JP2009003291A - Developing device, image forming apparatus and image formation system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To restrain uneven abrasion produced on the surface of a toner carrier. <P>SOLUTION: A developing device includes a toner carrier, which has on the surface thereof regularly disposed recessed parts and a plurality of non-recessed parts disposed regularly, the periphery of each non-recessed part being surrounded by the recessed part and which carries toner to develop a latent image supported on an image support with the toner; a toner supply member, which comes into contact with the surface of the toner carrier at the surface layer part formed of porous foam material to supply the toner to the toner carrier, wherein the maximum width of the non-recessed part is smaller than the average opening width of opening of the pore of the surface layer part; and the maximum height of the non-recessed part with reference to the recessed part is smaller than the average depth of the opening of the pore. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a developing device, an image forming apparatus, and an image forming system.

  Image forming apparatuses such as laser beam printers are already well known. Such an image forming apparatus includes, for example, a photoconductor as an example of an image carrier for carrying a latent image, regularly arranged concave portions, and a plurality of regularly arranged non-concave portions, A plurality of non-recesses surrounded by the recesses on the surface, and a toner carrying member that carries the toner and develops the latent image carried on the photoreceptor with the toner. A developing device. Then, when an image signal or the like is transmitted from an external device such as a host computer, the image forming apparatus positions the developing device at a developing position where the toner carrier is opposed to the photoconductor, and the latent image carried on the photoconductor. The image is developed by the toner carrier, and a toner image is formed on the photoreceptor. Then, the image forming apparatus transfers the toner image to a medium and finally forms an image on the medium.

Further, the developing device is provided with a toner supply member for supplying toner. The toner supply member contacts the surface of the toner carrier at the surface layer portion made of a porous foam material, and supplies the toner to the toner carrier.
JP 2006-259384 A

  The toner supply member supplies toner in a state where the surface layer portion thereof is in contact with the surface of the toner carrier. Therefore, if the developing device is continuously used, the surface of the toner carrier becomes significantly worn. The degree is preferably uniform across the surface. For example, if the surface layer portion intensively contacts only one of the concave portion and the non-concave portion on the surface of the toner carrier, and the occurrence of wear is biased to only one of the concave portions and the non-concave portion, the surface layer portion becomes the concave portion and The life of the toner carrier is shortened as compared with the case where the wear is evenly distributed by contacting both of the non-concave portions. Further, if the occurrence of wear is biased to only one side, the depth of the concave portion gradually changes as the use of the developing device is continued (this affects the toner conveyance amount). Therefore, an appropriate measure for solving the problem of uneven wear on the surface of the toner carrier is required.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object thereof is to prevent uneven wear from occurring on the surface of the toner carrier.

The main aspect of the present invention is to provide a plurality of regularly arranged recesses and a plurality of regularly arranged non-recesses, each of which is surrounded by the recess. A toner carrying member for carrying the toner and developing the latent image carried on the image carrying member by the toner, and a surface layer portion made of a porous foam material in contact with the surface of the toner carrying member. And a toner supply member that supplies the toner to the toner carrier, wherein the maximum width of the non-recessed portion is smaller than the average opening width of the openings of the surface layer portion, and In the developing device, the maximum height of the non-recessed portion with respect to the recessed portion is smaller than an average depth of the opening of the hole.
Other features of the present invention will become apparent from the description of the present specification and the accompanying drawings.

At least the following will be made clear by the description of the present specification and the accompanying drawings.
A toner having a concave portion arranged regularly and a plurality of non-recess portions arranged regularly, each having a plurality of non-recess portions surrounded by the concave portion on the surface. A toner carrier that develops a latent image carried on the image carrier with the toner, and a surface layer portion made of a porous foam material in contact with the surface of the toner carrier to And a toner supply member that supplies the toner carrier, wherein a maximum width of the non-recessed portion is smaller than an average opening width of the openings of the surface layer portion, and the recessed portion is used as a reference. The maximum height of the non-recessed portion is smaller than the average depth of the opening of the hole.

According to such a developing device, occurrence of uneven wear on the surface of the toner carrier is appropriately suppressed.
The maximum pitch of the non-recessed portions may be larger than the average opening width of the openings of the holes.

According to such a developing device, uneven wear is more appropriately prevented from occurring on the surface of the toner carrying member.
The maximum pitch of the non-recesses may be larger than the average distance between the openings of the holes.

In such a case, the occurrence of uneven wear is more appropriately suppressed.
Moreover, the maximum value of the distance between the non-recesses adjacent to each other among the plurality of non-recesses may be larger than the average distance between the openings of the holes.

In such a case, the occurrence of uneven wear is more appropriately suppressed.
Further, the non-recessed portion may have a size that can be accommodated in an opening of a hole having an opening width equal to the average opening width and a depth equal to the average depth.

In such a case, the occurrence of uneven wear on the surface of the toner carrier is appropriately suppressed.
An image carrier for carrying a latent image, regularly arranged recesses, and a plurality of regularly arranged non-recesses, each of the non-recesses being surrounded by the recesses A non-recessed surface having a toner carrying member for developing a latent image carried on the image carrier with the toner, and a surface layer portion made of a porous foam material. A developing device having a toner supply member that contacts the surface of the toner carrier and supplies the toner to the toner carrier, wherein the maximum width of the non-concave portion is An image forming apparatus characterized in that the maximum opening width of the non-recessed portion with respect to the recessed portion is smaller than the average depth of the opening of the surface layer and smaller than the average opening width of the opening of the surface layer portion. Is also feasible.

According to such an image forming apparatus, occurrence of uneven wear on the surface of the toner carrier is appropriately suppressed.
Also, a computer and an image forming apparatus connectable to the computer, an image carrier for carrying a latent image, regularly arranged concave portions, and a plurality of regularly arranged non-concave portions A plurality of non-recesses, each of which is surrounded by the recesses, carrying toner and developing a latent image carried on the image carrier with the toner. And a toner supply member that contacts the surface of the toner carrier at a surface layer portion made of a porous foam material and supplies the toner to the toner carrier; The maximum width of the non-recessed portion is smaller than the average opening width of the openings of the surface layer portion, and the maximum height of the non-recessed portion with respect to the recessed portion is the image forming apparatus comprising: Image forming apparatus smaller than average depth of hole opening Image forming system characterized by comprising also feasible.

  According to such an image forming system, occurrence of uneven wear on the surface of the toner carrier is appropriately suppressed.

=== Example of Overall Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus ===
Next, an outline of a laser beam printer (hereinafter also referred to as a printer) 10 as an example of the image forming apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating main components constituting the printer 10. In FIG. 1, the vertical direction is indicated by arrows. For example, the paper feed tray 92 is disposed at the lower part of the printer 10, and the fixing unit 90 is disposed at the upper part of the printer 10.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 10 according to the present embodiment includes a charging unit 30, an exposure unit 40, a YMCK developing unit 50, and a primary transfer unit along the rotation direction of a photoconductor 20 as an example of an image carrier. 60, an intermediate transfer body 70, and a cleaning unit 75, and further controls a secondary transfer unit 80, a fixing unit 90, a display unit 95 formed of a liquid crystal panel as a means for notifying a user, and these units. It has a control unit 100 that controls the operation as a printer.

  The photoreceptor 20 has a cylindrical conductive substrate and a photosensitive layer formed on the outer peripheral surface thereof, and is rotatable around a central axis. In the present embodiment, the photoreceptor 20 is indicated by an arrow in FIG. Rotate clockwise.

  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 photoconductor 20 charged by irradiating a laser. The exposure unit 40 includes a semiconductor laser, a polygon mirror, an F-θ lens, and the like, and charges the modulated laser based on an image signal input from a host computer (not shown) such as a personal computer or a word processor. The irradiated photoconductor 20 is irradiated.

  The YMCK developing unit 50 stores the latent image formed on the photoreceptor 20 with toner stored in the developing device, that is, black (K) toner stored in the black developing device 51, and magenta developing device 52. This is an apparatus for developing using magenta (M) toner, cyan (C) toner accommodated in the cyan developing device 53, and yellow (Y) toner accommodated in the yellow developing device 54.

  The YMCK developing unit 50 can move the positions of the four developing devices 51, 52, 53, 54 by rotating with the four developing devices 51, 52, 53, 54 mounted. Yes. That is, the YMCK developing unit 50 holds the four developing devices 51, 52, 53, 54 by four holding portions 55a, 55b, 55c, 55d, and the four developing devices 51, 52, 53, 54 is rotatable around the central axis 50a while maintaining the relative position thereof. Each time image formation for one page is completed, it is selectively opposed to the photoconductor 20, and is formed on the photoconductor 20 with the toner accommodated in each developing device 51, 52, 53, 54. The latent images are developed sequentially. Each of the four developing devices 51, 52, 53, 54 described above is detachable from the holding portion of the YMCK developing unit 50. Details of each developing device will be described later.

  The primary transfer unit 60 is a device for transferring a single color toner image formed on the photoconductor 20 to the intermediate transfer body 70. When four color toners are sequentially transferred in a superimposed manner, the full color toner is transferred to the intermediate transfer body 70. An image is formed.

  This intermediate transfer body 70 is an endless belt in which a tin vapor deposition layer is provided on the surface of a PET film and a semiconductive paint is formed on the surface layer and laminated. The intermediate transfer body 70 is driven to rotate at substantially the same peripheral speed as the photoconductor 20.

  The secondary transfer unit 80 is a device for transferring a single color toner image or a full color toner image formed on the intermediate transfer body 70 to a medium such as paper, film, or cloth.

  The fixing unit 90 is a device for fusing a single-color toner image or a full-color toner image transferred onto a medium 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 that is in contact with the surface of the photoconductor 20. The cleaning unit 75 is disposed on the intermediate transfer body 70 by the primary transfer unit 60. After the toner image is transferred, the toner remaining on the photoreceptor 20 is scraped off and removed by the cleaning blade 76.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 100 includes a main controller 101 and a unit controller 102. An image signal and a control signal are input to the main controller 101, and in response to a command based on the image signal and the control signal. A unit controller 102 controls each of the units and forms an image.

Next, the operation of the printer 10 configured as described above will be described.
First, when an image signal and a control signal from a host computer (not shown) are input to the main controller 101 of the printer 10 via the interface (I / F) 112, the unit controller 102 based on a command from the main controller 101. The photosensitive member 20 and the intermediate transfer member 70 are rotated by the control. The photoconductor 20 is sequentially charged by the charging unit 30 at the charging position while rotating.

  The charged area of the photoconductor 20 reaches an exposure position as the photoconductor 20 rotates, and a latent image corresponding to image information of the first color, for example, yellow Y, is formed in the area by the exposure unit 40. . In the YMCK developing unit 50, a yellow developing device 54 that contains yellow (Y) toner is located at a developing position facing the photoconductor 20.

  The latent image formed on the photoconductor 20 reaches the development 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 photoreceptor 20.

  The yellow toner image formed on the photoconductor 20 reaches the primary transfer position as the photoconductor 20 rotates, and 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. During this time, the photosensitive member 20 and the intermediate transfer member 70 are in contact with each other, and the secondary transfer unit 80 is separated from the intermediate transfer member 70.

  The above processing is sequentially executed for each developing device for the second color, the third color, and the fourth color, so that four color toner images corresponding to the respective image signals are transferred to the intermediate transfer member 70. It is transcribed and superimposed. 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 body 70 reaches the secondary transfer position as the intermediate transfer body 70 rotates, and is transferred to the medium by the secondary transfer unit 80. The 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 to the medium is heated and pressed by the fixing unit 90 and fused to the medium.

  On the other hand, after the primary transfer position has passed, the toner adhering to the surface of the photoreceptor 20 is scraped off by the cleaning blade 76 supported by the cleaning unit 75, and is charged for forming the next latent image. Prepare. The toner that has been scraped off is collected by a residual toner collecting unit provided in the cleaning unit 75.

=== Overview 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 electrically 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 is electrically connected to each unit (charging unit 30, exposure unit 40, YMCK developing unit 50, primary transfer unit 60, cleaning unit 75, secondary transfer unit 80, fixing unit 90, display unit 95) of the apparatus main body. Each unit is controlled based on a signal input from the main controller 101 while detecting a state of each unit by receiving a signal from a sensor included in them.

=== Configuration Example of Developing Device ===
Next, a configuration example of the developing device will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram of the developing device. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing main components of the developing device. FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of the developing roller 510. FIG. 6 is a schematic front view of the developing roller 510. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the shapes of the convex portion 512, the concave portion 515, and the like. FIG. 8 shows the cross-sectional shape of the AA cross section of FIG. FIG. 9 is a view of the surface layer portion 550a of the toner supply roller 550 taken with an optical microscope, and is a view showing the hole 552 and the wall region 554 in the surface layer portion 550a. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the regulating blade 560. FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the holder 526. FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a state in which the upper seal 520, the developing roller 510, and the regulating blade 560 are assembled to the holder 526. FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a state in which the holder 526 is attached to the housing 540. Note that the cross-sectional view shown in FIG. 4 represents a cross-section obtained by cutting the developing device along a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction shown in FIG. 4, the vertical direction is indicated by arrows as in FIG. 1. For example, the central axis of the developing roller 510 is below the central axis of the photoconductor 20. Further, in FIG. 4, the yellow developing device 54 is shown in a state where the yellow developing device 54 is located at a developing position facing the photoconductor 20. 5 to 8, the scales of the convex portions 512, the concave portions 515, etc. are different from the actual ones (for example, in FIG. 5 and FIG. It is larger than the actual one, and the concave portion 515 and the non-convex portion are shown smaller than the actual one).

  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 a yellow ( Y) Although a yellow developing device 54 containing toner is provided, the configuration of each developing device is the same, so the yellow developing device 54 will be described below.

  The yellow developing device 54 includes a developing roller 510 as an example of a toner carrier, an upper seal 520, a toner container 530, a housing 540, a toner supply roller 550 as an example of a toner supply member, a regulating blade 560, a holder 526, and the like. is doing.

  The developing roller 510 carries the toner T and conveys the toner T by rotating it to the developing position facing the photoconductor 20, and the latent image carried on the photoconductor 20 with the toner T (toner T carried on the developing roller 510). Develop the image. The developing roller 510 is a member made of an aluminum alloy, an iron alloy, or the like.

  The developing roller 510 has a concave portion 515 and a non-recessed portion 513 on the surface of the central portion 510 a, and the non-recessed portion 513 includes a side portion 514 and a convex portion 512. These are regularly arranged on the surface of the developing roller 510 as shown in FIGS.

  In the present embodiment, both the concave portion 515 and the non-concave portion 513 (side portion 514 and convex portion 512) function as a toner carrying portion for carrying the toner T. The developing roller 510 develops the latent image carried on the photoconductor 20 with the toner T carried on the convex portion 512, the side portion 514, and the concave portion 515. Moreover, the side part 514 and the recessed part 515 comprise a non-convex part.

  The convex part 512 is the highest part in the central part 510a, and a plurality of convex parts 512 are provided on the surface of the central part 510a. As shown in FIG. 7, the convex portion 512 is a square flat top surface. The convex portion 512 is formed on the surface of the central portion 510a so that each of the two diagonal lines of the square is along the rotation axis direction and the circumferential direction of the developing roller 510, respectively.

  The minimum width L1 of the convex portion 512 is the length of one side of the square (see FIG. 7) and is about 24 μm, and the maximum width L2 of the convex portion 512 is the length of the diagonal line of the square (see FIG. 7). , Approximately 33.9 μm (a value obtained by multiplying L1 by the square root of 2). Further, the minimum value L3 of the distance between the adjacent convex portions 512 among the plurality of convex portions 512 is about 136 μm, and the maximum value L4 of the distance is about 192.3 μm (L3 is a square root of 2). (For example, for the convex portion 512 indicated by symbol M0 in FIG. 7, the convex portions 512 indicated by symbols M1 to M8 become adjacent convex portions 512, and between M0 and M2, M0 and The distance between M4, between M0 and M6, between M0 and M8 is the minimum value L3, and the distance between M0 and M1, between M0 and M3, between M0 and M5, and between M0 and M7 is the maximum value. L4).

  In the present embodiment, the non-convex portion is a first groove portion 516 and a second groove portion 518 that have different winding directions. Here, the first groove portion 516 is a spiral groove whose longitudinal direction is along the direction indicated by the symbol X in FIG. 6, and the second groove portion 518 is the longitudinal direction indicated by the symbol Y in FIG. 6. It is a spiral groove along the formed direction. Note that the acute angle between the longitudinal direction of each groove and the direction of the rotation axis of the developing roller 510 is about 45 degrees (see FIG. 6).

  The side portions 514 are slopes connecting the convex portions 512 and the concave portions 515, and four side portions 514 are provided corresponding to the respective sides of the above-described square-shaped convex portions 512 as shown in FIG. As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the convex portion 512 and the four side portions 514 (a set thereof) constitute the non-concave portion 513, and regularly and on the surface of the central portion 510a of the developing roller 510. A large number of meshes are arranged. The inclination angle of the side portion 514 is about 45 degrees as shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the non-recessed portion 513 also has a square shape like the convex portion 512. The minimum width L5 of the non-recessed portion 513 is the length of one side of the square (see FIG. 7) and is about 40 μm, and the maximum width L6 of the non-recessed portion 513 is the length of the diagonal line of the square (see FIG. 7). , Approximately 56.6 μm (a value obtained by multiplying L5 by the square root of 2). Further, the minimum value L7 of the distance between the non-recesses 513 adjacent to each other among the plurality of non-recesses 513 is about 120 μm, and the maximum value L8 of the distance is about 169.7 μm (L7 has a square root of 2). (For example, for the non-recess 513 indicated by the symbol M0 in FIG. 7, the non-recess 513 indicated by the symbols M1 to M8 becomes the adjacent non-recess 513, and between M0 and M2, M0 and The distance between M4, between M0 and M6, between M0 and M8 is the minimum value L7, and the distance between M0 and M1, between M0 and M3, between M0 and M5, and between M0 and M7 is the maximum value. L8). Furthermore, the sum of the minimum width L5 and the minimum value L7 (the same applies to the sum of the minimum width L1 and the minimum value L3) is defined as the minimum pitch P1 of the non-recessed portion 513 and the convex portion 512, and the value is about 160 μm. Further, the sum of the maximum width L6 and the maximum value L8 (the same applies to the sum of the maximum width L2 and the maximum value L4) is defined as the maximum pitch P2 of the non-concave portions 513 and the convex portions 512, and the value is about 226.3 μm (the value obtained by multiplying the sum of L5 and L7 by the square root of 2).

The concave portion 515 corresponds to the bottom portion of the non-convex portion (that is, the first groove portion 516 or the second groove portion 518), and is the lowest portion in the central portion 510a. As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the recess 515 is formed in a regular and net shape so as to surround the periphery of the non-recess 513. As shown in FIG. 8, the depth d of the concave portion 515 with respect to the convex portion 512 (in other words, the maximum height of the non-concave portion 513 with respect to the concave portion 515 (height of the convex portion 512)). , About 8 μm. The developing roller 510 is formed with a convex portion 512 and a concave portion 515 so that the depth d is uniform among all the concave portions 515 provided in the developing roller 510. In the present embodiment, the toner T is granular (particulate), and the volume average particle diameter of the toner T is about 4.6 μm. Therefore, the volume average particle diameter of the toner T is the depth of the recess 515. It is smaller than d.
Furthermore, electroless Ni—P plating is applied to the surface of the central portion 510 a provided with the convex portion 512, the side portion 514, and the concave portion 515 described above.

  Further, the developing roller 510 is provided with a shaft portion 510b, and the shaft portion 510b is supported via a bearing 576 by a developing roller support portion 526b of a holder 526 described later (FIG. 12), thereby developing roller. 510 is rotatably supported. As shown in FIG. 4, the developing roller 510 rotates in a direction (counterclockwise in FIG. 4) opposite to the rotation direction of the photoconductor 20 (clockwise in FIG. 4).

  Further, a gap exists between the developing roller 510 and the photoconductor 20 in a state where the yellow developing device 54 faces the photoconductor 20. That is, the yellow developing device 54 develops the latent image formed on the photoconductor 20 in a non-contact state where the toner T carried on the developing roller 510 is not in contact with the photoconductor 20.

  The housing 540 is manufactured by welding a plurality of integrally formed resin housing parts, that is, the upper housing part 542 and the lower housing part 544, and in order to accommodate the toner T therein. The toner container 530 is formed. The toner containing body 530 has two toner containing portions, that is, a first toner containing portion 530a and a second toner, by a partition wall 545 for dividing the toner T projected inwardly (in the vertical direction in FIG. 4) from the inner wall. It is divided into the accommodating portion 530b. The upper portions of the first toner storage portion 530a and the second toner storage portion 530b communicate with each other, and the movement of the toner T is restricted by the partition wall 545 in the state shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the housing 540 (that is, the first toner storage portion 530 a) has an opening 572 in the lower portion, and the developing roller 510 is provided so as to face the opening 572.

  The toner supply roller 550 is provided in the first toner storage portion 530a described above, and peels off the toner T remaining on the developing roller 510 from the developing roller 510 after developing the latent image, and thereby the first toner. The toner T accommodated in the accommodating portion 530a is supplied to the developing roller 510. The surface (surface layer portion 550a described later) of the toner supply roller 550 is formed of an elastic porous foam material such as urethane foam. The toner supply roller 550 is in contact with the surface of the developing roller 510 at the surface layer portion 550a (contact portion of the surface layer portion 550a) in an elastically deformed state.

  The toner supply roller 550 stores the toner T stored in the first toner storage portion 530a in the hole 552 (see FIG. 9). Further, the toner supply roller 550 rotates in a direction (clockwise in FIG. 4) opposite to the rotation direction of the developing roller 510 (counterclockwise in FIG. 4). The toner supply roller 550 rotates to convey the toner contained in the hole 552 to a contact position where the toner supply roller 550 contacts the developing roller 510. At the contact position, the toner T is frictionally charged by the toner supply roller 550 and the developing roller 510, and the charged toner T adheres to the developing roller 510 and is appropriately carried on the developing roller 510. Become. In this way, the toner supply roller 550 supplies the toner T to the developing roller 510 mainly by the action of the hole 552.

  The toner supply roller 550 not only has a function of supplying the toner T to the developing roller 510 but also a function of peeling off the toner T remaining on the developing roller 510 from the developing roller 510 after developing the latent image. Also have. Specifically, a wall region 554 (portion other than the hole 552 in FIG. 9) of the surface layer portion 550 a surrounded by the plurality of holes 552 comes into contact with the developing roller 510 and remains on the developing roller 510. The toner T is peeled off. That is, the toner T remaining on the developing roller 510 is mainly peeled off by the wall region 554 of the toner supply roller 550.

  Here, the average opening width Eave of the opening of the hole 552 of the surface layer portion 550a, the average distance Dave between the openings of the hole 552, and the average depth Fave of the opening of the hole 552 are described with reference to FIG. Consider.

  The average opening width Eave of the openings of the holes 552 and the average distance Dave between the openings of the holes 552 are values obtained by the following method. As shown in FIG. 9, a straight line is drawn along the axial direction of the toner supply roller 550 on the photograph of the surface layer portion 550a taken with an electron microscope, and the opening widths E1 to E9 and the distances D1 to D9 between the openings are obtained. measure. Then, an average value Eo of the nine opening widths E1 to E9 and an average value Do of the distances D1 to D9 between the nine openings are calculated. Further, this is a total of 12 photographs taken by changing the position on the surface layer portion 550a (for example, in each of the one end portion, the central portion, and the other end portion of the surface layer portion 550a in the axial direction) 12 times in total, taking 12 pictures while shifting the position 90 degrees in the circumferential direction of the supply roller 550 to obtain 12 average values Eo and 12 average values Do. The average of the twelve average values Eo is defined as the average opening width Eave, and the average of the twelve average values Do is defined as the average distance Dave between the openings.

  In the toner supply roller 550 according to the present embodiment, the average opening width Eave is about 59 μm. The average distance Dave between the openings is about 64 μm.

  Further, regarding the average depth Fave of the opening of the hole 552, considering that the shape of the hole 552 is substantially spherical and that the holes 552 are randomly provided in the surface layer portion 550a, the average depth Fave is set to the above-mentioned average depth Fave. It can be regarded as a value of 1/2 of the average opening width Eave. Therefore, in the toner supply roller 550 according to the present embodiment, the average depth Fave is about 29.5 μm.

  In the present embodiment, the straight line is drawn along the axial direction as shown in FIG. 9, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it may be drawn along the circumferential direction or may be drawn along another direction. Since the holes 552 are randomly provided in the surface layer portion 550a, the average opening width Eave, the average distance Dave between the openings, and the average depth Fave of the openings of the holes 552 are drawn in any direction. Are substantially constant values.

  The upper seal 520 is in contact with the developing roller 510 along the direction of the rotation axis thereof, and allows the toner T remaining on the developing roller 510 after passing through the developing position to move into the housing 540 and the housing. The movement of the toner T in the 540 to the outside of the housing 540 is restricted. The upper seal 520 is a seal made of a polyethylene film or the like. The upper seal 520 is supported by an upper seal support portion 526a of a holder 526, which will be described later, and is provided such that its longitudinal direction is along the rotation axis direction of the developing roller 510 (FIG. 12).

  Further, a malt is formed between a surface of the upper seal 520 opposite to the contact surface 520b that contacts the developing roller 510 (this surface is also referred to as an opposite surface 520c) and the upper seal support portion 526a. An upper seal urging member 524 made of an elastic body such as a plane is provided in a compressed state. The upper seal urging member 524 presses the upper seal 520 against the developing roller 510 by urging the upper seal 520 toward the developing roller 510 with the urging force.

  The regulating blade 560 abuts against the developing roller 510 at the abutting portion 562a from one end to the other end in the axial direction of the developing roller 510 to regulate the layer thickness of the toner T carried on the developing roller 510, In addition, a charge is applied to the toner T carried on the developing roller 510. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 10, the regulation blade 560 includes a rubber part 562 and a rubber support part 564.

The rubber part 562 is made of silicon rubber, urethane rubber, or the like, and is in contact with the developing roller 510.
The rubber support portion 564 includes a thin plate 564a and a thin plate support portion 564b, and supports the rubber portion 562 at one end portion 564d in the short direction (that is, the end portion on the thin plate 564a side). The thin plate 564a is made of phosphor bronze, stainless steel or the like and has a spring property. The thin plate 564a supports the rubber part 562 and presses the rubber part 562 against the developing roller 510 by the biasing force. The thin plate support portion 564b is a metal sheet metal disposed on the other end 564e in the short side direction of the rubber support portion 564, and the thin plate support portion 564b is a side of the thin plate 564a that supports the rubber portion 562. It is attached to the said thin plate 564a in the state which supported the edge on the opposite side.

The regulating blade 560 is attached to the regulating blade support portion 526c in a state where both longitudinal end portions 564c of the thin plate supporting portion 564b are supported by the regulating blade support portion 526c of the holder 526 described later.
The end of the regulating blade 560 opposite to the thin plate support portion 564b side, that is, the tip 560a is not in contact with the developing roller 510, and is a portion separated from the tip 560a by a predetermined distance (that is, the contact portion 562a). ) Is in contact with the developing roller 510 with a width. In other words, the regulating blade 560 is not in contact with the developing roller 510 at the edge but is in contact with the antinode, and the flat surface of the regulating blade 560 comes into contact with the developing roller 510 to regulate the layer thickness. To do. Further, the regulating blade 560 is disposed so that its tip 560a faces the upstream side in the rotation direction of the developing roller 510, and is in contact with a so-called counter.

  As shown in FIG. 12, an end seal 574 is provided on the outer side in the longitudinal direction of the rubber portion 562 of the regulating blade 560. The end seal 574 is formed of a non-woven fabric, contacts the end of the developing roller 510 in the rotation axis direction along the peripheral surface of the developing roller 510, and from between the peripheral surface and the housing 540. The function of preventing the leakage of the toner T is exhibited.

  The holder 526 is a metal member for assembling various members such as the developing roller 510. As shown in FIG. 11, the upper seal support along the longitudinal direction (that is, the rotation axis direction of the developing roller 510) is provided. A portion 526a, a developing roller support portion 526b provided outside the upper seal support portion 526a in the longitudinal direction (the rotational axis direction), and intersecting the longitudinal direction (the rotational axis direction), and the developing roller support portion 526b And a regulating blade support portion 526c facing the longitudinal end portion of the upper seal support portion 526a.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 12, the upper seal 520 is supported by the upper seal support portion 526a at its short-side end portion 520a (FIG. 4), and the developing roller 510 is at its end. , And is supported by a developing roller support portion 526b.

  Further, the regulating blade 560 is supported by the regulating blade support portion 526c at both longitudinal end portions 564c thereof. The restriction blade 560 is fixed to the holder 526 by being screwed to the restriction blade support portion 526c.

  Thus, the holder 526 assembled with the upper seal 520, the developing roller 510, and the regulating blade 560 prevents leakage of the toner T from between the holder 526 and the housing 540, as shown in FIG. It is attached to the housing 540 described above via a housing seal 546 (FIG. 4) for prevention.

  In the yellow developing device 54 configured as described above, the toner supply roller 550 supplies the toner T stored in the toner container 530 to the developing roller 510. During such supply, the toner T is frictionally charged by the toner supply roller 550 and the developing roller 510, and the charged toner T adheres to the developing roller 510 and is appropriately carried on the developing roller 510. . The toner T carried on the developing roller 510 reaches the regulating blade 560 as the developing roller 510 rotates, and the amount of the toner T is regulated by the regulating blade 560, and the toner T is further frictionally charged. The toner T on the developing roller 510 reaches the developing position facing the photoconductor 20 by further rotation of the developing roller 510, and develops a latent image formed on the photoconductor 20 under an alternating electric field at the developing position. Provided. The toner T on the developing roller 510 that has passed the developing position by further rotation of the developing roller 510 passes through the upper seal 520 and is collected in the developing device without being scraped off by the upper seal 520. Further, the toner T still remaining on the developing roller 510 can be peeled off by the toner supply roller 550.

=== Relationship between the size of the convex portion 512 and the like of the developing roller 510 and the size of the hole 552 and the like of the toner supply roller 550 ===
As described in the section of the problem to be solved by the invention, the toner supply roller 550 supplies the toner in a state where the surface layer portion 550a is in contact with the surface of the developing roller 510. Although the wear of the surface of the developing roller 510 becomes remarkable, it is desirable that the degree of the wear be uniform over the surface. For example, the surface layer portion 550a is intensively brought into contact with only one of the concave portion 515 and the non-concave portion 513 (for example, the convex portion 512) on the surface of the developing roller 510, and the occurrence of wear is biased to only the one side. As a result, the life of the developing roller 510 is shortened compared to the case where the surface layer portion 550a is dispersedly contacted with both the concave portion 515 and the non-recessed portion 513 and the wear becomes uniform. In addition, if the occurrence of wear is biased to only one side, the depth of the recess 515 gradually changes as the use of the developing device continues (this affects the amount of toner transport). Accordingly, there has been a demand for an appropriate measure for solving the problem of uneven wear on the surface of the developing roller 510.

  In view of such matters, in this embodiment, in order to suppress the occurrence of uneven wear, the size of the convex portion 512 of the developing roller 510 and the size of the hole 552 of the toner supply roller 550 have a certain relationship. Thus, the development device is designed and manufactured.

Hereinafter, the relationship satisfied by the developing device according to the present embodiment and the merit related to the uneven wear caused by the relationship being satisfied will be described.
First, in the developing device according to the present embodiment, the maximum width L6 of the non-recessed portion 513 is about 56.6 μm, the average opening width Eave of the opening 552 of the surface layer portion 550a is about 59 μm, and the former is the latter Is smaller than Further, the maximum height H of the non-recessed portion 513 with respect to the recessed portion 515 is about 8 μm, the average depth Fave of the opening of the hole 552 is about 29.5 μm, and the former is smaller than the latter. Yes. That is, the relational expressions L6 <Eave and H <Fave (hereinafter also referred to as the first relational expression) are satisfied.

  By satisfying the first relational expression, a merit related to uneven wear described below occurs. FIG. 14A and FIG. 14B are explanatory diagrams for explaining the merit related to uneven wear caused by satisfying the first relational expression. FIG. 14B shows a case where the first relational expression is satisfied (that is, the case where the merit is generated), while FIG. 14A shows a case where the first relational expression is not satisfied (ie, the case where the first relational expression is satisfied). The case where the merit does not occur is shown for comparison. 14A and 14B show a state in which the toner supply roller 550 located on the upper side contacts the developing roller 510 located on the lower side, and the horizontal direction in FIGS. 14A and 14B indicates the developing roller 510. And the (rotational) axis direction of the toner supply roller 550. 14A and 14B show the state when the hole 552 faces the non-recessed portion 513, and the right view of FIGS. 14A and 14B shows the relative positions of both from the state of the left view. The situation when it is slightly off is shown.

  As apparent from FIG. 14A, when the first relational expression is not satisfied, only the non-recessed portion 513 of the concave portion 515 and the non-recessed portion 513 (for example, the convex portion 512) on the surface of the developing roller 510 is the surface layer portion. 550a contacts intensively (as shown in the left and right views of FIG. 14A), the surface layer portion 550a is in contact with only the non-recessed portion 513 in both drawings. Therefore, the occurrence of wear is biased only in the non-concave portion 513 (occurrence of uneven wear), and the life of the developing roller 510 is shortened. Further, since the occurrence of wear is biased only to the non-concave portion 513, the depth of the concave portion 515 gradually decreases as the use of the developing device is continued (this affects the toner conveyance amount).

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 14B, when the first relational expression is satisfied, the surface layer portion 550a is dispersedly brought into contact with both the recessed portion 515 and the non-recessed portion 513 (in the left and right views of FIG. 14B). As shown in the figure, the non-recessed portion 513 has a size that fits in the opening of the hole 552 having an opening width equal to the average opening width Eave and a depth equal to the average depth Fave. The surface layer portion 550a contacts the recess 515. On the other hand, the surface layer portion 550a contacts the non-recess 513 in the right figure. Therefore, the occurrence of wear is prevented from being biased to only one of the recess 515 and the non-recess 513 (suppression of occurrence of uneven wear), and it is appropriately prevented that the life of the developing roller 510 is shortened. In addition, since the occurrence of wear is not biased to only one of the above, it is possible to appropriately prevent the depth of the recess 515 from changing gradually as the use of the developing device is continued.

  In the developing device according to this embodiment, since the first relational expression is satisfied, the occurrence of uneven wear is appropriately suppressed.

  In the developing device according to the present embodiment, the maximum pitch P2 of the non-recessed portions 513 is about 226.3 μm, the average opening width Eave of the openings 552 of the surface layer portion 550a is about 59 μm, and the former is the latter Is bigger than. That is, in addition to the first relational expression, a relational expression P2> Eave (hereinafter also referred to as a second relational expression) is satisfied (that is, L6 <Eave <P2).

  When the second relational expression is satisfied in addition to the first relational expression, a merit relating to uneven wear described below occurs. FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the merit associated with uneven wear caused by the second relational expression being satisfied in addition to the first relational expression. FIG. 15 shows a state in which the toner supply roller 550 located on the upper side contacts the developing roller 510 located on the lower side, as in FIG. Further, the right diagram in FIG. 15 shows a case where the second relational expression is satisfied (that is, the case where the merit is generated), while the left figure in FIG. 15 shows the second relational expression. An unsatisfied case (that is, a case where the merit is not generated) is shown for comparison.

  As is clear from the left diagram of FIG. 15, when the first relational expression is satisfied but the second relational expression is not satisfied, the occurrence of uneven wear is suppressed because the first relational expression is satisfied. Although the second relational expression is not satisfied and the average opening width Eave is too large, the concave portion 515 located on the left side of the non-recessed portion 513 and the non-recessed portion in a situation where the surface layer portion 550a contacts the concave portion 515 One of the recesses 515 located on the right side of 513 is a recess 515 (indicated by symbol B1 in FIG. 15) that the surface layer portion 550a does not contact. Therefore, in such a case, the frequency of contact of the surface layer portion 550a with the concave portion 515 is reduced, and there is a possibility that suppression of occurrence of uneven wear may be insufficient. On the other hand, when the second relational expression is satisfied in addition to the first relational expression, as is apparent from the right view of FIG. 15, the concave portion 515 located on the left side of the non-recessed portion 513 and the right side of the non-recessed portion 513. Since both of the recesses 515 located at the position become recesses 515 (indicated by symbol B2 in FIG. 15) with which the surface layer portion 550a comes into contact, the occurrence of uneven wear is more appropriately suppressed. Therefore, it is more desirable that the second relational expression is satisfied.

  In the developing device according to the present embodiment, since the second relational expression is satisfied, the developing apparatus enjoys the merit produced by satisfying the second relational expression. It becomes.

  In the developing device according to the present embodiment, the maximum pitch P2 of the non-recessed portions 513 is about 226.3 μm, the average distance Dave between the openings of the holes 552 in the surface layer portion 550a is about 64 μm, and the former is the latter. Is bigger than. That is, in addition to the first relational expression, a relational expression P2> Dave (hereinafter also referred to as a third relational expression) is satisfied. Furthermore, the maximum value L8 of the distance between the non-recesses 513 adjacent to each other among the plurality of non-recesses 513 is about 169.7 μm, and the maximum value L8 is also larger than the average distance Dave between the openings. Yes. That is, in addition to the first relational expression, a relational expression L8> Dave (hereinafter also referred to as a fourth relational expression) is satisfied (that is, P2> L8> Dave).

  By satisfying the third relational expression and the fourth relational expression in addition to the first relational expression, a merit related to uneven wear described below occurs. FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the merit related to uneven wear caused by the third relational expression and the fourth relational expression being satisfied in addition to the first relational expression. In FIG. 16, as in FIGS. 14 and 15, the toner supply roller 550 located on the upper side is in contact with the developing roller 510 located on the lower side. Further, in the right diagram of FIG. 16, a case where the third relational expression and the fourth relational expression are satisfied in addition to the first relational expression (case in which the above-mentioned merit is remarkably generated) is shown in the central view of FIG. The case where the third relational expression is satisfied in addition to the first relational expression but the fourth relational expression is not satisfied (the case where the above-mentioned merit occurs) is shown in the left diagram of FIG. Are satisfied, but neither the third relational expression nor the fourth relational expression is satisfied (case where the above-mentioned merit does not occur).

  When the first relational expression is satisfied, as described above, the surface layer portion 550a contacts not only the non-recessed portion 513 but also the recessed portion 515 (distributed contact between the non-recessed portion 513 and the recessed portion 515), and thus uneven wear occurs. Is suppressed. However, when the third relational expression (fourth relational expression) is not satisfied, one end E1 of the wall region 554 is a concave portion located on the left side of the non-concave portion 513 as shown in the left diagram of FIG. 515 (hereinafter referred to as a left recess 515a) and a recess 515 (hereinafter referred to as a right recess 515b) located on the right side of the non-recess 513, whichever position of the former is located (see FIG. 16, the other end E2 of the wall region 554 exceeds the left end LE2 of the right recess 515b (even when the one end E1 is located at a position corresponding to the left end LE1 of the left recess 515a). It is located at the position (on the right side of the left end LE2 in the left diagram of FIG. 16). That is, the wall region 554 exists at a position corresponding to the entire non-recessed portion 513 regardless of the position of the left recessed portion 515a where the one end E1 is located. In such a situation, the contact of the non-recessed portion 513 with the wall region 554 of the surface layer portion 550a inhibits the wall region 554 of the surface layer portion 550a from contacting the recessed portion 515 and elastically deforms the surface layer portion. Although 550a contacts the recess 515, the contact range becomes narrow (see the lower diagram in the left diagram of FIG. 16). On the other hand, when the third relational expression is satisfied in addition to the first relational expression, the wall region 554 exists at a position corresponding to the entire non-recessed portion 513 as shown in the central view of FIG. Since the situation can be avoided, the inhibition is mitigated and the contact range is wider. Therefore, the contact of the surface layer portion 550a with the concave portion 515 becomes more appropriate, and the occurrence of uneven wear is more appropriately suppressed. Therefore, it is more desirable that the third relational expression is satisfied.

  Further, when the fourth relational expression is satisfied in addition to the third relational expression, the occurrence of uneven wear is further appropriately suppressed, which is further desirable. When the third relational expression is satisfied as shown in the center diagram of FIG. 16 (the case where the third relational expression is satisfied in addition to the first relational expression but the fourth relational expression is not satisfied) As described above, a situation in which the wall region 554 exists at a position corresponding to the entire non-recess 513 can be avoided, so that the inhibition is alleviated and the contact range becomes wider. However, since the fourth relational expression is not satisfied, the inhibition is not solved. On the other hand, when the fourth relational expression is satisfied, as apparent from the right diagram of FIG. 16, the inhibition can be eliminated, and thus the entire wall region 554 can contact the recess 515. Therefore, the contact of the surface layer portion 550a with the concave portion 515 becomes more appropriate, and the occurrence of uneven wear is more appropriately suppressed. Therefore, it is more desirable that the fourth relational expression is satisfied in addition to the third relational expression.

  In the developing device according to the present embodiment, since the third relational expression and the fourth relational expression are satisfied, the developing apparatus satisfies the third relational expression and the fourth relational expression. You will enjoy the benefits that come from being.

=== Method for Manufacturing Developing Device ===
Next, a method for manufacturing the developing device will be described with reference to FIGS. 17A to 19. FIGS. 17A to 17E are schematic diagrams showing the transition of the developing roller 510 in the manufacturing process of the developing roller 510. FIG. FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the rolling process of the developing roller 510. FIG. 19 is a flowchart for explaining a method of assembling the yellow developing device 54. When the developing device is manufactured, after the housing 540, the holder 526, the developing roller 510, the toner supply roller 550, the regulating blade 560, etc. are manufactured, the developing device is assembled using these members. To be implemented. In this section, the manufacturing method of the developing roller 510 among the manufacturing methods of these members will be described first, and then the developing device assembly method will be described. In the following description, the yellow developing device 54 of the black developing device 51, the magenta developing device 52, the cyan developing device 53, and the yellow developing device 54 will be described as an example.

<<< About Manufacturing Method of Developing Roller 510 >>>
Here, a method for manufacturing the developing roller 510 will be described with reference to FIGS. 17A to 18.
First, as shown in FIG. 17A, a pipe material 600 as a base material of the developing roller 510 is prepared. The wall thickness of the pipe material 600 is 0.5 to 3 mm.

Next, as shown in FIG. 17B, flange press-fit portions 602 are formed at both ends of the pipe material 600 in the longitudinal direction. The flange press-fit portion 602 is made by cutting.
Next, as shown in FIG. 17C, the flange 604 is press-fitted into the flange press-fit portion 602. In order to ensure the fixing of the flange 604 to the pipe material 600, the flange 604 may be bonded or welded to the pipe material 600 after the flange 604 is press-fitted.

Next, as shown in FIG. 17D, centerless polishing is performed on the surface of the pipe member 600 into which the flange 604 is press-fitted. The centerless polishing is performed over the entire surface, and the 10-point average roughness Rz of the surface after the centerless polishing is 1.0 μm or less.
Next, as shown in FIG. 17E, the pipe material 600 into which the flange 604 is press-fitted is subjected to a rolling process. In the present embodiment, so-called through-feed rolling (also called step rolling or through rolling) using two round dies 650 and 652 is performed.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 18, two round dies 650 and 652 arranged so as to sandwich the pipe material 600 as a work are placed on the pipe material 600 with a predetermined pressure (the direction of the pressure in FIG. The two round dies 650 and 652 are rotated in the same direction (refer to FIG. 18) in a state of being pressed with a symbol P). In the through feed rolling, as the round dies 650 and 652 are rotated, the pipe material 600 is rotated in the direction opposite to the rotation direction of the round dies 650 and 652 (see FIG. 18). Move in the direction shown. Protrusions 650 a and 652 a for forming grooves 680 are provided on the surfaces of the round dies 650 and 652, and the grooves 680 are formed in the pipe material 600 by deforming the pipe material 600 by the protrusions 650 a and 652 a. Is formed.

  Then, after the rolling process is finished, the surface of the central portion 510a is plated. In the present embodiment, electroless Ni—P plating is used as the plating, but is not limited to this, and for example, hard chrome plating or electroplating may be used.

<<< Assembly Method of Yellow Developing Device 54 >>>
Next, a method for assembling the yellow developing device 54 will be described with reference to FIG.
First, the housing 540, the holder 526, the developing roller 510, the regulating blade 560 and the like described above are prepared (step S2).

  Next, the regulating blade 560 is fixed to the holder 526 by screwing the regulating blade 560 to the regulating blade support 526c of the holder 526 (step S4). Note that the end seal 574 described above is attached to the regulating blade 560 in advance before the step S4.

  Next, the developing roller 510 is attached to the holder 526 to which the regulating blade 560 is fixed (step S6). At this time, the developing roller 510 is attached to the holder 526 so that the regulating blade 560 is in contact with the developing roller 510 from one end to the other end in the rotation axis direction. Note that the above-described upper seal 520 is attached to the holder 526 in advance before the step S6.

  Then, the assembly of the yellow developing device 54 is completed by attaching the holder 526 to which the developing roller 510, the regulating blade 560, and the like are attached to the housing 540 via the housing seal 546 (step S8). The toner supply roller 550 described above is previously attached to the housing 540 before step S8.

=== Other Embodiments ===
The developing device and the like according to the present invention have been described above based on the above embodiment. However, the above-described embodiment is intended to facilitate understanding of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Absent. The present invention can be changed and improved without departing from the gist thereof, and the present invention includes the equivalents thereof.

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

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

=== Configuration of Image Forming System etc. ===
Next, an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram showing an external configuration of the image forming system. The image forming system 700 includes a computer 702, a display device 704, a printer 706, an input device 708, and a reading device 710. In this embodiment, the computer 702 is housed in a mini-tower type housing, but is not limited thereto. The display device 704 is generally a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), a plasma display, a liquid crystal display device, or the like, but is not limited thereto. As the printer 706, the printer described above is used. In this embodiment, the input device 708 uses a keyboard 708A and a mouse 708B, but is not limited thereto. In this embodiment, the reading device 710 uses a flexible disk drive device 710A and a CD-ROM drive device 710B. However, the reading device 710 is not limited to this. For example, an MO (Magneto Optical) disk drive device or a DVD (Digital Versatile) is used. Disk) etc. may be used.

  FIG. 21 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the image forming system shown in FIG. An internal memory 802 such as a RAM and an external memory such as a hard disk drive unit 804 are further provided in a housing in which the computer 702 is housed.

  In the above description, the example in which the printer 706 is connected to the computer 702, the display device 704, the input device 708, and the reading device 710 to configure the image forming system has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Absent. For example, the image forming system may include a computer 702 and a printer 706, and the image forming system may not include any of the display device 704, the input device 708, and the reading device 710.

  For example, the printer 706 may have a part of the functions or mechanisms of the computer 702, the display device 704, the input device 708, and the reading device 710. As an example, the printer 706 includes an image processing unit that performs image processing, a display unit that performs various displays, a recording medium attachment / detachment unit for attaching / detaching a recording medium that records image data captured by a digital camera or the like. It is good also as a structure to have.

  The image forming system realized in this way is a system superior to the conventional system as a whole system.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating main components constituting the printer. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a control unit of the printer 10 in FIG. 1. It is a conceptual diagram of a developing device. It is sectional drawing which showed the main components of the image development apparatus. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a developing roller 510. FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of a developing roller 510. FIG. It is the schematic diagram which showed the shape of the convex part 512, the recessed part 515, etc. FIG. It is the schematic diagram showing the cross-sectional shape of the AA cross section of FIG. FIG. 10 is a view showing a hole 552 and a wall region 554 in the surface layer portion 550a of the toner supply roller 550. 5 is a perspective view of a restriction blade 560. FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a holder 526. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state in which an upper seal 520, a developing roller 510, and a regulating blade 560 are assembled to a holder 526. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state in which a holder 526 is attached to a housing 540. FIG. 14A and FIG. 14B are explanatory diagrams for explaining the merit related to uneven wear caused by satisfying the first relational expression. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the merit which concerns on the partial wear which arises when the 2nd relational expression is satisfy | filled. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the merit which concerns on the partial wear which arises when the 3rd relational expression and the 4th relational expression are satisfy | filled. FIGS. 17A to 17E are schematic diagrams showing the transition of the developing roller 510 in the manufacturing process of the developing roller 510. FIG. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a rolling process of the developing roller 510. 4 is a flowchart for explaining a method of assembling the yellow developing device 54. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an external configuration of an image forming system. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the image forming system shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

10 laser beam printer, 20 photoconductor, 30 charging unit,
40 exposure unit, 50 YMCK development unit, 50a central axis,
51 black developing device, 52 magenta developing device, 53 cyan developing device,
54 yellow developing device, 55a holding unit, 55b holding unit, 55c holding unit,
55d holder, 60 primary transfer unit, 70 intermediate transfer member,
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 registration roller, 100 control unit, 101 main controller,
102 unit controller, 112 interface, 113 image memory,
510 developing roller, 510a central portion, 510b shaft portion, 512 convex portion,
513 Non-recessed portion, 514 side portion, 515 recessed portion, 515a left recessed portion,
515b right recess, 516 first groove, 518 second groove, 520 upper seal,
520a short side end, 520b contact surface, 520c opposite surface,
524 upper seal biasing member, 526 holder, 526a upper seal support,
526b developing roller support, 526c regulating blade support, 530 toner container,
530a first toner container, 530b second toner container, 540 housing,
542 Upper housing part, 544 Lower housing part, 545 Partition wall,
546 Housing seal, 550 Toner supply roller, 550a Surface layer part,
552 hole, 554 wall region, 560 regulating blade, 560a tip,
562 rubber part, 562a contact part, 564 rubber support part, 564a thin plate,
564b Thin plate support part, 564c Longitudinal direction both ends, 564d Short direction one end part,
564e Short side direction other end, 572 opening, 574 end seal, 576 bearing,
600 pipe material, 602 flange press-fit part, 604 flange, 650 round die,
650a convex part, 652 round die, 652a convex part, 680 groove,
700 image forming system, 702 computer, 704 display device,
706 printer, 708 input device, 708A keyboard, 708B mouse,
710 reading device, 710A flexible disk drive device,
710B CD-ROM drive, 802 internal memory,
804 Hard disk drive unit, T toner

Claims (7)

A toner having a concave portion arranged regularly and a plurality of non-recess portions arranged regularly, each having a plurality of non-recess portions surrounded by the concave portion on the surface. A toner carrier for developing a latent image carried on the image carrier with the toner,
A toner supply member that contacts the surface of the toner carrier at a surface layer portion made of a porous foam material and supplies the toner to the toner carrier;
A developing device comprising:
The maximum width of the non-recessed portion is smaller than the average opening width of the opening of the hole in the surface layer portion, and the maximum height of the non-recessed portion based on the recessed portion is smaller than the average depth of the opening of the hole. A developing device. The developing device according to claim 1,
The developing device, wherein a maximum pitch of the non-recesses is larger than an average opening width of the openings of the holes. In the developing device according to claim 1 or 2,
The developing device, wherein a maximum pitch of the non-recesses is larger than an average distance between the openings of the holes. The developing device according to claim 3,
The maximum value of the distance between adjacent non-recesses among the plurality of non-recesses,
A developing device characterized in that it is larger than the average distance between the openings of the holes. The developing device according to claim 1,
The non-recessed portion is
A developing device having a size that can be accommodated in an opening of a hole having an opening width equal to the average opening width and a depth equal to the average depth. An image carrier for carrying a latent image;
A toner having a concave portion arranged regularly and a plurality of non-recess portions arranged regularly, each having a plurality of non-recess portions surrounded by the concave portion on the surface. A toner carrying member that develops a latent image carried on the image carrier with the toner, and a surface layer portion made of a porous foam material in contact with the surface of the toner carrier. A toner supply member for supplying the toner carrier to the toner carrier;
An image forming apparatus comprising:
The maximum width of the non-recessed portion is smaller than the average opening width of the opening of the hole in the surface layer portion, and the maximum height of the non-recessed portion based on the recessed portion is smaller than the average depth of the opening of the hole. An image forming apparatus. Computer and
An image forming apparatus connectable to the computer, comprising an image carrier for carrying a latent image, regularly arranged concave portions, and a plurality of regularly arranged non-concave portions, A toner carrier having a plurality of non-recesses surrounded by the recesses on the surface, and carrying a toner to develop a latent image carried on the image carrier with the toner; A developing device having a toner supply member that contacts the surface of the toner carrier at a surface layer portion made of a porous foam material and supplies the toner to the toner carrier. The maximum width of the non-recessed portion is smaller than the average opening width of the opening of the surface layer portion, and the maximum height of the non-recessed portion with respect to the recessed portion is the average depth of the opening of the hole. Image forming apparatus smaller than
An image forming system comprising:

Images