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. 22, 2008
Filed:
Jun. 10, 2004
Hiroshi Hosokawa, Kanagawa, JP;
Kiyonori Tsuda, Kanagawa, JP;
Satoshi Narumi, Kanagawa, JP;
Ryuta Takeichi, Kanagawa, JP;
Yuji Arai, Kanagawa, JP;
Masanori Kawasumi, Kanagawa, JP;
Kazuhiko Umemura, Shizuoka, JP;
Hiroshi Ishii, Kanagawa, JP;
Yutaka Fukuchi, Kanagawa, JP;
Kazuki Suzuki, Saitama, JP;
Yuusuke Noguchi, Kanagawa, JP;
Kazuosa Kuma, Kanagawa, JP;
Makoto Kikura, Kanagawa, JP;
Hiroshi Hosokawa, Kanagawa, JP;
Kiyonori Tsuda, Kanagawa, JP;
Satoshi Narumi, Kanagawa, JP;
Ryuta Takeichi, Kanagawa, JP;
Yuji Arai, Kanagawa, JP;
Masanori Kawasumi, Kanagawa, JP;
Kazuhiko Umemura, Shizuoka, JP;
Hiroshi Ishii, Kanagawa, JP;
Yutaka Fukuchi, Kanagawa, JP;
Kazuki Suzuki, Saitama, JP;
Yuusuke Noguchi, Kanagawa, JP;
Kazuosa Kuma, Kanagawa, JP;
Makoto Kikura, Kanagawa, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A developer container has a main part accommodating a developer therein and is detachably attached to a main part of an image forming apparatus. The developer container comprises an outlet provided at a side of the developer container to discharge the developer from the developer container. An input unit is provided adjacent to the outlet and has a small-diameter portion an inside diameter of which is smaller than a diameter of the container main part wherein, when the developer container is attached to the image forming apparatus, the input unit is engaged with a drive motor of the image forming apparatus to receive a rotating force of the drive motor. A developer guiding unit causes the developer inside the developer container to be moved to the outlet beyond the small-diameter portion of the input unit by rotation of the developer container.