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. 21, 2015
Filed:
Apr. 04, 2012
Shinji Hosoya, Naka-gun, JP;
Toshikazu Tsuchiya, Susono, JP;
Masafumi Monde, Yokohama, JP;
Hidetoshi Hanamoto, Mishima, JP;
Tsutomu Ishida, Suntou-gun, JP;
Shinji Hosoya, Naka-gun, JP;
Toshikazu Tsuchiya, Susono, JP;
Masafumi Monde, Yokohama, JP;
Hidetoshi Hanamoto, Mishima, JP;
Tsutomu Ishida, Suntou-gun, JP;
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
The image forming apparatus includes a developing unit that is detachable and contains a developer, a detection member that includes an electrode to be detected and is rotatable around a rotation axis in the developing unit, an agitator that moves around the rotation axis in the developing unit; an electrostatic capacitance sensor electrode provided on an exterior of the developing unit, an electrostatic capacitance sensor that detects electrostatic capacitance between the electrode to be detected and the electrostatic capacitance sensor electrode, and outputs data on the detected electrostatic capacitance, and a CPU that determines an amount of developer in the developing unit based on the data output from the electrostatic capacitance sensor.