| 摘要 |
<p>PURPOSE:To detect whether powder exists or not with high accuracy without being influenced by a cavity generated by stirring by selecting whether a count is permitted or not permitted by a powder signal, and deriving a count value of a counting means at the time when a prescribed time elapses. CONSTITUTION:To the surface of a rotary drum 1, a uniform charge is applied by an electrifier, and thereafter, by radiating a laser light, the charge is eliminated partially and an electrostatic latent image is formed. The electrostatic latent image is developed by pigment plastic of fine particles of a developing machine 2 and becomes a visible image. It is stirred by a stirrer 4 in the inside of the developing machine 2. A pickup 5 is mounted to the part in which powder 3 being near the stirrer 4 is flowing in order to prevent the powder from being fixed, etc., and detects the powder 3 in the inside of the developing machine. Also, the stirrer 4 executes cleaning of the surface of the pickup 5, as well in order to drop down the powder 3 adhering to the surface of the pickup 5. The powder 3 is detected by the pickup 5, a powder signal being its output is sent to a powder detecting part 6, the remaining quantity of the powder 3 is detected and whether it is necessary to replenish the powder 3 or not is decided.</p> |
