Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6834171
-
Patent Number
6,834,171
-
Date Filed
Wednesday, February 19, 200321 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, December 21, 200419 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
- Fitzpatrick, Cella, Harper & Scinto
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 399 103
- 399 105
- 399 106
- 399 119
- 399 258
- 399 262
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A developer container of a developing device that is provided in an image forming apparatus, includes: a developer container main body provided with a developer containing portion that contains a developer and a developer supply opening; a sealing member that seals the developer supply opening of the developer container main body; and a grip member for pulling out the sealing member in a longitudinal direction of the developer container main body. The developer container main body and the grip member are integrally molded from resin materials having low compatibility to be separable from each other, and the grip member has a longitudinal dimension extending to an outside of a developer container mounting region of the image forming apparatus.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a developer container, a developing container, a developing device, a process cartridge, a side cover, and a bearing structure mounted on an image forming apparatus such as a copier or a printer adopting an electrophotographic process, and an image forming apparatus.
2. Related Background Art
Conventionally, image forming apparatuses using an electrophotographic image forming process adopt a process cartridge system in which an electrophotographic photosensitive member, process means for acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, a developing device and the like are integrated in a cartridge, and the cartridge is detachably mountable to the image forming apparatus. According to the process cartridge system, a user can perform operational maintenance of the apparatus without relying on a serviceman, so that the operability can be remarkably enhanced. Thus, the process cartridge system is widely used in image forming apparatuses.
In the above-mentioned developing device and process cartridge, the following is proposed: a developer container (toner container) containing a developer (toner) is connected to a developing container holding a developer bearing member (developing roller), a developer regulating member (developing blade) and the like, and an opening of the toner container for supplying toner to the developing container is sealed with a sealing member (toner seal) for sealing a developer, whereby toner is prevented from flowing to the developing container before the commencement of use. A user pulls a seal grip (pull-tab) provided on the process cartridge at the commencement of use, removes the toner seal fixed to the seal grip, and thereafter, mounts a process cartridge to the image forming apparatus.
In order to make more widespread the use of the above-mentioned cartridge type image forming apparatus, higher efficiency of mounting/detaching operation of the process cartridge, enhancement of the reliability and safety of an operation, a decrease in cost by reduction of the number of components and the number of processes, and the like are desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned unsolved problem of the conventional art. An object of the present invention is as follows: a grip (seal grip) of a toner seal is designed so as to be pulled out in a longitudinal direction of a process cartridge; the seal grip is placed on an outer side in a longitudinal direction from a guide width set for mounting/detaching the process cartridge with respect to an image forming apparatus; and the process cartridge is adapted such that it cannot be mounted to the image forming apparatus unless the seal grip is removed. Therefore, an image forming operation is prevented from being started under the condition that toner is not supplied to the developing container, which could damage the process cartridge. Furthermore, the invention provides a developer container, a developing container, a developing device, a process cartridge, a side cover, a bearing structure, and an image forming apparatus, which can contribute to the enhancement of efficiency and reliability of a mounting/detaching operation of a process cartridge.
Another object of the present invention is as follows: a toner container, a developing container, a bearing member or a side cover, and a seal grip are integrally molded by two-color molding from materials having low mutual compatibility, such that they are separable from each other. Because of this, the number of components, the number of assembly processes, and the like can be reduced. Furthermore, the dimensional stability of the toner container, the developing container, the bearing member, or a fitting portion between the side cover and the seal grip is ensured, thereby reducing the force required for separating the seal grip. Furthermore, an inexpensive construction is realized which is capable of preventing the seal grip from coming off due to vibration or the like during transportation.
Another object of the present invention is as follows: the seal grip is molded by two-color molding as described above so that the color of the seal grip can be set arbitrarily without increasing the number of components, whereby a user can easily discriminate the seal grip when removing a toner seal in an operation of mounting the process cartridge.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a developer container of a developing device provided in an image forming apparatus, including: a developer container main body provided with a developer containing portion that contains a developer and a developer supply opening; a sealing member that seals the developer supply opening of the developer container main body; and a grip member for pulling out the sealing member in a longitudinal direction of the developer container main body, in which the developer container main body and the grip member are integrally molded from using resin materials having low mutual compatibility so as to be separable from each other, and the grip member has a longitudinal dimension extending to an outside of a developer container mounting region of the image forming apparatus.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a developer container, which cannot be mounted to an image forming apparatus main body unless a seal grip is removed, a developing container, a developing device, a process cartridge, a side cover, a bearing structure and an image forming apparatus.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a developer container, a developing container, a developing device, a process cartridge, a side cover, and a bearing structure in which mounting operability is enhanced, and an image forming apparatus.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a developer container, a developing container, a developing device, a process cartridge, a side cover, and a bearing structure in which reduction in the number of components and reduction in the number of assembling processes are realized, and an image forming apparatus.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon consideration of the following description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a multicolor image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 2
is an exploded perspective view showing a process cartridge of
FIG. 1
in the disassembled state.
FIG. 3
is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a process cartridge.
FIG. 4
is a perspective view showing a toner container.
FIG. 5
is a perspective view showing a toner container with a toner seal attached thereto.
FIGS. 6A
,
6
B, and
6
C illustrate a seal grip and an end portion of a toner seal.
FIG. 7
illustrates an elastic sealing member of a developing container.
FIG. 8
shows a state where a developing container and a toner container are integrated as a unit.
FIGS. 9A and 9B
are plan views showing a seal grip, in which
FIG. 9A
shows a state before a toner seal is pulled out, and
FIG. 9B
shows a state after the toner seal is pulled out.
FIG. 10
is a cross-sectional view showing a connection portion between a toner container and a seal grip.
FIGS. 11A and 11B
illustrate another embodiment of a structure for connecting a toner seal to a toner container.
FIG. 12
is an elevation view showing a toner container according to a second embodiment.
FIG. 13
is an elevation view showing a developing container according to the second embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 14
is a cross-sectional view showing a connection portion between a developing container and a seal grip according to the second embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 15
is a perspective view showing a developing apparatus according to a third embodiment of the invention.
FIGS. 16A and 16B
illustrate a bearing member and a seal grip according to the third embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 17
is a cross-sectional view showing a connection portion between the bearing member and the seal grip according to the third embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 18
is a perspective view showing a developing device according to a fourth embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 19
is an elevation view showing a side cover and a seal grip according to the fourth embodiment of the invention.
FIGS. 20A and 20B
illustrate a bearing member according to a fourth embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 21
is a cross-sectional view showing a connection portion between a side cover and a seal grip according to the fourth embodiment of the invention.
FIGS. 22A and 22B
illustrate a connection portion between a toner container and a seal grip according to a fifth embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 23
is a perspective view showing an image forming apparatus main body shown in FIG.
1
.
FIG. 24
illustrates an attachment portion of a scanner unit for mounting it to the image forming apparatus.
FIG. 25
illustrates a method for mounting a process cartridge to the image forming apparatus.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described by way of illustrative embodiments with reference to the drawings.
(Entire configuration of a multicolor image forming apparatus)
FIG. 1
is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the entire configuration of a full-color laser beam printer that is one embodiment of a multicolor image forming apparatus.
The multicolor image forming apparatus shown in
FIG. 1
includes four photosensitive drums
1
(
1
a
,
1
b
,
1
c
,
1
d
) arranged in parallel in a vertical direction. The photosensitive drums
1
are driven to rotate in a counterclockwise direction in
FIG. 1
by a driving means (not shown). On the periphery of each photosensitive drum
1
, there are provided, in the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum
1
in the following order, a charging device
2
for uniformly charging the surface of the photosensitive drum
1
, a scanner unit
3
(
3
a
,
3
b
,
3
c
, and
3
d
) for irradiating the photosensitive drum
1
with a laser beam based on image information to form an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum
1
, a developing device
4
(
4
a
,
4
b
,
4
c
, and
4
d
) for allowing toner to adhere to the electrostatic latent image to develop the electrostatic latent image as a toner image, an electrostatic transfer device
10
for transferring the toner image on the photosensitive drum
1
to a transfer material S, a cleaning device
6
(
6
a
,
6
b
,
6
c
, and
6
d
) for removing transfer residual toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum
1
after transfer, a photosensitive drum unit
5
(
5
a
) including the photosensitive drum
1
, and the like.
Herein, the drum unit
5
including the photosensitive drum
1
, the charging device
2
, the cleaning device
6
, and the like is integrated with the developing device
4
in a cartridge to form a process cartridge
7
(
7
a
,
7
b
,
7
c
, and
7
d
).
Hereinafter, the above-mentioned components will be described in detail. First, the photosensitive drum
1
will be described.
The photosensitive drum
1
is configured, for example, by coating an outer peripheral surface of an aluminum cylinder having a diameter of 30 mm with an organic photoconductive layer (OPC photosensitive member). The photosensitive drum
1
is rotatably supported by a drum bearing
50
(see
FIG. 2
) at both ends. A driving force is transmitted from a driving motor (not shown) to one end of the photosensitive drum
1
, whereby the photosensitive drum
1
is rotated to be driven in a counterclockwise direction.
As the charging device
2
, a contact charge type as shown in
FIG. 3
can be used. The charging device
2
is a conductive roller formed in a roller shape. The roller is brought into contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum
1
and a charge bias voltage is applied to the roller, whereby the surface of the photosensitive drum
1
is uniformly charged.
The scanner units
3
(
3
a
,
3
b
,
3
c
, and
3
d
) are arranged substantially in horizontal directions from the respective photosensitive drums
1
. A laser diode (not shown) irradiates polygon mirrors (
8
a
,
8
b
,
8
c
, and
8
d
) to be rotated at a high speed by a scanner motor (not shown) with image light corresponding to an image signal. The surfaces of the charged photosensitive drums
1
are selectively exposed to the image light reflected from the polygon mirrors via imaging lenses (
9
a
,
9
b
,
9
c
, and
9
d
), whereby electrostatic latent images are formed on the photosensitive drums
1
.
The scanner unit
3
is formed so as to have a length larger than the pitch between right and left side plates in the longitudinal direction as shown in
FIG. 23
, whereby projecting portions
33
of the scanner unit
3
project outside through opening holes
32
a
on the side plates
32
constituting an image forming apparatus main body
30
. The scanner unit
3
is pressed by a compression spring
32
b
at a force of about 10 N in a downward direction indicated by the arrow at an angle of about 45° to the horizontal direction as shown in FIG.
24
. Because of this, the scanner unit
3
can be reliably contacted and pressed against the side plates
32
, whereby the scanner unit
3
is positioned.
The electrostatic transfer device
10
shown in
FIG. 1
is provided with an electrostatic transfer belt
11
that is circled so as to be opposed to and come into contact with all the photosensitive drums
1
a
,
1
b
,
1
c
, and
1
d
. The electrostatic transfer belt
11
has a volume resistivity of 10
11
to 10
14
Ω·cm, for example, and is composed of a film-shaped member with a thickness of about 150 μm. The electrostatic transfer belt
11
is supported by rollers with four axes in a vertical direction, and is circled so as to electrostatically attract a transfer material S to an outer peripheral surface thereof on the left side in
FIG. 1
to bring the transfer material S into contact with the photosensitive drums
1
. Because of this, the transfer material S is transported to a transfer position by the electrostatic transfer belt
11
, and the toner images on the photosensitive drums
1
are transferred to the transfer material S.
Transfer rollers
12
a
,
12
b
,
12
c
, and
12
d
are arranged in parallel so as to be in contact with the inside of the electrostatic transfer belt
11
and opposed to the four photosensitive drums
1
a
,
1
b
,
1
c
, and
1
d
. A positive charge is applied from these transfer rollers
12
a
,
12
b
,
12
c
, and
12
d
to the transfer material S via the electrostatic transfer belt
11
, whereby negative polarity toner images on the photosensitive drums
1
are transferred to a sheet that is in contact with the photosensitive drums
1
by an electric field generated by the charge.
The electrostatic transfer belt
11
has a perimeter of about 700 mm, and is stretched around four rollers: a driving roller
13
, also called a belt driving roller, driven rollers
14
a
,
14
b
, and a tension roller
15
to be rotated in a direction indicated by the arrow in FIG.
1
. Because of this, a toner image is transferred while the above-mentioned electrostatic transfer belt
11
is circled, and the transfer material S is transported from the driven roller side to the driving roller side.
A feed portion
16
feeds the transfer material S to an image forming portion, and receives plural transfer materials S in a feed cassette
17
. During image formation, a feed roller
18
(semicircular roller) and a registration roller pair
19
are rotated to be driven in accordance with an image forming operation, whereby the transfer materials S in the feed cassette
17
are separated and fed one by one. The leading edge of the transfer material S hits against the registration roller pair
19
to stop and form a loop. Thereafter, the rotation of the electrostatic transfer belt
11
and an image writing position are synchronized, and the transfer material S is fed to the electrostatic transfer belt
11
by the registration roller pair
19
.
A fixing portion
20
fixes toner images of plural colors transferred to the transfer material S. The fixing portion
20
is composed of a heating roller
21
a
that is rotated, and a pressure roller
21
b
that is pressed against the heating roller
21
a
to give heat and pressure to the transfer material S.
More specifically, the transfer material S with the toner images transferred from the photosensitive drums
1
thereto is transported by a pair of fixing rollers
21
a
,
21
b
and is given heat and a pressure by the pair of fixing rollers
21
a
,
21
b
while passing through the fixing portion
20
. As a result, the toner images of plural colors are fixed on the surface of the transfer material S.
The operation of image formation is performed as follows. The process cartridges
7
a
,
7
b
,
7
c
, and
7
d
are driven successively in accordance with a printing timing, and the photosensitive drums
1
a
,
1
b
,
1
c
, and
1
d
are rotated to be driven in a counterclockwise direction in accordance with the driving. Then, the scanner units
3
a
,
3
b
,
3
c
, and
3
d
corresponding the respective process cartridges
7
are driven successively. Because of ifs driving, the charging rollers
2
uniformly charge the peripheral surfaces of the photosensitive drums
1
. The scanner units
3
expose the peripheral surfaces of the photosensitive drums
1
to light in accordance with an image signal, thereby forming electrostatic latent images on the peripheral surfaces of the photosensitive drums
1
. Developing rollers
40
of the developing devices
4
transfer toner to low potential portions of the electrostatic latent images to form (develop) toner images on the peripheral surfaces of the photosensitive drums
1
.
The rotation of the registration roller pair
19
is started to feed the transfer material S to the electrostatic transfer belt
11
in such a manner as follows: the printing start position of the transfer material S is matched with an opposed point with respect to the electrostatic transfer belt
11
at a timing when the leading edge of the toner image on the peripheral surface of the most upstream photosensitive drum
1
is rotated to be transferred to the opposed point.
The transfer material S is pressed against the outer periphery of the electrostatic transfer belt
11
so as to be sandwiched between an electrostatic attracting roller
22
and the electrostatic transfer belt
11
. Furthermore, a voltage is applied between the electrostatic transfer belt
11
and the electrostatic attracting roller
22
, whereby a charge is generated in the transfer material S that is a dielectric and a dielectric layer of the electrostatic transfer belt
11
so as to electrostatically attract the transfer material S to the outer periphery of the electrostatic transfer belt
11
. Because of this, the transfer material S is stably attracted to the electrostatic transfer belt
11
to be transferred to the most downstream transfer portion.
The toner images on the photosensitive drums
1
a
,
1
b
,
1
c
, and
1
d
are successively transferred to the transfer material S being transported due to the electric field formed between the photosensitive drums
1
a
,
1
b
,
1
c
, and
1
d
and the transfer rollers
12
a
,
12
b
,
12
c
, and
12
d.
The transfer material S with the toner images of four colors transferred thereto is subjected to self stripping from the electrostatic transfer belt
11
by the curvature of a belt driving roller
13
and is placed in the fixing portion
20
. The above-mentioned toner images are thermally fixed on the transfer material S in the fixing portion
20
. Thereafter, the transfer material S is discharged outside from a discharge portion
24
by a discharge roller pair
23
under the condition that an image surface faces downward.
FIG. 2
shows the photosensitive drum unit
5
and the developing device
4
of the process cartridge
7
in an exploded state. The respective process cartridges
7
a
,
7
b
,
7
c
, and
7
d
of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black have the same configuration.
As shown in
FIGS. 2 and 3
, the process cartridge
7
is separated into the photosensitive drum unit
5
including the photosensitive drum
1
, the charging device
2
and the cleaning device
6
, and the developing device
4
including the developing roller
40
for developing an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum
1
.
In the photosensitive drum unit
5
, the photosensitive drum
1
is rotatably attached to a cleaning frame
51
via the drum bearing
50
. On the periphery of the photosensitive drum
1
, the charging device (primary charging means)
2
for uniformly charging the surface of the photosensitive drum
1
and the cleaning device (cleaning blade)
6
for removing a developer (toner) remaining on the photosensitive drum
1
are placed. Furthermore, the residual toner removed from the surface of the photosensitive drum
1
by the cleaning device
6
is successively transported to a waste toner chamber
51
a
provided at the back of the cleaning frame
51
by a toner transportation mechanism
52
. Then, by transmitting a driving force of a driving motor (not shown) to one end at the back in
FIG. 3
, the photosensitive drum
1
is rotated to be driven in a counterclockwise direction in
FIG. 3
in accordance with an image forming operation.
The developing device
4
is composed of the developing roller
40
as a developer bearing member that is in contact with the photosensitive drum
1
while rotating in a direction indicated by the arrow, a toner container
41
that is a developer container main body for forming a developer containing portion containing toner (developer), and a developing container
45
. The developing roller
40
is rotatably supported by the developing container
45
via bearing members
47
and
48
. On the periphery of the developing roller
40
, there are arranged a toner supply roller
43
that is in contact with the developing roller
40
while rotating in a direction indicated by the arrow and a developing blade
44
as a developer regulating member. Furthermore, a toner feeding mechanism
42
for feeding toner contained in the toner container
41
and transporting the toner to the toner supply roller
43
is provided in the toner container
41
.
The developing device
4
has a suspension structure in which the entire developing device
4
is supported swingably with respect to the photosensitive drum unit
5
by pins
49
around connection portions
47
a
and
48
a
provided respectively at the bearing members
47
and
48
attached to both ends of the developing device
4
. In the state of a single body of the process cartridge
7
(which is not attached to a printer main body), the developing device
4
is always biased by a compression spring
53
so that the developing roller
40
comes into contact with the photosensitive drum
1
by a rotation moment with respect to the pins
49
.
Furthermore, as shown in
FIGS. 21 and 25
, side covers
70
are provided outside of the bearing members
47
and
48
of the developing device
4
. The side face of the photosensitive drum unit
5
and the side cover
70
of the developing device
4
form the side face of the process cartridge
7
.
During development, when the contained toner is transported to the toner supply roller
43
by the toner transporting mechanism
42
, the toner supply roller
43
that is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow supplies the toner to the developing roller
40
by rubbing with respect to the developing roller
40
that is rotated in the same direction, thereby allowing the developing roller
40
to bear the toner. The toner borne on the developing roller
40
reaches the developing blade
44
along with the rotation of the developing roller
40
. The developing blade
44
regulates the toner to form a predetermined thin toner layer. The regulated toner reaches a charging roller as a developer charging means along with the rotation of the developing roller
40
, whereby a desired charge amount is given to the toner. Furthermore, the thin toner layer on the developing roller
40
is transported to a developing portion in which the photosensitive drum
1
is in contact with the developing roller
40
. In the developing portion, the toner adheres to an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum
1
due to a D.C. developing bias applied to the developing roller
40
from a power source (not shown), thereby developing a latent image. The toner remaining on the surface of the developing roller
40
, which does not contribute to the development, is returned to the developing container
45
along with the rotation of the developing roller
40
, and peeled to be collected from the developing roller
40
in the rubbing portion in which the toner supply roller
43
rubs against the developing roller
40
. The collected toner is mixed and agitated with the remaining toner by the toner transporting mechanism
42
, which also serves as a toner agitating mechanism for agitating the toner.
According to the contact development system for performing development under the condition that the photosensitive drum
1
is in contact with the developing roller
40
as in the present invention, it is preferable that the photosensitive drum
1
is made of a rigid main body, and the developing roller
40
has an elastic material. As the elastic material, a solid rubber single layer, a solid rubber layer coated with a resin considering the electrostatic charging property of the toner, or the like is used.
The process cartridge
7
is mounted to the image forming apparatus main body
30
as follows. Herein, the longitudinal direction refers to an axis direction of the photosensitive drum
1
, and a cross-sectional direction refers to a direction orthogonal to the axis of the photosensitive drum
1
.
As shown in
FIGS. 23
to
25
, the process cartridge
7
is mounted to the image forming apparatus main body
30
by guiding the process cartridge
7
to the inside of the apparatus main body
30
along a process cartridge guide
35
in a direction indicated by the arrow shown in
FIGS. 23 and 25
, and inserting the drum bearing
50
supporting the photosensitive drum
1
into a guide groove
34
. Then, the drum bearing
50
is pressed against a hitting surface of the guide groove
34
as represented by a broken line in
FIG. 25
, whereby the position of the process cartridge
7
is determined. On the other hand, in the longitudinal direction, rough guiding is performed with the process cartridge guide
35
and the side face of the process cartridge
7
, and thereafter, the positioning portion on the side face of the photosensitive drum unit
5
is pressed against a predetermined position of the image forming apparatus main body
30
by a pressurizing unit (not shown) from the side face of the image forming apparatus main body
30
, whereby positioning in the longitudinal direction is completed.
The process cartridge
7
is held in the image forming apparatus main body
30
in a cross-sectional direction by a method as shown in
FIG. 24. A
shaft
39
is crimped against right and left side plates
32
, and torsion coil springs
39
a
are supported by the shaft
39
. The ends of the torsion coil springs
39
a
are embedded in holes
39
b
of the right and left side plates
32
so as to be fixed therein. In the absence of the process cartridge
7
, torsion coil springs
39
a
are regulated in a rotation direction by raisings
39
c
bent from the right and left side plates
32
. When the process cartridge
7
is inserted, the torsion coil springs
39
a
are rotated in a counterclockwise direction against their force. When the torsion coil springs
39
a
pass over the drum bearing
50
, the torsion coil springs
39
a
are positioned as shown in
FIG. 24
, and provide a force F of about 10 N in a direction indicated by the arrow, thereby positioning the process cartridge
7
.
(Embodiment 1)
FIGS. 4 through 10
,
11
A and
11
B show a configuration of a connection portion between the toner container
41
and the developing container
45
according to a first embodiment.
As shown in
FIG. 4
, the toner container
41
(developer container) is provided with an opening
41
a
that is a developer supply opening for sending toner from the toner container
41
to the developing container
45
. On the periphery of the opening
41
a
, a welding surface
41
b
for a toner seal
60
(sealing member) described later is provided. Flange portions
41
c
and
41
d
are provided at upper and lower edges of the welding surface
41
b
in a lateral direction, and the flange portions
41
c
and
41
d
are provided with thread grooves
41
e
in parallel in a longitudinal direction.
The toner seal
60
shown in
FIG. 5
is attached to the welding surface
41
b
of the toner container
41
so as to cover the opening
41
a
by welding, bonding, or the like. The toner seal
60
is folded at an end portion
41
f
of the opening
41
a
in the longitudinal direction, and is drawn outside through a hollow portion
41
h
of an end portion
41
g
on the opposite side in the longitudinal direction, as shown in
FIGS. 6A
,
6
B, and
6
C.
A seal grip
61
that is a grip member is integrally molded to the end portion
41
g
having the hollow portion
41
h
of the toner container
41
. The seal grip
61
is integrally molded to the end portion
41
g
of the toner container
41
by a resin molding method that is a so-called two-color molding using two resin materials, which are easily separable from each other due to their low compatibility and have different colors.
An end portion
60
a
of the toner seal
60
is attached to the seal grip
61
. By pulling the seal grip
61
in the longitudinal direction of the toner container
41
, the toner seal
60
can be removed from the toner container
41
(which will be described later in detail).
Furthermore, a cap member
63
made of a material with a satisfactory sliding property and flexibility (e.g., elastomer rubber) is inserted in the hollow portion
41
h
of the toner container
41
. The toner seal
60
is sandwiched between a wall surface
41
j
of the hollow portion
41
h
of the toner container
41
and the cap member
63
.
FIG. 7
shows the developing container
45
seen from the direction of the surface to be connected to the toner container
41
. As shown in
FIG. 7
, a protruded thread
45
c
engaged in the thread groove
41
e
of the toner container
41
is provided in the longitudinal direction on surfaces
45
a
and
45
b
of the developing container
45
opposed to the toner container
41
. A triangular protruded thread for ultrasonic welding is provided on the top surface of the protruded thread
45
c.
Furthermore, an elastic sealing member
64
such as urethane foam and expanded rubber is attached to end portions
45
i
and
45
j
of the developing container
45
in the longitudinal direction of a flat surface opposed to the toner container
41
. Alternatively, the end portions
45
i
and
45
j
are coated with the elastic sealing member
64
. The position of the elastic sealing member
64
is matched with the end portions
41
f
and
41
g
of the toner container
41
in the longitudinal direction. The elastic sealing member
64
extends over the entire width in the lateral direction, and is overlapped with the protruded thread
45
c
. In the present embodiment, the elastic sealing member
64
is attached to the developing container
45
. However, it may be provided on the toner container
41
.
Furthermore, in order to easily align the toner container
41
with the developing container
45
when connecting them, rectangular bosses
41
m
and
41
n
to be fitted into rectangular holes
45
d
and
45
e
placed on the developing container
45
are provided on the flange portion
41
c
of the toner container
41
. Herein, the rectangular hole
45
d
is tightly fitted onto the rectangular boss
41
m
, and the rectangular hole
45
e
is fitted onto the rectangular boss
41
n
tightly in the lateral direction and roughly in the longitudinal direction.
The toner container
41
and the developing container
45
are connected to each other as follows.
First, the opening
41
a
of the toner container
41
is sealed with the toner seal
60
. Thereafter, toner is placed through a toner filling port
41
a
, and the toner filling port
41
a
is sealed with a toner cap
65
(see FIGS.
4
and
5
). Thereafter, the rectangular bosses
41
m
and
41
n
for positioning the toner container
41
are fitted into the rectangular holes
45
d
and
45
e
for positioning the developing container
45
(see FIG.
7
). Furthermore, the protruded thread
45
c
of the developing container
45
is fitted into in the thread groove
41
e
of the toner container
41
.
The toner container
41
and the developing container
45
are pressed to each other, and an ultrasonic vibration is provided between the protruded thread
45
c
and the thread groove
41
e
in this state. A rectangular protruded thread provided on the protruded thread
45
c
is melted by friction heat to be welded to the bottom of the thread groove
41
e
. Thus, a unit of the toner container
41
and the developing container
45
is completed (see FIG.
8
).
In order to send the toner contained in the toner container
41
to the developing container
45
so that the process cartridge
7
is made usable, the seal grip
61
projecting outside of the process cartridge
7
is pulled, whereby the toner seal
60
is drawn out. Because of this, the opening
41
a
of the toner container
41
is opened, and the toner can be sent from the toner container
41
to the developing container
45
, i.e., the usable state of the process cartridge
7
is obtained. At this time, the cap member
63
shown in
FIGS. 6A and 6C
adheres to the wall surface
41
j
of the hollow portion
41
h
of the toner container
41
after the toner seal
60
is pulled out, thereby preventing the toner from leaking outside.
As the toner seal
60
, there is a combination of a cover film for sealing the opening of the toner container
41
and a tear tape for tearing the cover film, in addition to the above-mentioned easy peel type using one folded sheet. The present invention is applicable to any of these toner seals.
The toner container
41
and the developing container
45
may be connected to each other in the following configuration (see FIGS.
11
A and
11
B).
As described above, the opening
41
a
for sending toner from the toner container
41
to the developing container
45
is provided at the connection portion between the toner container
41
and the developing container
45
. The welding surface
41
b
of the toner seal
60
is provided on the periphery of the opening
41
a
. The flange portions
41
c
and
41
d
are provided at the upper and lower edges of the welding surface
41
b
in the lateral direction, and the thread groove
41
e
is provided at the flange portions
41
c
and
41
d
in the longitudinal direction.
The protruded thread
45
c
to be fitted into the thread groove
41
e
of the toner container
41
is provided on the surfaces
45
a
and
45
b
of the developing container
45
opposed to the toner container
41
in the longitudinal direction. The rectangular protruded thread for ultrasonic welding is provided at the top surface of the protruded thread
45
c.
An elastic sealing member
64
is attached to the end portions
45
i
and
45
j
of the developing container
45
, and the position thereof in the longitudinal direction is matched with the end portions
41
f
, and
41
g
of the toner container
41
. Furthermore, the elastic sealing member
64
extends over the entire width in the lateral direction and is overlapped with the protruded thread
45
c.
The toner seal
60
is attached to the welding surface
41
b
of the toner container
41
so as to cover the opening
41
a
by welding, bonding, or the like. One end of the toner seal
60
is folded at one end portion
41
f
, and the end portion
60
a
of the toner seal
60
is fixed to the surface side of the seal grip
61
at the other end portion
41
g.
First, the opening
41
a
of the toner container
41
is sealed with the toner seal
60
. Thereafter, toner is placed through the toner filling port
41
o
, and the toner filling port
41
o
is sealed with the toner cap
65
.
Thereafter, the rectangular bosses
41
m
and
41
n
for positioning the toner container
41
are engaged in the rectangular holes
45
d
and
45
e
for positioning the developing container
45
. Furthermore, the protruded thread
45
c
of the developing container
45
is fitted into the thread groove
41
e
of the toner container
41
. Then, the toner container
41
and the developing container
45
are pressed to each other, whereby the elastic sealing member
64
comes into contact with the end portions
41
f
and
41
g
of the toner container
41
in the longitudinal direction to be compressed.
The toner container
41
and the developing container
45
are pressed, and an ultrasonic vibration is provided between the protruded thread
45
c
and the thread groove
41
e
in this state. The rectangular protruded thread provided on the protruded thread
45
c
is melted by friction heat to be welded to the bottom of the thread groove
41
e
. Thus, the elastic sealing member
64
adheres between the toner container
41
and the developing container
45
as shown in FIG.
11
B. When the gap between the toner container
41
and the developing container
45
is sealed, the toner seal
60
is held adhering to a tape
64
a
attached to the surface of the elastic sealing member
64
. Thus, a unit of the toner container
41
and the developing container
45
is completed in the same way as described above.
In order to send the toner contained in the toner container
41
to the developing container
45
so that the process cartridge
7
is made usable, the seal grip
61
projecting outside of the process cartridge
7
is pulled, whereby the toner seal
60
is drawn out. Because of this, the opening
41
a
of the toner container
41
is opened, and the toner can be sent from the toner container
41
to the developing container
45
, i.e., the usable state of the process cartridge
7
is obtained.
Herein, in the configuration shown in
FIGS. 11A and 11B
, the elastic sealing member
64
is compressed by the toner container
41
and the developing container
45
while keeping its rectangular cross-section. Therefore, the elastic sealing member
64
has a satisfactory sealing property. Furthermore, the toner seal
60
can be smoothly drawn from between the toner container
41
and the developing container
45
by the tape
64
a
attached to the surface of the elastic sealing member
64
.
In the present embodiment, polystyrene is used as a material for forming the toner container
41
and the developing container
45
. However, an ABS resin (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer), polycarbonate, polyethylene, or the like may be used.
Next, the configurations of the toner seal
60
and the seal grip
61
will be described in detail with reference to
FIGS. 6A
to
6
C.
FIG. 6B
shows a partially enlarged cross-section of the encircled portion designated by the reference sign C of the seal grip
61
in
FIG. 6A. A
protruded portion
41
p
is provided at the end portion
41
g
of the toner container
41
(developer container main body) in the longitudinal direction. The seal grip
61
is integrally formed by two-color molding using two resin materials having low compatibility, so as to cover the protruded portion
41
p
by pinching it, embracing it or interdigitating it. Because of this configuration, the seal grip
61
can be separated from the toner container
41
only when being pulled in a direction indicated by the arrow A in
FIG. 6C
, and the seal grip
61
can resist in a direction indicated by the arrow B in FIG.
6
A. Furthermore, an undercut portion
41
q
is provided at the protruded portion
41
p
in order for the seal grip
61
not to come off easily by vibration and shock produced during transportation.
As the material for the seal grip
61
, a resin material having a shrinkage ratio larger than that of the toner container
41
is used. Due to the shrinkage during molding, the seal grip
61
adheres to the protruded portion
41
p
of the toner container
41
. Because of this, a load capacity with respect to a force from the direction indicated by the arrow B in
FIG. 6A
can be obtained stably.
In the present embodiment, polypropylene (PP) is used as the material for the seal grip
61
. However, there is no particular limit to the above combination, as long as the shrinkage ratio of the material for the seal grip
61
is larger than that of the toner container
41
.
FIGS. 9A and 9B
are plan views of the seal grip
61
. The end portion
60
a
of the toner seal
60
is fixed to a region of a reverse surface of the seal grip
61
represented by hatching (
FIG. 9A
) with a pressure sensitive adhesive double coated tape, welding, or the like. When the seal grip
61
is pulled out in the longitudinal direction of the toner container
41
, the seal grip
61
is separated from the toner container
41
and the toner seal
60
is opened, as shown in
FIG. 9B
, whereby the toner in the toner container
41
can be supplied to the developing container
45
. The seal grip
61
is provided with a hole
61
a
for inserting a finger, having a ring shape so as to facilitate a pull operation.
Furthermore, thin portions
61
b
and
61
c
are provided in the lateral direction of the seal grip
61
. Thus, when the process cartridge
7
is packed for delivery and transportation, the seal grip
61
can be folded from the thin portions
61
b
and
61
c
. By designing the seal grip
61
so as to be deformed as described above, a package member can be reduced in dimension without impairing the ease of pulling the seal grip
61
.
Herein, as shown in
FIG. 10
, the tip end of the protruded portion
41
p
of the toner container
41
is substantially matched with the position of an end portion
70
a
in the longitudinal direction of a side cover
70
. Alternatively, the tip end of the protruded portion
41
p
is placed slightly inside of the toner container
41
with respect to the end portion
70
a
in the longitudinal direction via a gap W. Furthermore, the position of the thin portions
61
b
and
61
c
of the seal grip
61
is substantially matched with a guide end face
35
a
in the longitudinal direction of the process cartridge guide
35
of the image forming apparatus or is placed outside in the longitudinal direction of the guide end face
35
a
. Therefore, when it is attempted to attach the process cartridge
7
, with the seal grip
61
attached thereto, to the image forming apparatus main body
30
(when the process cartridge
7
is inserted in a direction indicated by the arrow Y in FIG.
10
), the seal grip
61
passes over the process cartridge mounting region (developer container mounting region) of the image forming apparatus main body
30
to be hitched by the process cartridge guide
35
. The seal grip
61
at this time does not come off or is not folded in a direction indicated by the arrow B in FIG.
10
. Therefore, the process cartridge
7
cannot be inserted to the image forming apparatus main body
30
any more. Because of this, the process cartridge
7
can be prevented from being mounted to the image forming apparatus main body
30
under the condition that the seal grip
61
is not removed, i.e., the toner has not been supplied from the toner container
41
to the developing container
45
and the process cartridge
7
cannot be used.
On the other hand, under the condition that the seal grip
61
is removed together with the toner seal
60
, there is no portion for preventing the mounting of the process cartridge
7
to the image forming apparatus main body
30
. Therefore, smooth mounting is made possible.
The tip end position of the protruded portion
41
p
of the toner container
41
is appropriately varied depending upon the shape of the process cartridge
7
and the shape of the process cartridge guide
35
. The same effect can be obtained even if the tip end position is varied.
In the present embodiment, for example, the toner container
41
has a black color and the seal grip
61
has an orange color. The reason for this is to allow a user to easily discriminate the seal grip
61
by setting the main body of the toner container
41
and the seal grip
61
so as to have different colors. The color combination between the main body of the toner container
41
and the seal grip
61
can be arbitrarily determined, and there is no particular limit to the above combination.
Furthermore, even in the toner container
41
configuration shown in
FIGS. 11A and 11B
, the toner seal
10
and the seal grip
61
can have the same configuration.
(Embodiment 2)
FIGS. 12
to
14
show a second embodiment. The schematic configuration of the image forming apparatus, and the configurations of the process cartridge
7
, the image forming apparatus main body
30
, the process cartridge guide
35
, the toner container
41
, the opening
41
a
, the toner seal welding surface
41
b
, the flange portions
41
c
and
41
d
, the thread groove
4
e
, the developing container
45
, and the like are the same as those in the first embodiment. Therefore, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted with the same reference numerals as those therein, and the description thereof will be omitted here.
As shown in
FIG. 12
, a toner seal
80
is attached to the welding surface
41
b
so as to seal the opening
41
a
of the toner container
41
by welding or the like. The toner seal
80
is folded at the end portion
41
f
of the opening
41
a
in the longitudinal direction, and thereafter, is drawn outside through the hollow portion
41
h
of the other end portion
41
g
of the toner container
41
.
Furthermore, a cap member (not shown) made of a material having a satisfactory sliding property and flexibility (for example, elastomer rubber) is inserted to the hollow portion
41
h
of the toner container
41
. The toner seal
80
is sandwiched between the wall surface of the hollow portion
41
h
of the toner container
41
and the cap member.
FIG. 13
shows the developing container
45
in a state inverted from the right to the left. A seal grip
81
is integrally molded with the developing container
45
by two-color molding in the same way as in Embodiment
1
at the position of the developing container
45
opposed to a portion from which the toner seal
80
is extended out. More specifically, two-color molding is performed so that the protruded portion
45
g
is provided at the end portion of the developing container
45
constituting the developing container main body, and the seal grip
81
covers the protruded portion
45
g
. Furthermore, the same combination and the same material as that in the first embodiment is used (see FIG.
14
).
An elastic sealing member
84
such as urethane foam and expanded rubber is attached to portions of the developing container
45
opposed to the end portions
41
f
and 41 g of the toner container
41
in the longitudinal direction in the same way as the above embodiment. Alternatively, portions of the developing container
45
are coated with the elastic sealing member
84
.
The toner container
41
and the developing container
45
are connected to each other in the same way as in the first embodiment.
The toner container
41
and the developing container
45
are connected to each other. Thereafter, the end portion
80
a
of the toner seal
80
is fixed to an adjacent region of a hole
81
a
of the seal grip
81
on the developing container
45
side by a pressure sensitive adhesive double coated tape, welding, or the like. Thus, a unit of the toner container
41
and the developing container
45
is completed.
In the same way as in the first embodiment, as the toner seal
80
, there is a combination of a cover film for sealing the opening
41
a
of the toner container
41
and the tear tape for tearing the cover film, in addition to the above-mentioned easy peel type using one folded sheet. The present invention is applicable to any of these toner seals.
In order to send the toner contained in the toner container
41
to the developing, container
45
so that the process cartridge
7
is made usable, the seal grip
81
having a longitudinal dimension extending to the developing container mounting region and the process cartridge mounting region of the image forming apparatus and projecting outside of the process cartridge
7
is pulled, whereby the toner seal
80
is drawn out. Because of this, the opening
41
a
of the toner container
41
is opened, and the toner can be sent from the toner container
41
to the developing container
45
, i.e., the usable state of the process cartridge
7
is obtained. At this time, the cap member (not shown) adheres to the wall surface of the hollow portion
41
h
of the toner container
41
after the toner seal
80
is pulled out, thereby preventing the toner from leaking outside.
In the present embodiment, polystyrene is used as a material for the developing container
45
. However, an ABS resin (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer), polycarbonate, polyethylene, or the like may be used. Furthermore, polypropylene (PP) is used as the material for the seal grip
81
. The same effect can be obtained as long as the material has a shrinkage ratio during molding larger than that of the main body of the developing container
45
, as described above. Therefore, there is no particular limit to the above combination. Furthermore, the shape of the seal grip
81
is the same as that in the first embodiment.
Furthermore, the configuration of the opposed surface of the toner container
41
and the developing container
45
may be the same as that in
FIGS. 11A and 11B
.
Herein, as shown in
FIG. 14
, the tip end of the protruded portion
45
g
of the developing container
45
is substantially matched with an end portion
70
a
in the longitudinal direction of a side cover
70
. Alternatively, the tip end of the protruded portion
41
p
is placed slightly inside of the container with respect to the end portion
70
a
in the longitudinal direction via a gap W. Furthermore, the position of the thin portions
81
b
and
81
c
of the seal grip
81
is substantially matched with a guide end face
35
a
in the longitudinal direction of the process cartridge guide
35
of the image forming apparatus or is placed outside in the longitudinal direction of the guide end face
35
a
. Therefore, when it is attempted to mount the process cartridge
7
, with the seal grip
81
attached thereto, to the image forming apparatus main body
30
(when the process cartridge
7
is inserted in a direction indicated by the arrow Y in FIG.
14
), the seal grip
81
is hitched by the process cartridge guide
35
. The seal grip
81
at this time does not come off in a direction indicated by the arrow B in FIG.
14
. Therefore, the process cartridge
7
cannot be inserted to the image forming apparatus main body
30
any more. Because of this, the process cartridge
7
can be prevented from being mounted to the image forming apparatus main body
30
under the condition that the seal grip
81
is not removed, i.e., the toner has not been supplied from the toner container
41
to the developing container
45
and the process cartridge
7
cannot be used.
On the other hand, under the condition that the seal grip
81
is removed, there is no portion for preventing the mounting of the process cartridge
7
to the image forming apparatus main body
30
. Therefore, smooth mounting is made possible.
The tip end position of the protruded portion
45
g
of the developing container
45
is appropriately varied depending upon the shape of the process cartridge
7
and the shape of the process cartridge guide
35
. The same effect can be obtained even if the tip end position is varied.
In the same way as in the first embodiment, the color combination between the main body of the developing container
45
and the seal grip
81
can be arbitrarily determined, and there is no particular limit to the above combination.
(Embodiment 3)
FIGS. 15
to
17
show a third embodiment. The schematic configuration of the image forming apparatus, and the configurations of the process cartridge
7
, the image forming apparatus main body
30
, the process cartridge guide
35
, the toner container
41
, the developing container
45
, the developing blade
44
, the developing roller
40
, the bearing member
48
, and the like are the same as those in the first embodiment. Therefore, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted with the same reference numerals as those therein, and the description thereof will be omitted here.
In the same way as in the first embodiment, a toner seal
90
is attached to the welding surface
41
b
of the toner container
41
so as to seal the opening
41
a
of the toner container
41
by welding or the like. The toner seal
90
is folded at the end portion
41
f
of the opening
41
a
in the longitudinal direction, and is extended outside through the hollow portion
41
h
of the other end portion
41
g
of the toner container
41
.
Furthermore, a cap member
63
made of a material having a satisfactory sliding property and flexibility (for example, elastomer rubber) is inserted to the hollow portion
41
h
of the toner container
41
. The toner seal
90
is sandwiched between the wall surface
41
j
of the hollow portion
41
h
of the toner container
41
and the cap member
63
.
Furthermore, an elastic sealing member
64
such as urethane foam and expanded rubber is attached to end portions
45
i
and
45
j
of the developing container
45
in the longitudinal direction of a flat surface opposed to the toner container
41
. Alternatively, the end portions
45
i
and
45
j
are coated with the elastic sealing member
64
. The position of the elastic sealing member
64
is matched with the end portions
41
f
and
41
g
of the toner container
41
in the longitudinal direction. The elastic sealing member
64
extends over the entire width in the lateral direction, and is overlapped with the protruded thread
45
c.
FIGS. 16A and 16B
show a configuration of a bearing including one bearing member
48
for rotatably supporting the developing roller
40
. The bearing member
48
is provided with a connection portion
48
a
with respect to the photosensitive drum unit
5
, a boss
48
b
for positioning with respect to the developing container
45
, and a bearing portion
48
c
for rotatably supporting the developing roller
40
(developer bearing member).
As shown in
FIG. 15
, the developing blade
44
and the like are previously incorporated into the developing container
45
. Under this condition, a positioning hole
45
h
of the developing container
45
is fitted onto a positioning boss
48
b
of the bearing member
48
while the developing roller
40
is aligned with the bearing portion
48
c
of the bearing member
48
, whereby the developing container
45
is fixed with a screw.
As shown in
FIGS. 16A and 16B
, a seal grip
91
is integrally molded with a portion of the bearing member
48
positioned in the vicinity of an end portion
90
a
of a toner seal
90
. After the bearing member
48
is incorporated into the developing container
45
, the end portion
90
a
of the toner seal
90
is fixed by a fixing method such as a pressure sensitive adhesive double coated tape, welding, or the like, whereby incorporation of the toner seal
90
into the seal grip
91
is completed.
The configuration of the toner seal
90
is the same as that of the first embodiment.
In order to send the toner contained in the toner container
41
to the developing container
45
so that the process cartridge
7
is made usable, the seal grip
91
projecting outside of the process cartridge
7
is pulled, whereby the toner seal
90
is drawn out. Because of this, the opening of the toner container
41
is opened, and the toner can be sent from the toner container
41
to the developing container
45
, i.e., the usable state of the process cartridge
7
is obtained.
Herein, as the material for the seal grip
91
, a material having a shrinkage ratio larger than that of the bearing member
48
is used. Due to the shrinkage during molding, the seal grip
91
adheres to the protruded portion
48
f
(see
FIG. 17
) of the bearing member
48
. Because of this, a load capacity with respect to a force from the direction indicated by the arrow B in
FIG. 17
can be obtained stably.
In the present embodiment, polycarbonate (PC) or polystyrene (PS) is used as the material for the bearing member
48
, and polypropylene (PP) is used as the material for the seal grip
91
. However, there is no particular limit to the above combination, as long as the shrinkage ratio of the material for the seal grip
91
is larger than that of the bearing member
48
.
Furthermore, the configuration of the opposed surface of the toner container
41
and the developing container
45
may be the same as that in
FIGS. 11A and 11B
.
Herein, as shown in
FIG. 17
, the tip end of the protruded portion
48
f
of the bearing member
48
is substantially matched with an end portion
70
a
in the longitudinal direction of a side cover
70
. Alternatively, the tip end of the protruded portion
48
f
is placed slightly inside of the toner container
41
with respect to the end portion
70
a
in the longitudinal direction via a gap W. Furthermore, the position of the thin portions
91
b
and
91
c
of the seal grip
91
is substantially matched with a guide end face
35
a
in the longitudinal direction of the process cartridge guide
35
of the image forming apparatus main body
30
or is placed outside in the longitudinal direction of the guide end face
35
a
. Therefore, when it is attempted to mount the process cartridge
7
, with the seal grip
91
attached thereto, to the image forming apparatus main body
30
(when the process cartridge
7
is inserted in a direction indicated by the arrow Y in FIG.
17
), the seal grip
91
is hitched by the process cartridge guide
35
. The seal grip
91
at this time does not come off in a direction indicated by the arrow B in FIG.
17
. Therefore, the process cartridge
7
cannot be inserted to the image forming apparatus main body
30
any more. Because of this, the process cartridge
7
can be prevented from being mounted to the image forming apparatus main body
30
under the condition that the seal grip
91
is not removed, i.e., the toner has not been supplied from the toner container
41
to the developing container
45
and the process cartridge
7
cannot be used.
On the other hand, under the condition that the seal grip
91
is removed, there is no portion for preventing the mounting of the process cartridge
7
to the image forming apparatus main body
30
. Therefore, smooth mounting is made possible.
The tip end position of the protruded portion
48
f
of the bearing member
48
is appropriately varied depending upon the shape of the process cartridge
7
and the shape of the process cartridge guide
35
. The same effect can be obtained even if the tip end position is varied.
In the present embodiment, the toner container
41
, the developing container
45
, the side cover
70
, and the bearing member
48
, constituting the developing device main body, have a black color. However, the seal grip
91
provided at the bearing member
48
has an orange color. The reason for this is to allow a user to easily discriminate the seal grip
91
by setting the developing device main body and the seal grip
91
so as to have different colors. The color combination among the toner container
41
, the developing container
45
, the side cover
70
, the bearing member
48
, and the seal grip
91
constituting the developing device
4
can be arbitrarily determined, and there is no particular limit to the above combination.
(Embodiment 4)
1
FIGS. 18
to
21
show a fourth embodiment. The schematic configuration of the image forming apparatus, and the configurations of the process cartridge
7
, the image forming apparatus main body
30
, the process cartridge guide
35
, the toner container
41
, the developing container
45
, the side cover
70
, and the like are the same as those in the first embodiment. Therefore, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted with the same reference numerals as those therein, and the description thereof will be omitted here.
Furthermore, the attachment and handling of a toner seal
100
, and the connection procedure of the toner container
41
and the developing container
45
shown in
FIG. 21
are the same as those in the first embodiment.
A method for attaching the bearing member
48
and the side cover
70
to the developing container
45
will be described. As shown in
FIGS. 20A and 20B
, the bearing member
48
of the present embodiment is provided with a connection portion
48
a
with respect to the photosensitive drum unit
5
, positioning bosses
48
b
for positioning with respect to the developing container
45
, and a bearing portion
48
c
for rotatably supporting the developing roller
40
.
Furthermore, the developing blade
44
and the like are previously incorporated into the developing container
45
. Under this condition, the positioning hole
45
h
of the developing container
45
is fitted onto one of the positioning bosses
48
b
of the bearing member
48
while the developing roller
40
is aligned with the bearing portion
48
c
of the bearing member
48
, whereby the developing container
45
is fixed with a screw. At this time, the end portion of the toner seal
100
is passed through a rectangular hole
48
h
provided in the bearing member
48
.
The side cover
70
is attached to the bearing member
48
with a screw under the condition that a positioning boss
48
i
of the bearing member
48
is aligned with the positioning hole
70
b
of the side cover
70
, as shown in
FIG. 21
, after the bearing member
48
is attached to the developing container
45
. At this time, the end portion of the toner seal
100
is passed through the rectangular hole
70
c
provided on the side cover
70
(see FIG.
19
).
Herein, a seal grip
101
is provided integrally with the side cover
70
in the vicinity of the end portion of the toner seal
100
. After the side cover
70
is incorporated into the bearing member
48
, the end portion of the toner seal
100
is fixed to the seal grip
101
by a fixing method such as a pressure sensitive adhesive double coated tape, welding, or the like, whereby incorporation of the toner seal
100
into the seal grip
101
is completed.
The configuration of the toner seal
100
is the same as that of the first embodiment.
In order to send the toner contained in the toner container
41
to the developing container
45
so that the process cartridge
7
is made usable, the seal grip
101
projecting outside of the process cartridge
7
is pulled, whereby the toner seal
100
is drawn out. Because of this, the opening
41
a
of the toner container
41
is opened, and the toner can be sent from the toner container
41
to the developing container
45
, i.e., the usable state of the process cartridge
7
is obtained.
Herein as the material for the seal grip
101
, a material having a shrinkage ratio larger than that of the main body of the side cover
70
is used. Due to the shrinkage during molding, the seal grip
101
shown in
FIG. 21
adheres to the protruded portion
70
d
of the side cover
70
. Because of this, a load capacity with respect to a force from the direction indicated by the arrow B in
FIG. 21
can be obtained stably. In the present embodiment, polystyrene (PS) is used as the material for the side cover
70
, and polypropylene (PP) is used as the material for the seal grip
101
. However, there is no particular limit to the above combination, as long as the shrinkage ratio of the material for the seal grip
101
is larger than that of the main body of the side cover
70
.
Furthermore, the configuration of the opposed surface of the toner container
41
and the developing container
45
may be the same as that in
FIGS. 11A and 11B
.
Herein, as shown in
FIG. 21
, the tip end of the protruded portion
70
d
of the side cover
70
is substantially matched with an end portion
70
a
in the longitudinal direction of a side cover
70
. Alternatively, the tip end of the protruded portion
70
d
is placed slightly inside of the toner container
41
with respect to the end portion
70
a
in the longitudinal direction via a gap W. Furthermore, the position of thin portions
101
b
and
101
c
of the seal grip
101
in the longitudinal direction is substantially matched with a guide end face
35
a
in the longitudinal direction of the process cartridge guide
35
of the image forming apparatus main body
30
or is placed outside in the longitudinal direction of the guide end face
35
a
. Therefore, when it is attempted to mount the process cartridge
7
, with the seal grip
101
attached thereto, to the image forming apparatus main body
30
(when the process cartridge
7
is inserted in a direction indicated by the arrow Y in FIG.
21
), the seal grip
101
is hitched by the process cartridge guide
35
. The seal grip
101
at this time does not come off in a direction indicated by the arrow B in FIG.
21
. Therefore, the process cartridge
7
cannot be inserted to the image forming apparatus main body
30
any more. Because of this, the process cartridge
7
can be prevented from being attached to the image forming apparatus main body
30
under the condition that the seal grip
101
is not removed, i.e., the toner has not been supplied from the toner container
41
to the developing container
45
and the process cartridge
7
cannot be used.
On the other hand, under the condition that the seal grip
101
is removed, there is no portion for preventing the mounting of the process cartridge
7
to the image forming apparatus main body
30
. Therefore, smooth mounting is made possible.
The tip end position of the protruded portion
70
d
of the side cover
70
is appropriately varied depending upon the shape of the process cartridge
7
and the shape of the process cartridge guide
35
. The same effect can be obtained even if the tip end position is varied.
In the present embodiment, the toner container
41
, the developing container
45
, the bearing member
48
, and the main body of the side cover
70
, constituting the developing device main body, have a black color. However, the seal grip
101
provided at the side cover
70
has an orange color. The reason for this is to allow a user to easily discriminate the seal grip
101
by setting the developing device main body and the seal grip
101
so as to have different colors. The color combination among the toner container
41
, the developing container
45
, the bearing member
48
, the side cover
70
, and the seal grip
101
constituting the developing device main body can be arbitrarily determined, and there is no particular limit to the above combination.
(Embodiment 5)
FIGS. 22A and 22B
show a fifth embodiment. The configurations of the toner container
41
, the opening
41
a
, the cap member
63
, and the like are the same as those in the first embodiment. Therefore, the description thereof will be omitted here.
FIG. 22B
shows a partially enlarged view of a seal grip
111
with the end portion of a toner seal
110
connected thereto according the present embodiment. As shown in
FIG. 22B
, plural protruded portions
41
p
1
and
42
p
2
similar to the protruded portion
41
p
of the toner container
41
shown in
FIGS. 6A
,
6
B, and
6
C are arranged, and the seal grip
111
is integrally molded by two-color molding so as to cover the protruded portions
41
p
1
and
42
p
2
.
Because of this configuration, the seal grip
111
can be separated from the toner container
41
only when being pulled in a direction indicated by the arrow A in
FIG. 22A
, and can resist in a direction indicated by the arrow B in
FIG. 22A
with a large force. Furthermore, undercut portions
41
q
are provided at the respective protruded portions
41
p
1
and
41
p
2
, whereby the seal grip
11
is prevented from easily coming off due to vibration and shock occurring during transportation or the like.
Further, as the material for the seal grip
111
, a material having a shrinkage ratio larger than that of the toner container
41
is used. Due to the shrinkage during molding, the seal grip
111
adheres to the protruded portions
41
p
1
and
41
p
2
of the toner container
41
. Because of this, a load capacity with respect to a force from the direction indicated by the arrow B in
FIG. 22A
can be obtained stably.
In the present embodiment, polypropylene (PP) is used as the material for the seal grip
111
. However, there is no particular limit to the above combination, as long as the shrinkage ratio of the material for the seal grip
111
is larger than that of the toner container
41
.
The present embodiment is applicable not only to the case where the seal grip
111
is provided at the toner container
41
as shown in
FIG. 22A
, but also to the case where the seal grip
81
is provided at the developing container
45
described in Embodiment 2, the case where the seal grip
91
is provided at the bearing member
48
as described in Embodiment 3, or the case where the seal grip
101
is provided at the side cover
70
as described in Embodiment 4.
According to the above-mentioned embodiment, the opening
41
a
of the toner container
41
is sealed with a toner seal or sealing member so that a developer does not leak before the process cartridge
7
is mounted to the image forming apparatus main body
30
. Immediately before the process cartridge
7
is mounted to the image forming apparatus main body
30
, the seal grip or grip member
111
connected to one end of the sealing member
110
is pulled in the longitudinal direction to open the opening
41
a
, whereby the developer can be supplied from the toner container
41
to the developing container
45
.
The grip member
111
of the sealing member
110
is integrally molded so as to be separable, using a resin material having low compatibility with respect to the toner container
41
, the developing container
45
, the bearing member
48
of the developing roller
40
of the developing device
4
, the side cover
71
, and the like. The grip member
111
is separated from the toner container
41
main body and the like by a pull operation of the grip member
111
for pulling out the sealing member
110
. The sealing member
110
is designed so as to be drawn out in the longitudinal direction. Accordingly, the number of components can be reduced, and the production processes can be simplified without impairing the efficiency of the operation of removing a sealing member
110
.
Furthermore, the grip member
111
of the sealing member
110
having a different color from that of the toner container
41
and the like can be simultaneously molded by so-called two-color molding. Therefore, the process of producing the grip member
111
discriminable by the color as a separate component can be omitted. Thus, the cost of the image forming apparatus can be greatly reduced by the reduction in number of production processes.
Furthermore, the outer dimension of the grip member
111
extends outside of the toner container
41
in the longitudinal direction. The process cartridge
7
cannot be mounted to the image forming apparatus main body
30
unless the opening
41
a
is opened by pulling the grip member
111
. Therefore, an operation error of mounting the process cartridge
7
without opening the opening
41
a
can be prevented, and damage and the like caused by the carelessness of a user can be avoided.
As described above, the opening
41
a
of the toner container
41
is sealed with the toner seal
110
; the seal grip
111
is pulled out at the commencement of use to pull out the toner seal
110
in the longitudinal direction of the process cartridge
7
. Furthermore, the seal grip
111
is placed so as to be outside of the width of a guide in the longitudinal direction of the process cartridge
7
, which guide is for mounting/detaching the process cartridge
7
to the image forming apparatus main body. Thus, the process cartridge
7
can be prevented from being mounted to the image forming apparatus main body
30
under the condition that the seal grip
111
is not removed. Furthermore, the toner container
41
, the developing container
45
, the bearing member
48
or the side cover
70
, and the seal grip
111
are integrally molded by two-color molding with materials having low compatibility. Thus, while the number of components and the number of assembly processes are reduced, the dimension of the engagement portion between the toner container
41
, the developing container
45
, the bearing member
48
or the side cover
70
, and the seal grip
111
can be obtained stably. Therefore, the seal grip can be prevented from coming off due to the vibration during transportation, while the force of pulling the seal grip
111
is reduced. Furthermore, by subjecting the seal grip
111
to two-color molding, the color of the seal grip
111
can be arbitrarily set, and a user can easily discriminate the portion to be removed with a color when using the process cartridge
7
.
According to the present invention, the number of components can be reduced. Furthermore, according to the present invention, the process cartridge
7
cannot be mounted to the image forming apparatus main body
30
unless the seal grip
111
is removed, whereby mounting operability is enhanced.
While the invention has been described with reference to the structure disclosed herein, it is not confined to the details set forth and this application is intended to cover such modifications or changes as may come within the purposes of the improvements or the scope of the following claims.
Claims
- 1. A developer container of a developing device to be mounted to an image forming apparatus having a developer-container mounting region, said developer container comprising:a developer container main body having a developer supply opening and comprising a developer containing portion configured to contain a developer; a sealing member configured and positioned to seal the developer supply opening of said developer container main body; and a grip member configured and positioned to pull out said sealing member in a longitudinal direction of said developer container main body, wherein said developer container main body and said grip member are integrally molded from resin materials having low compatibility to be separable from each other, and wherein said grip member has a longitudinal dimension extending outside of the developer-container mounting region of the image forming apparatus in order to prevent said developer container from mounting to the image forming apparatus by abutting said grip member against the developer-container mounting region when said developer container is to be mounted to the image forming apparatus without pulling out said sealing member.
- 2. A developer container according to claim 1, wherein the resin material forming said grip member has a shrinkage ratio larger than that of the resin material forming said developer container main body.
- 3. A developer container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said developer container main body comprises a protruded portion pinchable by or interdigitated with said grip member.
- 4. A developer container according to claim 3, wherein said protruded portion comprises an undercut portion.
- 5. A developer container according to claim 4, further comprising a plurality of protruded portions arranged on said developer container main body.
- 6. A developer container according to claim 5, wherein said developer container main body and said grip member are two-color molded from two resin materials having different colors so that said developer container main body and said grip member are of different colors.
- 7. A developer container according to claim 6, wherein said grip member has a ring shape.
- 8. A developer container according to claim 7, wherein said grip member has a thin portion facilitating deformation thereof.
- 9. A developing device comprising:said developer container as set forth in claim 1; and means for developing a latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member with the developer stored in said developer container.
- 10. An image forming apparatus having a developer-container mounting region and comprising:an image forming apparatus main body to which a developing device having said developer container as set forth in claim 1 and an electrophotographic photosensitive member are mounted.
- 11. A process cartridge detachably mountable to a process-cartridge mounting region of an image forming apparatus, said process cartridge comprising:an electrophotographic photosensitive member; and a developing device comprising: a developer container comprising: a developer container main body having a developer supply opening and comprising a developer containing portion configured to contain a developer; a sealing member configured and positioned to seal the developer supply opening of said developer container main body; and a grip member configured and positioned to pull out said sealing member in a longitudinal direction of said developer container main body, wherein said developer container main body and said grip member are integrally molded from resin materials having low compatibility to be separable from each other, and wherein said grip member has a longitudinal dimension extending outside of the process-cartridge mounting region of the image forming apparatus in order to prevent said process-cartridge from mounting to the image forming apparatus by abutting said grip member against the process-cartridge mounting region when said process cartridge is to be mounted to the image forming apparatus without pulling out said sealing member; and means for developing a latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive member with the developer stored in said developer container.
- 12. A process cartridge according to claim 11, wherein the resin material forming said grip member has a shrinkage ratio larger than that of the resin material forming said developer container main body.
- 13. A process cartridge according to claim 11 or 12, wherein said developer container main body comprises a protruded portion pinchable by or interdigitated with said grip member.
- 14. A process cartridge according to claim 13, wherein said protruded portion comprises an undercut portion.
- 15. A process cartridge according to claim 14, further comprising a plurality of protruded portions arranged on said developer container main body.
- 16. A process cartridge according to claim 15, wherein said developer container main body and said grip member are two-color molded from two resin materials having different colors so that said developer container main body and said grip member are of different colors.
- 17. A process cartridge according to claim 16, wherein said grip member has a ring shape.
- 18. A process cartridge according to claim 17, wherein said grip member has a thin portion facilitating deformation thereof.
- 19. An image forming apparatus to which a process cartridge is detachably mountable for forming an image on a transfer material, said image forming apparatus comprising:(i) a process-cartridge mounting region detachably mounting the process cartridge, the process cartridge comprising an electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a developing device, the developing device comprising a developer container and means for developing a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member with a developer stored in the developer container, the developer container comprising a developer container main body having a developer supply opening and comprising a developer containing portion configured to contain the developer, a sealing member configured and positioned to seal the developer supply opening of the developer container main body, and a grip member configured and positioned to pull out the sealing member in a longitudinal direction of the developer container main body, wherein the developer container main body and the grip member are integrally molded from resin materials having low compatibility to be separable from each other, and wherein said process-cartridge mounting region is configured and sized so that the longitudinal dimension of the grip member extends outside of said process-cartridge mounting region in order to prevent the process cartridge from mounting to said image forming apparatus by abutting the grip member against said process-cartridge mounting region when the process cartridge is to be mounted to said image forming apparatus without pulling out the sealing member; and (ii) conveying means for conveying the transfer material.
- 20. A bearing structure of a developing device mountable to a developing-device mounting region of an image forming apparatus and that includes a developer container having a developer containing portion that contains a developer, a developer supply opening, and a sealing member that seals the developer supply opening, and a developer bearing member configured and positioned to act on an electrophotographic photosensitive member of the image forming apparatus, said bearing structure comprising:a bearing member configured and positioned to rotatably support the developer bearing member; and a grip member configured and positioned to pull out the sealing member in a longitudinal direction of the developer container, wherein said bearing member and said grip member are integrally molded from resin materials having low compatibility to be separable from each other, and wherein said grip member has a longitudinal dimension extending outside of the developing device-mounting region of the image forming apparatus in order to prevent the developing device from mounting to the image forming apparatus by abutting said grip member against the developing-device mounting region when the developing device is to be mounted to the image forming apparatus without pulling out the sealing member.
- 21. A bearing structure according to claim 20, wherein the resin material forming said grip member has a shrinkage ratio larger than that of the resin material forming said bearing member.
- 22. A bearing structure according to claim 20 or 21, wherein said bearing member comprises a protruded portion pinched by or interdigitated with said grip member.
- 23. A bearing structure according to claim 22, wherein said protruded portion comprises an undercut portion.
- 24. A bearing structure according to claim 23, further comprising a plurality of protruded portions arranged on said bearing member.
- 25. A bearing structure according to claim 24, wherein said bearing member and said grip member are two-color molded from two resin materials having different colors so that said bearing member and said grip member are of different colors.
- 26. A bearing structure according to claim 25, wherein said grip member has a ring shape.
- 27. A bearing structure according to claim 26, wherein said grip member has a thin portion facilitating deformation thereof.
- 28. A side cover of a developing device mountable to a developing-device mounting region of an image forming apparatus and having a developer container that includes a developer containing portion configured to contain a developer, a developer supply opening, and a sealing member positioned and configured to seal the developer supply opening, said side cover comprising:a side cover main body connected to a side surface of the developer container; and a grip member configured and positioned to pull out said sealing member in a longitudinal direction of the developer container, wherein said side cover main body and said grip member are integrally molded from resin materials having low compatibility to be separable from each other, and wherein said grip member has a longitudinal dimension extending outside of the developing-device mounting region of the image forming apparatus in order to prevent the developing device from mounting to the image forming apparatus by abutting said grip member against the developing-device mounting region when the developing device is to be mounted to the image forming apparatus without pulling out the sealing member.
- 29. A side cover according to claim 28, wherein the resin material forming said grip member has a shrinkage ratio larger than that of the resin material forming said side cover main body.
- 30. A side cover according to claim 28 or 29, wherein said side cover main body comprises a protruded portion pinched by or interdigitated with said grip member.
- 31. A side cover according to claim 30, wherein said protruded portion comprises an undercut portion.
- 32. A side cover according to claim 31, further comprising a plurality of protruded portions arranged on said side cover main body.
- 33. A side cover according to claim 32, wherein said side cover main body and said grip member are two-color molded from two resin materials having different colors so that said side cover main body and said grip member are of different colors.
- 34. A side cover according to claim 33, wherein said grip member has a ring shape.
- 35. A side cover according to claim 34, wherein said grip member has a thin portion facilitating deformation thereof.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
2002-042533 |
Feb 2002 |
JP |
|
US Referenced Citations (35)