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:
Apr. 15, 2014
Filed:
Jul. 11, 2011
Masashi Hirai, Osaka, JP;
Masashi Hirai, Osaka, JP;
Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha, Osaka, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus includes a PTC and a toner concentration sensor that are disposed adjacent to and downstream of a fourth image forming unit. The PTC and the toner concentration sensor are opposed to an intermediate transfer belt. A counter roller is opposed to the PTC across the intermediate transfer belt. The counter roller moves to, during the toner concentration detection, a position opposed to the toner concentration sensor across the intermediate transfer belt. Compared to the PTC and the toner concentration sensor each having a counter roller, less rollers may be provided, thereby reducing degradation of the intermediate transfer belt due to wear.