JPH09274382A - Developing device and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To excellently seal between a developing unit case and a latent image carrier even when a developing device is attached/detached and to prevent the contamination in the device by providing a taper on a seal member on the inner side in the attaching direction of the developing device and at a part outside an image area. SOLUTION: The seal member 300 made of an elastic sheet such as polyester film and stuck to a supporting member 301 is provided at the upstream part of a developing roller 31. When a photoreceptor drum 1 is attached, the seal member 300 is positioned on a line M inclined in the direction of an arrow αto the normal line L of the surface of the photoreceptor drum, and the leading edge of the seal member 300 is bent further in the inclined direction and comes in contact with the drum 1 so as to prevent the scattering of the toner from the developing device 32. The taper is provided on the inner side of the member 300 and at the part outside the area where the latent image is formed on the drum 1 at the time of attaching the member 300. Thus, one end of the member 300 on the inner side is prevented from butting against the end face of the flange part of the drum 1 and being turned up at the time of attaching the developing device to a device main body.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile, and a printer.
A developer carrier rotatably provided in the opening of the developing device case, a developer accommodating portion for accommodating the developer to be supplied to the developer carrier therein, and a developer accommodating portion in the longitudinal direction of the developer device case. The present invention relates to a developing device, which is provided in contact with a latent image carrier, and includes a sheet-shaped development seal member that seals between the developer case and the latent image carrier, and an image forming apparatus. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in this type of developing device, for example, a developing roller as a developing carrier is provided in order to generate pressure due to toner being agitated or conveyed in the developing device during operation. The toner in the apparatus may spill or spout from the opening of the developing device case. The spilled or spouted toner may induce charging of the image forming apparatus, contamination of the optical device, and the like, which may cause a defective image.
Therefore, a sheet-like sealing member is provided in the longitudinal direction of the developing device case in contact with the latent image carrier to seal between the photosensitive drum as the latent image carrier and the developing device case. What you have done is known. Here, for example, when a photosensitive drum is used as the latent image carrier, the seal member is arranged so as to bite into the region where the photosensitive drum is to be mounted by, for example, about 2 mm, and in the mounted state of the photosensitive drum. It is desirable that the tip end portion comes into contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum and bends in a direction that follows the rotational direction of the photosensitive drum.

[0003]

An ordinary image forming apparatus is composed of various devices such as a charging device, a developing device, a latent image carrier, a cleaning device, etc., and these devices can be easily formed. It is arranged to be detachable from the main body. This is because there are consumable items such as a latent image carrier and a developer in the members that form the image forming apparatus.
This is because these members can be easily replaced. However, the above-mentioned various devices are often determined in order to be detached or attached to the main body due to positioning and the like. For example, when it is desired to remove the developing device in order to replace the developer, the developing device may be removed only after first removing the charging device and then the image carrier device. In this case, the mounting procedure is the reverse of the removal procedure, that is, the developing device is mounted first, and then the image carrier and the charging device are mounted.

Here, the developer bearing member in the developing device and the latent image bearing member are constructed so as to maintain a strict gap accuracy of, for example, 1 mm or less. For this reason, when the developing device is provided with a sheet-like seal member arranged so as to bite into the latent image carrier by about 2 mm in the state where the developing device is mounted, when the latent image carrier is mounted on the main body, the above-mentioned seal is used. The end face of the front end of the member hits the end face of the latent image carrier,
The seal member sometimes turned up in the direction opposite to the desired direction. If the seal member is turned up, a gap is created between the latent image carrier and the developing device case, toner leaks out, and the inside of the image forming apparatus is contaminated.

Further, contrary to the above construction, also in an image forming apparatus in which the developing device is mounted after mounting the latent image carrier when mounting various devices, the seal member is mounted when the developing device is mounted in the main body. The back end of the sheet hits the end surface of the latent image carrier, and the seal member is turned up. Similarly, there is a problem that the toner leaks out and contaminates the inside of the apparatus.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to prevent the toner from leaking into the apparatus even if the developing apparatus or the latent image carrier is detached. And an image forming apparatus.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 provides a developer carrier rotatably provided in an opening of a developer case, and the developer carrier. A developer accommodating portion for accommodating the developer to be supplied therein is provided in a state of being in contact with the latent image carrier in the longitudinal direction of the developer case, and a seal is provided between the developer case and the latent image carrier. A sheet-like seal member, which is detachable from the main body of the image forming apparatus, the seal member is inclined with respect to the normal line of the surface of the latent image carrier, and the tip of the seal member is inclined. Is contacted with the surface of the latent image bearing member in a further bent direction, and the length of the sealing member in the longitudinal direction is the same as the lengthwise direction of the area where a latent image is formed on the surface of the latent image bearing member. Set longer than the length, above the seal member One end of the seal member, which is on the back side in the direction, is located on the back side in the mounting direction of the developing device with respect to the main body of the image forming apparatus having the latent image carrier and outside the area. It is characterized in that it is provided with a taper that is narrow enough not to contact the surface of the latent image carrier even when the device is mounted on the main body.

In this developing device, the seal member is provided on the back side of the main body of the image forming apparatus having the latent image bearing member in the direction of mounting the developing device and outside the above area. Due to the taper, even if the developing device is mounted on the main body, the end surface of the seal member on the back side in the direction does not contact the end surface of the latent image carrier. In the tapered portion of the seal member, the seal member comes into point contact with the edge of the latent image carrier, and the seal member is inclined with respect to the normal line of the latent image carrier surface. The contacted portion receives a force from the latent image carrier so that the tip of the seal member further bends. Therefore, when the developing device is mounted on the main body, one end of the seal member on the back side in the direction does not hit the end surface of the latent image carrier.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a developer carrier rotatably provided in the opening of the developing device case, and a developer accommodating section for accommodating the developer to be supplied to the developer carrier. ,
A sheet-like seal that is provided in the longitudinal direction of the developing device case in contact with a latent image carrier that can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus, and seals between the developing device case and the latent image carrier. In a developing device including a member, the seal member is inclined with respect to a normal line to the surface of the latent image carrier,
The tip of the seal member contacts the surface of the latent image carrier in a further flexed shape in the inclined direction, and the length of the seal member in the longitudinal direction is a latent image on the surface of the latent image carrier. It is set to be longer than the length of the region to be formed in the longitudinal direction, the seal member is on the front side in the direction in which the latent image carrier is attached to the image forming apparatus main body having the developing device, and A taper is provided at a portion outside the area such that one end of the seal member on the front side in the direction becomes narrow enough not to contact the surface of the latent image carrier even when the latent image carrier is mounted on the main body. It is characterized by that.

In this developing device, a portion of the sealing member, which is on the front side in the direction of mounting the latent image carrier with respect to the main body of the image forming apparatus having the developing device, and which is outside the area. Due to the taper provided, even if the latent image carrier is mounted on the main body, the end face of the seal member on the front side in the direction does not contact the end face of the latent image carrier. In the tapered portion of the seal member, the seal member comes into point contact with the edge of the latent image carrier, and the seal member is inclined with respect to the normal line of the latent image carrier surface. The contacted portion receives a force from the latent image carrier so that the tip of the seal member is further bent.
Therefore, when the latent image bearing member is mounted on the main body, one end of the sealing member on the front side in the direction does not hit the end face of the latent image bearing member.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a latent image carrier and a developer carrier that carries and conveys a developer are provided, and the latent image formed on the surface of the latent image carrier is developed by the developer carrier. An image forming apparatus having a developing device, wherein the developing device according to claim 1 or 2 is used as the developing device.

In this image forming apparatus, since the developing device according to claim 1 or 2 is used as the developing means, one end of the seal member is attached when the developing device or the latent image carrier is mounted on the main body. It will not hit the end surface of the latent image carrier and turn over.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a latent image carrier and a developer carrier for developing the latent image formed on the surface of the latent image carrier are rotatably provided in an opening of a developing device case. And a developer accommodating portion for accommodating the developer to be supplied to the developer carrier, and a sheet-shaped seal member for sealing between the developer case and the latent image carrier. In the image forming apparatus in which the latent image carrier is configured to be detachable from the main body of the image forming apparatus, the seal member is inclined with respect to a normal line to the surface of the latent image carrier, With the tip bent further in the inclined direction, the contact state of contacting the surface of the latent image carrier in the longitudinal direction of the developing device case and the separated state of separation can be selectively obtained. The means for moving the seal member and the latent image carrier are The detection means for detecting whether the image forming apparatus is attached to the main body, and the seal when the detection means detects that the latent image carrier is attached to the image forming apparatus body. The seal member is set in the separated state when the member is in the contact state and when the detection unit detects that the latent image carrier is not attached to the image forming apparatus main body. And a control means for controlling the moving means.

In this image forming apparatus, when the detecting means detects that the latent image carrier is attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus, the seal member takes the contact state, and When the detection means detects that the latent image carrier is not attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus, the seal member takes the separated state. When the contact state is established, the seal member may be inclined with respect to the normal line of the latent image carrier surface, the tip of the seal member may be further bent in the inclined direction, and the tip may be turned up. Absent.

[0015]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to an electrophotographic copying machine (hereinafter referred to as copying machine) which is an image forming apparatus will be described below. FIG. 1 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of a copying machine according to the present embodiment. First, an outline of the entire copying machine will be described. Diameter 1 with photoconductor 1 formed
The photosensitive drum 1 serving as a latent image carrier of 00 mm rotates clockwise in the figure, and the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 is charged by the first charger 2 of the first latent image forming means.
Then, the semiconductor laser of the optical writing device (not shown) is turned on according to the image signal of the first color portion sent from the image reading unit (not shown). The light L from the semiconductor laser is reflected by a polygon mirror (not shown) rotating at a predetermined rotation speed and is irradiated on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1, thereby forming a first electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1. Form. As a first developing device that develops the first electrostatic latent image, a first developing unit 3 that performs black development using a two-component developer obtained by mixing a black toner and a carrier is used.
The first developing unit 3 will be described later.

Next, the second charger 4 of the second latent image forming means.
-8 on the photoconductor 1 including the portion of the black toner image.
Recharge to 00-900V. Then, the LED array of the optical writing device (not shown) is turned on in response to the image signal of the second color portion sent from the image reading unit, whereby the second electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1. Form an image. This second electrostatic latent image is developed by the second developing unit 5, which is a second developing device described later, and as a result,
First and second color toner images are formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1.

The two-color toner images on the photosensitive member 1 are collectively transferred on a transfer belt 6 equipped with a transfer charger 6a and the like to a transfer paper as an image holding member sent from a paper feed tray or a manual feed table (not shown). After that, the transfer paper is fixed by a fixing roller of a fixing device (not shown), and the transfer paper is discharged onto a paper discharge tray (not shown). On the other hand, the surface of the photoconductor 1 after the transfer is cleaned by the cleaning device 7 to remove the remaining toner, and is prepared for the next image formation.

In the apparatus of this embodiment, various devices such as the photoconductor drum 1, the first charger 2, the first developing unit 3, the second charger 4, and the second developing unit 5 are provided with respect to the main body of the copying machine. It is configured to be removable. Then, for example, when the photoconductor drum 1 is damaged for some reason or the sensitivity is lowered due to light fatigue or the like, and the photoconductor drum 1 needs to be replaced, as shown in FIG. Various devices are removed according to the following procedure. That is, first, as shown in FIG. 2A, a front cover (not shown) is opened and the second developing unit 5 is pulled out. Next, the toner collection bottle 7 for collecting the toner removed by the cleaning device 7.
Pull out 1 and tilt the lever 8 to the left. This allows
The transfer belt is released. Next, the fixing screw 38 of the first developing unit 3 is removed, the first developing unit 3 is pulled out,
Pull out the toner bottle holder 39 toward you. Next, FIG.
As shown in (b), the connector 9 at the upper left portion is removed, and the face plate knob 10 is turned clockwise to be removed. Next, hold the upper right portion of the front side plate of the drum unit 11 equipped with the photosensitive drum 1 with the right hand and the knob with the left hand, and pull out the drum unit 11 slowly. Next, as shown in FIG. 2C, the stopper 12 on the front side plate of the drum unit 11 is removed, and the positioning bearing 13 is removed. And the stopper 14 on the rear side plate
, And slowly lift up the photosensitive drum 1 to remove it. Then, when the replaced photosensitive drum 1 is mounted, it is mounted in the reverse order of the above procedure. (Hereinafter, margin)

Next, the first developing unit 3 will be described with reference to FIG. The first developing unit 3 is provided with two developing rollers 31 as a developing carrier so that a part of the developing roller 31 is exposed in an opening facing the photoconductor drum 1, and a developing device containing a two-component developer. 32, and a toner hopper 33 containing the toner to be supplied to the developing device. In the developing device 32, in addition to the developing roller 31, a paddle wheel 34 for supplying a developer to the developing roller 31 along a bottom in a developing device casing 32a, and a toner replenished from the toner hopper 33 are developed. A spheroid disk 35 for mixing and stirring with the developer in the container 32 and supplying the developer to the paddle wheel 34 is provided. In the toner hopper 33, a stirring member 36 that stirs the toner stored therein and sends it to the communication port side with the developing device 32 is rotatably provided, and the stirring member 36 is provided at the communication port. A toner replenishing roller 37 is provided for replenishing the developing device 32 with the toner picked up from the lower portion of the toner hopper by rotation and delivered. Then, in the developing device 32,
A sheet-shaped sealing member 300 for preventing the toner from scattering from the developing device 32 is provided at an upstream portion of the developing unit that performs development by the developing roller 31. The seal member 30
0 is made of an elastic sheet such as a polyester film or polyurethane rubber, and is adhered to the support member 301 by, for example, a double-sided tape. In addition, the seal member 300
In order to prevent a gap from being formed between the photoconductor drum 1 and the photoconductor drum 1, the photoconductor drum 1 is removed when the photoconductor drum 1 is removed.
It is arranged so as to bite into the area where is mounted. When the photosensitive drum 1 is attached,
The seal member is positioned on a line M inclined in the direction of arrow α with respect to the normal line L of the surface of the latent image carrier, and the tip of the seal member is further bent in the inclined direction to carry the latent image. It is configured to contact the body surface. As a result, the tip of the seal member 300 comes into close contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum, so that the toner does not leak out.

However, as described above, the photosensitive drum 1
In the case of the configuration in which the first developing unit 3 is mounted after the mounting of the first developing unit 3, the portion that bites into the region where the photosensitive drum is located on the back side of the seal member 300 when the first developing unit 3 is inserted is the photosensitive drum. There was a case that it hit the flange part of the and turned up. In the present embodiment, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, a portion outside the region where a latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 1 when the seal member is mounted on the inner side of the seal member 300 is exposed at one end on the inner side. Cut it so that it does not touch the end surface of the flange of the body drum. As a result, when the first developing unit 3 is attached to the main body of the copying machine, the seal member 300 comes into point contact with the edge of the photoconductor drum 1 at the cut portion of the seal member 300, and the seal member 300. Is contacted with the latent image carrier so that the tip of the seal member is further bent in a direction inclined with respect to the normal line L to the surface of the photosensitive drum 1. Therefore, one end on the back side of the seal member 300 does not hit the flange end surface of the photosensitive drum 1 and turn up. Therefore, the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 and the developing device casing 32a can be well sealed, and the inside of the copying machine due to the scattering of toner can be prevented. Reference numeral 302 in the drawing denotes a side seal that seals a portion on the back side and the front side in the insertion direction of the first developing unit.

On the other hand, in a copying machine in which the photosensitive drum 1 is mounted after the first developing unit 3 is mounted, when the photosensitive drum 1 is inserted, the photosensitive drum on the front side of the seal member 300 is The part that bites into the area where it is located hits the end face of the flange portion of the photoconductor drum, and sometimes turns up. In this case, for example, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, a portion of the front side of the seal member 300 outside the region where a latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 1 when the seal member is attached is cut off so that one end on the front side does not contact the photosensitive drum. Shape. As a result, when the photoconductor drum 1 is mounted on the main body of the copying machine, the seal member 3
At the cut-out portion of 00, the sealing member 300
Touches the edge of the photoconductor drum 1 at a point, and the contacted portion is the above so that the tip of the seal member is further bent in a direction in which the seal member 300 is inclined with respect to the normal line L of the surface of the photoconductor drum 1. A force is received from the latent image carrier. Therefore, one end of the sealing member 300 on the front side does not hit the flange end surface of the photosensitive drum 1 and turn up. Therefore, the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 and the developing device casing 3
The interior of the copying machine can be prevented from being contaminated due to the scattering of the toner by properly sealing the space between 2a and 2a.

Next, another embodiment will be described. In the present embodiment, a contact / separation unit is provided that selectively takes a contact state in which the seal member 300 contacts the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 and a separated state in which the seal member 300 is separated. When the photoconductor drum 1 is mounted on the main body of the copying machine, the seal member 300 takes the contact state, and when the photoconductor drum 1 is removed from the main body of the copying machine, the seal member 300 is placed.
Adopts a configuration in which the above-mentioned separated state is established. The configuration operation will be described below with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing an example of a contacting / separating mechanism as a contacting / separating means for the seal member 300. FIG.
6A is a front view of the contacting / separating mechanism, and FIG.
The figure seen from the arrow X direction of (a) is shown. The contacting / separating mechanism is fixed to the tip of the developing device casing 32a, and the contacting / separating mechanism supporting member 303 also serving as a doctor for regulating the developer is provided with two elongated holes, and a stepped screw is provided in each elongated hole. A seal member support member 305 is attached to the contact / separation mechanism support member movably in the direction of arrow A in FIG.
The seal member support member 305 and the contact / separation mechanism support member 303
A tension spring 306 that exerts a pulling force between them, a cam 308 that is provided in the center of the contact / separation mechanism support member 303, and rotates around a fixed shaft 307 to push down the seal member support member 305, and one end of the cam 308. Solenoid 3 that is connected via a string 309 and is controlled by the CPU 310
11 and the like.

Further, FIG. 7 shows an example of a detector for detecting whether or not the drum unit 11 is set in the main body of the copying machine. Reference numeral 312 denotes a sensor having two protrusions facing each other, one of the protrusions having a light emitting element and the other having a light receiving element. Then, when light is detected by the light receiving element, the information that the drum unit 11 is not set is transmitted to the CPU 310, and when the light is not detected, the information that the drum unit 11 is set is transmitted to the CPU 310. The sensor 312 is provided on the body rear side plate 313 of the copying machine body where the drum unit 11 is mounted. Also, on the rear side plate of the drum unit 11,
When the drum unit 11 is mounted, a blocking member 314 for blocking the light from the light emitting element by being inserted between the two protrusions of the sensor 312 is provided as shown by a chain double-dashed line in the figure.

In FIG. 7, when the drum unit 11 is inserted in the direction of the arrow B, the blocking member 314 blocks the light from the light emitting element, and the sensor 312 detects that the drum unit 11 is set, the information is output. Is C
It is sent to the PU 310. Then, in FIG. 6, the solenoid 311 is turned on, and the cord 30 is moved in the direction of arrow C in FIG.
Pull nine. As a result, the cam 308 is positioned as shown by the solid line, and the seal member support member 305 is pushed downward. The seal member 300 is the photosensitive drum 1.
Contact the surface. At this time, the seal member 300 is inclined with respect to the normal line L of the surface of the photosensitive drum 1, and the tip of the seal member 300 is further bent in the inclined direction.
The developing device casing 32a is brought into contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 in the longitudinal direction. In the illustrated example, the seal member 303 is brought into contact with the photosensitive drum 1 while being on the line M inclined with respect to the normal line L of the surface of the photosensitive drum 1. As a result, a force acts on the sheet member in the tangential direction with respect to the surface of the photosensitive drum, and the tip of the sheet member escapes in the tangential direction. Therefore, since the tip of the sheet member does not turn up, the surface of the photoconductor drum 1 and the developing device casing 32a can be well sealed, and the inside of the copying machine due to the toner scattering can be prevented. In this configuration, when the drum unit is removed, the light from the light emitting element is detected by the light receiving element, and the sensor 312 sends information to the CPU 310 that the drum unit 11 has been removed. Then, in FIG. 6, the solenoid 311 is turned off. And the tension spring 30
The seal member support member 305 is pulled upward by 6 and the seal member 300 is separated from the surface of the photosensitive drum 1. At this time, the cam 308 is positioned as shown by the chain double-dashed line.

In the above embodiment, only the structure in which the seal member 300 is brought into contact with or separated from the surface of the photosensitive drum by the contacting / separating mechanism has been described. However, the first developing unit 3 should be brought into contact with or separated from the surface of the photosensitive drum. Even if such a configuration is adopted, the same effect can be obtained.

[0027]

According to the invention of claim 1 or 3, the seal member is at the back side of the main body of the image forming apparatus having the latent image carrier in the direction in which the developing device is mounted, and in the above area. Due to the taper provided on the outer portion, when the developing device is mounted on the main body, one end of the seal member on the back side in the direction does not turn up. Therefore, even if the developing device is detached and attached, the seal member provides a good seal between the developing device case and the latent image carrier, and toner does not leak into the device and contaminate the inside of the image forming device. There is an excellent effect.

Further, according to the invention of claim 2 or 3, the seal member is on the front side of the main body of the image forming apparatus having the developing device in the direction of mounting the latent image carrier, and Due to the taper provided on the portion outside the region, one end of the seal member on the front side in the direction does not turn over when the latent image carrier is mounted on the main body. Therefore, even if the latent image carrier is detached, the seal member satisfactorily seals between the developing device case and the latent image carrier, and toner leaks into the apparatus and contaminates the inside of the image forming apparatus. There is an excellent effect that there is no.

Further, according to the invention of claim 4, when the latent image carrier is attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus, the seal member is in the contact state, and the latent image carrier is Is not attached to the image forming apparatus main body, the seal member is in the separated state.
When the contact state is established, the tip of the seal member does not flip up. Therefore, even if the latent image carrier is detached, the seal member satisfactorily seals between the developing device case and the latent image carrier, and toner leaks into the apparatus and contaminates the inside of the image forming apparatus. There is an excellent effect that there is no.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of an electrophotographic copying machine according to an embodiment.

2A to 2C are explanatory views of an example of a procedure of a work of removing the photosensitive drum in FIG.

3 is an enlarged view of a first developing unit of the electrophotographic copying machine of FIG.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of a seal member of the first developing unit.

FIG. 5 is a view showing a modified example of the seal member of the first developing unit.

6A and 6B are explanatory views of a contacting / separating mechanism of a seal member of a first developing unit of an electrophotographic copying machine according to another embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a detector that detects whether or not the drum unit of the copying machine is set in the copying machine main body.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Photoconductor drum 2 1st charger 3 1st development unit 32a Developer casing 300 Seal member 301 Support member 302 Side seal 303 Contact / separation mechanism support member 304 Step screw 305 Seal member support member 306 Extension spring 307 Fixed shaft 308 Cam 309 string 310 CPU 311 solenoid 312 sensor 313 main body rear side plate 314 blocking member 4 second charger 5 second developing unit 6 transfer belt 7 cleaning device

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A developer carrying member rotatably provided in an opening of a developing device case, a developer containing part for containing a developer to be supplied to the developer carrying body, and the developer case. Is provided in a state of being in contact with the latent image carrier in its longitudinal direction, and is provided with a sheet-shaped sealing member for sealing between the developing device case and the latent image carrier, and is detachable from the main body of the image forming apparatus. In the developing device, the seal member is inclined with respect to the normal line to the surface of the latent image carrier, and the tip of the seal member is further bent in the inclined direction to contact the surface of the latent image carrier. And the length of the seal member in the longitudinal direction is set to be longer than the length of the region in which a latent image is formed on the surface of the latent image carrier, in the longitudinal direction, and the seal member has the latent image carrier. Attach the developing device to the main body of the image forming device. The inner side of the seal member at the rear side in the direction where the developing device is mounted on the main body does not come into contact with the latent image carrier surface. A developing device provided with a taper that narrows to a certain degree. 2. A developer carrying member rotatably provided in an opening of the developing device case, a developer containing part for containing a developer to be supplied to the developer carrying body, and the developing device case. A sheet-like seal member that is provided in a state of contacting a latent image carrier that is removable with respect to the image forming apparatus in the longitudinal direction, and that seals between the developer case and the latent image carrier. In a developing device provided with the seal member, the seal member is inclined with respect to a normal line to the surface of the latent image carrier, and the tip of the seal member is further bent in the inclined direction to contact the surface of the latent image carrier. The length of the seal member in the longitudinal direction is set to be longer than the length of the region for forming a latent image on the surface of the latent image carrier, and the image of the seal member having the developing device is formed. The latent image carrier is attached to the main body of the forming apparatus. In the portion that is on the front side in the mounting direction and outside the area, one end of the sealing member on the front side in the direction is the surface of the latent image carrier even if the latent image carrier is mounted on the main body. A developing device, which is provided with a taper that becomes narrow enough not to come into contact with the developing device. 3. A latent image carrier and a developer carrier that carries and conveys a developer, and developing means for developing the latent image formed on the surface of the latent image carrier by the developer carrier. An image forming apparatus having the image forming apparatus, wherein the developing device according to claim 1 or 2 is used as the developing unit. 4. A latent image bearing member, a developer bearing member for developing a latent image formed on the surface of the latent image bearing member, rotatably provided in an opening of a developing device case, and the developer. A developing device having a developer accommodating portion for accommodating the developer to be supplied to the carrier, and a sheet-shaped seal member for sealing between the developer case and the latent image carrier, In the image forming apparatus in which the latent image carrier is configured to be detachable from the main body of the image forming apparatus, the seal member is inclined with respect to the normal line of the surface of the latent image carrier, and the tip of the seal member is inclined. The seal member is moved so as to be selectively bent in a longitudinal direction of the developing device case so as to be in contact with the surface of the latent image carrier and a separated state in which the developing device case is further bent in the direction. The moving means and the latent image carrier are attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus. The detection means for detecting whether or not the seal member is attached to the image forming apparatus, and the detection means detects that the latent image carrier is attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus. In addition, when the detection means detects that the latent image carrier is not attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus, the moving means moves the sealing member to the separated state. Control means for controlling
An image forming apparatus comprising: