Electrophotography – Diagnostics – Consumable
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-04
2001-06-26
Lee, Susan S. Y. (Department: 2852)
Electrophotography
Diagnostics
Consumable
C399S119000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06253036
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION AND RELATED ART
The present invention relates to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, a process cartridge, a developing device and a measuring part.
Here, the electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes an electrophotographic copying machine, an electrophotographic printer, for example, an LED printer or laser beam printer, an electrophotographic printer type facsimile, an electrophotographic printer type word, or the like.
The process cartridge is a cartridge containing as a unit an electrophotographic photosensitive member and at least one process means which is a charging means, a developing means or cleaning means, or a cartridge containing as a unit an electrophotographic photosensitive member and at least developing means as process means, the process cartridge being detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus.
Heretofore, a process cartridge has been used in an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic image forming process. Widely used is a process cartridge, which contains as a unit an electrophotographic photosensitive member and process means actable on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, which cartridge is detachably mountable to the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus. Such process cartridge is advantageous in that a maintenance operation can be carried out in effect by the users. Therefore, the process cartridge type electrophotographic image forming apparatus is widely used.
With such an electrophotographic image forming apparatus of a process cartridge type, the user is supposed to exchange the process cartridge, and therefore, it is desirable that there is provided means by which the user is notified of the consumption of the developer.
Heretofore, it is known that two electrode rods are provided in the developer container of the developing means, and the change of the electrostatic capacity between the electrode rods is detected to provide the amount of the developer.
Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. HEI-5-100571 discloses a developer-detection electrode member comprising two parallel electrodes disposed on the same surface with a predetermined gap, in place of the two electrode rods, wherein the developer detection electrode member is placed on the lower surface of the developer container. It detects the developer remainder by detecting the change of the electrostatic capacity between the parallel electrodes disposed on a surface.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, a process cartridge, a developing device, and a developer in which a remaining amount of the developer can be detected substantially in real-time.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, a process cartridge, and a developing device wherein a remaining amount of developer in a developer accommodating portion can be detected substantially in real-time with the consumption of the developer.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, a process cartridge, and a developing device wherein a remaining amount of the developer is detected by the electrostatic capacity between electrodes, and a measurement error attributable to a change of the ambience is compensated for, so that the detection error is minimized. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a measuring part for detecting an amount of the developer substantially in real-time in accordance with the consumption of the developer in the developer accommodating portion.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a measuring part capable of detecting a developer remainder using a change of the electrostatic capacity between electrodes, wherein the measurement error attributable to the changes of the ambient conditions is compensated for to accomplish detection of the amount of the developer with a small detection error.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a process cartridge, a developing device, and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus wherein the detection accuracy of an amount of a developer is improved, and the number of parts of contact portions thereof is reduced to lower the cost.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a process cartridge, a developing device, and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus wherein assembling operativity is improved.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a measuring part that can be manufactured with a small number of parts.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a measuring part, wherein the assembling operativity of a developing device and a process cartridge is improved.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a process cartridge detachably mountable to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the process cartridge comprising (a) an electrophotographic photosensitive member; (b) process means actable on said electrophotographic photosensitive member; (c) a measuring electrode member having input-side and output-side electrodes having at least one juxtaposed portion, the measuring electrode member being disposed at such a position that it contacts a developer; (d) a reference-electrode member having input-side and output-side electrodes having at least one juxtaposed portion, the reference electrode member being disposed at such a position that it is out of contact with the developer; (e) an output contact for the measuring electrode member, connected electrically to the output-side electrode of the measuring electrode member; (f) an output contact for the reference electrode member, connected electrically to the output-side electrode of said reference electrode member; and (g) a common input contact connected electrically to the input-side electrodes of the measuring electrode member and the reference electrode member. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a measuring part for detecting an amount of a developer, comprising: (a) a measuring electrode member having input-side and output-side electrodes having at least one juxtaposed portion; (b) a reference electrode member having input-side and output-side electrodes having at least one juxtaposed portion; (c) an output contact for the measuring electrode member, connected electrically to the output-side electrode of the measuring electrode member; (d) an output contact for the reference electrode member, connected electrically to the output-side electrode of the reference electrode member; and (e) a common input contact connected electrically to the input side electrodes of the measuring electrode member and the reference electrode member.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon a consideration of the following description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
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Karakama Toshiyuki
Matsumoto Hideki
Sakata Shirou
Yokoi Akiyoshi
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
Fitzpatrick ,Cella, Harper & Scinto
Lee Susan S. Y.
Tran Hoan
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