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. 09, 1993
Filed:
Jun. 21, 1988
Masaru Imaizumi, Osaka, JP;
Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha, Osaka, JP;
Abstract
A toner collecting includes a toner collecting container, a support rest, a pressure sensor and a controller. As a residual toner left and removed off a photoconductive drum gradually fills the toner collecting container, the support rest moves downward to exert a load to the pressure sensor. The pressure sensor outputs voltages, varying in accordance, with the load, to the controller. Then the controller prohibits the operation of an image forming apparatus when the pressure sensor outputs voltages in compliance with the weight of the empty toner collecting container and the weight of the toner collecting container filled up with the residual toner collected. Therefore, the toner collecting apparatus can be built in a simple construction resulting in a reduced manufacturing cost and arouse an operator's attention in a reliable and understandable manner.