Patent 7702248 was granted and assigned to RICOH COMPANY,LTD. on April, 2010 by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
A powder container is configured to be installed in a substantially horizontal manner in an apparatus in which the powder container is used. A powder inlet is provided, through which a powder enters into the powder container. A powder detecting unit includes a powder detector for detecting a full of the powder. A powder conveying unit is provided between the powder inlet and the powder detecting unit. A space between the powder inlet and the powder detecting unit is divided into a plurality of areas.