Developing device

Claim 2

A developing device comprising: an electrophotographic light-sensitive member (22) having an electrostatic latent image, a developer storing means (35) for storing developer therein, developer carrying means (30) for carrying developer to said electrophotographic light-sensitive member from said developer storing means (35), object supplying means (37) for supplying developer (28) to said developer carrying means (31) installed in said developer storing means, and developer returning means (41,43) for returning developer from said developer carrying means to said developer storing means. (Applicable to all figures)

Claim 3

A developing device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said developer returning means comprises a partition (41) having an opening (42) disposed between said developer carrying means (31) and first supplying means (37). (FIG.4)

Claim 4

A developing device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first supplying means (31) comprises at least one plate (40) which moves upward in the developer storing means (35). (FIG.4)

Claim 5

A developing device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first supplying means (37) comprises at least two plates (40a,40b), and an angle between said plates is varied by a load of developer in supplying operation. (FIG.9)

Claim 6

A developing device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said developer carrying means (30,31) comprises an endless-type developer carrying member (30) and a second supplying means of a cylindrical elastic member (31) for supplying developer (28) to said developer carrying member (30). (FIG.9)

Claim 7

A developing device in accordance with claim 5, wherein said developer carrying member has a rough surface (30c) wherein an average depth H of hollows of the rough surface is shown by an equation of 0 ≦ h - D < H, in case that an average thickness of developer layer is designated by h and an average diameter of the developer is designated by D. (FIG.17, FIG.18)

Claim 8

A developing device in accordance with claim 5 further comprising: first voltage applying means (53) for applying a voltage across said developer carrying member (30) and said second supplying means (31) which controls supply of the developer. (FIG.9)

Claim 9

B. A developing device in accordance with claim 5 further comprising: spattering means (59) for supplying developer of said cylindrical elastic member (31) to said developer carrying member (30), disposed at a position where a part of said moving cylindrical elastic member (31) contacts said spattering means (59) before said part contacts said developer carrying member (FIG.16).

Claim 10

A developing device in accordance with claim 8, wherein a voltage is applied across said spattering means (59) and developer carrying member (30). (FIG.20)

Claim 11

A developing device in accordance with claim 5 further comprising: a scraper (43) for scraping surplus developer of said cylindrical elastic member (31).

Claim 12

A developing device in accordance with claim 9, wherein said developer carrying member (30) contacts said cylindrical elastic member (31) and moves in the same direction of said cylindrical elastic member with a slower speed than that of said cylindrical elastic member (31). (FIG.20)

Claim 13

A developing device in accordance with claim 5 further comprising: thickness restriction means (47) for restricting a thickness of developer (28) contacted with said developer carrying member (30) which has a straightness of 0.15 mm and below. (FIG.4,7--20)

Claim 14

A developing device in accordance with claim 12, wherein said thickness restriction means (47) comprises a contacting member (47a) contacting said developer carrying member (31) and a holding member (47b) holding said contacting member (47a), and said holding member parts from the surface of said developer carrying member (31). (FIG.9)

Claim 15

A developing device in accordance with claim 13, wherein said contacting member (47a) parts from the surface of said developer carrying member at a portion (62) facing a rotating direction of said developer carrying member (31). (FIG.11)

Claim 16

A developing device in accordance with claim 5 further comprising: scatter preventing means (50) for preventing scatter of developer (28) installed on a position where a part of said developer carrying member (31) closes said scatter preventing means (50) before said part closes the cylindrical elastic member (31). (FIG.4)

Claim 17

A developing device in accordance with claim 15, wherein said scatter preventing means (50) comprises a U-shaped scatter preventing member (51) and a scatter preventing sheet (52) which is fixed on said scatter preventing member (51) at one end touches on the surface of said developer carrying member (31) at another end. (FIG.4)

Claim 18

A developing device in accordance with claim 16, wherein said scatter preventing sheet (52) is a rubber sheet being from 50 micron to 200 micron in thickness.

Claim 19

A developing device in accordance with claim 16, wherein further comprising: sealing members (48,49) for preventing scatter of developer disposed on both end surfaces (30a,30b) of said developer carrying member (30) and pressing said developer carrying member (30) through said scatter preventing sheet (52). (FIG.7)

Claim 20

A developing device in accordance with claim 18, wherein said seal members (48,49) are made of one material selected from elastic materials such as rubber and sponge, and cloth and nonwoven fabric.

Claim 21

A developing device comprising: an endless developer carrying means, a cylindrical elastic member for supplying developer to endless developer carrying means (30), contacting said rotating endless developer carrying means (30), an elastic blade (47) for restricting a thickness of the developer on said developer carrying means (30) to a predetermined value by contacting said developer carrying means (30) at a position where a part of the surface said moving developer carrying means (30) contacts said elastic blade (47) prior to contact of said part against an electrophotographic light-sensitive member (22), a supplying means (37) for supplying developer (28) to said cylindrical elastic member (31), installed in a developer storing container (34), a scraper (43) for scraping superfluous developer on the surface of said cylindrical elastic member (31), to even said developer on the surface of said cylindrical elastic member (31), and a partition (41) having an opening (42) for passing developer between said cylindrical elastic member and said supplying means therethrough. (FIG.14)

Claim 22

A developing device comprising: an endless developer carrying means, a cylindrical elastic member for supplying developer to endless developer carrying means (30), contacting said rotating endless developer carrying means (30), an elastic blade (47) for restricting a thickness of the developer on said developer carrying means (30) to a predetermined value by contacting said developer carrying means (30) at a position where a part of the surface said moving developer carrying means (30) contacts said elastic blade (47) prior to contact of said part against an electrophotographic light-sensitive member (22), a supplying means (37) for supplying developer (28) to said cylindrical elastic member (31), installed in a developer storing container (34), a scraper (43) for scraping superfluous developer on the surface of said cylindrical elastic member (31), to even said developer on the surface of said cylindrical elastic member (31), and a partition (41) having an opening (42) for passing developer between said cylindrical elastic member and said supplying means therethrough. (FIG.14)