JP5299045B2 - Stirring member and developing cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a stirring member, capable of attaching the flexible film to the stirring member body, without any backlash, thereby, capable of improving the positional accuracy of a flexible film with respect to a stirring member body, and to provide a developing cartridge provided with the stirring member. <P>SOLUTION: An agitator body 51 includes a second projection 67 projecting from a wiper arrangement surface 66, and a third projection 71 facing the wiper arrangement surface 66 with a space. The agitator body 51 includes a guide projection 68, projecting from the wiper arrangement surface 66 between a first projection 64 and the second projection 67. A wiper 53 is arranged between the wiper arrangement surface 66 and the third projection 71. In the wiper 53, a first locking part 76 and a second locking part 77 are provided, at an interval larger than a straight-line distance between the first projection 64 and the second projection 67 and are respectively locked on the first projection 64 and the second projection 67. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a stirring member and a developing cartridge including the stirring member.

An electrophotographic image forming apparatus such as a laser printer includes a photosensitive drum on which an electrostatic latent image is formed and a developing cartridge for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum. Yes.
The developing cartridge is formed with a toner storage chamber in which toner is stored. A toner detection window for detecting the remaining amount of toner is formed on the side wall of the toner storage chamber. An agitator for stirring the toner is provided in the toner storage chamber. The agitator is provided with a wiper for cleaning the toner detection window (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  The wiper is fixed to a fixing member provided in the agitator. Specifically, the fixing member is provided with a support plate and a sandwiching plate that are arranged to face each other, and a boss that protrudes toward the sandwiching plate is formed on the support plate. The wiper is made of an elastic material such as urethane rubber, and a through hole corresponding to the boss is formed at one end thereof. A wiper is inserted into a slit formed between the support plate and the sandwiching plate, and a boss is inserted through the through hole of the wiper, whereby the wiper made of an elastic material is fixed to the fixing member.

JP 2006-308688 A

In order to reduce the material cost of the wiper, it is conceivable to use a flexible film made of a synthetic resin instead of the elastic material as the material.
In the configuration using an elastic material as the material of the wiper, even if the diameter of the through hole is smaller than that of the boss, the boss can be inserted into the through hole by expanding the diameter of the through hole by its elasticity. However, in the configuration using a flexible film as the material of the wiper, it is necessary to make the diameter of the through hole larger than that of the boss so that the boss can be surely inserted into the through hole. Therefore, play (play) occurs between the flexible film and the fixing member, and the positional accuracy of the flexible film with respect to the fixing member decreases.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to allow a flexible film to be attached to the stirring member body without backlash, thereby improving the positional accuracy of the flexible film with respect to the stirring member body and the stirring member. The present invention provides a developing cartridge including a member.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is an agitating member for agitating the developer, wherein the agitating member body having a film arrangement surface and the agitating member so that one end is a free end. A flexible film attached to the member main body, and the stirring member main body is opposed to the film arrangement surface with a first projection, a second projection projecting from the film arrangement surface, and spaced apart from the film arrangement surface. A third protrusion and a guide protrusion that protrudes from the film placement surface between the first protrusion and the second protrusion and has a surface that inclines away from the film placement surface as the first protrusion is approached. The flexible film is disposed between the film placement surface and the third protrusion, and the first protrusion and the second protrusion are disposed between the free end and the other end on the opposite side. Than the linear distance Provided at a greater distance, it is characterized in that it has a first locking portion and the second locking portion are locked respectively engaged with the first protrusion and the second protrusion.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the protrusion amount of the second protrusion from the film disposition surface is larger than the distance between the film disposition surface and the third protrusion. It is characterized by that.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the second protrusion is formed in a hook shape having a claw portion protruding toward the first protrusion. .

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to third aspects, the second protrusion has a surface inclined so as to move away from the film placement surface as the first protrusion is approached. It is characterized by having.
The invention according to claim 5 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the stirring member main body has a film locking surface orthogonal to the film arrangement surface, and the first protrusion. Is characterized by protruding from the film locking surface.

The invention according to claim 6 is the invention according to claim 5, wherein the tip surface of the first protrusion has a surface that is inclined so as to approach the film locking surface as it approaches the film placement surface. It is characterized by being.
The invention according to claim 7 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the first locking portion is an end portion on the other end side of the flexible film. It is a feature.

The invention according to claim 8 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the flexible film is formed with a hole through which the second protrusion can be inserted, and the second engagement. The stop portion is an end portion on the other end side of the hole.
The invention according to claim 9 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the flexible film is made of a synthetic resin.

A tenth aspect of the present invention is a developing cartridge, comprising: a housing in which a developer is accommodated; and a stirring member disposed in the housing, wherein the stirring member is any one of the first to ninth embodiments. A stirring member according to claim 1 is used.
According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to the tenth aspect, the casing is formed with a light transmission window that transmits light for detecting the amount of developer in the casing, and the stirring is performed. The member main body is rotatably supported by the casing, and the flexible film is a wiper whose free end slides on the light transmission window by the rotation of the stirring member main body. .

  According to invention of Claim 1 and 10, the stirring member is equipped with the stirring member main body and the flexible film. The stirring member body has a film placement surface on which the flexible film is placed. Further, the stirring member body is formed with a first protrusion, a second protrusion, a third protrusion, and a guide protrusion. The second protrusion protrudes from the film placement surface. The third protrusions are opposed to the film arrangement surface with a space therebetween. The guide protrusion protrudes from the film arrangement surface between the first protrusion and the second protrusion. The guide protrusion is formed with a surface that is inclined so as to move away from the film placement surface as it approaches the first protrusion. In the flexible film, the first locking portion and the second locking portion are formed with a gap larger than the linear distance between the first protrusion and the second protrusion therebetween. The flexible film is disposed between the film arrangement surface and the third protrusion, and the first locking portion and the second locking portion are locked to the first protrusion and the second protrusion, respectively.

  The third protrusion prevents the flexible film from floating from the film placement surface, and the guide protrusion causes the portion between the first locking portion and the second locking portion in the flexible film to be the film placement surface. Lifted from. Thereby, between the part which contact | abuts the 1st latching | locking part and 2nd latching | locking part or 3rd protrusion in a flexible film is convex-curved on a film arrangement | positioning surface. Therefore, a restoring force is exerted on the flexible film so that the convexly curved portion extends. By this restoring force, the first locking portion and the second locking portion are pressed against the first protrusion and the second protrusion, respectively. Therefore, the flexible film can be attached to the stirring member main body without play without play. As a result, the positional accuracy of the flexible film with respect to the stirring member body can be improved.

  The flexible film is slid on the film arrangement surface from the second projection side toward the first projection, the first locking portion is locked to the first projection, and the second locking portion is It can attach to a stirring member main body by making it latch to 2 protrusion. Since the guide protrusion is formed with a surface that is inclined away from the film placement surface as it approaches the first projection, when the flexible film is slid on the film placement surface, the leading end of the flexible film The (most downstream part in the mounting direction) is lifted from the film placement surface by being guided by the inclined surface. Therefore, a convex curve can be satisfactorily curved between the first locking portion and the second locking portion or the third protrusion in the flexible film.

  According to invention of Claim 2, the 2nd protrusion protrudes from the film arrangement | positioning surface with the protrusion amount larger than the space | interval between a film arrangement | positioning surface and a 3rd protrusion. In other words, the distance between the film arrangement surface and the third protrusion is smaller than the amount of protrusion of the second protrusion from the film arrangement surface. Thereby, when the flexible film is attached to the stirring member main body, even if the flexible film is lifted from the film placement surface by the second protrusion, the lifting can be suppressed by the third protrusion. As a result, it is possible to suppress the flexible film from being lifted greatly from the film arrangement surface, and smooth attachment of the flexible film to the stirring member body can be achieved.

According to invention of Claim 3, the 2nd protrusion is formed in the hook shape which has a nail | claw part. This nail | claw part protrudes in the 1st protrusion side. Thereby, since the movement to the protrusion direction of the 2nd protrusion of a 2nd latching | locking part is controlled, it can prevent that the 2nd latching | locking part of a flexible film remove | deviates from a 2nd protrusion.
According to invention of Claim 4, the surface which inclines so that it may leave | separate from a film arrangement | positioning surface is formed in the 2nd protrusion as it approaches the 1st protrusion. When the flexible film is slid on the film placement surface, the tip of the flexible film is lifted from the film placement surface by being guided by the inclined surface. Therefore, a convex curve can be satisfactorily curved between the first locking portion and the second locking portion or the third protrusion in the flexible film.

According to invention of Claim 5, the stirring member main body has a film latching surface orthogonal to a film arrangement | positioning surface. Further, the first protrusion protrudes from the film locking surface. Thereby, for example, the flexible film can be reliably and easily locked to the first protrusion by bringing the tip of the flexible film into contact with the first protrusion and the film locking surface.
According to invention of Claim 6, the surface which inclines so that it may approach a film latching surface is formed in the front end surface of a 1st protrusion as it approaches a film arrangement | positioning surface. Therefore, when the flexible film is attached to the stirring member main body, the distal end portion of the flexible film lifted from the film placement surface by the guide of the inclined surface of the guide projection comes into contact with the distal end surface of the first projection. , And moves toward the film arrangement surface along the inclined surface of the first protrusion. As a result, it is possible to surely make a convex curve between the first locking portion and the second locking portion or the third protrusion in the flexible film, and the flexible film has a distal end portion that is fixed to the film. It can be surely brought into contact with the stop surface.

According to invention of Claim 7, a 1st latching | locking part is an edge part of the other end side of a flexible film, ie, a front-end | tip part. Therefore, the flexible film can be attached to the stirring member main body by locking the leading end portion of the flexible film to the first protrusion and locking the second locking portion to the second protrusion.
According to invention of Claim 8, the hole which can penetrate a 2nd protrusion is formed in a flexible film, and the edge part by the side of the other end part in the hole is a 2nd latching | locking part. In the state where the second protrusion is inserted into the hole, when a restoring force is exerted on the flexible film so that the convexly curved portion is extended, the second locking portion which is the end portion on the other end side of the hole is 2 abuts against the protrusion. Therefore, the locking of the second locking portion with respect to the second protrusion can be easily achieved.

According to invention of Claim 9, a flexible film consists of synthetic resins. Therefore, the manufacturing cost of a flexible film can be reduced compared with the structure where a flexible film consists of rubber | gum.
According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, the casing is formed with a light transmission window that transmits light for detecting the amount of developer in the casing. The stirring member main body is rotatably supported by the housing. By rotating the stirring member, the flexible film functions as a wiper whose free end slides on the light transmission window. Thereby, the rotation of the stirring member causes the free end of the flexible film to be rubbed against the light transmission window, so that the developer attached to the light transmission window can be removed.

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the process cartridge. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the agitator. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one end portion in the width direction of the agitator. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the wiper. FIG. 6A is a perspective view of one end portion in the width direction of the agitator, and shows a state where the wiper is being attached to the wiper holding portion. 6B is a cross-sectional view of one end portion in the width direction of the agitator, and shows the same state as FIG. 6A. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of one end portion in the width direction of the agitator, and shows the next state of FIG. 6A. FIG. 8A is a perspective view of one end portion in the width direction of the agitator, and shows a state where the wiper is attached to the fixing member. FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view of one end portion in the width direction of the agitator, and shows the same state as FIG. 8A.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
1. 1 is a side sectional view of a color printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The color printer 1 includes a main body casing 2. Four process cartridges 3 are provided in the main casing 2. The four process cartridges 3 (3K, 3Y, 3M, 3C) are provided corresponding to the respective colors of black, yellow, magenta, and cyan, and the black from the upstream side in the transport direction of the paper P by the transport belt 11 described later. Are arranged at equal intervals in the order of yellow, magenta and cyan. Each process cartridge 3 can be mounted on the inside of the main casing 2 from above with the top cover 4 provided on the upper surface of the main casing 2 being opened.

Each process cartridge 3 includes a photosensitive drum 5. In each process cartridge 3, a scorotron charger 6, a developing roller 7, a cleaning mechanism 8, and the like are disposed to face the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 5.
On the other hand, in the main body casing 2, four LED units 9 corresponding to the respective colors are provided corresponding to the respective process cartridges 5. The tip portion of each LED unit 9 is disposed opposite to the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 5.

  As the photosensitive drum 5 rotates, the surface of the photosensitive drum 5 is uniformly charged by the scorotron charger 6 and then exposed by an LED (not shown) provided at the tip of the LED unit 9. . As a result, an electrostatic latent image based on the image data is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 5. When the electrostatic latent image faces the developing roller 7 as the photosensitive drum 5 rotates, toner is supplied to the electrostatic latent image, and a toner image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 5.

  A paper feed cassette 10 that accommodates the paper P is disposed at the bottom of the main casing 2. The paper P stored in the paper feed cassette 10 is transported onto the transport belt 11 by various rollers. The conveyor belt 11 is disposed facing the four photosensitive drums 5 from below. A transfer roller 12 is disposed at each position facing each photosensitive drum 5 across the upper portion of the transport belt 11. The paper P transported on the transport belt 11 sequentially passes between the transport belt 11 and each photosensitive drum 5 as the transport belt 11 travels. The toner image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 5 is transferred to the paper P by the transfer bias applied to the transfer roller 12 when facing the paper P.

A fixing device 13 is provided on the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the paper P with respect to the conveyance belt 11. The sheet P on which the toner image is transferred is conveyed to the fixing device 13. In the fixing device 13, the toner image is fixed on the paper P by heating and pressing. The paper P on which the toner image is fixed is discharged to a paper discharge tray 14 on the upper surface of the main body casing 2 by various rollers.
After the transfer of the toner image from the photosensitive drum 5 to the paper P, the residual toner adhering to the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 5 and the adhering matter such as paper dust of the paper P are cleaned as the photosensitive drum 5 rotates. When facing the mechanism 8, it is collected by the cleaning mechanism 8.

In the following description, the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the paper P by the conveyance belt 11 is the front side (front side), and the downstream side opposite to the upstream side is the rear side (back side). In addition, when the color printer 1 is viewed from the front side, the left and right reference is used.
2. Process Cartridge FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the process cartridge. In FIG. 2, the process cartridge is shown in a state where the photosensitive drum and the developing roller are laid in a substantially horizontal direction from the state shown in FIG.
(1) Overall Configuration of Process Cartridge The process cartridge 3 includes a frame 20. The frame 20 includes a holding unit 34 that holds the photosensitive drum 5, the scorotron charger 6, and the cleaning mechanism 8, and a cartridge mounting unit 35 that is provided on one side of the holding unit 34 and to which the developing cartridge 21 is mounted. Yes.

The developing cartridge 21 includes a developing casing 27 as an example of a housing. The developing casing 27 is formed in a box shape having an opening 36 on a surface facing the photosensitive drum 5 in a state where the developing cartridge 21 is mounted in the cartridge mounting portion.
The interior of the developing casing 27 is partitioned by a partition wall 28 into a toner hopper 29 and a developing unit 30 provided on the photosensitive drum 5 side with respect to the toner hopper 29. The partition wall 28 is formed with a communication hole 31 that allows the toner hopper 29 and the developing unit 30 to communicate with each other.

  In the toner hopper 29, toner corresponding to each color is accommodated as a developer. Further, light transmission windows 32 are respectively provided at opposite positions in the width direction on both side walls of the developing casing 27 in the width direction (same as the left-right direction; the same applies hereinafter). The light transmission window 32 is formed by forming a circular hole in the side wall of the developing casing 27 and fitting a transparent disk into the circular hole.

  The main casing 2 (see FIG. 1) is provided with a toner empty sensor (not shown). The toner empty sensor includes a light emitting element disposed at a position facing one light transmitting window 32 in a state where the process cartridge 3 (developing cartridge 21) is mounted in the main body casing 2, and the other light transmitting window. And a light receiving element disposed at a position opposite to 32. Detection light emitted from the light emitting element enters the toner hopper 29 from one light transmission window 32, passes through the toner hopper 29, exits from the other light transmission window 32, and is received by the light receiving element. . While the toner in the toner hopper 29 is scraped up by an agitator 33 as an example of a stirring member described below, the remaining amount of toner in the toner hopper 29 is detected by measuring the detection time of the detection light by the light receiving element. be able to.

In the toner hopper 29, an agitator 33 as an example of a stirring member for stirring the toner is provided. The agitator 33 is integrally provided with an agitator rotating shaft 50 and an agitator main body 51 as an example of a stirring member main body.
The agitator rotating shaft 50 is rotatably supported on both side walls of the developing casing 27 at a substantially central portion of the toner hopper 29.

The agitator main body 51 extends in the width direction and is formed in a long shape having a width in the radial direction of the agitator rotating shaft 50 (hereinafter simply referred to as “radial direction”).
The agitator main body 51 holds a stirring film 52. The stirring film 52 is made of a synthetic resin such as PET (polyethylene terephthalate) and has flexibility. The width in the width direction of the stirring film 52 is formed to be substantially the same as the width in the width direction of the agitator body 51. One end of the stirring film 52 in the direction orthogonal to the width direction is held on one side surface extending in the width direction of the agitator main body 51, and the other end opposite to the one end is a free end.

A wiper 53 as an example of a flexible film is held at both ends of the agitator main body 51 in the width direction. The wiper 53 protrudes from the agitator main body 51 in the width direction, and is provided so that the free end thereof is in contact with the side wall in the width direction of the developing casing 27.
When a driving force is input to the agitator rotating shaft 50, the agitator rotating shaft 50 is rotated, and the agitator main body 51 moves in the toner hopper 29 along the circumferential direction of the agitator rotating shaft 50 around the agitator rotating shaft 50. . As a result, the toner in the toner hopper 29 is stirred by the stirring film 52. Further, the wiper 53 is rubbed against the inner surface in the width direction of the light transmission window 32, whereby the light transmission window 32 is cleaned (the toner attached to the light transmission window 32 is wiped off).

The developing unit 30 is provided with a developing roller 7 and a supply roller 24.
The developing roller 7 is disposed so as to close the opening 36 of the developing casing 27, and the circumferential surface thereof is exposed from the developing casing 27. In a state where the developing cartridge 21 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 35 of the frame 20, a portion of the peripheral surface of the developing roller 7 exposed from the developing casing 27 is in contact with the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 5.

The supply roller 24 is disposed between the developing roller 7 and the communication hole 31, and the peripheral surface thereof is in contact with the peripheral surface of the developing roller 7.
The toner stirred by the agitator 33 passes through the communication hole 31 and is supplied to the surface of the supply roller 24. Then, the toner is supplied from the supply roller 24 to the surface of the developing roller 7 by the rotation of the supply roller 24 and the developing roller 7.
3. Agitator FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the agitator.

In addition, in each figure after FIG. 3, in order to avoid complication of drawing, illustration of the stirring film 52 (refer FIG. 2) is abbreviate | omitted.
The agitator main body 51 includes a long part 57 having a rectangular frame shape extending in the width direction (a direction parallel to the agitator rotation shaft 50), and four pieces standing on the long part 57 at intervals in the width direction. The light shielding plate 55 and wiper holding portions 56 provided at both ends in the width direction of the long portion 57 are integrally provided.
(1) Long portion The agitator rotating shaft 50 is formed to protrude from both side surfaces of the long portion 57 in the width direction. The agitator rotating shaft 50 protruding from each end face is arranged on one straight line orthogonal to the end face.

A stirring film 52 is attached to one side surface extending in the width direction of the long portion 57.
Wiper holding portions 56 are provided at both ends in the width direction of the other side surface 58 (the side surface opposite to the side surface on which the stirring film 52 is attached) 58 extending in the width direction of the long portion 57.
(2) Light-shielding plate The light-shielding plate 55 is formed in a plate shape along a plane orthogonal to the agitator rotation shaft 50, and is formed on one side in a direction parallel to the end surface extending from the long portion 57 in the width direction of the long portion 57. It protrudes. The light shielding plate 55 is provided to improve detection accuracy of the remaining amount of toner by shielding the detection light of the toner empty sensor at regular intervals.
(3) Wiper holding | maintenance part FIG. 4: is a perspective view of the one side edge part of the width direction of an agitator.

The wiper holding unit 56 holds the wiper 53.
Since the wiper holding part 56 and the wiper 53 on one side in the width direction and the wiper holding part 56 and the wiper 53 on the other side have a symmetric configuration, the wiper on one side (left side in FIG. 3) will be described below. The holding unit 56 and the wiper 53 will be described, and the description of the wiper holding unit 56 and the wiper 53 on the other side will be omitted. In the description, the vertical direction is defined based on the state shown in FIG.

The wiper holding part 56 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape in plan view. The wiper holding part 56 includes a facing part 60 that faces the side surface 58 of the long part 57 with a space therebetween, and a construction part 61 that is constructed between the side surface 58 and the end part on the inner side in the width direction of the facing part 60, It integrally includes a bottom plate 62 provided so as to block a space surrounded by the side surface 58, the facing portion 60 and the erection portion 61 from below.
The side surface 63 on the outer side in the width direction of the erection part 61 is a plane orthogonal to the axial direction of the agitator rotating shaft 50, and is a wiper engagement as an example of a film locking surface to which a wiper 53 (see FIG. 3) described later is locked. It has a stop. A first protrusion 64 protruding outward in the width direction is formed on the upper end portion of the wiper locking surface 63.

The first protrusion 64 has a substantially trapezoidal shape when viewed from a direction orthogonal to the side surface 58, and has an inclined surface 65 that is inclined so as to approach the wiper locking surface 63 as it goes downward.
An upper surface 66 of the bottom plate 62 forms a wiper arrangement surface 66 as an example of a film arrangement surface on which a later-described wiper 53 (see FIG. 3) is arranged. The wiper arrangement surface 66 is orthogonal to the wiper locking surface 63. A second protrusion 67 and a guide protrusion 68 protrude from the wiper arrangement surface 66.

The second protrusion 67 is provided at a substantially central portion of the wiper arrangement surface 66. A claw portion 69 is formed on the second protrusion 67. The nail | claw part 69 comprises the substantially triangular shape where the shape when it sees from the direction orthogonal to the side surface 58 pointed toward the width direction inner side, and has the inclined surface 70 which inclines toward the width direction inner side upper direction.
The guide protrusion 68 is provided between the second protrusion 67 and the wiper locking surface 63 at a distance from them. The guide protrusion 68 is formed as a ridge extending in a direction orthogonal to the width direction, and has an inclined surface 72 that is inclined upward inward in the width direction.

Third protrusions 71 are formed to protrude from the side surfaces 58 of the long portion 57 and the side surfaces 58 of the facing portion 60 at positions facing the second protrusions 67, respectively. Each of the third protrusions 71 has a shape when viewed from a direction orthogonal to the side surface 58 and is formed by cutting out the lower corner portion on the outer side in the width direction from a substantially square shape, and has an inclined surface that inclines toward the lower side in the width direction. doing. Each of the third protrusions 71 is opposed to the wiper arrangement surface 66 with an interval smaller than the protrusion amount of the second protrusion 67 from the wiper arrangement surface 66.
(4) Wiper FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the wiper.

  The wiper 53 is a flexible film made of a synthetic resin such as PET and formed into a flexible film. The wiper 53 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape in plan view extending in the left-right direction. The length of the wiper 53 in the width direction (left-right direction) is larger than the sum of the width in the vertical direction of the wiper locking surface 63 (see FIG. 4) and the width in the width direction of the wiper arrangement surface 66. The width in the direction orthogonal to the width direction of the wiper 53 is substantially the same as the width in the direction orthogonal to the width direction of the wiper arrangement surface 66 (see FIG. 4) of the bottom plate 62. Therefore, as will be described later, in the state where the wiper 53 is fixed to the wiper holding portion 56 (see FIG. 3), the end portion on the outer side in the width direction of the wiper 53 protrudes from the wiper placement surface 66 to the outer side in the width direction. End.

The wiper 53 is formed with a substantially rectangular hole 75 extending in the left-right direction. The width of the hole 75 in the direction orthogonal to the width direction is substantially the same as the width of the second protrusion 67 (see FIG. 4) in the direction orthogonal to the width direction. The width of the hole 75 in the width direction (left-right direction) is larger than the width of the second protrusion 67 in the width direction. In the state before the wiper 53 is attached to the wiper holding portion 56, the distance between the hole 75 and the end surface 76 on the inner side in the width direction of the wiper 53 is based on the linear distance between the first protrusion 64 and the second protrusion 67. Is also formed at a position where it becomes longer.
(3) Fixing of wiper to wiper holding portion FIG. 6A is a perspective view of one end portion in the width direction of the agitator, and shows a state where the wiper is being attached to the wiper holding portion. 6B is a cross-sectional view of one end portion in the width direction of the agitator, and shows the same state as FIG. 6A. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of one end portion in the width direction of the agitator, and shows the next state of FIG. 6A. FIG. 8A is a perspective view of one end portion in the width direction of the agitator, and shows a state where the wiper is attached to the fixing member. FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view of one end portion in the width direction of the agitator, and shows the same state as FIG. 8A.

The wiper 53 is attached to the wiper holding part 56 as follows.
First, the front end portion (right end portion in FIG. 6B) 76 of the wiper 53 is disposed on the end portion on the outer side in the width direction of the wiper arrangement surface 66. Then, the rear end portion (the left end portion in FIG. 6B) of the wiper 53 is pushed inward in the width direction, and the front end portion 76 of the wiper 53 is slid on the wiper arrangement surface 66. By this sliding, the front end portion 76 of the wiper 53 enters between the wiper arrangement surface 66 and the third protrusion 71.

  As the wiper 53 slides further, the tip 76 of the wiper 53 comes into contact with the inclined surface 70 of the second protrusion 69. And the front-end | tip part 76 of the wiper 53 is the state which the both ends of the direction orthogonal to the advancing direction (width direction) approached between the wiper arrangement | positioning surface 66 and the 3rd protrusion 71, and the center part of the direction is an inclined surface. Get on 70. As a result, the distal end portion 76 of the wiper 53 is bent into a shape in which the central portion is slightly raised from the wiper arrangement surface 66.

  When the wiper 53 further slides, the tip 76 of the wiper 53 comes into contact with the inclined surface 72 of the guide protrusion 68 as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B. And the front-end | tip part 76 of the wiper 53 advances on the inclined surface 72, and the both ends of the front-end | tip part 76 of the wiper 53 are raised to the same height as the center part. Thereafter, the distal end portion 76 of the wiper 53 advances while being convexly curved inward in the width direction.

  As shown in FIG. 7, when the distal end portion 76 of the wiper 53 contacts the inclined surface 65 of the first protrusion 64, the distal end portion 76 is thereafter guided downward along the inclined surface 65. As a result, as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the distal end portion 76 of the wiper 53 enters between the first protrusion 64 and the wiper arrangement surface 66 and abuts against the wiper locking surface 63. As a result, the distal end portion 76 of the wiper 53 is locked to the first protrusion 64 while being in contact with the wiper locking surface 63 and the first protrusion 64.

Thereafter, the wiper 53 is further slid, and the second protrusion 67 of the second fixing portion 61 is inserted into the hole 75 of the wiper 53. At this time, the edge 77 in the width direction inner side (the right side in FIG. 8B) of the hole 75 enters the gap 78 formed between the claw portion 69 and the wiper arrangement surface 66, and the second protrusion serves as the second locking portion. 66 abuts and is locked. Thereby, the attachment of the wiper 53 to the wiper holding part 56 is achieved.
4). As described above, the third protrusion 71 prevents the wiper 53 from floating from the wiper arrangement surface 66, and the guide protrusion 68 causes the first locking portion 76 and the second locking portion 77 in the wiper 53 to The portion in between is lifted from the wiper placement surface 66. Accordingly, a portion of the wiper 53 that comes into contact with the first locking portion 76 and the second locking portion 77 or the third protrusion 71 is convexly curved on the wiper arrangement surface 66. Therefore, a restoring force is exerted on the wiper 53 so that the convexly curved portion extends. With this restoring force, the first locking portion 76 and the second locking portion 77 are pressed against the first protrusion 64 and the second protrusion 67, respectively. Therefore, the wiper 53 can be attached to the agitator body 51 without play with no play. As a result, the positional accuracy of the wiper 53 with respect to the agitator main body 51 can be improved.

  Further, the wiper 53 slides on the wiper arrangement surface 66 from the second protrusion 67 side toward the first protrusion 64, and the first locking portion 76 is locked to the first protrusion 64. The part 77 can be attached to the agitator main body 51 by being locked to the second protrusion 67. Since the guide protrusion 68 is formed with an inclined surface 72 that is inclined away from the wiper arrangement surface 66 as it approaches the first protrusion 64, when the wiper 53 is slid on the wiper arrangement surface 66, The tip end portion (the most downstream portion in the mounting direction) is lifted from the wiper arrangement surface 66 by being guided by the inclined surface 72. Therefore, a convex curve can be favorably formed between a portion of the wiper 53 that makes contact with the first locking portion 76 and the second locking portion 77 or the third protrusion 71.

  The second protrusion 67 protrudes from the wiper arrangement surface 66 with a protrusion amount larger than the distance between the wiper arrangement surface 66 and the third protrusion 71. In other words, the distance between the wiper arrangement surface 66 and the third protrusion 71 is smaller than the protruding amount of the second protrusion 67 from the wiper arrangement surface 66. Thereby, when the wiper 53 is attached to the agitator main body 51, even if the wiper 53 is lifted from the wiper placement surface 66 by the second protrusion 67, the lift can be suppressed by the third protrusion 71. As a result, the wiper 53 can be prevented from being lifted greatly from the wiper arrangement surface 66, and the smooth attachment of the wiper 53 to the agitator body 51 can be achieved.

The second protrusion 67 is formed in a bowl shape having a claw portion 69. The claw portion 69 protrudes to the first protrusion 64 side. Thereby, since the movement of the second protrusion 67 in the protruding direction of the second locking portion 77 is restricted, it is possible to prevent the second locking portion 77 of the wiper 53 from being detached from the second protrusion 67.
Further, the second protrusion 67 is formed with a second inclined surface 70 that is inclined so as to be away from the wiper arrangement surface 66 as the first protrusion 64 is approached. When the wiper 53 is slid on the wiper arrangement surface 66, the leading end portion 76 of the wiper 53 is lifted from the wiper arrangement surface 66 by being guided by the second inclined surface 70. Therefore, a convex curve can be favorably formed between a portion of the wiper 53 that makes contact with the first locking portion 76 and the second locking portion 77 or the third protrusion 71.

The agitator main body 51 has a wiper locking surface 63 that is orthogonal to the wiper arrangement surface 66. In addition, the first protrusion 64 protrudes from the wiper locking surface 63. Accordingly, the wiper 53 can be reliably and easily locked to the first protrusion 64 by bringing the tip of the wiper 53 into contact with the first protrusion 64 and the wiper locking surface 63.
In addition, a first inclined surface 65 that is inclined toward the wiper locking surface 63 as it approaches the wiper arrangement surface 66 is formed on the tip surface of the first protrusion 64. Therefore, when the wiper 53 is attached to the agitator main body 51, the tip of the wiper 53 lifted from the wiper placement surface 66 by the guide of the inclined surface 72 of the guide projection 68 comes into contact with the tip surface of the first projection 64. The first protrusion 64 moves along the first inclined surface 65 toward the wiper arrangement surface 66. As a result, the first locking portion 76 and the portion of the wiper 53 that contacts the second locking portion 77 or the third protrusion 71 can be reliably convexly curved, and the tip of the wiper 53 can be locked with the wiper. The contact with the surface 63 can be ensured.

The first locking portion 76 is an end portion on the other end side of the wiper 53, that is, a tip portion. Therefore, the wiper 53 can be attached to the agitator main body 51 by locking the distal end portion of the wiper 53 to the first protrusion 64 and locking the second locking portion 77 to the second protrusion 67.
The wiper 53 has a hole 75 through which the second protrusion 67 can be inserted. An end of the hole 75 on the other end side is a second locking portion 77. In the state where the second protrusion 67 is inserted into the hole 75, when a restoring force is applied to the wiper 53 so that the convexly curved portion extends, the second locking portion 77, which is the end surface of the hole 75 on the other end side, is formed. Abuts on the second protrusion 67. Therefore, the locking of the second locking portion 77 with respect to the second protrusion 67 can be easily achieved.

The wiper 53 is made of a synthetic resin. Therefore, the manufacturing cost of the wiper 53 can be reduced as compared with a configuration in which the wiper 53 is made of rubber.
The developing casing 27 is formed with a light transmission window 32 that transmits light for detecting the amount of toner in the developing casing 27. The agitator body 51 is rotatably supported by the developing casing 27. By the rotation of the agitator 33, the wiper 53 functions as a wiper whose free end slides on the light transmission window 32. As a result, the rotation of the agitator 33 causes the free end of the wiper 53 to be rubbed against the light transmission window 32, so that the toner adhering to the light transmission window 32 can be removed.
5. In the above embodiment, the case where the flexible film according to the present invention is the wiper 53 is taken as an example. However, as another example of the flexible film, the stirring film 52 can be cited, and this stirring film is used. The first locking portion and the second locking portion are provided in 52, and the first protrusion and the second protrusion are provided in the agitator main body 51, and the first locking portion and the second locking portion are respectively the first protrusions. And the attachment of the stirring film 52 to the agitator main body 51 may be achieved by being locked to the second protrusion.

21 Developing Cartridge 27 Developing Casing 32 Light Transmission Window 33 Agitator 51 Agitator Main Body 53 Wiper 63 Wiper Locking Surface 64 First Projection 65 First Inclined Surface 66 Wiper Arrangement Surface 67 Second Projection 68 Guide Projection 69 Claw 70 Surface 71 Third protrusion 72 Inclined surface 75 Hole 76 First locking portion (right end surface)
77 Second locking part (right edge)

Claims (11)

A stirring member for stirring the developer,
A stirring member body having a film placement surface;
A flexible film attached to the stirring member body so that one end is a free end,
The stirring member body includes a first protrusion, a second protrusion protruding from the film disposition surface, a third protrusion facing the film disposition surface with an interval, the first protrusion, and the second protrusion. A guide protrusion having a surface that protrudes from the film disposition surface between the protrusions and is inclined so as to move away from the film disposition surface as it approaches the first protrusion;
The flexible film is disposed between the film arrangement surface and the third protrusion, and a straight line between the first protrusion and the second protrusion between the free end and the other end on the opposite side. An agitation member provided with a first locking portion and a second locking portion that are provided at a distance larger than the distance and are locked to the first protrusion and the second protrusion, respectively.   The stirring member according to claim 1, wherein a protruding amount of the second protrusion from the film arrangement surface is larger than a distance between the film arrangement surface and the third protrusion.   The stirring member according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second protrusion is formed in a bowl shape having a claw portion protruding toward the first protrusion.   The stirring member according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the second protrusion has a surface that is inclined so as to be separated from the film arrangement surface as the first protrusion is approached. The stirring member body has a film locking surface orthogonal to the film arrangement surface,
The stirring member according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first protrusion protrudes from the film locking surface.   6. The stirring member according to claim 5, wherein a front end surface of the first protrusion has a surface that is inclined so as to approach the film locking surface as it approaches the film arrangement surface.   The stirring member according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the first locking portion is an end portion on the other end side of the flexible film. The flexible film has a hole through which the second protrusion can be inserted,
The stirring member according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the second locking portion is an end portion on the other end side of the hole.   The stirring member according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the flexible film is made of a synthetic resin. A housing for containing the developer;
A stirring member disposed in the housing,
A developing cartridge in which the stirring member according to any one of claims 1 to 9 is used as the stirring member. The casing is formed with a light transmission window that transmits light for detecting the amount of developer in the casing.
The stirring member body is rotatably supported by the housing.
11. The developing cartridge according to claim 10, wherein the flexible film is a wiper whose free end slides on the light transmission window by rotation of the stirring member main body.

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