Patent · US Expired

Developer unit and a toner hopper for an image forming device

US5121165A · kind A · utility

27Cited by
6References
9Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 24, 1989
Grant dateJun 9, 1992
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 24, 2009

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG03G15/0886
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A toner hopper which is arranged upwards of the developing unit is elevatably supported in the image forming device in the vertical direction thereof and the connection between the toner hopper and the developing unit can be cancelled by lifting up the toner hopper when drawing out the developing unit so that the structure of the connection portion therebetween can be simplified and the sliding portion can be eliminated to thereby eliminate wearing at the connection therebetween. Furthermore, an apparatus for automatically raising and lowering the toner hopper and an apparatus for maintaining the horizontality of the toner hopper when being elevated and lowered is provided.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.