| 摘要 |
<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To measure toner concentration without sticking a developer in a developing container. <P>SOLUTION: A developing device 4 is equipped with an auger 80, having a spiral blade member 81 and a plurality of plate members 82A, in the developing container 41. The plate members 82A are provided at designated intervals along the axis of a rotary shaft. When the auger 80 rotates as shown in arrow A in Fig., the plurality of plate members 82A pass nearby a toner concentration sensor 43 to agitate a developer nearby the toner concentration sensor 43. The developer when agitated by the plate members 82A moves away from the gap between the plate members 82A to the opposite side in the rotating direction of the plate members 82A, so a force pressing the developer against an internal wall of the developing container 41 becomes weak to prevent the developer from being applied to the internal wall to stick, thereby stably carrying a fixed amount of developer to a region nearby the toner concentration sensor 43. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI |
