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:
Oct. 06, 2015
Filed:
Oct. 22, 2013
Konica Minolta, Inc., Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, JP;
Takenori Suenaga, Tokyo, JP;
Shingo Aoki, Kanagawa, JP;
KONICA MINOLTA, INC., , JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus includes: a developer collecting duct that is linear and has a plurality of coupling portions vertically spaced apart from each other; and a plurality of developer discharging sections that each have an engaging portion inserted into one of the coupling portions to thereby be disposed as being exposed to the inside of the developer collecting duct, and that discharge waste developer to the developer collecting duct through a developer outlet provided in the engaging portion. Second and subsequent ones of the developer discharging sections from the top are detachably attached to the developer collecting duct. The developer collecting duct has a flow path restricting portion that restricts the area through which the waste developer flows down to prevent the waste developer from hitting the engaging portion of lower one of the developer discharging sections.