Developing blade and its manufacturing method

Abstract

A method for manufacturing a developing blade including a blade member located along one side edge of a support member, comprising providing a top mold with a cavity, sandblasting the cavity with an abrasive in a range of #150 to #1000, clamping together the top mold and a bottom mold while the top mold is in alignment with the bottom mold while at least a part of the support member is positioned in the cavity, and pouring a molding material from a gate to fill the cavity.

1 . A method for manufacturing a developing blade including a blade member located along one side edge of a support member, comprising the steps of:
 providing a top mold comprising a mold surface with a cavity for formation of a blade member and a gate in communication with said cavity,   sandblasting the cavity with an abrasive in a range of #150 to #1000,   providing a bottom mold having a flat mold surface,   clamping together said top mold and said bottom mold while said top mold is in alignment with said bottom mold while at least a part of said support member is positioned in said cavity, and   pouring a molding material from said gate to fill said cavity.   
     
     
         2 . The method for manufacturing a developing blade according to  claim 1 , wherein said sandblasting is carried out using a pressurized blasting apparatus, and a ceramic abrasive is used for said abrasive. 
     
     
         3 . The method for manufacturing a developing blade according to  claim 1 , wherein said cavity has a wall surface curved and recessed at a deepest site. 
     
     
         4 . The method for manufacturing a developing blade according to  claim 1 , wherein said molding material is a liquid silicone rubber and curing agent mixture. 
     
     
         5 . A method for manufacturing a developing blade including a blade member located on each surface of a support member along one side edge of said support member, comprising the steps of:
 providing a top mold comprising a mold surface with a cavity for formation of a blade member and a gate in communication with said cavity,   sandblasting said cavity in said top mold with an abrasive in a range of #150 to #1000,   providing a bottom mold having a mold surface with a cavity for formation of a blade member,   sandblasting said cavity in said bottom mold with an abrasive in a range of #150 to #1000,   clamping together said top mold and said bottom mold while said top mold is in alignment with said bottom mold while said cavities oppose each other with said support member therebetween, and   pouring a molding material from said gate to fill said cavities.   
     
     
         6 . The method for manufacturing a developing blade according to  claim 5 , wherein said sandblasting is carried out using a pressurized blasting apparatus, and a ceramic abrasive is used for said abrasive. 
     
     
         7 . The method for manufacturing a developing blade according to  claim 5 , wherein said cavity has a wall surface curved and recessed at a deepest site. 
     
     
         8 . The method for manufacturing a developing blade according to  claim 5 , wherein said molding material is a liquid silicone rubber and curing agent mixture.