JP2003076141A - Image forming device, elastic blade for the same, and developing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an elastic blade for an image forming device, which ensures predetermined pressure even in long use and always provides uniform pressure, and to provide a developing device and image forming device having the elastic blade. SOLUTION: The elastic blade 24a for the image forming device contacts a rotational body 6 in the image forming device and slides over the rotational body 6 as the rotational body 6 rotates. The elastic blade 24 has a first elastic body 24a and a second elastic body 24b superposed one upon the other without using an adhesive agent. Powder 25 is held between the first and second elastic bodies 24a and 24b.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an elastic blade used in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer using an electrophotographic system or an electrostatic recording system, a developing device having the elastic blade, and an image forming apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine using an electrophotographic system charges an electrophotographic photosensitive member (photosensitive member) as an image bearing member and exposes it with an electrostatic latent image. An image is formed, and the electrostatic latent image is developed by a developing device using a developer to form an image.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic structure of an example of an image forming apparatus using a conventional electrophotographic method. In such an image forming apparatus, the drum type electrophotographic photosensitive member as an image bearing member, that is, the surface of the photosensitive drum 101 is provided with the charging unit 10.
2 is uniformly charged. Charged photoconductor drum 1
The exposure device 103, which is an optical means, exposes 01 with, for example, a laser beam L or the like in accordance with image information to form an electrostatic latent image. The electrostatic latent image is visualized as a so-called toner image by the developing device 108 using the developer T.

The developing device 108 is rotatably supported by the developing container 110 at a predetermined distance from the developing container (developing device main body) 110 containing the developer T and the photosensitive drum 101, and the developing agent T is provided on the outer peripheral surface thereof. A developing sleeve 106 as a developer carrying member that rotates while adsorbing the toner is provided.

When the image forming operation is started and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 101 by the laser beam L emitted from the exposure device 103, the developing sleeve 1
06 adsorbs the developer T on its outer peripheral surface and rotates. Then, when the developer T carried on the developing sleeve 106 faces the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 101,
A developing bias voltage is applied to the developing sleeve 106, and the developer T on the developing sleeve 106 flies to the photosensitive drum 101 side to visualize the electrostatic latent image as a toner image.

The toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 101 is transferred onto the recording material P by the action of the transfer means 104, and then fixed. Also, after the toner image is transferred, the photosensitive drum 1
The developer remaining on 01 is removed by the cleaning unit 105, and the photosensitive drum 101 is repeatedly used for image formation.

Here, conventionally, in the developing device 108, a developer regulating means 116 for regulating the amount of the developer on the developing sleeve 106 is provided. Developer regulating means 11
In general, 6 is a rubber member as a developer regulating member,
Elastic blade 124 made of an elastic body such as a metal member
Is used in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the developing sleeve 106, which is a rotating body.

The elastic blade 124 is in contact with the developing sleeve 106 under pressure by the action of the elastic force generated when the elastic blade 124 itself is displaced by a predetermined amount, and at the same time, the developing sleeve 106 is pressed.
The developing sleeve 106 is rubbed with the rotation of. As a result, the elastic blade 124 uniformly regulates the layer thickness of the developer T adsorbed and held on the outer peripheral surface of the developing sleeve 106 by the action of magnetic force or the like to form a thin layer, and rubs the developer T. It has a function of triboelectrifying this. The developer T formed in a thin layer on the developing sleeve 106 by the elastic blade 124 is moved to the photosensitive drum 1 side as the developing sleeve 106 rotates.

As shown in FIG. 3, the developer regulating means 116.
Is the support plate 1 made of metal with one end side of the elastic blade 124
Plastic developer container 1 with 07 and screw 105
It is configured to be fixed to the supporting portion 109 of 10. Then, the elastic blade 124 is, on the other end side (free end side),
The developing sleeve 106 is brought into contact with the developing sleeve 106 in surface contact.

The developing device using the elastic blade 124 as described above includes the developing sleeve 106 and the elastic blade 124.
To forcibly rub developer T between
It is possible to always provide a stable and high amount of charged electric charges (tribo), and it is possible to obtain a high-quality image with high density.

However, such an elastic blade 124, in particular, the elastic blade 124 using a rubber member is permanently deformed when used for a certain period of time. Therefore, the pressure applied to the developing sleeve 106 side of the elastic blade 124 changes, and the layer thickness of the developer T on the developing sleeve 106 becomes non-uniform, so-called fog occurs in the image, and the sharpness of the image. May decrease, or the toner may be insufficiently charged, resulting in a decrease in image density and unevenness or fog in the image.
Therefore, after the elastic blade 124 is used for a predetermined time,
You need to replace it with a new one.

On the other hand, in recent years, it has been possible to suppress the change in the pressure applied to the developing sleeve 106 by the elastic blade 124 with the use time,
In order to achieve a long life of the elastic blade 124, a two-layer elastic blade in which a rubber member and a metal member are bonded together by adhesion has been proposed.

Further, since the rubber member as an elastic member constituting the elastic blade 124 is constantly pressed against the developing sleeve 106 by a predetermined pressure, the rubber member itself sags (elastic deterioration occurs due to long-term use). ). Therefore, a predetermined pressure for obtaining a normal density cannot be obtained, and the charge amount (tribo) of the developer T on the developing sleeve 106 may be reduced to deteriorate the developability. In order to prevent the rubber member itself from sagging, an elastic blade having a two-layer structure in which a rubber member and a metal member are bonded together by adhesion has been proposed.

[0014]

However, when the elastic blade is replaced with a new one after using the elastic blade for a predetermined time as described above, the durability time of the elastic blade is actually relatively short, and each time the elastic blade is replaced with a new one. Must be replaced with a new one. Therefore, there is a problem that the operating cost of the image forming apparatus is increased.

On the other hand, although the elastic blade having the above-mentioned two-layer structure can prolong the life of the elastic blade, when considering the reuse of the elastic blade from the viewpoint of resource reuse, the conventional type 2 Since the rubber member and the metal member are bonded to each other in the elastic blade having a layered structure, it is difficult to reuse due to its structure. In addition, the rubber member and the metal member,
It is technically very difficult to bond without causing waviness on the surface of the rubber member.If the material of the rubber member is limited or the bonding surface is not smooth, the contacting part with the developing sleeve will be uneven. Therefore, uniform pressure cannot be obtained in the longitudinal direction of the elastic blade. Therefore, the cost of the elastic blade may be increased.

Above, in particular, the problems regarding the elastic blade used as the developer regulating member have been mentioned. However, the same problem occurs with respect to all the elastic blades in contact with the rotating body in the image forming apparatus, that is, the operating time. Change in applied pressure due to
There is a problem that a uniform pressure cannot be obtained at the contact portion of the elastic blade.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an elastic blade for an image forming apparatus which can obtain a predetermined pressure even when it is used for a long time and can always obtain a uniform pressure, a developing device and an image forming apparatus equipped with the elastic blade. Is to provide.

Another object of the present invention is that the image is fogged with a long time use, the image sharpness is lowered, or the image density is lowered or the image is uneven due to insufficient charge of the developer. An elastic blade capable of obtaining a stable high-density image without causing fog, a developing device including the elastic blade, and an image forming apparatus.

Still another object of the present invention is to achieve the above object, to reduce the cost, and to reuse the elastic blade for an image forming apparatus, a developing device and an image forming apparatus including the elastic blade. Is to provide.

[0020]

The above object can be achieved by an elastic blade for an image forming apparatus, a developing device and an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. In summary, the first aspect of the present invention is an elastic blade for an image forming apparatus, which is in contact with a rotating body in an image forming apparatus and rubs the rotating body with the rotation of the rotating body. An elastic blade for an image forming apparatus, comprising first and second elastic bodies that are stacked as possible, and powder is interposed between the first and second elastic bodies.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, a developer carrying member carrying a developer is brought into contact with the developer carrying member, and is carried on the developer carrying member as the developer carrying member rotates. And a developer regulating member that regulates the amount of the developer to be retained, wherein the developer regulating member includes first and second elastic bodies slidably stacked on each other. 1st and 2nd
There is provided a developing device characterized in that powder is interposed between the elastic bodies.

Further, according to the third and fourth aspects of the present invention, there are provided an image forming apparatus including the elastic blade of the present invention and an image forming apparatus including the developing device of the present invention.

According to each of the embodiments of the present invention described above, the first elastic body is made of a rubber material, and the second elastic body is made of a metal material. Urethane rubber can be preferably used as the rubber material, and stainless steel can be preferably used as the metal material.

Further, according to each of the other embodiments of the present invention, the powder has a weight average particle size of 1 μm or more and 2 or more.
Those having a particle size of 5 μm or less can be suitably used, and according to one embodiment, the powder is a silicone resin or a toner.

[0025]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, an elastic blade for an image forming apparatus, a developing device and an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.

Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 shows a schematic structure of a main part of an image forming apparatus A of this embodiment. In this embodiment, the image forming apparatus A is a copying machine or a printer using an electrophotographic method.

The image forming apparatus A has, as an image carrier, a photosensitive drum 1 having a photoconductive layer deposited on a drum-shaped conductive substrate. Around the photosensitive drum 1, a charging roller 2 that is a charging unit that charges the photosensitive drum 1 to a predetermined polarity, an exposure device 3 that is an optical unit for forming an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 1, and a photosensitive member. A developing device 8 for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the body drum 1 as a visible image (toner image), and a transfer roller as a transfer unit for transferring the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 1 to the recording material P. 4. A cleaning blade 5 as a cleaning unit for removing the residual toner on the photosensitive drum 1 is provided.

Further, the image forming apparatus A has a fixing means 23 for fixing the transferred toner image on the recording material P, a recording material cassette 17 for accommodating the recording material P, and a feeding roller as a conveying means for the recording material P. 18, a transport unit 19, a registration roller 21, and a transport unit 24. As a result, a desired image is formed on the recording material P by various processes such as primary charging, exposure, development, transfer, fixing and cleaning.

In the present embodiment, the case where the image forming apparatus A forms a single color image will be described as an example, but as is well known to those skilled in the art, for example, the above-mentioned photosensitive drum 1, charging roller 2 and exposure. There is an image forming apparatus that has a plurality of image forming units including an apparatus 3, a developing device 8, and a transfer roller 4, and sequentially transfers toner images from each image forming unit onto a recording material P to obtain, for example, a full-color image. Alternatively, a plurality of developing devices 8 sequentially form toner images of a plurality of colors on a single photosensitive drum 1, and the toner images are sequentially formed on a recording material P supported by a recording material carrier (for example, a dielectric sheet or a belt). There is an image forming apparatus that obtains a full-color image, for example, by transferring them in a superimposed manner, or transferring them in sequence on an intermediate transfer body (for example, a dielectric sheet or a belt) and then transferring them collectively onto a recording material P. The present invention is naturally applicable to an image forming apparatus capable of forming such a color image.

Further, according to the present invention, the developing device 8 is unitized so that it can be attached to and detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus, or an electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a charging means that acts on the electrophotographic photosensitive member. The present invention is also applicable to an image forming apparatus in which at least one of process means such as a developing means and a cleaning means is integrally formed as a process cartridge into a cartridge, which is detachable from the image forming apparatus main body.

The developing device 8 is arranged so as to face the photoconductor drum 1 and has a developer container (developing device main body) 10 having a developer accommodating portion for accommodating the developer T, and the developer T in the developing container 10 is developed. It is provided with a developer carrier 6 which rotates in the direction of the arrow shown in the drawing, which carries and conveys from the container 10 to the developing area facing the photoconductor drum 1. The developer carrying member 6 may have any structure such as a cylindrical shape (sleeve shape) or a belt shape, but is generally formed in a sleeve shape from a non-magnetic material. Aluminum or stainless steel is used as the non-magnetic material.

In this embodiment, a sleeve (developing sleeve) made of aluminum is used as the developer carrying member 6. A cylindrical magnet is provided inside the developing sleeve 6. This magnet is fixedly arranged with respect to the developing container 10. The developing sleeve 6 is the photosensitive drum 1.
The developing container 10 pivotally supports both ends in the longitudinal direction of the developing container 10 at a position separated by a predetermined distance. As a result, when the developing sleeve 6 rotates in the direction of the arrow in the drawing, the developer T adsorbed and held on the developing sleeve 6 by the magnetic force generated by the fixed magnet disposed inside the area is opposed to the photosensitive drum 1 ( It is transported to the development area).

Further, in this embodiment, the surface of the developing sleeve 6 is spray-coated with a resin liquid (phenol resin and carbon diluted with isopropyl alcohol) to obtain roughness Ra (JIS center line average roughness: JIS B 0601). )
= 0.5 μm to 3.5 μm. As the developing sleeve 6, it is possible to preferably use a developing sleeve 6 whose both surfaces are blasted with abrasive grains such as glass beads, or a composite type which is spray-coated after blasting.

In this embodiment, as the developer T contained in the developing container 10, an insulating, so-called magnetic one-component developer (toner) mainly composed of a resin and a magnetic material was used.
Further, in this embodiment, the developer T is negatively charged (negative toner).
That is, the portion of which the potential is attenuated by the exposure of the negatively charged photosensitive drum 1 is developed by reversal development.

Further, the developing device 8 regulates the developer T carried by the developing sleeve 6 and conveyed to the developing area to a predetermined thickness, and a thin layer of the developer T on the developer carrying member 6. The developer regulating means 16 for forming

In the image forming apparatus A having the above-mentioned structure, when the image forming operation is started, first, the photosensitive drum 1 is uniformly charged by the charging roller 2 in a state where the photosensitive drum 1 is rotated in the direction of the arrow in the figure. Next, the exposure device 3 scans and exposes the photosensitive drum 1 with the laser beam L according to the image information to form an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 1.

This electrostatic latent image is developed by the developing device 8. That is, in the developing device 8, a predetermined gap (about 300 μm)
The developer regulating member 24 provided in the developer regulating means 16, which will be described in detail later, is pressed against the developing sleeve 6 arranged to face the photosensitive drum 1 at m). The developer sleeve 6 rotates in the direction of the arrow in the figure, and the developer T attracted and held by the developing sleeve 6 by the magnetic force generated by the fixed magnet built into the developing sleeve 6 is regulated by the developer as the developing sleeve 6 rotates. The layer thickness is regulated by the member 24, and a triboelectrically charged developer layer is formed on the developing sleeve 6. When this developer layer is conveyed to the developing area facing the photoconductor drum 1, a developing bias voltage in which an AC voltage is superimposed on a DC voltage is applied to the developing sleeve 6, and the developer carried on the developing sleeve 6 is applied. T flies to the side of the photosensitive drum 1 to visualize the electrostatic latent image as a toner image.

On the other hand, the recording material P stacked in the recording material cassette 17, for example, recording paper, OHP sheet, etc., is rotated and delivered by the delivery roller 18. Then, one sheet of recording material P sent from the recording material cassette 17 is conveyed by the conveying section 19
It is conveyed to the registration roller 21 via. The registration roller 21 conveys the recording material P to the facing portion (transfer area) between the photosensitive drum 1 and the transfer roller 4 in synchronization with the rotation of the photosensitive drum 1 and the scanning timing of the exposure device 3.

In this way, the recording material P conveyed to the transfer area
Then, the toner image on the photosensitive drum 1 is transferred by the action of the transfer roller 4. After that, the recording material P is separated from the photosensitive drum 1 and is conveyed to the fixing unit 23 by the conveying unit 22. Then, the fixing unit 23 fixes the unfixed toner image transferred onto the recording material P by heat and pressure onto the recording material P. After that, the recording material P on which the permanent image is formed is discharged to a tray (not shown) outside the apparatus.

The developer remaining on the photosensitive drum 1 after the transfer of the toner image is removed by the cleaning blade 5, and the photosensitive drum 1 is repeatedly used for image formation.

Next, the developer regulating means 16 provided in the developing device 8 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG.

The developer regulating means 16 of this embodiment is provided with a two-layer elastic blade 24 as a developer regulating member in which first and second elastic bodies 24a and 24b are superposed without being adhered. The elastic blade 24 is a support plate 7 as a support means,
By the screw 5 and the supporting portion 9 of the developing container 10, one end side thereof is supported by the developing container 10, the other end side is in contact with the developing sleeve 6, and is carried by the developing sleeve 6 as the developing sleeve 6 rotates. Rub the developer T.

In this embodiment, the elastic blade 24 is provided with a rubber member 24a as a first elastic body on the side contacting the developing sleeve 6, and on the side opposite to the side contacting the developing sleeve 6 with this rubber member 24a. Metal thin plate 2 as second elastic body
4b is provided.

As the rubber member 24a, a rubber material such as, but not limited to, silicone rubber or urethane rubber can be preferably used. Negative toner generally has a poorer rise in density than positive toner, but especially urethane rubber has a better rise in density with negative toner than silicone rubber.

Also, although not limited thereto, the thin metal plate 2
4b includes stainless steel (S
A non-magnetic metal material such as US) or phosphor bronze can be preferably used. In particular, SUS is preferable in terms of life.

In the elastic blade 24, the rubber member 24a is provided in the vicinity of the tip 24A on the free end side thereof so that the developing sleeve 6 has the rubber member 24a.
It is provided so as to come into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the surface contact.
The contact direction is a counter direction with respect to the rotation direction of the developing sleeve 6. That is, the elastic blade 24 is brought into contact with the developing sleeve 6 so that the free end 24A of the elastic blade 24 is opposite to the rotation direction of the developing sleeve 6.

In this embodiment, the rubber member 24a constituting the elastic blade 24 is a plate-shaped member having a substantially rectangular cross section, and one end portion of the developing sleeve 6 in the direction substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal direction is supported by the supporting sheet metal 7. Adhering and supporting.

Further, the metal thin plate 24b has a support sheet metal 7 and a support portion 9 of the plastic developing container 10 near one end thereof.
It is fixed by sandwiching it between and and fastening the support sheet metal 7 to the support portion 9 with the screw 5. In this embodiment, the metal thin plate 24b
Has a fixed portion 24b2 which is bent substantially at a right angle in cross section with respect to a portion 24b1 along the surface of the rubber member 24a opposite to the surface in contact with the developing sleeve 6. This fixed part 24
b2 is sandwiched between the supporting portion 9 of the developing container 10 and the supporting metal plate 7, and fastened and fixed by the screw 5.

As described above, in this embodiment, the rubber member 24a of the elastic blade 24 and the metal thin plate 24b are stacked without being bonded. And, at least in the vicinity of the contact portion between the developing sleeve 6 and the rubber member 24a, they are slidably overlapped with each other.

Developer regulating means (blade unit) provided with the elastic blade (developer regulating member) 24 having such a constitution.
Reference numeral 16 has a function of regulating the developer T carried on the developing sleeve 6 and conveyed to the developing area to a predetermined thickness, and frictionally charging the developer T on the developing sleeve 6.

As described above, the elastic blade 24 has a two-layer structure in which the rubber member 24a and the metal thin plate 24b are superposed without adhering, that is, slidably superposed on each other. A change in pressure applied to the sleeve 6 can be suppressed, and a long life can be achieved.

By the way, the rubber member 24a and the thin metal plate 24b, which constitute the elastic blade 24, may be attached to each other when they are stacked as they are. Depending on how it sticks,
Bubbles may be generated, or the surface of the elastic blade 24, that is, the surface of the rubber member 24a that contacts the developing sleeve 6 may be corrugated. Therefore, the smoothness of the surface contacting the developing sleeve 6 may be lost, and uniform pressure (contact pressure) in the longitudinal direction of the elastic blade 24 may not be obtained.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the elastic blade 24
The powder 25 is interposed between the rubber member 24a and the thin metal plate 24b. The powder 25 preferably has a particle size (weight average particle size) of 25 μm or less. The particle size of the powder 25 (same as above) is preferably 1 μm or more. Powder 2
If the particle size of No. 5 is larger or smaller than the above range, uneven density may occur.

Here, the particle size of the powder 25 can be measured by various methods. In the present invention, the particle size (weight average particle size) of the powder 25 is a value measured by the Coulter method using a Coulter counter. is there. That is, a Coulter Counter TA-II type (manufactured by Coulter) is used as a measuring device, an interface (manufactured by Nikkaki) and a CX-1 personal computer (manufactured by Canon) for outputting number distribution and volume distribution are connected, and an electrolytic solution is used. Prepares a 1% NaCl aqueous solution using primary sodium chloride. As a measuring method, 0.1 to 5 ml of a surfactant (preferably alkylbenzene sulfonate) as a dispersant is added to 100 to 150 ml of the above-mentioned electrolytic aqueous solution, and 2 to 5 measurement samples are further added.
Add 20 mg. The electrolytic solution in which the sample is suspended is subjected to a dispersion treatment for about 1 to 3 minutes with an ultrasonic disperser, and the volume and number of powders are measured to 1 μm by a Coulter Counter TA-II type using a 100 μm aperture as an aperture.
The volume distribution and number distribution of particles of -40 μm are calculated.
Then, the weight-based weight-average particle diameter obtained from the volume distribution (the median value of each channel is used as a representative value for each channel) and the weight-based weight distribution obtained from the volume distribution are obtained.

Although the powder 25 is not limited, for example, a silicone resin can be preferably used.

The silicone resin is preferably polymethylsilsesquioxane powder. The shape of these mother particles is preferably spherical. Specific examples of the above polymethylsilsesquioxane powder include Tospearl 120 (particle diameter 2.0 μm), Tospearl 130 (particle diameter 3.0 μm), Tospearl 145 manufactured by Toshiba Silicone Co., Ltd.
(Particle size 4.5 μm), Tospearl 3120 (particle size 12.
0 μm), Tospearl 240 (particle size 4.0 μm), and Trefil E-500 manufactured by Toray Dow Corning Co., Ltd.
(Particle size 3 μm), Trefil E-501 (particle size 10 μm
m), trefil E-600 (particle size 5 μm), trefil E-601 (particle size 5 μm), trefil E-602
(Particle size 5 μm), Trefil E-603 (particle size 5 μm
m), trefil R-900 (particle size 20 μm), trefil R-925 (particle size 0.5 μm), trefil R-9
30 (particle diameter 1 μm) and the like.

As the powder 25, a toner used as the developer T may be adopted. Toner particle size (same as above)
Usually, it is 5 to 10 μm, and by interposing it between the rubber member 24a and the metal thin plate 24b, it is possible to preferably prevent sticking of both.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the elastic blade 2
4 has a two-layer structure in which the rubber member 24a and the metal thin plate 24b are stacked without adhering to each other, that is, slidably stacked on each other, the pressing force of the elastic blade 24 on the developing sleeve 6 with use time Of the rubber member 24a, and prevents the rubber member 24a from fatigue (elastic deterioration) due to long-term use.
4 can be extended. As a result, the use of the elastic blade 24 for a long time may cause fogging in the image, the sharpness of the image may be lowered, or the image density may be lowered or the image may be uneven or fogging due to insufficient charging of the toner. It is possible to obtain a stable and high-density image.

Further, in this embodiment, the powder 25 can prevent the rubber member 24a and the metal thin plate 11 from sticking to each other, so that a uniform pressure can be obtained in the longitudinal direction of the elastic blade 24. As a result, the reliability of the elastic blade 24 is further enhanced, and a stable and good image can be obtained for a long period of time.

Moreover, according to the present embodiment, the rubber member 24a and the thin metal plate 24b forming the elastic blade 24 are laminated without adhering to each other to form a two-layer structure, and the above-mentioned effects can be obtained. In addition, it is possible to reduce the cost by eliminating the difficulty of the step of adhering the two layers without causing waviness and the like, and to easily reuse the elastic blade 24.

In the above embodiment, the principle of the present invention is applied to the developer regulating member included in the developing device, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, as described in the above embodiment, the elastic blade 24 in which the powder is interposed between the rubber member 24a and the metal thin plate 24b can be applied to an elastic blade for an image forming apparatus such as a cleaning blade,
Even when used for a long period of time, a predetermined pressure can be obtained, and the effect of the present invention that a uniform pressure can always be obtained can be similarly obtained, and cleaning failure can be prevented. In addition, the two-layer structure enables the elastic blade to have a long service life, reduce costs, and can be easily reused.

[0062]

As described above, according to the present invention,
An elastic blade for an image forming apparatus can obtain a predetermined pressure even when used for a long time, and can always obtain a uniform pressure. Further, by applying the principle of the present invention to the developer regulating member provided in the developing device, fog may occur in the image with a long time use, the sharpness of the image may be lowered, or the developer may be charged. It is possible to obtain a stable high-density image that does not cause image density deterioration or image unevenness or fog due to lack thereof. Furthermore, according to the present invention, the cost of the elastic blade and the developer regulating member can be reduced, and the elastic blade and the developer regulating member can be reused.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a main part of an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a schematic configuration of an embodiment of an elastic blade according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a main part of an example of a conventional developing device and image forming apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Photoconductor drum (image carrier, electrophotographic photoconductor) 2 Charging roller (charging means) 3 Exposure device (optical means) 4 Transfer roller (transfer means) 5 Cleaning blade (cleaning means) 6 Development sleeve (developer carrier) 7 Support sheet metal 8 developing device 10 Development container (developing device main body) 16 Developer Control Unit (Blade Unit) 23 Fixing means 24 Elastic blade (developer regulating member) 24a Rubber member (first elastic body) 24b Metal thin plate (second elastic body) 25 powder

Continued front page    (72) Inventor Nobuhiro Hayashi             3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo             Non non corporation F-term (reference) 2H005 EA05                 2H071 BA42 DA08 DA13                 2H077 AD12 AD13 AD23 DB14 FA13                       FA16 FA22 GA03                 2H134 GA01 GB03 HD01 HD05 HD06                       HD19 KD02 KD03 KD08 KD13                       KH01 KH11 LA01

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. An elastic blade for an image forming apparatus, which abuts against a rotating body in an image forming apparatus and rubs the rotating body as the rotating body rotates, said elastic blades being slidably stacked on each other. An elastic blade for an image forming apparatus, comprising: a first elastic body and a second elastic body, and a powder interposed between the first elastic body and the second elastic body. 2. The elastic blade for an image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first elastic body is made of a rubber material, and the second elastic body is made of a metal material. 3. The elastic blade for an image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the rubber material is urethane rubber. 4. The elastic blade for an image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the metal material is stainless steel. 5. The powder has a weight average particle diameter of 1 μm or more and 25 μm or less.
An elastic blade for an image forming apparatus according to any one of 1. 6. The elastic blade for an image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the powder is a silicone resin or a toner. 7. A developer carrying member carrying a developer, and a developing device which is in contact with the developer carrying member and regulates the amount of the developer carried on the developer carrying member as the developer carrying member rotates. A developing device including a developer regulating member, wherein the developer regulating member includes first and second elastic bodies that are slidably overlapped with each other. A developing device characterized in that powder is interposed therebetween. 8. The developing device according to claim 7, wherein the first elastic body is made of a rubber material, and the second elastic body is made of a metal material. 9. The developing device according to claim 8, wherein the rubber material is urethane rubber. 10. The developing device according to claim 8, wherein the metal material is stainless steel. 11. The powder according to claim 7, wherein the powder has a weight average particle diameter of 1 μm or more and 25 μm or less.
0. The developing device according to any one of 0. 12. The developing device according to claim 7, wherein the powder is a silicone resin or a toner. 13. An image forming apparatus comprising the elastic blade according to claim 1. Description: 14. An image forming apparatus comprising the developing device according to any one of claims 7 to 12.