JP2001083799A - Developer layer regulation member, developing device using it and image forming device using it - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable an image with high quality to be stably obtained extending over a long term by obtaining such constitution that the swollen part of a thin sheet-like member is made to press-contact with the surface of a developer carrier and the press-contact part of the thin sheet-like member is deformed along the surface of the developer carrier. SOLUTION: Toner 11 supplied to a developing roll 13 by a supply roll 15 is leveled so as to form a uniform toner layer on the roll 13 by a layer forming blade 17 being as the developer layer regulation member. Simultaneously with it, the toner 11 is triboelectrified to prescribed polarity and prescribed electrifying amount by frictional force generated when the blade 17 is brought into contact with the roll 13 through the toner layer. By the blade 17, the thin sheet- like member 20 is deflected so as to be swollen to the roll 13 side and the swollen part thereof is made to press-contact with the surface of the roll 13. Then, the blade 17 is constituted so that the swollen part of the sheet-like member 20 is deformed along the surface of the roll 13.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a developer layer regulating member used in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile or the like using an electrophotographic system or an electrostatic recording system.
And a developing device using the same, and an image forming apparatus using the developing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile or the like using an electrophotographic system or an electrostatic recording system of this type performs image exposure on a photosensitive drum,
Forming an electrostatic latent image according to image information, visualizing this electrostatic latent image with a developing device, and transferring and fixing the visualized toner image on a transfer material to form an image It is configured to be.

In such an image forming apparatus, a one-component developer containing no carrier is used as a developer, and an electrostatic latent on the surface of the photosensitive drum is used in order to reduce the size and cost of the apparatus and to consider the environment. A one-component developing device for visualizing an image, that is, developing the image, is often used.

[0004] In this developing device, a toner as a one-component developer is accommodated in the housing of the device, and the toner is supplied to the surface of the developing roll via a supply roll. The developing device regulates the toner supplied to the surface of the developing roll to a predetermined layer thickness and frictionally charges the toner supplied to the surface of the developing roll, and regulates the toner supplied to the predetermined layer thickness and frictionally charges the toner. Is transported to a developing area facing the photosensitive drum with the rotation of the developing roll, and the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum is developed.

When such a developing device is used, a layer forming / charging means for forming and charging a toner layer on a developing roll carrying toner is disclosed in JP-A-63-2792.
As described in JP-A-83, an elastic layer-forming blade which is pressed against and rubbed against a developing roll is generally used. Further, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-86852, there has been proposed a means for pressing and sliding a contact member having a convex cross section against a developing roll by an elastic blade. Further, as described in JP-A-6-120443,
It is also proposed that a developing blade is disposed in contact with the developing roll and frictionally charges the toner carried and conveyed by the developing roll, and the hardness of the developing blade is higher than the hardness of the developing roll. .

As the developing device, there is known a contact one-component developing system in which a developing roller carrying toner is brought into contact with the surface of an electrostatic latent image carrier. In the developing device of the contact one-component developing system, the developing roller carrying the toner comes into contact with the surface of the electrostatic latent image carrier, so that the developing nip in which the electrostatic latent image carrier contacts the developing roll is stabilized, In general, an elastic member is used for the developing roll for reasons such as extension of the life of the electrostatic latent image carrier.

As means for forming a layer of toner on a developing roll made of such an elastic member, for example, one disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-41487 has already been proposed. The one-component developing device described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-41487 has a 50 ° Asker C hardness tester.
For the toner carrier composed of the following conductive elastic body,
The toner layer is formed by urging the metal layer thickness regulating member.

[0008]

However, the above-mentioned prior art has the following problems. That is, in the conventional one-component type developing device, it is necessary that the toner is efficiently and frictionally charged in an extremely short time by the elastic blade and the developing roll. Therefore, when the elastic blade is pressed against the developing roll to form a thin layer of toner and triboelectric charging, the nip amount of the contact portion in forming the layer is small. It is necessary to set the height to a high value, and toner sticks easily to the blade, causing white streaks and the like, and lowering image quality. Therefore, there is a problem that it is difficult to use the developing device for a long time. Further, in the conventional developing device, the contact width between the elastic blade and the developing roll is small, and it is difficult to form a uniform toner layer, and the toner weight per unit area of the developing roll is
There is a problem that the so-called cycle characteristics, which greatly fluctuate according to the number of rotations of the developing roll, are poor, and the maintenance of layer formation is also poor. Further, there is a problem that the pressing force between the elastic blade and the developing roll is increased, and the toner as the developer is easily deteriorated.

Further, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-124043, the developing device includes a developing blade which is disposed in contact with a developing roll and frictionally charges toner carried on the developing roll and conveyed. When the hardness of the blade is higher than the hardness of the developing roll, the hardness of the developing blade is higher than the hardness of the developing roll. Therefore, as shown in FIG. The pressure contact forms a toner layer.

However, in such a method involving deformation of the elastic roll in the toner layer forming nip portion, in order to stabilize the repulsive force due to the distortion of the elastic roll, a strong pressure is applied to a relatively small area to apply the toner. In this case, as shown in the figure, streaks in the rotation direction are liable to occur particularly in the toner layer, and a uniform layer is not formed. Therefore, unevenness during the formation of the toner layer remains in the developed image, and there is a great problem that the image quality is greatly deteriorated.

The present applicant has already proposed an image forming apparatus according to Japanese Patent Application No. 10-341948 in order to solve the problem relating to cycle characteristics. This image forming apparatus relates to a developer carrier that conveys a non-magnetic one-component developer in opposition to an electrostatic latent image carrier that visualizes an electrostatic latent image on the electrostatic latent image carrier. Has an average slope (θa) of 2.
It is smaller than 0 degrees.

However, in the case of the image forming apparatus according to this proposal, the average inclination of the surface roughness of the developer carrier (θ
By making a) smaller than 2.0 degrees, the cycle characteristics can be improved, but there is still a problem that some nonuniform layer formation remains.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and it is an object of the present invention to be particularly suitable for forming a color image and to provide a unit on a developer carrying member. To further enhance the cycle characteristics of toner weight per area and the uniformity of layer formation, the nip width is expanded, and a uniform and thin toner layer is formed on the developer carrier, resulting in stable image quality over a long period of time. It is an object of the present invention to provide a developer layer regulating member capable of obtaining an excellent image, a developing device using the same, and an image forming apparatus using the same.

[0014]

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus, comprising: Forming a thin layer of the developer on the surface of the developer carrier, and a developer regulating member that charges the developer,
The developer regulating member is bent so that the thin sheet-like member swells at least toward the developer carrier, and the swelling portion of the thin sheet-like member is pressed against the surface of the developer carrier, and A developer layer regulating member characterized in that a press-contact portion of the sheet-like member is configured to be deformed into a shape along the surface of the developer carrying member.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the developer layer regulating member is provided in an area where the developer layer regulating member comes into contact with the developer carrier when the developer carrier is pressed when the developer carrier is stopped. The rotation direction upstream end of the developer carrier in the contact region between the developer layer regulating member and the developer carrier during rotation of the developer carrier is located downstream of the central portion of the developer carrier in the rotational direction of the developer carrier. 2. The structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
3. The developer regulating member according to item 1.

Further, according to the third aspect of the present invention, a thin layer of the developer is pressed against the surface of the developer carrier which is driven to rotate while the developer is carried thereon, and the developer carrier is rotated. Forming and regulating the developer regulating member so that the thin sheet-like member swells at least to the developer carrier side, and expands the thin sheet-like member. The projecting portion is pressed against the surface of the developer carrying member, the pressure contact portion of the thin sheet-shaped member is configured to be deformed into a shape along the surface of the developer carrying member, and the expansion of the sheet-shaped member is performed. A developer layer regulating member provided with a maintenance member for supporting at least a part of the projecting portion.

Still further, the invention described in claim 4 is as follows.
4. The developer layer regulating member according to claim 1, further comprising cooling means for cooling a bulged portion of the developer regulating member.

Further, according to the present invention, a developer layer regulating member is pressed against the surface of a developer carrier which is rotated while the developer is carried thereon, and the surface of the developer carrier is pressed. In the developing device that forms a thin layer of the developer and performs development by charging the developer, the developer regulating member is bent so that the thin sheet-like member swells at least toward the developer carrier. In addition, the bulging portion of the thin sheet member is pressed against the surface of the developer carrier, and the pressed portion of the thin sheet member is deformed into a shape along the surface of the developer carrier. A developing device characterized by the following.

Further, according to the invention described in claim 6, the developer carrier has a surface roughness (Ra) of Ra ≦ Ra.
A 0.14 μm member is used, and the end of the nip area between the developer carrier and the developer layer regulating member on the upstream side in the rotation direction when the developer carrier is rotated is the developing position when the developer carrier is stopped. 6. The developing device according to claim 5, wherein the developing device is located at a central portion of the nip region between the developer carrier and the developer layer regulating member or downstream thereof.

Further, according to a seventh aspect of the present invention, a developer layer regulating member is pressed against the surface of a developer carrier which is driven to rotate while carrying the developer, and the surface of the developer carrier is pressed. In the developing device that forms a thin layer of the developer and performs development by charging the developer, the developer regulating member is bent so that the thin sheet-like member swells at least toward the developer carrier. In addition, the bulging portion of the thin sheet member is pressed against the surface of the developer carrier, and the pressed portion of the thin sheet member is deformed into a shape along the surface of the developer carrier. The developing device is characterized in that the operation of the developing device is controlled such that the value of (operating time) / (stop time) during an arbitrary fixed time is equal to or less than a predetermined value.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a developer layer regulating member is pressed against the surface of a developer carrier that is rotated while the developer is carried thereon, and the surface of the developer carrier is pressed. In the image forming apparatus provided with a developing device that forms a thin layer of the developer and performs development by charging the developer, the developer regulating member may be configured such that the thin sheet-shaped member is disposed at least on the developer carrier side. The thin sheet-like member is bent so as to swell, and the swelling portion of the thin sheet-like member is pressed against the surface of the developer carrying member, and the pressed portion of the thin sheet-like member is shaped along the surface of the developer carrying member. And controlling the operation of the developing device so that the value of (operating time) / (stop time) during an arbitrary fixed time is equal to or less than a predetermined value. It is a forming device.

Further, according to the ninth aspect of the present invention, a developer layer regulating member is pressed against the surface of a developer carrier which is driven to rotate while carrying the developer, and the surface of the developer carrier is pressed. In the image forming apparatus provided with a developing device that forms a thin layer of the developer and performs development by charging the developer, the developer regulating member may be configured such that the thin sheet-shaped member is disposed at least on the developer carrier side. The thin sheet-like member is bent so as to swell, and the swelling portion of the thin sheet-like member is pressed against the surface of the developer carrying member, and the pressed portion of the thin sheet-like member is shaped along the surface of the developer carrying member. An image forming apparatus characterized in that the image forming apparatus is configured to be deformed.

[0023]

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

Embodiment 1 FIG. 2 shows an image forming apparatus to which a developing device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention is applied.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a photosensitive drum as an electrostatic latent image carrier.
For example, a member having a photoconductor layer made of OPC (organic photoconductor) is used. The photosensitive drum 1
Is charged by the charging roll 2 as a primary band means.
For example, after being uniformly charged to a predetermined potential of negative polarity, image exposure 3 is performed by a laser exposure device or the like (not shown), and an electrostatic latent image corresponding to image information is formed. The electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 1 is developed by the developing device 4 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention to become a toner image, and the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 1 is The image is transferred onto a transfer sheet 6 as a transfer material by a transfer roll 5. The transfer paper 6 onto which the toner image has been transferred is separated from the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 and then conveyed to a fixing device (not shown), where the toner image is fixed on the transfer paper 6 by heat and pressure. Is discharged onto a discharge tray arranged outside the apparatus.

After the toner image transfer process is completed, the residual toner is removed from the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 by the cleaning device 7 to prepare for the next image forming process.

However, in the above-described image forming apparatus, the transfer efficiency in the transfer step is made substantially 100% by using a toner having a high degree of sphericity such as a polymerized toner in a developing device for forming a toner image. A so-called cleanerless image forming apparatus which does not require a cleaning device may be configured.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a developing device of a contact one-component developing system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

The developing device 4 of the contact one-component developing system comprises:
As shown in FIG. 1, an apparatus housing 10 is provided.
The large part of the volume on the back side of the device housing 10 is as follows.
A toner storage container 12 stores a toner 11 as a non-magnetic one-component developer. A developing roll 13 as a developer carrier is rotatably arranged at a predetermined speed at a position facing the photosensitive drum 1 of the apparatus housing 10. The developing roll 13 comes in contact with the photosensitive drum 1 as an electrostatic latent image carrier, supplies toner to the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 1, and visualizes the toner. Therefore, the contact area (development nip) between the photosensitive drum 1 and the developing roll is stabilized with respect to the fluctuation due to the rotation of the photosensitive drum 1 and the developing roll to obtain a high-quality image, and the wear due to friction. In order to extend the life of the photosensitive drum 1 by reducing the surface tension, the surface of the developing roll 13 is formed of an elastic member (for example, urethane rubber or EP).
DM).

A supply roll 15 is arranged on the downstream side of the development roll 13 in the rotation direction of the development nip 14 in a state of being close to or in contact with the supply roll 15. The supply roll 15 supplies toner to the development roll 13, and in a case where the supply roll 15 is in contact with the development roll 13, the supply roll 15 scrapes off the toner on the development roll 13 after development to eliminate the history. Things. Further, on the back side of the supply roll 15, a paddle 16 that sends the toner 11 to the supply roll 15 while stirring the toner 11 in the toner storage container 12 is provided.
It is arranged to rotate at a predetermined timing.

On the other hand, the toner 11 supplied to the developing roller 13 by the supply roller 15 is further subjected to a developing roller 13 by a layer forming blade 17 as a developer layer regulating member.
The toner 11 is frictionally charged to a predetermined polarity and charge amount by the frictional force generated by the contact between the layer forming blade 17 and the developing roll 13 via the toner layer, while the toner 11 is uniformly leveled. I have.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the pressure of the toner 11 stored in the toner container 12 is adjusted so that the pressure of the toner 11 does not excessively act on the layer forming blade 17. A partition member 18 is provided between the inside and the layer forming blade 17 so as to hang from the ceiling. The lower end of the partition member 18 is located, for example, on a straight extension line L connecting the photosensitive drum 1 and the center of the developing roll 13.

In the first embodiment, the following developer layer regulating member is used in order to reduce the unevenness of toner transport generated during the layer formation.

FIG. 3 shows a layer forming blade according to the first embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 3, the layer forming blade deflects the thin sheet member so as to swell toward the developing roll, and also swells the swelling portion of the thin sheet member on the surface of the developing roll. The developing device is configured so as to be pressed to deform the pressed portion of the thin sheet-like member into a shape along the surface of the developing roll.

To explain further, the layer forming blade 1
7 includes a thin sheet member 20 made of a synthetic resin having no rubber elasticity, such as a film made of PET (polyethylene terephthalate).
Is folded back at a central portion 20a (a lower end portion in the figure), and is bent by applying pressure as necessary so as to form a vertically elongated loop portion 21 having a substantially elliptical shape. Are fixed to both surfaces of a flat support member 22 made of synthetic resin, metal, or the like by means such as adhesion or screwing, so that the inside 23 is formed in a hollow shape. The sheet-like member 20 is, for example,
The length of the loop portion 21 formed in a vertically elongated substantially elliptical shape is 2
The width is set to about 5 mm and the width is set to about 10 mm.

The support member 22 for supporting the sheet-like member 20 has a length such that a lower end portion 22a is located substantially at the center of the loop portion 21, and an upper end portion 22a is bent into an L-shape. And is fixed to the upper end of the partition member 18.

The sheet-like member 20 is a member which has elasticity and flexibility when deformed to form the loop portion 21 and is deformable along the surface of the developing roll 13. The material is not particularly limited. However,
It is desirable that at least a portion in contact with the developing roll 13 be made of a resin having an insulating property, and be made of a material having a frictional force smaller than the frictional force on the surface of the developing roll 13 or a mold releasing property better than that of the developing roll 13.

In the first embodiment, the sheet-like member 20 is made of PE having a thickness of 0.1 mm to 1 mm.
T films are used. In addition, the loop portion 21 of the layer forming blade 17 is hardened with respect to the hardness and diameter of the
By adjusting the length of the sheet and the sheet material (thickness, hardness), the desired layer forming nip condition can be realized.

This layer forming blade 17 is shown in FIGS.
As shown in the figure, the plate-shaped support member 22 is urged from one side,
The loop 21 is attached so as to be pressed against the surface of the developing roll 13. In the initial state, a contact area is formed around the closest contact point between the developing roller 13 and the loop portion 21 in the pressing direction, but when the developing roller 13 rotates, the sheet-shaped member 20 becomes larger due to friction with the developing roller 13. This contact area moves downstream in the rotational direction. By setting the upstream end of the contact area in the rotating state with respect to the rotation direction of the developing roll to be downstream from the approximate center of the contact area in the initial state, the streaks and the uniform toner layer are elasticized as described later. It can be obtained more reliably for the developing roll 13 made of a member. The reason for this is that with such a configuration, a sufficiently low linear pressure and a layer regulation length can be lengthened.

Then, this layer forming blade 17 is
As shown in FIG.
The thin sheet-like member 20 is pressed against the surface of the developing roll 13 while being bent so as to have a loop portion 21 bulging to the side. 13 is deformed into a shape along the surface.

In FIG. 4, the broken line indicates the layer forming blade 17.
4 shows the position of the contact area between the layer forming blade 17 and the developing roll 20 in the initial state, that is, when the developing roll 13 is pressed against the stationary state. The solid line indicates the position of the contact area between the layer forming blade 17 and the developing roll 13 after the developing roller 13 is rotated and the layer forming blade 17 is stabilized by receiving a force downstream in the rotation direction of the developing roll 13 due to friction. It is shown.

The layer forming blade 17 is rotated downstream of the developing roller 13 in the rotation direction of the developing roller 13 from the substantially central portion A 'of the contact area A in the initial state. Is configured such that the upstream end in the rotational direction of the contact area B at the position is located. Therefore, in the layer forming blade 17, the thickness and material of the thin sheet member 20, the size of the loop portion 21, the contact position with the developing roll 13, and the like are appropriately set.

With this configuration, the layer forming blade 17 receives a repulsive force against the pressing force from the developing roll 13 and a frictional force due to rotation.
Numeral 7 moves to a position where the two forces are balanced, stops largely moving while deforming, and is pressed against the surface of the developing roll 13 rotating in that state. In particular, in the developing roll 13 using an elastic member, although the repulsive force due to the distortion due to the pressing force is large, the layer forming blade 17 is deformed,
In addition, by moving, the repulsive force can be kept very small, and the deformation of the developing roll 13 is hardly accompanied.

The layer forming blade 17 which undergoes a large deformation due to the pressure contact as in the first embodiment can have a large contact area with the developing roll 13 composed of an elastic roll, and the conventional blade can be formed even with the same urging force. The effect of applying a relatively smaller pressure than that of the toner and leveling the toner layer over a wide contact area can be obtained. Lowering the pressure of the layer regulating blade 17 to a lower pressure can prevent toner deterioration, and increasing the layer regulating length in the rotation direction of the developing roll has the effect of further improving the leveling performance. This produces an effect that a toner layer having a large thickness can be formed.

Further, in the first embodiment, the contact area of the layer forming blade after the rotation of the developing roller 13 is changed from the initial state of the layer forming nip satisfying the above-described relationship to the layer forming nip when the developing roller 13 rotates. It has been confirmed that a remarkable effect can be obtained when is changed.

FIG. 5 is a graph showing the results of a trial production of a developing device using the layer forming blade as shown in FIG.

As is clear from this graph, it can be seen that the variation can be suppressed much smaller than in the method using the conventional metal blade.

Therefore, by using the layer forming blade of the present invention for a developing roll using an elastic member, the layer forming nip condition which can realize streaks and uniform layer formation, which cannot be achieved by a conventional metal blade, is developed. It has become possible to stabilize against fluctuations caused by roll rotation. As a result, unevenness due to uneven layer formation on the developing roll can be improved in the conventional image quality, and uniform high image quality can be obtained.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 40, a method of forming a layer by using a layer forming blade having a hardness higher than that of a developing roll made of metal or the like and pressing the developing roll until the surface thereof is curved is generally used. It was a target.

However, in such a method in which the elastic developing roll is deformed in the nip portion where the toner layer is formed, a strong pressure is applied to a relatively narrow nip area in order to stabilize the repulsive force due to the elastic roll distortion. As a result, the toner layer is formed, so that a streak in the rotational direction is particularly likely to be generated in the toner layer, and a uniform layer is not formed.

FIG. 5 shows the difference between the toner layer formed on the developing roll on a transparent adhesive tape, the reflection density of the toner image measured, and the total average density at each point in the axial direction. It is a thing. In other words, the deviation of the density difference indicates uneven conveyance in the axial direction of the toner layer formed on the developing roll by the layer forming blade. It can be seen that the fluctuation is large when the metal blade is used. When this is developed on the electrostatic latent image carrier, unevenness during the formation of this layer remains in the vertical direction, greatly deteriorating the image quality.

In the first embodiment, the developing roller 13 has an Asker C hardness of 10 ° to 50 ° on its surface.
° are used. The surface of the layer forming blade 17 which is in contact with the developing roll 13 is made of a synthetic resin, and is made of a material that is smaller than the frictional force of the developing roll surface or has better releasability than the elastic roll. As a result, on the layer forming blade 17 side, the toner rolls well and slip occurs, and conversely, on the developing roll 13 side, a force relationship in the direction of adhesion occurs, so that a more uniform toner layer could be formed.

Embodiment 2 FIG. 6 shows Embodiment 2 of the present invention. The same parts as those in Embodiment 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals. As a layer forming blade, the thin sheet-shaped member is bent so as to swell toward the developing roll, and the swelling portion of the thin sheet-shaped member is pressed against the surface of the developing roll, and the thin sheet-shaped member is pressed against the developing roll. The developing roll is configured so that its portion is deformed into a shape along the surface of the developing roll, and the developing roll has a surface roughness Ra of Ra ≦ 0.14 μm.

That is, in the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the state in which the developing roll 13 is not in contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 as an electrostatic latent image carrier is arranged. Have been. As the developing roll 13, for example, a developing roll having a metal cylinder made of aluminum or non-magnetic stainless steel is used.

A layer regulating blade 17 as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 is pressed against the surface of the developing roll 13. The layer forming blade 17 includes a thin sheet-like member 20 made of a synthetic resin having no rubber elasticity such as a PET film, and the thin sheet-like member 20 is held at a central portion (a lower end portion in the figure). It is folded back to form a vertically elongated substantially elliptical loop portion 21 so as to bend by applying pressure or the like as necessary, and the both end portions of the thin sheet member 20 are made of a flat plate made of synthetic resin, metal, or the like. The support member is formed in a hollow shape by being fixed to both surfaces of the support member by means such as bonding or screwing.

Then, this layer forming blade 17 is
As shown in FIG.
The thin sheet member 20 is bent so as to have a loop portion 21 bulging to the side, and the loop portion 21 of the thin sheet member 20 is pressed against the surface of the developing roll 13. The roll 13 is deformed into a shape along the surface thereof.

As shown in FIG. 8, the layer forming blade 17 rotates the developing roller 13 in the rotation direction of the developing roller 13 downstream from the substantially central portion A ′ of the contact area A in the initial state. The rotation direction upstream end of the contact area B in a state where the layer forming blade is stable is configured to be positioned.

Further, in the second embodiment, the developing sleeve having a predetermined surface roughness and an average inclination of the predetermined surface roughness is used.

The surface roughness of the developing roll was measured by Tokyo Seimitsu Co., Ltd.
The measurement was performed using a Surfcom manufactured by the company.

As shown in FIG. 10, when the developing roll 13 is rotated and the measurement stylus 111 is fixed to perform the measurement as shown in FIG. 10, the measurement was not performed accurately due to uneven rotation. As shown in FIG. 11, the measurement was carried out by moving the stylus. In order to reduce the measurement error, the measurement length must be at least 2 mm or more. In this measurement, the measurement distance was sufficiently large (10 mm,
The cut-off value was 0.25 mm, and the stylus tip diameter was 1 μm). In the method shown in FIG. 10B, measurement is performed by moving the stylus in the direction shown in FIG.

In the second embodiment, as means for indicating minute irregularities on the surface of the developing roll, the average inclination (θ
a) and the average peak interval (Sm) are used as a scale, and the average slope (θa) and the average peak interval (Sm) are set in the following ranges, and the cycle of the toner amount on the developing roll is problematic. The present inventors have found conditions for making the characteristics uniform and for forming a uniform toner layer with low stress.

FIG. 12 shows the cycle characteristics of the amount of toner on the developing roll when the toner layer is formed by changing θa.

Here, it was found that the smaller the value of θa, the better the cycle characteristics of the amount of toner on the developing roll.

FIG. 12 shows the relationship between the ratio (Δ _TMAD ) of the toner amount difference between the first cycle and the third cycle ( _{θ TMAD} ) and θa.

From the previous studies, it has been found that the image has no significant effect when _ΔTMAD <5.0. Accordingly, it is understood from FIG. 12 that the average inclination (θa) of the surface roughness of the developing roll is preferably in the range of θa <2.0 degrees.

Next, as shown in FIG.
When the amount of toner on the developing roll when m) was changed, it was found that the toner amount was substantially uniform in the range of Sm> 50 μm or more.

From the above results, by setting the average inclination (θa) of the surface of the developing roll to θa <2.0 degrees and setting the average peak interval (Sm) to Sm> 50 μm or more, a uniform thin layer of toner can be obtained. Can be formed into a developing roll.

The surface of the developing roll whose surface has been roughened by a combination of sandblasting and chemical etching is 2
Small grooves of μm or less are densely formed, and the surface of the developing roll according to the present invention has few small grooves and is entirely flat, and θa has a small value as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15.

When the surface is roughened by blasting or the like, θa becomes a large value as shown in FIG. 14, and it is understood that the value is greatly different from the roughness of the developing roll surface in the present invention.

FIG. 16 shows the cycle characteristics of the second embodiment of the present invention and the prior art. From this result, it can be seen that the cycle characteristics were able to be improved over the conventional technology.

FIG. 17 shows the toner amount change rate (ΔTMAD) and the development roll surface roughness R at the first and fifth cycles.
The relationship of a is shown by the present invention and the prior art.

From the previous studies, ΔTMAD <5.0
It is known that the image quality is not significantly affected when the value is in the range of%. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 17, in the prior art, the average roughness Ra of the surface roughness of the developer carrying member was in the range of <0.02 μm. It has been found that Ra is extended to the range of Ra <0.14 μm.

FIG. 18 shows that the conductive member 30 is laminated on the back surface of the pressure contact portion of the layer forming blade as the developer layer regulating member, and a bias can be applied to the nip between the layer forming member and the developer carrier. It is like that. As a result, a more uniform layer can be formed.

FIG. 19 shows a layer forming blade as a developer layer regulating member in which a pressure contact portion and a support portion are integrated. Thereby, cost can be reduced.

Third Embodiment FIG. 20 shows a third embodiment of the present invention. The same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and described. A part of the loop of the sheet-like member constituting the developer layer regulating member is fixed to a support member supporting the sheet-like member.

That is, in the third embodiment, FIG.
As shown in (1), the developing device 4 includes a developing roll 13, a supply roll 15, a layer forming blade 17, a stirrer 16, and a toner container 12. The non-magnetic one-component toner 11 stored in the toner container 12 is conveyed to the supply roll 15 while being stirred by the stirrer 16, and is supplied to the supply roll 15.
To the developing roll 13. Development roll 13
A portion of the toner 11 transported to the developing roller 13 adheres to the developing roll 13 by electrostatic force or non-electrostatic adhesive force, and reaches the layer forming blade 17. The layer forming blade 17 is in contact with the developing roll 13 to form a thin layer of toner on the developing roll 13 and frictionally charge the toner 11. On the other hand, the surface of the electrostatic latent image carrier 1 is uniformly charged to a negative polarity by a uniform charger (not shown). Next, exposure corresponding to the image is performed by a laser exposure device (not shown), and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the electrostatic latent image carrier 1. The toner on the developing roller 13 that has been formed into a thin layer and frictionally charged is conveyed to the developing area 14 and forms a toner image on the electrostatic latent image carrier 1 on which the electrostatic latent image has been formed. Also,
The supply roll 15 supplies the toner to the developing roll 13 and also has a role of scraping off the toner on the developing roll 13 after the development.

Next, a configuration example of the layer forming blade according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 20 is a configuration diagram showing a developing device using the layer forming blade according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

Since the conventional layer forming blade has a high linear pressure and a small layer forming nip amount, if the developing process described above is continued for a long period of time, the toner adheres to the blade to cause image formation such as white streaks. There is a problem that a defect occurs.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 21, a member (hereinafter, referred to as a film) made of a resin having no rubber elasticity, such as plastic, is used as a contact member with the developing roll 13 and both ends of the developing roll 13 The both sides of a support member constituted by a thin elastic member made of stainless steel or the like which is pressed against the substrate are fixed so as to obtain a loop (hollow).

However, in the layer forming blade 17 configured as described above, since the non-fixed length of the film 20 is long, the amount of deformation of the film due to the rotation of the developing roll 13 is large. Friction noise may be generated between the blade 17. Further, when the layer forming nip portion vibrates at the same time, there is a possibility that the toner conveyance amount on the developing roll 13 may be uneven.

Then, as shown in FIG. 22, the end 22a of the support member 22 which is not fixed to the developing device 4 is further
The film 20 is fixed to a surface (back surface) of the central portion 20a of the loop portion 21 which does not come into contact with the developing roll 13 by means such as adhesion. The film 20 includes a developing roll 13.
A member whose surface on the side in contact with a member is made of resin may be used.

Further, as another configuration example, one end of the film is fixed to the end of the support member which is not fixed to the developing device,
The cross section may be configured to obtain a substantially semicircular hollow.

At this time, as shown in FIGS. 23A and 23B, when a layer forming blade is formed, the film 2 fixed to the end of the support member 22 which is not fixed to the developing device 4 is used.
Since it is difficult to set the angle of 0 to be constant, the loop shape cannot be defined, and when these are pressed against the developing roll, the linear pressure or the nip amount may vary.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 23 (c), the tip 22a of the support member 22, which is not fixed to the developing device 4, is formed in an L-shape, and one end of the film 20 is fixed to that portion. Further, the thickness of the support member 22 is set to be at least twice the thickness of the film, and is configured as shown in FIG. Therefore, when the film is formed in a semicircular shape as shown in these figures, the shape of the loop can be easily defined.

Further, when forming the layer forming blade as described above, the support member needs to have higher hardness than the film.

When these layer forming blades are pressed against the developing roll, as shown in FIG. 20, the film is deformed along the periphery of the developing roll (the film is deformed so that the contact portion becomes concave). Expanding the layer forming nip amount,
Further, the pressure applied to the developing roll can be set low. Further, by fixing the end of the support member not fixed to the developing device to the film, it was possible to confirm the effect of reducing the friction noise between the developing roll and the layer forming blade.

Further, when an image is formed using these layer forming blades, the developing roll has a surface roughness Ra of 0.06.
When using a member of μm or less, after consuming the toner in the developing area, rotate the developing roll without consuming the toner,
There is an effect that there is no difference in the toner conveyance amount between the first and several rotations.

Also, a bias can be applied to the support member of the layer forming blade. This has the effect of uniformly forming the toner layer. At this time, an insulating member may be used for the film of the layer forming blade, and a conductive member may be used for the surface that does not contact the developing roll.

Further, separate charging means (such as corotron)
May be installed downstream of the contact portion between the developing roll and the layer forming blade, the layer forming blade according to the present invention for forming the toner layer, and the charging means for charging the toner separately from the charging means to form a developing device.

Fourth Embodiment FIG. 24 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and described. , The operation of the developing device,
The configuration is such that the value of (operation time) / (stop time) during any given time is equal to or less than a predetermined value.

That is, as described above, when a sheet-shaped member formed in a loop shape is used as the developer layer regulating member, the contact width between the developer layer regulating member and the developer carrying member is limited. Therefore, frictional heat is generated from a contact portion between the developer layer regulating member and the developer carrier, and there is a possibility that the developer may be fixed.

Therefore, in the developing device according to the fourth embodiment and the image forming apparatus using the same, the operation of the developing device is determined by changing the value of (operating time) / (stop time) during any given time. By being set to a predetermined value or less, it is possible to prevent the developer from being fixed by the frictional heat generated from the contact portion between the developer layer regulating member and the developer carrier.

FIGS. 24 and 25 show a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
1 shows a one-component developing device according to the present invention.

This one-component developing device 4 uses a non-magnetic one-component developer similarly to the above-described embodiment.
Developer carrier 13 opposed to electrostatic latent image carrier 1
And a developer regulating member 17 disposed so as to be in pressure contact with the developer carrier 13.
1 is arranged in a housing 10 for housing the same. The developer carrier 13 includes a metal shaft and a semiconductive elastic member having elasticity, and is pressed against the electrostatic latent image carrier 1. The developer supply member 15 has a structure capable of continuously supplying the developer 11 to the surface of the developer carrier 13 after passing through the development area. The developer layer forming member 17 is formed in a hollow shape so as to cover the support member 22 with a PET film 20 on which aluminum 30 is deposited on the back surface. The support member 22 is fixed to a frame of the developing device 4. With this configuration, the film 20 is pressed against the developer carrier 13, and the developer is placed on the developer carrier 13 in a state where the nip portion is deformed downstream by the frictional force generated by the rotation of the developer carrier 13. The layer is formed and the developer is charged.

Example 1 In the nip portion, the film 20 generates heat due to friction with the toner, and when the developing device 4 is operated continuously, as shown in FIG. 26, after 12 minutes, the temperature exceeds 50 ° C., and finally, 6
The temperature rises to 0 ° C. To avoid this temperature rise,
The curve shown in FIG. 27 shows the temperature change when the developing device 4 is controlled to stop for eight minutes within an arbitrary time of 16 minutes. This allowed the upper limit to be 50 ° C. even if the temperature increased. Printing is performed in this state and 2
Images free of image quality defects were obtained up to 0000 sheets. On the other hand, when the developing device 4 is continuously operated and the nip back surface temperature becomes high, the toner in the nip portion is deformed and fixed to the film 20, and the toner layer forming stripes parallel to the traveling direction on the developer carrier roll 13. Occurs. If development is performed in this state, the amount of toner supply to the electrostatic latent image carrier 1 in the streak portion becomes insufficient, and a white streak image defect that is particularly conspicuous in a halftone image appears.

In a conventional metal blade or a developer layer forming member in which an elastic member is disposed at the tip of the metal blade, the heat generated in the nip portion is radiated through the metal to be transferred to the developer layer forming member. However, the layer forming member 17 of the present embodiment has a hollow structure 23 for ensuring long-term layer stability of the developer. Since the hollow portion 23 is filled with air having a lower thermal conductivity than metal, the heat radiation performance is lower than that of the conventional developer layer forming member, and the control of stopping the operation of the developing device as in this embodiment is performed. Is effective. In the embodiment, the value of the operation time / stop time of the developing device 4 is set to 1, but this value is not uniformly determined for the various developing devices 4, but the material of the developer, the developer carrying Material and surface roughness of body surface, peripheral speed of developer carrier, material and surface roughness of layer regulating member, pressure force of layer regulating member, ambient temperature around developing device, ease of heat dissipation around developing device And the presence and absence of the cooling means for the layer regulating member.

The value of the operation time / stop time of the developing device 4 is assumed assuming that the temperature of the nip portion of the layer regulating member rises most as an external condition other than the developing device. It was decided not to go above. The image forming apparatus is controlled based on this value so that the developing device 4 is operated and stopped. When the developing device 4 is stopped, the printing operation cannot be performed during that time, which is inconvenient for the user of the image forming apparatus.

However, continuous operation of the developing device 4 as shown in FIG. 20 is not generally required, and during normal use, print information sent from a personal computer or the like is processed inside the image forming apparatus. Since there is time, printing cannot be performed during that time, that is, the developing device 4 is in a stopped state. It is presumed that the situation in which it must be stopped does not occur so often.

Example 2 As shown in FIG. 24, a temperature sensor 40 was attached to the back surface of the developer layer regulating member, and as shown in FIG. 28, when the temperature reached 50 ° C. or more, the operation of the developing device was stopped. Then, by restarting the operation, the temperature of the nip can be kept at a certain level or less. The temperature sensor 40 is not limited to the back surface of the developer layer regulating member, and may be attached to the support member 22. The upper limit of 50 ° C. and the lower limit of 35 ° C. relate to the developer used in the embodiment, and it is needless to say that the set values need to be changed depending on the material of the developer.

Embodiment 3 As shown in FIG. 29, in order to prevent the temperature of the developer layer forming nip from rising, when the temperature of the back surface of the layer regulating member 17 becomes 50 ° C. or higher, the operation of the developing device 4 is stopped. Then, air is forcibly flown through the hollow portion 23 of the layer regulating member 17 to cool it (not shown). When the temperature falls below 35 ° C., the cooling is stopped and the operation of the developing device 4 is restarted. The reason why the developing device 4 and the cooling device are not operated at the same time is to reduce the power consumption of the printer at an arbitrary time. When the developing device 4 is stopped, the cooling device is not always activated, and the cooling device is stopped at 35 ° C. or lower. Upper limit 50
C. and the lower limit of 35.degree. C. relate to the developer used in the embodiment, and it is needless to say that the set values need to be changed depending on the material of the developer.

Fifth Embodiment FIG. 30 shows a fifth embodiment of the present invention. The same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and described. And a cooling means for cooling the developer layer regulating member of the developing device.

That is, similarly to Embodiment 4 described above, when a sheet-shaped member formed in a loop shape is used as the developer layer regulating member, the developer layer regulating member and the developer carrying member are used. The contact width between the developer layer regulating member and the developer bearing member is increased due to a large contact width between the developer carrier and the developer carrier, and there is a possibility that the developer is fixed.

Therefore, in the developing device according to the fifth embodiment, a cooling means for cooling the developer layer regulating member is provided. This cooling means may be provided inside the developer layer regulating member or may be provided outside.

FIG. 30 is a sectional view showing the structure of a one-component developing device using a hollow loop-shaped member as a developer layer regulating member.

The developing device 4 includes a non-elastic developing roll 13 having conductivity, and forms a uniform thin layer of the developer 11 on the surface of the developing roll 13. The uniformly formed developer layer develops an electrostatic latent image on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 1 arranged at a predetermined interval in the developing area 14 to form a toner image. In addition, as the developing roll 13, an elastic body having conductivity may be used. Further, the developing roll 13 and the photosensitive drum 1 may be in contact with each other.

The one-component developing device 4 does not require a carrier, a magnet roll, and a toner density control device.
It has the feature that it can be reduced in size and cost. The developer layer regulating member 17 has a hollow loop portion 21 formed by using a resin member whose surface does not have rubber elasticity at the distal end of the support member 22. The portion 21 is pressed against to form a thin layer of developer.

By pressing the hollow loop portion 21 into contact, the contact width with the developing roll 13 is increased as compared with a metal blade and a blade provided with a rubber-elastic chip at the developing roll pressing portion of the metal blade. This makes it possible to form a more uniform developer thin layer.

However, since the contact width between the developing roll 13 and the developing roll 13 is increased, frictional heat is generated from the contact portion between the developing roll 13 and the hollow loop portion 21, causing the developer to adhere, and maintaining a uniform developer layer for a long period of time. May be difficult.

Embodiment 1 FIG. 31 is a detailed view showing the configuration of a layer regulating blade 17 formed in a hollow loop shape in Embodiment 1.

In the first embodiment, a material having a higher thermal conductivity than the resin member forming the hollow curl, for example, a metal such as aluminum is provided on the back surface of the resin member having no rubber elasticity forming the hollow loop portion 21. The heat conductive layer 30 is formed by vapor deposition. Further, the heat conductive layer 30 is brought into contact with a metal supporting member 22 that supports the hollow loop portion 21.

By doing so, the frictional heat generated from the contact portion between the developing roll 13 and the hollow loop portion 21 is conducted to the supporting member 22 via the heat conductive thin layer 30, so that the heat radiating area is enlarged and the developing area is increased. It is possible to suppress the temperature rise at the contact portion between the roll 13 and the hollow loop portion 21,
The fixation of the developer 11 can be prevented, and a good developer layer can be formed over a long period of time.

FIG. 32 shows that the developing roll 13 is set at 300 mm / s.
FIG. 9 is a graph showing the measured temperatures of the contact portion between the developing roll 13 and the hollow loop portion 21 when the first embodiment is performed when the rotation is performed at ec and when the first embodiment is not performed.

When the operation for confirming the maintainability was carried out, the layer regulating blade 17 having the hollow loop portion 21 in which Example 1 was not carried out produced streaks in the developer thin layer at about 0.9K (900 sheets) printing. However, the hollow loop part 2 of the first embodiment
In the case of the layer regulating blade 17 having a value of 0, approximately 10K (10,
000 sheets), a good layer formation could be maintained.

Embodiment 2 FIG. 33 is a detailed view showing the structure of a layer regulating blade having a hollow loop portion according to Embodiment 2.

In the second embodiment, the same material as the material forming the hollow loop portion 21 or the material forming the hollow loop portion 21 is formed on the back surface of the resin member 20 having no rubber elasticity forming the hollow loop portion 21. The plurality of protrusions 40 are formed using a material having a higher thermal conductivity than that of the protrusions 40.

The shape of the projection 40 may be unevenly distributed on the back surface of the hollow loop 21 or may be continuously formed in the longitudinal axis direction of the hollow loop 21. The height, shape, and quantity are determined by the required lowering temperature with respect to the temperature increase due to the frictional heat generated from the contact portion between the developing roll 13 and the hollow loop portion 21.

As a result, the heat radiating area on the back surface of the hollow loop portion 21 is increased, and the developing roll 13 and the hollow loop portion 21 are removed.
Can suppress the temperature rise of the contact portion, and can prevent the developer 11 from sticking, and can form a good developer layer over a long period of time.

[0119] When the operation for confirming the maintainability was performed using the layer regulating blade 17 having the hollow loop portion 21 of Example 2, it was confirmed that the maintainability was equivalent to that of Example 1.

FIG. 34 shows an example of a method of forming the projection 30 according to the second embodiment.

The protrusions 40 are formed on the surface of the resinous member 20 such as PET which forms the hollow loop portion 21 by forming beads 4 having a small particle diameter.
1 is sprayed, and a material 42 equivalent to the material forming the hollow loop portion 21 or a material 42 having a higher thermal conductivity than the material forming the hollow loop portion 21 is applied or vapor-deposited on the upper surface.

The method of manufacturing the protruding portion 40 is not limited to this method, and a chemical milling process or the like is performed by dissolving the resin member 20 with a chemical into the resin member 20 forming the hollow loop portion 21 and pouring it into a mold. Accordingly, it is also possible to directly form the protrusion 40.

Third Embodiment FIG. 35 is a detailed view of a layer regulating blade having a hollow loop portion according to a third embodiment.

In order to maintain the shape of the hollow loop portion 21,
The lower end of the hollow loop portion 21 is fixed to a support member 22, and the inside of the hollow loop portion 21 is separated into two hollow portions A and B with the support member 22 interposed therebetween.

As a result, the frictional heat generated from the contact portion between the developing roll 13 and the hollow loop portion 21
1 stays only in the hollow portion 23A side inside,
The temperature of the hollow loop part 21 rises.

FIG. 36 is a detailed view showing the structure of the developer layer regulating member of the third embodiment.

In the third embodiment, a plurality of through holes 45 are provided in the inside of the support member 22 for supporting the hollow loop portion 21 where the loop portion 21 is formed.

The insides A and B of the hollow loop portion 21 are
5, the space 23 inside the hollow loop 21 is enlarged, the heat storage volume is increased, and the temperature rise time can be extended. Further, the hollow loop portion 21
The convection of the internal air makes it possible to suppress a rise in the temperature of the contact portion between the developing roll 13 and the hollow loop portion 21, thereby preventing the sticking of the developer 11 and forming a good developer layer over a long period of time. Can be.

When a maintenance check operation was performed using the layer regulating blade 17 having the hollow loop portion 21 in Example 3, it was confirmed that the same maintainability as in Example 1 was obtained.

Example 4 FIG. 37 is a detailed view showing the structure of a developer layer regulating member of Example 4. In the fourth embodiment, a plurality of through holes 46 are provided in the upper part of the hollow loop portion 21 on the side that comes into contact with the developing roll 13.

By forming a through hole 46 above the hollow loop portion 21, the frictional heat generated at the contact portion between the hollow loop portion 21 and the developing roll 13 rises by convection, and
6, the air that is released to the outside of the hollow loop portion 21 and the air inside the hollow loop portion 21 convects,
From the opening 47 at the end of the hollow loop portion 21 to the hollow loop portion 2
When low-temperature air flows in from the inside, it is possible to suppress a rise in the temperature of the contact portion between the developing roll 13 and the hollow loop portion 21, prevent the developer 11 from sticking, and provide a good long-term developer. Layers can be formed. Example 4
When the maintenance checking operation was performed using the layer regulating blade 17 having the hollow loop portion, it was confirmed that the maintenance was equivalent to that of Example 1.

Fifth Embodiment FIG. 38 is a detailed view showing the configuration of a layer regulating blade having a hollow loop portion according to a fifth embodiment. In the fifth embodiment, the cooling air is forcibly blown into the hollow loop portion 21 from one end portion 48 of the hollow loop portion 21 by using the forced air blowing device 50,
The air is exhausted from the end opposite to the air blowing side.

The connecting portion 51 of the hollow loop portion 21 and the pipe for blowing the cooling air is a flexible tube, and has a structure that does not affect the deformation of the hollow loop portion 21 due to the pressure contact with the developing roll 13. I have. This makes it possible to suppress a rise in the temperature of the contact portion between the developing roll 13 and the hollow loop portion 21, prevent the developer 11 from sticking, and form a good developer layer over a long period of time.

FIG. 39 shows that the developing roll 13 is set at 300 mm / s.
FIG. 14 is a graph showing the measured temperatures of the contact portions between the developing roll 13 and the hollow loop portion 21 in the case where Example 5 is performed and in the case where Example 5 is not performed, when rotated at ec. As is clear from this graph, in the case where the fifth embodiment is performed, the temperature of the contact portion of the hollow loop portion 21 can be suppressed to about 32 ° C.,
It can be seen that fixation of the developer 11 can be prevented and a good developer layer can be formed over a long period of time.

When the operation for confirming the maintainability was carried out, streaks were generated in the thin developer layer at about 0.9 K in the hollow curl of Example 5 which had no countermeasures.
Good layer formation could be maintained up to K.

Further, in Example 5, a structure in which a heat conductive layer was formed on the back surface of the hollow curl described in Example 1 using a material having a high thermal conductivity, and in Example 2, a protrusion was provided on the back surface of the hollow curl. It is also possible to use a hollow curl or a support member having a plurality of through holes in an inner portion of the support member for supporting the hollow curl described in the third embodiment where the hollow curl is formed.

[0137]

As described above, according to the present invention,
By increasing the nip width and forming a uniform and thin toner layer on the developer carrier, the cycle characteristics of the toner weight per unit area on the developer carrier and the uniformity of layer formation are further improved. It is possible to provide a developer layer regulating member capable of stably obtaining a high-quality image over a long period of time, a developing device using the same, and an image forming apparatus using the same.

[Brief description of the drawings]

 Fit to the drawing.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram illustrating a developing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus to which the developing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention is applied;

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing a developer layer regulating member according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing a usage state of the developer layer regulating member according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a graph showing uneven toner layer formation. FIG.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram illustrating a developing device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram illustrating a developing device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram showing a developer layer regulating member according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram showing a developer layer regulating member according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a method for measuring the surface roughness of a developing roll.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a method for measuring the surface roughness of the developing roll.

FIG. 12 is a graph showing a cycle characteristic of a toner amount on a developer carrying member.

FIG. 13 is a graph showing a relationship between θ and a toner amount change rate.

FIG. 14 is a graph showing the amount of toner on a developer carrying member.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing θ of the developer carrier.

FIG. 16 is a graph showing a cycle characteristic of a toner amount on a developer carrying member.

FIG. 17 is a graph showing the relationship between the surface roughness and the rate of change in toner amount.

FIG. 18 is a configuration diagram showing a developer layer regulating member according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a configuration diagram showing a developer layer regulating member according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a configuration diagram showing a developing device according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a configuration diagram showing a developer layer regulating member according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a configuration diagram showing a developer layer regulating member according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 23 is a configuration diagram showing a developer layer regulating member according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 24 is a configuration diagram showing a developing device according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention.

FIG. 25 is a configuration diagram showing a developer layer regulating member according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention.

FIG. 26 is a graph showing experimental results.

FIG. 27 is a graph showing experimental results.

FIG. 28 is a graph showing experimental results.

FIG. 29 is a graph showing experimental results.

FIG. 30 is a configuration diagram showing a developing device according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention.

FIG. 31 is a configuration diagram showing a developer layer regulating member according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention.

FIG. 32 is a graph showing experimental results.

FIG. 33 is a configuration diagram showing a developer layer regulating member according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention.

FIG. 34 is a configuration diagram showing a developer layer regulating member according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention.

FIG. 35 is a configuration diagram showing a developing device according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention.

FIG. 36 is a configuration diagram showing a developer layer regulating member according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention.

FIG. 37 is a configuration diagram showing a developer layer regulating member according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention.

FIG. 38 is a configuration diagram showing a developer layer regulating member according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention.

FIG. 39 is a graph showing experimental results.

FIG. 40 is a configuration diagram showing a conventional developer layer regulating member.

[Description of sign]

4: developing device, 13: developing roll, 17: developer layer regulating member, 20: sheet member, 22: supporting member.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Makoto Hirota 2274 Hongo, Ebina-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Inside Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Shigeto Ando 2274 Hongo, Ebina-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Inside Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. (72 Inventor Miho Ikeda 2274 Hongo, Ebina City, Kanagawa Prefecture Inside Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hideaki Ozawa 2274 Hongo Ebina City, Kanagawa Prefecture Inside Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Motoki Noya Hongo, Ebina City, Kanagawa Prefecture 2274 F-term in Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. (reference) 2H077 AC03 AC04 AD06 AD13 AD23 AD32 AE03 DA24 EA15 EA16 FA01

Claims (9)

[Claims] An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said developer carrier is pressed against a surface of said developer carrier which is rotationally driven while said developer is carried thereon, and a thin layer of developer is formed on said surface of said developer carrier, and said developer is charged. In the developer regulating member, the developer regulating member is bent so that the thin sheet-like member swells at least toward the developer carrier, and the swelling portion of the thin sheet-like member faces the developer carrier. Wherein the pressure-contact portion of the thin sheet-shaped member is deformed into a shape along the surface of the developer carrying member. 2. The developer layer regulating member according to claim 1, wherein said developer layer regulating member is located closer to the developer carrier than the central portion of a region where said developer layer regulating member and said developer carrier are in contact with each other when said developer carrier is stopped. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an upstream end in the rotation direction of the developing carrier in a contact area between the developer layer regulating member and the developer carrier when the developer carrier is rotated is positioned downstream in the rotation direction. Item 2. The developer regulating member according to Item 1. 3. A developer is pressed against a surface of a developer carrier that is driven to rotate while carrying the developer, and a thin layer of the developer is formed on the surface of the developer carrier, and the developer is charged. In the developer regulating member, the developer regulating member is bent so that the thin sheet-like member swells at least toward the developer carrier, and the swelling portion of the thin sheet-like member faces the developer carrier. The thin sheet-shaped member is configured to be deformed into a shape along the surface of the developer carrying member, and to maintain at least a part of the swelled portion of the sheet-shaped member. A developer layer regulating member provided with a member. 4. The developer layer regulating member according to claim 1, further comprising cooling means for cooling a bulging portion of said developer regulating member. 5. A developer layer regulating member is pressed against the surface of a developer carrier that is rotated while holding the developer to form a thin layer of developer on the surface of the developer carrier. In the developing device that performs development by charging the developer, the developer regulating member is bent so that the thin sheet-like member swells at least toward the developer carrier, and the expansion of the thin sheet-like member is performed. The developing device is characterized in that the protruding portion is pressed against the surface of the developer carrier, and the pressed portion of the thin sheet member is deformed into a shape along the surface of the developer carrier. 6. A member having a surface roughness (Ra) of Ra ≦ 0.14 μm as the developer carrying member, and the developer carrying member and the developer layer regulating member when the developer carrying member is rotating. The end portion of the nip region on the upstream side in the rotation direction is located at the center of the nip region between the developer carrier and the developer layer regulating member when the developer carrier is stopped or at the downstream thereof. The developing device according to claim 5. 7. A developer layer regulating member is pressed against the surface of a developer carrier that is rotated while holding the developer, and a thin layer of developer is formed on the surface of the developer carrier. In the developing device that performs development by charging the developer, the developer regulating member is bent so that the thin sheet-like member swells at least toward the developer carrier, and the expansion of the thin sheet-like member is performed. The projecting portion is pressed against the surface of the developer carrying member, and the pressed portion of the thin sheet member is configured to be deformed into a shape along the surface of the developer carrying member. Wherein the value of (operating time) / (stop time) during a predetermined time period is controlled to be equal to or less than a predetermined value. 8. A developer layer regulating member is pressed against the surface of a developer carrier that is rotated while holding the developer, and a thin layer of developer is formed on the surface of the developer carrier. In an image forming apparatus provided with a developing device that performs development by charging the developer, the developer regulating member is bent so that a thin sheet-like member swells at least to the developer carrier side. The bulging portion of the thin sheet member is pressed against the surface of the developer carrier, and the pressed portion of the thin sheet member is deformed into a shape along the surface of the developer carrier. An image forming apparatus, wherein the operation of the apparatus is controlled such that the value of (operating time) / (stop time) during an arbitrary fixed time is equal to or less than a predetermined value. 9. A developer layer regulating member is pressed against the surface of a developer carrier that is rotated while holding the developer, and a thin layer of developer is formed on the surface of the developer carrier. In an image forming apparatus provided with a developing device that performs development by charging the developer, the developer regulating member is bent so that a thin sheet-like member swells at least to the developer carrier side. The bulging portion of the thin sheet member is pressed against the surface of the developer carrier, and the pressed portion of the thin sheet member is deformed into a shape along the surface of the developer carrier. Image forming apparatus.