Magnet Patents (Class 399/277)
  • Publication number: 20120003014
    Abstract: A two-component developing device using a developer containing toner and magnetic carrier particles. The developing device comprises a housing, a developing roller, a magnetic field generator mounted inside the developing roller, and a developer restricting member, and further comprises a developer guide member providing a developer guide path for guiding the developer to the developer amount restricting clearance, providing a developer circulation path for circulating the developer to an upstream end of the guide member, and providing a communication path for bringing the developer guide path into communication with the developer circulation path, an upstream end of the guide member being positioned above the position of a peak of magnetic flux density of the magnetic pole of the magnetic field generator which is closest to a low-magnetic force area downstream of the low-magnetic force area or positioned upstream of such a position and downstream of the low-magnetic force area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kanji NAKAYAMA, Masayasu Haga, Tomohisa Yoshida, Wataru Onoda, Yoshiyuki Iguchi, Noboru Ito
  • Patent number: 8086153
    Abstract: A developing apparatus usable with an image forming apparatus includes a developer carrier includes a plurality of magnetic poles and a case to rotatably support the developer carrier, the case storing developer is supplied to the developer carrier, and a magnetic pole changing apparatus disposed at an end of the developer carrier to change a position of the plurality of magnetic poles with respect to the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: SAMSUNG Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: In-cheol Jeon, Yong-baek Yoo
  • Publication number: 20110311267
    Abstract: Certain embodiments provide a developing device including: a case; a cylindrical sleeve having a development region on the outer circumferential surface and a pair of non-development regions respectively in regions at both ends in an axis direction on the outer circumferential surface; a magnet on the inside of the sleeve; plural grooves each formed between both the ends along the axis direction; a pair of magnetic sheet metals provided spaced apart from the sleeve; and a pair of magnetic seal members provided spaced apart from the sleeve. When average groove depth of the plural grooves in the development region is represented as P, thicknesses t of the magnetic sheet metals are substantially t?10×P (mm) and groove depths d of the plural grooves in the non-development regions of the sleeve are P/10?d?4P/5(mm).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicants: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA, KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Kei Onishi
  • Patent number: 8068771
    Abstract: A developing unit includes a developing hopper for storing a dual-component developer. In the developing hopper, an opening portion is formed at the position opposing the outer peripheral surface of a photoreceptor drum. A developing roller for supplying the developer to the photoreceptor drum to develop an electrostatic latent image is provided inside the developing hopper. The developing roller has a multi-pole magnetic member having a multiple magnetic poles and a non-magnetic sleeve. The multi-pole magnetic member has a multiple number of magnetic poles radially arranged apart from each other. The photoreceptor drum incorporates an opposing magnetic pole formed of a bar magnet having a rectangular section, disposed at a position opposing the magnetic pole across a photosensitive layer. The opposing magnetic pole has a polarity dissimilar to that of the main magnetic pole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuhsuke Yoshimoto
  • Publication number: 20110262190
    Abstract: A magnet roller includes a magnetic field generator being columnar, a support element being columnar, coaxially provided at both ends of the magnetic field generator, and whose diameter is smaller than that of the magnetic field generator, a level element extending along an axis of the magnetic field generator with a distance from the axis, the distance larger than the diameter of the support element, and a high magnetic power element being a main magnetic pole provided on the level element, extending long along the axis of the magnetic field generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2011
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi INNAMI, Kyohta Koetsuka, Yoshiyuki Takano, Noriyuki Kamiya, Masayuki Ohsawa, Takumi Terasaka
  • Publication number: 20110262174
    Abstract: A developing device includes: a developing roller that faces an image carrier at a development position; a housing that supports the developing roller, supplies a developer to the developing roller and includes an opening portion formed in a wall surface of the housing; and a pipe that communicates with the opening portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicants: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha, Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Eiji GUMBE
  • Patent number: 8045892
    Abstract: A developing unit used in an image forming apparatus with a latent image carrier includes a developer carrier, a supply compartment, a recovery compartment, a separation member, and a gap. The developer carrier facing the latent image carrier rotates while carrying two-component developer containing toner and carrier and supplies the toner to the latent image. The supply compartment includes a supply transport member to transport the developer in a first direction. The recovery compartment includes a recovery transport member to transport the developer in a second direction. The separation member includes one end portion facing the latent image carrier at a facing area. The separation member separates the supply compartment and the recovery compartment and is disposed above the recovery compartment behind the separation member. The gap is provided at the facing area. The gap has a width of not more than 1.4 millimeters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
    Inventors: Koichi Sakata, Satoru Yoshida
  • Patent number: 8023867
    Abstract: A magnet roller includes a cylindrical roller body including a side surface in which a groove is formed, a magnet body which is disposed in the groove, and a magnetic metal member which is attached to a surface of the magnet body, which is remote from an opening of the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Takano, Tsuyoshi Imamura, Kyohta Koetsuka, Noriyuki Kamiya, Masayuki Ohsawa, Hiroya Abe, Takashi Innami, Tadaaki Hattori, Mieko Terashima
  • Patent number: 8014706
    Abstract: A developing device is disclosed. The developing device includes a developing roller disposed to face an image carrier and a toner carrier capturing roller disposed to face the developing roller for capturing toner carriers adhered onto the image carrier. The developing roller generates a magnetic pole at a side facing the toner carrier capturing roller. A first virtual line, which connects a rotational center of the developing roller to a rotational center of the toner carrier capturing roller, passes through a region between a position where a magnetic flux density of the magnetic pole in the normal line direction is minimum on the developing roller at the upstream side in the rotational direction of the developing roller and a position where the magnetic flux density of the magnetic pole in the normal line direction is maximum on the developing roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayoshi Nakayama, Yoshitaka Fujinuma, Susumu Tateyama, Tatsuya Kubo
  • Patent number: 8014705
    Abstract: A developing device includes: a developer supporter that includes: a magnet member that has a plurality of magnetic poles; and a cylinder member; and a thickness regulation member wherein, of the plurality of the magnetic poles, a magnetic pole, which is placed at a position nearest to the thickness regulation member downstream in a rotation direction of the cylinder member from the thickness regulation member, has a maximum position of a normal magnetic flux density distribution, and the maximum position is placed outside the area of angle ? downstream in the rotation direction of the cylinder member from the thickness regulation member, and wherein the diameter of the cylinder member is D, the projection width is W in a case where the thickness regulation member is projected onto the surface of the cylinder member, and the angle ? is 180×W/(D×?).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takuji Matsumoto, Kiyoshi Sakoh, Toyohiko Awano
  • Patent number: 7995956
    Abstract: A developer system and method for an electrographic printer is provided that provides a variable rate of developer flow to the photoconductor drum of the printer. The system includes a magnetic brush having a magnetic core surrounded by a toning shell that rotatably conveys a layer of developer to the photoconductor element; a sump containing a reservoir of developer, and a variable speed conveyor roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Eric C. Stelter
  • Publication number: 20110170914
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for arranging the spacing of magnets in an electrostatogaphic printer to eliminate steaks due to the magnetic carrier that does not move uniformly across the photoconductor surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2010
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Inventors: Dennis J. Grabb, Kenneth J. Brown, Robert E. Zeman
  • Publication number: 20110150539
    Abstract: The development device includes a developer storage part storing a developer, a developer carrier having a carrying surface for carrying the developer and a first magnet, and receiving the developer from the developer storage part on the carrying surface while rotating in a predetermined direction, and supplying the developer to a predetermined image carrier, a magnetic member formed from a magnetic material, forming a predetermined regulatory gap with the carrying surface, and arranged opposite to the first magnet, a second magnet disposed more upstream than the magnetic member when viewed from the rotating direction of the developer carrier, and having a magnetic pole of the same polarity as the first magnet, and a deterioration suppressing part suppressing deterioration of the developer transported to the regulatory gap along with the rotation of the developer carrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: KYOCERA MITA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sayo Mabuchi, Minoru Wada, Seishi Ojima
  • Patent number: 7962073
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus having an image carrier for forming an electrostatic latent image and a developing unit for developing the electrostatic latent image with a two-component developing agent, the developing unit includes: a developing agent carrier for developing the electrostatic latent image to form a visible image, having inside thereof a development main magnetic pole for forming a bristle of a magnetic brush; and a plurality of magnetic poles for conveying the developing agent, wherein the developing unit performs a counter type contact developing method, and wherein, a development area is formed so that, a contact width of the bristle of the magnetic brush is 70% or less with respect to a development width, and a center position of the contact width is positioned on an upstream side with respect to a center position of the development width in a rotation direction of the image carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Kobayashi, Yutaka Miyasaka, Nobuyasu Tamura
  • Patent number: 7953353
    Abstract: A developing device includes a magnet roll magnetized with plural magnetic poles including a main magnetic pole, a sleeve in a cylindrical shape which is arranged so as to be opposed to an image holding body, and a supporting frame that stably supports the magnet roll in a manner of restraining the magnet roll from rotating in the tangential direction, and supports the sleeve so as to rotate in the tangential direction around the magnet roll. The magnet roll is so arranged that the main magnetic pole is opposed to the image holding body, and a point on the peripheral face where magnetic flux density of the main magnetic pole in the tangential direction at a position along the peripheral face of the magnet roll is zero is set at a position predetermined with respect to a position where the magnet roll comes most closely to the image holding body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobumasa Furuya, Toshio Hino
  • Publication number: 20110123234
    Abstract: A developing system includes a first developer carrier to carry and supply two-component developer including toner and carrier to a latent image formed on an image bearer. A first magnetic field generator having plural first magnetic poles is rotatably installed in the first developer carrier and causes the two-component developer to put forth ears and conveys the two-component developer on the developer carrier. A cross-sectional center of the first magnetic field generator is deviated from that of the first developer carrier toward the image bearer by a prescribed length. A developer peel-off device including a second magnetic field generator is provided in the vicinity of the surface of the first developer carrier to peel off the developer not supplied to the image bearer and remaining on the surface of the first developer carrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Inventor: Junichi TERAI
  • Patent number: 7941081
    Abstract: A developing unit for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the outer peripheral surface of a latent image bearer rotating in one direction utilizes an electrified developer that is prepared by mixing two components, or an electrostatically chargeable toner and magnetic carrier. The developing unit includes a developing roller for supplying the developer to the latent image bearer and a carrier collecting roller disposed on the downstream side of the developing roller with respect to the rotational direction of the latent image bearer. The carrier collecting roller includes first and second magnetic pole elements of different magnetic polarities, both presenting a magnetic field intensity of 400 G to 750 G. The first magnetic pole element is disposed at a position on the opposite side across the center of the carrier collecting roller from the position opposing the latent image bearer. The second magnetic pole element is disposed at a position opposing the developing roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masahiro Sakai
  • Patent number: 7929888
    Abstract: A developing unit which forms an image on a photosensitive medium, includes a housing which accommodates a developer, a magnetic cylinder having a catch pole which picks up the developer in the housing by a magnetic force, and a main pole which couples a carrier among the picked-up developer, a sleeve rotatably installed on a circumference of the magnetic cylinder to form a magnetic brush having a predetermined width on the circumference by the developer picked up by the catch pole, and a sealing member provided at opposite end parts in an axial direction of the sleeve to prevent a leak of the developer, wherein a width Ws of the sleeve, a magnetized width WM of the main pole, a magnetized width Wc of the catch pole, and a width WB of the magnetic brush satisfy WS>WM>WB>WC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: SAMSUNG Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kyu-cheol Shin
  • Patent number: 7917067
    Abstract: A magnetic field generating member with high stiffness and small size, an image development device, a process cartridge and an image forming apparatus including the magnetic field generating member as well as a manufacturing method of the magnetic field generating member are provided where the magnetic field generating member includes a main body, a groove provided in the main body, an interposition member configured to be fitted in the groove of the main body and including a concave portion and a magnetic member as a long magnetic compact fixed into the concave portion of the interposition member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Takano, Kyohta Koetsuka, Noriyuki Kamiya, Masayuki Ohsawa, Mieko Terashima, Rei Suzuki, Hiroya Abe, Takashi Innami, Tadaaki Hattori
  • Patent number: 7907876
    Abstract: A developer carrier includes a magnetic field generating device provided with a plurality of magnetic poles including an agent separating pole and a scooping pole, and a cylindrical hollow body accommodating therein the magnetic field generating device and rotated around an axis of the cylindrical hollow body. A half-value width of a magnetic flux density at both end portions of at least one magnetic pole of the agent separating pole and the scooping pole is formed to be identical to or narrower than a half-value width of the magnetic flux density at a central portion of the one magnetic pole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayuki Ohsawa, Tadaaki Hattori, Kyohta Koetsuka, Yoshiyuki Takano, Noriyuki Kamiya, Rei Suzuki, Hiroya Abe, Takashi Innami
  • Publication number: 20110058858
    Abstract: There is provided a separation member for separating a first conveying path formed by a first conveying member from a second conveying path formed by a second conveying member. There is also provided an opposed member facing a magnetic pole H4 at an upstream side of two magnetic poles H4 and H6 that forms a developer-releasing magnetic pole H5.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Fukuda, Katsumi Masuda, Nobuyuki Taguchi, Yuuki Satoh, Yasufumi Takahashi, Keiichi Yoshida, Yoshio Hattori, Akira Azami, Takamasa Ozeki, Toshiki Hayashi
  • Patent number: 7904009
    Abstract: The development device of this invention includes a developer bearing member, a magnet, and a developer regulation member. The magnet is fixedly disposed within the interior of the developer bearing member. The developer regulation member includes at least a magnetic member. And the thickness of this magnetic member along the rotational direction of the developer bearing member is between 0.2 mm and 0.4 mm inclusive. Moreover, if the distance over the developer bearing member, from the position thereupon which the center of the magnetic member along the rotational direction opposes, to the position thereupon at which the magnetism of that magnetic pole which is disposed closest to that position is a maximum, is termed L (mm), and the diameter of the developer bearing member is termed D (mm), then the magnetic member is disposed within the range in which the relationship 0?L/D?0.044 holds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Maezawa, Toyoka Aimoto, Tomohiro Maeda
  • Publication number: 20110044729
    Abstract: A method for reducing high-frequency banding in an electrophotographic development station having a rotating shell and a rotating magnetic core is disclosed. A rotating angular velocity of the rotating shell is adjusted relative to a angular velocity of a photoconductor such that a ratio of these angular velocities is not a ratio of whole numbers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2009
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Inventor: Eric C. Stelter
  • Publication number: 20110044730
    Abstract: A developing device and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus are disclosed. The developing device includes a ferromagnetic member arranged to cover at least partially the outer circumferences of two repulsive magnets of a developing roller so as to form a separating portion from which the developing agent remaining residual on the developing roller is released.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ki-Hwan KWON, Soon-Cheol Kweon
  • Patent number: 7890030
    Abstract: A magnetic roller includes a cylindrical magnetic field generation part (140), a cylindrical support part (143) that contacts both of the edges of the magnetic field generation part (140), further has a smaller diameter than the magnetic field generation part (140), and which is installed upon a common axis thereof as an axis of the cylindrical support part (143), and a depression part (140c) that is installed upon an obverse surface of the cylindrical magnetic field generation part (140), extends in a direction of the axis of the magnetic field generation part (140), and wherein a lengthwise magnet formation is inserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Innami, Kyohta Koetsuka, Yoshiyuki Takano, Tadaaki Hattori, Noriyuki Kamiya, Masayuki Ohsawa, Mieko Terashima, Rei Suzuki, Hiroya Abe
  • Publication number: 20110026976
    Abstract: A method for forming an electrographic image includes providing an imaging member having an electrostatic image and a toning shell adjacent to the imaging member to take into account the slippage as a result of toner particles that are approximately spherical.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Inventors: Eric C. Stelter, Joseph E. Guth
  • Publication number: 20110013933
    Abstract: A process cartridge that is provided with an image bearing member and a development device and is detachably attached to an apparatus body includes a developer carrying member that carries a developer, a magnetic member housed inside, an interval defining member that defines an interval between the surface of the developer carrying member and the surface of the image bearing member, and a support member that can support the magnetic member at a first position, at which a developing operation is performed, and a second position, at which a nearest distance between the surface of the developer carrying member and the surface of the magnetic member is greater than that at the first position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2010
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kensuke Sato
  • Patent number: 7853186
    Abstract: A developing apparatus in which a first magnet of a first developing sleeve includes a first magnetic pole near a potion opposing to an image bearing member, and a second magnetic pole being downstream of the first magnetic pole; and a second magnet of a second developing sleeve includes a third magnetic pole near a portion opposing to the first sleeve. Assuming that a magnetic force obtained by combining normal direction forces Fr1 and Fr2 of magnetic forces generated by the first and second magnets, respectively, near the first sleeve is Fr, a center direction component of the first sleeve of the force Fr becomes positive between the first magnetic pole and a peak value position of the second magnetic pole, and a center direction component of the force Fr becomes negative between the peak value position and the closest position between both sleeves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazukiyo Akashi, Tomoyuki Sakamaki
  • Patent number: 7848686
    Abstract: A developing device uses a two-component developer including at least carriers and toners. The toners are supplied to an image bearing member bearing an electrostatic latent image so that a toner image is developed from the electrostatic latent image. The developing device has a developing roller arranged to oppose the image bearing member; and a magnetic roller arranged to oppose the developing roller. The magnetic roller retains the two-component developer to supply toners to the developing roller. The developing roller and the magnetic roller are rotationally driven in directions to be opposite from one another at an opposed position, and a magnetic pole of the magnetic roller and a magnetic pole of the developing roller have magnetic polarities different from one another at the opposed position. A surface roughness of the magnetic roller is greater than a surface roughness of the developing roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventors: Toyotsune Inoue, Takahisa Nakaue, Akihiro Watanabe, Masashi Fujishima, Shoichi Sakata, Yukihiro Mori
  • Publication number: 20100290820
    Abstract: Provided is a development device and an image forming apparatus both using a hybrid development method and capable of forming high quality images without occurrence of development hysteresis (ghost). The nip portion of the toner carrier and the developer carrier is configured as follows: the rotating direction of a toner carrier and a developer carrier are in counter directions; a magnetic pole facing the toner carrier is positioned on the upstream side in the developer carrier rotating direction; and a counter charge generated by the toner supply reaches a toner recovering portion without being considerably attenuated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2010
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Inventors: Takeshi MAEYAMA, Toshiya NATSUHARA, Junya HIRAYAMA, Shigeo UETAKE, Makiko WATANABE
  • Patent number: 7813680
    Abstract: To downsize a developing device in the developing carrier axial direction without generating image concentration irregularities from recirculation of developer in the magnetic roller end regions, an N2 pole and an N3 pole, which are mutually adjacent having the same polarity (N polarity), and which are for generating a magnetic force for removing from a developing sleeve a developer that has passed through a developing region, are provided on a magnetic roller. Magnets of this developing device, which are for generating a magnetic field to displace to the inside in the axial direction magnetic force lines that cause peeling force in the direction of separation from the developing sleeve to act on developer on the developing sleeve, based on the magnetic force of the N2 pole and the N3 pole, and that pass through the axial direction end regions within a developer separation region on the developing sleeve, are provided on the outside of the magnetic roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsumi Masuda, Yoshio Hattori, Hiroyuki Uenishi, Yuji Suzuki, Takamasa Ozeki
  • Publication number: 20100247165
    Abstract: A developing device includes a magnet roll magnetized with plural magnetic poles including a main magnetic pole, a sleeve in a cylindrical shape which is arranged so as to be opposed to an image holding body, and a supporting frame that stably supports the magnet roll in a manner of restraining the magnet roll from rotating in the tangential direction, and supports the sleeve so as to rotate in the tangential direction around the magnet roll. The magnet roll is so arranged that the main magnetic pole is opposed to the image holding body, and a point on the peripheral face where magnetic flux density of the main magnetic pole in the tangential direction at a position along the peripheral face of the magnet roll is zero is set at a position predetermined with respect to a position where the magnet roll comes most closely to the image holding body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Inventors: Nobumasa FURUYA, Toshio HINO
  • Patent number: 7792472
    Abstract: A developing apparatus using a two-component developer constituted by a magnetic carrier and a toner, and an image forming apparatus comprising the developing apparatus. A developing unit and a stirring unit are provided, and in order to suppress toner scattering that may occur after a development operation has been halted for a long time, and thereby suppress contamination of the apparatus interior, the developer in a developing machine is transferred to a stirrer serving as a developer storage unit on the exterior of the developing machine when the development operation ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Ichikawa, Junichi Matsumoto, Nobuo Iwata, Natsumi Katoh
  • Patent number: 7792473
    Abstract: A development apparatus that performs development by forming a magnetic brush using a two-component developer is provided with a developer tank that stores developer; a developer bearing member provided with a development sleeve that carries the developer stored in the developer tank on the outer circumferential face and transports the developer to a development area where the electrostatic latent image on the image bearing carrier is developed, the development sleeve being provided with at least a main pole magnet in which a main pole is formed that faces the development area, and an interpole magnet in which an interpole is formed adjacent to the main pole on the downstream side in a developer transport direction; and a carrier recovery means in which a pushing/bending magnetic pole of the same polarity as the interpole is formed such that magnetic force lines of the interpole in the developer bearing member are pushed/bent to the inside of the developer tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masahiro Sakai
  • Patent number: 7787807
    Abstract: A developing unit includes a development roller and a magnetic roller. Sleeves of the development roller and the magnetic roller are driven to rotate in the same circumferential direction. A first magnet is provided on the roller shaft in the sleeve of the development roller and a second magnet is provided on the roller shaft in the sleeve of the magnetic roller. The first and second magnets are opposed to each other so that opposite polarities face each other, and are supported non-rotatably in circumferential directions. The first magnet is supported so that the peak of the magnetic force of the first magnet is positioned upstream in the direction of rotation of the sleeve of the development roller from the straight line connecting the center of the roller shaft of the development roller to the center of the roller shaft of the magnetic roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventors: Takahisa Nakaue, Shoichi Sakata
  • Publication number: 20100202805
    Abstract: A development device includes a developer containing part containing two-component developer, a cylindrical developer carrier to carry by rotation the developer to a development range, a first developer transport member disposed in the developer containing part, to supply the developer to the developer carrier while transporting the developer in an axial direction of the developer carrier, and a magnetic field generator disposed inside the developer carrier, having three developer-carrying magnetic poles, consisting of a development pole to generate a first magnetic field in the development range, a pre-development pole to generate a second magnetic field to transport the developer supplied from the developer containing part to the development range, and a post-development pole to generate a third magnetic field disposed between the first magnetic field and the second magnetic field, to transport the developer to a release position where the developer is separated from the developer carrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2010
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Inventors: Yasuo MIYOSHI, Norio Kudo, Yoshihiro Fujiwara, Tsukuru Kai, Hiroshi Hosokawa, Hiroaki Okamoto
  • Patent number: 7769327
    Abstract: A developing device includes a developing roller and a blade. The developing roller includes: a developing sleeve which rotates while holding two-component developer composed of toner and magnetic carrier on the outer surface having a plurality of grooves extending in parallel to an axis of the rotation; and a magnetic member, provided inside the developing sleeve in such a manner as to be unrotatable, for attracting the two-component developer onto the outer surface of the developing sleeve. The blade is provided outside the rotating sleeve with a gap from the outer surface of the developing sleeve for scraping off a part of the two-component developer on the outer surface of the developing sleeve. Also, the magnetic member includes a magnet for controlling magnetic flux density in the gap to range from 70 mT to 150 mT. This allows preventing image degradation caused by generation of development memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kiyofumi Morimoto, Kohichi Takenouchi, Mitsuru Tokuyama, Hiroo Naoi, Kazuma Hinoue
  • Publication number: 20100178082
    Abstract: Object: To prevent trailing and leading to enable excellent development with a simple constitution. Solving Means: A maximum value F0 of a magnetic attractive force near a main magnetic pole S1 of magnetic poles formed by a magnetic field generating unit 3 of a developing apparatus 1 is positioned on a downstream side in a rotating direction of a developer carrier 2 beyond a peak position of a magnetic flux density in a normal line direction of the main magnetic pole S1, for example on the downstream side in the rotating direction of the developer carrier by at least 8° or more from the peak position of the magnetic flux density in the normal line direction of the main magnetic pole S1, and a half-value width of the maximum value F0 of the magnetic attractive force has a narrow and peaked distribution of, for example, 54° or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2005
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Inventor: Hiromitsu Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20100104329
    Abstract: Regarding a magnetic carrier of the present invention, a surface of a magnetic core material is coated with a coating layer containing electrically conductive particles and a charge control agent composed of same components as components of a charge control agent contained in a electrophotographic toner. Further, the magnetic carrier exhibits an electric resistance value of 8.22×107 ?cm to 1.12×1010 ?cm in an electric field of 4×103 V/cm. This allows the magnetic carrier to stay capable of charging the electrophotographic toner even over a long period of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2008
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Yoshioka, Tadashi Iwamatsu, Yoshinori Mutuo, Hiroyuki Hirakawa, Takashi Hara, Takanori Kamoto
  • Publication number: 20100098463
    Abstract: A developing device has: a developer housing chamber in which developer is housed; a developer holding member holding developer by magnetic force; a partitioning wall having an overlapping region that, in a transparent plan view, is positioned upward of the developer holding member and overlaps the developer holding member in an up/down direction; and an opening portion formed in the overlapping region of the partitioning wall. The partitioning wall is a portion of a separating wall of the developer housing chamber, and is provided between the developer housing chamber and the developer holding member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Inventors: Takuji Matsumoto, Kiyoshi Nagamine
  • Patent number: 7693465
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus and process cartridge which uses a two-component developer comprising a toner and a carrier. By using toner and carrier having a small-particle size, deterioration of the toner fluidity over time can be avoided, and further by maintaining stable toner charge even in a low-humidity environment, stable high-quality image formation can be achieved. The occurrence of adherence of carrier to the solid portions of the toner image is reduced in addition to the occurrence of adherence of carrier to the edge portions, and image abnormalities, toner scattering and the like are prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Akira Azami
  • Publication number: 20100067959
    Abstract: A developer carrier includes a magnetic field generating device provided with a plurality of magnetic poles including an agent separating pole and a scooping pole, and a cylindrical hollow body accommodating therein the magnetic field generating device and rotated around an axis of the cylindrical hollow body. A half-value width of a magnetic flux density at both end portions of at least one magnetic pole of the agent separating pole and the scooping pole is formed to be identical to or narrower than a half-value width of the magnetic flux density at a central portion of the one magnetic pole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2009
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Inventors: Masayuki Ohsawa, Tadaaki Hattori, Kyohta Koetsuka, Yoshiyuki Takano, Noriyuki Kamiya, Rei Suzuki, Hiroya Abe, Takashi Innami
  • Patent number: 7664440
    Abstract: A developing device and an image forming apparatus capable of restraining density irregularity and restraining a decline in image quality caused by adherence of carrier to a photoreceptor, are provided. An angle ? is in a range of no less than 45 degrees nor more than 57 degrees, which is formed between a plane comprising a central line of magnetic pole formed by a regulating pole in a magnet roller and a rotating central axis of a developing sleeve and a plane comprising a central line of magnetic pole formed by a pumping pole and a rotating central axis of the developing sleeve. Further, an absolute value of the maximum value of strength of the magnetic pole formed by a main pole is in a range of no less than 120 mT nor more than 140 mT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Maezawa, Toshimasa Hamada
  • Patent number: 7653336
    Abstract: A developing apparatus in which a first magnet of a first developing sleeve includes a first magnetic pole near a potion opposing to an image bearing member, and a second magnetic pole being downstream of the first magnetic pole; and a second magnet of a second developing sleeve includes a third magnetic pole near a portion opposing to the first sleeve. Assuming that a magnetic force obtained by combining normal direction forces Fr1 and Fr2 of magnetic forces generated by the first and second magnets, respectively, near the first sleeve is Fr, a center direction component of the first sleeve of the force Fr becomes positive between the first magnetic pole and a peak value position of the second magnetic pole, and a center direction component of the force Fr becomes negative between the peak value position and the closest position between both sleeves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazukiyo Akashi, Tomoyuki Sakamaki
  • Publication number: 20100008702
    Abstract: A developing unit to develop an image on an image support body and an image forming apparatus employing the same. The developing unit includes a housing to contain a developer having a toner and a carrier, a magnetic cylinder including a catch pole to pick up the developer in the housing and a main pole arranged to face the image support body and to hold the carrier of the developer, a sleeve installed to rotate on the magnetic cylinder and on which a developer layer is formed, a thickness regulating member to regulate a thickness of the developer layer, and a width regulating member to regulate a width of the developer layer on the sleeve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2009
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Jong-hyun Park
  • Patent number: 7647001
    Abstract: A developing device is disclosed which includes a fixed magnet roller 25 having a plurality of magnetic poles, a development roller 27 having a development sleeve 26 that is supported axially with the ability to rotate freely, and a magnetic sealing member 29 arranged at the end of the longitudinal direction X of the development sleeve 26. Further, the length of each of the plurality of magnetic poles not facing the magnetic sealing member 29 (in other words, the development pole SI, lead-in pole N1, and blade pole N3) of the fixed magnet roller 25 are shorter than the length of each of the plurality of magnetic poles facing the magnetic sealing member 29. Accordingly, the magnetic toner retained on the peripheral surface of the development sleeve 26 is guided to the development area side in the longitudinal direction X of the development sleeve 26.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventors: Asami Kotera, Eiji Nimura
  • Publication number: 20090311011
    Abstract: The present invention provides a developing device which is capable of suppressing the generation of a fogging phenomenon and deposition of carrier particles to an electrostatic latent image carrier and developing the electrostatic latent image efficiently, the device comprising a development sleeve and a magnet body onto which the sleeve is fitted, and using a two-component developer. An angular position which indicates the peak value of the magnetic flux density in the normal direction produced by a development pole of the magnet body is shifted downstream from the center position of the development pole in the direction of movement of the surface of a photosensitive member in a development region. The present invention also provides an image forming apparatus which can form high-quality images with reduced noise such as fogging by mounting the developing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2009
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES,INC.
    Inventors: Toru HAYASE, Yuusuke Okuno, Shigeki Yamamoto, Kuniya Matsuura, Hiroshi Murasaki
  • Publication number: 20090290913
    Abstract: Described is a developing roller, which makes it possible to appropriately peel developer off the developing roller, even if the developing roller is a small-sized. The developing roller includes a non-magnetic developing sleeve and a magnetic member installed into an inner space of the developing sleeve and having plural magnetic poles including a peeling magnetic pole. When a reference position is defined as such a position that exhibits a maximum value of magnetic flux density to be generated in a normal direction by the peeling magnetic pole, a magnetic-flux density flat region within which the magnetic flux density is kept at substantially a constant value being closely approximate to the maximum value of the magnetic flux density and the reference position is included, exists while fulfilling an Equation indicated as follow: Z?7° where numeral Z indicates an angle of the developing roller in the magnetic-flux density flat region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2009
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Applicant: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Seiko ITAGAKI, Hiroshi AKITA
  • Patent number: 7620352
    Abstract: A developing device comprises: a case having a developing opening; a cylindrical-shaped developer carry member disposed exposed in part to the developing opening, and rotatable for holding and carrying a developer; and a magnet member disposed fixed within the developer carry member and comprising two or more magnetic poles including a developing magnetic pole and a developer peel-off magnetic pole. In such portion of the case that not only is opposed to the outer peripheral surface of the developer carry member after it passes through the developing area but also corresponds to an area which extends from the developing magnetic pole in the rotation direction up to the developer peel-off magnetic pole and provides a normal direction magnetic flux density of 20 mT or less, a projecting portion where a clearance between its opposed portion and the outer peripheral surface of the developer carry member becomes narrowest is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ichiro Kawahara, Takafumi Wakai
  • Publication number: 20090274489
    Abstract: A developing apparatus usable with an image forming apparatus includes a developer carrier includes a plurality of magnetic poles and a case to rotatably support the developer carrier, the case storing developer is supplied to the developer carrier, and a magnetic pole changing apparatus disposed at an end of the developer carrier to change a position of the plurality of magnetic poles with respect to the case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: In-cheol Jeon, Yong-baek Yoo