The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 26, 2019
Filed:
May. 24, 2018
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Hiroshi Okamura, Kanagawa, JP;
Masaki Tsugawa, Kanagawa, JP;
Yuji Ikeda, Kanagawa, JP;
Natsuko Ishizuka, Kanagawa, JP;
Hayato Fujita, Kanagawa, JP;
Yohei Kushida, Kanagawa, JP;
Keita Maejima, Kanagawa, JP;
RICOH COMPANY, LTD., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A remaining powder amount detection device includes: a powder moving portion configured to change a distribution of powder in an inner space of a powder container containing the powder; a drive unit configured to drive the powder moving portion; a change value detector configured to detect a change value indicating a positional change of the powder container; and a remaining powder amount detector configured to detect a remaining amount of the powder contained in the powder container, based on the change value. The drive unit is configured to drive the powder moving portion so as to move the powder to near the change value detector. The remaining powder amount detector is configured to detect the remaining amount based on the change value in a state where the powder is moved to near the change value detector.