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:
Apr. 03, 2001
Filed:
Sep. 20, 1999
Hiroaki Miyamura, Tokyo, JP;
Saeko Toda, Tokyo, JP;
Kyocera Corporation, , JP;
Abstract
An apparatus for controlling the density of a developer is described. The apparatus includes a developer container,in which a developer is enclosed; a detector,for magnetically detecting information about the density of the toner; toner supply for supplying toner in accordance with an output value from the detecting means; waveform forming for reducing an output value from the detecting means by operating mechanical means,for periodically raking out the developer existing on a detecting surface of the detecting means,; and delaying means for inhibiting detection of the density of toner from a predetermined time at which the output value has been reduced to a time at which the output value is restored to a stable output value. The toner supply means can be operated in accordance with a value detected after the delay means has been suspended. A developing apparatus incorporating: sampling means for sampling formed waveforms at predetermined intervals; sampling-number setting means for setting the number of sampling operations in a predetermined period; and output-value detecting means for detecting a predetermined output value which is reduced by the sampling means, wherein a determination is made that a malfunction has occurred when the output value which is reduced is not detected by the output-value detecting means after sampling has been performed by a predetermined number of times.