JP5407739B2 - Development device package and development device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a packaging body for a developing device in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile machine, or a combination machine combining two or more of them, which forms a toner image by electrophotography. The present invention also relates to a developing device.

  In an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile machine, or a combination machine combining two or more of them, which normally forms a toner image, an electrostatic latent image is usually formed on an image carrier such as a photosensitive member in an exposure process. Then, the electrostatic latent image is developed by a development process to form a visible toner image, and the visible toner image is transferred to a recording medium such as a recording paper by a transfer process, or is temporarily transferred by an intermediate transfer belt or the like. The toner image transferred to the recording medium in the fixing process is transferred to a recording medium such as recording paper (hereinafter referred to as recording paper). It can be fixed.

In the development process, for example, a developing roller as a developer carrying member is opposed to a drum type photosensitive member as a latent electrostatic image bearing member while maintaining a certain interval, and the developing roller and the drum type photosensitive member are placed between each other. A so-called non-contact development is performed in which an electric field is formed, and the toner on the developing roller is made to fly to the electrostatic latent image on the drum type photoreceptor to be visualized to form a toner image on the recording paper. There is. In some cases, development is performed with the developing roller in contact with the photosensitive member.

  In such an image forming apparatus, a developing roller, a toner conveying roller and a toner supplying roller for supplying toner as a developer to the developing roller, a thin layer forming blade for uniformly applying a thin layer on the developing roller, and a developing device The developing device includes a toner seal member that prevents toner leakage from the inside, a static elimination mechanism (which may also serve as a toner seal member) that neutralizes the toner that returns to the developing device without being consumed in the developing area, and a toner storage unit. Is formed. It has been put into practical use that the developing device is made into a cartridge and can be easily attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus.

  When such a developing device is packed and transported, the toner may leak due to vibration during transport. Therefore, when transporting a developing device (cartridge) containing toner that is a powder developer, the developing roller exposure port (the opening of the developing device where the developing roller is exposed for development) is covered. A urethane foam sheet is applied from the outside of the developing device and attached to the device wall around the exposed opening with adhesive tape, so that the toner does not spill out from the exposed opening of the developing roller, and the outside of the developing device is covered with a polystyrene foam molded product. In some cases, the developing device is packed in a cardboard box or the like with the covering. In this way, in the packaging that prevents the developer from spilling from the developing roller exposure port by applying the sheet from the outside of the developing device, if the sheet shakes or reverses during transportation, the sheet is pressed against the sheet like a urethane home. Even when an easy sheet is used, a considerable amount of toner adheres to the sheet, and there is a problem that when the sheet is removed from the developing device, the toner is spilled and the surroundings are easily stained.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-102082 (Patent Document 1) and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-27797 (Patent Document 2) disclose techniques for solving such problems.

  A developing device disclosed in Patent Document 1 is detachable from an image forming apparatus, and a developing roller that develops an electrostatic latent image on an electrostatic latent image carrier in a housing and a developer on the surface of the developing roller A developing device comprising a layer thickness regulating means for regulating a layer and a sheet material that covers at least an exposed portion of the developing roller before being attached to the image forming apparatus, wherein a bent portion is formed at one end of the sheet material A first adhesive member is formed at a portion of the bent portion that contacts the casing, and a sealing material is formed from a position near the bent portion at the one end.

  The developing roller exposure port sealing packing disclosed in Patent Document 2 is compressed by being sandwiched between the developing roller surface on the developer return side after passing through the developing region and the developing device housing wall surrounding the outside of the surface. The elastic foam and the surface of the elastic foam on the developing roller side are extended to the developing area side, and the developing roller exposure port of the developing device can be blocked by the extended portion, and the developer feeding side to the developing area It consists of integral joining with the film which can be affixed on the outer surface of a housing | casing wall.

According to the developing device disclosed in Patent Document 1, a sealing material is pressed between the developing roller and the inner surface of the housing to seal it, and an adhesive member is attached to the side wall of the housing, so that the developing roller is made of sheet material. The working time for coating is shortened, and leakage of the developer can be prevented.
According to the packing for developing roller exposure port sealing disclosed in Patent Document 2, both the developer spilling from the developing roller exposure port when the developing device is transported and the developer spilling when removing the packing are both prevented. The packing can be easily attached and detached.

JP 2004-102082 A JP-A-6-27797

  However, the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 described above suppresses the leakage of toner from the developing device by using a combination packing member composed of a sheet material and a seal material. The technique disclosed in Patent Document 2 suppresses toner from leaking from the developing device using a combination packing member composed of a film and an elastic foam. Such a combination packaging member composed of two members is unavoidably costly than a packaging member composed of one member.

  Accordingly, the present invention provides a developing device detachable from a main body of an image forming apparatus that can form an electrostatic latent image on an electrostatic latent image carrier and develop the electrostatic latent image to form a toner image. It is a first object of the present invention to provide a package that can suppress toner leakage from the developing device in a packaged state at a low cost.

  The present invention also provides a developing device detachable from the main body of an image forming apparatus capable of forming an electrostatic latent image on an electrostatic latent image carrier and developing the electrostatic latent image to form a toner image. Another object of the present invention is to provide a developing device capable of suppressing toner leakage in a packaged state at a low cost.

In order to solve the first problem described above, the present invention provides the following package.
A developing device detachable from a main body of an image forming apparatus capable of forming an electrostatic latent image on an electrostatic latent image carrier and developing the electrostatic latent image to form a toner image, comprising: a developing roller; A packaging body for a developing device including a seal member longer than the developing region, provided along the rotation axis direction of the developing roller at a position facing the developing roller,
Including a packaging film into which one end in the short direction is inserted into the gap between the developing roller and the seal member;
The packing film is a packing body that is bent along the rotation axis direction of the developing roller.

In order to solve the second problem described above, the present invention provides the following developing device.
A developing device detachable from a main body of an image forming apparatus capable of forming an electrostatic latent image on an electrostatic latent image carrier and developing the electrostatic latent image to form a toner image,
A developing roller, and a seal member that is provided at a position facing the developing roller along the rotation axis direction of the developing roller and is longer than the developing region;
In the developing device, the end of the packaging film in the short direction of the packaging film according to the present invention is inserted into the gap between the developing roller and the seal member.

According to the packaging body according to the present invention, for example, a sheet-shaped packaging film is bent to form a packaging film, and the packaging film has an end in the short direction (the end in the lateral direction is a rectangular packaging film) Is inserted into the gap between the developing roller of the developing device and the seal member. The packing film is bent along the direction of the rotation axis, and it is possible to suppress the leakage of the toner due to the short end of the packing film being pressed against the developing roller by the elastic force of the bent portion returning. . For example, the packaging body includes a packaging film in which one end in the short direction is inserted from the outside of the developing device into the gap between the developing roller and the seal member. The end of the developing roller that is bent along the direction of the rotation axis and that follows the bent portion is opposite to the one end and is supported by the developing device (directly or via another member). The folded portion of the packaging film is bent so that one end in the short direction is pressed against the developing roller by the elastic restoring force of the folded portion of the packaging film. As described above, since the packaging body can be formed by one member, the toner leakage can be suppressed without increasing the cost of the packaging material of the developing device. Further, the developing device according to the present invention packaged using such a package can suppress toner leakage in the packaged state at a low cost.

The package can be configured to further include a developing roller cover joined to the other end of the packing film in the short direction (the end opposite to the one end in the short direction).
In such a package, since the packing film and the developing roller cover (used when not in use) are joined, when the developing roller cover is detached from the developing device, the end of the packing film is developed by the developing device. Since it escapes from the gap between the roller and the seal member, the packing film can be easily removed.

In addition, in the free edge to be brought into contact with the peripheral surface of the developing roller at the one end of the packing film, a cut portion in the short direction of the packing film at a predetermined interval in the longitudinal direction of the free edge May be formed.
By forming such a cut portion, if there is no cut portion, if the developing device is left for a long time or exposed to a high temperature and / or high humidity environment, the film expands and contracts. The waviness deformation of the free edge to be brought into contact with the peripheral surface of the developing roller at one end of the packing film, which may occur depending on the degree, is released by the notch, thereby suppressing the occurrence of waviness. . When such waviness occurs, when the packing film is taken out of the developing device, the seal member is pushed up, and the developer may be scraped out and leaked, but such developer leakage is suppressed.

As described above, according to the package according to the present invention, the electrostatic latent image is formed on the electrostatic latent image carrier, and the electrostatic latent image is developed to form a toner image. It is possible to provide a packaging body for a developing device that can be attached and detached, and that can suppress leakage of toner from the developing device in a packaging state at low cost.
According to the developing device of the present invention, the electrostatic latent image can be formed on the electrostatic latent image carrier, and the electrostatic latent image can be developed to form a toner image. It is possible to provide a developing device that can reduce toner leakage in a packaged state at a low cost.

1 is a perspective view illustrating an outline of a configuration of an example of an image forming apparatus to which a developing device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an outline of a configuration of the image forming apparatus in FIG. 1. It is sectional drawing in the use condition of the developing device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing in the packing state of the developing device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the packing film of FIG. It is a figure which shows the developing roller cover of FIG. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the thickness (with / without bending) of a packaging film, and sheet pressure. It is a figure which shows the example of the notch of the free edge of the film edge part which should be inserted between the developing roller and the sealing member in the other example of the packaging film which comprises a package. It is a figure which shows some examples of the cut | notch part formed in a packing film. FIG. 10 (A) is a diagram showing the result of measuring an example of waviness that occurs when a cut portion is not formed at the free edge of the film end with a laser displacement meter, and FIG. 10 (B) is the same film end. It is a figure which shows the result of having measured the example of the wave | undulation which generate | occur | produces when a notch part is formed in the free edge of a laser with a laser displacement meter.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, detailed description thereof will not be repeated.

[Entire configuration of image forming apparatus]
Hereinafter, the image forming apparatus 10 including the developing device to which the package according to the present embodiment is applied will be described. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus 10 including a developing device to which a package according to this embodiment is applied. Note that the application of the packaging body and the developing device according to the present embodiment is not limited to such an image forming apparatus 10, and the present embodiment is applicable if the developing device is a cartridge (toner cartridge). It is possible to apply the packaging body and the developing device according to the embodiment.

  In the image forming apparatus 10, the image reading apparatus 12 and the image forming unit 14 are separated from each other, and the image reading apparatus 12 is disposed above the image forming apparatus 10. This is a so-called in-body discharge type image forming apparatus in which a discharge tray T for discharging recording paper is formed in a space in the housing of the image forming apparatus 10. The image forming apparatus 10 includes an automatic document feeder 11, an image reading device 12, an operation panel PA, a discharge tray T, a manual feed tray 13 (in a closed state in FIG. 1), and an image forming unit 14. Including.

  The automatic document feeder 11 can be opened and closed, and also serves as a cover that covers a document placed on a glass plate which is a document placement table of the image reading device 12. The operation panel PA is equipped with a liquid crystal display D in addition to a start key SW for instructing copy image formation and facsimile transmission, a key group K such as a numeric keypad for setting the number of image formations, and the like. The liquid crystal display unit D reflects key operations by the user, displays an instruction menu for the user, and displays information from an image forming unit 14 (described later in detail) that performs image formation.

  The image reading device 12 can optically read an image of a document placed stationary on the platen glass, and is conveyed from the document placing tray 11A by the automatic document feeder 11 to the document discharge tray 11B. It is also possible to optically read an image of a document that is discharged and moves along the glass plate for document panning of the image reading device 12 in the middle thereof.

  The image data read by the image reading device 12 is sent to an image forming unit for image formation, and is used for image formation there or for facsimile transmission. Image data transmitted from a computer (not shown) or the like is sent to the image forming unit 14 and used for image formation there.

  The image forming unit 14 forms a toner image on recording paper by an electrophotographic method. In the following description, the recording medium is assumed to be recording paper, and the image forming apparatus provided with the developing device to which the package according to the present embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is applied is assumed to be a multifunction machine capable of full-color copying. The image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1 may be capable of forming images on both sides of the recording paper. Other than this, a tandem type full-color image forming apparatus or a monochrome image forming apparatus may be used.

  FIG. 2 shows an internal configuration of the image forming apparatus 10. The image forming apparatus 10 in FIG. 2 is a so-called four-cycle color image forming apparatus. A mechanism (image forming unit 14) for forming an image on recording paper will be described with reference to FIG.

  The image forming apparatus 10 includes a drum-type photosensitive member 1 (hereinafter referred to as a photosensitive member 1), and a charger 2, a developing unit 4, an intermediate transfer belt 6, and a cleaning device 5 are arranged around the drum-type photosensitive member 1 in this order. An image exposure device 3 that exposes an image to the photoreceptor 1 from between the charger 2 and the developing unit 4 is provided, and below that is a recording paper that supplies the recording paper set on the manual feed tray 13 to the image forming unit. A supply unit 9 is provided. The recording paper is not limited to the paper set on the manual feed tray 13 and supplied to the image forming unit 14 via the recording paper supply unit 9, but from the paper supply unit provided in the image forming apparatus 10 to the image forming unit 14. It may be supplied.

  The photoreceptor 1 is rotationally driven in the clockwise direction in the figure by a photoreceptor drive motor (not shown). A photosensitive member charging voltage is applied to the charger 2 at a predetermined timing from a charging power source (not shown) whose output is variable.

  The developing unit 4 has a developing rack 40 mounted with a black developing device 4K, a cyan developing device 4C, a magenta developing device 4M, and a yellow developing device 4Y. The developing rack 40 can be driven to rotate counterclockwise in the figure by a driving unit (not shown) including a stepping motor. The developing devices are mounted on the developing rack 40 in the order of black developing device 4K, cyan developing device 4C, magenta developing device 4M, and yellow developing device 4Y in the rack rotation direction at equal central angle intervals of 90 degrees. Each developing device is of a cartridge type that is detachable from the developing rack 40.

  Black toner cartridge KC can be replaced with black developing device 4K, cyan toner cartridge CC with cyan developing device 4C, magenta toner cartridge MC with magenta developing device 4M, and yellow toner cartridge YC with yellow developing device 4Y. It is mounted on. Each developing device is equipped with a developing roller (toner carrier roller) 41 for developing the electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor 1. Each developing roller 41 has an elastic surface layer portion, for example.

  In addition to the developing roller 41, each developing device includes a toner supply roller that supplies toner to the developing roller 41, a toner regulating blade that regulates the layer thickness of toner supplied from the toner supply roller on the developing roller 41, and the like. . Each developing device can reversely develop the electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor 1 using negatively chargeable toner.

  Each developing device can be placed at a developing position where the electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor 1 is developed by the developing roller 41 by rotating the developing rack 40. The developing roller 41 disposed at the developing position faces the surface of the photosensitive member 1, and a developing bias can be applied from a developing bias power source (not shown) whose output is variable. The developing roller 41 disposed at the developing position can be driven to rotate counterclockwise in the drawing by a developing roller driving motor (not shown). Further, a toner supply bias can be applied to the toner supply roller from a power supply (not shown), and a regulation bias can be applied to the toner regulation blade. Details of the developing device will be described later.

  The intermediate transfer belt 6 is connected to a driving roller 61, a driven counter roller 62 opposite to the driving roller 61, a primary transfer roller 63 disposed opposite to the photosensitive member 1, and a primary transfer roller 63, so that the intermediate transfer belt 6 is attached to the photosensitive member 1. It is wound around a roller group composed of rollers 64 to be brought into contact with each other.

  A primary transfer voltage can be applied to the primary transfer roller 63 from a primary transfer power supply (not shown). The intermediate transfer belt 6 can be rotated counterclockwise by driving the drive roller 61 counterclockwise in the figure by a transfer belt drive motor (not shown).

  A secondary transfer roller 7 is disposed on a portion of the intermediate transfer belt 6 that is wound around the driving roller 61. The secondary transfer roller 7 is brought into contact with and separated from the intermediate transfer belt 6 at a predetermined timing. A secondary transfer voltage can be applied to the secondary transfer roller 7 from a secondary transfer power supply (not shown).

  A cleaning device 65 that removes and cleans secondary transfer residual toner and the like from the portion of the intermediate transfer belt 6 that is wound around the driven counter roller 62 is disposed. The cleaning device 65 is provided with a cleaning blade for removing, for example, secondary transfer residual toner on the intermediate transfer belt 6.

  A fixing device 8 is provided above the secondary transfer roller 7, and a recording paper discharge roller pair R2 and a discharge tray T are sequentially provided on the downstream side thereof. The fixing device 8 includes a heating roller 81 on the side where the unfixed toner image on the recording paper S comes into contact, and a pressure roller 82 that conveys the recording paper with the heating roller 81 interposed therebetween. Below the secondary transfer roller 7, a pair of paper feed rollers R <b> 1 that conveys the recording paper supplied from the recording paper supply unit 9 to the secondary transfer roller 7 at a predetermined timing is disposed.

  According to the image forming apparatus 10 described above, on the recording paper S using one or more of 4K, 4C, 4M, and 4Y developing devices under the instruction of a control unit (not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2). A toner image can be formed. An example of forming a full-color image using four developing devices will be described below.

  First, the developing rack 40 is rotated by a rack driving unit (not shown) to place the yellow developing device 4Y at a developing position where the developing roller 41 faces the photosensitive member 1, and the photosensitive member 1 is rotated in the clockwise direction in the drawing. The intermediate transfer belt 6 is also rotated. At this stage, the secondary transfer roller 7 is separated from the intermediate transfer belt 6.

  The surface of the rotating photoreceptor 1 is uniformly charged to a predetermined potential by a charger 2 to which a charging voltage is applied from a charging power source, and a yellow electrostatic latent image is formed from the image exposure device 3 in the charging area. The latent image is developed by the developing device 4Y to form a yellow toner image. The yellow toner image is primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 6 by a primary transfer roller 63 to which a primary transfer voltage is applied.

  Further, in the same manner as in the case of forming the yellow toner image, the magenta developing device 4M is arranged at the developing position to form a magenta toner image on the photosensitive member 1, and this is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 6, and then cyan. The developing device 4C is arranged at the developing position to form a cyan toner image on the photosensitive member 1, and this is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 6, and then the black developing device 4K is arranged at the developing position and placed on the photosensitive member 1. A black toner image is formed and transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 6. The formation of each color toner image on the photosensitive member 1 and the primary transfer onto the intermediate transfer belt 6 are performed at the timing when these toner images are superimposed and transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 6.

  On the other hand, when the recording paper is pulled out and supplied from the recording paper supply unit 9 by the paper feed roller pair R1, and the leading edge of the recording paper is detected by a timing sensor (not shown) on the exit side of the paper feed roller pair R1, the paper feed roller The pair R1 is stopped and the recording paper S is kept waiting there.

  Prior to the multiple toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 6 reaching the secondary transfer roller 7 by the rotation of the intermediate transfer belt 6, the secondary transfer roller 7 is brought into contact with the intermediate transfer belt 6 so that the multiple toner image is secondary. The recording paper is also fed into the secondary transfer area by the pair of paper feed rollers R1 at the timing of reaching the transfer area.

  Thus, the multiple toner image is secondarily transferred onto the recording paper S. The recording paper S to which the multiple toner images have been transferred is fixed on the toner image by the fixing device 8 and discharged to the discharge tray T by the recording paper discharge roller pair R2. Thus, the recording paper S on which a full color image is formed can be obtained.

  The primary transfer residual toner or the like on the photoreceptor 1 is removed and cleaned by the cleaning device 5, and the secondary transfer residual toner or the like on the intermediate transfer belt 6 is removed and cleaned by the cleaning device 65. The developing device according to this embodiment will be described in detail below. In the following description, it is assumed that the developing device is of a toner cartridge type that is detachably formed on the image forming apparatus 10.

[Developing device (in use)]
A use state of the developing device according to the embodiment of the present invention that can be applied to such a four-cycle image forming apparatus 10 will be described. Note that the developing device according to the embodiment of the present invention can be employed in any of the black developing device 4K, the cyan developing device 4C, the magenta developing device 4M, and the yellow developing device 4Y of the developing unit 4 of the image forming apparatus 10. it can. Furthermore, the developing device according to the embodiment of the present invention can be applied to a color image forming apparatus other than the four-cycle type described above and a monochrome image forming apparatus by appropriately changing a part thereof.

  Hereinafter, a case where the developing device according to the present embodiment is employed in the black developing device 4K of the developing unit 4 of the image forming apparatus 10 will be described. Note that the developing device according to the present embodiment can also be employed in the cyan developing device 4C, the magenta developing device 4M, and the yellow developing device 4Y. Further, the toner in the developing device according to the present embodiment is a so-called one-component developer (a developer that does not use a carrier, mainly toner), but is a so-called two-component developer (mainly toner and carrier). And any developer may be used.

  FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the central portion of the black developing device (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as “developing device”) 4K (the central portion of the developing device 4K in the direction along the rotation axis). As shown in FIG. 3, the developing device 4K includes a toner storage unit 410, a head unit 420 having a developing roller 41 and the like, a partition wall 412 between the toner storage unit 410 and the head unit 420, and a partition wall 412. And a communication opening 411 that continues to. The developing roller 41 is an elastic rubber roller having a mandrel or a hollow aluminum blast roller. The outer diameter of the developing roller 41 is, for example, about 10 mm to 20 mm.

  In addition to the developing roller 41, the head unit 420 regulates the layer thickness of the toner supplied to the developing roller 41, a toner supply roller 422, and the toner carried on the developing roller 41 and conveyed to the electrostatic latent image developing region. The blade-type toner regulating member (toner thin layer forming member) 423 that frictionally charges the toner and the toner returning to the case of the developing device 4K while being carried on the developing roller 41 without being used in the developing region, and the toner Has a seal member 425 for sealing so as not to leak from the developing device 4K.

  The toner regulating member 423 (toner thin layer forming member) is a position facing the developing roller 41 and is longer than the developing region formed by the developing roller 41 provided along the rotation axis direction of the developing roller 41. For example, it is formed of a plate-shaped body made of stainless steel. The toner regulating member 423 may be any member as long as it can regulate the thin layer of toner conveyed to the developing area facing the photoreceptor 1 by the developing roller 41 and can frictionally charge the toner. As described above, a flat plate-like member provided along the rotation axis of the developing roller 41 is cited.

  The seal member 425 is a position facing the developing roller 41 and is provided along the rotation axis direction of the developing roller 41 and is longer than the developing region formed by the developing roller 41, for example, on the sponge material 425A. A conductive film 425B is laminated. The conductive film 425B faces the developing roller 41. Therefore, the seal member 425 is a seal member that abuts against the developing roller 41 by the elastic force of the sponge material 425A to prevent the toner from leaking from the developing device 4K, and is carried on the developing roller 41 by the conductive film 425B. It also serves as a charge removal member that removes the toner that has returned to the case of the developing device 4K.

  Each developing device can be sequentially arranged at the developing position by rotating the developing rack 40 counterclockwise (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “positive direction”). FIG. 3 shows a state in which the black developing device 4K is arranged at the developing position. As shown in these drawings, at the developing position, the developing roller 41 of the developing device arranged there faces the photoreceptor 1 so that the electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor 1 can be developed. The developing device disposed at the developing position is slightly inclined in the reverse rotation direction of the developing rack 40 from the horizontal plane including the central axis of the rotating shaft of the developing rack 40.

  When each developing device is placed at the developing position and rotates once around the rack rotation axis by one rotation in the forward direction of the developing rack 40, the toner in the toner storage unit 410 is weighted toward the communication opening 411 side. The toner that has moved and further moved toward the communication opening 411 can pass through the partition wall 412 and flow into the head unit 420 through the communication opening 411 under its own weight. In the head unit 420, toner is stored around the toner supply roller 422.

  A developing bias is provided for the developing roller 41 of the developing device that is disposed at the developing position and is used for developing the electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor 1, a supply bias is provided for the toner supply roller 422, and a restriction is provided for the toner regulating member 423. A neutralization bias is applied from a power supply (not shown) to the seal member 425 that also serves as a neutralization member.

  The developing roller 41 and the toner supply roller 422 of the developing device that is disposed at the developing position and is used for developing the electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor 1 are rotationally driven by a developing roller driving motor. At this time, the developing roller 41 and the toner supply roller 422 are rotated counterclockwise in the drawing. The toner supply roller 422 has, for example, at least a surface layer portion made of a foam material, and the toner stored in the head portion 420 is supplied with a physical force due to a difference in peripheral speed between these rollers and a supply bias supplied from a power supply (not shown). To the developing roller 41. The toner supply roller 422 also has a function of peeling off the toner that is carried on the developing roller 41 and returns to the case of the developing device from the developing roller 41.

  3 cannot be applied to a tandem type image forming apparatus as it is. This is because the developing device does not rotate in the tandem type image forming apparatus unlike the four-cycle type image forming apparatus 10 shown in FIG. For this reason, it is necessary to change a part of the structure, for example, such that the toner agitation supply roller 42 is mounted on each developing device and the toner is supplied to the space where the toner supply roller and the development roller are located.

[Developing device (packed state)]
With reference to FIG. 4 to FIG. 6, a state in which the developing device according to the present embodiment is packed and the developing device is packed using the packing body according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 3, and shows a packaging state in which the packaging film 500 and the developing roller cover 510 forming the packaging body are attached to the developing device, and FIG. 4 is a view showing a single packing film 500, and FIG. 6 is a view showing a single developing roller cover 510 of FIG. In FIG. 4, the conductive film 425 </ b> B of the seal member 425 is not shown in order to avoid duplication with the packing film 500.

  As shown in these drawings, the packaging body according to the embodiment of the present invention or the packaging body applied to the developing device according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a packaging film 500 and a developing roller cover 510. . In addition, you may comprise a packing body only with the packing film 500. FIG. In this case, the packaging film 500 may be supported by the head unit 420, for example.

  The packaging film 500 is a PET film (in this example, the packaging film 500 is a PET film) that is provided along the rotation axis direction of the developing roller 41 and is longer than the development region formed by the developing roller 41. As will be described later, the thickness of the packing film 500 is about 0.05 mm to 0.1 mm. What is characteristic is that the intermediate portion 504 of the packaging film 500 is bent at the entire width in the direction along the rotation axis of the developing roller 41 to form a bent portion 506. In the bent portion 506, a force is generated for the packing film 500 to return to the original flat shape, so that an elastic force indicated by an arrow in FIG. The front end portion 508 (the end portion in the short direction of the packing film 500, or the long side portion of the rectangle when the packing film 500 is a rectangular sheet) has the developing roller 41 and the charge removal member at its entire width. It is inserted into the gap with the sealing member 425 that also serves as the same. At this time, as described above, since the elastic force (indicated by the arrow in FIG. 5) acting toward the developing roller 41 acts on the leading end portion 508, the leading end portion 508 of the packaging film 500 is strongly pressed against the developing roller 41. The

  The developing roller cover 510 has a length in the rotating shaft direction of the developing roller 41 in the developing device, and is integrally molded with resin, for example. The upper end 512 abuts with the housing of the head portion 420 and the lower end 518 abuts with the housing portion that protrudes toward the head portion of the toner storage portion 410 and is fitted to the developing device. Since the developing roller cover 510 is made of resin, the developing roller cover 510 can be easily fitted in and removed from the developing device.

  The developing roller cover 510 can cover the developing roller 41 with an intermediate portion 516 extending in the rotation axis direction of the developing roller 41 in the developing device. Further, the joint portion 514 of the developing roller cover 510 and the joint portion 502 of the packing film 500 are adhered. Therefore, when the developing device is used (when the developing roller cover 510 is loaded into the developing rack 40 of the image forming apparatus 10), if the developing roller cover 510 is removed so as to be separated from the developing device, the packing film 500 can be easily separated from the developing roller 41. The seal member 425 can be separated from the gap.

  The thickness of such a packaging film 500 will be described. When the packaging film 500 (PET film) has a thickness of 0.05 mm, 0.075 mm, and 0.1 mm, it has a sheet pressure (development) when it does not have a folded portion (no folding) and has a folded portion (with folding). The sheet pressure against the roller peripheral surface was measured. The results are shown in Table 1 and FIG. Note that it is difficult to easily fold a packaging film thicker than 0.1 mm (Table 1 relates to the fact that there is no data on the folding of a PET film having a thickness of 0.1 mm). It is considered difficult to use a packaging film that is actually thicker than 0.1 mm as a packaging body according to the present embodiment because it is difficult to insert it into the gap with the seal member 425.

  As shown in Table 1 and FIG. 7, it can be seen that the sheet pressure is greatly increased by folding the packaging film 500 regardless of whether the sheet pressure is 0.05 mm or 0.075 mm. Using such a packaging film 500, a drop impact test of the developing device was performed to evaluate toner leakage. The results are shown in Table 2.

  In the evaluation in Table 2, the mark “◯” indicates that there is no problem without toner leakage, the symbol “Δ” indicates that there is no problem in the allowable range although there is a slight amount of toner leakage, and the mark “x” indicates that there is a problem. As shown in Table 2, there was a problem with any thickness (0.05 mm, 0.075 mm, and 0.1 mm) when the packaging film 500 was not bent. On the other hand, the folded packaging film with a thickness of 0.05 mm and the folded packaging film with a thickness of 0.075 mm were evaluated as having no problem with toner leakage.

  As described above, according to the packaging body according to the present embodiment, the sheet-shaped packaging film 500 is folded to form a packaging film, and the leading end of the sheet is formed between the developing roller 41 and the seal member 425 of the developing device. Inserted into. It is possible to prevent the toner from leaking due to the leading edge of the sheet being pressed against the developing roller 41 by the elastic force of the bent portion returning to the original state. As described above, since the packaging body can be formed by one member, the toner leakage can be suppressed without increasing the cost of the packaging material of the developing device.

  Further, when such a packing film 500 is adhered to a developing roller cover (used other than when in use), when the developing roller cover is detached from the developing device, the leading edge of the PET sheet becomes the developing roller 41 of the developing device and the seal member 425. So that the packing film can be easily removed.

  By the way, when the developing device is left for a long time or exposed to a high temperature and / or high humidity environment, the front end portion 508 inserted between the developing roller 41 and the seal member 425 of the packaging film 500 has its longitudinal direction. There is a case where waviness deformation (for example, waviness deformation of about 0.02 mm to 0.15 mm) undulates in the direction of the rotation axis of the developing roller. When such waviness occurs, depending on the degree, when the packing film 500 is taken out of the developing device to mount the developing device on the image forming apparatus, the seal member 425 is pushed up at the wavily deformed portion, and the developer is scraped off. May leak out.

  Therefore, the free end edge of the end portion 508 of the packing film 500 to be in contact with the circumferential surface of the developing roller 41 is spaced at a predetermined interval (pitch) in the longitudinal direction of the free end edge in the short direction of the packing film 500. A cut portion may be formed. FIG. 8 shows an example in which a plurality of V-shaped cut portions C are formed at the free edge of the end portion 508 of the packaging film 500. Although the arrangement pitch of the cut portions C depends on the material and thickness of the film, an example of about 8 mm to 12 mm can be given.

  The cut portion C may have a shape other than a V-shape (see FIGS. 8 and 9A), for example, a U-shaped cut portion shown in FIG. 9B, or a rectangular cut shown in FIG. 9C. Or a slit-shaped cut portion shown in FIG. 9A to 9D also illustrate the dimensions of the cut portion.

  By forming such a cut portion C, if there is no cut portion, the developing device can be left for a long time or exposed to a high temperature and / or high humidity environment, causing the film 500 to expand and contract. Then, the waviness deformation of the free edge to be brought into contact with the peripheral surface of the developing roller 41 of the end portion 508 of the packing film 500 is released (absorbed) by the cut portion C, thereby suppressing the occurrence of waviness. Is done. As a result, developer leakage due to undulation when the packing film 500 is taken out of the developing device is suppressed.

  FIG. 10A is a diagram showing a result of measurement of an example of waviness that occurs when a cut portion is not formed at the free edge of the film end portion 508, and FIG. 10B shows the same film end. It is a figure which shows the result of having measured the example of the wave | undulation which generate | occur | produces when the said V-shaped cut | notch part C is formed in the free edge of the part 508 with the laser displacement meter. All are the measurement results after being left for 72 hours in an environment of 45 ° C. and 95% RH.

  From the above comparison under the same conditions except for the presence / absence of the notch, it can be seen that the swell is reduced more when the notch is formed.

  The embodiment disclosed this time is merely an example, and the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above. The scope of the present invention is indicated by each claim in the claims after taking into account the description of the detailed description of the invention, and all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the wording described therein are intended. Including.

  The present invention provides a low-cost packaging body that can suppress leakage of toner from the developing device in the developing device packaged state as a packaging body for the developing device that can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body, and the toner in the packed state The present invention can be used to provide a developing device that can suppress leakage at a low cost.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Photoconductor 2 Charger 3 Image exposure apparatus 4 Developing apparatus 5, 65 Cleaning apparatus 6 Intermediate transfer belt 8 Fixing apparatus 10 Image forming apparatus 11 Automatic document feeder 12 Image reading apparatus 13 Manual tray 14 Image forming part 41 Developing roller 410 Toner Storage unit 411 Communication opening 412 Wall 420 Head unit 422 Toner supply roller 423 Toner regulating member 425 Seal member 500 Packing film 508 Film end 510 Developer roller cover

Claims (4)

A developing device detachable from a main body of an image forming apparatus capable of forming an electrostatic latent image on an electrostatic latent image carrier and developing the electrostatic latent image to form a toner image, comprising: a developing roller; A packaging body for a developing device including a seal member longer than the developing region, provided along the rotation axis direction of the developing roller at a position facing the developing roller,
A gap between the developing roller and the seal member includes a packing film into which one end portion in a short direction is inserted from the outside of the developing device ;
The packing film is bent along the rotation axis direction of the developing roller, and the end opposite to the one end following the bent portion is supported by the developing device, and the packing film is bent. The package is characterized in that the portion is bent so that one end in the short direction is pressed against the developing roller by the elastic restoring force of the bent portion of the packing film . A developing device detachable from a main body of an image forming apparatus capable of forming an electrostatic latent image on an electrostatic latent image carrier and developing the electrostatic latent image to form a toner image, comprising: a developing roller; A packaging body for a developing device including a seal member longer than the developing region, provided along the rotation axis direction of the developing roller at a position facing the developing roller,
Including a packaging film into which one end in the short direction is inserted into the gap between the developing roller and the seal member;
The packing film is bent along the rotation axis direction of the developing roller,
In the free edge to be brought into contact with the peripheral surface of the developing roller at the one end of the packing film, a cut portion in the short direction of the packing film is provided at a predetermined interval in the longitudinal direction of the free edge. A package characterized by being formed . The package according to claim 1, wherein the package further includes a developing roller cover joined to an end opposite to the one end in the short direction of the packaging film . A developing device detachable from a main body of an image forming apparatus capable of forming an electrostatic latent image on an electrostatic latent image carrier and developing the electrostatic latent image to form a toner image,
A developing roller, and a seal member that is provided at a position facing the developing roller along the rotation axis direction of the developing roller and is longer than the developing region;
The developing device according to claim 1, wherein an end portion of the packaging film in a short direction of the packaging film is inserted into a gap between the developing roller and the seal member.

Images