Abstract: A developer container for containing a developer includes a detecting member for detecting a developer amount having an electrode member having a pair of input-side and output-side electrodes formed in parallel and in one plane at a predetermined interval and adapted to detect the capacitance between the electrodes, a measurement-side electrode that is in contact with the developer, and a reference electrode that is out of contact with the developer, the detecting member being provided on a side surface of the developer container. The container also includes a developer removing member for removing developer adhering to a detection surface of the detecting member, the developer removing member being attached to the developer conveying member and in contact with the detection surface of the detecting member so as to remove developer on the detection surface of the detecting member.

Abstract: To provide age forming device and a developing cartridge used in the image forming device capable of performing high-speed image forming operation for forming high-quality images and of reliably detecting an accurate amount of remaining toner. An agitator and a developing roller provided to a developing cartridge are driven to rotate independent from each other. During the detection of the remaining toner amount, the agitator is rotated at a lower speed so as not to stir up the toner. On the other hand, the agitator is rotated at a higher speed during the image forming operations, so that the toner efficiently circulates within the developing cartridge, thereby forming preferable images.

Abstract: The present invention provides a toner concentration measuring apparatus capable of precisely measuring the concentration of toner in a developer and having first and second light guiding devices whose end surfaces project into a duct traversed by developer fluid and a light receiving device for receiving light transmitted from the first light guiding device to the second light guiding device.

Abstract: A toner concentration sensor has a pair of optical members for optically coupling a light emitting device and a photodetector. The optical members are disposed with a gap therebetween for introducing liquid developer to measure transparency of the liquid developer and to evaluate the toner concentration. The optical member is coated with a chemical adsorption film as an anti-fouling film including at least one of organosilane compounds expressed by the following formulas: wherein each of R1, R2 and R3 represents an organic functional group, and each of X1, X2 and X3 is a desorption group.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the concentration of developer in a liquid printer, the apparatus includes a housing, a developer film forming device installed in the housing for forming a developer film, and a sensing device including a light source unit for emitting colored light corresponding to a range of wavelengths for which the light transmissivity is relatively low to a developer film of a selected color developer, and a photodetector installed corresponding to the light source unit and receiving the light emitted by the light source unit and transmitted through the developer film. Thus, a thin developer film is formed and the concentration of developer is measured by emitting light in a range of wavelengths for which the selected color developer has a relatively low light transmissivity to the developer film. The affect by the toner mixed with other color is relatively less and the concentration of developer can be measured close to the actual concentration although the developer is contaminated.

Abstract: To provide an image forming apparatus provided with a function for forming an image on a recording medium such as a sheet or the like.

Abstract: A device for measuring the concentration of a developer liquid for a liquid-type printer, including a container having a discharge portion, first and second rotary members rotatably installed in the container with a predetermined space, and a supply portion for supplying the developer liquid containing toner particles and liquid carrier into the space between the first and second rotary members. A concentration detector is provided for detecting the concentration of the developer liquid by emitting light onto the developer liquid flowing along the space between the first and second rotary members, and receiving the light passed through the developer liquid. In the concentration measuring device, the space between the first and second rotary members can be adjusted to be smaller, and the concentration of a developer liquid having a low light transmittance can also be measured.

Abstract: A toner reservoir (22) for a toner dispenser unit (20) in a laser printer (10) is provided with a toner sensor (82) for detecting when the toner level in the toner reservoir (22) reduces to reach a minimum level, in order to inform the user of the necessity for toner replenishment. The toner sensor (82) has a sensitive surface (82a) exposed to the amount of toner in the toner reservoir (22) and is capable of detecting whether the sensitive surface (82a) is in contact with the amount of toner in the toner reservoir (22). The toner reservoir (22) is provided with a wiper mechanism (86) for the sensitive surface (82a) of the toner sensor (82). The wiper mechanism (86) includes a swing member (88) supported for swinging motion and a wiper element (90) mounted on the swing member (88). When the swing member (88) produces a stroke of swinging motion, the wiper element (90) moves across the sensitive surface (82a) while rubbing it, so as to wipe off any toner adhered on it.

Abstract: A development-agent container includes a development-agent containing unit for containing development agents for developing latent images formed on an image carrier; a light-transmission window formed at a frame of the development-agent containing unit for detecting a remaining amount of the development agents in the development-agent containing unit and a stirring member disposed in the development agent containing unit for stirring the development agents. The stirring member has a light-shielding flexible sheet for rubbing the light-transmission window.

Abstract: A developer amount detecting apparatus includes a light emitting device, a light receiving device, threshold value setting device for setting a threshold value on the basis of an intensity of the light received by the light receiving device, and a detector for detecting an amount of a developer within the developer within the developer container on the basis of the threshold value and the intensity of the light received by the light receiving device.

Abstract: A photosensor includes a light emitting device, a light receiving device for receiving a side beam from said light emitting device, and a light diffusing member disposed between a side surface of said light emitting device and said light receiving device.

Abstract: A developer contamination measuring apparatus of a printer includes a first pipe portion having a first gap and a second pipe portion having a second gap, a light emitting unit radiating light to the first pipe portion and the second pipe portion, a light detecting unit detecting light reflected or transmitted from the first pipe portion and the second pipe portion to output first and second light receiving signals, respectively, and a developer contamination measuring unit controlling the light emitting unit, and calculating the degree of a contamination due to mixing of other developing materials with the developer from the first and the second light receiving signals. Thus, the degree of contamination of a developer mixed with other developing materials can be precisely calculated, and the developer can be replaced, when the calculated amount of contamination exceeds a predetermined allowable contamination level, to thereby prevent deterioration of print quality.

Abstract: A developing cartridge for developing a latent image formed on the photosensitive member, wherein the developing cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the developing cartridge includes a cartridge frame; a developing member for developing a latent image formed on the photosensitive member; a driving force receiving member for receiving driving force for rotating the developing member from the main assembly of the apparatus when the developing cartridge is mounted to the main assembly, the driving force receiving member being exposed from a portion of the cartridge adjacent one longitudinal end of the developing member; a developing bias contact for receiving a developing bias to be applied to the developing member from the main assembly when the cartridge is mounted to the main assembly; a toner accommodating portion for accommodating the toner to be used for development by the developing member; a first light-transmissive member and a second l

Abstract: A control apparatus for controlling a concentration of a solute having a predetermined optical absorption characteristic is disclosed. A cell holding member has a plurality of cells formed therein, one of which is placed at a predetermined detection position so that the solution flows through that cell. A concentration of the solute is detected based on the intensity of light that has passed through the cell placed at the predetermined detection position. A cell changer replaces the cell with another cell by moving the cell holding member when a detected concentration has not changed as expected.

Abstract: A concentrate sense window which defines a variable thickness flow path area is provided for sensing the concentration levels of inks having varying levels of luminance. Sensor window panels are configured in relationship to each other such that an area defined therebetween varies from a first area to a second area. An emitter/detector pair are located on opposite sides of the sensor window. The emitter transmits a signal through the sensor area and at least part of the signal is sensed by the detector. The emitter/detector pair are designed so as to be movable along the surface of the sensor window whereby ink of varying illuminance may be sensed without the need of separate windows or multiple emitter/detector pairs.

Abstract: A system for monitoring the toner content in ink. The system comprising a light source and a photo-detector disposed in a ink chamber wall, a controller and a display unit. A content-monitoring voltage V1 and an operation-checking voltage V2 are determined from experiments in advance. V1 and V2 are such light source voltages when a predetermined current Ith is obtained from the photo-detector for the minimum and maximum allowable toner contents, respectively. In usual operation in user site, operation of the system is checked with the light source voltage set for V2 in response to a power-on or a reset. Then, a monitoring of the toner content is started with the light source voltage set for V1. In a toner content monitoring, the sensor current is checked to see if it is equal to or larger than Ith.

Abstract: A method and a system for optically detecting an empty condition in a toner cartridge has a light reflector placed on an outside surface of a toner cartridge wall. A light source emits light directly or ultimately towards the light reflector and the reflected light is detected by a light detection device if the toner cartridge is sufficiently empty.

Abstract: An infrared reflectance densitometer (IRD) sensor which utilizes four blocks each of which generates an element of a given equation and a fifth block which generates an output voltage based on the given equation. The IRD sensor eliminates a problem known as hunting.

Abstract: A device for developing an electrostatic latent image includes a developing housing having a developing chamber and stirrer chamber, a replenishing device for feeding the developing agent onto the peripheral surface of the developing roller, a stirring device disposed in the stirrer chamber to stir the developing chamber, and a developing agent detecting sensor disposed in the developing housing under the stirring device. The stirring device has a rotary shaft, a cleaning member mounted on the rotary shaft at a position corresponding to a development agent detector unit of the developing agent detecting sensor, and a stirrer member mounted on the rotary shaft at the side of the cleaning member. The stirrer member is provided with tilted guide portions for sending the stirred developing agent toward the developing agent detecting sensor.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus for forming a full color image in the four colors of cyan, magenta, yellow and black has a optical ATDC sensor attached in a cyan developing device to control the toner density under optical ATDC. A black developing device has the toner density controlled by AIDC. A standard develop efficiency .eta.STD of the cyan developing device obtained as a result of the AIDC is compared with a develop efficiency .eta. of black toner. The toner supply amount of the black developing device is determined according to the comparison result to supply the toner. Thus, an image formation apparatus is provided that can detect at favorable accuracy the toner density of a developing device incorporating a developer of which the toner density cannot be detected using optical ATDC to supply a required amount of toner.

Abstract: A toner level detecting device on a toner fillable box includes first and second toner detecting portions formed of a light transmissive material and a toner fillable aperture formed between the first and second toner detecting portions, wherein the toner fillable aperture has a non-uniform width. The toner fillable aperture is cleaned using a cleaning blade mounted to rotate within the toner fillable aperture to clean toner from the inside surfaces thereof, thereby providing more accurate toner level detection. The toner fillable aperture is a generally V-shaped or U-shaped member having smooth transitions such that toner does not collect or accumulate in corners where a cleaning blade cannot reach after possible being deformed during use. Furthermore, the material of at least a portion of the toner fillable aperture and/or the toner detecting portions is formed of a semi-transparent material that absorbs latent light that might otherwise cause inaccurate toner level measurement.

Abstract: A developing apparatus for developing a latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member include a toner container for containing toner to be used for developing the latent image, a light transmitting member for transmitting light for detecting that an amount of the toner in the toner container is smaller than a predetermined level, a cleaning member for cleaning the light transmitting member, a stirring member reciprocating device for reciprocating a stirring member, and a cleaning member reciprocation device for reciprocating the cleaning member with a degree of displacement larger than that of the stirring member.

Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, wherein the image forming apparatus light emitting means and light receiving means cooperative with the light emitting means to detect amount of toner in a part of the process cartridge, the process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member; process means actable on the electrophotographic photosensitive member; a toner container, adapted for being mounted in the part, for containing the toner to be used for developing a latent image formed in the electrophotographic photosensitive member; a light transmitting member, provided in the toner container, for transmitting light emitted from the light emitting means to permit detection of the amount of the toner in the toner container when the process cartridge is mounted to a main assembly of the image forming apparatus; a cover member movable between a protecting position for protecting the electrophotographic photosensitive member and a retracted position wherein the co