Developing apparatus

Claim 2

A developing apparatus for developing a latent image formed on an image carrier by a non-magnetic developing agent consisting essentially of non-magnetic particles, said developing apparatus comprising: (a) an image carrier; (b) a developing agent carrier for carrying the non-magnetic developing agent thereon in the form of a layer, said developing agent carrier being disposed apart from said image carrier by a prescribed distance; and (c) an elastic metal member formed of a metallic material and pressed against one surface of said developing agent carrier to apply the non-magnetic developing agent thereto, so that the non-magnetic developing agent is applied to the surface of said developing agent carrier by said elastic metal member to form a thin layer of the non-magnetic developing agent on the surface of said developing agent carrier; (d) the thin layer of the non-magnetic developing agent being opposed to said image carrier to deposit the non-magnetic developing agent on the latent image of said image carrier, thereby developing the latent image; (e) the thickness of the thin layer of the non-magnetic developing agent being smaller than the prescribed distance; (f) said developing agent carrier having a surface which is opposed to said image carrier and the whole of which is roughened; (g) said dveloping agent carrier being electricaly connected to said elastic metal member; (h) the relation among μt, μb, and μr being: μt<μb<μr where the value μr is the friction coefficient between said developing agent carrier and the non-magnetic developing agent, the value μt is the friction coefficient between the particles of the developing agent, and the value μb is the friction coefficient between said elastic metal member and the non-magnetic developing agent.

Claim 3

The developing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said elastic metal member is a thin metal blade.

Claim 4

The developing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said thin metal blade is made of phosphor bronze.

Claim 5

The developing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the surface roughness of said developing agent carrier is 0.07 to 1.0 times the average diameter of the particles of the non-magnetic developing agent.

Claim 6

The developing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said thin metal blade is pressed against said developing agent carrier at a pressing force of 10 g/cm to 2,500 g/cm.

Claim 7

The developing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said thin metal blade has a thickness of 0.1 to 0.4 mm.

Claim 8

The developing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said developing agent carrier has a hard layer which is formed on the roughened surface thereof by a hard-plating treatment.

Claim 9

The developing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said developing agent carrier is electrically connected to said elastic metal member by a power source which applies a bias voltage to said developing agent carrier.

Claim 10

The developing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one end face of said elastic metal member positioned adjacent to the working surface of said developing agent carrier has a moderately curved surface formed by polishing.

Claim 11

The developing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the working surface of said elastic metal member except for the free end portion thereof is brought into surface contact with the working surface of said developing agent carrier.

Claim 12

Apparatus for developing a latent image formed on an image carrier using a non-magnetic developing agent consisting essentially of non-magnetic particles, said apparatus comprising: (a) an image carrier; (b) a developing roll which is rotatable about a central axis and which has a roughened circumferential working surface, the roughened circumferential working surface of said developing roll and said image carrier being spaced apart by a prescribed distance; (c) an elastic member having a smooth working surface pressed tangentially against the roughened circumferential working surface of said developing roll by a prescribed force, the smooth working surface of said elastic member and the roughened circumferential working surface of said developing roll defining a metering nip for a non-magnetic developing agent sized, shaped, and positioned to allow a thin layer of the non-magnetic developing agent to pass therethrough to coat the roughened circumferential working surface of said developing roll, the thickness of the thin layer of the non-magnetic developing agent being less than the prescribed distance between the roughened circumferential working surface of said developing roll and said image carrier; (d) means for feeding the non-magnetic developing agent to said metering nip; and (e) means for applying a bias voltage both to said developing roll and to said elastic member, thereby preventing the smooth working surface of said elastic member from being charged by friction, (f) wherein the roughness of the roughened circumferential working surface of said developing roll and the roughness of the smooth working surface of said elastic member are such that: μt<μb<μr wherein μr is the coefficient of friction between the roughened circumferential working surface of said developing roll and the particles of the non-magnetic developing agent, μt is the coefficient of friction between the particles of the non-magnetic developing agent, and μb is the coefficient of friction between the particles of the non-magnetic developing agent and the smooth working surface of said elastic member.

Claim 13

Apparatus for developing a latent image formed on an image carrier using a non-magnetic developing agent consisting essentially of non-magnetic particles, said apparatus comprising: (a) an image carrier; (b) a developing roll which is rotatable about a central axis and which has a roughened circumferential working surface, the roughened circumferential working surface of said developing roll and said image carrier being spaced apart by a prescribed distance; (c) an elastic member having a smooth working surface pressed tangentially against the roughened circumferential working surface of said developing roll by a prescribed force, the smooth working surface of said elastic member and the roughened circumferential working surface of said developing roll defining a metering nip for a non-magnetic developing agent sized, shaped, and positioned to allow a thin layer of the non-magnetic developing agent to pass therethrough to coat the roughened circumferential working surface of said developing roll, the thickness of the thin layer of the non-magnetic developing agent being less than the prescribed distance between the roughened circumferential working surface of said developing roll and said image carrier; (d) means for feeding the non-magnetic developing agent to said metering nip; and (e) means for applying a bias voltage both to said developing roll and to said elastic member, thereby preventing the smooth working surface of said elastic member from being charged by friction, (f) wherein the roughness of the roughened circumferential working surface of said developing roll and the roughness of the smooth working surface of said elastic member are such that: μt<μb<μr wherein μr is the coefficient of friction between the roughened circumferential working surface of said developing roll and the particles of the non-magnetic developing agent, μt is the coefficient of friction between the particles of the non-magnetic developing agent, and μb is the coefficient of friction between the particles of the non-magnetic developing agent and the smooth working surface of said elastic member.

Claim 14

Apparatus as recited in claim 11 wherein said elastic member is made of metal.

Claim 15

Apparatus as recited in claim 11 wherein said elastic member is made of phosphor bronze.