Powder amount detector, powder supply device, and image forming apparatus incorporating same
US9817335B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 29, 2016 |
| Grant date | Nov 14, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 29, 2036 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG03G15/086
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A powder amount detector includes a vibration plate secured to a powder container to contain powder and positioned at a predetermined position in a stationary state, a shaft to rotate inside the powder container, a contact member attached to the shaft, a vibration detector to detect vibration of the vibration plate, and a detection result processor to determine an amount of the powder in the powder container according to a detection result generated by the vibration detector. The contact member is to flip the vibration plate to cause the vibration plate to repeat elastic deformation and reversion to vibrate. The contact member is to exit an area opposed to the vibration plate after the contact member flips the vibration plate by the time the vibration plate returns to the predetermined position.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.