Image forming apparatus having an optical sensor provided in opposition to a transfer belt formed of an endless belt
US7366437B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 31, 2006 |
| Grant date | Apr 29, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 3, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG03G2215/0119
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An image forming apparatus includes: a transfer belt that is formed of an endless belt; a plurality of image forming units that are so arranged as to be aligned in a transfer belt conveyance direction; a plurality of toner supply containers that are detachably fitted, on one end side in the direction orthogonal to the transfer belt conveyance direction, in correspondence with the plurality of image forming units; an optical sensor that is provided in opposition to the transfer belt; and a cleaning member that is biased toward the one end side in the direction orthogonal to the transfer belt conveyance direction and that cleans a detection surface of the optical sensor in conjunction with replacement operation for one particular toner supply container among the plurality of toner supply containers.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.