PURPOSE: To maintain sealing effect and to prolong service life by placing load on a sliding member so that an elastic member produces sealing effect by compressive deformation.
CONSTITUTION: A sealing member 3 is composed of an elastic member 6, a foamed polymer and felt 7. When the sealing member 3 is brought into contact with a developing drum 1, the elastic member 6 is deformed and comes in contact with the drum 1 under proper contact pressure. Since it is made unneces sary to render elasticity to the felt 7 having toner sealing action, the thickness of the felt 7 can be reduced to the irreducible minimum. By this reduced thick ness, fibers are hardly released from the felt 7 and the amt. of foreign matter entering a toner is reduced. The toner sealing effect is maintained during use for a long time.
OTSUKA HIDEFUMI
OKUNA KENJI
