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:
Jul. 04, 2000
Filed:
Apr. 12, 1999
Haruji Mizuishi, Tokyo, JP;
Ken Amemiya, Tokyo, JP;
Hiroshi Mizusawa, Tokyo, JP;
Hiroyuki Ohkaji, Tokyo, JP;
Mayumi Ohori, Tokyo, JP;
Masaru Tanaka, Tokyo, JP;
Hideki Zenba, Tokyo, JP;
Kenzou Tatsumi, Tokyo, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An electrophotographic image forming apparatus is disclosed which is provided within a cleaning device with a rotative conveying member for conveying a residual toner after removal thereof from a photoreceptor up to an inlet of a toner dropping path while rotating. Within the toner dropping path is disposed a toner bridge preventing member for preventing the formation of a toner bridge in the same path. The toner bridge preventing member is driven by the rotative conveying member so as to reciprocate substantially in parallel with the toner dropping direction.