| 摘要 |
<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To precisely estimate the amount of residual developer in a toner bottle (developer bottle), even in a developer supplying device used for a two-component electrophotographic image forming apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: This invention relates to the pre-mixing type developer supplying device used for the two-component electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The developer supplying device 140 includes: the developer bottle 150; a developer feeding tube 141 configured to feed the developer from the developer bottle 150 to a developing device 142; and a MOHNO pump 160. The developer supplying device further includes: a sensor 143 provided on the horizontally extending portion 141a of the developer feeding tube 141 to measure the concentration of the carrier in the developer as a permeability; a determination means 144 for estimating the amount of the residual developer in the developer bottle based on the detected carrier concentration and determining whether the developer is in an end state or a near-end state; and a display means 145 for displaying the end state or the near-end state of the developer. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT |
