| 摘要 |
<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To increase an amount of developer to be actually usable among developer stored in a developer container. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus includes: an up/down mechanism for vertically moving an image forming part; a residual developer amount detecting part for detecting the residual amount of the developer in the developer container; a low-level determining part for determining whether or not the developer is at a low level on the basis of the residual amount of the developer; a developer-consumption accumulated-value determining part for determining whether the accumulated value of the developer consumption is equal to or below a low-level theoretical value; and an up/down control part 74f for operating the up/down mechanism on the basis of the determination results obtained by the low-level determining part and the developer-consumption accumulated-value determining part. When the up/down mechanism is operated, the impact is transmitted to the image forming part, accordingly, the developer sticking on the inner wall of the developer container is dropped down. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT |
