Abstract: A developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an photoreceptor drum with a dual-component developer, includes: a developing hopper for storing the developer; an agitation roller for conveying the developer while agitating; a developing roller which supplies the developer to a developing area located opposing the photoreceptor drum; a layer thickness-regulating member for regulating the layer thickness of the developer being conveyed by the developing roller; a flow-guide plate for flowing down the surplus developer that was rejected to a position away from the layer thickness-regulating member; a multiple number of partitioning ribs arranged upright on the flow-guided plate for flowing down the surplus developer in a predetermined direction whilst diffusing the developer with respect to the longitudinal direction of the developer roller; and a downflow direction control mechanism for controlling the downflow direction of the surplus developer regulated by the partitioning ribs.

Abstract: A sleeve constituting a developing roller of a developing device has a cylindrical body with three layers composed of a base layer having rigidity and formed in a mesh-like shape, a filter layer for blocking toner passage, and a conductive layer to which a developing bias voltage is applied, which are arranged in this order from the inside. When a sucking device sucks from an open end of one end portion of the sleeve, an air flow going from the inside of the developing roller through the open end to outside is generated so that a pressure of the internal space of the developing roller becomes smaller compared with the outside. As the peripheral wall has air permeability in its thickness direction, air flows from the outer circumferential portion of the developing roller through the peripheral wall to the inside of the developing roller.

Abstract: A developing unit for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the outer peripheral surface of a latent image bearing member rotating in one direction with a developer by mixing electrostatically chargeable toner and magnetic carrier, includes: a developing roller; a carrier collecting roller; a cooling portion including a forced draft duct for airflow from a fan and disposed on the bottom side of the developing vessel; a suctioning portion including a suctioning duct for airflow from suctioning ports disposed on the lower side of the carrier collecting roller, disposed under the forced draft duct; a filter for removing the scattering toner from air including the scattering toner suctioned from the suctioning ports; and, an exhaust portion including an airflow exhaust duct for discharging the air passed through the filter and the forced draft duct to an exhaust port.

Abstract: A developing device using a trickle system is realized which includes developer discharging means for (i) suppressing changes in discharge of developer due to inclinations of the developing device and (ii) maintaining the stability in amount of the developer in a developer tank. In the developing device, the developer tank includes agitating chambers parted by a partition, and each of the agitating chambers has an agitating screw. Further, discharging openings for discharging an excess of the developer in the developer tank are provided downstream in transport directions of the agitating screws, respectively.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a toner cartridge supporting member which is movable between (i) an insertion position indicating that the toner cartridge is in the predetermined position and (ii) a draw-out position indicating that the toner cartridge is drawn out from the predetermined position; a detection device which detects a movement of the toner cartridge supporting member in a direction pointing from the insertion position toward the draw-out position; an information storage device which is provided in the toner cartridge; a connector which is provided so as to be detached from or fitted to the information storage device so as to be movable in a moving direction of the toner cartridge supporting member; and an information processing device which is capable of communicating with the information storage device via the connector and which carries out a communication stop process for causing a communication between the information processing device and the information storage device to be stopped wh

Abstract: The developing apparatus includes a developing container in which a developer containing a toner and a carrier is stored, a developing roller which carries the developer, and agitating transporting members which circulate and transport the developer along a rotary axis line of a developing roller while mixing and agitating the developer. The developer container includes a developing zone portion corresponding to the developing roller and an extended zone portion which is provided adjacent to the developing zone portion in an axial direction of the developing roller. The developer container is provided with a developer blocking member which separates the developing zone portion and the extended zone portion. The developer container is provided with valves which open in a developer transporting direction in a communicating portion of the developer blocking member between the developing zone portion and the extended zone portion.

Abstract: A developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an image bearer with a dual-component developer, includes: a developing hopper for storing the developer; an agitation and conveying member for conveying the developer while agitating; a developer support which supports the developer that has been mixed and agitated inside the developing hopper and supplies the developer to a developing area located opposing the image bearer; a layer thickness-regulating member for regulating the layer thickness of the developer being conveyed by the developer support; a flow-guide plate member for flowing down the surplus developer that was rejected and conveyed away from the layer thickness-regulating member; a multiple number of diffusing elements arranged upright on the flow-guided plate member for flowing down the surplus developer in a predetermined direction whilst diffusing the developer with respect to the longitudinal direction of the developer support; and a down flow direction turning mecha

Abstract: There is provided a developing apparatus wherein supplied toner is dispersed properly with agitation so that toner is electrically charged evenly with a constant concentration. The developing apparatus includes a developer container for housing therein a developer containing toner and carrier; a developer carrying body for holding the developer; and agitating/conveying members for conveying the developer with agitation along an axis direction of the developer carrying body. The developer container includes a development region facing the developer carrying body and an extension region formed adjacent in the direction of the developer carrying body in the development region. Also disposed therein is a developer-flow blocking plate acting as a partition between the development region and the extension region.

Abstract: The development device of the present invention has a rotating shutter supported rotatably between a supply opening formed on a toner supply device and a receiving opening formed on a developing tank. The rotating shutter has an open section extending in the axial direction of the roller-shaped main section as well as opened in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction thereof, opening and shutting the supply opening in conjunction with attachment and detachment operation of the developing tank. The rotating shutter shuts the supply opening by covering the supply opening with the outer surface of the roller-shaped main section, and opens the supply opening by communicating the supply opening and the receiving opening through the open section. Thus, it is possible to prevent the leakage of toner even after repetitively performing the attachment and detachment operation of the developing tank.

Abstract: A developing unit for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the outer peripheral surface of a latent image bearing member rotating in one direction with a developer by mixing electrostatically chargeable toner and magnetic carrier, includes: a developing roller; a carrier collecting roller; a cooling portion including a forced draft duct for airflow from a fan and disposed on the bottom side of the developing vessel; a suctioning portion including a suctioning duct for airflow from suctioning ports disposed on the lower side of the carrier collecting roller, disposed under the forced draft duct; a filter for removing the scattering toner from air including the scattering toner suctioned from the suctioning ports; and, an exhaust portion including an airflow exhaust duct for discharging the air passed through the filter and the forced draft duct to an exhaust port.

Abstract: The developing apparatus includes a developing container in which a developer containing a toner and a carrier is stored, a developing roller which carries the developer, and agitating transporting members which circulate and transport the developer along a rotary axis line of a developing roller while mixing and agitating the developer. The developer container includes a developing zone portion corresponding to the developing roller and an extended zone portion which is provided adjacent to the developing zone portion in an axial direction of the developing roller. The developer container is provided with a developer blocking member which separates the developing zone portion and the extended zone portion. The developer container is provided with valves which open in a developer transporting direction in a communicating portion of the developer blocking member between the developing zone portion and the extended zone portion.

Abstract: There is provided a developing apparatus wherein supplied toner is dispersed properly with agitation so that toner is electrically charged evenly with a constant concentration. The developing apparatus includes a developer container for housing therein a developer containing toner and carrier; a developer carrying body for holding the developer; and agitating/conveying members for conveying the developer with agitation along an axis direction of the developer carrying body. The developer container includes a development region facing the developer carrying body and an extension region formed adjacent in the direction of the developer carrying body in the development region. Also disposed therein is a developer-flow blocking plate acting as a partition between the development region and the extension region.

Abstract: A developing device using a trickle system is realized which includes developer discharging means for (i) suppressing changes in discharge of developer due to inclinations of the developing device and (ii) maintaining the stability in amount of the developer in a developer tank. In the developing device, the developer tank includes agitating chambers parted by a partition, and each of the agitating chambers has an agitating screw. Further, discharging openings for discharging an excess of the developer in the developer tank are provided downstream in transport directions of the agitating screws, respectively.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, after having a toner image fixed onto a sheet by fixing means, the sheet is selectively transported toward a certain destination of a plurality of destinations via one of a plurality of transport routes which is selected by a route changer mechanism. A frame is detachably mounted to a main body of the image forming apparatus. The fixing means and the route changer mechanism are mounted on the frame.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a sheet that has been transported in a certain direction is selectively transported to one of first and second transport routes by a route changer mechanism. A first cover and a second cover are openably provided on a main body of the apparatus to respectively allow the first and second transport routes to be accessible to outside of the apparatus main body when set in an opened state. An operative mechanism is provided to open the first cover in association with opening of the second cover.

Abstract: In one of aspects of the invention, an automatic sheet conveying mechanism comprises upper and lower casings mutually coupling sheet conveying paths in a releasable state, and a sheet guide plate for partitioning the sheet conveying paths together with the lower casing, guiding the lower surface of the sheet being conveyed, and defining the projecting extent of the functional parts supported by the lower casing into the sheet conveying path, in which the sheet guide plate is formed integrally with the lower casing.

Abstract: In one of aspects of the invention, an automatic sheet conveying mechanism comprises upper and lower casings mutually coupling sheet conveying paths in a releasable state, and a sheet guide plate for partitioning the sheet conveying paths together with the lower casing, guiding the lower surface of the sheet being conveyed, and defining the projecting extent of the functional parts supported by the lower casing into the sheet conveying path, in which the sheet guide plate is formed integrally with the lower casing.