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, 2000
Filed:
Nov. 05, 1997
Tadashi Mizoguchi, Niigata, JP;
Hitoshi Takemoto, Niigata, JP;
Junichi Suetsugu, Niigata, JP;
Hitoshi Minemoto, Niigata, JP;
Kazuo Shima, Niigata, JP;
Yoshihiro Hagiwara, Niigata, JP;
Toru Yakushiji, Niigata, JP;
NEC Corporation, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
The quantity of toner particles in an ink is detected by a toner quantity detector. The quantity of toner particles is integrated for a predetermined time period by a controlling portion. The integrated value is compared with a reference value. When the integrated value is smaller than the reference value, a value is opened for a predetermined time period so as to supply a toner in a toner replenisher to an ink tank. Thus, a predetermined quantity of the toner is replenished to the ink tank. After the toner has been replenished, when the integrated value does not become larger than the reference value, a valve is opened for a predetermined time period under the control of the controlling portion so as to replenish a charge control agent from a charge control agent replenisher to the ink tank.