JP2003241494A - Storage member, developer container, developing device and process unit - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a process unit in which change in the color of a central section of a closing part 92a or tear of the closing part 92a during peeling are substantially suppressed and also the closing part 92a is substantially prevented from partly peeled with unnecessary force erroneously applied to a folded part 92b. <P>SOLUTION: The process unit is structured such that a toner cartridge 9 having a closing seal 92, composed of the closing part 92a which is joined to the perimeter of the opening 91 of a toner cartridge 9 under heat in order to close the opening 91 and the folded part 92b which is folded at one end of the closing seal 92, is attached/detached to/from a developing device 4. In the process unit, among the joined parts of the perimeter of the opening 91, to which the closing seal is joined, a part to which the end of the folded part 92a of the closing part 92a is joined under heat is made rougher than the other parts in order to provide a rough face 94. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a fluid enclosure for containing a fluid, a developer container for containing a developer that is a fluid, and a developing device and a process unit including the same. The present invention relates to improvement of a sealing means for sealing the opening of a drug container.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image forming apparatus for forming an image using an electrophotographic process is known. The electrophotographic process is to form an image through the following steps. That is, first, a latent image carrier such as a photoconductor is subjected to an exposure process or the like to form an electrostatic latent image, and a developer such as negatively or positively charged toner is attached to the latent image carrier to form a visible image. To get Then, this visible image is transferred from the latent image carrier to a transfer body such as transfer paper directly or via an intermediate transfer body, and then fixed to the transfer body by heating or the like.

In some image forming apparatuses using such an electrophotographic process, a developer such as toner is included from the beginning at the time of shipment. Where the developer is contained at the time of shipping varies depending on the type of the image forming apparatus. For example, in an image forming apparatus using a so-called disposable magazine type developing device, which reaches the end of its life when the internal developer is exhausted, the developer should be shipped while being enclosed in the disposable magazine type developing device. There are many. Further, for example, in a replenishment type image forming apparatus in which a developer container for containing a developer for replenishment is configured to be attachable to and detachable from a developing device or a process unit, a state in which the developer is contained in the developer container Often shipped in. In any of the methods, it is necessary to take a leak prevention measure so that the developer may not leak from the opening such as the developer discharge port due to the impact during transportation. Further, the developer container used in the replenishment type image forming apparatus may be shipped as a single unit, and therefore the same leak prevention measure is required.

Therefore, there is known a developer container or the like in which an opening that may cause developer leakage during transportation is shipped in a state where it is sealed with a folding seal. This folded-back type sealing seal has a sealing portion that is heat-bonded to the periphery thereof so as to cover an opening such as the developer discharge port of the developer container, and a folded-back portion that is folded back at one end side thereof. . With the sealing seal having such a configuration,
By gripping and pulling the end of the folded-back portion extending so as to overlap the sealing portion with a hand, the sealing portion can be easily peeled off. Further, even when the developer container to which the sealing seal is adhered is still attached to the developing device, the sealing portion can be peeled off by grasping and pulling the end of the folded-back portion extending from both sides.

[0005]

By the way, in the conventional folding-type sealing seal, by applying an extra force to the folded-back portion in a free state which is not heat-adhered, the sealing portion is erroneously parted. It was easy for the situation that it peeled off. After the heat-bonding of the sealing part, the folded part is bent, temporarily fixed to restrain the folded part after folding, or the folded part is accidentally hooked on some object, and extra force is applied by mistake. It will end up. Assuming application of such extra force, the heating temperature of the sealing part was raised to a certain degree and sufficient adhesive strength was obtained, but in reality only a slight amount of force was applied to the folded part. In some cases, partial peeling occurred.

The inventor of the present invention has conducted extensive studies on the cause of such peeling and found the following. That is, generally, a heat seal device is used for heat bonding of the sealing portion. The temperature of both ends of the heating part of the heat seal device is lower than that of the central part, and a temperature difference of about −5 to 10 [° C.] occurs. This is because the amount of heat radiation is larger at both ends than at the center. The sealing portion heat-bonded to the heat-sealing device naturally has lower adhesive strength on both end sides than the central portion. As described above, one of the both end sides of the sealing portion where the adhesive strength is low is adjacent to the folded-back portion and is a portion that is first peeled off when the folded-back portion is pulled. The sealing portion starts to be peeled from the end side where the adhesive strength is low, not in the central portion where sufficient adhesive strength is obtained. As a result, it was found that even though the heating temperature by the heat sealing device was set high enough to obtain sufficient adhesive strength, partial peeling of the sealing portion occurred. It was also found that the shorter the heating time by the heat-sealing device, the lower the adhesive strength on both end sides as compared to the central portion of the sealing portion.

Therefore, the present inventor has further raised the heating temperature by the heat sealing device so that sufficient adhesive strength can be obtained even at both ends of the sealing portion. Then, this causes problems such that the adhesive strength of the central portion of the sealing portion is excessively increased to cause breakage at the time of peeling, or the central portion of the sealing portion is discolored by excessive heat.

Such tearing or discoloration is a problem that occurs in a developer container having a folded-type sealing seal, a developing device having a combination of the developing container and a developing device, a process unit having the developing device, and the like. However,
Not limited to these, a storage member for storing the stored items,
The same problem may occur if the opening is sealed by a folding seal.

The present invention has been made in view of the above background. And the purpose is to suppress partial peeling of the sealing portion due to mistakenly applying extra force to the folded portion while suppressing discoloration at the center of the sealing portion and tearing at the time of peeling. It is to provide an accommodating member and the like that can.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention of claim 1 is a housing for accommodating an object,
An opening provided in the housing, and a sealing seal that covers the opening and seals the opening, and the sealing seal is heat-bonded to an adhered portion that is a housing portion around the opening, In a housing member having a sealing portion that seals an opening and a folded-back portion that is folded back at one end side of the sealing portion, one end side of the adhered portion where the one end side of the sealing portion is heat-bonded It is characterized in that the adhered portion is made rougher than the other portions. Further, the invention of claim 2 is provided with a housing containing the developer, an opening provided in the housing, and a sealing seal for covering the opening and sealing the sealing seal. A developer container having a sealing portion that is heat-bonded to a bonded portion that is a housing portion around the opening to seal the opening, and a folded-back portion that is folded back at one end side of the sealing portion, Among the adhered parts, the one end side adhered part to which the one end side of the sealing part is heat adhered is made rougher than the other part. Further, the invention of claim 3 is the developer container according to claim 2, wherein the one end side adhered portion has a maximum height Rma.
The surface roughness is x50 to 100 [μm]. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the developer container according to the second or third aspect, the adhered portion is projected from a surface of a housing portion around the adhered portion, and the adhered surface of the one end side adhered portion is the opening. It is characterized in that the area is gradually reduced from the end on the side toward the end on the opposite side. Further, the invention of claim 5 includes a developer accommodating container for accommodating a developer, and a developing device for developing a latent image using the developer supplied from an opening provided in the developer accommodating container. In a developing device provided, the developer container according to claim 2, 3 or 4 is used. The invention of claim 6 is at least
A developer accommodating container that accommodates a developer, a latent image carrier that carries a latent image, and a developing process that develops the latent image by using the developer supplied from an opening provided in the developer accommodating container. In a process unit in which a container is unitized, the developer accommodating container according to claim 2, 3 or 4 is used. In these inventions, as in the conventional case, the sealing portion is gradually peeled from one end side thereof as the folded portion of the sealing seal is pulled. However, of the adhered parts around the opening to which the sealing part is heat-bonded, the part to be adhered on the one end side where the peeling of the sealing part starts has a rougher surface than other parts due to the roughening. In such a portion to be adhered on one end side, the adhesion surface with the sealing portion is enlarged by the amount of subtle unevenness on the surface, so that the adhesion strength with the sealing portion is higher than in the case where the surface is not roughened. Then, this suppresses a decrease in the adhesive strength due to the one end side of the sealing portion being bonded at a heating temperature lower than the center of the sealing portion. Therefore, even if the heating temperature of the sealing portion is not excessively increased,
It is possible to suppress partial peeling of the sealing portion due to accidentally applying an extra force to the folded portion. Then, tearing at the time of peeling due to excessively high heating temperature can be suppressed. Even if a material that discolors due to excessive heating is used for the sealing portion, discoloration at the center of the sealing portion due to excessively high heating temperature can be suppressed.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of a process unit to which the present invention is applied will be described below. First, a laser printer (hereinafter, simply referred to as a printer) using the process unit according to the present embodiment will be described. Figure 1
Is a schematic configuration diagram of this printer. In FIG. 1, the printer includes a process unit 100 in which a photosensitive drum 1 serving as a latent image carrier, a charging roller 2, a drum cleaning unit 5, a toner cartridge 9 serving as a developer container, and a developing unit 4 are unitized. I have it. The process unit 100 includes a charging roller 2 and a charging roller 2 around a photosensitive drum 1 which is rotationally driven in the direction of the arrow (counterclockwise) in the figure.
The cleaning unit 5 and the developing device 4 are held. Developing device 4
A toner cartridge 9 configured to be attachable to and detachable from the toner cartridge is attached to the toner cartridge. The process unit 100 projects a part of the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 1 from the inside of the unit to bring it into contact with the transfer roller 7. A transfer nip is formed by this contact.

On the lower side of the process unit 100 in the figure,
A sheet cassette 10 for accommodating stacked sheets P is detachably attached to the printer body in the direction of arrow A in the figure. The sheet P in the sheet cassette 10 is pressed against the sheet feeding roller 12 by contact with the bottom plate 11 biased by a biasing means (not shown). When the paper feed roller 12 is rotated by a driving unit (not shown), the uppermost paper P is sent out from the cassette. At this time, the separation pad 13 disposed on the side of the paper feed roller 12 comes into contact with the paper P, so that double feeding of the paper P is suppressed.

A front cover 60 is provided in the vicinity of the right end of the printer main body in the figure, and is opened and closed with respect to the printer main body by being rotated around a paper feed roller 68 described later. A paper tray 65 is provided in the front cover 60. The paper tray 65 is configured to be rotatable around a pin 65, and is opened and closed with respect to the front cover 60 by this rotation. When setting the paper P on the paper tray 65, the paper tray 65 is rotated clockwise in the drawing to open. In the paper tray 65, the paper P set in this way is pressed against the paper feed roller 68 by the bottom plate 66 and is sent out of the tray by the rotation of the paper feed roller 68.

A laser optical system 3 is arranged on the upper right side of the process unit 100 in the figure. The laser optical system 3 irradiates the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 uniformly charged by the charging roller 2 of the process unit 100 with a laser beam L emitted based on image information to perform exposure processing. By this exposure processing, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1. The formed electrostatic latent image is developed into a toner image by the toner T, which is the developer, being attached from the developing sleeve 41 of the developing device 4 of the process unit 100.

The paper P delivered from the paper cassette 10 or the paper tray 65 is sandwiched between the rollers of the registration roller pair 20. Then, it is sent out from the registration roller pair 20 at a timing at which it is superposed on the toner image on the photosensitive drum 1 at the transfer nip. In the transfer nip, a transfer electric field is formed between the transfer roller 7 which receives a transfer bias supplied from a power source (not shown) and the exposed portion of the photosensitive drum 1. The toner image on the photosensitive drum 1 is transferred onto the sheet P under the influence of the transfer electric field and the nip pressure at the transfer nip. Then, it is sent into the fixing device 30 together with the paper P.

The fixing device 30 includes a fixing roller 32 having a heater 31 built therein and a pressure roller 3 which is in pressure contact with and opposes the fixing roller 32.
3 and heats and fixes the toner image on the paper P sandwiched between both rollers. The sheet P on which the toner image has been fixed in this manner is discharged toward the sheet discharge tray 40 through the pair of sheet discharge rollers 34, and is stacked here with the image side facing up.

Photoreceptor drum 1 that has passed through the transfer nip
The transfer residual toner remaining on the surface is the process unit 10
It is cleaned by the drum cleaning unit 5 of 0. Then, it is uniformly charged by the charging roller 2 and prepared for the next image formation.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the toner cartridge 9 and the developing device 4 of the process unit 100. In the figure, an opening 91 is formed in the housing of the toner cartridge 9. The housing portion around the opening 91 is an adhesive surface to which the sealing portion 92 of the sealing seal 92 is adhered.
This bonded surface, which is the bonded portion, is often processed with a flatness of about 0.5 [mm] in order to achieve uniform bonding of the sealing seal 92. Resins such as ABS, PP and PE are used as the material of the housing having the adhesive surface. The sealing seal 92 is composed of a sealing portion 92a that is heat-bonded to the above-mentioned bonding surface of the toner cartridge 9 to seal the opening 91, and a folded portion 92b that is continuous to one end side thereof.
The folded-back portion 92b is folded back so as to overlap the sealing portion 92a. The sealing seal 92 having such a structure has a thickness of 10
It has a multi-layered structure of about 0 [μm], and a base material sheet made of PE or the like and having a thickness of about 70 [μm] is coated with a thermoplastic adhesive. When the sealing seal 92 is heated / cooled while the coated surface of the thermoplastic adhesive is in close contact with the adhesive surface of the housing of the toner cartridge 9, the thermoplastic adhesive softens and then adheres to the adhesive surface.

On the other hand, the developing device 4 includes a toner cartridge 9
Has a receiving port (not shown) for receiving the toner discharged from the opening 91. Toner cartridge 9
With the opening 91 facing the receiving port.
Be attached to. By such mounting, the sealing seal 92 is interposed between the opening 91 of the toner cartridge 9 and the receiving port of the developing device 4. As shown in FIG. 3, the folded-back portion 92b of the sealing seal 92 has its end portion largely projected from the side surface of the toner cartridge 9 or the developing device 4.
In order to enable such a protrusion, as shown in FIG. 2, the folded portion 92b is longer than the sealing portion 92a.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the process unit 100. In the figure, the toner cartridge 9 of the process unit 100 has, in addition to the opening 91 and the sealing seal 92 described above, the toner T accommodated in the housing, the agitator 93 disposed in the housing, and the like. . The agitator 93 is rotationally driven by a driving unit (not shown) to convey the toner T contained in the housing toward the opening 91. When the sealing seal 92 is pulled out, the opening 91 and the receiving port of the developing device 4 communicate with each other, so that the toner T conveyed toward the opening 91 by the agitator 93.
Is received in the developing device 4 through the communicating portions of both ports. On the other hand, the developing device 4 has a pipe-shaped developing sleeve 41 rotated by a driving unit (not shown), a magnet roller (not shown) fixed so as not to rotate, a doctor blade 42, a magnetic carrier, and the like. . The magnet roller has a plurality of magnetic poles polarized in the roller circumferential direction. The developing sleeve 41 is made of a non-magnetic material, and carries a magnetic carrier on the sleeve surface by the magnetic force of a magnet roller fixed inside. Innumerable toner T adheres to the surface of the carried magnetic carrier by electrostatic force. The developing sleeve 41 carries the magnetic carrier by the magnetic force of the magnet roller, and also carries the toner T attached thereto. It should be noted that what has countless toners T attached to the surface of the magnetic carrier is called a two-component developer.

The two-component developer carried on the surface of the developing sleeve 41 enters between the sleeve surface and the doctor blade 42 arranged so as to maintain a predetermined gap with the rotation of the sleeve. By doing so, the layer thickness on the sleeve is regulated, and the triboelectric charging of the toner T is promoted. Then, the developing sleeve 41 is conveyed to a developing area, which is an opposing portion between the developing sleeve 41 and the photosensitive drum 1. In this developing area, a developing electric field is formed between the sleeve surface and the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 1. Toner T in the two-component developer
Are transferred from the magnetic carrier onto the electrostatic latent image under the influence of this developing electric field. By this transfer, the electrostatic latent image is developed into a toner image. The two-component developer that has passed through the development area is
Under the influence of the repulsive magnetic field acting between the magnetic poles of the magnet roller, most of them are separated from the sleeve surface. Then, the toner T existing in the developing device 4 is agitated together with the toner T, so that the new toner T is attached to the magnetic carrier, and then the toner T is carried again on the developing sleeve 41.

The sealing seal 92 is removed from the toner cartridge 9 as follows. That is, when the operator grips and pulls the end portion (see FIG. 3) of the folded-back portion 92b protruding from the side surface of the cartridge, the folded-back portion 92b.
The one end side of the sealing portion 92a subsequent to is pulled so as to be bent in a U shape. Due to this pulling, the sealing portion 92
A is applied to one end thereof with a force of moving in a direction away from the adhesive surface. Then, it is gradually peeled from the adhesive surface from the one end side to the other end side. Therefore, the operator has the folded-back portion 9 that largely projects from the side surface of the device.
By pulling the end portion of 2b, the sealing portion 92a can be gradually peeled off from one end side thereof, and finally the entire sealing seal can be pulled out.

It is necessary to provide a gap between the housing of the toner cartridge 9 and the developing device 4 so that at least the sealing seal 92 can be interposed. When the sealing seal 92 is pulled out,
There is a possibility that the opening 91 is exposed to the outside through this gap and the toner is scattered. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, a sponge material 9 surrounding an opening (91) (not shown) between the housing of the toner cartridge 9 and the housing of the developing device 4 is provided.
5 is interposed. The sponge material 95 prevents the opening 91 from being exposed to the outside even if the sealing seal 92 is pulled out, so that toner scattering can be prevented.

A heat sealing device is generally used to heat the sealing portion 92a of the sealing seal 92. This heat seal device has a heating unit that can be moved by an air press or the like, and this heating unit generates heat by an internal heater block. The heating section is pressed by a movable operation against a sealing section 92a of a sealing seal 92 set on the adhesive surface of the toner cartridge 9 so as to cover the opening 91. Then, the sealing portion 92a is pressed while being heated so that the sealing portion 92a is bonded to the bonding surface. As a heat seal device having such a structure, one manufactured by Nippon Matai Co., Ltd. is known. In this heat seal device, the heating temperature of the heating section = 150 to 170 [° C.], and the pressure applied by heating = 2 to
4 [kgf / cm ² ] and heating time = 2 to 4 [sec] are manufacturer recommended use conditions. In addition, 2-4 [kg
f / cm ² ] is approximately 2 × 9.80665-4 ×
This corresponds to 9.80665 [N / cm ² ].

Next, the characteristic structure of the process unit 100 according to this embodiment will be described. In the above-described FIG. 2, of the adhesive surface formed on the housing of the toner cartridge 9, the area on the right side of the drawing is a roughened portion 94 that is roughened more than other areas. The roughened portion 94 is one end side adhered portion to which the end portion side of the adhesive surface of the housing which is first peeled off in the sealing portion 92a is heat-adhered. In this way, the roughened portion 94 that is first peeled off expands the adhesion area with the sealing portion by the amount of subtle unevenness on the surface, so that the roughened portion 94 with the sealing portion 92a is larger than when not roughened. The adhesive strength is high. Moreover, the resistance at the time of peeling is increased by accommodating the sealing portion 92a softened by heating to the subtle unevenness of the surface. As a result, a decrease in the adhesive strength due to the one end of the sealing portion 92a being bonded at a heating temperature lower than the center of the sealing portion 92a is suppressed. Therefore, even if the heating temperature of the sealing portion 92a is not excessively increased, it is possible to suppress partial peeling of the sealing portion 92a due to erroneously applying an extra force to the folded-back portion 92b. Further, it is possible to prevent discoloration at the center of the sealing portion 92a and tearing at the time of peeling due to excessive heating temperature.

Regarding the roughening of the roughening section 94,
It is desirable that the process be performed not at the time of molding the toner cartridge 9 housing but at the same time as the molding of the housing. The roughening pattern of the roughening portion 94 is formed on the mold used for molding the cartridge housing. If you do this,
Since the secondary processing for roughening is unnecessary, it is possible to avoid an increase in manufacturing cost due to the secondary processing. As the molding method, an injection molding method or the like can be used. In addition, in FIG. 2 described above, the folded-back portion 92b is replaced by the sealing portion 9b.
Although an example in which the thickness is smaller than 2a is shown, both may have the same thickness.

[Example] Next, an example in which a more characteristic structure is added to the process unit 100 of the above embodiment will be described. The present inventor tested how much the surface of the roughened portion 94 should be roughened to obtain good results. Then, the maximum height Rma
When x is smaller than 50 [μm], the adhesive strength with the sealing portion 92a is not so different as compared with the case where the surface is not roughened, and the sealing portion 92a is easily peeled off. Then, at the heating temperature at which the desired adhesive strength is obtained in the roughened portion 94, discoloration at the center of the sealing portion 94a and breakage at the time of peeling have occurred. On the other hand, the maximum height Rmax is 10
If it is larger than 0 [μm], the sealing portion 94a and the adhesive thereof cannot be satisfactorily adapted to the relatively large irregularities on the surface, and there is a possibility that the adhesive strength is rather lowered.

Therefore, the process unit 10 of the present embodiment.
At 0, the maximum height Rmax of the roughened portion 94 is in the range of 50 to 100 [μm]. In such a configuration, even though one end of the sealing portion 92a is heated at a temperature lower than that of the center of the sealing portion 92a, the adhesive strength between the sealing portion 92a and the roughened portion 94 is the same as that of the center of the sealing portion 92a. It is possible to increase the bonding strength with the normal bonding surface portion. Specifically, the former has a shear adhesive strength of about 900 to 1000 [gf], while the latter has a shear adhesive strength of 700 to 800 [gf].
The shear strength is about the same. 20 for the former than for the latter
It can be increased by about 0 [gf]. In the latter numerical range, the sealing portion 92a is hardly torn at the time of peeling. Therefore, the sealing portion 9 that is peeled off first
The sealing portion 9 is formed by gluing the one end side of 2a more strongly than the center and erroneously applying an extra force to the folded portion 92b.
Partial peeling of 2a can be suppressed more reliably.
Moreover, rupture can be more reliably suppressed in the center of the sealing portion 92a by smooth peeling.

The maximum height Rmax of 50 [μm] corresponds to the roughness of # 800 sandpaper, and the maximum height Rm is 50 μm.
ax100 [μm] corresponds to the roughness of the # 400 sandpaper. Contrary to Rz in sandpaper, the larger the value, the smaller the roughness. Also, 900 to 1000
[Gf] is 0.9 × 9.80665 to 1 × 9.806.
This corresponds to 65 [N]. In addition, 700 to 800 [gf]
Is 0.7 x 9.80665 to 0.8 x 9.80665
Corresponds to [N].

[Specific Example] Next, a specific example in which a more characteristic configuration is added to the process unit 100 of the above embodiment will be described. FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view showing the toner cartridge 9. In the figure, the opening 9 which is the adhesive surface
1 Surrounding part projects from the housing surface outside thereof. In such a protruding adhesive surface, the flexible sealing portion 92a is heat-bonded while being more surely brought into close contact with the adhesive surface as compared with the case where the protruding surface does not protrude. Therefore, stable adhesiveness can be obtained even if the adhesive work performance varies to some extent.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the toner cartridge 9 seen from the opening 91 side. In the figure, the roughened portion 9
No. 4 is processed into a triangular shape whose area gradually decreases from the end on the side of the opening 91 toward the end on the opposite side. The peeling of the sealing portion 92a starts from the opposite end portion having the smallest area. At this end, most of the sealing portion 92a is not adhered to the roughened portion 94 and is in a free state. When the folded-back portion 92b is pulled, the portion slightly adhered to the roughened portion 94 is peeled off not only from the pulling direction (seal length direction) but also from the seal width direction. With such a configuration, smoother peeling is possible compared to the case where the end portion of the sealing portion 92a is bonded to the roughened portion 94 over the entire width direction, and tearing at the initial stage of peeling is greatly suppressed. The sealing portion 92a is
On the left side of the figure from the position shown by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG.
The entire area in the width direction is adhered to the roughened portion 94.

FIG. 7 shows a toner cartridge 9 according to a specific example.
FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a modified toner cartridge 9x in which further improvement is made to the above. In the figure, the adhesive surface shape of the roughened portion 94 of the modified toner cartridge 9x is in the shape of "V", and the bent portion of the "V" is located at the end opposite to the opening 91 side. Has become. As can be seen from the alternate long and short dash line shown in the figure, the sealing portion 92a does not adhere the entire region in the width direction to the roughened portion 94. Therefore, the sealing portion 92a is always peeled off in the seal length direction as well as in the seal width direction, and tearing at the time of peeling can be further reliably suppressed.

Although the process unit 100 in which the photoconductor drum 1 developing device 4, the toner cartridge 9 and the like are unitized has been described above, a developing device in which the developing device 4 and the toner cartridge 9 are unitized is also described. The present invention can be applied. Further, the present invention can be applied only to the toner cartridge 9. Further, a developing device or a process unit that uses a one-component developer including only the toner T instead of the two-component developer may be used. Further, it may be a container for containing ink, liquid developer, etc. instead of toner, and a developing device or process unit having this container. For example, the present invention can be applied to an ink cartridge of an inkjet type image forming apparatus. Further, although the process unit 100 in which the toner cartridge 9 and the developing device 4 are configured to be detachable is described, the present invention can be applied to a developing device or a process unit in which the toner cartridge 9 and the developing device 4 are inseparably fixed to each other. Furthermore, it does not have a toner cartridge,
A developing device that contains toner from the beginning,
The opening (the opening for exposing the developing roller etc.) may be sealed by a sealing seal. This is because, in this case, the developing device that stores the toner is a storage member that has an opening.

As described above, the process unit 1 according to the embodiment
In 00, the one end side adhered portion of the adhered surface which is the adhered portion of the toner cartridge 9 as the developer container is used as the roughened portion 94. As a result, even if the heating temperature of the sealing portion 92a is not excessively increased,
One end side of the sealing portion 92a is heat-bonded with higher bonding strength. Therefore, while suppressing partial peeling of the sealing portion 92a due to erroneously applying an extra force to the folded portion 92b, the sealing portion 92a by increasing the heating temperature excessively.
It is possible to suppress discoloration in the center and breakage during peeling. Further, in the process unit 100 according to the embodiment, the maximum height R of the roughened portion 94 which is the one end side adhered portion is R.
The max is set to 50 to 100 [μm]. As a result, the one end side of the sealing portion 92a, which is peeled off first, is bonded more strongly than the center, and the partial peeling of the sealing portion 92a by mistakenly giving an extra force to the folded portion 92b is more reliable. It is possible to more reliably suppress the rupture at the center of the sealing portion 92a while suppressing the above. In addition, in the process unit 100 according to the specific example, the above-mentioned bonded portion, which is the bonded portion, is projected from the surface of the housing around the bonded portion. As a result, the highly flexible sealing portion 92a is heat-bonded while being more surely brought into close contact with the bonding surface, so that stable adhesiveness can be obtained even if there is some variation in bonding work performance. . Further, the roughened portion 9 which is the adhered portion on one end side
Since 4 has a shape in which the area gradually decreases from the end portion on the opening 91 side toward the end portion on the opposite side, it is possible to effectively suppress the rupture of the sealing portion 92a in the initial stage of peeling.

[0035]

According to the first, second, third, fourth, fifth or sixth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent partial peeling of the sealing portion due to erroneous application of an excessive force to the folded portion while sealing the sealing portion. There is an excellent effect that the tearing at the center of the stop portion is suppressed and the discoloration at the center of the sealing portion can be suppressed even if a material that discolors due to excessive heating is used for the sealing portion.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printer using a process unit according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a toner cartridge and a developing device of the process unit.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing the toner cartridge and the developing device.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the same process unit.

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a toner cartridge of a process unit according to a specific example.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the toner cartridge viewed from the opening side.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a modified toner cartridge.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Photoconductor drum (latent image carrier) 2 Charging roller 4 Developing device 5 Drum cleaning part 9 Toner cartridge (developer container) 91 Opening 92 Sealing seal 92a Sealing part 92b Folding part 94 Roughening part (one end side) Part to be adhered) 100 Process unit T Toner (developer)

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A housing for accommodating an item to be housed, an opening provided in the housing, and a sealing seal for covering and sealing the opening, wherein the sealing seal covers the opening. In a housing member having a sealing part that is heat-bonded to a bonded part that is a surrounding housing part to seal the opening, and a folded-back part that is folded back at one end side of the sealing part, among the bonded parts An accommodating member characterized in that the one end side adhered portion to which the one end side of the sealing portion is heat-adhered is made rougher than other portions. 2. A housing containing a developer, an opening provided in the housing, and a sealing seal for covering and sealing the opening, wherein the sealing seal covers the opening. A developer accommodating container having a sealing portion which is heat-bonded to a surrounding portion, which is a housing portion, and seals the opening, and a folded-back portion which is folded back at one end side of the sealing portion. Out of
A developer accommodating container, characterized in that an end-side adhered portion to which the one end side of the sealing portion is heat-adhered is made rougher than other portions. 3. The developer container according to claim 2, wherein the one end side adhered portion has a maximum height Rmax of 50 to 100 [μ].
and a surface roughness of m]. 4. The developer container according to claim 2 or 3,
The adhered portion is projected from the surface of the housing portion around the adhered portion,
Further, the developer accommodating container is characterized in that the adhesive surface of the adhered portion on the one end side has a shape in which the area gradually decreases from the end on the opening side toward the end on the opposite side. 5. A developing device comprising: a developer container for containing a developer; and a developing device for developing a latent image using the developer supplied from an opening provided in the developer container. A developing device using the developer container according to claim 2, 3 or 4. 6. A developer container containing a developer, a latent image carrier for carrying a latent image, and a developer supplied from an opening provided in the developer container. 4. A process unit in which a developing device for developing the latent image is unitized, and the developer accommodating container serves as the developer accommodating container.
Or a process unit characterized by using one of 4.