IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,849,153
Granted Patent B2
US 8,849,153 · App. 13/623,283 · Granted Sep 30, 2014

Development device and image formation apparatus

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,849,153
App. No.
13/623,283
Granted
Sep 30, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A development device includes a regulation member partially defining a developer room and configured to regulate the thickness of a developer layer on a developer carrier, the regulation member including a regulation edge facing the developer carrier to control the thickness of the developer layer on the developer carrier, and an end facing an inner wall surface of the developer room; a first seal member attached to the inner wall surface of the developer room at a position facing the end of the regulation member; and a second seal member attached to the regulation member at a portion in the vicinity of the end of the regulation member and being in contact with the first seal member to seal between the first seal member and the end of the regulation member. The second seal member is lower in hardness than the first seal member.

Claims (63)

1. A development device comprising:

a regulation member defining a part of a developer room and configured to regulate the thickness of a developer layer on a developer carrier, the regulation member including a regulation edge facing the developer carrier to control the thickness of the developer layer on the developer carrier, and an end facing an inner wall surface of the developer room;

a first seal member attached to the inner wall surface of the developer room at a position facing the end of the regulation member; and

a second seal member attached to the regulation member at a portion in a vicinity of the end of the regulation member and being in contact with the first seal member to seal between the first seal member and the end of the regulation member, wherein the second seal member is lower in hardness than the first seal member,

wherein the second seal member includes a bonded area that is bonded to the regulation member and an unbounded area that is not bonded to the regulation member.

2. The development device according to claim 1 , wherein

the regulation member includes a first main face exposed to an inside of the developer room and a second main face provided on an opposite side to the first main face and exposed to an outside of the developer room, and

the second seal member is bonded to one of the first main face and the second main face in such a manner that a part of the second seal member sticks out from an end of the regulation member toward the first seal member.

3. The development device according to claim 2 , wherein

the one of the first main face and the second main face includes:

a bonded area where the second seal member is bonded; and

an unbonded area where the second seal member is not bonded, wherein

the unbonded area is provided closer to the end of the regulation member than the bonded area.

4. The development device according to claim 2 , wherein

the second seal member is bonded to the first main face.

5. The development device according to claim 1 , wherein

the end of the regulation member is in contact with the first seal member.

6. The development device according to claim 1 , wherein

the end of the regulation member is not in contact with the first seal member.

7. The development device according to claim 1 , wherein

the second seal member is not interposed between the first seal member and the end of the regulation member.

8. An image formation apparatus comprising:

an exposure device configured to emit light based on image data to form an electrostatic latent image;

the development device according to claim 1 configured to develop the electrostatic latent image formed by the exposure device, to form a developer image;

a transfer device configured to transfer the developer image onto a recording sheet; and

a fixation device configured to fix the transferred developer image onto the recording sheet.

9. The image formation apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein

the regulation member includes a first main face exposed to an inside of the developer room and a second main face provided on an opposite side to the first main face and exposed to an outside of the developer room, and

the second seal member is bonded to one of the first main face and the second main face in such a manner that a part of the second seal member sticks out from the end of the regulation member toward the first seal member.

10. The image formation apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein

the one of the first main face and the second main face includes:

a bonded area where the second seal member of the regulation member is bonded; and

an unbonded area where the second seal member of the regulation member is not bonded, wherein

the unbonded area is provided closer to the end of the regulation member than the bonded area.

11. The image formation apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein

the second seal member is bonded to the first main face.

12. The image formation apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein

the end of the regulation member is in contact with the first seal member.

13. The image formation apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein

the end of the regulation member is not in contact with the first seal member.

14. The image formation apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein

the second seal member is not interposed between the first seal member and the end of the regulation member.

15. The development device according to claim 1 , wherein the bonded area of the second seal member is provided closer to the end of the regulation member than the unbonded area of the second seal member.

16. The image formation apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the bonded area of the second seal member is provided closer to the end of the regulation member than the unbonded area of the second seal member.

17. The development device according to claim 15 , wherein the second seal member is bonded to the regulation member in such a manner that a part of the second seal member extends out from the end of the regulation member toward the first seal member.

18. The image formation apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the second seal member is bonded to the regulation member in such a manner that a part of the second seal member extends out from the end of the regulation member toward the first seal member.

19. The development device according to claim 17 , wherein the unbonded area of the second seal member is in contact with the first seal member and is compressed by the first seal member in a direction opposite from the first seal member.

20. The image formation apparatus according to claim 18 , wherein the unbonded area of the second seal member is in contact with the first seal member and is compressed by the first seal member in a direction opposite from the first seal member.

21. A development device comprising:

a regulation member defining a part of a developer room and configured to regulate the thickness of a developer layer on a developer carrier, the regulation member including a regulation edge facing the developer carrier to control the thickness of the developer layer on the developer carrier, and an end facing an inner wall surface of the developer room;

a first seal member attached to the inner wall surface of the developer room at a position facing the end of the regulation member; and

a second seal member attached to the regulation member at a portion in a vicinity of the end of the regulation member and being in contact with the first seal member to seal between the first seal member and the end of the regulation member, wherein the second seal member is lower in hardness than the first seal member,

wherein a surface of the second seal member in contact with the first seal member comprises a film member.

22. An image formation apparatus comprising:

an exposure device configured to emit light based on image data to form an electrostatic latent image;

the development device configured to develop the electrostatic latent image formed by the exposure device, to form a developer image,

the development device comprising:

a regulation member defining a part of a developer room and configured to regulate the thickness of a developer layer on a developer carrier, the regulation member including a regulation edge facing the developer carrier to control the thickness of the developer layer on the developer carrier, and an end facing an inner wall surface of the developer room;

a first seal member attached to the inner wall surface of the developer room at a position facing the end of the regulation member; and

a second seal member attached to the regulation member at a portion in a vicinity of the end of the regulation member and being in contact with the first seal member to seal between the first seal member and the end of the regulation member, wherein the second seal member is lower in hardness than the first seal member;

a transfer device configured to transfer the developer image onto a recording sheet; and

a fixation device configured to fix the transferred developer image onto the recording sheet,

wherein a surface of the second seal member in contact with the first seal member comprises a film member.

Assignments (2)
MERGER Recorded Mar 14, 2022
From: OKI DATA CORPORATION
To: OKI ELECTRIC INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 059365/0145 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 20, 2012
From: GOTO, YOSHIHIRO
To: OKI DATA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 028996/0636 →