JPH0922240A - Process cartridge, replenishment cartridge, and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To save the space in a process cartridge. SOLUTION: The process cartridge, which is freely attached/detached to/from the main body of an image forming device, is provided with an electrophotographic photoreceptor and a developing means for developing a latent image formed on the photoreceptor, covers an opening, which is between the developing means and a developer storage means for supplying developer to the developing means, with a sealing member 11, fixes one end of the sealing member 11 to a take-up member 12, and opens the opening by winding the sealing member 11 onto the take-up member 12 by means of the rotation of the member 12. In the process cartridge, the sealing member 11 is composed of a sheet member which is able to wrap itself round itself many times.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a process cartridge, a replenishment cartridge and an image forming apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A developer storage container (hereinafter referred to as a toner container) provided in a process cartridge installed in an image forming apparatus or a supply port for supplying toner in a replenishing cartridge to a developing device side is not used. Various techniques have been proposed for opening the seal portion by sealing the seal member by heat welding or the like and pulling the folded portion of the seal portion along the folding direction during use.

Further, when the process cartridge or the replenishing cartridge is mounted on the image forming apparatus, or when the process cartridge or the replenishing cartridge is mounted on the image forming apparatus, the power is transmitted through a power transmission device such as a gear driven by a motor. Regarding the automatic unsealing mechanism for automatically unsealing the seal member by winding the folded portion of the seal member around the winding member such as the winding shaft, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-193872 and Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 62-110954,
It is described in JP-A-62-127876.

On the other hand, in order to easily and surely open the seal member, a welding form of the seal member, a seal member which can be broken, and the like have been proposed.

[0005]

The present invention is a further development of the above-mentioned prior art.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a process cartridge, a replenishment cartridge, and an image forming apparatus in which the process cartridge can be mounted in an image forming apparatus which solves the above problems.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has an electrophotographic photosensitive member and a developing unit for developing a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and the developing unit and the developing unit. The opening provided between the means and the developer accommodating means for supplying the developer to the means is covered with a seal member, one end of the seal member is fixed to the winding member, and the winding member is rotated to rotate the opening. In a process cartridge detachably attachable to an image forming apparatus main body having a winding member that winds the seal member to open the opening, the seal member is formed of a sheet member that can be self-wound in a multi-winding state. It is characterized by

In this structure, the seal member wound around the winding member is wound around the winding member in the tightened state.
It contains the winding shaft in a small space inside the process cartridge or supply cartridge.

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(First Embodiment) A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a first embodiment according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a portion indicated by AA in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a portion indicated by BB in FIG. FIG.

First, in FIG. 2, the process cartridge C comprises a cleaning container 1, a developing container 2, a developer container 3 (hereinafter referred to as a toner container) and the like. The cleaning container 1 accommodates a photosensitive drum 4 as an image carrier, which is an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a cleaning unit 5 that acts on the photosensitive drum 4, a charging unit 6, and the like. Waste toner (not shown) scraped off from the photosensitive drum 4 by the cleaning unit 5 is stored in the waste toner chamber 7.

The developing container 2 contains a developing sleeve 8 as a developer carrying member, a layer thickness regulating means 9 for maintaining a uniform developer layer thickness on the surface of the developing sleeve 8, and the like.

The toner container 3 contains unused toner T.
And a stirring means (not shown) and the like are stored as necessary. An opening 3 a for supplying the toner T to the developing sleeve 8 is provided on the surface of the toner container 3 facing the developing sleeve 8. When the process cartridge C is in the unused state, the opening 3a is provided with the seal member 10.
It is shielded by.

The developing container 2 and the toner container 3 are integrally joined by fixing the outer peripheral surface 3b of the seal member 10 by means of welding or adhesion. As described later, the sealing member 10 is provided with a spiral winding, and is provided in the developing container 2 by being sandwiched between the developing container 2 and the toner container 3 in a state where the winding curl is extended. It is stored in the step portion 2a. Further, in the peripheral portion of the opening 3a of the toner container 3,
An elastic member 11 made of urethane foam or the like is fixed by means such as adhesion so as to seal the space between the seal member 10 and the toner container 3 without any gap.

The developing container 2 and the cleaning container 1 are connected to each other such that the outer peripheral surfaces of the photosensitive drum 4 and the developing sleeve 8 can stably maintain a desired distance (about 300 μm). That is, in the vicinity of both longitudinal ends of the developing sleeve 8 (outside the image area), the above-mentioned interval (about 300 μm) is provided.
a cylindrical member 8a having a wall thickness corresponding to
The developing container 2 and the cleaning container 1 are rotatably connected to each other about a shaft 2b. Further, the developing container 2 is biased clockwise about the shaft 2b by a biasing means (not shown) such as a spring.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the toner container 3 of the above-mentioned process cartridge C as viewed mainly in the direction BB. The seal member 10 is formed of a thin metal plate having a spring property, and in the released state, as shown in (b) of FIG. And
In a stretched state, it is sandwiched between a stepped portion 2a of the developing container 2 and an elastic member 11 provided in a frame shape around the opening 3a of the toner container 3, and one end of the seal member 10 is wound up. It is fixed to the shaft 12. The sealing member 10 has a convex central portion upward (in the direction of the lower container) in the drawing due to its winding shape. However, the step portion 2a is formed so that the necessary compression amount of the elastic member 11 can be secured at both longitudinal ends. If the depth dimension is set, the toner T in the toner container 3 will not leak out. In addition, the winding shaft 12
Is housed in a box-shaped housing portion having a hermeticity, which is formed by the developing container 2 and the toner container 3.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the process cartridge C, which is composed of a cleaning container 1, a developing container 2, and a toner container 3 which is integrated with the developing container 2. At one longitudinal end of the container 3, a gear 13 provided substantially integrally with the winding shaft 12 and a gear 14 meshing with the gear 13 and having a handle 14a are rotatably provided.

Here, holding the handle 14a, the gear 14
When is rotated clockwise, the gear 13 and the winding shaft 12 integrated with the gear 13 rotate counterclockwise to wind up the seal member 10. At that time, since the seal member 10 is provided with a curl, it is easy to wind the seal member 10 into a small space. In this way, the seal member is wound up, and the toner T and the developer carrying member 8 are connected to each other and loaded into the image forming apparatus, whereby the image can be formed.

Here, an example of the assembling procedure of the process cartridge of the present embodiment will be shown. The elastic member 1 is attached to the toner container 3.
Install 1. Next, the seal member 10 and the take-up shaft 12 integrated with the seal member 10 are set in the developing container 2 in the assembly jig, and the developing container 2 is positioned (fixed by welding or adhesion) to the toner container 3. After that, the toner T is filled from the toner filling port (not shown) of the toner container 2, and the toner filling port is sealed with a cap (not shown), etc. In this state, the developer layer thickness regulating means 9 and the developing sleeve. 8 and the like, and further the photosensitive drum 4, the cleaning means 5, the charging means 6 and the like are incorporated into the united cleaner container 1 to complete the process cartridge C.

As described above, according to the above construction, since the seal member 10 is not pulled out from the process cartridge C, the user's hands and clothes are not soiled, and the seal member 10 is welded as in the conventional case. Since it is housed in the cartridge C without requiring the step of (1), it can be reused.

Further, in the above embodiment, the seal member 10 has been described as a thin metal plate having a spring property. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, a shape memory alloy or a shape memory alloy which becomes a spiral shape at room temperature (around 25 ° C.). It may be made of a thin plate made of a shape memory material such as shape memory plastic. In that case, the seal member 10 is managed so as to be straight in a constant temperature bath at a predetermined temperature, and is assembled immediately after being taken out from the constant temperature bath, or is automatically assembled by a robot or the like in the constant temperature bath. This allows the developer container 2 to be assembled in a shape conforming to the step portion 2a at the time of assembly, and the assembly can be easily performed.

FIG. 6 illustrates the structure of each part of the image forming apparatus in which the process cartridge C can be attached and detached.

(Optical System) The optical system 31 irradiates a light image on the photosensitive drum 37 by irradiating light based on image information read from an external device or the like. As shown in FIG. A laser diode (not shown) in the optical unit 31a, a polygon mirror 31b, a scanner motor 31c, an imaging lens 31d, and a reflection mirror 3
1e is 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 31b as the image light. This polygon mirror 31b is a scanner motor 3
The image light which is rotated at a high speed by 1c and is reflected by the polygon mirror 31b is formed by the imaging lens 31d and the reflection mirror 31e.
The surface of the photosensitive drum 37 is selectively exposed by irradiating it to the photosensitive drum 37 via the.

(Recording Material Conveying Means) Next, the structure of the conveying means 33 for conveying the recording material 32 will be described.
The recording material 32 according to the present embodiment can be of two types: a hand and a cassette paper feed. As shown in FIG. 10, when the recording material 32 is set in the paper feed tray 33a and image formation is started, the pick-up roller 33b removes the recording material 32 on the paper feed tray 33a. And the separation roller pair 33c
The recording material 3 is fed separately by 1, 33c2.
The sheet 2 is conveyed so that the front end of the sheet 2 abuts on the pair of registration rollers 33d1 and 33d2. And the registration roller pair 3
3d1 and 33d2 are driven and rotated according to the image forming operation to convey the recording material 32 to the image forming unit. Further, the recording material 32 after the image formation is conveyed to the fixing means 35, and the intermediate discharge roller 33e and the discharge roller pairs 33f1 and 33f2 are provided.
It is configured to be discharged to the discharge unit 36.
A guide member 33g for guiding the recording material 32 to be conveyed is provided between the rollers.

Further, the paper feed tray 33a has an inner member 33a.
1 and the outer member 33a2, the inner member 3 when not in use
3a1 and the outer member 33a2 are housed in the outer member 33a1.
Are configured to form the exterior of the device body.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6, the cassette feeding structure has a loading portion for the cassette 32h at the inner bottom of the apparatus main body, and when the recording material 32 is not fed by hand, it is loaded as described above. To be recorded 3 in the cassette 33h loaded in the unit
2 from the top by the pickup roller 33i and the feeding roller 33j.
It is configured to feed to 3d2. The registration roller pair 33d1 and 33d2 and thereafter are configured to be conveyed by the same members as in the case of the above-mentioned touch.

(Transfer Means) The transfer means 34 is for transferring the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 37 in the image forming portion to the recording material 32, and the transfer means 34 of the present embodiment is as shown in FIG. In addition, the transfer roller 34 is used. That is, the transfer roller 34 presses the recording material 32 against the photosensitive drum 37 of the loaded process cartridge B, and a voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 37 is applied to the transfer roller 34. As a result, the toner on the photosensitive drum 37 is transferred to the recording material 2.

(Fixing Unit) Next, the fixing unit 35 is for fixing the toner image transferred to the recording material 32 by applying a voltage to the transfer roller 34, and as shown in FIG.
It is composed of a driving roller 35a which is driven to rotate, and a fixing roller 35b which has a heat generating member inside and is rotated by being pressed against the driving roller 35a. That is, when the recording material 32 to which the toner image is transferred in the image forming section is passed between the driving roller 35a and the fixing roller 35b, both rollers 35a,
The pressure is applied by pressing 35b, and the fixing roller 3
Heat is applied by the heat generated by 5b.
As a result, the toner transferred to the recording material 32 is fixed.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment according to the present invention. FIG. 4 shows a seal member 15 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The seal member 15 is
It is made of a thin metal plate with spring properties, and it is the first when released.
Similar to the embodiment described above, a spiral wound curl is provided. A large number of holes 15a, 15a, ... Are provided in the longitudinal direction near the upper and lower sides of the seal member 15, and one end of the seal member 15 has a plurality of protrusions 16a, 16a.
Is fixed to a sprocket-shaped winding shaft 16 having. Further, the hatched portion indicated by 15b in the drawing is a portion which comes into contact with the elastic member at the peripheral edge of the toner container opening during assembly. The other construction of the process cartridge is the same as that of the first embodiment.

With the above construction, the sealing member 15 can be more reliably wound up, and the hole 15a of the sealing member 15 can be engaged with the positioning projection provided on the assembly jig during assembly. Positioning can be performed easily by.

(Third Embodiment) FIG. 5 shows a third embodiment of the present invention.
An embodiment will be described.

The seal member 17 is formed of a metal-making thin plate 17a having a frame-shaped opening having a central opening, and a flexible sheet 17b covering the opening. The sheet 17b is integrally fixed to the metal thin plate 17a by means such as adhesion or lamination.

Further, one end of the seal member is fixed to the winding shaft 18.

Reference numeral 17c is a portion which comes into contact with the elastic member on the peripheral edge of the opening of the developing container when assembled. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

With the above structure, since the stiffness of the winding gob is weakened, the force for straightly stretching at the time of assembly is small, and the torque required at the time of winding is also small.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the user manually winds or seals the seal member capable of returning to the stored multi-winding shape. However, the present invention is not limited to this. There is no limitation, and for example, a gear directly connected to the winding shaft may be rotated by driving a motor in the image forming apparatus main body.

Further, although the above-mentioned respective embodiments have been described by using the example in which the seal member which can be wound around the process cartridge or restored to the stored multi-winding shape is provided, it is integrated with the process cartridge. In the mechanism that allows a toner cartridge containing toner to be installed in the developing device or toner cartridge storage part, be wound around the toner cartridge side or the developing device or toner cartridge storage part, or returned to the stored multiple winding shape. It may be provided with a possible seal member.

Although the process cartridge is shown as an example in which the photosensitive drum, the charger, the developing device and the cleaning device are integrated, the charging means, the developing means, or the cleaning means as the process means and the electrophotographic photosensitive member. Into a cartridge, and the cartridge can be attached to and detached from a main body of an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or LBP, or at least one of charging means, developing means and cleaning means as process means and an electrophotographic photoreceptor. And cartridge are integrated into a cartridge, for example, a copying machine,
A device that can be attached to and detached from an image forming apparatus body such as an LBP, or at least a developing unit as a process unit and an electrophotographic photosensitive member can be integrally formed into a cartridge, and can be attached to and detached from an image forming apparatus body such as a copying machine or LBP May be

[0040]

According to the invention described in claims 1 and 10,
The seal member can be housed in a small space in the process cartridge or the replenishing cartridge including the winding shaft.

According to the invention described in claims 2 and 11, since the seal member is pulled out without being peeled off, the seal member can be reused.

According to the present invention as defined in claims 3 and 12, it is easy to form the seal member and to preliminarily wind the seal member, to facilitate the operation for pulling out, and to sufficiently endure reuse. it can.

According to the inventions of claims 4 and 13, when the work of assembling the seal member is performed in a controlled state at a temperature at which the seal member becomes flat, the work of assembling the seal member becomes easy.

According to the invention described in claims 5 and 14, the rigidity of the seal member can be weakened, and the force required for winding can be reduced, so that the usability is improved.

According to the sixth and fifteenth aspects of the present invention, the seal member can be reliably wound up. Further, the engaging hole portion can be used as a positioning reference by engaging with a jig or the like during assembly.

According to the invention described in claims 7, 8, 16 and 17, it can be used in various forms of process cartridges and replenishment cartridges.

According to the invention as set forth in claims 9 and 18, the seal member can be reused, the winding diameter in the wound state can be reduced, and the space around the winding shaft can be reduced. The toner cartridge, the replenishment cartridge, and the image forming apparatus can be downsized.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a process cartridge according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the process cartridge shown in FIG.

3 is a sectional view of the process cartridge shown in FIG. 1 taken along the line BB.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a seal member showing a second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a seal member showing a third embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus to which the process cartridge shown in FIG. 1 is attachable / detachable.

[Explanation of symbols]

C ... Process cartridge 1 ... Cleaning container 2 ... Developing container 3 ... Developer container 4 ... Photosensitive drum 5 ... Cleaning means 6 ... Charging means 7 ... Waste toner chamber 8 ... Developing sleeve 9 ... Layer thickness regulating means 10 ... Sealing member 11 ... Elastic member 12 ... Winding shaft

Claims (18)

[Claims] 1. An electrophotographic photosensitive member and a developing unit for developing a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and the developing unit and the developing unit for supplying a developer to the developing unit. The opening provided between the sealing member and the agent accommodating means is covered with a sealing member, one end of the sealing member is fixed to the winding member, and the sealing member is wound around the winding member by rotation of the winding member. In the process cartridge detachably attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus which opens the opening, the seal member is composed of a seal member capable of self-winding in a multi-winding state. 2. An electrophotographic photosensitive member and a developing unit for developing a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and the developing unit and the developing unit for supplying a developer to the developing unit. The opening provided between the sealing member and the agent accommodating means is covered with a sealing member, one end of the sealing member is fixed to the winding member, and the sealing member is wound around the winding member by rotation of the winding member. In the process cartridge detachably attachable to the main body of the image forming apparatus which opens the opening, the seal member is composed of a sheet member that can be self-wound in a multi-winding state, and can be extracted along the length direction. A process cartridge which is held in the opening by a holding means. 3. The process cartridge according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the seal member is formed of a flat metal thin plate which is preliminarily wound in a multiple winding state. 4. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the seal member is formed of a thin plate of a shape memory element in which a shape of multiple winding is stored. 5. The seal member according to claim 1, wherein a film-shaped flexible sheet is fixed to an opening of a frame-shaped sheet member that can be self-wound in advance in a multiple winding state. Process cartridge. 6. The seal member according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of engaging hole portions are formed at substantially equal pitches along a long side edge of the sealing member, and the engaging member is provided on the winding member. A process cartridge characterized in that an engagement protrusion is formed with which the fitting hole engages. 7. A process cartridge according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, wherein the charging means, the cleaning means and the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally formed into a cartridge. 8. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein any one of a charging means and a cleaning means as a process means and an electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrated into a cartridge. Process cartridge. 9. An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium, wherein the process cartridge according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 is attachable to and detachable from a main body of the image forming apparatus. An image forming apparatus comprising: mounting means for removably mounting a process cartridge; and transporting means for transporting the recording medium. 10. An electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a developing means for developing a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member,
An opening provided between the developing means and a developer accommodating means for supplying a developer to the developing means is covered with a seal member, and one end of the seal member is fixed to a winding member, In the replenishing cartridge for replenishing the developer to the process cartridge detachable from the image forming apparatus main body having the opening portion opened by rotating the take-up member to wind the seal member, the sealing member is A replenishing cartridge comprising a sheet member capable of being self-rolled in a wound state. 11. An electrophotographic photoreceptor, and a developing means for developing a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photoreceptor,
An opening provided between the developing means and a developer accommodating means for supplying a developer to the developing means is covered with a seal member, and one end of the seal member is fixed to a winding member, In the replenishing cartridge for replenishing the developer to the process cartridge detachable from the image forming apparatus main body having the opening portion opened by rotating the take-up member to wind the seal member, the sealing member is A replenishment cartridge comprising a sheet member that can be self-rolled in a wound state, and is held in the opening by a holding means that can be pulled out along the length direction. 12. The replenishment cartridge according to claim 10, wherein the seal member is formed of a flat metal thin plate which is preliminarily wound in a multiple winding state. 13. The replenishment cartridge according to claim 10, wherein the seal member is formed of a thin plate of a shape memory element in which the shape of multiple winding is stored. 14. The seal member according to claim 10, wherein a film-shaped flexible sheet is fixed to an opening of a frame-shaped sheet member capable of being self-wound in advance in a multiple winding state. Supply cartridge to do. 15. The seal member according to claim 10, wherein a plurality of engagement hole portions are formed at substantially equal pitches along the edges of the long sides of the seal member, and the engagement member is provided on the winding member. A replenishing cartridge, characterized in that an engaging protrusion is formed with which the fitting hole is engaged. 16. The method of claim 10, 11, 12, 13, or 14.
Or 15, charging means as a process means,
A replenishing cartridge that can be mounted on a process cartridge in which a cleaning unit and an electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally made into a cartridge. 17. The method according to claim 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14.
Or 15, charging means as a process means,
A replenishment cartridge mountable on a process cartridge in which any one of cleaning means and an electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally formed into a cartridge. 18. An image forming apparatus, wherein the process cartridge according to any one of claims 10 to 17 and the replenishing cartridge are integrated, and which is attachable to and detachable from a main body of the image forming apparatus and forms an image on a recording medium. An image forming apparatus comprising: a mounting unit for removably mounting an integrated supply cartridge; and a transport unit for transporting the recording medium.