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:
Nov. 30, 1999
Filed:
Dec. 01, 1998
Akihiro Kawasaki, Itami, JP;
Minolta Co., Ltd., Osaka, JP;
Abstract
The developing apparatus has: a development sleeve; a supply roller; a toner hopper; a stirring member; and a partition member. The partition member and a regulating blade form a space. The supply roller supplies toner to lower part of the space. Thereby, toner present in the proximity of the development sleeve circulates smoothly. Therefore, the following situation will be prevented: 1) since same toner particles are repeatedly stressed by regulation of the regulating blade, toner particles crack; 2) cracked tiny particles of toner melt and adhere to the development sleeve; or 3) the regulating blade gets stiff due to the cracked toner adhering thereto. Further, since constant amount of toner is always collected within the space, appropriate pressure of toner is applied at the regulating position when the regulating blade takes toner into the space.