JP2003302819A - Seal member - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the recyclability of a process cartridge. <P>SOLUTION: A handle is attached to a seal member of a developing frame body having a frame body containing a toner, a toner seal for sealing the toner in the frame body, an opening for pulling the toner seal, and the seal member which can be inserted into the opening. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a seal member used in a developing device and a process cartridge of an image forming apparatus adopting an electrophotographic method such as a laser printer and a copying machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An image forming apparatus such as a printer selectively exposes a uniformly charged photosensitive drum, which is an image carrier, to form a latent image on the photosensitive drum. The image is visualized as a toner image, and the toner image is transferred to a recording medium to perform image recording. In such an image forming apparatus, the toner must be replenished each time the toner is used up, but this toner replenishment work is not only troublesome, but it may be contaminated. In addition, maintenance of each member can be performed only by a specialized service person, which often causes inconvenience to the user.

Therefore, the photosensitive drum, the charging device, the developing device, the cleaning means and the like are integrated into a unitary structure to form a process cartridge, so that the user mounts the process cartridge in the main body of the image forming apparatus, and thereby the toner is formed. It is possible to replenish and replace parts such as the photoconductor drum which has reached the end of its life, thereby facilitating maintenance.

By the way, as shown in FIG. 11, the process cartridge is roughly divided into two frame bodies (cleaning frame body 10 / developing frame body 8), which are integrated by connecting them. There is.

A photosensitive drum 3 is rotatably held on the cleaning frame 10, and a developing roller 4 is rotatably held on the developing frame 8. In order to ensure that the toner is sealed in the toner chamber 2 until the user uses the process cartridge, the toner is sealed in the toner chamber 2 in the developing frame 8 by using the toner seal 15. There is.

<Toner Seal Structure> Next, the structure of the toner seal 15 will be described. 12, 13, and 14
FIG. 6 is a view showing an opening 8d of the developing device frame 8 and a toner seal 15. The toner seal 15 is composed of a cover film 15b for sealing the opening 8d of the developing device frame 8 and a tear tape 15a for tearing the cover film 15b, and the cover film 15b is provided for the opening 8d. It is fixed to the peripheral portion by means such as heat welding. As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the cover film 1
The tear tape 15a stacked on the 5b is fixed to the developing frame 8 together with the cover film 15b on both sides in the longitudinal direction by means of heat welding or the like. The cover film 1 on the side opposite to the arrow Y1 direction for pulling out the toner seal 15
The tear tape 15a is folded back on the inner side of 5b, and as shown in FIG. 12, the tear tape 15a is pulled out from a toner seal outlet 8a provided on the side surface of the developing device frame 8. The tear tape 15
When the process cartridge b is used, a is pulled out by the user and is removed to the outside of the process cartridge B. At that time, the cover film 15b is torn along the tear tape 15a and the tear tape 15a.
Taken away with. By tearing the cover film 15b, the toner enclosed in the toner chamber 2 is supplied to the developing roller 4 through the opening 8d.

Here, the toner seal outlet 8a
Is provided so as to communicate the outside of the developing frame 8 with the inside of the toner chamber 2 and the like. Therefore, after the toner seal 15 is pulled out, the toner is not leaked from the toner seal outlet 8a. At the seal outlet 8a,
For example, a seal member 14 formed of a resin having elasticity such as an elastomer is press-fitted from the outside of the developing frame body 8 to maintain the sealing property at the toner seal outlet port 8a.

The toner seal 15 is attached to the holder 1.
3 is fixed to a handle 8e integrally formed at the end of the developing device frame 8 or the like by a fixing means such as a double-sided tape at a portion protruding from the end face of the handle 3, and is easily attached to a part of the handle 8e. Which can be bent into pieces, for example, JP-A-10-282
It has a substantially V-shaped cutout as described in 779. The user can easily pull out the toner seal 15 by pulling out the handle 8e after bending the notch portion of the handle 8e to separate the handle 8e from the developing device frame 8.

[0009]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, the seal member 14 is press-fitted so as not to protrude from the developing device frame 8 so that the seal member cannot be accidentally pulled out. In order to separate it from the developing frame body 8, it was necessary to disassemble the developing frame body 8 into a single product and then push out the seal member 14 from the inside of the developing frame body 8.

Further, since the handle 8e for pulling out the toner seal 15 is fixed to the handle 8e which is integrally formed with the large frame body such as the developing frame body 8, the developing frame body 8 is recycled. Large frames such as can not be reused.

The present invention is a further development of the above-mentioned conventional example. The first object of the present invention is to make it easier to remove the seal member 14 inserted in the developing device frame 8 from the developing device frame 8. Is to remove it.

A second purpose is a handle 8e provided on the large frame for pulling out the toner seal 15.
Is provided on the seal member 14 which is a small part, so that the large frame can be reused.

[0013]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention according to claim 1 and claim 2 has a frame capable of accommodating a developer, and enclosing the developer in the frame. In a developer container detachable from an electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body, which has a developer sealing member for holding, an opening for pulling out the developer sealing member, and a seal member insertable into the opening, The member is a seal member having a handle.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (First Embodiment) FIGS. 1 to 6 and FIGS. 13 and 14 show a process cartridge B and an image forming apparatus using the process cartridge B according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It will be described with reference to FIG. here,
As the order of description, first, the overall configuration of the image forming apparatus and the process cartridge B will be described, and then the configuration of the toner seal 15 and the seal member 14 will be described.

<Overall Configuration of Process Cartridge and Image Forming Apparatus> An electrophotographic image forming apparatus (laser beam printer) (not shown) is a drum-shaped electrophotographic apparatus in which the process cartridge B emits laser light corresponding to image information from optical means. An image is formed by an electrophotographic forming process in which a photoconductor 3 (hereinafter referred to as "photosensitive drum") is irradiated to form a latent image, and the latent image is developed to form a toner image.

Then, in synchronism with the formation of the toner image, the recording medium P is transported from the transport tray by a transporting means such as a pickup roller. Then, the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 3 is transferred to the recording medium P by applying a voltage to a transfer roller as a transfer unit.

Next, the recording medium P having the toner image transferred from the photosensitive drum 3 is conveyed to the fixing means. The fixing means is composed of a fixing rotating body having a heater built therein and a pressure roller for pressing and conveying the recording medium P against the rotating body, and applying heat and pressure to the recording medium P to form a transferred toner image on the recording medium. Settles on P. The recording medium P is conveyed by the ejection roller and ejected to the ejection section.

On the other hand, the process cartridge B comprises an electrophotographic photosensitive member and at least one process means, and is composed of at least two frame members. Here, as the process means, for example, a charging means for charging the electrophotographic photoreceptor, a developing means for developing the latent image formed on the electrophotographic photoreceptor, a cleaning means for cleaning the toner remaining on the surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor Etc. The process cartridge B of this embodiment is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, the charging unit, the developing unit, and the cleaning unit are integrally provided with the photosensitive drum 3.

Then, the photosensitive drum 3 having a photosensitive layer is rotated, and its surface is uniformly charged by applying a voltage to a charging roller 6 which is a charging means, and a laser beam corresponding to image information from the optical means is emitted. The photosensitive drum 3 is exposed to form a latent image, and the latent image is developed by developing means.

The developing means sends the toner in the toner chamber 2 toward the developing roller 4, rotates the developing roller 4 having a fixed magnet provided in the developing frame 8 and
A toner layer to which a triboelectric charge has been applied by the developing blade 18 is formed on the surface of the developing roller 4. Then, the toner is supplied to the developing area of the photosensitive drum 3 to develop the latent image to form a toner image.

After the toner image is transferred onto the recording medium P by applying a voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the toner image to the transfer roller, the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 3 is scraped off by the elastic cleaning blade 11. The scraped-off toner is collected in the cleaning frame 10 to remove the residual toner on the photosensitive drum 3.

Each member such as the photosensitive drum 3 is supported in the cartridge frame 9 to form a cartridge. The cartridge frame 9 includes a cleaning frame 10 that is a first frame that supports the photosensitive drum 3, the charging roller 6, the cleaning unit 7, and the like, and a developing frame that is a second frame that supports the developing unit and the like. 8 and 8 are rotatably coupled to each other about a coupling means (not shown) such as a parallel pin.

As shown in FIG. 2, the developing frame 8 is provided with an opening 8d for supplying toner to the developing roller 4 and a filling port 8b for filling the toner. As described above, the toner seal 15 is heat-sealed to the opening 8d to close the toner chamber 2 of the developing device frame 8, the toner is filled from the filling port 8b, and the filling port 8b is closed by the lid 8c. Seal in chamber 2.

<Construction of Toner Seal> Toner Seal 15
The detailed description of the configuration is omitted because it is the same as the above-mentioned conventional example.

<Description of Seal Member> As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the seal member 14 for sealing the toner seal outlet 8a for pulling out the toner seal 15 is the third seal member disclosed in JP-A-09-006106. It is formed of a resin having elasticity such as an elastomer as described in the embodiment, and the shape is such that a plurality of ribs 14c are formed on the seal member main body 14d having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. A handle 14a is formed on the side surface of the seal member body 14d. As shown in FIG. 1, the sealing member 14
Is inserted from the outside of the developing frame body 8 into the toner seal outlet 8a of the developing frame body 8 and incorporated therein.
4 is the dimension ZI of the toner seal outlet 8a.
The seal member 14 that is larger than 2 and is an elastic body
Is pressed into the toner seal outlet 8a.
Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the dimension XI of the seal member 14 is
The size is larger than the size X2 of the toner seal outlet 8a shown in FIG. 1, and the seal member 14 is press-fitted into the toner seal outlet 8a, that is, the rib of the seal member 14 which is an elastic body as shown in FIG. 14c is bent and inserted in the pull-out direction YI of the toner seal 15 with an appropriate bending amount. Since the seal member 14 is press-fitted into the toner seal outlet 8a as described above, the seal member 14 can reliably seal the toner seal outlet 8a, and the rib 14c of the seal member 14 is Since the toner seal 15 is bent in the pull-out direction YI with an appropriate amount of deflection and the toner seal 15 is brought into close contact with the toner seal outlet 8a with an appropriate pressure, the force for pulling out the toner seal 15 can be made appropriate and the toner is It is possible to prevent leakage from the seal outlet 8a.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the seal member 1
After assembling 4 into the developing device frame 8, other components not shown such as the developing roller 4 are attached, and the holder 13 is fixed by a fixing means such as an assembling screw (not shown) to be a unit state. After that, the cleaning frame body is assembled with parts such as a photosensitive drum to form a unit, and the developing frame body 8 is combined into a unit by a coupling means such as a parallel pin (not shown) to complete the process cartridge B. .

When the process cartridge B is in a completed state, the grip 14a of the seal member 14 is adapted to engage with the hole 13c of the holder 13, but the seal member 1
The handle 14a of No. 4 has a length that does not extend outside the end surface of the holder 13. Further, the toner seal 15 is exposed to the outside through the hole 13c of the holder 13. Therefore, when using the process cartridge B, the user grasps only the tear tape 15a of the toner seal 15 and pulls it out to remove the toner seal 15.

Here, as described above, the toner seal 15
Is pulled out in the YI direction through a gap having a hermeticity formed between the toner seal outlet 8a and the seal member 14. At that time, the seal member 14 tries to move in the same direction by the frictional force of the toner seal 15.
As shown in FIG. 3, the holder 13 has ribs 13b for preventing the seal member 14 from coming off, whereby the toner seal 1
It is intended to prevent the seal member 14 from coming off when the 5 is pulled out.

The method of disassembling the seal member 14 having the above-mentioned structure during recycling is as follows, as shown in FIG.

1. The coupling means (not shown) is removed to separate the cleaning frame body 10 and the developing frame body 8.

2. The holder 13 attached to the developing device frame 8 is removed.

3. Other parts such as the developing roller 4 are removed.

4. The grip 14a of the seal member 14 of the toner seal outlet 8a of the developing device frame 8 is gripped, and the seal member is easily removed.

As described above, the handle 14 is attached to the seal member 14.
By providing a, the worker can easily remove the seal member 14 at the time of disassembly such as recycling.

(Second Embodiment) A process cartridge B according to a second embodiment of the present invention and an image forming apparatus using the process cartridge B will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 11, 13 and 14. To do. Here, in FIGS. 6 to 11 and FIGS. 13 and 14, the same elements described in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted below.

<Explanation of Seal Member> As shown in FIGS. 7 and 9, the seal member 14 for sealing the toner seal outlet 8a for pulling out the toner seal 15 is the third seal member disclosed in JP-A-09-006106. A plurality of ribs 14c are formed on a substantially rectangular parallelepiped-shaped seal member body 14d as described in the embodiment, and in this embodiment, a handle 14a is formed on a side surface of the seal member body 14d. Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the grip 14a of the seal member 14 is provided.
Can be easily bent and cut, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-
It has a substantially V-shaped notch 14b as described in US Pat. The seal member 14 is a first
As described in the above embodiment, the dimensional relationship is such that the toner seal outlet 8a of the developing device frame 8 is press-fitted. The rib 14c portion of the seal member 14 that seals the toner seal outlet 8a is formed of a resin having elasticity such as an elastomer and has a sealing property as described above. Further, since the portion forming the handle 14a has a substantially V-shaped notch portion 14b that can be bent and cut, it is made of a resin such as polystyrene which is relatively easily bent, and the sealing member 14 as a whole.
Is a two-color two-color molding. For example, in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 6, the grip 14a of the seal member 14 is molded with a relatively hard resin such as polystyrene, and then the other parts including the rib 14c of the seal member 14 are molded with an elastic resin such as an elastomer. To do.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the seal member 1
After assembling 4 into the developing device frame 8, other components not shown such as the developing roller 4 are attached, and the holder 13 is fixed by a fixing means such as an assembling screw (not shown) to be a unit state. After that, the cleaning frame body is assembled with parts such as a photosensitive drum to form a unit, and the developing frame body 8 is combined into a unit by a coupling means such as a parallel pin (not shown) to complete the process cartridge B. .

When the process cartridge B is in a completed state, the grip 14a of the seal member 14 is adapted to engage with the hole 13c of the holder 13.
4 has a portion protruding from the end surface of the holder 13, and a V-shaped notch 14b is provided in the portion closest to the end surface of the holder 13, and a portion protruding from the end surface of the holder 13 Is the tear tape 15a of the toner seal 15 that is exposed to the outside through the hole 13c of the holder 13.
Is fixed by a fixing means such as double-sided tape. Therefore, when using the process cartridge B, the user bends and cuts the grip 14a to which the tear tape 15a is fixed, separates the seal member main body 14d from the grip 14a, and then grips and pulls out the tear tape 15a and the grip 14a of the toner seal 15. Then, the toner seal 15 is removed. Handle 1
The seal member 14 remaining on the side of the developing frame 8 after the 4a is bent is not exposed outside the end surface of the holder 13, and the sealing property of the toner seal outlet 8a in the developing frame 8 is good. Keep on. Here, as described above, the toner seal 15 passes through the gap having the airtightness formed between the toner seal outlet 8a and the seal member 14
It is pulled out in the I direction. At that time, the seal member 14 tries to move in the same direction due to the frictional force of the toner seal 15. However, as shown in FIG. 10, the holder 13 has a rib 13b for preventing the seal member 14 from coming off. The seal member 14 is prevented from coming off when the toner seal 15 is pulled out.

A method of disassembling the seal member 14 at the time of recycling is as follows, as shown in FIG.

1. The coupling means (not shown) is removed to separate the cleaning frame body 10 and the developing frame body 8.

2. The holder 13 attached to the developing device frame 8 is removed.

3. Other components (not shown) such as the developing roller 4 are removed.

4. The rest of the grip 14a of the seal member 14 in the toner seal outlet 8a of the developing device frame 8 is gripped, and the seal member is easily removed.

As described above, the handle 14 is attached to the seal member 14.
By providing a, the worker can easily remove the seal member 14 at the time of disassembly such as recycling. In this embodiment, the grip 14a of the seal member 14 must be completely bent when the process cartridge B is used, and therefore the seal member 14 cannot be reused.

Further, in addition to the effect of the first embodiment, in this embodiment, the grip for pulling out the toner seal 15 is integrally molded with the large container such as the developing frame 8 as in the conventional example. Instead, it is integrally molded with a small component such as the seal member 14, so that a large container can be reused and the cost can be suppressed.

[0046]

As described above, in the first and second aspects of the present invention, since the seal member has the handle, the worker can easily carry out the seal member at the time of disassembly such as recycling. Can be removed. Therefore, the recycling cost can be reduced, and an inexpensive process cartridge can be provided. Further, in the second invention, since the handle of the sealing member also serves as a handle for pulling out the toner seal, the large frame can be reused, and a further inexpensive process cartridge is provided. I can do things.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a developing device frame according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the developing device frame according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the developing device frame according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view and a sectional view showing a seal member according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view and a sectional view showing a seal member according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an assembled state of the seal member according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a developing device frame body according to a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a developing device frame body according to a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view and a sectional view showing a seal member according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view and a sectional view showing a seal member according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a process cartridge according to a conventional example of the present invention and an image forming apparatus in which the process cartridge is mounted.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a developing device frame according to a conventional example.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a developing frame and a toner seal.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a developing frame and a toner seal.

FIG. 15 is an assembly view of a seal member.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a seal member is incorporated in the developing device frame.

[Explanation of symbols]

B ... Process cartridge YI ... Toner seal withdrawing direction 1 ... Developing device 2 ... Toner chamber 3 ... Photosensitive drum 4 ... Developing roller 6 ... Charging device (charging roller) 7 ... Cleaning means 8 ... Developing frame, 8a ... Toner seal withdrawing Mouth, 8b ...
Filling port, 8c ... Lid, 8d ... Opening, 8e ... Grip, 9 ... Cartridge frame, 10 ... Cleaning frame, 11 ... Elastic cleaning blade, 12 ... Compression spring 13, Holder, 13b ... Rib, 13c ... Hole 14 ... Seal member, 14a ... Handle, 14b ... Notch,
Reference numeral 14c ... Rib, 14d ... Sealing member main body 15 ... Toner seal, 15a ... Tear tape, 15b ... Cover film 18 ... Developing blade

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A frame for accommodating a developer, a developer sealing member for enclosing the developer in the frame, an opening for pulling out the developer sealing member, and the opening. A developer container detachable from an electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body having an insertable seal member, wherein the seal member has a handle. 2. The seal member according to claim 1, wherein the handle of the seal member also serves as a handle for pulling out the developer sealing member.