Patent ID: 7333753
Filing Date: 2008-02-19
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. A developer system having a housing, comprising: a toner sump containing a first predefined volume of developer material; a first auger, disposed in a first auger channel, for mixing and circulating developer material along a first path within said first auger channel said first auger having a pumping section; a second auger, adjacent to said first auger and disposed in a second auger channel, for circulating developer material along a second path within said second auger channel; a wall member disposed in between said first auger channel and said second auger channel, said wall member having an opening in said wall member, disposed adjacent to a pumping section having a second predefine volume of developer material within said first auger channel, said opening providing a spillway from said first auger channel to said second auger channel to allow excess developer material to be re-circulated when said second predefine volume of developer material in said pumping section is substantially full, said first auger transports developer material at a first rate in a mixing section of said first auger channel, and transports developer material at a second rate in said pumping section of said first auger channel; said first transport rate being substantially greater than said second transport rate to maintain second predefined developer material volume in said pumping section substantially full when said first predefined developer material-volume in said sump is substantially less than full.