Developing unit for use in an electrostatographic printer

(19)

(11)

EP 0 671 669 A3

(12)	EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88)	Date of publication A3:
	24.04.1996 Bulletin 1996/17

(43)	Date of publication A2:
	13.09.1995 Bulletin 1995/37

(21)	Application number: 95301256.4

(22)	Date of filing: 27.02.1995

(51)	International Patent Classification (IPC)⁶: G03G 15/08

(84)	Designated Contracting States:
	BE DE FR GB IT NL

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Priority:

11.03.1994 EP 94301784

(71)	Applicant: XEIKON NV
	B-2640 Mortsel (BE)

(72)	Inventors:
	de Cock, Etienne Marie B-2650 Edegem (BE) de Schamphelaere, Lucien Amedé B-2650 Edegem (BE) van Dessel, Bart Jozef B-2980 St. Antonius (BE) van Hoogten, Daniel Louis B-2220 Heist-op-den-Berg (BE)

(74)	Representative: Gambell, Derek
	D Gambell & Co, Keeley House Business Centre, 22/30 Keeley Road Croydon, Surrey CR0 1TE Croydon, Surrey CR0 1TE (GB)

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References cited: :

(54)	Developing unit for use in an electrostatographic printer

(57) A developing unit for use in an electrostatographic printer is described. The unit comprises a housing (1) having an opening (30) defining a developing zone, an applicator (2) for applying particulate carrier / toner developer through the opening (30) towards an electrostatographic image to be developed, and agitator means (4) for agitating developer within the housing (1), for scooping up developer from within the housing (1) and projecting scooped-up developer towards the applicator (2). Supply means are located outside the width of the development zone for supplying toner to the housing (1). Primary conveyance means (25) convey developer from the supply means across the width of the development zone in one direction, while secondary conveyance means (28) receive developer from the primary conveyance means (25) and convey developer across the width of the development zone in a direction opposite and substantially parallel to the conveyance direction of the primary conveyance means (25). The primary and secondary conveyance means (25, 28) each define a respective developer transport path interconnected by a passageway outside the width of the development zone enabling the return of developer from the secondary to the primary conveyance means (25).

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