Ricoh Company, Ltd.

Eriko Maruyama

Junichi Matsumoto

Nobuo Iwata

Satoshi Muramatsu

Nobutaka Takeuchi

Takayuki Koike

Kiyonori Tsuda

Hitoshi Ishibashi

Koichi Sakata

Yasufumi Takahashi

Koichi Kato

Yuki Oshikawa

Kohichi Utsunomiya

Mugijirou Uno

Keiko Matsumoto

Kentaroh Tomita

An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a developing unit for developing a latent image formed on an image carrier with a two-ingredient type developer, i.e., a toner and carrier mixture. A toner replenishing device replenishes toner stored in a toner storing portion to the developing unit. A carrier storing portion, storing a carrier therein, is constructed independently of the toner storing portion. The carrier is fed from the carrier storing portion to the developing unit by a toner conveying force available with the toner replenishing device.

Image forming apparatus including a developer replenishing device which uses an air feeding device for a two-ingredient type developer

A developing device which can stably supply a developer to a latent image carrier by preventing the scattered developer from being discharged and thereby preventing the developer from being discharged despite that the amount of developer within the developing device does not increase, and an image forming apparatus using the developing device. A block member serving as a scattered developer discharge prevention member is provided so as to block a path through which the developer scattered as a result of a conveyance operation of a supply screw serving as a developer conveying member moves toward a developer discharge port. Accordingly, the scattered developer is prevented from reaching the developer discharge port and being discharged therefrom.

Developing device and image forming apparatus using same

An image forming apparatus, using a developer including toner particles and carrier particles, includes a developing unit, a cleaning unit, and a conveying unit. The developing unit contains the developer and develops an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrying member as a toner image with the toner particles. The cleaning unit contains the developer and mixes the developer with the toner particles collected from the image carrying member after transferring the toner image. The conveying unit conveys a mixture of the collected toner particles and the developer from the cleaning unit to the developing unit.

Image forming apparatus and process cartridge therefore having a cleaner section which stores unused developer

Image forming apparatus including a developer replenishing device for a two-ingredient type developer

Image forming method and apparatus having a unit for conveying toner and carrier particles from a cleaning unit to a developing unit

A developer container includes a developer container configured to contain a developer including a toner and a carrier, a developer delivering mechanism configured to deliver the developer toward an image bearing member of an image forming apparatus, and a detecting mechanism configured to detect deterioration of the developer based on a predetermined characteristic of the developer.

Method and apparatus for image forming effectively detecting deterioration of developer

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Kanagawa, Japan

Eriko Maruyama