Developing device replenishing a toner or a carrier of a two-ingredient type developer and image forming apparatus including the developing device

A developer device configured to develop a latent image formed on an image carrier with a two-ingredient type developer including a toner and a carrier, said developing device comprising:

• developer storing means for storing a developer to be replenished, said developer storing means comprising an at least partly flexible bag;
• conveying means for conveying the developer from said developer storing means to a case, which is configured to store the two-ingredient type developer to be fed to a developing roller, while fluidizing said developer;
• and
• an excess developer discharging portion configured to discharge an excess part of the two-ingredient type developer to an exterior of the case to maintain an amount of developer in the case constant,
• wherein a toner-to-carrier mixture ratio of the developer stored in said developer storing means is between 70 toner wt % and 90 toner wt %.

A developing device configured to develop a latent image formed on an image carrier with a two-ingredient type developer including a toner and a carrier, said developing device comprising:

• developer storing means for storing a developer to be replenished, said developer storing means comprising an at least partly flexible bag;
• conveying means for conveying the developer from said developer storing means to a case, which is configured to store the two-ingredient type developer to be fed to a developing roller, while fluidizing said developer, said conveying means including a nozzle;
• an excess developer discharging portion configured to discharge an excess part of the two-ingredient type developer to an exterior of the case and the discharging portion;
• and
• a body configured to move laterally in a first direction and in a second direction opposite to the first direction with the developer storing means to move the developer in a direction of an opening in the developer storing means during discharge of the developer from the developer storing means, the nozzle configured to be moveable together with the body,
• wherein said developer storing means is formed with inwardly convex folds configured to bend when said bag contracts, and said developer storing means is configured to be mounted to a tray included in a stationary section and is formed with lugs configured to cause the folds to bend.

A developing device configured to develop a latent image formed on an image carrier with a two-ingredient type developer including a toner and a carrier, said developing device comprising:

• developer storing means for storing a developer to be replenished, said developer storing means comprising an at least partly flexible bag;
• conveying means for conveying the developer from said developer storing means to a case, which is configured to store the two-ingredient type developer to be deposited on the image carrier, while fluidizing said developer;
• and
• an excess developer discharging portion configured to discharge an excess part of the two-ingredient type developer to an exterior of the case,
• wherein said developer storing means is formed with inwardly convex folds configured to bend when said bag contracts, and said developer storing means is configured to be mounted to a tray which is included in a stationary section and is formed with lugs located to be proximate to said folds and configured to cause the folds to bend.

A developer device configured to develop a latent image formed on an image carrier with a two-ingredient type developer including a toner and a carrier, said developing device comprising:

• developer storing means for storing a developer to be replenished, said developer storing means comprising an at least partly flexible bag;
• conveying means for conveying the developer from said developer storing means to a case, which is configured to store the two-ingredient type developer to be fed to a developing roller, while fluidizing said developer, said conveying means including a nozzle;
• an excess developer discharging portion configured to discharge an excess part of the two-ingredient type developer to an exterior of the case and the discharging portion;
• and
• a body configured to move laterally in a first direction and in a second direction opposite to the first direction with the developer storing means to move the developer in a direction of an opening in the developer storing means during discharge of the developer from the developer storing means, the nozzle configured to be moveable together with the body,
• wherein said developer storing means comprises inwardly convex folds configured to bend when said bag contracts.

An image forming apparatus comprising a developing device configured to develop a latent image formed on an image carrier with a two-ingredient type developer including a toner and a carrier, said developing device comprising:

• means for storing a replenishing developer comprising an at least partially flexible bag;
• means for conveying the developer from the means for storing to a case, which is configured to store the two-ingredient type developer to be fed to a developing roller, while fluidizing said developer, said means for conveying including a nozzle;
• an excess developer discharging portion configured to discharge an excess part of the two-ingredient type developer to an exterior of the case;
• and
• a body configured to move laterally in a first direction and in a second direction opposite to the first direction with the means for storing to move the developer in a direction of an opening in the means for storing during discharge of the developer from the means for storing, the nozzle configured to be moveable together with the body.

In an image forming apparatus comprising a developing device configured to develop a latent image formed on an image carrier with a two-ingredient type developer including a toner and a carrier, said developing device comprising:

• developer storing means for storing a developer to be replenished, the developer storing means comprising an at least partly flexible bag;
• conveying means for conveying the developer from said developer storing means to a case, which is configured to store the two-ingredient type developer to be fed to a developing roller, while fluidizing said developer, said conveying means including a nozzle;
• an excess developer discharging portion configured to discharge an excess part of the two-ingredient type developer to an exterior of the case and the discharging portion;
• and
• a body configured to move laterally in a first direction and in a second direction opposite to the first direction with the developer storing means to move the developer in a direction of an opening in the developer storing means during discharge of the developer from the developer storing means, the nozzle configured to be moveable together with the body,
• wherein said developer storing means comprises inwardly convex folds configured to bend when said bag contracts.

An image forming apparatus comprising a developing device configured to develop a latent image formed on an image carrier with a two-ingredient type developer including a toner and a carrier, said developing device comprising:

• developer storing means for storing a developer to be replenished, the developer storing means comprising an at least partly flexible bag;
• conveying means for conveying the developer from said developer storing means to a case, which is configured to store the two-ingredient type developer to be fed to a developing roller, while fluidizing said developer;
• and
• an excess developer discharging portion configured to discharge an excess part of the two-ingredient type developer to an exterior of the case,
• wherein said developer storing means comprises inwardly convex folds configured to bend when said bag contracts,
• wherein said developer storing means is configured to be mounted to a tray which is included in a stationary section and is formed with lugs located to be proximate to said folds and configured to cause the folds to bend.

A developing device configured to develop a latent image formed on an image carrier with a two-ingredient type developer including a toner and a carrier, said developing device comprising:

• a toner replenishing section configured to replenish a fresh toner independent of the toner to be deposited on the image carrier;
• a carrier replenishing section configured to replenish a fresh carrier independent of the carrier on which the toner to be fed to the latent image is deposited;
• means for conveying the toner or the carrier from said toner replenishing section or said carrier replenishing section, respectively, to a case in which the two-ingredient type developer is to be agitated, while fluidizing said toner or said carrier, said means for conveying including a nozzle;
• means for sensing a toner content of the developer present in said case;
• a controller configured to control an operation of said toner replenishing section or an operation of said carrier replenishing section in accordance with one of the toner content, a number of images formed, and a duration of drive for development;
• and
• a body configured to move laterally in a first direction and in a second direction opposite to the first direction with the toner replenishing section to move the toner in a direction of an opening in the toner replenishing section during discharge of the toner from the toner replenishing section, the nozzle configured to be moveable together with the body;
• wherein said controller is configured to control replenishment of the fresh toner in accordance with the toner content and to control replenishment of the fresh carrier when at least one of the number of images formed and the duration of drive reaches a preselected value.

A developing device configured to develop a latent image formed on an image carrier with a two-ingredient type developer including a toner and a carrier, said developing device comprising:

• a toner replenishing section configured to replenish a fresh toner independent of the toner to be deposited on the image carrier;
• a carrier replenishing section configured to replenish a fresh carrier independent of the carrier on which the toner to be fed to the latent image is deposited;
• means for conveying the toner or the carrier from said toner replenishing section or said carrier replenishing section, respectively, to a case in which the two-ingredient type developer is to be agitated, while fluidizing said toner or said carrier;
• means for sensing a toner content of the developer present in said case;
• a controller configured to control an operation of said toner replenishing section in accordance with one of the toner content, a number of images formed, and a duration of drive for development and an operation of said carrier replenishing section in accordance with a life of said carrier;
• and
• wherein said controller is configured to control replenishment of the fresh toner in accordance with the toner content when at least one of the number of images formed and the duration of drive reaches a preselected value and to control replenishment of the fresh carrier in accordance with a period of time in which a carrier stayed in the developing device, and
• wherein said means for conveying comprises a uniaxial eccentric screw pump configured to generate vacuum in a passage formed in said toner replenishing section or said carrier replenishing section to fluidize the fresh toner or the fresh carrier.

A developing device configured to develop a latent image formed on an image carrier with a two-ingredient type developer including a toner and a carrier, said developing device comprising:

• a toner replenishing section configured to replenish a fresh toner independent of the toner to be deposited on the image carrier;
• a carrier replenishing section configured to replenish a fresh carrier independent of the carrier on which the toner to be fed to the latent image is deposited;
• conveying means for conveying the toner or the carrier from said toner replenishing section or said carrier replenishing section, respectively, to a case in which the two-ingredient type developer is to be agitated, while fluidizing said toner or said carrier, said conveying means including a nozzle;
• sensing means for sensing a toner content of the developer present in said case;
• and
• a controller configured to control an operation of said toner replenishing section or an operation of said carrier replenishing section in accordance with one of the toner content, a number of images formed, and a duration of drive for development;
• wherein said controller is configured to control replenishment of the fresh toner in accordance with the toner content and to control replenishment of the fresh carrier when at least one of the number of images formed and the duration of drive reaches a preselected value, and
• wherein said toner replenishing section and said carrier replenishing section each comprise:
• a storing member comprising a contractible bag;
• and
• a structural body configured to be moved laterally back and forth while being loaded with said storing member, wherein said structural body is configured to exert, during a lateral reciprocating movement, an impact force to generate an inertia force in the toner or the carrier stored in said storing member to cause said toner or said carrier to move in one direction toward said conveying means during discharge of the toner or carrier the nozzle configured to be moveable together with the structural body.

A developing device configured to develop a latent image formed on an image carrier with a two-ingredient type developer including a toner and a carrier, said developing device comprising:

• a toner replenishing section configured to replenish a fresh toner independent of the toner to be deposited on the image carrier;
• a carrier replenishing section configured to replenish a fresh carrier independent of the carrier on which the toner to be fed to the latent image is deposited;
• conveying means for conveying the toner or the carrier from said toner replenishing section or said carrier replenishing section, respectively, to a case in which the two-ingredient type developer is to be agitated, while fluidizing said toner or said carrier, said conveying means including a nozzle;
• sensing means for sensing a toner content of the developer present in said case;
• and
• a controller configured to control an operation of said toner replenishing section or an operation of said carrier replenishing section in accordance with one of the toner content, a number of images formed, and a duration of drive for development;
• wherein said controller is configured to control replenishment of the fresh toner in accordance with the toner content and to control replenishment of the fresh carrier when at least one of the number of images formed and the duration of drive reaches a preselected value,
• wherein said toner replenishing section and said carrier replenishing section each comprise:
• a storing member comprising a contractible bag;
• and
• a structural body configured to be moved back and forth while being loaded with said storing member, wherein said structural body is configured to exert, during a reciprocating movement, an impact force to generate an inertia force in the toner or the carrier stored in said storing member to cause said toner or said carrier to move in one direction toward said conveying means, the nozzle configured to be moveable together with the structural body, and
• wherein said conveying means comprises a uniaxial eccentric screw pump configured to generate vacuum in a passage formed in said toner replenishing section or said carrier replenishing section to fluidize the fresh toner or the fresh carrier.

In an image forming apparatus comprising a developing device configured to develop a latent image formed on an image carrier with a two-ingredient type developer including a toner and a carrier, said developing device comprising:

• a toner replenishing section configured to replenish a fresh toner independent of the toner to be deposited on the image carrier;
• a carrier replenishing section configured to replenish a fresh carrier independent of the carrier on which the toner to be fed to the latent image is deposited;
• means for conveying the toner or the carrier from said toner replenishing section or said carrier replenishing section, respectively, to a case in which the two-ingredient type developer is to be agitated, while fluidizing said toner or said carrier, said means for conveying including a nozzle;
• means for sensing a toner content of the developer present in said case;
• and
• a controller configured to control an operation of said toner replenishing section or an operation of said carrier replenishing section in accordance with one of the toner content, a number of images formed, and a duration of drive for development;
• and
• a body configured to move laterally in a first direction and in a second direction opposite to the first direction with the toner replenishing section to move the toner in a direction of an opening in the toner replenishing section during discharge of the toner from the toner replenishing section, the nozzle configured to be moveable together with the body;
• wherein said controller is configured to control replenishment of the fresh toner in accordance with the toner content and to control replenishment of the fresh carrier when at least one of the number of images formed and the duration of drive reaches a preselected value.

In an image forming apparatus comprising a developing device configured to develop a latent image formed on an image carrier with a two-ingredient type developer including a toner and a carrier, said developing device comprising:

• a toner replenishing section configured to replenish a fresh toner independent of the toner to be deposited on the image carrier;
• a carrier replenishing section configured to replenish a fresh carrier independent of the carrier on which the toner to be fed to the latent image is deposited;
• conveying means for conveying the toner or the carrier from said toner replenishing section or said carrier replenishing section, respectively, to a case in which the two-ingredient type developer is to be agitated, while fluidizing said toner or said carrier, said conveying means including a nozzle;
• sensing means for sensing a toner content of the developer present in said case;
• and
• a controller configured to control an operation of said toner replenishing section or an operation of said carrier replenishing section in accordance with one of the toner content, a number of images formed, and a duration of drive for development;
• wherein said controller is configured to control replenishment of the fresh toner in accordance with the toner content and to control replenishment of the fresh carrier when at least one of the number of images formed and the duration of drive reaches a preselected value, and
• wherein said toner replenishing section and said carrier replenishing section each comprise:
• a storing member comprising a contractible bag;
• and
• a structural body configured to be moved laterally back and forth while being loaded with said storing member, wherein said structural body is configured to exert, during a lateral reciprocating movement, an impact force to generate an inertia force in the toner or the carrier stored in said storing member to cause said toner or said carrier to move in one direction toward said conveying means during discharge of the toner or carrier, the nozzle configured to be moveable together with the structural body.

In an image forming apparatus comprising a developing device configured to develop a latent image formed on an image carrier with a two-ingredient type developer including a toner and a carrier, said developing device comprising:

• a toner replenishing section configured to replenish a fresh toner independent of the toner to be deposited on the image carrier;
• a carrier replenishing section configured to replenish a fresh carrier independent of the carrier on which the toner to be fed to the latent image is deposited;
• conveying means for conveying the toner or the carrier from said toner replenishing section or said carrier replenishing section, respectively, to a case in which the two-ingredient type developer is to be agitated, while fluidizing said toner or said carrier, said conveying means including a nozzle;
• sensing means for sensing a toner content of the developer present in said case;
• and
• a controller configured to control an operation of said toner replenishing section or an operation of said carrier replenishing section in accordance with one of the toner content, a number of images formed, and a duration of drive for development;
• wherein said controller is configured to control replenishment of the fresh toner in accordance with the toner content and to control replenishment of the fresh carrier when at least one of the number of images formed and the duration of drive reaches a preselected value,
• wherein said toner replenishing section and said carrier replenishing section each comprise:
• a storing member comprising a contractible bag;
• and
• a structural body configured to be moved back and forth while being loaded with said storing member, wherein said structural body is configured to exert, during a reciprocating movement, an impact force to generate an inertia force in the toner or the carrier stored in said storing member to cause said toner or said carrier to move in one direction toward said conveying means, the nozzle configured to be moveable together with the structural body, and
• wherein said conveying means comprises a uniaxial eccentric screw pump configured to generate vacuum in a passage formed in said toner replenishing section or said carrier replenishing section to fluidize the fresh toner or the fresh carrier.

An image forming apparatus configured to develop a latent image, comprising:

• a developing device for developing the latent image formed on an image carrier with a two-ingredient type developer including a toner and a carrier, said developing device including,
• a developer storing unit configured to store a developer to be replenished, said developer storing unit comprising an at least partly flexible bag;
• a conveying unit configured to convey the developer from said developer storing unit to a case, which is configured to store the two-ingredient type developer to be deposited on the image carrier, while fluidizing said developer;
• and
• an excess developer discharging portion configured to discharge an excess part of the two-ingredient type developer to an exterior of the case,
• wherein said developer storing unit is formed with inwardly convex folds configured to bend when said bag contracts, and said developing storing unit is configured to be mounted to a tray which is included in a stationary section and is formed with lugs located to be proximate to said folds and configured to cause the folds to bend.

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• a developing device configured to develop a latent image on an image carrier with a two-ingredient type developer including a toner and a carrier;
• a developer storing device configured to store a developer to be replenished;
• and
• a transfer belt configured to transfer a developed image,
• wherein the developer storing device faces the developing device with the transfer belt therebetween.