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US4451135A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Toner concentration detecting device

Assignee: Olympus Corp
•
Filing: 1983-04-18
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Granted: 1984-05-29
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Expires: 2003-04-18
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Abstract

Abstract A toner concentration detecting device for detecting the toner concentration of a dry-type, two-component developer including a transparent plate arranged to be brought into contact with the developer, a light source for projecting light toward the developer through the transparent plate, and a light receiving element for receiving light scattered by the developer through the transparent plate. The transparent plate is separated optically by cutting it along a plane bisecting the light source and the light receiving element. In such a construction, multiple reflection inside the transparent plate which affects the resulting measurement can be completely eliminated, and thus it is possible to detect the toner concentration in an accurate and uniform manner.

Inventors

  • 👤 Masanobu Okumura

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-27 05:05
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/06; G03G15/08; G03G15/0822; G03G15/0848; G03G15/0849; G03G15/0855

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim 116 words
In a toner concentration detecting device for detecting the toner concentration of a dry-type, two-component developer, said device comprising: a housing, transparent plate-like means provided on said housing, means provided in said housing for projecting light toward the developer through the transparent plate-like means, means provided in said housing for receiving light scattered by the developer through the transparent plate-like means to produce a photoelectrically converted signal representing the toner concentration of the developer, and means for separating optically the portion of said transparent plate-like means located opposite said light projecting means from the remaining portion of said transparent plate-like means located opposite said light receiving means to eliminate multiple reflection inside said transparent plate-like means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 116 words
In a toner concentration detecting device for detecting the toner concentration of a dry-type, two-component developer, said device comprising: a housing, transparent plate-like means provided on said housing, means provided in said housing for projecting light toward the developer through the transparent plate-like means, means provided in said housing for receiving light scattered by the developer through the transparent plate-like means to produce a photoelectrically converted signal representing the toner concentration of the developer, and means for separating optically the portion of said transparent plate-like means located opposite said light projecting means from the remaining portion of said transparent plate-like means located opposite said light receiving means to eliminate multiple reflection inside said transparent plate-like means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 46 words
A toner concentration detecting device according to claim 1, wherein said transparent plate-like means is cut into two portions along a plane bisecting said light projecting means and said light receiving means, and said optical separating means comprises an opaque member interposed between said two portions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 30 words
A toner concentration detecting device according to claim 2, wherein said transparent plate-like means comprises a transparent plate and a transparent conductive layer, to which is applied a bias potential.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 18 words
A toner concentration detecting device according to claim 3, wherein said opaque member comprises an opaque conductive adhesive.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 23 words
A toner concentration detecting device according to claim 2, wherein said optical separating means comprises an opaque ridge formed integrally with said housing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 30 words
A toner concentration detecting device according to claim 5, wherein said transparent plate-like means comprises a transparent plate and a transparent conductive layer to which is applied a bias potential.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 35 words
A toner concentration detecting device according to claim 6, further comprising a metal strip arranged on the ridge and both portions of the plate-like means to electrically connect the conductive layer portions to each other.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 39 words
A toner concentration detecting device according to claim 1, wherein said transparent plate-like means comprises a single transparent plate and said optical separating means comprises a strip-shaped light absorption plate arranged on the outer surface of the transparent plate.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3727065A Cited
US4226525A Cited
US4273843A Cited
US4265997A Cited
US4371257A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1987-05-29 1987-11-28 1988-05-29 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1991-05-29 1991-11-28 1992-05-29 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1995-05-29 1995-11-28 1996-05-29 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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