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:
Jun. 03, 1986
Filed:
Apr. 24, 1985
Masaru Imaizumi, Shinshiro, JP;
Kenzou Tanaka, Toyokawa, JP;
Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha, Osaka, JP;
Abstract
A developing material amount detecting apparatus for detecting an amount of developing material contained in a tank includes a detection member provided inside the tank movably between a settled position and a raised position, toner feeding vane for periodically sending the detection member from the settled position to the raised position, and a switch which turns on when the detection member is held substantially in the settled position and turns off when the detection member is held substantially in a position other than the settled position. The apparatus further includes a timer for counting a predetermined time length. The timer starts counting when the switch is turned off. When the switch is maintained off for a time length longer than the predetermined time length, it is indicated that the amount of developing material inside the tank is more than a predetermined amount.