Patent · US Expired

Developing device in an electrophotographic apparatus capable of controlling a discharge of deteriorated developer and method of discharging deteriorated developer

US5592270A · kind A · utility

17Cited by
11References
42Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 16, 1993
Grant dateJan 7, 1997
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 16, 2013

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG03G15/0893
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Deteriorating developer including toner and carrier in a developer container is replaced by supplying carrier developer including carrier from a developer supply unit and discharging an amount of the deteriorated developer corresponding to the amount of the supplied carrier developer through a discharge opening formed in the developer container by opening a cover. The cover is driven by a solenoid for discharging. With this structure, even when the amount of developer in the developer container is changed and the surface level of the developer is changed, a predetermined amount of deteriorated developer is accurately discharged according to the driving of the cover. It is thus possible to control in a desired manner the replacement ratio of deteriorated developer in the developer container to new developer to be supplied. With this configuration, it is possible to maintain the charge of developer substantially uniform and good image quality of copies.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.