Appeal No. 96-3392
Application 08/121,512
toner on the non-image areas of the photosensitive drum.
Since Kurokawa provides a bias application timing control to
eliminate the deposition of developer on the non-image area,
there is no reason why it would also move the developer.
In addition, the fact that some two-component developers
move into and out of position does not mean that all do.
Thus, there is no suggestion that Kurokawa's developer moves.
In the background of the invention, appellants describe prior
art techniques to solve the problem of toner adhering to the
uncharged region. One conventional technique is a mechanism
for bringing the developing unit into contact with the
photosensitive drum when printing is to be carried out and
moving the unit away from the drum when printing is not
carried out (specification, page 5, line 18 to page 6,
line 2); the mechanism is said to be complicated and costly
(specification, page 6, lines 16-25). This appears to be the
movable prior art developer referred to by appellant.
However, we find nothing that suggests this technique is a
characteristic feature of two-component developers, as implied
by appellants. Since the purpose of moving the developer is
to overcome the problem of depositing toner on the non-image
- 12 -
Page: Previous 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007