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:
Mar. 03, 2009
Filed:
Mar. 18, 2004
Takahiko Kimura, Ikoma, JP;
Takeshi Wakabayashi, Soraku-gun, JP;
Teruyoshi Sudoh, Yamatokoriyama, JP;
Takahiko Kimura, Ikoma, JP;
Takeshi Wakabayashi, Soraku-gun, JP;
Teruyoshi Sudoh, Yamatokoriyama, JP;
Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha, Osaka, JP;
Abstract
An object of the present invention is to provide a remaining amount of toner detecting apparatus capable of highly accurately detecting the remaining amount of toner with a simple configuration, a toner cartridge in which the remaining amount of toner is highly accurately detected with a simple configuration, and an image forming apparatus which enables the operator to easily recognize time to resupply toner and is capable of forming an image of high image quality. A holding member () is flexible, one end () in the longitudinal direction is connected to a stirring member (), and the other end () in the longitudinal direction holds a detection auxiliary member () disposed in a housing (). Consequently, the holding member () and the detection auxiliary member () rotate as the stirring member () rotates. Moreover, as to the detection auxiliary member (), since the holding member () is flexible, the rotation radius of the detection auxiliary member () changes in response to the reference amount of toner (). A detecting component () detects the distance to the detection auxiliary member () that changes in response to the amount of the toner () in the housing (), and a CPU () calculates the remaining amount of the toner ().