| 摘要 |
<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make it possible for a user to determine that toner runs out, without furnishing a process cartridge or a developing apparatus with a toner presence/absence detecting means, and to increase toner capacity. <P>SOLUTION: The angle of the inclination of the inclined face 45b of the bottom of a toner chamber 45 is made not larger than an angle of repose. A stir member 43b having a sheet that has a sufficient length to enter the recess 45e of a developing unit is disposed. An elastic member is disposed above a recess so as to project from the rotating area of the stir member, by fitting holes 47a of a drop-tear shape onto dowels 45c formed on the inclined face of a toner storage section. Vibrations are applied in the elastic member in the direction of the inclined face and directions perpendicular to it, by using the bending of the elastic member due to the rotary motion of the stir member and elastic force due to the elastic deformation of the fitting holes. An amount of remaining toner is reduced at the moment of the occurrence of image blur caused by toner supply insufficiency. This makes it easy for a user to determine the amount of remaining toner. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI |
