US4930438A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Developing device using a single component developer
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1987-10-21
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Granted: 1990-06-05
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Expires: 2007-10-21
Abstract
Abstract A developing device employing a non-magnetic one-component toner is provided and it includes a developing sleeve, which is driven to rotate in a predetermined direction past a developing region where toner carried on the sleeve is supplied to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on an image bearing member, a tank for storing therein a quantity of non-magnetic one-component toner and a flexible supply roller generally disposed between the tank and the developing sleeve for supplying the toner from the tank to the developing sleeve. The flexible supply roller rotates so as to be in sliding contact with the developing sleeve. With the provision of such a supply roller, even non-magnetic one-component toner can be suitably supplied to the developing sleeve to form thereon a thin film of charged toner for use in developing an electrostatic latent image.
Inventors
- 👤 Hiromi Demizu
- 👤 Makoto Obu
- 👤 Hidetoshi Yano
- 👤 Ryubun Seimiya
- 👤 Noriyoshi Tarumi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 19:18
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/06; G03G15/08; G03G15/0806; G03G15/0808; G03G15/0822; G03G15/0877; G03G15/0887
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
235 words
A device for developing an electrostatic latent image by applying a thin film of developer formed on an image bearing member comprising: storing means for storing therein a quantity of one-component developer, said storing means having an outlet port at a predetermined location; transporting means for transporting said developer along a predetermined path through a developing region where said developer is applied to said image bearing member to develop said latent image; and supplying means including a cylindrical support and a flexible layer formed on said cylindrical support, said supplying means being disposed in the vicinity of said outlet port of said storing means for receiving said developer from said storing means to be supplied to said transporting means, said supplying means being supported to be rotatable and driven to rotate in a first predetermined direction so as to be in sliding contact with said transporting means and to thereby cause said developer to be formed into a thin film of charged developer on said transporting means; and wherein said transporting means includes a developing sleeve comprised of a cylindrical support, an intermediate layer formed on said support and an electrode layer formed on said intermediate layer, said electrode layer being comprised of a dielectric material with a plurality of fine electrode particles dispersed therein and separated from one another, and said sleeve being rotatably supported and driven to rotate in a second predetermined direction.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
235 words
A device for developing an electrostatic latent image by applying a thin film of developer formed on an image bearing member comprising: storing means for storing therein a quantity of one-component developer, said storing means having an outlet port at a predetermined location; transporting means for transporting said developer along a predetermined path through a developing region where said developer is applied to said image bearing member to develop said latent image; and supplying means including a cylindrical support and a flexible layer formed on said cylindrical support, said supplying means being disposed in the vicinity of said outlet port of said storing means for receiving said developer from said storing means to be supplied to said transporting means, said supplying means being supported to be rotatable and driven to rotate in a first predetermined direction so as to be in sliding contact with said transporting means and to thereby cause said developer to be formed into a thin film of charged developer on said transporting means; and wherein said transporting means includes a developing sleeve comprised of a cylindrical support, an intermediate layer formed on said support and an electrode layer formed on said intermediate layer, said electrode layer being comprised of a dielectric material with a plurality of fine electrode particles dispersed therein and separated from one another, and said sleeve being rotatably supported and driven to rotate in a second predetermined direction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
63 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said supplying means includes a cylindrical support and a flexible layer formed on said cylindrical support of the supplying means, wherein said cylindrical support of the supplying means is driven to rotate in said first predetermined direction, with said flexible layer pressed against said transporting means; and wherein said flexible layer is comprised of a foam material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
11 words
The device of claim 2 wherein said foam material is sponge.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said first and second predetermined directions are in the same rotating direction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
61 words
The device of claim 1 further comprising a doctor blade disposed downstream of said supplying means with respect to the direction of said developing sleeve, said doctor blade having a free end pressed against the outer peripheral surface of said developing sleeve to cause said thin film of developer on said developing sleeve to be further charged and regulated in thickness.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
The device of claim 5 wherein said doctor blade is comprised of an elastic material and is provided with an insulating film on one surface thereof, said doctor blade being pressed against said developing sleeve with said insulating film in contact therewith.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device of claim 6 wherein said insulating film is comprised of a fluorine family resin.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 7 wherein said fluorine family resin includes tetrafluoroethylene-perfluoroalkylvinylether copolymer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
The device of claim 1 further comprising discharging means disposed downstream of said developing region with respect to the direction of rotation of said sleeve for removing undesired charge from said developing sleeve and said developer remaining on said sleeve.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device of claim 9 wherein said discharging means is connected to a predetermined bias potential.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The device of claim 10 wherein said cylindrical support of said developing sleeve is electrically conductive and electrically connected to a developing potential which is equal to said predetermined bias potential.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
The device of claim 9 wherein said discharging means includes an electrically conductive brush which extends generally tangentially in a trailing direction with respect to said developing sleeve and is lightly pressed thereagainst.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
The device of claim 9 wherein said discharging means includes a sponge roller which is disposed to be in rolling contact with said developing sleeve, said sponge roller having an electrically conductive peripheral surface which is connected to a predetermined bias potential.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device of claim 13 wherein said predetermined bias potential includes both d.c. and a.c. components.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
41 words
The device of claim 5 further comprising guiding means disposed in the vicinity of the sliding contact between said developing sleeve and said doctor blade for guiding developer rejected by said doctor blade toward said outlet port of said storing means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device of claim 15 wherein said guiding means includes a fur brush rotatably supported and driven to rotate in a predetermined direction.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
187 words
A device for developing an electrostatic latent image by applying a thin film or developer formed on an image bearing member comprising: storing means for storing therein a quantity of one-component developer, said storing means having an outlet port at a predetermined location; transporting means for transporting said developer along a predetermined path through a developing region where said developer is applied to said image bearing member to develop said latent image; and supplying means including a cylindrical support and a flexible layer formed on said cylindrical support, said supplying means being in the vicinity of said outlet port of said storing means for receiving said developer from said storing means to be supplied to said transporting means, said supplying means being supported to be rotatable and driven to rotate in a first predetermined direction so as to be in sliding contact with said transporting means and to thereby cause said developer to be formed into a thin film of charged developer on said transporting means; and removing means for removing developer remaining on said transporting means after passing through said developing region before said supplying means.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
187 words
A device for developing an electrostatic latent image by applying a thin film or developer formed on an image bearing member comprising: storing means for storing therein a quantity of one-component developer, said storing means having an outlet port at a predetermined location; transporting means for transporting said developer along a predetermined path through a developing region where said developer is applied to said image bearing member to develop said latent image; and supplying means including a cylindrical support and a flexible layer formed on said cylindrical support, said supplying means being in the vicinity of said outlet port of said storing means for receiving said developer from said storing means to be supplied to said transporting means, said supplying means being supported to be rotatable and driven to rotate in a first predetermined direction so as to be in sliding contact with said transporting means and to thereby cause said developer to be formed into a thin film of charged developer on said transporting means; and removing means for removing developer remaining on said transporting means after passing through said developing region before said supplying means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device of claim 17 in which said removing means comprises a scrape off roller making rubbing contact with said transporting means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
The device of claim 18 in which said transporting means comprises a rotating developing sleeve and said scrape off roller rotates in an angular direction opposite that of said developing sleeve.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
35 words
The device of claim 19 in which the peripheral speed of said scrape off roller at the area of contact thereof with said developing sleeve is higher than the peripheral speed of said developing sleeve.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
The device of claim 18 in which the surface of said scrape off roller which makes contact with said transporting means is made of a deformable and porous material.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device of claim 21 in which said deformable and porous material comprises polyurethane foam.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
27 words
THe device of claim 18 in which the surface of said scrape off roller which makes contact with said transporting means is made of a flexible material.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
50 words
The device of claim 18 in which said transporting means has an interior electrically conductive portion which is at a selected bias potential and the surface of said scrape off roller which makes contact with said transporting means is electrically conductive and is at a bias matching said selected bias.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 17 in which said removing means comprises a stationary unit.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
31 words
The device of claim 25 in which said stationary unit is made of a material selected from the group consisting of rubber, urethane rubber, fluorine resin, polyethylene and metallic elastic material.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-06-04 | 1993-12-04 | 1994-06-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-06-04 | 1997-12-04 | 1998-06-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-06-04 | 2001-12-04 | 2002-06-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |