JP2005331755A - Manufacturing method for developer quantity restriction blade and developing apparatus using the developer quantity restriction blade acquired by the manufacturing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a developer quantity restricting blade with small surface roughness on a charge controlling surface, superior in its function stability and mass production property and not producing image failure such as lines and unevenness due to developer and its method of manufacture and a developing apparatus using the developer quantity restricting blade. <P>SOLUTION: In the developer quantity restricting blade which has at least a blade member and a supporting member for the blade member formed so as to be laminated in the same shape, a composite for the blade member contains elastomer, the blade member is formed by having a surface transfer sheet fed to an injection molding mold, having the composite for the blade member ejected to a mold cavity after it is placed to come into contact with an inner surface of the cavity, the mold is closed and then having the blade member fixed by having the surface transfer sheet integrally adhered. The surface from which the surface transfer sheet member is stripped off is made a charge controlling surface and the surface of the blade member facing the charge controlling surface is adhered to the supporting member. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an amount of developer used for regulating the amount of developer on the surface of the developer carrier for supplying the developer to the electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier and visualizing it. The present invention relates to a manufacturing method of a regulating blade and a developing device using a developer amount regulating blade obtained by this manufacturing method.

  In an electrophotographic apparatus using an electrophotographic system for image formation, such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, and a printer, a developer such as a toner is used for developing (visualizing) an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrier such as a photoconductor. It's being used. For supplying the developer to the surface of the image carrier, the developer stored in the developer container is usually carried on the surface of the developer carrier, and the developer carried on the surface of the developer carrier is transferred to the image carrier. A method of supplying and attaching to the electrostatic latent image forming area is used. The amount of the developer on the surface of the developer carrying member is adjusted by a blade that is in contact therewith.

  FIG. 2 shows a schematic configuration diagram of an example of a conventional developing device, and FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration diagram of a portion where the developer amount regulating blade is mounted. The developing device includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member 1, and a developer amount regulating blade 4 is brought into contact with a developer carrier 3 (hereinafter also referred to as a developing sleeve or a developing roller) attached to a developing container 2. There is a method of forming a thin film of toner on the developer carrier 3 and applying a frictional charge (tribo) at the contact portion by allowing the component developer 6 (hereinafter referred to as toner) to pass and regulating. It is taken. The developer amount regulating blade 4 is usually composed of a blade member 4b and a blade member support member 4a. The surface of the blade member 4b facing the support member 4a is a charge control surface, and this surface is brought into contact with the developer carrying member 3.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a developer amount regulating blade, a rubber plate, a metallic thin plate, or the like, a resin plate, or a member obtained by laminating members selected therefrom is used. As an example, a developer amount regulating blade composed of a blade member pressed against the developer carrier and a support member that supports the blade member at a predetermined position can be cited. The surface to be pressed is also called a charge control surface because it has a function of controlling the triboelectric charge of the developer. In addition, the surface layer of the charge control surface may be referred to as a charge control layer.

  As the developer amount regulating blade used for the negative toner, a plate material such as polyester elastomer, urethane rubber, urethane resin, polyamide elastomer or the like is used. As a developer amount regulating blade used for the positive toner, a blade obtained by laminating a charge imparting layer such as silicone rubber with charge control on a metal thin plate is used.

  As for the non-magnetic toner used in the color developing device, since the toner itself does not have magnetism, the toner must be coated on the developing sleeve / developing roller with a high triboelectric charge. As the blade member in this case, polyester elastomer, urethane rubber, polyamide resin, polyamide elastomer, silicone rubber, silicone resin, or the like is used.

  By the way, because of the factors such as finer particle size of toner and lower melting point in high image quality, full-speed image processing, or downsizing of the device by applying electrophotographic process, the developer amount regulating blade Requires a more uniform pressure contact on the developing sleeve (developing roller). Since image defects such as image unevenness and streaks may be observed due to the surface roughness of the charge control surface and the influence of toner fusion to the blade member, it is necessary to finish the charge control surface with high surface accuracy.

For negative toners, polyester elastomers, which are blade members that are difficult to fuse even with low melting point toners, and polyamide elastomer or polyamide resin developer amount regulating blade members have been proposed. There is a method in which a blade is formed using a mold having a mirror surface, and a charge control surface is formed by mold surface transfer. (For example, Patent Document 1)
Similarly, in the developer amount regulating blade member using urethane rubber, an example in which the charge control surface is formed by mold surface transfer has been reported. Similarly, in a positive toner, a developing material amount regulating blade member using thermosetting silicone rubber, urethane rubber or the like also has a charge control surface formed by mold surface transfer.

However, in the case of a mold surface that is formed by directly injecting the composition for blade members into the mold, precise polishing is required to finish it accurately, and micro molds and grooves on the mold surface are still required. May remain, and there remains concern over the uniform management of the surface properties of the resulting blade member. In addition, the surface property of the charge control surface depends on the maintenance of the mold mirror surface, and the quality of the product may vary depending on the management. When the surface roughness of the blade member is not desired, image defects such as streaks and unevenness due to poor control of the developer may occur in use in the electrophotographic image forming apparatus.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 09-050185

  The present invention provides a method for producing a developer amount regulating blade having a small surface roughness on the charge control surface, excellent performance stability and mass productivity, and causing no image defects such as stripes and unevenness due to the developer, and the production It is an object of the present invention to provide a developing device using a developer amount regulating blade obtained by the method.

The above-mentioned problems of the present invention can be solved by the following present invention. That is, one aspect of the method for producing a developer amount regulating blade according to the present invention has a laminated structure in which a support member and a blade member are bonded together with a blade peripheral shape, and the developer is supported on the surface. In the method of manufacturing a developer amount regulating blade used for regulating the amount of the developer carried on the surface of the developer carrying member in contact with the developer carrying member to be conveyed,
(I) sending the surface transfer sheet into a mold for injection molding, placing it in contact with the inner surface of the cavity, and closing the mold;
(Ii) a step of injecting a composition for blade member into a mold cavity, integrally bonding with the surface transfer sheet and solidifying to form the blade member;
(Iii) bonding the surface of the blade member facing the surface transfer sheet and the support member via an adhesive layer;
(Iv) peeling off the surface transfer sheet from the blade member, and using the surface of the blade member as a charge control surface,
The blade member composition includes a polyester elastomer having a Shore D hardness of 25 ° to 75 °.

Another aspect of the method for manufacturing a developer amount regulating blade according to the present invention is a laminate structure in which a support member and a blade member are bonded together with a blade peripheral shape, and the developer is supported on the surface. In the manufacturing method of the developer amount regulating blade used to regulate the amount of the developer carried on the surface of the developer carrying member in contact with the developer carrying member for transporting
(I) sending the support member and the surface transfer sheet into a mold for injection molding, disposing the support member and the surface transfer sheet in contact with opposite surfaces of the cavity, and closing the mold;
(Ii) A blade member composition is injected between the support member of the mold cavity and the surface transfer sheet, and is integrally adhered to the support member and the surface transfer sheet to be solidified to form a blade member. And a process of
(Iii) peeling the surface transfer sheet from the blade member, and making the surface of the blade member a charge control surface,
The blade member composition includes a polyester elastomer having a Shore D hardness of 25 ° to 75 °.

  The developing device according to the present invention includes a developer carrying member for carrying a developer on the surface and carrying it out of the developer container, and a development carried on the surface of the developer carrying member in contact with the developer carrying member. A developing device having a developer amount regulating blade for regulating the amount of the developer, wherein the developer amount regulating blade is obtained by any one of the above manufacturing methods. is there.

  According to the present invention, the charge control surface has a small surface roughness, excellent performance stability and mass productivity, and a developer amount regulating blade manufacturing method that does not cause image defects such as streaks and unevenness due to the developer, and A developing device using the developer amount regulating blade obtained by this manufacturing method can be provided.

  The developer amount regulating blade according to the present invention has a configuration in which at least a blade member and a support member for the blade member are laminated in the same peripheral shape. The blade member is formed using a blade member composition containing a polyester-based polymer. Specifically, the surface transfer sheet is fed into a mold for injection molding, arranged so as to be in contact with the inner surface of the cavity, the mold is closed, and then the composition for blade member is injected into the mold cavity, and the surface transfer sheet The blade member can be formed by solidifying and solidifying with. In this blade member, the surface from which the surface transfer sheet is peeled is used as a charge control surface, and the surface of the blade member facing the charge control surface is bonded to the support member. This is a developer amount regulating blade.

  The composition for the developer amount regulating blade member is laminated on the surface transfer sheet, and the property of the surface transfer sheet surface is replicated on the blade member to form the charge control surface surface. For this reason, the blade member according to the present invention differs from the conventional blade member formed by a mold or the like in the way of the transfer surface. The charge control surface serving as a replica surface of the resin film that is a surface transfer sheet is a relatively easily required surface state (10-point average surface roughness Rz is preferably 3.5 μm or less, more preferably 1.0 μm or less, More preferably, it is 0.3 μm or less). In addition, the quality of the product obtained is stable with less variation compared to the case of using a mold.

  In the fine structure of the charge control surface, it is important to be smooth, and even if it is measured as a relatively coarse numerical value for the macro, it may be smooth to the micro. That is, even if the roughness is 2 to 4 μm, if the microstructure is preferably 0.5 μm or less, more preferably 0.4 μm or less, and even more preferably 0.3 μm or less, the roughness having a relatively large amplitude. The profile is expected to have a sufficient effect.

  Further, the developer amount regulating blade according to the present invention can be operated without peeling off the surface transfer sheet until just before the developing device is mounted at a predetermined position, and can be used as a component (product) of the developer amount regulating blade as it is. That is, the surface transfer sheet also serves as a protective sheet for the blade member of the developer amount regulating blade, and is effective against scratches and chipping on the blade surface during transportation and handling. Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail.

  The developer amount regulating blade provided by the present invention is applicable to, for example, the conventional developing device shown in FIG. 2, and its shape is substantially the same as the developer amount regulating blade in FIGS. . Further, a blade member may be laminated on the entire surface of the support member. In particular, when the support member is also fed into the mold, the blade member is usually laminated on the entire support member.

  Hereinafter, the manufacturing method of the developer amount regulating blade of the present invention will be described according to each step with reference to FIG. First, a surface transfer sheet (501) for forming the charge control surface of the blade member is inserted into the mold for injection molding so as to be in contact with the inner surface of the gap (507) (cavity) for molding the blade member. To place. The position where the surface transfer sheet is disposed may be on the fixed mold (505) side or the movable mold (504) side. Further, it is preferable that the surface of the surface transfer sheet (501) to be transferred to the charge control surface is protected by the protective film (502) until just before being placed on the mold. Further, in the present invention, as shown in FIG. 5, the support member (503) is also fed into the mold in advance so as to come into contact with the surface facing the surface transfer sheet in the gap (507) for forming the blade member. It may be placed and closed. The supporting member (503) is preferably a metal thin plate sheet provided with an adhesive layer in advance, and the adhesive layer is preferably protected by the protective film (502a) until just before being placed in the mold.

  FIG. 6 shows a state of the mold clamped, and the surface transfer sheet (501) and the support member (503) are arranged on the inner surface of the gap (507) in which the blade member is formed. In this state, the blade member composition is injection-molded from the front side of the paper through the gate (506). As shown in FIG. 7, a molded product in which the surface transfer sheet (501), the blade member (508), and the support member (503) are laminated can be obtained. An adhesive layer is formed between the blade member (508) and the support member (503).

  The composition for a blade member is usually injected from an injection port (gate) that communicates with the cavity, but the injection port may be provided in an opening that communicates with the longitudinal end of the cavity, which is the longitudinal direction of the blade shape. Further, it is preferable to provide the injection port on the fixed side of the mold in order to stabilize the production.

  The blade member formed in this way is formed into a desired blade shape or a precursor shape that can be additionally processed to the blade shape. The precursor shape is formed a little larger after that in order to cut out to the designed dimensions.

  The surface transfer sheet and the support member may be continuously sent into a mold for injection molding using a long one, and the surface transfer sheet and the support member which are individually cut into a desired blade shape are molded into the mold. It may be set in the cavity.

  The surface transfer sheet and support member combined with the mold shape can be cut long by cutting the surface transfer sheet and support member covering the cavity forming surface at a predetermined position when the mold for injection molding is closed. It may be cut off from the film sheet. Alternatively, it may be cut by punching. For cutting and cutting, a cutting means provided separately in the mold, such as a cutter blade or a heat cutter, can be used. Or you may cut | disconnect by the clamping force at the time of mold closing of the male type | mold of a metal mold | die, and a female type | mold.

  Usually, the case that is cut from the movable side is the main body, but the end of cutting may be the movable mold side (surface transfer sheet side) or the fixed mold side (support member sheet side). In addition, if both the insert member sheets (surface transfer sheet and support member) are made by a production process covered with a protective film until just before the insertion, the blade component member surface can be protected, which contributes to an improvement in the yield rate. .

  Next, the surface transfer sheet used in the present invention will be described. A resin film is used as the surface transfer sheet. Since the surface transfer sheet is used as an insert member, a sheet having a high melting point or a high thermal deformation temperature is preferable. Specifically, it is preferably a thermosetting resin film or a thermoplastic resin film having a melting point equal to or higher than the injection molding temperature of the blade member. However, even a resin film having a melting point lower than the injection molding temperature can be used as a surface transfer sheet if the surface of the mold in contact with the resin can be lowered so that the resin film is not easily deformed. In addition, the time from injection to molding and removal from the mold can be shortened, and if the surface transfer sheet used in the meantime does not deform so as to cause a problem, the plastic resin film having a melting point lower than the molding temperature of the blade member can also be used. It can be used as a transfer sheet. For example, when the surface transfer sheet is used with a large thickness, the deformation of the surface transfer sheet within the blade member molding and manufacturing time may not be a problem.

  Examples of the thermosetting resin include unsaturated polyester resin, phenol resin, epoxy resin, urea resin, melamine resin, diallyl phthalate resin, alkyd resin, silicone resin, polyimide resin, etc. , Epoxy / amino resins, epoxy / phenol resins, epoxy esters / amino resins, acrylic / amino resins, polyester / amino resins, alkyd / amino resins, self-curing acrylic resins, etc., and crosslinking agents Any type of thermosetting resin can be used.

  In addition, when divided by reaction type, the condensation type thermosetting resin prepolymer includes novolac type phenol resin prepolymer, resol type phenol resin prepolymer, novolac type alkylphenol resin prepolymer, resol type alkylphenol resin prepolymer, Modified resin prepolymers of xylene / formaldehyde condensate or toluene / formaldehyde condensate.

  Also, polyaddition type thermosetting resin prepolymers include bisphenol A diglycidyl ether, alicyclic dialcohol diglycidyl ether, bisphenol A bis (α-methylglycidyl ether), alicyclic dialcohol bis ( There are solid or liquid epoxy resin prepolymers such as α-methylglycidyl ether).

  The thermoplastic resin film used varies depending on the composition of the blade member and the injection molding temperature. For example, there are the following ones.

  Thermoplastic resins include liquid crystalline polyester resin, polyimide resin, syndiotactic polystyrene resin, polycyclohexanedimethylene terephthalate resin, syndiotactic polystyrene resin, polyvinyl acetate, polyacrylonitrile, polybutadiene, polyvinyl alcohol, polystyrene, and high impact. Rubber-reinforced styrene resin such as polystyrene, medium impact polystyrene, styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer (SAN resin), acrylonitrile-butyl acrylate rubber-styrene copolymer (AAS resin), acrylonitrile-ethylenepropyl rubber-styrene copolymer (AES), acrylonitrile-chlorinated polyethylene-styrene copolymer (ACS), ABS resin (for example, acrylonitrile- Styrene resins such as diene-styrene copolymer, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene-alphamethylstyrene copolymer, acrylonitrile-methyl methacrylate-butadiene-styrene copolymer), modified polyphenylene ether (m-PPE) resin, polymethyl Acrylic resins such as methacrylate (PMMA), olefin resins such as low density polyethylene (LDPE), high density polyethylene (HDPE), and polypropylene (PP), vinyl chloride resins such as polyvinyl chloride and polyvinylidene chloride, ethylene chloride Polyvinyl chloride resins such as vinyl vinyl acetate copolymer, ethylene vinyl chloride copolymer, polyester resins such as polybutylene terephthalate (PBTP, PBT), polycarbonate (PC), modified polycarbonate, etc. -Bonate resins, polyamide resins such as polyamide 66, polyamide 6 and polyamide 46, polyacetal (POM) resins such as polyoxymethylene copolymers and polyoxymethylene homopolymers, other engineering resins, super engineering resins such as polyethersulfone (PES), polyetherimide (PEI), thermoplastic polyimide (TPI), polyetherketone (PEK), polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polyphenylene sulfide (PSU) and the like.

  Cellulose derivatives such as cellulose acetate (CA), cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB), ethyl cellulose (EC), liquid crystal polymers such as liquid crystal polymers and liquid crystal aromatic polyesters, thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers (TPU), thermoplastic styrene butadienes Examples include thermoplastic elastomers such as elastomers (SBC), thermoplastic polyolefin elastomers (TPO), thermoplastic polyester elastomers (TPEE), thermoplastic vinyl chloride elastomers (TPVC), and thermoplastic polyamide elastomers (TPAE). In addition, those having high temperature resistance as insert members or those modified to have high temperature resistance are preferable.

  As the surface transfer sheet, these thermosetting resins and thermoplastic resins can be used as appropriate, and among them, polyester resins, polyamide resins, polyolefin resins, copolymers thereof, or polymer alloys thereof. It is preferable to use a film containing any one or more of these, and a film containing any one or more of polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene-2,6-naphthalate, a copolymer thereof, or a polymer alloy thereof. .

  The resin film used as the surface transfer sheet preferably has a smooth surface because the charge control surface of the blade member becomes its replica surface. Specifically, the ten-point average roughness Rz is preferably 0.3 μm or less. Furthermore, since the surface transfer sheet is used as an insert sheet in the mold, it is preferable that the surface transfer sheet can withstand a predetermined high temperature (injection molding temperature of the blade member) and maintain a smooth surface property. The thickness of the surface transfer sheet to be used may be determined as appropriate, but is usually 50 to 200 μm.

  The surface transfer sheet used in the present invention is preferably formed into a laminated film with a protective film (502) that covers the surface, specifically, the surface used to form the charge control surface of the blade member. A method of peeling the laminated thin film as a protective film and setting it in the mold cavity immediately before feeding the surface transfer sheet into the mold is preferable.

  The surface side of the surface transfer sheet (the surface on which the blade member composition is deposited) uses a replica of the surface of the resin film to form the charge control surface, and is preferably smoother. It is preferable that protection is provided until just before feeding into the cavity.

  Although it does not specifically limit as a protective film (502), For example, a 50-200-micrometer-thick polyethylene film, a 30-80-micrometer-thick acrylic film, a 12-25-micrometer-thick fluorine film, a 10-50-micrometer-thick ethylene vinyl Alcohol film, polycarbonate film having a thickness of 10 to 50 μm, unstretched polyester film having a thickness of 50 to 100 μm, unstretched polypropylene film having a thickness of 12 to 100 μm, unstretched polybutylene terephthalate film having a thickness of 20 to 100 μm, thickness 10 There are ˜100 μm cellulose acetate film, 10˜100 μm thick polystyrene film, and 10˜100 μm thick polyvinyl chloride film.

  Lamination of the protective film (502) and the surface transfer sheet may be performed by either an inflation method or a T-die extrusion method as long as a desired laminated film can be obtained. Moreover, the protective film (502) for surface coating and the surface transfer sheet (501) may be bonded together. For example, as a low-adhesive adhesive layer, natural rubber-based, synthetic rubber-based, silicone-based, acrylic-based, etc. A pressure-sensitive adhesive made of hot melt resin is formed on the stretched film by a method such as reverse coating, roll coating or gravure printing, and the two are bonded together. Although the protective film for surface coating and the film for surface transfer sheet are adhered to each other by this low-adhesive adhesive, the adhesive force thereof is relatively weak and both can be easily peeled off.

  In order to reduce the adhesive force, a small amount of non-adhesive fine particles such as fluorine-based fine particles may be dispersed and applied to the surface of the adhesive.

  As described above, in the present invention, the support member is also sent to the mold in advance, placed so as to be in contact with the surface facing the surface transfer sheet in the cavity and closed, and then the blade member composition is placed in the mold cavity. The blade member may be formed by injection. In this case, an adhesive is applied between the metal thin plate, which is a support member before being mounted on the mold, and the protective film, and when the protective film is peeled off, an adhesive layer is applied to the metal thin plate. It is preferable to have such a configuration. When a high-temperature composition for a blade member is injected, the adhesive on the metal thin plate is melt-bonded to the formed blade member by the heat. In this case, there is no need to separately bond the thin metal plate and the blade member, and the bonding is performed in a certain process. Therefore, uniform bonding is applied to each formed blade, and more stable quality is obtained. It is done.

  Even if the adhesive is not applied in advance, a necessary adhesive force may be obtained depending on the relationship between the metal and the blade member. For example, when the sulfur component in the resin of the blade member and the copper or zinc in the metal of the support member are bonded, an adhesive force is generated ("Adhesion between rubber and metal", Journal of Rubber Association, No. 1). 73, No. 4, 2000).

As the support member 4a of the developer amount regulating blade, a metal or resin flat plate, a stainless steel plate, a phosphor bronze plate, an aluminum plate, or the like can be used, but a metal thin plate sheet is preferably used. The size and shape of the support member may be determined as appropriate. The adhesive layer that bonds the support member and the blade member is not particularly limited, but for example, rubber-based, acrylic-based, silicone-based, polyvinyl ether-based, etc., if classified by the type of fluid state, Examples include emulsion adhesives, solvent-soluble adhesives, hot melt adhesives, and the like. The adhesive application amount may be appropriately determined, but is usually 50 to 150 g / m ^2, and the thickness of the adhesive layer may be appropriately determined, but is usually 20 to 100 μm. In order to protect the adhesive layer, the support member used in the present invention is preferably formed as a laminated film with a protective film that covers the adhesive layer, and is protected immediately before the support member is fed into the mold. A method of peeling a laminated thin film film, which is a film, and setting it in a mold cavity is preferable. It does not specifically limit as a protective film, The same thing as the protective film of the above-mentioned surface transfer sheet is mentioned.

  Next, the blade member will be described. The blade member is formed of a polyester elastomer, and is an aromatic, for example, a polyester elastomer of a block copolymer of a hard segment component having an ester group adjacent to a benzene ring or the like and a soft segment component made of polyether, particularly thermoplastic. A polyester elastomer is more preferable.

  As the hard segment component of the polyester elastomer, for example, phthalic acid, terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid, 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid, p-phenylenedicarboxylic acid and the like are preferable. As the soft segment component, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, 1 1,4-butanediol, 1,6-hexanediol, neopentyl glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, polytetraethylene glycol, polytetramethylene glycol and the like are preferable.

  The material for forming the blade member (resin composition) may be any material that can form a blade member having physical properties as a predetermined blade member, and contains various additives other than the resin component as necessary. be able to.

  The Shore D hardness of the blade member is preferably 25 degrees or more and 75 degrees or less from the viewpoint of suppressing toner fusion. That is, within this range, friction with the developer carrying member or developer increases, and toner regulation becomes unstable, so that the occurrence of image defects such as streaks can be more effectively suppressed. , Keeps the friction with the developer carrier or developer in good condition, and promotes the deterioration of the developer due to the high hardness of the member itself. The occurrence of image defects such as development streaks due to toner fusion can be more effectively suppressed. The Shore D hardness of the blade member can be adjusted by the blending ratio of the hard segment component and the soft segment component, and the Shore D hardness of the blade member corresponding to the development process as required can be achieved.

  The blade member also has many elements that are regulated by process conditions, but it is preferable to adjust the performance by adding an appropriate amount of a conductive material in addition to the main material so as to have a predetermined charging performance. As the conductive material, known materials can be used, such as carbon fine particles such as carbon black and graphite; metal fine particles such as nickel, silver, aluminum and copper; tin oxide, zinc oxide, titanium oxide, aluminum oxide, silica and the like. Conductive metal oxide fine particles doped with impurity ions having different valences as main components; conductive fibers such as carbon fibers; metal fibers such as stainless steel fibers; the surface of carbon whiskers and potassium titanate whiskers as metal oxides And conductive whisker such as conductive potassium titanate whisker conductively treated with carbon and the like; and conductive polymer fine particles such as polyaniline and polypyrrole. What is necessary is just to determine the compounding quantity suitably as needed. However, a fine conductive material and a conductive material having a shape having little influence on the surface roughness are preferable so that the surface of the blade member becomes smoother.

  The thickness of the blade member to be used is preferably 1 μm or more, preferably 10 μm or more, and may be 50 μm or more, or 100 μm or more in order to realize a sufficient function as a blade. On the other hand, in order to achieve appropriate contact, uniformly charge the developer particles, and suppress wear, the thickness is preferably 300 μm or less, preferably 100 μm or less, and sometimes 50 μm or less. From the same viewpoint, the thickness of the support member is preferably 50 μm or more, more preferably 80 μm or more, further preferably 90 μm or more, most preferably 100 μm or more, and preferably 150 μm or less. Further, from the same viewpoint, the thickness of the developer amount regulating blade (total thickness in the laminated structure) is preferably the sum of the thickness of the blade member as described above and the thickness of the support member as described above. For example, it is preferably 51 μm or more and 450 μm or less. The developer amount regulating blade according to the present invention preferably has a thinner thickness in order to effectively prevent leakage of developer particles at the end portion.

  The blade member obtained by injection molding in this way has a surface transfer sheet on one side, and also has a support member on the surface facing the surface transfer sheet when the support member is disposed in the mold cavity. The blade member having only the surface transfer sheet without the support member is then bonded to the support member of the blade member. Specifically, the surface of the blade member facing the surface transfer sheet and the support member of the blade member are bonded together via an adhesive layer.

  As the support member 4a of the developer amount regulating blade, as described above, a metal or resin flat plate, a stainless steel plate, a phosphor bronze plate, an aluminum plate, or the like can be used.

  The size and shape of the support member may be determined as appropriate. FIG. 8 shows an example of the developer amount regulating blade according to the present invention in FIG. 8A as a plan view and FIG. 8B as a cross-sectional view. The blade member 30 and the support member 31 are laminated and bonded on the entire surface of the developer amount regulating blade, and the planar shape of the blade member 30 and the support member 31 is the same as the planar shape of the developer amount regulating blade. In other words, the peripheral shape of both the support member and the blade member is the peripheral shape of the blade, that is, the peripheral shape is the same as the blade, the peripheral edge (side surface) of the supporting member and the peripheral edge (side surface) of the blade member. The peripheral end surfaces of the entire blade are formed by both of these end surfaces. In addition, as long as the objective effect of the present invention can be achieved, it is not necessary that the side surfaces of the support member and the blade member exactly coincide with each other to form the blade side surface, and at least the support member is provided on the entire back surface of the blade member. It only has to be affixed.

  The support member and the blade member may be bonded together by an adhesive such as a hot-melt adhesive, or may be joined using an adhesive tape. What is necessary is just to determine a joining method suitably by the process conditions etc. to be used. Examples of the adhesive used here include rubber-based, acrylic-based, silicone-based, polyvinyl ether-based, and the like. If classified by the type having fluidity, an emulsion adhesive, a solvent-soluble adhesive, There are hot melt adhesives.

  Then, the laminated body of the support member, the blade member, and the surface transfer sheet is cut into a predetermined blade shape by a press or the like. The size and shape of the cavity at the time of injection molding, and the size and shape of both when the blade member and the support member are bonded can be set to a predetermined size as a blade. In view of damage to the end portion, scratching, etc., it is preferable to form a large piece and cut it into a predetermined shape. However, in the case where there is no problem such as scratching in the molding process, it may be molded into a predetermined size using a cavity having a blade shape and bonded without being molded in such a large size. Finally, the surface transfer sheet is peeled off from the blade member, and the surface of the blade member that appears is used as the charge control surface.

  Since the occurrence of image defects such as image unevenness and streaks can be sufficiently suppressed, the 10-point average roughness Rz of the charge control surface is preferably 0.3 μm or less, and a surface transfer sheet is placed in advance in the mold. According to the method of the present invention, the charge control surface having such a surface roughness can be formed stably and effectively.

  Next, a developing device using the developer amount regulating blade obtained by the manufacturing method of the present invention will be described. FIG. 2 is an example of a schematic configuration diagram of the developing device. The developing device of the present invention only needs to use the developer amount regulating blade obtained by the above manufacturing method, and the other configuration is not limited to FIG. Reference numeral 2 denotes a developing container containing toner 6, and the developing device includes a developing sleeve 3 disposed in the developing container 2 as a toner carrying member so as to face the photosensitive member 1 of the image carrier that rotates in the direction of arrow a in the figure. The electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor 1 is developed and visualized as a toner image. The developing sleeve 3 has a substantially right half circumferential surface that protrudes into the developing container 2 as seen in the figure, and a substantially left half circumferential surface is exposed to the outside of the developing container 2 so as to face the photoconductor 1 so as to be rotatable laterally. It is installed. A minute gap is provided between the developing sleeve 3 and the photoreceptor 1. The developing sleeve 3 is rotationally driven in the arrow b direction with respect to the rotational direction a of the photoreceptor 1. In the developer container 2, a developer amount regulating blade 4 is provided above the developing sleeve 3, and an elastic roller 5 is provided at a position upstream of the developer amount regulating blade 4 in the rotation direction of the developing sleeve 3. .

  The developer amount regulating blade 4 is provided so as to be inclined downward toward the upstream side in the rotational direction of the developing sleeve 3, and abuts against the upper outer peripheral surface of the developing sleeve 3 in the rotational direction. The elastic roller 5 is in contact with the portion of the developing sleeve 3 opposite to the photosensitive member 1 and is rotatably supported. In the developing device, the elastic roller 5 rotates in the direction of the arrow c in the above-described configuration, and the toner 6 is supported by the rotation of the elastic roller 5 and supplied to the vicinity of the developing sleeve 3. The toner 6 on the elastic roller 5 is rubbed against the developing sleeve 3 at the abutting portion (nip portion) that abuts and adheres to the developing sleeve 3. Thereafter, as the developing sleeve 3 rotates, the toner 6 adhering to the developing sleeve 3 enters between the developer amount regulating blade 4 and the developing sleeve 3 at a contact portion between them, and passes through here. The surface is rubbed by both the surface of the developing sleeve 3 and the developer amount regulating blade 4 and sufficiently charged by friction. The toner 6 charged as described above escapes from the contact portion between the developer amount regulating blade 4 and the developing sleeve 3 to form a thin layer of the toner 6 on the developing sleeve 3. And a small gap is conveyed to the opposite developing unit. In the developing unit, an alternating voltage in which an alternating current is superimposed on a direct current, for example, is applied as a developing bias between the developing sleeve 3 and the photosensitive member 1, so that the toner 6 on the developing sleeve 3 is electrostatically latent on the photosensitive member 1. The image is transferred corresponding to the image, and is attached to the electrostatic latent image and developed to be visualized as a toner image.

  The toner 6 remaining on the developing sleeve 3 without being consumed for development in the developing unit is collected into the developing container 2 from the lower portion of the developing sleeve 3 as the developing sleeve 3 rotates. The collected toner 6 is peeled off from the developing sleeve 3 by the elastic roller 5 at the contact portion with the developing sleeve 3. At the same time, new toner 6 is supplied onto the developing sleeve 3 by the rotation of the elastic roller 5, and the new toner 6 is conveyed again to the contact portion between the developing sleeve 3 and the developer amount regulating blade 4. On the other hand, most of the toner 6 thus peeled off is conveyed and mixed into the toner 6 in the developing container 2 as the elastic roller 5 rotates, and the charged charge of the toner 6 thus peeled off is dispersed. .

  By using as the developer amount regulating blade 4 a blade (for example, a blade having the structure shown in FIG. 8) obtained by the manufacturing method of the present invention having a structure in which the peripheral shapes of the support and the blade member are made to coincide with each other. The developing device according to the present invention can be obtained.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of an electrophotographic apparatus suitable for employing the developing device according to the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 11 denotes a photosensitive member as a member to be charged. In this example, a drum type electrophotographic photosensitive member comprising a conductive support such as aluminum and a photosensitive layer formed on the outer peripheral surface thereof as basic constituent layers. Is the body. It is rotationally driven at a predetermined peripheral speed in the clockwise direction on the drawing around the support shaft. The charging member 12 is a corona discharger that is in contact with the surface of the photoconductor 11 and uniformly charges the photoconductor surface uniformly to a predetermined polarity and potential. This may be a charging roller. The surface of the photoreceptor 11 that has been uniformly charged by the charging member 12 is then exposed to target image information by the exposure means L (laser beam scanning exposure, slit exposure of a document image, etc.), and the peripheral surface thereof is exposed. An electrostatic latent image 13 corresponding to the target image information is formed. The latent image is then sequentially visualized as a toner image by the developing device 14.

  This toner image is then conveyed from the paper supply means (not shown) by the transfer means 15 to the transfer section between the photoconductor 11 and the transfer means 15 at an appropriate timing in synchronization with the rotation of the photoconductor 11. Transfer is sequentially performed on the surface of the transfer material P. The transfer means 15 in this example is a corona discharger (may be a roller type), and the toner image on the surface of the photoconductor 11 is transferred from the back of the transfer material P by charging with the opposite polarity to the toner. It will be transferred to the surface side of. Also, in a color LBP that outputs a color image using four color toners, in order to develop and visualize each of the four color images, the toner is once transferred to an intermediate transfer member such as a roller or a belt, The image is transferred to the surface side of the transfer material P. The transfer material P that has received the transfer of the toner image is separated from the surface of the photoconductor 11 and is forwarded to the heat-fixing roll 18 to undergo image fixing and output as an image formed product. After the image transfer, the surface of the photoconductor 11 is cleaned by the cleaning unit 16 after removal of adhering contaminants such as transfer residual toner and is repeatedly subjected to image formation. In addition, a plurality of elements of the electrophotographic apparatus such as the photosensitive member, the charging member, the developing device, and the cleaning unit can be integrated into the process cartridge. By doing so, the process cartridge can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body. For example, the photosensitive member and the developing device and, if necessary, a charging member, a cleaning unit, and the like are integrally incorporated in the process cartridge, and can be detachably configured using a guide unit such as a rail of the apparatus main body.

  Examples of the electrophotographic apparatus that can use the developing device according to the present invention include copying machines, laser beam printers, LED printers, and electrophotographic application apparatuses such as an electrophotographic plate making system.

  Hereinafter, specific examples of the present invention will be described by way of examples. Unless otherwise specified, “parts” and “%” represent “parts by mass” and “mass%”, respectively, and reagents and the like used were commercially available high-purity products.

(Example 1)
For the surface transfer sheet, a polyethylene terephthalate film (trade name: E5000, thickness: 100 μm, 10-point average surface roughness Rz = 0.2 μm, manufactured by Toyobo Co., Ltd.) produced by extrusion molding, and polypropylene as a protective film for the surface coating A film (Ube Industries, Ltd., trade name: UBE Polypro J309GL, thickness 80 μm) laminated with a light adhesive was used. First, this surface transfer sheet was fed into an injection molding mold while peeling off the surface covering protective film, and placed so as to be in contact with the inner surface of the cavity, and the mold was closed. Then, a polyester elastomer (Toray DuPont) is used as a blade member composition at a mold temperature of 40 ° C. in a gap (mold cavity) provided between the surface transfer sheet and the mold after the mold is clamped. Manufactured, trade name: Hytrel 4047: Shore D hardness, 40 °) after solidification, melt injection at about 250 ° C. so that the thickness is 200 μm, solidified by being in close contact with the surface transfer sheet and solidifying the blade member. Formed.

  Next, a phosphor bronze plate (plate thickness 0.12 mm, width 22 mm, length 200 mm) having spring elasticity as a supporting member is bonded to the surface of the obtained blade member facing the surface transfer sheet as an adhesive (product made by Toyo Morton, product Name: Adcoat AD-76P1) and bonded to each other and cut into a desired blade shape. The blade member was a plate-like molded product having a width of 5 mm, a length of 200 mm, and a thickness of 0.2 mm. Finally, the surface transfer sheet was peeled off from the blade member, and a developer amount regulating blade was produced using the surface of the blade member that appeared as the charge control surface. Prior to use as a blade, the 10-point average surface roughness Rz of the charge control surface of the blade member transferred by the surface transfer sheet was measured with a surf coder SE3500 manufactured by Kosaka Laboratory. Rz = 0.2 μm.

  Next, the developer amount regulating blade thus prepared and the developing sleeve blasted with an aluminum tube to have a ten-point average roughness Rz = 2.5 μm are placed between the developer amount regulating blade and the developing sleeve. The developing device was mounted so that the contact pressure was 0.18 N / cm. The developing container was provided with a foam roller made of urethane foam that applied toner to the developing sleeve, peeled off the remaining toner without being developed, and returned to the developing container, and accommodated non-magnetic toner. Then, in a low-temperature and low-humidity environment of 15 ° C. and 10 RH%, the state of toner coating on the developing sleeve when the developing sleeve is driven is observed with a laser beam printer (Lasershot; manufactured by Canon). The toner charge amount (tribo) was measured.

Here, the evaluation of the coat state is
○: Good (no streaks or unevenness)
Δ: Slightly good (slight streaks and unevenness are seen),
×: Bad (a lot of streaks and unevenness is seen),
It was.

  The toner charge amount (tribo) is such that a developer amount regulating blade and a developing sleeve are attached to the developing device, and the developer, which is a developer contained in the developing device, is conveyed by rotating the developing sleeve, and the developer Charge is applied by frictional charging with the amount regulating blade, and the charged toner is uniformly applied on the developing sleeve. The unit is determined from the amount of charge (Q) and weight (M) obtained by sucking this toner. The toner charge amount Q / M (μC / g) per weight was calculated. The toner charge amount Q / M is suitable for evaluation of the tribocharging ability because the numerical value varies depending on the triboelectric charging property of the charge imparting layer of the developer amount regulating blade. Further, the non-magnetic black toner was used, and the image density when a solid black image was output on paper was measured with a Macbeth densitometer. The results are shown in Table 1.

Table 1 also shows evaluation of product quality stability and mass productivity. The evaluation is
○: Excellent quality stability and mass productivity
×: Inferior in quality stability and mass productivity
It was.

(Comparative Example 1)
Without using a surface transfer sheet, injection molding was performed on a 40 ° C mold finished to a mirror surface (Rz = 0.2 μm) to produce a plate-shaped product with a width of 5 mm, a length of 200 mm, and a thickness of 0.2 mm. A developer amount regulating blade was prepared and evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the members were used. The results are shown in Table 1.

(Comparative Example 2)
100 g of thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer (trade name: Clamiron U, manufactured by Kuraray Co., Ltd.) as a composition for blade members, 3.9 g of 1,4-butanediol and 2.1 g of trimethylolpropane as a curing agent are mixed and thickened with a centrifugal molding machine. A developer amount regulating blade was prepared and evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1 except that it was prepared into a sheet having a thickness of 0.2 mm and processed into a plate having a width of 5 mm and a length of 200 mm to form a blade member. The results are shown in Table 1.

(Comparative Example 3)
A thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer sheet (thickness 0.2 mm) was prepared in the same manner as in Comparative Example 2, and the polyamide (manufactured by Toray Industries, Inc., trade name: Amilan CM-8000) was dissolved in methanol and subjected to dip coating. A developer amount regulating blade was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that a polyamide coating layer having a thickness of 20 μm was formed and processed into a plate member having a width of 5 mm, a length of 200 mm, and a thickness of 0.2 mm to form a blade member. And evaluated. The results are shown in Table 1.

(Comparative Example 4)
As a surface transfer sheet, a polypropylene film (made by Ube Industries Co., Ltd., trade name: UBE Polypro J309GL, thickness 40 μm, Rz = 10 μm) molded using a rough roller is used, and the same polyester elastomer as in Example 1 Is melted to approximately 250 ° C by extrusion molding (T-die), extruded onto a rough surface transfer sheet and laminated to produce a 0.2 mm thick polyester elastomer sheet, 5 mm wide, 200 mm long and 0.2 mm thick A developer amount regulating blade was produced and evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1 except that a plate-like molded product was produced and used as a blade member. The results are shown in Table 1. The tribo and solid black density of this developer amount regulating blade had a large variation and could not be evaluated.

(Example 2)
For the surface transfer sheet, a polyethylene terephthalate film (product name: E5000, thickness: 100 μm, ten-point average surface roughness Rz = 0.2 μm, manufactured by Toyobo Co., Ltd.) produced by the same extrusion molding as in Example 1 and its surface coating As a protective film for use, a polypropylene film (manufactured by Ube Industries, Ltd., trade name: UBE Polypro J309GL, thickness 80 μm) laminated with a light adhesive was used. In addition, on the support member of the blade member, a phosphor bronze plate (plate thickness: 0.12 mm) provided with an adhesive (made by Toyo Morton Co., Ltd., trade name: Adcoat AD-76P1) layer (thickness 30 μm) on one side, As the protective film for surface coating, a polyester film (thickness: 80 μm) bonded to the surface of the adhesive layer with light adhesion was used.

First, the surface transfer sheet is fed into a movable mold for injection molding while peeling the surface covering protective film, and the support member is also fixed to the injection molding while peeling the surface covering protective film. It was fed into the mold and placed in contact with the inner surface of the cavity, and the mold was closed.
Then, in the gap (cavity) provided between the surface transfer sheet after the mold is clamped and the support member, the same polyester elastomer as that of Example 1 is used as a blade member composition at a mold temperature of 40 ° C. The blade member was melted and injected at about 250 ° C. from the injection port provided at the longitudinal end of the blade member shape, solidified by being in close contact with the surface transfer sheet and the support member to form a blade member, and a developer amount regulating blade was produced. . At this time, the cavity for the developer amount regulating blade member composition provided between both insert member sheets is designed to be 200 μm, and the desired blade shape (blade member of A plate-like molded product having a width of 5 mm, a length of 200 mm, and a thickness of 0.2 mm was obtained. Finally, the surface transfer sheet was peeled off from the blade member, and a developer amount regulating blade was produced using the surface of the blade member that appeared as the charge control surface. The developer amount regulating blade thus produced was evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1. The results are shown in Table 1. The 10-point average surface roughness Rz of the charge control surface of the blade member was Rz = 0.2 μm which was a replica of the surface of the surface transfer sheet.

(Example 3)
A developer amount regulating blade was prepared and evaluated in the same manner as in Example 2 except that the injection port was provided not at the longitudinal end of the cavity but at the center. The results are shown in Table 1.

  From Table 1, in the developer amount regulating blade provided by the present invention in which the charge control surface of the blade member is formed by transferring the surface of the surface transfer sheet (resin film), the surface of the blade member of the conventional mold mirror surface transfer Surface properties equivalent to accuracy (surface roughness) were easily obtained. As a result, image defects such as unevenness and stripes hardly occurred. Further, since the surface transfer sheet used in the present invention is stably supplied in a large amount by an extrusion molding method or the like, the developer amount regulating blade manufactured using this is compared with the case of mold mirror surface transfer, Excellent product performance stability and mass productivity (cost and capacity). Furthermore, with the developer amount regulating blade provided by the present invention, the tribo and solid black density were equal to or higher than the conventional ones. Further, the performance could be further improved by setting the thickness of the blade member to 30 μm.

(Examples 4 and 5)
In addition, although it is an example manufactured in the same manufacturing process as Example 1, since what has changed the polyester material so that the example from which Shore D hardness differs can be obtained, these examples are considered as an example below. I'll give you.

  As Example 4, a polyester elastomer (blade member composition) was formed in a gap (mold cavity) provided between the surface transfer sheet after the mold was clamped and the mold at a mold temperature of 40 ° C. Made by Toray DuPont, product name: Hytrel 3046: Shore D hardness, 25 °), solidified after being solidified by injecting it to about 250 ° C so that the thickness is 200 μm, and being in close contact with the surface transfer sheet. A blade member was formed.

  Similarly, Example 5 is a case where a polyester elastomer (trade name: Hytrel 2751, manufactured by Toray DuPont) is used as an example of Shore D hardness of 75 °. The blades obtained in Examples 4 and 5 were also evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1. The results are also shown in Table 1.

  In these cases, in Example 4, the friction with the developer carrying member or the developer increases, and the regulation of the toner becomes unstable, so that the occurrence of image defects such as streaks can be more effectively suppressed. In addition, the developer carrier or the friction with the developer is kept in a good state, and the hardness of the member itself is high, so that the deterioration of the developer is promoted. The occurrence of image defects such as development streaks due to toner fusion based on broken pieces can be suppressed more effectively, but there were some sample cases that seemed to be a phenomenon of developer deterioration due to the slightly lower hardness. It was not a level. Further, in Example 5, there was a slight streak phenomenon in which the hardness was considered to be the limit, but this was not a problem level.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a part where a developer amount regulating blade is mounted. It is the schematic which shows an example of a developing device. It is the schematic which shows an example of an electrophotographic apparatus. It is a figure which shows the manufacturing process of the sheet | seat for developer amount regulation blade members of this invention, and is the figure which has arrange | positioned the surface transfer sheet in the metal mold | die. It is a figure which shows the manufacturing process of the sheet | seat for developer amount regulation blade members of this invention, and is the figure which has arrange | positioned the surface transfer sheet and the supporting member in the metal mold | die. It is a figure which shows the manufacturing process of the sheet | seat for developer amount regulation blade members of this invention, and is a figure which shows the metal mold | die clamped. FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a developer amount regulating blade member sheet according to the present invention. (A) is a schematic plan view for explaining the developer amount regulating blade of the present invention, and (b) is a central sectional view in the longitudinal direction.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electrophotographic photoreceptor 2 Developer container 3 Developer image carrying member 4 Developer amount regulation blade 4a Support member 4b Blade member 5 Elastic roller 6 Developer 11 Photoconductor 12 Charging member 13 Electrostatic latent image 14 Developing device 15 Transfer means 16 Cleaning means 18 Heat fixing roll 30 Blade member 31 Support member L Exposure means P Transfer material 501 Surface transfer sheet 502 Protective film 502a Protective film 503 Support member 504 Movable type 505 Fixed type 506 Injection gate portion 507 Blade member forming gap (cavity)
508 Blade member

Claims (11)

The support member and the blade member have a laminated structure in which both the blade peripheral shape is adhered and abut on the developer carrier for carrying and transporting the developer on the surface, and the developer carrier In the manufacturing method of the developer amount regulating blade used to regulate the amount of developer carried on the surface,
(I) sending the surface transfer sheet into a mold for injection molding, placing it in contact with the inner surface of the cavity, and closing the mold;
(Ii) a step of injecting a composition for blade member into a mold cavity, integrally bonding with the surface transfer sheet and solidifying to form the blade member;
(Iii) bonding the surface of the blade member facing the surface transfer sheet and the support member via an adhesive layer;
(Iv) peeling off the surface transfer sheet from the blade member, and using the surface of the blade member as a charge control surface,
The method for producing a developer amount regulating blade, wherein the blade member composition comprises a polyester elastomer having a Shore D hardness of 25 ° to 75 °. The support member and the blade member have a laminated structure in which both the blade peripheral shape is adhered and abut on the developer carrier for carrying and transporting the developer on the surface, and the developer carrier In the manufacturing method of the developer amount regulating blade used to regulate the amount of developer carried on the surface,
(I) sending the support member and the surface transfer sheet into a mold for injection molding, disposing the support member and the surface transfer sheet in contact with opposite surfaces of the cavity, and closing the mold;
(Ii) A blade member composition is injected between the support member of the mold cavity and the surface transfer sheet, and is integrally adhered to the support member and the surface transfer sheet to be solidified to form a blade member. And a process of
(Iii) peeling the surface transfer sheet from the blade member, and making the surface of the blade member a charge control surface,
The method for producing a developer amount regulating blade, wherein the blade member composition comprises a polyester elastomer having a Shore D hardness of 25 ° to 75 °.   Prior to the step of peeling the surface transfer sheet from the blade member and using the surface of the blade member as a charge control surface, a laminate including the support member, the blade member, and the surface transfer sheet is bonded to a predetermined blade periphery. The method for producing a developer amount regulating blade according to claim 1, further comprising a step of cutting into a shape.   The method for producing a developer amount regulating blade according to claim 1, wherein at least the surface transfer sheet is cut when the mold is closed.   The developer according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the support member is a metal thin plate sheet to which an adhesive layer has been added in advance, and the adhesive layer of the metal thin plate sheet bonds the blade member and the support member. A manufacturing method of a quantity regulating blade.   The method for producing a developer amount regulating blade according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the support member is a laminate thin film which is a protective film is peeled immediately before feeding into the mold.   The method for producing a developer amount regulating blade according to claim 1, wherein the surface transfer sheet is a resin film.   The developer amount regulating blade according to claim 1, wherein the surface transfer sheet is a thermosetting resin film; or a thermoplastic resin film having a melting point equal to or higher than an injection molding temperature of the blade member. Production method.   The development according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the surface transfer sheet contains at least one of a polyester resin, a polyamide resin, a polyolefin resin, a copolymer thereof, and a polymer alloy thereof. A method for manufacturing a dose control blade.   The developer according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the surface transfer sheet contains at least one of polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene-2,6-naphthalate, a copolymer thereof, or a polymer alloy thereof. A manufacturing method of a quantity regulating blade. A developer carrying member for carrying the developer on the surface and carrying it out of the developer container; and for regulating the amount of developer carried on the surface of the developer carrying member in contact with the developer carrying member. In a developing device having a developer amount regulating blade,
A developing device characterized in that the developer amount regulating blade is a developer amount regulating blade formed by the manufacturing method according to claim 1.

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