JP2009244642A - Developing cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a developing cartridge for reducing movement of a detecting protrusion, even when an incorrect driving force is transmitted to a gear before use. <P>SOLUTION: This developing cartridge 28 is provided with: a casing (a cartridge body 60 and a cover body 70) for storing a developer; an acting part (detecting protrusion 83) provided movably with respect to the casing; a tensible long member (string body 91) relatively movable with respect to the acting part in a slackened state, and integrally movable together with the acting part in a tensioned state; a transmission gear (agitator gear 66) provided rotatably in the casing, and receiving a driving force from the outside; a tension member (winding reel 93) for pulling the long member by a driving force from the transmission gear; and a holding member (holding plate 92) for holding the long member in the slackened state, and releasing the held long member by a tensile force due to the tension member. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a developing cartridge.

  In general, in an image forming apparatus such as a laser printer, a developing cartridge containing toner is detachably attached to the apparatus main body. As such an image forming apparatus, there has heretofore been known an apparatus capable of determining whether a mounted developing cartridge is new (detecting a new product) and determining the specifications of the developing cartridge (specification detection). (See Patent Document 1).

  Specifically, the image forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a swingable arm-like actuator, a spring that biases the actuator to a neutral position, and a sensor that detects the swing of the actuator on the apparatus main body side. And a control device for detecting a new article and detecting a specification based on a signal from the sensor. The developing cartridge mounted on the image forming apparatus includes one or two detection protrusions extending radially outward from a predetermined shaft portion, and a detection gear that rotates integrally with the detection protrusion about the shaft portion. A gear mechanism is provided that meshes with the detection gear and transmits a driving force to the developing roller.

  In this image forming apparatus, when the developing cartridge is mounted on the apparatus main body, the detection protrusion presses one end of the actuator, the actuator swings, and this swing is detected by the sensor. The signal detected by this sensor is transmitted to the control device as the first detection signal. When receiving the first detection signal, the control device determines that the developing cartridge is new.

  Further, in this image forming apparatus, for example, when the front cover is closed after the developing cartridge is mounted, a warming operation (rotating operation) is executed by the control device. Here, the glass turning operation refers to an operation of rotating a stirring plate (agitator) in the cartridge in order to stir the toner in the developing cartridge.

  In such a glass turning operation, the transmission force from the driving source provided on the apparatus main body side is transmitted to the agitator and the detection gear on the developing cartridge side via the gear mechanism. As a result, the stirring of the toner by the agitator is started, and the detection protrusion rotates to further press one end of the actuator, and comes off from the actuator at a predetermined position. Thereafter, the actuator returns to the neutral position by the biasing force of the spring. At this time, if there are two detection protrusions, the second detection protrusion again presses one end of the actuator, the actuator swings, and this swing is detected by the sensor. The signal detected by this sensor is transmitted to the control device as the second detection signal.

  When receiving the second detection signal, the control device determines that the specification of the developing cartridge is the A type (for example, the maximum image forming number is 6000 types). Note that if the second detection signal is not received, the control device determines that the specification of the developing cartridge is a type B different from the type A (for example, a type having a maximum image forming number of 3000).

JP 2006-267994 A

  However, in the prior art described above, if the developing roller or the gear constituting the gear mechanism is operated before using the developing cartridge, the detection gear rotates in conjunction with the gear mechanism, and the position of the detection protrusion May move to an unintended position. If it does so, the problem which becomes impossible to detect a detection protrusion correctly with the actuator and sensor of a main body side arises.

  In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a developing cartridge that can suppress the movement of the detection protrusion even when an erroneous driving force is transmitted to the gear before the developing cartridge is used.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, a developing cartridge according to the present invention includes a housing that contains a developer, an action unit that can contact a detection actuator, and is movable with respect to the housing. A slender long member that is movable relative to the action portion in a stretched state and is movable integrally with the action portion in a stretched state, and is rotatably provided in the housing. And a transmission gear to which a driving force is input from the outside, a tension member that pulls the elongate member by the driving force from the transmission gear, and holding the elongate member in a relaxed state, and from the tension member And a holding member capable of releasing the holding of the long member by a tensile force.

  According to the present invention, when the transmission gear is rotated, the long member is pulled by the tension member that receives the driving force from the transmission gear, the holding of the long member by the holding member is released, and the long member acts. It is gradually stretched between the part and the tension member. In this way, the transmission gear continues to rotate and the long member relatively moves with respect to the action part until the elongate member changes from the slack state to the tension state. It stays at the position. Therefore, even when an erroneous driving force is transmitted to a transmission gear (for example, a developing roller driving gear), the long member acts until the long member changes from a slack state to a stretched state. Since it moves relative to the part (for example, the detection protrusion), the movement of the action part can be suppressed and maintained at an appropriate position.

  According to the present invention, even when an erroneous driving force is transmitted to the transmission gear, the long member is not moved from the slack state to the tensioned state until the long member is in the tensioned state. Since it moves relatively, the movement of the action part can be suppressed.

  Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate. In the following description, first, the overall configuration of the laser printer will be briefly described, and then the details of the characteristic portions of the present invention will be described. Further, in the following description, the description will be made in the direction based on the user when the laser printer 1 is used. That is, in FIG. 1, the right side is referred to as “front side”, the left side is referred to as “back side”, the back side in the vertical direction of the paper surface is referred to as “right side”, and the front side in the vertical direction of the paper surface is referred to as “left side”. Called. As for the vertical direction, the vertical direction in the figure is referred to as the “vertical direction” as it is.

<Overall configuration of laser printer>
As shown in FIG. 1, the laser printer 1 includes a feeder unit 4 for feeding a sheet 3 into a main body casing 2 as an example of an image forming apparatus main body, and an image forming unit for forming an image on the sheet 3. 5 etc.

<Configuration of feeder section>
The feeder unit 4 has a known structure, and mainly includes a paper feed tray 6, a paper pressing plate 7, and a paper transport mechanism 9. In the feeder unit 4, the sheet 3 in the sheet feeding tray 6 is moved upward by the sheet pressing plate 7 and conveyed to the image forming unit 5 by the sheet conveying mechanism 9.

<Configuration of image forming unit>
The image forming unit 5 includes a scanner unit 16, a process cartridge 17, a fixing unit 18, and the like.

  The scanner unit 16 includes a laser light emitting unit, a polygon mirror, a lens, a reflecting mirror, and the like (not shown). In the scanner unit 16, the laser beam is irradiated on the surface of the photosensitive drum 27 by high-speed scanning through a path indicated by a chain line in the drawing.

  The process cartridge 17 can be attached to and detached from the main casing 2 by appropriately opening the front cover 2 </ b> A on the front side of the main casing 2. The process cartridge 17 is mainly composed of a developing cartridge 28 and a drum unit 51.

  The developing cartridge 28 is detachably attached to the main casing 2 via the drum unit 51 or is detachably attached to the drum unit 51 fixed to the main casing 2. The developing cartridge 28 mainly includes a developing roller 31, a layer thickness regulating blade 32, a supply roller 33, and a toner hopper 34.

  In the developing cartridge 28, toner as an example of the developer in the toner hopper 34 is stirred by the agitator 34A and then supplied to the developing roller 31 by the supply roller 33. At this time, the toner between the supply roller 33 and the developing roller 31 is supplied. Positively frictionally charged. The toner supplied onto the developing roller 31 enters between the layer thickness regulating blade 32 and the developing roller 31 as the developing roller 31 rotates, and is further developed as a thin layer having a constant thickness while being frictionally charged. It is carried on a roller 31. Details of the developing cartridge 28 will be described later.

  The drum unit 51 mainly includes a known photosensitive drum 27, a scorotron charger 29 and a transfer roller 30. In the drum unit 51, the surface of the photosensitive drum 27 is uniformly positively charged by the scorotron charger 29 and then exposed by high-speed scanning of the laser beam from the scanner unit 16. Thereby, the potential of the exposed portion is lowered, and an electrostatic latent image based on the image data is formed.

  Next, by the rotation of the developing roller 31, the toner carried on the developing roller 31 is supplied to the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 27, so that the toner image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 27. It is formed. Thereafter, the sheet 3 is conveyed between the photosensitive drum 27 and the transfer roller 30, whereby the toner image carried on the surface of the photosensitive drum 27 is transferred onto the sheet 3.

  The fixing unit 18 has a known structure and includes a heating roller 41 and a pressing roller 42. In the fixing unit 18, the toner transferred onto the paper 3 is thermally fixed while the paper 3 passes between the heating roller 41 and the pressing roller 42. The paper 3 thermally fixed by the fixing unit 18 is sent out onto the paper discharge tray 46 by the paper discharge roller 45.

<Detailed structure of developing cartridge>
Next, the detailed structure of the developing cartridge 28 which is a characteristic part of the present invention will be described.
2A and 2B, the developing cartridge 28 includes the developing roller 31 and the like, and includes a cartridge body 60 and a cover body 70 as an example of a housing. Yes. The cover body 70 is detachably attached to the left side surface of the cartridge main body 60. As shown in FIG. 2A, a driving force is applied to the developing roller 31 and the like between the cartridge main body 60 and the cover body 70. A gear mechanism 61 for transmitting, a rotating body 80 as an example of an action unit, and a time difference adjusting mechanism 90 for transmitting the driving force from the gear mechanism 61 to the rotating body 80 with a time difference are provided.

  The gear mechanism 61 includes an input gear 62 to which a driving force is transmitted from a driving device 110 (see FIG. 5) provided on the main casing 2 side, a developing roller driving gear 63 and a supply roller driving gear 64 that directly mesh with the input gear 62. And an agitator drive gear 66 as an example of a transmission gear that meshes with the input gear 62 via an intermediate gear 65. Here, the developing roller driving gear 63, the supply roller driving gear 64, and the agitator driving gear 66 are gears for driving the developing roller 31, the supply roller 33, and the agitator 34A shown in FIG. 33 and the agitator 34A are integrally provided at the ends of the shafts. Specifically, these gears 62 to 66 are formed in a shape as shown in FIG. 3 and are provided so as to be rotatable with respect to the cartridge main body 60 in a state of being engaged with each other as described above.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the rotating body 80 includes a cylindrical engagement shaft 81, an arm portion 82 that extends radially outward from the left end portion of the engagement shaft 81, and a left side (right and left) from the tip of the arm portion 82. A detection projection 83 as an example of an action portion extending outward in the direction), and a string support portion 84 extending outward in the radial direction (a direction different from the arm portion 82) from the outer peripheral surface of the engagement shaft 81. . The rotating body 80 has its engaging shaft 81 rotatably engaged with a support shaft portion (not shown) formed on the cartridge body 60, so that its detection projection 83 is centered on the engaging shaft 81. It can move on an arc-shaped trajectory.

  The detection protrusion 83 is connected to the engagement shaft 81 via the arm portion 82, so that the detection protrusion 83 is disposed at a position shifted from the rotation center of the rotating body 80. As shown in FIG. 2B, the detection protrusion 83 protrudes outward from the opening 71 of the cover body 70 in a state where the developing cartridge 28 is assembled. It can come into contact with the detection arm 122.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, the string support portion 84 is a portion that supports a string body 91 to be described later, and mainly includes a first support portion 84A disposed on the left side and a first support portion 84A disposed on the right side. 2 support portions 84B. The first support portion 84 </ b> A is a plate-like portion that extends rightward from the left end surface of the engagement shaft 81. Further, the second support portion 84B is a plate-like portion formed at a position slightly shifted in the axial direction and the circumferential direction of the engagement shaft 81 with respect to the first support portion 84A, and from the first support portion 84A. Is also formed so as to protrude outward in the radial direction. Further, the corner portion on the first support portion 84A side of the second support portion 84B and the corner portion on the second support portion 84B side of the first support portion 84A are formed in a curved shape, and the second support portion 84B. The radius of curvature of the corner is formed to be larger than the radius of curvature of the corner of the first support portion 84A.

  The second support portion 84B is formed at a position slightly shifted in the axial direction and the circumferential direction of the engagement shaft 81 with respect to the first support portion 84A, thereby preventing an undercut at the time of molding the rotating body 80. Thus, it is possible to remove the rotating body 80 from the mold. Further, the second support portion 84B can be used as a guide for the string body 91 by projecting the second support portion 84B radially outward from the first support portion 84A.

  Then, by forming the first support portion 84A and the second support portion 84B in this way, a holding groove for holding a string body 91 described later between the first support portion 84A and the second support portion 84B. 84C is formed along the radial direction. The clamping groove 84 </ b> C is a groove that is open on both the radially outer side and both axial sides, so that the radially outer opening 84 </ b> D gradually approaches (or faces) the string body 91 by the rotation of the rotating body 80. It is configured. Specifically, the string support portion 84 is stretched between the rotating body 80 and a holding plate 92 (specifically, the first pin P1) described later when the rotating body 80 moves to the final position (see FIG. 8). The holding groove 84 </ b> C is formed at a predetermined position in the circumferential direction of the engagement shaft 81 so as to be substantially parallel to the provided string body 91.

  The time difference adjusting mechanism 90 mainly includes a string body 91 as an example of a long member, a holding plate 92 as an example of a holding member, and a take-up reel 93 as an example of a tension member.

  The string body 91 is a slender, elongated, substantially cylindrical member formed of cloth, hemp, chemical fiber, or the like. One end of the string body 91 is held in the holding groove 84C of the rotating body 80, and the other end is wound. It is fixed to the reel 93. When the developing cartridge 28 is in a new state, the cord 91 is held between the rotating body 80 and the take-up reel 93 and held on the holding plate 92.

  The holding plate 92 is a plate-like member, and is adhered to the surface thereof with an adhesive having an adhesive force that allows the slackened string body 91 to be peeled off. The adhesive strength of the adhesive may be set to such an extent that the cord body 91 can be easily peeled from the holding plate 92 when the cord body 91 is pulled by the take-up reel 93. As a method for setting the adhesive force, for example, a method of appropriately selecting the material of the adhesive, a method of appropriately changing the amount of the adhesive, or the like can be employed. Specifically, for example, an adhesive is applied to the holding plate 92 along a longitudinal direction of the holding plate 92 shown in FIG. The string body 91 may be bonded as shown in the figure so as to be orthogonal to the adhesive. According to this, the holding plate 92 and the string 91 are bonded with the plurality of dot-shaped adhesives, and can be easily peeled off.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a pair of first pins P <b> 1 and P <b> 1 are provided between the holding plate 92 and the rotating body 80, and a pair of first pins P <b> 1 and P <b> 1 are also provided between the holding plate 92 and the take-up reel 93. The second pins P2 and P2 are provided. A string 91 is passed between the pair of first pins P1 and P1 and between the pair of second pins P2 and P2. Thereby, as shown in FIG.4 (b), the string 91 is supported by the 1st pin P1 and the 2nd pin P2, when it will have removed from the holding | maintenance board 92 and became the tension | tensile_strength state. Further, the rotating body 80 rotates from the initial position in FIG. 4A to the final position in FIG. When the rotating body 80 rotates to the final position, the portion 91A on the rotating body 80 side of the string body 91 becomes substantially parallel to the holding groove 84C of the rotating body 80 between the first pin P1 and the rotating body 80. Thus, after moving along the holding groove 84C, it is easily pulled out from the opening 84D on the radially outer side of the holding groove 84C.

  The take-up reel 93 is fixed coaxially to the agitator drive gear 66, and mainly the take-up shaft 93A to which the string body 91 is fixed and the wound string body 91 from the left side of the take-up shaft 93A. And a flange portion 93B for preventing it from coming off. When the take-up reel 93 configured in this manner receives a driving force from the agitator drive gear 66, the take-up reel 93 pulls the string 91 and winds it up.

  As shown in FIG. 2B, the cover body 70 is formed with an opening 71 for exposing the detection protrusion 83 described above to the outside. The opening 71 is an arc-shaped groove centered on the rotation center of the rotating body 80, and at least one of the upper edge and the lower edge of the opening 71 is a predetermined engagement force (frictional force) with the detection protrusion 83 of the rotating body 80. Is engaged. The engaging force is set to be weaker than the engaging force between the cord body 91 and the holding groove 84C of the rotating body 80. Thus, when the driving force is transmitted from the cord body 91 to the rotating body 80, the rotating force The body 80 is rotated by a driving force that resists the engagement force between the detection protrusion 83 and the opening 71. Further, this engaging force resists the urging force received from the detection arm 122 when the detection projection 83 comes into contact with a detection arm 122 (see FIG. 6) described later when the developing cartridge 28 is attached to the main casing 2. Thus, the detection projection 83 is set to an engagement force that can swing the detection arm 122.

  Further, the cover body 70 is formed with escape holes 72, 72 for projecting the first pins P1, P1 and the second pins P2, P2 described above to the outside. As a result, as shown in FIG. 2C, the cover body 70 can be brought close to the cartridge body 60 to a position closer to the base end side than the tip end of the first pins P1, P1 (or the second pins P2, P2). Therefore, the cover body 70 prevents the string body 91 from coming off from the tips of the first pins P1, P1 (or the second pins P2, P2).

  As shown in FIG. 5, a drive device 110 and a new product specification detection device 120 are provided in the main body casing 2. These are briefly described below.

  In the portion of the main casing 2 where the developing cartridge 28 is mounted, there are a driving device 110 that transmits a driving force to the input gear 62 of the developing cartridge 28 and a new product specification detecting device 120 that can execute new product detection and specification detection. Is provided. In the present embodiment, a new (unused) developing cartridge refers to a cartridge in which the driving force is not yet applied to the input gear 62 and the developing roller 31 is not driven. Further, the old (used) developing cartridge refers to a cartridge in which a driving force has already been applied to the input gear 62 and the developing roller 31 has been driven.

  The drive device 110 includes a plurality of gears and a drive motor (not shown). Then, when the developing cartridge 28 is mounted in the main casing 2, the gear on the driving device 110 side meshes with the input gear 62, so that the driving force from the driving motor is transmitted to the input gear 62 via each gear. The In the drive device 110, a gear that meshes with the input gear 62 is configured to advance and retract with respect to the input gear 62 in conjunction with opening and closing of the front cover 2 </ b> A, for example.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the new product specification detection device 120 mainly includes an optical sensor 121, a detection arm 122, a coil spring 123, and a control device 124.

  The optical sensor 121 is a sensor that detects the swing of the detection arm 122, and outputs a predetermined signal to the control device 124 when the light from the light emitting unit 121 </ b> A is received by the light receiving unit 121 </ b> B.

  The detection arm 122 includes a cylindrical portion 122A that is rotatably supported by the main body casing 2, a light shielding arm 122B that extends radially outward from the cylindrical portion 122A, and a contact arm 122C. It is configured to be swingable about the portion 122A. In addition, a coil spring 123 is attached to an appropriate position of the light shielding arm 122B of the detection arm 122, whereby the detection arm 122 is constantly biased to the neutral position by the coil spring 123. And in this neutral position, the front-end | tip part 122D of the arm 122B for light shielding is arrange | positioned between the light emission part 121A and the light-receiving part 121B. Further, in the neutral position, the distal end portion 122E of the contact arm 122C is disposed at a position where it can contact the detection protrusion 83 protruding from the outer surface of the developing cartridge 28 attached to the main casing 2.

  The control device 124 determines whether or not the developing cartridge 28 is new according to the presence or absence of the swing of the detection arm 122 detected by the optical sensor 121, and the detection arm from the start of driving of the driving device 110. A function of discriminating the specifications of the developing cartridge 28 according to the time required for the 122 to return to the original position is provided. Specifically, the control device 124 executes a known glass turning operation based on a closing signal from a sensor for detecting the closing operation of the front cover 2A or a signal generated when the laser printer 1 is turned on. . Then, the control device 124 determines whether or not it is a new one by determining whether or not the ON signal output from the optical sensor 121 is received when the detection arm 122 is pressed by the detection protrusion 83. I do. In addition, the control device 124 receives the ON signal that is continuously output from the optical sensor 121 when the detection arm 122 is tilted from the original posture (the detection arm 122 is restored from the start of the rattling operation). Based on the determination of whether the maximum number of images to be formed is 3000 or 6000, based on the time until the ON signal from the optical sensor 121 is turned off after returning to the posture. I do.

  Next, the operation of the time difference adjusting mechanism 90 when the developing cartridge 28 is mounted on the main casing 2 will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 5, when a new developing cartridge 28 is installed in the main casing 2, the detection projection 83 of the rotating body 80 is moved to the lower end portion of the detection arm 122 (see FIG. 7A). It abuts on the front end 122E) of the abutting arm 122C. At this time, since the detection protrusion 83 is supported by the opening 71 (see FIG. 2B) with a predetermined frictional force, the detection arm 122 is pressed by the detection protrusion 83, and the lower end of the detection arm 122. Part moves to the back side together with the detection protrusion 83 (developing cartridge 28).

  When the detection arm 122 swings in this way, an ON signal is output from the optical sensor 121 to the control device 124, and the control device 124 determines that it is new. Thereafter, when a known gear turning operation is executed by the control device 124, the driving force of the driving device 110 is wound through the input gear 62, the intermediate gear 65, and the agitator driving gear 66 as shown in FIG. This is transmitted to the take-up reel 93 and the take-up reel 93 rotates clockwise. When the take-up reel 93 rotates in this manner, the string body 91 is pulled by the take-up reel 93, so that the slack portion of the string body 91 adhered on the holding plate 92 is taken up on the take-up reel 93 on the holding plate 92. It goes out from the side in order. The string body 91 moves relative to the rotating body 80 until the slack portion of the string body 91 is in a stretched state. As a result, the detection protrusion 83 does not move until the slack portion of the string 91 is stretched, so that the detection arm 122 is also maintained in that position, and the above-described ON signal is sent to the control device 124. It will continue to be output.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 7C, when the slack portion of the string body 91 is stretched, the string support portion 84 of the rotating body 80 is pulled by the string body 91, so that the rotating body 80 is It moves integrally with the body 91 and rotates clockwise against the frictional force with the opening 71. As a result, the engagement between the lower end of the detection arm 122 and the detection projection 83 is released, and the detection arm 122 is returned to the neutral position by the coil spring 123. At this time, the light shielding arm 122B of the detection arm 122 returns to the original position and blocks the light from the light emitting unit 121A, whereby the optical sensor 121 is turned off and an ON signal is transmitted to the control device 124. Is canceled.

  As a result, the reception time of the ON signal from the optical sensor 121 is calculated, and the control device 124 determines the specification based on this reception time. In addition, this reception time can be changed by changing appropriately the slack amount (length of the loosened part) of the string 91 according to a specification, for example. By the way, if a structure is adopted in which gear teeth are formed on the rotating body 80 without providing the string body 91 and the gear teeth are meshed with the agitator drive gear 66 via a predetermined number of gears, the detection protrusions are simultaneously detected with the rattling operation. Since 83 can be moved, a large time difference can be created by properly using this structure and the structure of this embodiment (with the string member 91) according to the specifications.

  And if the rotary body 80 rotates to the position shown to Fig.8 (a), it will be stopped by contact | abutting with the terminal end of the opening part 71. FIG. At this time, the opening 84D of the holding groove 84C of the rotating body 80 gradually approaches the string body 91 with the rotation of the rotating body 80, and finally it is directed between the pair of first pins P1 and P1. It is done. At this time, the winding of the string 91 by the take-up reel 93 is continued. Therefore, the string body 91 moves along the holding groove 84C against the engaging force with the holding groove 84C of the stationary rotating body 80, and comes off from the holding groove 84C as shown in FIG. 8B. Thereafter, the string body 91 is wound around the take-up reel 93 as shown in FIG.

According to the above, the following effects can be obtained in the present embodiment.
The rotating body 80 and the agitator drive gear 66 (the take-up reel 93) are connected by a slackened string body 91, and the detection protrusion 83 is engaged with the opening 71 with a predetermined frictional force. Until the tension is applied, the agitator drive gear 66 rotates relative to the rotating body 80. Therefore, for example, in a new state, even if an erroneous driving force is transmitted to the gear of the gear mechanism 61 (for example, the input gear 62 exposed to the outside) due to a user's erroneous operation, the movement of the detection projection 83 is suppressed. The detection protrusion 83 can be maintained at the initial position.

  By appropriately changing the length of the portion where the string 91 is slackened, the time difference from the start of the rattling operation until the detection projection 83 starts to move can be changed according to the specification, so the movement range of the detection projection 83 Thus, the developing cartridge 28 can be downsized. In addition, by setting the length of the portion where the string body 91 is slackened, the detection protrusion 83 can be moved after the agitator drive gear 66 (transmission gear) has been rotated one or more times. It is possible to increase the time difference from the start of the glass turning operation until the detection protrusion 83 starts to move.

  Since the slack portion of the string body 91 is adhered to the holding plate 92 with an adhesive that can be peeled off, for example, the string body is compared with the structure in which the slack portion of the string body 91 is held by being packed in a box. 91 can be prevented from being entangled, and the detection projection 83 can be reliably moved with a set time difference.

  Since the opening 84D on the outer side in the radial direction of the holding groove 84C of the rotating body 80 gradually approaches the string body 91 by the rotation of the rotating body 80, the string body 91 can be easily pulled out along the holding groove 84C. . Furthermore, finally, the opening portion 84D of the holding groove 84C is directed between the pair of first pins P1 and P1, whereby the string body 91 stretched between the first pins P1 and P1 and the rotating body 80, and Since the holding groove 84C is substantially parallel, the string body 91 can be easily and reliably pulled out along the holding groove 84C.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, It can utilize with various forms so that it may illustrate below.

  In the said embodiment, as shown to Fig.4 (a), although the end of the string 91 was directly engaged with the clamping groove 84C of the rotary body 80, this invention is not limited to this, One end of the string 91 A retaining portion that bulges outward in the radial direction may be provided, and one end thereof may be sandwiched in the sandwiching groove 84C. Here, the retaining portion may be formed by, for example, tying one end together, or may be formed by caulking and fixing a metal ring member at one end. The retaining portion may be disposed on the surface of the string support portion 84 on the rear side in the rotational direction. According to this, when pulling the string support portion 84 with the string body 91, the string body 91 can be prevented from coming off from the openings on both sides in the rotation direction of the holding groove 84C. Even in the case where the retaining portion is provided in this way, when the rotating body 80 rotates to the final position, the retaining groove 84C and the string body 91 become substantially parallel so that the retaining portion is sandwiched. Since it slides and moves on the groove 84C (specifically, on both side walls forming the holding groove 84C), the string body 91 can be easily removed from the holding groove 84C.

  In the above-described embodiment, the detection protrusion 83 is employed as the action portion that contacts the detection arm 122, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 9A, one end portion 911 of a string body 910 held by a support wall 710 as an example of a support member formed on the cover body 700 is used as an action portion. May be. Specifically, this structure is as follows.

  As shown in FIG. 9A, a support wall 710 that protrudes outward in the left-right direction is formed on the outer surface of the cover body 700. The support wall 710 includes a vertical wall portion 720 extending substantially in the vertical direction, and a horizontal wall portion 730 extending from the lower end of the vertical wall portion 720 toward the back side. Further, on the upper end portion of the vertical wall portion 720 and the rear end portion of the horizontal wall portion 730, holding grooves 721 and 731 for holding the one end portion 911 of the cord body 910 with a predetermined engagement force are formed, respectively.

  As shown in FIG. 9 (b), the other end 912 is fixed to the take-up reel 93 having the same structure as that of the embodiment, and the slack portion of the string 910 has the same structure as that of the embodiment. Is held by a holding plate 92. The gear mechanism (such as the agitator drive gear 66) in the structure of FIG. 9 has the same structure as that of the above embodiment.

  One end portion 911 of the string body 910 extends from the inside to the outside through the hole 701 formed in the cover body 700 shown in FIG. 9A, and a plurality of the holding grooves 721 and 731 of the support wall 710 are provided. It is held in a state of being stretched in the holding grooves 721 and 731 in a state of being folded into a bellows shape so as to reciprocate. Note that the engaging force between each of the holding grooves 721 and 731 and the string body 910 is an engaging force enough to cause the string body 910 to be disengaged from each of the holding grooves 721 and 731 by the pulling force of the take-up reel 93 and will be described later. The engagement force is set to such an extent that the string member 910 does not come off the holding grooves 721 and 731 depending on the urging force from the detection arm 122.

  According to this structure, when a new developing cartridge 28 is installed in the main casing 2, as shown in FIG. 10A, one end portion of the string body 910 held in a tensioned state by the support wall 710. 911 contacts the lower end of the detection arm 122 (not shown) (the front end 122E of the contact arm 122C). As a result, as in the above-described embodiment, the detection arm 122 swings and the controller 124 determines that it is new.

  Thereafter, when a known glass turning operation is executed by the control device 124, the string body 910 is gradually detached from the holding plate 92 shown in FIG. It is gradually stretched between the folded one end 911 and the other end 912. At this time, since the other end portion 912 of the string body 910 moves relative to the one end portion 911, the one end portion 911 is maintained in that position while supporting the detection arm 122 in an inclined state.

  When the string 910 is stretched between the folded one end 911 and the other end 912, as shown in FIGS. 10B to 10D, the one end 911 of the string 910 is Then, it gradually disengages from the holding grooves 721 and 731 of the support wall 710 and is accommodated inside the cover body 700 (winding reel 93). As a result, the one end portion 911 that has been supporting the detection arm 122 up to now is eliminated, and the detection arm 122 is returned to the neutral position by the coil spring 123. Then, when the detection arm 122 returns to the neutral position in this way, the optical sensor 121 is turned off, so that the ON signal reception time is calculated by the control device 124 and the specification is determined as in the above embodiment. The

  According to the above, also in the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the same effects as in the above embodiment can be obtained. Furthermore, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the slack portion of the string body 910 is held by the holding plate 92, and the slack portions of the string body 910 are also held by the holding grooves 721 and 731 of the support wall 710. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 10A to 10C, the detection arm 122 is moved until the portion of the folded one end portion 911 that supports the detection arm 122 is disengaged from the holding grooves 721 and 731. Since it can hold | maintain in the inclined state, a bigger time difference than the said embodiment can be made. In this structure, one end portion of the cord body 910 (a portion of a predetermined range including one end) is used as the action portion. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and if the cord body is a part of the cord body, for example, the center portion acts. It may be used as a part.

  In the embodiment of FIG. 9, the support wall 710 having the holding grooves 721 and 731 is employed as a support member that supports the string member 910 in a state where the one end 911 is stretched. However, the present invention is not limited to this. is not. For example, a pair of pins may be employed as the support member. Specifically, the string body is wound between the pair of pins by winding the string body a plurality of times between the pair of pins and holding one end of the string body with a holding groove formed on one pin. It may be held with.

  In the said embodiment, although the string 91 formed in the elongate substantially cylindrical shape was employ | adopted as an elongate member, this invention is not limited to this, A wide strip | belt body may be sufficient. In addition to the materials described in the above embodiment, paper, vinyl, and the like can be appropriately employed as the material for the long member.

  In the above embodiment, the holding plate 92 coated with a peelable adhesive is used as the holding member, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 11, when a wide strip 100 is used as the long member, a plurality of pins 130 arranged at a predetermined interval may be employed as the holding member. Even in this case, the belt body 100 can be held in a relaxed state between the pins 130. In addition, in the case where the plurality of pins 130 hold the string body 91 in a relaxed state as in the above-described embodiment, the string body 91 may be entangled, but by using the belt body 100, The problem of entanglement can be solved.

  Further, as the holding member, for example, a hook-and-loop fastener having a plurality of hook-shaped protrusions that can be engaged with a fibrous string body, an adhesive member such as clay or kneaded rubber having peelable adhesive force, etc. are adopted. Also good. Furthermore, a support wall 710 shown in FIG. 9A may be formed on the cartridge body 60 to be used as a holding member. In this case, the holding grooves 721 and 731 formed in the support wall 710 correspond to an example of the holding portion.

  In the embodiment, the structure in which one end of the cord body 91 is supported by the holding groove 84C of the cord support portion 84 formed in the rotating body 80 is adopted, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, as shown in FIG. A simple structure may be adopted. In FIG. 12, the same components as those in the above embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

  Specifically, the rotating body 800 shown in FIG. 12 includes a string holding body 85 that bites the string body 91 instead of the string support section 84 according to the embodiment, and a support portion 86 that supports the string holding body 85 so that the string holding body 85 can be advanced and retracted. The other structure is the same as that of the above embodiment. The string holding body 85 is a resin member, and includes a pair of jaw portions 85A that are always urged so as to be separated from each other, and tooth portions 85B that are formed on the opposing surfaces of the jaw portions 85A. The support portion 86 is a concave portion that holds the string holding body 85 in a closed state, and includes four walls (only two are shown) that are in sliding contact with the four surfaces of the string holding body 85.

  According to this structure, as shown in FIG. 13A, when the rotary body 800 is located at the initial position, the string holding body 85 biting the string body 91 is held in the support portion 86. It is in the state. And as shown in FIG.13 (b), when the rotary body 800 rotates from an initial position to a final position, the movement direction of the string holding body 85 with respect to the support portion 86 and the string body 91 are substantially parallel. The string holding body 85 gradually comes out from the support portion 86 together with the string body 91. And as shown in FIG.13 (c), when the string holding body 85 completely remove | deviates from the support part 86, each string part 91 will remove | separate from the jaw part 85A of the string holding body 85, and the string body 91 will remove | deviate from the string holding body 85. To be collected on the take-up reel.

  Therefore, in a state before the rotating body 800 reaches from the initial position to the final position, the string body 91 is securely fixed to the rotating body 800 by the string body 91 being held between the jaw portions 85A of the string holding body 85. Thus, the rotating body 800 can be reliably rotated by the string body 91. Further, when the rotating body 800 reaches the final position, the string holding body 85 is detached from the support portion 86, so that each jaw portion 85A is opened. Therefore, the string body 91 is reliably separated from the rotating body 800 and collected. can do.

  In the above embodiment, the take-up reel 93 is used as the tension member, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 14, the string body 91 may be pulled between the pair of rollers 200 by rotating the pair of rollers 200 that sandwich and support the string body 91. In this case, as shown in the figure, it is preferable to provide a collection container 210 for collecting the string body 91 below the nip position of the pair of rollers 200.

  In the above-described embodiment, the rotating body 80 that rotates as the action portion is employed. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the moving body 300 that moves linearly as shown in FIGS. It may be adopted. Specifically, the moving body 300 is a resin member, and includes a contact portion 301 that can contact the detection arm 122, a pair of jaw portions 302 that are constantly biased away from each other, and each jaw. And a tooth portion 303 formed on the opposing surface of the portion 302. And this moving body 300 is formed so that it may become a rectangular parallelepiped shape in the state which each jaw part 302 was closed, as shown to Fig.15 (a).

  Further, the cartridge body 60 or the cover body 70 (not shown) is provided with a support portion 310 that supports the movable body 300 so as to be slidable. The support part 310 has a first support part 311 that slidably supports the jaws 302 in a closed state, and a first gap that is wider than the first support part 311 to open the jaws 302. 2 support portions 312.

  According to this structure, as shown in FIG. 15A, when the moving body 300 is located at the initial position, each jaw portion 302 biting the string body 91 is within the first support portion 311. It is in a retained state. Then, as shown in FIG. 15 (b), when the moving body 300 moves linearly from the initial position to the final position, the jaws 302 move away from the first support part 311, thereby moving the string 91. It will come off the body 300 and be collected on the take-up reel.

  Therefore, in a state before the moving body 300 reaches the final position from the initial position, the string body 91 is securely fixed to the moving body 300 by the string body 91 being sandwiched between the jaws 302, and the string body 91. Thus, the moving body 300 can be reliably moved. Further, when the moving body 300 reaches the final position, the jaws 302 are opened, so that the string body 91 can be reliably separated from the moving body 300 and collected.

  In the above-described embodiment, the agitator driving gear 66 is used as the transmission gear. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the intermediate gear 65, the gear that meshes with the intermediate gear 65 or the agitator driving gear 66, and the like are used as the transmission gear. May be. In this case, for example, the take-up reel 93 as in the above-described embodiment may be provided on the gear employed as the transmission gear.

  In the above embodiment, the present invention is applied to the laser printer 1. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention may be applied to other image forming apparatuses such as a copying machine and a multifunction machine.

1 is a side sectional view showing a laser printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a side view (a) showing a state where a cover body of the developing cartridge is removed, a side view (b) showing a state where the cover body is attached, and a cross-sectional view taken along line XX of FIG. 2 (b). It is a perspective view which shows the detailed structure of the left side surface of a cartridge main body. It is a figure which shows a rotary body and a time difference adjustment mechanism, and is a perspective view (a) which shows the state in which the rotary body was located in the initial position, and a perspective view (b) in which the rotary body was located in the final position. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state where the developing cartridge is removed from the main body casing. It is a perspective view which shows each component of a new article specification detection apparatus. It is explanatory drawing explaining operation | movement of a time difference adjustment mechanism, explanatory drawing (a) which shows the relationship between a rotary body when a developing cartridge is mounted in a main body casing, and a detection arm, and a state when a glass turning operation is started FIG. 5B is an explanatory diagram (b), and an explanatory diagram (c) showing a state in which the rotating body and the agitator driving gear start to rotate integrally by the string body being stretched. Explanatory drawing (a) which shows the state which the rotary body rotated to the final position, explanatory drawing (b) which shows the state from which a string body remove | deviates from a rotary body, and explanatory drawing which shows the state by which a string body is collect | recovered by a take-up reel (C). It is a figure which shows the modification of an action part, and is a perspective view (a) which shows the string body supported by the support wall formed in a cover body, and the perspective view which shows the state of the string body in a cover body, and the structure around it (B). A perspective view (a) showing a state of one end portion of the cord body when the developing cartridge is attached to the main body casing, a perspective view (b) showing a state where one end portion of the cord body is detached from the holding groove of the support wall, and (C) and a perspective view (d) which shows the state where a string object is collected in a cover body. It is a perspective view which shows the modification of a elongate member and a holding member. It is a figure which shows the modification of the engagement structure of a rotary body and a string. FIG. 12A shows a state in which the rotator of FIG. 12 is located at the initial position, FIG. 12B shows a state in which the rotator is located at the final position, It is a figure (c) which shows the state where a string body removes. It is a figure which shows the modification of a tension member. It is a figure which shows the modification of an action part, and is a figure (a) which shows the state where a mobile body is located in an initial position, and the figure (b) which shows the state where a mobile body is located in a final position.

Explanation of symbols

28 Developing cartridge 60 Cartridge body 61 Gear mechanism 62 Input gear 63 Developing roller driving gear 64 Supply roller driving gear 65 Intermediate gear 66 Agitator driving gear 70 Cover body 71 Opening portion 80 Rotating body 81 Engagement shaft 82 Arm portion 83 Detection projection 84 String Support portion 84A First support portion 84B Second support portion 84C Holding groove 84D Opening portion 90 Time difference adjusting mechanism 91 String body 92 Holding plate 93 Take-up reel 93A Take-up shaft 93B Flange portion 122 Detection arm

Claims (6)

A housing for containing the developer;
An action part that is capable of contacting the detection actuator and is movable with respect to the housing;
A slackable elongate member that is movable relative to the action part in a relaxed state and that can move integrally with the action part in a tensioned state;
A transmission gear that is rotatably provided in the housing and receives a driving force from the outside,
A tension member that pulls the elongated member by a driving force from the transmission gear;
A developing cartridge, comprising: a holding member that holds the long member in a slack state and that can release the holding of the long member by a tensile force from the tensile member.   The developing cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the action portion is a rotating body rotatably provided in the housing. A support member capable of releasing support of the long member by a tensile force from the tensile member, while supporting a part of the long member in a stretched state;
The developing cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the action portion is formed by a part of a long member supported by the support member. The holding member is
The developing cartridge according to claim 1, comprising an adhesive having a peelable adhesive force. The rotating body is formed along a radial direction, and at least a radially outer side is opened to form a holding groove that holds one end of the long member,
The developing cartridge according to claim 2, wherein the opening portion on the radially outer side of the holding groove is configured to gradually face the direction of the long member by the rotation of the rotating body. The said holding member has the clamping part which clamps the said elongate member, and cancels | releases holding | maintenance of the said elongate member with the tension | tensile_strength of the said tension member, The any one of Claims 1-5 characterized by the above-mentioned. The developing cartridge according to 1.

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