| 摘要 |
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a development apparatus in which miniaturization of a developer container and multi-valued control of developer by using a similar developer detecting sensor are made possible. SOLUTION: The developer container comprises a single chamber and is equipped with a rotatable agitation member which is supplied with the developer from a developer supply section to the developer container and can agitate the greater part of the developer container, and a developer detecting sensor on the side face of the container at the inner side of the rotation locus of the tip of the agitation member detects the amount of the developer within the developer container by the time ratio at which the sensor detects the presence or absence of the developer according to the rotation of the agitation member. In such a case, the position of the developer detecting sensor is far with respect to a developer carrier by a perpendicular line at which the center of rotation of the agitation member passes. Also, the agitation member is comprised of the axis of rotation and an elastically deformable sheet member. Further, the agitation member performs equalization processing when detecting the presence or absence of the developer by the developer detecting sensor. COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI |
