Remaining-toner-amount detecting device and image forming apparatus
US11567427B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 11, 2022 |
| Grant date | Jan 31, 2023 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 11, 2042 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG03G2215/0888
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A remaining-toner-amount detecting device includes: first sensor disposed at a supply channel for a toner; a second sensor disposed at a location different from the supply channel; detection processing that compares a capacitance detected by the first sensor with a determination threshold value to detect a toner end; and a memory that stores a capacitance detected by the second sensor in an initial period as initial reference data, and a capacitance detected by the second sensor after part replacement as post-replacement reference data. The detection processing circuitry sets, based on the initial reference data, the determination threshold value as an initial determination threshold value in the initial period, and re-sets the determination threshold value, from the initial determination threshold value, to a value based on the post-replacement reference data, as a post-replacement reference data after the part replacement.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.