JP4617126B2 - Developing device and process cartridge - Google Patents

Description

  BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a developing device provided in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus that employs an electrophotographic system such as a laser printer or a copying machine, or a developing unit that can be attached to and detached from the apparatus body, and a process cartridge. .

  Here, the electrophotographic image forming apparatus forms an image on a recording medium using an electrophotographic image forming system. Examples of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus include an electrophotographic copying machine, an electrophotographic printer (for example, a laser beam printer, an LED printer, etc.), a facsimile machine, a word processor, and the like.

  The development unit is a unit in which a toner storage frame containing developer (toner) and a development frame containing development means are joined together, or a toner storage part and a development means part. This unit is a unit in which the developing frame and the lid member are integrally welded and is detachable from the main body of the image forming apparatus.

  The process cartridge is a cartridge in which the developing means, the charging means or the cleaning means and the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally formed, and the cartridge can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body.

  In the developing means (developing device) mounted on a conventional copying machine or printer, toner flows out of the developing area at both ends of a developer carrying member that carries and conveys a developer such as a developing roller. A sealing member is provided to prevent this. In particular, when a developer containing magnetic powder such as magnetic toner is used as the developer, the seal member for preventing the toner from flowing out is a magnetic end seal member with a certain interval at both ends of the developing roller, That is, a method has been proposed in which a magnetic seal is disposed to prevent toner from flowing out (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  Normally, in such a configuration, a scraping member that scrapes off toner, that is, a scraper so that the toner emerging from the gap between the magnetic seal and the surface of the developing roller does not move to the surface facing the photoreceptor due to the rotation of the developing roller. (For example, refer to Patent Documents 2 and 3).

As for the method of attaching the magnetic seal, the elastic member is compressed between the sheet metal of the developing blade as the layer thickness regulating member for regulating the developer layer thickness on the surface of the developing roller and the magnetic seal so as to push the magnetic seal. The structure which pressurizes in the contact direction is proposed (for example, refer patent document 4).
Japanese Patent No. 3352329 Japanese Patent No. 3372747 JP-A-11-143226 JP 2002-258607 A

  As described above, since the conventional magnetic seal mounting method is configured to compress the elastic member between the sheet metal of the developing blade and the magnetic seal and press the magnetic seal in the abutting direction, a plurality of elastic members therefor Was necessary. Further, a seal member that prevents toner leakage from the gap between the developing blade and the developing frame is necessary. Alternatively, the elastic member and the seal member are integrated into a single elastic member.

  The present invention is a further development of the conventional seal arrangement.

  That is, an object of the present invention is an elastic member that seals between the developing frame and the layer thickness regulating member, and extends across the developing frame and the magnetic seal along the longitudinal direction of the developing frame. Another object of the present invention is to provide a developing device and a process cartridge in which a magnetic seal is pressed against a developing frame through an elastic member that is solidified by applying a liquid elastomer.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a developing device and a process cartridge capable of improving productivity.

The above object is achieved by a developing device and a process cartridge according to the present invention. In summary, according to the first aspect of the present invention, in the developing device used in the electrophotographic image forming apparatus,
A developing frame,
A developer carrier for carrying and transporting the developer;
A layer thickness regulating member for regulating the layer thickness of the developer attached to the developer carrying member;
Attached to the developing frame, a magnetic seal to prevent the developer from leaking by magnetic from both ends of the developer carrying member,
An elastic member for sealing between the layer thickness regulating member and before Symbol developing frame, the liquid elastomer was applied across the longitudinal direction of the developing frame in said magnetic seal and said developing frame an elastic member solidified Te,
A scraping member for scraping off the developer at both ends of the developer carrier;
Have
The portions of the liquid elastomer applied to the magnetic seal are the starting and ending portions of the liquid elastomer application to the developing frame,
The developing device, wherein the scraping member has a pressurizing unit that presses the elastic member in contact with the elastic member and presses the magnetic seal against the developing frame through the elastic member. An apparatus is provided.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in the process cartridge detachable from the electrophotographic image forming apparatus,
An electrophotographic photoreceptor;
A developing frame,
A developer carrying member that develops a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member using a developer;
A layer thickness regulating member for regulating the layer thickness of the developer attached to the developer carrying member;
Attached to the developing frame, a magnetic seal to prevent the developer from leaking by magnetic from both ends of the developer carrying member,
An elastic member for sealing between the layer thickness regulating member and before Symbol developing frame, the liquid elastomer was applied across the longitudinal direction of the developing frame in said magnetic seal and said developing frame an elastic member solidified Te,
A scraping member for scraping off the developer at both ends of the developer carrier;
Have
The portions of the liquid elastomer applied to the magnetic seal are the starting and ending portions of the liquid elastomer application to the developing frame,
The scraping member has a pressurizing portion that presses the magnetic seal against the developing frame through the elastic member by contacting the elastic member and pressing the elastic member. A cartridge is provided.

  According to the developing device and the process cartridge of the present invention, the function of pressing the magnetic seal against the developing frame with the elastic member solidified by applying the liquid elastomer, and the gap between the layer thickness regulating member and the developing frame. It is possible to achieve a sealing function for preventing the developer leakage. Moreover, since the liquid elastomer is applied across the developing frame and the magnetic seal along the longitudinal direction of the developing frame, productivity can be improved.

  Hereinafter, a developing unit and a process cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.

Example 1
First, an image forming apparatus to which the developing unit and the process cartridge according to the present invention can be applied will be described. FIG. 1 shows an overall configuration of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus 1 which is an electrophotographic laser beep printer in this embodiment.

(Overall configuration of image forming apparatus)
Referring to FIG. 1, in this embodiment, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus 1 includes a process cartridge 3 in which a cleaning unit C and a developing unit D are integrated with respect to an image forming apparatus main body 1A by mounting means (not shown). And is detachably mounted. 2 and 3 show the overall configuration of the process cartridge 3.

  In this embodiment, the process cartridge 3 includes a drum-shaped electrophotographic photosensitive member (hereinafter referred to as “photosensitive drum”) 7 as an image carrier. The photosensitive drum 7 is driven to rotate clockwise in FIG. 1 by driving means (not shown).

  Around the photosensitive drum 7, a charging unit 4 that uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 7 in order according to the rotation direction, and a laser beam is irradiated on the photosensitive drum 7 based on image information. Are arranged. Further, around the photosensitive drum 7, the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 7 is developed using toner as a developer to form a toner image, and the photosensitive drum 7. An electrostatic transfer means 16 for transferring the upper toner image onto a recording sheet S as a recording medium and a cleaning means 6 for removing the toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 7 after the transfer are disposed.

  More specifically, in this embodiment, the photosensitive drum 7 is obtained by applying an organic photoconductor layer (OPC photosensitive member) to the outer peripheral surface of an aluminum cylinder. Both ends of the photosensitive drum 7 are rotatably supported by the cleaning frame 6A by support members (not shown).

  In this embodiment, the charging unit 4 is a contact charging type charging roller. The roller 4 is brought into contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum 7, and a charging bias voltage is applied to the roller 4 to uniformly charge the surface of the photosensitive drum 7.

  The scanner unit 2 irradiates a polygon mirror rotated by a scanner motor (not shown) with image light L corresponding to an image signal by a laser diode (not shown). The image light L reflected by the mirror selectively exposes the surface of the charged photosensitive drum 7 through an imaging lens (not shown). Thereby, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image signal is formed.

  The developing means 5 is a sleeve-shaped developing roller 10 as a developer carrying member, and a developer layer thickness regulating member for applying a triboelectric charge to the toner on the surface of the developing roller 10 and forming a toner layer having a predetermined thickness. A developing blade 12 and a magnet roller 11 which is a magnetic field generating means having a plurality of magnetic poles built in the developing roller 10. These members are held by the developing frame 8.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the developing frame body 8 is produced by integrally welding a developing frame body member 8 </ b> A and a lid member 8 </ b> B, and a developing chamber 13 provided with a developing roller 10. The developer storage container for storing the toner, that is, the toner storage portion 14 is formed, and the development unit D is configured by integrating them.

  A stirring member 15 that stirs the toner and sends the toner to the developing chamber 13 in the developing frame 8 is provided in the toner storage portion 14. The toner in the toner storage portion 14 is rotated by the rotation of the stirring member 15. It is sent out to the developing roller 10 in the developing chamber 13. The toner adheres to the surface of the developing roller 10 and is conveyed by the rotation of the developing roller 10, and a triboelectric charge is applied by the developing blade 12, and a toner layer having a predetermined thickness is formed on the developing roller 10. It is conveyed to the developing area of the drum 7. The toner supplied to the development area is transferred to a latent image on the photosensitive drum 7 to form a toner image and developed.

  In this embodiment, the developing unit 5 uses a magnetic one-component developer that is magnetic powder, that is, a magnetic toner, as a developer. However, a developer containing other magnetic powder such as a non-magnetic toner and a magnetic carrier is used. It is also possible to use a developer containing the developer.

  A transfer roller 16 is disposed as a transfer unit so as to face and contact the photosensitive drum 7.

  On the other hand, the recording sheets S stacked on the recording sheet stacking plate 22 of the sheet feeding unit 21 are fed one by one while being separated one by one by the sheet feeding roller 23 and the separation pad 24, and are fed by the intermediate roller 25 and the conveying roller 26. Further, the toner image is further conveyed to the downstream side, and a toner image formed on the above-described photosensitive drum 7, that is, a toner image is transferred onto the conveyed recording sheet S by the transfer roller 16.

  Then, the recording paper S on which the unfixed toner image is formed is conveyed further downstream, and the toner image is fixed by a fixing device 27 having a heat source therein, and then passes through an intermediate paper discharge roller 28. The paper is discharged out of the apparatus by a discharge roller 29.

  In this embodiment, the process cartridge 3 includes the cleaning unit C and the developing unit D as described above.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the cleaning unit C includes a cleaning frame 6A, rotatably supports the photosensitive drum 7 on the cleaning frame 6A, and further includes a cleaning unit 6 and a charging roller 4. . As understood with reference to FIGS. 2 and 4, the cleaning unit C is configured such that the cleaning frame body 6 </ b> A is integrally formed by using pins P on the support portions Pa provided on the developing frame body 8 constituting the developing unit D. By joining, the process cartridge 3 formed into a cartridge is formed.

  The process cartridge 3 is detachably mounted on a cartridge mounting means provided on the image forming apparatus main body 1A by opening the cartridge door 20 (FIG. 1) of the image forming apparatus main body 1A by the user.

(Development unit configuration and magnetic end seal configuration)
Next, the structure of the developing unit and the magnetic seal of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the developing unit D. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the developing unit D has a developing frame 8 that is produced by integrally welding a developing frame main body member 8A and a lid member 8B. The developing frame 8 includes a developing roller 10, a developing blade 12 for regulating the toner layer thickness on the developing roller 10, and a magnetic end seal (for preventing toner leakage from both ends of the developing roller 10). Hereinafter, simply referred to as “magnetic seal”) 10r, a scraper 51 as a scraping member and the like are attached. The developing blade 12 has a sheet metal part 12a and a blade-like elastic part 12b.

  As shown in the sectional view of the developing unit D in FIG. 5, the magnetic seal 10r is attached to the developing frame 8, and a gap g2 is formed between the magnetic seal 10r and the outer peripheral surface of the developing roller 10. Yes.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 8, in this embodiment, the magnetic seal 10r has a magnet 10r1, and the width direction of the magnet 10r1 (the longitudinal direction of the developing roller 10). A magnetic plate 10r2 made of a magnetic material is joined to the side surface.

  The magnet 10r1, which is a constituent element of the magnetic seal 10r, is an injection-molded product having a width (t1) of 2.9 mm provided with a nylon binder containing Nd—Fe—B magnetic powder, and bonded to the side surface thereof. The magnetic plate 10r2 is made of an iron material having a thickness (t2) of 0.6 mm, and both are joined by insert molding of injection molding.

  A plurality of NS poles are magnetized in the circumferential direction on the inner peripheral surface 10r3 of the magnet 10r1 (the surface facing the outer peripheral surface of the developing roller 10), as shown in FIG. The concentrated magnetic field between the developing roller 10 and the magnet roller 11 forms a magnetic brush tip in the gap g2 to prevent toner leakage from the end of the developing roller 10. In the present embodiment, the gap g2 is set to 0.1 to 0.7 mm, and the magnetic flux density due to the magnetic force of the magnetic seal 10r at that time is about 100 to 200 mT on the developing roller 10.

  By the way, in the positional relationship between the magnet 10r1 and the magnetic plate 10r2 in the magnetic seal 10r, as shown in FIG. 7A, the magnet 10r1 is disposed on the opening side of the developing frame 8, and the outer side of the opening (development). Magnetic plates 10r2 are disposed on both ends of the roller 10 in the longitudinal direction.

  As described above, by arranging the magnet 10r1 on the opening side of the developing frame 8 and the magnetic plate 10r2 on the outside of the opening, the magnetic lines of force of the magnetic seal 10r are as shown in FIG. Since the magnetic plate 10r2 is formed between the magnet 10r1 and the magnetic plate 10r2 and enters the magnetic plate 10r2 having a high magnetic permeability, no lines of magnetic force are generated that extend outside the width of the magnetic seal 10r. Accordingly, since the toner on the magnetic seal 10r does not spread outward from the magnetic plate 10r2, the toner can be reliably held within a strong magnetic force range on the surface of the magnetic seal 10r, and the process cartridge 3 is imaged by the user. Even when an impact or the like is applied to the apparatus main body 1A when it is attached to or detached from the apparatus main body 1A, a good sealing property that prevents toner from leaking is obtained.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, at positions corresponding to the magnetic seals 10 r at both ends of the developing roller 10, toner that emerges from the gap between the magnetic seal 10 r and the surface of the developing roller 10 is rotated by the rotation of the developing roller 10. A scraping member (scraper) 51 for scraping off the toner is provided at both ends of the developing roller 10 so as not to move to the surface facing the drum 7.

  As shown in FIGS. 9, 10, and 15, the scraper 51 includes a positioning hole 51d that fits with the positioning boss 8e of the developing frame 8, and an embossed portion 12e (FIG. 15) provided in the developing blade sheet metal portion 12a. There are a positioning hole 51e to be fitted and a screw hole 51c for fixing the scraper 51 with the fixing screw 31.

  The scraper 51 includes a scraping portion 51a that is integrally formed with the support portion 51b and contacts the developing roller 10 to scrape off the toner. As the material of the scraper 51, slidable polyacetal (POM), polycarbonate, or the like is used.

(Magnetic seal positioning configuration)
Next, a method of attaching the magnetic seal 10r will be described with reference to FIGS. 5, 6, 8, and 10 to 15. FIG. Further, the magnetic seal 10r and the scraper 51 are attached to both ends of the developing roller 10, but the configuration on one side will be shown and described.

  As shown in FIGS. 5, 6, and 8, the magnetic seal 10r has a semicircular arc-shaped inner peripheral surface 10r3 that forms a gap g2 with the developing roller 10 on the inner peripheral side, and this inner peripheral surface. A semicircular arc-shaped circumscribed surface 10r4 in contact with the developing device frame 8 is provided on the outer peripheral side located on the opposite side to 10r3.

  Further, a flat pressure surface 10r5 that pressurizes for positioning is provided above the magnetic seal 10r, and a contact end surface 10r6 that contacts the developing device frame 8 is provided at the lower end portion.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 10, the developing frame 8 has a mounting arc portion 8 a that contacts the outer surface 10 r 4 of the magnetic seal 10 r and a mounting end surface 8 b that contacts the frame contact end surface 10 r 6 of the magnetic seal 10 r. Is provided.

  FIG. 11 shows an assembly locus of the magnetic seal 10r to the developing frame 8. Here, for the sake of explanation, the positions of two magnetic seals 10r are shown.

  When assembling the magnetic seal 10r to the developing frame 8, it is brought in (in the direction of the arrow X in the figure) until the circumscribed surface 10r4 of the magnetic seal 10r contacts the mounting arc 8a of the developing frame 8, and the frame of the magnetic seal 10r. When the contact end surface 10r6 rotates in the direction of arrow R until it abuts against the mounting end surface 8b of the developing frame 8, the magnetic seal 10r is determined at a predetermined position as shown in FIG.

  The longitudinal end surfaces 10r7 (see FIG. 8) on both sides of the pressure surface 10r5 of the magnetic seal 10r are inserted between the longitudinal positioning surfaces 8c (see FIG. 10) of the developing device frame 8 to thereby position the magnetic seal 10r in the longitudinal direction. Is doing.

  Next, a side pad 61 formed of foamed polyurethane or the like is attached across the developing frame 8 and the magnetic seal 10r to seal the gap between the magnetic seal 10r and the longitudinal end portions of the elastic portion 12b of the developing blade 12. It attaches (FIG. 12).

  In order to prevent toner leakage from the back surface of the developing blade 12, a liquid elastomer 30 as an elastic member is applied between the developing blade 12 and the developing frame 8, and in this embodiment, a hot melt 30 is applied.

  The application region of the hot melt 30 will be described. As shown in FIG. 13, the application region is formed by moving the hot melt 30 from the nozzle 62 in the order of arrows (1), (2), and (3).

  Specifically, discharge of the hot melt 30 that has been heated and liquefied from the nozzle 62 is started from the pressurizing surface 10r5 of one magnetic seal 10r, and the nozzle 62 moves as indicated by an arrow (1). Subsequently, the nozzle 62 moves along the longitudinal direction of the developing frame 8 as indicated by the arrow (2), and is applied to the groove 8f (FIGS. 5 and 10) of the developing frame 8, and finally, the coating is applied at the arrow (3). Is moved to a place where it is applied onto the pressure surface 10r5 of the other magnetic seal 10r, the discharge of the hot melt 30 is finished, and the application process is completed. That is, the hot melt 30 is applied across the developing frame 8 and the pressure surface 10r5 of the magnetic seal 10r.

  Next, the structure of the coating device 70 for coating the hot melt (liquid elastomer) 30 will be described.

  FIG. 25 is a plan view of a coating apparatus 70 for coating the liquid elastomer 30. The coating apparatus 70 shown in the figure is constituted by a base 71, a tooling unit that performs a coating operation including a support base 73 on the base 71, a dispenser 75, an NC linear motion unit 76, and the like, and a supply device 72 for the liquid elastomer 30. Yes.

  The liquid elastomer 30 used in the supply device 72 is a thermoplastic synthetic rubber material and shows a solidified state at room temperature.

  In the supply device 72, the rubber material is heated to 120 to 180 ° C. to be in a molten state (500 to 10,000 mPa · S), and the liquid elastomer 30 is obtained. And the liquid elastomer 30 is apply | coated by supplying the liquid elastomer 30 to the dispenser 75 through the hose 74 in a liquid state. Here, the hose 74 is for stably transporting the liquid elastomer 30 from the supply device 72 to the dispenser 75 in a liquid state, and a heater (not shown) is provided on the entire outer periphery thereof.

  By the way, the dispenser 75 is fixed to a support base 73 placed on the pedestal 71, and an NC linear motion unit 76 is provided on the lower surface of the dispenser 75 fixed to the support base 73. A developing frame 8 which is a work is placed on the top. In addition, the valve of the dispenser 75 opens and closes in synchronization with the moving operation of the NC linear motion unit 76.

  FIG. 26 is a side view showing the cross-sectional shape of the dispenser 75 and the application state of the liquid elastomer 30.

  As shown in the drawing, the molten liquid elastomer 30 is pumped into the dispenser 75 by a hose 74. An opening / closing valve 77 is provided at the nozzle 62 portion of the dispenser 75. The nozzle 62 is opened by lifting and opening the opening / closing valve 77 by a solenoid or the like, and the liquid elastomer 30 being pumped is supplied to the hose 74. Discharged by internal pressure. Synchronously with this, the linear application of the liquid elastomer 30 becomes possible by linearly moving the nozzle 62 or the developing frame 8 as a work.

  These coating steps themselves can be performed stably and at high speed by being mechanized.

  For example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-162820, when a cleaning blade is attached to a cleaner container using a liquid elastomer in a toner cartridge, a larger amount is applied at an application start point portion and an end point portion than at an intermediate portion. Is required, and it is taught to provide pool grooves at the start point and the end point.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, after the magnetic seal 10r is incorporated into the portion functioning as the accumulation groove, the pressure surface 10r5 of the magnetic seal 10r, the longitudinal positioning surface 8c (see FIG. 10) of the developing frame 8, and the developing frame It was composed of a space surrounded by 8 ribs 8h. Further, the application track of the hot melt 30 is also slightly overlapped on the side pad 61 described above. In the application areas (1) and (3), the moving speed of the nozzle 62 is made slower than the movement speed in the application area (2), so that the intermediate portion 30b (application area ( More hot melt 30 can be applied to the start point portion 30a (application region (1)) and the end point portion (application region (3)) than to 2)) (FIG. 14). That is, the portion of the liquid elastomer 30 that presses the magnetic seal 10 r has a larger volume than the portion that seals the developing blade 12.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 15, the developing blade 12 fixes the both ends of the sheet metal portion 12 a together with the scraper 51 to the developer container 14 portion of the developing frame 8 with screws 31, and then the developing roller 10, magnet 4 is assembled by fixing the side cover 40a, 40b (FIG. 4) to the developing frame 8 with screws or the like from the left and right sides after assembling the roller 11. As shown in FIG.

  When the developing blade 12 is assembled to the developing frame 8, the hot melt 30 applied to the groove 8 f (FIG. 10) of the developing frame 8 constituting the developer storage container 14, as shown in FIG. 5, the developing blade 12. The hot melt 30 can be compressed by the sheet metal portion 12a and the elastic portion 12b to prevent toner leakage from the back surface of the developing blade 12.

  Further, as shown in the enlarged view of the groove portion 8f of the developing frame 8 in FIG. 5, the applied hot melt 30 flows into the concave shape portion of the groove portion 8f, so that the melted hot melt 30 is solidified at a predetermined position. Can be prevented, and stable coating can be performed.

  As shown in FIG. 6, when the developing blade 12 is assembled, the magnetic seal 10r compresses the hot melt 30 at the position where the developing blade 12 is attached to the developer container 14, and the magnetic seal 10r. The pressing surface 10r5 is pressed in the Y direction in FIG. As a result, the frame contact end surface 10r6 of the magnetic seal 10r is constantly pressed in the direction of the mounting end surface 8b of the developing frame 8, and the position of the magnetic seal 10r is fixed. From the above, the gap between the magnetic seal 10r and the developing roller 10 is properly maintained.

As the physical properties of the aforementioned hot melt 30,
(A) Strong brittleness at low temperature and no cracking occurs at 75% compression in an environment of −20 ° C .;
(B) the softening point measured by the environmental method softening point measurement method is 60 ° C. or higher in order to suppress fluidity at high temperature;
(C) In addition, for the purpose of preventing deformation of the developing blade 12 due to repulsive force when compressed by the sheet metal portion 12a and the elastic portion 12b of the developing blade 12, the hardness (JIS A) at room temperature is 10 or less and excellent in flexibility;
(D) A value of 90% or higher compression recovery property was exhibited, which had both adhesion to the adherend and easy separation;
Styrenic thermoplastic elastomers having excellent suitability as a sealing material are suitable. Moreover, it is preferable that it is colored (gray colored in this embodiment) for easy application state confirmation and detection by a sensor.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, a new elastic member is required by using the hot melt 30 as an elastic seal member for sealing the developing blade 12 to pressurize the magnetic seal 10r. In addition, by using a large amount of application part required at the start point and end point for the magnetic seal pressing part, there is no disadvantage in taking the material, and it is possible to apply stably by automation. Therefore, stable pressurization for magnetic seal positioning can be performed, productivity can be improved, and a development unit advantageous in terms of cost can be provided.

  Although the above description has been made in relation to the developing unit D, the developing unit D having the above configuration can also be applied to a process cartridge integrated with the cleaning unit C as in the present embodiment, and similar effects can be obtained. To achieve.

Example 2
A second embodiment of the process cartridge according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The process cartridge of the present embodiment also has the same configuration as that of the process cartridge described in the first embodiment. Therefore, members having the same configuration and function are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the developing unit D includes a toner storage portion 14 that stores toner, a developing roller 10, a blade sheet metal 12 a and a resilient portion 12 b for regulating the toner layer thickness on the developing roller 10. And a developing frame 8 having a magnetic seal 10r and a scraper 51 for preventing toner leakage from both end portions of the developing roller 10.

Developing frame 8 in cross section a concave for applying hot-melt 30 is sealing material in the mounting portion of the current image blade 12 as shown in FIG. 18 (see FIG. 19), i.e., a groove 8f is formed The rib 8g is formed in a straight line in the longitudinal direction. In the present embodiment, a pressurizing part 51f that pressurizes the hot melt 30 to be described later is formed on the back surface (FIG. 20B) of the scraper 51.

  The magnetic seal 10r is attached to the developing frame 8 in the same manner as in the first embodiment. Therefore, detailed description is omitted.

  Next, the hot melt 30 is applied, and the application region of the hot melt 30 of this embodiment is straight. The starting point and the ending point of the application region are formed on the pressure surface 10r5 of the magnetic seal 10r, and are applied in a larger amount than the intermediate region of application as in the first embodiment (FIG. 21). That is, also in the present embodiment, the volume of the portion of the liquid elastomer 30 that presses the magnetic seal 10r has a larger volume than the portion that seals the developing blade 12.

  Next, after the hot melt 30 is applied, the developing blade 12 and the scraper 51 are attached (FIGS. 17 and 22 to 24). When the developing blade 12 is attached, the elastic part 12 b of the developing blade 12 compresses the hot melt 30 applied to the rib 8 g of the developing frame 8, and the hot melt 30 is interposed between the developing blade 12 and the developing frame 8. It functions as a seal member.

  Further, by assembling the scraper 51, the pressurizing portion 51f (FIG. 23) of the scraper 51 compresses the hot melt 30, and the pressurizing surface 10r5 of the magnetic seal 10r is pressurized in the Y direction of FIG.

  That is, in this embodiment, the portion of the hot melt (liquid elastomer) 30 that presses the magnetic seal 10 r is the pressurizing portion 51 f of the scraper 51. As a result, the frame contact end surface 10r6 of the magnetic seal 10r is constantly pressed in the direction of the mounting end surface 8b of the developing frame 8, so that the gap between the magnetic seal 10r and the developing roller 10 is properly maintained.

  As described above, also in this embodiment, a new elastic member is required by using the hot melt 30 as an elastic member for sealing the developing blade 12 for pressurizing the magnetic seal 10r as in the first embodiment. Therefore, it is possible to provide a developing unit and a process cartridge that can perform stable pressurization and are advantageous in terms of cost.

  In the first and second embodiments, the developing unit is described as a developing unit that can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body. However, the developing unit can be suitably used for a developing apparatus provided in an apparatus main body that is not removable from the image forming apparatus main body. it can.

1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an embodiment of an image forming apparatus in which a developing unit and a process cartridge according to the present invention are used. 1 is an external perspective view of an embodiment of a process cartridge according to the present invention. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a process cartridge according to the present invention. 1 is an external perspective view of an embodiment of a developing unit according to the present invention. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a developing unit according to the present invention. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a developing unit according to the present invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the positional relationship of the magnet of a magnetic seal, and a developing roller. It is an external appearance perspective view of one Example of a magnetic seal. It is an external appearance perspective view of one Example of a scraper. It is an external appearance perspective view which shows one Example of a magnetic seal attachment part. It is an external appearance perspective view explaining one Example of the attachment method of a magnetic seal. It is explanatory drawing explaining one Example of the assembly method of a developing unit. It is explanatory drawing explaining one Example of a liquid elastomer application | coating process. It is explanatory drawing explaining one Example of a liquid elastomer application position. It is explanatory drawing explaining one Example of the assembly method of a developing unit. It is an external appearance perspective view of other Examples of the development unit concerning the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the developing unit according to the present invention. It is an external appearance perspective view of other Examples of the development unit concerning the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the developing unit according to the present invention. It is an external appearance perspective view of the other Example of a scraper. It is explanatory drawing explaining the other Example of the assembly method of a developing unit. It is explanatory drawing explaining the other Example of the assembly method of a developing unit. It is explanatory drawing explaining one Example of the positional relationship of a scraper and a developing blade. FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the developing unit according to the present invention. It is a top view of one example of a liquid elastomer application device. It is explanatory drawing explaining operation | movement of a liquid elastomer application apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

S recording paper C cleaning unit D developing unit 1 image forming apparatus 1A image forming apparatus main body 2 scanner 3 process cartridge 4 charging roller (charging means)
5 Developing means 6 Cleaning means 6A Cleaning frame 7 Photosensitive drum (electrophotographic photosensitive member)
8 Development frame body 8A Development frame body body member 8B Cover member 10 Development roller (developer carrier)
10r magnetic seal (magnetic end seal)
10r1 Magnet 10r2 Magnetic plate 10r3 Inner peripheral surface 10r4 Outer surface 10r5 Pressure surface 10r6 Frame contact end surface 10r7 Long end surface 11 Magnet roller 12 Developing blade (layer thickness regulating member)
12a Sheet metal part 12b Elastic part 13 Developing chamber 14 Toner storage part (developer storage container)
21 Transfer roller (transfer means)
27 Fixing device 30 Hot melt (liquid elastomer, seal member)
40a, 40b Side cover 51 Scraper (scraping member)
51a scraping part 51b support part 51c screw hole 51d positioning hole 51e positioning boss 51f pressure part 61 side pad 62 nozzle 70 coating device 71 mount 72 supply device 73 support base 74 hose 75 dispenser 76 NC linear motion unit 77 on-off valve

Claims (4)

In a developing device used in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus,
A developing frame,
A developer carrier for carrying and transporting the developer;
A layer thickness regulating member for regulating the layer thickness of the developer attached to the developer carrying member;
Attached to the developing frame, a magnetic seal to prevent the developer from leaking by magnetic from both ends of the developer carrying member,
An elastic member for sealing between the layer thickness regulating member and before Symbol developing frame, the liquid elastomer was applied across the longitudinal direction of the developing frame in said magnetic seal and said developing frame an elastic member solidified Te,
A scraping member for scraping off the developer at both ends of the developer carrier;
Have
The portions of the liquid elastomer applied to the magnetic seal are the starting and ending portions of the liquid elastomer application to the developing frame,
The developing device, wherein the scraping member has a pressurizing unit that presses the elastic member in contact with the elastic member and presses the magnetic seal against the developing frame through the elastic member. apparatus. Among the liquid elastomer, coated portion on the magnetic carboxymethyl Lumpur, developing device according to claim 1, wherein the volume is greater than the applied portion opposing portion of the layer thickness regulating member. In a process cartridge detachable from an electrophotographic image forming apparatus,
An electrophotographic photoreceptor;
A developing frame,
A developer carrying member that develops a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member using a developer;
A layer thickness regulating member for regulating the layer thickness of the developer attached to the developer carrying member;
Attached to the developing frame, a magnetic seal to prevent the developer from leaking by magnetic from both ends of the developer carrying member,
An elastic member for sealing between the layer thickness regulating member and before Symbol developing frame, the liquid elastomer was applied across the longitudinal direction of the developing frame in said magnetic seal and said developing frame an elastic member solidified Te,
A scraping member for scraping off the developer at both ends of the developer carrier;
Have
The portions of the liquid elastomer applied to the magnetic seal are the starting and ending portions of the liquid elastomer application to the developing frame,
The scraping member has a pressurizing portion that presses the magnetic seal against the developing frame through the elastic member by contacting the elastic member and pressing the elastic member. cartridge. Wherein among the liquid elastomer, the magnetic carboxymethyl coated portion Lumpur A process cartridge according to claim 3, wherein the volume is greater than the applied portion opposing portion of the layer thickness regulating member.

Images