JP2004205793A - Cushioning material for pack, bagging material, packaging material, and image forming unit pack - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a process cartridge pack capable of improving the workability of loading a process cartridge 10 to a printer main body while suppressing the damage of a photoreceptor 1 in the process cartridge 10. <P>SOLUTION: As to the process cartridge pack constituted of the process cartridge 10 and the packaging material 20 for packaging the process cartridge 10, a package box 21 for storing the cartridge, and a package cushioning material 22 for supporting the cartridge from the surroundings in the box are used as the packaging material 20, and also, a projecting part 23a functioning as a contact blocking part for preventing the photoreceptor 1 from coming into contact with a developing roll 4 in the cartridge is formed on the 1st cushioning member 23 of the package cushioning material 22. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to packaging an image forming unit in which at least a latent image carrier for carrying a latent image and a developing unit for developing the latent image are configured as a single unit so as to be detachable from an image forming apparatus. The present invention relates to a cushioning material for bags and a bag material. The present invention also relates to packaging materials and image forming unit luggage using the same.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, a so-called process cartridge has been known as this type of image forming unit. At least a latent image carrier such as a photoreceptor and a developing unit such as a developing unit are configured as one unit so as to be detachable from a main body of an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile, a printer, or the like. It is considered that a detachable unit that can execute a part of a process necessary for image formation such as a developing process is a reason why it is called a process cartridge. In the image forming apparatus using such a process cartridge, the maintenance and inspection of each device in the unit becomes unnecessary, and the maintainability of the user can be remarkably improved.
[0003]
Also, a process cartridge in which a latent image carrier such as a photosensitive member and a developing member such as a developing roller are opposed to each other with a predetermined gap of, for example, 0.3 [mm] in order to obtain a high quality image is known. Have been. This gap is maintained by, for example, pressing rollers provided near both ends of the developing member against the surface of the latent image carrier. In such a process cartridge, the developing member may be deflected by the shock caused by vibration or dropping during transportation, and the central portion may hit the latent image carrier. As a result, if the surface of the latent image carrier is damaged, an abnormal image having black spot-like stains or the like is generated. The collision between the latent image carrier and the developing member during transportation is particularly likely to occur when the gap between the two is relatively small, for example, 0.3 [mm].
[0004]
Therefore, a sheet-like protection member is sandwiched between the latent image carrier and a developing member having spacer rollers at both ends for pressing against the latent image carrier so as to suppress an abnormal image caused by collision between the two during transportation. A known process cartridge is known (for example, Patent Document 1).
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2000-19800 A
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in this process cartridge, the user is forced to manually remove the sheet-like protection member sandwiched between the latent image carrier and the developing member when setting the same in the main body of the image forming apparatus. I will. In addition, there is a possibility that a process cartridge is mounted and image formation is started while inadvertently forgetting to remove the sheet-shaped protection member, causing a problem in each part in the cartridge.
[0007]
The present invention has been made in view of the above background, and an object of the present invention is to improve the workability of mounting an image forming unit while suppressing damage to a latent image carrier of the image forming unit. To provide a luggage cushioning material and bag material that can be used. Another object of the present invention is to provide a packing material and an image forming unit package using the same.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a latent image carrier that carries at least a latent image and a developing unit that develops the latent image on the latent image carrier as one unit. In the luggage box material for housing the image forming unit detachably attached to the luggage, in the luggage cushioning material for supporting the image forming unit from the periphery, the latent image carrier and the latent image carrier by the developing means are provided. The image forming apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that a contact blocking portion for blocking contact with a developing member having a role of attaching a developer to an image is provided.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, at least a latent image carrier for carrying a latent image and a developing unit for developing the latent image on the latent image carrier are detachably attached to the image forming apparatus as one unit. In a packing material comprising a luggage box material for storing the formed image forming unit and a luggage cushioning material for supporting the image forming unit from the periphery in the luggage box material, the packaging material may be used as the luggage cushioning material. Item 1 is characterized by being used.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, at least a latent image carrier for carrying a latent image and a developing means for developing the latent image on the latent image carrier are detachably attached to the image forming apparatus as one unit. In the deformable bag material enclosing the formed image forming unit, a contact blocking portion for blocking contact between the latent image carrier and a developing member serving to attach a developer to the latent image by the developing means is provided. It is provided on the inner surface of the bag.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, at least a latent image carrier for carrying a latent image and a developing means for developing the latent image on the latent image carrier are detachably attached to the image forming apparatus as one unit. A luggage box material for accommodating the formed image forming unit, a deformable bag material for wrapping the image forming unit, and supporting the image forming unit wrapped in the bag material in the luggage box material from the surroundings In a packing material provided with a cushioning material for luggage, the bag material is the same as that of claim 3.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the packing material of the second or fourth aspect, the contact preventing portion is configured to contact a contact surface along the surface shape of the latent image carrier with the latent image carrier. It is characterized by the following.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, a latent image carrier for carrying at least a latent image and a developing unit for developing the latent image on the latent image carrier are detachably attached to the image forming apparatus as one unit. An image forming unit luggage including the formed image forming unit and a packing material for packing the image forming unit, wherein the packing material according to claim 2, 4 or 5 is used. .
[0009]
In these inventions, the contact between the latent image carrier and the developing member in the image forming unit at the time of transportation is prevented by the contact blocking portion provided on the cushioning material for baggage or the bag material, so that image formation at the time of transportation is prevented. Damage to the latent image carrier in the unit can be suppressed.
In addition, as the user removes the image forming unit from the luggage cushioning material or the bag material, the contact preventing portions provided on these components are naturally removed from the image forming unit. This eliminates the need for the user to manually remove the sheet-like protection member, thereby improving the workability of mounting the image forming unit.
[0010]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a first embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a process cartridge package having a process cartridge serving as an image forming unit and a packing material for packing the process cartridge will be described.
First, a basic configuration of a laser printer (hereinafter, referred to as “printer”) which is an electrophotographic image forming apparatus using a process cartridge will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the printer. In FIG. 1, the printer includes a process cartridge 10, an exposure device 11, a transfer roller 12, a sheet cassette 13, a pair of registration rollers 14, a fixing device 15, an opening / closing door 16, and the like. The exposure device 11 exposes and scans the surface of the photoconductor 1 of the process cartridge 10 with a laser beam emitted based on image information sent from a personal computer or the like (not shown).
[0011]
FIG. 2 is an enlarged configuration diagram showing the process cartridge 10 and its periphery. The process cartridge 10 includes a charging roller 2, a developing device 3, a drum cleaning device 5, and the like around a drum-shaped photoconductor 1 serving as a latent image carrier. Further, a toner container 6 connected to the developing device 3 is provided. The charging roller 2 to which a charging bias is applied by a power supply (not shown) rotates counterclockwise in the figure while contacting the photoconductor 1, and uniformly charges the surface of the photoconductor 1. The uniformly charged surface of the photoconductor 1 is exposed and scanned by the above-described exposure device (11 in FIG. 1) while being rotated clockwise in the figure by a driving unit (not shown), and carries an electrostatic latent image.
[0012]
The developing device 3 has a developing roller 4 as a developing member having a pipe-shaped developing sleeve 4a made of a non-magnetic material and a magnet roller 4b fixed inside the sleeve so as not to rotate. It also contains a two-component developer (not shown) containing a magnetic carrier and a toner. The developing sleeve 4b of the developing roll 4 is driven to rotate counterclockwise in the figure by driving means (not shown). The two-component developer is carried by the magnetic force generated by the magnet roller 4b on the surface of the developing sleeve 4b that is rotationally driven in this manner. The carried two-component developer is transported to a region where the photoconductor 1 and the developing roll 4 are opposed to each other with the rotation of the developing sleeve 4b. In this opposing area, the developing sleeve 4b abuts against the photoconductor 1 with gap rollers (not shown) provided near both ends thereof, thereby forming a gap of about 0.3 [mm] between the photoconductor 1 (hereinafter referred to as developing). Gap). Then, the leading end of the two-component developer on the developing sleeve 4b moves while sliding on the photoconductor 1, so that the toner adheres to the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photoconductor 1. Due to this attachment, the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photoconductor 1 is developed into a toner image.
[0013]
A transfer roller 12 provided on the printer main body side is rotated counterclockwise in the drawing while abutting on the photosensitive member 1 of the process cartridge 1. The surface of the transfer roller 12 is made of an elastic material such as rubber, and elastically deforms while contacting the photoreceptor 1 to form a transfer nip. In the transfer nip, a transfer electric field is formed between the transfer roller 12 to which a transfer bias is applied by a power supply (not shown) and the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor 1.
[0014]
In FIG. 1 described above, the sheet feeding cassette 13 stores a plurality of sheet-shaped recording media such as transfer paper (not shown) in a stacked manner. Then, the paper feed roller 13a is pressed against the uppermost recording medium. When the image forming operation of the printer body is started, the paper feed roller 13a rotates at a predetermined timing to supply one recording medium from the paper feed cassette 13 to the paper feed path. The supplied recording medium is sandwiched between rollers of the registration roller pair 14 at the end of the paper feeding path. The registration roller pair 14 temporarily suspends the rotation of both rollers sandwiching the recording medium. Then, at the timing when the recording medium can be superimposed on the toner image on the photoconductor 1, the rotation of both rollers is restarted and the recording medium is fed toward the above-described transfer nip. The fed recording medium is sent to the fixing device 15 after the toner image on the photoconductor 1 is transferred by the action of the nip pressure and the above-described transfer electric field. The fixing device 15 forms a fixing nip by rotating a fixing roller having a heat source such as a halogen lamp and a pressing roller which is in contact with the fixing roller, while making contact with each other. The toner image on the surface of the recording medium sandwiched between the fixing nips is fixed by the influence of heating and nip pressure. Then, the sheet is discharged outside the apparatus via a sheet discharge path.
[0015]
In the process cartridge 10 shown in FIG. 2 described above, the surface of the photoconductor 1 after passing through the above-described transfer nip moves to a position facing the drum cleaning device 5 with its rotation. Then, after the transfer residual toner attached to the surface is removed by the drum cleaning device 5, the toner is uniformly charged again by the charging roller 2.
[0016]
The toner container 6 connected to the developing device 3 conveys the toner contained therein toward the developing device 3 by the agitator 6a. The transported toner enters a toner passage formed by the casing of the developing device 3 and the casing of the toner container 6. At the outlet side of the toner passage, there is a two-component developer carried on the developing roll 4 of the developing device 3. The two-component developer having a toner concentration within a predetermined range has a bulk density that blocks the outlet of the toner passage. Therefore, when the toner concentration of the two-component developer is within the predetermined range, the outlet of the toner passage is blocked by the two-component developer, so that the toner in the toner passage stays in the passage. On the other hand, when the two-component developer lowers its toner concentration with development and lowers its bulk density to some extent, the outlet of the toner passage opens, and toner is supplied to the two-component developer from inside the toner passage. You. When the replenishment proceeds to some extent, the two-component developer restores the toner concentration to a predetermined range, and closes the outlet of the toner passage again to stop the replenishment of the toner. The toner concentration of the two-component developer in the developing device 3 is maintained within a certain range by appropriately performing toner replenishment in this manner.
[0017]
FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating the printer in a state where the opening / closing door 16 is opened. The process cartridge 10 is detachable from the printer main body. At the time of cartridge maintenance, the user opens the opening / closing door 16 which is a part of the printer housing, takes out the process cartridge 10 from the printer main body, or mounts a new process cartridge on the printer main body.
[0018]
Next, the process cartridge luggage according to the first embodiment will be described.
FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the process cartridge luggage. In FIG. 1, the process cartridge luggage includes the above-described process cartridge 10 serving as an image forming unit and a packing material 20 for packing the same. Further, the packing material 20 includes a luggage box material 21 made of cardboard or the like accommodating the process cartridge 10, and a luggage cushioning material 22 for supporting the process cartridge 10 from the periphery inside the luggage box material 21. I have. Further, the luggage cushioning material 22 has a first cushioning material 23 that covers the bottom surface and side surfaces of the process cartridge 10 and a lid-like second cushioning material 24 that covers the top surface of the process cartridge.
[0019]
The first cushioning material 23 and the second cushioning material 24 are made of a foamed resin such as styrene foam, a paper material such as cardboard, and support the process cartridge 10 in the luggage box material 21 so as not to move. ing. The second cushioning member 23 has a convex portion 23a on a bottom support surface that supports the bottom surface of the process cartridge 10. The convex portion 23a extends toward a developing gap in a region where the photosensitive member 1 and the developing roll 4 are opposed to each other in the process cartridge 10 placed on the second buffer material 23. The leading end is sandwiched between the photoreceptor 1 and the developing roll 4 to function as a contact preventing member for preventing contact between the two. In the process cartridge luggage provided with the second cushioning member 23 provided with such a protrusion 23a, the contact between the photosensitive member 1 and the developing roll 4 in the process cartridge 10 during transportation is determined by the protrusion 23a of the second cushioning member 23. Block by. This can prevent the photosensitive member 1 from being damaged in the process cartridge 10 during transportation.
[0020]
The user unpacks the process cartridge luggage prior to mounting the process cartridge 10 in the printer described above. At this time, first, the upper part of the luggage box material 21 is opened, the second cushioning material 24 is taken out of the box, and the process cartridge 10 is exposed. Then, the exposed process cartridge 10 is taken out of the first cushioning member 23. Then, the projection 23a of the second cushioning material 24, which has been sandwiched between the photoreceptor 1 of the process cartridge 10 and the developing roll 4, is left in the luggage box 21 together with the cushioning material main body. Naturally removed from 10. Therefore, in the present process cartridge luggage, the work of attaching the cartridge to the printer main body can be improved without forcing the user to manually remove the sheet-shaped protection member.
[0021]
FIG. 5 is an enlarged configuration diagram showing a part of the process cartridge 10 in a modified example of the present process cartridge luggage, together with a part of the second cushioning material 23. In this modification, the second cushioning member 23 makes the contact surface conforming to the surface shape of the photoreceptor 1 abut on the photoreceptor 1 as the above-mentioned convex portion 23a serving as a contact prevention portion. Specifically, the contact surface S that curves at the same curvature as the surface of the photoconductor 1 is brought into contact with the surface of the photoconductor 1. In the convex portion 23a having such a configuration, the photoconductor 1 is supported not by dots or lines but by a surface, so that the photoconductor 1 can be more reliably prevented from being damaged.
[0022]
Next, a process cartridge package according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. Note that the configuration of the process cartridge in the present process cartridge luggage is the same as that of the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.
Regarding the packing material (20) for the process cartridge luggage, in addition to the luggage box material (21) and the luggage cushioning material (22) described in the first embodiment, a bag made of vinyl or the like for wrapping the process cartridge (10). It is common to use a material. By wrapping the process cartridge (10) in the bag material and then storing it in the luggage cushioning material 22, the adsorption of dust and moisture to the process cartridge (10) can be suppressed. However, if the cushioning material provided with the convex portion (23a) serving as the contact preventing portion described in the first embodiment is used, the bag material is easily broken. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, when the process cartridge 10 is placed on the second cushioning member 23, there is a possibility that the bag material 25 wrapping the cartridge may be caught on the projection 23a and broken.
[0023]
Therefore, in the process cartridge luggage according to the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, as the second cushioning member 23, a convex portion serving as a contact preventing portion for preventing contact between the photoconductor 1 and the developing roll 4 is provided. The one not provided is used. Instead, a contact prevention member 26 made of foamed resin, cardboard, or the like is adhered to the inner surface of the bag material 25, and is sandwiched between the photoconductor 1 and the developing roll 4. With this configuration, when the process cartridge 10 is placed on the second cushioning member 23, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the bag material 25 wrapping the cartridge is hooked on the projection 23 a and broken. The contact between the photoconductor 1 and the developing roll 4 in the cartridge during transportation is prevented by the contact prevention member 26 on the inner surface of the bag material 25, so that the photoconductor 1 in the cartridge can be prevented from being damaged. It is needless to say that the same cushioning material as that of the first embodiment is provided in addition to the second cushioning material 23 shown in FIG.
[0024]
When unpacking the process cartridge luggage, first, the user opens the upper part of the luggage box material 21, takes out the second cushioning material 24 from the box, and exposes the process cartridge 10. Then, the exposed process cartridge 10 is taken out of the first cushioning material 23 together with the bag material 25, and then is taken out of the bag material 25. Then, the contact preventing member 26 that has been sandwiched between the photoreceptor 1 of the process cartridge 10 and the developing roll 4 is left in the bag material 25 as it is, and is naturally removed from the process cartridge 10. Therefore, even in the present process cartridge luggage, the work of attaching the cartridge to the printer main body can be improved without forcing the user to manually remove the sheet-shaped protection member.
[0025]
Heretofore, a process cartridge package in which a process cartridge for forming a toner image using a two-component developer is packed has been described. However, the present invention is also applicable to a process cartridge luggage in which a process cartridge for forming a toner image using a toner developer containing no magnetic carrier or a liquid developer containing a toner and a liquid carrier is packed. Further, the present invention can be applied to a process cartridge luggage in which a process cartridge using a latent image carrier of another shape such as a belt is packed instead of the drum-shaped photoconductor 1. Further, the present invention can be applied to a process cartridge package in which a process cartridge using a developing member of another shape is packed instead of the roll-shaped developing roller 4.
[0026]
As described above, in the modified example of the process cartridge luggage according to the first embodiment, the convex portion 23a that abuts the contact surface S along the surface shape of the photoconductor 1 is used as the contact prevention unit. Damage to the photoconductor 1 in the process cartridge 10 during transportation can be more reliably suppressed.
[0027]
【The invention's effect】
According to the first, second, third, fourth, fifth or sixth aspect of the present invention, the workability of mounting the image forming unit can be improved while preventing the latent image carrier of the image forming unit from being damaged. effective.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printer using a process cartridge of a process cartridge package according to a first embodiment.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged configuration diagram showing the process cartridge and its surroundings in the printer.
FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the printer with the opening / closing door opened; FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the process cartridge luggage;
FIG. 5 is an enlarged configuration diagram showing a part of a process cartridge in a modified example of the process cartridge luggage together with a part of a second cushioning material.
FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a part of the process cartridge luggage provided with the bag material.
FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a part of a process cartridge package according to a second embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Photoconductor (latent image carrier)
3 Developing device (developing means)
4 Developing roll (developing member)
10 Process Cartridge 20 Packing Material 21 Luggage Box Material 22 Luggage Buffer Material 23 First Buffer Material 23a Projection (Contact Blocking Part)
24 Second cushioning material 25 Bag material 26 Contact blocking member (contact blocking section)

Claims (6)

An image forming unit in which at least a latent image carrier for carrying a latent image and a developing means for developing the latent image on the latent image carrier is detachably attached to the image forming apparatus as one unit is housed. In a luggage cushioning material for supporting the image forming unit from the periphery in the luggage box material,
A luggage cushioning material provided with a contact preventing portion for preventing a contact between the latent image carrier and a developing member which plays a role of attaching a developer to the latent image by the developing means. An image forming unit in which at least a latent image carrier for carrying a latent image and a developing means for developing the latent image on the latent image carrier is detachably attached to the image forming apparatus as one unit is housed. In a packing material including a luggage box material and a luggage cushioning material for supporting the image forming unit from the periphery in the luggage box material,
A packing material characterized by using the material of claim 1 as the cushioning material for luggage. A deformation enclosing an image forming unit in which at least a latent image carrier for carrying a latent image and a developing means for developing the latent image on the latent image carrier are detachable from the image forming apparatus as one unit. In flexible bag materials,
A bag material, wherein a contact blocking portion for blocking contact between the latent image carrier and a developing member which plays a role of adhering a developer to the latent image by the developing means is provided on an inner surface of the bag. A latent image carrier for carrying at least a latent image and a developing unit for developing the latent image on the latent image carrier house an image forming unit detachably attached to the image forming apparatus as one unit. A package comprising a luggage box material, a deformable bag material for wrapping the image forming unit, and a luggage cushioning material for supporting the image forming unit wrapped in the bag material in the luggage box material from the periphery. In the material,
A packing material characterized by using the bag material of claim 3. The packaging material according to claim 2 or 4,
A packing material, wherein the contact preventing portion has a contact surface in contact with the latent image carrier along a surface shape thereof. An image forming unit comprising a latent image carrier for carrying at least a latent image, and a developing means for developing the latent image on the latent image carrier as a unit detachably mountable to the image forming apparatus; And a packing material for packing the image forming unit luggage,
6. The image forming unit luggage, wherein the packing material is made of the material described in claim 2, 4 or 5.

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