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. 21, 2012
Filed:
Mar. 25, 2010
Eiji Kawahara, Nagoya, JP;
Eiji Kawahara, Nagoya, JP;
Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Nagoya-shi, Aichi-ken, JP;
Abstract
A first moving member is provided in conjunction with a toner container collecting toner not transferred on the recording medium and moves in accordance with the movement of a toner conveying unit. A second moving member is provided in conjunction with the toner container and moves in accordance with an amount of the toner accumulated in the toner container. The toner conveying unit conveys the toner toward the second moving member. A detecting unit outputs a detection signal that changes depending on the movements of the first moving member and the second moving member. A determining unit determines, based on the detection signal, whether or not at least one of the driving force supplying unit and the toner conveying unit is in an abnormal condition and whether or not the amount of the toner accumulated in the toner container has reached a predetermined accumulation level.