Patent ID: 6101342
Filing Date: 2000-08-08
Classification: G01N,G03G

Abstract:
A developer contamination measuring apparatus of a printer comprising:a developer extracting pipe unit which extracts a developer to measure a degree of contamination due to mixing of another developing material with the developer in a developing unit supplying the developer to a photosensitive medium for partially recovering the supplied developer, including a first pipe portion having a first gap and a second pipe portion having a second gap;a light emitting unit radiating light to the first pipe portion and the second pipe portion;a light detecting unit detecting light reflected or transmitted from the first pipe portion and light reflected or transmitted from the second pipe portion to output first and second light receiving signals, respectively; anda developer contamination measuring unit controlling the light emitting unit, and calculating the degree of contamination due to mixing of another developing material with the developer based on the first and the second light receiving signals.