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:
Feb. 23, 2016
Filed:
Mar. 02, 2012
Masafumi Monde, Yokohama, JP;
Toshikazu Tsuchiya, Susono, JP;
Hidetoshi Hanamoto, Mishima, JP;
Tsutomu Ishida, Suntou-gun, JP;
Masafumi Monde, Yokohama, JP;
Toshikazu Tsuchiya, Susono, JP;
Hidetoshi Hanamoto, Mishima, JP;
Tsutomu Ishida, Suntou-gun, JP;
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus includes a developing unit for accommodating a developer, a rotatable member, rotatable in the developing unit, for stirring the developer, and a pressure-detecting portion for detecting a pressure applied by the rotatable member and for outputting a voltage signal corresponding to the pressure. The pressure-detecting portion is provided on the wall surface perpendicular to the rotational axis direction of the rotatable member in the developing unit. In addition, a discriminating portion discriminates an amount of the developer in the developing unit on the basis of a change in the voltage signal outputted from the pressure-detecting portion.