Patent ID: 8649692
Filing Date: 2014-02-11
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. A toner replenishing device comprising: a toner container to store toner; a toner replenishing device to supply toner from the toner container to a developing device; a toner condition detector to detect an agglomeration condition of the toner stored in the toner container; a toner softening device to soften toner stored in the toner container; and a controller to drive the toner softening device for a prescribed time period in accordance with a detection result obtained by the toner condition detector, wherein said toner condition detector detects the toner agglomeration condition based on a toner replenishment coefficient determined by the controller based on a maximum toner storage capacity of the toner container, an amount of toner currently stored in the toner container, and an apparent density of soft toner stored in the toner container, said apparent density of soft toner being obtained by dividing the total weight of the soft toner filling a bottle by a cubic value of the bottle.