JP2018054749A - Toner cartridge, test printing method, image formation apparatus, and method for recycling toner cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a toner cartridge that can be properly sealed even if not provided with a path for removing a manual-opening seal member and that can have the seal member easily removed before use.SOLUTION: A toner cartridge comprises a toner storage part, a developing mechanism part, a housing provided with an opening part for linking the toner storage part and developing mechanism part to each other, and a seal member stuck on the housing directly or through another member so as to close the opening part of the housing. The seal member extends out of the housing to be exposed without having a portion thereof stuck on any of members, and the stuck part is peeled in a direction different from the drawing direction by drawing the exposed portion to open the opening part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 12

Description

  The present invention relates to a toner cartridge mounted on a main body of an image forming apparatus such as a laser printer or a copying machine, a test printing method using the same, an image forming apparatus, and a toner cut ridge reproduction method.

  The toner cartridge is used by being mounted on an image forming apparatus such as a laser printer, a copying machine, or a facsimile. The toner cartridge includes means for storing toner, forming an image, and transferring the image to a recording medium such as paper, and the use ends when the toner is consumed. On the other hand, the toner cartridge may be recycled and reused by replenishing toner or replacing some parts. The toner cartridge recycling process includes cleaning, replacing damaged parts, replacing worn parts, and replenishing toner. In this recycling process, it is necessary to disassemble and reassemble the toner cartridge.

  The toner cartridge includes a toner storage unit that stores toner, which is a material for forming an image, and a development mechanism unit in which a member that develops an image is disposed, and both are partitions having openings. Communicate. When recycling, normally, toner is replenished to the toner storage section, and the toner storage section is sealed by closing the opening of the partition with a sealing member so that the toner does not leak. This prevents toner leakage before use in transportation or the like. Then, when the user of the toner cartridge removes the seal member, the cartridge becomes usable (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP-A-8-305258

  However, in recent years, depending on the type of toner cartridge, there has been an increase in the number of toner cartridges in which it is difficult to seal the toner storage portion by applying the seal member. There is also a type of cartridge in which the seal member is automatically removed when the toner cartridge is set in the image forming apparatus, and the toner storage portion and the developing mechanism portion are communicated. Such a cartridge has a complicated structure and raises the difficulty of the cartridge recycling operation.

  In addition, for a toner cartridge equipped with such a seal member automatic exclusion function, there is no appropriate mounting place for removing a seal member that is manually released by the user, and there is no extraction path for removing the seal member. This makes it difficult to regenerate the cartridge.

  Here, in the case of a toner cartridge, the opening for supplying toner from the toner storage portion to the developing mechanism portion is often an elongated, substantially rectangular opening. The manual opening type sealing member that seals the opening is generally a flexible sheet having an elongated shape similar to the opening, and the toner container is attached to the opening to close the opening. It is sealed. The sealing member has a shape that extends further in a state where it is not bonded to one side in the longitudinal direction of the opening. This further extending portion is folded back on one side of the adhesive portion, passes through the opening end on the opposite side in the longitudinal direction, and extends to the outside of the cartridge housing. By pulling that part, the adhesion is peeled off and the opening is released, and by pulling all the sealing members out of the housing, the opening is completely opened.

  However, when an important functional portion of the toner cartridge is arranged on the longitudinal extension line of the seal member, it is difficult to create a slit-like gap for pulling out the seal member.

  In general, recycling cartridges are filled with recycling toner and then printed after trial printing, and the seal member automatic exclusion function provided in the image forming apparatus works. Then, it becomes difficult to seal with a seal member that can withstand transportation, and recycling work becomes more difficult.

  Therefore, in view of the above problems, the present invention can properly perform sealing even in a toner cartridge that is not provided with a path for removing a manual opening seal member, and can be easily removed before starting use. It is an issue to provide. Further, a test printing method using the toner cartridge, an image forming apparatus, and a toner cut ridge regeneration method are provided.

  The present invention will be described below.

  One aspect of the present invention provides a housing provided with a toner storage portion, a development mechanism portion, and an opening that communicates the toner storage portion and the development mechanism portion, and directly covers the opening of the housing. Or a seal member that is affixed to the housing via another member, and at least a portion of the seal member is exposed to extend outside the housing without being affixed to any member. The toner cartridge is such that by pulling the exposed part, a part attached in a direction different from the pulled direction is peeled and the opening is opened.

  A developing roller may be disposed in the housing, and the exposed portion of the seal member may be configured to be exposed to the outside through the housing and the developing roller.

  In addition, a recovery blade and a developing roller may be disposed in the housing, and the exposed portion of the seal member is configured to be exposed to the outside through the recovery blade and the developing roller. Also good.

  In the toner cartridge, a handle may be provided at the tip of the exposed portion of the seal member.

  Further, the handle may be formed so as to protrude with respect to the seal member in order to prevent attachment to and removal from the image forming apparatus.

  The developing mechanism portion of the housing may include test printing toner.

  When the toner for trial printing is included, it is possible to provide a trial printing method in which trial printing is performed by fixing at least a part of the exposed portion of the seal member to the casing.

  Also provided is an image forming apparatus configured so that when the handle is provided, the handle becomes a physical obstacle when the handle is attached, and the toner cartridge cannot be attached to the image forming apparatus main body. be able to.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for regenerating a cartridge including a toner storage unit, a development mechanism unit, and a housing provided with an opening for communicating the toner storage unit and the development mechanism unit. The seal member is attached to the housing directly or via another member so as to close the opening, and at least a part of the seal member is extended to the outside of the housing without being attached to any member. The placement of a new seal member includes the process of placing the seal member by pulling the exposed part of the seal member so that the part to which the seal member is affixed peels off while proceeding in a direction different from the drawn direction. A toner cartridge recycling method in which an opening is opened.

  In that case, at least a part of the exposed portion of the seal member can be fixed to the housing.

  In addition, a test cartridge can be printed by attaching a toner cartridge to the image forming apparatus before the seal member is peeled off.

According to the present invention, it is possible to recycle (recycle) a cartridge that is not provided with a path for removing the manual seal member during recycling.
At that time, even if the cartridge is provided with a mechanism for automatically removing the seal member, trial printing can be performed in a state of being sealed by the seal member.
Further, instead of recycling, a new cartridge can be a simple cartridge.

3 is a cross-sectional view showing a structure before use of the toner cartridge 10 to be recycled. FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the structure of an opening 20a provided in the first housing 21. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a structure when using a toner cartridge 10 to be recycled. FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the structure of the toner cartridge 10 before cartridge regeneration. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a state after the second housing 22 including the photosensitive drum 11, the charging roller 12, and the cleaning blade 13 is removed from the state of FIG. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the developing roller 15, the toner supply roller 16, and the developing blade 19 are removed from the state of FIG. FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 8C are diagrams illustrating a procedure for removing the toner supply roller 16. FIG. It is a perspective view of the 1st housing | casing 21, and is a figure which shows the structure of the opening part 20a of FIG. FIG. 10A is a view for explaining the sealing means 125, and FIG. 10B is a view for explaining the base plate 140. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which adhered the sealing means 125 to the opening part 20a. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the first housing 21 and shows a scene where a seal member 126 is attached. It is a figure explaining the sealing member 127. FIG. It is a figure explaining the sealing member. It is a figure explaining the sealing means 125 '. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where new toner T is supplied to the toner storage unit 20 of the first housing 21 after the seal member 126 is attached. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the developing roller 15, the toner supply roller 16, and the developing blade 19 are attached to the first housing 21 after the toner T is supplied. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which an end portion of the seal member 126 is exposed to the outside through a gap between the developing roller 15 and the first housing 21. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which an end portion of the seal member 126 is fixed to the first housing 21 by a fixing member 130. FIG. FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where a second housing 22 including the photosensitive drum 11, the charging roller 12, and the cleaning blade 13 is attached from the state of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which attached the handle 126a. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a method for extracting residual toner. FIG. 23A and FIG. 23B are perspective views showing a scene in which the seal member 126 is pulled out.

  The present invention will be described below based on embodiments shown in the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to these forms.

  FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a state before the toner cartridge 10 to be recycled is used. As shown in FIG. 1, the toner cartridge 10 includes a photosensitive drum 11, and includes a charging roller 12 that is adjacent to the photosensitive drum 11 and serves as a means for charging the photosensitive drum 11. Further, a cleaning blade 13 is provided as means for cleaning the surface of the photosensitive drum 11.

  Further, a developing roller 15 as a developing unit is provided so as to face the photosensitive drum 11, and a recovery blade 14, a toner supply roller 16, and a developing blade 19 are disposed so as to contact the developing roller 15. An agitator 17 for smoothly supplying toner is provided, and one end of the agitator 17 is connected to a rotating shaft 18 that rotates the agitator 17.

  As can be seen from FIG. 1, in this embodiment, the toner cartridge 10 is held by each member surrounded by a first casing 21 and a second casing 22 (the casing 21 and the casing 22).

  The first housing 21 is provided with the developing roller 15, the recovery blade 14, the toner supply roller 16, the agitator 17, the rotating shaft 18, and the developing blade 19. A space partitioned inside the first casing 21 is formed, and becomes a toner storage portion 20 in which toner is stored. An agitator 17 and a rotating shaft 18 are disposed inside the toner storage unit 20, and the developing roller 15, the recovery blade 14, the toner supply roller 16, and the developing blade 19 are disposed outside the toner storage unit 20. The toner storage unit 20 has an opening 20a in a part thereof, and the opening 20a allows the toner storage unit 20 and a portion (development mechanism unit) where the toner supply roller 16 is disposed to communicate with each other. Yes.

  The recovery blade 14 is a member provided for preventing toner leakage. That is, the toner adheres to the developing roller 15 and is uniformly applied to the developing roller 15 by passing between the developing blade 19 and the toner. Thereafter, the toner is carried to the photosensitive drum 11 of the second housing 22. A recovery blade 14 is provided where the toner remaining developed on the photosensitive drum 11 returns into the first housing 21. That is, the recovery blade 14 is provided in order to prevent the toner from leaking from the gap between the developing roller 15 as the return port and the first casing 21. The recovery blade 14 is made of, for example, a film-like member and is in contact with the developing roller 15. In addition, by providing a member such as an elastic body such as a sponge between the recovery blade 14 and the first casing 21, the contact between the recovery blade 14 and the developing roller 15 is stabilized, and the toner leakage prevention function is further improved. There is also a case.

  FIG. 2 shows a view of the opening 20a viewed from the direction indicated by II in FIG. As can be seen from FIG. 2, in this embodiment, the opening 20a is not formed from one large opening, but a plurality of small openings 20b are arranged. Therefore, the opening 20a is provided with a threshold 20c between the openings 20b. Note that partitioning by the threshold 20c has little meaning on the developing mechanism, but is rather for increasing the strength and accuracy of the housing.

  As can be seen from FIG. 2, the opening 20a has an elongated shape due to the electrophotographic structure. Although it depends on the printable size, the width: length is generally longer than 1: 5. For example, when the width of the opening is 20 mm, the length is about 180 mm for an A4 size printer, about 1: 9, and for an A3 size printer, the length is about 300 mm, about 1:15. It becomes. The adhesive portions of the sealing member for sealing the opening 20a are also provided with adhesive margins of several millimeters on each side, and have a shape having an adhesive portion that is longer than 1: 5.

  In such a toner cartridge 10, the opening 20 a is closed (sealed) by the seal member 25 in order to prevent toner leakage before use. The sealing member 25 is a film-like sealing material. One end of the seal member 25 is attached to the rotary shaft 18.

  On the other hand, the above-described photosensitive drum 11, charging roller 12, and cleaning blade 13 are disposed in the second housing 22.

  When the toner cartridge 10 is mounted on the main body of the image forming apparatus, the rotation shaft 18 rotates as shown by III in FIG. 3, and the seal member 25 is pulled and detached from the opening 20a. As a result, the closed state of the opening 20a is released, and the toner stored in the toner storage unit 20 can flow out of the toner storage unit 20 to the developing mechanism unit.

  The process in which an image is formed on the photosensitive drum 11 by the toner cartridge 10 is known.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram of the image forming apparatus 1 including the toner cartridge 10. According to this image forming apparatus 1, a recording medium such as paper moves as shown by an arrow IV in FIG. 4, and is sandwiched between a transfer roller 1a and a photosensitive drum 11 on which an image is formed, The image is transferred to a recording medium. Thereafter, the image is fixed on the recording medium by the fixing device 2 and discharged.
In the case of a color image forming apparatus having a plurality of toner cartridges, a plurality of colors of toner are transferred from the photosensitive drum to the intermediate transfer belt, and further, a plurality of colors of toner are transferred from the intermediate transfer belt to the recording medium. Generally, the image is fixed and discharged.

  Next, in the toner cartridge 10, a method for supplying toner to the toner cartridge when the toner in the toner storage unit 20 is used up and a method for manufacturing a recycled toner cartridge will be described. FIG. 5 shows the toner cartridge 10 before cartridge regeneration.

  From the state shown in FIG. 5, the second housing 22 including the photosensitive drum 11, the charging roller 12, and the cleaning blade 13 is removed as shown in FIG.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 7, the developing roller 15, the toner supply roller 16, and the developing blade 19 are removed. FIG. 8 shows a procedure for removing the toner supply roller 16 in this process. FIG. 8A shows a state where the toner supply roller 16 is attached to the first housing 21. The toner supply roller 16 includes a toner supply roller shaft 16a directly attached to the first housing 21 and a toner supply roller sponge member 16b bonded around the toner supply roller shaft 16a. In the operation of removing the toner supply roller 16 from this state, the operator does not separate the bearings at both ends of the toner supply roller 16 from the first casing 21, and as shown in FIG. Press against one of the bearings in the axial direction. As a result, the adhesive portion between the toner supply roller shaft 16a and the toner supply roller sponge member 16b is partially peeled off while the compression portion 16c of the toner supply roller sponge member 16b is formed. Then, the toner supply roller shaft 16a moves to a position where the opposite end of the toner supply roller shaft 16a is located inside the first casing 21. Then, as shown in FIG. 8 (c), by removing the toner supply roller 16 from the first casing 21, the accuracy of the developing mechanism is not disturbed, and the finally regenerated cartridge becomes clean. Excellent regeneration work becomes possible.

  FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the first casing 21 (a part of the first casing 21 is omitted) when FIG. 7 is viewed from the upper right. FIG. 9 shows the structure of the opening 20a shown in FIG. That is, the opening 20a is not formed from one large opening, and a plurality (four in this example) of small openings 20b are arranged. Therefore, the opening 20a is provided with a threshold 20c between the openings 20b.

  Next, an example of the sealing means 125 that seals the opening 20a will be described with reference to FIG. 10A is a plan view of the sealing means 125, and FIG. 10B is a plan view showing only the base plate 140 of the sealing means 125. FIG. As can be seen from FIG. 10A, the sealing means 125 includes a base plate 140 and a seal member 126 attached to the base plate 140. In this example, the seal member 126 is attached to the first casing 21 via the base plate 140 (another member).

  The base plate 140 is a plate-like member provided with an opening 140a having substantially the same size as that obtained by connecting the opening 20a excluding the partition 20c. The sealing member 126 is a flexible belt-like sheet attached to the base plate 140 so as to close the opening 140a of the base plate 140. Here, the base plate 140 and the sealing member 126 are bonded to each other with a strength that does not cause difficulty when the user removes the sealing member 126.

  As can be seen from FIGS. 10A and 10B, in this example, the end on the side where the sealing member 126 starts to be peeled is inclined to the longitudinal direction (45 degrees in this example) on the base plate 140. The part that pulls the seal member 126 is turned in the longitudinal direction of the seal member 126 by turning back at the angle of inclination (45 degrees in this example) at that portion (in this example, the direction becomes a right angle). The direction has been changed.) Further, in this example, in order to provide the opening 140a of the base plate 140 as widely as possible to the end, the edge of the end of the opening 140a is also inclined obliquely along the folding of the seal member 126 (this book In the example, 45 degrees with respect to the longitudinal direction.) Accordingly, the seal member 126 can be peeled off from the base plate 140 by pulling the seal member 126 in a direction different from the longitudinal direction (in the present example, a right angle direction).

  However, if the supply capacity from the toner storage unit 20 to the developing mechanism unit is sufficient, the end of the opening 140a of the base plate 140 does not need to be extended obliquely, and the end that is orthogonal to the longitudinal direction. It is good also as the opening 140a which is a rectangle at the edge.

  If the seal member 126 can be peeled from the base plate 140 by pulling the seal member 126 in a direction different from the longitudinal direction, the end of the seal member 126 on the pulling side is not necessarily inclined in this way. There is no need to affix to the base plate 140, and the seal member 126 may be configured to be in a direction different from the longitudinal direction only in the direction in which the seal member 126 is pulled.

The sealing member 126 is preferably a film made of a flexible material that is thin and small in elasticity so as to pass through a narrow gap. Further, if the hot melt component is applied to the surface to be bonded to the base plate 140, the bonding to the base plate 140 is easy.
On the other hand, the base plate 140 is affixed to the first housing 21 so that the opening 140a does not block the opening 20a, but considering the ease at that time, an elastic plastic plate is preferable. Adhesion of the base plate 140 to the first housing 21 is easy with double-sided tape or hot melt fixing. At that time, a material stronger than the adhesion between the seal member 126 and the base plate 140 is selected.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the sealing means 125 as described above is configured so that the base plate 140 is first on the surface opposite to the bonding surface with the sealing member 126 so as to seal the opening 20 a of the first housing 21. It adheres to the peripheral wall of the case 21 of the case. The adhesive force between the base plate 140 and the first housing 21 is made stronger than the adhesive force between the base plate 140 and the seal member 126. This is to prevent the base plate 140 from being peeled off from the first casing 21 by the force when the seal member 126 is peeled off. FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a state in which the sealing means 125 is attached to the opening 20a.

  FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing an example in which the seal member 127 of another example is applied. The seal member 127 does not fold a straight belt-like film like the seal member 126, but has a portion bent at a right angle to the film itself at the end on the side where peeling begins. According to this, the opening 20a can be ensured to the end, and the toner supply performance at the end can be improved.

  FIG. 14 shows an example of yet another form of the seal member 128. The seal member 128 is not in the form of an elongated band, and the portion for pulling out other than closing the opening 20a of the first housing 21 has a substantially triangular shape. However, the apex of the substantially triangular shape is close to one end side in the longitudinal direction of the opening 20a. By attaching a handle or the like to this apex, and pulling this at a substantially right angle with the longitudinal method, the sealing member can be peeled off from the end on the side where the apex is approached, and can be smoothly advanced in the longitudinal direction. Has the same effect as.

  FIG. 15 shows a cross-sectional view of an example to which another example of the sealing means 125 ′ is applied. FIG. 14 is a view from the same viewpoint as FIG. In the examples described so far, the sealing member is provided with the base plate 140 as another member. However, the sealing member 125 ′ does not use other members such as a base plate, and the sealing member 126 blocks the opening 20a. In this way, the seal member 126 is directly attached to the first casing 21 and sealed. In the case of a new toner cartridge that is not recycled, if the seal member is designed to be attached in a state where peripheral parts do not interfere, the seal member 126 can be easily applied even without a base plate. Can do. Although the seal member 126 has been described here, the same applies to the seal members 127 and 128.

  The description of the method for supplying toner to the toner cartridge and the method for manufacturing the recycled toner cartridge will be continued. In the following description, the sealing means 125 'that does not use the base plate 140 will be described. However, the same applies to the case where the sealing members 125, 127, and 128 are applied to the sealing means 125 that uses the base plate 140.

  FIG. 16 shows a state in which new toner T is supplied to the toner storage unit 20 of the first casing 21 after the seal member 126 is attached. This replenishment is possible, for example, by making a hole in a part of the first housing 21 and filling the toner T there from. Further, the toner T may be filled from the opening 20a before the seal member 126 is attached (the state shown in FIGS. 7 and 9), and then the seal member 126 may be bonded.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 17, the developing roller 15, the toner supply roller 16, and the developing blade 19 are attached to the first housing 21. The removed developing roller 15, toner supply roller 16, and developing blade 19 may be reused or replaced with new ones. Alternatively, the developing roller 15, the toner supply roller 16, and the developing blade 19 may be attached before the toner T is replenished, and the toner T may be replenished last.

  In the state assembled as described above, as shown in FIG. 18, the end of the seal member 126 is exposed to the outside from the gap between the developing roller 15 and the first casing 21 (gap between the recovery plate 14). doing. When pulling out the seal member 126, the recovery blade 14 is exchanged with one that is more elastic or thicker than the original in order to prevent the recovery blade 14 that comes into contact with it from being damaged or bent. May be. Further, in order to stabilize the contact between the recovery blade 14 and the developing roller 15, an elastic body is attached between the recovery blade 14 and the first casing 21, or an elastic body that is more elastic than the originally attached elastic body or thicker. It may be replaced with a thing with the depth to the inner side of the 1st housing | casing 21, etc. In addition to the original elastic body, it may be further added inside the first casing 21.

  Next, test printing will be described. Since the conventional seal member is provided with a slit for extracting the seal member on the longitudinal extension line of the elongated opening, the trial printing can be performed without rubbing with the rotation of the developing roller and the supply roller. However, the seal members of the above-described forms are arranged so that the developing roller 15 and the end portion for drawing out the seal member 126 are in contact with each other. Further, depending on the path of the end portion for pulling out the seal member, the seal member 126 may be pulled by the rotation due to the contact with the toner supply roller 16. Therefore, it is necessary to fix the seal member 126 when performing test printing with the seal member 126 attached.

  Further, when the user who purchased the toner cartridge operates the printer in a state where he / she has forgotten to remove the seal member 126 before starting use, the end of the seal member 126 is pulled into the housing 21 by the rotation of the developing roller 15 or the like. As a result, it becomes difficult to pull out the seal member 126, or the seal member 126 is peeled off from the opening 20a halfway due to the rotation of the developing roller 15 or the like. There is also a risk of becoming. Therefore, it is preferable to perform some kind of processing on the pulling end portion of the seal member 126. Accordingly, the user notices the presence of the seal member 126, and more preferably, the processing becomes a physical obstacle, and the toner cartridge cannot be mounted on the image forming apparatus. Two examples will be described below.

  In one example, as shown in FIG. 19, at least a part of the exposed end of the seal member 126 is fixed to the first housing 21 with a fixing member 130 such as a tape. By fixing in this way, it is possible to prevent the seal member 126 from being caught by the rotation of the developing roller 15 or the like. Further, after the opening 20 a is closed, a small amount of toner T ′ for test printing is supplied to the developing mechanism including the developing roller 15 and the toner supply roller 16. The method of replenishment is not particularly limited, but the operation of coating the toner T ′ on the developing roller 15, rotating the developing roller 15, and feeding it into the first housing 21 is repeated, and the necessary amount is put into the developing mechanism section. May be. Further, the toner may be supplied before or during the process of attaching the developing roller 15, the toner supply roller 16, and the developing blade 19. In general, it is more preferable to attach the developing roller 15 after the supply roller 16 and the developing blade 19 are attached. Since the end portion of the seal member 126 is fixed by the fixing member 130, the seal member 126 is prevented from being caught.

  Further, the fixing of the seal member 126 is not limited to the fixing member 130 outside the casing, and may be performed inside the casing. The sealing member 126 is attached to the sealing member 126 using a relatively weak double-sided adhesive tape or the like at a midway portion between the drawing path of the sealing member 126 and the bonding position with the opening 20a to the gap between the developing roller 15 and the first housing 21. Adhering to the inner wall surface of one casing 21 avoids contact with the supply roller 16, and avoids image defects and failure of the seal member 126 and the supply roller 16 due to contact with the supply roller 16 in test printing. be able to. Since the toner cartridge is shipped with this double-sided tape attached, a tape having a relatively weak adhesive force is selected so that it does not hinder the user from pulling out the seal member 126.

  In this manner, from the state shown in FIG. 19, the second housing 22 including the photosensitive drum 11, the charging roller 12, and the cleaning blade 13 is attached as shown in FIG. The completed toner cartridge 10 is set in the image forming apparatus main body, and trial printing can be performed to check whether there is any problem.

As another example, as shown in FIG. 21, a handle 126 a is attached to the end of the seal member 126. If the handle 126a is made to function as a kind of obstacle so that the toner cartridge 10 cannot be set at a proper position in the main body of the image forming apparatus, it can be used to prevent forgetting to remove the seal member 126. That is, when the seal member 126 is not pulled out together with the handle 126a, the handle 126a becomes an obstacle, and the toner cartridge 10 cannot be set at the correct position of the image forming apparatus main body.
Therefore, the handle 126 a can be formed thicker and / or wider than the seal member 126, for example, so that the handle 126 a protrudes from the seal member 126.

  In the trial printing as described above, the residual toner used in the trial printing is very small, and even if it is left as it is, toner leakage during transportation only slightly occurs. However, as shown in FIG. 22, a small hole 21a is formed in the developing mechanism. It may be opened and the remaining toner may be completely extracted therefrom. A hole for removing the remaining toner may be formed in advance and sealed with a tape or the like, peeled off after test printing, the toner may be removed therefrom, and sealed with a tape or the like. As the extraction method, suction extraction is preferable, and two extraction holes are provided on both sides of the cartridge longitudinal method, and if suction is sequentially performed from both sides, air enters from the opposite hole and is efficient. Further, the toner can be extracted more efficiently by inserting compressed air from the hole on the opposite side or applying vibration to the toner cartridge with a vibrator or the like.

  The toner cartridge manufactured as described above is pulled out of the seal member 126 as shown in FIGS. 23A and 23B when starting use. The seal member 126 having a leading end protruding from between the developing roller 15 and the recovery blade 14 applies a force in a direction different from the longitudinal direction of the cartridge as shown by an arrow A (a direction substantially perpendicular to this embodiment). The peeling and peeling proceed smoothly in the longitudinal direction indicated by the arrow B, and the last is completely removed. 22A and 22B are perspective views in which the second housing 22 is omitted for easy understanding. The user usually pulls out the seal member with the second housing 22 attached.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Toner cartridge 11 Photosensitive drum 12 Charging roller 13 Cleaning blade 14 Recovery blade 15 Developing roller 16 Toner supply roller 17 Agitator 18 Rotating shaft 19 Developing blade 20 Toner storage portion 20a Opening portion 20b Opening 20c Partition 21 First housing (housing) body)
21a hole 22 second housing (housing)
125, 125 ′ Sealing means 126 Sealing member 126a Handle 127, 128 Sealing member 130 Fixing member 140 Base plate

The present invention is a toner cartridge mounted to the main body of an image forming apparatus such as a laser printer or a copying machine, which by trial printing method, a method of reproducing an image forming apparatus and Tonaka over cartridge.

Therefore, in view of the above problems, the present invention can properly perform sealing even in a toner cartridge that is not provided with a path for removing a manual opening seal member, and can be easily removed before starting use. It is an issue to provide. Further, the trial print method according to the toner cartridge, to provide a reproducing method of an image forming apparatus and Tonaka over cartridge.

Claims (11)

A toner storage section, a development mechanism section, and a housing provided with an opening for communicating the toner storage section and the development mechanism section;
A seal member attached to the housing directly or via another member so as to close the opening of the housing;
The seal member is exposed by extending to the outside of the housing without being attached to any member, and by pulling the exposed part, the pulling direction is A toner cartridge in which the affixed portion is peeled in a different direction to open the opening. A developing roller is disposed in the housing,
The toner cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the exposed portion of the seal member is exposed to the outside through the housing and the developing roller. In the case, a recovery blade and a developing roller are arranged,
The toner cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the exposed portion of the seal member is exposed to the outside through the recovery blade and the developing roller.   The toner cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a handle is provided at a tip of the exposed portion of the seal member.   The toner cartridge according to claim 4, wherein the handle is formed so as to protrude with respect to the seal member in order to prevent the handle from being attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus.   The toner cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the developing mechanism portion of the casing contains toner for trial printing. A method for performing test printing with the toner cartridge according to claim 6,
A test printing method in which at least a part of the exposed portion of the seal member is fixed to the casing to perform test printing. An image forming apparatus comprising the toner cartridge according to claim 4.
An image forming apparatus configured such that when the handle is attached, the handle becomes a physical obstacle, and the toner cartridge cannot be attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus. A cartridge reproducing method including a toner storage unit, a development mechanism unit, and a housing provided with an opening for communicating the toner storage unit and the development mechanism unit,
While a new seal member is attached to the housing directly or via another member so as to close the opening, at least a part of the seal member extends outside the housing without being attached to any member. Including the process of placing it so that it is exposed,
As for the new arrangement of the seal member, by pulling the exposed part of the seal member, the part to which the seal member is attached peels off while proceeding in a direction different from the pulled direction, and the opening is opened. A method for regenerating a toner cartridge.   A toner cut ridge regeneration method for fixing at least a part of an exposed portion of the seal member to the casing.   11. The toner cartridge regeneration method according to claim 9, wherein the toner cartridge is attached to an image forming apparatus and trial printing is performed before the seal member is peeled off.

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