PADDLE, DEVELOPING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS

Abstract

A paddle includes a plurality of axially divided components that are connected together, each component including axially extending blades, wherein the blades overlap with blades provided on a component adjacent to the corresponding component in the circumferential direction.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an internal configuration of a copy/facsimile multi-function machine according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cut-away schematic perspective view for explaining the internal structure of a developing machine unit.

FIG. 3 is an exploded partial perspective view showing a configuration of a paddle.

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view showing the paddle.

FIGS. 5A to 5C illustrate components of the paddle.

FIG. 6 is a partial front view showing the paddle.

FIG. 7 is an exploded partial perspective view showing a configuration of the paddle according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is partial perspective view showing the paddle according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 9A to 9F illustrate components of another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a partial front view showing the paddle according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an exploded partial perspective view showing a configuration of a paddle in the related art.

FIG. 12 is a partial front view showing the paddle in the related art.

Claims

1. A paddle comprising: a plurality of axially divided components, each component including axially extending blades, wherein the blades of a first component overlap in a circumferential direction with blades provided on an adjacent component.

2. The paddle according to claim 1, wherein the blades of the first component extend in a radial direction, and the blades of the adjacent component are axially shifted in the circumferential direction.

3. The paddle according to claim 1, wherein the blades provided on the first component and the blades provided on the adjacent component are continuous.

4. The paddle according to claim 1, wherein the blades extend in the radial direction, and the blades of the adjacent component are axially shifted in the circumferential direction, and wherein the blades provided on the first component and the blades provided on the adjacent are continuous.

5. The paddle according to claim 1, wherein the first component and the adjacent component have the same shape.

6. The paddle according to claim 1, wherein the blades extend in the radial direction, and the blades of the adjacent component are axially shifted in the circumferential direction, and wherein the first component and the adjacent component have the same shape.

7. The paddle according to claim 1, wherein the blades provided on the first component and the blades provided on the adjacent component are continuous, and wherein the first component and the adjacent component have the same shape.

8. The paddle according to claim 1, wherein the blades extend in the radial direction, and the blades of the adjacent component are axially shifted in the circumferential direction, the blades provided on the first component and the blades provided on the adjacent component are continuous, and the first component and the adjacent component have the same shape.

9. A developing device comprising: a developing device arranged to supply developer to a photoreceptor;a developer container arranged to store the developer; anda paddle rotatably supported by the developer container and arranged to supplying the developer stored in the developer container to the developing device while agitating the same; whereinthe paddle includes a plurality of axially divided components, each component includes axially extending blades, and the blades provided on a first component overlap in a circumferential direction with blades provided on an adjacent component.

10. The developing device according to claim 9,wherein the blade of the first component extend in a radial direction, and the blades of the adjacent component are axially shifted in the circumferential direction.

11. The developing device according to claim 9, wherein the blades provided on the first component and the blades provided on the adjacent component are continuous.

12. The developing device according to claim 9, wherein the blades extend in the radial direction, and the blades of the adjacent component are axially shifted in the circumferential direction, and wherein the blades provided on the first component and the blades provided on the adjacent are continuous.

13. The developing device according to claim 9, wherein the first component and the adjacent component have the same shape.

14. The developing device according to claim 9, wherein the blades extend in the radial direction, and the blades of the adjacent component are axially shifted in the circumferential direction, and wherein the first component and the adjacent component have the same shape.

15. The developing device according to claim 9, wherein the blades provided on the first component and the blades provided on the adjacent component are continuous, and wherein the first component and the adjacent component have the same shape.

16. The developing device according to claim 9, wherein the blades extend in the radial direction, and the blades of the adjacent component are axially shifted in the circumferential direction, the blades provided on the first component and the blades provided on the adjacent component are continuous, and the first component and the adjacent component have the same shape.

17. An image forming apparatus comprising: a photoreceptor;a developing device arranged to supply developer to a photoreceptor;a developer container arranged to store the developer; anda paddle that is rotatably supported by the developer container and arranged to supply the developer stored in the developer container to the developer device while agitating the same; whereinthe paddle includes a plurality of axially divided components, each component includes axially extending blades, and the blades provided on a first component overlap in a circumferential direction with blades provided on an adjacent component.

18. The image forming apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the blades of the first component extend in a radial direction, and the blades of the adjacent component are axially shifted in the circumferential direction.

19. The image forming apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the blades provided on the first component and the blades provided on the adjacent component are continuous.

20. The image forming apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the blades extend in the radial direction, and the blades of the adjacent component are axially shifted in the circumferential direction, and wherein the blades provided on the first component and the blades provided on the adjacent are continuous.

21. The image forming apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the first component and the adjacent component have the same shape.

22. The image forming apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the blades extend in the radial direction, and the blades of the adjacent component are axially shifted in the circumferential direction, and wherein the first component and the adjacent component have the same shape.

23. The image forming apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the blades provided on the first component and the blades provided on the adjacent component are continuous, and wherein the first component and the adjacent component have the same shape.

24. The image forming apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the blades extend in the radial direction, and the blades of the adjacent component are axially shifted in the circumferential direction, the blades provided on the first component and the blades provided on the adjacent component are continuous, and the first component and the adjacent component have the same shape.