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:
Sep. 03, 2013
Filed:
Jun. 29, 2011
Naoki Kataoka, Toyokawa, JP;
Naoki Kataoka, Toyokawa, JP;
Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc., Chiyoda-Ku, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus comprises: a developing device having an outlet from which a two-component developer is partially discharged while the two-component developer is conveyed; a hopper to which (i) a first cartridge containing a first developer including carriers and (ii) a second cartridge containing a second developer including toner and not carriers are attachable, and operable, when the first cartridge is attached thereto, to supply the first developer to the developing device, and when the second cartridge is attached thereto, to supply the second developer to the developing device; and a switching part operable, when the first developer is supplied, to switch the developing device to a first state in which the two-component developer is partially discharged from the outlet, and when the second developer is supplied, to switch the developing device to a second state in which the two-component developer is not discharged from the outlet.