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:
May. 04, 1999
Filed:
Oct. 18, 1996
Applicant:
Inventors:
Tadashi Shinohara, Tokyo, JP;
Kouichi Noguchi, Machida, JP;
Eiichi Sasaki, Sagamihara, JP;
Kouichi Irie, Gotenba, JP;
Assignee:
Ricoh Company Ltd., , JP;
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G03G / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
399 64 ; 399 62 ;
Abstract
A method and a system for optically detecting an empty condition in a toner cartridge has a light reflector placed on an outside surface of a toner cartridge wall. A light source emits light directly or ultimately towards the light reflector and the reflected light is detected by a light detection device if the toner cartridge is sufficiently empty.