Patent · US Expired

Developing device having a reduced width in the horizontal direction

US6035168A · kind A · utility

17Cited by
5References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 30, 1998
Grant dateMar 7, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 30, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG03G15/0822
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A developing device having a reduced size in the horizontal direction and in which a developing agent is transported with stirring along a circulating route inside a developing tank to effectively mix newly added toner therewith and stir the mixture. A developing tank for storing developing agent therein is horizontally divided with a partition member thereby providing an upper chamber and a lower chamber. A developer roller and a stirring roller are disposed in the lower chamber. Two screw rollers are disposed in the upper chamber. An inlet opening is formed between an end of the partition member and a regulating member for restricting a layer if the developing agent adsorbed to the developing roller. A developing agent removed by the restricting member is fed through an inlet opening to the screw rollers in the upper chamber. The developing agent is mixed with fresh toner supplied through a supply inlet and transported with being stirred by the screw roller in its axial direction. Then, the developing agent is transferred to the screw roller disposed parallel to the screw roller and it is further transported and returned to the stirring roller in the lower chamber through a retur…

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