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:
Jul. 08, 2008
Filed:
Sep. 23, 2003
Kiyonori Tsuda, Kanagawa, JP;
Hiroshi Hosokawa, Kanagawa, JP;
Masanori Kawasumi, Kanagawa, JP;
Satoshi Narumi, Kanagawa, JP;
Ryuta Takeichi, Kanagawa, JP;
Kazuhiko Umemura, Shizuoka, JP;
Yuji Arai, Kanagawa, JP;
Kiyonori Tsuda, Kanagawa, JP;
Hiroshi Hosokawa, Kanagawa, JP;
Masanori Kawasumi, Kanagawa, JP;
Satoshi Narumi, Kanagawa, JP;
Ryuta Takeichi, Kanagawa, JP;
Kazuhiko Umemura, Shizuoka, JP;
Yuji Arai, Kanagawa, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a process cartridge including a developing device that includes a developer carrier and a toner storing portion storing toner for replenishment. The developer carrier conveys a developer deposited thereon to a developing zone where the developer carrier faces and image carrier. The developing device feeds the toner from the toner storing portion to the developer carrier or the developer deposited on the developer carrier. A toner container stores toner to be replenished to said the storing section. The process cartridge and toner container each are removably mounted to the apparatus independently of each other. A toner conveying device configured to convey the toner from toner container to toner storing portion by using the weight of the toner is mounted on the image forming apparatus.