US5054419A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Image forming apparatus
Assignee: Konica Minolta Inc
•
Filing: 1990-10-25
•
Granted: 1991-10-08
•
Expires: 2010-10-25
Abstract
Abstract A developing apparatus for supplying a developer to a photoreceptor so that an electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor is developed with the developer. The developing apparatus comprises a developer conveyer, having a rigid surface, for conveying the developer to a developing zone; a developer layer-thickness regulator, shaped like a bar and having a rigid surface portion of the curvature radius between 0.5 mm and 15 mm, for regulating the thickness of the developer to be conveyed to the developing zone; and a supporter for supporting the developer layer-thickness regulator.
Inventors
- 👤 Masahiko Itaya
- 👤 Yukio Okamoto
- 👤 Kazuo Yasuda
- 👤 Masayuki Kamegamori
- 👤 Kunihisa Yoshino
- 👤 Shizuo Morita
- 👤 Masakazu Fukuchi
- 👤 Akihiko Tamura
- 👤 Hiroshi Fuma
- 👤 Toshiro Fujimori
- 👤 Tsugio Sugizaki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 13:47
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/06; G03G15/08; G03G15/0806; G03G15/0812; G03G15/09
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
136 words
A developing apparatus for supplying a developer to an image holding means so that an electrostatic latent image on said image holding means is developed with said developer, said apparatus comprising; developer conveyance means having a rigid surface, for conveying said developer to a developing zone; a developer layer-thickness regulating means, shaped like a bar and having a rigid surface portion with a curvature radius between 0.5 mm and 15 mm, for regulating the thickness of said developer on said developer conveyance means; and a supporting means for supporting said developer layer-thickness regulating means, and for pressing said surface portion onto said developer conveyance means, said rigid surface of said developer conveyance means and said rigid surface portion of said developer layer-thickness regulating means having a rigidity of not less than 10 4 kg/cm 2 .
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
136 words
A developing apparatus for supplying a developer to an image holding means so that an electrostatic latent image on said image holding means is developed with said developer, said apparatus comprising; developer conveyance means having a rigid surface, for conveying said developer to a developing zone; a developer layer-thickness regulating means, shaped like a bar and having a rigid surface portion with a curvature radius between 0.5 mm and 15 mm, for regulating the thickness of said developer on said developer conveyance means; and a supporting means for supporting said developer layer-thickness regulating means, and for pressing said surface portion onto said developer conveyance means, said rigid surface of said developer conveyance means and said rigid surface portion of said developer layer-thickness regulating means having a rigidity of not less than 10 4 kg/cm 2 .
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus claimed in claim 1, wherein said developer layer-thickness regulating means has a surface which is covered with a rubber material for the thickness between 0.01 mm and 5 mm, so that said developer layer-thickness regulating means is pressed onto said developer conveyance means through said rubber material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus claimed in claim 1 wherein said supporting means supports said developer layer-thickness regulating means at two areas.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus claimed in claim 1 wherein said supporting means supports said developer layer-thickness regulating means with a non-linear elastic member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus claimed in claim 1 wherein said supporting means has an adjusting means whereby the position of said developer layer-thickness regulating means in relation to said supporting means is adjusted.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus claimed in claim 1 wherein said supporting means has a surface with flatness of not more than 0.2 mm to support said developer layer-thickness regulating means at a surface with cylindricity of not more than 0.1 mm.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus claimed in claim 1 wherein said developer layer-thickness regulating means is a cylindrical bar.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein resilient contact is maintained between said regulating means and said conveyance means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the rubber coating on said regulating means is 0.01 to 1.0 mm thick.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said cylindricity of said regulating means is not more than 0.05 mm.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
162 words
A developing apparatus for supplying a developer to an image holding means so that an electrostatic latent image on said image holding means is developed with said developer, said apparatus comprising; a developer conveyance means having a rigid surface and a magnet disposed therein, for conveying said developer to a developing zone; a developer layer thickness regulating means, shaped like a bar, and having a rigid surface portion with a curvature radius of 0.5 to 15 mm, for regulating the thickness of said developer to be conveyed to said developing zone; said rigid surface portion being formed of a magnetic material disposed facing said developer conveyance means; and a supporting means for supporting said developer layer thickness regulating means, and for pressing said surface portion onto said developer conveyance means said rigid surface of said developer conveyance means and said rigid surface portion of said developer layer thickness regulating means having a rigidity of not less than 10 4 kg/cm 2 .
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
162 words
A developing apparatus for supplying a developer to an image holding means so that an electrostatic latent image on said image holding means is developed with said developer, said apparatus comprising; a developer conveyance means having a rigid surface and a magnet disposed therein, for conveying said developer to a developing zone; a developer layer thickness regulating means, shaped like a bar, and having a rigid surface portion with a curvature radius of 0.5 to 15 mm, for regulating the thickness of said developer to be conveyed to said developing zone; said rigid surface portion being formed of a magnetic material disposed facing said developer conveyance means; and a supporting means for supporting said developer layer thickness regulating means, and for pressing said surface portion onto said developer conveyance means said rigid surface of said developer conveyance means and said rigid surface portion of said developer layer thickness regulating means having a rigidity of not less than 10 4 kg/cm 2 .
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said curvature radius is 1 to 10 mm.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus claimed in claim 11 wherein said disposed magnet is fixed so that said rigid surface portion of said developer layer-thickness regulating means is faced against said disposed magnet.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus claimed in claim 11 wherein said developer layer-thickness regulating means is pressed onto said developer conveyance means by magnetic force.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus claimed in claim 11 wherein said supporting means supports said developer layer-thickness regulating means at two areas.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus claimed in claim 11 wherein said supporting means supports said developer layer-thickness regulating means with a non-linear elastic member.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus claimed in claim 11 wherein said supporting means has an adjusting means whereby the position of said developer layer-thickness regulating means in relation to said supporting means is adjusted.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus claimed in claim 11 wherein said supporting means has a surface with flatness of not more than 0.2 mm to support said developer layer-thickness regulating means at a surface with cylindricity of not more than 0.1 mm.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus claimed in claim 11 wherein said developer layer-thickness regulating means is a cylindrical bar.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said cylindricity of said regulating means is not more than 0.05 mm.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
193 words
A developing apparatus for supplying a developer to an image holding means so that an electrostatic latent image on said image holding means is developed with said developer, said apparatus comprising; a developer conveyance means having a rigid surface and a magnet disposed therein, for conveying said developer to a developing zone; a developer layer thickness regulating means, shaped like a bar and having a rigid surface portion with a curvature radius of 0.5 to 15 mm, for regulating the thickness of said developer to be conveyed to said developing zone; said rigid surface portion being formed of a magnetic material, disposed facing said developer conveyance means; wherein said developer layer thickness regulating means is disposed on the upper side of said developer conveyance means so that said developer layer thickness regulating means is pressed onto said rigid surface of said developer conveyance means by the magnetism of said rigid surface and the weight of said developer layer thickness means, wherein said rigid surface of said developer conveyance means and said rigid surface portion of said developer layer thickness regulating means have a rigidity of not less than 10 4 kg/cm 2 .
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
193 words
A developing apparatus for supplying a developer to an image holding means so that an electrostatic latent image on said image holding means is developed with said developer, said apparatus comprising; a developer conveyance means having a rigid surface and a magnet disposed therein, for conveying said developer to a developing zone; a developer layer thickness regulating means, shaped like a bar and having a rigid surface portion with a curvature radius of 0.5 to 15 mm, for regulating the thickness of said developer to be conveyed to said developing zone; said rigid surface portion being formed of a magnetic material, disposed facing said developer conveyance means; wherein said developer layer thickness regulating means is disposed on the upper side of said developer conveyance means so that said developer layer thickness regulating means is pressed onto said rigid surface of said developer conveyance means by the magnetism of said rigid surface and the weight of said developer layer thickness means, wherein said rigid surface of said developer conveyance means and said rigid surface portion of said developer layer thickness regulating means have a rigidity of not less than 10 4 kg/cm 2 .
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said curvature radius is 1 to 10 mm.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
148 words
A developing apparatus for supplying a developer to an image holding means so that an electrostatic latent image on said image holding means is developed with said developer, said apparatus comprising; a developer conveyance means having a rigid surface for conveying said developer to a developer zone; a developer layer thickness regulating means, shaped like a bar and having a rigid surface portion covered with rubber; said rigid surface having a curvature radius of 0.5 to 15 mm, for regulating the thickness of said developer to be conveyed to said developing zone; and a supporting means for supporting said developer layer thickness regulating means, and for pressing said surface portion onto said developer conveyance means wherein said rigid surface of said developer conveyance means and said rigid surface portion of said developer layer thickness regulating means have a rigidity of not less than 10 4 kg/cm 2 .
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
148 words
A developing apparatus for supplying a developer to an image holding means so that an electrostatic latent image on said image holding means is developed with said developer, said apparatus comprising; a developer conveyance means having a rigid surface for conveying said developer to a developer zone; a developer layer thickness regulating means, shaped like a bar and having a rigid surface portion covered with rubber; said rigid surface having a curvature radius of 0.5 to 15 mm, for regulating the thickness of said developer to be conveyed to said developing zone; and a supporting means for supporting said developer layer thickness regulating means, and for pressing said surface portion onto said developer conveyance means wherein said rigid surface of said developer conveyance means and said rigid surface portion of said developer layer thickness regulating means have a rigidity of not less than 10 4 kg/cm 2 .
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 23 wherein resilient contact is maintained between said regulating means and said conveyance means.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said curvature radius is 1 to 10 mm.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the rubber coating on said regulating means is 0.01 to 1.0 mm thick.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
163 words
A developing apparatus for supplying a developer to an image holding means so that an electrostatic latent image on said image holding means is developed with said developer, said apparatus comprising; a developer conveyance means having a rigid surface and a magnet disposed therein, for conveying said developer to a developing zone; a developer layer thickness regulating means, shaped like a bar and having a rigid surface portion covered with a curvature radius of between 0.5 and 15 mm, for regulating the thickness of said developer to be conveyed to said developing zone; and said rigid surface portion being formed of a magnetic material, disposed facing said developer conveyance means; wherein said developer thickness regulating means is pressed onto said rigid surface of said developer conveyance means by magnetic attraction between said rigid surface of said developer conveyance means and said rigid surface portion of said developer layer thickness regulating means have a rigidity of not less than 10 4 kg/cm 2 .
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
163 words
A developing apparatus for supplying a developer to an image holding means so that an electrostatic latent image on said image holding means is developed with said developer, said apparatus comprising; a developer conveyance means having a rigid surface and a magnet disposed therein, for conveying said developer to a developing zone; a developer layer thickness regulating means, shaped like a bar and having a rigid surface portion covered with a curvature radius of between 0.5 and 15 mm, for regulating the thickness of said developer to be conveyed to said developing zone; and said rigid surface portion being formed of a magnetic material, disposed facing said developer conveyance means; wherein said developer thickness regulating means is pressed onto said rigid surface of said developer conveyance means by magnetic attraction between said rigid surface of said developer conveyance means and said rigid surface portion of said developer layer thickness regulating means have a rigidity of not less than 10 4 kg/cm 2 .
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 27 wherein said curvature radius is 1 to 10 mm.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
160 words
A developing apparatus for supplying a developer to an image holding means so that an electrostatic latent image on said image holding means is developed with said developer, said apparatus comprising a developer conveyance means having a rigid surface for conveying said developer to said developing zone; and a developer layer thickness regulating means, shaped like a bar and having a rigid surface portion with a curvature radius of 0.5 to 15 mm, for regulating the thickness of said developer to be conveyed to said developing zone; wherein said developer layer thickness regulating means is supported so that the axis of said developer layer thickness regulating means is capable of moving in a direction of a line normal to the rigid surface of said developer conveyance means wherein said rigid surface of said developer conveyance means and said rigid surface portion of said developer layer thickness regulating means have a rigidity of not less than 10 4 kg/cm 2 .
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
160 words
A developing apparatus for supplying a developer to an image holding means so that an electrostatic latent image on said image holding means is developed with said developer, said apparatus comprising a developer conveyance means having a rigid surface for conveying said developer to said developing zone; and a developer layer thickness regulating means, shaped like a bar and having a rigid surface portion with a curvature radius of 0.5 to 15 mm, for regulating the thickness of said developer to be conveyed to said developing zone; wherein said developer layer thickness regulating means is supported so that the axis of said developer layer thickness regulating means is capable of moving in a direction of a line normal to the rigid surface of said developer conveyance means wherein said rigid surface of said developer conveyance means and said rigid surface portion of said developer layer thickness regulating means have a rigidity of not less than 10 4 kg/cm 2 .
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 29 wherein resilient contact is maintained between said regulating means and said conveyance means.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 29 wherein said curvature radius is 1 to 10 mm.
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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) | 1994-10-07 | 1995-04-08 | 1995-10-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-10-07 | 1999-04-08 | 1999-10-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-10-07 | 2003-04-08 | 2003-10-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |