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. 14, 2012
Filed:
Aug. 31, 2009
Takao Izumi, Yokohama, JP;
Hiroshi Murata, Yokohama, JP;
Takashi Hatakeyama, Yokohama, JP;
Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Tokyo, JP;
Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A developing apparatus includes a tank configured to contain a developing agent including a toner and a carrier, the tank having a discharge port configured to discharge the developing agent overflowing from the tank, a supplier configured to develop a latent image by using the toner contained in the tank, a replenisher configured to contain the developing agent and to replenish the developing agent into the tank, and a controller configured to estimate an amount of the developing agent in the tank in according with the amount of the supplied developing agent and the amount of the replenished developing agent and to execute a forced discharge for forcibly discharging the developing agent contained in the tank from the discharge port based on the estimated amount of developing agent.