Patent ID: 9329528
Filing Date: 2016-05-03
CPC Classification: G03G

Claim Text:
1. An image forming apparatus comprising: a development section that develops an electrostatic latent image using toner; a toner replenishment section that receives toner supply from a toner container and conveys received toner toward the development section; a toner sensor that outputs a value that varies depending on an amount of a toner remaining in the toner replenishment section and a magnetic characteristic of the toner; and a determination section that determines according to an output value of the toner sensor whether or not an existing toner container is replaced by a new toner container, wherein the new toner container is filled with a first toner and a second toner that have different magnetic characteristics, once attached to the image forming apparatus, the new toner container supplies the first toner to the toner replenishment section prior to the second toner and the toner sensor outputs an output value within a first-toner output value range that is a range of an output value of the toner sensor in response to the magnetic characteristic of the first toner, and upon the output value of the toner sensor changing from a value out of the first-toner output value range to a value within the first-toner output value range, the determination section determines replacement by the new toner container.