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:
Jun. 16, 1992
Filed:
Aug. 17, 1990
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A structure of a toner cartridge removably mounted on a developing unit of an image forming apparatus. Once a toner end mode is set due to the exhaustion of toner which is accommodated in the toner cartridge, it is prevented from being reset unless the empty cartridge is replaced with a full toner cartridge. The toner cartridge has a member capable of resetting a toner and mode only when the cartridge is loaded in a cartridge container for the first time. This member is sensed by a sensor when the toner cartridge is inserted in the cartridge container. After the toner cartridge is inserted in the cartridge container the member along with a seal are removed from the toner. This member is sensed by a sensor when the toner cartridge is inserted in the cartridge container. After the toner cartridge is inserted in the cartridge container the member along with a seal are removed from the toner cartridge.