DEVELOPING DEVICE, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND IMAGE FORMING DEVICE

摘要

A developing device includes a developer bearing member that bears a developer, a developer regulating member having a regulation portion comprised of an elastic member contacting the developer bearing member, and a supporting portion supporting the regulation portion, a longitudinal direction of the regulation portion being along that of the developer bearing member, the regulation portion having a base portion and tip portion, the base portion being an end portion on a side of a portion connected with the supporting portion in a transverse direction, the base portion being opposite to the tip portion, the tip portion being disposed on an upstream side in a moving direction of the developer bearing member, the developer regulating member regulating a developer on the developer bearing member, and a sealing member contacting a regulation portion's surface, the surface being on an opposite side of the regulation portion to the developer bearing member.

主权项

1. A developing device comprising:
a developer bearing member configured to bear a developer; a developer regulating member configured to have a regulation portion comprised of an elastic member that is brought into contact with the developer bearing member, and a supporting portion that supports the regulation portion, a longitudinal direction of the regulation portion being along a longitudinal direction of the developer bearing member, the regulation portion having a base portion and a tip portion, the base portion being an end portion on a side of a portion connected with the supporting portion in a transverse direction, the base portion being opposite to the tip portion, the tip portion being disposed on an upstream side in a moving direction of the developer bearing member, the developer regulating member regulating a developer borne by the developer bearing member; and a sealing member configured to be brought into contact with a surface of the regulation portion, the surface being on an opposite side of the regulation portion to the developer bearing member, wherein the regulation portion has a first region and a second region, the second region being adjacent to the first region on a side of an end portion in the longitudinal direction of the regulation portion, wherein a thickness of an escaped portion is smaller than a thickness of a contact portion so that at least a part of a region from the tip portion to the contact portion that is brought into contact with the developer bearing member escapes on a side opposite to the developer bearing member in the first region of the regulation portion, wherein a thickness of the region from the tip portion to the contact portion that is brought into contact with the developer bearing member is nearly the same in the second region of the regulation portion, and wherein the sealing member is brought into contact with only the second region of the regulation portion rather than the first region.