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:
Jun. 27, 2000
Filed:
Aug. 03, 1998
Mitsugu Inomata, Susono, JP;
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, to which a process cartridge is detachably mountable, the apparatus includes mounting member for mounting a process cartridge, the process cartridge including: a. an electrophotographic photosensitive member; a cleaning member for removing toner remaining on the electrophotographic photosensitive member; a toner accommodating portion for accommodating toner removed from the electrophotographic photosensitive member by the cleaning member; a first light transmission opening, provided in the toner accommodating portion, for directing light from outside into the toner accommodating portion; and a second light transmission opening, provided in the toner accommodating portion, for directing the light directed into the toner accommodating portion through the first light transmission opening, to an outside of the toner accommodating portion; wherein the mounting member is movable between an image forming position for forming an image and a mounting-and-demounting position for mounting or demounting the process cartridge; b. a light emission member for emitting the light; c. a light receiving element for receiving the light; d. a light guiding member, provided on the mounting member, for guiding the light having passed through the second light transmission opening to the light receiving element; e. a feeding member for feeding the recording material.