(19)
(11) EP 1 246 027 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
09.10.2002 Bulletin 2002/41

(43) Date of publication A2:
02.10.2002 Bulletin 2002/40

(21) Application number: 02006647.8

(22) Date of filing: 26.03.2002
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: G03G 15/08, G03G 21/16, G03G 15/00
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE TR
Designated Extension States:
AL LT LV MK RO SI

(30) Priority: 26.03.2001 JP 2001086611
11.06.2001 JP 2001175610
22.02.2002 JP 2002046268

(71) Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
Tokyo 143-8555 (JP)

(72) Inventor:
  • Fukuchi, Yutaka, Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Tokyo 143-8555 (JP)

(74) Representative: Schwabe - Sandmair - Marx 
Stuntzstrasse 16
81677 München
81677 München (DE)

   


(54) Electrophotographic apparatus and method of detecting opening or closing of a cover of the apparatus


(57) A density detection value detected by the toner density detection sensor (23) before the door (20) is opened and a density detection value detected by the toner density detection sensor (23) after the door (20) is opened and closed are compared with each other, and determination is made on the basis of a difference between the detection values about whether or not the closed position of the door after the opening and closing operations of the door is in a regular closing position. Accordingly, since an incompletely closed state of the door is detected by the toner density detection sensor (23), various troubles due to the incompletely closed state of the door can be prevented from occurring. When the door has a reflecting plate a registration sensor can also be used.






Search report