JP2003140464A - Developing device and process cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a developing device in which blowing out of developer can be surely prevented by not producing any gap in between a blowing out preventing sheet and both end parts of a developing sleeve in the longitudinal direction. SOLUTION: The distance from a corner of an attaching surface 13c of the blowing out preventing sheet 16 to the developing sleeve 5 is made smaller on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the blowing out preventing sheet 16 than that at a middle part. Thus, no gap is produced in between the blowing out preventing sheet 16 and the developing sleeve 5 in both ends parts of the blowing out preventing sheet 16.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a developing device installed in a process cartridge detachably attached to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body (hereinafter also referred to as an image forming apparatus main body) such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile. It relates to the device. In particular, the present invention relates to improving the performance of the developer sealing method. The present invention also relates to a developing device that can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus of an electrophotographic copying machine, when the electrophotographic copying machine is used for a long time, the electrophotographic photosensitive drum is replaced, the developing device is replaced, or toner as a developer is replenished and charged. It was necessary to clean the container, replace the cleaning container in which the removed toner had accumulated, and make other adjustments around the photosensitive drum.

Therefore, in the electrophotographic image forming apparatus using the electrophotographic image forming process, the electrophotographic photosensitive drum and the process means acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum are integrally made into a cartridge, and the cartridge can be attached to and detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus. The process cartridge method is widely adopted.

According to this method, the maintenance of the image forming apparatus main body can be performed by the user himself, the loss of down time until the serviceman arrives can be eliminated, and the operability can be improved.

An example of the above process cartridge will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 6, in the new process cartridge 101, toner leakage is prevented by a toner seal 104 provided between a toner container 102 that contains toner serving as a developer and a developing container 103, and the user cannot use the new process cartridge 101. When using, the toner seal 104 is first pulled out.

When the toner seal 104 is pulled out, the toner contained in the toner container 102 flows into the developing container 103. Further, the toner is fed into the developing sleeve 105 by the stirring means 111 of the toner feeding mechanism. Developer container 10
3, a developing sleeve 105 is rotatably supported, and inside the developing sleeve 105, a magnet roller 106 having magnetic poles N1, N2, S1 and S2 arranged therein is included as shown in FIG.

The opening end 103 of the developing container 103
The magnetic toner flowing between a and the developing sleeve 105 is restrained by the magnetic force of the N2 pole of the magnet roller 106 from leaking from the opening end portion 103a to the outside of the developing container 103.

On the other hand, the opening end portion 103a of the developing container 103
On the upper surface 103c of the rising jaw portion 103b, a blow-out prevention sheet 107 for preventing the blow-off of toner is attached by a double-sided tape or the like, and the developing sleeve 105
When the toner is incorporated into the developing container 103, the blowout preventing sheet 107 comes into contact with the surface of the developing sleeve 105 with a light pressure.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, magnetic end seals 109 for preventing lateral toner leakage are formed at both ends of the opening of the developing container 103. The developing sleeve 105 is connected to the developing container 1 via a bearing (not shown).
When set to 03, the end seal 109 incorporated in the developing container 103 is configured with a constant gap with the developing sleeve 105, and the magnetism of the end seal 109 causes the developing container 10 to move.
The leakage of the magnetic toner in 3 is prevented. At both ends of the developing container 103 in the longitudinal direction, as shown in FIG. 7, both end faces of the blowing prevention sheet 107 in the longitudinal direction are located in the gap between the end seal 109 and the developing sleeve 105.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6, the developing blade 110, which is a member for regulating the thickness of the toner layer, is the developing sleeve 10.
When No. 5 is set, it is fixed to the developing container 103 so as to come into contact with the periphery thereof. At this time, the developing blade 110
The toner leak is prevented by forming a minute gap between both ends of the end seal 109 and the edge portion (not shown) of the end seal 109.

[0011]

By the way, in recent years, in the image forming apparatus such as a laser beam printer (LBP), the efficiency of the toner feeding mechanism has been improved along with the increase in speed.

However, if the efficiency of the toner feeding mechanism is increased, the toner is blown out between the blow-out prevention sheet and the developing sleeve, especially at both longitudinal ends of the blow-out prevention sheet (near both end seals), and the image is affected. That happens. As shown in FIG. 7, this is because the contact force of the blow-out prevention sheet 107 to the developing sleeve 105 is
This is because, as indicated by the length of the arrow A, at both end portions 107a1 and 107a2 of the blow-out prevention sheet 107, the sheet that generates the contact force is only one side in the longitudinal direction, and thus the contact force is small.

That is, the blow-out preventing sheet 107 arranged below the developing sleeve 105 has
This is because the contact force with the developing sleeve 105 becomes weak.

The present invention solves the above problems and provides a developing device and a process cartridge which can surely prevent the developer from being blown out without generating a gap between both ends of the blowout preventing sheet and the developing sleeve in the longitudinal direction. To provide.

[0015]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object,
According to the present invention, a developer carrier, a developer container containing the developer, an agitating means for agitating the developer in the developer container and transporting the developer to the developer carrier, and a developer. In a developing device having a flexible member that is in contact with the carrier over substantially the entire area in the longitudinal direction of the developer carrier, in the longitudinal direction of the developer container to which the flexible member is attached, the developer carrier A developing device characterized in that the distance between the end of the sticking surface on the side close to and the developer carrying member is the same as the conventional one in the central portion and is shorter than the central portion only at both end portions. is there.

The present invention is as follows if it is shown with the same numbers as the claims.

A first invention according to the present application is a developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive drum with a developer, and a developer carrier and a developer container accommodating the developer. A developing container that is coupled to the developer container and rotatably supports the developer carrier; and a stirring unit that stirs the developer in the developer container and conveys the developer to the developer carrier.
A flexible member attached to the attachment surface of the developing container and supported in a cantilever manner, the tip of which is in contact with substantially the entire longitudinal direction of the developer carrier, and the flexible member is attached. The distance between the ridge of the edge of the sticking surface of the developing container along the longitudinal direction of the developer carrying member and the developer carrying member is in the longitudinal direction of the developer carrying member, and both ends are more than the middle part excluding both end parts. The developing device is formed so as to be short.

A second invention according to the present application is characterized in that the planar shape of both end portions of the sticking surface of the developing container is a right triangle projecting toward the developer carrying member more than the intermediate portion excluding both end portions. The developing device according to the first invention.

A third invention according to the present application is characterized in that the planar shape of the end portion of the sticking surface of the developing container is a rectangle projecting toward the developer carrying member more than the intermediate portion excluding both end portions. The developing device according to the first aspect of the invention.

A fourth aspect of the present invention relates to a process cartridge detachably mountable to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprising: a. An electrophotographic photosensitive drum, b. A developer carrier, a developer container for containing the developer,
A developer container coupled to the developer container to rotatably support the developer carrier, a stirring means for stirring the developer in the developer container to convey the developer to the developer carrier, and a sticker for the developer container A flexible member attached to the attachment surface and supported in a cantilever manner, the tip end of which is in contact with substantially the entire longitudinal direction of the developer carrier, and the flexible member is attached to the developing container. The distance between the ridge of the edge of the attachment surface along the longitudinal direction of the developer carrying member and the developer carrying member is shorter in the longitudinal direction of the developer carrying member than at the intermediate part excluding both end parts. And a developing device for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum with a developer.

A fifth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the planar shape of the end portion of the sticking surface of the developing container is a right triangle projecting toward the developer carrying member rather than the intermediate portion excluding both end portions. The process cartridge according to the fourth invention.

A sixth invention according to the present application is characterized in that the planar shape of the end portion of the sticking surface of the developing container is a rectangle projecting toward the developer carrying member rather than the intermediate portion excluding both end portions. The process cartridge according to the fourth invention.

[0023]

According to the present invention, even if the efficiency of the stirring means is increased for the purpose of speeding up and extending the life, the surface to which the blow-out preventing sheet is attached is preliminarily in the longitudinal direction only at both end portions, and the intermediate portion. Since it is formed so as to project more, that is, the edge portion inside the developing container projects, the contact force to the developing sleeve is maintained even at both ends of the blowing prevention sheet, and the blowing of the developer is prevented. You can

[0024]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A developing device according to the present invention, a process cartridge including the developing device, and an image forming apparatus including the developing device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. explain.

The electrophotographic image forming apparatus described below forms an image on a sheet made of paper, synthetic resin or the like, which is a recording medium, by using an electrophotographic image forming system. Further, examples of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus include an electrophotographic copying machine, an electrophotographic printer (for example, a laser beam printer, an LED printer using a light emitting diode, etc.), a facsimile machine, a word processor, and the like.

In the process cartridge, a charging means and a cleaning means, or a developing device and an electrophotographic photosensitive drum as an image carrier are integrally formed into a cartridge, and the cartridge can be attached to and detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus. It is what

Further, at least one of the charging means, the cleaning means and the developing device and the electrophotographic photosensitive drum are integrally made into a cartridge, and this cartridge can be attached to and detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus.

Further, at least the developing device and the electrophotographic photosensitive drum are integrally made into a cartridge, and the cartridge can be attached to and detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus. Here, since the process cartridge can be easily attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body by the user himself, maintenance of the image forming apparatus main body can be easily performed.

First, an embodiment of the developing device 8 according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 and 5. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 is a process cartridge equipped with a developing device 8 according to the present invention. As an image forming process in the process cartridge 1, first, an electrophotographic photosensitive drum which is an image forming means and serves as an image carrier. After uniformly charging the surface of the rotating photosensitive drum 2 by a charging roller 3 serving as a charging unit arranged around (hereinafter referred to as a photosensitive drum) 2, a main body of an image forming apparatus, which will be described later with reference to FIG. A laser beam L corresponding to image information is emitted from the scanner unit 4 to the photosensitive drum 2 to form an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 2.

The process cartridge 1 is provided with a developing sleeve 5 serving as a developer carrying member, which is arranged so as to face the photosensitive drum 2. The toner serving as the developer supplied to the developing sleeve 5 is the developer. After being stirred by the developer stirring means 7 in the toner container 6 which is a developer container for storing the toner, the toner is supplied to the developing device 8 and further unraveled by the developer stirring means 9 and then from the developing sleeve 5 to the photoreceptor. The toner image is transferred by being transferred to the electrostatic latent image portion formed on the surface of the drum 2. Here, the agitating member 7 has a crank shape whose both ends are rotatably supported by the toner container 6, and when it is driven from the outside, the crank pin portion draws a locus around time as shown by a dashed line in the drawing to draw the toner. It is sent toward the developing sleeve 5 and stirred.

Then, as shown in FIG. 5, the sheet P which is a recording medium is sent to a transfer portion between the photoconductor drum 2 and a transfer roller 10 which is a transfer charger provided on the main body of the image forming apparatus. The toner image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 2 is transferred to the sheet P sent to the transfer section.

Here, the conveyance of the sheet P in the image forming process shown in FIG. 5 will be described. The sheet P is sent from the sheet feed tray 20 to the conveyance path 22 by the sheet feed roller 21, and is conveyed by the conveyance roller 23 to the photosensitive drum. The toner image is transferred to the sheet P by being sent to the transfer section between the transfer roller 10 and the transfer roller 10. The sheet P on which the toner image is transferred is
It is guided to the developing device 25 through the transport path 24. In the developing device 25, heat and pressure are applied as the sheet P passes between two rolls which are in contact with each other, and the transferred toner image is fixed on the sheet P. Fixing device 2
The sheet P that has passed 5 is conveyed onto the discharge tray 27 by the conveying rollers 26.

On the other hand, the toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 2 without being transferred to the sheet P is scraped off and removed by the cleaning blade 11 serving as a cleaning means, and is housed in the removed toner container 12.

In such a process cartridge 1, a developing container 13 for supporting the developing sleeve 5 and the like, and an integrated developing device in which a toner container 6 containing toner is welded, a photosensitive drum 2, a charging roller 3, and a cleaning blade 11 are provided. The removing toner container 12 that supports is integrally connected.

In FIG. 1, in the new process cartridge 1, a toner seal 14 provided between a toner container 6 which is a developer container for accommodating a toner serving as a developer and a developing container 13 causes the toner container 6 to the developing device 13 to move. Toner is prevented from leaking to the user. When the user uses the new process cartridge 1, the toner seal 14 is first pulled out.

When the toner seal 14 is pulled out, the toner contained in the toner container 6 flows into the developing container 13. A developing sleeve 5 serving as a developer carrying member is rotatably supported in the developing container 13, and a magnet roller having magnetic poles N1, N2, S1 and S2 arranged inside the developing sleeve 5 as shown in FIG. 15 are included.

Here, the cylindrical magnet roller 15 is arranged in the longitudinal direction of the developing sleeve 5 so as to exert a magnetic force uniformly on the image forming area, and is fixed to the developing container 13 in a non-rotating manner. . The developing sleeve 5 has a hollow cylindrical shape, and has a sealing member such as a magnetic seal (see FIG.
(See reference numeral 109) for preventing the toner from leaking outward in the longitudinal direction, is rotatably supported by the developing container 13 on the outer side thereof, and is externally driven.

Then, the magnetic toner flowing between the developing sleeve 5 and the opening end 13a, which is the end of the opening in which the developing sleeve 5 of the developing container 13 is provided, is opened by the magnetic force of the N2 pole of the magnet roller 15. It is restrained so as not to leak to the outside of the developing container 13 from between the end portion 13a and the developing sleeve 5.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, on the upper surface 13c of the rising jaw 13b at the opening end 13a of the developing container 13, a blow-out prevention sheet 16 serving as a leak-preventing means for preventing the blow-out of toner is provided by a double-sided tape or the like. It is attached and cantilevered. That is, the upper surface 13c is a surface to which the blowout prevention sheet 16 is attached. When the developing sleeve 5 is assembled into the developing container 13, the cantilevered tip of the blow-out preventing sheet 16 which is a flexible member contacts the surface of the developing sleeve 5 along the generatrix of the developing sleeve 5 with a slight pressure. Has become.

Here, the blow-off preventing sheet 16 has a sealing member provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction to prevent the toner from leaking outward from both ends of the developing sleeve 5, for example, a magnetic seal (see reference numeral 109 in FIG. 7). , FIG. 7 is used for explaining the conventional technique, but the same applies to the embodiment). Blowing prevention sheet 16 made of a flexible member
Is a thin strip-shaped member, one end of which in the lateral direction is the developing container 13
Is fixed to the upper surface 13c of the developing sleeve 5 and is in contact with the bus bar of the developing sleeve 5 near the other end in the lateral direction.

In the above description, the extension surface of the upper surface 13c is located at a position where it cuts the outer circumference of the developing sleeve 5. The material of the blowout preventing sheet 16 is a PET film, and the thickness thereof is 38 μm.

In order to prevent the blow-off prevention sheet 16 from damaging the developing sleeve 5, it is necessary to bring the blow-off prevention sheet 16 into contact with the developing sleeve 5 with a pressure as low as possible.

However, the efficiency of the developing and stirring means 7 of the toner feeding mechanism has been increased with the recent increase in speed and life of the image forming apparatus. In the present embodiment, the efficiency is increased by increasing the rotation speed of the developing and stirring means 7.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, in order to prevent the above-mentioned toner from being blown from between the blow-off preventing sheet 16 and the developing sleeve 5, as shown in detail in FIG. In the longitudinal direction, the distance between the ridge portions 30 and 31 (see FIG. 3) formed by the side surface 13d and the upper surface 13c of the opening end portion 13a closer to the developing sleeve 5 and the developing sleeve 5 is an intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction. And the end sheet reinforcing portion 17 is formed so that only the both ends are shorter than the intermediate portion, and the end sheet reinforcing portion 17 is blown by the seat reinforcing seat surface 17a which is the contact surface of the blowout prevention sheet 16. Prevention sheet 1
The contact force of 6 with the developing sleeve 5 is improved.

Here, the distance between the ridges 30, 31 and the developing sleeve 5 is between the ridges 30, 31 and the point where the line connecting the center of rotation of the developing sleeve 5 and the ridge cuts the outer periphery of the developing sleeve 5. The length of. Since this distance is shorter in the longitudinal direction of the ridge portion than in the middle portion, in the longitudinal direction of the blowing prevention sheet 16, between the root side of the blowing prevention sheet 16 as a cantilever and the contact surface between the developing sleeve 5 and the blowing prevention sheet 16. The protrusion of the beam is shorter at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the developing blade 5 than at the intermediate portion. That is, since the length of the cantilever from the ridge 31 at the end of the sheet reinforcing seat surface 17a of the blowout prevention sheet 16 to the contact portion with the developing sleeve 5 is shorter than the intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction, the blowout prevention sheet. The force of pressing the developing sleeve 5 when 16 is elastically in contact with the developing sleeve 5 increases. Therefore, the contact force at the end portion in the longitudinal direction of the blowout preventing sheet 16 that ends on only one side in the longitudinal direction is improved. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the difference in the contact force of the blowing prevention sheet 16 with the developing sleeve 5 at both ends and the intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction. Alternatively, it is possible to make the contact force of the blow-out prevention sheet 16 at both ends with respect to the developing sleeve 5 in the longitudinal direction larger than the contact force at the intermediate part.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the developing container 13 of this embodiment. The above-mentioned sheet reinforcing seat surface 17 for improving the contact force of the blow-out prevention sheet 16 with the developing sleeve 5.
a is shown as seat reinforcement seating surfaces 17a1, 17a2. As shown in FIG. 3, the seat reinforcing seat surface 17a1,
17a2 are at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the upper surface 13c, which is the surface to which the blowout prevention sheet 16 is attached. The ridge portion 30, which is the edge of the attachment surface in the longitudinal direction of the intermediate portion excluding both ends of the upper surface 13c, is parallel along the longitudinal direction of the developing sleeve 5, and the distance between the ridge portion 30 and the developing sleeve 5 is constant. But,
A ridge portion 31, which is an edge portion of the sheet reinforcing seat surfaces 17a1 and 17a2 that is obliquely provided in the longitudinal direction, has a distance from the developing sleeve 5 gradually narrowed toward an end portion in the longitudinal direction. Also,
As shown in FIG. 3, the seat reinforcing seat surfaces 17a1 and 17a2
The plane shape of is a right triangle. The seat reinforcing seat surface 17
a1 and 17a2 are formed integrally with the developing container 13. The shape of each of the seat reinforcing seat surfaces 17a1 and 17a2 is determined at both ends so that the amount of protrusion is such that the contact force of the blowing prevention sheet 16 with the developing sleeve 5 is substantially the same as that of the intermediate portion.

Thus, even if the toner tries to blow out from between the developing sleeve and enters between the blowing prevention sheet and the developing sleeve, the blowing prevention sheet is difficult to bend at both ends in the longitudinal direction, so that there is a gap at both ends. Does not occur, and the toner does not blow off at the both ends of the blow-out prevention sheet. The term "hard to bend at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the blow-out prevention sheet" means that the amount of deflection at the middle portion is almost the same as that at both ends unless the toner pressure is particularly applied, but when the toner pressure is applied. This means that both ends have greater resistance to bending than the conventional example.

In the developing device 8 of the present embodiment, as long as the contacting force of both ends of the blow-out preventing sheet 16 with respect to the developing sleeve 5 in the sheet longitudinal direction satisfies the above-mentioned function of the blow-out preventing sheet 16, FIG. Alternatively, the seat-reinforcing seat surfaces 17a3 and 17a4 may be configured as shown in FIG.

Here, the seat reinforcing seat surfaces 17a3, 17a
As shown in FIG. 4, 4 are at both ends of the upper surface 13c in the longitudinal direction. The ridge portion 30 of the upper surface 13c is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the developing sleeve 5, and the ridge portion 30 and the developing sleeve 5 are parallel to each other.
The intervals are constant. Seat reinforcement seating surfaces 17a3, 17a
The ridge 32 of No. 4 is also parallel to the longitudinal direction of the developing sleeve 5, and the interval between the ridge 32 and the developing sleeve 5 is constant. However, the distance between the ridge portion 32 and the developing sleeve 5 is smaller than the distance between the ridge portion 30 and the developing sleeve 5. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the plane shapes of the seat reinforcing seat surfaces 17a3 and 17a4 are rectangular.

Ridge portion 30 of the seat reinforcing seat surface in the middle portion
The distance from the developing sleeve 5 to the developing sleeve 5 is about 2.2 in this embodiment.
mm, and the ridge portion 3 of the seat reinforcing seat surfaces 17a1 and 17a2
The distance to the developing sleeve 5 at the portion closest to the developing sleeve of No. 1 is about 1.0 mm.
The distance from the ridge 32 of a3, 17a4 to the developing sleeve 5 is about 1.0 mm.

In the above, according to the present embodiment, even if the efficiency is increased by increasing the rotation speed of the developing and stirring means 7 in order to increase the speed and the life, the both ends of the blow-out preventing sheet 16 are With a simple configuration in which the distance between the attachment surface and the developing sleeve 5 is shortened, it is possible to prevent toner leakage between both ends of the blowing prevention sheet 16 in the longitudinal direction between the blowing prevention sheet 16 and the developing sleeve 5.

Although the embodiment has been described with respect to the process cartridge, it is similarly applied to a developing device which is detachable from the image forming apparatus main body or is placed on the image forming apparatus main body.

[0053]

As is clear from the above description, even if the efficiency of the stirring means is increased to increase the speed and extend the life, the gap between the blow-out prevention sheet member and the longitudinal ends of the developer carrying member can be improved. It is possible to obtain the effect that it is possible to prevent the toner from leaking.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a process cartridge including a developing device.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of a peripheral portion of a developing sleeve in the developing device.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an opening of the developing container showing an end sheet reinforcing portion.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an opening of a developing container showing a modified example of an end sheet reinforcing portion.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view of an image forming apparatus including a process cartridge.

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view of a peripheral portion of a developing sleeve in a conventional developing device.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing the relationship between the position and strength of a contact force generated between a conventional blow-out prevention sheet and a developing sleeve.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Process cartridge 2 ... Photosensitive drum 3 ... Charging roller 4 ... Scanner unit 5 ... Developing sleeve 6 ... Toner container 7 ... Stirring means 8 ... Developing device 9 ... Stirring means 10 ... Transfer roller 11 ... Cleaning blade 12 ... Removal toner container 13 ... Developing container 13a ... Opening end 13b ... Jaw 1
3c ... Top surface 13d ... Side surface 14 ... Toner seal 15 ... Magnet roller 16 ... Blow-off prevention sheet 17 ... End sheet reinforcing portions 17a, 17a1, 17a2, 17a3, 17a4 ... Sheet reinforcing seat surface 20 ... Paper feeding tray 21 ... Paper feeding roller 22 ... conveying path 23 ... conveying roller 24 ... conveying path 25 ... developing device 26 ... conveying roller 27 ... paper discharge tray 30, 31, 32 ... ridge 101 ... conventional process cartridge 102 ... toner container 103 ... developing container 103a ... opening End portion 103b ... Jaw portion 103c ... Top surface 104 ... Toner seal 105 ... Developing sleeve 106 ... Magnet roller 107 ... Blowout prevention sheet 107a1, 107a2
... End 109 ... End seal 110 ... Developing blade 111 ... Developing means A ... Arrow L indicating the magnitude of contact force by length ... Laser lights N1, N2, S1, S2 ... Magnetic pole P ... Sheet

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive drum with a developer, comprising: a developer carrying member; a developer container for containing the developer; and a developer container. A developing container that rotatably supports the developer carrier, an agitating unit that agitates the developer in the developer container and conveys the developer to the developer carrier, and a sticking surface attached to the developing container. A flexible member that is supported in a cantilever manner and has its leading end abutted over substantially the entire area in the longitudinal direction of the developer carrier, and carries the developer on the sticking surface of the developing container to which the flexible member is stuck. It is characterized in that the distance between the ridge of the edge along the longitudinal direction of the body and the developer carrying body is shorter than the middle part excluding both ends in the longitudinal direction of the developer carrying body. Developing device. 2. The developing container according to claim 1, wherein the planar shape of both ends of the sticking surface of the developing container is a right-angled triangle projecting toward the developer carrying member more than an intermediate part excluding both ends. Development device. 3. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein a planar shape of an end portion of the sticking surface of the developing container is a rectangle projecting toward the developer carrying member more than an intermediate portion excluding both end portions. apparatus. 4. A process cartridge detachable from an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprising: a. An electrophotographic photosensitive drum, b. A developer carrier, a developer container for storing the developer, a developer container that is coupled to the developer container and rotatably supports the developer carrier, and the developer in the developer container is agitated to develop the developer. An agitating unit that conveys the developer to the developer carrier; a flexible member that is attached to the attachment surface of the developing container and is supported in a cantilever manner so that the tip portion abuts over substantially the entire region in the longitudinal direction of the developer carrier. And the distance between the developer carrying body and the ridge of the edge of the sticking surface of the developing container on which the flexible member is stuck along the longitudinal direction of the developer carrying body is related to the longitudinal direction of the developer carrying body. A developing device for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum with a developer, the developing device being formed so that both end portions are shorter than an intermediate portion excluding the both end portions, cartridge. 5. The developing device according to claim 4, wherein the end face of the sticking surface of the developing container is a right-angled triangle projecting toward the developer carrying member more than the intermediate part excluding both end parts. Process cartridge. 6. The process according to claim 4, wherein a planar shape of an end portion of the sticking surface of the developing container is a rectangle projecting toward the developer carrying member more than an intermediate portion excluding both end portions. cartridge.