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. 27, 2013
Filed:
Aug. 30, 2011
Satoru Sasaki, Toyokawa, JP;
Yoshiki Katayama, Toyokawa, JP;
Hirotada Seki, Toyokawa, JP;
Natsuyo Higashi, Toyokawa, JP;
Shigetaka Kato, Shinshiro, JP;
Satoru Sasaki, Toyokawa, JP;
Yoshiki Katayama, Toyokawa, JP;
Hirotada Seki, Toyokawa, JP;
Natsuyo Higashi, Toyokawa, JP;
Shigetaka Kato, Shinshiro, JP;
Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc., Chiyoda-Ku, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus includes a toner carrier, a toner image forming unit, and a toner concentration sensor. The toner carrier includes a transparent film. The toner image forming unit forms a toner image onto the toner carrier. The toner concentration sensor senses the concentration of toner on the toner carrier. The toner concentration sensor includes first and second light emitting elements and a light receiving element. The light emitting elements each radiate light directly or indirectly to the toner carrier. The light receiving element receives reflecting light originating from the light emitting elements. The first light emitting element radiates light having a wavelength of a predetermined reflectance resulting from direct radiation to the toner carrier. The second light emitting element radiates light having a wavelength that causes a lower reflectance resulting from direct radiation to the toner carrier than a reflectance resulting from radiation to the toner.