Patent Grant
9063464
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a developer containing unit configured to contain a developer, a process cartridge including the developer containing unit, and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus including the process cartridge.
The image forming apparatus mentioned herein forms, for example, an image on a recording medium by using an electrophotographic image forming process, which includes, for example, an electrophotographic copy machine, an electrophotographic printer (for example, a light emitting diode (LED) printer and a laser beam printer), and an electrophotographic facsimile machine.
The cartridge is a component including a developing device accommodating at least a developing unit and a developer, which is integrally formed in the component, and configured to be removably mountable to an image forming apparatus main body or a component including a developing device and a photosensitive member unit including at least a photosensitive member, which are integrally formed in the component, and configured to be removably mountable to the image forming apparatus main body.
The developer containing unit is a component which is accommodated in the image forming apparatus or the cartridge. The developer containing unit includes at least a flexible container configured to contain the developer.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional electrophotographic image forming apparatus using the electrophotographic image forming process employs a process cartridge system in which an electrophotographic photosensitive member and a corresponding process unit are integrated into a cartridge and this cartridge is removably mountable to a main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus.
In such a process cartridge, the following system is widely employed. As illustrated in
Further, to cope with a problem in that the developer is scattered in the process cartridge in a process of filling the developer when manufacturing the process cartridge, a technology using a deformable inner container has been proposed (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H04-66980).
In this manner, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H04-66980, a method of containing the developer in a deformable inner container is described for the purpose of increasing an operability in supplying the developer and reducing the cost of the developer supplying device by preventing the developer from being scattered in the device. However, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H04-66980 does not describe an operation and a mechanism regarding discharge of the developer after unsealing the deformable developer containing member (flexible container).
The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and the present invention provides a developer containing unit configured to suppress a phenomenon that a developer discharged from an opening portion of a flexible container enters a gap between the flexible container and a frame so that the developer is used in developing without waste.
According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a developer containing unit configured to contain a developer, the developer containing unit including: a flexible container configured to contain the developer and provided with an opening portion through which the developer is discharged; a frame configured to accommodate the flexible container; a pressure member provided in the frame and configured to deform the flexible container; and an abutment portion extending in a longitudinal direction of the frame and at which the flexible container and the frame abut against each other.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention there is provided a developer containing unit including: a flexible container configured to contain a developer and provided with an opening portion through which the developer is discharged; a frame configured to accommodate the flexible container and to accommodate the developer discharged from the flexible container; and a fixing portion configured to hold the flexible container in the frame, wherein the opening portion opens vertically downwardly, an abutment portion is provided in a position in which the abutment portion abuts or is allowed to abut against the flexible container, and the abutment portion is disposed vertically above the opening portion.
Further features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.
In synchronization with this operation, the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 is uniformly charged by a charging roller 12 and exposed by an exposing device 8 so that an electrostatic image is formed on the surface. The cartridge A contains a developer and includes a developing roller 13 which is a developer carrying member. The developer is supplied to the developing roller 13 by a supplying roller 23 and carried on the surface of the developing roller 13 in a thin layer achieved by a developing blade 15. When a developing bias is applied to the developing roller 13, the above-mentioned electrostatic image is developed with the developer so that a developer image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 11.
The developer image is transferred onto the conveyed sheet S by a transfer roller 9 to which a bias voltage is applied. The sheet S is then conveyed to a fixing device 10 where the image is fixed and discharged to a discharging unit 3 by a discharge roller 1. The apparatus main body B includes a controller 50 that controls a driving of an internal device of the apparatus main body B. As will be described later, the controller 50 further controls a pressure sheet 21 (see
The developer containing unit 25 includes a frame 17 which is a “first frame” and a frame 18 which is a “second frame.” The flexible container 16 and a pressure member 500 (pressure body, pressure unit) are arranged in an upper side region of the frames 17 and 18. As will be described later, the pressure member 500 includes the pressure sheet 21, a sealing member 19, and a rotating member 20. However, the present invention has its feature in the flexible container 16. The flexible container 16 is a container that includes an opening portion 35a configured to discharge a developer G (G1) and contains the developer G (G1). The developing roller 13 and the supplying roller 23 are arranged in a lower side region of the frames 17 and 18. With this configuration, a developer G (G2) having been discharged from the flexible container 16 is accommodated in the lower side region of the frames 17 and 18, while the flexible container 16 containing the developer is accommodated in the tipper side region of the frames 17 and 18.
The pressure member 500 is arranged to face the bottom surface of the flexible container 16. The pressure sheet 21 and a part of the sealing member 19 are fixed on the rotating member 20 of the pressure member 500. The sealing member 19 is a member that seals the opening portion 35a, and after breaking the seal by rotation of the rotating member, presses the flexible container 16. The pressure sheet 21 deforms the flexible container 16 by pressing the bottom surface of the flexible container 16 when the sealing member 19 opens the opening portion 35a or after the sealing member 19 opens the opening portion 35a. In the region where the flexible container 16 is arranged in the frames 17 and 18, the flexible container 16 and the frames 17 and 18 that face each other are brought into abutment against each other. A mechanism configured to bring these portions into abutment against each other will be described in detail in the first to the fifth embodiments of the present invention.
In this manner, a phenomenon that the developer G2 which is discharged from the opening portion 35a of the flexible container 16 and then accommodated in the frames 17 and 18 enters the gap between the flexible container 16 and each of the frames 17 and 18 can be suppressed, and hence the developer G2 is used in the developing without waste. The developing roller 13 and the developing blade 15 are supported by the frame 17.
As illustrated in
The rotating member 20 is arranged at a position feeing the surface of the flexible container 16. The rotating member 20 is a member that rotates about an axis. A base end portion of the sealing member 19 is fixed to the rotating member 20. Specifically, the configuration is as follows. The sealing member 19 includes an engaging portion 19b, a connecting portion 19c, and the sealing portion 19a. The engaging portion 19b is fixed to the rotating member 20, and the sealing portion 19a is fixed to the discharging portion 35. When the rotating member 20 rotates in a direction indicated by an arrow C, the seating portion 19a opens the opening portion 35a. The sealing member 19 is configured so that the engaging portion 19b is fixed to the rotating member 20 by a fastening member (see
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
The developer can be handled as a unit by the flexible container 16 containing the developer having a baggy shape. Therefore, the developer filling process can be performed separately from a main assembling process (manufacturing line) of the cartridge A. This eliminates scattering of the developer in the main assembling process (manufacturing line) of the cartridge A, enabling reduction of maintenance such as cleaning of the manufacturing line. By eliminating the scattering of the developer in the assembling process, the cleaning process of the cartridge A after filling the developer can be omitted.
In the filling process of the flexible container 16 as well, because the flexible container 16 has flexibility and the filling port 39 is also soft, the scattering is reduced, and hence the flexible container 16 can be easily sealed. Further, because the flexible container 16 containing the developer has the flexibility, the flexible container 16 can be assembled to fit on a shape of the frame.
In addition, because the flexible container 16 has the flexibility in the filling process, the developer can be filled by deforming a cross section of the flexible container 16 to increase a volume, and hence a filling amount can be increased when filling the developer. Moreover because the flexible container 16 before filling the developer has the flexibility, the flexible container 16 can be pressed to a small (thin) volume, and hence a space for storing the flexible container 16 before filling the developer can be saved compared to that for a frame which is a resin structure.
As illustrated in
A material of the sheet 16s may preferably include polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene (PE), and polypropylene (PP), which is a non-woven fabric or the like having a thickness of 0.03 mm to 0.15 mm. Instead of the non-woven fabric, the material of the sheer 16s can be any material having a micro hole smaller than the powder such as the developer to be contained in the flexible container 16.
In the embodiment, the sheet 16s is arranged across the whole region of the flexible container 16 in the longitudinal direction on the side of the frame 18, as illustrated in
As illustrated in
The junctional portion 22 includes two junctional portions in a longer direction (direction indicated by an arrow F) and two junctional portions in a shorter direction (direction indicated by an arrow E) surrounding continuously in a rectangular shape, thus enabling the sealing of the discharging portion 35.
One junctional portion which is separated first among the two junctional portions welded in the longer direction (direction indicated by the arrow F) is referred to as “first junctional portion 22a,” and the other junctional portion which is separated later is referred to as “second junctional portion 22b.” In the embodiment, when viewed along the surface of the sealing member 19, a junctional portion closer to a turn-back portion 19d which will be described later (see
In the embodiment, the unsealing direction is the direction indicated by the arrow E. The unsealing direction is defined as follows. When taking off the sealing member 19 by moving the sealing member 19, the first junctional portion 22a is unsealed (separated) first between the first junctional portion 22a and the second junctional portion 22b sandwiching the opening portion 35a. In this manner, a direction from the first junctional portion 22a which is separated first toward the second junctional portion 22b is defined as the unsealing direction (direction indicated by the arrow E).
When taking off (separating; the sealing member 19 from the flexible container 16 in the direction indicated by the arrow E, the separating may be advanced also in the direction indicated by the arrow F due to deformation of the flexible container 16 by the unsealing force even in the first junctional portion 22a and the second junctional portion 22b from a microscopic view. However, the unsealing direction in the embodiment does not mean such a microscopic unsealing direction.
A description will be provided with reference to
As a first fixing portion, the first fixing portion 16d of the flexible container 16 is provided, which receives a force when taking off the sealing member 19 from the flexible container 16 and which will be described later. A plurality of fixing portions 16d are provided in parallel to the direction indicated by the arrow F along which the plurality of opening portions 35a are arranged. Instead of the plurality of fixing portions 16d provided in the above-mentioned, a single fixing portion 16d which is elongated in parallel to the direction indicated by the arrow F may be provided (not shown). The first fixing portion 16d is provided near the opening portion 35a of the flexible container 16. The first fixing portion 16d of the flexible container 16 is fixed to a first fixing portion 18a of the frame 18. The first fixing portion 16d is a fixing place required when unsealing the flexible container 16, and its operation and arrangement will be described in the description of the unsealing.
As a second fixing portion, the second fixing portion 16e is provided, for preventing the flexible container 16 from moving in the downward direction or toward the developing roller 13 and the supplying roller 23. The second fixing portion 16e is provided for two reasons. The first reason is to prevent the flexible container 16 from moving in the downward direction with an attitude at the time of forming an image by the second fixing portion 16e of the flexible container 16. Therefore, it is preferred that the second fixing portion 16e be arranged at the upper side when the flexible container 16 has the attitude at the time of forming an image.
The second reason is to prevent the flexible container 16 from disturbing an image by touching the developing roller 13 or the supplying roller 23 at the time of forming an image. Therefore, it is preferred that the second fixing portion 16e of the flexible container 16 be arranged at a position away from the developing roller 13 and the supplying roller 23. In the embodiment, as illustrated in
When fixing the flexible container 16 to the frame 18, the first fixing portion 18a of the frame 18 is extended into the first fixing portion 16d of the flexible container 16, and the first fixing portion 18a of the frame 18 is melted and fixed by using an ultrasonic staking tool.
As illustrated in
The sealing portion 19a indicates a region is which the sealing member 19 seals the plurality of opening portions 35a and the connecting portion 35b of the flexible container 16. The sealing portion 19a is configured to prevent the developer from being leaked from the flexible container 16 until the cartridge A is used.
The sealing member 19 includes a free end portion at one end of the unsealing direction (direction indicated by the arrow E). and the engaging portion 19b which is engaged with an unsealing member for moving the sealing member 19 is provided at the free end portion.
The engaging portion 19b at the end portion of the sealing member 19 for exposing the opening portion 35a is engaged with the rotating member 20. The sealing member 19 may automatically perform the unsealing operation by receiving a driving force from the apparatus main body B. Alternatively, the sealing member 19 may perform the unsealing operation by a user holding and moving the seal nig member 19. In the embodiment, the rotating member 20 is a rotating shaft provided on the frame, and the flexible container 16 containing the developer is unsealed by pulling the sealing member 19 engaged with the rotating member 20.
A portion which connects between the junctional portion 22 and the engaging portion 19b is the connecting portion 19c (see
A plane formed by the first junctional portion 22a and the second junctional portion 22b at the moment when the flexible container 16 is unsealed is defined as a plane N1, as illustrated in
In the embodiment, the sealing member 19 and the rotating member 20 are fixed by the ultrasonic staking in the same manner as the first fixing member 16d. Instead of the ultrasonic staking, in the same manner as the first fixing portion 16d and the second fixing portion 16e, a thermal welding, an ultrasonic welding, an adhesive bonding, a fitting between the frames, or a hooking by a hole and a protruded portion may be used.
The rotating member 20 is provided to apply a force on the sealing member 19 to move and take off the sealing member 19 from the flexible container 16. The rotating member 20 includes a support portion (not shown) which has a shaft shape with both ends rotatably supported by the frame 18 and an engaging portion 20b to which the engaging portion 19b of the sealing member 19 is fixed. In the embodiment, the rotating member 20 has a rectangular shaft shape, and the engaging portion 19b of the sealing member 19 is engaged with the engaging portion 20b on one surface of the rectangular shaft.
Although the pressure sheet 21 and the rotating member 20 which act from the outside of the flexible container 16 to discharge the developer from the flexible container 16 may be provided as separate members from each other, the same component functions as both the rotating member 20 and the pressure sheet 21 in the embodiment. Further, although the function of agitating the developer discharged from the flexible container 16 and the function of the rotating member 20 may be respectively performed by separate components, the function of the rotating member 20 and the agitating function are performed by the same component in the embodiment.
In this manner, the same component serves as the rotating member 20, the pressure sheet 21, and the agitating member, and hence cost reduction and space saving can be achieved by reduction of the number of components.
The unsealing of the flexible container 16 will be described below with reference to
The force acting portion 20a is a portion closest to the junctional portion 22 of a portion where the sealing member 19 and the rotating member 20 are brought into contact with each other at the time of unsealing. In
Firstly, as illustrated in
When the sealing member 19 is pulled, the flexible container 16 is also pulled via the junctional portion 22. The force is then applied to the first fixing portion 16d of the flexible container 16, and the flexible container 16 is pulled from the fixing portion 18c toward the force acting portion 20a by the fixing portion 18c. On a cross section perpendicular to the rotation axis of the rotating member 20, the first junctional portion 22a is moved to approach a line that connects the force acting portion 20a and the fixing portion 18c. At this time, in the direction indicated by the arrow D, the opening portion 35a, the first junctional portion 22a, the turn-back portion 19d, and the fixing portion 18c are arranged in this order from the rotation axis of the rotating member 20 (
The force noting portion 20a is also moved in the direction indicated by the arrow C together with the corner portion 20c, and when a corner portion 20d and the sealing member 19 are brought into contact with each other, the force acting portion is moved from the corner portion 20c to the corner portion 20d.
As illustrated in
In this manner, the sealing member 19 is wrapped around the rotating member 20 by the rotation of the rotating member 20 to separate the junctional portion 22. A space required for the rotating member 20 to move, around which the sealing member 19 is wrapped by the rotation, can be as small as a space enough for the rotating member 20 to rotate. Thus, the space can be saved compared to a case where the sealing member 19 is moved by a movement other than the rotation. Alternatively, the user may rotate the rotating member 20 to wrap the sealing member 19 around the rotating member 20 so that the opening portion 35a is exposed. However, it is more preferred that the rotating member 20 he rotated by a driving from the apparatus main body B to wrap the sealing member 19 around the rotating member 20 without help from a user.
Further, the junctional portion 22 can be separated in an inclined manner without shear separating the junctional portion 22 by providing the turn-back portion 19d on the sealing member 19, and thus the junctional portion 22 can be unsealed without fail. In addition, the engaging portion 19b which is engaged with the relating member 20 for taking off the sealing member 19 is provided at one end portion of the sealing member 19 in the direction substantially perpendicular to the direction indicated by the arrow F along which the plurality of opening portions 35a are arranged, and hence the sealing member 19 can be engaged and unsealed without fail. Moreover, by providing the fixing portion 18c on the frame 18 and supporting the flexible container 16 at the time of unsealing, even the flexible container 16 which is soft and deformable can be unsealed without fail. Regarding the discharge of the developer at the time of unsealing, the junctional portion 22 is moved on the line which connects the force acting portion 20a and the fixing portion 18c at the time of unsealing as described above (FIG. 7A→FIG. 7B→FIG. 7C→
As illustrated in
Further, as illustrated in
Regarding the discharge of the developer at the time of starting unsealing from before unsealing, the sealing member 19 is pulled toward the force acting portion 20a as illustrated in
As illustrated in
When the rotating member 20 further rotates after unsealing, the pressure sheet 21 which presses the flexible container 16 and is fixed to the rotating member 20 is also rotated and wrapped around the rotating member 20 due to the presence of the flexible container 16 as illustrated in
At this time, the flexible container 16 can be deformed as long as at least a portion of the flexible container 16 is brought into abutment against the frame 18 and pressed. In addition, by aligning a rotation axis direction of the developing roller 13 and the direction indicated by the arrow F along which the plurality of opening portions 35a are arranged, the developer can be easily supplied along the entire longitudinal direction of the developing roller 13 in an unbiased manner when discharging the developer
When the flexible container 16 is mounted on the image forming apparatus 100, the discharge performance of the developer can be enhanced by providing the flexible container 16 in such a manner that the opening portion 35a is opened in the direction of the gravity. Further, the pressure sheet 21 is provided in the frames (17 and 18) so as to press the flexible container 16 against the frame 18, and hence the discharge performance of the developer can be enhanced. Further, the sealing member 19 also employs a flexible sheet made of a base material such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene, and polypropylene with a thickness of 0.03 mm to 0.15 mm, and hence the sealing member 19 contributes to the discharge operation by the same mechanism as that of the pressure sheet 21.
As illustrated in
In the case of immediately after unsealing in which the developer exists in the flexible container 16 in a large amount, inroad amounts of the pressure sheet 21, the sealing member 19, and the rotating member 20 into the flexible container 16 are repeatedly changed so that the flexible container 16 is deformed to be pressed against the frame 18. A compression of the flexible container 16 by the pressure of the pressure sheet 21 and a recovery of the flexible container 16 by the weight of the developer in the flexible container 16 and the flexibility of the flexible container 16 are repeated. Further, the flexible container 16 is vibrated due to a movement of the flexible container 16 itself by the above-mentioned action, and the developer in the flexible container 16 is also discharged from the opening portions 35a due to the vibration. The pressure sheet 21 is rotated, and hence the pressure sheet 21 can repeatedly press the flexible container 16.
Further, a single component can be configured to have both functions of the pressure sheet 21 and the sealing member 19. The junctional portion 22 is separated from the flexible container 16 after unsealing, and hence the end portion of the sealing member 19 on the side of the junctional portion 22 becomes a free end. Therefore, the sealing member 19 can have the function of the pressure sheet 21. In this manner, the rotating member 20 can have the function of the rotating member 20 of the pressure sheet 21 and the sealing member 19 can have the function of the pressure sheet 21. With this configuration, the number of components can be reduced so that the cost can be reduced.
As described above, the developer in the flexible container 16 can be efficiently discharged without providing other discharging component such as a developer discharging roller on the opening portion 35a which is a developer discharging port, and agglomeration and bridge of the developer near the opening portion 35a can be prevented. As a result, even when the developer in the flexible container 16 is hardened due to tapping at the lime of transportation or storing, a situation in which the discharge of the developer is difficult can be prevented by breaking a lump of the developer by movement of the entire flexible container 16 or surroundings of the opening portions 35a.
In addition, instead of the pressure member 500 comprising the pressure sheet 21 and the rotating member 20 as separate components, a pressure member 501 comprises a protruded portion 501b which functions as the pressure sheet 21 provided on a rotating portion 501a as an integrated component so as to perform the discharge of the developer in the same manner as illustrated In
This is because the inroad amount of the pressure member 501, 502, 503 into the flexible container 16 is changed because a distance (501c, 501d; 502c, 502d; 503c, 503d) from the rotation center of the pressure member 501, 502, 503 to an outer shape is changed if the pressure member 501, 502, 503 is arranged at least to be brought into contact with the flexible container 16. That is, except when a shaft having a circular cross section with the rotation axis at the center is provided, the flexible container 16 can be deformed by the rotation of the pressure member 501, 502, 503. As illustrated in PIG 11A, a distance 501c from the center of the pressure member 501 to the leading end of the protruded portion 501b which is the far outer shape and a distance 501d from the center of the pressure member 501 to the close outer shape of the rotation member 501a are different from each other, and hence the inroad amount of the pressure member 501 into the flexible container 16 is also changed.
Further.
In this manner, the flexible container 16 is pressed (arrows J in the upper side space X1) by the pressure member 504 as the pressure member against the frame 29 to be deformed so that the volume of the flexible container 16 is reduced, and thus the developer in the flexible container 16 is pushed and discharged from the opening portion 35a (arrow I).
Further, in the attitude at the time of forming an image, the rotating member 20 of the pressure sheet 21 is Located under the flexible container 16 in the direction of the gravity and is brought into contact with the flexible container 16. The cross-sectional shape of the rotating member 20 of the pressure sheet 21 is rectangular, which is not circular, and hence the inroad amount of the rotating member 20 into the flexible container 16 is periodically changed by the rotation of the rotating member 20 as described above. By the change of the inroad amount of the rotating member 20 into the flexible container 16, the volume of the flexible container 16 can also be changed, and hence the discharge performance can be enhanced by vibrating the flexible container 16.
Firstly, as illustrated in
When the unsealing of the opening portion 35a of the flexible container 16 is completed with transition from the state illustrated in
At this time, the developer G is supplied to the developing roller 13, and at the same time, as shown by an arrow M in
In addition, the cartridge A may be headed toward various directions in accordance with the usage state of the user even after unsealing, and hence the movement of the developer G in a direction such as the arrows J in the upper side space X1 illustrated in
A method of preventing the developer from entering the gap space X3 corresponding to the upper side of the fixing portion will he described below with reference to
Specifically, the abutment portion 51a is arranged at a position where the developer starts to enter the gap between the frame 17 and the flexible container 16 from the space for conveying the developer to the developing roller 13 due to a pressure in the direction indicated by the arrows J in the upper side space X1 generated by the conveying action of the pressure sheet 21. Further, the abutment portion 51a is arranged along the longitudinal direction of the frame 17 to be brought into abutment against without a gap against both the frame 17 and the flexible container 16 by using an adhesive agent, a pressure-sensitive adhesive agent, or a double-sided tape.
As illustrated in
With this configuration, the abutment portion 51a can prevent the developer G2 from entering the gap between the flexible container 16 and the frame 17. By reducing the developer G2 which enters through the back of the frame 17, the developer G2 used in the image formation can be increased so that the developer G2 can be used without waste.
In the first embodiment, the abutment portion 51a is a member which is brought into abutment against both the flexible container 16 and the frame 17 along the longitudinal direction of the frame 17, such as the adhesive agent, a pressure-sensitive adhesive agent, or the double-sided tape. However, a shape of the abutment portion 51a is not particularly limited, but, for example, a meandering shape can also be used so long as it is not discontinued along the way.
As illustrated in FIGS, 21 mid 25, the developer containing unit 225 includes a rib 251b as a “frame-side protrusion” which is an “abutment portion” configured to bring a portion of the flexible container 16 into abutment against a portion of the frames 17 and 18. The rib 251b is provided on the portion of the frames 17 and 18, extended along the longitudinal direction, and protruded from the frames 17 and 18 toward the flexible container 16 (see
In brief, the rib 251b is provided on the rear surface of the frame 17 to cover an opening where the gap between the frame 17 and the flexible container 16 starts. The rib 251b is extended toward the flexible container 16. Further, the rib 251b is extended along the longitudinal direction of the frame 17.
By a pressure in the direction indicated by the arrows J in the upper side space X1 generated by the conveying action of the pressure sheet 21, the developer G2 is directed to the rib 251b arranged at the gap between the frame 17 and the flexible container 16 from the space in the frame 18 for conveying the developer G2 to the developing roller 13. However, the rib 251b is brought into abutment against the flexible container 16, and hence the developer G2 can be prevented from entering the gap between the frame 17 and the flexible container 16 from the lower side space X2 for conveying the developer to the developing roller 13.
As illustrated in
In the embodiment, the rib 251b is provided along the longitudinal direction. However, the rib 251b is not necessarily to be formed in a straight line shape, but, for example, an arc shape can also be used as long as an abutment relationship conforming to the stereoscopic shape of the flexible container 16 can be achieved.
The time of the normal image forming operation refers to a case when the developer containing unit 25 is stored in such an attitude that the rotation axis of the developing roller 13 is kept perpendicular to the direction of the gravity. The time when the lopsidedness occurs refers to a case when, right after a certain developer containing unit 25 is stored in a standing state in such an attitude that the rotation axis of the developing roller 13 is kept parallel to the direction of the gravity, the rotation axis of the developing roller 13 is returned to that in the attitude of the normal image forming operation, which is perpendicular to the direction of the gravity. The developer containing unit is hereinafter referred to as a developer containing unit in the standing state.
Even when the developer containing unit 25 in the standing stale is mounted on the image forming apparatus 100 and returned to the attitude of the normal image forming operation, the developer G is still in the agglomerated state, and hence the lopsided state in the above-mentioned longitudinal direction is maintained for the time being. This is because, when the lopsidedness occurs in the flexible container 16 in the longitudinal direction, a tension to return to the original state and a powder pressure of the developer G contained in the flexible container 16 due to the self weight are exerted to keep the balance in an inflated portion of the flexible container 16.
The above-mentioned state in which the developer containing unit 25 is in the standing state is an example in which the lopsidedness in the flexible container 16 and the developer G contained in the flexible container 16 is the largest, which is envisaged at the time of transporting the developer containing unit 25. Therefore, when the developer containing unit 25 is stored in the standing state, the uneven density is likely to occur in the output image, compared to the time of the normal image forming operation.
The reason why the uneven density occurs in the output image will be described below. A configuration in which the rib 251b functions as a support member configured to support the flexible container 16 to achieve an effect of suppressing the uneven density will be described. In a comparative example in which the rib 251b is not arranged, the above-mentioned uneven density is more likely to occur at the outset of the image output in which the developer G discharged from the flexible container 16 is not sufficiently stored in the developer containing unit 25.
That is, the output image is developed through a process in which the flexible container 16 is pressed by the pressure sheet 21, the developer G contained in the flexible container 16 is discharged from the opening portion 35a, the developer G is adhered on the supplying roller 23, and the developer G is supplied to the developing roller 13, and hence, when the discharging amount of the developer from the flexible container 16 differs in the longitudinal direction, the uneven density eventually occurs on the output image.
In the embodiment, as illustrated in
As described above, when the developer containing unit 25 is in a standing state so that the lopsidedness occurs in the longitudinal direction, the developer G is densely agglomerated on the lower side in the vertical direction, and hence, as illustrated in
As illustrated in
In
When the rib 251b is arranged as in the embodiment illustrated in
As illustrated in
In the embodiment, the rib 251b is brought into contact with the flexible container 16 even at the time of the above-mentioned normal image forming operation, i.e., when no lopsidedness occurs in the flexible container 16 in the longitudinal direction. However, the rib 251b can be arranged in proximity to the flexible container 16 and be configured to support the flexible container 16 to suppress the inflation of the flexible container 16 only when the lopsidedness occurs in the longitudinal direction on the plane X including the opening portion.
This is because the developer G must be pumped up against the gravity in a situation in which the opening portion 250a of the flexible container 16 is opened downwardly in the vertical direction so that the developer is easy to be conveyed in the direction of the gravity. Therefore, it is preferred that the rib 251b be arranged above the opening portion 250a in the vertical direction.
When the powder pressure of the developer against the opening portion 250a is increased, the packing state advances, and the discharge of the developer G from the flexible container 16 is deteriorated. A bridge generated near the opening portion 250a greatly contributes to the advance of the packing state, and hence the suppression of the downward deformation in the vertical direction is a reasonable measure for suppressing the packing. Therefore, in order to suppress the vertically downward deformation of the flexible container 16 near the opening portion 250a, it is effective to support a portion of the surface of the flexible container 16 where a component of the direction of the gravity due to the self weight of the developer G is received.
That is, in the attitude at the time of the normal image forming operation (a state In which the image forming operation can he performed), it is preferred that the support member be arranged at a position where the support member supports (abuts against) or is supportable for (or abuttable against) the portion of the surface of the flexible container 16 where the component of the direction of the gravity due to the self weight of the toner is received.
As illustrated in
The multi-staged ribs 351b1 and 351b2 which extend from the frame 17 to the flexible container 16 and extend in the longitudinal direction are provided to cover the entering port of the gap between the frame 17 and the flexible container 16 on the rear surface of the frame 17, as described above with reference to
Although the multi-staged ribs 351b1 and 351b2 are configured to be brought into abutment against the flexible container 16, depending on the deformation of the flexible container 16, all the ribs 351b1 and 351b2 are brought into abutment against the flexible container 16 or a part of the ribs 351b1 and 351b2 is brought into abutment against the flexible container 16. In
Further, the end protrusion 351c corresponding to a “protrusion” which extends toward the rear surface of the frame 17 and extends in the longitudinal direction is provided on the end of the surface of the flexible container 16 so as to cover the entering port of the gap between the frame 17 and the flexible container 16. The end protrusion 351c is brought into abutment against the rear surface of the frame 17. In
As illustrated in
In the embodiment, the ribs 351b1 and 351b2 are formed over the entire length in the longitudinal direction of the frame 17. However, the configuration is not limited to this. That is, as illustrated in
Further, as illustrated in
In the embodiment, the ribs 351b1 and 351b2 of the frames 17 and 18 are extended along the longitudinal direction. However, the ribs 351b1 and 351b2 are not necessarily to be formed in a straight line shape, and, for example, an arc shape can also be used as long as an abutment relationship conforming to the stereoscopic shape of the flexible container 16 can be achieved. Regarding the end protrusion 351c of a lip shape of the flexible container 16 as well, the end protrusion 351c is not necessarily to be formed in a straight line shape, but, for example, a protrusion obtained by a mountain fold can also be used other than the end protrusion 351c which constitutes the flexible container 16 as long as the abutment relationship can be achieved.
Further, from the technical idea of the third embodiment, in the developer containing unit 25 according to the first embodiment, the abutment portion 51a can be configured to be provided in the form of a plurality of stages in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.
A specific description will be provided in the following. As described above with reference to
The abutment portion 52 which is brought into abutment against both the frame 17 and the flexible container 16 is arranged between the rear surface of the top portion of the frame 17 and the surface of the top portion of the flexible container 16. The top portion of the flexible container 16 corresponds to the portion of the flexible container 16 having the slope smaller than the repose angle of the developer G2 and a portion where the developer is accumulated, such as the saddle portion 16h (see
The abutment portion 52 is arranged to be brought into abutment without a gap against both the frame 17 and the flexible container 16 along the longitudinal direction of the frame 17 by using an adhesive agent, a pressure-sensitive adhesive agent, or a double-sided tape. With the abutment portion 52 arranged in the above-mentioned, the developer G2 can be prevented from entering, and thus the developer G2 which enters through the back of the frame 17 can be reduced. In this manner, the developer G2 used in the image formation can be increased so that the developer G2 can be used without waste.
By the continuation of the conveying action of the pressure sheet 21, the developer may enter the space 26 which is formed by the flexible container 16 and the frame 18, which is on a rear side across the flexible container 16 with respect to the space for conveying the developer to the developing roller 13. In a state in which the cartridge A is mounted on the image forming apparatus 100. there is no path for discharging the developer from the space 26, and hence this developer cannot be used in the image formation.
As described above, the rib 53 is provided along the short direction of the frame 18 and is brought into abutment against the flexible container 16 at a portion where the entering of the developer is started into the space 26 from the direction indicated by the arrow L at the longitudinal end portion of the flexible container 16. A similar rib is brought into abutment against the flexible container 16 also from the frame 17. With this configuration, the rib is configured to be brought into abutment without a gap against both sides of the flexible container 16. The developer then can be prevented from entering the space 26, and by reducing the developer that enters through the back of the frame, the developer G2 used in the image formation can be increased so that the developer can be used without waste.
Another configuration example of the above-mentioned support member will be described below. In the second and third embodiments, the examples in which the support member is arranged across the entire surface in the longitudinal direction are described. However, a sixth embodiment describes an example in which the support member is not extended across the entire surface in the longitudinal direction.
Firstly, an example in which the support member is arranged in proximity to the flexible container 16 only at both end portions in the longitudinal direction will be described. As illustrated in
As described in “Effect of Support Member” in the second embodiment, when the developer containing unit 25 is stored in a standing state in such an attitude that the rotation axis of the developing roller 13 is parallel to the direction of the gravity, it is likely to be hard to discharge the developer G from the opening portion 35a particularly at the both end portions on the upper side and the lower side in the vertical direction. Therefore, even with an arrangement of the support member only at the both end portions in the longitudinal direction where the deficiency of the discharge of the developer due to the lopsidedness of the flexible container 16 in the longitudinal direction is conspicuous, the effect of suppressing the lopsidedness can be obtained in the same manner as in the second and third embodiments.
As another example, a case where the rib 251b (abutment portion) illustrated in
Even without an arrangement of the support member at the end portion in the longitudinal direction, the effect of suppressing the lopsidedness of the flexible container 16 in the longitudinal direction can be obtained.
In the state in which the developer containing unit 25 is stored in a standing state in such an attitude that the rotation axis of the developing roller 13 is parallel to the direction of the gravity, one of the end portions is located on the lower side in the vertical direction so that the flexible container 16 may be inflated and deformed. When the support member is arranged only on one side in the longitudinal direction as viewed from the center, the effect of the support member is likely to be small. Therefore, it is preferred that the support member be arranged on both sides of the flexible container 16 in the longitudinal direction with respect to the center,
As with the configuration described in the second, third, and sixth embodiments, for example, the support members 751b is arranged only at each of the end portions in the longitudinal direction in
The same goes for the above in the vertical direction, as described below.
Even in a configuration in which the pressure sheet 21 is not arranged and the sealing member 19 is separated by peeling the sealing member 19 by a user or a wrapping mechanism (not shown) in the longer direction of the opening portion, i.e., in the direction parallel to the rotation axis of the developing roller, by arranging the support member in the same manner as in the second, third, sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth embodiments, the deformation of the flexible container 16 can be prevented, which is effective in suppressing the uneven density on the output image.
According to the present invention, a phenomenon that the developer discharged from the opening portion of the flexible container and accommodated in the frame enters the gap between the flexible container and the frame can be suppressed, and as a result, the developer can be used in the image formation without waste.
While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.
This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No, 2012-135580, filed Jun. 15, 2012 and Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-199740, filed Sep. 11, 2012, which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-135580 | Jun 2012 | JP | national |
| 2012-199740 | Sep 2012 | JP | national |
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| 4-66980 | Mar 1992 | JP |
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