JP3200379B2 - Process cartridge and process cartridge assembling method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a process cartridge and a method for assembling a process cartridge.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, if the image forming apparatus is used for a long time, the photosensitive drum is replaced, the developing device is replaced or a developer (toner) is replenished, the discharge wire of a charger is cleaned, It is necessary to replace a cleaning device that is full of waste toner, and to adjust or replace devices around the photosensitive drum.

Therefore, the photosensitive drum and process means such as a developing device, a charging device, and a cleaning device are integrally assembled in a cartridge container, and are removably mounted as a process cartridge in the main body of the image forming apparatus. Then, when maintenance is required for the above-described process equipment and the like, a process cartridge system has been realized in which the user replaces the entire process cartridge by himself / herself to facilitate maintenance.

FIG. 17 shows the structure of this process cartridge.
Shown in As shown in the figure, a cleaning device 13 and a developing device 11 are disposed on both sides of the photosensitive drum 10. The toner container 1 is located substantially above the developing device 11.
10 is joined to the developing device 11. Further, a charging device 12 is disposed substantially above the photosensitive drum 10. The cleaning device 13 cleans the residual toner on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 10 and prepares the photosensitive drum 10 for the next image formation. The cleaning device 13 includes a cleaner container 13a that collects toner removed from the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum, a cleaning blade 131 that rubs the photosensitive drum 10 to scrape off residual toner on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 10, and The cleaning device includes a squeeze sheet 132 for guiding the toner scraped off by the cleaning blade 131 into the cleaner container 13a, and a stirring member (not shown) for conveying the toner in the cleaner container 13a into the cleaner container 13a. .

On the other hand, the developing device 11 supplies toner to the electrostatic latent image carried on the photosensitive drum 10 to visualize the latent image. The configuration includes a developing container 11 a forming a developing chamber, a developing sleeve 112 for supplying toner to the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 10, and a developing sleeve 1.
12 to charge the toner, and at the same time, the developing sleeve 1
And a developing blade 11b for forming a toner layer having a constant thickness on the 12 peripheral surfaces. Further, the developing container 11
a on the side opposite to the photosensitive drum 10, an opening 11c is provided. The developing container 11a and the toner container 110 are engaged with the opening (not shown) of the toner container 110 containing the toner. Are combined.

[0006]

However, in the above-mentioned process cartridge, no consideration has been given to efficiently assembling process cartridges having different developer accommodating amounts.

Accordingly, the present invention is a further development of the above-described process cartridge.

(Object of the Invention) It is an object of the present invention to provide a process cartridge capable of efficiently assembling process cartridges having different developer accommodating amounts, and a method of assembling the process cartridge.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a process cartridge which is extremely easy to assemble, and a method for assembling the process cartridge.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a process cartridge which is extremely easily disassembled, a method for assembling the process cartridge, and an image forming apparatus to which the process cartridge can be attached and detached.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention, which achieves the above-mentioned object, comprises a photoreceptor and a developing means for developing a latent image formed on the photoreceptor. In the detachable process cartridge, a first frame having the developing unit and a developer storage unit for storing a developer supplied to the developing unit and used for developing the latent image by the developing unit are provided. Having a second developer frame detachably coupled to the first frame, wherein the second developer frame is configured by coupling a removed developer storage unit that stores the developer removed from the photoconductor to the first frame. A process frame, wherein a second frame having a capacity of a developer storage selected from a plurality of types of second frames is detachably connected to the first frame. Tsu di. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an assembly of a process cartridge including a photoreceptor and a developing unit for developing a latent image formed on the photoreceptor, the process cartridge being detachable from an electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body. A method comprising: attaching the developing means to a first frame; and storing a developer supplied to the developing means and used for developing the latent image by the developing means. A step of preparing a second frame detachably coupled to the first frame, wherein the second frame is constituted by coupling a removed developer storage unit for storing the developer removed from the photoconductor to the first frame. Wherein the second frame prepares a plurality of types in which the volumes of the developer storage sections are different from each other, and has a volume of the developer storage section selected from the plurality of types of the second frames. That the two frame is an assembly method for the process cartridge, characterized by assembling a process cartridge detachably coupled to the first frame.

[0012]

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

First, an outline of an image forming apparatus to which a process cartridge to which the present invention is applied is detachable will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes an image carrier, for example, a photosensitive drum. Around the photosensitive drum 10, image forming process means such as a developing device 11, a charging device 12, and a cleaning device 13 are provided. . The photosensitive drum 10 and the process means such as these are integrally assembled in plastic process cartridge housings 14a and 14b, and are removably provided as a process cartridge 14 in the apparatus main body 1 to facilitate maintenance. Is planned. The case structure of the process cartridge will be described later in detail. Then, the photosensitive drum 1 in the process cartridge 14 mounted in the apparatus main body.
A transfer charger 15 is provided in the lower apparatus main body where 0 is located. Further, a paper feed tray 16, a paper feed roller 17, a registration roller 1
8 are provided. On the other hand, a paper guide 19, a fixing device 20, a paper discharge roller 21, and a paper discharge tray 22 are arranged on the paper discharge side.

An illumination lamp 23 for illuminating a document is provided above the process cartridge 14 mounted on the apparatus main body.
A short focus optical element array 24 for exposing the photosensitive drum 10 with reflected image light of the light illuminated on the original 0 from the illumination lamp 23 is provided. A document table 25 is provided at the top of the apparatus main body 1 so as to reciprocate in the direction of arrow A in the figure. Reference numeral 26 denotes a document pressing plate.

When the reflected image light of the light applied to the original 0 from the illumination lamp 23 is applied to the photosensitive drum 10 uniformly charged by the charger 12 via the short focus optical element array 24, the photosensitive drum 10 is charged. An electrostatic latent image corresponding to the document information is formed on the photosensitive drum 10. The electrostatic latent image is stored on the photosensitive drum 1
The developer is sent to a position facing the developing device 11 with the rotation of 0,
The toner t is supplied by the developing device 11 to form a toner image. Then, the transfer paper P is sent to a registration roller 18 via a paper supply tray 16 and a paper supply roller 17, and is conveyed between the photoconductor drum 10 and the transfer charger 15 at a proper timing by the registration roller 18. Then, the toner image on the photosensitive drum 10 is transferred onto the transfer paper P by the operation of the transfer charger 15. Next, the transfer paper P carrying the transferred toner image is sent to the fixing device 20, and the toner image is fixed as a permanent image. Thereafter, the transfer paper P is discharged by the discharge rollers 21 to the discharge tray 22.
Loaded on top. Further, the photosensitive drum 1 after the transfer is completed.
0 indicates that the residual toner is cleaned by the cleaning device 13 and is provided for the next image formation. Reference numerals 30a and 30b are guides as mounting means for mounting the process cartridge 14 to the main body.

Next, the process cartridge 14 of this embodiment will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2A, 2B and 2C.

The housing of the process cartridge 14 to which this embodiment is applied includes an upper housing A (14a) and a lower housing B
(14b), the housing A and the housing B are joined,
It has a decomposable structure. Here, the casings A and B are both manufactured by integral molding made of plastic and have elasticity.

As shown in the figure, a toner container 110 as a developer container is integrally formed on the right side of the housing A, and a lid 111 is welded to the upper portion to store the toner t. A seal member 113 is attached to the opening 111a of the toner container 110 on the side facing the developing device 11, as shown in FIG. 2C. Then, one end thereof is folded back, protrudes out of the housing A, and is joined to the handle 114. That is, when the operator grips and pulls out the handle 114, the seal member 113 is peeled off from the opening 111a, so that the toner t can be supplied to the developing sleeve 112. Further, on the lower side of the toner container 110, a coupling claw 27 for coupling the housing A and the lower housing B is provided, and the claw 27 provided integrally with the housing A and the housing B are provided. The upper housing A and the lower housing B can be easily connected to each other by engaging an opening 28 provided integrally with the opening 27 (note that the claw 27 and the opening 28 are deeper in the drawing). Are provided at four places in the direction). More specifically, the opening 28 engages along the inclined surface 27a of the claw 27 to
Is locked by the lower surface 27b of the claw 27. Here, since the claw 27 has elasticity, the engagement and disengagement with the opening 28 can be performed smoothly, and when the claw 27 is engaged with the opening 28, the engagement between the two is further strengthened.
Further, on the left side of the housing A, a removed toner container 130 as a developer container is formed as shown in the figure. Then, one end of the housing A is bent and a part 14a of the bottom surface of the container 130 is formed.
1, the lower housing B extends to a position overlapping the bottom surface 14a1, and is screwed with a screw 29 in a state where both are overlapped. Therefore, the bottom surface of the container 130 is configured by the casing A and the casing B cooperating with each other. Therefore, when disassembling the process cartridge, the coupling between the casing A and the casing B is removed, and the casing A and the casing B are disassembled.
Is separated, the toner contained in the container 130 can be efficiently taken out. An opening 141 for exposure is provided in a portion of the housing A facing the upper side of the photosensitive drum 10. Around the openings of the toner container and the cleaning container, for example, foamed polyurethane seal members 26a and 26b are provided to prevent leakage of the toner from the respective containers to the outside.

As shown in FIG. 2A, the housing B has a shape that covers the lower side of the process cartridge 14. The side walls 102a and 102b stand up and extend to the lower surface of the housing A. The side walls 102a, 1a of the housing B
Support shafts 103a and 103b rotatably supporting the photosensitive drum 10 are fixed to 02b by screws 106a and 106b. A drive unit provided on the image forming apparatus main body for transferring the toner image on the photosensitive drum 10 onto the transfer paper P and driving the photosensitive drum 10 is provided below the photosensitive drum 10 of the housing B. An opening 101 is provided for receiving a device (not shown). Further, a charging case 122 of the charger 12 is supported above the side wall 102a of the housing B via a fixing pin 125. A pin 128 is integrally formed at the other end of the charging case 122, and is fitted and supported in a hole 129 of the side wall 102b of the housing B. Bearings 123a and 123 are provided inside the charging case 122 via springs 124a and 124b.
The bearings 123 a and 123 b support the shaft 130 of the charging roller 121 and bias the charging roller 121 toward the photosensitive drum 10. In addition, the charging case 12
2 extends outside the housing B, and the charging roller 121
An electrode plate 126 for supplying power to the image forming apparatus is included, and is connected to a power supply contact of an image forming apparatus main body (not shown).

Next, the cleaning device 13 and the developing device 12 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2B. The housing B has a cleaning blade 13 that rubs against the photosensitive drum 10 to scrape off residual toner on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 10.
1 are formed, and the cleaning blades 13a and 133b are formed on the seating surfaces 133a and 133b.
1 is screwed by a screw 135. A squeeze sheet 132 is attached to one end in the longitudinal direction of the opening 101 on the lower side of the housing B. The side wall of the housing B is bent inward from the photosensitive drum 10 toward the toner container 110, and sleeve bearings 117a and 117b that support the developing sleeve 112 at this portion are connected to springs 118a and 117b.
Support via 118b. And developing sleeve 1
Gap holding members 116a and 116b for keeping a gap between the photosensitive drum 10 and the developing sleeve 112 constant are attached to 12, and are biased to the photosensitive drum by springs 118a and 118b. Further, a gear 119 is attached to one end of the developing sleeve 112 so as to mesh with the drum gear 104 attached to the photosensitive drum 10, and rotates in the direction of the arrow in FIG. Driven. A cylindrical magnet roller 115 having a plurality of magnetic poles on its circumference is arranged inside the developing sleeve 112, and the shafts at both ends thereof are supported by the housing B. Above the developing sleeve 112, a developing blade 120 is attached to a seat surface (not shown) protruding from the side walls 102a and 102b of the housing B.

As described above, the photosensitive drum 1 is provided in the lower housing B.
0, cleaning blade 131, squeeze sheet 13
2, charger 12, developing sleeve 112, developing blade 1
20 are attached. Therefore, since the positional accuracy of each component with respect to the photosensitive drum can be determined with the accuracy of the housing B, the positioning can be easily performed and the accuracy can be extremely increased.

Further, in the process cartridge 14 according to the present embodiment, the upper housing A and the lower housing B can be disassembled as described above. Therefore, the process cartridge 14 that has used up the toner in the toner container 110 is collected and disassembled into the housing A and the housing B. Then, after cleaning the housing A, the sealing material 113 is newly attached, the toner cap 31 is removed, the toner is refilled from the filling port 31a, and then the toner cap 31 is pressed again. On the other hand, it is possible to replace non-reusable worn parts and creeped rubber parts of the housing B, and assemble and ship the two housings again.

Further, the above-mentioned housing B to which the process equipment is attached
Is joined to a casing 14c having a shape as shown in FIG. 1 and having a toner capacity and a removed toner capacity larger than that of the casing B to provide a longer service life that can be used for an image forming apparatus main body of a different type. Another type of process cartridge can be easily manufactured.

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment according to the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 138 denotes a pipe for discharging the removed toner from the process cartridge 14, which is connected to a removed toner bottle (not shown) provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus. A spiral waste toner feed 139 for guiding the waste toner to the discharge pipe 138 and discharging the waste toner to the waste toner container 130 is disposed in the removed toner container 130, and one end of the feed 139 is connected to a drive gear (not shown). The driving gear is driven by the drum gear 104 and rotated.
In this case, the upper housing A only needs to be provided with the toner container 110, and there is no need to have a removed toner container (since the removed toner capacity does not change due to the toner capacity). In this embodiment, the removed toner container is formed by joining the housing A and the housing B.

Reference numeral 14c denotes another type of the housing A. According to the housing 14c, the toner container 11
Reference numeral 0 is disposed further below, and a toner conveying means (not shown) is provided in the toner container 110. Toner container 1
The housing B extends on both sides of the housing 10 and is connected to the connecting claws 27 provided at both ends of the toner container 110 of the housing A.

In the above-described embodiment, the process cartridge having the developing means has been described as an example. However, the present invention may be applied to a process cartridge having a separate developing means and only the toner container from which the cleaning means is removed. is there.

Another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6 (A) and 6 (B). FIG. 5
FIG. 6A is a side sectional view of a process cartridge to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied, FIG. 6A is a perspective view of an upper housing, and FIG.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a lower housing.

In the above-described embodiment, the housing A and the housing B are assembled by screwing in addition to the engagement between the claw and the opening. Case A only if
And the housing B can be assembled.

It is to be noted that the same members as those in the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description is referred to. In addition, the aa cross section, the bb cross section, and the cc cross section shown in FIG. 5 refer to FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C described above. Further, also in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, it can be mounted on the image forming apparatus.

In this embodiment, the housing A and the housing B are locked by the engagement between the claw 27b and the opening 29 instead of the screwing with the screw 29 in the above-described embodiment. That is, in the present embodiment, four nails 27 are provided below the bottom surface 14a1 of the removed toner container 130 formed on the left side of the housing A in the drawing.
b is provided. On the other hand, the housing B has a bottom surface 14 of the housing A.
Four openings 29 are provided in portions overlapping with a1. Therefore, similarly to the toner container 110 side, the waste toner container 1
Also on the 30 side, the claws 27b on the housing A and the openings 29 on the housing B are engaged, and the housing A and the housing B are assembled. 27C is a slope of the claw 27b, and 29a is a locking end of the opening 29. Now, in this embodiment, the toner container 11
The claw 27 on the 0 side and the claw 27b on the waste toner container 130 have their toes facing outward, that is, their toes are opposite to each other. Therefore, the elasticity of the plastic housings A and B, that is, the elastic forces of the claws 27 and 27b complement each other and engage with the openings 28 and 29, so that the connection between the housings A and B is stronger. Become.

Further, in this embodiment, the disassembly of the process cartridge can be performed more easily.

That is, in this embodiment, the upper housing A and the lower housing B are connected by the connecting claws 27, 27b. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7, the process cartridge 14 is set on the disassembling tool 200, the rods 201 and 202 are protruded and the claws 27 and 27b are pressed, so that the two housings A and B can be easily disassembled. .

The housings A and B can be disassembled by pressing the claws 27, 27b without using such a tool. In this case, it is preferable to press a plurality of claws at the same time. It is not easy compared to using.

Next, another embodiment of the process cartridge to which the present invention is applied will be described. Each embodiment described below is an example in which a seal member is further provided in order to make it difficult for the developer to leak out of the cartridge.

First, a cartridge provided with a seal member will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 8 shows a cross section of the process cartridge of this embodiment. This process cartridge 20
Reference numeral 1 denotes a photosensitive drum 202 as an image carrier, and a cleaning device 20 as process means disposed around the photosensitive drum 202.
3. The developing device 204 and the charging device 205 are the cartridge frame 2
01a, which are integrally attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus as a unit. When the photosensitive drum 202 or the developing device 204 reaches the end of its life, when the waste toner in the cleaning device 203 is full, or when the toner in the developing device 204 is exhausted, the entire process cartridge 201 is removed. The maintenance is facilitated by replacing the cartridge with a new process cartridge. In this embodiment, a well-known corona charger is shown as the charger 205.
A contact charger as described in US Pat. No. 1,960 may be used.

The cleaning device 203 includes the photosensitive drum 20
2 includes a cleaning blade 230 for removing the residual toner (removed developer), a scooping sheet 231 for preventing the removed removed toner from leaking out, a removed toner storage section 232 for storing the removed toner, and the like. ing. The removed toner container 232 is provided in the cleaning container 2.
03a and the blade holder 230a are formed by being connected to the cartridge frame 201a via a seal member 213, and the seal member 213 prevents toner from leaking from the connection portion.

The developing device 204 rotates in a fixed direction,
A developing sleeve 240 for supplying the toner (developer) held on the outer peripheral portion thereof toward the photosensitive drum 202 and a regulating blade 2 for regulating the layer thickness of the toner on the developing sleeve 240
41, and the toner is stored inside the developing sleeve 24.
The toner storage unit 242 and the like that supply the toner to the zero direction. The toner container 242 is formed by connecting the toner container 212 and the developing container 204a with a screw or the like via a seal member 214 so that the toner container 242 can be disassembled and cleaned. This seal member 214 prevents toner leakage from the joint.

In the process cartridge having the above structure, the photosensitive drum 2 uniformly charged by the charger 205
02 is exposed to image light, the photosensitive drum 202
An electrostatic latent image is formed thereon. The electrostatic latent image moves toward the developing device 204 as the photosensitive drum 202 rotates, and toner is supplied by the developing sleeve 240 of the developing device 204 to be visualized as a toner image. The toner image is transferred onto transfer paper via a transfer charger (not shown) or the like, and the photosensitive drum 202 after transfer is removed by a cleaning blade 23 on which residual toner rubs against the photosensitive drum 202.
0 to be ready for the next image formation. The removed toner removed by the cleaning blade 230 is also accumulated in the waste toner container 232 of the cleaning device 203 via the scooping sheet 231 rubbing the photosensitive drum 202.

Here, the above-mentioned sealing members 213, 21
4 will be further described with reference to FIGS.

The seal member in this embodiment is made of a material R made of two-component urethane rubber on each of the coupling surface 201b of the cartridge frame 201a (FIG. 9) and the coupling surface 212a of the toner container 212 (FIG. 10). Nozzle 215
Inject more. Since the material R is a foamable material, it solidifies while foaming on the bonding surfaces 201b and 212a in about 30 seconds to 10 minutes after injection, and becomes an elastic elastomer.

The injection path of the material R starts from FIG. 9A and proceeds in the directions of arrows 216 and 217, and forms a closed loop path by overlapping at the original point of FIG. FIG.
Similarly, the sealing member 214 shown in FIG. 4B starts from (b) and proceeds in the directions of arrows 218 and 219 to return to the original (b).
Injected in the path returning to. Since the surfaces to be injected, that is, the coupling surfaces 201b and 212a have grooves 211 formed in advance as shown in FIG.
Easily flows into the groove and then solidifies to become an elastomer having elasticity, so that the sealing material does not easily come off or slip off from the coupling surface.

The sealing members 213 and 214 solidified on the coupling surface in this manner are respectively attached to the cartridge frame 20.
1a, by attaching the cartridge frame 201a and the toner container 212 to the cleaning container 203a and the developing container 204a, respectively, while being attached to the toner container 212, the seal members 213 and 214 cause toner leakage from the joint. Serves to prevent The height h of the solidified elastomers 213 and 214 having this elasticity
Since (FIG. 11) is higher than the gap C (FIG. 8) after the container is joined, the joint can be crushed to the height of the gap C to fill the gap.

Further, in this embodiment, for the material R, the sealing member can be easily formed along the joint surface by completely automatically controlling the injection path, the injection speed, and the injection flow rate of the injection nozzle. However, there is no inconvenience even with a complicated route as shown in FIG.

In the above description, foamed polyurethane rubber is used as the material R of the sealing member. However, the material is not limited to this, and an elastomer (elastic polymer substance) such as soft rubber such as silicone rubber or soft plastic is used. The same effect can be obtained even if used.

As described above, a liquid elastomer such as a foamed polyurethane rubber is solidified as a seal member at a joint of a plurality of components forming the toner container and the waste toner container of the developing device 204 and the cleaning device 203 in the process cartridge. As a result, the toner seal at the joint of the container having a complicated shape can be easily and reliably performed. Further, since a closed loop of the injection path can be easily formed, it is possible to prevent toner leakage from the joint of the seal member, which is a problem in the related art.

Next, a process cartridge according to another embodiment to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to FIGS. 12, 13 and 14.

FIG. 12 shows a process cartridge formed by combining the upper frame A and the lower frame B. In this figure, the same elements as those in FIG. 8 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

The process cartridge shown in FIG.
3, the upper and lower frame members A and B are provided with the claw 250 and the screw 251.
Are joined by That is, the claw 2 provided on the upper frame A
The upper frame 50 is elastically engaged with the opening 251 provided in the lower frame B, so that the upper frame A and the lower frame B are connected. Upper and lower frames A, B
Respectively sandwich the seal members 213b and 214b. The upper and lower frame members A and B and the upper frame member A
Blade holder 24 holding blade and regulating blade 241
1a, and a seal member 214a is provided at the joint to prevent toner leakage from the joint. Further, the waste toner container 232 of the cleaning device 203 includes a cleaning holder 230 that holds the upper and lower frames A and B, the upper frame A, and the cleaning blade 230.
and a seal member 213a is provided at the joint to prevent toner leakage from the joint.

Here, the inside of the upper frame A in FIG.
FIG. 14 shows a view from the direction. In this embodiment, FIG.
As shown in (2), a material R made of two-component urethane rubber is injected from the nozzle 215 into the joint surfaces of the upper and lower frames of the toner container and the waste toner container. Since this material R is a foamable material, the bonding surfaces 201b and 212 are formed in about 30 seconds to 10 minutes after injection.
It becomes an elastomer having elasticity while foaming on a. The injection path starts from (a) and proceeds to arrows 216 and 217 to form a closed loop path by overlapping at the original point (a). Surfaces to be injected, that is, bonding surfaces 201b and 212
Since a has a groove shape in advance, the material R easily flows into the groove and then solidifies to become an elastomer having elasticity, so that the sealing member does not easily come off or shift sideways. The sealing members 213 and 214 solidified on the container in this way are bonded to the lower frame B while being attached to the upper frame A, whereby the sealing members 213 and 214 are formed.
Plays a role in preventing toner leakage from the toner storage section and the waste toner storage section. The height h (see FIG. 11) of the solidified sealing members 213 and 214 having elasticity is higher than the gaps C1, C2, C3, and C4 (FIG. 12) after the frame body is joined. The gaps can be filled by being crushed to the height of the gaps C1 to C4.

Also, in this embodiment, as in the previous embodiment, the injection path of the injection nozzle, the injection speed of the material R, and the injection flow rate are completely automatically controlled, so that the seal member can be easily attached to the joint surface. It is possible to inject along. Further, since the injection points can be grouped on one frame side, the injection can be performed by one positioning, so that the number of working steps can be greatly reduced.

Further, as the usable material R, an elastomer such as a soft rubber or a soft plastic can be selected as in the above-described embodiment.

By the way, in the above-mentioned embodiment, it has been shown that the liquid elastomer is injected into the bonding surface.
A system in which a two-component reactive liquid is mixed as a liquid elastomer and discharged from the nozzle 215 will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 15, the precise metering pumps 262 and 26 are supplied from the tanks A60 and B61 in which the liquids A and B are stored, respectively, so that the mixing ratio becomes optimal for the two-liquid reaction.
The liquid A and the liquid B are sent to the mixing / stirring unit 264 by 3. In the mixing and stirring section 264, forced stirring by a motor is performed so that the A liquid and the B liquid are uniformly mixed. Since it takes about 30 seconds at the earliest for these two liquids to react and solidify to become an elastic elastomer, the two liquids are discharged from the nozzle 215 of the discharge part 265 as a liquid elastomer in the middle of the reaction. Then, the mixing / stirring unit 264 and the discharge unit 26
5. The injection head including the nozzle 215 injects the liquid elastomer into the injection member while moving in the three axes of X, Y, and Z according to the shape of the injection member such as the container described above.

The measurement of the mixing ratio of the two liquids by the metering pumps 262 and 263 for the liquids A and B, the mixing and stirring speed, the traveling path of the injection head in the X, Y and Z directions, the injection speed, etc. The injection operation is performed automatically under the optimal conditions according to the contents programmed in advance in the robot controller.

With respect to the material to be injected in this manner, the materials used in the above-described embodiments are as follows.

[0058]

[Table 1]

Next, as the liquid elastomer, N ₂ was added to the one-component reactive liquid regardless of the two-component reactive liquid of this embodiment.
A system in which a gas is mixed and forcedly foamed and discharged from the nozzle 15 will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 16, a liquid elastomer containing polyurethane as a main raw material is heated at 70 ° C. to 10 ° C. by a heater 267.
While being heated to 0 ° C., the mixture is pumped out of the stored tank 266 to the foam mix machine 268. In the foam mix machine 268, the liquid sent from the tank 266 is mixed with the N ₂ gas from the device 269 to cause a foaming reaction, and the liquid elastomer is solidified from the nozzle 215 of the discharge unit 270 until the liquid elastomer is solidified. Is injected with a liquid elastomer.

Here, the mixing route of the N ₂ gas, the feed of the raw material, the traveling path of the injection head in the X, Y, and Z directions, the injection speed, and the like are the same as in the case of the two-liquid type reaction liquid, and are not shown in the figure. The injection operation is performed automatically under the optimal conditions controlled by the robot controller.

The physical properties of the elastomer in this embodiment are as follows: elongation 100-200%, hardness (Asker C) 4
~ 15, a value of 90% or more in compression restoring property, and it is preferable that the elastic elastomer is sufficient to fulfill the function as a sealing member.

In the above-described embodiment, the process cartridge having both the waste toner accommodating portion of the cleaning means and the toner accommodating portion of the developing means has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Of course, the present invention may be applied.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the sealing member is formed by injecting and solidifying the liquid elastomer into the connecting portion of the plurality of members forming the developer accommodating portion of the process cartridge. The leakage of the developer can be prevented more easily and more reliably than in the method, and it is possible to cope with a complicated shape of the connecting portion.

Further, since the liquid elastomer injection can be automatically controlled, the process cartridge can be easily assembled.

The above-mentioned process cartridge may be any one as long as it has at least one of the image carrier and the process means acting on the image carrier.
Therefore, more specifically, the above-mentioned process cartridge is a unit in which a charging unit, a developing unit or a cleaning unit and an electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally formed into a cartridge, and this cartridge is used as a main body of an image forming apparatus (for example, a copying machine, an LBP, or the like). It is made detachable with respect to. And charging means,
At least one electrophotographic photosensitive member of a developing unit and a cleaning unit is integrally formed as a cartridge so as to be detachable from a main body of an image forming apparatus (for example, a copying machine, an LBP, etc.).

According to each of the above-described embodiments, process cartridges having different developer accommodating amounts can be efficiently assembled.

Further, according to each of the above-described embodiments, the housing of the process cartridge can be divided, and one of the housings supports the electrophotographic photosensitive member and the processing means acting thereon, and the other housing has the toner in advance. And / or a toner container filled with
Alternatively, the following effects can be obtained by integrally attaching a container accommodating waste toner, joining the housings, assembling them, and further disassembling them.

1. By exchanging a housing having a toner container as a developer container, a process cartridge having a different life and a different cross-sectional shape can be easily supplied.

2. Since the electrophotographic photosensitive member and the case supporting the process means can be unified, production management is simplified.

3. Furthermore, if the process cartridge that has used up the toner in the toner container is collected, the housing is disassembled, parts that have exceeded the service life are replaced, and for example, the housing having the toner container refilled with new toner is joined. The process cartridge can be easily reused.

[0072]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, process cartridges having different developer accommodating amounts can be efficiently assembled. Moreover, according to the present invention, since the removed developer storage section is constituted by connecting the first frame and the second frame, when both frames are disassembled, the removed developer storage section is removed from the removed developer storage section. The agent can be easily removed. Still further, according to the present invention,
The volume of the removed developer storage can be made in consideration of the volume of the developer storage.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of a process cartridge to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2A is a sectional view taken along a line aa in FIG. 1; B It is bb sectional drawing of FIG. C It is cc sectional drawing of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of an image forming apparatus in which a process cartridge of the present invention is detachable.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a process cartridge showing another embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side sectional view of a process cartridge to which still another embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 6A is a perspective view of an upper housing. (B) It is a perspective view of a lower case.

FIG. 7 is a state diagram when the process cartridge is disassembled.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a process cartridge to which the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a state where a liquid elastomer is injected into the coupling surface of the cartridge frame.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a state in which a liquid elastomer is injected into a coupling surface of the toner storage container.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where a liquid elastomer has been injected into a bonding surface.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view of a process cartridge showing an embodiment to which the present invention is applied.

13 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the process cartridge shown in FIG. 12 is separated into an upper frame and a lower frame.

14 is a perspective view showing a state in which a liquid elastomer is injected into the coupling surface of the upper frame shown in FIG.

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram illustrating a liquid elastomer injection system.

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram illustrating a liquid elastomer injection system.

FIG. 17 is a side sectional view of a conventional process cartridge.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Photosensitive drum 11 Developing device 12 Charging device 13 Cleaning device 14a, 14b Process cartridge housing 14 Process cartridge 27, 27b Claw 29 Opening 201 Process cartridge

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Shirai 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Kazushi Watanabe 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Shinichi Sasaki 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Toshiyuki Karama 3-30-2, Shimomaruko 3-chome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (56 References JP-A-4-19680 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G03G 15/00 550 G03G 21/16-21/18 G03G 21/10-21 / 12 G03G 15/08-15/08 507

Claims (12)

(57) [Claims] 1. A process cartridge including a photoconductor and a developing unit for developing a latent image formed on the photoconductor, the process cartridge being detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus main body. A developer removed from the photoreceptor, comprising: a frame; and a developer storage unit for storing a developer supplied to the developing unit and used for developing the latent image by the developing unit. And a second frame detachably coupled to the first frame, wherein the second frame is configured to be coupled to the first frame. A second frame having a capacity of a developer storing unit selected from the second frame of the above (2), is detachably connected to the second frame. 2. The developer storage section has an opening for supplying the stored developer to a developing roller as the developing means, and the opening is sealed by a removable toner seal member. 2. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the developer stored in the developer storage unit can be supplied to the developing roller by removing the toner seal member. 3. 3. The first frame and the second frame are provided over the first frame and the second frame, are coupled by a coupling member that couples both frames, and release the coupling of the coupling member. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the two frames are separated from each other. 4. The coupling member is a claw member formed integrally with the second frame and having a claw shape whose tip can be locked in an opening provided in the first frame. 4. The process cartridge according to claim 3, wherein the first frame and the second frame are separated from each other by releasing the locking of the first frame and the second frame. 5. 5. An elastic sealing member is interposed between the first frame and the second frame in order to prevent the developer from leaking from between the first frame and the second frame connected to each other. The process cartridge according to claim 3, wherein: 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first frame further includes a cleaning unit for removing a developer remaining on the photoconductor in addition to the developing unit, and the second frame includes a cleaning unit for removing the developer. 2. The process cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising an exposure opening for guiding image light to said photosensitive member. 7. A method for assembling a process cartridge detachable from an electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body, comprising: a photosensitive member; and a developing unit for developing a latent image formed on the photosensitive member. A step of attaching the developing unit to one frame; and a developer storage unit for storing a developer supplied to the developing unit and used for developing the latent image by the developing unit. Providing a second frame detachably coupled to the first frame, wherein the second frame is configured by coupling a removed developer storage portion for storing the developer removed from the body to the first frame; and The second frame prepares a plurality of types having different volumes of the developer storage unit. The second frame having a volume of the developer storage unit selected from the plurality of types of second frames. Assembling method of a process cartridge wherein the assembling process cartridge arm coupled detachably to the first frame. 8. A step of attaching a removable toner seal member to seal an opening provided in the developer storage section for supplying stored developer to a developing roller as the developing means. 8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the developer stored in the developer storage unit can be supplied to the developing roller by removing the toner seal member. . 9. A step of connecting the first frame and the second frame by a connecting member provided over the first frame and the second frame and connecting the two frames, and The method according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the two frames are separated by releasing the frame. 10. The coupling member is a claw member formed integrally with the second frame and having a claw shape whose tip can be locked in an opening provided in the first frame, wherein the opening and the claw member are provided. The first frame and the second frame are connected by locking the first frame and the second frame, and the first frame and the second frame are separated by releasing the opening and the claw member. 10. The method for assembling the process cartridge according to item 9. 11. In order to prevent the developer from leaking between the first frame and the second frame which are connected to each other,
The method according to claim 9, further comprising a step of interposing an elastic seal member between the first frame and the second frame.
3. The method for assembling a process cartridge according to 1. 12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a step of attaching cleaning means for removing a developer remaining on the photoconductor to the first frame, in addition to the developing means. How to assemble the process cartridge.