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. 05, 2016
Filed:
Jul. 11, 2014
Junichi Matsumoto, Kanagawa, JP;
Kiyonori Tsuda, Kanagawa, JP;
Nobuo Takami, Kanagawa, JP;
Yutaka Takahashi, Kanagawa, JP;
Kentaro Mikuniya, Tokyo, JP;
Keinosuke Kondoh, Kanagawa, JP;
Tetsuya Muto, Kanagawa, JP;
Junichi Matsumoto, Kanagawa, JP;
Kiyonori Tsuda, Kanagawa, JP;
Nobuo Takami, Kanagawa, JP;
Yutaka Takahashi, Kanagawa, JP;
Kentaro Mikuniya, Tokyo, JP;
Keinosuke Kondoh, Kanagawa, JP;
Tetsuya Muto, Kanagawa, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus includes a developing device; a developer conveyance device including a developer container, a developer reservoir to receive developer discharged from the developer container, and a positive-displacement pump to discharge, from the developer reservoir, developer supplied to the developing device by alternately generating positive pressure and negative pressure due to volume changes; and a controller to control driving of the positive-displacement pump. When the controller recognizes a developer end state of the developer container, the controller lowers a developer conveyance capability of the positive-displacement pump from a setting used before the developer end state is recognized.