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:
Oct. 12, 1993
Filed:
Apr. 16, 1992
Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha, Osaka, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus according to the present invention is provided with a developing unit which develops an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrostatic latent image holding body. The image forming apparatus comprises a measuring device for measuring toner concentration in the developing unit, a toner container for storing toner, a first supply unit for supplying a predetermined amount of toner from the toner container to the developing unit when it is determined that the toner concentration measured by the measuring device is lower than a first predetermined concentration, a second supply unit for supplying from the toner container to the developing unit toner of a larger amount than the first supply unit, a storage device for storing predetermined information related to concentration when it is determined that the toner concentration measured by said measuring device is below a second predetermined concentration lower than the first predetermined one, and an actuating device for actuating the second supply unit if the predetermined information has been stored in said storage device when power is turned on.