| 摘要 |
<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To form a satisfactory image free of density unevenness even if image formation is rapidly restarted after replenishment of a developer in a development apparatus for visualizing an electrostatic latent image by transferring the developer thereto. <P>SOLUTION: The developer remaining in a developer housing chamber 43 when replenished with the developer from a developer replenishing box 47 is detected. Before the development operation is started next, the stirring of the developer is performed by driving a developer agitating member 44 until the time of the duration corresponding to detected amount of the developer elapses. The detection of the residual amount of the developer is performed by counting the number of pixels of the image subjected to development from the time when the deposition of the developer is no more detectable by a developer detecting sensor 45, and estimating the amount corresponding to the count value from the amount of the developer when the developer detecting sensor 45 turns to a non-detection state. The agitating time is set long when the amount of the remaining developer is large and is short when the amount is small. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI |
