JP6091686B2 - Developer storage unit - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a developer storage unit that stores a developer.

  Here, the electrophotographic image forming apparatus forms an image on a recording medium using an electrophotographic image forming process. For example, an electrophotographic copying machine, an electrophotographic printer (for example, LED printer, laser beam printer, etc.), electrophotographic A facsimile machine and an electrophotographic word processor are included. The process cartridge refers to a cartridge in which at least the developing means and the developer containing unit containing the developer are integrated into a cartridge so as to be detachable from the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

  In a conventional electrophotographic image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic image forming process, an electrophotographic photosensitive member and process means acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally formed into a cartridge, and the cartridge can be attached to and detached from the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus. A cartridge system is adopted.

  In such a process cartridge, the opening provided in the developer storage frame for storing the developer (toner, carrier, etc.) is sealed with a sealing member, and the welded portion of the sealing member is peeled off during use. A system in which the opening is opened and the developer can be supplied is widely adopted. The inventions disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 3 are disclosed as an invention for opening the opening of the developer storage frame.

  Patent Document 1 describes a configuration in which a toner storage portion formed of a sheet film is provided inside a developer storage frame, and a developer supply port of the toner storage portion is opened when a user pulls a knob. The Patent Document 2 describes a configuration in which a winding shaft for a sealing member is provided outside the developer storage frame, and the developer supply port is opened when the winding shaft rotates. Patent Document 3 describes a configuration in which a winding shaft of a sealing member is provided inside a developer storage frame, and the developer supply port is opened when the winding shaft rotates.

JP-A-4-166963 JP 2002-169366 A JP-A 63-294582

  However, in the invention described in Patent Document 1, it is necessary for the user to pull the knob, and the sealing member remains on the user's hand. In the inventions described in Patent Documents 2 and 3, the sealing member is peeled off, but further improvement in developer discharge efficiency is desired.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a developer storage unit that can eliminate the effort of a user to open a sealing member and improve the efficiency of discharging the developer from a flexible container containing the developer. .

To achieve the above object, the developer storage unit of the present invention has an opening for discharging the developer, a container for storing the developer, a container attached to the container to seal the opening and the opening. A sealing member that is peeled off from the container for exposing, and a rotatable opening member for unsealing the sealing member from the container, wherein the sealing member is provided on one end side, and A sealing portion that seals the opening; a holding portion that is provided on the other end side and is held by the opening member; and a developer passage that allows the developer to pass between the sealing portion and the holding portion. And the sealing portion is fixed to the opening on the distal end side and the proximal end side of the sealing member, and the sealing member attaches the sealing member to the holding portion and the sealing portion. A folded portion that folds between the stoppers, and opens the front end side of the sealing member Has a folded portion directed to the downstream side in the rotation direction of wood, the developer passage section, characterized in that the plurality of holes are provided.

  According to the present invention, there is no effort for the user to open the sealing member, and the efficiency of discharging the developer from the flexible container containing the developer is improved.

1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus including a developer storage unit according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of a cartridge. It is a perspective view which cuts and shows the cross section regarding the structure of a developer bag, a sealing member, and an opening member. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of a developing agent storage unit. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of a developing agent storage unit. FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view showing a configuration of a sealing member after being arranged in a developer storage unit, and corresponds to a view seen from the direction of arrow G in FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view showing a configuration of a sealing member before being placed in a developer storage unit. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of a developing agent storage unit. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of a developing agent storage unit. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of a developing agent storage unit. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of a developing agent storage unit. FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a sealing member, a developer bag, and a first frame body after being arranged in a developer storage unit according to Embodiment 2. FIG. 10 is an enlarged plan view illustrating a configuration of a sealing member before being arranged in a developer storage unit according to a third embodiment. FIG. 10 is an enlarged plan view illustrating a configuration of a sealing member before being arranged in a developer storage unit according to a fourth embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings based on the embodiments. However, since the dimensions, materials, shapes, relative positions, etc. of the components described in this embodiment are appropriately changed depending on the configuration of the apparatus to which the invention is applied and various conditions, there is no specific description. As long as the scope of the invention is not limited to these, it is not intended.
[Embodiment 1]

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus B including a developer storage unit 25 (see FIG. 2) according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The image forming apparatus B is an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic image forming process. As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus B has an image forming apparatus main body (hereinafter, simply referred to as “apparatus main body”) B1, and the apparatus main body B1 (electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body) includes an image. Is provided. The image forming unit Q includes a photosensitive drum 11 that is an “image carrier”, a transfer roller 9 that is a “transfer device”, and the like.

  An image forming unit Q, a cassette 6, and a fixing device 10 are arranged inside the apparatus main body B1 of the image forming apparatus B. The image forming unit Q includes a cleaner unit 24 having the photosensitive drum 11, a developer storage unit 25, an exposure device 8, and a transfer roller 9. Among these, the cartridge A is mainly composed of the cleaner unit 24 and the developer storage unit 25. Further, a cassette 6 for storing the sheet S, a transfer roller 9, a fixing device 10, a discharge roller pair 1, and a discharge unit 3 on which the discharged sheet S is stacked are sequentially arranged in the conveyance path of the sheet S. The

  In image formation, the exposure device 8 selectively exposes in synchronization with the conveyance of the sheet S in the cassette 6, and an electrostatic image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 11. Thereafter, the developer stored in the developer bag 16 is carried on the surface of the developing roller 13 as a thin layer by the developing blade 15. Then, a developing bias is applied to the developing roller 13 that is a developer carrying member, whereby the developer is supplied from the developing roller 13 to the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 in accordance with the electrostatic image.

  On the other hand, the sheet S is conveyed from the cassette 6 disposed at the lower part of the apparatus main body B1 to the nip between the photosensitive drum 11 and the transfer roller 9. A developer image charged, exposed and developed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 is transferred onto the sheet S by a transfer roller 9 to which a bias voltage is applied. Then, the sheet S to which the developer has been transferred is conveyed to the fixing device 10 where the image is fixed, and is discharged by the discharge roller pair 1 to the discharge portion 3 at the top of the apparatus main body B1.

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the cartridge A. The cartridge A shown in FIG. 2 includes an image carrier and process means acting on the image carrier. Here, as the process means, for example, a charging means for charging the surface of the image carrier, a developing device for forming an image on the image carrier, and a developer (including toner, carrier, etc.) remaining on the surface of the image carrier are removed. There are cleaning means to do this. Details will be described below.

  The cartridge A as a “process cartridge” includes a cleaner unit 24 having a charging roller 12 as a charging unit and an elastic cleaning blade 14 as a cleaning unit around a photosensitive drum 11 as an image carrier. Further, the cartridge A includes a developing roller 13 and a developing blade 15 as developing means, a developer bag 16 containing developer, and a first frame 17 and a second frame that support the developing roller 13 and the developing blade 15. 18 includes a developer storage unit 25. The frames 17 and 18 store a developer storage container 30 and an opening member 20 described later.

  The cleaner unit 24 and the developer storage unit 25 are integrally formed as a cartridge A, which is detachable from the apparatus main body B1 (see FIG. 1). In this embodiment, the developer accommodating unit 25 includes the developing roller 13 and the developing blade 15. However, the developer accommodating unit 25 may not include the developing roller 13 and the developing blade 15 (not illustrated). .

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the developer bag 16, the sealing member 19, and the opening member 20 by cutting a cross section. As shown in FIG. 3, the developer storage container 30 includes a developer bag 16 that is a “flexible container” and a sealing member 19. The developer bag 16 stores the developer inside the bag. Specifically, it has the following configuration. The developer bag 16 has a discharge portion 16b that discharges the internal developer. The discharge part 16b has a plurality of openings 16c and a plurality of connecting parts 19g for discharging the developer arranged in the direction of the arrow F substantially perpendicular to the direction of the arrow C in which the opening proceeds. The opening portion 16c is open, and the connecting portion 16g is interposed between and connected to the opening portion 16c and the opening portion 16c.

  Further, the sealing member 19 is attached to the developer bag 16 to seal the plurality of openings 16 c and exposes the plurality of openings 16 c when peeled off from the developer bag 16. Specifically, the sealing member 19 is affixed to the discharge part 16b, and is sealed so that the developer inside the developer bag 16 does not leak. The sealing member 19 is formed in a sheet shape.

  Further, the opening member 20 is attached to the end of the sealing member 19. When the opening member 20 rotates in the direction of arrow C, the sealing member 19 rotates and the opening 16c of the developer bag 16 is opened. In this manner, the opening member 20 operates the sealing member 19 to peel the sealing member 19 from the developer bag 16 and open it. Then, the developer comes out of the developer bag 16.

  FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the developer storage unit 25. As shown in FIG. 4, the developer storage unit 25 has a developer bag 16, and a sealing member 19 is attached to the developer bag 16. The sealing member 19 includes a sealing portion 19a, a holding portion 19b, and a connecting portion 19c. The sealing portion 19a is partitioned on one end side and covers and seals the opening 16c (see FIG. 3) of the discharge portion 16b. The holding portion 19b is partitioned on the other end portion side and held by the opening member 20. The connecting portion 19c which is a “developer passage portion” is formed so that the developer can pass through by connecting the sealing portion 19a and the holding portion 19b. The location of the sealing member 19 is, in order from the proximal end side to the distal end side, a holding portion 19b, a connecting portion 19c, and a sealing portion 19a.

  The connecting portion 19c has a plurality of holes 19n (see FIG. 6). The sealing member 19 is folded once from the sealing portion 19a to the holding portion 19b. The sealing part 19a on the distal end side of the sealing member 19 is attached to the discharge part 16b by a first welding part 16e and a second welding part 16d. The holding portion 19b on the proximal end side of the sealing member 19 is attached to the opening member 20 by a third welded portion 20c.

  Further, the opening member 20 is supported so as to be rotatable about an axis with respect to the frame bodies 17 and 18. The unsealing member 20 corresponds to a shaft that is rotatably supported by the first frame body 17 and includes a first fixed surface 20x and a second fixed surface 20y. The first fixed surface 20x and the second fixed surface 20y are configured by planes substantially parallel to the axis of the opening member 20. The holding portion 19b of the sealing member 19 is fixed to the first fixing surface 20x, and the holding portion 21b on the proximal end side of the pressing member 21 is fixed to the second fixing surface 20y. The holding part 21b of the pressing member 21 is fixed to the second fixing surface 20y by the fourth welded part 20d, and the pressing member 21 presses the developer bag 16 on the tip side as the opening member 20 rotates. It has become. The pressing member 21 is disposed inside such frames 17 and 18 and presses and deforms the developer bag 16.

  Next, a fixed state of the internal member of the developer storage unit 25 which is a “developer storage unit” will be described. For fixing, heat welding, ultrasonic welding, adhesion, pseudo adhesion, or the like is employed. The sealing member 19 is sealed by fixing the sealing portion 19a to the discharge portion 16b so as to be peeled off at the tip side. The holding member 19 b is fixed to the opening member 20 on the proximal end side of the sealing member 19. Examples of fixing means include thermal welding, ultrasonic welding, adhesion, pseudo-adhesion, pinching by a clip shape, hooking by a hole and a convex, and the like.

  The developer bag 16, the sealing member 19, and the opening member 20 are accommodated in the first frame body 17 and further covered with the second frame body 18. Then, the first frame body 17 and the second frame body 18 are joined by welding, adhesion, or the like, and each member is stored in the developer storage unit 25. A fixing hole 16x and a fixing hole 16y are formed in the developer bag 16.

  The fixing hole 16x is fixed to the first frame 17 by a fixing portion 116x. The fixing hole 16y is fixed by a fixing portion 116y that connects the first frame body 17 and the second frame body 18. The fixing part 116x and the fixing part 116y are fixed to at least one of the first frame 17 and the second frame 18 by, for example, a double-sided tape, a wedge-shaped member, a hook-shaped member, thermal welding, ultrasonic welding, or adhesion. The surface of the developer bag 16 where the fixing holes 16x and 16y are formed is a plane that is substantially parallel to the axis of the opening member 20.

  Next, details and mutual relations of each member in the developer bag 16 will be described with reference to FIGS. As described above, the developer bag 16 has the discharge portion 16 b and is closed by the sealing member 19. The other side is a folded portion of the bag material, or the bag material is firmly bonded to each other by heat welding, ultrasonic welding, adhesion or the like to form a bag shape. In order to realize the opening with the above-described configuration, the discharge portion 16b must be peeled off first, so that the sealing member 19 and the bonding portion of the developer bag 16 at all the bonding portions in the developer bag 16 are required. It is essential that the strength, that is, the peeling force is the weakest. The same can be said for other parts. It is essential that the peeling force is the weakest with respect to the fixing force between the sealing member 19 and the opening member 20 and the fixing force between the developer bag 16 and the first frame 17 or the second frame 18.

  On the other hand, since the developer storage unit 25 contains toner in terms of its function, it is advantageous that the peeling force is as large as possible from the viewpoint of sealing performance. If the peeling force is large, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the bag is opened except for an intended state (a state set in the image forming apparatus B) when an unexpected force (for example, an impact force at the time of dropping) is applied. This is because the possibility is high. From the above, it is necessary to set the peeling force to a desired value.

  Next, a method for setting the peeling force to a desired value will be described. In this embodiment, two methods are mainly used in order to set the peeling force to a desired value (here, a force as small as possible within a range in which the toner sealing property can be maintained). First, a laminate material having a special sealant layer that exhibits easy peel properties (peeling strength is about 3 N / 15 mm in a sealed soft packaging bag test of JIS-Z0238) is applied to the sealing member 19. The member of the developer bag 16 is a method of exerting an easy peel property at the peeled portion by applying a flexible sheet material (for example, polyethylene or polypropylene) that can be welded to the special sealant layer. It is possible to reduce the peeling force by changing the combination of the special sealant layer formulation and the material to be bonded.

  Second, as shown in FIGS. 4, 6, and 5, the discharge portion 16b of the developer bag 16 is folded back in the opening direction (arrow E direction). For example, when the opening member 20 is rotated (arrow C direction) in the state of FIG. 4 and the sealing member 19 is pulled in the direction pulled by the opening member 20 (arrow D direction), the developer bag 16 and the sealing member 19 are As shown in FIG. 4, the positional relationship of inclined peeling (90 ° to 180 ° peeling) is obtained. Conventionally, it is known that the peeling force required for the peeling of both can be reduced by the inclined peeling. Therefore, the peeling force can be reduced by turning back in the direction in which the opening proceeds (the direction of arrow E).

  Next, the effect obtained by taking this embodiment will be described. As described above, less force is required to use a laminate material having a special sealant layer that exhibits easy peel properties and shape of the bonded portion between the developer bag 16 and the sealing member 19 (the peel strength of the opened portion is about 3 N / 15 mm) ) To open the developer bag 16.

  FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the developer storage unit 25. The configuration of the opening member 20, the sealing member 19, and the pressing member 21 will be described in detail below with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, the unsealing member 20 is formed so as to be substantially square (polygonal) in cross-sectional view. The pressing member 21 agitates the developer discharged from the developer bag 16 and conveys the developer toward the developing roller 13 after the discharge portion 16b is opened (details will be described later). Both have a transport function.

  FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view showing the configuration of the sealing member 19 after being arranged in the developer accommodating unit 25, and corresponds to a view seen from the direction of arrow G in FIG. As shown in FIG. 6, the sealing member 19 includes a sealing portion 19 a that covers the opening 16 c of the developer bag 16 and covers the periphery 16 f of the connecting portion 16 g. Although not illustrated in FIG. 6, as described above, the sealing member 19 includes a holding portion 19 b that is fixed to the first fixing surface 20 x of the opening member 20. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 6, the sealing member 19 includes a connecting portion 19 c that connects the sealing portion 19 a and the holding portion 19 b.

  The sealing part 19a seals the opening part 16c by being welded to the periphery 16f of the connecting part 16g that connects the opening part 16c. Specifically, the periphery 16f of the opening 16c is sealed by the first welded portion 16d, the second welded portion 16e, and the short welded portion 16p. The first welding portion 16d is welded to the periphery 16f on the base end side of the sealing portion 16a. The second welded portion 16e is welded to the periphery 16f at the distal end side of the sealing portion 16a. The short weld portion 16p is welded to the periphery 16f so as to connect the first weld portion 16d and the second weld portion 16e at the longitudinal end portion of the opening portion 16c. As shown in FIG. 6, the connecting portion 19c includes a continuous member 19c1 that is continuous between the sealing portion 19a and the holding portion 19b, and a plurality of holes 19n that are formed in the continuous member 19c1 and allow the developer to pass therethrough. Have.

  FIG. 7 is an enlarged plan view showing the configuration of the sealing member 19 before being placed in the developer storage unit 25. As shown in FIG. 7, the connecting portion 19 c has a plurality of holes 19 n. This hole 19n functions as a developer passage portion for allowing the developer to further pass when the developer is discharged from the opening portion 16c of the discharge portion 16b. When the plurality of holes 19n are formed in the connecting portion 19c, the connecting portion 19c is alleviated from preventing the developer from being discharged (details will be described later). Since the connecting portion 19c is pulled when the hole 19n is opened or dropped, it is desirable that the hole 19n has an arc shape so that stress concentration does not occur. In the present embodiment, the hole 19n is not shown except for FIG. 6, FIG. 7, and FIG.

  FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the developer storage unit 25. The opening operation of the developer bag 16 will be described with reference mainly to FIG. 8 and the above-described FIGS. 4 and 5 together. When the opening member 20 rotates in the arrow C direction, the sealing member 19 is pulled in the arrow D direction (see FIG. 4). Next, when the opening member 20 further rotates in the direction of arrow C, the sealing member 19 is peeled off from the first welded portion 16d (see FIG. 5). Next, when the opening member 20 further rotates in the direction of arrow C, the sealing member 19 is peeled off from the second welded portion 16e, whereby the discharge portion 16b is opened (see FIG. 8).

  FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the developer storage unit 25. With reference to FIG. 9, a process of discharging the developer from the developer bag 16 will be described. As shown in FIG. 9, when the opening member 20 further rotates in the direction of arrow C after the discharge portion 16b is opened, the pressing member 21 fixed to the opening member 20 rotates. By this operation, the pressing member 21 presses the developer bag 16 in the arrow J direction while deforming it. When the developer bag 16 is pushed by the pressing member 21 in this way, the inner volume of the developer bag 16 is reduced and the developer inside is pushed out and discharged from the discharge portion 16b in the direction of arrow I.

  FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the developer storage unit 25. As shown in FIG. 10, when the opening member 20 further rotates in the direction of arrow C, the pressing member 21 is separated from the developer bag 16. At this time, since the developer bag 16 has elasticity, the developer bag 16 expands in the direction of the arrow K in an attempt to recover the state before being pressed. As described above, also by rotating the pressing member 21, the pressing member 21 presses the developer bag 16, and the developer is discharged from the opening 16c. When such a cycle is repeated, the developer inside the developer bag 16 is stably discharged (see arrow L). In addition, the developer is discharged from the opening 16c by its own weight, discharged by vibration when the opening member 20 is separated from the developer bag 16, and the developer bag 16 due to deformation of the developer bag 16. And the like (see arrow L) discharged by the flow of the developer inside.

  As described above, when the developer is discharged, it is desirable that there is nothing near the opening 16c. This is because the powder, such as a developer, has a low flow rate when passing through a narrow range, and thus the discharge speed decreases.

  FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the developer storage unit 25. As shown in FIG. 11, the plurality of holes 19 n of the sealing member 19 are set to be disposed so as to pass through positions that are opposed (opposed) to the opening 16 c when the opening member 20 rotates. In short, there is a phase in which the sealing member 19 is positioned near the front of the opening 16c of the developer bag 16 as the unsealing member 20 rotates. In such a case, if the sealing member 19 has a plurality of holes 19n, more developer discharge paths are secured, and the developer is efficiently discharged in the direction of the arrow M. At this time, it is desirable that the opening portion 16c of the discharge portion 16b and the hole 19n of the connecting portion 19c be opposed (opposed) to have a phase in which the developer is reliably discharged. Further, the sealing member 19 may also serve as the pressing member 21. In this case, the developer bag 16 deforms the sealing member 19 when the opening member 20 rotates.

  As described above, the discharge portion 16b of the developer bag 16 can be opened only by pulling the opening member 20 in one direction (arrow D direction), and the developer bag 16 is reliably and stably opened. Further, since the developer bag 16 can be opened by pulling the cartridge A in the short direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, the peeling distance, which has been about twice as long as the cartridge A in the past, is greatly reduced. can do. Since the sealing member 19 after opening is fixed to the opening member 20, the opening can be performed without taking out the waste material from the process cartridge.

Further, the developer is discharged from the inside of the developer bag 16 quickly and surely by the pressing member 21 and the hole 19n, and the time from insertion of the process cartridge until printing becomes possible is shortened. Furthermore, since the developer bag 16 takes the form of a bag, the developer can be handled as a unit, so that the developer filling process can be separated from the process cartridge assembly process.
[Embodiment 2]

  FIG. 12 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating configurations of the sealing member 19, the developer bag 16, and the first frame body 17 after being arranged in the developer storage unit according to the second embodiment. In the second embodiment, the same configurations and effects as those of the first embodiment will be appropriately described using the same reference numerals (the same applies to later-described third and fourth embodiments). Since the second embodiment can be applied to the same developer storage unit and image forming apparatus as those in the first embodiment, the description of the developer storage unit and the image forming apparatus is omitted (the same applies to the third and fourth embodiments). . Characteristic points in the configuration of the second embodiment are as follows.

The developer bag 16 is flexible and does not have a completely fixed shape, and a clearance for assembling the developer bag 16 to the first frame 17 is necessary. Therefore, a space (arrow N) for assembling the developer bag 16 to the first frame 17 is secured at the end of the opening member 20 in the rotation axis direction. In discharging the developer after the sealing portion 19a is opened, it is desirable that the discharge amount at the end portion in the rotation axis direction is larger than the central portion in the rotation axis direction.
[Embodiment 3]

  FIG. 13 is an enlarged plan view showing a configuration of the sealing member 319 before being arranged in the developer storage unit according to the third embodiment. FIG. 13 corresponds to a view seen from the direction of the arrow G in a state where the sealing member 319 arranged in the developer storage unit is extended. The configuration of the sealing member 319 will be described in detail below with reference to FIG. The configurations of the welded portion where the sealing member 319 arrives at the developer bag 16 and the fixing portion where the sealing member 319 is fixed to the opening member 20 are the same as those in the first embodiment. The connecting portion 19c has a hole 19n. Among the plurality of holes 19n, the hole 19n2 on the end side of the continuous member 19c1 in the axial direction R of the opening member 20 is formed larger than the hole 19n1 on the center side of the continuous member 19c1 in the axial direction R of the opening member 20. Is done. Therefore, the hole 19n becomes a portion through which the developer passes when the developer is discharged from the opening 16c of the discharge portion 16b, and the end portion is more developed than the central portion in the rotation axis direction of the opening member 20. Increased agent discharge. Here, the shape of the hole 19n2 is set to an elliptical shape that is long in the rotational direction of the opening member 20, but it is not limited to this shape.

  Of course, a configuration in which all the holes 19n are formed as large as possible is conceivable, but the range that can be increased in balance with the strength is limited. Within that range, the size of the hole 19n at the center and end of the opening member 20 in the rotation axis direction may be determined.

With the above configuration, in addition to the effects of the first embodiment, a shortage of supply force to the end portion due to the assembly space can be compensated, and the developer can be discharged more quickly and reliably. Therefore, the time from insertion of the process cartridge to printing becomes possible is shortened.
[Embodiment 4]

  FIG. 14 is an enlarged plan view showing the configuration of the sealing member 419 before being arranged in the developer storage unit according to the fourth embodiment. In addition to the above, by changing the shape of the connecting portion 19c of the sealing member 419, the developer passage portion is formed so that the developer discharge is larger at the end portion in the axial direction R of the opening member 20. It doesn't matter if it exists. For example, as shown in FIG. 14, the continuous member 19c1 may be formed shorter in the axial direction R of the opening member 20 than the sealing portion 19a and the holding portion 19b. In short, the end of the connecting portion 19c in the rotation axis direction may be cut out in a curved shape. The same applies to the configuration of the second embodiment, the configuration of the third embodiment, and the configuration of the fourth embodiment.

  According to the configuration of the first embodiment, there is no effort for the user to open the sealing member, and the efficiency of discharging the developer from the developer bag 16 containing the developer can be improved. In particular, the developer that flows out from the opening 16c after the opening member 20 is operated and the sealing of the opening 16c by the sealing member 19 is released while utilizing the sealing member 19 for improving the fluidity of the developer. The phenomenon in which the flow is hindered by the sealing member 19 is suppressed. Further, in this way, if the internal member can be used to release the sealing by the sealing member 19, the user does not need to take out the sealing member 19 of the cartridge A, and can easily replace the cartridge A. Can do. The same applies to the configurations of the second to third embodiments.

  According to the configuration of the third embodiment, the hole 19n2 on the end side of the continuous member 19c1 is formed larger than the hole 19n1 on the center side. From this, the developer can pass through the hole 19n1 on the end side more efficiently than the hole 19n1 on the center side as well as passing through the hole 19n1 on the center side.

  According to the configuration of the fourth embodiment, the continuous member 19c1 is formed shorter in the axial direction R of the opening member 20 than the sealing member 19 and the holding portion 19b. Accordingly, the developer can pass through the plurality of holes 19n and the outside in the axial direction R of the notch 419X at the end in the axial direction R of the opening member 20 of the continuous member 19c1.

16 Developer Bag (Flexible Container) (Developer Storage Container)
16c Openings 17, 18 Frame 19 Sealing member (developer storage container)
19a Sealing part 19b Holding part 19c Connection part (developer passage part)
20 Opening member 21 Pressing member 25 Developer storage unit 30 Developer storage container

Claims (7)

A container having an opening for discharging the developer and containing the developer;
A sealing member attached to the container to seal the opening and peel from the container to expose the opening;
A rotatable opening member for opening the sealing member from the container;
With
The sealing member is
A sealing portion that is provided on one end side and seals the opening;
A holding portion provided on the other end side and held by the opening member;
A developer passage part that allows the developer to pass between the sealing part and the holding part;
Have
The sealing portion is fixed on the distal end side and the proximal end side of the sealing member with respect to the opening,
The sealing member is a folded portion that folds the sealing member between the holding portion and the sealing portion, and a folded portion that directs the distal end side of the sealing member toward the downstream side in the rotation direction of the opening member. Have
The developer storage unit, wherein the developer passage section includes a plurality of holes. The developer storage unit according to claim 1, wherein the hole has an arc shape . The opening is a plurality of openings, and when the opening member rotates, the plurality of holes pass through a position facing the plurality of openings. The developer storage unit described. 4. The developer storage unit according to claim 1 , wherein the sealing member is peeled in a direction orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the developer storage unit. 5. The plurality of holes are arranged in a row in the axial direction of the opening member and are arranged in a direction in which the sealing member is peeled off, and the positions of the holes in adjacent rows are the positions of the opening member The developer storage unit according to claim 4, wherein the developer storage unit is shifted in the axial direction . The said opening member peels the fixing part of the base end side of the said sealing member with respect to the said opening of the said sealing part ahead of the fixing part of a front end side, The 1-5 characterized by the above-mentioned. The developer storage unit according to any one of the above. The said unsealing member is comprised so that the said sealing member may be peeled at an angle of 90 to 180 degrees with respect to the said sealing part, It is any one of Claim 1 to 6 characterized by the above-mentioned. The developer storage unit described.

Images