# US 7,610,001 B2 · Developing apparatus using non-magnetic mono-component toner and method of adding toner to same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,610,001 B2 - Document ID: US7610001B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/493,632 - Filed: 2006-07-27 - Published: 2007-05-17 - Granted: 2009-10-27 - Earliest claimed: 2005-11-17 - Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Koichi Tsunemi; Sang-woo Kim; Jun-ho Kim - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7610001B2 ## CPC - G03G 15/0822: {Arrangements for preparing, mixing, supplying or dispensing developer} - G03G 9/0819: {characterised by the dimensions of the particles} - G03G 9/0823: {Electric parameters} - G03G 9/0935: {specified by the core material} - G03G 9/09371: {obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds} - G03G 9/097: Plasticisers; Charge controlling agents - G03G 9/09708: {Inorganic compounds} - G03G 9/09716: {treated with organic compounds} - G03G 9/09725: {Silicon-oxides; Silicates} - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY ## Abstract A developing apparatus includes an image receptor and a developing unit having a developing roller facing the image receptor. New toner can be added to the developing unit when existing toner in the developing unit is consumed. The added toner and existing toners are formed of cores and external additives. At least one of the cores or the external additives of the added toner is different from that of the existing toner. When the charge amount of the two toners are Q1 and Q2, respectively, the ratio Q1/Q2 is greater than 0.6 and smaller than 1.7, and the absolute values of Q1 and Q2 are 10 μC/g or greater, respectively. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A developing apparatus comprising an image receptor and a developing unit with a developing roller facing the image receptor, and in which toner can be added to the developing unit when existing toner in the developing unit is consumed, wherein the existing and added toners comprise cores and external additives, and at least one of the cores or the external additives of the added toner is different than that of the existing toner, and where the charge amounts of the existing and added toners are Q1 and Q2, respectively, the ratio Q1/Q2 is in the range of 0.6 to 1.7, and the absolute values of Q1 and Q2 are 10 μC/g or greater, respectively. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The developing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the added and existing toners have polyester-type cores. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The developing apparatus of claim 2, wherein the developing unit comprises two or more agitators that agitate and transfer toner to the developing roller and the moving speed of toner being moved by the agitators is lower than a developing process speed. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The developing apparatus of claim 1, wherein, the charge amount of the mixture of added and existing toner is Q12, and the ratios Q1/Q12 and Q2/Q12 are in the range of 0.6 to 1.7. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The developing apparatus of claim 4, wherein the difference between the charge amounts per mass of the added and existing toners and the difference between the toner masses per area of the added and existing toners on the developing roller are respectively 40% or less. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The developing apparatus of claim 5, wherein the added and existing toners have polyester-type cores, the developing unit comprises two or more agitators that agitate and transfer toner to the developing roller, the moving speed of toner being moved by the agitators is lower than a developing process speed. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The developing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the developing unit comprises two or more agitators that agitate and transfer toner to the developing roller. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The developing apparatus of claim 7, wherein the developing unit comprises four or less agitators. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The developing apparatus of claim 7, wherein the volume mean diameters of the added and existing toners are in the range of 4 to 12 μm, and the difference in the percentages of the particles having a diameter of 5 μm or less is 15% or less numerically. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The developing apparatus of claim 9, wherein the added and existing toners have polyester-type cores, and the moving speed of toner being moved by the agitators is lower than a developing process speed. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The developing apparatus of claim 7, wherein the volume mean diameter of the added and existing toners is in a range of 4 to 12 μm, and the difference of the volume mean diameters of the added and existing toners is within 1.5 μm. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The developing apparatus of claim 11, wherein the difference in the percentages of the particles having a diameter of 5 μm or less is 15% or less numerically. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The developing apparatus of claim 12, wherein the added and existing toners have polyester-type cores, and the moving speed of toner being moved by the agitators is lower than a developing process speed. ### Claim 14 A developing apparatus comprising: an image receptor; and a developing unit having a developing roller facing the image receptor, and two or more agitators disposed in the developing unit to agitate and transfer toner inside of the developing unit to the developing roller, wherein toner can be added when existing toner in the developing unit is consumed; and wherein the existing and added toners comprise cores and external additives, and at least one of the cores or the external additives of the added toner is different than those of the existing toner, and the volume mean diameters of the existing and added toners are in the range of 4 to 12 μm; and charge amounts of the existing and added toners are Q1 and Q2, respectively, and the ratio Q1/Q2 is in the range of 0.6 to 1.7, and the absolute values of Q1 and Q2 are 10 μC/g or greater, respectively. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The developing apparatus of claim 14, wherein the added and existing toners have polyester-type cores, and the moving speed of toner being moved by the agitators is lower than a developing process speed. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The developing apparatus of claim 14, wherein the charge amount of the mixture of added and existing toner is Q12, and the ratios Q1/Q12 and Q2/Q12 are in the range of 0.6 to 1.7. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The developing apparatus of claim 14, wherein the difference between the charge amounts per mass of the added and existing toners and the difference between the toner masses per area of the added and existing toners on the developing roller are respectively 40% or less. ### Claim 18 A developing apparatus comprising: an image receptor; and a developing unit having a developing roller facing the image receptor, and two or more agitators disposed in the developing unit to agitate and transfer toner inside of the developing unit to the developing roller, wherein toner can be added when existing toner in the developing unit is consumed, the existing and added toners comprise cores and external additives, and the cores of the added toner are different from the cores of the existing toner, and the volume mean diameters of the existing and added toners are in the range of 4 to 12 μm, the difference in the volume mean diameters of the existing and added toners are within 1.5 μm, and the difference in the percentages of the particles having a diameter of 5 μm or less is 15 % or less numerically. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The developing apparatus of claim 18, wherein the added and existing toners have polyester-type cores, and the moving speed of toner being moved by the agitators is lower than a developing process speed. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The developing apparatus of claim 19, wherein the charge amounts of the existing and added toners are Q1 and Q2, respectively, the ratio Q1/Q2 is in the range of 0.6 to 1.7, and the absolute values of Q1 and Q2 are 10 μC/g or greater, respectively. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The developing apparatus of claim 20, wherein the charge amount of the mixture of added and existing toner is Q12, and the ratios Q1/Q12 and Q2/Q12 are in the range of 0.6 to 1.7. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The developing apparatus of claim 21, wherein the difference between the charge amounts per mass of the added and existing toners and the difference between the toner masses per area of the added and existing toners on the developing roller are respectively 40% or less.