Patent Grant
9665040
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and a developer accommodating container, a developer accommodating unit, a developing device and a cartridge which are to be used in the image forming apparatus.
Here, the image forming apparatus forms an image on a recording material (medium) by using, e.g., an electrophotographic image forming process and may include, e.g., an electrophotographic copying machine, an electrophotographic printer (such as an LED printer or a laser beam printer), an electrophotographic facsimile machine, and the like.
Further, the cartridge refers to a cartridge including at least a developing means and the developing device which are integrally constituted to be made detachably mountable to an image forming as apparatus main assembly and a cartridge including the developing device and at least a photosensitive member unit including a photosensitive member which are integrally constituted to be made detachably mountable to the image forming apparatus main assembly.
Further, the developer accommodating container and the developer accommodating unit are accommodated in the image forming apparatus or the cartridge. The developer accommodating container and the developer accommodating unit are at least provided with a flexible container for accommodating the developer.
In a conventional electrophotographic image forming apparatus using the electrophotographic image forming process, a process cartridge type in which an electrophotographic photosensitive member and process means actable on the photosensitive member are integrally assembled into a cartridge and this cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus is employed.
In such a process cartridge, as shown in FIG. 52, an opening provided to a developer accommodating frame 31 for accommodating the developer (toner, carrier, etc.) is sealed with a sealing member. Further, a type in which a bonding portion 33 of a toner seal 32 which is the sealing member is pulled and peeled during use, thus unsealing the opening to enable supply of the developer has been widely employed (Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application (JP-A) Hei 4-66980).
Further, against a problem such that the developer is scattered in the process cartridge in a developer filling step during manufacturing of the process cartridge, a constitution in which a deformable inner container is used has been devised (JP-A Hei 4-69980).
In the above-described conventional example, for the purposes of improving operativity of supply of the developer and reducing a cost of a developer supplying device by scattering prevention in the process cartridge, a method of accommodating the developer in the deformable inner container is described in JP-A Hei 4-66980. However, in this example, an operation and a mechanism which relate to the discharge of the developer after the unsealing are not shown.
An object of the present invention is to satisfactorily effect the discharge of the developer from a deformable developer accommodating member.
One of constitutions of the inventions according to the present invention is as follows:
A developer accommodating unit which accommodates a developer for image formation and is detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus main assembly, comprising: a flexible container which accommodates the developer and which is capable of discharging the developer from an opening; a frame for accommodating the flexible container; and an urging member, provided inside the frame and outside the flexible container and configured to be movable relative to the frame, for deforming the flexible container.
According to the present invention, it is possible to satisfactorily effect discharge of the developer from the deformable developer accommodating member.
In the following description, a developer accommodating container refers to at least a flexibility container and a sealing member for sealing an opening, provided to the flexible container, for permitting discharge of a developer. The developer accommodating container before the developer is accommodated therein is referred to as a developer accommodating container 37 for accommodating the developer. The developer accommodating container which accommodates the developer and which is provided with an unsealing member for unsealing the sealing member is referred to as a developer accommodating container 30 including the unsealing member. The developer accommodating container which accommodates the developer and which is not provided with the sealing member is referred to as a developer accommodating container 26 accommodating the developer.
Incidentally, for simplification, these developer accommodating containers will be described as the developer accommodating container 37, the developer accommodating container 30 and the developer accommodating container 26 by using different reference numerals.
A developer accommodating unit includes at least the developer accommodating container and a frame for accommodating the developer accommodating container.
<Summary of Structure of Process Cartridge>
The process cartridge includes an image bearing member and process means actable on the image bearing member. Here, as the process means, there are, e.g., a charging means for electrically charging a surface of the image bearing member, a developing device for forming an image on the image bearing member, and a cleaning means for removing a developer (containing toner, carrier, etc.) remaining on the image bearing member surface.
The process cartridge A in this embodiment includes, as shown in
<Summary of Structure of Image Forming Apparatus>
The process cartridge A is mounted in the image forming apparatus main assembly B as shown in
<Summary of Structure of Developer Accommodating Unit>
Next, a structure of a developer accommodating unit 25 will be described with reference to
(Developer Accommodating Unit)
The developer accommodating unit 25 is, as shown in
Incidentally, in this embodiment, the developer accommodating unit 25 is the same as the developing device 38. This is because the developer accommodating unit 25 includes the developing roller 13 and the developing blade 15. However, the developing roller 13 and the developing blade 15 may also be supported by a frame separately from the developer accommodating unit 25 and thus may be separated from the developer accommodating unit 25. In this case, the developing device 38 is constituted by the developer accommodating unit 25, the developing roller 13 and the developing blade 15 (not shown).
(Developer Accommodating Container Including Unsealing Member)
The developer accommodating container 30 including the unsealing member is constituted by an unsealing member 20 and the developer accommodating container 26 as shown in
The unsealing member 20 includes an engaging portion 20b to be engaged with a sealing member 19, and by engaging a portion-to-be engaged 19b of the developer accommodating container 26 with the engaging portion 20b, the developer accommodating container 30 including the unsealing member is constituted.
(Developer Accommodating Container in which Developer is Accommodated)
As shown in (c) of
The developer bag 16 of the developer accommodating container 26 is sealed with the sealing member 19 at the plurality of openings 35a for permitting the discharge of the developer and includes bonding portion 39a which seals a filling opening (injection port) for permitting filling (entrance) of the developer. Thus, the respective openings 35a and the filling opening 39 of the developer accommodating container 26 in which the developer is accommodated are sealed and therefore the accommodated developer is not leaked out to the outside, so that the developer accommodating container 26 can be treated as a single unit. Further, the sealing member 19 includes holes as the portions-to-be-engaged 19b to be engaged with the unsealing member 20, thus being engageable with the unsealing member 20.
(Developer Accommodating Container for Accommodating Developer)
As shown in (a) of
Here, in the developer accommodating container 37 for accommodating the developer, the developer is not filled as yet, and the developer accommodating container 37 is in a state in which the filling opening 39 for permitting the filling of the developer is open.
(Filling and Developer Accommodating Container)
Here, a relation between the developer accommodating container 37 for accommodating the developer and the developer accommodating container 26 in which the developer is accommodated will be described.
First, as shown in (a) of
Next, as shown in (b) of
Then, as shown in (c) of
Then, when the bonding of the bonding portion 39a of the opening for permitting the filling is completed, the developer is filled, so that the developer accommodating container 26 in which the developer is accommodated is provided.
Incidentally, a position and a size of the filling opening 39 for permitting the filling may appropriately by disposed correspondingly to shapes and the like of the filling device of the developer and the process cartridge A.
(Effect of Incorporating Developer Bag in Developing Device)
By forming the developer-accommodated developer accommodating container 26 in a bag shape, the developer can be treated as a unit. For that reason, a developer filling step can be separated from a main assembling step (manufacturing line) of the process cartridge A. By this, the developer is prevented from being scattered in the main assembling step (manufacturing line) of the process cartridge A, so that maintenance such as cleaning of the manufacturing line can be reduced. By the prevention of the scattering of the developer during the assembling step, it is possible to omit a cleaning step of the process cartridge A to be performed after the filling of the developer.
Further, also in the filling step of the developer bag 16, the developer bag 16 has flexibility, and the filling opening 39 for permitting the filling is also soft and therefore can be easily sealed with less scattering.
Further, the developer accommodating container 26 in which the developer is accommodated has flexibility and therefore can be assembled while following a shape of the frame.
Further, in the filling step, the developer accommodating container 37 has flexibility and therefore deforms its cross section to increase its volume in which the developer can be filled, so that a filling amount can be increased during the filling.
Further, the developer accommodating container 37 before the developer filling has flexibility and thus can be made small (thin), so that a storing space during storage before the filling can be made small compared with the frame which is a resinous structure.
(Structure of Developer Bag)
As shown in
Further, the developer bag 16 includes developer bag fixing portions (portions-to-be-fixed) 16d and 16e fixed to the first frame 17 and the second frame 18.
(Material and Air Permeability of Developer Bag)
Here, a degree of the air permeability may appropriately be selected so that the developer is prevented from leaking out of the developer bag 16 based on a balance with a size of the developer (particle size of powder) to be accommodated.
As a material for the air permeable portion 16s, a nonwoven fabric or the like formed of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP) or the like in a thickness of 0.03-0.15 mm is preferred. Further, even when the material for the air permeable portion 16s is not the nonwoven fabric, a material having minute holes which are smaller than the powder such as the developer may also be used.
Further, with respect to arrangement of the air permeable portion, in this embodiment, as shown in
Incidentally, as the material for the developer bag 16 other than the air permeable portion 16s, a material having flexibility so as to improve efficiency during the discharge of the developer described later may preferably be used. Further, the material for the air permeable portion 16s may also have flexibility.
(Effect of Developer Bag Having Air Permeability)
Thus, the reason why the air permeability is imparted to the developer bag 16 is that the developer bag 16 can meet states during manufacturing, during transportation until a user uses the cartridge A, and during storage. First, the reason for the state during the manufacturing is that the developer bag 16 is made deformable and reducible in order to facilitate assembling of the developer bag 16 with the frames 17 and 18. In the case where the developer bag 16 is not provided with the air permeability portion, the size thereof cannot be changed from that in a state in which the developer bag 16 is filled with the developer (state in which the bag is closed) and therefore the developer bag 16 is not readily deformed. For that reason, it takes time to assembling and steps are complicated. Therefore, when the air permeability is imparted to at least a part of the developer bag 16, the size of the developer bag 16 can be changed from that in the state in which the developer bag 16 is filled with the developer and then is closed, thus facilitating the assembling.
Next, the reason for the states during the transportation and during the storage is that the developer bag 16 can meet a change in different air pressure during the transportation and during the storage of the process cartridge A. The difference in air pressure between the inside and outside of the developer bag 16 is generated in the case where the developer bag 16 is in a lower air-pressure environment during the transportation or the like than during the manufacturing or in the case where the developer bag 16 is stored at a higher temperature than during the manufacturing. For that reason, by expansion of the developer bag 16, there is a fear that parts contacting the developer bag 16 are deformed or broken. There is a need, for that purpose, to control the air pressure and the temperature during the transportation and during the storage, so that facilitates and a cost are needed. However, problems caused due to the difference in air pressure between the inside and outside of the developer bag 16 can be solved by partly imparting the air permeability to the developer bag 16.
Further, in the case where the nonwoven fabric is provided with the discharging portion 35 and a bonding portion 22 at a periphery of the discharging portion 35, there is a fear that fibers of the nonwoven fabric fall out with peeling of the sealing member 19 during unsealing and then enter the developer to adversely affect the image. For that reason, by providing the discharging portion 35 to the sheet 16u different from the sheet 16s having the air permeability, the above-described falling-out of the fibers from the nonwoven fabric is prevented.
Further, a filling density can be increased by filling the developer while deaerating the developer bag 16.
(Structure of Discharging Portion of Developer Bag)
As shown in
(Structure of Bonding Portion of Developer Bag)
The bonding portion 22 has a rectangular shape surrounded by two lines extending in a long direction (direction F) and two lines extending in a short direction (direction E), and therefore the bonding portion 22 enables the sealing of the discharging portion 35.
Here, of the two lines of the bonding portion 22 welded with respect to the long direction (direction F), a bonding portion which is first unsealed is referred to as a first bonding portion 22a and a bonding portion which is unsealed later is referred to as a second bonding portion 22b. In this embodiment, in the case where the bonding portion 22 is viewed along the surface of the sealing member 19, the bonding portion in a side closer to a fold(ed)-back portion 19d (or portion-to-be-engaged 19b) described later is the first bonding portion 22a. Further, the bonding portion opposing the first bonding portion 22a via the opening is the second bonding portion 22b. Further, a bonding portion with respect to a widthwise direction is a widthwise (short) bonding portion 22c.
In this embodiment, an unsealing direction is the direction E. The unsealing direction is defined as follows. In the case where the unsealing is effected by moving the sealing member 19, of the first bonding portion 22a and the second bonding portion 22b opposing to each other via the opening 35a, the first bonding portion 22a is first unsealed (peeled). Thus, a direction directed from the first bonding portion 22a to be first unsealed toward the second bonding portion 22b is the unsealing direction E.
Incidentally, when the sealing member 19 is unsealed (peeled) from the developer bag 16 in the E direction, when viewed microscopically, the peeling progresses also in the arrow F direction in some cases due to the deformation of the developer bag 16 by an unsealing force also in the first bonding portion 22a and the second bonding portion 22b. However, the unsealing direction in this embodiment does not refer to such a microscopic unsealing direction.
(Arrangement of Openings of Developer Bag)
Next, arrangement of the openings 35a will be described with reference to
The plurality of openings 35a and the plurality of connecting portions 35b are disposed at different positions in the direction F perpendicular to the unsealing direction E. Further, the sealing member 19 is configured to be wound up by rotating the unsealing member 20 but the above-described direction F is the same direction as an axis (axial line) of the rotation shaft of the unsealing member 20.
Here, the reason why the rotational axis direction of the developing roller 13 and the arranged direction F of the plurality of openings 35a are made equal is that the developer is easily supplied, during the discharge thereof, to the developing roller 13 over the entire longitudinal direction without being localized.
Here, the plurality of openings 35a are disposed at the different positions in the direction of F and therefore the discharging portion 35 is long in the direction F and is short in the direction E. That is, with respect to the direction F, a distance from an end to another end of the plurality of openings 35a is longer than that with respect to the direction E.
Thus, the discharging portion 35 where the plurality of openings 35a are disposed at the different positions in the direction F perpendicular to the unsealing direction E is long in the direction F and is short in the direction E, and therefore the distance required for the unsealing can be made shorter than that required for the unsealing in the long direction F and therefore a time required for the unsealing can also be made short.
Further, a constitution in which the sealing member 19 for covering the discharging portion 35 is wound up by the unsealing member 20 is employed. The rotational axis direction of the unsealing member 20 and the direction F substantially perpendicular to the unsealing direction E are made equal, so that winding distance and time of the sealing member 19 can be shortened.
(Shape and Direction of Openings of Developer Bag)
Each of the plurality of openings 35a in Embodiment 1 has a circular shape. When a discharging property is taken into consideration, an area of the openings 35a may preferably be large. Further, the connecting portions 35b defining the openings 35a may preferably be large (thick) in order to enhance the strength of the developer bag 16. Therefore, the area of the openings 35a and the area of the connecting portions 35b are required to achieve a balance in view of a material and a thickness of the discharging portion 35 and a force relationship with peeling strength during the unsealing described later and may be appropriately selected. Further, the shape of the openings 35a may also be, in addition to the circular shape, a polygonal shape such as a rectangular shape, an elongated circular shape as shown in
Incidentally, the arrangement of the openings 35a may only be required to be disposed at the different position with respect to the direction F perpendicular to the unsealing direction 1, and even when the openings 35a overlap with each other as shown in (c) of
Further, the direction of the openings 35a may preferably be such that the developer accommodated in the developer bag 16 is easily discharged in an attitude during image formation. For that reason, in the attitude during image formation, the openings 35a are disposed so as to be open downward with respect to the gravitational direction. Here, the downward opening of the openings 35a with respect to the gravitational direction refers to that the direction of the openings 35a has a downward component with respect to the gravitational direction.
(Fixing Between Developer Bag and Frame)
As shown in
(First Fixing Portion)
First, as a first fixing portion, the first fixing portion 16d of the developer bag 16 where a force is received when the sealing member 19 is unsealed from the developer bag 16 as described later is provided. The first fixing portion 16d is provided at a plurality of positions in parallel to the direction F in which the plurality of openings 35a are arranged. Incidentally, other than the arrangement at the plurality of positions, the first fixing portion 16d may also be a single fixing portion elongated in parallel to the direction F (not shown).
Further, the position of the first fixing portion 16d is provided in the neighborhood of the openings 35a.
Further, the first fixing portion 16d of the developer bag 16 is fixed to a first fixing portion 18a of the frame.
The first fixing portion 16d is a fixing portion necessary for the time of unsealing the developer bag 16, and its action and arrangement will be described later in the description of the unsealing.
(Second Fixing Portion)
Further, as a second fixing portion, the second fixing portion 16e for preventing movement of the developer bag 16 downward or toward the developing roller 13 and the developer supplying roller 23 is provided.
The second fixing portion 16e is provided for the following two reasons. A first reason is that the second fixing portion 16e is prevented from moving downward in the attitude during the image formation. For that reason, the second fixing portion 16e may preferably be disposed at an upper position in the attitude during the image formation.
Further, a second reason is that the developer bag 16 is prevented from disturbing the image in contact with the developing roller 33 and the developer supplying roller 23 during the image formation. For that reason, the second fixing portion 16e of the developer bag 16 may preferably be provided at a position remote from the developing roller 13 and the developer supplying roller 23. In this embodiment, the second fixing portion 16e of the developer bag 16 is disposed at an upper position remote from the developing roller 13 as shown in
Further, the second fixing portion 16e of the developer bag 16 is fixed to a second fixing portion 18b of the frame.
(Fixing Method Between Developer Bag and Frame)
(Fixing Method of First Fixing Portion)
As a fixing method of the first fixing portion 16d of the developer bag 16, fixing by ultrasonic clamping (caulking) such that a boss of the second frame 18 is passed through the hole of the developer bag 16 to be deformed is used. As shown in (a) of
First, a projected-shaped portion of the first fixing portion 16a of the second frame 18 is passed through the hole of the first fixing portion 16d of the developer bag 16 ((b) of
Then, an end of the first fixing portion 18a of the second frame 18 is fused by an ultrasonic clamping tool 34 ((c) of
Then, the end of the first fixing portion 18a of the second frame 18 is deformed so that it is larger than the hole of the first fixing portion 16d, so that the developer bag 16 is fixed to the second frame 18 ((d) of
(Fixing Method of Second Fixing Portion)
As shown in
Then, an assembling step is shown below. The projections of the fixing portion 18b of the second frame 18 are passed through the first fixing portion 16d of the developer bag 16, and then fixing by clamping such that the second fixing portion (holes) 16e of the developer bag is prevented from being disengaged (dropped) from the projections by the first frame 17 is made.
(Other Fixing Means)
As fixing means, other than the above-described ultrasonic clamping, it is also possible to use fixing means other than those using ultrasonic wave. For example, heat clamping using heat, (heat) welding or ultrasonic welding for directly welding the developer bag 16 to the first frame 17 and the second frame 18, bonding using a solvent or an adhesive, insertion of the developer bag 16 between the frames, the heat clamping, the ultrasonic clamping, a screw, or hooking using of holes and projections (such as bosses), and the like means may also be used. Further, the developer bag 16 may also be fixed via a separate member provided between the first or second frame 17 or 18 and the developer bag depending on appropriate design based on relationships in space, arrangement or the like between the developer bag 16 and the first or second frame 17 or 18 (not shown).
<Structure of Sealing Member>
As shown in
(Sealing Portion of Sealing Member)
The sealing portion 19a refers to a region where the sealing member 19 seals the plurality of openings 35a and connecting portions 35b of the developer bag 16. By the sealing portion 19a, the developer is prevented from being leaked from the inside of the developer bag 16 until before use of the process cartridge A.
(Engaging Portion of Sealing Member)
The sealing member 19 has a free end portion in one end side thereof with respect to the unsealing direction E, and at the free end portion, the portion-to-be-engaged 19b to be engaged with the unsealing member for moving the sealing member is provided. With the portion-to-be-engaged 19b, the unsealing member for moving the sealing member so as to expose the openings is engaged. The unsealing member may also be configured to automatically perform the unsealing by receiving drive (driving force) from the image forming apparatus main assembly B. Or, the unsealing member may also be configured to perform the unsealing by being held and moved by the user. In this embodiment, the unsealing member 20 is a rotation shaft provided in the frame, and the sealing member 19 engaged with the unsealing member 20 is pulled, so that the developer accommodating container 26 accommodating the developer is unsealed.
(Sealing Member Connecting Portion of Sealing Member)
A portion for connecting the bonding portion 22 and the sealing member engaging portion 19b is the sealing member connecting portion 19c. The sealing member connecting portion 19c is a portion for transmitting a force so as to pull off the bonding portion 22 by receiving the force from the unsealing member 20.
(Folding-Back of Sealing Member Connecting Portion)
Here, referring to
(Fixing of Sealing Member)
Further, fixing between the sealing member 19 and the unsealing member 20 is, in this embodiment, made by the ultrasonic clamping similarly as in the first fixing portion 16d. Other than the ultrasonic clamping, the fixing may also be made by the (heat) welding, the ultrasonic welding, the bonding, the insertion between the frames, the hooking by a hole and a projection, or the like similarly as the fixing means for the first fixing portion 15d and the second fixing portion 16e.
(Portion Having Easy-Unsealing Property of Sealing Member)
Next, a method of providing a peeling force of the bonding portion 22 with a desired value will be described. In this embodiment, in order to provide the peeling force with the desired value (herein a minimal force within a range in which the toner sealing property can be maintained), two methods are principally employed.
In a first method, a laminate material having a sealant layer for enabling easy unsealing of the sealing member 19 is applied. Further, the first method is a method in which the easy unsealing is enabled at the bonding portion by applying, as the material for the developer bag 16, a sheet material (of, e.g., polyethylene or polypropylene) which is weldable with the sealant layer and which has flexibility. By changing a combination of formulation of the sealant layer with the material to be bonded, the peeling force can be adjusted correspondingly to a desired condition. In this embodiment, a material having a peeling strength of about 3N/15 mm measured by testing methods for hermetically sealed flexible packages of JIS-Z0238 is used.
A second method is a method in which as shown in
<Structure of Unscaling Member>
The unsealing member 20 is used for the purpose of peeling the sealing member 19 from the developer bag 16 by applying a force to the sealing member 19 to move the sealing member 19. The unsealing member 20 includes a supporting portion (not shown) which has a shaft shape and which is rotatably supported by the second frame 18 at its ends, and includes an engaging portion 20b for fixing the portion-to-be-engaged 19b of the sealing member 19. In this embodiment, the unseal member 20 has a rectangular shaft shape, and the portion-to-be engaged 19b of the sealing member 19 is engaged with the engaging portion 20b at one surface of the rectangular shaft.
(Combined Use as Unsealing Member, Urging Member and Stirring Member)
Further, the urging member 21 for externally acting on the developer bag 16 to discharge the developer accommodated in the developer bag 16, and the unsealing member 20 may be separate members, respectively, but in this embodiment, the same part performs functions of the unsealing member 20 and the urging member 21.
Further, a function of stirring the developer discharged from the developer bag 16 and a function of the unsealing member 20 may be performed by separate members, respectively, but in this embodiment, the unsealing member 20 also perform the stirring function as the same part.
(Effect of Combined Use as Unsealing Member, Urging Member and Stirring Member)
Thus, by using the same part (member) as the unsealing member 20, the urging member 21 and the stirring member, the number of parts is reduced, so that it becomes possible to realize cost reduction and space saving.
<Summary of Unsealing of Developer Accommodating Bag>
The unsealing of the developer accommodating bag 16 will be described with reference to
The developing device 36 includes a power application point portion 20a where the unsealing member 20 applies the force for pulling the sealing member 19 in order to effect the unsealing, and includes the fixing portion 18a of the frame for fixing the developer bag 16 to be pulled.
The power application point portion 20a is a portion, closest to the bonding portion 22, of a portion where the sealing member 19 and the unsealing member 20 contact at the moment of the unsealing. In (b) of
Next, drive transmission of the unsealing member 20 will be described by using
With respect to an arrow direction shown in (a) of
Then, as shown in
Then, a state immediately before the sealing member 19 is pulled by further rotation of the unsealing member 20 to start the unsealing of the first bonding portion 22a is shown in
When the sealing member 19 is pulled, the developer bag 16 is pulled via the bonding portion 22. Then, a force is applied to the first fixing portion 16d of the developer bag 16, so that the developer bag 16 is pulled from the fixing portion 18c toward the power application point portion 20b by the fixing portion 18c. Then, in a cross section perpendicular to the rotation shaft of the unsealing member 20, the first bonding portion 22a is moved so as to approach a line connecting the power application point portion 20a and the fixing portion 18c. At this time, with respect to the arrow D direction, from a side close to the rotation shaft of the unsealing member 20, the portions are disposed in the order of the openings 35a, the first bonding portion 22a, the fold-back portion 19d and the fixing portion 18c ((b) of
Further, together with the corner portion 20c, also the power application point portion 20a is moved in the arrow C direction, and when the scaling member 19 contacts a corner portion 20d, the power application point portion 20a is moved from the corner portion 20c to the corner portion 20d. Here, (b) of
As shown in
Thus, the sealing member 19 is wound up around the unsealing member 20 by the rotation of the unsealing member 20, so that the bonding portion 22 is unsealed. The sealing member 19 is wound up by the rotation and therefore a space required to move the unsealing member 20 may only be required to be a rotation space, and compared with the case where the scaling member 19 is moved by movement other than the rotation, it is possible to realize space saving.
Further, the openings 35a may also be exposed by rotating the unsealing member 20 by the user to wind up the sealing member 19. However, it is preferable that the unsealing member 20 is rotated by the drive from the image forming apparatus B to wind up the sealing member 19 since the operation does not trouble the user.
By providing the sealing member 19 with the fold-back portion 19d, the bonding portion 22 can be inclination-peeled without effecting shearing peeling and can be unsealed with reliability.
Further, the portion-to-be-engaged (19b), to be engaged with the unsealing member 20, for unsealing the sealing member 19 in an end side of the sealing member 19 with respect to a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction F in which the plurality of openings 35a are arranged is provided, so that the sealing member 19 can be engaged and unsealed with reliability.
Further, by providing the frame with the fixing portion 18c, the developer bag 16 is supported during the unsealing, so that even a soft and deformable developer bag 16 becomes unsealable with reliability.
Further, with respect to the discharge of the developer during the unsealing, as described above, the bonding portion 22 is moved on the line connecting the power application point portion 20a and the fixing portion 18c (in the order of (a) of
Further, as shown in
(Arrangement Relation of Fixing Portion Associated with Unsealing)
As shown in
In this way, the fixing portion 18c is provided upstream with respect to the movement direction D of the sealing member 19, so that reliable unsealing becomes possible.
(Distance Relation of Fixing Portion Associated with Unsealing)
As shown in
At this time, M1<M2 is satisfied to permit the peeling-off of the first bonding portion. Here, the above relationship of M1<M2 will be described specifically.
(Case of M1<M2)
First, in the case where M1<M2 is satisfied, as shown in
(Case of M1>M2)
On the other hand, in the case of M1>M2, as shown in
Here, (a) of
(Distance in Case where Projection (Rib) is Present)
Incidentally, here, definition of a manner of measuring the above-described distances M1 and M2 will be described. The distances M1 and M2 are important when the sealing member 19 is pulled during the unsealing. In the case where there is no projection rib 16t at an intermediate position of paths of M1 and M2, the distances developed as shown in
As described above, based on the relationship of M1<M2, the first bonding portion 22a is unsealed earlier than the second bonding portion 22b. By the earlier unsealing of the first bonding portion 22a than the second bonding portion 22b, the told-back portion 19d of the sealing member 19 can be provided at the first bonding portion 22a. By this fold-back portion 19d, the peeling is not the shearing peeling but is the inclination peeling. By this, with reliability, the sealing member 19 can be peeled off from the developer bag 16, so that it is possible to provide an unsealable developing device 38.
(Case of Plurality of Fixing Portions)
Here, a relation between a plurality of fixing portions and the unsealing will be described by using
(Positional Relation of Second Bonding Portion)
An arrangement in which the second bonding portion 22b can be more satisfactorily unsealed without being wound up around the unsealing member 20 will be described by using
The reason thereof is that in the case where L1 is distance L2, the second bonding portion 22b reaches the power application point portion 22a before the peeling of the second bonding portion 22b is ended, and the second bonding portion 22b is wound about the unsealing member 20. The force cannot be applied so as to peel off the sealing member 19 from the second bonding portion 22b. For that reason, it becomes difficult to unseal the sealing member 19 from the developer bag 16.
As described above, the relationship between the distance L1 and the distance L2 is made L1<L2, the sealing member 19 is satisfactorily unsealable without being wound about the unsealing member 20.
(Function of Connecting Portions Defining Openings)
A summary of the connecting portions 35b, defining the openings, which perform a large function in the unsealing operation of the developer bag 16 will be described.
A similar effect can be obtained also in cases other than the case where the openings 35a are arranged in the direction perpendicular F to the unsealing direction E as shown in (b) of
Further, as shown in (b) of
Further, as for a relationship between the rotation shaft of the unsealing member 20 and the openings 35a, it can be said that the openings 35a are disposed at the different positions with respect to the direction R of the rotation shaft of the unsealing member 20. By doing so, the connecting portions 35b for bridging the first and second bonding portions 22a and 22b with respect to the perpendicular direction (arrow E) to the rotation shalt of the urging member 20. The openings 35a may only be required to be located at the different positions in the rotational axis direction R of the unsealing member. Even when the openings 35a overlap with each other with respect to the rotational axis direction R as shown in (b) of
Thus, by the presence of the connecting portions 35b for bridging the first and second bonding portions 22a and 22b at the discharging portion 35, the developer accommodating container 26 accommodating the developer and the developer accommodating container 30 including the unsealing member 20 can transmit the unsealing force of the unseal member 20 until the second bonding portion 22b is unsealed, so that the unsealing can be effected with reliability.
Further, a relationship between the openings 35a and the portion-to-be-engaged 19b of the sealing member will be described (
A relationship between the openings 35a and the unsealing member 20 will be described (
Also in such a constitution, it is possible to obtain the effect of transmitting the unsealing force of the unsealing member 20 by the connecting portions 35b until the second bonding portion 22b is unsealed.
(Example in which Connecting Portions are Separate Members)
Further, as shown in
Incidentally, also in the case where the developer bag 16 is provided with the connecting members 16f, the sealing member 19 is folded back between the bonding portion 22 and the portion-to-be-engaged 19b as described above and is wound around the unsealing member 20, so that the developer bag 16 is unsealable. By employing such a constitution, the connecting portions 35b defining the openings in the case where the plurality of openings 35a are provided, and the connecting members 16f perform the same function. That is, the long single opening 16a is the same as the case where there are the plurality of openings 35a by providing the connecting members 16f.
Therefore, when the sealing member 19 is peeled at the second bonding portion 22b after the unsealing at the first bonding portion 22a is ended, the force (arrow D) during the unsealing at the second bonding portion 22b by the unsealing member 20 can be received by the first fixing portion 16d via the connecting members 16f with respect to the arrow H direction. Therefore, the force for peeling the sealing member 19 from the developer bag 16 can be transmitted. That is, the forces are applied to the second bonding portion 22b in the arrow D direction and the arrow H direction, so that the unsealing is enabled also the second bonding portion 22b.
In this way, the long single opening 16a forms the plurality of openings 35a by the connecting members 16f, so that it also becomes possible to strengthen only the connecting members 16f.
(Problem of Unsealing Property in Case of No Connecting Portion)
Here, an example in which the present invention is not applied and it is difficult to unseal the developer bag 16 will be described. This is, as shown in
In this case, a state in which the unsealing advances to the second bonding portion 22b is (a) of
Incidentally, if a member for accommodating the developer is a rigid member such as a structure, there is no such a deformation, so that the sealing can be made as in the conventional example. However, in the case of a constitution in which the developer is accommodated in a deformable soft bag-like member and an opening which is deformed during unsealing is unsealed, as described above, when there are no connecting portions 35b, it becomes difficult to effect the unsealing.
As described above, the sealing member 19 (=toner seal) is made unsealable by transmitting the driving force to the unsealing member 20 of the image forming apparatus B, and there is no need for the user to peel off the toner seal, so that the developing device 38 and the process cartridge A can be more simply replaced and used. Further, the sealing member 19 after the unsealing is fixed to the unsealing member 20, so that the unsealing can be effected without removing a waste material from the process cartridge A.
<With Respect to Summary of Urging Member and Developer Discharge>
(Urging Member)
As shown in
First, the shaft portion 21a performs a function by the same part as the unsealing member 20 (21a=20). Therefore, as described above, the driving force is transmitted to the shaft portion 21a by the unshown driving means of the main assembly of the image forming apparatus B, so that the urging member 21 (=20) is rotated in the arrow C direction.
Next, the urging sheet 21b is fixed on a surface of a rectangular shaft portion 21a in cross section and is rotated together with the shaft portion 21a. Incidentally, the urging sheet 21b is a flexible sheet formed of a material such as PET, PPS (polyphenylene sulfide) or polycarbonate, in a thickness of about 0.05-0.1 mm, and an end thereof projects to the outside of a circumscribed circle of the shaft portion 21a. Here, in this embodiment, on different surfaces of the shaft portion 21a, the sealing member 19 and the urging sheet 21a are fixed but may also be fixed on the same surface of the shaft portion 21a.
Further, as shown in
<Summary of Developer Discharge from Developer Bag>
(Summary of Discharge from Before Unsealing to During Unseal)
First, with respect to the discharge of the developer from before the unsealing to the time of start of the unsealing, as shown in
(Summary of Discharge after Unsealing: During Urging)
Further, after the unsealing, when the sealing member 19 is unsealed from the above-described developer bag 16 as shown in (b) of
After the unsealing, when the unsealing member 20 is further rotated, also the urging sheet 21b fixed to the unsealing member 20, for urging the developer bag 16 is rotated, so that the urging sheet 21b is wound about the unsealing member 20 by the developer bag 16 as shown in
Incidentally, at this time, if the developer bag 16 is contacted to and pressed against the second frame 18 at least at a part thereof, the developer bag 16 is deformable.
Further, by aligning the rotational axis direction of the developing roller 13 and the arrangement direction F of the plurality of openings 35a, the developer can be easily supplied over the entire longitudinal direction of the developing roller 13 during the discharge without being localized.
Further, when the developing device 38 is mounted in the image forming apparatus B, by providing the openings 35a so as to open toward the direction of gravitation, the developer discharging property can be improved.
Further, the urging member 21 provided inside the frames (17, 18) urges the developer bag 16 so as to be pressed against the second frame 18, by which the developer discharging property can be improved.
Further, also the urging member 21 uses a flexible sheet which includes a base material such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene or polypropylene and which is 0.03-0.15 mm in thickness, and therefore takes part in the discharging action by a mechanism similar to that of the above-described urging sheet 21b.
(Summary of Discharge: Developer Bag Shape Restoration)
Then, as shown in
(Summary of Discharge: Repetition of Unsealing/Restoration)
In the case where the developer immediately after the unsealing is present in the developer bag 16 in a large amount, an entering amount of the urging sheet 21b to the unsealing member 20 is repetitively changed, so that the developer bag 16 is deformed so as to be pressed against the second frame 18. Contraction of the developer bag 16 by the urging with the urging member 21 and restoration of the developer bag 16 by the weight of the developer inside the developer bag 16 and by the flexibility of the developer bag 16 are repeated. Further, by the above-described action, the developer bag 16 itself is moved and therefore the developer bag 16 is vibrated, so that the developer inside the developer bag 16 is discharged from the openings 35a also by this vibration. Further, the urging member 21 is rotated and therefore is capable of repetitively urging the developer bag 16.
(Example in which Developer Bag is Applied to Frame)
Incidentally, a portion 27 where the developer bag 16 is urged against the second frame 18 is as shown in
(Case where Amount of Developer Becomes Small)
The case where the amount of the developer inside the developer bag 26 becomes small by effecting image formation will be described by using
Depending on a position relationship between the developer bag 16 and the urging member 21, there is the case where the developer bag 16 and the urging member 21 always do not contact each other at the time when the developer becomes small. That is, the discharge of the developer by the periodical contact is not effected, and therefore there is a possibility that the developer which is not discharged remains in the developer bag 16. At this time, as shown in (c) of
Further, with respect to the rotational axis direction of the urging member 21, even in the case where localization is caused in the developer in the developer bag 16 and contact non-uniformity between the developer bag 16 and the urging sheet 21b is generated, if the above-described constitution in which the urging sheet 21b is fixed to the urging member 21 is employed, it is possible to maintain the discharging effect similarly as described above.
(Combined Use as Urging Sheet and Sealing Member)
Incidentally, a single part may also be used as the urging sheet 21b and the sealing member 19 to have functions of these members. That is, after the unsealing, the bonding portion 22 is separated from the developer bag 16 and therefore an end of the sealing member 19 in the bonding portion 22 side is a free end. For this reason, the sealing member 19 can have the function of the urging sheet 21b. Thus, the unsealing member 20 can have the function of the shaft portion 21a of the urging member 21, and the sealing member 19 can have the function of the urging sheet 21b.
By doing so, it is possible to reduce the number of parts and thus cost reduction can be realized.
As described above, the developer inside the developer bag 16 can be satisfactorily discharged without providing another discharging part such as a developer discharging roller at the openings 35a as a developer discharging port, so that agglomeration and bridge of the developer in the neighborhood of the openings 35a can be prevented. By this, even in the case where the developer in the developer bag 16 is agglomerated by tapping during transportation, storage or the like, the agglomerated developer is broken by such movement of the entire developer bag 16 and the periphery of the openings 35a, so that it is possible to prevent a state in which it becomes difficult to discharge the developer.
(Example in which Urging Member is Single Part)
Further, the urging member 21 is not separate parts consisting of the shaft portion 21a and the urging sheet 21b, but even when the urging member 21 is a single part as shown in (a) of
Further, (b) of
Thus, the developer bag 16 is urged by the urging member 21 (arrow J) to be pressed against the frame 29, thus being deformed to decrease its inside volume, so that the inside developer is pushed out to be discharged from the openings 35a (arrow I).
Further, in an attitude during the image formation, the shaft portion 21a (=20) of the urging member 21 is positioned under the developer bag 16 with respect to the direction of gravitation, and contacts the developer bag 16. Further, the cross-sectional shape of the shaft portion 21a (=20) of the urging member 21 is rectangular and is not circular, and therefore by the rotation of the shaft portion 21a (=20), the entering amount of the shaft portion 21a (=20) to the developer bag 16 is periodically changed as described above. Also by the change in entering amount of the shaft portion 21a (=20) to the developer bag 16, the developer bag 16 can be changed in volume and can be vibrated, so that the developer discharging property can be improved.
Further, if the constitution in which the urging sheet 21b is fixed to the urging member 21 is employed, the urging sheet 21b is contacted to the developer bag 16 is the flexed state, and therefore even in the case where the developer bag 16 is deformed, a state in which the developer bag 16 and as the urging member 21 do not contact each other is not created. For that reason, it is possible to maintain the discharging effect. Further, even when the constitution in which the urging sheet 21b having the flexibility is provided is not employed, the discharging effect can be maintained similarly as described above also by making the projection 21c to have a thin sheet-like shape so as to have flexibility and a length enough to contact the developer bag 16.
<Summary of Urging Member and Developer Circulation in as Developer Bag>
As described above, as the functional effect of the above-described urging member 21, the toner discharge has been described, but next a developer circulating function, in the developer bag, which is another functional effect of the above-described urging member 21 will be described by using
As shown in
(Example of Peeling Off in Longitudinal Direction in Case where Opening is Large Single Opening)
Incidentally, in this case, the sealing member 19 may also be peeled off in a long direction (arrow direction) of the opening by the user or by an unshown winding-up mechanism to be unsealed (
(Urging in Longitudinal Direction)
The case where the unsealing direction is the rotational axis direction of the developing roller will be described.
Next, motion of the urging member 21 and a discharging operation of the toner inside the developer bag 16 will be described by using
As Embodiment 2, in place of the developer bag 16 in Embodiment 1, a developer accommodating member 34 is used.
The developer accommodating member 34 is formed by shaping a sheet-like material by vacuum molding, air-pressure molding or press molding, and is used. The developer accommodating container 30 including the unsealing member includes, similarly as in Embodiment 1, the developer accommodating member 34, the sealing member 19, the unsealing member 20, the first frame 17 and the second frame 38. Incidentally, the unsealing member 20 is a member having the function of the urging member 21 and the developer stirring function similarly as in Embodiment 1.
(Structure of Developer Bag)
As shown in
As the material for the molded portion 34a, ABE, PMMA, PC, PP, PE, HIPS, PET, PVC and the like and composite multi-layer materials of these materials are preferred. Further, the thickness of the molded portion 34a may preferably be about 0.1-1 mm in the sheet shape before the molding. The material and thickness of the molded portion 34a may only be required to be appropriately selected depending on cost, product specification, manufacturing condition, and the like.
The molded portion 34a is bonded to the air permeable portion 34b at an outer peripheral portion 34c of the molded portion 34a. The developer accommodating member 34 accommodates the developer therein. Further, at a part of the outer peripheral portion 34c, fixing portions 16d (portions-to-be-fixed) of the developer accommodating member 34 are provided. The shape of the molded portion 34a follows the inside (shape) of the frames 17 and 18 (
Further, the developer accommodating container 26 in which the developer is accommodated is constituted by the developer accommodating member 34 and the scaling member 19 for unsealably covering the discharging portion 35 of the developer accommodating member 34 to seal the toner inside the developer accommodating member 34.
The developer accommodating container 30 including the unsealing member is constituted by the unsealing member 20 for unsealing the sealing member 19 from the developer accommodating member 34 and the developer accommodating container 26 in which the developer is accommodated.
The developing device 38 is constituted by the developer accommodating container 30 including the unsealing member, the developing roller 13 as the developing means, the developing blade 15, and the first frame 17 and the second frame 18 which support these members.
Here, the discharging portion 35 is provided at the molded portion 34a, and also a constitution of this discharging portion 35 is the same as that in Embodiment 1, and a plurality of openings 35a and connecting portions 35b for defining the plurality of openings 35a are provided with respect to the direction F substantially perpendicular to the unsealing direction E in which the unsealing of the developer accommodating member 34 advances. That is, the plurality of openings 35a are disposed at different positions with respect to the direction F perpendicular to the unsealing direction E. Further, the plurality of openings 35a are disposed at different positions with respect to the direction of the rotation shaft of the unsealing member 20. Further, the portion-to-be-engaged 19b is provided in an end side of the sealing member 19 with respect to the direction substantially perpendicular to the direction in which the plurality of openings 35a are arranged. Further, the unsealing member 20 is provided in the end side of the sealing member 19 with respect to the direction substantially perpendicular to the direction in which the plurality of openings 35a are arranged. The fixing portion includes a fixing portion 16d, necessary for the unsealing, corresponding to the first fixing portion 16d in Embodiment 1. The shape of the developer accommodating member 34 itself is intended to be maintained by the molded portion 34a and the developer accommodating member 34 has the shape following the frame, and therefore the developer accommodating member 34 is supported by the frame as a whole, so that the developer accommodating member 34 is not readily moved toward the developer supplying roller 23 and the developing roller 13.
Next, as a means for fixing the fixing portion, it is possible to cite the (heat) welding, the ultrasonic welding, the adhesive bonding, the insertion between the frames, the heat clamping, the ultrasonic clamping, the hooking using the hole and the projection, and the like.
Incidentally, the constitutions of the sealing member 19 and the unsealing member 20 are the same as those in Embodiment 1.
<Summary of Unsealing of Developer Accommodating Bag>
Next, the unsealing of the developer accommodating bag will be described. Here, the fixing portion and the position thereof are the substantially same as those in Embodiment 1, and also the force relationship is the same as that in Embodiment 1. Therefore, also the unsealing step is the same as that in Embodiment 1 (
In Embodiment 2, the openings 35a are disposed at the molded portion 34a, but also the molded portion 34a is flexible similarly as in Embodiment 1, so that the force relationship is the same as that in Embodiment 1. Therefore, also in Embodiment 2, the plurality of connecting portions 35b bridge the first bonding portion 22a and the second bonding portion 22b with respect to the direction E in which the unsealing advances. For that reason, when the unsealing at the first bonding portion 22a is ended and the unsealing at the second bonding portion 22b is effected, a force for peeling the sealing member 19 from the developer accommodating member 34 can be transmitted. For that reason, the unsealing also at the bonding portion 22b becomes possible.
Also the developer discharging port after the unsealing is the same as that in Embodiment 1. When the sealing member 19 is unsealed from the above-described developer accommodating member 34, first, the openings 35a are disposed at the lower portion of the developer accommodating member 34, and therefore the position of the openings 35a during the unsealing is moved at the same time when the gravitation acts on the openings 35a, so that the developer is discharged. Further, by the vibration or the like of the developer accommodating member 34, the developer in the neighborhood of the openings 35a is discharged. Here, the unsealing member 20 also functions as the urging member 21. Further, the urging member 21 has a rectangular shape in the cross section perpendicular to the rotational axis direction of the urging member 21, and the discharge of the developer is accelerated by the rotation of the urging member 21 as described in Embodiment 1 (
Here, the urging member 21 contacts and urges a surface which is the same surface as the surface where the openings 35a of the developer accommodating member 34 are provided. Incidentally, the developer accommodating member 34 is constituted by a plurality of surfaces including the surface where the openings 35a of the developer accommodating member 34 are provided and another surface connected to the surface via a bent portion 34d. Thus, by the constitution in which the urging member 21 urges the side (surface) in the neighborhood of the openings 35a, the discharge of the developer is further accelerated.
By employing the constitution as described above, in addition to the effect in Embodiment 1, the following effects are achieved.
(Effect of Vacuum Molding)
By forming a part of the developer accommodating member 34 through the vacuum molding, the following effects are obtained.
As a first effect, the developer accommodating member 34 can be shaped so as to follow the inside (shape) of the frame. For that reason, in the bag form as described in Embodiment 1, it is difficult to insert the bag until corner portions of the frame, so that a gap (space) is formed between the developer accommodating member 34 and the first frame 17, and the space is not an effective developer accommodating space.
As a second effect, the developer accommodating member 34 can be shaped so as to follow (the shape of) the frame and therefore can be easily assembled with the frame. This is because there is no need to push the developer accommodating member into the frame during the assembling so that its shape follows the shape of the frame.
As a third effect, the developer accommodating member 34 is not readily moved toward the developer supplying roller 23 and the developing roller 13. This is because the developer accommodating member 34 is supported by the frame as a whole since the shape of the developer accommodating member 34 itself is maintained as described above by the vacuum molding and has the shape which follows (the shape of) the frame. For that reason, the second fixing portion for preventing the movement of the developer bag toward the developer supplying roller 23 and the developing roller 13 as described in Embodiment 1 can be omitted.
Further, as shown in
By using
By using
Further, the unsealing member 20 may also function as the urging member 21 during the discharge or as the toner stirring member after the discharge, by being repeatedly reciprocated also after the unsealing (
Thus, the operation of the unsealing member 20 can be constituted, other than the rotation, so as to cause the sealing member 19 to be movable, and therefore as desired, a constitution in which the unsealing member 20 is operated can appropriately be selected.
Without using the unsealing member 20, the openings 35a may also be exposed by pulling a part of the sealing member 19 or a member connected with the sealing member 19, by the user. As shown in
Further, the sealing member gripping portion 19e may also be provided with a separate member for facilitating the gripping.
Incidentally, without troubling the user, the main assembly of the image forming apparatus B is provided with a driving means to pull the sealing member gripping portion 19a, so that the openings 35a may also be exposed. Further, the sealing member gripping portion 19e is moved by a mounting operation during mounting of the process cartridge A in the image forming apparatus B, so that the openings 35a may also be exposed. Then, after the openings 35a are exposed, the urging member 21 is rotated to urge the developer accommodating member 34 by the urging sheet 21b, so that the incorporated developer is discharged (
As shown in
First, the developer bag 16 which is the flexible container and the urging member 21 are bonded to each other so as to have the easy-to-unseal property as described above, so that a two-layer structure is formed ((a) of
Next, the layer of the developer bag 16 is cut into a hole shape providing the opening 35a by a jig such as a cutter ((b) of
Next, a state during unsealing is shown by using (d), (e) and (f) of
An example in which a developer bag 16 and a supply frame 42 for covering the developer bag 16 are integrally assembled into a supplying unit 43 which is detachably mounted in a process cartridge A2 will be described. As shown in
This supplying unit 43 is mounted in the process cartridge A2, and is detachably mountable to the main assembly of the image forming apparatus B integrally with the process cartridge A2. Incidentally, the supplying unit 43 may also be made replaceable while mounting the process cartridge A2 in the main assembly of the image forming apparatus B.
Here, by rotation of the unsealing member 20 in an arrow C direction, the scaling member 19 is moved in an arrow D direction to expose the openings 35a.
Then, after the sealing member 19 is peeled from the developer bag 16, the developer bag 16 is urged by an urging member 21 which also functions as the unsealing member 20, so that the toner is discharged (
Thus, by replacing the supplying unit 43 in which the developer bag 16 is incorporated, it is possible to provide the process cartridge A2 capable of supplying the toner.
Next, by using
As described in Embodiment 1, the fact that the developer circulation in the developer bag 16 is generated by the deformation of the developer bag 16 was described above. Here, in the case where the molded product 34 described in Embodiment 2 is used, the shape of the developer bag 16 is capable of taking a shape similar to that of the frame 17, whereby as shown in
As described above, the constitution of the gap α in the cross section perpendicular to the rotation center axis of the urging member 21 has been described, but next, by using
As shown in
Here, as shown in
Further, the developer circulating function is similar to the function (action) described in Embodiment 1.
As described above in the foregoing, it becomes possible to further activate the circulation of the developer in the developer bag 16.
According to the present invention, in a developer accommodating unit, a process cartridge and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, it is possible to satisfactorily effect the discharge of the developer from the deformable developer accommodating member.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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| Number | Date | Country | |
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| Parent | PCT/JP2012/068536 | Jul 2012 | US |
| Child | 14012296 | US |
