| 摘要 |
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus realizing the improvement of image quality by achieving the discharge of developer which is being made use of and the supply of unused toner while restraining fogging. SOLUTION: Under the control of a CPU 61, a shutter 34 is opened to drive and rotate a discharge auger 23 so that deteriorated toner in a developing chamber 30 may be discharged to a waste toner storage chamber 25 in each developing unit 20 when a fogging sensor 62 detects fogging on a photoreceptor belt 44, and the shutter 34 is closed to drive and rotate a supply auger 24 so that the new toner may be supplied into the chamber 30 from a storage chamber 24 after the discharging operation is finished, whereby the toner in the chamber 30 is mostly replaced with the new unused toner. Thus, the image quality is improved while restraining the fogging caused by the coexistence of the deteriorated toner and the new toner. COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO |
