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:
Aug. 23, 1994
Filed:
Oct. 23, 1991
Takashi Hodoshima, Kawasaki, JP;
Kouji Ishigaki, Yokohama, JP;
Kazuyuki Nakahara, Tokyo, JP;
Fumio Kishi, Yokohama, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
Image forming equipment of the type supplying a toner to a developing device thereof by using a cartridge which is filled with a toner. The cartridge has a sealed opening and is brought to a toner supply position in the equipment without having the opening unsealed by the operator. Even when the cartridge is pulled out during the loading operation, the toner is not scattered about. A new cartridge for replacing a used empty cartridge is brought to the toner supply position without requiring the operator to remove the empty toner. During the replacement, the toner remaining on the walls of the empty cartridge is prevented from being sprinkled.