Method and apparatus for image forming capable of effectively regulating a toner layer, developing mechanism for the apparatus, and a process cartridge provided in the apparatus

An image forming apparatus, comprising:

• means for bearing an electrostatic latent image on a surface thereof;
• means for carrying a developer on a surface thereof to the means for bearing;
• means for regulating an amount of the developer carried by the means for carrying, the means for regulating comprising:
• a center region having a first outer diameter of a first longitudinal cross-sectional region which increases toward an axial center portion of the means for regulating according to a predetermined calculated amount of deflection of the means for regulating;
• and
• side regions located at axial end portions, sandwiched the center region therebetween and have a second outer diameter of a second longitudinal cross-sectional region greater than a third outer diameter of a third longitudinal cross-sectional region obtained according to the predetermined calculated amount of deflection of the means for regulating;
• and
• means for preventing the developer from leaking from axial ends of the means for carrying, the means for preventing having an inner edge which lies closer to each of the axial ends than boundaries between the center region and each of the side regions.

A method of manufacturing an image forming apparatus, comprising:

• mounting an image bearing member to the image forming apparatus;
• disposing a developer container in a vicinity of the image bearing member in the image forming apparatus;
• arranging a developer carrying member opposite to the image bearing member with a portion thereof exposed from an opening of the developer container;
• installing a developer regulating member pressed by respective pressuring members at axial end portions and held in contact with a surface of the developer carrying member;
• providing the developer regulating member with a center region having a first outer diameter of a first longitudinal cross-sectional region which increases toward an axial center portion of the developer regulating member according to a predetermined calculated amount of deflection of the developer regulating member, and side regions located at axial end portions sandwiched the center region therebetween and have a second outer diameter of a second longitudinal cross-sectional region greater than a third outer diameter of a third longitudinal cross-sectional region obtained according to the predetermined calculated amount of deflection of the developer regulating member;
• and
• attaching sealing members to be held in contact with a surface of axial end portions of the developer carrying member, the sealing members having respective inner edges which sandwich boundaries between the center region and each of the side regions.

A developing device, comprising:

• a developer carrying member configured to carry a developer on a surface thereof to an image bearing member;
• a developer regulating member configured to regulate an amount of the developer carried by the developer carrying member, the developer regulating member comprising:
• a center region having a first outer diameter of a first longitudinal cross-sectional region which increases toward an axial center portion of the developer regulating member according to a predetermined calculated amount of deflection of the developer regulating member;
• and
• side regions located at axial end portions, sandwiched the center region therebetween and have a second outer diameter of a second longitudinal cross-sectional region greater than a third outer diameter of a third longitudinal cross-sectional region obtained according to the predetermined calculated amount of deflection of the developer regulating member;
• and
• sealing members configured to prevent the developer from leaking from axial ends of the developer carrying member, the sealing members having respective inner edges which sandwich boundaries of the center region and each of the side regions.

A developing device, comprising:

• means for carrying a developer on a surface thereof to a means for bearing;
• means for regulating an amount of the developer carried by the means for carrying, the means for regulating comprising:
• a center region having a first outer diameter of a first longitudinal cross-sectional region which increases toward an axial center portion of the means for regulating according to a predetermined calculated amount of deflection of the means for regulating;
• and
• side regions located at axial end portions, sandwiched the center region therebetween and have a second outer diameter of a second longitudinal cross-sectional region greater than a third outer diameter of a third longitudinal cross-sectional region obtained according to the predetermined calculated amount of deflection of the means for regulating;
• and
• means for preventing the developer from leaking from axial ends of the means for carrying, the means for preventing having an inner edge which lies closer to each of the axial ends than boundaries between the center region and each of the side regions.

A process cartridge detachably mounted to an image forming apparatus, comprising:

• at least one of:
• an image bearing member configured to bear an electrostatic latent image on a surface thereof;
• a charging mechanism configured to uniformly charge the surface of the image bearing member;
• and
• a cleaning mechanism configured to remove developer remaining on the surface of the image bearing member;
• combined with
• a developing mechanism, comprising:
• a developer carrying member configured to carry the developer on a surface thereof to the image bearing member;
• a developer regulating member configured to regulate an amount of the developer carried by the developer carrying member, the developer regulating member comprising:
• a center region having a first outer diameter of a first longitudinal cross-sectional region which increases toward an axial center portion of the developer regulating member according to a predetermined calculated amount of deflection of the developer regulating member;
• and
• side regions located at axial end portions, sandwiched the center region therebetween and have a second outer diameter of a second longitudinal cross-sectional region greater than a third outer diameter of a third longitudinal cross-sectional region obtained according to the predetermined calculated amount of deflection of the developer regulating member;
• and
• sealing members configured to prevent the developer from leaking from axial end portions of the developer carrying member, the sealing members having respective inner edges which sandwich boundaries between the center region and each of the side regions.

A process cartridge detachably disposed to an image forming apparatus member, comprising:

• at least one of:
• means for bearing an electrostatic latent image on a surface thereof;
• means for charging the surface of the image bearing member uniformly;
• and
• means for removing developer remaining on the surface of the image bearing member;
• and
• means for developing, comprising:
• means for carrying the developer on a surface thereof to the means for bearing;
• means for regulating an amount of the developer carried by the means for carrying, the means for regulating comprising:
• a center region having a first outer diameter of a first longitudinal cross-sectional region which increases toward an axial center portion of the means for regulating according to a predetermined calculated amount of deflection of the means for regulating;
• and
• side regions located at axial end portions, sandwiched the center region therebetween and have a second outer diameter of a second longitudinal cross-sectional region greater than a third outer diameter of a third longitudinal cross-sectional region obtained according to the predetermined calculated amount of deflection of the means for regulating;
• and
• means for preventing the developer from leaking from axial ends of the means for carrying, the means for preventing having an inner edge which lies closer to each of the axial ends than boundaries between the center region and each of the side regions.