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:
Mar. 29, 2011
Filed:
Apr. 18, 2008
Yasuhiro Maehata, Sagamihara, JP;
Makoto Kikura, Yokohama, JP;
Tetsuji Nishikawa, Machida, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus that includes at least one process cartridge having a photosensitive element, a development unit, a toner storage unit, a driven shaft and a driven gear mounted thereon and which is detachably attachable to the apparatus from a top front side thereof, a drive shaft, a drive gear mounted on the drive shaft to couple with and drive the driven gear to transmit a driving force to the process cartridge, an upper cover opening and closing with respect to the apparatus, a front cover opening and closing with respect to the apparatus, and at least one block component to block coupling of the drive gear and the driven gear by contacting the driven shaft while interlocked with opening and closing of the upper cover. The process cartridge is detachably attachable to the apparatus from the front top side thereof by opening and closing the upper cover.