Developing unit
First Claim
1. A developing unit comprising:
- a developer carrier configured to bear a developer including a toner and a carrier on a developer carrying area;
a first chamber configured to face at least a part of the developer carrier and receive the developer falling from the developer carrier;
a second chamber provided next to the first chamber;
a partition configured to be disposed between the first chamber and the second chamber to separate the first chamber from the second chamber;
a first conveying member, disposed rotatably in the first chamber, configured to convey the developer in the first chamber in a first direction;
a second conveying member, disposed rotatably in the second chamber, comprising a spiral blade portion conveying the developer in the second chamber in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and a reverse spiral blade portion disposed downstream of the spiral blade portion in the second direction and configured to convey the developer in the first direction;
a discharging portion, provided in the second chamber and downstream of the reverse spiral blade portion in the second direction, configured to discharge the developer; and
a plurality of communication portions communicating the first chamber and the second chamber with each other, and comprising a first communication portion, disposed downstream in the second direction, through which the developer is conveyed from the second chamber to the first chamber, and a second communication portion, disposed upstream in the second direction, through which the developer is conveyed from the first chamber to the second chamber among the plurality of communication portions,wherein a distance between an upstream end, in the second direction, of the first communication portion and a center, in a rotational axis direction of the developer carrier, of the developer carrier is greater than a distance between a downstream end, in the second direction, of the second communication portion and the center of the developer carrier.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A developing unit includes a developer carrier, and first and second chambers to collect and circulate developer. A partition separates the first and second chambers and has first communication portion disposed more downstream in the second chamber and a second communication portion disposed more upstream in the second chamber. A first conveying member is disposed in the first chamber, and a second conveying member is disposed in the second chamber and includes a spiral blade portion, a reverse spiral blade portion helically wound in an opposite direction of the spiral blade portion and disposed downstream of the spiral blade portion, and a discharging portion provided downstream of the reverse spiral blade. An upstream end of the first communication portion is positioned farther than a downstream end of the second communication portion from a center of the developer carrier in a rotational axis direction of the developer carrier.
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Citations
4 Claims
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1. A developing unit comprising:
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a developer carrier configured to bear a developer including a toner and a carrier on a developer carrying area; a first chamber configured to face at least a part of the developer carrier and receive the developer falling from the developer carrier; a second chamber provided next to the first chamber; a partition configured to be disposed between the first chamber and the second chamber to separate the first chamber from the second chamber; a first conveying member, disposed rotatably in the first chamber, configured to convey the developer in the first chamber in a first direction; a second conveying member, disposed rotatably in the second chamber, comprising a spiral blade portion conveying the developer in the second chamber in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and a reverse spiral blade portion disposed downstream of the spiral blade portion in the second direction and configured to convey the developer in the first direction; a discharging portion, provided in the second chamber and downstream of the reverse spiral blade portion in the second direction, configured to discharge the developer; and a plurality of communication portions communicating the first chamber and the second chamber with each other, and comprising a first communication portion, disposed downstream in the second direction, through which the developer is conveyed from the second chamber to the first chamber, and a second communication portion, disposed upstream in the second direction, through which the developer is conveyed from the first chamber to the second chamber among the plurality of communication portions, wherein a distance between an upstream end, in the second direction, of the first communication portion and a center, in a rotational axis direction of the developer carrier, of the developer carrier is greater than a distance between a downstream end, in the second direction, of the second communication portion and the center of the developer carrier. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A developing unit comprising:
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a developer carrier configured to bear a developer, including a toner and a carrier, on a developer carrying area; a first chamber configured to face at least a part of the developer carrier and receive the developer from the developer carrier; a second chamber provided next to the first chamber; a partition configured to be disposed between the first chamber and the second chamber to separate the first chamber from the second chamber; a first conveying member, disposed rotatably in the first chamber, configured to convey the developer in the first chamber in a first direction; a second conveying member, disposed rotatably in the second chamber, comprising a spiral blade portion configured to convey the developer in the second chamber in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and a reverse spiral blade portion disposed downstream of the spiral blade portion in the second direction and configured to convey the developer in the first direction; a discharging portion, provided in the second chamber and downstream of the reverse spiral blade portion in the second direction, configured to discharge the developer; and a plurality of communication portions, provided in the partition, configured to communicate the first chamber and the second chamber with each other, and comprising a first communication portion, disposed downstream in the second direction, through which the developer is conveyed from the second chamber to the first chamber, and a second communication portion, disposed upstream in the second direction, through which the developer is conveyed from the first chamber to the second chamber among the plurality of communication portions, wherein a distance between an upstream end, in the second direction, of the first communication portion and a center, in a rotational axis direction of the developer carrier, of the developer carrying area is greater than a distance between a downstream end, in the second direction, of the second communication portion and the center of the developer carrying area. - View Dependent Claims (4)
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Specification