JPH09274381A - Developing device and process cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve operability for peeling off a cover member closing a toner supply port. SOLUTION: Round a take-up shaft 30 to which the free end of a cover member 17 is fixed, an operation sheet 31 which is to be pulled by a user is wrapped in advance only a necessary length. The take-up shaft 30 is stored in a cover-member take-up chamber 12a9 and it is covered with a lid 23. The operation sheet 31 is pulled out of a drawing opening 23a. Even in case toner sticks to a cover seal 17a, the toner is prevented from leaking outside.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a developing device and a process cartridge used in an apparatus for forming an image using a developer such as an electrostatic copying machine or a printer.

[0002]

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

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a developing device in which no developer leaks out of the developing device when the cover member that seals the opening of a developer container filled with the developer is peeled off, and the developing device. An object of the present invention is to provide a process cartridge equipped with a device.

[0004]

A first aspect of the present invention relates to a developer container for containing a developer to be supplied to an electrophotographic photosensitive member, and an electrophotographic developer for the developer container. In a developing device having a cover member that closes a supply opening for supplying to the photoconductor, a winding shaft having a fixed free end of the cover member is provided, and the winding shaft is rotated around the winding shaft. In the developing device, a drawing member is wound.

A second invention according to the present application is the developing device according to the first invention, characterized in that the downstream end of the drawing member in the drawing direction is removable from the winding shaft.

A third invention according to the present application is characterized in that a shaft diameter of a portion of the winding shaft on which the cover member is wound is different from a shaft diameter of a portion around which the drawing member is wound. The developing device according to the first invention.

A fourth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the shaft diameter of a portion of the winding shaft for winding the cover member is smaller than the diameter of the winding member after the drawing member is wound. The developing device according to the third invention.

According to a fifth aspect of the present application, the downstream end of the drawing member in the drawing direction is locked by inserting it into a groove provided on the winding shaft, and the groove and the drawing member form a drawing direction. First characterized in that the corners are acute
Alternatively, the developing device according to the third invention.

A sixth invention according to the present application is a developer container for containing a developer to be supplied to an electrophotographic photosensitive member,
In a developing device having a cover member that closes a supply opening for supplying the developer of the developer storage container to the electrophotographic photosensitive member, a first shaft to which a free end of the cover member is fixed, and A second shaft connected to the first shaft, a connecting device of the first shaft and the second shaft, and one end fixed to the second shaft, a predetermined length to the second shaft And a wound pulling member.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, a rotatable first shaft and a rotatable second shaft are provided, and the second shaft serves only as a connecting device for rotating the first shaft in one direction. A developing device according to a sixth aspect of the invention, characterized in that the developing device has a one-way rotation transmitting means for transmitting to the developing device.

An eighth invention of the present application is the seventh invention, characterized in that the one-way rotating means is a ratchet device provided between the first shaft and the second shaft. It is a developing device.

[0012] A ninth invention according to the present application is the seventh or eighth aspect, characterized in that a mechanism for reversing the second shaft is provided after the pulling member wound around the second shaft is pulled out.
The developing device according to the invention.

In a tenth aspect of the present invention, the reversing mechanism for the second shaft has a flexible member having one end fixed to the second shaft and one end connected to the other end of the flexible member. An elastic body having an end fixed to a developer container, and the developing device according to the ninth invention.

An eleventh invention according to the present application is the sixth invention, characterized in that the extraction member is a string-shaped member.
10 is a developing device according to any one of the inventions.

A twelfth aspect of the present invention is a process cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus main body, comprising: an electrophotographic photosensitive member; and a developing unit that acts on the electrophotographic photosensitive member. Is a developing device according to any one of the first to eleventh inventions, which is a process cartridge.

A thirteenth aspect of the present invention is the process cartridge, wherein a charging means as a process means, or a cleaning means, a developing means, and an electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally made into a cartridge, and this cartridge is used as an image forming apparatus. It is the process cartridge according to the twelfth invention, which is detachable from the main body.

In a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, the process cartridge is an image forming apparatus in which at least one of charging means or cleaning means as process means, developing means and electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally formed into a cartridge. It is the process cartridge according to the twelfth invention, which is detachable from the main body.

[0018]

2. Description of the Related Art An image forming apparatus such as a printer forms a latent image by selectively exposing a uniformly charged electrophotographic photoreceptor, and visualizes the latent image with toner. An image is recorded by transferring the toner image to a recording medium. In such an apparatus, the toner must be replenished each time it runs out, but not only is this toner replenishing operation troublesome,
Sometimes accompanied by dirt. Moreover, maintenance of each member can be performed only by a specialized service person, and this is often inconvenient for the user.

Therefore, the electrophotographic photosensitive member, the charging device, the developing device, the cleaning unit and the like are integrated into a cartridge to form a cartridge, and the user mounts the cartridge (referred to as a process cartridge) in the main body of the apparatus. It has been put into practical use that it can be replenished or replaced, and parts such as the electrophotographic photosensitive member that have reached the end of their life can be replaced and maintenance is facilitated.

In such an apparatus, the process cartridge is mounted on the apparatus main body, and the developing sleeve or the electrophotographic apparatus is gradually used until the developer contained in the developer accommodating container provided in the process cartridge is used up. It is supplied to the photoconductor.

By the way, an opening regulating member having an opening for regulating the size of the opening is mainly attached to the opening of the developer accommodating container, and the latter is sealed with a thin sheet cover member. There is. When supplying the developer,
The cover member is pulled out from the outside, removed, and opened. As a result, the developer contained in the developer container is supplied to the developing sleeve or the like through the opening of the opened opening regulating member. This cover member is called an easy peel film.

Foamed polyurethane is used so as to prevent the developer from leaking between the developer storage container and the development container even after the developer storage container whose opening is sealed by the cover member is connected to the development container and the sealing member is pulled out. The sealing member consisting of is attached to the developing container with double-sided tape or the like.

[0023]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of a process cartridge using a developing device according to the present invention and an image forming apparatus to which the process cartridge can be attached will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. In this description, the longitudinal direction means the horizontal direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the recording medium.

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional explanatory view of an image forming apparatus equipped with a process cartridge according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional explanatory view of a process cartridge.

As an order of explanation, the overall construction of the apparatus in which the process cartridge is mounted will be described first, and then the construction of each part of the image forming apparatus and the process cartridge will be described.

{Overall Description} As shown in FIG. 1, this image forming apparatus A irradiates a light image based on image information from an optical system 1 to a developer on a photosensitive drum 7 which is an example of an electrophotographic photosensitive member. An image is formed by (hereinafter referred to as toner). Then, the recording medium 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 as a process cartridge B is recorded by the transfer means 4. The recording medium 2 is transferred onto the medium 2, and the recording medium 2 is conveyed to the fixing unit 5, where the transferred toner image is fixed and discharged to the discharging unit 6.

As shown in FIG. 2, 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. Is exposed to the photosensitive drum 7 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 visualize the latent image. After the transfer means 4 transfers the toner image onto the recording medium 2, the cleaning means 11 removes the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 7. Each component such as the photosensitive drum 7 is housed in the housing 12 to form a cartridge.

Next, the structure of each part of the image forming apparatus A and the process cartridge B will be described, and further, a mounting member for supporting and mounting the photosensitive drum 7 on the cleaning container 12c and a cover member for mounting on the opening of the toner accommodating container 12a. explain.

[Image Forming Apparatus] First, the image forming apparatus A
Concerning the constitution of each part of, the optical system, the conveying means, the transfer means,
The fixing unit and the cartridge mounting unit will be described in this order.

(Optical System) The optical system 1 irradiates a light image on the photosensitive drum 7 by irradiating light based on image information read from an external device or the like. As shown in FIG. A laser diode 1b, a polygon mirror 1c, a scanner motor 1d, and an imaging lens 1e are housed in an optical unit 1a of 13.

When an image signal is given from an external device such as a computer or a word processor, the laser diode 1b emits light according to the image signal and illuminates the polygon mirror 1c as image light. The polygon mirror 1c is rotated at a high speed by the scanner motor 1d, and the image light reflected by the polygon mirror 1c is applied to the rotating photoconductor drum 7 via the imaging lens 1e and the reflection mirror 1f, so that the photoconductor drum 7 is rotated. The surface is selectively exposed to form a latent image according to image information.

(Recording Medium Conveying Means) Next, the constitution of the conveying means 3 for conveying the recording medium 2 (for example, recording paper, OHP sheet, cloth or thin plate) will be described. The apparatus according to the first embodiment can set two paper feed cassettes 3a and 3b, can select and convey two types of recording media 2, and can perform both single-sided printing and double-sided printing. It is possible.

When the recording medium 2 housed in the paper feed cassette 3a or the paper feed cassette 3b is selected, the structure is such that the pick-up roller 3c and the separation roller pair 3d on the selected side make one sheet from the top. They are separately fed and fed to the registration roller pair 3e. The registration roller pair 3e is driven in synchronism with the image forming operation, and conveys the recording medium 2 to the image transfer portion, which is the contact portion between the photosensitive drum 7 and the transfer roller 4 as the transfer means.

The recording medium 2 to which the toner image has been transferred at the transfer portion has the toner image fixed by the fixing means 5, and in the case of single-sided printing, it passes through the discharge path 3g by the intermediate conveying roller pair 3f and the recording surface by the discharge roller 3h. Is discharged to the discharge section 6.

On the other hand, in the case of double-sided printing, the flapper 3i oscillates, the intermediate conveying roller pair 3f sends the recording medium 2 after single-sided printing to the resending path 3j, and the resending rollers 3k1 and 3k.
Depending on 2, stock in the retransmitting section 3m. At this time, the recording surface faces downward. And when resending, flapper 3n
The recording medium 2 that has been swung and stocked in the resending section 3m is conveyed to the registration roller pair 3e by the pickup roller 3o and the conveyance roller pair 3p, and is conveyed so as to record an image on the other surface.

(Transfer Means) The transfer means 4 is for transferring the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 7 in the image forming section onto the recording medium 2. The transfer means 4 of this embodiment is as shown in FIG. In addition, the transfer roller 4 is used. That is,
The recording medium 2 is pressed by the transfer roller 4 against the photosensitive drum 7 of the mounted 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 roller 4, thereby The toner on the drum 7 is transferred to the recording medium 2.

(Fixing Unit) The fixing unit 5 fixes the toner image transferred to the recording medium 2 by applying a voltage to the transfer roller 4. Its configuration is as shown in FIG.
It is composed of a driving roller 5a that is driven to rotate, and a fixing roller 5c that has a heater 5b inside and that is driven to rotate by being pressed against the driving roller 5a. That is, when the recording medium 2 to which the toner image has been transferred in the image forming section passes between the driving roller 5a and the fixing roller 5c, pressure is applied by the pressing of both rollers 5a and 5c, and heat generation of the fixing roller 5c occurs. Heat is applied by the toner, and the toner on the recording medium 2 is fixed on the recording medium 2.

(Process Cartridge Mounting Unit) The image forming apparatus A is provided with a cartridge mounting unit for mounting the process cartridge B. As shown in FIG. 3, the process cartridge B is attached to and detached from the apparatus main body 13 by opening the opening / closing member 14. That is, the opening / closing member 14 that can be opened and closed by the hinge 14a is attached to the upper portion of the apparatus body 13. When the opening / closing member 14 is opened, cartridge mounting guide members (not shown) are attached to the left and right inner side surfaces of the opening / closing member 14.
A guide for inserting the process cartridge B is provided on the left and right guide members, and the process cartridge B is inserted along the guide, and the opening / closing member 14 is closed so that the process cartridge B is inserted into the image forming apparatus A.
It is designed to be attached to.

{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 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. Further, at least one of the charging means and the cleaning means, the developing means and the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally made into a cartridge which can be attached to and detached from the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

As shown in FIG. 2, in the process cartridge B, a charging means 8, an exposing section 9, a developing means 10 and a cleaning means 11 are arranged around the electrophotographic photosensitive drum 7.
These are covered with a housing 12 composed of a toner storage container 12a, a developing container 12b, a developing container 12b and a cleaning container 12c to be integrated with each other and configured to be attachable to and detachable from the apparatus main body 13.

Next, the structure of each part of the process cartridge B will be described in the order of the photosensitive drum 7, the charging means 8, the exposing part 9, the developing means 10, and the cleaning means 11.

(Photosensitive Drum) The photosensitive drum 7 according to the first embodiment is formed 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 the cleaning container 12c, and the driving force of a drive motor (not shown) provided on the apparatus main body 13 side is transmitted to a flange gear attached to one end of the photosensitive drum 7 in the longitudinal direction. As a result, the photosensitive drum 7 is rotated in the arrow direction of FIG. 2 in accordance with the image forming operation. A gear flange (not shown) is also attached to the other end of the photosensitive drum 7 to drive the transfer roller 4.

(Charging Means) The charging means 8 is for uniformly charging the surface of the photosensitive drum 7, and in the first embodiment, the charging roller 8 is rotatable as the charging means in the cleaning container 12c. The so-called contact charging method is used. The charging roller 8 is a metal roller shaft 8
A conductive elastic layer is provided on a, a high resistance elastic layer is further provided thereon, and a protective film is provided on the surface thereof. The conductive elastic layer is formed by dispersing carbon in an elastic rubber layer such as EPDM or NBR, and has a function of guiding a bias voltage supplied to the roller shaft 8a. Further, the elastic layer having high resistance is made of urethane rubber or the like and contains a minute amount of conductive fine powder. For example, even when the charging roller 8 having high conductivity such as a pinhole of the photosensitive drum 7 faces each other. , The action of limiting the leak current to the photoconductor drum 7 and preventing the sudden drop of the bias voltage. The protective layer is made of N-methylmethoxylated nylon so that the plastic material of the conductive elastic layer or the elastic layer of high resistance does not touch the photosensitive drum 7 and deteriorate the surface of the photosensitive drum 7. To work.

The charging roller 8 is connected to the photosensitive drum 7
During image formation, the charging roller 8 rotates following the rotation of the photosensitive drum 7, and at this time, a DC voltage and an AC voltage are applied to the charging roller 8 in a superimposed manner so that the photosensitive drum 7 Charge the surface uniformly.

(Exposure Unit) The exposure unit 9 exposes the surface of the photosensitive drum 7 uniformly charged by the charging roller 8 with the optical image irradiated from the optical system 1 to form an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the drum 7. The exposure section 9 is formed by providing an opening for guiding the optical image on the upper surface of the housing 12.

(Developing Means) As shown in FIG. 2, the developing means 10 includes a toner accommodating portion 10a for accommodating toner, and a toner feeding member 10b reciprocating in the direction of the arrow for ejecting toner, in a toner accommodating container 12a. It is provided. Further, the developing container 12b has a non-rotating magnet 10c therein,
A developing sleeve 10d, which forms a thin toner layer on the surface by rotating, is provided at a minute distance from the photosensitive drum 7.

When the toner layer is formed on the surface of the developing sleeve 10d, friction between the toner and the developing sleeve 10d provides sufficient triboelectric charge to develop the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 7. A developing blade 10e is provided in the developing container 12b to regulate the layer thickness of the toner.

(Cleaning Means) Cleaning Means 1
As shown in FIG. 2, the constitution of No. 1 is to contact the surface of the photoconductor drum 7 and scrape off the toner remaining on the photoconductor drum 7, and a cleaning blade 11a for scooping the scraped off toner. Is located below the cleaning blade 11a and is in weak contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum 7, a feeding member 11c for sending the scooped waste toner to the inside of the container, and a waste toner for collecting the waste toner. The reservoir 11d and the cleaning container 1
2c.

{Photosensitive Drum Mounting Member} Next, a mounting member for rotatably supporting the photosensitive drum 7 on the housing 12 will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, a flange gear 7a is attached to one end of the cylindrical aluminum base of the photosensitive drum 7. The flange gear 7a is formed by injection-molding an insulating plastic resin such as a polycarbonate resin or a polyacetal resin, and is fixed to the end of the drum base body by forced press fit, or by fitting or caulking the drum base body with an adhesive. ing. Mounting member 1
Reference numeral 5 is for fitting into the fitting hole 7b provided in the flange gear 7a to rotatably support the photosensitive drum 7.

The mounting member 15 is, as shown in FIG.
The sheet metal base 15a has a first conductive member 15b protruding from one side surface and a second conductive member 15c protruding from the other side surface of the base 15a. Further, the extending portion 15d extending to the base 15a is integrally formed of a conductive material.

The first conductive member 15b serves as a contact terminal for grounding the photosensitive drum 7, and when the process cartridge B is attached to the apparatus main body 13, the first conductive member 15b is attached to the apparatus main body. It contacts the grounding terminal 13 (not shown).

On the other hand, the second conductive member 15c is fitted in the fitting hole 7b of the flange gear 7a to rotatably support the photosensitive drum 7, and as shown in FIG. 5, the cleaning container 12c. The base portion 15c1 to be fitted into the fitting hole 12c1 and the step portion 15c3 from the base portion 15c1.
The shaft portion 15c2 that is reduced in diameter and is fitted into the fitting hole 7b of the flange gear 7a is integrally formed, and the tip of the shaft portion 15c2 is formed in a tapered shape so that it can be easily fitted into the fitting hole 7b.

When the second conductive member 15c is fitted into the fitting hole 7b of the flange gear 7a, the tip of the second conductive member 15c abuts the ground contact 7c (see FIG. 4) provided inside the photosensitive drum 7, and the second conductive member 15c is formed. Member 15c and first conductive member 15
The photosensitive drum 7 is grounded to the apparatus main body 13 via b. Therefore, the first conductive member 15b and the second conductive member 1
5c is made of a conductive material, for example, iron, stainless steel, brass, aluminum or the like whose surface is plated with nickel chrome. In the first embodiment, the base body 15a and the extending portion 15d are also the first and second conductive members 15b, 1
It is configured integrally with 5c.

The photoconductor drum 7 is attached by the mounting member 15.
4, the shaft portion 15c2 of the mounting member 15 is fitted into the fitting hole 7b of the flange gear 7a attached to the photosensitive drum 7 through the fitting hole 12c1 of the cleaning container 12c, as shown in FIG. To do.
At this time, the tip of the shaft portion 15c2 comes into contact with the ground contact 7c in the photosensitive drum 7. The elongated hole 15d2 provided in the extending portion 15d is provided with the positioning boss 1 of the cleaning container 12c.
2c2 and screw holes 15a1 and 15d provided with screws 16 in the base 15a and the extension 15d, respectively.
The mounting member 15 is attached to the cleaning container 12c by screwing it to the cleaning container 12c via 1.

Similarly, on the other end side in the longitudinal direction of the photosensitive drum 7, the shaft portion of the mounting member is inserted into the fitting hole of the flange member mounted on the drum end portion to support it. At this time, the mounting member 15 may be similarly supported.

{Cover Member of Toner Storage Container} Next, the cover member attached to the toner storage container 12a will be described. As shown in FIG. 6, the toner storage container 12a has an opening 12a1, and the toner stored in the toner storage portion 10a of the toner storage container 12a is supplied to the developing sleeve 10d through the opening 12a1. However, when the process cartridge B is unused, the opening 12a1
When opened, the toner in the toner container 12a may be spilled or become damp when the process cartridge B is transported or stored. Therefore, the opening 12a1 is sealed in an unused state, and the cover means S for opening the opening at the start of use is attached to the opening 12a1.

In the cover means S, the cover member 17 integrally formed by welding the cover seal 17a which is the cover portion with the tear tape 17b which is the flexible member is attached to the opening regulating member 18 by welding. The opening regulating member 18 is provided to the opening 12 of the toner storage container 12a.
The opening 12a1 is sealed by being fixed to a1.

(Cover seal) The cover seal 17a
As shown in FIG. 14, is composed of a base material 17a1 and a sealant layer 17a2.

As the material of the base material 17a1, it is possible to use a uniaxially stretched film material or sheet material that can maintain the airtightness of the container opening portion sufficiently and has tearability in one direction. Uniaxially stretched polyethylene,
Uniaxially stretched polypropylene, uniaxially stretched polypropylene or the like is used.

By using such a film, not only the force required for tearing the cover seal 17a can be reduced, but also the width of the toner opening formed by tearing can be made uniform.

As the base material 17a1 which has vertical tear stability and a certain degree of film strength,
A stretched expanded polypropylene film having a thickness of about 120 μm to 140 μm and an average specific gravity of about 0.6 g / cc to 0.9 g / cc is preferably used.

On the other hand, for the sealant layer 17a2, a polyethylene sealant is preferably used so that the sealant layer 17a2 can be welded to the sealant layer of the tear tape 17b described later by heat sealing (heat welding). Heat sealing with an ionomer resin may be used, or impulse sealing or high frequency welding may be used if an appropriate material is selected. When a polyethylene-based sealant containing an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer of several% to several tens% is used as the sealant layer 17a2,
In consideration of the adhesive strength, the film thickness is preferably about 10 μm to 30 μm, more preferably about 15 μm to 25 μm.

(Tear tape) Next, the tear tape 17b is
As shown in FIG. 15, it comprises a base material 17b1 and a sealant layer 17b2 provided on the front and back thereof.

It is necessary that the material of the base material 17b1 has sufficient strength to tear the cover seal 17a, and it is desirable that the material has a tensile strength about three times that of the cover seal 17a. As the material, for example, various film materials such as biaxially oriented polyester, biaxially oriented polypropylene, polystyrene, biaxially oriented nylon, etc., or sheet materials are preferably used, and in particular, biaxially oriented polyester having a film thickness of about 20 μm to 40 μm. A test film is preferably used.

The sealant layer 17b2 is made of the same material as the sealant layer 17a2 of the cover seal 17a, but the cover seal 17a and the tear tape 17b are used.
When the sealant layer 17b2 and the sealant layer 17b2 are heat-welded during unitization, it is preferable to use the same material as possible so that both are melted and adhered. When a polyethylene-based sealant containing an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer of several% to several tens% is used as the sealant layer 17b2, the film thickness should be about 20 μm to 40 μm in consideration of adhesive strength. It is preferable that the film thickness is preferably about 25 μm to 35 μm.

As the tear tape 17b, as shown in FIG. 16, a nylon (trade name) layer N effective as a cushion layer at the time of heat sealing may be provided between the base material 17b1 and the sealant layer 17b2. . The nylon (trade name) layer N preferably has a film thickness of about 10 μm to 20 μm, more preferably about 13 μm to 17 μm.

In the first embodiment, the cover seal 17a shown in FIG. 14 and the tear tape 17b shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 17, the cover member 17 is formed by integrally welding and unitizing by heat sealing. At this time, one end of the tear tape 17b in the longitudinal direction is longer than the cover seal 17a and is a free end.

Here, when the cover seal 17a and the tear tape 17b are heat-welded, if the heat shrinkage rate of the base material 17a1 of the cover seal 17a is high, the cover member 17 is curled by thermocompression bonding, and this cover member 17 Cannot be accurately attached to a predetermined portion of the opening regulating member 18. Therefore, in order to suppress the curl amount, the heat shrinkage rate of the base material 17a1 of the cover seal 17a is about 1% to 10% in the stretching direction and about 0.1% to 3% in the non-stretching direction. Is preferred.

The heat shrinkage ratio is a result obtained by putting the cover member 17 in a gear type hot air open at 120 ° C. for 15 minutes and then measuring the heat shrinkage ratio.

(Opening regulating member) The cover member 17 is
It is attached to the opening of the opening regulating member 18 shown in FIG. The opening regulation member 18 regulates the opening width when the toner is supplied from the toner storage container 12a to the developing sleeve 10d. The opening regulating member 18 is formed by sheet-molding a plastic plate such as a polyester plate, a polystyrene plate, a nylon (trade name) plate, an ABS plate or the like having a thickness of about 0.3 mm to 2 mm, and then the opening 18a is punched out. Or a frame shape by ordinary molding. The opening regulating member 18 is a flange 12a provided on the edge portion of the opening 12a1 of the toner container 12a.
2 is attached by ultrasonic welding or the like, so that the same material as that of the toner storage container 12a is easier to weld. Therefore, for example, when the toner storage container 12a is made of polystyrene, it is desirable that the opening regulating member 18 is also a polystyrene plate.

The cover member 17 is attached by welding to the opening 18a of the opening regulating member 18, and the opening 18
Seal a. As shown in FIG. 19, when sealing is performed by thermocompression bonding, an easy adhesion treatment such as a corona discharge treatment is performed if necessary.

As the sealing conditions, the seal bar 19a of the horn 19 has a temperature of about 110 ° C. to 130 ° C. and a pressure of about 1.5.
Sealing is performed by thermocompression bonding for kgf / cm2 to 5 kgf / cm2 and time of about 1 to 3 seconds. In this case, since the short overlap portion 17c where the cover seal 17a and the tear tape 17b of the cover member 17 overlap each other is thicker by the thickness of the tear tape 17b, the recess 19a1 having the thickness is provided in the portion of the seal bar 19a. Keep it. The seal bar 19a
In the case of thermocompression bonding, the opening regulating member 18 and the seal bar 19a must be pressed in parallel and evenly. If it is not uniform, extra stress is applied to the seal surface 17d of the cover member 17, and when the process cartridge B is impacted or dropped, a film breakage occurs from the inner edge 17d1 portion of the seal surface 17d, and the toner is removed. The toner in the storage container 12a may leak from the broken portion.

Here, as shown in FIG. 20, a cover seal 17a for sealing the opening 18a of the opening restricting member 18.
Cover seal 17a and tear tape 17b for the portion excluding the seal surface 17d of FIG.
The area of the overlapping portion (mesh portion in FIG. 20) is about 5
It is preferably 0% to 99%, more preferably about 70% to 90%. The reason is that the cover seal 17a and the tear tape 17b against the internal pressure during distribution of the toner stored in the toner storage container 12a.
The larger the area where the
This is because the load on the edge portion covered by only a is reduced, and toner leakage due to peeling of the seal can be reliably prevented.

In order to effectively prevent the peeling of the seal, the lateral length of the tear tape 17b is about 0.5 than the lateral length of the opening 18a of the opening regulating member 18.
It is desirable to widen it by about mm to 2 mm. The reason is,
Cover seal 17a against drop impact and pressure resistance during distribution
This is because the pressure directly applied to the sealing surface 17d is relaxed.

(Attachment of Cover Member) The toner container 12 is provided with the opening regulating member 18 to which the cover member 17 is welded.
The toner container 12 is attached to the flange 12a2 of a.
Seal a. For this installation, first, the toner container 1
After the toner feeding member 10b is assembled in 2a,
As shown in FIG. 6, a tool (not shown) is inserted into the positioning hole 18b provided at the end of the opening regulating member 18 in the lateral direction and the positioning hole 12a3 of the toner storage container 12a to insert both holes 18b.
b and 12a3 are aligned with each other, the opening regulating member 18 is positioned on the flange 12a2 of the toner container 12a, and ultrasonic welding or the like is performed in the positioned state to completely weld the two.

(Developing Container) Next, the developing container 1 shown in FIG.
2b is combined with the toner storage container 12a. The developing container 12b is provided with developing means such as a developing sleeve 10d and a developing blade 10e. Further, the developing container 12b
The antenna wire 12b4 serving as an electrode for detecting a change in the remaining amount of toner as a change in electrostatic capacity is provided at the toner feeding port of
Is stuck. This antenna wire 12b4 is the developing container 1
The fixing member 12b5 is fixed into the groove formed in the groove 2b by fixing the fixing member 12b5 to the groove with an adhesive, and the end 12b6 is exposed to the outside as an electrode. Further, a toner stirring rod 12b7 is attached near the antenna wire 12b4. This toner stirring bar 12b
7 rotatably supports both ends of a crankshaft-shaped wire, and transmits a driving force to a gear (not shown) fixed to one end of the wire to rotate the stirring rod 12b7,
The toner sent from the toner sending port to the developing sleeve 10d is agitated.

The developing container 12b is replaced with the toner container 12
In order to combine it with a, the toner storage container 12 in which the cover means S is first attached and the tear tape 17b is folded back
A tool (not shown) is inserted into the positioning hole 12a3 of a and the positioning hole 12b1 provided in the developing container 12b so that both holes 12a3
a3 and 12b1 are aligned to position the developing container 12b in the toner container 12a, and ultrasonic welding or the like is performed in the positioned state to weld the developing container 12b to the opening regulating member 18,
Developer container 12b, cover means S, toner container 12a
Are integrated.

Incidentally, the toner container 12a and the developing container 12
As shown in FIG. 10, positioning bosses 12b2 are provided on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the developing container 12b in order to perform positioning when coupling with b, and the boss 12b2 is fitted to the toner storage container 12a. A hole 12a5 is provided. Further, in FIG. 10, reference numeral 12b3 is a wall provided on one side in the longitudinal direction of the developing container 12b for mounting a drive unit for driving the toner feeding member and the like.
Reference numeral b is a positioning hole when the opening regulating member 18 is attached to the toner storage container 12a. Further, the positioning holes 12a3 and 12b used when positioning the developing container 12b and the like.
The ears provided with 1, 18b are cut off because they become unnecessary after the three are integrated.

As described above, the toner container 12a, to which the developing container 12b is attached, is filled with toner from a toner input port (not shown), the input port is closed, and the cleaning container 12c in which the photosensitive drum 7 and the like are incorporated is installed. The process cartridge B is assembled by assembling. The process cartridge B is shipped as a product, but when the product is shipped, a load is applied to the cover member 17 as shown in FIG. As shown by 22, there is a possibility that a tear 20 or the like may occur at the inner edge 17d1 portion of the sealing surface 17d. This is because the cover seal 17a is uniaxially stretched, and as described above, the stress direction at the time of thermocompression bonding by the seal bar 19a and the vertical tearing direction coincide with each other, so that the cover seal 17a easily breaks in the non-stretching direction. It is because it has become.

Therefore, the breaking strength of the base material 17a1 of the cover seal 17a is important in order to prevent the occurrence of the breakage. This breaking strength is about 1.0 kg in the non-stretching direction
f / mm to 3.0 kgf / mm is preferably used, and more preferably about 1.3 kgf / mm to 3.0.
It is desirable to use the one of kgf / mm. The film thickness of the base material 17a1 of the cover seal 17a is about 130 μm to 1
It is preferable to use one having a thickness of 50 μm.

In the process cartridge B, the tear tape 17b is pulled out and the cover means S is opened and used, but the toner storage container 12a and the developing container 12 are used.
In order to prevent the toner from leaking from between
As shown in FIG. 0 and FIG. 23, end seal members 21 made of polyurethane foam or the like are attached to both ends of the back surface of the developing container 12b in the longitudinal direction.

The end seal member 21 is usually about 2 mm.
It has a thickness of about 5 mm and is compressed to a thickness of about 1/2 to 1/3 after the developing container 12b is combined with the toner storage container 12a, thereby preventing toner leakage after opening. There is.

However, the end seal member 21 not only increases the force for pulling out the tear tape 17b required at the time of opening, but also the tear end of the cover seal 17a is rubbed against the end seal member 21 and squeezed. It becomes easier to stand. The cause of this fluff is the cover seal 17a.
If the sealant layer 17a2 of No. 1 and the sealant layer 17b2 of the tear tape 17b are not completely melt-bonded, the cover seal 17a will be torn wider than the tear width of the tear tape 17b by about 2 mm to 3 mm, which causes fluffing. This is to allow it. Therefore, the sealant layer 17a2 of the cover seal 17a and the tear tape 17b
It is desirable that the same material as that of the sealant layer 17b2 is used.

(Cover member winding construction) When pulling out the tear tape 17b, if the pulling direction of the tear tape 17b is not good, the tearing strength which is a force to be applied to the tear tape 17b to tear the cover seal 17a is greatly increased. Not only does it rise, but in the worst case, the tear tape 17b may be caught and a trouble may occur in which the tear tape 17b cannot be pulled out on the way.

In the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the winding shaft 30 is provided at the end of the toner container 12a in the longitudinal direction and on the side where the tear tape 17b is pulled out.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the take-up shaft 30 has a cylindrical take-up portion 30a for taking up the cover member 17, and an operation sheet 31 which the user pulls in order to give the take-up shaft 30 rotation in advance. Cylindrical input shaft 3 for winding
0b and a support shaft 30c of a round shaft for fixing the winding shaft 30 to the toner storage container 12a are integrally configured.

The toner container 12a extends outwardly from both end walls 12a6 and 12a7 in the longitudinal direction in the same cross section as the cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and drives the toner feeding member 10b in one of the longitudinal directions. Is provided with a gear housing portion 12a8, and the other is provided with a cover member winding chamber 12a9 for storing the cover member winding device. A boss 12a10 having a center hole into which the lower end of the support shaft 30c is fitted is provided on the floor surface of the winding chamber 12a9, and a cover 22 having a boss 22a having a center hole into which the upper end of the support shaft 30c is fitted is provided on the top plate 22. An opening 12a11 is provided that is closed by fixing the. The cover member winding chamber 12a9 accommodates the cover member winding device and is fixed with a lid 23 for sealing. This fixing is performed by fitting or adhering with a check claw.

The tear tape 17 is attached to the cylindrical winding portion 30a.
In order to attach the free end of b, a slit 30d having a groove bottom 30d1 whose width is wide on the inner side is provided in the axial direction. A stopper 17c is fixed to the free end of the tear tape 17b, and the stopper 17c is fixed to the groove bottom 30 of the slit 30d.
Insert into d1. As a result, the tip of the tear tape 17b goes out through the slit 30d. This is the tear tape 17
In the initial stage of pulling out b, the cover member 17 and the opening regulating member 1
Since the welded portion with 8 is peeled off, a larger force is required than during the pulling-out process. Therefore, when the winding shaft 30 starts to rotate, the tear tape 17b is prevented from coming off from the cylindrical winding portion 30a. There is.

The input shaft 30b is also provided with a slit 30e for attaching the end of the sheet 31. Since the operation sheet 31 is finally separated from the input shaft 30b, it is desirable that the slit 30e of the input shaft 30b has a shape in which the end portion of the operation sheet 31 does not come off midway and can be easily removed at the end. Therefore, in the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, the tangent line TL in the pulling direction of the operation sheet 31 of the input shaft 30b passing through the tip of the slit 30e and the angle θ formed by the slit 30e are configured to be an acute angle. . By doing so, when the operation sheet 31 is drawn and the take-up shaft 30 rotates in the direction of the arrow in the figure, the end portion of the operation sheet 31 moves to the input shaft 3.
Since the operation sheet 31 does not come off in the middle because it goes into the slit 30e of 0b, it can be easily removed from the input shaft when the operation sheet 31 is pulled to the end.

If the take-up shaft 30 having the above-mentioned structure is used, the user pulls the operation sheet 31 pre-wound around the input shaft 30b.
Even if the cover member 17 is pulled extremely obliquely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the process cartridge B, the cover member 17 is securely wound around the winding portion 30a, and wrinkles do not occur in the cover member 17, and the end of the cover seal 17a is prevented. The department never turns over.

The cover member 17 is wound around the winding portion 30a of the winding shaft 30 so that it cannot be touched by the user. Naturally, the developer will not touch the user's hand.

Furthermore, in order to facilitate the operation of pulling out the cover member 17 of the process cartridge B which can accommodate the recording medium 2 of A3 size of Japanese Industrial Standard Paper, 1. Shorten the total length of the operation sheet 31 that the user pulls out 2. Lighten the pulling force of the cover member 17 at the beginning. The end-of-pulling process that requires a force equal to that of the beginning of pulling the cover member 17 is required.

The diameter of the winding portion 30a of the winding shaft 30 is φd.
a, the diameter of the input shaft 30b is φdb, and the thickness of the cover member 17 is
t₁ , Tear tape 17 for removing cover member 17
The total length of b is L1, and the thickness t of the sheet 31 is_Two , Total length L2, winding
Since the take-up portion 30a winds up the cover member 17 entirely
Rotation speed n timesFurther, the operation sheet 31 is wound around the input shaft 30b in advance n times.
The diameter db 'of the tightly attached input shaft 30b is db' = db + 2nt_Two Becomes

Here, in order to (1) shorten the total length of the seal 31 pulled out by the user and (2) lightly satisfy the pulling force at the beginning of pulling the cover member 17, L2 <L1 and da <db 'should be satisfied. Good.

Therefore, the size of the recording medium 2 is 660 mm, the total length L1 of the tear tape 17b attached to the cover member 17 is 660 mm, the thickness of the cover member 17 is 0.3 mm, and the operation sheet 31 is the thickness of the operation sheet 31. Is 0.2 mm, the diameter φda of the winding portion 30a is 7 mm and the input shaft 30b is an example that satisfies the above relationship.
The diameter φdb is 5 mm. At this time, the total length of the operation sheet 31 to be pulled out by the user is 462 mm, which is a gripping margin for the user to grasp by hand. Since the diameter φdb ′ when the operation sheet 31 is wound around the input shaft 30b is 9 mm, the force required to start pulling the cover member 17 is about 70% as compared with the conventional pulling of the tear tape 17b. .

Further, as the cover member 17 is wound around the winding portion 30a, the diameter of the winding portion 30a increases and the diameter of the input shaft 30b around which the operation sheet 31 is wound decreases. At the end of pulling, which requires the same force as when the member 17 is pulled, [the diameter of the wound portion of the cover member]> [the diameter of the input shaft], which is large to completely wind the cover member 17. Power is needed. Therefore, in the present embodiment, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7, the connecting position 17e between the cover member 17 and the opening regulating member 18 at the end of the opening of the opening regulating member 18 in the longitudinal direction of the cover member withdrawing direction is separated from the opening end 18a1 of the opening regulating member 18, and the operation sheet 31 is removed. When the cover member 17 is completely pulled out, the cover member 17 should be opened only before the connecting position. As a result, the opening portion 18a necessary when the operation sheet 31 is pulled out appears, and the connecting portion 17e between the cover member 17 and the opening regulating member 18, which requires a large force, is left as it is.
The operability of pulling out is not impaired.

After the cover member 17 is further wound around the take-up shaft 30 and the operation sheet 31 is removed, even if the take-up shaft 30 is reversely rotated by the tension when the cover member 17 is taken up, the developing container The cover member 17 does not reversely close and close the opening due to the pressing of the end seal member 21 attached to 12b.

[Embodiment 2] In Embodiment 1, the portion for winding the cover member and the input portion operated by the user to give a force are integrated to form a winding shaft. In the form 2, the winding device includes a first shaft that is a portion around which the cover member is wound, and a second shaft that winds a sheet operated by the user.

Embodiment 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 to 13.
Will be explained. As shown in FIG. 11, the support shaft 41c has a lower end fitted into a boss 12a10 provided in the cover member winding chamber 12a9 and an upper end fitted into and fixed to a boss 22a of the cover 22. As shown in FIG. 12, the winding device 40 fixes the stopper 17c (see FIG. 11) provided at the free end of the tear tape 17b to the slit 41a similar to that of the first embodiment,
The first shaft 41 for winding the cover member 17 and the operation sheet 43 operated by the user are wound in advance,
There is a second shaft 42 that is coaxially supported by the first shaft 41.
The first shaft 41 and the second shaft 42 are rotatably supported by the support shaft 41c. Around the second shaft 42 is shown in FIG. 13 so that the drive of the second shaft 42 can be transmitted to the first shaft 41 only when the second shaft 42 rotates in the winding direction of the cover member 17. As shown in the drawing, a claw wheel 42a having a plurality of claws having a triangular cross section, one side of which is substantially in the normal direction and the side adjacent to this side is a slope 42b, is provided, and the claw wheel 42a is provided on the end surface 41a of the first shaft 41. The second shaft 42, which has a tip that meshes with each other,
Is provided with a feed pawl 41b that is elastically deformed from the pawl wheel 42a and disengages when the cover member 17 rotates in a direction opposite to the winding direction. This feed claw 41b is the first shaft 4
A check claw 41b1 is provided at the tip of a leaf spring that is integral with the first shaft 1 or fixed to the first shaft 41. Further, one end of the operation sheet 43 wound around the second shaft 42 is fixed to the second shaft 42 so as not to be disengaged, and a second portion is provided at a portion axially separated from the fixed portion of the operation sheet 43. One end of the seat 44 is fixed. One end of an elastic body 45 made of a spring or the like is attached to the other end of the second sheet 44.
The other end of is fixed to the toner storage container 12a. By connecting the second shaft 42 and the toner storage container 12a with the second sheet 44 and the elastic body 45, the second shaft 42 is formed.
Of the reversing device.

The winding device 40 having the above structure
12, when the operation sheet 43 is pulled in the direction of arrow C in FIG. 12 against the elastic force of the elastic body 45, the second shaft 42 moves the arrow D.
To rotate in the direction, one of the ratchet wheels 42a of the second shaft 42 meshes with the feed claw 41b provided on the first shaft 41, the first shaft 41 rotates in the direction of arrow D, and the cover member 17 is wound. . At the same time, the second sheet 44 is wound around the second shaft 42. As a result, the opening 18a of the opening regulating member 18 attached to the toner storage container 12a of the cover member 17 is opened, and the toner in the toner storage portion 10a is released from the developing container 12.
b. When the operation sheet 43 is completely pulled out, the second sheet 44 of the second shaft 42 and the restoring force of the elastic body 45 provided between the toner storage container 12a (direction of arrow E in FIG. 12) cause the second sheet Axis 42 rotates in the direction of arrow F. At this time, the tip of the feed claw 41b slides on the slope 42b (see FIG. 13) of the ratchet wheel 42a of the second shaft 42, so that the rotation of the second shaft 42 is not transmitted to the first shaft 41 and the operation sheet 43 Is rewound on the second shaft 42. By repeating this operation several times, the cover member 17 is completely removed from the first shaft 4.
Rolled up to 1.

In the second embodiment, the first shaft 4
The shaft diameters d1 and d2 of both the first and second shafts 42 are d2>
If d1 is set, the pulling-out force of the operation sheet can be reduced, and there is no restriction as in the first embodiment, so that there is an advantage that the degree of freedom in design is increased.

In the second embodiment, the member operated by the user is explained by using the sheet, but this is a string-shaped member 4.
It goes without saying that 3a is also applied (see FIG. 11).

[0104]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a developer container for storing a developer to be supplied to an electrophotographic photosensitive member and a developer in the developer container is supplied to the electrophotographic photosensitive member. A cover member that closes the supply opening, and a winding shaft to which the free end of the cover member is fixed is provided, and a drawing member that rotates the winding shaft is wound around the winding shaft. Even if the user pulls out the pull-out member extremely obliquely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the process cartridge, the cover member is wrinkled because the force is applied only in the longitudinal direction of the process cartridge. It does not occur and the end of the seal member attached to the developer container is not turned over.

Further, since the cover member is wound around the winding shaft provided in the process cartridge and is not exposed to the outside, the outside of the developing device is not polluted even if some developer is attached to the cover member.

A second invention according to the present application is the first invention according to the first invention, wherein the downstream end of the withdrawal member in the withdrawal direction is removable from the winding shaft, so that after the cover member has been unsealed There is no need to cut and remove the pull-out member that is exposed at.

According to a third invention of the present application, in the first invention, the shaft diameter of the portion of the winding shaft around which the cover member is wound is different from the shaft diameter of the portion around which the drawing member is wound. As a result, the length of pulling out the sheet member can be made shorter than the moving length of the cover member for opening the opening required to supply the developer to the developing sleeve.

A fourth invention according to the present application is the first or third invention.
In the invention described above, since the shaft diameter of the portion of the winding shaft for winding the cover member is smaller than the diameter after the pulling member is wound, the portion requiring the greatest force at the beginning of peeling the cover member. The force applied to the pull-out member can be reduced, and the operability of peeling off the cover member can be improved.

The fifth invention according to the present application is the first or third invention.
In the invention, the pulling member is locked by inserting the downstream end of the pulling member in the pulling direction into the groove provided in the winding shaft, and the angle formed between the groove and the pulling member is an acute angle. At the beginning of pulling out the pull-out member, the fact that the pull-out member is wound around the take-up shaft means that the end of the pull-out member is bent at an acute angle and is in contact with the take-up shaft. Can be strongly pulled, and after the cover member is opened, the amount of winding of the drawing member with respect to the winding shaft is zero or a small number of times, so that the drawing member is easily removed from the winding shaft at the end of drawing.

A sixth invention according to the present application is a supply container for storing a developer to be supplied to the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a supply for supplying the developer in the developer storage container to the electrophotographic photosensitive member. In a developing device having a cover member closing an opening for use, a first shaft to which a free end of the cover member is fixed, a second shaft connected to the first shaft, and a first shaft And a second shaft connecting device, and a pull-out member having one end fixed to the second shaft and having a predetermined length wound around the second shaft. It is possible to change the ratio of the number of rotations of the shaft until the cover member is opened, and it is possible to change the pulling length and the pulling force of the pulling member.

A seventh invention according to the present application is the sixth invention, wherein in the sixth invention, a rotatable first shaft and a rotatable second shaft are provided, and the second shaft serves as a coupling device for unidirectional rotation. By having the one-way rotation transmitting means which is transmitted only to the first shaft, the force for pulling out the second shaft can be reduced and the length of the pulling member can be shortened.

According to an eighth invention of the present application, in the seventh invention, the one-way rotation transmitting means is a ratchet device provided between the first shaft and the second shaft. The shaft can be made sufficiently smaller in diameter than the first shaft, which contributes to reducing the pulling force of the pulling member and shortening the pulling length of the pulling member.

The ninth invention according to the present application is the seventh or eighth invention.
In the invention described above, by providing a mechanism for reversing the second shaft after pulling out the pulling member wound around the second shaft, it is not necessary to repeatedly rotate the second shaft by hand. The operability is good.

The tenth invention of the present application is the ninth invention, wherein the second shaft reversing mechanism has a flexible member whose one end is fixed to the second shaft, and By having the elastic body, one end of which is connected to the other end and the other end of which is fixed to the developer accommodating container, the second shaft inversion mechanism can be achieved with a simple configuration. Also, by making the direction of the pull-out member and the direction of the flexible member opposite to each other, it is possible to reduce the lateral force applied to the second shaft.

The eleventh invention according to the present application is the drawing member according to any one of the first to sixth inventions, wherein the drawing member is a string-shaped member and is wound around the second shaft. The layer thickness and width can be reduced, which contributes to downsizing of the device.

A twelfth invention of the present application is a process cartridge which is attachable to and detachable from an image forming apparatus main body, comprising an electrophotographic photosensitive member and a developing unit acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive member. By the developing device according to any one of the first to eleventh inventions, in addition to the above-mentioned effects, the operability as a process cartridge is remarkably improved, and the developer is not attached to the user at all. In addition, the cover member to which the developer is attached does not come out of the process cartridge.

The twelfth aspect of the present invention is the process wherein the charging means or the cleaning means as the process means, the developing 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. It is suitable to be applied to a process cartridge in which at least one of a charging unit and a cleaning unit as a cartridge and a process unit, a developing unit and an electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally made into a cartridge and detachable from the main body of the image forming apparatus.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic vertical sectional view of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic vertical sectional view of a process cartridge according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic vertical sectional view of the image forming apparatus with an opening / closing member opened.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a photosensitive drum mounting member.

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional explanatory view of a second conductive member of the mounting member.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the developer accommodating container unit according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a winding shaft.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a winding shaft.

FIG. 9 is a front view showing the combination of the cover member and the opening regulating member.

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view illustrating how to attach the developing container to the toner storage container to which the cover member is attached.

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the developer accommodating container unit according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a winding shaft.

FIG. 13 is a horizontal sectional view of the ratchet device.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional explanatory view of a cover seal.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional explanatory view of a tear tape.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram of another embodiment of the tear tape.

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional explanatory view of a cover member in which a cover seal and a tear tape are integrated.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory perspective view showing a curled state of the cover member.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view for explaining a configuration in which the cover member is welded to the opening regulating member.

FIG. 20 is an explanatory plan view showing a ratio between the cover seal and the tear tape.

FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram showing a pressure state related to the cover seal due to the internal pressure of the toner storage container.

FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram of a state in which the cover seal is broken.

FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional explanatory view in which an end seal member is provided.

[Explanation of symbols]

A ... Image forming apparatus B ... Process cartridge S ... Cover means N ... Nylon (trade name) layer TL ... Tangent line 1 ... Optical system 1a ... Optical unit 1b ... Laser tide 1c ... Polygon mirror 1d ... Scanner motor 1e ... Imaging lens 1f ... Reflection mirror 2 ... Recording medium 3 ... Conveying means 3a, 3b ... Paper feeding cassette 3c ... Pickup roller 3d ... Separation roller pair 3e ... Registration roller pair 3f ... Intermediate conveyance roller pair 3g ... Ejection path
3h ... Ejection roller 3i ... Flapper 3j ... Retransmission route
3k1, 3k2 ... Retransmitting roller 3m ... Retransmitting section 3n ... Flapper 3o ... Pickup roller 3p ... Conveying roller pair 4 ... Transfer means (transfer roller) 5 ... Fixing means 5a ... Driving roller 5b ... Heater 5c
... Fixing roller 6 ... Discharging section 7 ... Photoconductor drum 7a ... Flange gear 7b ... Fit hole 7c ... Ground contact 8 ... Charging means (charging roller) 8a ... Roller shaft 9 ... Exposure section 10 ... Developing means 10a ... Toner storage section 10b ... Toner feeding member 10c ... Magnet 10d ... Developing sleeve 1
Reference numeral 0e ... Developing blade 11 ... Cleaning means 11a ... Cleaning blade 11b ... Squi-sheet 11c ... Feeding member 11d
... Waste toner reservoir 12 ... Housing 12a ... Toner storage container 12a1
... Opening 12a2 ... Flange 12a3 ... Positioning hole
12a5 ... Hole 12a8 ... Gear housing part 12a9 ... Cover member winding chamber 12a10 ... Boss 1
2a11 ... Opening part 12b ... Developing container 12b1 ... Positioning hole 12b3 ... Wall 12b5 ... Fixing member 12b6
... end portion 12b7 ... toner stirring rod 12c ... cleaning container 12c1 ... insertion hole 12c2 ... positioning boss 13 ... device body 14 ... opening / closing member 14a ... hinge 15 ... mounting member 15a ... base 15a1 ... screw hole 1
5b ... 1st electroconductive member 15c ... 2nd electroconductive member 15c1 ... Base part 15c2 ...
Shaft part 15c3 ... Step part 15d, 15d1 ... Extension part 15d2 ... Long hole 16 ... Screw 17 ... Cover member 17a ... Cover seal 17a1 ...
Base material 17a2 ... Sealant layer 17b ... Tear tape
17c ... Stopper 17d ... Sealing surface 17b1 ... Base material
17b2 ... Sealant 17d ... Seal 17d1 ... Inner edge 17e ... Coupling position 18 ... Opening regulating member 18a ... Opening 18b ... Positioning hole 18d ... Positioning hole 18a1 ... Opening end 19 ... Horn 19a ... Seal bar 19a1 ... Recess 20 ... Break 21 ... End seal member 22 ... Cover 22a ... Boss 23 ... Lid 23a ... Draw-out port 30 ... Winding shaft 30a ... Cylindrical winding part 30b ...
Input shaft 30c ... Support shafts 30d, 30e ... Slit 30d1 ... Groove bottom 31 ... Operation seal 40 ... Winding device 41 ... First shaft 41a ... Slit 41b ... Feed claw
41b1 ... Non-return claw 42 ... Second shaft 42a ... Claw wheel 42b ... Slope 43 ... Operation sheet 43a ... String member 44 ... Second sheet 45 ... Elastic body

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. A developer accommodating container for accommodating a developer to be supplied to an electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a cover closing an opening for supplying the developer in the developer accommodating container to the electrophotographic photosensitive member. And a winding shaft having a free end fixed to the cover member,
A developing device characterized in that a drawing member for rotating the winding shaft is wound around the winding shaft. 2. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein a downstream end of the pulling member in the pulling direction is removable from the winding shaft. 3. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein a shaft diameter of a portion of the winding shaft around which the cover member is wound is different from a shaft diameter of a portion around which the extracting member is wound. . 4. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein a shaft diameter of a portion of the winding shaft on which the cover member is wound is smaller than a diameter of the winding member after the drawing member is wound. 5. The downstream end of the pull-out member in the pull-out direction is locked by being inserted into a groove provided on the winding shaft, and the angle formed between the groove and the pull-out member is an acute angle. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the developing device is a developing device. 6. A developer accommodating container accommodating a developer to be supplied to an electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a cover closing a supply opening for supplying the developer to the electrophotographic photosensitive member in the developer accommodating container. In a developing device having a member, a first shaft to which the free end of the cover member is fixed, a second shaft connected to the first shaft, and a connection between the first shaft and the second shaft. A developing device comprising: a device; and a pulling member having one end fixed to the second shaft and having a predetermined length wound around the second shaft. 7. A unidirectional rotation transmission in which a rotatable first shaft and a rotatable second shaft are provided, and only one direction of rotation of the second shaft is transmitted to the first shaft as a coupling device. The developing device according to claim 6, further comprising means. 8. The developing device according to claim 7, wherein the one-way rotating unit is a ratchet device provided between the first shaft and the second shaft. 9. The developing device according to claim 7, further comprising a mechanism for reversing the second shaft after pulling out the drawing member wound around the second shaft. 10. The second shaft reversing mechanism has a flexible member having one end fixed to the second shaft, one end connected to the other end of the flexible member, and the other end fixed to the developer container. The developing device according to claim 9, further comprising: 11. The developing device according to claim 6, wherein the drawing member is a string-shaped member. 12. A process cartridge detachable from an image forming apparatus main body, comprising: an electrophotographic photosensitive member; and a developing unit that acts on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, wherein the developing unit is any one of claims 1 to 11. A process cartridge comprising the developing device according to any one of the above. 13. The process cartridge comprises a charging unit as a process unit, or a cleaning unit, a developing unit, and an electrophotographic photosensitive member, which 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 claim 12. 14. The process cartridge, wherein at least one of a charging unit and a cleaning unit as a process unit, a developing unit and an electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally made into a cartridge and can be attached to and detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus. Item 13. The process cartridge according to Item 12.