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:
Apr. 21, 2026
Filed:
Jun. 30, 2022
Michiharu Suzuki, Kanagawa, JP;
Naoto Suzuki, Kanagawa, JP;
Kenji Honjoh, Kanagawa, JP;
Nobuo Kuwabara, Kanagawa, JP;
Yuta Azeyanagi, Kanagawa, JP;
Haruki Nagata, Kanagawa, JP;
Shota Yamamoto, Kanagawa, JP;
Michiharu Suzuki, Kanagawa, JP;
Naoto Suzuki, Kanagawa, JP;
Kenji Honjoh, Kanagawa, JP;
Nobuo Kuwabara, Kanagawa, JP;
Yuta Azeyanagi, Kanagawa, JP;
Haruki Nagata, Kanagawa, JP;
Shota Yamamoto, Kanagawa, JP;
RICOH COMPANY, LTD., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A developer supply device for supplying developer contained in a developer container toward a developing device in an apparatus body of an image forming apparatus includes a conveyance passage, a developer receiving portion, a sub-hopper, and a conveying tube. The conveyance passage delivers the developer discharged from the developer container. The developer receiving portion is detachable and attachable with respect to the developer container. The sub-hopper is detachable and attachable with respect to the developing device and stores the developer discharged toward the developing device. The flexible conveying tube has a first end portion coupled to the developer receiving portion and a second end portion coupled to the sub-hopper, and conveys the developer from the developer receiving portion to the sub-hopper. The developer supply device is detachable from and attachable to the apparatus body with a connection among the developer receiving portion, the sub-hopper, and the conveying tube being maintained.