Invention Grant
- Patent Title: Remaining toner amount detection device, image forming apparatus, and remaining toner amount detection method
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Application No.: US17652753Application Date: 2022-02-28
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Publication No.: US11604423B2Publication Date: 2023-03-14
- Inventor: Yuki Osato , Masashi Hommi , Yuusuke Tomura , Ryotaro Konno , Junichi Matsumoto , Tatsuya Kubo
- Applicant: Yuki Osato , Masashi Hommi , Yuusuke Tomura , Ryotaro Konno , Junichi Matsumoto , Tatsuya Kubo
- Applicant Address: JP Tokyo; JP Kanagawa; JP Kanagawa; JP Kanagawa; JP Kanagawa; JP Kanagawa
- Assignee: Yuki Osato,Masashi Hommi,Yuusuke Tomura,Ryotaro Konno,Junichi Matsumoto,Tatsuya Kubo
- Current Assignee: Yuki Osato,Masashi Hommi,Yuusuke Tomura,Ryotaro Konno,Junichi Matsumoto,Tatsuya Kubo
- Current Assignee Address: JP Tokyo; JP Kanagawa; JP Kanagawa; JP Kanagawa; JP Kanagawa; JP Kanagawa
- Agency: IPUSA, PLLC
- Priority: JPJP2021-036450 20210308
- Main IPC: G03G15/08
- IPC: G03G15/08 ; G03G15/00

Abstract:
A remaining toner amount detection device includes four electrodes and a controller. Each electrode has an arc shape along an outer circumferential surface of a toner bottle, and the four electrodes are spaced a certain distance apart in a circumferential direction so as to surround the toner bottle. The controller detects a remaining toner amount inside the toner bottle by using the four electrodes. The controller determines whether at least one of a first electrostatic capacity value between one pair of adjacent electrodes and a second electrostatic capacity value between the other pair of adjacent electrodes falls within a threshold range. In response to determination that at least one of the electrostatic capacity values falls within the threshold range, the controller detects a remaining toner amount inside the toner bottle based on an electrostatic capacity value, and outputs the detected remaining toner amount.
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