JP3184643B2 - Developing device, process cartridge mounting the same, and developing bias voltage transmitting member - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a developing device for use in an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine or an electrophotographic laser beam printer, and at least a developing device and an image carrier. The present invention relates to a detachable process cartridge and a developing bias voltage transmitting member.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An example of a first conventional developing device is shown in FIGS.

[0006] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a developing device 1 is configured such that a sleeve (developing sleeve) 5 made of a non-magnetic material is rotatably disposed in a developing chamber 3 of a developing container 2. Accommodates a magnet roller 6 having a plurality of magnetic poles, and an elastic blade 7 is in contact with the developing sleeve 5, and the blade 7 is attached to the developing container 2.

[0004] Cap-shaped spacer rollers 10L and 10R are fitted to both ends of the developing sleeve 5, and these rollers 10L and 10R are pressed against the electrophotographic photosensitive member 9 by urging means (not shown) so that the sleeve 5 is pressed. The gap between the photoconductor 9 and the photoconductor 9 is maintained.

The magnetic toner as a developer is supplied to the developing chamber 3 from a toner container (not shown) by a conveying means (not shown) or from an inlet opening 11 of the developing chamber 3 by dropping. Then, the toner in the developing chamber 3 is attracted onto the developing sleeve 5 by the magnetic force of the magnet roller 6, and
6 is conveyed by the rotating developing sleeve 5 in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 6, is strongly pressed against the developing sleeve 5 by the blade 7, and is charged.
Transported out of the The blade 7 charges the toner, increases the charge amount, and regulates the thickness of the toner layer on the developing sleeve 5.

The developing sleeve 5 is formed of a conductor such as an aluminum alloy, and a developing bias voltage is applied from a developing bias power supply 14 of the image forming apparatus main body.

Therefore, the developing sleeve 5 is moved from the developing chamber 3 to the developing sleeve 5.
Is transported by the action of a developing bias voltage onto the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor 9 in the developing area, and the electrostatic latent image is developed by the toner. Note that the so-called residual toner that has not been used for development is returned to the developing chamber 3 as the developing sleeve 5 rotates.

A flange 15 is fitted and fixed to the inner periphery of one end of the developing sleeve 5, and the flange 15 is supported by a bearing 16R. On the other hand, at the other end of the developing sleeve 5, the spacer roller 10L is fitted and attached to the outer periphery as described above, and the outer periphery of the spacer roller 10L is supported by the bearing 16L. A gear 20 is fixed to the flange 15.
Since 0 is engaged with the gear 9a fixed to the photoconductor 9, the sleeve 5 rotates in synchronization with the rotation of the photoconductor 9.

A bias electrode 12 for transmitting a developing bias voltage to the developing sleeve 5 has claws 12a ₁ , 12b ₁ , 12 formed on the outer periphery thereof as shown in FIGS.
c ₁ and 12d ₁ are fixed to the developing sleeve 5 by being pressed against the inner periphery of the developing sleeve 5, and are electrically connected to the developing sleeve 5. Also, this bias electrode 12 '
Arms 12e _1, 12f ₁ is formed, slidably resiliently these arms 12e _1, 12f ₁ is a ring-shaped fixed electrode plate 17 attached to the developer container 2 of the process cartridge in Is in contact with In addition, the electrode plate 17
When the process cartridge is incorporated in the image forming apparatus main body and fixed at a predetermined position for an image forming operation, it is electrically connected to the contact portion 13 of the image forming apparatus main body. The contact 13 is supplied with power from a developing bias power supply 14.

The magnet roller 6 has a shaft 6 at the end.
L and 6R extend and are fixedly supported by the developing container 2.

One of the drawbacks of the first prior art device is that the bias electrode 12 is repeatedly used or imaged because the arms 12e ₁ and 12f ₁ are in elastic contact with the electrode plate 17 with flexure. Bias electrode 12 'due to vibration of the forming apparatus
Is gradually moved to the depth of the developing sleeve 5. This is because the bias electrode 12 ′ is pressed into the developing sleeve 5, so that the claw portion 12 of the bias electrode 12 ′ is pressed.
_{a 1, 12b 1, 12c 1} , 12d 1 is because a shape shown in FIG. That is, although the bias electrode 12 is difficult to move with respect to the force in the direction of pulling out from the developing sleeve 5,
It moves with a relatively weak force against the force in the insertion direction. The bias electrode is composed of the arms 12 e ₁ , 12 f ₁ and the electrode plate 17.
The contact pressure lowers the developing sleeve 5 due to the contact pressure between the electrode plate 17 and the bias electrode 12 ′. For this reason, the image quality is likely to be deteriorated, such as a decrease in the density of the developed image, unevenness in the image, and the like.

Another disadvantage is that the spacer roller 10L is supported by the bearing 16L on the side to which the bias electrode 12 'is fixed, so that the positional accuracy of the developing sleeve 5 with respect to the developing container 2 is limited to the inner circumference of the spacer roller 10L. And the size of the fitting play on the outer periphery of the developing sleeve 5 is deteriorated. For this reason, the gap between the sleeve 5 and the photoconductor 9 periodically fluctuates with the rotation of the sleeve 5, and periodic density unevenness occurs in the developed image.

Next, a second prior art different from the first prior art will be described with reference to FIG.

In the developing device shown in FIG.
The left and right shaft portions 6L and 6R are supported at both ends thereof by left and right holders 19L and 19R fixed to the developing container 2, and the developing sleeve 5 has a magnet roller 6 having a larger diameter than the shaft portions 6L and 6R. Flanges 15L, 15R fixed to both ends of the magnet roller 6 are supported and positioned on bearings 16L, 16R fixed to the developing container 2 with a slight gap from the magnetic portion 6a. ing. Here, at both ends of the shaft portion 6L6R of the magnet roller 6, an assembly margin S is secured between the holders 19L and 19R, respectively. This assembly margin S is required to accommodate the magnet roller 6 between the left and right holders 19L and 19R.
This is something that must be secured when crossing a single item.

However, since the magnet roller 6 is movable in the thrust direction within the range of the assembly allowance S, when the magnet roller 6 moves left or right by the assembly allowance S, the developing sleeve 5 which is originally required is required. Magnetic force is supplied to the outside of the image facing area M, and the toner is attracted to the surface of the developing sleeve 5 which is not the image facing area M, causing an increase in toner consumption or image failure.

[0016]

The first object of the present invention is to prevent the bias electrode from being displaced toward the center of the sleeve, and to stably supply a developing bias voltage to the developing sleeve. Therefore, it is possible to form a developed image having good image quality.

On the other hand, an object of the second invention of the present invention is to prevent the magnet in the sleeve from being displaced in the thrust direction, thereby preventing unnecessary consumption of the developer and deterioration of the image quality of the developed image. It is to be.

[0018]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprises a fixed electrode to which a developing bias voltage is transmitted, a rotatable conductive sleeve for carrying and transporting a developer to a developing area for applying the developer to an electrostatic latent image, A flange member fixed to an end of the sleeve, having an electrode support, an elastic electrode member supported by the flange member, a first portion engaged with the electrode support, A second portion pressed against the sleeve, and a third portion slidable on the fixed electrode and elastically pressed against the fixed electrode to receive a force in a direction from the fixed electrode toward the center of the sleeve. An elastic electrode member, wherein the first portion is engaged with the electrode support portion so that the second portion is not displaced to the center of the sleeve by a force received by the third portion from the fixed electrode. Developing device characterized by the following: And a developing bias voltage transmitting member and a said flange member and said elastic electrode member.

[0019]

[0020]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG.
Components having the same functions as those shown in FIGS. 8 and 17 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those shown in FIGS. 6, 7, 8 and 17, and description thereof will be omitted unless otherwise required.

First, an embodiment of the first invention will be described.

In FIG. 1, a developing device 1 of a process cartridge detachable from the main body of the image forming apparatus is fitted with a conductive, non-magnetic cylindrical developing sleeve 5 of aluminum, stainless steel or the like, and at both left and right ends thereof. Flanged 15L,
15R. The left flange 15L is fixed to the left end of the developing sleeve 5 by means of press fitting, bonding, caulking, or the like, and has a shaft portion 15b protruding outward from the developing sleeve 5. The shaft portion 15b is rotatably supported by a bearing 16L fixed to the container 2. On the other hand, a flange 15R is similarly fixed to the right end side of the developing sleeve 5 by means of press-fitting, bonding, caulking or the like, and the outer periphery thereof is rotatably supported by a bearing 16R fixed to the container 2. , The sleeve gear 20 is a flange 1 by means of a key, a set screw or the like (both not shown).
Fixed to 5R. Accordingly, the driving force is transmitted from the drum gear 9a attached to the photoconductor 9 to the sleeve gear 20, and the developing sleeve 5 is driven to rotate at a predetermined rotational speed.

The flange 15L is an insulating synthetic resin. In the illustrated example, the shaft portion 15 of the flange 15L is
Since b is fitted to the bearing 16L, it is preferable that the flange 15L be molded of a polycarbonate resin mixed with a polyacetal resin, a polybutylene terephthalate resin, a polyamide resin, and a tetrafluoroethylene resin having good slipperiness.

The flange 15R does not support the electrode 12 to be described later and may be made of metal. However, it is preferable that the flange 15R be molded with the same synthetic resin as that used for the flange 15L in order to reduce the weight.

A magnet roller 6 having a plurality of magnetic poles is contained in the developing sleeve 5 and has a shaft portion 6.
L and 6R pass through the center holes of the sleeve flanges 15L and 15R, and are fixed to the developing container 2 by holders 19L and 19R.
R is fixedly supported.

The bias electrode 12 is incorporated in the left flange 15L as shown in FIG. The bias electrode 12 is made of a metal elastic body such as a piano wire, a stainless steel wire for a spring, a phosphor bronze wire, etc., and a spring portion 12a at one end thereof is wound in a coil spring shape, and has a spring property. A predetermined force is applied to the ring-shaped electrode plate 17 so as to be slidable and rotatable, thereby establishing electrical continuity. A resilient portion 12b, which is the other end of the bias electrode 12, protrudes from the outer periphery of the sleeve flange 15L, is press-fitted into the developing sleeve 5, and is elastically provided between the inner surface of the sleeve and the outer surface of the flange. To establish electrical continuity with the developing sleeve 5. That is, by mounting the process cartridge having the developing device 1 at the image forming operation position of the image forming apparatus main body, the developing bias voltage is transmitted from the developing bias power source 14 to the electrode plate 17 via the contact 13, and the bias electrode 12 The developing bias voltage is supplied to the developing sleeve 13 via the.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, a groove 15a is provided in the shaft portion 15b of the flange 15L, the fitting portion 15c fitted in the sleeve, and the large diameter portion 15d so that the bias electrode 12 is buried in the groove 15a. It is attached in an unusual form. Therefore, the bias electrode 12 prevents the rotation of the developing sleeve 5 or the flange 15L
It cannot be prevented from fitting into the inner circumference of the. The bias electrode 12 has bent portions 12c and 12d bent toward the center of the flange 15L at both ends of the flange 15L in the longitudinal direction of the sleeve.
At 12d, the flange 15L is sandwiched in the sleeve longitudinal direction. As a result, the bias electrode 12 may fall off the flange 15L in the sleeve longitudinal direction.
More reliably prevented.

The bent portion 12c of the bias electrode 12 forms an engaging portion 12e (see FIG. 1) bent into the inner surface of the sleeve flange 15L. The engagement portion 12e and the bias electrode portion embedded in the groove 15a on the outer surface of the shaft portion 15b sandwich the flange 15L in the sleeve radial direction.
Rises from the groove 15a of the flange 15L, and the bearing 1
There is no interference with 6L. Bias electrode 12
At the same time, the engaging portion 12e holds the flange 15L together with the other bent portion 12d of the bias electrode 12, and is securely attached to the flange 15L without play.
Further, when the resilient portion 12b of the bias electrode 12 is inserted into and fixed to the developing sleeve 5, the resilient portion 12b opens toward the opening of the developing sleeve 13, so that the insertion of the flange 15L into the sleeve 5 cannot be prevented. After the insertion, the sleeve 5 is prevented from coming off. For this reason, the fixing of the flange 15L to the developing sleeve 5 may be, for example, a light press-fitting light one if it is press-fitted, which simplifies the work.

The bias electrode 12 is connected to the spring 1
2a, resilient portion 12b, portion of flange 15L to be engaged with groove 15a, bent portion 12 to be engaged with flange 15L
Since c, 12d, and the engaging portion 12e are formed as one part, it is only necessary to fit the sleeve flange 15L, thereby simplifying the assembly.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of a flange portion of another embodiment. A groove 21a is formed in the shaft portion 15b of the flange 15L, the fitting portion 15c into the sleeve, and the large diameter portion 15d. The bias electrode 22 is made of a stainless steel strip for spring or a phosphor bronze plate for spring, and one end thereof is formed with an arc-shaped spring arm portion 22a, and can be slid and rotated on the fixed electrode plate 17 with a predetermined contact pressure. And electrical continuity is established. On the other hand, when the flange 15L is inserted into and fixed to the developing sleeve 5, the cut-and-raised portion (elastic portion) 22b comes into contact with the inner periphery of the developing sleeve 13, and electrical conduction is established. At the same time, the cut-and-raised portion 22b prevents the flange 15L from coming off the developing sleeve 5. Also, the flange 15
The bias electrode 22 is dropped and fixed in the L groove 21a. In particular, a hole 22e of the bias electrode 22 is fitted into the convex portion 21c of the shaft portion 15b, a cut-and-raised portion 22c of the hole 22e is engaged, and the bias electrode 22 is
Floating from 5L is prevented. Further, a bent portion 22d bent toward the center of the flange 15L is formed at the other end of the bias electrode 22 so as to abut on the flange end surface so that the bias electrode 22 does not rattle against the flange 15L. .

The bias electrode 2 is provided on the flange 15L.
A groove (not shown) similar to the groove 21a is formed at a position (lower side in the figure) opposite to the groove 2 and the bias electrode 2 is formed in this groove.
By attaching a bias electrode 22 'having the same shape as that of 2, the number of contact portions with the electrode plate 17 is increased and reliability is enhanced.

In the drawing, the bias electrodes 22 and 22 'may be one part connected on the inner side of the sleeve flange 21.

FIGS. 5A and 5B show a flange portion of still another embodiment.

5A and 5B, the bias electrode 25
Pass through the inside of the flange 15L. The bias electrode 25 is made of a piano wire, a stainless steel wire for a spring, a phosphor bronze wire, or the like, and the coil spring-shaped spring portion 25a has a spring property and can slide and rotate on the fixed electrode plate 17 with a predetermined contact pressure. Is in contact with The other end of the spring portion 25a is fitted in the groove portion 23a of the flange 15L, and the groove portion 23a is continuous with the groove portion 23b.
5 are fitted and fixed. In this embodiment, the bias electrode 25 is fixed on the inner diameter side of the flange 15L. In this case, the lifting to prevent interference with the shaft 6L of the magnet roller 6 is prevented by the groove 23a and the spring 25.
This is achieved by fitting one end of a. The other end of the bias electrode 25 has a bent portion 25c that rises to the outer peripheral side of the flange 15L, and a resilient portion 2 that is bent along the flange 15L and protrudes from the outer diameter of the flange 15L.
5b are formed. The resilient portion 25b has a flange 15L.
Are electrically connected to the developing sleeve 5 in a state where the is pressed into the developing sleeve 5. The resilient portion 25b of the bias electrode 25 has a wedge shape when inserted and fixed to the developing sleeve 5 to prevent the flange 15L from coming off the sleeve 5.

In any of the above examples, since the bias electrode is supported by the flange 15L fixed to the sleeve 5, the bias electrode is elastically pressed against the electrode plate 15 and the reaction force in the direction toward the center of the sleeve. Despite this, displacement toward the center of the sleeve is prevented, and a stable contact state with the electrode plate 15 is always maintained. Thereby, a developed image having good image quality can be formed.

A large diameter portion 15d is provided at the left end of the fitting portion 15c of the flange 15L into the sleeve 5 as shown in the figure, and the right end surface of the large diameter portion 15d is brought into contact with the left end surface of the sleeve 5. The displacement of the flange 15L toward the center of the sleeve is reliably prevented, whereby the displacement of the bias electrode toward the center of the sleeve can be more reliably prevented.

The shaft portion 15 of the flange 15L fixed to the sleeve 5 without being disturbed by the bias electrode.
Since b is supported by the bearing 16L, the sleeve 5 is held with high positional accuracy, and the positional relationship with the magnet roller 6 in the radial direction can be maintained with high accuracy, so that a good developed image can be formed.

Next, an embodiment of the second invention will be described.

In the embodiment shown in FIG.
Are fixedly inserted into holes 19e, 19f of holders 19L, 19R, whose both ends of shaft portions 6L, 6R are fixed to developing container 2. Developing sleeve 5 is slightly spaced from magnetized portion 6a of magnet roller 6. And flanges 15L and 15R are fixed to the left and right ends thereof by bonding or press-fitting. The sleeve flanges 15L, 15R are supported by bearings 16L, 16R fixed to the container 2. The sleeve gear 20 is fixed to the left sleeve flange 15L, and the sleeve gear 20 is driven via a driving gear fixed to the photoconductor. As a result, the developing sleeve 5 rotates in a predetermined direction. As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, a tongue piece 19b surrounded by slits 19a on three sides is formed in the holder 19R that supports the right side of the magnet roller 6. The tongue piece 19b can be elastically deformed around the base end 19c as shown by the dotted line in FIG. 13, and the tip 19d urges the right end of the shaft 6R of the magnet roller 6 in the thrust direction. I do. That is, the entire magnet roller 6 is urged rightward with an elastic deformation force to maintain a state of being pressed against the holder 19L. This allows
The holder 19L positions the magnet roller 6 in the thrust direction.

Thus, in the thrust direction,
Since the magnet roller 6 can be set at a fixed position, the magnetic force can be stably applied to the image facing region M on the developing sleeve 13. This prevents the toner T from being supplied to the area other than the image area M, and prevents the toner T from being wasted unnecessarily.

The holder 19R is preferably made of a synthetic resin having high strength and elasticity, such as a synthetic resin such as a polyphenylene ether resin and a polyacetal resin, so that the tongue valve 19a can be elastically deformed.

FIGS. 14 and 15 show another embodiment in which a part of the bearing 16R has a structure capable of elastic deformation. A receiving portion 16a that can hold the shaft portion 6R of the magnet roller 6 is provided integrally with a bearing 16R that supports the flange 15R. The receiving portion 16a has a shape that can be elastically deformed when a force in the thrust direction is applied. As a result, the magnet roller 6 is always kept in a fixed direction by the elastic force of the receiving portion 16a.
And the magnet roller 6 can be positioned at a fixed position in the thrust direction. By forming the receiving portion 16a that can be elastically deformed on the bearing 16R, the number of components can be reduced and the space in the thrust direction can be reduced.

The bearing 16R in this case is also preferably molded from a synthetic resin such as a polyphenylene ether resin or a polyacetal resin.

As another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 16, a coil spring member 3 engaged with a shaft 6R of a magnet roller 6 is mounted on a holder 19R for fixing the magnet roller 6.
By adding 7, the magnet roller 6 can be pressed rightward.

In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 11 to 16, the magnet roller 6 can be securely held at a predetermined position in the thrust direction and its displacement in the thrust direction can be prevented.
Unnecessary take-out of the developer and image deterioration can be prevented, and the above-described assembling margin can be reduced, which contributes to downsizing of the apparatus.

The bias electrodes described above may be attached to the flanges shown in FIGS.

Each of the developing devices according to the first and second aspects of the present invention can be used for a process cartridge. This will be described below.

In FIG. 10, the process cartridge P is detachable from the main body of the laser beam printer 31 by a manual operation of an operator along a guide rail 32 arranged in the main body of the printer. The operator removes the cartridge P, which has reached the usage limit due to the exhaustion of the toner or the end of the life of the photosensitive member 9, from the printer main body, and
A new cartridge P can be loaded in the printer body.

The process cartridge P has a drum-shaped electrophotographic photosensitive member 9, a charger 34, the developing device 1, and a cleaning device 35 described above. It is integrally supported.

The developing device 1 includes, in addition to the above-described members, a toner storage section 36 in which fresh toner T is stored in advance.
have. The toner in the storage section 36 is sent to the sleeve side via the opening 11 by the transport member 37 as described above.

A seal device (not shown) is attached to the opening 11, and when the cartridge P is not used, the toner T in the developer accommodating portion 36 moves to the developing sleeve side.
This prevents the toner T from flowing out of the process cartridge P. When the process cartridge P is mounted on the apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus and used, the sealing device (not shown) is operated to open the opening 11 so that the toner T in the developer accommodating section 36 is developed. It can be supplied to the sleeve.

The cleaning means 35 includes a cleaning blade 38 for rubbing the photoreceptor 9 to remove residual toner on the photoreceptor 9 and a waste toner storage unit 39 for storing the residual toner removed by the cleaning blade 38. It is configured to clean the residual toner on the photoconductor 9 and prepare the photoconductor 9 for the next image formation.

The process cartridge P includes the photosensitive member 9
When the process cartridge P is mounted in the apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus, the shutter 40 retracts to one side of the photoconductor 9.

In the image forming operation, the photosensitive member 9 is first uniformly charged by the charger 34, and then the laser beam L
To form an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor 9. The semiconductor laser 41 emits a laser beam L modulated by a recorded image signal from a document reading device, a computer, or the like. The laser beam L is scanned by a scanning unit 42 such as a rotary polygon mirror, and is incident on the photoconductor 9 via a lens 43.

The electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive member 9 is developed by the developing device 1 described above. The visible image obtained by the development is transferred by the transfer roller 44 from the photoconductor 9 to a transfer material 45 such as paper.

The transfer material 45 is transported from the cassette 46 by the transport roller 47 through the guide 48 toward the transfer roller 44. After the transfer, the transfer material 45 is transported to the fixing device 50 through the guide 49. The transfer material on which the image is fixed by the fixing device 50 is discharged out of the main body.

Reference numeral 14 denotes an electrical connection to the developing sleeve 5 of the developing device as described above when the cartridge P is loaded in the image forming operation position of the printer 31 main body, and applies a developing bias voltage to the developing sleeve during the developing operation. Power supply.

[0058]

According to the present invention, since a developing bias voltage can be stably applied to the sleeve, a developed image of good image quality can be stably obtained.

[0059]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of one embodiment of a developing device of the first invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory perspective view of a flange and a bias electrode in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory perspective view of a flange and a bias electrode according to another embodiment.

FIG. 5A is an explanatory perspective view of a flange and a bias electrode according to another embodiment. (B) is a longitudinal sectional view similarly.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of a conventional developing device.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view taken along line BB of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view near a bias electrode according to a conventional example.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating a bias electrode.

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of a printer on which a process cartridge is mounted.

FIG. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view of an embodiment of the developing device of the second invention.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory perspective view of the holder of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a vertical sectional view of the holder of FIG. 11;

FIG. 14 is a longitudinal sectional view of a developing device according to another embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a front view of the bearing of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a longitudinal sectional view of a developing device according to another embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a sectional view of a conventional developing device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Developing device 2 Developing container 5 Developing sleeve 6 Magnet roller 9 Photoreceptor 12 Bias electrode 12b Resilient portion 12e Engaging portion 15a Groove portion 15L, 15R Sleeve flange 16L, 16R Bearing 17 Electrode plate 19R Energizing member P Process cartridge

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (72) The inventor Yujun Isobe 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Inc. (56) References JP-A-1-191166 (JP, A) Akira Mikai 62-53447 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G03G 15/08-15/095 G03G 15/06 101 G03G 15/00 550 G03G 21/06-21/08

Claims (17)

(57) [Claims] 1. A fixed electrode to which a developing bias voltage is transmitted, a rotatable conductive sleeve for carrying and transporting a developer to a developing area for applying a developer to an electrostatic latent image, and an electrode support. A flange member fixed to an end of the sleeve, and an elastic electrode member supported by the flange member,
A first portion engaged with the electrode support portion, a second portion pressed against the sleeve, and slidable on the fixed electrode to receive a force in a direction from the fixed electrode toward a central portion of the sleeve. An elastic electrode member having a third portion that is elastically pressed against the sleeve, so that the second portion is not displaced toward the center of the sleeve by a force applied to the third portion from the fixed electrode. The developing device wherein the first portion engages with the electrode support. 2. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the flange member has a shaft outside the sleeve, and the shaft is fitted to a bearing member. 3. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the electrode support has a groove formed in the flange member, and a first portion of the elastic electrode member is fitted in the groove. 4. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the first portion of the elastic electrode member has a bent portion sandwiching an outer surface and an inner surface of the flange member. 5. The electrode support according to claim 1, wherein the electrode support has a projection provided on the flange member, and the elastic electrode member has a hole fitted to the projection. Developing device. 6. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the second portion of the electrode member is in pressure contact with the inner surface of the sleeve between the outer surface of the flange member and the inner surface of the sleeve. 7. The second portion of the electrode member elastically presses against the inner surface of the sleeve in a position where the resistance when the flange member is removed from the sleeve is greater than the resistance when the flange member is inserted into the sleeve. The developing device according to claim 1. 8. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein said flange member is made of a synthetic resin. 9. A process cartridge comprising the developing device according to claim 1 and an image carrier, the process cartridge being detachable from an image forming apparatus main body. 10. A developing bias voltage transmitting member for transmitting a developing bias voltage to a conductive sleeve for carrying and transporting a developer, the developing bias voltage transmitting member having an electrode support, and a flange member fixed to an end of the sleeve; An elastic electrode member supported by the flange member,
A first portion engaged with the electrode support portion, a second portion pressed against the sleeve, and slidable on the fixed electrode to receive a force in a direction from the fixed electrode toward a central portion of the sleeve. An elastic electrode member having a third portion that is elastically pressed against the elastic member, so that the second portion is not displaced to the center of the sleeve by a force that the third portion receives from the fixed electrode. A developing bias voltage transmitting member in which the first portion is engaged with the electrode support; 11. The flange member has a shaft outside the sleeve, and the shaft can be fitted to a bearing member.
3. The developing bias voltage transmitting member according to item 1. 12. The developing bias voltage according to claim 10, wherein the electrode support has a groove formed in the flange member, and the first portion of the elastic electrode member is fitted in the groove. Transmission member. 13. The developing bias voltage transmitting member according to claim 10, wherein the first portion of the elastic electrode member has a bent portion sandwiching an outer surface and an inner surface of the flange member. 14. The electrode support according to claim 10, wherein the electrode support has a projection provided on the flange member, and the elastic electrode member has a hole fitted to the projection. A developing bias voltage transmitting member. 15. The developing bias voltage transmitting member according to claim 10, wherein the second portion of the electrode member can be pressed against the inner surface of the sleeve between the outer surface of the flange member and the inner surface of the sleeve. 16. The second portion of the electrode member can be elastically pressed against the inner surface of the sleeve in a position where the resistance when removing the flange member from the sleeve is greater than the resistance when inserting the flange member into the sleeve. The developing bias voltage transmitting member according to claim 10. 17. The developing bias voltage transmitting member according to claim 10, wherein said flange member is made of a synthetic resin.