Toner cartridge comprising a magnet assembly
US6343883B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 27, 2000 |
| Grant date | Feb 5, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 27, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG03G2215/0695
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A cartridge is attached to a printer that performs a printing operation only when the cartridge is a predetermined kind of the cartridge. The cartridge includes a first predetermined number of magnet holders provided on the cartridge and a second predetermined number of magnets each of which is received in a corresponding one of the magnet holders. A maximum value of the second predetermined number is equal to the first predetermined number. A combination of the magnet holders having the magnets therein indicates the kind of the cartridge. The image forming apparatus comprises a detector section and an identifying section. The detector has magnetic sensor elements each of which detects a magnetic flux of a corresponding one of the magnets. The identifying section compares reference data with a combination of outputs of the magnetic sensor elements so as to identify the kind of the cartridge.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.