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:
Oct. 04, 2016
Filed:
Oct. 29, 2014
Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Nagoya-shi, Aichi-ken, JP;
BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Nagoya-Shi, Aichi-Ken, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus includes: a body of the image forming apparatus; and a cartridge installable with respect to the body, wherein the cartridge includes a developer accommodating portion accommodating a developer; a developing portion supporting a developer holding member holding the developer thereon; and a shutter configured to be movable between an open position at which the shutter opens a communication port and a closed position at which the shutter closes the communication port. The body includes a detecting section detecting a state of the cartridge which changes as the cartridge is used, and a judging section judging whether or not a cartridge exchange timing for exchanging the cartridge has arrived, based on the state of the cartridge detected by the detecting section; and the shutter moves to the closed position under a condition that the judging section judges that the cartridge exchange timing has arrived.