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. 09, 2003
Filed:
Mar. 07, 2002
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A cartridge includes a developing apparatus equipped with a developer containing portion containing a developer, a residual developer amount detecting device for detecting a residual developer amount in the developer containing portion, and a storage device capable of storing the latest residual developer amount information. An image forming apparatus includes a continuous rest time counter configured to count a continuous rest time of the image forming apparatus, and a controller which is configured to prohibit updating of the residual developer amount information to the storage device for a predetermined period after the end of the continuous rest time of the image forming apparatus when the continuous rest time counter indicates a time not shorter than a predetermined time. This structure provides an image forming apparatus and an image forming system in which no deterioration in detection accuracy occurs even if an unstable toner state occurs due to a long printing rest time.