US 12,085,872 B2
Image forming apparatus and method of controlling the same
Takashi Suzuki, Nagoya (JP); Kazuma Hinoue, Nagoya (JP); Takashi Yasuda, Nagoya (JP); Takashi Shimizu, Nagoya (JP); and Yoshifumi Kajikawa, Nagoya (JP)
Assigned to Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Nagoya (JP)
Filed by Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Nagoya (JP)
Filed on Feb. 21, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/111,980.
Application 18/111,980 is a continuation of application No. 17/662,154, filed on May 5, 2022, granted, now 11,599,039.
Application 17/662,154 is a continuation of application No. 17/026,794, filed on Sep. 21, 2020, granted, now 11,360,406, issued on Jun. 14, 2022.
Application 17/026,794 is a continuation of application No. 16/504,852, filed on Jul. 8, 2019, granted, now 10,809,647, issued on Oct. 20, 2020.
Application 16/504,852 is a continuation of application No. 15/940,226, filed on Mar. 29, 2018, granted, now 10,386,745, issued on Aug. 20, 2019.
Claims priority of application No. 2017-070297 (JP), filed on Mar. 31, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2023/0205110 A1, Jun. 29, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G03G 15/08 (2006.01)
CPC G03G 15/0862 (2013.01) [G03G 15/0855 (2013.01); G03G 15/0856 (2013.01); G03G 15/0865 (2013.01); G03G 2215/0891 (2013.01); G03G 2221/183 (2013.01)] 2 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a photoconductor drum;
a developing unit including a developing roller and a developing unit housing allowing toner to be supplied;
a toner housing storing toner, the toner housing detachably attached to the developing unit;
a toner sensor configured to detect an amount of toner in the developing unit housing; and
a controller configured to execute:
obtaining an amount of the toner used since a prior detection of the amount of the toner in the developing unit housing;
supplying the toner to the developing unit housing from the toner housing;
detecting, by the toner sensor, the amount of the toner in the developing unit housing only after determining that the obtained amount of the toner used since the prior detection is equal to or greater than a detecting threshold; and
determining whether or not the amount of the toner in the developing unit housing is greater than a predetermined amount, so as to prevent the toner from being excessively supplied into the developing unit housing from the toner housing.