Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
145 words
Method for coating a developer on a developer holding member comprising the steps of: supplying a non-magnetic developer and magnetic particles having a magnetization of 30 emu/g or higher in an external magnetic field of 500 oersted from a storage vessel onto a surface of a developer holding member; and moving the holding member bearing non-magnetic developer and magnetic particles between a regulating member positioned at the downstream side outlet of the vessel, with respect to the movement direction of the holding member, and a magnetic pole positioned on the opposite side of the holding member to form a magnetic brush with the magnetic particles on the upstream side of the regulating member and inside the vessel to retain substantially the magnetic particles within the vessel and form a thin layer of the non-magnetic developer on the developer holding member downstream of the regulating member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
145 words
Method for coating a developer on a developer holding member comprising the steps of: supplying a non-magnetic developer and magnetic particles having a magnetization of 30 emu/g or higher in an external magnetic field of 500 oersted from a storage vessel onto a surface of a developer holding member; and moving the holding member bearing non-magnetic developer and magnetic particles between a regulating member positioned at the downstream side outlet of the vessel, with respect to the movement direction of the holding member, and a magnetic pole positioned on the opposite side of the holding member to form a magnetic brush with the magnetic particles on the upstream side of the regulating member and inside the vessel to retain substantially the magnetic particles within the vessel and form a thin layer of the non-magnetic developer on the developer holding member downstream of the regulating member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method for coating a developer according to claim 1, wherein the residual magnetic flux density of the magnetic particles is 1 emu/g or less.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
66 words
A method for coating a developer according to claim 1, wherein the number average particle size γ as measured for the maximum length of said magnetic particles and the gap d between said regulating member and the surface of said developer holding member satisfy the following equation: nγ=d where 1.00≦n≦5.00, and d is a value not smaller than the average particle size of the non-magnetic developer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method for coating a developer according to claim 3, wherein the range of the particle size of the magnetic particles is such that 70% or more in number of the total particles are included within ±20% of said average particle size γ.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method for coating a developer according to claim 1, wherein said magnetic particles have surfaces constituted of ferrite crystals of which at least 80% have particle sizes of 0.5 to 50μ.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method for coating a developer according to claim 1, wherein said magnetic particles are coated with a substance having a critical surface tension of γc≦30 dyne/cm.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method for coating a developer according to claim 6, wherein the magnetic particles are coated with a coating substance at a proportion of 0.05 to 20 parts by weight of the coating substance per 100 parts by weight of the magnetic particles.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method for coating a developer according to claim 1, wherein said magnetic particles are covered with coatings, and the triboelectric charging characteristic of the toner relative to the developer holding member and the triboelectric charging characteristic of the magnetic particles relative to the developer holding member are of the same polarity.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method for coating a developer according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic particles are provided with fine silica particles having a triboelectric charging characteristic of the same polarity as the non-magnetic developer carried on the surfaces.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method for coating a developer according to claim 9, wherein the fine silica particles are treated with a silane coupling agent.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method for coating a developer according to claim 9, wherein the fine silica particles are treated with an organic silicon compound.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method for coating a developer according to claim 9, wherein the fine silica particles are subjected to heat treatment at a temperature of 400° C. or higher.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method for coating a developer according to claim 9, wherein 0.1 to 5% by weight of the fine silica particles are used based on the magnetic particles.