JPH10221940A - Developing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To securely supply toner in a toner storage part to a developing part by giving a seal member a function for actively destroying the toner in the toner storage part. SOLUTION: The developing device which is freely attached/detached to/from an image forming device main body is equipped with at least a developing part 13 and the toner storage part 11 which supplies the toner to the developing part 13. In the developing device where an opening 17 made between the developing part 13 and toner storage part 11 is covered with the seal member 19 which can be pulled off, the seal member 19 is provided with such a projection 19c as to destroy the toner in the toner storage part 11 when the seal member 19 is pulled off.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a developing device used in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine and a printer.
In particular, the present invention relates to a developing device detachably provided to an image forming apparatus main body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in an electrophotographic copying machine, the surface of a drum-shaped photosensitive member is uniformly charged by a charger, and the surface of the charged photosensitive member is exposed to light including image information by an exposure device. To form an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image information, and the electrostatic latent image is developed by a developing device to form a toner image on the surface of the photoconductor. This toner image is transferred onto a sheet by a transfer device, and then fixed on the sheet by a fixing device.

In the developing device, a predetermined amount of developer is stored, and the developer adheres to the surface of the photoreceptor to perform development. Since the developer is consumed when the image formation is repeated, when the developer runs out, or
When the amount falls below the predetermined amount, it is necessary to supply the developer.

[0004] In order to simplify the replenishing operation, a structure for replenishing the developer is a toner cartridge containing a predetermined amount of the developer in advance, or a process in which the toner storage unit and the developing unit are integrated. 2. Description of the Related Art A cartridge is detachably provided to an image forming apparatus main body. In such a toner cartridge or a process cartridge, in a storage state, the inside toner is prevented from leaking to the outside of the cartridge, and when the cartridge is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body, the toner in the cartridge is discharged. It must be supplied stably to the surface of the photoreceptor.

For this reason, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 59-618
As described in JP-A-61-61, in a process cartridge in which a toner storage section and a development section are integrated, a band-shaped seal member is provided between the development section and the toner storage section, and when the process cartridge is used. It is known to peel off the sealing member.

Further, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 3-5774, in order to reduce the force required for the operation, a seal member for separating the developing unit and the toner storing unit is provided with a thin line or a narrow band. Is known to be cut into a slit shape by the seal cutting member. However, in the configuration described in the above publication, the toner in the toner storage unit may not be reliably supplied to the developing unit simply by peeling or cutting the seal member. For example, when the cartridge has been left for a long period of time or when the cartridge is placed vertically, the toner in the toner storage unit is solidified. The toner in the storage unit cannot flow in the direction to the developing unit. Even if a small amount of toner flows, the toner in the toner storage section is largely tightly tightened. If a toner stirring member is provided in the toner storage section, an overload is applied when the toner stirring member is driven. There is a problem that the toner stirring member itself and a drive motor for rotating and driving the toner stirring member are damaged. Also, even if the toner in the toner storage unit can flow in the direction to the developing unit, it takes time to reach the developing unit,
Poor image quality may occur in the first few prints.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention provides a seal member having a function of positively destroying the toner in a toner storage section so that the toner in the toner storage section can be reliably supplied to a developing section. It is another object of the present invention to reduce the initial load on the stirring member and prevent the stirring member from being damaged.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a developing device detachably provided to an image forming apparatus main body.
At least a developing section and a toner storing section for supplying toner to the developing section, wherein an opening formed between the developing section and the toner storing section is covered with a peelable seal member. In the developing device, the seal member has a shape such that the toner in the toner storage portion is broken when the seal member is peeled off.

[0009]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a copying machine as an image forming apparatus in which a developing device of the present invention is used. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a developing cartridge detachably provided to the copying machine main body. 3A and 3B are a plan view and a side view of the developing cartridge. FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the developing cartridge.

As shown in FIG. 1, a copying machine 1 includes a document reading unit 2, an image forming unit 3, and a paper feeding unit 4. The document reading unit 2 gives various instructions to a platen cover 5 provided with an automatic document feeder that opens and closes a platen glass (not shown) provided on the upper surface of the copying machine 1 and a copying machine, and performs copying and copying. A control panel 6 for displaying the operation state of the machine and the like is provided. Although not shown, the image forming unit 3 exposes a photosensitive member, a charging device for uniformly charging the surface of the photosensitive member, and exposes the surface of the photosensitive member based on document image information obtained by the document reading unit 2. An exposure device that forms an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor, a developing device that develops the electrostatic latent image to form a toner image on the photoconductor, and a toner supply unit that supplies the toner image formed on the photoconductor to the paper supply unit 4. And a fixing device for performing a fixing process on the sheet on which the toner image has been transferred. The sheet on which the image is formed in the image forming unit 3 is discharged to a discharge tray 7. Also, the paper feed unit 4
Has a plurality of paper trays 8a to 8d for storing paper,
A paper transport mechanism (not shown) that transports the paper from each paper tray toward the image forming unit 3 is provided.

The developing device included in the image forming section 3 includes:
The developing cartridge 9 includes a developing cartridge 9 as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4. The developing cartridge 9 is used for copying by opening an openable door 3 a provided on the front surface of the image forming section 3 of the copying machine 1. It can be removed from the main unit.

As shown in FIG. 4, the process cartridge 9 includes a toner storage section 11 having stirring members 10a and 10b which are driven to rotate, and a developing section 1 having a developing roll 12.
3 and a photoreceptor section 15 having a drum-shaped photoreceptor 14. The toner storage unit 11, the developing unit 13, and the photoreceptor unit 15 are integrally formed in a state where they are connected to a housing 16 including vertically divided housing halves 16a and 16b. Toner storage unit 11
A partition 18 having an opening 17 formed along the axial direction is provided between the developing cartridge 13 and the developing unit 13. When the process cartridge 9 is not used, the opening 17 is covered with a seal member 19. I have. The end of the sealing member 19
The seal member 19 is drawn out to the outside through a draw-out port 16 c provided on the side surface of the housing 16.
A tab 19a is attached to the end of the. A foamable member 16d is attached to the inner peripheral edge of the outlet 16c to prevent toner from leaking. An adhesive layer is formed on the surface of the seal member 19 on the developing unit 13 side, and is attached to the partition 18 with an adhesive. Then, by pulling the tab 19a, the sealing member 19
Can be peeled off from the partition wall 18. Also,
Around the photoconductor 14, a cleaning blade 20, a charging roller 21, and the like are provided.

When the process cartridge 9 is in the storage state, the opening 17 provided in the partition wall 18 between the toner storage unit 11 and the developing unit 13 is covered by the seal member 19, so that the toner storage unit 11 does not leak to the outside.

The process cartridge 9 is mounted on the copier 1
In the case where the seal member 19 is attached to the partition wall 18, the seal member 19 is peeled off from the partition wall 18 by pinching and pulling the tab 19 a with a finger,
Since the opening 17 is in the open state, the toner in the toner storage 11 can flow toward the developing unit 13 and the photoconductor 15.

When the process cartridge 9 from which the seal member 19 has been removed is mounted on the copying machine 1, the openable and closable door 3a provided on the front surface of the image forming section 3 of the copying machine 1 shown in FIG. The door 3a is closed after the process cartridge 9 is mounted at a predetermined position of the image forming section 3, and the mounting operation of the process cartridge 9 is completed.

In this embodiment, the seal member 19 is used to break the toner in the toner storage unit 11 so that the toner in the toner storage unit 11 is broken when the above-described operation of peeling the seal member 19 is performed. It has a special shape that can be used.

Hereinafter, some examples of the seal member 19 will be described with reference to FIG.

In the example shown in FIG. 5A, a plurality of tongue-like projections 19c projecting toward the toner storage unit 11 are provided on the side surface of the seal member main body 19b on the toner storage unit 11 side. The seal member main body 19b is formed from a flexible synthetic resin such as polyvinyl, polyethylene, or polyethylene terephthalate, and the protrusion 19c is formed from a synthetic resin such as polyethylene or polyethylene terephthalate, which is somewhat stiffer than the seal member main body 19b. Has been
The protrusion 19c is attached to the seal member body 19b by heat fusion or the like. Note that the protrusion 19c is attached to be inclined in a direction opposite to the drawer 16c so as not to be an obstacle when the seal member 19 is pulled out through the drawer 16c.

FIG. 6 shows the seal member 19 shown in FIG.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a state where the image is attached to the process cartridge 9. An adhesive layer is formed on one surface of the half of the sealing member 19 on the side opposite to the tab 19a.
A projection 19c is attached to the half on the 9a side. The seal member 19 holds the toner storage unit 1 in the folded state.
The partition wall 18 between the developing unit 1 and the developing unit 13 is attached to a wall surface on the toner storage unit 11 side so as to cover the opening 17.

In the example shown in FIG. 5A, when the process cartridge 9 is stored, the toner in the toner storage unit 11 is solidified because the projection 19c is buried in the toner. As the tab 19a
When the seal member 19 is pulled out through the draw-out opening 16c with the finger held therebetween, the opening 17 is opened, and
The protrusion 19c breaks down the toner in the toner storage unit 11 and allows the toner in the toner storage unit 11 to reliably flow toward the developing unit 13 and the photoconductor unit 15.

Further, since the solidified toner can be broken, no overload is applied when the toner stirring member 10 is driven, and the toner stirring member 10 is reliably rotated.
The damage of the toner stirring member 10 can be prevented, and the initial image quality does not deteriorate.

Since the foamable member 16d is attached to the inner peripheral edge of the outlet 16c, the protrusion 19c is provided.
When the member passes through the outlet 16c, the foamable member 16d
Is elastically deformed while being pressed against the seal member 19, so that the toner can pass through the protrusion 19c without any trouble. This operation is the same for the other types of seal members 19 described below.

In the example shown in FIG. 5 (b), the seal member 19 is composed of a seal half 19d having no hole facing the partition wall 18 and a large number of holes 19e facing the toner storage portion 11.
Are formed by bonding together the seal half 19e formed with.

In the example shown in FIG. 5B, when the process cartridge 9 is stored,
Due to the presence of 9e, friction between the seal half 19e and the toner increases, and even if the toner in the toner storage unit 11 is solidified, when the seal member 19 is pulled out, the opening 17 is opened, and The hole 19e breaks down the toner in the toner storage unit 11 and allows the toner in the toner storage unit 11 to reliably flow toward the developing unit 13 and the photoconductor unit 15.

In the example shown in FIG. 5C, a band-shaped projection 19h projecting toward the toner storage unit 11 and extending in the length direction of the seal member 19 is provided on the side surface of the seal member main body 19g on the toner storage unit 11 side. Provided. Strip-shaped projection 19h
Is polyethylene, for example. FIG. 5 (c)
Also in the example shown in FIG. 5, toner can be broken down and flowed reliably by the same operation as the example shown in FIG.

In the example shown in FIG. 5D, a convex portion 19j formed by deforming the seal member main body 19i itself is provided on the side surface of the seal member main body 19i on the toner storage section 11 side. The projection 19j can be formed, for example, by pressing one seal member main body 19i or by thermally deforming the same. Further, the seal member main body 19i is formed by laminating two seal halves made of a material having flexibility on the toner storage unit 11 side, and an air reservoir is formed between the two seal halves. The projection 19j can also be formed. FIG.
In the case of the example shown in (d), the protrusion 19j is connected to the outlet 1
When passing through 6c, it is crushed by pressure.

[0027]

According to the present invention, since the shape of the seal member is such that the toner in the toner storage portion can be broken, the opening of the toner storage portion is opened by one operation of pulling the seal member. At the same time, the toner in the toner storage unit is broken. Therefore, even if the toner in the toner storage unit is solidified, the toner in the toner storage unit can be reliably flowed toward the developing unit.

In the case where the toner stirring member is provided in the toner storage section, the toner stirring member is rotated without any overload when the toner stirring member is driven. Can be prevented, and defective initial image quality does not occur.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a copying machine as an image forming apparatus in which a developing device of the present invention is used.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a developing cartridge detachably provided to a copying machine main body.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are a plan view and a side view of a developing cartridge.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a developing cartridge.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing an example of a seal member.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing an attached state of a seal member.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Copy machine, 2 ... Original reading part, 3 ... Image forming part, 4 ... Paper feeding part, 5 ... Platen cover, 6 ... Control panel,
7: paper discharge tray, 8a, 8b, 8c: paper tray, 9:
Process cartridge, 10: stirring member, 11: toner storage section, 12: developing roll, 13: developing section, 14: photoconductor, 15: photoconductor section, 16: housing, 17: opening, 18: partition wall, 19 ... Seal member, 20: cleaning blade, 21: charging roller

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A developing device detachably provided to an image forming apparatus main body, the developing device comprising at least a developing unit and a toner storage unit for supplying toner to the developing unit. In the developing device, wherein an opening formed between the toner storage unit and the toner storage unit is covered with a peelable seal member, the seal member breaks toner in the toner storage unit when the seal member is peeled off. A developing device having a shape as described above. 2. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the seal member has a protrusion protruding toward the toner storage unit. 3. The seal member is formed by laminating a plurality of thin plates, wherein a hole is formed in the thin plate on the toner storage unit side, and no hole is formed in the remaining thin plates. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein: