JP4535154B2 - Image forming apparatus and developer supply apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and a developer supply apparatus.

Many developer supply devices that can supply a developer (dry developer, ie, dry toner) to an electrostatic latent image carrier (photosensitive drum, etc.) using a traveling wave electric field have been known (for example, special features). See JP-A-59-181371, JP-A-2003-15417, JP-A-2005-275127, JP-A-2007-310355, JP-A-2008-40043, JP-A-2008-52034, etc. .).
JP 59-181371 A JP 2003-15417 A JP 2005-275127 A JP 2007-310355 A JP 2008-40043 A JP 2008-52034 A

  In this type of apparatus, the configuration around the development position, which is the position where the developer is supplied to the electrostatic latent image carrier by the developer supply apparatus, has a great influence on the formed image. The present invention has been made to cope with such a problem. That is, an object of the present invention is to provide a configuration around the development position so that a better image can be formed.

  The image forming apparatus of the present invention includes an electrostatic latent image carrier and a developer supply device. The latent electrostatic image bearing member has a semi-cylindrical portion having a central axis parallel to the main scanning direction. This electrostatic latent image carrier is configured such that a latent image forming surface, which is a surface on which an electrostatic latent image is formed by a potential distribution, moves along a direction orthogonal to the central axis.

  The developer supply device is configured to supply the developer to the latent image forming surface by conveying the developer along the direction in the inside thereof. Specifically, the developer supply device includes a plurality of transport electrodes. The plurality of transport electrodes are arranged along the direction so as to transport the charged developer in a direction crossing the main scanning direction by a traveling wave electric field.

  Further, the developer supply device is provided so that a part including at least the semi-cylindrical part of the electrostatic latent image carrier is accommodated in the inside and the remaining part is exposed to the outside.

  The present invention is characterized in that the developer supply device further includes a sliding member. The sliding member slides with a portion of the latent image forming surface that moves so as to be exposed to the outside from at least the opening in the opening through which the part of the electrostatic latent image carrier passes. It is provided to do.

  Specifically, the sliding member slides at the opening in the latent image forming surface with (1) a portion moving from the opening to be exposed to the outside, and (2) It may be provided to slide with a portion that moves so as to enter the inside from the opening.

  The sliding member may be provided so as to slide with the latent image forming surface throughout the main scanning direction.

  The sliding member may be provided at an end portion of the thin plate-like developer transport substrate. A plurality of the transport electrodes are provided on the developer transport substrate. In this case, the sliding member may be constituted by the end portion of the developer transport substrate that is not provided with the transport electrode.

  A dummy electrode to which a predetermined bias voltage can be applied may be provided at the end of the developer transport substrate instead of the transport electrode. The dummy electrode can be formed wider than the transport electrode.

  The sliding member may be provided such that an inner surface facing the inside slides with the latent image forming surface.

  The sliding member may be composed of a conductive portion to which a predetermined bias voltage is applied.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention (embodiments that the applicant considers best at the time of filing of the present application) will be described with reference to the drawings.

  In addition, the description about the following embodiment is specific to the extent possible, merely an example of the embodiment of the present invention in order to satisfy the description requirement (description requirement / practicability requirement) of the specification required by law. It is only what is described in. Therefore, as will be described later, it is quite natural that the present invention is not limited to the specific configurations of the embodiments described below. Various modifications that can be made to the present embodiment are listed together at the end, as they would interfere with the understanding of the consistent description of the embodiment if inserted during the description of the embodiment. .

<Configuration of laser printer>
FIG. 1 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of a laser printer 1 which is an embodiment of an image forming apparatus of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, the laser printer 1 includes a paper transport mechanism 2, a photoreceptor 3, a charger 4, a scanner unit 5, and a toner supply device 6.

  Sheet-like paper P is stored in a stacked state in a paper feed tray (not shown) provided in the laser printer 1. The paper transport mechanism 2 is configured to transport the paper P along a predetermined paper transport path PP. Specifically, the paper transport mechanism 2 includes a pair of registration rollers 21 and a transfer roller 22.

  The registration roller 21 is configured so that the paper P can be sent out between the photosensitive member 3 and the transfer roller 22 at a predetermined timing. The transfer roller 22 is disposed so as to face the latent image forming surface LS, which is the outer peripheral surface of the photoreceptor 3, at the transfer position TP with the paper P interposed therebetween. Further, the transfer roller 22 is configured to be rotationally driven in a direction (counterclockwise) indicated by an arrow in the drawing.

  The transfer roller 22 is connected to a bias power supply circuit (not shown). That is, a predetermined transfer bias voltage for transferring the toner (developer) adhered on the latent image forming surface LS to the paper P is applied between the transfer roller 22 and the photoreceptor 3. .

  The photoreceptor 3 as an electrostatic latent image carrier of the present invention is formed in a cylindrical drum shape having a central axis C parallel to the main scanning direction (z-axis direction in the figure), and the central axis C is the center. As shown in FIG. 1, the motor is configured to be rotationally driven in a direction indicated by an arrow in the drawing (clockwise in FIG. 1).

  A latent image forming surface LS is formed on the peripheral surface of the photoreceptor 3. The latent image forming surface LS is a cylindrical surface parallel to the central axis C (that is, parallel to the main scanning direction), and is configured so that an electrostatic latent image can be formed by a potential distribution. The photoreceptor 3 is configured such that the latent image forming surface LS can move along the sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the central axis C.

  The “sub-scanning direction” is an arbitrary direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction. In general, the sub-scanning direction may be a direction that intersects a vertical line. That is, the sub-scanning direction can be a direction along the front-rear direction of the laser printer 1 (direction perpendicular to the paper width direction and the height direction: the x-axis direction in the figure).

  The charger 4 is disposed so as to face the latent image forming surface LS. The charger 4 is a corotron type or scorotron type charger, and is configured so that the latent image forming surface LS can be uniformly positively charged.

  The scanner unit 5 is configured to generate a laser beam LB modulated based on image data. That is, the scanner unit 5 is configured to generate a laser beam LB having a predetermined wavelength band in which light emission ON / OFF is controlled depending on the presence or absence of pixels.

  The scanner unit 5 is configured to image (expose) the generated laser beam LB at the scan position SP on the latent image forming surface LS. Here, the scan position SP is provided at a position downstream of the charger 4 in the rotation direction of the photosensitive member 3 (direction indicated by an arrow in FIG. 1: clockwise in the drawing).

  Further, the scanner unit 5 moves (scans) the position at which the laser beam LB is formed on the latent image forming surface LS at a constant speed along the main scanning direction, thereby forming the latent image forming surface. An electrostatic latent image can be formed on the LS.

  The toner supply device 6 as the developer supply device of the present invention is disposed so as to face the photoreceptor 3 at the development position DP.

<Configuration of Toner Supply Device of First Embodiment>
FIG. 2 is an enlarged side cross-sectional view of the main part of the configuration of the first embodiment of the toner supply device 6 shown in FIG. Hereinafter, the configuration around the development position DP in the toner supply device 6 of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

  Inside the toner supply device 6, the toner T as a dry developer is conveyed in a toner conveyance direction TTD (a direction perpendicular to the central axis C) while being charged with a predetermined positive charge amount. The latent image forming surface LS can be supplied. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the toner supply device 6 accommodates the semi-cylindrical portion 31 that is the lower portion of the photoconductor 3 in the drawing and exposes the remaining portion to the outside. Is provided.

  Specifically, an opening 61 is formed in the toner supply device 6 so that the semicylindrical portion 31 of the photoreceptor 3 passes therethrough. Further, the toner supply device 6 includes a toner transport substrate 62 as a developer transport substrate of the present invention. The toner transport substrate 62 is a thin plate-like member, and includes an upstream end 62a and a downstream end 62b that constitute the sliding member of the present invention. The upstream end 62a and the downstream end 62b are formed in a cantilever shape in which the end on the opening 61 side is a free end and protrudes toward the opening 61 and can be bent in the vertical direction in the figure. Yes.

  The upstream end 62a is elastically pressed against a portion of the latent image forming surface LS that is exposed to the outside from the opening 61 on the upstream side of the opening 61 in the toner transport direction TTD. It is provided to slide while. Further, the upstream end 62a is provided such that the toner transport surface TTS, which is an inner surface facing the inside of the toner supply device 6, slides on the latent image forming surface LS. The upstream end 62a slides on the latent image forming surface LS over the entire main scanning direction.

  The downstream end 62b is elastically pressed against a portion of the latent image forming surface LS that moves so as to enter the inside from the opening 61 on the downstream side of the opening 61 in the toner transport direction TTD. It is provided to slide while. Further, the downstream end 62b is provided such that the outer surface facing the outside of the toner supply device 6 slides on the latent image forming surface LS. The downstream end 62b also slides with the latent image forming surface LS over the entire main scanning direction.

  The toner transport substrate 62 includes a plurality of transport electrodes 63 on an insulating support layer. The plurality of transport electrodes 63 are arranged along the sub-scanning direction parallel to the toner transport direction TTD so as to transport the charged toner T in the toner transport direction TTD by a traveling wave electric field.

<Overview of laser printer operation>
Next, an outline of the operation of the laser printer 1 configured as described above will be described with reference to each drawing as appropriate.

<< Paper feeding action >>
The leading edge of the paper P stacked on a paper feed tray (not shown) is sent to the registration roller 21 along the paper transport path PP. The registration roller 21 corrects the skew of the paper P and adjusts the conveyance timing. Thereafter, the paper P is fed to the transfer position TP along the paper transport path PP.

<< Carrying of toner image on latent image forming surface >>
As described above, while the paper P is being conveyed toward the transfer position TP, an image (hereinafter referred to as “the toner image T”) is formed on the latent image forming surface LS that is the circumferential surface of the photoreceptor 3 as follows. A toner image ").

<<< Formation of electrostatic latent image >>>
The latent image forming surface LS of the photoreceptor 3 is first uniformly charged to the positive polarity by the charger 4. The latent image forming surface LS charged by the charger 4 is a scan at a position facing (facing) the scanner unit 5 due to the rotation of the photosensitive member 3 in the direction (clockwise) indicated by the arrow in the drawing. It moves along the sub-scanning direction to the position SP.

  At this scan position SP, a laser beam LB modulated based on image information (the ON / OFF state of light emission is controlled) is irradiated along the main scanning direction while irradiating the latent image forming surface LS. Is done. Depending on the modulation state of the laser beam LB (light emission ON / OFF state), a portion where the positive charge on the latent image forming surface LS disappears is generated. Thereby, an electrostatic latent image having a positive charge pattern (image-like distribution) is formed on the latent image forming surface LS.

  The electrostatic latent image formed on the latent image forming surface LS moves toward the developing position DP facing the toner supply device 6 by rotating the photosensitive member 3 in the direction indicated by the arrow (clockwise) in the drawing. To do.

<<< Conveyance and supply of charged toner >>>
A voltage is applied to the plurality of transport electrodes 63 on the toner transport substrate 62 in a traveling wave shape. As a result, a predetermined traveling-wave electric field is formed on the toner transport surface TTS. By this traveling wave electric field, the positively charged toner T is transported along the toner transport direction TTD on the toner transport surface TTS.

<<< Development of electrostatic latent image >>>
As described above, the positively charged toner T is transported in the toner transport direction TTD on the toner transport surface TTS. Thus, the toner T is supplied to the development position DP.

  At the developing position DP, the toner transport surface TTS and the latent image forming surface LS slide while elastically pressing each other with a thin layer of the toner T interposed therebetween. At this time, the electrostatic latent image formed on the latent image forming surface LS is developed by the toner T. That is, the toner T adheres to a portion on the latent image forming surface LS where the positive charge in the electrostatic latent image has disappeared. As a result, the toner image is carried on the latent image forming surface LS.

<< Transfer of toner image from latent image forming surface to paper >>
The toner image carried on the latent image forming surface LS of the photoconductor 3 as described above is transferred by rotating the latent image forming surface LS in the direction indicated by the arrow (clockwise) in the drawing. It is conveyed toward the position TP. At the transfer position TP, the toner image is transferred onto the paper P from the latent image forming surface LS.

<Operation / Effects of Configuration of First Embodiment>
In the present embodiment, the toner transport surface TTS that is the inner surface of the upstream end 62a moves so as to be exposed to the outside from the opening 61 in the latent image forming surface LS on which the electrostatic latent image is formed. The portion and the thin layer of the toner T are sandwiched and slide while being elastically pressed. Therefore, the electrostatic latent image on the latent image forming surface LS is developed while being elastically pressed by the toner transport surface TTS with the thin layer of the toner T interposed therebetween.

  Therefore, according to such a configuration, it is possible to suppress as much as possible the occurrence of the phenomenon that the edge of the image line portion can be “skinned” (so-called “edge thinning” or “edge thinning”).

  In the present embodiment, the toner transport surface TTS at the upstream end 62a is a surface of the latent image forming surface LS that moves so as to be exposed to the outside from the opening 61, and a surface sandwiching the thin layer of the toner T. Contact. For this reason, the electrostatic latent image on the latent image forming surface LS is developed while being in surface contact with the toner transport surface TTS with the thin layer of toner T interposed therebetween. At this time, a certain amount of toner T accumulates between the toner transport surface TTS at the upstream end 62a and the latent image forming surface LS.

  Therefore, according to such a configuration, the occurrence of the “edge narrowing” described above can be more effectively suppressed. In addition, the occurrence of uneven image density in the sub-scanning direction can be effectively suppressed.

  In the present embodiment, the semi-cylindrical portion 31 of the drum-shaped photoconductor 3 is accommodated in the opening 61 and the toner transport substrate 62 constituting the upstream end of the opening 61 in the toner transport direction TTD. The upstream end 62a of the toner cartridge and the downstream end 62b of the toner transport substrate 62 constituting the downstream end of the opening 61 in the toner transport direction TTD slide on the latent image forming surface LS.

  According to such a configuration, the leakage of the toner T to the outside of the toner supply device 6 at the opening 61 can be suppressed as much as possible. Thereby, the occurrence of contamination of the inside of the laser printer 1 and the paper P due to the leakage of the toner T can be effectively suppressed.

  In the present embodiment, the inner side surface of the upstream end portion 62a slides with a portion (a portion on which the toner image is carried) that moves so as to be exposed to the outside from the opening 61 in the latent image forming surface LS. The outer side surface of the downstream end 62b slides with a portion (a portion before the toner image is carried) that moves so as to enter the inside from the opening 61 in the latent image forming surface LS.

  Therefore, when the laser printer 1 has a configuration in which the photoconductor 3 and the toner supply device 6 are detachable, the toner T is brought out of the toner supply device 6 when the photoconductor 3 and the toner supply device 6 are attached and detached. Leakage can be effectively suppressed. In this case, the attachment / detachment of the photosensitive member 3 and the toner supply device 6 is performed as follows.

  When mounted, the photosensitive member 3 moves relative to the toner supply device 6 from the upper right to the left (upstream in the toner transport direction TTD) and downward (the direction toward the inside of the toner supply device 6). To do. As a result, the semi-cylindrical portion 31 enters the opening 61 while being bent so as to push down the downstream end portion 62b. Thereafter, the semi-cylindrical portion 31 is bent so as to push up the upstream end portion 62a while being in contact with the toner transport surface TTS which is the inner surface of the upstream end portion 62a. At the time of desorption, the reverse operation is performed.

<Toner Supply Device of Second Embodiment>
FIG. 3 is an enlarged side cross-sectional view of a main part of the configuration of the second embodiment of the toner supply device 6 shown in FIG. Note that, in the following description of the second embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to configurations common to the first embodiment described above, and the first embodiment described above is within a technically consistent range. It is assumed that the description in the embodiment can be used (the same applies to the third embodiment and the modification described later).

  In the present embodiment, the transport electrode 63 is not provided in a portion that slides with the latent image forming surface LS in the upstream end portion 62a, and a dummy electrode 64 is provided instead. The dummy electrode 64 is formed to be wider in the sub-scanning direction than the transport electrode 63. Unlike the transport electrode 63, the dummy electrode 64 is applied with a predetermined bias voltage. This bias voltage is set to a voltage that does not disturb the electrostatic latent image on the latent image forming surface LS (for example, a voltage corresponding to the surface potential of the non-exposed portion where positive charges remain).

  In such a configuration, a charge-up of a portion that slides with the latent image forming surface LS on the toner transport surface TTS is prevented. As a result, the occurrence of image disturbance due to the sticking of the toner T or the like in the portion can be suppressed as much as possible.

<Toner Supply Device of Third Embodiment>
FIG. 4 is an enlarged side sectional view of a main part of the configuration of the third embodiment of the toner supply device 6 shown in FIG.

In the present embodiment, the transport electrode 63 is not provided in a portion that slides with the latent image forming surface LS in the upstream end portion 62a. A conductive portion 65 is provided in this portion. The conductive portion 65 corresponding to the conductive portion of the present invention is integrally formed of a conductive material (including a semiconductive material having a volume resistivity of about 10 ⁷ to 10 ¹⁰ Ω · cm). A predetermined bias voltage is applied to the conductive portion 65 in the same manner as the dummy electrode 64 (see FIG. 4) in the second embodiment described above.

  According to such a configuration, the same operations and effects as those of the second embodiment described above can be obtained.

<List of examples of modification>
Note that, as described above, the above-described embodiments are merely examples of typical embodiments of the present invention that the applicant has considered to be the best at the time of filing of the present application. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. Therefore, it goes without saying that various modifications can be made to the above-described embodiment within the scope not changing the essential part of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, some typical modifications will be exemplified. Needless to say, the modifications are not limited to those listed below. In addition, all or a part of the embodiments and modifications may be applied in combination with each other as appropriate within a technically consistent range.

  The present invention (especially those expressed functionally and functionally in the constituent elements constituting the means for solving the problems of the present invention) is based on the above-described embodiment and the description of the following modifications. Should not be interpreted as limited. Such a limited interpretation is unacceptable and improper for imitators, while improperly harming the applicant's interests (rushing to file under a prior application principle).

  (1) The application target of the present invention is not limited to a monochromatic laser printer. For example, the present invention can be suitably applied to a so-called electrophotographic image forming apparatus such as a color laser printer or a monochromatic and color copying machine.

  (2) The shape of the photoreceptor 3 may not be a drum shape as in the above-described embodiment.

  5 and 6 are side cross-sectional views showing a configuration of a modified example of the photoreceptor 3 shown in FIG. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the photoconductor 3 can be formed in an endless belt shape. At this time, the photoreceptor 3 is supported by a belt support roller 32 that is rotatable about the central axis C.

  (3) The semi-cylindrical portion 31 accommodated in the toner supply device 6 may be a “half-cylindrical shape” according to social wisdom. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the central angle of the semicylindrical portion 31 may be less than 180 degrees (about 120 degrees), and conversely, the central angle exceeds 180 degrees. Also good.

  Further, a part of the semi-cylindrical portion 31 may be accommodated in the toner supply device 6. Alternatively, a part of the photoreceptor 3 including the semi-cylindrical portion 31 and other portions may be accommodated in the toner supply device 6.

  (4) The contact state between the upstream end 62a and the photoreceptor 3 is not limited to surface contact. For example, the edge on the opening 61 side of the upstream end 62 a may come into contact with the photoreceptor 3.

  (5) The configuration of the part that moves so as to enter the inside from the opening 61 and the part that slides in the latent image forming surface LS are not limited to those disclosed in the above-described embodiments.

  For example, the transport electrode 63 may not be provided at the downstream end 62b. Alternatively, instead of the downstream end 62b, a sliding member separate from the toner transport substrate 62 may be provided.

  FIG. 7 is a side sectional view showing a configuration of a modified example of the downstream end portion 62b shown in FIGS. As shown in FIG. 7, a conductive surface layer 66 for preventing charge-up is provided on the surface facing (sliding) the photoreceptor 3 (latent image forming surface LS) at the downstream end 62b. It may be provided.

The conductive surface layer 66 is formed of a conductive coating layer (including a semiconductive property having a surface resistivity of about 10 ⁷ to 10 ¹⁰ Ω / sq). The conductive surface layer 66 is applied with a bias voltage as described above so that the electrostatic latent image on the latent image forming surface LS is not disturbed.

  (6) The configuration shown in FIGS. 1 to 7 (particularly, the configuration of the toner transport substrate 62 shown in FIGS. 2 to 6) is simplified for easy understanding of the features of the present invention. Is shown in the state. Therefore, as a matter of course, the present invention is not limited to the details of the configurations shown in the drawings.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 8, in order to prevent the discharge between the adjacent transport electrodes 63 and the discharge between the transport electrodes 63 and the latent image forming surface LS, the transport on the toner transport substrate 62 is performed. It is preferable that an insulating protective layer 67 is provided on the surface on which the electrode 63 is formed so as to cover the transport electrode 63. The protective layer 67 can be constituted by, for example, a synthetic resin coating layer. In this case, the surface of the protective layer 67 constitutes the toner transport surface TTS. That is, in this case, the toner transport substrate 62 is formed by forming a transport electrode 63 made of copper foil on an insulating support layer (for example, a base film made of an insulating synthetic resin), and then insulating It is configured by forming a protective layer 67 made of synthetic resin.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, it is preferable that a protective layer 67 is provided on the dummy electrode 64 and the conductive portion 65 for the same reason as described above. In this case, as shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, the dummy electrode 64 and the conductive portion 65 are formed on the surface of the base film before the protective layer 67 is provided, like the transport electrode 63. Can be formed.

  Further, in order to suppress disturbance of the electrostatic latent image due to the charge-up of the toner transport surface TTS during sliding with the latent image forming surface LS, the material of the above-described base film and the protective layer 67 is appropriately selected. Can be selected. Specifically, for example, when a positively charged electrostatic latent image is formed, a transport electrode 63 made of copper foil is formed on a base film made of a positively chargeable synthetic resin (for example, polyamide: so-called nylon). It is configured by

  (7) In addition, although not mentioned one by one, appropriate modifications to the configurations shown in the above-described embodiments are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention. In addition, in each element constituting the means for solving the problems of the present invention, the elements expressed in terms of operation and function are the specific structures disclosed in the above-described embodiments and modifications, It includes any structure that can realize this action / function.

1 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of a laser printer which is an embodiment of an image forming apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an enlarged side sectional view of a main part of the configuration of the first embodiment of the toner supply device shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is an enlarged side sectional view of a main part of the configuration of the second embodiment of the toner supply device shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 6 is an enlarged side sectional view of a main part of the configuration of the third embodiment of the toner supply device shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a side sectional view showing a configuration of a modified example of the photoreceptor shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a side sectional view showing a configuration of a modified example of the photoreceptor shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is a side sectional view showing a configuration of a modified example of the downstream end portion shown in FIGS. 2 to 6. FIG. 7 is an enlarged side sectional view showing a configuration of a specific example of an upstream end shown in FIGS. 2 to 6. FIG. 7 is an enlarged side sectional view showing a configuration of a specific example of an upstream end shown in FIGS. 2 to 6. FIG. 7 is an enlarged side sectional view showing a configuration of a specific example of an upstream end shown in FIGS. 2 to 6.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Laser printer 2 ... Paper conveyance mechanism 3 ... Photoconductor 31 ... Semi-cylindrical part 32 ... Belt support roller 4 ... Charger 5 ... Scanner unit 6 ... Toner supply device 61 ... Opening 62 ... Toner conveyance board 62a ... Upstream side End 62b ... downstream end 63 ... transport electrode 64 ... dummy electrode 65 ... conductive portion 66 ... conductive surface layer C ... central axis DP ... development position LS ... latent image forming surface P ... paper PP ... paper transport path T ... Toner TTD ... Toner transport direction TTS ... Toner transport surface

Claims (10)

It has a semi-cylindrical portion having a central axis parallel to the main scanning direction, and a latent image forming surface, which is a surface on which an electrostatic latent image is formed by a potential distribution, moves along a direction perpendicular to the central axis. An electrostatic latent image carrier configured to:
A thin plate-like developer provided with a plurality of transport electrodes arranged along the developer transport direction so as to transport the charged developer in a developer transport direction crossing the main scanning direction by a traveling wave electric field A developer supply device comprising a transport substrate and configured to supply the developer to the latent image forming surface by transporting the developer along the developer transport direction inside;
An image forming apparatus comprising:
The developer supply device includes:
An opening is provided so that at least a part of the semi-cylindrical portion is accommodated in the inside by allowing the electrostatic latent image carrier to pass through,
An end protruding toward the opening on the upstream side in the developer transport direction from the opening of the developer transport substrate is exposed to the outside from the opening on the latent image forming surface. An image forming apparatus , wherein the first sliding member sliding with the moving part is provided so as to slide on the inner surface facing the inside of the developer supply device. An electrostatic latent image carrier having a semi-cylindrical portion having a central axis parallel to the main scanning direction by transporting the charged developer in a developer transporting direction intersecting the main scanning direction by a traveling wave electric field inside A developer supply configured to supply the developer to a latent image forming surface on the surface of the body on which an electrostatic latent image is formed by a potential distribution and moves along a direction perpendicular to the central axis A device,
An opening is provided so that at least a part of the semi-cylindrical portion is accommodated in the inside by allowing the electrostatic latent image carrier to pass through,
A plurality of transport electrodes arranged along the developer transport direction, provided with a thin plate-shaped developer transport substrate;
An end projecting toward the opening upstream of the opening of the developer transport substrate in the developer transport direction is exposed to the outside from the opening on the latent image forming surface. A developer supply device, wherein a first sliding member that slides with a portion that moves to the inside of the developer supply device is provided to slide on an inner surface facing the inside of the developer supply device. The developer supply device according to claim 2 ,
The developer supply device according to claim 1, wherein the first sliding member is a portion that is the end portion of the developer transport substrate and is not provided with the transport electrode. The developer supply device according to claim 3 ,
A developer supply apparatus, wherein a dummy electrode to which a predetermined bias voltage can be applied is provided at the end of the developer transport substrate in place of the transport electrode. The developer supply device according to claim 4 ,
The developer supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the dummy electrode has a width in the developer transport direction wider than that of the transport electrode. The developer supply device according to claim 2 ,
The developer supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first sliding member includes a conductive portion to which a predetermined bias voltage is applied. A developer supply device according to any one of claims 2 to 6 ,
The developer supply device, wherein the first sliding member is provided so as to slide with the developer carrying surface over the entire sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction . A developer supply device according to any one of claims 2 to 7,
At the end projecting toward the opening on the downstream side in the developer transport direction from the opening of the developer transport substrate, the developer carrying surface enters the inside from the opening. The developer supply device, wherein the second sliding member that slides with the moving part is provided so as to slide on the outer surface facing the outside of the developer supply device. The developer supply device according to claim 8 ,
The developer supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second sliding member includes a conductive portion to which a predetermined bias voltage is applied . The developer supply device according to claim 8 or 9 , wherein
The developer supply apparatus, wherein the second sliding member is provided so as to slide with the developer carrying surface over the entire sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction .

Images