Patents by Inventor Ichiroh Komuro

Ichiroh Komuro has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Toner conveying method and device for an image forming apparatus
    Patent number: 5848326
    Abstract: An image forming method and apparatus in which collected toner removed from a photoconductive medium by a cleaning device is conveyed to a developing device. The conveying device includes a powder pump having a rotor and a stator configured to convey the collected toner in an coaxial direction of said rotor. An air flow is supplied to the powder pump by way of an air pump, where the air is conveyed in a tube with the collected toner. The tube is connected to the developing device so that the collected toner is recycled. When the developing device is replenished with fresh toner from a toner bottle, the air pump stops supplying the air flow to the powder pump so as to prevent toner from scattering within the image forming apparatus from an opening of the developing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ichiroh Komuro, Junichi Terai