| 摘要 |
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus that detects an amount of toner attached to the surface of a toner carrier, even during an image forming operation, reliably detects an amount of attached toner even if the absolute amount of attached toner is large, easily exerts control to obtain a desired amount of attached toner despite a change in the specific charge of toner, thereby providing a stable image all the time, and to provide an image forming method. SOLUTION: The developing device includes: the toner carrier; a detecting roller for transferring toner on the surface of the toner carrier; and an attached toner amount detecting means for optically detecting an amount of toner transferred and attached to the surface of the detecting roller. A toner layer formation area in which, on the surface of the toner carrier, a toner layer to be carried is formed, includes an image formation area and an image non-formation area. Toner transferred to the detecting roller is toner in the image non-formation area. The toner layer transferred to the surface of the detecting roller is thinner than the toner layer on the surface of the toner carrier before the transfer of the toner to the detecting roller. COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT |
