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:
Sep. 28, 2010
Filed:
Nov. 05, 2007
Jun Cheol Bae, Yongin-si, KR;
Jun Cheol Bae, Yongin-si, KR;
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Suwon-si, KR;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus equipped with an improved developer detecting device and agitating device to simplify an inner structure of a developing device and/or a waste developer container while reducing the number of components and costs. The image forming apparatus includes a developer storage part to store a developer, a light emitting part and a light receiving part provided to detect an amount of developer stored in the developer storage part, and a rotating unit which rotates to agitate the developer stored in the developer storage part and guides light emitted from the light emitting part to the light receiving part. The rotating unit includes two rotating members. Each of the rotating members has a rotating shaft portion and an extending portion which extends eccentrically from the rotating shaft portion. The extending portions oppose each other to define a developer detecting region therebetween. When the rotating unit rotates, the developer detecting region moves upward and downward. Accordingly, the amount of developer stored in the developing device or the waste developer container can be checked more precisely.