Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Hp Printing Korea Co., Ltd.

Min-Sik Ji

Jong-in Kim

Jai-Il Choi

Sang-hoon Lee

Dong-Uk Kim

Jun-hee Lee

Dong-cheol Ahn

Disclosed are an electrophotographic image forming apparatus including a detachable development cartridge having arranged therein a photoconductive drum and a developing roller for forming a toner image through a development nip formed between the photoconductive drum and the developing roller. The development cartridge may include a development nip control member that can switch between a first position, in which the development nip control member causes the photoconductive drum to be separated from the developing roller, and a second position, in which the development nip control member causes the photoconductive drum to be in a pressing contact with the developing roller so as to form therebetween the development nip. The development cartridge may be mounted in the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus with its development nip control member being in the first position, separating the photoconductive member from the developing roller. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus may be packaged for distribution with the development cartridge received in the main body thereof where the photoconductive drum and the developing roller are no in contact with each other in the development cartridge as packaged.

Image forming apparatus, method of handling the image forming apparatus, and method of packaging the image forming apparatus

A developing device includes a housing containing toner having an opening at a side thereof, a developing roller supplying the toner supplied through the opening to a photoconductive drum, and a regulator contacting the outer circumference of the developing roller to regulate the amount of the toner supplied to the photoconductive drum. The housing also includes a lower frame having both side portions and a lower end portion respectively forming both edges and a lower edge of the opening in a lengthwise direction, and an upper frame welded and coupled to the lower frame and including a leading end portion forming an upper edge of the opening and a recess portion recessed from the leading end portion at both end portions of the leading end portion in the lengthwise direction. Both side portions of the lower frame includes a first surface contacting the recess portion to prevent the upper frame from being pushed toward the developing roller when the upper frame is welded and coupled to the lower frame.

Developing device to prevent toner leakage and image forming apparatus including the same

A developing device has a housing including a toner container containing toner, and a developing unit. The developing unit includes a developing roller and a photoconductive drum, and a barrier member including a toner supply window. The barrier member is combined with the housing to separate the toner container and the developing unit from each other. The developing unit also includes a blocking film that is attached to the barrier member to block the toner supply window. An end of the blocking film is exposed outside the housing through an opening formed in a sidewall of the housing. A bottom surface and first and second side surfaces of the barrier member are attached to a bottom surface and first and second side surfaces of the housing by using a welding process, and a distance between the first and second side surfaces of the barrier member and a distance between the first and second side surfaces of the housing increase from bottom to top.

Developing device and image forming apparatus employing the same

Growing community of inventors

Seoul, South Korea

Min-Sik Ji