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:
Jan. 06, 2026
Filed:
Dec. 11, 2024
Tomonori Tamura, Kanagawa, JP;
Tomonori Tamura, Kanagawa, JP;
RICOH COMPANY, LTD., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A toner conveying device includes a drop conveyance passage through which toner falls, an inclined conveyance passage communicating with the drop conveyance passage and extending obliquely downward, a conveyor having a coil shape or a screw shape and disposed in the inclined conveyance passage, and a plurality of flexible sheet having leading ends to contact the conveyor. The leading ends of the plurality of flexible sheets are arranged along a conveyance direction in which the conveyor conveys toner. Adjacent ones of the plurality of flexible sheets are arranged with a clearance larger than a coil pitch or a screw pitch of the conveyor. The clearance is larger between adjacent ones of the plurality of flexible sheets at a position corresponding to an upstream side in the conveyance direction than between adjacent ones of the plurality of flexible sheets at a position corresponding to a downstream side in the conveyance direction.