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. 27, 2009
Filed:
Apr. 26, 2006
Shuuichi Endoh, Tokyo, JP;
Shuuichi Endoh, Tokyo, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus includes an image carrying member, a charging device for charging the image carrying member, an exposure device for writing a latent image on the image carrying member, a development device for developing the latent image into a visible image, a transfer device for transferring the visible image to a recording medium, a cleaning device for cleaning the image carrying member, and a fixing device for fixing the visible image on the recording medium. The development device includes a development unit, a toner cartridge, and a control mechanism. The toner cartridge supplies toner to the development unit which develops the latent image into the visible image. The control mechanism controls supply and discharge of the toner between the development unit and the toner cartridge. The development device moves at an acceleration of approximately 1 m/sin directions of supplying and discharging the toner for a predetermined time.