Patent · US Active

Developing unit, image forming apparatus, and floating developer collecting method for developing unit

US7962074B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by
9References
20Claims
0Family size

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Key dates

Filing dateFeb 17, 2009
Grant dateJun 14, 2011
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 19, 2029

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG03G15/0942
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

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.

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