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. 22, 1991
Filed:
Jan. 26, 1990
Akihiro Hikosaka, Osaka, JP;
Hitoshi Sakai, Osaka, JP;
Takayoshi Yoshihara, Osaka, JP;
Naoichi Asakura, Osaka, JP;
Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha, Osaka, JP;
Abstract
The present invention discloses an image forming apparatus comprising an image forming unit attachable to the body of the image forming apparatus and having at least a developing device which has a toner receiving opening, a toner supply member attachable to the body of the image forming apparatus and having a toner supply opening opposed to the toner receiving opening at a predetermined position when the unit is attached to the body of the image forming apparatus for supplying toner to the developing device through the toner supply opening, a covering member for selectively covering the toner supply opening, a fixing member for fixing the unit to the body of the image forming apparatus, and a moving member disposed in the body of the image forming apparatus for moving the covering member so that the toner receiving opening is open when the unit is fixed to the body of the image forming apparatus by the fixing member. The apparatus also includes aspirator means for collecting spilled toner to reduce the likelihood that toner spilled from the developing device will be scattered about.