US5655197A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Developing device
Assignee: Seiko Epson Corp
•
Filing: 1995-10-24
•
Granted: 1997-08-05
•
Expires: 2015-10-24
Abstract
Abstract A developing device including a supply member pressingly contacted with a toner carrier, wherein the supply member has a hardness which greater than that of the toner carrier. The supply member is rotated in the same direction as the toner carrier to conduct the peeling and supply of toner. A plate spring-like regulation member is pressed against the toner carrier to charge the toner to a predetermined polarity and thin the toner into one or two layers. The toner carrier is made of a foam material.
Inventors
- 👤 Hideki Okada
- 👤 Yoshiro Koga
- 👤 Takashi Suzuki
- 👤 Yoshihiro Nakashima
- 👤 Takehiko Okamura
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 09:12
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/06; G03G15/08; G03G15/0806; G03G15/0808; G03G15/0812; G03G15/0818
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
111 words
A developing device comprising: a toner carrier for developing a latent image formed on a latent image carrier, an outer surface of said toner carrier opposing said latent image carrier, at least said outer surface of said toner carrier being formed by a foamed member; a supply member for supplying toner to said toner carrier, said supply member being pressingly contacted with said toner carrier while moving relative to said toner carrier; and a regulation member for thinning toner supplied onto said toner carrier, said regulation member being slidably contacted with said toner carrier, wherein a hardness of said toner carrier is less than at least that of said supply member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
111 words
A developing device comprising: a toner carrier for developing a latent image formed on a latent image carrier, an outer surface of said toner carrier opposing said latent image carrier, at least said outer surface of said toner carrier being formed by a foamed member; a supply member for supplying toner to said toner carrier, said supply member being pressingly contacted with said toner carrier while moving relative to said toner carrier; and a regulation member for thinning toner supplied onto said toner carrier, said regulation member being slidably contacted with said toner carrier, wherein a hardness of said toner carrier is less than at least that of said supply member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The developing device according to claim 1, wherein said supply member is formed by a rigid member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The developing device according to claim 2, wherein said regulation member is formed by a rigid member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the foamed member has a hardness of 40 deg. (JIS A) or less.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The developing device according to claim 2, wherein the foamed member has a hardness of 40 deg. (JIS A) or less.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The developing device according to claim 3, wherein the foamed member has a hardness of 40 deg. (JIS A) or less.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The developing device according to claim 4, wherein said foamed member has a developing nip length of at least 1 mm.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The developing device according to claim 5, wherein said foamed member has a developing nip length of at least 1 mm.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The developing device according to claim 6, wherein said foamed member has a developing nip length of at least 1 mm.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The developing device according to claim 4, wherein said toner carrier exerts a developing pressure of not more than 5 g/mm.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The developing device according to claim 5, wherein said toner carrier exerts a developing pressure of not more than 5 g/mm.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The developing device according to claim 6, wherein said toner carrier exerts a developing pressure of not more than 5 g/mm.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The developing device according to claim 7, wherein said toner carrier exerts a developing pressure of not more than 5 g/mm.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The developing device according to claim 8, wherein said toner carrier exerts a developing pressure of not more than 5 g/mm.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The developing device according to claim 9, wherein said toner carrier exerts a developing pressure of not more than 5 g/mm.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
104 words
The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the contacting point between said toner carrier and said supply member is below the rotation center of said toner carrier, the contacting point between said toner carrier and said regulation member is above the rotation center of said toner carrier, an angle defined between a line connecting a rotation center of said toner carrier and a contacting point between said toner carrier and said supply member and a line connecting a rotation center of said toner carrier and said contacting point between said toner carrier and said regulation member is between 45 degrees and 90 degrees.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
104 words
The developing device according to claim 2, wherein the contacting point between said toner carrier and said supply member is below the rotation center of said toner carrier, the contacting point between said toner carrier and said regulation member is above the rotation center of said toner carrier, an angle defined between a line connecting a rotation center of said toner carrier and a contacting point between said toner carrier and said supply member and a line connecting a rotation center of said toner carrier and said contacting point between said toner carrier and said regulation member is between 45 degrees and 90 degrees.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
104 words
The developing device according to claim 3, wherein the contacting point between said toner carrier and said supply member is below the rotation center of said toner carrier, the contacting point between said toner carrier and said regulation member is above the rotation center of said toner carrier, an angle defined between a line connecting a rotation center of said toner carrier and a contacting point between said toner carrier and said supply member and a line connecting a rotation center of said toner carrier and said contacting point between said toner carrier and said regulation member is between 45 degrees and 90 degrees.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
104 words
The developing device according to claim 4, wherein the contacting point between said toner carrier and said supply member is below the rotation center of said toner carrier, the contacting point between said toner carrier and said regulation member is above the rotation center of said toner carrier, an angle defined between a line connecting a rotation center of said toner carrier and a contacting point between said toner carrier and said supply member and a line connecting a rotation center of said toner carrier and said contacting point between said toner carrier and said regulation member is between 45 degrees and 90 degrees.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
104 words
The developing device according to claim 5, wherein the contacting point between said toner carrier and said supply member is below the rotation center of said toner carrier, the contacting point between said toner carrier and said regulation member is above the rotation center of said toner carrier, an angle defined between a line connecting a rotation center of said toner carrier and a contacting point between said toner carrier and said supply member and a line connecting a rotation center of said toner carrier and said contacting point between said toner carrier and said regulation member is between 45 degrees and 90 degrees.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
104 words
The developing device according to claim 6, wherein the contacting point between said toner carrier and said supply member is below the rotation center of said toner carrier, the contacting point between said toner carrier and said regulation member is above the rotation center of said toner carrier, an angle defined between a line connecting a rotation center of said toner carrier and a contacting point between said toner carrier and said supply member and a line connecting a rotation center of said toner carrier and said contacting point between said toner carrier and said regulation member is between 45 degrees and 90 degrees.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
104 words
The developing device according to claim 7, therein the contacting point between said toner carrier and said supply member is below the rotation center of said toner carrier, the contacting point between said toner carrier and said regulation member is above the rotation center of said toner carrier, an angle defined between a line connecting a rotation center of said toner carrier and a contacting point between said toner carrier and said supply member and a line connecting a rotation center of said toner carrier and said contacting point between said toner carrier and said regulation member is between 45 degrees and 90 degrees.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
104 words
The developing device according to claim 8, wherein the contacting point between said toner carrier and said supply member is below the rotation center of said toner carrier, the contacting point between said toner carrier and said regulation member is above the rotation center of said toner carrier, an angle defined between a line connecting a rotation center of said toner carrier and a contacting point between said toner carrier and said supply member and a line connecting a rotation center of said toner carrier and said contacting point between said toner carrier and said regulation member is between 45 degrees and 90 degrees.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
104 words
The developing device according to claim 9, wherein the contacting point between said toner carrier and said supply member is below the rotation center of said toner carrier, the contacting point between said toner carrier and said regulation member is above the rotation center of said toner carrier, an angle defined between a line connecting a rotation center of said toner carrier and a contacting point between said toner carrier and said supply member and a line connecting a rotation center of said toner carrier and said contacting point between said toner carrier and said regulation member is between 45 degrees and 90 degrees.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
104 words
The developing device according to claim 10, wherein the contacting point between said toner carrier and said supply member is below the rotation center of said toner carrier, the contacting point between said toner carrier and said regulation member is above the rotation center of said toner carrier, an angle defined between a line connecting a rotation center of said toner carrier and a contacting point between said toner carrier and said supply member and a line connecting a rotation center of said toner carrier and said contacting point between said toner carrier and said regulation member is between 45 degrees and 90 degrees.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
104 words
The developing device according to claim 11, wherein the contacting point between said toner carrier and said supply member is below the rotation center of said toner carrier, the contacting point between said toner carrier and said regulation member is above the rotation center of said toner carrier, an angle defined between a line connecting a rotation center of said toner carrier and a contacting point between said toner carrier and said supply member and a line connecting a rotation center of said toner carrier and said contacting point between said toner carrier and said regulation member is between 45 degrees and 90 degrees.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
104 words
The developing device according to claim 12, wherein the contacting point between said toner carrier and said supply member is below the rotation center of said toner carrier, the contacting point between said toner carrier and said regulation member is above the rotation center of said toner carrier, an angle defined between a line connecting a rotation center of said toner carrier and a contacting point between said toner carrier and said supply member and a line connecting a rotation center of said toner carrier and said contacting point between said toner carrier and said regulation member is between 45 degrees and 90 degrees.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
104 words
The developing device according to claim 13, wherein the contacting point between said toner carrier and said supply member is below the rotation center of said toner carrier, the contacting point between said toner carrier and said regulation member is above the rotation center of said toner carrier, an angle defined between a line connecting a rotation center of said toner carrier and a contacting point between said toner carrier and said supply member and a line connecting a rotation center of said toner carrier and said contacting point between said toner carrier and said regulation member is between 45 degrees and 90 degrees.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
104 words
The developing device according to claim 14, wherein the contacting point between said toner carrier and said supply member is below the rotation center of said toner carrier, the contacting point between said toner carrier and said regulation member is above the rotation center of said toner carrier, an angle defined between a line connecting a rotation center of said toner carrier and a contacting point between said toner carrier and said supply member and a line connecting a rotation center of said toner carrier and said contacting point between said toner carrier and said regulation member is between 45 degrees and 90 degrees.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
104 words
The developing device according to claim 15, therein the contacting point between said toner carrier and said supply member is below the rotation center of said toner carrier, the contacting point between said toner carrier and said regulation member is above the rotation center of said toner carrier, an angle defined between a line connecting a rotation center of said toner carrier and a contacting point between said toner carrier and said supply member and a line connecting a rotation center of said toner carrier and said contacting point between said toner carrier and said regulation member is between 45 degrees and 90 degrees.
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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) | 2000-08-04 | 2001-02-03 | 2001-08-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-08-04 | 2005-02-03 | 2005-08-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-08-04 | 2009-02-03 | 2009-08-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |