Patent classifications
G03G2215/083
DEVELOPING DEVICE, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND IMAGE FORMING METHOD
A developing device includes a developer container that accommodates an electrostatic image developer including toner containing a toner particle and a zinc stearate particle, a ratio (D.sub.T/D.sub.S) of a volume-average particle size (D.sub.T) of the toner particle to a volume-average particle size (D.sub.S) of the zinc stearate particle being about 1.9 or more; a developer carrier that supplies the toner to an image carrier; a supply conveyor that supplies the electrostatic image developer while conveying the electrostatic image developer; a mixing conveyor that conveys the electrostatic image developer while mixing the electrostatic image developer; and a partition disposed between the supply conveyor and the mixing conveyor. The electrostatic image developer is moved from the supply conveyor to the mixing conveyor through a first passage and is moved from the mixing conveyor to the supply conveyor through a second passage.
Conveyance unit, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus
A conveyance mechanism which includes a rotation shaft extending in a direction along a first direction connecting first and second discharge ports that is rotatable with a rotation axis extending in the first direction. Wherein, a first rotation conveyance unit is disposed on the rotation shaft, and is rotatable together with the rotation shaft, conveys developer toward the first discharge port, and a second rotation conveyance unit is disposed on the rotation shaft, and is rotatable together with the rotation shaft, conveys developer toward the second discharge port. The second rotation conveyance unit is configured to provide a larger amount of conveyance than the first rotation conveyance unit.
Developing device which supplies two-component developer containing toner and carrier and which discharges excessive developer and image forming apparatus therewith
A developing device includes a developer container, a developer carrier, and first and second members for stirring/conveying. The developing container has a first partition wall between first and second chambers, communication portions through which those chambers communicate at opposite ends of the first partition wall, a developer supply port, and a developer discharge portion. The first member stirs and conveys developer in the first chamber in a first direction. The second member stirs and conveys developer in the second chamber in a second direction and includes a regulating portion and a discharging blade. The developer container includes a second partition wall between the first chamber and the regulating portion. The second partition wall is lower than the first partition wall, and an upper end part of the second partition wall is between upper and lower end parts of the rotary shaft of the second stirring/conveying member.
DEVELOPING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS THEREWITH
A developing device includes a developer container, a developer carrier, and first and second members for stirring/conveying. The developing container has a first partition wall between first and second chambers, communication portions through which those chambers communicate at opposite ends of the first partition wall, a developer supply port, and a developer discharge portion. The first member stirs and conveys developer in the first chamber in a first direction. The second member stirs and conveys developer in the second chamber in a second direction and includes a regulating portion and a discharging blade. The developer container includes a second partition wall between the first chamber and the regulating portion. The second partition wall is lower than the first partition wall, and an upper end part of the second partition wall is between upper and lower end parts of the rotary shaft of the second stirring/conveying member.
Developing device including a conveyor with a space between blades and image forming apparatus including same
A developing device includes a developer bearer and a stirring conveyor. The stirring conveyor includes a first conveying chamber including a conveying member and a second conveying chamber to receive the developer from an end of the first conveying chamber. The conveying member includes a forward winding blade, a reverse winding blade, and a shaft portion on which the forward winding blade and the reverse winding blade are mounted with a space therebetween. A circumferential phase of the conveying member at a start position of the reverse winding blade is different from a circumferential phase of the conveying member at an end position of the forward winding blade. The conveying member is disposed in the first conveying chamber so that the space is opposite a portion at which the second conveying chamber receives the developer from the end of the first conveying chamber.
PROCESS CARTRIDGE, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND TONER STORAGE UNIT
A process cartridge mountable on an image forming apparatus includes a photoconductive drum, a developing unit including a developing roller and a toner storage unit. The toner storage includes a first toner storage chamber, a second toner storage chamber located above the first toner storage chamber, a first toner conveying member located in the first toner storage chamber and configured to convey the toner in the first toner storage chamber upward toward the second toner storage chamber in an area wider than the toner discharge outlet in the first direction, and a second toner conveying member located in the second toner storage chamber and configured to convey, in the first direction, the toner in the second toner storage chamber toward the toner discharge outlet.
Developing device having a partition member and image forming apparatus
A developing device includes a first transport member and a second transport member that are respectively disposed in a first transport path and a second transport path arranged in a vertical direction and that transport developer so as to circulate the developer between the first transport path and the second transport path; a developing member that is disposed to face the first transport path and that receives the developer from the first transport path; and a third transport member that is disposed in a third transport path through which the developer that has not been used by the developing member is collected and transported to the second transport path. A central shaft of the second transport member is disposed farther in a vertically upward direction than is a central shaft of the third transport member.
Developing device and image forming apparatus with separately driven elements
A developing device includes a first transport member and a second transport member that are respectively disposed in a first transport path and a second transport path arranged in a vertical direction and that transport developer so as to circulate the developer between the first transport path and the second transport path; a developing member that is disposed to face the first transport path and that receives the developer from the first transport path; and a driving device that operates such that a relative speed ratio between a rotational speed of the developing member and a rotational speed of the second transport member is changeable.
Developer accommodating device with screw including screw blade as rotator, developing device, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus
A developer accommodating device includes a rotator including a rotation shaft, a collar that rotates together with the rotation shaft, and a bearing rotatably supporting the rotation shaft via the collar. The rotation shaft includes a resin material, and collar including a metal material. The collar includes a collar main portion to be in sliding contact with the bearing, and a flange portion closer to a center of the rotator in an axial direction of the rotator than the collar main portion. The collar main portion has a first outer diameter, and the flange portion has a second outer diameter greater than the first outer diameter of the collar main portion.
CONVEYANCE UNIT, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS
A conveyance mechanism which includes a rotation shaft extending in a direction along a first direction connecting first and second discharge ports that is rotatable with a rotation axis extending in the first direction. Wherein, a first rotation conveyance unit is disposed on the rotation shaft, and is rotatable together with the rotation shaft, conveys developer toward the first discharge port, and a second rotation conveyance unit is disposed on the rotation shaft, and is rotatable together with the rotation shaft, conveys developer toward the second discharge port. The second rotation conveyance unit is configured to provide a larger amount of conveyance than the first rotation conveyance unit.