| 摘要 |
<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent wrong empty detection of a toner bottle and increase the reliability of the toner supply to a hopper, and further to a developing unit. <P>SOLUTION: In an image forming device comprising a developing unit which develops an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrier by toner, toner supply means including a toner supply system 25 supplies toner from a toner bottle 10 to a hopper 12 by rotating the toner bottle 10 in response to detection of no toner within a hopper by a toner sensor 18 inside the hopper. Number count means (a control device 19) counts the number corresponding to the rotation of the toner bottle 10 by the toner supply means. The toner residual amount within the toner bottle 10 is determined by a plurality of stages based on the count number values counted by the number count means for a period from when the toner sensor 18 within the hopper detects no toner within the hopper to when remaining toner is detected. A display part 23 displays the toner residual amount by the plurality of stages. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2012,JPO&INPIT |
