The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 31, 1989
Filed:
Jul. 01, 1986
Akio Nakanishi, Funabashi, JP;
Toshio Hino, Tokyo, JP;
Yoshio Iino, Yokohama, JP;
Kazuhisa Suetani, Kawasaki, JP;
Yoji Houki, Tokyo, JP;
Hirotoshi Ikuta, Yokohama, JP;
Fujitsu Limited, Kawasaki, JP;
Abstract
A developing unit of an electrophotographic apparatus is provided for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an image forming member, by electrostatically adsorbing powder developer onto the latent image. The developing unit includes a screw provided with paddles or grooves, each having a helix angle with respect to an axis of the screw, the screw transferring and supplying the powder developer stored in a developer reservoir to the developing roller; a blade for regulating a layer thickness of the powder developer to be transferred to the image forming member; and a flow regulating plate for biasing a flow of the powder developer, which has been removed by the blade and returned to the developer reservoir due to the force of gravity, in a direction opposite to a direction in which the powder developer is transferred by the screw. The developing unit further includes a structure for accurately positioning and maintaining the developing roller within a specified distance from the image forming member, thereby improving the uniformity of the developer concentration.