formed on said image bearing member,
The container body is composed of a cylindrical body and a tip part continuously narrowed from the body part. The container body has a developer discharge port on a side surface of the tip part , and has a spiral protrusion inside the container body. A developer storage container having a strip and discharging the developer stored inside by rotating by a driving device from the developer discharge port;
A developer reservoir for storing the developer discharged from the developer accommodating container,
A developer conveying means for conveying the developer to the developing device from the developing agent storage portion,
A developer remaining amount detecting means for detecting the remaining amount of developer in the developer storage unit;
In an image forming apparatus having a developer concentration detecting means for detecting a development density in the developing device,
An image forming apparatus comprising the developer supply device according to claim 1 . Based on the amount of developer remaining on said arithmetic means said developer accommodating container which is calculated, the remaining amount of the developer in the developer accommodating container, or the fact that it is necessary to replace the developer container The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image forming apparatus displays the image.

Images