Patent US4592645A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4592645A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus for controlling concentration of toner in developer
Assignee: Proterial Ltd
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Filing: 1983-11-28
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Granted: 1986-06-03
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Expires: 2003-11-28
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for controlling the toner concentration of a developer includes a detector 14, 15 disposed at a predetermined position in a container containing a developer 5 having magnetic carrier and color toner, whereby the color toner is replenished into the container depending on the output of the detector until the toner concentration of the developer lies within a predetermined range. The detector has a plurality of magnetic circuits each having magnetic gaps, and the coupling coefficient of one of the magnetic circuits is set at a value equivalent to the coupling coefficient exhibited when the toner concentration of the developer lies within a predetermined range, while the coupling coefficient of another magnetic circuit is changeable in response to the actual toner concentration. The differential output of the two magnetic circuits is subjected to phase detection for comparing the coupling coefficient values of the two magnetic circuits and thereby detecting the toner concentration.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenichi Kanai
- 👤 Osamu Shimoe
- 👤 Sadaji Tashiro
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 11:59
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/06; G03G15/08; G03G15/0822; G03G15/0848; G03G15/0849; G03G15/0853
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
A detector for controlling toner concentration of a developer including a magnetic carrier and a color toner, comprising: a plurality of magnetic circuits each having magnetic gaps, the coupling coefficient of one of said magnetic circuits being set at a predetermined value equivalent to the coupling coefficient exhibited when the toner concentration lies within a predetermined range, and the coupling coefficient of the other of said magnetic circuits varying in proportion to the toner concentration; coil members wound about each of said magnetic circuits for yielding a differential output from said magnetic circuits; source means coupled to said magnetic circuits for providing a reference A.C. signal; and phase detector means for comparing the phases of the differential output and the reference A.C. signal, and for yielding a D.C. voltage based on the phase comparison.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
134 words
A detector for controlling toner concentration of a developer including a magnetic carrier and a color toner, comprising: a plurality of magnetic circuits each having magnetic gaps, the coupling coefficient of one of said magnetic circuits being set at a predetermined value equivalent to the coupling coefficient exhibited when the toner concentration lies within a predetermined range, and the coupling coefficient of the other of said magnetic circuits varying in proportion to the toner concentration; coil members wound about each of said magnetic circuits for yielding a differential output from said magnetic circuits; source means coupled to said magnetic circuits for providing a reference A.C. signal; and phase detector means for comparing the phases of the differential output and the reference A.C. signal, and for yielding a D.C. voltage based on the phase comparison.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A detector according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of magnetic circuits include magnetic cores formed of like material and having like shapes and sizes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
A detector according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of magnetic circuits include cores having at least one of point symmetry, line symmetry and plane symmetry, and said source means is coupled to said magnetic circuits via a primary coil wound around a common magnetic path portion of said magnetic circuits.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A detector according to claim 1, further comprising comparator means for comparing the D.C. voltage with a reference voltage.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
150 words
A detector for controlling toner concentration of a developer including a magnetic carrier and a color toner, comprising: a plurality of magnetic circuits each having magnetic gaps, the coupling coefficient of one of said magnetic circuits being set at a predetermined value equivalent to the coupling coefficient exhibited when the toner concentration lies within a predetermined range, and the coupling coefficient of other of said magnetic circuits varying in proportion to the toner concentration; coil members wound about each of said magnetic circuits for yielding a differential output from said magnetic circuits; source means coupled to said magnetic circuits for providing a reference A.C. signal; transformer means having an adjustable secondary output for selectively adjusting the differential output of said magnetic circuits; and phase detector means for comparing the phases of the differential output and the reference A.C. signal and for yielding a D.C. voltage based on the phase comparison.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
150 words
A detector for controlling toner concentration of a developer including a magnetic carrier and a color toner, comprising: a plurality of magnetic circuits each having magnetic gaps, the coupling coefficient of one of said magnetic circuits being set at a predetermined value equivalent to the coupling coefficient exhibited when the toner concentration lies within a predetermined range, and the coupling coefficient of other of said magnetic circuits varying in proportion to the toner concentration; coil members wound about each of said magnetic circuits for yielding a differential output from said magnetic circuits; source means coupled to said magnetic circuits for providing a reference A.C. signal; transformer means having an adjustable secondary output for selectively adjusting the differential output of said magnetic circuits; and phase detector means for comparing the phases of the differential output and the reference A.C. signal and for yielding a D.C. voltage based on the phase comparison.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
A detector according to claim 5, wherein said transformer means comprises a transformer of a differential type.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
A detector according to claim 5, wherein said plurality of magnetic circuits include magnetic cores formed of like material and having like shapes and sizes.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
52 words
A detector according to claim 5, wherein said plurality of magnetic circuits include magnetic cores having at least one of point symmetry, line symmetry and plane symmetry, and said source means are coupled to said magnetic circuits via a primary coil wound around a common magnetic path portion of said magnetic circuits.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
A detector according to claim 5, further comprising comparator means for comparing the D.C. voltage with a reference voltage.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
195 words
An apparatus for controlling toner concentration of a developer including a magnetic carrier and a color toner, comprising: a container containing said developer; means for dispensing the color toner into said container; and detector means disposed at a predetermined position in said container and coupled to said dispensing means for allowing the color toner to be replenished into said container until an output from the detector indicates the toner concentration lies within a predetermined range, the detector means including: a plurality of magnetic circuits each having magnetic gaps, the coupling coefficient of one of said magnetic circuits being set at a predetermined value equivalent to the coupling coefficient exhibited when the toner concentration lies within a predetermined range, and the coupling coefficient of the other of said magnetic circuits varying in proportion to the toner concentration; coil members wound about each of said magnetic circuits for yielding a differential output from said magnetic circuits; source means coupled to said magnetic circuits for providing a reference A.C. signal; and phase detector means for comparing the phases of the differential output and the reference A.C. signal and for yielding a D.C. voltage based on the phase comparison.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
195 words
An apparatus for controlling toner concentration of a developer including a magnetic carrier and a color toner, comprising: a container containing said developer; means for dispensing the color toner into said container; and detector means disposed at a predetermined position in said container and coupled to said dispensing means for allowing the color toner to be replenished into said container until an output from the detector indicates the toner concentration lies within a predetermined range, the detector means including: a plurality of magnetic circuits each having magnetic gaps, the coupling coefficient of one of said magnetic circuits being set at a predetermined value equivalent to the coupling coefficient exhibited when the toner concentration lies within a predetermined range, and the coupling coefficient of the other of said magnetic circuits varying in proportion to the toner concentration; coil members wound about each of said magnetic circuits for yielding a differential output from said magnetic circuits; source means coupled to said magnetic circuits for providing a reference A.C. signal; and phase detector means for comparing the phases of the differential output and the reference A.C. signal and for yielding a D.C. voltage based on the phase comparison.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
A toner concentration control apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said detector means further includes transformer means having an adjustable secondary for selectively adjusting the differential output of said magnetic circuits.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
A toner concentration control apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said container has a bottom plate and a stabilizer plate, and said predetermined position is on the bottom plate opposite to the stabilizer plate.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
A toner concentration control apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said container has a bottom plate and said predetermined position is on a portion of the bottom plate in a lower portion of said container.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
A toner concentration control apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said container has a conveying plate and said predetermined position is directly above said conveying plate.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
A toner concentration control apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said container has a bottom plate and a stabilizer plate, and said predetermined position is on the bottom plate opposite to the stabilizer plate.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
A toner concentration control apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said container has a bottom plate and said predetermined position is on a portion of the bottom plate in a lower part of said container.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
A toner concentration control apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said container has a conveying plate and said predetermined position is directly above said conveying plate.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-06-02 | 1989-12-02 | 1990-06-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-06-02 | 1993-12-02 | 1994-06-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-06-02 | 1997-12-02 | 1998-06-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |