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EP0227488A2 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Full waste toner container detector

Assignee: Sharp Corp
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Filing: 1986-12-29
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2006-12-29
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Abstract

Abstract A full waste toner container detector comprises a waste toner container for storing waste toner collected from the photoreceptor surface, a flexible film member which projects into the container when the container is not filled up with waste toner and projects outwardly from the container due to the waste toner pressure when the container is full of waste toner, a reflection plate mounted on the external surface of the flexible member, a light source for irradiating the reflection plate, and a sensor provided in such a position as to receive light reflected by the reflection plate when the flexible member projects outwardly from the container.

Inventors

  • 👤 Ogura Mitsuru

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-29 06:04
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G21/00; G03G21/10; G03G21/12

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim 52 words
A waste toner container for storing waste toner particles remaining on photoreceptor means after electrophoto­graphy, comprising: flexible film means provided on said waste toner container; and sensor means for sensing the expansion of said flexible film means on the condition that the waste toner con­tainer is full of the waste toner particles.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 52 words
A waste toner container for storing waste toner particles remaining on photoreceptor means after electrophoto­graphy, comprising: flexible film means provided on said waste toner container; and sensor means for sensing the expansion of said flexible film means on the condition that the waste toner con­tainer is full of the waste toner particles.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 15 words
The waste toner container of claim 1, wherein said sen­sor means comprises optical sensor means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 111 words
A full waste toner container detector comprising: a waste toner container for storing waste toner par­ticles collected from photoreceptor means; a flexible film means which projects into said container when said container is not filled up with the waste toner particles and projects outwardly from said con­tainer due to the waste toner pressure when said con­tainer is full of the waste toner particles; a reflection plate mounted on the external surface of said flexible means; a light source for irradiating said reflection plate; and a sensor means provided in such a position as to receive the light reflected by said reflection plate when said flexible means projects outwardly from said container.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 111 words
A full waste toner container detector comprising: a waste toner container for storing waste toner par­ticles collected from photoreceptor means; a flexible film means which projects into said container when said container is not filled up with the waste toner particles and projects outwardly from said con­tainer due to the waste toner pressure when said con­tainer is full of the waste toner particles; a reflection plate mounted on the external surface of said flexible means; a light source for irradiating said reflection plate; and a sensor means provided in such a position as to receive the light reflected by said reflection plate when said flexible means projects outwardly from said container.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 25 words
The full waste toner container detector of claim 3, wherein said light source is the one used for irra­diating a document on a copying machine.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 46 words
The full waste toner container detector of claim 4, wherein said flexible means is integrally provided with a cartridge in which the photoreceptor means and the peripheral parts thereof such as the waste toner con­tainer are integrally provided, said cartridge being detachable from the copying machine.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 85 words
An assembly for the collection of excess developer material from an image-bearing member in an electrographic image recording apparatus, the assembly comprising a receptacle for receiving said excess material and means for detecting when a given amount of said material is contained in said receptacle, characterized in that said detecting means comprises a displaceable element arranged to be pushed outwardly with respect to a wall of said receptacle by the material accummulating therein, and a sensor arranged to sense the outward displacement of said element.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 85 words
An assembly for the collection of excess developer material from an image-bearing member in an electrographic image recording apparatus, the assembly comprising a receptacle for receiving said excess material and means for detecting when a given amount of said material is contained in said receptacle, characterized in that said detecting means comprises a displaceable element arranged to be pushed outwardly with respect to a wall of said receptacle by the material accummulating therein, and a sensor arranged to sense the outward displacement of said element.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 40 words
An assembly according to claim 6 wherein said displaceable element comprises a flexible, thin-walled cup which normally projects inwardly of the receptacle wall, and which inverts so as to project outwardly of said wall by pressure of the accumulated material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 39 words
An assembly according to claim 6 or claim 7 wherein a reflector is attached to said displaceable element, and a light sensor is arranged to sense the outward displacement of said element by sensing light reflected from said reflector.

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