Powder supply device and image forming apparatus incorporating same
First Claim
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1. A powder supply device configured to supply powder from a powder container, the powder supply device comprising:
- a powder conveyance path configured to transport the powder in the powder container;
a conveying member disposed in the powder conveyance path and configured to transport the powder; and
a pair of electrodes disposed at least in part in or on the powder conveyance path,wherein the powder supply device is configured to detect an amount of powder in the powder conveyance path based on change of capacitance between the pair of electrodes, andwherein the pair of electrodes is disposed on opposite sides of the powder conveyance path.
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Abstract
A powder supply device includes a powder conveyance path and a pair of electrodes to supply powder from a powder container. The powder conveyance path is configured to transport the powder in the powder container. The pair of electrodes is disposed at least in part in or on the powder conveyance path. The powder supply device is configured to detect an amount of powder in the powder conveyance path based on change of capacitance between the pair of electrodes.
27 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A powder supply device configured to supply powder from a powder container, the powder supply device comprising:
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a powder conveyance path configured to transport the powder in the powder container; a conveying member disposed in the powder conveyance path and configured to transport the powder; and a pair of electrodes disposed at least in part in or on the powder conveyance path, wherein the powder supply device is configured to detect an amount of powder in the powder conveyance path based on change of capacitance between the pair of electrodes, and wherein the pair of electrodes is disposed on opposite sides of the powder conveyance path. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A powder supply device configured to supply powder from a powder container, the powder supply device comprising:
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a cylindrical powder conveyance path configured to transport the powder in the powder container; and a pair of electrodes disposed along the powder conveyance path, wherein the powder supply device is configured to detect an amount of powder in the powder conveyance path based on change of capacitance between the pair of electrodes, and wherein the pair of electrodes has an arc-shaped configuration. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A powder supply device configured to supply powder from a powder container, the powder supply device comprising:
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a powder conveyance path configured to transport the powder in the powder container; a conveying screw including a shaft and a blade, disposed in the powder conveyance path and configured to transport the powder; and a pair of electrodes disposed along the powder conveyance path, wherein the powder supply device is configured to detect an amount of powder in the powder conveyance path based on change of capacitance between the pair of electrodes, wherein one of the pair of electrodes is an internal electrode disposed in the powder conveyance path, and other of the pair of electrodes is an external electrode disposed outside the powder conveyance path, and wherein the internal electrode is the shaft of the conveying screw. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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Specification