JP5335485B2 - Process cartridge, image forming apparatus, and sealing method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a developer seal structure and a sealing method for a process cartridge in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

  Here, the electrophotographic image forming apparatus forms an image on a recording medium using an electrophotographic image forming process, and includes, for example, an electrophotographic copying machine, an electrophotographic printer, an electrophotographic facsimile apparatus, and an electrophotographic word processor. It is. Examples of the electrophotographic printer include an LED printer and a laser beam printer.

  The process cartridge refers to a cartridge in which at least the developing means and the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally formed so as to be detachable from the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

  An electrophotographic image forming apparatus such as a printer forms a latent image by selectively exposing a uniformly charged image carrier, and develops the latent image with a developer. Is transferred to a recording medium to record an image. In such an apparatus, it is necessary to replenish the developer every time the developer runs out. However, the developer replenishment operation is troublesome and may be contaminated. In addition, maintenance of each member can only be performed by a professional service person, and is often inconvenient for the user.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 17, the image carrier 101, the charger 102, the developing device 103, the cleaning device 108 and the like are integrated into a single structure to form a cartridge. As described above, when the user loads the cartridge into the apparatus main body, the developer can be replenished and the parts of the image carrier that has reached the end of its life can be replaced, and the maintenance is facilitated.

  In the above-described process cartridge, for example, in the developing unit 103, a seal member 107 such as foam rubber or felt is provided so that the developer 106 does not leak from the gap between the developing blade 104 and the developing frame 105. Also in the cleaning device 108, a seal member 112 is provided so that the waste developer 111 does not leak outside through the gap between the cleaning blade 109 and the cleaning frame 110.

  As for the form of the seal member for preventing the developer leakage, various configurations and methods have been proposed as disclosed in, for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2.

  Furthermore, in the process of proceeding with the investigation of the developer seal structure and the sealing method, the inventors have paid attention to a joining technique using a laser disclosed in, for example, Patent Document 3 and Patent Document 4.

  In Patent Document 3, in bonding of different types of resin materials, a laser absorbing resin is disposed in the lower portion and a laser non-absorbing resin (a protrusion is formed on the lower surface, which is a bonding surface) is disposed in the upper portion. Then, the laser-absorbing resin is heated and melted by irradiating the laser beam from above, and the protrusions of the upper resin are pressed against the melted portion of the lower resin to join them together.

  In Patent Document 4, when two resin materials are joined, a laser-absorbing resin is disposed in the lower portion, and a laser non-absorbing resin is disposed in the upper portion (a protrusion is formed on the lower surface of the joining surface, and a retaining groove is formed in the periphery thereof). . Then, the laser-absorbing resin is heated and melted by irradiating the laser beam from above, the upper resin protrusion is pressed against the melted portion of the lower resin, and the melt is raised in the retaining groove to join them together. A method is disclosed.

JP 07-219295 A JP 2000-13040 A JP 62-071626 A JP 62-074631 A

  The conventional process cartridge described above has various configurations so that the developer or the waste developer does not leak out of the cartridge, such as a gap between the developing blade and the developing frame or a gap between the cleaning blade and the cleaning frame. Many seal members are used. In particular, since the blade itself or the support substrate of the developing blade and the cleaning blade is a metal material, it is difficult to join the developing blade or the cleaning blade to a frame body formed of a resin material, and it is necessary to provide a seal member over the blade length. However, when a seal member is used, there are problems such as an increase in material cost and the need for a complicated assembly device.

  An object of the invention according to the present application is to solve the above-described problems, and to provide a structure and a sealing method for sealing a gap between a developing blade and a frame without using a seal member.

A typical configuration in the present invention for achieving the above object is a process cartridge that can be attached to and detached from an image forming apparatus, and is formed of a resin that can transmit an energy beam, and a frame that can store a developer. A metal body attached so as to be in contact with a part of the frame, an energy beam absorber provided on the part and absorbing the energy beam, and both ends of the metal body included in the frame. A pair of seating surfaces, the energy beam absorber is irradiated with the energy beam from the outside, the part is melted, the frame body and the metal body are brought into close contact, and the energy beam is irradiated. A contact surface between the melted part and the metal body is on the same plane as the seating surface .

  According to the present invention, it is possible to tightly seal between a frame body and a component such as a metal body without requiring a seal member.

It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the structure of the process cartridge of 1st Embodiment of this invention. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a configuration of a developing unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a developing unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a part of the developing unit in FIG. 4 in detail. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the energy beam absorber of 1st Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a developer movement prevention portion according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a developer movement prevention portion according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a developer movement prevention portion according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a developer movement prevention portion according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view in which a part of the developing unit shown in FIG. 3 is enlarged. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a developer movement prevention portion according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a developer movement prevention portion according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a developer movement prevention portion according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows a part of process cartridge of 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the developer movement prevention part of 2nd Embodiment of this invention, (a) is before mounting | wearing of a developing blade, (b) has shown after mounting. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the structure of the conventional process cartridge.

  Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating an example of a process cartridge in the electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating an example of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

[Entire configuration of image forming apparatus]
As shown in FIG. 1, the process cartridge 1 is provided with a charging roller 12 as charging means around a photosensitive drum 11 as an image carrier. Further, the process cartridge 1 is provided with a developing roller 13, a developing blade 14, and a developing frame 16 that can store a developer 15 before image formation as a developing unit. Further, the process cartridge 1 is provided with a cleaning frame (frame) 19 for storing a cleaning blade 17 and a waste developer 18 after image formation as a cleaning unit. These parts are covered with a housing or the like (not shown) so as to be integrated as a process cartridge so as to be detachable from the electrophotographic image forming apparatus (image forming apparatus) 2 as shown in FIG. Yes.

  Thus, the process cartridge 1 is mounted on the electrophotographic image forming apparatus 2 and used for image formation. For image formation, the recording sheet 3 is conveyed by a conveyance roller 21 from a sheet cassette 20 mounted at the lower part of the apparatus. In synchronization with this sheet conveyance, the photosensitive drum 11 is selectively exposed from the exposure device 22 to form a latent image. Thereafter, the developer 15 contained in the developing frame (frame) 16 is carried on the surface of the developing roller 13 by the developing blade 14 as a thin layer. By applying a developing bias to the photosensitive drum 11 that is a developer carrying member, the developer 15 is supplied according to the latent image. The developer image is transferred to the recording sheet 3 by applying a bias voltage to the transfer roller 23, and the recording sheet 3 is conveyed to the fixing device 24 to fix the image. Then, the paper is discharged by a discharge roller 25 to a discharge unit 26 at the upper part of the apparatus.

[Process cartridge configuration]
A sealing structure and a sealing method according to the process cartridge of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view for explaining the outline of the cleaning unit of this embodiment. FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the cleaning unit. FIG. 5 shows in detail the close contact between the cleaning frame body and the cleaning blade in FIG. It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram to explain. In FIG. 3, the cleaning frame 19 and the cleaning blade 17 are illustrated in a separated state for easy explanation.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the cleaning blade 17 is composed of a metal body 17a and a rubber portion 17b at the tip of the metal body. The metal body 17a supports the rubber portion 17b of the cleaning blade 17. The cleaning frame 19 is provided with a seating surface 27 for receiving the cleaning blade 17 and a developer movement prevention portion (partially, convex shape, rib shape) 28 where the cleaning frame body and the metal body 17a are in close contact with each other. The convex tip portion of the developer movement preventing portion 28 is in contact with the metal body 17a. An energy beam absorber 29 is disposed in the developer movement preventing portion 28 of the cleaning frame. The cleaning blade 17 is arranged in accordance with the seating surface 27, and the energy beam 30 is irradiated from the cleaning frame body 19 side, whereby the developer movement preventing portion 28 is melted and is in close contact with the metal body (component) 17a. Thereafter, both end portions of the cleaning blade 17 are fixed to the seat surface 27 using screws or the like (not shown).

  The process cartridge 1 is a process in which the developing means and the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally formed into a cartridge that can be attached to and detached from the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus 2 and that acts on at least the image carrier and the image carrier. Means are provided. That is, the process cartridge 1 rotates the photosensitive drum 11 having the photosensitive layer. Then, after the surface is uniformly charged by applying a voltage to the charging roller 12 which is a charging means, the photosensitive drum 11 is irradiated with the laser beam light corresponding to the image information from the optical system through the exposure opening. To form a latent image. Further, the developer 15 is supplied to the developing area of the photosensitive drum 11 to develop the latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 11.

  Examples of the process means include a charging means for charging the surface of the image carrier, a developing means for forming an image on the image carrier, and a cleaning means for removing the developer remaining on the surface of the image carrier. . A group of parts constituting the charging means, developing means, cleaning means, etc. is coupled to a frame constituting the process cartridge, or coupled to a frame constituting each process such as a charging frame, developing frame, cleaning frame, etc. Has been.

  The charging means may be charged by contacting the charging roller 12 with the photosensitive drum 11, for example, or may be charged by using a known charging means such as corona discharge. Further, the charging performance of the photosensitive drum 11 varies depending on the photosensitive potential, which affects the image quality such as image density and the electric resistance value of the charging roller 12. For this reason, since the durability of the photosensitive drum 11 may be affected, the charging bias can be suitably changed in accordance with the charging characteristics of the photosensitive member.

  The developing means feeds the developer in the developing frame to the developing roller 13 by rotating the developer feeding member, and rotates the developing roller 13 having a built-in fixed magnet. Further, a developer layer imparted with triboelectric charge by the developing blade 14 or the like is formed on the surface of the developing roller 13, and the developer 15 is supplied to the developing area of the photosensitive drum 11. Then, the developer 15 is transferred to the photosensitive drum 11 in accordance with the latent image, thereby forming a developer image to make a visible image. Here, the developing blade 14 defines the amount of developer on the peripheral surface of the developing roller 13 and imparts triboelectric charge. Further, a developer stirring member for circulating the developer in the developing chamber may be rotatably attached in the vicinity of the developing roller 13.

  A voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the developer image is applied to the transfer roller to transfer the developer image formed on the photosensitive drum 11 to the recording medium, and then the residual developer on the photosensitive drum is removed by a cleaning unit. Here, the developer remaining on the photosensitive drum is scraped off and collected in a waste developer reservoir by an elastic cleaning blade 17 provided in contact with the photosensitive drum.

[Frame structure]
As the frame according to the present embodiment, for example, each component such as a photosensitive drum, a charging roller, a developing roller, and a cleaning blade is disposed, and the rigidity is obtained so that the developer does not leak and a good image is obtained. It is required to have a structure and material that improve and suppress vibration. In addition, materials that are excellent in flame retardancy, insulation, and recyclability and that are low in cost and excellent in moldability are required. For example, polystyrene (PS), acrylonitrile / butadiene / styrene copolymer (ABS), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), modified polyphenylene ether (m-PPE), PC / ABS, and the like can be suitably used. PC / ABS is a mixture of polycarbonate (PC) and ABS.

  In particular, the frame body of this embodiment is required to be a material that transmits an energy beam irradiated from the outside. Depending on the type of the energy beam, for example, the particle size and amount of the rubber-like polymer, and further the flame retardant Materials, prescriptions, etc. are suitably selected, such as type and coloring material.

  As a method for processing the frame, known processing methods for resin materials such as injection molding and cutting can be suitably used. In particular, injection molding can be expected to be molded at a low cost with good mass productivity.

  Examples of the styrene resin composition that can be suitably used for the frame of the process cartridge include high impact polystyrene (HIPS) that is a rubber-modified styrene material. This material is a mixture of a rubber-like polymer or a rubber-like copolymer in order to improve impact resistance to inexpensive polystyrene having good fluidity. As the rubber-like polymer or rubber-like copolymer, it is preferable to use a mixture of a rubber-like polymer or rubber-like copolymer having an average particle size of 0.5 to 3.0 μm. This is because when the average particle size of the rubber-like polymer or copolymer to be mixed is small, appearance defects (for example, scratches) are likely to occur during molding, and conversely, when the average particle size is large. There exists a tendency for the weldability at the time of a process to fall. The rubbery polymer or rubbery copolymer is selected from the group consisting of polybutadiene, styrene-butadiene copolymer, polyisoprene, butadiene-isoprene copolymer, natural rubber, and ethylene-propylene copolymer. A polymer is preferably used.

  Further, the frame material is required to have flame retardancy having safety against fire. Therefore, a brominated flame retardant or a phosphate ester flame retardant is added to the styrene resin composition as the first flame retardant. Examples of brominated flame retardants include ethylene bispentabromobenzene, tetrabromobisphenol A derivatives, and polybrominated aliphatic ether derivatives. Examples of the phosphate ester flame retardant include resorcinol bis (diphenyl phosphate) and bisphenol A bis (diphenyl phosphate). Furthermore, the amount of the first flame retardant added can be reduced by adding the second flame retardant, and the heat resistance of the styrene-based resin composition serving as the base polymer can be prevented from being lowered. However, when a brominated flame retardant is used as the first flame retardant, usually antimony trioxide is preferably used as the second flame retardant because it is most effective. However, when antimony trioxide is used on the laser beam transmitting side, the transmittance of the laser beam is lowered, which is not preferable in performing laser welding. In the case of using a phosphate ester-based flame retardant as the first flame retardant, it is also a preferable method to increase the flame retardancy by including a PPE (polyphenylene ether) resin. In this case, 9 to 17 parts by mass of the PPE resin is added to 100 parts by mass of the styrene resin.

[Configuration of energy beam]
The energy beam 30 according to the present embodiment irradiates energy to an energy beam absorber 29 provided at a portion where the developer movement preventing portion (a part of the frame) 28 and the metal body 17a are in close contact with each other. Well-known energy beams such as electrons and electromagnetic waves can be used as appropriate.

  Examples of the light include heating by light irradiation such as laser light, halogen light, or a far-infrared lamp. Examples of the laser light include a solid-state laser and a gas laser. Solid-state lasers include semiconductors, ruby (Cr: Al2O3), YAG (Nd: YAG), Yb: YAG, Cr: YAG phosphate glass, silicate glass, YLF (Nd: YLF), YVO4 (Nd: YVO4), Examples include titanium sapphire (Ti: Al2O3). Examples of the gas laser include CO2 laser excitation far infrared, discharge excitation far infrared, and rare gas ions. In heat processing, a laser beam having a wavelength of 0.4 to 3.0 μm is preferably used. Particularly in resin bonding, laser light in the near-infrared wavelength region (0.75 to 3.0 μm) can be suitably used.

  Among these, the solid laser has an advantage that a high-efficiency and high-power laser can be easily obtained as compared with a gas laser, and maintenance is easy, and the apparatus can be downsized. Furthermore, semiconductor lasers, among other things, can transmit laser light through an optical fiber, can be heated away from the laser transmitter, are easy to maintain, and have excellent processing conditions. Has characteristics. In addition, it is possible to change the processing state such as the energy density to be irradiated and the focal position by selecting the optical fiber and the emission unit, and furthermore, it is possible to branch the laser beam to about 2 to 10 and thus it is preferable. Can be used.

  The processing conditions such as the angle of the energy beam with respect to the developer movement preventing portion can be appropriately selected depending on the material and shape of the developer movement preventing portion and energy beam absorber of the frame that is the irradiated material, the required melted state, and the like. The angle of the laser beam irradiation with respect to the developer movement preventing portion is closer to the vertical and the energy loss increases with less reflection loss. However, the angle is appropriately selected depending on the material and thickness of the developer movement preventing portion and the required conditions. It is desirable to irradiate the laser beam at about 0 to 50 ° from the vertical, and it is easy to obtain a good adhesion state by tilting about 1 to 20 ° from the vertical in general-purpose bonding.

[Configuration of energy beam absorber]
In the energy beam absorber 29 according to the present embodiment, the energy beam absorber 29 is heated by absorbing or / and reacting with the irradiation of the energy beam described above, and the developer movement preventing portion 28 of the frame body is brought to a melting temperature or higher. It is to be arranged to dampen. As an arrangement method, there are a method of adhering to the developer movement preventing portion 28 of the frame body by a known method such as printing and coating, and a method of supplying it in the form of a film, which can be appropriately selected.

  When the energy beam is light or the like, a known light absorbing material can be used as appropriate regardless of whether it is an insulating material, a conductive material, an organic material or an inorganic material, and at least 30% or more of the irradiated energy beam can be absorbed. desirable. That is, when the absorption rate of the energy beam absorber is high, the conversion of the irradiation energy into heat is efficiently performed, so that the output of the energy beam supplied from the outside can be reduced. However, if the absorption rate of the energy beam absorber is too high, rapid heating due to irradiation energy occurs, and a large number of bubbles are generated in the developer movement blocking portion of the frame body, or decomposition, deformation or deterioration of the resin occurs. In some cases. For this reason, the energy beam absorber can be appropriately selected with an absorption rate of 30% or more in accordance with the energy beam irradiated from the outside.

  As the energy beam absorber 29 when the energy beam is light, it is functionally sufficient to add color by felt pen or ink jet, but it is an absorbing material with a fixed light absorption coefficient for the energy beam. Is desirable. For example, carbon black, graphite, titanium oxide, barium sulfate, zinc sulfide, magnesium carbonate, calcium carbonate, zinc oxide, calcium oxide, magnesium oxide, tungsten disulfide, molybdenum disulfide, boron nitride, tin disulfide, silicon disulfide, oxidation Chromium, alumina, silicon carbide, cerium oxide, corundum, artificial diamond, iron oxide, garnet, garnet, silica, silicon nitride, molybdenum carbide, boron carbide, tungsten carbide, titanium carbide, diatomaceous earth, dolomite, resinous powder Lubricants, abrasives, antistatic agents, dispersants, pigments, and / or phthalocyanine dyes, azo dyes, anthraquinone dyes, indigoid dyes, nitro and nitroso dyes, quinoline dyes, methine dyes, thiazole dyes, quinoneimines Dye, a Emissions dyes, oxazine dyes, thiazine dyes, Azoitsuku dyes, diphenylmethane dyes, triphenylmethane dyes, xanthene dyes, acridine dyes, oxidation dyes, sulfur dyes, phthalein dyes, aminoketone dyes, oxyketone dyes and the like can be used suitably. In order to perform stable processing, it is necessary to eliminate unevenness in the color of the ink coating method. For example, there are various known methods such as a method of coating with a nozzle coater, and curing of silk-printed ink in a hot air drying oven. Can be selected as appropriate. In addition to coating and printing, as shown in FIG. 6, for example, the above-described absorbing material such as carbon black or pigment may be kneaded into a resin material or a polymer film. Further, an energy beam absorber 29 is supplied by separately supplying a resin material or a film coated or vapor-deposited with an absorbing material, and the energy beam absorber 29 is sandwiched between the developer movement preventing portion of the frame and the metal body. There is also a method in which both the resin material and the film are melted together. In FIG. 6, the cleaning blade 17, the cleaning frame 19, and the energy beam absorber 29 are shown in a separated state. Further, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, when molding the frame, the resin kneaded with the energy absorbing material described above in the developer movement preventing portion is integrated using means such as a two-color molding method. You may shape | mold. In the above-described method, the system in which the energy beam absorber is mainly provided on the frame has been described. However, the energy beam absorber may be provided on a metal body such as a developing blade or a cleaning blade.

  When the energy beam is an electron, electromagnetic wave, or the like, a known electron / electromagnetic wave absorbing material such as a magnetic material such as chromium oxide, cobalt, or ferrite, or a metal material such as aluminum or iron can be used as appropriate. The action effect of the electron / electromagnetic wave absorbing material is the same as the effect of the absorbing material when the energy beam 30 is light, etc., and the energy beam absorber is absorbed or / and reacts by absorbing the irradiation of the energy beam 30. By heating, the developer movement preventing portion 28 of the frame is brought to the melting temperature or higher. Furthermore, as a method of disposing the absorbing material in the developer movement preventing portion 28 of the frame, a known method such as the same means as the absorbing material when the energy beam 30 is light can be suitably used.

[Configuration of developer movement prevention part]
7 to 10 are schematic cross-sectional views for explaining an example of the developer movement preventing portion of this embodiment.

  The developer movement preventing portion according to the present embodiment is formed integrally with the frame of the process cartridge 1, melted by irradiating the energy beam 30 from the outside, and in close contact with the metal body 17 a attached to the frame. To do.

  That is, since the frame body of the present embodiment is made of a resin material that can transmit the energy beam 30 irradiated from the outside, the energy beam absorber 29 described above is provided in the vicinity of the developer movement preventing portion 28. Then, the energy beam absorber 29 is irradiated with an energy beam 30 from the outside to heat the medium, and the developer movement preventing portion 28 made of a resin material that transmits the energy beam 30 is melted. In addition, although the energy beam absorber 29 diffuses into the melted developer movement preventing portion 28, the developer movement preventing portion 28 may be melted to some extent.

  The developer movement preventing portion 28 is provided over the seating surface 27 to which the metal body 17a of the frame is attached, and seals the developer from leaking from the gap between the both seating surfaces of the frame and the metal body 17a. It is.

  Since it is important to melt the developer movement preventing portion 28 in order to bring the developer movement preventing portion 28 into close contact with the metal body 17a, the seats provided to the side of the developer movement preventing portion 28 or on the frame body are important. The energy beam absorber 29 may be provided up to the recess between the surface and the seating surface. Further, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, the energy beam 30 supplied from the outside needs to be irradiated over at least the developer movement preventing portion 28 and the energy beam absorber 29. The

  Further, the metal body 17a constituting the developing blade 14 or the cleaning blade needs to be in close contact with both seating surfaces (a pair of seating surfaces) 27 of the frame. That is, when the metal body 17a is brought into close contact with both the seating surfaces 27 of the frame body, a seal that prevents the developer 15 from leaking out from the metal body 17a and the seating surface 27 is possible. In addition, the relative position with respect to the photosensitive drum 11 can be determined through the frame by being in close contact with both the seating surfaces 27.

  The contact surface of the developer movement inhibiting portion 28 with the metal body 17a needs to be substantially flush with both seating surfaces 27 after melting and resolidification by irradiation with the energy beam 30 (the metal body 17a of the developer movement inhibiting portion 28 and The contact surface must be flush with both seating surfaces 27).

  That is, the height of the developer movement preventing portion 28 and the height of the seating surface 27 need to be substantially the same. This is because the developer movement preventing portion 28 provided on both seating surfaces 27 that receive the metal body 17a of the frame body and the metal body 17a are tightly sealed over the entire longitudinal direction (direction parallel to the photosensitive drum 11). It is.

  Further, since the frame is formed from a resin material, it is difficult to form both the seating surface 27 of the frame and the developer movement preventing portion 28 substantially flush with each other because of the processing accuracy. For this reason, in the frame body before the energy beam irradiation, the developer movement preventing portion 28 is formed slightly higher than the height of both the seating surfaces 27 that receive the metal body 17a. Then, when the metal body 17a is disposed and the developer movement prevention portion 28 is melted by irradiating the developer movement prevention portion 28 with the energy beam 30 from the outside, the metal body 17a is attached to both seating surfaces of the frame body. Press (press) 27. Then, the developer movement preventing portion 28 is re-solidified in a state where the metal body 17a is pressed against both the seat surfaces 27, whereby the cross frame and the metal body 17a can be tightly sealed between the both seat surfaces 27.

  The height of the developer movement preventing portion 28 with respect to both seating surfaces 27 of the frame body is determined by the pressing force of the metal body 17a against the seating surface of the frame body, the energy from the outside, as well as the molding accuracy and metal body processing accuracy of the frame body It can be suitably determined by the melt height of the developer movement preventing portion when the beam is applied. In particular, it should be noted that the melt height of the developer movement preventing portion 28 varies depending on the shape of the developer movement preventing portion 28 and the arrangement method of the energy beam absorber 29.

  That is, since the frame body of the present embodiment is made of a resin material that transmits the energy beam 30 irradiated from the outside, the energy beam 30 irradiated from the outside is also transmitted through the developer movement preventing portion 28. For this reason, the transfer of heat for melting the developer movement preventing portion 28 is limited to the vicinity of the energy beam absorber 29. In the study by the present inventors, it has been found that the lower the energy density and the longer the irradiation time, the better melting of the developer movement preventing portion 28 can be obtained. However, even in such a case, the melt height is limited in a system in which the energy beam absorber is provided only on the surface of the developer movement preventing portion, for example, by a method using coating or another member.

  Therefore, the developer movement preventing portion 28 is formed in a rib shape, the rib width is set to 1 mm or less, and the energy beam absorber is provided on the metal body contact surface and the rib side surface of the rib so that the rib melts by external energy beam irradiation. Reduction of rib height due to protrusion can be expected. That is, first, the rib height before the energy beam irradiation is formed to be higher than the seat surface height of the frame. And by making the ribs substantially flush with the seating surface height by energy beam irradiation, the ribs and the metal body cross over between the seating surfaces on both ends of the metal body without being affected by the molding accuracy of the frame including the ribs and the seating surface. Can be tightly sealed.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 8, one row or more of ribs having a width of 1 mm or less are arranged in the cleaning frame 19 as a developer movement prevention portion 28 in the longitudinal direction, and the energy beam absorber 29 is disposed on the cleaning frame 19. It is provided on the close contact surface and rib side surface of the rib metal body 17a. While pressing the cleaning blade 17 against the cleaning frame 19, the energy beam 30 is irradiated from the outside to reduce the rib height due to melting of the rib, and the cleaning blade 17 is placed on both seat surfaces 27 of the frame not shown. It can adhere.

  Therefore, when molding with a rib width of 1 mm or less, the energy beam absorber 29 is provided on the surface of the rib even when the rib itself is molded with a resin material that transmits the energy beam 30 of the same material as the frame. The rib height is reduced due to melting of the rib by irradiation of the energy beam 30, and the metal pair can be brought into close contact with both seat surfaces of the frame (not shown).

  In the above description, the form in which the energy beam absorber 29 is supplied in a thin form by using printing or coating means on the contact surface of the developer movement preventing portion 28 with the metal body 17a or the side surface thereof has been described. However, for example, the whole or a part of the developer movement preventing portion 28 may be molded with an energy beam absorbing resin. That is, for example, a resin kneaded with an energy beam absorbing material is molded using means such as two-color molding, so that, for example, the energy beam is placed near the entire surface of the developer movement preventing portion 28 or the contact surface with the metal body 17a. A frame including the absorber 29 can be integrally formed.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 9, the entire developer movement preventing portion 28 described above is integrally formed on the cleaning frame 19 with a resin 28a containing an energy beam absorbing material by using, for example, a two-color molding method. By irradiating the developer movement preventing portion 28 with the energy beam 30 from the outside, the rib height can be reduced by melting the developer movement preventing portion 28, and the cleaning blade 17 is brought into close contact with both seat surfaces of the frame (not shown). can do.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 10, a developer movement blocking portion 28b formed on the cleaning frame 19 at the same time as the frame is molded with a resin 28a containing an energy beam absorbing material by using, for example, a two-color molding method. It can also be a blocking portion 28. By irradiating the developer movement preventing portion 28 with the energy beam 30 from the outside, the rib height can be reduced by melting the developer movement preventing portion 28, and the cleaning blade 17 is brought into close contact with both seat surfaces of the frame (not shown). can do.

  As described above, when the developer movement prevention portion 28 is formed of a resin material containing the energy beam absorber 29, the developer movement prevention portion 28 is melted by the energy beam irradiation even if the rib width is larger than 1 mm. This can be expected to reduce the rib height.

[Composition of metal body]
As the metal body described above, a known metal body used for the developing blade 14 and the cleaning blade 17 of the process cartridge can be used.

  The metal body mentioned above is a steel plate, an alloy, etc. which gave plating processing, such as galvanization and nickel plating, for example. The portion of the metal body where the developer movement preventing portion of the frame is in close contact may remain as described above, but the plating material may be removed by, for example, blasting. Furthermore, when the contact surface is provided with irregularities of, for example, Rz = 20 μm by blasting or knurl processing, the contact surface area is enlarged by about 1.5 to 2 times, so that the contact state is improved. it can.

[Assembly of cleaning blade]
11, 12, 13, and 14 are schematic views for explaining the assembly of the cleaning frame and the cleaning blade according to this embodiment. The details of the cleaning blade will be described with reference to these drawings and FIG.

  FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing in detail the seat surface 27 and the rib-like developer movement preventing portion 28 of FIG. 1, and FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing a cross section of FIG. FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram for explaining a state after the energy beam absorber 29 is arranged on the rib-like developer movement preventing portion 28 shown in FIG. 12, and FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the cleaning blade 17 is closely attached. FIG.

  Cleaning frame 19 is formulated with high-impact polystyrene (HIPS) with a rubber amount of 8 parts by mass per 100 parts by mass of styrene resin composition and a rubber particle size of 1.8 μm. To do. The cleaning frame 19 is formed of a laser light transmitting material that transmits 50% or more of laser light having a thickness of 2 mm and a wavelength of 840 nm and that does not cause heating and melting when irradiated with the laser light. Then, the seat surface 27 and the rib-like developer movement preventing portion 28 are integrally formed by injection molding. The seating surface 27 is a seating surface that receives the metal body 17a of the cleaning blade 17, and is formed so that both seating surfaces separated by 200 mm are substantially flush with each other, and a recess 31 that is 0.2 mm lower between the seating surface and the seating surface. It has become. The rib-shaped developer movement preventing portion 28 has two rows of trapezoidal shapes having a top surface width A of 0.3 mm and a bottom surface width B of 0.6 mm, and the top surface is formed 0.2 mm higher than the seating surface 27. . The cleaning blade 17 is made by forming a metal body 17a by forming a galvanized steel sheet having a length of 220 mm and a thickness of 2 mm by sheet metal working or the like, and forming a rubber portion 17b made of silicone rubber at the tip of the metal body 17a.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 13, the energy beam absorber 29 in which black carbon and black dye are mixed in the rib peripheral portion of the rib-like developer movement-inhibiting portion 28 and the concave portion 31 across the seat surface 27 is felt. Use to apply evenly.

  Thereafter, the end of the metal body 17a of the cleaning blade 17 is arranged at the position of both seating surfaces 27, and the entire cleaning blade 17 is uniformly pressed against the seating surface 27 with a pressing pressure of 200 N, while the laser beam from the cleaning frame body 19 side. Irradiate 30a. The rib-shaped developer movement preventing portion 28 is melted, and both end portions of the cleaning blade 17 are in close contact with the seat surface 27 and the cleaning blade 17 is also in close contact with the rib-shaped developer movement preventing portion 28. As a laser beam to be irradiated, a semiconductor laser having a wavelength of 840 nm and energy of 24 W is oscillated CW and scanned between the seating surfaces at a speed of 50 mm / s. FIG. 14 shows a state after the cleaning frame 19 and the cleaning blade 17 are brought into close contact with each other. Reference numeral 32 denotes a portion where the energy beam absorber is mixed with a frame, a rib portion, and the like that are melted by irradiation with the laser light 30a and are energy transmission materials.

Further, the cleaning blade 17 is fixed to the seating surface 27 with screws in a state where the rib-like developer movement preventing portion 28 is melted by the irradiation of the laser beam 30a. (Not shown)
Since the cleaning blade is tightly fixed to the cleaning frame by the above-described configuration and method, the developer can be sealed between the seating surfaces of the cleaning frame without providing a separate sealing material or the like.

[Effect of this embodiment]
For this reason, according to this embodiment, the energy beam absorber is provided at the portion where the developer movement preventing portion of the resinous frame and the metal body are in close contact with each other by the energy beam irradiation, thereby developing the frame. The agent movement blocking portion is heated to a temperature exceeding the melting temperature. For this reason, it can seal tightly between both by filling the clearance gap between the frame body and the metal body attached to this frame body by melt | dissolving or flowing out of this resin.

  Therefore, since it is not necessary to separately supply, for example, a seal member other than the frame body and the metal body, it is possible to reduce the number of parts and to reduce the cost. Further, since the processing is performed by non-contact energy beam irradiation, the structure of the apparatus can be simplified and the apparatus cost can be reduced, and the tact time can be shortened and the mass productivity can be expected to be improved.

  Furthermore, the convex rib portion of the resinous frame is heated to a temperature exceeding the melting temperature by the energy beam irradiation. For this reason, it is possible to tightly seal between the two by filling the gap between the frame body and the metal body attached to the frame body by melting or flowing out the convex ribs or by crushing. Furthermore, since the seat body which receives the both ends of a metal body was provided in the frame body, the relative position of the metal body with respect to a frame body can be determined easily.

  The periphery of the convex rib is concave with respect to the seat surface provided in the frame, and the convex rib is provided in the concave portion. For this reason, excess molten resin when the convex rib is irradiated with the energy beam, vaporized gas due to resin temperature rise, etc. can be extracted out of the contact part between the frame and metal body, and the frame and metal body are in good contact Can be obtained.

  Providing a convex rib shape in a part of the frame can be easily manufactured when the frame is formed by molding, and can be processed with almost no cost increase and process change.

  One convex rib may be provided over the seating surface that receives both ends of the metal body of the frame, but it can be expected that the sealing performance is improved by providing a plurality of ribs.

  The ribs provided over the seating surfaces that receive both ends of the metal body of the frame are substantially flush with the seating surfaces that receive both ends of the energy metal body after melting by energy beam irradiation. Therefore, the metal body can be easily adhered to the seating surface of the frame body, and the relative position of the metal body with respect to the photosensitive drum as the image carrier can be easily determined via the frame body. It is possible to easily obtain a tight seal between the metal body and the seating surface of the frame.

  When the rib width is 1 mm or less, the rib height can be expected to be reduced by the melting of the rib by external energy beam irradiation. That is, first, the rib height before the energy beam irradiation is formed to be higher than the seat surface height of the frame. And by making the rib substantially flush with the seating surface height by irradiation with the energy beam, the rib and the metal cross between the seating surfaces on both ends of the metal body without being affected by the molding accuracy of the frame including the ribs and the seating surface. The body can be tightly sealed.

  By the energy beam irradiation, the energy beam absorber provided at the portion where the developer movement preventing portion of the resin frame is in close contact with the metal body receives energy. In the step of providing a medium for absorbing an energy beam applied from the outside to a surface where the frame and the metal body are in close contact with each other when the developer movement prevention portion of the frame is heated to a temperature exceeding the melting temperature, A method of providing materials and media can be suitably selected. Further, it is easy to provide a medium having a specific absorption characteristic for the energy beam, and the temperature control and the melt-out management of the developer movement blocking portion of the frame can be easily performed by irradiation of the energy beam. Also, in the step of closely arranging the frame body and the metal body, the energy beam is irradiated from the outside in the step of irradiating the surface where the frame body and the metal body are in close contact with each other. For this reason, temperature control and melt-out management can be easily performed over the entire developer movement prevention portion of the frame without temperature rise due to excessive concentration of the energy beam. Therefore, the gap between the frame body and the metal body attached to the frame body can be tightly sealed by melting or flowing out the resin.

  When the convex rib portion of the resinous frame is heated to a temperature exceeding the melting temperature by irradiation with the energy beam, a medium for absorbing the energy beam applied from the outside to the convex rib portion of the frame is provided. For this reason, the method of providing the material and medium of the energy beam absorber can be suitably selected, and it is easy to provide a medium having a specific absorption characteristic for the energy beam, and the temperature of the rib portion can be controlled by irradiation of the energy beam. It can be easily managed to melt out. Further, in the step of arranging the metal body on the seating surface that receives both ends of the metal body on the frame body, with the relative position between the frame body and the metal body being determined, energy is externally applied to the rib that the frame body and the metal body are in close contact with each other. In the step of irradiating the beam, the frame body and the metal body are brought into close contact with each other. The gap between the frame and the metal body can be tightly sealed with the relative position between the frame and the metal body determined.

  In the step of closely arranging the frame and the metal body, the energy beam is irradiated from the outside in the step of irradiating the energy beam from the outside to the surface where the frame and the metal body are in close contact. For this reason, temperature control and melt-out management can be easily performed over the entire developer movement prevention portion of the frame without temperature rise due to excessive concentration of the energy beam. For this reason, it can seal tightly between both by filling the clearance gap between the frame body and the metal body attached to this frame body by melt | dissolving or flowing out of this resin.

  The height of the convex rib provided in a part of the concave portion with respect to the seating surface that receives both ends of the metal body of the frame has a shape higher than that of the seating surface, Melt to make it almost flush with the seating surface. For this reason, the rib and the metal body can be tightly sealed across the bearing surface at both ends of the developer metal body, which depends on the forming accuracy of the frame including the rib and the seat surface.

  When the rib is melted by irradiating an energy beam from the outside, the metal body is pressed against the seating surface that receives the metal body of the frame and the molten rib. For this reason, a metal body can be arrange | positioned on the seating surface of a frame, and relative alignment with an image carrier can be performed via a frame. Furthermore, since the molten rib is crushed, the adhesion between the metal body and the rib is also improved.

  Since the frame and the metal body cannot be fixed by simply adhering the frame body rib to the metal body in a long-term use situation, the quality can be stabilized by mechanically fixing the seat surface of the frame body and the metal body. .

  In the embodiment described above, the seal between the cleaning frame 19 and the cleaning blade 17 has been described. However, the seal between the developing frame 16 and the developing blade 14 can be similarly performed.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram for explaining the assembly of the developing device frame and the developing blade according to the present embodiment. FIG. 15 is a schematic view showing a cross section of a rib serving as a developer movement preventing portion provided on the developing device frame 16, the developing blade 14, and the developing device frame 16. As shown in FIG. FIG. 16A is a schematic diagram for explaining the rib in FIG. 15 in detail, and shows a state before the developing blade 14 is brought into close contact with the developing frame 16, and FIG. 16B shows the developing blade 14 attached to the developing frame 16. It is the schematic explaining the state made to contact | adhere. Note that portions other than the configuration shown in these drawings are the same as those in the first embodiment, and thus redundant description is omitted.

  The developing frame 16 has a rubber amount of 8 parts by mass per 100 parts by mass of the styrenic resin composition, and a rubber particle diameter of 1.8 μm number average particle diameter high impact polystyrene (HIPS) with a phosphate ester flame retardant and colored. A black dye is prescribed as an agent. The developing frame 16 is formed of a laser light transmitting material that transmits 50% or more of laser light having a thickness of 2 mm and a wavelength of 840 nm and does not cause heating and melting by the irradiation of the laser light, and prevents rib-like developer movement. The portion 28c is integrally formed by injection molding. The seating surface 27a is a seating surface that receives both ends of the developing blade 14, and is formed so that both seating surfaces separated by 180 mm are substantially flush with each other, and a recess 31a that is 0.1 mm lower between the seating surface and the seating surface. ing. The rib-like developer movement preventing portion 28c is formed to be 0.8 mm wide and 0.2 mm higher than the seating surface 27. The developing blade 14 is made by forming a rubber blade made of silicone rubber at the tip of a metal blade formed by galvanized steel sheet of 200 mm in length and 2 mm in thickness by sheet metal processing, etc., and Rz is applied to the contact surface with the rib by Rz = Irregularity of 25μm is applied.

  Next, the energy beam absorber 29 is uniformly applied to the rib peripheral portion of the rib-like developer movement preventing portion 28 and the recess 31a using the ink jet printer across the seating surface 27a.

  Thereafter, the developing blade 14 is disposed on the seating surface 27, and the entire developing blade 14 is uniformly pressed against the seating surface 27a with a pressing pressure 400N, and the laser beam 30a is irradiated from the developing frame 16 side. As a result, the rib-like developer movement preventing portion 28c is melted, and both end portions of the developing blade 14 are in close contact with the seating surface 27a, and the developing blade 14 is also in close contact with the rib-like developer movement preventing portion 28c. As a laser beam to be irradiated, a semiconductor laser having a wavelength of 940 nm and an energy of 35 W is oscillated CW and scanned between the seating surfaces at a speed of 40 mm / s. Further, the developing blade 14 is fixed to the seating surface 27a with a screw (not shown) in a state where the rib-like developer movement preventing portion 28c is melted by the irradiation of the laser beam 30a.

  Since the developing blade is tightly fixed to the developing frame by the above-described configuration and method, the developer can be sealed between the seating surfaces of the developing frame without providing a separate sealing material or the like.

  In the above-described second embodiment, it has been described that the unevenness processing is performed on the developing blade 14, but the cleaning blade 17 may be subjected to the unevenness processing.

  Furthermore, it is possible to combine the first embodiment and the second embodiment described above.

  In this embodiment, since at least a portion of the metal body that is in close contact with the resinous frame has an uneven shape, the contact area between the metal body and the molten resin is increased, and the adhesion strength and the sealing performance are improved.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Process cartridge 2 ... Electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body
11… Photosensitive drum 1… Development roller
14 ... Developing blade
15 ... Developer
16 ... Development frame
17 Development blade
17a ... Metal body
17b ... Rubber part
18… Waste developer
19 ... Development frame
27 ... Seat
28, 28c, 28b, 28c ... developer movement blocking portion
29, 29a Energy beam absorption
30 ... Energy beam
30a ... Laser light
31, 31a ... recess

Claims (14)

A process cartridge that can be attached to and detached from an image forming apparatus,
A frame body made of a resin capable of transmitting an energy beam and capable of storing a developer;
A metal body attached to be in contact with a part of the frame;
An energy beam absorber provided in the portion and absorbing the energy beam;
A pair of seating surfaces for attaching both ends of the metal body, the frame body;
Comprising
Irradiating the energy beam absorber to the energy beam from the outside to melt the part to bring the frame body and the metal body into close contact ;
The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a contact surface between the metal body and the part melted by irradiation with the energy beam is on the same plane as the seating surface .   The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the part of the frame has a convex shape, and is in contact with the metal body at a tip of the convex shape. The process cartridge is
A developing roller for supplying a developer to the photosensitive drum;
The frame body is a developing frame body that stores a developer to be supplied to the developing roller,
The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the metal body is a member that supports a developing blade that supports the developer on the developing roller. The process cartridge is
Comprising a photosensitive drum on which an image of the developer is formed;
The metal body is a member that supports a cleaning blade that removes the developer from the surface of the photosensitive drum after image formation,
The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the frame body is a cleaning frame body that stores the developer removed by the cleaning blade. It said portion process cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a rib shape which is located between the pair of seating surface. The process cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the width of the contact surface is 1mm or less. The process cartridge according to any one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that it has an uneven shape on the surface of the metal body in intimate contact with the frame. Claims 1 to the process cartridge according to any one of claims 7, an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium. The process cartridge comprising: a frame that is detachably attached to the image forming apparatus and is formed of a resin that is capable of transmitting an energy beam and that can store a developer; and a metal body that is attached so as to be in contact with a part of the frame. A sealing method in which a frame body and the metal body are in close contact with each other without gaps,
Providing an energy beam absorber for absorbing the energy beam in the portion;
Placing both ends of the metal body in contact with a pair of seating surfaces of the frame; and
Irradiating the energy beam absorber with an energy beam after disposing the metal body on the pair of seating surfaces to melt the part and bringing the frame body and the metal body into close contact with each other;
Equipped with,
The portion is provided between the pair of seating surfaces, and the height of the portion before irradiation with the energy beam is higher than the height of the seating surface,
The sealing method , wherein after the energy beam is irradiated and the part is melted, the height of the part is substantially the same as the height of the seating surface . The process cartridge is
A developing roller for supplying a developer to the photosensitive drum;
The frame is a developing frame that stores a developer before image formation,
The sealing method according to claim 9 , wherein the metal body is a member that supports a developing blade that supports the developer on the developing roller. The process cartridge is
Comprising a photosensitive drum on which an image of the developer is formed;
The metal body is a member that supports a cleaning blade that removes the developer from the surface of the photosensitive drum after image formation,
The sealing method according to claim 9 , wherein the frame is a cleaning frame that stores the developer removed by the cleaning blade. It said portion, sealing method according to any one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that a rib shape. When melting the portion by irradiating the energy beam, the sealing method according to any one of claims 9 to 12, characterized in that for pressing the metal body in the direction of the portion. In a state in which the portion by irradiating the energy beam is melted, the metal body any of claims 9 to 13, characterized by further comprising a step of fixing said pair of seating surface 1 The sealing method according to item.

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