JP4844218B2 - Layer thickness regulating member, developing device, image forming apparatus, and image forming system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a layer thickness regulating member, 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 that carries a latent image and a developing device that develops the latent image carried on the image carrier by a developer. When an image signal or the like is transmitted from an external device such as a host computer, the image forming apparatus develops the latent image carried on the image carrier with the developer in the developing device to form a developer image. The developer image is transferred to a medium, and finally an image is formed on the medium.

In order to realize the above-described function of developing the latent image carried on the image carrier, the developing device described above includes a developer carrier that carries the developer, and a contact surface that contacts the developer carrier. And a layer thickness regulating member for regulating the layer thickness of the developer carried on the developer carrying member. Such a developing device regulates the layer thickness of the developer carried on the developer carrying member by the layer thickness regulating member, and develops the latent image carried on the image carrying member by the developer having the regulated layer thickness.
JP 2005-144840 A

  The layer thickness of the developer regulated by the layer thickness regulating member is preferably uniform. This is because, when the layer thickness of the developer is not uniform, for example, streaks or the like may occur in the developer image developed by the developer carrying member, and the quality of the developer image may deteriorate. .

  By the way, although the above-mentioned layer thickness regulating member is a molded product, flash may occur on the layer thickness regulating member during molding. Here, the flash refers to an extra portion that protrudes to the edge of the layer thickness regulating member when resin or the like is molded (processed). Regarding the generated flash, it may be possible to remove the flash, but the flash may not be removed from the viewpoint of simplifying the manufacturing process of the layer thickness regulating member. However, if the flash is not removed and the flash is positioned near the developer carrier, the layer thickness regulating member may regulate the layer thickness of the developer carried on the developer carrier unevenly. There is.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and the object of the present invention is to provide a layer thickness regulating member, a developing device, and an image forming unit that can uniformly regulate the layer thickness of the developer carried on the developer carrying member. An apparatus and an image forming system are realized.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a main aspect of the present invention is a layer thickness regulating member that abuts a developer carrying member at a contact surface and regulates the layer thickness of the developer carried on the developer carrying member. The flash of the layer thickness regulating member is the end surface in the short direction of the layer thickness regulating member and the non-abutting surface side opposite to the abutting surface in the thickness direction of the layer thickness regulating member The base of the flash is positioned between the contact surface and the non-contact surface in the thickness direction, and the non-contact surface supports the layer thickness regulating member. An abutment surface for adhering the support member, the abutment surface, the first portion located on one end side in the thickness direction, the non-abutment surface, and located on the other end side in the thickness direction And a second part connected to the first part, and the root of the flash is opposite to the contact surface of the first part Located edges of the surface, to the first portion, the lateral direction of the length of the layer thickness regulating member has a thickness regulation being larger than the length of the short side direction of said second portion It is a member.

  Other features of the present invention will become apparent from the description of the present 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 layer thickness regulating member that abuts the developer carrying member at the abutting surface and regulates the layer thickness of the developer carried on the developer carrying member, and the flash of the layer thickness regulating member is A layer thickness regulating member, which is located on the non-contact surface side opposite to the contact surface in the thickness direction of the layer thickness regulating member.
When the flash of the layer thickness regulating member is positioned on the non-contact portion surface side opposite to the contact surface in the thickness direction, the flash is unlikely to affect the developer layer thickness. The layer thickness of the agent is uniformly regulated.

Further, in this layer thickness regulating member, the base of the flash is located between the contact surface and the non-contact surface in the thickness direction, and the flash has a tip in the thickness direction. May include a flash positioned on the contact surface side when viewed from the root and a flash whose tip is positioned on the non-contact surface side when viewed from the root.
The flash includes, in the thickness direction, a flash whose tip is positioned on the contact surface side when viewed from the root, and a flash whose tip is positioned on the non-contact surface side when viewed from the root. In such a case, the flashes are unevenly positioned in the thickness direction, and the possibility that the layer thickness of the developer becomes non-uniform increases. For this reason, the effect of positioning the flash on the non-contact surface side in the thickness direction, that is, the effect of uniformly regulating the developer layer thickness is more effectively exhibited.

  Further, the layer thickness regulating member includes the contact surface, the first portion located on one end side in the thickness direction, the non-contact surface, and located on the other end side in the thickness direction. A second portion connected to the first portion, and the length of the first portion in the short direction of the layer thickness regulating member is larger than the length of the second portion in the short direction. It is good.

Further, in this layer thickness regulating member, the base of the flash is located at the edge of the surface of the first portion opposite to the contact surface, and the length of the first portion in the thickness direction is The second portion may be longer than the length in the thickness direction.
When the base of the beam is located at the edge of the first part, the surface opposite to the contact surface, when the length in the thickness direction of the first part is larger than the length in the thickness direction of the second part, With a simple configuration, the flash can be positioned on the non-contact surface side.

Further, in the layer thickness regulating member, the ten-point average roughness of the contact surface may be smaller than the ten-point average roughness of the non-contact surface.
In such a case, the unevenness of the contact surface is reduced, and as a result, the layer thickness of the developer carried on the developer carrying body is more uniformly regulated.

Further, in the layer thickness regulating member, a first roundness is formed at an edge of the contact surface, a second roundness is formed at an edge of the non-contact surface, and a curvature radius of the first roundness is The radius of curvature of the second roundness may be smaller.
When the radius of curvature of the first roundness is smaller than the radius of curvature of the second roundness, the edge of the contact surface on which the first roundness is formed can be sharpened. The developer is effectively taken in between the carriers.

In addition, the layer thickness regulating member may be made of a thermoplastic elastomer.
In such a case, it is easy to form a layer thickness regulating member having a good thickness accuracy.

And (a) a layer thickness regulating member that abuts the developer carrying member at the abutting surface and regulates the layer thickness of the developer carried on the developer carrying member, the layer thickness regulating member The flash of the member is located on the non-contact surface side opposite to the contact surface in the thickness direction of the layer thickness regulating member, and (b) the base of the flash is the contact surface in the thickness direction. The flash is positioned between the non-contact surface and the flash in the thickness direction. The flash has a tip positioned on the contact surface side when viewed from the root, and the tip is viewed from the root. A flash positioned on the non-contact surface side, (c) including the contact surface, including a first portion positioned on one end side in the thickness direction, the non-contact surface, A second portion located on the other end side in the thickness direction and connected to the first portion, and a short of the layer thickness regulating member of the first portion The length of the direction is larger than the length of the second portion in the short direction, and (d) the root of the flash is located at the edge of the surface of the first portion opposite to the contact surface. The length of the first portion in the thickness direction is greater than the length of the second portion in the thickness direction, and (e) the ten-point average roughness of the contact surface is 10% of the non-contact surface. Smaller than the point average roughness, (f) a first round is formed at the edge of the contact surface, a second round is formed at the edge of the non-contact surface, and the curvature radius of the first round is: A layer thickness regulating member having a radius of curvature smaller than that of the second roundness and comprising (g) a thermoplastic elastomer.
According to such a layer thickness regulating member, the effect of uniformly regulating the developer layer thickness is most effectively exhibited.

A developer carrying member for carrying the developer; and a layer for contacting the developer carrying member at a contact surface to regulate the layer thickness of the developer carried on the developer carrying member. A thickness regulating member, wherein the layer thickness regulating member is positioned on a non-contact surface side opposite to the contact surface in the thickness direction of the layer thickness regulating member; A developing device comprising:
According to such a developing device, the layer thickness of the developer carried on the developer carrying member is uniformly regulated by the layer thickness regulating member.

Further, in this developing device, the developer carrying member is a developer carrying roller rotatable about a central axis, and a longitudinal direction of the layer thickness regulating member is in an axial direction of the developer carrying member. And the root of the flash is located between the contact surface and the non-contact surface in the thickness direction, and the flash has a tip as viewed from the root in the thickness direction. A flash located on the contact surface side, and a flash whose tip is located on the non-contact surface side when viewed from the root, the flash from one end in the longitudinal direction of the layer thickness regulating member. It is good also as being located over the other longitudinal direction.
When the flash is positioned from one end in the longitudinal direction to the other end in the longitudinal direction, the effect of positioning the flash on the non-contact surface side in the thickness direction, that is, the developer layer thickness is uniformly regulated. The effect is more effective.

In addition, the developing device includes a support member for supporting the layer thickness regulating member to which the non-contact surface is bonded, and all of the flashes do not contact the support member. It is good as well.
When all of the beams do not come into contact with the support member, the layer thickness regulating member is appropriately supported by the support member, so that the layer thickness regulating member can properly come into contact with the developer carrying member.

  Further, in this developing device, the developer carrying member is a developer carrying roller that is rotatable about a central axis, and the contact position at which the layer thickness regulating member contacts the developer carrying member is: The layer thickness regulating member is below the central axis, and the layer thickness regulating member abuts against the developer carrier so that one end in the short direction faces the upstream side in the rotation direction of the developer carrier, and the abutment The position may be separated from the one end in the short direction.

Further, (a) a developer carrying body for carrying the developer, and abutting the developer carrying body at a contact surface, the layer thickness of the developer carried on the developer carrying body is regulated. Layer thickness regulating member, wherein the thickness of the layer thickness regulating member is located on the non-contact surface side opposite to the contact surface in the thickness direction of the layer thickness regulation member (B) the developer carrying member is a developer carrying roller rotatable about a central axis, and the longitudinal direction of the layer thickness regulating member is along the axial direction of the developer carrying member And the base of the flash is located between the contact surface and the non-contact surface in the thickness direction, and the flash has a tip that is viewed from the root in the thickness direction. A flash located on the contact surface side, and a flash whose tip is located on the non-contact surface side when viewed from the root. The flash is positioned from one longitudinal end to the other longitudinal end of the layer thickness regulating member, and (c) a support for supporting the layer thickness regulating member to which the non-contact surface is bonded. (D) the developer carrying member is a developer carrying roller that can rotate around a central axis, and the layer thickness regulating member is The contact position that contacts the developer carrier is lower than the center axis, and the layer thickness regulating member has one end in the short direction facing the upstream side in the rotation direction of the developer carrier. The developing device being in contact with the developer carrying member, wherein the contact position is separated from the one end in the lateral direction.
According to such a developing device, the effect that the layer thickness of the developer carried on the developer carrying member is uniformly regulated by the layer thickness regulating member is most effectively exhibited.

(A) an image carrier for carrying a latent image; (b) a developer carrier for carrying a developer; A layer thickness regulating member for regulating the layer thickness of the developer carried on the agent carrier, wherein the flash of the layer thickness regulating member is opposite to the contact surface in the thickness direction of the layer thickness regulating member A developing device for developing a latent image carried on the image carrier with a developer, and (c), the layer thickness regulating member located on the non-contact surface side An image forming apparatus.
According to such an image forming apparatus, the layer thickness of the developer carried on the developer carrying member is uniformly regulated by the layer thickness regulating member.

(A) a computer, and (B) an image forming apparatus connectable to the computer, (a) an image carrier for carrying a latent image, and (b) a carrier for carrying a developer. A developer carrying member, and a layer thickness regulating member that abuts the developer carrying member at a contact surface and regulates a layer thickness of the developer carried on the developer carrying member, The thickness regulating member includes a layer thickness regulating member positioned on a non-contact surface side opposite to the contact surface in the thickness direction of the layer thickness regulating member, and is carried by the image carrier. An image forming system comprising: a developing device for developing the latent image; an image forming apparatus having (c); and (C).
According to such an image forming system, the layer thickness of the developer carried on the developer carrying member is uniformly regulated by the layer thickness regulating member.

=== About the layer thickness regulating member ===
As described above, the “layer thickness regulating member” is provided in the “developing device” provided in the “image forming apparatus” and is in contact with the developing roller as an example of the “developer carrying member” and is carried on the developing roller. The layer thickness of the toner as an example of the developed “developer” is regulated.
Here, first, an outline of a laser beam printer (hereinafter also referred to as a printer) will be described as an example of an image forming apparatus, and a developing blade and a regulating blade provided with a layer thickness regulating member will be explained in this order.

<<< Overview of Image Forming Apparatus >>>
First, a configuration example and an operation example of the printer 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating main components constituting the printer 10. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control unit of the printer 10 of FIG. 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.

<Configuration Example of 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, a primary unit along the rotation direction of the photoconductor 20 as an example of an “image carrier”. A transfer unit 60, an intermediate transfer body 70, a cleaning unit 75, a secondary transfer unit 80, a fixing unit 90, a display unit 95 including a liquid crystal panel that serves as a notification unit for a user, and these units are provided. It has a control unit 100 that controls and 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 image information 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 stores the latent image formed on the photoreceptor 20 with toner stored in the developing device, that is, black (K) toner stored in the black developing device 51, and magenta developing device 52. This is an apparatus for developing using magenta (M) toner, cyan (C) toner accommodated in the cyan developing device 53, and yellow (Y) toner accommodated in the yellow developing device 54.

  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 accommodated in each developing device 51, 52, 53, 54. The latent images are developed sequentially. 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.
This intermediate transfer body 70 is an endless belt in which a tin 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 is a cleaning blade for cleaning the photoconductor 20 by contacting the photoconductor 20 and scraping off the toner remaining on the photoconductor 20. 76, and a toner image transferred onto the intermediate transfer body 70 by the primary transfer unit 60, and then the toner remaining on the photoreceptor 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.

  That is, 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 an image signal input from the host computer. The unit controller 102 includes units of the apparatus main body (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). Each unit is controlled based on a signal input from the main controller 101 while detecting a state of each unit by receiving signals from sensors that are electrically connected and provided.

<Operation Example of Printer 10>
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. The photosensitive member 20, the developing roller, and the intermediate transfer member 70 are rotated by the control. 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 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 provided in the cleaning unit 75, and is charged for forming the next latent image. Prepare. The toner T thus scraped off is collected by a residual toner collecting unit provided in the cleaning unit 75.

<<< Overview of developing device >>>
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 the 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 example of developing device>
The yellow developing device 54 includes a developing roller 510, an upper seal member 520, a toner container 530, a housing 540, a toner supply roller 550, a regulating blade 560, and the like.

  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 aluminum, stainless steel, iron, or the like, and is subjected to nickel plating, chrome plating, or the like as necessary. As shown in FIG. 3, the developing roller 510 is provided so that its longitudinal direction is along the longitudinal direction of the yellow developing device 54. Further, the developing roller 510 is rotatable about the central axis, and as shown in FIG. 4, the developing roller 510 is rotated in a direction (counterclockwise in FIG. 4) opposite to the rotation direction of the photoreceptor 20 (clockwise in FIG. 4). Rotate. 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 upper seal member 520 prevents the toner T in the yellow developing device 54 from leaking out of the apparatus and collects the toner T on the developing roller 510 that has passed through the developing position into the developing device without being scraped off. The upper seal member 520 is a seal made of a polyethylene film or the like. The upper seal member 520 is supported by an upper seal support sheet metal 522 and is attached to the housing 540 via the upper seal support sheet metal 522. Further, an upper seal urging member 524 made of malt plain or the like is provided on the side opposite to the developing roller 510 side of the upper seal member 520, and the upper seal member 520 is an elastic force of the upper seal urging member 524. Is pressed against the developing roller 510. The contact position where the upper seal member 520 contacts the developing roller 510 is above the central axis of the developing roller 510.

  The housing 540 is manufactured by welding a plurality of integrally molded housing parts, that is, an upper housing part 542 and a lower housing part 544, and contains toner for containing toner T therein. A body 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 T accommodated in the first toner accommodating portion 530a and the second toner accommodating portion 530b is temporarily moved to the communication portion side on the upper side in the developing position. When the toner T is collected and returns to the state shown in FIG. 4, the toners T are mixed and returned to the first toner storage portion 530a and the second toner storage portion 530b. That is, when 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 by the toner supply roller 550 below the first toner storage portion 530a. 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 regulating blade 560 regulates the layer thickness of the toner T carried on the developing roller 510, and gives an electric charge to the toner T carried on the developing roller 510. The regulating blade 560 includes a rubber part 561 as an example of a “layer thickness regulating member” for regulating the layer thickness of the toner carried on the developing roller 510, and a “supporting member” for supporting the rubber part 561. A rubber support portion 566 as an example is provided. The configuration of the regulation blade 560 will be described in detail later.

<Operation example of developing device>
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 member 520 and is collected in the developing device without being scraped off by the upper seal member 520. Further, the toner T still remaining on the developing roller 510 can be peeled off by the toner supply roller 550.

<<< Configuration example of regulated blade >>>
Next, a configuration example of the regulating blade 560 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a contact state of the regulating blade 560 with the developing roller 510. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the configuration of the regulating blade 560. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the rubber part 561 of the regulating blade 560. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the rubber part 561, and shows a cross-section obtained by cutting the rubber part 561 along a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction shown in FIG. In FIG. 5, the vertical direction is indicated by an arrow, and in FIGS. 6 and 7, the longitudinal direction and the short direction of the rubber part 561 are indicated by an arrow. In FIG. The thickness direction is shown respectively.

  The regulating blade 560 has a rubber portion 561 and a rubber support portion 566, and is provided so as to extend from one end side to the other end side in the axial direction of the developing roller 510, and is in contact with the developing roller 510 and carried by the developing roller 510. The layer thickness of the toner T thus applied is regulated, and a charge is applied to the toner T carried on the developing roller 510.

  The rubber portion 561 is in contact with the developing roller 510 at the contact surface 562a to regulate the layer thickness of the toner carried on the developing roller 510. The rubber portion 561 is in contact with the developing roller 510 so that the longitudinal direction thereof is along the axial direction of the developing roller 510. In addition, an adhesive surface 563a, which is an example of a “non-contact surface” located on the opposite side of the contact surface 562a in the thickness direction of the rubber portion 561, is a rubber support portion 566 via a double-sided tape 568 (FIG. 20A). It is glued to.

  In the present embodiment, the rubber portion 561 is made of a thermoplastic elastomer (specifically, an ether-based thermoplastic elastomer). Here, the properties of the thermoplastic elastomer are compared with those of rubber, plastic, and thermosetting resin as follows. That is, rubber has a thermosetting property that hardens when heat is applied, and is a soft material. Plastic has a thermoplastic property that melts when heat is applied, and is a hard material. The thermoplastic elastomer is a hard substance, and the thermoplastic elastomer is a soft substance having the thermoplasticity. Thus, the thermoplastic elastomer is soft like rubber and easy to process like plastic. “Elastomer” is a general term for polymer substances that exhibit rubber elasticity near normal temperature. In the above description, the rubber part 561 is made of an ether-based thermoplastic elastomer, but is not limited to this, and may be made of, for example, an ester-based thermoplastic elastomer.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the rubber portion 561 has a long side portion 562 having a long length in the short direction and a short side portion 563 having a short length in the short direction. The long side portion 562 is a “first portion” that includes the contact surface 562a and is located on one end side in the thickness direction. The short side portion 563 is a “second portion” provided with an adhesive surface 563 a and located on the other end side in the thickness direction and connected to the long side portion 562.

  Here, the long side portion 562 has four surfaces along the longitudinal direction of the rubber portion 561, that is, the above-described contact surface 562a, the distal end surface 562b positioned at the distal end in the short direction of the regulating blade 560, and the distal end surface. It has a rear end surface 562c located on the opposite side of 562b and an end surface 562d located on the opposite side of the contact surface 562a. Further, the short side portion 563 has three surfaces along the longitudinal direction thereof, that is, the adhesive surface 563a described above, the end surface 563b positioned on the front end side in the short direction of the regulating blade 560, and the position opposite to the end surface 563b. End surface 563c.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the length L1 of the long side portion 562 in the short direction of the rubber portion 561 (6 mm in this embodiment) is the length L2 of the short side portion 563 in the short direction. (5 mm in the present embodiment). Further, the length h1 in the thickness direction (1.5 mm in the present embodiment) of the long side portion 562 is larger than the length h2 (0.5 mm) in the thickness direction of the short side portion 563. Further, a roundness R1 (also referred to as “first roundness”) is formed on the edge of the contact surface 562a of the long side portion 562, and a roundness R2 (also referred to as “second roundness”) is provided on the edge of the bonding surface 563a of the short side portion 563. In this embodiment, the radius of curvature of the roundness R1 (about 0.2 mm in this embodiment) is smaller than the radius of curvature of the roundness R2 (about 1.0 mm in this embodiment). Further, the ten-point average roughness Rz of the corresponding contact surface 562a is smaller than the ten-point average roughness Rz of the bonding surface 563a. In the present embodiment, the ten-point average roughness Rz of the corresponding contact surface 562a is 0. The ten-point average roughness Rz of the bonding surface 563a is formed so as to be 5 μm or more and less than 15 μm so that it is 2 μm or more and less than 5 μm. Note that the lengths L1, L2, h1, and h2, the roundness R1 and R2, and the ten-point average roughness Rz are merely examples, and are not limited thereto. Absent.

  By the way, the rubber part 561 is a molded product formed by injection molding (details will be described later), but an extra portion of the flash is generated in the injection-molded rubber part 561. In the present embodiment, some flashes 564 remain in the developing devices 51, 52, 53, and 54 assembled using the rubber portion 561 as shown in FIG.

  Here, details of the flash 564 will be described. As shown in FIG. 8, the beam 564 remains so that its root 564a is located at the edge of the end surface 562d of the long side portion 562 (this edge is also the edge of the front end surface 562b and the rear end surface 562c). Yes. Then, as shown in FIG. 7, the root 564a is located on the edge of the end surface 562d along the longitudinal direction of the rubber part 561 from one end in the longitudinal direction to the other end in the longitudinal direction of the rubber part 561. The flash 564 includes a flash 564b whose tip is located on the contact surface 562a side when viewed from the root 564a and a flash 564c whose tip is located on the bonding surface 563a side when viewed from the root 564a in the thickness direction. It is. All of the flashes 564b and 564c are located between the contact surface 562a and the bonding surface 563a in the thickness direction, and as shown in FIG. 5, all of the flashes 564 are rubber support portions 566. Not touching. Further, as described above, since the length h1 of the long side portion 562 in the thickness direction is larger than the length h2 of the short side portion 563 in the thickness direction, the flash 564 is disposed on the adhesive surface 563a side in the thickness direction. To position.

  The rubber support portion 566 is a thin metal plate having a spring property such as phosphor bronze or stainless steel. The rubber support portion 566 includes an adhesive surface 563a of the rubber portion 561 and an adhesive surface of the rubber support portion 566 to the rubber portion 561. A rubber part 561 is bonded by a double-sided tape 568 interposed between the film 566a (FIG. 18). Further, the rubber support portion 566 is attached to the housing 540 via the blade support metal plate 567 with one end thereof supported by the blade support metal plate 567 (FIG. 4). Further, a blade back member 570 made of malt plane or the like is provided on the side opposite to the developing roller 510 side of the regulating blade 560.

  Here, the rubber portion 561 is pressed against the developing roller 510 by the elastic force caused by the bending of the rubber support portion 566. Further, the blade back member 570 prevents the toner T from entering between the rubber support portion 566 and the housing 540, stabilizes the elastic force due to the bending of the rubber support portion 566, and provides rubber from the back of the rubber portion 561. The rubber portion 561 is pressed against the developing roller 510 by urging the portion 561 toward the developing roller 510. Therefore, the blade back member 570 improves the uniform contact property of the rubber portion 561 to the developing roller 510.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the end of the regulating blade 560 opposite to the side supported by the blade support metal plate 567, that is, the tip (one end in the short direction of the rubber portion 561 of the contact surface 562a) is as shown in FIG. The portion that is not in contact with the developing roller 510 and is separated from the tip by a predetermined distance is in contact with the developing roller 510 with a width. That is, the regulating blade 560 (rubber portion 561) is not in contact with the developing roller 510 at the edge, but is in contact with the belly. Further, the regulating blade 560 (rubber part 561) is arranged so that the tip thereof (one end of the contact part 562a in the short direction of the rubber part 561) faces the upstream side in the rotation direction of the developing roller 510, A so-called counter contact is made. The contact position at which the regulating blade 560 (rubber portion 561) 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.

=== Regulation Blade Manufacturing Method ===
Here, a method for manufacturing the regulating blade 560 will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 to 19 and FIGS. 20A to 20D. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a manufacturing procedure of the regulating blade 560. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the injection molding machine 252. As shown in FIG. FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing an external configuration of the mold 202. FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of the mold 202. FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing the XX cross section of FIG. FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram showing the YY cross section of FIG. FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram showing a ZZ cross section of FIG. 12. FIG. 16 is a view showing a molded rubber portion 561. FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram showing a state where the surplus portion 565d, the handle portion 565e, and the like are cut and removed from the rubber portion 561. FIG. 18 is a view showing the adhesive surface 566a of the rubber support portion 566. As shown in FIG. FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram showing the bonding jig 300. FIG. 20A is a view for explaining a holding state of the rubber portion 561 and the rubber support member 565. FIG. FIG. 20B is a diagram for explaining a state at the start of adhesion of the rubber portion 561 to the rubber support member 565. FIG. 20C is a diagram for explaining a state when the rubber portion 561 is pressed against the rubber support member 565. FIG. 20D is a diagram for explaining a state at the end of adhesion of the rubber portion 561 to the rubber support member 565.

  In addition, the left figure of FIG. 12 represents the mode when the left figure of FIG. 11 is seen from the direction of the white arrow shown by the symbol A in FIG. Similarly, the right diagram of FIG. 12 shows a state when the right diagram of FIG. 11 is viewed from the direction of the white arrow indicated by the symbol B in FIG. Further, the lower diagram of FIG. 16 shows a state when the upper diagram of FIG. 16 is viewed from the direction of the white arrow. FIG. 11 shows a state where the mold 202 is opened, and FIGS. 13 to 15 show a state where the mold 202 is closed. Moreover, in FIGS. 11-14, the vertical direction is shown by the arrow.

  First, the rubber portion 561 of the regulating blade 560 is injection molded using an injection molding apparatus (in this embodiment, an apparatus including the injection molding machine 252 and the mold 202 is referred to as an injection molding apparatus) (step S102). . That is, a thermoplastic elastomer melted from the injection molding machine 252 shown in FIG. 10 is injected into the mold 202 to injection-mold the rubber part 561.

  The thermoplastic elastomer is charged into the hopper portion 252a of the injection molding machine 252, and the charged thermoplastic elastomer is heated and melted in the injection cylinder 252b. The heat-melted thermoplastic elastomer is then injected into the mold 202 attached to the mold attachment portion 252c of the injection molding machine 252. The thermoplastic elastomer injected into the mold 202 includes a sprue 212 which is a receiving port for the thermoplastic elastomer injected from the injection molding machine 252, a runner 214 which is a passage for guiding the thermoplastic elastomer from the sprue to the gate, a cavity The cavities 218 in the mold 202 are filled through the gates 216 that are the entrances of the 218. The temperature of the mold 202 is maintained at a temperature lower than that of the thermoplastic elastomer, and the thermoplastic elastomer in the mold 202 is cooled by the mold 202 and the rubber portion 561 is molded.

Here, the structure of the mold 202 and the shape of the rubber part 561 molded by the mold 202 will be described with reference to FIGS.
The mold 202 includes two mold parts, that is, a fixed mold part 204 and a movable mold part 206 that can move relative to the fixed mold part 204. As shown in FIG. 11, the fixed mold part 204 has a guide bush 208, and the movable mold part 206 has a guide pin 210. When the mold 202 is closed, the guide pin 210 is By fitting with the guide bush 208, the relative position of the fixed mold part 204 and the movable mold part 206 is accurately positioned.
Further, the mold 202 includes the sprue 212, the runner 214, the gate 216, and the cavity 218, as described above.

  As shown in FIG. 13, the sprue 212 is mainly provided in the movable mold part 206, and its inlet is located on the surface of the movable mold part 206 on the side opposite to the fixed mold part 204. . The sprue 212 penetrates the movable mold part 206 from the entrance and reaches the fixed mold part 204, and is adjacent to the runner 214 in the fixed mold part 204.

  The runner 214 is provided in the fixed mold portion 204, and is adjacent to the sprue 212, adjacent to the first passage 214a, adjacent to the second passage 214b, and adjacent to the second passage 214b, to the gate 216. And a third passage 214c. As shown in the left diagram of FIG. 12, the first passage 214a and the third passage 214c are provided along the vertical direction, and the second passage 214b is provided along the direction orthogonal to the vertical direction. As shown in FIG. 14, a handle forming portion 215 for forming the handle portion 565e is provided at a position of the movable mold portion 206 facing the third passage 214c.

  As shown in the left diagram of FIG. 12 and FIG. 14, the gate 216 is provided adjacent to the third passage 214 c and the cavity 218 of the runner 214 at the upper part in the vertical direction of the fixed mold portion 204.

  As shown in FIG. 12 left and FIG. 14, the cavity 218 is provided adjacent to the gate 216 at the lower part in the vertical direction when viewed from the gate 216, and the longitudinal direction thereof is along the vertical direction. As shown in FIG. 15, the fixed mold portion 204 has a fixed mold groove 205 whose bottom surface is a contact surface forming portion 205 a for forming a contact surface 562 a of the long side portion 562. The movable mold part 206 is provided with a movable mold groove 207 which is an adhesive surface forming part 207a for forming the adhesive surface 563a of the short side part 563 on the bottom surface thereof.

  As shown in FIG. 15, the fixed mold groove 205 forms the contact surface forming portion 205a, the tip surface forming portion 205b for forming the tip surface 562b, and the rear end surface 562c. A rear end face forming portion 205c. The movable mold groove 207 includes the above-described bonding surface forming portion 207a, the end surface forming portion 207b for forming the end surface 563b of the short side portion 563, and the end surface forming for forming the end surface 563c of the short side portion 563. A portion 207c and an end surface forming portion 207d for forming the end surface 562d of the long side portion 562. The cavity 218 is configured by these forming portions provided in the fixed mold groove 205 and the movable mold groove 207.

  In order to mold the rubber portion 561 shown in FIG. 8, the fixed mold groove 205 and the movable mold groove 207 have the following shapes. That is, the depth of the fixed mold groove 205 is larger than the depth of the movable mold groove 207, and the width of the fixed mold groove 205 in the short direction is larger than the width of the movable mold groove 207 in the short direction. . Further, rounds R3 and R4 are formed at the corners of the fixed mold groove 205 and the movable mold groove 207, respectively. The radius of curvature of the round R3 of the fixed mold groove 205 is the same as that of the movable mold groove 207. It is smaller than the radius of curvature of the roundness R4. In addition, the ten-point average roughness Rz of the contact surface forming portion 205a is smaller than the ten-point average roughness Rz of the bonding surface forming portion 207a.

  In a state where the fixed mold portion 204 and the movable mold portion 206 having the above-described configuration are overlapped (in a state where the mold 202 is closed), thermoplastic elastomer is injected into the fixed mold groove 205 and the movable mold groove 207, The rubber part 561 is injection molded. Here, when the fixed mold part 204 and the movable mold part 206 overlap with each other, the boundary surface 221 between the fixed mold part 204 and the movable mold part 206 is bonded from the contact surface forming part 205a. Positioned between the corresponding contact surface forming portion 205a and the adhesive surface forming portion 207a (between the fixed mold groove 205 and the movable mold groove 207) in the direction toward the surface forming portion 207a (vertical direction shown in FIG. 15). To do. When injection molding is performed, heat is applied in a direction along the longitudinal direction of the cavity 218, in other words, in a direction along the longitudinal direction of the forming portion (the direction is indicated by an arrow d in FIG. 12). A plastic elastomer will be injected.

  The rubber part 561 molded by such a mold 202 has a shape as shown in FIG. Unlike the rubber portion 561 of the regulating blade 560 (FIG. 6) provided in the developing device after the manufacture is completed, the molded rubber portion 561 includes a portion formed by the sprue 212 (in this embodiment, the portion is A sprue portion 565a), a portion formed by the runner 214 (in this embodiment, this portion is called a runner portion 565b), and a portion formed by the gate 216 (in this embodiment, the portion The portion is called a gate portion 565c).

  Further, the length in the longitudinal direction of the portion formed by the cavity 218 of the rubber portion 561 is longer than the length in the longitudinal direction of the rubber portion 561 of the regulating blade 560 (FIG. 6) provided in the developing device after the manufacture is completed. Is also getting longer. That is, when the rubber part 561 is molded, the shape of the mold 202 described above is determined so that the rubber part 561 includes the surplus parts 565d at both ends in the longitudinal direction. The formed surplus part 565d is In a step (step S104) to be described later, the rubber portion 561 is cut and removed together with the sprue portion 565a, the runner portion 565b, and the gate portion 565c.

  Further, the molded rubber portion 561 is provided with a handle portion 565e at a position adjacent to the runner portion 565b, which is an end portion in the longitudinal direction. The handle portion 565e is for gripping the molded rubber portion 561 when taking it out of the mold 202. The handle portion 565e protrudes from the end portion in the longitudinal direction, and the protruding direction intersects the longitudinal direction of the rubber portion 561. Note that the handle portion 565e is also cut and removed from the rubber portion 561 together with the sprue portion 565a, the runner portion 565b, the gate portion 565c, and the surplus portion 565d in a later-described step (step S104).

  By the way, a flash occurs in the rubber part 561 that has been injection-molded, and the cause thereof is as follows. That is, if the pressure when the thermoplastic elastomer is injected into the mold 202 is large, the fixed mold portion 204 and the movable mold portion 206 are deformed, and as a result, the periphery of the cavity 218 (specifically, There may be voids in the boundary surface 221). Then, the injected thermoplastic elastomer is filled in the voids in addition to the cavities 218, so that flash is generated.

  Here, returning to the flowchart of FIG. 9, the description of the manufacturing method of the regulating blade 560 will be continued. When the thermoplastic elastomer is sufficiently cooled by the mold 202 (step S102), the movable mold portion 206 moves and the mold 202 is opened. Therefore, the molded rubber part 561 is taken out from the mold 202. More specifically, the handle portion 565e is grasped from the opened mold 202, and the rubber portion 561 is taken out from the mold 202.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 17, the above-described surplus portion 565d is removed from the rubber portion 561 taken out together with the sprue portion 565a, the runner portion 565b, the gate portion 565c, and the handle portion 565e. The rubber part 561 is trimmed by cutting at the cutting parts 565f which are both ends in the longitudinal direction (step S104). Next, a rubber support portion 566 for supporting the injection-molded rubber portion 561 is prepared, and a double-sided tape 568 is attached to the adhesive surface 566a (shaded portion shown in FIG. 18) of the rubber support portion 566 (step) S106).

  Next, the bonding jig 300 used when bonding the rubber part 561 to a desired position of the rubber support part 566 is prepared. As shown in FIG. 19, the bonding jig 300 includes a mounting table 310 and a rotating member 320. In order to bond the rubber portion 561 and the rubber support portion 566, first, as shown in FIG. In addition, the rubber support portion 566 to which the double-sided tape 568 is attached is held on the mounting table 310, and the rubber portion 561 that is injection-molded and whose shape is adjusted is held on the rotating member 320 (step S108).

Here, the structure of the bonding jig 300 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 20A, the mounting table 310 holds the rubber support portion 566 that is fitted and placed in a recess 311 that is formed in substantially the same shape as the rubber support portion 566. In a state where the rubber support portion 566 is fitted and placed in the recess 311, the rubber support portion 566 is positioned so as not to move in the horizontal direction. The mounting table 310 holds the rubber support 566 so that the double-sided tape 568 attached to the rubber support 566 protrudes from the recess 311.

  The rotating member 320 is a member that can rotate in a state where the rubber portion 561 is positioned and held by the recessed portion 321. Then, as shown in FIG. 20A, the rubber part 561 has only the long side part 562 of the long side part 562 and the short side part 563 in contact with the recessed part 321 (more specifically, the contact of the long side part 562). The contact surface 562a and the front end surface 562b are in contact with the recessed portion 321), and the short side portion 563 protrudes from the recessed portion 321 and is positioned with respect to the rotating member 320. Further, a through hole 322 is provided at a position facing the contact surface 562a and a position facing the front end surface 562b of the rotating member 320 holding the rubber portion 561, and the rubber portion 561 is connected to the through hole 322. Is sucked by a vacuum pump (not shown) or the like.

  Thus, by sucking the rubber part 561, the rubber part 561 is held without dropping from the rotating member 320, and the positioning of the rubber part 561 with respect to the rotating member 320 is maintained. In the rotating member 320 according to the present embodiment, in a state where the rubber part 561 is held by the recessed part 321, the portion of the tip surface 562b on the contact surface 562a side contacts the recessed part 321. The beam 564 is configured not to contact the recess 321.

  Further, the rotating member 320 is connected and supported by the mounting table 310 so as to be rotatable by a mechanism (not shown). Since the rubber portion 561 is sucked even when the rotation member 320 rotates, the rubber portion 561 is held against the rotation member 320 also when the rotation member 320 rotates. And positioning will be maintained.

  The rubber part 561 and the rubber support part 566 are held on the bonding jig 300 having the structure described above as follows. That is, the rubber support portion 566 to which the double-sided tape 568 is attached is moved by being moved from above the mounting table 310 toward the recess portion 311 in the vertical direction shown in FIG. . Further, the injection-molded rubber part 561 is moved from the lower side of the rotating member 320 toward the hollow part 321 in the vertical direction, and is brought into contact with the hollow part 321. Here, when the rubber part 561 is brought into contact with the hollow part 321, since the air in the hollow part 321 is sucked through the through hole 322 by the vacuum pump, the rubber part 561 contacting the hollow part 321 is also sucked. Is done. And the rubber part 561 will be positioned and hold | maintained when the contact surface 562a and the front end surface 562b contact the hollow part 321 in the state by which the rubber part 561 is attracted | sucked. As described above, the rubber portion 561 is held by the rotating member 320 in a state where the portion of the front end surface 562b on the abutting surface 562a side is in contact with the recessed portion 321. Therefore, the injection molding is performed. The rubber part 561 can be held by the rotating member 320 so that the flash 564 of the rubber part 561 is not in contact with the rotating member 320.

  Next, the rotating member 320 that holds the rubber part 561 and the mounting table 310 that holds the rubber support part 566 are brought close to each other so that the adhesive surface 563a of the rubber part 561 is in contact with the rubber support part 566. 563a and the rubber support portion 566 are bonded (step S110).

  Specifically, the bonding surface 563a and the rubber support portion 566 are bonded as follows. That is, the rotation member 320 that holds the rubber part 561 is gradually rotated so as to approach the mounting table 310 that holds the rubber support part 566 at the position shown in FIG. 20A (hereinafter also referred to as “first position”). As a result, as shown in FIG. 20B, one end side of the adhesive surface 563a in the short direction first comes into contact with the double-sided tape 568. Further, by further rotation of the rotation member 320, the area of the adhesive surface 563a that contacts the double-sided tape 568 increases, and the rotation member 320 rotates to a predetermined position (hereinafter also referred to as “second position”). When moved, the state shown in FIG. 20C is obtained. In the state shown in FIG. 20C, the rubber part 561 and the rubber support part 566 are in pressure contact with each other, so that the rubber part 561 and the rubber support part 566 are effectively bonded via the double-sided tape 568. It will be. In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 20B and 20C, the bonding surface 563 a of the rubber portion 561 and the rubber support portion 566 are bonded so that the flash 564 is not bonded to the rubber support portion 566.

  When the rubber part 561 and the rubber support part 566 are bonded, after the suction by the vacuum pump is finished, the turning member 320 located at the second position is turned to the first position. When the suction is completed, the rubber part 561 is not held by the rotating member 320. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 20D, the rubber support part 566 to which the rubber part 561 is bonded is placed on the placement table 310. It will be in the state. When the rotation member 320 is located at the first position, the rubber support portion 566 to which the adhesive surface 563a of the rubber portion 561 is bonded is taken out from the mounting table 310. Thereby, the regulation blade 560 in which the adhesive surface 563a is appropriately held by the rubber support portion 566 can be obtained. Then, the developing device shown in FIG. 4 can be obtained by assembling the regulating blade 560 thus manufactured together with the developing roller 510 and the like.

=== Regarding the Effectiveness of the Restricting Blade 560 etc. According to the Present Embodiment ===
As described above, in the restricting blade 560 according to the present embodiment, the flash 564 of the “layer thickness restricting member” (rubber part 561) is the “non- It is located on the “abutment surface” (adhesion surface 563a) side. As a result, the layer thickness of the toner carried on the developing roller 510 is uniformly regulated. This will be described in detail below.

  As described in the section “Problems to be Solved by the Invention”, it is desirable that the layer thickness of the toner regulated by the rubber portion 561 be uniform. This is because, when the toner layer thickness is not uniform, for example, streaks or the like may occur in the toner image developed by the developing roller 510, and the quality of the toner image may deteriorate.

  By the way, although the rubber part 561 is a molded article, for example, a flash may occur in the rubber part 561 during the above-described injection molding. For the generated flash, it may be possible to remove the flash, but the flash may not be removed from the viewpoint of simplifying the manufacturing process of the rubber part 561. However, when the flash is not removed, if the flash is positioned near the developing roller 510, the rubber part 561 may regulate the layer thickness of the toner carried on the developing roller 510 unevenly.

  This will be described more specifically with reference to FIG. The rubber part 561 is toner taken into a gap (gap A shown in FIG. 5) between the rubber part 561 and the developing roller 510, and comes into contact with the rubber part 561 as the developing roller 510 rotates. The layer thickness of the toner passing through the position is regulated. It is known that the toner layer thickness depends on the amount of toner taken into the gap A (hereinafter also referred to as “toner uptake amount”). When the developing roller 510 is non-uniform in the axial direction (the same direction as the longitudinal direction of the rubber portion 561), the amount of toner carried on the developing roller 510 in the gap A is also non-uniform in the axial direction. As a result, the toner layer thickness on the developing roller 510 is also non-uniform in the axial direction.

  At this time, the flash 564 is positioned on the contact surface 562a side in the thickness direction of the rubber portion 561 (for example, the flash 564 is positioned on the contact surface 562a, or the flash 564 is contacted on the tip end surface 562b. In this case, since the flash 564 becomes an obstacle to the movement of the toner when the toner is taken into the gap A, the amount of the toner taken in the axial direction of the developing roller 510 is not uniform. It is easy to become. When the toner intake amount is nonuniform, the toner layer thickness regulated by the rubber portion 561 at the contact position also becomes nonuniform.

  On the other hand, when the flash 564 of the rubber portion 561 is located on the side of the adhesive surface 563a opposite to the contact surface 562a in the thickness direction as in the present embodiment shown in FIG. Since 564 is unlikely to be an obstacle to toner movement, it does not adversely affect toner uptake into the gap A. Therefore, according to the regulating blade 560 according to the present embodiment, it is possible to prevent the amount of toner taken in the axial direction of the developing roller 510 from becoming uneven, and as a result, the layer thickness of the toner carried on the developing roller 510 Will be regulated uniformly.

=== 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 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.

In the above embodiment, the rubber part 561 is formed by injection molding, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the rubber part 561 may be formed by extrusion molding, centrifugal molding, or the like.
However, when the rubber part 561 is molded by injection molding, the injection molded rubber part 561 is likely to be flashed. Therefore, the effect of positioning the flash 564 on the adhesive surface 563a side in the thickness direction, that is, The effect that the layer thickness of the toner carried on the developing roller 510 is uniformly regulated is more effectively exhibited. Therefore, the above embodiment is more desirable.

Further, in the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, the base 564a of the flash 564 is positioned between the contact surface 562a and the adhesive surface 563a in the thickness direction. The flash 564 has a flash 564b whose tip is positioned on the contact surface 562a side when viewed from the root 564a and a flash 564c whose tip is positioned on the bonding surface 563a when viewed from the root 564a. , Was included. However, it is not limited to the above. For example, the flash 564 may include only the flash 564b whose tip is located on the bonding surface 563a side when viewed from the root 564a.
However, when the flash 564 includes the flash 564c in addition to the flash 564b, the flash 564 is unevenly positioned in the thickness direction as compared to the case where the flash 564 includes only the flash 564b. In addition, the possibility of making the toner layer thickness non-uniform in the axial direction of the developing roller 510 increases. Therefore, the effect of positioning the flash 564 on the adhesive surface 563a side in the thickness direction, that is, the effect of uniformly regulating the layer thickness of the toner carried on the developing roller 510 is more effectively achieved. Therefore, the above embodiment is more desirable.

  Further, in the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, the rubber portion 561 includes a contact surface 562 a, a “first portion” (long side portion 562) located on one end side in the thickness direction, and an adhesive surface And a “second portion” (short side portion 563) that is located on the other end side in the thickness direction and is connected to the long side portion 562. The length of the long side portion 562 in the short direction of the rubber portion 561 (the length L1 shown in FIG. 8) is the length of the short side portion 563 in the short side direction (the length L2 shown in FIG. 8). ). However, it is not limited to the above. For example, the length L1 in the short direction of the long side portion 562 may be smaller than the length L2 in the short direction of the short side portion 563.

Further, in the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, the root 564a of the flash 564 is located on the edge of the surface (end surface 562d) opposite to the contact surface 562a of the long side portion 562. did. The length in the thickness direction of the long side portion 562 (length h1 shown in FIG. 8) is larger than the length in the thickness direction of the short side portion 563 (length h2 shown in FIG. 8). . However, it is not limited to the above. For example, the root 564a of the beam 564 may be located at the edge of a surface other than the end surface 562d.
However, when the root 564a of the flash 564 is positioned at the edge of the end surface 562d, the length h1 in the thickness direction of the long side portion 562 is made larger than the length h2 in the thickness direction of the short side portion 563. Thus, the flash 564 can be positioned on the adhesive surface 563a side in the thickness direction. Therefore, the above embodiment is more desirable.

Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the ten-point average roughness Rz of the contact surface 562a is smaller than the ten-point average roughness Rz of the adhesive surface 563a. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the ten-point average roughness Rz of the contact surface 562a may be larger than the ten-point average roughness Rz of the bonding surface 563a.
However, when the ten-point average roughness Rz of the contact surface 562a is smaller than the ten-point average roughness Rz of the adhesive surface 563a, the unevenness of the contact surface 562a is reduced, and as a result, the developing roller 510 carries the contact surface. The layer thickness of the applied toner is more uniformly regulated. Therefore, the above embodiment is more desirable.

Further, in the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, a “first roundness” (roundness R1) is formed at the edge of the contact surface 562a, and a “second roundness” (roundness) is formed at the edge of the bonding surface 563a. R2) was formed. The curvature radius of the roundness R1 is smaller than the curvature radius of the roundness R2. However, it is not limited to the above. For example, the radius of curvature of the roundness R1 may be the same as the radius of curvature of the roundness R2.
However, when the radius of curvature of the roundness R1 is smaller than the radius of curvature of the roundness R2, the edge of the contact surface 562a on which the roundness R1 is formed can be sharpened. However, it is easy to divide the toner that reaches the edge into a flow that moves the toner to the gap A and a flow that moves the toner outside the gap A. For this reason, the toner is effectively taken into the gap A. Therefore, the above embodiment is more desirable.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the rubber part 561 is made of a thermoplastic elastomer, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the rubber part 561 may be made of thermosetting polyurethane.
However, when the rubber part 561 is made of a thermoplastic elastomer, the rubber part 561 is easily injection-molded. Here, in the case of injection molding, the thickness of the rubber part 561 (the length between the contact surface 562a and the adhesive surface 563a in the thickness direction) can be accurately molded. For this reason, when the rubber part 561 is made of a thermoplastic elastomer, the rubber part 561 having a good thickness accuracy can be formed. Therefore, the above embodiment is more desirable.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the developer carrying member is a “developer carrying roller” (developing roller 510) that can rotate around a central axis, and the longitudinal direction of the rubber portion 561 is the axis of the developing roller 510. It was supposed to be along the direction. Further, the base 564a of the flash 564 is located between the contact surface 562a and the adhesive surface 563a in the thickness direction, and the flash 564 has a front end thereof viewed from the root 564a in the thickness direction. A flash 564b positioned on the side and a flash 564c whose tip is positioned on the bonding surface 563a side when viewed from the root 564a are included. As shown in FIG. 7, the flash 564 is located from one end in the longitudinal direction of the rubber portion 561 to the other end in the longitudinal direction. However, it is not limited to the above. For example, the flash 564 may be located only in a part in the longitudinal direction, such as the central part in the longitudinal direction of the rubber part 561, for example.
When the flash 564 includes the flash 564b and the flash 564c, as described above, the possibility that the toner layer thickness is nonuniform in the axial direction of the developing roller 510 is increased. When the flash 564 is located from one end in the longitudinal direction to the other end in the longitudinal direction, it is easy to make the toner layer thickness more uneven in the axial direction of the developing roller 510. In such a case, the effect of positioning the flash 564 on the adhesive surface 563a side in the thickness direction, that is, the effect of uniformly regulating the layer thickness of the toner carried on the developing roller 510 is more effectively achieved. The Therefore, the above embodiment is more desirable.

Further, in the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the developing devices 51, 52, 53, 54 are “support members” (rubber support portions 566) for supporting the rubber portion 561 with the adhesive surface 563 a bonded thereto. It was decided to have. All of the flashes 564 are not in contact with the rubber support portion 566. However, it is not limited to the above. For example, a part of the flash 564 may be in contact with the rubber support 566.
When a part of the flash 564 is in contact with the rubber support 566, when the bonding surface 563a and the rubber support 566 are bonded, for example, the flash 564 has a gap between the bonding surface 563a and the rubber support 566. As may occur, a part of the bonding surface 563a may not be bonded to the rubber support portion 566 by contacting the rubber support portion 566. In such a case, there is a high possibility that the rubber part 561 is improperly supported by the rubber support part 566, and as a result, the rubber part 561 may abut against the developing roller 510 improperly. On the other hand, when all of the beams 564 do not come into contact with the rubber support portion 566, the adhesive surface 563a is appropriately bonded to the rubber support portion 566, so that the rubber portion 561 is appropriately supported by the rubber support portion 566. The Rukoto. Therefore, the above embodiment is more desirable.

  Further, in the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the contact position where the rubber portion 561 contacts the developing roller 510 is lower than the central axis of the developing roller 510. The rubber part 561 contacts the developing roller 510 so that one end in the short direction faces the upstream side in the rotation direction of the developing roller 510, and the contact position is from the one end in the short direction. It was decided to be away. However, it is not limited to the above. For example, the contact position may be the one end in the short direction.

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

  FIG. 21 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. Disk) etc. may be used.

  FIG. 22 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. 2 is a block diagram showing a control unit of the printer 10. FIG. It is a conceptual diagram of a developing device. It is sectional drawing which showed the main components of the image development apparatus. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a contact state of a regulating blade 560 to a developing roller 510. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a configuration of a regulating blade 560. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a rubber part 561 of a regulating blade 560. FIG. It is sectional drawing which showed the rubber part 561. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a manufacturing procedure of a regulation blade 560. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the injection molding machine 252. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an external configuration of a mold 202. FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an internal structure of a mold 202. It is the schematic diagram which showed the XX cross section of FIG. It is the schematic diagram which showed the YY cross section of FIG. It is the schematic diagram which showed the ZZ cross section of FIG. It is a figure which shows the shape | molded rubber | gum part 561. FIG. It is the schematic diagram which showed a mode that the excess part 565d, the handle part 565e, etc. were cut | disconnected and removed from the rubber part 561. It is a figure which shows the contact surface 564a of the rubber | gum support part 566. FIG. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a bonding jig 300. FIG. 20A is a view for explaining a holding state of the rubber portion 561 and the rubber support member 565. FIG. FIG. 20B is a diagram for explaining a state at the start of adhesion of the rubber portion 561 to the rubber support member 565. FIG. 20C is a diagram for explaining a state when the rubber portion 561 is pressed against the rubber support member 565. FIG. 20D is a diagram for explaining a state at the end of the bonding operation of the rubber portion 561 to the rubber support member 565. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an external configuration of an image forming system. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the image forming system shown in FIG.

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,
202 mold, 204 fixed mold part, 205 fixed mold groove,
205a contact surface forming portion, 205b front end surface forming portion, 205c rear end surface forming portion,
206 movable mold part, 207 movable mold groove, 207a adhesive surface forming part,
207b end face forming part, 207c end face forming part, 207d end face forming part,
208 guide bush, 210 guide pin, 212 sprue,
214 runner, 214a first passage, 214b second passage, 214c third passage,
215 handle molding part, 216 gate, 218 cavity, 221 interface,
252 injection molding machine, 252a hopper, 252b injection cylinder,
252c type mounting part,
300 Jig for bonding, 310 mounting table, 311 recess,
320 Rotating member, 321 recess, 322 through hole,
510 developing roller, 520 upper seal member, 522 upper seal support sheet metal,
524 upper seal urging member, 530 toner container, 530a first toner container,
530b second toner storage portion, 540 housing, 542 upper housing portion,
544 Lower housing portion, 545 partition wall, 550 toner supply roller,
560 regulating blade, 561 rubber part, 562 long side part,
562a contact surface, 562b front end surface, 562c rear end surface, 562d end surface,
563 short side part, 563a adhesion surface, 563b end surface, 563c end surface,
564 beam, 564a root, 564b beam, 564c beam,
565a sprue part, 565b runner part, 565c gate part,
565d surplus part, 565e handle part, 565f cutting part,
566 rubber support part, 566a adhesive surface, 567 blade support sheet metal,
568 double-sided tape, 570 blade backing, 572 opening,
700 image forming system, 702 computer, 704 display device,
708 input device, 708A keyboard, 708B mouse,
710 reading device, 710A flexible disk drive device,
710B CD-ROM drive device,
802 Internal memory, 804 Hard disk drive unit

Claims (9)

A layer thickness regulating member that abuts the developer carrying member at the abutment surface and regulates the layer thickness of the developer carried on the developer carrying member,
The flash of the layer thickness regulating member is located on the end surface in the short direction of the layer thickness regulating member and on the non-contact surface side opposite to the contact surface in the thickness direction of the layer thickness regulating member. And the root of the flash is located between the contact surface and the non-contact surface in the thickness direction,
The non-contact surface is an adhesive surface for bonding a support member for supporting the layer thickness regulating member,
A first portion provided with the abutment surface and located on one end side in the thickness direction;
A second portion that includes the non-contact surface and is located on the other end side in the thickness direction and connected to the first portion;
The base of the flash is located at the edge of the surface of the first portion opposite to the contact surface,
The layer thickness regulating member, wherein a length of the first portion in the lateral direction of the layer thickness regulating member is larger than a length of the second portion in the lateral direction . The layer thickness regulating member according to claim 1,
In the flash, in the thickness direction,
A flash whose tip is located on the contact surface side when viewed from the root, and a flash whose tip is located on the non-contact surface side when viewed from the root;
A layer thickness regulating member comprising: The layer thickness regulating member according to claim 1 or 2 ,
The layer thickness regulating member, wherein a length of the first portion in the thickness direction is larger than a length of the second portion in the thickness direction. The layer thickness regulating member according to any one of claims 1 to 3 ,
The layer thickness regulating member, wherein the ten-point average roughness of the contact surface is smaller than the ten-point average roughness of the non-contact surface. The layer thickness regulating member according to any one of claims 1 to 4 ,
A first round is formed at the edge of the contact surface,
A second roundness is formed at the edge of the non-contact surface,
The layer thickness regulating member, wherein the radius of curvature of the first roundness is smaller than the radius of curvature of the second roundness. The layer thickness regulating member according to any one of claims 1 to 5 ,
A layer thickness regulating member comprising a thermoplastic elastomer. A developer carrier for carrying the developer;
A layer thickness regulating member that abuts the developer carrying member at a contact surface and regulates the layer thickness of the developer carried on the developer carrying member;
A support member for supporting the layer thickness regulating member,
A developing device comprising:
Burr of the layer thickness regulating member, the end surface in the short direction of the layer thickness regulating member, and a non-contact surface side opposite to the abutment surface in the thickness direction of the layer thickness regulating member, situated And the root of the flash is located between the contact surface and the non-contact surface in the thickness direction,
The non-contact surface is an adhesive surface for bonding the support member;
The layer thickness regulating member is
A first portion provided with the abutment surface and located on one end side in the thickness direction;
A second portion that includes the non-contact surface and is located on the other end side in the thickness direction and connected to the first portion;
The base of the flash is located at the edge of the surface of the first portion opposite to the contact surface,
The developing device according to claim 1, wherein a length of the first portion in the width direction of the layer thickness regulating member is larger than a length of the second portion in the width direction . (A) an image carrier for carrying a latent image;
(B1) a developer carrying member for carrying the developer;
A layer thickness regulating member that abuts the developer carrying member at a contact surface and regulates the layer thickness of the developer carried on the developer carrying member;
A support member for supporting the layer thickness regulating member,
With
A developing device for developing a latent image carried on the image carrier with a developer,
(B2) burr of the layer thickness regulating member, the end surface in the short direction of the layer thickness regulating member, and a non-contact surface side opposite to the abutment surface in the thickness direction of the layer thickness regulating member The root of the flash is located between the contact surface and the non-contact surface in the thickness direction,
The non-contact surface is an adhesive surface for bonding the support member;
The layer thickness regulating member is
A first portion provided with the abutment surface and located on one end side in the thickness direction;
A second portion that includes the non-contact surface and is located on the other end side in the thickness direction and connected to the first portion;
The base of the flash is located at the edge of the surface of the first portion opposite to the contact surface,
A developing device in which the length of the first portion of the layer thickness regulating member in the short direction is larger than the length of the second portion in the short direction ;
An image forming apparatus comprising (c). (A) a computer, and
(B) An image forming apparatus connectable to the computer,
(A) an image carrier for carrying a latent image;
(B1) a developer carrying member for carrying the developer;
A layer thickness regulating member that abuts the developer carrying member at a contact surface and regulates the layer thickness of the developer carried on the developer carrying member;
A support member for supporting the layer thickness regulating member,
With
A developing device for developing a latent image carried on the image carrier with a developer,
(B2) burr of the layer thickness regulating member, the end surface in the short direction of the layer thickness regulating member, and a non-contact surface side opposite to the abutment surface in the thickness direction of the layer thickness regulating member The root of the flash is located between the contact surface and the non-contact surface in the thickness direction,
The non-contact surface is an adhesive surface for bonding the support member;
The layer thickness regulating member is
A first portion provided with the abutment surface and located on one end side in the thickness direction;
A second portion that includes the non-contact surface and is located on the other end side in the thickness direction and connected to the first portion;
The base of the flash is located at the edge of the surface of the first portion opposite to the contact surface,
A developing device in which the length of the first portion of the layer thickness regulating member in the short direction is larger than the length of the second portion in the short direction ;
An image forming apparatus having (c),
An image forming system comprising (C).

Images