JPH11190941A - Developing device, process cartridge and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To surely prevent toner from being transferred to a photoreceptor as a fogging in the case of developing, scattering and falling as drops from both ends parts in the longitudinal direction of a developing sleeve, and also to stably form a toner thin layer on the developing sleeve by an elastic blade. SOLUTION: The toner on and in an elastic roller 6 is removed by a scraping member 20 on the inner wall surface of the aperture part of a developing container in the longitudinal direction other than a developing area on the developing sleeve 5 and on the abutting part on the side surface of the both ends between an end part seal member 19 and the roller 6. Operation that the toner adhering to the wall surface of the developing container is scraped by the roller 6, and scraped by the member 20 again is repeated.

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 an electrophotographic copying machine or an electrophotographic printer, a developing device of the image forming apparatus, and a process cartridge including at least the developing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrier is visualized as a toner image by a developing device.

As an example of such a developing device, various dry single-component developing devices have been proposed and put into practical use.
However, it is difficult for any developing device to form a thin layer of toner, which is a one-component developer, on a developer carrier.

[0004] However, at present, improvements in image resolution, sharpness, and the like are required, and development of a method and apparatus for forming a thin layer of toner is essential, and several measures have been proposed for this. ing.

For example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 54-43038, a rubber or metal elastic blade is brought into contact with a developing sleeve which is a developer carrying member, and a contact between the elastic blade and the developing sleeve is made. By restricting the toner by passing it between the contact portions, a thin layer of the toner is formed on the developing sleeve, and sufficient tribo is given to the toner by friction at the contact portion.

In this case, when the non-magnetic toner is regulated by the elastic blade, a toner supply member for supplying the toner onto the developing sleeve is separately required. this is,
This is because, in the case of a magnetic toner, the toner can be supplied onto the developing sleeve by the magnetic force of a magnet in the developing sleeve, but in the case of a non-magnetic toner, the toner cannot be supplied by the magnetic force.

Therefore, a developing device 50 as shown in FIG. 9 has been proposed. In this conventional developing device 50, an elastic regulating blade (hereinafter referred to as “elastic blade”) 51 is provided in a developing container 54 containing a non-magnetic toner 53 as a one-component developer.
A foam body made of polyurethane foam, sponge, or the like, or an elastic roller 55 using a fur brush, which comes into contact with the developing sleeve 52 at a position on the upstream side in the rotation direction of the developing sleeve 52, which is a developer carrier, in the direction of arrow D. The toner 53 on the developing sleeve 52.
Has been supplied.

The toner 53 supplied onto the developing sleeve 52 is sent to the contact portion between the elastic blade 51 and the developing sleeve 52 with the rotation of the developing sleeve 52 to be thinned.
The electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor 1 is developed. Then, the toner 5 remaining without being consumed for the development on the developing sleeve 52 is formed.
3 is peeled off by the elastic roller 55, and a new toner 53 is supplied to the developing sleeve 52 by the elastic roller 55 as described above, and the above-described operation is repeated.

A flexible seal member 56 is provided at the lower part of the developing container 54 in a small pressure contact with the developing sleeve 52 to allow undeveloped toner to pass therethrough and to allow the toner 53 in the developing container 54 to pass therethrough. Is prevented from leaking from the lower part of the developing container 54.

The developing device 50 using such a non-magnetic toner has a disadvantage that the toner leaks from the vicinity of the end of the developing sleeve 52 to the outside, that is, the so-called toner leakage easily occurs, and the inside of the image forming apparatus is contaminated with the toner. It was easy to invite. This is because the non-magnetic toner is used, so that magnetic attraction cannot be used as compared with a magnetic developing device that uses a magnetic toner and can easily hold the toner on the surface of the developing sleeve by the action of a magnetic field.

Therefore, conventionally, an end seal member 57 is separately provided near the end of the developing sleeve 52. FIG. 10 is a view of the developing device 50 of FIG. 9 viewed from the direction of the photoconductor 1. For convenience of explanation, the developing sleeve 52 is not shown, and the contact nip of the elastic blade 51 with the developing sleeve 52 is indicated by oblique lines. . As shown in FIG. 10, an end seal member 5 made of a fiber material such as wool felt, Teflon pile, or a foamed material such as polyurethane foam or sponge rubber is provided in a gap between both ends of the developing sleeve 52 and the opening of the developing container 54.
7 to prevent the toner from leaking out between the longitudinal ends of the developing container 54 and the developing sleeve 52. Further, as shown in FIG. Since the elastic blade 51 is disposed so as to be in contact with both side surfaces, toner leakage from both ends of the developing blade 51 is prevented.

With the above configuration, toner leakage at both ends of the developing sleeve 52 and the elastic blade 51 can be prevented, and a thin layer of the non-magnetic toner 53 can be formed on the developing sleeve 52 satisfactorily. It has become possible to favorably develop an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member 1 as a body.

[0013]

However, when the developing operation is repeated many times using the above-mentioned conventional developing device, particularly in a high humidity environment, the thickness of the toner layer at both ends of the developing sleeve 52 gradually increases. Phenomenon occurred. As a result, the charging of the toner 53 becomes insufficient because the toner layer is too thick at both ends of the developing sleeve 52, and when a voltage is applied to the developing sleeve 52 as a developing bias at the time of the developing operation, both ends of the developing sleeve 52 Photoconductor 1
The toner 53 is transferred as fog, and the toner 53 is scattered in this portion.

In the worst case, the developing sleeve 52
At portions where the toner layer thickness becomes excessive at both ends, the electrical adhesion (mirror) to the developing sleeve 52 decreases, and the toner 53
Spilled from the surface of the developing sleeve 52 to the outside (referred to as toner dropping), resulting in a significant contamination of the inside of the image forming apparatus. This toner drop is excellent in transferability when transferring from the image carrier to the transfer material by a transfer unit (not shown). The transfer residual toner remaining on the image carrier without being transferred is cleaned by a cleaning means such as a blade or a fur brush. Toner having advantages such as low wear of the image carrier due to high lubricity at the time of cleaning, that is, toner having a spherical shape and a smooth surface (the shape factor SF-1 is 100 to 180; , SF-2
Is 100 to 140, which will be described in detail later).

The portion of the developing sleeve 52 where the toner layer thickness is excessively large is formed by an elastic roller 5 for supplying the toner 53 onto the developing sleeve 52 and removing the undeveloped toner.
5 corresponds to a portion that is not in contact with the developing sleeve 52 at both ends, that is, a region between a dotted line portion L and a side end portion of the end seal 57 in the drawing. The present inventors have investigated the cause of the excessive thickness of the toner layer only in this portion, and found the following.

That is, small circulation of toner occurs at the outer sides of both ends of the elastic roller 55 with the rotation of the elastic roller 55, and the circulating toner 53 always comes into contact with the surface of the developing sleeve 52. . The toner 53, which has been frictionally charged by this contact, gradually adheres to the developing sleeve 52 by the mirror force, whereas the elastic roller 55 does not contact at both ends, so that the toner 53 adheres to the surface of the developing sleeve 52. The toner 53 cannot be peeled off.

Accordingly, in the contact portion of the elastic roller 55, the supply of the toner 53 to the developing sleeve 52 and the stripping thereof are performed favorably, and the thickness of the toner layer that has come out under the pressure contact of the elastic blade 51 is adjusted to an appropriate thickness. While maintained
In the non-contact portions of the elastic rollers 55 at both ends, only the supply of the toner 53 to the developing sleeve 52 is performed, and the toner is not peeled off. As a result, this developing sleeve 5
The thickness of the toner layer gradually increases in the non-contact portions of the elastic rollers 55 at both ends of No. 2.

As a countermeasure, it is conceivable to eliminate the portion of the elastic roller 55 that is not in contact with the developing sleeve 52. To this end, as shown in FIG. It is necessary that the side surfaces of both ends of the elastic roller 58 abut on the side surfaces of the end seal member 57.

However, the elastic roller 58
Is brought into contact with the inner wall of the developing container 54, the rotation of the elastic roller 58 gradually causes the toner 53 to gradually enter between the side end of the elastic roller 58 and the inner wall of the developing container 54,
The toner 53 sandwiched between these portions loses a relief area and is constantly rubbed. Therefore, when the developing operation is repeated, an agglomerate of the toner 53 is generated between the side end of the elastic roller 58 and the inner wall of the developing container 54, and enters into the contact nip between the elastic blade 51 and the developing sleeve 52, and the developing sleeve 52
White stripes may be formed on the top of the elastic blade 5 due to agglomerates.
As a result, the toner 53 could not be regulated in the portion adjacent to the white streak portion, and the toner layer thickness in this portion became excessive.

As a result, the toner 53 is transferred from the both ends of the developing sleeve 52 to the photosensitive member 1 as fog during the development, and the toner is scattered or scattered at this portion as in the prior art. I couldn't prevent the problem of doing it.

As a countermeasure, as shown in FIG. 12, the length of the elastic blade 51 in the longitudinal direction is adjusted by the elastic roller 5.
A length shorter than 5 is also conceivable, but in this case, it is difficult to seal the toner at a portion where the elastic blade 51 is not in contact with the developing sleeve 52 at both ends. The reason for this is that the developing sleeve 5 from the elastic roller 55 may
This is because the supply of toner to the upper side is always performed. It is necessary to separately provide a seal member here, and a seal member made of the same material as the end seal member 57, such as a fibrous material such as wool felt, Teflon pile, or a foam such as polyurethane foam or sponge rubber, is applied to the surface of the developing sleeve 52. It was provided so as to abut against. However, the developing sleeve 52
With the rotation of the toner, the toner is always sent between the seal member and the developing sleeve 52 and becomes clogged. As a result, the surface of the sealing member is immediately covered with the toner, and the sealing property is deteriorated. As a result, the toner leaks out to the outside, and a large amount of agglomerates generated here cause the elastic blades 5 adjacent thereto.
1 to cause an inconvenience such as generation of white stripes.

Therefore, a main object of the present invention is to ensure that toner is transferred from the both ends in the longitudinal direction of the developer carrier to the image carrier at the time of development as fog, and that toner scattering and dropping occur. A developing device, a process cartridge including the developing device, and the developing device or the process cartridge capable of stably and satisfactorily forming a thin toner layer on the developer carrying member by the elasticity regulating blade. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus having the same.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a developing device in which, when an elastic roller contact portion has the same length as or longer than an elastic regulating blade contact portion, both ends in the longitudinal direction of the developer carrier are
During development, toner may transfer to the image carrier as fog,
A developing device capable of reliably preventing toner scattering and dropping, and capable of stably and satisfactorily forming a thin toner layer on a developer carrier by an elastic regulating blade, and a process including the developing device. Cartridges, and
An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus including the developing device or the process cartridge.

[0024]

The above object is achieved by a developing device, a process cartridge and an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. In summary, the present invention provides a developer container containing a non-magnetic one-component developer, a rotating developer carrier extending to an opening of the developer container, and a developer for the developer carrier. An elastic regulating blade with which a predetermined surface excluding an edge abuts, and an elastic regulating blade is provided in contact with an abutting portion of the elastic regulating blade with the developer carrying member on the upstream side in the rotation direction of the developer carrying member. A developing roller having a rotatable elastic roller and an end seal member provided in a gap between both ends in the longitudinal direction of the developer carrier and the opening of the developing container. A developing device, wherein there is no gap between an inner wall of the elastic roller and a longitudinal end of the elastic roller, and a part of a peripheral end surface of the elastic roller has a developer scraping member that enters and abuts on the peripheral surface. Device.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a developer container for storing a non-magnetic one-component developer, a rotating developer carrier extending to an opening of the developer container, and the developer carrier An elastic regulating blade with which a predetermined surface excluding an edge abuts via a developer, and an abutting portion of the elastic regulating blade with the developer carrier upstream of the developer carrier in the rotation direction of the developer carrier. A developing device comprising: a rotatable elastic roller provided in contact with the developer; and an end sealing member provided in a gap between both ends in a longitudinal direction of the developer carrier and an opening of the developing container. The length of the elastic regulating blade on the developer carrier in the longitudinal direction is shorter than that of the elastic roller, and the developer scraping member is at least with respect to the developer carrier, where the elastic regulating blade is not in contact, and , The elastic roller contact portion Developing apparatus is provided, wherein the contact penetrates to a said elastic roller end peripheral surface.

According to another aspect of the present invention, in a process cartridge having at least a developing device and detachably attached to an image forming apparatus, the developing device includes a developing container containing a non-magnetic one-component developer; A rotating developer carrier extending to an opening of the developing container, an elastic regulating blade in which a predetermined surface excluding an edge is in contact with the developer carrier via a developer, and the elastic regulating blade; A rotatable elastic roller provided in contact with an abutting portion of the developer carrying member on the upstream side in the rotational direction of the developer carrying member; and a longitudinal end portion of the developer carrying member and the rotatable elastic roller. An end seal member provided in a gap between the opening and the container, wherein there is no gap between inner walls of both ends of the opening of the developing container and a longitudinal end of the elastic roller, and the elastic roller Part of the side edge Process cartridge and having a contact to the developer scraping member.

According to another aspect of the present invention, in a process cartridge having at least a developing device and detachable from an image forming apparatus, the developing device includes a developing container for storing a non-magnetic one-component developer. A rotating developer carrier extending to an opening of the developing container, an elastic regulating blade in which a predetermined surface excluding an edge abuts on the developer carrier via a developer, A rotatable elastic roller provided in contact with a portion of the regulating blade that abuts on the developer carrier, in contact with the developer carrier in the rotational direction upstream side,
An end seal member provided in a gap between both ends in a longitudinal direction of the developer carrier and an opening of the developing container, and a longitudinal length of the elastic regulating blade on the developer carrier. Is shorter than the elastic roller, and the developer scraping member is disposed at least around the elastic roller end portion where the elastic regulating blade is not in contact with the developer carrier and the elastic roller is in contact with the elastic roller. There is provided a process cartridge characterized in that it abuts on a surface.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a developing container having an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, containing a non-magnetic one-component developer, and A rotating developer carrier that extends, an elastic regulating blade in which a predetermined surface excluding an edge is in contact with the developer carrier via a developer, and the developer carrier of the elastic regulating blade. A rotatable elastic roller provided in contact with the abutting portion on the upstream side in the rotation direction of the developer carrying member, and a gap between both ends in the longitudinal direction of the developer carrying member and the opening of the developing container. An image forming apparatus comprising a developing device having an end sealing member provided in the image forming apparatus, wherein a gap is provided between inner walls of both ends of the opening of the developing container and a longitudinal end of the elastic roller, Developer that invades and contacts a part of the peripheral surface of the elastic roller Image forming apparatus is provided, characterized in that it comprises a crepe member.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a developing container having an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed and containing a non-magnetic one-component developer, and a developing container having an opening formed in the developing container. A rotating developer carrier that extends, an elastic regulating blade in which a predetermined surface excluding an edge is in contact with the developer carrier via a developer, and the developer carrier of the elastic regulating blade; A rotatable elastic roller provided in contact with the abutting portion on the upstream side in the rotation direction of the developer carrying member, and a gap between both ends in the longitudinal direction of the developer carrying member and the opening of the developing container. An image forming apparatus including a developing device having an end seal member provided on the developer carrier, wherein a length of the elastic regulating blade on the developer carrier in the longitudinal direction is shorter than that of the elastic roller, and a developer scraping member is provided. At least with respect to the developer carrying member. The elastic regulating blade is not selected contact portion, and an image forming apparatus is provided, wherein the contact penetrates into the elastic roller the elastic roller end peripheral surface on an abutment part.

[0030] In the above invention, it is preferable that the developer scraping member that penetrates and contacts the elastic roller is integrated with a wall surface of the developing container. The shape factor of the non-magnetic one-component developer is SF
-1 is 100 to 180, and shape factor SF-2 is 10
It is preferably 0 to 140.

[0031]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a developing device, a process cartridge and an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.

Embodiment 1 Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

In FIG. 1 showing the image forming apparatus of this embodiment, a photosensitive drum 1 as an image carrier rotates in the direction of arrow A, and is uniformly charged by a charging device 2 for charging the photosensitive drum 1. Then, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 by the laser beam 3 which is an exposure unit for writing the electrostatic latent image.

The electrostatic latent image is developed by a developing device 4 which is disposed close to the photosensitive drum 1 and is detachable from the image forming apparatus as a process cartridge, and is visualized as a toner image. In this embodiment, so-called reversal development for forming a toner image on an exposed portion is performed.

The visualized toner image on the photosensitive drum 1 is transferred by a transfer roller 9 to a transfer paper 13 as a recording medium, and the transfer residual toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 1 without being transferred is scraped by a cleaning blade 10. The removed photosensitive drum 1 stored in the waste toner container 11 and cleaned, repeats the above-described operation to form an image.

On the other hand, the transfer paper 13 to which the toner image has been transferred is fixed by the fixing device 12, discharged outside the device, and the printing operation is completed.

The developing device 4 according to the present embodiment will be further described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 2, a developing device 4 has a developing container 14 containing a non-magnetic toner 8 as a one-component developer, and is located at an opening extending in the longitudinal direction in the developing container 14. And a developing sleeve 5 as a developer carrying member, which is provided to face the photosensitive drum 1, and develops and visualizes the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 1.

In the developing device 4, the developing sleeve 5 protrudes into the developing container 14 at a substantially right half peripheral surface shown in the drawing at the opening, and is laterally provided with a substantially left half peripheral surface exposed outside the developing container 14. I have. The surface exposed to the developing container 14 is
Is opposed to the photosensitive drum 1 located on the left side of the photosensitive drum 1 with a slight minute interval.

The developing sleeve 5 is driven to rotate in the direction of arrow B. The surface of the developing sleeve 5 has appropriate irregularities for increasing the probability of rubbing with the toner 8 and for carrying the toner 8 well. In this embodiment, the surface of an aluminum sleeve having a diameter of 16 mm is subjected to a regular brass treatment with glass beads (# 600) and a surface roughness Rz of about 3 μm is used, and the gap with the photosensitive drum 1 is reduced to 300 μm. The photosensitive drum 1 is rotated at a peripheral speed of 80 mm / s which is slightly faster than the peripheral speed of the photosensitive drum 1 of 50 mm / s.

In order to prevent toner leakage from both ends of the developing sleeve 5, an end seal member 19 is provided for the developing container 1.
4, and seals both ends of the developing sleeve 5.

The toner seal structure at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the developing sleeve 5 including the end seal member 19 according to the present invention will be described later in detail.

A rubber material such as urethane or silicon or a SUS having spring elasticity is provided above the developing sleeve 5.
Alternatively, an elastic regulating blade (hereinafter, referred to as an “elastic blade”) 7 made of a phosphor bronze thin metal plate is supported by the blade supporting metal plate 15, and the vicinity of the free end is in surface contact with the outer peripheral surface of the developing sleeve 5. The contact direction is a so-called counter direction in which the leading end side with respect to the contact portion is located on the upstream side in the rotation direction of the developing sleeve 5. In this embodiment, the elastic blade 7 has a configuration in which a plate-like urethane rubber having a thickness of 1.0 mm is adhered to the blade supporting metal plate 15, and the contact pressure against the developing sleeve 5 is 30 g / cm (line). To measure the pressure, insert three thin metal sheets with a known coefficient of friction into the contact area,
The center sheet was converted from the value extracted by using a spring. ).

The elastic roller 6 is in contact with the contact portion of the elastic blade 7 with the surface of the developing sleeve 5 on the upstream side in the rotation direction of the developing sleeve 5, and is rotatably supported. As this structure, a foamed skeleton sponge structure or a fur brush structure in which fibers such as rayon and nylon are planted on a cored bar are used in terms of supplying the toner 8 to the developing sleeve 5 and removing undeveloped toner. Preferably, in the present embodiment, a polyurethane foam on a metal core has a diameter of 1 mm.
A 2 mm elastic roller 6 was used.

The effective width of the elastic roller 6 in contact with the developing sleeve 5 is preferably 1 to 8 mm, and it is preferable that the elastic roller 6 has a relative speed at the contact portion with the developing sleeve 5. In, the contact width is 3m
m during the developing operation.
0 mm / s (the relative speed with respect to the developing sleeve 5 is 130 mm
/ S) was rotated at a predetermined timing by driving means (not shown).

The toner 8 is a non-magnetic one-component developer,
As described above, when the transfer residual toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 1 without being transferred is cleaned with a cleaning means such as a blade or a fur brush, the lubricating property is high. A toner having advantages such as a small amount, that is, a toner having a spherical shape and a smooth surface is used. More specifically, the shape factors having SF-1 of 100 to 180 and SF-2 of 100 to 140 are used.

The SF-1 and SF-2 are manufactured by Hitachi, Ltd.
Using E-SEM (S-800), a toner image
00 are sampled, the image information is introduced into an image analysis device (Luzex3) manufactured by Nicole via an interface, analyzed, and a value calculated by the following equation is defined.

SF-1 = ｛(MXLNG) ² / ARE
A｝ × (π / 4) × 100 SF-2 = {(PERI) ² / AREA} × (π / 4)
× 100 (MXLNG: absolute maximum length, AREA: toner projection area, PERI: peripheral length) The shape factor SF-1 of this toner indicates a spherical degree and is 10
As the size increases from 0, the shape gradually changes from a spherical shape to an irregular shape. SF-2 indicates the degree of unevenness. As the value increases from 100, the unevenness on the surface of the toner becomes remarkable.

As for the method of producing the toner, if the toner falls within the range of the shape factor described above, besides the production method by the so-called pulverization method, JP-A-36-10231 and JP-A-59-53856 will be described. A method for directly producing a toner using the suspension polymerization method described, a dispersion polymerization method for directly producing a toner using a water-based inducing solvent in which the obtained polymer is insoluble and a polymer which is soluble, or a water-soluble method. It is possible to produce a toner using an emulsion polymerization method typified by a soap-free polymerization method of directly polymerizing in the presence of a polar polar initiator to form a toner.

In this embodiment, the shape factor S of the toner
F-1 is 100 to 180, SF-2 is 100 to 140
Styrene and n-butyl as monomers using a suspension polymerization method under normal pressure or under pressure that can easily control and obtain a particle toner having a sharp particle size distribution and a particle size of 4 to 8 μm relatively easily. An acrylate, a salicylic acid metal compound as a charge control agent, a saturated polyester as a polar resin, and a colorant are added, and the weight average particle size is 7 μm.
m of colored suspended particles were produced.

Then, 1.5 wt% of hydrophobic silica was added thereto.
%, The toner 8 having excellent transferability as described above and having a small amount of wear during cleaning of the photosensitive drum 1 was produced.

In the developing device 4 as described above, during the developing operation, the toner 8 in the developing container 14 is sent in the direction of the elastic roller 6 with the rotation of the stirring member 16 in the direction of the arrow C.

Next, the toner 8 is carried to the vicinity of the developing sleeve 5 by the rotation of the elastic roller 6 in the direction of arrow D, and is carried on the elastic roller 6 at the contact portion between the developing sleeve 5 and the elastic roller 6. The applied toner 8 is frictionally charged by being rubbed with the developing sleeve 5 and adheres to the developing sleeve 5.

Thereafter, as the developing sleeve 5 rotates in the direction of the arrow B, it is fed under pressure of the elastic blade 7 and receives an appropriate tribo (amount of triboelectric charge) and a thin layer is formed on the developing sleeve 5. Thereafter, the sheet is conveyed to a developing section which is a section facing the photosensitive drum 1.

In this developing section, a thin toner layer formed on the developing sleeve 5 is applied to an alternating voltage (developing AC bias) obtained by superimposing a direct current applied between the developing sleeve 5 and the photosensitive drum 1 by the power supply 18. Thus, the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 1 is developed as a toner image.

Undeveloped toner that has not been consumed in the developing section is transferred to the developing sleeve 5 as the developing sleeve 5 rotates.
Collected from the bottom of A seal member 17 made of a flexible sheet is provided at the collecting portion to allow the undeveloped toner to pass into the developing container 14 and to allow the toner 8 in the developing container 14 to leak from the lower portion of the developing sleeve 5. To prevent

The collected undeveloped toner on the developing sleeve 5 is peeled off from the surface of the developing sleeve 5 at the contact portion between the elastic roller 6 and the developing sleeve 5. Most of the stripped toner is conveyed along with the rotation of the elastic roller 6 and mixes with the toner 8 in the developing container 14 to disperse the charge of the toner 8. At the same time, new toner is supplied onto the developing sleeve 5 by the rotation of the elastic roller 6, and the above operation is repeated.

Next, the toner seal structure at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the developing sleeve according to the present invention will be described in detail.

FIG. 3 shows a view of the developing device 4 shown in FIG. 2 as viewed from the photosensitive drum 1 direction. In FIG. 3, the developing sleeve is not shown.

As shown in FIG. 2, an end seal member 19 made of a fiber material such as wool felt or Teflon pile, or a foam material such as polyurethane foam or sponge rubber is provided at the opening of the developing container. , Developing sleeve 5
Is sealed between both ends of the developing container 14 and the developing container 14. In this embodiment, the end seal member 19 has a configuration in which a Teflon pile is provided on the surface of a wool felt, and the Teflon pile surfaces having high slidability are brought into contact with the peripheral surfaces of both ends of the developing sleeve 5. . Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the side surface of the end seal member 19 is brought into contact with the side surfaces at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the elastic blade 7 to prevent the leakage of toner from the side end of the elastic blade 7. ing.

The thickness of the toner layer formed on the developing sleeve 5 is affected by the distance from the point of the contact nip with the elastic blade 7 on the upstream side in the rotation direction of the developing sleeve 5 to the leading end. It is conventionally known that the thickness of the toner layer formed on the surface 5 becomes thicker and the thickness of the toner layer becomes thinner as the length thereof becomes shorter. Is 1.5 mm.

This distance d is determined in order to maintain a good layer thickness of the toner 8 formed on the developing sleeve 5, and may be set to an appropriate length depending on the toner 8 and the developing sleeve 5 to be used. The above value is determined because a good toner coating amount of 0.6 mg / cm ² can be obtained in this embodiment.

In this embodiment, the elastic roller 6
Developer scraping members (hereinafter referred to as "scraping members") 20 are provided at both ends of the. This scrape member 20
Is. The purpose is to prevent the toner from being clogged between the elastic roller 6 and the wall surface of the developing container 14.

More specifically, the scrape member 20 has a substantially triangular shape having an R at the corner as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, when viewed in the direction, the water droplet has a schematic shape as if the water droplet was cut in half in the vertical direction. Are set opposite to each other with an infiltration amount that allows the developer to be scraped sufficiently (in this embodiment, the intrusion amount is set to about 3 mm). The position where the scrape member 20 is installed is preferably an upstream position in the rotation direction of the elastic roller 6 which does not affect the contact nip between the developing sleeve 5 and the elastic roller 6. Because the scrape member 20
If this affects the contact nip, not only is it impossible to accurately peel off and supply the toner 8 to the developing sleeve 5, but also the toner enters between the wall surface of the developing container 4 and the elastic roller 6, which is the object of the present invention. Toner 8 (especially sealing member 19)
This is because the effect of removing (in the vicinity) is reduced.

The elastic roller 6 of the scrape member 20
By providing a concave portion on the wall surface of the developing container 14 at the upstream side in the rotation direction, the scraped toner 8 can flow well, and the scraping effect is further improved.

With the scraping member 20 having the above-described structure, the adhesion and entry of the toner 8 to the wall contact portions of the developing container 4 at both ends of the elastic roller 6 are removed, and the toner 8 is agglomerated by rubbing. Can be suppressed. Thus, it is possible to prevent a problem that the aggregate is transmitted along the end of the elastic roller 6 and white stripes are generated.

In this embodiment, the scrape member 20 has a shape as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.
It is sufficient that the shape of the scrape member 20 does not damage the elastic roller 6, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the present invention, and at least the contact portion of the elastic roller 6 has a curved shape. Is preferred.

Further, not only a single-stage scraping member as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, but also a multi-stage member such as two-stage or three-stage may be used.

As a result, it is possible to prevent the toner from entering the developing container at both ends of the elastic roller, which has conventionally been a problem, and to remove the toner. Further, in this portion, toner scattering or dropping may occur), and a thin developer layer having a uniform thickness can be stably formed on the developing sleeve 5 to form a photosensitive drum. 1 has been successfully developed.

Embodiment 2 Next, a second embodiment of the developing device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
This will be described with reference to FIG.

In this embodiment, the length of the elastic blade 7 on the developing sleeve 5 in the longitudinal direction is
In the configuration shortened by W (one side), the scraper member 21 is intruded and installed on the peripheral surfaces of both ends of the elastic roller 6, and the other components of the developing device are the same as in the first embodiment. It is.

With respect to the developing sleeve 5, the elastic blade 7
Are not in contact with each other, and scrape members 21 are provided on the peripheral surfaces of both ends of the elastic roller 6 with which the elastic roller 6 is in contact.
The scraping member 21 does not supply the toner 8 from the elastic roller 6 onto the developing sleeve 5, but instead peels off the toner 8, and the toner 8 is disposed between the seal member 19 and the developing sleeve 5.
The purpose is to prevent intrusion.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 7 when the scraping member 21 is viewed from the side and FIG. 8 when the photosensitive drum 1 is viewed from the inside of the developing device 4, the scraping member 21 At least deeper than the amount of the elastic roller 6 penetrating the developing sleeve 5. In this embodiment, good results were obtained when the amount of penetration D1 of the elastic roller 6 into the developing sleeve 5 was about 1.5 mm and the amount of penetration D2 of the scrape member 21 into the elastic roller 6 was about 2 mm.

The position where the scraping member 21 is installed is preferably an upstream position in the rotation direction of the elastic roller 6 which does not affect the contact nip between the developing sleeve 5 and the elastic roller 6. Otherwise, the contact nip cannot be performed accurately, and the effect of removing the toner 8 is reduced.

With the scrape member 21 having the above configuration, the toner 8 is removed from the peripheral surface of the developing sleeve 5 at both ends of the elastic roller 6, so that the toner between the developing sleeve 5 and the seal member 19 is removed. Adhesion and intrusion of the toner 8 can be removed, and the toner 8 can be prevented from forming an aggregate due to rubbing, and the same effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained.

As in the case of the first embodiment, the shape of the scraping member 21 may be any shape as long as it does not damage the elastic roller 6, and various changes can be made within the scope of the present invention. It is preferable that the contact portion has a curved shape.

Embodiment 3 Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.

In the first embodiment, when both side portions of the elastic roller 6 have a gap with the inner wall of the developing container 4, in the second embodiment, the elastic blade 7 on the developing sleeve 5 is provided. Although the case where the length in the longitudinal direction is shorter than the elastic roller 6 has been described, the effect is further enhanced in a case where both are combined. That is, this is the case where the uncontacted portion of the elastic roller 6 with respect to the developing sleeve 5 is eliminated, and furthermore, the formation of a thin layer on the developing sleeve is stabilized.

Further, by integrating the scraping member with the wall surface (longitudinal side surface) of the developing container, not only the above effects can be obtained but also the cost can be reduced.

As described above, in the first to third embodiments, the process cartridge including the detachable developing device is used. However, the process cartridge is fixed in the main body of the image forming apparatus and is configured to supply only the toner. Alternatively, the developing device and the photosensitive drum, the cleaning blade, the waste toner container, and the charging device may be integrally formed, and may be used as a process cartridge detachable from the image forming apparatus main body.

[0081]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the developing device, the process cartridge and the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the gap between the inner wall at both ends of the opening of the developing container and the longitudinal end of the elastic roller is provided. The developer scrape member penetrates and contacts the elastic roller on a part of the peripheral surface of the side end portion, so that toner is fogged from both ends in the longitudinal direction of the developer carrier to the image carrier during development. In addition to reliably preventing transfer, toner scattering and dropping, formation of a thin toner layer on the developer carrying member by the elasticity regulating blade can be performed stably and favorably.

The length of the elastic regulating blade on the developer carrying member in the longitudinal direction is made shorter than that of the elastic roller, and the developer scraping member is moved at least with respect to the developer carrying member.
The same effect as described above can be obtained by the elastic regulating blade being in contact with the non-contact portion and the peripheral surface of the elastic roller end portion, which is the elastic roller contact portion.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus including a developing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram illustrating a developing device according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a view of the developing device of FIG. 2 when viewed from a photoconductor, without a developing sleeve.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing a main part of the developing device of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a view of a main part of the developing device of FIG. 2 as viewed from the inside thereof toward a photoconductor.

FIG. 6 shows the developing device of the second embodiment as viewed from the photoconductor direction.
FIG. 3 is a view in which a developing sleeve is omitted.

FIG. 7 is a side view illustrating a main part of the developing device of FIG. 6;

8 is a diagram of a main part of the developing device of FIG. 6 as viewed from the inside thereof toward the photoconductor.

FIG. 9 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an example of a conventional non-magnetic one-component developing device.

FIG. 10 is a view of the developing device of FIG. 9 as viewed from a photoconductor direction.

FIG. 11 is a view showing another example of the developing device of FIG. 9 viewed from the photoconductor direction.

FIG. 12 is a view showing still another example of the developing device of FIG. 9 viewed from the photoconductor direction.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Photosensitive drum (image carrier) 4 Developing device 5 Developing sleeve (developer carrier) 6 Elastic roller 7 Elastic blade (elastic regulating blade) 14 Developing container 19 End seal member 20, 21 Developer scrape member

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Takushi Shibuya 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Inc.

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. A developer container for storing a non-magnetic one-component developer, a rotating developer carrier extending to an opening of the developer container, and an edge of the developer carrier via the developer. An elastic regulating blade having a predetermined surface abutted thereon, and a rotatable member provided in contact with a contact portion of the elastic regulating blade with the developer carrying member on the upstream side in the rotation direction of the developer carrying member. An elastic roller, and an end seal member provided in a gap between both ends in the longitudinal direction of the developer carrier and the opening of the developing container, wherein the inner wall of both ends of the opening of the developing container; A developing device, comprising: a developer scraping member that has no gap between the elastic roller and a longitudinal end thereof and that penetrates and contacts a part of the peripheral surface of the elastic roller at the side end. 2. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein at least the elastic roller contact surface of the developer scraping member has a curved surface. 3. A developer container containing a non-magnetic one-component developer, a rotating developer carrier extending to an opening of the developer container, and an edge of the developer carrier via the developer. A resilient regulating blade contacting a predetermined surface except for the elastic regulating blade, and a rotatable member provided in contact with an abutting portion of the elastic regulating blade with the developer carrier on the upstream side in the rotational direction of the developer carrier. An elastic roller, and an end seal member provided in a gap between both ends of the developer carrier in the longitudinal direction and an opening of the developing container, wherein the elasticity regulation on the developer carrier is provided. The length of the blade in the longitudinal direction is shorter than the elastic roller, and the developer scraping member is at least contacted with the developer carrier at the portion where the elastic regulating blade is not abutted, and at the elastic roller abutting portion. The peripheral surface of the end of the elastic roller A developing device according to claim infiltration that abuts on. 4. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the developer scraping member is integrated with a wall surface of the developing container. 5. The shape factor of the non-magnetic one-component developer is S
F-1 is 100 to 180, and shape factor SF-2 is 1
5. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the number is from 00 to 140. 6. A process cartridge having at least a developing device and detachably attached to an image forming apparatus, wherein the developing device includes a developing container for storing a non-magnetic one-component developer, and a developing container extending to an opening of the developing container. A rotating developer carrier that is present, an elastic regulating blade in which a predetermined surface excluding an edge is in contact with the developer carrier via a developer, and the developer carrier of the elastic regulating blade. A rotatable elastic roller provided in contact with the contact portion on the upstream side in the rotation direction of the developer carrier, and a rotatable elastic roller provided in a gap between both ends in the longitudinal direction of the developer carrier and the opening of the developing container. Having an end seal member provided, having a gap between the inner wall at both ends of the opening of the developer container and the longitudinal end of the elastic roller,
A process cartridge having a developer scraping member that intrudes and abuts a part of a peripheral surface of a side end of the elastic roller. 7. The process cartridge according to claim 6, wherein at least the elastic roller contact surface of the developer scraping member is provided in a curved shape. 8. A process cartridge having at least a developing device and detachably attached to an image forming apparatus, wherein the developing device includes a developing container for storing a non-magnetic one-component developer, and a developing container extending to an opening of the developing container. A rotating developer carrier that is present, an elastic regulating blade in which a predetermined surface excluding an edge is in contact with the developer carrier via a developer, and the developer carrier of the elastic regulating blade. A rotatable elastic roller provided in contact with the contact portion on the upstream side in the rotation direction of the developer carrier, and a rotatable elastic roller provided in a gap between both ends in the longitudinal direction of the developer carrier and the opening of the developing container. Having an end seal member provided, the length of the elastic regulating blade on the developer carrier in the longitudinal direction is shorter than the elastic roller,
The developer scraping member, at least with respect to the developer carrier, the portion where the elastic regulating blade is not in contact, and
A process cartridge, wherein the process cartridge is configured to penetrate into contact with a peripheral surface of an end portion of the elastic roller, which is the contact portion of the elastic roller. 9. The process cartridge according to claim 6, wherein the developer scraping member that enters and contacts the elastic roller is integrated with the wall surface of the developing container. 10. The non-magnetic one-component developer having a shape factor of SF-1 of 100 to 180 and a shape factor of SF-2 of 100 to 140.
Any of the process cartridges. 11. A developing container including an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed and containing a non-magnetic one-component developer, and a rotating developer carrier extending to an opening of the developing container. An elastic regulating blade in which a predetermined surface excluding an edge is in contact with the developer carrying member via a developer, and the developer carrying member is in contact with a contact portion of the elastic regulating blade with the developer carrying member. A rotatable elastic roller provided in contact with the upstream side in the rotation direction of the body, and an end seal member provided in a gap between both ends in the longitudinal direction of the developer carrier and the opening of the developing container. An image forming apparatus comprising a developing device having a gap between an inner wall at both ends of the opening of the developing container and a longitudinal end of the elastic roller, on a peripheral surface of a side end of the elastic roller. It is characterized in that it has a developer scraping member that touches in part An image forming apparatus. 12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein at least the elastic roller contact surface of the developer scrape member that has entered and contacted the elastic roller has a curved surface. 13. A developing container having an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed and containing a non-magnetic one-component developer, and a rotating developer carrier extending to an opening of the developing container. And an elastic regulating blade in which a predetermined surface excluding an edge is in contact with the developer carrying member via a developer, and the developer carrying member is in contact with a contact portion of the elastic regulating blade with the developer carrying member. A rotatable elastic roller provided in contact with the upstream side in the rotation direction of the body, and an end seal member provided in a gap between both ends in the longitudinal direction of the developer carrier and the opening of the developing container. In the image forming apparatus having a developing device having, the length of the elastic regulating blade on the developer carrier in the longitudinal direction is made shorter than the elastic roller, and the developer scraping member is moved with respect to the developer carrier. At least the elastic regulating blade is not in contact Min, and an image forming apparatus, characterized in that the abutment entering the elastic roller contact portion in which the elastic roller end peripheral surface. 14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the developer scraping member that penetrates and contacts the elastic roller has the developer scraping member integrated with a wall surface of the developing container. . 15. The non-magnetic one-component developer according to claim 11, wherein the shape factor of SF-1 is 100 to 180, and the shape factor of SF-2 is 100 to 140. Image forming apparatus.