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:
Aug. 02, 2011
Filed:
Aug. 06, 2008
Yuki Oshikawa, Yamato, JP;
Koichi Kato, Yokohama, JP;
Hiroyuki Okaji, Yokohama, JP;
Mugijirou Uno, Isehara, JP;
Kiyonori Tsuda, Yokohama, JP;
Emi Kita, Tokyo, JP;
Keiko Matsumoto, Yokohama, JP;
Yuki Oshikawa, Yamato, JP;
Koichi Kato, Yokohama, JP;
Hiroyuki Okaji, Yokohama, JP;
Mugijirou Uno, Isehara, JP;
Kiyonori Tsuda, Yokohama, JP;
Emi Kita, Tokyo, JP;
Keiko Matsumoto, Yokohama, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A developing unit includes a developer bearing member, a developer transporter, a developer conveyance system for directing the developer, including a supply path, a recovery path, and an agitation path, a developer supply opening through which the developer is supplied to the developer conveyance system, a developer supply device for supplying the developer from the developer supply opening to the developer conveyance system, a developer discharge device for discharging the developer outside the developing unit, a developer level rise detector for detecting increase in a level of the developer between the downstream end of the recovery path facing the developer bearing member in the direction of developer transport and a portion of the agitation path where the agitation path receives the collected developer from the recovery path, and a controller for controlling the developer discharge device based on the detection result provided by the developer level rise detector.