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:
Aug. 20, 2002
Filed:
Feb. 09, 2001
Toshiyuki Itoh, Kawasaki, JP;
Fujitsu Limited, Kawasaki, JP;
Abstract
This invention relates to a device for detecting when the magnetic toner in the developing unit of an image formation device is empty, and prevents erroneous detection of empty toner even when the fluidity of the magnetic toner becomes poor. The developing device ( ) has a stirring unit ( ) having a cleaning member ( ) for cleaning the position of a toner sensor ( ), a toner accumulation section ( ), and a magnetic metal member ( ). The magnetic metal member ( ) and toner accumulation section ( ) for preventing erroneous detection of the toner-empty alarm are located at the sensor position of the stirring unit, so it is possible for the toner sensor to synthetically generate output that toner is detected, and thus making it possible to prevent erroneous detection that the toner is empty.