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:
Apr. 07, 2009
Filed:
Mar. 27, 2007
Hideaki Kawai, Kyoto, JP;
Hideaki Kawai, Kyoto, JP;
Murata Machinery, Ltd., Kyoto, JP;
Abstract
In an image forming apparatus, a second shutter is caused to slide in conjunction with a first shutter which slides in the mounting direction in association with a mounting operation of a developing device to an apparatus body. Accordingly, in association with a separating movement of the developing device from the apparatus body, the first shutter is caused to slide in association with the second shutter which slides in the separating direction, which is the opposite direction from the mounting direction. The direction that the second shutter opens a discharge port is the same direction as the mounting direction. An urging force that a first urging member applies to the first shutter which closes an inlet port is smaller than an urging force that the second urging member is applied to the second shutter which closes the discharge port.