IP Library Granted Patent US 10,488,786
Granted Patent B2
US 10,488,786 · App. 16/212,476 · Granted Nov 26, 2019

Development device and image forming apparatus including the development device

Inventors: Shohei Fukumoto (Sakai, JP); Motoyuki Itoyama (Sakai, JP); Hiroo Naoi (Sakai, JP)
Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
G03G15/0849G03G15/0865
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,488,786
App. No.
16/212,476
Granted
Nov 26, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A development device includes a developer housing, a toner concentration detection sensor, and a cover member. The developer housing stores a developer containing toner and a carrier. The toner concentration detection sensor is attached to a lower surface of the developer housing and is configured to detect a toner concentration of the developer stored in the developer housing. The cover member is attached to the lower surface of the developer housing to cover the toner concentration detection sensor. The cover member includes a pressing section for pressing a part of the toner concentration detection sensor against the lower surface of the developer housing.

Claims (25)

1. A development device comprising:

a developer tank configured to store a developer;

a toner concentration sensor attached to a lower surface of the developer tank, the toner concentration sensor being configured to detect a toner concentration of the developer stored in the developer tank; and

a cover member attached to the lower surface of the developer tank to cover the toner concentration sensor,

wherein the cover member includes a pressing section pressing against a part of the toner concentration sensor such that the toner concentration sensor is pressed against the lower surface of the developer tank.

2. The development device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the toner concentration sensor includes a sensor section and a holding member for holding the sensor section.

3. The development device according to claim 2 ,

wherein the pressing section presses the sensor section.

4. The development device according to claim 2 ,

wherein the pressing section presses the periphery of the sensor section in the holding member.

5. The development device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the pressing section includes an elastic portion for elastically pressing a part of the toner concentration sensor.

6. The development device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the pressing section includes a hard portion for pressing a part of the toner concentration sensor.

7. The development device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a positioning section for determining a position of the toner concentration sensor in a horizontal direction with respect to the developer tank.

8. The development device according to claim 7 ,

wherein the positioning section is formed in the developer tank and includes a protrusion that comes into contact with an edge portion of the toner concentration sensor.

9. The development device according to claim 8 ,

wherein a lower surface of the protrusion comes into contact with an upper surface of the pressing section.

10. The development device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the cover member is detachably attached to the developer tank.

11. An image forming apparatus comprising:

the development device according to claim 1 .

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 6, 2018
From: FUKUMOTO, SHOHEI; ITOYAMA, MOTOYUKI; NAOI, HIROO
To: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 047699/0304 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2017-234789 · Dec 7, 2017 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20190179236A1 · Jun 13, 2019