Oblon, Spivak, McClelland, Maier & Neustadt, L.L.P.
Development device and image forming apparatus incorporating same
A development device includes a development portion to develop a latent image; an agitation container to contain developer; a circulation system through which the developer is circulated between the development portion and the agitation container; a developer replenishing device to supply fresh developer to the agitation container; an agitator, provided inside the agitation container, to agitate and mix the developer collected from the development portion and the fresh developer from the developer replenishing device; and a developer escape chamber to discharge surplus developer in the agitation container, projecting from and continuous with the agitation container, the developer escape chamber defining a communication pathway in a side of the agitation container between the agitation container and the developer escape chamber through which the developer is moved between the agitation container and the developer escape chamber and having a discharge opening whose lower end is positioned higher than the communication pathway.
Ricoh Company, Ltd.
G G
G03G G03G
inventional inventional
Hiroshi Tomoya Junichi Yasuo
Kikuchi Ohmura Matsumoto Takuma