JPH08254888A - Image forming device, process cartridge, developing device and developer replenishment container - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To improve operability of a toner seal of a developer replenishment container, at the time of attaching the developer replenishment container to a process cartridge. CONSTITUTION: The toner seal 9 for sealing an opening part 8b of the developer replenishment container 8 is provided with a hooking part 9a. When the toner seal take-up device 10 is set to the process cartridge and the developer replenishment container 8 is attached to the process cartridge, the hooking part 9a is engaged to a gear 10a of the toner seal take-up device 10, and the toner seal 9 is automatically stripped off by driving the take-up device 10.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium, such as an electrophotographic copying machine, an electrophotographic printer, and a word processor, and a process cartridge detachable from the image forming apparatus. And a developing device, and further, a developer supply container attachable to the process cartridge and the developing device.

In the specification of the present application, a process cartridge is an integrally formed cartridge including a charging means, a developing means or a cleaning means as a process means, and an electrophotographic photosensitive member, and the cartridge is, for example, an electrophotographic copy. Machine, an electrophotographic printer, or the like, which is detachable from the main body of the image forming apparatus, or at least one of the charging means, the developing means, and the cleaning means as the process means, and the main body of the image forming apparatus. It is detachable, or further, the developing means as the process means and the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally formed into a cartridge, and the cartridge is detachable from the main body of the image forming apparatus. Say.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art An image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine or an electrophotographic printer forms an electrostatic latent image by uniformly charging an electrophotographic photosensitive member and then exposing it according to image information. Then, a developer is attached to the latent image by a developing unit to form a visible image (toner image), and then the toner image is transferred to a recording medium to obtain an image.

In such an apparatus, the electrophotographic photosensitive member, the charging means, the developing means, the cleaning means and the like are collectively formed into a cartridge so that the user himself can put the process cartridge into the main body of the image forming apparatus. It has been put into practical use that can be easily replaced by making it easy to maintain.

Further, in recent years, a process cartridge of a system for supplying toner has been proposed.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a further development of the toner replenishment type process cartridge.

According to the present invention, when the developer is replenished from the developer replenishing container to the process cartridge or the developing device, the toner replenishing process cartridge, the developing device, and the operability of the toner seal of the developer replenishing container are excellent. A developer supply container, and an image forming apparatus including the process cartridge, the developing device, and the developer supply container are provided.

[0008]

The above object is to provide a process cartridge, a developing device and a developer supply container according to the present invention,
In addition, the image forming apparatus includes the process cartridge, the developing device, and the developer supply container. In summary, the present invention relates to a process cartridge detachably mountable to the main body of an image forming apparatus, a developing unit including an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a process unit acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a developing container containing a developer. A plurality of developer replenishing containers for replenishing the developing means with replenishing developer, the plurality of developer replenishing containers being attachable to each other so that at least some of them overlap with each other and cannot be removed after attachment. The process cartridge is characterized in that the toner seal that covers the opening of the agent supply container is provided with a locking portion that is locked when the toner seal is wound up.

It is preferable to install a winding mechanism on the main body of the image forming apparatus for locking the locking portion and winding the toner seal when the developer supply container is mounted on the developing means. According to another aspect, when the developer supply container is attached to the developing means, a winding mechanism for locking the locking portion and winding the toner seal is installed in the process cartridge body. It is preferable that a plurality of holes are arranged in the hooking portion of the toner seal, and that the winding mechanism includes gear means that meshes with the plurality of holes.

According to another aspect of the present invention, in an image forming apparatus in which a process cartridge is removable and which forms an image on a recording medium, (a) the electrophotographic photosensitive member and the electrophotographic photosensitive member are acted. A plurality of developer replenishing containers for replenishing the developing means with the developing means, the developing means having a developing means for accommodating the developing means. Further, it can be attached so that it cannot be removed after attachment, and the toner seal that covers the opening of the developer supply container is provided with a latching portion that is latched when the toner seal is wound up. A mounting means for mounting the process cartridge on the apparatus main body, and (b) a conveying means for conveying the recording medium,
An image forming apparatus comprising:

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a developing device having a developing means provided with a developing container, the developing device being detachable from an image forming apparatus. In the developing device receiving replenishment, the plurality of developer replenishing containers are arranged so that at least some of them overlap each other,
Moreover, it can be installed so that it cannot be removed after installation.
A developing device is provided, in which a toner seal that covers the opening of the developer supply container is provided with a latching unit that is latched when the toner seal is wound up.

Further, according to another aspect of the present invention,
A developer replenishing container to be attached to a cartridge or a developing container of a developing device, wherein a plurality of developer replenishing container bodies can be attached so that at least some of them overlap each other and cannot be removed after attachment. There is provided a developer replenishing container characterized in that the toner seal covering the opening of the developer replenishing container body is provided with a latching part which is latched when the toner seal is wound up. To be done.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The image forming apparatus, the process cartridge, the developing device, and the developer supply container according to the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.

Embodiment 1 First, with reference to FIG. 4, an embodiment of an image forming apparatus to which a process cartridge constructed according to the present invention can be mounted will be described.

In this embodiment, the process cartridge C
Has, for example, a drum-shaped or belt-shaped electrophotographic photosensitive member, that is, a photosensitive drum 1, and process means such as a charging means 2, a developing means 3 and a cleaning means 4 arranged around the photosensitive drum 1, and these respective means. Are integrated by plastic frame bodies 6 and 7. The process cartridge C is attachable to the main body of the image forming apparatus via the attachment guide means 30.

The transfer charging means 1 is provided in the apparatus main body below the photosensitive drum 1 in the process cartridge C.
5 are arranged. Further, a paper feed tray 16, a paper feed roller 17, and a registration roller 18 are arranged on the paper feed side of the transfer charging means 15, while a paper guide 19 is provided on the paper discharge side.
A fixing unit 20, a paper discharge roller 21, and a paper discharge tray 22 are arranged.

Further, above the process cartridge C,
An illumination lamp 23 for illuminating the original document and a short-focus optical element array 24 for exposing the photosensitive drum 1 with the reflected image light of the light applied to the original O from the illumination lamp 23 are provided. Further, a document table 25 movable in the direction of arrow A in the figure is provided on the upper part of the apparatus body, and a document pressure plate 26 is attached to the document table 25.

With the above arrangement, in the image forming apparatus, the reflected image light of the light emitted from the illumination lamp 23 to the original O is short-focused optical element array on the photosensitive drum 1 uniformly charged by the charging means 2. When the light is emitted via 24, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the document information is formed on the photosensitive drum 1. This electrostatic latent image is sent to a position facing the developing means 3 as the photosensitive drum 1 rotates. The developing means 3 includes a developer carrier 3b such as a developing roller that carries and conveys a developer (toner). The latent image on the photosensitive drum 1 is
The toner is supplied from the developing roller 3b to form a visible image, that is, a toner image.

On the other hand, a recording medium P such as a transfer paper is sent to a registration roller 18 via a paper feed tray 16 and a paper feed roller 17 which constitute a conveyance means, and the registration roller 18 adjusts the timing to expose the photosensitive material. It is conveyed between the body drum 1 and the transfer charging means 15. Then, the toner image on the photosensitive drum 1 is transferred onto the transfer paper P by the action of the transfer charging means 15.

Transfer paper P carrying the transferred toner image
After being sent to the fixing means 20 to fix the toner image, the sheet is stacked on the sheet discharge tray 22 by the sheet discharge roller 21.

After the transfer, the residual toner on the photosensitive drum 1 is removed by a cleaning means 4 such as an elastic cleaning blade, and the photosensitive drum 1 is subjected to the next image forming step.

Next, the process cartridge C according to the present invention
Will be further described.

1 to 3 show details of the process cartridge C described above. In this embodiment, the process cartridge C includes a photosensitive drum 1 which is, for example, an electrophotographic photosensitive member, and at least one process means.

Here, as the process means, for example, a charging means 2 for charging the surface of the photosensitive drum 1, a developing means 3 for forming a toner image on the photosensitive drum 1, and a toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 are removed. There is a cleaning means 4 for doing so. As shown in FIG. 1, in the process cartridge of this embodiment, a charging unit 2, a developing unit 3 containing toner (developer), and a cleaning unit 4 are arranged around a photosensitive drum 1 which is an electrophotographic photosensitive member. Then, it is covered with a housing composed of the frame bodies 6 and 7 to integrally form the cartridge C, and the mounting guide means 3 is attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus.
It is configured so that it can be attached and detached by 0.

Next, the developing means 3 of the process cartridge C will be described with reference to FIGS.

The developing means 3 has a developing container 3a, and is provided with claws 11 which horizontally project inwardly on the opposing wall surfaces of the developing container 3a. The tip of the claw 11 is formed in a step shape. Further, an opening 3c is provided above the claws 11 and 11, and the opening 3c is closed by a developing container lid 3e which can be opened and closed with a rotating shaft 3d provided near the end thereof as a fulcrum. A support portion 3f that supports the developer supply container 8 is provided at the bottom of the developing container 3a.

The developer replenishing container 8 is formed in a substantially trapezoidal shape in a sectional view, the toner 10 is stored in the toner containing portion 8a thereof, and the opening 8b provided at the bottom thereof is the toner seal 9.
Is blocked by. Further, the outer wall of the developer supply container 8 is provided with a locking portion 13 that engages with the claw 11 of the developing container 3a when it is mounted on the developing container 3a. Locking part 1
Reference numeral 3 has an inclined surface 13a and a horizontal surface 13b, and the horizontal surface 13b and the stepped tip of the claw 11 coincide with each other.

As shown in FIG. 3, the toner seal 9 is formed at its tip as a hook portion 9a which is a hook portion. The hook portion 9a is formed wide, and a plurality of holes 9b are arranged on both sides of the wide portion at predetermined intervals along the longitudinal direction.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a toner seal winding device 10 is provided adjacent to the process cartridge C in the main body of the image forming apparatus. The toner seal take-up device 10 includes a toner seal take-up claw 10a,
It is configured to engage with the hole 9b of the toner seal.

Here, a method of replenishing the toner when the toner 10 in the developing container 3a of the process cartridge C is consumed will be described. First, the developing container lid 3e of the process cartridge C is opened to expose the opening 3c of the developing container 3a. Next, the developer supply container 8 is inserted into the process cartridge C until the claw 11 in the development container 3a and the locking portion 13 of the developer supply container 8 are engaged and fixed.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 2, the developing container lid 3c is closed while the end portion of the toner seal 9 is led out of the frame body 6 through the frame body opening 6a provided in the frame body 6. The hooked portion 9a of the toner seal 9 engages with the toner seal take-up claw 10a of the toner seal take-up device 10 of the apparatus main body. That is, the toner seal winding claw 10a is engaged with the plurality of holes 9b of the hooking portion 9a. Next, the toner seal take-up device 10 is rotated in the arrow direction by a drive system (not shown),
The toner seal 9 is automatically peeled off from the developer supply container 8 and wound in the direction of the arrow, and the opening 8b of the developer supply container 8 is opened.
Is opened, and the toner 10 inside is replenished to the developing means 3.

The developer supply container 8 is provided with an opening 8c on its upper surface, and the opening 8c is sealed by a seal member 8d. Further, along the longitudinal direction of the opening 8c, there is provided a second locking portion 15 with which the locking portion 13 is aligned when other developer replenishing containers having the same shape are stacked.

Therefore, when the second developer supply container is to be mounted after the toner in the first developer supply container is completely consumed, the developer container cover 3c is opened to open the first developer supply container. The seal member 8d of No. 8 is peeled off, and the second developer is supplied until the engaging portion 13 of the second developer supply container 8 is aligned with the inner surface of the second engaging portion 15 of the first developer supply container 8. Supply container 8
Insert and install. As is apparent from FIG. 1, due to the shapes of the locking portion 13 and the second locking portion 15, the developer replenishing containers cannot be detached after they are attached to each other.

In the same manner, the third and fourth developer supply containers can be stacked and mounted, and the supply can be continued until the life of the parts such as the electrophotographic photosensitive member. Therefore, the parts of the process cartridge can be replaced. Can be used without wasting.

As described above, in the toner replenishing system of this embodiment, the developer replenishing containers remain in the cartridge in an overlapping state, so that the number of replenishment can be easily confirmed.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, detection means 40 such as an optical sensor or a magnetic sensor for detecting the upper end position of the developer supply container 8 is provided on the upper part of the outer wall of the developer supply container 8 and the image forming apparatus main body. It is also possible to provide and detect the number of times of replenishment on the apparatus main body side.

As described above, when the developer replenishing container is loaded in the process cartridge, the toner seal of the developer replenishing container has good operability, and the developer replenishing container can be easily attached to prevent erroneous operation.

Embodiment 2 FIG. 5 shows a developing device 5 in the form of a cartridge which is another embodiment of the present invention.

The developing device 5 of this embodiment includes a developer carrying member 3b such as a developing roller, and a developing container containing toner for supplying the developer (toner) to the developer carrying member 3b. The developing means 3 having 3a is integrally made into a cartridge by a frame 40 made of plastic. That is, the developing device 5 of the present embodiment can be considered as a cartridge obtained by integrating the process cartridge C described in the first embodiment except the photosensitive drum 1, the charging unit 2, and the cleaning unit 4. Therefore, the configurations and operations of the developing container 3a and the developer supply container 8 are the same as those of the first embodiment, and those having the same configurations and operations are designated by the same reference numerals, and the above description is incorporated.

Third Embodiment Next, FIG. 6 and FIG. 1 described above regarding a third embodiment according to the present invention.
Will be described with reference to. The same members as those described above are designated by the same reference numerals, and the above description is used.

In the above-described embodiment, the toner seal take-up device 10 is arranged in the main body of the image forming apparatus, but in the present embodiment, the toner seal take-up device 10 is arranged in the process cartridge. More specifically, the separation member 70 separates the area 50 in which the developing container 8 is mounted and the winding area 60 in which the toner seal winding device 10 is arranged in the process cartridge. Further, an opening 72 is provided in the upper portion of the separating member 70, and the toner seal 9 of the developer supply container 8 is connected to the toner seal winding region 60 through the opening 72.
It is configured to lead to.

In the above structure, in order to consume the toner 10 in the developing container 3a of the process cartridge C and replenish the toner, first, the developing container lid 3e of the process cartridge C is opened to open the developing container 3a. Part 3
expose c. Next, the developer supply container 8 is inserted into the process cartridge C until the claw 11 in the development container 3a and the locking portion 13 of the developer supply container 8 are engaged and fixed.

Further, the mounted first developer supply container 8
When the toner in the second developer supply container 8 is completely consumed and the toner is replenished, the developer container lid 3e is opened and the seal member 8d of the first developer supply container 8 is peeled off. The second developer supply container 8 is inserted and mounted until the engaging portion 13 of the second developer supplying container 8 matches the inner surface of the second engaging portion 15 of the first developer supplying container 8.

After that, as shown in FIG. 6, the end of the toner seal 9 is led out from the developing container mounting area 50 to the winding area 60 through the opening 72 provided in the separating member 70, and the developing container lid is closed. When 3c is closed, the hooked portion 9a of the toner seal 9 is caught by the toner seal winding claw 10a of the toner seal winding device 10. That is, the toner seal winding claw 10a is engaged with the plurality of holes 9b of the hooking portion 9a. Next, the toner seal take-up device 10 is rotated in the direction of the arrow by a drive system (not shown), the toner seal 9 is automatically peeled off from the second developer supply container 8 and wound in the direction of the arrow to replenish the second developer. The opening 8b of the container 8 is opened, and the toner 10 inside is replenished to the developing means 3.

Also in this embodiment, it is possible to obtain the same effect as that of the first embodiment.

It is needless to say that all the characteristic portions of the present invention described in the third embodiment can be applied to the developing device described in the second embodiment, and the above description is incorporated.

[0047]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, when the developer is replenished from the developer replenishing container to the process cartridge or the developing device, the operability of the toner seal of the developer replenishing container is good. In addition, it is possible to obtain a process cartridge of a toner replenishing system, a developing device and a developer replenishing container which are easy to install and prevent erroneous operation, and an image forming apparatus including the process cartridge, developing device and developer replenishing container. .

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a first embodiment of a process cartridge and a developer supply container according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a toner seal of a developer supply container is wound up.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a toner seal of the developer supply container of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing an image forming apparatus including a process cartridge and a developer supply container according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing Embodiment 2 of the developing device and the developer supply container according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing a third embodiment of the process cartridge and the developer supply container according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Photosensitive Drum (Electrophotographic Photosensitive Member) 2 Charging Means 3 Developing Means 3a Developing Container 3b Developing Roller (Developer Bearing) 4 Cleaning Means 6, 7 Frame 8 Developer Replenishing Container 8b Opening 9 Toner Seal 9a Hooking Part (Latching part) 9b Hole 10 Toner seal winding device 10a Gear means 30 Mounting means C Process cartridge

Claims (22)

[Claims] 1. A process cartridge attachable to and detachable from an image forming apparatus main body, comprising: an electrophotographic photosensitive member; process means acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive member; and developing means having a developing container for containing a developer. A plurality of developer replenishing containers for replenishing the developing means with developer can be attached so that at least some of them overlap with each other and cannot be removed after attachment. The process cartridge, wherein the toner seal covering the opening is provided with a latching part which is latched when the toner seal is wound up. 2. A winding mechanism for locking the locking portion and winding up the toner seal when the developer supply container is mounted on the developing means, is installed in the main body of the image forming apparatus. The process cartridge according to claim 1, which is characterized in that. 3. A process cartridge main body is provided with a winding mechanism for locking the locking portion and winding up the toner seal when the developer supply container is mounted on the developing means. The process cartridge according to claim 1. 4. The hooking portion of the toner seal has a plurality of holes arranged therein, and the winding mechanism is provided with gear means meshing with the plurality of holes.
Process cartridge. 5. The process cartridge is a cartridge in which a charging unit, a developing unit or a cleaning unit as the process unit and the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrated into a cartridge, and the cartridge is attached to or detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus. The process cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 4, which is possible. 6. The process cartridge is a cartridge in which at least one of a charging unit, a developing unit, and a cleaning unit as the process unit and the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrated into a cartridge, and the cartridge is used as a main body of an image forming apparatus. The process cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the process cartridge is removable. 7. The process cartridge is a cartridge in which a developing means as the process means and the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally formed into a cartridge, and the cartridge can be attached to and detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus. The process cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 4. 8. An image forming apparatus in which a process cartridge is detachable and which forms an image on a recording medium,
(A) A plurality of electrophotographic photoconductors, a process unit that acts on the electrophotographic photoconductor, and a developing unit having a developing container that contains a developer, and a plurality of replenishers for supplying the developer to the developing unit. The developer supply containers can be attached so that at least some of them overlap each other and cannot be removed after the installation, and the toner seal covers the opening of the developer supply container. A mounting means for mounting a process cartridge having a locking portion which is locked when the process cartridge is taken, and (b) a transporting means for transporting the recording medium. Image forming apparatus. 9. A winding mechanism for locking the locking portion and winding up the toner seal when the developer supply container is mounted on the developing means, is installed in the main body of the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, which is characterized in that. 10. A process cartridge is provided with a winding mechanism for locking the locking portion and winding the toner seal when the developer supply container is mounted on the developing means. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8. 11. The toner seal according to claim 9, wherein a plurality of holes are arranged in the hooking portion of the toner seal, and the winding mechanism is provided with gear means meshing with the plurality of holes. Image forming apparatus. 12. The process cartridge comprises a charging means, a developing means or a cleaning means as the process means, and the electrophotographic photosensitive member which are integrally formed into a cartridge, and the cartridge is attached to or detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 8 to 11, which is possible. 13. The process cartridge, wherein at least one of a charging unit, a developing unit and a cleaning unit as the process unit and the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally made into a cartridge, and the cartridge is used as a main body of an image forming apparatus. The device is detachable from the device.
1. An image forming apparatus according to any one of 1 to 11. 14. The process cartridge is a cartridge in which a developing unit as the process unit and the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally formed into a cartridge, and the cartridge can be attached to and detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8. 15. A developing device having a developing means provided with a developing container, the developing device being attachable to and detachable from an image forming apparatus, wherein: The developer supply containers can be attached so that at least some of them overlap each other and cannot be removed after installation. The toner seal covering the opening of the developer supply container has the toner seal. A developing device, characterized in that it is provided with a latching portion which is latched when wound up. 16. When the developer supply container is mounted,
16. The developing device according to claim 15, further comprising a winding mechanism installed in the image forming apparatus for locking the locking portion and winding the toner seal. 17. When the developer supply container is mounted,
16. The developing device according to claim 15, further comprising a winding mechanism for locking the locking portion and winding the toner seal. 18. The hooking portion of the toner seal is arranged with a plurality of holes, and the winding mechanism is provided with gear means meshing with the plurality of holes. Development device. 19. A developer replenishing container to be attached to a cartridge or a developing container of a developing device, wherein a plurality of developer replenishing container bodies are at least partially overlapped with each other and cannot be removed after attachment. The toner seal which can be attached as described above and which covers the opening of the developer replenishing container body is provided with a latching portion which is latched when the toner seal is wound up. Agent supply container. 20. An image in which the cartridge or the developing device is mounted with a winding mechanism for locking the locking portion and winding up the toner seal when the developer supply container is mounted on the developing device. The developer supply container according to claim 19, wherein the developer supply container is installed in a forming device. 21. When the developer supply container body is mounted on the developing container, a winding mechanism for locking the locking portion and winding the toner seal is installed in the cartridge. The developer supply container according to claim 19. 22. A plurality of holes are arranged in the hooking portion of the toner seal, and the winding mechanism is provided with gear means meshing with the plurality of holes. Developer supply container.