JPH09288425A - Automatic toner seal opening device, process cartridge and electrophotographic image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate the low-torque take-up action of an automatic toner seal opening device and, the boat-like heat seal of a toner frame body. SOLUTION: By coupling a toner seal 21 to a hand-drum shaped take-up shaft 20, the width end part of the seal 21 coupled to the large-diameter part 20a of the shaft 20 is peeled preceding to the width central part thereof coupled to the small-diameter part 20b of the shaft 20 at a take-up start time or at a take-up finish time. That means, since the seal 21 is peeled from the corner part thereof, the boat-like heat seal is eliminated from the toner frame body. Besides, the take-up torque is lowered to be equal to or more than a conventional case.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

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

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

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

[0004]

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

The present invention provides a toner seal automatic opening device and a process cartridge capable of shortening the length of the toner frame in the longitudinal direction, and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus to which the process cartridge is detachably mounted. With the goal.

[0006]

Means for Solving the Problems A first invention of the present invention is:
Electrophotographic image formation having a toner frame that contains a developer and has an opening, a toner seal that seals the opening of the toner frame, and a developing frame that supports the developing member and is joined to the toner frame An automatic toner seal unsealing device comprising a toner seal winding shaft for opening the toner seal of the developing means in the device, wherein the winding shaft of the toner seal has a drum shape. is there.

A second aspect of the present invention is an electrophotographic photosensitive member in a process cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus main body, and a developing means for developing a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member. The developing means includes a toner frame that contains a developer and has an opening, a toner seal that seals the opening of the toner frame, and a developing unit that supports the developing frame and is joined to the toner frame. A process cartridge including a frame body and a toner seal automatic opening device including a toner seal winding shaft, wherein the winding shaft of the toner seal has an hourglass shape.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the process cartridge includes a charging unit and a cleaning unit,
The developing device 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.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the process cartridge comprises at least one of a charging means, a cleaning means, a developing means and an electrophotographic photosensitive member, which are integrated into a cartridge, and the cartridge is incorporated in the main body of the image forming apparatus. The process cartridge according to the second aspect of the present invention is detachable from the process cartridge.

A fifth aspect of the present invention is an image forming apparatus for detachably attaching a process cartridge to form an image on a recording medium, comprising: a, an electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a developing means. Is a toner frame that contains a developer and has an opening, a toner seal that seals the opening of the toner frame, a developing frame that supports the developing frame and is joined to the toner frame, and a toner seal winding. A toner seal automatic opening device having a take-up shaft, and a mounting means for detachably mounting a process cartridge having a drum-shaped take-up shaft of the toner seal, b, for carrying the recording medium And a transporting means for the electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

[0011]

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

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

In a process cartridge equipped with such a toner seal automatic opening device, in order to reduce the winding torque as much as possible at the initial stage and the final stage of winding the toner seal, the winding shaft is made cylindrical and the toner seal is sealed. When heat-sealing to the frame, the shape of the heat-sealing portion is symmetrically inclined from the center of the toner seal called a boat shape to the left and right so as not to be orthogonal to the winding direction of the toner seal.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings.

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

(First Embodiment) A process cartridge according to a first embodiment of the present invention and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus (hereinafter referred to as an image forming apparatus) using the process cartridge will be described with reference to the drawings.

{Overall Description of Process Cartridge and Image Forming Apparatus Equipped with It} First, the overall configuration of the image forming apparatus will be described. 6. FIG. 6 is a sectional configuration explanatory view of a laser printer having a process cartridge mounted therein, which is one mode of the image forming apparatus, and FIG. 7 is a sectional configuration explanatory view of the process cartridge.

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

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

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

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

{Image Forming Apparatus} First, the structure of each part of the image forming apparatus A will be described.

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

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

(Recording Material Conveying Means) Next, the structure of the conveying means 3 for conveying the recording material 2 will be described. The recording material 2 according to the present embodiment can be of two types: a hand and a cassette paper feed. The structure for giving a hand is
As shown in FIG. 6, when the recording material 2 is set in the paper feed tray 3a and image formation is started, the pickup roller 3b
The recording material 2 on the paper feed tray 3a is fed into the apparatus by means of the separating roller pair 3c1 and 3c2, and the recording material 2 is separately fed one by one so that the leading end of the recording material 2 abuts on the registration roller pair 3d1 and 3d2. Transport. Then, the pair of registration rollers 3d1 and 3d2 are driven and rotated according to the image forming operation to convey the recording material 2 to the image forming portion. Further, the recording material 2 after the image formation is conveyed to the fixing means 5, and the intermediate discharge roller 3e and the discharge roller pair 3f are provided.
It is configured to discharge to the discharge unit 6 by 1, 3f2. A guide member 3g for guiding the conveyance of the recording material 2 is provided between the rollers.

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

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6, the cassette feeding structure is such that the cassette 3h is provided on the inner bottom of the apparatus main body 15.
When the recording material 2 is not fed by hand, the recording material 2 in the cassette 3h loaded in the loading portion is picked up one by one from the top by the pickup roller 3i and the feeding roller 3j. It is configured to feed to the pair 3d1 and 3d2. And registration roller pair 3
After d1 and 3d2, the same members as in the case of the above-mentioned hand are used for conveyance.

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

(Fixing Means) Next, the fixing means 5 is for fixing the toner image transferred to the recording material 2 by the voltage application of the transfer means 4, and as shown in FIG. And a fixing roller 15b which internally has a heat generating member and is driven to rotate by being pressed against the driving roller 5a.
Consists of That is, when the recording material 2 to which the toner image has been transferred in the image forming section is passed between the driving roller 5a and the fixing roller 5b, pressure is applied by pressing both rollers 5a and 5b, and the fixing roller 5b is pressed. The heat is applied to generate heat. As a result, the toner transferred to the recording material 2 is fixed.

(Process Cartridge Mounting Means) When the opening / closing member 16 is opened, the cartridge mounting means is set as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, a cartridge mounting space is provided, and cartridge mounting guide portions 35 are provided on the left and right inner side surfaces of the image forming apparatus main body 15. The left and right guide portions 35
A first guide rail 35a and a second guide rail 35b for inserting the process cartridge B are provided to face each other. On the other hand, on both outer side surfaces of the process cartridge B, projecting outward from the rotation center position of the photosensitive drum 7,
A columnar protrusion 35c having substantially the same radius as the groove 35a1 provided at the end of the first guide rail 35a is provided, and a guide protrusion 35d is provided continuously to the columnar protrusion 35c. Further, an engaging portion 35e is provided on the lower front side in the insertion direction of the process cartridge B.

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

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

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

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

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

The photosensitive drum 7 according to the 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 a drum shaft 7a fixed to the cleaning frame 14, and a driving force of a drive motor (not shown) is applied to a drum gear 7b (see FIG. 4) fixed to one end of the photosensitive drum 7 in the longitudinal direction. By transmitting from a drive gear 30 provided in the apparatus main body 15, the photosensitive drum 7 is configured to rotate in the arrow direction of FIG. 6 according to an image forming operation.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

{Structure of Automatic Opening Device for Toner Seal} The above-mentioned toner seal 21 and its surroundings will now be described in detail. 3 and 4 show the opening 1 of the toner frame 12.
2A shows a state in which the toner seal 21 is used to seal 2a. The toner seal 21 has a length that is at least twice as long as the longitudinal dimension of the opening 12a, and a cover film 21a for sealing the opening 12a of the toner frame 12 and a tear tape 21b for tearing the cover film 21a. Made of The cover film 21a is fixed to the peripheral portion 12b of the opening 12a. As shown in FIG. 3, the cover film 21a
The laminated tear tape 21b is heat-sealed to the toner frame 12 together with the cover film 21a by heat-sealing portions 21c and 21d which are long on both sides in the longitudinal direction at right angles to the longitudinal direction. The tear tape 2 is provided on the back side of the cover film 21a opposite to the direction of the arrow Y1 for pulling out the toner seal 21.
1b is folded back, and the tear tape 21b is pulled out from the toner seal outlet 22 and wound around an idler roller 23 of a vertical shaft rotatably supported by the toner frame 12 at a winding angle of about 90 degrees. The end portion is fixed to the drum-shaped winding shaft 20 rotatably supported by the toner frame 12 by adhesion or the like.

As shown in FIG. 3, the winding shaft 20 has a small diameter portion 2 so as to coincide with the widthwise center of the tear tape 21b.
0b. The axial length of the thin portion 20b is smaller than the width of the tear tape 21b. The thin portion 20b may have an axial length of zero. There is provided a thick portion 20a whose diameter gradually increases toward both sides from the thin portion 20b. This thick part 20
a extends beyond the width of the tear tape 21b.

In FIG. 3, the narrow portion 20b has a cylindrical shape,
The thick portion 20a has a conical shape. This drum type winding shaft 2
The shape of the generatrix 0 is not limited to the above, but may be any shape as long as it gradually expands from the narrow portion 20b toward both sides, and for example, the generatrix may be a hyperbolic surface of revolution.

The drum-shaped winding shaft 20 is the developing sleeve 10.
The winding sleeve gear 10f fixed to the side opposite to the developing sleeve gear 10e of a is connected to the gear train G. The gear train G is, as shown in FIG. 4, a take-up sleeve gear 10f fixed to the developing sleeve 10a, and an idler gear 24 rotatably supported by a gear housing cover 31 (see FIG. 2) fixed to the toner frame 12. 25, 26, 27,
Bevel gear 28 integrated with idler gear 27, drum-shaped winding shaft 2
The bevel gears 29 fixed to 0 mesh in this order.

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

As shown in FIG. 1, the idler roller 23 and the drum-shaped winding shaft 20 described above are rotatably supported at their lower ends by a gear housing 12e integral with the toner frame 12 and fixed at their upper ends by the gear housing 12e. It is rotatably supported by the cover bracket 12f. However, the upper end of the winding shaft 20 has a bevel gear 2 press-fitted into the hourglass-shaped winding shaft 20.
The boss 9 is rotatably fitted to the cover bracket 12f.

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

Driving source for the image forming apparatus main body 15 (not shown)
The rotational force transmitted from the drum gear 7b to the developing gear 10e → the developing sleeve 10a → the winding sleeve gear 1
0f → transmitted to the drum-shaped winding shaft 20 via the gear train G,
When the winding shaft 20 starts to rotate in the direction of the arrow Y in FIG. 1, the toner seal 21 is wound around the drum-shaped winding shaft 20 and the toner seal 21 is peeled off from the toner frame 12 from the back side in the longitudinal direction. However, considering the force received by the heat seal portion 21c with the toner frame 12 on the far side in the longitudinal direction of the tear tape 21b, the winding shaft 20 has an hourglass shape as shown in FIG. The amount by which the tear tape 21b is pulled with respect to the rotation amount of the winding shaft 20 depends on the hourglass winding shaft 2
The end portion in the width direction of the tear tape 21b joined to the thick portion 20a of 0 is larger than the central portion of the width of the tear tape 21b joined to the thin portion 20b, and is peeled off first. That is, the tear tape 21b is peeled off first from the corners of the heat seal portion 21c (FIG. 5).
(B)). Therefore, the force required for winding is proportional to the length of the heat-sealed portion that has been peeled off, so that the toner seal can be peeled off with a lower force than when a cylindrical winding shaft is used.

Next, as winding progresses, the end of the tear tape 20b in the width direction is peeled off before the center of the width (FIG. 5 (c)).
The tear tape 20b is gradually peeled from the end portion to the central portion of the heat seal portion 21b along the rectangular opening 12a (FIG. 5 (d)). That is, since the corners of the heat-sealed portion 21b are peeled off first, as in the initial stage, the force required for winding can be peeled off with a lower force than when a cylindrical winding shaft is used. .

Further, by this method, the rectangular opening 12a is formed.
Even with the heat seal 21b along the line, it is possible to wind the seal with a low peeling force, whereby the conventional boat-shaped heat seal is not required, and the longitudinal dimension of the toner frame 12 can be reduced.

Further, the heat seal 21 and the toner frame 12
Since there is no gap between them and the boat-shaped heat seal, toner does not enter the gap and firmly adhere to the seal, and toner leakage does not occur when the seal is pulled out.

[0056]

As described above, according to the first invention of the present invention, the toner seal is automatically heat-sealed along the rectangular opening by using the automatic toner seal opening device having the drum-shaped winding shaft. Even when the toner seal can be wound with a low peeling force and the boat-shaped heat seal is not required, the longitudinal dimension of the toner container can be reduced, and further, the heat seal portion is provided between the toner seal and the toner frame. Since there is no gap specific to the boat-shaped heat seal, it is possible to provide an automatic toner seal opening device that prevents toner leakage when the toner seal is pulled out.

A second aspect of the present invention is a process cartridge which can be attached to and detached from an image forming apparatus main body, and an electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a developing means for developing a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member. The developing means includes a toner frame that contains a developer and has an opening, a toner seal that seals the opening of the toner frame, and a developing device that supports the developing frame and is joined to the toner frame. Since the toner seal automatic unsealing device including the frame body and the toner seal winding shaft is provided, and the winding shaft of the toner seal has an hourglass shape, the size of the process cartridge in the longitudinal direction can be reduced. Also,
Since there is no gap between the toner seal and the toner frame in the heat seal portion, there is no risk of toner leakage.

A third aspect of the present invention is a process in which the charging means, the cleaning means, the developing means, and the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally formed into a cartridge, and the cartridge can be attached to and detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus. A cartridge, and a fourth aspect of the present invention is a process cartridge in which at least one of a charging unit, a cleaning unit, a developing unit, and an electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally made into a cartridge, and the cartridge can be attached to and detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus. To obtain a suitable effect.

A fifth aspect of the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium in which a process cartridge is detachably attached, a. The developing device includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member and a developing unit, and the developing unit includes a toner frame that stores a developer and has an opening, a toner seal that seals the opening of the toner frame, and a developing frame. Equipped with a developing frame body that is supported and joined to the toner frame body, and a toner seal automatic opening device that has a toner seal winding shaft, and the process cartridge in which the winding shaft of the toner seal has a drum shape can be removed. Mounting means for mounting, b. The size of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus can be reduced by including a conveying unit for conveying the recording medium.

[Brief description of drawings]

 Each of the drawings shows an embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 1 is a side view of a toner frame.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG.

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

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

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

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a process cartridge.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a mounting portion of a process cartridge of the image forming apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

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

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A toner frame body containing a developer and having an opening, a toner seal for sealing the opening of the toner frame body, a developing frame body supporting a developing member and joined to the toner frame body,
In a toner seal automatic unsealing device having a toner seal winding shaft for opening the toner seal of the developing means in the electrophotographic image forming apparatus having the above, the winding shaft of the toner seal has a drum shape. Toner seal automatic opening device. 2. A process cartridge attachable to and detachable from a main body of an image forming apparatus, comprising: an electrophotographic photosensitive member; and a developing unit for developing a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member. Is a toner frame that contains the developer and has an opening, and a toner seal that seals the opening of the toner frame.
A developing frame body supporting the developing frame body and joined to the toner frame body;
A process cartridge, comprising: a toner seal automatic unsealing device having a toner seal winding shaft; and a toner seal winding shaft having an hourglass shape. 3. The process cartridge comprises a charging means, a cleaning means, a developing means and an electrophotographic photosensitive member integrally formed as a cartridge, and the cartridge can be attached to and detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus. Two
The process cartridge according to 1. 4. The process cartridge comprises at least one of a charging means, a cleaning means, a developing means and an electrophotographic photosensitive member integrally formed as a cartridge, and the cartridge can be attached to and detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus. 2. The process cartridge according to 2. 5. An image forming apparatus, wherein a process cartridge is attachable / detachable and forms an image on a recording medium, comprising: a, an electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a developing means, wherein the developing means contains a developer. A toner frame having an opening, and a toner seal for sealing the opening of the toner frame,
A developing frame body supporting the developing frame body and joined to the toner frame body;
A toner seal automatic opening device having a toner seal winding shaft, and a mounting means for detachably mounting a process cartridge having a drum seal winding shaft, and b. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprising: a transport unit for transporting.