Powder supply device and image forming apparatus incorporating same
US10317814B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 6, 2016 |
| Grant date | Jun 11, 2019 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 6, 2036 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG03G15/0889
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A powder supply device that includes a powder reservoir including a rotator having a rotation shaft, to store powder supplied from a powder container; and a powder amount detector. The powder amount detector includes a detected member disposed in the powder reservoir, a contact member attached to the rotation shaft, to contact the detected member to vibrate or move the detected member, a detector to detect vibration or a displacement of the detected member, and a detection result processor to detect the amount of the powder in the powder reservoir based on detection by the detector. The powder supply device further includes a controller to supply the powder from the powder container to the powder reservoir based on detection by the powder amount detector. The controller rotates the rotator in discharging the powder from the powder reservoir and supplying the powder from the powder container to the powder reservoir.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.