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. 16, 2002
Filed:
Jun. 06, 2001
Toshio Nishino, Yamatokoriyama, JP;
Yasuyuki Ishiguro, Higashiosaka, JP;
Masatoshi Kaneshige, Ikoma, JP;
Hiroshi Tanisawa, Nara, JP;
Haruko Yoneda, Tenri, JP;
Jun Yamaguchi, Ikoma, JP;
Akira Nakakuma, Nara, JP;
Naotaka Funayama, Tenri, JP;
Tsutomu Nagata, Hirakata, JP;
Yoshiaki Sanada, Ikoma, JP;
Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha, Osaka, JP;
Abstract
The length of a conveying sheet is set to be greater than the rotational radius of an agitating element so that the distal end of the conveying sheet will slide over the inner wall of the toner container. A slider element having a low frictional resistance is attached at the distal end of the conveying sheet. The slider element preferably has a low coefficient of dynamic friction and is preferably made of a soft resilient material having a thickness smaller than the conveying sheet. Cutouts or openings may be preferably formed at the distal part. A multiple number of ribs are attached to the wall surface of the toner container at the highest position at which the wall and the top plate meet. The ribs are arranged apart from each other in the direction parallel to the agitating shaft of the agitating element. Each rib is a plate-like element projected inward from the wall surface in the toner container with its width put in the direction of the spacing. Further the end portions of the ribs on the interior side of the toner container are adapted to form a curved surface smoothly connecting the top plate surface and the wall surface.