CN1066271C - Process cartridge and image forming apparatus usable therewith - Google Patents

Abstract

A program processing box detachably mounted on an imaging device has an image generator and an operating device that acts on the image generator, and a first device equipped with the image generator and the operating device frame, and a second frame that houses a developer container and is engageable and detachable from the first frame. And a method of filling a used process cartridge with developer.

Description

Program processing box and associated imaging device

The invention relates to a program processing box and an imaging device detachable from the program processing box. The imaging device can be an electronic camera, an electrostatic recorder (such as a copier) or a laser printer.

Imaging devices (such as copiers) need to be repaired and maintained after a long period of use, including replacing the image generator (photosensitive drum), replacing the developing device or replenishing the developer (color enhancer), and cleaning the discharge metal of the feeding device. Net, replace the cleaning device filled with toner residue, adjust or replace some parts related to the photosensitive drum.

Since repair and maintenance operations require the knowledge and skills of professionals, it is not easy for ordinary users.

In consideration of this situation, the process cartridge is constructed to have the purpose of accommodating a photosensitive drum and devices such as developing means, charging means, cleaning means or the like operating means in the process cartridge. The program processing box as a device is a detachable main part of the imaging device. When maintenance is required in the operating device, the entire program processing box can be taken away and replaced with a new box, which saves Operating time for required maintenance.

The structure of the process cartridge is shown in FIG. 17, which includes a photosensitive drum 10, a cleaning device 13, and a developing device 11 sandwiched between the photosensitive drums 10. Above the developing device 11 is a toner container 110 connected to the developing device 11 , and above the photosensitive drum 10 there is a charging device 12 . The cleaning device 13 serves to remove the residual toner from the cylindrical surface of the photosensitive drum 10 in preparation for the next image forming operation of the photosensitive drum 10 . The cleaning device 13 has a cleaner container 13a for collecting the removed residual toner, a cleaning blade 131 for scraping the residual toner from the cylindrical surface of the photosensitive drum 10, a toner receiving sheet 132, For receiving the toner scraped off by the cleaning blade 131 and feeding it into the container 13a, an agitator (not shown) is used for feeding the toner received by the cleaner container 13a into its interior.

The role of the developing device 11 is to provide toner to the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 10 to make the image appear. The developing device 11 has a developer container 11a; a developing sleeve 112 for supplying toner to the cylindrical surface of the photosensitive drum 10; The toner is filled to form a layer of toner with a constant thickness on the developing sleeve 112 . The wall of the developer container 11a remote from the photosensitive drum 11 is provided with an opening 11c which communicates with an unshown opening of the toner container 110, so that the developer container 11a and the toner container 110 are communicated with each other.

When the toner in the toner container 110 is used up, the process cartridge should be replaced. The service life of a process cartridge is determined by the type of imaging device it is used with. For example, for a high-speed copier, if the number of copies is large in a month, there are many opportunities to replace the process cartridge. Therefore, in order to increase the service life of the process cartridge, it is necessary to increase the capacity of the toner container. On the other hand, for small copiers, there are not many copies in a month. In addition, people want to reduce the weight and volume of the main parts of the imaging device. For this reason, the volume of the toner container is usually reduced to reduce the volume. The volume of the program processing box, so the main accessories of different imaging devices should be equipped with different program processing boxes.

As described above, the main object of the present invention is to provide a process cartridge and an image forming apparatus used in conjunction with the process cartridge. If the process cartridge is produced in a factory, the process cartridge can be is easy to assemble.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a process cartridge and an image forming apparatus compatible with the process cartridge, the image forming apparatus being easy to assemble with the process cartridge.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a process cartridge and an image forming apparatus compatible with the process cartridge, the image forming apparatus being easily disassembled from the process cartridge.

The object of the present invention is also to provide a kind of program processing box and a kind of imaging device that can be used with program processing box, and this imaging device is easy to assemble and disassemble with program processing box, and various parts can be used repeatedly like this, can reduce environmental pollution.

Some other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be clearly shown by the following related embodiments of the present invention and accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a process cartridge of an embodiment of the present invention,

Fig. 2A, 2B, 2C are the sectional views along a-a, b-b, c-c according to Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of an image forming apparatus on which a process cartridge of the present invention is detachably mounted,

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a process cartridge according to another embodiment of the present invention,

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a process cartridge according to a further embodiment of the present invention,

Figure 6A is an upper perspective view,

Fig. 6B is a lower perspective view,

Figure 7 is an illustration of a process cartridge for disassembly,

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of a process cartridge applicable to the present invention,

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the joint when liquid synthetic rubber is injected into the process cartridge frame,

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the treatment box after liquid synthetic rubber is injected into the surface of the toner container,

Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view of liquid synthetic rubber after injection,

Fig. 12 is a sectional view of a process cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention,

Figure 13 is a sectional view of the process cartridge disclosed as upper and lower parts,

Fig. 14 is a perspective view when liquid synthetic rubber is injected into the upper part,

Fig. 15 is a schematic diagram illustrating an injection system for liquid synthetic rubber.

Fig. 16 is a schematic diagram of the injection system of liquid synthetic rubber.

Fig. 17 is a sectional view of a conventional process cartridge.

The drawings and embodiments related to the present invention will be described below.

Figure 3 shows an embodiment of the present invention, which is an image forming apparatus which can be used with a process cartridge. Reference numeral 10 is an image generator, such as a photosensitive drum, and around the photosensitive drum 10, image generating process means, such as a developing means 11, a charging means 12 or a cleaning means 13 are disposed. The photosensitive drum 10 and these image-generating processors constitute one unit within the plastic frames 14a and 14b of the process cartridge, and the process cartridge 14 thus constituted is detachably mounted on the main unit 1 of the image forming apparatus. In this way, repair and maintenance become easy to operate. The housing of the program process cartridge will be described in detail below. The transfer electrode 15 is located under the photosensitive drum 10 when the process cartridge 14 is housed in the main unit. On the paper feeding side of the transfer electrode 15, there are a paper feeding bracket 16, a holding reel 17 and a positioning reel 18. On the other side, the paper discharge side, there is a paper guide 19, an image fixer 20, and a paper discharge spool 21 and a paper discharge holder 22.

As regards the process box 14, it is equipped with a short focus optics system 24 for focusing the light from the original exposure lamp 23 which reflects the original O. On the top of the main part 1, there is a bracket 25 that can reciprocate the original in the A direction, and 26 is the cover plate of the original.

The photosensitive drum 10 is uniformly charged by the charger, and is exposed to light from the original plate O through the optical device system 24, so that an electrostatic latent image consistent with the original plate is formed on the photosensitive drum 10, and the electrostatic latent image is photosensitive. The rotation of the drum is transmitted to the developing device 11, where the latent image is developed by the toner t to become a toner image. Then, the paper P is fed from the paper feed tray 16 via the paper feed reel 17 to the registration reel 18, and then is fed into between the photosensitive drum 10 and the transfer electrode 15 via the registration reel 18 synchronously with the latent image. Through the transfer electrode 15, the toner image is transferred from the photosensitive drum to the conveyed paper P, and the paper with the toner image is sent to the fuser 20, where the toner image is fixed permanently. The image of the paper is transported to the paper output bracket 22 through the paper output reel 21. After the photosensitive drum 10 completes the image transfer, the cleaner 13 will clean up the residual toner on the photosensitive drum to prepare for the next image forming operation on the photosensitive drum. Reference numerals 30a and 30b are an assembler for easy installation of the program process cartridge 14 from the main unit of the image forming apparatus.

The process cartridge of this embodiment is described in detail in Figures 1, 2A, 2B, and 2C. In this embodiment, the program processing box 14 is composed of an upper part A (14a) and a lower part B (14b), and the boxes A and B can be connected to and detached from each other.

Boxes A and B are injection molded from elastic plastic. On the right side of the cartridge A is the overall structure of the toner container 110 as a developer container. The liner 111 is fused thereto to seal the container. And the opening 111a of the toner container 110 connected to the developing device 11 is closed by a connection sealing plate 113, as shown in FIG. 2C. One end of the sealing plate is bent and stretches out of the box A, and a handle 114 is connected with this end. When the operator pulls the handle 114, the seal plate 113 is removed from the opening 111a, which allows the toner t to be supplied to the developing sleeve 112. Below the toner container 110, there is a hook 27 for connecting boxes A and B, and the hook 27 integrated with box A is engaged with the opening on box B, so that the upper and lower parts can be separated. Boxes A and B are connected. Four such hooks 24 and corresponding openings 28 are also provided in the direction perpendicular to the drawing. More specifically, the opening 28 and the claw 27 are engaged on the inclined surface 27a of the claw, and one end 28a of the opening 28 is engaged with the bottom surface 27b of the claw 27. Since the claw 27 is elastic, it can be smoothly connected to the opening. 28 is engaged, and the claw 27 is taken out smoothly from the engaged opening 28, so the connection with the opening 28 is reliable. As shown, on the left side of the cartridge A is a residual toner container 130 (developer container). One end of the housing A is bent to form a portion 14a ₁ of the bottom surface of the container 130 , and the lower box extends to overlap the bottom surface portion 14a ₁ of the container 130 , here connected by screws 29 . Therefore, the bottom surface of the container 130 is formed by a part of the boxes A and B. As shown in FIG. The portion of the cartridge A facing the upper portion of the photosensitive drum 10 is provided with an opening 141 for passage of light for image exposure. Around the openings of the toner container and the cleaner container, there are sealing strips 26a and 26b made of foamed polyurethane material to prevent the toner from leaking out of the container.

As shown in Figure 2A, cartridge B covers the bottom of the process cartridge, with walls 102a, 102b extending upwardly to the bottom of cartridge A. The walls 102a and 102b of the box B are used to rotatably support the support shafts 103a and 103b of the photosensitive drum 10, and are fixed below the photosensitive drum 10 with screws 106a and 106b, and an opening 101 is opened on the box B so that the toner image It is transferred from the photosensitive drum 10 to conveying paper P, and can be used to mount an unshown driving means of the main unit of the image forming apparatus. Above the side wall 102 a of the case B, the charger case 122 is supported by fixing screws 125 . At the other end of the charger box 122, a bolt 128 is connected and supported as a whole with the hole on the side wall 102b of the box B, in the charger box 122. The shafts 123a and 123b support the rotating shaft 130 of the charging roller 121 when the charging roller 121 drives the photosensitive drum 10 . One end of the charger housing 122 extends to the outside of the case B, and has electrode plates for supplying power to the charging roller 121 . The electrode plate 126 is connectable to power supply contacts (not shown) of the main part of the image forming apparatus.

1 and 2B, the cleaner 13 and the developer 12 will be described in detail below. The holders 133a and 133b for installing the cleaning blade 131 on the box B make it contact with the photosensitive drum 10 to scrape off the remaining toner on the surface of the photosensitive drum 10 . Screws 135 securely mount the blade 131 on the supports 133a and 133b. Adjacent to the longitudinal end of the opening 101 on the lower side of the case B is secured a receiving piece 132 . The side wall of the cartridge B is curved inwardly adjacent to the toner container 110, and the curved member functions to support the developing sleeve 112 by supporting the sleeve shafts 117a and 117b through the springs 118a and 118b. The developing sleeve 112 is provided with spacers 116 a and 116 b to maintain a certain gap between the surface of the developing sleeve 112 and the photosensitive drum 10 . The springs 118a and 118b apply an urging force to the photosensitive drum 10 via the spacers 116a and 116b. At the other end of the developing sleeve 112 is a gear 119 which engages with the cylindrical gear 104 mounted on the photosensitive drum 10 . When the photosensitive drum 10 rotates, the gear 119 rotates the developing sleeve 112 in the direction shown in FIG. 1 . Inside the developing sleeve 112 is housed a cylindrical magnetic roller 115 having composite magnetic poles. Mounted above the developing sleeve 112 is a blade 120 mounted on an unillustrated support projecting from the side walls 102a and 102b of the cartridge B. As shown in FIG.

The lower cartridge B includes a photosensitive drum 10, a cleaning blade 131, a receiving blade 132, a feeder 11, a developing sleeve 112 and a blade 120 acting thereon. The precise positioning of the cartridge B ensures precise positioning of various components relative to the photosensitive drum 10, thus facilitating positioning.

In addition, the program processing box 14 in this embodiment can also be disassembled and divided into an upper box A and a lower box B. After the toner is used up, the program processing box 14 can be collected, and the collected program processing box can be disassembled and divided into two parts. Be A, B two parts, then box A is cleaned up, and new sealing plate 113 is loaded onto, and a (not shown) toner container cover on the feeding hole is opened, and toner is injected from this hole. Then, replace the toner container cap. In addition, replace worn parts, deformed friction plates and other unusable parts. Then assemble the box. The processing of the program processing box 14 is carried out in the factory.

The cartridge B including the operating device can be connected to another shaped cartridge 14C shown in FIG. 1 having a larger toner volume and residual toner volume than the cartridge B. It is thereby possible to easily manufacture another type of process cartridge which has a longer service life and can be assembled with different types of main parts.

FIG. 4 is a process cartridge according to another embodiment of the present invention. The pipe 138 is used to discharge the residual toner in the process cartridge 14. FIG. This tube is connected to a residual toner bottle (not shown) in the main part of the image forming apparatus. The residual toner container 113 has a spiral residual toner conveyer 139 for conveying the residual toner to the discharge pipe 138 . One end of the residual expander conveyor 139 is connected to a driving gear (not shown), and the driving gear is meshed with a cylindrical gear 104 . In this example, it is sufficient to have one toner container 110 on the upper cartridge A, and it is not necessary to install a residual toner container. Therefore, the residual toner volume does not necessarily depend on the toner volume. In this example, the connecting tube between cartridge A and cartridge B constitutes the residual toner container.

Double-dashed line 14C represents another shape outline of cartridge A. In the case of cartridge 14C, toner container 110 is located below the cartridge. Toner container 110 has a toner conveyor (not shown), and cartridge B extends to the toner container 110. The two sides of the container 110 are engaged with the claws 27 at the ends of the toner container 110 of the cartridge A.

In the above example, the process cartridge has the developing means, but the present invention is also applicable to the process cartridge without the developing means. At this time, the present invention can be used to clean the residual toner container of the device.

5, 6A, 6B describe another embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a side sectional view of the process box of this embodiment, FIG. 6A is a perspective view of the upper box, and FIG. 6B is a perspective view of the lower box.

In the foregoing embodiments, the connection between the upper and lower boxes A and B is not only engaged by the hook and the opening, but also connected by bolts. In this embodiment, the connection between boxes A and B is only formed by snapping the claws and the openings. In this embodiment, the symbols of the various devices adopt the corresponding symbols of the devices having the same functions as those in the previous embodiments, and for the sake of simplicity, the description of the various symbols will not be repeated here.

The sectional views along a-a, b-b, c-c in Fig. 5 are shown in Figs. 2A, 2B, 2C, which have been described above. As shown in Fig. 3, the process cartridge of this embodiment is also foldably mounted on the main part of the image forming apparatus.

In this embodiment, the boxes A and B are firmly connected by the engagement between the hook 27b and the opening 29 instead of the bolt 29 in the previous embodiment. In this embodiment, the four hooks 27b are on the side surface _14a1 at the bottom of the residual toner container 130 on the left side of the box A, and correspondingly on the box B overlapping with the bottom surface _14a1 of the box A Also be equipped with 4 openings 29 on the wall. Also, on the side of the toner container 110, the hook 27b of the cartridge A engages with the opening 29 of the cartridge B on the side of the remaining toner container 130, so that the cartridges A and B are connected together. In the figure, 27C is the inclined surface of the hook 27b, and 29 is the engaging end of the opening 29. In this embodiment, the claw 27 on the side of the toner container 110, and the hook claw 27b on the residual toner container 130, are inclined outward. As a result, the resiliency of the boxes A, B made of plastic, and more specifically the resiliency of the catches 27 and 27b, when they engage the openings 28 and 29, increases the strength of the connection.

In this embodiment, the program processing box is easy to disassemble. As mentioned above, the upper and lower boxes A, B are connected together by hooks 27, 27b. When the program processing box is to be separated, it is placed on the dismantling device 200, and the push rods 201, 202 can push the claws 27 and 27b, so that the upper box A can be easily disassembled from the lower box B .

If the device 200 is not used, the boxes A and B can also be separated from each other by properly pushing the hooks 27 and 27b. At this time, it is preferable to push each hook at the same time. It can be seen that the device is more convenient to use.

Another example of the process cartridge will be described below. In this example, an additional sealing plate is provided to prevent leakage of the developer.

Referring to Figures 8, 9, 10, and 11, it is a description of the process cartridge with a sealing plate in this embodiment. Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the process cartridge of this embodiment. The process cartridge 201 includes an image generator configured as a photosensitive drum 202 and operating devices around it. The operating means includes a cleaning means 203, a developing means 204, and a charging means 205 supported by the cartridge frame 201a, which constitute a detachably mounted part on the main part of the image forming apparatus. When the photosensitive drum 202 and/or the developing device 204 reach the end of their service life, when the cleaning device 203 is filled with residual toner or when the toner in the developing device 204 runs out, the entire process cartridge 201 can be replaced with a new one. This is easy to repair and maintain. In this example, the charging device 205 is a known corona charger, but could be replaced by a contact charger as disclosed in US Patent 4,851,960.

The cleaning device 203 is composed of a blade 230 for removing residual toner (residual developer) from the surface of the photosensitive drum 202, a toner receiving sheet 231 for preventing the residual toner from leaking outward, and a A residual toner container 232 for residual toner is formed. The residual toner container is constituted by the sealing plate 213 connected to the cleaner container 203a, the blade holder 230a, and the frame 201a of the cartridge. The sealing plate 213 effectively prevents the toner from leaking from the connecting portion.

The developing device 204 is composed of a developing sleeve 240 that rotates in a fixed direction and effectively supplies the toner on its outer cylindrical surface to the photosensitive drum 202, an adjusting scraper 241 that adjusts the thickness of the developer on the developing sleeve 240, and a The toner container 242 for containing the expander and supplying the developer to the developing sleeve 240 is composed. The toner container 242 is composed of the toner container 212 and the developer container 204, both of which are connected to each other with the sealing plate 214 in between by bolts or the like, so they are detachable for cleaning. The sealing plate 214 effectively prevents the leakage of the toner at the connection part.

In the process cartridge of the above structure, the charging device 205 uniformly charges the photosensitive drum 202, and the photosensitive drum is exposed to image light to form an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 202. As the photosensitive drum 202 rotates, the electrostatic latent image reaches the developing device 204, where the developing sleeve 240 of the developing device 204 supplies toner to the latent image, so that the latent image is developed into a toner image, and the image is Transfer to paper delivered by a (not shown) paper feed conveyor or the like. After the image transfer is completed, the photosensitive drum 202 is cleaned by the blade 230 to remove residual toner from the photosensitive drum 202, so that the photosensitive drum 202 is ready for the next image forming operation. The residual toner removed by the blade 230 is collected into the residual toner container 230 of the cleaning device 203 through the receiving sheet 231 in contact with the photosensitive drum 202 .

Referring to Figures 9 and 10, the gaskets 213 and 214 will now be described. In this embodiment, the gasket is formed by the connecting surface 212a (FIG. 10) of the toner container 212 of the toner container 212 (FIG. 9) of the bi-liquid urethane rubber material R injected into the injection hole 215 to the connecting surface 201b (FIG. 9) of the cartridge frame 201a. . Material R is a foam material and thus foams about 20 seconds to 10 minutes after injection and is cured to form an elastomer on the joining surfaces 201b and 212a.

In FIG. 9, material R extends from point a along the directions indicated by arrows 216 and 217 and returns to point a, forming a loop. For the gasket 214 shown in FIG. 10 , injection starts from point b, then proceeds along the directions of arrows 218 and 219, and finally returns to the starting point b. As shown in FIG. 11 , grooves 211 are preliminarily provided on the connection surfaces 201b and 212a, so that the material R flows into the grooves and solidifies into an elastic elastic body, finally forming a sealing gasket. Therefore, the gasket is less likely to move or come off.

The frame 201a and the toner container 212 are connected to the cleaner container 203a and the developer container 204a by the gaskets 213 and 214 cured on the frame 201a and the toner container member 212, so that the leakage of the toner from the connection can be suitably prevented. . After curing, the height (h) of the elastic body 213 and 214 (Fig. 11) is greater than the gap C (Fig. 8) after the container is connected, so that when the gasket is pressed down, its height is equal to the gap C, and the gap is filled and Play a sealing role.

In this embodiment, the injection or distribution of the material R from the injection hole, the injection speed, and the injection rate can be fully controlled automatically, so the sealing gasket formed along the connection surface has sealing reliability. Therefore, the system is suitable for complex structural shapes as shown in FIG. 9 .

In the foregoing description, foamed polyurethane rubber is used as the material R of the seal, but the material of the seal is not limited to this, and other materials such as soft rubber or plastics like silicone or other elastomers (elastic high polymer materials) are equally superior performance.

Therefore, the sealing member made of solidified liquid elastomer such as foamed urethane rubber or the like can be used to seal the connection of various devices, such as the developing device 204 in the process cartridge, the toner container and the residual toner container of the cleaning device 203. Toner container. Therefore, it is also easy to realize the sealing of the toner at the joint of the container with complex structure. In addition, due to the easy formation of a closed loop, leakage of the toner from the joint of the seal can be prevented.

Figures 12, 13 and 14 show a process cartridge according to another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 12, the program processing box is composed of the upper box A and the lower box B in the figure, and the related symbols as in Fig. 8 are used for the components having the same function.

As shown in FIG. 13, the program processing box in FIG. 12 is formed by connecting the upper and lower boxes A and B via hook claws 250 and 251. The connection between the upper box A and the lower box B is formed by the elastic engagement of the claw 250 on the upper box A and the corresponding opening 251 on the lower box B. The interlayers of the upper and lower boxes A, B are seals 213b and 214b. The toner container 242 is formed by connecting the upper and lower boxes A and B, and the connection between the upper box A and the blade base 241a for installing the adjustment blade 241 . The joint is provided with a seal 214a to prevent leakage of the toner. The residual toner container 232 of the cleaning device 203 is formed by connecting the upper and lower boxes A, B and the upper box A with the cleaner base 230 a for installing the cleaning blade 230 . A seal 213a is provided at the connecting portion to prevent leakage of the toner.

Fig. 14 represents the view along the direction of I in Fig. 13. In these embodiments, as shown in Fig. 14, the two-liquid polyurethane rubber material R is injected from the injection hole 215 and distributed on the top and bottom of the toner container and the residual toner container on the connecting surface of the frame part. Since the material has a foaming property, the material foams and becomes elastic on the connecting surfaces 201b and 212a within about 30 seconds to 10 minutes after injection or distribution. The injection route starts at (a), extends in the direction of arrows 216 and 217, and then returns to point (a), thereby forming a closed loop. Grooves are preliminarily provided on the surfaces receiving the material R (connecting surfaces 201b and 212a), so that the material R is easily poured into the grooves and cured into an elastic body. As such, the seal is less likely to move and dislodge. A is connected to the lower frame B by the seals 213 and 214 cured on the upper frame A so that the seals 213 and 214 function to prevent toner leakage from the toner container and residual toner container. After curing, the height h of the seals 213 and 214 (Fig. 11) is greater than the gaps C ₁ , C ₂ , C ₃ , and C ₄ (Fig. 12 ) after the frame is connected, so the elastomer is compressed to the gap C ₁ -C ₄ equal heights, thus filling the gaps.

Similar to the previous embodiments, in this embodiment, the speed and rate of injection can be automatically controlled so that a seal is reliably formed along the joining surfaces. In addition, the injection site is concentrated on one of the frames, so the injection or distribution operation can be completed only when one frame is positioned. This has the advantage of greatly reducing process steps.

Similar to the previous embodiments, the material R can be soft rubber, soft plastic or other similar materials.

In this embodiment, the liquid elastomer is distributed over the connecting surfaces. FIG. 15 depicts a system for mixing two liquid active materials (liquid elastomers) and injecting them through the injection hole 215 .

In Fig. 15, liquid A and liquid B are filled in containers 260 and 261 respectively, and after they are metered by precision metering pumps 262 and 263, they are poured into the mixing and stirring platform 264, and the appropriate mixing ratio is prepared for the reaction of the two liquid states. In the mixing and stirring table 264, the liquids A and B are uniformly mixed by the motor. It takes at least 30 seconds for the mixed liquid to solidify into an elastic elastic colloid, so the mixed liquid ejected through the injection hole 215 of the injector 265 is in the process of reaction. When spraying the liquid elastic material, the mixing table 264, the injector 265 and the injection head including the injection hole 215 move along the x, y, z axis directions so as to conform to the shape of the container or the like.

The metering of the metering pumps 262 and 263, the speed of mixing and agitation, the movement of the injection head along the three axes, the injection speed, etc. are all controlled by the program device in the controller of a (not shown) industrial robot. Therefore, the injection operation is fully automatic.

The materials used are as follows:

Table 1 example 1 Liquid A Liquid B Foam rate (volume) cured elastomer Polyol Isocyanate 2～5 polyurethane foam Mixing ratio: 10:2~3 Example 2 (-OH)silicone resin (-H)silicone resin 2～10 foam silicone Mixing ratio 1:1

FIG. 16 shows a system using a single-liquid reaction type liquid, injecting N ₂ gas into the liquid to cause foaming, and injecting the liquid from the injection hole 16.

In FIG. 16 , the liquid mainly composed of polyurethane material, the elastomer, is heated to 70° C. to 100° C. by a heater in a container 266 . The foam mixer 268 is fed by a pump, in which the liquid is fed from the container 266 mixed with _N2 gas so that it can be frothed. Before the liquid elastomer solidifies, it is sprayed through the injection hole 215 of the injector 270 toward components such as toner containers.

Similar to the case of dual-liquid materials, a robot (not shown) is used, so the controller can fully control the mixing ratio of _N2 gas, the supply of materials, the movement of the injection head along the three axes, and the injection speed. Injection and distribution operations are thereby automated.

The preferred elongation rate of the elastomer in this embodiment is 100-200%, the hardness index (ASKC) is 4-5, and the compression recovery rate is not less than 90%.

In the foregoing embodiments, the process cartridge having the residual toner container for the cleaning device and the toner container for the developing device has been described. The present invention is not limited thereto, and the present invention is applicable to a process cartridge having at least one container.

As mentioned above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the sealing member made of solidified and injected liquid elastic colloid is used for each connecting part of the developer container of the process cartridge, so it is more effective than the traditional device to prevent the leakage of the developer. In addition , the present invention also has the requirement of making its sealing satisfy various complex connection parts.

In addition, since the injection of the liquid elastic colloid can be automatically controlled, the program processing box is easy to assemble.

As in the aforementioned program process box, there may be an image generator and at least one operating device acting directly or indirectly on the image generator. Specifically, the process cartridge may include an electrophotographic photosensitive unit, a charging unit, a developing unit and/or a cleaning unit. The process cartridge thus constituted is detachably mounted on an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a laser printer, and the like.

As mentioned above, according to various embodiments of the present invention, are separated by frames, one of which is a frame including an image generator and its operating device, and the other is a frame including a toner container containing toner particles and and/or residual toner container, which can be assembled or disassembled.

Therefore, the present invention has the following advantages:

1. Process cartridges of different types and lifetimes can be produced by selecting a frame containing a toner container (developer container),

2. A frame that also includes an image generator and an operating device can be manufactured, which simplifies production and operation,

3. The procedure cartridge can be reused by collecting discarded procedure cartridges (empty toner containers), disassembling the frame, replacing old parts, and assembling toner containers refilled with toner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, it can be seen that there is provided a process cartridge and an imaging device associated therewith having the characteristics of easy assembly.

While the invention has been described with reference to the above disclosed structures, the invention is not limited to the details recited. This application is intended to cover amendments and changes as improvements are made or within the scope of the following claims.

Claims (18)

1. method to the box filled developer of using of routine processes, this handle box comprises first plastic frame (14b) and second plastic frame (14a) that can separate with first plastic frame (14b) of have photo-sensitive cell (10) and developing apparatus (11), wherein, the collection of developer part (110) that is used for collecting the developer (t) of the described developing apparatus (11) be supplied to described first plastic frame (14b) is arranged in described second plastic frame (14a), described collection of developer partly comprises a filler opening that is used for filling to collection of developer part (110) developer (t), developer (t) can be supplied to the developing apparatus (11) of first plastic frame (14b) from the collection of developer of second plastic frame (14a) part (110) by this hole (111a), and this method comprises the following steps:

First plastic frame (14b) is separated with second plastic frame (14a);

Reseal the hole (111a) of collection of developer part (110) with seal (113), seal (113) can be taken away by the operator, so that in subsequently the master component of program processing box load map image processor the time, developer (t) can supply to described developing apparatus (11) from collection of developer part (110);

Developer (t) is supplied to the collection of developer part (110) that reseals by filler opening; With

After the supply step, first plastic frame (14b) and second plastic frame (14a) are linked together.

2. the method for claim 1 further is included in described separating step and cleans described plastic frame (14a, step 14b) afterwards.

3. the method for claim 1, wherein supplying step comprises: taking a cap away from the filler opening of collection of developer part (110) before to collection of developer part (110) supply developer (t); Add developer (t) by described filler opening; Then, change cap.

4. method as claimed in claim 2, wherein, the supply step comprises: taking a cap away from the filler opening of collection of developer part (110) before to collection of developer part (110) supply developer (t); Add developer (t) by described filler opening; Then, change cap.

5. as one of them described method of claim 1-3, also be included in the step that described Connection Step is changed the used part of described program processing box before.

6. as one of them described method of claim 1-3, wherein, in Connection Step, first plastic frame (14b) releasably is connected with second plastic frame (14a).

7. method as claimed in claim 5, wherein, in Connection Step, first plastic frame (14b) releasably is connected with second plastic frame (14a).

8. method as claimed in claim 6, wherein, by be arranged on one of described first and second plastic frames the hole be arranged between the elasticity shackle of described first and second plastic frames on another throw off engage, first plastic frame (14b) and second plastic frame (14a) releasably connect.

9. method as claimed in claim 8 further comprises described hole being arranged on that first plastic frame (14b) is gone up and shackle being arranged on step on second plastic frame (14a).

10. method as claimed in claim 5, wherein, (14b 14a) releasably links together by screw (29) for first plastic frame and second plastic frame.

11. the method for filling and using handle box comprises the following steps:

Implement aforesaid right and require one of them described method, the handle box (14) through filling is placed in the master component of image processing system;

Make photo-sensitive cell (10) exposure according to the information light signal from master component, described information light signal is from the exposure hole (141) that is arranged on second plastic frame (14a).

12. as one of them described method of above-mentioned claim 1-3, wherein, (14b, the direction that 14a) is separated from each other is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of photo-sensitive cell (10) for described first plastic frame and second plastic frame.

13. as the described method of above-mentioned claim 5, wherein, (14b, the direction that 14a) is separated from each other is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of photo-sensitive cell (10) for described first plastic frame and second plastic frame.

14. as the described method of above-mentioned claim 6, wherein, (14b, the direction that 14a) is separated from each other is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of photo-sensitive cell (10) for described first plastic frame and second plastic frame.

15. as the described method of above-mentioned claim 8, wherein, (14b, the direction that 14a) is separated from each other is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of photo-sensitive cell (10) for described first plastic frame and second plastic frame.

16. as the described method of above-mentioned claim 9, wherein, (14b, the direction that 14a) is separated from each other is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of photo-sensitive cell (10) for described first plastic frame and second plastic frame.

17. as the described method of above-mentioned claim 10, wherein, (14b, the direction that 14a) is separated from each other is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of photo-sensitive cell (10) for described first plastic frame and second plastic frame.

18. as the described method of above-mentioned claim 11, wherein, (14b, the direction that 14a) is separated from each other is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of photo-sensitive cell (10) for described first plastic frame and second plastic frame.

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