Patent classifications
G03G15/0898
SEALS ON PRINT POWDERS RESERVOIRS
A print material cartridge may include a hopper to maintain an amount of print material therein; and an atmospheric pressure seal to seal the hopper from atmosphere; wherein a pressure within the hopper and sealed by the atmospheric pressure seal is lower than atmosphere.
Developer container, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus
A developer container includes a frame having a developer storage chamber which stores a conveying member, a developing chamber in which a developer bearing member and a supplying member are arranged, a partition partitioning the developer storage chamber and the developing chamber and provided with a first opening, and a second opening which connects an interior of the developing chamber and an exterior of the frame. A filter allows passage of air and restricts passage of the developer, with the filter being fixed to the frame so as to cover the second opening. The conveying member is deformable such that the developer is conveyed from the developer storage chamber to the developing chamber via the first opening by deformation of the conveying member being released, and the conveying member conveys the developer such that the developer passes above the supplying member.
DEVELOPING DEVICE FOR USE WITH TWO-COMPONENT DEVELOPER
A developing device includes a developer roller to rotate in a rotation direction, a photosensitive body adjacent the developer roller, and an air flow passage extending through a non-image forming region at a longitudinal end of the developer roller. A closest position is defined where the developer roller and a photosensitive body are closest to one another. The air flow passage extends from inside the developing device and forms an air flow directed toward an upstream side of the closest position, relative to the rotation direction of the developer roller.
IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS
An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body, an image carrier, a development device, a main body opening, and a guide rail. The main body opening is formed on an upper surface of the apparatus main body. The development device is movable along the guide rail between the main body opening and an attachment position. The development container has a container opening and a blocking member. The container opening is opened to a downstream side in an attachment direction of the development device. The blocking member is provided on the downstream side of the container opening in the attachment direction and stands upward from a lower end portion of the container opening. When the development container is disposed in a position where an inclination of the guide rail is largest, an inclination angle of the blocking member with respect to a horizontal plane is 80° to 130°.
DEVELOPING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS
A developing device includes a developing container having a first stirring chamber and a second stirring chamber that are arranged in juxtaposition with each other and a developer carrier that carries toner in the second stirring chamber. The developing container includes a duct, an air suction port, a first filter, and a second filter. The duct is arranged adjacently to the second stirring chamber and allows air in the second stirring chamber to flow out to an exterior. The air suction port is open along a longitudinal direction of the second stirring chamber and allows communication between inside the second stirring chamber and inside the duct. The first filter covers the air suction port. The second filter is arranged on a downstream side of the first filter in an air circulation direction in the duct and covers an air circulation path in the duct.
Imaging system
An imaging system includes a casing with a developing chamber, a developing roller which is located inside the developing chamber and which carries a toner, and a conveying path which is located adjacent to the developing chamber inside the casing and is used to circulate the toner and to supply the toner to the developing roller. A discharge path includes an inlet, an outlet, and an intermediate portion between the inlet and the outlet. The inlet communicates with the developing chamber in the casing and is located outside the conveying path. The outlet is located between the developing roller and a photoreceptor. The intermediate portion is located outside the casing.
SEALING ASSEMBLY FOR AN ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING DEVICE
A sealing assembly according to one example embodiment includes a housing and an imaging component positioned on the housing. A seal has opposed first and second edges extending along a longitudinal dimension of the seal. A lateral dimension of the seal is perpendicular to the longitudinal dimension and extends in a direction from the first edge to the second edge. The seal is attached to the housing along the first edge and contacts the imaging component along the second edge. Upon attachment to the housing, the seal is elastically deformed from an unassembled state in which the second edge has a first profile that varies in the lateral dimension along the longitudinal dimension to an assembled state in which the second edge is deformed relative to the first profile to a second profile having less variation in the lateral dimension along the longitudinal dimension than the first profile.
CONNECTION SEAL STRUCTURE, POWDER FEEDING DEVICE, AND POWDER HANDLING DEVICE
A connection seal structure includes: a first structure including a connector that is removably connected; and a second structure that includes a connectable portion that allows the connector to be received thereon and connected thereto, the connectable portion allowing an elastic member including an elastic layer to be attached to at least a portion of the connectable portion facing the connector. The elastic member has an end bent in such a direction as not to come into contact with the connector while the connector is inserted or removed, the end being on a side closer to the connector while the connector is inserted, and the connection seal structure further comprises a retainer that keeps the bent end of the elastic member in a bent state.
Developing apparatus with magnetic seal member facing conveyance screw
A developing apparatus includes a developer container that stores developer, a conveyance screw including a shaft portion and a blade, a bearing portion configured to engage with an engagement portion of the shaft portion of the conveyance screw, and a magnetic seal member having a magnetic property and disposed along a peripheral surface of the shaft portion in a noncontact manner with respect to the shaft portion between the blade and the engagement portion in the rotational axis direction of the conveyance screw.
Print powder reservoir sealed from atmosphere at lower pressure than atmosphere
A print material cartridge may include a hopper to maintain an amount of print material therein; and an atmospheric pressure seal to seal the hopper from atmosphere; wherein a pressure within the hopper and sealed by the atmospheric pressure seal is lower than atmosphere.