JP4655631B2 - Developing device, image forming apparatus, and image forming system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a developing device, an image forming apparatus, and an image forming system.

  Image forming apparatuses such as laser beam printers are already well known. Such an image forming apparatus has, for example, an image carrier for carrying a latent image, and a developing device for developing the latent image carried on the image carrier by a developer. When an image signal or the like is transmitted from the apparatus, the developing device is positioned at a developing position facing the image carrier, and the latent image carried on the image carrier is developed with the developer in the developing device to develop a developer image. Then, the developer image is transferred to a medium, and finally an image is formed on the medium.

  The developing device includes an opening and a housing for accommodating the developer, and a developer carrying roller that is provided facing the opening and carries the developer. The developer carried on the developer carrying roller is used for developing the latent image carried on the image carrier. Further, the developing device includes a first seal member that is in contact with the developer carrying roller along an axial direction of the developer carrying roller, and the developer to prevent leakage of the developer from the container. A second seal member that is in contact with the end of the carrying roller in the axial direction along the circumferential direction of the developer carrying roller.

In order to prevent the leakage of the developer, it is desirable that the first seal member is appropriately brought into contact with the developer carrying roller. Therefore, the developing device is provided along the axial direction of the developer carrying roller, and a biasing member for abutting the first seal member and biasing the first seal member toward the developer carrying roller. It is equipped with. Furthermore, in order to prevent leakage of the developer, it is desirable to appropriately support the second seal member. Therefore, the developing device includes a second seal support member that supports a longitudinal end portion of the second seal member, and the second seal support member includes the second seal member and the second seal support member. Are attached to the housing such that the boundary faces the housing.
JP 2003-280371 A

  By the way, depending on the attachment state of the second seal support member to the housing, a gap may be formed between the housing and the boundary between the second seal member and the second seal support member. If a gap is generated between the boundary portion and the housing, the developer is fine particles, and therefore there is a possibility that the developer leaks from the gap. For this reason, it is necessary to provide a member for preventing the leakage of the developer from the gap, which may increase the number of parts of the developing device.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a developing device capable of appropriately preventing leakage of developer from between the boundary portion and the housing without increasing the number of parts. Is to realize.

In order to solve the above-described problems, a main aspect of the present invention includes a housing that has an opening and accommodates a developer, a developer carrying roller that is provided facing the opening and carries the developer, A first seal member for contacting the developer carrying roller along the axial direction of the developer carrying roller to prevent leakage of the developer, and the developer carrying at the axial end of the developer carrying roller comprising an abutment surface which abuts along the circumferential direction of the roller, and the second seal member for preventing leakage of the developer in contact with the abutting surface of said second seal member, the abutting surface and a second seal support portion, a second seal support member comprising a said being supported by said second seal support longitudinal end portion for supporting the longitudinal end, of the surface on the opposite side, the Adjacent to the longitudinal end in the longitudinal direction of the second seal member A longitudinal adjacent portion of the opposite surface which is not supported by the second seal support, the boundary portion, and a second seal support member attached to the housing so as to face the housing, the developer An urging member provided along the axial direction of the carrying roller for urging the first seal member toward the developer carrying roller in contact with the first seal member, the longitudinal end portion thereof And a biasing member having an extending portion extending between the boundary portion and the housing.

  Other features of the present invention will become apparent from the description of this specification and the accompanying drawings.

  At least the following will be made clear by the description of the present specification and the accompanying drawings.

A housing having an opening for accommodating the developer; a developer carrying roller provided facing the opening; for carrying the developer; and an axial direction of the developer carrying roller on the developer carrying roller A first seal member for preventing leakage of the developer, and an axial end of the developer carrying roller along the circumferential direction of the developer carrying roller. And a second seal support member for supporting a longitudinal end portion of the second seal member, the boundary between the second seal member and the second seal support member. A second seal support member attached to the housing so that the portion faces the housing; and the first seal member in contact with the first seal member provided along the axial direction of the developer carrying roller To the developer carrying roller A developing device comprising: a biasing member for biasing, and a biasing member having an extension portion extending at a longitudinal end portion between the boundary portion and the housing. .
According to such a developing device, since the urging member has the extending portion, it is possible to appropriately prevent the developer from leaking between the boundary portion between the second seal member and the second seal support member and the housing. Can be prevented. Further, since the biasing member has a function of biasing the first seal member to the developer carrying roller and a function of preventing the leakage of the developer from between the boundary portion and the housing, the developing device The increase in the number of parts can be prevented. Therefore, when the urging member has the extending portion, it is possible to realize a developing device that can appropriately prevent the leakage of the developer from between the boundary portion and the housing without increasing the number of parts. Become.

In the developing device, the second seal member may include an abutting surface that abuts along the circumferential direction of the developer carrying roller at an axial end of the developer carrying roller. The support member includes a second seal support portion that supports a surface of the second seal member opposite to the corresponding contact surface, and the boundary portion includes a surface opposite to the corresponding contact surface, and the first seal member. It may be a boundary portion between the two seal support portions.
In such a case, without increasing the number of parts, the leakage of the developer from the space between the surface opposite to the contact surface, the boundary between the second seal support portion, and the housing is appropriately prevented. It is possible to realize a developing device that can be used.

In the developing device, the extension portion may be supported by the second seal support portion via a double-sided tape.
In such a case, it is difficult for the extension portion to be displaced with respect to the second seal support portion, so that the extension portion can be easily disposed at a desired position, and more effectively, the developer from between the boundary portion and the housing. It is possible to prevent leakage.

Further, in the developing device, the extending portion includes a folded portion that is folded and supported by the second seal support portion, and a part of the folded portion is formed between the boundary portion and the housing. It may be located in between.
In such a case, since the extending portion is easily disposed appropriately between the boundary portion and the housing, a gap is hardly generated between the boundary portion and the housing.

  Further, in the developing device, the second seal support portion of the second seal support member includes a notch portion at a position facing the second seal member, and the folded portion is formed on the notch portion. It is good also as being folded and supported by said 2nd seal support part so that a side end may be surrounded.

Further, in this developing device, the second seal support member is connected to the housing via a third seal member for preventing leakage of developer from between the second seal support member and the housing. The extension portion may extend between the boundary portion and the third seal member, and may be in contact with both the boundary portion and the third seal member. .
In such a case, since the extending portion is in contact with both the boundary portion and the third seal member, a gap is less likely to be generated between the boundary portion and the housing. It becomes possible to prevent the leakage of the developer from between.

In the developing device, the material of the second seal support member may be a metal, the material of the second seal member may be a nonwoven fabric, and the material of the biasing member may be a sponge. Good.
When the material of the second seal support member is metal, the flexibility of the second seal support member is poor, so that the possibility that a gap is generated at the boundary between the second seal support member and the second seal member is increased. Therefore, when the material of the urging member is made of a flexible sponge, the extension portion of the urging member is easily deformed along the shape of the second seal support member, etc. Gaps are less likely to occur between them.

In the developing device, the second seal support member may support a short-side end portion of the first seal member and support the biasing member along a longitudinal direction thereof.
In such a case, since the biasing force of the biasing member to the first seal member is likely to be stable, the first seal member is properly brought into contact with the developer-carrying roller to prevent developer leakage more effectively. It becomes possible to do.

A housing for accommodating the developer; a developer carrying roller for carrying the developer; the developer carrying roller; and a developer carrying roller disposed on the developer carrying roller. Abutting along the axial direction, a first seal member for preventing leakage of the developer, and abutting along the circumferential direction of the developer carrying roller to the axial end of the developer carrying roller, A second seal member for preventing leakage of developer, and a second seal support member for supporting a longitudinal end portion of the second seal member, the second seal member and the second seal support member, A second seal support member attached to the housing such that a boundary portion of the developer faces the housing, and an axial direction of the developer carrying roller, and abuts on the first seal member to contact the first seal member The seal member is attached to the developer carrying row. An urging member for urging to the side, the urging member having an extension portion extending to the boundary portion and the housing at an end portion in the longitudinal direction thereof, and the second seal The member includes an abutting surface that abuts along the circumferential direction of the developer carrying roller at an axial end portion of the developer carrying roller, and the second seal support member corresponds to the corresponding contact of the second seal member. A second seal support portion that supports a surface opposite to the surface, and the boundary portion is a boundary portion between the surface opposite to the contact surface and the second seal support portion, The extension part is supported by the second seal support part via a double-sided tape, and the extension part includes a folded part supported by being folded by the second seal support part, and the folded part. Is located between the boundary portion and the housing, and the second seal support The second seal support portion of the member includes a notch portion at a position facing the second seal member, and the folded portion is provided on the second seal support portion so as to surround a side end of the notch portion. The second seal support member is folded and supported, and the second seal support member is attached to the housing via a third seal member for preventing leakage of developer from between the second seal support member and the housing. The extending portion extends between the boundary portion and the third seal member, is in contact with both the boundary portion and the third seal member, and the second seal The material of the support member is metal, the material of the second seal member is non-woven fabric, the material of the biasing member is sponge, and the second seal support member is short of the first seal member. Supporting the end in the hand direction, the biasing member A developing device characterized in that it is supported along its longitudinal direction.
According to such a developing device, it is possible to realize a developing device that can appropriately prevent the leakage of the toner T from between the boundary portion 577 and the housing 540 without increasing the number of parts. Played effectively.

An image carrier for carrying a latent image, and a developing device for developing the latent image carried on the image carrier, the housing having an opening and containing a developer; A developer carrying roller that is provided facing the opening and carries the developer, and abuts the developer carrying roller along the axial direction of the developer carrying roller to prevent developer leakage. A first seal member for contact with the axial end of the developer carrying roller along the circumferential direction of the developer carrying roller, and a second seal member for preventing leakage of the developer, A second seal support member for supporting a longitudinal end portion of the second seal member, and is attached to the housing so that a boundary portion between the second seal member and the second seal support member faces the housing. A second seal support member and the developer carrying An urging member provided along the axial direction of the roller for urging the first seal member toward the developer carrying roller in contact with the first seal member, the longitudinal end thereof And an urging member having an extending portion extending between the boundary portion and the housing.
According to such an image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus includes the developing device that can appropriately prevent the leakage of the toner T from between the boundary portion 577 and the housing 540 without increasing the number of parts. In addition, an excellent image forming apparatus can be realized.

A computer and an image forming apparatus connectable to the computer, comprising: an image carrier for carrying a latent image; and a developing device for developing the latent image carried on the image carrier. A housing for containing a developer; a developer carrying roller for carrying the developer; and a developer carrying roller on the developer carrying roller. A first seal member for preventing leakage of the developer and an axial end portion of the developer carrying roller along the circumferential direction of the developer carrying roller. A second seal member for preventing developer leakage, and a second seal support member for supporting a longitudinal end portion of the second seal member, the second seal member and the second seal support member The boundary between and faces the housing And a second seal support member attached to the housing along the axial direction of the developer carrying roller, and abuts against the first seal member to place the first seal member on the developer carrying roller side And a biasing member having an extension portion extending to the boundary portion and the housing at an end portion in the longitudinal direction thereof. An image forming system comprising: an image forming apparatus.
According to such an image forming system, the image forming system includes the developing device that can appropriately prevent the leakage of the toner T from between the boundary portion 577 and the housing 540 without increasing the number of parts. In addition, an excellent image forming system can be realized.

=== Overview of Image Forming Apparatus ===
Next, an outline of a laser beam printer (hereinafter also referred to as a printer) 10 as an example of the image forming apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating main components constituting the printer 10. In FIG. 1, the vertical direction is indicated by arrows. For example, the paper feed tray 92 is disposed at the lower part of the printer 10, and the fixing unit 90 is disposed at the upper part of the printer 10.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 10 according to the present embodiment includes a charging unit 30, an exposure unit 40, a YMCK developing unit 50, and a primary transfer unit along the rotation direction of a photoconductor 20 as an example of an image carrier. 60, an intermediate transfer body 70, and a cleaning unit 75, and further controls a secondary transfer unit 80, a fixing unit 90, a display unit 95 formed of a liquid crystal panel as a means for notifying a user, and these units. It has a control unit 100 that controls the operation as a printer.

  The photoreceptor 20 has a cylindrical conductive substrate and a photosensitive layer formed on the outer peripheral surface thereof, and is rotatable around a central axis. In the present embodiment, the photoreceptor 20 is indicated by an arrow in FIG. Rotate clockwise. The charging unit 30 is a device for charging the photoconductor 20, and the exposure unit 40 is a device for forming a latent image on the photoconductor 20 charged by irradiating a laser. The exposure unit 40 includes a semiconductor laser, a polygon mirror, an F-θ lens, and the like, and charges the modulated laser based on an image signal input from a host computer (not shown) such as a personal computer or a word processor. The irradiated photoconductor 20 is irradiated.

  The YMCK developing unit 50 converts the latent image formed on the photoconductor 20 into toner T as an example of a developer accommodated in the developing device, that is, black (K) toner, magenta accommodated in the black developing device 51. An apparatus for developing using magenta (M) toner contained in the developing device 52, cyan (C) toner contained in the cyan developing device 53, and yellow (Y) toner contained in the yellow developing device 54 It is.

  The YMCK developing unit 50 can move the positions of the four developing devices 51, 52, 53, 54 by rotating with the four developing devices 51, 52, 53, 54 mounted. Yes. That is, the YMCK developing unit 50 holds the four developing devices 51, 52, 53, 54 by four holding portions 55a, 55b, 55c, 55d, and the four developing devices 51, 52, 53, 54 is rotatable around the central axis 50a while maintaining the relative position thereof. Each time image formation for one page is completed, it is selectively opposed to the photoconductor 20 and is formed on the photoconductor 20 with the toner T contained in each developing device 51, 52, 53, 54. The latent images are sequentially developed. Each of the four developing devices 51, 52, 53, 54 described above is detachable from the holding portion of the YMCK developing unit 50. Details of each developing device will be described later.

  The primary transfer unit 60 is a device for transferring a single color toner image formed on the photoconductor 20 to the intermediate transfer body 70. When four color toners are sequentially transferred in a superimposed manner, the full color toner is transferred to the intermediate transfer body 70. An image is formed. The intermediate transfer body 70 is an endless belt in which an aluminum vapor deposition layer is provided on the surface of a PET film and a semiconductive paint is formed on the surface layer and laminated. The intermediate transfer body 70 is driven to rotate at substantially the same peripheral speed as the photoconductor 20. The secondary transfer unit 80 is a device for transferring a single color toner image or a full color toner image formed on the intermediate transfer body 70 to a medium such as paper, film, or cloth.

  The fixing unit 90 is a device for fusing a single-color toner image or a full-color toner image transferred onto a medium to form a permanent image. The cleaning unit 75 is provided between the primary transfer unit 60 and the charging unit 30 and has a rubber cleaning blade 76 that is in contact with the surface of the photoconductor 20. The cleaning unit 75 is disposed on the intermediate transfer body 70 by the primary transfer unit 60. After the toner image is transferred, the toner T remaining on the photoconductor 20 is scraped off and removed by the cleaning blade 76.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 100 includes a main controller 101 and a unit controller 102. An image signal and a control signal are input to the main controller 101, and in response to a command based on the image signal and the control signal. A unit controller 102 controls each of the units and forms an image.

  Next, the operation of the printer 10 configured as described above will be described. First, when an image signal and a control signal from a host computer (not shown) are input to the main controller 101 of the printer 10 via the interface (I / F) 112, the unit controller 102 based on a command from the main controller 101. Under the control, the photosensitive member 20, the developing roller as an example of the developer carrying roller, and the intermediate transfer member 70 are rotated. The photoconductor 20 is sequentially charged by the charging unit 30 at the charging position while rotating.

  The charged area of the photoconductor 20 reaches an exposure position as the photoconductor 20 rotates, and a latent image corresponding to image information of the first color, for example, yellow Y, is formed in the area by the exposure unit 40. . In the YMCK developing unit 50, a yellow developing device 54 that contains yellow (Y) toner is located at a developing position facing the photoconductor 20. The latent image formed on the photoconductor 20 reaches the development position as the photoconductor 20 rotates, and is developed with yellow toner by the yellow developing device 54. As a result, a yellow toner image is formed on the photoreceptor 20. The yellow toner image formed on the photoconductor 20 reaches the primary transfer position as the photoconductor 20 rotates, and is transferred to the intermediate transfer body 70 by the primary transfer unit 60. At this time, a primary transfer voltage having a polarity opposite to the charging polarity of the toner T is applied to the primary transfer unit 60. During this time, the photosensitive member 20 and the intermediate transfer member 70 are in contact with each other, and the secondary transfer unit 80 is separated from the intermediate transfer member 70.

  The above processing is sequentially executed for each developing device for the second color, the third color, and the fourth color, so that four color toner images corresponding to the respective image signals are transferred to the intermediate transfer member 70. It is transcribed and superimposed. As a result, a full color toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer member 70.

The full color toner image formed on the intermediate transfer body 70 reaches the secondary transfer position as the intermediate transfer body 70 rotates, and is transferred to the medium by the secondary transfer unit 80. The medium is conveyed from the paper feed tray 92 to the secondary transfer unit 80 via the paper feed roller 94 and the registration roller 96. When performing the transfer operation, the secondary transfer unit 80 is pressed against the intermediate transfer body 70 and a secondary transfer voltage is applied.
The full color toner image transferred to the medium is heated and pressed by the fixing unit 90 and fused to the medium. On the other hand, after the primary transfer position has passed, the photosensitive member 20 is scraped off by the cleaning blade 76 supported by the cleaning unit 75 and the toner T adhering to the surface thereof is charged to form the next latent image. Prepare for. The toner T thus scraped off is collected by a residual toner collecting unit provided in the cleaning unit 75.

=== Overview of Control Unit ===
Next, the configuration of the control unit 100 will be described with reference to FIG. The main controller 101 of the control unit 100 is connected to a host computer via an interface 112 and includes an image memory 113 for storing image signals input from the host computer.

  The unit controller 102 is electrically connected to each unit (charging unit 30, exposure unit 40, YMCK developing unit 50, primary transfer unit 60, cleaning unit 75, secondary transfer unit 80, fixing unit 90, display unit 95) of the apparatus main body. Each unit is controlled based on a signal input from the main controller 101 while detecting a state of each unit by receiving a signal from a sensor included in them.

=== Overview of Developer ===
Next, a configuration example and an operation example of the developing device will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram of the developing device. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing main components of the developing device. Note that the cross-sectional view shown in FIG. 4 represents a cross-section obtained by cutting the developing device along a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction shown in FIG. 4, the vertical direction is indicated by arrows as in FIG. 1. For example, the central axis of the developing roller 510 is below the central axis of the photoconductor 20. Further, in FIG. 4, the yellow developing device 54 is shown in a state where the yellow developing device 54 is located at a developing position facing the photoconductor 20.

  The YMCK developing unit 50 includes a black developing device 51 containing black (K) toner, a magenta developing device 52 containing magenta (M) toner, a cyan developing device 53 containing cyan (C) toner, and a yellow ( Y) Although a yellow developing device 54 containing toner is provided, the configuration of each developing device is the same, so the yellow developing device 54 will be described below.

<Configuration of Yellow Developing Device 54>
The yellow developing device 54 includes a developing roller 510, an upper seal 520 as an example of a first seal member, an upper seal urging member 524 as an example of an urging member, a toner container 530, a housing 540, a toner supply roller 550, a restriction roller. The blade 560 includes an end seal 574 as an example of a second seal member.

  The developing roller 510 carries the toner T and conveys it to a developing position facing the photoconductor 20. The developing roller 510 is made of an aluminum alloy such as a 5056 aluminum alloy or 6063 aluminum alloy, an iron alloy such as STKM, or the like, and is subjected to nickel plating, chrome plating, or the like as necessary. The developing roller 510 has a shaft portion 510a and a large-diameter portion 510b. The shaft portion 510a is supported by a developing roller support plate 529 of a holder 526, which will be described later, via a bearing 576 (see FIG. 7) The developing roller 510 is rotatably supported. As shown in FIG. 4, the developing roller 510 rotates in a direction (counterclockwise in FIG. 4) opposite to the rotation direction of the photoconductor 20 (clockwise in FIG. 4). The central axis is below the central axis of the photoconductor 20.

  Further, a gap exists between the developing roller 510 and the photoconductor 20 in a state where the yellow developing device 54 faces the photoconductor 20. That is, the yellow developing device 54 develops the latent image formed on the photoconductor 20 in a non-contact state. When developing the latent image formed on the photoconductor 20, an alternating electric field is formed between the developing roller 510 and the photoconductor 20.

  The housing 540 is manufactured by welding a plurality of integrally formed resin housing parts, that is, the upper housing part 542 and the lower housing part 544, and in order to accommodate the toner T therein. The toner container 530 is formed. The toner containing body 530 has two toner containing portions, that is, a first toner containing portion 530a and a second toner, by a partition wall 545 for dividing the toner T projected inwardly (in the vertical direction in FIG. 4) from the inner wall. It is divided into the accommodating portion 530b. The upper portions of the first toner storage portion 530a and the second toner storage portion 530b communicate with each other, and the movement of the toner T is restricted by the partition wall 545 in the state shown in FIG.

  However, when the YMCK developing unit 50 rotates, the toner accommodated in the first toner accommodating portion 530a and the second toner accommodating portion 530b is once collected on the upper communicating side of the developing position. When returning to the state shown in FIG. 4, the toners are mixed and returned to the first toner storage portion 530a and the second toner storage portion 530b. That is, as the YMCK developing unit 50 rotates, the toner T in the developing device is appropriately agitated. For this reason, in this embodiment, the toner container 530 is not provided with a stirring member, but a stirring member for stirring the toner T stored in the toner container 530 may be provided. As shown in FIG. 4, the housing 540 (that is, the first toner storage portion 530 a) has an opening 572 in the lower portion, and the developing roller 510 is provided so as to face the opening 572.

  The toner supply roller 550 is provided in the first toner storage portion 530a described above, supplies the toner T stored in the first toner storage portion 530a to the development roller 510, and remains on the development roller 510 after development. The toner T is peeled off from the developing roller 510. The toner supply roller 550 is made of polyurethane foam or the like, and is in contact with the developing roller 510 in an elastically deformed state. The toner supply roller 550 is disposed below the first toner storage portion 530a, and the toner T stored in the first toner storage portion 530a is transferred to the lower portion of the first toner storage portion 530a by the toner supply roller 550. Supplied to the developing roller 510. The toner supply roller 550 is rotatable about a central axis, and the central axis is below the rotation central axis of the developing roller 510. Further, the toner supply roller 550 rotates in a direction (clockwise in FIG. 4) opposite to the rotation direction of the developing roller 510 (counterclockwise in FIG. 4).

  The upper seal 520 is in contact with the developing roller 510 along the axial direction thereof, allows the toner T remaining on the developing roller 510 after passing through the developing position to move into the housing 540, and the housing 540. The toner T inside the housing 540 is prevented from leaking out. The upper seal 520 is a seal made of a polyethylene film or the like. The upper seal 520 is supported by an upper seal support plate 527 which is an example of a second seal support member of a holder 526 described later, and the longitudinal direction thereof is provided along the axial direction of the developing roller 510. (FIG. 7). The contact position where the upper seal 520 contacts the developing roller 510 is above the central axis of the developing roller 510.

  The surface of the upper seal 520 opposite to the upper seal contact surface 520b that contacts the developing roller 510 (this surface is also referred to as the upper seal opposite surface 520c) and the upper seal support plate 527 The upper seal urging member 524 made of an elastic body such as malt plain is provided in a compressed state. The detailed configuration of the upper seal urging member 524 will be described later.

  The regulating blade 560 is in contact with the developing roller 510 along the axial direction thereof, regulates the layer thickness of the toner T carried on the developing roller 510, and gives electric charge to the toner T carried on the developing roller 510. To do. The regulation blade 560 has a rubber part 560a and a rubber support part 560b. The rubber part 560a is made of silicon rubber, urethane rubber or the like, and the rubber support part 560b is a thin plate having spring properties such as phosphor bronze or stainless steel. The rubber part 560a is supported by the rubber support part 560b, and the rubber support part 560b presses the rubber part 560a against the developing roller 510 by its urging force. The rubber support portion 560b is attached to the restriction blade support plate 528 in a state where one end thereof is supported by a restriction blade support plate 528 of a holder 526 described later.

  The end of the regulating blade 560 opposite to the side supported by the regulating blade support plate 528, that is, the tip is not in contact with the developing roller 510, and a portion away from the tip by a predetermined distance is developed. The roller 510 is in contact with a width. That is, the regulating blade 560 is not in contact with the developing roller 510 at the edge, but is in contact with the belly. The regulating blade 560 is disposed so that the tip thereof faces the upstream side in the rotation direction of the developing roller 510, and is in a so-called counter contact. The contact position where the regulating blade 560 contacts the developing roller 510 is below the central axis of the developing roller 510 and below the central axis of the toner supply roller 550. The regulating blade 560 also exerts a function of preventing leakage of the toner T from the toner container 530 by contacting the developing roller 510 along the axial direction thereof.

  Further, an end seal 574 (FIG. 6) is provided on the outer side in the longitudinal direction of the rubber portion 560a of the regulating blade 560. The end seal 574 is made of a non-woven fabric, and comes into contact with the toner in the circumferential direction of the developing roller 510 at a large-diameter end 510 c as an example of an axial end of the developing roller 510. Demonstrates the function of preventing T leakage. Specifically, the end seal 574 includes an end seal abutting surface 574c that abuts along the circumferential direction of the developing roller 510 at the large-diameter end 510c of the developing roller 510. The abutment surface 574c abuts along the circumferential direction of the developing roller 510, and prevents the toner T from leaking between the circumferential surface of the developing roller 510 and the housing 540.

  The end seal 574 is provided so that the longitudinal direction thereof is orthogonal to the axial direction of the developing roller 510, and the longitudinal end portion 560 d (FIG. 6) of the regulating blade 560 and the upper seal support plate of the holder 526 described later. 527. Further, the end seal 574 has a concave portion 574e (FIG. 15) cut out in a concave shape.

<Operation of Yellow Developing Device 54>
In the yellow developing device 54 configured as described above, the toner supply roller 550 supplies the toner T stored in the toner container 530 to the developing roller 510. The toner T supplied to the developing roller 510 reaches the contact position of the regulating blade 560 as the developing roller 510 rotates, and the layer thickness is regulated and electric charge is applied when passing through the contact position. Is done. The toner T on the developing roller 510 to which the layer thickness is regulated and the electric charge is applied reaches the developing position facing the photosensitive member 20 by further rotation of the developing roller 510, and the photosensitive member is subjected to an alternating electric field at the developing position. The latent image formed on 20 is subjected to development. The toner T on the developing roller 510 that has passed the developing position by further rotation of the developing roller 510 passes through the upper seal 520 and is collected in the developing device without being scraped off by the upper seal 520. Further, the toner T still remaining on the developing roller 510 can be peeled off by the toner supply roller 550.

=== Configuration of holders, etc. ===
Next, the structure of the holder 526 and its periphery will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the holder 526. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state in which the upper seal 520, the regulating blade 560, the end seal 574, and the upper seal urging member 524 are assembled to the holder 526. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the unit 563. 8 is a perspective view showing the upper seal urging member 524 supported by the holder 526, with the upper seal 520 removed from the perspective view shown in FIG. FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a state in which the unit 563 is attached to the housing 540 via the housing seal 546. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a state where the unit 563 is removed from the perspective view shown in FIG. 9 and the housing seal 546 is fixed to the housing 540.

  The holder 526 is a metal assembly member for assembling the developing roller 510, the regulation blade 560, the upper seal 520, the end seal 574, and the upper seal biasing member 524. As shown in FIG. 5, the holder 526 has an upper seal support plate 527 along the longitudinal direction (that is, the axial direction of the developing roller 510) and the longitudinal direction (that is, the axial direction of the developing roller 510). And a developing roller support plate that is provided outside the upper seal support plate 527 and the restriction blade support plate 528 in the longitudinal direction (the axial direction) and intersects the longitudinal direction (the axial direction). 529.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the upper seal 520 is supported by the upper seal support plate 527 at the short-side end 520a (FIG. 4), and the developing roller 510 is The shaft 510a (FIG. 7) is supported by the developing roller support plate 529, and the regulation blade 560 is supported by the regulation blade support plate 528 at the short side end 560c (FIG. 4). Has been. Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the upper seal urging member 524 is provided such that its longitudinal direction is along the axial direction of the developing roller 510, and is supported by the upper seal support plate 527. Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the end seal 574 has its longitudinal end 574b supported by the upper seal support plate 527, and its longitudinal end 574a supported by the longitudinal end 560d of the regulating blade 560. ing.

  Thus, the developing roller 510, the regulating blade 560, the end seal 574, the upper seal 520, and the upper seal urging member 524 are assembled to the holder 526 to form one unit 563.

  As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the developing roller 510, the regulating blade 560, the upper seal 520, the end seal 574, the upper seal urging member 524, and the holder 526 in which these members are assembled, The unit 563 including the above is attached to the housing 540 via a housing seal 546 as an example of a third seal member.

  Only one housing seal 546 is provided for one developing device, and exhibits a function of preventing leakage of the toner T from between the unit 563 and the housing 540. As shown in FIG. 10, the housing seal 546 is formed by hollowing out a central portion (rectangular portion) from a rectangular elastic body such as a malt plain, and includes a first seal portion 546a, a second seal portion 546b, And a third seal portion 546c.

  Here, the first seal portion 546 a is in contact with the upper seal support plate 527 and the housing 540 of the holder 526 and prevents the toner T from leaking between the upper seal support plate 527 and the housing 540. The second seal portion 546b is in contact with the rubber support portion 560b of the restriction blade 560 and the housing 540, and prevents the toner T from leaking between the rubber support portion 560b and the housing 540. The third seal portion 546c is in contact with the end seal 574, the housing 540, and the upper seal support plate 527, and from between the end seal 574, the housing 540, and the upper seal support plate 527. The function of preventing the leakage of the toner T is exhibited.

  The housing seal 546 is fixed only to the housing 540 of the unit 563 and the housing 540. Further, the second seal portion 546b not only has a function of preventing the leakage of the toner T, but also stabilizes the elastic force due to the bending of the rubber support portion 560b, and makes the rubber portion 560a uniform contact with the developing roller 510. It also has a function to improve

=== Configuration of Upper Seal Support Plate 527 and Upper Seal Biasing Member 524 etc. ===
Next, the configuration of the upper seal support plate 527 and the upper seal biasing member 524 and how the upper seal biasing member 524 is supported by the upper seal support plate 527 will be described with reference to FIGS. I will explain. FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the upper seal support plate 527. FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the upper seal support plate 527 that supports the upper seal urging member 524. FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing the upper seal biasing member 524 before being supported by the upper seal support plate 527. FIG. 14 is a view showing a longitudinal end portion of the upper seal support plate 527 that supports the upper seal urging member 524. FIG. 15 is a view showing a longitudinal end portion of the upper seal support plate 527 that supports the upper seal biasing member 524 and the end seal 574. FIG. 16 is a view of the upper seal support plate 527 and the like shown in FIG. FIG. 17 is a part of a cross-sectional view taken along the line II in FIG. 9 and shows the periphery of the end seal 574.

  As described above, the upper seal support plate 527 supports the upper seal 520, the upper seal urging member 524, and the end seal 574. The upper seal support plate 527 constitutes a part of the holder 526 attached to the housing 540 via the housing seal 546, and the first seal portion 546a and the third seal portion 546c of the housing seal 546 are used. Attached to the housing 540.

  The upper seal support plate 527 shown in FIG. 11 has an L-shaped cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (FIG. 4), a first support portion 527a, and a second support portion orthogonal to the first support portion 527a. 527b. The first support portion 527a supports the short-side end portion 520a (FIG. 4) of the upper seal 520. The second support portion 527b supports the upper seal urging member 524 along the longitudinal direction thereof. The second support portion 527b includes end seal support portions 527c as an example of a second seal support portion that supports the longitudinal end portions 574b (FIG. 15) of the end seal 574 on both ends in the longitudinal direction. ing.

  The end seal support portion 527c is a longitudinal end portion 574b of the end seal 574 and a surface opposite to the end seal contact surface 574c (hereinafter referred to as the end seal contact surface 574c) through a double-sided tape. End seal opposite surface 574d). In addition, the end seal support portion 527c includes a notch 527d at a position facing the end seal 574. The cutout portion 527d is cut out in a rectangular shape and includes a side end 527e parallel to the axial direction of the developing roller 510.

  The upper seal support plate 527 is attached to the housing 540 so that a boundary portion 577 between the end seal 574 and the upper seal support plate 527 faces the housing 540. Specifically, the upper seal support plate 527 is attached to the housing 540 such that a boundary portion 577 (FIG. 16) between the end seal opposite surface 574d and the end seal support portion 527c faces the housing 540.

  Further, an upper seal urging member 524 supported by the second support portion 527b of the upper seal support plate 527 via a double-sided tape is provided along the axial direction of the developing roller 510 and is in contact with the upper seal 520. The upper seal 520 is urged toward the developing roller 510 side. The material of the upper seal urging member 524 is sponge.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the upper seal urging member 524 includes a urging portion 524a at the center in the longitudinal direction and an extension 524b at the end in the longitudinal direction. The urging portion 524a presses the upper seal 520 against the developing roller 510 by urging the upper seal 520 toward the developing roller 510 with the urging force. The extending portion 524b extends between the boundary portion 577 and the housing 540, specifically, between the boundary portion 577 and the third seal portion 546c of the housing seal 546. The extending part 524b is supported by the end seal support part 527c via a double-sided tape.

  Further, as illustrated in FIG. 14, the extending portion 524 b includes a folded portion 524 c that is folded and supported by the end seal support portion 527 c. The folded portion 524c is folded and supported by the end seal support portion 527c so as to surround the side end 527e of the cutout portion 527d of the end seal support portion 527c. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, one of the folded portions 524c 524d and the other folded portion 524c of the other 524e are supported by different surfaces of the end seal support portion 527c.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 17, a part of the folded portion 524c is in contact with both the boundary portion 577 and the housing seal 546. Specifically, one side 524d of the folded portion 524c is in contact with the boundary portion 577 in a compressed state, and the other side 524e of the folded portion 524c is in contact with the third seal portion 546c of the housing seal 546. It is in contact. Further, as shown in FIG. 15, one side 524 d of the folded-back portion 524 c is provided such that a part thereof is fitted in the concave portion 574 e of the end seal 574. Note that the shape of the folded portion 524c before being folded and supported by the end seal support portion 527c is L-shaped as shown in FIG.

=== Effectiveness of Developer According to this Embodiment ===
The developing devices 51, 52, 53, and 54 according to this embodiment are provided with an opening 572, a housing 540 for containing a developer (toner T), and the opening 572 facing the opening 572. A developer carrying roller (developing roller 510), and a first seal member (upper seal 520) for contacting the developing roller 510 along the axial direction of the developing roller 510 to prevent leakage of the toner T A second seal member (end seal 574) for preventing toner T from leaking by coming into contact with the axial end (large diameter end 510c) of the developing roller 510 along the circumferential direction of the developing roller 510. ) And a second seal support member (upper seal support plate 527) for supporting the longitudinal end portion 574b of the end seal 574, and the boundary portion 577 between the end seal 574 and the upper seal support plate 527 is An upper seal support plate 527 attached to the housing 540 so as to face the jing 540, and provided along the axial direction of the developing roller 510. The upper seal 520 contacts the upper seal 520 toward the developing roller 510. An urging member (upper seal urging member 524) for urging, and an upper seal urging member having an extending portion 524b extending to the space between the boundary portion 577 and the housing 540 at the longitudinal end portion thereof 524. This realizes a developing device that can appropriately prevent the leakage of the toner T from between the boundary portion 577 between the end seal 574 and the upper seal support plate 527 and the housing 540 without increasing the number of parts. Is possible. This will be described in detail below.

  As described above, the upper seal support plate 527 that supports the end seal 574 is attached to the housing 540. However, depending on the attachment state of the upper seal support plate 527 to the housing 540, a gap may be generated between the boundary portion 577 between the end seal 574 and the upper seal support plate 527 and the housing 540. When a gap is generated between the boundary portion 577 and the housing 540, the toner T is a fine particle, and thus the toner T may leak from the gap. For this reason, it is necessary to provide a seal member or the like for preventing the leakage of the toner T from the gap, and the number of parts may increase.

  A more specific description will be given using the comparative example shown in FIG. FIG. 18 is a view showing a comparative example in which the upper seal urging member 524 does not have the extending portion 524b. In the developing device shown in FIG. 18, the upper seal urging member 524 supported by the upper seal support plate 527 does not include the extending portion 524b. Note that the upper seal support plate 527 according to the comparative example is attached to the housing 540 via the housing seal 546. In this case, as shown in FIG. 18, a gap 578 is formed between the boundary 577 between the end seal 574 and the upper seal support plate 527 and the housing seal 546. Here, the gap 578 is formed outward in the axial direction along the axial direction of the developing roller 510. In this case, the toner T in the housing 540 leaks out of the housing 540 through the gap 578. For this reason, since it is necessary to provide a part that fills the gap 578, the number of parts of the developing device may increase.

  On the other hand, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 17, the upper seal urging member 524 that urges the upper seal 520 toward the developing roller 510 has a boundary portion 577 and a housing 540 at its longitudinal ends. It has the extension part 524b extended to between. In such a case, a gap (for example, a gap 578 shown in FIG. 18) is hardly generated between the boundary portion 577 between the end seal 574 and the upper seal support plate 527 and the housing 540. Can be prevented. Further, the upper seal urging member 524 has both a function of urging the upper seal 520 toward the developing roller 510 and a function of preventing leakage of the toner T from between the boundary portion 577 and the housing 540. It will be. For this reason, since the upper seal urging member 524 has the above two functions, it is possible to prevent an increase in the number of parts of the developing device.

  As described above, when the upper seal urging member 524 has the extending portion 524b, the developing device 51 that can appropriately prevent the leakage of the toner T from between the boundary portion 577 and the housing 540 without increasing the number of parts. , 52, 53, 54 can be realized.

=== Other Embodiments ===
The image forming apparatus and the like according to the present invention have been described above based on the above embodiment. However, the above embodiment of the present invention is for facilitating understanding of the present invention and limits the present invention. is not. The present invention can be changed and improved without departing from the gist thereof, and the present invention includes the equivalents thereof.

  In the above embodiment, the intermediate transfer type full color laser beam printer has been described as an example of the image forming apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to the intermediate transfer type, but a full color laser beam printer, a monochrome laser beam printer, a copying machine, a facsimile machine. The present invention can be applied to various image forming apparatuses.

  In the above-described embodiment, the image forming apparatus including the rotary type developing device has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention can be applied to an image forming apparatus provided with a tandem developing device.

  In the above embodiment, the photoconductor as the image carrier has been described as a configuration in which the photosensitive layer is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical conductive base material, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a so-called photosensitive belt configured by providing a photosensitive layer on the surface of a belt-like conductive substrate may be used.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the end seal 574 includes an end seal contact surface 574c (FIG. 15) that contacts the large diameter end portion 510c of the developing roller 510 along the circumferential direction of the developing roller 510. It was decided that Further, the upper seal support plate 527 supports an end seal support portion 527c (FIG. 16) that supports the end seal 574 on the surface opposite to the end seal contact surface 574c (end seal opposite surface 574d). It was decided to have. Further, as shown in FIG. 16, the boundary portion 577 is a boundary portion between the end seal opposite surface 574d and the end seal support portion 527c. However, it is not limited to the above. For example, the upper seal support plate 527 supports the end seal contact surface 574c, and the boundary portion may be a boundary portion between the end seal contact surface 574c and the end seal support portion 527c. .

Furthermore, in the said embodiment, as shown in FIG. 14, although the extending part 524b was supported by the edge part seal | sticker support part 527c via the double-sided tape, it is not limited to this. . For example, the extension part 524b may not be supported by the end seal support part 527c.
However, when the extension part 524b is supported by the end seal support part 527c via a double-sided tape, the extension part 524b is not easily displaced with respect to the end seal support part 527c. Can be more easily disposed at a desired position, and more effectively prevent leakage of the toner T from between the boundary portion 577 between the end seal opposite surface 574d and the end seal support portion 527c and the housing 540. Is possible. Therefore, the above embodiment is more desirable.
In addition, the extension part 524b is good also as being supported by the edge part seal | sticker support part 527c via the adhesive agent.

Further, in the above embodiment, the extending portion 524b includes a folded portion 524c (FIG. 14) that is folded and supported by the end seal support portion 527c, and a portion of the folded portion 524c is shown in FIG. As shown, although it is located between the boundary portion 577 and the housing 540, it is not limited to this. For example, the extension part 524b may be folded back and not supported by the end seal support part 527c.
However, when the extended portion 524b includes a folded portion 524c that is folded and supported by the end seal support portion 527c, the extended portion 524b is appropriately disposed between the boundary portion 577 and the housing 540. Therefore, a gap is hardly generated between the boundary portion 577 and the housing 540. Therefore, the above embodiment is more desirable.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the end seal support portion 527c of the upper seal support plate 527 is provided with the cutout portion 527d (FIG. 11) at a position facing the end seal 574. Further, as shown in FIG. 14, the folded portion 524c is folded and supported by the end seal support portion 527c so as to surround the side end 527e of the cutout portion 527d. However, it is not limited to the above. For example, the end seal support portion 527c may not include the cutout portion 527d.

Further, in the above embodiment, the upper seal support plate 527 is a third seal member (housing seal 546 shown in FIG. 10) for preventing leakage of the toner T from between the upper seal support plate 527 and the housing 540. ) To be attached to the housing 540. Further, as shown in FIG. 17, the extending portion 524 b extends between the boundary portion 577 and the housing seal 546 and is in contact with both the boundary portion 577 and the housing seal 546. . However, it is not limited to the above. For example, the upper seal support plate 527 may be attached to the housing 540 without the housing seal 546, and the extending portion 524 b may be in contact with both the boundary portion 577 and the housing 540.
However, when the upper seal support plate 527 is attached to the housing 540 via the housing seal 546 and the extending portion 524b is in contact with both the boundary portion 577 and the housing seal 546, the boundary portion 577 and the housing Since a gap is less likely to be generated between the toner 540 and the 540, it is possible to more effectively prevent the toner T from leaking between the boundary portion 577 and the housing 540. Therefore, the above embodiment is more desirable.

Further, in the above embodiment, the material of the upper seal support plate 527 is metal, the material of the end seal 574 is nonwoven fabric, and the material of the upper seal biasing member 524 is sponge, It is not limited. For example, the material of the upper seal support plate 527 may be a material that is more flexible than metal.
When the material of the upper seal support plate 527 is a metal, the flexibility of the upper seal support plate 527 is poor, so that a possibility that a gap is generated at the boundary portion 577 between the upper seal support plate 527 and the end seal 574 is increased. Therefore, when the material of the upper seal urging member 524 is made of a flexible sponge, the extended portion 524b is easily deformed along the shape of the upper seal support plate 527 and the like, so the boundary portion 577 and the housing 540 are easily deformed. A gap is less likely to occur between the two. Therefore, the above embodiment is more desirable.

Further, in the above embodiment, the second seal support member (upper seal support plate 527) supports the short-side end portion 520a (FIG. 4) of the upper seal 520, and the upper seal biasing member 524 in the longitudinal direction. (FIG. 8), but is not limited to this. For example, the second seal support member may not support the upper seal 520.
However, when the upper seal 520 and the upper seal urging member 524 are supported by the same second seal support member, the urging force of the upper seal urging member 524 on the upper seal 520 is easily stabilized. The upper seal 520 is appropriately brought into contact with the developing roller 510, and the leakage of the toner T can be prevented more effectively. Therefore, the above embodiment is more desirable.

=== Configuration of Image Forming System etc. ===
Next, an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram showing an external configuration of the image forming system. The image forming system 700 includes a computer 702, a display device 704, a printer 10, an input device 708, and a reading device 710.

  In this embodiment, the computer 702 is housed in a mini-tower type housing, but is not limited thereto. The display device 704 is generally a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), a plasma display, a liquid crystal display device, or the like, but is not limited thereto. As the printer 10, the printer described above is used. In this embodiment, the input device 708 uses a keyboard 708A and a mouse 708B, but is not limited thereto. In this embodiment, the reading device 710 uses a flexible disk drive device 710A and a CD-ROM drive device 710B. However, the reading device 710 is not limited to this. For example, an MO (Magneto Optical) disk drive device or a DVD (Digital Versatile) is used. Disk) etc. may be used.

  FIG. 20 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the image forming system shown in FIG. An internal memory 802 such as a RAM and an external memory such as a hard disk drive unit 804 are further provided in a housing in which the computer 702 is housed.

  In the above description, an example in which the printer 10 is connected to the computer 702, the display device 704, the input device 708, and the reading device 710 to configure the image forming system has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Absent. For example, the image forming system may include the computer 702 and the printer 10, and the image forming system may not include any of the display device 704, the input device 708, and the reading device 710.

  For example, the printer 10 may have a part of each function or mechanism of the computer 702, the display device 704, the input device 708, and the reading device 710. As an example, the printer 10 includes an image processing unit that performs image processing, a display unit that performs various displays, a recording medium attachment / detachment unit for attaching / detaching a recording medium that records image data captured by a digital camera or the like. It is good also as a structure to have.

  The image forming system realized in this way is a system superior to the conventional system as a whole system.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating main components constituting the printer. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a control unit of the printer 10 in FIG. 1. It is a conceptual diagram of a developing device. It is sectional drawing which showed the main components of the image development apparatus. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a holder 526. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a state in which an upper seal 520, a regulating blade 560, an end seal 574, and an upper seal urging member 524 are assembled to a holder 526. It is a perspective view of the unit 563. 5 is a perspective view showing an upper seal biasing member 524 supported by a holder 526. FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state in which a unit 563 is attached to a housing 540 via a housing seal 546. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state in which a housing seal 546 is fixed to the housing 540. 5 is a perspective view showing an upper seal support plate 527. FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an upper seal support plate 527 that supports an upper seal urging member 524. 5 is a perspective view showing an upper seal biasing member 524 before being supported by an upper seal support plate 527. FIG. It is the figure which showed the longitudinal direction edge part of the upper seal | sticker support plate 527 which is supporting the upper seal | sticker biasing member 524. FIG. It is the figure which showed the longitudinal direction edge part of the upper seal | sticker support plate 527 which is supporting the upper seal | sticker biasing member 524 and the edge part seal 574. FIG. It is the figure which looked at the upper seal | sticker support plate 527 grade | etc., Shown in FIG. 15 from the back surface. FIG. 9 is a part of a cross-sectional view taken along the line II, showing the periphery of the end seal 574. It is the figure which showed the comparative example in which the upper seal | sticker biasing member 524 does not have the extension part 524b. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an external configuration of an image forming system. FIG. 20 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the image forming system illustrated in FIG. 19.

Explanation of symbols

10 printer, 20 photoconductor, 30 charging unit, 40 exposure unit,
50 YMCK developing unit, 50a central axis, 51 black developing device,
52 magenta developing device, 53 cyan developing device, 54 yellow developing device,
55a, 55b, 55c, 55d holding part, 60 primary transfer unit,
70 intermediate transfer body, 75 cleaning unit, 76 cleaning blade,
80 secondary transfer unit, 90 fixing unit, 92 paper feed tray,
94 paper feed roller, 95 display unit, 96 registration roller,
100 control unit, 101 main controller,
102 unit controller, 112 interface, 113 image memory,
510 developing roller, 510a shaft portion, 510b large diameter portion,
510c large diameter end, 520 upper seal, 520a short direction end,
520b upper seal contact surface, 520c upper seal opposite surface, 524 upper seal biasing member,
524a urging portion, 524b extending portion, 524c folding portion, 526 holder,
527 upper seal support plate, 527a first support portion, 527b second support portion,
527c end seal support part, 527d notch part, 527e side end,
528 regulating blade support plate, 529 developing roller support plate, 530 toner container,
530a first toner container, 530b second toner container, 540 housing,
542 Upper housing part, 544 Lower housing part, 545 Partition wall,
546 housing seal, 546a first seal portion, 546b second seal portion,
546c Third seal portion, 550 toner supply roller, 560 regulating blade,
560a Rubber part, 560b Rubber support part, 560c Short direction end part,
560d longitudinal end, 563 units, 572 opening, 574 end seal,
574a, 574b longitudinal end, 574c end seal contact surface,
574d End seal opposite surface, 574e recess, 576 bearing, 777 boundary,
578 gap,
700 image forming system, 702 computer, 704 display device,
708 input device, 708A keyboard, 708B mouse, 710 reader,
710A flexible disk drive device,
710B CD-ROM drive device,
802 internal memory, 804 hard disk drive unit,

Claims (9)

A housing with an opening for containing developer;
A developer carrying roller that is provided facing the opening and carries the developer;
A first seal member for contacting the developer carrying roller along the axial direction of the developer carrying roller to prevent developer leakage;
It said developer carrying the developer in the axial end of the roller along the circumferential direction of the carrying roller includes an abutment surface which abuts, in order to prevent leakage of the developer in contact with the abutting surface second A sealing member;
Of the second seal member, the second seal support portion for supporting the longitudinal end, of the surface opposite to the abutment surface, a second seal support member comprising a support by said second seal support The longitudinal end portion, and the longitudinal adjacent portion of the opposite surface that is adjacent to the longitudinal end portion and not supported by the second seal support portion in the longitudinal direction of the second seal member ; A second seal support member attached to the housing so that the boundary portion faces the housing;
An urging member provided along the axial direction of the developer carrying roller for abutting the first seal member and urging the first seal member toward the developer carrying roller. An urging member having an extending portion extending between the boundary portion and the housing at a direction end;
A developing device comprising: The developing device according to claim 1,
The developing device, wherein the extension portion is supported by the second seal support portion via a double-sided tape. The developing device according to claim 2,
The extension part includes a folded part supported by being folded by the second seal support part,
A developing device, wherein a part of the folded portion is located between the boundary portion and the housing. The developing device according to claim 3,
The second seal support part of the second seal support member includes a notch at a position facing the second seal member,
The developing device, wherein the folded portion is folded and supported by the second seal support portion so as to surround a side end of the cutout portion. The developing device according to any one of claims 2 to 4,
The second seal support member is attached to the housing via a third seal member for preventing leakage of developer from between the second seal support member and the housing;
The developing device, wherein the extending portion extends between the boundary portion and the third seal member, and is in contact with both the boundary portion and the third seal member. A developing device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The material of the second seal support member is metal,
The material of the second seal member is a nonwoven fabric,
The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the biasing member is made of sponge. A developing device according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
The second seal support member is
Supporting the lateral end of the first seal member;
A developing device that supports the biasing member along a longitudinal direction thereof. An image carrier for carrying a latent image, and
A developing device for developing a latent image carried on the image carrier, which is provided with an opening, accommodates a developer, and faces the opening to carry the developer. A developer carrying roller, a first seal member that contacts the developer carrying roller along the axial direction of the developer carrying roller to prevent developer leakage, and a shaft of the developer carrying roller and the second seal member for preventing includes an abutment surface which abuts along the circumferential direction of the developer bearing roller in the direction end portion, the leakage of the developer in contact with the abutting surface, said second the seal member, the second seal support portion for supporting the longitudinal end, of the surface opposite to the abutment surface, a second seal support member comprising a, is supported by the second seal support The longitudinal end in the longitudinal direction of the second seal member Second seal that said longitudinal abutment opposite to the surface which is not supported by the second seal support adjacent the counter end portion, the boundary portion, is attached to the housing so as to face said housing A biasing member provided along the axial direction of the support member and the developer carrying roller, for abutting the first seal member and biasing the first seal member toward the developer carrying roller. A biasing member having an extending portion extending to the boundary portion and the housing at an end portion in the longitudinal direction thereof,
An image forming apparatus comprising: Computer, and
An image forming apparatus connectable to the computer, an image carrier for carrying a latent image, and a developing device for developing the latent image carried on the image carrier, comprising an opening A developer accommodating roller; a developer carrying roller provided to face the opening; and carrying the developer; and the developer carrying roller along the axial direction of the developer carrying roller. contact, comprising: a first seal member for preventing leakage of the developer, the abutment surface abutting the circumferential direction of the developer bearing roller in the axial end portion of said developer carrying roller, and the second seal member for preventing leakage of the developer in contact with the abutting surface of said second seal member, the longitudinal end of the surface opposite to the abutment surface, a second for supporting a seal support, a second seal support member comprising a said second sealing The longitudinal end of the second seal member that is supported by the holding portion, and the longitudinal direction of the opposite surface that is adjacent to the longitudinal end in the longitudinal direction of the second seal member and is not supported by the second seal support A boundary portion between the adjacent portion and the second seal support member attached to the housing so as to face the housing is provided along the axial direction of the developer carrying roller, and contacts the first seal member. An urging member for contacting and urging the first seal member toward the developer-carrying roller, and an extending portion extending to the boundary portion and the housing at the longitudinal end portion thereof An image forming apparatus having a developing device,
An image forming system comprising:

Images