JP2006139073A - Developing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a developing device where a distance between a developing sleeve and a conveying and stirring member is made short and accurate and which realizes the decrease of pulling-out force and the prevention of toner scattering at the time of pulling out a sealing seal/the prevention of toner scattering at the time of physical distribution. <P>SOLUTION: In the developing device having a developing sleeve supplying developer to a photoreceptor drum (image carrier), a developing container having a developer storing part for supplying the developer to the developing sleeve, a sealing sheet arranged between the developing sleeve and the developer storing part and enclosing the developer so that it may be peeled and removed just before the device is used so as to supply the developer to the developing sleeve, and a sealing plate to which the sealing sheet is stuck, the sealing sheet is stuck to the developing sleeve side of the sealing plate. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a developing device used in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer that forms an image on a recording material using an electrophotographic system.

  In recent years, in an image forming apparatus such as a printer using an image forming method such as electrophotography or electrostatic recording, an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrier such as a photosensitive drum is developed with a powdery developer. The image is formed by transferring an image composed of the developer onto a recording medium such as recording paper directly or via an intermediate transfer member. In such an image forming apparatus, the developer is accommodated. A developing device for supplying a developer to the photosensitive drum is provided.

  The function of this developing device is to stir the developer and add a certain amount of electrification, so that the developer is adsorbed to the developing sleeve (developing carrier) having magnetic force, and the amount of developer on the developing sleeve is kept constant. Then, a developer is supplied to the photosensitive drum to form an image on the photosensitive drum.

  For this reason, when the image forming apparatus main body is used for the first time, it is necessary to supply a developer into the developing device or to enter the developing device in advance. At present, the developer is built in the developing device in advance from the viewpoint of contamination due to overflow of the developer when the developer is added, loss of time for adding the developer, and improvement of user operability.

  Therefore, in order to prevent the developer from overflowing when the built-in developer is transported to the image forming apparatus main body or the developing device, the developer is sealed in the developing device.

  Here, a developer sealing configuration of a conventional developing device will be described with reference to FIGS.

  First, as a first conventional example, an example of a developer sealing configuration will be described with reference to FIG.

(When the developing chamber and the replenishing chamber are separate cases, the developer is sealed between the developing chamber and the replenishing chamber.)
12A and 12B, a process cartridge 103A in which a developing device 101A and a photosensitive drum 102A are integrated. The developing unit 104A for supplying the developer to the photosensitive drum in the developing device and the replenishing chamber having a function of sealing the developer before use and supplying the developer to the developing unit 104 by the conveying member 105A during use. 106A.

  In this conventional example, the developing chamber 104A and the replenishing chamber 106A have separate structures. In this case, after the developer is put in the supply chamber, a sealing seal 108A such as polyethylene is attached to the supply chamber housing (resin) of the supply chamber 106A through a heat seal or an adhesive member as shown in FIG. It is sealed. By pulling out this sealing seal → (FIG. 12B), the sealing seal is removed, and the developer is supplied to the developing chamber. In the case of heat sealing, it has been thermally welded to the resin member 109A so far.

  Then, by fixing the sealed replenishing chamber 106A and the developing chamber as shown in FIG. 12A, the developing device 101A is completed. FIG. 12C is a simplified view of the developing device 101A. The developing chamber 104A is provided between the conveying member 105A in the replenishing chamber 106A and the developing sleeve 109A that supplies the supplied developer to the photosensitive drum. Since the replenishment chamber 106A is a separate housing, it is difficult to guarantee the positional accuracy. Further, as shown in FIG. 12D, the replenishment supply chamber 106A does not contain developer, and a separate developer device is disposed. When the image forming apparatus main body is installed, the sealing seal 108A is removed, In some cases, the developer is supplied to the supply chamber 106A.

  In this conventional example, the conveying member is composed of one screw, and is a one-component (magnetic toner) developing system.

  Next, as a second conventional example, an example of a developer sealing configuration will be described with reference to FIG.

(When developer chamber and replenishment chamber are integrated, developer is sealed around the developing sleeve)
In FIG. 13A, the developer is stored in the developing device 101B, but there is no developer sealing configuration between the developing sleeve 109B and the conveying member 105B, and the developer is sealed along the outer periphery of the developing sleeve 109B. A seal 108B is installed. When this sealing configuration is adopted, as shown in FIG. 13B, the sealing seal 108B is connected to the first additional seal member 111B and the development upper cover 112B and the sealing seal in the vicinity of the developing sleeve 105B and the photosensitive drum 103B. A second additional seal member is provided therebetween. The sealing seal 108B can be removed by pulling this sealing seal in the direction P2.

  In this configuration, the conveying member is formed by two screws, and the two-component developer (magnetic carrier and nonmagnetic toner) is stirred by the conveying member, and the developing sleeve 109B is developed by one developing housing 113B. And the stirring member 115B is held.

  Next, as a third conventional example, an example of a developer sealing configuration will be described with reference to FIG.

(Development chamber and replenishment chamber are integrated, sealed between development sleeve and transport member)
First, in FIGS. 14A and 14B, the developing device 101C holds the developing sleeve 109C and the conveying member 105C in one developing housing 103C. Then, the sealing plate 114C with the sealing seal 108C attached is inserted into the developing housing 113C between the developing sleeve 109C and the conveying member 105C, and the developing upper cover 112C is fixed to the developing housing 113C, thereby supplying the replenishing chamber. The developer can be sealed in 106C.

  14 (C) and 14 (D) (upper view), the sealing seal configuration will be described. The sealing seal 108C is attached to the metal plate sealing plate 114C with an adhesive such as a double-sided tape. When the sealing seal 108C is pulled in the → P2 direction, the pulling holding member 116C changes the angle in the direction P3 where the sealing seal 108C is peeled from the sealing plate 114C, and the sealing seal is taken out.

  In this configuration as well, as in the second conventional example, the conveying member is formed by two screws, and the two-component developer (magnetic carrier and nonmagnetic toner) is agitated by this conveying member.

JP-A-6-130814 JP 2001-343830 A JP 2003-5517 A

  In recent years, with high image quality, the proximity of the distance between the developing sleeve and the conveying screw and the high accuracy of the position have been achieved, and the developer has a magnetic carrier and non-magnetic toner structure. The toner is controlled with high accuracy by increasing the potential, and the image quality of the toner image on the photosensitive drum is improved.

  However, in the configuration of Conventional Example 1, the developing chamber 104A holding the developing sleeve 107A and the replenishing chamber 106A are separate casings (115C, 116C), so that a plurality of positions can be guaranteed between the developing sleeve 107A and the conveying member 105A. And the accuracy deteriorates, and the distance T1 between the developing chamber 104A and the replenishing chamber 106A also increases, and the developer replenished from the conveying member 105A cannot be quickly supplied to the developing sleeve 109A, resulting in an image defect. Is likely to occur.

  Further, since the resin member 109A for heat-sealing the sealing seal of the conventional example is a resin mold, the thickness T2 is as large as about 2 mm, and the resin member 109A develops when the developing device 101A is transported due to insufficient rigidity due to the resin mold. As shown in FIG. 12C, it is pressed by the agent pressure and is close to the developing sleeve 109A, and image defects are also caused by scratching the developing sleeve.

  Next, in the case of Conventional Example 2, since the developing sleeve 109B and the conveying member 105B are held by one developing housing 113B, the position guarantee between the developing sleeve 109B and the conveying member 105B can be performed with high accuracy. Further, since the seal between the developing sleeve 109B and the conveying member 105B is not sealed, the distance between the developing sleeve 109B and the conveying member 105B can be reduced, the developer can be supplied stably, and the image quality can be improved.

  However, in this configuration, since there is no sealing between the developing sleeve 109B and the conveying member 105B, a large amount of developer in the developing device adheres to the developing sleeve 109B due to magnetic force. The sealing seal 108B is not bonded by heat sealing or the like as in Conventional Example 1, but is only sandwiched between the development upper cover 112B and the photosensitive drum, so that the sealing capability is weak, and a lot of developer is developed during distribution. It is scattered outside the device, which is a big problem. Furthermore, in order to prevent this scattering, it is necessary to attach many auxiliary seals (111B, 112B), and the cost becomes very high.

  Subsequently, in the case of Conventional Example 3, since the developing sleeve 109C and the conveying member 105C are held by one developing housing 113C, the position guarantee between the developing sleeve 109C and the conveying member 105C can be performed with high accuracy. Furthermore, since the sealing plate 114C between the developing sleeve 109C and the conveying member 105C is a metal plate and has a smaller thickness and higher strength than the resin mold, the distance between the developing sleeve 109B and the conveying member 105B can also be reduced. The developer supply is stable and high image quality can be achieved.

  However, in this configuration, the sealing seal 108C is affixed to the replenishment juice 106C side in which the developer is incorporated, and when the sealing sheet 108C is pulled out, the sealing seal becomes dirty with the developer, and this development is performed. The sealing seal to which the agent adheres goes out of the developing device 101C and the developer is scattered, which is a big problem. Further, in this configuration, the direction P2 in which the user pulls out the sealing seal 108C and the direction P3 in which the sealing seal 108C peels from the sealing plate 114C are orthogonal to each other, and a drawing holding member that changes the pulling angle of the sealing seal 108C. Due to the large resistance, the force required for the user to pull out the sealing seal 108C becomes very high, and there is a problem that it cannot be pulled out.

  In this conventional example, the sealing plate 114C and the sealing seal 108C are bonded with a double-sided tape. However, if this is done, the double-sided tape remains attached to the sealing plate 114C when the sealing seal is peeled off. In some cases, the remaining double-sided tape causes many image defects.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems. The object of the present invention is to reduce the distance between the developing sleeve and the conveyance agitating member with high accuracy, reduce the pulling force when pulling out the sealing seal, and toner. An object of the present invention is to provide a developing device capable of preventing scattering and preventing toner scattering during distribution.

  To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a developing sleeve (image carrier) for supplying a developer to a photosensitive drum, and a developer container having a developer storage portion for supplying the developer to the developing sleeve. An encapsulating sheet for encapsulating the developer to be disposed between the developing sleeve and the developer accommodating portion, and peeled and removed immediately before use to supply the developer to the developing sleeve; and In the developing device having a sealing plate for attaching the sealing sheet, the sealing sheet is attached to the developing sleeve side with respect to the sealing plate.

  The present invention also provides a developing sleeve (image carrier) for supplying a developer to the photosensitive drum, a developing container having a developer storage portion for supplying the developer to the developing sleeve, and the developing sleeve. In order to supply the developer to the developing sleeve by separating and removing immediately before use between the developer storage portions, and supplying the developer to the developing sleeve, the sealing sheet is pasted In the developing device having a sealing plate for attaching, the sealing plate is formed of a metal material, and the rolling direction of the sealing plate is the same as the longitudinal direction of the sealing plate and the pulling-out direction of the sealing sheet. The sealing sheet is bonded to the sealing plate by heat welding (heat sealing).

  According to the present invention, in the developer sealing in the developing device, the distance between the developing sleeve and the conveyance agitating member is made small and highly accurate, the pulling force is reduced when the seal seal is pulled out, and toner scattering is prevented / distributed. Toner scattering can be prevented.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  First, the configuration of the image forming apparatus main body according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  In this configuration, as an electrophotographic multi-color or full-color image forming apparatus, a plurality of photosensitive drums are arranged in a line according to each color, and toner images of the respective colors formed on the respective photosensitive drums are used as intermediate transfer belts. This is a so-called in-line type image forming apparatus that forms a color image by superimposing sequentially.

  First, FIG. 1 is a sectional view of this configuration. The image forming apparatus 115 </ b> D includes four process cartridges 116 </ b> D arranged on a substantially horizontal straight line with a constant interval, and forms yellow, magenta, cyan, and black images, respectively.

  Each process cartridge 116D is provided with a drum-type electrophotographic photosensitive member (hereinafter referred to as a photosensitive drum) 102D as an image carrier. Around the photosensitive drum 102D, a primary charger 117D, a developing device 101D, a transfer roller 118D as a transfer unit, and a drum cleaner 119D are arranged, respectively, below the primary charger 117D and the developing unit 101D. Is equipped with a laser exposure apparatus 120D.

  The photosensitive drum 102D is a negatively charged OPC photosensitive member having a photoconductive layer on an aluminum drum base, and is driven to rotate at a predetermined process speed by a driving device (not shown).

  A primary charger 117D as primary charging means uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 102D to a predetermined negative potential by a charging bias applied from a charging bias power source (not shown).

  The developing device 101D contains toner, and attaches toner of each color to each electrostatic latent image formed on each photosensitive drum 102D to develop (visualize) the toner image.

  A transfer roller 118D serving as a primary transfer unit is disposed in the intermediate transfer belt unit 121D and is disposed so as to be biased to face the photosensitive drum 102D.

  The drum cleaner device 119D has a cleaning blade or the like for removing, from the photosensitive drum 102D, transfer residual toner remaining at the time of primary transfer on the photosensitive drum 102D.

  The intermediate transfer belt unit 121D includes a drive roller 122D that also serves as a secondary transfer counter roller and a gear on a drive roller shaft (not shown), and is rotationally driven by a drive gear on a main body (not shown). The driving roller 122D is disposed so as to face the secondary transfer roller 123D.

  A fixing device having a fixing roller 124D and a pressure roller 125D is installed in a vertical path configuration on the downstream side of the secondary transfer roller 122D in the conveyance direction of the transfer material P.

  The exposure device 120D is composed of laser light emitting means that emits light corresponding to time-series electric digital pixel signals of image information to be given, a polygon mirror, a reflection mirror, and the like. An electrostatic latent image of each color corresponding to image information is formed on the surface of each photosensitive drum 102D charged by the charger 104C.

  Next, in FIG. 2 (A: front perspective view of the image forming apparatus, B: cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus as viewed from X1), the process cartridge 116D is supported and mounted in the main body frame 126D. On the other hand, the toner cartridge 127 is attached to the toner replenishing means 128D attached to the main body frame 126D. Reference numeral 129D denotes a driving device for operating the process cartridge 116D. A high voltage power supply unit (developing bias input and charging input) for supplying a high voltage to the side facing the driving device 129D at the time of image formation and the process cartridge 116D. A toner collection box 131D is disposed in front of the main body (X direction) so that waste toner discharged from the toner can be collected and replaced.

  Since the image forming operation by the image forming apparatus is the same as the configuration described in the conventional example, the description is omitted.

  Here, the arrangement configuration of the process cartridge 116D and the toner cartridge 127D and the toner circulation, which are features of the present configuration, will be described with reference to FIG. 2A of the present image forming apparatus.

  First, the toner replenished at the F1 portion from the toner cartridge 127D is quantitatively supplied at the G1 portion into the process cartridge 116D through the first transport screw 132D and the second transport screw 133D of the toner replenishing means 128D. . Then, the toner stirred and conveyed by the first stirring screw 134D and the second stirring screw 135D in the process cartridge 116D is coated with the developing sleeve 107D and adsorbed to the photosensitive drum 102D, and remains on the photosensitive drum without being primarily transferred. The transfer residual toner (hereinafter referred to as waste toner) is collected by a drum cleaner, and the waste toner transported by the waste toner transport means 136D is discharged from the process cartridge 116D at the H1 portion. The discharged waste toner is sent to a waste toner conveying device 137D and sent to a waste toner collection box 131D shown in FIG.

  In this embodiment, the developing device 101D, the photosensitive drum 102D, and the cleaning device 119D are configured as a single process cartridge 116D. However, the developing device 101D may be a separate device.

  The process cartridge 116D described above can be exchanged by inserting / removing it in the Q1 direction as shown in FIG. 1 and the toner cartridge 127D in the Y1 direction as shown in FIG. 2A.

  In such an image forming engine, the operation of the entire image forming apparatus is as follows. As shown in FIG. 1, the transfer material P on the paper feeding cassette 138D is separated and conveyed by the paper feeding roller 139D, and the registration roller 140D is perpendicular to the conveying direction. After correcting the inclination of the direction, the visible toner image formed in the above in J1 is secondarily transferred to the transfer material, and then fixed with the toner on the transfer material at high temperature and pressure by the fixing device 141D, and then discharged. The transfer material on which the image is formed is discharged from the roller.

  Next, the developer sealing configuration in the process cartridge 116D of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  First, FIG. 3 is an overall perspective view of the process cartridge 116D.

  FIG. 4 shows the developer sealing configuration in the process cartridge 116D, FIG. 4 (A) is a sectional view seen from the Z2 direction in FIG. 3, and FIG. 4 (B) is from the S1 direction in FIG. FIG.

  Reference numeral 101D denotes a developing device in the process cartridge 116D. When the process cartridge 116D is not used, a magnetic carrier (average particle size 50 μm) and a non-magnetic toner (average particle size 7 μm) are stored in the replenishing chamber 106 of the developing device 101D. Contains about 230 g of mixed developer. In order to prevent the developer 143D from splashing out of the process cartridge 116D through the developing sleeve 107D, a sealing sheet 108D is provided between the developing sleeve 107D and a second stirring screw 135D which is a developer conveying member 105D. A developer that requires a large amount of time during installation by disposing a sealing plate 114D to which the developer is distributed, preventing the developer from scattering when the developer distributes the process cartridge 116D, and placing the developer in the supply chamber 106D in advance. It is possible to prevent the leakage of the developer at that time.

  The advantages of the high-quality developing device in the developer sealing having such a configuration will be described with reference to FIG.

Along with the recent improvement in image quality, as shown in FIG. 5A, the distance T1 between the developing sleeve 107D and the second stirring screw in the developing device is reduced to be as small as possible, and the second stirring screw 135D is transferred to the developing sleeve 107D. The distance T1 is often 4 to 5 mm or less so as not to cause a shortage of developer supply. For this reason, as in Conventional Example 1, when the mold sealing material and the sealing sheet are attached, the development is caused by deformation due to the large thickness (2 mm or more) of the sealing plate 109A and insufficient strength of the sealing plate 109A. The sleeve 107A is damaged. For this reason, in this configuration, since the sealing plate is made of a metal material (SUS or the like), the strength is not strongly deformed and the thickness of the sealing plate can be reduced to 0.8 mm or less. Since the distance between the evening 114D / developing sleeve 107D and the sealing evening 114D can be 1.5 mm or more, the sealing plate 114D does not hit the developing sleeve 107D or the second stirring screw 135D, and a stable image can be guaranteed. Furthermore, in the two-component developer system of magnetic carrier and non-magnetic toner, MRC carrier (280 EMU / cc) is adopted, and the magnetic force is weaker than ferrite carrier (280 EMU / cc).
As shown in FIG. 5B, by lowering the rising edge T2 of the developer on the developing sleeve, the photosensitive drum 102D at the nip portion (distance T2 = 300 to 500 μm) with the photosensitive drum 102D. In many cases, it has a structure that eliminates damage to the arm. When such a configuration is adopted, since the magnetic force of the developer is weakened, the distance T2 between the developing sleeve 107D and the second stirring screw is particularly small (about 4 mm), so the thickness of the sealing plate is small. In both cases, the structure of the strong sealing plate is indispensable.

  In this embodiment, the developing device 101D, the photosensitive drum 102D, the cleaning unit 119D, and the charging unit 1117D are configured as an integrated process cartridge 116D, but are separated as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B. The same applies to 101D alone.

  Next, details of the configuration of the developer sealing plate will be described with reference to FIGS.

  First, the sealing plate to which the sealing sheet 108D is attached in FIGS. 7A (cross-sectional view) and (B) (perspective view) is detachable from the developing housing 113D of the developing device 101D. The both end portions 145D and 146D of the sealing plate 114D are inserted and set in the guide groove portion 144D provided in the developing case 144D. At this time, as shown in FIG. 7B, the sealing sheet 108D can be stored in the developing housing 113D by being folded and set in the vicinity of the end 146D of the sealing plate 114D, and the development upper cover 112D is further developed. After fixing to the housing, the developer can be sealed by supplying it into the developing device. Here, the surface of the sealing sheet attached to the sealing plate 114D is attached to the developing sleeve 107D side in this configuration. As a result, when removing the sealing sheet as in Conventional Example 3, this sealing sheet can pass through the developing sleeve 107D side without the developer, not the replenishment chamber 106D in which the developer is sealed, so that when the sealing sheet is removed This eliminates the scattering of the developer to the outside of the developing device 101D and can solve a large problem.

  Here, the size of the opening of the sealing plate will be described with reference to FIG. 8. The longitudinal width V1 of the magnet roller 147D in the developing sleeve 107D is developed through the sealing plate 114E like the sealing plate 114E. Since the width V2 of the opening portion 148E to which the developer is supplied is large, the developer does not stay in a portion where the developer is not opened, and the image can be stably stabilized by supplying the developer. Further, even when the width V3 of the opening 148D is larger than the recording paper maximum width V4 and the magnet roller magnetic force guarantee range V5 as in the sealing plate 114D, the developer can be stably supplied.

  Then, sealing sheet sticking to a sealing board is demonstrated based on FIG.

  The sealing sheet 108D is pasted so as to cover the opening 148D provided in the sealing plate 114D, and the pasting width (oblique line) W1 of the sealing sheet 108D is desirably 1.5 mm or more. The sealing plate 114D and the sealing sheet 108D are preferably attached by heat sealing. When an adhesive such as a double-sided tape is used, the double-sided tape remains attached to the sealing plate when the sealing sheet is removed, causing image defects. The heat sealing of the sealing sheet to the metal sealing plate 114D can be achieved by the following method. Note that a handle 153D for a user to draw out the sealing seal is attached to the sealing seal 108D by heat sealing or the like.

  First, as shown in FIG. 9B, the sealing sheet 108D is composed of a polyethylene layer 149D / impact cushion layer 150D / thermal welding layer 152D / an adhesive layer 151D for attaching the cushion layer and the thermal welding layer 152D (at least polyethylene). Two layers of the layer 149D and the heat welding layer 152D are necessary).

The sealing plate 114D is heat-sealed to the metal sealing plate 114D by applying heat at 150 to 200 ° C. while applying a pressure of about 5 kgf / cm ² in the ↓ direction to the heat-insulating cradle 153D. To do. In this case, as in Conventional Example 1 (FIG. 9C), when the sealing seal 108A is heat-sealed to the molding material sticking plate 109A, the sticking plate is melted by heat, and the sticking surface becomes uneven as in 154D, resulting in large adhesion. In this case, a large pulling force is required for peeling off the sealing sheet, and there are many problems that the sealing seal cannot be removed.

  Therefore, a configuration for making the relationship between the sticking force of the sealing seal and the pulling force compatible will be described with reference to FIG.

  10A shows the case where the rolling direction of the metal sealing plate 114D is the same as the pulling direction J1 of the sealing seal 108D. FIG. 10B shows the rolling direction of the metal sealing plate 114D is the pulling direction of the sealing seal 108D. This is a case where it is orthogonal to J1.

  Here, in both rolling directions, a groove 154D at the time of rolling forming is provided in the rolling direction as shown in FIG. 10C, and the sealing sheet is melted in this groove by heat sealing, so that a large affixing area is secured. it can. However, as shown in FIG. 10D, the distribution sealing sheet 108D before use of the developing device 101D or the process cartridge 116D receives a pressure of the developer 143D in the K1 direction and has a force in a direction to peel off from the sealing plate 114D. appear. At this time, when the rolling direction is provided in the longitudinal direction J1 of the sealing plate as shown in FIG. 10A, the peeling prevention force against the developer pressure is high and developer leakage does not occur. Further, in this configuration, since the pulling direction of the sealing seal 108D is the same as the rolling direction, when the user peels off the sealing sheet 108D, the area of the rolling groove with respect to the pulling direction is small, so the pulling force is small and constant. .

  However, in FIG. 10B, when a force in the K1 direction is applied from the developer, the developer groove leaks due to the rolling groove being in a direction in which the area of the rolling groove is small and easily peeled off. Furthermore, when the sealing seal is pulled out (in the J1 direction), the area of the rolled groove is partly very large, so that the pulling force is large and unstable.

  For this reason, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10A, the sealing plate is bonded in the rolling direction of the sealing plate, the drawing direction of the sealing seal, and the longitudinal direction of the sealing night (J1). It is possible to increase the force and the sealing force from the developer and to reduce the pulling force of the sealing seal.

  Finally, a configuration for completely wiping off the developer 143D on the sealing seal when the sealing seal is pulled out from the developing device 101D will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, the developer adheres to the pasting surface 156D of the sealing seal in FIG. As shown in FIG. 11A, the developer 143D is attached to the developing surface 156D by wiping the developer 143D on the attaching surface 156D with a cleaning member 155D provided on the developing housing 113D. The sealing seal drawn out during use does not have a developer attached thereto, so that scattering outside the machine and usability are greatly improved. In this embodiment, the cleaning member is attached to the developing case. However, a further effect of attaching the cleaning member to both sides of the developing case 113D and the development upper cover 112D can be obtained.

  Further, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7B, the sealing seal 108D is turned back in the J1 direction and then rotated by 90 degrees along the developing case 113D. The peeled portion from the sealing plate 114D acts only on the force in the J1 direction as shown in FIG. The same effect can be obtained even if the sealing sheet 10D is disposed outside the developing device in the state of the drawing direction J1 without rotating the sealing seal 10D by 90 degrees. Then, when the handle 153D for pulling out the seal seal of FIG. 3 is pulled out in the R direction, the seal seal is peeled off from the seal plate and the developer is supplied to the developing sleeve as shown in FIG. It becomes.

  As described above, this embodiment system can prevent the developer from being scattered when the sealing seal is pulled out by attaching the sealing seal to the developing sleeve side of the metal sealing plate. Further, by using this sealing plate as a metal material, the GAP between the developing sleeve and the conveying screw can be reduced, and high-quality image development and developer supply can be stabilized. In addition, when the sealing plate and the sealing seal are heat sealed, the adhesive strength of the sealing seal is made by making the rolling direction of the sealing plate, the pulling direction of the sealing seal, and the longitudinal direction of the sealing night the same. In addition, the sealing force from the developer can be increased, and the pulling force of the sealing seal can be reduced.

1 is a side sectional view of an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied. 1 is a front perspective view and a cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied. It is a perspective view of a process cartridge. FIG. 6 is a configuration explanatory diagram of developer sealing. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional explanatory diagram of developer sealing. It is explanatory drawing of a developing device. It is a detailed explanatory view of the sealing configuration of the developing device. It is shape explanatory drawing of a sealing board. It is composition explanatory drawing of a sealing seal. It is composition explanatory drawing of a heat seal. It is cleaning explanatory drawing of a sealing seal. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of developer sealing in a developing device in Conventional Example 1. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of developer sealing in a developing device in Conventional Example 2. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of developer sealing in a developing device in Conventional Example 3.

Explanation of symbols

101A to 101D Developing device 102A to 102D Photosensitive drum 103A Process cartridge 104A to 104D Developing chamber 105A to 105D Conveying member 106A to 106D Replenishing chamber 107A to 107D Developing sleeve 108A to 108D Sealing seal 112B to 112D Developing upper cover 113A to 113D Developing Housing 114C, 114D Sealing plate 116D Process cartridge 134D First stirring screw 135D Second stirring screw 143D Developer 148D, 148E Opening 154D Rolling groove 155D Cleaning member 156D Adhesive surface

Claims (14)

A developing sleeve (image carrier) for supplying the developer to the photosensitive drum, a developing container having a developer storing and storing portion for supplying the developer to the developing sleeve, and between the developing sleeve and the developer storing portion A sealing sheet for sealing the developer and a sealing plate for adhering the sealing sheet for supplying the developer to the developing sleeve by separating and removing immediately before being placed and used In a developing device having
The developing device, wherein the sealing sheet is attached to the developing sleeve side with respect to the sealing plate. A developing sleeve (image carrier) for supplying the developer to the photosensitive drum, a developing container having a developer storing and storing portion for supplying the developer to the developing sleeve, and between the developing sleeve and the developer storing portion A sealing sheet for sealing the developer and a sealing plate for adhering the sealing sheet for supplying the developer to the developing sleeve by separating and removing immediately before being placed and used In a developing device having
The sealing plate is formed of a metal material, and the rolling direction of the sealing plate is the same as the longitudinal direction of the sealing plate and the pulling direction of the sealing sheet, and the sealing sheet is attached to the sealing plate. On the other hand, the developing device is bonded by heat welding (heat sealing).   3. The sealing sheet according to claim 1, wherein the sealing sheet is peeled off and removed from the sealing plate by pulling a free end on the side attached to the sealing plate. The developing device described.   The direction in which the user removes the sealing sheet when using the developing device and the direction in which the sealing sheet is peeled off from the sealing plate are parallel to each other. The developing device according to 1.   The developing device according to claim 1, wherein an opening for supplying a developer from the developer accommodating portion to the developing sleeve is formed in the sealing plate.   The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the opening is larger than a maximum width (a longitudinal direction of the sleeve) of a sheet on which an image is formed.   The developing device according to claim 2, wherein the sealing sheet sticking surface of the sealing plate has a surface roughness Ra = 2.5 or more.   The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the sealing sheet is formed of a plurality of layers having a layer that is melt-bonded and a resin layer that is not melt-bonded when heated at 200 ° C. .   The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the developer comprises a non-magnetic toner and a magnetic carrier.   The developing device according to claim 9, wherein the developing container is provided with a stirring member for stirring the non-magnetic toner and the magnetic carrier and supplying the developer to the developing sleeve.   The developing device according to claim 10, wherein a plurality of the agitating members are provided.   The developing container is not configured to be divided with the vicinity of the sealing plate as a boundary, and is configured to be housed in one developing container that supports the developing sleeve, the sealing plate, and the stirring member. The developing device according to claim 10, wherein the developing device is characterized in that:   The developing container includes a photosensitive drum that is supplied from the developing sleeve to form an image, a cleaning unit that collects toner remaining at the time of transfer on the photosensitive drum, and a charging unit that charges the photosensitive drum. 13. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein   2. The developing container according to claim 1, further comprising: a sealing member disposed in a developing container portion from which the sealing tape is taken out from the developing container in order to wipe off the toner adhered to the sealing tape. The developing device according to any one of 1 to 13.

Images