Developer vessel

Abstract

A developer vessel having: a developing agent, a second developing agent holding chamber that holds the developing agent supplied to the developing agent supporter; a first developing agent holding chamber being adjacent to the second developing agent holding chamber; a first partition that divides the first and the second developing agent holding chambers and having a second and a third opening portion; a first and a second carrying member that cause the developing agent to circulate between the first and the second developing agent holding chambers via the opening portions; a toner holding chamber being adjacent to the first developing agent holding chamber and facing the second developing agent holding chamber, and holds the toner supplied to the first developing agent holding chamber; and a second partition that has a first opening portion and divides the first developing agent holding chamber and the toner holding chamber.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail based on the following figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a structure of a rotation type development apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of a developer vessel;

FIGS. 3( a) and 3(b) are for describing a relationship between a cross sectional form of the developer vessel and a cross sectional surface area of a toner cartridge;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the developer vessel in which a cover that covers the developing agent holding chambers and a toner holding chamber is removed, as viewed from above in FIG. 2;

FIGS. 5( a) and 5(b) are for describing a backflow of a developing agent;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a vicinity of a first opening portion; and

FIG. 7 is a top view in a direction parallel to an axis of a dispensing auger.

Claims

1. A developer vessel comprising: a developing agent supporter that supports a developing agent containing a toner and a carrier,a second developing agent holding chamber that holds the developing agent supplied to the developing agent supporter;a first developing agent holding chamber that holds the developing agent, the first developing agent holding chamber being housed adjacent to the second developing agent holding chamber;a first partition that divides the first and the second developing agent holding chambers, the first partition having a second and a third opening portion;a first and a second carrying member that cause the developing agent held in the first developing agent holding chamber and the second developing agent holding chamber to circulate between the first developing agent holding chamber and the second developing agent holding chamber by allowing the developing agent to pass through the second and the third opening portions;a toner holding chamber that holds the toner supplied to the first developing agent holding chamber, the toner holding chamber being housed adjacent to the first developing agent holding chamber, and arranged in a position facing the second developing agent holding chamber through the first developing agent holding chamber, and;a second partition that divides the first developing agent holding chamber and the toner holding chamber, the second partition having a first opening portion through which the toner supplied from the toner holding chamber to the first developing agent holding chamber passes, the first opening portion arranged on an opposite side of a direction in which the third opening portion is arranged with reference to a position of the second opening portion;the developer vessel being used in a rotation type development apparatus in which a plurality of developing agent supporters are arranged along a circumference of a rotatable body, and development is carried out by causing the rotatable body to rotate such that one of the plurality of developing agent supporters is moved to a position facing an image carrier.

2. A developer vessel comprising: a developing agent supporter that supports a developing agent containing a toner and a carrier,a second developing agent holding chamber that holds the developing agent for to be supplied to the developing agent supporter;a first developing agent holding chamber that is adjacent to the second developing agent holding chamber and holds the developing agent;a first partition that divides the first and the second developing agent holding chambers, the first partition having a second opening portion and a third opening portion;a first and a second carrying member that cause the developing agent held in the first developing agent holding chamber and the second developing agent holding chamber to circulate through the second and the third opening portions;a toner holding chamber that holds the toner supplied to the first developing agent holding chamber, the toner holding chamber being housed adjacent to the first developing agent holding chamber, and arranged in a position facing the second developing agent holding chamber through the first developing agent holding chamber, and;a second partition that divides the first developing agent holding chamber and the toner holding chamber, the second partition having a first opening portion through which the toner supplied from the toner holding chamber to the first developing agent holding chamber passes; the first opening portion being arranged in a position such that the toner from the toner holding chamber is supplied to a region having less developing agent than other regions inside the first developing agent holding chamber;the developer vessel being used in a rotation type development apparatus in which a plurality of developing agent supporters are arranged along a circumference of a rotatable body, and development is carried out by causing the rotatable body to rotate such that one of the plurality of developing agent supporters is moved to a position facing an image carrier.

3. The developer vessel according to claim 1, further comprising: a toner carrying unit in the toner holding chamber adapted to rotate on a rotation shaft and carry the toner to the first opening portion along a shaft direction and discharges from the first opening portion; anda magnetic body that covers a circumference of the toner carrying unit and is arranged adjacent to the first opening portion of the toner holding chamber.

4. The developer vessel according to claim 2, further comprising: a toner carrying unit in the toner holding chamber that is adapted to rotate on a rotation shaft and carry the toner to the first opening portion along a shaft direction and discharges from the first opening portion; anda magnetic body that covers a circumference of the toner carrying unit and is arranged adjacent to the first opening portion of the toner holding chamber.