JP2009265147A - Stored object supply container and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technique to prevent a user from forgetting removal. <P>SOLUTION: A process cartridge 30 includes: a developer chamber 70 having an aperture part 71 for supplying developer, and storing the developer; a photoreceptor drum 14 supplying the developer supplied from the aperture part 71; a memory 83 to be electrically connected to a body 10a; a superposing tape 80 formed like a seal and sealing the aperture part 71; a protection part 110 formed like a sheet and protecting the photoreceptor drum 14; and a shutoff part 120 formed like a sheet and shutting off electric connection between the body 10a and the memory 83. The superposing tape 80, the protection part 110 and the shutoff part 120 are connected. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a container supply container and an image forming apparatus.

  As conventional image forming apparatuses, there are image forming apparatuses described in Patent Documents 1 to 3, for example. The image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1 includes a process cartridge that is detachable from the apparatus main body, a memory tag contact portion that is provided in the process cartridge and is electrically connected to the apparatus main body, a seal member that seals the developer, A handle member is provided that protects the memory tag contact portion and holds the memory tag when the seal member is removed. In the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1, the seal member is removed by pulling the handle member, so that the process cartridge can be used.

  An image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 2 includes a process cartridge that can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body, a memory provided in the process cartridge, a protective sheet that protects the memory, a communication unit that communicates with the memory, and a memory and a communication unit. Discriminating means for discriminating the presence or absence of the protective sheet according to the communication status. In the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 2, it is determined whether or not the protective sheet has been removed, thereby preventing forgetting to remove it.

The image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 3 includes a process cartridge that can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body, a seal member that seals the developer of the process cartridge, and a detection unit that detects the seal member. In the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 3, the detection unit detects whether or not the process cartridge can be operated in a state where the process cartridge is mounted on the apparatus main body.
JP2007-047399A JP 2006-285091 A JP 08-314351 A

  The present invention has been made based on the technical background as described above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a technique for preventing forgetting to remove.

  The invention according to claim 1 has an opening for supplying a storage object, a storage means for storing the storage object, a supply means for supplying the storage material supplied from the opening, and a device A connecting means for electrically connecting with the main body, a sealing means formed in a seal shape, closing the opening, formed in a sheet shape, a protection means for protecting the supply means, and formed in a sheet shape; A container supply container comprising: blocking means for blocking electrical connection between the apparatus main body and the connection means; and connecting the blocking means, the protection means, and the blocking means. .

  The invention according to claim 2 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein the blocking means, the protection means, and the blocking means are configured in a hierarchy so that the blocking means is arranged in the lowest layer. It is characterized by being.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the protection means and the blocking means are integrally formed, the protection means is disposed under the closing means, and the protection means The blocking means is disposed below.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus comprising the container supply container according to any one of the first to third aspects.

  The invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that in the invention according to claim 4, the apparatus further comprises a judging means for judging whether or not the blocking means has been removed from the connection status between the apparatus main body and the connecting means. To do.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, forgetting to remove can be prevented as compared with the case where the present invention is not applied.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent forgetting to remove the blocking means and the protective means as compared with the case where the present invention is not applied.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent forgetting to remove the closing means, the protecting means and the connecting means as compared with the case where the present invention is not applied.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, compared to the case where the present invention is not applied, the container supply container with the closing means, the protecting means, and the connecting means attached thereto is replaced with the closing means, the protecting means, and the connecting means. It can be arranged at a predetermined position of the apparatus main body in which the container supply container that is not worn is arranged.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to confirm whether or not the closing means, the protection means, and the connection means have been removed from the stored item supply container as compared with the case where the present invention is not applied.

(Color printer configuration)
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an outline of a color printer. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a state in which the front cover is opened.

  A color printer (image forming apparatus) 10 shown in FIG. 1 includes a control device (determination means) 5 in a main body (apparatus main body) 10a. The control device 5 controls the operation of the entire color printer 10. The control device 5 includes a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and an interface function. The control device 5 controls the operation of the color printer 10 described later. Further, the control device 5 determines whether or not a blocking unit (blocking unit) 120 described later has been removed from a connection state between the main body 10a and a memory (connecting unit) 83 described later.

  The color printer 10 is a so-called tandem type in which four color process cartridges (container supply containers) 30 (30Y, 30M, 30C, 30K) are arranged in the vertical direction in a main body 10a. In addition, a conveyance path 12 for conveying the recording paper P from below to above is disposed at a corresponding position of each process cartridge 30. Further, a paper feed cassette 13 for storing the recording paper P that is transported through the transport path 12 and sequentially transfers the toner images is provided below the lowermost (uppermost) process cartridge 30Y. It has been.

  The process cartridge 30 (30Y, 30M, 30C, and 30K) forms a yellow (Y) toner image in order from the upstream side (lower side in the drawing) of the transport path 12 and the magenta (M) toner image. The process cartridge 30M to be formed, the process cartridge 30C to form a cyan (C) toner image, and the process cartridge 30K to form a black (K) toner image are provided in this order. Each of these process cartridges 30 has the same configuration except for the color of the toner (contained matter), and will be described as a process cartridge 30 unless otherwise described below. The process cartridge 30 is obtained by integrally forming a photosensitive drum (supplying unit) 14 and various electrophotographic devices sequentially provided around the photosensitive drum 14. When the built-in toner is consumed, the entire process cartridge 30 is replaced with a new one. The configuration of the process cartridge 30 will be described in detail later.

  An exposure device 15 common to each process cartridge 30 is provided on the opposite side of the conveyance path 12 across the process cartridge 30. The exposure device 15 is configured to draw an optical image on the photosensitive drum 14.

  A transport belt 16 that circulates along the transport path 12 is provided at a location corresponding to the photosensitive drum 14 of each process cartridge 30. The conveying belt 16 is made of a belt material that can electrostatically attract the recording paper P, and is stretched around a pair of driving roller 17A and driven roller 17B. Further, an adsorption roller 18 for electrostatically adsorbing the recording paper P to the conveyance belt 16 is provided in the conveyance path 12.

  A transfer roller 19 is provided on the back side of the conveyance belt 16 corresponding to the photosensitive drum 14 of each process cartridge 30. The transfer roller 19 is for transferring the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 14 onto the recording paper P by bringing the photosensitive drum 14 and the recording paper P on the transport belt 16 into close contact with each other.

  A fixing device 20 is provided in the conveyance path 12 further above (downstream side) of the uppermost (most downstream) process cartridge 30K. On the upper part of the main body 10 a, a paper discharge unit 21 is provided integrally with the main body 10 a for storing the recording paper P discharged after the toner image is fixed by the fixing device 20. The main body 10 a is provided with a reversing conveyance path 22 for reversing the recording paper P, one side of which has been fixed by the fixing device 20, and sending it again to the conveyance path 12.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the main body 10 a of the color printer 10 is provided with a front cover 25 that can rotate around a rotation fulcrum J provided at the lower end. The front cover 25 functions as an external cover together with the main body 10a in the closed state. That is, the front cover 25 constitutes a side wall portion on the upper side of the paper feed cassette 13 and on the front side of the color printer 10.

  The front cover 25 is provided with a conveyance belt 16, a driving roller 17A, a driven roller 17B, an adsorption roller 18, a transfer roller 19, and a reverse conveyance path 22. Therefore, when the front cover 25 is opened, these components are accompanied and separated from the main body 10a side. Therefore, the process cartridge 30 is exposed by opening the front cover 25.

  Here, each process cartridge 30 is detachably attached to the main body 10a as shown by way of example of the process cartridge 30K in FIG. For this reason, the process cartridge 30 can be attached and detached by opening the front cover 25 of the main body 10a. A set detection sensor (not shown) detects each set state of the process cartridge 30 and outputs the detection result to the control device 5. Thus, by opening the front cover 25, the process cartridge 30 can be exposed and replaced.

(Color printer operation)
Next, the operation of the color printer 1 will be described. First, when image data is input to the color printer 10 from an image reading device (not shown) or a computer device (not shown), the image processing device (not shown) performs predetermined image processing and then exposure as image data of each color (YMCK). Output to the device 15. The exposure device 15 irradiates the photosensitive drum 14 of the process cartridge 30 with an exposure beam emitted from each semiconductor laser in accordance with the input image data of each color. In each process cartridge 30, the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 14 by exposure is developed with toner of each color to form a toner image.

  Next, the toner image formed on each photosensitive drum 14 of each process cartridge 30 is attracted to the transport belt 16 by the action of the suction roller 18 from the cassette paper feeding unit 26 in the transfer unit that contacts the transfer roller 19. And sequentially superimposing and transferring on the recording paper P supplied. Then, the recording paper P on which the toner image is electrostatically transferred is conveyed to the fixing device 20 in a state of being electrostatically attracted to the conveying belt 16, and the toner image is fixed by a fixing process using heat and pressure by the fixing device 20, The paper is discharged to a paper discharge unit 21 provided at the top of the color printer 10. This completes a series of image forming processes.

(Process cartridge configuration)
Next, the configuration of the process cartridge 30 will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of the process cartridge. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. FIG. 5 is an external perspective view of the process cartridge as viewed from the back side. In FIG. 3, the polymerization tape 80 described later is omitted.

  The outer shape of the process cartridge 30 in the present embodiment is a rectangular parallelepiped as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the process cartridge 30 is divided into two upper and lower layers, and an optical path space through which an exposure beam from the exposure device 15 passes is provided between the process cartridges 30. The process cartridge 30 includes a photosensitive drum 14, a charging device 31, a developing device 32, a charge eliminating device 33, and a cleaning device 34. Further, the process cartridge 30 includes a sub-toner supply unit 35, a handle 36, and a memory 83. The cleaning device 34 and the sub-toner replenishment unit 35 are disposed in the upper layer portion, and the developing device 32 is disposed in the lower layer portion. The photosensitive drum 14 and the charging device 31 are located between the upper and lower layers. In the following description, the axial direction of the photosensitive drum 14 is set to the left and right, the horizontal direction orthogonal thereto is front and rear, and the direction orthogonal to front and rear left and right is upper and lower.

  The photosensitive drum 14 is rotatably provided and is driven to rotate in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 4 by a drive motor (not shown). Although not shown, a photosensitive layer is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 14. Around the photosensitive drum 14, a charging device 31, a developing device 32, a charge eliminating device 33, and a cleaning device 34 are provided along the direction of arrow A in FIG. As the photosensitive drum 14 rotates, the charging device 31 charges the photosensitive member on the peripheral surface, and the developing device 32 converts the electrostatic latent image formed by the exposure device 15 into a toner image. Further, the charge eliminating history of the photoconductor after the charge eliminating device 33 transfers the toner image to the recording paper P is erased, and the cleaning device 34 mechanically removes the toner remaining on the photoconductor.

  Hereinafter, the structure of each mechanism part of the process cartridge 30 will be described. The charging device 31 includes a charging roll 31a disposed in contact with the photosensitive drum 14 and a charging cleaner 31b disposed in contact with the charging roll 31a. The charging roll 31a is rotatably mounted, and is driven to rotate as the photosensitive drum 14 rotates. A charging bias for charging the photosensitive drum 14 to a predetermined potential is applied to the charging roll 31a by a power source (not shown). Further, the charging cleaner 31b is constituted by a rotatable roll member, a brush member, or the like, and is driven to rotate as the charging roll 14 rotates. The charging cleaner 31b removes foreign matters such as toner transferred and adhered from the photosensitive drum 14 to the charging roll 31a.

  The static eliminator 33 includes a transparent rod member 33a that extends in the axial direction of the photosensitive drum 14, a frame 33b that holds the rod member 33a, and an LED (not shown) that is opposed to the axial end surface of the rod member 33a. Prepare. The rod member 33a is made of, for example, plastic, and a plurality of grooves are formed in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the outer peripheral surface.

  The cleaning device 34 includes a cleaning blade 34a, a bracket 34b, and a toner recovery mechanism 34c. The cleaning blade 34a is a strip-shaped member attached along the axial direction of the photosensitive drum 14, and is made of, for example, urethane rubber. Further, the cleaning blade 34 a is disposed so as to be pressed in a direction opposite to the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 14. The cleaning blade 34a is fixed to the housing of the cleaning device 34 via a bracket 34b. The toner recovery mechanism 34c includes an arm 34e that is rotatably provided about a shaft 34d, and a scraping member 34f that is mounted on the free end side of the arm 34e.

  The sub toner replenishing unit 35 is provided with a first sub agitator 35b and a second sub agitator 35c in a sub toner storage chamber 35a for storing toner. The sub toner replenishment unit 35 is connected to the main toner replenishment unit 60 via the connection passage 66. The connection passage 66 is provided at a position on the back side of the process cartridge 30 in the drawing so as not to obstruct the optical path of the exposure beam by the exposure device 15. The handle 36 has a function of improving the operability by the user when the process cartridge 30 is mounted or replaced, and has a function of fixing the process cartridge 30 at a predetermined position by a swinging operation.

  Next, the developing device 32 will be described with reference to the drawings. The developing device 32 includes a developing unit 40 that develops the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 14 with toner in a housing 41 having an opening 42 at a portion facing the photosensitive drum 14, and the developing unit 40. A main toner replenishing unit 60 for replenishing toner is integrated in the horizontal direction. The sub-toner replenishment unit 35 also constitutes a part of the developing device 32 and replenishes toner to the main toner replenishment unit 60 as will be described later. The developing device 32 is a two-component system using a developer (contained material) containing toner and carrier. In the present embodiment, the developing unit 40 is located obliquely below the photosensitive drum 14, and the opening 42 formed in the housing 41 faces upward.

  The housing 41 includes a lower housing 41a, an upper housing 41b fitted to the lower housing 41a, and a sub housing 41c attached to both the lower housing 41a and the upper housing 41b. The sub-housing 41c forms a toner replenishing chamber 64 with the upper surface of the lower housing 41a, and a partition wall 61a that is vertically formed on the upper surface of the sub housing 41c is fitted into the lower surface of the upper housing 41b so that the interior of the housing 41 Is divided into a developing unit 40 (agitating zone 47) and a main toner replenishing unit 60 (toner accommodating chamber (accommodating means) 61). Further, a developer chamber (accommodating means) 70 is formed on the lower surface of the upper housing 41b adjacent to the partition wall 61a on the developing unit section 40 side. The developer chamber 70 protrudes in the shape of a rectangular frame by two wall plates 41d that are suspended in the front-rear direction at predetermined intervals, and side plates at both ends in the left-right direction (not shown), and is located above the stirring zone 47. An opening (opening 71) is formed on the lower side.

  The developing unit 40 includes a developing roll 43, a pair of devices (a supply device 44 and a stirring device 45), and a layer thickness regulating member 50. The developing roll 43 is attached to a portion facing the opening 42 of the housing 41. The developing roll 43 includes a magnet roll 43a fixed inside and a developing sleeve 43b rotatably provided on the outer peripheral surface of the magnet roll 43a. The developing sleeve 43b is supplied with a predetermined developing bias by a power source (not shown). Is applied and rotated by a drive mechanism (not shown).

  The supply device 44 and the stirring device 45 are provided in the lower part on the back side of the developing roll 43 in the housing 41. The rear side of the developing roll 43 is divided into a supply area 46 and an agitation area 47 by a partition wall 48 standing on the lower housing 41a. The partition wall 48 is not provided in a predetermined range at the left and right ends, and the developer can flow between the supply area 46 and the agitation area 47 at that portion.

  The supply device 44 is provided in the supply area 46 on the side close to the developing roll 43, and the stirring device 45 is provided in the stirring area 47 on the main toner supply unit 60 side with the supply area 46 and the partition wall 48 interposed therebetween. The layer thickness regulating member 50 is provided in the housing 41 obliquely above and to the left of the developing roll 43 in the drawing. The layer thickness regulating member 50 forms a predetermined gap with respect to the developing roll 43 along the axial direction of the developing roll 43. The layer thickness regulating member 50 is constituted by a cylindrical shaft, and regulates the developer held on the developing roll 43 to a predetermined thickness.

  The main toner replenishing unit 60 includes a toner storage chamber 61 partitioned from the developing unit 40 by a partition wall 61a erected on the sub housing 41c, and a toner formed between the sub housing 41c and the lower housing 41a. And a replenishment chamber 64. A first agitator 62 and a second agitator 63 are provided inside the toner storage chamber 61, and a supply device 65 is provided in the toner supply chamber 64.

  A toner carry-in port 67 that connects the toner storage chamber 61 and the toner supply chamber 64 in communication is formed on the back side of the sub-housing 41c in the drawing. A toner replenishing port (opening) 68 that connects the toner replenishing chamber 64 and the agitation region 47 to each other is formed on the front side of the sub housing 41c in the drawing. Thus, the toner stored in the toner storage chamber 61 can be supplied to the developing unit section 40 (supply area 46) via the toner carry-in port 67, the toner supply chamber 64, and the toner supply port 68.

  Next, the memory 83 will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a memory 83 is provided on the back surface of the process cartridge 30. The memory 83 is provided with a memory contact for electrical connection with the main body 10a. The memory 83 stores information such as the color of the toner, the type of toner, and the like, and with the process cartridge 30 mounted in the main body 10a, as shown in FIG. 3, in the mounting opening 10b on the main body 10a side. Information is read by the provided reading contact 84. Then, information is transmitted to the control device 5 built in the color printer 10. The memory 83 may be provided on the side surface of the process cartridge 30 or the like.

(Process cartridge operation)
Next, the operation of the process cartridge 30 will be described. In the developing unit section 40, the supply device 44 conveys the developer from the back side to the near side in the drawing in the supply area 46, and the stirring device 45 develops the developer from the near side to the far side in the drawing in the stirring area 47. Transport. Since the supply area 46 and the agitation area 47 are connected to each other at both ends in the longitudinal direction as described above, the developer is circulated and conveyed while being agitated in the housing 41. At this time, the carrier has a positive charging polarity, and the toner has a negative charging polarity. For this reason, the toner and the carrier in the developer are rubbed with each other as they are stirred and conveyed, and the carrier is charged positively and the toner is negatively charged.

  When the developer to be stirred and conveyed is conveyed to the supply area 46 facing the developing roll 43, the carrier in the developer is magnetically attracted by the magnetic force of the magnetic pole provided on the magnet roll 43a, and the developing sleeve Carriers are transferred and deposited on 43b. At this time, since the negatively charged toner is electrostatically adsorbed to the positively charged carrier, the toner is transferred and attached to the developing sleeve 43b along with the carrier. Therefore, the developer including toner and carrier adheres on the developing sleeve 43b. The developer on the developing sleeve 43b is conveyed while being held on the developing sleeve 43b by the rotation of the developing sleeve 43b and the magnetic force of the magnet roll 43a, and is regulated to a predetermined thickness by the layer thickness regulating member 50. Then, it is conveyed to the opening 42 facing the photosensitive drum 14.

  A predetermined developing bias is applied to the developing sleeve 43b from a power source (not shown), whereby the developing sleeve 43b is formed on the photosensitive drum 14 from the developer layer on the developing sleeve 43b in a developing region close to the photosensitive drum 14. The toner is transferred to the electrostatic latent image and visualized (toner image). The developer layer on the developing sleeve 43b that has passed through the opening 42 of the housing 41 and completed development is separated by the repulsive magnetic field formed between the magnetic poles of the same polarity of the magnet roll 43a and falls to the supply area 46. The developer that has fallen into the supply area 46 is again agitated and conveyed by the supply device 44 and the agitation device 45 to be used for the next developing action.

  As described above, in the developing unit section 40, the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 14 is developed and visualized, so that the ratio of toner to the developer (toner density) gradually decreases. . Therefore, in this embodiment, new toner is replenished from the main toner replenishment unit 60 to the developing unit 40 whose toner density has decreased. Toner is replenished from the main toner replenishing unit 60 to the developing unit 40, the toner in the toner storage chamber 61 of the main toner replenishing unit 60 is passed through the toner carry-in port 67 by the first agitator 62 and the second agitator 63. The toner is supplied to the toner replenishing chamber 64, and the toner in the toner replenishing chamber 64 is transported by the replenishing device 65 and supplied to the stirring area 47 of the developing unit 40 through the toner replenishing port 68. The toner replenished to the stirring area 47 of the developing unit 40 in this way is stirred and conveyed by the stirring device 45 together with the developer already present in the developing unit 40, and the developer and newly supplied toner and Is conveyed from the agitation zone 47 to the supply zone 46 in a state of being agitated and mixed, and used for development.

  When the toner stored in the toner storage chamber 61 is supplied to the developing unit 40 and decreases, the toner stored in the toner storage chamber 61 is supplied from the sub toner supply unit 35 via the connection passage 66. In this way, as the toner in the developing unit 40 is consumed, toner is supplied from the main toner supply unit 60, and the main toner supply unit 60 is supplied from the sub toner supply unit 35. Thus, the toner concentration in the developer in the developing unit 40 can be maintained at a predetermined value until the life of the process cartridge 30 is exhausted.

(Configuration of polymerization tape portion 80 and protective member)
Next, the superposition | polymerization tape part 80 and the protection member 100 are demonstrated with reference to drawings. FIG. 6 is an external perspective view showing a state in which a protective member is attached. FIG. 7 is an external perspective view of the state in which the protective member is attached as viewed from the back side.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the developer seal tape (blocking means) 81 blocks the opening 71 of the developer chamber 70 in which the developer is accommodated. The developer seal tape 81 has a length that is at least twice that of the opening 71 in the longitudinal direction of the opening 71, the tip of the developer seal tape 81 corresponds to one end of the opening 71, and is folded back at the other end of the opening 71. It is. The free end of the developer seal tape 81 reaches the outside from the side end of the upper housing 41b.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the toner seal tape (blocking means) 82 blocks the toner supply port 68 of the toner storage chamber 61 in which toner is stored. The toner seal tape 82 is affixed to the periphery of the toner supply port 68. The tip of the toner seal tape 82 corresponds to one end of the toner replenishing port 68 and is folded back at the end of the toner replenishing port 68. The free end of the toner seal tape 82 reaches the outside of the lower housing 41a.

  The polymerization tape portion 80 is a member in which a toner seal tape 82 is overlapped with a developer seal tape 81 with an adhesive surface facing each other. In the polymerization tape portion 80, the developer seal tape 81 and the toner seal tape 82 are bonded together at a free end reaching the outside of the housing 41, and are combined into one sheet. The polymerization tape portion 80 removes the developer seal tape 81 and the toner seal tape 82 by being pulled.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the superposed tape portion 80 is disposed on the protective member 100. The polymerization tape unit 80 is fixed to the process cartridge 30 and the protection member 100 by an adhesive tape 91 attached to the process cartridge 30. Further, the connection member 92 is directly bonded and connected to the polymerization tape portion 80.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the protection member 100 is provided so as to cover the periphery of the process cartridge 30. The protection member 100 is formed in a sheet shape. Therefore, as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 3, the size of the mounting opening 10b in which the process cartridge 30 is mounted is set so that the developer seal tape 81, the toner seal tape 82, and the protective member 100 are attached to the process cartridge 30. It is possible to set the toner cartridge 30 to the same size as when the toner cartridge 30 is not attached. As a result, even when the process cartridge 30 is inserted with the developer seal tape 81, the toner seal tape 82, and the protective member 100 attached to the process cartridge 30, there is no need to change the design of the main body 10a.

  Furthermore, the process cartridge 30 can be inserted into the mounting opening 10b of the main body 10a with the developer seal tape 81, the toner seal tape 82, and the protective member 100 attached. That is, the process cartridge 30 can be bundled and conveyed in the image forming apparatus 10. As a result, the main body 10a of the color printer 10 and the process cartridge 30 can be transported in a smaller space than when transported separately.

  The protection member 100 includes a protection unit (protection unit) 110 and a blocking unit (blocking unit) 120. That is, the protection unit 110 and the blocking unit 120 are connected to each other by integrally forming the protection unit 110 and the blocking unit 120. Therefore, when the protection unit 110 is to be removed, the blocking unit 120 is also removed. As a result, forgetting to remove is prevented. The protection member 100 protects the photosensitive drum 14 and the memory 83 when the process cartridge 30 is bundled and transported in the main body 10 a of the color printer 10.

  The protection part 110 is formed in a sheet shape. The protection unit 110 is provided so as to cover the periphery of the process cartridge 30. The protection part 110 is disposed under the polymerization tape 80. Therefore, when removing the protective part 110, the superposition | polymerization tape 80 is removed first. Further, the protection unit 110 is disposed on the blocking unit 120. The protection part 110 has a first opening 111, a second opening 112, and an insertion part 113. The protection unit 110 protects the photosensitive drum 14.

  A connection member 91 is inserted into the first opening 111. That is, the overlapping tape part 80 and the protection part 110 are connected via the connection member 91. Therefore, if the protective member 100 having the protective portion 110 is removed without removing the superposed tape portion 80, an operator (not shown) forgets to remove it. As a result, forgetting to remove is prevented.

  An insertion portion 113 is inserted into the second opening 112. By inserting the insertion portion 113 into the second opening 112, the protection portion 110 is fixed to the toner cartridge 30.

  The blocking part 120 is formed in a sheet shape. The blocking unit 120 blocks the electrical connection between the main body 10 a and the memory 83 via the reading contact 84. Further, the blocking unit 120 protects the memory 83. That is, the blocking unit 120 is formed in a shape that protects the memory 83.

  The blocking unit 120 is disposed on the back side of the process cartridge 30. In addition, the blocking unit 120 is disposed below the protection unit 120. Therefore, when removing the blocking unit 120, the protection unit 120 is first removed. Further, since the protection unit 110 is fixed to the toner cartridge 30, if an attempt is made to remove the blocking unit 120 without removing the protection unit 110, an operator (not shown) forgets to remove the protection unit 110. As a result, forgetting to remove is prevented. That is, first, the developer seal tape 81 is removed, and then the protective part 110 is removed, and then the blocking part 120 is removed.

  In addition, not only this embodiment but it is good also as embodiment which fixes and connects the superposition | polymerization tape 80 to the protection member 100 so that the superposition | polymerization tape 80 may be pulled when the protection member 100 is removed. In addition, the developer seal tape 81, the toner seal tape 82, and the protective member 100 are not limited to be attached to the process cartridge, but may be an embodiment that can be attached to the toner cartridge.

(Removal operation of polymer tape and protective member)
Next, the removal operation of the superposed tape part 80 and the protective member 100 will be described with reference to the drawings.

  When transporting the color printer 10, the process cartridge 30 is inserted into the mounting opening 10 b of the main body 10 a with the developer seal tape 81, the toner seal tape 82, and the protective member 100, and is transported together with the color printer 10. Is done. That is, the color printer 10 is transported with the process cartridge 30 in a state in which the developer seal tape 81, the toner seal tape 82, and the protective member 100 are attached. Thereafter, the process cartridge 30 is taken out from the color printer 10 at a transport destination by an operator (not shown).

  First, the connection member 92 is extracted from the first opening 111, and the connection member 92 is pulled. When the connecting member 92 is pulled, the adhesive tape 91 is peeled off from the process cartridge 30, and the polymerization tape portion 80 is pulled via the adhesive tape 91. Then, the developer seal tape 81 and the toner seal tape 82 are removed from the process cartridge 30.

  Next, the insertion portion 113 is extracted from the second opening 112, and the insertion portion 113 is pulled. When the insertion portion 113 is pulled, the protection portion 110 and the blocking portion 120 are connected, so that the protection portion 110 and the blocking portion 120 are removed from the process cartridge 30.

  After the developer seal tape 81, the toner seal tape 82, and the protective member 100 are removed, the process cartridge 30 is reinserted and mounted in the mounting opening 10b of the main body 10a. Then, the color printer 10 is activated. At this time, the control device 5 determines whether or not all of the blocking portions 120 of the process cartridges 30Y, 30M, 30C, and 30K have been removed from the connection status between the main body 10a and the memory 83. If it is determined that it has not been removed, a message prompting removal work such as the blocking unit 120 is displayed and the color printer 10 cannot be used. On the other hand, if it is determined that the color printer 10 has been removed, the color printer 10 is put into a usable state.

  As described above, since the blocking unit 120 is finally removed, the developer seal tape 81, the toner seal tape 82, and the protection member 100 are removed only by determining whether or not the blocking unit 120 has been removed. It is possible to confirm whether or not

  The present invention can be used for an image forming apparatus such as a color printer, a FAX, a color copying machine, and an apparatus having these functions.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an overview of a color printer. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the state which open | released the front cover. It is an external appearance perspective view of a process cartridge. It is XX sectional drawing in FIG. It is the external appearance perspective view which looked at the process cartridge from the back side. It is an external appearance perspective view which shows the state which wore the protection member. It is the external appearance perspective view which looked at the state which wore the protection member from the back side.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 5 ... Control apparatus, 10 ... Color printer, 10a ... Main body, 14 ... Photoconductor drum, 30 ... Process cartridge, 61 ... Toner storage chamber, 68 ... Toner supply port, 70 ... Developer chamber, 71 ... Opening, 80 ... Polymerization tape, 81... Developer seal tape, 82. Toner seal tape, 83. Memory, 110. Protection unit, 120.

Claims (5)

An opening for supplying the storage, and a storage means for storing the storage;
Supply means for supplying the contents supplied from the opening;
Connection means for electrically connecting to the apparatus body;
A sealing means that is formed in a seal shape and closes the opening;
Protective means formed in a sheet shape and protecting the supply means;
A blocking means for blocking the electrical connection between the apparatus main body and the connecting means formed in a sheet shape;
The container supply container, wherein the closing means, the protection means, and the blocking means are connected.   2. The container supply container according to claim 1, wherein the blocking means, the protection means, and the blocking means are configured in a layered manner so that the blocking means is disposed in the lowermost layer.   The said protection means and the said interruption | blocking means are integrally molded, The said protection means is arrange | positioned under the said closure means, The said interruption | blocking means is arrange | positioned under the said protection means, The Claim 1 or 2 characterized by the above-mentioned. Container supply container.   An image forming apparatus comprising the container supply container according to claim 1.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a determination unit that determines whether or not the blocking unit has been removed from a connection state between the apparatus main body and the connection unit.

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