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:
Dec. 01, 2009
Filed:
Aug. 29, 2006
Kenichi Tanabe, Aomori, JP;
Kenichi Tanabe, Aomori, JP;
Kyocera Mita Corporation, Osaka, JP;
Abstract
A developing unit is provided with developers, toner supply pipes, a drive mechanism, a position holding mechanism, and a retraction mechanism. Each of the plurality of developers has a development roller that corresponds to a color. Each toner supply pipe has a toner supply port and supplies toner to one of the plurality of developers. The drive mechanism moves the toner supply pipes so that each toner supply pipe can be positioned at a toner supply position and a retraction position. The position holding mechanism restricts the movement of the toner supply pipes so that one of the toner supply pipes is positioned at the toner supply position. If the electric power is cut off such that one of the toner supply pipes is positioned at the toner supply position, then the retraction mechanism releases the restriction of movement of that toner supply pipe and positions that toner supply pipe at the retraction position.