Particle level sensing apparatus
AssigneeHitachi, Ltd.
InventorIsamu Terashima
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed is a particle level sensing apparatus which comprises a particle container at least two electrodes disposed at a predetermined position in the container for providing a capacitance therebetween, an element for detecting a change in the capacitance which occurs depending on whether or not the particles are present between the electrodes, and an element for imparting vibration to at least one of the two electrodes thereby preventing adhesion of the particles to the electrodes.
Claims13
A particle level sensing apparatus comprising:
- a container containing particles therein;
- at least two electrode means disposed at a predetermined position in said container for providing a capacitance therebetween;
- means for sensing a level of the particle by detecting a change in said capacitance which occurs depending on whether or not the particles are present between said electrode means;
- and
- means for imparting vibration to at least one of said two electrode means with a frequency of vibration selected to lie within the range of 200 Hz to 2000 Hz.
A toner level sensing apparatus for a toner supplying apparatus supplying toner particles to an electrophotographic developing apparatus comprising:
- a container containing the toner particles therein;
- means for supplying the toner particles to said developing apparatus from said container;
- at least two electrode means disposed at a predetermined position in said container for providing a capacitance therebetween;
- means for detecting a change in said capacitance which occurs depending on whether or not the toner particles are present between said electrode means thereby judging whether or not the toner particles in said container are present beyond said predetermined position;
- and
- means for imparting vibration to at least one of said two electrode means with a frequency of vibration selected to lie within the range of 200 Hz to 2000 Hz thereby preventing adhesion of the toner particles to said electrode means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.