Roller Patents (Class 399/279)
  • Publication number: 20040096240
    Abstract: A developing unit of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes at least one developing apparatus installed to be capable of accessing and being separated with respect to a photoreceptive drum and including a developing roller developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the photoreceptive drum and a gap maintenance member closely contacting the photoreceptive drum such that the developing roller accesses the photoreceptive drum in a non-contact state while maintaining a predetermined gap with the photoreceptive drum, and a guide portion formed on a frame to guide a movement of the developing apparatus. An inclined portion facing a center shaft of the photoreceptive drum is provided at a leading end of the guide portion so that the gap maintenance member closely contacts the photoreceptive drum while pressing the photoreceptive drum in a radial direction of the photoreceptive drum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kyung-Hwan Kim
  • Patent number: 6733891
    Abstract: Rolls include a core and a glass outer coating on the core. The glass can be electrically charged and discharged. The outer coatings have smooth finishes and controlled electrical properties. The outer coatings can also provide selected mechanical, chemical and thermal properties. The rolls can be used in various applications in which controlled electrical properties are desired. For example, the rolls can be used as charge donor rolls in electrostatographic imaging apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher D. Blair, Timothy R. Jaskowiak
  • Patent number: 6687476
    Abstract: A used developer-carrying member having a resin coating layer on a substrate is regenerated through a step of scraping the resin coating layer of the used developer-carrying member to form a developer-carrying member surface having unevenness showing a central line-average roughness Ra of at most 0.8 &mgr;m, and a step of coating the developer-carrying member surface having the unevenness with a coating layer of a resinous composition comprising at least a binder resin and electroconductive fine powder. The regenerated developer-carrying member can be reinstalled in a developing apparatus and subjected to repetitive electrophotographic image forming cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhide Goseki, Masayoshi Shimamura, Yasutaka Akashi, Kenji Fujishima, Kazunori Saiki, Satoshi Otake, Naoki Okamoto
  • Publication number: 20040013448
    Abstract: A roller spacing device roller mechanisms having rollers in close contact under a given pressure to separate first and second rollers by a constant distance to keep the rollers from touching when roller mechanisms are not used for a long period of time. The roller spacing device comprises a spacing member shiftably mounted between first and second positions on a shaft having a partial D-cut portion and associated with one of the roller members to be separated. The spacing member has a spacing nose overlapped in the second position with an outer circumferential surface of a driving gear connected to the other roller member to separate the first roller member from the second roller member by the constant distance; and a shifting unit shifting the spacing member between first and second positions on the shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2003
    Publication date: January 22, 2004
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hyun-Cheol Lee
  • Patent number: 6681092
    Abstract: A developing device for developing a latent image formed on an image carrier includes a developer carrier having a developer carrying surface. The developer carrying surface includes a plurality of grooves to carry the developer. Dispersion D (%) in depth of the plurality of grooves is calculated according to an equation, D (%)={(A−B)/2}/C, where A is a maximum depth of the plurality of grooves, B is a minimum depth of the plurality of grooves, and C is an average depth of the plurality of grooves. The dispersion D (%) is at most approximately 30%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Junichi Terai
  • Publication number: 20030231904
    Abstract: A developing apparatus includes sealing members which are installed on both inside walls of a housing and closely contact the housing, a developer roller, and a blade to prevent the toner contained in the housing from leaking out. Each sealing member includes a first sealing member and a second sealing member. The first sealing member has a side part that elastically and closely contacts one inside wall of the housing and a short side part of the blade, and a front part that elastically and closely contacts the outer circumference of the developer roller. The second sealing member overlaps with the first sealing member and has a front part that elastically and closely contacts an inside surface of the blade and the outer circumference of the developer roller. Therefore, deterioration of a close contact of the sealing members due to compression and deformation of the sealing members may be prevented. Accordingly, a developing apparatus is configured to prevent leakage of toner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2003
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sam-seuk Choi, Cheol-young Han
  • Patent number: 6661988
    Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes a toner-supplying roller and a developing roller assembled into a developing unit. The toner-supplying roller supplies toner to the developing roller. The developing roller applies the toner to an electrostatic latent image on a photoconductor to form a toner image. The toner image is transferred onto a print medium at a transfer unit, and finally fused into a permanent image at a fixing unit. The toner includes a wax that remains solid at room temperature and melts at a fixing temperature. At least one of the toner-supplying roller and the developing roller is a silicone roller on which oligomer in the form of siloxane is deposited. The silicone roller contains non-cured siloxane in the range of 10 to 8000 PPM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventors: Toru Ishihara, Kenji Koido
  • Publication number: 20030202825
    Abstract: A developer bearing member for bearing toner is disclosed. The developer bearing member has a multitude of depressions on its surface, and each of the depressions has a multitude of protrusions on its surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2003
    Publication date: October 30, 2003
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoichi Yamada, Takehiko Okamura
  • Publication number: 20030194250
    Abstract: In a developing assembly comprising a developer-carrying member and a developer quantity control blade kept in pressure contact with the developer-carrying member, the developer-carrying member has a deformation percentage D of 0.5% or less in the direction of pressure contact, and the developer quantity control blade has a ten-point average roughness Rz of from 0.3 &mgr;m to 20 &mgr;m at its surface on the side kept in contact with the developer-carrying member (a charge control face). The developing assembly can prevent faulty images such as lines and uneven images due to the deformation of developer-carrying member even though any deformation due to the pressure contact of the developer quantity control blade has taken place in the developer-carrying member while the developing assembly is stopped.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2003
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Applicant: Canon Kasei Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toru Ishigaki
  • Publication number: 20030185591
    Abstract: The pressure between a developing roller and a photosensitive drum is set to 0.24 MPa. Because the pressure is smaller than 0.31 MPa, if the potential difference &Dgr;V between the non-image forming part on the photosensitive drum and the electrically-charged polymer toner on the surface of the developing roller is at the preset proper voltage (300 volts), pressure fogging will be prevented. Because the pressure is 0.24 MPa or less, even if the potential difference varies within the range of 200 volts to 400 volts that occurs in practice, pressure fogging will be prevented. By resetting the pressure to 0.22 MPa, even if the potential difference &Dgr;V varies in a wider voltage range of 100 to 400 volts, pressure fogging will be prevented. In this way, by setting the pressure between the developing roller and the photosensitive drum appropriately, pressure fogging can be prevented even when using the opposite-direction developing method and polymer toner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2003
    Publication date: October 2, 2003
    Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshio Furukawa, Tomoaki Hattori
  • Patent number: 6608984
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the type which develops a latent image on an image carrier with toner stored in a developing unit and transferring the resulting toner image to a recording medium. The developing unit includes a developer carrier which contacts the image carrier at least at two spaced apart points with a gap being formed between the at least two points of contact. A moving mechanism will move opposite ends of the developer carrier independent distances relative to one another so as to eliminate the gap and establish full contact between the image carrier surface and developer carrier surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Junichi Matsumoto, Katsuhiro Aoki, Takashi Hodoshima
  • Patent number: 6606467
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus or toner cartridge component thereof uses a bias voltage contact device that fits into an electrobushing which transmits the electrical contact has been invented. Thus, now a bushing can also act as an electrical contact and thereby a spring is not a requirement. The cylindrical bias voltage contact fits into a developer roller and has a smaller portion that is also cylindrical and fits into an electrobushing. The electrobushing is contacted electrically to the power supply of the image forming apparatus. The cylindrical bias voltage contact may have a cylindrical portion that fits into the developer roller by press fit with the new feature where the cylindrical portion has more than one diameter for obtaining a better press fit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Inventor: Steven Bruce Michlin
  • Patent number: 6580892
    Abstract: A shaft is disclosed, having good electroconductivity and an electroconductive elastic layer which is formed on the outside periphery of the shaft, and which has a thermal conductivity of at least 0.15 W /m·K; and an image formation apparatus equipped with the developing roller. The above developing roller is capable of suppressing temperature rise of the roller surface, thereby preventing a developer from being adhesively fixed to the roller surface, suppressing wear on the roller surface, suppressing the generation of cracking, crazing and the like on the roller end, and thus affording favorable images for a long period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventor: Takao Ohuchi
  • Publication number: 20030108363
    Abstract: A developing roller installed in an image forming apparatus to transfer a toner to a photosensitive member and a manufacturing method of the developing roller include a roller member having an outer cylindrical vessel, an inner vessel installed within the outer cylindrical vessel in concentric with the outer cylindrical vessel, a hollow portion formed at a center of the inner vessel, and a plurality of ribs connecting and supporting the outer cylindrical vessel and the inner vessel so as to connect and support the outer cylindrical vessel and the inner vessel, and a rotating shaft compressively fitted into the hollow portion of the inner vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ki-Jae Do
  • Patent number: 6577831
    Abstract: A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum with a developer, a frame for rotatably supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a developing blade, provided in the frame, for regulating the amount of the developer applied on a peripheral surface of the developing roller, a supporting member, journaled in the frame for rotation about a center of rotation, for rotatably supporting the developing roller at a position away from the center of rotation thereof, and an urging member for elastically urging the supporting member to urge the developing roller toward the electrophotographic photosensitive drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hisayoshi Kojima, Atsushi Numagami, Kazunari Murayama, Nobuharu Hoshi
  • Patent number: 6558781
    Abstract: An electroconductive roller is capable of exhibiting stable conductivity regardless of environmental change and is accompanied by small bleed-out of additives. The conductive roller includes an electroconductive support, an electroconductive elastic layer coating the support and a resistance layer coating the elastic layer; wherein the elastic layer comprises at least one species of rubber selected from the group consisting of acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber, epichlorohydrin rubber and chloroprene rubber, an ether oxygen containing alkyl phthalate derivative, a quaternary ammonium perchlorate compound and a fatty oil, and the ether oxygen-containing alkyl phthalate derivative, quaternary ammonium perchlorate compound and fatty oil are contained in a total amount of 0.1-20 wt. parts per 100 wt. parts of the rubber. The conductive roller is suitably used as a contact charging member in an electrophotographic apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoki Fuei, Yuzi Ishihara, Hiroshi Inoue
  • Patent number: 6535710
    Abstract: A function separated laminated electrophotography photosensitive body is equipped with at least a charge generating layer and a charge transport layer on top of a conductive substrate. A contact angle &thgr; of pure water on the charge transport layer satisfies the equation &thgr;>=94°. The resulting organic electrophotography photosensitive body prevents contamination of the photosensitive body surface resulting from component migration from the developing roller and achieves a stable image quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Fuji Electric Imaging Device Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Motohiro Takeshima, Haruo Kawakami
  • Publication number: 20030039912
    Abstract: A jump monocomponent development arrangement includes a dielectric photoreceptor belt having an image-bearing surface for receiving an electrostatic charge image and a development station having a supply of toner particles with a mean diameter in a range from 8 microns to 14 microns and including large and small additive particles having mean diameters in size ranges of 6 to 12 nm and 20 to 50 nm, respectively, and in amounts sufficient to provide surface coverage of the toner particles in ranges from about 5 percent to about 50 percent and about 50 percent to about 150 percent, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2002
    Publication date: February 27, 2003
    Inventor: Lawrence B. Schein
  • Publication number: 20020191990
    Abstract: The present invention provides a developing apparatus for developing a latent electrostatic image to a developed image with a developer, comprising a developer bearing member capable of carrying developer on a surface thereof, and a layer thickness regulating member for regulating developer carried on the developer bearing member to a uniform thickness, wherein at least the surface of the layer thickness regulating member comprises a material which comprises at least one component selected from the group consisting of a cross-linked alkylalkoxyl-group-containing nylon resin and a cyclic polyolefin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2001
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Inventors: Yasuo Hirano, Naoya Morohoshi
  • Publication number: 20020181975
    Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes a toner-supplying roller and a developing roller assembled into a developing unit. The toner-supplying roller supplies toner to the developing roller. The developing roller applies the toner to an electrostatic latent image on a photoconductor to form a toner image. The toner image is transferred onto a print medium at a transfer unit, and finally fused into a permanent image at a fixing unit. The toner includes a wax that remains solid at room temperature and melts at a fixing temperature. At least one of the toner-supplying roller and the developing roller is a silicone roller on which oligomer in the form of siloxan is deposited. The silicone roller contains non-cured siloxan in the range of 10 to 8000 PPM.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2002
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Inventors: Toru Ishihara, Kenji Koido
  • Patent number: 6473588
    Abstract: A development roller has a core shaft and an external composite layer provided around the core shaft, the external composite layer including an elastic layer and a surface layer which are successively overlaid on the core shaft in that order, the development roller having a volume resistivity of 1.5×104 &OHgr;·cm or less and an electrostatic capacity of 1.5×10−4 F/m2 or more. A developer unit is provided with the above-mentioned development roller which is disposed so as to have a toner deposited on an image portion formed on a surface of a photoconductor, a toner supply roller which is disposed opposite to the development roller and is capable of forming therearound a magnetic brush of the toner and a carrier, and brings the magnetic brush into contact with the development roller to supply the toner to the development roller, and a doctor blade disposed in contact with the surface of the toner supply roller to regulate the thickness of a layer of the toner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Makoto Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20020153636
    Abstract: A mold used to form a magnetic member includes a mold body having a mold opening, a mold support that supports the mold cavity, and a mold insert. The mold insert is disposed in the mold opening of the mold body to form a mold cavity. The mold insert is coated with a coating to protect the mold body from chemical attack and abrasive wear of the mold material. The coating comprises an electroless nickel layer formed on or over the mold insert, and a chromium nitride layer formed on or over the electroless nickel layer. The mold insert can be formed of beryllium-copper (Be—Cu).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2001
    Publication date: October 24, 2002
    Applicant: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Paul F. Mastro, Christopher D. Blair, Jennifer R. Wagner, Jay Schneider
  • Patent number: 6463246
    Abstract: It is an exemplified object of the present invention to provide a developer, a development device and its elements, and an image-forming device that can more stably form a high-quality image by a relatively inexpensive and easy means. A noncontact-type development method according to the present invention utilizes a nonmagnetic and single component toner having a volume average particle diameter D (&mgr;m) and an average specific charge q/m (&mgr;C/g), a development roller having a ten-point average surface roughness Rz (&mgr;m), and a blade keeping in contact with the development roller at a blade line pressure Pb (gf/cm). In order to stably form a uniform toner layer dt (&mgr;m) on the development roller, the following relationship is to be met: dt=1.8×{q/m×Rz/(Pb−1)}½×D±0.25 D, and 1.5 D≦dt≦3.5 D.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Tsuneo Mizuno, Toshihiro Yukawa, Tomoaki Tanaka, Atsushi Tano, Tetsu Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20020141790
    Abstract: A developing device includes a developing roller and a toner charging roller. The toner charging roller has (a) a metallic layer which induces its electrons by receiving light irradiation, and (b) an ultraviolet irradiater which irradiates ultraviolet to the metallic layer. The toner charging roller gives the electrons to toner, so that the toner on the developing roller is charged. There is a space between the toner charging roller and the developing roller, and a grid electrode which controls a flow of the electrons is provided in the space. Thus, mechanical/thermal load given to the toner or the toner charging roller can be reduced, so that it is possible to prevent deterioration of toner and the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2002
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Inventors: Taisuke Kamimura, Toshimitsu Goto, Kiyoshi Toizumi
  • Patent number: 6451438
    Abstract: The invention relates to a low tacky, conductive, soft urethane roller for use in a printer. The roller includes a metal salt evenly or homogeneously distributed in a copolymer formed of a diisocyanate, a reactive silicone containing an amine group; and a polyol or a polyamine. The roller can also have a volume resistivity of between about 1E5 ohm-cm and about 5E10 ohm-cm, and includes a metal salt solution in a copolymer formed of a diisocyanate, a reactive silicone containing a hydroxyl group and/or an amine group; and a polyol and/or a polyamine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Mearthane Products Corporation
    Inventors: Albert C. Chiang, John A. Roderick
  • Publication number: 20020127033
    Abstract: A developing device of monocomponent development system for developing a latent image formed on an image bearing member according to the present invention includes a toner carrying member disposed opposite the image bearing member via a gap of 50 to 250 &mgr;m therebetween, and including a conductive substrate and an elastic layer having a rubber hardness of not more than 70 degrees and a thickness in the range of 7 to 50 &mgr;m, and a regulating member pressed against a surface of the toner carrying member for regulating the amount of toner on the toner carrying member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2002
    Publication date: September 12, 2002
    Inventors: Ryuji Inoue, Yoshiko Yaoi, Minoru Wada, Ichiro Demizu
  • Patent number: 6424813
    Abstract: A developing roller according to the invention has an outer circumferential surface, which can be set in frictional contact with a photosensitive belt that is stretched to be driven in a prescribed direction. The outer surface is divided into two mirror surfaces and a rough surface. The mirror surfaces are provided on the end portions of the roller, they do not retain developer. The rough surface extends between the mirror surfaces, for retaining developer. Spacer means prevents the photosensitive belt from coming into frictional contact with the mirror surfaces. The mirror surfaces are therefore prevented from scraping the photosensitive belt. This prolongs the lifetime of the photosensitive belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takashi Hatakeyama
  • Patent number: 6393243
    Abstract: A developing roller having a superior setting ability and having a uniform and high conductivity is provided by improving dispersion and stability of carbon black mixed in a solution of a coating resin, and then forming a resin layer that has a low modulus of elasticity and a high conductivity when coated. The developing roller includes a core shaft, an elastic body layer formed around the core shaft and made of rubber as a main ingredient, and a resin layer coated at least on an outer surface of the elastic body layer. The resin layer contains carbon black having a DBP absorption amount of 80 to 110 ml/100 g, a ratio of a DBP absorption amount to a nitrogen specific surface area being not more than 0.012 ml/m2, and a ratio of a volatile component to a nitrogen specific surface area being not more than 2.0×10−4 g/m2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidenori Satoh, Noriyuki Yanai, Kentaro Niwano, Arihiro Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 6387581
    Abstract: Disclosed is a toner comprising particles of a polyester resin, an optional colorant, and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxypyrrole), wherein said toner particles are prepared by an emulsion aggregation process. Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to a process which comprises (a) generating an electrostatic latent image on an imaging member, and (b) developing the latent image by contacting the imaging member with charged toner particles comprising a polyester resin, an optional colorant, and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxypyrrole), wherein said toner particles are prepared by an emulsion aggregation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Karen A. Moffat, Rina Carlini, Maria N. V. McDougall, Dan A. Hays, Jack T. LeStrange
  • Patent number: 6385416
    Abstract: A space securing member defines a predetermined space between the first rotary member and the second rotary member which is arranged apart from the first rotary member with the predetermined space. The space securing member is provided with a circular hole that is rotatably supported by one of the first and second rotary members, and an arc-shaped portion that is in area contact with an outer peripheral surface of the other rotary member. The space securing member is used to provide a predetermined space between a charging roller and a photosensitive drum and/or a developing roller and the photosensitive drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tadashi Horikawa, Atsushi Numagami, Kazunari Murayama, Takahito Ueno
  • Patent number: 6376087
    Abstract: It is proposed to provide a developing agent carrier, developing unit, and image forming apparatus which can stably obtain a high-quality image. There is provided a developing agent carrier comprising an elastic portion which comes into contact with an image carrier, wherein an Asker C hardness of the elastic portion is not less than 20 and not more than 40, and a dynamic friction coefficient of a surface of the elastic portion is not less than 0.01 and not more than 0.2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yukihiro Ozeki, Katsuhiro Sakaizawa
  • Patent number: 6370350
    Abstract: A method for developing an electrostatic latent image including the step of developing an electrostatic latent image with a two component developer including a particulate carrier and a negatively charged toner and held on the surface of a developing roller to form a toner image, wherein the developing roller surface includes a material including one or more carbon atoms and one or more nitrogen atoms, and wherein a ratio of the number of carbon atoms to the number of nitrogen atoms is not greater than 100/1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
    Inventor: Kunihiko Tomita
  • Patent number: 6321048
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus or toner cartridge component thereof uses a bias voltage contact device that fits into an electrobushing which transmits the electrical contact has been invented. Thus, now a bushing can also act as an electrical contact and thereby a spring is not a requirement. The cylindrical bias voltage contact fits into a developer roller and has a smaller portion that is also cylindrical and fits into an electrobushing. The electrobushing is contacted electrically to the power supply of the image forming apparatus. The cylindrical bias voltage contact may have a cylindrical portion that fits into the developer roller by press fit with the new feature where the cylindrical portion has more than one diameter for obtaining a better press fit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Inventor: Steven Bruce Michlin
  • Patent number: 6312792
    Abstract: An electrically conductive member comprising an electrically conductive elastic layer and a coating layer formed thereon, characterized in that said coating layer is formed from a polyurea resin as a cured product resulting from reaction between a polyamine compound and a polyisocyanate compound. It has a coating layer which readily conforms to elastic deformation of rubber or the likes, has long durability, and has good properties in protection of the photosensitive body from staining and prevention of toner sticking, control of the toner charging and a low coefficient of friction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Tokuo Okada, Koji Takagi, Hiroshi Kaneda, Toshiaki Arai, Takahiro Kawagoe
  • Patent number: 6308038
    Abstract: A developing apparatus has a developer carrying body carrying a developer thereon, and a layer thickness regulating member for regulating the layer thickness of the developer carried on the developer carrying body. The developer carried on the developer carrying body contacting with an image bearing body after the layer thickness thereof has been regulated by the layer thickness regulating member. In the developing apparatus, when the charge amount per 1 g of the developer after the layer thickness has been regulated by the layer thickness regulating member and before the developer contacts with the image bearing body is defined as Q (&mgr;C/g) and the electrical resistance per axial length 1 mm of the developer carrying body is defined as R (&OHgr;/mm), R≧0.9×(−7.83×104|Q|+7.05×106) and R≦1.1×(−7.83×104|Q|+7.05×106) are satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomomi Kakeshita, Yasuyuki Ishii
  • Patent number: 6288370
    Abstract: A is moved, the heating members heat treatment apparatus 18 for subjecting a sheet A, which must be subjected to heat treatment, to heat treatment by transferring the sheet along the surface of a heating member, the heat treatment apparatus incorporating: at least two heating members 120, 320 fixedly aligned in a direction in which the sheet A, which are arranged to subject the sheet A to heat treatment which is performed at a predetermined temperature; transferring mechanism for sliding and transferring the sheet A along the surface of each heating member; and a pressing mechanism 122, 322 for pressing at least a portion of the sheet A which is being transferred, against the surfaces of the heating members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaharu Ogawa, Nobuyuki Torisawa
  • Patent number: 6265693
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus comprises a heat-developing section for heat-developing a latent image formed on a photo/heat-sensitive material sheet in which antistatic agent is added, and conveying rollers made of resin for conveying the photo/heat-sensitive material sheet along a sheet feeding path including at least the heat-developing section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Koichi Okada
  • Patent number: 6226483
    Abstract: An article including a cylindrical roller core; and a titanium dioxide ceramic layer bonded to the exterior of the cylindrical core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Ann M. Kazakos, Joy L. Longhenry, Michelle L. Schlafer, Michael J. Duggan
  • Patent number: 6205313
    Abstract: Toner charging and/or delivery systems and methods charge and deliver charged toner particles to an image development zone without using carrier particles. Toner particles for imaging process are charged by filling the grooves or cups of a gravure member with uncharged toner particles and charging the toner particles in the grooves or cups using a corona discharge device. The charged toner particles are then transported directly or indirectly to an imaged photoreceptor, where the charged toner particles are used to develop a latent electrostatic image on the imaged photoreceptor. The developed image is then transferred to a copy sheet and permanently fused to the copy sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Lloyd F. Bean
  • Patent number: 6178303
    Abstract: A developing apparatus includes: a first rotary member; a second rotary member having an elastic surface and adapted to be rotated in contact with the first rotary member. A contact depth controlling roller is kept in rotative free engagement with each end of a shaft of the second rotary member and having an outer circumferential surface abutting against the first rotary member and an inner circumferential surface abutting against the shaft of the second rotary member for keeping a contact depth of the second rotary member abutting against the first rotary member at a predetermined level. A controller is provided so as to rotate the second rotary. This structure, for example, eliminates the need for bearings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ishii, Tetsuro Toyoshima, Hiroshi Tatsumi, Takashi Sakai
  • Patent number: 6175709
    Abstract: Disclosed is a toner support for preventing occurrence of an image failure such as stain, uneven image density, and fogging on a white image as much as possible, thereby certainly forming a high quality image enough to keep up with formation of a color image. The toner support is characterized in that the maximum value of a surface potential of the toner support, which is measured after an elapse of 0.35 sec since the surface of the toner support is charged by generating a corona discharge by means of applying a voltage of 8 kV to a corona discharger disposed apart from the surface of the toner support by 1 mm, is in a range of 90 V or less, and that the absolute value of a surface potential decay rate of the toner support, which is measured at an elapse of 0.2 sec after charges are imparted on the surface of the toner support by generating a corona discharge by means of applying a voltage of 8 kV to a corona discharger disposed apart from the surface of the toner support by 1 mm, is in a range of 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Takagi, Tokuo Okada, Toshiaki Arai, Takahiro Kawagoe, Takashi Kitamura
  • Patent number: 6173145
    Abstract: A developing apparatus includes a developer bearing body, a drive transmission gear, a support member, and a developing frame body, and the support member has an engaging portion for engaging with the developing frame body in a position opposite to a position where the drive force is transmitted to the drive transmission gear with respect to a rotating center of the developer bearing body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuo Chadani, Tadayuki Tsuda, Hiroomi Matsuzaki, Akira Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6148167
    Abstract: In order to provide a developing apparatus in which the toner thin layer regulating capability and the toner charging capability can be enhanced by a developer regulating member of a simple structure, a development roller can be rotated with a small driving force, toner is prevented from adhering and development can be performed with high accuracy, the developer regulating member of the developing apparatus is provided with a surface constituting a step in a direction vertical to the direction of the rotation axis of the development roller, a pressed surface that is pressed against the development roller in the downstream side of the step and an opposed surface formed so as to be opposed to the development roller with a predetermined space therebetween in the upstream side of the step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Komakine, Keizou Takeuchi, Kazumasa Hayashi, Shigemitsu Tani, Takumi Kitano, Hiroyuki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6127031
    Abstract: A material is molded in the shape of a roller and then the molded material is vulcanized to manufacture an elastic roller. The material consists of 100 parts by weight of EPDM polymer (E505 (trade name) manufactured by Sumitomo Kagaku Co., Ltd.), 10 parts by weight of silica which is used as filler (NipsilVN3 (trade name) manufactured by Nippon Silica Co., Ltd.), 30 parts by weight of paraffin oil (PW-909 (trade name) manufactured by Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd.), one part by weight of stearic acid, five parts by weight of zinc oxide, two parts by weight of sulfur (manufactured by Tsurumi Kagaku Co., Ltd.), one part by weight of vulcanizing accelerator (mercaptobenzothiazole and Noxceller-M (trade name) manufactured by Ouchishinko Kagaku Co., Ltd.), 0.5 parts by weight of vulcanizing accelerator (tetraethylthiuram disulfide and Noxceller-TET (trade name) manufactured by Ouchishinko Kagaku Co., Ltd.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Takahiro Fukumoto
  • Patent number: 6122473
    Abstract: A developer carrying member for carrying a developer is includes a substrate and a resin coat layer which is formed on the surface of the substrate and contains a binder resin and a conductive fine powder. The binder resin is composed of a copolymer having a monomeric unit of a methyl methacrylate monomer (M) and a monomeric unit of a nitrogen-containing vinyl monomer (N). A copolymerization molar ratio of the methyl methacrylate monomer (M) to the nitrogen-containing vinyl monomer (N) in the copolymer fulfills the following condition: M:N=4:1 to 999:1. The binder resin has a weight-average molecular weight (Mw) of from 3,000 to 50,000.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhide Goseki, Masayoshi Shimamura, Kenji Fujishima, Michiko Orihara, Kazunori Saiki, Satoshi Otake, Naoki Okamoto
  • Patent number: 6094554
    Abstract: A developing unit of the present invention includes a case which accommodates toner containing pigment, a developing roller, a supply roller having chamfered ends and formed of an elastic member arranged to be pressed against a surface of the developing roller in such a manner as to supply toner to the surface of the developing roller. The side surfaces of the developing roller have a surface roughness of 0.5 .mu.m or smaller in Rmax.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Ichikawa, Yoshihiro Nakashima, Hidenori Kin, Tomoe Aruga, Yoichi Yamada, Yukio Takayama, Tahei Ishiwatari
  • Patent number: 6081680
    Abstract: An image support apparatus including a pair of rotatable disk shaped members, a cylindrical member supported and fixed at both ends by the pair of disk shaped members, a flexible image supporter shaped like a thin cylinder and formed with a photosensitive layer at the outer peripheral surface, support members being disposed on an outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical member for supporting the image supporter, a charge roller abutting the outer peripheral surface of the image supporter for uniformly charging the outer peripheral surface, and a frame. A distance between a portion of the image supporter supported by the support member and an end of the charge roller is set to a length to prevent the image supporter, which is bent as the charge roller abuts the image supporter, from becoming permanently deformed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yujiro Nomura, Saburo Furukawa, Kaneo Yoda, Kuniaki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 6078769
    Abstract: A cylinder (2) for a printing machine, particularly a developing cylinder in an electrographic printing machine, having a rigid, elongated shaft body (10) and a rigid hollow body (11) whose exterior forms the covering and the top and bottom surfaces of the cylinder. In order that, during operation under constant conditions, the cylinder can roll properly against another rigid cylinder of the printing machine, flat sides (12,13) of the hollow body (11) which form the top and bottom surfaces of the cylinder, have centrical bore holes that are larger than the diameter of the shaft body (10) in the area of the flat sides. Located in the space between the shaft body and the flat sides of the hollow body is an elastic material (14,15) which joins the flat sides of the hollow body to the shaft body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Kenneth D. Fraser, Peter Taylor, Steve Cormier
  • Patent number: 6070040
    Abstract: A development device according to the invention has an arrangement wherein a developer carrying member holding a toner thereon and an image bearing member with an electrostatic latent image formed thereon oppose each other across a predetermined gap therebetween, and a power unit applies an alternating voltage to the gap for supplying the toner from the developer carrying member to the image bearing member, the development device satisfying any one the following conditions: ##EQU1## where a (.OMEGA.) denotes a resistance component of an impedance (a+b.multidot.i) of the developer carrying member, -b (.OMEGA.) denotes a capacitative reactance component of the impedance thereof, and f (Hz) denotes a frequency of the alternating voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Goto, Yoichi Fujieda, Shuichi Nakagawa, Ryuji Inoue
  • Patent number: 6055402
    Abstract: A device and a method for developing an electrostatic latent image, which is located on a movable image carrier (1), using a non-conductive single-component toner. The device includes a toner feed device (3), in order to transport toner particles (5) from a toner reservoir (4) and charge them electrically, a rotationally mounted developing roller (2) to receive the charged toner particles from the toner feed device and to transport the toner particles which it holds into a gap between the developing roller and the image carrier, and a rotationally mounted doctor roller (6), which is arranged in the path of the toner particles from the toner feed device to the developing roller, to produce a uniform toner layer with a defined thickness on the developing roller. The surface of the developing roller (2) and the surface of the doctor roller (6) are separated from one another by a gap which is wider than the average diameter of the toner particles (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Uwe Angst, Carsten Schoenfeld, Gerhard Bartscher, Steve Cormier, Kenneth D. Fraser, Anton Rodi