JP2011059171A - Developer carrying member, process cartridge and electrophotographic image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve assembly of a shaft member and a blade member of a developer carrying member. <P>SOLUTION: For engagement between the shaft member and sheet type blade member of the developer carrying member 21, the blade member has a hole for the engagement, and the shaft member has an engagement claw adapted to engage with the engagement hole of the blade member and a rib for pressing in the engagement state. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a developing frame, a process cartridge, and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus to which the process cartridge can be attached and detached.

  Here, the electrophotographic image forming apparatus forms an image on a recording medium using an electrophotographic image forming process. For example, an electrophotographic copying machine, an electrophotographic printer (for example, LED printer, laser beam printer, etc.), electrophotographic A facsimile machine and an electrophotographic word processor are included.

  The process cartridge refers to a cartridge in which at least the developing means and the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrated into a cartridge so as to be detachable from the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

  Conventionally, in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium using an electrophotographic image forming process, the electrophotographic photosensitive member and the process means acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally formed into a cartridge, and the cartridge A process cartridge system is adopted that can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body. According to this process cartridge system, the maintenance of the apparatus can be performed by the user himself / herself without depending on the service person, so that the operability can be remarkably improved. For this reason, this process cartridge system is widely used in image forming apparatuses.

  Some of the process cartridges are integrally provided with an electrophotographic photosensitive member and a developing device. In this developing device, a developing frame body that holds a toner carrier such as a developing roller that carries a developer (hereinafter referred to as “toner”) and a toner storage container that is a toner storage portion that stores toner are combined. Here, there is a configuration in which the sheet-shaped spring member is rotated to convey the toner inside the toner container. Conventional fastening of a sheet-shaped honey member and a rotating shaft is done by providing a boss on the rotating shaft, passing through the hole of the honey member, crushing (crimping) the tip of the boss with heat, ultrasonic waves, etc., or heating the honey member directly on the rotating shaft. There was a method of pasting with ultrasonic and adhesive. Further, at this time, in order to suppress the wave of the spring member, there is a case where a plate-like backup member made of sheet metal or resin is used to sandwich the shaft.

Japanese Patent No. 2996361

  For fastening the rotating shaft of the toner conveying member and the sheet, there are a method of fixing using a separate member, a method of fixing a boss on the shaft by fixing it by heat or ultrasonic waves, and a method of welding, etc. It is necessary to prevent the sheet from undulating when it is fixed, and cost reduction and improvement in assembly are also required.

  The present invention provides an engagement structure for a sheet that does not wave when the sheet member is engaged with a rotating shaft, and improves assembly performance, significantly reduces assembly costs, and reduces the number of parts to reduce costs. It is an object to provide a transport member.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a transport member for transporting the developer in the electrophotographic developer container. The transport member includes a rotatable shaft and one end portion fixed to the rotary shaft and rotated. A sheet member for conveying the developer,
The fastening of the shaft and the sheet member is provided with a convex portion on the shaft, an engagement hole on the sheet member, a convex portion on the rotating shaft, and an engagement hole on one end of the sheet member,
It has a holding part which holds engagement of the convex part and the engagement hole.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, the convex portion of the rotating shaft is an engaging claw and the holding portion is a protrusion, and one end of the sheet member on the side where the engaging hole is provided is inserted into the rotating shaft. A plurality of engagement claws that engage with the engagement holes of the sheet member, and a surface facing the surface provided with the engagement claws in the slit. And a plurality of protrusions provided at alternate positions with the engaging claws.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an abutting portion in which a portion of the engaging claw that abuts the engaging hole of the sheet member is a substantially semicircle having a smaller diameter than the engaging hole, And a claw portion having a step.

  As described above, in the transport member for transporting the developer in the developer container, the transport member includes a rotatable shaft, and a sheet member having one end fixed to the rotation shaft and transporting the developer by rotation. An engagement hole is provided in the sheet member, and the rotary shaft has a slit for inserting one end of the sheet member on the side where the engagement hole is provided, and the slit is inserted into the slit. Is provided on a surface opposite to the surface provided with the plurality of engaging claws to be engaged with the engaging holes of the sheet member and the engaging claws in the slit, at positions alternately with the engaging claws. A plurality of the protrusions, so that the sheet member is engaged with the rotation shaft so as not to be wavy and the sheet member is inserted into the slit of the shaft. Significantly improves the number of parts It is less to member itself and the assembly of both cost.

It is a main sectional view of a process cartridge in an embodiment of the invention. It is a main sectional view of a device main part in an embodiment of the invention. It is assembly explanatory drawing of the conveyance member in embodiment of this invention. It is a section explanatory view of a conveyance member in an embodiment of the invention. It is a section explanatory view of a conveyance member in an embodiment of the invention. It is explanatory drawing of the engaging part and engaging claw of the conveyance axis | shaft in an embodiment of this invention, and a conveyance hook. It is explanatory drawing at the time of the assembly of the conveying member in embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing at the time of the assembly of the conveying member in embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing at the time of the assembly of the conveying member in embodiment of this invention. It is a principal sectional view of a process cartridge in a second embodiment of the present invention.

(Example)
1 is a main sectional view of a process cartridge according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a main sectional view of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. This process cartridge includes an image carrier and process means acting on the image carrier. Here, as the process means, for example, a charging means for charging the surface of the image carrier, a developing device for forming a toner image on the image carrier, and a developer (hereinafter referred to as toner) remaining on the surface of the image carrier are removed. There is a cleaning means.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the process cartridge 15 according to the present embodiment includes a charging roller 12 as a charging unit around an electrophotographic photosensitive drum 11 as an image carrier, a developing roller 18 as a developing device, a developing blade 26, a toner. The toner storage frame 16 storing the toner and the cleaning blade 14 as a cleaning unit are disposed, and the housing 15 is integrally covered with the cartridge 15 to be detachable from the image forming apparatus main body C.

  The process cartridge 15 is mounted on an image forming apparatus C as shown in FIG. 2 and used for image formation. In image formation, a sheet S is conveyed from a sheet cassette 6 mounted at the lower part of the apparatus by a conveying roller 7, and in synchronism with the sheet conveyance, a photosensitive drum 11 is selectively exposed from an exposure device 8 to form a latent image. Form. Thereafter, the toner stored in the toner storage container 16 is supported on the surface of the developing roller 18 by a developing blade, and a developing bias is applied to the developing roller 18 to supply the toner according to the latent image. This toner image is transferred to a sheet S conveyed by applying a bias voltage to the transfer roller 9, and the sheet S is conveyed to the fixing device 1 to fix the image. To do.

  Here, a description will be given of a toner conveying configuration in the toner containing frame 16 which is a developer containing unit. Hereinafter, the longitudinal direction is defined as the axial direction of the photosensitive drum 11.

  The toner in the toner container 16 is conveyed toward the developing roller 18 by the conveyance member 21 rotating in the direction A shown in FIG. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 b, the conveying member 21 includes a conveying shaft 22 that is rotatably supported by the toner housing frame 16, and a conveying hook 25 that is engaged with the conveying shaft 22. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the engaging claw 23 of the conveying shaft 22, FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a holding portion that holds the engagement, and FIG. 6A is a perspective view of the engaging portion. As shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b, the conveying shaft 22 has a portion for engaging the conveying hook 25, and the engaging portion is a slit 22a that is long in the axial direction. As shown in FIG. The conveying hook 25 is engaged.

  Next, the engagement between the conveyance hook 25 of the conveyance member 21 and the conveyance shaft 22 will be described in detail. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the slit 22 a has an engaging claw 23 for engaging the conveyance hook 25 and a holding portion (hereinafter referred to as a “disengagement prevention rib”) 24 for holding the engagement. As shown in FIG. 4, the engaging claw 23 has a height of about 2/3 of the width of the slit 22a. In this embodiment, the width of the slit 22a is about 3 mm, and the height of the engaging claw 23 is about 2 mm. is there. Further, as shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, in the longitudinal direction, a plurality of removal prevention ribs 24 are provided alternately on the opposing surface 22 d of the surface 22 c provided with the claw 23 of the slit 22 a, alternately with the engagement claw 23. The inclined portion 24a of the slip-off prevention rib 24 and the inclined portion 23a of the engaging claw 23 are shown in FIG. 5 so that the conveying hook 25 can be easily inserted into the slit 22a in the direction indicated by the arrow B in FIG. It is provided as shown. As shown in FIG. 5, the height E of the drop prevention rib 24 is about 2/3 of the slit width D. In this embodiment, the width D of the slit 22b is about 3 mm, and the height of the drop prevention rib 24 is shown. E is about 2 mm.

Next, a description will be given of the case where the transport rod 25 is incorporated into the transport shaft. 7 to 9 are views seen from the direction of the arrow B in FIGS. 3a, 4 and 5, when one end of the transport honey 25 is inserted into the shaft 22 slit 22b in the direction of the arrow B, the transport honey 25 has flexibility, and the honey is an engaging claw as shown in FIG. FIG. 8 shows a state in which the engagement claw 23 and the engagement hole 25a start to be engaged, and finally the engagement hole is finally engaged. When the hook 25a is engaged with the engaging claw 23, the conveyance hook 25 can be straightened by its own flexibility. (FIG. 9). 6b and 6c show the engaged relationship between the engaging claw 23 and the engaging hole 25a at this time. Here, FIG. 6b is a view of the engaging claw 23 seen from the direction of arrow J in FIG. 6a, and FIG. 6c is a view seen from the root of the engaging claw 23 in the direction of arrow H in FIG. At this time, the hole receiving portion 23b contacting the engagement hole 25a of the engagement claw 23 is approximately semicircular, and the radius L of the semicircle is smaller than the engagement hole 25a. This facilitates the insertion of the engagement holes 25a and the engagement claws 23, and can also disperse the force applied to the engagement holes 25a when the conveyance shaft 23 rotates and rotates together with the conveyance honey 25 to apply force to the honey. It can prevent that the joint hole 25a tears. In this embodiment, the diameter K of the engagement hole 25a is about φ4.6 mm, and the radius L of the hole receiving portion 23b of the engagement claw 23 is about R1.5 mm. The engaging claw 23 has a hole receiving part 23b and a claw part 23c having a step so that the conveyance hook 25 does not come off. Further, as shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, the drop-off prevention ribs 24 are provided between the engagement claws 23 and on both outer sides of the engagement claws 23 so as to prevent the conveyance splashes 25 from falling off. Before the release claw 23 comes off, the conveyance hook 25 comes into contact with the drop-off prevention rib 24 to prevent the conveyance hook 25 from coming off from the engagement claw 23.

  In addition, since the pressure is not applied from the transport shaft 22 in the thickness direction of the transport honey 25 after the transport skirt 25 is engaged, the transport sheet 25 does not undulate and can be transported satisfactorily.

  As for the assembling property, as described above, the conveying member 25 only has to be inserted into the slit 22a of the conveying shaft 22, so that the assembling property is very easy, and no other fixing member is required. Therefore, only the conveying hook 25 is required. That is, parts cost is low and assembly cost is low, so that the cost can be greatly reduced as a conveying member.

Second Embodiment According to the Present Invention FIG. 10 is a main sectional view of a process cartridge according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 10, the process cartridge 15 of the present embodiment includes a charging roller 12 as a charging unit around an electrophotographic photosensitive drum 11 as an image carrier, a developing roller 18 as a developing device, a developing blade 26, a toner. A toner storage frame 16 that stores the toner 7 and a cleaning blade 14 as a cleaning means are disposed, and are covered with a housing to form a cartridge 15 that is detachable from the image forming apparatus main body C.

  Since the configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is the same as that of the first embodiment, a description thereof will be omitted (FIG. 2). Here, a description will be given of a toner conveyance configuration inside the cleaning frame 13 which is a waste toner container. The toner inside the cleaning frame 13 is conveyed toward the back of the cleaning frame 13 (the side away from the photosensitive drum) as the conveying member 21 rotates in the direction A shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 10, the conveying member 21 includes a conveying shaft 22 that is rotatably supported by the toner housing frame 16, and a conveying hook 25 that is engaged with the conveying shaft 22.

  3A, 3b, 4, 5, 6a, 6b, and 6c, which are the same as those in the first embodiment, will be used to describe the engagement between the conveyance hook 25 and the conveyance shaft 22. FIG. The conveyance shaft 22 has a portion that engages the conveyance flange 25. The engaging portion is a slit 22a which is long in the axial direction, and the transport slat 25 is engaged in the slit 22a. Next, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the slit 22 a has an engaging claw 23 for engaging with the conveying hook 25 and a removal preventing rib 24. Further, a plurality of removal prevention ribs 24 for the transporting slats 25 are provided on the opposite surface 22d of the surface 22c of the slit 22a where the engaging claw 23 is provided, alternately with the engaging claw 23. An inclined portion 24a of the slip-off prevention rib 24 and an inclined portion 23a of the engaging claw 23 are provided on the insertion opening side of the conveying honey 25 so that the conveying honey 25 is easily inserted into the slit 22a.

  In addition, the incorporation of the conveyance hook 25 into the conveyance axis is the same as that in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

  As described above, since the conveying member 21 in the cleaning frame 13 is configured, the conveying sheet 25 is not waved and can be conveyed satisfactorily.

  As for the assembling property, as described above, it is only necessary to insert the conveying hook 25 into the slit 22a of the conveying shaft 22, so that it is easy to incorporate, and no other fixing member is required, so the conveying member 21 is connected to the conveying shaft 22 and the conveying spring. Only 25 members are required. That is, parts cost is low and assembly cost is low, so that the cost can be greatly reduced as a conveying member.

  As another embodiment, the first embodiment and the second embodiment are merged, and both the transport member in the developer container and the transport member in the waste toner chamber are used in the first embodiment. The effects of Example 2 are synergistic.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Discharge roller 2 Discharge part 6 Sheet cassette 7 Conveyance roller 8 Exposure apparatus 9 Transfer roller 10 Fixing apparatus 11 Photosensitive drum 13 Cleaning frame body 14 Cleaning blade 15 Process cartridge 16 Toner storage frame body 17 Development frame body 18 Developing sleeve C Image forming apparatus 21 Conveying member 22 Conveying shaft 22a Slit 22c One surface inside the slit provided with the engaging claw 22d One surface inside the slit provided with the slip-off preventing rib 23 Engaging claw 23a (of the engaging claw) Inclined portion 23b Hole holder Portion 24 Removal prevention rib 24a Inclined portion (of removal prevention portion) 25 Conveying spring 25a Engagement hole A Rotating direction of conveying member B Insertion direction of conveying
D Slit width
E Nail height
F Prevention rib height
H Direction of Fig. 6c
J Direction of Fig. 6b
K engagement hole diameter
L Radius of engaging claw receiving part

Claims (7)

In the transport member for transporting the developer in the frame housing the electrophotographic developer,
The conveying member has a rotatable shaft, and a sheet member whose one end is engaged with the rotating shaft and conveys the developer by rotation,
The engagement between the shaft and the sheet member is as follows:
An engagement hole is provided at one end of the sheet member,
A convex portion that engages with the engagement hole on the rotation shaft;
A developer conveying member comprising a holding portion that holds the engagement between the convex portion and the engagement hole. The convex part of the rotating shaft is an engaging claw, and the holding part is a protrusion,
The rotating shaft has a slit for inserting one end of the sheet member on the side where the engagement hole is provided,
A plurality of the engaging claws that engage with the engaging holes of the sheet member in the slit,
A plurality of protrusions provided on the surface opposite to the surface provided with the engaging claws in the slit, at positions alternately with the engaging claws;
The developer conveying member according to claim 1, comprising: The engagement claw includes a contact portion that is a semicircle at a portion that contacts the engagement hole of the sheet member, and a claw portion that has a step and a step so as not to be detached from the contact portion.
The developer conveying member according to claim 1, wherein the developer conveying member is provided. A developer carrying member for carrying the developer, a developer container for containing the developer,
In the developing device having a developer transport member that stirs and transports the developer by rotating inside the developer container,
A developing device comprising at least the developer conveying member according to claim 1 as a developer conveying member for stirring and conveying the developer. A waste toner storage container for storing a residual developer (waste toner) on the image carrier;
In a waste toner container having a developer transport member that stirs and transports waste toner by rotating inside the waste toner container,
A waste toner storage container comprising at least the developer transport member according to any one of claims 1, 2, and 3 as a developer transport member for transporting waste toner.   A process comprising: an electrophotographic photosensitive member; and / or a developing device according to claim 4 or a waste toner container according to claim 5, which is detachable from an image forming apparatus. cartridge.   An electrophotographic image forming apparatus comprising the process cartridge according to claim 6 detachably.

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