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. 17, 2015
Filed:
Mar. 15, 2012
Takeshi Sakashita, Hyogo, JP;
Yuuji Meguro, Hyogo, JP;
Masanari Fujita, Osaka, JP;
Mitsutoshi Kichise, Osaka, JP;
Tetsushi Sakuma, Osaka, JP;
Masato Tsuji, Osaka, JP;
Takeshi Sakashita, Hyogo, JP;
Yuuji Meguro, Hyogo, JP;
Masanari Fujita, Osaka, JP;
Mitsutoshi Kichise, Osaka, JP;
Tetsushi Sakuma, Osaka, JP;
Masato Tsuji, Osaka, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A powder transport device includes a first transport tube through which powder falls under gravity; a second transport tube having a transport member that transports the powder in a substantially horizontal direction; and a joint section having a ceiling, opposed side walls, an upstream wall, and a downstream wall. The joint section defines a first drop region, defined by the downstream wall and the side walls, continuous with and positioned directly under the first transport tube, to drop the powder dropped from the first transport tube; and a second drop region, defined by the ceiling, the upstream wall, and the side walls, displaced relative to and continuous with the first drop region, positioned adjacent to the second transport tube, to drop the powder transported from the second transport tube upstream from the first drop region in the direction in which the powder is transported through the second transport tube.