Development device

Claim 1

A development device, comprising a development roll having a first axis of rotation, including a cylindrical magnet roll rotatable about said first axis of rotation, having a cylindrical peripheral surface and including a plurality of north and south poles alternately disposed about said first axis of rotation at the circumference of said magnet roll, and a nonmagnetic cylindrical sleeve enclosing the cylindrical peripheral surface of said magnet roll, said magnet roll and said sleeve being simultaneously rotatable about said first axis of rotation at different rotational speeds; a developer tank for holding a quantity of developer comprising magnetic toner, said development roll being disposed in said developer tank, said developer tank having on opening therein extending axially of said development roll and located in the vicinity of said sleeve; a photosensitive drum having a second axis of rotation extending parallel to said first axis of rotation, said drum having a cylindrical peripheral surface opposing said sleeve across said opening, said drum being rotatable in a prescribed rotational direction about said second axis of rotation and being electrostatically attractive of magnetic toner on said sleeve across said opening; and a magnetic member, said tank having spaced apart first and second wall portions having respective first and second opposite edges defining said opening therebetween, said second wall portion directly opposing a portion of said development roll and extending in a direction substantially parallel to a tangent to said portion of said development roll, said first and second wall portions being disposed such that points on the cylindrical peripheral surface of said drum successively pass said first wall portion, said opening and said second wall portion in the named order during rotation of said drum in said prescribed rotational direction, said magnetic member being fixed to said second wall portion, located with respect to said second wall portion entirely spaced from said second edge in a circumferential direction of said development roll away from said opening in said tank, and shaped and oriented so as to extend in directions parallel to said second axis of rotation and substantially parallel to said tangent to said portion of said development roll, thereby to prevent particles of said magnetic toner magnetically attracted toward said second edge and said magnetic member from being scattered onto said drum as said magnet roll rotates.