JPH05173418A - Processing cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent toner scattering and at the same time, enlargement of a processing cartridge. CONSTITUTION:An attachment opening 38 of a toner bottle 37 is provided in a cartridge main body 31, and the attachment opening 38 is sealed by an attachment opening seal 40. On the other hand, a replenishing opening seal 44 to seal a replenishing opening 42, bellows 41 which pushes out toner 47 inside to the replenishing opening 42 when compressed, and a cutter 46 which breaks off the replenishing opening seal 44 when the bellows 41 is compressed are provided in the toner bottle 37. Then, the toner bottle 37 is attached to the attachment opening 38 the bellows is compressed and the replenishing opening seal 44 is broken off by the cutter 46 to push the toner 47 toward the replenishing port 42 so as to reprenish it into a toner chamber 33.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is based on an electrophotographic system (a system for transferring an image formed on a photoconductor to a sheet for recording) using a laser, such as a printer, a copying machine and a facsimile. It can be applied to an electrophotographic apparatus for recording on a sheet. More specifically, the present invention relates to a process cartridge that integrates process means for forming an image in such an electrophotographic apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, among such process cartridges, there is one in which a developing device and other process means are integrated, and a toner bottle is attached to the cartridge body, and the toner bottle is attached to the toner bottle. The toner inside is replenished into the toner chamber of the cartridge main body, and the toner inside the toner chamber is attached to the photoconductor by a developing roller to visualize the latent image on the photoconductor. It is like this.

This type of process cartridge has a toner
Some bottles are used with the cartridge attached to the cartridge body, while others are attached with the toner bottle to the supply port of the cartridge body to replenish the toner, and then the bottle is removed to cover the supply port. It was

[0004]

However, in the case where the toner bottle is used with the toner bottle attached, since the toner bottle is in a protruding state, it occupies a large space and the main body of the electrophotographic apparatus to which the toner bottle is attached is occupied. It becomes large. Moreover, when the toner is replenished to the cartridge main body, toner scattering is apt to occur.

[0005] Further, in the case of removing the toner bottle after replenishing the toner, there are those which are provided with various means for preventing scattering of the toner, but when the toner bottle is attached to replenish the toner, − When removing the bottle,
There was a problem that toner was scattered.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to prevent the electrophotographic apparatus from becoming large and to prevent toner scattering.

[0007]

Therefore, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a toner bottle 37 is attached to the cartridge main body 31 and the toner bottle 37 is attached to the cartridge body 31 as shown in the following embodiments. The toner 47 is replenished into the toner chamber 33 of the cartridge main body 31, the toner 47 in the toner chamber 33 is attached to the photoconductor 12 by the developing roller 34, and the toner is placed on the photoconductor 12. In the process cartridge 30 for visualizing a latent image, the cartridge main body 31 is provided with a mounting opening 38 for the toner bottle 37, and the toner bottle 37 is provided with a supply opening 42 for closing the supply opening 42. When the seal 44 and the toner 47 inside the seal 44 are compressed,
It is characterized in that it is provided with a bellows 41 that is pushed out to and a cutter 46 that breaks through the supply port seal 44 when the bellows 41 is compressed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, for example, in the process cartridge 30 of the first aspect as shown in the following illustrated embodiment, the process cartridge 30 of the first aspect is provided with the above-mentioned structure at the periphery of the mounting opening 38 of the cartridge main body 31. It is characterized in that a holding projection wall 39 for holding the mounted state of the toner bottle 37 is formed.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, for example, as in the following illustrated embodiment, in the process cartridge 30 of the first aspect, the toner bottle 37 is moved in the compression direction of the bellows 41. It is characterized in that a plurality of units can be connected in series.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, for example, as in the following illustrated embodiment, in the process cartridge 30 of the first aspect, the toner bottle is attached to the mounting opening 38 of the cartridge main body 31. After attaching 37 to the toner bottle 37, when the bellows 41 of the toner bottle 37 is compressed, when the bellows 41 is compressed by the cutter 46, the attachment port seal 40 that breaks through together with the replenishment port seal 44 is attached to the cover. -It is characterized in that it is provided by closing the mounting opening 38 of the trunk body 31.

[0011]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the toner bottle 37 is attached to the attachment port 38 of the cartridge body 31 to compress the bellows 41, and the replenishing port seal 44 is pierced by the cutter 46. The toner 47 is pushed out to the replenishing port 42 and replenished into the toner chamber 33.

In the second aspect, the toner bottle 37 after the toner is replenished is held by the holding projection wall 39.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, a plurality of toner bottles 37 are connected in series in the compression direction of the bellows 41 to replenish the toner 47 in each toner bottle 37 into the toner chamber 33. ..

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when the toner bottle 37 is attached to the attachment port 38 and the bellows 41 is compressed, the cutter 46 pierces the replenishment port seal 44 together with the attachment port seal 40. -Mounting opening 38 for the trunk body 31
Close up.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 6 is an overall schematic configuration diagram of a laser printer including a process cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 10 in the figure denotes the apparatus main body. The apparatus main body 10 is composed of an upper structure 10a and a lower structure 10b, and the upper structure 10a is connected to the lower structure 10b.
It is attached to b by a shaft 11 so as to be openable and closable. Device body 10
Inside, a belt-shaped photosensitive member 12 is provided substantially at the center. Around the photoconductor 12, a charging device 13, a developing device 14, a transfer device 15, and a cleaning device 16 are arranged in this order in the driving direction indicated by the arrow. An optical writing device 18 is arranged below the charging device 13 and the cleaning device 16, and a paper feeding cassette 19 is attached obliquely above the developing device 14.

The sheet fed by the sheet feeding roller 20 from the sheet feeding cassette 19 is conveyed to the upper side of the photoconductor 12 at a timing by the registration roller pair 21. The photoconductor 12 is driven in the counterclockwise direction as indicated by the arrow, and at that time, the surface thereof is uniformly charged by the charger 13, and the laser beam from the optical writer 18 is irradiated to the photoconductor 12. Form a latent image. This latent image is developed by the developing device 1.
When passing through the 4th position, a visible image is formed by the toner. Then, this visible image is transferred by the transfer device 15 to the lower surface of the sheet conveyed to the upper side of the photoconductor 12. The transferred sheet is guided by the conveyance guide 23 and conveyed to the fixing device 17, where the visible image is fixed. Then, the sheet exiting the fixing device 17 is further conveyed to the paper ejection section 25 by the paper ejection roller 24, guided by the paper ejection guide 26, and stacked on the paper ejection tray 27. On the other hand, the photoreceptor 12 after the visible image transfer is
The residual toner is removed by the tuning device 16.

In this laser printer, a waste toner storage section 28 for storing the toner removed by the cleaning device 16,
A charger 13 and an optical component 29 that transmits laser light are integrated with the developing device 14 to form a process cartridge 30. The cartridge main body 31 of the process cartridge 30 is provided with a developing chamber 32 of the developing device 14 and a toner chamber 33 communicating with the developing chamber 32.
The waste toner storage 28 on the lower side, the charger 13 on the cleaner 16 side with respect to the developing device 14, and the developing device 14
An optical component 29 is provided between the charging device 13 and the charger 13. The developing chamber 32 is provided with a developing roller 34 partially protruding toward the photoconductor 12 and a toner replenishing member 35 for replenishing the developing roller 34 with toner. An agitator 36 is provided.

Then, the agitator 36 rotates clockwise as shown by the arrow to stir the toner, and the toner replenishing member 35 replenishes the toner to the developing roller 34. The replenished toner is attached to the photoconductor 12 to visualize the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photoconductor 12.

By the way, this process cartridge 30
As shown in FIG. 3, the cartridge main body 31 of FIG. 3 is provided with a plurality of mounting ports 38 for the toner bottles 37 arranged side by side on one side of the upper surface thereof, and at the periphery thereof, a holding projecting wall 39 is provided outward.
A projecting edge 39a is provided inside the base. Then, a mounting port seal 40 for closing the mounting port 38 is attached to the upper surface of the projecting edge 39a. Reference numeral 31a indicates a handle portion formed on the cartridge main body 31.

On the other hand, a toner attached to the mounting opening 38
The bottle 37 is constructed as shown in FIG. That is, bellows 4
One end of 1 is set as a supply port 42, and the opening frame 4 is provided in the supply port 42.
3, the opening of the opening frame 43 is closed by the supply port seal 44, and the other end of the bellows 41 is closed by the plate member 45. Further, a cutter 46 having a blade 46a facing the replenishment port seal 44 is attached to the reed port 42 side of the bellows 41 at a position slightly apart from the opening frame 43. A tonner 47 is housed in the bellows 41.

Then, the toner bottle 37 is attached to the attachment opening 38 as shown in FIG. 1, and the bellows 41 is compressed by pressurizing the plate material 45 side as shown by an arrow. Then, the blade 46a of the cutter 46 is pushed out, the blade 46a pierces the supply port seal 44 and the mounting port seal 40, and the toner 47 in the toner bottle 37 is pushed out to the inside of the toner chamber 33. To replenish. Then, printing is performed with the toner bottle 37 still attached.

In the above embodiment, one end of the bellows 41 constituting the toner bottle 37 is closed by the plate member 45, which is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, it may be closed by a seal 48 similar to the supply port seal 44. In addition, an adhesive (not shown) may be applied to the outer surface of the supply port seal 44 and covered with release paper. When the toner in one toner bottle 37 is used up, the release paper on the supply port seal 44a of the other toner bottle 37a is peeled off and the seal 48 of the toner bottle 37 is removed.
Glue and connect to. Next, the bellows 41 is compressed and its cutter blade 46a is pushed out to break through the replenishing port seal 44a of the toner bottle 37a, and also through the seal 48 of the toner bottle 37 to break the toner inside the toner bottle 37a. Four
7 through the toner bottle 37 as shown by the arrow, and the toner chamber 3
Push out into 3.

In the above embodiment, the toner bottle 37
A plurality of mounting holes 38 are provided side by side on one side of the upper surface of the cartridge main body 31, but as shown in FIG.
The side wall of the toner chamber 33 of the trunk body 31 may be provided with a long depth. Then, a plurality of toner bottles 37 are connected and connected in series in the mounting port 38, the bellows 41 is compressed and the supply port seal 44 is pierced by the cutter 46, and the toner 47 in each bottle 37 is inserted. Toner can be pushed out directly or through another bottle 37 to the mounting port 38.
Replenish inside the chamber 33.

[0024]

According to the present invention, therefore, the toner bottle is attached to the attachment opening of the cartridge main body to compress the bellows, and the replenishment opening seal 44 is pierced by the cutter 46 to replenish the toner 47. Since the toner is pushed out to the mouth 42 and replenished into the toner chamber 33, the size of the electrophotographic apparatus does not increase and toner scattering can be prevented.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where a toner bottle is attached to a toner bottle attachment port of a process cartridge which is an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the toner bottle before replenishment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the toner-bottle attachment port and its vicinity.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing in cross section the case where the toner bottles are connected and attached.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state where a toner bottle is attached to a toner bottle attachment port of a process cartridge according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows a laser equipped with such a process cartridge.
FIG. 1 is an overall schematic configuration diagram of The Printer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 12 Photoreceptor 30 Process Cartridge 31 Cartridge Main Body 33 Toner Chamber 34 Developing Roller 37 Toner Bottle 38 Mounting Port 39 Holding Projection Wall 40 Mounting Port Seal 41 Bellows 42 Replenishing Port 44 Replenishing Port Seal 46 Cutter 47 Toner

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A toner bottle is attached to a cartridge body, the toner in the toner bottle is replenished into the toner chamber of the cartridge body, and the toner in the toner chamber is developed by a developing roller. In a process cartridge that makes a latent image on the photosensitive member visible by adhering to the photosensitive member, the cartridge body is provided with a mounting port for the toner bottle, and the toner bottle is provided with the mounting port. Supply port block that closes the supply port
And a cutter that pushes the inner toner to the supply port when compressed, and a cutter that breaks through the supply port seal when the bellows are compressed. 2. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a retaining projection wall for retaining the mounted state of the toner bottle is formed on the periphery of the mounting opening of the cartridge body. 3. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the toner bottles can be connected in series in the compression direction of the bellows. 4. A mounting port seal which is pierced by the cutter together with the supply port seal when the bellows of the toner bottle is compressed after the toner bottle is mounted in the mounting port of the cartridge body. 2. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge is provided so as to close the mounting opening of the cartridge main body.