JP6127803B2 - Developing device, image forming unit, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

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

  In the developing device described in Patent Document 1, the inner surface of the opening of the developing frame is fitted to the outer surface of the opening of the toner container, and the fitting surface is welded. When the sheet member is coupled to the outer surface of the opening of the toner container, the tensile direction of the sheet member becomes the direction of the sealing surface of the sheet member, and the sheet member is difficult to peel off.

JP 09-96958 A

  An object of the present invention is to prevent the developer contained inside from being leaked to the outside of the developing device during conveyance.

A developing device according to claim 1 of the present invention regulates a developing member that holds a developer while rotating and a layer thickness of the developer that extends along an axial direction of the developing member and is held by the developing member. A layer thickness regulating member, a holding member that holds and accommodates the developing member and the layer thickness regulating member, and fixed to the holding member so as to sandwich the layer thickness regulating member on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the layer thickness regulating member A sheet-like sheet that is open to the holding member side and that contains a developer therein and that suppresses the developer contained in the container from being supplied to the holding member side. A member is affixed around the opening edge of the housing portion, and a housing member in which a facing surface facing the at least one end surface of the layer thickness regulating member in the axial direction is formed, and the facing surface and the end surface Disposed between the housing member and the holding member. And a gap member for restricting the deformation of the axial direction of the housing member when said end surface or the opposing surface when the deformation in the axial direction with respect to the member, the layer thickness regulating member is a cylindrical, The gap member is arranged on a center line of the layer thickness regulating member .

The developing device according to claim 2 of the present invention regulates the developing member that holds the developer while rotating and the layer thickness of the developer that extends along the axial direction of the developing member and is held by the developing member. A layer thickness regulating member, a holding member that holds and accommodates the developing member and the layer thickness regulating member, and fixed to the holding member so as to sandwich the layer thickness regulating member on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the layer thickness regulating member A sheet-like sheet that is open to the holding member side and that contains a developer therein and that suppresses the developer contained in the container from being supplied to the holding member side. A member is affixed around the opening edge of the housing portion, and a housing member in which a facing surface facing the at least one end surface of the layer thickness regulating member in the axial direction is formed, and the facing surface and the end surface Disposed between the housing member and the holding member. And a gap member for restricting the deformation of the axial direction of the housing member when said end surface or the opposing surface when the deformation in the axial direction with respect to the member, the gap member, said housing member and integrally It is a projecting portion formed and projecting from the facing surface toward the end surface .

The developing device according to a third aspect of the present invention is the developing device according to the first aspect , wherein the gap member is formed integrally with the housing member and protrudes from the facing surface toward the end surface. It is characterized by being.

  An image forming unit according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is an image holding member on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, and the electrostatic latent image formed on the image holding member is developed as a toner image. And a developing device according to any one of the above.

  An image forming apparatus according to a fifth aspect of the present invention includes: the image forming unit according to the fourth aspect; and a transfer member that transfers a toner image formed by the developing device of the image forming unit to a recording medium. It is characterized by.

  An image forming apparatus according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is an image holding member on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, and the electrostatic latent image formed on the image holding member is developed as a toner image. A developing device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, and a transfer member that transfers a toner image developed by the developing device to a recording medium.

  According to the developing device of the first aspect of the present invention, the developer accommodated inside leaks to the outside of the developing device during the conveyance as compared with the case where the configuration according to the first aspect is not provided. Can be suppressed.

  According to the developing device of the second aspect of the present invention, the developer housed inside leaks to the outside of the developing device during the conveyance as compared with the case where the configuration according to the second aspect is not provided. Can be suppressed.

  According to the developing device of the third aspect of the present invention, the construction can be made cheaper than the case where the gap member is a separate member.

  According to the image forming unit of claim 4 of the present invention, as compared with the case where the developing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 is not provided, the developer accommodated inside is conveyed during the conveyance. It is possible to suppress leakage to the outside.

  According to the image forming apparatus of claims 5 and 6 of the present invention, the developer leaks to the outside of the developing device as compared with the case where the developing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 is not provided. An image can be formed using a developing device in which the above is suppressed.

(A) (B) It is an expanded sectional view which showed fixation of the housing | casing and accommodating member which were used for the image development apparatus concerning embodiment of this invention. (A) (B) It is an expanded sectional view which showed fixation of the housing | casing and accommodating member which were used for the image development apparatus concerning embodiment of this invention. FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view showing fixation between a housing and a housing member used in the developing device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view showing fixation between a housing and a housing member used in the developing device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view showing a housing member used in the developing device according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is the bottom view which showed the accommodating member used for the image development apparatus concerning embodiment of this invention. It is the perspective view which showed the accommodating member used for the image development apparatus concerning embodiment of this invention. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a developing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a perspective view showing a developing device and an image carrier according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a developing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a developing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an image forming unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  An example of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the figure, an arrow H indicates the vertical direction of the apparatus (vertical direction), an arrow W indicates the width direction of the apparatus (horizontal direction), and an arrow D indicates the depth direction of the apparatus (horizontal direction).

(overall structure)
As shown in FIG. 14, the image forming apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment includes an accommodating portion 14 that accommodates a sheet member P as a recording medium from below to above in the vertical direction (arrow H direction). , A conveyance unit 16 that conveys the sheet member P accommodated in the accommodation unit 14, an image forming unit 20 that forms an image on the sheet member P conveyed by the conveyance unit 16 from the accommodation unit 14, and an original that reads the read original G The reading unit 22 is provided in this order. Further, the image forming apparatus 10 includes a manual sheet feeding unit 90 that manually feeds the sheet member P.

[Container]
The accommodating portion 14 includes an accommodating member 26 that can be pulled out from the apparatus main body 10A of the image forming apparatus 10 to the front side in the apparatus depth direction, and the sheet member P is stacked on the accommodating member 26 (FIG. 13). reference). Further, the accommodating portion 14 is provided with a delivery roll 32 that sends the stacked sheet members P to the conveyance path 28 that constitutes the conveyance portion 16.

[Transport section]
The conveying unit 16 is disposed on the downstream side in the conveying direction of the sheet member P with respect to the delivery roll 32 (hereinafter simply referred to as “downstream side in the conveying direction”), and separates and conveys the sheet members P one by one. A separation roll 34 is provided.

  Further, in the conveyance path 28, the sheet member P is stopped once at the downstream side in the conveyance direction with respect to the separation roll 34, and the alignment roller 36 that sends the sheet member P to a transfer position T described later at a predetermined timing. Is arranged.

  Further, a discharge roll 76 that discharges the sheet member P on which the image is formed by the image forming unit 20 to a discharge unit 74 formed above the image forming unit 20 is disposed on the terminal end side of the conveyance path 28. .

  On the other hand, in order to form images on both sides of the sheet member P, a duplex conveying unit 78 that reverses the front and back of the sheet member P is provided on the side of the apparatus main body 10A. The duplex conveying unit 78 includes a reversing path 82 through which the sheet member P conveyed by reversing the discharge roll 76 is fed. Further, a plurality of conveying rolls 84 are arranged along the reversing path 82, and the sheet member P conveyed by these conveying rolls 84 is conveyed again to the alignment roll 36 with the front and back sides reversed. ing.

[Manual Feeder]
Further, a foldable manual sheet feeding unit 90 is provided next to the duplex conveying unit 78. The manual paper feed unit 90 includes a manual paper feed member 92 that can be opened and closed. Further, a sheet feeding roll 94 for conveying the sheet member P fed from the opened manual sheet feeding member 92 and a plurality of conveyance rolls 96 are provided in the manual sheet feeding unit 90, and are conveyed by the conveyance roll 96. The sheet member P is conveyed to the alignment roll 36.

[Original reading section]
On the other hand, the original reading unit 22 provided on the upper side of the image forming apparatus 10 has a read original G carried on the platen glass 42 on the read original G conveyed by the automatic original conveying apparatus 40 that conveys the read original G. A light source 44 for irradiating light is provided.

  Further, the original reading unit 22 has a full-rate mirror 46 that reflects the reflected light that is irradiated from the light source 44 and reflected from the read original G in a direction parallel to the platen glass 42, and the reflected light that is reflected by the full-rate mirror 46 is downward. The half-rate mirror 48 that reflects to the platen, the half-rate mirror 50 that reflects and reflects the reflected light reflected by the half-rate mirror 48 in a direction parallel to the platen glass 42, and the reflected light that is folded by the half-rate mirror 50 are incident. And an imaging lens 52 are provided.

  In addition, the document reading unit 22 includes a photoelectric conversion element 54 that converts the reflected light imaged by the imaging lens 52 into an electrical signal, and further performs image processing on the electrical signal converted by the photoelectric conversion element 54. An image processing unit 24 is provided.

  The light source 44, the full rate mirror 46, the half rate mirror 48, and the half rate mirror 50 are movable along the platen glass 42. When reading the read original G placed on the platen glass 42, the read original G placed on the platen glass 42 while moving the light source 44, the full rate mirror 46, the half rate mirror 48 and the half rate mirror 50. The reflected light reflected from the read original G is imaged on the photoelectric conversion element 54.

  When reading the read document G conveyed by the automatic document conveying device 40, the light source 44, the full rate mirror 46, the half rate mirror 48 and the half rate mirror 50 are stopped and the reading conveyed by the automatic document conveying device 40 is performed. The light source 44 irradiates the original G with light, and the reflected light reflected from the read original G forms an image on the photoelectric conversion element 54.

(Image forming part)
As shown in FIGS. 12 and 14, the image forming unit 20 includes an image carrier 56, a charging member 58 that charges the surface of the image carrier 56, and the surface of the image carrier 56 that is charged based on image data. An exposure device 60 that irradiates exposure light to form an electrostatic latent image, and a developing device 62 that develops the electrostatic latent image and visualizes it as a toner image.

  Further, the image forming unit 20 includes a transfer roll 64 as an example of a transfer member that transfers the toner image formed on the surface of the image holding member 56 to the sheet member P conveyed along the conveyance path 28, and a heating roll 66H. And a pressure roller 66N, a fixing device 66 that heats and pressurizes the toner image on the sheet member P and fixes the toner image on the sheet member P, and the toner remaining on the image carrier 56 after the toner image is transferred. And a cleaning blade 68 for cleaning the image carrier 56 by scraping off the image carrier 56 from the image carrier 56.

  Further, a toner cartridge 72 connected to the developing device 62 via a supply pipe (not shown) is disposed obliquely above the exposure device 60. The toner cartridge 72 is filled with toner to be supplied to the developing device 62 through a supply pipe.

  In this configuration, the sheet member P fed from the alignment roll 36 is conveyed to a transfer position T constituted by the image holding body 56 and the transfer roll 64, and is sandwiched between the image holding body 56 and the transfer roll 64. Be transported. As a result, the toner image formed on the image carrier 56 on the sheet member P is transferred to the sheet member P.

  Here, the image holding member 56, the charging member 58, the developing device 62, and the cleaning blade 68 constitute an image forming unit 70, and the image forming unit 70 is detachable from the apparatus main body 10A. .

  Details of the developing device 62 will be described later.

(Operation of the overall configuration)
In the image forming apparatus 10, an image is formed as follows.

  First, the charging member 58 to which a voltage has been applied uniformly charges the surface of the image carrier 56 uniformly at a predetermined potential. Subsequently, the exposure device 60 irradiates the surface of the image carrier 56 charged by the exposure device 60 based on image data read by the document reading unit 22 or data input from the outside to form an electrostatic latent image. .

  As a result, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image data is formed on the surface of the image carrier 56. Further, the electrostatic latent image is developed by the developing device 62 and visualized as a toner image.

  Therefore, the sheet member P sent out from the storage member 26 to the transport path 28 by the sending roll 32 or fed from the manual sheet feeding member 92 to the transport path 28 is determined by the alignment roll 36. Sent to the transfer position T at the same timing. At the transfer position T, the sheet member P is nipped and conveyed between the image carrier 56 and the transfer roll 64, whereby the toner image formed on the surface of the image carrier 56 is transferred to the surface of the sheet member P.

  The toner image transferred to the sheet member P is fixed to the sheet member P when the sheet member P passes between a heating roll 66H and a pressure roll 66N provided in the fixing device 66. Then, the sheet member P with the toner image fixed on the surface is discharged to the discharge portion 74 by the discharge roll 76.

  On the other hand, when an image is also formed on the back surface of the sheet member P, the discharge roller 76 is reversed without discharging the sheet member P to the discharge unit 74, and the sheet member P on which the toner image is formed is reversed. Send to path 82. As a result, the front and back of the sheet member P are reversed, and the transport roll 84 transports the sheet member P to the alignment roll 36 again.

This time, the toner image is transferred to the back surface of the sheet member P at the transfer position T, and the sheet member P on which the toner image is transferred to the back surface is discharged to the discharge unit 74 in the above-described procedure.
(Main part configuration)
Next, the developing device 62 will be described.

  FIG. 12 shows a state where an unused image forming unit 70 is mounted on the apparatus main body 10A, and the developer G in the developing device 62 is stored in a storage member 118 described later.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the developing device 62 is disposed so as to face the image holding member 56, and is an example of a developing member that conveys the developer G toward the image holding member 56 while holding the developer G on the outer peripheral surface. A developing roll 102 and a layer thickness regulating member 104 that regulates the layer thickness of the developer G held on the developing roll 102 are provided.

  Further, the developing device 62 is disposed obliquely below the developing roll 102 and is adjacent to the first agitating / conveying auger 108 that conveys the developer G pumped up by the developing roll 102 and the first agitating / conveying auger 108 (right next to the drawing). And a second agitating / conveying auger 110 disposed in a).

  Further, the developing device 62 includes a housing 116 as an example of a holding member that holds and accommodates the developing roll 102, the layer thickness regulating member 104, the first stirring and transporting auger 108, and the second stirring and transporting auger 110, and the developing device. And a housing member 118 that temporarily houses the developer G until 62 is operated.

[Stirring transport auger]
The first stirring / conveying auger 108 and the second stirring / conveying auger 110 are respectively provided with a rotating shaft 108A and a rotating shaft 110A, and helical spiral blades 108B and 110B formed on the peripheral surfaces of the rotating shafts 108A and 110A, It has. Further, a rotational force is transmitted from a drive source (not shown) to the rotary shaft 108A and the rotary shaft 110A.

  Further, a partition wall 115 rising upward from the bottom of the casing 116 is formed between the first stirring / conveying auger 108 and the second stirring / conveying auger 110 so as to extend in the apparatus depth direction. A wall 115 partitions a first stirring path 120 in which the first stirring / conveying auger 108 is disposed and a second stirring path 122 in which the second stirring / transporting auger 110 is disposed.

  Furthermore, both ends of the partition wall 115 in the longitudinal direction (apparatus depth direction) are open, and the first stirring path 120 and the second stirring path 122 are connected at both ends of the partition wall 115.

  In this configuration, when the developer G stored in the storage member 118 is supplied into the housing 116, the developer G is rotated by the first agitation transport auger 108 and the second agitation transport auger 110, respectively. The first agitating path 120 and the second agitating path 122 are conveyed while being agitated, and circulate between the first agitating path 120 and the second agitating path 122.

[Development roll / layer thickness regulating member]
The developing roll 102 is disposed so as to face the image carrier 56, and a negative developing bias voltage is applied from a power supply unit (not shown). The developing roll 102 is cylindrical and includes a cylindrical sleeve 124 that rotates in the circumferential direction and a columnar magnet roll 126 that is inserted into the cylindrical sleeve 124. The cylindrical sleeve 124 receives a rotational force from a drive source (not shown), and rotates around the center line of the magnet roll 126 in the direction of arrow C shown in FIG.

  Further, the layer thickness regulating member 104 is a cylindrical shaft formed of a metal such as stainless steel, and the axial direction of the developing roll 102 (in this embodiment, the same direction as the “apparatus depth direction”: hereinafter simply referred to as “roll axial direction”. And a predetermined gap with respect to the developing roll 102.

  In this configuration, when the developer G stored in the storage member 118 is supplied into the housing 116, the first stirring and conveying is performed by the magnetic force of the magnet roll 126 of the developing roll 102 as shown in FIG. The developer G conveyed by the auger 108 is pumped up. Then, the developer G pumped up is transported toward the image holding member 56 by the rotating cylindrical sleeve 124, and the layer thickness is regulated against the layer thickness regulating member 104, and the developer G in which the layer thickness is regulated. Is conveyed to the image carrier 56.

[Case and housing material]
[Case]
The casing 116 is molded of a resin material, and as shown in FIGS. 10 and 12, the upper part in the vertical direction is opened. A housing member 118 is provided so as to cover the opened portion of the housing 116 from above. Then, with the housing member 118 attached to the housing 116, an opening 130 for bringing the developing roll 102 into contact with the image carrier 56 is provided between the housing member 118 and the housing 116 as shown in FIG. To be formed.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 10, the housing 116 includes a support portion 152 that supports a portion of the layer thickness regulating member 104 on the near side in the apparatus depth direction, and a layer thickness regulating member 104 on the far side in the apparatus depth direction. And a support portion 154 for supporting the portion.

[Supporting part (housing)]
As shown in FIGS. 1A, 1 </ b> B, and 10, the support portion 152 has a through hole that penetrates in the depth direction of the apparatus and is equivalent to the outer diameter of the layer thickness regulating member 104. 152A is formed. The end of the layer thickness regulating member 104 protrudes from the through hole 152A by passing a portion of the layer thickness regulating member 104 on the near side in the apparatus depth direction through the through hole 152A. In this way, the portion on the near side in the apparatus depth direction of the layer thickness regulating member 104 is supported by the support portion 152.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 10, the support portion 154 is formed with a cylindrical recess portion 156 having an opening on the near side in the apparatus depth direction. Then, by inserting the depth side portion of the layer thickness regulating member 104 in the apparatus depth direction into the recessed portion 156, the depth side portion of the layer thickness regulating member 104 in the device depth direction is supported by the support portion 154. It is like that.

  Furthermore, the movement of the layer thickness regulating member 104 to the back side in the apparatus depth direction is regulated by bringing the end surface 104B in the apparatus depth direction of the layer thickness regulating member 104 into contact with the bottom surface 156A of the recessed portion 156. It has become so.

[Housing member]
The housing member 118 is formed of a resin material, and as shown in FIG. 12, the housing portion 132 disposed above the second stirring path 122 formed in the housing 116, and the device width with respect to the housing portion 132. In the direction, it has a protection part 134 arranged so as to cover the layer thickness regulating member 104 on the left side in the drawing, and an attachment part 136 arranged on the opposite side of the protection part 134 with respect to the accommodating part 132.

[Accommodating part (accommodating member)]
In the accommodating portion 132, the second stirring path 122 side (lower side) is opened, and a space forming portion 138 in which an accommodating space 138B in which the developer G is accommodated is formed, and an opening edge 138A of the space forming portion 138. , And a peripheral portion 142 formed around the periphery. The surrounding portion 142 is formed with a downward surface 142A facing downward in the vertical direction.

  Further, the housing portion 132 is formed with three ribs 140 that protrude from the top plate of the space forming portion 138 to the housing space 138B side and extend in the apparatus depth direction as shown in FIG. The top surface 140A and the downward surface 142A of the rib 140 are arranged on a common plane.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 12, a sheet-like sheet welded (attached) to the top surface 140A and the downward surface 142A at the hatched portion so as to cover the accommodation space 138B. A sheet member 144 is provided extending in the apparatus depth direction. Then, as shown in FIG. 8, the sheet member 144 is folded back on the back side in the apparatus depth direction, and the folded back end 144A is formed between the housing member 118 and the housing 116 on the near side in the apparatus depth direction. It protrudes from the space and is exposed.

  The sheet member 144 is welded to the top surface 140A and the downward surface 142A so as to cover the accommodation space 138B until the developing device 62 is operated, and the developer G is supplied from the accommodation space 138B to the housing 116 side. It is a member which suppresses being done. When the developer G is supplied to the housing 116 side, for example, when the developing device 62 is conveyed and shaken, the developer G leaks from the opening 130 (see FIG. 12) to the outside of the developing device 62. For this reason, it is necessary to suppress the developer G from being supplied to the housing 116 side from the accommodation space 138B.

Therefore, before operating the developing device 62, the user holds the end portion 144 </ b> A (see FIG. 9) of the sheet member 144 and pulls out the sheet member 144 from the developing device 62 while peeling the welded portion of the sheet member 144. The accommodation space 138B is opened, and the developer G is supplied to the housing 116 side.

[Mounting part (housing member)]
As shown in FIG. 12, the attachment portion 136 is formed with a plate-like flange portion 148 extending downward from the right end portion in the drawing in the apparatus width direction in the peripheral portion 142.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the flange portion 148 extends from the front side in the apparatus depth direction (right side in the figure) to the back side, and is formed to reach the near end of the housing member 118 in the apparatus depth direction. Yes.

  A plate-like flange portion 150 extending downward from the end of the peripheral portion 142 is formed on the back side of the housing member 118 in the apparatus depth direction, similarly to the flange portion 148.

  Furthermore, a plurality of (three in the present embodiment) rectangular through holes 148A are formed in the flange portion 148 at intervals in the apparatus depth direction, and a similarly shaped through hole 150A is also formed in the flange portion 150. Has been. 9 and 12, the claw portion 116A formed in the housing 116 is hooked on the edge portion of the through hole 148A and the through hole 150A. Accordingly, the housing member 118 is fixed to the housing 116 by the attachment portion 136.

[Protection part (housing member)]
As shown in FIG. 12, the protective portion 134 extends upward from the left end portion of the peripheral portion 142 in the apparatus width direction in the drawing and bends toward the image holding body 56 in the middle to be layer thickness regulating member 104. A protective part 158 is formed so as to cover the surface.

  As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 5, the upper end portion and the side end portion of the plate-like wall portion 160 whose plate surface faces the device depth direction are connected to the front side of the protection portion 158 in the device depth direction, Further, the lower end portion of the wall portion 160 is connected to an end portion of a plate-like attachment portion 162 whose plate surface faces the vertical direction. The attachment part 162 is also connected to a part obtained by extending the vertical wall constituting the protection part 158.

  As shown in FIG. 1A, the wall portion 160 is formed with a facing surface 160A that faces the end surface 104A of the layer thickness regulating member 104 in the roll axis direction.

In addition, a circular through-hole 162A (see FIG. 5) is formed in the attachment portion 162, and a screw 164 is formed through the through-hole 162A on the front side of the housing 116 in the apparatus depth direction. The screw hole 117 is tightened. As a result, the housing member 118 is fixed to the housing 116 at the front side of the protection unit 134 in the apparatus depth direction. In other words, the housing member 118 is fixed to the housing 116 at one end side in the longitudinal direction of the layer thickness regulating member 104 .

  The support portion 152 described above is formed by protruding upward from the attachment portion 174.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 1 (B), the protruding portion that protrudes from the end portion of the wall portion 160 toward the end surface 104A of the layer thickness regulating member 104 and is disposed between the facing surface 160A and the end surface 104A. As an example, a rib 166 is formed. The rib 166 is disposed on the center line M of the layer thickness regulating member 104 (center line extending in the longitudinal direction of the layer thickness regulating member 104).

  In consideration of workability for attaching the housing member 118 to the housing 116 from above, a tapered surface 166A (see FIG. 5) inclined with respect to the vertical direction is formed on the lower portion of the rib 166, and the rib A gap of about 0.2 to 0.3 [mm] is provided between the front end of 166 and the end face 104A.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2 (B) and FIG. 4, on the far side of the protection part 158 in the apparatus depth direction, the vertical wall 158A constituting the protection part 158 is extended to the back side in the apparatus depth direction. A plate-like attachment site 170 formed by extending this portion upward in the vertical direction is formed.

As shown in FIG. 2B, the attachment site 170 is formed with a through-hole 170A that passes therethrough. On the other hand, a mounting portion 176 is formed on the rear side of the housing 116 in the apparatus depth direction so as to protrude upward from the support portion 154 as shown in FIG. 2A and 2B, the screw 172 is tightened into the screw hole 176A formed in the attachment portion 176 through the above-described through hole 170A. As a result, the housing member 118 is fixed to the housing 116 at the back portion of the protection portion 134 in the apparatus depth direction. In other words, the housing member 118 is fixed to the housing 116 on the other end side in the longitudinal direction of the layer thickness regulating member 104 .

(Function)
Next, the operation of the main configuration will be described. Specifically, the case where the image forming unit 70 including the developing device 62 is conveyed from the factory will be mainly described.

  When the image forming unit 70 is transported from the factory, as shown in FIG. 6, the sheet member 144 is hatched on the top surface 140A and the downward surface 142A in the drawing so as to cover the accommodation space 138B. It is welded at the part. Accordingly, the developer G is supplied from the accommodation space 138B to the housing 116 side, and the developer G is prevented from leaking out of the developing device 62 from the opening 130 (see FIG. 12).

Then, the user holds the end portion 144A (see FIG. 9) of the sheet member 144 before attaching the conveyed image forming unit 70 to the apparatus main body 10A (see FIG. 14) and operating the developing device 62. , it pulled out sheet member 144 from the developing device 62 while peeling off the welded portion of the sheet member 144. As a result, the developer G is supplied to the housing 116 side, and the image forming apparatus 10 can form a toner image.

  Here, the image forming unit 70 is conveyed in a state of being accommodated in a box. For example, an operator may accidentally drop a box containing the image forming unit 70 while the image forming unit 70 is being transported. When the box is accidentally dropped in this way, the housing member 118 is deformed, so that the welded portion of the sheet member 144 is peeled off, and the developer G is supplied from the housing space 138B to the housing 116 side and opened. It is conceivable that leakage from 130 to the outside of the developing device 62 occurs.

  However, as described above, the housing member 118 is fixed to the housing 116 with the screws 164 and 172 on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the layer thickness regulating member 104. Furthermore, the accommodating member 118 is formed with ribs 166 that protrude from the end of the wall portion 160 toward the end surface 104A of the layer thickness regulating member 104 and reduce the gap between the facing surface 160A and the end surface 104A.

  For this reason, for example, when the box in which the image forming unit 70 is accommodated is accidentally dropped with the roll axis direction set to the vertical direction, the protection unit 134 in the accommodation member 118 is connected to the screw 164 in the roll axis direction. Deformation occurs between the screw 172 and the screw 172. Then, in the roll axis direction, the protection portion 134 of the housing member 118 is deformed with respect to the casing 116, so that the tip of the rib 166 and the end surface 104 </ b> A come into contact with each other. Further, the end surface 104B in the apparatus depth direction of the layer thickness regulating member 104 is in contact with the bottom surface 156A of the recessed portion 156, so that the movement of the layer thickness regulating member 104 to the back side in the apparatus depth direction is regulated. (See FIG. 2A).

  Thereby, it is suppressed that the protection part 134 of the housing member 118 is deformed in the roll axis direction with respect to the casing 116. By suppressing the deformation of the protection part 134, the deformation of the storage part 132 connected to the protection part 134 is also suppressed.

  Thus, by restricting the deformation of the accommodating portion 132 of the accommodating member 118, the welded portion of the sheet member 144 is peeled from the downward surface 142A, and the developer G is supplied from the accommodating space 138B to the housing 116 side. Thus, leakage from the opening 130 to the outside of the developing device 62 is suppressed.

[Evaluation]
Accordingly, the box in which the image forming unit 70 is accommodated is dropped in a plurality of postures from a predetermined height, and the peeled state of the welded portion on the sheet member 144 is confirmed.

  In the evaluation, the distance between the end face 104A of the layer thickness regulating member 104 and the facing face 160A (distance J in FIG. 1B) is 0.5 [mm], and the height of the rib 166 is 0.3 [mm]. A member having a distance from the tip of the rib 166 to the end face 104A (distance K in FIG. 1B) of 0.2 mm was used as Example 1.

  Further, the distance between the end surface 104A of the layer thickness regulating member 104 and the facing surface 160A is 0.5 [mm], the height of the rib 166 is 0.2 [mm], and the distance from the tip of the rib 166 to the end surface 104A is A member having a thickness of 0.3 [mm] was used as Example 2.

  Further, a member having no rib formed with the distance between the end surface 104A of the layer thickness regulating member 104 and the facing surface 160A being 0.5 [mm] was used as a comparative example.

  About specifications other than the specifications mentioned above, it was set as the same specification between each evaluation member, and the same evaluation was performed.

  As an evaluation result, about Example 1 and Example 2, peeling did not generate | occur | produce in the welding part of the sheet | seat member 144 and 142 A of downward surfaces in all the attitude | positions.

  On the other hand, in the comparative example, peeling occurred at a part of the welded portion between the sheet member 144 and the downward surface 142A in some postures.

[Summary]
As can be seen from the evaluation result, the accommodating member 118 is fixed to the casing 116 on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the layer thickness regulating member 104, and the opposing surface 160A and the end surface 104A of the layer thickness regulating member 104 are attached to the accommodating member 118. By forming the rib 166 that reduces the gap between the developer G and the developer G contained in the developing device 62 during the conveyance, the developer G is prevented from leaking to the outside of the developing device 62.

  Further, since the developer G accommodated in the developing device 62 is prevented from leaking to the outside of the developing device 62 during the conveyance, the image forming unit 70 is attached to the image forming device 10 and an image is output. At this time, as compared with the case where the developer G leaks to the outside of the developing device 62 and decreases, images are formed on a large number of sheet members P.

[Others]
Further, as shown in FIG. 1B, the rib 166 is disposed on the center line of the layer thickness regulating member 104. As a result, when the box in which the image forming unit 70 is accommodated is dropped and the tip of the rib 166 and the end surface 104A of the end surface 104A of the layer thickness regulating member 104 contact each other, the rib 166 and the layer thickness regulating member 104 The load is effectively transmitted between them. For this reason, the deformation of the storage portion 132 of the storage member 118 is effectively regulated, and the developer G is supplied from the storage space 138B to the housing 116 and leaks from the opening 130 to the outside of the developing device 62. Is suppressed.

  Further, a rib 166 that protrudes from the end of the wall portion 160 toward the end surface 104A of the layer thickness regulating member 104 is used as a gap member that reduces the gap between the facing surface 160A and the end surface 104A of the layer thickness regulating member 104. ing. For example, the gap between the facing surface 160A and the end surface 104A can be reduced with an inexpensive configuration as compared with a case where a separate member is attached to the wall portion to reduce the gap between the facing surface 160A and the end surface 104A.

  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, a metal columnar shaft is used as the layer thickness regulating member 104, but a member formed of sheet metal or the like may be used as the layer thickness regulating member.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the rib 166 which protrudes toward the end surface 104A of the layer thickness control member 104 from the edge part of the wall part 160 was used as an example of a clearance member, it protrudes from the end surface of a layer thickness control member to an opposing surface. You may use the protrusion etc. which do as a clearance gap member.

  In the above-described embodiment, the image forming unit 70 is detachable from the apparatus main body 10A. However, the developing device 62 may be detachable from the apparatus main body 10A. The apparatus 62 will be conveyed in the state accommodated in the box.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image forming apparatus 62 Developing apparatus 64 Transfer roll (an example of transfer member)
70 Image forming unit 102 Developing roll (example of developing member)
104 Layer thickness regulating member 104A End face
144 sheet member 116 housing (an example of a holding member)
118 accommodating member 132 accommodating portion 160A opposing surface 166 rib (an example of a gap member and a protruding portion)

Claims (6)

A developing member that holds the developer while rotating;
A layer thickness regulating member that extends along the axial direction of the developing member and regulates the layer thickness of the developer held by the developing member;
A holding member that holds and accommodates the developing member and the layer thickness regulating member;
A holding portion is formed that is fixed to the holding member so as to sandwich the layer thickness regulating member on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the layer thickness regulating member, opens to the holding member side, and accommodates a developer therein, A sheet-like sheet member that suppresses the developer contained in the housing part from being supplied to the holding member side is pasted around the opening edge of the housing part, and at least one end surface of the layer thickness regulating member And a housing member formed with opposing surfaces facing each other in the axial direction;
It arrange | positions between the said opposing surface and the said end surface, and when the said accommodating member deform | transforms with respect to the said holding member in the said axial direction, it contacts the said end surface or the said opposing surface, and the deformation | transformation of the said axial direction of the said accommodating member is controlled. A gap member,
The layer thickness regulating member is cylindrical.
The developing device is configured such that the gap member is disposed on a center line of the layer thickness regulating member. A developing member that holds the developer while rotating;
A layer thickness regulating member that extends along the axial direction of the developing member and regulates the layer thickness of the developer held by the developing member;
A holding member that holds and accommodates the developing member and the layer thickness regulating member;
A holding portion is formed that is fixed to the holding member so as to sandwich the layer thickness regulating member on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the layer thickness regulating member, opens to the holding member side, and accommodates a developer therein, A sheet-like sheet member that suppresses the developer contained in the housing part from being supplied to the holding member side is pasted around the opening edge of the housing part, and at least one end surface of the layer thickness regulating member And a housing member formed with opposing surfaces facing each other in the axial direction;
It arrange | positions between the said opposing surface and the said end surface, and when the said accommodating member deform | transforms with respect to the said holding member in the said axial direction, it contacts the said end surface or the said opposing surface, and the deformation | transformation of the said axial direction of the said accommodating member is controlled. A gap member,
The developing device, wherein the gap member is a protruding portion that is formed integrally with the housing member and protrudes from the facing surface toward the end surface. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the gap member is a protrusion that is formed integrally with the housing member and protrudes from the facing surface toward the end surface. An image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed;
The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier is developed as a toner image.
An image forming unit comprising: An image forming unit according to claim 4,
A transfer member for transferring a toner image formed by the developing device of the image forming unit to a recording medium;
An image forming apparatus comprising: An image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed;
The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier is developed as a toner image.
A transfer member for transferring a toner image developed by the developing device to a recording medium;
An image forming apparatus comprising: