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:
Jul. 30, 2002
Filed:
Mar. 03, 1998
Masaharu Ohkubo, Yokohama, JP;
Minoru Matsuguma, Susono, JP;
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, an electrostatic image forming device for forming an electrostatic image based on an image signal on the image bearing member, a developing device for developing the electrostatic image on the image bearing member, a detector for detecting the amount of a toner in the developing device, an integrating device for integrating a number of image signals produced by the apparatus, and an estimator for estimating and indicating whether the apparatus has consumed a predetermined amount of toner, on the basis of the integrated amount integrated by the integrating device before the detector detects the consumption of all the toner.