Ricoh Company, Ltd.

Kazushige Oonishi

Ryuji Inoue

Shintaro Yamada

Shin Murayama

Shuuichi Nakagawa

Rumi Konishi

Tomofumi Yoshida

Hirobumi Ooyoshi

Yuji Nagatomo

Yoshiko Ogawa

Kenji Asuwa

A developer regulating member capable of stably regulating the thickness of a developer even when used for a long time, while preventing the increase in the production cost, a developing device having the developer regulating member, an image forming apparatus having the developing device, a process cartridge, and a method of producing the developer regulating member. The average crystal particle diameter D [&#x3bc;m] of a plate-like member provided in a layer-thinning blade which functions as the developer regulating member and which abuts against a developing roller functioning as a developer carrier, and the curvature radius R [&#x3bc;m] of a bent portion satisfy the relationship of D&#x2266;60.53&#xd7;R&#xd7;10&#x2212;12.61.

Developing device having developer regulating member, and image forming apparatus using developing device

An image developing method is disclosed that is able to efficiently remove degraded toner on a developing agent carrier, prevent formation of abnormal images, ensure good image quality over time, and increase the service life of the device. The developing method includes a step of calculating an amount of consumption of the developing agent during image formation and an amount of consumption of the developing agent in a compulsory toner consumption mode under different calculation conditions between the image formation and the compulsory toner consumption mode. In the compulsory toner consumption mode, a developing bias different from a developing bias used during image formation is applied for a predetermined time period to discharge residual developing agent on a developing agent carrier to a latent image carrier.

Image developing method, image developing device, and image forming device

A disclosed developing device includes a developing roller; a supply roller that is in contact with the developing roller and configured to supply toner to the developing roller; a current measuring unit configured to measure an electric current that flows from the developing roller to the supply roller when the toner is supplied from the supply roller to the developing roller; and an error determining unit configured to detect a development error of the developing roller based on the electric current measured by the current measuring unit.

Developing device, image forming apparatus, and development error detecting method

A developing apparatus is disclosed that includes a developer carrier for carrying a developer used for developing a latent image, a developer supplying chamber having a developer supplying member for supplying the developer to the developer carrier by rotation, a developer storing chamber positioned above the developer supplying chamber for storing the developer and supplying the developer to the developer supplying chamber, and a partitioning member positioned between the developer supplying chamber and the developer storing chamber. The partitioning member has an opening through which the developer is supplied from the developer storing chamber to the developer supplying chamber. The developing apparatus includes a conveying member positioned above the partitioning member for conveying the developer in a substantially horizontal direction. The conveying member has an opening facing part situated directly above the opening for conveying the developer with less force than the other parts of the conveying member.

Developing apparatus

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Tokyo, Japan

Kazushige Oonishi