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:
May. 18, 2021
Filed:
Apr. 20, 2017
Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha, Sakai, JP;
Motoyuki Itoyama, Sakai, JP;
SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Sakai, JP;
Abstract
A toner detection device includes sensor cases, optical sensors, a cleaning member, a motor, and a control unit. The sensor cases include detection surfaces and are placed on wall surfaces of a hopper container. The optical sensors are housed in the sensor cases and detect presence or absence of toner at a specified elevation through the detection surfaces. The cleaning member slides and rubs on the detection surfaces. The motor moves the cleaning member. In case where the cleaning member is to be stopped, the control unit controls the motor so as to stop the cleaning member in a region in which the cleaning member does not come into contact with the detection surfaces.