US 7,532,828 B2
Image forming apparatus and developer remaining amount detecting method
Nobuo Komiya, Yokohama (Japan); and Takayuki Namiki, Yokohama (Japan)
Assigned to Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo (Japan)
Filed on Feb. 28, 2007, as Appl. No. 11/680,060.
Claims priority of application No. 2006-055610 (JP), filed on Mar. 01, 2006.
Prior Publication US 2007/0206966 A1, Sep. 06, 2007
Int. Cl. G03G 15/08 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 399—27  [399/111; 399/119; 399/120] 38 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An image forming apparatus, which uses a developing device including: a developer carrying member developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member with a developer; a developer containing portion containing the developer; an agitating member provided rotatably in the developer containing portion to agitate the developer; and a developer remaining amount detecting member outputting a signal for detecting a remaining amount of the developer contained in the developer containing portion, the image forming apparatus comprising:
a main body controller to which the signal is input, and which detects the remaining amount by using a first detecting unit that sets a reference value serving as a reference for detecting the remaining amount by the signal, and thereafter calculates the remaining amount based on an amount of change in the signal from the reference value, and a second detecting unit that detects the remaining amount based on a band of fluctuation in the signal corresponding to a rotational period of the agitating member.