The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 30, 2018
Filed:
Mar. 23, 2017
Tatsuya Ohhira, Kanagawa, JP;
Masayuki Yamane, Kanagawa, JP;
Keiichi Yoshida, Kanagawa, JP;
Atsushi Kurokawa, Kanagawa, JP;
Toshiki Hayashi, Kanagawa, JP;
Yuuki Tsuchiya, Tokyo, JP;
Tatsuya Ohhira, Kanagawa, JP;
Masayuki Yamane, Kanagawa, JP;
Keiichi Yoshida, Kanagawa, JP;
Atsushi Kurokawa, Kanagawa, JP;
Toshiki Hayashi, Kanagawa, JP;
Yuuki Tsuchiya, Tokyo, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A developing device includes a developer bearer, a casing defining an upper compartment to contain the developer and a lower compartment disposed lower than the upper compartment, to contain the developer, and a first conveyor and a second conveyor disposed in the upper compartment and the lower compartment, respectively, to convey the developer in a longitudinal direction of the developer bearer and circulate the developer between the upper compartment and the lower compartment through a first communicating opening, through which the developer is conveyed upward, and a second communicating opening. A developer-lifting range of the upper compartment, which opposes the first communicating opening, is larger in volume than a developer-lifting range of the lower compartment. One of the upper compartment and the lower compartment is disposed adjacent to the developer bearer to supply the developer to the developer bearer.