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. 08, 2011
Filed:
Dec. 16, 2008
Norio Tomita, Nara, JP;
Yoshikazu Harada, Nara, JP;
Tetsushi Ito, Nara, JP;
Noriaki Taguchi, Nara, JP;
Yoshiteru Kikuchi, Yamatokoriyama, JP;
Kenichi Isomi, Yamatokoriyama, JP;
Norio Tomita, Nara, JP;
Yoshikazu Harada, Nara, JP;
Tetsushi Ito, Nara, JP;
Noriaki Taguchi, Nara, JP;
Yoshiteru Kikuchi, Yamatokoriyama, JP;
Kenichi Isomi, Yamatokoriyama, JP;
Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha, Osaka, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus includes a controller for detecting the opening and closing of a shutter from the output from an optical sensor and controlling the opening and closing operation of the shutter based on the detected result. The controller determines that if the optical sensor is turned 'ON' within a predetermined period of time from when the shutter begins opening, the operation of the shutter from the closed state to the open state is correctly detected. When no reflected light is detected by the optical sensor even after a predetermined time has elapsed, the controller determines that an anomaly has occurred and closes the shutter and repeat another detecting process.