Invention Application
- Patent Title: Image forming apparatus and developing unit
- Patent Title (中): 成像设备和显影单元
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Application No.: US10976774Application Date: 2004-11-01
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Publication No.: US20060029404A1Publication Date: 2006-02-09
- Inventor: Soh Hirota , Masaki Tanaka , Masahiro Kouzaki , Kazuomi Sakatani , Mitsuru Obara
- Applicant: Soh Hirota , Masaki Tanaka , Masahiro Kouzaki , Kazuomi Sakatani , Mitsuru Obara
- Applicant Address: JP Chiyoda-ku
- Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
- Current Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
- Current Assignee Address: JP Chiyoda-ku
- Priority: JP2004-229100 20040805; JP2004-229101 20040805; JP2004-229102 20040805
- Main IPC: G03G15/08
- IPC: G03G15/08

Abstract:
An electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a developing device including a developer reservoir for accommodating a mixed developer. The mixed developer includes a plurality of types of toner having a generally identical hue and different reflection densities. The apparatus also includes a replenishment device having a plurality of toner containers each accommodating one of the plurality of types of toner for replenishing the plurality of types of toner to the developer reservoir; a first detector for detecting whether each of the toner containers is completely empty of toner; and a second detector for detecting whether the developer reservoir is nearly or completely empty of mixed developer. A controller controls the replenishment device and allows or prohibits a printing operation based on the detection result of the first and the second detectors.
Public/Granted literature
- US07248805B2 Image forming apparatus and developing unit Public/Granted day:2007-07-24
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