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. 27, 2012
Filed:
Jun. 09, 2008
Junichi Terai, Kanagawa, JP;
Koichi Kato, Kanagawa, JP;
Koichi Sakata, Shizuoka, JP;
Maiko Koeda, Shizuoka, JP;
Kentaroh Tomita, Kanagawa, JP;
Kiyonori Tsuda, Kanagawa, JP;
Junichi Terai, Kanagawa, JP;
Koichi Kato, Kanagawa, JP;
Koichi Sakata, Shizuoka, JP;
Maiko Koeda, Shizuoka, JP;
Kentaroh Tomita, Kanagawa, JP;
Kiyonori Tsuda, Kanagawa, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A developing device capable of conveying discharged developer to the outside of the device well by preventing developer from firmly adhering within a discharge conveyance path, as well as an image forming apparatus and a process cartridge having this developing device. A developing device, having: a developing roller; a developer conveyance path having a supply screw and a supply conveyance path; a toner replenishment controller for replenishing the developer to the developer conveyance path; a discharge conveyance path for conveying the developer to the outside of the developing device; a discharge screw serving as a discharge conveying member for applying a conveying force to the developer within the discharge conveyance path; and a developer discharge port serving as developer discharge means for discharging the developer to the discharge conveyance path, wherein the conveying force is applied to the discharged developer intermittently by the discharge screw serving as a discharge conveying member, whereby a shock is applied intermittently to the discharged developer within the discharge conveyance path.