Patent ID: 9020374
Filing Date: 2015-04-28
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. A developer transport unit for refilling developer in a developing unit used for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on a photoconductor by applying developer, comprising: an intra-vessel transporting device to transport developer in a developer storage vessel to an ejection unit, the developer storage vessel attached at one end to the ejection unit; a transport/supply device to transport the developer from the ejection unit into a sub-storage vessel; an intermediate-developer amount detector which detects developer present in the sub-storage vessel; and a control unit to control driving of the intra-vessel transporting device and the transport/supply device, wherein detection of a predetermined amount of developer in the sub-storage vessel by the intermediate-developer amount detector causes the control unit to, as a first developer driving action after detection of the predetermined amount before performing any other developer driving action, drive the intra-vessel transporting device for a given time without driving the transport/supply device, and then subsequently drive the transport/supply device along with the intra-vessel transporting device until the intermediate-developer amount detector detects that the sub-storage vessel is refilled, the developer transport unit further comprising an intra-vessel developer amount detector to obtain an amount of the developer present in the developer storage vessel, wherein the control unit adjusts a transport speed of developer to be transported from the developer storage vessel to the ejection unit by the intra-vessel transporting device based on an amount of the developer present in the developer storage vessel obtained by the intra-vessel developer amount detector such that as a detected amount of the developer present in the developer storage vessel obtained by the intra-vessel developer amount detector decreases, the control unit increases the transport speed of the developer to be transported from the developer storage vessel to the ejection unit by the intra-vessel transporting device, and wherein the control unit adjusts a transport speed of developer transported from the ejection unit to the sub-storage vessel by the transport/supply device based on an amount of the developer present in the developer storage vessel obtained by the intra-vessel developer amount detector.