Photocopying – Contact printing – Light boxes
Patent
1995-05-02
1996-03-12
Pendegrass, Joan H.
Photocopying
Contact printing
Light boxes
250577, 340617, G03G 1508
Patent
active
054990777
ABSTRACT:
A toner level detecting device on a toner supply box includes first and second light transmissive toner detecting portions connected by a connecting portion. An aperture between the first and second toner detecting portions is filled with toner when the toner level in the toner supply box is high. Light may be projected onto the first toner detecting portion so that it is aimed through the aperture and the second toner detecting portion. When the toner level in the toner supply box becomes low, toner will no longer fill the aperture, thus allowing light to pass through the aperture and the second toner detecting portion where it can be sensed by a light detector. Light may be attenuated as it passes through the connecting portion by an irregular surface portion on the connecting portion, by a light absorbative coating applied to a surface of the connecting portion, or by forming the connecting portion of a light absorbative material. A cleaning member may also be provided in the toner supply box to clean toner out from between the first and second toner detecting portions.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4197813 (1980-04-01), Yano et al.
patent: 4292530 (1981-09-01), Nepper et al.
patent: 4646679 (1987-03-01), Ohno et al.
Endo Yoshinori
Ishida Kazuhito
Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
Pendegrass Joan H.
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