JP2003263020A - Developing device, image forming apparatus and computer system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a developing device, an image forming apparatus and a computer system for improving the rolling ability of developer. <P>SOLUTION: The developing device equipped with the developer, the developer carrier having many recessed parts in the surface to carry the developer, and an abutting member coming into contact with the developer carrier, and for developing a latent image carried by an image carrier by the developer carried by the developer carrier, is characterized in that the recessed part is provided with many projecting parts on the surface of the recessed part. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a developing device, an image forming device, and a computer system.

[0002]

BACKGROUND ART As an image forming apparatus of this type, for example,
A plurality of developing devices for developing a latent image formed on a photoconductor by toner as an example of a developer are provided, and a rotary type developing unit in which these developing devices are arranged radially around a rotation axis is provided. Image forming apparatuses and the like are known. When an image signal is transmitted from an external device such as a host computer, these image forming apparatuses rotate one of the plurality of developing devices to a developing position facing the photoconductor by rotating the developing unit around the rotation axis. Position. Then, the latent image formed on the photoconductor is developed to form a toner image, and the toner image is transferred onto the intermediate medium. At this time,
Similarly, while sequentially switching a plurality of developing devices, development and transfer are repeated to form a color image by superposing a plurality of toner images.

In order to realize the above-mentioned function of developing a latent image formed on a photoconductor, the above-mentioned developing device
It has a developing roller as a developer carrying member for carrying toner, a toner supply roller as a contact member that comes into contact with the developing roller, a regulating blade, and the like. And
The developing roller is configured to have a large number of dents on its surface in order to improve the performance of carrying and carrying toner, and the plurality of dents are, for example, spherical particles such as glass beads. It is formed by performing a blast process using.

By the way, when the surface roughness of the dent formed by the blasting or the like is small (in other words, the surface of the dent is not so rough), the abutting member and the developing roller come into contact with each other. At the contact portion, the rolling property of the toner carried on the developing roller deteriorates (in other words, the toner does not roll much in the depression). The occurrence of such a phenomenon is due to the fact that the contact area between the toner and the surface of the depression becomes large due to the lack of roughness on the surface of the depression.

The deterioration of the rolling property causes various problems. As one example, in the case of charging the toner carried on the developing roller at the contact portion where the developer charging member and the developing roller are in contact by the developer charging member as the contact member described above, Due to the poor rolling property of the toner, there arises a problem that the toner is insufficiently charged. As another example, after development, by the developer stripping member as the abutting member, the developer stripping member remains on the developing roller at the contact portion where the developer stripping member and the developing roller are in contact. When the toner is peeled off, there is a problem that the toner cannot be sufficiently peeled off because of poor rolling property of the toner.

Therefore, a method for improving the rolling property of the toner is desired.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a developing device, an image forming apparatus, and a computer for improving the rolling property of a developer. It is about realizing the system.

[0008]

The main object of the present invention is to provide a developer, a developer carrier having a large number of depressions on the surface for carrying the developer, and a contact for abutting the developer carrier. A developing device for developing a latent image carried on an image carrier by a developer carried on the developer carrying body, wherein the depression has a large number of convex portions on a surface of the depression. And a developing device. Other features of the present invention will become apparent from the description of this specification and the accompanying drawings.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS At least the following will be made clear by the description in the present specification and the accompanying drawings.

The developer carrying member has a developer, a developer carrying member having a large number of depressions on the surface for carrying the developer, and an abutting member abutting against the developer carrying member. A developing device for developing a latent image carried on an image carrier by a developer carried on a body, wherein the depression has a large number of convex portions on a surface of the depression. Since the depression has a large number of protrusions on the surface of the depression, the rolling property of the developer can be improved.

The contact member may be a developer charging member for charging the developer carried on the developer carrying member. By doing so, it becomes possible to solve the problem that the charge of the developer becomes insufficient due to the deterioration of the rolling property.

The developer carrying member is movable, and the ten-point average roughness in the moving direction of the developer carrying member is in the direction toward the tip on the side used for charging the developer charging member. It may be larger than the ten-point average roughness. With this configuration, the performance of the developer carrying member for carrying the developer can be sufficiently exhibited. Further, the developer charging member may regulate the layer thickness of the developer carried on the developer carrier. In this way, the layer thickness of the sufficiently charged developer can be properly regulated.

The contact member may be a developer stripping member for stripping the developer carried by the developer carrying member. By doing so, it becomes possible to solve the problem that the developer, which causes deterioration of the rolling property, cannot be sufficiently stripped off.

Further, the developer stripping member has a foam elastic body on the surface of the developer stripping member, the developer carrying body is movable, and the developer carrying body is movable in the moving direction of the developer carrying body. The size of the diameter of the depression may be equal to or smaller than the size of the cell diameter of the foamed elastic body. This makes it possible to firmly enclose the developer in the cells provided in the foamed elastic body and peel off the developer carried on the developer carrier, which causes deterioration of rolling property. It is possible to more appropriately solve the problem that the developer cannot be stripped off sufficiently.

The developer stripping member may supply the developer to the developer carrying member. By doing so, it is possible to ideally repeat the supply and stripping of the developer by the member, so that the developer carried by the developer carrying member and the developer housed in the developer housing portion are The developer is appropriately circulated to and from the developer, and as a result, it is possible to more effectively suppress the so-called history problem and the like.

The developer stripping member and the developer carrying member are rotatable, and the rotation direction of the developer stripping member is opposite to the rotating direction of the developer carrying member. Good. By doing so, the above-mentioned effect, that is, the effect that the problem that the developer cannot be sufficiently peeled off can be solved,
Will be exhibited more effectively.

The developer may be manufactured by a crushing method. When the developer is manufactured by the pulverization method, it becomes relatively difficult to form a spherical developer, and therefore, the rolling property of the developer becomes insufficient, so that the above-mentioned effect, that is, the rolling property of the developer is The effect of being able to improve will be exhibited more effectively.

Further, the developer may include a release agent. When the developer has a release agent, the rolling property of the developer becomes insufficient, so that the above-mentioned effect, that is, the effect that the rolling property of the developer can be improved is more effective. Will be demonstrated.

Further, the latent image carried on the image carrier by the developer may be developed by using a jumping developing system. By doing so, the above-mentioned effect, that is, the effect that the rolling property of the developer can be improved can be more effectively exhibited for the reason described below.

The diameter of the depression is preferably 80 μm or less, and if it is 20 to 30 μm,
More preferable. By doing so, the performance relating to carrying the developer can be sufficiently exhibited.

The diameter of the convex portion is preferably 7 μm or less, and more preferably 0.5 to 1.5 μm. By doing so, an ideal contact area between the developer and the surface of the depression can be secured.

The depression may be formed by blasting the surface of the developer carrying member. By doing so, it is possible to form a rough surface having a smooth cross-sectional shape with few cracks on the surface of the developer carrying member.

Further, the convex portion may be formed by using particles having a large number of depressions for the blast treatment. By doing so, the process after the surface of the developer carrying member is blasted can be largely omitted, so that the manufacturing cost of the developer carrying member can be reduced.

The many depressions of the particles may be formed by etching the surface of the particles. By doing so, it becomes possible to easily form a large number of depressions included in the particles.

The protrusions may be formed by blasting the surface of the developer carrying member, etching the surface, and then subjecting the surface to electroless plating. By doing so, since cracks (cracks) generated by the blasting treatment on the surface of the developer carrier can be filled by plating, problems such as a filming phenomenon due to the developer being embedded in the cracks can be avoided. In addition, it is possible to form minute protrusions in the depressions formed by blasting due to ridge growth during plating.

In addition, the projections, after blasting the surface of the developer carrying member, attach particles smaller than the particles used for the blasting treatment to the surface of the depressions obtained by the blasting treatment. It may be formed by In this way, by appropriately selecting the particles to be attached to the surface of the depression obtained by the blast treatment, it becomes possible to more easily adjust the size of the convex portion.

Further, the material of the developer carrying member may be an aluminum alloy. This makes it possible to reduce the manufacturing cost of the developer carrying member and to reduce the weight of the developing device due to the low cost of such a material.

Further, the material of the developer carrying member may be an iron alloy. By doing so, it is possible to reduce the abrasion of the irregularities on the surface of the developer carrier due to long-term use because of the property that such a material has high hardness.

Next, a developer, a developer carrying member having a large number of depressions on the surface for carrying the developer, and an abutting member abutting on the developer carrying member are provided. In a developing device for developing a latent image carried by a developer carried by a developer carrying body on an image carrying body by using a jumping developing system, the depression has a large number of convex portions on a surface of the depression, The abutting member is a developer charging member for charging the developer carried on the developer carrying member, the developer carrying member is rotatable, and the contact member in the rotating direction of the developer carrying member is sufficient. The point average roughness is larger than the ten-point average roughness in the direction toward the tip on the side used for charging the developer charging member, and the developer charging member is the developer carried by the developer carrier. The layer thickness of A developer stripping member for stripping off the developer carried on a carrier, wherein the developer stripping member has a foamed elastic body on the surface of the developer stripping member. The size of the diameter of the recess in the rotation direction of the is less than or equal to the size of the cell diameter of the foamed elastic body, the developer stripping member supplies the developer to the developer carrying member, The stripping member is rotatable, the rotation direction of the developer stripping member is opposite to the rotation direction of the developer carrier, the developer is manufactured by a pulverization method, and, Having a release agent, the diameter of the depression is 80 μm or less, the diameter of the convex portion is 7 μm or less, the depression is formed by blasting the surface of the developer carrier,
The convex portion is formed by blasting the surface of the developer carrying member, etching the surface, and then subjecting the surface to electroless plating. The material of the developer carrying member is iron. A developing device characterized by being an alloy. By doing so, most of the effects described above are achieved, and the object of the present invention is achieved more effectively.

Next, a developer, a developer carrying member having a large number of depressions on the surface for carrying the developer, and an abutting member abutting on the developer carrying member are provided. In an image forming apparatus provided with a developing device for developing a latent image carried on an image bearing member by a developer carried on a developer bearing member, the dent has a plurality of convex portions on a surface of the dent. A characteristic image forming apparatus. According to such an image forming apparatus, since the depression has a large number of protrusions on the surface of the depression, the rolling property of the developer can be improved.

Next, a computer main body, a display device connectable to the computer main body, and an image forming apparatus connectable to the computer main body, the developer being carried and having a large number of depressions on the surface thereof, are carried. And a contact member that contacts the developer carrier, and develops the latent image carried on the image carrier by the developer carried on the developer carrier. An image forming apparatus provided with a developing device, wherein the depression comprises an image forming apparatus having a large number of convex portions on a surface of the depression. The computer system realized in this way is superior to the conventional system as a whole system.

=== Overall Configuration Example of Image Forming Apparatus === An outline of a laser beam printer (hereinafter also referred to as a printer) 10 as an example of an image forming apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 shows a printer 10.
It is the figure which showed the main components which comprise. Note that FIG.
In the drawing, the up and down directions are indicated by arrows. For example, the paper feed tray 92 is arranged in the lower part of the printer 10, and the fixing unit 90 is arranged in the upper part of the printer 10.

The printer 10 according to this embodiment is shown in FIG.
As shown in, the charging unit 30, the exposure unit 40, the YMCK developing unit 50, the primary transfer unit 60, the intermediate transfer member 70, along the rotation direction of the photoconductor 20 as an example of the image carrier that carries the latent image. A cleaning unit 75 is provided, and further, a secondary transfer unit 80, a fixing unit 90, a display unit 95 which is a liquid crystal panel without a notification means to the user, and control of these units and the like to control the operation as a printer. It has a unit (Fig. 2).

The photosensitive member 20 has a cylindrical conductive base material and a photosensitive layer formed on the outer peripheral surface thereof, and is rotatable about the central axis. Rotate clockwise as shown by the arrow.

The charging unit 30 is a device for charging the photoconductor 20, and the exposure unit 40 is a device for forming a latent image on the charged photoconductor 20 by irradiating a laser. The exposure unit 40 has a semiconductor laser, a polygon mirror, an F-θ lens, and the like,
Based on an image signal input from a host computer (not shown) such as a personal computer or a word processor, a modulated laser is irradiated onto the charged photoconductor 20.

The YMCK developing unit 50 includes the photoconductor 20.
The latent image formed on the toner is used as an example of a developer contained in each developing device, that is, black (K) toner contained in the black developing device 51, and magenta containing in the magenta developing device 52. (M) toner, cyan (C) toner contained in the cyan developing device 53, and
This is a device for developing using the yellow (Y) toner contained in the yellow developing device 54.

In the present embodiment, the YMCK developing unit 50 rotates to move the positions of the four developing devices 51, 52, 53, 54. That is, this YMCK developing unit 5
0 designates the four developing devices 51, 52, 53, 54 as 4
The four developing devices 51, 52, 53, 54 are held by one holding portion 55a, 55b, 55c, 55d.
Can rotate about the central axis 50a while maintaining their relative positions. Then, the photoconductor 20
Each time the image formation for one page is completed, the developing device 51, 5 is selectively opposed to the photoconductor 20.
The latent image formed on the photoconductor 20 is developed with the toners contained in 2, 53, and 54.

The primary transfer unit 60 is a device for transferring the single-color toner image formed on the photoconductor 20 to the intermediate transfer body 70. When the four color toners are transferred in sequence, the intermediate transfer body 70 is transferred. A full-color toner image is formed on. The intermediate transfer member 70 is an endless belt and is rotationally driven at substantially the same peripheral speed as the photosensitive member 20.
The secondary transfer unit 80 transfers the single-color toner image or the full-color toner image formed on the intermediate transfer member 70 onto paper, film,
This is a device for transferring to a recording medium such as cloth.

The fixing unit 90 is a device for fusing a single color toner image or a full color toner image transferred onto a recording medium to a recording medium such as paper to form a permanent image.

The cleaning unit 75 is provided between the primary transfer unit 60 and the charging unit 30 and has a rubber cleaning blade 76 which is in contact with the surface of the photoconductor 20. The primary transfer unit 60 makes an intermediate transfer. After the toner image is transferred onto the body 70, the cleaning blade 76 scrapes and removes the toner remaining on the photoreceptor 20.

The control unit 100 includes a main controller 101 and a unit controller 1 as shown in FIG.
Image signals are input to the main controller 101, and the unit controller 102 controls the units and the like in accordance with a command based on the image signals to form an image.

Next, the printer 10 configured as described above.
The operation will be described with reference to other components.

First, when an image signal from a host computer (not shown) is input to the main controller 101 of the printer 10 via an interface (I / F) 112, the unit controller 102 of the unit controller 102 based on a command from the main controller 101. Control the photoconductor 20,
A developing roller as an example of a developer carrier provided in the developing device and an intermediate transfer body 70 rotate. Photoconductor 20
While rotating, the charging unit 30 at the charging position
Are sequentially charged.

The charged area of the photoconductor 20 is equal to that of the photoconductor 2.
With the rotation of 0, the exposure position is reached, and the exposure unit 40 forms a latent image corresponding to the image information of the first color, for example, yellow Y, in the area. Further, the YMCK developing unit 50 positions the yellow developing device 54 containing the yellow (Y) toner at the developing position facing the photoconductor 20.

The latent image formed on the photoconductor 20 reaches the developing position as the photoconductor 20 rotates, and is developed with yellow toner by the yellow developing device 54. As a result, a yellow toner image is formed on the photoconductor 20.

The yellow toner image formed on the photoconductor 20 reaches the primary transfer position as the photoconductor 20 rotates,
The image is transferred to the intermediate transfer body 70 by the primary transfer unit 60. At this time, a primary transfer voltage having a polarity opposite to the charging polarity of the toner is applied to the primary transfer unit 60. Meanwhile, during this time, the secondary transfer unit 80 is operated by the intermediate transfer member 70.
Away from.

By repeating the above processing for the second color, the third color, and the fourth color, the toner images of four colors corresponding to the respective image signals are superimposed on the intermediate transfer member 70. Transcribed. As a result, a full-color toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer member 70.

The full-color toner image formed on the intermediate transfer member 70 reaches the secondary transfer position as the intermediate transfer member 70 rotates, and is transferred to the recording medium by the secondary transfer unit 80. The recording medium is conveyed from the paper feed tray 92 to the secondary transfer unit 80 via the paper feed roller 94 and the registration roller 96. When performing the transfer operation, the secondary transfer unit 80 is pressed against the intermediate transfer body 70 and a secondary transfer voltage is applied.

The full-color toner image transferred onto the recording medium is heated and pressed by the fixing unit 90 and fused onto the recording medium.

On the other hand, after the photoconductor 20 has passed the primary transfer position, the toner adhering to the surface of the photoconductor 20 is scraped off by the cleaning blade 76 supported by the cleaning unit 75 to form the next latent image. Prepare for charging. The scraped off toner is collected by the residual toner collecting section of the cleaning unit 75.

=== Example of Configuration of Developing Device === Next, an example of the configuration of the developing device will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the main components of the developing device. Similar to FIG. 1, FIG. 3 also shows an up-down direction with arrows. For example, the central axis of the developing roller 510 as an example of the developer carrying member is below the central axis of the photoconductor 20. . Further, in FIG. 3, the yellow developing device 54 is
It is shown in a state in which it is located at the developing position facing the photoconductor 20.

The YMCK developing unit 50 includes a black developing device 51 containing black (K) toner, a magenta developing device 52 containing magenta (M) toner, a cyan developing device 53 containing cyan (C) toner, and ,
Yellow developing device 54 containing yellow (Y) toner
However, since the configuration of each developing device is the same, the yellow developing device 54 will be described below.

The yellow developing device 54 includes a developing roller 510 as a developer carrying member, a seal member 520, a toner containing portion 530, a frame 540, a toner supply roller 550 as a developer stripping member, and a developer charging member. It has a blade 560 and a blade backing member 570 for urging the regulating blade.

The developing roller 510 carries the toner T, which is an example of a developer, and conveys it to a developing position facing the photoconductor 20. The developing roller 510 is made of an aluminum alloy such as a 5056 aluminum alloy or a 6063 aluminum alloy, an iron alloy such as STKM, or the like, and is plated with nickel or chrome as necessary. Further, the developing roller 510 is rotatable about the central axis,
As shown in FIG. 3, the photoconductor 20 rotates in the opposite direction (counterclockwise in FIG. 3) to the rotation direction (clockwise in FIG. 3). The central axis is below the central axis of the photoconductor 20. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, when the yellow developing device 54 faces the photoconductor 20, there is a gap between the developing roller 510 and the photoconductor 20. That is, the yellow developing device 54 develops the latent image formed on the photoconductor 20 in a non-contact state.

When the latent image formed on the photoconductor 20 is developed, an alternating electric field is formed between the developing roller 510 and the photoconductor 20. That is, in the present embodiment, the latent image carried on the photoconductor 20 by the toner T is developed using the jumping development method.

The seal member 520 is the yellow developing device 5.
4 prevents the toner T inside 4 from leaking to the outside of the device, and the toner T on the developing roller 510 that has passed the developing position.
Are collected in the developing device without being scraped off. The seal member 520 is a seal made of polyethylene film or the like. The seal member 520 is a seal support metal plate 522.
Supported by the seal support sheet metal 522 and attached to the frame 540. Further, a seal urging member 524 made of maltoprene or the like is provided on the opposite side of the seal member 520 from the developing roller 510 side, and the seal member 520 is developed by the elastic force of the seal urging member 524. It is pressed against 510. The contact position where the seal member 520 contacts the developing roller 510 is above the central axis of the developing roller 510.

The toner storage portion 530 is a portion for storing the toner T, and is constituted by a part of the frame 540. The toner T stored in the toner storage portion 530
Although a stirring member may be provided to stir the developing device, in the present embodiment, each developing device (black developing device 51, magenta developing device 52,
Since the cyan developing device 53 and the yellow developing device 54) rotate and the toner T in each developing device is agitated, the toner container 530 is not provided with an agitating member.

The toner supply roller 550 has a function of supplying the toner T stored in the toner storage portion 530 to the developing roller 510, and the developing roller 510 after development.
It has a function of stripping the toner remaining in the developing roller 510 from the developing roller 510. The toner supply roller 550 is disposed below the toner storage unit 530, and the toner T stored in the toner storage unit 530 is the toner storage unit 530.
At the lower part of the developing roller 5 by the toner supply member 530.
Supplied to 10. The toner supply roller 550 is rotatable about a central axis, and the central axis is below the central axis of rotation of the developing roller 510. Further, the toner supply roller 550 rotates in the opposite direction (clockwise in FIG. 3) to the rotation direction of the developing roller 510 (counterclockwise in FIG. 3).

The toner supply roller 550 is made of a foamed elastic material such as polyurethane foam, and contacts the developing roller 510 in an elastically deformed state. Also,
The foamed elastic body has a large number of cells (foaming holes) (not shown), and the cells play a role of improving the performance of carrying and carrying the toner T. In the present embodiment, the toner supply roller 550 is configured such that the diameter of the above-mentioned depression in the rotation direction of the developing roller 510 is equal to or smaller than the cell diameter of the foamed elastic body. In the present specification, the “cell diameter” means, for example, a surface of the toner supply roller 550 is photographed by a scanning electron microscope (SEM: Scanning Electron Microscope), and arbitrarily extracted from the photographed photographs. 1
This is the average value when the average value of the diameters of the remaining 8 cells, excluding the cell having the maximum cell diameter and the cell having the minimum cell diameter, is measured by measuring the cell diameter of 0 cells.

The regulating blade 560 is connected to the developing roller 510.
The toner T carried on the developing roller 510 is charged, and the layer thickness of the toner T carried on the developing roller 510 is regulated. The regulation blade 560 has a rubber portion 560a and a rubber support portion 560b. The rubber portion 560a is made of silicon rubber, urethane rubber, or the like, and has a rubber supporting portion 560b.
Is a thin plate having a spring property such as phosphor bronze and stainless steel. The rubber portion 560a is supported by the rubber supporting portion 560b, and the rubber supporting portion 560b is supported by the blade supporting sheet metal 562 with one end thereof sandwiched and supported by the pair of blade supporting sheet metal 562. Is attached to. Further, a blade backing member 570 made of malt plane or the like is provided on the opposite side of the regulation blade 560 from the developing roller 510 side.

Here, the rubber portion 560a is pressed against the developing roller 510 by the elastic force due to the bending of the rubber supporting portion 560b. Further, the blade back member 570 is
Toner is prevented from entering between the rubber supporting portion 560b and the frame 540, the elastic force due to the bending of the rubber supporting portion 560b is stabilized, and the rubber portion 560a is moved from the back of the rubber portion 560a toward the developing roller 510. By biasing the rubber portion 560a,
Is pressed against. Therefore, the blade back member 570
Improves the uniform contact of the rubber portion 560a with the developing roller 510.

The end of the regulating blade 560 opposite to the side supported by the blade supporting sheet metal 562, that is, the tip, is not in contact with the developing roller 510, and the portion separated from the tip by a predetermined distance. , Is in contact with the developing roller 510 with a certain width. That is, the regulation blade 560 is
The developing roller 510 is not in contact with the edge at the edge but is in contact with the abdomen. Further, the regulation blade 560 is arranged so that its tip end faces the upstream side in the rotation direction of the developing roller 510, and is in contact with what is called a counter.
The contact position where the regulation blade 560 contacts the developing roller 510 is below the central axis of the developing roller 510 and below the central axis of the toner supply roller 550.

Further, the regulating blade 560 and the developing roller 5
The surface roughness of the developing roller 510 is larger than the surface roughness of the side of the developing roller 510 used for charging the regulating blade 560 (in other words, the surface of the developing roller 510 is larger than the surface of the developing roller 510). , Rougher than the surface of the regulating blade 560 used for charging). More specifically, the ten-point average roughness in the rotation direction of the developing roller 510 is larger than the ten-point average roughness in the direction toward the tip on the side used for charging the regulation blade 560.

The frame 540 is manufactured by joining a plurality of integrally molded frames (upper frame, lower frame, etc.) and has an opening at the bottom. The developing roller 510 is arranged in this opening with a part thereof exposed.

The yellow developing device 5 thus constructed
4, the toner supply roller 550 has the toner storage unit 5
The toner T contained in 30 is supplied to the developing roller 510. The toner T supplied to the developing roller 510 reaches the contact position of the regulating blade 560 with the rotation of the developing roller 510, and when passing through the contact position, an electric charge is applied and the layer thickness is regulated. To be done. The toner T on the developing roller 510 whose layer thickness is regulated is
Is further rotated to reach a developing position facing the photoconductor 20, and the latent image formed on the photoconductor 20 is developed under an alternating electric field at the developing position. The developing roller 5 that has passed the developing position by further rotation of the developing roller 510.
The toner T on 10 passes through the seal member 520 and is collected in the developing device without being scraped off by the seal member 520. Further, the toner still remaining on the developing roller 510 can be peeled off by the toner supply roller 550.

=== Outline of Control Unit === Next, the configuration of the control unit 100 will be described with reference to FIG. The main controller 101 of the control unit 100 is connected to a host computer via an interface 112 and includes an image memory 113 for storing an image signal input from the host computer. The unit controller 102 includes each unit (charging unit 30, exposure unit 40,
The YMCK developing unit 50, the primary transfer unit 60, the cleaning unit 75, the secondary transfer unit 80, the fixing unit 90, and the display unit 95) are electrically connected to each other by receiving signals from the sensors provided therein. Each unit is controlled based on the signal input from the main controller 101 while detecting the state of.

=== Configuration of Toner === Next, the configuration of the toner T according to the present embodiment will be described. The toner T has mother particles and an external additive. The mother particles and the external additive are a Henschel mixer,
They are mutually dry-mixed and adhered to each other by a high-speed fluidized mixer such as Perpenmeier or a mixer such as mechanochemical method. The toner T may be either negative polarity or positive polarity toner.

The mother particles have materials such as a colorant, a charge control agent, a release agent (WAX), and a resin. Using these materials, mother particles are produced by a pulverization method such as a kneading pulverization method. The mother particles may further contain a dispersant, a magnetic material, other additives and the like.

As mother particles, polystyrene and copolymers such as hydrogenated styrene resin, styrene / isobutylene copolymer, ABS resin, ASA resin, AS resin, A
AS resin, ACS resin, AES resin, styrene / P-chlorostyrene copolymer, styrene / propylene copolymer,
Styrene / butadiene crosslinked polymer, styrene / butadiene / chlorinated paraffin copolymer, styrene / allyl /
Alcohol copolymer, styrene / butadiene rubber emulsion, styrene / maleic acid ester copolymer, styrene / isobutylene copolymer, styrene / maleic anhydride copolymer, acrylate resin or methacrylate resin and its copolymer, Styrene / acrylic resin and its copolymer, for example, styrene / acrylic copolymer, styrene / diethylamino / ethylmethacrylate copolymer, styrene / butadiene / acrylic acid ester copolymer, styrene / methylmethacrylate copolymer , Styrene / n-butyl methacrylate copolymer, styrene / methyl methacrylate / n-butyl acrylate copolymer, styrene / methyl methacrylate / butyl arylate / N- (ethoxymethyl) acrylamide copolymer Styrene / glycidyl methacrylate copolymer, styrene / butadiene / dimethyl / aminoethyl methacrylate copolymer, styrene / acrylic acid ester / maleic acid ester copolymer, styrene / methyl methacrylate / 2-ethylhexyl acrylate copolymer Coal, styrene / n-butyl arylate / ethyl glycol methacrylate copolymer, styrene / n-
Butylmethacrylate / acrylic acid copolymer, styrene / n-butylmethacrylate / maleic anhydride copolymer, styrene / butylacrylate / isobutylmaleic acid half ester / divinylbenzene copolymer, polyester and its copolymer, Polyethylene and its copolymer, epoxy resin, silicone resin, polypropylene and its copolymer, fluororesin, polyamide resin, polyvinyl alcohol resin, polyurethane resin, polyvinyl butyral resin, etc., one kind or a blend of two or more kinds. Can be used.

Examples of the colorant include carbon black, spirit black, nigrosine, rhodamine, triaminotriphenylmethane, cationic, dioxazine, copper phthalocyanine, berylylene, azo, gold-containing azo pigments, azochrome complex, carmine, Benzidine,
Solar Pure Yellow 8G, quinacridone, polytungstophosphoric acid, induslen blue, sulfonamide derivative and the like can be used.

As the charge control agent, an electron-accepting organic complex, chlorinated polyester, nitrofunnic acid, quaternary ammonium salt, pyridinyl salt and the like can be used.

As the release agent (WAX), low molecular weight polypropylene, low molecular weight polyethylene, ethylene bisamide, paracrystalline wax such as microcrystalline wax, carnauba wax, beeswax, etc. are preferably used. It is not particularly limited as long as it is incompatible and has a releasing property. In the present embodiment, “not compatible” means a state in which the wax is dispersed in the mother particles in an island shape and is not incorporated in the molecular chain of the resin when melt-kneaded.

Although oil may be applied to the fixing roller in order to prevent the toner T from adhering to the fixing roller in the fixing process, this oil application is unnecessary in the present embodiment. Therefore, a large amount of release agent is included in the mother particles. The content of the release agent is 3 to 10% by weight based on the resin. Is.

As the dispersant, metal soap, polyethylene glycol or the like can be used. Other additives include
Zinc stearate, zinc oxide, cerium oxide and the like can be used.

As the magnetic agent, Fe, Co, Ni, C
Metal powder such as r, Mn, Zn, Fe3O4, Fe2O3, Cr
A metal oxide such as 2O3 or ferrite, an alloy that exhibits ferromagnetism by heat treatment such as an alloy containing manganese and an acid, or the like can be used, and a pretreatment such as a coupling agent may be performed in advance.

As the external additive, various ones having a surface subjected to a hydrophobic treatment can be used. In the toner T according to the present embodiment, silica is used as the external additive, but in addition to silica, fine particles of metal oxides such as aluminum oxide, titanium oxide, strontium titanate, cerium oxide, magnesium oxide, and chromium oxide, Fine particles of nitride such as silicon nitride,
Fine particles of a carbide such as silicon carbide, fine particles of a metal salt such as calcium sulfate, barium sulfate, calcium carbonate and the like, inorganic fine particles such as a composite thereof, and organic fine particles such as acrylic fine particles can be used. As the surface treatment agent, a silane coupling agent, a titanate coupling agent, a fluorine-containing silane coupling agent, a silicone oil, or the like can be used. The hydrophobicity of the external additive treated with these treating agents is preferably 60% or more according to the conventional methanol method. When it is less than this range, adsorption of water tends to cause deterioration of chargeability and fluidity at high temperature and high humidity, which is not preferable. The particle size of the external additive is 0.001 to 1 μ from the viewpoint of transportability and chargeability.
It is preferably m. Further, the external additive is not limited to one kind, and a mixture of two or more kinds can be used.

=== Toner Analysis Method === Next, a toner analysis method will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the toner analysis method according to the present embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an analysis result of the toner according to the present exemplary embodiment.

The toner analysis method according to this embodiment can also analyze toner particles having a particle size of 1 micron or less, unlike the well-known small hole passage method. further,
Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM)
Unlike the croscope), it is possible to quantitatively analyze the physical properties of each toner particle. In these respects, it is an extremely excellent toner analysis method.

In the toner analysis method according to this embodiment, an aerosizer as a dry particle size distribution analyzer is used as the analyzer. As an aerosizer, there is Model 3225 Aerosizer DSP manufactured by TSI.

This toner analysis method measures the speed at which particles fly in a supersonic airflow and analyzes the particle size distribution based on the measurement results.

As shown in FIG. 4, when two parts having different pressures are connected by a nozzle, air flows from the high pressure part to the low pressure part. Here, if the pressure ratio between the high pressure portion and the low pressure portion is increased, the expansion of air at the nozzle outlet forms a supersonic region within a shock wave called a barrel shock. This formed supersonic region ends with a flat shock wave known as a Mach disk. Here, the toner particles introduced into the nozzles are jetted from the nozzles to the ultra-high speed region while riding on the sheath air flow. The small toner particles are accelerated to almost the air flow velocity by the suction force between the air and the toner particles. On the other hand, large particles have a large volume and thus have a reduced acceleration (aerodynamic separation).

Two laser beams (first laser beam and second laser beam) are arranged at intervals of 1 (1) in the ultra-high speed region of the tip of the nozzle. The toner particles ejected to the ultra-high speed region first cross the first laser beam, and then
Cross the second laser beam.

Therefore, in this analysis method, the time from when the toner particles cross the first laser beam to when the toner particles cross the second laser beam, that is, the time during which the toner particles fly between the two laser beams (Time of Fl
The height of the toner particles is measured by a correlation method, and the particle diameter of the toner is analyzed from the calibration curve of the density of the toner particles and the flight time versus the particle diameter.

FIG. 5 shows the result of analysis of the toner according to this embodiment by the above-described analysis method. Figure 5
Shows the particle size distribution of the toner whose distribution standard is the number distribution, the horizontal axis shows the particle size of the toner particles, and the vertical axis shows the number frequency for each particle size.

=== Example of Structure of Surface of Developing Roller and Manufacturing Method Thereof === Next, an example of structure of the surface of the developing roller and an example of manufacturing method thereof will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8. Figure 6
FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically showing the structure of the surface of developing roller 510 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically showing an example of how the surface structure of the developing roller 510 according to the present embodiment transits during the manufacturing process.
FIG. 8 will be described later.

First, refer to FIG. As is apparent from the figure, the developing roller 510 according to the present embodiment has a large number of depressions (in FIG. 6, the number of depressions is 5 for convenience of understanding) for easy understanding. This depression has a large number of protrusions on its surface.

The diameter of the depression is preferably 80 μm or less from the viewpoint of sufficiently exerting the performance related to the toner carrying, and if it is 20 to 30 μm,
More preferable.

The diameter of the convex portion is 7 μm from the viewpoint of ensuring an ideal contact area between the toner and the surface of the depression.
The following is preferable, and 0.5 to 1.5 μm
Is more preferable. In other words, if the diameter of the convex portion is too large, the rolling property of the toner located between the adjacent convex portions deteriorates, so it is desirable to use the diameter of the convex portion.

The surface structure of the developing roller 510 as described above can be manufactured as follows.

First, the surface of the developing roller 510 is blasted with spherical particles. More specifically, glass beads are used as spherical particles that are a blast material, and the glass beads are ejected from a blast nozzle to the developing roller 510.
It is sprayed on the surface of with a predetermined pressure for a predetermined time. Figure 7 (a)
And, as shown in FIG. 7B, a large number of depressions are formed on the surface of the developing roller 510 by such a process (FIG. 7B).
In FIG. 6, five depressions are shown as in FIG. 6). In this embodiment, the particle size is 80
By using glass beads having a diameter of ˜120 μm as a blast material, the depressions having a diameter of 20 μm to 30 μm are obtained (in FIG. 7B, depressions of 20 μm and 30 μm are shown). In addition, in the present embodiment,
Although glass beads are used as the spherical particles, the spherical particles are not limited thereto.

Next, the surface of the developing roller 510 is washed,
After drying, the surface is subjected to etching treatment. Although sulfuric acid is used as a reagent for etching in this embodiment, other reagents such as nitric acid, phosphoric acid, and hydrofluoric acid may be used. Further, in the present embodiment, the surface was immersed in the reagent for 20 seconds. The etching processing time is not limited to this, but may be 10 seconds to 5 seconds.
0 seconds is desirable.

FIG. 7 (c) (FIG. 7 (c) mainly shows the leftmost depression among the five depressions shown in FIG. 7 (b) for easy understanding) and As shown in FIG. 7D, as a result of this etching process, the surface of the developing roller 510 is corroded, and many small holes are formed on the surface.

Next, after subjecting the surface to pretreatment for forming a zinc alloy film, electroless plating is performed. In the present embodiment, the plating is electroless Ni-P plating, but electroless Ni-B plating, electroless Pd-P plating, electroless C
Other electroless plating such as r plating may be used. Further, in the present embodiment, the plating thickness is about 4 μm. The plating thickness is not limited to this, but is preferably 3 μm to 5 μm.

As shown in FIGS. 7 (d) and 7 (e), as a result of such electroless plating, the plating grows with the small holes formed by the etching treatment as nuclei.
A large number of protrusions are formed on the surface of the depression. In other words, due to the presence of the small holes formed by the etching process, the surface of the depression may have a portion where the plating progresses faster and a portion where the plating progresses later, and as a result, a large number of protrusions are formed.

The size of the convex portion depends on the size of the small holes and the like, and the size of the small holes depends on the etching processing time and the like. In the present embodiment, the surface of the developing roller 510 was immersed in the reagent for 20 seconds as described above, but in this case, the diameter is 0.5 to 1.5.
A convex portion of μm is formed (0.8 μm in FIG. 7E).
And a 1 μm protrusion is shown).

Next, refer to FIG. FIG. 8 is a diagram in which the surface of the developing roller 510 after the electroless plating treatment is observed by a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Two figures are shown in FIG. 8, but the difference is the difference in magnification. That is, FIG.
FIG. 8B is an enlarged view of a part (mainly a depression) of the surface shown in FIG. As can be understood from FIG. 8A, the surface of the developing roller 510 has a large number of depressions formed by the blast treatment. Figure 8 (a)
In, two depressions are shown with their diameters.

In the present specification, the "diameter" of the depression is
Means that when a target depression is specified like the diameters of the two depressions shown in FIG. 8A, the diameter of the specified depression is set, and in other cases, for example, a large number of The surface of the developing roller 510 having a depression is scanned with a scanning electron microscope (S
EM: Scanning Electron Microscope), and the diameter of 10 pits arbitrarily extracted from the photograph was measured, and the remaining 8 pits with the maximum diameter and the minimum diameter were excluded. The average value when the average value of the diameters of the depressions is calculated.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 8 (a) and 8 (b), there are many convex portions on the surface of the depression. Figure 8
In (b), the said convex part is shown with the diameter.

In the present specification, the "diameter" of the convex portion
Means that when a target convex portion is specified like the diameters of the two convex portions shown in FIG. 8B, the diameter of the specified convex portion is set, and in other cases, for example, , The surface of the developing roller 510 having a large number of convex portions is scanned with a scanning electron microscope (S
EM: Scanning Electron Microscope), and the diameters of 10 convex portions arbitrarily extracted from the photographed photographs were measured, and the convex portion having the maximum diameter and the convex portion having the minimum diameter were excluded. The average value when the average value of the diameters of the remaining eight convex portions is obtained.

Next, another method for manufacturing the above-mentioned structure of the surface of the developing roller 510 will be described.

In the previous embodiment, the developing roller 5
The surface of 10 was blasted with spherical particles, but the spherical particles used for the blasting are processed here. That is, the surface of the spherical particles used for the blast treatment is subjected to etching treatment. As a result of such etching treatment, the surface of the spherical particle is corroded, and a large number of small holes as depressions are formed on the surface. Then, similar to the above-described process, the spherical particles are sprayed onto the surface of the developing roller 510 from the blast nozzle. By this processing, a large number of depressions are formed on the surface of the developing roller 510, and
Many protrusions are formed in the depression. That is, the small holes formed on the surface of the spherical particles play a role of forming a convex portion inside the surface depression of the developing roller 510.

In this embodiment also, 80 to 1
By using spherical particles having a particle size of 20 μm as a blasting material, the depressions having a diameter of 20 to 30 μm are obtained. In addition, the size of the small holes is adjusted by adjusting the etching processing time, and the size is 0.5 to 1.5 μm.
The said convex part which has a diameter of is obtained.

As another method of manufacturing the structure of the surface of the developing roller 510 described above, after blasting the surface, particles smaller than the particles used for the blasting can be obtained by the blasting. There is a method of attaching it to the surface of the hollow.

For example, after the surface of the developing roller 510 is blasted, a coating process of spraying a coating agent containing fine particles onto the surface is performed. By these processes, many depressions are formed on the surface of the developing roller 510, and many protrusions are formed in the depressions. That is, the fine particles contained in the coating agent form the convex portion inside the surface depression of the developing roller 510.

In this embodiment also, 80 to 1
By using spherical particles having a particle size of 20 μm as a blasting material, the depressions having a diameter of 20 to 30 μm are obtained. Further, by selecting a coating agent containing fine particles having an appropriate size, the convex portion having a diameter of 0.5 to 1.5 μm is obtained.

As described above, since the depressions on the surface of the developing roller 510 have a large number of protrusions on the surface of the depressions, the rolling property of the toner can be improved.

That is, as described in the section of the background art, when the surface roughness of the recess formed by blasting or the like is small (in other words, the surface of the recess is not so rough), the abutting member described above is used. Then, at the contact portion where the developing roller is in contact, the rolling property of the toner carried on the developing roller deteriorates (in other words, the toner does not roll much in the recess). The occurrence of such a phenomenon is due to the fact that the contact area between the toner and the surface of the depression becomes large due to the lack of roughness on the surface of the depression.

The contact member is the regulation blade 56.
In the case of a developer charging member such as 0, that is, by the developer charging member, the developer charging member and the developing roller 5 are
When the toner carried on the developing roller is charged at the contact portion where 10 contacts, the deterioration of the rolling property causes a problem that the toner is insufficiently charged. In other words, if the toner rolling is insufficient,
The position where the toner contacts the developer charging member or the developing roller 510 is fixed, and the charging of the toner due to the contact is hindered.

Such insufficient toner charging causes problems such as toner scattering, fogging, and toner falling off.

Further, the contact member is the toner supply roller 5
In the case of a developer stripping member such as 50, that is, after development, the developer stripping member remains on the developing roller at the contact portion where the developer stripping member and the developing roller 510 are in contact with each other. When the existing toner is peeled off, the deterioration of the rolling property causes a problem that the toner cannot be sufficiently peeled off.

Due to such insufficiency, the toner may remain at the same position on the surface of the developing roller, and the deterioration of the toner may progress, resulting in inconvenience such as so-called filming phenomenon. Further, since the toner continues to stay at the same position on the surface of the developing roller, the toner is not properly circulated between the toner and the toner accommodated in the toner accommodating portion, which causes a so-called history problem. there's a possibility that.

Therefore, by providing a large number of convex portions on the surface of the depression of the developing roller 510, the surface of the depression is roughened so that the contact area between the toner and the surface of the depression is reduced. As a result, the rolling property of the toner is improved, and the above problem can be solved.

=== Other Embodiments === The developing device and the like according to the present invention have been described based on the above-described embodiments, but the above-described embodiments of the present invention facilitate understanding of the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The present invention can be modified and improved without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and it goes without saying that the present invention includes equivalents thereof.

In the above embodiments, the intermediate transfer type full color laser beam printer was described as an example of the image forming apparatus, but the present invention is not limited to the intermediate transfer type full color laser beam printer, monochrome laser beam printer, and copying machine. The present invention can be applied to various image forming apparatuses such as a facsimile and a facsimile.

Further, the photosensitive member is not limited to a so-called photosensitive roller constituted by providing a photosensitive layer on the outer peripheral surface of a cylindrical conductive substrate, and a photosensitive layer is provided on the surface of a belt-shaped conductive substrate. A so-called photosensitive belt configured as described above may be used.

Although the contact member is the developer charging member for charging the toner carried on the developing roller in the above embodiment, the contact member is not limited to this.

However, in this way, as described above, it is possible to solve the problem that the charging of the toner becomes insufficient due to the deterioration of the rolling property, and therefore, the above embodiment is more preferable. Is more desirable.

Further, in the above embodiment, the developing roller is movable, and the ten-point average roughness in the moving direction of the developing roller is in the direction toward the tip on the side used for charging the developer charging member. The roughness is determined to be larger than the ten-point average roughness, but the invention is not limited to this.

However, as described above, when the surface roughness of the developing roller is made rougher than the surface roughness of the developer charging member, the toner is more likely to be carried by the developing roller than the developer charging member. The above-described embodiment is more preferable in that the performance of the roller for carrying the toner can be sufficiently exhibited.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the developer charging member regulates the layer thickness of the toner carried on the developing roller, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the developer charging member may be like the toner supply roller described above.

However, in this way, the above embodiment is more preferable in that the layer thickness of the sufficiently charged toner can be appropriately regulated.

Further, in the above embodiment, the contact member is the developer stripping member for stripping the toner carried on the developing roller, but the present invention is not limited to this. .

However, in this case, as described above, the problem that the toner, which causes the deterioration of the rolling property, cannot be sufficiently peeled off can be solved. Is more desirable.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the developer stripping member has a foamed elastic body on the surface of the developer stripping member, the developing roller is movable, and the developing roller is movable. The size of the diameter of the depression in the direction is equal to or less than the size of the cell diameter of the foamed elastic body, but the size is not limited to this.

However, this makes it possible to firmly enclose the toner in the cells provided in the foamed elastic body and peel off the toner carried on the developing roller, so that the rolling property is deteriorated. The above-described embodiment is more preferable in that the problem that the toner that is caused cannot be removed sufficiently can be solved more appropriately.

Further, in the above embodiment, the developer stripping member supplies the toner to the developing roller, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the developer stripping member may be the one such as the regulating blade described above.

However, in this way, it is possible to ideally repeat the supply and the stripping of the toner by the member, so that the toner carried on the developing roller and the toner housed in the toner housing portion. The above-described embodiment is more preferable in that the toner is appropriately circulated between the toner and the toner, and as a result, the problem of so-called history can be more effectively suppressed.

Further, in the above embodiment, the developer stripping member and the developing roller are rotatable, and the rotation direction of the developer stripping member is opposite to the rotation direction of the developing roller. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the rotation direction of the developer stripping member and the rotation direction of the developing roller may be the same direction.

However, when the rotation direction of the developer stripping member is opposite to the rotation direction of the developing roller, the toner is less likely to be stripped as compared with the case where the developing roller is in the same direction. The above embodiment is more preferable in that the above effect, that is, the effect that the problem that the toner cannot be sufficiently peeled off can be solved more effectively.

In the above embodiment, the toner is manufactured by the pulverization method, but the invention is not limited to this. For example, the toner is manufactured by the spray-dry method, the polymerization method or the like. Good.

However, when the toner is manufactured by the pulverization method, it becomes relatively difficult to form a spherical toner, and the rolling property of the toner becomes insufficient. Therefore, the above-mentioned effect, that is, the rolling property of the toner is obtained. The above-described embodiment is more preferable in that the effect of being able to improve is more effectively exhibited.

In the above embodiment, the toner has the release agent, but the present invention is not limited to this.

However, when the toner has a releasing agent, the rolling property of the toner becomes insufficient, so that the above-mentioned effect, that is, the effect that the rolling property of the toner can be improved can be obtained. The above-described embodiment is more preferable in that it is more effectively exhibited.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the latent image carried on the photosensitive member by the toner is developed by using the jumping developing system, but the invention is not limited to such a system.

However, in this way, the above-mentioned effect, that is, the effect that the rolling property of the toner can be improved can be more effectively exhibited for the following reason. The above embodiment is more desirable.

Here, the above reason will be described. If the rolling property of the toner is not sufficient, it becomes difficult to densely fill the developing roller with the toner, and it is also difficult to form the toner in multiple layers on the developing roller. In such a situation, the absolute amount of toner for moving from the developing roller to the photoconductor becomes insufficient. Therefore, in order to eliminate this inconvenience, the rotation speed of the developing roller is increased to supply the toner to the photoconductor. There are possible ways to earn money. However, when the rotation speed of the developing roller is increased, it is not possible to sufficiently secure the number of reciprocation of toner in the developing nip in the jumping developing method.

Therefore, if the rolling property of the toner is improved, it is not necessary to increase the rotation speed of the developing roller to increase the supply amount of the toner to the photosensitive member.
Therefore, in the jumping developing method, the problem that the number of reciprocating movements of the toner at the developing nip cannot be sufficiently secured does not occur.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the above-mentioned depression is formed by blasting the surface of the developing roller, but the present invention is not limited to this.

However, in this way, since a rough surface having a smooth cross-sectional shape with few cracks can be formed on the surface of the developing roller, the filming phenomenon due to the toner being embedded in the cracks can be formed. The above embodiment is more preferable in that the problems such as the above can be alleviated.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the above-mentioned convex portion is formed by using particles having a large number of depressions for the blasting treatment.
It is not limited to this.

However, in this way, since the processing after the surface of the developing roller is blasted can be largely omitted, the manufacturing cost of the developing roller can be reduced, and therefore, the above-described embodiment is performed. The form is more preferable.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the large number of depressions of the particles are formed by etching the surface of the particles, but the present invention is not limited to this.

However, in this way, the above-described embodiment is more preferable in that a large number of depressions of the particles can be easily formed.

Further, in the above embodiment, the convex portion is formed by blasting the surface of the developer carrying member, etching the surface, and then subjecting the surface to electroless plating. However, the present invention is not limited to this.

However, in this way, cracks caused by the blast treatment on the surface of the developing roller.
Since it can be filled by plating, it is possible to avoid problems such as the filming phenomenon due to the toner being embedded in the cracks, and to make minute protrusions in the depressions formed by blast due to the bulge growth during plating. The above-described embodiment is more preferable in that the portion can be formed.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the convex portions are obtained by blasting the surface of the developer carrying member and then blasting the particles smaller than the particles used for the blasting treatment. Although it is formed by adhering to the surface of the hollow, it is not limited to this.

However, in this way, since it becomes possible to form the convex portion without performing the etching treatment, it is possible to appropriately select the particles to be adhered to the surface of the depression obtained by the blasting treatment. The above embodiment is more preferable in that the size of the convex portion can be adjusted more easily.

In the above embodiment, the material of the developing roller is aluminum alloy or iron alloy, but the material is not limited to this.

However, if the material of the developing roller is an aluminum alloy, the manufacturing cost of the developing roller can be reduced and the weight of the developing device can be reduced due to the low cost of the material. If the developing roller is made of an iron alloy, the above embodiment is more preferable in that it is possible to reduce the abrasion of the unevenness on the surface of the developing roller due to the long-term use because of the high hardness of the material.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the particles used for the blast treatment are spherical particles, but the particles are not limited to these and may be, for example, elliptical particles.

A computer main body, a display device connectable to the computer main body, and the image forming apparatus according to the above-described embodiment connectable to the computer main body,
An input device such as a mouse and a keyboard, a flexible disk drive device, and a CD- that are provided as necessary.
A computer system having a ROM drive device can also be realized, and the computer system realized in this way is superior to the conventional system as a whole system.

[0152]

According to the present invention, it is possible to realize a developing device, an image forming apparatus, and a computer system that improve the rolling property of a developer.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing main constituent elements constituting an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control unit of the image forming apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing main components of a developing device.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a toner analysis method according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an analysis result of the toner according to the exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically showing the structure of the surface of the developing roller 510 according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of how the surface structure of the developing roller 510 according to the present embodiment changes during the process of manufacturing the surface structure.

FIG. 8 shows a surface of a developing roller 510 after electroless plating, which is obtained by using a scanning electron microscope (SEM).
It is the figure observed by the croscope).

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Laser beam printer (main unit) 20 photoconductor 30 charging unit 40 exposure unit 50 YMCK development unit 50a rotating shaft 51 black developing device 52 Magenta Developing Device 53 Cyan developing device 54 yellow developing device 55 Support frame 55a, 55b, 55c, 55d Holding section 60 Primary transfer unit 70 Intermediate transfer body 75 cleaning unit 76 cleaning blade 80 Secondary transfer unit 90 fixing unit 92 paper feed tray 94 paper feed roller 95 display unit 96 cash register 100 control unit 101 Main controller 102 unit controller 112 interface 113 image memory 120 CPU 510 developing roller 520 seal member 522 Seal support sheet metal 524 Seal biasing member 530 toner container 540 frames 550 Toner supply roller 560 regulation blade 560a rubber part 560b rubber support 562 blade support sheet metal 570 Blade back member T toner

Continued front page    F term (reference) 2H077 AC04 AC16 AD02 AD06 AD13                       AD17 AD23 AD31 AD36 AE03                       CA12 EA16 EA24 FA03 FA14                       FA16 FA22 GA13                 3J103 AA02 AA61 EA20 GA02 GA58                       HA32

Claims (23)

[Claims] 1. A developer and a large number of depressions on the surface,
A developer carrier for carrying the developer, and an abutting member for abutting the developer carrier, and the developer carried on the image carrier by the developer carried on the developer carrier. A developing device for developing a latent image, wherein the depression has a large number of protrusions on the surface of the depression. 2. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the contact member is a developer charging member for charging the developer carried by the developer carrying member. . 3. The developing device according to claim 2, wherein the developer carrying member is movable, and the ten-point average roughness in the moving direction of the developer carrying member is:
A developing device, characterized in that it is larger than a ten-point average roughness in a direction toward a tip end on a side used for charging the developer charging member. 4. The developing device according to claim 2, wherein the developer charging member regulates a layer thickness of the developer carried on the developer carrying member. . 5. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the contact member is a developer stripping member for stripping off the developer carried by the developer carrying member. A developing device characterized by being present. 6. The developing device according to claim 5, wherein the developer stripping member has a foamed elastic body on a surface of the developer stripping member, and the developer carrying body is movable. The developing device, wherein the size of the diameter of the recess in the moving direction of the developer carrier is equal to or smaller than the size of the cell diameter of the foamed elastic body. 7. The developing device according to claim 5, wherein the developer stripping member supplies the developer to the developer carrying member. 8. The developing device according to claim 5, wherein the developer stripping member and the developer carrying member are rotatable, and the rotation direction of the developer stripping member is A developing device, which is in a direction opposite to a rotation direction of the developer carrying member. 9. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the developer is manufactured by a pulverization method. 10. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the developer contains a release agent. 11. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the latent image carried on the image carrier by the developer is developed by using a jumping developing system. apparatus. 12. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the recess has a diameter of 80 μm or less. 13. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the convex portion has a diameter of 7 μm or less. 14. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the recess is formed by blasting a surface of the developer carrier. 15. The developing device according to claim 14, wherein the convex portion is formed by using particles having a large number of depressions for the blast treatment. 16. The developing device according to claim 15, wherein a large number of depressions of the particles are formed by etching the surface of the particles. 17. The developing device according to claim 14, wherein the convex portion is formed by subjecting the surface of the developer carrier to a blast treatment, etching the surface, and further subjecting the surface to electroless plating. And a developing device. 18. The developing device according to claim 14, wherein the convex portion blasts the surface of the developer carrying member, and then treats particles smaller than the particles used for the blasting treatment. A developing device formed by adhering to the surface of the depression obtained by. 19. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the material of the developer carrying member is an aluminum alloy. 20. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the material of the developer carrying member is an iron alloy. 21. A developer, a developer carrying member having a large number of depressions on the surface for carrying the developer, and an abutting member abutting against the developer carrying body, In a developing device for developing a latent image carried on an image carrier by a developer carried on an agent carrier by using a jumping developing method, the depression has a large number of convex portions on a surface of the depression, The contact member is a developer charging member for charging the developer carried on the developer carrier, the developer carrier is rotatable, and ten points in the rotation direction of the developer carrier. The average roughness is
The side used for charging the developer charging member is larger than the ten-point average roughness in the direction toward the tip, and the developer charging member regulates the layer thickness of the developer carried on the developer carrier. The abutting member is a developer stripping member for stripping off the developer carried by the developer carrying member, and the developer stripping member is a foam elastic member on the surface of the developer stripping member. A body, the size of the diameter of the recess in the rotation direction of the developer carrying body is less than or equal to the size of the cell diameter of the foamed elastic body, the developer stripping member is the developer carrying body. To supply the developer, the developer stripping member is rotatable, the rotation direction of the developer stripping member is opposite to the rotation direction of the developer carrier, the developer, Manufactured by crushing method and release A developer, the diameter of the recess is 80 μm or less, the diameter of the protrusion is 7 μm or less, the recess is formed by blasting the surface of the developer carrier, the protrusion The portion is formed by blasting the surface of the developer carrying member, etching the surface, and then subjecting the surface to electroless plating, and the material of the developer carrying member is an iron alloy. A developing device characterized by being present. 22. A developer, a developer carrier having a large number of depressions on the surface for carrying the developer, and an abutting member abutting against the developer carrier, In an image forming apparatus provided with a developing device for developing a latent image carried on an image carrier by a developer carried on an agent carrier, the depression has a large number of convex portions on a surface of the depression. Image forming apparatus. 23. A computer main body, a display device connectable to the computer main body, and an image forming apparatus connectable to the computer main body, which carry the developer and the developer having a large number of depressions on its surface. And a contact member for contacting the developer carrier,
An image forming apparatus comprising a developing device for developing a latent image carried on an image carrier by a developer carried on the developer carrying body, wherein the depression has a large number of convex portions on a surface of the depression. An image forming apparatus for controlling a computer system.