DEVELOPMENT DEVICE, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS

• US 20130287452A1
• Filed: 04/23/2013
• Published: 10/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Yoshida, Nobuyoshi, Mitsui, Yoshihiro, Hayashi, Kodai, Hirata, Yuichiro, Yamamoto, Shinya
• Granted Patent: US 9,280,133 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 399/281
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0806 on a donor element, e.g. belt, roller complete developer unit G03G15/0896
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0808 characterised by the developer supplying means, e.g. structure of developer supply roller
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1817 having a submodular arrangement

Abstract

In a development device in which a developer containing unit underlies a development chamber, a supplying member in the development chamber forms a nip portion with a developer carrier and the developer carrier and the supplying member rotate in the direction in which their respective surfaces move from an upper end to a lower end of the nip portion.

Claims

1. A development device used in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the development device comprising:

a development chamber including a developer carrier configured to carry a developer and develop an electrostatic latent image, a supplying member configured to be arranged to form a nip portion with the developer carrier and supply the developer to the developer carrier, and a regulation member configured to regulate an amount of the developer carried on the developer carrier;

a containing chamber configured to be arranged under the development chamber and contain the developer; and

a conveyance member configured to convey the developer contained in the containing chamber to the upper portion of the supplying member via an opening provided in the development chamber,

wherein the development chamber is provided with a storage portion for storing the developer through under the regulation member to under the supplying member,

wherein the supplying member is arranged so that apart or the whole thereof can be immersed in the developer in the storage portion, and

wherein the developer carrier and the supplying member rotate in the direction in which their respective surfaces move from an upper end to an lower end of the nip portion.

2. The development device according to claim 1, wherein a lower end of the opening is lower than an upper end of the supplying member.

3. The development device according to claim 1, wherein a lower end of the opening is lower than a rotational center of the supplying member.

4. The development device according to claim 1, further comprising a transmission member that is provided in the containing chamber and capable of transmitting detection light for detecting a remaining developer amount,

wherein the transmission member is provided at a position opposite to the supplying member with respect to a vertical plane passing a lower end of the opening.

5. The development device according to claim 4, wherein the lower end of the opening is positioned above a lower end of the supplying member.

6. The development device according to claim 1, further comprising an electrode member for detecting a remaining developer amount provided at an upper part of the nip portion.

7. The development device according to claim 1, wherein the supplying member includes a foam layer on the surface thereof.

8. A process cartridge detachable from a main body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus comprising:

an image carrier configured to carry an electrostatic latent image; and

a development device configured to develop the electrostatic latent image,

wherein the development device comprises;

a development chamber having a developer carrier configured to carry a developer and develop an electrostatic latent image, a supplying member configured to be arranged to form a nip portion with the developer carrier and supply the developer to the developer carrier, and a regulation member configured to regulate an amount of the developer carried on the developer carrier;

a containing chamber configured to be arranged under the development chamber and contain the developer; and

a conveyance member configured to convey the developer contained in the containing chamber to the upper portion of the supplying member via an opening provided in the development chamber,

wherein the development chamber is provided with a storage portion for storing the developer through under the regulation member to under the supplying member,

wherein the supplying member is arranged so that apart or the whole thereof can be immersed in the developer in the storage portion, and

wherein the developer carrier and the supplying member rotate in the direction in which their respective surfaces move from an upper end to a lower end of the nip portion.

9. The process cartridge according to claim 8, wherein a lower end of the opening is lower than an upper end of the supplying member.

10. The process cartridge according to claim 8, wherein a lower end of the opening is lower than a rotational center of the supplying member.

11. The process cartridge according to claim 8, further comprising a transmission member that is provided in the containing chamber and capable of transmitting detection light for detecting a remaining developer amount,

wherein the transmission member is provided at a position opposite to the supplying member with respect to a vertical plane passing a lower end of the opening.

12. The process cartridge according to claim 11, wherein the lower end of the opening is positioned above a lower end of the supplying member.

13. The process cartridge according to claim 8, further comprising an electrode member for detecting a remaining developer amount provided at an upper part of the nip portion.

14. The process cartridge according to claim 8, wherein the supplying member include a foam layer on the surface thereof.

15. An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium, comprising:

an image carrier configured to carry an electrostatic latent image; and

a development device configured to develop the electrostatic latent image,

wherein the development device comprises;

a development chamber having a developer carrier configured to carry a developer and develop an electrostatic latent image, a supplying member configured to be arranged to form a nip portion with the developer carrier and supply the developer to the developer carrier, and a regulation member configured to regulate an amount of the developer carried on the developer carrier;

a containing chamber configured to be arranged under the development chamber and contain the developer; and

a conveyance member configured to convey the developer contained in the containing chamber to the upper portion of the supplying member via an opening provided in the development chamber,

wherein the development chamber is provided with a storage portion for storing the developer through under the regulation member to under the supplying member,

wherein the supplying member is arranged so that apart or the whole thereof can be immersed in the developer in the storage portion, and

wherein the developer carrier and the supplying member rotate in the direction in which their respective surfaces move from an upper end to a lower end of the nip portion.

16. The image forming apparatus according to claim 15, wherein a lower end of the opening is lower than an upper end of the supplying member.

17. The image forming apparatus according to claim 15, wherein a lower end of the opening is lower than a rotational center of the supplying member.

18. The image forming apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising a transmission member that is provided in the containing chamber and capable of transmitting detection light for detecting a remaining developer amount,

wherein the transmission member is provided at a position opposite to the supplying member with respect to a vertical plane passing a lower end of the opening.

19. The image forming apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the lower end of the opening is positioned above a lower end of the supplying member.

20. The image forming apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising an electrode member for detecting a remaining developer amount provided at an upper part of the nip portion.