US 12,339,599 B2
Image forming apparatus
Hirokazu Fujino, Shizuoka (JP); Hirokazu Okugawa, Shizuoka (JP); and Shunsuke Matsushita, Kanagawa (JP)
Assigned to CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Tokyo (JP)
Filed by CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Dec. 15, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/541,149.
Claims priority of application No. 2022-207682 (JP), filed on Dec. 23, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0210853 A1, Jun. 27, 2024
Int. Cl. G03G 15/08 (2006.01); G03G 15/00 (2006.01)
CPC G03G 15/0856 (2013.01) [G03G 15/5016 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
an image bearing member configured to bear a developer image;
a developing unit which includes a developing member for forming the developer image on the image bearing member by supplying a developer to the image bearing member and an accommodating portion for accommodating the developer supplied to the developing member and to which a supply container accommodating the developer supplied to the accommodating portion is detachably mountable;
a first developer amount acquiring portion configured to acquire first developer amount information on a developer amount of the developer in the supply container connected to the developing unit;
a second developer amount acquiring portion configured to acquire second developer amount information on a developer amount of the developer in the accommodating portion;
a storing portion configured to store exchange number information on a number of times of the exchange of the supply container for the developing unit;
a developing setting portion configured to set a usable amount which is an amount of the developer capable of being used from the developing unit in an operation in an operation mode in which a developer image is formed by the developing unit;
a print ratio acquiring portion configured to acquire print ratio information on an average print ratio of the developer image formed by the developing unit; and
a controller,
wherein the controller controls
i) to notify first notification on an exchange of the supply container in a case the developer in the supply container is decreased in amount by being supplied from the supply container to the accommodating portion and then the developer amount of the developer in the supply container indicated by the first developer amount information reaches a predetermined developer amount,
ii) to execute the operation in the operation mode until the supply container connected to the developing unit is exchanged after the first notification, and
iii) to notify second notification notifying an end of the operation in the operation mode in a case that after the operation in the operation mode is started, a use amount of the developer from the developing unit indicated by the second developer amount information reaches the usable amount,
wherein the developing setting portion sets the usable amount depending on the exchange number information and the print ratio information.