JPH09197792A5

JPH09197792A5 -

Info

Publication number: JPH09197792A5
Application number: JP1996023084A
Authority: JP
Filing date: 1996-01-16
Publication date: 2005-03-17
Anticipated expiration: 2016-01-16

Description

【発明の名称】現像装置[Name of invention] Developing device

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、静電式複写機、プリンタ等の電子写真画像形成装置の現像装置に現像剤を供給するために用いられる現像装置、更には画像形成装置本体に対して着脱されるプロセスカートリッジに備える現像装置に関する。[0001]
[Technical Field to which the Invention Belongs]
The present invention relates to a developing device used to supply developer to a developing device in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus such as an electrostatic copying machine or a printer, and further to a developing device provided in a process cartridge detachably mounted to the main body of the image forming apparatus.

【０００６】
本発明の目的は、プロセスカートリッジの開封時のトナー汚れを防止しうる現像装置を提供することにある。[0006]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a developing device that can prevent toner contamination when a process cartridge is opened.

【０００７】
又、本発明の目的は、プロセスカートリッジのシール巻き取り装置の小型化、及びシール開封動作の簡単操作性を達成しうる現像装置を提供することにある。[0007]
Another object of the present invention is to provide a developing device in which the seal winding device for the process cartridge can be made compact and the seal can be opened with ease.

【０００８】
更に、本発明の目的は、プロセスカートリッジを開封した後の短手部のシール性確保、及び、トナー容器と現像容器の結合強度の大幅な向上を達成しうる現像装置を提供することにある。[0008]
Another object of the present invention is to provide a developing device that can ensure the sealing of the short side portion after the process cartridge is opened and can achieve a significant improvement in the bonding strength between the toner container and the developing container.

【０００９】
【課題を解決するための手段】
本発明の第１の発明は現像剤を用いて、電子写真感光体に形成された潜像を現像するための現像装置において、前記現像剤を収納するトナー収納容器と、前記現像剤を用いて前記潜像を現像する現像ローラと、前記現像ローラを支持する現像容器と、前記トナー収納容器内の前記現像剤を前記現像容器へ供給するための開口部と、前記開口部を開封可能に塞いでいるシール部材と、前記シール部材を巻き取り開封するために前記シール部材の端部を係止した巻き取り装置と、前記シール部材が前記シール部材巻き取り装置に巻き取られる際に、前記シール部材が通過するシール部材引き込み口と、を有し、前記トナー収納容器と前記現像容器は、前記開口部と前記シール部材引き込み口とを囲んで全周に亘って溶着されて結合していることを特徴とする現像装置である。[0009]
[Means for solving the problem]
A first aspect of the present invention is a developing device for developing a latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member using a developer, the developing device comprising: a toner storage container for storing the developer; a developing roller for developing the latent image using the developer; a developing container supporting the developing roller; an opening for supplying the developer in the toner storage container to the developing container; a sealing member for releasably closing the opening; a winding device for engaging an end of the sealing member to wind and unseal the sealing member; and a sealing member retraction port through which the sealing member passes when it is retracted onto the sealing member retraction device, wherein the toner storage container and the developing container are welded and joined around the entire circumference surrounding the opening and the sealing member retraction port .

【００１０】
本発明の第２の発明は前記シール部材引き込み口の縁部に前記シール部材が摺動するＲ部を設け、且つ、Ｒ部に対向する縁部にトナー侵入防止部材を貼付したことを特徴とする第１の発明に記載の現像装置である。[0010]
The second invention of the present invention is a developing device described in the first invention, characterized in that an R portion along which the seal member slides is provided at the edge of the seal member inlet, and a toner intrusion prevention member is attached to the edge opposite the R portion .

【０１０９】
【発明の効果】
（１）（１２）は本発明の効果、（１）（１２）以外は実施の形態の効果である。
以上の実施例より明らかなように、本発明によれば、
（１）シール部材巻き取り室を現像装置内に設け、トナー収納容器と現像容器の開口部とシール部材引き込み口とを囲繞して全周溶着することにより、シール部材を現像装置の外に引き抜かず、開封時のトナー汚れを完全に防止した現像装置を得ることができる。[0109]
[Effects of the Invention]
(1) and (12) are effects of the present invention , and the effects other than (1) and (12) are effects of the embodiment.
As is clear from the above examples, according to the present invention,
(1) By providing a seal member winding chamber within the developing device and surrounding the toner storage container, the opening of the developing container , and the seal member inlet by welding them all around, it is possible to obtain a developing device that does not require the seal member to be pulled out of the developing device and is completely protected from toner contamination when opened.

【０１１０】
又、シール巻き取り装置を大幅に小型化・簡素化することで、開封動作の簡単操作性、及びプロセスカートリッジのコンパクト化を達成した現像装置を得ることができる。[0110]
Furthermore, by significantly reducing the size and simplification of the seal winding device, it is possible to obtain a developing device that achieves easy opening operation and a compact process cartridge.

【０１１１】
更に、トナー収納容器と現像容器の開口部とシール部材引き込み口を囲繞して全周溶着することによりプロセスカートリッジとして構成した場合において、短手部の開封後のトナーに対する密封を確実に行うことができ、又、トナー収納容器と現像容器の結合強度を大幅に向上した現像装置を得ることができる。
（２）シール開封機構を別室を設けて設置する場合はトナー収納容器又は現像容器のデッドスペースを利用することができ小型化に寄与する。
（３）シール開封機構が開封後のシール部材を外部に出さないよう別室内で開封すると、仮にシール部材がトナーで汚れていても現像装置外を汚すことがない。
（４）シール開封機構を別室内に設けた巻き取り軸とすること及びこの巻き取り軸を外部から回転するようにしたことにより、シール開閉機構が簡単なものとなる。
（５）巻き取り軸の駆動を紐で行うと、紐を引張る方向の範囲が広く選べるのでシール開封の操作性がよい。そして、引く方向にかかわらずシール部材は一定方向に引かれて巻き取られる。
（６）シール巻き取り軸から歯車列を介して紐で歯車列の駆動歯車を回転するようにすると紐に加える力と距離の割合を適宜に選べると共に紐を引き出し易い位置へ駆動歯車と同軸の巻き胴部を配置できる。
（７）紐の引き出し先に把手を設けると操作性が向上する。
（８）紐に代えて駆動歯車を回転体で回転するようにすると、シール部材開封操作が容易である。そして、操作する際、手を動かす範囲を小さくすることができる。
（９）回転体を駆動歯車に着脱できるようにすると、使用開始までの取扱時に回転体を回してしまうことが回避できる。
（１０）別室の一部が現像装置と別体であると巻き取り装置の組立性がよい。
（１１）別室へはシール引き込み口からシール部材を引き込むようにすると。シール部材の開封方向が一定する。
（１２）シール引き込み口の縁部にシール部材が摺動するＲ部を設けＲ部に対向する縁部にトナー侵入防止部材を設けると、シール部材の別室への引き込みが円滑で且つシール引き込み口の密封性がよい。
（１３）上記（１２）のトナー侵入防止部材を発砲ポリウレタンとすることにより好適な密封性能が得られ、シール部材の引き込み口における抵抗が小さい。
（１４）前記（１２）のシール部材の自由端幅より、前記シール部材引き込み口の幅が、片側０．５ｍｍ〜１．５ｍｍ広いことにすると好適である。
（１５）シール部材が、シール後の引き裂き方向に一軸延伸された、引き裂き方向性を備えたシール部材であると開封強度が小さく好適な開封作用が行われる。
（１６）シール部材が、一軸延伸された基材とシーラント層から成るカバーフィルムと、そのカバーフィルムの長手方向に対し、直角方向の接着部よりも幅が狭く、一方の端部が把手部に該当する自由端を有した基材とシーラント層を備えたテアテープから成ることにより好適な開封作用が行われる。
（１７）前記シール部材が開口幅規制板にシールされ、更にトナー収納容器のシールされた開口幅規制板をトナー収納容器の開口部と合体させたことにより、シール部材の貼り付け部材質を選択できる。このため、密封性を保ちつつシール部材を引きはがし易くできる。
（１８）前記シール部材がトナー収納容器に熱圧着され、更にトナー収納容器の熱圧着部が現像容器との溶着部よりも１．０ｍｍ〜２．０ｍｍ低いことにより、シール部材の引き出しが円滑に行われる。
（１９）シール部材が可撓性シートと前記可撓性シートの前記開口部の側に設けられた弾性体シートとからなり、トナー収納容器と現像容器とで挟持されていることにより、開口部の密封を組立てのみにて行うことができる。
（２０）前記（１９）における可撓性シートの材質が、ポリエステル、延伸ポリプロピレン、ナイロン、ポリエチレン、ポリスチレン、ＡＢＳ等の合成樹脂であることにより好適な結果を得る。
（２１）前記（１９）におけ弾性体シートの材質が、シリコーン、ウレタン等のゴム、低発砲ポリウレタンゴム、あるいはスポンジであることにより好適な結果を得る。
（２２）上記の各々はプロセスカートリッジに適用して格別に好適である。[0111]
Furthermore, when the toner storage container and the opening of the developing container and the seal member inlet are welded all around to form a process cartridge, the toner can be reliably sealed against the toner after the short end is opened, and a developing device can be obtained in which the bonding strength between the toner storage container and the developing container is greatly improved.
(2) When the seal opening mechanism is installed in a separate chamber, the dead space of the toner container or the developing container can be utilized, which contributes to miniaturization.
(3) If the seal unsealing mechanism unseals the seal inside a separate room so that the unsealed seal does not come out, even if the seal is soiled with toner, the outside of the developing device will not be soiled.
(4) The seal opening mechanism is a winding shaft provided in a separate chamber, and this winding shaft is rotated from the outside, so that the seal opening and closing mechanism is simplified.
(5) When the winding shaft is driven by a string, the range of directions in which the string can be pulled is wide, making it easy to open the seal. Regardless of the pulling direction, the seal material is pulled and wound in a fixed direction.
(6) By rotating the drive gear of the gear train via a gear train from the seal winding shaft with a string, the ratio of the force and distance applied to the string can be appropriately selected, and the winding body, which is coaxial with the drive gear, can be positioned so that the string can be easily pulled out.
(7) Providing a handle at the end of the string improves operability.
(8) By using a rotating body to rotate the drive gear instead of a string, the seal member can be easily opened. Furthermore, the range of hand movement required for the operation can be reduced.
(9) If the rotating body can be attached to and detached from the drive gear, it is possible to prevent the rotating body from being rotated during handling before use.
(10) If a part of the separate chamber is separate from the developing device, the take-up device can be easily assembled.
(11) When the seal member is drawn into the separate chamber through the seal drawing port, the direction in which the seal member is opened is fixed.
(12) By providing a curved portion on the edge of the seal inlet port along which the seal member slides and providing a toner intrusion prevention member on the edge opposite the curved portion, the seal member can be smoothly drawn into the separate chamber and the seal inlet port can be well sealed.
(13) By using foamed polyurethane for the toner intrusion prevention member of (12) above, favorable sealing performance can be obtained, and resistance at the intake port of the seal member is small.
(14) It is preferable that the width of the sealing member intake opening is wider on one side by 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm than the width of the free end of the sealing member of (12).
(15) When the sealing member is a sealing member having tear directionality, ie, uniaxially stretched in the tearing direction after sealing, the strength to open the seal is small and a suitable opening action is achieved.
(16) The sealing member is composed of a cover film consisting of a uniaxially stretched substrate and a sealant layer, and a tear tape having a substrate and a sealant layer, which is narrower than the adhesive part in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the cover film and has a free end at one end that corresponds to the handle portion, thereby achieving a suitable opening action.
(17) The sealing member is sealed to the opening width restricting plate, and the sealed opening width restricting plate of the toner container is combined with the opening of the toner container, so that the material of the sealing member to be attached can be selected, which makes it possible to easily peel off the sealing member while maintaining the sealing performance.
(18) The seal member is heat-pressed to the toner container, and the heat-pressed portion of the toner container is 1.0 mm to 2.0 mm lower than the welded portion to the developing container, so that the seal member can be pulled out smoothly.
(19) The sealing member is made of a flexible sheet and an elastic sheet provided on the side of the opening of the flexible sheet, and is sandwiched between the toner storage container and the developing container, so that the opening can be sealed simply by assembly.
(20) In (19), the flexible sheet is made of a synthetic resin such as polyester, oriented polypropylene, nylon, polyethylene, polystyrene, or ABS, which provides favorable results.
(21) In the above (19), the elastic sheet is made of rubber such as silicone or urethane, low-expansion polyurethane rubber, or sponge, which provides favorable results.
(22) Each of the above is particularly suitable for application to a process cartridge.

Claims

A developing device for developing a latent image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive member using a developer,
a toner container for storing the developer;
a developing roller that develops the latent image using the developer;
a developer container supporting the developing roller;
an opening for supplying the developer in the toner storage container to the developing container;
a seal member that seals the opening in an openable manner;
a winding device that engages an end of the sealing member to wind and unseal the sealing member;
a seal member inlet port through which the seal member passes when the seal member is wound up by the seal member winding device;
and
The developing device is characterized in that the toner container and the developing container are joined by welding over the entire periphery surrounding the opening and the seal member inlet.

2. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein a rounded portion is provided at an edge of the seal member inlet port, along which the seal member slides, and a toner intrusion prevention member is attached to an edge opposite the rounded portion.