| 摘要 |
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To measure a change in a residue toner quantity by utilizing a laser beam emitted from an optical scanner. SOLUTION: The action of a laser printer 11 is explained. The toner in a toner container 120 is successively consumed along with progression of image formation. The position of the top surface (water surface) of the toner lowers gradually from (1) to (6) as the toner decreases. As the top surface of the toner descends, the toner covering a light exit window 124 disposed at a slope section 120A decreases. The laser beam LB in an unshielded range is transmitted from the light exit window 124 and received by a photodetecting sensor 128. The amount of the light received of the photodetecting sensor 128 increases successively until the amount of the light of the laser beam LB in the unshielded range is attained. Accordingly, the amount of the light of the laser beam LB transmitted from the light exit window 124 is varied by the range of the toner covering the light exit window 124 and the amount of the light received of the laser beam LB received by the detecting sensor 128 is varied. Namely, the range of the toner covering the light exit window 124, i.e. the change in the residue toner quantity, can be measured by the amount of the light received of the photodetecting sensor 128. COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI |
