JP4750474B2 - Process cartridge and packing method for packing process cartridge - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a process cartridge and a packing method for packing a process cartridge using the packing member.

Conventionally, when transporting a process cartridge that can be attached to and detached from an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, after the process cartridge is stored in a storage bag, a cushioning material is attached to both ends in the longitudinal direction of the process cartridge and transported in a packing box. A method is known (see, for example, FIG. 3 of Patent Document 1). However, in the above-described conventional technology, the buffer material needs to have a certain size in order to sufficiently protect it from an external impact when the process cartridge is transported. Therefore, the size of the packing box increased, and it could not be said that the transportation efficiency was good. In view of this, there has been proposed a method of transporting the process cartridge with improved transport efficiency by using the packing material shown in Patent Document 2.
JP-A-7-72781 JP 2004-338785 A

  However, the above-described conventional technique is further improved to realize reliable and efficient packaging when transporting the process cartridge.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a process cartridge that achieves good packing efficiency and reliable packing, and a method for packing the process cartridge.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a process cartridge and a method for packing the process cartridge, which are capable of suppressing movement inside the packing member when packing.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a process cartridge that prevents the medium storage portion from being damaged when the process cartridge is transported and maintains the buffering effect on the process cartridge, and the packaging of the process cartridge. It is to provide a method.

Another object of the present invention, when carrying the process cartridge, the process cartridge was realized to prevent damaging the bunch hand member, and to provide a packing method of the process cartridge.

In order to achieve the above object, a representative configuration of the present invention is a process cartridge packaged in a packaging member that can be attached to and detached from an electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body, and a photosensitive drum and a cartridge that supports the photosensitive drum. A first grip member for gripping the frame and the process cartridge when the process cartridge is mounted on the apparatus main body, wherein the first handle member is provided to protrude from the cartridge frame at one end side in the longitudinal direction of the process cartridge. A grip member and a second grip member for gripping the process cartridge when the process cartridge is mounted on the apparatus main body, provided on the other end side in the longitudinal direction of the process cartridge so as to protrude from the cartridge frame. A medium handle that has a second handle member, and the packing member is formed of a flexible sheet and stores a medium. The sheet is formed by applying heat to, a heat seal provided at corresponding positions between said longitudinal said in the direction first handle member and the second handle member, said first And a heat seal that regulates the movement of the process cartridge relative to the packing member by acting on at least one of the handle member and the second handle member.

Further, a typical packing method of the present invention for achieving the above object is a process cartridge that can be attached to and detached from an electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body, and a photosensitive drum and a cartridge frame that supports the photosensitive drum. A first handle member that is gripped when the process cartridge is mounted on the apparatus main body, and is provided at one end side in the longitudinal direction of the process cartridge so as to protrude from the cartridge frame. And a second handle member that is gripped when the process cartridge is mounted on the apparatus main body, and is provided on the other end side in the longitudinal direction of the process cartridge so as to protrude from the cartridge frame. A medium storage portion that can store a medium when a process cartridge having the grip member is transported A packing method for packing the process cartridge using a packing member formed of a flexible sheet, the step of inserting the process cartridge into the packing member, and the first step after the step of inserting A heat seal that acts on at least one of the handle member and the second handle member to restrict movement of the process cartridge relative to the packing member is applied to the sheet in the longitudinal direction by applying heat to the sheet . has a heat seal forming step of the handle member is formed at a position corresponding to between the second handle member, after as the Hitoshi Le form Engineering, and a step of injecting said medium into said medium accommodating portion of It is a packing method.

As described above, in the present invention, the movement of the process cartridge within the packing member can be suppressed by heat sealing . Therefore, when carrying the process cartridge, the bunch hand member provided in the process cartridge, there is no possibility of damaging the cushioning medium storage portion, a bunch hand member itself. Therefore, when transporting the process cartridge , the process cartridge can be sufficiently protected from the external force by the packing member.

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

[First Embodiment]
(Structure of packing material)
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the sheet of the packaging member S <b> 1 according to the present invention is configured by stacking and thermally welding two plastic films 1 and plastic films 2 that are flexible members. . The heat-welded regions are the welded portions 6, 8, 9, and 10. The packing member S1 is provided with a plurality of medium storage portions 3 that can store air as a medium. The medium storage unit 3 is configured by partitioning the film 1 and the film 2 by heat welding with the welding unit 10. The medium storage unit 3 has a long side as shown in FIG. In addition, the film 1 and the film 2 of this Embodiment are the flexible members of a 3 layer structure. That is, it has a sandwich structure in which a nylon layer is sandwiched between a polyethylene layer and a polypropylene layer. Mainly, the nylon layer has a characteristic that the medium does not easily permeate, and the polyethylene layer and the polypropylene layer have a characteristic of good weldability with respect to heat welding.

  A check valve 4 is provided on one end side in the longitudinal direction of the medium storage unit 3. The check valve 4 allows air to pass in the direction in which air is introduced into the medium storage unit 3. Then, after the air is introduced into the medium storage unit, as shown in FIG. 2, the pressure of the air inside the medium storage unit 3 is used to prevent the backflow of the introduced air. The detailed configuration of the check valve 4 is as shown in FIGS. The check valve 4 is manufactured by the following procedure. An upper check valve 4a is temporarily fixed to the film 1 at a portion 1a, and a lower check valve 4b and a seal member 4c are temporarily fixed to the film 2 at a portion 2a. And as shown in FIG. 1, the film 1 and the film 2 are heat-welded in the welding parts 6, 8, 9, and 10. As shown in FIG. The seal member 4c is made of a material that does not melt even at a temperature at which the welded portion 8 is thermally welded. The welded portions 9 and 10 are provided substantially in parallel along the longitudinal direction of the medium storage portion 3. The welded portions 6 and 8 are provided so as to extend in a direction intersecting with the longitudinal direction of the medium storage portion 3, and the welded portion 6 is located on the other end side in the longitudinal direction.

  And in the welding part 8, as shown in FIG. 30, the 8b part and the 8c part are heat-welded, but the 8a part corresponding to the position of the sealing member 4c is not welded. Therefore, when air is introduced, air can be introduced as shown by the arrows. Further, the longitudinal direction of the medium storage unit 3 and the air passage direction of the check valve 4 substantially coincide with each other, and air is efficiently introduced into the medium storage unit 3.

  Further, in order to inflate the medium storage unit 3 on one end side in the longitudinal direction of the medium storage unit 3, the medium is introduced from the outside of the packing member S1 to the plurality of medium storage units 3 via the check valves 4. The introduction part 5 is provided. Furthermore, an inlet 11 for injecting air is provided on one end side of the introduction part 5 with respect to the introduction part 5. The introduction part 5 is also configured by thermally welding the film 1 and the film 2. The heat-welded region is the weld portion 7. Here, as shown in FIG. 6, the width W <b> 1 of the injection port 11 is narrower than the width W <b> 2 of the connection portion with the check valve 4 provided downstream in the introduction direction of the plurality of introduction portions 5. Further, the plurality of injection ports 11 are provided adjacent to each other. Therefore, the injection part (not shown) of the injection device for introducing air from the injection port 11 at a time can be reduced. In the check valve 4, the medium can be introduced from the inlet 11 in a direction substantially coincident with the passing direction in which the medium passes toward the medium storage unit 3, and air is efficiently introduced into the medium storage unit 3. It is the composition which becomes. Further, due to the above-described configuration, the welded portion 7 has a shape that is inclined from the connecting portion with the check valve 4 toward the injection port 11 along the longitudinal direction of the medium storage portion 3.

  In addition, the region 48 is used to prevent the air flowing back from the medium storage unit 3 to the introduction unit 5 through the check valve 4 from leaking from the introduction unit 5 to the outside of the packaging member S1. It is a sealing region for sealing the introduction part 5 provided on the upstream side of the check valve 4 in the introduction direction toward the check valve 4. The region 48 is sealed by applying heat by a dedicated heat welding device (not shown) after storing air in the medium storage unit 3.

  Further, a region 3b having a narrow width in the width direction intersecting with the longitudinal direction of the medium storage unit is provided at a predetermined position in the longitudinal direction of the medium storage unit 3. The narrow area 3b is provided in order to weaken the pressure applied to the object to be packed after the medium is stored in the medium storage unit 3. That is, the narrow region 3b is provided at a position corresponding to a protrusion protruding from the packaged object, or a position where the packaged object may be deformed to damage the packaged object. As shown in FIG. 6, the width W4 of the narrow region 3b is narrower than the width W3 of the region 3a other than the narrow region 3b. That is, the cross-sectional area of the narrow region 3b is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the region 3a other than the narrow region 3b. Moreover, the narrow area | region 3b can be formed by enlarging the width | variety of the welding part 23 rather than the welding part 10, as shown in FIG. The welding part 23 is also formed by applying heat by a dedicated heat welding device (not shown).

  The configuration of the packaging member is summarized as follows.

  In the packing members S and S1 for packing the objects to be packed, the medium storage unit 3 that stores the medium and the check valve 4 that restricts the medium that flows back from the medium storage unit 3 through the medium toward the medium storage unit 3. In order to inflate the medium storage unit 3, the introduction unit 5 for introducing the medium from the outside of the packing member 1 to the medium storage unit 3 through the check valve 4, and the medium storage unit through the check valve 4 In order to prevent the medium flowing back from 3 to the introduction part 5 from leaking out of the packaging member S1 from the introduction part 5, the upstream side of the check valve 4 in the introduction direction from the introduction part 5 to the check valve 4 And a sealing region 48 for sealing the introduction portion 5, which is sealed after the medium is stored in the medium storage portion 3. Members S and S1.

  The medium storage unit 3 has an elongated shape, and the longitudinal direction of the medium storage unit 3 substantially coincides with the medium passing direction in the check valve 4.

  The introduction part 5 has an inlet 11 for introducing the medium from the outside of the packing members S and S1 at the upstream end in the introduction direction, and the direction of introduction of the medium at the inlet 11 is the check valve 4. This substantially coincides with the passing direction in which the medium passes toward the medium storage unit 3.

  Further, a plurality of medium storage units 3 are arranged side by side, check valves 4 are respectively provided for the plurality of medium storage units 3, and the introduction unit 5 also includes the plurality of medium storage units. Each part 3 is provided independently.

  In addition, the sealing region 48 is provided at a position where the volumes of the medium that flows back from the medium storage unit 3 can be stored in the introduction unit 5 are approximately equal.

  Each of the plurality of introducing portions 5 has an inlet 11 for introducing the medium from the outside of the packing member at the upstream end in the medium introducing direction. The width W1 of the inlet is narrower than the width W2 of the connection portion with the check valve 4 provided on the downstream side in the introduction direction of the plurality of introduction portions 5. Since the width W1 of the injection port 11 is narrower than the width W2 of the connecting portion, and the injection ports 11 are provided adjacent to each other, an injection device (not shown) for introducing air from the injection port 11 is provided. There exists an effect which can be reduced in size. Here, the width W1 of the injection port 11 is 10 to 15 mm, and the width W2 of the connecting portion is 25 to 30 mm.

  Further, in order to weaken the pressure applied to the object to be packed after the medium is stored in the medium storage unit 3, a region 3 b having a narrow width in the width direction intersecting with the longitudinal direction of the medium storage unit 3 is formed in the longitudinal direction of the medium storage unit 3. Provided at predetermined positions.

  Generally, the packaging member S1 having the plurality of medium storage units 3, the check valve 4, and the introduction unit 5 is first cut from the long roll sheet S. And the said sheet | seat is cut | disconnected and processed according to a to-be-packaged object, and packing suitable for the purpose of the to-be-packaged object is carried out. The packing method is shown below.

(Process cartridge configuration)
Next, a description will be given of a process cartridge that can be attached to and detached from the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, which is an object to be packed in the present embodiment. Here, the electrophotographic image forming apparatus forms an image on a recording medium using an electrophotographic image forming system. Examples of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus include an electrophotographic copying machine, an electrophotographic printer (for example, a laser beam printer, an LED printer), a facsimile machine, a word processor, and the like.

  Next, a process cartridge embodying the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  17 and 18 are a main cross-sectional view and a perspective view of the cartridge 35 containing the toner. The cartridge 35 is integrated by a cartridge frame. In this embodiment, the cartridge 35 includes the photosensitive drum 35a, the cleaner unit 50 including the charging unit 202 and the cleaning unit 206, and the developing unit 4 that develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 35a. A developing unit 204.

  According to this embodiment, the cartridge frame has a cleaning frame 51 and a developing frame 45. The photosensitive drum 1 is rotatably attached to a cleaning frame 51 constituting the cleaner unit 50 via a bearing member (not shown).

  The photosensitive drum 35a has a charging roller 202 for uniformly charging the photosensitive layer provided on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 35a, and removes developer (residual toner) remaining on the photosensitive drum 35a after transfer. A cleaning blade (hereinafter referred to as “blade”) 60 is in contact. Further, the toner (removed toner) removed from the surface of the photosensitive drum 35 a by the blade 60 is stored in a removed toner storage chamber 55 provided in the cleaning frame 51.

  The developing unit 204 includes a developing frame 45 (45a, 45b, 45e) that stores toner. A developing roller 240 (rotated in the direction of arrow Y) is supported by the developing frame 45 via a bearing member while maintaining a gap with the photosensitive drum 35a. Further, a toner supply roller 243 (rotated in the direction of arrow Z) and a developing blade 44 are provided in contact with the developing roller 240. Further, the developing device frame 45 is provided with a toner transport mechanism 242 for stirring the toner contained therein and transporting it to the roller 243.

  The developing unit 204 is swingably supported with respect to the cleaner unit 50. That is, the coupling holes 47 and 48 provided at both ends of the developing frame 45 and the support holes 52 and 53 provided at both ends of the cleaning frame 51 of the cleaner unit 50 are aligned, and the pins 49 are inserted from both ends of the cleaner unit 50.

  Further, the developing unit 204 is always urged by a pressure spring (not shown) so that the developing roller 240 is brought into contact with the photosensitive drum 35a around the support holes 52 and 53.

  At the time of development, the toner stored in the toner container 241 is conveyed to the roller 243 by the toner stirring mechanism 242. The roller 243 is supplied to the developing roller 240 by rubbing with the developing roller 240 and adheres to the developing roller 240. The toner attached on the developing roller 240 reaches the developing blade 44 as the developing roller 240 rotates. Then, the developing blade 44 regulates the toner to form a predetermined toner thin layer, and gives a desired charge amount. The toner thinned on the developing roller 240 is conveyed to the developing unit where the photosensitive drum 35a and the developing roller 240 are close as the developing roller 240 rotates. In the developing unit, the developing bias applied to the developing roller 240 from a power source (not shown) adheres to the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 35a and develops the latent image. The toner remaining on the surface of the developing roller 240 without contributing to the development of the electrostatic latent image is returned to the developing frame 45 as the developing roller 240 rotates. Then, it is peeled off and collected from the developing roller 240 at the rubbing portion with the roller 243. The collected toner is stirred and mixed with the remaining toner by the toner stirring mechanism 242.

(Method for attaching / detaching process cartridge to / from image forming apparatus main body)
Next, a method for attaching and detaching the cartridge 35 to and from the image forming apparatus main body 100 will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 19, the image forming apparatus main body 100 is provided with an open / close door (front door) 101 that can swing around a support shaft 102. In addition, a transfer device 205 is attached to the back of the front door 101 using link means, as will be described in detail later. The transfer device 5 can swing about the support shaft 103 as the front door 101 swings. With the front door 101 and the transfer device 205 open, the cartridge 35 can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body 100. A handle member 90 is provided in the vicinity of the photosensitive drum support at both ends of the cartridge 35. The operator can grip the handle member 90 when the cartridge is attached or detached.

  In the cartridge 7, a guide rail portion (not shown) provided for each of the image forming stations Pa, Pb, Pc, and Pd in the image forming apparatus main body 100 and an insertion guide portion 54 provided in the cartridge 35 are engaged. To do. Then, the cartridge 35 is positioned at a predetermined position with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 100 and is detachably mounted.

(Packing method using packing materials)
A packing method using the packing member S with a process cartridge that can be attached to and detached from the electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body as an object to be packed is shown in FIGS.

(1) Cutting the packaging material from the sheet (Figure 3)
A packing member S1 having a predetermined width necessary for packing the process cartridge 35 is cut out from the long roll-shaped sheet S of the packing member having the plurality of medium storage units 3, the check valve 4, and the introduction unit 5. In the present embodiment, the packaging member S1 is cut using scissors K1, but the packaging member S1 may be cut using a cutter or a dedicated cutting device. Further, since the cored bar K2 is provided at the center of the roll-shaped sheet S, it is easy to pull out the sheet from the roll-shaped sheet S, and it is easy to cut out the packing member S1. Further, when the packing member S1 is cut out by an automatic machine or the like, it is easy to set the roll sheet S at a predetermined position.

(2) Processing the packaging member into a bag shape (FIGS. 4 to 6)
In the longitudinal direction of the medium storage portion 3 of the cut packaging member S1, the packaging member S1 is folded in half from the vicinity of the center. In the case of folding in two, they are stacked so that the rear end portion 53 in the longitudinal direction of the medium storage portion 3 comes to the position shown in FIG.

  And the bag shape which one end of the longitudinal direction opened the packing member S1 by heat-welding (heat-sealing) the both ends (welding part 12 and the welding part 13) of the direction which cross | intersects the longitudinal direction of the medium accommodating part 3. Can be. Further, the welded portion 12 and the welded portion 13 are provided to extend along the longitudinal direction of the medium storage portion 3.

  Further, as will be described in detail later, the notch 15 is provided in the packing member S1. This notch 15 is a portion that becomes a trigger for forming an opening for taking out the object to be packed when the object to be packed is taken out after being stored in the packing member S1. The notch 15 is a part for forming a discharge opening for discharging the medium stored in the medium storage unit 3 to the outside of the packing member S1 at the same time.

  In the present embodiment, the packing member S1 has a bag shape in which one end in the longitudinal direction has an opening. However, the packaging member S1 has a bag in which one end in a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction or both ends in the direction intersecting the longitudinal direction are opened. It is good also as a shape. Furthermore, the packing member may have a bag shape in which one end in the longitudinal direction and one end in the direction intersecting the longitudinal direction are opened.

(3) Insert an object to be packed (cartridge 35) into the packing member S1 (FIG. 5).
As shown in FIG. 5, a cartridge 35, which is an object to be packed, is inserted from an opening 18 provided at one end in the longitudinal direction. That is, the cartridge 35 is inserted so that the longitudinal direction of the cartridge 35 and the longitudinal direction of the medium storage unit 3 coincide. After that, as shown in FIG. 5, in order to close the opening 18, the welded portion 19 is thermally welded (heat sealed) to completely seal the cartridge 35. The welded portion 19 is provided so as to extend in a direction crossing the longitudinal direction of the medium storage portion 3. That is, the welded portion 19 seals the short side of the cartridge 35. Further, the welded portion 19 is provided at a position closer to the injection port 11 than the welded portion 8 and the reverse support valve 4. However, as shown in FIG. 30, since the seal member 4c extends from the 19a portion of the welded portion 19, thermal welding is not performed. Therefore, it is possible to introduce air into the medium storage portion 3 of the packing member S1 in which the cartridge 35 is sealed through the check valve 4 as indicated by an arrow.

In the present embodiment, after the cartridge 35 is inserted into the packing member S1, the heat seal 300 is provided at a position corresponding to the grip member 90 in the longitudinal direction of the cartridge 35 in the packing member S1. (See Figure 20)
The heat seal 300 is for restricting the movement of the cartridge 35 during transportation within the packing member S1. That is, the heat seal 300 acts on at least one of the handle members 90 provided on both ends in the longitudinal direction of the cartridge 35 or the cartridge frame 35d. Therefore, when the heat seal 300 acts on the cartridge frame 35d, the cartridge 35 is restricted from moving in the X direction. Further, when the heat seal 300 acts on the handle member 90, the cartridge 35 is restricted from moving in the Y direction.

  By restricting the movement of the cartridge 35 in the X direction, it is possible to further prevent the handle member 90 from being damaged by the impact during transportation of the medium storage unit 3 located on the distal end side of the handle member 90 shown in FIG. Can do.

  In addition, by restricting the movement of the cartridge 35 in the Y direction, as shown in FIG. 21, the medium storage unit 3 buffers the impact on the handle member 90 in the direction of arrow A due to the impact during transportation to the floor and the fall. The handle member 90 can be prevented from being damaged.

  In other words, the above configuration can maintain the effect of buffering the impact applied to the cartridge during transportation.

  As another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 22, in addition to the heat seal 300, a heat seal 400 may be provided at a position corresponding to the distal end side of the handle member 90. The heat seal 400 can more reliably prevent the cartridge 35 from moving in the X direction inside the packing member S1. Therefore, it is possible to protect the medium storage unit 3 located on the front end side of the handle member 90.

  The heat seal 300 may have some backlash with respect to the interval in the longitudinal direction of the handle member 90. That is, it is only necessary that the movement of the cartridge 35 can be regulated at a level at which the handle member 90 is not damaged. Therefore, it only has to act on at least one of the handle members 90. Further, the heat seal 300 may not be a single heat seal but may be two heat seals acting on the grip members 90 at both ends.

  Also, the heat seal 400 only needs to act on at least one of the handle members 90, and may be two heat seals respectively acting on the handle members 90 at both ends.

(4) Injection of medium (FIGS. 5 and 9)
Thereafter, air as a medium is injected from the inlet 11 of the medium introducing unit 5. Then, air is introduced into each medium storage unit 3 through the check valve 4. The reason why air is introduced after the cartridge 35 is inserted is to prevent the generation of static electricity between the film 1 and the film 2 when the cartridge 35 is inserted. That is, when the packaged object (cartridge 35) is placed in the packaging member introduced with air, the packaged object (cartridge 35) is adversely affected by static electricity. Further, it is because the workability of inserting the cartridge 35 is better when the air is introduced after the cartridge 35 is inserted. As shown in FIG. 9, after air is introduced after the cartridge 35 is inserted, tension is applied to the medium introducing portion 5 to try to form a flat shape. Therefore, the air present in the medium introducing portion 5 is pushed out as indicated by the arrow and discharged from the inlet 11. Although air is introduced as a medium in the present embodiment, the medium is not limited to air, and may be nitrogen gas, oxygen gas, or the like. In particular, since nitrogen gas has a large molecular weight, it is difficult to leak from a medium storage portion made of a plastic film or the like. Other media may be liquid or fluid.

(5) Sealing of the medium introduction part (heat sealing)
Next, as shown in FIG. 10, the region 48 (sealing region) on the side where the injection port 11 is provided in the longitudinal direction, that is, the region where the medium introduction unit 5 is provided is thermally welded (see FIG. 10). Heat seal). The heat-welded area is the welded portion 50. And the position of this welding part 50 is a position where the capacity | capacitance of the introduction part 5 after heat welding will be 5%-10% of the whole capacity | capacitance of the medium storage part 3 of packing member S3. The welded portion 50 extends along the direction intersecting the longitudinal direction of the medium storage portion 3 and is thermally welded (heat sealed). As will be described in detail later, the air introduced into the medium storage unit 3 is expanded by the expansion of the medium storage unit 3 when the packaging member S1 is exposed to a high-temperature, high-humidity or low-pressure environment for a long period of time. This is to prevent leakage from the packaging member S1. That is, the region 48 is thermally welded to secure a region where air is stocked even when a predetermined amount of air flows back through the check valve 4. Further, in this embodiment, the region closer to the inlet 11 than the welded portion 50 is thermally welded by the welded portion 51. This is to prevent the air further leaked at the welded portion 50 from leaking out of the packing member. The welded portion 51 also extends along the intersecting direction and is thermally welded (heat sealed).

  Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the packing member S1 in which the cartridge 35 is inserted is in a state where the corners (C1, C2, C3, C4) protrude from between C1 and C2 and between C3 and C4. . Therefore, even when the packaging member S3 falls from the corner portion, the shock absorbing performance that weakens the impact is improved.

  In the present embodiment, the cartridge 35 is inserted into the bag-shaped packaging member S1 described above, but the cartridge 35 is directly covered (covered), and then the end of the packaging member is thermally welded to store the contents. It can be sealed.

  In the present embodiment, the heat seals 300 and 400 are provided after the cartridge 35 is inserted into the packing member S1. However, if there is no hindrance to the insertion of the cartridge 35, the cartridge 35 may be inserted after the heat seals 300 and 400 are provided.

(6) Packing in packing box The packing member S1 that completely seals the cartridge 35 is inserted into the packing box 38 (FIGS. 24 and 25). Thereafter, the tags 38a and 38b are bent inward. Then, the tag 38c is bent inward, and then the tag 38d is bent, and the tag 38d is bonded to the tag 38c. At this time, 38c1 and 38c2 of the tag 38c are inserted into the cut portions 38d1 and 38d2 of the tag 38d. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 24 to FIG. 34, when the object to be packed is a cartridge 35, the cartridge 35 can be inserted from the side surface in the longitudinal direction. Conventionally, as shown in FIGS. 27 and 28, the cartridge 35 is inserted from the upper surface in the longitudinal direction. Because, as shown in FIGS. 35 and 23, the cartridge 35 is inserted into the packing bag 42, and after the side pads 39 and 40 are inserted from both sides, the cartridge 35 is fixed in the packing box 43. It is.

As described above, the configuration in which the object to be packed (cartridge 35) is inserted from the side surface in the longitudinal direction has the following advantages.
(1) Since the opening 43e is not provided on the upper surface in the longitudinal direction and the opening 38e is provided on the side surface in the longitudinal direction as in the conventional packaging box 43, the strength of the entire packaging box can be increased.
(2) As shown in FIG. 31 and FIG. 23, the packing box can be configured with a smaller material area than the conventional packing box 43. This is because, as shown in FIG. 23, the size of the tabs 38a to 38d in the present embodiment can be made smaller than the size of the conventional tabs 43b to 43d. Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 31, only three corrugated cardboard sheets B1 having a shape obtained by developing a conventional packing box 43 can be produced from the corrugated cardboard sheet B2. However, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 32, the corrugated cardboard sheet B3 having a shape in which the packing box 38 is developed can form four packing boxes from the corrugated cardboard sheet B2. Therefore, the packaging box and the product unit cost can be reduced.
(3) Also, as shown in FIGS. 33 and 34, the number of packing boxes that can be placed on the pallet B4 for transportation is conventionally 180 packing boxes 43 (FIG. 33), In the present embodiment, 203 packing boxes 38 (FIG. 34) can be placed. The first reason is that the present embodiment can be made smaller than the conventional packing box. And the 2nd reason is because the intensity | strength of the whole packaging box could be increased as described in (1).
(4) Further, the machine for manufacturing the packing box 38 can be made smaller than the machine for manufacturing the conventional packing box 43. This is because the packing box 38 can be made from a small amount of material.
(5) It is easy for the user to take out the packaged object (cartridge 35). This is because the zipper part 38f is also smaller than the zipper part 43f of the packing box 43 and there is no side pad.

  Next, the configuration of the packaging member S1 will be described.

(Media introduction unit 5)
As described above, when the packaging member S1 is exposed to a high temperature, high humidity, or low pressure environment for a long period of time, air flows back from the check valve 4 due to an increase in the internal pressure in the medium storage unit 3. In that case, since the medium introduction part 5 is not sealed in the conventional example, the air in the medium storage part 3 gradually escapes as shown in FIG. Therefore, there is a possibility that the packaged object cannot be reliably packed and the packaged object cannot be reliably protected from the impact.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, as described above, as shown in FIGS. 10, 11, and 13, the region in which the air that flows back from the check valve 4 is stocked due to the increase in the internal pressure in the medium storage unit 3 ( The medium introduction unit 5 was used as a buffer area. That is, the air that has flowed back from the medium storage unit 3 to the introduction unit 5 via the check valve 4 is sealed by sealing the medium introduction unit 5 at the welding units 50 and 51 after storing the air in the medium storage unit 5. It is possible to prevent leakage from the introduction part 5 to the outside of the packaging member S1. Therefore, even if air flows backward through the reverse support valve 4 due to an environmental change in storage of the packaging member S1, the medium does not leak out of the packaging member. Specifically, in the past, when a packing member without a buffer area was left in a severe test environment (temperature 40 ° C., humidity 95%), the initial medium storage portion had an internal pressure of 50 Kpa. The internal pressure of the storage unit becomes 0 Kpa. However, in the packaging member S1 of the present embodiment, even when left in a severe test environment (temperature 40 ° C., humidity 95%) for 60 days, the initial internal pressure in the medium storage unit 3 is reduced to 20 Kpa. It can be suppressed to the extent. Incidentally, when it is left in a normal temperature environment (temperature 23 ° C., humidity 60%), it takes 4.58 years for the internal pressure in the medium storage unit 3 to drop from 50 Kpa to 10 Kpa in simulation. Therefore, it is possible to reliably pack the packaged item and to reliably protect the packaged item from the impact.

  Further, a cut 15 is provided at the end on one end side in the direction intersecting the longitudinal direction of the medium storage unit 3 of the medium introduction unit 5 (FIG. 6). An anti-slip portion (gripping portion) 16 is provided around the notch 15 so that an operator can easily hold the packaging member when tearing the packing member from the notch. The anti-slip portion 16 is a portion where the rear end portion in the longitudinal direction of the medium storage portion 3 and the medium introduction portion 5 are brought into close contact with each other by heat welding (heat sealing). Further, the cut 15 is located outside the welded portion 12 at one end in a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction of the medium storage portion 3. Then, by tearing the packing member from the cut 15, the medium storage unit 3 is broken as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16. The air introduced into the medium storage unit 3 can be removed simultaneously with the formation of the opening 21 for taking out the cartridge 35. By removing the air introduced into the medium storage unit 3, the volume of the used packaging member can be reduced. Further, the cartridge 35 can be easily taken out from the packing member S1. As shown in FIG. 14 a, guide portions 22 and 49 that can guide the tearing shape are provided so that the opening 21 is torn along the direction intersecting the longitudinal direction of the medium storage portion 3. Incidentally, FIG. 14a is a plan view of the packaging member S1 containing the cartridge as viewed from the opposite side. The guide portion 22 is formed at a distance of 7 mm from the welded portion 19 to the inner side (the check valve 4 side), with a width of 20 mm and a predetermined interval. A guide portion 49 is also provided inside the guide portion 22 at a predetermined interval with a width of 20 mm. The guide portions 22 and 49 are also formed by heat welding. Without the welded portions 22 and 49, it is difficult to tear along the direction intersecting the longitudinal direction of the medium storage portion 3. That is, it becomes impossible to take out the object to be packed (cartridge 35), and it is difficult to remove the air that is torn along the welded part 19 and introduced into the medium storage part 3 as shown in FIG. 14c. As shown in FIG. 14 a, the guide portions 22 are provided so as to cross the welded portions 10 between the medium storage portions 3. This is to prevent the welded portion 10 from becoming a resistance when tearing the medium storage portion 3 from the notch 15 and being unable to tear in parallel with the medium introducing portion 5. Further, there are portions (non-welded portions) 34 and 35 that are not thermally welded between the guide portions 22 and 49. As shown in FIG. 14 b, even if the opening to be teared is between the welded portion 19 and the guide portion 22, the air in the medium storage portion 3 can be extracted. The guide portions 22 and 49 are formed from the state of the sheet S in FIG.

  In the present embodiment, the manufacturing method in which the plastic film 1 and the plastic film 2 are heat-welded in an overlapped state is shown. Absent.

  In the present embodiment, the medium accommodated in the packing member does not leak out of the packing member due to environmental changes or the like, and the object to be packed can be reliably packed. Moreover, the packaging member which can protect a to-be-packaged item from an impact can be manufactured. In addition, since the medium can be transported without being stored when the packing member is transported, the transport efficiency of the packing member is good. Moreover, a packaging member can be manufactured according to a to-be-packaged object.

The top view which shows the packing member of this Embodiment Sectional drawing which shows the packaging member of this Embodiment The perspective view which shows the packing method which packs a cartridge using the packing member of this Embodiment. The perspective view which shows the packing method which packs a cartridge using the packing member of this Embodiment. The top view which shows the packing method which packs a cartridge using the packing member of this Embodiment The top view which shows the packing method which packs a cartridge using the packing member of this Embodiment The perspective view which shows the packing method (cartridge insertion) which packs a cartridge using the packing member of this Embodiment The top view which shows the packing method (cartridge insertion) which packs a cartridge using the packing member of this Embodiment The perspective view which shows the packing method (after sealing) which packs a cartridge using the packing member of this Embodiment The top view which shows the packing method (after sealing) which packs a cartridge using the packing member of this Embodiment Sectional drawing which shows the state where the pressure inside a medium storage part is high The perspective view which shows the state from which air leaks out of a medium storage part The perspective view which shows the packaging member of this Embodiment a is a plan view (rear side) showing the packaging member of the present embodiment, b is a plan view (rear side) showing the tearing of the packaging member of the present embodiment from the cut portion, and c is a guide portion. Top view (back side) showing the appearance of tearing the packaging material without The perspective view which showed the state which open | releases a packing member from a notch part in this Embodiment The perspective view which showed the state which open | released the packaging member from the notch part in this Embodiment Sectional drawing which shows the cartridge of this Embodiment The perspective view which shows the cartridge of this Embodiment Schematic perspective view showing cartridge attachment to the image forming apparatus main body of the present embodiment The top view which shows the packing member of this Embodiment The top view which shows the packing member of this Embodiment The top view which shows the packing member of this Embodiment Perspective view showing a conventional packing box The perspective view which shows the packaging box of this Embodiment The perspective view which shows the packaging box of this Embodiment The perspective view which shows the packaging box of this Embodiment Perspective view showing a conventional packing box Perspective view showing a conventional packing box The top view which shows the packing member of this Embodiment Sectional drawing which shows the packaging member of this Embodiment Development view of conventional packing box Exploded view of the packaging box of this embodiment The perspective view which shows the loading state of the conventional packing box The perspective view which shows the loading state of the packaging box by this Embodiment Perspective view showing a conventional packing box

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Plastic film 2 Plastic film 3, 24, 25 Medium storage part 4, 27, 28 Check valve 5, 29 Medium introduction part 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 23, 26, 30, 31, 32, 33, 49, 50 Welding portion 11 Air inlet 15 Notch portion 16 Grip portion 18, 21 Opening 22, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42 Guide portion 34 Non-welding portion 35 Process cartridge 35a photosensitive drum 35b drum shutter 35c handle 35d cartridge frame 38, 43 packing box 44 developing blade 45 developing frame,
47, 48 coupling holes 49 pins,
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 50 Cleaner unit 51 Cleaning frame body 52,53 Support hole 54 Pressure spring 55 Waste toner chamber 60 Cleaning blade 90 Handle 100 Image forming apparatus main body 101 Front door 202 Charging device 204 Developing unit 205 Electrostatic transfer means 240 Developing sleeve, 241: Toner container 242 Toner feeding mechanism 243 Toner supply roller S1 Packing member S Packing member (roll shape)
K1 Scissors K2 Core metal B1, B2, B3 Corrugated cardboard sheet B4 Pallet 300, 400 Heat seal

Claims (7)

In a process cartridge that is packed in a packing member and detachable from the electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body,
A photosensitive drum;
A cartridge frame for supporting the photosensitive drum;
A first handle member that is gripped when the process cartridge is mounted on the apparatus main body, the first handle member provided projecting from the cartridge frame on one end side in the longitudinal direction of the process cartridge; ,
A second handle member that is gripped when the process cartridge is mounted on the apparatus main body, and is provided on the other end side in the longitudinal direction of the process cartridge so as to protrude from the cartridge frame. When,
Have
The packing member is formed of a flexible sheet, and is formed by applying a heat to the medium storage unit that stores the medium, and the first handle member and the second member in the longitudinal direction. A heat seal provided at a position corresponding to the grip member, and the process cartridge for the packing member by acting on at least one of the first handle member and the second handle member And a heat seal that regulates the movement of the process cartridge. In a process cartridge that is packed in a packing member and detachable from the electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body,
A photosensitive drum;
A cartridge frame for supporting the photosensitive drum;
A first handle member that is gripped when the process cartridge is mounted on the apparatus main body, the first handle member provided projecting from the cartridge frame on one end side in the longitudinal direction of the process cartridge; ,
A second handle member that is gripped when the process cartridge is mounted on the apparatus main body, and is provided on the other end side in the longitudinal direction of the process cartridge so as to protrude from the cartridge frame. When,
Have
The packing member is formed of a flexible sheet, and includes a medium storage portion that stores a medium, and the first handle member that is formed by applying heat to the sheet and intersects the longitudinal direction. A heat seal provided at a position corresponding to a tip side of at least one of the second handle member and acting on at least one of the first handle member and the second handle member. And a heat seal that regulates movement of the process cartridge relative to the packing member.   The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the heat seal also acts on the cartridge frame. It said medium accommodating portion, the process cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that along said longitudinal direction are provided side by side a plurality. Wherein said first handle member and the second handle member, the process cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that protrudes in a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction. A process cartridge that can be attached to and detached from an electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body, and includes a photosensitive drum, a cartridge frame that supports the photosensitive drum, and a first grip that is held when the process cartridge is attached to the apparatus main body. A first handle member that protrudes from the cartridge frame on one end side in the longitudinal direction of the process cartridge, and a second grip member that is gripped when the process cartridge is mounted on the apparatus main body. And a second handle member provided so as to protrude from the cartridge frame at the other end side in the longitudinal direction of the process cartridge. The process using a packaging member composed of a flexible sheet having a medium storage portion capable of A packing method for packing the cartridges,
Inserting the process cartridge into the packing member;
After the inserting step, a heat seal that acts on at least one of the first handle member and the second handle member to regulate the movement of the process cartridge relative to the packing member is applied to the sheet. A heat seal forming step of forming heat at a position corresponding to between the first handle member and the second handle member in the longitudinal direction by applying heat ;
After about said Hitoshi Le forming Engineering, implanting the medium to the medium accommodating portion,
Packing method for packing a process cartridge having A process cartridge that can be attached to and detached from an electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body, and includes a photosensitive drum, a cartridge frame that supports the photosensitive drum, and a first grip that is held when the process cartridge is attached to the apparatus main body. A first handle member that protrudes from the cartridge frame on one end side in the longitudinal direction of the process cartridge, and a second grip member that is gripped when the process cartridge is mounted on the apparatus main body. And a second handle member provided so as to protrude from the cartridge frame at the other end side in the longitudinal direction of the process cartridge. The process using a packaging member composed of a flexible sheet having a medium storage portion capable of A packing method for packing the cartridges,
Inserting the process cartridge into the packing member;
After the inserting step, a heat seal that acts on at least one of the first handle member and the second handle member to regulate the movement of the process cartridge relative to the packing member is applied to the sheet. A heat seal forming step of forming heat at a position corresponding to the tip side of at least one of the first handle member and the second handle member in a direction crossing the longitudinal direction by applying heat;
A step of injecting the medium into the medium storage unit after the heat seal forming step;
Packing method for packing a process cartridge having

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