DEVELOPING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS THAT DETECT TONER DENSITY

摘要

A developing device includes N number of containers, N number of conveying members, N number of first sensors, stirring portions, a switching unit, and a control unit. The N number of conveying members stir and convey respective developers inside the N number of containers. The N number of first sensors are located at the N number of containers to detect toners remaining amount inside of the N number of containers. The stirring portions are located at the respective N number of conveying members to stir the developers at detecting regions opposed to detecting surfaces of the N number of first sensors by rotations of the N number of conveying members. The switching unit selects any one of outputs of the N number of first sensors to output. The control unit receives the selected output to detect the remaining amounts of the developers inside the N number of containers.

主权项

1. A developing device comprising:
N (N is an integer equal to or greater than two) number of containers that each house a developer including a toner; N number of conveying members that stir and convey the respective developers inside the N number of containers; N number of first sensors located at the N number of containers each to detect a toner remaining amount inside each of the N number of containers; stirring portions located at the respective N number of conveying members to stir the developers at detecting regions opposed to detecting surfaces of the N number of first sensors by rotations of the N number of conveying members; a switching unit that selects any one of outputs of the N number of first sensors to output; and a control unit that receives the selected output to detect the remaining amounts of the developers inside the N number of containers.