JP2015125412A - Developer storing unit, cartridge, and image formation device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a developer storing unit capable of discharging developer well from a deformable and flexible container.SOLUTION: A developer storing unit 25 includes: a flexible storing member 34 which has an opening 35a to store developer T; and a pressing member 21 which is rotatably supported at a position facing the storing member 34, for pressing the storing member 34. The pressing member 21 includes: a rotational shaft 60 which has a recess J that recesses toward a rotational center O; a pressing sheet 21b attached to the rotational shaft 60; and a sealing member 19 which seals the opening 35a and is released from the storing member 34 as the rotational shaft 60 rotates. Relating to the recess J, when pressing the storing member 34 by the pressing sheet 21b, the sealing member 19 enters the recess J so that a space V is formed between the sealing member 19 and the opening 35a.

Description

  The present invention relates to a developer storage unit that stores a developer, a cartridge including the developer storage unit, and an image forming apparatus including the cartridge.

  Here, the image forming apparatus forms an image on a recording medium using, for example, an electrophotographic image forming process, and includes an electrophotographic copying machine, an electrophotographic printer (such as an LED printer and a laser beam printer), an electrophotographic facsimile apparatus, and the like. Is included.

  Further, the cartridge is a unit in which at least developing means and a developer storage unit that stores the developer are integrally configured so as to be detachable from the apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus. Alternatively, the developer storage unit and at least the photosensitive unit having the photosensitive drum are integrally configured so as to be detachable from the apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus.

  Further, the developer storage unit is stored in the apparatus main body or cartridge of the image forming apparatus, and includes at least a container for storing the developer.

  In a conventional electrophotographic image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic forming process, an electrophotographic photosensitive member and process means acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally formed into a cartridge, and the cartridge can be attached to and detached from the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The method is adopted.

  In such a cartridge, as shown in FIG. 6, the opening provided in the developer storage frame 31 for storing the developer (toner, carrier, etc.) is sealed with a sealing member. In addition, a system is widely adopted in which the opening is opened by peeling the joint portion 33 of the toner seal 32 that is a sealing member during use so that the developer can be supplied (Patent Document 1).

  Further, there has been devised an apparatus using a deformable inner container for the problem of developer scattering in the cartridge machine during the developer filling process at the time of cartridge manufacture (Patent Document 1). That is, a method for storing a developer in a deformable inner container is described for the purpose of improving the operability of supplying the developer and reducing the cost of the developer supply device by preventing scattering in the apparatus.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-66980

  However, the invention described in Patent Document 1 does not describe the operation and mechanism related to discharging the developer after opening the opening of the flexible container.

  In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a developer storage unit that can discharge a developer from a deformable flexible container.

  In order to achieve the above object, a developer storage unit of the present invention has a flexible container that has an opening, is flexible, and can store a developer, and a position facing the flexible container. A pressing unit that is rotatably supported and presses the flexible container, and the pressing unit includes a rotating shaft having a concave portion that is recessed toward the rotation center, a pressing sheet that is attached to the rotating shaft, and A sealing member that seals the opening and is peeled off from the flexible container as the rotating shaft rotates, and when the concave portion presses the flexible container with the pressing means, The sealing member is configured so that a space can be formed between the sealing member and the opening when the sealing member enters the recess.

  According to the present invention, when the pressing sheet presses the flexible container, the sealing member enters the recess, and a space is formed between the sealing member and the opening, so that the developer can be used more than before. It is efficiently discharged from the flexible container.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a developer storage unit according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus to which a developer storage unit is attached. It is a perspective view of a storage container. It is sectional drawing etc. which cut | disconnected the press member by the plane perpendicular | vertical to a longitudinal direction. It is sectional drawing etc. of the vicinity of the press member before opening. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a developer storage unit according to a conventional example.

  In the following description, the storage container 26 includes a flexible storage member 34, a developer T enclosed in the storage member 34, and an opening 35 a for discharging the developer T provided in the storage member 34. The thing provided with the sealing member 19 which seals is pointed out.

  The developer storage unit 25 includes at least a storage container 26 and frame bodies 17 and 18 for storing the storage container 26.

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a developer storage unit 25 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The cartridge A only needs to have at least a process unit that acts on the photosensitive drum 11, but the cartridge A may include the photosensitive drum 11. Examples of the process means here include a charging means for charging the surface of the photosensitive drum 11, a developing device for forming a developer image on the photosensitive drum 11, and a developer (toner, carrier, etc.) remaining on the photosensitive drum 11. There is a cleaning means for removing (including). Details will be described below.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the cartridge A includes a developer storage unit 25 and a cleaner unit 24. The developer storage unit 25 and the cleaner unit 24 are integrally configured as a cartridge A so as to be detachable from the apparatus main body B of the image forming apparatus 100.

  The developer storage unit 25 includes a first frame body 17 and a second frame body 18. Inside the first frame body 17 and the second frame body 18, the developing roller 13, the developing blade 15, the storage container 26, and the pressing member 21 are disposed.

  The developing roller 13 that is a “developer carrying member” is a roller that carries the developer T. The developing blade 15 is a blade that adjusts the developer image on the surface of the developing roller 13 to a thin layer. The storage container 26, which is a “flexible container”, has an opening 35 a, has flexibility, and can store the developer T. The pressing member 21 (stirring means) that is a “pressing means” is a member that is rotatably supported at a position facing the opening 35 a of the storage container 26 and presses the storage container 26.

  In this embodiment, the developer storage unit 25 and the developing device are the same. This is because the developer storage unit 25 has the developing roller 13 and the developing blade 15. However, the developing roller 13 and the developing blade 15 may be supported by a separate frame from the developer storage unit 25 and separated from the developer storage unit 25. In this case, the developing device includes a developer storage unit 25, a developing roller 13, and a developing blade 15 (not shown). The configuration of the developer storage unit 25 will be described in detail later.

  On the other hand, the cleaner unit 24 includes a photosensitive drum 11 that is an image carrier, a charging roller 12 that is a charging unit around the photosensitive drum 11, and a cleaning blade 14 that is a cleaning unit.

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus 100 to which the developer storage unit 25 is attached. As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 100 includes a cartridge A having a developer storage unit 25 and an apparatus main body B to which the cartridge A can be attached and detached. When the cartridge A is mounted on the apparatus main body B, the cartridge A is used for image formation.

  The surface of the photosensitive drum 11, which is an “image carrier” that carries a developer image, is uniformly charged by the primary charging roller 16, and an electrostatic image is formed by the exposure device 8. The developing roller 13 develops the developer T. Inside the developer storage unit 25, the developer T is supplied to the developing roller 13 (developer carrier) by the pressing member 21 and adjusted to a thin layer by the developing blade 15.

  On the other hand, the sheet S stored in the cassette 6 is conveyed by the conveyance roller 7 to the nip between the photosensitive drum 11 and the transfer roller 9. The sheet S is transferred with the developer image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 by the transfer roller 9, conveyed and fixed to the fixing device 10, and discharged to the tray 3 on the upper part of the apparatus main body B by the discharge roller 1.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the storage container 26. As shown in FIG. 3, the storage container 26 includes a storage member 34 and a sealing member 19 attached to the storage member 34. The developer T is stored in the storage container 26.

  The storage member 34 is formed by stacking a molded part 34a formed by three-dimensionally forming a polyethylene film having a thickness of about 0.2 to 0.3 mm and a sheet 34b having air permeability, and joining the outer peripheral part 34c to the entire circumference. To form the container shape. On the side surface of the storage member 34, a plurality of openings 35a are formed side by side in a direction parallel to the developing roller 13 (D direction indicated by an arrow in the figure, hereinafter referred to as a longitudinal direction).

  Then, the sealing member 19 continuously surrounds the periphery of the plurality of openings 35a by the joining portion 22 and joins the opening 35a so that the developer T can be opened. The developer T stored in the storage member 34 is sealed. The sealing member 19 has a joint portion, and the joint portion is made of a laminate material having a sealant layer that exhibits easy opening. On the other hand, the base material of the sealing member may be appropriately selected from polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene, polypropylene, etc., having a thickness of 0.03 to 0.15 mm.

  The sealing member 19 includes a sealing portion 19a, an engaged portion 19b, and a joint portion 22. The sealing member 19 is formed long in the longitudinal direction D. The engaged portion 19b of the sealing member 19 has a plurality of holes formed at positions above the joint portion 22 in the short direction E (the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction D and the vertical direction in FIG. 3). . The plurality of holes are engaged with the pressing member 21, and the sealing member is attached to the pressing member (see FIG. 2). The sealing portion 19a refers to a region other than the engaged portion 19b.

  When the engaged portion 19b is pulled, the joint portion 22 is peeled, and the opening 35a is exposed. More specifically, first the first joint portion 22a extending in the longitudinal direction D near the engaged portion 19b is peeled off, then the third joint portion 22c extending in the short-side direction E is peeled off, and finally the engaged portion 19b. The second joint portion 22b extending in the longitudinal direction D far from the surface is peeled off. The sealing member 19 has the first joint 22a, the second joint 22b, and the third joint 22c. However, the configuration of the storage member 34 is not limited to the configuration of the sealing member 19, and another member other than the sealing member 19 and the storage member 34 may be used.

  A fixed portion 34d to be fixed to the fixing portion 18a of the second frame 18 is formed on the outer peripheral portion 34c that extends behind the opening 35a on the sheet 34b that constitutes a part of the storage member 34. The fixed part 34d is configured by a plurality of holes arranged in the longitudinal direction D, and engages with a boss as the fixing part 18a (see FIG. 1).

  Next, the configuration of the developer storage unit 25 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 4A, 4B, and 5A. 4A is a cross-sectional view of the pressing member 21 cut along a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction D, and FIG. 4B is a diagram of the pressing member 21 viewed from the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction D (front view). 5A is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the pressing member 21 before opening.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a fixing portion 18 a that fixes the storage member 34 is attached to a position away from the developing roller 13 on the upper surface of the second frame 18. The fixing portion 18a is a plurality of bosses arranged in the longitudinal direction D. On the other hand, in the fixed portion 34d of the storage member 34, a plurality of holes are formed at equal intervals with the plurality of bosses. Then, after the plurality of bosses are engaged with the plurality of holes, the housing members 34 are fixed to the second frame 18 by caulking the bosses by heat. In this embodiment, it is fixed by heat caulking, but it is also possible to use a boss that is simply hooked.

  The pressing member 21 is disposed at a position facing the opening 35 a of the storage member 34. The pressing member 21 includes a rotating shaft 60, a pressing sheet 21 b, and a sealing member 19. The rotation shaft 60 extends in the longitudinal direction D and has a recess J toward the rotation center O. The pressing sheet 21b and the sealing member 19 are attached to and supported by the rotating shaft 60.

  The pressing sheet 21b is a flexible sheet material, and, as shown in FIG. 4, one end is engaged with a first engaging portion 21e provided on the shaft portion 21a. In the present embodiment, the pressing sheet 21b includes a concave portion J having two surfaces, that is, a first surface J1 formed by the protruding portion 21h, and a pressing sheet 21b attached to form a first engaging portion 21e. And two surfaces J2. Therefore, one end of the pressing sheet 21b is attached to the inner surface of the recess J. Before the rotating shaft 60 rotates, the sealing member 19 seals the opening 35a (see FIG. 1), and the rotating shaft 60 rotates. Therefore, the sealing member 19 is peeled off from the opening 35a.

  As shown in FIG. 4B, supported portions 21k that are rotatably supported by the first frame body 17 and the second frame body 18 are provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the shaft portion 21a. At one end in the longitudinal direction D, a fitting portion 21m that fits with the drive transmission gear is provided. The driving force applied from the apparatus main body B is transmitted to the fitting portion 21m and rotates in the rotation direction C (see FIG. 1).

  As shown in FIG. 1, the length of the pressing sheet 21 b is set to a length that allows contact with the bottom surface 18 d of the second frame 18 and the storage member 34. When the pressing sheet 21b contacts the bottom surface 18d, the pressing member 21 conveys the developer T from the storage member 34 toward the developing roller 13 while rotating in the rotation direction C. Further, when the pressing sheet 21b comes into contact with the storage member 34, the length and the hardness are set such that the contact pressure is such that the opening 35a is deformed.

  By the way, in the present embodiment, the pressing member 21 also serves as an opening means for the storage container 26. That is, the shaft portion 21a has a plurality of bosses that are engaged with the engaged portion 19b of the sealing member 19 on the upstream side in the rotational direction C from the first engaging portion 21e as shown in FIG. A second engagement portion 21f is formed. After the hole is engaged with the boss, the sealing member 19 is fixed to the shaft portion 21a by caulking the boss with heat. When the pressing member 21 receives the driving force from the apparatus main body B and rotates in the rotation direction C, the sealing member 19 is wound around the pressing member 21 and an opening operation is performed.

  As shown in FIG. 4B, the rotation shaft 60 includes a shaft portion 21a that is an “axis”, and a plurality of protrusion portions 21g that are provided so as to extend perpendicularly to the shaft portion 21a and line up in the longitudinal direction D. Have The protruding portion 21g has a protruding portion 21h protruding in the radial direction at the downstream end portion in the rotation direction C of the first engaging portion 21e. In other words, the recess J is formed when the diameter of the protrusion 21g from the rotation center O differs in the rotation direction C.

  Further, the protruding portion 21g is formed in a cam shape in which the radius gradually decreases from the protruding portion 21h toward the second engaging portion 21f in the downstream in the rotation direction C. In other words, the diameter of the protrusion 21g from the rotation center O is set smaller as it goes downstream in the rotation direction C. The height of the protrusion 21h is set to a height that contacts the storage member 34 and does not contact the bottom surface 18d while the protrusion 21g is rotating.

  When the opening operation starts, the sealing member 19 is wound around the outer periphery of the protruding portion 21g. In the state where the sealing member 19 is wound around the protruding portion 21g, as shown in FIG. 4A, the length to the front end of the sealing member 19 is shorter than the length to the front end of the pressing sheet 21b. Is set to If this is not done, the tip of the sealing member 19 is wrapped around the tip of the pressing sheet 21b, and the developer conveying ability and stirring ability of the original pressing member 21 are reduced.

  By the way, it has been found that the wider the opening 35a in the height direction, the more the circulation of the developer T inside and outside the storage container 26 is promoted, and the image density unevenness at the end of the cartridge life can be suppressed. On the other hand, in order to widen the width of the opening 35a, since the width to be sealed widens, the length of the sealing member 19 must be increased accordingly.

  However, as described above, the sealing member 19 needs to be shorter than the pressing sheet 21b in a state where the sealing member 19 is wound around the protruding portion 21g so as not to lower the developer conveying ability and the stirring ability of the pressing member 21. Therefore, in order to increase the width of the opening 35a without impairing the ability of the pressing member 21, it is effective to make the outer periphery of the protrusion 21g as long as possible.

  FIG. 4C is a front view in which the configuration of the pressing member 21 is simplified, and FIG. 4D is a cross-sectional view of FIG. As shown in FIGS. 4C and 4D, the rotating shaft 60 of the pressing member 21 includes a shaft portion 21a and a protruding portion 21g provided around the shaft portion 21a.

  However, it is not necessary to be limited to this form. FIG.4 (e) is the front view which simplified the structure of the rotating shaft 70 of the press member which concerns on a modification, FIG.4 (f) is sectional drawing of FIG.4 (e). As shown in FIG. 4E, the rotary shaft 70 may have a configuration including a shaft portion 70a which is an “axis” and a groove portion 70b formed in the shaft portion 70a. In this case, when the diameter from the rotation center O of the groove part 70b differs in the rotation direction C, the recessed part J is formed. And the diameter from the rotation center O of the groove part 70b is set deeply as it goes downstream in the rotation direction C.

  On the other hand, at the start of the opening operation, as shown in FIG. 5A, the upstream end 21j in the rotational direction C of the second engagement portion 21f pushes the storage member 34, but the reaction force F at that time is the second force F. It acts perpendicularly to the surface of the engaging portion 21f. Therefore, the load torque at the start of opening increases as the position of the upstream end 21j moves away from the rotation center O.

  From the above, in order to widen the width of the opening 35a without impairing the ability of the pressing member 21 and to suppress the load torque at the start of opening as much as possible, from the protrusion 21h toward the downstream side in the rotation direction C. A cam shape in which the radius gradually decreases until reaching the second engagement portion 21f is optimal. In the present embodiment, the protrusion 21g has a cam shape in which the radius continuously decreases gradually, but it is not necessarily continuous, and the circumscribed envelope continuously decreases in radius. If so, the same effect can be expected.

  Next, the opening operation and the discharging operation of the storage container 26 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b). Here, FIG. 5B is a detailed sectional view of the vicinity of the stirring means after opening.

  Before the opening operation starts, as shown in FIG. 5A, the sealing member 19 is folded and accommodated on the upper side of the first joint portion 22a. The opening operation is performed in the following order. First, the pressing member 21 rotates in the rotation direction C, the sealing member 19 starts to wrap around the outer periphery of the protruding portion 21g of the pressing member 21, and the first joint portion 22a is eventually peeled off. At this time, the pressing member 21 rotates while pushing the storage member 34 at the upstream end 21j of the second engaging portion 21f.

  When further rotated, the third joints 22c at both longitudinal ends are gradually peeled off, then the second joints 22b are peeled off, the sealing member 19 is completely separated from the storage member 34, and the opening operation is completed. After opening, as shown in FIG. 5B, the pressing member 21 and the sealing member 19 rotate together. Then, when the pressing sheet 21b comes into contact with the housing member 34 while deforming it, a pressure for discharging the developer T inside the housing member 34 to the outside from the opening 35a is generated. FIG. 5B shows a state where both the pressing sheet 21b and the protruding portion 21h are in contact with the storage member 34 at the same time.

  At this time, a space V surrounded by the protruding portion 21h, which is a part of the concave portion, the pressing sheet 21b, and the storage member 34 is formed. In this state, the opening 35a and the pressing member 21 are arranged so that a part of the opening 35a is placed between the pressing sheet 21b and the protruding portion 21h. With this configuration, the developer T is discharged from the opening 35a so as to fill the space V when both the pressing sheet 21b and the protruding portion 21h are in contact with the storage member 34 at the same time.

  In this case, when the pressing sheet 21b presses the storage container 26, the pressing sheet 21b, the first surface J1 formed on the protrusion 21h that is a part of the recess J, and the storage member 34 of the storage container 26 The sealing member 19 is located in the space surrounded by. That is, the concave portion J forms a space V between the sealing member 19 and the opening 35 a by the sealing member 19 entering the concave portion J when the pressing sheet presses the storage container 26.

  If there is no space V, the sealing member 19 after opening may cover the opening 35a, and the discharging property of the developer T may be deteriorated. A space V in which the member 19 enters and the developer T can be discharged from the opening 35a is formed.

  As the rotation further proceeds, the developer stored in the space V falls to the bottom surface 18d and is conveyed toward the developing roller 13 (left side in FIG. 5) by the pressing sheet 21b. By providing the protrusion 21h on the pressing member 21 in this way, a space V is formed on the downstream side in the rotation direction C of the pressing sheet 21b, and the developer is accommodated therein. A large amount of developer transport can be secured. As a result, a sufficient amount of developer can be supplied to the developing roller 13 immediately after opening, so that a high-density image can be stably printed immediately after the start of use of the cartridge A.

  According to the configuration of the example, when the pressing sheet 21b presses the storage container 26, the sealing member 19 enters the recess J, and a space V is formed between the sealing member 19 and the opening 35a. The developer T is discharged from the storage container 26 more efficiently than before. As a result, a high-print image can be stably printed in a very short time from the start of use of the developer storage unit 25.

19 sealing member 21 pressing member (pressing means)
21a Shaft (shaft)
21b Pressing sheet 21g Protrusion 25 Developer storage unit 35a Opening 34 Flexible container 60 Rotating shaft 70a Shaft (shaft)
70b Groove C Rotation direction J Concave O Rotation center T Developer

Claims (11)

A flexible container having an opening, having flexibility and accommodating a developer;
A pressing means that is rotatably supported at a position facing the flexible container and presses the flexible container;
With
The pressing means is peeled from the flexible container as the rotating shaft having a concave portion recessed toward the rotation center, a pressing sheet attached to the rotating shaft, the opening is sealed and the rotating shaft rotates. And a sealing member
The concave portion can form a space between the sealing member and the opening by the sealing member entering the concave portion when the flexible container is pressed by the pressing means. A developer storage unit configured as described above.   The developer storage unit according to claim 1, wherein one end of the pressing sheet is attached to an inner surface of the concave portion.   The said sealing member is located in the space formed by the said press sheet, the said recessed part, and the said flexible container when the said press sheet presses the said flexible container. The developer storage unit according to claim 1 or 2.   The rotation shaft includes a shaft and a protrusion provided on the shaft, and the recess is formed by changing a diameter of the protrusion from the rotation center in a rotation direction. The developer storage unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3.   The developer storage unit according to claim 4, wherein the rotation shaft includes a plurality of the protrusions.   6. The developer storage unit according to claim 2, wherein a diameter of the protrusion from the rotation center is set to be smaller toward a downstream in a rotation direction.   The rotation shaft includes a shaft and a groove formed in the shaft, and the recess is formed by changing a diameter from a rotation center of the groove in a rotation direction. The developer storage unit according to 1.   The developer storage unit according to claim 7, wherein a diameter of the groove from the rotation center is set deeper toward a downstream in a rotation direction. A developer carrying member carrying the developer;
The developer storage unit according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
A cartridge comprising: An image carrier for carrying a developer image;
A developer carrying member carrying the developer;
The developer storage unit according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
A cartridge comprising: The device body;
The developer storage unit according to any one of claims 1 to 8, or the cartridge according to claim 9 or 10, which is detachable from the apparatus main body,
An image forming apparatus comprising:

Images