Patent ID: 8886061
Filing Date: 2014-11-11
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. A developer accommodating device, comprising: an accommodating container configured to store a developer; a rotating member including a first part and a second part joined to the first part, a rotation driving member configured to rotate the rotating member in a predetermined direction; and an optical member including a light entrance surface and a light exit surface facing a same direction as the light entrance surface, the light entrance surface receiving light emitted in a first direction from a light-emitting unit disposed outside the developer accommodating device, the light received at the light entrance surface exiting from the light exit surface toward a light-receiving unit disposed outside the developer accommodating device in a second direction substantially opposite to the first direction, the light entrance surface and the light exit surface being disposed at an end and another end of the optical member, respectively; wherein the rotating member starts rotating by the rotation driving member, and then rotates based on the weight of the rotating member when the stirring part reaches a predetermined rotation position, the rotation of the rotating member based on the weight of the rotating member being stopped by the developer when the stirring part contacts an upper surface of the developer stored in the accommodating container; wherein the rotating member is formed so that when the stirring part is positioned at a lowest position of a rotation track thereof, the light-passing section is positioned on an optical path from the light-emitting unit to the light-receiving unit; and wherein the light-blocking section and the light-passing section are positioned between a first imaginary plane and a second imaginary plane, the first imaginary plane being parallel to the light entrance surface and including the light entrance surface, and the second imaginary plane being parallel to the light exit surface and including the light exit surface.