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US 2009/0022507 A1Published application
Liquid Toner Concentration Detecting Device, and Image Forming Apparatus and Method of Controlling Concentration of Liquid Toner
AssigneeSeiko Epson Corporation
InventorsNobumasa ABE, Ken Ikuma
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A first container is operable to accommodate a liquid toner, and provided with a window. A reflector is disposed in the first container. A light emitter is operable to emit light to the reflector through the window and the liquid toner. A light receiver is operable to receive the light reflected by the reflector through the liquid toner and the window. A detector is operable to detect a concentration of the liquid toner based on the light received by the light receiver.
Claims7
1-19. (canceled)
An image forming apparatus, comprising:
- a concentrated toner tank, adapted to store a concentrated toner;
- a carrier liquid tank, adapted to store a carrier liquid;
- a first container, to which the concentrated toner and the carrier liquid are supplied from the concentrated toner tank and the carrier liquid tank to accomplish a liquid toner, and in which a concentration of the liquid toner is controlled;
- a development device, separated from the first container, to which the liquid toner is supplied from the first container, and which has a developer causing the liquid toner to adhere onto an image carrier to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier as a toner image;
- a reflector;
- a light emitter, operable to emit light to the reflector through the liquid toner;
- a light receiver, operable to receive the light reflected by the reflector through the liquid;
- and
- a detector, operable to detect the concentration of the liquid toner based on the light received by the light receiver.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.