# US 7,609,994 B2 · Image developing apparatus and image forming apparatus using the apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,609,994 B2 - Document ID: US7609994B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/081,641 - Filed: 2008-04-18 - Published: 2008-09-25 - Granted: 2009-10-27 - Earliest claimed: 2005-11-22 - Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Seung-chan Park; Myoung-su Baek; Soon-seok Kwon - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7609994B2 ## CPC - G03G 15/0898: {for preventing toner scattering during operation, e.g. seals (sealing the donor member G03G15/0817; sealing the magnetic brush G03G15/0942)} - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY ## Abstract An image developing apparatus includes an upper case; a lower case disposed on a lower side of the upper case, and internally housing a developing agent, and having an opening. A photoconductive drum is disposed on the upper case for forming an electrostatic latent image on a surface thereof. A charging roller is disposed on one side of an outer circumference of the photoconductive drum for charging the photoconductive drum. A developing roller having one part is exposed through the opening of the lower case to cooperate with the photoconductive drum for developing the electrostatic latent image. A scattering preventing unit disposed between the photoconductive drum and the developing roller, to prevent scattering of the developing agent supplied by the developing roller. The scattering preventing unit includes a blocking curtain which covers a part of the opening and having one side in contact with the outer circumference of the photoconductive drum. A fixing bracket is provided for supporting the blocking curtain. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An image developing apparatus comprising: an upper case; a lower case disposed on and fixed to a lower side of the upper case, and internally housing a developing agent, and having an opening; a photoconductive drum disposed on the upper case for forming an electrostatic latent image on a surface thereof; a charging roller disposed on one side of an outer circumference of the photoconductive drum, for charging the photoconductive drum; a developing roller having one part exposed through the opening of the lower case to cooperate with the photoconductive drum, and developing the electrostatic latent image; a fixing bracket coupled to an upper side of the lower case and supporting a regulating blade which regulates a thickness of a developing agent layer formed on a surface of the developing roller; and a scattering preventing unit disposed between the photoconductive drum and the developing roller, to prevent scattering of the developing agent supplied by the developing roller, the scattering preventing unit including a blocking curtain covering a part of the opening and having one side in contact with the outer circumference of the photoconductive drum and the fixing bracket supporting the other side of the blocking curtain, the blocking curtain including a supporting portion supported on the fixing bracket, and a bending portion having one end of the supporting portion bent to contact the photoconductive drum; wherein one end of the scattering preventing unit is attached to a top surface of the fixing bracket and the other end of the scattering preventing unit is disposed toward the photoconductive drum. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The image developing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the blocking curtain is formed of soft materials. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The image developing apparatus of claim 2, wherein the blocking curtain is formed of Urethane. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The image developing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bending portion is bent along the rotation direction of the photoconductive drum. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The image developing apparatus of claim 4, wherein the bending portion is bent to correspond to the outer circumference of the photoconductive drum. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The image developing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fixing bracket is disposed towards the opening. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The image developing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the supporting portion of the blocking curtain is coupled to the top surface of the fixing bracket and where the bending portion has a substantially concave inner surface contacting the photoconductive drum and a substantially convex outer surface facing said regulating blade. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The image developing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the developing agent is a 1-component nonmagnetic toner. ### Claim 9 An image developing apparatus, comprising: an upper case; a lower case disposed on and fixed to a lower side of the upper case, and internally housing a developing agent, and having an opening; a photoconductive drum disposed on the upper case for forming an electrostatic latent image on a surface thereof; a charging roller disposed on one side of an outer circumference of the photoconductive drum, for charging the photoconductive drum; a developing roller having one part exposed through the opening of the lower case to cooperate with the photoconductive drum, and developing the electrostatic latent image, wherein the photoconductive drum and the developing roller are disposed away at a predetermined gap therebetween; a fixing bracket coupled to an upper side of the lower case and supporting a regulating blade which regulates a thickness of a developing agent layer formed on a surface of the developing roller; and a scattering preventing unit disposed between the photoconductive drum and the developing roller, to prevent scattering of the developing agent supplied by the developing roller, wherein one end of the scattering preventing unit is attached to a top surface of the fixing bracket and the other end of the scattering preventing unit is disposed toward the photoconductive drum. ### Claim 10 An image developing apparatus comprising: an upper case; a lower case disposed on a lower side of the upper case, and internally housing a developing agent, and having an opening; a photoconductive drum forming an electrostatic latent image on a surface thereof; a charging roller disposed on one side of the photoconductive drum for charging the photoconductive drum; a developing roller disposed on the other side of the photoconductive drum for supplying a developing agent to develop the electrostatic latent image, the photoconductive drum and the developing roller being disposed away from each other to define a predetermined gap therebetween; and a scattering preventing unit disposed between the photoconductive drum and the developing roller to prevent scattering of the developing agent supplied by the developing roller, wherein the scattering preventing unit covers an upper side of the developing roller, and includes a blocking curtain having one side in contact with an outer circumference of the photoconductive drum, and a fixing bracket supporting the other side of the blocking curtain, wherein the fixing bracket is supported on the upper side of the lower case and supports a regulating blade which regulates a thickness of a developing agent layer formed on the surface of the developing roller, wherein the regulating blade is positioned between the scattering preventing unit and the developing agent contained in the lower case. ### Claim 11 An image forming apparatus comprising: at least one developing unit; and a transferring unit disposed on one side of the developing unit to transfer a developing agent image developed through the developing unit on a recording medium, wherein the developing unit comprises: an upper case; a lower case disposed on a lower side of the upper case, and internally housing a developing agent and formed with an opening; a photoconductive drum disposed on the upper case to form an electrostatic latent image on a surface of the photoconductive drum; a charging roller disposed on one side of the photoconductive drum to charge the photoconductive drum; a developing roller having one part exposed through the opening of the lower case to cooperate with the photoconductive drum, and for developing the electrostatic latent image; a fixing bracket supported on the upper side of the lower case and supporting a regulating blade which regulates a thickness of a developing agent layer formed on the surface of the developing roller; and a scattering preventing unit disposed between the photoconductive drum and the developing roller to prevent scattering of the developing agent supplied by the developing roller, the scattering preventing unit including a blocking curtain covering an upper side of the developing roller and having one side in contact with an outer circumference of the photoconductive drum and the fixing bracket supporting the other side of the blocking curtain, the scattering preventing unit including a supporting portion supported on the fixing bracket, and a bending portion having one end of the supporting portion in contact with the photoconductive drum, wherein one end of the scattering preventing unit is attached to the fixing bracket and the other end of the scattering preventing unit is disposed toward the photoconductive drum. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The image forming apparatus of claim 11, wherein the scattering preventing unit is made of soft materials. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The image forming apparatus of claim 12, wherein the scattering preventing unit is made of Urethane. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The image forming apparatus of claim 11, wherein the bending portion is bent along a rotation direction of the photoconductive drum. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The image forming apparatus of claim 11, wherein the bending portion is curved to correspond to the outer circumference of the photoconductive drum. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The image forming apparatus of claim 11, wherein the fixing bracket is disposed towards the opening of the lower case. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The image forming apparatus of claim 11, wherein the scattering preventing unit is positioned between the regulating blade and the photoconductive drum. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The image forming apparatus of claim 11, wherein the fixing bracket has a top surface and a bottom surface, with the bottom surface being coupled to a top surface of the lower case, the regulating blade being coupled to a bottom side of the fixing bracket, and where the scattering preventing unit has a first end coupled to a top surface of the fixing bracket, and a curved second end contacting the photoconductive drum and extending substantially adjacent the regulating blade. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The image developing apparatus of claim 11, wherein the developing agent is a 1-component nonmagnetic toner. ### Claim 20 An image forming apparatus, comprising: at least one developing unit; and a transferring unit disposed on one side of the developing unit to transfer a developing agent image developed through the developing unit on a recording medium, wherein the developing unit comprises: an upper case; a lower case disposed on a lower side of the upper case, and internally housing a developing agent and formed with an opening; a photoconductive drum disposed on the upper case to form an electrostatic latent image on a surface of the photoconductive drum; a charging roller disposed on one side of the photoconductive drum to charge the photoconductive drum; a developing roller having one part exposed through the opening of the lower case to cooperate with the photoconductive drum, and for developing the electrostatic latent image, wherein the photoconductive drum and the developing roller are spaced a predetermined gap; a fixing bracket supported on the upper side of the lower case and supporting a regulating blade which regulates a thickness of a developing agent layer formed on the surface of the developing roller; and a scattering preventing unit disposed between the photoconductive drum and the developing roller to prevent scattering of the developing agent supplied by the developing roller, wherein one end of the scattering preventing unit is attached to the fixing bracket and the other end of the scattering preventing unit is disposed toward the photoconductive drum. ### Claim 21 An image developing apparatus comprising: an upper case; a lower case disposed on a lower side of the upper case, and internally housing a developing agent, and having an opening; a photoconductive drum disposed on the upper case for forming an electrostatic latent image on a surface thereof; a charging roller disposed on one side of an outer circumference of the photoconductive drum, for charging the photoconductive drum; a developing roller having one part exposed through the opening of the lower case to cooperate with the photoconductive drum, and developing the electrostatic latent image, the photoconductive drum and the developing roller being spaced apart to define a predetermined gap therebetween; a fixing bracket supporting a regulating blade which contacts with the developing roller to regulate a thickness of a developing agent layer formed on a surface of the developing roller; and a scattering preventing unit coupled to the fixing bracket and being disposed between the photoconductive drum and the developing roller, to prevent scattering of the developing agent supplied by the developing roller. ### Claim 22 An image forming apparatus comprising: at least one developing unit; and a transferring unit disposed on one side of the developing unit to transfer a developing agent image developed through the developing unit on a recording medium, wherein the developing unit comprises: an upper case; a lower case disposed on a lower side of the upper case, and internally housing a developing agent and formed with an opening; a photoconductive drum disposed on the upper case to form an electrostatic latent image on a surface of the photoconductive drum; a charging roller disposed on one side of the photoconductive drum to charge the photoconductive drum; a developing roller having one part exposed through the opening of the lower case to cooperate with the photoconductive drum, and for developing the electrostatic latent image, the photoconductive drum and the developing roller being spaced apart to define a predetermined gap therebetween; a fixing bracket supporting a regulating blade which contacts with the developing roller to regulate a thickness of a developing agent layer formed on the surface of the developing roller; and a scattering preventing unit on the fixing bracket and disposed between the photoconductive drum and the developing roller to prevent scattering of the developing agent supplied by the developing roller.