JPH09197744A - Toner seal automatic opening device, process cartridge, and electrophotographic image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To take up a toner seal at an increased speed and to shorten the time until the end of the seal taking-up by increasing the thickness of a part during the course of taking-up of the toner seal on a take-up shaft. SOLUTION: A sheet-like thickness increasing member 32 having a thickness is adhered to part of a tear tape 21b. The thickness increasing member 32 having a thickness is merely necessitated to be mounted at the tear tape 21b in such a manner that the front end of the taking-up direction comes to the position of the length of the tear tape 21b taken up in order to peel the boat- shaped heat sealed part along the tear tape 21b from the surface of the take-up shaft 20 in order to shorten the taking-up time from the taking-up time of the case there is no thickness increasing member 32 to the time sufficiently shorter than this time. The thickness of the thickness increasing member 32 is so adjusted that the torque acting on the take-up shaft 20 is within the max. torque generated at the time of peeling the boat-shaped heat sealed apart when the remained toner seal is taken up after the thickness increasing member 32 is completely taken up.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic toner seal opening device for a toner container used in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus and a process cartridge equipped with the automatic opening device.

Here, the electrophotographic image forming apparatus forms an image on a recording medium by using an electrophotographic image forming process. For example, an electrophotographic copying machine, an electrophotographic printer (eg, LED printer, laser beam printer, etc.). , An electrophotographic facsimile machine, an electrophotographic word processor, and the like.

Further, as a process cartridge, a charging means or a cleaning means, a developing means and an electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally made into a cartridge, and the cartridge can be attached to and detached from the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus. In addition, at least one of the charging means and the cleaning means, the developing means and the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally formed into a cartridge so that the cartridge can be detachably mounted on the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus. Further, it means that at least the developing means and the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally formed into a cartridge so as to be detachable from the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

[0004]

The present invention is a further development of the prior art described below.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a toner seal automatic opening device and a process cartridge in which the opening time of the toner seal is shortened, and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus to which the process cartridge is detachably mounted.

[0006]

Means for Solving the Problems A first invention of the present invention is:
In an image forming apparatus having a toner frame that stores a developer and has an opening, a toner seal that seals the opening of the toner frame, and a developing frame that supports a developing member and is joined to the toner frame. In a toner seal automatic winding device having a toner seal winding shaft for opening the toner seal of the developing means, a part of the thickness of the toner seal being wound around the winding shaft is increased. It is an automatic seal winding device.

A second aspect of the present invention is the first aspect of the invention, wherein a thickened sheet-shaped thickening member is attached to the toner seal in the thickened portion of the toner seal. The toner seal automatic winding device described above.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the ratio of the thickness of the toner seal to the thickness of the thickened portion of the toner seal is
The toner seal automatic unsealing device according to the first aspect of the present invention is approximately 1:10 or more.

A fourth invention of the present invention is the toner seal automatic unsealing device according to the first invention, wherein the positions of the winding start and the winding end of the thick portion of the toner seal substantially coincide with each other.

A fifth aspect of the present invention is a process cartridge which can be attached to and detached from an image forming apparatus main body, and has an electrophotographic photosensitive member and a developing means, wherein the developing means accommodates a developer and has an opening. With a toner frame, a toner seal that seals the opening of the toner frame, a developing frame body that supports the developing frame body and is joined to the toner frame body, and a toner seal automatic winding equipped with a toner seal winding shaft. The process cartridge is characterized in that the toner seal is provided with a take-up device, and a part of the toner seal is being thickly wound on the toner seal take-up shaft.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the process cartridge comprises a charging means, a cleaning means, a developing means, and an electrophotographic photosensitive member, which are integrally formed into a cartridge, and the cartridge is attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus. It is the process cartridge according to the fifth aspect of the invention, which is detachable.

In a seventh aspect of the present invention, the process cartridge comprises at least one of a charging means, a cleaning means, a developing means and an electrophotographic photosensitive member, which are integrally formed into a cartridge, and the cartridge is attached to an image forming apparatus main body. The process cartridge according to the fifth aspect of the invention is detachable.

An eighth aspect of the present invention is an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium in which a process cartridge is removably mounted, the image forming apparatus including: a, an electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a developing means. The means includes a toner frame that contains a developer and has an opening, a toner seal that seals the opening of the toner frame, a developing frame that supports the developing frame and is joined to the toner frame, and a toner seal. And a toner seal automatic winding device having a winding shaft, wherein the toner seal detachably mounts a process cartridge having a thickened portion on the way of being wound around the toner seal winding shaft, and b. And a conveying means for conveying the recording medium, the electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

[0014]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic image forming process, an electrophotographic photosensitive member and process means acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally formed into a cartridge, and this cartridge is used as an image forming apparatus. A process cartridge system detachable from the main body is employed. According to this process cartridge system, the maintenance of the apparatus can be performed by the user himself without relying on a serviceman, so that the operability can be remarkably improved. Therefore, this process cartridge system is widely used in image forming apparatuses.

In such a process cartridge, a photosensitive drum is provided, and a developing means is used to apply a developer (toner) to the latent image formed on the photosensitive drum.
The developing means is composed of a developing frame body holding a developing roller or the like for feeding the toner to the photosensitive drum, and a toner frame body containing the toner. Before use, the opening provided in the connecting portion of the toner frame with the developing frame is sealed with a seal member. When the process cartridge is attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus for the first use, the seal member that seals the opening of the toner frame is automatically opened. An image forming apparatus capable of driving an automatic sticker winding device is known.

[0016]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A typical embodiment of the present invention is as follows.
A toner seal that seals the opening of the toner frame is wound by an automatic winding device, and the toner seal has a thickened part in the course of being wound on the winding shaft.

To thicken a part of this toner seal,
An integrally formed or sheet-shaped thickening member may be attached.
By increasing the ratio of the toner seal and the thickened portion to about 1:10 or more, it is effective in shortening the winding time. Further, since the length of the thick portion of the toner seal substantially matches the integral multiple of the circumference of the average diameter of the wound thick portion, the winding start and winding of the thick portion can be The circumferential position at the end almost matches,
The roundness of the wound state of the toner seal can be almost maintained.

The present invention is suitable for the case where a toner seal automatic winding device is attached to the process cartridge.

[Detailed Description of Embodiments] Embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In the following description, the longitudinal direction means a direction perpendicular to the recording material conveying direction, and the lateral direction means a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

(Embodiment A) A process cartridge according to an embodiment B of the present invention and an image forming apparatus using the process cartridge will be described with reference to the drawings.

{Overall Description of Process Cartridge and Image Forming Apparatus Equipped with It} First, the overall configuration of the image forming apparatus will be described. FIG. 8 is a sectional configuration explanatory diagram of a laser printer having a process cartridge mounted therein, which is an aspect of the image forming apparatus, and FIG. 9 is a sectional configuration explanatory diagram of the process cartridge.

This image forming apparatus A is, as shown in FIG.
A light image based on image information is emitted from the optical system 1 to form a developer (hereinafter referred to as toner) image on the photosensitive drum 7 which is an electrophotographic photosensitive member. Then, the recording material 2 is conveyed by the conveying means 3 in synchronism with the formation of the toner image, and the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 7 in the image forming portion formed as a process cartridge B is transferred to the transfer means 4.
The recording material 2 is transferred to the recording material 2 by the above, and the recording material 2 is conveyed to the fixing means 5, and the transferred toner image is fixed and discharged to the discharging portion 6.

As shown in FIG. 9, in the process cartridge B constituting the image forming section, the photosensitive drum 7 is rotated and the surface thereof is uniformly charged by the charging means 8 to form an optical image from the optical system. The photosensitive drum 7 is exposed through the exposure unit 9 to form a latent image, and the developing unit 10 forms a toner image corresponding to the latent image to form a visible image. After the transfer unit 4 transfers the toner image onto the recording material 2, the cleaning unit 11 removes the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 7.

The process cartridge B has a toner frame 12 which is a first frame having a toner reservoir and the like, and a developing frame 13 which is a second frame having a developing sleeve 10a and the like.
And a cleaning frame 14 which is a third frame having the photosensitive drum 7 and the cleaning means 11 and the like.

Next, the structure of each part of the image forming apparatus A and the process cartridge B loaded therein will be described.

[Image Forming Apparatus] First, the configuration of each part of the image forming apparatus A will be described.

(Optical System) The optical system 1 irradiates a light beam to the photosensitive drum 7 by irradiating light on the basis of image information read from an external device or the like. As shown in FIG. A laser diode (not shown) in the optical unit 1a, a polygon mirror 1b, and a motor 1
c, an imaging lens 1d, and a reflection mirror 1e are stored.

When an image signal is given from an external device or the like, the laser diode emits light according to the image signal and illuminates the polygon mirror 1b with the image light.
The polygon mirror 1b is rotated at a high speed by a scanner motor 1c, and the image light reflected by the polygon mirror 1b irradiates the photosensitive drum 7 through the imaging lens 1d and the reflection mirror 1e, and the surface of the photosensitive drum 7 is selectively selected. It is configured to be exposed to.

(Recording Material Conveying Means) Next, the structure of the conveying means 3 for conveying the recording material 2 will be described. The recording material 2 according to the present embodiment can be of two types: a hand and a cassette paper feed. The structure for giving a hand is
As shown in FIG. 8, when the recording material 2 is set in the paper feed tray 3a and image formation is started, the pickup roller 3b
The recording material 2 on the paper feed tray 3a is fed into the apparatus by means of the separating roller pair 3c1 and 3c2, and the recording material 2 is separately fed one by one so that the leading end of the recording material 2 abuts on the registration roller pair 3d1 and 3d2. Transport. Then, the pair of registration rollers 3d1 and 3d2 are driven and rotated according to the image forming operation to convey the recording material 2 to the image forming portion. Further, the recording material 2 after image formation is conveyed to the fixing means 5, and the intermediate discharge roller 3e and the discharge roller pair 3f1,
It is configured to discharge to the discharge unit 6 by 3f2. A guide member 3g for guiding the conveyance of the recording material 2 is provided between the rollers.

The paper feed tray 3a is composed of an inner member 3a1 and an outer member 3a2, and is housed in the inner member 3a1 and the outer member 3a2 when not in use, and the outer member 3a2 forms the exterior of the image forming apparatus main body 15. Is configured.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 8, the cassette feeding structure is such that the cassette 3h is provided on the inner bottom of the apparatus main body 15.
When the recording material 2 is not fed by hand, the recording material 2 in the cassette 3h loaded in the loading portion is picked up one by one from the top by the pickup roller 3i and the feeding roller 3j. It is configured to feed to the pair 3d1 and 3d2. And registration roller pair 3d
After 1, 3d2, it is configured to be conveyed by the same member as in the case of the hand.

(Transfer Means) The transfer means 4 is for transferring the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 7 in the image forming portion to the recording material 2. The transfer means 4 of this embodiment is as shown in FIG. In addition, it is composed of a transfer roller. That is, the recording medium 2 is configured to be pressed by the transfer means 4 against the photosensitive drum 7 of the loaded process cartridge B, and a voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 7 is applied to the transfer means 4. Thus, the toner on the photosensitive drum 7 is transferred to the recording material 2.

(Fixing Means) Next, the fixing means 5 is for fixing the toner image transferred to the recording material 2 by the voltage application of the transfer means 4, and as shown in FIG. And a fixing roller b which has a heat generating member inside and is rotated by being pressed against the driving roller 5a. That is, when the recording material 2 onto which the toner image has been transferred by the image forming unit passes between the driving roller 5a and the fixing roller 5b, pressure is applied by pressing both rollers 5a and 5b, and the fixing roller 5b is pressed. It is configured to apply heat by heat generation. As a result, the toner transferred to the recording material 2 is fixed.

(Process Cartridge Mounting Means) When the opening / closing member 16 is opened, the cartridge mounting means shown in FIG.
As shown in 0, a cartridge mounting space is provided, and a cartridge mounting guide portion 35 is provided on the left and right inner side surfaces of the image forming apparatus main body 15. The left and right guide portions 35
A first guide rail 35a and a second guide rail 35b for inserting the process cartridge B are provided to face each other. On the other hand, on both outer side surfaces of the process cartridge B, projecting outward from the rotation center position of the photosensitive drum 7,
A columnar protrusion 35c having substantially the same radius as the groove 35a1 provided at the end of the first guide rail 35a is provided, and a guide protrusion 35d is provided continuously to the columnar protrusion 35c. Further, an engaging portion 35e is provided on the lower front side in the insertion direction of the process cartridge B.

When the process cartridge B is mounted, the cylindrical protrusion 35c of the process cartridge B is attached.
The guide convex portion 35d is guided by the first guide rail 35a, and the engaging portion 35e is guided by the second guide rail 35b.
The process cartridge B is mounted in the image forming apparatus A by inserting the process cartridge B in the state of being guided by and closing the opening / closing member 16. When the process cartridge B is mounted, a detection unit (not shown) is activated to send a mounting signal of the process cartridge B to the detection unit of the image forming apparatus main body 15 to confirm the mounting.

{Process Cartridge} Next, the structure of each part of the process cartridge B mounted in the image forming apparatus A will be described. The process cartridge mentioned here includes at least a developing unit 10 as a process unit that acts on the photosensitive drum 7 provided as an electrophotographic photosensitive member.

The process cartridge is a cartridge in which the charging means or the cleaning means, the developing means and the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally formed, and the cartridge can be attached to and detached from the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus. Is. In addition, at least one of the charging means and the cleaning means, the developing means and the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally formed into a cartridge so that the cartridge can be detachably mounted on the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

In the present embodiment a, in addition to the developing means 10, an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a charging roller provided as a charging means for charging the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and toner remaining on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member. A process cartridge B integrally formed with a cleaning unit for removing the above will be described with reference to FIG.

Process cartridge B according to the present embodiment
As shown in FIG. 9, a developing unit 10 that visualizes a latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 7 by a charging unit 8, an exposing unit 9, and toner around the electrophotographic photosensitive drum 7 that is an electrophotographic photosensitive member.
Further, the cleaning means 11 is arranged, and these are covered with a housing composed of the toner frame body 12, the developing frame body 13 and the cleaning frame body 14 so as to be integrated with each other, and are detachably attached to the image forming apparatus main body 15.

The photosensitive drum 7 according to the present embodiment is constituted by coating an organic photosensitive layer on the outer peripheral surface of a cylindrical drum base made of aluminum. The photosensitive drum 7 is rotatably attached to a drum shaft 7a fixed to the cleaning frame 14, and a driving force of a drive motor (not shown) is applied to a drum gear 7b (see FIG. 4) fixed to one end of the photosensitive drum 7 in the longitudinal direction. Is transmitted from the drive gear 30, the photosensitive drum 7 is rotated in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 8 in accordance with the image forming operation.

An alternating voltage is applied to the charging roller 8a which constitutes the charging means 8 for charging the photosensitive drum 7, and the charging roller 8a comes into contact with the photosensitive drum 7 and is driven to rotate. As a result, the surface of the photosensitive drum 7 is uniformly charged.

The exposure section 9 is an opening formed by the developing frame body 13 and the cleaning frame body 14 for allowing the image information from the optical system 1 to reach the surface of the photosensitive drum 7.

The developing means 10 contains a toner (not shown) therein to form a toner container, which is a toner frame 12.
And a developing frame 13 that rotatably supports the developing sleeve 10a as a developer carrying member. Developing sleeve 10
A toner layer thickness regulating member 10b made of rubber or the like is in contact with a, so that the toner adhering to the surface of the developing sleeve 10a is adjusted to a substantially uniform layer thickness, and the photosensitive drum 7 and the developing sleeve 10a face each other. And send it to the developing area. The developing sleeve gear 1 meshes with a drum gear 7b provided at one end of the photosensitive drum 7 at one longitudinal end of the developing sleeve 10a.
0e (see FIG. 4) is provided, and the developing sleeve 10a is driven counterclockwise by the rotation of the photosensitive drum 7. The toner agitating member 10c for agitating the toner in the toner container and sending the toner to the developing sleeve 10a side is connected to the photosensitive drum 7 by a gear train (not shown) and rotates clockwise with the rotation of the photosensitive drum 7.

An antenna 10d is arranged in parallel with the developing sleeve 10a, and when the process cartridge B is attached to the image forming apparatus main body 15, the antenna 10d is provided.
d is connected to a toner detection circuit provided in the image forming apparatus main body 15. The toner detection circuit detects a change in electrostatic capacitance due to the presence / absence of toner between the antenna 10d and the developing sleeve 10a, and also detects whether or not the process cartridge B is attached to the image forming apparatus main body 15. .

The toner seal 21 for enclosing the toner in the toner container prevents the toner from scattering during the transportation of the process cartridge B until the user reaches the process cartridge B. It must be removed when it is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body 15 to form an image.

In the present embodiment a, the toner seal 21
Is made of a flexible sheet-like material and is fixed to the peripheral edge 12b of the opening 12a of the toner frame 12 by welding or the like.

The toner seal 21 will be described in detail later.

The drum shutter 17 is provided when the process cartridge B is not attached to the image forming apparatus main body 15.
This is for preventing the user from accidentally touching the photosensitive drum 7 or scratching the photosensitive drum 7, and between the shield position for shielding the portion of the photosensitive drum 7 facing the transfer means 4 and the retracted position. The four-section chain links 17a, 17b
Is movably supported by the end of the cleaning frame 14 in the longitudinal direction.

The cleaning means 11 is made of rubber or the like, and contacts the surface of the photosensitive drum 7 so as to contact the surface of the photosensitive drum 7.
Blade 11a for scraping off the residual toner of
And a waste toner reservoir 1 for containing scraped-off waste toner
1b etc.

{Structure of Automatic Toner Seal Opening Device} Here, the toner seal 21 and its surroundings will be described in detail. 3 and 4 show the opening 1 of the toner frame 12.
2A shows a state in which the toner seal 21 is used to seal 2a. The toner seal 21 has a length that is at least twice as long as the longitudinal dimension of the opening 12a, and a cover film 21a for sealing the opening 12a of the toner frame 12 and a tear tape 21b for tearing the cover film 21a. Made of The cover film 21a is fixed to the peripheral portion 12b of the opening 12a. As shown in FIG. 3, the cover film 21a
The tear tape 21b overlapped with is heat-sealed to the toner frame 12 together with the cover film 21a at portions called longitudinal heat-sealing portions 21c and 21d on both sides in the longitudinal direction. The tear tape 21b is folded back on the inner side of the cover film 21a opposite to the direction of the arrow Y1 for pulling out the toner seal 21, and the tear tape 21b is pulled out from the toner seal outlet 22 and is rotatable around the toner frame 12. It is wound around an idler roller 23 of a vertical shaft supported by and the end portion is fixed by adhesion or the like to a winding shaft 20 rotatably supported by the toner frame 12.

The winding shaft 20 is connected by a gear train G to a winding sleeve gear 10f fixed on the opposite side of the developing sleeve 10a from the developing sleeve gear 10e. As shown in FIG. 4, the gear train G includes a take-up sleeve gear 10f fixed to the developing sleeve 10a and an idler gear 24 rotatably supported by a gear housing cover 31 (see FIG. 1) fixed to the toner frame 12. 25, 26, 27, a bevel gear 28 integrated with the idler gear 27, and a bevel gear 29 fixed to the winding roller 20 are meshed in this order.

The drum gear 7b is the process cartridge B.
Is a driven gear that meshes with the drive gear 30 that is connected to the drive source provided in the image forming apparatus body 15 when mounted on the image forming apparatus body 15.

The idler roller 23 and the winding shaft 2 described above
As shown in FIG. 2, the cover bracket 12 has a lower end rotatably supported by a gear housing 12e integrated with the toner frame 12 and an upper end fixed to the gear housing 12e.
It is rotatably supported by f. However, the winding shaft 20
The boss of the bevel gear 29 press-fitted to the winding shaft 20 is rotatably fitted to the cover bracket 12f at the upper end of the.

The end surfaces of the gear housing 12e and the cover bracket 12f are flush with each other in the plane of FIG. 2, and the gear housing 12e and the cover bracket 12f.
A gear housing cover 31 that is in close contact with this flat surface and covers the gear train G is fixed to the toner frame 12.

As shown in FIG. 1, a thick sheet-shaped thickening member 32 (for example, urethane rubber, felt or the like formed into a sheet) is bonded to a part of the tear tape 21b. In the present embodiment a, the tear tape 21
Although the thickening member 32 is bonded to the side of b that faces the developing frame 13, it may be bonded to the side that faces the toner frame 12 or both sides of the tear tape 21. Further, it is desirable that the sticking place is on a portion other than the portion where the tear tape 21b is sandwiched between the developing frame body 13 and the toner frame body 12, that is, on the tear tape 21b from the toner seal outlet 22 to the winding shaft 20. Further, it is desirable that the width of the thickening member 32 be equal to or larger than the width of the tear tape 21b. Details of the attachment position of the thickening member 32, and the length and thickness will be described later.

Drive source of the image forming apparatus main body 15 (not shown)
The rotational force transmitted from the drum gear 7b to the developing gear 10e → the developing sleeve 10a → the winding sleeve gear 1
0f → Transmitted to the take-up shaft 20 through the gear train G, and when the take-up shaft 20 starts to rotate, the toner seal 21 is taken up by the take-up shaft 20 and the toner seal 21 is inserted from the back side in the longitudinal direction. It is peeled off from 12, but the tear tape 21
The hull-shaped heat seal portion 21c with the toner frame 12 on the back side in the longitudinal direction of b affects the peeling force of the toner seal 21, and the relationship between the time t required for winding and the torque T required for winding is shown in FIG. As shown in the graphs 0 to b, the torque T required for winding is increased like the torque a1.
At this point, the ship-shaped heat seal part 21c begins to peel off, and
It peels like c. As the winding progresses, if there is no thickening member 32 having a thickness, the boat-shaped heat-sealing portion 2
After c of FIG. 6 in which 1c is peeled off, the ship-shaped toner seal portion 21 is provided.
Since there is no influence of c, the torque is reduced to the torque a2 of d'in FIG. 6, and the torque is also increased by the increase of the winding diameter up to e'in FIG. 6. From e'in FIG. The torque increases to the torque a3 again to peel off the seal portion 21d. However, since only the opening 12a of the toner frame 12 needs to be opened, the last ship-shaped heat seal unit 2
Since 1d does not need to be peeled off, the winding shaft 20 is stopped at this point, and the torque becomes 0 as indicated by e'to f'in FIG. In this case, the opening time of the toner seal 21 is t1. After that, immediately after the opening 12a is opened, the idler gear 2
The description will be made on the assumption that the drive of the winding shaft 20 is cut off by moving 5 in the thrust direction, and the seal winding is completed.

Instead of increasing the torque T required for winding to a torque Q lower than the maximum torque P (= a1) at the initial winding of the toner seal 21, the thickening member 32 increases the winding time t. In order to reduce the winding time t1 when there is no such time to a time t2 which is sufficiently shorter than this time, the length of the tear tape 21b wound to peel off the boat-shaped heat seal portion 21c from the surface of the winding shaft 20 along the tear tape 21b. The tip 32 in the winding direction
A thickening member 32 having a thickness may be attached so that a comes. The length of the thickening member 32 is such that the toner seal 21 wound around the winding shaft 20 does not interfere with the toner frame 12 or the bevel gear 28 of the winding device when the seal winding is completed. The thickness of the thickening member 32 is the maximum torque generated when the torque applied to the winding shaft 20 when the remaining toner seal 21 is wound after the thickening member 32 is completely wound up and the ship-shaped heat seal portion 21c is peeled off. Adjust so that it is within P.

With this structure, when the winding shaft 20 starts to rotate, as shown in FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b), the tear tape 21b from the winding shaft 20 to the thickening member 32 is first heat-sealed to the ship type. The portion 21c is peeled off, and during this period, the winding torque increases from 0 to b in FIG. 6, and as shown in b to c in FIG. It is wound up. Immediately after the ship-shaped heat-sealing portion 21c is completely peeled off, d in FIG.
From (b), the thickening member 32 is wound together with the toner seal 21 (see FIG. 5C), and the winding radius is rapidly increased while the thickening member 32 is wound (FIG. 5C).
(D)). Since the heat seal does not affect the winding in the stage after the ship type heat seal part 21c is peeled off,
The torque applied to the winding shaft 20 slightly increases to a torque Q lower than the maximum torque P generated when the ship-shaped heat seal portion 21c is peeled off as shown in d to e of FIG. The winding speed of the heat seal 21 increases due to the increase of the take-up radius. When the winding of the thickening member 32 is completed in the middle of d to e in FIG. 6, the winding diameter is already close to the maximum diameter, and therefore the tear tape 21b continues.
The torque for winding up is as shown by a4 in FIG. Since it is not necessary to peel off the boat-shaped heat seal portion 21d as described above, the torque is reduced as shown from e to f in FIG. 6, and the winding shaft 20 is stopped at f in FIG. As a result, the maximum value of the torque T required for winding the toner seal is the same as in the conventional case, and the time t required for winding the toner seal is from t1 to t2.
Can be shortened to

FIG. 7 shows the torque T around the photosensitive drum 7 of the process cartridge B required for winding the toner seal, which was obtained by the present inventor who actually prototyped the above device and conducted an experiment.
6 is a graph showing the relationship between D and the winding time t. In the winding characteristic (B) according to the present invention, the maximum value of the winding torque TD around the photosensitive drum 7 is the same as the winding characteristic (A) when the thickening member 32 is not attached, and the winding time is the same. t was reduced to about half. The torque fluctuation R observed after peeling off the boat-shaped heat seal part 21c is
This is because, after the thickening member 32 having a thickness is wound up, the surface of the toner seal 21 is raised by the end portion of the thickening member 32 and is not accurately formed into a cylindrical shape. By tapering the end of the thickening member 32 or the like, it is corrected to a cylindrical shape and the torque fluctuation R is reduced. Alternatively, the length of the thickening member 32 may be such that the leading end of the winding start and the trailing end of the winding end of the thickening member 32 match.

In this case, the length of the pressure increasing member 32 is a value obtained by multiplying the average diameter of the wound thickness increasing member 32 by the pi and the number of turns of the thickness increasing member 32. If the number of turns of the thickening member 32 is defined as the average diameter × an integer, the winding start and the winding end of the thickening member 32 are aligned in the circumferential direction.

In this embodiment, the take-up shaft 20 uses the gear train G to construct the process cartridge B (in this case, as the developing means, the developing sleeve (10a) is connected to the gear 1).
0f)), the drive source (not shown) in the image forming apparatus main body 15 indirectly receives the drive. However, the process cartridge B has a take-up shaft, and the process cartridge B has an internal or external drive shaft. The drive source and the winding shaft 20 may be directly fitted. Further, the take-up shaft 20 may be provided outside the process cartridge B, and the tear tape 21b and the take-up shaft 20 may be locked when the process cartridge B is attached to the image forming apparatus main body 15.
In this case, the automatic winding device is naturally installed in the image forming apparatus main body 15.

In the above description, the process cartridge detachably attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus is described. However, a developing device detachably attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus by integrally forming the developing member and the toner storage portion is also described. Applied.

[0064]

EXAMPLE A preferable result was obtained when the thickness of the tear tape 21b of the toner seal 21 was S and the thickness of the thickening member 32 was 9S or more. That is, it is preferable that the ratio of the thickness of the toner seal 21 and the thickness of the thickening member 32 in the thickened portion to the thickness of the toner seal 21 is 1:10 or more.

[0065]

As described above, according to the present invention, the toner seal is configured such that the thickness thereof is only partially thickened, and the seal take-up speed is performed at a certain timing, and the time until the end of the seal take-up is completed. Can be shortened. Further, the pressure increase can be easily realized by simply attaching a pressure increase member to a part of the toner seal. It is effective to set the ratio of the thickness of the toner seal to the thickness of the thickened portion of the toner seal to 1:10 or more.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a toner frame.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a toner seal.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the toner seal automatic winding device.

5 (a), (b), (c), and (d) are perspective views showing the respective actions.

FIG. 6 is a graph showing the torque applied to the winding shaft when the winding devices of the present invention and the conventional example are used.

FIG. 7 is a graph showing torque data obtained when the present inventor actually prototyped and experimented with a winding device.

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of the process cartridge.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a process cartridge mounting portion of the image forming apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Optical system 1a ... Optical unit 1b ... Polygon mirror 1c ... Motor 1d ... Imaging lens 1e ... Reflection mirror 2 ... Recording material 3 ... Conveying means 3a ... Paper feed tray 3a1 ... Inner member 3
a2 ... Outer member 3b ... Pickup roller 3c1, 3
c2 ... Separation roller pair 3d1, 3d2 ... Registration roller pair 3e ... Intermediate discharge roller 3f1, 3f2 ... Ejection roller pair 3g ... Guide member 3h ... Cassette 3i ... Pickup roller 3j ... Feed roller 4 ... Transfer means 5 ... Fixing means 5a ... Driving roller 5b ... Fixing roller 6 ... Ejection section 7 ... Photosensitive drum 7a ... Drum shaft 7b ... Drum gear 8 ... Charging means 8a ... Charging roller 9 ... Exposure section 10 ... Developing means 10a ... Developing sleeve 10b ... Toner layer thickness regulating member 10c ... Toner stirring member 10d ... Antenna 10e ... Developing sleeve gear 10f ... Winding sleeve gear 11 ... Cleaning means 11a ... Cleaning blade 11b ... Waste toner reservoir 12 ... Toner frame 12a ... Opening 12b ... Peripheral part
12e ... Gear housing 12f ... Cover bracket 13 ... Developing frame body 14 ... Cleaning frame body 15 ... Image forming apparatus body 16 ... Opening / closing member 17 ... Drum shutter 17a, 17b ... Link 20 ... Winding shaft 21 ... Toner seal 21a ... Cover film 21b
... Tear tapes 21c, 21d ... Ship type heat seal part 22 ... Toner seal outlet 23 ... Idler roller 24 ... Idler gear 25 ... Idler gear 26 ... Idler gear 27 ... Idler gear 28 ... Bevel gear 29 ... Bevel gear 30 ... Drive gear 31 ... Gear housing cover 32 ... Thickening member 35 ... Cartridge mounting guide portion 35a ... First guide rail 35a1 ... Groove 35b ... Second guide rail 35
c ... Cylindrical protrusion 35d ... Guide convex 35e ... Engagement portion A ... Image forming device a1, a2, a3 ... Torque B ... Process cartridge G ... Gear train P ... Maximum torque Q ... Torque R ... Torque fluctuation T ... Torque TD ... torque on the photosensitive drum t, t1, t2 ... time Y1 ... arrow

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A toner frame body containing a developer and having an opening, a toner seal for sealing the opening of the toner frame body, a developing frame body supporting a developing member and joined to the toner frame body,
In a toner seal automatic winding device equipped with a toner seal winding shaft for opening the toner seal of the developing means in an image forming apparatus having the above, a part of the thickness of the toner seal being wound around the winding shaft is increased. An automatic toner seal winding device characterized in that 2. The thickened portion of the toner seal is
The automatic toner seal winding device according to claim 1, wherein a thick sheet-shaped thickening member is attached to the toner seal. 3. The automatic toner seal unsealing device according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of the thickness of the toner seal and the thickness of the thickened portion of the toner seal is about 1:10 or more. 4. The automatic toner seal unsealing device according to claim 1, wherein the positions of the winding start and the winding end of the thick portion of the toner seal substantially coincide with each other. 5. A process cartridge attachable to and detachable from a main body of an image forming apparatus, comprising: an electrophotographic photosensitive member; and a developing means, wherein the developing means accommodates a developer and has a toner frame body having an opening. A toner seal that seals the opening of the toner frame,
A developing frame body supporting the developing frame body and joined to the toner frame body;
A process cartridge, comprising: a toner seal automatic winding device having a toner seal winding shaft, wherein the toner seal has a thickened part in the course of being wound around the toner seal winding shaft. 6. The process cartridge comprises a charging means, a cleaning means, a developing means, and an electrophotographic photosensitive member integrally formed as a cartridge, and the cartridge can be attached to and detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus. The process cartridge described in 1. 7. The process cartridge comprises at least one of a charging unit, a cleaning unit, a developing unit and an electrophotographic photosensitive member integrally formed into a cartridge, and the cartridge can be attached to and detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus. 5. The process cartridge according to item 5. 8. An image forming apparatus for removably attaching a process cartridge to form an image on a recording medium, comprising: a, an electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a developing means, wherein the developing means contains a developer. A toner frame having an opening, and a toner seal for sealing the opening of the toner frame,
A developing frame body supporting the developing frame body and joined to the toner frame body;
A toner seal automatic winding device having a toner seal winding shaft is provided, and the toner seal is a mounting means for detachably mounting a process cartridge having a thickened part in the process of being wound on the toner seal winding shaft. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprising: b, a conveying unit for conveying the recording medium.