Image forming apparatus with inner cover that shields an optical sensor when an outer housing cover is closed, the optical sensor used for detecting whether a waste toner case is full
AssigneeKYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
InventorKoichi Imanaka
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An image forming apparatus includes a waste toner case, an optical sensor, a cover and a shading member. The waste toner case is attachably/detachably provided in an apparatus main body via an opening part. The waste toner case collects a waste toner ejected from an image forming part forming an image by a toner. The optical sensor detects whether or not the waste toner case is filled with the waste toner. The cover closes the opening part of the apparatus main body. The shading member is arranged between the cover and optical sensor. The shading member covers the optical sensor in a state where the cover is closed.
Claims7
An image forming apparatus comprising:
- a waste toner case attachably/detachably provided in an apparatus main body via an opening part to collect a waste toner ejected from an image forming part forming an image by a toner;
- an optical sensor detecting whether or not the waste toner case is filled with the waste toner;
- a cover turnably closing the opening part of the apparatus main body;
- a shading member arranged between the cover and the optical sensor to cover the optical sensor in a state where the waste toner case is attached in the apparatus main body and the cover is closed;
- and
- an interlocking device interlocking the opening/closing operation of the cover to move the shading member;
- wherein the shading member is moved between a position to cover the optical sensor in a state where the cover closed and a position separated from the optical sensor in a state where the cover opened.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.