IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus and a process cartridge improving printing speed and carrying out high speed printing as well as carrying out detection of residual amount of developer.

SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus is provided with a developer container containing the developer and a developer residual amount detecting apparatus with a sensor means for detecting the residual amount of the developer inside the developer container. The developer residual amount detecting apparatus detects the residual amount of the developer based on a developer residual amount detection threshold value set before hand and a detected value by the sensor means and is provided with at least a first printing speed mode and a second printing speed mode which is faster speed than the first printing speed mode. The residual amount of the developer inside the developer container is measured by executing the first printing speed mode for a specified period during printing in the second printing speed mode.

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