Patent US5103259A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5103259A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Image forming apparatus having a sensor for checking mounted units
Assignee: Toshiba Corp
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Filing: 1990-10-26
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Granted: 1992-04-07
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Expires: 2010-10-26
Abstract
Abstract An image forming apparatus in which parts of an image forming portion are formed as modular units, including, a section for driving the image forming portion, a section for detecting a signal representing a torque of the driving section, and a section for discriminating the attachment or detachment of the modular parts of the image forming portion according to the signal representing the torque detected by the detecting section. The load on the driving section, which is changed by the attachment of the modular parts of the image forming portion, is measured, and the attachment of a plurality of units can be checked by means of one attachment/detachment sensor without using many sensors for respective parts or units.
Inventors
- 👤 Takashi Saitoh
- 👤 Yasufumi Tanimoto
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 16:50
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G21/00; G03G21/16; G03G21/18; G03G21/1875; G03G21/1878; G03G21/1889; G03G21/1642; G03G21/1647; G03G2221/00; G03G2221/16; G03G2221/1651; G03G2221/1657; G03G2221/166; G03G2221/18; G03G2221/183
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
167 words
An image forming apparatus having one or more units, comprising: means for activating at least one of the units by electric power; means for detecting a change in a value of the electric power to provide a detection result, said electric power depending on the number of units which are activated by said activating means; and means for comparing a characteristic value representing said detection result with a predetermined reference value to provide a comparison result, and detecting from said comparison result whether or not any units are activated by said activating means; wherein said comparing means includes: means for sensing a firs stationary value of said characteristic value when said unit is not activated by said activating means, and sensing a second stationary value of said characteristic value when said unit is activated by said activating means; and means for generating said predetermined reference value from said first and second stationary values, such that said predetermined reference value falls between said first and second stationary values.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
167 words
An image forming apparatus having one or more units, comprising: means for activating at least one of the units by electric power; means for detecting a change in a value of the electric power to provide a detection result, said electric power depending on the number of units which are activated by said activating means; and means for comparing a characteristic value representing said detection result with a predetermined reference value to provide a comparison result, and detecting from said comparison result whether or not any units are activated by said activating means; wherein said comparing means includes: means for sensing a firs stationary value of said characteristic value when said unit is not activated by said activating means, and sensing a second stationary value of said characteristic value when said unit is activated by said activating means; and means for generating said predetermined reference value from said first and second stationary values, such that said predetermined reference value falls between said first and second stationary values.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said comparing means further includes: means for detecting a rate of change of said detection result to provide either of said first and second stationary values.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
183 words
An image forming apparatus having one or more units, comprising: means for activating at least one of the units by electric power; means for detecting a change in a value of the electric power to provide a detection result, said electric power depending on the number of units which are activated by said activating means; and means for comparing a characteristic value representing said detection result with a predetermined reference value to provide a comparison result, and detecting from said comparison result whether or not any units are activated by said activating means; wherein said comparing means includes: means for sensing a first timing value of said characteristic value measured with respect to a predetermined time point when said unit is not activated by said activating means, and sensing a second timing value of said characteristic value measured with respect to the predetermined time point when said unit is activated by said activating means; and means for generating said predetermined reference value from said first and second timing values, such that said predetermined reference value falls between said first and second timing values.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
183 words
An image forming apparatus having one or more units, comprising: means for activating at least one of the units by electric power; means for detecting a change in a value of the electric power to provide a detection result, said electric power depending on the number of units which are activated by said activating means; and means for comparing a characteristic value representing said detection result with a predetermined reference value to provide a comparison result, and detecting from said comparison result whether or not any units are activated by said activating means; wherein said comparing means includes: means for sensing a first timing value of said characteristic value measured with respect to a predetermined time point when said unit is not activated by said activating means, and sensing a second timing value of said characteristic value measured with respect to the predetermined time point when said unit is activated by said activating means; and means for generating said predetermined reference value from said first and second timing values, such that said predetermined reference value falls between said first and second timing values.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said comparing means further includes: means for detecting a rate of change of said detection result to provide either of said first and second timing values.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
93 words
An image forming apparatus having one or more units, comprising: a motor for activating at least one of the units by means of a current flowing through the motor; means for detecting a change in value of the current to provide a detection result, said current corresponding to the number of units activated by said motor; and means for comparing a characteristic value representing said detection result with a predetermined reference value to provide a comparison result as to whether or not at least one of said units is activated by said motor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
93 words
An image forming apparatus having one or more units, comprising: a motor for activating at least one of the units by means of a current flowing through the motor; means for detecting a change in value of the current to provide a detection result, said current corresponding to the number of units activated by said motor; and means for comparing a characteristic value representing said detection result with a predetermined reference value to provide a comparison result as to whether or not at least one of said units is activated by said motor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
77 words
An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said comparing means includes: means for sensing a first stationary value of said characteristic value when the unit is not activated by said motor, and sensing a second stationary value of said characteristic value when the unit activated by said motor; and means for generating said predetermined reference value from said first and second stationary values, such that said predetermined reference value falls between said first and second stationary values.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said comparing means further includes: means for detecting a rate of change of said detection result to provide either of said first and second stationary values.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
96 words
An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said comparing means includes: means for sensing a first timing value of said characteristic value measured with respect to a predetermined point in time when the unit is not activated by said motor, and sensing a second timing value of said characteristic value measured with respect to the predetermined point in time when the unit is activated by said motor; and means for generating said predetermined reference value from said first and second timing values, such that said predetermined reference value falls between said first and second timing values.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said comparing means further includes: means for detecting a rate of change of said detection result to provide either of said first and second timing values.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
JPS6152662A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-04-07 | 1995-10-07 | 1996-04-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-04-07 | 1999-10-07 | 2000-04-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-04-07 | 2003-10-07 | 2004-04-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |