Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
399264000 | Removing excess developer | 28 |
20080240792 | DEVELOPING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS EQUIPPED WITH THE SAME - A developing device capable of preventing deterioration of the image quality, which is caused when a developer recovered by a developing roller re-adheres thereto, and an image forming apparatus equipped with the developing device. The developer conveyance amount on the upstream side of an agitation conveyance path in a developer conveyance direction becomes larger than the amount of developer to be transported from a recovery conveyance path to the agitation conveyance path, by making the developer conveyance amount on the upstream side of an agitating screw in the developer conveyance direction equal to or larger than the developer conveyance amount on the downstream side of a recovery screw in the developer conveyance direction. Accordingly, the amount of developer existing on the upstream side of the agitation conveyance path in the developer conveyance direction becomes small, whereby the developer can be delivered smoothly from the recovery conveyance path to the agitation conveyance path. Therefore, the bulk of the developer existing on the downstream side of the recovery conveyance path in the developer conveyance direction can be prevented from reaching the level where the recovered developer re-adheres to a developing roller, and further the developer existing on the downstream side of the recovery conveyance path in the developer conveyance direction can be prevented from re-adhering to the developing roller. | 10-02-2008 |
20090092420 | Toner Mass Control by Surface Roughness and Voids - The present disclosure relates to controlling a performance characteristic of an image forming device component having a surface which may include removal of a portion of the surface to expose a plurality of voids and a surface between the voids. The surface between the voids may have a surface roughness Ra in the range of 0.1 to 5.0 microns and the relationship SA | 04-09-2009 |
20090103956 | DEVELOPING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS PROVIDED THEREWITH - A developing apparatus is provided with: a developing roller; and a recovering roller that is arranged so as to oppose the developing roller, recovers scattered toner, and stores negatively chargeable toner, wherein the recovering roller has its surface coated with a fluorine resin or a silicone resin, and is provided with a blade that removes the scattered toner, and a difference (A−C) between a work function (A) of the resin and a work function (C) of the blade is greater than or equal to 0.10 eV. | 04-23-2009 |
20090208254 | DEVELOPING UNIT, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND FLOATING DEVELOPER COLLECTING METHOD FOR DEVELOPING UNIT - A suction duct that sucks air is provided downstream from a magnet roller that applies a developer to a photoconductor while rotating, in a direction of rotation of the photoconductor, and upstream of a surface potential sensor that measures surface potential of the photoconductor. Moreover, ribs for adjusting an air flow are arranged within the suction duct in such a manner that a width of an air flow passage formed by a rear end in a direction of air flow and a forward end of a nearest rib in the direction of air flow is narrowed from a rib installed upstream in the direction of air flow toward a rib installed downstream. The collection duct collects a floating developer by using a negative pressure. | 08-20-2009 |
20090220286 | Cleaning device and image forming apparatus - A cleaning device includes a blade disposed so as to contact an image bearing body that bears a developer image. The blade scrapes off a developer adhering to the image bearing body. The blade has an edge portion including first and second surfaces, and is configured so that a distance between the first and second surfaces decreases toward a tip of the edge portion. The first and second surfaces form a predetermined edge angle at the tip of the edge portion. An area of the first surface is smaller than an area of the second surface, and the first surface contacts the image bearing body. | 09-03-2009 |
20090232559 | CLEANING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING DEVICE - A cleaning device includes a cleaning member for removing developer attached to a developer attaching member; a rotation carrying member which is rotatably configured to carry the developer that is removed by the cleaning member; a housing member for housing the developer that is removed by the cleaning member and configured as a part of a developer housing part that surrounds the rotation carrying member; and an elastic member arranged to contact a periphery of the rotation carrying member. | 09-17-2009 |
20090269106 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus has a spacer roller that contacts a photosensitive drum outside a running region of a transfer member. The spacer roller forms a gap between a developing roller and the photosensitive drum. A cleaning device is positioned at downstream side of a nip position formed between the photosensitive drum and the transfer member. A toner removing blade is disposed between the downstream side of the nip and an upstream side of the cleaning device. The toner removing blade has a contact portion that contacts a contact region between the photosensitive drum and the spacer roller. The rotation axis of the photosensitive drum extends along an inner end of the contact portion. This inner end of the contact portion is positioned within a toner collecting region in which toner is scraped off by the cleaning device. | 10-29-2009 |
20100067958 | IMAGE FORMING METHOD AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming method including forming an electrostatic latent image on a photoreceptor; developing the latent image with a developer including a toner using a center-feed developing device to form a toner image; transferring the toner image onto a receiving material; and fixing the toner image using a fixing member coated with silicone oil. The toner includes at least a binder resin; a colorant; and a quaternary ammonium salt having a specific formula, wherein when the toner is dispersed in ethanol using ultrasonic waves, the dispersion has a turbidity of from 0.4 to 1.0 when the turbidity is determined using a haze meter. An image forming apparatus including a photoreceptor; a center-feed developing device using a developer including the toner; a transferring device; a fixing device using a fixing member coated with silicone oil; and a cleaner for the photoreceptor. | 03-18-2010 |
20100104328 | Developer Transporting Apparatus, Image Forming Apparatus, and Image Forming Method - A developer transporting apparatus includes: a drop path; a developer transporting path; a developer transporting member; and an aggregation preventing member including: a contact portion that is in contact with the developer transporting member, and that moves in conjunction with the rotation of the developer transporting member; and a developer scrub-off portion that is disposed between an inner wall surface of the developer transporting path and the developer transporting member, and that moves along the inner wall surface in conjunction with the movement of the contact portion, at least part of the aggregation preventing member being disposed at a connecting portion between the drop path and the developer transporting path to prevent the aggregation of the developer to the inner wall surface. | 04-29-2010 |
20100129120 | Developing Device - A developing device comprises: a development roller configured to rotate while carrying liquid toner which comprises a carrier liquid and toner particles contained in the carrier liquid; a cleaning blade configured to contact with the development roller to scrape off the liquid toner carried on the development roller by the rotation of the development roller; and a cleaning roller provided adjacent to the development roller and upstream from the cleaning blade with respect to a rotating direction of the development roller. In the developing device, the development roller and the cleaning roller are configured to rotate in such a direction that outer peripheral surfaces thereof move in opposite directions to each other at a contact surface where the cleaning roller contacts with the development roller. | 05-27-2010 |
20100158576 | DEVELOPING UNIT AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING THE SAME - Disclosed are a developing unit and an image forming apparatus having the same. The developing unit includes a first frame and a second frame. The first frame supports thereon a first set of processing members and includes at least one jig hole for mounting to a jig. The second frame supports thereon a second set of processing members. Several connection parts provided in the first and second frames allow assembly of the developing unit that includes a rectilinear movement and a rotational movement of the first and second frames relative to each other during the coupling together of the connection parts so as to couple the first and second frames together. The relative movement in certain direction of the frames may be limited during the relative rotational movement of the frames. | 06-24-2010 |
20100189471 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND DEVELOPER COLLECTING METHOD OF THE IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a cleaning unit including a cleaning blade which contacts with an image carrier and peels a collected material on the image carrier, and an auger to convey the peeled collected material in a direction parallel to a rotation axis of the image carrier. The auger includes an axial body to rotate around a rotation axis parallel to the rotation axis of the image carrier, a spiral conveyance portion spirally provided on an outer peripheral curved surface of the axial body, and a conveyance portion. The conveyance portion includes a base portion extending in a lateral direction, and plural vane portions provided to be spaced from each other at specified intervals in a longitudinal direction of the base portion. | 07-29-2010 |
20100202804 | PRINTING MACHINE AND PRINTING METHOD THEREFOR - A printing machine having a colorant support, a transfer device, a delivery apparatus, and a colorant stripper. The transfer device is arranged to transfer colorant from a reservoir onto the colorant support such that during operation of the printing machine, a colorant is transferred from the transfer device onto the colorant support. The delivery apparatus is arranged to deliver at least part of the colorant from the colorant support onto a printing medium or a transfer means. The colorant support and the colorant stripper are arranged so that during operation of the printing machine, non-consumed colorant is transferred from the colorant support onto the colorant stripper. The invention is also a method for printing using such an apparatus. | 08-12-2010 |
20100290818 | Image-Forming Device Having a Belt Cleaning Unit - The present invention provides an image-forming device having a developer-carrying member, an image-carrying member, a belt, and a cleaning unit. The developer-carrying member has an outer surface including a thin layer forming region for carrying a thin layer of developer. The thin layer forming region has a first width in a widthwise direction. The thin layer forming region includes an effective image forming region used for forming an image on a recording medium. The image-carrying member has a surface on which an electrostatic latent image based on the image is formed and developed into a developer image by the developer carried on the effective image forming region. The belt is configured to circulate in a moving direction orthogonal to the widthwise direction and transfer the developer image onto the recording medium. The belt has an outer surface including a cleanable region having a second width in the widthwise direction. The cleaning unit cleans the developer on the cleanable region. The second width is greater than the first width. The cleanable region is placed with respect to the thin layer forming region so that each widthwise end of the second width is positioned outside of each widthwise end of the first width in the widthwise direction. | 11-18-2010 |
20110091247 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a transportation member rotating to transport a medium or developer; a blade member disposed to abut against the transportation member for removing an object adhering to a surface of the transportation member; and a retaining member disposed on an upstream side of the blade member in a direction that the transportation member rotates and abutting against the transportation member for retaining the object adhering to the surface of the transportation member. | 04-21-2011 |
20110097115 | Carrier Removing Device and Image Forming Apparatus - A carrier removing apparatus, including: an electrode, having a plurality of openings through which a carrier passes, disposed to oppose an image carrier, and a power source to apply a voltage onto the electrode so as to separate the carrier on the image carrier from the image carrier, wherein the electrode has a surface along a surface of the image carrier. | 04-28-2011 |
20110170913 | Image Forming Apparatus - The present invention realizes an image forming apparatus which is equipped with a carrier recovery section of simple configuration and for which maintenance is not required, the apparatus includes: a photoconductive drum; a developing device to develop a latent image formed on the photoconductive drum by a two-component developer containing a toner and a magnetic carrier, and a carrier recovery section which is equipped with a recovery roller, wherein the carrier recovery roller includes a rotatable sleeve, and a magnet roller that is installed inside the sleeve and provided with a plurality of fixed magnetic poles including a main pole to recover the magnetic carrier adhered onto the photoconductive drum and a separating pole to separate the magnetic carrier from the recovery roller, wherein a separating member is disposed at such a position that is opposite to the sleeve at a prescribed distance in a non-contact state. | 07-14-2011 |
20110182625 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, DEVELOPING AGENT USED THEREFOR, AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME - According to one embodiment, a developing agent containing a toner particle and an aggregate of a toner dust powder having a smaller volume average particle size than a volume average particle size of the toner particle and alumina is provided. | 07-28-2011 |
20110188897 | Developing device and image forming apparatus - A developing device includes a developer bearing body provided so as to face a latent image bearing body. The developer bearing body rotates to supply a developer to the latent image bearing body. A developer supplying member is provided so as to contact the developer bearing body. The developer supplying member rotates to supply a developer to the developer bearing body. A developer recovery member is provided so as to contact a surface of the developer bearing body that moves from a position facing the latent image bearing body to a position in contact with the developer supplying member by a rotation of the developer bearing body. The developer recovery member rotates to recover the developer from the developer bearing body. The developer recovery member is constituted by a brush roller. | 08-04-2011 |
20120027468 | DEVELOPER UNIT AND METHOD THEREOF - A developer unit usable with a liquid electrophotographic printing apparatus having a photosensitive drum includes a developer roller configured to receive ink, and to selectively engage and rotatably transfer the ink to the photosensitive drum, the developer roller configured to switch between a contact mode when the developer roller is rotating and a non-contact mode when the developer roller is not rotating, a squeegee roller selectively in contact with the developer roller, the squeegee roller configured to at least condense the received ink on the developer roller in the contact mode, and configured to be apart from the developer roller in the non-contact mode, and a cleaner roller selectively in contact with the developer roller, the cleaner roller configured to remove remaining ink from the developer roller not transferred to the photosensitive drum in the contact mode, and to be apart from the developer roller in the non-contact mode, wherein at least one of the squeegee roller, the cleaner roller and the developer roller are configured to move between the contact mode and the non-contact mode in response to a rotational state of the developer roller. | 02-02-2012 |
20120121299 | REMOVING ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC CARRIER PARTICLES FROM PHOTORECEPTOR - Carrier particles are removed from a rotatable photoreceptor in an electrophotographic printer. A development member is rotated to selectively supply toner from a developer supply to the photoreceptor, the developer including toner particles and carrier particles, and at least one carrier particle from the developer is drawn into contact with the photoreceptor while the development member supplies toner to the photoreceptor. A skive is moved into proximity with the surface of the photoreceptor and energized so that it provides an electric or magnetic field when in proximity with the surface of the photoreceptor. Carrier particles on the photoreceptor are thus transported into proximity with the skive. After carrier particles are transported into proximity with the skive, the skive is retracted from the photoreceptor, so that the transported carrier particles are drawn away from the photoreceptor; | 05-17-2012 |
20130129392 | DEVELOPER CARRYING MEMBER AND DEVELOPING UNIT - Provided is a developer carrying member that can stably provide a negatively chargeable developer with triboelectric charge and whose surface hardly wears even after its long-term use. The developer carrying member is a developer carrying member, comprising: a substrate; and a surface layer, wherein: the surface layer contains a matrix resin and electro-conductive particles; and the matrix resin contains a crosslinked product of a polymer chain having units represented by the following structural formula (1) and the following structural formula (2), and a polymer chain represented by the following structural formula (3). | 05-23-2013 |
20130142547 | IMAGE FORMING DEVICE AND DEVELOPING DEVICE - 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. | 06-06-2013 |
20140105653 | Image Forming Device Provided with Detachable Waste Toner Box - An image forming device includes: a belt; a developing unit; a support unit; a cleaning member; a waste toner box; and a main casing. The developing unit is configured to accommodate developing agent therein. The support unit is configured to support the developing unit. The cleaning member is configured to collect residual toner deposited on the belt. The waste toner box is configured to accommodate therein the residual toner collected by the cleaning member. The main casing has a first wall having a first opening through which the support unit passes; and a second wall disposed spaced apart from the first wall in a first direction and having a second opening through which the waste toner box passes. The main casing includes: a first cover configured to expose the first opening and to cover the first opening; and a second cover configured to expose the second opening and to cover the second opening. | 04-17-2014 |
20140348554 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit including a plurality of photoconductor drums arranged in tandem; a conveyor belt arranged opposite to the photoconductor drums and configured to convey a recording sheet; and a cleaning unit including a cleaning member positioned in contact with the conveyor belt and configured to collect substance adhering to the conveyor belt, and a receptacle configured to store the substance collected by the cleaning member. The cleaning member is arranged on the same side as the image forming unit with respect to the conveyor belt and upstream from the image forming unit as viewed in a sheet conveyance direction along which the recording sheet is conveyed on the conveyor belt, and the image forming unit and the cleaning unit are pulled out together from a main body of the image forming apparatus toward an upstream side of the sheet conveyance direction. | 11-27-2014 |
20160026117 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device that forms an image on a recording medium with a powdery material, the image being sized so as to extend beyond an edge of the recording medium; a collecting device that collects the material that has extended off the recording medium as a result of the image forming device forming the image; and a restricting unit that controls the image forming device in such a manner that the image forming device reduces an amount of use of the material in a region of the image that extends off the recording medium to a larger degree on an outer side of the image than a side of the image near the recording medium. | 01-28-2016 |
20160103413 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - In an image forming apparatus, a coating layer of each of a photoconductor drum and a collecting roller has been formed by a dipping method in which a base body of each of the photoconductor drum and the collecting roller is dipped in a liquid in a state where the base body is in a vertical attitude such that a first end of the base body faces down and a second end of the base body faces up. The collecting roller is supported in a state where the first end of the collecting roller base body and the second end of the drum base body face a same direction. | 04-14-2016 |
20160252850 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE CARRIER UNIT | 09-01-2016 |