JP2009202908A - Packaging member - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a packaging member capable of preventing fluid material from leaking out of a clearance of an equipment body due to a shock applied during its transportation. <P>SOLUTION: This packaging member 31 for use in packaging an equipment body 11 storing fluid material 15 therein comprises a shock dampening material 32 having a concave part 35 engaged with an end part 23 of the equipment body 11 and a resilient sheet member 33 fixed to the shock dampening material 32 so as to cover at least a part of the concave part 35. The end part 23 of the equipment body 11 is engaged with the recess part 35 of the shock dampening material 32 through the sheet member 33 so as to tightly seal a clearance 19 of the equipment body 11 with the sheet member 33. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a packing member for packing an apparatus main body such as a process unit of an image forming apparatus that accommodates toner.

  Conventionally, for example, when transporting a device main body such as a process unit for storing toner, a buffer material 53 is engaged with an end 52 of the device main body 51 and stored in an exterior body 54 as shown in FIG. Yes. However, in this case, there is a problem that the toner 55 leaks from the gap 56 of the device main body 51 due to an impact force applied to the device main body 51 at the time of dropping or collision. Therefore, in order to prevent leakage of the toner 55, a sealing material for sealing the individual gaps 56 in the device main body 51 has been used.

  However, when the sealing material is used, the user needs to remove each sealing material after the arrival of the product and before using the device main body.

  This invention is made in view of the said conventional problem, and makes it a subject to provide the packaging member which can prevent that a fluid leaks from the clearance gap between apparatus main bodies by the impact at the time of transport.

  As means for solving the above problems, a packing member according to the present invention is a packing member for packing a device main body that contains a fluid therein, and a cushioning material having a recess that engages with an end of the device main body. An elastic sheet material fixed to the buffer material so as to cover at least a part of the recess, and the end of the device body is engaged with the recess of the buffer material via the sheet material. In addition, the gap between the device main bodies is sealed with the sheet material.

  In the packaging member according to the present invention, when the end portion of the device main body is engaged with the recess of the cushioning material via the sheet material, the elastic sheet material extends along the shape of the end portion of the device main body and ends. Can be covered. For this reason, since the clearance gap between apparatus main bodies is sealed with a sheet | seat material, the leakage of the fluid accommodated in the apparatus main body inside by the impact during transport can be prevented.

  It is preferable that the packaging member includes an exterior body that accommodates the device main body and the cushioning material in a state where the end of the device main body is engaged with the recess of the cushioning material via the sheet material.

  Preferably, the apparatus main body is a process unit of an image forming apparatus, and the gap is a joint, a bearing portion, or an opening of a casing of the process unit.

  According to the present invention, when the device main body is engaged with the recess of the cushioning material and packed, the gap in the device main body that contains the fluid is sealed in the sheet material, It is possible to prevent the internal fluid from leaking from the gap between the device main bodies.

  Further, even if the fluid leaks from the gap, the sheet material covers the end of the device main body, so that the fluid can be prevented from scattering to the periphery.

  In addition, the sheet material is fixed to the cushioning material, and when unpacking, the sheet material is separated from the end of the device body simply by removing the cushioning material. Compared to sealing individual gaps with multiple sealing materials. Thus, after the product arrives, it is possible to reduce the user's unpacking burden before using the device body.

  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a state in which a process unit 11, which is an apparatus main body according to an embodiment of the present invention, is packed with a packing member 31.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the process unit 11 includes a photosensitive member 14, a developing roller 16 that supplies toner 15 as a fluid to the surface of the photosensitive member 14, and a toner 15 on the developing roller 16. A first screw roller 17 to be supplied and a second screw roller 18 to supply the toner 15 to the first screw roller 17 are accommodated.

  The process unit 11 includes a seam 19 a of the casing 13, a gap 19 b between the shaft 21 of the developing roller 16 and the bearing 22 that receives the shaft 21, or an opening 19 c between the photosensitive member 14 and the developing roller 16. There is a gap 19.

  The packaging member 31 includes a cushioning material 32 that engages with the end 23 of the process unit 11, a sheet material 33 that is fixed to the cushioning material 32, and an exterior body 34 that houses the entire process unit 11.

  The buffer material 32 engages with the end portion 23 of the process unit 11 and the first engagement recess portion 35 a having a small inner diameter that engages with the shaft 21 of the developing roller 16 protruding from the end portion 23 of the process unit 11. A second engaging recess 35b. The first engaging recess 35a penetrates the cushioning material 32. Further, a groove 36 having a square cross section extends on the outer peripheral surface of the cushioning material 32. The cushioning material 32 is formed from expanded polystyrene.

  The sheet material 33 has a thickness of 0.5 mm to 1.2 mm, and is formed of a rubber-based flexible resin sheet, such as polyethylene or silicon rubber. Further, the entire shape of the sheet material 33 is, for example, a shape like an inflated balloon, and the opening end portion of the sheet material 33 is fixed by being hooked on the groove 36 of the cushioning material 32 and covers the recess 35.

  The exterior body 34 is a known thin plate-like exterior body that covers the entire process unit 11, and is formed of cardboard, cardboard, or the like.

  Next, the packing procedure using the packing member 31 having the above configuration and the operation of the packing member 31 will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, when the end 23 of the process unit 11 is inserted into the buffer material 32, for example, the shaft 21 of the developing roller 16 first contacts the sheet material 33, for example. When inserted subsequently, the sheet material 33 expands along the shape of the shaft 21 of the developing roller 16 as shown in FIG. When further inserted, the sheet material 33 extends along the shape of the shaft 21 and the end 23 of the developing roller 16 as shown in FIG. The shaft 21 of the developing roller 16 engages with the first engagement recess 35 a of the buffer material 32, and the end 23 of the process unit 11 engages with the second engagement recess 35 b of the buffer material 32, whereby the process unit 11. Is held by the buffer material 32. Thus, the end 23 of the process unit 11 engages with the recess 35 of the cushioning material 32 via the sheet material 33, so that the elastic sheet material 33 extends along the shape of the end 23 of the process unit 11. Thus, the end 23 can be covered. In this state, the process unit 11 and the buffer material 32 are accommodated in the exterior body 34.

  When the process unit 11 is accommodated in the outer package 34 and transported, the toner 15 in the process unit 11 tends to leak from the gap 19 due to an impact during transportation. However, since the gap 19 of the process unit 11 is sealed by the sheet material 33, it is possible to prevent the toner 15 from leaking out of the gap 19 due to an impact during transportation. Even if the toner 15 leaks from the gap 19, the sheet material 33 covers the end portion 23 of the process unit 11, so that the toner 15 can be prevented from scattering to the periphery. Further, since the exterior body 34 accommodates the process unit 11 and the buffer material 32 that holds the process unit 11, the process unit 11 is prevented from being damaged by direct contact with other parts due to impact during transportation. can do.

  When unpacking the process unit 11 from the packing member 31, first, the process unit 11 and the cushioning material 32 holding the process unit 11 are taken out from the exterior body 34. Subsequently, the sheet material 33 is separated from the end portion 23 of the process unit 11 only by removing the buffer material 32 from both ends of the process unit 11. Accordingly, it is not necessary to remove the plurality of sealing materials as compared with the case where the individual gaps 19 are sealed with a plurality of sealing materials, and it is possible to reduce the unpacking burden on the user before use after the process unit 11 arrives. it can.

  In the above-described embodiment, the sheet material 33 is fixed to the buffer material 32 so as to cover the entire surface of the recess 35 of the buffer material 32. However, in the state where the process unit 11 is held by the buffer material 32, the sheet material 33 is the process unit 11. As long as the gap 19 is sealed, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. For example, the same effect can be obtained by fixing the sheet material 33 to the buffer material 32 so as to cover a part of the recess 35 as shown in FIG.

It is sectional drawing which shows the state which the packaging member which concerns on embodiment of this invention engaged with the developing roller of the process unit. It is a perspective view of the process unit and buffer material concerning an embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing of the process unit shown in FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional view showing a state before the developing roller of FIG. 1 is inserted into the buffer material. FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the developing roller of FIG. 1 is inserted into the buffer material through the sheet material. FIG. 2C is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the developing roller of FIG. 1 is engaged with the cushioning material via the sheet material and the exterior body. It is a perspective view which shows the shock absorbing material and sheet material which concern on other embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which the conventional packing member engaged with the apparatus main body.

Explanation of symbols

11 Process unit (equipment main unit)
13 Casing 15 Toner (fluid)
19 Clearance 19a Casing seam 19b Clearance between shaft of developing roller and bearing 19c Opening 23 End 31 Packing member 32 Buffer material 33 Sheet material 34 Exterior body 35 Recess

Claims (3)

In the packing member that packs the equipment body that contains the fluid inside,
A cushioning material having a recess to engage with an end of the device body;
An elastic sheet material fixed to the cushioning material so as to cover at least a part of the recess,
A packaging member, wherein an end of the device main body is engaged with a recess of the cushioning material via the sheet material, and a gap of the device main body is sealed with the sheet material. The packing member is
The exterior body which accommodates the said apparatus main body and the said shock absorbing material in the state which engaged the edge part of the said apparatus main body with the recessed part of the said shock absorbing material via the said sheet | seat material. The packaging member described. The device body is a process unit of an image forming apparatus,
The packing member according to claim 1, wherein the gap is a joint, a bearing portion, or an opening of a casing of the process unit.

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