# US 9,519,241 B2 · Development device, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus

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- Number: US 9,519,241 B2
- Document ID: US9519241B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/842,698
- Filed: 2015-09-01
- Published: 2016-03-10
- Granted: 2016-12-13
- Earliest claimed: 2014-09-05
- Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
- Applicants: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
- Inventors: Takuya Kitamura
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9519241B2

## CPC

- G03G 15/0817: {characterised by the lateral sealing at both sides of the donor member with respect to the developer carrying direction}
- G03G 15/0881: {Sealing of developer cartridges}
- G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY

## Abstract

A development device in which there is a lubricant opposite in polarity to a developer in a surface region of a developer bearing member contacting an image bearing member and an end seal when the developer bearing member rotates.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A development device comprising:
a developer bearing member arranged to contact an image bearing member and configured to convey developer;
a development container configured to contain the developer; and
an end seal configured to contact the developer bearing member to prevent the developer from leaking from between an end of the developer bearing member in a longitudinal direction and the development container,
wherein a lubricant, having a charge polarity that is opposite to a charge polarity of the developer, is applied onto at least a part of a surface of the developer bearing member, and
wherein the part of the surface of the developer bearing member contacts the image bearing member and the end seal in a case where the developer bearing member rotates.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The development device according to claim 1, wherein a potential of the image bearing member and a potential of the developer bearing member are controlled such that the charge polarity of the lubricant equals to a determined polarity of a potential difference obtained by subtracting the potential of the developer bearing member from the potential of the image bearing member.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The development device according to claim 2, wherein the image bearing member is exposed to light by an exposure device to change the potential of the image bearing member.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The development device according to claim 1, wherein the charge polarity of the lubricant is a positive polarity and the charge polarity of the developer is a negative polarity.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The development device according to claim 1, further comprising a regulation member configured to regulate an amount of the developer borne on the surface of the developer bearing member.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The development device according to claim 5, wherein, in a positional relationship in the longitudinal direction of the developer bearing member, an end of the image bearing member, an end of the developer bearing member, and an outer end of the end seal are positioned from outside to inside in the order of the end of the image bearing member, the end of the developer bearing member, and the outer end of the end seal.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The development device according to claim 5, wherein in a positional relationship in the longitudinal direction of the developer bearing member, an end of the image bearing member, an end of the developer bearing member, and an outer end of the end seal are positioned from outside to inside in the order of the end of the developer bearing member, the outer end of the end seal, and the end of the image bearing member.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The development device according to claim 1, wherein the lubricant exists inside the longitudinal end of the image bearing member in the longitudinal direction of the developer bearing member.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The development device according to claim 1, wherein the lubricant exists inside an outer end of the end seal in the longitudinal direction of the developer bearing member.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The development device according to claim 1, wherein the lubricant exists on a surface corresponding to an image formation region of the developer bearing member.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

A process cartridge comprising:
the development device according to claim 1; and
the image bearing member configured to bear a developer image formed with the developer.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

An image forming apparatus comprising:
the development device according to claim 1; and
an image, wherein the image is formed with the developer on a transfer material.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The development device according to claim 1, wherein the lubricant is coated onto the part of a surface of the developer bearing member where the developer bearing member contacts the image bearing member and the end seal and does not contact a regulation member.