Patent ID: 9507314
Filing Date: 2016-11-29
CPC Classification: G03G

Claim Text:
1. An image forming apparatus comprising: an image bearing member; a developer carrying member for carrying developer; a cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of said image forming apparatus, said cartridge including (i) a cleaning member configured to remove the developer remaining on said image bearing member after a developer image is transferred onto a transfer material, (ii) a developer buffering portion for accommodating the developer being removed by said cleaning member, and (iii) a feeding member driven for feeding the developer from said developer buffering portion to a developer container provided in the main assembly; and a controller configured to control said feeding member to stop the drive of said feeding member, wherein said controller stops said feeding member when an estimated amount of toner to be removed by said cleaning member during a remaining lifetime of the cartridge is less than an amount of the developer storable in the developer buffering portion.