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:
Oct. 25, 2011
Filed:
Apr. 14, 2008
Masayuki Nishi, Toyokawa, JP;
Tsugihito Yoshiyama, Toyohashi, JP;
Masayuki Nishi, Toyokawa, JP;
Tsugihito Yoshiyama, Toyohashi, JP;
Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc., Chiyoda-Ku, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
In a rotary type image developing apparatus that has a rotary rack accommodating a plurality of developer units and drives the rotary rack to rotate in a predetermined rotational direction so as to bring a targeted one of the developer units to a developing position, each developer unit includes a toner storage in which a first slope is disposed. As the rotary rack rotates, toner that remains upstream of a toner supply opening in a toner flowing direction in the toner storage is guided by a slope surface of the first slope, which enables the toner to be smoothly supplied to a developing chamber. Thus, even when the toner gets low, the toner can be efficiently supplied from the toner storage to the developing chamber with the aid of the first slope.