TONER CARTRIDGE SENSING AN AMOUNT OF TONER AND AN IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS WITH THE SAME

摘要

A toner cartridge sensing a remaining amount of toner and an image forming apparatus with the same are provided to sense a change of an output period of a sensing unit by load torque of a toner, thereby estimating a remaining amount of toner with sufficient sensitivity through a continuous level. A hopper(140) stores a print toner for a solid power state. A stirring unit comprises the first paddle(410), the second paddle(420), and an elastic member(430) elastically connecting the first and second paddles. The stirring unit stirs a toner in a hopper and transfers the stirred toner to a supply roller. A sensing unit(500) measures the remaining amount of toner based on an output signal change of a sensing sensor.