Patent ID: 7734233
Filing Date: 2010-06-08
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. A development device comprising: a latent image carrier; a conveying member disposed to face the latent image carrier, the conveying member having plural electrodes arranged at predetermined intervals to generate an electric field for moving toner on the conveying member, each electrode being insulated from neighboring electrodes; a voltage application unit configured to apply a voltage of n phases to the electrodes to form a cloud of the toner and to adhere the toner to the latent image carrier forming a visualized toner image, n being a positive integer greater than one; a toner supply unit configured to supply the toner to the conveying member; a height adjusting member arranged at a predetermined distance from the conveying member and configured to adjust a uniform hopping height for a toner layer of the toner immediately before a development area on the conveying member; an oscillation member configured to reduce collisions among toner particles in the toner layer by oscillating the height adjustment member; and a second voltage application unit configured to apply an alternating voltage to the height adjustment member.