JP2018060033A - Developing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To adjust the amount of a mixture of lubricant and toner generated on a projection part to an appropriate amount, and achieve both improvement in fluidity of toner in the vicinity of a notch part and reduction in leakage of toner.SOLUTION: A developing device 28 comprises: a housing 50; a developing roller 31; a layer thickness regulating blade 100; and a side seal 200. The side seal 200 includes a surface layer 210 that is applied with lubricant and in contact with a peripheral surface of the developing roller 31, a base layer 220 that is arranged between the surface layer 210 and housing 50, and a bonding layer 230 that bonds the surface layer 210 to the base layer 220. The base layer 220 includes a projection part 222 having a portion that projects inward in the axial direction beyond the bonding layer 230 and is located on the upstream side in the direction of rotation of the developing roller 31 with respect to a notch part 121 of a blade rubber part 120 and within a range of the notch part 121 in the axial direction. The housing 50 includes a projection 54 that is in contact with a surface on the inside in the axial direction of the projection part 222 to regulate the position of the projection part 222.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to a developing device including a side seal that comes into contact with an end portion in the axial direction of a developing roller.

  Conventionally, as a developing device, a housing that contains toner, a developing roller that is rotatably held in the housing, a layer thickness regulating blade that is in contact with the developing roller, and between the housing and the end of the developing roller What is provided with the side seal arrange | positioned is known (for example, refer patent document 1). In this developing device, the layer thickness regulating blade has a blade body made of sheet metal, and a blade rubber portion that protrudes from the blade body and contacts the developing roller. The blade rubber part is formed with a concave cutout.

  The side seal is disposed between the end of the blade body and the housing. The side seal has a surface layer that contacts the peripheral surface of the developing roller, and a base layer that is disposed between the surface layer and the housing. The base layer has a protruding portion that protrudes inward in the axial direction of the developing roller from the surface layer. The protruding portion is disposed upstream of the notch portion of the blade rubber portion in the rotation direction of the developing roller.

JP2015-108800A

  By the way, the applicant of the present application has devised a technique for applying a lubricant to the surface layer and moving the lubricant applied to the surface layer onto the protruding portion on the inner side in the axial direction in accordance with the rotation of the developing roller. In this technique, since the lubricant and the toner are mixed on the protruding portion to generate a mixture on the protruding portion, it is possible to suppress toner leakage with this mixture.

  In this technique, the size of the mixture tends to increase as the amount of overlap between the notch and the protrusion when viewed from the rotation direction of the developing roller is larger. However, if the size of the mixture is too large, the fluidity of the toner around the notch may be deteriorated. On the other hand, if the size of the mixture is too small, there is a possibility that toner leakage cannot be satisfactorily suppressed by the mixture. Therefore, with this technique, it is necessary to accurately position the protrusion in the axial direction.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to achieve both the improvement of toner fluidity in the vicinity of the notch and the suppression of toner leakage by setting an appropriate amount of the mixture of the lubricant and toner generated on the protrusion. And

In order to solve the above problems, a developing device according to the present invention includes a housing, a rotatable developing roller, a blade rubber portion that contacts a peripheral surface of the developing roller, and a blade body that supports the blade rubber portion. And a side seal disposed between the housing and the developing roller so as to be in contact with the peripheral surface of the developing roller at an end in the axial direction of the developing roller. .
The blade rubber part has a notch at an end in the axial direction.
The side seal is coated with a lubricant and is in contact with the peripheral surface of the developing roller, a base layer disposed between the surface layer and the housing, and an adhesive that bonds the surface layer to the base layer And a layer.
The base layer is a protruding portion that protrudes inward in the axial direction with respect to the adhesive layer, and is upstream of the notch portion in the rotation direction of the developing roller and within the range of the notch portion in the axial direction. A protrusion having a portion located;
The housing includes a protrusion that contacts a surface on the inner side in the axial direction of the protrusion.

  According to this configuration, since the position of the protruding portion of the base layer is accurately positioned by the protrusion, the amount of the protruding portion that overlaps the notch portion can be accurately managed, so that the lubricant generated on the protruding portion and By making the amount of the toner mixture an appropriate amount, it is possible to improve both the fluidity of the toner near the notch and to suppress the toner leakage.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to achieve both improvement in toner fluidity and suppression of toner leakage in the vicinity of the notch by setting an appropriate amount of the mixture of the lubricant and toner generated on the protrusion. .

It is sectional drawing which shows the developing device which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which decomposes | disassembles and shows a developing device. It is a perspective view which decomposes | disassembles and shows a side seal. It is the top view (a) which shows a surface layer, and sectional drawing (b) which shows the structure of a side seal vicinity. It is figure (a)-(c) which shows simply the relation between a side seal in the process of assembling each member to a case, and its peripheral member. They are the front view (a) and the perspective view (b) which looked at the housing | casing of the state before assembling supply rollers etc. from the opening side. They are the front view (a) and the perspective view (b) which show the state which attached the side seal to the housing | casing. They are the front view (a) and the perspective view (b) which show the state which affixed the braid | blade back seal on the housing | casing. It is a front view which shows the state which assembled | attached the layer thickness regulation blade etc. to the housing | casing.

A developing device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate.
As shown in FIG. 1, the developing device 28 is used in an image forming apparatus such as a printer. The developing device 28 includes a rotatable developing roller 31, a layer thickness regulating blade 100, a rotatable supply roller 33, a toner storage chamber 34, and a rotatable agitator 34A. The supply roller 33 is in contact with the developing roller 31.

  In the developing device 28, the toner stored in the toner storage chamber 34 is stirred by the agitator 34 </ b> A and then supplied to the developing roller 31 by the supply roller 33. At this time, the toner is positively frictionally charged between the supply roller 33 and the developing roller 31. The toner supplied onto the developing roller 31 enters between the layer thickness regulating blade 100 and the developing roller 31 as the developing roller 31 rotates. As a result, the toner is further frictionally charged between the layer thickness regulating blade 100 and the developing roller 31. Further, the toner on the developing roller 31 is regulated to a thin layer having a certain thickness by the layer thickness regulating blade 100.

  The toner in this embodiment is a positively charged non-magnetic one-component toner, and a styrene-acrylic resin formed into a spherical shape by suspension polymerization, and a charge control of a well-known colorant such as carbon black and a quaternary ammonium salt. Has been added sex. The toner base particles have an average particle diameter of 4 μm to 10 μm, and silica is added to the surface as an external additive. The toner is not limited to the type of toner described above, and for example, a negatively chargeable toner may be used.

Next, the detailed structure of the developing device 28 will be described.
Since the developing device 28 has a substantially symmetrical structure in the axial direction of the developing roller 31, in the drawings to be referred to hereinafter, only a portion on one end side in the axial direction of the developing roller 31 is shown, and a portion on the other end side is shown. It will be omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the developing device 28 includes the developing roller 31 and the like described above, a housing 50 for storing toner, a side seal 200 that contacts an end portion in the axial direction of the developing roller 31, A blade back seal 36 disposed between the layer thickness regulating blade 100 and the housing 50 is provided. In the present embodiment, the developing roller 31 has the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 2, that is, the peripheral surface of the developing roller 31 faces the surface of the side seal 200 from the side far from the layer thickness regulating blade 100 to the near side. It is provided to rotate in the rubbing direction. In the following description, the rotation direction of the developing roller 31 is also simply referred to as “rotation direction”.

  The developing roller 31 has a cylindrical roller portion 31A and a shaft portion 31B that supports the roller portion 31A. The roller portion 31A has elasticity. The roller portion 31A carries toner on its peripheral surface. The shaft portion 31B passes through the roller portion 31A. The shaft portion 31B protrudes outward in the axial direction of the developing roller 31 from the roller portion 31A.

  The housing 50 is provided with a bearing portion 51 that rotatably supports the shaft portion 31 </ b> B of the developing roller 31, an opening 52 for supplying toner from the toner storage chamber 34 to the developing roller 31, and a side seal 200. And a protrusion 54 that regulates the position of a protrusion 222 (described later) of the side seal 200. The bearing portion 51 is formed on the side wall 56 of the housing 50.

  The opening 52 is a rectangular hole that is long in the axial direction. A blade back seal 36 and a layer thickness regulating blade 100 are disposed on one end side in the short direction of the opening 52, specifically on the upper side in the drawing. A supply roller 33 is disposed in the opening 52. The supply roller 33 is disposed close to the other end side in the short direction of the opening 52, specifically, to the lower side in the drawing.

  In the following description, since the short direction of the opening 52 corresponds to the vertical direction of the drawing, the short direction is also referred to as “vertical direction”. One end side in the short direction is also referred to as “upper side”, and the other end side in the short direction is also referred to as “lower side”. Further, since the axial direction of the developing roller 31 corresponds to the left-right direction in the drawing, the axial direction is also referred to as “left-right direction”. One end side in the axial direction is also referred to as “left side”, and the other end side in the axial direction is also referred to as “right side”. Further, an orthogonal direction orthogonal to the short direction and the axial direction is also referred to as “front-rear direction”. One end side in the front-rear direction, specifically, the side on which the developing roller 31 is disposed with respect to the opening 52 is “front side”, and the other end side in the front-rear direction, specifically, the side on which the agitator 34A is disposed with respect to the opening 52. Also called “rear side”.

  The blade back seal 36 is made of an elastic member such as sponge. The blade back seal 36 is a long member that is long in the left-right direction. The blade back seal 36 is larger than the opening 52 in the left-right direction. The blade back seal 36 has a rectangular base portion 36 </ b> A that extends from the vicinity of the left end of the opening 52 to the vicinity of the right end. A plurality of concave portions 36B that are recessed downward are formed at the upper end of the base portion 36A.

  A first portion 36C that protrudes outward in the left-right direction from each end surface is provided on each end surface in the left-right direction of the base portion 36A. The first portion 36C has a vertical width smaller than the base portion 36A. The first portion 36C is disposed at a position biased downward with respect to the base portion 36A.

  A second portion 36D that protrudes outward in the left-right direction from the end surface is provided on the end surface on the outer side in the left-right direction of the first portion 36C. The second portion 36D has a vertical width smaller than that of the first portion 36C. The second part 36D is disposed at a position biased downward with respect to the first part 36C. The second portion 36 </ b> D constitutes an end portion in the left-right direction of the blade back seal 36. The second portion 36D is located on the outer side in the axial direction than the opening 52 (see FIG. 8A).

  The blade back seal 36 is fixed to the housing 50 (specifically, the upper part of the opening 52) by a double-sided tape TP. The double-sided tape TP is provided on the base portion 36A and the first portion 36C of the blade back seal 36. The double-sided tape TP is not provided in the second portion 36D. Thereby, 2nd site | part 36D is not fixed to the housing | casing 50 with the double-sided tape TP, but can deform | transform freely.

  The layer thickness regulating blade 100 includes a blade body 110 that extends in the left-right direction, a rubber blade rubber portion 120 that is fixed to a lower end portion (tip portion) of the blade body 110, and an upper end portion of the blade body 110. And a blade holder 130 for supporting the blade.

  The blade body 110 is a substantially rectangular sheet metal that is long in the left-right direction. An upper end portion of the blade body 110 is fixed to the housing 50 via a blade holder 130. The lower end of the blade body 110 is a free end.

  The blade rubber portion 120 is a rubber member that extends in the left-right direction and is smaller in size in the left-right direction than the blade body 110. The blade rubber portion 120 is made of, for example, silicon rubber or urethane rubber. The blade rubber portion 120 is provided at the lower end of the blade body 110. The blade rubber portion 120 protrudes from the surface of the blade body 110 facing the developing roller 31 and contacts the circumferential surface of the roller portion 31A of the developing roller 31. The blade rubber portion 120 has a flat surface 120A in contact with the developing roller 31, and corners on the upstream side and the downstream side in the rotational direction are arcuate in sectional view (see FIG. 1).

  The blade rubber portion 120 has a notch 121 at each end in the left-right direction. The notch 121 has a shape recessed from the end on the upstream side in the rotational direction of the blade rubber portion 120 and recessed from the end surface 122 in the left-right direction of the blade rubber portion 120.

  The notch 121 has a first surface 123 that extends inward in the left-right direction from the lower edge of the end surface 122 and a second surface 124 that extends downward from the first surface 123. The first surface 123 is along the left-right direction.

  By providing such a notch 121 in the blade rubber part 120, the corner between the surface 120A of the blade rubber part 120 that contacts the developing roller 31 and the first surface 123 is substantially perpendicular. Further, the corner between the surface 120A of the blade rubber portion 120 that contacts the developing roller 31 and the second surface 124 is also substantially perpendicular. In other words, the blade rubber portion 120 has an edge portion 123A (a tip portion of a corner pointed at a substantially right angle) in contact with the peripheral surface of the roller portion 31A of the developing roller 31 at each end in the left-right direction. . The edge portion 123A is formed to extend in the left-right direction. The sharp edge portion 123A makes it easier to scrape the toner on the developing roller 31 than the portion of the blade rubber portion 120 that is shifted in the left-right direction from the edge portion 123A.

  The blade body 110 is formed such that the lower edge corresponds to the blade rubber portion 120. Further, each end in the left-right direction of the blade body 110 extends to the outside in the left-right direction with respect to the blade rubber portion 120.

  A rectangular side edge seal 140 is provided at each end of the blade body 110 in the left-right direction. The side edge seal 140 is made of, for example, a nonwoven fabric or a sponge member. The side edge seal 140 is affixed to the surface on the front side of the blade body 110 (the surface facing the developing roller 31). The side edge seal 140 is in contact with the end surface 122 in the left-right direction of the blade rubber portion 120. The side edge seal 140 extends downward from a position adjacent to the end surface 122. The side edge seal 140 extends below the blade body 110. The lower end of the side edge seal 140 is in contact with a side seal 200 described later (see FIG. 5C).

  The side seal 200 is a seal that comes into contact with the end surface of the developing roller 31 in the left-right direction, specifically, the peripheral surface of the end portion of the roller portion 31A in the left-right direction. The side seal 200 is disposed between the arrangement surface 53 and the roller portion 31A.

  Here, the arrangement surfaces 53 are arranged on both sides of the opening 52 in the left-right direction. As shown in FIG. 6B, a protrusion 54 is provided at the inner end of the arrangement surface 53 in the left-right direction. The protrusion 54 protrudes from the arrangement surface 53 toward the developing roller 31 side.

  On the downstream side of the protrusion 54 in the rotation direction, a wall portion 55 that protrudes from the arrangement surface 53 toward the developing roller 31 is provided. The wall portion 55 is located on the outer side in the left-right direction than the protrusion 54. The height of the protrusion 54 and the wall 55 from the arrangement surface 53 is smaller than the thickness of the base layer 220 of the side seal 200.

  Further, the arrangement surface 53 is formed with a recess 53A. In the recess 53A, as shown in FIG. 2, a supply roller seal 60 provided to cover a bearing (not shown) of the supply roller 33 is provided. The supply roller seal 60 and the arrangement surface 53 support the side seal 200 from the side opposite to the developing roller 31.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the side seal 200 includes a surface layer 210, a base layer 220, and an adhesive layer 230 that adheres the surface layer 210 to the base layer 220. The surface layer 210 is a layer in contact with the peripheral surface of the roller portion 31A of the developing roller 31. The surface layer 210 includes a fiber layer 211 made of a plurality of fibers FB (see FIG. 4) that is in contact with the roller portion 31A of the developing roller 31, and a base sheet 212 in which the fibers FB are implanted. Specifically, the surface layer 210 is a pile fabric, and the fiber FB (cut pile) is formed so as to protrude from the base sheet 212 as a base by cutting the loop-shaped pile.

  The base sheet 212 is made of, for example, cloth. The base sheet 212 includes a rectangular first sheet portion 212A extending along the rotation direction of the developing roller 31, and a second sheet portion 212B extending from the first sheet portion 212A toward the upstream side in the rotation direction. The second sheet portion 212B has a width in the left-right direction that is smaller than that of the first sheet portion 212A. The second sheet portion 212B is smaller in length in the rotational direction than the first sheet portion 212A. The second sheet portion 212B is disposed to be deviated inward in the left-right direction with respect to the first sheet portion 212A (see FIG. 5A).

  The adhesive layer 230 is made of an adhesive applied to the surface of the base sheet 212 on the base layer 220 side. The adhesive layer 230 is formed on a part of the surface of the base sheet 212 on the base layer 220 side, specifically, on the downstream side in the rotational direction of the surface. That is, the portion of the base sheet 212 on the downstream side in the rotation direction is bonded to the base layer 220, and the portion on the upstream side in the rotation direction is not bonded to the base layer 220. The shape of the adhesive layer 230 in plan view is a rectangle. In addition, the adhesive layer 230 may be comprised, for example from the double-sided tape.

  The base layer 220 is made of an elastic body such as urethane sponge. The base layer 220 is disposed between the surface layer 210 and the housing 50. The base layer 220 includes a base portion 221 mainly having a region AR where the adhesive layer 230 is provided, and a protruding portion 222 that protrudes inward in the left-right direction from the base portion 221. The base portion 221 includes a rectangular first base portion 221A that is long in the rotational direction, a second base portion 221B that protrudes from the first base portion 221A toward the upstream side in the rotational direction, and a downstream side in the rotational direction from the first base portion 221A. And a fourth base portion 221D protruding from the third base portion 221C toward the downstream side in the rotation direction.

  The first base portion 221A has a first width in the left-right direction. The second base portion 221B has a second width that is smaller in the left-right direction than the first width. The second base portion 221B is arranged to be biased inward in the left-right direction with respect to the first base portion 221A.

  The third base portion 221C has a third width that is smaller than the first width and larger than the second width in the left-right direction. The third base portion 221C is disposed so as to be biased inward in the left-right direction with respect to the first base portion 221A. The fourth base portion 221D has a fourth width that is smaller in the left-right direction than the second width. The fourth base portion 221D is disposed at the approximate center in the left-right direction of the third base portion 221C.

  The protrusion 222 protrudes inward in the left-right direction with respect to the region AR to which the adhesive layer 230 is bonded, that is, the adhesive layer 230. In other words, the protrusion 222 protrudes inward in the left-right direction from the base sheet 212 (see FIG. 4B). The protrusion 222 includes a first protrusion 222A in which the protrusion amount from the area AR is the first protrusion amount, and a second protrusion 222B in which the protrusion amount from the area AR is a second protrusion amount that is smaller than the first protrusion amount. And have. The second protrusion 222B is adjacent to the upstream side of the first protrusion 222A in the rotational direction. The second protrusion 222B is shorter in the rotation direction than the first protrusion 222A.

  As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the base ends of the plurality of fibers FB are fixed to the surface of the base sheet 212 opposite to the adhesive layer 230. Each fiber FB is in a state of being tilted with respect to the base sheet 212 such that the tip thereof faces the downstream side in the rotation direction and the inner side in the left-right direction. In other words, each fiber FB is inclined with respect to the rotation direction so as to be located on the inner side in the left-right direction as it goes downstream in the rotation direction. A part of the plurality of fibers FB, specifically, the fiber FB located at the innermost side in the left-right direction, protrudes inward in the left-right direction from the edge on the inner side in the left-right direction of the base sheet 212. The fiber FB located on the innermost side in the left-right direction overlaps the protruding portion 222 when viewed from the direction from the surface layer 210 to the base layer 220 (see also FIG. 5A).

  Specifically, the tip of the fiber FB located on the innermost side in the left-right direction is located on the outer side in the left-right direction with respect to the surface located on the innermost side in the left-right direction among the protrusions 222, that is, the inner surface in the left-right direction of the first protrusion 222A. doing. The tip of the fiber FB located on the innermost side in the left-right direction is located on the inner side in the left-right direction with respect to the center in the left-right direction of the protrusion 222. Here, in FIG.4 (b), the center of the left-right direction of the protrusion part 222 is shown with the dashed-dotted line for convenience.

  The length of each fiber FB, specifically, the length from the base sheet 212 to the tip of the fiber FB can be, for example, 1.0 mm or more and 2.0 mm or less. Further, a lubricant is applied to the plurality of fibers FB.

  It should be noted that the lubricant may be applied to at least a part on the outer side in the left-right direction among the plurality of fibers FB when the developing device 28 is manufactured. In this case, the lubricant is spread over the entire surface of the side seal 200 and the wall 55 by rotating the developing roller 31 after the manufacture is completed. More specifically, as the developing roller 31 rotates, the lubricant moves inward in the left-right direction and downstream in the rotation direction along the plurality of fibers FB, and is spread to the protrusion 222 and the wall 55. ing. The lubricant may be applied to the entire surface of the surface layer 210 when the developing device 28 is manufactured.

  As the lubricant, for example, a material obtained by dispersing a fluorine resin and fluorine oil in a solvent can be used. A lubricant containing fluorine such as silicon grease or heat-resistant fluorine grease may be used as the lubricant.

  Further, the outer surface in the left-right direction of the base layer 220 (specifically, the outer surface in the left-right direction of the first base portion 221 </ b> A) is in contact with the side wall 56 of the housing 50.

  FIGS. 5A to 5C are diagrams schematically showing the relationship between the side seal 200 and the surrounding members in the process of assembling the members to the housing 50. FIG. 5A to 5C, for convenience, the side seal 200 is illustrated as being straightly stretched without being bent along the peripheral surface of the developing roller 31.

  FIG. 5A is a simplified diagram showing a state in which the side seal 200 and the blade back seal 36 are assembled to the housing 50 (not shown). In this state, the fourth base portion 221 </ b> D of the base layer 220 of the side seal 200 is in contact with the second portion 36 </ b> D that is the end portion of the blade back seal 36. Specifically, the inner surface in the left-right direction of the fourth base portion 221D is in contact with the second portion 36D.

  In this state, the protrusion 54 is in contact with the inner surface in the left-right direction of the protrusion 222. Specifically, the protrusion 54 is located closer to the end edge on the downstream side in the rotation direction than the end edge on the upstream side in the rotation direction of the protrusion 222. In other words, in the rotation direction, the distance from the protrusion 54 to the end edge on the downstream side in the rotation direction of the protrusion 222 is smaller than the distance from the protrusion 54 to the edge on the upstream side in the rotation direction of the protrusion 222. More specifically, the protrusion 54 is in contact with the end portion on the downstream side in the rotation direction of the first protrusion 222A.

  In this state, the wall portion 55 is separated from the base portion 221 in the left-right direction. Further, the wall portion 55 is in contact with the surface of the protruding portion 222 on the downstream side in the rotation direction. Thereby, the wall portion 55 regulates the position of the protruding portion 222 in the rotational direction.

  7A and 7B, in a state where the supply roller 33 is assembled to the housing 50, the protrusion 54 is positioned between the protruding portion 222 and the supply roller 33 in the left-right direction. ing.

  FIG. 5B is a diagram schematically showing a state in which the layer thickness regulating blade 100 is assembled to the housing 50 from the front side of the side seal 200 and the blade back seal 36. In this state, the base sheet 212 is located on the outer side in the left-right direction with respect to the blade rubber portion 120. Here, “located on the outer side in the left-right direction than the blade rubber portion 120” means that the edge on the inner side in the left-right direction of the base sheet 212 and the end surface in the left-right direction of the blade rubber portion 120 as shown in FIG. Also included are those in which 122 is at the same position in the left-right direction.

  Further, in this state, the projecting portion 222 has a portion located upstream of the edge portion 123A in the rotational direction and within the range of the edge portion 123A in the left-right direction. Specifically, the protruding portion 222 is located on the outer side in the left-right direction than the end portion on the inner side in the left-right direction of the edge portion 123A.

  Further, the end surface of the protrusion 222 on the downstream side in the rotation direction is disposed at a position close to the notch 121 in the rotation direction. Specifically, the interval in the rotation direction between the edge portion 123A of the cutout portion 121 and the protruding portion 222 can be set to, for example, 1.5 mm to 3.5 mm.

  In the state of FIG. 5B, the tip of the fiber FB located on the innermost side in the left-right direction is located on the outer side in the left-right direction with respect to the end on the inner side in the left-right direction of the edge portion 123A. Further, in the state of FIG. 5B, the wall portion 55 is disposed on the rear side (back side) of the layer thickness regulating blade 100. Further, the wall portion 55 is arranged at an interval in the front-rear direction with respect to the layer thickness regulating blade 100.

  The wall part 55 is provided in the range of the notch part 121 in the left-right direction. A part of the wall part 55 is provided in the range of the notch part 121 in the rotation direction. The wall portion 55 has an end portion on the inner side in the left-right direction disposed on the outer side in the left-right direction with respect to the second surface 124 that is an end portion on the inner side in the left-right direction of the notch 121.

  FIG. 5C is a diagram schematically showing a state in which the side edge seal 140 is attached to the layer thickness regulating blade 100 and the side seal 200. In this state, the side edge seal 140 extends from the blade body 110 to the side seal 200 so as to cover a part of the blade body 110, the surface layer 210, and the base layer 220.

Next, a method for manufacturing the developing device 28 will be described.
First, the supply roller seal 60 (see FIG. 2) is attached together with the supply roller 33 in the recess 53A shown in FIGS. Thereafter, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the side seal 200 is attached to the housing 50 while being positioned in contact with the protrusion 54 and the wall portion 55.

  Specifically, positioning is performed by bringing the surface on the inner side in the left-right direction of the protruding portion 222 of the side seal 200 into contact with the protrusion 54 and bringing the surface of the protruding portion 222 on the downstream side in the rotation direction into contact with the wall portion 55. Next, as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the blade back seal 36 is attached to the upper portion of the opening 52 in the casing 50 with a double-sided tape TP. Specifically, the second portion 36D, which is the end portion in the left-right direction of the blade back seal 36, is in contact with the inner surface in the left-right direction of the fourth base portion 221D, which is the end portion on the downstream side in the rotational direction of the side seal 200. Then, the blade back seal 36 is attached to the housing 50.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 9, the layer thickness regulating blade 100 is attached to the housing 50. At this time, the side seal 200 and the blade back seal 36 are compressed between the layer thickness regulating blade 100 and the housing 50. At this time, as shown in FIG. 5A, since the double-sided tape TP is not provided in the second part 36D of the blade back seal 36, the second part 36D is not restrained by the double-sided tape TP. It can be freely deformed in the left-right direction. As a result, the second portion 36D compressed between the layer thickness regulating blade 100 and the casing 50 is deformed outward in the left-right direction and is strongly pressed against the fourth base portion 221D of the side seal 200. Therefore, a gap between the side seal 200 and the blade back seal 36 can be eliminated.

  Thereafter, the side edge seal 140 is attached on the blade body 110 and the side seal 200 of the layer thickness regulating blade 100. Then, the developing device 28 is manufactured by appropriately assembling other components to the housing 50.

The operational effects of the developing device 28 configured as described above will be described.
When a driving force is input to the developing device 28, the developing roller 31 rotates while contacting the side seal 200, the blade rubber portion 120, and the side edge seal 140.

  As a result, as shown in FIG. 5C, the lubricant on the surface layer 210 of the side seal 200 moves inward in the left-right direction and is supplied onto the protruding portion 222. The lubricant supplied onto the protrusion 222 mixes with the toner, and a mixture of toner and lubricant is formed on the protrusion 222. As a result, the mixture becomes a wall, and the toner scraped off by the blade rubber portion 120 can be suppressed from moving vigorously toward the side seal 200, so that the toner can be prevented from leaking to the outside. .

  In particular, in the present embodiment, the notch 121 (see FIG. 5B) is formed at each end in the left-right direction of the blade rubber portion 120, and therefore the edge 123A of the notch 121 is above the developing roller 31. The above toner is scraped off in a larger amount than the other part of the blade rubber portion 120, and a large amount of the scraped toner flows vigorously toward the side seal 200 along the edge portion 123A. .

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained in addition to the effects described above.
By accurately positioning the left and right positions of the protruding portions 222 of the side seal 200 with the protrusions 54, the amount of the protruding portions 222 overlapping the edge portions 123A can be accurately managed. Then, by accurately managing the overlapping amount of the protrusion 222 and the edge 123A in this way, the amount of the mixture of the lubricant and the toner generated on the protrusion 222 can be made an appropriate amount. It is possible to achieve both improvement in toner fluidity in the vicinity of the edge portion 123A and suppression of toner leakage.

  Since the protrusion 54 is positioned closer to the edge on the downstream side in the rotational direction than the edge on the upstream side in the rotational direction of the protrusion 222, the protrusion 222 can be positioned by the protrusion 54 in the vicinity of the edge portion 123A. In addition, the effect of improving the fluidity of the toner in the vicinity of the edge portion 123A and suppressing the toner leakage can be further exhibited.

  Since the fiber FB protrudes inward in the left-right direction from the edge on the inner side in the left-right direction of the base sheet 212 and overlaps the protrusion 222, the lubricant can be moved on the protrusion 222 along the fiber FB. The mixture can be generated satisfactorily on the protrusion 222.

  Since the base sheet 212 is located on the outer side in the left-right direction with respect to the blade rubber portion 120, the portion of the developing roller 31 that receives pressure from the side seal 200 and the portion that receives pressure from the blade rubber portion 120 can be shifted. In this way, by shifting the portion that receives pressure from the side seal 200 and the portion that receives pressure from the blade rubber portion 120, a temperature rise on the surface of the developing roller 31 (portion near the end surface 122 of the blade rubber portion 120) is prevented. Therefore, melting of the toner due to temperature rise can be prevented. Further, it is possible to prevent the melted toner from sticking onto the blade rubber portion 120.

  Since the mixture can be held between the protruding portion 222 and the developing roller 31 by the fibers FB overlapping the protruding portion 222, for example, compared to a structure in which the base sheet 212 and the fiber layer 211 are stacked on the protruding portion 222. Since the base sheet 212 and the adhesive layer 230 are absent, the pressure applied to the mixture can be reduced. By reducing the pressure applied to the mixture in this way, it is possible to prevent the toner of the mixture from melting. Furthermore, it is possible to prevent the melted toner from sticking to the blade rubber portion 120.

  Since the tip of the fiber FB is positioned on the outer side in the left-right direction than the end on the inner side in the left-right direction of the edge portion 123A, it is possible to prevent the fluidity of the toner from being hindered by the mixture held at the tip of the fiber FB.

  Since the tip of the fiber FB is positioned on the outer side in the left-right direction than the inner surface in the left-right direction of the protrusion 222, it is possible to further suppress the toner fluidity from being hindered by the mixture held at the tip of the fiber FB.

  Since the tip of the fiber FB located on the innermost side in the left-right direction is located on the inner side in the left-right direction with respect to the center in the left-right direction of the protrusion 222, the mixture held by the fiber FB on the protrusion 222 can be increased. .

  By inclining with respect to the rotation direction so that the fiber FB is positioned on the inner side in the left-right direction as it goes downstream in the rotation direction, the lubricant is moved inward in the left-right direction along the fibers FB by the rotation of the developing roller 31. Therefore, the mixture can be generated satisfactorily on the protrusion 222.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, It can utilize with various forms so that it may illustrate below. In the following description, the same reference numerals are given to members having substantially the same structure as in the above embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted.

  In the said embodiment, although one part fiber FB was piled up on the protrusion part 222, this invention is not limited to this, You may arrange | position the fiber FB on the outer side of the protrusion part 222 in the left-right direction.

  In the said embodiment, although the front-end | tip of the fiber FB located in the innermost side of the left-right direction was arrange | positioned in the left-right direction outer side rather than the edge part of the left-right direction inner side of edge part 123A, this invention is not limited to this. For example, the tip of the fiber located on the innermost side in the left-right direction is arranged at the same position in the left-right direction as the end on the inner side in the left-right direction of the edge part, or on the inner side in the left-right direction with respect to the inner end in the left-right direction of the edge part. May be.

  In the said embodiment, although the front-end | tip of the fiber FB located in the innermost side of the left-right direction was arrange | positioned in the left-right direction outer side rather than the surface of the protrusion part 222 inside the left-right direction, this invention is not limited to this. For example, the tip of the fiber located on the innermost side in the left-right direction may be disposed at the same position in the left-right direction as the surface on the inner side in the left-right direction of the protrusion, or on the inner side in the left-right direction than the inner surface in the left-right direction of the protrusion Good.

  In the said embodiment, although the front-end | tip of the fiber FB located in the innermost side of the left-right direction has been arrange | positioned inside the left-right direction rather than the center of the left-right direction of the protrusion part 222, this invention is not limited to this. For example, the fiber located on the innermost side in the left-right direction may be disposed at the same position in the left-right direction and the center in the left-right direction of the protrusion, or on the outer side in the left-right direction than the center in the left-right direction of the protrusion.

  In the said embodiment, although the surface layer 210 was comprised with the fiber layer 211 and the base sheet 212, this invention is not limited to this, For example, you may comprise a surface layer with a nonwoven fabric, a textile fabric, etc.

  In the above-described embodiment, the protruding portion 222 is disposed on the outer side in the left-right direction than the end portion on the inner side in the left-right direction of the edge portion 123A, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the surface on the inner side in the left-right direction of the protruding portion is arranged at the same position in the left-right direction as the end portion on the inner side in the left-right direction of the edge portion 123A, or on the inner side in the left-right direction from the end portion on the inner side in the left-right direction Also good.

  In the above-described embodiment, the present invention is applied to the developing device 28 including the developing roller 31 and the toner storage chamber 34, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention can be applied to other developing devices such as a developing cartridge in which a developing cartridge and a drum unit are integrally configured, and a developing cartridge that is configured separately from a toner cartridge that stores toner and that is supplied with toner from the toner cartridge. May be applied.

  In addition, you may implement combining each element demonstrated by above-described embodiment and modification arbitrarily.

28 Developing Device 31 Developing Roller 50 Housing 54 Protrusion 100 Layer Thickness Restricting Blade 110 Blade Body 120 Blade Rubber Part 121 Notch 200 Side Seal 210 Surface Layer 220 Base Layer 222 Projecting Part 230 Adhesive Layer

Claims (12)

A housing,
A rotatable developing roller;
A layer thickness regulating blade having a blade rubber portion in contact with the peripheral surface of the developing roller, and a blade body supporting the blade rubber portion;
A side seal disposed between the housing and the developing roller so as to come into contact with the peripheral surface of the developing roller at an end portion in the axial direction of the developing roller;
The blade rubber part has a notch at an end in the axial direction,
The side seal is
A surface layer that is coated with a lubricant and is in contact with the peripheral surface of the developing roller;
A base layer disposed between the surface layer and the housing;
An adhesive layer that adheres the surface layer to the base layer,
The base layer is a protruding portion that protrudes inward in the axial direction with respect to the adhesive layer, and is upstream of the notch portion in the rotation direction of the developing roller and within the range of the notch portion in the axial direction. A protrusion having a portion located;
The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the housing has a protrusion that contacts the inner surface in the axial direction of the protrusion.   2. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion is positioned closer to an end edge on the downstream side in the rotation direction than an end edge on the upstream side in the rotation direction of the protrusion. The surface layer has a plurality of fibers in contact with the developing roller, and a base sheet in which each fiber is implanted,
The base sheet is located on the outer side in the axial direction than the blade rubber portion,
2. A part of the plurality of fibers protrudes inward in the axial direction from an end in the axial direction of the base sheet and overlaps the protruding portion. Item 3. The developing device according to Item 2.   The developing device according to claim 3, wherein a tip end of the fiber is positioned on an outer side in the axial direction with respect to an end portion on the inner side in the axial direction of the notch portion.   The developing device according to claim 4, wherein a tip end of the fiber is positioned on an outer side in the axial direction than a surface on the inner side in the axial direction of the protruding portion.   The developing device according to claim 5, wherein tips of some of the plurality of fibers are located on the inner side in the axial direction than a center of the protruding portion in the axial direction.   The said fiber is inclined with respect to the said rotation direction so that it may be located in the said axial direction inner side as it goes to the said rotation direction downstream, The Claim 1 characterized by the above-mentioned. The developing device described.   The developing device according to claim 3, wherein a length of the fiber is 1.0 mm or more and 2.0 mm or less.   9. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the projecting portion is located on the outer side in the axial direction with respect to an end portion on the inner side in the axial direction of the notch portion.   The developing device according to claim 1, wherein an outer surface of the base layer in the axial direction is in contact with a side wall of the housing.   The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the surface layer is a pile fabric. Further comprising a supply roller in contact with the developing roller;
The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion is positioned between the protrusion and the supply roller.

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