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. 01, 2002
Filed:
Jan. 26, 2001
Toshihide Ohgoshi, Nara, JP;
Shigeyuki Wakada, Nara, JP;
Eiichi Kido, Yamatokoriyama, JP;
Atsushi Inoue, Ikoma-gun, JP;
Takayuki Yamanaka, Tenri, JP;
Masahiro Sakai, Osaka, JP;
Hiroshi Ishii, Osaka, JP;
Jitsuo Masuda, Yamatotakada, JP;
Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha, Osaka, JP;
Abstract
A developing apparatus capable of supplying a uniform thin layer of toner and of preventing toner scattering and leakage is provided, where the developing apparatus includes a supply roller for supplying toner to an outer peripheral surface of a toner carrier, the toner carrier for transferring the supplied toner by rotation and a layer thickness controlling member for controlling a thickness of the layer of the supplied toner at a predetermined value while making slide contact with the outer peripheral surface of the toner carrier via the toner, wherein the thin toner layer is supplied to an electrostatic latent image on an image carrier. The layer thickness controlling member is formed of an elastic plate to have a bent portion convex toward the toner carrier. The layer thickness controlling member is held by sealing members so that the bent portion makes elastic contact with the toner carrier outer peripheral surface over a nearly entire length of the toner carrier.