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. 29, 2004
Filed:
Sep. 14, 2001
Katsuaki Miyawaki, Yokohama, JP;
Takeshi Iijima, Yokohama, JP;
Yusuke Takeda, Yokohama, JP;
Shuji Hirai, Ota-ku, JP;
Sadayuki Iwai, Yokohama, JP;
Hideki Kosugi, Yokohama, JP;
Makoto Obu, Yokohama, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A tandem image forming device and method for an image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image forming sections arranged side by side along an intermediate image transfer belt. The image forming sections each include a developing device and a cleaning device arranged around an image carrier. One of nearby image forming sections has its cleaning device positioned above the developing device of the other image forming sections, e.g., an agitating section forming part of the image forming section. This configuration ensures smooth circulation of developer and therefore obviates an irregular developer distribution while reducing the overall size of the image forming device.