JP4877501B2 - Developer cartridge - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a developer cartridge .

  This type of image forming apparatus, image forming unit, image forming unit manufacturing method, and image forming unit manufacturing method is a first technique for filling a storage chamber in which a developer is stored. There is known a technique of sealing a second opening for discharging the developer from the waste developer chamber from which the developer and the waste developer are collected with a sealing member (Patent Document 1).

JP-A-5-165326

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a developer cartridge that can shorten the time required for production and reproduction and can simplify the production and reproduction processes as compared with the conventional one.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a first casing in which a storage chamber in which a developer is stored is provided, and a first opening for filling the storage chamber with the developer is formed. A second housing in which a recovery chamber for recovering the waste developer is provided, a second opening for discharging the waste developer from the recovery chamber is formed, and the first housing; The first casing and the second casing are fixed, and the first opening and the second opening are sealed, and the first casing and the second casing are fixed. And a sealing member.

The present invention according to claim 2, wherein the first housing, according to claim 1, wherein the notch to assist in the removal from the first housing of the sealing member is formed Developer cartridge.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the first opening is formed on a surface of the first housing having the same orientation as a surface on which the second opening of the second housing is formed. 3. The developer cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the developer cartridge is formed.

The present invention according to claim 4 is the developer cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the sealing member has flexibility.

The present invention according to claim 5, wherein the first housing, according to claim 1 to 4, wherein any one, characterized in that the supply opening for supplying the developer is formed from the accommodating chamber Developer cartridge.

The present invention according to claim 6, wherein the second housing, any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the collecting opening for collecting the waste developer to the recovery chamber is formed The developer cartridge described.

The present invention according to claim 7, further comprising a seal member for sealing the recovery opening, the developer cartridge according to claim 6, wherein the seal member is characterized by being attached to the sealing member It is.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a developer cartridge capable of shortening the time required for production and reproduction, and capable of simplifying the production and reproduction processes as compared with the conventional one.

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows an image forming apparatus 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus 10 includes an image forming apparatus main body 12, an image forming unit 14 in the image forming apparatus main body 12, a sheet supply device 54 that supplies a sheet used as a transfer material to the image forming unit 14, A power supply unit 16 is provided. Further, a sheet discharge unit 15 for discharging a sheet on which an image has been formed is provided on the upper part of the image forming apparatus main body 12.

  The image forming unit 14 is an electrophotographic system that forms a color image, and an image forming unit 18Y that forms a yellow image using a yellow developer and an image formation that forms a magenta image using a magenta developer. The image forming unit 18M includes an image forming unit 18C that forms a cyan image using a cyan developer, and an image forming unit 18B that forms a black image using a black developer. These image forming units are arranged in the order of the image forming unit 18Y, the image forming unit 18M, the image forming unit 18C, and the image forming unit 18B in this order from the lower side in the gravity direction, which is upstream in the sheet conveying direction, along the conveying belt 46 described later. Has been.

  Since the image forming units 18Y, 18M, 18C, and 18B have the same configuration although the colors of the images to be formed are different, the configuration of the image forming unit 18 will be described below. The image forming unit 18 includes a photosensitive member 22 used as an image carrier, a charging roll that uniformly charges the photosensitive member 22, a charging device 24 used as a charging unit, and a latent image on the photosensitive member 22 by light. An optical writing device 26 used as a latent image writing means for writing, a developing device 28 for developing the latent image written on the photosensitive member 22 with a developer to form a developer image used as a visible image, and a photosensitive member A transfer roll 50 for transferring the formed developer image to the sheet, and a cleaning device 30 used as a developer removing means for removing the developer image remaining on the surface of the photoconductor 22 after the transfer by the transfer roll. Each has. The optical writing device 26 comprises a laser exposure device, and emits a laser beam to write an electrostatic latent image on each photoconductor 22.

  Among the members of the image forming unit 18, the photosensitive member 22, the charging device 24, the developing device 28, and the cleaning device 30 are integrated as a process cartridge 32 used as an image forming unit, and are detachably attached to the image forming apparatus main body 12. Has been.

  The transfer rolls 50Y, 50M, 50C, and 50B are integrated with other members as a transfer unit 42, and can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body 12. The transfer unit 42 includes two support rolls 44a and 44b, a conveyance belt 46 that conveys the sheet, and an adsorption roll 48, in addition to the transfer rolls 50Y, 50M, 50C, and 50B. The support roll 44a is used as a drive roll for driving the conveyor belt 46, and is connected to a drive source (not shown) made of, for example, a motor. The adsorption roll 48 is used as an electrostatic adsorption unit that charges the sheet to the conveyance belt 46 in an electric charge.

  The developer images formed on the photoreceptors 22Y, 22M, 22C, and 22B are transferred onto the sheet being conveyed by the conveyance belt 46 by the respective transfer rolls 50Y, 50M, 50C, and 50B, and yellow, A full color developer image in which magenta, cyan and black developer images are superimposed is formed.

  In addition, a fixing device 52 that fixes the developer image transferred to the sheet to the sheet is provided in the upper part of the image forming apparatus main body 12. The fixing device 52 includes a heating roll 52a and a pressure roll 52b, and overheats and pressurizes the sheet passing between the heating roll 52a and the pressure roll 52b, thereby fixing the developer image on the sheet. It has become.

  The image forming apparatus main body 12 is provided with a conveyance path 60 that conveys the sheet supplied from the sheet supply apparatus 54 to the sheet discharge unit 15, and along the conveyance path 60, upstream in the sheet conveyance direction. The resist roll pair 62, the transfer unit 42, the fixing device 52, and the discharge roll 40 are arranged in this order. The discharge roll 40 discharges the sheet conveyed from the fixing device 52 to the sheet discharge unit 15.

  In the vicinity of the process cartridge 32, a toner cartridge 34 used as an image forming unit is provided. The toner cartridge 34 supplies a developer (toner) to the developing device 28 via a developer supply path 35 made of, for example, a pipe and the cleaning device 30 via a waste developer collecting path 37 made of, for example, a pipe. The waste developer removed from the surface of the photosensitive member 22 is recovered. The toner cartridge 34 is detachable from the image forming apparatus main body 12 independently of the process cartridge 32. Note that the toner cartridge 34 and the process cartridge 32 may be configured as a single unit, and may be detachable from the image forming apparatus main body 12 as a single unit.

  2 to 4 show the toner cartridge 34 according to the first embodiment. The toner cartridge 34 has a cartridge main body 70 used as an image forming unit main body, and is provided with a storage chamber 72 in which a developer is stored and a collection chamber 74 in which waste developer is recovered. Yes. The cartridge body 70 has, for example, an upward surface 71, which is used as a first opening. For example, a filling opening 76 used to fill the storage chamber 72 with a developer in a manufacturing stage or a regeneration stage. Is formed.

  Further, the upward surface 71 of the cartridge main body 70 is used as a second opening. For example, a discharge opening 78 used for discharging the waste developer collected in the collection chamber 74 in the regeneration stage is provided. Is formed. As described above, the filling opening 76 and the discharge opening 78 are formed on the surface 71 which is the same surface. Here, the regeneration stage means that, for example, a producer, a seller, etc. collects the toner cartridge 34 in which the stored developer has been used up, and, for example, fills the collected toner cartridge 34 with a new developer. This means that the toner cartridge 34 can be reused.

  A seal film 80 used as a sealing member is attached to the upward surface 71 of the cartridge body 70. The seal film 80 is flexible and is made of, for example, a resin or the like, and it is desirable to use a transparent member. The seal film 80 is attached to the upward surface 71 of the cartridge body 70 so as to cover at least both the filling opening 76 and the discharge opening 78. For this reason, the filling opening 76 and the discharge opening 78 are sealed by the seal film 80, so that the developer spills from the storage chamber 72 and the waste developer spills from the collection chamber 74. Is prevented.

  A notch 84 is formed on the upward surface 71 of the cartridge body 70 to assist the removal of the seal film 80 from the cartridge body 70. The notch 84 is formed across the region of the surface 71 where the seal film 80 is attached and the region where the seal film 80 is not attached. The notch 84 is not a through-hole, but is formed with a depth shallower than the thickness of the cartridge body 70. The notch 84 is formed so as to have a width capable of inserting a tool for removing a seal film having a rod shape, for example. Therefore, the sealing film 80 can be easily peeled from the cartridge body 70 by inserting a tool between the cartridge body 70 and the sealing film 80 via the notch 84. The notch 84 may be formed between the cartridge body 70 and the seal film 80 to a depth and width that allow an operator's finger to be inserted.

  The cartridge main body 70 has a supply opening 86 used for supplying the developer stored in the storage chamber 72 to the developing device 28 (see FIG. 1). The developer stored in the storage chamber 72 is supplied to the developing device 28 via the supply opening 86 and the developer supply path 35 (see FIG. 1).

  The cartridge body 70 is formed with a collection opening 88 used for collecting waste toner from the cleaning device 30 (see FIG. 1) in the collection chamber 74. The waste developer is recovered from the cleaning device 30 to the recovery chamber 74 via the recovery opening 88 and the waste developer recovery path 37.

  A plate-like member 90 used as a stirring means for stirring the developer in the storage chamber 72 and used as a transport means for transporting the developer in the storage chamber 72 to the supply opening 86 is provided in the storage chamber 72. Is provided. The plate-like member 90 is made of, for example, a flexible resin, and is attached to the shaft 92. The plate-like member 90 is rotated in the accommodation chamber 72 upon receiving drive transmission from the shaft 92.

  The shaft 92 is rotatably supported by both wall portions in the longitudinal direction of the cartridge main body 70, and one end portion of the shaft 92 protrudes from the cartridge main body 70. A gear 96 used as a drive transmission member is attached to a portion of the shaft 92 protruding from the cartridge main body 70. When the toner cartridge 34 is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body 12 (see FIG. 1), the gear 96 is connected to a drive gear (not shown) provided on the image forming apparatus main body 12 side.

  To manufacture the toner cartridge 34 configured as described above, the developer is filled into the storage chamber 72 via the filling opening 76. Then, a seal film 80 is attached to the upward surface 71 of the cartridge body 70 so as to cover at least the filling opening 76 and the discharge opening 78. By attaching the sealing film 80, the filling opening 76 and the collection opening 88 are sealed.

  In order to regenerate the toner cartridge 34 configured as described above, the seal film 80 is removed from the used toner cartridge 34. The sealing film 80 can be removed relatively easily by inserting a tool for removing the sealing film having a bar shape into the notch 84, for example. After the seal film 80 is removed, the waste developer collected in the collection chamber 74 is discharged through the discharge opening 78, and the storage chamber 72 is filled with the developer through the filling opening 76. After discharging the waste developer and filling the developer, for example, a new seal film 80 is prepared, and this seal film 80 is provided on the upward surface 71 of the cartridge body 70 at least with the filling opening 76 and the discharge opening. It adheres so that the part 78 may be covered. By attaching the sealing film 80, the filling opening 76 and the collection opening 88 are sealed.

  If the developer remains in the storage chamber 72 at the time when the toner cartridge is collected, before the storage chamber 72 is filled with the developer, the residual developer is removed through, for example, the filling opening 76. It is desirable to discharge. In addition, it is desirable that after the waste developer is removed from the collection chamber 74 via the discharge opening 78, the developer is filled into the storage chamber 72 via the filling opening 76.

  5 and 6 show a second embodiment of the toner cartridge 34. FIG. Compared to the first embodiment described above, in the first embodiment, the collection opening 88 is formed in the cartridge body 70 so as to be adjacent to the supply opening 86, whereas this second embodiment is different from the second embodiment. In this embodiment, the collection opening 88 is formed on one side wall in the longitudinal direction of the cartridge body 70. Further, in the first embodiment, the seal film 80 is attached to the upward surface 71 of the cartridge main body 70, whereas in the second embodiment, the seal film 80 is upward of the cartridge main body 70. Is attached so as to straddle one outer surface 97 in the longitudinal direction. The seal film 80 is attached to the cartridge body 70 so as to cover the collection opening 88 as well as the filling opening 76 and the discharge opening 78. A through hole is formed in a portion of the seal film 80 that covers the recovery opening 88.

  A seal member 98 made of an elastic material such as sponge is provided at a portion of the seal film 80 that covers the collection opening 88. A plurality of cuts 100 are formed in the seal member 98 so as to intersect, for example, and the inside and the outside of the collection chamber 74 are connected by the cuts 100 and through-holes formed in the seal film 80. It has become. A waste developer recovery path 37 (see FIG. 1) made of, for example, a pipe member or the like is inserted into the notch 100 of the seal member 98. By providing the seal member 98, the joint portion between the waste developer collection path 37 and the collection chamber 74 can be satisfactorily sealed, and the waste developer can be prevented from leaking from the joint portion. In addition, about the same part as 1st Embodiment, the same number is attached | subjected to FIG.5 and FIG.6, and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  To manufacture the toner cartridge 34 configured as described above, the developer is filled into the storage chamber 72 via the filling opening 76. Then, a seal film 80 having a seal member 98 attached at a predetermined position is prepared, and the seal film 80 is placed on the cartridge main body so as to cover at least the filling opening 76, the discharge opening 78, and the collection opening 88. Adhere to 70. Moreover, if a convex part (not shown) is provided around the opening part, the sealing film 80 is brought into close contact with the sealing part and the sealing property is improved. Further, if the sealing film 80 is made transparent, the color of the filled developer can be easily seen from the outside.

  In order to regenerate the toner cartridge 34 configured as described above, the seal film 80 is removed from the used toner cartridge 34. By removing the seal film 80, the seal member 98 attached to the seal film 80 is also removed from the cartridge body 70. After the seal film 80 is removed, the waste developer collected in the collection chamber 74 is discharged through the discharge opening 78, and the storage chamber 72 is filled with the developer through the filling opening 76. Then, a new seal film 80 to which a seal member 98 is attached is prepared, and this seal film 80 is attached to the cartridge body 70 so as to cover at least the filling opening 76, the discharge opening 78, and the collection opening 88. paste. When the seal film 80 is attached to the cartridge body 70, the sticking position is adjusted so that the seal member 98 is positioned at the collection opening 88.

Specifically, a positioning boss (not shown) is provided around the collection opening 88, and a positioning hole (not shown) is fitted into the seal film 80 so that the seal member 98 is positioned at the collection opening 88. The pasting position is adjusted so that Further, at least two positioning bosses are provided, and when the positioning holes are fitted, the posture of the seal film 80 is uniquely determined, and is attached when the cartridge body 70 is pasted so as to cover the collection opening 88. The position will not be shifted.

  Alternatively, the release paper is divided into a portion facing the filling opening 76 of the seal film 80 and a portion facing the discharge opening 78, and first, the portion of the release paper facing the discharge opening 78 is peeled off. Then, it is pasted so as to cover the discharge opening 78, and then the developer is filled into the storage chamber 72 through the filling opening 76, and the part of the release paper facing the filling opening 76 is peeled off. Alternatively, it may be attached so as to cover the filling opening 76. Then, since the discharge opening 78 is sealed at the time of filling, it is possible to prevent the filled developer from entering the collection chamber 74 by mistake.

  FIG. 7 shows a third embodiment of the toner cartridge 34. In the first and second embodiments described above, the cartridge main body 70 is composed of a single housing, but in this third embodiment, the toner cartridge 34 is a housing-side housing 102 used as the first housing. And a recovery side housing 104 used as the second housing. The housing side housing 102 is provided with a housing chamber 72 for housing the developer, and is formed with a filling opening 76. The collection side housing 104 is provided with a collection chamber 74 for collecting waste developer, and a discharge opening 78 is formed.

  The housing-side housing 102 and the collection-side housing 104 are integrally configured in a state where a part of the housing-side housing 102 is fitted inside the collection-side housing 104. Further, a seal film 80 is attached so as to span the upward surface 106 of the housing-side housing 102 and the upward surface 108 of the collection-side housing 104. The seal film 80 fixes the storage-side housing 102 and the recovery-side housing 104 and seals the filling opening 76 and the discharge opening 78. Further, the seal film 80 seals the collection opening 88 (see FIG. 6), and a seal member 98 is attached at a position covering the collection opening 88. In addition, about the same structure as 1st or 2nd embodiment, the same number is attached | subjected to FIG. 7, and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In order to manufacture the toner cartridge 34 configured as described above, for example, in a state where the storage housing 102 and the recovery housing 104 are integrated, the developer is supplied to the storage chamber 72 through the filling opening 76. Fill. And the sealing film 80 with which the sealing member 98 was attached to the predetermined position is prepared. Then, the sealing-side casing 102 and the recovery-side casing 104 are fixed to the storage-side casing 102 and the recovery-side casing 104 so that the filling-side opening 76 and the discharge-side opening 78 are sealed. Paste so that it spans across.

  In order to regenerate the toner cartridge 34 configured as described above, the container housing 102 and the recovery housing 104 are fixed from the used toner cartridge 34, and the filling opening 76 and the discharge opening 78 are fixed. The sealing film in a state of sealing is removed. After the seal film 80 is removed, the waste developer collected in the collection chamber 74 is discharged through the discharge opening 78, and the storage chamber 72 is filled with the developer through the filling opening 76. Then, a new seal film 80 to which the seal member 98 is attached is prepared, and the housing side housing 102 and the recovery side housing are covered with the seal film 80 so as to cover at least the filling opening 76 and the discharge opening 78. 104 so as to straddle 104.

  As described above, the present invention is applied to, for example, an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, and a printer, and an image forming unit, an image forming unit manufacturing method, and an image forming unit reproducing method mainly used for these. can do.

1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a first perspective view showing an image forming unit according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a 2nd perspective view which shows the image forming unit which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 6 is a third perspective view showing a cross section of the image forming unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a first perspective view showing an image forming unit according to a second embodiment of the present invention. It is a 2nd perspective view which shows the image forming unit which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the cross section of the image forming unit which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image forming apparatus 12 Image forming apparatus main body 14 Image forming part 22B, 22Y, 22C, 22M Photoconductor 28 Developing device 30 Cleaning device 32 Process cartridge 34 Toner cartridge 35 Developer supply path 37 Waste developer collection path 70 Cartridge main body 72 Chamber 74 Collection chamber 76 Filling opening 78 Discharge opening 80 Seal film 84 Notch 86 Supply opening 88 Collection opening 98 Seal member 102 Accommodating side casing 104 Recovery side casing

Claims (7)

A first housing in which a housing chamber in which a developer is housed is provided, and a first opening for filling the housing chamber with the developer is formed;
A second housing in which a recovery chamber for recovering the waste developer is provided, and a second opening for discharging the waste developer from the recovery chamber is formed;
The first casing and the second casing are provided across the first casing and the second casing. The first casing and the second casing are fixed, and the first opening and the second casing are fixed . A sealing member for sealing the opening of
A developer cartridge comprising: The first to the housing, wherein the first developer cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the notch to aid in the removal of the casing is formed of the sealing member. The first opening is formed on a surface of the first housing that has the same orientation as the surface of the second housing on which the second opening is formed. claim 1 or 2 developer cartridge according. The sealing member according to claim 1 or 3 developer cartridge according to any one characterized by having a flexibility. The first to the housing, according to claim 1 or 4 developer cartridge according to any one, characterized in that the supply opening for supplying is formed a developer from the storage chamber. The second to the housing, according to claim 1 or 5 developer cartridge according to any one, characterized in that the collecting opening for collecting the waste developer to the recovery chamber is formed. The developer cartridge according to claim 6 , further comprising a seal member that seals the collection opening, and the seal member is attached to the seal member.

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