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US 8,027,613 B2Granted
Developing device, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus
AssigneeBrother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorsYuichi Matsushita, Mitsuru Horinoe, Yukiko Nakaya, Hiroki Mori
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An arrangement of sealing members seals developer in a developer device. The sealing members minimize or eliminate developer from leaking around the sides of a developer carrier.
Claims14
A developing device comprising:
- a case body including a contact portion;
- a developer carrier rotatably supported on the case body, the developer carrier having a circumferential surface at an end with respect to an axial direction of the developer carrier;
- and
- a first seal member contacting the developer carrier, the first seal member attached to a receiving portion of the case body, the receiving portion facing the circumferential surface, the first seal member including an inside surface that faces inside with respect to the axial direction,
- wherein the contact portion has a contact surface,
- wherein the inside surface includes a first area where the inside surface contacts the contact surface and a second area where the inside surface does not contact the contact surface,
- wherein the first area and the second area are arranged in a thickness direction of the first seal member, and
- wherein the second area is closer to the case body than the first area.
5 more elements
A developing device comprising:
- a case body including a contact portion;
- a developer carrier rotatably supported on the case body, the developer carrier having a circumferential surface at an end with respect to an axial direction of the developer carrier;
- a regulator configured to regulate a thickness of developer on the developer carrier, the regulator being fixed to the case body, the regulator having an end facing the circumferential surface;
- and
- a seal member contacting the developer carrier, the seal member attached to the end of the regulator, the seal member including an inside surface that faces inside with respect to the axial direction,
- wherein the contact portion has a contact surface,
- wherein the inside surface includes a first area where the inside surface contacts the contact surface and a second area where the inside surface does not contact the contact surface,
- wherein the first area and the second area are arranged in a thickness direction of the first seal member, and
- wherein the second area is closer to the case body than the first area.
6 more elements
A process cartridge configured to be received in and removed from an image forming apparatus configured to form an image using a developer, the process cartridge comprising:
- a photosensitive member;
- a developing device including:
- a case body including a contact portion;
- a developer carrier rotatably supported on the case body, the developer carrier having a circumferential surface at an end with respect to an axial direction of the developer carrier;
- and
- a first seal member contacting the developer carrier, the first seal member attached to a receiving portion of the case body, the receiving portion facing the circumferential surface, the first seal member including an inside surface that faces inside with respect to the axial direction,
- wherein the contact portion has a contact surface,
- wherein the inside surface includes a first area where the inside surface contacts the contact surface and a second area where the inside surface does not contact the contact surface,
- wherein the first area and the second area are arranged in a thickness direction of the first seal member, and
- wherein the second area is closer to the case body than the first area, and
- wherein the developer held on the developer carrier of the developing device is supplied to a surface of the photosensitive member.
8 more elements
An image forming apparatus configured to form an image using a developer, the image forming apparatus comprising:
- a photosensitive member;
- and
- a developing device including:
- a case body including a contact portion;
- a developer carrier rotatably supported on the case body, the developer carrier having a circumferential surface at each end with respect to an axial direction of the developer carrier;
- and
- a first seal member contacting the developer carrier, the first seal member attached to a receiving portion of the case body, the receiving portion facing the circumferential surface, the first seal member including an inside surface that faces inside with respect to the axial direction,
- wherein the contact portion has a contact surface,
- wherein the inside surface includes a first area where the inside surface contacts the contact surface and a second area where the inside surface does not contact the contact surface,
- wherein the first area and the second area are arranged in a thickness direction of the first seal member, and
- wherein the second area is closer to the case body than the first area.
8 more elements
A developing device comprising,
- a case body including a contact portion;
- a developer carrier rotatably supported on the case body, the developer carrier having a circumferential surface at an end with respect to an axial direction of the developer carrier;
- and
- a first seal member contacting the developer carrier, the first seal member attached to a receiving portion of the case body, the receiving portion facing the circumferential surface, the first seal member including an inside surface that faces inside with respect to the axial direction,
- wherein the contact portion has a contact surface, the contact portion being configured to prevent the first seal member from moving toward the inside in the axial direction of the developer carrier by contacting the inside surface of the first seal member,
- wherein the inside surface includes a first area where the inside surface contacts the contact surface and a second area where the inside surface does not contact the contact surface,
- wherein the first area and the second area are arranged in a thickness direction of the first seal member, and
- wherein the second area is closer to the case body than the first area.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.