US 7,321,743 B2
Developer recovering mechanism and image forming apparatus
Masamichi Kimura, Iwatsuki (Japan); Kazunori Koshimori, Iwatsuki (Japan); and Yukimitsu Yoshida, Iwatsuki (Japan)
Assigned to Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd., Tokyo (Japan)
Filed on Feb. 22, 2005, as Appl. No. 11/61,597.
Claims priority of application No. 2004-144718 (JP), filed on May 14, 2004.
Prior Publication US 2005/0254860 A1, Nov. 17, 2005
Int. Cl. G03G 15/01 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 399—227 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A developer recovering mechanism used in a developing apparatus having a developer cartridge which houses developer, a developing unit in which the developer cartridge is installed and which can make a latent image of an image carrier visible by the developer, and a rotor at which the developing unit is loaded and which rotates and moves the developing unit successively to a developing region, the developer recovering mechanism comprising:
a housing chamber provided at the developer cartridge, for housing recovered developer;
a recovery opening for recovering developer, which is in the developing unit, into the housing chamber; and
a shutter which is plate-shaped, one end side of the shutter being rotatably shaft-supported within the housing chamber, the shutter opening and closing the recovery opening in accordance with changes in gravity due to rotation of the rotor.