| 摘要 |
<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To more securely suppress the quantity of developer remaining in a developing device from being erroneously detected. <P>SOLUTION: The developing device 27 includes a second stirring spiral 49, a housing 41, a remaining toner quantity sensor 48, and a cleaning spring 46. The second stirring spiral 49 has a rotation shaft 71 and a spiral portion 73 formed along the periphery of the rotation shaft 71. The housing 41 stores toner, and has a side 41b supporting the rotation shaft 71 of the second stirring spiral and an arcuate bottom 41c formed along the lower portion of the second stirring spiral 49 in the radial direction of the spiral 49. The remaining toner quantity sensor 48 is disposed on the internal wall of the side 41b of the housing 41 so as to expose its surface, and is used to detect a quantity of toner remaining in the housing 41. The cleaning spring 46 is attached to the sensor 48 side end of the rotation shaft 71 of the second stirring spiral 49 so as to clean the internal wall of the side 41b accompanying the rotation of the second stirring spiral 49. The cleaning spring 46 is rotated so that its perimetral end follows a locus C1 that has a diameter greater than that of the arcuate bottom 41c. The cleaning spring 46 is elastic. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT |
