JP2017191236A - Developer cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress a reduction in agitation performance caused by creep deformation while suppressing a manufacturing cost by using an agitation member having a sealing function in a developer cartridge.SOLUTION: A developing cartridge 1 includes: a housing 2; a developer container 6 which is provided in the housing 2, and has at least one discharge port 7 while storing toner T; a rotatable rotation member 12; and a sheet-like agitation member 16 which agitates the toner T in the housing 2. One end 17 of the agitation member 16 is fixed to a fixing surface 15 of the rotation member 12 and the other end 18 of the agitation member 16 is joined to a joining surface 8 around the discharge port 7 of the developer container 6. By rotating the rotation member 12, the agitation member 16 is peeled off from the developer container 6 and rotates as a blade for agitating the toner T together with the rotation member 12. The fixing surface 15 faces the joining surface 8 in a state of the agitation member 16 being joined to the joining surface 8.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a developer cartridge including a developer container, a rotating member, and a stirring member that stirs the developer by rotation of the rotating member in a housing.

Conventionally, a flexible container having a plurality of discharge ports for containing the developer and discharging the developer, and an agitator for stirring the toner discharged from the flexible container are provided inside the housing. A known developer cartridge is known (see Patent Document 1).
In this developer cartridge, a sheet-like stirring member for stirring toner and a sheet-like sealing member for sealing the discharge port of the flexible container are fixed to the rotating member of the agitator. When the rotating member rotates, the sealing member is peeled off from the flexible container, and the toner in the flexible container is discharged. The discharged toner is stirred by a stirring member that rotates together with the rotating member.

JP 2013-37345 A

By the way, since this developing cartridge is provided with a stirring member and a sealing member, two sheets are required and costly.
In addition, the sealing member has one end fixed to the fixed surface facing the lower side of the rotating member and seals the discharge port in a state of being bent by about 180 degrees, so that the unopened developer cartridge is stored. There was a possibility that the sealing member creep-deformed in the meantime. The creep-deformed sealing member may be entangled with the stirring member after being peeled from the flexible container, and the stirring performance of the stirring member may be impaired.

  An object of the present invention is to reduce the manufacturing cost by using a stirring member having a sealing function in a developer cartridge and to suppress a decrease in stirring performance due to creep deformation.

In order to solve the above problems, a developer cartridge according to the present invention includes a housing, a developer container that is provided in the housing, accommodates the developer, and includes at least one developer discharge port, and is rotatable. And a sheet-like stirring member that stirs the developer in the housing.
One end of the agitating member is fixed to the fixed surface of the rotating member, and the other end is joined to the joint surface around the discharge port of the developer container.
Then, by rotating the rotating member, the stirring member is peeled off from the developer container and rotates with the rotating member as blades for stirring the developer.
In a state where the stirring member is bonded to the bonding surface, the fixed surface faces the bonding surface.

According to this configuration, since the discharge port of the developer container is sealed by the stirring member, the sealing function and the stirring function can be realized only by the stirring member. Therefore, a sealing member is not necessary, and the manufacturing cost of the developer cartridge can be suppressed.
In addition, since the agitating member has one end and the other end fixed or joined to a fixed surface and a joining surface that are arranged to face each other, the agitating member is substantially flat from one end to the other end without bending the agitating member. The discharge port of the developer container is sealed in a state of extending in FIG. Therefore, even when the unopened developer cartridge is stored for a long period of time, the stirring member is prevented from creeping and the developer is stably stirred by the stirring member peeled off from the developer container. Can do.

According to the present invention, since the discharge port of the developer container is sealed by the stirring member, the sealing member becomes unnecessary, and the manufacturing cost of the developer cartridge can be suppressed.
In addition, since the stirring member seals the discharge port of the developer container in a state of extending in a substantially flat shape from one end to the other end, the stirring member is prevented from creep deformation, and from the developer container The developer can be stirred stably by the peeled stirring member.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the developing cartridge according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2A is a partially enlarged view of the developing cartridge of FIG. 1 showing a state in which a fixed surface and a bonding surface face each other, and FIG. 2B is an explanatory diagram for explaining an angle formed by the fixing surface and the bonding surface. It is the figure which looked at the developer container of a developing cartridge, and the stirring member of an agitator from the bottom. (A) to (c) are explanatory views for explaining the operation of stirring the toner as a blade of the agitator when the stirring member of the agitator is peeled off from the developer container. (A) Sectional drawing which shows the developing cartridge which concerns on 2nd Embodiment, (b) The elements on larger scale which show the rotation member of an agitator. (A) It is an enlarged view of the agitator shown in FIG. 5 (a), the state which the 2nd member was folded with respect to the 1st member is shown as a continuous line, and the state where the 2nd member was developed with respect to the 1st member An explanatory view indicated by a line, (b) an explanatory view for explaining an angle formed by the first extending portion and the second extending portion in a state in which the second member is folded, and (c) a second member is developed. It is explanatory drawing explaining the angle | corner which the 1st extension part and the 2nd extension part make in the state which carried out. (A) And (b) is explanatory drawing explaining operation | movement of the developing cartridge of FIG. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a first modification of a joint surface formed around the discharge port of the toner container. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a second modification of the joint surface formed around the discharge port of the toner container. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a third modification of the joint surface formed around the discharge port of the toner container.

[First Embodiment]
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 as appropriate.
In the following description, the structure of a developing cartridge as an example of a developer cartridge will be briefly described, and then the characteristic part of the present invention will be described in detail.

  The developing cartridge 1 is detachably mounted on an image forming apparatus (not shown), and the photosensitive drum DR and a developing roller 24 described later are in contact with the developing cartridge 1 mounted.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the developing cartridge 1 includes a housing 2, a developer container 6 that is provided in a developer storage chamber 4 in the housing 2, and stores toner T as an example of a developer, and a housing 2 mainly includes an agitator 10, a supply roller 22, a developing roller 24, and a layer thickness regulating blade 26.

The housing 2 is made of resin, and a developer storage chamber 4 is formed therein. A developer container 6 is fixed to the housing 2 at the upper part of the developer storage chamber 4.
Further, the housing 2 rotatably supports the agitator 10 at the central portion, and rotatably supports the supply roller 22 and the developing roller 24 in the vicinity of the outlet of the developer storage chamber 4.
Further, one end of the layer thickness regulating blade 26 is fixed to the outside of the housing 2.

The developer container 6 is a bag-like container made of a flexible material that is more easily deformed than the housing 2. In the developer container 6, a plurality of discharge ports 7 (see FIG. 3) for discharging the toner T accommodated in the developer container 6 into the developer storage chamber 4 are arranged in the direction of the rotation axis of the rotation member 12 of the agitator 10 described later. Are arranged along.
In order to prevent the unused toner from deteriorating due to moisture or the like, the developer container 6 adheres an end of a stirring member 16 to be described later to the discharge port 7 by bonding it with a joint surface 8 around the discharge port 7. Sealed.
The material for forming the developer container 6 is not particularly limited, and for example, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene (PE), or polypropylene (PP) can be used.

The agitator 10 is disposed under the developer container 6 and agitates the toner T discharged from the discharge port 7 of the developer container 6 in the developer storage chamber 4.
The agitator 25 includes a rotating member 12 and an agitating member 16 that has one end fixed to the rotating member 12 and rotates together with the rotating member 12.

The rotating member 12 includes a shaft 14 that can rotate around a rotation axis, and a main body 13 that rotates integrally with the shaft 14. The main body portion 13 has an L-shaped cross-sectional shape, and includes a first extension portion 13A extending from the shaft 14 in the radial direction of the shaft 14, and a direction in which the first extension portion 13A extends from the first extension portion 13A. And a second extending portion 13B extending in the orthogonal direction. The 2nd extension part 13B is provided with the fixed surface 15 for fixing the stirring member 16 in the edge part located on the opposite side to 13 A of 1st extension parts. The fixed surface 15 is a flat surface.
The rotating member 12 is driven to rotate when a driving force of a motor provided in a main body housing of the image forming apparatus (not shown) is input.

The stirring member 16 is a sheet-like member formed from, for example, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene (PE), or polypropylene (PP). The stirring member 16 has one end 17 fixed to the fixed surface 15 of the rotating member 12 and the other end 18 is detachably bonded around the discharge port 7 of the developer container 6 to seal the discharge port 7. doing.
Moreover, the stirring member 16 has the 1st surface 19 and the 2nd surface 20 on the front and back (refer FIG. 2 (a)), the 1st surface 19 is fixed to the fixed surface 15, and the 2nd surface 20 is a joining surface. 8 is bonded.
The agitating member 16 is peeled off from the developer container 6 when the rotating member 12 is rotated, and rotates with the rotating member 12 as a blade of the agitator 10.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the supply roller 22 and the developing roller 24 extend along the axial direction of the photosensitive drum DR while being in contact with each other, and are rotatably supported by the housing 2. The layer thickness regulating blade 26 is in contact with the peripheral surface of the developing roller 24.

The developing cartridge 1 configured as described above is detachably attached to the main body housing of the image forming apparatus, and operates as follows under print control.
First, the surface of the photosensitive drum DR is charged. Next, an exposure device (not shown) provided in the main body casing exposes the surface of the charged photosensitive drum DR with laser light, thereby forming an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum DR.

On the other hand, the rotating member 12 of the agitator 10 rotates when a driving force is input from a motor (not shown). When the rotating member 12 rotates, the agitating member 16 is peeled off from the joint surface 8 of the developer container 6, and the discharge port 7 is exposed. Then, the toner T in the developer container 6 is discharged into the developer storage chamber 4.
The rotational direction of the agitator 10 is a clockwise direction in FIG. 1, and the one end 17 fixed to the fixing surface 15 of the stirring member 16 is downstream in the rotational direction with respect to the other end 18 bonded to the discharge port 7. Located on the side.

  The supply roller 22 rotates while being in contact with the developing roller 24 to supply the toner T in the developer storage chamber 4 to the developing roller 24. The toner T carried on the developing roller 24 is regulated in thickness by the layer thickness regulating blade 26 and then supplied to the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum DR, whereby the electrostatic latent image is visualized. A toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum DR.

Next, the peripheral structure of the developer container 6 and the agitator 10 which is a characteristic part of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2A, when the developer container 6 is not opened, the fixed surface 15 of the rotating member 12 of the agitator 10 faces the joint surface 8 of the developer container 6. A stirring member 16 having one end 17 fixed to the fixing surface 15 and the other end 18 bonded to the joining surface 8 extends from the one end 17 to the other end 18 in a substantially planar shape.
More specifically, the fixing surface 15 faces the first direction which is the upper right side in FIG. 2A, and the joining surface 8 is substantially opposite to the first direction, and the lower left side in FIG. It faces the second direction. In the present embodiment, the angle α formed by the fixed surface 15 and the bonding surface 8 is 90 to 270 degrees, more preferably 135 to 225 degrees.

Here, “the angle α formed between the fixed surface 15 and the joint surface 8” is a vector extending from the fixed surface 15 in the first direction (first vector V1) and a vector extending from the joint surface 8 in the second direction (second vector). V2) can be obtained as an angle.
More specifically, first, a direction vector extending from the fixed surface 15 in the first direction is obtained as the first vector V1.
Next, a direction vector extending from the joint surface 8 in the second direction is obtained as the second vector V2.
Then, as shown in FIG. 2B, the start point of the second vector V2 is aligned with the start point of the first vector V1, and the angle from the first vector V1 toward the second vector V2 in the counterclockwise direction is obtained. , “An angle α between the fixed surface 15 and the joint surface 8”. The angle α is positive in the counterclockwise direction.

In addition, the fixed surface 15 and the joint surface 8 are arranged with an interval L1 in the direction in which the stirring member 16 extends when viewed along the rotation axis of the rotating member 12.
The length of the blades of the agitator 10, that is, the length of the protruding portion where the stirring member 16 protrudes from the fixed surface 15 of the rotating member 12 and extends to the tip of the other end 18 is, for example, preferably in the range of 10 mm to 40 mm. Is set in the range of 20 mm to 30 mm.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the developer container 6 is fixed to the housing 2 with a plurality of discharge ports 7 facing downward. The discharge ports 7 are arranged in a line along the rotation axis direction of the rotating member 12 of the agitator 10 (the width direction of the developing cartridge 1). Each discharge port 7 has a substantially square shape and is inclined by 45 ° with respect to the rotation axis direction.

An adhesive is applied around each discharge port 7 to form a joint surface 8 when the other end 18 of the stirring member 16 is bonded to the developer container 6.
Each joint surface 8 has a substantially square shape corresponding to the shape of the discharge port 7, and is inclined 45 ° with respect to the rotation axis direction. Therefore, the downstream end portion 8A of the joint surface 8 positioned on the downstream side when viewed in the rotation direction of the rotating member 12 has a sharp tip. Similarly, the upstream end portion 8B of the joint surface 8 positioned on the upstream side when viewed in the rotation direction of the rotating member 12 has a pointed tip.
The downstream end 8 </ b> A and the upstream end 8 </ b> B extend in a direction intersecting the rotation axis direction of the rotating member 12.

Next, the operation of the developing cartridge 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 1, in the developing cartridge 1 in which the developer container 6 is not opened, the fixed surface 15 of the rotating member 12 and the joint surface 8 of the developer container 6 are arranged to face each other. The stirring member 16 having one end 17 fixed and the other end 18 bonded to the joining surface 8 extends in a substantially planar shape.
In this state, since the discharge port 7 of the developer container 6 is sealed by the other end portion 18 of the stirring member 16, it is possible to suppress the unused toner T from being deteriorated due to moisture or the like.
Further, since the stirring member 16 extends in a substantially flat shape, it is possible to suppress the creeping deformation of the stirring member 16 while the developing cartridge 1 is stored.

When such a developing cartridge 1 is mounted on an image forming apparatus (not shown) and the rotating member 12 rotates as shown in FIG. 4A, the other end portion 18 of the stirring member 16 is attached to the developer container 6. The discharge port 7 is exposed by peeling off from the joint surface 8. Then, the toner T in the developer container 6 is discharged from the discharge port 7 into the developer storage chamber 4.
The stirring member 16 peeled off from the joint surface 8 rotates together with the rotating member 12 as a blade of the agitator 10.

According to the developing cartridge 1 of the present embodiment, since the fixed surface 15 and the joining surface 8 are arranged with a distance L1, the other end portion 18 of the stirring member 16 is easily peeled off.
Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the downstream end portion 8A of each joining surface 8 has a sharp tip, and therefore, when the stirring member 16 is started to be peeled off, it is only necessary to peel off the joining surface of a very short length. The force required to start peeling is reduced, and the stirring member 16 is easily peeled off.
Similarly, since the upstream end portion 8B of each joint surface 8 has a sharp tip, the force required when the stirring member 16 is completely peeled is reduced, and the stirring member 16 is easily peeled off.

As shown in FIG. 4B, the toner T discharged from the developer container 6 is stored in the lower part of the developer storage chamber 4. Then, the toner T is supplied from the supply roller 22 to the developing roller 24.
Since the developer container 6 is a flexible bag-like container, it contracts and deforms as the toner T inside is discharged. Although the toner T may not be easily discharged from the discharge port 7 due to the shrinkage of the developer container 6, since the rotating stirring member 16 of the agitator 10 hits the developer container 6, the toner T in the developer container 6 is smooth. Discharged.

As shown in FIG. 4C, when all the toner T in the developer container 6 is discharged into the developer storage chamber 4, the developer container 6 contracts to a size that does not hinder agitation by the agitator 10. .
The rotating member 12 of the agitator 10 continues to rotate, and the toner T in the developer storage chamber 4 is stirred by the stirring member 16.

  According to the developing cartridge 1 of this embodiment, since the stirring member 16 is prevented from creeping during storage, the toner T can be stably stirred when the stirring member 16 functions as a blade of the agitator 10. .

According to the above, the following effects can be obtained in the present embodiment.
Since the discharge port 7 of the developer container 6 is sealed by the stirring member 16, the sealing function and the stirring function can be realized only by the stirring member 16. Therefore, a sealing member is not necessary, and the manufacturing cost of the developing cartridge 1 can be suppressed.
Further, since the one end portion 17 and the other end portion 18 of the stirring member 16 are fixed or joined to the fixed surface 15 of the rotating member 12 and the joint surface 8 of the developer container 6 which are disposed to face each other, the stirring member 16 is fixed. The discharge port 7 of the developer container 6 is sealed in a state extending from the one end portion 17 to the other end portion 18 on a substantially flat surface without being bent. Therefore, even when the unopened developing cartridge 1 is stored for a long period of time, the stirring member 16 is prevented from creeping and the toner T is stably removed by the stirring member 16 peeled off from the developer container 6. Can be stirred.

Further, since each joint surface 8 of the developer container 6 has a sharp tip at the downstream end 8A, a force required to start peeling of the stirring member 16 is reduced, and the stirring member 16 is easily peeled off.
Furthermore, since each joint surface 8 of the developer container 6 has a sharp tip at the upstream end 8B, the force required at the end of peeling of the stirring member 16 becomes small, and the stirring member 16 is easily peeled off.

  In the above-described embodiment, the other end 18 of the stirring member 16 is bonded to the bonding surface 8 by bonding, but the bonding method is not limited to bonding. As long as the outlet 7 of the developer container 6 can be sealed when unopened and the stirring member 16 can be peeled off by the rotation of the rotating member 12, it is possible to appropriately change the welding, separation from the perforation, and the like. .

[Second Embodiment]
With reference to FIG. 5A and FIG. 6A, the developing cartridge 51 according to the second embodiment will be described. The same components as those of the developing cartridge 1 of the first embodiment are referred to by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, the developing cartridge 51 includes a housing 2 and a developer container 6 that is provided in the developer storage chamber 4 in the housing 2 and stores toner T as an example of the developer. The agitator 60, the supply roller 22, the developing roller 24, and the layer thickness regulating blade 26 provided in the housing 2 are mainly provided.

The agitator 60 includes a first member 70 and a second member 80 that constitute a rotating member 62 that can rotate around a rotation axis, and a biasing member that biases the second member 80 to a predetermined posture with respect to the first member. The torsion spring 90 and the stirring member 66 are provided.
The rotation direction of the agitator 60 is a clockwise direction in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 5B, the first member 70 is provided on the first extending portion 72 having a rectangular cross-sectional shape and on the side surface of the first extending portion 72, and allows the rotating member 62 to rotate. A rotating shaft 74 for supporting the second member 80 rotatably on the side surface of the first extending portion 72, and one end of the torsion spring 90. And a support protrusion 78 for supporting.
Moreover, the 1st extension part 72 has the opposing surface 73 which opposes the 2nd member 80 of the folded state.

The second member 80 has an L-shaped cross-sectional shape, and has a rectangular parallelepiped second extending portion 84 having a fixing surface 82 for fixing the stirring member 66, and both end portions of the second extending portion 84. And a connecting portion 86 provided with an insertion hole 87 into which the support shaft 76 of the first member 70 is inserted.
In the second extending portion 84, a contact surface 85 with which the other end portion 96 of the torsion spring 90 described later contacts is formed on the opposite side of the fixed surface 82.

  One torsion spring 90 is provided at each end of the first member 70, a coil portion 92 that is externally mounted on the support shaft 76, an end portion 94 that contacts the support protrusion 78 of the first member 70, and a second member 80. And the other end portion 96 that contacts the contact surface 85 of the second extending portion 84.

The stirring member 66 is a sheet-like member formed from, for example, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene (PE), or polypropylene (PP). One end portion 67 of the stirring member 66 is fixed to the fixing surface 82 of the second member 80, and the other end portion 68 is detachably bonded to the joint surface 8 formed around the discharge port 7 of the developer container 6. Thus, the discharge port 7 is sealed.
When the rotating member 62 is rotated, the stirring member 66 is peeled off from the developer container 6 and rotates together with the rotating member 62 as a blade of the agitator 60.

In the unopened developing cartridge 51, as shown in FIG. 5A, the rotating member 62 of the agitator 60 is arranged so that the fixed surface 82 faces the joint surface 8 of the developer container 6.
In this state, the second member 80 is folded with respect to the first member 70.
More specifically, as shown in FIG. 5B, the biasing force of the torsion spring 90 so that the second extending portion 84 of the second member 80 falls to the first extending portion 72 side of the first member 70. The second member 80 is folded against this.
The fixed surface 82 faces the first direction which is the upper right side in FIG. 5A, and the bonding surface 8 is substantially opposite to the first direction and is the lower left side in FIG. 5A. It faces the second direction. Similar to the first embodiment described above, the angle formed by the fixed surface 82 and the joint surface 8 is, for example, 90 to 270 degrees, more preferably 135 to 225 degrees.
The stirring member 66 has one end 67 fixed to the fixing surface 82 of the second member 80 and the other end 68 is detachably bonded to the joining surface 8 of the developer container 6, thereby extending in a substantially planar shape. Yes.

As shown by a solid line in FIG. 6A, when the second member 80 is in the folded position (first position), the first extension portion 72 of the first member 70 and the second extension of the second member 80. The angle (first angle) β1 formed with the protruding portion 84 is approximately 180 degrees as shown in FIG. 6B.
Here, “the angle (first angle) β1 formed by the first extension portion 72 and the second extension portion 84” is from the rotation axis of the first extension portion 72 toward the connection portion 86 of the second member 80. It can be obtained as an angle formed by a vector extending first (first vector V3) and a vector (second vector V4) in a direction in which the second extending portion 84 of the second member 80 extends from the connecting portion 86.
More specifically, as shown in FIG. 6A, first, a vector extending from the rotation axis of the first extending portion 72 toward the connecting portion 86 of the second member 80 is obtained as a first vector V3.
Next, a vector in a direction in which the second extending portion 84 extends from the connecting portion 86 is obtained as a second vector V4.
Then, as shown in FIG. 6B, the start point of the second vector V4 is aligned with the start point of the first vector V3, and the angle from the first vector V3 toward the second vector V4 in the counterclockwise direction is obtained. , “An angle (first angle) β1 formed by the first extension portion 72 and the second extension portion 84”. The angle β1 is positive in the counterclockwise direction.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 6A, when the second member 80 is in the folded position (first position), stirring is performed from the rotation axis of the agitator 60 (the rotation center of the rotation shaft 74 of the first member 70). The shortest distance to the tip of the other end 68 of the member 66 is L3.

When a driving force is input from a motor of an image forming apparatus (not shown) and the rotating member 62 of the agitator 60 rotates, the stirring member 66 is peeled off from the joint surface 8 of the developer container 6. 6A, the second member 80 is rotated relative to the first member 70 by the biasing force of the torsion spring 90, and the second member 80 is deployed. Move to (second position).
When the second member 80 is in the deployed position (second position), the angle (second angle) β2 formed by the first extension portion 72 and the second extension portion 84 is the rotation of the first extension portion 72. Obtained as an angle formed by a vector (first vector V3) extending from the axis toward the connecting portion 86 of the second member 80 and a vector (second vector V5) in a direction in which the second extending portion 84 extends from the connecting portion 86. be able to. As shown in FIG. 6C, the second angle β2 is approximately 90 degrees, which is smaller than the first angle β1 shown in FIG.
Further, as shown in FIG. 6A, when the second member 80 is in the deployed position (second position), the stirring member is moved from the rotation axis of the agitator 60 (the rotation center of the rotation shaft 74 of the first member 70). The shortest distance to the tip of the other end portion 68 of 66 is L4, which is larger than the shortest distance L3 when in the first position.

Next, the operation of the developing cartridge 51 will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5 (a), in the developing cartridge 51 in which the developer container 6 is not opened, the fixed surface 82 of the rotating member 62 and the joint surface 8 of the developer container 6 are arranged facing each other and fixed. A stirring member 66 having one end 67 fixed to the surface 82 and the other end 68 bonded to the joining surface 8 extends in a substantially planar shape.
In this state, since the discharge port 7 of the developer container 6 is sealed by the other end portion 68 of the stirring member 66, it is possible to suppress deterioration of the unused toner T due to moisture or the like.
Further, since the stirring member 66 extends in a substantially flat shape, it is possible to suppress the creeping deformation of the stirring member 66 while the developing cartridge 51 is stored.

When such a developing cartridge 51 is mounted on an image forming apparatus (not shown) and the rotating member 62 rotates as shown in FIG. 7A, the other end 68 of the agitating member 66 is attached to the developer container 6. It peels off from the joining surface 8, and the discharge port 7 is exposed. Then, the toner T in the developer container 6 is discharged from the discharge port 7 into the developer storage chamber 4.
When the stirring member 66 is peeled off from the joint surface 8 of the developer container 6, the folded second member 80 is expanded by the biasing force of the torsion spring 90, and the second member 80 is rotated from the first position to the second position. Move. The agitator 60 rotates with the second member 80 biased to the second position, and the toner T in the developer storage chamber 4 is agitated by the agitating member 66 that rotates as a blade of the agitator 60.

  As shown in FIG. 7B, when all the toner T in the developer container 6 is discharged into the developer storage chamber 4, the developer container 6 contracts and the agitator 60 continues to rotate, thereby developing the toner. The toner T in the agent storage chamber 4 is stirred by the stirring member 66.

  According to the developing cartridge 51 of the present embodiment, the toner T can be stably stirred when the stirring member 66 functions as a blade of the agitator 60 by suppressing creep deformation of the stirring member 66 during storage. .

According to the above, in addition to the effects of the developing cartridge 1 of the first embodiment, the following effects can be further obtained.
In the developing cartridge 51, the second member 80 is folded when the developer container 6 is unopened, and the second member 80 is moved to the first position with respect to the first member 70 by the biasing force of the torsion spring 90 after opening. To a second position and take a predetermined stirring posture. Therefore, the shortest distance L3 from the rotation center of the rotation shaft 74 at the first position where the second member 80 is folded to the discharge port 7 of the developer container 6 is the rotation shaft 74 at the second position where the second member 80 is deployed. Is shorter than the shortest distance L4 from the rotation center to the discharge port 7 of the developer container 6. Therefore, even in a developing cartridge having a short distance from the rotation center of the rotating shaft to the discharge port of the developer container, the discharge port can be sealed without bending the stirring member 66. On the other hand, when the second member 80 is deployed and the stirring member 66 rotates as a blade, it is possible to reliably stir a wide range in the developer storage chamber 4.

In the second embodiment, the torsion spring 90 is used as the urging member that urges the second member 80 from the first position toward the second position. However, the urging member is not limited to the torsion spring. .
For example, a rotating shaft for allowing the rotating member to rotate, a first member having a rectangular cross-sectional shape, and a second member having a fixing surface for fixing the stirring member and having a rectangular cross-sectional shape are provided. The one end portions can also be connected with a coil spring as an urging member.
The second member is folded to the first position with the coil spring bent, and when the developer container 6 is opened by rotating the agitator 60, the second member is swung by the biasing force of the coil spring, Move to position 2.

  Similarly to the first embodiment, the joint surface 8 formed around the discharge port 7 of the developer container 6 has a substantially square shape inclined by 45 ° with respect to the rotation axis direction of the agitator 60. However, the shape of each joint surface can be changed variously.

For example, as shown in the first modified example of FIG. 8, each joint surface 108 can be formed in a triangular shape so that the distal end portion of the downstream end portion 108A has a sharp shape.
According to such a configuration, the downstream end 108 </ b> A of each joint surface 108 has a sharp tip, so that the force required to start peeling of the stirring member 66 is reduced and the stirring member 66 is easily peeled off.

Further, as shown in the second modified example of FIG. 9, each joint surface 118 is formed in an elliptical shape, and the distal end portion of the downstream end portion 118A and the distal end portion of the upstream end portion 118B are formed in an arc shape. You can also
According to such a configuration, the downstream end portion 118A of each joint surface 118 has a circular arc shape at the front end portion, so that the force required to start peeling of the stirring member 66 is reduced, and the stirring member 66 is easily peeled off. Become.
Similarly, the upstream end 118B of each joint surface 118 has a circular arc shape at the tip, so that the force required at the end of peeling of the stirring member 66 is reduced and the stirring member 66 is easily peeled off.

Moreover, as shown in the 3rd modification of FIG. 10, it can replace with the some discharge port 7, and can also provide the one discharge port 107 extended in the rotating shaft direction of the agitator 60. FIG. The discharge port 107 has a rhombus shape, and a diamond-shaped joint surface 128 is formed around the discharge port 107 corresponding to the shape of the discharge port 107.
Since the distal end of the downstream end portion 128A and the upstream end portion 128B of the joining surface 128 is pointed, the force required at the beginning and end of peeling of the stirring member 66 is reduced, and the stirring member 66 is easily peeled off.
Note that, as in the second modified example described above, the joint surface 128 may be elliptical.

  In each of the embodiments described above, the present invention is applied to a developer cartridge as an example of a developer cartridge. For example, a developer cartridge including only a developer container and an agitator, or a developer cartridge and a drum unit are integrally configured. The present invention can also be applied to other process cartridges.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Developer cartridge 2 Housing | casing 4 Developer storage chamber 6 Developer container T Toner 7 Discharge port 8 Joining surface 8A Downstream side end 8B Upstream side end 10 Agitator 12 Rotating member 14 Shaft 15 Fixed surface 16 Stirring member 17 One end 18 Other end portion 19 First surface 20 Second surface 51 Developer cartridge 60 Agitator 62 Rotating member 66 Stirring member 67 One end portion 68 Other end portion 70 First member 72 First extending portion 74 Rotating shaft 80 Second member 82 Fixed surface 84 Second extension portion 86 Connection portion 90 Torsion spring 107 Discharge port 108 Joint surface 108A Downstream end portion 118 Join surface 118A Downstream end portion 118B Upstream end portion 128 Join surface 128A Downstream end portion 128B Upstream end portion L1 Interval α Angle between fixed surface and joint surface β1 First angle β2 Second angle

Claims (16)

A housing,
A developer container that is provided in the housing and that contains the developer and includes at least one developer outlet;
A rotatable rotating member;
A sheet-like stirring member that stirs the developer in the housing, and
The stirring member has one end fixed to the fixed surface of the rotating member, and the other end joined to a joint surface around the discharge port of the developer container,
By rotating the rotating member, the stirring member is peeled off from the developer container and rotates with the rotating member as a blade for stirring the developer,
In the state where the stirring member is bonded to the bonding surface, the fixing surface faces the bonding surface. The fixed surface faces the first direction, the joint surface faces the second direction,
The developer cartridge according to claim 1, wherein an angle formed by the fixing surface and the joint surface is 90 to 270 degrees.   The developer cartridge according to claim 1, wherein an angle formed by the fixed surface and the joint surface is 135 to 225 degrees.   The stirring member includes a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, the first surface is fixed to the fixed surface, and the second surface is bonded to the joint surface. The developer cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the developer cartridge is characterized in that:   The said fixed surface and the said joint surface are arrange | positioned at intervals in the direction where the said stirring member is extended seeing along the rotating shaft line of the said rotation member, Any one of Claims 1-4 characterized by the above-mentioned. The developer cartridge according to claim 1. The rotating member is
A first member comprising a rotating shaft;
The fixing surface is provided, and the first member is rotated from the first position when the stirring member is joined to the joining surface, when the stirring member is peeled off from the joining surface and rotated. A second member relatively movable in two positions;
A biasing member that biases the second member from the first position toward the second position;
6. The second member according to claim 1, wherein the second member is folded against a biasing force of the biasing member in a state where the stirring member is joined to the developer container. The developer cartridge according to any one of the above. The first member includes a first extension extending from the rotating shaft,
The second member includes a connecting portion connected to the first extending portion, a second extending portion having the fixing surface and extending from the connecting portion, and has an L-shaped cross-sectional shape. ,
When the rotating member is in the first position, an angle formed by the first extending portion and the second extending portion is a first angle,
When the rotating member is in the second position, an angle formed by the first extending portion and the second extending portion is a second angle;
The developer cartridge according to claim 6, wherein the second angle is smaller than the first angle.   The developer cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the stirring member has a length of a protruding portion from the fixed surface serving as the blade in a range of 10 mm to 40 mm. .   The developer cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the stirring member has a length of a protruding portion from the fixed surface serving as the blade in a range of 20 mm to 30 mm. . The joint surface includes a downstream end located on the downstream side in the rotation direction of the rotating member,
10. The developer cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the downstream end extends in a direction intersecting a rotation axis of the rotating member. 11.   The developer cartridge according to claim 10, wherein the downstream end portion has a tip portion extending toward the downstream side in the rotation direction of the rotating member, and the tip portion is pointed.   The developer cartridge according to claim 10, wherein the downstream end portion has a tip portion extending toward a downstream side in the rotation direction of the rotating member, and the tip portion has an arc shape. The joint surface includes an upstream end located on the upstream side in the rotational direction of the rotating member,
The developer cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the upstream end extends in a direction intersecting with a rotation axis of the rotating member.   The developer cartridge according to claim 13, wherein the upstream end portion has a tip portion extending toward the upstream side in the rotation direction of the rotating member, and the tip portion is pointed.   The developer cartridge according to claim 13, wherein the upstream end portion has a tip portion extending toward the upstream side in the rotation direction of the rotating member, and the tip portion has an arc shape. The developer cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the developer container includes one discharge port extending along a rotation axis of the rotating member.

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