Patent ID: 7970306

Claim:
An image forming apparatus comprising: a developing device for developing a latent image formed on an image bearing member on the basis of image information, into a developed image with a developer, said developing device including a developer accommodating portion for accommodating the developer and a stirring member for stirring the developer in said developer accommodating portion; an optical remaining amount detecting device for detecting a remaining amount of the developer in said developer accommodating portion, by passing light through an inside of said developer accommodating portion; a consumption amount calculation device for calculating a consumption amount of the developer on the basis of the image information; and an outputting device for outputting, in accordance with an elapsed drive time of said stirring member since a start of continuously driving said stirring member during an image forming operation, either one of: (1) an information signal indicative of a developer remainder amount based on a detection result of said optical remaining amount detecting device, or (2) an information signal indicative of a developer remainder amount based on the consumption amount provided by said consumption amount calculation device.