Ricoh Company, Ltd.

Kimio Anze

Michikazu Sakurai

Yasuo Kadomatsu

Shoji Tajima

Yoshio Miyazaki

A developer carrier to be formed is provided with an electrode layer which includes a plurality of electrode particles embedded in a dielectric material as electrically isolated from one another and exposed at an outer surface at least partly. In one aspect of the present invention, an underlying layer is first formed on a support and then an electrode layer is formed on the underlying layer. In forming the electrode layer, a first layer of first dielectric, adhesive layer is formed on the underlying layer and, after application of a plurality of electrode particles on the first layer, a second layer of second dielectric, adhesive layer is formed on the first layer and the electrode particles to define a to-be-formed electrode layer, whose outer surface is processed to have said electrode particles exposed at the processed outer surface thereby defining the electrode layer. In another aspect, there is provided a developer carrier having the underlying layer which includes an elastomer and a magnetic material. Also provided is a developer carrier which further includes an intermediate dielectric layer as sandwiched between the underlying and electrode layers. Various method for manufacturing such elastomer-containing developer carriers are also provided.

Developer carrier

A developer carrier to be formed is provided with an electrode layer which includes a plurality of electrode particles embedded in a dielectric material as electrically isolated from one another and exposed at an outer surface at least partly. In one aspect of the present invention, an underlying layer is first formed on a support and then an electrode layer is formed on the underlying layer. In forming the electrode layer, a first layer of first dielectric, adhesive layer is formed on the underlying layer and, after application of a plurality of electrode particles on the first layer, a second layer of second dielectric, adhesive layer is formed on the first layer and the electrode particles to define a to-be-formed electrode layer, whose outer surface is processed to have said electrode particles exposed at the processed outer surface thereby defining the electrode layer. In another aspect, there is provided a developer carrier having the underlying layer which includes an elastomer and a magnetic material. Also provided is a developer carrier which further includes an intermediate dielectric layer as sandwiched between the underlying and electrode layers. Various methods for manufacturing such elastomer-containing developer carriers are also provided.

Developer carrier and a method for manufacturing the same

An elastic developer carrier for use in a developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on a photosensitive member includes an electrically conductive support, a rubber magnet layer formed on the support and magnetized in a desired pattern having alternating N and S poles, and an electrode layer formed on the rubber magnet layer having a plurality of electrode particles electrically isolated from one another and partly exposed at its outer surface. In another embodiment, an intermediate dielectric layer is provided as sandwiched between the rubber magnet and electrode layers. These developer carriers may be made much lighter in weight and used with a relatively hard photosensitive member without causing a deterioration in developing performance. Novel processes for fabricating these developer carriers are also provided.

Growing community of inventors

Kawasaki, Japan

Kimio Anze