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. 05, 2013
Filed:
Aug. 31, 2009
Michiya Okamoto, Zama, JP;
Hiroyuki Nagashima, Yokohama, JP;
Fumihito Itoh, Kawasaki, JP;
Hiroshi Ono, Tokyo, JP;
Ken Amemiya, Tokyo, JP;
Masahiko Shakuto, Zama, JP;
Toshio Koike, Machida, JP;
Yuji Arai, Kawasaki, JP;
Kaoru Yoshino, Tokyo, JP;
Takuma Iwasaki, Ebina, JP;
Michiya Okamoto, Zama, JP;
Hiroyuki Nagashima, Yokohama, JP;
Fumihito Itoh, Kawasaki, JP;
Hiroshi Ono, Tokyo, JP;
Ken Amemiya, Tokyo, JP;
Masahiko Shakuto, Zama, JP;
Toshio Koike, Machida, JP;
Yuji Arai, Kawasaki, JP;
Kaoru Yoshino, Tokyo, JP;
Takuma Iwasaki, Ebina, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A collection container for collecting and containing waste toner includes a leveling member, a detector, and at least one inlet. The leveling member levels the waste toner contained in the collection container. The detector detects an amount of the waste toner contained in the collection container. The leveling member levels the waste toner delivered to the collection container through the at least one inlet by conveying the waste toner simultaneously in a first direction toward the detector and a second direction opposite to the first direction, starting from an origination position corresponding to the at least one inlet.