JP6786239B2 - Cushioning material and packing body - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a cushioning material that can be used for a cartridge that can be attached to and detached from an image forming apparatus.

Here, examples of the image forming apparatus include, for example, an electrophotographic copying machine, an electrophotographic printer (for example, a laser beam printer, an LED printer, etc.), a facsimile machine, a word processor, and the like. The cartridge is a cartridge that can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus. For example, a cartridge having an electrophotographic photosensitive member as an image carrier, a developing means acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive member as a cartridge, or a cartridge. , Mainly, there are those in which only the developer is made into a cartridge.

The packing member is for protecting the cartridge from external vibration and impact when the cartridge is transported.

An electrophotographic image forming apparatus (hereinafter referred to as an image forming apparatus) such as a printer using an electrophotographic process uniformly charges an electrophotographic photosensitive member as an image carrier, and selectively exposes the electrophotographic photosensitive member to the electrophotographic photosensitive member. Form a latent image. Then, the latent image is developed with a developer and manifested as a developer image. Then, the developer image is transferred to the recording medium.

By applying heat or pressure to the transferred developer image, the developer image is fixed on a recording medium and the image is recorded. Conventionally, such an image forming apparatus has been accompanied by replenishment of a developer and maintenance of various process means.

As a means for facilitating the developer replenishment work and maintenance, all or part of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, the charging means, the developing means, the cleaning means, etc. are put together in a cartridge. Then, a process cartridge method is adopted in which the process cartridge (hereinafter referred to as a cartridge) can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus.

According to this process cartridge method, the user can perform the maintenance of the device by himself / herself in the form of replacing the cartridge, so that the operability can be remarkably improved. Since the cartridge can be attached and detached in this way and the cartridge can be replaced by the user, it is common for the user to take out the cartridge from the image forming apparatus main body and replace it with a new cartridge.

Here, the shipped new cartridge is packed in a packing material for protecting the cartridge from vibration and impact during transportation. Then, when a new cartridge is attached to the image forming apparatus main body, the user unpacks the packing material, takes out the cartridge from the packing material, and attaches it to the image forming apparatus main body.

Conventionally, as a corrugated cardboard cushioning material that packs a cartridge and protects it from vibration and impact during transportation, a configuration is known in which a plurality of surfaces of a corrugated cardboard sheet separated by a bending line cover the object to be packed. Further, Patent Document 1 proposes a configuration having a convex portion in order to prevent the impact from being transmitted to the packaged object. The contact surface of the corrugated cardboard cushioning material with the object to be packed extends in the longitudinal direction of the cartridge, and this convex portion extends from the adjacent surface via the contact surface and the bending line, and protrudes outward so as to cross the bending line. It is composed.

In this configuration, when a load of the object to be packed is applied to the contact surface of the corrugated cardboard sheet due to vibration or impact during transportation, the load is received by the contact surface, and a convex portion protruding from the adjacent surface via the contact surface and the bending line. Supports the load applied to the contact surface while deforming. In this way, the structure is such that the shock and vibration can be absorbed by the convex portion, and the vibration and shock applied to the packaged object are reduced.

On the other hand, air packs are arranged at both ends in the direction intersecting the longitudinal direction of the cartridge. As a result, the air pack can absorb the impact when the load of the packaged object is applied to the surface extending in the direction intersecting the longitudinal direction of the cartridge due to vibration or impact during transportation.

Patent No. 5595647

However, in addition to the cushioning material, an air pack must be prepared in advance, and the air packs must be placed at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the cartridge equipped with the cushioning material, which requires a lot of materials and the process of assembling the cushioning material. There was a problem that it would increase.

An object of the invention according to the present application is to provide a cushioning material having good assemblability that can be dropped in multiple directions without increasing the required materials.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to the present application is a cushioning material attached to an object to be packed and housed in a box, and the cushioning material consists of a sheet wrapped around the object to be packed and is a foundation. At least a surface and an opposing surface facing the foundation surface are provided. Then, the foundation surface is connected to one end of the end cushioning portion via the first bending line at the end in the direction intersecting the direction in which the sheet is wound, and the end cushioning portion is the object to be packed in this intersecting direction. The other end of the end cushioning portion is located on the outer side of the above, and is characterized in that it comes into contact with the facing surface .

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a cushioning material having good assemblability that can be dropped in multiple directions without increasing the required materials.

Perspective view showing the configuration of the packing material according to the first embodiment. Sectional drawing which shows an example of the image forming apparatus main body which concerns on Example 1. Sectional drawing which shows an example of the cartridge which concerns on Example 1. Perspective view showing an example of the cartridge according to the first embodiment. Sectional drawing of packing material which concerns on Example 1 Sectional drawing of packing material which concerns on Example 1 Development view of the corrugated cardboard sheet according to the first embodiment Perspective view which shows the state in the process of assembling the cushioning material which concerns on Example 1. The perspective view which shows the process of wrapping the packaged object which concerns on Example 1 with a cushioning material. An enlarged view showing a state during assembly of the cushioning material according to the first embodiment. An enlarged view showing a state during assembly of the cushioning material according to the first embodiment. Top view of the cushioning material according to Example 1 as viewed from one end Partially enlarged view showing the function of the cushioning material according to the first embodiment Perspective view showing the assembled state of the cushioning material which concerns on the modification of Example 1.

[Example 1]
Example 1 of the packing material for the cartridge according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 12.

In the following examples, the case of a full-color electrophotographic image forming apparatus (hereinafter, image forming apparatus) to which four cartridges can be attached and detached is illustrated as the electrophotographic image forming apparatus. However, the number of cartridges mounted on the electrophotographic image forming apparatus is not limited to this. It is set appropriately as needed. Further, according to the examples described below, the printer is illustrated as one aspect of the image forming apparatus. However, it is not limited to this. For example, it can be applied to other image forming devices such as a copying machine and a facsimile machine, or other image forming devices such as a multifunction device combining these functions.

<< Configuration of image forming device >>
First, FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus of this embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 1 is a four-color full-color laser printer using an electrophotographic process, and forms a color image on the recording medium S. The image forming apparatus 1 is a process cartridge type, and the cartridge P is detachably attached to the apparatus main body 2 to form a color image on the recording medium S. Here, regarding the image forming apparatus 1, the side where the opening / closing door 3 is provided is the front surface (front surface), and the surface opposite to the front surface is the back surface (rear surface). Further, the right side of the image forming apparatus 1 when viewed from the front is referred to as a driving side, and the left side is referred to as a non-driving side.

Four cartridges P (PY, PM, PC, PK) of a first cartridge PY, a second cartridge PM, a third cartridge PC, and a fourth cartridge PK are arranged horizontally in the apparatus main body 2. .. Each of the first to fourth cartridges P (PY, PM, PC, PK) has the same electrophotographic process mechanism, and the color of the developer (hereinafter, toner) is different. Rotational driving force is transmitted to the first to fourth cartridges P (PY, PM, PC, PK) from the drive output unit (not shown) of the apparatus main body 2. Further, a bias voltage (charging bias, development bias, etc.) is supplied from the apparatus main body 2 to each of the first to fourth cartridges P (PY, PM, PC, PK) (not shown).

≪Cartridge configuration≫
As shown in FIG. 3, a cross-sectional view of each of the first to fourth cartridges P (PY, PM, PC, PK) of this embodiment is shown. Further, FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the cartridge P (PY, PM, PC, PK) according to this embodiment. Each of the first to fourth cartridges P (PY, PM, PC, PK) includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member 4 (hereinafter referred to as a photoconductor drum), a charging means and cleaning as a process means acting on the photoconductor drum 4. It has a first frame with means. The first frame is the cleaning unit 8. Further, each of the first to fourth cartridges P (PY, PM, PC, PK) is a developing device 9 which is a second frame body provided with a developing means for developing an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor drum 4. Have. A charging roller 5 is used as the charging means, a cleaning blade 7 is used as the cleaning means, and a developer carrier 6 (hereinafter referred to as a developing roller) is used as the developing means.

The cleaning unit (drum unit) 8 is composed of a photoconductor drum 4, a charging roller 5, a cleaning blade 7, and a cleaning container 26 having a grip portion 45. The photoconductor drum 4 is rotatably supported by a drive-side cover member 24 and a non-drive-side cover member 25, and is rotationally driven by obtaining a driving force of a motor (not shown) of the apparatus main body 2 from the drum drive coupling 4a. (Fig. 3, arrow D direction). Both ends of the charging roller 5 are rotatably supported by the charging roller bearing 27 of the cleaning container 26, and the charging roller 5 comes into contact with the surface of the photoconductor drum 4 and is driven to rotate, and is supplied with a charging bias to receive the charging bias. Charges the surface of the. At this time, in order to uniformly charge the surface, both ends of the charging roller 5 are pressed against the surface of the photoconductor drum 4 by the charging roller pressure spring 28 via the charging roller bearing 27. The cleaning blade 7 is fixed to the cleaning container 26, and the elastic rubber portion at the tip thereof is provided so as to be in contact with the rotation direction of the photoconductor drum 4 (direction of arrow D in FIG. 3) in the counter direction. At the time of image formation, the transfer residual toner remaining on the photoconductor drum 4 is scraped off to clean the surface of the photoconductor drum 4. At this time, the tip of the cleaning blade 7 is in contact with the surface of the photoconductor drum 4 with a predetermined pressure in order to completely scrape off the transfer residual toner. Further, the transfer residual toner scraped from the surface of the photoconductor drum 4 by the cleaning blade 7 is stored as waste toner in the waste toner storage portion 26a of the cleaning container 26. Therefore, the waste toner recovery sheet member 70 for preventing the waste toner from leaking from the gap between the photoconductor drum 4 and the cleaning blade 7 is fixed to the cleaning container 26 in the longitudinal direction of the photoconductor drum 4.

On the other hand, the developing device 9 (development unit) is composed of a developing frame 29, a developing blade 31, a developer supply roller 33, and a flexible sheet member 35, in addition to the developing roller 6. The developing frame 29 includes a toner accommodating chamber 29c for accommodating toner, and has an opening 29b for discharging toner from the toner accommodating chamber 29c. The developing roller 6 and the developing agent supply roller 33 are arranged in the opening 29b of the developing frame 29. In the toner storage chamber 29c, the first cartridge PY is a yellow (Y) toner, the second cartridge PM is a magenta (M) toner, the third cartridge PC is a cyan (C) toner, and a fourth cartridge. The cartridge PK contains black (K) toner.

Then, the driving force of the motor (not shown) of the apparatus main body 2 is transmitted, and the developing roller 6 is rotationally driven in the direction of arrow E in FIG. 3 and the developer supply roller 33 is rotationally driven in the direction of arrow F in FIG. The free end of the developing blade 31 in the lateral direction is in contact with the rotation direction of the developing roller 6 in the counter direction. Further, the flexible sheet member 35 is arranged on the side of the opening 29b facing the developing blade 31 so as to come into contact with the developing roller 6 along the longitudinal direction, and the developing frame 29 and the developing roller 6 are arranged. Prevents toner from leaking through the gap.

The cleaning unit 8 and the developing device 9 are swingably coupled to each other. The developing device 9 is always urged in the direction in which the developing roller 6 contacts the photoconductor drum 4 (direction of arrow W1 in FIG. 3), and the developing roller 6 is in contact with the photoconductor drum 4. At the time of image formation, the developer supply roller 33 and the developing roller 6 are rotated and rubbed by driving, so that the toner in the developing frame 29 is supported on the developing roller 6. The developing blade 31 regulates the thickness of the toner layer formed on the peripheral surface of the developing roller 6, and also applies a charge due to triboelectric charging to the toner by the contact pressure with the developing roller 6. Then, at the contact portion between the developing roller 6 and the photoconductor drum 4, the charged toner on the developing roller 6 adheres to the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor drum 4, and the latent image is developed.

Further, at the time of non-image formation, the developing roller 6 is separated from the photoconductor drum 4 to prevent the surface of the developing roller 6 from being deformed. That is, the developing device 9 is movable with respect to the cleaning unit 8 and the developing roller 6 can be brought into contact with and separated from the photoconductor drum 4.

In this embodiment, the cartridge P is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped. One surface 58 of the hexahedron has an exposed portion 4b for transferring the toner image on the photoconductor drum 4 described above to the intermediate transfer belt unit 11. Further, the surface 59 facing the one surface 58 has the above-mentioned grip portion 45.

≪Structure of image forming device body≫
As shown in FIG. 2, a laser scanner unit LB as an exposure means is provided above the first to fourth cartridges P (PY, PM, PC, PK). The laser scanner unit LB outputs the laser beam Z corresponding to the image information. Then, the laser beam Z passes through the exposure window portion 10 of the cartridge P and scans and exposes the surface of the photoconductor drum 4.

An intermediate transfer belt unit 11 as a transfer member is provided below the first to fourth cartridges P (PY, PM, PC, PK). The intermediate transfer belt unit 11 has a drive roller 13, a turn roller 14, and a tension roller 15, and a flexible transfer belt 12 is hung on the intermediate transfer belt unit 11. The lower surface of the photoconductor drum 4 of each of the first to fourth cartridges P (PY, PM, PC, PK) is in contact with the upper surface of the transfer belt 12. The contact portion is the primary transfer portion. Inside the transfer belt 12, a primary transfer roller 16 is provided so as to face the photoconductor drum 4.

The secondary transfer roller 17 is brought into contact with the turn roller 14 via the transfer belt 12. The contact portion between the transfer belt 12 and the secondary transfer roller 17 is the secondary transfer portion. A feeding unit 18 is provided below the intermediate transfer belt unit 11. The feeding unit 18 has a paper feed tray 19 and a paper feed roller 20 in which the recording medium S is loaded and accommodated. A fixing unit 21 and a discharge unit 22 are provided on the upper left side of the apparatus main body 2 in FIG. The upper surface of the apparatus main body 2 is a discharge tray 23. The toner image of the recording medium S is fixed by the fixing means provided in the fixing unit 21, and the toner image is discharged to the discharge tray 23.

≪Image formation operation≫
The operation for forming a full-color image is as follows.

The photoconductor drum 4 of each of the first to fourth cartridges P (PY, PM, PC, PK) is rotationally driven at a predetermined speed (in the direction of arrow D in FIG. 3, counterclockwise in FIG. 2).

The transfer belt 12 is also rotationally driven in the forward direction (direction of arrow C in FIG. 2) with respect to the rotation of the photoconductor drum 4 at a speed corresponding to the speed of the photoconductor drum 4. The laser scanner unit LB is also driven. Synchronized with the drive of the laser scanner unit LB, in each cartridge P, the charging roller 5 charges the surface of the photoconductor drum 4 to a predetermined polarity and potential. Then, the surface of the photoconductor drum 4 is scanned and exposed with the laser beam Z in response to the signal. As a result, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image signal of the corresponding color is formed on the surface of each photoconductor drum 4. The formed electrostatic latent image is developed by a developing roller 6 that is rotationally driven at a predetermined speed (in the direction of arrow E in FIG. 3, clockwise in FIG. 2). Then, by sequentially transferring the electrostatic latent images developed by the first to fourth cartridges P (PY, PM, PC, PK), the yellow color, magenta color, cyan color, and black color are transferred onto the transfer belt 12. A four-color full-color unfixed toner image is formed.

On the other hand, the recording media S are separated and fed one by one by the paper feed roller 20 at a predetermined control timing. The recording medium S is introduced into the secondary transfer unit, which is the contact portion between the secondary transfer roller 17 and the transfer belt 12, at a predetermined control timing. As a result, in the process of transporting the recording medium S to the secondary transfer unit, the four-color superimposed toner images on the transfer belt 12 are sequentially and collectively transferred to the surface of the recording medium S. Then, the recording medium S on which the full-color toner image is transferred is conveyed to the fixing unit 21, and the full-color toner image is fixed on the recording medium S by the fixing means and discharged to the discharge tray 23.

≪Composition of packing material≫
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a state in which the cushioning material 140 is housed in the cardboard box 142 in a state of being mounted on the cartridge P. As shown in FIG. 1, the cushioning material 140 and the corrugated cardboard box 142 are collectively referred to as a packing material 143. Further, FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 1 showing a state after the cartridge P is mounted on the cushioning material 140 and housed in the cardboard box 142. Further, FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. The cushioning material 140 that covers the cartridge P so as to wrap it is located between the cartridge P and the cardboard box 142, and has a role of protecting the cartridge P, which is an object to be packed, from vibration and dropping. Further, in order to protect the cartridge P from dust and the like, the cushioning material 140 may be attached to the cartridge while it is housed in a resin bag (not shown).

≪Cushioning material composition≫
As shown in FIG. 6, the cushioning material 140 is configured to support the cartridge P in the corrugated cardboard box 142. The cushioning material 140 is configured to surround the cartridge P, and in this embodiment, the cushioning material 140 is wound so as to surround the cartridge P on four surfaces.

First, the configuration of the corrugated cardboard sheet 141 serving as the cushioning material 140 will be described. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a corrugated cardboard sheet 141. In FIG. 7, the breaking line is shown by a solid line and the bending line is shown by a broken line. The cushioning material 140 is formed by bending and assembling the corrugated cardboard sheet 141. The corrugated cardboard sheet 141 has a first surface 141a, a second surface (second connecting surface) 141b, a third surface (opposing surface) 141c, a fourth surface (first connecting surface) 141d, and a fifth surface (basic surface). It has 141e and a sixth surface 141f. The first surface 141a and the second surface 141b are adjacent to each other and are separated by a bending line 151 (151a, 151b, 151c). Similarly, the second surface 141b and the third surface 141c are adjacent to each other and are separated by a bending line 152 (152a, 152b, 152c, 152d). The third surface 141c and the fourth surface 141d are adjacent to each other and are separated by a bending line 153 (153a, 153b, 153c, 153d). The fourth surface 141d and the fifth surface 141e are adjacent to each other and are separated by a bending line 154 (154a, 154b, 154c, 154d). The fifth surface 141e and the sixth surface 141f are adjacent to each other and are separated by a bending line 155. In the following description, the direction in which the bending lines 151 to 155 extend is the first direction (X direction), and the arrangement direction of the first surface 141a to the sixth surface 141f is the second direction (Y direction).

The first surface 141a is configured such that one end thereof is adjacent to the second surface 141b via a bending line 151 and the other end is a free end in the second direction. The first surface 141a includes slits 170a and 170b extending in the second direction from the boundary (bending line 151) with the second surface 141b. Further, the first surface 141a is provided with convex portions 141a1 and 141a2 protruding toward the free end side at the free end in the second direction. In addition, the first surface 141a includes a locking portion 195a for holding the shape when the corrugated cardboard sheet 141 is used as the cushioning material 140. In this embodiment, the locking portion 195a is formed as a hook-shaped portion that can be bent with respect to the first surface 141a.

The second surface 141b is configured such that one end is adjacent to the third surface 141c via the bending line 152 and the other end is adjacent to the first surface 141a via the bending line 151 in the second direction. The second surface 141b has a first portion 141ba, a second portion 141bb, and a third portion 141bc.

A first cartridge receiving surface 160a (pressing surface) is provided between the first portion 141ba and the second portion 141bb of the second surface 141b. The first cartridge receiving surface 160a is separated from the second portion 141bb by a notch 190a extending in the second direction, and separated from the first portion 141ba by a bending line 156a extending from the slit 170a in the second direction. More specifically, the first cartridge receiving surface 160a has a convex portion 141b1 projecting toward the third surface 141c side and a convex portion 141b4 projecting toward the first surface 141a side. The convex portion 141b1 is formed so as to be cut out from the periphery, separated from the third surface 141c, and project from the first cartridge receiving surface 160a without being bent. Similarly, the convex portion 141b4 is formed so as to be cut out from the periphery, separated from the first surface 141a, and protrude from the first cartridge receiving surface 160a without being bent. In this embodiment, the cutout portion for forming the convex portion 141b4 and the slit 170a are integrally formed.

Further, a second cartridge receiving surface 160b (pressing surface) is provided between the second portion 141bb and the third portion 141bc of the second surface 141b. The second cartridge receiving surface 160b is separated from the second portion 141bb by a notch 190b extending in the second direction, and separated from the third portion 141bc by a bending line 156b extending in the second direction from the slit 170b. More specifically, the second cartridge receiving surface 160b has a convex portion 141b3 projecting toward the third surface 141c side and a convex portion 141b5 projecting toward the first surface 141a side. The convex portion 141b3 is formed so as to be cut out from the periphery, separated from the third surface 141c, and protrude from the second cartridge receiving surface 160b without being bent. Similarly, the convex portion 141b5 is formed so as to be cut out from the periphery, separated from the first surface 141a, and protrude from the second cartridge receiving surface 160b without being bent. In this embodiment, the cutout portion for forming the convex portion 141b5 and the slit 170b are integrally formed.

In addition, the second portion 141bb of the second surface 141b is provided with a convex portion 141b2 protruding from the bending line 152 toward the third surface 141c in the second direction. The convex portion 141b2 is formed so as to be cut out from the periphery, separated from the third surface 141c, and protrude from the second portion 141bb without being bent.

The third surface 141c is configured such that one end is adjacent to the fourth surface 141d via the bending line 153 and the other end is adjacent to the second surface 141b via the bending line 152 in the second direction.

The third surface 141c is provided with convex portions 141c1 and 141c2 protruding from the bending line 153 toward the fourth surface 141d in the second direction. The convex portions 141c1 and 141c2 are formed so as to be cut out from the periphery, separated from the fourth surface 141d, and protrude from the third surface 141c without being bent. Further, the third surface 141c is provided with slits 170c and 170d extending in the second direction from the boundary (bending line 152) with the second surface 141b. In this embodiment, the slit 170c is integrally formed with a cutout portion for forming the convex portion 141b1, and the slit 170d is integrally formed with the cutout portion for forming the convex portion 141b3. Reinforcing convex portions 161a and 161b are provided at the ends of the slits 170c and 170d on the fourth surface 141d side in the second direction. The reinforcing convex portions 161a and 161b are connected to the third surface 141c via the bending lines 157a and 157b extending in the first direction only on the fourth surface 141d side in the second direction, and the other peripheral portions are connected to the third surface 141c. Is separated from.

The fourth surface 141d is configured such that one end is adjacent to the third surface 141c via the bending line 153 and the other end is adjacent to the fifth surface 141e via the bending line 154 in the second direction. The fourth surface 141d is provided with convex portions 141d1 and 141d2 protruding from the bending line 154 toward the fifth surface 141e in the second direction. The convex portions 141d1 and 141d2 are formed so as to be cut out from the periphery, separated from the fifth surface 141e, and project from the fourth surface 141d without being bent. Similarly, the fourth surface 141d is provided with convex portions 141d3 and 141d4 protruding from the bending line 153 toward the third surface 141c in the second direction. The convex portions 141d3 and 141d4 are formed so as to be cut out from the periphery, separated from the third surface 141c, and project from the fourth surface 141d without being bent.

The fifth surface 141e is configured such that one end is adjacent to the sixth surface 141f via the bending line 155 and the other end is adjacent to the fourth surface 141d via the bending line 154 in the second direction. The fifth surface 141e includes end cushioning portions 180a and 180b on both ends in the first direction and on the sixth surface 141f side in the second direction.

The end cushioning portion 180a is separated by a fifth surface 141e and a bending line 158a so that the length in the first direction is longer than the lengths of the second surface 141b, the fourth surface 141d, and the sixth surface 141f. It is configured. The separating portion that separates the end cushioning portion 180a and the fifth surface 141e is configured to have a slit 170e extending toward the fourth surface 141d in the second direction.

Similarly, the end cushioning portion 180b is separated by a fifth surface 141e and a bending line 158b, and the length in the first direction is longer than the lengths of the second surface 141b, the fourth surface 141d, and the sixth surface 141f. It is configured as follows. The separation portion that separates the end cushioning portion 180b and the fifth surface 141e is configured to have a slit 170f extending toward the fourth surface 141d in the second direction.

As described above, in order to form the end cushioning portions 180a and 180b, the bending lines 158a and 158b are configured to be located on the fourth surface 141d side in the second direction as compared with the bending line 155.

In addition, the fifth surface 141e includes a non-locking portion 195b for engaging with the locking portion 195a and maintaining the shape when the corrugated cardboard sheet 141 is used as the cushioning material 140. In this embodiment, the non-locking portion 195b is an opening straddling the fourth surface 141d and the fifth surface 141e, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the non-locking portion 195b may be an opening formed only on the fifth surface 141e.

The sixth surface 141f is configured such that one end is a free end in the second direction and the other end is adjacent to the fifth surface 141e via a bending line 155. Since the end cushioning portions 180a and 180b are formed at both ends in the first direction, the length of the sixth surface 141f in the first direction is shorter than that of the first surface 141a to the fifth surface 141e. ..

The folding lines 151 to 155, 156a, 156b, 157a, 157b, 158a, and 158b are processed so as to be easily bent when the corrugated cardboard sheet 141 is assembled into the cushioning material 140. The bending line can be processed by crushing the corrugated cardboard sheet in a straight line to make it thinner than the surroundings, or by making a straight cut leaving some joints like perforations. Anything that reduces the bending strength of the sheet may be used.

≪Assembly of cushioning material≫
The assembly of the cushioning material 140 will be described with reference to FIGS. 7, 8, 9, and 10. The cartridge P to be packed is omitted.

First, a corrugated cardboard sheet 141 serving as a cushioning material 140 is prepared.

Next, as shown in FIG. 8, the first cartridge receiving surface 160a is bent along the bending line 157a, and the second cartridge receiving surface 160b is bent substantially orthogonally along the bending line 157b. That is, the first cartridge receiving surface 160a and the second cartridge receiving surface 160b are configured to extend in a direction (second direction) in which the first surface 141a to the sixth surface 141f intersect. The distance L (FIG. 7) between the bent first cartridge receiving surface 160a and the second cartridge receiving surface 160b is arranged so as to be longer than the longitudinal dimension m (FIG. 4) of the cartridge P. The cartridge P (not shown) is placed on the second portion 141bb of the second surface 141b so as to be located between the bent first cartridge receiving surface 160a and the second cartridge receiving surface 160b.

Then, as shown in FIG. 9, the cardboard sheet 141 is wound around the cartridge P by bending at the positions of the bending lines 151 to 155. At this time, the cartridge P is covered with the corrugated cardboard sheet 141 so as to overlap from the cartridge P side to the outside in the order of the sixth surface 141f and the second surface 141b, and the fifth surface 141e and the first surface 141a.

In this way, the first surface 141a is configured to have convex portions 141a1 and 141a2 extending so as to project outward with respect to the bending line 151. Similarly, the second surface 141b has convex portions 141b2 extending outwardly as compared with the bending line 153, and convex portions 141b4 and 141b5 extending outward as compared with the bending line 152. Configure to. The third surface 141c is configured to have convex portions 141c1 and 141c2 extending so as to project outward with respect to the bending line 153. Then, the fourth surface 141d has convex portions 141d1 and 141d2 extending outward from the bending line 154, and convex portions 141d3 and 141d4 extending outward from the bending line 153. Configure to have.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, at the same time as the winding step of the corrugated cardboard sheet 141, the convex portion 141b1 of the first cartridge receiving surface 160a is inserted into the slit 170c, penetrated, and the reinforcing convex portion 161a is pushed by the convex portion 141b1. .. In this way, as shown in FIG. 11, the first cartridge receiving surface 160a is folded from the first portion 141ba of the second surface 141b at the bending line 157a, and the first cartridge receiving surface 160a is formed from the third surface 141c by the convex portion 141b1. It shall be in a protruding state. That is, the reinforcing convex portion 161a is configured to protrude in the direction intersecting the corrugated cardboard sheet 141 (third surface 141c) on the outer peripheral surface of the corrugated cardboard sheet 141 surrounding the cartridge P. In this embodiment, the reinforcing convex portion 161a is arranged substantially in the middle of the bending lines 153 and 153 in the third surface 141c, that is, in the arrangement direction of the bending lines 153 and 153. Further, the reinforcing convex portion 161a is in contact with the convex portion 141b1 and protrudes in a direction intersecting the third surface 141c, and the cross section parallel to the third surface 141c is T-shaped.

Similarly, when the second surface 141b and the third surface 141c are bent at the bending line 152 and the cushioning material 140 is assembled, the convex portion 141b3 is inserted into the slit 170d and the second cartridge receiving surface 160b is pushed by the convex portion 141b3. .. In this way, as shown in FIG. 11, the second cartridge receiving surface 160b is bent from the first portion 141ba of the second surface 141b at the bending line 157b, and the second cartridge receiving surface 160b is projected by the convex portion 141b3. .. That is, the convex portion 141b3 is arranged substantially in the middle of the reinforcing convex portion 161b, and has a T-shaped cross section in the horizontal plane.

Further, when assembling the corrugated cardboard sheet 141, after bending the end cushioning portion 180a along the bending line 158a so that the angle formed by the fifth surface 141e becomes an acute angle, the convex portion 141b4 of the first cartridge receiving surface 160a is formed. It is inserted into the slit 170e of the fifth surface 141e. In this way, the fifth surface 141e and the convex portion 141b4 do not interfere with each other. Similarly, after bending the end cushioning portion 180b along the bending line 158b so that the angle X formed by the fifth surface 141e becomes a sharp angle, the convex portion 141b5 of the second cartridge receiving surface 160b is formed into the slit 170f of the fifth surface 141e. Insert in. In this way, the fifth surface 141e and the convex portion 141bf do not interfere with each other.

Then, when the first surface 141a and the second surface 141b are bent along the bending line 151 and the cushioning material 140 is assembled, the convex portion 141b4 of the first cartridge receiving surface 160a is inserted into the slit 170a provided on the first surface 141a. .. Similarly, the convex portion 141b5 of the second cartridge receiving surface 160b is inserted into the slit 170b provided on the first surface 141a. In this embodiment, the convex portion 141b4 of the first cartridge receiving surface 160a and the convex portion 141b5 of the second cartridge receiving surface 160b have a hook shape and are configured to be hard to come off from the inserted slits 170a and 170b, respectively.

Finally, the locking portion 195a provided on the first surface 141a is fitted into the non-locking portion 195b provided on the fifth surface 141e to form the cushioning material 140 containing the cartridge P which is the packed body.

≪End structure of corrugated cardboard cushioning material≫
Next, the cushioning configuration of the end portion of the cushioning material 140 in the first direction will be described in detail. The cushioning material 140 has a first cartridge receiving surface 160a, an end cushioning surface 180a and a bending line 158a at one end in the first direction, and a second cartridge receiving surface 160b, an end cushioning surface 180b and bending at the other end in the first direction. It also has wire 158b. Therefore, a buffer configuration including a first cartridge receiving surface 160a located at one end in the first direction, an end cushioning surface 180a, and the like will be taken as an example, and the description will be given with reference to FIG. FIG. 12 is a schematic view showing a state when the cushioning material 140 is viewed from one end side in the first direction.

The first cartridge receiving surface 160a is configured to be connected to the second portion 141bb of the second surface 141b by a bending line 157a in the corrugated cardboard sheet 141. Then, when the cushioning member 140 is used, the first cartridge receiving surface 160a is bent so as to intersect with the second portion 141bb of the second surface 141b at the bending line 157a. In the first cartridge receiving surface 160a, the convex portion 141b1 is inserted into the slit 170c of the third surface 141c, and the convex portion 141b4 is inserted into the slit 170a of the first surface 141a and the slit 170e of the fifth surface 141e. As a result, the first cartridge receiving surface 160a is made to be a surface extending in a direction intersecting the winding direction of the corrugated cardboard sheet 141.

Then, in the present embodiment, the end cushioning surface 180a is provided on the side of the first cartridge receiving surface 160a opposite to the side on which the object to be packed is arranged in the direction intersecting the winding direction of the corrugated cardboard sheet 141 (first direction). Has been done. That is, the cushioning material 140 has a configuration in which the cartridge P to be packed, the first cartridge receiving surface 160a, and the end cushioning surface 180a are provided in this order from the outside in the first direction.

One end of the end cushioning surface 180a is connected to the fifth surface 141e via a bending line 158a, the other end J is a free end, and the other end J is a facing surface of the fifth surface 141e. It is in contact with the three surfaces 141c. Further, the length t2 of the fifth surface 141e located between the bending line 154 and the folding line 158a is a length obtained by bisecting the length t3 of the third surface 141c located between the folding line 152 and the folding line 153. It is configured to be longer than that (t2> t3 / 2). The length T of the end cushioning surface 180a extending from one end connected to the bending line 158a to the other end J is longer than the distance t1 between the fifth surface 141e and the third surface 141c, and the end cushioning surface. The angle X formed by 180a and the fifth surface 141e is defined as an acute angle (X <90 °).

With this configuration, a reaction force F that tries to return to the state before the member (corrugated cardboard in this embodiment) constituting the cushioning material 140 acts on the end cushioning surface 180a bent by the bending line 158a. .. As shown in FIG. 12, the reaction force F is a force generated with the bending line 158a as the center of rotation, and is a force such that the angle X formed by the end cushioning surface 180a and the fifth surface 141e becomes large.

Further, the length T of the end cushioning surface 180a is longer than the distance t1 between the fifth surface 141e and the third surface 141c. Therefore, the other end J comes into contact with the surface 141c of the end cushioning surface 180a due to the reaction force F, and the movement of the end cushioning surface 180a is restricted. That is, as shown in FIG. 12, the end cushioning surface 180a is set so that the movement is restricted at a position that bisects the first cartridge receiving surface 160a when the central portion is viewed from the end in the longitudinal direction. ..

The cushioning material 140 configured in this way is attached to the cartridge P, and the one housed in the cardboard box 142 is prepared. As shown in FIG. 13, the first cartridge receiving surface 160a is located below the cartridge P. The state where it was dropped in the vertical direction G is shown. FIG. 13 is a view of the CC cross section in FIG. 12 viewed from the outside in the first direction. When the cartridge P is dropped in the drop direction G, the cartridge P is supported by the first cartridge receiving surface 160a. Then, the impact of the drop applied to the first cartridge receiving surface 160a is applied to the end cushioning surface 180a in addition to the first surface 141a to the fifth surface 141e (see FIG. 12) so as to be deformed. That is, when an excessive load that may cause bending or bending is applied to the first cartridge receiving surface 160a, the end cushioning surface 180a is deformed to support the first cartridge receiving surface 160a, thereby supporting the first cartridge receiving surface 160a. It suppresses bending and breaking of 160a. As a result, the load of the cartridge P is applied to the first cartridge receiving surface 160a, the first cartridge receiving surface 160a bends or breaks, hits the inner wall surface of the cardboard box 142, and hits the cartridge P which is the packaged object. It is possible to suppress the application of impact.

In the above description, the configuration of one end in the first direction has been described, but the same applies to the configuration of the other end in the first direction. That is, at the other end, the first cartridge receiving surface 160a is replaced with the second cartridge receiving surface 160b, the end cushioning surface 180a is replaced with the end cushioning surface 180b, and the bending line 158a is replaced with the bending line 158b. Can be configured.

[Modification example]
In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, the end cushioning surface 180a has a configuration in which the other end J abuts on the third surface 141c. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and as shown in FIG. 14 as a modified example of the embodiment of the present invention, the position of the end cushioning surface 180a is formed by cutting out a part of the third surface 141c with the notched portion 141ca. It may be a regulated configuration. Since the configuration is the same as that of the above embodiment except that the notch portion 141ca is provided, the same reference numerals are given to the same configuration, and the description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 14 is a schematic view showing a state when the cushioning material 140 according to the modified example is viewed from one end side in the first direction. Also in the modified example, the length T of the end cushioning surface 180a is longer than the distance t1 between the fifth surface 141e and the third surface 141c, and the angle formed by the end cushioning surface 180a and the fifth surface 141e. X is set to an acute angle (X <90 °). With this configuration, a reaction force F acts on the end cushioning surface 180a, the end cushioning surface 180a comes into contact with the notch 141ca, and the movement of the end cushioning surface 180a is restricted.

The cushioning material 140 according to the modified example configured in this way has the end cushioning surface 180a even when an excessive load that may cause bending or bending is applied to the first cartridge receiving surface 160a, as in the above embodiment. Supports the first cartridge receiving surface 160a while being deformed. As a result, the load of the cartridge P is applied to the first cartridge receiving surface 160a, the first cartridge receiving surface 160a bends or breaks, hits the inner wall surface of the cardboard box 142, and hits the cartridge P which is the packaged object. It is possible to suppress the application of impact.

The third surface 141c may have a notch portion 141ca that comes into contact with the end cushioning surface 180a and regulates the position of the end cushioning surface 180a. Therefore, the cutout portion 141ca is not limited to the shape shown in FIG. 14, and the shape of the third surface 141c can be given a degree of freedom, and the assembling property and the cushioning capacity can be improved.

P Cartridge 140 Cushioning material 141 Corrugated cardboard sheet 141a-141f surface 142 Corrugated cardboard box 143 Packing material 151-155, 156a, 156b, 157a, 157b, 158a, 158b Bending line 160a, 160b Cartridge receiving surface 161a, 161b Reinforcing protrusions 141a1, 141a2 , 141b1-141b5, 141c1, 141c2, 141d1-141d4 Convex 170a-170d Slit 180a, 180b End cushioning 190a, 190b Notch

Claims (11)

A cushioning material that is attached to the packaged item and housed in a box.
The cushioning material consists of a sheet wrapped around the packaged object.
The basics and
The facing surface facing the foundation surface and
At least
The foundation surface is connected to one end of the end cushioning portion via a first bending line at an end portion in a direction intersecting the direction in which the sheet is wound.
A cushioning material characterized in that the end cushioning portion is located outside the packaged object in the intersecting direction, and the other end of the end cushioning portion is in contact with the facing surface . The cushioning material according to claim 1, wherein the angle formed between the foundation surface and the end cushioning portion is an acute angle. The cushioning material according to claim 2, wherein the length from one end to the other end of the end cushioning portion is longer than the length between the foundation surface and the facing surface . The cushioning material according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the facing surface has a notch portion, and the end cushioning portion is regulated in the notch portion. Claims 1 to 1, wherein the sheet is arranged between the packaged object and the end cushioning portion in the intersecting direction, and has a receiving surface for receiving the packaged object. The cushioning material according to any one of 4. The cushioning member according to claim 5, wherein the receiving surface is configured to be connected to the sheet via a second bending line. The cushioning material further comprises a first connecting surface that is connected to the foundation surface via a third bending line and to the facing surface via a fourth bending line.
A second connecting surface connected to the facing surface via a fifth bending line,
At least
One of claims 1 to 6 , wherein the foundation surface , the first connecting surface , the facing surface , and the second connecting surface are sequentially connected to cover the periphery of the packaged object. Cushioning material described in. The length between the first folding line and the third folding line is longer than the length obtained by bisecting the length between the fourth folding line and the fifth folding line. The cushioning material according to claim 7. The cushioning material according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the sheet is corrugated cardboard. The object to be packed, the cushioning material according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in <br/> comprises a cartridge for use in an image forming apparatus. With the packaged object
With the box
The cushioning material according to any one of claims 1 to 10 and
A packaging body characterized by having.

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