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:
May. 03, 2005
Filed:
Feb. 04, 2003
Hiroshi Tachiki, Yamatokoriyama, JP;
Toshio Yamanaka, Yao, JP;
Masashi Hirai, Katano, JP;
Kouichi Yamauchi, Yamatokoriyama, JP;
Fumio Shimazu, Nara, JP;
Hiroshi Tachiki, Yamatokoriyama, JP;
Toshio Yamanaka, Yao, JP;
Masashi Hirai, Katano, JP;
Kouichi Yamauchi, Yamatokoriyama, JP;
Fumio Shimazu, Nara, JP;
Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha, Osaka, JP;
Abstract
A junction/disjunction unit of a multicolored image forming apparatus joints/disjoints a transfer material holder with/from an image holder, to switch over between a monochromatic image forming mode which uses a specific image forming unit and a multicolored image forming mode which uses a plurality of image forming units. For switching the image forming mode, a driving unit for driving the junction/disjunction unit also drives an auger provided for conveying toner, which has been recovered by a transfer material holder cleaning unit for recovering toner remaining on the transfer material holder, into a recovery container. Accordingly, a driving force outputted from the driving unit can be effectively utilized, and thereby good cost performance can be realized.