JPH09288394A - Cartridge and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily protect a cartridge facilitated in attachment, an image forming body, etc., in a cartridge whose outside cover is easily turned and an image forming device provided with a projecting member projected to the bottom surface of a printing unit, at the time of removing from a device. SOLUTION: This cartridge is constituted of a bottle-like housing part 90 housing powder 8 or liquid and having an outflow port 91, a sealing member 92 fixed on the outer periphery of the outflow port 91 and the outside cover 93 which is closely stuck to the sealing member 92, to cover the outside of the housing part 90 including the outflow port 91 and provided with a window part 94 which is attached to the side surface of the housing part 90, so that the window part 94 is freely turned to be relative to the housing part 90, in a fixed direction, placed in a position where the window part 94 is not communicated with the outflow port 91, in a normal state and slid to the sealing member 92 at the time of turning, to be communicated with the outflow port 91, so that the powder 8 or the liquid flows out by the communication of the outflow port 91 with the window part 94. In such a case, it is constituted so that when the housing part 90 or the outside cover 93 is turned, the closely sticking force of the sealing member 92 and the outside cover 11 is reduced.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a toner cartridge and a print unit of a printer such as an electrophotographic printer, and more particularly, a cartridge and a print unit in which a contact force between an outer cover and a sealing member is reduced when the print unit is removed from the apparatus. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus provided with a projecting member that sometimes projects on the lower surface of a print unit.

With the recent development of office automation, electrophotographic printing apparatuses such as laser printers are widely used in output terminals of computers, facsimile machines, copying machines and the like.

The method of replenishing toner in a small electrophotographic printing apparatus can be roughly classified into a method in which a unit having an integrated image forming unit is replaced for each unit, and a method in which toner is directly replenished in the apparatus. However, the latter is more advantageous in consideration of running costs and the like. The invention belongs to the latter method.

Therefore, the developing device is removably provided with a cartridge for replenishing toner, and the cartridge has a bottle-shaped accommodating portion having an outlet for the accommodated toner and a seal member around the outlet. Cover, an opening window is formed, and an outer cover rotatably attached to the center position of the side surface of the accommodating portion is provided. The toner is flowed out with the outlet facing the opening window.

In such a cartridge, the outer cover and the sealing member are tightly sealed so that the toner does not leak during transportation or handling. Therefore, since the frictional force between the outer cover and the seal member becomes large, a strong force is required to rotate the accommodating portion, which makes it difficult to replace the cartridge.

Further, the photosensitive drum and a charger, a developing device, a cleaner and the like arranged around the photosensitive drum are integrated as a print unit, and it is necessary to remove the print unit from the apparatus main body at the time of maintenance such as replacement due to the life of the photosensitive drum. is there.

When placing the detached print unit on the floor or the like, in order to avoid scratching the sensitive surface of the photosensitive drum or the like by touching the floor, a cradle is prepared and the print unit is placed on the pedestal. Is put.

Therefore, it is possible to easily rotate the cartridge when it is mounted, and to remove the pedestal when the print unit is detached from the main body of the apparatus for maintenance.
What is desired is a method that can support a print unit without damaging it.

[0009]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 13 illustrates an internal side view of a laser printer to which the present invention is applied. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a hopper in which printing papers (hereinafter referred to as papers) 2a are stacked and accommodated and provided with a feeding roller 3, 4 is a conveying path, 5 is a printer unit, 6 is a stacker, and 7a is a main body of the apparatus.

The printer unit 5 includes a charger 51a and an optical unit 52 arranged around a photosensitive drum 50a which is an image forming body.
a, a developing device 53a, a transfer device 54, a cleaner 55, a fixing device 56, and the like.

As shown by the two-dot chain line in the figure, the photosensitive drum 50a, the charging device 51a, the developing device 53a and the cleaner 55 are
The print unit 10a is housed and integrated in the unit housing 12a, and is located at approximately the center of the apparatus.
By opening a cover (not shown) on the upper surface of 7a, the print unit 10a can be attached and detached as described later.

The developing device 53a includes a cartridge 9a and an agitator 53.
0, a reset roller 531, a developing roller 532, and a blade 533. The cartridge 9a is shown in FIG.
As shown in (a) and (b), a sealing member 92a made of sponge rubber is attached to the outer periphery of the outlet 91a of the bottle 90a, which is composed of a bottle 90a containing the toner 8a and an outer cover 93a. An outer cover 93a having a window portion 94a on its outer side is in close contact with and covers the bottle portion 90a.

The outer cover 93a is rotatably attached to a support shaft 95 on the side surface of the bottle 90a, and rotates along the outlet 91a while being in close contact with the seal member 92a. In this state, the window portion 94a is displaced from the outflow port 91a at a position where it does not communicate with the outflow port 91a, that is, the position of the seal member 92a or the outflow port.
It is further away from 91a. (This is the case when the cartridge 9a is transported and stored independently.) Further, the mounting portion of the developing device 53a is provided outside the outer cover 93a.
A protrusion (not shown) that engages with a groove (not shown) of 534 is provided, and the protrusion is formed to be inserted into the groove when the cartridge 9a is mounted in the mounting portion 534.

Therefore, when it is detachably attached to the developing device 53a and is attached obliquely in the direction of arrow B at the time of attachment as shown in FIG. 13, the protrusion is inserted into the groove and the outer cover 93a is fixed to the attachment portion 534. Only the bottle portion 90a can rotate in the vertical direction about the support shaft 95. By the rotation of the bottle portion 90a, the outflow port 91a communicates with the window portion 94a of the outer cover 93a, and the toner 8a in the bottle portion 90a falls to the position of the stirrer 530 and is supplied.

The toner 8a supplied from the cartridge 9a is agitated by an agitator 530, supplied to a developing roller 532 by a reset roller 531 and regulated by a blade 533 into a toner layer having a constant thickness, and then conveyed to the surface of the photosensitive drum 50a. Used for development.

The developing method uses a one-component developer composed of toner only (one-component developing method),
There is a method of using a two-component developer in which a toner and a carrier are mixed (two-component developing method).

The toner is a powder obtained by mixing carbon, dye, wax and the like with a resin material as a base material, and the carrier is a magnetic material, for example, a fine iron powder mainly coated with a resin material. In either case, it is the toner that is used for development. Here, the case of a one-component developer will be described.

Because of this structure, the charger 51a
The surface of the photosensitive drum 50a is charged by the
Laser scanning light obtained by optically modulating print information from a is applied to the photosensitive drum 50a, and the electric charge is reduced only at the applied location to form an electrostatic latent image.

The electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 50a is developed with the toner 8a by the developing device 53a. On the other hand, the paper 2 is delivered from the hopper 1 by the rotation of the delivery roller 3, and is conveyed in the direction of arrow A in the figure by the feed rollers R1 and R2. The toner image on the photosensitive drum 50a is attracted to the sheet 2 and transferred by the transfer unit 54. The toner image transferred to the paper 2 is a fixing device.
At 57, for example, heat / pressure fixing and discharge rollers R3, R4
Is discharged to the stacker 6.

After the transfer, the toner 8a remaining on the photosensitive drum 50a is cleaned by the cleaner 55 to prepare for the next printing operation. Eventually, the cartridge 8a is consumed by the repeated printing and the toner 8a is reduced, and when a sensor (not shown) detects toner empty, an alarm lamp or a display is provided to notify the cartridge 9a, and the cartridge 9a is removed from the developing device 53a and replaced with the cartridge 9a.

Further, the print unit 10a is detached from the apparatus main body 7a and repaired due to the life of the photosensitive surface of the photosensitive drum 50a or the like when the number of sheets reaches a certain number due to the treatment when the paper 2a is jammed or when the printing is repeated. Work or replacement of each unit is performed.

When removing the print unit 10a from the apparatus main body 7a, for example, as shown in FIG. 16, a guide rail obliquely provided in the direction indicated by the arrow C from the position surrounded by the chain double-dashed line (not shown) is used. Slide it out. The print unit 10a removed from the apparatus main body 7a is treated on the workbench or the floor.

[0023]

According to the above-mentioned conventional method, when the cartridge is mounted and the bottle portion is rotated, the seal member and the outer cover are in close contact with each other, so that the frictional force is large and the outlet port is large. The operation is difficult because a large force is required to rotate the window and the window to the opposite position.

When the print unit is removed from the apparatus main body for replacing the print unit or repairing the occurrence of a paper jam, the photosensitive drum is exposed or provided with a protective cover, but the print unit does not have a supporting leg. , It is unstable to handle outside the device, and the photosensitive drum is easily scratched.

Therefore, a method of placing the print unit on the pedestal to stabilize the print unit may be used. However, it is necessary to prepare the pedestal, and a method of providing the print unit with fixing legs is also proposed. In the method, the print unit or the device becomes large. There is a problem.

The present invention facilitates the work of mounting the cartridge, and easily protects the image forming body which is easily scratched when the print unit detached from the apparatus main body is placed on the workbench or the floor surface. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus that can be used.

[0027]

FIGS. 1 and 2 are explanatory diagrams of the principle of the present invention. FIG. 1 corresponds to claim 1 and FIG. 2 corresponds to claim 5.

FIG. 1A is a side sectional view showing the structure, and FIG.
In the figure showing the time of rotation, 8 is powder, 91 is an outlet, 94 is a window, 90 is a bottle-shaped storage portion having the outlet 91 for storing the powder 8 or liquid, and 92 is a storage portion 90. A sealing member fixed around the outside of the outflow port 91, and 93 closely adheres to the sealing member 92 to cover the outside of the housing part 90 including the outflow port 91,
It is attached to the side surface of 90 so as to be rotatable in one direction relative to the housing portion 90, and is in a position that does not normally communicate with the outlet 91,
It is an outer cover having a window portion 94 that slides on the surface of the seal member 92 at the time of rotation and faces the outflow port 91 and communicates therewith.

A cartridge for discharging the powder 8 or the liquid contained in the container 90 through the communication of the outlet 91 and the window 94, and the seal member 92 when the container 90 or the outer cover 93 is rotated. The outer cover 93 and the outer cover 93 are configured to have a reduced adhesive force.

Therefore, when the housing portion 90 or the outer cover 93 is rotated, the adhesion force between the seal member 92 and the outer cover 93 is reduced, so that the friction force is reduced and the force required for the rotation is reduced. , Can be easily rotated.

Claim 2: The powder 8 is a developer for an image forming apparatus. Therefore, the developer can be easily replenished. A third aspect of the present invention is configured such that the center of rotation of the accommodating portion 90 and the outer cover 93 is offset by a predetermined dimension, and the center of rotation is the center of rotation.

Therefore, the gap between the outer cover 93 and the positions of the outflow port 91 and the seal member 92 can be increased as the housing 90 or the outer cover 93 rotates. Claim 4: As for the center of rotation of the outer cover 93, if the rotation angle of the housing portion 90 or the outer cover 93 is Θ and the increase in the distance between the housing portion 90 and the outer cover 93 at the time of rotation is D, the housing portion. When the coordinate of the central axis of 90 is the origin, the coordinate X = D / (2tan
Θ / 2), Y = −D / 2.

Therefore, by setting D and Θ,
Appropriate coordinates X and Y can be obtained. In FIG. 2 (a) configuration diagram and (b) action diagram, 2 is a recording medium,
7 is the main body of the apparatus, 8A is a developer, 12 is a unit housing, 50 is an image forming body, 51 is a charging means for charging the image forming body 50, 52 is an electrostatic charge by irradiating the charged image forming body 50 with light. An exposing means for forming a latent image, 53 is a developing means for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the image forming body 50 with the developer 8A to form a toner image, 10
Is a print unit that is configured to house at least the image forming body 50 in the unit housing 12, and is detachably attached to the apparatus main body 7. Reference numeral 13 is a lower surface of the print unit 10 or is provided inside the lower surface and is attached to the apparatus main body 7.
When the 10 is removed from the device body 7, the print unit
At least one projecting member that projects a predetermined length from the lower surface of 10.

Therefore, the print unit 10 is installed in the main body 7 of the apparatus.
When the maintenance work is performed by removing the printing unit 10 from the above, the projecting member 13 can stably support the print unit 10 on a mounting surface such as a workbench or a floor, so that a member of the print unit 10 which is easily damaged can be protected. . Moreover, unlike the conventional method, it is not necessary to prepare a pedestal, and it is possible to prevent an increase in size of the apparatus due to the provision of the supporting legs on the print unit 10.

Claim 6: The projecting member 13 is formed in a plate shape. Claim 7: The protruding member 13 is provided at the front and rear positions in the longitudinal direction of the print unit 10, and is configured so that the front and rear protruding lengths are different.

Therefore, when the projecting member 13 is plate-shaped and the lower surface of the print unit 10 is not necessarily flat or horizontal due to the difference in length of the front and rear projecting members 13,
The print unit 10 can be supported horizontally. Further, the weight of the print unit 10 can be suspended in the direction in which the protruding state of the protruding member 13 is maintained,
10 support can be stabilized.

Claim 8: The protruding member 13 is composed of a spring and a movable pin embedded in a hole provided in the lower surface of the print unit 10. Claim 9: The holding mechanism for holding the protruding state of the protruding member 13 is provided.

[0038]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments 1 to 5 in which the present invention is applied to the laser printer described in the conventional example will be described below with reference to FIGS.
This will be described below. The same reference numerals indicate the same objects throughout the drawings.

1) Example 1 Example 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 is a side sectional view showing the configuration of the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of the first embodiment, and FIG. 5 is a side sectional view showing the rotation of the first embodiment after mounting.

As shown in FIG. 3, in the cartridge 9b, the outer cover 93b has a support shaft 95 on the side surface of the bottle portion 90b.
It is rotatably attached to a. Position of spindle 95a,
That is, the center of rotation of the outer cover 93b is displaced from the position of the support shaft 95 described in FIG. 15 of the conventional example by the distance described below.

As shown in FIG. 4, a conventional cartridge
The position of the rotation center described in 9a (that is, the bottle part here)
The center axis of 90b) is set to the origin 0 on the cartridge 9b, and the bottle portion 90b is rotated by an angle θ to set the outlet 91a and the window portion.
Assuming that the increase amount of the distance between the outlet 91a and the window portion 94a at the position where the 94a faces each other is d (that is, the lift amount of the bottle portion 90b), the shift amount is x = d at coordinates (x, y). / [2t
an (θ / 2)], and the position of y = −d / 2 is the center of rotation.

Here, the increase amount d is desired to be a force required to rotate the bottle portion 90b while ensuring the sealing function even if the adhesive force between the seal member 92a and the outer cover 93b is decreased by an increase of d. Set to decrease to a certain degree.

With such a configuration, as shown in FIG. 5, the cartridge 9b is mounted on the mounting portion 534 (similar to the mounting of the cartridge 9a described in FIG. 13), and the bottle portion 90b is rotated by the angle θ. When it is rotated, due to the displacement of the center of rotation, the periphery of the outlet 91a of the bottle 90b and the outer cover 93 are covered.
The distance b is increased by the increase amount d, the contact pressure between the seal member 92a and the outer cover 93b is reduced, and the frictional force is reduced.
Therefore, it is possible to easily rotate the outer cover 93b with a weak force as compared with the conventional method.

2) Second Embodiment A second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram showing a second embodiment, and FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the second embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 6 (a), the print unit
Support plates (protruding members) 13a and 13b are provided in the width direction at front and rear facing positions on the lower surface of 10b. The support plates 13a and 13b are
One end is rotatably attached to a support shaft 130 on the lower surface of the print unit 10b from the lower surface of the print unit 10b to the opposite side in a facing direction up to a predetermined angle (a position slightly opened from the vertical position).

The print unit 10b includes support plates 13a, 13a.
Stop the stoppers 120a, 1 so that b opens to the specified angle and stops.
20b is formed, and the frame side of the apparatus main body (not shown) is formed in a shape corresponding to this.

As shown in (b), a spring 131 is wound around a support shaft 130 provided on the support plate 13a (13b), and the end of the spring 131 is attached to the lower surface of the print unit 10b and the support plate.
13a (13b) and support plate by spring 131 spring
13a (13b) is urged to rotate in the vertical direction.

When the print unit 10b is attached to the apparatus main body (not shown), the supporting plates 13a and 13b are pressed against the frame surface of the apparatus main body by the weight of the print unit 10b and resist the elasticity of the spring 131 to (a). As shown, it is located along the lower surface of the print unit 10b.

Due to this structure, when the print unit 10b is removed from the main body of the apparatus, it automatically
As shown in FIG. 5, the support plates 13a and 13b are released from the pressing force and opened to a predetermined angle by the elastic force of the spring 131, and stop at the positions of the stoppers 120a and 120b, respectively.

Therefore, if the print unit 10b is placed on a mounting surface such as a workbench or a floor, the print unit 10b can be supported by the support plates 13a and 13b through a space,
The fear of damaging the photosensitive drum 50a and the like can be reduced.

In this case, since the support plates 13a and 13b are opened from both sides from the inside, and further, they are at positions slightly opened from the vertical position, respectively, the support plates 13a and 13b are tilted and the print unit 10 is collapsed.
It can be prevented that b cannot be supported, and stable support can be achieved.

When the print unit 10b is mounted on the main body of the apparatus, the support plate 13a is automatically tilted because the print unit 10b is slid from the oblique direction, and the support plate 13b may be mounted while pushing it on the lower surface of the print unit 10b. .

3) Third Embodiment A third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9. FIG. 8 is a perspective view, and FIG. 9 is an explanatory view showing a main part. The third embodiment differs from the second embodiment in that the support plate is replaced by a protruding pin.

That is, as shown in FIG. 8, when the print unit 10c is removed from the main body of the apparatus, the projecting pins 13A to 13D embedded in the lower surface of the print unit 10c are projected by the elastic force of the coil spring which becomes clear next. It is configured.

As shown in FIG. 9, the print unit 10c
A circular hole 15A (~ 15D) having grooves 14a, 14b is provided on the lower surface of the groove, and the groove 14A is formed on the outer periphery of the intermediate position of the protruding pin 13A (~ 13D).
Projections 132a, 132b (protruding pin 13
When A (~ 13D) protrudes, the end is printed unit 10c.
Is slightly exposed from the lower surface of the above), and the projecting pin 13A (to 13D) and the coil spring 131 are inserted into the hole 15A (to 15D). The protruding pin 13A (to 13D) is the coil spring 13
It is connected to 1 and is projected and stopped by a predetermined length by a coil spring 131.

Then, when the projecting pin 13A (to 13D) is rotated by approximately 90 degrees, the projecting portions 132a and 132b become holes 15A (to 15D).
The protruding state is retained by engaging the edge of the print unit.
Even if an external force such as gravity of 10c is applied, the protruding pin 13A (to 13D) does not return to the hole 15A (to 15D).

With such a structure, when the print unit 10c is removed from the main body of the apparatus, the projecting pins 13A to 13D automatically project, and each of them becomes a supporting leg by rotating by 90 degrees, and the projecting pins 13A to 13D cause a space. The print unit 10c can be supported via
The fear of damaging the photosensitive drum 50a and the like can be reduced.

When the print unit 10c is mounted on the apparatus main body, the projecting pins 13A to 13D are rotated by rotating the projecting pins 13A to 13D in opposite directions by 90 degrees, and then the print unit 10c is slid from the slanting direction. The front end of the paper comes into contact with the frame of the apparatus body and is automatically pushed into the hole 15 to fit therein, and the print unit 10c is mounted.

4) Fourth Embodiment A fourth embodiment is shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. In the fourth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, a support plate is provided only in front of the print unit 10d.

As shown in FIG. 10, the print unit 10
A support plate 13c is provided in front of d, and a support member 16 is fixed to the rear. The support plate 13c is configured similarly to the support plates 13a and 13b described in the third embodiment, and the support members 16 are provided near both ends in the width direction of the print unit 10d, and are provided on the frame of the apparatus main body (not shown). It corresponds to the position of the relief part.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 11, when the print unit 10d is removed from the main body of the apparatus, the supporting plate 13c protrudes to the lower surface, and when placed on a mounting surface such as a workbench or a floor, the supporting plate 13c and the supporting member 16 are removed. The print unit 10d can be supported by.

5) Fifth Embodiment FIG. 12 shows a fifth embodiment. As shown in the figure, the support plate 13d
In the width direction of the print unit 10e
It is provided so as to open from the lower surface of 10e in a substantially vertical direction indicated by a chain double-dashed line.

The single support plate 13d is provided at a position where the photosensitive drum 50a and the like of the print unit 10e, which are easily scratched, can be supported away from the workbench or the floor. The support plates 13b are the support plates 13a and 13b described in the third embodiment.
Is configured similarly to. Therefore, Examples 2 to 4
The same effect can be obtained.

As described above, in the second to fifth embodiments, when the print units 10b to 10e are removed from the apparatus main body, the print plates 10b to 10e are supported by the supporting plates 13a to 13d or the projecting pins 13A to 13D which project to the lower surface.
Since the easily scratched portion can be supported away from the workbench or the floor surface, damage to the photosensitive drum 50a and the like can be prevented. Further, unlike the conventional method, it is not necessary to prepare a pedestal, and it is possible to prevent an increase in size of the apparatus due to the provision of the supporting legs on the print unit.

In the first embodiment, the case of the cartridge containing the toner 8a has been described, but the same can be applied to the case of the cartridge containing another powder or liquid.

[0066]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the container or the outer cover is rotated in order to make the outlet and the window communicate with each other and let out the powder or liquid,
Since the distance between the position of the outflow port and the seal member and the distance between the outer cover is large, the frictional force is reduced and the force required for the rotation is small, and the rotation can be performed easily. Further, in the case of the cartridge containing the developer used in the image forming apparatus, it is possible to easily replace the cartridge when the developer is used up.

When the print unit is detached from the main body of the apparatus for maintenance work, the projecting member can stably support the print unit on the workbench or the floor surface, so that the member easily damaged in the print unit can be protected. it can. Moreover, unlike the conventional method, it is not necessary to prepare a pedestal, and it is possible to prevent an increase in size of the apparatus due to the provision of the support legs on the print unit, and it is possible to meet the demand for size reduction. This has the effect.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of the principle corresponding to claim 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view for explaining the principle corresponding to claim 5 of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view showing the configuration of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a side sectional view showing rotation after mounting of the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a main part of the third embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a side view showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is an internal side view of a laser printer to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 14 is a configuration diagram showing a cartridge of a conventional example.

FIG. 15 is a side sectional view showing the rotation after mounting the cartridge of the conventional example.

FIG. 16 is a side view showing attachment / detachment of a conventional print unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 is a recording medium, 2a is paper,
7, 7a is the main body of the apparatus, 8 is powder, 8A is developer, 8a is toner, 9, 9a and 9b are cartridges, 10, 10a to 10e are print units, 12 and 12a are unit housings, 13 is a projecting member, 13a. 13a to 13d are support plates, 13a to 13d are projecting pins, 50 is an image forming body,
50a is a photosensitive drum, 51 is a charging unit, 51a is a charging unit, 52 is an exposing unit, 52a is an optical unit, 53 is a developing unit, 53a is a developing unit, 90 is an accommodating section, 90a and 90b are bottle sections, 91 and 91a.
Is an outlet, 92, 92a is a sealing member, 93, 93a, 93b are outer covers, 94, 94a are windows.

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A bottle-shaped accommodating portion for accommodating powder or liquid and having an outlet, a seal member fixed to the outer periphery of the outlet of the accommodating portion, and an outlet in close contact with the seal member. It covers the outside of the storage part and is attached to the side surface of the storage part so as to be rotatable in one direction relative to the storage part.In the normal state, it is not in communication with the outlet, and slides on the surface of the seal member when rotating. A cartridge for discharging the powder or liquid contained in the containing portion by the communication of the outlet and the window portion, the cartridge being composed of an external cover having a window portion communicating with the containing portion or the external cover. A cartridge characterized in that, when rotated, a contact force between a seal member and an outer cover is reduced. 2. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the powder is a developer for an image forming apparatus. 3. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a position where the central axes of the accommodating portion and the outer cover are offset from each other by a predetermined dimension is a rotation center. 4. The center of rotation of the outer cover is the center of the housing, where Θ is the rotation angle of the housing or the outer cover and D is the amount of increase in the distance between the housing and the outer cover during rotation. When the coordinate of the axis is the origin, the coordinate X = D / [2ta
n (Θ / 2)], Y = -D / 2. 4. The cartridge according to claim 3, wherein 5. A charging means for charging the image forming body, an exposing means for irradiating the charged image forming body with light to form an electrostatic latent image, and an electrostatic latent image formed on the image forming body. An image forming apparatus for transferring a toner image formed on an image forming body onto a recording medium, the image forming apparatus comprising: a developing unit that develops with a developer (8A) to form a toner image. A print unit that is housed in a housing and is detachably attached to the main body of the apparatus is configured, and when the print unit attached to the main body of the apparatus is removed from the bottom of the print unit by a predetermined length from the bottom of the print unit. An image forming apparatus comprising at least one projecting member projecting. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the protruding member is formed in a plate shape. 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the projecting members are provided at front and rear positions in the longitudinal direction of the print unit, and have different front and rear projecting lengths. 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the projecting member is embedded in a hole provided in the lower surface of the print unit and is composed of a spring and a movable pin. 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a holding mechanism that holds the protruding state of the protruding member.