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:
Nov. 06, 2007
Filed:
Mar. 01, 2005
Masanao Kunugi, Suwa, JP;
Mitsutaka Nishikawa, Suwa, JP;
Masanao Kunugi, Suwa, JP;
Mitsutaka Nishikawa, Suwa, JP;
Seiko Epson Corporation, , JP;
Abstract
A toner quantity measuring device, a method of measuring toner quantity and an image forming apparatus are provided that can accurately measure the toner quantity in an environmentally friendly manner, without having to make contact with a toner carrier and within a shortened period of time. The toner quantity measuring device is designed to measure the quantity of the toner T on a developing rollerwhich carries coloring agent-containing toner T in the form of a thin layer. The toner quantity measuring device is provided with a chromaticity detectorfor detecting average chromaticity of the light which is irradiated from a light sourceonto the developing rollerand then reflected by the developing roller, and a calculatorfor calculating the toner quantity based on the average chromaticity detected by the chromaticity detector