DEVELOPING DEVICE, PROCESS UNIT AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To attain a high printing quality by keeping the layer thickness of a developer layer on a developing roller constant without being affected by the quantity of developer in a developer storing part. SOLUTION: In a developing device possessing the developing roller 12 to supply a photoreceptive drum 2 with the developer in the developer storing part 16 and a doctor blade 25 to regulate the layer thickness of the developer layer formed on the outer peripheral surface of the developing roller, a protective plate 31 to protect the doctor blade from the pressing force of the developer in the developer storing part is provided near the doctor blade. Also, the protective plate is arranged on a side opposed to the developing roller by holding the doctor blade and is provided in the state of being projected outside from the top edge of the doctor blade. The protective plate is separated from the doctor blade, and its gap is filled with a flexible member 32. COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO