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:
Jan. 07, 2014
Filed:
Jan. 26, 2012
Toshio Koike, Tokyo, JP;
Yoshiyuki Fukuda, Tokyo, JP;
Yoshio Hattori, Kanagawa, JP;
Atsushi Nakamoto, Kanagawa, JP;
Hiroaki Okamoto, Kanagawa, JP;
Toshio Koike, Tokyo, JP;
Yoshiyuki Fukuda, Tokyo, JP;
Yoshio Hattori, Kanagawa, JP;
Atsushi Nakamoto, Kanagawa, JP;
Hiroaki Okamoto, Kanagawa, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A development device includes a developer container, a developer bearer to carry developer to a development range, a partition dividing at least partly the developer container into a supply compartment and a collecting compartment, with an end portion of the partition facing a circumferential surface of the developer bearer, a developer supply member in the supply compartment to supply the developer to the developer bearer, and a developer collecting member in the collecting compartment above the developer supply member, to receive the developer from the developer bearer. An opening is formed in a downstream end portion of the partition in a developer conveyance direction of the developer collecting member to cause the developer to fall to the supply compartment, and a width of the opening in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction increases toward downstream in the developer conveyance direction of the developer collecting member.