JP2001027846A - Developing device, process cartridge, developing device cartridge and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a developing device capable of surely preventing toner from leaking from a joint part between a lower film and a side seal. SOLUTION: A lower side seal 105 made of sponge is attached to a boundary position between the mount surface of the lower film 114 and the mount surface of the side seal 104 while pressing the seal 105 against the side seal 104. Besides, the lower film 114 is stuck on the lower side seal 105 and to the mount surface. In this case, the lower side seal 105 is formed to a wedge shape. Besides, the side seal 104 is not arranged under the side end part of the lower film 114 projecting toward Teflon(R) felt 113.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a technical field of a developing device for performing development using a developer which is a charged fine particle, a process cartridge, an actual cartridge, and an image forming apparatus provided with any of these. Belong to.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a developing device which uses a toner, which is charged fine particles, as a developer and electrostatically adheres the toner to an electrostatic latent image to perform development, there is a problem that the toner leaks from the developing device. is there. If the toner leaks from the developing device, the inside of the image forming apparatus main body equipped with the developing device becomes dirty, resulting in poor printing, and further, when the developing device is replaced, the hands and clothes of the worker become dirty. There was sometimes.

In particular, a non-magnetic one-component developing a thin layer of toner on a developing roller having a function of carrying and transporting the toner by using a layer thickness regulating blade and facing the electrostatic latent image. In the case of development, toner is likely to leak from around the rotating developing roller.

Conventionally, the above-described toner leakage has been prevented by providing a toner leakage prevention member inside the developing device. For example, in order to prevent toner leakage from both ends of the developing roller around the developing roller, a toner leakage preventing member called a side seal is rubbed against the peripheral surfaces of both ends of the developing roller, In order to prevent toner from leaking from the gap between the developing roller formed below and the opening of the toner container, a toner leak preventing member called a lower film is rubbed against the developing roller below the developing roller. . Further, in order to prevent toner from leaking from the gap between the developing roller formed above the developing roller and the opening of the toner container, the layer thickness regulating blade is pressed against the developing roller, and the layer thickness is reduced. The regulating blade has a function as a toner leakage preventing member.

The side seal has a structure in which a sliding member made of Teflon felt is attached to a urethane sponge. Urethane sponges are required to be sufficiently soft and have low compression set. Teflon felt is used for both securing the pressing force and reducing the rotational torque.

The lower film is made of PET (polyethyle).
ne terephthalate) sheet, urethane rubber or the like is used. Although urethane rubber can be expected to be softly pressed, it is necessary to press it with a sponge or the like from the back because it has no waist. Since the PET sheet is harder than the urethane rubber film, there is no need to press with a sponge or the like from the back, and there is an advantage that the assembling work is easier than the urethane rubber film.

However, when the side seal and the lower film as described above are used, if the side seal is rubbed against the peripheral surface of the developing roller, toner is likely to leak at a joint portion between the lower film and the side seal. There was a problem.

For example, when the length of the lower film is set to a length that does not overlap the side seal,
Toner leaks from the gap between the lower film and the side seal.

Further, when the both ends of the lower film are extended outside the both ends of the side seal and the developing roller is disposed in contact with both the lower film and the side seal, the lower film rides on the side seal, A minute gap corresponding to the thickness of the lower film is generated, and toner may leak from this gap.

In particular, when a polymerized toner having excellent fluidity is used as a toner, toner leakage may easily occur even in such a small gap.

Therefore, it has been considered that the length of the lower film is set to such a length that both ends of the lower film are located near the center of the sliding portion of the side seal.

With such a configuration, a gap corresponding to the thickness of the lower film formed in the portion where the lower film rides on the side seal is interrupted in the middle of the side seal, and as a result, the polymerized toner is used. In this case, toner leakage was almost prevented.

[0013]

However, the side seal is configured to be pressed against the developing roller by being crushed by the developing roller when the developing roller is mounted, and the crushing amount is previously determined. In consideration of the thickness. However, if this crushing amount is set too large, the pressing force of the side seal against the developing roller becomes too high, and the rotational torque of the developing roller increases. Therefore, the mounting part of the side seal
When the side seal is crushed by an appropriate amount by the developing roller, a step is provided in advance so that the height of the surface of the side seal is equal to the height of the mounting portion of the lower seal so as to be lower than the mounting portion of the lower seal. I have.

In such a configuration, when the side seal is crushed by the developing roller, the side surface of the side seal coincides with the height of the mounting portion of the lower seal while rubbing against the side wall surface forming the step. Will be. Further, since the side seal vibrates slightly with the rotation of the developing roller, the rubbing between the side wall surface and the side seal side surface is performed even though it is minute during the developing operation. .

Therefore, the side surface of the side seal and the side wall surface cannot be bonded with a double-sided tape or the like. In addition, the rubbing portion between the side wall surface and the side seal side surface is an interface between the resin and the sponge. As described above, the sponge rubs against the resin surface or vibrates minutely. In this case, the adhesion at this interface is extremely low. As a result, when a polymerizable toner having extremely high fluidity is used as the developer, the toner easily leaks from the interface between the resin and the sponge.

Further, since both ends of the lower film located near the center of the rubbing portion of the side seal are not crushed before the developing roller is mounted, the mounting surface of the lower film and the side seal are not crushed. Is deformed so as to be bent upward by the difference in height from the surface of the rubbing portion.

When the developing roller is mounted in such a state, the side seal is crushed, and both ends of the lower film deformed in the upward direction are crushed following the side seal. . As a result, there has been a problem that the bonded portion of the lower film is displaced, or the lower film is deformed to deteriorate the toner sealing property.

Accordingly, the present invention solves such a problem, and a developing device, a process cartridge, a developing device cartridge, and an image capable of reliably preventing toner from leaking from a joint portion between a lower film and a side seal. It is an object to provide a forming apparatus.

[0019]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a developing device, wherein a developer carrier is rotatably disposed in an opening of a developing device housing for accommodating a developer. ,
A developing device for forming a visible image by causing a thin layer of developer formed on the developer carrier to face an electrostatic latent image, wherein the developing device housing has an opening near the longitudinal end of the opening thereof. A developer leakage preventing member provided at both ends of the developer carrying member so as to rub against both peripheral surfaces of the developer carrying member, and the developer carrying member at a position closer to the electrostatic latent image of the developer carrying member. To uniformly rub the peripheral surface of the developer carrier on the downstream side in the rotation direction over the longitudinal direction of the developer carrier,
At the lower end of the developing device housing opening, a lower end developer leakage prevention member provided extending in the longitudinal direction of the opening is provided.
In the developing device housing, the both end mounting surfaces to which the both end developer leakage preventing members are adhesively attached are smaller than the lower end mounting surface to which the lower end developer leakage preventing member is adhesively attached. The leakage prevention member is formed at a position depressed in the thickness direction, and between the lower end developer leakage prevention member and the lower end mounting surface, at least a part of the side end surface is the both end developer. At a boundary position between the lower end mounting surface and the both end mounting surfaces so as to be in contact with a part of a side end surface of the leakage preventing member, an attaching surface boundary portion developer leak preventing member made of a foamed elastic material is provided. Features.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the both end mounting surfaces of the developer leakage preventing members in the developing device housing are smaller than the lower end mounting surface to which the lower developing agent leakage preventing member is adhered. Are formed at positions recessed in the thickness direction of the developer leakage preventing members at both ends. Since the developer leakage preventing members at both ends are provided so as to rub against the peripheral surfaces at both ends of the developer carrier, when the developer carrier is mounted,
When pressed by the developer carrying member, the side end surfaces of the developer leakage preventing members at both ends rub against the wall surface of the developing device housing at the boundary between the both end mounting surface and the lower end mounting surface.
When the developer carrier is rotationally driven, the developer leakage preventing members at both ends also vibrate minutely, and the side end surfaces rub against the wall surface of the developing device housing while vibrating. However, at the boundary position, a mounting surface boundary portion developer leakage preventing member made of a foamed elastic body is provided, and at least a part of the side end surface of the mounting surface boundary portion developer leakage preventing member is developed at both end portions. It is attached so as to contact a part of the side end surface of the agent leakage preventing member. Therefore, at the place where the contact is made, the side end surfaces of the developer leakage preventing members at both ends are not the wall surfaces of the developing device housing, but the mounting surface boundary portions made of the foamed elastic body. Therefore, even if the above-described vibration occurs, good adhesion is maintained, and leakage of the developer is reliably prevented.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problem, in the developing device according to the first aspect, the developer leakage preventing member at the boundary of the mounting surface is different from the lower end developer leakage preventing member. It is characterized by being attached to both of the lower end mounting surfaces by bonding.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the developer leakage prevention member at the mounting surface boundary portion is not only adhered to the lower end mounting surface, but also is attached to the lower end developer leakage prevention member. Will be glued. Therefore, through the interface between the lower end developer leakage prevention member and the mounting surface boundary developer leakage prevention member, the wall surface of the developing device housing at the boundary position between the both end mounting surface and the lower end mounting surface, It is possible to reliably prevent the developer from reaching the side end surface of the part developer leakage prevention member, and to surely prevent the developer from leaking from the portion.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problem, in the developing device according to the first or second aspect, both ends in the longitudinal direction of the lower end developer leakage preventing member are formed by developing the both end portions. It is provided at a position between the developer leakage prevention member and the developer carrier.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, both ends in the longitudinal direction of the lower end developer leakage preventing member are disposed on the both end developer leakage preventing members so as to overlap with the both end developer leakage preventing members. And the developer carrying member is mounted on the developer leakage preventing members at both ends and the developer leakage preventing member at the lower end portion thus overlapped. Therefore, both ends in the longitudinal direction of the lower end developer leakage preventing member are provided at positions sandwiched between the developer carrier and the both ends developer leakage preventing member. As a result, both ends in the longitudinal direction are in good contact with the peripheral surface of the developer carrying member, and developer leakage from the interface between the both ends in the longitudinal direction and the both ends developer leakage preventing member is surely prevented. To prevent.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problem, in the developing device according to any one of the first to third aspects, the lower end developer leakage preventing member is provided at the mounting surface boundary. The developer leakage preventing member is attached so as to have a wedge shape while being sandwiched between the lower end developer leakage preventing member and the lower end mounting surface.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the developer leak preventing member at the mounting surface boundary portion is attached to the lower end mounting surface, and the lower end developing device is further mounted on the mounting surface boundary developer leak preventing member. A developer leakage prevention member is attached to sandwich the developer leakage prevention member between the mounting surface boundary between the lower end mounting surface and the lower end developer leakage prevention member. Further, the developer leakage preventing member at the mounting surface boundary portion at this time is sandwiched so as to have a wedge shape. As a result, the developer leakage prevention member at the mounting surface boundary portion made of a foamed elastic material is elastically deformed by compression, but the shape of the mounting surface boundary developer leakage prevention member is wedge-shaped. Accordingly, there is no surface that comes into contact with other members other than the mounting surface for the lower end mounting surface of the mounting surface boundary portion developer leakage preventing member and the mounting surface for the lower end developer leak preventing member. . Therefore, even when the developer leakage preventing member vibrates minutely with the rotation of the developer carrying member, the leakage of the developer from the surface in contact with other members is reliably prevented.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in order to solve the above problem, in the developing device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the developer is a polymerized toner produced by a polymerization method. It is characterized by.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the developer is reliably prevented from leaking from the boundary position as described above, even when a polymerized toner produced by a polymerization method is used as the developer, There is no developer leakage, and a high-definition developing operation is performed.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a developing device according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the developer carrier has an elastic layer on a rotating shaft. It is characterized in that it is a formed elastic roller.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, since the elastic roller having the elastic layer formed on the rotating shaft is used as the developer carrier, the developer leakage preventing member at both ends is used as described above. , Or the lower end developer leakage preventing member or the mounting surface boundary developer leakage preventing member is elastically contacted or pressed, so that even when rotating, the adhesion with these members is maintained to ensure developer leakage. To prevent.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problem, a developer carrying member is rotatably disposed at an opening of a developing device housing for accommodating the developer. A developing device for forming a visible image by causing a thin layer of developer formed thereon to face an electrostatic latent image, and a rubbing member for rubbing a base made of an elastic body and the developer carrying member In the vicinity of both longitudinal ends of the developing device housing opening,
Both ends developer leakage prevention members provided so that the rubbing members rub against both end side peripheral surfaces of the developer carrying member, and formed to extend in the longitudinal direction of the developing device housing opening, A free end portion is formed on the peripheral surface of the developer carrier at a position downstream of the developer carrier in the rotation direction of the developer carrier from a position facing the electrostatic latent image, and the length of the developer carrier is The lower end developer leakage adhesively attached to the lower end mounting surface of the opening so that both ends rub against the sliding direction of the developer leakage prevention member at the same time. A lower end of the base member of the developer leakage preventing member, a leading end of the free end of the lower end developer leakage preventing member, and a lower end developing portion. At a position between the adhesive portion on the lower end mounting surface of the agent leakage prevention member. Developing apparatus characterized by being kicked.

According to the developing device of the present invention, both ends of the free end of the lower end developer leakage preventing member are attached to the lower end mounting portion so as to be in contact with the rubbing members of the both end developer leakage preventing members. Since it is adhesively attached to the surface, when the developer carrier is mounted so as to contact the rubbing member,
The two ends are sandwiched between the developer carrying member and the rubbing member, and the free end of the lower end developer leakage preventing member is uniformly formed in the longitudinal direction of the developer carrying member without a gap. To reliably prevent the developer from leaking from the portion. Further, the tip of the both ends of the developer leakage prevention member at the lower end side of the opening portion of the base material secures a region in contact with the tip of the free end of the lower end developer leakage prevention member, The length of the lower end developer leakage preventing member does not reach the bonding portion on the lower end mounting surface. Therefore, the base material of the developer leakage preventing member at both ends does not exist below the side end projecting from the bonding portion to both ends in the longitudinal direction of the developer leakage preventing member at the lower end portion. As a result, even when the developer contact member is pressed against the developer leakage prevention member at both ends, the side end of the developer leakage prevention member at the lower end, in particular, the adhesive side, is used as the developer. Since there is no strong pressing between the carrier and the developer leakage preventing members at both ends, deformation or displacement of the developer leakage preventing member at the lower end portion is surely prevented.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in order to solve the above problem, in the developing device according to the seventh aspect, both ends of the developing device housing are provided with the developer leakage preventing members at both ends. The mounting surface is formed at a position recessed in the thickness direction of the both-end developer leakage preventing member from a lower-end mounting surface to which the lower-end developer leakage preventing member is adhered and attached, and the lower-end developer is formed. Between the leakage prevention member and the lower end mounting surface, the lower end mounting surface and the both ends such that at least a part of the side end surface is in contact with a part of the side end surface of the both end developer leakage preventing member. A developer leakage prevention member made of a foamed elastic body is provided at a boundary position with the mounting portion mounting surface.

According to the developing device of the present invention, the free end of the developer leakage preventing member at the lower end portion is made uniform in the longitudinal direction of the developer carrying member without any gap. , And the lower end developer leakage preventing member is not pressed strongly between the developer carrier and the both ends developer leakage preventing member. By reliably preventing the displacement, the leakage of the developer is reliably prevented. Further, leakage of the developer can be prevented by the following configuration. First, both end mounting surfaces of the developer leakage prevention member at both ends in the developing device housing are lower than the lower end mounting surface to which the lower end developer leakage prevention member is adhered and attached.
Both end portions are formed at positions recessed in the thickness direction of the developer leakage prevention member. Since the developer leakage preventing members at both ends are provided so as to rub against the peripheral surfaces at both ends of the developer carrier, when the developer carrier is mounted, the developer is pressed by the developer carrier, The side end surfaces of the developer leakage prevention members at both ends are
It will rub against the wall surface of the developing device housing at the boundary position between the both end mounting surface and the lower end mounting surface. When the developer carrier is rotationally driven, the developer leakage preventing members at both ends also vibrate minutely, and the side end surfaces rub against the wall surface of the developing device housing while vibrating. However,
At the boundary position, an attachment surface boundary portion developer leakage prevention member made of a foamed elastic body is provided, and at least a part of the side end surface of the attachment surface boundary portion developer leakage prevention member has both end portion developer leakage. It is attached so as to contact a part of the side end surface of the prevention member. Therefore, at the place where the contact is made, the side end surfaces of the developer leakage preventing members at both ends are not the wall surfaces of the developing device housing, but the mounting surface boundary portions made of the foamed elastic body. Therefore, even if the above-described vibration occurs, good adhesion is maintained, and leakage of the developer is reliably prevented.

The process cartridge according to the ninth aspect is
9. A process cartridge detachably formed in an image forming apparatus for solving the above-mentioned problem, comprising: a carrier for the electrostatic latent image; and a developing device according to claim 1. It is characterized by having.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, since the process cartridge includes the carrier for the electrostatic latent image and the developing device according to the first aspect, the process cartridge can be removed from the image forming apparatus. Also, even when the image forming apparatus is mounted on an image forming apparatus, the developer does not leak.

The developing device cartridge according to claim 10 is
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, a developing device according to any one of claims 1 to 8 is formed so as to be detachable from an image forming apparatus or a process cartridge.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, the developing device cartridge includes the developing device according to any one of the first to eighth aspects. Therefore, when the developing device cartridge is detached from the image forming apparatus or the process cartridge or is attached to the same. However, the developer does not leak.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to eighth aspects, the process cartridge according to the ninth aspect, or the tenth aspect. A developing device cartridge is provided.

According to the image forming apparatus of the eleventh aspect,
Since the image forming apparatus includes the developing device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, the process cartridge according to claim 9, or the developing device cartridge according to claim 10, the developing device, the process cartridge, or the developing device cartridge includes: Good image formation is performed without leakage of the developer.

[0041]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. First, an overview of the entire image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described.

(Overview of Image Forming Apparatus Overall) FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a laser beam printer 1 as an embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the laser beam printer 1 includes a feeder unit for feeding paper (not shown) at the bottom of a main body case 2. The feeder unit includes a paper pressing plate 10 that is pressed by a spring (not shown), a paper feeding roller 11, and a friction separating member 14. The uppermost sheet is separated between the feed roller 11 and the friction separating member 14 by the rotation of the roller, and the sheet is supplied at a predetermined timing.

A pair of registration rollers 12 and 13 are rotatably supported on the downstream side in the sheet transport direction by the rotation of the sheet supply roller 11 rotating in the direction of the arrow in FIG. The sheet is conveyed to a transfer position formed by the transfer roller 21 at a predetermined timing.

The photosensitive drum 20 is made of a positively chargeable material, for example, an organic photoreceptor mainly containing positively chargeable polycarbonate. More specifically, the photosensitive drum 20 has, for example, a cylindrical aluminum sleeve as a main body, and has a predetermined thickness (for example, about 20 μm) in which a photoconductive resin is dispersed in polycarbonate on an outer peripheral portion thereof. It is composed of a hollow drum on which a conductive layer is formed, and is rotatably supported by the main body case 2 with the cylindrical sleeve grounded. Further, the photosensitive drum 20 is driven to rotate in a direction indicated by an arrow by driving means (not shown).

The charger 30 is, for example, a scorotron-type charger for positive charging that generates corona discharge from a charging wire made of tungsten or the like.

The laser scanner unit 40 includes a laser generator (not shown) for generating a laser beam L for forming an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 20, and a polygon mirror (pentahedral mirror) 41 which is driven to rotate. , A pair of lenses 42 and 4
5 and reflection mirrors 43, 44 and 46.

In the developing device 50, a toner accommodating chamber 52 as a developer chamber is formed in a case 51 as a developing device housing. In the toner accommodating chamber 52, an agitator 53 and a cleaning member 54 have a rotating shaft 55. It is provided rotatable around. The toner accommodating chamber 52 accommodates a positively chargeable nonmagnetic one-component developer having electrical insulation. The rotation shaft 55 of the toner storage chamber 52
Light transmitting windows 56 are provided on the side walls located at both ends of the light emitting element. On the photosensitive drum 20 side of the toner accommodating chamber 52, a developing chamber 57 that communicates with the toner accommodating chamber 52 through the opening A to perform development is formed, and a supply roller 58 and a developing roller 59 as a developer carrier are rotated. Pivot as possible.
The toner on the developing roller 59 is regulated to a predetermined layer thickness by a thin plate-like elastic layer thickness regulating blade 64 and is used for development.

Here, a developing roller 59 as a developer carrying member is a cylindrical metal formed of conductive silicone rubber containing fine particles of conductive carbon on a metal core formed of stainless steel or the like. A base material is provided, and a coat layer of a resin or rubber material containing fluorine is formed on the base material. The base of the developing roller 59 does not necessarily have to be made of conductive silicone rubber, and may be made of conductive urethane rubber.

The toner accommodated in the toner accommodating chamber 52 is a positively-charged non-magnetic one-component developer, and a styrene-acrylic resin formed into a spherical shape by a suspension polymerization method, such as carbon black or the like. The toner base particles have a particle diameter of 6 μm to 10 μm and an average particle diameter of 8 μm to which a well-known coloring agent and a charge control agent such as nigrosine, triphenylmethane, and quaternary ammonium salt are added. The toner is configured by adding silica as an external additive to the surface of the toner base particles.

The transfer roller 21 is rotatably supported, and
It is made of a conductive foamed elastic body made of silicone rubber or urethane rubber. The transfer roller 21 is configured to reliably transfer the toner image on the photosensitive drum 20 to the paper by the applied voltage.

The fixing unit 70 includes the registration roller 12
The heating roller 71 and the pressing roller 72 are provided on the further downstream side in the sheet conveyance direction from the sheet feeding roller 13 to the pressure contact portion between the photosensitive drum 20 and the transfer roller 21. The toner image transferred to the sheet is heated and pressed while being conveyed by the heating roller 71 and the pressing roller 72 and is fixed on the sheet.

A pair of transport rollers 73 and a discharge roller 74 for transporting the paper are provided on the downstream side of the fixing unit 70 in the transport direction, and a discharge tray 75 is provided on the downstream side of the discharge roller 74. Have been.

The above-described photosensitive drum 20, transfer roller 21, charger 30, and developing device 50 are housed in a process cartridge 2a, and the process cartridge 2a is detachably attached to the laser beam printer 1. Is provided. Further, the developing device 50 includes a process cartridge 2 a as a developing device cartridge.
The process cartridge is detachably provided.

In the laser beam printer 1 of the present embodiment as described above, the surface of the photosensitive drum 20 is
When the laser beam L modulated according to image information is emitted from the laser scanner unit 40, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 20.
This electrostatic latent image is visualized with toner by the developing device 50, and the visible image formed on the photosensitive drum 20 is transported by the photosensitive drum 20 to a transfer position. At the transfer position, the paper is supplied via the paper feed roller 11 and the registration rollers 12 and 13, and the visible image is transferred to the paper by a transfer bias applied by the transfer roller 21. The toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 20 after the transfer is collected in the developing chamber 57 by the developing roller 59.

Next, the sheet is conveyed to the fixing unit 70, and is nipped and conveyed by the heating roller 71 and the pressing roller 72 of the fixing unit 70. The visible image on the sheet is pressed and heated to be fixed on the sheet. You. Then, the sheet is discharged to the discharge tray 75 above the laser beam printer 1 by the pair of transport rollers 73 and the discharge rollers 74, and the image forming operation is completed.

(Seal Structure in Developing Apparatus) Next, a seal structure using a developer leakage preventing member in the developing apparatus 50 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. I do.

FIGS. 2 (A), 3 (A), 4 (A), 5 (A), 6 (A), 7 (A), 8 (A), 1
1 (A), FIG. 12 and FIG.
5 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing a seal portion of a case 51 in FIG. 2 (B), FIG. 3 (C), FIG. 4 (C), FIG. 5 (B), FIG. 6 (C), FIG. 7 (B), FIG.
1 (B) and FIG. 14 (C) are views showing the seal portion viewed from the direction of arrow B shown in each of the partially cutaway perspective views. FIG. 3B is a sectional view taken along line CC of FIG.
FIG. 6B is a view showing the seal portion viewed from the direction of arrow A shown in FIG. 4A, FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view taken along line FF of FIG.
FIG. 8B is a diagram showing the seal portion viewed from the direction of arrow A shown in FIG. 8A, FIG. 9 is a front view showing the seal portion of the case 51 at the stage where the upper seal is attached, and FIG. 9
FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a seal portion viewed from the direction of arrow B shown in FIG.
(A) is a view of the thickness regulating blade viewed from the back side, FIG.
(B) is a diagram of the layer thickness regulating blade viewed from the front side, and FIG.
(C) is a diagram showing the seal portion as viewed from the direction of arrow B as in FIG. 11 (B), and FIG. 14 (B) is a diagram showing the seal portion as viewed from the direction of arrow A shown in FIG. 14 (A). 14 (D) is FIG.
4 (C) is a sectional view taken along the line DD, FIG. 15 (A) is a plan view showing the lower film and the vicinity of its mounting portion, and FIG. 15 (B).
FIG. 16A shows the bonding surface of the lower film, and FIG.
4 (A) is a partially cutaway perspective view showing the seal portion of the case 51 on the opposite side, FIG. 16 (B) is a diagram showing the seal portion viewed from the direction of arrow B as in FIG. 14 (C), and FIG. FIG. 17A is a diagram showing a rubbing portion between the lower film and the developing roller and a pressed state of the lower side seal according to the present embodiment, and FIG.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a rubbing portion between a lower film and a developing roller and a pressed state of a lower side seal in a comparative example.

First, in FIG. 2A, an area indicated by oblique lines is an area where a seal member described below is attached with a double-sided tape, and a side seal attachment area 100 along the circumferential direction of the developing roller 59. , Developing roller 5
9 is divided into a lower seal mounting area 101 along the longitudinal direction of the developing roller 59. Side seal mounting area 100 and lower seal mounting area 101
Is subjected to a degreasing treatment in order to enhance the adhesiveness of the double-sided tape.

The developing roller 59 is arranged so that its end face is close to the side face 51a in the developing roller accommodating portion of the case 51 shown in FIG. FIG. 2 (B)
The center point Q shown in FIG. 7 indicates the position of the rotation center axis of the developing roller 59. The supply roller 58 is attached to a supply roller housing provided at a position behind the developing roller housing, as indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C, the end face of the bottom portion 51b of the developing roller accommodating portion following the lower seal mounting region 101 on the side seal mounting region 100 side. 51c, and the side edge seal 102 is attached to the side side seal mounting area 1 with a double-sided tape.
Attach it to 00. The double-sided tape is attached to the bottom of the side edge seal 102, and the side edge seal 10
The end face 2 is pressed against the end face 51c of the bottom surface portion 51b on the side-side seal mounting area 100 side to be brought into close contact therewith. As shown in FIG. 3B, the side seal mounting area 100 has a bottom surface portion 51 in consideration of the thickness of a side seal described later.
b, and a step having an end face 51c is formed between the bottom face 51b and the side seal mounting area 100. Side seal installation area 1
00, the side seal 10 as shown by the dotted line in FIG.
4, the end face 51c is attached to the side seal 10
4 comes into contact with the end face of the side seal 104.
, A urethane sponge having relatively high rigidity among sponges is used, so that the adhesiveness to the resin forming the case 51 is weakened, and the end face 51 c and the side seal 104 are used.
Toner enters the contact portion with the end surface of the toner, and toner leakage occurs. The intrusion of the toner is not limited to the intrusion through the bottom surface 51b, but also from the supply roller housing. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the side edge seal 102 formed of a sponge softer than the urethane sponge is brought into close contact with the end face 51c to reliably prevent such intrusion of the toner.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C, the film 103 for attaching the upper side seal is formed.
To the case 51 using a double-sided tape. A blade side seal for preventing toner leakage from both end portions is attached to the layer thickness regulating blade 64, and an upper side seal for improving adhesion to the blade side seal is provided on the case 51 side. It is attached. This upper side seal is attached so as to be superimposed on the film 103 shown in FIG. 4B, but if there is no film 103, the bonding area of the upper side seal to the case 51 is indicated by hatching in FIG. 4B. Only the region shown indicates lack of stability. Therefore,
In the present embodiment, the PET film 103 is
1 to secure the bonding area of the upper side seal.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B,
In order to prevent toner from leaking from the end of the developing roller 59, a side seal 104 constituting a base material of a developer leak preventing member at both ends is attached to the side seal attaching area 100 with a double-sided tape. The side seal 104 is formed of a urethane sponge (trade name: Poron, manufactured by Rogers INOAC) having relatively high rigidity among sponges, and is compressed when the developing roller 59 is attached so as to exert a predetermined pressing force. It has a certain thickness. With such a configuration, Teflon felt, which is the uppermost layer of the both-end developer leakage prevention member described below,
The developing roller 59 can be pressed with a predetermined pressing force.

As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the position of the tip of the lower end of the side seal 104 is different from the position of the tip of the free end of the lower film 114 to be described later. This is a position between the lower end surface of the case 51 and the bonding portion. A lower side seal 105 to be described later is provided on the downstream side of the adhesion portion in the rotation direction of the developing roller 59.
The lower film 114 is adhered on the lower side seal 105. Therefore, the position of the lower end of the side seal 104 is
Is set between the adhesive portion of the lower film 114 and the position of the tip of the free end of the lower film 114. With such a configuration, when the developing roller 59 is mounted, the lower film 11
4 is sandwiched between the developing roller 59 and the side seal 104, and the lower film 114 is pressed by the urethane sponge side seal 104. 59 can be pressed firmly. Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent toner from leaking from this portion.

On the other hand, the tip of the lower end of the side seal 104 is located closer to the tip of the free end of the lower film 114 than the bonding portion of the lower film 114, so that the side end of the lower film 114 is In a region where the side seal 104 is not provided, the protrusion protrudes toward the mounting position of the side seal 104. In this embodiment, as will be described later, Teflon felt is attached on the side seal 104, and the side end of the lower film 114 is brought into contact with the surface of the Teflon felt. Further, the developing roller 59 is mounted so that the side end of the lower film 114 is sandwiched between the surface of the Teflon felt and the developing roller 59. But,
Even in the case of such a configuration, there is no side seal 104 that presses these to the developing roller 59 side below the side end and the Teflon felt.
A strong force is not applied to the lower film 114, and the lower film 114 can be prevented from being displaced.

Further, conventionally, in order to prevent the lower film 114 from being deformed by being pressed by the developing roller 59 as described above, the thickness of the combined side seal 104 and Teflon felt described later and the lower seal It is necessary to make the thickness of the step between the attachment area 101 and the side seal attachment area 100 uniform. However, according to the present invention, since the thickness does not need to be uniform, it is not necessary to prevent the lower film 114 from being deformed. Can be. As a result, in the region where the side seal 104 exists in the lower layer of Teflon felt, the pressing of the Teflon felt and the side seal 104 against the developing roller 59 can be further increased,
Even with polymerized toner having high fluidity, toner leakage can be prevented well.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B,
In order to prevent toner leakage from the boundary between the lower seal mounting area 101 and the side seal mounting area 100, and toner leakage from a gap between a movable portion of the lower film and the lower seal mounting area 101 described later, The lower side seal 105 as a developer leakage prevention member at the mounting surface boundary portion is
It is attached to the end of the lower seal attachment area 101 using a double-sided tape. The lower side seal 105 is formed of urethane sponge, and the side end surface of the lower side seal 105 and the side end surface on the side seal 104 side are shown in FIG.
The lower side seal 105 is brought into close contact with the side seal 104 by pressing so as to overlap with a part of the area W0 as shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, the overlapping area W0 is set to about 2 mm. As described above, in the present embodiment, the lower seal mounting area 10 indicated by the arrow in FIG.
A sponge having a width W0 and a sponge mating surface are formed at the boundary between the first and side-side seal attachment areas 100. Therefore, even when the lower side seal 105 and the side seal 104 are compressed by the mounting of the developing roller 59, even if the lower side seal 105 and the side seal 104 vibrate with the rotation of the developing roller 59, The sponge-to-sponge mating surface can maintain good adhesion, and toner leakage at the boundary can be reliably prevented.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B,
Adhesive surface of side seal 104 of case 51 and film 1
The edge seal 106 is attached from the stepped portion E formed between the adhesive surface 03 and the upper surface of the side seal 104. The edge seal 106 is formed of urethane sponge, and is adhered to the step portion E and the upper end surface of the side seal 104 by attaching a double-sided tape to the bottom surface. By providing such an edge seal 106, the lower end face of the upper side seal attached to the film 103 and the blade side seal attached to the layer thickness regulating blade, to which the double-sided tape is not attached, is brought into contact with the edge seal 106. Thus, a contact portion between the sponge and the sponge can be formed to reliably prevent the toner from leaking.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 8 (A), 8 (B) and 8 (C), an upper side seal 107 is attached to the film
And attached to the case 51 with double-sided tape. The upper side seal 107 is formed of a urethane sponge that is softer than usual, and is provided at a position in contact with a blade side seal described later. With such a configuration, the contact portion between the upper side seal 107 and the blade side seal becomes a contact portion between the sponge and the sponge, so that toner leakage can be reliably prevented.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, in order to prevent toner from leaking from an upper position behind the mounting portion of the layer thickness regulating blade 64, the layer thickness regulating blade 64 is formed to extend in the longitudinal direction. The mounted upper seal 108 is attached. The upper seal 108 is formed of a urethane sponge that is softer than usual. This upper seal 10
8, it is possible to reliably prevent toner leakage due to toner spraying in the toner storage chamber or toner leakage when the developing device 50 is inverted.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B, an intermediate film 109 constituting an intermediate layer of a developer leakage preventing member at both ends is attached on the side seal 104. The film 109 is formed of PET, and is attached to the side seal 104 with a double-sided tape. As shown in FIG. 11A, the intermediate layer film 109 is wider than the side seal 104, and has a protruding portion whose end protrudes toward the center of the case 51. With this configuration, it is possible to reduce the toner density near the pressure contact portion between the Teflon felt attached to the intermediate layer film 109 and the developing roller, as described later, and to reduce the toner pressure on the pressure contact portion. be able to. As a result, the developing roller 5 of the side seal 104
The toner leakage can be reliably prevented without increasing the pressing force to the toner 9 more than necessary. Further, as shown in FIG. 11A, a cutout portion 109 a is provided in the protruding portion of the intermediate film 109 along the longitudinal direction of the developing roller 59 from the center of the case 51. The intermediate layer film 109 is prevented from being broken due to deformation caused by the load caused by the rotation of the supply roller 58.

Next, as shown in FIG. 12, a side edge seal 110 is attached to the upper part of the intermediate layer film 109 using a double-sided tape. This side edge seal 110
Is formed of a sponge, and prevents a gap from being formed between a sheet metal of a layer thickness regulating blade 64 described later and the intermediate layer film 109, thereby preventing toner leakage.

Next, as shown in FIG. 13A, a support portion 64 made of iron or stainless steel of the layer thickness regulating blade 64 is provided.
The back-side blade side seal 111 is attached to the sheet metal 64b made of phosphor bronze or stainless steel attached to c with a double-sided tape. Here, the surface on the side where the pressure contact member 64a is provided is the front surface of the sheet metal 64b, and the opposite surface is the back surface of the sheet metal 64b. Back side blade side seal 1 along the longitudinal direction of layer thickness regulating blade 64
11 is formed to be wider than the distance W2 from the side end of the sheet metal 64b to the side end of the press-contact member 64a, and extends from the side end of the sheet metal 64b to the end of the press-contact member 64a. It covers up to the corresponding position. When the thickness regulating blade 64 is attached to the case 51, the sheet metal 64b receives a pressing force from the upper side seal 107 and the back side blade side seal 111 as shown in FIG. By providing the blade side seal 111 in the above-described region, not only the sheet metal 64b but also the end of the pressing member 64a is pressed, and the sheet metal 64b is not bent. Therefore, toner leakage due to bending of the sheet metal 64b can be prevented. Also,
The longitudinal length H1 of the back side blade side seal 111 along the width direction of the layer thickness regulating blade 64 is the sheet metal 64
b is a length that covers the entire area of the sheet metal 64b in the lateral direction. The double-sided tape is attached to the back surface of the back-side blade side seal 111, and the front surface is pressed against and contacts the upper side seal 107 as shown in FIG. Since the back side blade side seal 111 is formed of a urethane sponge softer than usual, the back side blade side seal 111 and the upper side seal 107 are formed.
Is a contact portion between the sponge and the sponge. Also, as shown in FIG. 13C, the lower end surface of the back side blade side seal 111 is
6 is in contact. Accordingly, the contact portion between the back side blade side seal 111 and the side edge seal 106 is also a contact portion between sponges. in this way,
Except for the bonding surface with the sheet metal 64b, the boundary between the back side blade side seal 111 and other members is entirely a sponge-to-sponge contact portion, thereby reliably preventing toner leakage.

On the other hand, on the front side of the metal plate 64b where the pressure contact member 64a is provided, a front blade side seal 112 is provided as shown in FIG. It is attached by. The front blade side seal 112 is formed of a urethane sponge that is softer than usual. A Teflon felt, which will be described later, is mounted on the front side blade side seal 112. The thickness when the front side blade side seal 112 and the Teflon felt are combined is, as shown in FIG. In consideration of the crushing amount, the pressure contact member 64a is configured to be thicker. With this configuration, even when the pressing member 64a is worn, the pressing force of the pressing members 64a at both ends on the developing roller 59 is not changed, and the pressing member 64a is not changed.
And the developing roller 59 can be reliably prevented from leaking toner from a pressure contact portion.

Next, FIGS. 14 (A), (B), (C),
As shown in (D), the Teflon felt 113 constituting the uppermost layer of the developer leakage preventing member at both ends is attached to the sheet metal 64b of the layer thickness regulating blade 64, the front blade side seal 1
12, the intermediate film 109 and the side seal mounting area 100 are mounted using a double-sided tape. On the thickness regulating blade 64, FIG.
As shown in (C), the tip of Teflon felt is
4b, and the subsequent portion covers the front blade side seal 112.
With such a configuration, the layer thickness regulating blade 64
Of the pressing member 64a can be reliably prevented from leaking from both ends. Further, since the Teflon felt 113 moves together with the movement of the sheet metal 64b of the layer thickness regulating blade 64, the movement of the sheet metal 64b of the layer thickness regulating blade 64 is not hindered while reliably preventing toner leakage. Further, the Teflon felt 113 is
, The rotational torque of the developing roller 59 can be reduced.

Next, FIG. 15A, FIG. 16A,
As shown in (B), a lower film 114 as a lower end developer leakage prevention member is attached. Lower film 11
4 is a PET sheet or a urethane rubber film. The urethane rubber film can be expected to be softly pressed, but since it has no rigidity, it is necessary to press it from the back with a sponge or the like. On the other hand, since the PET sheet is harder than the urethane film, there is no need to press from the back, and there is an advantage that the assembling work is easier than the urethane film. In this embodiment, PE
A T sheet was used. The lower film 114 is shown in FIG.
As shown by hatching in FIG.
1, a part of the front edge 51 d of the case 51, and a part of the lower side seal 105 using a double-sided tape. As described above, since the bonding surface of the lower film 114 includes not only the lower seal mounting region 101 but also the region of the width W3 and the height H2 of the front edge 51d, it is difficult to peel off. Accordingly, even when the pressing force between the developing roller 59, the lower film 114 and the Teflon felt 113 is increased to some extent, the peeling of the lower film 114 can be reliably prevented.

The corners 114b at the free ends of the lower film 114 correspond to those shown in FIGS.
As shown in (A), the user rides on the Teflon felt 113. With this configuration,
When the developing roller 59 is mounted, the corner 114 b of the lower film 114 is pressed by the developing roller 59 toward the Teflon felt 113, and the Teflon felt 1
There is no gap between the free film 13 and the free end of the lower film 114. Therefore, not only when a stiff PET sheet is used but also when a stiff urethane film is used, FIGS. 15 (A), (B), 16 (A), (B), and FIGS. As shown in FIG. 17A, the movable portion 114a of the lower film 114 can be satisfactorily pressed into contact with the developing roller 59. Therefore, the developing roller 59 and the lower film 1
The toner can be reliably prevented from leaking from a contact portion with the toner.

Further, as described above, the lower film 1
14 is in contact with Teflon felt 113,
Since the side seal 104 is not provided in the region on the upstream side in the rotation direction of the developing roller 59, even when the developing roller 59 is mounted, a strong force causing displacement or deformation with respect to the lower film 114 is applied. Absent. Therefore, toner leakage due to displacement or deformation of the lower film 114 does not occur.

Further, in this embodiment, FIG.
As shown in (A) and (B), the corner 11 in the overlapping region of the lower film 114 with the Teflon felt 113 is formed.
4b is rounded off. With such a configuration, it is possible to reliably prevent the developing roller 59 from being damaged by the corners 114b of the lower film 114. Therefore, the toner does not stay in the damaged portion, and it is possible to reliably prevent the toner from leaking from the damaged portion. In particular, when a conductive elastic roller is used as the developing roller 59 as in the present embodiment, streak damage is likely to occur on the roller surface due to contact with the corners of the seal member, and the streak is reduced. Silica or the like may enter the damaged portion, further expanding the damage, and causing toner leakage therefrom. However, in the present embodiment, since the corners 114b of the lower film 114 are rounded and chamfered,
Even if a conductive elastic roller is used as the developing roller 59, toner leakage can be reliably prevented without damaging the roller surface.

Further, since the lower film 114 is stuck not only to the lower seal mounting area 101 but also to the lower side seal 105, even if the lower film 114 is vibrated by the rotation of the developing roller, Good adhesion at the interface between the seal 105 and the lower film 114 is maintained. Therefore, even when the polymerized toner is used as the toner, toner leakage can be reliably prevented.

Further, in this embodiment, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 17A, since the lower seal mounting area 101 and the mounting area 105a of the lower side seal 105 are continuous at a predetermined angle, when the lower film 114 is adhered and attached, it is shown in FIG. Thus, the lower side seal 105 can be compressed and deformed into a wedge shape.

On the other hand, as shown in the comparative example of FIG. 17B, the lower seal mounting area 101 and the mounting area 105a of the lower side seal 105 are formed substantially in parallel, and a step is formed between these mounting areas. FIG. 17
At the boundary between the lower seal mounting area 101 and the mounting area 105a of the lower side seal 105 indicated by an arrow in (B), an interface occurs between the end face of the sponge side seal 105 and the side surface of the resin step. Therefore, when the lower side seal 105 vibrates with the rotation of the developing roller 105, toner leakage cannot be prevented from this interface.

However, in this embodiment, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 17A, the lower side seal 105 is deformed into a wedge shape, and the interface between the resin and the sponge as in the comparative example of FIG. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, toner leakage can be reliably prevented even when the polymerized toner is used.

As described above, in the developing device 50 of the present embodiment, the lower film 1
Since the lower side seal 105 made of a soft sponge was attached to the side seal 104 on the mounting surface 101 of 14 and at the boundary between the mounting surface 101 and the mounting surface 100 of the side seal 104, Even when the side seal 104, the lower film 114, or the lower side seal 105 vibrates with the rotation of the developing roller, it is possible to reliably prevent the polymer toner from leaking from the boundary. Also, the lower side seal 105
Is mounted so that the shape sandwiched between the mounting surface 101 and the lower film 114 becomes a wedge shape, so that a rubbing surface with the case 51 is formed at a place where the lower side seal 105 cannot be adhered. It has been reduced as much as possible, and leakage of polymerized toner has been more reliably prevented. Further, the length of the side seal 104 is the lower side seal 1
05 so that the minimum pressing area is formed, and the side seal 104 is not provided below the side end of the lower film 114, so that the deformation and displacement of the lower film 114 are surely ensured. And the leakage of the polymerized toner can be more reliably prevented.

In the above description, the developing device 5
0 has been described as an example in which the process cartridge 2a is detachably attached to the image forming apparatus main body, but the present invention is not limited to this.
Only the part of the developing device 50 may be detachable from the image forming apparatus main body, and a process cartridge in which the process cartridge 2 a and the developing device 50 are formed in an integral housing (a process cartridge according to claim 9). It may be configured to be detachable from the image forming apparatus. Also,
The developing device 50 does not necessarily need to be detachable from the image forming apparatus, and may be a stationary type. If the present invention is applied to a developing device cartridge or a process cartridge,
This has the effect of reliably preventing toner leakage at the time of attachment / detachment. However, even in the case of a stationary type, it is possible to exhibit the effect of not contaminating the inside of the image forming apparatus main body with toner even if vibrations or the like occur. .

As described above, the present invention has been described based on the embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. Can easily be inferred.

[0086]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a developer leakage preventing member which rubs against the peripheral surfaces of both ends of the developer carrier near both ends in the longitudinal direction of the developing device housing opening. A lower end developer leakage preventing member that rubs uniformly on the peripheral surface of the developer carrying body along the longitudinal direction of the developer carrying body; and a mounting position of the lower end developer leak preventing member and a lower end developer leaking member. At the boundary position of the mounting position of the prevention member, the mounting surface boundary portion developer leakage prevention member made of a foamed elastic body is provided, so that at the boundary position, the side end surfaces of both ends of the developer leakage prevention member are connected to the developing device. Since it rubs not on the wall surface of the housing but on the side end surface of the developer leakage prevention member at the boundary of the mounting surface made of foamed elastic material, it is good even if vibrations accompanying rotation of the developer carrier occur. Maintain good adhesion and reliably prevent developer leakage. .

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the mounting surface boundary portion developer leakage preventing member is attached to both the lower end developer leakage preventing member and the lower end mounting surface by bonding. Therefore, through the interface between the lower end developer leakage prevention member and the mounting surface boundary portion developer leakage prevention member,
To reliably prevent the developer from reaching between the wall surface of the developing device housing at the boundary position between the both end mounting surface and the lower end mounting surface and the side end surface of the developer leakage preventing member at both ends. Thus, it is possible to reliably prevent the developer from leaking from the relevant portion.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, both ends in the longitudinal direction of the lower end developer leakage preventing member are provided at positions sandwiched between the both ends developer leakage preventing member and the developer carrier. Therefore, both ends in the longitudinal direction can be satisfactorily brought into contact with the peripheral surface of the developer carrying member, and developer leakage from an interface between the both ends in the longitudinal direction and the both ends of the developer leakage prevention member can be prevented. It can be reliably prevented.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the developer leak preventing member at the mounting surface boundary portion is formed in a wedge shape in a state sandwiched between the lower end developer leak preventing member and the lower end mounting surface. Since the lower end developer leakage preventing member is attached to the mounting surface boundary developer leak preventing member even when the developer leakage preventing member vibrates minutely with the rotation of the developer carrier. It is possible to reliably prevent the developer from leaking from the contact surface between the member and another member.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the developer is reliably prevented from leaking from the boundary position as described above, even when a polymerized toner produced by a polymerization method is used as the developer, A high-definition developing operation can be performed without developer leakage.

According to the developing device of the present invention, since the elastic roller having the elastic layer formed on the rotating shaft is used as the developer carrying member, the developer leakage preventing member at both ends is used as described above. , Or the lower end developer leakage preventing member or the mounting surface boundary developer leakage preventing member is elastically contacted or pressed, so that even when rotating, the adhesion with these members is maintained to ensure developer leakage. Can be prevented.

According to the developing device of the present invention, both ends of the free end of the lower end developer leakage preventing member are brought into contact with the rubbing members of the both ends developer leakage preventing member. , The free end of the lower end developer leakage preventing member can be rubbed uniformly in the longitudinal direction of the developer carrier without a gap, and the developer leakage from the relevant portion can be surely performed. Can be prevented. In addition, the front end of the both ends of the developer leakage prevention member at the lower end side of the opening of the base material, while securing a region that contacts the front end of the free end of the lower end developer leakage prevention member, The length of the lower end developer leakage preventing member does not reach the bonding portion on the lower end mounting surface. Therefore, even when the developer contact preventing member is pressed against the both ends of the developer leakage preventing member, the side end of the lower end developer leakage preventing member is connected to the developer carrying member and the both ends. The lower end developer leakage preventing member can be reliably prevented from being deformed or displaced without being strongly pressed against the developer leakage preventing member.

According to the developing device of the present invention, the free end of the developer leakage preventing member at the lower end is uniformly formed in the longitudinal direction of the developer carrying member without a gap. , And the lower end developer leakage preventing member is not pressed strongly between the developer carrier and the both ends developer leakage preventing member. By reliably preventing the displacement, it is possible to reliably prevent the developer from leaking. Further, since the developer leakage preventing member is provided at the boundary position, the mounting surface boundary portion made of a foamed elastic material. As a result of contact with the side end surface of the developer leakage prevention member, good adhesion can be maintained and developer leakage can be reliably prevented even if the above-described vibration occurs.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, since the process cartridge includes the carrier for the electrostatic latent image and the developing device according to any one of the first to eighth aspects, the process cartridge can be removed from the image forming apparatus. Alternatively, even when the image forming apparatus is mounted on an image forming apparatus, a favorable developing operation can be performed without causing leakage of the developer.

According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, the developing device cartridge is provided with the developing device according to any one of the first to eighth aspects. However, it is possible to perform a good developing operation without causing leakage of the developer and without causing leakage of the developer.

According to the image forming apparatus of the eleventh aspect,
Since the image forming apparatus includes the developing device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, the process cartridge according to claim 9, or the developing device cartridge according to claim 10, the developing device, the process cartridge, or the developing device cartridge includes: Good image formation can be performed without leakage of the developer.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 (A) is a partially cutaway perspective view showing a seal portion of a developing device case before a seal member is attached, and FIG. 2 (B) is the seal seen from the direction of arrow B shown in FIG. 2 (A). It is a figure which shows a part.

3 (A) is a partially cutaway perspective view showing a seal portion of a developing device case when a side edge seal is attached, and FIG. 3 (B) is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC of FIG. 3 (A). , FIG.
FIG. 4C is a view showing the seal portion viewed from the direction of arrow B shown in FIG.

4 (A) is a partially cutaway perspective view showing a seal portion of a developing device case when an upper side seal attaching film is attached, and FIG. 4 (B) is an arrow A shown in FIG. 4 (A); FIG. 4C is a view showing the seal portion viewed from the direction, and FIG.
It is a figure showing the seal part concerned seen from the arrow B direction shown to (A).

5A is a partially cutaway perspective view showing a seal portion of a developing device case when a side seal is attached, FIG.
FIG. 5B is a diagram showing the seal portion as viewed from the direction of arrow B shown in FIG.

FIG. 6A is a partially broken perspective view showing a seal portion of a developing device case when a lower side seal is attached,
FIG. 6B is a sectional view taken along line FF of FIG. 6A, and FIG.
FIG. 7 is a view showing the seal portion viewed from the direction of arrow B shown in FIG.

7A is a partially cutaway perspective view showing a seal portion of a developing device case when an edge seal is attached, FIG.
FIG. 8B is a diagram showing the seal portion as viewed from the direction of arrow B shown in FIG.

FIG. 8A is a partially broken perspective view showing a seal portion of a developing device case when an upper side seal is attached;
FIG. 8B is a diagram showing the seal portion viewed from the direction of arrow A shown in FIG. 8A, and FIG. 8C is a diagram showing the seal portion viewed from the direction of arrow B shown in FIG. It is.

FIG. 9 is a front view showing a seal portion of the developing device case when an upper seal is attached.

FIG. 10 is a view showing a seal portion viewed from the direction of arrow B shown in FIG. 9;

11 (A) is a partially cutaway perspective view showing a seal portion of a developing device case when an intermediate layer film is attached, and FIG. 11 (B) is viewed from an arrow B direction shown in FIG. 11 (A). FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the seal portion.

FIG. 12 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing a seal portion of the developing device case when a side edge seal is attached.

13 (A) is a diagram of the layer thickness regulating blade viewed from the back side, FIG. 13 (B) is a diagram of the layer thickness regulating blade viewed from the front side, and FIG. 13 (C) is a diagram of FIG. 11 (B). It is a figure showing the seal part seen from the arrow B direction similarly.

14A is a partially cutaway perspective view showing a seal portion of a developing device case when Teflon felt is attached, and FIG. 14B is viewed from the direction of arrow A shown in FIG. 14A. FIG. 14C is a diagram showing the seal portion, and FIG. 14C is a diagram showing the seal portion viewed from the direction of arrow B shown in FIG.
FIG. 14D is a sectional view taken along line DD of FIG.

FIG. 15A is a plan view showing a lower film and the vicinity of a mounting portion thereof, and FIG. 15B is a diagram showing an adhesive surface of the lower film.

16 (A) is a partially cutaway perspective view showing a seal portion of a case 51 on the opposite side to FIG. 14 (A) when a lower film is attached, and FIG. 16 (B) is FIG. 14 (C). FIG. 7 is a view showing the seal portion as viewed from the direction of arrow B as in FIG.

17A is a diagram showing a sliding portion of the lower seal of the present embodiment with the developing roller and a compressed state of the lower side seal. FIG. 17B is a diagram showing sliding of the lower film and the developing roller of the comparative example. It is a figure showing a compression state of a rubbing part and a lower side seal.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Laser beam printer 50 Developing device 51 Case 52 Toner accommodating chamber 59 Developing roller 64 Layer thickness regulating blade 64a Contact part 64b Sheet metal 100 Side seal mounting area 101 Lower seal mounting area 102 Side edge seal 103 Upper side seal mounting film 104 Side seal 105 Lower side seal 106 Edge seal 107 Upper side seal 108 Upper seal 109 Interlayer film 110 Side edge seal 111 Back side blade side seal 112 Front side blade side seal 113 Teflon felt 114 Lower film 114b Corner of lower film

Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Fumikazu Sato 15-1, Naeshiro-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture Inside of Brother Industries, Ltd. (72) Inventor Hideaki 15-1 Naeshiro-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya, Aichi B F-term (reference) in Lazar Industries, Ltd. 2H071 BA03 BA13 BA27 BA29 BA35 DA08 2H077 AB04 AD06 AD13 BA09 CA12 EA13 EA14 FA22 FA25

Claims (11)

[Claims] A developer carrier is rotatably disposed in an opening of a developing device housing for accommodating a developer, and a thin layer of the developer formed on the developer carrier is formed into an electrostatic latent image. A developing device for forming a visible image by facing each other, wherein both ends provided near the both ends in the longitudinal direction of the opening of the developing device housing so as to rub against the peripheral surfaces on both ends of the developer carrier. A developer leakage prevention member, and the developer carrying member on the peripheral surface of the developer carrying member on the downstream side in the rotation direction of the developer carrying member from a portion of the developer carrying member facing the electrostatic latent image. A lower end developer leakage prevention member provided at a lower end of the developing device housing opening so as to extend uniformly in a longitudinal direction of the opening so as to rub uniformly over the longitudinal direction of the body; The developing device housing has both end mounting surfaces for adhesively mounting the both end developer leakage preventing members, The lower end developer leakage preventing member is formed at a position recessed in the thickness direction of the both ends developer leakage preventing member from the lower end mounting surface where the lower end developer leakage preventing member is adhered and attached. Between the lower end mounting surface, the lower end mounting surface and the both end mounting surfaces such that at least a part of the side end surface is in contact with a part of the side end surface of the both end developer leakage prevention member. A developing device, wherein a developer leakage preventing member made of a foamed elastic material is provided at a boundary position of the mounting surface. 2. The developer leakage prevention member at the mounting surface boundary portion is attached to both the lower end developer leakage prevention member and the lower end mounting surface by bonding. Developing device. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein both ends in the longitudinal direction of the lower end developer leakage prevention member are provided at positions sandwiched between the both ends developer leakage prevention member and the developer carrier. 3. The developing device according to 1 or 2. 4. The lower end developer leakage preventing member has a wedge shape with the mounting surface boundary developer leakage preventing member sandwiched between the lower end developer leakage preventing member and the lower end mounting surface. The developing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the developing device is mounted as described above. 5. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the developer is a polymerized toner produced by a polymerization method. 6. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein said developer carrier is an elastic roller having an elastic layer formed on a rotating shaft. 7. A developer carrier is rotatably disposed in an opening of a developing device housing for accommodating a developer, and a thin layer of the developer formed on the developer carrier is formed into an electrostatic latent image. A developing device for forming a visible image by facing each other, comprising: a base member made of an elastic body; and a rubbing member rubbing the developer carrier, and both ends in a longitudinal direction of the developing device housing opening. In the vicinity, both end developer leakage prevention members provided so that the rubbing member rubs on both end side peripheral surfaces of the developer carrier, and extends in a longitudinal direction of the developing device housing opening. And a free end portion formed on the peripheral surface of the developer carrier at a position downstream of the developer carrier in the rotation direction of the developer carrier relative to a portion of the developer carrier facing the electrostatic latent image. The developer is uniformly rubbed in the longitudinal direction of the carrier, and both ends are slid by the developer leakage preventing member. A lower end developer leakage prevention member adhesively attached to a lower end mounting surface of the opening so as to be in contact with the member; and a tip of the base at the lower end side of the base of the both ends developer leakage prevention member. The portion is provided at a position between a tip of the free end of the lower end developer leakage prevention member and an adhesive portion on the lower end mounting surface of the lower end developer leakage prevention member. Developing device. 8. The developing device housing, wherein both end mounting surfaces to which the both end developer leakage preventing members are mounted are smaller than the lower end mounting surface to which the lower end developer leakage preventing member is adhesively mounted. Both end portions are formed at positions recessed in the thickness direction of the developer leakage prevention member, between the lower end developer leakage prevention member and the lower end mounting surface, at least a part of the side end surface is the said At the boundary position between the lower end mounting surface and the both end mounting surfaces so as to contact a part of the side end surface of the both end developer leakage preventing member, a mounting surface boundary developer leak preventing member made of a foamed elastic material is provided. 8. The device according to claim 7, wherein
The developing device as described in the above. 9. A process cartridge detachably formed in an image forming apparatus, comprising: a carrier for the electrostatic latent image; and a developing device according to claim 1. A process cartridge characterized by the above-mentioned. 10. A developing device cartridge, wherein the developing device according to claim 1 is detachably mounted on an image forming apparatus or a process cartridge. 11. An image forming apparatus comprising the developing device according to claim 1, a process cartridge according to claim 9, or a developing device cartridge according to claim 10.