Unloading (e.g., Scraper) Patents (Class 399/273)
  • Patent number: 6658228
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a housing, a toner hopper, a toner supply source, a magnetic roller, a development sleeve, a doctor blade, an agitator, a rotation arm provided in the agitator, a spoon formed on the tip of the rotation arm, a toner shelf arranged immediately below the development sleeve, a developer returning member provided between the doctor blade and the toner hopper, and a weir for guiding the toner and magnetic carrier cut and removed when the developer returning member returns the toner to the toner shelf. The weir has a top portion equal to or higher than the spoon surface when the rotation arm is horizontal. A space for passing through toner is formed between the weir and the developer returning member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hidekatsu Wada
  • Publication number: 20030138274
    Abstract: There is disclosed a developing device including a toner hopper, a toner supply source, a toner table on which a toner is laid, an agitator for carrying the toner to the toner table from the toner hopper, a magnet roller disposed above the toner table, a developing sleeve which covers an outer periphery of the magnet roller, holds a magnetic carrier, allows the toner of the toner table to be adsorbed onto the magnetic carrier, and shifts and attaches the toner to an electrostatic latent image of a photosensitive drum, a doctor blade disposed close opposite to the developing sleeve, and a developer returning member which is disposed between the developing sleeve and the toner hopper and is positioned in a position higher than a position of the toner table to prevent the toner cut/removed by the doctor blade from dropping toward the toner hopper and to return the cut/removed toner to the toner table, and which has a tip end displaced toward the developing sleeve from the boundary of the toner table and the tone
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2002
    Publication date: July 24, 2003
    Applicant: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Toshimi Yamashita
  • Publication number: 20020076241
    Abstract: A ghosting preventing development process cartridge detachably mountable into an electrostatographic reproduction machine is provided. The ghosting preventing development process cartridge includes a housing having walls defining a partially enclosed storage chamber for storing developer material, and a development opening into the storage chamber. The ghosting preventing development process cartridge also includes a donor roll, mounted rotatably outside the chamber and near the development opening, for receiving a layer of developer material from the storage chamber, and for donating portions of such developer material layer within a development nip to image areas of an image being developed thus leaving a spent developer layer on the donor roll downstream of the development nip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2000
    Publication date: June 20, 2002
    Applicant: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Ajay Kumar, John M. Wysocky, Eugene M. Gluszko, Jonathan D. Sadik, Beth A. Spingar
  • Patent number: 6317576
    Abstract: A magnetic member is arranged at a position on the downstream side with respect to the rotational direction of a developing sleeve, outside the developer conveyance path where the magnetism from the magnetic member has no influence on the magnetic field of the developing magnetic pole. When the magnetic member is arranged with its N pole facing the developing sleeve, the magnetic attractive force from the magnetic member weakens the developer's attraction to the peripheral surface of the developing sleeve. When the magnetic member is arranged with its S pole facing the developing sleeve, the developer being conveyed along the developer conveyance path is magnetized in such a direction as to repel the peripheral surface of the developing sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshihisa Ishida, Hitoshi Nagahama, Katsuaki Sumida, Takahiro Bito, Keizo Kitamura
  • Publication number: 20010019673
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a developing apparatus which can prevent reduction in image density due to paper powder. A further object of the present invention is to provide a developing apparatus that has a developing container, a toner carrying member, and a toner container, wherein the toner container has a space portion which disposed below the toner carrying member and which is not substantially replenished with the toner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2001
    Publication date: September 6, 2001
    Inventors: Yasunori Chigono, Harumi Ishiyama, Jun Hirabayashi
  • Patent number: 6259876
    Abstract: The developing device of the present invention includes a developing magnet roller to supply developer to images to be developed, a first conveying auger arranged with a specified gap provided between the developing magnet roller to convey developer while stirring in the first longitudinal direction and supply developer to the developing magnet roller and a second conveying auger provided below the first conveying auger to receive developer conveyed from the first conveying auger and convey this received developer while stirring in the second longitudinal direction that is reverse to the first longitudinal direction and convey developer by circulating between the first conveying auger. This developing device further includes a housing to house the first conveying auger and developer so as to uniformly supply it to the developing magnet roller along the longitudinal direction irrespective of the developer accumulate height along the longitudinal conveying direction by the first conveying auger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Fukuda, Toshimi Yamashita
  • Patent number: 6205304
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a developing apparatus which has a developer bearing member, a sealing member, a developer scraping portion, and a damming portion disposed on the downstream side of the sealing members and on an upstream side of the developer scraping portion in the carrying direction, and adapted for damming the developer scraped off by the developer scraping portion, and a damming surface of the damming portion is provided so as to intersect with the developer scraping portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideshi Kawaguchi
  • Patent number: 6070039
    Abstract: An apparatus for removing developer from a developer carrier includes a developer-charge-eliminating means including a first elastic member. The first elastic member is electrically conductive and contacts the developer carrier with an uneven surface. Preferably, the uneven surface includes exposed cells of a foamed body. The uneven surface of the first elastic member insures that sufficient contact and frictional resistance is applied to excess developer on a developer carrier. Preferably, the first elastic body is backed by a backing member which is more flexible than the first elastic member. The flexible second elastic body further insures that the charge-eliminating member sufficiently contacts the developer carried by the developer carrier even with extended use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideo Yamaki, Hiroyuki Maeda, Hiromasa Ueno
  • Patent number: 5995790
    Abstract: A developing apparatus is provided for incorporation into an image forming machine. The developing apparatus includes a developer accommodating space for containing a developer composition, a series of developing rollers disposed in the developer accommodating space adjacent to each other and in facing relationship to an electrostatic latent image carrier for supplying the developer composition to the image carrier while transferring the developer composition from one developing roller to another, and a developer feed regulator for regulating the transfer of the developer composition between adjacent two of the developing rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Ikuo Takeda
  • Patent number: 5991585
    Abstract: A developing device for an electrophotographic apparatus and a developing roller therefor are disclosed. Polarity identical throughout a range between a magnetic conveying pole and a magnetic depositing pole on a sleeve forms a repulsive magnetic field. Therefore, even when the diameter of the sleeve is reduced for the miniaturization of the developing device, a developer can be surely released from the sleeve despite a decrease in the width of a developer releasing portion in the direction of rotation of the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Makoto Nakamura
  • Patent number: 5987288
    Abstract: An apparatus for developing an electrostatic latent image includes a first developing agent application device and a second developing agent application device disposed facing the peripheral surface of a photosensitive material drum, a developing agent stirring/conveying mechanism for conveying the developing agent to the first developing agent application device, a magnetic conveyer disposed at the back of the second developing agent application device, and a developing agent return guide plate for sending the developing agent conveyed by the magnetic conveyer to the side of the developing agent stirring/conveying mechanism. The second developing agent application device is provided with a developing agent-peeling zone where magnetic poles of the same polarity are magnetized neighboring each other on the upstream side of the position which is closest to the sleeve member of the magnetic conveyer in the direction of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Mita Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shingo Mori, Shuichi Kadota
  • Patent number: 5978634
    Abstract: In a development device for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an image bearing body, the development device includes: a developer bearing body for conveying a developer borne thereon to a developing area on the image bearing body; a plurality of magnetic poles provided inside the developer bearing body; a detaching magnetic pole including optional two adjoining poles of the plurality of magnetic poles which are arranged to have the same polarity as each other for forming a repulsive magnetic field to remove the developer on the developer bearing body; and a magnetic body provided in the vicinity of and spaced away from the detaching magnetic pole, for forming a repulsive magnetic field having the same polarity as that of the detaching magnetic pole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Sato, Keiichiro Suzuki
  • Patent number: 5878306
    Abstract: A toner cartridge of a laser printer, copier or facsimile machine has various strips in it for various functions. Among the strips are recovery blades, spreader blades, wiper blades, certain shipping seals, doctor blades and other miscleaneous strips. A device and method is shown that enables any strip or modular shipping seal to be ergonomically installed in a userfriendly way by leaving a strip of protective liner protruding from the strip for easy removal. Also, a device and method for attachment of strips is shown that utilizes a positioning tab stiffener device for userfriendly easy insertion of said strip into a toner cartridge, laser printer, copy cartridge or facsimile machine. After the positioning tab is used to install the strip, the positioning tab stiffener device is removed from the strip assembly. By using preferential 2-sided tapes or transfer tapes that are removable on one surface, the positioning device tab may be removed easier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Inventor: Steven Bruce Michlin
  • Patent number: 5768666
    Abstract: A developing apparatus uses a dual-component developer containing a magnetic carrier and toner electrically attracted to the magnetic carrier for selectively transferring the toner to an electrostatic latent image formed on an image support for visualizing the latent image. The developing apparatus includes a developer transport member facing the image support and having a peripheral surface for supporting and transporting the developer. A toner excess supplying member supplies excess toner to the developer supported on the developer transport member. An excess toner separator separates toner having a small adhesion force to the carrier from the developer to which excessive toner is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Isao Ito, Takeshi Sumikawa, Nobumasa Furuya, Shigehito Ando, Hideaki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 5765080
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for delivering a uniform supply of toner to a development zone in an electrostatographic system is disclosed. Additional toner control in the form of magnets located near the donor member attract toner to the toner pick-up area and insure that a constant supply of toner reaches the development zone. The additional control of toner is especially useful when the supply of toner to the toner pick-up area is limited or the toner does not naturally flow to the toner pick-up area.. The toner supply is enhanced by a stationary magnet located adjacent the donor member and a magnet located on the charge metering blade. Both of the additional toner supply magnets form magnetic brushes of toner particles on the donor member surface, these magnetic brushes insuring a constant supply of toner to the development zone despite problematic development conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Gregory V. Bogoshian
  • Patent number: 5752139
    Abstract: A dual-component magnetic brush developing device using a dual-component developer containing magnetic carriers and toner electrically attracted to the magnetic carriers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Sumikawa, Isao Ito
  • Patent number: 5666620
    Abstract: A developing device for a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile apparatus, and the like, includes a developing container for containing a toner added with an additive, a toner carrier which is arranged in an opening portion of the developing container and is rotated while carrying the toner, and a peeling member which is in sliding contact with the toner carrier and peels the toner on the toner carrier. The triboelectric charging potential difference between the surface of the peeling member and the additive is substantially zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1997
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 5640656
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a magnetic brush toning station for applying toner to an electrostatic image. The brush includes a rotatable magnetic core positioned inside a non-magnetic sleeve. To facilitate the removal of developer from the sleeve after it has toned an electrostatic image, a skive located against the sleeve downstream of the toning position has a roughened surface upon which the developer rolls or tumbles to move away from the sleeve and ultimately fall into a mixing sump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1997
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Thomas K. Hilbert, Theodore H. Morse