Developer Seal Patents (Class 399/103)
  • Patent number: 10120302
    Abstract: An example device, for sealing an ink developer unit in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure includes a rigid plate. The device also includes a first compliant sealing member disposed on a first side of the rigid plate to form a seal between the number of rollers of the ink developer unit and the rigid plate. The device also includes a second compliant sealing member disposed on a second side of the rigid plate to form a seal between the rigid plate and an end cap of the ink developer unit. The first compliant sealing member, the second compliant sealing member, or combinations thereof include a developer roller arm aligned with an interior portion of a developer roller face and to allow ink to contact the developer roller face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: HP Indigo B.V.
    Inventors: James Pingel, Christopher S Tanner, Evgeny Korol
  • Patent number: 10095160
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developing apparatus including a housing having a supply opening to receive developer supplied by a pump unit, a developing device screw disposed in a discharge path of the housing to supply and discharge the developer through a discharge opening to an image bearing member, and a developer bearing portion having a magnetic body that generates a magnetic force and is configured to bear the developer with a carrying force working in a substantially perpendicular direction to the magnetic force. In addition, a developer accommodation portion within the housing accommodates the developer supplied from a supply opening and has no opening other than the supply opening and the discharge opening, with the developer accommodation portion having a space volume capable of suppressing a spouting force caused by an inner pressure increase due to operation of the pump unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: CANON FINETECH NISCA INC.
    Inventors: Ryosuke Kosone, Ryo Nakajima, Naoki Tamaru
  • Patent number: 10095175
    Abstract: A developer roll includes end seal regions subject to accumulating residual toner. An adjacent photoconductive member has a longitudinal extent with a central area defining an imaging region and longitudinal ends outside the central area defining non-imaging regions. The photoconductive member has a length extending beyond a length of the developer roll so that the end seal regions of the developer roll contact the non-imaging regions of the photoconductive member. During cleaning, the non-imaging regions become charged and discharged to electrostatically attract and transfer away the toner from the end seal regions. A blade scrapes clean the toner from the photoconductive member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Scott Carpenter, Randall Lee Hudson, John Lemaster
  • Patent number: 10031440
    Abstract: A developing device includes a supply member, a developing device body, and a closing member. The supply member supplies a developer to an image holding element that holds a developer image. The developing device body rotatably supports the supply member. The closing member closes a clearance formed between the developing device body and the supply member with one end of the closing member fixed to the developing device body and the other end, which is a free end, contacting the supply member. The closing member has plural grooves formed to extend from the other end toward the one end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Nakamura, Takashi Sakamoto, Munenobu Okubo, Takafumi Wakai
  • Patent number: 10001727
    Abstract: A fixing portion 18c for suppressing movement of a developer bag 16 when the developer bag 16 is unsealed by moving a sealing member 19 is provided. By this, unsealing becomes easy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroomi Matsuzaki, Junichi Matsumura, Kazuki Matsumoto, Tatsuo Fujisaki, Kojiro Yasui
  • Patent number: 9996032
    Abstract: The disclosed structure includes a belt-shaped conveying member configured to convey developer. The conveying member includes a partitioning portion, which is a partition for developer contained in a casing with respect to a conveying direction in which the developer is conveyed, wherein, when the developer container is new, a first developer amount which is an amount of the developer contained at an upstream side that is upstream of the partitioning portion in the conveying direction, is larger than a second developer amount which is an amount of the developer contained at a downstream side that is downstream of the partitioning portion in the conveying direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shunsuke Mizukoshi, Kazuhisa Shida, Takayuki Kanazawa, Yuta Isobe, Makoto Tokudome
  • Patent number: 9971298
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus in which a developer bearing member is disposed below a cleaning member, which cleans a charging member, so as to overlap with the cleaning member when viewed in a vertical direction and includes a base body and an elastic layer covering the base body and having a width in a longitudinal direction of the developer bearing member that accommodates the entire region of the cleaning member in the longitudinal direction. In the longitudinal direction, the cleaning member is disposed at a position where the entire region thereof in the longitudinal direction is accommodated in the width of the elastic layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akihisa Matsukawa, Toshiki Okamura, Kuniaki Tamagaki, Takanori Watanabe, Hiroyoshi Iwayama, Makoto Tokudome, Hideo Kihara, Naoki Hayashi
  • Patent number: 9964895
    Abstract: A toner container includes a container main body, a first conveyance member rotatably provided in the container main body, a first bearing hole rotatably supports a rotation shaft of the first conveyance member in a state where the rotation shaft of the first conveyance member passes through the first bearing hole and extends outside, and a first input joint provided on an end portion of a rotation shaft of the first conveyance member in an attachment portion side, and coupled with a first drive coupling portion of the attachment portion. The first drive coupling portion includes a plurality of engaging pieces. The first input joint includes a plurality of projection pieces configured to be respectively coupled with the plurality of engaging pieces. Among the plurality of projection pieces, at least one first piece is longer than the other second piece(s) in a projection direction of the projection shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Masaki Murashima
  • Patent number: 9933726
    Abstract: A developer container includes a container, provided with an opening and configured to accommodate a developer; a sealing member configured to cover the opening; and an unsealing member configured to unseal the opening by moving the sealing member. The sealing member opposes the container at a central opposing portion positioned in a central side and at an end opposing portion positioned at an end side with respect to a longitudinal direction of the unsealing member. The sealing member and the container are bonded to each other at bonding portion which is at least a part of the central opposing portion. The bonding force at the bonding portion of the central opposing portion is larger than a bonding force between the sealing member and the container at the end opposing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuta Isobe, Kazuhisa Shida, Takayuki Kanazawa, Shunsuke Mizukoshi
  • Patent number: 9897938
    Abstract: A developing device includes a developer bearer to carry, by rotation, developer to a developing range, a casing including a developer container to contain the developer and housing the developer bearer, a gap retainer adjacent to the developer container and downstream from the developing range in a rotation direction of the developer bearer, an opposing wall opposing an end face of the gap retainer in an axial direction of the developer bearer, a first seal disposed between the end face of the gap retainer and the opposing wall, and a contact portion disposed adjacent to an end portion of the gap retainer in the axial direction of the developer bearer. The gap retainer secures a predetermined gap between the developer bearer and the gap retainer. The contact portion contacts, via a second seal, the gap retainer in a direction intersecting the axial direction of the developer bearer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinnosuke Koshizuka, Koichi Yamazaki, Tatsuya Kubo, Atsushi Nakamoto, Nobuo Takami, Kazunori Suzuki, Naohiro Kawashima
  • Patent number: 9857733
    Abstract: A sealing member for sealing between an accommodating container for accommodating a developer and a member to be assembled to the accommodating container includes a seal forming portion formed of an elastomer resin material or a rubber material and configured to be closely contacted to each of the accommodating container and the member; and a supporting portion for supporting the seal forming portion, wherein the supporting portion is formed of a material harder than the material of the seal forming portion and is configured to be fixed to the accommodating container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroomi Matsuzaki
  • Patent number: 9829826
    Abstract: A developing device includes a housing that includes an accommodating chamber, a development opening, and a discharge opening, part of developer that is accommodated in the accommodating chamber overflowing into and being discharged from the discharge opening; a developing roller that holds and transports the developer that is supplied from the accommodating chamber; a transporting member that transports the developer in the accommodating chamber so as to supply the developer to the developing roller while stirring the developer; a regulating member that regulates a thickness of a layer of the developer that is held by the developing roller by holding back part of the developer; and a ventilation path portion that is provided so as to extend through the regulating member, the ventilation path portion being connected to a gap space that exists in a range extending to the development opening from where the developing roller passes the regulating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masanori Kato, Yoshinori Tanaka, Tomio Ohnuki
  • Patent number: 9817338
    Abstract: A cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus includes a cartridge frame formed of a resin material; a plurality of resin members molded on the cartridge frame by injection molding of a resin material different from that of the cartridge frame; a plurality of contact surfaces, provided on the cartridge frame, to which metal molds corresponding to the resin members are to be contacted from the same side when the resin members are molded; and a plurality of resin material inlet ports, provided in an opposite side of said cartridge frame from a side where the contact surfaces are provided. The resin material has been flowed into the cartridge frame when the resin members are molded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuharu Hoshi, Akira Suzuki, Hiroshi Takarada, Toshiteru Yamasaki
  • Patent number: 9804531
    Abstract: A developing device includes a device housing, a developer holding member, and a supply member. The device housing contains developer. The developer holding member includes a magnetic field generating device and holds the developer. The supply member is rotated so as to lift the developer from below on a developer lifting side in a rotational direction thereof toward the developer holding member. The developing device has an exhaust passage that is provided along an outer circumference of the developer holding member and that allows air in the apparatus body to be exhausted therethrough. An opposite portion is defined on an opposite side to the developer lifting side in the rotational direction of the supply member. The developing device also includes a blocking member that intersects a tangent connecting the opposite portion to the inlet so as to block entrance of the developer into the exhaust passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinichiro Fujimori, Takayuki Yamada, Taiyou Uehara
  • Patent number: 9709927
    Abstract: A developer unit according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a reservoir for storing a developer mix that includes toner and magnetic carrier beads. A magnetic roll is mounted on the housing. An outer surface of a sleeve of the magnetic roll is positioned to carry the developer mix from the reservoir through a front portion of the magnetic roll that is exposed from the reservoir to permit transfer of toner from the outer surface of the sleeve to a photoconductive drum and back to the reservoir as the sleeve rotates in an operative rotational direction. An air vent is positioned along a rear portion of the magnetic roll for exiting air in the reservoir from the housing. An entire opening of the air vent is positioned vertically higher than the rotational axis of the sleeve when the developer unit is in an operative orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Brian Bacelieri, Robert Dan Bennett, III, Jenny Marie Berens, Mark Leo Doerre, Courtney Harrison Soale
  • Patent number: 9690233
    Abstract: A developing device includes a casing having an opening, the casing to contain developer, and a developer bearer including a magnetized range to cause developer to stand on end on a surface of the developer bearer and an end range outside the magnetized range in a longitudinal direction of the developer bearer. The developer bearer is disposed in the casing and partly exposed from the opening with a casing gap secured between the surface of the developer bearer and an inner face of the casing. The developer bearer generates, by rotation, sucked-in airflow to collect a floating toner from the opening into the casing, and the casing gap is smaller in the end range than the magnetized range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Daisuke Hamada, Jun Shiori, Hideo Yoshizawa, Shingo Kuboki, Takahiro Adachi
  • Patent number: 9665036
    Abstract: A regulating member for regulating a layer thickness of a developer includes a base portion, a regulating portion extending along a longitudinal direction of the base portion and projecting from a first surface of the base portion to regulate a layer thickness of a developer, and a rib formed along the longitudinal direction and configured to project from a second surface opposite from the first surface of the base portion. In addition, a through hole structure is provided at each end of the base portion with respect to the longitudinal direction, and configured with a through hole that passes through the base portion. The rib is provided adjacently to each through hole with respect to a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and the rib stands along each through hole in a cross-section which crosses the through hole and is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the base portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tomonori Kitan
  • Patent number: 9658576
    Abstract: A developing device includes a developer bearer, a developer regulator, a casing including an opposing face to oppose the developer bearer upstream from a developing range in a direction of rotation of the developer bearer, and first, second, and third seals. The first seal includes a first end secured to the casing and a second end to contact a latent image bearer upstream from the developing range in a direction of rotation of the latent image bearer. The second seal includes a first end secured to the opposing face of the casing, and a second end to contact the first seal upstream from the developing range. The third seal includes a first end secured to the opposing face of the casing, and a second end to contact developer on the developer bearer between the developer regulator and the developing range in the direction of rotation of the developer bearer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideki Kimura, Tadashi Ogawa, Hiroyuki Mabuchi, Junichi Terai, Hiroshi Kikuchi, Yukio Otome, Hiroaki Okamoto
  • Patent number: 9612547
    Abstract: A developing device includes a developer bearer, an end seal, and an inlet seal. The end seal is disposed in contact with a circumferential surface of each end of the developer bearer in a longitudinal direction of the developer bearer. The inlet seal includes a center portion in the longitudinal direction disposed in contact with the developer bearer and each end in the longitudinal direction disposed in contact with the end seal. The end seal includes a cutout portion at a side closer to the center portion in the longitudinal direction and at an upstream side in a direction of rotation of the developer bearer. The inlet seal covers an edge of the cutout portion in the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Hirobumi Ooyoshi
  • Patent number: 9599955
    Abstract: A developer storage unit includes a receiving portion which is provided on a rotating shaft, and configured to receive a developer falling from a conveyance member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kuniaki Hirukawa, Akihiro Fujiwara, Yu Fukasawa
  • Patent number: 9588458
    Abstract: A developing device includes a developer holding body, a container, a contact member, and a restriction member. The developer holding body supplies a developer to an image holding body. The container accommodates the developer holding body and is formed with an opening portion facing the image holding body. The deformable contact member is fixed in the container and on a downstream side of the opening portion body in a rotation direction of the developer holding body and includes a tip end which extends toward an inner side of the container and which contacts with the developer holding body. The restriction member is disposed on an image holding body side of the contact member and restricts the tip end of the contact member from deforming so as to be in a state where the contact member is directed toward an outer side of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shota Makita
  • Patent number: 9588459
    Abstract: In a developing device, a developing roller has a circumferential surface and an axial end portion. A thickness-regulating blade includes a pressing part protruding to contact the circumferential surface. A first sealing member is provided between a housing and the axial end portion, and includes a first layer; and a second layer. The first layer has a first layer surface disposed to contact the circumferential surface. The second layer supports the first layer and has a protruding part protruding inward of the first layer in an axial direction of the developing roller and having a second layer surface opposing the circumferential surface. The housing has a wall part disposed between the pressing part and the protruding part in the rotating direction of the developing roller. The wall part has an opposing surface opposing the circumferential surface. A lubricant is applied to the first layer surface and the second layer surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takanori Uno, Takuya Amaike, Kenta Tosuji
  • Patent number: 9557681
    Abstract: A developing device includes a casing configured to accommodate developer, a developing roller, a seal member, at least portion of which is disposed between the developing roller and the casing, and which includes a fabric member including a plurality of first fibers extending in a first direction, and a heat radiation member configured to contact end surfaces of the first fibers of the seal member and radiate heat of the seal member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenjiro Nishiwaki, Takanori Uno, Takuya Amaike, Masateru Kawamura, Kazuna Taguchi, Motoaki Mushika, Yasuo Fukamachi, Shunji Yoshimoto, Masahiro Ishii
  • Patent number: 9535373
    Abstract: An end seal for removable attachment to a doctor blade assembly is provided. The end seal comprises a seal body having a bottom wall, opposite first and second sidewalls and a top edge configured to include a radius adapted to seal against a roller surface. At least one abrasion resistant insert is integrally secured within the seal body. The insert includes a bottom wall, opposite first and second sidewalls and a top edge configured to coincide with the body top edge so as to seal against the roller surface. The seal body and the at least one abrasion resistant insert each further comprise respective first and second upper angled sidewalls extending from respective opposite first and second sidewalls, the respective first upper angled sidewall having a different length and tapering from the top edges at a different angle than the respective second upper angled sidewall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Inventor: Anthony Foley
  • Patent number: 9519241
    Abstract: A development device in which there is a lubricant opposite in polarity to a developer in a surface region of a developer bearing member contacting an image bearing member and an end seal when the developer bearing member rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takuya Kitamura
  • Patent number: 9500989
    Abstract: A high-quality end seal member which is easy to manufacture, and which exhibits excellent sealing properties with respect to inhibiting the leakage of toner in a toner-handling device of an image-forming device. End seal member for inhibiting, at a desired acceleration, leakage of toner from end of rotating body using anti-leakage gap obtained by causing recessed region to be deformed toward rotating body is provided with sealing member having striped pattern comprising plurality of steps of linear configuration which come in contact with toner carrier, i.e. rotating body, of image-forming device. When toner conveyed by toner carrier comes in contact with radiused region at edge of projecting region of irregular surface of sealing member toner scraping angle is greater than toner angle of repose. Elastic body at back surface of sealing member is used to achieve reactive-force-providing elasticity for contact load between sealing member and rotating body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignees: SANWA TECHNO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Susumu Shoji, Kazuro Fukui
  • Patent number: 9500988
    Abstract: A developing apparatus includes a developer carrying sleeve, a container body accommodating a developer and rotatably supporting the sleeve, a cover mounted on the container body and configured to cover the sleeve, a first seal fixed to the container body and contacted to the sleeve to seal one end of the sleeve, and a second seal provided on the cover and contacted to the sleeve to seal the one end of the sleeve. The first second seals are disposed without overlapping with each other as seen in the direction of a normal line of the sleeve from a rotation axis of the sleeve. The second seal is disposed such that as seen in a rotational axis direction of the sleeve, it is outside the first seal and between the cover and the sleeve with respect to a circumferential direction of the sleeve and is overlapped with the first seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Ryoichi Kawasumi
  • Patent number: 9500979
    Abstract: In a configuration in which a charging roller contact unit of a contact unit is located in a periphery of a mounting surface for mounting a cleaning blade of a drum cartridge frame, at least a part of the charging roller contact unit of the contact unit is formed in such a manner that an area of a cross section perpendicular to a direction approaching to the mounting surface of the cleaning blade becomes smaller with an approach to the mounting surface of the cleaning blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Takarada
  • Patent number: 9471005
    Abstract: In a developing device, a developing agent member has a first rotational shaft extending in a first direction. A supply member has a second rotational shaft extending in the first direction. A housing includes a first wall and a second wall. The first wall is formed with first and second openings. The second wall is formed with third and fourth openings. The first bridge portion separates the first opening and the second opening in the first wall. A second bridge portion separates the third opening and the fourth opening in the second wall. When projected in the first direction, the first rotational shaft is disposed in the first opening and the second rotational shaft is disposed in the second opening. When projected in the first direction, the first rotational shaft is disposed in the third opening and the second rotational shaft is disposed in the fourth opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Nao Itabashi
  • Patent number: 9471010
    Abstract: A developing device includes a casing configured to store a developing agent and a developing agent carrier configured to carry the developing agent in the casing. The developing agent carrier is configured to rotate about an axis extending in a first direction. The developing device further includes a layer-thickness regulating member configured to regulate a thickness of a layer of the developing agent carried on the developing agent carrier and a first seal member disposed between the layer-thickness regulating blade and the casing. The first seal member extends along the first direction. The casing includes a first regulating portion configured to regulate a movement of the first seal member in the first direction by contacting a surface of the first seal member non-parallel to the first direction. The first regulating portion may include protrusions and/or indentations to regulate the movement of the first seal member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroya Fukuta, Fan Xu
  • Patent number: 9459561
    Abstract: A developing cartridge is provided. The developing cartridge includes a first frame and a second frame and a layer thickness regulating member. The first frame and the second frame include a first welding surface formed at a periphery of the developer accommodating part correspondingly to a developer accommodating part; and a second welding surface extending continuously from the first welding surface correspondingly to a roller support part. The first welding surface extends in a direction orthogonal to an overlapping direction of the first frame and the second frame. The second welding surface extends to be inclined toward a side of the first frame in the overlapping direction as extending toward the developing roller. The layer thickness regulating member is provided to cover the second welding surface from a side of the second frame in the overlapping direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroki Mori
  • Patent number: 9442453
    Abstract: A cleaning device that removes a residual substance from an image carrier includes a cleaning container having an opening that faces the image carrier, the cleaning container extending in an axial direction of the image carrier and receiving the residual substance; a scraping member that extends in a longitudinal direction of the opening and scrapes off the residual substance by coming into contact with the image carrier; and an end-sealing member that is fixed to the cleaning container at least at one end of the opening, that is in contact with a surface of the image carrier, and that seals a gap between the cleaning container and the image carrier at an end of the scraping member. A surface of the end-sealing member that is in contact with the image carrier has a void in a region isolated from a surrounding region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yusuke Kitagawa
  • Patent number: 9442423
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes: a first frame; and a second frame melt-bonded to the first frame. The first frame includes: a first melt-bonding surface; and a second melt-bonding surface closer to a developing roller than the first melt-bonding surface. The second frame includes: a third melt-bonding surface; a fourth melt-bonding surface; and a center surface facing the first frame. The center surface is closer to an axial center region of the developing roller than the fourth melt-bonding surface in the axial direction. The center surface has a first center surface and a second center surface closer to the developing roller than the first center surface in the first direction. The second center surface forms an obtuse angle with the first center surface and is separated from the first frame farther than the fourth melt-bonding surface in a direction perpendicular to the fourth melt-bonding surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuo Fukamachi
  • Patent number: 9417555
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image forming units. A first image forming unit includes a first image carrier, a first developer carrier that is applied with a first developing voltage, and a first layer-forming member that is applied with a first layer-forming voltage having the same polarity as polarity of the first developing voltage. The second image forming unit includes a second image carrier, a second developer carrier that is applied with a second developing voltage, and a second layer-forming member that is applied with a second layer-forming voltage having the same polarity as polarity of the second developing voltage. An absolute value of the first layer-forming voltage is smaller than an absolute value of the first developing voltage. An absolute value of the second layer-forming voltage is greater than an absolute value of the second developing voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: OKI DATA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hidetaka Mitsunobu
  • Patent number: 9411261
    Abstract: A cartridge include a housing configured to accommodate a developing agent therein, a developing agent carrying member configured to carry the developing agent, a layer thickness restricting member disposed between the housing and the developing agent carrying member and configured to restrict a layer thickness of the developing agent carried by the developing agent carrying member, and a spacer disposed between the housing and the layer thickness restricting member in a first direction in which the developing agent carrying member and the layer thickness restricting member face one another and in which is orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the developing agent carrying member. The spacer includes a first engaged portion configured to be engaged. The layer thickness restricting member includes a first engaging portion configured to engage with the first engaged portion such that relative movement of the spacer and the layer thickness restricting member is restricted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hirofumi Kuriki, Takashi Shimizu
  • Patent number: 9389540
    Abstract: A developer unit according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a reservoir for storing a developer mix that includes toner and magnetic carrier beads. A magnetic roll includes a stationary core and a sleeve positioned around the core that is rotatable relative to the core. The stationary core includes at least one permanent magnet having circumferentially spaced magnetic poles. An upper and a lower magnetically permeable metal shunt are positioned at each axial end of the magnetic roll. Each upper shunt and each lower shunt is positioned axially outboard of the core and in close proximity to the outer surface of the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Dan Bennett, III, Gary Allen Denton, Katherine Marie Gilliam, Elliott Vincent Jernigan, Matthew Lee Rogers, Dominique Renee Rowe, Daniel Enrique Alonzo, Royden Thomas Kern
  • Patent number: 9383685
    Abstract: A developing apparatus includes a developing container for accommodating a developer including magnetic particles; a developer feeding member, provided in the developing container and having a magnetic shaft, for feeding the developer; a bearing rotatably supporting the shaft; a bearing accommodating portion; and a magnet, provided around the shaft at a position inside the bearing in the bearing accommodating portion, for forming a magnetic seal of magnetic particles by a magnetic field formed between itself and the shaft. The bearing accommodating portion includes a first space between the magnet and the bearing and a second space which is provided outside of the bearing with respect to a diametrical direction and which is in fluid communication with the first space to receive the developer from the first space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tomoharu Kitajima
  • Patent number: 9383719
    Abstract: A cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus includes: a frame; an accommodating portion, constituted by the frame, for accommodating a developer; a seal portion for preventing the developer from being leaking out from the accommodating portion, wherein the seal portion is formed by injection molding at a seal forming portion provided on the frame and is projected from the seal forming portion; and a sprue which is formed integrally with the seal portion by a resin material remaining in a path for permitting flow of the resin material melted when the seal portion is formed by the injection molding and which is projected from the frame in a position different from a position of the seal portion so as to be higher than the seal portion on the basis of the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Nobuharu Hoshi
  • Patent number: 9377716
    Abstract: A unit for use with an image forming apparatus includes: a frame; a developer accommodating portion; a sheet member, contact to a rotatable member and provided on the frame along a longitudinal direction of the rotatable member; a first end portion seal member for preventing, at a longitudinal end portion, the developer from leaking out from between the frame and the rotatable member; and a second end portion seal member for preventing the developer from leaking out from among the first end portion seal member, the sheet member and the frame. The second end portion seal member is formed by injecting, on the frame, a resin material having an elastic modulus smaller than an elastic modulus of the frame so as to contact with the first end portion seal member and the sheet member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiteru Yamasaki, Kohichi Takahashi, Fumito Nonaka, Yuuki Nakamura, Naoki Hayashi, Toshiki Fujino
  • Patent number: 9372442
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a housing configured to accommodate a developing agent and including a first frame and a second frame, a developing agent carrying member rotatable on an axial line and configured to carry the developing agent, and a layer thickness regulating member configured to regulate a layer thickness of the developing agent carried by the developing agent carrying member. The first frame has a first facing surface facing the layer thickness regulating member. The second frame has a second facing surface facing the layer thickness regulating member. A welded region where the first frame and the second frame are welded and include a first welded portion extending from the first facing surface in a first direction intersecting with and away from the first facing surface, and a second welded portion extending from the first welded portion inward in a second direction intersecting with the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Fan Xu, Takashi Shimizu
  • Patent number: 9366996
    Abstract: A sealing structure includes a housing to accommodate powder, a powder roller having a surface to bear and convey the powder, and an entrance seal disposed between the powder roller and the housing to allow powder remaining on a circumferential surface of the powder roller to enter the housing. A pair of left and right edge seals is provided in a circumferential direction of the powder roller to overlap with outer circumferential surfaces of both ends of the entrance seal, respectively. Both ends of the entrance seal include powder damming sections extended from both ends thereof along the pair of left and right edge seals, respectively. A pair of inner edges of the respective powder damming sections is each sandwiched between a corresponding one of the pair of left and right edge seals and the powder roller while substantially symmetrically inclining from the rotation direction of the powder roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akinori Harada, Tomohiro Kubota, Hiroshi Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 9360831
    Abstract: A developing unit includes: a frame; a flexible container, provided inside the frame, for accommodating a developer, wherein the flexible container includes an opening for permitting discharge of the developer; an urging member, provided inside the frame, for urging the flexible container to deform the flexible container; and a developer carrying member for carrying the developer discharged from the opening of the flexible container. The flexible container includes a projected portion projecting toward an outside of the flexible container. The projected portion is moved depending on deformation of the flexible container, by urging of the flexible container, to stir the developer discharged from the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroomi Matsuzaki, Kojiro Yasui, Junichi Matsumura, Masatomi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 9348258
    Abstract: A developing unit includes a housing, a developing roller and a seal contacting an outer peripheral surface of the developing roller. The seal includes a first part disposed inward in an axial line direction of the developing roller and contacting the outer peripheral surface of the developing roller, and a second part contacting an outer edge of the first part in the axial line direction and disposed outward from the first part in the axial line direction and contacting the outer peripheral surface. The first part has a contact surface contacting the developing roller and a plurality of first grooves each of which is recessed from the contact surface and extends along the contact surface. The plurality of first grooves extends from outward to inward in the axial line direction, as the plurality of first grooves extends from upstream to downstream in a rotational direction of the developing roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Fan Xu
  • Patent number: 9335664
    Abstract: A developer container includes: an accommodating chamber, provided with an opening for permitting discharge of a developer; and developer feeding means. The developer feeding means includes: a rotatable member; a developer feeding member fixed on the rotatable member; a sealing member for opening the opening by the rotation of the rotatable member, wherein one end portion thereof is fixed on the rotatable member and the other end portion thereof is provided so as to seal the opening; and a regulating portion for regulating the sealing member, which is wound about the rotatable member after the opening is opened by the rotation of the rotatable member, so as to expose a feeding surface of the developer feeding member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Makoto Tokudome, Ryosuke Kanai
  • Patent number: 9335663
    Abstract: A seal is provided to contact a rotating body installed in an image forming apparatus. Pencil hardness of the sealing element is about 2H or more and a water drop contact angle thereof is about 90 degrees or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyoko Abe, Tomohiro Kubota, Takahiro Sanada, Yuji Nagatomo
  • Patent number: 9329530
    Abstract: A developing device includes a developer-thickness-regulating member having a substantially circular sectional shape and that regulates a thickness of a developer layer on a developer carrier at a regulating gap between the developer carrier and the developer-thickness-regulating member, and sealing members that seal a gap between the developer-thickness-regulating member and a developing-device housing and include first sealing members provided at two ends of the developer-thickness-regulating member and on outer sides of an effective developer-transporting area, the first sealing members preventing rotation of the developer-thickness-regulating member by being in contact with the developer-thickness-regulating member at first portions excluding a portion opposite the regulating gap; and a second sealing member extending over the effective developer-transporting area and provided at a second portion excluding the portion opposite the regulating gap, the second sealing member being in contact with the develop
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hideaki Ozawa
  • Patent number: 9310715
    Abstract: A developing device includes a developer bearer, a development casing in which a developer conveyance channel is formed facing the developer bearer through a communicating area, a developer supply member disposed in the developer conveyance channel, a developer regulator disposed facing a lower portion of the developer bearer to adjust an amount of developer carried on the developer bearer, and a sheet member that is removably installed to seal the communicating area and passes through a gap between the developer regulator and the developer bearer and an opening formed in the development casing. A first end of the sheet member is retained downstream from the gap in a direction of rotation of the developer bearer, and the sheet member is fixed to the development casing at a position across the communicating area from the first end with a second end positioned outside the development casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshio Hattori, Yoshiyuki Fukuda, Sho Akiyama, Yuki Oshikawa, Noriyuki Kimura
  • Patent number: 9298133
    Abstract: A developing device includes: a developing roller; a casing; and a seal. The developing roller has a rotational axis extending in an axial direction. The casing has a first wall, and a second wall extending from the first wall toward the developing roller in an extending direction. The seal is disposed on the first wall and in contact with a peripheral surface of the developing roller. The seal includes: a film contacting with the peripheral surface of the developing roller; and a substrate disposed between the film and the first wall. The second wall has a first surface facing in a first direction and a second surface facing in a second direction. The first surface extends in the extending direction and contacts with the substrate of the seal. The second surface faces away from the first surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinori Ito, Ryuya Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 9298129
    Abstract: In a developing apparatus, a sealing member has a first part contacting an axial end part of a developing roller and a second part including a first side surface. A roller body of a supply roller includes a contact surface that contacts the peripheral surface, and a second side surface located at an end of the contact surface in the axial direction. The restricting member has a one side and another side. The one side is opposed to the second side surface in the axial direction. The another side is opposed to the first side surface in the axial direction with a gap. The gap is communicated with an interior space of a developer accommodating frame such that the developer is capable of moving away from a nip position between the supply roller and the developing roller toward the bottom wall of the developing frame in the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shougo Sato, Fan Xu
  • Patent number: 9285712
    Abstract: A developing device configured to prevent a leakage of developer through a gap between a frame and a longitudinal end of a developer supply roller, includes an elastic bush member, a groove to which the bush member is attached and including an opening to allow an end of the developer supply roller to pass through a seating surface when the developer supply roller is mounted on the groove in a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction, an abutment portion for regulating movement of the bush member in the longitudinal direction, and a bearing member configured to rotatably support an end of the developer supply roller and compress, in the longitudinal direction, the bush member sandwiched between the abutment portion and the bearing member and bias the bush member against an inner wall of the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Kanno, Shinjiro Toba