JP6370335B2 - Cartridge and unit manufacturing method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a cartridge that can be attached to and detached from an image forming apparatus main body, and a unit used in the image forming apparatus.

Conventionally, in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic image forming process, an electrophotographic photosensitive member and process means acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrated into a unit as a process cartridge. Then, a system is adopted in which the process cartridge is detachable from the image forming apparatus main body.
In such a process cartridge, a plurality of sealing members are sealed between cartridge frame bodies and parts constituting the process cartridge so that the developer (toner) accommodated in the process cartridge does not leak to the outside. It is configured as follows.

Here, as the sealing member, an elastic body such as urethane foam, soft rubber, or elastomer resin is used. And the said sealing member is affixed on the junction part between the said frame bodies or between components accurately (refer patent document 1).
When a flexible sheet is used as the seal member, a fixing member such as a double-sided tape is affixed in order to fix the flexible sheet to a cartridge frame or a component constituting the process cartridge (patent) Reference 2).
Further, the process cartridge is provided with an electrode member so that a conductive member such as an electrophotographic photosensitive member or process means acting thereon is electrically connected to the electrophotographic image forming apparatus. Examples of the electrode member include an electrode member obtained by bending a thin metal sheet, an electrode member formed of a conductive resin, and the like. A configuration in which the electrode member is assembled to a cartridge frame or the like is used (see Patent Document 3).
In recent years, for the purpose of cost reduction due to increased production efficiency and quality stability during assembly, process cartridges are manufactured by an automatic machine using an apparatus in each assembly process from manual assembly work. The sealing member, the fixing member, and the electrode member are also assembled by an automatic machine.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-272071 Japanese Patent No. 3321848 JP 2007-47491 A

However, the above conventional configuration has the following problems.
That is, since the sealing member is a soft part, it is difficult to hold it by an automatic machine (robot), and it is difficult to attach it to the cartridge frame with high accuracy. Similarly, a fixing member such as a double-sided tape is also a strip-shaped soft part, and therefore it is difficult to attach it to the cartridge frame with high accuracy by an automatic machine. In addition, the electrode member is often a metal sheet that is bent in a complicated manner, and there is a concern about the entanglement of parts during supply, and it is difficult to assemble the electrode member into the cartridge frame. Further, since the members are assembled in each assembly process, as many assembly processes as the number of parts are required.
The present invention has been made in view of the circumstances as described above, and improves the assemblability when the structural members are assembled to the cartridge frame by an automatic machine, and realizes highly accurate assembly. Objective.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides:
In the manufacturing method of the cartridge detachable from the image forming apparatus main body,
Said cartridge, said cartridge frame formed of resin, a sealing member formed on said cartridge frame on the body for sealing between the pairs found are that part material, by be thermally welded allowed to thin member A fixing member formed on the cartridge frame for fixing a thin plate member to the cartridge frame;
With
A first step of bringing a mold corresponding to the seal member and the fixing member into contact with the cartridge frame;
After the first step, a resin material different from the cartridge frame is injected into a space between the mold and the cartridge frame that is in contact with the cartridge frame, and the sealing member and the fixing member are A second step of molding on the cartridge frame;
It is characterized by having.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, while improving the assembly property at the time of assembling a structural member to a cartridge frame with an automatic machine, it becomes possible to implement | achieve highly accurate assembly.

Schematic cross-sectional view showing the overall configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment Schematic sectional view of a process cartridge according to an embodiment Schematic sectional view of a photosensitive drum unit according to an embodiment Schematic front view of the cleaning frame unit according to the embodiment Schematic side view of the cleaning frame unit according to the embodiment Schematic sectional view of an electrode member formed on the cleaning frame unit according to the embodiment The schematic perspective view which showed the inlet of the cleaning container which concerns on an Example The perspective view of the state which set the cleaning container which concerns on an Example to the resin injection apparatus Schematic sectional view showing a state where resin is injection-molded into the cleaning container according to the embodiment The figure which shows the state which carries out the injection molding of resin at the longitudinal direction one end side of a cleaning container Diagram of the state after resin is injection-molded at one end in the longitudinal direction of the cleaning container The figure which shows the state after carrying out injection molding of resin to a cleaning container The figure which shows the state which carries out injection molding of resin to the cleaning container in other Example 1. The figure which shows the state after carrying out injection molding of resin to the cleaning container in other Example 1. Schematic sectional view of a process cartridge according to another embodiment 2

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Exemplary embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, the dimensions, materials, shapes, and relative arrangements of the components described in this embodiment should be appropriately changed according to the configuration of the apparatus to which the invention is applied and various conditions. It is not intended to limit the scope to the following embodiments.
The present invention relates to a cartridge that can be attached to and detached from an electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body. Here, the electrophotographic image forming apparatus forms an image on a recording material using an electrophotographic image forming process. Examples of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus include an electrophotographic copying machine, an electrophotographic printer (for example, a laser beam printer, an LED printer, etc.), a facsimile machine, and a word processor.
The cartridge is a drum cartridge that supports an electrophotographic photosensitive drum (electrophotographic photosensitive member), a developing cartridge that supports developing means, a process cartridge in which the electrophotographic photosensitive drum and process means are integrated into a cartridge, and the like. Is a generic term. The process means acts on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and examples thereof include charging means, developing means, and cleaning means acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum.

(Example)
Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus and a process cartridge according to the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the longitudinal direction is a direction that intersects the direction in which the process cartridge is mounted on the image forming apparatus body (substantially orthogonal direction, the rotation axis direction of the photosensitive drum).

(overall structure)
The overall configuration of the image forming apparatus and process cartridge of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an overall configuration of a laser beam printer which is one form of an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a process cartridge according to the present embodiment.

The overall configuration of the image forming apparatus main body A will be described according to an image forming operation. First, an image is transferred from an optical system 1 as an optical means to a drum-shaped electrophotographic photosensitive member (image carrier, hereinafter referred to as “photosensitive drum”) 7. Information light based on information is irradiated. As a result, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 7, and this electrostatic latent image is developed with a developer (hereinafter referred to as “toner”), whereby a toner image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 7. The In synchronism with the formation of the toner image, the recording material (recording medium such as recording paper, OHP sheet, cloth, etc.) 2 is fed from the feeding unit (cassette) 3a by the pickup roller 3b and the pressure contact member 3c in pressure contact therewith. Separately fed one by one.
The toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 7 of the process cartridge B is transferred to the recording material 2 conveyed along the conveyance guide 3f1 by applying a voltage to the transfer roller 4 as a transfer unit. .

  Further, the recording material 2 onto which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed to the fixing unit 5 along the conveyance guide 3f2. The fixing unit 5 includes a driving roller 5a and a heater 5b, and includes a fixing rotating body 5d composed of a cylindrical sheet rotatably supported by a supporting body 5c. Is applied to fix the toner image. The recording material 2 on which the toner image is fixed is conveyed by the discharge roller 3d and discharged to the discharge unit 6 through the reverse conveyance path. In this embodiment, the conveying means 3 is constituted by the pickup roller 3b, the press contact member 3c, the discharge roller 3d, etc., but this is not restrictive.

(Process cartridge configuration)
As shown in FIG. 2, the process cartridge B includes a photosensitive drum 7 and at least one process means. Examples of the process means include a charging means for charging the photosensitive drum 7, a developing means for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 7, and a toner (residual) remaining on the photosensitive drum 7 (electrophotographic photosensitive member surface). There are cleaning means for cleaning toner and waste toner).
In the process cartridge B of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the photosensitive drum 7 having a photosensitive layer is rotationally driven, and a voltage is applied to a charging roller 8 as a charging unit. The surface is uniformly charged. In the process cartridge B, information light (light image) based on image information from the optical system 1 is exposed to the charged photosensitive drum 7 through the exposure opening 9b, and the surface of the photosensitive drum 7 is electrostatically charged. A latent image is formed, and the electrostatic latent image is developed by developing means.

Here, the developing operation by the developing means will be described.
First, the toner in the toner container (developer container) 10a is transferred to a developing roller as a developing rotator (developer carrier) in which a fixed magnet 10c is incorporated by a rotatable feeding member 10b as a toner feeding means. It is sent out toward 10d.
When the developing roller 10d rotates, the amount of developer on the surface of the developing roller 10d is regulated by the developing blade 10e as a regulating member (process means), and the toner layer to which the triboelectric charge is applied becomes the developing roller. It is formed on the surface of 10d. Then, the toner formed on the surface of the developing roller 10d is transferred to the photosensitive drum 7 according to the electrostatic latent image, whereby a toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 7, and the electrostatic latent image becomes a visible image. It becomes.

  Then, a toner image on the photosensitive drum 7 is transferred to the recording material 2 by applying a voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the toner image to the transfer roller 4. After the transfer, the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 7 is removed from the surface of the photosensitive drum 7 by a cleaning blade 11a as a cleaning unit, and is stored in a waste toner storage portion (developer storage portion) 11c. The squeeze sheet 11b as a thin plate member (process means) is provided so as to come into contact with the photosensitive drum 7, thereby preventing the toner stored in the waste toner storage portion 11c from leaking out of the waste toner storage portion 11c. Yes.

  The process cartridge B includes a photosensitive drum unit 11 and a developing unit 10. The photosensitive drum unit 11 includes a photosensitive drum 7, a charging roller 8, a cleaning blade 11a, a squeeze sheet 11b, and a cleaning frame unit 12. The developing unit 10 includes developing means.

(Configuration of cleaning frame unit)
Next, the configuration of the cleaning frame unit according to the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of the photosensitive drum unit according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 4 is a schematic front view of the cleaning frame unit according to the present embodiment. FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of the cleaning frame unit according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 6 is a schematic sectional view of an electrode member formed on the cleaning frame unit according to the present embodiment.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the cleaning frame unit 12 is provided with a cleaning container 13 having a waste toner container 11c, a cleaning blade 11a, a cleaning blade lower seal 14, and vertical seals 15 and 16. Yes. Here, the cleaning blade lower seal 14 and the vertical seals 15 and 16 are for sealing the gap between the cleaning blade 11a and the cleaning container 13 as seal members for preventing leakage of waste toner. In particular, the cleaning blade lower seal 14 is provided with the cleaning blade 11a.
This is in contact with a support portion 11a2 made of a sheet metal that supports the blade portion 11a1. The cleaning blade lower seal 14 seals the gap between the cleaning blade 11 a and the cleaning container 13 in the longitudinal direction of the cleaning container 13. Further, the vertical seals 15 and 16 are in contact with both the blade portion 11a1 and the support portion 11a2, and are sealing members for sealing the gap between the cleaning blade 11a and the cleaning container 13 at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the cleaning container 13. It is.
Further, the cleaning container 13 is provided with a fixing member 17 for fixing the squeeze sheet 11 b to the cleaning container 13. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, an electrode member (power supply member, electrical contact member) 18 for supplying power to the charging roller 8 is also provided in the cleaning container 13. Here, the cleaning container 13 corresponds to a cartridge frame formed of resin.

  The cleaning blade lower seal 14 is provided across the blade mounting seat surfaces 21 and 22 provided at both longitudinal ends of the cleaning container 13. The cleaning blade lower seal 14 has a shape extending at a predetermined angle (oblique) from the vertical direction with respect to the cleaning blade 11a, and is formed in an oblique direction in the same manner as the molding die cutting direction of the cleaning container 13. Further, the tip of the cleaning blade lower seal 14 extending in an oblique direction has a curvature shape in order to stabilize the contact state with the cleaning blade 11a. The vertical seals 15 and 16 are provided in the vicinity of the blade mounting seat surfaces 21 and 22 at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the cleaning container 13. The lower cleaning blade seal 14 and the vertical seals 15 and 16 are integrally injection-molded on the cleaning container 13 (on the cartridge frame) using an elastic sealing material.

In this embodiment, an elastomer resin is used as the material of the elastic sealing material. As the elastomer resin, a styrene elastomer resin made of the same material and having elasticity is different from the cleaning container 13 and the resin material, but is preferable because it is excellent in disassembling workability when the process cartridge B is recycled. (Parts of the same material do not have to be disassembled.)
However, other elastomer resins other than those described above may be used as long as they have similar mechanical characteristics, and silicon rubber or soft rubber may be used. In this embodiment, the various elastomer resins and rubbers as the elastic sealing material are referred to as “elastomer resin”.

  In the present embodiment, the fixing member 17 is also injection-molded integrally with the cleaning container 13. The fixing member 17 is fixed to the squeeze sheet 11b by heat welding. In this embodiment, an elastomer resin is used as the material of the fixing member 17. The elastomer resin used as the fixing member 17 is different from the elastomer resin used as the cleaning container 13 and the sealing material, and is an elastomer resin suitable for fixing to the squeeze sheet 11b by thermal welding. The fixing member 17 has a shape extending in the same oblique direction as the cleaning blade lower seal 14. Here, the fixing member 17 has been described as fixing the squeeze sheet 11 b to the cleaning container 13. However, the fixing member 17 also has a function as a seal member that prevents the developer from leaking between the squeeze sheet 11 b and the cleaning container 13.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the electrode member 18 is provided on the side surface on one end side in the longitudinal direction of the cleaning container 13. Then, as shown in FIG. 6, a conductive compression spring 24 attached to a conductive charging roller terminal 23 that axially supports the charging roller 8 is in contact with each other so as to be electrically connected. The electrode member 18 is also formed integrally with the cleaning container 13. As a material of the electrode member 18, a conductive resin is used.

(Molding process into a cleaning container)
Next, the cleaning blade lower seal 14 and the vertical seal 15 are attached to the cleaning container 13.
, 16, the fixing member 17, and the electrode member 18 will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view showing an injection port (injection part) of the cleaning container according to this embodiment, FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the cleaning container according to this embodiment set in a resin injection device, and FIG. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the state which injection-molds resin to the cleaning container which concerns on an Example. FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state where the resin is injection-molded on one end side in the longitudinal direction of the cleaning container according to the present embodiment. FIG. 11 is a view after the resin is injection-molded on one end side in the longitudinal direction of the cleaning container according to the present embodiment. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows this state. FIG. 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a state after resin is injection-molded into the cleaning container according to the present embodiment.
Here, the vertical seals 15 and 16 are arranged symmetrically in the longitudinal direction of the cleaning frame unit 12, and the configuration related to the vertical seals 15 and 16 is also symmetrical. Therefore, although the vertical seals 15 and 16 may be shown with respect to the vertical seal 15 on one end side, the vertical seal 16 is the same.

  As shown in FIGS. 7, 8, and 9, the cleaning container 13 is a resin (molten resin) injection portion into which molten resin injected to form the cleaning blade lower seal 14 flows (injected). An inlet 25 is provided. The injection port 25 is provided on the container opposite side (the container back side) of the mold contact surface 13a with which the lower seal mold 50 engraved with the seal shape of the lower seal 14 of the cleaning blade contacts during molding, and the mold contact surface 13a. It communicates to the side.

  Similarly, the cleaning container 13 is provided with inlets 26 and 27 for forming vertical seals 15 and 16 at both longitudinal ends of the cleaning container 13. The inlets 26 and 27 are provided on the opposite sides of the mold contact surfaces 13b and 13c with which the vertical seal dies 51 and 52 in which the seal shapes of the vertical seals 15 and 16 are engraved are abutted during molding. It communicates to the contact surfaces 13b and 13c side.

Similarly, the cleaning container 13 is provided with inlets 28 a and 28 b for molding the fixing member 17. The inlets 28a and 28b are provided on the opposite side of the mold contact surface 13d to which the fixing member mold 53 in which the shape of the fixing member 17 is engraved contacts when molding, and communicate with the mold contact surface 13d side. Yes.
Similarly, the cleaning container 13 has an inlet 29 that communicates to the side of the mold contact surface 13e on which the electrode member mold 54 in which the shape of the electrode member 18 is engraved on one end side in the longitudinal direction of the cleaning container 13 contacts. Is provided.

  In the present embodiment, the inlet 25 of the lower seal 14 of the cleaning blade, the inlets 26 and 27 of the vertical seals 15 and 16, the inlets 28 a and 28 b of the fixing member 17, and the inlet 29 of the electrode member 18 are provided in the cleaning container 13. Are provided on the same direction side. Further, the gates 41, 42, 43, 44a, 44b, 45 for injecting the resin of the resin injection device have injection directions at positions corresponding to the respective injection ports 25, 26, 27, 28a, 28b, 29. It arrange | positions so that it may become the same direction as the opening direction of an inlet_port | entrance. Details will be described later.

  In this embodiment, the inlets 25, 26, 27, 28a, 28b, and 29 provided in the cleaning container 13 are arranged so that the positions in the longitudinal direction of the cleaning container 13 are different from each other (so as not to overlap). These inlets are arranged at positions shifted from each other. Details will be described later.

In the present embodiment, the inlet 25 of the lower cleaning blade seal 14 is provided at the center in the longitudinal direction of the mold contact surface 13 a of the lower cleaning blade seal 14. In addition, the injection ports 28 a and 28 b of the fixing member 17 are provided at two locations so that the resin flow length is uniform with respect to the longitudinal direction of the mold contact surface 13 d of the fixing member 17.
Here, the inlet 25 of the cleaning blade lower seal 14 may also be configured to be provided at two or more locations so that the flow length of the injected resin is uniform. In that case, it is preferable that the position of the cleaning container 13 in the longitudinal direction is disposed at a position shifted from the other injection ports (position shifted from each other).
In this embodiment, the mold contact surface 13 d of the fixing member 17 is a surface parallel to the mold contact surface 13 a of the opposing cleaning blade lower seal 14.

Next, the molding process will be described.
First, as shown in FIG. 8, the cleaning container 13 is set in the resin injection device 40. The resin injection device 40 includes a hopper 46 for supplying the material for the lower cleaning blade seal 14 and the vertical seals 15, 16, a hopper 47 for supplying the material for the fixing member 17, and a hopper 48 for supplying the material for the electrode member 18. Is provided. At this time, as shown in FIG. 9, the mold is clamped with the lower seal mold 50 in contact with the mold contact surface 13a of the lower seal 14 of the cleaning blade.

  Similarly, the molds are clamped with the vertical seal molds 51 and 52 in contact with the mold contact surfaces 13b and 13c of the vertical seals 15 and 16, respectively. Similarly, the mold is clamped in a state where the fixed member mold 53 is in contact with the mold contact surface 13 d of the fixed member 17. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 10, the mold is clamped with the electrode member mold 54 in contact with the mold contact surface 13 e of the electrode member 18.

  Each of the molds 50, 51, 52, 53, and 54 may be sequentially brought into contact with the cleaning container 13, or may be brought into contact with each other at the same time and clamped. Each mold 50, 51, 52, 53, 54 is in contact with the cleaning container 13 so that the resin does not leak in an injection process described later.

Here, as shown in FIG. 9, the mold contact surface 13 a of the cleaning blade lower seal 14 and the mold contact surface 13 d of the fixing member 17, which are in contact with the lower seal mold 50 and the fixed member mold 53 of the cleaning container 13, respectively. Are provided so as to be parallel to each other as described above.
As a result, the direction of force received by the mold contact surface 13a of the lower seal 14 of the cleaning blade 13 of the cleaning container 13 being clamped with the lower seal mold 50, and the mold contact surface 13d of the fixed member 17 are fixed with the fixed member mold 53 and the mold clamp. The direction of force received is the same direction. This suppresses deformation such as compression in the inner direction of the cleaning container 13 or expansion in the outer direction during mold clamping in the molding process. Therefore, the lower seal mold 50 and the fixed member mold 53 can come into contact with the cleaning container 13 with good balance, and the contact state between the cleaning container 13 and each mold can be improved. Thereby, a highly accurate assembly | attachment is realizable.

Similarly, the mold contact surfaces 13b and 13c of the vertical seals 15 and 16 of the cleaning container 13 are also provided so as to be parallel to each other.
Thereby, the mold contact surface 13b of the vertical seal 15 of the cleaning container 13 is clamped with the vertical seal mold 51, and the mold contact surface 13c of the vertical seal 16 is clamped with the vertical seal mold 52. The direction of force applied is the same direction. This suppresses deformation such as compression in the inner direction of the cleaning container 13 or expansion in the outer direction during mold clamping in the molding process. Therefore, the vertical seal molds 51 and 52 can contact the cleaning container 13 with good balance, and the contact state between the cleaning container 13 and each mold can be improved. Thereby, a highly accurate assembly | attachment is realizable.

Next, the gates 41, 42, 43, 44a, 44b, 45 of the resin injection device 40 are provided in the respective injection ports 25, 26, 27, 28a, 28b, 29 provided in the cleaning container 13 as shown in FIG. Is contacted from above in the vertical direction. In the present embodiment, each inlet is disposed on the same direction side of the cleaning container 13, and the mold contact surface 13a, the mold contact surface 13b,
13c, the mold contact surface 13d, and the mold contact surface 13e are arranged on the same direction side of the cleaning container 13. As a result, a plurality of parts can be molded simultaneously in the same process, the assembly process can be reduced without reducing the number of parts, and the part molding time (tact) of the multi-part molding process itself can be shortened. Product costs can be reduced by reducing assembly processes. Further, since the gates 41, 42, 43, 44a, 44b, and 45 can be brought into contact with the cleaning container 13 at the same time, the injection can be performed simultaneously, and the injection end time of all the parts can be shortened.

  In addition, the injection ports 25, 26, 27, 28 a, 28 b, and 29 are arranged at positions shifted from the other injection ports in the longitudinal direction of the cleaning container 13. As a result, the gates 41, 42, 43, 44a, 44b, and 45 of the resin injection device 40 can be prevented from interfering with each other, and the cleaning container 13 (process cartridge B) can be downsized regardless of the device configuration. it can.

  Next, the plungers 55, 56, 57 of the resin injection device 40 are driven in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 9, and the elastomer resin which is the sealing material of the cleaning blade lower seal 14 and the vertical seals 15, 16 is supplied to the gates 41, 42, 43. Is injected from. The injected elastomer resin is poured into the space formed by the cleaning container 13, the lower seal mold 50, and the vertical seal molds 51 and 52.

Similarly, the plunger 58 of the resin injection device 40 is driven in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 9, and the elastomer resin that is the material of the fixing member 17 is injected from the gates 44a and 44b. The injected elastomer resin is poured into the space formed by the cleaning container 13 and the fixed member mold 53.
Similarly, as shown in FIG. 10, the plunger 59 of the resin injection device 40 is driven in the direction of the arrow, and the conductive resin that is the material of the electrode member 18 is injected. The injected conductive resin is poured into the space formed by the cleaning container 13 and the electrode member mold 54.

Here, the cleaning blade lower seal 14, the vertical seals 15 and 16, the fixing member 17, and the electrode member 18 may be sequentially injected, but all parts can be formed by the simultaneous injection. The injection end time can be shortened.
In the present embodiment, as described above, the gates 41, 42, 43, 44a, 44b, 45 of the resin injection device 40 can be brought into contact with the injection ports 25, 26, 27, 28a, 28b, 29 simultaneously. Since it is comprised, injection | emission can be performed simultaneously. Thus, in the present embodiment, the injection end time of all parts can be shortened.

  After the injection is finished, the cleaning container 13 is taken out. At this time, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the cleaning container 13 is retracted from the gates 41, 42, 43, 44 a, 44 b, 45 of the resin injection device 40. Then, as shown in FIG. 11, the gate 45 and the electrode member mold 54 of the resin injection device 40 are retracted from the cleaning container 13. Next, as shown in FIG. 12, the cleaning container 13 is retracted from the lower seal mold 50, the vertical seal molds 51 and 52, and the fixed member mold 53 in the direction of arrow R. The arrow R direction is a release direction without an undercut portion with respect to the shapes of the molded cleaning blade lower seal 14 and the fixing member 17, and is different from the release direction of the cleaning container 13 (vertical direction in FIG. 12). . By retracting the cleaning container 13 in such an arrow R direction, the cleaning container 13 is taken out with the cleaning blade lower seal 14, the vertical seals 15, 16, the fixing member 17, and the electrode member 18 formed in the cleaning container 13. be able to.

According to the present embodiment, the cleaning blade lower seal 14 and the vertical seals 15 and 16, the fixing member 17, and the electrode member 18 can be integrally formed in the cleaning container 13 by the molding process as described above. Accordingly, the cleaning blade lower seal 14 and the vertical seals 15 and 16, the fixing member 17, and the electrode member 18 can be provided with high positional accuracy with respect to the cleaning container 13, so that an automatic machine can be assembled with high accuracy and easy. Product functions can be stabilized.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, a plurality of parts (members) such as the cleaning blade lower seal 14, the vertical seals 15 and 16, the fixing member 17, and the electrode member 18 are used in the same process using the resin injection device 40 described above. Can be manufactured. In addition, a plurality of parts formed of a material different from the cleaning container 13 such as the cleaning blade lower seal 14, the vertical seals 15 and 16, the fixing member 17, and the electrode member 18 can be manufactured in the same process. That is, a plurality of parts having different functions can be manufactured in the same process, so that the assembly process can be reduced, the production efficiency can be increased, and the cost of the product can be reduced by reducing the assembly process. In addition, a plurality of members can be integrated even if the shape is difficult to manufacture by conventional general two-color molding, such that the tip of the molded shape is different from the cleaning container 13 and has a curved shape. Can be molded and removed.

Here, in this embodiment, the plurality of members molded on the cleaning container 13 include five components including a cleaning blade lower seal 14, vertical seals 15 and 16, a fixing member 17, and an electrode member 18 (three kinds of resin materials). ), But is not limited to this. That is, the plurality of members may be a combination of only a sealing member (at least one of the cleaning blade lower seal 14 or the vertical seals 15 and 16) and the fixing member 17 having a sealing function. Further, the plurality of members may be a combination of only the sealing member and the electrode member 18 or may be a combination of only the fixing member 17 and the electrode member 18.
Further, although three types of resin materials are provided for five parts, the present invention is not limited to this, and there may be two types or five types of resin materials for five parts. It suffices that at least one member among the plurality of members is formed of a resin material different from the other members among the plurality of members.

  In the present embodiment, a plurality of surfaces with which a plurality of molds corresponding to a plurality of members abut each other, that is, the mold contact surfaces 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d, and 13e are on the same direction side of the cleaning container 13. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Of these plural surfaces (die contact surfaces), at least two surfaces (two die contact surfaces) may be arranged on the same direction side of the cleaning container 13. Thereby, at least two members can be simultaneously molded in the same process. As a result, the assembly process can be reduced without reducing the number of parts, and the part molding time (tact) of the multi-part molding process itself can be shortened, thereby increasing the production efficiency and reducing the cost of the product by reducing the assembly process. Further, since at least two gates can be brought into contact with the cleaning container 13 at the same time, the injection can be performed simultaneously, and the injection end time of all the parts can be shortened.

In the present embodiment, the mold contact surface 13a and the mold contact surface 13d are configured to be parallel surfaces, and the mold contact surfaces 13b and 13c are also configured to be parallel surfaces. However, it is not limited to this. That is, at least two surfaces (two mold abutments) arranged on the same direction side of the cleaning container 13 among a plurality of surfaces (mold abutting surfaces) with which a plurality of molds corresponding to a plurality of members abut each other at the time of molding. Any structure may be used as long as the surface is parallel. Thereby, when the mold is clamped in the molding process, the force direction received by the mold clamping can be made the same direction, so that deformation such as compression in the inner direction of the cleaning container 13 or expansion in the outer direction can be suppressed. Therefore, a plurality of molds can be brought into contact with the cleaning container 13 with good balance, and the contact state between the cleaning container 13 and each mold can be improved. Here, in the present embodiment, it has been described that at least two mold contact surfaces (for example, the mold contact surface 13a and the mold contact surface 13d) are parallel surfaces. The parallel surfaces may be the entirety of each mold contact surface, or may be a part of each mold contact surface.

  Further, in this embodiment, the injection ports 25, 26, 27, 28a, 28b, and 29 are provided on the opposite side of the container from the mold contact surfaces (13a to 13e) with which the corresponding molds contact during molding. However, this is not a limitation. That is, the injection port is provided on the opposite side of at least two surfaces of the cleaning container 13 on the same direction side among the plurality of surfaces with which the plurality of molds corresponding to the plurality of members abut each other at the time of molding. If it is. In the cleaning container 13, when the injection port is provided on the surface with which the mold abuts, it is necessary to provide resin injection means inside the mold, and there is a concern that the mold becomes complicated. On the other hand, by providing the injection port on the opposite side of the surface with which the mold abuts, the structure of the mold can be simplified and the cost of the product can be reduced. In addition, the case where injection molding is performed from the surface side where the mold abuts will be described later.

  In this embodiment, the photosensitive drum unit 11 has been described. However, the present invention can also be suitably applied to the developing unit 10. As will be described in detail later, the developing unit 10 is formed integrally with at least two of the sealing member, the fixing member, and the electrode member as a plurality of members disposed on the frame constituting the developing unit 10. A process cartridge configuration may be used. Even in such a configuration, the same effect as in the present embodiment can be obtained.

(Other Example 1)
Hereinafter, another embodiment 1 will be described. In the present embodiment, different components will be described with respect to the above-described embodiment, and the description of the same components will be omitted.
FIG. 13 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state in which resin is injection-molded into the cleaning container, and FIG. 14 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state after the resin is injection-molded into the cleaning container.

In the present embodiment, the resin material is directly injection molded from the mold contact surface side of the cleaning container 13 to the cleaning container 13 to form a plurality of members.
With such a configuration, each of the plurality of members has an injection port (gate) into which the resin material is directly injected from the mold when the plurality of members are molded. Here, the form in which the resin material is directly injected from the mold includes a form in which the resin material is directly injected from the gate of the resin injection device 40 via the mold, and the resin injection attached to the mold A mode in which the resin material is injected directly from the gate of the device 40 is included.
In the present embodiment, the lower seal mold 60 is provided with an attachment portion into which the seal shape of the cleaning blade lower seal 14 is engraved and to which the gate 41 is attached (inserted). Further, the vertical seal molds 61 and 62 are provided with attachment portions to which the gates 42 and 43 are attached while the seal shapes of the vertical seals 15 and 16 are engraved. Further, the fixed member mold 63 is provided with an attachment portion to which the shape of the fixed member 17 is engraved and to which the gates 44a and 44b are respectively attached.

Next, the molding process will be described.
First, the cleaning container 13 is set in the resin injection device 40. At this time, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13, the cleaning container 13 is set in the resin injection device 40 via the lower seal mold 60, the vertical seal molds 61 and 62, and the fixed member mold 63.

For this, first, the lower seal mold 60, the vertical seal molds 61 and 62, and the fixed member mold 63 are brought into contact with the mold contact surfaces 13a, 13b, 13c, and 13d of the cleaning container 13, respectively. Thereafter, the gates 41, 42, 43, 44 a, 44 b of the resin injection device 40 are in contact with the cleaning container 13 with the lower seal mold 60, the vertical seal molds 61, 62, and the fixed member mold 63, respectively. It abuts from the same direction side. Here, when the cleaning container 13 is set in the resin injection device 40, the gates 41, 42, 43, 44a, and 44b are all provided on the same direction side with respect to the cleaning container 13 as in the first embodiment. .
The elastomer resin is formed on the cleaning container 13 from the mold contact surfaces 13a, 13b, 13c, and 13d on which the lower seal mold 60, the vertical seal molds 61 and 62, and the fixing member mold 63 are in contact with each other. 13 and is poured into the space formed.

After the injection is finished, the cleaning container 13 is taken out. At this time, as shown in FIG. 14, the cleaning container 13 is retracted from the gates 41, 42, 43, 44a, and 44b of the resin injecting device 40 (downward in FIG. 14).
Next, the cleaning container 13 is retracted from the lower seal mold 60, the vertical seal molds 61 and 62, and the fixed member mold 63 in the arrow R direction. The arrow R direction is a mold release direction without an undercut portion with respect to the shapes of the molded cleaning blade lower seal 14 and the fixing member 17, and is different from the mold release direction of the cleaning container 13 (vertical direction in FIG. 14). . By retracting the cleaning container 13 in such an arrow R direction, the cleaning container 13 is taken out with the cleaning blade lower seal 14, the vertical seals 15, 16, the fixing member 17, and the electrode member 18 formed in the cleaning container 13. be able to.

In the configuration of this embodiment, since the resin is injected from the side of the mold that contacts the cleaning container 13 and molding is performed, the injection port that is the resin injection portion as described in the first embodiment is not provided in the cleaning container 13. . In such a configuration, it is not necessary to secure a space for providing the injection port on the side opposite to the mold contact surface of the cleaning container 13, and the cleaning container 13 can be downsized.
In this embodiment, the resin is injection-molded from the mold contact surfaces 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d, and 13e of the cleaning container 13 to form a plurality of members. However, the present invention is not limited to this. . Members formed using molds corresponding to at least two surfaces provided on the same direction side of the cleaning container 13 among the plurality of mold contact surfaces are inserted from the same direction side through the respective molds at the time of molding. Any resin material may be used as long as it is molded by injection.

(Other Example 2)
FIG. 15 is a schematic sectional view of a process cartridge according to another embodiment. In the present embodiment, constituent parts different from those of the above-described embodiment and the other embodiment 1 will be described, and description of similar constituent parts will be omitted.
In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the blade lower seal 14, the vertical seals 15 and 16, the fixing member 17, and the electrode member 18 are provided on the photosensitive drum unit 11 with an elastomer resin is shown. However, the member may be provided in the developing unit 10.
That is, the above-described member is a blade lower seal 114 extending in the longitudinal direction of the developing unit 10 that prevents the toner from leaking between the developing frame 10g and the developing blade 10e constituting the toner accommodating portion 10a of the developing unit 10, and Longitudinal seals 115 provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction may be used. Furthermore, a fixing member 117 for fixing the blowing prevention sheet 10f in contact with the developing roller 10d as a thin plate member (process means) to the developing frame 10g, and an electrode member for supplying power to the developing roller 10d and the developing blade 10e. There may be. Here, the fixing member 117 also has a function as a seal member that prevents the toner from leaking between the developing frame 10g and the blowing prevention sheet 10f.

A ... image forming apparatus main body, B ... process cartridge, 13 ... cleaning container, 14 ...
Cleaning blade lower seal, 15, 16 ... vertical seal, 17 ... fixing member, 18 ... electrode member

Claims (9)

In the manufacturing method of the cartridge detachable from the image forming apparatus main body,
The cartridge includes a sealing member formed on the cartridge frame that seals between a cartridge frame formed of resin and a member to be assembled, and the thin plate member by being thermally welded to the thin plate member. A fixing member formed on the cartridge frame for fixing the cartridge to the cartridge frame;
With
A first step of bringing a mold corresponding to the seal member and the fixing member into contact with the cartridge frame;
After the first step, a resin material different from the cartridge frame is injected into a space between the mold and the cartridge frame that is in contact with the cartridge frame, and the sealing member and the fixing member are A second step of molding on the cartridge frame;
A method for producing a cartridge, comprising:   In the cartridge frame, a surface on which the mold for forming the seal member abuts and a surface on which the mold for forming the fixing member abuts are parallel on the same direction side of the cartridge frame. The cartridge manufacturing method according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge manufacturing method is provided.   The cartridge frame has a resin injection portion for injecting a resin material into the space in order to form the seal member and the fixing member in the second step on the opposite side to the same direction side. A manufacturing method of the cartridge according to claim 1 or 2.   The method for manufacturing a cartridge according to claim 3, wherein the resin injecting portions are arranged so that positions in the longitudinal direction of the cartridge frame do not overlap each other.   5. The method of manufacturing a cartridge according to claim 1, wherein, in the second step, the sealing member and the fixing member are formed of different resin materials. 6. A method of manufacturing a unit used in an image forming apparatus,
The unit is
A frame formed of a resin that supports an electrophotographic photosensitive member and a process unit that acts on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a frame that constitutes a developer containing portion that contains a developer;
A seal member for preventing the developer from leaking between the process means and the frame;
A fixing member for fixing the abutting sheet members before Symbol frame on said electrophotographic photosensitive member,
With
A first step of bringing a mold corresponding to the seal member and the fixing member into contact with the frame;
After the first step, the space between the frame and abutting the mold and the frame, and injecting a resin material different from that of the frame member, the sealing member and the front fixing member SL frame A second step of molding on the body;
A method for producing a unit, comprising: The sealing member and the fixing member are each provided in the frame by extending in the longitudinal direction of the unit by the second step,
7. The frame according to claim 6, wherein a plurality of injection portions for injecting a resin material when the sealing member and the fixing member are molded are provided at positions shifted in the longitudinal direction. The manufacturing method of the unit of description. The sealing member and the fixing member are each provided in the frame by extending in the longitudinal direction of the unit by the second step,
In the second step, using the mold in which a plurality of injection ports for injecting a resin material when molding the sealing member and the fixing member are provided at positions shifted in the longitudinal direction. A method for manufacturing the unit according to claim 6.   The sealing member is a member that seals between the cleaning blade as the process means for removing the developer from the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member and the frame, and the fixing member is against the electrophotographic photosensitive member. The unit manufacturing method according to claim 6, wherein the unit has a function as a member that seals between the thin plate member and the frame body in contact with each other.

Images