Patent classifications
G03G2215/0844
Developing unit, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus using toner to develop toner image
A developing unit includes a conveying member which rotates to convey the developer to the developer bearing member. The conveying member includes a sheet portion with one end fixed to a rotation shaft and a free end which enters the developing chamber through an opening when the conveying member rotates around a rotation center, wherein relations C>A and B>A are satisfied, where A is a distance from the rotation center to an upstream end of the opening in a rotational direction, B is a distance from the rotation center to a downstream end of the opening in the rotational direction, and C is a length from the rotation center to the free end of the sheet portion in an unbent state. The upstream end of the opening is lower in a direction of gravitational force than the downstream end at an orientation in use.
Image forming apparatus including transfer device located above photosensitive drum
A first development chamber accommodates an agitator. A second development chamber accommodates a development roller and a supply roller. The second development chamber is located above the first development chamber. A toner cartridge contains toner to be supplied to the first development chamber. A transfer device is located above a photosensitive drum in a state where a drum unit is attached to a main housing. The transfer device transfers toner on the photosensitive drum to a sheet. An agitator includes a shaft and a blade. The shaft is rotatably supported by a development housing. The blade is rotatable together with the shaft. The blade has a first end fixed to the shaft and a second end located away from the first end. The agitator is configured such that, when rotated, the second end of the blade reaches a height of an opening in the development housing in a vertical direction.
Developing device, process cartridge and electrophotographic image forming apparatus having developer supply member passing through the developing opening
A developing device includes a developer carrying member for developing an electrostatic image with a developer, a developer container including a developer accommodating portion, a developing opening, and a developing chamber, and a developer supplying member that includes a shaft member, a first feeding member, and a second feeding member. The first feeding member has a length L1 measured in an axial direction of the developer carrying member and has a rotational radius R1 measured from a rotation center of the shaft member, and the second feeding member has a length L2. When a length of the developing opening is L3, a shortest length from the developing opening to the shaft member is L4, and a length from the developer carrying member to the shaft member is L5, the following relationships are satisfied: L1<L3<L2, and L4<R1<L5.
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.
DEVELOPING UNIT, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS
A developing unit includes a conveying member which rotates to convey the developer to the developer bearing member. The conveying member includes a sheet portion with one end fixed to a rotation shaft and a free end which enters the developing chamber through an opening when the conveying member rotates around a rotation center, wherein relations C>A and B>A are satisfied, where A is a distance from the rotation center to an upstream end of the opening in a rotational direction, B is a distance from the rotation center to a downstream end of the opening in the rotational direction, and C is a length from the rotation center to the free end of the sheet portion in an unbent state. The upstream end of the opening is lower in a direction of gravitational force than the downstream end at an orientation in use.
IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS
A first development chamber accommodates an agitator. A second development chamber accommodates a development roller and a supply roller. The second development chamber is located above the first development chamber. A toner cartridge contains toner to be supplied to the first development chamber. A transfer device is located above a photosensitive drum in a state where a drum unit is attached to a main housing. The transfer device transfers toner on the photosensitive drum to a sheet. An agitator includes a shaft and a blade. The shaft is rotatably supported by a development housing. The blade is rotatable together with the shaft. The blade has a first end fixed to the shaft and a second end located away from the first end. The agitator is configured such that, when rotated, the second end of the blade reaches a height of an opening in the development housing in a vertical direction.
Developing device having a delivery unit to transport collected developer and image forming apparatus having the same
A developing device includes a developer carrier that carries a developer to be supplied to an image carrier that forms an electrostatic latent image, a supply unit that supplies the developer containing toner and a carrier to the developer carrier by transporting the developer while agitating the developer along a circulation path formed through rotation of each of plural rotary members, and a delivery unit that receives a collected developer, which is the developer collected from the developer carrier, transports the collected developer by another rotary member different from the plural rotary members of the supply unit, and delivers the collected developer to the circulation path of the supply unit.
DEVELOPING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS
A developing apparatus includes: a housing that accommodates developer and has a plurality of constituent parts; a vibrator that vibrates parts, which are two or more of the plurality of the constituent parts and to which scattered toner may adhere, as vibrated portions; an adjuster provided for at least one of the vibrated portions and the vibrator so as to adjust and match natural frequencies of the two or more of the vibrated portions; and a hardware processor that controls the vibrator.
Developing apparatus and image forming apparatus
A developing apparatus includes: a housing that accommodates developer and has a plurality of constituent parts; a vibrator that vibrates parts, which are two or more of the plurality of the constituent parts and to which scattered toner may adhere, as vibrated portions; an adjuster provided for at least one of the vibrated portions and the vibrator so as to adjust and match natural frequencies of the two or more of the vibrated portions; and a hardware processor that controls the vibrator.
Developing device with toner containing a toner particle and a zinc stearate particle, and 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.