Developer container for detecting developer amount based on capacitance, developing apparatus, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus

• US 9,250,567 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2014
• Issued: 02/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Watanabe, Taku, Shindo, Go, Abe, Katsuichi, Ito, Motonari, Suzuki, Akira, Matsumura, Junichi, Matsumaru, Naoki, Kato, Masahito, Toda, Atsushi
• Primary Examiner(s): Royer, William J
• Application Number:
  US14/322,091
• Publication Number:
  US 20150016829A1
• Time in Patent Office: 580 Days
• Field of Search: 399/27, 399/30
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2045/14155 using vacuum or suction
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14008 Inserting articles into the mould B29C45/14827 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2025/06 PS, i.e. polystyrene
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2507/04 Carbon
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2623/083 EVA, i.e. ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2625/06 PS, i.e. polystyrene
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2995/0003 having particular electrical or magnetic properties, e.g. piezoelectric
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2995/0005 Conductive
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/767 Printing equipment or accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0856 Detection or control means for the developer level
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/086 the level being measured by electro-magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0865 Arrangements for supplying new developer
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0894 Reconditioning of the developer unit, i.e. reusing or recycling parts of the unit, e.g. resealing of the unit before refilling with toner
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/181 Manufacturing or assembling, recycling, reuse, transportation, packaging or storage
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1814 Details of parts of process cartridge, e.g. for charging, transfer, cleaning, developing G03G21/1835 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/0643 Electrodes in developing area, e.g. wires, not belonging to the main donor part
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/0888 Arrangements for detecting toner level or concentration in the developing device
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49204 Contact or terminal manufacturing

Abstract

A developer container including a frame configured to define a developer containing portion, a first electrode, and a second electrode arranged on a surface of the frame and having a surface opposed to the first electrode, a developer amount in the developer containing portion being detected based on a capacitance between the first electrode and the second electrode.

Claims

1. A developer container configured to contain a developer, the developer container comprising an antenna member configured to detect a developer amount by use of a capacitance, wherein the antenna member comprises a conductive resin member having a resistance of 10³Ω

or more and 10⁵Ω

or less.

2. The developer container according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of conductive resin members, the developer amount being detected by use of the capacitance between the plurality of conductive resin members.

3. The developer container according to claim 1, wherein the conductive resin member is nonmagnetic or diamagnetic.

4. A developing apparatus, comprising:

a developer container as recited in claim 1; and

a developer carrying member configured to carry and convey a developer.

5. The developing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the developer carrying member serves as the first electrode.

6. A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main body of an image forming apparatus, the process cartridge comprising:

a developer container as recited in claim 1; and

an image bearing member on which an electrostatic image is to be formed.

7. An image forming apparatus in which an electrostatic image is developed with a developer into a developer image, the developer image is transferred to a recording material, and the recording material is output, the image forming apparatus comprising:

a developer container as recited in claim 1; and

an image bearing member on which an electrostatic image is to be formed.

8. The developer container according to claim 1, further comprising a first electrode,

wherein the conductive resin member has at least one convex portion protruding toward the first electrode, and

wherein the conductive resin member has at least one concave portion opposite to the first electrode with respect to the at least one convex portion, and a single conductive resin member forms a plurality of surfaces opposed to the first electrode.

9. The developer container according to claim 1, wherein the conductive resin member has a curved surface.

10. A developer container, comprising:

a frame configured to define a developer containing portion;

a first electrode; and

a second electrode which is arranged on a surface of the frame and which has a surface opposed to the first electrode,

wherein a developer amount in the developer containing portion is detected based on a capacitance between the first electrode and the second electrode,

the second electrode is constituted by a conductive resin member,

a closest point, in which the second electrode is closest to the first electrode, on the second electrode is located in a position other than an end portion of the second electrode as viewed along an axial direction of the first electrode,

the second electrode has at least one convex portion protruding toward the first electrode, and

the closest point is located on the at least one convex portion.

11. The developer container according to claim 10, wherein the second electrode has at least one concave portion opposite to the first electrode with respect to the at least one convex portion, and a single second electrode forms a plurality of surfaces opposed to the first electrode.

12. The developer container according to claim 10, wherein the conductive resin member has a curved surface.

13. The developer container according to claim 10, wherein the conductive resin member is nonmagnetic or diamagnetic.

14. A developing apparatus, comprising:

a developer container as recited in claim 10; and

a developer carrying member configured to carry and convey a developer.

15. The developing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the developer carrying member serves as the first electrode.

16. A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main body of an image forming apparatus, the process cartridge comprising:

a developer container as recited in claim 10; and

an image bearing member on which an electrostatic image is to be formed.

17. An image forming apparatus in which an electrostatic image is developed with a developer into a developer image, the developer image is transferred to a recording material, and the recording material is output, the image forming apparatus comprising:

a developer container as recited in claim 10; and

an image bearing member on which an electrostatic image is to be formed.