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:
Jan. 01, 2008
Filed:
May. 10, 2005
Takeo Suda, Tokyo-to, JP;
Shinichi Kawahara, Tokyo-to, JP;
Keiichi Yoshida, Kanagawa-ken, JP;
Yoshio Hattori, Kanagawa-ken, JP;
Yutaka Takahashi, Tokyo-to, JP;
Takeo Suda, Tokyo-to, JP;
Shinichi Kawahara, Tokyo-to, JP;
Keiichi Yoshida, Kanagawa-ken, JP;
Yoshio Hattori, Kanagawa-ken, JP;
Yutaka Takahashi, Tokyo-to, JP;
Ricoh Co., Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus includes a photoconductor, a cleaning device, and a toner transporting device. The photoconductor has a toner image formed thereon. The cleaning device removes toner remaining on the photoconductor. The toner transporting device transports the toner removed by the cleaning device. The toner transporting device includes a first toner transport path forming member, a first toner transporting member, and a length control member. The first toner transporting member is partly provided in the first toner transport path forming member, expands and contracts in a length direction thereof, and transports the toner through the first toner transport path forming member. The length control member is provided at a downstream end of the first toner transport path forming member, and is pressed against the first toner transporting member to keep a constant length of the first toner transporting member. An image forming method is also described.