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:
Nov. 19, 2013
Filed:
Nov. 16, 2010
Mugijirou Uno, Kanagawa, JP;
Mugijirou Uno, Kanagawa, JP;
Ricoh Company, Limited, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus includes a latent image carrier, a development device, a discharge port through which developer is discharged, a discharge port detector, and a controller that determines whether to permit driving of the development device in a direction reverse to a normal direction or to terminate discharge of developer based on detection results by the discharge port detector in discharge of developer. The development device includes a developer carrier, a developer supply member disposed in a supply compartment facing the developer carrier, a developer collection member disposed in a collection compartment lower than the supply compartment, a developer agitation member disposed in an agitation compartment disposed at a height similar to that of the collection compartment, to transport developer in a direction opposite conveyance direction by the developer supply member and the developer collection member.