Developing device for preventing toner leakage

摘要

A developing device is capable of preventing developing agent from leaking from a developing frame of a developer cartridge. The developer cartridge includes a developing agent carrying member, a layer thickness regulator, and a first seal positioned between the developing agent carrying member and the layer thickness regulator. The regulator includes a plate member provided with a projecting portion. The projecting portion has a laterally outer end portion positioned inward of laterally outer end portion of the first seal.

主权项

1. A developing device comprising:
a frame configured to accommodate a developing agent therein; a developing agent carrying member having an outer peripheral surface and defining an axis, the developing agent carrying member configured to carry the developing agent on the outer peripheral surface, and to be rotatable about the axis, the axis defining an axial direction, wherein the developing agent carrying member further includes an axial end portion; a layer thickness regulator provided at the frame and configured to regulate a thickness of a layer of the developing agent carried on the outer peripheral surface, the layer thickness regulator comprising:
a first plate member having one end portion provided with a contact portion configured to contact the developing agent carrying member, the first plate member having another end portion supported to the frame; anda second plate member positioned in confrontation with the frame to nip the other end portion of the first plate member between the second plate member and the frame so as to fix the first plate member to the frame, a particular direction from the other end portion to the one end portion being coincident with a direction of rotation of the developing agent carrying member at a contacting portion between the contact portion and the developing agent carrying member, the second plate member having end portions in the axial direction; and a pair of first seals each positioned between the axial end portion of the developing agent carrying member and the first plate member and spaced away from each other in the axial direction, the contact portion being positioned between the pair of first seals and each first seal being positioned inward of each end portion of the second plate member in the axial direction, each first seal having an inner end portion and an outer end portion in the axial direction, each first seal having a first width in the axial direction, and wherein the second plate member has a projecting portion projecting therefrom in the particular direction, the projecting portion configured to press the first seal toward the developing agent carrying member and being positioned inward of the outer end portion of the first seal in the axial direction, wherein at least a part of the projecting portion is positioned inward of the inner end portion of the first seal in the axial direction, the projecting portion having a second width in the axial direction smaller than the first width.