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:
Jul. 08, 2014
Filed:
Mar. 08, 2012
Kosuke Ogino, Susono, JP;
Kosuke Ogino, Susono, JP;
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus includes a detachably-mounted cartridge including a developer accommodating portion for accommodating a developer and an operation member, a remaining amount detector for detecting a remaining amount of developer in the developer accommodating portion, an operation amount detector for detecting a cumulative operation amount of the operation member, and a setting device for setting timing of subsequent remaining amount detection of the remaining amount detector. The remaining amount detector provides a remaining amount ratio of the developer remainder to a maximum accommodation capacity of the developer accommodating portion, and the operation amount detector provides an operation amount ratio of a remaining operation amount until the end of the service life from the detection of the cumulative operation amount to a total operation amount until the end of the service life from an initial state of the operation member. The setting device sets the timing on the basis of a comparison between the remaining amount ratio and the operation amount ratio.