Developing-agent container, method of manufacturing developing-agent container, developing-agent supplying device, and image forming apparatus

1. A method of manufacturing a developing-agent container for containing developing agent including toner and carrier to be supplied to a developing unit, the method comprising:

filling the developing-agent container with the developing agent with the toner and the carrier evenly distributed in a highly air-containing state; and

applying, after filling the developing-agent container with the developing agent, an external force on at least one of the toner and the carrier in the toner container so that a difference in forces per unit volume of the toner and the carrier due to gravity becomes small.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein

the carrier has a greater specific gravity than the toner, and

the applying includes forming a magnetic field that applies an upward force on the carrier.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein

the carrier has a greater specific gravity than the toner, and

the applying includes forming an electric field that applies an upward force on the carrier.

4. The method of manufacturing the developing-agent container according to claim 1 , further comprising:

agitating the developing agent for a predetermined amount of time.

5. The method of manufacturing the developing-agent container according to claim 1 , further comprising:

mounting the developing-agent container on a conveyor belt such that the developing-agent container traverses a magnetic field zone of a magnet disposed proximate to the conveyor belt; and

allowing the developing-agent container to traverse the magnetic field zone for a predetermined amount of time.

6. The method of manufacturing the developing-agent container according to claim 5 , wherein the predetermined amount of time is approximately 10 minutes.

7. The method of manufacturing the developing-agent container according to claim 1 , further comprising:

mounting the developing-agent container on a conveyor belt such that the developing-agent container traverses an electric field zone formed by an upper electrode plate and a lower electrode plate disposed proximate to the conveyor belt; and

allowing the developing-agent container to traverse the electric field zone for a predetermined amount of time.

8. The method of manufacturing the developing-agent container according to claim 7 , wherein the predetermined amount of time is approximately 10 minutes.

9. A developing-agent supplying device for supplying developing agent that contains toner and carrier contained in a developing-agent container to a developing unit that develops an electrostatic latent image formed on a latent image carrier to form a toner image, the developing-agent supplying device comprising:

an external-force applying unit that applies an external force to at least one of the toner and the carrier in the developing-agent container so that a difference in forces per unit volume of the toner and the carrier due to gravity becomes small.

10. The developing-agent supplying device according to claim 9 , wherein

the carrier has a greater specific gravity than the toner, and

the external-force applying unit includes a magnetic-field forming unit that forms a magnetic field that applies an upward force on the carrier.

11. The developing-agent supplying device according to claim 10 , wherein the magnetic-field forming unit is a permanent magnet provided on an upper side of the developing-agent container.

12. The developing-agent supplying device according to claim 10 , wherein the magnetic-field forming unit is an electromagnet provided on an upper side of the developing-agent container.

13. The developing-agent supplying device according to claim 9 , wherein

the carrier has a greater specific gravity than the toner, and

the external-force applying unit includes an electric-field forming unit that forms an electric field that applies an upward force on the carrier.

14. The developing-agent supplying device according to claim 9 , wherein

the developing-agent container includes a bag portion that contains the developing agent, and

a capacity of the developing-agent container decreases by deforming the bag portion by applying external pressure or reducing internal pressure.

15. An image forming apparatus, comprising:

a latent image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed;

a developing unit that develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the latent image carrier to form a toner image; and

the developing-agent supplying device according to claim 9 .

16. The developing-agent supplying device according to claim 9 ,

wherein at least one of the toner and the carrier has a plurality of bumps on a particle surface thereof.

17. The developing-agent supplying device according to claim 16 , wherein

the toner has the plurality of bumps on the particle surface thereof, and

a shape factor SF-2 of a particle of the toner is equal to or larger than 110.

18. The developing-agent supplying device according to claim 16 , wherein

the carrier has the plurality of bumps on the particle surface thereof, and

a shape factor SF-2 of a particle of the carrier is equal to or larger than 110.

19. The developing-agent supplying device according to claim 16 , wherein

the developing-agent container includes a bag portion that contains the developing agent, and

a capacity of the developing-agent container decreases by deforming the bag portion by applying external pressure or reducing internal pressure.

20. An image forming apparatus, comprising:

the developing-agent supplying device according to claim 16 .