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:
Jun. 11, 2002
Filed:
Oct. 05, 2000
Kouji Shinkawa, Nara, JP;
Takashi Sakai, Nara, JP;
Takayuki Yamanaka, Tenri, JP;
Atsushi Inoue, Nara, JP;
Jitsuo Masuda, Yamatotakada, JP;
Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha, Osaka, JP;
Abstract
In image forming apparatuses producing recycled toner from residual toner and recycling the recycled toner, the toner composition changes, and the toner properties worsen, because the external additive contained in the collected residual toner that is collected with a cleaning portion decreases during the image formation. The residual toner that has been collected with the cleaning portion is conveyed through a conveyance path to a collected residual toner storage, and external additive is supplemented from an external additive cartridge, and mixed with being stirred to produce recycled toner. In a fresh toner storage, fresh toner and recycled toner are stirred, and when the amount of toner in a developing portion drops below a predetermined amount, toner is conveyed from the fresh toner storage through a conveyance path to the developing portion. The toner that has been conveyed to the developing portion is supplied to a photosensitive drum.