Abstract: In a vertical type developing device in which plurality of screws are arranged up and down, developer transported by an upper developer transporting screw and developer transported by lower developer transporting screw are properly dispersed. Thereby, developer flows smoothly and further stirs and mixes. As means of it, the followings are included: (1) between the upper screw and the lower screw, properly adjusting developer transporting capabilities and dispersing pressures; (2) arrangement of dispersing members between the upper and lower developer transporting screws; (3) arrangement of openings at a partition wall; (4) arrangement of a developer reservoir portions to a developer accommodating unit; or the like.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a developing device includes a stirring and conveying screw of electrically conductive material to stir and convey toner along a toner delivery path, a toner gathering port located in the toner delivery path to temporarily stay the toner there during the conveying, an auxiliary stirring member of electrically conductive material movably held in the toner gathering port, and a stop located at the toner gathering port to prevent the auxiliary stirring member from being removal off the toner gather port and to allow the toner to pass the toner gathering port. The stirring and conveying member and the auxiliary stirring member are charged electricity by an bias voltage applied to the developing device so that the toner can be fully stirred and, at the same time, can be electrically charged uniformly with an increased amount of charges.

Abstract: A developing apparatus faces an image carrier carrying an electrostatic latent image and comprises a developing section for developing the electrostatic latent image by supplying a developing agent thereto and a feeding section for feeding the developing agent to the developing section while stirring. The feeding section has a rotatable shaft member, a blade body formed spirally on an outer peripheral surface of the shaft member for feeding the developing agent in a shaft direction, and a plurality of projections located between tilted blade portions on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft member. The projections, each being placed at an interval from the tilted blade portions of the blade body and are arranged at predetermined intervals along circumference of the shaft member.

Abstract: A developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image on a photoreceptor having an A-side and a B-side, the latter being located closer to the photoreceptor than the former. There is a developing cylinder at the B-side in close proximity to the photoreceptor to convey the developer toward the photoreceptor. A first agitating conveying rotator is at the A-side and for agitating developer, and a second agitating conveying rotator is between the developing sleeve and the first conveying rotator. The second rotator receives the developer from the first rotator, agitates the developer, and conveys the developer to the developing sleeve. Both rotate in the same direction to form a rotation locus, wherein the direction of the velocity vector tangent to the top of rotation locus is directed from the B-side toward the A-side.

Abstract: A developer replenishing device included in an image forming apparatus for replenishing a developer to a developing unit is disclosed and includes a developer container filled with the developer. An air pump feeds compressed air into the developer container to thereby fluidize the developer. A powder pump discharge the fluidized toner from the developer container by suction and delivers it to the developing unit. When the toner container is set on the body of the apparatus, an air feed portion penetrates into the container.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for adjusting a discharge width of a powder feeder. The system includes a supply hopper that is spaced from the powder feeder. The powder feeder includes a receiving opening and a discharge opening and at least one adjustable wall. Preferably, two adjustable walls are provided. Movement of the two adjustable walls provides variations in the width of the discharge opening and therefore facilitates use of the powder feeder on target volumes or target areas having different widths. A rotatable auger brush is in communication with the supply hopper for causing powder withdrawn from the supply hopper to be transported to the powder feeder and disposed uniformly across the receiving opening of the powder feeder. The brush is immersed within the powder and extends across the receiving opening of the powder feeder, and maintains a filled level powder feeder. The powder feeder is particularly well-suited for use in a coating apparatus, as well as a dual-side coating apparatus.

Abstract: A developing device for use in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, includes a developing member for developing a latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a developer containing portion for containing a developer to be used in developing with the developing member, the latent image being formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, an agitating member for agitating the developer contained in the developer containing portion, and a frame rotatably supporting the agitating member and having a hole for rotatably supporting the agitating member, of which an end enters the hole and is rotatably supported by the hole. The length of the agitating member in contact with the inner surface of the hole is shorter, in the longitudinal direction of the hole, than the length of the agitating member present in the hole.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide a developing apparatus having a supply screw and a recovery screw both of which are arranged vertically to circulate developer, wherein a component in a normal direction of pressure generated by the recovery screw is made larger than that of pressure generated by the supply screw. Thereby, lowering and raising of developer is suppressed and occurrence of fog on the image and the smoke of toner are prevented. Alternatively, a radial member and a centrifugal member are applied to the supply screw and the recovery screw, respectively. Thereby, developer is prevented from moving between screws in the midst of the transportation. Still alternatively, a preliminary stirring portion is provided on extension of a stirring screw at upperstream side. The preliminary stirring portion has a cylindrical body with inlets and outlets. Both inside and outside of the cylindrical body, screws are provided and inclines of screw blades are reversed to each other.

Abstract: A printer or copier has an intermediate carrier for applying toner to the recording medium. Used toner is scraped off the intermediate carrier and carried away by a conveyor helix. The conveyor helix is of a spring wire and a resistance element is provided extending between coils of the conveyor helix to intermittently catch and release the spring wire so as to cause wobbling of the conveyor helix and prevent sticking of the used toner.

Abstract: A developing device in an image forming apparatus is provided with: a developing roller opposed to a photosensitive body, on which an electro-static latent image is formed, for developing the electro-static latent image by using toner; a supplying roller for supplying the toner to the developing roller; a wall member prescribing a developing chamber, in which the developing roller and the supplying roller are disposed, and a toner supply port, through which the toner is supplied into the developing chamber; a pair of upper and lower augers disposed in the developing chamber at a vicinity of the toner supply port for carrying and circulating the toner supplied through the toner supply port, and adhering the toner onto the supplying roller; and an auger partition plate disposed between the upper and lower augers for restricting movement of the toner between the upper and lower augers.

Abstract: A first embodiment of the system to detect the amount of toner includes a first and a second light pipe attached in a substantially parallel orientation from the top to the bottom of a sidewall in the toner reservoir. An infra-red light emitting diode illuminates the first light pipe. A rotatable auger has an attached first arm. A light bridge attached to the first arm is positioned so that during rotation of the auger, the light bridge moves adjacent to the first and the second light pipe as the light bridge moves from the top to the bottom of the toner reservoir. When the light bridge is outside of the toner and adjacent to the first and the second light pipe, light is transmitted between the first and the second light pipe. When the light bridge is inside of the toner, light transmission between the first and the second light pipe is interrupted. A circuit detects light transmitted from the second light pipe using a photodiode.

Abstract: A developing device using developer and an image carrier has of a developing roller to carry developer, to feed developer to image carriers and to form a developer image. The developing device also has an upper mixer screw, which conveys, developer to the developing roller while stirring it, and a lower mixer screw provided under the upper mixer screw, which circulates and conveys developer jointly with the upper mixer also, the developing device has a drawing up roller with first and second magnetic poles formed to draw up developer when the lower mixer screw feeds developer to the upper mixer screw. The drawing up roller has magnetic matter provided in contact with the drawing up roller so as to form an angle 90.degree. or below to the horizontal line passing through the center of axis of the developing roller between the first and second magnetic poles so that developer which is drawn up by the drawing up roller, separates so that it is re-circulated by the upper mixer screw.

Abstract: A supply screw 10 and a collection screw 20 for a developing device equip with screw blades having different forms at particular sections so as to make conveying force of developer different depending on sections. Screw blades for big conveying force are attached within sections where developer distribution is dense while screw blades for small conveying force are attached within sections where developer distribution is sparse. In other words, conveying force is made to be greater at sparse-distribution section while smaller at dense-distribution section. Developer delivery is also promoted by providing different conveying force area within carry-up area where developer is carried up from a supply screw 10 to a collection screw 20 or vice versa. By making conveying force of each section different, developer is uniformly delivered to a developing roll 87 whether in width direction or in axial direction. Furthermore, developer circulation in a developing device becomes smooth.

Abstract: An electrophotographic processor including an operating lever which is fixed to a shaft. An agitator gear, mounted about the shaft, has a groove configured to receive a protrusion extending from the operating lever, the groove and protrusion defining a helical formation. When the drive gear of a drive motor drives the agitator gear, the helically-formed groove-and-protrusion convention urges the agitator to drive the operating lever, thus drive the shaft and agitator to stir the toner. When the control lever is rotated manually, the protrusion acts against the groove and urges disengagement of the agitator gear and drive gear.

Abstract: A developing unit of the present invention includes a developing roller facing a photoconductive element and formed with a magnetic layer on its circumference. The magnetic layer has a plurality of magnetic poles of opposite polarities alternating with each other and each extending in the axial direction of the developing roller. A developer consisting of magnetic particles an toner are deposited on the developing roller by the magnetic poles and conveyed by the roller to the photoconductive element carrying a latent image thereon, thereby developing the latent image. An agitator for agitating the magnetic particles and toner is positioned relative to the developing roller such that a blade thereof has an agitation range overlapping with the magnetic force range of the magnet layer. With this configuration, it is possible to insure high quality images free from background contamination and toner scattering while extending the service life of the developing unit.

Abstract: A screw pump for use in an image forming apparatus for conveying toner has a female screw type stator formed with a double pitch spiral groove in its inner periphery, and a male screw type rotor rotatably received in the stator. Assuming that the rotor has a sectional diameter of RA, and that the stator has a minimum inside diameter of S.MIN, the rotor and stator bite into each other such that a dimensional ratio of RA/S.MIN satisfies a relation of RA/S.MIN.ltoreq.1.04. A toner conveying device using such a screw pump and a toner filling system are also disclosed.

Abstract: A developing device capable of preventing a reduction of image quality due to disparities in image density or fogging and the like that result from an nonuniform toner concentration or static charge status due to inadequate mixing of a developer. The developing device is provided with a mixing screw for mixing a developer separately from a supply screw for supplying a developer to a developing roller and a collection screw for collecting a developer from the developing roller, the transport direction of the mixing screw being opposite to the transport direction of the supply screw and collection screw.

Abstract: A toner frame usable with a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, includes (a) a toner containing portion for containing toner to be supplied to a developing member for developing a latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member; (b) a toner supply opening for supplying the toner into the toner containing portion, wherein the toner supply opening is provided in a longitudinal end portion of the toner containing portion; and (c) a supporting portion for supporting one end portion of a stirring member for stirring toner contained in the toner containing portion, wherein the supporting portion is disposed within a range of the toner supply opening and at a position deviated from a center of the toner supply opening, as seen in a longitudinal direction of the toner frame.

Abstract: A development system which includes a dual auger assembly, mounted in a housing, for mixing developer materials in which a trickle port is between the dual auger assembly at an end of the housing which enables combining the cleaner waste toner and trickle waste in a single without the need of an additional auger.

Abstract: A sealing mechanism for preventing the leakage of powder from between a through-hole and a rotary shaft which is supported between one side wall of a container containing said powder and the other side wall thereof and of which one end protrudes outwardly beyond said through-hole formed in said one side wall. A circular flange is formed on the rotary shaft, and a seal ring member is fitted between the circular flange of the rotary shaft and said one side wall. A to-be-engaged groove is formed in one end of the rotary shaft. An input gear made of a synthetic resin is fitted to the one end of the rotary shaft, and an engaging projection that engages with said to-be-engaged portion is formed in a portion of the input gear that is fitted to the rotary shaft.

Abstract: A developing device for use with an image forming apparatus can properly detect a residual toner level by adjusting the toner diffusion in a toner cartridge. The developing device stirs toner in the toner cartridge by rotating an agitator in the toner cartridge, and supplies the stirred toner from a toner introduction port. The image forming apparatus then forms images by electrophotographic processes. The agitator has at least two elastic film members and is formed so that the first film member is rotated first, then the second film member is rotated by following the first film member.

Abstract: Developer material, in a machine that has been idle in a cold, high relative humidity environment, is moved into an acceptable operating temperature/RH realm by warming the developer as it comes into contact with heated mixing augers. The augers are heated internally with a plurality of resistors.

Abstract: There is provided an image forming device capable of preventing smudges on the background of an image due to excess toner replenishment caused by a failure in stirring developer and toner enough to charge the toner or scattering of replenished toner without being charged. A toner conveying member for conveying replenished toner from a toner replenishing portion through a toner replenishing port to a developer stirring and conveying member is constructed by a screw member unitarily formed with the developer stirring and conveying member. The screw member has a spiral conveying fin capable of conveying the replenished toner at relatively high speed. The replenished toner is delivered to a toner replenishing portion provided in the upstream of a developer receiving portion of the screw member.

Abstract: A developing device for use in an image forming apparatus is constructed such that a pair of upper and lower auger rollers 35 and 34 are arranged in the vicinity of a toner supply port 21A, thereby to transport toner from the toner supply port 21A through a spiral tooth 34A of the lower auger roller 34 toward both ends of the supply roller 20 and from the both ends through a spiral tooth 35A toward the toner supply port 21A, thus circulating toner above the toner supply roller 20 in its both side directions, and that a position of the toner supply port 21A of a toner cartridge 21 corresponds to respective center positions 35C and 34C of the upper and lower auger rollers 35 and 34.

Abstract: An improved stirrer for being positioned in a toner cartridge or developer hopper of an electrophotographic printer is disclosed. The toner cartridge or developer hopper is a container having toner disposed therein for being supplied from the container to the printer. The container has first and second longitudinal ends, a generally curved interior wall extending therebetween, and a longitudinal axis. The stirrer has a rotatable driven member, first and second stirring arms, and a bridge member. The rotatable driven member is disposed adjacent the first end of the container, and has an axis of rotation generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the container. The first and second stirring arms are rotatably fixed to the driven member and extend within the container longitudinally from the driven member.

Abstract: A developing unit having a frame mounted in an electrophotographic apparatus with a photosensitive drum uses an agitator agitating toner contained in a toner receptacle of the frame of the developing unit, a developing roll for developing a latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum with the toner, at least one toner supply roll with a cross-shaped blade mounted on a shaft for supplying the agitated toner to the developing roll, and a doctor blade for regulating the thickness of the toner layer formed on the toner developing roll so that the thickness of the toner layer is maintained at a given level. Each branch of the cross-shaped blade is tapered toward an outer end at a given angle so as to properly supply the toner to the developing roll.

Abstract: A toner cartridge for an image forming apparatus includes a toner storing unit having two flexible stirring rods disposed therein. Two tapered bearing portions disposed on a first side wall of the toner storage unit extend partially into the first side wall without piercing the first side wall, and two bearing portions on a second side wall extend completely through the second side wall. First ends of each of the stirring rods is tapered and fits into the tapered bearing portions on the first side wall of the toner storage unit. Second ends of the stirring rods extend through the bearing portions of the second side wall of the toner storage unit. Flange members are disposed on the second ends of the stirring rods, and a seal is interposed between each flange member and the second side wall. In another embodiment of the present invention, two of the bearing portions on the first side wall are generally square, and the first ends of the stirring rods have a generally spherical tip.

Abstract: A developer mixing and transporting member is provided which has at least two independent spiral-shaped channels extending around the circumference of the member. At least one of the channels is partly blocked by an element which restricts developer transport through the channel so that developer being mixed and transported within each of the channels is transported at different speeds and is thus rapidly mixed.

Abstract: A toner cartridge comprising a container having a toner discharge port, a toner contained in the container and a stirrer for stirring the toner existing in the container. The stirrer includes a rotary shaft rotatably mounted between both side walls of the container, not less than four arms extending in the radial direction from the rotary shaft at fixed distances in the axial direction and not less than three paddles disposed among the ends of the arms. The paddles are arranged at not less than three angular positions having angles different from each other and spaced at a distance apart in the circumferential direction.

Abstract: A color printing machine with a plurality of toner dispensers has a fewer number of toner dispenser members and control mechanisms than toner dispensers. This is accomplished by locating the toner dispensers in close proximity to one another so that a single toner dispenser member can extend between the plurality of toner dispensers. Various toner dispenser members such as a toner moving member, a toner mixing member and a gating member can be used alone or in combination to aid in dispensing the toner from the toner dispenser. When the toner dispenser member extends through the walls of the toner dispensers, seals must be formed between the toner dispenser member and the toner dispenser walls in order to contain the toner therein.

Abstract: A development system for a reproduction machine includes a pair of augers which mix and transfer the developer mixture to a magnetic roll brush system. A supply auger having a length at least as great as said magnetic brush roll is positioned along a horizontal plane and adapted to transport developer material in a direction so as to supply said material to said magnetic brush roll. The auger has a first portion thereof having an irregular blade edge and wedge shaped paddles to eliminate auger mark print defects.

Abstract: A device for developing an electrostatic latent image includes a developing housing having a developing chamber and stirrer chamber, a replenishing device for feeding the developing agent onto the peripheral surface of the developing roller, a stirring device disposed in the stirrer chamber to stir the developing chamber, and a developing agent detecting sensor disposed in the developing housing under the stirring device. The stirring device has a rotary shaft, a cleaning member mounted on the rotary shaft at a position corresponding to a development agent detector unit of the developing agent detecting sensor, and a stirrer member mounted on the rotary shaft at the side of the cleaning member. The stirrer member is provided with tilted guide portions for sending the stirred developing agent toward the developing agent detecting sensor.

Abstract: A developing device for an electrophotographic image forming apparatus and a toner cartridge for replenishing a fresh toner to the developing device are disclosed. A toner is circulated between a toner cartridge and a hopper so that an additive included in the toner existing in the developing device is adequately distributed throughout the developing device. This prevents the concentration of additive in the toner from differing at the ends of the hopper with respect to the center of the hopper. This ensures that images are produced with constant toner density.

Abstract: A latent electrostatic image developing device. A developer agitating/conveying mechanism is disposed in a development housing and has an agitating/conveying member for conveying a developer, while agitating it, along a developer application. A toner concentration detector is disposed in the bottom wall of the development housing to oppose the agitating/conveying member. The upper surface and the side surface of a detector portion of the toner concentration detector are connected by an arcuate surface or a chamfered surface. The toner concentration detector is fitted into an opening formed in the bottom wall of the development housing, and the upper surface of the detector portion protrudes from the inner surface of the bottom wall of the development housing by an amount nearly corresponding to the radius of the arcuate surface or the height of the chamfer of the chamfered surface.

Abstract: A toner conveyer applied to a housing having a pair of side walls and a through hole formed in at least one of the pair of side walls. The toner conveyer includes a shaft which is inserted at its one end portion in said through hole formed in one of said pair of side walls and is mounted between said pair of side walls to rotate. A main spiral vane is formed on the outer peripheral surface of a main portion of the shaft. An inside limiting piece is formed at the one end portion of the shaft. The inside limiting piece has protruded portions that extend in the radial direction beyond the inner diameter of the through hole and non-protruded portions located on the inside of the inner diameter of the through hole in the radial direction.

Abstract: An improved agitator containing toner box for an electrophotographic device that is easier to manufacture and assemble than conventional agitator containing toner boxes. The first of two improvements is that one, instead of two apertures are formed in the toner box to accommodate the agitator shaft. The second improvement is that instead of using bushings inserted into an aperture to prevent toner leakage from the toner box, a cone-shaped seal is placed on the shaft of the agitator and over the aperture to prevent toner leakage through the aperture. These two improvements result in a much simpler and less expensive manufacturing and assembly process.

Abstract: A developer transporting device for electrophotographic copiers has a pair of walls, a rotating shaft supported between the pair of walls, a first transporting member provided on the rotating shaft, a rotating cylindrical screw concentrically sheathing the rotating shaft and having a second transporting member provided on an exterior surface thereof and apertures provided at both ends thereof, an inflow pipe mounted on one wall of the pair of walls and extending into one end of the cylindrical screw and provided with a developer inflow opening facing an aperture of the cylindrical screw, and an outflow pipe mounted on the other wall of the pair of walls and extending into the other end of the cylindrical screw and provided with a developer outflow opening facing an aperture of the cylindrical screw.

Abstract: A developer agitating/conveying device having at least one partition wall disposed within a housing with a developer transfer port at the central portion thereof; a first agitating/conveying member disposed along the partition wall on one side of the partition wall for conveying the developer from the opposite end portions toward the central portion thereof, the first agitating/conveying member having a first helical blade and a second helical blade; and a second agitating/conveying member disposed along the partition wall on the other side of the partition wall for conveying the developer from the central portion toward the opposite end portions thereof, the second agitating/conveying member having a first helical blade and a second helical blade.

Abstract: A developing device capable of obviating the cohesion of toner and reducing the amount of dead toner is disclosed. The device has a developing unit accommodating a first and a second screw therein. The first and second screws extend from the toner hopper to the other longitudinal end of the developing unit in parallel to a developing roller and a supply roller. The first screw feeds toner from a toner hopper to a developing section. The second screw collects toner not contributed to development from the developing section and returns it to the first screw for recirculation. In this configuration, the collected toner and dead toner aggregating in the lower portion of the developing unit are forcibly moved to the developing section. The direction in which the screw portion of the second screw is inclined may be partly reversed to form a reverse transfer portion. Alternatively, a part of a casing adjoining the hopper may be implemented as a slant.

Abstract: A developer station for an electrophotographic printing or copying machine has a developer chamber (12), a mixing chamber (13) and a developer-station sump (14) connected to the two chambers. Two developer-mixture circuits are produced in the developer station, namely a developer-mixture circuit for receiving fresh toner and a developer-mixture circuit for the actual development in a developer gap (18). A paddle roller (37) arranged in the developer-station sump (14) generates, in the outlet region of the mixing chamber (13), a mixture vortex which is enriched with fresh toner and from which developer mixture is extracted continuously for the development process. The mixture vortex serves essentially as a buffer store for compensating a high toner requirement during development and, in conjunction with the mixing chamber (13), for the triboelectric activation of the developer mixture.

Abstract: A developing device has a vessel for holding a two-component developer composed of a toner component and a magnetic component. A magnetic roller is rotatably provided within the vessel to bring the developer to a developing zone for a development of an electrostatic latent image. An agitator also is provided within the vessel for agitating and circulating the developer to cause a triboelectrifiction between the toner component and the magnetic component and a uniform distribution of the toner component in the magnetic component. The agitator is arranged to present a uniform density mass of the developer to the magnetic roller for ensuring an even development of the latent image.