JP2005227600A - Developer storing device, image forming apparatus and image forming system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize a developer storing device where the deformation of the outside wall of a recessed part provided in a 2nd housing part is appropriately prevented, and to realize an image forming apparatus and an image forming system. <P>SOLUTION: The developer storing device has a housing which is equipped with a 1st housing part and the 2nd housing part, in which developer is stored, and where a projecting part provided in the 1st housing part and the recessed part provided in the 2nd housing part are welded by vibration welding in a state where the projecting part is fit in the recessed part. In the developer storing device, the thickness of the outside wall of the recessed part is larger than that of the inside wall of the recessed part. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a developer accommodating device, an image forming apparatus, and an image forming system.

  Image forming apparatuses such as laser beam printers are already well known. Such an image forming apparatus includes, for example, a photoconductor as an example of an image carrier for carrying a latent image, and a developer containing device including a housing capable of containing the developer, and a host computer When an image signal or the like is transmitted from an external device such as a developer, the latent image carried on the photoconductor is developed with the developer in the developer accommodating device to form a developer image, and the developer image is used as a medium. Transfer and finally form an image on the medium.

  Further, the housing provided in the developer accommodating device includes a first housing part and a second housing part, and the housing has a convex part provided in the first housing part provided in the second housing part. The protrusion and the recess are welded and formed in the state of being fitted into the recess.

And what is called vibration welding is effective as a method of welding the second housing part to the first housing part. In the vibration welding, the first housing portion and the second housing portion are fixedly held by different jigs, and one of the jigs is vibrated in a predetermined vibration direction in a state where both the housing portions are pressed. Due to the vibration, frictional heat is generated between the housing portions, and the convex portions and the like described above are melted by the frictional heat, and the first housing portion and the second housing portion are welded. In this way, the first housing part and the second housing part can be reliably welded, and a desired housing can be obtained.
JP-A-5-216302

By the way, in the vibration welding, the convex portion and the like are melted, and the first housing portion and the second housing portion are welded. The melt generated as a result of the melting of the convex portion and the like is between the convex portion and the concave portion. It will be located in the gap. And the amount of the melt generated during vibration welding varies, and when the amount of the melt is large, the wall portion (outer wall and inner wall) constituting the recess from the convex portion is formed by the melt. When a force to push away is generated, on the other hand, when the amount of the melt is small, a force is generated that pulls the wall portion (outer wall and inner wall) constituting the concave portion toward the convex portion. .
On the other hand, the outer wall of the wall portion is deformed by the above-described force because, for example, it is a part exposed to the human eye or a part to which other parts can be fixed. , Need to prevent.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a developer storage device and an image forming apparatus in which deformation of the outer wall of the concave portion provided in the second housing portion is appropriately prevented. And an image forming system.

  A main aspect of the present invention is a housing that includes a first housing portion and a second housing portion and is capable of containing a developer, and a convex portion provided on the first housing portion is provided on the second housing portion. In the developer containing device having a housing in which the convex portion and the concave portion are welded by vibration welding in a state of being fitted in the provided concave portion, the thickness of the outer wall of the concave portion is set to the inner side of the concave portion. The developer containing device is characterized in that it is larger than the wall thickness.

  Other features of the present invention will become apparent from the description of the present specification and the accompanying drawings.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to realize a developer storage device, an image forming apparatus, and an image forming system in which deformation of the outer wall of the concave portion provided in the second housing portion is appropriately prevented.

  At least the following will be made clear by the description of the present specification and the accompanying drawings.

A housing having a first housing portion and a second housing portion and capable of accommodating a developer, wherein the convex portion provided in the first housing portion is formed into a concave portion provided in the second housing portion. In the developer containing device having the housing in which the convex portion and the concave portion are welded by vibration welding in the fitted state, the thickness of the outer wall of the concave portion is larger than the thickness of the inner side wall of the concave portion. A developer accommodating device characterized by being large.
In this way, it is possible to realize a developer containing device in which the deformation of the outer wall of the recess provided in the second housing part is appropriately prevented.

Further, the first housing part includes a vibration direction convex part along a predetermined vibration direction of vibration applied to the first housing part or the second housing part during the vibration welding, and the predetermined vibration. A vertical protrusion along the direction perpendicular to the direction, and the second housing part includes a vibration direction recess along the predetermined vibration direction and the predetermined vibration. A vertical recess along the direction perpendicular to the direction, and the vibration direction convex and the vibration direction recess in a state where the vibration direction convex is fitted into the vibration direction concave. Are welded by vibration welding, and the vertical convex portion and the vertical concave portion are welded by vibration welding in a state where the vertical convex portion is fitted in the vertical concave portion, and the vibration Directional recess and vertical recess For at least one of the thickness of the outer wall may be larger than the thickness of the inner wall.
In such a case, it is possible to realize a developer accommodating device in which deformation of the outer wall of at least one of the vibration direction recess and the vertical recess provided in the second housing portion is appropriately prevented. .

In addition, the thickness of the outer wall of the vertical recess may be greater than the thickness of the inner wall of the vertical recess.
When comparing the welding between the vibration direction convex portion and the vibration direction concave portion and the welding between the vertical direction convex portion and the vertical direction concave portion, the vertical direction convex portion and the vertical direction concave portion are not along the predetermined vibration direction. Therefore, the convex portions and the like are not easily melted, and therefore, the amount of the melt tends to vary. Therefore, if the present invention is applied to the latter of the vibration direction concave portion and the vertical direction concave portion, the above-described effect, that is, the effect of appropriately preventing the deformation of the outer wall of the concave portion is more effectively exhibited. The

The predetermined vibration direction may be along the longitudinal direction of the developer accommodating device.
In such a case, vibration welding of the housing can be performed more simply and appropriately.

Further, the image forming apparatus may be detachable from an image forming apparatus that forms an image using the developer contained in the developer containing apparatus.
In such a case, the outer wall of the concave portion provided in the second housing portion is more likely to be exposed to the human eye, so the above-described effect, i.e., the effect of appropriately preventing the deformation of the outer wall of the concave portion, is more effective. Effectively demonstrated.

The developer accommodating device is a developing device that includes a developer carrying member for carrying the developer and develops a latent image carried on the image carrier by the developer carried on the developer carrying member. It is good as well.
In such a case, it is possible to realize a developing device in which deformation of the outer wall of the concave portion provided in the second housing portion is appropriately prevented.

The developer accommodating device may be a removed developer accommodating device that includes a developer removing member for removing the developer, and accommodates the developer removed by the developer removing member.
In such a case, it is possible to realize a removed developer accommodating device in which deformation of the outer wall of the concave portion provided in the second housing portion is appropriately prevented.

Further, the housing includes a first housing portion and a second housing portion, and can accommodate a developer, and a convex portion provided in the first housing portion is provided in the second housing portion. In the developer containing device having the housing in which the convex portion and the concave portion are welded by vibration welding in a state of being fitted in the concave portion, the thickness of the outer wall of the concave portion is the thickness of the inner wall of the concave portion. A vibration direction convex portion along a predetermined vibration direction of vibration applied to the first housing portion or the second housing portion during the vibration welding, and the first housing portion, A vertical protrusion along a direction perpendicular to a predetermined vibration direction, and the second housing part includes a vibration direction recess along the predetermined vibration direction, Perpendicular to the specified vibration direction A vertical concave portion extending along the vibration direction, and the vibration direction convex portion and the vibration direction concave portion are welded by vibration welding in a state where the vibration direction convex portion is fitted in the vibration direction concave portion. And the vertical convex portion and the vertical concave portion are welded by vibration welding in a state where the vertical convex portion is fitted in the vertical concave portion. For at least one of the directional recesses, the thickness of the outer wall is greater than the thickness of the inner wall, and the thickness of the outer wall of the vertical recess is greater than the thickness of the inner wall of the vertical recess. The predetermined vibration direction is along the longitudinal direction of the developer accommodating device, and is detachable from an image forming apparatus that forms an image using the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating device. And containing the developer The developing device includes a developer carrying member for carrying the developer, and is a developing device that develops the latent image carried on the image carrier by the developer carried on the developer carrying member. A developer accommodating device can also be realized.
In this way, the object of the present invention can be achieved more effectively because most of the effects described above can be achieved.

Further, the housing includes a first housing portion and a second housing portion, and can accommodate a developer, and a convex portion provided in the first housing portion is provided in the second housing portion. In the image forming apparatus comprising a developer containing device having a housing in which the convex portion and the concave portion are welded by vibration welding in a state of being fitted into the concave portion, the thickness of the outer wall of the concave portion is An image forming apparatus characterized by being larger than the thickness of the inner wall of the concave portion can also be realized.
In such a case, it is possible to realize an image forming apparatus including a developer containing device in which deformation of the outer wall of the concave portion provided in the second housing portion is appropriately prevented.

A computer and an image forming apparatus connectable to the computer, the housing including a first housing part and a second housing part and capable of accommodating a developer, wherein the first housing part A developer containing device having a housing in which the convex portion and the concave portion are welded by vibration welding in a state where the convex portion provided in the second housing portion is fitted into the concave portion. In the image forming system including the image forming apparatus, it is possible to realize an image forming system in which the thickness of the outer wall of the recess is larger than the thickness of the inner wall of the recess.
In such a case, it is possible to realize an image forming system including a developer accommodating device in which deformation of the outer wall of the concave portion provided in the second housing portion is appropriately prevented.

=== Example of Overall Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus ===
Next, an outline of a laser beam printer (hereinafter also referred to as a printer) 10 as an example of the image forming apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating main components constituting the printer 10. In FIG. 1, the vertical direction is indicated by arrows. For example, the paper feed tray 92 is disposed at the lower part of the printer 10, and the fixing unit 90 is disposed at the upper part of the printer 10.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 10 according to the present embodiment includes a charging unit 30, an exposure unit 40, a YMCK developing unit 50, and a primary transfer unit along the rotation direction of a photoconductor 20 as an example of an image carrier. 60, an intermediate transfer member 70, a cleaning unit 75 as an example of a removed developer storage device, a secondary transfer unit 80, a fixing unit 90, a notification unit for a user, and a display unit 95 formed of a liquid crystal panel. A control unit 100 that controls these units and controls the operation as a printer is provided.

  The photoreceptor 20 has a cylindrical conductive substrate and a photosensitive layer formed on the outer peripheral surface thereof, and is rotatable around a central axis. In the present embodiment, the photoreceptor 20 is indicated by an arrow in FIG. Rotate clockwise.

  The charging unit 30 is a device for charging the photoconductor 20, and the exposure unit 40 is a device for forming a latent image on the photoconductor 20 charged by irradiating a laser. The exposure unit 40 includes a semiconductor laser, a polygon mirror, an F-θ lens, and the like, and charges the modulated laser based on an image signal input from a host computer (not shown) such as a personal computer or a word processor. The irradiated photoconductor 20 is irradiated.

  The YMCK developing unit 50 converts the latent image formed on the photoconductor 20 into toner T as an example of a developer accommodated in the developing device, that is, black (K) toner, magenta accommodated in the black developing device 51. An apparatus for developing using magenta (M) toner contained in the developing device 52, cyan (C) toner contained in the cyan developing device 53, and yellow (Y) toner contained in the yellow developing device 54 It is.

  The YMCK developing unit 50 can move the positions of the four developing devices 51, 52, 53, 54 by rotating with the four developing devices 51, 52, 53, 54 mounted. Yes. That is, the YMCK developing unit 50 holds the four developing devices 51, 52, 53, 54 by four holding portions 55a, 55b, 55c, 55d, and the four developing devices 51, 52, 53, 54 is rotatable around the central axis 50a while maintaining the relative position thereof. Each time image formation for one page is completed, it is selectively opposed to the photoconductor 20 and is formed on the photoconductor 20 with the toner T contained in each developing device 51, 52, 53, 54. The latent images are sequentially developed. Each of the four developing devices 51, 52, 53, 54 described above is detachable from the holding portion of the YMCK developing unit 50. Details of each developing device will be described later.

The primary transfer unit 60 is a device for transferring a single color toner image formed on the photoconductor 20 to the intermediate transfer body 70. When four color toners are sequentially transferred in a superimposed manner, the full color toner is transferred to the intermediate transfer body 70. An image is formed.
The intermediate transfer body 70 is an endless belt in which an aluminum vapor deposition layer is provided on the surface of a PET film and a semiconductive paint is formed on the surface layer and laminated. The intermediate transfer body 70 is driven to rotate at substantially the same peripheral speed as the photoconductor 20.
The secondary transfer unit 80 is a device for transferring a single color toner image or a full color toner image formed on the intermediate transfer body 70 to a medium such as paper, film, or cloth.
The fixing unit 90 is a device for fusing a single-color toner image or a full-color toner image transferred onto a medium to form a permanent image.
The cleaning unit 75 includes a cleaning blade 76 that is provided between the primary transfer unit 60 and the charging unit 30 and that is in contact with the surface of the photoconductor 20 as an example of a developer removing member. After the toner image is transferred onto the intermediate transfer member 70 by the transfer unit 60, the toner T remaining on the photosensitive member 20 is scraped off and removed by the cleaning blade 76.

As shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 100 includes a main controller 101 and a unit controller 102. An image signal and a control signal are input to the main controller 101, and in response to a command based on the image signal and the control signal. A unit controller 102 controls each of the units and forms an image.
Next, the operation of the printer 10 configured as described above will be described.

  First, when an image signal and a control signal from a host computer (not shown) are input to the main controller 101 of the printer 10 via the interface (I / F) 112, the unit controller 102 based on a command from the main controller 101. Under the control, the photosensitive member 20, the developing roller as an example of the developer carrying member, and the intermediate transfer member 70 are rotated. The photoconductor 20 is sequentially charged by the charging unit 30 at the charging position while rotating.

  The charged area of the photoconductor 20 reaches an exposure position as the photoconductor 20 rotates, and a latent image corresponding to image information of the first color, for example, yellow Y, is formed in the area by the exposure unit 40. . In the YMCK developing unit 50, a yellow developing device 54 that contains yellow (Y) toner is located at a developing position facing the photoconductor 20.

The latent image formed on the photoconductor 20 reaches the development position as the photoconductor 20 rotates, and is developed with yellow toner by the yellow developing device 54. As a result, a yellow toner image is formed on the photoreceptor 20.
The yellow toner image formed on the photoconductor 20 reaches the primary transfer position as the photoconductor 20 rotates, and is transferred to the intermediate transfer body 70 by the primary transfer unit 60. At this time, a primary transfer voltage having a polarity opposite to the charging polarity of the toner T is applied to the primary transfer unit 60. During this time, the photosensitive member 20 and the intermediate transfer member 70 are in contact with each other, and the secondary transfer unit 80 is separated from the intermediate transfer member 70.

The above processing is sequentially executed for each developing device for the second color, the third color, and the fourth color, so that four color toner images corresponding to the respective image signals are transferred to the intermediate transfer member 70. It is transcribed and superimposed. As a result, a full color toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer member 70.
The full color toner image formed on the intermediate transfer body 70 reaches the secondary transfer position as the intermediate transfer body 70 rotates, and is transferred to the medium by the secondary transfer unit 80. The medium is conveyed from the paper feed tray 92 to the secondary transfer unit 80 via the paper feed roller 94 and the registration roller 96. When performing the transfer operation, the secondary transfer unit 80 is pressed against the intermediate transfer body 70 and a secondary transfer voltage is applied.
The full color toner image transferred to the medium is heated and pressed by the fixing unit 90 and fused to the medium.

  On the other hand, after the primary transfer position has passed, the photosensitive member 20 is scraped off by the cleaning blade 76 supported by the cleaning unit 75 and the toner T adhering to the surface thereof is charged to form the next latent image. Prepare for. The toner T thus scraped off is collected by a residual toner collecting unit provided in the cleaning unit 75.

=== Overview of Control Unit ===
Next, the configuration of the control unit 100 will be described with reference to FIG. The main controller 101 of the control unit 100 is connected to a host computer via an interface 112 and includes an image memory 113 for storing image signals input from the host computer. The unit controller 102 is electrically connected to each unit (charging unit 30, exposure unit 40, YMCK developing unit 50, primary transfer unit 60, cleaning unit 75, secondary transfer unit 80, fixing unit 90, display unit 95) of the apparatus main body. Each unit is controlled based on a signal input from the main controller 101 while detecting a state of each unit by receiving a signal from a sensor included in them.

=== Configuration Example of Developing Device ===
Next, a configuration example of a developing device as an example of a developer accommodating device will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram of the developing device. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing main components of the developing device. Note that the cross-sectional view shown in FIG. 4 represents a cross-section obtained by cutting the developing device along a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction shown in FIG. 4, the vertical direction is indicated by arrows as in FIG. 1. For example, the central axis of the developing roller 510 is below the central axis of the photoconductor 20. Further, in FIG. 4, the yellow developing device 54 is shown in a state where the yellow developing device 54 is located at a developing position facing the photoconductor 20.

  The YMCK developing unit 50 includes a black developing device 51 containing black (K) toner, a magenta developing device 52 containing magenta (M) toner, a cyan developing device 53 containing cyan (C) toner, and a yellow ( Y) Although a yellow developing device 54 containing toner is provided, the configuration of each developing device is the same, so the yellow developing device 54 will be described below.

  The yellow developing device 54 includes a developing roller 510, an upper seal member 520, a toner container 530, a housing 540, a toner supply roller 550, a regulating blade 560, and the like.

The developing roller 510 carries the toner T and conveys it to a developing position facing the photoconductor 20. The developing roller 510 is made of an aluminum alloy such as 5056 aluminum alloy or 6063 aluminum alloy, an iron alloy such as STKM, or the like, and is subjected to nickel plating, chrome plating, or the like as necessary.
Further, the developing roller 510 is rotatable about the central axis, and as shown in FIG. 4, the developing roller 510 is rotated in a direction (counterclockwise in FIG. 4) opposite to the rotation direction of the photoconductor 20 (clockwise in FIG. 4). Rotate. The central axis is below the central axis of the photoconductor 20. As shown in FIG. 4, when the yellow developing device 54 faces the photoconductor 20, there is a gap between the developing roller 510 and the photoconductor 20. That is, the yellow developing device 54 develops the latent image formed on the photoconductor 20 in a non-contact state. When developing the latent image formed on the photoconductor 20, an alternating electric field is formed between the developing roller 510 and the photoconductor 20.

The upper seal member 520 prevents the toner T in the yellow developing device 54 from leaking outside the apparatus, and collects the toner T on the developing roller 510 that has passed through the developing position into the developing apparatus without being scraped off. The upper seal member 520 is a seal made of a polyethylene film or the like. The upper seal member 520 is supported by an upper seal support sheet metal 522 and is attached to the housing 540 via the upper seal support sheet metal 522.
Further, an upper seal urging member 524 made of malt plain or the like is provided on the side opposite to the developing roller 510 side of the upper seal member 520, and the upper seal member 520 is an elastic force of the upper seal urging member 524. Is pressed against the developing roller 510. The contact position where the upper seal member 520 contacts the developing roller 510 is above the central axis of the developing roller 510.

The housing 540 is manufactured by welding a plurality of integrally molded housing parts, that is, an upper housing part 542 as an example of a first housing part and a lower housing part 544 as an example of a second housing part. It is. As shown in FIG. 4, the housing 540 has an opening 572 in the lower portion, and the developing roller 510 is disposed in the opening 572 with a part thereof exposed.
The housing 540 forms a toner storage portion 530 that can store the toner T. An agitating member for agitating the toner T may be provided in the toner storage portion 530. In the present embodiment, each developing device (black developing device 51, magenta developing device 52, cyan cyan) is rotated in accordance with the rotation of the YMCK developing unit. Since the developing device 53 and the yellow developing device 54) rotate and thereby the toner T in each developing device is agitated, the toner accommodating portion 530 is not provided with an agitating member. The housing 540 will be further described later.

  The toner supply roller 550 is provided in the toner storage unit 530, supplies the toner T stored in the toner storage unit 530 to the developing roller 510, and supplies the toner T remaining on the developing roller 510 after development to the developing roller. Remove from 510. The toner supply roller 550 is made of polyurethane foam or the like, and is in contact with the developing roller 510 in an elastically deformed state. The toner supply roller 550 is disposed below the toner storage unit 530, and the toner T stored in the toner storage unit 530 is supplied to the developing roller 510 by the toner supply roller 550 below the toner storage unit 530. . The toner supply roller 550 is rotatable about a central axis, and the central axis is below the rotation central axis of the developing roller 510. Further, the toner supply roller 550 rotates in a direction (clockwise in FIG. 4) opposite to the rotation direction of the developing roller 510 (counterclockwise in FIG. 4).

  The regulating blade 560 applies a charge to the toner T carried on the developing roller 510 and regulates the layer thickness of the toner T carried on the developing roller 510. The regulation blade 560 has a rubber part 560a and a rubber support part 560b. The rubber part 560a is made of silicon rubber, urethane rubber or the like, and the rubber support part 560b is a thin plate having spring properties such as phosphor bronze or stainless steel. The rubber portion 560a is supported by the rubber support portion 560b, and the rubber support portion 560b is attached to the housing 540 via the blade support metal plate 562 with one end thereof supported by the blade support metal plate 562. . Further, a blade back member 570 (FIG. 4) made of malt plane or the like is provided on the side opposite to the developing roller 510 side of the regulating blade 560.

  Here, the rubber portion 560 a is pressed against the developing roller 510 by the elastic force caused by the bending of the rubber support portion 560 b. Further, the blade back member 570 prevents the toner T from entering between the rubber support portion 560b and the housing 540, stabilizes the elastic force due to the bending of the rubber support portion 560b, and provides rubber from the back of the rubber portion 560a. The rubber portion 560 a is pressed against the developing roller 510 by urging the portion 560 a toward the developing roller 510. Therefore, the blade back member 570 improves the uniform contact property of the rubber portion 560a to the developing roller 510.

  The end of the regulating blade 560 opposite to the side supported by the blade support metal plate 562, that is, the tip is not in contact with the developing roller 510, and a portion away from the tip by a predetermined distance is the developing roller. 510 is in contact with a width. That is, the regulating blade 560 is not in contact with the developing roller 510 at the edge, but is in contact with the belly. The regulating blade 560 is disposed so that the tip thereof faces the upstream side in the rotation direction of the developing roller 510, and is in a so-called counter contact. The contact position where the regulating blade 560 contacts the developing roller 510 is below the central axis of the developing roller 510 and below the central axis of the toner supply roller 550.

  In the yellow developing device 54 configured as described above, the toner supply roller 550 supplies the toner T accommodated in the toner accommodating portion 530 to the developing roller 510. The toner T supplied to the developing roller 510 reaches the abutting position of the regulating blade 560 as the developing roller 510 rotates, and when the toner T passes through the corresponding contacting position, an electric charge is applied and the layer thickness is regulated. Is done. The toner T on the developing roller 510 to which the layer thickness is regulated and the electric charge is applied reaches the developing position facing the photosensitive member 20 by further rotation of the developing roller 510, and the photosensitive member is subjected to an alternating electric field at the developing position. The latent image formed on 20 is subjected to development. The toner T on the developing roller 510 that has passed the developing position by further rotation of the developing roller 510 passes through the upper seal member 520 and is collected in the developing device without being scraped off by the upper seal member 520. Further, the toner T still remaining on the developing roller 510 can be peeled off by the toner supply roller 550.

=== Welding Structure and Method of Housing 540 ===
Next, the welding structure and welding method of the housing 540 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 is an overall perspective view of the upper housing portion 542 and the lower housing portion 544 before welding. FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically showing a part of the surface of the first longitudinal direction convex portion 546a and the first longitudinal direction concave portion 548a. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a state in which the upper housing portion 542 and the lower housing portion 544 are overlapped. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing the state of the convex portion 546 and the concave portion 548 when the amount of the melt generated during vibration welding is large, and the state of the convex portion 546 and the concave portion 548 when the amount of the melt is small. FIG.

  As described above, the housing 540 is formed by welding a plurality of integrally molded housing parts, that is, the upper housing part 542 and the lower housing part 544.

  As shown in FIG. 5, a convex portion 546 is formed on the welded portion 552 (FIG. 4) of the upper housing portion 542 to the lower housing portion 544, and a welded portion 554 (FIG. 4) of the lower housing portion 544 is attached to the upper housing portion 542. Is provided with a recess 548. The convex portion 546 includes a first longitudinal convex portion 546a and a second longitudinal convex portion 546b along the longitudinal direction of the yellow developing device 54, and a first short portion along a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the yellow developing device 54. A hand-direction convex portion 546c and a second short-side convex portion 546d are provided, and the concave portion 548 includes a first longitudinal concave portion 548a and a second longitudinal concave portion along the longitudinal direction of the yellow developing device 54. 548b, a first short direction recess 548c and a second short direction recess 548d are provided along a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the yellow developing device 54. More specifically, the convex portion 546 and the concave portion 548 include the first longitudinal convex portion 546a and the first longitudinal concave portion 548a, the second longitudinal convex portion 546b and the second longitudinal concave portion 548b, and the first short portion. The housing 540 is formed by welding the hand-direction convex portion 546c and the first short-side concave portion 548c, the second short-side convex portion 546d, and the second short-side concave portion 548d.

  Here, the structure of a convex part and a recessed part etc. are demonstrated in more detail using FIG.6 and FIG.7. In the following description, the description will be given focusing on the first longitudinal convex portion 546a and the first longitudinal concave portion 548a, but other convex portions (that is, the second longitudinal convex portion 546b and the first short direction). The same applies to the convex portion 546c, the second short direction convex portion 546d) and other concave portions (that is, the second long direction concave portion 548b, the first short direction concave portion 548c, and the second short direction concave portion 548d).

  FIG. 6 shows a part of the surfaces of the first longitudinal convex portion 546a and the first longitudinal concave portion 548a. In the drawing, the first longitudinal convex portion 546a of the upper housing portion 542 is shown in the drawing shown on the right side, and the first longitudinal concave portion 548a of the lower housing portion 544 is shown in the drawing shown on the left side. The dashed line indicated by X in the diagram shown on the right side and the diagram shown on the left side, and the alternate long and short dashed line indicated by Y in the diagram shown on the right side and the diagram shown on the left side, The upper housing part 542 and the lower housing part 544 are welded so as to overlap each other so as to coincide with each other.

  FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the upper housing portion 542 and the lower housing portion 544 are overlapped. The cross-sectional view is a cross-sectional view when the upper housing portion 542 and the lower housing portion 544 that are overlapped are cut along the one-dot chain line X or the one-dot chain line Y. As is apparent from the drawing, the upper housing portion 542 and the lower housing portion 544 are overlaid with the first longitudinal convex portion 546a fitted in the first longitudinal concave portion 548a.

  6 and 7, the thickness of the outer wall 566 of the first longitudinal recess 548a is larger than the thickness of the inner wall 567. Here, the inner wall of the concave portion is a wall closer to the toner accommodating portion 530 described above, and the outer wall of the convex portion is a wall farther from the toner accommodating portion 530.

  Next, a method for welding the housing 540 will be described. The upper housing part 542 and the lower housing part 544 are welded in the state described above, that is, in the state where the upper housing part 542 and the lower housing part 544 are overlapped. As a method, so-called vibration welding is performed. In vibration welding, the upper housing portion 542 is fixed to the upper jig, the lower housing portion 544 is fixedly held to the lower jig, and the upper housing portion 542 and the lower housing portion 544 are in pressure contact with each other, and the upper jig is set to 100 per second. Oscillate about 0.8 to 1.5 mm in the direction along the longitudinal direction of the yellow developing device 54, that is, in the direction penetrating the paper surface in FIG. Due to the vibration, frictional heat is generated between the upper housing part 542 and the lower housing part 544, and the convex part 546 and the like are melted by the frictional heat, and the convex part 546 and the concave part 548, that is, the upper housing. The part 542 and the lower housing part 544 are welded. Note that the melt generated as a result of melting the convex portions 546 and the like is located in the gap between the convex portions 546 and the concave portions 548.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, the predetermined vibration direction of vibration applied to the upper housing portion 542 during vibration welding is along the longitudinal direction of the yellow developing device 54. Accordingly, the first longitudinal convex portion 546a and the second longitudinal convex portion 546b correspond to vibration direction convex portions along a predetermined vibration direction of vibration applied to the upper housing portion 542 during vibration welding, The first short direction convex portion 546c and the second short direction convex portion 546d correspond to a vertical direction convex portion along a direction perpendicular to the predetermined vibration direction. Similarly, the first longitudinal recess 548a and the second longitudinal recess 548b correspond to vibration direction recesses along a predetermined vibration direction of vibration applied to the upper housing portion 542 during vibration welding, and The first short direction recess 548c and the second short direction recess 548d correspond to a vertical recess along a direction perpendicular to the predetermined vibration direction.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the thickness of the outer wall 566 of the recess 548 provided in the lower housing portion 544 as an example of the second housing portion is larger than the thickness of the inner wall 567 of the recess 548. It has become. As a result, it is possible to realize a developer accommodating device or the like in which the deformation of the outer wall 566 of the concave portion 548 is appropriately prevented.

  That is, as described in the section of the problem to be solved by the invention, so-called vibration welding is effective as a technique for welding the lower housing portion 544 to the upper housing portion 542. In vibration welding, the upper housing portion 542 The lower housing part 544 is fixedly held by different jigs, and one of the jigs (in this embodiment, the upper jig) is vibrated in a predetermined vibration direction in a state where both the housing parts are pressed against each other. . Due to the vibration, frictional heat is generated between the housing parts, and the convex part 546 and the like described above are melted by the frictional heat, so that the convex part 546 and the concave part 548, that is, the upper housing part 542 and the lower housing part 544. Welds. The melt generated as a result of melting the convex portion 546 and the like is located in the gap between the convex portion 546 and the concave portion 548.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the lower housing portion 544 is configured such that the thickness of the outer wall 566 of the recess 548 provided in the lower housing portion 544 is larger than the thickness of the inner wall 567 of the recess 548. Has been.

  Therefore, when there is a variation in the amount of the melt generated during vibration welding and the amount of the melt is large, as shown in the left diagram of FIG. The applied portion) pushes the walls (outer wall 566 and inner wall 567) constituting the recess 548 away from the projection 546 (the direction indicated by the arrow in the left diagram of FIG. 8). The outer wall 566 having a larger thickness is prevented from being deformed, and the inner wall 567 having a smaller thickness is deformed so as to fall in the direction of the pushing force.

  Similarly, when the amount of the melt is small, as shown in the right diagram of FIG. 8, the melt (the spotted portion in the right diagram of FIG. 8) is the wall portion (the outer wall 566 and the wall portion constituting the recess 548. A force that pulls the inner wall 567) toward the convex portion 546 (the direction indicated by the arrow in the right side of FIG. 8) is generated, but the outer wall 566 having a larger thickness is prevented from being deformed, The smaller inner wall 567 is deformed so as to fall in the direction of the pulling force.

  As described above, since it is a part exposed to the human eye and a part where other parts can be fixed, the deformation of the outer wall 566 which is strongly requested to prevent the deformation is appropriately prevented. Become.

  Note that the inner wall 567 having a small thickness described above has a function of adjusting the volume of the recess 548 that accommodates the melt. That is, as described above, the amount of melt generated during vibration welding varies, but the inner wall 567 is deformed according to the amount of melt generated because the inner wall 567 has a small thickness. As a result, the inner wall 567 adjusts the volume of the recess 548 that accommodates the melt.

  The volume adjusting function of the inner wall 567 prevents the melt from overflowing from the recess 548 when the amount of the melt is large. Therefore, it is desirable to reduce the thickness of the inner wall 567 so as to allow the deformation.

=== Other Embodiments ===
As described above, the developer accommodating device and the like according to the present invention have been described based on the above embodiment. However, the above embodiment of the present invention is for facilitating understanding of the present invention and limits the present invention. It is not a thing. The present invention can be changed and improved without departing from the gist thereof, and the present invention includes the equivalents thereof.

  In the above-described embodiment, the intermediate transfer type full-color laser beam printer has been described as an example of the image forming apparatus. The present invention can be applied to various image forming apparatuses.

  Also, the photosensitive member is not limited to a so-called photosensitive roller, which is configured by providing a photosensitive layer on the outer peripheral surface of a cylindrical conductive substrate, and is configured by providing a photosensitive layer on the surface of a belt-shaped conductive substrate. A so-called photosensitive belt may be used.

  In the above embodiment, the upper housing portion 542 has the convex portion 546 and the lower housing portion 544 has the concave portion 548. However, the upper housing portion has the concave portion and the lower housing portion has the convex portion. It may be provided.

  In the above embodiment, the upper jig is vibrated out of the upper jig and the lower jig. However, the lower jig may be vibrated.

  In the above embodiment, the upper housing portion 542 has a first longitudinal convex as an example of a vibration direction convex along a predetermined vibration direction of vibration applied to the upper housing portion 542 during vibration welding. The first short direction convex portion 546c and the second short direction convex as an example of the vertical direction convex portion along the portion 546a and the second longitudinal direction convex portion 546b and the direction perpendicular to the predetermined vibration direction. 546d, and the lower housing part 544 includes a first longitudinal recess 548a and a second longitudinal recess 548b as an example of a vibration direction recess along the predetermined vibration direction, A first short direction recess 548c and a second short direction recess 548d are provided as an example of a vertical recess along a direction perpendicular to a predetermined vibration direction, and the vibration direction protrusion is Previous The vibration direction convex part and the vibration direction concave part are welded by vibration welding in a state of being fitted into the vibration direction concave part, and the vertical direction convex part is fitted into the vertical direction concave part, The vertical convex portion and the vertical concave portion are welded by vibration welding, and at least one of the vibration direction concave portion and the vertical concave portion (both in the embodiment described above) is formed on the outer wall 566. Although the thickness is larger than the thickness of the inner wall 567, the thickness is not limited to this, and the convex portion and the concave portion are not necessarily along the vibration direction of vibration or the direction perpendicular thereto. May be.

  In the above embodiment, the thickness of the outer wall 566 is larger than the thickness of the inner wall 567 for both the vibration direction recess and the vertical recess, but only for the vertical recess. The thickness of the outer wall 566 may be larger than the thickness of the inner wall 567.

  When comparing the welding between the vibration direction convex portion and the vibration direction concave portion and the welding between the vertical direction convex portion and the vertical direction concave portion, the vertical direction convex portion and the vertical direction concave portion are not along the predetermined vibration direction. Therefore, the projections and the like are not easily melted, and therefore, the amount of the melt tends to vary. Therefore, if the present invention is applied to the latter of the vibration direction concave portion and the vertical direction concave portion, the above-described effect, that is, the effect of appropriately preventing the deformation of the outer wall of the concave portion is more effectively exhibited. The

In the above-described embodiment, the predetermined vibration direction is along the longitudinal direction of the developing device. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the predetermined vibration direction may be along the short direction of the developing device.
However, the above embodiment is preferable in that the vibration welding of the housing can be executed more simply and appropriately.

  In the above embodiment, the developing device is detachable from the image forming device that forms an image using the toner T accommodated in the developing device. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Instead, for example, it may be non-detachable.

  When the developing device is detachable from the image forming apparatus, the outer wall of the concave portion provided in the lower housing portion is exposed to human eyes. The effect of appropriately preventing the deformation is more effectively exhibited. In this respect, the above embodiment is more effective.

  In the above description, the developing device is described as an example of the developer containing device. However, the developing device is not limited to this, and any device may be used as long as it contains the developer. For example, the present invention can also be applied to a cleaning unit 75 that includes a cleaning blade 76 and stores toner T removed by the cleaning blade 76.

=== Configuration of Image Forming System etc. ===
Next, an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an external configuration of the image forming system. The image forming system 700 includes a computer 702, a display device 704, a printer 706, an input device 708, and a reading device 710. In this embodiment, the computer 702 is housed in a mini-tower type housing, but is not limited thereto. The display device 704 is generally a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), a plasma display, a liquid crystal display device, or the like, but is not limited thereto. As the printer 706, the printer described above is used. In this embodiment, the input device 708 uses a keyboard 708A and a mouse 708B, but is not limited thereto. In this embodiment, the reading device 710 uses a flexible disk drive device 710A and a CD-ROM drive device 710B. However, the reading device 710 is not limited to this. For example, an MO (Magneto Optical) disk drive device or a DVD (Digital Versatile) is used. Disk) etc. may be used.

  FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the image forming system shown in FIG. An internal memory 802 such as a RAM and an external memory such as a hard disk drive unit 804 are further provided in a housing in which the computer 702 is housed.

  In the above description, the example in which the printer 706 is connected to the computer 702, the display device 704, the input device 708, and the reading device 710 to configure the image forming system has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Absent. For example, the image forming system may include a computer 702 and a printer 706, and the image forming system may not include any of the display device 704, the input device 708, and the reading device 710.

  For example, the printer 706 may have a part of the functions or mechanisms of the computer 702, the display device 704, the input device 708, and the reading device 710. As an example, the printer 706 includes an image processing unit that performs image processing, a display unit that performs various displays, a recording medium attachment / detachment unit for attaching / detaching a recording medium that records image data captured by a digital camera or the like. It is good also as a structure to have.

  The image forming system realized in this way is a system superior to the conventional system as a whole system.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating main components constituting the printer. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a control unit of the printer 10 in FIG. 1. It is a conceptual diagram of a developing device. It is sectional drawing which showed the main components of the image development apparatus. It is a whole perspective view of the upper housing part 542 and the lower housing part 544 before welding. It is the figure which represented typically a part of surface of the 1st longitudinal direction convex part 546a and the 1st longitudinal direction recessed part 548a. It is sectional drawing which shows typically a mode that the upper housing part 542 and the lower housing part 544 were piled up. It is the schematic diagram which showed the mode of the convex part 546 and the recessed part 548 when there are many amounts of the molten material which generate | occur | produces in vibration welding, and the state of the convex part 546 and the recessed parts 548 when the amount of the said melt is small. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an external configuration of an image forming system. FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the image forming system illustrated in FIG. 9.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Laser beam printer 20 Photoconductor 30 Charging unit 40 Exposure unit 50 YMCK developing unit 50a Center axis 51 Black developing device 52 Magenta developing device 53 Cyan developing device 54 Yellow developing device 55 Support frame 55a, 55b, 55c, 55d Holding part 60 Primary Transfer unit 70 Intermediate transfer body 75 Cleaning unit 76 Cleaning blade 80 Secondary transfer unit 90 Fixing unit 92 Paper feed tray 94 Paper feed roller 95 Display unit 96 Registration roller 100 Control unit 101 Main controller 102 Unit controller 112 Interface 113 Image memory 120 CPU
510 Developing roller 520 Upper seal member 522 Upper seal support sheet metal 524 Upper seal biasing member 530 Toner accommodating portion 540 Housing 542 Upper housing portion 544 Lower housing portion 546 Convex portion 546a First longitudinal convex portion 546b Second longitudinal convex portion 546c First short direction convex portion 546d Second short direction convex portion 548 Concave portion 548a First longitudinal direction concave portion 548b Second longitudinal direction concave portion 548c First short direction concave portion 548d Second short direction concave portion 550 Toner supply roller 552 Welding portion 554 Welding part 560 Regulating blade 560a Rubber part 560b Rubber support part 562 Blade support sheet metal 566 Outer side wall 567 Inner side wall 570 Blade back member 572 Opening 700 Image forming system 702 Computer 704 Display device 706 Printer 708 Input device 7 8A keyboard 708B mouse 710 reader 710A flexible disk drive device 710B CD-ROM drive device 802 internal memory 804 hard disk drive unit T toner

Claims (10)

A housing having a first housing portion and a second housing portion and capable of accommodating a developer, wherein the convex portion provided in the first housing portion is formed into a concave portion provided in the second housing portion. A housing in which the convex portion and the concave portion are welded by vibration welding in a fitted state;
In a developer storage device having
The developer container according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the outer wall of the recess is larger than the thickness of the inner wall of the recess. The developer accommodating device according to claim 1,
In the first housing part,
A vibration direction convex portion along a predetermined vibration direction of vibration applied to the first housing portion or the second housing portion during the vibration welding;
A vertical projection along a direction perpendicular to the predetermined vibration direction, and
The second housing part is provided with a vibration direction recess along the predetermined vibration direction and a vertical recess along a direction perpendicular to the predetermined vibration direction,
With the vibration direction convex portion fitted in the vibration direction concave portion, the vibration direction convex portion and the vibration direction concave portion are welded by vibration welding, and
With the vertical convex portion fitted in the vertical concave portion, the vertical convex portion and the vertical concave portion are welded by vibration welding,
The developer container according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the outer wall of at least one of the vibration direction recess and the vertical recess is greater than the thickness of the inner wall. The developer accommodating device according to claim 2,
The developer container according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the outer wall of the vertical recess is greater than the thickness of the inner wall of the vertical recess. In the developer accommodating device according to claim 2 or 3,
The developer accommodating device, wherein the predetermined vibration direction is along a longitudinal direction of the developer accommodating device. The developer storage device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A developer accommodating device, wherein the developer accommodating device is detachable from an image forming apparatus that forms an image using the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating device. The developer accommodating device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The developer container is
A developer container comprising a developer carrying member for carrying a developer and developing a latent image carried on the image carrier by the developer carried on the developer carrier. apparatus. The developer accommodating device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The developer container is
A developer accommodating device comprising a developer removing member for removing the developer, and a removed developer accommodating device for accommodating the developer removed by the developer removing member. A housing having a first housing portion and a second housing portion and capable of accommodating a developer, wherein the convex portion provided in the first housing portion is formed into a concave portion provided in the second housing portion. A housing in which the convex portion and the concave portion are welded by vibration welding in a fitted state;
In a developer storage device having
The thickness of the outer wall of the recess is greater than the thickness of the inner wall of the recess,
In the first housing part,
A vibration direction convex portion along a predetermined vibration direction of vibration applied to the first housing portion or the second housing portion during the vibration welding;
A vertical projection along a direction perpendicular to the predetermined vibration direction, and
The second housing part is provided with a vibration direction recess along the predetermined vibration direction and a vertical recess along a direction perpendicular to the predetermined vibration direction,
With the vibration direction convex portion fitted in the vibration direction concave portion, the vibration direction convex portion and the vibration direction concave portion are welded by vibration welding, and
With the vertical convex portion fitted in the vertical concave portion, the vertical convex portion and the vertical concave portion are welded by vibration welding,
For at least one of the vibration direction recess and the vertical recess, the thickness of the outer wall is greater than the thickness of the inner wall;
The thickness of the outer wall of the vertical recess is greater than the thickness of the inner wall of the vertical recess,
The predetermined vibration direction is along a longitudinal direction of the developer accommodating device,
It is detachable from an image forming apparatus that forms an image using the developer stored in the developer storage device,
The developer container is
A developer container comprising a developer carrying member for carrying a developer and developing a latent image carried on the image carrier by the developer carried on the developer carrier. apparatus. A housing having a first housing portion and a second housing portion and capable of accommodating a developer, wherein the convex portion provided in the first housing portion is formed into a concave portion provided in the second housing portion. A developer containing device having a housing in which the convex portion and the concave portion are welded by vibration welding in a fitted state;
In an image forming apparatus comprising:
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the outer wall of the recess is greater than the thickness of the inner wall of the recess. A computer and an image forming apparatus connectable to the computer, the housing including a first housing part and a second housing part and capable of accommodating a developer, provided in the first housing part A developer containing device having a housing in which the convex portion and the concave portion are welded by vibration welding in a state where the convex portion is fitted into the concave portion provided in the second housing portion. In an image forming system having an image forming apparatus,
2. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the outer wall of the recess is greater than the thickness of the inner wall of the recess.

Images