Developing apparatus, process cartridge and unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9632451-B2
Application number	US-201314019647-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 6, 2013
Priority date	Sep 13, 2012
Publication date	Apr 25, 2017
Grant date	Apr 25, 2017

Abstract

A developing device includes first and second frames; a developer carrying member; an end portion seal, provided in the first frame, for sealing between an end portion and the first frame to prevent leakage; a sheet, provided in the second frame in contact with the developer carrying member along the rotation axial direction of the developer carrying member; a filler filling a space defined by the first and second frames, the end portion seal and the sheet at a connecting portion where the end portion seal and the sheet contact each other; and a projected portion provided in the first frame and projected into the space, the projected portion is spaced from the second frame, the end portion seal in the rotation axial direction.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A developing device for use with an image forming apparatus, said developing device comprising:
a frame including a first frame and a second frame;
a developer accommodating portion for accommodating developer, said developer accommodating portion being formed by said frame;
a developer carrying member for developing a latent image formed on an image bearing member using the developer accommodated in said developer accommodating portion;
an end portion sealing member, provided on said first frame, for sealing between an end portion of said developer carrying member and said frame with respect to a rotational axis direction of said developer carrying member to prevent leakage of the developer from said developer accommodating portion;
a sheet, provided on said second frame in contact with said developer carrying member along the rotation axis direction of said developer carrying member, for preventing leakage of the developer from said developer accommodating portion;
a filler for preventing leakage of the developer from said developer accommodating portion, said filler filling a space defined by said frame, said end portion sealing member, and said sheet; and
a projected portion provided in said first frame and projected toward the space, said projected portion being spaced from said second frame and said end portion sealing member in the rotational axis direction,
wherein said filler is provided between said end portion sealing member and said projected portion, and
wherein said space includes a first flow path for permitting said filler to be filled between said projected portion and said end portion sealing member with respect to the rotational axis direction, a second flow path for permitting said filler to be filled between said projected portion and said second frame with respect to a direction perpendicular to the rotational axis direction, and a third flow path for permitting said filler to be filled between said projected portion and said second frame with respect to the rotational axis direction.

2. The developing device according to claim 1 , further comprising a filling port for permitting said filler to be filled into the space from an outside of said developer accommodating portion.

3. The developing device according to claim 2 , wherein said filling port is provided in said frame.

4. The developing device according to claim 2 , further comprising a guide portion for directing said filler into the space from said filling port.

5. The developing device according to claim 4 , wherein said guide portion includes a groove provided in said frame.

6. The developing device according to claim 1 , wherein said first frame is provided with a supporting portion projected in a direction perpendicular to the rotational axis direction and supporting said end portion sealing member, and said second frame is provided with a cut-away portion into which said supporting portion enters so as to provide the space, said cut-away portion being provided in a part of a surface to which said sheet is stuck.

7. The developing device according to claim 1 , wherein said projected portion is provided at each of opposite sides of said end portion sealing member with respect to the rotational axis direction.

8. The developing device according to claim 1 , wherein said filler is made of a resin material having a viscosity not less than 1300 mPa·s.

9. A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, said process cartridge comprising:
an image bearing member;
a frame including a first frame and second frame;
a developer accommodating portion for accommodating developer, said developer accommodating portion being formed by said frame;
a developer carrying member for developing a latent image formed on said image bearing member using the developer accommodated in said developer accommodating portion;
an end portion sealing member, provided on said first frame, for sealing between an end portion of said developer carrying member and said frame with respect to a rotational axis direction of said developer carrying member to prevent leakage of the developer from said developer accommodating portion;
a sheet, provided on said second frame in contact with said developer carrying member along the rotational axis direction of said developer carrying member, for preventing leakage of the developer from said developer accommodating portion;
a filler for preventing leakage of the developer from said developer accommodating portion, said filler filling a space defined by said frame, said end portion sealing member, and said sheet; and
a projected portion provided in said first frame and projected toward the space, said projected portion being spaced from said second frame and said end portion sealing member in the rotational axis direction,
wherein said filler is provided between said end portion sealing member and said projected portion, and
wherein said space includes a first flow path for permitting said filler to be filled between said projected portion and said end portion sealing member with respect to the rotational axis direction, a second flow path for permitting said filler to be filled between said projected portion and said second frame with respect to a direction perpendicular to the rotational axis direction, and a third flow path for permitting said filler to be filled between said projected portion and said second frame with respect to the rotational axis direction.

10. The process cartridge according to claim 9 , further comprising a filling port for permitting said filler to be filled into the space from an outside of said developer accommodating portion.

11. The process cartridge according to claim 10 , wherein said filling port is provided in said frame.

12. The process cartridge according to claim 10 , wherein further comprising a guide portion for directing said filler into the space from said filling port.

13. The process cartridge according to claim 12 , wherein said guide portion includes a groove provided in said frame.

14. The process cartridge according to claim 9 , wherein said first frame is provided with a supporting portion projected in a direction perpendicular to the rotational axis direction and supporting said end portion sealing member, and said second frame is provided with a cut-away portion into which said supporting portion enters so as to provide the space, said cut-away portion being provided in a part of a surface to which said sheet is stuck.

15. The process cartridge according to claim 9 , wherein said projected portion is provided at each of opposite sides of said end portion sealing member with respect to the rotational axis direction.

16. The process cartridge according to claim 9 , wherein said filler is made of a resin material having a viscosity not less than 1300 mPa·s.

17. A unit for use with an image forming apparatus, said unit comprising:
a frame including a first frame and a second frame;
a developer accommodating portion for accommodating developer, said developer accommodating portion being formed by said frame and;
a rotatable member for carrying developer;
an end portion sealing member, provided on said first frame, for sealing between an end portion of said rotatable member and said frame with respect to a rotational axis direction of said rotatable member to prevent leakage of the developer from said developer accommodating portion;
a sheet, provided on said second frame in contact with said rotatable member along the rotational axis direction of said rotatable memb

Assignees

• Canon Kk

Inventors

• Hayashi Naoki
• Kashiide Yosuke
• Sato Masaaki
• Sugihara Fuyuki

Classifications

• G03G15/0817 Primary

  characterised by the lateral sealing at both sides of the donor member with respect to the developer carrying direction · CPC title

• G03G15/0815

  characterised by the developer handling means after the developing zone and before the supply, e.g. developer recovering roller · CPC title

• G03G21/1832

  Shielding members, shutter, e.g. light, heat shielding, prevention of toner scattering · CPC title