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:
Feb. 28, 2012
Filed:
Sep. 26, 2008
Kohichi Utsunomiya, Atsugi, JP;
Koichi Kato, Yokohama, JP;
Junichi Terai, Isehara, JP;
Klyonori Tsuda, Yokohama, JP;
Emi Kita, Tokyo, JP;
Satoru Yoshida, Zama, JP;
Yuki Oshikawa, Yamato, JP;
Kohichi Utsunomiya, Atsugi, JP;
Koichi Kato, Yokohama, JP;
Junichi Terai, Isehara, JP;
Klyonori Tsuda, Yokohama, JP;
Emi Kita, Tokyo, JP;
Satoru Yoshida, Zama, JP;
Yuki Oshikawa, Yamato, JP;
Ricoh Company Limited, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A toner supply device includes a toner container, a transport-path forming member, an opening, a shutter member, and a first seal member. The opening is provided at a side wall of the transport-path forming member. The shutter member is movable between a closed position to close the transport path by being inserted in the opening and an open position. The first seal member fills a gap between an inner wall of the opening and the shutter member in a toner transport direction in which the toner is transported through the transport path. When the shutter member is inserted in the opening, the shutter member is elastically deformable in a deformation direction perpendicular to both the toner transport direction and a moving direction of the shutter member, and when the shutter member is not inserted in the opening, the shutter member is wider than the opening in the deformation direction.