Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

Hiroshi Komakine

Kazumasa Hayashi

Kenji Asakura

Katsutoshi Ogawa

Toshiharu Koshino

Hiroyuki Suzuki

Masahiko Nakamura

Hajime Yamamoto

Hiroshi Terada

Akinori Toyoda

Masahiro Aizawa

Shigemitsu Tani

Keizou Takeuchi

Takumi Kitano

Hiroshi Komata

Toichi Matsumura

In order to provide a developing apparatus in which the toner thin layer regulating capability and the toner charging capability can be enhanced by a developer regulating member of a simple structure, a development roller can be rotated with a small driving force, toner is prevented from adhering and development can be performed with high accuracy, the developer regulating member of the developing apparatus is provided with a surface constituting a step in a direction vertical to the direction of the rotation axis of the development roller, a pressed surface that is pressed against the development roller in the downstream side of the step and an opposed surface formed so as to be opposed to the development roller with a predetermined space therebetween in the upstream side of the step.

Developing apparatus with a developing regulating member

Toner layer forming device for non-magnetic toner

An image forming apparatus includes a photoconductor, a developing electrode, at least a magnet disposed in the developing electrode, and a developer. The developing electrode is reciprocally movable against a rotation axis of the photoconductor. Thus, a setting angle of a magnetic pole of the magnet is not varied, even when the developing electrode is moved for cancelling decentering and deflection of the photoconductor and the developing electrode.

Image forming apparatus

Disclosed is an electrophotographic apparatus capable of producing a high-quality image free from image defects such as fine line dropouts. A photoconductor drum is used that has a magnet mounted therein in immovable fashion. After an electrostatic latent image is formed, the image is brought into contact with magnetic developer in a developer reservoir, causing the developer to be attracted to the photoconductor surface by magnetic force. When the photoconductor drum is rotated past an electrode roller to which an AC voltage is applied, toner is left only in image areas and the latent image is developed into a visible image. A sheet-like sealing member contacting the photoconductor is disposed on the upstream side of the developer reservoir in the rotating direction of the photoconductor drum. A conductive layer is provided on the surface of the sealing member opposite the surface thereof contacting the photoconductor.

Electrophotographic apparatus having sealing member

An electrophotographic apparatus includes a photoconductor drum, also known as an electrostatic latent image holding member, with a magnet placed therein. An electrostatic latent image is formed on the magnetic drum. Then, the drum is brought into contact with a magnetic developer, or toner, in a developer reservoir to have the magnetic developer attached to the photoconductor drum surface by a magnetic force. A removing roller, having an AC voltage applied thereto, is passed in close vicinity of the magnetic drum with the resultant development of images because toner remains at image areas only. In the electrophotographic apparatus, the photoconductor drum, the removing roller or both include two magnetic poles. A device for increasing friction force of the surface of the photoconductor drum, of the removing roller or both may also be provided.

Electrophotographic apparatus of improved low image density

A developing unit for use in image forming apparatus includes a unit housing divided in three chambers, i.e. a toner applying chamber facing a photoreceptor and first and second toner replenishing chambers, by respective partition walls each having an opening as a passage for toner. The first and second chambers have rotation frames, respectively. Each frame has a radially extending arm to the end of which a toner transporting sheet is connected. Each sheet is provided with a friction film. When each frame rotates, the sheet with the friction film is pulled by the frame for its rotation under the toner so as to be deformed in the form of a circular arc. The toner is transported forwardly by the friction force of the friction film. When the amount of toner is reduced in each chamber, each sheet may resiliently restore to its original shape to contact the inner surface of the corresponding chamber so that a small amount of toner on the bottom of each chamber can be carried forwardly.

Multi-chamber electro-photographic developing unit for image forming

Growing community of inventors

Hirakata, Japan

Hiroshi Komakine