Device for circulating developer
First Claim
1. A device for use with an image forming apparatus having a photosensitive drum and a developing device and a cleaning device disposed around said photosensitive drum for conducting developer recovered in said cleaning device to said developing device comprising:
- a circulating passage means provided between said developing device and said cleaning device so as to communicate said developing device with said cleaning device;
discharging means for discharging developer recovered in said cleaning device to said circulating passage means;
conveying means disposed in said circulating passage means for conveying developer in said circulating passage means to said developing device, said conveying means and said circulating passage means being constructed to provide a space between said conveying means and said circulating passage means such that a portion of the developer is allowed to be temporarily retained in said space; and
supplying means for supplying developer conveyed by said conveying means into said developing device.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A device for use with an image forming apparatus having a photosensitive drum and a developing device and a cleaning device disposed around the photosensitive drum for conducting developer recovered in the cleaning device to the developing device includes a circulating passage provided between the developing device and the cleaning device so as to communicate the developing device with the cleaning device. A discharging device discharges developer recovered in the cleaning device to the circulating passage, and a conveyor is disposed in the circulating passage to convey developer in the circulating passage to the developing device, the conveyor and the circulating passage being constructed to provide a space between the conveyor and the circulating passage such that a portion of the developer is allowed to be temporarily retained in such space. A supply device is provided for supplying developer conveyed by the developer into the developing device.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A device for use with an image forming apparatus having a photosensitive drum and a developing device and a cleaning device disposed around said photosensitive drum for conducting developer recovered in said cleaning device to said developing device comprising:
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a circulating passage means provided between said developing device and said cleaning device so as to communicate said developing device with said cleaning device; discharging means for discharging developer recovered in said cleaning device to said circulating passage means; conveying means disposed in said circulating passage means for conveying developer in said circulating passage means to said developing device, said conveying means and said circulating passage means being constructed to provide a space between said conveying means and said circulating passage means such that a portion of the developer is allowed to be temporarily retained in said space; and supplying means for supplying developer conveyed by said conveying means into said developing device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A device for use with an image forming apparatus having a photosensitive drum and a developing device and a cleaning device disposed around said photosensitive drum for conducting developer recovered in said cleaning device to said developing device comprising:
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a circulating passage means provided between said developing device and said cleaning device so as to communicate said developing device with said cleaning device; discharging means for discharging the developer recovered in said cleaning device to said circulating passage means; conveying means disposed in said circulating passage means for conveying said developer in said circulating passage means to said developing device, said conveying means having a downstream end and an upstream end, said conveying means being operable to convey said developer at said downstream end at a smaller rate than at said upstream end; and supplying means for supplying developer conveyed by said conveying means into said developing device. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A device for use with an image forming apparatus having a photosensitive drum and a developing device and a cleaning device disposed around said photosensitive drum for conducting developer recovered in said cleaning device to said developing device comprising:
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a circulating passage means provided between said developing device and said cleaning device so as to communicate said developing device with said cleaning device; discharging means for discharging developer recovered in said cleaning device to said circulating passage means; conveying means disposed in said circulating passage means for conveying developer in said circulating passage means to said developing device; and supplying means for supplying developer conveyed by said conveying means into said developing device, said supplying means being operable to move said developer at a faster rate than said discharging means. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A device for use with an image forming apparatus having a photosensitive drum and a developing device and a cleaning device disposed around said photosensitive drum for conducting developer recovered in said cleaning device to said developing device comprising:
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a circulating passage means provided between said developing device and said cleaning device so as to communicate said developing device with said cleaning device; discharging means being driven at least during operation of said photosensitive drum for discharging developer recovered in said cleaning device to said circulating passage means; conveying means being driven at least during operation of said photosensitive drum for conveying developer in said circulating passage means to said developing device; supplying means for supplying developer conveyed by said conveying means into said developing device; said developing device having a supplying section and a developing section; feeding means disposed in said developing device for feeding developer from said supplying section to said developing section; operable drive means operably connected between said supplying means and said feeding means for driving said supplying means and said feeding means; and control means for controlling said operable drive means according to a physical property of said developer. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A device for use with an image forming apparatus having a photosensitive drum and a developing device and a cleaning device disposed around the photosensitive drum for conducting developer recovered in said cleaning device to said developing comprising:
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a circulating passage means interposed between said developing device and said cleaning device so as to communicate said developing device with said cleaning device; discharging means for discharging developer recovered in said cleaning device to said circulating passage means; conveying means disposed in said circulating passage means for conveying developer in said circulating passage means to said developing device; a rotatable supplying means for supplying developer conveyed by said conveying means into said developing device, said supplying means comprising an axially elongate supply member having a first spiral portion for moving developer in one axial direction and a second spiral portion for moving developer in an axial direction opposite to said one axial direction, said supply member having an intermediate portion intermediate said first and second spiral portions, said intermediate portion having a plurality of substantially plate-like members extending substantially axially of said supplying member. - View Dependent Claims (27)
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28. A device for use with an image forming apparatus having a photosensitive drum and a developing device and a cleaning device disposed around said photosensitive drum for conducting developer recovered in said cleaning device to said developing device comprising;
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a circulating passage means provided between said developing device and said cleaning device so as to communicate said developing device with said cleaning device; discharging means for discharging developer recovered in said cleaning device to said circulating passage means; conveying means disposed in said circulating passage for conveying developer in said circulating passage to said developing device; supplying means for supplying developer conveyed by said conveying means into said developing device; said developing device having a developer storage section defined by a sealing member for containing developer in an airtight condition prior to use; and said supplying means having an inlet means communicating with said developing device, said inlet means being on one side of said sealing member, said developer storage section being on the other side of said sealing member. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31)
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32. A device for use with an image forming apparatus having a photosensitive drum and a developing device and a cleaning device disposed around the photosensitive drum for conducting developer recovered in said cleaning device to said developing device comprising:
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a circulating passage means interposed between said developing device and said cleaning device so as to communicate said developing device with said cleaning device; discharging means for discharging developer recovered in said cleaning device to said circulating passage means; conveying means disposed in said circulating passage means for conveying developer in said circulating passage means to said developing device; and a rotatable supplying means for supplying developer conveyed by said conveying means into said developing device, said supplying means comprising an axially elongate supply member having a first spiral portion for moving developer in one axial direction and a second spiral portion for moving developer in an axial direction opposite to said one axial direction.
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Specification