JP2000089556A - Method for processing developer carrier surface and developing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To secure the stable carrying quantity of developer extending over a long term by preventing the large initial lowering of the surface roughness of a developer carrier and the lowering of the carrying quantity of the developer associated with it from occurring because the projection part of the surface of the developer carrier is sharp as it is even when the hardening processing of the surface thereof is executed after the surface roughening processing thereof and the surface becomes rough by the hardening processing itself. SOLUTION: This developing device 9 is provided with the developer carrier 2 having a rotatable surface and carrying toner to a photoreceptor 1 and a developer regulation member B press-contacting with the carrier 2 so as to regulate the layer thickness of the toner on the carrier 2. The surface of the carrier 2 is ground after the surface roughening processing thereof is executed by sand blasting.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for processing the surface of a developer carrier and a developing apparatus, and more particularly, to a developing method used in an image forming apparatus for forming an image by an electrophotographic method, such as a copying machine, a printer, and a facsimile. The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for processing a surface of a developer carrier used in the developing apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A developer carrier used in a developing device of an image forming apparatus for forming an image by an electrophotographic method such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, etc. It is known that the surface of the developer carrying member should be roughened in order to improve the performance. Most of the surface roughening is performed by sandblasting in which irregular-shaped particles are sprayed on the surface of a carrier or bead blasting in which spherical particles are sprayed. Examples of such a technique for roughening the surface of the developer carrying member include Japanese Patent No. 2517649 and Japanese Patent No. 2692051. In these techniques, not only the developer conveying force is improved, but also the blast method is devised, and the charge amount of the developer is stabilized by adjusting the shape of the rough surface. By the way, Patent No. 2
No. 5,176,649 is characterized in that, in a powder developer carrying member for carrying and carrying a powder developer, a developer carrying surface is blasted with a mixture of irregular particles and regular particles. Japanese Patent No. 2692051 discloses a technique relating to a powder developer conveying member. The surface is blasted with irregular shaped abrasive particles, and then blasted with fixed abrasive particles having a larger particle diameter while leaving the previous polished surface. A technique relating to a method of roughening the surface of a developer carrying member, which is characterized in that the surface of the developer carrying member is roughened, is disclosed.

In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 5-27581, the durability and stability of the developer carrying property of the developing sleeve are improved, the temporal change of the image density is reduced, and the layer thickness of the developer on the developing sleeve is reduced. For the purpose of providing a developing device capable of obtaining a high-quality image by stably maintaining a thin film, the surface of the developer carrying member (developing sleeve) may be left as it is, or may be subjected to spherical blasting. A developer carrying a sand blasting process, covered with a hard surface treatment layer, and further a spherical blasting process on the surface to provide appropriate irregularities by the spherical blasting process and a harder surface layer by the work hardening. A technique related to processing of a body surface is disclosed.

[0004] Also, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-46008,
For the purpose of ensuring long-term stable supply of powder by uniform loading and transport of the powder by the powder carrier made of aluminum, at least the surface layer is made of an aluminum material. Further, there is disclosed a technique for processing the surface of a powder carrier, wherein an alumite treatment layer is formed on the surface after the sandblast treatment.

[0005]

However, in the technique of roughening the surface of the developer carrier in Japanese Patent No. 2517649 and Japanese Patent No. 2692051, not only the conveying force of the developer is improved but also a blasting method is devised. Although the charge amount of the developer is stabilized by adjusting the shape of the rough surface, the surface roughness is reduced due to abrasion as well as the change in the charge amount, and the transport amount decreases with time. There is a point. Wear on the surface of the developer carrier is caused by friction between the developer carrier and the developer supply member and the developer regulating member. The wear on the surface of the developer carrier is particularly severe in the initial stage, and the amount of developer transported is significantly reduced. This is because, immediately after the surface roughening treatment, particularly the convex portion among the concave and convex portions is sharp, stress is concentrated on the sharp portion, and abrasion greatly progresses.

In order to solve this problem, as described above, the technique relating to the processing of the surface of the developer carrier in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 5-27581, and In the technology relating to processing, it has been proposed to harden the surface of the developer carrying member. But,
Even if the surface is roughened after the surface is hardened, the convex portions remain sharp, and the surface is roughened by the hardening process itself for hardening. The sharp portions of the projections are still liable to wear, and the initial large reduction in surface roughness and the accompanying reduction in the amount of developer transport are unavoidable.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the circumstances of the conventional technology as described above, and can solve each of the above-mentioned problems. is there. According to the first and third aspects of the invention,
Eliminates sharp protrusions immediately after the surface roughening of the developer carrier to prevent a decrease in the initial surface roughness and the accompanying decrease in the amount of developer transport, ensuring a stable developer transport over a long period of time. The purpose is to do.

[0008] The invention according to claims 2 and 4 aims at hardening the surface of the developer carrier to further enhance the effects of the inventions according to claims 1 and 3.

According to the third and sixth aspects of the present invention, sharp projections associated with the surface roughening and hardening treatments of the developer carrying member are eliminated, so that the initial surface roughness is reduced and the developer is conveyed accordingly. An object of the present invention is to prevent a decrease in the amount of developer and to secure a stable developer transport amount over a long period of time.

[0010]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, in the method for processing the surface of the developer carrier, the surface of the developer carrier is subjected to a surface roughening treatment, and then the surface is polished. Features.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the method for processing the surface of the developer carrying member according to the first aspect, the surface of the developer carrying member is polished and then subjected to a hardening treatment. .

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the surface of the developer carrying member is subjected to a surface roughening treatment, the surface is subjected to a hardening treatment, and then the surface is polished.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a developer carrier having a movable surface, which transports the developer to the image carrier, and the developer which regulates a layer thickness of the developer on the developer carrier. In a developing device having a developer regulating member capable of contacting a carrier, the developer carrier has been subjected to a surface roughening treatment and then polished. I do.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the developing device according to the first aspect, the developer carrier has a surface that is polished and then subjected to a hardening treatment. And

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a developer carrier having a movable surface, which transports the developer to the image carrier, and the developer which regulates a layer thickness of the developer on the developer carrier. In a developing device having a developer regulating member capable of contacting a carrier, the developer carrier is subjected to a surface roughening process, then a hardening process to the surface, and then the surface Is polished.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention including embodiments with reference to the drawings (hereinafter, simply referred to as "embodiments").
Will be described. In the embodiments, examples, and the like, components, members, and the like having the same function, shape, and the like are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted as much as possible.

FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a main part in a case where a developing device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile or the like.
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a photosensitive member as an image carrier, reference numeral 8 denotes a toner as a developer, and reference numeral 9 denotes a developing device. In FIG. 1, a photoconductor 1 is in a drum shape and is rotated clockwise in the figure. Around the photoconductor 1, a latent image forming section (not shown) disposed substantially directly above the photoconductor 1, a developing device 9 for visualizing the latent image formed by the latent image forming section, A transfer unit (not shown) that transfers the imaged toner image on the photoconductor 1 to a transfer material and separates the transfer material from the photoconductor 1, a cleaning unit that cleans residual toner on the photoconductor 1, and the like. Are arranged in this order in the rotation direction of the photoconductor 1.

The developing device 9 has a functional configuration for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the photoreceptor 1, and includes a developer carrier 2, a developer supply roller 3, a developer regulating member 4, and a developer scatterer. A toner scattering prevention seal 5 as a prevention seal, a toner stirring member 6 as a developer stirring member, and a toner storage section 7 as a developer storage section are provided.

The toner 8 comprises a binder resin, a charge control agent, a fluidity improving additive, and the like. For example, a one-component toner composed of silica, titanium oxide, or the like is used. Developer carrier 2
Is a so-called developing roller that conveys the toner 8 to the photoreceptor 1 and is movable by rotating its surface. As a material of the developer carrier 2, for example, aluminum, aluminum alloy, stainless steel (SUS), or the like can be used. The surface layer of the developer carrying member 2 has been subjected to processing and processing unique to the present invention, as in Examples and Experimental Examples described later.

The developer supply roller 3 frictionally charges the toner 8 by pressing against the developer carrier 2 in order to supply the toner 8 to the developer carrier 2. The developer supply roller 3 is made of sponge rubber to improve the supply of the toner 8 to the developer carrier 2 and is pressed against the developer carrier 2.
As the rubber, sponge rubber obtained by foaming isoprene rubber, styrene butadiene rubber, butadiene rubber, ethylene propylene rubber, chloroprene rubber, urethane rubber, or the like can be used. The sponge rubber is preferably a single-cell sponge in which each cell of the sponge is independent from the viewpoint of preventing the developer from entering the sponge.

The developer regulating member 4 has a functional configuration that regulates the layer thickness of the toner 8 on the developer carrier 2 by contacting and pressing the developer carrier 2. As the developer regulating member 4, for example, a member that elastically presses a plate spring, a member that presses rubber, a member that attaches rubber to a plate spring, and presses the rubber portion of the plate spring into contact with the toner 8 on the developer carrier 2. Those having elasticity are preferred from the viewpoint of forming a uniform thin layer. The toner scattering prevention seal 5 has a functional configuration that is in contact with the developer carrier 2 to prevent the toner 8 from scattering from the toner storage unit 7. Further, the toner stirring member 6 has a role to send the toner 8 to the developer supply roller 3 and to maintain the fluidity of the toner 8.

The developing device 9 shown in FIG. 1 is of a so-called counter type in which the tip of the developer regulating member 4 is provided so as to face upstream in the rotation direction of the developer carrier 2. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the developer regulating member 4 is provided such that the tip thereof is located on the downstream side when viewed in the rotation direction of the developer carrier 2. Of course, a so-called trailing method may be used. Needless to say, the developing device of the present invention is not limited to the above-described device.

Next, the operation of the developing device 9 will be briefly described. The toner 8 as a developer stored in the toner storage unit 7 is sent to the developer supply roller 3 while maintaining the fluidity of the toner 8 by being stirred by the clockwise rotation of the toner stirring member 6. . The toner 8 sent to the developer supply roller 3 is frictionally charged by the developer supply roller 3 rotating while being pressed against the developer carrier 2 in a counterclockwise direction, and is supplied to the developer carrier 2 to carry the toner. Is done. At this time, the toner 8 carried on the developer carrying member 2 is formed into a uniform thin layer by the developer regulating member 4, and is triboelectrically charged, conveyed to the photoreceptor 1, and developed by an electric field.
Further, the toner 8 is prevented from being scattered from the toner container 7 by the toner scatter prevention seal 5.

Next, FIGS. 3 (a), (b), (c),
With reference to (d), the surface state of the developer carrier 2 due to the difference in the processing method of the surface of the developer carrier 2 will be described by comparing a conventional example and this embodiment. FIG. 3 (a),
(B), (c), and (d) are contours of the surface of the cut surface of the measured surface of the developer carrier 2 along the rotation center axis direction of the developer carrier 2, that is, the surface of the developer carrier 2. Of the cross-sectional curves of FIG.

FIG. 3A shows a conventional example immediately after the surface roughening treatment in which the surface of the developer carrying member 2 is subjected to the surface roughening treatment, and FIG. 3B shows the surface roughening treatment shown in FIG. FIG. 3 (c) of the conventional example after the surface of the applied developer carrier 2 is used for copying (printing) without polishing, for about 2,000 sheets, is subjected to the roughening treatment of FIG. 3 (a). FIG. 3 (d) of this embodiment in which the surface of the developer carrier 2 thus obtained is further polished is shown in FIG. A conventional example in which the surface of the developer carrier 2 is subjected to a surface roughening treatment after the surface of the developer carrier 2 is subjected to a hardening treatment (in FIG. 3D, the order is described in random order). Of each developer carrier 2 (roughness curve).

The surface state (roughness curve) of each developer carrier 2 shown in FIGS. 3 (a), 3 (b), 3 (c) and 3 (d) is mainly used as a method of indicating the surface roughness. Line average roughness (R
a: unit μm) is as follows. Since the cutoff value of the center line average roughness (Ra) is 0.8 mm of the standard value and the measured length is three times or more the cutoff value, the display thereof is omitted (JIS B).
0601-1982). The surface roughness of each developer carrier 2 was measured with a non-contact type surface shape measuring microscope VT7500 manufactured by KEYENCE Corporation.

Here, FIGS. 3 (a), (b), (c),
As for the surface state of the developer carrier 2 shown in (d), in order to compare the conventional example and the present embodiment, the developer carrier subjected to sandblasting under the same material and under the same conditions was used. . That is, the developer carrier 2 was made of aluminum, and the surface thereof was subjected to a surface roughening treatment by a kind of sand blasting of an irregular blast treatment. In this sand blasting process, irregular-sized sand particles having a particle size of # 60
With Al ₂ O ₃ of 0 to form a fine unevenness on the surface is blown at a high speed on the outer peripheral surface of the developer carrying member 2. This sandblasting process is performed 10 times from the outer peripheral surface of the developer carrier 2.
At a distance of 0 mm, the developer carrier 2 rotating at 10 rpm is sprayed at a pressure of 1.8 kg / cm ² from a nozzle having a diameter of 5 mm. 120c for 1-2 minutes along
The test was performed under the condition of moving a distance of m. The developer carrier 2 was dried after the surface of the developer carrier 2 was washed in a washing step after sandblasting.

FIG. 3A shows the surface state (roughness curve) of the developer carrier 2 after the surface of the developer carrier 2 has been subjected to the surface roughening treatment by the sandblasting process. By the above sandblasting, the developer carrier 2
As the surface roughness, the center line average roughness Ra = 0.75
A μm surface roughening was performed. As can be easily understood from FIG. 3A, the surface of the developer carrier 2 that has been subjected to the surface roughening process has fine irregularities, and the convex portions (peaks and peaks in the roughness curve). When used, the friction between the developer regulating member 2 and the developer supply roller 3 causes stress to be concentrated on the sharp portion of the convex portion, and abrasion of the surface portion thereof greatly proceeds. I understand.

FIG. 3B shows the developer after about 2,000 sheets have been used for copying (printing) without polishing the surface of the roughened surface of the developer carrier 2 shown in FIG. 3A. 3 shows a surface state (roughness curve) of the support 2. At this time, the surface roughness of the developer carrying member 2 is such that the center line average roughness Ra = 0.
The surface state became 49 μm. In the surface state of the developer carrier 2 shown in FIG. 3B, sharp protrusions as seen in the surface state (roughness curve) of the developer carrier 2 shown in FIG. It can be seen that the part is worn away.

FIG. 3C shows an embodiment of the present invention.
The developer carrier 2 after the surface roughening process shown in FIG.
3 shows the surface state (roughness curve) when the surface was further polished. The polishing was performed by buffing using fine powder abrasive grains, and the abrasive grains used were made of alumina and comprised of fine powder having a grain size of 10 μm or less. The surface roughness of the developer carrier 2 at this time was such that the center line average roughness Ra was 0.50 μm. FIG.
In the state of the surface of the developer carrier 2 shown in FIG.
Compared to the surface state of the developer carrier 2 shown in FIG. 3A, no sharp projections are present as in FIG. 3B.
When used from such a state, rapid wear of the surface of the developer carrier 2 is eliminated, and the developer carrier 2 can be used in a stable state for a long time. As described above, by polishing the surface of the developer carrying member 2, a sharp convex portion can be removed in the cross-sectional curve, and a smooth convex portion can be uniformly formed. Surface processing can be carried out.

FIG. 3D shows the surface state (roughness curve) of the developer carrier 2 which has been subjected to the surface roughening treatment and the surface hardening treatment. The surface hardening treatment was performed by forming a hard alumite treatment layer. At this time, the surface roughness of the developer carrier 2 was determined by calculating the center line average roughness Ra =
The surface state became 0.48 μm. The surface state of the developer carrier 2 shown in FIG. 3D is finer than the surface state of the developer carrier 2 subjected to only the roughening treatment shown in FIG. Irregularities are increasing. FIG. 3 (d)
In FIG. 3D, the term “out of order” used in FIG. 5 to be described later means which one is performed first, regardless of the order of the surface roughening treatment and the surface hardening treatment of the surface of the developer carrier 2. 5 means that the same result is obtained irrespective of the order of the polishing process and the surface hardening process of the surface of the developer carrier 2 in FIG. 5 described later. It means that.

As described above, the developer carrier 2
Is not limited to aluminum, but stainless steel can also be used. The method of performing the surface roughening treatment on the surface of the developer carrying member 2 is not limited to the above sandblast treatment, but may be a spherical bead blast treatment.

FIG. 4 shows an experiment in which the image forming apparatus is operated by using the surface-developed developer carrier 2 shown in FIGS. 3 (a), 3 (c) and 3 (d). It shows the change with time of the surface roughness when performing. In the drawing, the horizontal axis indicates the number of output sheets (sheets), and the vertical axis indicates the center line average roughness Ra (μm) as the surface roughness.
Note that the image forming apparatus is an electrophotographic copier equipped with a developing device 9, Image MF- manufactured by Ricoh Co., Ltd.
Using P355, the toner 8 has a toner particle diameter of 1 to
Those having a size of 12 μm (average particle size: 8 μm) were used. The developing device 9 is used under the following conditions: the developer supply roller 3 is made of foamed polyurethane sponge rubber;
0.5 degree rubber is infused by 0.5 mm and developer carrier 2
Was pressed. The thickness of the developer regulating member 4 is 1 mm.
Pressing force of 60 to 70 g / cm using urethane rubber
(Linear pressure) was pressed against the developer carrier 2. Since the contact force of the toner scattering prevention seal 5 is very small, this is neglected. It is understood that the developing device 9 is not limited to this, and the developing device 19 causes little difference in effect in each experimental example.

In FIG. 4, a curve A1 indicated by a broken line is a curve obtained by subjecting only the surface roughening treatment to the surface of the developer carrier 2 as shown in FIG. A
Curve 2 is obtained by subjecting the surface of the developer carrier 2 to the above-mentioned surface roughening treatment and surface hardening treatment as shown in FIG. 3D, and the curve of B1 shown by a solid line is FIG. An example in which the surface of the developer carrying member 2 is polished after the surface roughening treatment is performed as shown in c) is shown. An example in which the surface hardening treatment is performed after the surface treatment, and then the surface of the developer carrier 2 is further polished is shown by a solid line B
A curve 3 represents an example in which the surface of the developer carrier 2 is subjected to the above-mentioned surface roughening treatment, polished, and then further subjected to the above-mentioned surface hardening treatment.

FIG. 4 shows that the wear of the surface of the developer carrier 2 is severe until the number of output sheets reaches 2000 (sheets), and the change after that is small. In addition, the surface roughness of the developer carrier 2 is the initial output number 2000 (sheets).
And it has decreased from 30% to nearly 40%.

FIG. 5 shows a case where the surface-processed developer carrier 2 shown in FIGS. 3A and 3C is used.
It shows a change over time of a developer conveyance amount (toner conveyance amount) when an experiment is performed by operating the image forming apparatus. In the figure, the horizontal axis represents the number of output sheets (sheets) of the transfer paper, and the vertical axis represents the developer transport amount (mg / cm ² ). As the image forming apparatus, the toner 8, the developer supply roller 3, and the developer regulating member 4, the same members as those described with reference to FIG. 4 are used, and the same pressure contact conditions as described above are used. Was.

In FIG. 5, a curve B4 indicated by a solid line is a curve obtained by subjecting the surface of the developer carrying member 2 to the above-mentioned surface roughening treatment, further to the above-mentioned polishing and to the above-mentioned surface hardening treatment (in any order). This shows an embodiment, and each example shown by each curve of A1 and B1 is the same as that described in FIG.

From FIG. 5, it can be seen that, similarly to the wear of the surface of the developer carrying member 2, the amount of the developer conveyed drops sharply to 2000 (output sheets), and the change thereafter tends to be small. I understand. Similarly to the wear of the surface of the developer carrying member 2, the amount of the developer transported is equal to the initial output number of 2000 sheets.
(Sheets) are reduced from 30% to nearly 40%.

From FIGS. 4 and 5, the surface roughness of the developer carrier 2 after roughening is 30% to 40%. In the case of B1 or B4, the surface roughness is reduced. It is clear that the developer conveyance amount is smaller than the case without polishing shown by A1, and it is understood that it is stable from the beginning.

The hardening treatment performed on the surface of the developer carrier 2 is not limited to the formation of a hard alumite treatment layer. For example, when the material of the developer carrier 2 is stainless steel, Ni plating, Cr It is performed by plating or the like. As described above, since the surface hardness is increased by performing the hardening treatment on the surface of the developer carrier 2, the corrosion resistance and the durability thereof can be improved.

As a polishing method, buff polishing using fine abrasive particles is preferable from the viewpoint of easy adjustment of the polishing force. Emery, alumina, silica, boron nitride, chromium oxide, cerium oxide and the like can be used as the abrasive grains. The particle size of the abrasive grains is 50μ from the point of polishing fine irregularities.
m or less, more preferably 10 μm or less in terms of polishing unevenness with a pitch of 10 μm or less.

According to the embodiments, examples and experimental examples described above, the developing devices 9 and 19 capable of maintaining a stable amount of developer transport from the beginning as shown in FIG. 5 can be realized.

In general, in a conventional developing device, that is, a developing device having a developer carrier whose surface is not polished, the change in the amount of the developer transported increases when the transport amount is large. Since the thickness of the developer (toner) layer on the surface of the carrier 2 is increased, the image density is naturally increased and the image quality is deteriorated as a result. Also, when the amount of the developer transported is reduced, the layer thickness of the developer (toner) layer on the surface of the developer carrying member is reduced, so that the image quality tends to be improved. Become. If the pressure of the developer regulating member against the developer carrying member is reduced to reduce the wear on the surface of the developer carrying member, it is possible to reduce the wear with time. Since the pressure of the developer regulating member against the body is weak, the thickness of the developer (toner) layer on the surface of the developer carrier is large, and the thickness of the developer layer is unstable and non-uniform. As a result, the image quality deteriorates. According to the above embodiments, examples and experimental examples of the present invention, such a problem can be solved as a natural result.

In the above-described embodiments, examples, and experimental examples, the developer carrier 2 of the developing device includes a copier, a printer,
A member referred to as a so-called "developing roller" used in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus such as a facsimile, but is not limited to this. For example, a member including a developing sleeve and a magnet roller, or a member including a belt Of course, it can also be applied to things.

In the above-described embodiments, examples and experimental examples, the developing devices 9 and 19 provided with the developer carrier 2 have been described. It is clear that the method of processing the surface of the carrier is used.

[0046]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems and to provide a desired developing device. The specific effects of each claim are as follows. According to the first aspect of the present invention, in the method of processing the surface of the developer carrying member, the surface of the developer carrying member is subjected to a surface roughening treatment, and then the surface is polished to thereby obtain the surface of the developer carrying member. Thus, sharp protrusions immediately after the surface roughening are eliminated, and a decrease in the initial surface roughness and the accompanying decrease in the amount of developer transport can be prevented, and a stable developer transport amount can be secured over a long period of time.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, after the surface of the developer carrying member is polished, the surface is subjected to a curing treatment, whereby the effect of the first aspect of the present invention can be further enhanced.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, after the surface of the developer carrying member is subjected to a surface roughening treatment, the surface is subjected to a hardening treatment, and then the surface of the developer carrying member is polished. Eliminates sharp projections associated with the surface roughening and curing treatments of the surface of the developer carrier, thereby preventing a decrease in initial surface roughness and a resulting decrease in the amount of developer conveyed, resulting in stable development over a long period of time. It is possible to secure the amount of the agent transported.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the surface of the developer carrying member is subjected to a surface roughening treatment and then polished to thereby obtain the surface of the developer carrying member. Development that eliminates sharp protrusions immediately after surface roughening, prevents a decrease in initial surface roughness, and a accompanying decrease in the amount of developer transport, and ensures a stable developer transport over a long period of time. An apparatus can be provided.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the developer carrying member is obtained by polishing the surface thereof and then subjecting the surface to a hardening treatment. Can be provided.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the surface of the developer carrying member is subjected to a surface roughening treatment, and then to a hardening treatment. By being polished, the sharp protrusions associated with the surface roughening treatment and the curing treatment of the developer carrier are eliminated, and the initial surface roughness is reduced, and the developer transport amount is reduced accordingly. And a developing device capable of ensuring a stable developer transport amount for a long period of time.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a main part of an image forming apparatus provided with a developing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of a main part of an image forming apparatus provided with a developing device according to another embodiment different from FIG.

FIG. 3 (a) is a conventional example immediately after surface roughening in which a surface of a developer carrying member is subjected to surface roughening treatment, and FIG.
FIG. 3C shows a conventional example after the surface of the developer carrying member subjected to the surface roughening treatment is used for copying without polishing, and FIG. FIG. 3D of the present embodiment in which the surface of the applied developer carrying member is polished is shown in FIG. 3D. It is a sectional curve figure showing each surface condition.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating the development performed when an image forming apparatus is operated and an experiment is performed using the surface-developed developer carriers shown in FIGS. 3 (a), (c), and (d). 6 is a graph showing the change over time of the surface roughness of the agent carrier.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the amount of developer transported when an image forming apparatus is operated and an experiment is performed by using the developer carrying member whose surface has been processed as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3C; 5 is a graph illustrating a change over time of a toner conveyance amount.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 photoreceptor as image carrier 2 developer carrier 4 developer regulating member 8 toner as developer

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A method for processing a surface of a developer carrying member, which comprises subjecting the surface of the developer carrying member to a surface roughening treatment and then polishing the surface. 2. The method of processing a surface of a developer carrier according to claim 1, wherein the surface of the developer carrier is polished and then subjected to a hardening treatment. Processing method. 3. A method for processing the surface of a developer carrying member, wherein the surface of the developer carrying member is subjected to a surface roughening treatment, a hardening treatment is applied to the surface, and the surface is polished. 4. A developer carrier having a movable surface for transporting a developer to an image carrier, and being capable of contacting the developer carrier for regulating a layer thickness of the developer on the developer carrier. A developing device having a developer regulating member, wherein the developer carrier has a surface that has been subjected to a surface roughening treatment and then has its surface polished. 5. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the surface of the developer carrier is polished and then subjected to a hardening treatment. 6. A developer carrier whose surface is movable for transporting the developer to the image carrier, and which can contact the developer carrier that regulates the layer thickness of the developer on the developer carrier. In a developing device having a developer regulating member, the developer carrying member is obtained by subjecting a surface thereof to a roughening treatment, followed by a curing treatment to the surface, and then polishing the surface. A developing device.