Casio Computer Co., Ltd.

Casio Electronics Manufacturing Co., Ltd.

Fumio Shimazu

Chihiro Toyama

Tetsuya Abe

Yuichiro Iegaki

Hideki Ando

Hiroaki Ootsubo

In a new printer, a toner cartridge is mounted in the state where there is no toner in a reserve tank, and toner of the amount of filling toner D therein is supplied with the amount of full accommodation toner E for filling up the reserve tank by a toner supply mechanism. The toner of the amount of remaining surplus toner F remains in the toner cartridge. The amount of toner consumption G is measured by a dot counter during a printing execution. In the case where a toner density sensor detects a toner decreasing, the toner is supplied to a developing unit from the reserve tank. When it becomes G&#x3e;F, it display-informs a user of 'toner cartridge exchange is allowed'. Hereby, it enables to exchange the toner cartridge without stopping operation of the main body of the image forming apparatus using a two-component developer.

Image forming apparatus and toner refilling method therefor

An intermediate transfer belt is built in an electro-photographic image forming apparatus. A toner image formed on a photosensitive element is primary transferred on the intermediate transfer belt. The intermediate transfer belt secondary transfers the primary transferred toner image on a recording medium being conveyed at a secondary transfer unit. The intermediate transfer belt has streaks formed by surface roughening on the surface thereof and directed so as to have an angle relative to the driving direction of the intermediate transfer belt within a range from 40 to 140 degree. This angle setting enables stable transfer of an image without causing any character missing.

Intermediate transfer belt and electro-photographic image forming apparatus with intermediate transfer belt

Growing community of inventors

Hachioji, Japan

Fumio Shimazu