	US 7,512,364 B2
	Image forming apparatus including a developer replenishing device for a two-ingredient type developer
Satoshi Muramatsu, Tokyo (Japan); Nobuo Iwata, Kanagawa (Japan); Nobutaka Takeuchi, Kanagawa (Japan); Junichi Matsumoto, Kanagawa (Japan); Takayuki Koike, Kanagawa (Japan); and Eriko Maruyama, Kanagawa (Japan)
Assigned to Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo (Japan)
Filed on Sep. 12, 2006, as Appl. No. 11/519,046.
Application 11/519046 is a continuation of application No. 11/018668, filed on Dec. 22, 2004, granted, now 7,127,198.
Claims priority of application No. 2003-435539 (JP), filed on Dec. 26, 2003.
Prior Publication US 2007/0009289 A1, Jan. 11, 2007
Int. Cl. G03G 15/08 (2006.01)

U.S. Cl. 399—258

8 Claims

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:

a carrier storing portion storing a carrier;

a conveying path configured to convey the carrier to a developing unit from the carrier storing portion;

air sending means for sending air under pressure to said conveying path as a conveying force for conveying the carrier; and

replenishing means for replenishing the carrier stored in said carrier storing portion to said conveying path;

said replenishing means being provided on a carrier replenishing passage extending from said carrier storing portion to a portion where said carrier replenishing passage joins said conveying path,

said replenishing means being configured to obstruct entry of air to said carrier storing portion and replenish the carrier by a preselected amount, wherein said carrier comprises a powdered carrier and said replenishing member comprises a rotatable roller housed within said carrier replenishing passage and provided outside said carrier storing portion, said rotatable roller having a diameter large enough to block said carrier conveying path and being formed with a metering cavity in a circumferential surface thereof.