Loading patent…
AssigneeRicoh Company, Ltd.
InventorsFumihiro Sasaki, Satoshi Mochizuki, Hidefumi Gohhara, Megumi Sakakura, Seiji Oka, Hajime Oyama, Kiyonori Tsuda, Yasushi Akiba
Estimating the term…
In an image forming apparatus, a developing device has a developing sleeve accommodating a magnet roller therein, and a doctor for regulating the amount of developer to be conveyed to a developing position. When the developing sleeve is rotated, the part of the doctor shaved off by the doctor from the sleeve is moved in a developer storing section to a toner replenishing opening formed in a toner storing section. Then, this part of the developer is returned to the doctor along the surface of the sleeve via the toner replenishing opening. The developer consists of a first developer containing a first carrier and deposited in a layer on the surface of the sleeve, and a second developer containing a second carrier different from the first carrier and stored in the developer storing section in such a manner as to contact the first developer deposited on the sleeve. The first carrier has a higher charging ability than the second carrier. The device does not need a toner replenishing mechanism or a toner concentration sensor and has, therefore, a miniature and inexpensive construction. In addition, the device is applicable even to a high-speed image forming apparatus.
A developing device comprising:
A developing device comprising:
A toner cartridge comprising:
An image forming apparatus for forming a toner image by feeding toner from a toner cartridge mounted to a developing device to a latent image electrostatically formed on an image carrier, wherein said toner cartridge comprises a hollow cylindrical container storing toner therein, an outlet formed in a circumferential wall of said container, and for causing said toner to be discharged therethrough, a lid pivotally mounted on said circumferential wall of said container, and for selectively opening or closing said outlet, a first magnetic member fitted on said container and adjoining said outlet, and a second magnetic member fitted on a free edge portion of said lid, wherein said lid hermetically closes said outlet due to attraction acting between said first magnetic member and said second magnetic member, and wherein said developing device comprises a mount portion for mounting said container in a rotatable manner, a toner replenishing opening formed in said mount portion and facing said outlet of said container, and a portion for selectively opening or closing said lid when said container is rotated about an axis thereof.
A developing device comprising:
A developing device comprising:
A developing device comprising:
A developing device comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.