DEVELOPING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS

• US 20100239322A1
• Filed: 03/22/2010
• Published: 09/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies Incorporated (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies Incorporated (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Inventors: KIDO, Hiroto
• Granted Patent: US 8,295,741 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 399/254
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0808 characterised by the developer supplying means, e.g. structure of developer supply roller
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0848 Arrangements for testing or measuring developer properties or quality, e.g. charge, size, flowability
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/0822 with wall or blade between agitators

Abstract

A developer accommodating container is structured such as to be provided with a first accommodating portion in which the first feeding member is arranged, a second accommodating portion in which the second feeding member is arranged, a first communication portion communicating the first accommodating portion and the second accommodating portion in one end side, a second communication portion communicating the first accommodating portion and the second accommodating portion at the other end side, a developer replenishing portion arranged in the other end side rather than the second communication portion, in the other end side of the first accommodating portion, a developer discharge portion arranged in the other end side rather than the second communication portion, in the other end side of the second accommodating portion, and a flow rate regulating portion arranged between the second communication portion and the developer discharge portion, and regulating an amount of the passing developer.

Claims

1. A developing apparatus comprising:

a developer carrying member;

a developer accommodating container extending from one end to the other end along said developer carrying member, and in which the developer is accommodated;

a first feeding member provided within said developer accommodating container and feeding the accommodated developer while agitating; and

a second feeding member provided within said developer accommodating container and feeding the developer to said developer carrying member,

wherein said developer accommodating container comprises;

a first accommodating portion in which said first feeding member is arranged;

a second accommodating portion in which said second feeding member is arranged;

a first communication portion communicating said first accommodating portion and said second accommodating portion in one end side;

a second communication portion communicating said first accommodating portion and said second accommodating portion at the other end side;

a developer replenishing portion arranged in the other end side rather than said second communication portion, in the other end side of said first accommodating portion;

a developer discharge portion arranged in the other end side rather than said second communication portion, in the other end side of said second accommodating portion; and

a flow rate regulating portion arranged between said second communication portion and the developer discharge portion, and regulating an amount of the passing developer.

2. The developing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said flow rate regulating portion is constructed by a magnetic material capable of picking up the developer which is magnetized by a current application so as to intend to pass through.

3. The developing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said flow rate regulating portion regulates an amount of the developer passing through by making a cross sectional area of a flow path changeable.

4. The developing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a developer weight presuming means for presuming a weight of the developer within said developer accommodating container; and

a flow rate control means for regulating an amount of the passing developer by controlling to drive said flow rate regulating portion on the basis of the weight of the developer presumed by said developer weight presuming means.

5. The developing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second feeding member is provided with a spiral blade portion in the periphery of the rotating shaft,

wherein said blade portion comprises:

a first blade portion feeding the developer from the first communication portion side to the second communication portion side while agitating on the basis of a rotation;

a second blade portion applying an inverted resistance to the developer fed by said first blade portion; and

a third blade portion leading the developer getting over the second blade portion to the developer discharge portion, and

wherein said flow rate regulating portion is capable of expanding and contracting an opening region between an inner wall side constructing the second accommodating portion and the periphery of the rotating shaft of the second feeding member where said blade portion is not positioned.

6. An image forming apparatus comprising the developing apparatus as claimed in claim 1.