# US 11,307,515 B2 · Developing device with a developer regulator and a stopper > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,307,515 B2 - Document ID: US11307515B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/923,410 - Filed: 2020-07-08 - Published: 2021-02-04 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2019-07-31 - Assignees: Ricoh Company, Ltd. - Applicants: Ricoh Company, Ltd. - Inventors: Hiroshi Kikuchi; Akira Fujimori; Hideki Kimura; Yutaka Takahashi; Johji Yahagi; Hiroyuki Uenishi; Yusuke Ishizuka - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11307515B2 ## CPC - G03G 15/0877: {Arrangements for metering and dispensing developer from a developer cartridge into the development unit} - G03G 15/081: {characterised by the developer handling means after the supply and before the regulating, e.g. means for preventing developer blocking} - G03G 15/0891: {for conveying or circulating developer, e.g. augers} - G03G 15/09: using magnetic brush - G03G 15/0921: {Details concerning the magnetic brush roller structure, e.g. magnet configuration} - G03G 2215/0827: Augers - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY ## Abstract A developing device includes a developer bearer, a developer regulator, a developer supply passage, and a stopper. The developer bearer includes a magnetic field generator and is configured to bear a developer containing toner and magnetic carriers and conveys the developer to a developing area by rotation. A stopper prevents the developer blocked by the developer regulator from moving to a surface of the developer bearer, while securing a supply path for passing the developer in the developer supply passage to the developer bearer between the stopper and an upper end of a side wall of the developer supply passage that is opposite to the developing bearer. A width of the supply path in a direction perpendicular to a direction of a rotation axis of the developer bearer is in a range of 7%-10% of a circumference of an outer diameter of the developing bearer. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A developing device, comprising: a developer bearer including a magnetic field generator and configured to bear a developer containing toner and magnetic carriers, and convey the developer to a developing area by rotation; a developer supply passage entirely within the rotation area of a conveying screw, the developer supply passage having a side wall that is opposite of the developing bearer; a developer regulator outside of the developer supply passage; a stopper positioned between the developer supply passage and the developer regulator and between the developer supply passage and the developer bearer, the stopper configured to prevent the developer blocked by the developer regulator from moving to a surface of the developer bearer; and a supply path for passing the developer in the developer supply passage to the developer bearer, the supply path having a width entirely between the stopper and an upper end of the side wall, wherein a line connecting a center of the developer bearer and a center of the conveying screw does not intersect the sidewall, the width of the supply path is in a direction perpendicular to a direction of a rotation axis of the developer bearer, and the width is in a range of 7% or more and less than 10% of a circumference of an outer diameter of the developing bearer. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The developing device according to claim 1, wherein a width of the stopper in the direction perpendicular to the direction of the rotation axis of the developer bearer is in a range of 6% or more and 11% or less of the circumference of the outer diameter of the developing bearer. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the developer supply passage includes the conveying screw, the conveying screw is configured to supply the developer along the direction of the rotation axis of the developer bearer, and an upper end of the supply path is positioned lower than a height of an upper end of an outer diameter of the conveying screw. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the developer supply passage includes the conveying screw, the conveying screw is configured to supply the developer along the direction of the rotation axis of the developer bearer, and a lower end of the supply path is positioned above a rotation center of the conveying screw. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The developing device according to claim 4, wherein the magnetic field generator includes a developer scooping pole having a magnetic force, the developer scooping pole to scoop the developer beyond the upper end of the side wall, a peak position of a magnetic flux density of the developer scooping pole in a normal direction of the developer bearer is positioned upstream in a developer conveying direction, defined by the rotation of the developer bearer, from a line connecting a rotation center of the developer bearer and the rotation center of the conveying screw, and the lower end of the supply path is positioned above a center of the developer scooping pole. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) An image forming apparatus, comprising: a photoconductor; and the developing device according to claim 1. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The developing device of claim 1, wherein a width of the stopper in the direction perpendicular to the direction of the rotation axis of the developer bearer is in a range of 6% or more and 10% or less of the circumference of the outer diameter of the developing bearer. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The developing device of claim 1, wherein the magnetic field generator includes at least five magnetic poles, the at least five magnetic poles including: a developer regulating pole facing the developer regulator, a developer scooping pole to draw the developer from the developer supply passage, a developer main pole disposed at the developing area, a first developer carrying pole disposed between the developer regulating pole and the developer main pole, and a second developer carrying pole disposed between the developer main pole and the developer scooping pole. ### Claim 9 A developing device, comprising: a developer bearer including a magnetic field generator and configured to bear a developer containing toner and magnetic carriers, and convey the developer to a developing area by rotation; a developer supply passage entirely within the rotation area of a conveying screw, the developer supply passage having a side wall that is opposite of the developing bearer; a developer regulator outside of the developer supply passage; a stopper positioned between the developer supply passage and the developer regulator and between the developer supply passage and the developer bearer, the stopper configured to prevent the developer blocked by the developer regulator from moving to a surface of the developer bearer; and a supply path for passing the developer in the developer supply passage to the developer bearer, the supply path having a first width entirely between the stopper and an upper end of the side wall, wherein a line connecting a center of the developer bearer and a center of the conveying screw does not intersect the sidewall, the first width of the supply path is in a direction perpendicular to a direction of a rotation axis of the developer bearer, the first width is in a range of 6% or more and 10% or less of a circumference of an outer diameter of the developing bearer, and a second width of the stopper in the direction perpendicular to the direction of the rotation axis of the developer bearer is 6% or more and 11% or less of the circumference of the outer diameter of the developing bearer. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The developing device according to claim 9, wherein the developer supply passage includes the conveying screw, the conveying screw is configured to supply the developer along the direction of the rotation axis of the developer bearer, and an upper end of the supply path is positioned lower than a height of an upper end of an outer diameter of the conveying screw. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The developing device according to claim 9, wherein the developer supply passage includes the conveying screw, the conveying screw is configured to supply the developer along the direction of the rotation axis of the developer bearer, and a lower end of the supply path is positioned above a rotation center of the conveying screw. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The developing device according to claim 11, wherein the magnetic field generator includes a developer scooping pole having a magnetic force, the developer scooping pole to scoop the developer beyond the upper end of the side wall, a peak position of a magnetic flux density of the developer scooping pole in a normal direction of the developer bearer is positioned upstream in a developer conveying direction, defined by the rotation of the developer bearer, from a line connecting a rotation center of the developer bearer and the rotation center of the conveying screw, and the lower end of the supply path is positioned above a center of the developer scooping pole. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) An image forming apparatus, comprising: a photoconductor; and the developing device according to claim 9. ### Claim 14 A developing device, comprising: a developer bearer including a magnetic field generator and configured to bear a developer containing toner and magnetic carriers, and convey the developer to a developing area by rotation; a developer supply passage entirely within the rotation area of a conveying screw, the developer supply passage having a side wall that is opposite of the developing bearer; a developer regulator outside of the developer supply passage; a stopper positioned between the developer supply passage and the developer regulator and between the developer supply passage and the developer bearer, the stopper configured to prevent the developer blocked by the developer regulator from moving to a surface of the developer bearer; and a supply path for passing the developer in the developer supply passage to the developer bearer, the supply path having a width entirely between the stopper and an upper end of the side wall, wherein the magnetic field generator includes at least five magnetic poles, the at least five magnetic poles including: a developer regulating pole facing the developer regulator, a developer scooping pole to draw the developer from the developer supply passage, a developer main pole disposed at the developing area, a first developer carrying pole disposed between the developer regulating pole and the developer main pole, and a second developer carrying pole disposed between the developer main pole and the developer scooping pole, the width of the supply path is in a direction perpendicular to a direction of a rotation axis of the developer bearer, and the width is in a range of 7% or more and less than 10% of a circumference of an outer diameter of the developing bearer.