JP2010224363A - Container and developing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a container where extrusion of sealing material is avoided, and a developing device. <P>SOLUTION: The container 20 includes: a body member 22 having a bottom 221 forming a base of a containing space S formed by the base, a wall surface and an upper surface, and a wall 222 forming the wall surface; and a lid member 24 put on the wall of the body member 22 to form the upper surface, and laying its edge 24a on the wall. The body member 22 has a step part 222A on which the edge of the lid member 24 is laid at the upper part of the wall, and a skirting part 222B extending along the edge laid on the step part, opposed to the edge, and forming a groove P whose bottom is narrow and whose upper part is open between the edge and the skirting part, and further includes the sealing material 25 sealing a gap between the body member 22 and the lid member 24 by filling groove P. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a container and a developing device.

  For example, in an apparatus in which powder or fluid is accommodated, such as a developer that supplies developer to a photoconductor in an image forming apparatus, the container is composed of a plurality of members such as a lid and a main body. In such a case, it is known that a sealing structure that prevents leakage of contents by sandwiching a sealing material in a gap between these members is known.

  For example, in Patent Document 1, when a cleaning device for cleaning toner has a structure having a cleaning container and a blade holder coupled to each other, a sealing material is attached to each coupling surface of the cleaning container and the blade holder in the manufacture thereof. It is described that the two are bonded together.

  Further, in Patent Document 2, in a developing case of a developing device, a sealing agent is injected into a groove formed in one of the members to be butt-connected, and a protrusion formed in the other member is fitted into this groove. Describes that the members are attached to each other.

JP 2001-282080 A Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 06-027793

  An object of the present invention is to provide a container and a developing device in which protrusion of the blocking agent is avoided.

The container according to claim 1 is:
A main body member having a bottom forming the bottom surface of the housing space formed by the bottom surface, the wall surface, and the upper surface, and a wall forming the wall surface;
The upper surface is formed on the wall of the main body member, and a lid member with an edge on the wall is provided,
The bottom of the main body member is narrow between the upper portion of the wall and the step portion on which the edge of the lid member is hung, and the edge that extends along the edge hung on the step portion and faces the edge. And the side part forming an open groove at the top,
Furthermore, a sealing material that seals a gap between the main body member and the lid member by filling the groove is provided.

  In the container according to claim 2, the lid member has a hook portion that is hung on the main body member indirectly through another member or directly by itself to prevent the lid member from being separated from the main body portion. It is characterized by being.

In the container according to claim 3, one of the lid member and the main body member protrudes toward the other side of the main body member. When the lid member rests on the wall of the main body member, the other container is pushed by the other. And has a protruding portion that is elastically deformed,
One of the lid member and the main body member has a concave portion that prevents the lid member from detaching from the main body portion when the elastically deformed protruding portion is recovered and fitted.

The container according to claim 4 is:
The main body member and the lid member form a groove having an end as the groove between the side portion and the edge,
The container is provided with a cover provided at the end of the groove and covering the end face of the sealing material at the end of the groove.

The developing device according to claim 5 is:
A main body member having a bottom that forms the bottom surface of the accommodation space that accommodates the developer, and a wall that forms the wall surface, the bottom surface, the wall surface, and the top surface;
A lid member with an edge on the wall, forming the upper surface on the wall of the body member;
A developer conveying mechanism for developing the member to be developed by conveying the developer accommodated in the accommodation space to the member to be developed;
The bottom of the main body member is narrow between the upper portion of the wall and the step portion on which the edge of the lid member is hung, and the edge that extends along the edge hung on the step portion and faces the edge. And the side part forming an open groove at the top,
Furthermore, a sealing material that seals a gap between the main body member and the lid member by filling the groove is provided.

  According to the container which concerns on Claim 1, protrusion of the sealing material is avoided.

  According to the container according to claim 2, a strong sealing structure is obtained.

  According to the container which concerns on Claim 3, fixation with the cover member and main body member at the time of manufacture is easy.

  According to the container which concerns on Claim 4, the protrusion of the sealing material from the edge of a groove | channel is also avoided.

  According to the developing device of the fifth aspect, contamination due to the protrusion of the sealing material is avoided.

1 is a schematic sectional view of an image forming apparatus. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the developing device shown in FIG. It is the perspective view which simplified and showed the structure of the housing | casing of the developing device shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along a cross section E of the housing shown in FIG. It is a figure explaining manufacture of the housing | casing shown in FIG. It is a figure explaining a mode that a lid member and a body member are fastened. It is sectional drawing which shows the state by which the cover member was fixed to the main body member. It is a perspective view which shows the process of pouring a sealing material. It is sectional drawing which shows the modification of 1st Embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows the cover member and main body member which concern on 2nd Embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows the main body member and lid member which concern on 3rd Embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows the process in which a cover member is attached to the main body member shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the next process in which a cover member is attached to the main body member shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the further next process in which a cover member is attached to the main body member shown in FIG. FIG. 15 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 14. It is a figure which shows the housing | casing of 4th Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the housing | casing of 5th Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the developing device of 6th Embodiment.

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

  FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of the image forming apparatus.

  In the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1, an exposure device 12 is applied to the surface of a photoconductor 10 that is given a predetermined charge by a charging roll 11 and rotates in the direction of arrow A, based on image data transmitted from the outside. The electrostatic latent image is formed by irradiating with the exposure light generated in Step 1, and the electrostatic latent image is developed with the developer contained in the developing device 2 having the developing roll 21 rotating in the direction of arrow C. . The developed image obtained by this development is drawn from a paper cassette (not shown), transferred onto a recording paper conveyed in the direction of arrow B by a transfer roll 14 rotating in the direction of arrow D, and fixed in a fixing device 15. The image is formed on the recording paper by being fixed by. Residues remaining on the surface of the photoreceptor 10 are removed by the cleaning device 16.

  Each unit of the image forming apparatus 1 constitutes a replaceable cartridge as a single unit or a plurality of combinations. For example, the developing device 2 constitutes a cartridge that can be replaced independently. However, the developing device 2 may constitute a replaceable cartridge, for example, in combination with the photoreceptor 10.

  The developer 2 shown in FIG. 1 contains a developer for development, and the cleaning device 16 contains a residue containing the developer removed from the photoreceptor 10. Therefore, each of the developing device 2 and the cleaning device 16 employs a structure for avoiding leakage of the stored items. Since the basic structure for avoiding leakage is the same between the developing device 2 and the cleaning device 16, the structure of the developing device 2 will be described here as an embodiment of the present invention.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the structure of the developing device shown in FIG.

  The developing device 2 shown in FIG. 2 supports a developing roll 21 that conveys toner to the photoreceptor 10 (see FIG. 1), an agitating and conveying member 23 that conveys the toner while stirring, and the developing roll 21 and the agitating and conveying member 23. And a housing 20 for containing a developer containing toner. The housing 20 includes a main body member 22 and a lid member 24 that covers the opening of the main body member 22. 2 shows the housing 20 in a state in which the lid member 24 is detached from the main body member 22 in order to make the internal structure easy to see, but the housing 20 has a developing device as will be described in detail later. 2 is attached to the image forming apparatus 1 (see FIG. 1), the lid member 24 is attached to the main body member 22, and the gap between the lid member 24 and the main body member 22 is filled with a sealing material. Yes. The developer is stored in a storage space in the housing 20.

  A screw hole 222h is formed in the main body member 22. The lid member 24 is attached so as to cover the opening of the main body member 22 and is fastened to the main body member 22 by screws. Further, since the sealing material seals between the lid member 24 and the main body member 22, leakage of the toner in the housing 20 to the outside is avoided. However, the main body member 22 is provided with a hole closed by the developing roll 21, and a part of the toner conveyed in the main body member 22 by the stirring and conveying member 23 passes through the hole to the developing roll 21. Supplied.

  3 and 4 are simplified views of the structure of the housing of the developing device shown in FIG. 3 is a perspective view. In order to make the structure of the housing 20 easier to see, the developing roll 21 and the stirring and conveying member 23 shown in FIG. 2 are omitted, and the shapes of the main body member 22 and the lid member 24 are simplified. Yes. FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along a cross section E of the housing shown in FIG.

  The housing 20 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 includes a main body member 22, a lid member 24 that covers the opening of the main body member 22, and a sealing material 25. As shown in FIG. 4, a housing space S in which toner is stored is formed inside the housing 20.

  The main body member 22 has a bottom 221 that forms the bottom surface of the storage space S and a wall 222 that forms the wall surface of the storage space S. The lid member 24 forms the upper surface of the accommodation space S on the wall 222 of the main body member 22, and more specifically, the edge 24 </ b> A of the lid member 24 hangs on the wall 222 of the main body member 22.

  On the upper part of the wall 222, there are formed a stepped portion 222A on which the edge 24A of the lid member 24 is hung and a side portion 222B extending along the edge 24A of the lid member 24 and facing the edge 24A. A groove P having a narrow bottom and an open top is formed between the side portion 222B and the edge 24A, and the groove P is filled with the sealing material 25. In the present embodiment, slopes that are inclined with respect to the protruding direction of the wall 222 are provided on both the side part 222B and the edge 24A, and the groove P has a shape in which the bottom is narrow and the upper part is opened by this inclination. ing. The sealing material 25 fills the groove P to seal the gap between the lid member 24 and the main body member 22.

  Here, the housing | casing 20 is one Embodiment of the container said to this invention. Further, the developing roll 21 corresponds to an example of a developer transport mechanism according to the present invention. Further, the sealing material 25 corresponds to an example of a sealing material according to the present invention. The step portion 222A corresponds to an example of the step portion and the hanging portion referred to in the present invention.

  Then, the manufacturing method of the housing | casing 20 is demonstrated.

  5-8 is a figure explaining manufacture of the housing | casing shown in FIG. The figure shows a state in which a part of the front side is removed from the surface corresponding to the cross section E in FIG.

  To manufacture the housing 20, the lid member 24 and the main body member 22 having the above-described shapes are respectively formed. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the lid member 24 and the main body member 22 are formed, and the lid member 24 is the main body member 22. Fit so that it covers the opening. Then, the edge 24 </ b> A of the lid member 24 is hooked on the stepped portion 222 </ b> A of the main body member 22, and the lid member 24 is placed on the wall 222 of the main body member 22.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 6, the lid member 24 and the main body member 22 are fastened and fixed with screws 26.

  FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the lid member is fixed to the main body member.

  In a state where the lid member 24 is fixed to the main body member 22, a groove P having a narrow bottom and an open top is formed between the side portion 222B and the edge 24A. Next, a sealing material is poured into the groove P.

  FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a process of pouring the sealing material.

  For the pouring of the sealing material, a coating device (not shown) provided with a nozzle G for discharging the sealing material is used to discharge the liquid sealing material from the nozzle and move the nozzle relative to the main body member 22. . More specifically, the nozzle G is moved along the groove P while supplying the sealing material from the nozzle G to the groove P. The sealing material is in a liquid state, fills the groove P, and hardens as time passes. For example, a thermoplastic resin or an adhesive can be used as the sealing material. The case 20 shown in FIG. 3 is completed by hardening the sealing material 25.

  In the present embodiment, a groove P having a narrow bottom and an open top is formed between the side portion 222B and the edge 24A in a state where the lid member 24 is placed on the main body member 22, and a liquid state is formed in the groove P. Pour sealing material. In the case of a structure in which no groove is formed, before the lid member is placed on the main body member, a sealing material is applied to the contact portion between them, and then the lid member is placed on the main body member. In this case, when the sealing member sticks out when the lid member is put on the main body member, it adheres to a mechanical component such as the developing roll 21, so it is necessary to mount the sealing member so that the sealing member does not stick out. is there. In the present embodiment, since the liquid sealing material is poured into the groove P formed with the lid member 24 placed on the main body member 22, the sticking out of the sealing material is avoided.

  In the present embodiment, a groove P having a narrow bottom and an open top is formed. If the groove to be formed has a rectangular cross section with the same width at the bottom and top, or the top has a shape narrower than the bottom, the position of the lid member placed on the body member is If it is displaced, the groove may be blocked and the sealing material may not be poured. In the present embodiment, since the groove P having a narrow bottom and an open top is formed, the groove for pouring the sealing material is formed regardless of the position shift of the lid member.

  Further, the sealing material may be poured not only into the groove between the side portion 222B and the edge 24A but also into a gap formed by a screw hole.

  FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a modification of the first embodiment in which a sealing material is poured into a gap between screw holes.

  The cover member 324 shown in FIG. 9 is formed with a countersink 324Z, and the head of the screw 26 that fastens the cover member 324 to the main body member 22 enters the countersink 324Z. When the nozzle G of the coating apparatus pours the liquid sealing material into the countersink portion 324Z, the gap between the lid member 324 and the screw 26 is filled with the sealing material, and the sealing is strengthened.

  In the embodiment described above, the side portion 222B and the edge 24A forming the groove P are inclined flat surfaces, and the groove P has a V-shaped cross section. Any shape may be used as long as the bottom is narrow and the top is open. For example, the side and the edge may be curved.

  FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a lid member and a main body member according to the second embodiment.

  The edge 424A of the lid member 424 shown in FIG. 10 has a curved shape, and the side portion 4222B of the main body member 422 also has a curved shape. Even with such a shape, a groove having a narrow bottom and an open top is formed.

  In the above-described embodiment, the structure in which the main body member and the lid member are fixed by screws that are other members has been described. Next, a description will be given of a third embodiment having a structure in which the lid member hangs on the main body member without depending on other members.

  FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a main body member and a lid member according to the third embodiment.

  The main body member 522 and the lid member 524 shown in FIG. 11 employ a coupling structure called a so-called snap fit. The lid member 524 has a protruding portion 524B that protrudes further outward from the edge 524A that forms the groove P. The wall 5222 of the main body member 522 is provided with a recess 5222C that is recessed from the side portion 5222B.

  12 to 14 are cross-sectional views showing a process in which the lid member is attached to the main body member shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 12, when the lid member 524 is pushed into the main body member 522, the protruding portion 524B of the lid member 524 is pushed by the side portion 5222B and elastically deformed.

  When the lid member 524 is further pushed from the state shown in FIG. 12, the elastically deformed protrusion 524B is recovered and fits into the recess 5222C as shown in FIG. Thereby, the separation of the lid member 524 from the main body member 522 is prevented.

  In this state, as shown in FIG. 14, when the liquid sealing material 25 is poured into the groove P formed by the edge 524A and the side portion 5222B, the gap between the main body member 522 and the lid member 524 is sealed.

  FIG. 15 is a partially enlarged view of FIG.

  The liquid sealing material 25 shown by hatching in FIG. 15 is a gap formed between the projecting portion 524B and the recessed portion 5222C below or behind the groove P formed by the edge 524A and the side portion 5222B. It goes in and hardens.

  So far, the example of the structure in which the wall of the main body member is provided along the entire circumference of the edge of the lid member has been described. Subsequently, the wall of the main body member extends along only a part of the edge of the lid member. An example provided will be described.

  FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a housing according to the fourth embodiment. Part (A) of FIG. 16 is a plan view of the housing 60, and part (B) is a perspective view. Note that this drawing does not show a part of the housing 60 removed, but shows the entire housing 60.

  In the housing 60 shown in FIG. 16, the wall 622 of the main body member 62 is provided along three edges of the four edges of the lid member 64, and the remaining edges are not provided. Accordingly, the groove P formed between the wall 622 and the lid member 64 is not annular and has two ends PE. The main body member 62 is provided with a plate-like cover 626 that covers the end face of the sealing material 65 at the end PE of the groove P.

  In manufacturing the housing 60, when the liquid sealing material is poured into the groove P formed between the wall 622 and the lid member 64, the cover 626 prevents the sealing material from leaking from the end PE of the groove P. The

  FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a housing according to the fifth embodiment. Part (A) of FIG. 17 is a plan view of a lid member 74 constituting the housing 70, and Part (B) is a perspective view of the housing 70.

  The housing 70 shown in FIG. 17 is different from the fourth embodiment in that a cover 726 is formed not on the main body member 72 but on the lid member 74. Also in the housing 70, the cover 726 prevents leakage of the sealing material from the end PE of the groove P.

  In the embodiment described so far, for example, the stepped portion 222A shown in FIG. 5 has a function as an example of the stepped portion and the hanging portion referred to in the present invention. You may form in the position away from the part.

  FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing the structure of the developing device of the sixth embodiment.

  A developing device 1002 shown in FIG. 18 is provided with a partition wall 1225 for partitioning a space at the center of a main body member 1022 constituting the housing 1020, and a screw hole 1225 h is formed at the top of the partition wall 1225. A screw hole 1024h is also provided in the center of the lid member 1024. Here, the partition wall 1225 corresponds to an example of the hanging portion according to the present invention.

  In the developing device 1002, the edge 1024 A of the lid member 1024 is engaged with the step portion 1222 A of the main body member 1022, and the lid member 1024 is fastened to the partition wall 1225 with one screw 1026.

  The container referred to in the present invention is not limited to a part of an image forming apparatus such as a developing device, and can be applied to a container that stores various powders and fluids.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, an example in which inclined surfaces are provided on both the side portion and the edge has been described. However, the structure for forming the groove according to the present invention includes at least the side portion and the edge. It is sufficient that one side has an inclined surface.

  In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the lid member 524 has the protruding portion 524B and the recess 5222C is provided in the wall 5222 of the main body member 522 as the snap-fit structure is described. The structure that prevents the lid member from being separated from the portion is not limited to this, and for example, a protrusion that elastically deforms may be provided on the main body member.

2 Developing unit 20, 60, 70 Case 21 Developing roll 22, 62, 72, 422, 522 Main body member 24, 64, 74, 324, 424, 524 Lid member 24A, 424A, 524A Edge 25, 65 Sealing material 26 Screw 221 Bottom 222, 622, 5222 Wall 222A Step 222B, 4222B, 5222B Side 524B Projection 626, 726 Cover P Groove S Storage space

Claims (5)

A main body member having a bottom forming the bottom surface of the housing space formed by the bottom surface, the wall surface, and the upper surface, and a wall forming the wall surface;
A lid member having an edge on the wall, and forming the upper surface on the wall of the main body member;
The body member has a narrow bottom between the step portion on which the edge of the lid member hangs on the upper portion of the wall and the edge extending along the edge on the step portion and facing the edge. And the side part forming an open groove at the top,
Furthermore, the container provided with the sealing material which sealed the clearance gap between the said main body member and the said cover member by filling the said groove | channel.   2. The cover member according to claim 1, wherein the cover member has a hook portion that is hung on the main body member indirectly through another member or directly by itself to prevent the cover member from being separated from the main body portion. The container described. One of the lid member and the main body member protrudes toward the other relative to the one, and when the lid member rests on the wall of the main body member, a protruding portion that is pushed and elastically deformed by the other is provided in the groove. And below
The other of the lid member and the main body member has a recess that prevents the lid member from being separated from the main body portion when the elastically deformed protruding portion is recovered and fitted. The container according to claim 1 or 2. The main body member and the lid member form a groove having an end as the groove between the side part and the edge,
4. The container according to claim 1, further comprising: a cover provided at an end of the groove and covering an end surface of the sealing material at the end of the groove. 5. The container described. A main body member having a bottom that forms the bottom surface of the accommodation space that accommodates the developer, and a wall that forms the wall surface, the bottom surface, the wall surface, and the top surface;
A lid member having an edge on the wall, forming the upper surface on the wall of the body member;
A developer conveying mechanism for developing the member to be developed by conveying the developer accommodated in the accommodating space to the member to be developed;
The body member has a narrow bottom between the step portion on which the edge of the lid member hangs on the upper portion of the wall and the edge extending along the edge on the step portion and facing the edge. And the side part forming an open groove at the top,
And a sealing member that seals a gap between the main body member and the lid member by filling the groove.

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