Removing Excess Developer Patents (Class 399/264)
  • Patent number: 11592761
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developing case housing a developer. A doctor blade is separated from an outer surface of a developing sleeve, the both ends of the doctor blade in a longitudinal direction are fixed to a developing case, and the doctor blade includes a through hole in the central portion in the longitudinal direction. An adjusting portion adjusts the distance between the doctor blade and the outer surface of the developing sleeve. A rotating portion is provided on one surface of the base portion, inserts the through hole, and rotates with respect to the doctor blade and the developing case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masayuki Kasukawa
  • Patent number: 11163243
    Abstract: A bias condition determiner executes, in order, a first direct current voltage determination mode (first DC calibration) for determining a provisional reference direct current voltage that is a provisional reference for a direct current voltage of a developing bias applied to a developing roller, an inter-peak voltage determination mode (AC calibration) for determining a reference inter-peak voltage that is a reference for an inter-peak voltage of an alternating current voltage of the developing bias applied to the developing roller in an image forming operation, and a second direct current voltage determination mode (second DC calibration) for determining a reference direct current voltage that is a reference for the direct current voltage of the developing bias applied to the developing roller in the image forming operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventors: Tamotsu Shimizu, Norio Kubo, Asami Sasaki, Yasuhiro Tauchi, Yuji Toyota
  • Patent number: 10877393
    Abstract: An image forming device includes: a developer holder that is rotatably arranged opposing a latent image holder holding an electrostatic latent image, holds developer including carrier and toner charged to a predetermined regular polarity, has a potential of the same polarity as the regular polarity applied thereto, and develops the electrostatic latent image using the toner; an opposite electrode that is arranged opposing the developer holder with a predetermined gap therebetween; and a controller that changes at least one of a potential applied to the opposite electrode and a rotation direction of the opposite electrode in accordance with an area coverage of the electrostatic latent image of the latent image holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto Kanno, Tomoyuki Hamachi, Ryo Fukuno
  • Patent number: 10732537
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus detects a current flowing between a developer carrying member and a cleaning member is detected for each of a plurality of toner images when a region on the developer carrying member passes through the cleaning member, and a potential difference to be used during image formation between the developing voltage and an image portion potential is set on the basis of a value of the detected current for each of the plurality of toner images. An absolute value of the potential difference to be used during image formation is larger than the potential difference between the developing voltage and the image portion potential whose absolute value is smallest among potential differences between the developing voltage and the image portion potential to be used for developing a toner image of which the value of the current detected is in a predetermined range among the plurality of toner images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Ryota Fujioka
  • Patent number: 9568854
    Abstract: Removal control performing both first and second control in series is performed. The first control involves rotating the plurality of developer bearing members in a state in which the developing bias is applied to the plurality of developer bearing members so that force acting on opposite-polarity particles from a normally charged toner in the direction of moving the particles from the developer bearing member toward the image bearing member. The second control involves rotating one developer bearing member at a faster circumferential velocity than the other developer bearing member in a state in which the developing bias is applied to the plurality of developer bearing members or the developing bias is turned off so that the force acting on the opposite-polarity particles from the normally charged toner in the direction of moving the particles from the developer bearing member toward the image bearing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kosuke Takeuchi, Yasushi Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 9310720
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, includes a developing device developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an image bearing member. The developing device includes a developer bearing member having a developing sleeve and a magnet, with the developing sleeve being rotatable in the direction opposite to the rotational direction of the image bearing member, the magnet being fixed in the developing sleeve, and grooves extending in the axial direction being provided on a surface of the developing sleeve. An angle ? between a wall surface of the grooves at an upstream side in the rotational direction of the developing sleeve and the direction perpendicular to the surface of the developing sleeve is greater than an angle ? of a magnetic brush of the developer formed at a closest portion between the image bearing member and the developer bearing member on an outermost surface of the developing sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shinya Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9231228
    Abstract: An anode for an organic light emitting device which introduces a metal oxide to improve flows of charges, and an organic light emitting device using the anode. The anode for the organic light emitting device has excellent charge injection characteristics, thereby improving power consumption of the organic light emitting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Won-Jong Kim, Joon-Gu Lee, Ji-Young Choung, Jin-Baek Choi, Yeon-Hwa Lee, Chang-Ho Lee, Il-Soo Oh, Hyung-Jun Song, Jin-Young Yun, Young-Woo Song, Jong-Hyuk Lee
  • Patent number: 9081324
    Abstract: A developing device is equipped with a photoreceptor drum on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, a developing roller that supplies toner to the electrostatic latent image of the photoreceptor drum, a supply roller, a regulating roller, and a toner recovery unit that recovers at least toner adhering to the developing roller. The toner recovery unit includes a recovery member in which toner is recovered and which is disposed beneath the developing roller, the supply roller, and the regulating roller so as to be detachable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshinori Asai
  • Patent number: 8953969
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a developing unit, and a developer sucking section. A relationship 0?X?R+kRW (where k=10 to 12) is established, when X (m) is a distance from a center of a transport pole to a position where a straight line crosses a rotating section, R (m) is a chain standing length of developer on the transport pole, W (m/s) is a peripheral velocity of the developing unit, and k is a coefficient. The transport pole is adjacent to a development pole and is situated downstream of the development pole in a direction of rotation of the rotating section. The straight line is situated at a downstream side in the direction of rotation of the rotating section and connects a center of rotation of the developing unit and an end of the developer sucking section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ryuji Hattori
  • Publication number: 20140348554
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit including a plurality of photoconductor drums arranged in tandem; a conveyor belt arranged opposite to the photoconductor drums and configured to convey a recording sheet; and a cleaning unit including a cleaning member positioned in contact with the conveyor belt and configured to collect substance adhering to the conveyor belt, and a receptacle configured to store the substance collected by the cleaning member. The cleaning member is arranged on the same side as the image forming unit with respect to the conveyor belt and upstream from the image forming unit as viewed in a sheet conveyance direction along which the recording sheet is conveyed on the conveyor belt, and the image forming unit and the cleaning unit are pulled out together from a main body of the image forming apparatus toward an upstream side of the sheet conveyance direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Susumu Sakuma
  • Patent number: 8897685
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a rotary fuser member, a rotary pressure member, and a cleaning system. The rotary fuser member is subjected to heating. The rotary pressure member is opposite the fuser member. The fuser member and the pressure member are pressed against each other to form a fixing nip therebetween through which a recording medium is conveyed as the fuser member and the pressure member rotate together. The cleaning system cleans the pressure member, and includes a cleaning web, a web supply mechanism, and a controller. The cleaning web at least partially contacts the pressure member to wipe the pressure member. The cleaning web is mounted on the web supply mechanism to be released into contact with the pressure member. The controller is operatively connected with the web supply mechanism to control an amount of supply of the cleaning web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Keisuke Kubota
  • Patent number: 8768190
    Abstract: A developing device includes a developer bearing member for bearing a developer so as to develop an electrostatic image, a restricting member for restricting the amount of developer born on the developer bearing member, a detector for detecting information on the amount of developer existing between the developer bearing member and the restricting member, and a controller which can change a value of a voltage to be applied to the restricting member during image formation based on a result detected by the detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Oba
  • Patent number: 8750764
    Abstract: A trickle-type developing device comprising: a stirring and conveying tank provided with stirring and conveying screws that circulate the developer; a discharge member via which a part of the developer is conveyed from the tank to a discharge opening through which the developer is discharged, the discharge opening being provided in the discharge member; and a reverse flow generating screw provided inside a portion of the discharge member, sharing one of rotation shafts of the stirring and conveying screws, and pushing back a part of the developer, wherein the portion has a reduced-radius part and in a cross section thereof perpendicular to an axial direction of the one of rotation shafts, an inner radius of the portion is smaller in the reduced-radius part than in the remaining part, the reduced-radius part being located in a lower part of the portion with respect to a vertical direction of the portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc
    Inventors: Yuusuke Okuno, Wataru Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20140105653
    Abstract: An image forming device includes: a belt; a developing unit; a support unit; a cleaning member; a waste toner box; and a main casing. The developing unit is configured to accommodate developing agent therein. The support unit is configured to support the developing unit. The cleaning member is configured to collect residual toner deposited on the belt. The waste toner box is configured to accommodate therein the residual toner collected by the cleaning member. The main casing has a first wall having a first opening through which the support unit passes; and a second wall disposed spaced apart from the first wall in a first direction and having a second opening through which the waste toner box passes. The main casing includes: a first cover configured to expose the first opening and to cover the first opening; and a second cover configured to expose the second opening and to cover the second opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masanari Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 8682226
    Abstract: A development device mounted on an electrophotographic image forming apparatus including a photoconductive drum in which an electrostatic latent image is formed on a surface thereof, the development device comprising: a developer tank; a development roller that is provided in the developer tank; first and second developer conveying paths; and first and second developer conveying spiral members that conveying the developer in the circulating manner in the first and second developer conveying paths, wherein at least one of the first and second developer conveying spiral members further includes an end blade that is provided at one end of the rotary shaft, the end blade includes: a spiral blade portion that is fixed to the circumferential surface of the rotary shaft; and a circumferential agitating plate portion that is fixed to a circumferential portion of the spiral blade portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koichi Mihara, Takafumi Nagai
  • Patent number: 8666294
    Abstract: A carrier removing apparatus, including: an electrode, having a plurality of openings through which a carrier passes, disposed to oppose an image carrier, and a power source to apply a voltage onto the electrode so as to separate the carrier on the image carrier from the image carrier, wherein the electrode has a surface along a surface of the image carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Natsuko Minegishi, Naoki Tajima, Seiko Itagaki, Hiroyuki Saito
  • Patent number: 8628846
    Abstract: Provided is a developer carrying member that can stably provide a negatively chargeable developer with triboelectric charge and whose surface hardly wears even after its long-term use. The developer carrying member is a developer carrying member, comprising: a substrate; and a surface layer, wherein: the surface layer contains a matrix resin and electro-conductive particles; and the matrix resin contains a crosslinked product of a polymer chain having units represented by the following structural formula (1) and the following structural formula (2), and a polymer chain represented by the following structural formula (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhito Wakabayashi, Masayoshi Shimamura, Yasutaka Akashi, Satoshi Otake, Takuma Matsuda, Minoru Ito, Atsushi Noguchi, Hironori Mori
  • Patent number: 8626038
    Abstract: A developer unit usable with a liquid electrophotographic printing apparatus having a photosensitive drum includes a developer roller configured to receive ink, and to selectively engage and rotatably transfer the ink to the photosensitive drum, the developer roller configured to switch between a contact mode when the developer roller is rotating and a non-contact mode when the developer roller is not rotating, a squeegee roller selectively in contact with the developer roller, the squeegee roller configured to at least condense the received ink on the developer roller in the contact mode, and configured to be apart from the developer roller in the non-contact mode, and a cleaner roller selectively in contact with the developer roller, the cleaner roller configured to remove remaining ink from the developer roller not transferred to the photosensitive drum in the contact mode, and to be apart from the developer roller in the non-contact mode, wherein at least one of the squeegee roller, the cleaner roller and
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L. P.
    Inventors: Eric Nelson, David Vejtasa, Alexander Karp, Christopher S Tanner
  • Patent number: 8594552
    Abstract: To provide a blade for electrophotographic apparatus that can have much superior durability as being made low frictional at its touching part and also improved in bonding force between the touching part and the blade member, a blade for electrophotographic apparatus is provided which has a blade member having a touching part which is to come into touch with an object member, and a support member which holds the blade member; the touching part being formed of a material which is different from that for the blade member; the touching part having a touching face having a coefficient of static friction which is smaller than that of a surface of the blade member; and the touching part having a joint surface at which the touching part is joined with the blade member which joint surface has a center line average roughness Ra of from 0.5 ?m to 10.0 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kasei Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Arihiro Yamamoto, Erika Umeki, Syouji Inoue
  • Patent number: 8583016
    Abstract: A developing device includes a developer bearing body provided so as to face a latent image bearing body. The developer bearing body rotates to supply a developer to the latent image bearing body. A developer supplying member is provided so as to contact the developer bearing body. The developer supplying member rotates to supply a developer to the developer bearing body. A developer recovery member is provided so as to contact a surface of the developer bearing body that moves from a position facing the latent image bearing body to a position in contact with the developer supplying member by a rotation of the developer bearing body. The developer recovery member rotates to recover the developer from the developer bearing body. The developer recovery member is constituted by a brush roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Takuya Goto
  • Patent number: 8532545
    Abstract: A developing device in an image forming apparatus includes: a first developer carrier that rotates in a same direction as a rotating direction of an image carrier of the image forming apparatus so as to supply developer to the image carrier; and a second developer carrier that rotates in a direction opposite to the rotating direction of the image carrier so as to supply the developer to the image carrier. The developing device simultaneously performs a refreshing operation of performing replacement of the developer and a filming removal operation of causing the image carrier to rotate idle while forming an image for use in the refreshing operation and causing the first and second developer carriers to rotate in their respective rotating directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Tomonari Hokkyoh, Takashi Suzuki, Koutarou Yamada, Katsuhiro Akinaga
  • Patent number: 8509637
    Abstract: A metering skive for a dry electrophotographic (EP) printer is mounted on a retractable skive mount. The skive mount is spring-loaded to a mounting block, and a stop pin sets the distance between the skive mount and the mounting block. A movable spacer with a plurality of laterally-separated regions of respective, different thicknesses is mounted between the head of the stop pin and the mounting block. A retractor can be operated to pull the skive mount towards the mounting block so the spacer can be moved to select a desired spacing between the mounting block and the skive mount, and thus a desired gap between the metering skive and the toning member in the printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Michael Thomas Dobbertin, David James Cornell, Henry Paul Mitchell, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20130195485
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable belt; a cleaning blade contacted to the belt; image forming stations including a first station and a second station for forming first and second adjustment toner images, respectively, on the belt, the second station being disposed downstreammost position, and the first station being disposed upstream of the second station and downstream of the cleaning blade with respect to a rotational direction of the belt; a detector for detecting the first image and the second image, at a position opposing the belt; a changing portion for changing image forming conditions of the stations on the basis of a result of detection of the detector, a controller for controlling the stations such that in a region between adjacent ones of the same images in a continuous image formations, the second image reaches the blade before the first image reaches the blade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
  • Publication number: 20130142547
    Abstract: A developing device that is provided in an image forming device that forms an image includes an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed; a developer carrier that is configured to form a developer image on a surface of the image carrier by attaching developer on the electrostatic latent image; and a contact member that is configured to contact the developer carrier. The contact member contacts the developer carrier and exerts a contact pressure per unit area thereon, the contact pressure per unit area being based on charging characteristics of the developer being used.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: OKI DATA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Oki Data Corporation
  • Patent number: 8449229
    Abstract: A method of making a slotted scavenger wherein a rigid sheet is used as a starting material. A slot is formed through the sheet having horizontally angled sidewalls such that an opening of the slot on a first major surface of the sheet is smaller than an opening of the slot in a second major surface of the sheet. Modifications of the method include using a rotating cutting tool for cutting through the sheet to form slots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Brown, Michael T. Dobbertin, Dennis J. Grabb
  • Publication number: 20130129392
    Abstract: Provided is a developer carrying member that can stably provide a negatively chargeable developer with triboelectric charge and whose surface hardly wears even after its long-term use. The developer carrying member is a developer carrying member, comprising: a substrate; and a surface layer, wherein: the surface layer contains a matrix resin and electro-conductive particles; and the matrix resin contains a crosslinked product of a polymer chain having units represented by the following structural formula (1) and the following structural formula (2), and a polymer chain represented by the following structural formula (3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
  • Patent number: 8428475
    Abstract: A waste toner container that collects waste toner that is not used to form an image in an image forming unit of an image forming apparatus, and includes a waste toner collection opening to receive the waste toner output from the image forming unit, a toner amount detector to detect toner amount in the waste toner container, and a waste toner conveyance member disposed inside the waste toner container to convey the waste toner in the waste toner container. The waste toner conveyance member defines a waste toner conveyance direction exchange point, which is a boundary between two different toner conveyance direction regions in which the waste toner is conveyed in opposite directions, and the waste toner conveyance direction exchange point is disposed closer to the toner amount detector than is the waste toner collection opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd
    Inventors: Daisuke Tomita, Shinichi Kawahara, Takeshi Shintani, Nobuo Kuwabara, Akio Kosuge
  • Patent number: 8401419
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, in which a toner collection section is disposed in an air pathway between a ventilation duct and suction blower, and the toner collection section and a recovery container are connected via an opening and closing device, has a control device to control the opening and closing device to close the opening and closing device when the suction blower is suctioning air and to open the opening and closing device so that the recovery container recovers the toner collected by the toner collection section after the suction blower is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Yasushi Koshimura, Daiki Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 8401441
    Abstract: A cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a developer carrying member for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an image bearing member, and an electroconductive developer layer thickness regulating member for regulating a layer thickness of a developer deposited on the developer carrying member. A part of the developer layer thickness regulating member is directly contactable to the main assembly electrical contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsushi Uneme, Takahito Ueno, Yuuki Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8401439
    Abstract: The present invention realizes an image forming apparatus which is equipped with a carrier recovery section of simple configuration and for which maintenance is not required, the apparatus includes: a photoconductive drum; a developing device to develop a latent image formed on the photoconductive drum by a two-component developer containing a toner and a magnetic carrier, and a carrier recovery section which is equipped with a recovery roller, wherein the carrier recovery roller includes a rotatable sleeve, and a magnet roller that is installed inside the sleeve and provided with a plurality of fixed magnetic poles including a main pole to recover the magnetic carrier adhered onto the photoconductive drum and a separating pole to separate the magnetic carrier from the recovery roller, wherein a separating member is disposed at such a position that is opposite to the sleeve at a prescribed distance in a non-contact state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Saito, Naoki Tajima, Seiko Itagaki, Natsuko Minegishi
  • Patent number: 8385790
    Abstract: A two-component developing method, including regulating a two-component developer borne on a developer bearer with a doctor blade; and transferring the regulated two-component developer to the developer bearer to develop a latent image on an image bearer, wherein the two-component developer includes a pulverized toner having a volume-average particle diameter of from 3.0 to 6.0 ?m, including particles having a particle diameter not greater than 4.0 ?m in an amount not less than 30% by number, and including particles having a particle diameter not greater than 2.0 ?m in an amount not greater than 10% by number, and wherein the doctor blade has a surface regulating the developer at an upstream side relative to a rotational direction of the developer bearer, which has a surface roughness Ra not greater than 0.2 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Mitsuo Aoki, Hiroyuki Kishida
  • Patent number: 8385791
    Abstract: A developer regulating member regulates a thickness of a layer of a developer on a surface of a developer bearing body. The developer has a degree of circularity in a range from 0.94 to 0.97. The developer regulating member includes a resilient plate member composed of a metal material and having a bent portion. An outer surface of the bent portion contacts the surface of the developer bearing body so that a ridge line of the outer surface of the bent portion crosses a moving direction of the surface of the developer bearing body. A curvature radius R (?m) of the outer surface of the bent portion and a mean crystal grain diameter D (?m) of the metal material satisfy the relationship: 60×10?3×R?11?D?93.75×10?3×R?6.875.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventors: Junichi Ito, Yukiyoshi Oda, Masahiro Kawano, Kazuhisa Fukamachi
  • Patent number: 8315532
    Abstract: Background development in a multi-color electrophotographic printer is reduced. A print job including a plurality of separations is received. Each separation has an image area and a non-image area. A printer is provided, including a development member for supplying toner to a photoreceptor for each separation. A developing and a non-developing zone are determined for each separation, corresponding to the image area and non-image area, respectively. Developer is automatically supplied to the development members, and automatically removed developer from the respective non-developing zone of each development member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Kenneth J. Brown
  • Patent number: 8280294
    Abstract: A cleaning device includes a rotary member that contacts with an image carrier and moves materials on a surface of the image carrier along a rotation direction of the rotary member; a scraping member that contacts with the rotary member to scrape the materials adhering on the rotary member; a collected material receiving portion disposed downstream of a contact portion of the rotary member and the scraping member in a gravity direction; plural openings provided along a width direction of the image carrier by a partition member, through which the materials scraped by the scraping member pass to the collected material receiving portion; a protrusion portion that is arranged between the openings and the contact portion of the rotary member and the scraping member, and protrudes toward an upstream side in a rotation direction of the rotary member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kuniaki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8275283
    Abstract: A cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a developer carrying member for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an image bearing member, and an electroconductive developer layer thickness regulating member for regulating a layer thickness of a developer deposited on the developer carrying member. A part of the developer layer thickness regulating member is directly contactable to the main assembly electrical contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsushi Uneme, Takahito Ueno, Yuuki Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8219005
    Abstract: A developing device includes: a developer carrying member that supplies developer to an image carrying member; plural developer supply members, containing different color developers, that supply the developers to the developer carrying member in a developer supply position; a conveyance member that sequentially conveys the plural developer supply members to the developer supply position; and a peeling member that peels off developer, remained after supply of the developer by the developer carrying member to the image carrying member, from the developer carrying member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shiro Suzuki, Tetsuji Okamoto, Koichi Watanabe, Atsuyuki Kitamura, Masahiro Sato
  • Patent number: 8204424
    Abstract: The present invention provides a cleaning blade for an electrophotographic device, which, even when spherical (perfectly spherical or irregularly shaped), polymerized toner with a small particle diameter is used, can achieve sufficient abrasion resistance and sufficient cleaning ability (particularly cleaning ability under low-temperature and low-humidity conditions). The cleaning blade for an electrophotographic device includes an elastic rubber member; and a supporting member. The elastic rubber member has a double layer structure including an edge layer and a base layer. The edge layer is made of a material with a JIS-A hardness of 65° to 72° at 23° C. and a rebound resilience of 10 to 35%. The base layer is made of a material with a JIS-A hardness of 70° to 80° at 23° C. and a rebound resilience of 40 to 70%, the JIS-A hardness value being larger than the value of hardness of the edge layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Bando Chemical Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Miki, Takayuki Nagase, Sadaharu Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8195071
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a reducing plate that dams up a part of a developer scraped up by a blade is provided. The reducing plate suppresses swell of the developer held up by a discharge mixer from fluctuating according to the rotation of the blade. Fluctuation in an excess developer discharged from a discharge port is suppressed and replace a deteriorated carrier in a development container with a new carrier little by little.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Hatakeyama, Minoru Yoshida, Takao Izumi, Hiroshi Murata
  • Patent number: 8190072
    Abstract: A developing device includes a container storing a two-component developer including a toner and a carrier, a toner carrying body carrying the toner in the container and supplying the toner to a predetermined image carrying body by rotation, a restricting member held in press contact with the toner carrying body, and a restricting nip section formed between the toner carrying body and the restricting member. The restricting nip section selects only the toner in the two-component developer to form a uniform toner layer on the toner carrying body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventors: Minoru Wada, Taisuke Nagao, Hisashi Mukataka, Seishi Ojima
  • Publication number: 20120121299
    Abstract: Carrier particles are removed from a rotatable photoreceptor in an electrophotographic printer. A development member is rotated to selectively supply toner from a developer supply to the photoreceptor, the developer including toner particles and carrier particles, and at least one carrier particle from the developer is drawn into contact with the photoreceptor while the development member supplies toner to the photoreceptor. A skive is moved into proximity with the surface of the photoreceptor and energized so that it provides an electric or magnetic field when in proximity with the surface of the photoreceptor. Carrier particles on the photoreceptor are thus transported into proximity with the skive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2010
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Inventor: Donald S. Rimai
  • Publication number: 20120027468
    Abstract: A developer unit usable with a liquid electrophotographic printing apparatus having a photosensitive drum includes a developer roller configured to receive ink, and to selectively engage and rotatably transfer the ink to the photosensitive drum, the developer roller configured to switch between a contact mode when the developer roller is rotating and a non-contact mode when the developer roller is not rotating, a squeegee roller selectively in contact with the developer roller, the squeegee roller configured to at least condense the received ink on the developer roller in the contact mode, and configured to be apart from the developer roller in the non-contact mode, and a cleaner roller selectively in contact with the developer roller, the cleaner roller configured to remove remaining ink from the developer roller not transferred to the photosensitive drum in the contact mode, and to be apart from the developer roller in the non-contact mode, wherein at least one of the squeegee roller, the cleaner roller and
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2009
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Inventors: Eric Nelson, David Vejtasa, Alexander Karp, Christopher S. Tanner
  • Patent number: 8078081
    Abstract: The present invention provides an image-forming device having a developer-carrying member, an image-carrying member, a belt, and a cleaning unit. The developer-carrying member has an outer surface including a thin layer forming region for carrying a thin layer of developer. The thin layer forming region has a first width in a widthwise direction. The thin layer forming region includes an effective image forming region used for forming an image on a recording medium. The image-carrying member has a surface on which an electrostatic latent image based on the image is formed and developed into a developer image by the developer carried on the effective image forming region. The belt is configured to circulate in a moving direction orthogonal to the widthwise direction and transfer the developer image onto the recording medium. The belt has an outer surface including a cleanable region having a second width in the widthwise direction. The cleaning unit cleans the developer on the cleanable region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Kato, Hiroshi Nakano
  • Patent number: 8059984
    Abstract: A carrier bead collection assembly in a xerographic printer is disclosed. The carrier bead collection assembly may include a tray defining a cavity for retention of carrier beads, wherein the tray is located below a slot in a media transport surface in the xerographic printer and is removable so that it may be cleaned, and a magnet that is disposed beneath the tray, wherein the magnet attracts carrier beads that reside on the media transport surface such that as a result of the attraction, the carrier beads come to rest in the tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Dara Nanette Lubin, Amy L. Stamp, Robert B. Anderson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8045902
    Abstract: A developer conveying apparatus includes a first developer storing portion, a second developer storing portion, and a conveying pipe that connects the first and second developer storing portions. The conveying pipe includes a tubular main body and a conveying member rotatably provided in the main body. A groove is formed on a surface of the conveying member, and the groove has a depth less than or equal to 5 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Makoto Yabuki
  • Patent number: 8010024
    Abstract: A developer apparatus includes a toner carrier roller having convex and concave sections formed thereon. A restriction member including an elastic abutting member having an edge part that abuts the toner carrier roller removes toner from the convex sections such that the concave sections alone carry toner. Within a restriction nip created as the toner carrier roller and the restriction member abut abutting segments where the edge part abuts on the convex sections, and opening segments where the edge part and the concave sections are opposed to each other with a gap between each other, appear alternatingly along the width direction. In the opening segments, the edge part bulges toward bottom surfaces of the concave sections beyond linear lines connecting top surfaces of two adjacent convex sections which are on both sides to the concave sections which are opposed to the edge part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yoichi Yamada, Takatomo Fukumoto
  • Patent number: 8005407
    Abstract: A developer apparatus, includes: a container which houses toner; a toner carrier roller that is provided, on a surface thereof, with a plurality of convex sections which are regularly arranged and a concave section which surrounds the convex sections, is shaped approximately like a cylinder, and rotates while carrying a toner layer of charged toner on the surface thereof; and a restriction member that abuts on the surface of the toner carrier roller to form a restriction nip, restricts a thickness of the toner layer carried on the surface of the toner carrier roller in the restriction nip, and removes the toner layer on the convex sections from among the toner layer carried on the surface of the toner carrier roller at an upstream-side end of the restriction nip in a rotation direction of the toner carrier roller, wherein a part of toner carried by the concave section moves to the convex sections to cover the convex sections with the toner at a downstream side to the restriction nip in the rotation direction
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yoichi Yamada
  • Patent number: 8005408
    Abstract: A developing blade (1) comprises a support member (2) having a coefficient of elasticity in the range of 0.5×104 to 4.0×104 kg/mm2 and a moment of inertia of area (Iz) in the range of 6.5E-04 to 1.2E-02, and a blade member (4) located on one surface of the support member (2) along one side edge (2A). The blade member (4) is made of a rubber material having a 25% modulus of no greater than 0.85 MPa, and has a moment of inertia of area (Iz) in the range of 8E-02 to 1.2E+01, and the blade member (4) has a warping of no greater than 10 mm in the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Fujikura Rubber Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nakamura, Hitoshi Yamauchi, Koji Abe, Katsuhiko Sekine, Junji Tsuboi, Shinji Souma
  • Publication number: 20110188897
    Abstract: A developing device includes a developer bearing body provided so as to face a latent image bearing body. The developer bearing body rotates to supply a developer to the latent image bearing body. A developer supplying member is provided so as to contact the developer bearing body. The developer supplying member rotates to supply a developer to the developer bearing body. A developer recovery member is provided so as to contact a surface of the developer bearing body that moves from a position facing the latent image bearing body to a position in contact with the developer supplying member by a rotation of the developer bearing body. The developer recovery member rotates to recover the developer from the developer bearing body. The developer recovery member is constituted by a brush roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: OKI DATA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takuya Goto
  • Publication number: 20110182625
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a developing agent containing a toner particle and an aggregate of a toner dust powder having a smaller volume average particle size than a volume average particle size of the toner particle and alumina is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Nobuo Tohata
  • Patent number: 7983604
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for managing magnetic carrier in an electrostatographic printer including an apparatus for directing magnetic carrier from a photoconductor, back toward a feed apparatus wherein the apparatus includes a magnetic carrier scavenger such that there is more magnetic carrier volume in the direction of the feed apparatus as well as a well to collect any magnetic carrier that does not move toward the feed apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Brown, Eric C. Stelter