Toner transportation device, toner case, image forming apparatus, and method of controlling toner transportation device
US8676073B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 22, 2012 |
| Grant date | Mar 18, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 7, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG03G2221/1657
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A toner transportation device includes a toner case and a drive section. The toner case includes a main body containing toner, and an agitating unit rotatably mounted in the main body that agitates the toner. The drive section includes a driving unit driving the agitating unit, a detection unit detecting a driving unit driving state, and a control unit able to transmit a drive instruction signal to the driving unit and receive a detection signal regarding the driving unit driving state from the detection unit. The control unit determines whether the toner case is in an overload state in accordance with a detection signal reception state. The control unit performs a retry control, causing the driving unit to repeatedly rotate the agitating unit forward and backward when the control unit determines that the toner case is in an overload state.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.