JP2013097347A - Developer layer thickness regulating member, developing device, and image forming apparatus including the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a doctor blade that properly keeps a temperature of the doctor blade stable and suppresses fusion of developer and deterioration of the doctor blade, a developing device, and an image forming apparatus including the doctor blade and the developing device.SOLUTION: A developing device includes a developing roller 62 that rotates while carrying developer on a surface, and a doctor blade 68 that comes into pressure-contact with the developing roller 62 to regulate the layer thickness of the developer. The doctor blade 68 comprises a pressure-contact member 682 that comes into pressure-contact with the developing roller 62 and a support member 681 that supports the pressure-contact member 682; the pressure-contact member 682 has a hollow part 683; and the hollow part 683 is filled with a temperature change inhibitory substance 684 that suppresses a change in temperature of the pressure-contact member 682.

Description

  The present invention relates to a developing device for developing an electrostatic image formed on an image carrier represented by a photosensitive member with a developer, and a developer layer thickness preferably used for an image forming device such as a laser printer, a copying machine, and a facsimile machine. The present invention relates to a regulating member, a developing device, and an image forming apparatus including the same.

  In an image forming apparatus such as a printer employing an electrophotographic method, an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of a photoconductor as an image carrier can be developed by supplying a developer from a developing device and developing it. A developer image that is a visual image is formed, the developer image is further transferred onto a transfer medium such as recording paper, and the developer image transferred onto the transfer medium is fixed to form a robust recorded image.

  In recent years, with the widespread use of color inkjet image forming apparatuses, image forming apparatuses using an electrophotographic system are also required to be reduced in size and price. Under such circumstances, as a developing device of an electrophotographic system, a non-magnetic one-component developing system having a simple structure and capable of being reduced in size is useful, and development of an improved technique is being promoted.

  The non-magnetic one-component development method includes a contact development method in which development is performed by bringing a developer carrier (hereinafter referred to as a developing roller) into contact with a latent image carrier, and a predetermined gap between the latent image carrier and the development roller. It is roughly classified into a non-contact development system in which development is performed with a gap between them. Both of the developing apparatuses have similar structures and have compact features, but the materials of the developing roller and the developer layer thickness regulating member (hereinafter referred to as doctor blade) may be different.

  First, in the contact development method, in order to obtain uniform contact in the development region, the development roller is composed of an elastic member such as conductive rubber. In particular, in a configuration in which a rigid body such as a photosensitive drum is used as the latent image carrier, a developing roller made of an elastic member such as rubber is effective from the viewpoint of preventing damage due to a contact state failure. In the case of a developing roller made of an elastic member such as rubber, the doctor blade for forming the developer layer on the developing roller may be made of rubber, a roller type made of a metal shaft, or a metal plate alone. Preferably used. Among them, a blade made of a metal plate is widely used because it can be provided at low cost.

  On the other hand, in the case of the non-contact developing method, since it is necessary to accurately maintain a gap with the latent image carrier, a roller or sleeve made of a rigid body such as metal is often used as the developing roller. This is because the polishing accuracy of the surface is higher than that of the rubber roller and it is easy to suppress the eccentricity of the drive shaft and the surface. Another reason is that there is no fear of injury due to contact because of non-contact. Several types of doctor blades can be used as in the contact type described above, but rubber doctor blades are often used from the viewpoint of stabilizing the contact at the developer layer regulating portion and preventing damage. The rubber doctor blade is generally composed of an elastic support member such as a metal plate and a developer layer restricting portion in which a rubber material is arranged on the edge thereof. For example, development as shown in Patent Document 1 is performed. A rubber part that has a hollow part in the rubber part that is the agent layer regulating part is known.

  FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram for explaining the structure of the doctor blade disclosed in Patent Document 1. The doctor blade shown in the document is composed of a flexible sheet member 81 that contacts the developing roller 80 and a support member 82 that supports the flexible sheet member 81, and both ends of the flexible sheet member 81 are They are supported by the first support portion 82a and the second support portion 82b of the support member 82, respectively. The flexible sheet member 81 is bent so as to be bent, thereby forming a hollow portion 83 between the flexible sheet member 81 and the support member 82, and the hollow portion is interposed via the flexible sheet member 81. Is brought into contact with the developing roller 80.

  With such a configuration, even if the flexible sheet member 81 and the developing roller 80 are always in pressure contact with each other over a long period of time, the flexible sheet having the hollow portion 83 is provided. By deforming the member 81, the dent on the surface of the developing roller can be suppressed, the leakage of the developer from the contact portion between the doctor blade and the developing roller can be suppressed, and a good image can be obtained only during image formation. Sufficient contact pressure can be secured. As a result, it is possible to expect an effect that image fogging and image unevenness do not occur.

JP 2008-151939 A

  However, in recent years, in response to the increase in performance required for image quality, the particle size of the developer has been reduced, and accordingly, the thickness of the developer layer formed on the developing roller has to be reduced. For this purpose, it is necessary to increase the pressure applied by the doctor blade. However, increasing the pressing force increases the frictional force between the doctor blade and the developer or between the doctor blade and the developing roller. As a result, a so-called fusing phenomenon occurs in which the developer melts and solidifies, which also causes image defects.

  Further, in driving in a high temperature environment, there is a problem that heat is trapped in the hollow portion 83 of the doctor blade disclosed in Patent Document 1 and the fusion phenomenon is further accelerated. Furthermore, if the frictional force increases and the temperature rises, the rubber portion of the flexible sheet member 81 is deteriorated, and it cannot withstand long-term use, and there is a possibility that the image quality is lowered.

  As described above, in the use environment of the doctor blade, the temperature has a great influence on the image quality or the lifetime of the entire apparatus, and therefore it is necessary to maintain an optimum temperature state.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to appropriately stabilize the temperature of the doctor blade and suppress the fusion of the developer and the deterioration of the doctor blade, and the developing device. And an image forming apparatus including the same.

  The developer layer thickness regulating member according to the present invention includes a developer carrying member that rotates while carrying a developer on the surface, and a developer layer that presses against the developer carrying member to regulate the layer thickness of the developer. A developer layer thickness regulating member used in a developing device provided with a thickness regulating member, wherein the developer layer thickness regulating member includes a pressure contact member that is in pressure contact with the developer carrier and a support member that supports the pressure contact member. The press contact member has a hollow portion, and the hollow portion is filled with a temperature change suppressing substance that suppresses a temperature change of the press contact member.

  The temperature change inhibiting substance may have a specific heat greater than that of the pressure contact member. The temperature change suppressing substance may be a liquid or a gas. The liquid or gas may be temperature-adjusted.

  A developing device according to the present invention uses the developer layer thickness regulating member described above. The temperature change inhibiting substance may be further provided with a circulation mechanism that circulates through the hollow portion.

  An image forming apparatus according to the present invention uses any one of the developing devices described above.

  According to the present invention, a doctor blade, a developing device, which stabilizes the temperature of the doctor blade to an appropriate temperature and suppresses the fusion of the developer and the deterioration of the doctor blade caused by the temperature rise due to friction between the doctor blade and the developing roller, In addition, an image forming apparatus including the same can be realized.

1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an overall configuration of an image forming apparatus Z including a developing device X according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of a developing device X according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 2 is a schematic diagram of a doctor blade according to Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a shape example of a hollow portion of the doctor blade according to the first embodiment. It is the schematic of the doctor blade which concerns on Embodiment 2. FIG. It is the schematic of the doctor blade which concerns on Embodiment 3. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of arrangement of a temperature change inhibiting substance in a hollow portion of a doctor blade according to Embodiment 3. FIG. It is the schematic for demonstrating the structure of the doctor blade in a prior art.

  Hereinafter, a developing device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The following embodiment is an example embodying the present invention, and does not limit the technical scope of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the one-component development method is described as an example. However, the development method is not limited to this, and other development methods such as a two-component development method are also applicable.

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the overall configuration of an image forming apparatus Z including a developing device X according to an embodiment of the present invention. First, the configuration and operation contents of the image forming apparatus Z will be described with reference to FIG.

  The image forming apparatus Z has a copy mode, a printer mode, and a FAX mode as print modes, and responds to an operation input from an operation unit (not shown) or a print job received from an external host device such as a personal computer. The print mode is selected by the control unit described later.

  The image forming apparatus Z is roughly divided into a document reading unit 10, a paper feeding unit 20, a printing unit 30, and a paper discharge unit 40. The document reading unit 10 is disposed above the paper supply unit 20, and the paper discharge unit 40 is provided. It is disposed at an intermediate portion between the document reading unit 10 and the paper feeding unit 20.

  Hereinafter, the copy mode will be described from the above processing modes. After the user places a document on the platen glass 11 of the document reading unit 10, the user places a recording sheet on the sheet feeding cassette 21 of the sheet feeding unit 20 or the manual feed tray 23 provided on the side of the device, and further The copy operation is started by operating the start key on the operation panel after inputting the number of prints / printing magnification with the condition input key on the operation panel (not shown) arranged on the front surface of the exterior.

  When the start key is operated, a main drive motor (not shown) starts and each drive gear rotates. Thereafter, the paper feed roller 22 or 22a rotates to feed the paper into the apparatus, and the fed paper reaches the registration roller 31 and is captured. The registration roller 31 temporarily stops the paper so as to synchronize with the leading edge of the image, which is an image forming start portion formed on the photosensitive drum 32, and the leading edge of the paper is uniformly pressed against the registration roller 31. Thus, the leading edge position of the paper is corrected.

  On the other hand, in the document reading unit 10, the copy lamp 12a, which is a light source, is turned on, and the copy lamp unit 12 moves in the direction of arrow C to start exposure. Irradiation light applied to the document by the copy lamp 12a becomes reflected light including image information of the document. The reflected light is transmitted from the first mirror 12b to the second mirror 13 and the third mirror 14 provided in the copy lamp unit 12. The optical lens 15 is read by being incident on a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) 16. The image information read in this way is converted into an electrical signal by a CCD circuit (not shown), and the image information signal is subjected to image processing under a set condition, and the laser scanner unit. 33 as print data.

  On the other hand, a part of the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 32 is charged to a predetermined charging potential over the entire axial direction by the charging unit 34, and the entire peripheral surface is negatively charged by rotating the photosensitive drum 32. Charged to potential. The surface of the charged photoconductive drum 32 moves to the next process as the photoconductive drum 32 rotates.

  Next, in the laser scanner unit 33, the laser beam emitted from the semiconductor laser is irradiated to the photosensitive drum 32 while being deflected by a polygon mirror having a plurality of reflecting surfaces in the rotation direction and various optical systems. Thereby, the laser beam is scanned on the photosensitive drum 32 charged by the charging unit 34, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 32.

  Thereafter, the toner in the developing tank 61 is supplied onto the surface of the rotating photosensitive drum 32 by the developing roller 62 applied with a negative DC potential in the developing tank 61 provided in the developing device X, and the electrostatic latent image is The toner is visualized in accordance with the potential gap on the photosensitive drum 32.

  Also, the recording paper to be imaged is conveyed in the direction of the photosensitive drum 32 by the registration roller 31 in time, and the toner on the photosensitive drum 32 is transferred to the paper by the transfer unit 36. The toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 32 is scraped off by the cleaning blade 37 a of the drum unit and collected by the cleaner unit 37.

  The surface of the photosensitive drum 32 from which the toner has been removed by the cleaning blade 37a is neutralized as necessary by the neutralization device 39 while moving to the charging unit 34.

  On the other hand, the sheet on which the toner has been transferred passes between the heating roller 38a and the pressure roller 38b of the fixing device 38, and heat and pressure are applied to melt and fix the unfixed toner on the sheet to the sheet. Then, the paper is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 42 by the paper discharge roller 41. The heating roller 38a is heated by a heater 38c provided therein.

  In addition, when it is detected by a predetermined sensor that a document is placed on the document tray 19 provided in the document reading unit 10, the paper feed roller 51 rotates when a predetermined start key operation is performed. Then, the document placed on the document tray 19 is sent into the document reading unit 10 and is transported through a predetermined transport path Rt1. A registration roller 53 is provided on the conveyance path Rt1, and the document is captured by the registration roller 53, and the leading end of the document is positioned, and then conveyed to the document reading position at a predetermined timing. Then, the document being conveyed is exposed while the copy lamp unit 12 is stopped at a predetermined stop position. The process of reading the document image by the reflected light from the document obtained by this exposure is as described above. The document whose image has been read in this manner is discharged to the document discharge unit 18.

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of the developing device X according to the embodiment of the present invention. Here, the configuration and operation outline of the developing device X will be described with reference to FIG. The developing device X generally includes a developing roller 62 carrying a developer, a developing tank 61 that contains the developer, and stirring transport members 63, 64, and 65 that stir and transport the developer 60 in the developing tank 61. In addition, the agitating and conveying members 63, 64, and 65 are rotated in the counterclockwise direction as viewed from the paper surface as indicated by arrows.

  The developing roller 62 is a developing roller that is rotatably provided in the developing tank. The developing roller 62 faces the photosensitive drum 32, is arranged so that its axis is parallel to the rotational axis of the photosensitive drum 32, and is supported by the frame portion of the developing tank 61 body.

  As the developer carried on the developing roller 62, for example, a non-magnetic one-component developer is used. A toner supply roller 66 provided upstream of the developing roller 62 attracts toner to the surface, and supplies a certain amount of toner onto the developing roller 62.

  A doctor blade 68 acting as a developer layer thickness regulating member is provided above the developing roller 62. Although details will be described later, the doctor blade 68 includes a support member 681 and a pressure contact member 682. Urethane rubber as the pressure contact member 682 is integrated at the tip of the support member 681, and the other end of the support member 681 is fixed. Are sandwiched between sheet metal 71 and 72 and are screwed into the developing device X main body using screws 73.

  The support member 681 is a thin metal plate having a spring property, and this spring property presses the urethane rubber onto the developing roller 62 with a constant pressure. As a result, a toner layer having a constant charge amount is carried on the developing roller 62. The toner having these charges is supplied from the developing roller 62 to the photosensitive drum 32 according to the potential difference between the developing roller 62 and the photosensitive drum 32 to develop the electrostatic latent image to form a toner image.

  The developing tank 61 is a container member made of, for example, hard synthetic resin and having an approximately rectangular parallelepiped appearance. In the developing tank 61, the first stirring / transporting member 65 and the second stirring / transporting member 63 mainly have a role of stirring and transporting the toner in the rotation direction. Both members have thin resinous, for example, PET (Polyethylene terephthalate) wings provided around the rotating shaft. The third agitating / conveying member 64 is a screw-like rotating member made of, for example, a hard synthetic resin, and mainly has a role of agitating and conveying the toner in the axial direction.

  An intermediate wall member 69 is provided between the second stirring and conveying member 63 and the toner supply roller 66. The intermediate wall member 69 is a flat plate member made of synthetic resin, for example, and is provided so as to extend in the longitudinal direction of the developing tank 61 and rise from the bottom of the developing tank 61. An opening hole 70 is provided at the center of the intermediate wall member 69 to form a developer flow from the second stirring / conveying member 63 toward the toner supply roller 66 in the tank.

  The toner supply roller 66 is provided with a cylindrical porous contact portion such as urethane foam around the core metal, and rubs the developing roller 62 while adsorbing toner in the hole portion. Thus, the toner is supplied to the developing roller 62 and after the development, the toner layer remaining on the developing roller 62 is also cleaned.

<Embodiment 1>
The first embodiment will be described below. FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the doctor blade 68 according to the present embodiment. The doctor blade 68 includes a support member 681 and a pressure contact member 682, and urethane rubber as the pressure contact member 682 is integrated with the tip of the support member 681.

  In the present embodiment, a phosphor bronze plate is used as the material of the support member 681, but a stainless plate, a beryllium copper plate, or the like can also be used. The rubber member that is the pressure contact member 682 that contacts the developing roller 62 is preferably made of a material that can withstand the molding temperature of the rubber member because the rubber is melted and molded into the support member. The support part length A outside the rubber member is 25 mm. The spring property of the support member 681 depends on the thickness of the support member 681. If the thickness is small, the spring property becomes weak and the amount of toner slipping increases. On the other hand, if the thickness is large, the spring property becomes strong, which causes the toner to be blurred. For this reason, the thickness of the support member is suitably about 0.12 mm.

  In this embodiment, urethane rubber is used as the pressure contact member 682, but silicon rubber or the like can also be used. The hardness of the rubber is preferably 60 ° to 85 ° in terms of JIS A hardness, and is set to 65 ° to 70 ° in this embodiment. For the pressure contact member 682, a rubber having a thickness of 0.4 mm and having a hollow portion 683 is formed by injection molding or the like and bonded to the support member 681.

  The inside of the hollow part 683 is filled with the temperature change inhibiting substance 684. The temperature change suppressing substance 684 has a specific heat larger than that of the rubber member which is the pressure contact member 682, and encloses a substance having a small temperature change, for example, water or water-absorbing polymer that has been gelled by absorbing water, or helium gas. . By such a method, the doctor blade 68 having the hollow portion 683 in the thickness direction and having the hollow portion 683 filled with the temperature change inhibiting substance 684 is manufactured.

  In addition, although the cross-sectional shape of the hollow part 683 cut | disconnected perpendicularly | vertically to the longitudinal direction of the press-contact member 682 is a half-moon shape as shown to Fig.4 (a) in this embodiment, it is not restricted to this. For example, a substantially rectangular shape as shown in FIG. 4B, a triangular shape as shown in FIG. 4C, or an elliptical shape as shown in FIG. In the case of the shape shown in FIGS. 4A to 4C, the hollow portion 683 widely faces on the surface side in contact with the developing roller 62, and the temperature change inhibiting substance 684 enclosed in the hollow portion 683 is more effective. Therefore, the temperature change caused by the friction caused by the contact between the developing roller 62 and the pressure contact member 682 can be effectively suppressed. In the case of the shape shown in FIG. 4B, the temperature change on the support member side can be effectively suppressed when the temperature rises on the support member side due to exhaust. Furthermore, in the case of the shape shown in FIG. 4C, the temperature change suppressing member can be suppressed to a small amount.

  The developing roller 62 used in this embodiment is a sleeve having a diameter of 16 mm and a material of aluminum, and the surface of the developing roller 62 is subjected to sandblasting with a surface roughness Ra = 0.3 to 0.5 μm. The rotational peripheral speed was 145 mm / s. The developer is a non-magnetic one-component toner whose main component is a polyester resin, and an average particle size of 7 μm and a toner prepared by a pulverization method was used.

  When the developer layer formation state and image forming performance were confirmed using the above doctor blade, the toner fusing and nip width fluctuations were reduced, and the image uniformity was improved. In the doctor blade 68, the press contact member 682 is provided with a hollow portion 683, and the temperature change suppressing substance 684 is filled or filled therein, whereby the temperature increase of the press contact member 682 can be reduced and image quality can be maintained. .

<Embodiment 2>
Next, Embodiment 2 will be described. This embodiment is different from Embodiment 1 in that the temperature-controlled air is circulated as the temperature change suppressing substance 684.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the doctor blade 68a according to the present embodiment. Inside the hollow portion 683 provided in the pressure contact member 682, air, which is an example of a temperature-adjusted substance, is circulated as a gaseous medium by a circulation mechanism (not shown). The air is generally circulated by connecting a duct or piping to the pressure contact member 682 and circulating the air using a fan or the like.

  Here, when a rubber material is used for the pressure contact member, the hardness of the rubber portion is increased in a low temperature environment, so that the nip width with the developing roller 62 is narrowed, and the developer layer thickness can be sufficiently regulated. As a result, there is a problem that an image defect called “straight spot” occurs.

  However, as in this embodiment, by circulating the temperature-adjusted substance in the hollow portion 683, the temperature change of the pressure contact member 682 is reduced, and when a rubber material is used for the pressure contact member 682, the rubber hardness is reduced. To stabilize. As a result, the nip width is not easily affected by the temperature change, and a stable image can be obtained. Further, since the temperature rise due to the friction between the pressure contact member 682 and the developing roller 62 can be prevented, the fusion of the developer can be reduced.

  As a method of circulating air, in addition to a method of circulating air adjusted to a predetermined constant temperature, a temperature sensor (not shown) for detecting the temperature of the pressure contact member 682 is provided, If the temperature rises, the air adjusted to a low temperature for cooling is circulated, and conversely, if the temperature of the pressure contact member decreases, the air adjusted to a high temperature is circulated to suppress the temperature change of the pressure contact member 682. I do not care.

  Alternatively, if the temperature of the pressure contact member 682 increases, the rotation speed of the fan is increased to blow more air, and conversely if the temperature of the pressure contact member decreases, the rotation speed of the fan is decreased to decrease the temperature of the pressure contact member 682. A method of suppressing changes may be used.

  In this embodiment, air is used as the gas medium. However, temperature-adjusted water, ethylene glycol, or the like may be used as the liquid medium. In this embodiment, a rubber member is used as the pressure contact member 682. However, even a metal member such as SUS (stainless steel) has an effect of reducing toner fusion.

<Embodiment 3>
Next, Embodiment 3 will be described. In this embodiment, an example in which the first embodiment and the second embodiment are combined will be described.

  FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the doctor blade 68b according to the present embodiment. A temperature change inhibiting substance 684 is provided in part of the hollow portion 683 provided in the pressure contact member 682. The temperature change suppressing substance 684 can keep the temperature of the pressure contact member 682 at an appropriate level, and the temperature-adjusted air is circulated through the hollow portion 683, which is more effective.

  In the present embodiment, the temperature change suppressing substance 684 is provided on the same side as the surface in contact with the developing roller 62 in the hollow portion 683, but is not limited thereto.

  FIG. 7 shows an example in which the temperature change inhibiting substance 684 is arranged in the hollow portion 683, and is a cross-sectional view when cut in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the pressure contact member 682. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7A, the temperature change inhibiting substance 684 is provided on the same side as the surface in contact with the developing roller 62 in the hollow portion 683. In addition to this, for example, FIG. As shown in FIG. 7, it may be provided on the support member 681 side, or may be provided in a donut shape so as to cover the entire inner wall of the hollow portion 683 as shown in FIG. In this way, the temperature of the pressure contact member 682 can be kept appropriate by the temperature change inhibiting substance 684, and the temperature-adjusted air is circulated through the hollow portion 683, so that the temperature change is further reduced and more effective. It is.

As shown in FIG. 7A, when air is circulated to the support member 681, the heat conduction from the support member 681 is blocked by the air, so that there is little influence on the temperature change on the side in contact with the developing roller 62. Become.
Further, in the case of the configuration in which the periphery of the hollow portion 683 is surrounded by the temperature change inhibiting substance 684 as shown in FIG. 7C, the temperature variation in the thickness direction of the pressure contact member 682 is eliminated, and the temperature can be made uniform. At the same time, the distortion of the pressure contact member 682 is reduced.

  Each embodiment has been described above. In any of the embodiments, a doctor blade, a developing device, and a doctor blade that appropriately stabilize the temperature of the doctor blade and suppress the fusion of the developer and the deterioration of the doctor blade are provided. An image forming apparatus can be realized.

  The present invention is limited to the above-described configuration as long as the image forming apparatus includes a doctor blade that regulates the amount of developer supplied to the developing roller and regulates the layer thickness of the developer. However, it can be developed on other image forming apparatuses.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Original reading part 11 Platen glass 12 Copy lamp unit 12a Copy lamp 12b 1st mirror 13 2nd mirror 14 3rd mirror 15 Optical lens 16 CCD
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 18 Document discharge part 19 Document tray 20 Paper feed part 21 Paper feed cassette 22, 22a Paper feed roller 23 Manual feed tray 30 Printing part 31 Registration roller 32 Photosensitive drum 33 Laser scanner unit 34 Charging unit 36 Transfer unit 37 Cleaner unit 37a Cleaning blade 38 Fixing device 38a Heating roller 38b Pressure roller 38c Heating heater 39 Static eliminating device 40 Paper discharge unit 41 Paper discharge roller 42 Paper discharge tray 51 Paper feed roller 53 Registration roller 60 Developer 61 Developing tank 62 Developing roller 63, 64, 65 Stirring Conveying member 66 Toner supply roller 68, 68a, 68b Doctor blade 681 Support member 682 Pressure contact member 683 Hollow portion 684 Temperature change inhibiting substance 69 Intermediate wall member 70 Open hole 71, 72 Sheet metal 73 Screw X Present Device Z image forming apparatus

Claims (7)

A developer carrying body that carries a developer on its surface and rotates;
A developer layer thickness regulating member used in a developing device provided with a developer layer thickness regulating member that presses against the developer carrying member and regulates the layer thickness of the developer;
The developer layer thickness regulating member includes a pressure contact member that is in pressure contact with the developer carrier and a support member that supports the pressure contact member.
The pressure contact member has a hollow portion,
The developer layer thickness regulating member, wherein the hollow portion is filled with a temperature change suppressing substance that suppresses a temperature change of the pressure contact member.   The developer layer thickness regulating member according to claim 1, wherein the temperature change inhibiting substance has a specific heat larger than that of the pressure contact member.   The developer layer thickness regulating member according to claim 2, wherein the temperature change suppressing substance is a liquid or a gas.   4. The developer layer thickness regulating member according to claim 3, wherein the temperature of the liquid or gas is adjusted.   A developing device using the developer layer thickness regulating member according to any one of claims 1 to 4.   The developing device according to claim 5, further comprising a circulation mechanism that circulates the temperature change inhibiting substance in the hollow portion.   An image forming apparatus using the developing device according to claim 5.