Invention Grant
- Patent Title: Image formation apparatus
- Patent Title (中): 图像形成装置
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Application No.: US13032018Application Date: 2011-02-22
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Publication No.: US08478141B2Publication Date: 2013-07-02
- Inventor: Akira Naruse
- Applicant: Akira Naruse
- Applicant Address: JP Chiyoda-Ku, Tokyo
- Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
- Current Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
- Current Assignee Address: JP Chiyoda-Ku, Tokyo
- Agency: Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC
- Priority: JP2010-038212 20100224
- Main IPC: G03G15/08
- IPC: G03G15/08

Abstract:
An image formation apparatus including: a toner cartridge storing toner; a developer; a hopper temporarily storing toner supplied from the toner cartridge and supplying the developer with the toner; a magnetic sensor including a magnet and a reed switch that determines whether the magnet is within a detection area thereof, one of which is fixed to a predetermined position, and the other of which is configured to move downwards as a surface level of toner stored in a toner storage of the hopper decreases and thus serves as a surface level detector for detecting the surface level; a lifter configured to periodically lift the surface level detector above the surface level such that the magnet goes out of the detection area; and an ON-edge detector configured to detect ON-edges each indicating a point in time when the magnet has entered the detection area.
Public/Granted literature
- US20110206389A1 IMAGE FORMATION APPARATUS Public/Granted day:2011-08-25
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