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:
Aug. 12, 2003
Filed:
Jan. 30, 2002
Shigeru Yoshiki, Tokyo, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A toner scatter preventing device of the present invention is applicable to an image forming apparatus of the type developing a latent image formed on an image carrier with toner stored in a developing device. The device includes an exhausting device for discharging air present in the developing device via an exhaust passage. A toner collecting device collects the toner entrained by air discharged by the exhausting device. A toner storing device is positioned upstream of the toner collecting device in the direction of air flow for storing the toner collected by the toner collecting device without causing it to drop into the toner present in the developing device. The developer is a toner and carrier mixture in which carrier grains have a weight mean grain size of 65 &mgr;m or below.