Development device, process cartridge including same, and image forming apparatus including same

(19)

(11)

EP 2 339 408 A8

(12)	CORRECTED EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION
	Note: Bibliography reflects the latest situation

(15)	Correction information:
	Corrected version no 1 (W1 A2)

(48)	Corrigendum issued on:
	14.09.2011 Bulletin 2011/37

(43)	Date of publication:
	29.06.2011 Bulletin 2011/26

(21)	Application number: 10192592.3

(22)	Date of filing: 25.11.2010

(51)

International Patent Classification (IPC):

G03G 15/08^(2006.01)

(84)	Designated Contracting States:
	AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR
	Designated Extension States:
	BA ME

(30)

Priority:

22.12.2009 JP 2009290420

(71)	Applicant: Ricoh Company Ltd.
	Tokyo 143-8555 (JP)

(72)	Inventors:
	Fujiwara, Yoshihiro Tokyo 143-8555 (JP) Miyoshi, Yasuo Tokyo 143-8555 (JP) Hosokawa, Hiroshi Tokyo 143-8555 (JP) Kudo, Norio Tokyo 143-8555 (JP) Okamoto, Hiroaki Tokyo 143-8555 (JP)

(74)	Representative: Schwabe - Sandmair - Marx
	Patentanwälte Stuntzstraße 16 81677 München 81677 München (DE)

(54)	Development device, process cartridge including same, and image forming apparatus including same

(57) A development device (3) includes a developer carrier (302), a supply compartment (301S) having a downstream end portion positioned outside the development area in the axial direction of the developer carrier (302), a collection compartment (301C) lower than the supply compartment (301S), first and second communication ports respectively formed in the downstream end portion and an upstream end portion of the supply compartment (301S), a developer circulation unit including first and second developer conveyance members (304,305) respectively provided in the supply compartment (301S) and the collection compartment (301C), a toner supply port (310) formed in an upper portion of the downstream end portion of the supply compartment (301S), and an airflow path limiter (311; 311A; 313) provided in the downstream end portion of the supply compartment (301S), closer to the development area than the toner supply port (310) in the axial direction of the developer carrier (302), to restrict an airflow path above the developer in the downstream end portion of the supply compartment (301S).