JP2011053549A - Developing device and process cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the increase of the contact-pressure force of a developing blade and the circulation failure of toner, by the packing of the toner of a developing chamber. <P>SOLUTION: A receiving opening area-adjusting member, which is reversibly moved by powder pressure, is disposed in a developing device. When the toner powder pressure in the developing device is increased, the receiving opening area-adjusting member independently closes the receiving opening of a developing container. When the toner in the developing chamber is consumed and the toner powder pressure is decreased, the receiving opening area-adjusting member independently opens the receiving opening. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a developing device in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. Examples of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus include an electrophotographic copying machine, an electrophotographic printer (for example, a laser beam printer, an LED printer, etc.), a facsimile apparatus, a word processor, and the like.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic image forming process, a developing device that develops an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member with a developer (hereinafter referred to as toner) is a frame of the developing device. There is known a method in which toner conveyed by a toner conveying means from a toner accommodating portion is received by a developing device through a formed receiving opening, and this toner is supplied to a toner carrying member for development.

  On the other hand, when the consumed toner amount of the toner consumed by developing from the developing device and the supplied toner amount received from the receiving opening are compared, the supplied toner amount increases, and the toner amount (toner density) per volume of the developing device increases. When the allowable amount is exceeded, there is a problem that the development performance is deteriorated due to so-called oversupply.

  Specifically, with respect to a development regulating member (developing blade) that imparts an appropriate triboelectric charge to the toner while forming an appropriate toner layer on the developer carrier (developing roller), specifically, When the toner amount is oversupplemented, the toner layer may be brought into contact with the developing roller with a contact pressure higher than a set value due to the powder pressure of the toner, so that the toner layer thickness may become thin or the triboelectric charge may not reach an appropriate value.

  In addition, in an over-supplemented state, the circulation of toner in the developing device is deteriorated, and the charge applied to the toner is likely to be uneven, which may cause uneven development.

  In order to cope with this problem, a detecting means for detecting the amount of toner is provided in the developing device, and when the amount of toner in the developing device exceeds a predetermined amount by this detecting means, an adjusting means is provided by an external driving means. There is known a method of reducing the area of the receiving opening by operating the toner to reduce the amount of supplied toner. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1.)

Patent No. 2996361 (Section 3-5, 1, 2, 3, 4)

  However, in order to prevent the amount of toner in the developing device from becoming excessive in the conventional example, a detecting means for detecting the amount of toner in the developing device, a driving mechanism for adjusting means, and the like are required. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus body was complicated.

The main configuration of the present invention for solving the above problems is used in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus,
A receiving opening for receiving the developer from the developer accommodating portion for accommodating the developer;
A developing frame for storing the developer received from the receiving opening;
A developer carrying member supported by the developing frame for carrying the developer housed in the developing frame and developing the latent image formed on the image carrier by the developer;
In a developing device having
The developing device includes an adjusting unit that adjusts a developer conveyance amount by adjusting an opening area of the receiving opening;
The adjusting means is to provide a developing device that reversibly changes depending on the pressure of the developer accommodated in the developing device frame.

According to the present invention, the developing device of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus is provided with the adjusting means for adjusting the toner conveyance amount by adjusting the opening area of the receiving opening for receiving the toner. By providing a developing device characterized by operating independently and reversibly by the pressure of
On the other hand, when the consumed toner amount of the toner consumed by developing from the developing device and the supplied toner amount received from the receiving opening are compared, the supplied toner amount increases, and the toner amount (toner density) per volume of the developing device increases. When the allowable amount is exceeded, there is a problem that the development performance is deteriorated due to so-called oversupply.

  Specifically, with respect to a development regulating member (developing blade) that imparts an appropriate triboelectric charge to the toner while forming an appropriate toner layer on the developer carrier (developing roller), specifically, When the toner amount is oversupplemented, the toner layer may be brought into contact with the developing roller with a contact pressure higher than a set value due to the powder pressure of the toner, so that the toner layer thickness may become thin or the triboelectric charge may not reach an appropriate value.

  In addition, in an over-supplemented state, the circulation of toner in the developing device is deteriorated, and the charge applied to the toner is likely to be uneven, which may cause uneven development.

  Such a problem can be prevented without using a complicated configuration such as special detection means or external drive means.

  Furthermore, since the adjusting member in the present invention can be used in combination with a function as a toner seal, it is possible to minimize the cost increase.

1 is an explanatory diagram of an overall configuration of a laser beam printer which is an embodiment of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a process cartridge 1 that integrally constitutes a developing device of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged view of the developing device 13 in the present invention, showing a state in which almost no toner is contained in the space 13c of the developing device 13. FIG. 6 is a partial enlarged view of the developing device 13 in a state where the toner is filled to some extent in the space 13c of the developing device 13 and the pressure receiving portion 134b is gradually pushed up. FIG. 5 is a partial enlarged view of the developing device 13 in a state where the toner is further filled from the state of FIG. 4 and the pressure receiving portion 134b is pushed up. It is sectional drawing of the process cartridge 1 in a present Example, and has shown the state by which the receiving opening 13a1 was sealed by the sealing part 134c2 of the adjustment part 13c of the adjustment member 134. FIG. FIG. 6 is a longitudinal partial cross-sectional view of the developing device in this embodiment when cut along a straight line BB shown in FIG. 5.

  Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, the dimensions, materials, shapes, relative arrangements, and the like of the components described in this embodiment are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only to those unless otherwise specified. Absent.

  In the following description, the longitudinal direction refers to the same direction as the axial direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum (hereinafter referred to as photosensitive drum 11). Further, the top, bottom, left and right are the top, bottom, left, and right in the mounted state of the cartridge with the apparatus installed as shown in FIG.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, the developing device is described as being included in the process cartridge as the developing means. However, the present invention is similar in configuration to the developing device installed in the main body of the image forming apparatus. An effect is obtained.

[Overall Description of Image Forming Apparatus]
First, the overall configuration of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus will be schematically described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the overall configuration of a laser beam printer which is an embodiment of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

  In the image forming section of this laser beam printer, a process cartridge 1 having a photosensitive drum 11 as an image carrier and an exposure means 2 (laser beam optical scanning system) are arranged above the process cartridge 1.

  Below the image forming unit, a paper feeding unit for feeding the transfer material 31 as a recording medium and a transfer roller 33 for transferring the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 11 to the transfer material 31 are arranged. Further, fixing means 34 for fixing the toner image transferred to the transfer material 31 and discharge means 35 for discharging and stacking the transfer material 31 outside the apparatus are arranged. Here, the transfer material 31 is, for example, paper, an OHP sheet, or cloth.

  Next, the configuration of each part of the image forming apparatus will be sequentially described in detail.

[Paper Feeder]
The paper feeding unit feeds the transfer material 31 to the image forming unit, and includes a feeding cassette 32a in which a plurality of transfer materials 31 are stacked and stored, a feeding roller 32b, a double feed preventing retard roller 32c, and a feeding roller. It is mainly composed of a feed guide 32d and registration rollers 32f.

  The feed roller 32b is driven and rotated in accordance with the image forming operation, and separates and feeds the transfer material 31 in the feed cassette 32a one by one. The transfer material 31 is prevented from being double fed by the retard roller 32c, guided by the feed guide 32d, and conveyed to the registration roller 32f via the conveyance roller 32e.

  During the image forming operation, the registration roller 32f performs a non-rotating operation for causing the transfer material 31 to stand still and a rotating operation for conveying the transfer material 31 toward the photosensitive drum 11 in a predetermined sequence. The toner image and the transfer material 31 in the transfer process are aligned.

  Immediately after the transfer material 31 is conveyed, the registration roller 32f stops rotating, and the transfer material 31 is corrected to be skewed by hitting the nip portion.

[Process cartridge]
The process cartridge includes a cartridge in which a charging unit, a developing device or a cleaning unit and an electrophotographic photosensitive drum are integrally formed, and the cartridge can be attached to and detached from the electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body. In addition, there is also included an apparatus in which at least one of a charging unit, a developing device, a transfer unit, and a cleaning unit and an electrophotographic photosensitive drum are integrally formed into a cartridge so that the electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body can be attached and detached.

  In the process cartridge 1 in this embodiment, a charging unit, a developing device, and a cleaning unit are disposed around a photosensitive drum 11 that is an image carrier, and these are integrally configured. The process cartridge 1 is configured to be detachable from the apparatus main body A. Therefore, the user can easily remove the process cartridge 1 and can easily replace it when the process cartridge 1 reaches the end of its life.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the process cartridge 1 in the present embodiment rotates a photosensitive drum 11 that is an electrophotographic photosensitive member having a photosensitive layer in the direction of an arrow r, and applies a voltage to a charging roller 12 that is a charging unit to apply the voltage to the photosensitive drum 11. Is uniformly charged, and the charged photosensitive drum 11 is exposed to a light image based on image information from the exposure means 2 to form an electrostatic latent image. 13 for developing.

  The developing device 13 supports the toner stored in the toner storage chamber 130 on the developing roller 131 that is a toner carrier, rotates the developing roller 131, and applies the toner layer to which the triboelectric charge is applied by the developing blade 132 to the developing roller 131. The toner is transferred to the photosensitive drum 11 in accordance with the electrostatic latent image to form a toner image and visualize it.

  Then, after applying a voltage of reverse polarity to the transfer roller 33 and transferring the toner image to the transfer material 31, the residual toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 11 is scraped off by the cleaning member 141 and scraped off by the squeeze sheet 142. Residual toner on the photosensitive drum 11 is removed by the cleaning means 14 accommodated in the waste toner accommodating chamber 143.

[Fixing part]
Next, the configuration of the fixing unit will be described.

  In FIG. 1, the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 11 by the developing unit is transferred onto a transfer material 31 by a transfer roller 33. The fixing device 34 fixes the toner image transferred to the transfer material 31 to the transfer material 31 using heat.

  The fixing device 34 includes a fixing roller 34a for applying heat to the transfer material 31 and a pressure roller 34b for pressing the transfer material 31 against the fixing roller, and each roller is a hollow roller. Each of them has a heater (not shown). The transfer material 31 is simultaneously conveyed by being driven to rotate.

  That is, the transfer material 31 holding the toner image is conveyed by the fixing roller 34a and the pressure roller 34b, and the toner image is fixed to the transfer material 31 by applying heat and pressure. The transfer material 31 after fixing is discharged by a discharge roller 35.

  Subsequently, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  In the present embodiment, the developing device is configured integrally with the process cartridge 1, but it goes without saying that the same effect can be obtained even if the developing device is not integrated with the process cartridge 1. Further, in the present embodiment, the developing device integrally forms the toner storage chamber, but the same effect can be obtained even if the toner storage chamber is separate.

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a process cartridge 1 that integrally constitutes the developing device of the present invention.

  In the figure, a developing device 13 includes a toner containing frame 13b that forms a toner containing chamber 130, a toner containing chamber 130 that contains a developer, a toner carrying member 135 that carries the toner in the toner containing chamber 130 toward a receiving opening, A receiving opening 13a1 formed in the developing frame 13a that receives the toner conveyed by the toner conveying member 135, a supply roller 133 that supplies the toner received from the receiving opening 13a1 to the developing roller 131, and a toner supplied from the supplying roller 133 The developing roller 131 carrying the toner, the developing blade 132 that applies frictional charging to the toner of the developing roller 131 to regulate the toner layer thickness, and the opening of the receiving opening 13a1 by the pressure of the toner in the space in which the toner of the developing frame 13a is accommodated. By reversibly changing the area, it is conveyed from the receiving opening 13a1. That amount adjustment member 134 is an adjustment means for adjusting the toner, and the supply roller 133, a developing roller 131, constituting the developing blade 132, a housing of the adjusting member 134 developing frame 13a.

  Next, the operation of the adjusting member 134 as the adjusting means will be described with reference to FIGS.

  First, as shown in FIG. 2, the toner stored in the toner storage chamber 130 is transported to the receiving opening 13a1 by the transport member 135, and is stored in the space in which the toner of the developing frame 13a is stored. On the other hand, this toner is consumed by developing. When the amount of toner consumed at this time and the amount of toner consumed is smaller than the amount of toner received from the receiving opening 13a1, the space in which the toner in the developing frame 13a is accommodated is filled with toner, so-called oversupplemented state. Become. When the space in which the toner in the developing frame 13a is accommodated becomes oversupplemented, the contact pressure of the developing blade 132 against the developing roller 131 is increased by the toner powder pressure, or the toner in the developing frame 13a is accommodated. There is a problem in that the development performance deteriorates due to poor circulation of toner in the space.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, in this embodiment, the adjusting member 134 is disposed in the space in the developing frame 13a in which the toner is accommodated.

  Next, the adjustment member 134 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view of the developing device 13 according to the present invention, and shows a state where the toner in the space 13c of the developing device 13 is hardly contained.

  As shown in the figure, the adjustment member 134 includes a support portion 134a that supports the adjustment member 134 on the developing frame 13a, a pressure receiving portion 134b that receives toner pressure, and an adjustment portion 134c that adjusts the opening area of the receiving opening 13a1. Yes. Further, the adjusting portion 134c is a flexible member including an opening portion 134c1 in which an opening having substantially the same shape as the receiving opening 13a1 and a sealing portion 134c2 for sealing the receiving opening 13a1 are formed. Urethane sheet is selected.

  Further, the adjustment member 134 is guided by a guide portion 13a2 formed on the developing device frame 13a and is movably disposed.

  The developing device 13 operates the conveying member 135 during operation, and conveys the toner accommodated in the toner accommodating portion 130 to the receiving opening 13a1. The toner received from the receiving opening 13a1 is stored in a space 13c in which the toner of the developing frame 13a is stored. At this time, if the amount of toner consumed by the development is larger than the amount of toner received from the receiving opening 13a1, the toner is insufficiently supplied and the development cannot be performed. Therefore, in general, the configuration of the conveying member 135 is set so that the amount of toner received from the receiving opening 13a1 is larger than the amount of toner consumed by development. However, in this state, the space 13c is filled with toner. Eventually, the space 13c is overfilled when the toner is filled and the amount of toner per volume of the space 13c exceeds an allowable value. When the space 13c is oversupplemented, the contact pressure of the developing blade 132 against the developing roller increases, and the thickness of the toner layer formed on the developing roller 131 may become thin, or the triboelectric charge may not reach an appropriate value. is there. Further, when the toner is excessively replenished, the circulation of the toner in the space 13c is also deteriorated, so that the charge applied to the toner is likely to be uneven, and there is a risk of developing unevenness.

  In order to solve the above problem, the adjustment member 134 is disposed in the space 13c in this embodiment.

  At this time, the adjusting member 134 is in the state shown in FIG. 3, and at this time, the position of the opening 134c1 formed in the adjusting portion 134c of the adjusting member 134 and the position of the receiving opening 13a1 formed in the developing device frame 13a are substantially the same. . As described above, since the opening 134c1 and the receiving opening 13a1 have substantially the same shape, the toner conveyed by the conveying member is conveyed to the space 13c via the receiving opening 13a1 and the opening 134c1. As described above, since the toner consumed by the development is less than the toner received from the receiving opening 13a1, the space 13c is gradually filled with the toner.

  Eventually, when the space 13c is gradually filled with toner, the toner pushes up the pressure receiving portion 134b by its powder pressure.

  FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged view of the developing device 13 in a state where the space 13c of the developing device 13 is filled with toner to some extent and the pressure receiving portion 134b is gradually pushed up.

  As described above, one end of the adjustment member 134 in the cross-sectional direction is supported by a support portion 134a as shown in FIG. Therefore, as shown in the figure, the pressure receiving portion of the adjusting portion 134 is gradually pushed up by the powder pressure, and the adjusting portion 134c rises along the guide portion 13a2 formed in the frame. At this time, as shown in the figure, the opening 134c is retracted from the receiving opening 13a1, and since the sealing portion 134c2 covers the receiving opening 13a1 by the retracted portion, the substantial area of the receiving opening 13a1 is reduced. Further, as shown in the figure, since the adjusting member 134 is deformed toward the inner wall of the developing device frame 13a, the volume of the space 13c is increased. That is, when the adjusting member 134 receives the toner powder pressure, the area of the receiving opening 13a1 is reduced, and at the same time, the volume of the space 13c is increased. For this reason, the amount of toner received from the receiving opening 13a1 is reduced, and the volume of the space 13c is increased according to the amount of toner, so that the toner density in the space 13c does not exceed the allowable value.

  FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged view of the developing device 13 in a state where the toner is further filled and the pressure receiving portion 134b is pushed up from the state of FIG.

  As shown in the figure, when the pressure receiving portion 134 b of the adjustment member 134 is further pushed up by the powder pressure of the toner, the adjustment member 134 is deformed to the vicinity of the inner wall of the developing device frame 13. At this time, the opening 134c1 is retracted from the receiving opening 13a1, the receiving opening 13a1 is sealed by the sealing part 134c2, and the toner cannot be received from the receiving opening 13a1. Further, until this time, the adjusting member 134 is deformed toward the inner wall of the developing device frame 13a, so that the volume of the space 13c continues to increase.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the process cartridge 1 in the present embodiment, and shows a state where the receiving opening 13a1 is sealed by the sealing portion 134c2 of the adjusting portion 13c of the adjusting member 134. (State of FIG. 5)
At this time, even if the conveying member 135 continues to convey the toner in the toner accommodating portion 130, the receiving opening 13a1 is sealed, so that the toner is not received in the space 13c shown in FIG.

  That is, in this embodiment, when the toner gradually starts to accumulate in the space 13c, the adjusting member 134 is deformed by the toner powder pressure. At this time, the adjustment member 134 reduces the opening area of the receiving opening 13a1 by moving the opening 134c1 and the sealing part 134c2 provided in the adjustment part 134c, and at the same time, the adjustment member 134 increases the volume of the space 13c. . In other words, the adjusting member 134 can adjust the amount of toner that can be received independently by the powder pressure of the toner received from the receiving opening 13a1, and can prevent the toner density from exceeding an allowable value.

  As a result, problems such as an increase in the contact pressure of the developing blade 132 against the developing roller 131 due to excessive replenishment and poor toner circulation in the space 13c can be prevented.

  FIG. 7 is a partial longitudinal sectional view when the developing device in this embodiment is cut along a line BB shown in FIG. This figure shows only one side (front side when viewed from the direction of FIG. 5), but the opposite side of the length has the same configuration. As shown in the figure, the adjustment member 134 is biased in the direction of arrow F by a biasing member 134d. Therefore, when the toner in the space 13c is consumed from the state shown in FIG. 5, the state returns to the state shown in FIG. 4 again by the urging force of the urging member 134d.

  That is, in the developing device 13, the powder pressure changes depending on the state of the toner in the space 13c depending on the relationship between the amount of received toner and the amount of consumed toner, and the adjusting member 134 repeats the states shown in FIGS. . As described above, the operation of the adjustment member varies depending on the relationship between the toner powder pressure in the space 13c, the urging force of the urging member 134d, and the force that deflects the adjustment member 134. For this reason, the detection means as in the conventional example, the driving means for adjusting the opening area, and the like are unnecessary, and a significant cost reduction can be expected.

  In the present invention, the adjustment member 134 uses a flexible material. However, for example, even in a material that does not bend, even if a plurality of members are connected by a node or the like and the node is bent and the adjustment member is deformed, the same effect can be obtained. can get.

  In this embodiment, the urging force of the adjustment member 134 is obtained by the urging member 134d. However, the adjustment member 134 may be made of a flexible elastic material. As the flexible elastic material, it is possible to select a metal spring material such as stainless steel or phosphor bronze or an elastic resin material such as polyethylene terephthalate.

  Specifically, the adjustment member 134, which is a flexible elastic material, is formed in advance as shown in FIG. And the adjustment member 134 is supported by the support part 134b.

  The adjustment member 134 is bent by the powder pressure of the toner and is elastically deformed as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. When the adjustment member 134 reaches the shape shown in FIG. 5, the receiving opening 13 a 1 is sealed by the sealing portion 134 c 2. The toner will not be accepted.

  When the toner in the space 13c is consumed from this state, the adjusting member 134 again has the shape shown in FIG. 3 due to the restoring force of the flexible elastic material, and the receiving opening 13a is opened so that the toner can be received.

  That is, in this configuration, the flexible elastic material selected as the adjustment member 134 is deformed so that the receiving opening 13a1 is sealed before the toner density exceeds an allowable value, such as the material, thickness, and shape when no load is applied. In addition, when the adjustment member 134 is released from the powder pressure of the toner, it may be appropriately selected so that the receiving opening 13a1 is opened again.

  Further, the adjusting member 134 of this embodiment can also function as a toner seal. The toner seal is a member that seals the toner in the toner container 130 so that the toner does not scatter outside.

  The toner seal is for preventing the toner from being scattered to the outside due to physical distribution after the process cartridge 1 of the present embodiment is manufactured at the factory.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the adjustment member 134 is fixed and shipped in the state shown in FIG. 5 with a lock pin 134e as shown in FIG. The user pulls out the lock pin at the time of use to release the fixation. At this time, the adjusting member 134 is brought into the state shown in FIG. 3 by the urging force, and the receiving opening 13a1 is opened to be usable. Further, in order to improve the performance of the adjustment member 134 as a toner seal, a seal member (not shown) may be disposed on the entire circumference of the receiving opening 13a1 and on the surface facing the adjustment member 134. Further, a seal member (not shown) may be disposed on the surface facing the receiving opening 13a1 of the sealing portion 134c2 of the adjustment member 134.

A image forming apparatus main body 1 process cartridge 11 photosensitive drum 12 charging roller 13 developing means 13a developing frame 13a1 receiving opening 13a2 guide portion 13b toner containing frame 13c space 130 toner containing chamber 131 developing roller 132 developing blade 133 supply roller 134 adjusting member 134a Supporting part 134b Pressure receiving part 134c Adjusting part 134c1 Opening part 134c2 Sealing part 134d Biasing member 135 Conveying member 14 Cleaning means 141 Cleaning member 142 Squee sheet 143 Waste toner storage chamber 2 Exposure means 31 Transfer material 32a Feed cassette 32b Feeding roller 32c retard roller 32e transport roller 32f registration roller 33 transfer roller 34 fixing unit 34a fixing roller 34b pressure roller 35 discharge roller 400 Over

Claims (7)

Used in electrophotographic image forming apparatus,
A receiving opening for receiving the developer from the developer accommodating portion for accommodating the developer;
A developing frame for storing the developer received from the receiving opening;
A developer carrying member supported by the developing frame for carrying the developer housed in the developing frame and developing the latent image formed on the image carrier by the developer;
In a developing device having
The developing device includes an adjusting unit that adjusts a developer conveyance amount by adjusting an opening area of the receiving opening;
The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the adjusting means reversibly changes depending on the pressure of the developer stored in the developing frame.   The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the adjusting unit reduces an opening area of the receiving opening when the pressure of the developer in the developing frame is high.   3. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the adjusting means closes the receiving opening by the pressure of the developer in the developing device frame.   4. The adjusting unit closes the receiving opening when the developing device is shipped, and opens at least a part of the receiving opening when the developing device is used. The developing device according to 1.   5. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the adjusting unit integrally forms a pressure receiving part that receives developer pressure and an adjusting part that adjusts an opening area of the receiving opening.   The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the adjusting unit is an elastic member that is reversibly deformed by the pressure of the developer. In a process cartridge detachable from an electrophotographic image forming apparatus,
The process cartridge has at least an image carrier and a developing device,
7. A process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the developing device is a developing device according to claim 1.

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