Electrostatic latent image developing apparatus

• US 4,721,982 A
• Filed: 03/17/1986
• Issued: 01/26/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Ueda, Masahide
• Primary Examiner(s): PRESCOTT, ARTHUR
• Application Number:
  US06/839,985
• Time in Patent Office: 680 Days
• Field of Search: 355/3 DD, 355/14 D, 118/653, 118/636, 118/657, 118/658, 118/655, 430/120, 430/121, 430/122
• US Class Current: 399/254
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 15/00 Nanotechnology for interacting, sensing or actuating, e.g. quantum dots as markers in protein assays or molecular motors
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0822 Arrangements for preparing, mixing, supplying or dispensing developer

Abstract

An improved electrostatic latent image developing apparatus which is capable of effecting sufficient mixing and stirring of developing material through smooth circulation and transportation of the developing material into two feeding passages disposed side by side without being stagnant at a downstream side end portion of each feeding passage, and also without being aggregated towards the downstream side of the feeding passage, so as to avoid uneven development in the axial direction of a developing sleeve.

Claims

1. An electrostatic latent image developing apparatus which comprises a first feeding passage for feeding developing material in a first direction, a second feeding passage provided side by side, adjacent to first feeding passage for feeding the developing material in a direction opposite to the first direction, each of said feeding passages having an upstream side end portion and a downstream side end portion, a passage means for communicating said first and second feeding passages at opposite ends thereof, a developing sleeve having a magnet roller incorporated therein and capable of holding the developing material on its peripheral surface, and a supplying means for supplying part of the developing material circulated for feeding within said first and second feeding passages onto said developing sleeve, the downstream passages being located in a position higher than the corresponding upstream side end portion of the adjacent feeding passage.

2. An electrostatic latent image developing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first feeding passage is provided in a parallel relation with said developing sleeve.

3. An electrostatic latent image developing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said supplying means is provided within said first feeding passage.

4. An electrostatic latent image developing apparatus which comprises a first feeding passage for feeding developing material in a first direction, a second feeding passage provided side by side, adjacent to said first feeding passage for feeding the developing material in a direction opposite to the first direction, each of said feeding passages having an upstream side and portion and a downstream side end portion, a passage means for communicating said first and second feeding passages at opposite ends thereof, said passage means including an inclined face, a developing sleeve having a magnet roller incorporated therein and capable of holding the developing material on its peripheral surface, and a supplying means for supplying part of the developing material circulated for feeding within said first and second feeding passages onto said developing sleeve, the respective downstream side end portions of the first and second feeding passages being located in a position higher than the corresponding upstream side end portions of the adjacent feeding passages.

5. An electrostatic latent image developing apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said first feeding passage is provided in a parallel relation with said developing sleeve.

6. An electrostatic latent image developing apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said supplying means is provided within said first feeding passage.

7. An electrostatic latent image developing apparatus which comprises a developing sleeve having a magnet roller incorporated therein and capable of holding developing material on its peripheral surface, a first feeding passage provided parallel with the developing sleeve for supplying the developing material onto the peripheral surface of the developing sleeve and also for feeding the developing material in an axial direction of said developing sleeve, a second feeding passage disposed side by side, adjacent to said first passage, each of said feeding passages having an upstream side end portion and a downstream side end portion, said upstream side end portions of said feeding passages being located in a position lower than said corresponding downstream side end portions of said feeding passages so as to feed the developing material in the first feeding passage in a direction opposite to that of said second feeding passage, and a communicating means for communicating at least opposite end portions of said first and second feeding passages.

8. An electrostatic latent image developing apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the downstream side end portion of said second feeding passage is located in a position higher than the upstream side end portion of said first feeding passage.