| 摘要 |
<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To maintain or improve the quality of a printed image by shortening a toner supply period. <P>SOLUTION: A latent image carrier 17 holds a latent image thereon. A plurality of developing devices 19 develop a latent image on the latent image carrier 17 with toner storing in them. A toner supply section 13 supplies toner into the developing units 19. A level detecting section 23 detects the level of toner stored in each of unit developing devices 21Y to 21B. A temperature detecting section 9 detects the environment temperatures of the developing devices 19. When it is detected that toner needs to be supplied into each of the unit developing devices 21Y to 21B on the basis of information from the level detecting section 23 during the operation of the developing devices 19, a supply control section 15 controls a toner supply section 13 for the supply of toner needed for the unit developing device 21Y to 21B. When a temperature detected by a temperature detecting section 9 exceeds a reference temperature during the supply, the supply control section 15 shortens and sets a supply period taken to reach a toner full level, and terminates toner supply when it has reached the full level. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT |
