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. 13, 1993
Filed:
Feb. 12, 1992
Masasumi Yahata, Yokohama, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A developing device incorporated in image forming equipment and having a toner tank made up of a tank portion and a toner supply portion contiguous with one side of the tank portion for supplying the toner from the tank portion to a developing section which includes a developing roller. The tank portion accommodates a bladed wheel having blades therein while the toner supply portion has a projection which protrudes into the radius of rotation of the blades. As the blades are rotated, the projection scrapes off the toner deposited on the blades to thereby feed it into the toner supply portion. The radius of rotation of the blades is substantially equal to or smaller than the inner radius of the tank portion, whereby the blades are prevented from pressing against the tank portion.