JPH02188766A - Package container for unit for image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily and securely insert and load a cartridge and a developing device by providing extrusion holes for extruding an insertion body on a container main body. CONSTITUTION:The container main body 210 is provided with the extrusion holes 212 and 213 which penetrate the top surface and the rear flank facing an opening part 211, and further L-shaped cut 214 are formed in the front edge parts of the right and left flanks. When the developing device 37 is loaded in the cartridge 3, the lid 220 of the package container 200 is detached to house house the container main body 210 in the developing device 37 and in this state, the notches 14 are engaged with hook members 3C as engaging parts provided with the process cartridge 3, thereby supporting the developing device. In this state, the developing device 17 is held at the position facing guide grooves 3A, inserted into the cartridge 3 to a specific position by pushing the device 37 from the container main body 210 by utilizing the hole 213 for extrusion, and set at a final loading position by further pushing out by utilizing the extrusion hole 212. Consequently, the loading operation is extremely easily and securely performed.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a packaging container for a replaceable developing device, etc., which develops a latent image formed on an image carrier by electrophotography. In particular, the present invention relates to a packaging container for a plurality of developing devices used in a color image forming apparatus or a process cartridge housing each of these developing devices.

[Background of the invention]

There are many ways to obtain color images using electrophotography.
A device has been proposed. For example, JP-A-61-10077
As disclosed in Publication No. 0, a latent image is formed and developed in accordance with the number of separated colors of the original image on a photoreceptor drum serving as an image carrier, and each time the development is performed, the latent image is transferred onto a transfer drum. There is a method of forming a multicolor image on a paper and then transferring it onto recording paper to obtain a color copy. A device using this method requires a transfer drum large enough to transfer one sheet of image onto its circumferential surface in addition to the photoreceptor drum, and the device does not have a large and complicated structure. Inevitable.

For example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-149972, a latent image is formed and developed on a photoreceptor drum according to the number of separated colors of the original image, and is transferred onto a transfer material each time it is developed. This is a method of obtaining multicolor copies. With this method, it is difficult to overlap multicolor images with high precision, and it is impossible to obtain high-quality color copies.

Another method is to repeatedly form a latent image on a photoreceptor drum in accordance with the number of separated colors of an original image and develop it with color toner, and then layer color powder on the photoreceptor drum and then transfer it to obtain a color image. The basic process of forming a multicolor image is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Nos. 60-75850 and 60-76766 by the present applicant.
No. 60-95456, No. 60-95458, No. 60-158475, etc.

In a multicolor image forming apparatus that obtains a color image through such superimposition, a plurality of developing units containing different color toners are arranged around the periphery of the photoreceptor drum. The photoreceptor drum is rotated multiple times to develop the latent image on the photoreceptor drum to obtain a color image.

Furthermore, the present applicant has simplified the structure around the photoreceptor drum of the above-mentioned color image forming apparatus, making the apparatus more compact and improving its functionality, as proposed in Utility Application No. 89917/1983. If a frame body that can come into contact with and separate from the photoconductor drum is installed in the main body of the apparatus, then pull out the drawer plate provided on the frame body toward the front of the main body of the apparatus, take out the developing device installed on the plate, and clean it.・Proposals were made to improve the workability of multiple developing devices in order to replenish toner, etc.

On the other hand, regarding general copying machines,
As disclosed in the above publication, a proposal has been made in which a photosensitive drum, a developer, and a cleaner are integrally attached to a support member to facilitate replacement and repair of each unit. In addition, a monochrome compatible product was developed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 57-1542, which made it easy to replace as a single unit and a disposable structure.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 58-72159 discloses a color disposable cartridge cartridge that incorporates a plurality of integrally disposable developing units and is replaceable. .

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

However, with respect to these process cartridges containing photoreceptor drums, no one has yet been proposed that allows the developing device to be easily and reliably replaced and that is easy to maintain and handle by the user.

In particular, when a disposable developing device is newly loaded into a cartridge with a built-in photoreceptor drum or into the main body of the device, or when replaced due to expiration of developer life or toner replenishment, the aggregation of developer and toner may occur. In order to prevent this and ensure uniformity, it is necessary to shake the developing device vigorously beforehand.

Regarding this point, users are also required to use copying machines such as Canon's PC-10 and FC-5, which use the process cartridge proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 57-154255.

The same thing is also required when newly installing a developing device in a process cartridge of a multicolor image forming apparatus, or when performing replacement or maintenance.

In such cases, even if the process cartridge or developing device has a sealed structure, shaking it vigorously may cause problems such as scattering or spillage of the developer or toner.

On the other hand, when an inexperienced user unpacks the packaging container and attaches the developing device to the main body of the device, the user may carelessly handle the developer or toner, causing the developer or toner to become uneven or spilled outside, or fall onto the floor. There were even cases where the product was damaged.

The present invention solves and improves this point, and as a result, the user can easily and easily insert a monochrome cartridge into the main body of the apparatus, or in particular, when newly loading or replacing a developing device in a cartridge that can house multiple replaceable developing devices. The object of the present invention is to provide a packaging container for an image forming apparatus unit in which a cartridge and a developing device can be inserted and mounted reliably.

[Structure of the invention]

The above object is to provide an image bearing member in an apparatus main body, a charging means for applying an electric charge to the image bearing member, an exposing means for performing image exposure on the charged image bearing member according to image information, and the exposing means. a developing means comprising at least one developing device for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the image bearing member by the above-mentioned image carrier, and a cleaning means for cleaning toner remaining on the image bearing member after transfer;
In a packaging container for an image forming apparatus unit that includes an insert that is attached to an image forming apparatus and has a process means such as a replenishing means for replenishing toner to the developing device, the packaging container has a container for pushing out the insert. This is achieved by a packaging container for an image forming apparatus unit, which is characterized by having an extrusion hole provided in the container body.

〔Example〕

As an image forming apparatus using the packaging container of the present invention, a multicolor image forming method using a toner overlapping development method disclosed by the applicant in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 60-75850 etc. is used.
; A multicolor image forming apparatus will be explained.

Figure 1 shows the main configuration of a multicolor image forming apparatus.
1 is an image reading system, B is a laser writing system, C is an image forming section, and D is a paper feeding section, and a color image is formed by the following process.

In the reading system A, 11 is a document table;
The document stored in the document is illuminated by a halogen lamp 13J:J: attached to a carriage 12 that slides in the horizontal direction. Mirrors 16 and 17 are attached to the movable mirror unit I5, which also slide in the horizontal direction, and in combination with the mirror 14 attached to the carriage 12 guide the optical image of the document to the lens reading section 20. do.

The carriage 12 and the movable mirror unit 15 are connected to a stepping motor by wires (both not shown).
, and are slid in the same direction at speeds of V and 1/2V, respectively.

The lens reading section 20 has a lens 21 color〇〇D2
Consists of 2.

The optical image of the original transmitted by the mirrors 14, 16 and 17 is focused by the lens 21, and the color CCD
The images are respectively formed on 22 light-receiving surfaces.

The B, G, and R image signals output from the color CCD 22 are subjected to color correction processing in a signal processing section. In the signal processing section, a color signal corrected according to the colors of Y, M, and C toners is output, and is input to the laser writing system unit B, which is an exposure means.

In the laser writing system unit B, a laser beam generated by a semiconductor laser (not shown) is rotated and scanned by a polygon mirror 32 rotated by a drive motor 31, passes through an fθ lens 33, and has an optical path bent by a mirror 34. The peripheral surface of the image carrier 30 to which a charge has been applied in advance by a charger 35 serving as a charging means is scanned.

On the other hand, when scanning is started, the beam is detected by the index sensor, modulation of the beam by the first color signal is started, and the modulated beam scans the circumferential surface of the image carrier 30. Therefore, a latent image corresponding to the first color is formed on the circumferential surface of the image carrier 30 by main scanning by the laser beam and sub-scanning by the rotation of the image carrier 3o. This latent image is developed by, for example, a developing device 36 loaded with yellow (Y) toner (developing medium) among the developing means, and a toner image is formed on the drum surface. The obtained toner image, while being held on the drum surface, passes under a cleaning device 39, which is a cleaning means, which is separated from the peripheral surface of the image carrier 3o, and enters the next copy cycle.

That is, the image carrier 3o is charged again by the charger 35, and then the second color signal outputted from the signal processing section is input to the writing system unit B, and the second color signal is inputted to the writing system unit B. Similarly, writing is performed on the drum surface to form a latent image. The latent image is developed by a developing device 37 loaded with magenta (M) toner as a second color, for example.

This magenta (M) toner image is formed in the presence of the previously formed yellow toner image.

A developing device 38 has cyan (C) color toner, and forms a cyan (C) toner image on the drum surface based on an image signal generated by a signal processing section. Each of these developing devices 36,
AC and DC biases are applied to the sleeves 37 and 38, and jumping development is performed using a two-component developer serving as a developing means, so that development is performed without contact with the grounded image carrier 30. It has become.

The color image thus formed on the circumferential surface of the image carrier 30 is transferred to a transfer pole 40 provided as a transfer means as a recording medium, which is fed from the paper feed section by a paper feed belt 4L and a feed roller 42. transferred to paper. The recording paper onto which the toner image has been transferred is separated from the drum surface by a separation pole 43, and is conveyed to a fixing device 45 via a conveyor belt 44, where the image is fixed.

On the other hand, the blade 39A of the surface recording cleaning device 39 comes into contact with the image carrier 30 from which the recording paper has been separated from the drum circumferential surface to remove the remaining toner, and waits until the image carrier 30 is separated from the drum circumferential surface again. , enters a new color image formation process.

Next, the layout of each of the main components mentioned above will be explained. As shown in FIG. There is.

The main body 2 incorporates an image recording system consisting of the writing system 81, image forming section C1, paper feeding section, etc., and colors from the image reading system A are incorporated into the main body 2. It is designed to receive signals.

In the main body portion 2, the image carrier 30 is located approximately at the center, and the developing units 36 and 37 face the right peripheral surface thereof.

38 are arranged horizontally, while the charger 35 and the cleaning device 39 are arranged on the left peripheral surface.

The image carrier 30, the developing units 36, 37, 38, and the cleaning device 39 are all cartridges that are removably inserted into the main body 2 without being directly attached to the front and rear pairs of substrates fixed to the main body 2. 3 is supported by a bearing or is detachably attached.

The cartridge 3 can be easily taken out and attached to the main body 2 as an independent process unit by means of a pair of left and right guide members 4, respectively.

That is, rails 4 are provided on the left and right edges of the cartridge 3.
A. Guide rails 4B are fixed to the positions of the main body 2 corresponding to the one-way rails 4A, and the rails 4A form a sliding and removable pair by engaging with the guide rails 4B.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a pair of left and right reference bins P are installed near the upper side edge of the back of the panel, respectively.
The image carrier is derived from the front and rear substrates to which the main body 2 is fixed; is suspended from the hanging part Q by engaging with a hole provided in the hanging part Q, and is attached to the cartridge 3 in this state. 30, the relative positions of the developing devices 36, 37, 38, and cleaning device 39 relative to the main body 2 are set.

Therefore, when the cartridge 3 pulls the handle 5 on the front of the panel, the rail 4B is pulled out and the cartridge 3 is pulled out to the front of the main body 2, and when the handle 5 is pushed in, the reference pin P is moved to the hanging part Q. said cartridge 3 by engaging the hole.
is stored in the main body 2 in a suspended state again.

By having the structure in which the cartridge 3 is held in a suspended state relative to the substrate of the main body 2, the main body 2
The vibrations and shocks that are transmitted to the image carrier 30, each developing device, or the cleaning device from the motor etc. attached to the camera are greatly reduced and absorbed. For example, since the plurality of developing devices and the photosensitive drum are held in a relatively similar state, there is no major problem in image formation.

In particular, by integrally holding the image carrier 30 and the cleaning device 39 in the cartridge 3, the blade 3 must be used as a cleaning device for overlapping development image formation.
9A1 The negative effects of vibrations, shocks, etc. on the subtle pressure contact method, pressure contact state, load conditions, etc. when the second cleaning roller 39B, etc. used for cleaning blade residual toner processing, etc., are brought into contact and separated, or when pressed, are significantly alleviated and absorbed. Ru.

When the above-mentioned superimposed image forming process is used, the image carrier 30 needs to have a circumferential length equal to one page of 84 size or A3 size, which is the maximum recording medium, plus a slight margin. and its outer diameter is at least 130+nm
The size of the photosensitive drum, which is an image bearing member, is required to be about 1 to 150 mm, and for a transfer paper equivalent to A4 size, the size of the photosensitive drum, which is an image carrier, is 80 to 110 mm. In this example, l10
A photoreceptor drum of mm-mm was used.

On the other hand, as for each developing device 36, 37, and 38, as will be described in detail later, the outer diameter of the developing sleeve was reduced to 20 mm without deteriorating image performance, and the thickness (height) of each developing device was reduced to about 30 mm. As a result of being able to sufficiently hold down the following, three to four developing units are used for one color, that is, developing units 36, 37, and 38 in this embodiment.
can be further stacked and arranged horizontally within a space corresponding to the range of the outer diameter of the image carrier 30.

Therefore, the cartridge 3 is directly attached to the main body 2 without affecting the layout of each member of the conveyance system, especially the parts that are fixed to the main body 2, especially the laser writing system B1 in the upper part, the transfer pole 40 and the separation pole 43 in the lower part. Even if the vertical height of the filter is limited to the minimum size sufficient to cover the image carrier 30,
Needless to say, the cleaning device 39 is fully capable of mounting and accommodating all of the plurality of developing units 36, 37, and 38, thereby forming a recording paper conveyance path in a substantially straight line. This is effective in preventing jams, and even if jams occur, they can be easily disposed of.

The allowable width of the development gap is 500±300μ for this development method.
m, preferably 500±150 μm. There are many practical limitations, and it is desired that the variation be even narrower. For example, in the color copying machine of this embodiment, it is 500±50 μm.
is highly desirable and should be maintained. The integral structure of the present invention is also advantageous in this respect.

The developing method using an extremely thin developer layer as described above exhibits remarkable effects, for example, in a developing device with a small diameter sleeve. That is, conventionally, when non-contact development was performed using a small diameter sleeve of about 30 mm or less, a development gap of about 1 mm was required because it was difficult to regulate the thickness of the developer layer, and therefore a high-voltage AC bias was required. In addition, the resolution, gradation reproducibility, and overall image quality of the image obtained by development deteriorate, and in particular, details such as characters are not reproduced sufficiently.
Another disadvantage is that special considerations such as material and dimension settings are required for electrical insulation of the developing device.

On the other hand, according to the developing method using the above-mentioned developing device, an extremely thin developer layer is formed and developed, so the development gap can be made small, and the electric field is sufficiently large, so that the image to be developed is The resolution, gradation reproducibility, and other image quality have been significantly improved. In addition, since a small-diameter sleeve is possible, the expensive developing device becomes smaller and costs are reduced, and in color electrophotography, etc., where many developing devices are required, it is easier to arrange image forming equipment, making the entire device more compact. There are advantages.

Furthermore, another effect of the above-described developing method is that scattering can be suppressed to a minimum even when carriers and toners with small particle diameters are used. That is, when developing using a conventional developer consisting of a small particle size carrier (5 μm to 100 μm) and toner, the carrier and/or toner may scatter and contaminate the inside of the device, or the developing device containing color toner may have an abnormal color. However, according to the developing method described above, these problems can be greatly alleviated.

In addition, another effect is that the development method is non-contact development,
Only the toner selectively flies toward the latent image surface for development, which prevents damage to the latent image surface that tends to occur especially when performing reversal development using an image forming body with an organic photosensitive layer. Toner fogging and carrier adhesion are prevented. In addition, since the latent image surface is not rubbed, there is no damage to the surface of the image forming body or the formation of brush marks, and the resolution and gradation reproducibility are good. can be attached to. Furthermore, since the toner image can be superimposed on the image forming member on which the toner image is formed and developed, it is suitable for multicolor development in the multicolor image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the cartridge 3 containing the image carrier 30 and the developing units 36, 37, 38, etc. pulled out from the main body, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the inside of the cartridge 3.

Each of the developing units 36, 37, and 38 is incorporated into the cartridge 3 as shown in FIG. 3 so that it can be easily attached and detached by a mounting mechanism as described below.

The case of the developing device 37 will be explained below.
A pair of upper and lower guide pins 51 each having a compression spring externally fitted thereon is installed between a fixed handle 50A and a holding piece 52, and a movable handle 50B is slidably fitted to each of the guide pins 51. is biased to the right.

The movable handle 50B has a pair of upper and lower boss portions 50C.
A pressing lever 54, which is biased counterclockwise by a torsion spring 53, is pivoted to the lower boss portion 50C.

On the other hand, a guide plate 37A on which the developing device 37 is mounted is fixed to the cartridge 3, and a "hook-shaped" notch 60 is provided at the side end thereof corresponding to the press lever 54.

When the developing device 37 is attached to the cartridge 3, the pressing lever 54 is pressed against the straight portion 6 of the notch 60.
1 and is pressed slightly clockwise,
The developing unit 37 is pressed in the direction of the image carrier 30 by the reaction force of the pressing and urging means constructed in this manner, thereby maintaining the distance (Dsd) between the image carrying surface and the developing sleeve at a specified value.

On the other hand, in order to remove the developing device 37 from the cartridge 3, the movable handle 50B is slid to the left against the action of the compression spring so as to grasp the movable handle 50B with respect to the fixed handle 50A, and the pressing lever 54 reaches the slope portion 62. It returns counterclockwise and in the process brings the protrusion 54A into contact with the movable handle 50B and stops.

Therefore, when the handles 50A and 50B are simultaneously pulled at the position where the boss portion 50C has pushed the compression spring completely, the pressing lever 54 escapes from the opening of the notch 60 and the developing device 37
can be taken out and separated from the cartridge 3.

When installing the developing device 37 into the cartridge 3, the front end of the developing device 37 is placed on the guide plate 37A, and the fixed handle 50
When pushed in by A, the pressing piece 54 on the movable handle 50B located at the right end of the guide pin 51 comes into contact with the sloped part 63 on the front side due to the action of the compression spring, and due to its inclination angle, the pressing piece 54 on the movable handle 50B is pushed together with the movable handle 50B. Slide on the guide pin 51 to the left.

When the pressing lever 54 reaches the opening of the notch 60 and the developing device 37 is further pushed in, the movable handle 50B slides to the right due to the action of the compression spring, and the pressing lever 54
comes into sliding contact with the slope portion 62 and is rotated slightly clockwise until it reaches the straight portion 61, thereby obtaining the biased state of the developing device 37 described above. The developing units 36 and 38 are also attached to and detached from the cartridge 3 by a similar attachment mechanism. As explained above, the handle member (50A, 50
B) includes a releasing/locking mechanism for pushing in and out, and can also be used to hold a small and lightweight developing device, which is more effective in improving its operability. The position of the handles is not limited to the position of the embodiment, depending on the state when the cartridge is pulled out or the weight balance of the developing device, and the handles may be provided in the center, or two handles may be provided, one on each side. In addition,
The movable handle portion may be a simple one consisting only of a handle directly attached to the developing device.

Furthermore, each developing device 36° 37 for the cartridge 3
．． 38, each dimension such as length, depth, width, or relative position, and the single or single mechanical element based on the combination of grooves, holes, notches, etc., and protrusions such as dowels, rails, etc. By combining a plurality of components and selecting the above-mentioned specifications, a fool-proof mechanism can be provided that prevents a different type of developing device from being mistakenly attached.

Also, Figure 4 shows the cartridge 3 of the developing device 36, 37, 38.
FIG. 4(a) is another embodiment showing the state of attachment to the
4 shows a side view of the developing device side of the cartridge.
Figures (b), (c), and (d) are all explanatory diagrams showing the state in which the developing device is engaged with the cartridge.

FIG. 4(a) shows the right side of the cartridge 3 in a state in which the developing devices 36, 378 and 38 are accommodated.

As an example of the foolproof system, each developing device has a set of protrusions 37B formed on the top and bottom surfaces of the developing device 37 at different positions from the other developing devices, as shown in the example of the developing device 37. It can be fitted and installed without mistakes in the space.

In addition, when installing each developing device, as shown in the example of the developing device 37, the guide rails 37C formed on the left and right side surfaces engage with the guide grooves 3A provided in the cartridge 3, so that the vertical position is regulated. It is installed by sliding it in the direction.

Each developer installed in the cartridge 3 is a cartridge 3.
Due to the action of the lock device provided, the image bearing member 30 is biased against the circumferential surface of the image carrier 30 to form a predetermined developing gap (Dsd).

In addition to the above-mentioned mechanism, the following mechanism can also be used as a mechanism for attaching each developing device 36, 37, 38 to the process cartridge 3.

FIG. 4(b) is a plan view showing the main part of the action of the locking device on the developing device 37, in which 3A is a guide groove formed on the inner surface of the cartridge 3, and the developing device 37 is connected to the guide rail 37G in the guide groove. 3A and slide in the direction of the arrow.

As shown in FIG. 4(a), a lifting lever 100 is formed by a member having a rectangular cross section and is inserted vertically into the cartridge 3. A lifting lever 101 is an operating bottle installed in the lifting lever 100, and an operating pin 101 is used for each developing device. Three pieces are provided in corresponding positions on the vessel.

Figure 4(C) shows arrow A in Figure 4(b).
Reference numeral 02 denotes a release lever which is rotatably coupled to the lift lever 100 at the top of the cartridge 3, and the release lever 102 is always activated by the lift lever lOO being urged downward by a tension spring 103. It is in a state where it is pressed against the upper surface of the cartridge 3.

110 is a stop claw and a support member Ill formed from an elastic plate.
It is attached to the inner surface of the cartridge 3 via.

Reference numeral 110A denotes a guide portion protruding from the stop pawl 110, which engages with a guide groove 3B formed on the inner surface of the cartridge 3, so that the stop pawl 110 can change its position in the horizontal direction by deflection of the support member Ill. It has become.

Also, Fig. 4(d) shows the arrow B in Fig. 4(C).
As shown in FIG. 1, the stop claw 110 is provided with an inclined cam I1 (IB) at a position corresponding to the operating pin 101 on its lower surface.

A compression spring 112 has one end fixed to the inner surface of the cartridge 3, and the other end is press-fitted so as to press the stop claw 110 to the left.

The stop pawl 110, the compression spring 112, etc. are installed at corresponding positions in the cartridge 3 that accommodates each of the developing devices 36 and 38 other than the developing device 37.

FIG. 4(b) shows the developing device 37 installed in a predetermined position.
The stop claw 110 is located in the notch 3 of the guide rail 37G.
7D, and the stop pawl 1 by the compression spring 112
10 and is in a state of being biased in the direction of the arrow.

Therefore, a pair of abutting rollers R attached to both shaft ends of the developing sleeve 3703 abut against the ends of the image carrier 30, and as a result, a predetermined developing gap (Dsd) is created between the developing sleeve 3703 and the image carrier 30. ) is set.

To release the mounting of the developing device 37 and remove it from the cartridge 3, push up the end 102A of the operating lever 102, and the lifting lever 100 will rise and move the operating bin +01.
presses the inclined cam ll0B of the stop pawl 110.

Therefore, the stop pawl 110 horizontally rotates counterclockwise under the guidance of the guide groove 3B of the guide portion 110A and escapes from the notch 37D, thereby releasing the locking and biasing of the developing device 37.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the locking is released at the same time for each developing device, but it is also possible to release the locking by individually providing a lifting lever for each developing device.

As a result, the developing device 37 can be easily removed and separated from the cartridge 3 by operating the fixed handle 3750A.

On the other hand, when reinstalling the developing device 37, simply slide the developing device 37 in the direction of the arrow.
7IC presses the inclined surface 110B of the stop pawl 110 to automatically retreat, and when the notch 37D is reached, the stop pawl 110 is reengaged, resulting in the state shown in FIG. 4(b).

FIG. 5 shows a packaging container 200 for the developing device 37.
The packaging container 200 is composed of a container body 210 and a lid 220 made of styrofoam or the like.

The container body 210 is a pentahedral container with the front side surface open as an opening 2+1.
7 is inserted, stored, and covered with the lid 220 to be in a packed state.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the container body 210
is provided with extrusion holes 212 and 213 penetrating through its upper surface and rear side surface facing the opening 211, respectively, and furthermore, L-shaped notches 214 are formed at the front edges of the left and right side surfaces.

When attaching the developing device 37 to the cartridge 3, the lid 220 of the packaging container 200 is removed, the developing device 37 is placed in the container body 210, and the notch 214 is inserted into the hook member, which is a locking portion of the process cartridge 3. 3C to support it.

In this state, the developing device 37 is held in a position where the left and right guide rails 37G face the guide groove 3A formed on the inner surface of the process cartridge 3 as a result of the positional regulation accompanying the engagement of the hook member 3C. Therefore, the extrusion hole 2
13 to push out the developing device 37 from the container body 210, the developing device 37 is inserted into a predetermined position in the cartridge 3, and by further pushing out the developing device 37 using the push-out hole 212, the above-described developing device mounting mechanism is activated. and is set to the final loading position. Note that after loading the developing device 37, the container body 210 is removed from the cartridge 3.

The developing units 36 and 38 can be loaded into their respective predetermined positions very easily and reliably by using similar means.

FIG. 7 shows a packaging container for the process cartridge 3, which is composed of at least one developing device or an image carrier, a developing device, and a unit such as a cleaner, with the lid (not shown) removed and a container body 310. This figure shows a state in which the notch 314 is engaged with the hook member 2C and supported by the main body 2.

In this case as well, the process cartridge 3 is pushed out into the main body 2 by pressure from the push-out holes 312 and 313, and the left and right rails 4A are engaged with the aforementioned guide rails 4B inside the main body 2, and the process cartridge 3 is loaded into a predetermined position. Ru.

As is clear from the above description, each of the developing units 36,
37, 38 and the process cartridge 3 are inserters that use the cartridge 3 or the main body 2 as objects to be inserted, respectively, and are inserted into the cartridge 3 or the main body 2 by operating the aforementioned mounting mechanism, handle 5, etc. However, in the present invention, each of the image forming apparatus units described above is housed in a packaging container and is attached to the object to be inserted, and the cartridge is directly inserted from the container body without unpacking. 3 or the main body 2.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the present invention, loading the unit for an image forming apparatus into the main body of the image forming apparatus becomes extremely simple and reliable, and since the unit can be directly inserted into the apparatus from the packaged state, there is no need to contaminate the inside or outside of the machine or the unit. Thus, a useful packaging container for an image forming apparatus unit is provided which is safe for the user without staining or damaging the image forming apparatus, and is easy to handle.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram of a multicolor image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied, FIGS. 2 and 3 are perspective views of essential parts of the apparatus, and FIGS. 5, 6, and 7 are perspective views showing the structure of the packaging container of the present invention and its operation. FIG. 2... Main body 2C, 3C... Hook member 3... Process cartridge 3A... Guide groove 4... Guide member 30.
...Image carriers 36, 37, 38...Developing device 37C...Guide rail 39...Cleaning device 200...Packaging container 210, 310...
・Container body 211... opening

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) An image bearing member in the apparatus main body, a charging means for applying an electric charge to the image bearing member, an exposing means for performing image exposure on the charged image bearing member according to image information, and an exposing means a developing means comprising at least one developing device for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the image bearing member; a cleaning means for cleaning toner remaining on the image bearing member after transfer; and a cleaning device for cleaning the toner remaining on the image bearing member after transfer; In a packaging container for an image forming apparatus unit that includes an insert that is attached to an image forming apparatus that has a process means such as a replenishing means for replenishing toner, the packaging container has a push-out hole for pushing out the insert. 1. A packaging container for an image forming device unit, characterized in that the container body is provided with: (2) The packaging container for an image forming apparatus unit according to claim 1, wherein the insert is a developing device serving as the developing means. (3) The packaging container for an image forming apparatus unit according to claim 1, wherein the insert is a process cartridge that accommodates the developing device. (4) The packaging container for an image forming apparatus unit according to claim 1, wherein the packaging container engages with a locking portion of the inserted body to set the inserting body in the mounting position.