JP5663888B2 - Developer conveying member, developing device, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus including the same - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a developer conveying member, a developing device, a process cartridge, and an image forming apparatus including these.

  In a conventional two-component development system and a process equipped with a development device, a developer conveying member such as two to three screw members arranged horizontally is arranged, one of which is a development roller, a development sleeve, etc. In general, the developer carrying members are arranged so as to face each other, and the supply and recovery of the developer proceed simultaneously between the developer carrying member and the developer conveying member. In the image forming apparatus, when a solid image is continuously output with the progress of colorization, or for the purpose of improving the performance of the halftone image and the tandem layout configuration of the process cartridge, there is a demand for further miniaturization. Has also been proposed in which developer transport members are arranged above and below, and the developer is circulated and transported in one direction on a cross-sectional configuration in order to perform supply and recovery separately.

  In the developing device, a seal structure is employed to prevent the developer from adhering to an image carrier such as a photoconductor during conveyance. For example, in a developing device in which two developer conveying members are arranged in the water direction and the developer is supplied and collected in a single unit, the developer carrying member and the developer conveying member that does not transfer the developer are positioned above the developer conveying member. Since there is a space in the structure, a developer case for storing the developer before use is not filled in the housing of the developing device, a seal member is provided between the developer transport member and a seal. There is one in which the developer is dropped by gravity at the time of removal and filled. However, if the developer case is disposed above the developer transport member for collecting the developer, it is very difficult to reduce the size of the image forming apparatus in the height direction. This is because, above the developing device, the transfer device is horizontally arranged across a plurality of developing and photoconductors so as to be compact in layout.

  In a developing device or process cartridge in which a developer is filled in advance in the housing, the periphery of the developed image carrier facing the image carrier is sealed with a seal member to prevent contact between the image carrier and the developer. At the same time, the developer is prevented from leaking from the gap formed around the developed image carrier, but it is difficult to actually arrange the seal because there are a plurality of seal locations. In addition, when the developer is sealed in the developing device from the beginning of shipment, it is difficult to manage the state of the developer in the developing device uniformly depending on the transport and storage environment of the developing device. In image formation with such an unstable developer, the image quality varies.

  The present invention provides a developer transport member, a developing device, a process cartridge, and the like that are small in size and can maintain a stable developer state without being influenced by the storage environment, and that can solve problems during transportation and obtain a good image. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus including

  The present invention has a feature in a developer conveying member in which a plastic bag member in which a developer is sealed is integrally attached.

  In the case where the developer conveying unit is configured by a screw member, the bag member is wound and mounted in a space formed between the screws of the screw member, or both ends of the bag member are attached to both ends of the developer conveying member. The side is locked and mounted.

  The present invention includes a developer carrying member, a housing that supports the developer carrying member, and at least one developer carrying member capable of carrying the developer by rotating in the housing. And a developer carrying member in which a bag member having plasticity enclosed therein is integrally mounted.

  In the present invention, the bag member has a pull-out portion that is gripped by an operator, and a break portion that is provided so as to cross a portion of the bag member that encloses the developer and is broken in accordance with the pull-out operation to the pull-out portion. The housing is characterized in that an extraction hole for exposing the extraction portion to the outside of the housing is formed.

  In the present invention, the bag member is characterized in that a hooking portion is provided on the opposite side of the pulling portion with the broken portion as a boundary, and the hooking portion is hooked on the rotation shaft of the developer conveying member.

  In the present invention, the extraction hole is provided on the wall surface of the housing opposite to the developer carrying member with the developer conveying member as a boundary.

  In the present invention, the size of the extraction hole is characterized in that it is formed smaller than the cross-sectional area in the direction crossing the bag member in a state where the developer is sealed. The present invention is characterized in that a magnetic member is disposed on the periphery of the extraction hole.

  In the present invention, the bag member is characterized in that it has a reinforcing member that extends in the pulling direction and a part of which extends to the blowing portion.

  A process cartridge according to the present invention is characterized in that any of the developing devices described above and an image carrier housing that rotatably holds at least an image carrier are integrated.

  An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes the developing device or the process cartridge.

  According to the present invention, since the developer conveying member integrally attached with the plastic bag member enclosing the developer is attached inside the developing device, the developer case and the seal member become unnecessary. In addition, there is no leakage of developer without using a seal member, and it is small and can maintain a stable developer state without being influenced by the storage environment. .

1 is an external perspective view of an image forming apparatus to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating one form of an internal configuration of the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of a process cartridge mounted on the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1. It is sectional drawing which shows one form of the internal structure of the process cartridge which has the developing agent conveyance member by which the bag member enclosed with the developing agent was wound. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view showing a configuration of a bag member enclosing a developer that is a main part of the present invention. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view schematically showing the configuration of a developer transport member wound with a bag member enclosing a developer. It is a perspective view which shows the state which has wound the bag member with which the developer was enclosed around the developer conveyance member. It is a fracture view which shows one form of the bag member provided with the hook part and the extraction part, (a) is a top view, (b) is a figure which shows the state which the hook part removed. It is a fracture | rupture figure which shows another form of the bag member provided with the hook part and the extraction part, (a) is a top view, (b) shows a side view. It is a figure which shows another form of the bag member which encloses a developing agent. It is a figure which shows typically another attachment form of the bag member with which the developer was enclosed, and a developer conveyance member. It is an enlarged view explaining the developer opening operation | movement which pulls the extraction part of a bag member. It is an enlarged view which shows typically the form which formed the guide part in the vicinity of the extraction hole. It is an enlarged view which shows typically the form which has arrange | positioned the magnetic member in the vicinity of the drawing hole, (a) is the form arrange | positioned in a guide part, (b) is the form arrange | positioned concentrically at the drawing hole, (c) is The form arrange | positioned in the outer side lower part of a drawing hole is each shown. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the bag member which has a reinforcement member. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a developing device in which a plurality of developer transport members wound with a developer sealed in a bag member are arranged obliquely and the bag member is pulled out in different directions. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a developing device in which a plurality of developer conveying members wound with a developer sealed in a bag member are arranged obliquely and the bag member is pulled out in the same direction. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a developing device in which a plurality of developer conveying members wound with a developer sealed in a bag member are arranged obliquely and the pulling positions of the bag member are in different directions. It is an enlarged view showing a form of a developing device in which a bag member is attached to one of the developer conveying members. FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a process cartridge having a developing device in which a plurality of developer transport members wound with a developer sealed in a bag member are horizontally arranged and the bag member is pulled out in the same direction. FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a process cartridge having a developing device in which a plurality of developer conveying members wound with a developer sealed in a bag member are horizontally arranged and the bag member is pulled out in different directions.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In each of the embodiments and modifications, components such as members and components having the same function or shape are given the same reference numerals as much as possible, and redundant description is omitted.
With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the overall configuration and operation of an image forming apparatus to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied will be described. FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an image forming apparatus to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus shown in both figures is a so-called tandem type color image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus is not limited to a color printer, and a facsimile, a copying machine, or a multifunction machine having a plurality of these functions is also within the scope of the present invention, and of course may be either color or monochrome.

The image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 is disposed almost at the center of the apparatus main body 1, and includes an image forming unit 2 provided with an image forming unit to be described later for forming an image on a sheet, and the image forming unit 2 below. A sheet feeding unit 20 that is disposed and feeds a sheet or a sheet S as an example of a sheet-like recording medium to the image forming unit 2, and the sheet S on which an image is formed by the image forming unit 2 A sheet discharge unit 25 serving as a sheet discharge unit that discharges from the front right side of the drawing and the front side of the apparatus to the back side (the rear left side of both drawings and the back side of the apparatus), and the image forming unit 2 And a sheet stacking unit 40 on which sheets S discharged from the sheet discharge unit 25 are stacked.
In this embodiment, the sheet is, for example, paper such as transfer paper or recording paper (including thick paper, postcard, envelope, plain paper, thin paper, etc.), coated paper (including coated paper, art paper, etc.), OHP sheet or It means an image forming medium capable of image transfer, including OHP film, tracing paper and the like. The image forming unit 2 is also referred to as an image recording unit 2 that records an image on the paper S, and the sheet stacking unit 40 is also referred to as a sheet mounting unit 40 that mounts and stacks discharged sheets.
As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming unit 2 includes a plurality of drum-shaped photoreceptors 3a, 3b, 3c, and 3d configured as an image carrier or a latent image carrier. Each of the photoconductors 3a to 3d is formed with toner images of different colors. In the illustrated example, a yellow toner image, a cyan toner image, a magenta toner image, and a black toner image are formed on the surfaces of the photoreceptors 3a to 3d, respectively. The photoconductors 3a to 3d are arranged in the horizontal direction in parallel with each other with a predetermined interval. An intermediate transfer belt 4 serving as an intermediate transfer member is disposed below each of the photosensitive members 3a to 3d so as to face the photosensitive members 3a to 3d. A drum-shaped intermediate transfer member can be used, but in the illustrated example, an endless belt that is wound around a plurality of support rollers 5 and 6 and rotated in the direction of the arrow (counterclockwise in FIG. 2) is used. An intermediate transfer belt 4 is used. A secondary transfer roller 12 is disposed opposite to the support roller 6 with the intermediate transfer belt 4 interposed therebetween.
Since the configuration around each of the photoconductors 3a to 3d is the same, the photoconductor 3a on which the yellow toner image arranged on the rightmost side in FIG. 2 is formed will be described as a representative. That is, around the photosensitive member 3a, the surface of the photosensitive member 3a is charged with a charging roller 7 as a charging unit, and the surface of the photosensitive member 3a is irradiated with laser light based on image information. An optical scanning device (LSU) 8 that forms an electrostatic latent image, a developing device 9 that visualizes the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive member 3a, and the photosensitive member 3a via the intermediate transfer belt 4. A primary transfer device 10 disposed oppositely and a cleaning blade 11 as a cleaning unit for removing toner remaining on the surface of the photoreceptor 3a after being transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 4 are provided in this order. A cylindrical toner container and a replenishing mechanism are disposed above the developing device 9, and the replenishing mechanism is driven according to toner consumption in the developing device 9, so that toner is replenished from the toner container to the developing device 9. The photoreceptor 3a, the charging roller 7, the developing device 9, and the cleaning blade 11 are integrated to form a process cartridge 30a. The process cartridges 30b, 30c, and 30d are constituted by the photoreceptors 3b, 3c, and 3d and charging rollers, developing devices, and cleaning blades disposed around the photoreceptors 3b, 3c, and 3d, respectively.

  When image formation is started in such an image forming apparatus, the photoreceptor 3a is rotationally driven in a clockwise direction in FIG. 2 by a drive motor (not shown). At this time, the surface of the photoreceptor 3a is made to have a predetermined polarity by the charging roller 7. It is charged like this. Next, the charged surface is irradiated with laser light based on image information from the optical scanning device 8, whereby an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photoreceptor 3 a. The electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photoreceptor 3 a is visualized as a yellow toner image by the developing device 9, and the yellow toner image is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 4 by the transfer device 10.

At the time of full color image formation, the image forming operation described above is performed in the same manner on all the remaining photoconductors 3b to 3d, and thereby the yellow toner image, cyan toner image, magenta toner image, and The black toner images are sequentially transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 4 in a superimposed manner.
A paper feed unit 20 disposed below the image forming unit 2 includes a paper feed tray 21 serving as a sheet storage unit on which sheets S as sheets made of transfer paper, recording paper, resin film, and the like are stacked, and the paper feed. A paper feed roller 22 for feeding the paper S stacked on the tray 21 and a friction pad 23 as a separating unit for separating the multi-feed paper S into one sheet are provided.

The sheet S fed from the sheet feeding unit 20 is sent out toward the registration roller 13 disposed upstream of the secondary transfer roller 12 in the sheet conveyance direction, and the leading end of the sheet S is once struck against the registration roller 13 that is stopped. Hit. This corrects and aligns the oblique displacement of the leading edge of the paper S. The registration roller 13 rotates at a predetermined timing so that the color toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 4 coincides with the leading edge of the sheet S at the secondary transfer portion where the secondary transfer roller 12 is disposed. The sheet S is sent out toward the next transfer section.
The sheet S on which the unfixed color toner image is transferred from the intermediate transfer belt 4 in the secondary transfer unit is sent to the fixing unit 14 which is a fixing device. The unfixed color toner image is fixed by heating and pressing by the fixing unit 14. The sheet S that has been fixed is discharged to the sheet stacking unit 40 provided on the upper surface of the apparatus main body 1 with the pair of discharge rollers 25a and 25b disposed in the sheet discharge unit 25 with the image surface facing downward (face down). • Paper is ejected. The fixing unit 14 is not limited to the above-described one, and a roller type having a built-in heater and a heating method adopting IH can be appropriately employed. Transfer residual toner or the like adhering to the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 4 after the color toner image is transferred is removed by a belt cleaning device 15 disposed on the peripheral portion of the intermediate transfer belt 4 to be used in the next image formation / transfer process. Prepare.
In this embodiment, an upper cover 18 as an upper cover member that covers the image forming unit 2 is provided on the upper portion of the apparatus main body 1, and the upper surface portion of the upper cover 18 is discharged as a sheet discharge table of the sheet stacking unit 40. A tray (sheet stacking surface) 41 is used. A support portion is not provided on the rear end side of the upper cover 18. With this configuration, even if the length of the upper cover 18 is longer than the width of the discharge tray 41 in the front-rear direction, a part of the upper cover 18 passes over the discharge tray 41 and hangs to the rear end, so that the long sheets can be stored without any problem. can do.
Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the upper cover 18 supports an optical scanning device 8 which is a part of the image forming unit (image forming means) 2 at a lower portion thereof, and is a hinge provided on the rear end side of the device. 17 is configured to be openable upward. The upper cover 18 is locked to the apparatus main body 1 by a lock lever 60 serving as a locking means, which will be described later. When the lock is released, the upper cover 18 can be swung and opened / closed around the hinge 17. Although not shown, when the upper cover 18 is swung and opened counterclockwise, the lower optical scanning device 8 is swung up together with the cover 18 and can access the image forming unit. Thus, maintenance and the like can be easily performed. Further, in this example, the four process cartridges 30a to 30d of the image forming unit 2 can be taken out and attached for replacement etc. from the portion where the upper cover 18 is opened, and the developer opening operation described later can be performed.

When the upper cover 18 is swung and opened, it is swung up so that the rear end side of the paper discharge tray 41 is down. However, when the paper S is stocked on the paper discharge tray 41, the upper cover 18 is erroneously moved. If it is swung and released, there is a problem that the stocked paper S falls to the rear side of the apparatus. That is, if the stocked paper S is forgotten and the upper cover 18 is rotated, the stocked paper S on the paper discharge tray 41 falls to the back side of the apparatus main body 1. The fall of the paper S can be solved by providing a support portion (not shown) on the rear end side of the upper cover 18, but in the case of a long paper, the rear end support portion is hit and the stock is disturbed.
Therefore, in the present embodiment, an operation unit 61 that releases the lock of the lock lever 60 and swings and opens the upper cover 18 is provided on the paper discharge tray 41 at a position hidden by the stocked paper S. Yes. The lock lever 60 is integrally provided with an operation portion 61 operated by a user on one end side and a lock claw 62 engaged with a protrusion 64 fixed to the apparatus main body 1 on the other end side. The lock lever 60 is supported so as to be rotatable around a pin 63 fixed to the upper cover 18, and the lock claw 62 is always formed on the projection 64 by a torsion coil spring (not shown) mounted around the pin 63. A swinging urging force in an engaging direction is applied. The operation unit 61 of the lock lever 60 is formed of a plate material having a surface that is on the same plane as the paper discharge tray 41, and the operation unit 61 can be put on the paper discharge tray 41. For this purpose, a fan-shaped recess 44 shown in FIG. 1 is formed.
According to such a configuration, when opening the upper cover 18, a hand is inserted from the recess 44, and the operation portion 61 of the lock lever 60 is lifted up against a swinging biasing force of a torsion coil spring (not shown). The lever 60 rotates clockwise about the pin 63, and the lock claw 62 is disengaged from the protrusion 64. Then, the upper cover 18 is swung around the hinge 17 by lifting the operation unit 61 as it is. As described above, the operation unit 61 of the lock lever 60 that allows the upper cover 18 to swing and open / close is disposed on the paper discharge tray 41 on which the paper S is stocked. Thus, the upper cover 18 is reliably prevented from swinging and opening.

3 is a schematic perspective view of the process cartridges 30a to 30d, and FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view of the process cartridge. Since the configuration of each process cartridge is the same except that the color of the toner is different, the configuration will be described in detail using the yellow process cartridge 30a arranged on the rightmost side in FIG. 2 as an example.
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the process cartridge 30 a includes a photoconductor housing 31 to which the photoconductor 3 a and the like are mounted, and a developing housing 32 to which various components constituting the developing device 9 are mounted. The photoconductor housing 31 and the developing housing 32 are configured to be assembled and separated. Between the photoconductor housing 31 and the development housing 32 assembled to each other, a laser beam path space 33 through which the laser beam irradiated to the photoconductor 3a from the optical scanning device 8 shown in FIG. 1 is formed.
In addition to the photoreceptor 3a, the photoreceptor housing 31 is not shown with the charging roller 7, the charging roller cleaning member 26 for cleaning the surface of the charging roller, the cleaning blade 11, and the toner removed from the surface of the photoreceptor 3a by the cleaning blade 11 (not shown). A waste toner collecting screw member 27, a lubricant 28, and a lubricant 28, which are conveyed to the waste toner collecting section, are scraped off and applied to the surface of the photoreceptor 3a.
On the other hand, the developing housing 32 is arranged in a developing roller 34 as a developer carrying member for carrying the developer on the surface and a supply path 35 for supplying the developer, and a supply side for supplying the developer to the developing roller 34. A supply screw member 36 serving as a developer transport member, a recovery screw member 38 serving as a recovery-side developer transport member disposed in a recovery path 37 that is located below the supply path 35 and collects the developer, and a developing roller A doctor blade 39 as a regulating member for regulating the thickness of the developer carried on the surface of 34 and a toner density sensor 42 for detecting the toner density in the collection path 37 are mounted.
In the developing device 9 in this embodiment, a two-component developer G composed of toner and carrier is used. The toner used for the developer G is at least a polyester material having a functional group containing a nitrogen atom, polyester, a colorant, and a toner material solution in which a release agent is dispersed in an organic solvent. A toner obtained by performing at least one of the reactions.

The developing device 9 has a configuration in which a supply screw member 36 and a recovery screw member 38 are arranged up and down, and the developer in the supply path 35 is conveyed by the supply screw member 36 and falls from the opening of the supply path 35. Then, it is carried on the developing roller 34. The developer carried on the developing roller 34 is regulated to a predetermined thickness by passing through a predetermined gap between the doctor blade 39 and the surface of the developing roller 34. When the developer is conveyed to a position (photoconductor gap) between the developing roller 34 and the photoconductor 3a, the toner of the developer is electrostatically transferred to the photoconductor 3a, and the electrostatic charge on the photoconductor 3a. The latent image is developed. Thereafter, the developer on the developing roller 34 is collected in the collecting path 37. The developer recovered in the recovery path 37 is transported by the recovery screw member 38 and accumulated downstream in the transport direction, and the deposited developer is transported again into the supply path 35 by transport means (not shown). In the supply path 35, toner is supplied from a toner supply unit (not shown) according to the amount of consumed toner. Further, the toner concentration of the developer in the collection path 37 is magnetically detected by the toner concentration sensor 42, and the toner concentration is adjusted based on the detection information.
As described above, in the developing device 9 of the present embodiment, the developer that is supplied to the developing roller 34 and consumes the toner is temporarily collected without being repeatedly supplied to the developing roller 34 as it is, and then the toner is replenished. That is, since the unused developer is supplied to the developing row 34, or the developer supplied with toner after use is supplied, unlike the developing device described in Patent Document 1, the length of the developing roller It is possible to suppress a difference in image density at both ends in the direction.

Next, features of the present invention will be described.
One of the features of the present invention is that, as shown in FIG. 5, the developer G that has been directly filled in the supply path 35 and the recovery path 37 in the developing apparatus 9 from the time of shipment of the apparatus is used as a bag member having plasticity. The sealed container 100 is sealed in a sealed state. One feature is that, as shown in FIG. 5, the sealed container 100 in which the developer G is sealed is mounted integrally with the developer conveying member. It is to have done. In this embodiment, the developer conveying member includes a known screw member, paddle member, agitator, and the like.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the sealed container 100 has a deformable cylindrical shape, in which developer G and nitrogen are put together to be inflated, and both ends 100 </ b> A and 100 </ b> B of the container are closed and sealed as a rod shape. The developer G is sealed inside the container.

  A breakage portion 101 is formed on one end 100A side of the enclosing container 100 so as to cross a portion 100C that encloses the developer G in the bag member, and on the other end 100B side, a pullout that is held by an operator. A portion 102 is formed. The breaking portion 101 has such a strength that the pulling portion 102 is broken when the developer opening operation is performed in which the pulling portion 102 is pulled in the drawing direction by the operator.

  The enclosing container 100 filled with the developer G and nitrogen is formed on the supply screw members 36 and 38 as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, for example, taking the supply screw member 36 as an example. The spaces 36B and 38B formed between the plurality of screws 36A and 38A are wound so as to sew and are integrally attached to the supply screw members 36 and 38. In this embodiment, the developer conveying member in which such a sealed container 100 is integrated is mounted on the developing device 9 from the time of shipping the device. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the developing container 9 is mounted with the sealed container 100 integrally mounted on both the supply screw member 36 and the recovery screw member 38.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the developing housing 32 of the developing device 9 passes through the developing housing 32 at a portion facing the supply screw member 36 and the recovery screw member 38 and is inserted through the extraction portion 102 of the enclosure 100. Pull-out holes 110 and 110 that are exposed to the outside of the housing are formed. In the example shown in FIG. 4, since two enclosures 100 are set, two extraction holes 110 and 111 are also formed. In this embodiment, the extraction holes 110 and 111 are formed so that the extraction portion 102 can be extracted obliquely upward. For this reason, it becomes easy to pull out the pulling portion 102 when pulling out. In this embodiment, the enclosing container 100 is integrally mounted on both the screw member 36 and the recovery screw member 38 which are developer conveying members, but either one may be used. In this case, the extraction hole may be either the extraction hole 110 or the extraction hole 111.

  Next, the sealing method of the enclosure 100 will be described. When the sealed container 100 is a bottomed bag, as shown in FIG. 5, after the developer G and nitrogen are added, the one end 100 </ b> A side is squeezed and caulked to be sealed. In the case of this form, the one end 100A side is fixed to the housing 3 with the supply screw member 36 and the recovery screw member 38 attached to the developing device 9, and the extraction portion 102 on the other end 100B side is inserted into the extraction holes 110 and 111. To expose outside the housing.

  In the form shown in FIG. 8, one end 100A side of the cylindrical enclosure 100 having both ends opened is narrowed down, and a ring-shaped hook member 103 serving as a hooking portion is attached to crimp the root, and the other end 100B side is heated. It is welded and banded and sealed. In the case of this form, the band-like portion 104 is formed as a pull-out portion, and the fracture portion 101 is formed closer to the other end 100B than the hook member 103. In this embodiment, the hook part 103 is attached to the broken part 101. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the hook portion 103 is hooked on the rotation shafts 36 </ b> C and 38 </ b> C of each screw member, and the extraction portion 102 is inserted into extraction holes 110 and 111 formed in the developing housing 32 and exposed outside the housing. Let

  In the form shown in FIG. 9, both ends of the cylindrical enclosure 100 are heat-sealed to form a band, and the band-shaped portion 105 on one end 100 </ b> A side is perforated to form a hook portion 106, and the band-shaped on the other end 100 </ b> B side. The portion 104 is the extraction portion 102. Also in this case, similarly to the embodiment of FIG. 8, the hook portion 106 is hooked on the rotation shafts 36 </ b> C and 38 </ b> C of each screw member shown in FIG. 7, and each drawing portion 102 is inserted into the drawing holes 110 and 111 formed in the developing housing 32. And exposed outside the housing. That is, the sealed container 100 is configured such that the hook portions 103 and 106 are provided on the opposite side of the pull-out portion 102 with the break portion 101 as a boundary.

  Examples of the shape of the extraction portion 102 include a string shape or a belt shape. In the case of the string shape, the operator can easily pull the portion exposed from the extraction holes 110 and 111 by winding it around a finger or the like. In the case of a belt-like shape, there is an advantage that it is easy to hold it when it is picked up by a finger and pulled out.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the drawing holes 110 and 111 are provided on the wall surface 32 </ b> A of the developing housing 32 on the opposite side of the developing roller 34 between the screw members 36 and 38.

  The enclosing container 100 preferably has plasticity because it is wound around the screw members 36 and 38 installed in the developing device 9, and examples of the material include nylon, vinylidene chloride, polyethylene, polyester, and cellulose. In consideration of moisture and the like, the aluminum sheet material may be used. As a form of the container, not only the above-described bag shape or a form in which both ends of the cylindrical member are crimped or welded, but also a laminated structure in which the margin part 107 is formed by welding in four directions as shown in FIG. Good.

  In the above embodiment, the enclosing container 100 enclosing the developer G and nitrogen is wound around the spaces 36B and 38B between the screws 36A and 38A of each screw member, and is mounted integrally with each screw member. It is not limited to the formation. As other forms, for example, as shown in FIG. 11, the rotating shaft 36C protruding from at least one end of the screw members 36, 38 serving as a developer conveying member and both ends 36Ca, 36Cb, 38Ca, 38Cb of the rotating shaft 38C. In addition, the both ends 100A and 100B of the enclosing container 100 may be latched and attached integrally. In this case, hook portions 103 and 106 are formed on the one end 100A side, the pulling portion 102 on the other end 100B is perforated to form a hook portion similar to the hook portion 106, and both ends are connected to the rotating shaft 36C and the rotating shaft 38C. The supply screw member 36 and the recovery screw member 38 can be integrated with the sealed container 100 by being hooked.

  When the enclosing container 100 is stretched over and integrated with the developer conveying member in this manner, there is no need to wrap the enclosing container 100 between the screws, and there is an advantage that the assembling time can be shortened.

  Each of the process cartridges is formed by mounting the supply screw member 36 and the recovery screw member 38 in which the sealed container 100 is integrated on the developing device 9 and integrating them with the photosensitive member housing 31. Set in the main body 1. For this reason, even developer G weak in humidity can be stored in the developing device 9 in a completely sealed enclosure 100, so that it is not affected by the storage state of the device (it may be affected by temperature and humidity). No), unused developer G is stored in a stable state, and a good image can be obtained. Since the enclosing container 100 is filled with an inert gas such as nitrogen together with the developer G, the unused developer G can be easily stored for a long period of time.

  Since the unused developer G is hermetically sealed in the sealed container 100, it does not come into contact with each developing roller or each photoconductor during transportation even without a seal member. The leakage of the developer G can also be prevented.

  When the image forming apparatus is used for the first time from the shipping state, or when the process cartridge is replaced and a new one is used, as shown in FIG. A developer opening operation for pulling out the exposed pulling portion 102 toward the outside of the developing housing 32 is performed. At this time, since the one end 100A of the sealed container 100 is fixed to the current feeding device 9 or locked to the rotary shafts 36C and 38C, the sealed container 100 is pulled in the pulling direction, and the pulling force exceeds the strength of the broken part 101. 8 and 9, the sealed container 100 is torn off from the broken part 101, and the sealed developer G is discharged into the development housing 32, specifically into the supply path 35 and the recovery path 37. . That is, immediately before the image formation, the breaking portion 101 is broken by the operation of pulling out the drawing portion 102 from the drawing holes 110 and 111, and the setting of the developer G into the developing device 9 can be completed. This developer opening operation may be performed in a state where each process cartridge is detached from the apparatus main body 1 or set in the apparatus main body 1.

  At this time, as shown in FIG. 12, the diameter R corresponding to the size of the extraction holes 110 and 111 is formed to be smaller than the cross-sectional area width R1 in the direction crossing the sealed container 100 in the state where the developer G is sealed. Then, it becomes difficult for the developer G in the enclosure 100 to pass through the extraction holes 110 and 111. That is, since the sealed container 100 is squeezed when passing through the extraction holes 110 and 111, the developer G pushed out from the container by this squeezing action is released from the opened one end 100A side. Therefore, the developer G in the enclosure 100 can be efficiently released into the development housing 32.

  The enclosing container 100 is formed with hook portions 103 and 106 on the opposite side of the pull-out portion 102 with the break portion 101 as a boundary, and these hook portions 103 and 106 are the rotation shaft 36C of the supply screw member 36 and the recovery screw member 38, Since the hook portions 103 and 106 are hooked and fixed to the rotary shafts 36C and 38C by pulling the pull-out portion 102, the break portion 111 can be easily broken during the pull-out operation.

  In this way, by sealing the developer G in the sealing container 100 in advance, a sealing member for sealing the opening of the unused developing device 9 as in the conventional case becomes unnecessary. Further, since the sealed container 100 has plasticity, the space in the developing device 9 having a small layout can be used effectively.

  By integrating the enclosing container 100 enclosing the developer G with the supply screw member 36 and the recovery screw member 38, it is possible to make a sub-assembly and to improve the conveyance efficiency as a part. Further, when the sealed container 100 is wound around and installed in the spaces 36B and 38B between the screws of each screw member, the spaces 36B and 38B that become surplus spaces when not used for conveyance can be used effectively, and a compact developing device can be used. 9 and the process cartridge 30 can easily store the enclosure 100.

  Since the drawing portion 102 is exposed through the drawing holes 110 and 111 formed in the developing housing 32 to the outside of the housing, the enclosing container 100 is opened from the outside of the developing device 9 to release the developer G into the developing device 9. can do. Further, since the drawing holes 110 and 111 are formed in the wall portion 32A on the side where the developing roller 34 and the doctor blade 39 are arranged, they do not come into contact with these members when the drawing portion 102 is drawn and operated. Adherence of foreign matter to the doctor blade 39 can also be prevented.

  Next, the shape of the extraction holes 110 and 111 will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the diameters R of the extraction holes 110 and 111 formed through the wall 32A of the developing housing 32 are the same in the thickness direction of the wall 32A. If the diameter is small, the developer G receives pressure in the vicinity of the extraction holes 110 and 111 when the extraction portion 102 is extracted, so that it can be easily fixed and the extraction resistance can be increased. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 13, the inclined guide portion on the inner surface 32 </ b> B of the wall portion 32 </ b> A in which the extraction holes 110 and 111 are formed is gradually reduced toward the extraction holes 110 and 111. 120 is formed so as to communicate with the extraction holes 110 and 111, respectively. When such a guide part 120 is formed, the cross section of the sealed container 100 is gradually narrowed when the extraction part 102 is extracted, so that resistance is low, a smooth extraction operation can be performed, and adhesion of the developer G can be reduced. it can.

  When the drawing portion 102 is pulled out and the developer G in the container is discharged into the developing device 9, the released developer G adheres to the surface of the sealed container 100, and in some cases, passes through the drawing holes 110 and 111. Then, it is assumed that it goes out of the housing.

  For this reason, as shown in FIG. 14, you may arrange | position the magnet 130 used as a magnetic member in the periphery of the extraction holes 110 and 111, for example. The magnet 130 is disposed in the guide portion 120 as shown in FIG. 14A, or in the inner surface 32B of the wall portion 32A when the guide portion 120 is not provided as shown in FIG. 14B. As shown in FIG. 14 (c), concentric with 110 and 111, or on the outer surface 32C side of the wall portion 32A, a lower portion than the extraction holes 110 and 111 may be mentioned.

  As described above, when the magnets 130 are arranged around the extraction holes 110 and 111, the developer G that has passed through the extraction holes 110 and 111 can be attracted by the magnetic force of the magnets 130, and the developer G around the developing device 9 can be attracted. Dirt and dirt on the hands of workers can be reduced or eliminated. In addition, by arranging the magnet 130, when the extraction portion 102 (encapsulation container 100) is extracted outside the developing device 9, the developer G passes through the extraction holes 110 and 111 and is dragged out of the developing device and discharged. Can be reduced or eliminated, and the developer G can be efficiently discharged into the developing device 9.

  Since it is assumed that the encapsulating member 100 may be broken and torn at a site different from that of the fractured portion 101 due to the resistance when pulling the extraction portion 102, the encapsulating member 100 extends in the extraction direction as shown in FIG. There may be provided a reinforcing member 117, part of which reaches the blowing part 102. The reinforcing member 117 is configured by attaching another member having a higher strength than the material of the enclosure 100 along the outer wall in the longitudinal direction of the enclosure 100. Of course, when forming the enclosure 100, the bag portion and the reinforcing portion may be formed integrally with different strengths.

  By providing such a reinforcing member 117 in the sealed container 100, the strength of the sealed container 100 is increased, and at the same time, the sealed container is damaged in the process of pulling out the sealed member 100, and the sealed container 100 is developed by the developing device 9. Staying inside can be prevented.

  In the above embodiment, as a developing device to which the developer conveying member integrated with the sealed container 100 is attached or applicable, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the supply screw member 36 and the recovery screw member 38 are vertically moved. However, the present invention is not limited to the present feeding device 9 in which the developing roller 34 is disposed in an intermediate portion between the supply screw member 36 and the recovery screw member 38.

  For example, as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the supply screw member 36 and the recovery screw member 38 are disposed obliquely, and the present invention is applied to the developing device 9A in which the developing roller 34 is disposed above the recovery screw member 38. Also good. In this case, extraction holes 110 and 111 are formed in the replenishment port 321A of the development housing 321 located on the opposite side of the development roller 34, and the extraction portions 102 and 102 are respectively exposed to the outside of the housing from the respective extraction holes. You may make it pull out to the opposite side. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 18, the replenishing port 321A of the developing housing 321 is positioned so that the extraction portions 110 and 111 through which the extraction portion 102 of the supply screw member 36 and the extraction portion 102 of the recovery screw member 38 are inserted are located in different directions. The pulling directions of the pulling portions 102 may be different directions.

  The enclosing container 100 does not need to be attached to all the developer conveying members, and as long as the capacity of the developer G can be secured by one enclosing container 100, as shown in FIG. The form attached to only one may be sufficient. FIG. 19 shows a form in which the enclosure 100 is integrated with only the supply screw member 36.

The form of the developing device and the process cartridge may be as shown in FIG. The configuration of the process cartridge 300 shown in FIG. 20 will be briefly described. The process cartridge 300 includes a photoconductor housing 31 to which the photoconductor 3a and the like are mounted, and a developing housing 32 to which various components constituting the developing device 9B are mounted. The photoconductor housing 31 and the developing housing 32 are configured to be assembled and separated.
In the developing housing 32, a developing roller 115 serving as a developed image carrier, a doctor blade 116 disposed opposite to the developing roller 115, a housing tank 117 partitioned into two parts, a developer conveying unit and a developer stirring member And a pair of stirring screws 118. The pair of stirring screws 118 are respectively disposed adjacent to the storage tank 117 in the horizontal direction, and rotate in different directions to convey the developer in the axial direction. A developer is supplied to 115.

  The present invention can also be applied to such a process cartridge 300 and the developing device 9B. In this embodiment, the enclosing containers 100 are wound around and integrated with the stirring screws 118, 118, respectively. The developing housing 322 of the developing device 9 </ b> B is provided on the wall portion 322 </ b> A opposite to the developing roller 115 from the two enclosing containers 100. Pull-out holes 110 and 111 through which the extending pull-out portion 102 is inserted are formed, and the pull-out portions 102 are respectively inserted into the pull-out holes 110 and 111 so as to be exposed to the outside of the housing so that they can be pulled out from the same direction.

  FIG. 21 shows the different directions in which the drawing holes 110 and 111 are formed in the wall portions 322A and 322B located opposite to each other of the developing housing 322 of the developing device 9B, respectively, and each drawing portion 102 is inserted and exposed to the outside of the housing. It can be pulled out from.

  As described above, the present invention can be applied to various types of developing devices including a developer conveying member, and each developing device can obtain the same effects as those described above.

3a to 3d Image carrier 9, 9A, 9B Developing device 30a to 30d Process cartridge 31 Image carrier housing 32 Housing 32A, 321A, 322A Housing wall surface 34 Developer carrier 36, 38 Developer conveying member 36A, 38A Between screws 36B, 38B Space 36C, 38C Rotating shaft 36Ca, 36Cb Both ends of developer transport section 38Ca, 38Cb Both ends of developer transport section 100 Bag member 100A, 100B Both ends of bag member 101 Breaking section 102 Pull-out section 103, 106 Hook section 117 Reinforcement Member 110, 111 Pull-out hole 130 Magnetic member G Developer

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-174810 JP 05-333691

Claims (12)

A developer conveying member composed of a screw member,
A developer conveying member, wherein a plastic bag member having a developer sealed therein is wound around and integrally mounted in a space formed between the screws of the screw member.   The developer conveying member according to claim 1, wherein the bag member is attached to both ends of the developer conveying member so that both ends thereof are locked. A developer conveying member that is external to the plastic bag member encapsulating the developer inside and the bag member is integrally mounted;
The developer conveying member, wherein the bag member is fixedly attached to both ends of a rotation shaft of the developer conveying member so as to span both ends thereof. A developer carrying member, a housing that supports the developer carrying member, and at least one developer carrying member capable of carrying the developer by rotating in the housing;
The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the developer conveying member is a developer conveying member according to claim 1. The bag member includes an extraction portion that is gripped by an operator, and a break portion that is provided so as to traverse a portion of the bag member that encloses the developer and is torn in response to an extraction operation to the extraction portion. Have
The developing device according to claim 4, wherein the housing is formed with an extraction hole for exposing the extraction portion to the outside of the housing. The bag member is provided with a hook portion on the opposite side of the pull-out portion with the break portion as a boundary,
The developing device according to claim 5, wherein the hook portion is hooked on a rotation shaft of the developer conveying member.   The developing device according to claim 5, wherein the drawing hole is provided in a wall surface of the housing opposite to the developer carrying member with the developer conveying member as a boundary.   The size of the drawing hole is smaller than a cross-sectional area in a direction crossing the bag member in a state where the developer is sealed. The developing device described.   The developing device according to claim 5, wherein a magnetic member is disposed on a peripheral portion of the drawing hole.   The developing device according to claim 5, wherein the bag member includes a reinforcing member that extends in a drawing direction and a part of the bag member reaches the drawing portion.   7. A process cartridge comprising: the developing device according to claim 4; and an image carrier housing that rotatably holds at least the image carrier.   An image forming apparatus comprising the developing device according to any one of claims 4 to 6 or the process cartridge according to claim 7.

Images