JPH04367882A - Developing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a developing device using a fiber flocked sealing body hardly having the occurrence of the falling of flocked fiber and having a high sealing effect. CONSTITUTION:The length or rigidity of the flocked fiber 9b of the fiber flocked sealing body 9 as a sealing member is changed so that the flocked fiber 9b is sequentially made longer and rigid as it goes toward the upstream side in the carrying direction of a developer on a scraper blade. On a substrate 9a, the sealing member is composed of the fiber flocked sealing body 9 obtained by flocking the flocked fiber 9b coated with shape memory resin 9c.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a developing device for an electrophotographic copying machine or the like.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a type of developing device such as an electrophotographic copying machine, as shown in FIG. A developing roller 3 as a developer carrier that supplies toner 2 as a non-magnetic developer, and a developing roller 3 that is disposed below the center position of this developing roller 3 to form a thin layer of toner 2 on the developing roller 3. A thin layer roller 4 as a layer thinning member, a scraper blade 5 as a developer scraping member for removing the toner on the thin layer roller 4, a toner cartridge 6 containing toner 2, and this toner cartridge 6. A developing device is known that has an agitator 7 that feeds the toner into the toner hopper 10 while stirring the toner 2 inside the toner cartridge 6, and a replenishment roller 8 that replenishes the toner 2 inside the toner cartridge 6 toward the developing roller 3. There is.

[0003] In another type of developing device such as an electrophotographic copying machine, as shown in FIG. A developing roller 3 as a developer carrier that supplies toner 2 as a non-magnetic developer, and a developing roller 3 disposed above the center position of the developing roller 3 to form a thin layer of toner 2 on the developing roller 3. A thin layer roller 4 as a thin layer forming member, a scraper blade 5 as a developer scraping member for removing the toner on the thin layer roller 4, a toner hopper 10 containing toner 2, and this toner hopper 10. A developing device is known that includes an agitator 7 that feeds the toner to the developing roller 3 while agitating the toner 2 in the toner hopper 10, and a replenishment roller 8 that replenishes the toner 2 in the toner hopper 10 toward the developing roller 3. .

By the way, in the former developing device, as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, a pair of seal members are disposed at both ends of the scraper blade 5 in the axial direction to prevent toner from flowing out from both ends of the scraper blade 5 in the axial direction.

On the other hand, in the latter developing device, as shown in FIG.
A pair of seal members is disposed in the casing 10a of the toner hopper 10 so that the pair of seal members is in contact with both ends of the developing roller 3 and the thin layer roller 4 in the axial direction. The developer is configured to prevent the developer from flowing out from both ends in the axial direction.

[0006]

By the way, as shown in FIG. 8, one known type of sealing member in the conventional developing device is composed of a flocked seal body 9 consisting of a substrate 9a and flocked flocks 9b. It is being

That is, in the former developing device, the flocked seal body 9 as a sealing member is generally constructed by planting flocked flocks 9b made of Teflon fibers in a loop shape on a substrate 9a, and the scraper blade 5 By fixing a pair of substrates 9a to both axial ends of the scraper blade 5 with double-sided tape or the like, toner is prevented from flowing out from both axial ends of the scraper blade 5.

[0008] In the latter developing device, the developing roller 3 and the thin layer roller 4 are provided at both ends in the axial direction on the opposite side to the photoreceptor drum 1, in the same manner as in the former. By fixing the flocked seal body 9 to the casing of the toner hopper 10 with double-sided tape or the like so that the flocks 9b of the flocked seal body 9 are in contact with each other, both ends of the developing roller 3 and the thin layer roller 4 in the axial direction are fixed. This prevents developer from flowing out from the area.

However, in these conventional developing devices, when the developing roller 3 and the thin layer roller 4 are rotated for a long period of time or used for a long period of time, the tips of the flocks 9b of the flocked seal body 9 become attached to the developing roller 3. The bristles are absorbed by the rotation of the thin layer roller 4 and the conveyance of the toner 2, and gradually fall down toward the upstream side in the direction of conveyance of the toner 2.

[0010] Therefore, in these conventional developing devices,
As shown in FIG. 9 or 12, due to the falling of the tip of the flocked hair 9b of the flocked seal body 9, a gap l is created between the flocked hair 9a and the developing roller 3, and through this gap l, both ends of the thin layer roller 4 are There have been problems with toner getting around the rollers, causing toner to scatter to the outside, and bearings that support each roller locking up.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned points, and its object is to provide a developing device with a high sealing effect using a flocked sealing body that is less likely to cause the flocked hairs to fall. .

0012

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a developer carrier that supplies a developer to an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of a photoreceptor, and a developer carrier that supplies a developer to an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of a photoreceptor. It has a layer thinning member that forms a thin layer of the developer on the carrier, and a developer scraping member that removes the developer on the thin layer member, and a shaft of the developer scraping member. In an electrophotographic developing device configured to include a pair of seal members at both ends in the axial direction to prevent developer from flowing out from both ends in the axial direction of the developer scraping member. The sealing member is constituted by a flocked seal body consisting of a flocked seal body, and the length of the flocked flocks of the flocked seal body is gradually increased as it goes upstream in the direction of conveyance of the developer on the developer scraping member. The configuration is changed so that

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention also provides a developer carrier that supplies a developer to an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of a photoreceptor, and a developer carrier that supplies a developer to an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of a photoreceptor. a thinning member for forming a thin layer of the developer on the thinning member, and a developer scraping member for removing the developer on the thinning member, and both ends of the developer scraping member in the axial direction In an electrophotographic developing device configured to prevent developer from flowing out from both ends of the developer scraping member in the axial direction by disposing a pair of seal members at The seal member is constituted by a flocked seal body, and the stiffness of the flocked flock of the flocked seal body is gradually increased as it goes upstream in the direction of conveyance of the developer on the developer scraping member. The configuration is changed to

Furthermore, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a developer carrier that supplies a developer to an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the latent image carrier, and a developer carrier that supplies a developer to an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the latent image carrier. A pair of sealing members are disposed so as to be in contact with both ends in the axial direction on the opposite side to the latent image carrier from the layer thinning member that forms a thin layer of the developer on the carrier. In an electrophotographic developing device configured to prevent the developer from flowing out from both ends of the developer carrier and the thinning member in the axial direction, a shape memory resin is coated on the substrate. The sealing member is constituted by the flocked seal body.

[0015]

[Operation] According to the present invention, the length of the flocked hairs of the flocked seal body changes so that it becomes longer as it goes upstream in the direction of conveyance of the developer on the developer scraping member. As you go upstream in the developer transport direction,
The reaction force against the falling of the transplanted hair is increased.

Further, according to the present invention, the strength of the flocking of the flocking seal body changes so that it becomes stronger as it goes upstream in the direction of conveyance of the developer on the developer scraping member. Therefore, the reaction force against the falling of the flocked hair increases as it goes upstream in the developer transport direction.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, since the sealing member is constituted by a flocked seal body in which shape memory resin is flocked on a substrate, the restoring force to the initial state of the flocking is increased.

[0018]

[Embodiments] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to the drawings. However, in order to avoid complicating the explanation, illustrations and disclosures of the configuration and operation that can be clearly recalled from the description of this specification, as well as the above-mentioned and other objects and novel features of the present invention, are omitted. , or simplify it.

First, as shown in FIG. 7, a pair of seal members are provided at both axial ends of the scraper blade 5 to prevent toner from flowing out from both axial ends of the scraper blade 5. An embodiment in which the present invention is implemented in the former developing device configured as follows will be described.

As shown in FIG. 1, the developing device of this embodiment has a flocked seal member 9 as a sealing member.
The length of the scraper blade 5 is changed so that it becomes longer as it goes upstream in the direction in which the developer is conveyed on the scraper blade 5.

This flocked seal body 9, like the conventional flocked seal body, is constructed by planting flocks 9b made of Teflon fibers in a loop shape on a substrate 9a, and as shown in FIG. By fixing a pair of substrates 9a to both ends of the scraper blade 5 in the axial direction with double-sided tape or the like, toner is prevented from flowing out from both ends of the scraper blade 5 in the axial direction.

According to this developing device, the length of the flocks 9b of the flock seal body 9 gradually increases as it goes upstream in the direction of conveyance of the developer on the scraper blade 5. The reaction force against the falling of the flocked hairs 9b increases as it goes upstream in the developer transport direction.

By the way, in the developing device according to the first embodiment, the length of the flocking 9b of the flocking seal body 9 is gradually increased toward the upstream side in the direction of conveyance of the developer on the scraper blade 5. By changing the flocking 9 as you go upstream in the developer transport direction,
By increasing the reaction force against the hair falling down of b, the downstream hair flocking 9b is
However, as shown in FIG. Accordingly, for example, the thickness of the fibers of the flocked hair 9b is gradually changed toward the upstream side in the developer conveyance direction so that the stiffness of the flocked hair 9b of the flocked seal body 9 becomes gradually stronger. , it may be configured to increase the reaction force against the falling of the hairs of the upstream flocks 9b to prevent the hairs of the downstream flocks 9b from falling down.

That is, according to the developing device according to the second embodiment, the stiffness of the flocks 9b of the flock seal body 9 moves toward the upstream side in the direction of conveyance of the developer on the scraper blade 5. As the developer moves upstream in the conveying direction, the strength increases gradually.
The reaction force against the hair falling of the flocked hair 9b is increased.

As described above, in the developing devices according to the first and second embodiments, if the flocked 9b on the downstream side of the flocked seal body 9, that is, on the side of the developing roller 3, were to fall down. Even if the hair transplanted on the upstream side has long hair 9
b, or the strong flocked hair 9b prevents the downstream flocked hair from falling down.

Therefore, in this developing device, as in the conventional developing device shown in FIG. occurs, and the thin layer roller 4 passes through this gap l.
Problems such as toner getting around to both ends of the rollers and toner scattering to the outside, and bearings supporting each roller causing bearing lock are eliminated.

Next, as shown in FIG. 11, structures similar to the former described above are installed at both ends of the developing roller 3 and the thin layer roller 4 in the axial direction on the side opposite to the photosensitive drum 1. The flocked seal body 9 is placed on the casing of the toner hopper 10 or the like so that the flocked seal body 9 comes into contact with the flocked seal body 9.
The present invention is implemented in the latter developing device, which is configured to prevent the developer from flowing out from both ends of the developing roller 3 and the thin layer roller 4 in the axial direction by fixing them with double-sided tape or the like. An example of the case will be described.

In the developing device according to the third embodiment of the present invention, the sealing member is attached to the substrate 9a as shown in FIG.
Flocked hair 9b coated with shape memory resin 9c on top
It is composed of a flocked seal body 9 in which is planted.

Here, as a method for coating the flocked hair 9b with the shape memory resin 9c, for example, the shape memory resin 9c called "Asmar" or "Nosolex" is liquefied, and the flocked hair 9b is coated with the shape memory resin 9c. shape memory resin 9c
Apply.

Further, the hair texture of the flocked hair 9b in the initial state is preliminarily set in a certain direction (the developing roller 3 or the thin layer roller 4).
In other words, due to the frictional heat generated by the friction between the developing roller 3 or the thin layer roller 4 and the flocked hair 9b, the shape memory resin 9c changes the shape of the flocked hair 9b as its memorized shape. It is formed to restore the flocked hair 9b to its initial shape.

Therefore, according to the third embodiment of the developing device, the sealing member is constituted by a flocked seal body 9 in which flocked flocks 9b coated with shape memory resin 9c are planted on a substrate 9a. Therefore, the restoring power of the flocked hair 9b to its initial state is increased.

By the way, in the developing device according to the third embodiment, by coating the flocked hair 9b with the shape memory resin 9c, the restoring force of the flocked hair 9b to its initial state is increased, thereby promoting the falling of the flocked hair 9b. However, in another embodiment of the present invention, the flocking 9b of the flocking seal body 9 is formed of shape memory resin 9c to increase the restoring force of the flocking 9b to its initial state. It may be configured so as to prevent the hair from falling down in the hair transplanted 9b.

Further, as described above, in a sealing member in which the flocking 9b of the flocking seal body 9 itself is formed of shape memory resin 9c, as in the sealing member in the developing device as the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. By coating the surface of the flocked hair 9b made of the shape memory resin 9c with a low friction layer 9d made of Teflon or the like, the lubricity as a sealing member can be improved.

As described above, in the developing devices according to the third and fourth embodiments, even if the flocked hairs 9b of the flocked seal body 9 fall down, the developing roller 3
The shape memory resin 9c is restored to the initial state of the flocked hair 9b as its memorized shape by the frictional heat generated by the friction between the thin layer roller 4 and the flocked hair 9b, so that the hair texture of the flocked hair 9b is A certain direction in its initial state (
direction opposite to the rotational direction of the developing roller 3 and thin layer roller 4)
Since the hair texture is restored to that of the hair of the hair transplanted hair 9b, the falling of the hair of the hair transplanted hair 9b can be prevented.

Therefore, in this developing device, as in the conventional developing device shown in FIG.
This flocked hair 9a and the developing roller 3 are
A gap 1 is created between the rollers 4 and the thin roller 4, and toner flows around to both ends of the thin roller 4 through this gap 1, causing toner scattering to the outside, and the bearings that support each roller Problems that cause locks are resolved.

[0036]

Effects of the Invention According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the hairs from falling down at the tips of the flocks of the flocked seal body as a sealing member of the developing device. It can prevent scattering and bearing lock of the bearings that support each roller such as the developing roller.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a flocked seal body in a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the scraper blade in the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of a flocked seal body in a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of a flocked seal body in a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of a flocked seal body in a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a conventional developing device.

FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the seal structure of the flocked seal body in the conventional developing device.

FIG. 8 is a schematic side view of a flocked seal body in the conventional developing device.

FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining a problem with the seal structure of the flocked seal body in the conventional developing device.

FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view of another conventional developing device.

FIG. 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the seal structure of the flocked seal body in the other conventional developing device.

FIG. 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining a problem with the seal structure of the flocked seal body in the other conventional developing device.

[Explanation of symbols]

3 Developing roller 4 Thin layer roller 5 Scraper blade 8 Supply roller 9 Flocked seal body 9a　　　　　　Board 9b Hair transplantation 9c Shape memory resin 10 Toner hopper 10a Casing

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A developer carrier that supplies a developer to an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of a photoreceptor, and a thin layer that forms a thin layer of the developer on the developer carrier. and a developer scraping member for removing developer on the thinning member,
A pair of seal members are disposed at both axial ends of the developer scraping member to prevent developer from flowing out from both axial ends of the developer scraping member. In a photographic developing device, the seal member is constituted by a flocked seal body consisting of a substrate and flocked flocks, and
A developing device characterized in that the length of the flocked hairs of the flocked seal body is changed so as to be sequentially increased toward the upstream side in the direction in which the developer is conveyed on the developer scraping member. 2. A developer carrier that supplies a developer to an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of a photoreceptor, and a thin layer that forms a thin layer of the developer on the developer carrier. and a developer scraping member for removing developer on the thinning member,
A pair of seal members are disposed at both axial ends of the developer scraping member to prevent developer from flowing out from both axial ends of the developer scraping member. In a photographic developing device, the seal member is constituted by a flocked seal body consisting of a substrate and flocked flocks, and
A developing device characterized in that the stiffness of the flocking of the flocking seal body is changed so as to become stronger as one goes upstream in the direction of conveyance of the developer on the developer scraping member. 3. A developer carrier that supplies a developer to an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the latent image carrier, and a thin layer of the developer formed on the developer carrier. A pair of seal members are disposed in contact with the thin layer member at both ends in the axial direction opposite to the latent image carrier, and the developer carrier and the thin layer are connected to each other. In an electrophotographic developing device configured to prevent the developer from flowing out from both ends in the axial direction of the developing member, the sealing member is constructed of a flocked sealing body in which shape memory resin is flocked on the substrate. A developing device characterized by: