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:
Dec. 26, 1995
Filed:
May. 05, 1994
Mamoru Watanabe, Kawasaki, JP;
Michihiro Fujii, Hoyogo, JP;
Fujitsu Limited, Kawasaki, JP;
Abstract
A developer cartridge designed to permit discrimination of whether the cartridge is used or unused, and an image forming apparatus using this cartridge. The developer cartridge includes a cylindrical body whose rotational axis extends in a direction perpendicular to a developer carrying direction of the developing unit; a first developer storage room, provided at the cylindrical body, for storing an unused developer; an opening formed in the first developer storage room; a case having a cylinder for rotatably retaining the cylindrical body, the cylinder having an injection port provided in association with the opening of the first developer storage room; a second developer storage room, provided at a lower portion of the cylinder of the case, for storing a used developer from the developing unit; and a setting device selectively movable to a first position indicating an unused share of the developer cartridge and a second position indicating a used state of the developer cartridge to detect if the developer cartridge is unused or used. The image forming apparatus includes an endless latent carrier; an apparatus for forming an electrostatic latent image on the endless latent carrier; developing means for developing the electrostatic latent image on the endless latent carrier; a developer cartridge detachably attached to the developing means for exchanging developers, and having the same components as the above-described cartridge; drive apparatus for driving the cylindrical body of the developer cartridge for developer exchange; a detecting unit for detecting the setting device of the developer cartridge to detect if the developer cartridge is unused or used; and a control circuit for controlling the drive apparatus in accordance with a detection result from the detecting unit.