Developing device, process cartridge and image forming apparatus

A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, comprising:

• an image bearing member on which an electrostatic latent image is formed;
• and
• a developing device,
• wherein said developing device comprises,
• a developing container for accommodating developer;
• a developer carrying member, provided rotatably in said developing container, for carrying and feeding the developer, and
• a plate-like elastic member, supported by said developing container, for regulating the developer carried on said developer carrying member, wherein a free end portion of said elastic member in a free end side opposite from a side where a supporting portion of said elastic member is supported by said developing container contacts said developer carrying member in a state in which the free end portion is directed toward an upstream side of said developer carrying member with respect to a movement direction of said developer carrying member,
• wherein an angle formed between a reference surface passing through a surface of said elastic member which is continuous to a contact portion of said elastic member with said developer carrying member and which is downstream of the contact portion with respect to the movement direction and a tangent plane of said developer carrying member under no load at a contact position between said elastic member and said developer carrying member is 10° or more and 45° or less, and
• wherein said elastic member includes a first region including the contact portion and a second region which is provided continuously from the first region toward the supporting portion and which is lower in rigidity than the first region, the second region being provided downstream of the reference surface with respect to the movement direction.

An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, comprising:

• an image bearing member on which an electrostatic latent image is formed;
• and
• a developing device,
• wherein said developing device comprises,
• a developing container for accommodating developer;
• a developer carrying member, provided rotatably in said developing container, for carrying and feeding the developer, and
• a plate-like elastic member, supported by said developing container, for regulating the developer carried on said developer carrying member, wherein a free end portion of said elastic member in a free end side opposite from a side where a supporting portion of said elastic member is supported by said developing container contacts said developer carrying member in a state in which the free end portion is directed toward an upstream side of said developer carrying member with respect to a movement direction of said developer carrying member,
• wherein an angle formed between a reference surface passing through a surface of said elastic member which is continuous to a contact portion of said elastic member with said developer carrying member and which is downstream of the contact portion with respect to the movement direction and a tangent plane of said developer carrying member under no load at a contact position between said elastic member and said developer carrying member is 10° or more and 45° or less, and
• wherein said elastic member includes a first region including the contact portion and a second region which is provided continuously from the first region toward the supporting portion and which is lower in rigidity than the first region, the second region being provided downstream of the reference surface with respect to the movement direction.