Patent · US Active

Developing device and image forming apparatus

US7693463B2 · kind B2 · utility

1Cited by
4References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 17, 2007
Grant dateApr 6, 2010
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 14, 2028

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG03G2215/0841
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A developing device has a bearing member that can bear a toner, a storing chamber for storing the toner, a waiting chamber disposed below the storing chamber for receiving the bearing member that can be filled with the toner and a buffer chamber positioned between the storing chamber and the waiting chamber for storing the developer material. A first horizontal connecting path connects upper portions of the storing and buffer chambers, and two second connecting paths connect lower portions of the buffer chamber and the waiting chamber. A feed member feeds toner from the storing chamber through the first connecting path into the buffer chamber. A first conveying member in the buffer chamber conveys the toner from one of the connecting paths to the other of the connecting paths, and a second conveying member in the waiting chamber conveys the toner within the waiting chamber in the opposite direction.

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