Patent ID: 8355644
Filing Date: 2013-01-15
Classification: G01F,G03G

Abstract:
1. A toner-remaining-amount detection sensor, comprising: a rubber member which is formed of a thin film, arranged so as to face an inside of a toner storage container for storing toner, and elastically deformed in accordance with a change of toner pressure in the toner storage container; an actuator which is arranged on an outside of the toner storage container while sandwiching the rubber member between the toner storage container and the actuator and which reciprocates in accordance with elastic deformation of the rubber member; a transmission sensor which comprises a light detecting portion including a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion and which is arranged so that a light path of the light detecting portion is blocked or unblocked by reciprocation of the actuator; and a holder member which comprises the actuator is supported by the holder member so as to move to a first position at which the transmission sensor detects that a toner remaining amount in the toner storage container is a predetermined amount or more when the toner pressure in the toner storage container acts on the rubber member, and to move to a second position at which the transmission sensor detects that the toner remaining amount in the toner storage container falls below the predetermined amount when the toner pressure in the toner storage container does not act on the rubber member; and when the actuator is at the second position, the actuator partially comes into contact with the holder member so that a gap is formed between the actuator and the rubber member.