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:
Jan. 30, 2007
Filed:
Jun. 24, 2004
Makoto Yabuki, Tokyo, JP;
Hiroyuki Inoue, Tokyo, JP;
Yasunaga Yamaguchi, Tokyo, JP;
Kazuaki Arai, Tokyo, JP;
Makoto Yabuki, Tokyo, JP;
Hiroyuki Inoue, Tokyo, JP;
Yasunaga Yamaguchi, Tokyo, JP;
Kazuaki Arai, Tokyo, JP;
Oki Data Corporation, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An image-forming apparatus includes an image-forming section, a detection section, and a controller. The image-forming section has an image-bearing body on which an electrostatic latent image is formed and a developing unit that develops the electrostatic latent image. The detection section generates an output indicative of a remaining amount of toner in the developing unit. The controller drives the drive section to cause the image-forming section to move from one position to another, and determines a position of the image-forming section based on the output of the detection section. The detection section is mounted to a toner cartridge within the developing unit. When the image-forming section is moved from one position to another, the detection section receives light reflected by a high-reflectivity area and a low-reflectivity area, thereby detecting the position of the image-forming section.