Abstract: A development device includes a developer carrier, a restriction member to control a layer thickness of the developer on the developer carrier, first and second developer supply members being in contact with the developer carrier. Each of the developer supply members is configured to rotate at a speed having a constant ratio to a rotation speed of the developer carrier. The second developer supply member and the restriction member are arranged in this order downstream of the first developer supply member in a rotating direction of the developer carrier. A peripheral speed (a speed of the outer peripheral surface) of the second developer supply member is set to be slower than that of the first developer supply member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes photosensitive drums, electrostatic latent image forming units, developing sleeves, patch detection sensors which detect image densities of the toner images formed by the electrostatic latent image forming units, and toner replenishment units which replenish the developing sleeves with the toner based on the detection results of the patch detection sensors. Further, controllers are provided to control the rotation speeds of the developing sleeves at the time of forming the reference toner image to be higher than the rotation speeds of the developing sleeves at the time of forming a normal image.

Abstract: A developing device is provided that facilitates developing agent delivery upward. A cartridge includes a developing roller, a supply roller, and a container disposed below the supply roller. The container can have an upper portion formed with an opening having upper and lower edges. A conveying member can be rotatably disposed and in rotational contact with an inner surface of the container for delivering the developing agent upward. The developing agent container can include a first wall portion for receiving the developing agent through the opening. The first wall portion extends from the lower edge in a downstream direction with respect to a rotational direction of the conveying member toward a bottommost portion of the supply roller. The container also includes a second wall portion extending from the upper edge in an upstream direction. The conveying member can be in simultaneous sliding contact with the first and the second wall portions.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming device in which the cost needed for a roller member as a whole can be reduced, as well as a manufacturing process of the roller member can be simplified, and a method of manufacturing the roller member. Provided is an image forming device comprising, on the outer periphery of a shaft, at least two types of rollers each having an elastic layer composed of polyurethane foam of the same composition, in which the at least two types of rollers are selected from the group consisting of a toner feed roller, a transfer roller and a cleaning roller. At least one of the at least two types of rollers is preferably subjected to a heat pressing process.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus that is provided with a developing unit to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrier as a toner image, the developing unit is provided with a developer reservoir that is disposed between a supplying roller to feed developer agitated by an agitating member into the developer reservoir and a developing roller to cause the developer in the developer reservoir to adhere onto the latent image on the image carrier so as to be developed as the toner image. A control section controls driving of the supplying roller, independently from driving of the agitating member.

Abstract: A development device includes: a developer carrier that is positioned to oppose an electrostatic latent image carrier and that supplies a developer to the electrostatic latent image carrier; a developer supply member that is positioned to oppose the developer carrier and that supplies the developer to the developer carrier; a developer charging member that is positioned to oppose the developer supply member and that charges the developer.

Abstract: The developing unit includes a developing section, a developer container, and a partition wall. The developing section includes a developer-bearing member, a supplying member, and a conveying member. The developer container is positioned adjacent to the developing section and configured to contain the developer. The partition wall is positioned adjacent to the conveying member and configured to separate the developing section and the developer container. The partition wall has a supply port, and a return port. A downstream end of the conveying member in a developer conveying direction is extended axially outward with respect to the supplying member. The return port faces the downstream end of the conveying member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developer tank which houses two-component developer containing toner and carrier, and a supply unit which supplies the developer tank with supply developer containing toner and carrier, wherein, when the ratio of mass of inorganic fine particles attached to the carrier contained in the two-component developer to mass of the carrier contained in the two-component developer is A, and when the ratio of mass of inorganic fine particles attached to the carrier contained in the supply developer to mass of the carrier contained in the supply developer is B, the following Formula (1) is satisfied: 0.7<B/A<0.96??(1).

Abstract: A developer supply device includes a developer-carrying body having a developer-carrying surface that faces an intended device in a first position and moves in a moving direction, a first transfer board that faces the developer-carrying surface in a second position upstream relative to the first position in the moving direction and transfers the developer to the second position in a direction opposite to the moving direction in the second position, an electrification member facing the developer-carrying surface in a third position downstream relative to the second position and upstream relative to the first position in the moving direction, and a second transfer board that faces the developer-carrying surface in a fourth position downstream relative to the first position and upstream relative to the second position in the moving direction and transfers the developer to a developer storage section in a direction identical to the moving direction in the fourth position.

Abstract: An image formation unit includes an image carrier, a developer carrier configured to supply developer to the image carrier to form a developer image on the image carrier, first and second developer supply members configured to supply the developer to the developer carrier, a first developer container room configured to contain therein the developer and accommodating therein the first developer supply member, and a second developer container room configured to contain therein the developer and accommodating therein the second developer supply member.

Abstract: A developing device that is provided in an image forming device that forms an image includes an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed; a developer carrier that is configured to form a developer image on a surface of the image carrier by attaching developer on the electrostatic latent image; and a contact member that is configured to contact the developer carrier. The contact member contacts the developer carrier and exerts a contact pressure per unit area thereon, the contact pressure per unit area being based on charging characteristics of the developer being used.

Abstract: A developer supply device is provided, which includes a developer retrieving member disposed to face a developer holding surface of a developer holding member across a predetermined distance in a position downstream relative to a developer supply position where the developer holding member faces an intended device to be supplied with development agent in a direction perpendicular to a main scanning direction parallel to an axial direction of the developer holding member. The developer retrieving member is driven to rotate around an axis parallel to the main scanning direction and configured to retrieve the development agent from the developer holding surface under a retrieving electric field that is generated when a retrieving voltage is applied between the developer retrieving member and the developer holding member.

Abstract: A roller according to one example embodiment includes a rotatable shaft and a plurality of strips wrapped around the shaft in an alternating relationship. The strips differ from each other in at least one of material, height and width. In one embodiment, the strips are spirally wrapped around the shaft. Each strip may be formed, for example, from a foam material, a felt material or a brush material.

Abstract: A cartridge includes a developing roller, supply roller, input rotary body, developing roller rotary body, and supply roller rotary body. The developing roller/supply roller rotary bodies transmit the drive force inputted from the input rotary body to the developing roller/supply roller, respectively. The developing roller rotary body includes first and second drive input parts having different diameters. The input rotary body includes first and second drive output parts engaged with the first and second drive input part, respectively and having different diameters. The first drive output part is movable between a first position and second position. The first drive input part and the first drive output part are engaged when the first drive output part is in the first position. The second drive input part and the second drive output part are engaged when the first drive output part is in the second position.

Abstract: A developer supplying member is provided for supplying developer to a developer supporting member. The developer supplying member includes a foamed member having a discrete foam cell structure and being formed of a silicone rubber as a main component thereof. The foamed member constitutes a surface of the developer supplying member. The foamed member includes a foam cell wall dividing foam cells thereof and being exposed on the surface of the developer supplying member. The foam cell wall has a ten-point average surface roughness between 45.2 ?m and 65.3 ?m.

Abstract: A developer supply device is provided, which includes a casing including a developer storage section at a bottom portion therein and an opening formed at an end thereof away from the developer storage section, development agent chargeable with a predetermined polarity, stored in the developer storage section, and a transfer board that is disposed in the casing and configured to transfer the development agent stored in the developer storage section when a multi-phase alternating-current voltage is applied to transfer electrodes of the transfer board. The development agent includes a mother particle having, around an outer surface thereof, an electrically insulating layer without a polar group having a charge polarity identical to the predetermined polarity, and an external additive, absorbed to around the mother particle in an easily desorbable manner, which is an electrically insulating fine particle having a charge polarity identical to the predetermined polarity.

Abstract: A developer supply device including a developer carrying body, extending in a width direction, configured to carry developer and a casing including an wall, extending in the width direction, disposed between a first room on which the developer carrying body is disposed and a second room configured to store the developer is provided. The first room and the second room communicate each other through an opening formed above the wall. The wall includes end portions having a first height and a central portion. The central portion is disposed between the end portions and has a second height which is higher than the first height.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a toner supply member which is in contact with the toner carrier and is provided within the container, has a foam layer on its surface, rotates in a predetermined direction for image formation and supplies the toner to the toner carrier and has a contact area with the toner carrier with an uppermost stream position in the predetermined direction of the contact area being higher than a lowermost stream position and has a period when the toner supply member rotates in the opposite direction of the predetermined direction to increase the toner amount contained in the foam layer.

Abstract: A developing device includes a static latent image supporting member having a photosensitive layer and being arranged to be rotatable; a developer supporting member arranged to be rotatable for developing a static latent image formed on the static latent image supporting member using developer to form an image; a developer supplying member arranged to contact with the developer supporting member and be rotatable for supplying developer; and a drive transmission unit disposed on a side of same end portions of the developer supporting member and the developer supplying member for rotating the developer supporting member and the developer supplying member in a same rotational direction. The developer supplying member is formed so that an outer diameter thereof on a side of the drive transmission unit becomes smaller than an outer diameter thereof on an opposite side.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer supplying member for supplying developer; and a developer supporting member for supplying the developer supplied from the developer supplying member onto a static latent image supporting member. The developer supplying member includes an outer circumferential portion having an electrical resistivity between 1.2×104 and 1.0×108?.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developing chamber, a developer containing chamber located on the lower side of the developing chamber, a partition wall configured to separate the developing chamber and the developer containing chamber, an opening configured to allow the developing chamber and the developer containing chamber to communicate with each other, disposed on the partition wall, a developer conveyance member configured to convey developer from the developer containing chamber to the developing chamber by causing the developer to pass through the opening, disposed on the developer containing chamber. In the developing device, a convex portion which protrudes to the developing chamber side is disposed on the partition wall.

Abstract: A developing roller configured to develop an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive drum, a supply roller configured to supply developer to the developing roller are provided, and the surface of the developing roller moves in the same direction as the surface of the photosensitive drum and at a speed higher than the photosensitive drum at a nip portion between the photosensitive drum and the developing roller, the surface of the supply roller moves in the same direction as the surface of the developing roller and at a speed higher than the developing roller at a nip portion between the developing roller and the supply roller.

Abstract: In a development device in which a developer containing unit underlies a development chamber, a supplying member in the development chamber forms a nip portion with a developer carrier and the developer carrier and the supplying member rotate in the direction in which their respective surfaces move from an upper end to a lower end of the nip portion.

Abstract: A developing device including a containing unit configured to be arranged below a supply member and contain a developer and a developer bearing member configured to bear the developer and develop an electrostatic latent image, further includes a supply member which is configured to supply the developer to the developer bearing member, to be arranged to form a nip portion between the supply member and the developer bearing member, and to rotate in a direction in which its surface moves from an upper end to a lower end of the nip portion, and a conveyance member which is configured to convey the developer contained in the containing unit onto the supply member.

Abstract: A developing device is provided that facilitates developing agent delivery upward. A cartridge includes a developing roller, a supply roller, and a container disposed below the supply roller. The container can have an upper portion formed with an opening having upper and lower edges. A conveying member can be rotatably disposed in and in rotational contact with an inner surface of the container for delivering the developing agent upward. The developing agent container can include a first wall portion for receiving developing agent through the opening. The first wall portion extends from the lower edge in a downstream direction with respect to a rotational direction of the conveying member toward a bottommost portion of the supply roller. The container also includes a second wall portion extending from the upper edge in an upstream direction. The conveying member can be in simultaneous sliding contact with the first and second wall portions.

Abstract: A developer carrying device includes a first developer containing part configured to contain developer, a first rotational member arranged in the first developer containing part, a second developer containing part arranged side by side with the first developer containing part, a second rotational member arranged in the second developer containing part, an opening part formed between the first developer containing part and the second developer containing part, and a restriction part arranged between the first rotational member and the second rotational member.

Abstract: There is provided a developing unit, including: a body defining a developing chamber and a developer accommodating chamber, and a developer delivery member. The body includes a sliding portion, a restoring portion and a colliding portion at the developer accommodating chamber. The developer delivery member includes an elastic member configured to be made a sliding contact with the sliding portion while being curved elastically, configured to be restored elastically at the restoring portion, and configured to collide with the colliding portion. The developer delivery member is configured so that, the elastic member which has been elastically restored at the restoring portion is collided with the colliding portion to generate an air flow and to deliver the developer in the developer accommodating chamber toward the connection port.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer accommodating chamber containing a developer; a developer carrying member for carrying the developer to develop an electrostatic image; a feeding belt for feeding the developer toward the developer carrying member by rotation of the driving roller in a stretched state in which the feeding belt is stretched by a driving roller and a follower roller; and a switching mechanism for switching the feeding belt from a loosened state in which the feeding belt is looser than in the stretched state to the stretched state.

Abstract: A developer supply device is provided that includes an electric-field transfer board having transfer electrodes arranged along a developer transfer path so as to transfer development agent from a developer storage section along the developer transfer path when a multi-phase alternating-current voltage is applied to the transfer electrodes, a brush roller disposed to face an intended device in a developer supplying position and face the electric-field transfer board in a developer carrying position so as to receive the development agent from the electric-field transfer board and supply the received development agent to the intended device, and a regulating member disposed to contact the brush roller in a position between the developer carrying position and the developer supplying position so as to regulate an amount of the development agent on the brush roller.

Abstract: A development device to develop a latent image using developer having a degree of agglomeration of 54% or greater includes a developer bearer to carry developer thereon, and a developer supply member to contact the developer bearer to supply developer to a surface of the developer bearer. The developer supply member is disposed to satisfy at least one of two conditions: a biting amount of the developer supply member relative to the developer bearer is 0.7 mm or greater; and a contact pressure of the developer supply member against the developer bearer is 30 N/m or greater.

Abstract: A developer supply device is provided, which includes a transfer board including an activating section and an always-transferring section. The activating section is disposed in a position close to a developer holding member and lower than a position where development agent is transferred onto the developer holding member. The activating section is supplied with an activating voltage for making the development agent leave a developer transfer path and drop into the developer storage section during an activating process performed at an initial stage of a developer transferring operation while supplied with the transfer bias voltage after the activating process. The always-transferring section is disposed across a position facing the developer storage section to a position lower than and adjacent to the activating section, and always supplied with a transfer bias voltage during the developer transferring operation.

Abstract: An image forming unit includes a developer bearing body that bears a developer, and a supplying member provided so as to face the developer bearing body. The supplying member rotates to thereby collect the developer from the developer bearing body and supply the developer to the developer bearing body. The image forming unit further includes a developer storage portion that stores the developer to be supplied to the supplying member, and a charge providing member that charges the developer held on the supplying member. In a rotating direction of the supplying member, the charge providing member is disposed on a downstream side of an opposing portion between the developer bearing body and the supplying member and on an upstream side of a region where the developer storage portion supplies the developer to the supplying member.

Abstract: An image developer, including a developer container containing a developer developing a latent image on a latent image bearer; a developer bearer bearing the developer, located close to or contacting the latent image bearer; and a developer feeding and collection roller feeding the developer onto the developer bearer and scraping the developer therefrom, rotating while contacting thereto with pressure, wherein the developer feeding and collection roller includes an inner layer formed of an electroconductive foamed rubber; and an outer layer formed of an insulative foamed rubber, and wherein the following relationship is satisfied: ??T wherein ? represents a compression amount of the pressure of the developer feeding and collection roller to the developer bearer; and T represents a thickness of the outer layer, and wherein an offset voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the charged developer is applied to the developer feeding and collection roller.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer bearing body, a first developer supply member, a second developer supply member, and a compression member. The developer bearing body bears a developer. The first developer supply member supplies the developer to the developer bearing body. The second developer supply member moves the developer in the vicinity of the first developer supply member to the first developer supply member. The compression member opposes, and is out of contact with, the first developer supply member. The compression member also directs the developer moved by the second developer supply member to the first developer supply member, and compresses the developer between the first developer supply member and the compression member.

Abstract: A toner supply roller of an electrophotographic imaging apparatus and a method of preparing the toner supply roller are provided. The toner supply roller includes a polyurethane foam, and a metal shaft inserted in the polyurethane foam along an axis thereof, wherein the polyurethane foam includes an ion-conductive agent and a binder, and the binder includes a resin having an amide bond. Accordingly, the toner supply roller including polyurethane foam provides an improved toner supply and prevents image defects.

Abstract: A development device includes a developer carrier configured to develop an electrostatic latent image by causing a developer to adhere to an electrostatic latent image carrier, a first supply member disposed in non-contact with the developer carrier and configured to supply a developer to the developer carrier, a second supply member disposed in contact with the first supply member below the first supply member and configured to supply the developer to the first supply member, and a developer holder configured to hold the developer for replenishing the second supply member. The first supply member and the second supply member rotate so that the surfaces thereof move in the same direction at their opposed parts.

Abstract: A developer supply device configured to supply developer is provided. The developer supply device includes a rotatable developer carrying body configured to carry the developer, a casing configured to rotatably support the developer carrying body, and a restricting member configured to contact the developer carrying body to remove a part of the developer. The casing has a collecting side developer storage room configured to store the developer removed by the restricting member and a supplying side developer storage room configured to store the developer to be supplied to the brush layer. A supplying side developer storage level, which is a storage level of the developer in the supplying side developer storage room, is higher than a collecting side developer storage level, which is a storage level of the developer in the collecting side developer storage room.

Abstract: A development agent supply device is provided, which includes a development agent holding member configured to rotate around an axis parallel to a first direction such that a development agent holding surface, which faces an intended device to be supplied with development agent in a first position, moves in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, a transfer board configured to charge and transfer development agent thereon to a second position to face the development agent holding surface, and a facing member disposed to face the development agent holding surface in a position between the first position and the second position in the second direction, the facing member being configured to charge development agent held on the development agent holding surface under an alternating electric field generated between the facing member and the development agent holding member.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer bearing body that rotates in a first direction, and a supply brush roller, out of contact with the body, that also rotates in the first direction. A brush contact member has a first contact portion in contact with bristles of the roller above a first horizontal plane passing through a rotational axis of the roller and upstream in the first rotational direction of the roller of a portion of the roller opposing the body. A thickness adjusting member has a second contact portion in contact with the body below a second horizontal plane passing through a rotational axis of the body and downstream in the first rotational direction of the body of the portion of the roller opposing the body. A first vertical plane passing through the first contact portion is closer to the axis of the roller than is a second vertical plane passing through the second contact portion.

Abstract: Provided is a development device and an image forming apparatus that realize high image quality with improved decrease in density at high speed development and with reduced occurrence of development hysteresis (ghost) in a hybrid developing method having a plurality of toner carriers, by reducing the decrease in the toner supplying ability to a downstream-side toner carrier, which decrease is caused by the supply of toner to an upstream-side toner carrier on an upstream side in a rotating direction of a developer carrier. By providing a magnetic pole between main magnetic poles, of the developer carrier, facing the toner carriers, a magnetically raised bristle of developer is moved by a magnetic force, while the developer in which development hysteresis due to supplying toner to the upstream-side toner carrier occurred is conveyed to supply toner to the downstream-side toner carrier, whereby a developer layer is stirred.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member and a developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image. The developing device includes a developer container, a rotatable developer carrying member, including a first electrode member; and a developer supplying member, including a second electrode member. The apparatus further includes a measuring device capable of measuring a remaining developer amount; and a replenishing device for performing a replenishing operation by rotating the developer supplying member while applying a DC bias between the first and second electrode members so that a value obtained by subtracting an electric potential of the second electrode member from an electric potential of the first electrode member has a polarity identical to a normal charge polarity of the developer. When the remaining developer amount measured is not more than a threshold, the replenishing operation is performed and the remaining developer amount is measured again.

Abstract: A developing device that is provided in an image forming device that forms an image includes an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed; a developer carrier that forms a developer image on a surface of the image carrier by attaching a developer on the electrostatic latent image; a supplying member that supplies the developer to the developer carrier by contacting the developer carrier, and that scrapes the developer remaining on the surface of the developer carrier from the developer carrier, and a deformation amount between the developer carrier and the supplying member is individually configured corresponding to a location where the developing device is provided in the image forming device.

Abstract: A development agent supply device includes a casing having an opening and a development agent storage section, a development agent holding member housed in the casing such that a development agent holding surface thereof faces a developer-supplied device via the opening, a first electric-field transfer board that transfers development agent with a traveling-wave electric field along a down-facing development agent transfer surface in a predetermined direction from the development agent storage section to the opening and faces the development agent holding surface at a downstream end in the predetermined direction, and a second electric-field transfer board that includes a first section facing an downstream end of the first electric-field transfer board in the predetermined direction, and a second section facing the development agent holding member and transfers development agent received from the first electric transfer board at the first section, to the second section with a traveling-wave electric field.

Abstract: A developing device can be supply sufficient amount of developing agent into a developing chamber regardless of residual amount of developing agent in a developing agent chamber. The developing chamber has a developing roller and a supply roller. The developing agent chamber is positioned below the developing chamber. A wall portion is positioned below and extending along a lower portion of the supply roller. A vertical conveyer is configured to convey the developing agent from the lower portion of the developing agent chamber to a position above the supply roller. The developing chamber has a reservoir positioned above the supply roller and configured to accumulate the developing agent conveyed by the vertical conveyer.

Abstract: The invention provides a toner supply and cleaning roller that secures sufficient density especially at an initial stage of printing, and an image forming apparatus using the same. The toner supply and cleaning roller has a shaft (1) and an electroconductive elastic layer (3) made of a urethane foam and supported on the circumference of the shaft (1) by means of an adhesive layer (2) in between. The resistance of the roller at an applied voltage of 100 V is 105? or lower, preferably 104.5? or lower, and the resistance of the roller at an applied voltage of 5 V is 106 to 108?. The adhesive layer (2) contains a hot-melting polymeric adhesive and is formed preferably at a temperature not exceeding the melting point of the hot-melting polymeric adhesive.

Abstract: A developing device causes toner to be discharged from a foam layer by an intrusion member configured to intrude into the foam layer of a supply roller, and to be supplied to above a contact region between a developing roller and the supply roller.

Abstract: A developer supply device, comprising: a casing; first electrodes located at a first most downstream position defining a certain distance with respect to the supply target and positions between the casing and the first most downstream position to form a first traveling electric field; a second electrodes that are located at a second most downstream position defining the certain distance with respect to the supply target and positions between the casing and the second most downstream position to form a second traveling electric field; a power circuit that supplies a first voltage and a second voltage having a same frequency respectively to the first electrodes and the second electrodes such that a phase of voltage change of a first most downstream electrode and a phase of voltage change of a second most downstream electrode shift with respect to each other.

Abstract: The present invention provides a conductive roller having a toner transport part composed of a vulcanized rubber composition at least on an outermost layer thereof. The vulcanized rubber composition contains a rubber component (A), highly conductive carbon black (B) having a particle diameter not less than 18 nm and less than 80 nm, an inorganic filler (C) consisting of not less than one kind of a metal oxide selected from among a group of titanium oxide, alumina, and silica. A total of a content of the highly conductive carbon black (B) and a content of the inorganic filler (C) for 100 parts by mass of the rubber component (A) is not less than 10 parts by mass nor more than 60 parts by mass.

Abstract: A developer supply device is provided, which includes a developer retrieving member having a plurality of fibers extending from an outer circumferential surface of the developer retrieving member, the developer retrieving member being disposed in such a position that the fibers contact a developer carrying surface of a developer carrying body in a developer retrieving position downstream relative to a developer supply position in a moving direction of the developer carrying surface, the developer retrieving member being configured to rotate and retrieve the development agent from the developer carrying surface in the developer retrieving position by the fibers moving in contact with the developer carrying surface in response to the rotation of the developer retrieving member.

Abstract: The developer cartridge includes a developing roller, a supply roller, an input gear, a developing roller gear, a supply roller gear, a first intermediate gear, and a second intermediate gear. The input gear is inputted with a drive force from an outside. The developing roller gear rotates about a first axis to drive the developing roller by the drive force. The supply roller gear rotates about a second axis parallel to the first axis to drive the supply roller by the drive force. The first intermediate gear rotates about the second axis. The first intermediate gear engages the input gear to receive the drive force therefrom. The second intermediate gear is engaged with the first intermediate gear and the developing roller gear so as to transmit the drive force from the first intermediate gear to the developing roller gear.