JP5283959B2 - Seal member for preventing powder leakage from the end of the powder carrier roller to the outside of the apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a sealing member for a rotating body that seals the powder from the end in the rotational axis direction of a powder carrier roller that is a rotating body of a rotating device that handles powder so that the powder does not leak out of the powder carrier roller. More particularly, the present invention relates to a sealing member that seals an end portion of a rotating body that is a powder carrier roller so that toner powder does not leak from a rotating body such as a developing roller or a photosensitive drum of an image forming apparatus in an electrophotographic apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, powder seal members made of a substrate having piles or fibers or a planted substrate have been developed for an image forming apparatus in an electrophotographic apparatus. Normally, the pile, fiber or flocked part of these seal members is pressed against the part of the rotating body that seals the leakage of the powder as toner to close the gap, and the powder carrier roller of the powder is a rotating body. It prevents leakage from the end to the outside.

  By the way, for example, a seal member made of a pile will be described. In these members, all the piles are formed of a pile having a predetermined length. For this reason, in the powder carrier roller provided with the seal member made of pile at the end, a force for compressing the tip of the pile is acted by the rotation of the powder carrier roller. Therefore, when the pile falls due to this compression, the pile located at the end of the seal member enters the powder carrier roller side inside the mounting surface of the seal member. However, since this pile does not have a repulsive force against the load, no load is applied to this part, so that the powder enters between the piles in that part, and the contained powder is held between the piles. become. For this reason, when used for a long time, the powder held in the pile is gradually pushed out through the sealing member, and the leakage of the powder occurs in the powder carrier roller. It sometimes occurred.

  Therefore, as a prevention of powder leakage, the leakage of powder has been prevented by improving the compressive load of the pile. However, as a disadvantage of improving the compressive load, the load applied to the roller which is a rotating body is increased, and the roller surface is scraped or damaged due to frictional heat.

  On the other hand, the applicant, as a rotating device for handling the powder, from the rotating shaft portion at the end of the rotating body of the rotating device, that is, for example, the rotating shaft at the end of the toner supply roller of the electrophotographic image processing apparatus In order to prevent the powder of toner from leaking out from the outside, a cylindrical seal member has already been developed for fitting and sealing with the rotating shaft of the rotating body. This is formed from a cylindrical sealing member having an elastic base material of a pile fabric having piles or a cylindrical sealing member having an elastic base material in which fibers are implanted. This cylindrical sealing member is formed from a cylindrical cylindrical body that is formed on the outer periphery of the rotary shaft for sealing powder leakage. When this cylindrical seal member is inserted between a rotating body, for example, a powder carrier roller, and its rotating shaft with its elastic support base on the outer peripheral side, it is pressed in the centrifugal direction from the rotating shaft to the rotating body. When the load is applied, the cylindrical seal member elastically deforms and follows the shaft diameter of the rotating shaft, while the inner diameter on the rotating shaft side formed by the pile of the seal member or the tip of the fiber receives the expanding pressure from the rotating shaft. While being pressed to the rotating shaft. As a result, the sealing performance in the axial direction of the rotating shaft is maintained. Moreover, since the pile or fiber has a property of expanding from the rotating shaft in the centrifugal direction, the cylindrical elastic base material is frictionally engaged with the bearing surface of the roller-shaped rotating body located on the outer periphery thereof, and this cylindrical The seal member receives a detent force from the bearing surface of the roller-like rotating body so as not to rotate with the rotation of the rotating shaft. Therefore, the cylindrical seal member does not need to be provided with a new anti-rotation means, and is formed in a configuration that is convenient by itself and can be used as a single product.

  The pile or fiber of the cylindrical sealing member has a pile density or fiber density having a density suitable for the particle size of the powder for sealing leakage. In other words, the length of the pile or fiber is regulated in order to suppress the flow of powder leakage due to the length of the pile or fiber and the rotation of the rotation axis of the pile or fiber. Or the amount of overlap between fibers is set. In other words, by controlling the average pitch between the piles or fibers and the tilt angle of the piles or fibers, the pile density or fiber density is such that two or more powder particles do not enter between adjacent piles or fibers. The amount of intrusion, that is, the amount of bite is regulated. However, this seal member has a roller-like rotator and a cylindrical shape that is inserted between the center support surface and the rotation shaft, and the pile of the seal member or fiber of the seal member accompanies the rotation of the rotator. The tip was pressed in the direction of rotation of the rotating shaft and collapsed, and the repulsive force suppressed powder leakage.

  On the other hand, in an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic apparatus, there has been disclosed a sealing member that exhibits a powder sealing function in a stable state with little variation in load on a moving body such as a rotating body or its counterpart member ( For example, see Patent Document 1.)

  Furthermore, there is disclosed a sealing member that can maintain stable sealing performance with less pile hair loss (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

  Furthermore, a sealing member that has stable sealing performance and does not scrape a roller or the like without reducing pile density is disclosed (for example, see Patent Document 3).

  Furthermore, a method for maintaining a stable sealing function over a long period of time has been disclosed as having a function of returning the toner that has entered the sealing member that has been implanted into the powder carrier roller side from the flocking that has fallen inward (see FIG. For example, see Patent Document 4.)

  Furthermore, a method is disclosed in which the length of the seal of the seal member made of flocks is sequentially increased as going to the downstream side in the powder conveying direction to prevent the promotion of falling down on the downstream side (for example, Patent Documents). 5).

  However, the technology disclosed in each of these Patent Documents 1 to 4 is basically the same in the length of the pile and fiber of the seal portion. Some of the seals of the flocked seal body are sequentially lengthened toward the downstream side in the conveying direction, but these all fall into the inside of the seal member. The powder leakage could not be sealed.

JP 2003-53277 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-223447 JP 2005-134844 A No. 7-50760 JP-A-4-367882

  Therefore, the problem to be solved by the present invention is different from a cylindrical seal member that is mounted on the rotary shaft of the above-described conventional powder carrier roller to prevent powder leakage, for example, an electrophotographic image processing apparatus. A sealing member having a plate-like support member that is attached to a side portion of a powder carrier roller having a cleaning blade and prevents the powder of toner from leaking to the outside. The pile or fiber of the seal member falls from the surface to the powder side that is the inside of the powder carrier roller, which is a rotating body, and the tip of the pile or fiber is prevented from entering. Pile and fiber are prevented from leaking to the outside by intervening between them, and the load during compression of the pile and fiber at the position where the powder is regulated is stabilized. Increases the scraping power of the powder leaked from the powder carrier roller, and further improves the sealing performance at the end of the powder carrier roller with a low load, and does not hinder the rotation of the powder carrier roller It is to provide a member.

  The inventors have studied variously and developed the invention of the means of the present application. The support member 2a of the seal member 2 is in contact with the end portion 5a of the powder carrier roller 5 which is a rotating body of the apparatus 1 for handling powder. The tip of the pile 3a and the fiber 3b forming the seal member 2 is prevented from falling from the powder carrier roller 5 to the center of the powder carrier roller 5 that is inward of the end portion 5a. 4 is a seal member 2 that satisfactorily seals the end portion 5a of the powder carrier roller 5 by preventing the powder carrier roller 5 from leaking outside through the pile 3a and the fiber 3b. .

That is, the means of the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problem is that, in the invention of claim 1, the powder carrier in the apparatus 1 for handling powder having the powder carrier roller 5 carrying the powder 4 on the surface thereof. The seal member 2 for preventing the powder 4 from leaking from the end 5a of the body roller 5 is a pile 3a or fiber 3b made of at least one kind of natural fiber, artificial fiber or synthetic fiber, and its plate-like support member In which the length of the pile 3a or fiber 3b on the side in contact with the powder 4 is shorter than the length of the pile 3a or fiber 3b on the side not in contact with the powder 4, the pile 3a or fiber When the sealing member 2 constituted by 3b and its plate-like support member 2a is cut in the axial direction of the powder carrier before contacting the end 5a of the powder carrier roller 5, Sectional shape and the upper base 3f tip of the pile 3a or fiber 3b, device from an end portion of the powder carrier roller 5, characterized in that it is configured in a trapezoidal 3a to the side of the support member 2a and the lower base 3g This is a seal member 2 that prevents leakage of the powder 4 to the outside.

In the invention of claim 2, the pile 3a or the fiber 3b constituting the seal member 2 is provided with a regulation angle 3c having an inclination in a direction regulating the movement of the powder 4 with respect to the rotation direction 5b of the powder carrier roller 5. The seal member 2 prevents leakage of the powder 4 from the end of the powder carrier roller 5 of the means of claim 1 to the outside of the apparatus.

In the invention of claim 3, the regulation angle 3c having the inclination of the pile 3a or the fiber 3b of the sealing member 2 is such that the angle of returning to the inside of the apparatus with respect to the rotation direction of the powder carrier is in the range of 10 ° to 90 °. The sealing member 2 prevents the powder 4 from leaking from the end of the powder carrier roller 5 to the outside of the apparatus.

In the premise structure of the means of claim 1 above, it is the inner surface of the sealing member that seals the powder at the end of the powder carrier roller, that is, the powder on the inner surface of the end of the powder carrier roller. In the case where the length of the pile or fiber on the side in contact with the powder is shorter than the length of the outer pile or fiber not in contact with the powder, when the powder carrier roller rotates, the powder The end of the powder carrier roller can be reliably sealed without the pile or the tip of the fiber falling to the side of the carrier roller and flowing into the inside of the powder carrier roller next to the rotating shaft.

In addition to these, in the means of claim 1 of the present invention, the pile on the powder carrier roller side of the seal member or the length of the fiber is shortened, and the cross-sectional shape of the end portion of the seal member is configured as a trapezoid. As a result, the load at the time of compression of the seal member is stabilized, the powder scraping power at the end of the powder carrier roller is increased, and leakage of the powder from the end can be efficiently prevented. .

Furthermore, the means of claim 2 is configured such that the pile or fiber of the seal member is provided with a regulation angle that is inclined in a direction to regulate the movement of the powder with respect to the rotation direction of the powder carrier roller. The tip of the pile or fiber does not give unnecessary resistance to the powder carrier roller, so that the surface of the powder carrier roller is less likely to be scraped or damaged by frictional heat, The durability of the powder carrier roller is improved. Further, in the means of claim 3, since the regulation angle of the pile of the seal member or the inclination of the fiber is set in a wide range, the optimum angle can be selected and the durability of the powder carrier roller can be further improved. As described above, when the seal member of the present invention is used for the powder carrier roller, an excellent effect which has not been achieved in the past can be achieved.

  The means of the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings and tables. As an apparatus 1 for handling the powder 4, for example, in the electrophotographic image processing apparatus 7 shown in FIG. 5, the toner 10 a that is the powder 4 is interposed via the supply roller 9 that rotates from the toner container 10 on the rotation shaft 9 a. And supplied to the developing roller 8. In this case, the cut surface 3h of the seal member 2 is directed toward the toner 10a so that the toner 10a does not leak from the support end 8a (5a) of the developing roller 8, and the seal member 2 is moved to the front of the blade 8b. It is provided and sealed at the support body end 8 of the developing roller 8. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1B and 1C, the seal member 2 is connected to a pile 3a or fiber 3b (hereinafter referred to as pile 3a or fiber) of the seal member 2 at an end 5a of the powder carrier roller 5. 3b is referred to as “pile 3a”), and a plate-like support member 2a for supporting the pile 3a of the seal member 2 is provided so that the powder 4 (not shown) does not leak outside. The pile 3a is supported from one side by a plate-like support member 2a of the seal member 2 attached to the end support 5d of the peripheral wall 5c spaced from the powder carrier roller 5. Therefore, the tip of the pile 3 a of the seal member 2 is disposed so as to be adjacent to the end 5 a of the powder carrier roller 5. FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the sealing member 2 of the present invention and a view of the surface of a trapezoid 3e formed by a pile 3a viewed from the front of the sealing member 2, as viewed from the front, and the support member 2a of the trapezoid 3e. The slopes of the lower base 3g, the upper base 3f, and the cut surface 3h are shown, and each pile 3a is formed on the support member 2a by being slanted in the same direction as the left side of the trapezoid 3e. .

Further, in the electrophotographic image processing apparatus 7, the toner 10 a which is the powder 4 enters between the piles 2 a of the seal member 2 in contact with the toner 10 a side and sequentially moves to the outside of the powder carrier roller 5. It is necessary to prevent leakage. For this purpose , the seal member 2 is composed of a pile 3a formed of at least one kind of natural fiber, artificial fiber, or synthetic fiber, and has a length of the pile 3a located on the side in contact with the toner 10a. The portion is cut into a cut surface 3h, and the length of the pile 3a forming the cut surface 3h is shorter than the length of the pile 3a on the side not in contact with the toner 10a. In this case, the pile 3a of the seal member 2 is not rotated with the rotation of the powder carrier roller 5, that is, with the rotation of the developing roller 8 shown in FIG. One side of the double-sided tape is bonded to the back surface of the supporting member 2a to be supported, and the other side of the double-sided tape is bonded to a housing that is pivotally supported around the end of the developing roller 8, and comes into contact with the end of the developing roller 8. It is assumed that the coefficient of friction is higher than the tip of the pile 3a so that it does not rotate together.

Further, as described above, in FIG. 1A, a part of the length of the pile 3a located on the side in contact with the toner 10a inside the seal member 2 is cut by cutting, and the side not in contact with the toner 10a. The length of the pile 3a of the sealing member 2 is shorter than the length of the pile 3a and is formed on the cut surface 3h. By forming the cut surface 3h in this way, an end face trapezoid 3e was obtained. Therefore, in the embodiment of the invention according to claim 1 , the shape of the pile 3a before the tip of the pile 3a comes into contact with the end portion 5a of the powder carrier roller 5 is shown in FIGS. ) As shown by a broken line in a trapezoid 3e. As shown in FIG. 1A, the cut surface angle α is formed by the lower base 3g of the trapezoid 3e and the cut surface 3h of the pile 3a located on the side in contact with the toner 10a.

Furthermore, in the embodiment of the invention according to claim 2 , the pile 3a constituting the seal member 2 is made of powder 4 on the side where the powder 4 or toner 10a is present with respect to the rotational direction 5b of the powder carrier roller 5. Inclined to the inside of the carrier roller 5. In other words, the pile 3a is tilted in a direction to restrict the particles of the toner 5a so that the toner 10a particles do not enter between the piles 3a, and the angle of the inclination is defined as a restriction angle 3c. By providing the regulation angle 3c to the pile 3a, the interval between the support wall 5c of the end support 5d of the powder carrier roller 5 to which the support member 2a of the seal member 2 is attached and the powder carrier roller 5 is appropriately set. If the sealing member 2 is disposed within this interval, the compressive load exerted on the powder carrier roller 5 by the pile 3a can be reduced to an appropriate size, and the pile 3a and the powder carrier roller can be reduced. Friction resistance with the roller 5 is reduced, and the durability of the roller surface of the powder carrier roller 5 which is a rotating body can be improved.

In this case, in the embodiment of the invention of claim 3 , the powder 4 is carried with respect to the rotation angle 5 b of the powder carrier roller 5 with the regulation angle 3 c of the inclination of the pile 3 a of the seal member 2. The pile 3a is inclined toward the inner side of the powder carrier roller 5 in a range of 10 ° to 90 °. As a result, it is possible to further reduce the friction of the pile 3a against the powder carrier roller 5 due to unnecessary resistance.

  1 will be further described. FIG. 1B is a diagram in which the seal member 2 of the present invention is applied to the end portion 5a of the powder carrier roller 5, and FIG. c) is also a view in which the sealing member 2 of the present invention is applied. Among these, as shown in FIG. 1B, the support wall 5 c of the end support 5 d for attaching the support member 2 a of the seal member 2 faces the end 5 a of the powder carrier roller 5. They are spaced apart. When the seal member 2 is attached to the support wall 5c in the gap formed by the support wall 5c and the roller surface of the end portion 5a of the powder carrier roller 5, the pile 3a tilted at the regulation angle 3c becomes the powder. The powder 4 is prevented from leaking outside by coming into contact with the roller surface of the end portion 5a of the carrier roller 5. In this case, since the regulation angle 3c has an optimum inclination according to the gap, the surface of the end 5a of the powder carrier roller 5 and the pile 3a generate excessive friction, and the powder carrier roller 5 rotates. Will not be disturbed. By the way, the structure itself comprising the end portion 5a of the powder carrier roller 5 and the end support 5d of the support wall 5c to which the seal member 2 is attached in FIGS. 1B and 1C is the same. The size of the gap between the support wall 5c of the seal member and the end 5a of the powder carrier roller 5 is different, and the gap in (c) is slightly narrower than the gap in (b) in FIG. . For this reason, when the seal member 2 having the pile 3a having the same regulation angle 3c as in (b) is used in (c), the tip of the cut surface 3h of the pile 3a on the powder 4 side slightly enters the powder 4 side. The powder 4 enters and is sandwiched between the piles 3a from the tip of the pile 3a that enters the pile 3a, and the pile 3a is difficult to be compressed, causing friction with the surface of the end 5a of the powder carrier roller 5. Become. Therefore, in the case of (c), the regulation angle 3c for inclining the pile 3a by the amount that the gap between the support wall 5c of the end support 5d and the surface of the end 5a of the powder carrier roller 5 is slightly narrowed. Is slightly increased, and the pile 3a is inclined further to reduce friction with the end portion 5a of the powder carrier roller 5.

  FIG. 2 is a reference example in which the conventional seal member 2 is used for the end portion 5 a of the powder carrier roller 5. In this reference example, the side surface of the pile 3a located on the side in contact with the powder 4 inside the seal member 2 is cut, and the conventional seal member 2 not formed on the cut surface 3h as shown in FIG. 1 is used. FIG. In the case of this example, the side surface of the pile 3a on the side in contact with the powder 4 is not formed on the cut surface 3h, so that the tip portion of the pile 3a enters the powder 4 side. Therefore, the particles of the powder 4 easily enter and are pinched at the tip portion of the pile that has entered the powder 4 side, causing friction with the surface of the end portion 5a of the powder carrier roller 5, and the powder 4 is externally attached. It is easy to leak out.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a process of forming the support member 2 having the cut surface 3h according to the present invention. FIG. 3A is a plan view when the pile 3a of the supporting member 2 before the side portion is set as the cut surface 3h is compressed and inclined toward the powder 4 by the regulation angle 3c. The left side of the dividing line 11 of each support member 2 is inclined toward the powder 4 by a restriction angle by compression, and shows the tip portion of the pile 3a protruding outward from the support member 2a. FIG. The front view before applying is shown. (C) of FIG. 3 shows the front view at the time of the cutting which shows the location which cuts the part of the pile 3a of the compressed state of the compressed state of the pile 3a on the left side from the dividing line 11 from a perpendicular | vertical upper direction, and shows this state Then, each support member 2 is removed by vertically cutting the left part of the dividing line 11 from above. FIG. 3 (d) shows a front view of each pile 3a cut into a trapezoid 3e shape after being cut at the dividing line 11, and the side surface of the trapezoid 3e on the side in contact with the powder 4 in FIG. As for the length of the pile 3a, the length of the pile 3a is gradually increased from the lower base 3g to the upper base 3f of the trapezoid 3e to form a cut surface 3h composed of an inclined surface. The figure which shows each pile 3a in FIG. 3 has shown the case where a regulation angle is 10 degrees, 20 degrees, 30 degrees, 45 degrees, 60 degrees, 70 degrees, and 90 degrees from the right side to the left side, respectively.

  In the above, as shown in FIG. 3C, the pile 3a is compressed with a height of 2 mm during compression, and the compressed pile 3a is inclined toward the powder side by a regulation angle 3c. 3 (c), the pile 3a was cut, and then the compression was released to obtain a trapezoid 3e shown in FIG. 3 (d). Assuming that the angle formed by the lower base 3g of the trapezoid 3e and the cut surface 3h is the cut surface angle α, the cut surface angle α is 10 ° at the regulation angle as seen in the graph of compression height = 2 mm in FIG. The cut surface angle α is 5 °, the control angle 20 °, the cut surface angle α is 10 °, the control angle 30 °, the cut surface angle α 14 °, the control angle 45 °, the cut surface angle α 20 °, and the control angle 60 °. α represents 24 °, a regulation angle of 70 °, a cut surface angle α of 26 °, a regulation angle of 90 °, and a cut surface angle α of 27.4 °. As shown in the figure, the conditions for indicating the structure of the support member 2 are as follows. The pile length of the pile 3a is 3.4 mm, the thickness of the base fabric as the support member 2a is 0.9 mm, and the slanted hair of the pile 3a. The angle was 60 °. As seen in the graph of this figure, the cut surface angle is smaller when the height during compression is smaller. Further, when the regulation angle exceeds 60 °, the gradient of each graph becomes small and the increase of the cut surface angle is within 5 °. The restriction angle of 90 ° is a value that maximizes the direction of the tip of the pile 3a, and the restriction angle beyond this is weakened by giving a meaningless twist to the pile.

  The above-described invention will be described through the following test examples. The fibers of the material constituting the pile 3a of the seal member 2 of the present invention are made of at least one or more of natural fibers, artificial fibers or synthetic fibers. Among these fibers, rayon, acrylic, hollow acrylic, (rayon + acrylic + hollow acrylic) 1.5 denier 50% + (acrylic microfiber) 1.0 denier 50% composite fiber a, (rayon + Acrylic + hollow acrylic) 1.5 denier 50% + (polyester microfiber) 6.5 denier 50% composite fiber b was used. Of these fibers, for example, the pile length of the pile 3a made of the composite fiber b is 3.4 mm, and the pile end face shape having a cut surface 3h by cutting the pile 3a on the powder side is a trapezoid 3e. Tested and placed in contact with the end portion 5a of the powder carrier roller 5 when the gap at the time of mounting is 2.5 mm, the regulation angle of the pile 3a is changed, the rotational speed is 300 rpm, and the speed is 250 mm. The powder carrier roller 5 was rotated at / sec, and leakage of the powder 4 from the end portion 5a of the powder carrier roller 5 due to this rotation was tested. On the other hand, leakage of the powder 4 from the end portion 5a of the same powder carrier roller 5 was tested using a pile 3a having no conventional cut surface 3h. These test results are shown in Table 1 as evaluation.

  In Table 1, “◯” indicates that the powder did not enter the pile 3a and leakage to the outside could be prevented, and “△” indicates that the powder entered the pile 3a and there was no leakage to the outside. In this example, the friction between the pile 3a and the powder carrier roller 5 is increased and cannot be used, and x indicates that the powder leaks to the outside and cannot be used.

  As a result of Table 1, in the case of the pile a of the present invention, as shown in the evaluation, the restriction angle 0 ° was x, and the powder 4 leaked to the outside and could not be used. However, the regulation angles of 10 ° to 90 ° are all ◯, and the particles of the powder 4 do not enter between the piles of the pile 3a, and therefore, between the end 5a of the powder carrier roller 5 and the pile 3a. There was no friction and no leakage to the outside was observed.

  On the other hand, in the case of the conventional pile 3a, as shown in the evaluation column, the evaluation was x at the restriction angles of 0 °, 10 °, 80 °, and 90 °, and the powder 4 leaked to the outside. Further, the evaluation is Δ at a regulation angle of 20 ° to 70 °, and the particles of the powder 4 enter between the piles 3 a, and there is no leakage to the outside, but the pile 3 a and the end 5 a of the powder carrier roller 5. The frictional resistance increased during this period and could not be used.

FIG. 6 shows a seal member 2 having a cut surface 3h in the present invention on the developing roller 8 (referred to as a developer carrying roller) of the electrophotographic image processing apparatus 7 in FIG. 5 as the powder carrier roller 5 in the present invention. A graph showing the relationship between the compression load applied to the pile 3a and the rise in the surface temperature of the developing roller 8 due to the friction of the pile 3a when the developing roller speed is 250 mm / sec. The surface temperature rise temperature is shown, and the horizontal axis shows the compressive load applied to the pile 3a. In this case, the pile of type A in the graph is made of the above-mentioned composite fiber a as the material of the pile, and the acrylic microfiber is made of 150,000 denier of 450,000 pieces / in ^{2 having} a diameter of 11 μm. On the other hand, the pile of type-B is made of the above-mentioned composite material b as the material of the pile, and the polyester microfiber is made of 0.55 denier of 650,000 pieces / in ^{2 having} a diameter of 8 μm. As can be seen from the graph, in the present invention, it is understood that the compression load is preferably 700 g / cm ² or less in order to reduce the temperature rise to about 8 ° C. or less.

FIG. 7 is a graph showing the relationship of the temperature rise due to the friction of the pile 3a due to the difference in the gap (that is, the seal attachment interval) between which the powder carrier roller 5 and the seal member 2 are attached. Also in this case, the seal member 2 having the cut surface 3h in the present invention is used, the developing roller speed is set to 250 mm / sec, and the pile of the type-A of the graph is made of acrylic microfiber as in the above. It is assumed to be made of 150,000 denier of 450,000 pieces / in ^{2 with} a diameter of 11 μm. On the other hand, type-B piles are made of a material of piles consisting of 650,000 pieces / in ² 0.5 denier with a diameter of 8 μm of polyester microfiber. From this graph, it can be seen that, in the present invention, in order to reduce the temperature rise within about 8 ° C., it is desirable that the mounting interval is 1.8 mm or more.

FIG. 8 is similar to the graph of FIG. 6 and uses the seal member 2 having a cut surface 3h for three types of piles of rayon, acrylic and hollow acrylic in addition to the piles of type-A and B, and the developing roller speed is A graph showing the relationship between the compressive load applied to the pile 3a and the increase in the surface temperature of the developing roller 8 due to the friction of the pile 3a at 250 mm / sec. The vertical axis indicates the rising temperature of the surface temperature of the developing roller 8 It is a graph which shows the compressive load applied to the pile 3a on the horizontal axis. In order to raise the temperature rise to about 8 ° C. or less with these piles, it is considered desirable to set the compressive load to 700 g / cm ² or less.

  Further, FIG. 9 is similar to the graph of FIG. 7 and uses a seal member 2 having a cut surface 3h for three types of piles of rayon, acrylic and hollow acrylic in addition to the piles of types A and B, and a developing roller. Relationship between the compression load applied to the pile 3a when the speed is 250 mm / sec and the temperature rise due to the friction of the pile 3a due to the difference in the gap (that is, the seal mounting interval) for attaching the powder carrier roller 5 and the seal member 2 Is a graph showing the rising temperature of the surface temperature of the developing roller 8 on the vertical axis and the mounting interval of the seal member 2 on the horizontal axis. Also in this case, it is considered that the mounting interval is preferably 1.8 mm or more in order to reduce the temperature rise within about 8 ° C.

  As described above, the sealing member 2 of the present invention is formed of the end shape of the trapezoid 3e having the cut surface 3h by cutting the length of the side pile 3a where the powder is present. Electrophotographic image processing apparatus that can accurately prevent particles from leaking to the outside and prevents particles of powder 4 from entering between the piles 3a to make the piles 3a have high frictional resistance. When applied to, it exhibits excellent effects.

It is a figure which shows the application to the sealing member and powder carrier roller of this invention. It is a figure which shows the application to the conventional sealing member and powder carrier roller. It is explanatory drawing of the supporting member which has a cut surface of this invention, and its formation process. It is a graph which shows the relationship between the cut surface angle of a sealing member at the time of compression of a sealing member, and a regulation angle. It is the schematic diagram seen from the side of the image processing apparatus of electrophotography. 3 is a graph showing a relationship between a compressive load applied to a pile in a developing roller of an image processing apparatus and an increase in surface temperature of the developing roller due to friction of the pile. It is a graph which shows the relationship of the temperature rise by the friction of the pile by the difference in the attachment clearance gap between the developing roller of an image processing apparatus, and a sealing member. 5 is a graph showing a relationship between a compressive load applied to piles of different materials in a developing roller of an image processing apparatus and an increase in surface temperature of the developing roller due to pile friction. It is a graph which shows the relationship of the temperature rise by the friction of a pile by the difference in the attachment clearance gap between the developing roller of an image processing apparatus, and the sealing member from which a raw material differs.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Apparatus which handles powder 2 Seal member 2a Support member 3a Pile 3b Fiber 3c Restriction angle 3e Trapezoid 3f Upper base 3g Lower base 3h Cut surface 4 Powder 5 Powder carrier roller 5a End part 5b Rotating direction 5c Bearing wall 5d End Part support 6 Photosensitive drum 6a End 6b Cleaning blade 6c Transfer roller 6d Charger 6e Optical part 7 Image processing device 8 Developing roller 8a Support end 8b Blade 9 Supply roller 9a Rotating shaft 10 Toner container 10a Toner 11 Dividing line α Cut surface angle

Claims (3)

A seal member for preventing leakage of powder from the end of the powder carrier roller in a powder handling apparatus having a powder carrier roller that carries the powder on the surface is at least natural fiber, artificial fiber, or synthetic fiber It consists of a pile or fiber consisting of one or more kinds of fibers and its plate-like support member, and the length of the pile or fiber on the side in contact with the powder is shorter than the length of the pile or fiber on the side not in contact with the powder The seal member composed of a pile or fiber and its plate-like support member is cut in the axial direction of the powder carrier roller before contacting the end of the powder carrier roller. shape and the upper base to the tip of the pile or fiber, or the ends of the powder carrier roller, characterized in that it is configured in a trapezoidal to the supporting member and the lower base Sealing member for preventing leakage of powder to the outside of the apparatus. 2. The pile or fiber constituting the sealing member is configured to provide a regulation angle having an inclination in a direction to regulate the movement of the powder with respect to the rotation direction of the powder carrier roller. A seal member for preventing leakage of powder from the end of the powder carrier roller according to the above to the outside of the apparatus.   3. The powder carrier according to claim 2, wherein a regulation angle having a pile or fiber inclination of the seal member is within a range of 10 ° to 90 ° with respect to a rotation direction of the powder carrier and returned to the inside of the apparatus. A seal member for preventing powder from leaking from the end of the body roller to the outside of the apparatus.

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