Developer supplying apparatus and developing apparatus having the same
AssigneeSamsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
InventorJi-hoon Woo
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A developer supplying apparatus includes a developer lump prevention unit that reduces the aggregation of developer into lumps in the path, which defines the supply passage of developer from the developer cartridge, in which the developer is stored, to the developing cartridge, which houses the developing roller. The developer lump prevention unit includes a developer lump removal member disposed in the path and a driving mechanism to drive the developer lump removal member to move in the path to prevent the developer lumps from forming and/or to break up lumps that had already formed in the path.
Claims27
A developer supplying apparatus, comprising:
- a path disposed between a developer cartridge and a developing cartridge, said path defining a free fall passage of developer from said developer cartridge to said developing cartridge;
- and
- a developer lump prevention unit configured to reduce a presence of developer lumps in said path.
A developing apparatus comprising:
- a developer cartridge configured to hold developer therein;
- a developing cartridge for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on a photoconductor;
- a path disposed between said developer cartridge and said developing cartridge, said path defining a free fall passage of said developer from said developer cartridge to said developing cartridge;
- and
- a developer lump prevention unit configured to reduce a presence of developer lumps in said path.
An image forming apparatus comprising:
- a photoconductor configured to carry thereon an electrostatic latent image;
- a developing apparatus to develop said electrostatic latent image into a developed image using developer;
- a transfer unit configured to transfer said developed image onto a printing medium to form a transferred image thereon;
- and
- a fixing unit to fix said transferred image on said printing medium, and
- wherein said developing apparatus comprises:
- a developer cartridge configured to hold said developer therein;
- a developing cartridge configured to apply said developer over said electrostatic latent image formed on said photoconductor;
- a path disposed between said developer cartridge and said developing cartridge, said path defining a free fall passage of said developer from said developer cartridge to said developing cartridge;
- and
- a developer lump prevention unit configured to reduce a presence of developer lumps in said path.
A developer cartridge configured to store therein developer, and to supply said developer to an image in an image forming apparatus, said developer cartridge comprising:
- a container casing defining an inner chamber, within which said developer is to be stored;
- an opening provided in said container casing;
- and
- an agitating member disposed within said inner chamber, said agitating member being configured to agitate said developer stored in said inner chamber, and to direct said developer stored in said inner chamber towards said opening,
- wherein said opening is configured to be coupled to a path disposed between said developer cartridge and a developing cartridge of said image forming apparatus, said developing cartridge being configured to supply said developer to a photoconductive medium of said image forming apparatus, said path forming a free fall passage of the developer from said opening of said developer cartridge to said developing cartridge, and
- wherein said path having disposed therein a developer lump prevention unit configured to reduce a presence of developer lumps in said path.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.