Image forming apparatus

摘要

An image forming apparatus includes: an image bearing member; a developer carrying member for carrying developer; a cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of the image forming apparatus, the cartridge includes a cleaning means for removing the developer remaining on the developer carrying member after a developer image is transferred onto a transfer material, a developer buffering portion for accommodating the developer removed by the cleaning portion, and a feeding member driven for feeding the developer from the developer buffering portion to a developer container provided in the main assembly; a storing portion for storing cartridge operation information; and a controller for controlling the feeding member to stop drive of the feeding member on the basis of the cartridge operation information stored in the storing portion.

主权项

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
an image bearing member; a developer carrying member for carrying developer; a cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of said image forming apparatus, said cartridge including (i) a cleaning member configured to remove the developer remaining on said image bearing member after a developer image is transferred onto a transfer material, (ii) a developer buffering portion for accommodating the developer being removed by said cleaning member, and (iii) a feeding member driven for feeding the developer from said developer buffering portion to a developer container provided in the main assembly; and a controller configured to control said feeding member to stop the drive of said feeding member, wherein said controller stops said feeding member when an estimated amount of toner to be removed by said cleaning member during a remaining lifetime of the cartridge is less than an amount of the developer storable in the developer buffering portion.