Patent ID: 6149564
Filing Date: 2000-11-21
Classification: B29C,G03G

Abstract:
A toner supply roll comprising:a metal shaft; anda cylindrical soft polyurethane sponge structure integrally formed on an outer circumferential surface of said metal shaft,said cylindrical soft polyurethane sponge structure having a hardness of not higher than 350 g, and including a skin layer,said cylindrical soft polyurethane sponge structure having a network of cells, and said skin layer having an outer circumferential surface and openings which are open in said outer circumferential surface and which communicate with respective ones of said cells which are located adjacent to said skin layer, said openings being substantially aligned with central portions of said respective ones of said cells in axial and circumferential directions of said cylindrical soft polyurethane sponge structure,each of said openings having a size within a range of 100-800 .mu.m, and a total area of said openings being at least 20% of a total area of said outer circumferential surface of said skin layer, andsaid cylindrical soft polyurethane sponge structure having a plurality of protrusions formed on said outer circumferential surface of said skin layer so as to extend linearly or helically in said axial direction of said cylindrical soft polyurethane sponge structure, said protrusions having a height of 20-3000 .mu.m and being arranged in a circumferential direction of said cylindrical soft polyurethane sponge structure with a pitch of 300-3000 .mu.m, so that said outer circumferential surface of said skin layer is provided with a plurality of recesses each interposed between adjacent ones of said protrusions in said circumferential direction.