JPH10123833A - Developing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a developer from scattering with a simple constitution without making a developing device large in size by shielding three directions of an opening section of a main body case opposite to a photoreceptor drum with the case projecting part, a blade and sealing members, and shielding the upstream side in the rotary direction of a developing roller from the opening part with the napping of the developer. SOLUTION: This developing device is provided with a doctor 7 controlling the height of the napped developer 4 on developing roller 3 on the bottom of the opening part of the main body case 1 and the case projecting part 8 covering surfaces of both end of the developing roller 3 by making the upper section of the opening part. Further, the device is provided with the blade 9 in the opening part upper edge on the downstream side in the rotary direction of the doctor 7 on the developing roller 3, sealing members 10a and 10b abutting on the photoreceptor drum 2 in either end section on the developing roller 3 between the developing roller 3 and the photoreceptor drum 2. In this way, the device shields three directions on the opening section of the main body case 1 with the case projecting part 8, the blade 9, and sealing members 10a and 10b, and then the upstream side of the opening part in the rotary direction of the developing roller 3 by the napping of the developer.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a main body case,
The present invention relates to a developing device provided with a developing roller facing a photosensitive drum and a regulating member for regulating an amount of a developer supplied to the developing roller.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a developing device of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer, as a measure against scattering of a developer outside a developing tank (outside a case body), Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No.
As described in Japanese Patent No. 30848, a small hole and a tubular passage for collecting a brush member and a developer adhered to the brush member are provided at an upper portion, both sides, and a lower portion of the developing portion, which have a suction mechanism outside the developing device. To prevent the developer from being scattered outside the developing tank by sucking the developer through a small hole and a tubular path by a suction mechanism.

As described in Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 58-141257, a base end portion is fixed to a portion of a side plate of a main body case containing a developing roller facing a photosensitive drum or in the vicinity thereof. The developer is prevented from being scattered by a seal member whose free end is in sliding contact with the axial end surface of the developing roller.

[0004]

In the former of the prior art described above, since a suction mechanism, a tubular path, a small hole and the like are provided, the developing device itself becomes large and the cost is high. . Further, in the latter case, since the seal members whose free ends are in sliding contact with each other are merely provided at both ends of the developing roller, the scattering of the developer cannot be reliably prevented.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and has as its object to surely prevent the developer from being scattered with a simple configuration without increasing the size of a developing device. .

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a developing device comprising: a developing roller provided in a main body case, the developing roller being opposed to a photosensitive drum; A regulating member for regulating the amount of developer
Providing a blade for preventing the developer from scattering outside the main body case on the downstream side in the rotation direction of the developing roller of the regulating member,
A case protrusion is formed on the main body case to cover the surfaces of both ends of the developing roller facing the photosensitive drum, and a seal member is provided between the photosensitive drum and the case protrusion. According to the above configuration, the blade body, the case protrusion, the seal member, and the ears of the developer formed in the developing area of the developing roller facing the photosensitive drum shield the inside of the case body from the outside, (4) prevents the developer from scattering.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the seal member is formed of a marine body or a flocked member. According to the above configuration, the inside of the main body case is communicated with the outside through the small holes of the corpus cavernosum or between the flocks, thereby reducing the air pressure in the main body case, and forming the seal member and the developer on both ends of the developing roller. The scattering of the developer concentrated on the gap between the portions is reduced.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a part of the seal member is cut out to form a flow path of air from inside the case body. According to the above configuration, the inside of the main body case is communicated with the outside by the air flow path, the air pressure in the main body case is reduced, the speed of the air flow flowing through the air flow path is reduced, and both ends of the seal member and the developing roller are The amount of the developer concentrated in the gap between the portion of the developer and the raised portion of the developer is reduced.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the air flow path of the seal member is formed by bending a plurality of times. According to the above configuration, the inside of the main body case is communicated with the outside by the air flow path, the air pressure in the main body case is reduced, and the speed of the air flow flowing through the air flow path is reduced by bending the flow path, and the sealing is performed. The scattering of the developer concentrated in the gap between the member and the developer spikes at both ends of the developing roller is reduced.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the width of the notch of the seal member is formed wider on the outer side than on the center side of the developing roller. According to the above configuration, the inside of the main body case is communicated with the outside by the air flow path, the air pressure in the main body case is reduced, and the speed of the air flow flowing through the air flow path is increased with the width of the flow path directed outward. By doing so, the scattering of the developer concentrated on the gap between the seal member and the developer rising portions at both ends of the developing roller is reduced.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of the developing device of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

The developing device according to the first embodiment includes a main body case 1
A developing roller 3 that rotates in the same direction as the photosensitive drum 2 is disposed opposite to the photosensitive drum 2 that is rotating clockwise at the opening of the developing unit 3. A developer tank 5 containing the developer 4 is formed, and a developer stirring roller 6 for stirring the developer 4 is provided in the developer tank 5.

A doctor 7 which is a regulating member for regulating the height of the developer 4 raised on the developing roller 3 is provided below the opening of the main body case 1, and the upper part of the opening of the main body case 1 projects. Then, a case protruding portion 8 is provided to cover the surfaces of both ends of the developing roller 3, and the shaft of the developing roller 3 is provided at the upper edge of the opening of the main body case 1 on the downstream side of the doctor 7 in the rotation direction of the developing roller 3. Blades 9 for preventing the developer 4 from being scattered in the direction, and seal members 10a and 10b between the developing roller 3 and the photosensitive drum 2 at both end portions of the developing roller 3 to be in contact with the photosensitive drum 2. Is provided.

In the developing device having the above-described configuration, the three directions of the opening portion of the main body case 1 (the upper portion of the developing unit, ie, the downstream side in the rotation direction of the developing roller 3 and both sides of the developing unit) are respectively defined by the case projecting portion 8, the blade 9, 10a and 10b, the developer 4 is prevented from being scattered from the downstream side and both ends in the rotation direction of the developing roller 3, and the upstream side of the opening of the main body case 1 in the rotation direction of the developing roller 3 is set as the developing roller. 3 is shielded by the spikes of the developer 4 formed at the main pole position, and the sputtered developer 4 prevents the developer 4 from scattering.
The developer 4 is blocked in all four directions of the opening of the main body case 1.
Is surely prevented from scattering.

A developing device according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the first embodiment, the developing device 3 is provided between the case protrusion 8 covering both surfaces of both ends of the developing roller 3 and the photosensitive drum 2. The material of the sealing members 10a and 10b is a sponge such as polyurethane foam.

Accordingly, since the developing tank 5 in the main body case 1 is communicated with the outside through the myriad of small holes in the sponge, the air pressure in the developing tank 5 can be reduced, and the sealing member 1 can be reduced.
It is possible to reduce the scattering of the developer 4 concentrated in the gap between the first and second portions 0a and 10b and the rising portions of the developer 4 at both ends of the development area.

At this time, if the speed of the air flow passing through the communicating portion between the inside of the developing tank 5 and the outside is high, the developer 4 is easily scattered, but the sealing members 10a and 10b are made of sponge bodies. Thus, the sealing members 10a and 10b made of sponge bodies have resistance to the flow of air, so that the speed of the air flow can be reduced and the scattering of the developer 4 can be suppressed.

A developing device according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the first embodiment, the developing device 3 is disposed between the case protrusion 8 covering both sides of the developing roller 3 and the photosensitive drum 2. The sealing members 10a and 10b are formed by implanting resin fibers.

Therefore, since the developing tank 5 in the main body case 1 is communicated with the outside through the gap between the resin fibers, the developing tank 5
The air pressure in the inside can be reduced, and the sealing member 10
It is possible to reduce the scattering of the developer 4 concentrated in the gap between the a and 10b and the spike portions of the developer 4 at both ends of the development area.

At this time, if the speed of the air flow passing through the communicating portion between the inside of the developing tank 5 and the outside is high, the developer 4 is easily scattered, but the sealing members 10a and 10b are planted with resin fibers. Since the sealing members 10a and 10b formed of the resin fibers have resistance to the flow of air by forming them, the speed of the air flow can be reduced, and the scattering of the developer 4 can be further suppressed. .

A fourth embodiment of the developing device of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. The developing device is disposed between a case projection 8 covering both ends of the developing roller 3 and the photosensitive drum 2. An air passage 11 is formed in the seal members 10a and 10b by notches.

The air passage 11 allows the developing tank 5 in the main body case 1 to communicate with the outside, so that the air pressure in the developing tank 5 can be reduced, and the sealing members 10a, 10b
It is possible to reduce the scattering of the developer 4 concentrated in the gap between the developer 4 and the rising portions of the developer 4 at both ends of the development area.

Further, as the air flow flows through the air flow passage 11, the flow speed can be gradually reduced by the resistance between the wall surface of the air flow passage 11 and the air flow, and the scattering of the developer 4 can be further reduced. Can be suppressed.

A fifth embodiment of the developing device of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. The developing device is disposed between a case projecting portion 8 which covers both ends of the developing roller 3 and the photosensitive drum 2. The seal member 10a, 10b is formed with a notch to form an air flow path 12 that is bent a plurality of times, for example, two times.

Since the developing tank 5 in the main body case 1 is communicated with the outside by the air flow path 12, the air pressure in the developing tank 5 can be reduced, and the sealing members 10a and 10b are provided.
It is possible to reduce the scattering of the developer 4 concentrated in the gap between the developer 4 and the rising portions of the developer 4 at both ends of the development area.

The speed of the air flowing through the air flow path 12 can be gradually reduced by changing the direction of the air flow, and the scattering of the developer 4 can be further suppressed.

A sixth embodiment of the developing device of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. The developing device is disposed between a case projection 8 covering both ends of the developing roller 3 and the photosensitive drum 2. The air flow path 13 is formed in the seal members 10a and 10b such that the width of the notch is gradually increased from the center side of the developing roller 3 toward the outside (the width a on the center side <the outside b).

Since the developing tank 5 in the main body case 1 is communicated with the outside by the air flow path 13, the air pressure in the developing tank 5 can be reduced, and the sealing members 10a and 10b can be used.
It is possible to reduce the scattering of the developer 4 concentrated in the gap between the developer 4 and the rising portions of the developer 4 at both ends of the development area.

Further, since the width of the air flow path 13 of the air flowing through the air flow path 13 is gradually widened, the air can be diffused to reduce the flow speed, and the developer 4 is scattered. Can be further suppressed.

[0030]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the main body case has three opening portions (upper developing portion, that is, the downstream side in the rotation direction of the developing roller and both sides of the developing portion) facing the photosensitive drum. Parts, blades and sealing members,
Since the upstream side of the opening of the main body case in the rotation direction of the developing roller is shielded by the spikes of the developer formed on the developing roller, all four directions of the opening of the main body case are shielded to prevent the developer from being scattered. The prevention can be surely achieved with a simple configuration without increasing the size of the device.

In the developing device according to the second aspect, the inside of the main body case is communicated with the outside through the myriad of small holes in the spongy body or the gap of the flocking, so that the air pressure in the main body case can be reduced, and It is possible to reduce the scattering of the developer concentrated in the gap between the member and the developer rising portions at both ends of the developing area. Further, the velocity of the air flow flowing through the seal member can be reduced by the resistance of the sponge or the flocking, and the scattering of the developer can be further suppressed.

According to the third aspect of the invention, since the inside of the main body case is communicated with the outside by forming the air flow path by notch in the seal member, the air pressure in the main body case can be reduced. In addition, it is possible to reduce the scattering of the developer concentrated on the gap between the seal member and the developer rising portions at both ends of the developing area. Further, as the air flow flows through the air flow path, the flow speed can be gradually reduced due to the resistance between the wall of the wind flow path and the air flow, and the scattering of the developer can be further suppressed. .

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the inside of the main body case is communicated with the outside by forming a plurality of diffracted air flow paths by notches in the seal member, the air pressure in the main body case is reduced. It is possible to reduce the scattering of the developer concentrated in the gap between the seal member and the developer spikes at both ends of the development area. In addition, the speed of the air flowing through the air flow path can be gradually reduced by changing the flowing direction, and the scattering of the developer can be further suppressed.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the width of the notch is gradually increased from the center of the developing roller toward the outer side in the seal member to form a flow path of the air, thereby forming a main body case. Since the inside is communicated with the outside, the air pressure inside the main body case can be reduced, and the scattering of the developer concentrated in the gap between the seal member and the developer rising portion at both ends of the developing area can be reduced. it can. In addition, since the air flowing through the air flow path has a gradually widening air flow path, the air can be diffused to reduce the flow speed, and the scattering of the developer can be further suppressed. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of a developing device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view showing a fourth embodiment of the developing device of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a front view showing a fourth embodiment of the developing device of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view showing a fifth embodiment of the developing device of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a front view showing a developing device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view showing a sixth embodiment of the developing device of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a front view showing a sixth embodiment of the developing device of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main body case 2 Photoconductor drum 3 Developing roller 4 Developer 5 Developing tank 6 Developer stirring roller 7 Doctor 8 Case protruding part 9 Blade 10a, 10b Sealing member 11, 12, 13 Air flow path

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Fumio Mizoguchi 22-22 Nagaikecho, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A developing device having a developing roller facing a photosensitive drum and a regulating member for regulating an amount of a developer supplied to the developing roller in a main body case, wherein the developing roller of the regulating member is provided. A blade is provided on the downstream side in the rotation direction to prevent the developer from scattering outside the main body case, and a case protrusion is formed on the main body case to cover the surface of both ends of the developing roller facing the photoconductor drum, A developing device, wherein a seal member is provided between the photosensitive drum and the case protrusion. 2. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein said seal member is formed of a marine body or a flocked member. 3. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein a part of said seal member is cut out to form a flow path of air from inside said case body. 4. The developing device according to claim 3, wherein the air flow path of the seal member is formed by bending a plurality of times. 5. The developing device according to claim 3, wherein a width of the notch of the seal member is formed to be wider outside a center side of the developing roller.