Apparatus for detecting and controlling a toner run-out in a developing unit
US5374977A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 16, 1993 |
| Grant date | Dec 20, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 16, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG03G15/0877
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An apparatus for detecting and controlling a the exhaustion of toner in a developing unit of an image recording device which forms an electrostatic latent image on a latent image carrier by exposure in response to image signals and develops the electrostatic latent image to a toner image to be recorded. The apparatus includes a detection unit for detecting a presence or absence of toner in the developing unit under a condition that a power of the image recording equipment is turned on and an interlock is released, and a drive unit for driving the developing unit and the toner supplying mechanism for a predetermined period of time when the toner is exhausted as is detected by the detection unit, wherein the detection unit detects again a presence or absence of toner in the developing unit after the drive unit drives the developing unit and the toner supplying mechanism.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.