Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a developing agent cartridge for supplying developing agent and toner to a developing device comprises a cartridge main body, in which there is a first room and a second room and the boundary of the two rooms is closed by a closure member, configured to respectively fill the toner and the developing agent into the first room and the second room; a supply section configured to supply the infill in the second room to the developing device while stirring it; and an opening section configured to open the closure member to enable the toner to be moved to the second room after the developing agent filled into the second room is supplied to the developing device.

Abstract: Provided is a developer container that accommodates developer, including: a first frame that has a recessed portion; and a second frame that has a first protruding portion, wherein the first frame and the second frame are joined by a first adhering portion in which the recessed portion and the first protruding portion are welded together, and a second adhering portion in which a second protruding portion and a flat portion are welded together, the recessed portion having a positioning inner side face that performs positioning of the first frame and the second frame within a recessed portion. Also provided are a method to manufacture a developer container, a developing apparatus having the developer container, a cleaning apparatus, a process cartridge, and an image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A developing device forms an image by developing an electrostatic latent image on a photoreceptor rotating about a rotation axis. The developing device includes a housing having an opening opposite the photoreceptor, a developing sleeve disposed inside the housing, a magnetic body disposed in a central portion of the developing sleeve and not in no-magnet portions thereof at both sides of the central portion, and seal members supported by the housing. Each of the seal members shields either one of portions of the photoreceptor that are located opposite the no-magnet portions and is in surface contact with either one of end portions of the photoreceptor farther from a center of the photoreceptor than the no-magnet portions. Each of the seal members includes, at an end thereof closer to the center of the photoreceptor than the other end thereof, a non-contact portion that is not in contact with the photoreceptor.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a housing; and a process cartridge. The housing is formed with a first opening through which recording medium is to be introduced into an inside of the housing. The process cartridge is configured to be mounted in the inside of the housing and is provided with a photosensitive body. The process cartridge is provided with a process cartridge holding part configured to be held by a user so as to remove the process cartridge from the housing. The process cartridge holding part is configured such that in a state where the process cartridge is mounted in the inside of the housing, the process cartridge holding part prevents at least part of light that has entered the inside of the housing through the first opening from reaching the photosensitive body.

Abstract: A sealing device includes a base member configured to attach to an ink developer unit, a sealing member having a sealing surface configured to at least one of limit an unwanted flow of ink outside of the ink developer unit and conform to an outer surface of a respective roller, and a compliant member disposed between the base member and the sealing member such that the compliant member is configured to vary a sealing force along the sealing surface of the sealing member.

Abstract: A developing roller configured to carry developer and extending in an axial direction includes: a first rotation shaft; a second rotation shaft; a rubber body portion; a first cylindrical rubber portion; and a second cylindrical rubber portion. The body portion has a first side and a second side opposite to the first side in the axial direction. The first cylindrical rubber portion is disposed on the first side. The first rotation shaft is configured to be fitted with the first cylindrical rubber portion. The second cylindrical rubber portion is disposed on the second side. The second rotation shaft is configured to be fitted with the second cylindrical rubber portion. The rubber body portion is configured to be deformable more than the first cylindrical rubber portion and the second cylindrical rubber portion.

Abstract: Provided is a developing device including a storage container that stores a developer, a rotating body that supplies the developer to an image holding member in a supply region by being rotated with holding the developer, an inflow portion that is provided with an inflow port placed on a downstream side of the supply region in a rotation direction of the rotating body, and flows air into the storage container, and an outflow portion that is provided with an outflow port and emits air in the storage container from the outflow port, wherein the outflow port and the inflow port are placed to be adjacent to each other.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer carrying member and a layer thickness regulating member. The layer thickness regulating member includes an opposing portion, a regulating portion, side wall portions, and a plurality of rib portions each extending from the side wall portion in one end side to the side wall portion in the other end side with respect to the rotational axis direction of the developer carrying member. A space is formed by being defined by the side wall portions and the rib portions. No substantial rib portion dividing the space with respect to a longitudinal direction of said layer thickness regulating member is provided.

Abstract: A development apparatus for an image forming apparatus includes a first sealing member provided in the supporting portion and configured to seal a gap between a peripheral surface of the development roller and the frame member at one end side of the frame member in the axis direction to prevent the developer from leaking from the frame member; and a second sealing member made of a resin and configured to seal the through hole, and the first sealing member, the supporting portion, and the second sealing member are arranged in this order on the same plane perpendicular to the axis direction.

Abstract: A developing device including a housing, a developing roller rotatably provided to the housing, a layer thickness regulation blade contacting the developing roller, and a seal member arranged between the housing and each end of the developing roller, wherein the layer thickness regulation blade includes a blade main body extending along an axial direction of the developing roller, and a blade rubber part protruding from a surface of the blade main body facing the developing roller and contacting the developing roller, wherein an end surface of the blade rubber part in the axial direction is in contact with an inner end surface of the seal member in the axial direction, and wherein a suppression part configured to suppress a strength of flow of the developer is provided at a corner part between the blade rubber part and the seal member.

Abstract: A developing cartridge that maintains a pressing condition to press a developer carrier against the image carrier is described. The developing cartridge may include a coil spring that presses the developer carrier against the image carrier. The coil spring may include a handle that transmits a pressing force to the coil spring via the contacting member. By doing so, every time the developing cartridge is replaced, a new coil spring and handle can be provided for the color laser printer with the developing cartridge attached. Therefore, a constant pressure by the coil spring can be continuously maintained. Thus, a preferable pressure condition of the developer carrier against the image carrier can be continuously maintained.

Abstract: A developer container includes: a developer accommodating chamber, provided with an opening, for accommodating a developer; a sealing member bonded to the developer accommodating container so as to block the opening; and a rotatable member, having a connecting surface where the sealing member is connected thereto, for peeling off the sealing member from the opening by rotation thereof. The connecting surface has a rectangular shape which has a long side with respect to a rotational axis direction of the rotatable member and which is twisted in a rotational direction of the rotatable member.

Abstract: A shutter for use in a toner cartridge of an imaging device according to one example embodiment includes a toner path. The toner path includes an entrance opening positioned to receive toner and an exit opening positioned to exit toner from the toner path. An air duct through the shutter is separated from the toner path. The air duct has a first opening positioned next to the exit opening of the toner path. The air duct has a second opening.

Abstract: A developing apparatus for an image forming apparatus includes a frame having a developer container; a developing roller; a blade for regulating a developer layer thickness on the roller, the blade including a base end portion supported by the frame, and a free end portion contacted to the roller; and an elastic seal provided between the frame and the blade to prevent leakage of the developer from the developer container in an axial direction of the roller at an end portion, wherein in a state before the roller is mounted to the frame, a thickness of the seal, measured in a compression direction in which the seal is compressed by the blade, is larger in a free end portion side than in a base end portion side with respect to a direction crossing with the axial direction.

Abstract: A developing device frame unit supporting a regulating member regulating the layer thickness of developer on a developer carrier. The unit includes a frame having a seal forming portion, first and second, first and second end seals contactable to the carrier surface to prevent carrier-axial-direction leaking of the developer, and a blade sealer sealing between the regulating member and the frame to prevent developer leaking when the regulating member is mounted. The blade sealer is an elastomer resin material which is injection-molded with a metal mold and in the seal forming portion where the end seals are provided. The blade sealer connects the end seals with each other, and a protrusion provided by a squeezed-out portion of the resin material is provided by injecting, into a space defined by the metal mold, the seal forming portion, and the end seal seals, a resin material volume larger than a volume of the space.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer carrier that has a cylindrical shape and that rotates while carrying developer to supply the developer to an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, a container that contains the developer carrier, and a discharge-path forming member that is provided along an outer peripheral surface of the developer carrier, that covers a top portion of a path along which the outer peripheral surface moves, the top portion being located at an uppermost position of the path, and that forms a discharge path, through which air is discharged from inside of the container to outside of the container, between the discharge-path forming member and an inner wall surface of the container, the discharge path having an outlet located closer to the developer carrier than the top portion.

Abstract: A cartridge includes: a toner chamber, provided with an opening, for accommodating a toner; and a seal member including a sealing portion, elongated in a longitudinal direction of the cartridge, for unsealably sealing the opening and a mounting portion for being mounted on an unsealing member to unseal the opening. The sealing portion includes a first sealing portion located at a longitudinal end portion and a second sealing portion located at a longitudinal central portion. With respect to a direction crossing the longitudinal direction, a length between the first sealing portion and the mounting portion of the seal member is shorter than a length between the second sealing portion and the mounting portion.

Abstract: A cartridge includes: a rotatable member, including a metal shaft, supported movably in an axial direction of the metal shaft; an electroconductive member, supported movably in the axial direction in contact to an end surface of the metal shaft in one end side of the metal shaft, for constituting an electroconductive path for electrically connecting the metal shaft and a contact member provided in an image forming apparatus main assembly; an urging portion for urging the metal shaft via the electroconductive member in a direction from the one end side to another end side of the metal shaft; and an abutting portion for positioning the rotatable member by being abutted by the metal shaft. The electroconductive member includes a contact portion to the end surface of the metal shaft, at a portion other than a rotation center portion of the metal shaft at the end surface.

Abstract: A developing device includes a frame, a developing roller, and first and second seals. The frame has a seal adhesion surface and a seal placement portion. The first seal is provided between the frame and a peripheral surface at an end portion of the developing roller. The second seal is in contact with the peripheral surface and has an end region positioned between the first seal and the peripheral surface. The second seal has a first end portion and a second end portion. The first end portion is adhered to the seal adhesion surface and has an end part adhered onto the first seal. The second end portion is in contact with the peripheral surface of the developing roller. The first seal is compressed in the seal placement portion by the second seal to abut on a stepped portion of the seal placement portion.

Abstract: A developing container configured to contain developer, the developing container including: a filter member which covers a communicating hole through which an inside and an outside of the developing container are communicated with each other; a fixing area where the filter member is fixed to the developing container; and a vibration regulating portion configured to regulate vibrations of the filter member on an inner side of the fixing area, wherein the filter member is configured to allow passage of air and regulate passage of the developer, and wherein the vibration regulating portion is provided so as to be hit by the filter member if the filter member is vibrated, in order to regulate the vibrations of the filter member.

Abstract: A developing device including: a housing; a developing roller including a roller main body having a recess portion recessed inwards in an axis line direction, the recess portion including, a first surface extending in the axis line direction, and a second surface extending from an inner end portion of the first surface towards a direction intersecting with the axis line direction; and a seal member arranged between the housing and the roller main body, wherein, in the axis line direction, the second surface is positioned within a range in which the seal member is arranged, and wherein, in the axis line direction, a distance from an inner end portion of the seal member to the second surface is larger than a length of a part at which the seal member and the first surface overlap with each other.

Abstract: A developer unit according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a reservoir for storing a developer mix that includes toner and magnetic carrier beads. A magnetic roll includes a stationary core and a sleeve positioned around the core that is rotatable relative to the core. The stationary core includes at least one permanent magnet having circumferentially spaced magnetic poles. At least one external shunt is composed of a magnetically permeable metal and is positioned at each axial end of the magnetic roll axially outboard of the core and in close proximity to the outer surface of the sleeve along a first circumferential portion of the core. At least one internal shunt is positioned at each axial end of the core inside of the sleeve. Each internal shunt has a shunt portion composed of a magnetically permeable metal and positioned along a second circumferential portion of the core.

Abstract: A developer accommodating unit includes: a container, provided with an opening for permitting discharge of a developer, for accommodating the developer; a sealing member for sealing the opening by being mounted on the container and for being peeled from the container to expose the opening; and an unsealing member for unsealing the opening by moving the sealing member to peel the sealing member from the container. The sealing member includes a sealing portion defined in an end side thereof to seal the opening, a holding portion defined in another end side thereof to be held by the unsealing member, and a developer passing portion formed between the sealing portion and the holding portion to permit passing of the developer therethrough.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer bearer, a magnetic field generator provided inside the developer bearer, a casing including an opening to partly expose a surface of the developer bearer, and a lateral end cover to cover an axial end portion of the exposed surface of the developer bearer. The lateral end cover includes a wide portion extending more to an axial inner side of the developer bearer than a downstream portion of the lateral end cover positioned downstream from the wide portion in a direction of rotation of the developer bearer. A downstream end of the wide portion is downstream from an upstream end of the development range in the direction of rotation of the developer bearer.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developing roller, a regulating blade, and seal members. The regulating blade extends in a rotation axis direction of the developing sleeve, is disposed opposite to a circumferential surface of the developing sleeve, and regulates a quantity of the toner present on the circumferential surface of the developing sleeve. The seal members are disposed opposite to the circumferential surface of the developing sleeve without being in contact with both ends of the developing sleeve in the rotation axis direction, and inhibit the toner on the circumferential surface from moving to the rotation axis direction ends by magnetic brushes formed between the magnet roller and the seal members. An inner surface part of each seal member which is opposite to the circumferential surface of the developing sleeve has root parts which have crest parts formed in a serrated shape.

Abstract: A unit for use with an image forming apparatus includes: a frame; a developer accommodating portion; a sheet member, contact to a rotatable member and provided on the frame along a longitudinal direction of the rotatable member; a first end portion seal member for preventing, at a longitudinal end portion, the developer from leaking out from between the frame and the rotatable member; and a second end portion seal member for preventing the developer from leaking out from among the first end portion seal member, the sheet member and the frame. The second end portion seal member is formed by injecting, on the frame, a resin material having an elastic modulus smaller than an elastic modulus of the frame so as to contact with the first end portion seal member and the sheet member.

Abstract: A toner cartridge for an electrophotographic image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a reservoir for storing toner. The toner cartridge includes a first vent having an inlet opening positioned to receive air from outside the housing, an outlet opening positioned to exit the received air into the reservoir, and a one-way valve that permits airflow through the first vent from the inlet opening to the outlet opening and prevents airflow through the first vent from the outlet opening to the inlet opening. A check valve limits airflow through the first vent from the inlet opening to the outlet opening.

Abstract: A developing unit for an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a developing roller, having a shaft member, for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive drum using a developer; and a bearing for rotatably supporting the shaft member, the bearing including a bearing base portion of a first resin molded material and a bearing portion of a second resin molded material different from the first resin molded material, the bearing portion having a through-hole, wherein the bearing portion includes a contact portion contacting a stepped abutting portion of the shaft member, and a retaining portion overlapping with the bearing base portion in a direction crossing with an axial direction of the shaft member.

Abstract: A developing device including: a first seal member arranged between a housing and a layer thickness regulation blade, and a second seal member arranged between the housing and a developing roller, wherein the first seal member is arranged adjacent to the second seal member in a rotating direction of the developing roller, wherein the second seal member includes a first member contacting a circumferential surface of the developing roller and a second member arranged between the housing and the first member, wherein the second member includes a protruding portion that, in the rotating direction of the developing roller, protrudes more towards the first seal member than the first member, and wherein end portions of the first and second members in the rotating direction of the developing roller are respectively configured to contact with the first seal member.

Abstract: There is provided a developing device including a developing roller, a housing configured to support the developing roller, a first seal member arranged between the developing roller and the housing at each end portion of the developing roller in an axial direction thereof, and a second seal member arranged between the developing roller and the housing at an inner side of each first seal member in the axial direction and having a smaller frictional force per unit area to be applied with respect to the developing roller than the first seal member.

Abstract: A developing device including a housing, a developing roller, a seal member arranged between the housing and each end of the developing roller, and a layer thickness regulation blade including a blade main body, and a blade rubber part protruding from a surface of the blade main body and contacting the developing roller, wherein an end surface of the blade rubber part in an axial direction of the developing roller is in contact with an inner surface of the seal member in the axial direction, and wherein the blade rubber part has an inclined surface at each end thereof in the axial direction, the inclined surface extending toward an upstream side in a rotating direction of the developing roller while extending toward an outer side in the axial direction so as to extend to the seal member.

Abstract: A cartridge is configured to supply developing agent to a peripheral surface of a photosensitive drum. The cartridge includes a frame, a developing roller and first and second side seal members. The developing roller defines an axial direction, and is configured to supply developing agent in the frame to the photosensitive drum. The first side seal member is configured to seal a boundary between the frame and one end portion of the developing roller in the axial direction. The second side seal member is configured to seal a boundary between the frame and another end portion of the developing roller. The first and second side seal members define a gap therebetween in the axial direction, and the gap has a gap length smaller than a width in the axial direction of a maximum width sheet conveyed to the photosensitive drum.

Abstract: A developing device includes a frame configured to store developer, a developing roller arranged at an opening of the frame and configured to bear the developer and to form a developer image on an image bearing member, and a supply roller including a rotational shaft passing through a through-hole provided in the frame and configured to supply the developer to the developing roller, wherein the through-hole is formed so that the supply roller is insertable from an outside of the frame in an axial direction of the supply roller, and has such a size that the supply roller is insertable without rubbing an inner edge of the through-hole.

Abstract: A developer storage device includes a rotation member including a shaft portion protruding from a main body thereof; a support member formed with a hole by which the shaft portion is supported; and a first seal member disposed between the main body of the rotation member and the support member and including a hole into which the shaft portion is inserted. The support member includes a step portion. The step portion includes a first restraint section which restrains motion of the first seal member in an axial direction of the shaft portion, and a second restraint section which restrains motion of the outer periphery of the first seal member in a radial direction of the shaft portion.

Abstract: A device is disclosed. The device contains a roller, a housing configured to accommodate the roller, at least one seal comprising a first material, wherein the at least one seal is disposed between the roller and the housing, and at least one second material disposed adjacent to the seal.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable image bearing member, a nip forming member, and a power source. The rotatable image bearing member bears a toner image on a surface thereof and rotates. The nip forming member contacts the surface of the image bearing member to form a transfer nip therebetween. The power source applies a transfer bias to the transfer nip to transfer the toner image from the image bearing member onto a recording medium interposed in the transfer nip. The transfer bias includes a superimposed transfer bias in which an alternating current (AC) component is superimposed on a direct current (DC) component and a polarity of the superimposed transfer bias changes with time. A phase difference between an AC voltage and an AC current output from the power source is equal to or less than 0.47 cycles.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer carrying member that carries developer; a frame member that supports the developer carrying member; a sealing section that faces a peripheral surface of the developer carrying member and suppresses leakage of the developer; and an interval ensuring member that maintains a distance between the image carrying member and the developer carrying member. The interval ensuring member includes a movement regulating portion that prevents movement of the interval ensuring member in a rotation direction of the developer carrying member when the image carrying member and the developer carrying member rotate, and a maintaining portion that contacts the image carrying member and the developer carrying member for maintaining the distance between the image carrying member and the developer carrying member. The maintaining portion and the sealing section are positioned in a predetermined cross section that is orthogonal to an axial line of the developer carrying member.

Abstract: A toner collection unit, which can be included in an image forming apparatus, includes a collected toner container having an opening and storing collected toner, a flexible seal sealing the opening of the collected toner container, having a shape of a recess in an initial condition before toner is collected in the container, and being flexible to change the shape to inflate outwardly due to a pressing force exerted from the toner stored in the container, a moving unit disposed outside the flexible seal and movable both in a positive direction to approach the opening of the container and in an opposite direction to move away from the opening when contacting the flexible seal inflating outwardly, a detector detecting movement of the moving unit, and a regulator regulating the moving unit from coming into the recess of the flexible seal in the initial condition.

Abstract: A developing device includes: a frame having an opening; a developer carrying member rotatably supported to the frame; and a side seal. The developer carrying member is rotatable about its axis in a rotating direction and has an axial end portion in an axial direction. The side seal is disposed between the frame and a peripheral surface of the axial end portion, and has a contact member contacting the peripheral surface. The contact member includes: a first seal member disposed adjacent to an edge of the opening in the axial direction; and a second seal member disposed adjacent to and upstream of the first seal member in the rotating direction. The first seal member permits developer to move inward in the axial direction and provides a mobility of developer therein higher than that of the second seal member that is made of a material that restricts movement of developer.

Abstract: A developing device is capable of preventing developing agent from leaking from a developing frame of a developer cartridge. The developer cartridge includes a developing agent carrying member including a rubber roller, a first seal including a first fluffing member, and a second seal including a second base member and a second fluffing member fixed thereto. The second base member and the second fluffing member have downstream end portions in a rotational direction of the developing agent carrying member. The downstream end portion of the second base member is positioned upstream of the downstream end portion of the second fluffing member. The downstream end portion of the second fluffing member is nipped between the first fluffing member and the rubber roller.

Abstract: A developing device including a housing, a developing roller rotatably provided to the housing, a layer thickness regulation blade contacting the developing roller, and a seal member arranged between the housing and each end of the developing roller, wherein the layer thickness regulation blade includes a blade main body extending along an axial direction of the developing roller, and a blade rubber part protruding from a surface of the blade main body facing the developing roller and contacting the developing roller, wherein an end surface of the blade rubber part in the axial direction is in contact with an inner end surface of the seal member in the axial direction, and wherein a suppression part configured to suppress a strength of flow of the developer is provided at a corner part between the blade rubber part and the seal member.

Abstract: A developing device including a housing, a developing roller, a seal member arranged between the housing and each end of the developing roller, and a layer thickness regulation blade including a blade main body, and a blade rubber part protruding from a surface of the blade main body and contacting the developing roller, wherein an end surface of the blade rubber part in an axial direction of the developing roller is in contact with an inner surface of the seal member in the axial direction, and wherein the blade rubber part has an inclined surface at each end thereof in the axial direction, the inclined surface extending toward an upstream side in a rotating direction of the developing roller while extending toward an outer side in the axial direction so as to extend to the seal member.

Abstract: A sealing assembly to contact a rotator includes a sealing member to slidably contact a surface of an end of the rotator in an axial direction of the rotator. The sealing member has an end in a circumferential direction thereof to contact the surface of the rotator with a first pressure. The end in the circumferential direction is fixed to a bearing surface formed on the opening on at least one of an upstream side and a downstream side in a rotation direction of the rotator. The sealing member has an intermediate portion between an upstream end and a downstream end in the circumferential direction to contact the surface of the rotator with a second pressure lower than the first pressure.

Abstract: A developing device includes: a frame; a developer carrying member rotatably supported to the frame; and a side seal. The developer carrying member is rotatable about its axis in a rotating direction and has an axial end portion and a remaining portion inward of the axial end portion in an axial direction. The side seal is disposed between the frame and a peripheral surface of the axial end portion and includes: a contact member that can contact the peripheral surface; a support member disposed between the contact member and the frame; and a double-sided tape for adhering the contact member to the supporting member. The contact member includes: a first seal member; and a second seal member disposed adjacent to and upstream of the first seal member in the rotating direction. The first seal member and the second seal member are affixed to one adhesive surface of the double-sided tape.

Abstract: A unit includes an injection path provided on a frame member and through which a molten resin flows when a seal portion is formed through injection molding, an injection port provided at one end side of the injection path in an injection direction in which the molten resin flows through the injection path and through which the molten resin is injected into the frame member, and a discharge port which is provided at another end side of the injection path in the injection direction and through which the molten resin having passed through the injection path is discharged to a seal forming portion.

Abstract: There is provided a developing device including a developing roller, a housing configured to support the developing roller, a first seal member arranged between the developing roller and the housing at each end portion of the developing roller in an axial direction thereof, and a second seal member arranged between the developing roller and the housing at an inner side of each first seal member in the axial direction and having a smaller frictional force per unit area to be applied with respect to the developing roller than the first seal member.

Abstract: The developing device includes a casing, a developing roller, a thickness regulating blade, and a seal member. The developing roller has an outer peripheral surface carrying developer. The thickness regulating blade is configured to regulate a thickness of the developer carried on the outer peripheral surface and has an opposed surface confronting the casing. The thickness regulating blade further has one end part supported on the casing and another end part provided with a press member in sliding contact with the outer peripheral surface. The press member is located on the opposed surface and protrudes toward the developing roller. The press member is formed with a receiving portion depressed inward at its widthwise ends in an axial direction of the developing roller. The seal member is disposed between the thickness regulating blade and the casing and contacting at least a part of the receiving portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a toner container and a development device. The toner container includes a container main body being provided with a discharge port configured to discharge a toner. The development device includes a development device main body being provided with a replenishment port configured to receive a toner discharged from the discharge port and a shutter configured to open/close the replenishment port. The shutter opens/closes the replenishment port by turning along the outside face of the development device main body.

Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a housing configured to accommodate a developing agent and including a first frame and a second frame, a developing agent carrying member rotatable on an axial line and configured to carry the developing agent, and a layer thickness regulating member configured to regulate a layer thickness of the developing agent carried by the developing agent carrying member. The first frame has a first facing surface facing the layer thickness regulating member. The second frame has a second facing surface facing the layer thickness regulating member. A welded region where the first frame and the second frame are welded and include a first welded portion extending from the first facing surface in a first direction intersecting with and away from the first facing surface, and a second welded portion extending from the first welded portion inward in a second direction intersecting with the first direction.

Abstract: A developing unit includes a housing, a developing roller and a seal contacting an outer peripheral surface of the developing roller. The seal includes a first part disposed inward in an axial line direction of the developing roller and contacting the outer peripheral surface of the developing roller, and a second part contacting an outer edge of the first part in the axial line direction and disposed outward from the first part in the axial line direction and contacting the outer peripheral surface. The first part has a contact surface contacting the developing roller and a plurality of first grooves each of which is recessed from the contact surface and extends along the contact surface. The plurality of first grooves extends from outward to inward in the axial line direction, as the plurality of first grooves extends from upstream to downstream in a rotational direction of the developing roller.