Patent ID: 10990034

Abstract:
A powder storage height detection device includes: a main body that includes a transport path along which powder is transported; a powder transport unit that is disposed to rotate in the transport path and includes a transporter provided spirally around a rotational shaft; a swinging unit that comes into contact with a surface of the powder transported in the transport path, and swings by following at least a storage height of the surface; a detection unit that detects a state of swinging of the swinging unit; and a determination unit that determines presence or absence of the powder based on a detection signal outputted from the detection unit. The transport unit includes a non-transport portion in which the transporter is not present, and which is formed as an eccentric shaft having a shaft center displaced from the rotational shaft, the swinging unit is located and disposed to swing in the non-transport portion, and the determination unit samples the detection signal at an interval, and when a proportion of the detection signal lower than or equal to an output level becomes greater than or equal to a threshold value, outputs a signal indicating determination of absence of the powder, the interval being obtained by dividing a required time for one rotation of the transport unit by a predetermined number, the output level defining that the storage height is relatively low.