Process cartridge including developing unit and incorporated in image forming apparatus
US8145100B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 27, 2009 |
| Grant date | Mar 27, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 30, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG03G2215/0897
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A process cartridge for use in an image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member and a developing unit. The developing unit includes a developer bearing member to bear developer including toner and carrier, a casing forming a developer container containing the developer, a screw having a shaft with a spiral screw blade, a toner density sensor to detect a density of the toner on a detection surface, and a detection surface agitating member fixedly mounted on the shaft of the screw at a position facing a detection surface to scrape away the developer accumulated on the detection surface as the screw rotates. The detection surface agitating member includes an elastic sheet elastically deformable to scrape away the developer accumulated on the detection surface and disposed at a substantially same angle to an axial direction of the shaft of the screw as the spiral screw blade.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.