Abstract: A developer-carrying member to be installed in an electrophotographic developing device for carrying and conveying a developer along a surface thereof, is formed of a substrate, and an intermediate electroless plating layer and an electroplating layer disposed in this order on the substrate. As a result of the electroless and electro double plating layer structure, the developer-carrying member is provided with a wear-resistant surface which has an appropriate degree of roughness suitable for conveying the developer thereon and is yet free from minute projections and cracks undesirable from the viewpoint of continuous image forming performances.

Abstract: A developing system having a developer tank supporting a developing roll formed by a sleeve incorporating a permanent-magnet member, and guide: rollers having a diameter slightly larger than that of the sleeve, and; fitted at both ends of the sleeve in the longitudinal direction in such a manner as to come in contact with the surface of an image carrier; the developer tank being rotatably supported by a supporting shaft that is supported in parallel with the sleeve by supporting frames provided outside of both ends of the developer tank; the guide rollers and the surface of the image carrier being adapted to be engagable with and disengagable from each other, in with a supporting portion of one end of the supporting shaft and one of the supporting frames is formed in such a manner as to be constrained in motion in the axial direction, and to be movable in the direction vertical to the axis; and the supporting shaft is forced onto the side of the image carrier by a pushing member.

Abstract: A heat-fixing device for heating a toner image on a sheet-like member includes a rotatable heating roller for heating the sheet and a rotatable pressing roller for pressing the sheet-like member against the heating roller, the longitudinal axis of one of the heating roller and the pressing roller being fixed to a frame and the longitudinal axis of the other roller being not fixed to the frame. A guide arm swingable on a swing axis fixed to the frame and supporting the other roller is provided at a position distant from the swing axis to guide the movement of the other roller in relation to the fixed roller, and a moving arm and an elastic element arranged between the guide arm and the moving arm are also provided so that the moving arm drives the guide arm through the elastic element to press the sheet-like member between the heating roller and the pressing roller.

Abstract: An apparatus for developing electrostatic latent images with a two-component developer consisting of carrier and toner, comprising (a) a developer container, (b) a magnetic roll provided in the container, comprising a permanent magnet and a non-magnetic sleeve, (c) a hopper mounted on the container for replenishing toner to the container, (d) a roller provided in the container near its wall on the opposite side to the magnetic roll for mixing the developer with the toner replenished from the hopper and stirring them, (e) a device having a detection surface for detecting the concentration of toner in the developer. The detection device is mounted on the wall of the container such that the detection surface is located near the mixing roller to ensure the developer to flow smoothly and stably between the mixing roller and the detection surface.

Abstract: A developing apparatus for developing an electrostatic latent image by means of a magnetic toner. The apparatus includes a non-magnetic cylindrical sleeve accommodating a first magnet roll and disposed to face the surface of a photosensitive roll, a developing tank for supplying the non-magnetic sleeve with the magnetic toner, and a blade disposed at the outlet of the developing tank for adjusting the thickness of the magnetic toner which is conveyed on the surface of the sleeve due to a relative rotation between the sleeve and the first magnet roll.

Abstract: A toner cartridge including a hollow body of cylindrical form made of nonmagnetic material to serve as a container formed at its outer peripheral surface with a toner feeding slot extending lengthwise thereof, a first lid member attached to one end of the hollow body and formed at the outer peripheral surface of its end portion with a flange, a second lid member attached to the other end of the hollow body and formed at its bottom with a toner supply port, a cap member closing the toner supply port, and a sealing member that can be peeled off closing the toner feeding slot formed at the outer peripheral surface of the hollow body. The second lid member is formed of thin sheet metal by bending same at its outer peripheral edge portion in a manner to provide a minuscule clearance between a bent portion and the thin sheet metal and the hollow body is inserted at the other end thereof in the bent portion and secured in place.

Abstract: A developing apparatus includes a rotatable photosensitive drum having a peripheral surface carrying an electrostatic latent image to be developed. A plurality of developing rolls are disposed in opposition to the photosensitive drum, with developing gaps being formed between the developing rolls and the drum. Each of the developing rolls is constituted by a rotatable cylindrical sleeve of a non-magnetic material and a permanent magnet, stationarily disposed within the cylindrical sleeve, having a plurality of magnetic poles formed on the peripheral surface thereof. By rotating the sleeves in the same direction, developer is transferred from one to another developing roll while forming magnetic brushes which slidably contact the drum surface at the gaps. The latent image is developed by the magnetic brushes.