Electrophotography – Diagnostics – Consumable
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-09
2001-04-03
Grainger, Quana M. (Department: 2852)
Electrophotography
Diagnostics
Consumable
C399S263000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06212340
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Title of the Invention
The present invention relates to a developing unit for conducting development on a latent image carrier on which an image is formed, and also relates to an image forming apparatus, having the developing unit, to form an image and to transfer the formed image onto a recording medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a conventional image forming apparatus, a latent image is formed on a latent image carrier, and development is conducted on the latent image carrier by a developing unit, and then the developed image is transferred onto a sheet of paper which is a recording medium. In the above developing process, toner is used.
There is provided a developing method in which development is conducted as follows. In the developing process in which a latent image formed on the latent image carrier is developed with toner, a carrier to convey toner is used so that the development can be effectively conducted.
According to the above developing method, the carrier is circulated in the developing unit to develop the latent image, so that toner can be fed to the latent image carrier.
However, in a printing apparatus in which toner is used for printing, toner is transferred onto a sheet of paper which is a recording medium. Therefore, the quantity of toner accommodated in the printing apparatus is reduced each time it is used. Accordingly, it is necessary to feed toner to the developing unit.
The carrier is deteriorated by the friction when it is circulated in the developing unit, and it becomes impossible for the carrier to convey toner. For this reason, it is necessary to replace the carrier after it has been used over a predetermined period of time.
In the above-type of image forming apparatus, a multicolor printer including a plurality of developing units and latent image carriers has come into wide use.
However, in the above image forming apparatus, a developer which contains toner and a carrier is manually replaced by an operator, so that it takes much time and labor. Moreover, in the apparatus of multicolor printing, it is necessary to replace developer for each color. Therefore, it takes more time to replace developer of each color.
Accordingly, it is preferable to save time and labor in the process of replacing developer. Further, it is preferable to extend the life of the developer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a developing apparatus and an image forming apparatus in which a developer can easily be supplied or changed.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a developing apparatus, and an image forming apparatus, in which the used developer can be easily disposed of.
According to the present invention, there is provided a developing apparatus for developing a latent image formed on a latent image carrying body with a developer, the developing apparatus comprising: a developing unit including means for supplying the developer to the latent image carrying body to develop the latent image on the latent image carrying body and means for accommodating the developer; a developer storage means for storing the developer which is to be supplied to the developing unit, the developer storage means being detachably mounted on the developing unit and having a volume substantially the same as a volume of the developer which can be accommodated in the developing unit; and means for supplying the developer in the developer storage means to the developing unit.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a developing apparatus for developing a latent image formed on a latent image carrying body with a developer, the developing apparatus comprising: a developing unit including means for supplying the developer to the latent image carrying body to develop the latent image on the latent image carrying body and means for accommodating the developer; a developer storage means for storing the developer which is to be supplied to the developing unit, the developer storage means being detachably mounted on the developing unit and having a volume less than the volume of the developer which can be accommodated in the developing unit; and means for supplying the developer in the developer storage means to the developing unit.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a developing apparatus for developing a latent image formed on a latent image carrying body with a developer, the developing apparatus comprising: a developing unit including means for supplying the developer to the latent image carrying body to develop the latent image on the latent image carrying body and means for accommodating the developer; a developer storage means for storing the developer which is to be supplied to the developing unit, the developer storage means being detachably mounted on the developing unit and having a volume which is an integral multiple of the volume of the developer which can be accommodated in the developing unit; and means for supplying the developer in the developer storage means to the developing unit.
According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a developing apparatus for developing a latent image formed on a latent image carrying body with a developer, the developing apparatus comprising: a developing unit including means for supplying the developer to the latent image carrying body to develop the latent image on the latent image carrying body and means for accommodating the developer; a developer storage means for storing a fresh developer which is to be supplied to the developing unit; and developer changing means for replacing the developer accommodated in the developing unit with the fresh developer stored in the developer storage means in accordance with an instruction that the replacement of the developer is now required.
The developer changing means comprises a developer discharging means for discharging the developer from the developing unit and a fresh developer supplying means for supplying the fresh developer into the developing unit.
According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a two-component developing apparatus for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on a latent image carrying body with a two-component developer, the developing apparatus comprising: a developing unit including means for supplying the developer to the latent image carrying body to develop the latent image on the latent image carrying body and means for accommodating the developer; a developer storage means for storing a fresh developer which is to be supplied to the developing unit; a toner storage means for storing a toner which is to be supplied to the developing unit; means for supplying the toner in the toner storage means to the developing unit in accordance with a first instruction that a supplement to the toner is required; and developer changing means for replacing the developer accommodated in the developing unit by the fresh developer stored in the developer storage means in accordance with a second instruction that a replacement of the developer is now required.
According to a still further aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus comprising: a plurality of latent image carrying bodies for carrying latent images; a plurality of developing units each including means for supplying a developer to the respective latent image carrying body to develop the latent image on the latent image carrying body and means for accommodating the developer; at least one developer storage means for storing a fresh developer which is to be supplied to at least one of the developing units; and developer changing means for replacing the developer accommodated in the developing unit by the fresh developer stored in the developer storage means in accordance with an instruction that a replacement of developer is now required.
The plurality of developing units develop with a plurality of different color developers and at least one developer storage means stores
Fuke Kenji
Shimatsu Katsuya
Sugimoto Katsumi
Suzuki Eiji
Tanaka Tomoaki
Armstrong Westerman Hattori McLeland & Naughton LLP
Fujitsu Limited
Grainger Quana M.
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