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:
Oct. 15, 1996
Filed:
Apr. 11, 1995
Takatsugu Fujishiro, Tokyo, JP;
Hiroyuki Matsushiro, Yokohama, JP;
Noriyuki Kimura, Kawasaki, JP;
Katsuhiro Aoki, Yokohama, JP;
Yuichi Ueno, Kawasaki, JP;
Chiyako Kobayashi, Tokyo, JP;
Minoru Suzuki, Yokohama, JP;
Tomoji Ishikawa, Yokohama, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
In an image forming apparatus, a rotary developing device effects development by revolving a plurality of developing sections around a rotary shaft until any one of them reaches a developing position where it faces an image carrier. Cartridges are respectively mounted to hoppers included in the developing sections. Guides are provided on the inner periphery of each cartridge in order to guide toner, moving due to the revolution or the developing device, toward a toner outlet formed in the cartridge. Even when the amount of toner remaining in the cartridge is small, the entire toner is replenished into the associated hopper and fully consumed.