JP4784228B2 - Process cartridge - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a process cartridge used in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a main configuration of the image forming apparatus 9 according to the conventional technique. The image forming apparatus 9 includes the following components.
A photosensitive drum 11 that discharges static electricity charged on the surface and charged by exposure.
A charging roll 12 that charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 with static electricity.
An image bar 13 that includes an LED or the like and exposes the photosensitive drum 11 to image light.
A replenishment developer container 15 that is connected to the developer tray 20 via a replenishment port 14 provided on the upper surface of the developer tray 20 and stores a new replenishment developer.
An agitation auger 16 that mixes the initial developer or the replenishment developer replenished from the replenishment developer container 15 with the collected toner falling through the collected toner moving path 22 and then transports it to the supply auger 17 while stirring.
A supply auger 17 for supplying the developer supplied by the stirring auger 16 to the magnet roll 18.
The carrier, which is a magnetic powder included in the developer, having a magnetic pole is attached to the surface, thereby supporting the electrostatically attached toner on the surface of the carrier, and then the toner carried by rotation is applied to the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 A magnet roll 18 that conveys to the vicinity.
A trimmer bar 19 for scraping off the developer having a predetermined thickness or more attached to the surface of the magnet roll 18.
A developer tray 20 that stores the developer supplied to the magnet roll 18 together with the stirring auger 16 and the supply auger 17.
A scraper 21 for peeling off toner adhering to the photosensitive drum 11.
A recovery toner moving path 22 through which the toner peeled off by the scraper 21 passes when dropping to the developer tray 20.
A waste container that accommodates used waste developer is connected to the developer tray 20 via a waste developer discharge port 23 provided at a predetermined height position on the wall surface of the developer tray 20 located downstream of the supply auger 17. Developer container 24.

  The operation of the image forming apparatus 9 will be described with reference to FIG. When the image forming apparatus 9 receives an image forming instruction, the charging roll 12 applies static electricity having a uniform potential to the surface of the photosensitive drum 11.

  The image forming apparatus 9 exposes image light onto the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 to which static electricity having a uniform potential is applied by the image bar 13, discharges static electricity in the exposed portion, and lowers the potential, thereby causing a potential difference of static electricity. A latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 11.

  Further, upon receiving an image formation instruction, the image forming apparatus 9 starts rotating the stirring auger 16, the supply auger 17, and the magnet roll 18. As a result, after the developer stirred by the stirring auger 16 is supplied to the magnet roll 18 by the supply auger 17, and the developer carried on the surface of the magnet roll 18 is adjusted to a uniform thickness by the trimmer bar 19, It is conveyed to the vicinity of the surface of the photosensitive drum 11.

  The toner contained in the developer conveyed near the surface of the photoconductor drum 11 is electrostatically attracted to the photoconductor drum 11 side by a latent image formed on the surface of the photoconductor drum 11. Adhere to the surface. As a result, a toner image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 11. On the other hand, the carrier contained in the developer passes through the vicinity of the photosensitive drum 11 while being carried on the magnet roll 18, is returned to the developer tray 20 and is reused.

  The toner image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 as described above is electrostatically transferred from the photosensitive drum 11 to a recording medium such as paper or an intermediate transfer member such as a transfer belt by a transfer roll (not shown). The The toner image transferred onto the recording medium directly from the photosensitive drum 11 or indirectly via the intermediate transfer member is pressed and heated by a fixing device (not shown) and fixed on the recording medium. As a result, the target image is formed on the recording medium.

  Of the toner adhering to the surface of the photosensitive drum 11, the toner that has passed through the vicinity of the transfer roll without being transferred to the recording medium or the intermediate transfer member is peeled from the photosensitive drum 11 by the scraper 21, and passes through the collected toner moving path 22. Then, it freely falls on the developer tray 20 or is forcibly conveyed by an auger or the like. The toner collected from the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 in this way (hereinafter referred to as “collected toner”) is mixed with a new developer in the developer tray 20 and reused. The above is the outline of the operation of the image forming apparatus 9.

  By the way, the photosensitive drum 11, the charging roll 12, the image bar 13, and the scraper 21 are accommodated in the photosensitive member housing 31, and the stirring auger 16, the supply auger 17, the magnet roll 18, the trimmer bar 19, and the developer tray 20 are included in the developing device housing. 32.

  The photosensitive member housing 31 and the developing device housing 32 are partitioned by a partition wall 33, and the partition wall 33 is provided with a slit for moving toner from the magnet roll 18 to the photosensitive drum 11. Further, for example, a slit for moving toner from the photosensitive drum 11 to the recording medium or the intermediate transfer member is provided in the upper portion of the photosensitive member housing 31 in FIG.

  The photosensitive member housing 31 and the developing device housing 32 and the components housed therein are generally integrated and manufactured and sold as a process cartridge. When a user or maintenance engineer of the image forming apparatus 9 needs to replace any component in the process cartridge due to wear of the surface of the photosensitive drum 11, the entire process cartridge is removed from the image forming apparatus 9. Replace with a new process cartridge.

  Further, when the process cartridge is manufactured and sold, a predetermined amount of new developer is stored in advance in the developer tray 20 as the initial developer 25.

  As described above, the photosensitive member housing 31 and the developing device housing 32 are partitioned by the partition wall 33, and the partition wall 33 is provided with a slit for moving the toner from the magnet roll 18 to the photosensitive drum 11. Therefore, after the process cartridge is manufactured, a part of the initial developer 25 accommodated in the developing device housing 32 is removed from the slit provided in the partition wall 33 due to vibration or falling when the process cartridge is conveyed. And the components housed in the photoreceptor housing 31 are contaminated. Of the components housed in the photoreceptor housing 31, the contamination of the image bar 13 is serious because it is not eliminated in the normal image forming process.

In order to prevent contamination of the exposure device typified by the image bar 13, Patent Document 1 applies a voltage of a predetermined voltage value to an electrode arranged in the vicinity of the exposure device, and keeps the scattered toner away from the exposure device by an electric field. The technology is disclosed.
JP 2001-13767 A

In Patent Document 2, a magnetic brush is formed on the surface of the charging sleeve by a fixed magnet to collect the scattered toner, and the toner scattered outside the magnetic brush is shielded from the exposure device by a sheet-like shielding member. The technology is disclosed.
JP 2001-350326 A

  The techniques disclosed in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 can prevent the toner scattered from the photosensitive drum during image formation from contaminating the exposure unit disposed in the vicinity of the photosensitive drum. It is impossible to prevent the exposure device from being contaminated by the initial developer 25 before the toner is used.

  In view of the above-described circumstances, the present invention provides a process cartridge used in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus for preventing contamination of components housed in a process cartridge by an initially housed developer. It aims to provide a means.

In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides an image carrying means for carrying an image formed by a developer, a first housing for housing the image carrying means, and a predetermined distance from the surface of the image carrying means. A developer carrying means for carrying and transporting the developer to a position; a developer tray containing the developer carried by the developer carrying means; and a first container containing the developer carrying means and the developer tray. 2, the developer container connected to the second housing, the connection between the second housing and the developer container is cut off, and is slid or rotated by a force applied from the outside. A partition wall that can be released from the block, and an initial developer that is stored in the developer container that is blocked from the second housing by the partition wall. A replenishing port for replenishing the developer and a discharge port for discharging the used developer are provided, and the developer container has the first cartridge in a state where the process cartridge is mounted on the main body of the image forming apparatus. The process cartridge is disposed at a lower portion of the second housing and is connected to the second housing through the discharge port by releasing the blocking.

In a preferred embodiment, a supply port blocking wall that slides or rotates and blocks connection with the outside at the supply port when the process cartridge is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body and then removed from the image forming apparatus main body. You may prepare.

  In a preferred aspect, the developer container is disposed at a lower portion of the second housing in a state where the process cartridge is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body, and the release container is released through the discharge port when the blocking is released. It may be connected to the second housing. In such an aspect, the developer container includes the initial developer moving port through which the initial developer moves when the developer container moves from the developer container to the second housing, and the discharge port. The partition is connected to the first housing for blocking the connection with the second housing at the initial developer moving port and the connection with the second housing at the discharge port. And the first blocking portion can be slid or rotated by a force applied from the outside to release the blocking of the connection with the second housing. The second housing can be disconnected again, and the second housing is slid or rotated independently of the first housing by a force applied from the outside, so that the second housing When A releasable blocking of the connection may be.

  In the above process cartridge, a developer overflow outlet may be provided at a predetermined position of the developer container. In such an embodiment, the connection with the outside at the developer overflow outlet can be cut off, and the connection with the outside can be released by sliding or rotating by the force applied from the outside, and the process cartridge is attached to the image forming apparatus main body. A developer overflow outlet blocking wall may be provided that can be slid or rotated to disconnect again from the outside when it is removed after being mounted.

[1. First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a process cartridge 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The process cartridge 1 is common in many respects to a corresponding portion in the image forming apparatus 9 according to the prior art shown in FIG. Therefore, in the following description, the same reference numerals as those used in FIG. 15 are used for the same constituent parts as those in the image forming apparatus 9 among the constituent parts included in the process cartridge 1.

  The process cartridge 1 includes a photoreceptor housing 31, a developer housing 32, an initial developer container 41, and a waste developer container 24. The initial developer container 41 is a container that stores the initial developer 25 before the process cartridge 1 is used.

  The initial developer container 41 is disposed on the upper part of the developer housing 32 in a state where the process cartridge 1 is mounted on the main body of the image forming apparatus, and is connected to the developer housing 32 through the moving port 42. However, the moving port 42 is blocked by the partition wall 43 before the process cartridge 1 is used.

  The wall surface of the initial developer container 41 is made of a heat insulating material. The heat conductivity of the heat insulating material is preferably 0.1 W / mK or less. On the other hand, the wall surfaces of the photosensitive member housing 31, the developing device housing 32, and the waste developer container 24 are made of a plastic having a higher thermal conductivity than the initial developer container 41.

  Prior to use of the process cartridge 1, the initial developer 25 is accommodated in the initial developer container 41, not in the developer housing 32. Since the initial developer 25 accommodated in the initial developer container 41 is blocked from the developer housing 32 by the partition wall 43, the initial developer 25 is contained in the photosensitive member housing 31 or the developing device during the transport of the process cartridge 1. The inside of the housing 32 is not contaminated.

  The partition wall 43 is slidable in the front direction of FIG. 1 by an external force. The partition wall 43 is made of cardboard, pet film or polyester film, for example.

  FIG. 2 is a view showing a state in which the partition wall 43 is partially slid. The partition wall 43 has a grip portion 43a for the user to grip the partition wall 43 from the outside. After the user shakes the process cartridge 1 to restore the fluidity of the initial developer 25, the user grips the grip portion 43 a and slides the partition wall 43 straight out in the longitudinal direction of the initial developer container 41. As a result, the disconnection between the developer housing 32 and the initial developer container 41 is released.

  When the partition wall 43 is pulled out and the developing device housing 32 and the initial developer container 41 are connected, the initial developer 25 accommodated in the initial developer container 41 passes through the moving port 42 and the developer tray. Free fall to 20. FIG. 3 is a view showing the process cartridge 1 in a state where the initial developer 25 has moved to the developer tray 20.

  FIG. 4 is a view showing a state when the process cartridge 1 is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body. A replenishing port blocking wall 44 is provided on the upper surface of the developing device housing 32 so as to close the replenishing port 14. The supply port blocking wall 44 can slide in the left-right direction in FIG. 4, but a force is always applied in a direction to close the supply port 14 by a spring.

  The replenishing port blocking wall 44 is provided with a vertically rising sleeve portion 44a that is arranged slightly inclined with respect to the depth direction in FIG. Therefore, when the process cartridge 1 is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body, the lower end corner of the replenishment developer container 15 advances while pressing the sleeve portion 44a, so that the replenishment port blocking wall 44 slides open. As a result, the process cartridge 1 can receive the replenishment developer from the replenishment developer container 15.

  When the process cartridge 1 is removed from the main body of the image forming apparatus, the supply port blocking wall 44 slides in the reverse direction by the force of the spring and closes the supply port 14. As a result, the developer remaining in the developing device housing 32 does not leak when the process cartridge 1 is discarded.

  If the carrier contained in the initial developer 25 is repeatedly used in the developer housing 32, it becomes unsuitable for use due to a decrease in chargeability or the like. The repeatedly used carrier collects at the upper part on the downstream side of the supply auger 17. A waste developer discharge port 23 is provided at a predetermined height on the wall surface on the downstream side of the supply auger 17, and the waste developer discharge port 23 communicates with the opening 40 of the waste developer container 24. . Therefore, the repeatedly used carrier gradually overflows from the waste developer discharge port 23 with the operation of the image forming apparatus, and freely falls into the waste developer container 24. Further, the toner contained in the initial developer 25 is consumed and reduced with image formation.

  A slit (not shown) is provided on the lower surface of the supply developer container 15 so as to be connected to the developing device housing 32 through the supply port 14. At the upper part of the slit, for example, a dispense roll (not shown) that vibrates with the rotation of the stirring auger 16 and drops the replenishment developer little by little is provided. As described above, the developer in the developing device housing 32 decreases as the image is formed. However, the replenishing developer is supplied to the developing device housing 32 sequentially from the replenishing developer container 15 having the above-described structure. The

  When the process cartridge 1 is used for a long period of time while being replenished with the developer, the used carrier and the toner attached thereto are accumulated in the waste developer container 24 as a waste developer 45. FIG. 5 is a view showing the process cartridge 1 in a state where the waste developer 45 is accumulated.

  If the waste developer container 24 is full of the waste developer 45, the process cartridge 1 can no longer be used. However, a waste developer overflow outlet 46 is provided on the side surface of the waste developer container 24. When the bulk of the waste developer 45 becomes higher than the position of the waste developer overflow outlet 46, the waste developer 45 is discarded and developed. Since the overflow from the agent overflow outlet 46, the waste developer 45 is not filled in the waste developer container 24.

  In a state where the process cartridge 1 is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body, the waste developer overflow outlet 46 coincides with an opening of a waste developer moving path 49 provided on the image forming apparatus main body. Under the waste developer moving path 49, for example, a container for waste toner recovered from the intermediate transfer member is connected, and the waste developer 45 overflowing from the waste developer overflow port 46 is discarded and developed by free fall. It is discharged to the container via the agent movement path 49.

  An overflow outlet blocking wall 47 is provided on the side surface of the waste developer container 24 so as to close the waste developer overflow outlet 46. The overflow outlet blocking wall 47 is slidable in the forward and rearward directions in FIG. 4, and a force is always applied in the direction of closing the waste developer overflow outlet 46 by a spring.

  The overflow outlet blocking wall 47 is provided with a protrusion 47a. When the process cartridge 1 is mounted on the image forming apparatus body, the protrusion 47a is pushed by the protrusion 48 provided on the image forming apparatus body. The overflow outlet blocking wall 47 is slid open. As a result, the waste developer 45 can overflow from the waste developer container 24 to the waste developer moving path 49.

  When the process cartridge 1 is removed from the main body of the image forming apparatus, the overflow outlet blocking wall 47 is slid by the force of the spring and automatically closes the waste developer overflow outlet 46. As a result, the waste developer 45 does not leak from the waste developer container 24 when the process cartridge 1 is discarded.

  As described above, in the process cartridge 1 before use, the initial developer 25 is stored in the initial developer container 41 that is blocked from the developer housing 32 by the partition wall 43. The developer 25 does not contaminate the developer housing 32 or the photoreceptor housing 31.

  Further, in the process cartridge 1 before use, the initial developer 25 does not reach the waste developer discharge port 23, so that the initial developer is placed in the waste developer discharge port 23 or the opening 40 of the waste developer container 24. There is no need to provide an opening / closing mechanism for preventing 25 leakage.

  Further, since the wall surface of the initial developer container 41 is made of a heat insulating material, the initial developer 25 is prevented from melting even when the process cartridge 1 before use is placed in a high heat environment. Further, in the process cartridge 1 before use, since the initial developer 25 is not accommodated in the developing device housing 32, it is not necessary to use a material having low thermal conductivity for the wall surface of the developing device housing 32. In the prior art, if a heat insulating material is used for the wall surface of the developing device housing 32 in order to prevent the initial developer 25 from melting, the temperature inside the developing device housing 32 becomes high at the time of image formation, resulting in a deterioration in image quality. Such a problem does not occur in the process cartridge 1.

  Further, since the initial developer container 41 is provided at the upper part of the developer housing 32, the initial developer 25 moves to the developer housing 32 just by opening the partition wall 43, and the process cartridge 1 can be used. Become.

  Further, since the waste developer container 24 is provided in the lower part of the developer housing 32, the waste developer container 24 discharged from the waste developer discharge port 23 does not require a special mechanism. Move to. Since the waste developer 45 stored in the waste developer container 24 is discarded as a part of the process cartridge 1, the user needs to take out the waste developer 45 separately. Absent.

  Further, since the waste developer container 24 is provided with the waste developer overflow outlet 46, the waste developer container 24 becomes full of the waste developer 45, so that the process cartridge 1 cannot be used. There is no.

The first embodiment described above can be variously modified as follows.
For example, in the description of the first embodiment, the partition wall 43 is slid in the front direction. Instead, the partition wall 43 may be provided with an opening / closing mechanism as shown in FIGS. In the example shown in FIG. 6A, the user can hold the protrusion 43b protruding outward from the partition wall 43 and slide the partition wall 43 in the left-right direction. In the example shown in FIG. 6B, the user can hold the protrusion 43b and slide the partition wall 43 so as to draw an arc. Further, in the example shown in FIG. 6C, the partition wall 43 is rotatable about the shaft 43c, and the user opens and closes the partition wall 43 by raising and lowering the protrusion 43b so as to draw an arc. Can do.

  In the description of the first embodiment, it is assumed that the user directly slides the partition wall 43 to release the blocking between the initial developer container 41 and the developer housing 32. Alternatively, when the process cartridge 1 is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body, the partition wall 43 may automatically slide or rotate so that the developing device housing 32 and the initial developer container 41 are connected. . FIG. 7 is a view showing an example of the partition wall 43 having such a mechanism. When the process cartridge 1 is mounted, a sleeve 43d provided to be inclined on the partition wall 43 is pushed by the convex portion 50 provided on the main body of the image forming apparatus, and the partition wall 43 slides. As a result, the user does not need to separately perform an operation of sliding the partition wall 43.

  In the description of the first embodiment, a heat insulating material is used for the wall surface of the initial developer container 41. Alternatively, or in addition thereto, the initial developer container 41 may be thermally insulated from the outside by providing a double wall surface. In that case, it is good also as a heat insulation air layer between the wall surfaces of a double structure, and good also as a heat insulation vacuum layer. Moreover, you may make it pinch | interpose a heat insulating material between the wall surfaces of a double structure. FIG. 8 is a view showing the process cartridge 1 including the initial developer container 41 having the double-structured wall surfaces 41a and 41b.

  In the first embodiment, the material of the partition wall 43 is cardboard. Instead, a heat insulating material may be used as the material of the partition wall 43. If it does so, the heat insulation effect from the exterior of the initial stage developer container 41 will increase.

  In the first embodiment, the process cartridge 1 used in the trickle-type image forming apparatus that replenishes the deficient developer while gradually discarding the used developer has been described, but the trickle system is adopted. The present invention may be applied to an image forming apparatus that does not. In that case, the process cartridge 1 does not need to include the waste developer discharge port 23, the waste developer container 24, the supply port 14, and the supply port blocking wall 44.

  In the first embodiment, the process cartridge 1 used in the toner reclaim image forming apparatus that reuses the collected toner has been described. However, the present invention is applied to an image forming apparatus that does not employ the toner reclaim method. May be. In that case, instead of the collected toner moving path 22, for example, a waste toner container may be provided.

  In addition, the components housed in the photoreceptor housing 31 or the developer housing 32 can be variously changed. For example, instead of providing the image bar 13 in the process cartridge 1, it may be provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus.

[2. Second Embodiment]
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a process cartridge 2 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The process cartridge 2 is common in many respects to the process cartridge 1 shown in FIG. Therefore, in the following description, the same reference numerals as those used in FIG. 1 are used for the same constituent parts as those in the process cartridge 1 among the constituent parts included in the process cartridge 2.

  In the process cartridge 2, a developer container 51 that functions as the waste developer container 24 and the initial developer container 41 in the process cartridge 1 is provided in the lower part of the developer housing 32.

  Similar to the initial developer container 41 in the process cartridge 1, the developer container 51 is made of a heat insulating material. That is, a material having a thermal conductivity of 0.1 W / mK or less is preferably used.

  An opening blocking wall 52 is provided on the upper surface of the developer container 51 so as to close the opening 40 leading to the waste developer discharge port 23. The opening blocking wall 52 is slidable in the left-right direction in FIG. 9 and can block the opening 40 from the outside or release the blocking.

  Further, between the developer container 51 and the developer housing 32, a slit-shaped moving port 53 is provided at a position directly below the rotation axis of the stirring auger 16 with the rotation axis direction as a longitudinal direction. A movement port blocking wall 54 is provided on the upper surface of the developer container 51 so as to block the movement port 53. Similarly to the opening blocking wall 52, the moving port blocking wall 54 is slidable in the left-right direction in FIG. 9, and the moving port 53 can be blocked or released from the outside.

  Further, a waste developer overflow outlet 46 and an overflow outlet blocking wall 47 (see FIG. 4) similar to those provided in the waste developer container 24 of the process cartridge 1 are provided on the side surface of the developer container 51. .

  In the process cartridge 2 before use, the opening 40 and the moving port 53 are closed by the opening blocking wall 52 and the moving port blocking wall 54, respectively. The waste developer overflow outlet 46 is closed by an overflow outlet blocking wall 47. That is, the developer container 51 is disconnected from the developer housing 32 and the outside. In such a state, the initial developer 25 is stored in the developer container 51.

  After the user slides the moving port blocking wall 54 to open the moving port 53, the user moves the process cartridge 2 upside down and shakes the process cartridge 2. As a result, the initial developer 25 stored in the developer container 51 passes through the moving port 53 and drops to the developer housing 32 while restoring the fluidity. FIG. 10 is a view showing the process cartridge 2 in a state where the initial developer 25 has dropped into the developing device housing 32.

  Subsequently, the user slides the moving port blocking wall 54 in the reverse direction to close the moving port 53 and then returns the process cartridge 2 to its original position. The user attaches the process cartridge 2 to the image forming apparatus main body. Thereafter, the user slides the opening blocking wall 52 to open the opening 40. As a result, the process cartridge 2 is ready for use. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the process cartridge 2 immediately after the process cartridge 2 is ready for use.

  Thereafter, along with image formation, the waste developer 45 discharged from the waste developer discharge port 23 falls freely into the developer container 51 through the opening 40 and accumulates there. FIG. 12 is a view showing the process cartridge 2 in a state where the developer container 51 contains the waste developer 45. As in the case of the process cartridge 1, the developer container 51 is provided with a waste developer overflow outlet 46, so that the developer container 51 does not fill up the waste developer 45.

  According to the process cartridge 2 described above, it is necessary to provide the moving port blocking wall 54 for opening and closing the moving port 53, and it is necessary to reverse the top and bottom when the user shakes the process cartridge 2 before use. Except for this point, the same effects as those obtained by the process cartridge 1 can be obtained.

  In addition, in the process cartridge 2, the developer container 51 that initially stores the initial developer 25 also serves as a container for the waste developer 45. Therefore, the process cartridge 2 is significantly lighter and smaller than the process cartridge according to the prior art. It becomes.

  The second embodiment described above can be variously modified in the same manner as the first embodiment. For example, the opening blocking wall 52 and the moving port blocking wall 54 may have an opening / closing mechanism similar to that shown for the partition wall 43 in FIG. FIG. 13 is a view showing the process cartridge 2 when the opening blocking wall 52 and the moving port blocking wall 54 are provided with the rotatable opening / closing mechanism shown in FIG. 6C.

  Further, the developer container 51 may be insulated from the outside by making the wall surface of the developer container 51 into a double structure. FIG. 14 is a view showing the process cartridge 2 including the developer container 51 having the double-structured wall surfaces 51a and 51b.

  In the second embodiment, the developing device housing 32 and the developer container 51 are connected by the two paths of the opening 40 and the moving port 53. Instead, the moving port 53 and the moving port blocking wall 54 are not provided, and the opening 40 is opened when the initial developer 25 is moved from the developer container 51 to the developing device housing 32, and through the waste developer discharge port 23. The initial developer 25 may be placed in the developing device housing 32. By doing so, the process cartridge 2 can be manufactured more easily.

It is a block diagram of the process cartridge concerning 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which illustrated the sliding method of the partition concerning 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of the process cartridge concerning 1st Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the process cartridge according to the first embodiment of the present invention is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body. It is a block diagram of the process cartridge concerning 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which illustrated the opening-closing mechanism of the partition concerning the modification of 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which illustrated the opening-closing mechanism of the partition concerning the modification of 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of the process cartridge concerning the modification of 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of the process cartridge concerning 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of the process cartridge concerning 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of the process cartridge concerning 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of the process cartridge concerning 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of the process cartridge concerning the modification of 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of the process cartridge concerning the modification of 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of the image forming apparatus concerning a prior art.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1.2 ... Process cartridge, 9 ... Image forming apparatus, 11 ... Photosensitive drum, 12 ... Charging roll, 13 ... Image bar, 14 ... Supply port, 15 ... Supply developer container, 16 ... Stirring auger, 17 ... Supply auger , 18 ... magnet roll, 19 ... trimmer bar, 20 ... developer tray, 21 ... scraper, 22 ... recovered toner transfer path, 23 ... waste developer outlet, 24 ... waste developer container, 25 ... initial developer, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 31 ... Photoconductor housing, 32 ... Developing device housing, 33 * 43 ... Partition, 40 ... Opening part, 41 ... Initial developer container, 42 * 53 ... Moving port, 44 ... Supply port blocking wall, 45 ... Waste developer , 46 ... Waste developer overflow outlet, 47 ... Overflow outlet blocking wall, 48, 50 ... Projection, 49 ... Waste developer moving path, 51 ... Developer container, 52 ... Opening blocking wall, 54 ... Moving port blocking wall.

Claims (5)

An image carrying means for carrying an image formed by a developer;
A first housing for accommodating the image carrying means;
Developer carrying means for carrying and carrying the developer from the surface of the image carrying means to a position at a predetermined distance;
A developer tray containing a developer carried by the developer carrying means;
A second housing for accommodating the developer carrying means and the developer tray;
A developer container coupled to the second housing;
A partition wall that disconnects the connection between the second housing and the developer container, and that can be released by sliding or rotating by a force applied from the outside;
An initial developer housed in the developer container that is blocked from the second housing by the partition ;
At a predetermined position of the second housing, a supply port for supplying new developer and a discharge port for discharging used developer are provided,
The developer container is disposed at a lower portion of the second housing in a state where the process cartridge is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body, and is connected to the second housing through the discharge port by releasing the blocking. Be done
A process cartridge characterized by that . The replenishing port blocking wall is provided to block the connection with the outside at the replenishing port by sliding or rotating when the process cartridge is mounted on the main body of the image forming apparatus and then removed from the main body of the image forming apparatus. The described process cartridge. Prior Symbol developer container, connected to the second housing in the initial developer transfer port that through which the initial developer is moved to the second housing from the developer container, the discharge port and And
The partition includes a first blocking portion for blocking connection with the second housing at the initial developer moving port, and a second blocking portion for blocking connection with the second housing at the discharge port. Have
The first blocking part can be slid or rotated by a force applied from the outside to release the connection with the second housing and can be disconnected again with the second housing. Yes,
The second shut-off portion can be released from being disconnected from the second housing by sliding or rotating independently of the first shut-off portion by a force applied from the outside.
The process cartridge according to claim 1 or 2 . Developer overflow outlet is provided at a predetermined position before Symbol developer container
The process cartridge according to claim 1 . Blocking the connection between the external before Symbol developer overflow outlet is releasable coupling with the outside to slide or rotate by an externally applied force, removed after which the process cartridge is mounted to the image forming apparatus main body A developer overflow outlet blocking wall that can be slid or rotated when it is
The process cartridge according to claim 4 .

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