JP2006139002A - Process cartridge and electrophotographic image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a cartridge from falling accidentally. <P>SOLUTION: The cartridge and the main body of an image forming apparatus are connected together by a sealing member. After the cartridge is taken out of the main body of the image forming apparatus, the cartridge and the main body of the image forming apparatus are disconnected by a disconnecting means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a process cartridge and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus to which the process cartridge can be attached and detached.

  Here, the electrophotographic image forming apparatus forms an image on a recording medium using an electrophotographic image forming process. For example, an electrophotographic copying machine, an electrophotographic printer (for example, LED printer, laser beam printer, etc.), electronic A photo facsimile machine.

  The process cartridge is a cartridge in which a charging unit or a cleaning unit, a developing unit, and an electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally formed, and the cartridge can be attached to and detached from the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus. In addition, at least one of the charging unit and the cleaning unit, the developing unit, and the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally formed into a cartridge so as to be detachable from the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus. Further, it means that at least the developing means and the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrated into a cartridge so that it can be attached to and detached from the electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body.

  Further, the present invention is not limited to a process cartridge including a photosensitive drum, and does not have a photosensitive drum, but can be detachably attached to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body having a developing unit integrated with the hopper and storing toner in the hopper. A developing cartridge and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus to which the developing cartridge can be attached / detached are also objects of the invention.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic image forming process (hereinafter referred to as an image forming apparatus), an electrophotographic photosensitive member and process means acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally formed into a cartridge. A process cartridge system is adopted that can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body. According to this process cartridge system, the apparatus can be maintained by the user himself / herself without depending on the service person, so that the operability can be remarkably improved. Therefore, this process cartridge system is widely used in image forming apparatuses.

  Here, when the user replaces the process cartridge, the cartridge is pulled out from the image forming apparatus. At that time, the user may accidentally drop the cartridge.

On the other hand, there is known a cartridge having a seal member in which an opening for feeding developer in a developer container containing developer used for development to a developing means is openable (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-282279). Publication).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-282279

  The present invention is a further development of the prior art.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a process cartridge that does not accidentally drop.

  The main present invention will be described below with numbers corresponding to the claims.

  A first invention according to the present invention is attachable to and detachable from an image forming apparatus main body, and developing means for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum using a developer. A process cartridge comprising: a developer container that stores a developer to be supplied to the developing unit; and a seal member that seals an opening for feeding the developer in the developer container to the developing unit so that the developer can be opened. One end of the seal member is fixed to the process cartridge, and the other end of the seal member has a stopper that can be connected to the image forming apparatus.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a developing means for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum using a developer, and a developer supplied to the developing means. A developer container to be housed; and a seal member in which an opening for sending the developer in the developer container to the developing means is sealed so that the opening can be opened. One end of the seal member is fixed to the process cartridge, and the other end is an image. An image forming apparatus in which a process cartridge having a stopper capable of being connected to the forming apparatus is detachable. The image forming apparatus includes a connecting member for releasably connecting the stopper to the image forming apparatus, and the connecting portion includes the process cartridge. Has a releasing means for releasing the stopper after the image forming apparatus is taken out from the image forming apparatus.

  A third invention according to the present invention is detachable from an image forming apparatus main body, and an electrophotographic photosensitive drum and developing means for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum using a developer. A process cartridge comprising: a developer container that stores a developer to be supplied to the developing unit; and a seal member that seals an opening for sending the developer in the developer container to the developing unit so that the developer can be opened. One end of the member is fixed to the process cartridge, the other end of the seal member is a stopper that can be connected to the image forming apparatus, and the process cartridge is inserted into the image forming apparatus when the process cartridge is inserted into the image forming apparatus. When the image forming apparatus and the stopper are connected, and the process cartridge is loaded into the image forming apparatus, the seal member is removed from the opening. , When said process cartridge is mounted to the image forming apparatus, to open completely the opening.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a developing means for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum using a developer, and a developer supplied to the developing means. A developer container to be housed; and a seal member in which an opening for sending the developer in the developer container to the developing means is sealed so that the opening can be opened. One end of the seal member is fixed to the process cartridge, and the other end is an image. An image forming apparatus in which a process cartridge having a stopper that can be connected to the forming apparatus is detachable. The image forming apparatus includes a connecting member that releasably connects to the stopper and the image forming apparatus, and the connecting member rotates. It is possible, and is rotated by a rotation drive member that is provided in the process cartridge and abuts on the connecting member, and is used for the rotation operation to wind up the seal member.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the connecting member and the rotating member are started to contact at the same time when the process cartridge starts to be inserted into the image forming apparatus.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the seal member is removed from the opening at the same time as or before completion of mounting at a predetermined position in the process cartridge and the image forming apparatus.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the connecting portion has release means for releasing the connection member after the process cartridge is taken out from the image forming apparatus.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, the process cartridge includes a developing device.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the cartridge and the image forming apparatus main body are connected via the seal member, and after the cartridge is removed from the image forming apparatus, the connection releasing means is used to connect the cartridge and the image forming apparatus. By releasing the connection, the user can be prevented from accidentally dropping the cartridge.

  Hereinafter, a process cartridge and an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the dimensions, materials, shapes, relative arrangements, and the like of the component parts described in this embodiment do not limit the scope of the present invention to these unless otherwise specified.

  Embodiment 1 of a process cartridge and an image forming apparatus using the process cartridge according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  First, the overall configuration of the image forming apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a laser printer in which a process cartridge A which is an embodiment of an image forming apparatus is loaded in an image forming apparatus main body B, and FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the process cartridge.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus B irradiates a light image based on image information from the optical system 1 and applies a developer image (hereinafter referred to as a toner image) to a photosensitive drum 7 that is an electrophotographic photosensitive member. Form. Then, the recording material 2 as a recording medium is conveyed by the conveying means 3 in synchronization with the formation of the toner image, and the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 7 in the image forming unit formed as a cartridge as the process cartridge A is obtained. The recording material 2 is transferred to the recording material 2 by the transfer means 4, and the recording material 2 is conveyed to a fixing means 5 having a pressure roller 5 a and a heating roller 5 b, and the transferred toner image is fixed and discharged to a discharge portion 6. This completes image formation.

  Next, the process cartridge will be described. The process cartridge A includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member and at least one process means. Examples of the process means include charging means for charging the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and development for forming a toner image on the electrophotographic photosensitive member. And cleaning means for cleaning the toner remaining on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member. In the present invention, as described above, the developing cartridge is also considered to have developing means except for the photosensitive drum 7 from the process cartridge.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the process cartridge A of the present embodiment has a charging roller 8 as a charging unit, an exposure unit 9, and a developing roller 10 as a developing unit around a photosensitive drum 7 that is an electrophotographic photosensitive member. The cleaning unit 11 is disposed, and these are covered with a housing made up of the developing frame 13 and the cleaning frame 20 so as to be integrated with the toner container 12 so as to be detachable from the image forming apparatus main body B. Further, a stirring member 10 a that stirs the toner stored in the toner container 12 and sends it to the developing roller 10 is provided.

  Next, the removal operation of the seal member will be described with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the process cartridge A has a toner supply opening 16 (see FIG. 2) in a partition wall 12a provided between the toner container 12 containing the toner and the developing chamber 14 (see FIG. 2). The toner is sealed in the toner container 12 by being sealed by a seal member 17 that is thermally welded by hot melt or the like. This is to prevent toner from unexpectedly flowing out of the developing device due to vibration during transport of the process cartridge, and preventing the user, the developing device, the process cartridge, and eventually the main body of the image forming apparatus from being contaminated. Then, as shown in FIG. 6, a handle 17a having a loop shape for pulling out the seal member 17 from the end opposite to the direction in which the seal member 17 is pulled out (arrow direction) to completely open the toner supply opening 16 is provided. The pull-out auxiliary sheet 17c is connected, and as described above, the loop-shaped handle 17a is connected to the other end of the end connected to the seal member 17 of the auxiliary sheet 17c. . Further, at the other end of the end portion where the seal member 17 is connected to the auxiliary sheet 17c, the seal member 17 covering the toner supply opening 16 which is a feature of the present invention is completely removed, and the seal material 17 and the pull-out material are pulled out. A pull-out preventing member 17b is connected to prevent the auxiliary sheet 17c from being completely removed from the process cartridge. However, the seal member 17, the handle 17a, the pull-out preventing member 17b, and the auxiliary sheet 17c are connected by adhesion and welding with an adhesive, hot melt, or the like (anything that can be eliminated by the weight of the process cartridge).

  Here, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 show a state in which the seal member for making the developing device usable is pulled out. FIG. 3 shows a state before the developing device is used, and the developing device is covered with the cover 15, and a loop-shaped handle 17 a connected to the sealing member 17 passes through the sealing member pull-out port 18 and is exposed from the developing device. The relationship between the seal member pull-out port 18 for pulling out the seal member 17 and the auxiliary sheet 17c and the size of the pull-out preventing member 17b for not completely removing the sealing material from the process cartridge is shown in the direction of arrow D in FIG. As shown in FIG. 7, when the short direction of the pull-out preventing member 17b is larger than the short direction of the seal member pull-out port 18, the seal member 17 is pulled out and the toner supply opening 16 is completely opened. In addition, it is possible to achieve the object that the pull-out preventing member 17b is reliably caught by the seal member pull-out port 18 and the sealing material 17 and the pull-out auxiliary sheet 17c are not completely removed from the process cartridge. However, as described above, the pull-out preventing member 17b does not completely remove the seal member 17 and the auxiliary sheet 17c from the developing unit. However, as shown in FIG. 8, the pull-out prevention member 17b is bonded and welded to the developing device, an adhesive, hot melt, etc. (anything that can be eliminated by the weight of the process cartridge). Can also achieve the above-mentioned purpose. Therefore, in order to make the developing device usable, the toner container 12 and the developing chamber 14 are made into one space by pulling the handle 17a and opening the toner supply opening 16 as shown in FIG. At this time, the toner in the toner container 12 can enter the developing chamber 14 for the first time. Then, as shown in FIG. 5, the pull-out preventing member 17b at the other end of the handle 17a is caught by the seal member pull-out port 18 of the developing device.

  Next, a process cartridge attaching / detaching operation will be described with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 9, when the process cartridge A is mounted, the lid member 21 provided on the front surface of the apparatus main body is opened in the arrow direction 23 around the hinge 22 and inserted along the guide rail 24. Then, the handle 17a of the seal member 17 exposed from the process cartridge A is connected to a connecting portion 25 provided in the apparatus main body.

  A position where the connecting portion 25 is installed will be described. FIG. 10 shows a state in which the image forming apparatus B and the process cartridge A described in this embodiment are connected via the seal member 17 and the auxiliary sheet 17c. When the image forming apparatus B and the process cartridge A are connected via the seal member 17 and the auxiliary sheet 17c, the connecting portion 25 is installed at a position where the process cartridge A does not touch the installation floor of the image forming apparatus. It is possible to achieve that the cartridge which is the object of the present invention is not dropped at the place where the image forming apparatus is installed and the user. However, when the image forming apparatus is placed on a dedicated pedestal, paper cassette, or the like, the installation floor surface takes into account the height of the dedicated pedestal, paper cassette, or the like.

  Finally, the lid member 21 of FIG. 8 is closed in the direction opposite to the arrow direction with the hinge 22 as the center, the lock member 28 installed on the lid member 21 contacts and contacts the connecting portion 25, and the connecting portion 25 is the image forming apparatus. When the cover member 21 is pushed into the inner wall 29 and the lid member 21 is closed, the lock is applied as shown in FIG.

  On the other hand, when the process cartridge A is taken out, the lid member 21 is opened in the same manner as when the process cartridge A is mounted, and when the take-out handle 26 is pulled forward, the process cartridge A can be taken out. As shown in FIG. By pushing the connection release means 27 that can be pushed when the is completely taken out from the loading port provided in the image forming apparatus, the connecting portion 25 is pushed out from the inner wall, and the lock is released.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a developing cartridge, a process cartridge, and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus having means for preventing a user from accidentally dropping the cartridge.

  Embodiment 2 of a process cartridge and an image forming apparatus using the process cartridge according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  The sealing member that is a feature of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the process cartridge A has a toner supply opening 16 (see FIG. 2) in a partition wall 12a provided between the toner container 12 containing the toner and the developing chamber 14 (see FIG. 2). The toner is sealed in the toner container 12 by being sealed by a seal member 17 that is thermally welded by hot melt or the like. This is to prevent toner from unexpectedly flowing out of the developing device due to vibration during transport of the process cartridge, and preventing the user, the developing device, the process cartridge, and eventually the main body of the image forming apparatus from being contaminated.

  As in the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, a connecting member 17d for pulling out the seal member 17 from the end in the direction of pulling out the seal member 17 and completely opening the toner supply opening 16 is provided. The drawing auxiliary sheet 17c connected is connected, and the connecting member 17d is connected to the opposite end of the auxiliary sheet 17c connected to the seal member 17 as described above. Further, the seal member 17 covering the toner supply opening 16 which is a feature of the present invention is completely removed from the opposite end of the seal member 17 to which the auxiliary sheet 17c is connected, and the seal field material 17 and the pull-out assist are removed. A pull-out preventing member 17b is connected to prevent the sheet 17c from being completely removed from the process cartridge. However, the seal member 17, the connecting member 17d, the pull-out preventing member 17b, and the auxiliary sheet 17c are connected by adhesion and welding with an adhesive, hot melt, or the like (anything that can be eliminated by the weight of the process cartridge). .

  Next, mounting states of the seal member 17, the connecting member 17d, the pull-out preventing member 17b, and the auxiliary sheet 17c with respect to the process cartridge and the developing device will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 14 shows the state before the developing device is used, and the connecting member 17d for connecting to the seal member and connecting to the image forming apparatus main body is the surface on which the process cartridge is inserted into the image forming apparatus as shown in FIG. It is installed in the corner | angular 30 with the side surface. However, the connecting member 17d may be installed anywhere as long as it is installed on the side surface of the process cartridge that can be reliably connected to the image forming apparatus main body. Then, as in the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, the pull-out preventing member 17b at the other end of the connecting member 17c for connecting to the image forming apparatus main body is caught by the seal member pull-out port 18 of the developing device. However, the pull-out prevention member 17b described in the present embodiment describes that the seal member 17 is not removed from the developing device, and in this embodiment, the pull-out prevention member 17b is caught by the seal member pull-out port 18. However, as shown in FIG. 13, the pull-out preventing member 17b is also bonded and welded to the developing device by an adhesive, hot melt or the like (anything that can be removed by the weight of the process cartridge). .

  Next, a process cartridge attaching / detaching operation will be described with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 15, when the process cartridge A is mounted, the lid member 21 provided on the front surface of the apparatus main body is opened in the arrow direction 23 around the hinge 22 and loaded along the guide rail 24. Simultaneously with the loading, the connecting member 17c of the process cartridge A and the connecting member 25 of the image forming apparatus B are connected. Then, as the process cartridge A is inserted into the image forming apparatus B, as shown in FIG. 16, the seal member 17 is pulled with the corner 30 between the surface where the process cartridge is inserted into the image forming apparatus and the side surface of the process cartridge as a fulcrum. It will be pulled out. At the same time, when the process cartridge A is inserted into the image forming apparatus main body B, the concavities and convexities 25a installed on the side surface of the process cartridge A shown in FIG. 14 are connected to the loading port of the image forming apparatus B shown in FIG. The gear 25 on the member 25 meshes with the connecting member 25 as shown in FIG. 16, and the seal member 17 and the auxiliary sheet 17c are wound up. When the process cartridge A is attached to the image forming apparatus B, the toner container opening 16 is reliably opened by rotating the connecting member 25 and inserting the process cartridge A into the image forming apparatus B.

  Finally, the lid member 21 of FIG. 15 is closed in the direction opposite to the arrow direction around the hinge 22. This completes the loading of the process cartridge into the image forming apparatus.

  On the other hand, when the process cartridge A is taken out, the lid member 21 shown in FIG. 15 is opened in the direction of the arrow 23 and the take-out handle 26 is pulled forward, as in the case of mounting, and the process cartridge A is moved along the guide rail 24. Of the image forming apparatus B and the process cartridge A by pressing the connection releasing means 27 that can be pushed when the process cartridge A is completely taken out from the loading port provided in the image forming apparatus. The connection with the connecting member 17c can be released.

  Since other configurations and operations are the same as those in the first embodiment, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions and descriptions of the operations are omitted.

1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an image forming apparatus targeted by the present invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view explaining the inside of the process cartridge which this invention makes object. 1 is a perspective view of a developing device according to a first embodiment. It is the perspective view which showed a mode that the seal tape of the developing device of 1st Embodiment was pulled out. It is explanatory drawing explaining before and behind extraction of the sealing member which the extraction prevention member of 1st Embodiment has connected. It is a top view explaining the composition of the seal member of a 1st embodiment. It is explanatory drawing explaining the magnitude | size of the drawing-out prevention member and seal member drawing-out port of the process cartridge which this invention makes object. It is explanatory drawing explaining before and after extraction of the sealing member which the process cartridge of 1st Embodiment has connected. FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating connection between the process cartridge and the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. It is explanatory drawing explaining the length of the sealing member of 1st Embodiment, a process cartridge, a connection part, etc. FIG. It is explanatory drawing explaining the connection part of the sealing member image forming apparatus of 1st Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing explaining before and behind extraction of the sealing member which the extraction prevention member of 2nd Embodiment has connected. It is explanatory drawing explaining before and behind extraction of the sealing member which the process cartridge of 2nd Embodiment has connected. It is a perspective view of the process cartridge of 2nd Embodiment. FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating connection between a process cartridge and an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment. It is explanatory drawing during insertion of the process cartridge of 2nd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

A Process cartridge B Image forming apparatus 1 Optical system 2 Recording material 3 Conveying means 4 Transfer means (transfer roller)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 5 Fixing means 6 Ejection part 7 Photoconductor drum 9 Exposure part 10 Developing roller 10a Stirring member 11 Cleaning means 12 Toner container 13 Developing frame 14 Developing chamber 15 Cover 16 Toner supply opening 17 Seal member 17a Handle 17b Pull-out prevention member 17c Connecting member 18 Seal tape outlet 20 Cleaning frame 21 Lid member 22 Hinge 24 Guide rail 25 Connecting portion 25a Concavity and convexity 26 Takeout handle 27 Connection releasing means 28 Locking member 29 Inner wall 30 Corner

Claims (8)

It can be attached to and detached from the image forming device body.
An electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
Developing means for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum using a developer;
In a process cartridge comprising a developer container for storing a developer to be supplied to the developing means, and a seal member that seals an opening for feeding the developer in the developer container to the developing means so as to be openable.
One end of the seal member is fixed to the process cartridge,
A process cartridge comprising: a stopper that is connectable to an image forming apparatus at the other end of the seal member. An electrophotographic photosensitive drum; and developing means for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum using a developer;
A developer container for storing a developer to be supplied to the developing unit; and a seal member that seals an opening for sending the developer in the developer container to the developing unit so that the developer can be opened. One end of the seal member is In an image forming apparatus in which a process cartridge having a stopper fixed to the process cartridge and connected to the image forming apparatus at the other end is removable.
A connection member for releasably connecting the stopper to the image forming apparatus;
The electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the connecting portion includes release means for releasing the stopper after the process cartridge is taken out from the image forming apparatus. It can be attached to and detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus,
An electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
Developing means for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum using a developer;
In a process cartridge comprising a developer container for storing a developer to be supplied to the developing means, and a seal member that seals an opening for feeding the developer in the developer container to the developing means so that the developer can be opened.
One end of the seal member is fixed to the process cartridge,
A stopper that is connectable to the image forming apparatus at the other end of the seal member;
When the process cartridge is loaded into the image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus and the stopper are connected;
When the process cartridge is inserted into the image forming apparatus, the seal member is removed from the opening, and when the process cartridge is mounted in the image forming apparatus, the opening is completely opened. And
Process cartridge characterized by. An electrophotographic photosensitive drum; and developing means for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum using a developer;
A developer container for storing a developer to be supplied to the developing unit; and a seal member that seals an opening for sending the developer in the developer container to the developing unit so that the developer can be opened. One end of the seal member is In an image forming apparatus in which a process cartridge having a stopper fixed to the process cartridge and connected to the image forming apparatus at the other end is removable.
A releasable coupling member coupled to the stopper and the image forming apparatus;
The connecting member is rotatable;
Provided in the process cartridge, and rotated by a rotation driving member that contacts the connecting member;
An image forming apparatus, wherein the seal member is wound up in rotation.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the connection member and the rotating member are started to contact with each other simultaneously with the start of insertion of the process cartridge into the image forming apparatus.   5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the seal member is removed from the opening at the same time as or before completion of attachment at predetermined positions inside the process cartridge and the image forming apparatus. 5. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the connecting portion includes release means that enables the connection member to be released after the process cartridge is taken out from the image forming apparatus.   The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the process cartridge includes a developing device.

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