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. 28, 1998
Filed:
Jul. 22, 1996
Applicant:
Inventors:
Toshinori Nishimura, Osaka, JP;
Hiroaki Ohashi, Osaka, JP;
Mitsuharu Okada, Osaka, JP;
Tohru Katamoto, Osaka, JP;
Assignee:
Mita Industrial Co., Ltd., Osaka, JP;
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G03G / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
399106 ; 399 13 ; 399102 ; 399262 ;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus capable of unsealing a toner cartridge automatically and suitably as the toner cartridge is replaced with a new cartridge. The image forming apparatus includes a developing device, and a toner supplying device for supplying toner to the developing device. The toner cartridge is removably mountable on the toner supplying device. Only when the toner cartridge is mounted, and the toner cartridge has not yet been unsealed, is an operation for unsealing the toner cartridge performed.