US 12,326,674 B2
Developing device and method of agitating initial developer inside developing device
Koshin Sekiya, Chiba (JP)
Assigned to Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo (JP)
Filed by CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Sep. 25, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/473,767.
Claims priority of application No. 2022-154394 (JP), filed on Sep. 28, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0103403 A1, Mar. 28, 2024
Int. Cl. G03G 15/08 (2006.01); G03G 21/16 (2006.01)
CPC G03G 15/0889 (2013.01) [G03G 15/0868 (2013.01); G03G 15/0872 (2013.01); G03G 15/0886 (2013.01); G03G 15/0893 (2013.01); G03G 21/1676 (2013.01); G03G 2215/0827 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
11. A method of agitating initial developer inside a developing device, wherein the developing device includes a developer carrier configured to carry developer containing toner and carrier for developing an electrostatic image formed on an image carrier, a first chamber configured to supply the developer to the developer carrier, a second chamber partitioned from the first chamber by a partition and configured to allow circulation of the developer between the second chamber and the first chamber, a first communication portion configured to permit the developer to communicate from the second chamber to the first chamber, a second communication portion configured to permit the developer to communicate from the first chamber to the second chamber, a first conveyance screw disposed in the first chamber and configured to convey the developer in a first direction from the first communication portion toward the second communication portion, a second conveyance screw disposed in the second chamber and configured to convey the developer in a second direction from the second communication portion toward the first communication portion, a pair of sealing members configured to seal the first communication portion and the second communication portion to store initial developer in the second chamber, and a drive transmission gear configured to transmit driving force for rotating the second conveyance screw to the second conveyance screw, the method comprising:
inputting the driving force for rotating the second conveyance screw to the drive transmission gear by using a tool in a state where the first communication portion and the second communication portion are sealed by the pair of sealing members; and
agitating the initial developer by rotation of the second conveyance screw by inputting the driving force for rotating the second conveyance screw to the drive transmission gear.