JP5906997B2 - Roll member, roll member manufacturing method, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a roll member, a roll member manufacturing method, and an image forming apparatus.

  Patent Document 1 describes a manufacturing method for manufacturing a thin cylindrical image carrier by impact processing. This manufacturing method includes a step of cutting off both ends of a cylindrical body obtained by impact processing to obtain a base material.

JP 2000-010306 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide a roll member having a closed bottom on one end side and opened on the other end side when the roll member is mounted on the apparatus main body without cutting the other end side. It is to suppress movement in the direction.

  The roll member according to claim 1 of the present invention has a cylindrical shape, a closed bottom is integrally formed on one end side in the axial direction, the other end side in the axial direction is opened, and the other end side is in the radial direction. A contactable portion that can come into contact with the positioning member in the axial direction is formed by bending outward.

  The roll member manufacturing method according to claim 2 of the present invention forms a cylindrical member in which the closed bottom is integrally formed on one end side in the axial direction and the other end side in the axial direction is opened by impact processing. An impact process and a contactable contact with the positioning member in the axial direction are possible by bending the other axial end of the cylindrical member formed in the impact process outward in the radial direction of the cylindrical member. And a bending step of forming a part.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus comprising the roll member according to the first aspect, and a positioning member that can contact the contactable portion in the axial direction of the image holding body. And a developing device for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the image carrier.

  According to the roll member of claim 1 of the present invention, compared to the case where the other end side of the opened roll member is not bent, the roll member having a closed bottom on one end side and the other end side opened. When the roll member is mounted on the apparatus main body, the movement of the roll member in the axial direction can be suppressed without cutting the other end side.

  According to the roll member manufacturing method of claim 2 of the present invention, there is no bending step of bending the other end side in the axial direction of the cylindrical member formed in the impact step to the outside in the radial direction of the cylindrical member. Compared to the case, when the roll member has a closed bottom on one end side and the other end side is opened, the roll member shaft is mounted when the roll member is mounted on the apparatus main body without cutting the other end side. Movement in the direction can be suppressed.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the third aspect of the present invention, the output image is compared with a case where the other end side of the opened roll member is not equipped with an unfolded roll holding member. It is possible to suppress the deterioration of quality.

It is the front view which showed the image holding body comprised from the roll member which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is the perspective view which showed the one end side of the roll member which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. (A) (B) (C) It is process drawing which showed the process for manufacturing the roll member which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. (A) (B) It is process drawing which showed the process for manufacturing the roll member which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. (A) (B) (C) It is process drawing which showed the process for manufacturing the roll member which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is the perspective view which showed the member used for the impact process for manufacturing the roll member which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. (A) (B) It is the front view which showed the other end side of the roll member which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

<First Embodiment>
An example of a roll member, a roll member manufacturing method, and an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Note that an arrow V shown in the drawing indicates a vertical direction, an arrow H indicates a horizontal direction indicating the apparatus left-right direction, and an arrow D indicates a horizontal direction indicating the apparatus depth direction.

(overall structure)
As shown in FIG. 7, an image processing unit 12 that performs image processing on input image data is provided inside the apparatus main body 10 </ b> A of the image forming apparatus 10.

  The image processing unit 12 processes input image data into gradation data of four colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). An exposure device 14 that receives gradation data processed by the image processing unit 12 and performs image exposure with the laser beam LB is provided on the center side in the apparatus main body 10A.

  Also, above the exposure device 14 in the vertical direction, four image forming units 16Y, 16M, 16C, and 16K of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) are in the horizontal direction. Are arranged at intervals in the inclined direction, and can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body 10A. These image forming units 16Y, 16M, 16C, and 16K form toner images of respective colors. If there is no need to distinguish between Y, M, C, and K, Y, M, C, and K may be omitted.

  On the other hand, a primary transfer unit 18 is provided above the image forming units 16 of the respective colors in the vertical direction so that the toner images formed by the image forming units 16 of the respective colors are transferred in a multiple manner. Further, on the side (right side in the drawing) of the primary transfer unit 18, multiple transfer onto the primary transfer unit 18 is performed on a sheet member P as a recording medium conveyed along a conveyance path 60 by a supply conveyance unit 30 described later. A secondary transfer roll 22 for transferring the toner image thus formed is provided.

  A fixing device 24 that fixes the toner image transferred to the sheet member P to the sheet member P by heat and pressure is provided downstream of the secondary transfer roll 22 in the conveying direction of the sheet member P. Further, on the downstream side in the conveying direction of the sheet member P with respect to the fixing device 24, the sheet member P on which the toner image is fixed is discharged to a discharge portion 26 provided on the upper portion of the apparatus main body 10A of the image forming apparatus 10. A discharge roll 28 is provided.

  On the other hand, a supply conveyance unit 30 that supplies and conveys the sheet member P is provided below and to the side of the exposure apparatus 14 in the vertical direction.

[Image forming unit]
First, the image forming unit 16 will be described.

  The image forming units 16 for the respective colors are all configured similarly. Each color image forming unit 16 includes a rotating cylindrical image carrier 34, a charging member 36 that charges the peripheral surface of the image carrier 34, and the exposure described above on the peripheral surface of the charged image carrier 34. A developing device 38 that develops an electrostatic latent image formed by image exposure of the device 14 with a developer (toner) to form a toner image, and a cleaning blade (not shown) that cleans the peripheral surface of the image carrier 34. I have. Details of the image carrier 34 will be described later.

[Exposure equipment]
Next, the exposure apparatus 14 will be described.

  Inside the casing 14A of the exposure apparatus 14, a polygon mirror 32 that is a rotary polygon mirror is disposed. Laser beams LB-Y, LB-M, LB-C, and LB-K emitted from a semiconductor laser 54 as an example of a light source are irradiated to the polygon mirror 32 through a cylindrical lens (not shown), and the polygon The mirror 32 is deflected and scanned in the main scanning direction. Then, the laser beams LB-Y, LB-M, LB-C, and LB-K deflected and scanned by the polygon mirror 32 pass through the imaging lens and a plurality of mirrors (not shown) to the image carrier 34. The upper exposure position is scanned and exposed from obliquely below.

  Thus, the exposure device 14 performs scanning exposure on the image carrier 34 from obliquely below. For this reason, there is a possibility that foreign substances such as toner may fall on the exposure device 14 from the developing device 38 provided in the image forming unit 16 of each color positioned above. Therefore, four laser beams LB-Y, LB-M, LB-C, and LB-K are applied to the portion facing upward on the outer peripheral surface of the housing 14A, and the image carrier 34 of the image forming unit 16 of each color. Transparent glass 40Y, 40M, 40C, and 40K are provided as an example of a transparent glass transparent member that transmits upward.

[Primary transfer unit and secondary transfer roll]
Next, the primary transfer unit 18 and the secondary transfer roll 22 will be described.

  The primary transfer unit 18 is disposed above the image forming unit 16 of each color in the vertical direction. The primary transfer unit 18 includes an endless intermediate transfer belt 42, a drive roll 46 around which the intermediate transfer belt 42 is wound and rotationally driven to rotate the intermediate transfer belt 42 in the direction of arrow A, and the intermediate transfer belt 42 is wound around the primary transfer unit 18. A tension applying roll 48 that is applied to apply tension to the intermediate transfer belt 42, a driven roll 50 that is disposed vertically above the tension applying roll 48 and is driven to rotate with the intermediate transfer belt 42, and the intermediate transfer belt 42. A primary transfer roll 52 disposed on the opposite side of the image carrier 34 of each color.

  As a result, the yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) toner images sequentially formed on the image carrier 34 of each color image forming unit 16 are transferred to the primary transfer of each color. Multiple rolls are transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 42 by the roll 52.

  Further, a cleaning blade 56 that contacts the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 42 and cleans the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 42 is disposed on the opposite side of the drive roll 46 with the intermediate transfer belt 42 interposed therebetween. Further, on the opposite side of the driven roll 50 with the intermediate transfer belt 42 interposed therebetween, a secondary transfer roll 22 for transferring the toner image transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 42 to the conveyed sheet member P is provided. .

  As described above, the yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) toner images transferred in multiple onto the intermediate transfer belt 42 are conveyed by the intermediate transfer belt 42. The conveyed toner image is sandwiched between the driven roll 50 and the secondary transfer roll 22 and is secondarily transferred to the sheet member P conveyed along the conveyance path 60 by a supply conveyance unit 30 described later. ing.

[Supply transport unit]
Next, the supply conveyance unit 30 that supplies and conveys the sheet member P will be described.

  The supply / conveyance unit 30 includes a sheet feeding member 62 that is disposed vertically below the exposure apparatus 14 in the apparatus main body 10A and on which a plurality of sheet members P are stacked.

  Further, the supply and conveyance unit 30 includes a sheet feeding roll 64 that feeds the sheet member P stacked on the sheet feeding member 62 to the conveyance path 60 and a separation roll that separates the sheet member P fed by the sheet feeding roll 64 one by one. 66 and an alignment roll 68 for adjusting the conveyance timing of the sheet member P. And each roll is arrange | positioned in this order toward the downstream from the conveyance direction upstream of the sheet | seat member P. As shown in FIG.

  With this configuration, the sheet member P supplied from the paper supply member 62 is set to a position (secondary transfer position) where the intermediate transfer belt 42 and the secondary transfer roll 22 are in contact with each other by the rotating alignment roll 68. It comes to be sent out by.

  Further, the supply / conveyance unit 30 forms the toner image on the other surface without discharging the sheet member P, on which the toner image is fixed on one surface by the fixing device 24, to the discharge unit 26 by the discharge roll 28. For this purpose, a double-sided conveyance device 70 is provided.

  The double-sided conveyance device 70 is arranged along the double-sided conveyance path 72 and the double-sided conveyance path 72 along which the sheet member P is conveyed so as to reverse the front and back of the sheet member P from the discharge roll 28 toward the alignment roll 68. A conveyance roll 74 and a conveyance roll 76 that convey the sheet member P are provided.

(Operation of the overall configuration)
With this configuration, an image is formed on the sheet member P as follows.

  First, gradation data of each color is sequentially output from the image processing unit 12 to the exposure device 14. The laser beams LB-Y, LB-M, LB-C, and LB-K emitted from the exposure device 14 according to the gradation data scan the outer peripheral surface of the image carrier 34 charged by the charging member 36. Exposure (exposure in the main scanning direction). Thereby, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the image carrier 34. The electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier 34 is developed by the developing device 38 of each color, and is converted into a toner image of each color of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). Visualized.

  Further, the yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) toner images formed on the image carrier 34 circulate by the primary transfer roll 52 of the primary transfer unit 18. Multiple transfer is performed on the intermediate transfer belt 42.

  The toner images of each color transferred onto the circulating intermediate transfer belt 42 in a multiple manner are conveyed from the sheet feeding member 62 along the conveyance path 60 by the sheet feeding roll 64, the separation roll 66, and the alignment roll 68. Secondary transfer is performed on P by the secondary transfer roll 22.

  Further, the sheet member P to which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed to the fixing device 24. Then, the toner image is fixed on the sheet member P by the fixing device 24. The sheet member P on which the toner image is fixed is discharged to the discharge unit 26 by the discharge roll 28.

  On the other hand, when images are formed on both surfaces of the sheet member P, the sheet member P, on which the toner image is fixed on one surface (front surface) by the fixing device 24, is not directly discharged to the discharge portion 26 by the discharge roll 28. The conveyance direction of the sheet member P is switched by reversing the discharge roll 28. And this sheet member P is conveyed along the double-sided conveyance path | route 72 by the conveyance rolls 74 and 76. FIG.

  The sheet member P conveyed along the double-sided conveyance path 72 is conveyed to the alignment roll 68 again with the front and back reversed. This time, after the toner image is transferred and fixed on the other surface (back surface) of the sheet member P, the sheet member P is discharged to the discharge portion 26 by the discharge roll 28.

(Main part configuration)
Next, the image carrier 34 and the like will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image carrier 34 includes a cylindrical roll member 80 and a semiconductive layer 82 (photosensitive layer) formed on the peripheral surface of the roll member 80.

(Roll member)
The roll member 80 is integrally formed with a closed bottom 80A on one end side in the axial direction of the roll member 80 (left side in the figure: hereinafter simply referred to as “one end side in the roll axial direction”). The other end side in the direction (right side in the figure: hereinafter simply referred to as “the other end side in the roll axis direction”) is open.

  The other end side of the roll member 80 in the roll axis direction is an example of a contactable part by bending the other end side (right side in the drawing) of the roll member 80 in the radial direction of the roll member 80. A flange portion 84 is formed. The flange portion 84 can contact a bearing 110 as an example of a positioning member described later in the roll axis direction.

  Further, a cylindrical shaft protrusion 88 that is a rotation shaft of the image holding member 34 is integrally formed on the closed bottom 80 </ b> A of the roll member 80. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a triangular concave portion 90 having a triangular concave shape is formed on the top wall 88 </ b> A of the axial protrusion 88. A triangular portion 105A (see FIG. 1) formed at the distal end portion of the output shaft 105 of the motor 104, which will be described later, is inserted into the triangular recess position 90, so that the rotational force is transferred to the roll member 80 (image) via the output shaft 105. Is transmitted to the holding body 34).

  Further, a triangular rib 92 that connects the peripheral surface 88B of the shaft projection 88 and the closed bottom 80A is formed integrally with the closed bottom 80A. Four triangular ribs 92 are formed at regular intervals (for example, 90 degrees) in the circumferential direction of the shaft protrusion 88.

  In the present embodiment, the roll axis direction and the apparatus depth direction are the same direction with the image forming unit 16 attached to the apparatus main body 10A. The one end side in the roll axis direction is the apparatus depth side in the apparatus depth direction, and the other end side in the roll axis direction is the apparatus front side in the apparatus depth direction.

[Method for producing roll member]
Here, the manufacturing method of the roll member 80 is demonstrated.

  The roll member 80 is manufactured (formed) from impact processing and bending processing.

  For impact processing, as shown in FIG. 6, a concave mold 204 in which a material 202 (for example, aluminum) is stored, and a cylindrical shape in which the material 202 is pressed by pressing the material 202 stored in the concave mold 204. A punch mold 200 is used.

  A protrusion 200 </ b> A for forming a shaft protrusion 88 is provided at the tip of the cylindrical punch mold 200. Further, the concave mold 204 is configured such that the front end side of the punch mold 200 is inserted, and has a circular shape in plan view along the shape of the front end side of the punch mold 200. Further, the material 202 has a short cylindrical shape in the axial direction so as to be accommodated in the concave mold 204.

  First, an impact process (impact processing) in which the tubular member 96 is formed will be described.

  First, the material 202 is accommodated in the concave mold 204 in a state where the punch mold 200 is disposed above the concave mold 204 (see FIG. 3A).

  Next, as shown in FIGS. 3B and 3C, the punch die 200 moves downward to crush and deform the material 202 stored in the concave die 204. As a result, the material 202 is deformed into a cylindrical shape along the outer peripheral surface of the punch die 200, and the cylindrical member 96 is formed.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 4A, the punch die 200 moves upward, and the cylindrical member 96 that is in close contact with the punch die 200 is separated from the concave die 204.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 4B, the cylindrical member 96 is removed from the punch die 200 (demolded). In this state, a closed bottom 80A, a shaft projection 88, and the like are integrally formed on one end side of the cylindrical member 96 in the roll axis direction, and the other end side of the cylindrical member 96 in the roll axis direction is open. . And the position of the open end edge of the cylindrical member 96 on the other end side in the roll axis direction varies in the roll axis direction (waves). This is a variation that occurs when impact machining is performed.

  Next, the bending process in which the flange part 84 is formed is demonstrated.

  As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the other end side (the right side in the figure) of the cylindrical member 96 in the roll axis direction is bent outward in the radial direction of the cylindrical member 96, so that the roll axis direction ( A bent portion 98 facing in the left-right direction in the figure is formed.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 5C, the folded portion 100 is formed by folding the front end side of the folded portion 98 facing the roll axis direction. Thereby, the flange part 84 comprised from the bending part 98 and the folding | returning part 100 is formed. That is, the flange portion 84 is formed without cutting the other end side of the cylindrical member 96 in the roll axis direction (without cutting the wavy open end edge).

  The roll member 80 is formed by the above process.

(Arrangement of image carrier)
Next, the arrangement (layout) of the image carrier 34 will be described.

  With the image forming unit 16 attached to the apparatus main body 10A, a motor 104 for rotating the image carrier 34 is disposed on one end side in the roll axis direction of the image carrier 34 as shown in FIG. Yes. The output shaft 105 of the motor 104 is supported by the housing 17 of the image forming unit 16, and the triangular portion 105 </ b> A formed at the tip of the output shaft 105 is inserted into the triangular recess position 90 of the shaft protrusion 88. Yes.

  On the other hand, a bearing 110 that rotatably supports the image carrier 34 (roll member 80) is disposed on the other end side of the image carrier 34 in the roll axis direction. Specifically, the bearing 110 is disposed so as to be in contact with the peripheral surface of the image carrier 34 and to be able to contact the flange portion 84 in the roll axis direction.

  As described above, by allowing the flange portion 84 and the bearing 110 to come into contact with each other in the roll axis direction, when the image holding body 34 (roll member 80) is mounted on the image forming unit 16 (apparatus main body 10A), The movement of the image carrier 34 in the roll axis direction is suppressed.

  Further, the movement of the image carrier 34 in the roll axis direction is suppressed, whereby the position of the image carrier 34 in the roll axis direction is determined. In other words, in the image holding body 34 including the roll member 80 having the closed bottom 80A on one end side and the other end side opened, the image holding body 34 (roll) is cut without cutting the other end side. When the member 80) is mounted on the image forming unit 16 (apparatus main body 10A), the movement of the image carrier 34 (roll member 80) in the roll axis direction is suppressed.

  That is, since the position of the open end edge on the other end side in the roll axis direction in the cylindrical member 96 (see FIG. 4B) varies in the roll axis direction, this open end edge has been conventionally cut. However, by bending the other end side of the cylindrical member 96 in the roll axis direction, the image carrier 34 (roll member 80) is mounted on the image forming unit 16 (apparatus main body 10A) without cutting the open end edge. The movement of the image carrier 34 (roll member 80) in the roll axis direction is suppressed.

  Further, a triangular rib 92 that connects the peripheral surface 88B of the shaft projection 88 and the closed bottom 80A is formed integrally with the closed bottom 80A. The triangular rib 92 prevents the shaft protrusion 88 from falling.

Second Embodiment
Next, an example of a roll member, a roll member manufacturing method, and an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, about the same member as 1st Embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 8A, a male screw part 152 as an example of a contactable part is formed on the other end side in the roll axis direction of the roll member 150 according to the second embodiment.

  The male screw portion 152 is a spiral formed by bending the other end side in the roll axis direction of the cylindrical member 96 (see FIG. 5A) to the outside in the radial direction of the cylindrical member 96 and further bending inward. The protrusions 152A are formed.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 8B, the image carrier 148 includes a semiconductive layer 156 (photosensitive layer) formed (painted) by dipping coating on the peripheral surface of the roll member 150. Further, a cylindrical cap 154 as an example of a positioning member to be screwed into the male screw portion 152 after the semiconductive layer 156 (photosensitive layer) is formed on the peripheral surface of the roll member 150 is provided.

  Specifically, a female screw portion 154A to be screwed into the male screw portion 152 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the cap 154, and the male screw portion 152 can contact the female screw portion 154A in the roll axis direction.

  Further, with respect to the screwing direction of the cap 154, the cap 154 is screwed into the male screw portion 152 due to the force generated between the male screw portion 152 and the cap 154 when the rotational force is transmitted from the motor 104 to the image carrier 148. (The direction of tightening).

  The cap 154 has a bottom plate 154B that is formed on the other end side in the roll axis direction (right side in the figure) and is spaced apart from the open end edge 150A of the roll member 150 in the roll axis direction.

  A protruding portion 154D that protrudes outward in the radial direction of the cap 154 is formed on the outer periphery of the bottom plate 154B with respect to the peripheral surface 154C of the cap 154.

  The other end side of the cap 154 in the roll axis direction supports the image carrier 148 (roll member 150) via the cap 154 so as to be rotatable, and contacts the protruding portion 154D of the cap 154 in the roll axis direction. A bearing 160 is disposed.

  As described above, the position of the image carrier 148 in the roll axis direction can be determined by allowing the male screw portion 152 formed in the roll member 150 and the female screw portion 154A of the cap 154 to contact each other in the roll axis direction. .

  Further, as described above, with respect to the screwing direction of the cap 154, the cap 154 has the male screw portion due to the force generated between the male screw portion 152 and the cap 154 when the rotational force is transmitted from the motor 104 to the image carrier 148. It is determined to be screwed into 152. For this reason, the cap 154 is suppressed from loosening with respect to the male screw portion 152.

  Further, the cap 154 is screwed into the male screw portion 152 in a state where the semiconductive layer 156 is formed on the peripheral surface of the roll member 150. Thereby, compared with the case where the semiconductive layer 156 is not formed, the frictional resistance between the male screw part 152 and the female screw part 154A of the cap 154 is increased. For this reason, the cap 154 is suppressed from loosening with respect to the male screw portion 152.

  Although the present invention has been described in detail with respect to specific embodiments, the present invention is not limited to such embodiments, and various other embodiments can be taken within the scope of the present invention. This will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the roll members 80 and 150 are used for the image carriers 34 and 148 has been described. However, the roll members 80 and 150 may be used for a fixing roll provided in the fixing device 24, and development is performed. It may be used for the developing roll provided in the apparatus 38, may be used for the primary transfer roll 52, may be used for the secondary transfer roll 22, may be used for the charging member 36 (charging roll), and the sheet member P. Or a roll member for conveying the intermediate transfer belt 42.

  In the second embodiment, the case where the rotational force is transmitted from the motor 104 to the image carrier 148 has been described. However, the rotational force may be transmitted from the motor to the cap. In this case, when the rotational force is transmitted from the motor to the cap, the direction in which the cap 154 is screwed so that the cap 154 is screwed into the male screw portion 152 by the force generated between the male screw portion 152 and the cap 154. Is decided.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image forming apparatus 34 Image holding body 38 Developing apparatus 80 Roll member 80A Blocking bottom 84 Flange part (an example of a contactable part)
96 cylindrical member 110 bearing (an example of a positioning member)
150 Roll member 152 Male screw part (an example of a contactable part)
160 Bearing (an example of a positioning member)

Claims (3)

  It is cylindrical and has a closed bottom integrally formed on one end side in the axial direction, the other end side in the axial direction is opened, and a positioning member in the axial direction by bending the other end side outward in the radial direction A roll member in which a contactable part that can be contacted is formed. By impact processing, an impact step is formed in which a closed bottom is integrally formed on one end side in the axial direction and a cylindrical member is opened on the other end side in the axial direction;
By bending the other end side in the axial direction of the cylindrical member formed in the impact process to the outside in the radial direction of the cylindrical member, a contactable part that can contact the positioning member in the axial direction is formed. Bending process;
The manufacturing method of a roll member provided with. An image carrier comprising the roll member of claim 1;
A positioning member that can contact the contactable portion in the axial direction of the image carrier;
A developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the image carrier;
An image forming apparatus comprising:

Images