JP3246579B2 - Developing device, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a developing device, a process cartridge, an image forming device, and a method for mounting a seal member used in an apparatus for forming an image using a developer such as an electrostatic copying machine or a printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An image forming apparatus such as a printer forms a latent image by selectively exposing a uniformly charged image carrier to an image carrier.
The latent image is visualized with toner, and the toner image is transferred to a recording medium to record an image. In such an apparatus, the toner must be replenished each time the toner runs out. However, this toner replenishment operation is not only troublesome, but also involves contamination. In addition, maintenance of each member can only be performed by a specialized service person, which often causes inconvenience to the user.

Therefore, the image carrier, the charger, the developing device,
The cleaning unit and the like are integrated into a cartridge to form a cartridge, so that the user can load the cartridge into the apparatus main body, thereby replenishing toner and replacing parts of the image carrier that has reached the end of its life, thereby facilitating maintenance. Things have been put to practical use.

In such an apparatus, the cartridge is mounted on the apparatus main body, and a developing sleeve or an image bearing member is gradually moved from a developer accommodating section provided in the cartridge until the built-in developer is used up. It supplies to the body.

By the way, when the opening of the process cartridge is mainly sealed with a cover member and the developer is supplied to the main body, the cover member is pulled out from the outside, removed and opened. Thus, the developer contained in the container flows out from the opened container opening to the developing sleeve or the like to be replenished. That is, the opening portion of the developer storage container is sealed by a cover member generally called an easy peel film when not used.

Further, as shown in FIG. 25, the developer container 51 in which the opening 51a is sealed by the cover member 50 is connected to the developing frame 52, and after the cover member 50 is pulled out, the developer container 51 is kept in contact with the developer container 51. In order to prevent the developer from leaking from between the frames 52, a seal member 53 made of a malt plane is attached to the developing frame 52 with a double-sided tape or the like.

[0007]

However, the developer container 51 and the developing frame 52 are firmly connected to each other, and the seal member 53 is pressed against the cover member 50 so as to be crushed. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 25, if the cover member 50 is pulled out in the direction of the arrow when the cartridge is used, the end portion of the seal member 53 may be turned up by being dragged by the cover member 50.

When the end of the seal member 53 is turned up in this way, the adhesive layer of the seal member 53 comes into contact with the cover member 50, and the force for pulling out the cover member 50 is greatly increased. Therefore, there is a problem that the operability of opening the cover member 50 is deteriorated.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and
An object of the present invention is to provide a developing device, a process cartridge, an image forming apparatus, and a method of attaching a seal member, which have good opening operability and do not leak developer.

[0010]

A typical configuration according to the present invention for achieving the above object is a developing device for developing a latent image, comprising: (a) developing means for developing the latent image; And (b) a developer accommodating portion for accommodating a developer used for developing the latent image by the developing means, and an opening provided in the developer accommodating portion, wherein: A developer container provided with an opening for supplying developer to the developing means provided in the developer container, and a cover member for closing the opening so as to be openable, wherein a free end of the cover member is closed. (C) the cover member is provided between the developing frame and the developer storage container in a state in which the cover member is interposed between the developer frame and the developer storage container. Has a free end protruding Wherein the developing frame and the developer container are located between the developing frame and the developer container so that the developer does not leak from between the developing frame and the developer container. (D) when the cover member is pulled out from between the developing frame and the developer storage container, the end seal member is dragged by the cover member to turn up the end seal member. (E) a projection provided in contact with the end seal member on the upstream side of the end seal member in the pull-out direction of the cover member, When pulling out the cover member, at one end and the other end of the path through which the cover member passes,
(F) the pull-out direction restricting member is provided in the developer storage container, and the pull-out direction restricting member enters in a state where the developing frame and the developer storage container are locked. Prior to use, by pulling the free end, the cover member is pulled, the opening is opened, and the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating portion is opened. An agent is supplied to the developing means through the opening.

[0011]

In the above construction, a convex portion is formed at the end of the seal member, and the convex portion prevents the end of the seal member from being turned up when the cover member is pulled out. This prevents the pull-out force of the cover member from being increased, and the opening operability becomes very good.

[0012]

An embodiment of a process cartridge using a developing device according to the present invention and an image forming apparatus to which the process cartridge can be mounted will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of an image forming apparatus in which a process cartridge according to the present invention is mounted, and FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of a process cartridge.

As an order of the description, first, the overall configuration of the apparatus in which the process cartridge is mounted will be described, and then the configuration of each part of the image forming apparatus and the process cartridge will be described.

<< Overall Description >> As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus A is an example of an electrophotographic photosensitive member (hereinafter, referred to as an image carrier) by irradiating a light image based on image information from an optical system 1. An image is formed on a certain photosensitive drum by a developer (hereinafter, toner). Then, the recording medium 2 is conveyed by the conveying unit 3 in synchronization with the formation of the toner image, and the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum in the image forming unit formed as a process cartridge B is transferred by the transfer unit 4 to the recording medium. 2, the recording medium 2 is conveyed to a fixing unit 5, and the transferred toner image is fixed and discharged to a discharge unit 6.

As shown in FIG. 2, the process cartridge B constituting the image forming section rotates the photosensitive drum 7 to uniformly charge the surface thereof by the charging means 8, and the light from the optical system 1 The image is transferred to the photosensitive drum 7 through the exposure unit 9.
To form a latent image, and the developing unit 10 forms a toner image corresponding to the latent image to visualize the latent image. After the transfer unit 4 transfers the toner image to the recording medium 2, the cleaning unit 11 removes the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 7. The components such as the photosensitive drum 7 are housed in a housing 12 to form a cartridge.

Next, the structure of each part of the image forming apparatus A and the process cartridge B will be described. Further, a mounting member 15 for supporting and mounting the photosensitive drum 7 on the cleaning container 12c, and a cover member for mounting on the opening of the toner storage container 12a. Will be described.

{Image Forming Apparatus} First, the image forming apparatus A
Regarding the configuration of each part of, optical system, conveying means, transfer means,
The fixing unit and the cartridge mounting unit will be described in this order.

(Optical System) The optical system 1 irradiates a light image to the photosensitive drum 7 by irradiating light based on image information read from an external device or the like. As shown in FIG. A laser diode 1b, a polygon mirror 1c, a scanner motor 1d, and an imaging lens 1e are housed in an optical unit 1a.

When an image signal is given from an external device such as a computer or a word processor, the laser diode 1b emits light according to the image signal and irradiates the polygon mirror 1c with image light. The polygon mirror 1c is rotated at high speed by a scanner motor 1d, and the image light reflected by the polygon mirror 1c irradiates the rotating photosensitive drum 7 via the imaging lens 1e and the reflection mirror 1f, and the surface of the drum 7 is irradiated. The latent image is selectively exposed to form a latent image corresponding to the image information.

(Recording Medium Conveying Means) Next, the structure of the conveying means 3 for conveying the recording medium 2 (for example, recording paper, OHP sheet, cloth or thin plate) will be described. The apparatus of this embodiment can set two cassettes 3a and 3b, can select and transport two types of recording media 2, and can perform both single-sided printing and double-sided printing.

The configuration of the cassette 3a or the cassette 3
When any one of the recording media 2 stored in b is selected, the picked-up roller 3c and the separation roller pair 3d on the selected side separate and feed the sheet one by one from the top and feed the registration roller pair 3e. The registration roller pair 3e is driven in synchronization with the image forming operation, and conveys the recording medium 2 to an image transfer portion, which is a contact portion between the photosensitive drum 7 and the transfer roller 4.

The recording medium 2 on which the toner has been transferred by the transfer section
The fixing unit 5 fixes the toner image. In the case of single-sided printing, the discharge unit 6 passes through the discharge path 3g by the pair of intermediate transport rollers 3f and the recording surface downward by the discharge rollers 3h.
Is discharged to

On the other hand, in the case of double-sided printing, the flapper 3i swings, the recording medium 2 after one-sided printing is sent to the re-sending path 3j by the pair of intermediate conveying rollers 3f, and is stocked in the re-sending section 3m by the re-sending rollers 3k1 and 3k2. . At this time, the recording surface faces downward. When resending, the flapper 3n swings, the recording medium 2 stocked in the resending section 3m is conveyed to the registration roller pair 3e by the pickup roller 3o and the conveyance roller pair 3p, and an image is recorded on the other surface. Is to be transported.

(Transfer Means) The transfer means 4 is for transferring the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 7 in the image forming section to the recording medium 2, and the transfer means 4 of this embodiment is, as shown in FIG. , And the transfer roller 4. That is, the recording medium 2 is pressed against the photosensitive drum 7 of the mounted process cartridge B by the transfer roller 4, and a voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 7 is applied to the transfer roller 4. The toner on the photosensitive drum 7 is transferred to the recording medium 2.

(Fixing Means) Fixing Means 5 The Transfer Roller 4
Is applied to fix the toner image transferred to the recording medium 2. As shown in FIG. 1, the configuration includes a driving roller 5a that is driven and rotated, and a fixing roller 5c that has a heater 5b inside and is driven to rotate by being pressed against the driving roller 5a. That is, when the recording medium 2 onto which the toner image has been transferred by the image forming unit passes between the driving roller 5a and the fixing roller 5c, pressure is applied by the pressing of both rollers 5a and 5c, and the heat generated by the fixing roller 5c is generated. As a result, heat is applied, and the toner on the recording medium 2 is fixed to the recording medium 2.

(Process Cartridge Mounting Means) In the image forming apparatus A, a cartridge mounting means for mounting the process cartridge B is provided. As shown in FIG. 3, the mounting and dismounting of the process cartridge B with respect to the apparatus main body 13 is performed by opening the opening / closing member 14. That is,
An opening / closing member 14 that can be opened and closed by a hinge 14a is attached to an upper portion of the apparatus main body 13. When the opening / closing member 14 is opened, a cartridge mounting guide member (not shown) is attached to the left and right inner side surfaces of the opening / closing member 14. The left and right guide members are provided with guides for inserting the process cartridge B. The process cartridge B is inserted along the guide, and the opening / closing member 14 is closed to attach the process cartridge B to the image forming apparatus A. Like that.

{Process Cartridge} Next, the structure of each part of the process cartridge B mounted on the image forming apparatus A will be described.

The process cartridge B has an image carrier and at least one process means. Here, examples of the process means include a charging means for charging the surface of the image carrier, a developing means for forming a toner image on the image carrier, and a cleaning means for cleaning toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier. As shown in FIG. 2, in the process cartridge B of this embodiment, a charging unit 8, an exposing unit 9, a developing unit 10, and a cleaning unit 11 are arranged around an electrophotographic photosensitive drum 7 as an image carrier. The toner storage container 12a, the developing frame 12b, and the cleaning container 12c cover and integrate with a housing 12, and are configured to be detachable from the apparatus main body 13.

Next, the structure of each part of the process cartridge B will be described with reference to the photosensitive drum 7, charging means 8, exposure section 9, developing means.
10, and the cleaning means 11 will be described in this order.

(Photosensitive Drum) The photosensitive drum 7 according to this embodiment is constituted by coating an organic photosensitive layer on the outer peripheral surface of a cylindrical drum base made of aluminum. The photosensitive drum 7 is rotatably mounted on the housing 12, and the driving force of a drive motor provided on the apparatus main body side is transmitted to a flange gear mounted on one longitudinal end of the drum 7. Is rotated in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 2 according to the image forming operation.

(Charging Means) The charging means is for uniformly charging the surface of the photosensitive drum 7, and in this embodiment, a charging roller 8 is rotatably mounted on the cleaning container 12c. A charging method is used. The charging roller 8 is formed by providing a conductive elastic layer on a metal roller shaft 8a, further providing a high-resistance elastic layer thereon, and further providing a protective film on the surface thereof. The conductive elastic layer is made of EPDM or N
It is made of a material in which carbon is dispersed in an elastic rubber layer such as BR, and has an action of guiding a bias voltage supplied to the roller shaft 8a. The high-resistance elastic layer is made of urethane rubber or the like, and contains a small amount of conductive fine powder as an example. Even when a charging roller having high conductivity such as a pinhole of the photosensitive drum 7 faces, It functions to limit the leak current to the photosensitive drum 7 to prevent a sharp drop in the bias voltage. The protective layer is made of N-methylmethoxylated nylon so that the plastic material of the conductive elastic layer and the high-resistance elastic layer does not touch the photoconductor drum 7 and deteriorate the surface of the photoconductor drum 7. Works.

The charging roller 8 is moved to the photosensitive drum 7
During image formation, the charging roller 8 rotates following the rotation of the photosensitive drum 7, and at this time, a DC voltage and an AC voltage are applied to the charging roller 8 in a superimposed manner so that the photosensitive drum 7 Charge the surface uniformly.

(Exposure Unit) The exposure unit 9 exposes the surface of the photosensitive drum 7 uniformly charged by the charging roller 8 to a light image radiated from the optical system 1 and exposes the surface of the drum 7 to an electrostatic latent image. The exposure section is formed by providing an opening 9 for guiding the optical image on the upper surface of the housing 12.

(Developing Means) As shown in FIG. 2, the developing means 10 has a toner storage portion 10a for storing toner, and reciprocates in the direction of the arrow in FIG. A feed member 10b is provided. Further, a developing sleeve 10d having a non-rotating magnet 10c inside and forming a thin toner layer on the surface by rotating is provided at a small distance from the photosensitive drum 7.

When a toner layer is formed on the surface of the developing sleeve 10d, triboelectric charges sufficient to develop an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 7 are obtained by friction between the toner and the developing sleeve 10d. A developing blade 10e is provided to regulate the toner layer thickness.

(Cleaning means) Cleaning means 11
As shown in FIG. 2, a cleaning blade 11a for contacting the surface of the photosensitive drum 7 and scraping off the toner remaining on the drum 7, and the blade for scooping the scraped toner Located below 11a,
And a squeeze sheet weakly contacting the surface of the photosensitive drum 7
11b, a feeding member 11c for sending the scooped waste toner to the back of the container, and a waste toner reservoir 11d for storing waste toner.

{Photosensitive Drum Mounting Member} Next, a mounting member for rotatably supporting the photosensitive drum on the housing 12 will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, a flange gear 7a is attached to one end of the cylindrical aluminum base of the photosensitive drum 7. The flange gear 7a is formed by injection-molding an insulating plastic resin such as a polycarbonate resin or a polyacetal resin, and is fixed to the end of the drum base by forced press-fit or an adhesive. The support member 15 is fitted into a fitting hole 7b provided in the flange gear 7a to rotatably support the photosensitive drum 7.

As shown in FIG. 4, the mounting member 15 includes a first conductive member 15b protruding from one side surface of the base 15a.
And a second conductive member protruding from the other side surface of the base 15a.
15c. Further, an extension 15d extending from the base 15a is integrally formed of a conductive material, and a plastic cylindrical member 15e is attached to the second conductive member 15c.

The first conductive member 15b serves as a contact terminal for grounding the photosensitive drum 7, and when the process cartridge B is mounted on the apparatus main body 13, the first conductive member 15b becomes Contact the ground terminal (not shown) of No. 13.

On the other hand, the second conductive member 15c is fitted into the fitting hole 7b of the flange gear 7a,
Is rotatably supported, as shown in FIG.
A base part 15c1 that fits into the fitting hole 12c1 of the cleaning container 12c.
And a shaft portion 15c2 fitted into the fitting hole 7b of the flange gear 7a.
Are formed integrally with each other via a step portion 15c3, and the tip of the shaft portion 15c2 is formed in a tapered shape so as to be easily fitted into the fitting hole 7b.

The second conductive member 15c is a flange gear 7
When the fitting hole 7b is fitted into the fitting hole 7b, the tip of the fitting hole 7b comes into contact with a contact 7c (see FIG. 4) provided inside the photosensitive drum 7, and the photosensitive material is exposed through the second conductive member 15c and the first conductive member 15b. The body drum 7 is grounded to the apparatus main body 13. Therefore, the first conductive member 15b and the second conductive member 15c are made of a conductive material,
For example, it is made of iron, stainless steel, brass, aluminum or the like whose surface is nickel-chromium plated. In this embodiment, the base 15a and the extension 15d are also integrally formed with the first and second conductive members 15b and 15c.

Next, the plastic cylindrical member 15e is made of a material having high slidability with the flange gear 7a, for example, polyacetal, polybutylene terephthalate, polycarbonate or the like, and is outsert to the shaft 15c2 of the second conductive member 15c. The cylindrical member 15e formed by molding or in a ring shape is attached to the shaft portion 15c2 by press fitting or bonding. When the shaft portion 15c2 is fitted into the fitting hole 7b of the flange gear 7a, the cylindrical member 15e contacts the inner peripheral surface of the fitting hole 7b to support the photosensitive drum 7. Therefore, when the process cartridge B is mounted to form an image, the flange gear 7a slides on the plastic cylindrical member 15e of the mounting member 15, so that the slidability is improved. Therefore, unlike the conventional case, the flange gear 7a made of plastic does not slide on the metal shaft and is scraped, and the generation of noise and the like is prevented.

Further, since the cylindrical member 15e is an insulator, it has an effect of preventing earth current from flowing into another path such as the flange gear 7a.

Referring now to FIG. 6, the dimensions of each part of the mounting member 15 in this embodiment are shown. FIG. 6A is a front view of the mounting member 15 viewed from the second conductive member 15c side.
(B) is a sectional plan view thereof.

The diameter D _{1 of} the first conductive member 15 b is about 8 mm, the length L _{1 of} the first conductive member 15 b protruding from the base 15 a is about 12 mm, the diameter D ₂ of the base of the second conductive member 15 c is about 12 mm, The diameter D ₃ of the shaft portion of the second conductive member 15c is about 10 mm, the length L ₂ of the protrusion of the second conductive member 15c from the base 15a is about 25 mm, the diameter D ₄ of the base screw hole 15a1 is about 4 mm, and the extension part has a screw hole. 15d1 diameter D ₅ of about 4mm, the hole diameter D ₆ of about 4mm long holes 15d2,

In order to attach the photosensitive drum 7 to the cleaning frame 12c by the attaching member 15, as shown in FIG. 4, the shaft 15c2 of the attaching member 15 is connected to the photosensitive drum via the shaft hole 12c1 of the cleaning container 12c. 7 is fitted into the fitting hole 7b of the flange gear 7a. At this time, the tip of the shaft portion 15c2 contacts the ground contact 7c in the photosensitive drum 7.
Then, the elongated hole 15d2 provided in the extension 15d is inserted into the cleaning container.
The screw holes 15a1 and 15a are fitted in the positioning boss 12c2 of the base member 12c and provided in the base 15a and the extension 15d, respectively.
The mounting member 15 is attached to the cleaning container 12c by screwing it to the cleaning container 12c via d1.

Similarly, the other end of the photosensitive drum 7 in the longitudinal direction is supported by inserting the shaft of the attachment member into the fitting hole of the flange member attached to the end of the drum. At this time, it may be similarly supported by the mounting member 15,
The attachment member supporting the other end does not necessarily need to be provided with the plastic cylindrical member 15e.

{Cover Member of Toner Container} Next, a cover member attached to the toner container 12a will be described. As shown in FIG. 7, the toner storage container 12a has an opening 12a1.
And supplies the toner contained in the container to the developing sleeve from the opening. However, when the process cartridge B is in an unused state and the opening 12a1 is open, the toner in the container is spilled or wet when the process cartridge B is being transported or stored. For this purpose, the opening 12a1 is sealed when not in use, and a cover member S for opening at the start of use is attached to the opening.

The cover member S comprises a cover member 17 integrally formed by welding a tear tape 17b as a flexible member to a cover seal 17a as a cover portion, and an opening regulating member.
The opening restricting member 18 is attached to the opening 12a1 of the toner container 12a to seal the opening 12a1.

(Cover seal) The cover seal 17a
As shown in FIG. 8A, the base material 17a1 and the sealant layer
17a2.

As the material of the base material 17a1, a uniaxially stretched film material or sheet material having sufficient airtightness at the container opening and having tearability in one direction can be used. For example, uniaxially stretched polyethylene, uniaxially stretched polypropylene, uniaxially stretched polypropylene, and the like are used.

By using such a film, not only the force required for tearing the cover sheet 17a can be reduced, but also the width of the toner opening formed by the tear can be made uniform.

As the base material 17a1 which has a stable tearing property and has a certain film strength, a film thickness of about 120 μm to 140 μm and an average specific gravity of 0.6 g / cc to
A stretched expanded polypropylene film of about 0.9 g / cc or the like is preferably used.

On the other hand, a polyethylene-based sealant is preferably used for the sealant layer 17a2 so that the sealant layer 17a2 can be welded to a sealant layer of the tear tape 17b described later by heat sealing (heat welding). A heat seal using an ionomer resin may be used, and an impulse seal or a high-frequency welder may be used if an appropriate material is selected. When a polyethylene-based sealant containing ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer of several percent to about several ten percent is used as the sealant layer 17a2, the thickness is preferably about 10 μm to 30 μm in consideration of adhesive strength. More preferably, the thickness is about 15 μm to 25 μm.

(Tear Tape) Next, as shown in FIG. 8B, the tear tape 17b includes a base material 17b1 and sealant layers 17b2 provided on the front and back surfaces thereof.

The material of the base material 17b1 is the same as that of the cover seal 17a.
It is necessary that the cover seal 17a has sufficient strength to tear the cover seal 17a, and it is desirable that the cover seal 17a has a tensile strength of about three times. As the material, for example, various film materials such as biaxially stretched polyester, biaxially stretched polypropylene, polystyrene, and biaxially stretched nylon, or sheet materials are preferably used, and particularly, biaxially stretched polyester having a film thickness of about 20 μm to 40 μm. Films are preferably used.

The material of the sealant layer 17b2 is made of the same material as the sealant layer 17a2 of the cover seal 17a. However, when the cover seal 17a and the tear tape 17b are unitized, the sealant layer 17a2 and the sealant layer 17b2 are heated. At the time of welding, it is desirable to use the same material as much as possible so that both are melted and adhered. A few percent of ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer is used as the sealant layer 17b2.
When a polyethylene sealant containing about 10 to about 10% is used, the thickness is preferably about 20 μm to about 40 μm in consideration of adhesive strength, and more preferably about 25 μm.
It is desirable to set the thickness to about 35 μm.

As the tear tape 17b, as shown in FIG. 9, a nylon layer N effective as a cushion layer at the time of heat sealing may be provided between the base material 17b1 and the sealant layer 17b2. The nylon layer N has a thickness of about 10 μm to 20 μm.
The thickness is preferably about 13 μm, more preferably about 13 μm
A film thickness of about 17 μm is desirable.

In this embodiment, the cover seal 17 shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 10, the cover member 17 is formed by integrally welding and bonding the tear tape 17a and the tear tape 17b by heat sealing. At this time, one end in the longitudinal direction of the tear tape 17b is longer than the cover seal 17a and is a free end. This free end serves as a handle when tearing the cover seal 17a.

Here, when the cover seal 17a and the tear tape 17b are thermally welded, the base material 17a1 of the cover seal 17a is used.
If the heat shrinkage of the cover is high, the cover
As shown in FIG. 11, the curl occurs, and the cover member 17 cannot be accurately attached to a predetermined portion of the opening regulating member 18. Therefore, in order to suppress the curl amount, the heat shrinkage of the base material 17a1 of the cover seal 17a is about 1% to 10% in the stretching direction and about 0.1% to 3% in the non-stretching direction. Is preferred.

The heat shrinkage is a result obtained by putting the cover member 17 into a gear hot air oven at 120 ° C. for 15 minutes and then measuring the heat shrinkage.

(Opening regulating member) The cover member 17 is attached to the opening of the opening regulating member 18 shown in FIG. The opening regulating member 18 is provided between the toner storage container 12a and the developing sleeve.
The opening width is regulated when the toner is supplied to 10d. The opening regulating member 18 has a thickness of about 0.3 mm to 2 mm.
About polyester, polystyrene, nylon,
A plastic plate such as an ABS plate is formed into a sheet, and the opening 18a is later hollowed out, or is formed into a frame by ordinary molding. In addition, this opening regulating member 18
Is a flange 12 provided in the opening 12a1 of the toner container.
Since it is attached to a2 by ultrasonic welding, etc.
The same material as a is easier to weld. Therefore, for example, when the container 12a is made of polystyrene, it is preferable that the opening regulating member 18 is also a polystyrene plate.

The above-described cover member 17 is attached to the opening 18a of the opening regulating member 18 by welding or the like to seal the opening 18a. When this is sealed by thermocompression as shown in FIG. 12, an easy adhesion treatment such as a corona discharge treatment is performed as necessary.

The sealing conditions were such that the seal bar 19a of the horn 19 was heated to a temperature of about 110 ° C. to 130 ° C. and a pressure of about 1.5 kgf / cm ² .
Sealing is performed by thermocompression bonding at a pressure of 5 kgf / cm ² for about 1 to 3 seconds. In this case, the cover seal 17 of the cover member 17 is used.
The short superposed portion 17c where a and the tear tape 17b overlap is
The seal bar 19a is thicker by the thickness of the tear tape 17b.
Is provided with a concave portion 19a1 corresponding to the thickness. When thermocompression bonding is performed by the seal bar 19a, the opening regulating member 18 and the seal bar 19a must be pressed in parallel and uniformly. If this is uneven,
Extra stress is applied to the sealing surface 17d of the cover member 17, and when the process cartridge B is impacted or dropped, the film is torn from the inner edge 17d1 of the sealing surface 17d, and the toner in the toner storage container 12a is removed. There is a risk of leakage from the torn portion.

Here, as shown in FIG.
The area of the portion where the cover seal 17a and the tear tape 17b overlap (the mesh portion in FIG. 13) with respect to the portion excluding the sealing surface 17d of the cover seal 17a for sealing the opening 18a of FIG. It is preferably 50% to 99%, and more preferably about 70% to 90%. The reason is that the inner pressure of the toner stored in the toner storage container 12a during distribution is affected by the cover seal 17.
This is because, as the area of the portion where the tape a overlaps with the tear tape 17b is larger, the load on the edge portion covered only by the cover seal 17a is reduced, and toner leakage due to peeling of the seal can be prevented more reliably.

In order to effectively prevent the peeling of the seal, the length of the tear tape 17b in the short direction is about 0.5 mm to 2 mm longer than the short length of the opening 18a of the opening regulating member 18.
It is desirable to increase the width by about mm. The reason is that the sealing surface 17a of the cover seal 17a is protected against drop impact and pressure resistance during distribution.
This is because the pressure directly applied to d is reduced.

(Size of Cover Seal, etc.) Here, the dimensions of each member of the cover member S according to the present embodiment are as follows (see FIG. 7).

The longitudinal length of the cover seal 17a is about 237 mm, the lateral length of the cover seal 17a is about 51.5 mm, the longitudinal length of the tear tape 17b is about 574 mm, and the lateral length of the tear tape 17b is about 38.5 mm , opening limiting member 18 longitudinal length Y ₁ of about 220 mm of the opening 18a of the opening limiting the lateral direction of the opening 18a of the member 18 the length Y ₂ to about 36.5 mm, longitudinal length Y ₃ about the opening limiting member 18 278.5 mm, the lateral direction length Y ₄ about 77.5 mm, a longitudinal length X ₁ of about 221.5 mm openings 12a1 of the toner container 12a, the lateral direction length of the opening 12a1 of the toner container 12a of the opening limiting member 18 X ₂ about 63.5mm,

(Attaching the cover member) The cover member
The opening restricting member 18 with the welded 17 is attached to the flange 12a2 of the toner container 12a to seal the toner container 12a. This attachment is performed first after the toner feeding member 10b is incorporated in the toner storage container 12a. As shown in FIG. 7, a positioning hole 18b provided at the short-side end of the opening regulating member 18 and the toner storage container 12a A tool (not shown) is inserted into the positioning hole 12a3 to align the holes 18b and 12a3 to position the opening regulating member 18 on the container flange 12a2. In this positioning state, the two are completely welded by ultrasonic welding or the like. .

{Developing Frame} Next, the developing frame 12b shown in FIG. 14 is combined with the toner storage container 12a. The developing frame 12b is provided with developing means such as a developing sleeve 10d and a developing blade 10e. Also the developing blade 10
An antenna line 12b4 serving as an electrode for detecting a change in the remaining amount of toner as a change in capacitance is fixed to the toner feed port e. This antenna line 12b4 is the developing frame 12b
The fixing member 12b5 is fixed to the groove by fixing the fixing member 12b5 with an adhesive, and the end 12b6 is exposed to the outside as an electrode. Further, a toner stirring rod 12b7 is attached near the antenna line. The toner stirring rod 12b7 rotatably supports both ends of a wire bent in a U-shape, and rotates the stirring rod 12b7 by transmitting a driving force to a gear (not shown) fixed to one end. The developing sleeve 10
This is to stir the toner sent to d.

The developing frame 12b is attached to the toner container 12
In order to combine the positioning member 12a with the positioning member 12a, the positioning hole 12a3 of the toner storage container 12a having the tear tape 17b folded back and the positioning hole formed in the developing frame 12b are attached.
A tool (not shown) is inserted into 12b1 so that the holes 12a3 and 12b1 are aligned with each other to position the developing frame 12b in the container 12a. In this position, the developing frame 12b is welded to the opening regulating member 18 by ultrasonic welding or the like. The developing frame 12b, the cover member S, and the toner container 12a are integrated.

As shown in FIG. 14, positioning bosses 12b2 are provided on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the developing frame 12b to position the toner container 12a and the developing frame 12b when they are joined. 12a is the boss 12b2
There is provided a hole 12a5 in which is fitted. In FIG. 14, 12
Reference numeral b3 denotes a wall provided on one side in the longitudinal direction of the developing frame 12b for mounting a drive unit for driving the toner feeding member and the like. Reference numeral 18d denotes a positioning hole when the opening regulating member 18 is mounted on the toner container 12a. It is. Further, the ear portions provided with the positioning holes 12a3, 12b1, 18b used for positioning the developing frame 12b and the like are cut off after the three members are integrated because they become unnecessary.

Into the toner container 12a with the developing frame 12b attached as described above, toner is inserted from a toner input port (not shown), the input port is closed, and the photoreceptor drum 7 and the like are further incorporated to mount the process cartridge B. assemble. The process cartridge B is shipped as a product. When the product is shipped, a load is applied to the cover member 17 as shown in FIG. As the sealing surface 17
There is a possibility that the inner edge 17d1 of d may be broken and 20 or the like may occur. This is because the cover seal 17a is uniaxially stretched, and since the stress direction at the time of thermocompression bonding by the seal bar 19a and the vertical tearing direction coincide with each other as described above, the cover seal 17a is easily broken in the non-stretching direction. It is because it has become.

Therefore, the breaking strength of the base material 17a1 of the cover seal 17a is important to prevent the occurrence of the tear.
This breaking strength is about 1.0 kgf / mm to 3.0 in the non-stretching direction.
It is preferable to use one having a weight of kgf / mm, more preferably one having a weight of about 1.3 kgf / mm to 3.0 kgf / mm. The thickness of the base material 17a1 of the cover seal 17a is about 130 μm.
It is preferable to use those having a size of m to 150 μm.

In the process cartridge B, the tear tape 17b is pulled out and the cover member S is opened and used, but the toner storage container 12a and the developing frame 12b are used.
As shown in FIGS. 14 and 17, an end seal member made of foamed polyurethane or the like is provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the back surface of the developing frame 12b in order to prevent toner from leaking from between
21 is stuck.

The end sealing member 21 is usually about 2 mm to 5 mm.
mm, and after the developing frame 12b is combined with the toner container 12a, it is compressed to a thickness of about 1/2 to 1/3, thereby preventing toner leakage after opening. .

However, not only the force for pulling out the tear tape 17b required at the time of opening by the end seal member 21 is increased, but also the tear end of the cover seal 17a is rubbed with the end seal member 21 and scraped. It becomes easy to stand. As a cause of this fluff, if the sealant layer 17a2 of the cover seal 17a and the sealant layer 17b2 of the tear tape 17b are not completely melt-bonded, the cover seal 17a is about 2 mm to 3 mm larger than the tear width of the tear tape 17b. It is widely torn, which causes fluffing. Therefore, the sealant layer 17a2 of the cover seal 17a,
It is desirable that the sealant layer 17b2 of the tear tape 17b be made of the same material as possible.

(Tear tape pull-out direction regulating member) When pulling out the tear tape 17b, if the pull-out direction of the tape 17b is not good, not only the opening strength will be greatly increased, but in the worst case, the tear tape 17b will be caught on the way. There is a possibility that a trouble that pulling out cannot be performed.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 14 and 18, the longitudinal end of the developing frame 12b is
Bosses 22a and 22b as pull-out restricting members are provided on the pull-out side of the tear tape 17b at intervals slightly wider than the width of the tear tape 17b. The bosses 22a and 22b are provided with holes provided in the opening regulating member 18 and the toner container 12a when the developing frame 12b is combined with the toner container 12a.
In this embodiment, the boss 22 is fitted.
The distance between a and 22b is about 41.5 mm, and each boss is located at a position about 1 mm to 3 mm away from the short end of the tear tape 17b.

By providing the bosses 22a and 22b on both sides in the drawing direction of the tear tape 17b and on the both sides in the short direction, as shown in FIG. , 22b is tear tape
Since the short end of the tape 17b is guided, the tear tape 17b can be smoothly pulled out in an appropriate opening direction. When the tear tape 17b is pulled obliquely, the tape 17b has a resistance to rub against the bosses 22a and 22b, and the user can know that the tear tape 17b is not pulled in an appropriate direction.

In this embodiment, the boss is attached to the developing frame 12b.
Although the holes 12a4 are provided in the toner container 12a and the holes 12a4 are provided in the toner container 12a, the same effect can be obtained by providing a boss in the toner container 12a and a hole in which the boss fits in the developing frame 12b. .

(Structure for Preventing Turn-Up of Seal Member) As described above, the pull-out direction of the tear tape 17b is regulated. However, when the tear tape 17b is pulled out, the end seal member 21 may be turned up. When the end sealing member 21 is turned up, it takes 5 times to pull out the tear tape 17b.
What is about kg is greatly increased to about 7kg to 8kg. Therefore, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 14, a convex portion 23 is provided at a portion of the end seal member 21 on the side from which the tear tape 17b is pulled out to prevent the end seal 21 from being turned up.

As shown in FIGS. 14 and 17, the convex portion 23 is configured to contact the end of the end seal member 21 on the upstream side in the tear tape pull-out direction. In this embodiment, the height H is about 0.3 mm to 0.5 mm as shown in FIG.
The width W is about 3 mm to 5 mm and is formed integrally with the developing frame 12b (or a member made of, for example, polystyrene having the above shape may be attached to the developing frame 12b). The end seal 21 is adhered to the end of the projection 23 so that the end of the end seal member 21 on the upstream side in the tear tape pull-out direction comes into contact. The length of the convex portion 23 in the width direction of the tear tape 17b (the direction of the front and back of the drawing in FIG. 17) is the same as that of the tear tape.
Although it is desirable that the width is longer than the width of the tear tape 17b, it is not always necessary to be longer than the width of the tear tape 17b, and it may be intermittent.

It is desirable that the corners of the projections 23 are formed in a curved shape, so-called R portions, in order to reduce the pull-out resistance of the tear tape 17b.

By providing the convex portion 23 as described above,
As shown in FIG. 17, when the tear tape 17b is pulled out in the direction of the arrow, the convex portion 23 is in contact with the end of the seal member 21, so that the seal member 21 is not turned up by being dragged by the tear tape 17b. . Therefore, the tear tape 17b
The stable pull-out operability can be maintained without increasing the pull-out strength.

As described above, the convex portion 23 may be formed integrally with the developing frame 12b.
You may make it comprise with 12b and another member.

<< Experimental Results >> Next, experimental results of manufacturing various cover seals and tear tapes and examining the pull-out strength and the like are shown.

(Experiment 1) As the cover seal 17a, 120
20μm and 140μm, respectively.
As shown in FIG. 9, two types of cover seals 17a produced by dry laminating a sealant layer 17a2 of the same material ethylene-vinyl acetate (hereinafter referred to as EVA) are heat-sealed with a tear tape 17b having a layer structure as shown in FIG. Thus, two types of cover members 17 were produced.

The tear tape 17b is composed of a base material 17b1 which is a 38 μm biaxially stretched polyester film and a 30 μm EVA
A sealant layer 17b2, which is a system, and a stretched nylon layer N as a cushion layer having a thickness of 15 μm.

The heat sealing conditions were 115 ° C.
2.8 kg / cm ² and 3 seconds. The size of the cover seal 17a is 48.0mm x 237mm, and the size of the tear tape 17b is 37.5mm
× 575 mm.

Next, the two types of cover members 17 are
A cover member S of the toner container 12a was prepared by performing a corona discharge treatment on the sealing surface of the opening regulating member 18 made of a polystyrene plate having a size of 0.5 mm and an opening 18a of 36.5 mm × 220 mm, followed by heat sealing. The heat sealing conditions were 140
° C, 3.0 kg / cm ² , 5.5 seconds. After confirming that the seal surfaces of the seal bar 19a and the opening regulating member 18 were kept exactly parallel, heat sealing was performed.

Thereafter, the flange 12 of the toner container 12a is
The opening restricting member 18 with the cover member 17 sealed as described above was fixed to a2 by ultrasonic welding to form two types of toner storage containers 12a, which were used as Prototype Examples 1 and 2.

As a comparative example, a conventional easy-peel film was used instead of the cover seal 17, similarly sealed to the opening regulating member 18, and then the opening regulating plate 18 was fixed by ultrasonic welding. The toner container of Example 1 was produced.

The above-mentioned easy peel film comprises a first base material (16 μm), a second base material (25 μm), a cushion layer (2 μm).
0 μm), an EVA-based sealant layer (30 μm), the first base material and the second base material were polyethylene terephthalate, and the cushion layer was low molecular weight polyethylene having an average molecular weight of about 10,000.

FIG. 19 shows the result of measuring the tear tape pull-out strength of the above three types of toner storage containers in the 180 ° direction. The drawing speed was about 3000 mm / min.

As is clear from FIG. 19, the trial example 1 and the trial example 2 had a low tear tape pull-out strength, and the comparative example 1 showed a considerably high pull-out strength.

Further, the three types of toner storage containers were ultrasonically welded to the developing frame 12b provided with the tear tape pulling-out direction regulating bosses 22a and 22b to be combined to produce three types of process cartridges.

The end seal member 21 made of foamed polyurethane is set in the apparatus main body after the process cartridge is opened to prevent toner leakage from the opened cartridge when the cartridge is taken out when a trouble such as a paper jam occurs. A 3 mm-thick tape was used to balance the tear strength of the tear tape.

FIG. 20 shows the measurement results of the opening strength when the three types of process cartridges were opened at a tear tape pull-out speed of about 3000 mm / min.

As is clear from FIG. 20, the two types of the process cartridges of Prototype Example 1 and Prototype Example 2 had very low opening strength and good operability. On the other hand, the process cartridge of Comparative Example 1 using the easy peel film had an extremely heavy opening strength, poor operability, and a level that the user could not open.

(Experiment 2) The size of the opening of the opening regulating member 18 used in the above-mentioned trial production examples 1 and 2 was 60 mm × 220 mm, the size of the cover seal 17a was 71.5 mm × 237 mm, and the size of the tear tape 17b. Is a cover member consisting of 61.5 x 575 mm
17 in the same manner as in Experiment 1,
And a process cartridge B were manufactured, and this was used as a prototype
And prototype example 4.

In Comparative Example 2, the easy peel film used in Comparative Example 1 was used in place of the cover member 17 in a size corresponding to the opening size of the opening regulating member 18. Was prepared.

Using the above three kinds of toner storage containers and the process cartridges, a tear test was performed after the tear tape was opened and pressed, and after 550 g of toner was filled. The results are shown in FIGS. 21 and 22.

Incidentally, the measurement condition of the compressive strength is 0.05 kgf / cm ²
Each time, the pressure was maintained for 5 seconds, and the pressure resistance until the cover member was peeled off and punctured by the internal pressure was measured. The drop test conditions were as follows: three pieces dropped from 60 cm above the ground, one corner, three ridges, six surfaces and six drops.
In two modes with four sides of the surface, one assembly was dropped 10 times to check for toner leakage from the cover member.

As is clear from FIGS. 21 and 22, with respect to the tear tape pull-out strength and the tear-opening strength, the prototypes 3 and 4 are very good.
It has been found that there is no problem even if the width of a is increased to about 60 mm. However, in Comparative Example 2, the operability of the tear tape was very poor, and was at a level that a general user could not open.

Regarding the pressure resistance and the drop test,
Prototype Examples 3 and 4 had high pressure resistance and were at a level that did not cause any problem in the drop test. However, Comparative Example 2 was obtained when the width of the opening 18a of the opening restricting member 18 was wide as in this case. The adhesive strength of the seal was weak, causing toner leakage.

As is clear from the above results, the prototypes 3 and 4 have good seal adhesion of the cover seal 17a and the width of the tear tape 17b is wider than the width of the opening of the opening regulating member 18. Therefore, the pressure directly applied to the sealing surface of the cover seal 17a is reduced, and it has been proved that it is very advantageous for the distribution environment such as pressure resistance and dropping.

(Experiment 3) The size of the opening of the opening regulating member 18 is 60 mm × 220 mm, and the size of the cover seal 17 a is 71.5 mm.
× 237 mm and the same as those used in the above-mentioned Prototype Examples 3 and 4, but the size of the tear tape 17b is 37.5 mm × 575 mm.
The prototype 17 and the prototype 4 were used for the other components.
A toner storage container and a process cartridge were produced in the same manner as in the above, and prototype examples 5 and 6 were obtained.

In this experiment, the opening width 18a of the opening regulating member 18 was measured.
Is larger than the opening width of the developing device, it was performed to confirm whether or not the opening width to the developing device side can be reliably regulated by the tear tape 17b.

The process cartridge is opened at a tear tape pull-out speed of about 3000 mm / min, and the cover seal 17a after opening is torn and spread, and the cover seal 17a at the time of opening is opened.
The presence or absence of occurrence of fluff from the end face, that is, tearing stability was confirmed. FIG. 23 shows the result.

As can be seen from FIG. 23, the tear spread width of the cover seal 12a at the time of opening is 1 mm or less for both types, the opening width to the developing device can be sufficiently regulated, and the tearing stability is good. there were.

Further, when the process cartridge was set in the apparatus main body and the effect of the image was confirmed, it was found that the toner discharge property was extremely good and there was no problem on the image.

From the above results, it has been confirmed that even when the opening width of the opening regulating member 18 is wider than the opening width of the developing device, the opening width of the developing frame side to the developing device can be surely regulated by the tear tape 17b.

It is needless to say that when the conventional easy peel film is used, the width of the opening to the developing device on the developing frame side cannot be regulated by the cover member as in the prototype example.

(Experiment 4) 100 process cartridges each prepared in the same manner as in Prototype Examples 1 and 2 and Comparative Example 1 were prepared, and the tear tape withdrawal speed was about 30.
The entire process cartridge was opened at 00 mm / min, and the opened process cartridge was disassembled to check whether there was any sealant residue (sealant debris) on the seal surface on the opening regulating member 18.

Further, the opened process cartridge was set in the apparatus main body, and particularly, image defects such as white stripes generated when the sealant residue was mixed in the toner were also confirmed. The result is shown in FIG.

As is clear from FIG. 24, the prototype 1 and the prototype 2 had no sealant residue and no image defect. However, in the comparative example 1, the sealant residue was confirmed to be 5 out of 100 units. Three image defects also occurred.

As described above, as shown in Experiments 1 to 4, it is understood that the toner container having the seal structure according to the present invention is superior to the conventional toner container.

[Other Embodiments] In the above-described embodiment, an example is shown in which the opening regulating member 18 for regulating the opening area of the toner container 12a is attached, and the cover member S is attached to the opening regulating member 18. However, in the present invention, it is not always necessary to provide the opening regulating member 18, and the cover member S may be directly attached to the opening of the toner storage section.

Also, in the above-described embodiment, the cover member S is configured such that the cover seal 17a as the cover portion and the tear tape 17b as the flexible member are integrally formed, and the cover seal 17a is torn by the tear tape 17b. However, the cover member may be made of a so-called easy peel film.

The process cartridge B according to the present invention
Is not only for forming a monochrome image as described above,
A plurality of developing means are provided, and a plurality of color images (for example, a two-color image,
The present invention can be suitably applied to a cartridge for forming a three-color image or a full-color image.

In the first embodiment described above, an example was described in which an organic semiconductor (OPC) was used as the photosensitive layer of the image carrier. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, amorphous silicon (A-Si ), Selenium (Se), zinc oxide (ZnO), or cadmium sulfide (CdS). The shape of the image carrier is not limited to the drum shape, but may be, for example, a belt shape.

As the developing method, it is possible to use various developing methods such as a known two-component magnetic brush developing method, a cascade developing method, a touch-down developing method, and a cloud developing method.

In the structure of the charging means, the so-called contact charging method is used in the first embodiment, but as another structure, a metal shield such as aluminum is provided around three sides of a conventionally used tungsten wire. It is a matter of course that a configuration may be used in which positive or negative ions generated by applying a high voltage to the tungsten wire are moved to the surface of the photosensitive drum, and the surface of the drum is uniformly charged.

The charging means may be of a blade type (charging blade), a pad type, a block type, a rod type, a wire type, or the like, in addition to the roller type.

As a method of cleaning the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum, the cleaning means may be constituted by using a blade, a fur brush, a magnetic brush or the like.

The process cartridge described above is
It is provided with, for example, an electrophotographic photosensitive member as an image carrier, and at least one of processing means. Therefore, as a mode of the process cartridge, in addition to the above-described embodiment, for example, the image carrier and the charging unit are integrally formed into a cartridge and can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body. A cartridge in which the image carrier and the developing means are integrated into a cartridge, and which is detachable from the apparatus main body. A device in which the image carrier and the cleaning means are integrally formed into a cartridge and can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body. Further, there is a type in which an image carrier and two or more of the above-mentioned process means are combined into a cartridge to be detachable from the apparatus main body.

That is, the above-described process cartridge is one in which the charging means, the developing means or the cleaning means and the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally formed into a cartridge, and this cartridge is detachably mountable to the main body of the image forming apparatus. . In addition, at least one of the charging unit, the developing unit, and the cleaning unit and the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally formed into a cartridge so that the cartridge can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body. Further, it means that at least the developing means and the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally formed into a cartridge so as to be detachable from the apparatus main body.

The above-described photosensitive drum mounting member 15 can be used not only for supporting the photosensitive drum as a process cartridge but also for an apparatus for directly supporting the photosensitive drum to the apparatus main body.

In the above-described embodiment, a laser beam printer is exemplified as an image forming apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, another apparatus such as an LED printer, an electrophotographic copying machine, a facsimile machine, or a word processor may be used. Naturally, it can be used for an image forming apparatus.

[0132]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the convex portion is provided in contact with the end of the seal member located on the upstream side in the pulling-out direction of the cover member, the convex portion is provided with the seal member when the cover member is pulled out. Prevent edge turning. As a result, an increase in the pulling force of the cover member is prevented, and the operability of opening the cover member is improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional explanatory view of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional explanatory view of a process cartridge according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional explanatory view illustrating a state where an opening / closing member of the image forming apparatus is opened.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a photosensitive drum mounting member.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory sectional view of a second conductive member of the mounting member.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of dimensions of a mounting member.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a toner storage container, an opening regulating member, and a cover member.

FIG. 8A is a cross-sectional explanatory view of a cover seal, and FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional explanatory view of a tear tape.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory view of another embodiment of the tear tape.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory sectional view of a cover member in which a cover seal and a tear tape are integrated.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a state where the cover member is curled.

FIG. 12 is a configuration explanatory view in which a cover member is welded to an opening regulating member.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a ratio between a cover seal and a tear tape.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of attaching a developing frame to a toner storage container to which a cover member is attached.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a pressure state related to a cover seal due to an internal pressure of the toner storage container.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the cover seal is broken.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory sectional view in which an end seal member is provided.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram of a tear tape pull-out restricting boss.

FIG. 19 is a table showing an experimental result of examining a pull-out strength of a tear tape.

FIG. 20 is a table showing experimental results obtained by examining the opening strength of the process cartridge.

FIG. 21 is a table showing experimental results obtained by examining a tear tape pull-out strength and a process cartridge opening strength.

FIG. 22 is a table showing the pressure resistance of a toner storage container and a process cartridge and the results of a drop test.

FIG. 23 is a table showing the results of examining the tear spread width and tear stability of the cover seal when the tear tape is pulled out.

FIG. 24 is a table showing a result of examining a sealant residue and an image defect state when a tear tape is pulled out.

FIG. 25 is an explanatory view of a related art in which there is a possibility that end portions of a seal member may be turned.

[Explanation of symbols]

A: image forming apparatus, B: process cartridge, S: cover member, 1: optical system, 1a: optical unit, 1b: laser diode, 1c: polygon mirror, 1d: scanner motor, 1e: imaging lens, 1f: reflection mirror,
2 ... recording medium, 3 ... transport means, 3a, 3b ... cassette,
3c: pickup roller, 3d: separation roller pair, 3e
... Registration roller pair, 3f ... intermediate transport roller, 3g ... discharge path, 3h ... discharge roller, 3i ... flapper, 3j ... retransmission path, 3k1, 3k2 ... retransmission roller, 3m ... retransmission section, 3o
... Pickup roller, 3p ... Convey roller pair, 4 ... Transfer means, 5 ... Fixing means, 5a ... Drive roller, 5b ... Heater, 5c ... Fixing roller, 6 ... Ejector, 7 ... Photoconductor drum, 7a ... Flange gear, 7b ... fitting hole, 7c ... contact point,
Reference numeral 8: charging roller, 8a: roller shaft, 9: exposure unit, 10: developing means, 10a: toner storage unit, 10b: toner feeding member,
10c: magnet, 10d: developing sleeve, 10e: developing blade, 11: cleaning means, 11a: cleaning blade, 11b: squeeze sheet, 11c: feed member, 11d: waste toner reservoir, 12: frame, 12a: toner container, 12a1 ... opening, 12a2 ... flange, 12a3 ... positioning hole, 12a4 ... hole, 12
a5 ... holes, 12b ... developing frame, 12b1 ... positioning holes, 12b2
... Boss, 12b3 ... Wall, 12b4 ... Antenna wire, 12b5 ... Fixing member, 12b6 ... End, 12b7 ... Stirring rod, 12c ... Cleaning container, 12c1 ... Shaft hole, 12c2 ... Boss, 13 ... Device body, 14 ... Opening / closing member , 14a: hinge, 15: mounting member, 15a: base, 15a1
... Screw hole, 15b ... First conductive member, 15c ... Second conductive member, 15c1 ... Base part, 15c2 ... Shaft part, 15c3 ... Stepped part, 15d ... Extended part, 15d1 ... Screw hole, 15d2 ... Elongated hole , 15e ... circular member, 16 ...
Screw, 17: cover member, 17a: cover seal, 17a1: base material, 17a2: sealant layer, 17b: tear tape, 17b1: base material, 17b2: sealant layer, 17c: short polymerized portion, 17d ...
Sealing surface, 17d1 inside edge, 18 opening control member, 18a
... Opening, 18b ... Positioning hole, 18c ... Hole, 18d ... Hole, 19
... horn, 19a ... seal bar, 19a1 ... recess, 20 ... tear,
21: end seal member, 22a, 22b: boss, 23: convex portion

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (56) References JP-A-3-59578 (JP, A) JP-A-3-3963 (JP, A) JP-A-4-155363 (JP, A) JP-A-5- 224529 (JP, A) JP-A-5-197286 (JP, A) JP-A-3-118574 (JP, A) JP-A-1-319064 (JP, A) JP-A-1-113252 (JP, U) JP-A 4-63456 (JP, U) JP-A 1-75262 (JP, U) JP-A 64-38657 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G03G 15/08 G03G 15/09 G03G 15/095

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A developing device for developing a latent image, comprising: (a) a developing frame for supporting a developing unit for developing the latent image; and (b) a developing frame for developing the latent image by the developing unit. A developer accommodating portion for accommodating a developer to be used, an opening provided in the developer accommodating portion, and an opening for supplying a developer provided in the developer accommodating portion to the developing means; And a cover member that closes the opening so that the opening can be opened. A developer storage container comprising: a cover member interposed therebetween with the free end of the cover member protruding; (C) a side on which a free end of the cover member protrudes from between the developing frame and the developer storing container, wherein the developing frame and the developer storing container Located between ,
An end seal member for sealing between the developing frame and the developer container so that the developer does not leak from between the developing frame and the developer container; and (d) the cover member is provided with the developing frame. In order to prevent the end seal member from being turned up by being dragged by the cover member when being pulled out from the space between the end seal member and the developer storage container, an upstream side of the end seal member in the drawing direction of the cover member. A projection provided in contact with the end seal member; and (e) one end and the other end of a path provided on the developing frame and through which the cover member passes when the cover member is pulled out. A pull-out direction regulating member disposed apart from the path; and (f) provided in the developer storage container, wherein the developing frame and the developer storage container are locked. Has a hole punching direction regulating member is penetrated come, and prior to use, said by pulling a free end, said opening is opened by said cover member is pulled,
A developing device wherein a developer stored in the developer storage section is supplied to the developing means through the opening. 2. The developing device according to claim 1, further comprising a regulating member for regulating an opening area of the opening, and wherein the cover member is attached to the regulating member. 3. A process cartridge detachable from an image forming apparatus main body, comprising: (a) an electrophotographic photosensitive member; and (b) a developing device for developing a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member. A developing frame that supports a developing unit for developing the latent image; a developer storage unit that stores a developer used for developing the latent image by the developing unit; and a developer storage unit that is provided in the developer storage unit. An opening for supplying a developer provided in the developer accommodating portion to the developing means, and a cover member for openingably closing the opening. A developer container provided with the cover member interposed therebetween and engaged with the developing frame, with the free end of the cover member protruding; and Between The free end of the cover member is on the side protruding and located between the developing frame and the developer container, so that the developer does not leak from between the developing frame and the developer container. An end seal member for sealing between the developing frame and the developer storage container, and when the cover member is pulled out from between the development frame and the developer storage container, the end member is dragged by the cover member. A protrusion provided in contact with the end seal member on an upstream side of the end seal member in a pull-out direction of the cover member to prevent the end seal member from being turned up; and A pull-out direction restricting member disposed apart from the path at one end and the other end of a path through which the cover member passes when the cover member is pulled out; A hole provided in the imaging agent storage container, wherein the developing frame and the developer storage container are engaged with each other, and in which the pull-out direction regulating member has penetrated; and By pulling the free end, the cover member is pulled and the opening is opened,
A developing device configured to supply the developer stored in the developer storage unit to the developing unit through the opening. 4. The process cartridge according to claim 4, further comprising a regulating member for regulating an opening area of the opening, and wherein the cover member is attached to the regulating member. 5. An image forming apparatus for detachably attaching a process cartridge and forming an image on a recording medium, comprising: (a) an electrophotographic photosensitive member, and developing a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member. A developing device that supports a developing unit for developing the latent image, a developer storage unit that stores a developer used for developing the latent image by the developing unit, An opening provided in the developer accommodating portion, for supplying a developer provided in the developer accommodating portion to the developing means, and a cover member for openingably closing the opening. A developer container having a free end of the cover member projecting therefrom, the developer container being provided to be locked to the developing frame with the cover member interposed therebetween; and Fret The free end of the cover member protrudes from between the developing frame and the developer storage container, and is located between the developing frame and the developer storage container. And an end seal member for sealing between the developing frame and the developer accommodating container so that the developer does not leak from between the developing frame and the developer accommodating container. The cover member is pulled out from between the developing frame and the developer accommodating container. At the time, in order to prevent the end seal member from being turned up by being dragged by the cover member, in contact with the end seal member on the upstream side of the end seal member in the drawing direction of the cover member. A protrusion provided on the developing frame; and a pull-out member provided on the developing frame and disposed at one end and the other end of a path through which the cover member passes when the cover member is pulled out. A withdrawal direction regulating member, and a hole provided in the developer storage container, wherein the withdrawal direction restriction member enters in a state where the developing frame and the developer storage container are locked. Prior to doing so, by pulling the free end, the cover member is pulled and the opening is opened,
A developing device configured to supply a developer stored in the developer storage unit to the developing unit through the opening; and a mounting unit configured to removably mount a process cartridge having: An image forming apparatus, comprising: conveying means for conveying a recording medium.