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. 13, 2004
Filed:
Feb. 28, 2002
Masato Sakai, Tokyo, JP;
Norio Ebata, Tokyo, JP;
Oki Data Corporation, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus includes an image-forming unit having a charging section and a developing section that are rotated together with a photoconductor in an idling manner. The charging section and developing section receive voltages while rotating. The apparatus includes a toner sensor and a controller. The toner sensor outputs a detection signal indicating that the toner has been replenished in the image-forming unit. In accordance with the detection signal, the controller changes the voltages, a time length during which the photoconductor, charging section, and developing section are rotated, or speeds at which the photoconductor, charging section, and developing section are rotated. The time length is extended or speeds are increased when the image-forming unit has been replaced.