发明名称 |
Image forming apparatus |
摘要 |
An image forming apparatus includes a buffer configured to temporarily store in the buffer toner supplied from a toner cartridge and to be fed to a developing unit; a magnetic reed switch configured to sense magnet variation occurring in a sensing range and sequentially output signals each indicating a result of the sensing; a toner level indicator plate disposed within the buffer to swing up and down about a fixed edge in response to a change in a level of the toner that remains in the buffer, the toner level indicator plate having a magnet on a free edge thereof, the magnet being made to reach the sensing range in a state where the toner level indicator plate has swung down. |
申请公布号 |
US8929751(B2) |
申请公布日期 |
2015.01.06 |
申请号 |
US201113031791 |
申请日期 |
2011.02.22 |
申请人 |
Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc. |
发明人 |
Naruse Akira |
分类号 |
G03G15/08 |
主分类号 |
G03G15/08 |
代理机构 |
Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC |
代理人 |
Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC |
主权项 |
1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a buffer configured to temporarily store therein toner supplied from a toner cartridge and to be fed to a developing unit; a magnetic reed switch configured to sense magnet variation occurring in a sensing range and sequentially output signals each indicating a result of the sensing; a toner level indicator plate disposed within the buffer to swing up and down about a fixed edge in response to a change in a level of the toner that remains in the buffer, the toner level indicator plate having a magnet on a free edge thereof, the magnet being made to reach the sensing range in a state where the toner level indicator plate has swung down; a detection unit configured to detect, at equal intervals, each signal output from the magnetic reed switch, each interval being equal to one-Nth of a period of a control pulse signal used for driving a motor positioned within the sensing range, N being an integer two or greater; and a determination unit configured to determine, when a signal detected by the detection unit in a current interval indicates that the magnet reed switch has sensed magnetic variation, whether the signal in the current interval is output due to a toner shortage or the driving of the motor, by comparing the signal in the current interval with signals detected by the detection unit over the last immediately preceding successive N intervals. |
地址 |
Chiyoda-Ku, Tokyo JP |