Developing Device, Image Forming Apparatus, and Process Unit

An information attaching unit attaches either one of carrier density information of initial developer and loose apparent density information of toner in the initial developer to a housing of a developing device. A density-information storage unit stores therein either one of the carrier density information and the loose apparent density information as electronic data. At least one of the information attaching unit and the density-information storage unit is provided before shipment of the developing device.

The present invention relates to a technology for detecting toner concentration in initial developer contained in a developing device by a toner-concentration detecting unit and consuming toner in developer in the developing device based on a detected result, to decrease the toner concentration in the initial developer.

Generally, even if toner is manufactured in the same method and under the same environment, a loose apparent density (volume per unit mass) of the toner varies with each product. Meanwhile, the toner-concentration detecting sensor formed of the magnetic permeability sensor does not detect the toner concentration itself in the developer but detects carrier density in the developer (bulk density of developer). Even if the toner concentration in the developer (a weight ratio of toner to magnetic carrier) is constant, the carrier density in the developer may become different if the loose apparent density of toner is different. Therefore, even if the developer with the same toner concentration is used, an output value from the toner-concentration detecting sensor becomes different if the loose apparent density of toner is different.

Attached files:
device.jpg

Patents:
US 20,090,080,913

Inventor(s): SUZUKI YUJI [JP]

Type of Offer: Sale



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