JP4921157B2 - Resin molding composite, method for manufacturing the resin molding composite, cartridge, and method for manufacturing the cartridge - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a resin-molded composite that constitutes a cartridge that can be attached to and detached from an electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body that employs an electrophotographic image forming system such as a laser printer or a copying machine, and a method for manufacturing the same. Specifically, the present invention relates to a resin molding composite in which resin moldings having low compatibility with each other are separably engaged using laser light irradiation and a method for manufacturing the same.

  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, etc.), a facsimile machine, a word processor, and the like.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic image forming process, an electrophotographic photosensitive member and a cartridge in which process means and a developing device acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrated can be attached to and detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus. The process cartridge method is adopted. According to this process cartridge system, the apparatus can be maintained by the user himself / herself without depending on the service person, and the operability can be remarkably improved, so that it is widely used in image forming apparatuses.

  In such a process cartridge, a developer container (toner container) containing a developer (toner) and a developer container holding a developer carrier (developing roller), a developer regulating member (developing blade), and the like are joined. Has been. Then, a toner container is proposed in which an opening serving as a toner supply section to the developing container is sealed with a seal member (toner seal) so that the toner does not flow into the developing container until the start of use. ing. The user pulls the seal handle (pull tab) provided on the process cartridge at the start of use, removes the toner seal fixed to the seal handle, and then attaches the process cartridge to the image forming apparatus main body. The seal handle is separably engaged with the toner container, the developing container, the bearing member, or the side cover of the process cartridge so that the seal handle does not easily fall off due to vibration or impact during transportation. .

As such a seal handle, a toner container, a developing container, a bearing member, or a side cover, which is made of a material having a low compatibility with each other, is integrally molded so as to be separable by using a two-color molding method. (Patent Document 1).
JP 2003-241495 A

Incidentally, the two-color molding method in which two resin molded bodies are separably engaged as described in Patent Document 1 is a method of giving a fastening force by molding shrinkage of resin, and has the following problems. .
(1) Since the flow path of the resin to be injected later needs to be formed by moving a die piece that forms a part of the resin molded body to be molded first, the shape of the engaging portion is limited.
(2) The fastening force (stress) may be relaxed and separated due to a change in environmental temperature. As a countermeasure, when an undercut portion (a portion having a shape that does not come off) is formed in the engaging portion, the direction in which the mold is removed is determined, so that the shape of the engaging portion can be further restricted.
(3) Since the mold configuration and the resin injection channel are complicated, the mold cost is increased.
(4) A molding machine dedicated to two-color molding is required.

On the other hand, as a method of detachably engaging the two resin molded bodies, a method of providing a mechanical undercut such as snap fit or thermal caulking can be considered, but there are the following problems. (1) In a snap fit, when a material having a high elastic modulus (glass or the like) is used, the material itself is not deformed, which may cause deformation and breakage of the engaging portion.
(2) In the snap fit and heat caulking, since it is necessary to form an uneven portion in consideration of the direction of mold release, there is a restriction on the mold configuration.
(3) In heat caulking, since it is necessary to melt and cool the resin together, it takes time to engage, and assembly costs are required.

  Therefore, the object of the present invention is to reduce the product design constraints, mold constraints, and manufacturing equipment (molding machine) constraints and reduce the manufacturing cost when two resin molded bodies are separably engaged. Furthermore, the appearance of the obtained resin-molded composite and cartridge is not impaired.

  The above object is achieved by the present invention described below.

That is, the invention according to the present application is
In the resin molded composite in which the first resin molded body and the second resin molded body are separably engaged,
The first resin molded body is formed by molding a first resin that is transparent to laser light,
The second resin molded body is obtained by molding a second resin that absorbs laser light,
The second resin molded body is formed by a method in which the first resin molded body and the second resin molded body are arranged close to or in contact with each other and irradiated with laser light from the first resin molded body side. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus having a resin molded composite, wherein the first resin molded body and the second resin molded body are separably engaged with each other by a protrusion of the resin molded body A cartridge to be mounted.
The invention according to the present application is a method of manufacturing the above cartridge,
A method of manufacturing a cartridge, wherein the first resin molded body and the second resin molded body are arranged in a state of being in close proximity or in contact with each other, and laser light is irradiated from the first resin molded body side. is there.

  According to the present invention, there are few restrictions on product design, restrictions on molds, and restrictions on manufacturing equipment (molding machine), the manufacturing cost can be reduced, and the appearance of the obtained resin molding composite and cartridge is impaired. Without being able to engage the two resin moldings in a separable manner.

<Resin molding composite and its manufacturing method>
In the resin molded composite of the present invention, the first resin molded body and the second resin molded body are engaged with each other in a separable manner. As the first resin molded body, one obtained by molding a first resin that is transmissive to laser light is selected, and as the second resin molded body, the second resin molded body absorbs laser light. Select a molded resin. And it arrange | positions in the state which adjoined or contact | abutted the 1st resin molding and the 2nd resin molding, and irradiates a laser beam from the 1st resin molding side. By doing so, the laser light irradiation part of the second resin molded body is heated and melted or thermally expanded to become a protrusion, and the first resin molded body and the second resin molded body can be separated by the protrusion. Combined.

  An example of such a resin molded composite is shown in FIG. In the resin molded composite of FIG. 1A, a first resin molded body 115 and a second resin molded body 111 are engaged with each other by an engaging portion 111k2. The first resin molded body 115 is transmissive to laser light, and the second resin molded body 111 is absorbent to laser light. And the engaging part 111k2 is formed by irradiating a laser beam to the laser irradiation part 115b on the surface of the 1st resin molding.

  The arrangement of the first resin molded body and the second resin molded body only needs to be close or in contact with each other at least partially, for example, the other resin molded body on one surface of one resin molded body Can be arranged. Moreover, it can also arrange | position so that one resin molded object may be fitted by the other resin molded object. Furthermore, it can also arrange | position so that each of both resin moldings may mutually be fitted by the other.

  In the resin molded composite of FIG. 1, the second resin molded body 111 is fitted to the first resin molded body 115. By arranging in this way and irradiating a laser from the laser irradiation portion 115b of the first resin molded body 115 to form the engaging portion 111k2 on the second resin molded body, both resin molded bodies are It becomes possible to rotate in the arrow direction around the engaging portion 111k2. The resin molded composite can be easily separated by pulling the first resin molded body 115 and the second resin molded body 111 in the shearing direction of the engaging portion 111k2.

  When the first resin molded body and the second resin molded body are arranged close to each other, the interval is 0.3 mm or less (that is, the first resin molded body and the second resin molded body Are preferably arranged in close proximity with an interval of up to 0.3 mm. By arranging in this way, when the laser light irradiation part of the second resin molded body is heated and melted or thermally expanded, the interval can be easily filled, and the engaging part can be easily formed. . In addition, even if it arrange | positions in the state which the 1st resin molding and the 2nd resin molding contact | abutted, the same effect is acquired.

  As a laser beam to be used, a laser beam having a wavelength of 800 to 1200 nm which is a near infrared region is preferable from the viewpoint of heating and melting the second resin molded body. For example, a semiconductor laser with a wavelength of 960 nm can be used.

  As the first resin that forms the first resin molded body, a resin that is transparent to laser light can be used as appropriate. For example, polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polycarbonate (PC), polyoxymethylene (POM), polyamide (PA), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) and the like can be used. Of these, polypropylene (PP) is preferred because of its good hinge characteristics (repeatability). The first resin may contain a colorant that transmits laser light. The first resin molded body preferably has a thickness of 0.5 to 2.5 mm.

  Note that the resin that is transparent to laser light means a resin having a transmittance of 20% or more when irradiated with laser light.

  As the second resin that forms the second resin molded body, a resin that absorbs laser light can be appropriately used. For example, polystyrene (PS), high impact polystyrene (HIPS), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer (ABS), etc. can be used. Among them, high impact polystyrene (HIPS) is preferable because of high impact resistance. The second resin may contain a flame retardant and the like. The second resin molded body preferably has a thickness of 0.8 to 2.5 mm.

  The resin that absorbs laser light means a resin having a transmittance of 5% or less when irradiated with laser light.

  The size of the protrusion formed on the second resin molded body can be appropriately set so as to exhibit a desired engagement force and separability. The diameter of the protrusion can be adjusted by the spot diameter of the laser beam. The height of the protrusion can be adjusted by the energy density of the irradiated laser beam. Note that the energy density of the irradiated laser beam and the amount of protrusion of the protrusion tend to be as shown in the graph of FIG. 1B, so it is possible to adjust the size of the protrusion by creating a graph in advance. it can. For example, a protrusion having a diameter of 0.5 to 3 mm and a height of 0.05 to 0.3 mm can be formed.

The irradiation condition of the laser beam is set as appropriate so that a desired protrusion can be formed on the second resin molded body. For example, the energy density of laser light can be 0.05 to 1.2 J / mm ² , and the output of laser light can be 5 to 20 W.

  The first resin molded body and the second resin molded body may have low compatibility. That is, when the compatibility between the first resin molded body and the second resin molded body is small, it is generally difficult to detachably engage the two, but according to this method, it is possible to separate them satisfactorily. Can be engaged. Here, “small compatibility” means that the difference in solubility parameter (SP value) between the first resin and the second resin is 0.2 or more. The SP value is the square root of the cohesive energy density of molecules, and represents the magnitude of the force (intermolecular force) at which the molecules aggregate. The SP value of the resin used in the present invention was calculated using the Small formula.

  The first resin preferably has a molding temperature lower than that of the second resin. By doing so, the part of the first resin molded body that comes into contact with the protrusion formed on the second resin molded body is melted by heat, resulting in stronger engagement. For example, a resin having a molding temperature of 180 to 190 ° C. is selected as the first resin, and a resin having a molding temperature of 200 to 250 ° C. is selected as the second resin. Since the molding temperature is usually set at the melting temperature or higher, the first resin preferably has a melting temperature lower than the melting temperature of the second resin. For example, a resin having a melting temperature of 180 to 190 ° C. is selected as the first resin, and a resin having a melting temperature of 200 to 210 ° C. is selected as the second resin.

  It is preferable that the engaging part of the obtained resin-molded composite can be separated by applying a force of 1 to 5N in a direction perpendicular to the protrusion. This force can be freely determined to some extent by adjusting the area and depth of the engaging portion by adjusting the energy density and range of the laser beam.

  The resin molded composite as described above can be used for, for example, a cartridge mounted on an electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

<Cartridge and manufacturing method thereof>
The cartridge of the present invention is detachable from the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and examples thereof include a process cartridge in which an image carrier and process means acting on the image carrier are integrated. As the process means, there are provided a charging means for charging the surface of the image carrier, a developing device for forming a toner image on the image carrier, a cleaning means for removing the toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier, and the like.

  The cartridge of the present invention has a resin molded composite in which a first resin molded body and a second resin molded body are separably engaged, and the resin molded composite described above is used as the resin molded composite. Use complex. As a preferred embodiment, there is provided a developer storage frame body that stores the developer formed of the second resin molded body, and a developer supply opening of the developer storage frame body that is formed of the first resin molded body. And a handle for pulling out a sealing member that is sealed. However, the cartridge of the present invention is not limited to the process cartridge, and can be applied to a system (toner cartridge) in which only the developer (toner) is supplied to the image forming apparatus.

  Hereinafter, a process cartridge as an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 2 is a perspective view showing the schematic configuration of the process cartridge according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the schematic configuration of the process cartridge according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a laser beam printer (hereinafter referred to as an image forming apparatus) which is an electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

[Configuration of image forming apparatus equipped with process cartridge]
As shown in FIG. 4, in this image forming apparatus A, a photosensitive drum which is an image carrier that is preliminarily charged by the charging unit 8 by irradiating a laser beam image based on image information from the optical system 1. A latent image is formed at 7. The optical system 1 includes a laser diode 1a, a polygon mirror 1b, a lens 1c, and a reflection mirror 1d. Then, the latent image is developed by a developer (hereinafter referred to as toner) supplied from the developing roller 9c of the developing unit 9 to form a toner image. On the other hand, in synchronization with the formation of the toner image, the recording material 2 includes a paper feed cassette 3a, a pickup roller 3b, a feeding roller pair (conveying roller pair) 3c, a conveying roller pair 3d, a registration roller pair 3e, and the like. It is transported by the transport means 3. The toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 7 is transferred to the recording material 2 by applying a voltage to a transfer roller 4 as a transfer unit. The recording material 2 to which the toner image has been transferred is guided by a guide plate (conveyance guide) 3 f and conveyed to the fixing unit 5.

  The fixing unit 5 includes a driving roller 5c and a fixing roller 5b including a heater 5a. The fixing unit 5 applies heat and pressure to the passing recording medium 2 (recording material) to fix the toner image on the recording material 2. The recording material 2 on which the toner image is fixed is conveyed by the discharge roller pairs 3g, 3h, and 3i, and is discharged to the discharge portion (discharge tray) 6 through the reverse conveyance path 3j. The image forming apparatus A can discharge paper to the side of the image forming apparatus main body 14 with the flapper 3k and the discharge roller pair 3m.

[Configuration of process cartridge]
The process cartridge B includes an image carrier 7 and process means acting on the image carrier 7. The process means includes a charging means 8 for charging the surface of the image carrier 7, a developing device 9 for forming a toner image on the image carrier 7, and a cleaning means 10 for removing the toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier 7. Have.

  In the process cartridge B, the photosensitive drum 7 serving as an image carrier rotates, and the surface thereof is uniformly charged by a charging means (charging roller) 8. The optical image from the optical system 1 is exposed to the photosensitive drum 7 through the exposure opening 1e to form a latent image. Then, a toner image corresponding to the latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 7 by the uniform toner layer formed on the developing roller 9c by the toner feeding member 9b and the developing blade 9d which is a toner regulating member of the developing unit 9. And visualized. After the toner image is transferred to the recording material 2 by the transfer roller 4, the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 7 is removed by the cleaning unit 10.

  The cleaning means 10 scrapes off the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 7 by an elastic cleaning blade 10a disposed so as to be in contact with the photosensitive drum 7, and stores it in the waste toner reservoir 10b.

  The process cartridge B includes a toner frame (developer storage frame) 11 having a toner reservoir and the like, a developing frame 12 having a developing roller 9c and the like, and a cleaning frame having a photosensitive drum 7, a cleaning means 10, and the like. 13.

[Installation of process cartridge]
As seen from the mounting direction X of the process cartridge B shown in FIG. 3, a positioning guide and a posture determining guide (both not shown) are provided on both sides of the process cartridge B in the longitudinal direction. On the other hand, on the upper surface of the apparatus main body 14, an opening / closing cover 35 pivotally attached by a hinge 35a opens upward. When the opening / closing cover 35 is opened, guide members (not shown) having guide rails are disposed on the left and right walls inside the image forming apparatus main body 14. The process cartridge B is inserted into a predetermined position in the apparatus main body 14 by inserting the positioning guide and the attitude determination guide of the process cartridge B into the guide rail. Removal of the process cartridge B is the reverse of the above.

[Seal handle provided on the process cartridge]
In the process cartridge as described above, the developing means 9 is divided into two parts: a developing frame 12 that supports the developing roller 9c, the developing blade 9d, and the like, and a toner frame 11 that contains toner.

  In order to couple the developing frame body 12 and the toner frame body 11, welding ribs (not shown) are provided on each of the developing frame body 12 and the toner frame body 11, one by one substantially in parallel in the vertical direction of the opening longitudinal direction. The base ribs of the welding ribs are inserted into the grooves (not shown) of the toner frame 11, and the frames are joined and fixed by ultrasonic welding. Further, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B which are cross sections taken along the line H-H in FIG. 5 showing the configuration of the toner frame 11 on the developing frame side, both end portions in the longitudinal direction of the developing frame 12 A band-like sponge 64 is fixed to 12i with a double-sided adhesive tape or the like. The abutting surface 64a of the sponge 64 abuts on both ends 11j of the toner frame 11 in the longitudinal direction, and due to its elasticity, the developing frame 12 and the toner frame 11 are brought into close contact with each other from the container shape. This prevents toner from leaking.

  On the other hand, in the case of a new process cartridge, a seal member 52 (toner seal) that prevents the toner in the toner frame 11 from entering the development frame 12 on the surface of the toner frame 11 coupled to the development frame. Is fixed by welding using a heat seal method. After the user peels off the seal member 52, the user mounts the process cartridge in the apparatus main body 14.

  The seal member 52 is affixed to the periphery of the opening 11m of the toner frame 11, and is folded and overlapped at one end 52b in the longitudinal direction. The other longitudinal end 52a passes between the sponge 64 fixed to the developing device frame 12 and the toner frame 11, passes through the developing device side cover 27, and draws out the seal of the developing device side cover 27. It is pulled out through the opening 27a (see FIG. 2).

  One end 52a in the longitudinal direction of the seal member 52 is fixed to a handle 15 which is a seal pull-out member integrated with the toner frame 11 with an adhesive (not shown) such as a double-sided adhesive tape. When the user mounts the process cartridge B in the electrophotographic image forming apparatus for the first time after purchase, if the user holds the handle 15 as a member to be removed and pulls out the seal member 52, the toner frame 11 is opened and the toner on the developing frame 12 is removed. Supply becomes possible.

  The handle 15 has a ring shape so that the user can easily perform an operation when pulling out the seal member 52, and is provided with a hole 15d for inserting a finger.

[Engagement between seal handle and toner frame]
The seal handle 15 and the toner frame 11 are detachably engaged with each other. The engagement procedure is as follows. The seal handle 15 is made of a first resin that is transparent to laser light, and the toner frame 11 is made of a second resin that is absorbent to laser light.
Procedure 1: As shown in FIG. 7A, the convex portion 11k provided at the end portion 11j in the longitudinal direction of the toner frame 11 and the concave portion 15a provided at the seal handle 15 are fitted in the arrow direction. To do.
Procedure 2: As shown in FIG. 7B, the laser beam irradiation surface 11k1 of the convex portion 11k of the toner frame 11 and the inner surface 15a1 of the concave portion 15a of the seal handle 15 are brought close to or in contact with each other. In the case of proximity, the interval K is preferably 0.3 mm or less.
Step 3: As shown in FIG. 7C, the projection 11k of the toner frame 11 and the recess 15a of the seal handle 15 in the fitted state are irradiated with laser light m from the outer surface 15b side of the seal handle 15, The laser head n is moved in the depth direction in the figure.

  As described above, when laser light is irradiated from the outer surface 15 b side of the seal handle 15, the laser light passes through the transparent seal handle 15 and reaches the laser light irradiation surface 11 k 1 of the toner frame 11. In the toner frame 11, the laser beam is absorbed and converted into thermal energy, so that the laser beam irradiation part is heated and melted or thermally expanded to form the protrusion 11 k 2, and the gap K can be filled. Further, the inner surface 15a1 of the seal handle 15 in contact with the protrusion 11k2 is also heated and melted by heat transfer from the protrusion 11k2, and the engagement as shown in FIG. 7D and FIG. It is formed.

  The above engagement can be separated from the toner frame 11 by pulling the seal handle 15 in the direction of the arrow P shown in FIG. 6B, and can resist the direction of the arrow Q. That is, the seal handle 15 is prevented from easily falling off due to vibration or impact during transportation.

  The material of the seal grip 15 is preferably a molding temperature lower than the molding temperature of the material of the toner frame 11. By doing so, the inner surface 15a1 of the seal handle 15 is easily heated and melted by heat transfer from the protrusion 11k2, and engagement is facilitated. That is, the heat of the protrusion 11k2 diffuses to the surroundings with time and the amount of heat decreases, but the engagement is still possible.

  In this embodiment, HIPS (high impact polystyrene) (molding temperature: 210 ° C.) is adopted as the material of the toner frame 11, and PP (polypropylene) (molding temperature: 190 ° C.) is adopted as the material of the seal handle 15. ing.

The height of the protrusion 11k2 of the toner frame 11 has a relationship as shown in the graph of FIG. 1B with the energy density of the irradiated laser beam. In the present embodiment, when the energy density of the irradiated laser light is 0.33 J / mm ² , the protrusion L (see FIG. 7E) is 0.22 mm. Further, the pulling force at that time, the force in the P direction in FIG. 6B, was 5.5 N. The pulling force can be freely determined to some extent by varying the energy density and range of the laser light, such as the area and depth of the engaging portion.

[Laser light]
The wavelength of the laser beam is not particularly limited as long as it is near infrared (800 to 1200 nm). In the present embodiment, a fine device laser welding machine (trade name: FD200, wavelength: 960 nm) was used. Moreover, it is preferable that the energy density of a laser beam irradiation part is 0.05-1.2 J / mm < ² >. In this embodiment, since the speed is 50 mm / sec, the output is 20 W, and the spot diameter is φ1.2 mm, the energy density is 0.33 J / mm ² .

[Material of seal handle]
In this embodiment, polypropylene (PP) colored with a colorant that transmits laser light is used as a material for the seal handle. The SP value of polypropylene (PP) is 17.4. The reason for selecting this material is as follows. (1) The hinge characteristic (repeatability) is good. (2) When the process cartridge is packed for shipping, transportation, etc., the process cartridge can be bent at the thin portion 15c provided on the seal handle 15. That is, as shown in FIG. 6A, a thin portion 15c is provided in the short direction of the seal handle 15, and the seal handle 15 can be bent by the thin portion 15c. The packing member can be made small without impairing the ease of pulling out. The laser light transmittance of the produced seal handle was 40%.

[Toner frame material]
Examples of a material that can be suitably used for the cartridge frame including the toner frame include HIPS (high impact polystyrene), which is a rubber-modified styrene material. High impact polystyrene is a mixture of a rubber-like polymer or a rubber-like copolymer in order to improve impact resistance to PS (polystyrene) that is inexpensive and has good fluidity. As the rubber-like polymer or rubber-like copolymer, polybutadiene, styrene-butadiene copolymer, polyisoprene, butadiene-isoprene copolymer, natural rubber, ethylene-propylene copolymer and the like are preferably used.

  Further, the above materials often require UL-94 flame retardancy of V2 rank as safety against fire. Therefore, a brominated flame retardant or a phosphate ester flame retardant is added as a flame retardant. Examples of brominated flame retardants include ethylene bispentabromobenzene, tetrabromobisphenol A derivatives, polybrominated aliphatic ether derivatives, and the like. Examples of the phosphate ester flame retardant include resorcinol bis (diphenyl phosphate), bisphenol A bis (diphenyl phosphate), and the like.

  Furthermore, by adding the second flame retardant, the amount of the flame retardant added can be reduced, and the heat resistance of the base polymer can be prevented from being lowered. In the case of using a brominated flame retardant as the flame retardant, the use of antimony trioxide as the second flame retardant has a great effect and is preferably used.

  In this embodiment, since the cartridge frame is used as a laser light absorber, it is formed of a resin composition having the following composition. That is, 100 parts by mass of a styrene resin (weight average molecular weight 220,000), 0.7 parts by mass of a coloring material (carbon black having a number average particle diameter of 16 nm), 8 parts by mass of rubber (number average particle diameter of 1.8 μm), a flame retardant A resin composition to which (phosphate ester type) was added was used. The SP value of the styrene resin is 18.3, the rubber is polybutadiene rubber, the flame retardant is an aromatic condensed phosphate, and the addition amount of the flame retardant is 8 parts by mass. The frame body molded with this resin composition to a plate thickness of 2 mm had a laser light transmittance of 0.5%.

(A) is a perspective view which shows the structure outline of the resin molding composite_body | complex in embodiment of this invention, (b) is a graph which shows the tendency of the relationship between the energy density of the laser beam to irradiate, and the protrusion amount of a protrusion. It is. FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a schematic configuration of a process cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure outline of the process cartridge in embodiment of this invention. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus equipped with a process cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a toner frame of a process cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 6A and 6B are diagrams illustrating a configuration of a section JH in FIG. 5, in which FIG. 5A is a state before the toner frame 11 and the developing frame 12 are coupled, and FIG. 5B is a diagram illustrating the toner frame 11 and the developing frame 12. Shows the state after combining with. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a procedure for engaging a seal handle and a toner frame of a process cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a step 1, (b) is a step 2, and (c) is a step. The stage of procedure 3, (d) is the stage after procedures 1 to 3, and (e) is an enlarged view of (d).

Explanation of symbols

1: Optical system 1a: Laser diode 1b: Polygon mirror 1c: Lens 1d: Reflective mirror 1e: Exposure aperture 2: Recording material 3: Conveying means 3a: Paper feed cassette 3b: Pickup roller 3c: Conveying roller pair (feeding) Roller pair)
3d: Transport roller pair 3e: Registration roller pair 3f: Transport guide (guide plate)
3g, 3h, 3i: discharge roller pair 3j: reverse conveyance path 3k: flapper 3m: discharge roller pair 4: transfer roller 5: fixing means 5a: heater 5b: fixing roller 5c: drive roller 6: discharge tray (discharge section)
7: Photosensitive drum (image carrier)
8: Charging roller (charging means)
9: Developing device (developing means)
9b: toner feeding member 9c: developing roller 9d: developing blade 10: cleaning means 10a: elastic cleaning blade 10b: toner reservoir 11: toner frame 11j: longitudinal end portion 11k: convex portion 11k1: laser light irradiation surface 11k2: Projection 11m: Opening 12: Development frame 12i: Longitudinal end 13: Cleaning frame 14: Image forming apparatus body 15: Handle 15a: Recess 15a1: Inner surface 15b: Outer surface 15c: Thin portion 15d: Insert a finger Hole 27: developing device side cover 27a: seal drawer opening 35: open / close member (open / close cover)
35a: Hinge 52: Toner seal (seal member)
52a, 52b: One end 64 in the longitudinal direction 64: Sponge 64a: Contact surface 111: Second resin molding 111k2: Engagement portion 115: First resin molding 115b: Laser irradiation portion A: Laser beam printer (image formation) apparatus)
B: Process cartridge K: Interval L: Projection amount X: Mounting direction of process cartridge m: Laser beam n: Laser head

Claims (4)

In the resin molded composite in which the first resin molded body and the second resin molded body are separably engaged,
The first resin molded body is formed by molding a first resin that is transparent to laser light,
The second resin molded body is obtained by molding a second resin that absorbs laser light,
The second resin molded body is formed by a method in which the first resin molded body and the second resin molded body are arranged close to or in contact with each other and irradiated with laser light from the first resin molded body side. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus having a resin molded composite , wherein the first resin molded body and the second resin molded body are separably engaged with each other by a protrusion of the resin molded body The cartridge to be installed. 2. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein one of the first resin molded body and the second resin molded body is fitted into the other resin molded body. A developer storage frame for storing the developer, and a handle for pulling out the seal member sealing the developer supply opening of the developer storage frame,
The cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the first resin molded body is the handle, and the second resin molded body is the developer storage frame. A method for manufacturing the cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 3 ,
A method for manufacturing a cartridge, comprising: arranging the first resin molded body and the second resin molded body in a state of being close to or in contact with each other, and irradiating laser light from the first resin molded body side.

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