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:
Feb. 14, 2012
Filed:
Jan. 30, 2009
Osamu Teramura, Tokyo, JP;
Osamu Teramura, Tokyo, JP;
Oki Data Corporation, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A developer stirring unit, a developing device containing the developer stirring unit and an image forming apparatus comprising the developing device are supplied capable of correctly judging a remainder amount of developer in accommodating tank. In the developer stirring unit, a accommodating tank accommodates developer; a stirring member has at least one shaft portion and is used to stir the developer accommodated in the accommodating tank; a bearing member couples with the shaft portion and supports the stirring member to possibly rotate around the shaft portion serving as rotation axis and to possibly move along a axis direction of the rotation axis; a driving section drives the stirring member to rotate; and a judging section judges a remainder amount of the developer in the accommodating tank, wherein the stirring member is controlled to move along an axis direction of the rotation axis together with rotating along a rotation direction of the rotation axis.