Developing agent circulation system and image forming apparatus using same
First Claim
1. A development agent circulation unit, comprising:
- a development unit configured to develop a latent image on an image carrier using a developing agent;
an agitation unit, disposed separately from the development unit, configured to agitate developing agent recovered from the development unit; and
a rotary feeder configured to receive the developing agent from the agitation unit and to discharge the developing agent in predetermined discrete amounts, a gas stream under a given pressure transporting discharged developing agent from the rotary feeder to the development unit,the rotary feeder including a rotor and a stator and configured to have a clearance “
t”
between an external diameter of the rotor and an internal diameter of the stator, the rotor and the stator regulating gas leakage from the gas stream through the clearance “
t”
by sealing with developing agent interposed between the rotor and the stator,the clearance “
t”
satisfying a relation “
t<
2D”
where D denotes a developing agent particle diameter,a toner particle diameter dt of a toner particle of the developing agent and a carrier particle diameter dc of a carrier particle of the developing agent satisfying a relation D=dc+2dt.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A development agent circulation unit includes a development unit, an agitation unit, and a rotary feeder. The development unit develops a latent image on an image carrier using a developing agent. The agitation unit agitates developing agent recovered from the development unit. The rotary feeder receives the developing agent from the agitation unit and discharges the developing agent in predetermined discrete amounts. The discharged developing agent is transported to the development unit using a gas stream. The rotary feeder includes a rotor and a stator having a clearance “t” between the rotor and the stator. The clearance “t” satisfies a relation “t<2D” where D denotes a developing agent particle diameter, and a toner particle diameter dt of a toner particle of the developing agent and a carrier particle diameter dc of a carrier particle of the developing agent satisfy a relation D=dc+2dt.
52 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A development agent circulation unit, comprising:
-
a development unit configured to develop a latent image on an image carrier using a developing agent; an agitation unit, disposed separately from the development unit, configured to agitate developing agent recovered from the development unit; and a rotary feeder configured to receive the developing agent from the agitation unit and to discharge the developing agent in predetermined discrete amounts, a gas stream under a given pressure transporting discharged developing agent from the rotary feeder to the development unit, the rotary feeder including a rotor and a stator and configured to have a clearance “
t”
between an external diameter of the rotor and an internal diameter of the stator, the rotor and the stator regulating gas leakage from the gas stream through the clearance “
t”
by sealing with developing agent interposed between the rotor and the stator,the clearance “
t”
satisfying a relation “
t<
2D”
where D denotes a developing agent particle diameter,a toner particle diameter dt of a toner particle of the developing agent and a carrier particle diameter dc of a carrier particle of the developing agent satisfying a relation D=dc+2dt. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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2. A development agent circulation unit, comprising:
-
a development unit configured to develop a latent image on an image carrier using a developing agent; an agitation unit, disposed separately from the development unit, configured to agitate developing agent recovered from the development unit; and a rotary feeder configured to receive the developing agent from the agitation unit and to discharge the developing agent in predetermined discrete amounts, a gas stream under a given pressure transporting discharged developing agent from the rotary feeder to the development unit, the rotary feeder including a rotor and a stator and configured to have a clearance “
t”
between an external diameter of the rotor and an internal diameter of the stator, the rotor and the stator regulating gas leakage from the gas stream through the clearance “
t”
by sealing with developing agent interposed between the rotor and the stator,the clearance “
t”
satisfying a relation “
t<
D”
where D denotes a developing agent particle diameter,toner particle diameter dt of a toner particle of the developing agent, and a carrier particle diameter dc of a carrier particle of the developing agent satisfying a relation D=dc+2dt.
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9. An image forming apparatus, comprising:
-
a development unit configured to develop a latent image on an image carrier using a developing agent; an agitation unit, disposed separately from the development unit, configured to agitate developing agent recovered from the development unit; and a rotary feeder configured to receive the developing agent from the agitation unit and to discharge the developing agent in predetermined discrete amounts, a gas stream under a given pressure transporting discharged developing agent from the rotary feeder to the development unit, the rotary feeder including a rotor and a stator and configured to have a clearance “
t”
between an external diameter of the rotor and an internal diameter of the stator, the rotor and the stator regulating gas leakage from the gas stream through the clearance “
t”
by sealing with developing agent interposed between the rotor and the stator,the clearance “
t”
satisfying a relation “
t<
2D”
where D denotes a developing agent particle diameter,a toner particle diameter dt of a toner particle of the developing agent and a carrier particle diameter dc of the developing agent satisfying a relation D=dc+2dt. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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Specification