JP2001066885A - Developer quantity restricting means, developing device, process cartridge provided with this developing device, and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make uniformizable the abutting pressure of an elastic sheet member on a developer carrier in the axial direction of the developer carrier by decreasing protrusion of adhesive from between the elastic sheet member and a supporting member. SOLUTION: This developing blade member 10 as a restricting means is provided with a sheet state elastic blade 10a with an abutting part that is abutted to of a developing sleeve 6 in a linear range that is extended in a periphery surface of the developing sleeve 6 and the axial direction of the developing sleeve 6 and a metal plate 10b supporting the elastic blade 10a and it is constituted so that the elastic blade 10a is fixed to the metal plate 10b over a whole range in the above mentioned axial direction of the metal plate 10b by the adhesive. In this case, a groove 10d is formed on the adhered surface with the elastic blade 10a of the metal plate 10b extending in the above mentioned axial direction.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a developer amount regulating means for regulating a developer amount on a surface of a developer carrier having an outer peripheral surface for carrying a developer and rotatable around an axis to a predetermined amount. And a developing device, a process cartridge including the developing device, and an image forming apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a developing device provided in an image forming apparatus such as a laser beam printer or a copying machine, a developing device employing a powdery developer is known and is in practical use.

Such a developing device includes a developer carrier having an outer peripheral surface for carrying the developer and rotatable around an axis.
The developer carrying member carries the developer supplied from a developing container containing the developer.

Further, such a developing device is provided with a developer amount regulating means for regulating the amount of the developer on the surface of the developer carrier to a predetermined amount. The developing blade member, which is an elastic sheet member provided in the means, is regulated to a desired layer thickness (amount), is given a predetermined charge, and is moved to a developing region opposed to the latent image carrier as the developer carrier rotates. It moves to visualize the electrostatic latent image on the latent image carrier.

Thus, in such a developing device,
2. Description of the Related Art A developing method in which a developer (hereinafter, referred to as toner) on a developer carrier is regulated by a developing blade member to perform a developing process has been adopted.

A developing method in a developing device having a developing blade member will be described with reference to FIG.

The developing device includes a developing sleeve 6 which is a developer carrier, and a developing blade member 41 is in contact with the developing sleeve 6 above. The developing blade member 41 is, for example, an elastic blade 41a made of urethane.
However, one end is fixed to the sheet metal 41 b and the other end is a free end, and is in contact with the developing sleeve 6.

The toner on the developing sleeve 6 is regulated to an appropriate amount at the contact position of the elastic blade 41a, and is further rubbed between the developing sleeve 6 and the elastic blade 41a to be frictionally charged to give an appropriate charge. And transported to the development area. The developing sleeve 6 is held at a distance of about 300 μm from the photosensitive member 1 as a latent image carrier in a developing area, and a developing bias in which AC and DC are superimposed is applied from a high voltage power supply (not shown). Have been. According to the change in the potential of the AC bias, the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member is developed while the toner reciprocates between the developing sleeve 6 and the photosensitive member as if the toner continued to jump. .

If the elastic blade 41a and the sheet metal 41b supporting the elastic blade 41a are adhered with a double-sided tape, the elastic blade 41a will be peeled off from the sheet metal 41b during a long period of time or the like. I was glued.

[0010]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional developing device, there is a possibility that a phenomenon (hereinafter referred to as density unevenness) in which the image density becomes uneven in the longitudinal direction (axial direction) of the developer carrier may occur. Was.

The elastic blade 4 in which such density unevenness occurs
1a, the pressure is non-uniform in the longitudinal direction, and this pressure unevenness is caused by the elastic blade 41a and the sheet metal 41b.
This was due to the problem of the adhesion state.

In the case of this adhesion failure, FIG.
Symbol A indicates the position where the adhesive runs off. FIG.
FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view at the protruding position A. In FIG. 8, a dashed line indicates a normal elastic blade arrangement.

On the other hand, the elastic blade corresponding to the adhesive protruding position A shown by the solid line in FIG. 8 has its root hardened in a direction parallel to the sheet metal by the hardened adhesive, and is hardly bent. , And jumped out to the developing sleeve 6 side.

Therefore, only at the position A where the adhesive has protruded,
Since the contact pressure of the elastic blade 41a increases, the coating amount of the toner on the developing sleeve 6 becomes non-uniform, and density unevenness occurs.

As described above, when the adhesive protrudes from between the elastic blade and the sheet metal, the root of the elastic blade is hardened at the protruding position, and the elastic blade undulates in the longitudinal direction, resulting in uneven density.

Therefore, it is necessary to control the clay of the adhesive, to control the application amount in the longitudinal direction of the application amount, or to limit the application amount within a range that does not reduce the adhesive force so as to prevent the adhesive from protruding as much as possible. there were.

In order to make the amount of the adhesive uniform, a method of putting a tape-like adhesive on a sheet metal and adhering an elastic blade has been devised, but in the case of hot melt adhesion, an adhesive tape is sandwiched. After that, since the adhesive is heated and melted, if the adhesive is melted excessively, the adhesive may protrude, so that the temperature of the bonding equipment needs to be carefully controlled.

Therefore, the present invention reduces the protrusion of the adhesive from between the elastic sheet member and the support member, and makes the contact pressure of the elastic sheet member against the developer carrier uniform in the axial direction of the developer carrier. It is an object of the present invention to provide a developer amount regulating unit, a developing device, a process cartridge provided with the developing device, and an image forming apparatus capable of realizing the development.

[0019]

According to the present invention, an object of the present invention is to regulate a developer amount on a surface of a developer carrier having an outer peripheral surface for carrying a developer and rotatable around an axis to a predetermined amount. And a sheet-shaped elastic sheet member having a contact portion that comes into contact with a peripheral surface of the developer carrier and a line area extending in the axial direction of the developer carrier, and an elastic sheet member. A support member for supporting the elastic sheet member, wherein the elastic sheet member is fixed to the support member via an adhesive over the entire area of the support member in the axial direction. This is achieved by the first invention in which the groove extending in the axial direction is formed on at least one of the bonding surfaces of the sheet member and the support member.

According to the present application, the above object is also achieved by the second invention in which the adhesive for bonding the elastic sheet member to the support member is a hot melt type adhesive in the first invention. Achieved.

Further, according to the present application, the above object is a developing apparatus for visualizing a latent image as a developer image by applying a developer to a latent image carrier for carrying the latent image, The present invention is also achieved by a third invention in which a developer carrier provided opposite to the carrier and the developer amount regulating means of the first invention are provided.

According to the present application, the above object is also achieved by the fourth invention in which, in the third invention, the adhesive for bonding the elastic sheet member to the support member is a hot-melt adhesive. Achieved.

Further, according to the present invention, the above object is to provide a process cartridge which holds at least a developing device and a latent image carrier for carrying a latent image and which can be detachably attached to an image forming apparatus main body. The present invention is also achieved by the fifth invention including the developing device of the third invention. .

According to the present application, the above object is also achieved by the sixth invention in which, in the fifth invention, the adhesive for bonding the elastic sheet member to the support member is a hot melt type adhesive. Achieved.

Further, according to the present application, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus for recording an image formed by a series of image forming processes on a recording medium, wherein the developing device according to the third aspect of the present invention, The invention is also achieved by the seventh invention including the process cartridge of the invention.

According to the present application, the above object is also achieved by the eighth invention, wherein the adhesive for bonding the elastic sheet member to the support member is a hot melt adhesive in the seventh invention. Achieved.

That is, in the first invention according to the present application, when the elastic sheet member and the support member are bonded by the adhesive, the excess adhesive between the elastic sheet member and the support member is removed by the elastic sheet. It is accommodated in a groove formed on at least one of the bonding surfaces of the member and the support member.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the adhesive is uniformly applied between the elastic sheet member and the support member when the elastic sheet member and the support member are bonded by the adhesive. At the same time, excess adhesive between the elastic sheet member and the support member is accommodated in a groove formed on at least one of the adhesive surfaces of the elastic sheet member and the support member.

Further, in the third invention according to the present application, when the elastic sheet member and the support member are bonded by the adhesive, the extra adhesive between the elastic sheet member and the support member is removed by the elastic sheet. It is accommodated in a groove formed on at least one of the bonding surfaces of the member and the support member.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the adhesive is uniformly applied between the elastic sheet member and the support member when the elastic sheet member and the support member are bonded by the adhesive. At the same time, excess adhesive between the elastic sheet member and the support member is accommodated in a groove formed on at least one of the adhesive surfaces of the elastic sheet member and the support member.

Further, in the fifth invention according to the present application, when the elastic sheet member and the support member are bonded by the adhesive, the extra adhesive between the elastic sheet member and the support member is removed by the elastic sheet. It is accommodated in a groove formed on at least one of the bonding surfaces of the member and the support member.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the adhesive is uniformly applied between the elastic sheet member and the support member when the elastic sheet member and the support member are bonded by the adhesive. At the same time, excess adhesive between the elastic sheet member and the support member is accommodated in a groove formed on at least one of the adhesive surfaces of the elastic sheet member and the support member.

Further, in the seventh invention according to the present application, when the elastic sheet member and the support member are bonded by the adhesive, the excess adhesive between the elastic sheet member and the support member is removed by the elastic sheet. It is accommodated in a groove formed on at least one of the bonding surfaces of the member and the support member.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the adhesive is uniformly applied between the elastic sheet member and the support member when the elastic sheet member and the support member are bonded by the adhesive. At the same time, excess adhesive between the elastic sheet member and the support member is accommodated in a groove formed on at least one of the adhesive surfaces of the elastic sheet member and the support member.

[0035]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First Embodiment First, an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
It will be described based on.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, which is an electrophotographic laser beam printer (hereinafter, referred to as a printer) adopting a process cartridge attaching / detaching method.

Such a printer is an electrophotographic photosensitive member as a rotating drum type latent image carrier, which is an organic photosensitive member in which a photosensitive layer composed of an organic photoconductor layer (OPC) is formed on the outer periphery of a grounded cylindrical aluminum substrate. (Hereinafter, referred to as an OPC photoconductor) 1.

The OPC photosensitive member 1 is rotated at a predetermined process speed (peripheral speed), for example, 50 mm / sec in a clockwise direction indicated by an arrow shown in FIG.

Further, such a printer has a charging roller 2 as a contact charging member in contact with the OPC photosensitive member 1. In this embodiment, the charging roller 2 is driven by the rotation of the OPC photosensitive member 1. It is driven to rotate.

The OPC photosensitive member 1 is uniformly charged to a negative potential by a charging roller 2 to which an oscillating voltage (VAC + VDC) is applied from a high-voltage power supply (not shown) during the rotation process. The charged surface is subjected to scanning exposure by a laser 5 which is output from a laser scanner (not shown) and modulated in accordance with a time-series electric digital image signal of target image information. Thereby, the rotating OPC photoconductor 1
An electrostatic latent image corresponding to the target image information is formed on the surface of.

The electrostatic latent image is reversely developed as a toner image by supplying a negatively charged toner as a developer from a developing sleeve 6 provided in the developing device 3. A predetermined developing bias is applied to the developing sleeve 6 from a high-voltage power supply (not shown).

On the other hand, a recording material P, which is a recording medium, passes through a transfer guide 7 from a paper feed unit (not shown) and a contact nip portion (transfer unit) formed between the rotating OPC photosensitive member 1 and the transfer roller 8. ) Is fed in synchronization with the toner image on the OPC photosensitive member 1 surface, and the toner image on the OPC photosensitive member 1 is transferred (transferred) to the surface of the recording material P. Transfer roller 8
A predetermined transfer bias is applied from a high voltage power supply,
The toner image is transferred by the transfer bias.

The recording material P on which the toner image has been transferred at the transfer portion
Are separated from the OPC photosensitive member 1 and introduced into the fixing device 30, subjected to a fixing process of a toner image, and output as an image formed product (print).

In the printer according to this embodiment, the OPC
A process cartridge 16 including four process devices including a photoreceptor 1, a charging roller 2 as a contact charging member, a developing device 3, and a cleaning device 9 is detachable from the printer main body.

The process cartridge 16 includes a photosensitive member 1, a charging roller 2, a developing device 3, and a cleaning device 9.
And at least one of them. The process cartridge 16 is positioned in the printer main body by the support 14.

The process cartridge 16 has a slit window hole into which the laser beam enters, and an opening / closing shutter (not shown) for the lower surface exposed portion of the photoreceptor 1. It is closed when it is taken out of the printer body, and is kept open when it is mounted. When the process cartridge 16 is mounted on the printer main body, the process cartridge 16 is mechanically and electrically coupled with the printer main body, and the driving mechanism of the printer main body drives the photosensitive member 1 and the developing sleeve 6 of the developing device 3. It is also possible to charge the charging roller 2 from the power supply of the printer body.
A predetermined bias can be applied to the developing sleeve 6 and the like.

Next, the developing device 3 according to this embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

The developing device 3 has a developing sleeve 6 and a developing blade member 10 as a developer amount regulating means.

The developing sleeve 6 has a diameter of 16 mm and a thickness of 1 mm.
mm of aluminum pipe, the surface of which is formed with a conductive resin layer, and is rotatable in the direction of the arrow. The developing sleeve 6 is formed by the conductive resin layer.
Is roughened. Inside the developing sleeve 6, a magnet roll 11 is fixedly arranged.

The toner is a negatively chargeable one-component magnetic toner, and is carried on the developing sleeve 6 by the magnetic force of the magnet roll 11, and is conveyed to the developing area which is a portion facing the photosensitive member 1 by the rotation of the developing sleeve 6. Will be done. However, the amount of toner conveyed to the developing area is regulated by the developing blade member 10 as a developer amount regulating means.

The developing blade member 10 has an elastic blade 10a as an elastic sheet member and a sheet metal 10b as a support member.

By the way, the present invention relates to the developing blade member 1
0, the adhesive 10c is prevented from protruding between the elastic blade 10a and the metal plate 10b.
A groove 10d is formed in b.

In this embodiment, the elastic blade 10a is made of urethane rubber, and the sheet metal 10b is made of a gin-coated copper plate.

As the adhesive 10c, a hot-melt type adhesive is used. In the bonding method, first, as shown in FIG. Apply adhesive. At this time, the elastic blade 10a is fixed to the work support 22.

The adhesive 10c can be applied with a uniform thickness by smoothly sliding the work support base 22 in the longitudinal direction. Here, if the moving speed of the work support base 22 fluctuates, uneven application of the adhesive will occur. Even if the distance between the hot melt gun 21 and the elastic blade 10a fluctuates, uneven coating of the adhesive occurs.

Therefore, the hot melt gun 21 and the work support table 22 are required to have high-precision equipment.

Next, as shown in FIG. 3 (b), with the hot-melt type adhesive 10c between the elastic blade 10a and the sheet metal 10b temporarily bonded, the sheet metal is pressed by a hot press 23 as heating means. Heat is applied from the 10b side to perform actual bonding.

The adhesive 10c is temporarily bonded to the upper surface of the elastic blade 10a.

The elastic blade 10a is mounted on a fixed base 27, and the sheet metal 10b is fixed to a support base 28 in a state where it is fitted in a fixed hole.

The support 28 and the hot press 23 are heated while descending in the direction of the arrow to complete the actual bonding. Since the adhesive used for coating the hot melt gun 21 is originally clay or low, unevenness of the hot press 23 due to heating and melting is small. Therefore, unevenness in the amount of the adhesive affects the protrusion of the adhesive.

The movement of the hot melt adhesive during the actual bonding will be described with reference to FIG.

A groove 10d is formed in the sheet metal 10b which is brought into close contact with the adhesive 10c from above.

The groove 10d is a groove having a depth of 0.5 mm and a width of 1.0 mm with respect to the thickness of the sheet metal 10b of 2 mm, and is formed over the longitudinal direction. 0.0 to 3.0 mm.

As the hot press 23 melts and presses, the excess adhesive 10c moves into the groove 10d in the direction of the arrow. The thickness of the adhesive 10c was about 100 μm.

As described above, the adhesive moves into the groove 10d even if the amount of the adhesive becomes partially excessive due to the variation in the coating amount of the hot melt gun 21, so that the elastic blade 10a and the sheet metal 10b The adhesive which protrudes from the position A during the period is reduced.

As described above, by forming the groove 10d in the sheet metal 10b, the protrusion of the adhesive from between the elastic blade 10a and the sheet metal 10b is reduced, and the hardening of the root of the elastic blade at the protruding position is prevented. Thus, the waving of the elastic blade in the longitudinal direction can be suppressed.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Note that the same components as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

In the present embodiment, a tape-like hot-melt type adhesive is used in the method of bonding the elastic sheet member and the support member, and the coating amount can be made uniform even with a simple low-precision facility. There are benefits. In addition, by forming a groove in the supporting member according to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the protrusion of the adhesive against the melt variation due to the temperature unevenness in the longitudinal direction of the hot melt press.

In this embodiment, in the developing blade member 19 as the developer amount regulating means, the adhesive 19c is configured to prevent the adhesive 19c from protruding between the elastic blade 19a as the elastic sheet member and the sheet metal 19b as the supporting member.
Is a tape-like adhesive, and a groove 19d is formed in the sheet metal 19b.

A hot melt adhesive was used as the adhesive 19c. In the bonding method, first, as shown in FIG. 5A, a tape-shaped adhesive 19c is temporarily bonded to a sheet metal 19b to be bonded. The tape-shaped adhesive 19c is adhered with an appropriate pressure by rotating the roller 26 in the direction of the arrow. The sheet metal 19b is fixed to the work support 24. The work support 24 slides smoothly in the longitudinal direction, and the temporary bonding between the sheet metal 19b and the adhesive 19c is completed. Here, since the tape-shaped adhesive 19c has a high clay at room temperature, even if it is temporarily bonded to the sheet metal 19b, it does not leak into the groove 19d. Further, since the adhesive 19 is in a tape shape, the adhesive 19 having a uniform thickness is not affected by minute irregularities of the sheet metal 19b.
The layer of c can be formed.

Next, as shown in FIG. 5B, the hot melt adhesive 1 between the elastic blade 19a and the sheet metal 19b is used.
In the state where 9c is temporarily bonded, heat is applied from the sheet metal 19b side by a hot press 23 which is a heating means to perform final bonding. At this time, the adhesive 19c is temporarily bonded to the lower surface of the sheet metal 19b.

The elastic blade 19a is placed on the fixed base 27, and the metal plate 19b is set on the support base 2 in a state where it is fitted in the fixed hole.
8 is fixed.

The support 28 and the hot press 23 are heated while descending in the direction of the arrow, and the actual bonding is completed. Since the tape-shaped adhesive is originally made of clay or high, it is easily affected by unevenness of the hot press 23 due to heating and melting. Therefore, the unevenness in the longitudinal temperature control of the hot press 23 affects the protrusion of the adhesive.

During the actual bonding, the movement of the hot melt adhesive is as follows.
As in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 4, as the melt pressure is applied, the excess adhesive moves into the groove in the direction of the arrow.

Therefore, even if the adhesive is partially melted excessively due to temperature control variations in the hot press 23, the amount of the adhesive protruding from the position A between the elastic blade 19a and the sheet metal 19b is reduced.

As described above, by forming the groove 19d in the sheet metal 19b, the protrusion of the adhesive from between the elastic blade 19a and the sheet metal 19b is reduced, and the hardening of the root of the elastic blade at the protruding position is prevented. Thus, the waving of the elastic blade in the longitudinal direction can be suppressed.

In this embodiment, a hot-melt adhesive is used, but the present invention is not limited to this.

(Third Embodiment) Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. Note that the same components as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

In this embodiment, grooves are formed on the adhesive surface on the elastic sheet member side, and there is an advantage that the grooves can be formed more easily than forming grooves on the adhesive surface on the support member side.

In the present embodiment, in the developing blade member 25 as the developer amount regulating means, the adhesive 25c is configured to prevent the adhesive 25c from protruding between the elastic blade 25a as the elastic sheet member and the sheet metal 25b as the supporting member.
Is a tape-like adhesive, and a groove 25d is formed on the adhesive surface on the elastic blade 25a side.

As the adhesive 25c, a hot-melt adhesive is used. In the bonding method, first, a tape-shaped adhesive 25c is temporarily bonded to a sheet metal 25b to be bonded.

Next, as shown in FIG. 5 (a), with the hot melt adhesive 25c between the elastic blade 25a and the sheet metal 25b temporarily bonded, the sheet metal is heated by a hot press 23 as a heating means. Heat is applied from the 19b side to perform actual bonding.

The adhesive 25c is temporarily bonded to the lower surface of the sheet metal 25b.

The elastic blade 25a is placed on the fixed base 27, and the sheet metal 25b is set in
8 is fixed. Support stand 28 and hot press 23
Is heated while descending in the direction of the arrow, and the final bonding is completed.

During the actual bonding, the movement of the hot melt adhesive
It is shown in FIG.

As the melt pressure is applied, the excess adhesive moves into the groove in the direction of the arrow. The elastic blade 25a which is brought into close contact with the adhesive 25c from below.
Is formed with a groove 25d.

The elastic blade 25a is made of urethane rubber, and is provided with a rail-shaped protrusion on the inner surface of the mold in advance.
After demolding, a concave groove is formed over the long hair.

The groove 25d has a thickness of 1.2 m of urethane rubber.
It is a groove having a depth of 0.3 mm and a width of 1.0 mm with respect to m.

As the hot press 23 melts and presses, the excess adhesive 25c moves into the groove 25d in the direction of the arrow. The thickness of the adhesive 25c was about 100 μm.

As described above, even if the melting of the adhesive becomes partially excessive due to the temperature control variation in the hot press 23,
The adhesive protruding from the position A between the elastic blade 25a and the sheet metal 25b is reduced.

As described above, the grooves 25 are formed in the elastic blades 25a.
forming the elastic blade 25a and the sheet metal 25b.
The protrusion of the adhesive from the gap is reduced, the hardening of the root of the elastic blade at the protruding position is prevented, and the waving of the elastic blade in the longitudinal direction can be suppressed.

In this embodiment, a hot melt adhesive is used, but the present invention is not limited to this.

[0094]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, when the elastic sheet member and the supporting member are bonded by the adhesive, the extra bonding between the elastic sheet member and the supporting member is performed. Since the agent is accommodated in a groove formed on the adhesive surface of at least one of the elastic sheet member and the support member, the protrusion of the adhesive from between the elastic sheet member and the support member is reduced, The contact pressure of the elastic sheet member against the developer carrier can be made uniform in the axial direction of the developer carrier.

According to the second invention of the present application,
When bonding the elastic sheet member and the support member with an adhesive,
An adhesive is uniformly applied between the elastic sheet member and the support member, and an extra adhesive between the elastic sheet member and the support member is formed on at least one of the adhesive surfaces of the elastic sheet member and the support member. The protrusion of the adhesive from the elastic sheet member and the support member can be effectively reduced because the groove is accommodated in the groove. The agent carrier can be made uniform in the axial direction.

Further, according to the third invention of the present application, when the elastic sheet member and the support member are bonded by the adhesive, the excess adhesive between the elastic sheet member and the support member is removed by the elastic sheet member. And is accommodated in a groove formed on at least one of the adhesive surfaces of the support member, so that the protrusion of the adhesive from between the elastic sheet member and the support member is reduced, and the elasticity with respect to the developer carrying member is reduced. The contact pressure of the sheet member can be made uniform in the axial direction of the developer carrying member.

According to the fourth invention of the present application,
When bonding the elastic sheet member and the support member with an adhesive,
An adhesive is uniformly applied between the elastic sheet member and the support member, and an extra adhesive between the elastic sheet member and the support member is formed on at least one of the adhesive surfaces of the elastic sheet member and the support member. The protrusion of the adhesive from the elastic sheet member and the support member can be effectively reduced because the groove is accommodated in the groove. The agent carrier can be made uniform in the axial direction.

Further, according to the fifth invention of the present application, when the elastic sheet member and the support member are bonded by the adhesive, the extra adhesive between the elastic sheet member and the support member is removed by the elastic sheet member. And is accommodated in a groove formed on at least one of the adhesive surfaces of the support member, so that the protrusion of the adhesive from between the elastic sheet member and the support member is reduced, and the elasticity with respect to the developer carrying member is reduced. The contact pressure of the sheet member can be made uniform in the axial direction of the developer carrying member.

Further, according to the sixth invention of the present application,
When bonding the elastic sheet member and the support member with an adhesive,
An adhesive is uniformly applied between the elastic sheet member and the support member, and an extra adhesive between the elastic sheet member and the support member is formed on at least one of the adhesive surfaces of the elastic sheet member and the support member. The protrusion of the adhesive from the elastic sheet member and the support member can be effectively reduced because the groove is accommodated in the groove. The agent carrier can be made uniform in the axial direction.

Further, according to the seventh aspect of the present invention, when the elastic sheet member and the support member are bonded by the adhesive, the extra adhesive between the elastic sheet member and the support member is removed by the elastic sheet member. And is accommodated in a groove formed on at least one of the adhesive surfaces of the support member, so that the protrusion of the adhesive from between the elastic sheet member and the support member is reduced, and the elasticity with respect to the developer carrying member is reduced. The contact pressure of the sheet member can be made uniform in the axial direction of the developer carrying member.

According to the eighth invention of the present application,
When bonding the elastic sheet member and the support member with an adhesive,
An adhesive is uniformly applied between the elastic sheet member and the support member, and an extra adhesive between the elastic sheet member and the support member is formed on at least one of the adhesive surfaces of the elastic sheet member and the support member. The protrusion of the adhesive from the elastic sheet member and the support member can be effectively reduced because the groove is accommodated in the groove. The agent carrier can be made uniform in the axial direction.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an example of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a schematic configuration diagram of a developing device provided in the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a method of bonding an elastic sheet member and a support member provided in a developer amount regulating unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a view for explaining a flow of a method of bonding the elastic sheet member and the support member shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a method of bonding an elastic sheet member and a support member provided in a developer amount regulating unit according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a view for explaining a method of bonding an elastic sheet member and a support member provided in a developer amount regulating unit according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram of a conventional developing device.

FIG. 8 is a schematic configuration diagram of a developer amount regulating unit provided in the developing device of FIG. 7;

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 3 developing device 6 developing sleeve (developer carrier) 10 developing blade member (developer amount regulating means) 10a elastic blade (elastic sheet member) 10b sheet metal (support member) 10c adhesive 10d groove 16 process cartridge 19 developing blade member ( 19a elastic blade (elastic sheet member) 19b sheet metal (support member) 19c adhesive 19d groove 25 developing blade member (developer amount restricting means) 25a elastic blade (elastic sheet member) 25b sheet metal (support member) 25c adhesive 25d groove 30 fixing device P recording material (recording medium)

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Satoru Motohashi 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Inc. (72) Shunichi Tsukita 3-2-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo F term in Canon Inc. (reference) 2H071 BA04 BA13 DA06 DA08 DA13 DA15 2H077 AD06 AD13 AD17 AD23 AD35 BA09 EA13 FA00 FA13 FA22 GA17

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A developer amount regulating means for regulating a developer amount on a surface of a developer carrying member having an outer peripheral surface for carrying a developer and rotatable around an axis to a predetermined amount, comprising: A sheet-like elastic sheet member having an abutting portion that abuts on a peripheral surface of the carrier and a line area extending in the axial direction of the developer carrier, and a support member that supports the elastic sheet member, wherein the elastic sheet member is a support member In the developer amount regulating means fixed to the support member via an adhesive over the entire area in the axial direction of the above,
The elastic sheet member and the support member are provided with a groove extending in the axial direction on at least one of the adhesive surfaces of the elastic sheet member and the support member. 2. The developer amount regulating unit according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive for bonding the elastic sheet member to the support member is a hot melt type adhesive. 3. A developing device for visualizing a latent image as a developer image by applying a developer to a latent image carrier for carrying a latent image, wherein the developing device is disposed to face the latent image carrier. A developing device comprising: a developer carrier; and the developer amount regulating unit according to claim 1. 4. The developing device according to claim 3, wherein the adhesive for bonding the elastic sheet member to the support member is a hot melt type adhesive. 5. A process cartridge which holds at least a developing device and a latent image carrier for carrying a latent image, and which is detachable from an image forming apparatus main body.
A process cartridge comprising the developing device according to item 1. 6. The process cartridge according to claim 5, wherein the adhesive for bonding the elastic sheet member to the support member is a hot melt type adhesive. 7. An image forming apparatus for recording an image formed by a series of image forming processes on a recording medium,
An image forming apparatus comprising the developing device according to claim 3 or the process cartridge according to claim 5. 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the adhesive for bonding the elastic sheet member to the support member is a hot melt type adhesive.