Abstract: An image forming apparatus having an image bearing member on which an electrostatic image is formed, a first developer carrying member carrying a developer thereon, and a second developer carrying member disposed downstream of the first developer carrying member with respect to the direction of movement of the image bearing member, and designed such that one and the same electrostatic image on the image bearing member is developed with the developer carried on these developer carrying members, has a developer consumption mode in which during the other time than ordinary image formation, the developer borne on the first and second developer carrying members is shifted to the image bearing member, and during this developer consumption mode, control is effected so that the amount of developer consumed from the second developer carrying member to the image bearing member may be greater than the amount of developer consumed from the first developer carrying member to the image bearing member.

Abstract: In order to replace out-of date flowing medium (16) in a system, comprising a component which ages, a defined amount of out-of-date flowing medium (16) is removed and the same amount of fresh flowing medium or fresh components (14) added and a given level (17?) of the flowing medium maintained.

Abstract: In a basic design of a developer unit for electrostatographic printing apparatus, an exit port is defined in the housing of the developer unit, for the passage of waste or surplus toner therethrough. An insert, defining a predetermined spillover barrier height and a predetermined exit angle, is associated with the exit port. Different types of inserts can be provided for operating the basic design of developer unit at different print output speeds, or with different compositions of developer material.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus using the cleaner-less processing, a developer vent is provided to a developing device so as to discharge paper dust mixing in the developing device together with developer comprising carrier and toner or carrier only through the developer vent, when removing residual toner.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a digital imaging system or a light lens based imaging system. More specifically, the present invention provides an improved method and apparatus for calculating toner age and, additionally, carrier age using a toner concentration sensor and the amount of material dispensed. Both of these quantities can be used to ensure image quality by anticipating or diagnosing problems in image quality, which may be caused by toner age or carrier age.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for forming an image with a developing agent, includes: a collecting-developing-agent occurring part in which the collecting developing agent to be collected in the developing agent occurs; a collection container for accommodating the collecting developing agent; a transporting part provided so as to connect the collection container and the collecting-developing-agent occurring part and for collecting and transporting the collecting developing agent occurring in the collecting-developing-agent occurring part; and a replacement part removably mounted in an apparatus body, wherein the collection container is mounted to be integrated with the replacement part.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a latent carrier and a charging device. The charging device is configured to charge a surface of the latent carrier. An exposure device is configured to expose a surface of the latent carrier for forming a latent image thereon. A transfer device is provided to transfer a developed toner image on the latent carrier to a recording medium. The image forming apparatus includes a developing device having a pooling portion configured to pool a two-component developer and an agitating device configured to agitate developer in the pool portion. A developer carrier replenishes developer to the latent carrier. A first measurement device and a second measurement device are configured to measure developer characteristics wherein the first and second measurement devices compare their respective outputs to measure a deterioration rate of the developer.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which forms an image by using a unit having at least a member associated with image formation and storage unit storing information, comprising, an image carrier, developing unit for developing a latent image formed on said image carrier by supplying toner to said image carrier and controller for controlling image formation operation on the basis of the information stored in said storage unit, wherein said storage unit stores information for controlling toner consumption operation in accordance with a characteristic of the toner, and said controller controls the toner consumption operation on the basis of the information stored in said storage unit without printing any image on a print medium.

Abstract: A method for maintaining developer material within in a predefined state through the scheduling of increased toner throughput coordinated among multiple developer housings. The method monitors developer material health at each developer station within a plurality of developer stations to detect unhealthy developer material. If unhealthy developer material is detected in at least one of developer stations, a toner purge state is identified for each of the remaining developer stations. Based on the toner purge states, a toner purge is performed.

Abstract: A method for operating a printing machine to maintain developer material within in a predefined state by monitoring the state of materials in a developer and automatically scheduling corrective action before print quality becomes significantly impacted. The corrective action can include forcing an increase in toner usage by periodically generating and developing images having high toner density.

Abstract: A method for producing a toner of a custom color in a developer unit including a housing defining a reservoir for storing a supply of toner, a donor member for transporting toner to an imaging surface; including: identifying custom color requested; determining color of toner in the reservoir; detoning toner on the donor member if the color of toner in the reservoir is beyond a predefined value in color space from the custom color requested; calculating and dispensing primaries toner colors to be added to the reservoir to obtained the custom color requested; mixing the primary toner colors dispensed in the reservoir; and evaluating and comparing the color components of the toner being mixed to the custom color requested.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus having a plurality of developing devices, the timing for discharging toner in a developing device, in which toner of a previously formed toner image has mixed, is determined by comparing an integrated area of a toner image developed by an upstream-side developing device and an integrated area of a toner image developed by this developing device.

Abstract: A developing apparatus is equipped with a developing container accommodating a developer including a toner and a carrier to develop at a developing position an electrostatic image formed on an image bearing member, a rotor for rotating the developing container in a path including the developing position, and a developer replenishing container for replenishing the developing container situated at the developing position by said rotor with the developer. An opening is provided on a side surface of the developing container, which allows surplus developer to spill out of said developing container situated at said developing position by said rotor. The apparatus is further equipped with a recovering container and a member for opening/closing the opening mentioned above. The recovering container recovers the surplus developer discharged from said opening utilizing a rotational motion of said rotor.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus having a plurality of developing devices, the timing for discharging toner in a developing device, in which toner of a previously formed toner image has mixed, is determined by comparing an integrated area of a toner image developed by an upstream-side developing device and an integrated area of a toner image developed by this developing device.

Abstract: A cleaning method for cleaning a developer container includes a step of blowing air through an opening formed in the developer container at a first flow rate; a step of sucking air through the opening at a second flow rate which is larger than the first flow rate; wherein while the blowing and suction steps are being simultaneously carried out, ambient air is permitted to enter the developer container through an ambient air inlet.

Abstract: A method for maintaining developer material within in a predefined state through the scheduling of increased toner throughput coordinated among multiple developer housings. The method monitors developer material health at each developer station within a plurality of developer stations to detect unhealthy developer material. If unhealthy developer material is detected in at least one of developer stations, a toner purge state is identified for each of the remaining developer stations. Based on the toner purge states, a toner purge is performed.

Abstract: A method for method for operating a printing machine to maintain developer material within in a predefined state by monitoring the state of materials in a developer and automatically scheduling corrective action before print quality becomes significantly impacted. The corrective action can include forcing an increase in toner usage by periodically generating and developing images having high toner density.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a latent carrier and a charging device. The charging device is configured to charge a surface of the latent carrier. An exposure device is configured to expose a surface of the latent carrier for forming a latent image thereon. A transfer device is provided to transfer a developed toner image on the latent carrier to a recording medium. The image forming apparatus includes a developing device having a pooling portion configured to pool a two-component developer and an agitating device configured to agitate developer in the pool portion. A developer carrier replenishes developer to the latent carrier. A first measurement device and a second measurement device are configured to measure developer characteristics wherein the first and second measurement devices compare their respective outputs to measure a deterioration rate of the developer.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus an electrophotographic image forming section and a controller. The image forming section forms a toner image on a print medium. When a cumulative operation reaches a predetermined value, the controller causes the image forming section to form the toner image of a pattern image on the print medium. The pattern image is at least one of a number of pattern images aligned in an advance direction, the number of pattern images being increased in accordance with a cumulative print duty. The cumulative operation includes a number of print jobs, a number of printed pages, and a number of rotations of an image drum. The number of printed pages has a print duty less than a predetermined value.

Abstract: In order to replace out-of date flowing medium (16) in a system, comprising a component which ages, a defined amount of out-of-date flowing medium (16) is removed and the same amount of fresh flowing medium or fresh components (14) added and a given level (17″) of the flowing medium maintained.

Abstract: A method of, and a toner purging development apparatus for, enabling clean and efficient accomplishment of custom color on demand imaging in a xerographic color machine using two component developer material.

Abstract: An image forming device includes a housing, a photosensitive drum, a developing unit, and a developing-agent moving configuration. The developing unit is freely detachably attached to the housing and includes an exchangeable toner box and a developing chamber, which are freely detachably attached to each other. The toner box has a through hole for supplying toner to the developing chamber. The developing portion includes a developing roller that rotates to transport toner from the toner box to a latent image on the photosensitive drum. The developing-agent moving configuration functions to move residual toner from the developing chamber into the present toner box before the toner box is exchanged for a new toner box.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus having a plurality of developing devices, the timing for discharging toner in a developing device, in which toner of a previously formed toner image has mixed, is determined by comparing an integrated area of a toner image developed by an upstream-side developing device and an integrated area of a toner image developed by this developing device.

Abstract: A method of, and a toner purging development apparatus for, enabling clean and efficient accomplishment of custom color on demand imaging in a xerographic color machine using two component developer material.

Abstract: An apparatus for developing a latent image recorded on an imaging surface with toner, including: a developer housing including a reservoir for storing a supply of toner; a donor member for transporting toner on an outer surface of the donor member to a development zone; a purging system, adjacent to the donor member, for removing toner the donor member and the reservoir.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an electrophotographic image forming section a controller. The image forming section forms a toner image on a print medium. When a cumulative operation reaches a predetermined value, the controller causes the image forming section to form the toner image of a pattern image on the print medium. The pattern image is at least one of a number of pattern images aligned in an advance direction, the number of pattern images being increased in accordance with a cumulative print duty. The cumulative operation includes a number of print jobs, a number of printed pages, and a number of rotations of an image drum. The number of printed pages has a print duty less than a predetermined value.

Abstract: A developing apparatus is provided in which the concentration of a toner in a developer material and the amount of developer material is kept constant by the use of simple mechanical parts so as not to deteriorate the electrification performance of the developer material. In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, a pocket 25 of a discharged developer material weighing part 20 receives a discharged developer material discharged from a developer material discharge port 14. Each time the accumulated weight thereof reaches a prescribed weight, the discharged developer material thus received is discharged into a discharged developer material receiving part 30, and this discharge is detected by a sensor 27. An unillustrated control unit counts this detection and calculates an amount of carrier decreased. Based on this result, a carrier supply roller 13 of the replenishment device is driven to replenish the carrier.

Abstract: When a discharged toner box 3 is detached, discharged toner is prevented from being scattered. A discharged toner collecting apparatus 1 includes a discharged toner box 3 for storing discharged toner, a discharged toner nozzle 4 for injecting discharged toner into the interior of the discharged toner box 3, and a connecting portion 5 to which the nozzle 4 is connected. At the position where the nozzle 4 and the connecting portion 5 are connected, a washing fluid feeding unit 6 for feeding washing water to wash the inner surface of the nozzle 4 is provided. The washing fluid feeding unit 6 is constituted by a washing fluid tank 14 for storing washing water, a washing fluid nozzle 15 for ejecting the washing water to an inner surface of the nozzle 4, and the washing fluid feeding unit 16 for feeding the washing water to the nozzle 15.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of optical laser systems for forming electrostatic latent images on a plurality of photosensitive drums, a plurality of development devices for supplying developing solutions to the respective electrostatic latent images on the drums, a transfer belt for transporting paper to each of the drums and transferring the developed images on the drums onto the paper, cleanser for removing the solution remaining on the drums after the transfer of the images by the transfer belt, collection mechanism arranged in the cleaners to transport and collect the removed developing solution, feeding mechanisms to feed the developing solutions to the development devices and a discharge port to discharge part of the developing solution so that the developing solution is made to fall into the cleaner located in the development device and the developing solution in the cleaner is transported and collected by a collection mechanism.

Abstract: An image forming device includes a housing, a photosensitive drum, a developing unit, and a developing-agent moving configuration. The developing unit is freely detachably attached to the housing and includes an exchangeable toner box and a developing chamber, which are freely detachably attached to each other. The toner box has a through hole for supplying toner to the developing chamber. The developing portion includes a developing roller that rotates to transport toner from the toner box to a latent image of the photosensitive drum. The developing-agent moving configuration functions to move residual toner from the developing chamber into the present toner box before the toner box is exchanged for a new toner box.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an image bearing member bearing an electrostatic image thereon. A developing device develops the electrostatic image on the image bearing member by a developer having a toner and a carrier. A transferring device transfers a toner image on the image bearing member to a transferring material. A cleaning device cleans a residual toner on the image bearing member after the transfer. A carrying device carries the developer in the developing device to the cleaning device.

Abstract: A container for collecting waste developer in an electrostatographic printing machine employing a trickle type developing process and having a waste developer discharge tube with a discharge opening adjacent an outer end thereof for discharging waste developer. The container includes an outer wall enclosing an interior chamber, with a partition wall extending from an inner surface of the outer wall dividing the inner chamber into a collection chamber and an overflow chamber. An opening is formed in the outer wall into the overflow chamber. The opening is sized and shaped to receive the discharge tube therethrough. When received through the opening, the discharge tube extends through the overflow chamber, over an inner edge of the partition wall and into the collection chamber, with the discharge opening being located within the collection chamber. With this construction, the waste developer is discharged into the collection chamber.

Abstract: A recycling method for a toner supply container that is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus to supply toner into the main assembly, includes the steps of providing a toner supply container including a filling opening for filling the toner, a supply opening for supplying the toner, a first seal member for sealing the filling opening, and a second seal member for sealing the supply opening; a first step of dismounting the first and second seal members from the toner supply container; a second step, after the first step, of cleaning an inside of the toner supply container by blowing air into the toner supply container through either one of the filling opening and the supply opening, and simultaneously sucking the air through the other one of the openings; a third step, after the second step, of filling the toner through the filling opening.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a developing unit for forming an image by use of a two-ingredient type developer, i.e., toner and carrier mixture, includes a container for replenishing fresh toner and for replacing carrier deteriorated due to aging or a developer including such carrier. The developer in the developing unit will be collected based on the number of times that a part of the developer has been replenished.

Abstract: An apparatus for the development of electrostatic images includes a developer storing section, a developing sleeve, a first magnetic field generating member, a developer layer thickness regulator, a second magnetic field generating member and a developer conveying member. The second magnetic field generating member faces the developing sleeve and forms an attracting magnetic field to attract the carrier particles from the developing sleeve. The second magnetic field generating member, moreover, has a closer section located close to the developing sleeve and a farther section located far from the developing sleeve, the farther section being located downstream of the closer section with regard to the conveying direction.

Abstract: Impurities contained in a developer are captured and prevented from mixing into the developer again, thereby to avoid lowering of image quality due to the impurities. Such impurities include aggregates of the developer formed in a developing apparatus, insufficiently charged toner particles, defectively charged toner particles having an opposite polarity to a predetermined polarity, and defective carrier particles lacking in strength for being held by a developing magnet roller. A recess is provided between peaks of magnetism located in a lower portion of a developing magnet roller. The recess has an air pressure substantially equal to an air pressure (atmospheric pressure) in the developing apparatus, so that air in the developing apparatus and the recess does not flow only in one direction. Impurities contained in the developer circulating around the developing roller cannot be magnetically held in the lower half of the developing roller because of centrifugal force and gravity.

Abstract: A method to provide a highly intelligent, automated diagnostic system that identifies the need to replace specific parts to minimize machine downtime rather than require extensive service troubleshooting. In particular, a systematic, logical test analysis scheme to assess machine operation from a simple sensor system and to be able to pinpoint parts and components needing replacement is provided by a series of first level of tests by the control to monitor components for receiving a first level of data and by a series of second level of tests by the control to monitor components for receiving a second level of data. Each of the first level tests and first level data is capable of identifying a first level of part failure independent of any other test. Each of the second level tests and second level data is a combination of first level tests and first level data or a combination of a first level test and first level data and a third level test and third level data.

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: An image forming apparatus including a plurality of developing units each having a developer storage portion for accommodating a developer; a plurality of feeding devices for discharging used developers from the respective developing units; and a single collecting device for collecting the used developers discharged by the respective feeding device.

Abstract: An intermittent ejection processing unit detects a driving state of at least one of driving motors of a developing agent conveying member and a stirring member which are driven at a predetermined rotational speed when a developing agent is ejected and intermittently makes each driving motor operative until a detection value of the driving state decreases to a specified value, thereby intermittently ejecting the developing agent. A continuous ejection processing unit continuously makes each driving motor operative at a predetermined rotational speed after the detection value of the driving state of at least one of the driving motors was below the specified value, thereby continuously ejecting the developing agent, and finishes the ejection of the developing agent when the detection value of the motor driving state decreases to a specified value corresponding to a no-load state by the completion of the ejection of the developing agent.

Abstract: The magnet roll of the present invention includes a shaft and a permanent magnet member fixed to the shaft, the permanent magnet member being composed of a hollow, cylindrical magnet body, and a magnetic pole piece fixed to a recess of the hollow, cylindrical magnet body, the hollow, cylindrical magnet body having a plurality of axially extending magnetic poles arranged circumferentially on the surface, the magnetic pole piece being provided with two magnetic poles having the same polarity for constituting a developing magnetic pole, and a thermally demagnetized portion being formed substantially at a center of the developing magnetic pole such that the permanent magnet member generates a magnetic flux density distribution having two peaks of the same polarity at a position of the developing magnetic pole.

Abstract: A developer dispersing device which can be utilized for moving dry two-component toner is applicable to electro-photographic apparatuses such as copiers, printers or facsimile machines. The developer dispersing device includes a rotatable shaft on which pumping plate members and blades are positioned so as to both laterally and radially move toner. The pumping plate member and blades are positioned on the shaft to permit an efficient lateral and radial displacement of the toner in combination with positively mixing newly supplied toner with stock toner so as to provide for an even image density.