JPS63249870A - Unsealing method and developer containing vessel used for method concerned and unsealing auxiliary member - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate unsealing and a removal of a seal without contaminating a hand and clothes, by using a seal unsealing auxiliary member having a space for containing after unsealing, at the time of unsealing of a seal member of a developer cartridge, and also, executing the unsealing itself by suing an unsealing member. CONSTITUTION:From a developer containing vessel 2, only an unsealing auxiliary member 12 is drawn out to this side, and before the engagement of both of them is detached, its drawing-out operation is stopped, and only a housing 8 is installed to an image forming device body. Also, when an unsealing member 13 is drawn out to this side, a left frame part 39 allows force in the right direction to work on a free part 11, while coming into contact in a form of extending and racking the free part 11 of a seal member 10, and the seal member 10 for sealing up tightly an opening 6 is peeled off gradually from the inner part of the vessel 2. In such a way, a developer which has been contained in a developer storage space 4 is thrown into a developing device, and the seal member 10 is contained as it is in an internal space 15 of the auxiliary member 12. In such a way, a hand and clothes are not contaminated.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a method for opening a seal member and members used in the method, and more specifically, to a powder developing device used in an image forming apparatus. The present invention relates to an improvement in the handling of a sealing member provided in a storage container for replenishing powder developer as a consumable item.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, in image forming apparatuses employing electrostatic photography such as copying machines and laser printers, an easily replaceable cartridge format has been widely adopted as a method of supplying new developer to the developing section. There is.

Specifically, the developer is stored in a box-shaped container having an elongated opening, and this opening is sealed with a sealing member to form a developer cartridge. Then, this cartridge is installed in the developing section of the image forming apparatus, and after installation, the sealing member is peeled off to replenish new developer into the developing device of the main body.

Alternatively, a process cartridge is constructed by incorporating a developing section and a cleaning section around a photosensitive drum, which forms an electrostatic latent image, into an integrated housing. Then, this process cartridge is installed in the main body of the image forming apparatus, and after installation, the sealing member that partitions the developer storage space provided in the viewing section and the developing device is peeled off as in the above example, and the process cartridge is used. There is a format that can be used as a state.

In such a cartridge type, the developer is stored in the developer storage space until just before use, and there is no problem of blocking due to the influence of moist air during storage.

Furthermore, since the developer is not introduced into the developing device outside the image forming apparatus, there is no fear that the developer will be scattered into the room during the introduction.

For these reasons, such cartridge formats are widely accepted by users.

(Technical Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, in the case of a cartridge type using such a sealing member, a new problem arises.

That is, since the opening of the toner storage container is sealed by the sealing member, developer always adheres to a specific portion corresponding to the opening of the sealing member.

Therefore, when the sealing member is opened, there is a high risk that the hands of the user or service personnel who are opening the sealing member will be soiled by the developer adhering to the sealing member. Alternatively, since the sealing member is adhesively sized to match the opening of the storage container, there is a greater possibility that the sealing member will sag and stain clothes after being peeled off.

Accordingly, the main object of the present invention is to provide an improved method for handling the sealing member, which is free from the risk of staining hands and clothes even when the sealing member is employed in the developer storage section.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a developer cartridge that can be effectively used in the handling described above, and an auxiliary member for opening the seal member.

(Structure of the Invention) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a method for unsealing a developer storage container having a developer storage section and an opening of the storage section sealed with a sealing member. A seal-opening auxiliary member is connected and arranged in the drug storage container, and a positional relationship is established in which an operating portion of the seal-opening member, which is movably provided in the internal space of the connected and arranged opening auxiliary member, acts to peel off the seal member. An unsealing method is adopted in which the sealing member is unsealed as the unsealing member moves, and the sealing member is stored in the internal space of the unsealing auxiliary member at the time of unsealing.

Furthermore, the present invention provides a developer storage section for carrying out the above-mentioned unsealing method, a sealing member that seals the opening of the storage section, and a seal opening auxiliary member having a space for storing the sealing member when the sealing member is opened. The seal opening auxiliary member is movably connected to the developer storage section with respect to the opening of the storage section, and an opening for opening the seal member is provided in the space of the seal opening auxiliary member. A developer storage container characterized in that the member is provided to be movable in the same direction as the moving direction of the unsealing auxiliary member, a developer storage section, and a sealing member that seals the opening of the storage section. A seal opening auxiliary member for opening the seal member of the agent storage container, the seal opening auxiliary member comprising: a developing section or a connecting section with an image forming apparatus housing equipped with the developing section; Seal storage space and
An engaging portion that is movably provided in the seal storage space and that partially engages with one end of the sealing member, or a portion thereof is stretched over the sealing portion of the sealing member connected to the opening assisting member. Each member called a seal opening auxiliary member having a tension portion is used.

(Function of the Invention) According to the present invention, a seal opening auxiliary member having a space for storing the seal member that seals the opening of the developer cartridge is used when the seal member seals the opening of the developer cartridge, and the seal opening itself is also performed using the opening member. Since it can be done using a stylus, opening and sealing can be easily done without staining hands or clothes.

(Example) The method of the present invention and the members used in the method will be described below with reference to the drawings.

An example in which a sealing member and opening assisting member is incorporated into a developer storage container will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. [Developer storage container and sealing member opening assisting member] A cross-sectional structure of the storage container is shown. Referring to FIG. 1-A, a developer storage container, generally designated 2, has a developer storage space 4 for storing upper developer. The developer storage space 4 is formed into a box shape with a housing 8 leaving an opening 6 at the bottom.

The opening 6 is sealed with adhesive from its end using a sealing member 10 which is longer than the length of the opening 6 in the longitudinal direction, and the remaining portion of the opening 6 which is not sealed forms a band-shaped free portion 11.

In the lower part of the developer storage container 2, a seal opening assisting member 12 for opening the seal member IO and storing the seal member 10 is provided separately from the housing 8 and movable with respect to the housing 8. is connected to.

As this connection form, for example, a configuration as shown in the sectional view in FIG. 3 can be used. That is, in this example, a protrusion 21 is formed on the side of the opening 6 of the housing 8 of the developer storage container 2 and is provided in parallel along the opening 6 toward the outside of the housing 8 . Further, it is located further above the top plate 18 of the seal opening auxiliary member 12, and a part of the housing 14 is directed inward to form a groove 23. The protrusion 21 is connected to the groove 23 so as to be able to slide freely.

This seal opening assisting member 12 includes a substantially box-shaped housing 14 and a hole 17 provided in a side surface 16 of the housing 14.
(See Fig. 2) Inner space 15 of housing 14
The unsealing member 13 has a substantially mouth-shaped frame structure and is movably provided.

This seal opening auxiliary member 12 includes the seal member 10
The free portion 11 of the housing 14 has an edge 19 of the top plate 18 of the housing 14.
is folded back into the internal space 15, and further into the internal space 1
5 is folded back toward the opening 20 of the internal space 15, and the end 22 of the free portion 11 is connected to the housing 14.
It is adhesively fixed to the inner surface of the bottom plate 24 of.

On the other hand, the sealing member 10 folded and housed as described above has a positional relationship such that when folded back at the center of the internal space 15, it passes through the frame of the opening member 130.

[How to open]

Follow the steps below to open the package.

``First step'' Only the seal opening assisting member 12 is pulled out from the developer storage container 2, and this pulling operation is stopped before the two parts come out of engagement (FIG. 1-B).

At this time, the free portion 11 of the sealing member 10, which had been bent at the center of the internal space 15 of the seal opening auxiliary member 12, is stretched out at a substantially right angle, and the adhesive portion 41 of the sealing member 13 connects to the opening 20 near the adhesive opening 20. Adhesive part 43 with seal opening auxiliary member 12
It will be in a bent state at the position.

While maintaining this state, only the housing 8 in which the developer of the developer storage container 2 is stored is attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus (not shown).

Note that this operation can also be performed by pulling out the seal opening auxiliary member 12 after being attached to the main body, depending on the form of the developing section of the image forming apparatus used.

"Second Step" The opening member 13 is further pulled out from the state of the first step (FIG. 1-C).

At this time, the handle portion 42 provided on the front side of the unsealing member 13
You can pull it out using

By this pulling operation, the left side frame portion 3 of the unsealing member 13 in the figure is removed.
9 is in contact with the free portion 11 of the sealing member 10 in a stretched manner and can apply a force toward the right in the figure to the free portion 11 .

The sealing member 10 seals the opening 6 by this acting force.
is gradually peeled off from the back of the developer storage container 2.

In this way, the developer stored in the developer storage space 4 is thrown into a developing device (not shown).

"Third Step" When the operation of the second step is completed, the sealing member 10 completely opens the opening 6, and the injection of the developer is completed.

This pulled out seal member is accommodated as it is in the internal space 15 of the seal opening assisting member 10 (FIG. 1-D).

By performing the unsealing operation consisting of the first to third steps described above, the developer in the cartridge can be introduced into the developing device without being scattered into the room. Because I don't go out,
The hands and clothes of users and service personnel who perform this opening operation are not soiled.

Note that the frame 39 on the left side in the figure of the unsealing member 13 stretches the sealing member 10, and the applied force at this time causes the sealing member 10 to be peeled off from the opening 6, so the frame member 39 is made of a rigid material. It is desirable to form.

In the example explained above, the case of a replaceable developer cartridge system was explained, but this developer cartridge is applied to a so-called process cartridge in which process means such as a photoreceptor drum, a developing device, and a cleaning device are integrated. Of course, this is also possible.

In this case, it is sufficient to construct a drawer window that allows the seal opening auxiliary member to be pulled out from the front side of the process cartridge or the side where the developing device is located. It is desirable to provide a flexible closing member (sealing member) made of sponge or the like to close the drawer window.

(Other Embodiments) In the above embodiments, an example was shown in which the seal opening assisting member 12 was movably connected to the developer cartridge in advance.

Apart from this example, the seal opening assisting member may be constructed separately and connected to the developer storage portion only when the seal is opened.

An example of this is shown in FIG. 4 and below.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the seal opening assisting member, generally designated by 50, has a box-like housing 51 in the shape of a substantially rectangular parallelepiped.
It consists of The left side in the figure is open and an opening 52 is provided. A connecting portion 56 for connecting to a developer storage container 54 (see FIG. 5-A) mounted on the main body is formed in the upper part of this opening 52.

Further, on the bottom plate 53 of the housing 51 near the opening 52,
A locking portion 60 for locking the free end of the seal member 66 is formed.

In the bottom space 61 of the seal opening assisting member 50,
An unsealing member 64 is provided which is fitted into a hole 62 formed in the right side panel of the housing 51 in the figure and is movable in the internal space 61, with the same configuration as the above-mentioned example.

A procedure for opening a seal using this seal opening assisting member will be explained.

"First Step" The opening 67 of the developer storage container 54 is sealed, and the free end 6 of the sealing member 66 is folded back to the handle 68 of the cartridge.
5 from the handle 68 of the developer storage container 54 (FIG. 5-A).

"Second Step" This free end 65 is passed through the inside of the frame of the opening member 64 of the seal opening assisting member 50. Next, the seal opening assisting member 50
(FIG. 5-B).

In the example shown in the figure, a rod-shaped member 65° is attached to the free end 65, and this locking operation is performed by
This is done by communicating the locking portion 6o, which is a slit at the bottom of the housing 51, with the slit, and inserting it through the hole 6° provided at the side surface.

Alternatively, an opening may be provided in the free end 65 and the opening may be engaged with a protrusion provided at the bottom of the housing 51.

“Third Step” After the free end 65 of the seal member 66 is locked to the housing 51, the seal opening auxiliary member 5o is connected to the connecting portion 56 of the auxiliary member 50 and the handle 68 of the developer storage container 54. (Figure 5-〇).

"Fourth Step" After completing the above connection, the unsealing member 64 is pulled out to the right in the figure.

At this time, the left side frame portion 69 of the unsealing member 64 in the figure acts as an operating portion, and the sealing member 69 slides against the sealing member 66.
6 to apply tension to the right. As a result, the seal member 6
6 will be opened according to the withdrawal operation (
Figure 5-D).

"Fifth Step" When the unsealing member 64 is completely pulled out, the sealing member 66 is completely peeled off from the opening 67 of the developer storage container 54.
It is accommodated in the internal space 61 of the seal opening assisting member 5o (FIG. 5-E).

The second embodiment described above is based on the free end 65 of the seal member.
is locked to the housing of the seal opening auxiliary member 5o,
I opened it.

Apart from this locking method, it is of course also possible to lock the free end 65 directly to the left side frame portion 69 of the unsealing member 64.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, according to the present invention, the developer storage container seal can be peeled off without staining hands or clothes.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a process diagram illustrating a seal opening method using a specific example of the developer storage container of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the specific example shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the specific example shown in FIG. 4, FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a specific example of the seal opening auxiliary member of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is an explanation of a seal opening method using the specific example shown in FIG. FIG. The numerals 1 in the figure mean the following contents. 2... Developer storage container 4... Developer storage space 8... Housing 10... Seal member 12... Seal opening assisting member 13... Opening member 15... Internal space 50. ... Seal opening auxiliary member 56 ... Connection section 60 ... Locking section 64 ... Opening member 69 ... Frame Patent applicant Sanda Kogyo Co., Ltd. Figure 2

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A method for unsealing a sealing member from a developer storage container having a developer storage portion and sealing an opening of the storage portion with a sealing member, wherein the developer storage container has a sealing member. The unsealing auxiliary members are arranged in a connected manner, and the operation part of the unsealing member movably provided in the inner space of the unsealing auxiliary members connected and arranged is arranged in a positional relationship that acts to peel off the sealing member. A method for opening a seal member, characterized in that the seal member is unsealed along with the movement of the seal member, and the seal member is stored in an internal space of the opening auxiliary member at the time of opening. 2. A developer storage section, a sealing member that seals an opening of the storage section, and a seal opening auxiliary member having a space for storing the sealing member when the sealing member is opened; a developer storage part movably connected to the opening of the part, and an opening member for opening the seal member is disposed in the space of the seal opening auxiliary member in the same direction as the moving direction of the opening auxiliary member. A seal for unsealing a sealing member of a developer storage container having a developer storage container 3, a developer storage portion, and a sealing member sealing an opening of the storage portion. An unsealing auxiliary member, the seal unsealing auxiliary member comprising: a developing section or a connecting section with an image forming apparatus housing equipped with the developing section; a seal storage space that accommodates the sealing member upon opening;
An engaging part that is movably provided in the seal storage space and a part of which engages one end of the seal member, or a part thereof, is stretched over the seal part of the seal member connected to the opening assisting member. A seal opening auxiliary member with a tension section.