DEVELOPING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CLEANING LIGHT PROJECTING PART AND LIGHT RECEIVING PART IN THE DEVELOPING DEVICE

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To hardly cause such erroneous detection that the presence of toner is detected though toner does not exist.;SOLUTION: A toner supply drive means 70 for driving a toner supply means 40 is provided separately from a developing device drive means, and toner consumption is counted by a control part 2 provided in an image forming apparatus main body. When the toner consumption attains a prescribed value, the toner supply drive means 70 is actuated to supply the toner to a toner storing chamber 20 until the toner is detected by a toner detection means 50. A cleaning member for cleaning a light projecting part 51 and a light receiving part 52 is actuated with the toner supply drive means 70 as a drive source only when the toner is supplied.;COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT