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:
Jan. 11, 1994
Filed:
Jun. 25, 1992
Kouji Hirano, Kanagawa, JP;
Minoru Yoshida, Tokyo, JP;
Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Kawasaki, JP;
Abstract
An image forming apparatus includes a developing device for developing a latent image formed on an image bearing member. The developing device has a developing roller for supplying a developing agent to the image bearing member and a blade for forming a layer of the developing agent on the developing roller. The developing roller has an elastic layer for obtaining a predetermined nip width between the developing roller and the image bearing member. The blade has a plate member, a contact member attached in the longitudinal direction along the loading edge of the plate member for contacting the surface of the developing roller so as to form the layer of the developing agent, a pressing member for pressing the contact member to the developing roller and a control member attached on the plate member and positioned to each end of the contact member for controlling the amount of the contact pressure of the contact member to the developing roller. An optical device measures the amount of distortion of the surface of the developing roller when the roller is in contact with the contact member and the roller is rotated at a predetermined angle of rotation when the distortion exceeds a predetermined value. Thereby, the developing device of of the present invention is capable of obtaining high-quality images when the developing device is used or set in the image forming apparatus over a long period of time.