Patent ID: 8412078
Filing Date: 2013-04-02
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. A development agent supply device configured to supply charged development agent to an intended device, comprising: a development agent holding member that comprises a development agent holding surface formed to be a cylindrical circumferential surface parallel to a main scanning direction, the development agent holding member being configured to rotate around an axis parallel to the main scanning direction such that the development agent holding surface moves in a moving direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction and faces the intended device in a development agent supply position; a casing formed to, when viewed in the main scanning direction, be elongated in a longitudinal direction that is substantially perpendicular to the main scanning direction and parallel to a horizontal direction, a first electric-field transfer board comprising a development agent transfer surface facing down, the first electric-field transfer board being configured to transfer development agent with a traveling-wave electric field, along the development agent transfer surface in a development agent transfer direction that extends from the first development agent storage section to the opening, while making inadequately-charged development agent fall from the development agent transfer surface, the first electric-field transfer board facing the development agent holding surface at a downstream end in the development agent transfer direction so as to supply adequately-charged development agent to the development agent holding surface; and a development agent retrieving unit configured to agitate the development agent stored in the second development agent storage section and the inadequately-charged development agent falling from the development agent transfer surface and convey the agitated development agent to the first development agent storage section, the development agent retrieving unit comprising a first and second auger each comprising a shaft formed along the main scanning direction and a corkscrew blade formed around the shaft, the first auger being configured to rotate around the shaft and to move the development agent in the second development agent storage section in a first direction along the main scanning direction, the second auger being disposed parallel to the first auger and adjacent to the first auger in the longitudinal direction of the casing, the second auger being configured rotate around the shaft and to move the development agent in the second development agent storage section in a second direction opposite to the first direction.