DETECTION APPARATUS FOR RESIDUAL QUANTITY OF DEVELOPMENT, AND DEVELOPMENT APPARATUS AND PROCESSING CARTRIDGE EMPLOYING THE DETECTION APPARATUS

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a detection apparatus for residual quantity of toner that reduces attenuation of detection light, thereby having improved accuracy in detecting residual quantity of toner. SOLUTION: The detection apparatus for residual quantity of toner passes light from a light emitting means through a toner storage part and receives the light with a light receiving means, thereby detecting residual quantity of toner in the storage part. The apparatus has an incident light guide 51 used for leading detection light from an LED 53 to a toner container 41. In the incident light guide 51, an incident face 51a for receiving the detection light from the LED 53 has a projecting shape so that detection light entering from the incident face 51a is made almost parallel by a light guide 51d which guides the detection light to the toner container 41. COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI