Image forming apparatus having developing device cooling mechanism, and control method therefor
US8417142B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 29, 2009 |
| Grant date | Apr 9, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 22, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG03G15/0856
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An image forming apparatus includes a latent image carrier, a latent image forming unit to form an electrostatic latent image on the latent image carrier, at least one developing device disposed to contact the latent image carrier to develop the latent image with developer stored therein, a cooling mechanism including at least one cooling device disposed close to the developing device to cool the developing device, a developer amount detector electrically connected to the developing device to detect an amount of the developer remaining in the developing device, and a cooling mechanism controller connected to the cooling mechanism to change a cooling power of the cooling mechanism according to a detection result generated by the developer amount detector. The developing device includes a rotary member whose shaft is rotationally supported by at least one bearing and is not to be supplied with new developer while any developer remains therein.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.