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:
Aug. 24, 2010
Filed:
Oct. 26, 2007
Kazuhiro Hayamizu, Nishikamo-gun, JP;
Masatoshi Yamada, Nakashima-gun, JP;
Yukichi Sawaki, Nagoya, JP;
Koji Akagi, Nagoya, JP;
Kazuhiro Hayamizu, Nishikamo-gun, JP;
Masatoshi Yamada, Nakashima-gun, JP;
Yukichi Sawaki, Nagoya, JP;
Koji Akagi, Nagoya, JP;
Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Nagoya, JP;
Abstract
The ink cartridge has a first detection target portion for detecting ink level and a second detection target portion for identifying the type of an ink cartridge. The ink level detection device uses an optical sensor to scan the first and second detection target portions of the ink cartridge, and detects ink level and the type of the ink cartridge, that is, whether the ink cartridge is containing standard amount of ink or large amount of ink. Therefore, the number of image formation on recording media can be estimated, and failure in image formation due to a shortage of ink in the middle of image formation can be inhibited.