Developing device

• US 5,963,766 A
• Filed: 06/08/1998
• Issued: 10/05/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Minolta Corporation Limited (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Minolta Corporation Limited (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Inventors: Yoshimoto, Shinichi, Sako, Mineyuki, Katori, Kentaro, Okuno, Yukihiko, Shojo, Yoshihiro, Hamamichi, Suguru
• Primary Examiner(s): MOSES, RICHARD L
• Application Number:
  US09/092,876
• Time in Patent Office: 484 Days
• Field of Search: 399/256, 399/254, 399/255, 399/257-260
• US Class Current: 399/256
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0822 Arrangements for preparing, mixing, supplying or dispensing developer
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/0822 with wall or blade between agitators
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/0841 Presentation of developer to donor member

Abstract

A supply screw 10 and a collection screw 20 for a developing device equip with screw blades having different forms at particular sections so as to make conveying force of developer different depending on sections. Screw blades for big conveying force are attached within sections where developer distribution is dense while screw blades for small conveying force are attached within sections where developer distribution is sparse. In other words, conveying force is made to be greater at sparse-distribution section while smaller at dense-distribution section. Developer delivery is also promoted by providing different conveying force area within carry-up area where developer is carried up from a supply screw 10 to a collection screw 20 or vice versa. By making conveying force of each section different, developer is uniformly delivered to a developing roll 87 whether in width direction or in axial direction. Furthermore, developer circulation in a developing device becomes smooth.

Claims

1. A developing device comprising a first screw and a second screw to convey developer in axial direction, wherein

as to at least one of the first screw and the second screw, conveying force of developer is different at the upstream side and downstream side in conveying direction so that the depth of developer within the screw becomes uniform irrespective of the position in the axial direction.

2. A developing device according to claim 1, wherein said second screw is a supply screw which conveys developer in axial direction and then supplies developer for a developing roll, and said first screw is a collection screw which collects the developer on said developing roll and conveys the developer in axial direction.

3. A developing device according to claim 2, wherein conveying force by said supply screw is greater at upstream side than at downstream side for conveying direction.

4. A developing device according to claim 2, wherein conveying force by said collection screw is greater at downstream side than at upstream side for conveying direction.

5. A developing device according to claim 2, wherein effective conveying area of screw blade for the screws, in at least one of said supply screw and said collection screw, is different at downstream side and upstream side for conveying direction.

6. A developing device according to claim 5, wherein outer diameter of screw blade for screws, in at least one of said supply screw and said collection screw, is different at downstream side and upstream side for conveying direction.

7. A developing device according to claim 5, wherein center angle of screw blade for screws, in at least one of said supply screw and said collection screw, is different at downstream side and upstream side for conveying direction.

8. A developing device according to claim 5, wherein shaft diameter of screw blade for screws, in at least one of said supply screw and said collection screw, is different at downstream side and upstream side for conveying direction.

9. A developing device according to claim 5, wherein notch size of screw blade for screws, in at least one of said supply screw and said collection screw, is different at downstream side and upstream side for conveying direction.

10. A developing device according to claim 2, wherein pitch of screw blade for screws, in at least one of said supply screw and said collection screw, is different at downstream side and upstream side for conveying direction.

11. A developing device according to claim 2, wherein the number of threads of screw blade for screws, in at least one of said supply screw and said collection screw, is different at downstream side and upstream side for conveying direction.

12. A developing device according to claim 2, wherein at least one of said supply screw and said collection screw has a member to hinder developer from being conveyed.

13. A developing device according to claim 2, wherein said supply screw is arranged above said collection screw.

14. A developing device comprising a first conveying means and a second conveying means, wherein

conveying force by receiving side'"'"'s conveying means is made to be bigger than conveying force by giving side'"'"'s conveying means at delivery area where developer is delivered between said first conveying means and said second conveying means.

15. A developing device according to claim 14, wherein said second conveying means is arranged above said first conveying means, conveying force by said second conveying means is made to be greater than conveying force by said first conveying means at carry-up area where developer is carried up from said first conveying means to said second conveying means.

16. A developing device according to claim 15, wherein rotating speed of said second conveying means is faster than that of said first conveying means.

17. A developing device according to claim 14, wherein said first conveying means and said second conveying means correspond to a first screw and a second screw, respectively.

18. A developing device according to claim 17, wherein effective conveying area of second screw'"'"'s screw blade is larger than that of said first screw'"'"'s at said delivery area.

19. A developing device according to claim 18, wherein outer diameter of said second screw'"'"'s screw blade is larger than that of said first screw'"'"'s at said delivery area.

20. A developing device according to claim 18, wherein center angle of said second screw'"'"'s screw blade is larger than that of said first screw'"'"'s at said delivery area.

21. A developing device according to claim 18, wherein shaft diameter of said second screw'"'"'s screw blade is smaller than that of said first screw'"'"'s at said delivery area.

22. A developing device according to claim 18, wherein notch of said second screw'"'"'s screw blade is smaller than that of said first screw'"'"'s at said delivery area.

23. A developing device according to claim 17, wherein pitch of said second screw'"'"'s screw blade is larger than that of said first screw'"'"'s at said delivery area.

24. A developing device according to claim 17, wherein the number of threads of said second screw'"'"'s screw blade is larger than that of said first screw'"'"'s at said delivery area.

25. A developing device according to claim 17, wherein screw blade for said first screw is arranged parallel to the axis penetrating said first screw at said delivery area.

26. A developing device according to claim 17, wherein only said second screw has a screw blade at said delivery area.

27. A developing device comprising:

a developing roll;

a supply screw which conveys developer in axial direction to supply said developer for said developing roll;

a collection screw which collects developer left on said developing roll and conveys said developer in axial direction; and

an agitating screw which agitates developer and conveys said developer in axial direction;

wherein

said collection screw is arranged below said supply screw and said agitating screw is arranged above said supply screw, conveying force by upper screw is made to be larger than conveying force by lower screw within at least one of first carry-up area and second carry-up area, said first carry-up area where developer is carried up to said supply screw from said collection screw, said second carry-up area where developer is carried up to said agitating screw from said supply screw, and said first carry-up area is arranged at far more downstream side for said collection screw'"'"'s conveying direction than at said second carry up area.

28. A developing device comprising:

a first screw and a second screw to convey developer in axial direction; and

delivery area where developer is delivered to said second screw from said first screw or vice versa, wherein

larger diameter screw blade part is applied to said delivery area for at least one of said first screw and said second screw.

29. A developing device according to claim 28, wherein both said first screw and second screw have at least single part of larger diameter screw blade within said delivery area, said larger diameter parts for both screws overlap in axial direction.

30. A developing device according to claim 28, wherein said second screw is arranged above said first screw, said delivery area is carry-up area where developer is carried up from said first screw to said second screw.

31. A developing device comprising:

a developer storage tank; and

a first screw and a second screw both arranged inside of said developer storage tank to convey developer;

wherein

delivery area where developer is delivered from said second screw to said first screw or vice versa is arranged at downstream for conveying direction of giving side'"'"'s screw, and inner surface of said developer storage tank is curved surface at said delivery area.

32. A developing device according to claim 31, wherein said second screw is arranged above said first screw, and said delivery area is carry-up area where developer is carried up from said first screw to said second screw.

33. A developing device comprising:

a developer storage tank; and

a first screw and a second screw both arranged inside of said developer storage tank to convey developer;

wherein

delivery area where developer is delivered from said first screw to said second screw or vice versa is arranged at downstream of conveying direction for giving side'"'"'s screw, and inner surface of said developer storage tank is tapered surface at said delivery area.

34. A developing device according to claim 33, wherein said second screw is arranged above said first screw, and said delivery area is carry-up area where developer is carried up to said second screw from said first screw.

35. A developing device comprising:

a developer storage tank; and

a first screw and a second screw both arranged inside of said developer storage tank to convey developer;

wherein

delivery area where developer is delivered from said first screw to said second screw or vice versa is applied at downstream of conveying direction for giving side'"'"'s screw, and conveying force by said giving side'"'"'s screw is made to be smaller at said delivery area than other area.

36. A developing device according to claim 35, wherein effective conveying area of a screw blade for said giving side is smaller at said delivery area than at other area.

37. A developing device according to claim 36, wherein outer diameter of a screw blade for said giving side is smaller at said delivery area than at other area.

38. A developing device according to claim 35, wherein said second screw is arranged above said first screw, and said delivery area is carry-up area where developer is carried up to said second screw from said first screw.