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:
Aug. 25, 1992
Filed:
Mar. 03, 1992
Masami Kai, Kashihara, JP;
Toshinobu Katafuchi, Fujiidera, JP;
Hideyuki Tanaka, Itami, JP;
Toru Taniguchi, Hirakata, JP;
Syuji Yamada, Kobe, JP;
Takao Ichihashi, Toyonaka, JP;
Mita Industrial Co., Ltd., , JP;
Abstract
In an image forming apparatus in which toner is fed to a developer unit from a toner storage container through toner conveying means provided between the toner storage container and the developer unit, the image forming apparatus comprises a toner remaining amount detector for detecting not more than a predetermined amount of toner in the toner storage container, a toner density detector for detecting the density of toner in the developer unit, and means for interrupting the image forming operation to feed the toner to the developer unit from the toner storage container through the toner conveying means when the amount of the toner in the toner storage container is larger than the predetermined amount and the density detected by the toner density detector is lower than a predetermined density. Comsequently, suitable measures can be taken when there occurs such a state that no toner exists in the toner conveying means between the toner storage container and the developing mechanism even if the toner exists in the toner storage container.