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:
Nov. 02, 2010
Filed:
Dec. 19, 2006
Kiyonori Tsuda, Kanagawa, JP;
Satoru Yoshida, Kanagawa, JP;
Hiroya Hirose, Kanagawa, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A development apparatus includes three developer conveyance paths with separate functions for the supply, recovery and agitation of a developer, respectively, in which a reduction in size of the apparatus can be achieved. An image forming apparatus includes the development apparatus. By a development region width of a supply opening for delivering developer from a downstream end in the direction of conveyance of an agitation conveyance path to an upstream end in the direction of conveyance of a supply conveyance path and a surplus opening for delivering developer from the downstream end in the direction of conveyance of the supply conveyance path to the upstream end in the direction of conveyance of the agitation conveyance path, a space saving of the upper part of the development apparatus can be achieved and a space saving of the development apparatus as a whole can be achieved compared with a conventional development apparatus.