JP5276874B2 - Developing device and image forming apparatus including the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a developing device capable of preventing toner from being leaked between a developing roller and an end part sealing member, or the developing roller and a flexible sealing member, even when using repeatedly the developing roller, and an image forming device equipped therewith. <P>SOLUTION: This developing device 16 includes the developing roller 53 for supplying the toner to a photoreceptor drum 11, a developer container 51 having an opening 51d for exposing the developing roller 53 toward the photoreceptor drum 11, the end part sealing member 71 abutting rotatably along circumferential direction Y with both end part circumferential faces of the developing roller 53 provided in longitudinal-direction-X both end parts of the opening 51d of the developer container 51, and the flexible sealing member 75 provided along a longitudinal-direction X in an opening 51d lower part of the developer container 51 with a clearance d to the end part sealing member 71, and abutting on a circumferential face along the longitudinal direction X of the developing roller 53. An elastic sealing member 77 is overlapped in one end part 77a with the flexible sealing member 75 in an opening 51d lower part side, contacts tightly in the other end part 77b with an end face 71c of the developer container opening 51d side of the end part sealing member 71, and the other end part 77b of the elastic sealing member 77 abuts on the circumferential face of the developing roller 53. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a developing device used in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, or a composite machine using an electrophotographic system, and an image forming apparatus including the developing device.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a developing device of an image forming apparatus includes a developing roller that carries toner to be supplied to a photosensitive member, a developing container that supplies toner to the developing roller, and an opening of the developing container that exposes the developing roller toward the photosensitive member. The end seal member for preventing the leakage of toner from both ends in the longitudinal direction of the opening and the flexible seal member for preventing the leakage of toner from the lower portion of the opening of the developing container.

  For example, in Patent Document 1, the flexible seal member is formed of a thin piece having elasticity, and both end edges thereof are attached to the lower part of the opening of the developing container in contact with the inner edge of the end seal member. At both ends of the flexible seal member, gripped pieces extend outward and are sandwiched between the outer peripheral surfaces of both ends of the developing roller and the end seal member. With this configuration, toner does not leak from the lower part of the opening of the developing container. Further, since the both ends of the flexible seal member and the inner edge of the end seal member are in close contact with each other, toner is prevented from leaking between the inner edge of the end seal member and the end edge of the flexible seal member. doing.

  In Patent Document 2, a flexible seal member is attached to the lower part of the opening of the developing container. One end of the circumferential direction is a free end, and a part of the free end is the length of the developing roller. It is in contact with the circumferential surface in the entire direction. Further, both ends in the longitudinal direction of the flexible seal member are disposed so as to overlap the end seal member. The elastic member made of rubber or the like is disposed so as to be in close contact with the end surface of the end seal member on the developing container opening side and overlap the flexible seal member. It is crushed and is brought into close contact with the flexible seal member. When the developing roller is rotating, the flexible seal member may be pulled in the longitudinal direction due to vibration or the like, and this tensile force causes the flexible seal member to wave in the longitudinal direction. The toner may leak from the gap between the developing roller and the flexible seal member caused by the above. However, by providing this elastic member, the flexible seal member and the end seal member are flexible at the overlapping portion. The contact pressure of the adhesive seal member with respect to the developing roller is reduced to suppress the undulation in the longitudinal direction of the flexible seal member and prevent toner leakage.

However, in the above-described conventional technology, when the developing device is used repeatedly for a long period of time, in the overlap portion between the end seal member of Patent Document 1 and the gripped piece portion of the flexible seal member, Patent Document 2 is also disclosed. In the overlap portion between the end seal member and the flexible seal member, the end seal member and the flexible seal member are rubbed repeatedly while being pressed against the developing roller. At the boundary of each of these, there is a problem in that each of them breaks, the surfaces of each other are damaged, and the toner leaks from those portions.
JP-A-8-220858 (paragraphs [0009] and [0010], FIG. 1) JP 2000-56562 A (paragraphs [0048]-[0054], FIG. 4)

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems. Even when the developing roller is repeatedly used, the developing roller and the end seal member, and the developing roller and the flexible seal member are provided. It is an object of the present invention to provide a developing device and an image forming apparatus including the developing device that prevent toner leakage from between.

  To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a developing roller for supplying a developer to a photosensitive member, a developing container having an opening for exposing the developing roller toward the photosensitive member, and a longitudinal direction of the opening of the developing container. An end seal member provided at both ends and in contact with the circumferential surfaces of both ends of the developing roller so as to be rotatable in the circumferential direction, and provided with a gap with the end seal member in the longitudinal direction of the lower portion of the opening of the developer container And a flexible seal member that contacts the circumferential surface of the developing roller in the longitudinal direction, and overlaps the flexible seal member at one end on the lower side of the opening, and the end seal member An elastic seal member that is in close contact with the other end portion is provided on the end surface on the developing container opening side, and the other end portion of the elastic seal member is in contact with the peripheral surface of the developing roller.

  According to this configuration, the flexible seal member is provided with a gap with the end seal member in the longitudinal direction, and does not overlap the end seal member. The peripheral surfaces of both ends of the developing roller are always pressed uniformly against the end seal member, the flexible seal member is in contact with the peripheral surface in the longitudinal direction of the developing roller, and the elastic seal member is a developer container of the end seal member The other end portion is in close contact with the end surface on the opening side and abuts against the developing roller, thereby closing the longitudinal gap between the flexible seal member and the end seal member.

  The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the other end of the elastic member is shorter than the flexible seal member in the circumferential direction. According to this configuration, since the other end of the elastic member to be brought into close contact with the end surface of the end seal member is short, the elastic member can be easily brought into close contact with the end seal member.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the end seal member has a convex portion projecting from the end surface toward the developing container opening side, and the other end portion of the elastic member is a longitudinal end surface of the convex portion. It is characterized by close contact with. According to this configuration, the other end portion of the elastic member is in close contact with the end surface of the end seal member in the longitudinal direction, and in close contact with the longitudinal end surface of the convex portion of the end seal member in the circumferential direction.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the elastic member is formed of a laminated structure of urethane foam and a flexible sheet, and the flexible sheet is in contact with the peripheral surface of the developing roller. According to this configuration, the flexible sheet is pushed by the urethane foam so as to contact the peripheral surface of the developing roller, and the developing roller slides on the flexible sheet.

  According to a fifth aspect of the invention, the developer is a non-magnetic developer, a supply roller that supplies the non-magnetic developer to the developing roller, and the non-magnetic developer in contact with the developing roller. And a restricting member for restricting the layer thickness.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus equipped with the developing device having the above configuration.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the flexible seal member is provided with a gap with the end seal member in the longitudinal direction and does not overlap the end seal member. Even if it rotates, the peripheral surface of both ends of the developing roller is always pressed uniformly against the end seal member, the flexible seal member contacts the peripheral surface in the longitudinal direction of the developing roller, and the elastic seal member The seal member is in close contact with the end surface of the developing container opening side at the other end and is in contact with the developing roller, thereby closing the longitudinal gap between the flexible seal member and the end seal member. Therefore, the developer is prevented from leaking from between the developing roller and the end seal member and from between the developing roller and the flexible seal member.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the other end of the elastic member to be brought into close contact with the end face of the end seal member is short in the circumferential direction, the elastic member can be easily brought into close contact with the end seal member. .

  According to the invention described in claim 3, the other end of the elastic member is in close contact with the end surface of the end seal member in the longitudinal direction, and on the longitudinal end surface of the convex portion of the end seal member in the circumferential direction. Because of the close contact, the developer is more difficult to leak from between the developing roller and the flexible seal member.

  According to the invention of claim 4, the elastic member is formed of a laminated structure of urethane foam and a flexible sheet, and the flexible sheet is pushed by the urethane foam so as to contact the peripheral surface of the developing roller, Since the developing roller slides on the flexible sheet, the developing roller comes into close contact with the elastic member, so that the developer hardly leaks between the developing roller and the elastic member, and the developing roller slides well. To do.

  According to the invention described in claim 5, even when the nonmagnetic developer is used for development, from between the developing roller and the end seal member, and between the developing roller and the flexible seal member, Non-magnetic developer is prevented from leaking.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, even when the developing roller is used repeatedly, toner leakage between the developing roller and the end seal and between the developing roller and the flexible seal member is prevented. The image forming apparatus can be provided with a developing device.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. The embodiment of the present invention shows the most preferable form of the invention, and the use of the invention and the terms shown here are not limited thereto.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The image forming apparatus 1 includes an image forming unit 10, a toner replenishing device 20, an intermediate transfer unit 24, a paper feeding unit 30, a paper transport unit 35, a secondary transfer unit 45, a fixing device 47, and the like.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming unit 10 includes a rotary developing unit 2, a photosensitive drum 11, a charging roller 12, a drum cleaning device 13, a laser unit 14, and the like.

  The photosensitive drum 11 is an image bearing member on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, and is driven to rotate about the center of the image forming apparatus 1 (the direction of rotation is indicated by an arrow). The rotation shaft (not shown) is provided so as to extend perpendicularly (longitudinal direction) to the paper surface of FIG. The photosensitive drum 11 is formed so as to have a photosensitive layer such as amorphous silicon or an OPC photosensitive member.

  The charging roller 12 is provided on the photosensitive drum 11. The charging roller 12 is in contact with the photosensitive drum 11 and is rotatably supported in order to uniformly charge the surface of the photosensitive drum 11. A cleaner 12 a that cleans deposits adhering to the charging roller 12 is provided above the charging roller 12.

  The drum cleaning device 13 is provided on the right side of the photosensitive drum 11 in FIG. 1 and is for cleaning toner (developer) and adhering matter remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 11.

  The rotary developing unit 2 is for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 11 with toner of each color, and is provided adjacent to the left side of the photosensitive drum 11 in FIG. The rotary developing unit 2 includes a rotary rack 15 and four developing devices 16B (black), 16Y (yellow), 16C (cyan), and 16M (magenta) supported by the rotary rack 15. It has a cylindrical shape that can rotate around 15a. The shaft 15 a passes through the center of the rotary rack 15, and its axial direction (longitudinal direction) is parallel to the axial direction of the rotating shaft of the photosensitive drum 11.

  The rotary rack 15 has four sections that are divided into four equal parts in the circumferential direction by a partition frame 15b extending radially from the center of the shaft 15a. In each section, developing devices 16B, 16Y, 16C, and 16M corresponding to four toner colors of black, yellow, cyan, and magenta are arranged, and the developing devices 16B, 16Y, 16C, and 16M have the same configuration. is there. When the rotary developing unit 2 rotates, the developing rollers 53 of the developing devices 16B, 16Y, 16C, and 16M face the photosensitive drum 11 with a predetermined gap. The detailed configuration of the rotary rack 15 and the developing devices 16B, 16Y, 16C, and 16M will be described later.

  The laser unit 14 is for scanning and exposing the photosensitive drum 11 based on image information from an external computer or the like, and is provided above the rotary developing unit 2. Data for causing the laser unit 14 to output the laser light 14L is created by the data processing unit 17 that receives image information. Then, the laser light 14L is emitted from the laser unit 14. A reflection mirror 18 is provided on the optical path of the laser beam 14L, and the laser beam 14L is irradiated onto the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 by the reflection mirror 18 (the laser beam 14L is shown by a two-dot chain line). The laser unit 14 includes a laser light source, a polygon mirror, a polygon mirror driving motor, and the like (not shown).

  The toner supply device 20 includes a toner storage container 21 and a toner supply member 22. The toner storage containers 21 are provided above the photosensitive drum 11 and the intermediate transfer belt 25, and four toner storage containers 21 are arranged side by side in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. Each toner storage container 21 is a portion for storing toner to be supplied to each developing device 16B, 16Y, 16C, 16M of the rotary developing unit 2. That is, each toner storage container 21 stores toner of any one color of black, yellow, cyan, and magenta. In FIG. 1, the toner container 21 is invisible except for one toner container 21.

  The toner replenishing member 22 is disposed above the photosensitive drum 11 in a space between the laser unit 14 and the toner storage container 21 and is connected to the corresponding toner storage container 21 by a pipe, a hose or the like so as to be movable up and down. There are four corresponding to each color. Each toner replenishing member 22 supplies the toner of each color stored in the toner storage container 21 to the corresponding developing devices 16B, 16Y, 16C, and 16M from the nozzle 22a at the tip.

  The intermediate transfer unit 24 includes an intermediate transfer belt 25 to which toner images of respective colors formed on the photosensitive drum 11 are sequentially transferred, a driving roller 26 for stretching and driving the intermediate transfer belt 25, and a tension roller 27. A primary transfer roller 28 that faces the photosensitive drum 11 with the intermediate transfer belt 25 therebetween, and a driven member provided near the primary transfer roller 28 and between the drive roller 26 and the primary transfer roller 28. The roller 28 a and a belt cleaning device 29 for cleaning the intermediate transfer belt 25 are configured. The intermediate transfer belt 25 stretched around each roller rotates and passes through the nip between the photosensitive drum 11 and the primary transfer roller 28, and the toner images of the respective colors are sequentially primary-transferred. The image is transferred onto the paper P by the next transfer unit 45.

  The paper feed unit 30 includes a paper feed cassette 31, a manual feed tray 32, and the like. A paper feed cassette 31 having a placement plate 31 a on which the paper P is placed is provided at the bottom of the image forming apparatus 1. In addition, the paper feed unit 30 prevents the double feed to the right side of the pickup roller 33 and the pickup roller 33 to the right of the pickup cassette 31 in order to send out the paper P on the loading plate 31 a one by one to the paper conveyance path. A roller pair 34 is provided. Further, a manual feed tray 32 is provided on the right side surface of the apparatus so that paper can be separately fed. The manual feed tray 32 is also provided with a pickup roller 33 for sending the paper P one by one to the paper transport path.

  The paper transport unit 35 is for transporting the paper P in the image forming apparatus 1. The paper transport unit 35 includes a first transport path 36 from the paper feed unit 30 to the secondary transfer roller 46, and a paper discharge port for discharging the image-formed paper P from the secondary transfer roller 46 through the fixing device 47. And a reverse conveyance path 38 provided so as to connect the middle of the first conveyance path 36 to the middle of the second conveyance path 37 on the downstream side in the sheet conveyance direction from the fixing device 47. The A discharge tray 43 for receiving the discharged paper P is provided at the end of the second transport path 37. Note that the paper transport direction is indicated by arrows.

  A curved portion 39 is provided in the first transport path 36 in order to reverse the transport direction of the paper P sent out from the paper feed cassette 31. In addition, at the upper part of the curved portion 39, the conveyance path from the manual feed tray 32 joins. In front of the secondary transfer roller 46, a registration roller pair 40 for controlling the conveyance timing of the paper P is disposed. A plurality of pairs of conveyance rollers 41 are provided in the conveyance path in which these elements are provided, and a guide plate (not shown) for guiding the paper P is also provided as appropriate.

  The secondary transfer unit 45 includes a secondary transfer roller 46, a driving roller 26, and the like. The secondary transfer roller 46 is for transferring the toner image transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 25 onto the sheet P conveyed so as to be sandwiched between the secondary transfer roller 46 and the intermediate transfer belt 25. Therefore, the secondary transfer roller 46 is supported so as to be rotatable and in contact with and away from the intermediate transfer belt 25 so as to form a nip via the drive roller 26 and the intermediate transfer belt 25. Further, a voltage is applied to the secondary transfer roller 46 so that the toner is transferred onto the paper P at a predetermined timing by a voltage applying means (not shown).

  The fixing device 47 is for melting and fixing the toner transferred onto the paper P, and is provided in the middle of the second transport path 37 and below the rotary developing unit 2. The fixing device 47 includes a heating roller 48 that incorporates a heater and a pressure roller 49 that presses the heating roller 48. The toner is heated and pressurized and fixed on the paper P.

  Next, an image forming operation will be described. When image data is input to the image forming apparatus 1, the image forming apparatus 1 performs an image forming operation as follows.

  First, the photosensitive drum 11 is charged by the charging roller 12. The laser unit 14 scans and exposes the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 in accordance with data from the data processing unit 17 to which image data is input, and the electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 11. Is formed. Next, the rotary developing unit 2 is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 1, and the corresponding color developing device 16 faces the photosensitive drum 11. In this state, toner is supplied from the developing device 16 to the photosensitive drum 11, and the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 11 is developed into a toner image of a corresponding color. The developed toner image is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 25. The toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 11 after the transfer is cleaned by the drum cleaning device 13. The above operation is sequentially repeated for each color, and a full-color toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 25.

  On the other hand, in the paper feed unit 30, one sheet P is taken out from the paper feed cassette 31 or the manual feed tray 32 by the pickup roller 33 and conveyed to the registration roller pair 40. Thereafter, the paper P is conveyed from the registration roller pair 40 to the secondary transfer unit 45 in synchronization with the transfer of the toner image onto the intermediate transfer belt 25. When a predetermined voltage is applied while the secondary transfer roller 46 is in contact with the intermediate transfer belt 25, the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 25 is transferred onto the paper P. The sheet P is guided to the fixing device 47 through the second conveyance path 37, and the toner image is fixed on the sheet P by the fixing device 47. The fixed sheet P is discharged from the sheet discharge port 42 to the discharge tray 43 through the branching claw 44.

(First embodiment)
Next, the developing devices 16B, 16Y, 16C, and 16M supported by the rotary developing unit 2 will be described with reference to FIG. Here, since the constructions of the developing devices 16B, 16Y, 16C, and 16M are the same, the following explanation and the reference numerals of the drawings are omitted unless otherwise indicated. The description will be made in a unified manner with the device 16. Therefore, the following description applies in common to the developing devices 16B, 16Y, 16C, and 16M unless otherwise specified.

  FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing a schematic configuration of the developing device 16 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Note that the developing device 16 in FIG. 2 shows a state in which the developing roller 53 is in a developing position facing the photosensitive drum 11.

  The developing device 16 includes a developing container 51, a partition member 52, a developing roller 53, a supply roller 54, a regulating member 55, a stirring member 56, an end seal member 71, a sealing seal member 73, a flexible seal member 75, and an elastic member. 77 or the like.

  The developing container 51 is developed at the lower part of the developing device 16, that is, the lower wall 51a that is the lower inner wall portion shown in FIG. 2, the upper portion of the developing device 16, the upper wall 51b that is the upper inner wall portion shown in FIG. It constitutes the outer shell of the device 16. The developing container 51 is formed with an opening 51d that exposes a developing roller 53 described later toward the photosensitive drum 11 (see FIG. 1).

  Inside the developing container 51, the toner supply section 58 is partitioned into a toner storage section 59. The toner supply section 58 is provided with a developing roller 53, a supply roller 54, and a regulating member 55, and the toner storage section 59 has a stirring member 56. And the toner supply unit 58 and the toner storage unit 59 store toner. The toner is a non-magnetic one-component developer.

  The toner storage unit 59 receives toner supply from the nozzle 22a from the toner supply port 57 formed in the upper wall 51b by the toner supply member 22 of the toner supply device 20 (see FIG. 1), and stores the toner.

  The agitating member 56 is for agitating the toner in the toner accommodating portion 59, and the shaft portion 66 is rotatably supported in the longitudinal direction of the agitating member 56, and the shaft portion 66 is made of, for example, polyethylene terephthalate resin. A flexible film-like or sheet-like stirring blade 67 is attached.

  The partition member 52 is formed of, for example, a metal or resin plate member, separates the toner supply unit 58 and the toner storage unit 59, and includes a first partition member 61 and a second partition member 62.

  The first partition member 61 is formed of a thin plate-like metal and is provided from the lower wall 51 a adjacent to the supply roller 54 toward the upper wall 51 b and forms the side wall of the toner supply unit 58. The first partition member 61 has an opening 61a extending in the longitudinal direction.

  The second partition member 62 is formed of a thin plate-like metal, and the upper wall 51b from the middle of the first partition member 61 so as to face the first partition member 61 on the toner storage portion 59 side of the first partition member 61. The side wall of the toner containing portion 59 is formed together with the lower portion of the first partition member 61. The second partition member 62 has an opening 62a extending in the longitudinal direction.

  The opposing portion of the first partition member 61 and the second partition member 62 is a passage portion 64 for the toner to move from the toner storage portion 59 to the toner supply portion 58 and was stored in the toner storage portion 59. The toner can move from the opening 62a through the passage portion 64 to the toner supply portion 58 through the opening 61a.

  The supply roller 54 is formed of foamed polyurethane or the like, carries a toner on its surface, and supplies the toner to the developing roller 53. That is, the supply roller 54 is rotatable and supported so as to be parallel to the developing roller 53 in the longitudinal direction, and is rotated in the same direction as the developing roller 53 by a drive mechanism (not shown) including a motor, a gear, and the like. 2 (clockwise in FIG. 2), the toner is supplied to the developing roller 53 at the upper contact portion of the supply roller 54 and the developing roller 53 in FIG. At the lower contact portion of FIG. 2 between the supply roller 54 and the developing roller 53 (in the vicinity of the inner wall 51a), the toner of the developing roller 53 that has not been used for development is scraped off.

  The regulating member 55 contacts the developing roller 53, rotates the developing roller 53, and forms a thin toner layer on the developing roller 53, and further has a function of charging the toner by friction. The regulating member 55 is formed in a film shape or a blade shape extending in the longitudinal direction, one portion abuts against the developing roller 53, and the other portion is fixedly held by the developing container 51.

  The developing roller 53 supplies toner to the photosensitive drum 11 (see FIG. 1). A part of the developing roller 53 is exposed from the opening 51d extending in the longitudinal direction of the developing container 51, and a certain gap is formed in the photosensitive drum 11. The developer container 51 is opposed to the developer container 51 and is rotatably supported by the developer container 51.

  The end seal members 71 are attached to both ends in the longitudinal direction of the opening 51 d of the developing container 51, abut against the peripheral surfaces of both ends of the developing roller 53, and toner from between the both ends of the developing roller 53 and the developing container 51. This is to prevent leakage. The end seal member 71 has a two-layer structure of a surface layer and a lower layer, and the surface layer in contact with the developing roller 53 prevents a material from leaking from both ends of the developing roller 53 and has a highly slidable material such as a nonwoven fabric or a pile. The structure is formed of a fluororesin having a structure or high molecular weight polyethylene, and the lower layer is formed of a material that is elastic and softer than the surface layer, such as sponge or urethane foam.

  The flexible seal member 75 is provided in the longitudinal direction of the lower portion of the opening 51d (on the lower wall 51a side) of the developing container 51, and abuts against the circumferential surface of the developing roller 53 in the longitudinal direction to prevent toner leakage. The flexible seal member 75 is formed of a flexible and highly slidable material, for example, a non-woven fabric or a pile-structured fluororesin, or a sheet material such as high molecular polyethylene. It is excellent and the developing roller 53 can be neutralized.

  The sealing seal member 73 is attached to the lower wall 51a in the longitudinal direction below the opening 51d of the developing container 51, and imparts elasticity to the flexible seal member 75 provided on the upper portion. Further, the sealing seal member 73 prevents the toner of the developing roller 53 that has not been used for development from leaking out of the developing device, and keeps it in a lower portion between the supply roller 54 and the developing roller 53. The retained toner is scraped off by the rotation of the supply roller 54 and returned to the toner supply unit 58. The sealing seal member 73 has elasticity and is made of a softer material than the flexible seal member 75, such as sponge or urethane foam.

  The elastic member 77 is attached between the flexible seal member 75 and the sealing seal member 73 and is disposed so as to protrude from the flexible seal member 75 to the end seal member 71 side. The arrangement and configuration of the elastic member 77 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a main part of the developing device with the developing roller 53 and the upper wall 51b removed according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the elastic member 77. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the elastic member 77 taken along line AA of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the elastic member 77 is an L-shaped sheet body having elasticity, and at both ends in the longitudinal direction below the opening 51 d of the developing container 51, the end seal member 71, the flexible seal member 75, This seals a gap generated between the developing roller 53 (not shown). That is, since the flexible seal member 75 is disposed with a gap d with respect to the end surface on the opening 51d side of the end seal member 71, the elastic member 77 is elastic so that the gap d is sealed. One end portion of the elastic member 77 is sandwiched between the flexible seal member 75 and the sealing seal member 73, and the other end portion of the elastic member 77 is in close contact with the end surface on the opening 51 d side of the end seal member 71. It is in contact with the peripheral surface.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the end seal member 71 has a contact surface 71a with which the circumferential surface of the developing roller 53 is slidably contacted, and a part of the contact surface 71a is on the opening 51d side from the circumferential end surface 71c. It is also formed on a convex portion 71b that projects to the side where the flexible seal member 75 is disposed.

  The elastic member 77 has one end 77a and the other end 77b. The one end 77 a is a rectangular shape having a long side in the longitudinal direction X and a short side in the circumferential direction Y, and is formed so that the short side is shorter than the length in the circumferential direction Y of the flexible seal member 75. Further, the one end 77a is affixed to the sealing seal member 73 (see FIG. 3) with an adhesive, and after the affixing, the flexible seal member 75 sandwiches the elastic member 77 and affixes to the sealing seal member 73. The elastic member 77 is fixed and held.

  The other end 77b is a rectangular shape having a long side in the longitudinal direction X and a short side in the circumferential direction Y, and the short side is formed shorter than the circumferential direction Y length of the one end 77a. The other end 77b has a circumferential contact surface 77c on the short side and a longitudinal contact surface 77d on the long side. The circumferential contact surface 77 c is in close contact with the circumferential end surface 71 c of the end seal member 71, and the longitudinal contact surface 77 d is in close contact with the longitudinal end surface 71 d formed on the convex portion 71 b of the end seal member 71.

  The other end 77 b has a contact surface 77 e, and when the developing roller 53 contacts the contact surface 71 a of the end seal member 71 and the flexible seal member 75, the contact surface 77 e is contacted with the developing roller 53. Abut.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the elastic member 77 has a two-layer structure of a urethane foam 81 and a flexible sheet 82. The flexible sheet 82 faces the flexible seal member 75 and abuts against the developing roller 53 to prevent toner leakage from the developing roller 53. For this reason, the flexible sheet 82 is formed of a highly slidable material, for example, a non-woven fabric or a pile structure fluororesin, or high molecular polyethylene. The urethane foam 81 provided in the lower layer of the flexible sheet 82 has elasticity and is formed of a softer material than the flexible sheet 82. The material may be a sponge instead of the urethane foam 81.

  When urethane foam 81 and polymer polyethylene as flexible sheet 82 are used for elastic member 77, urethane foam 81 has a thickness of 2 mm and polymer polyethylene (flexible sheet 82) has a thickness of 0.1 mm. When the elastic member 77 is sandwiched between the flexible seal member 75 and the sealing seal member 73, the elastic member 77 is crushed by the developing roller 53 that contacts the flexible sheet 82, and the crushed thickness is 1 mm. Thus, the contact surface 71 a of the end seal member 71 and the contact surface 77 e of the elastic member 77 are uniformly contacted with the circumferential surface of the developing roller 53.

  Next, the developing operation of the developing device 16 will be described. Toner is supplied from the toner supply port 57 shown in FIG. The toner in the toner storage unit 59 is splashed up in the toner storage unit 59 by the stirring blade 67 while being stirred by the stirring member 56. The splashed toner enters the passage portion 64 from the opening 62a and is conveyed to the toner supply portion 58 from the opening 61a. In the toner supply unit 58, when the supply roller 54 rotates, the toner is supplied to the developing roller 53, and when the developing roller 53 rotates while contacting the regulating member 55, a thin layer of toner is formed on the developing roller 53. . When a developing bias is applied to the developing roller 53, the toner on the developing roller 53 is supplied to the photosensitive drum 11, and the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 11 is developed as a toner image. The toner that is not used for development and remains on the developing roller 53 is scraped by the supply roller 54 by the rotating developing roller 53 and returned to the toner supply unit 58.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 6 is a plan view showing an elastic member of the developing device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The elastic member 77, which is different from the first embodiment, will be described, and the description of the same part as the first embodiment will be omitted hereinafter.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the elastic member 77 is a rectangular sheet having elasticity, and is flexible with the end seal member 71 at both longitudinal ends of the lower portion of the opening 51 d (see FIG. 2) of the developing container 51. The gap d formed between the seal member 75 and the developing roller 53 (see FIG. 2) is sealed.

  One end 77a of the elastic member 77 is affixed to the sealing seal member 73 (see FIG. 3) with an adhesive. After the affixing, the flexible seal member 75 sandwiches the elastic member 77 and seals the sealing seal member 73. The other end 77b extends from the one end 77a to the end seal member 71 and has a circumferential contact surface 77c. The circumferential contact surface 77 c is in close contact with the circumferential end surface 71 c of the end seal member 71 and is in contact with the circumferential surface of the developing roller 53. When the elastic member 77 is sandwiched between the flexible seal member 75 and the sealing seal member 73, the elastic member 77 is crushed by the developing roller 53 in contact with the flexible sheet 82, and ends with respect to the circumferential surface of the developing roller 53. The contact surface 71 a of the part seal member 71 and the contact surface 77 e of the elastic member 77 together with the flexible seal member 75 are uniformly contacted.

  According to the first and second embodiments, the developing device 16 includes a developing roller 53 that supplies toner to the photosensitive drum 11, and a developing container having an opening 51 d that exposes the developing roller 53 toward the photosensitive drum 11. 51, an end seal member 71 provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction X of the opening 51d of the developing container 51 and in which the peripheral surfaces of both ends of the developing roller 53 are rotatably contacted in the circumferential direction Y, and a lower part of the opening 51d of the developing container 51 And an end seal member 71 in the longitudinal direction X, and a flexible seal member 75 which is provided with a gap d and abuts on the circumferential surface of the developing roller 53 in the longitudinal direction X. The elastic seal member 77 overlaps with the flexible seal member 75 at one end 77a on the lower side of the opening 51d and is in close contact with the end surface 71c of the end seal member 71 on the developing container opening 51d side at the other end 77b. The other end 77 b of the member 77 contacts the circumferential surface of the developing roller 53.

  According to this configuration, the flexible seal member 75 is provided with the end seal member 71 and the gap d in the longitudinal direction X and does not overlap the end seal member 71, so that the developing roller 53 is repeated. Even when the developing roller 53 rotates, the circumferential surfaces of both end portions of the developing roller 53 are always pressed uniformly against the end seal member 71. Further, the flexible seal member 75 comes into contact with the circumferential surface in the longitudinal direction X of the developing roller 53, and the elastic seal member 77 is in close contact with the end surface 71c of the end seal member 71 on the developing container opening 51d side at the other end 77b. At the same time, the gap a in the longitudinal direction X between the flexible seal member 75 and the end seal member 71 is closed by coming into contact with the circumferential surface of the developing roller 53. Accordingly, the toner is prevented from leaking from between the developing roller 53 and the end seal member 71 and from between the developing roller 53 and the flexible seal member 75.

  According to the first and second embodiments, the other end 77 b of the elastic member 77 is shorter than the flexible seal member 75 in the circumferential direction Y, so that the elastic member 77 can be easily connected to both ends of the end seal member 71. It can be brought into close contact with the end surface 71c of the part.

  Further, according to the first embodiment, the end seal member 71 has the convex portion 71b protruding from the end surface 71c toward the developing container opening 51d, and the other end portion 77b of the elastic member 77 is the longitudinal length of the convex portion 71b. By being in close contact with the direction end surface 71d, the other end 77b of the elastic member 77 is in close contact with the end surface 71c of the end seal member 71 in the longitudinal direction X and in the circumferential direction Y of the convex portion 71b of the end seal member 71. Since it is in close contact with the end surface 71d in the longitudinal direction, the toner is more difficult to leak from between the developing roller 53 and the flexible seal member 75.

  Further, according to the first and second embodiments, the elastic member 77 is formed by a laminated structure of the urethane foam 81 and the flexible sheet 82, and the flexible sheet 82 abuts on the circumferential surface of the developing roller 53. The flexible sheet 82 is pressed by the urethane foam 81 so as to contact the peripheral surface of the developing roller 53 and slides the developing roller 53, so that the peripheral surface of the developing roller 53 closely contacts the elastic member 77 and the toner Is less likely to leak from between the developing roller 53 and the elastic member 77, and the sliding property of the developing roller 53 is improved.

  According to the first and second embodiments, the non-magnetic developer (non-magnetic one-component developer) is used to contact the developing roller 53 with the supply roller 54 for supplying the non-magnetic developer to the developing roller 53. And a regulating member 55 that regulates the layer thickness of the non-magnetic developer, so that even when the non-magnetic developer is used for development, the developing roller 53 and the end seal member 71, The nonmagnetic developer is prevented from leaking from between the flexible seal member 75.

  Further, according to the first and second embodiments, even when the developing roller 53 is used repeatedly, the developing roller 53 and the end seal 71, and the developing roller 53 and the flexible seal member 75 The image forming apparatus 1 can be provided with the developing device 16 that prevents toner leakage from between the two.

  The present invention can be used for a developing device used in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, and a composite machine using the electrophotographic method, and an image forming apparatus including the developing device.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing a configuration of a developing device according to the image forming apparatus which is the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a main part of a developing device according to an image forming apparatus that is a first embodiment of the present invention. These are top views which show the elastic member of the developing device which is 1st Embodiment of this invention. These are sectional drawings which show the elastic member of the developing device which is 1st Embodiment of this invention. These are top views which show the elastic member of the developing device which is 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 2 Rotary type developing unit 15 Rotary rack 16, 16B, 16Y, 16C, 16M Developing device 51 Developing container 51d Opening 53 Developing roller 54 Supplying roller 55 Restricting member 58 Toner supplying part 59 Toner accommodating part 61 First partition member 62 2nd partition member 71 End seal member 71a Contact surface 71b Protrusion 71c End surface in the circumferential direction (end surface)
71d Longitudinal end face 73 Sealing seal member 75 Flexible seal member 77 Elastic member 77a One end 77b Other end 77c Circumferential contact surface 77d Longitudinal contact surface 77e Contact surface 81 Urethane foam 82 Flexible sheet

Claims (6)

A developing roller for supplying a developer to the photosensitive member; a developing container having an opening exposing the developing roller toward the photosensitive member; and both ends of the developing roller provided at both longitudinal ends of the opening of the developing container An end seal member whose circumferential surface is rotatably contacted in the circumferential direction, and provided in the longitudinal direction of the lower portion of the opening of the developing container with a gap from the end seal member, is provided on the circumferential surface of the developing roller in the longitudinal direction. A developing device comprising a flexible sealing member that abuts,
An elastic member that overlaps at one end with the flexible seal member on the lower side of the opening and is in close contact with the end surface of the end seal member on the developer container opening side at the other end;
One end portion of the elastic member is attached between the sealing seal member having elasticity fixed to the developing container and the flexible seal member, and the other end portion of the elastic member is attached to the peripheral surface of the developing roller. A developing device that abuts.   The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the other end portion of the elastic member is shorter than the flexible seal member in a circumferential direction.   2. The end seal member has a convex portion protruding from the end surface toward the developing container opening side, and the other end portion of the elastic member is in close contact with a longitudinal end surface of the convex portion. Alternatively, the developing device according to claim 2.   The said elastic member is formed by the laminated structure of a urethane foam and a flexible sheet | seat, and the said flexible sheet | seat contact | abuts to the said developing roller surrounding surface. Development device.   The developer is a non-magnetic developer, and includes a supply roller that supplies the non-magnetic developer to the developing roller, and a regulating member that contacts the developing roller and regulates the layer thickness of the non-magnetic developer. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein   An image forming apparatus on which the developing device according to claim 1 is mounted.

Images