| 摘要 |
PURPOSE:To prevent a developer from excess toner feeding due to humidity and the deterioration of the developer by detecting toner density from the fluidity of the developer. CONSTITUTION:A hopper 2 is provided with a sensor 3 for detecting the quantity of a developer in the hopper 2. When the developer is made to flow into the hopper 2 from a feeding inlet 1, the developer is stayed in the hopper 2 because the diameter of a hopper outlet is smaller than that of the inlet and at last the developer is overflowed. At the time of overflow, the feeding of the developer from the inlet 1 is stopped and the developer in the hopper is made to flow out gradually from the outlet, so that the output voltage of the sensor is reduced in proportion to the quantity of the developer in the hopper. The time required for fixing the outflow time of the developer. i.e. sensor output voltage, is proportional to the toner density during 2-4% toner density. Since the fluidity is reduced at the time of high humidity, the developer is prevented from over toner status. |
