JP6291888B2 - Package - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a packaging body including a frame that stores a developer, a cartridge having a developing roller, and a storage body that stores the cartridge.

  A cartridge used in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus is shipped as a package in a state of being stored in a box or the like in order to protect it from vibration or shock during transportation. For example, Patent Document 1 includes a container having a developer container and a developing roller, a box material (storage case) for storing the cartridge, and a cushioning material for supporting the cartridge from the periphery in the box. A package is disclosed.

JP 2004-205793 A

  By the way, in the prior art, when the packing body falls and one side surface of the storage case collides with the floor or the like, a large impact is applied to the cartridge stored inside. Then, there is a possibility that the developer leaks out of the cartridge because the frame of the cartridge is bent or a relatively large pressure is applied to the developing roller from the developer contained in the cartridge.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above background, and an object of the present invention is to provide a package that can suppress developer leakage when dropped.

In order to achieve the above-described object, a packaging body according to the present invention includes a cartridge having a frame for storing a developer, a developing roller rotatable with respect to the frame, and a storage body having a storage case for storing the cartridge. And comprising.
The storage case has a pair of first side surfaces disposed on both sides of the frame in the rotation axis direction of the developing roller, and a plurality of second side surfaces connecting the pair of first side surfaces.
The storage body is configured to hold the cartridge in a state where the rotation axis is inclined with respect to at least one of the plurality of second side surfaces.

  According to such a configuration, the storage body holds the cartridge in a state where the rotation axis of the developing roller is inclined with respect to the second side surface, so that the packing body falls and the side surface of the storage case is placed on the floor or the like. When the cartridge collides with the cartridge, the impact applied to the cartridge can be reduced. In addition, when the package body falls, the storage body receives concentrated force from the corners of the cartridge, so that a part of it deforms to absorb the impact when dropped and It can be made smaller. As a result, bending (deformation) of the frame or the like can be suppressed. In addition, since the developing roller is inclined, the developer in the frame can flow along the surface of the inclined developing roller, so that a large pressure is applied from the developer to the center of the developing roller, particularly in the rotational axis direction. Hateful. By these, it is possible to suppress developer leakage when dropped.

  In the package described above, the storage body can be configured to hold the cartridge in a state of being inclined with respect to all the second side surfaces.

  According to this, even when any side surface of the storage case collides with the floor or the like, it is possible to suppress the developer leakage at the time of dropping.

  In the packaging body described above, the storage body includes a first holding member that holds one end of the cartridge in the rotational axis direction in a state of being stored in the storage case, and a state in which the cartridge is stored in the storage case. It can be set as the structure which has a 2nd holding member holding the said rotating shaft direction other end part.

  In the package described above, the first holding member has a first holding portion that holds one end of the cartridge in the rotation axis direction, and the second holding member has the other end in the rotation axis direction of the cartridge. The first holding part and the second holding part each have a holding surface parallel to the rotation axis.

  According to this, since the holding surface is along the corresponding end portion of the cartridge, when the end portion of the cartridge is held by the corresponding holding portion, the end portion of the cartridge and the holding member are in a so-called fitted state. It becomes possible. As a result, the cartridge and the holding member are prevented from falling off, so that the cartridge and the holding member can be easily housed in the storage case.

  Further, in the package described above, the first holding member has a first holding portion that holds one end of the cartridge in the rotation axis direction, and the second holding member includes the rotation axis direction of the cartridge, and the like. A second holding portion that holds the end portion may be provided, and the first holding portion and the second holding portion may each have a holding surface that is inclined with respect to the rotation axis.

  According to this, since the holding member can be attached to the cartridge from the direction in which the first holding member and the second holding member face each other, the cartridge and the holding member can be easily assembled.

  In the package described above, the first holding member has a first support surface that supports the one end when the second side surface is inclined downward with respect to the rotation axis. The holding member has a second support surface that supports the other end portion when the holding member is placed with the second side face down, and an interval between the second side surface and the first support surface is the second side surface. And a distance smaller than the interval between the second support surfaces.

  In the above-described package, the first holding member and the second holding member are more easily deformed than the frame, and can be configured to absorb an impact by being deformed.

  According to this, when the package body falls and the side surface of the storage case collides with the floor or the like, the holding member can be deformed to suitably absorb the impact of the fall, thereby further suppressing the deformation of the frame or the like. can do. Thereby, the developer leakage at the time of dropping can be further suppressed.

  In the packaging body described above, the storage body includes a first interposition portion disposed between a second side surface inclined with respect to the rotation axis and one end portion in the rotation axis direction of the cartridge, and the second side surface. A second interposed portion disposed between the other end portions in the rotational axis direction of the cartridge, and a distance between the second side surface and the one end portion is greater than a distance between the second side surface and the other end portion. The first interposition part may be smaller and more easily deformed than the frame and the second interposition part.

  According to this, when the packaging body falls and the second side surface of the storage case collides with the floor or the like, the first intervening portion that receives a large force from the corner portion of the cartridge can be preferentially deformed. Can be efficiently absorbed. Thereby, the developer leakage at the time of dropping can be further suppressed.

  In the package described above, an angle formed by the rotation axis and the second side surface inclined with respect to the rotation axis can be set to, for example, 5 degrees to 45 degrees.

  In the packaging body described above, the storage case is an apparatus main body of an image forming apparatus to which the cartridge is detachable, and the storage body is attached to the apparatus main body in a state of being attached to the cartridge. It can be set as the structure which has a holding member which hold | maintains the said cartridge so that a rotating shaft may be in the state inclined with respect to at least 1 of these 2nd side surfaces.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to suppress the developer leakage when the package is dropped.

1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus in which a cartridge according to an embodiment is used. It is a perspective view which shows the whole structure of the package which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is sectional drawing of the package which concerns on 1st Embodiment. FIG. 5A is a diagram illustrating a positional relationship between each side surface of the storage case and the developing cartridge according to the first embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the effect of invention, and is the figure (a) which shows embodiment, and the figure (b) which shows a comparative example. It is sectional drawing of the package which concerns on a 1st modification. FIG. 14A is a diagram illustrating a positional relationship between each side surface of the storage case and the developing cartridge according to the second modification. It is sectional drawing (a) of the package which concerns on 2nd Embodiment, and sectional drawing (b) of the packaging which concerns on the modification of 2nd Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the whole structure of the package which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is a perspective view of a process cartridge and a holding member. It is a figure which shows the positional relationship of the side surface of a main body housing | casing in 3rd Embodiment, and a process cartridge, and is the figure (a) which shows the time of packing, and the figure (b) which shows the time of use. It is a figure which shows the package which concerns on a 3rd modification. It is a figure which shows the package which concerns on a 4th modification.

[First Embodiment]
Next, the first embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate. In the following, first, the schematic configuration of the image forming apparatus and the cartridge in which the cartridge according to the embodiment is used will be described, and then the details of the package according to the invention will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a color printer 1 as an example of an image forming apparatus mainly includes a paper feed unit 3 and an image forming unit 4 in a main body housing 2. In the description of the color printer 1, the left side of FIG. 1 that is the front side as viewed from the user is “front”, the right side of FIG. 1 that is the back side as viewed from the user is “rear”, and the paper surface of FIG. The near side is “right”, the back side of the page in FIG. 1 is “left”, and the top and bottom in FIG.

  The main body housing 2 is provided on the upper side of the box-shaped main body frame 21 having an opening in the upper portion and the main body frame 21, and is rotated up and down around a rear rotation shaft (not shown) to thereby An upper cover 22 that mainly opens and closes the opening is mainly provided.

  The paper feed unit 3 is provided at a lower portion in the main body housing 2 and mainly includes a paper feed tray 31 that accommodates the paper S and a supply mechanism 32 that supplies the paper S to the image forming unit 4. The paper feed unit 3 separates the paper S in the paper feed tray 31 one by one by the supply mechanism 32 and supplies the paper S to the image forming unit 4.

  The image forming unit 4 mainly includes four exposure units 5, four process cartridges 6, a transfer unit 7, and a fixing device 8.

  The exposure unit 5 includes a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) (not shown) that are arranged to face the photosensitive drum 51 and are arranged at the lower left and right. The exposure unit 5 exposes the surface of the photosensitive drum 51 by blinking the LED based on image data to be formed. The exposure unit 5 is held by the upper cover 22 via the exposure unit holding unit 24, and moves together with the upper cover 22 by moving the upper cover 22 away from the photosensitive drum 51 (see also FIG. 9).

  The process cartridge 6 is arranged side by side between the upper cover 22 and the paper feed tray 31 and is detachable from the main body frame 21 in a state where the upper cover 22 is opened. Each process cartridge 6 includes a drum cartridge 6A and a developing cartridge 6B as an example of the cartridge.

The drum cartridge 6 </ b> A mainly includes a photosensitive drum 51, a charger 52, and a drum frame 50 that supports the photosensitive drum 51 and the charger 52.
The developing cartridge 6B is configured to be detachable from the drum cartridge 6A, and includes a developing roller 61, a supply roller 62, a layer thickness regulating blade 63, and an accommodating portion 64 that accommodates toner as an example of a developer. It mainly has a frame 60 formed. The frame 60 supports the developing roller 61 and the supply roller 62 in a rotatable manner. The toner in the container 64 is supplied to the developing roller 61 via the supply roller 62, and is held on the developing roller 61 after being regulated to a certain thickness between the developing roller 61 and the layer thickness regulating blade 63. Is done.

  The transfer unit 7 is provided between the paper feed tray 31 and the process cartridge 6, and mainly includes a driving roller 71, a driven roller 72, an endless conveyance belt 73, and four transfer rollers 74. . The conveyor belt 73 is stretched between the driving roller 71 and the driven roller 72, and the outer surface faces each photosensitive drum 51. The transfer roller 74 is disposed so as to face the photosensitive drum 51 with the conveyance belt 73 interposed therebetween.

  The fixing device 8 is provided behind the process cartridge 6 and the transfer unit 7 and mainly includes a heating roller 81 and a pressure roller 82.

  The image forming unit 4 forms the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 51 by charging the surface of the rotating photosensitive drum 51 with the charger 52 and exposing with the exposure unit 5. Then, the toner carried on the developing roller 61 is supplied to the photosensitive drum 51 to visualize the electrostatic latent image, and a toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 51. Thereafter, the sheet S supplied from the sheet feeding unit 3 onto the conveyance belt 73 is conveyed between the photosensitive drum 51 and the transfer roller 74, whereby the toner image on the photosensitive drum 51 is transferred to the sheet S. Then, the sheet S on which the toner image is transferred is conveyed between the heating roller 81 and the pressure roller 82, so that the toner image is thermally fixed on the sheet S.

  The paper S on which the toner image has been thermally fixed is discharged onto a paper discharge tray 23 provided on the upper surface of the upper cover 22 by a transport roller 91 and a discharge roller 92.

Next, details of the package according to the embodiment will be described. In the following description, the rotation axis direction of the developing roller 61 is simply referred to as “rotation axis direction”.
As shown in FIG. 2, the packaging body 10 includes a developing cartridge 6B and a storage body 11 for protecting the developing cartridge 6B. The storage body 11 mainly includes a storage case 100, a first holding member 200, and a second holding member 300.

  As described above, the developing cartridge 6B is a cartridge having a frame 60 for containing toner, a developing roller 61 (not shown in FIG. 2) that can rotate with respect to the frame, and the like. In the present embodiment, a cover 6C is attached to the developing cartridge 6B in order to protect the developing roller 61. The cover 6C is removed when the developing cartridge 6B is used in the color printer 1.

  The storage case 100 is a box-shaped member for storing the developing cartridge 6B, and is formed of paper such as cardboard. Specifically, the storage case 100 is a pair of frames disposed on both sides of the frame 60 in the rotation axis direction so as to intersect the rotation axis 61A of the developing roller 61 in a state where the developing cartridge 6B is stored (see also FIG. 3). The first side surface 110 and the four second side surfaces 120 that connect the pair of first side surfaces 110 are provided. Both the first side surface 110 and the second side surface 120 have a rectangular shape, and the storage case 100 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape as a whole.

  In the following description, the first side surface 110 on the left side in FIG. 2 is referred to as a left side surface 111, and the first side surface 110 on the right side in FIG. 2 parallel to the left side surface 111 is referred to as a right side surface 112. Further, the second side surface 120 on the near side in FIG. 2 orthogonal to the first side surface 110 is referred to as a front side surface 121, and the second side surface 120 on the back side in FIG. Further, the upper second side surface 120 orthogonal to the first side surface 110, the front side surface 121, and the rear side surface 122 is referred to as an upper side surface 123, and the lower second side surface 120 in FIG. That's it. The storage case 100 (packing body 10) is usually placed with the lower side 124 facing down.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the first holding member 200 and the second holding member 300 are members that hold the developing cartridge 6 </ b> B in a state of being stored in the storage case 100. More specifically, in the rotation axis direction, the first holding member 200 holds the first end 6E that is one end of the developing cartridge 6B, and the second holding member 300 is the second end that is the other end of the developing cartridge 6B. Hold the part 6F.

  The first holding member 200 includes a main body portion 210, a contact portion 220 that protrudes from the main body portion 210 toward the inner surface of the storage case 100, and a tip that contacts the inner surface of the storage case 100. A concave first holding part 230 is formed on the surface. Similarly, the second holding member 300 includes a main body portion 310, a contact portion 320 that protrudes from the main body portion 310 toward the inner surface of the storage case 100 and has a tip that contacts the inner surface of the storage case 100, and the rotation axis of the main body portion 310. And a concave second holding portion 330 formed on the inner surface in the direction.

  The first holding unit 230 and the second holding unit 330 are portions that engage the corresponding end portions 6E and 6F of the developing cartridge 6B and hold the end portions 6E and 6F of the developing cartridge 6B. The first holding unit 230 has a holding surface 240 that can support the first end 6E of the developing cartridge 6B, and the second holding unit 330 can hold the second end 6F of the developing cartridge 6B. have.

  Four holding surfaces 240 and 340 are formed on each holding portion 230 and 330 corresponding to the four second side surfaces 120 (partially not shown), and the packaging body 10 is placed with the second side surface 120 facing down. When this occurs, the end portions 6E and 6F of the developing cartridge 6B are supported from below.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4A, when the packaging body 10 is placed with the lower surface 124 facing down, the holding surfaces 244 and 344 (hereinafter referred to as the lower holding members) positioned under the respective end portions 6E and 6F. Surfaces 244 and 344) support the end portions 6E and 6F from below. Similarly, when the package 10 is placed with the upper side 123 facing down, holding surfaces 243 and 343 (hereinafter referred to as upper holding surfaces 243 and 343) positioned below the end portions 6E and 6F are end portions. 6E and 6F are supported from below.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4B, when the package 10 is placed with the front side 121 facing down, the holding surfaces 241 and 341 (hereinafter referred to as the front holding surfaces) positioned below the end portions 6E and 6F. 241, 341) supports the end portions 6E, 6F from below. Similarly, when the package 10 is placed with the rear side surface 122 facing down, the holding surfaces 242 and 342 (hereinafter referred to as the rear holding surfaces 242 and 342) positioned below the end portions 6E and 6F are end portions. 6E and 6F are supported from below.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, the upper holding surfaces 243 and 343 and the lower holding surfaces 244 and 344 are illustrated in a state where the holding members 200 and 300 are accommodated in the storage case 100 together with the developing cartridge 6B, respectively. 4 (a) is displaced in the vertical direction. Specifically, the upper holding surfaces 243 and 343 and the lower holding surfaces 244 and 344 have a lower distance D11 between the lower side surface 124 and the lower holding surface 244 when the packaging body 10 is placed with the lower side surface 124 down. 4A is arranged so as to be shifted in the vertical direction so as to be smaller than the distance D12 between the side surface 124 and the lower holding surface 344. Here, the lower holding surface 244 corresponds to a “first support surface”, and the lower holding surface 344 corresponds to a “second support surface”.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4B, the front holding surfaces 241 and 341 and the rear holding surfaces 242 and 342 are in a state where the holding members 200 and 300 are housed in the housing case 100 together with the developing cartridge 6B, respectively. , And are shifted in the vertical direction of FIG. Specifically, the front holding surfaces 241 and 341 and the rear holding surfaces 242 and 342 are arranged such that when the package 10 is placed with the front side 121 facing down, the distance D13 between the front side 121 and the front holding surface 241 is 4B is shifted in the vertical direction so as to be smaller than the distance D14 between the side surface 121 and the front holding surface 341. Here, the front holding surface 241 corresponds to a “first support surface”, and the front holding surface 341 corresponds to a “second support surface”.

  Since the holding surfaces 240 and 340 are thus provided, the first holding portions 230 and 330 of the holding members 200 and 300 are engaged with the end portions 6E and 6F of the developing cartridge 6B, and the storage case 100 is stored. When the container 11 is rotated, the rotation axis 61A of the developing roller 61 is inclined with respect to all the second side surfaces 120 (specifically, the front side surface 121 and the rear side surface 122, and the upper side surface 123 and the lower side surface 124). The developing cartridge 6B is held in a state.

  Further, since the rotation axis 61A is inclined with respect to all the second side surfaces 120, as shown in FIGS. 4A to 4C, the storage body 11 has the first side surface 110 (the left side surface 111 and the left side surface 111). The developing cartridge 6B is held with the rotation axis 61A inclined with respect to the right side surface 112). That is, in the present embodiment, the storage body 11 is configured to hold the developing cartridge 6B in a state where the rotation axis 61A is inclined with respect to all of the side surfaces 110 and 120. In addition, illustration of the holding members 200 and 300 is abbreviate | omitted in FIG.4 (c).

  The angle formed between the rotation axis 61A of the developing roller 61 and the second side surface 120 is preferably 5 degrees to 45 degrees. More specifically, referring to the drawings, the angle θ1 formed between the rotation axis 61A shown in FIG. 4A and the upper side surface 123 and the lower side surface 124, and the rotation axis 61A shown in FIG. The angle θ2 formed by the front side surface 121 and the rear side surface 122 is preferably about 5 to 45 degrees.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the holding surfaces 240 and 340 are formed as surfaces substantially parallel to the rotation axis 61 </ b> A of the developing roller 61 inclined with respect to the second side surface 120. Specifically, each holding surface 240, 340 is formed as a surface substantially parallel to the outer surface extending along the rotation axis direction of the developing cartridge 6B (frame 60). The interval between the pair of holding surfaces 240 and 230 facing each other is substantially equal to the dimension in the direction perpendicular to the rotation axis 61A of the end portions 6E and 6F of the developing cartridge 6B entering between them.

  The first holding member 200 and the second holding member 300 are formed of a material that is softer than the material constituting the frame 60 of the developing cartridge 6B, specifically, a material having a low longitudinal elastic modulus (Young's modulus). As an example, the frame 60 is made of impact-modified polystyrene (PH-HI), and the first holding member 200 and the second holding member 300 are made of expanded polystyrene. Accordingly, the first holding member 200 and the second holding member 300 are more easily deformed than the frame 60, and are deformed by receiving force from the end portions 6E and 6F of the developing cartridge 6B when the package 10 is dropped. It is comprised so that the impact at the time of dropping may be absorbed.

Next, the effect of the package 10 comprised as mentioned above is demonstrated.
When the holding members 200A and 300A hold the developing cartridge 6B with the rotation axis 61A of the developing roller 61 parallel to the second side surface 120, as shown as a comparative example in FIG. When the body 10A falls and, for example, the upper side surface 123 collides with the floor F, a large impact is applied to the developing cartridge 6B housed inside. As a result, the central portion of the long frame 60 that is lower in rigidity than the end portions 6E and 6F is bent, so that the developing roller 61 and the layer thickness regulating blade 63 supported by the frame 60 and the like. There is a gap between them, and the toner may leak out from this gap. Further, when the package 10A falls with the developing roller 61 facing down, a large pressure is applied to the toner contained in the frame 60, particularly in the central portion of the developing roller 61, as indicated by the black arrow. For example, the toner may leak out from between the developing roller 61 and the layer thickness regulating blade 63 or the like.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, in the present embodiment, the storage body 11 holds the developing cartridge 6B with the rotation axis 61A inclined with respect to the second side surface 120 (upper side surface 123). When the package 10 falls and the upper side surface 123 collides with the floor F, the impact applied to the developing cartridge 6B can be made smaller than in the comparative example shown in FIG. Further, when the package 10 is dropped, the upper holding surface 343 of the second holding member 300 receives concentrated force from the corner portion of the second end 6F of the developing cartridge 6B. By deforming, the impact at the time of dropping can be absorbed, and the impact applied to the developing cartridge 6B can be further reduced. As a result, the bending of the frame 60 and the like can be suppressed, and the formation of a gap between the frame 60 and the layer thickness regulating blade 63 and the like can be suppressed. Further, since the rotation axis 61A (developing roller 61) is inclined, the toner in the frame 60 can flow along the inclined surface of the developing roller 61. It is difficult to apply large pressure to the part. Thus, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to suppress toner leakage at the time of dropping.

  In particular, in the present embodiment, since the storage body 11 holds the developing cartridge 6B in a state of being inclined with respect to all the second side surfaces 120 (the front side surface 121 and the rear side surface 122, and the upper side surface 123 and the lower side surface 124). Even when any one of the front side surface 121, the rear side surface 122, the upper side surface 123, and the lower side surface 124 of the storage case 100 collides with the floor F, as described above, toner leakage at the time of dropping can be suppressed. .

  In the present embodiment, since the holding members 200 and 300 are more easily deformed than the frame 60, when the packaging body 10 falls and the second side surface 120 collides with the floor F, the holding members 200 and 300 are positively By deforming, the impact of dropping can be suitably absorbed, and deformation of the frame 60 and the like can be further suppressed. Thereby, toner leakage can be further suppressed.

  In the present embodiment, since the holding surfaces 240 and 340 are parallel to the rotation axis 61A, the holding surfaces 240 and 340 are shaped along the corresponding end portions 6E and 6F of the developing cartridge 6B that is long in the rotation axis direction. It has become. Accordingly, when the end portions 6E and 6F are held by the holding portions 230 and 330 of the corresponding holding members 200 and 300, the end portions 6E and 6F and the holding members 200 and 300 can be brought into a fitted state. . Therefore, the drop-off of the developing cartridge 6B and the holding members 200, 300 is suppressed, so that the developing cartridge 6B and the holding members 200, 300 can be easily stored in the storage case 100 in a fitted state.

  In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the holding surfaces 240 and 340 are formed as surfaces substantially parallel to the rotation axis 61 </ b> A of the developing roller 61 inclined with respect to the second side surface 120. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the holding surfaces 240 and 340 may be formed as surfaces that are inclined with respect to the rotation axis 61 </ b> A, specifically, as surfaces that are substantially parallel to the second side surface 120. According to such a configuration, the holding members 200 and 300 can be attached to the developing cartridge 6B from the horizontal direction in the figure, which is the direction in which the first holding member 200 and the second holding member 300 face each other. The members 200 and 300 can be easily assembled.

  Moreover, in the above-described form, as shown in FIGS. 4A to 4C, the holding members 200 and 300 (the storage body 11) are in a state where the rotation axis 61 </ b> A is inclined with respect to all the side surfaces 110 and 120. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as illustrated in FIGS. 7A to 7C, the storage body 11 (holding members 200 and 300) has only a pair of second side surfaces 120, for example, an upper side surface 123 and a lower side surface 124. The developing cartridge 6B may be held in a state where the rotation axis 61A is inclined. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7B, the rotation axis 61 </ b> A is parallel to the front side surface 121 and the rear side surface 122. In FIG. 7C, the holding members 200 and 300 are not shown.

  7 (a), for example, when the upper side surface 123 and the lower side surface 124 are not parallel to each other, the storage body 11 is in relation to one second side surface (for example, the lower side surface 124). Alternatively, the developing cartridge 6B may be held with the rotation axis 61A inclined.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment will be described. In the embodiments described below including this embodiment, the same components as those described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

  As illustrated in FIG. 8A, the storage body 11 mainly includes a storage case 100 and four holding members 410 to 440. The holding member 410 is disposed between the lower surface 124 and the first end 6E of the developing cartridge 6B, and the holding member 420 is disposed between the lower surface 124 and the second end 6F of the developing cartridge 6B. Yes. Further, the holding member 430 is disposed between the upper side surface 123 and the first end portion 6E, and the holding member 440 is disposed between the upper side surface 123 and the second end portion 6F.

  The holding members 410 and 420 have different vertical dimensions in the drawing. Specifically, the interval D21 between the lower side surface 124 and the first end portion 6E is smaller than the interval D22 between the lower side surface 124 and the second end portion 6F. It is formed as follows. Here, the holding member 410 corresponds to a “first interposition part”, and the holding member 420 corresponds to a “second interposition part”. Further, the holding member 430 and the holding member 440 are also different in the vertical dimension in the drawing. Specifically, the interval D24 between the upper side surface 123 and the second end portion 6F is the interval D23 between the upper side surface 123 and the first end portion 6E. It is formed to be smaller than that.

  Thereby, when the developing cartridge 6B and the holding members 410 to 440 are stored in the storage case 100, the storage body 11 is in a state where the rotation axis 61A of the developing roller 61 is inclined with respect to the upper side surface 123 and the lower side surface 124. It is configured to hold 6B.

  The holding members 410 to 440 are made of a material having a Young's modulus smaller than that of the frame 60, for example, polystyrene foam. Furthermore, the holding members 410 and 440 are formed of, for example, a foamed polystyrene having a higher porosity than the holding members 420 and 430. Thereby, the holding members 410 and 440 are configured to be more easily deformed than the frame 60 and the holding members 420 and 430.

  Also in this embodiment, since the developing cartridge 6B is held in a state where the rotation axis 61A is inclined with respect to the second side surface 120, toner leakage at the time of dropping is prevented as in the case of the first embodiment. Can be suppressed. In addition, since the holding members 410 and 440 are configured to be more easily deformed than the frame 60 and the holding members 420 and 430, when the package 10 falls and the second side surface 120 (123, 124) collides with the floor or the like. The holding members 410 and 440 that receive a large force from the corners of the end portions 6E and 6F of the developing cartridge 6B can be preferentially deformed, and the impact of the drop can be absorbed efficiently. Thereby, toner leakage can be further suppressed.

  In the above-described embodiment, one holding member (410, 440) is configured to be more easily deformed than the other holding member (420, 430) by changing the porosity of the polystyrene foam, but the present invention is not limited thereto. It is not something. For example, even if the holding member is formed of paper such as cardboard, one holding member can be configured to be more easily deformed than the other holding member by changing the structure.

  For example, the storage body 11 shown in FIG. 8B mainly includes a storage case 100 and four holding members 450 to 480 formed of paper such as cardboard. The holding members 450 and 460 are formed such that a distance D25 between the lower side surface 124 and the first end portion 6E is smaller than a distance D26 between the lower side surface 124 and the second end portion 6F, and the holding members 470 and 480 An interval D28 between the two end portions 6F is formed to be smaller than an interval D27 between the upper side surface 123 and the first end portion 6E. Accordingly, the storage body 11 is configured to hold the developing cartridge 6B in a state where the rotation axis 61A of the developing roller 61 is inclined with respect to the upper side surface 123 and the lower side surface 124. Here, the holding member 450 corresponds to a “first interposition part”, and the holding member 460 corresponds to a “second interposition part”.

  The holding members 450 and 480 are formed by folding paper into a substantially U shape in a sectional view, and the holding members 460 and 470 are formed by folding paper into a substantially M shape in a sectional view. As a result, the holding members 460 and 470 are reinforced at the center in the left-right direction in the drawing, so that the holding members 460 and 470 have a higher rigidity than the holding members 450 and 480. As a result, the holding members 450 and 480 are relatively easier to deform than the holding members 460 and 470.

[Third Embodiment]
Next, a third embodiment will be described.
As shown in FIG. 9, the packaging body (reference numeral omitted) of this embodiment includes four process cartridges 6 as cartridges and a storage body 13. The storage body 13 includes a main body housing 2 (corresponding to an “apparatus main body”) of the color printer 1 as a storage case to which the process cartridge 6 can be attached and detached, and four holding members 500. .

  As shown in FIG. 10, the process cartridge 6 is a cartridge in a state where a developing cartridge 6B having a frame 60 and a developing roller 61 is attached to the drum cartridge 6A (see also FIG. 1).

  The holding member 500 is a member attached to the process cartridge 6 in order to suppress rattling of the process cartridge 6 during transportation. The process cartridge 6 can be attached to and detached from the main body housing 2 (main body frame 21) even when the holding member 500 is attached. The holding member 500 includes a first side portion 510 that covers one side surface of the process cartridge 6 in the rotation axis direction, a second side portion 520 that covers the other side surface, a first side portion 510, and a second side portion 520. It has the connection part 530 to connect. A protruding portion 511 that protrudes outward in the rotational axis direction is formed on the upper end portion of the first side portion 510 in the figure.

  As shown in FIG. 11A, the main body housing 2 is a member that houses the process cartridge 6, and a pair of left and right side surfaces 2L and 2R as first side surfaces disposed on both sides of the frame 60 in the rotation axis direction. And upper and lower side surfaces 2A and 2B as second side surfaces connecting the side surfaces 2L and 2R and front and rear side surfaces not shown.

  When the process cartridge 6 is attached to the main body frame 21 with the holding member 500 attached, the projecting portion 511 of the holding member 500 abuts on the upper end edge of the main body frame 21, so that the left end is inclined upward. It will be in the state which inclined to. That is, the storage body 13 is configured to hold the process cartridge 6 in a state in which the rotation axis 61A is inclined with respect to the upper and lower side surfaces 2A and 2B of the main body housing 2 as the second side surface.

  When the color printer 1 is used, from the state shown in FIG. 11A, the upper cover 22 is opened, the process cartridge 6 is removed, and the holding member 500 is removed from the process cartridge 6. Then, the process cartridge 6 with the holding member 500 removed is mounted on the main body frame 21 and the upper cover 22 is closed. As a result, as shown in FIG. 11B, the developing roller 61 has the rotation axis 61A parallel to the upper and lower side surfaces 2A and 2B of the main body housing 2, and the color printer 1 is ready for image formation. .

  Also in this embodiment, since the process cartridge 6 is held with the rotation axis 61A inclined with respect to the side surface 2B or the like, for example, when an impact is applied from the lower side surface 2B or the like, the first cartridge As in the case of the embodiment and the second embodiment, toner leakage at the time of dropping can be suppressed. Incidentally, although not shown in the figure, the storage body 13 of the present embodiment includes a main body housing 2 and a holding member 500, a box that stores the main body housing 2 (color printer 1), and a main body housing in the box. A cushioning material formed of foamed polystyrene or the like that supports 2 from the periphery may be further provided.

  Although the embodiment has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment. About a concrete structure, it can change suitably in the range which does not deviate from the meaning of invention as follows.

  In the above embodiment, the end portions 6E and 6F of the developing cartridge 6B are held in the storage case 100 via the holding members 200 and 300, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 12, in the developing cartridge 6B, one of its ends 6E and 6F in the vertical direction in the figure is held in the storage case 100 via a paper holding member 600, and the vertical direction in the figure is shown. The other may be held directly in the storage case 100. According to this, since the storage case 100 can be reduced in size, the consumption of resources such as paper necessary for making the storage case 100 can be reduced. Note that the shapes of the frame 60 and the cover 6 </ b> C can be appropriately changed so as to conform to the inner shape of the storage case 100. 12, when the holding member 600 is integrally formed as a part of the storage case 100, for example, by folding one cardboard, the storage body has only the storage case in the present invention. The configuration, that is, the storage body and the storage case are the same member.

  In the said embodiment, although the holding member formed from the polystyrene foam or paper was illustrated, the structure of a holding member is not limited to an above described structure. For example, as shown in FIG. 13, a holding member 700 having a plurality of air bags 710 formed by welding resin sheet-like members may be employed as the holding member. The holding member 700 as a whole is formed in a bag shape having an open end in the left-right direction in the figure, and is housed in the housing case 100 together with the developing cartridge 6B with the developing cartridge 6B being inserted therein.

  In the embodiment, the storage body 11 is configured to hold the developing cartridge 6B so that the rotation axis 61A of the developing roller 61 intersects the pair of first side surfaces 110, but is not limited thereto. For example, referring to FIG. 3, the container 11 holds the developing cartridge 6 </ b> B so that the rotation axis 61 </ b> A of the developing roller 61 passes through a corner portion formed by the first side surface 110 and the second side surface 120. It may be a configuration.

  In the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3 and the like, the second side surface 120 is arranged in a state of being orthogonal to the first side surface 110. However, the present invention is not limited to this, for example, as shown in FIG. The second side surface 120 may be disposed in an inclined state with respect to the first side surface 110. Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the storage case 100 had four 2nd side surfaces 120, it is not limited to this, For example, the storage case may have five or more 2nd side surfaces. The second side surface may be less than four.

  In the above embodiment, as the cartridge, the developing cartridge 6B is exemplified in the first embodiment and the process cartridge 6 is exemplified in the third embodiment. However, the cartridge is not limited to this. For example, the developing cartridge may be configured such that a portion where the developing roller and the supply roller are arranged and a portion (toner box) for storing the developer are detachable. Further, the process cartridge may be configured such that the developing cartridge and the drum cartridge are integrated, that is, cannot be detached.

  In the above embodiment, the color printer 1 capable of forming a color image is illustrated as an image forming apparatus in which the cartridge of the present invention is used. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, only one cartridge of the present invention is provided. It may be a printer capable of forming only a monochrome image. The image forming apparatus is not limited to a printer, and may be, for example, a copier or a multi-function machine including a document reading apparatus such as a flat bed scanner.

6B Developing cartridge 6E First end 6F Second end 10 Packing body 11 Storage body 60 Frame 61 Developing roller 61A Rotating axis 100 Storage case 110 First side surface 111 Left side surface 112 Right side surface 120 Second side surface 121 Front side surface 122 Rear side surface 123 upper side 124 lower side 200 first holding member 230 first holding unit 240 holding surface 241 front holding surface 242 rear holding surface 243 upper holding surface 244 lower holding surface 300 second holding member 330 second holding portion 340 holding surface 341 front Holding surface 342 Rear holding surface 343 Upper holding surface 344 Lower holding surface

Claims (7)

A cartridge having a frame containing developer and a developing roller rotatable with respect to the frame;
A storage body having a storage case for storing the cartridge;
The storage case has a pair of first side surfaces disposed on both sides of the frame in the rotation axis direction of the developing roller, and a plurality of second side surfaces connecting the pair of first side surfaces,
The storage body is configured to hold the cartridge in a state in which the rotation axis is inclined with respect to at least one of the plurality of second side surfaces, and in the state of being stored in the storage case, A first holding member that holds one end of the rotation axis direction, and a second holding member that holds the other end of the cartridge in the rotation axis direction in a state of being stored in the storage case,
The first holding member has a first holding portion that holds one end of the cartridge in the rotation axis direction,
The second holding member has a second holding part that holds the other end of the cartridge in the rotation axis direction,
The packaging body, wherein the first holding unit and the second holding unit each have a holding surface that is inclined with respect to the rotation axis .   The packaging body according to claim 1, wherein the storage body is configured to hold the cartridge in an inclined state with respect to all the second side surfaces. The first holding member has a first support surface that supports the one end when placed with a second side surface inclined with respect to the rotation axis facing down,
The second holding member has a second support surface that supports the other end when placed with the second side face down,
The package according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a distance between the second side surface and the first support surface is smaller than a distance between the second side surface and the second support surface. Wherein the first holding member and the second holding member is easily deformed than the frame, from claim 1, characterized in that it is configured to absorb a shock by itself is deformed according to claim 3 The package of any one of Claims. The storage body includes a first interposition portion disposed between a second side surface inclined with respect to the rotation axis and one end portion in the rotation axis direction of the cartridge, the second side surface, and the rotation axis of the cartridge. A second interposition part disposed between the other ends in the direction,
An interval between the second side surface and the one end portion is smaller than an interval between the second side surface and the other end portion,
The package according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the first interposition part is configured to be more easily deformed than the frame and the second interposition part. Wherein the rotational axis, the angle formed between the second side face is inclined to the axis of rotation, packing according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a 5 to 45 degrees body. A cartridge having a frame containing developer and a developing roller rotatable with respect to the frame;
A storage body having a storage case for storing the cartridge;
The storage case has a pair of first side surfaces disposed on both sides of the frame in the rotation axis direction of the developing roller, and a plurality of second side surfaces connecting the pair of first side surfaces,
The storage body is configured to hold the cartridge in a state where the rotation axis is inclined with respect to at least one of the plurality of second side surfaces ,
The storage case is an apparatus body of an image forming apparatus to which the cartridge can be attached and detached,
When the storage body is attached to the apparatus main body while being attached to the cartridge, the rotation axis is inclined with respect to at least one of the plurality of second side surfaces. A package having a holding member for holding a cartridge.

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