摘要 |
An image forming apparatus of a type employing the replaceable image forming unit includes a detecting device for detecting an amount of rays of light having passed across a developer hopper, and a determining device for comparing the amount of light detected by the detecting device with a predetermined threshold value to determine the presence or absence of the image forming unit within the pocket. The detection of whether or not the image forming unit has been loaded into the pocket is possible regardless of the condition of the stirrer blade assembly within the hopper, that is, regardless of whether or not the stirred blade assembly is being driven.
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