JP5163261B2 - Developer cartridge and development unit - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a developer cartridge and a developing unit provided in an image forming apparatus such as a laser printer.

  For example, as a developing unit, the developing device described in Patent Document 1 is detachably mounted with a toner cartridge as a developer cartridge that stores toner on the frame. In this developing device, a toner supply port is formed by a hole formed in one side portion of the toner cartridge and a hole formed in the frame, and a hole and frame formed in the other side portion of the toner cartridge are formed. A toner suction port is formed by the hole.

Although the toner in the toner cartridge is supplied into the frame through the toner supply port, a part of the toner is returned from the toner suction port to the toner cartridge. Thereby, the toner is circulated between the frame and the toner cartridge.
The toner cartridge has a double structure including a first frame that accommodates toner and a second frame that is disposed outside the first frame.
JP 9-319202 A

In the toner cartridge described in Patent Document 1, a toner supply port and a toner suction port are formed in the first frame. In this case, the second frame opens and closes the toner supply port and the toner suction port by moving relative to the first frame.
When the second frame closes the toner supply port and the toner suction port of the first frame in order to release the toner cartridge from the frame of the developing device, the toner supply port and the toner suction port are first traversed in the second frame. In some cases, toner from the toner supply port and the toner suction port may adhere to the edge. If the toner cartridge is detached from the frame of the developing device with the toner attached to the edge of the second frame, the toner may be scattered outside.

  An object of the present invention is to disperse the developer attached to the edge of the second frame to the outside in a configuration in which the second frame outside the first frame opens and closes the first opening of the first frame containing the developer. It is an object of the present invention to provide a developer cartridge capable of preventing the above and a developing unit equipped with the developer cartridge.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention described in claim 1 is a developer cartridge, which contains a developer and has a first frame formed with a first opening for communicating the inside and the outside, A second frame disposed outside the first frame and movable between an open position for opening the first opening and a closed position for closing the first opening; and in the second frame, the second frame includes: A protrusion provided at an edge facing the first opening when moving in the moving direction from the open position to the closed position, wherein the second frame is located between the open position and the closed position; A first edge disposed on the first opening side in a state of being disposed between, and the first edge in a state of being disposed between the open position and the closed position of the second frame. At a position further away from the first opening than It is characterized by comprising a projecting portion than said first edge and a second edge projecting in the direction of movement downstream I.

Further, the invention according to claim 2, in the invention described in claim 1, wherein the protrusion includes an inclined surface inclined so as to connect said first end edge and the front Stories second edge It is characterized by that.
The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the protruding portion is located upstream from the first opening at a position farther from the first opening than the first end edge. It is characterized by including a flexible sheet that protrudes downstream from the sheet.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to third aspects, the outer surface of the first frame is provided around the first opening and is developed from the first opening. A first seal member for preventing leakage of the agent, and the second seal is opposed to the edge of the second frame when the second frame moves from the open position to the closed position. A first guide surface that is inclined toward the first opening side from the downstream side toward the upstream side in the moving direction is formed in the one seal side facing portion.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the outer surface of the first frame is provided around the first opening and is developed from the first opening. A first seal member for preventing leakage of the agent, and a higher elastic modulus than the first seal member, and the second seal moves in the first seal member when the second frame moves from the open position to the closed position. A first protective member for protecting the first seal member is provided between the second frame and the first seal side facing portion facing the edge of the second frame. It is said.

  The invention according to claim 6 is a developing unit, and faces the developer cartridge according to claim 3, a cartridge housing portion for housing the developer cartridge, and the cartridge housing portion, A housing having a second opening that can be opposed to the first opening, and a shutter that is disposed in the cartridge housing portion and that can open and close the second opening by moving together with the second frame. The sheet is characterized by closing a space between the shutter and the second frame.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a developing unit comprising: the developer cartridge according to any one of the first to fifth aspects; a cartridge housing portion for housing the developer cartridge; and the cartridge housing. A housing formed with a second opening that faces the first opening and can be opposed to the first opening, and is disposed in the cartridge housing portion and moves together with the second frame, and the second frame is moved to the open position. A shutter that opens the second opening when the second frame is in the closed position and closes the second opening when the second frame is in the closed position, and is provided around the second opening between the housing and the shutter. And a second seal member for preventing leakage of the developer from the second opening, and the second seal member is attached to the second seal member when the second frame moves from the open position to the closed position. Wherein the said edge and a second seal-side opposite portion opposed to the shutter of the second frame, the second guide surface inclined to the second opening side toward the downstream side to the upstream side in the moving direction is formed Te It is characterized by having.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a developing unit, the developer cartridge according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, a cartridge housing portion for housing the developer cartridge, and the cartridge housing. A housing formed with a second opening that faces the first opening and can be opposed to the first opening, and is disposed in the cartridge housing portion and moves together with the second frame, and the second frame is moved to the open position. A shutter that opens the second opening when the second frame is in the closed position and closes the second opening when the second frame is in the closed position, and is provided around the second opening between the housing and the shutter. And a second seal member for preventing leakage of developer from the second opening, and a higher elastic modulus than the second seal member, and the second frame moves from the open position to the closed position. Is disposed between the second seal-side opposite portion opposed to said edge portion and the shutter of the second frame in said second sealing member to Rutoki and said second frame and the shutter, the second seal member And a second protective member for protection.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, in the developer cartridge, the second frame disposed outside the first frame that accommodates the developer has an open position that opens the first opening of the first frame, and the first frame. It is movable between a closed position that closes the opening.
In the second frame, when the second frame moves in the moving direction from the open position to the closed position (hereinafter simply referred to as “moving direction”), an edge portion (hereinafter, A protrusion is provided on the “edge”. The projecting portion is located on the first end side on the first opening side and at a position farther from the first opening than the first end edge (that is, on the outer side) and projects further downstream in the movement direction than the first end edge Second end edge.

For this reason, even if the developer of the first opening adheres to the edge of the second frame when the second frame moves from the open position to the closed position, the developer is not removed from the outside by the second edge of the protrusion. Since the weir is stopped, it is possible to prevent the developer from scattering to the outside.
According to the invention described in claim 2, the inclined surface included in the projecting portion is inclined from the upstream side to the downstream side in the moving direction as it goes from the first end edge to the second end edge. Thus, even if the developer contacts the inclined surface, the developer can be guided from the second edge side to the first edge side by the inclined surface and returned to the first opening. It becomes difficult for the developer to adhere to the surface. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the developer from spilling outside and scattering.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the sheet included in the protrusion protrudes from the upstream side to the downstream side in the movement direction at a position farther from the first opening than the first end edge (that is, an outer position). It is installed. As a result, the developer attached to the edge of the second frame is dammed from the outside by the sheet, so that the developer can be prevented from scattering to the outside.
Further, since the sheet has flexibility, even if the edge of the second frame is not flat, the sheet can be attached to be in close contact with the edge of the second frame by bending the sheet. Accordingly, the sheet can dam the developer attached to the edge of the second frame from the outside without a gap.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the first seal member provided around the first opening on the outer surface of the first frame includes the first frame and the second frame disposed outside the first frame. Will be located between.
The first seal member has a first seal side facing portion that faces the second frame when the second frame moves from the open position to the closed position, and the second frame moves from the open position to the closed position. Can come into contact with the first seal-side facing portion.

  Here, the 1st guide surface which inclines to the 1st opening side is formed in the 1st seal | sticker side opposing part as it goes to the upstream from the downstream in the moving direction. Therefore, even if the second frame comes into contact with the first seal side facing portion while moving from the open position to the closed position, the second frame is separated from the first opening by the first guide surface (the direction away from the first seal member). Therefore, it is possible to smoothly move to the closed position without being caught by the first seal side facing portion.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the first sealing member provided around the first opening on the outer surface of the first frame includes the first frame and the second frame disposed outside the first frame. Will be located between.
The first seal member has a first seal side facing portion that faces the second frame when the second frame moves from the open position to the closed position. As a result, the second frame that moves from the open position to the closed position vigorously contacts the first seal side facing portion, so that the first seal member may be damaged at the first seal side facing portion.

  However, the developer cartridge is provided with a first protection member having a higher elastic modulus (stronger) than the first seal member. When the second frame moves from the open position to the closed position, the first protection member is disposed between the first seal side facing portion and the second frame, so that the second frame is the first frame. This prevents contact with the seal-side facing portion and protects the first seal member.

As a result, it is possible to prevent the first seal member from being damaged at the first seal side facing portion when the second frame moves from the open position to the closed position.
According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, when the developer cartridge is housed in the cartridge housing portion in the housing of the developing unit, the second opening of the housing can face the first opening of the developer cartridge. The developer in the developer cartridge can be supplied to the housing through the opening and the second opening.

A shutter is disposed in the cartridge housing portion, and this shutter can be opened and closed by moving together with the second frame of the developer cartridge. Therefore, when the second frame is moved to open and close the first opening, the second opening can be opened and closed together, so that operability can be improved.
Here, the protruding portion provided at the edge of the second frame of the developer cartridge includes a sheet. This sheet prevents the developer adhering to the edge of the second frame from being scattered outside when the second frame is moved from the open position to the closed position, and in addition, the shutter and the second frame. By closing the gap, it is possible to prevent the developer from leaking out.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, in the housing of the developing unit, when the developer cartridge is housed in the cartridge housing portion, the second opening of the housing can face the first opening of the developer cartridge. The developer in the developer cartridge can be supplied to the housing through the opening and the second opening.
A shutter is disposed in the cartridge housing portion, and this shutter can be opened and closed by moving together with the second frame of the developer cartridge. Specifically, the shutter opens the second opening when the second frame is in the open position, and closes the second opening when the second frame is in the closed position. Therefore, when the second frame is moved to open and close the first opening, the second opening can be opened and closed together, so that operability can be improved.

Here, a second seal member is provided around the second opening between the housing and the shutter. The second seal member has a second seal side facing portion that faces the second frame and the shutter when the second frame moves from the open position to the closed position, and the second frame moves from the open position to the closed position. And the shutter may contact the second seal side facing portion.
Therefore, a second guide surface that is inclined toward the second opening side from the downstream side to the upstream side in the moving direction is formed at the second seal side facing portion. Therefore, the second frame and the shutter are separated from the second opening by the second guide surface even if the second frame comes into contact with the second seal side facing portion in the middle of moving from the open position to the closed position (second Since it is guided in the direction away from the seal member, the second seal side facing portion is not caught. Thereby, the second frame can move smoothly to the closed position, and the shutter can move smoothly together with the second frame.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, when the developer cartridge is housed in the cartridge housing portion in the housing of the developing unit, the second opening of the housing can face the first opening of the developer cartridge. The developer in the developer cartridge can be supplied to the housing through the opening and the second opening.
A shutter is disposed in the cartridge housing portion, and this shutter can be opened and closed by moving together with the second frame of the developer cartridge. Specifically, the shutter opens the second opening when the second frame is in the open position, and closes the second opening when the second frame is in the closed position. Therefore, when the second frame is moved to open and close the first opening, the second opening can be opened and closed together, so that operability can be improved.

  Here, a second seal member is provided around the second opening between the housing and the shutter. The second seal member has a second seal side facing portion that faces the second frame and the shutter when the second frame moves from the open position to the closed position. As a result, the second frame and the shutter that move from the open position to the closed position violently come into contact with the second seal side facing portion, so that the second seal member may be damaged at the second seal side facing portion.

  However, the developing unit includes a second protective member having a higher elastic modulus (stronger) than the second seal member. When the second frame moves from the open position to the closed position, the second protective member is disposed between the second seal side facing portion, the second frame, and the shutter, so that the second frame and The shutter is prevented from coming into contact with the second seal side facing portion, and the second seal member is protected.

  As a result, it is possible to prevent the second seal member from being damaged at the second seal side facing portion when the second frame moves from the open position to the closed position.

<Overall configuration of laser printer>
FIG. 1 is a left sectional view showing an embodiment of a laser printer according to the present invention. 2A is a left sectional view of the process cartridge (toner cartridge mounted state) of the laser printer shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 2B is a left sectional view of the toner cartridge alone.
As shown in FIG. 1, the laser printer 1 includes a paper feeding unit 4 for feeding paper 3 into a main body casing 2, and an image forming unit 5 for forming an image on the fed paper 3. A paper discharge unit 6 that discharges the paper 3 on which an image is formed.
(1) Main Body Casing The main body casing 2 is formed in a box shape, and an opening is formed in a side wall on one side thereof, and a front cover 7 that opens and closes the opening is provided. By opening the front cover 7, a process cartridge 17 (described later) as an example of a developing unit can be attached to and detached from the main body casing 2.

In the following description, the side on which the front cover 7 is provided is the front side (front side), and the opposite side is the rear side (back side). Further, the front side in the paper thickness direction in FIG. 1 is the left side, and the back side in the paper thickness direction in FIG. 1 is the right side. The left-right direction and the width direction are synonymous. The horizontal direction includes the front-rear direction and the left-right direction. In the description of the process cartridge 17 and a toner cartridge 31 as an example of a developer cartridge described later, a frame passage port 34 and a cartridge passage port 47 as an example of a second opening described later are oriented in the horizontal direction. Based on state.
(2) Paper Feed Unit The paper feed unit 4 includes a paper feed tray 9, a paper feed roller 10, a paper feed pad 11, paper dust removing rollers 12 and 13, and a registration roller 14. The uppermost sheet 3 in the sheet feeding tray 9 is sent out one by one by the sheet feeding roller 10 and the sheet feeding pad 11, passes through various rollers 12 to 14, and then transferred to the image forming unit 5 (described later). To be carried).
(3) Image Forming Unit The image forming unit 5 includes a scanner unit 16, a process cartridge 17, and a fixing unit 18.

  The scanner unit 16 is provided at an upper portion in the main body casing 2 and includes a laser light emitting unit (not shown), a polygon mirror 19 that is rotationally driven, a plurality of lenses 20, and a plurality of reflecting mirrors 21. The laser beam based on the image data emitted from the laser light emitting unit is reflected by the polygon mirror 19 as shown by a two-dot chain line, and passes or reflects through the plurality of lenses 20 and the plurality of reflecting mirrors 21 to process cartridge 17. The surface of the photosensitive drum 25 (described later) is scanned.

The process cartridge 17 is disposed in the main body casing 2 below the scanner unit 16 and above the paper feed unit 4.
As shown in FIG. 2, the process cartridge 17 includes a process frame 22 as an example of a housing in which a transfer path 29 that allows passage of the paper 3 is formed, and a cartridge housing portion 33 (described later) of the process frame 22. And a toner cartridge 31 that is detachably mounted.

In the process frame 22, a partition wall 57 extending in the vertical direction is provided at a substantially central position in the front-rear direction. In the process frame 22, the rear portion of the partition wall 57 is the developing portion 32, and the front portion of the partition wall 57 is the cartridge housing portion 33 described above. In the partition wall 57, the above-described frame passage port 34 is formed.
In the developing unit 32, a photosensitive drum 25, a scorotron charger 26, a transfer roller 28, an auger 35, a supply roller 36, a developing roller 37, and a layer thickness regulating blade 38 are provided.

  The scorotron charger 26 is disposed at an interval from above with respect to the photosensitive drum 25. The transfer roller 28 is pressed against the photosensitive drum 25 from below. The developing roller 37 is pressed against the photosensitive drum 25 from the front side. The supply roller 36 is pressed against the developing roller 37 from the front side. The layer thickness regulating blade 38 is a thin leaf spring extending downward toward the developing roller 37, and a pressure contact rubber 46 provided at the lower end of the layer thickness regulating blade 38 causes the surface of the developing roller 37 to be moved by the elastic force of the layer thickness regulating blade 38. Pressing. The auger 35 is opposed to the frame passage port 34 from the rear side. The auger 35 is integrally provided with a shaft extending in the width direction and a screw provided around the shaft.

The toner cartridge 31 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape whose central axis extends in the width direction. The toner cartridge 31 is formed with a cartridge passage 47 for communicating the inside and the outside.
An agitator 93 is provided in the toner cartridge 31. The toner cartridge 31 contains a non-magnetic one-component positively chargeable toner as an example of a developer.

  The toner in the toner cartridge 31 is agitated by the rotation of the agitator 93, received from the cartridge passage port 47 into the frame passage port 34, and discharged into the developing unit 32. The discharged toner is supplied to the supply roller 36 while being conveyed from the center in the width direction to both sides in the width direction by the rotation of the auger 35. A part of the toner is returned into the toner cartridge 31 through the frame passage opening 34 and the cartridge passage opening 47. As a result, the toner circulates between the toner cartridge 31 and the developing unit 32 of the process frame 22.

The toner supplied to the supply roller 36 becomes a thin layer by entering between the pressure contact rubber 46 and the developing roller 37 and is carried on the surface of the developing roller 37.
The surface of the photosensitive drum 25 is uniformly positively charged by the scorotron charger 26 and then exposed by a laser beam (see the two-dot chain line in FIG. 1) from the scanner unit 16, so that the surface of the photosensitive drum 25 is exposed. An electrostatic latent image based on the image data is formed. Next, the toner carried on the surface of the developing roller 37 is supplied to the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 25, whereby the electrostatic latent image is developed (visualized). A toner image is carried on the surface. This toner image is transferred onto the sheet 3 conveyed between the photosensitive drum 25 and the transfer roller 28 (transfer position) in the transfer path 29.

As shown in FIG. 1, the fixing unit 18 is provided on the rear side of the process cartridge 17, and includes a heating roller 48, a pressure roller 49 pressed against the heating roller 48 from below, and these rollers. And a pair of transport rollers 50 disposed on the rear side.
The toner transferred to the sheet 3 at the transfer position is thermally fixed while the sheet 3 passes between the heating roller 48 and the pressure roller 49, and then the sheet 3 is discharged by the transport roller 50 by the paper discharge unit 6. It is conveyed to.
(4) Paper Discharge Unit The paper discharge unit 6 includes a paper discharge path 51, a paper discharge roller 52, and a paper discharge tray 53. The sheet 3 conveyed to the sheet discharge unit 6 is conveyed from the sheet discharge path 51 to the sheet discharge roller 52 and then discharged onto the sheet discharge tray 53 by the sheet discharge roller 52.
<Details of process cartridge>
Hereinafter, the process frame 22 and the toner cartridge 31 in the process cartridge 17 will be described in detail.
(1) Process Frame FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway perspective view of the process cartridge shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the process cartridge (toner cartridge detached state) shown in FIG. FIG. 5 shows a state where the shutter is omitted from FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the process frame 22 has a box shape that is long in the width direction. The developing unit 32 has a box shape that is substantially the rear half of the process frame 22. The cartridge housing portion 33 forms a substantially front half of the process frame 22 and has a box shape with a front surface and an upper surface opened. The partition wall 57 described above also serves as the front wall of the developing unit 32 and the rear wall of the cartridge housing unit 33. The inside of the developing unit 32 and the inside of the cartridge housing unit 33 communicate with each other through the frame passage port 34 of the partition wall 57. That is, the frame passage port 34 faces both the inside of the developing unit 32 and the inside of the cartridge housing unit 33.

  Here, the partition wall 57 is formed with a curved portion 45 that is curved so as to bulge rearward along the outer peripheral surface of the toner cartridge 31 in the middle of the vertical direction. A portion 45 is formed (see FIG. 2A). The frame passage openings 34 have a substantially rectangular shape elongated in the width direction, and three frame passage openings 34 are formed at intervals in the width direction. Of the three frame passage openings 34, the frame passage opening 34 at the center in the width direction is a frame supply opening 60, and the frame passage openings 34 on both sides in the width direction of the frame supply opening 60 are frame return openings 61.

  A frame seal 62 as an example of a second seal member for preventing leakage of toner from the frame passage port 34 is provided on the front side surface of the curved portion 45 of the partition wall 57 (filled with dots). See section). The frame seal 62 is formed in a band shape extending in the width direction from a foam having elasticity. The frame seal 62 is formed with three notch portions 76 having approximately the same size as the frame passage openings 34.

  The frame seal 62 is adhered to the front side surface of the curved portion 45 so that each cutout portion 76 communicates with the corresponding frame passage port 34 from the front side. Accordingly, the frame seal 62 is provided around each frame passage opening 34 and is continuous between the frame passage openings 34. In this state, the frame seal 62 protrudes forward and faces the cartridge housing portion 33.

  In addition to the partition wall 57 described above, the cartridge housing portion 33 includes a pair of side walls 63 arranged to face each other at an interval in the width direction, and a bottom wall 64 constructed between the lower end edges of the pair of side walls 63. Is integrated. The partition wall 57 is provided between the rear end edges of the pair of side walls 63 and is connected to the rear end edge of the bottom wall 64. In the cartridge housing portion 33, nothing is installed between the front end edges and the upper end edges of the pair of side walls 63, so that the upper surface and the front surface are opened in a continuous state as described above.

A shutter support portion 65 is provided on the inner side surface in the width direction of both side walls 63. The shutter support portion 65 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape that bulges inward from the inner side surface in the width direction of both side walls 63, and extends in the vertical direction at the rear end portions of the side walls 63.
A shutter guide portion 144 is provided on the inner surface in the width direction of each shutter support portion 65. The shutter guide portion 144 has a protruding line that bulges inward from the inner surface in the width direction of the corresponding shutter support portion 65. The shutter guide portion 144 is disposed so as to face the curved portion 45 (see FIG. 2A) of the partition wall 57 from the front side with a slight gap. The shutter guide portion 144 is formed in a curved shape having substantially the same curvature as the curved portion 45.

The upper end surface of each shutter support portion 65 is located slightly below the upper end edge of the side wall 63. The upper end surface of each shutter support portion 65 is an upper fixing portion 66. On the other hand, the bottom wall 64 is formed with a lower fixing portion 67 that slightly protrudes to the front side at the center in the width direction of the front edge (see also FIG. 2A).
As shown in FIG. 4, a shutter 68 and a swing arm 70 are provided in the cartridge housing portion 33.

  The shutter 68 has a substantially rectangular plate shape extending in the width direction, and is formed in a curved shape having substantially the same curvature as the curved portion 45 of the partition wall 57 (see FIG. 2A). The shutter 68 is formed so as to extend in the width direction between the left and right shutter guide portions 144 and slightly shorter than the shutter guide portion 144 in the vertical direction. The shutter 68 is formed with three shutter openings 69 corresponding to the respective frame passage openings 34 so as to be able to face them.

  The shutter 68 is opposed to the curved portion 45 of the partition wall 57 (strictly speaking, the frame seal 62 adhered to the curved portion 45) from the front side (see FIG. 2A). In the shutter 68, both end portions in the width direction are slidably sandwiched between the curved portion 45 (see FIG. 2A) and the shutter guide portion 144. The shutter 68 sandwiched in this way moves vertically between an open position (see FIG. 2A) for opening the frame passage opening 34 and a closed position (see FIG. 4) for closing the frame passage opening 34. It can swing freely.

  Specifically, when the shutter 68 is in the open position, as shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 2A, the frame passage port 34 is connected to the corresponding shutter via the cutout portion 76 (see FIG. 5) of the frame seal 62. It faces the opening 69 and opens to the front side. When the shutter 68 in the open position is swung upward, the shutter 68 is disposed in the closed position. When the shutter 68 is in the closed position, the frame passage port 34 is closed from the front side by a portion below the shutter opening 69 in the shutter 68 as shown in FIG.

  Thus, in a state in which the shutter 68 is swingable between the open position and the closed position, the frame seal 62 is located between the curved portion 45 (that is, the process frame 22) of the partition wall 57 and the shutter 68. Arranged and compressed by the curved portion 45 and the shutter 68 (see FIG. 2A). Accordingly, the toner from the frame passage opening 34 surrounded by the frame seal 62 in the curved portion 45 is prevented from leaking between the curved portion 45 and the shutter 68.

  Here, as shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 2A, on the front side surface of the curved portion 45 above the frame passage port 34, the portion contacting the frame seal 62 extends to the shutter 68 while extending in the width direction. A rib protruding forward (referred to as a frame rib 125 as an example of the second protrusion) is integrally provided. The frame rib 125 protrudes toward the shutter 68 from the portion where the frame rib 125 is not provided on the front side surface of the curved portion 45.

  As a result, a portion of the frame seal 62 compressed by the curved portion 45 and the shutter 68 above the frame passage opening 34 and the shutter 68 is pressed toward the shutter 68 by the frame rib 125 (an example of a fourth contact portion). And a portion other than that (referred to as a frame seal second portion 62B as an example of a third contact portion).

  When the shutter 68 moves between the open position and the closed position, the frame seal first part 62A and the frame seal second part 62B are both in sliding contact with the rear side surface of the shutter 68. Here, as described above, unlike the frame seal second part 62B, the frame seal first part 62A is pressed toward the shutter 68 by the frame rib 125. The shutter 68 is in sliding contact with a contact pressure higher than that of the second portion 62B.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the swing arm 70 is formed in a substantially U shape in plan view. The swing arm 70 is integrally provided with a gripping rod 71 extending in the width direction and arm side plates 72 extending rearward from both widthwise ends of the gripping rod 71. A boss 73 protruding outward in the width direction is provided at the rear end of each arm side plate 72. The boss 73 of each arm side plate 72 is inserted through a round hole 74 formed in the corresponding side wall 63. On the upper edge of the rear end portion of each arm side plate 72, a receiving recess 75 that is cut out so as to be recessed downward is formed. At both ends in the width direction of the gripper 71, pressing protrusions 77 that protrude rearward are provided.

The swing arm 70 has a pressing release position (see FIGS. 4 and 5) where the lower end edge of the arm side plate 72 is in contact with the front end edge of the bottom wall 64, and the toner cartridge 31 accommodated in the cartridge accommodating portion 33. Between the pressing position (see FIGS. 2A and 3) where 77 is pressed from the front side, it can swing up and down about the boss 73 of each arm side plate 72 as a fulcrum.
(2) Toner Cartridge FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the toner cartridge shown in FIG. 2B (in a state where the outer frame is in the open position) as viewed obliquely from the rear left side. FIG. 7 shows a state in which the outer frame is in the closed position in FIG. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the inner frame of the toner cartridge shown in FIG. 6 as viewed obliquely from the rear left side. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the outer frame of the toner cartridge shown in FIG. 6 as viewed obliquely from the rear left side.

As shown in FIG. 6, the toner cartridge 31 has a substantially cylindrical shape (center) that is long in the width direction and has a size that can be accommodated in the cartridge housing portion 33 (see FIGS. 2A and 4) of the process frame 22. The axis is a substantially cylindrical shape extending along the width direction (see also FIG. 3).
The toner cartridge 31 includes an inner frame 81 (see FIG. 8) as an example of a first frame and an outer frame 82 (see FIG. 9) as an example of a second frame. In the toner cartridge 31, toner is stored in the inner frame 81.
(2-1) Inner Frame As shown in FIG. 8, like the toner cartridge 31, the inner frame 81 has a substantially cylindrical shape that is long in the width direction. The inner frame 81 is integrally provided with an inner peripheral wall 83 serving as a circumferential wall thereof and a pair of substantially disc-shaped inner side walls 84 that block both ends of the inner peripheral wall 83 in the width direction.

  An inner passage port 89 as an example of a first opening forming the cartridge passage port 47 is formed on the rear side surface of the inner peripheral wall 83. Three inner passage openings 89 are formed at intervals in the width direction. Each inner passage port 89 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape elongated in the width direction, passes through the rear portion of the inner peripheral wall 83, and communicates with the inside of the inner peripheral wall 83. That is, the inner passage port 89 allows the inner side and the outer side of the inner frame 81 to communicate with each other. Of the three inner passage openings 89, the inner passage opening 89 at the center in the width direction is the inner supply opening 90, and the inner passage openings 89 on both sides in the width direction of the inner supply opening 90 are the inner return openings 91.

On the outer surface (outer peripheral surface) of the inner peripheral wall 83, around each inner passage port 89, a toner seal 92 as an example of a first seal member for preventing leakage of toner from the inner passage port 89 is attached. Has been. That is, three toner seals 92 are provided corresponding to the three inner passage openings 89.
The toner seal 92 is formed from a foam having elasticity, and has a rectangular shape that is long in the width direction and a substantially uniform length (thickness) in the front-rear direction when viewed from the back. A cutout portion 94 that penetrates the toner seal 92 in the front-rear direction is formed at a substantially central position in the rear view of the toner seal 92 corresponding to the inner passage port 89. The notch portion 94 is formed to have a size substantially equal to that of the corresponding inner passage port 89 and faces the inner passage port 89. As described above, the toner seal 92 adhered to the outer surface of the inner peripheral wall 83 is disposed so that the notch portion 94 surrounds the corresponding inner passage port 89, and projects to the radially outer side (rear side) of the inner peripheral wall 83. It is installed.

A grip portion 113 is provided on the front side surface of the inner peripheral wall 83. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the grip portion 113 includes a base 112 having a block shape that is long in the width direction and connected to the inner peripheral wall 83, and an upper grip plate having a substantially rectangular shape in plan view that protrudes forward from the base 112. 114 and a locking arm 115 having a substantially J-shape when viewed from the left side and extending downward from the upper gripping plate 114.
The upper end of the locking arm 115 is swingably supported by a support shaft 116 provided on the upper grip plate 114. As shown in FIG. 2A, a locking claw 117 that can be locked to the lower fixing portion 67 is provided at the lower end portion of the locking arm 115. In the vicinity of the upper end of the locking arm 115, a lower grip plate 118 having a substantially rectangular shape in plan view that protrudes forward is provided (see also FIG. 3). The lower gripping plate 118 extends in parallel with the upper gripping plate 114 at a distance below the upper gripping plate 114. A compression spring (not shown) that urges the upper gripping plate 114 and the lower gripping plate 118 in a direction to separate them is interposed.

As shown in FIG. 3, at both ends in the width direction of the front side surface of the inner peripheral wall 83, a pressed portion 107 that bulges to the front side along the outer peripheral surface of the inner peripheral wall 83 is integrally provided.
As shown in FIG. 8, a columnar boss portion 85 that protrudes outward in the width direction is integrally provided at the center portion of the outer side surface in the width direction of each inner side wall 84. A toner inner plate 96 is integrally provided on the outer side surface of each inner side wall 84 in the width direction. The toner inner plate 96 is substantially U-shaped with the upper side opened when viewed from the width direction, and an inner portion (referred to as an inner portion 97) of the U-shape is deepened obliquely downward toward the rear side. Is formed. The deepest part of the inner part 97 has a circular shape, and a boss part 85 is disposed at the center position thereof. Such an inner portion 97 is formed so as to spread in a fan shape from the deepest portion to the upper front side obliquely.

The rear upper end portion 105 of each toner inner plate 96 projects rearward, and the rear upper end portion 105 is provided with a positioning boss 106 that projects outward in the width direction.
(2-2) Outer Frame As shown in FIG. 9, the outer frame 82 has a substantially cylindrical shape slightly larger in diameter and longer in the width direction than the inner frame 81 (specifically, the inner peripheral wall 83). The outer frame 82 includes an outer peripheral wall 101 that is a circumferential wall thereof. Both ends in the width direction of the outer peripheral wall 101 are open to the outside in the width direction. The curvature of the outer peripheral wall 101 is substantially the same as the curvature of the curved portion 45 of the partition wall 57 and the shutter 68 in the process frame 22 (see FIG. 2A).

  With reference to the posture of the outer frame 82 in FIG. 9, a pair of sandwiching protrusions 87 are provided at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction at both ends of the rear side surface of the outer peripheral wall 101 (in the vertical direction of the shutter 68 described above). Equivalent to the creepage length). That is, four clamping protrusions 87 are formed on the entire outer peripheral wall 101. The clamping protrusion 87 protrudes outward in the radial direction of the outer peripheral wall 101.

  An outer passage port 109 that forms the cartridge passage port 47 is formed in a region of the outer peripheral wall 101 surrounded by the four clamping protrusions 87 (the rear side surface of the outer peripheral wall 101 in FIG. 9). Three outer passage ports 109 are formed at intervals in the width direction. The outer passage port 109 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape elongated in the width direction, passes through the outer peripheral wall 101 and communicates with the inside thereof. Out of the three outer passage ports 109, the outer passage port 109 at the center in the width direction is an outer supply port 110, and the outer passage ports 109 on both sides in the width direction of the outer supply port 110 are outer return ports 111.

  A sheet 40 is adhered to the outer surface of the outer peripheral wall 101 (the outer peripheral surface on the rear side in FIG. 9). Hereinafter, the seat 40 will be described, but when referring to the direction, the upper side is the downstream side in the moving direction X (see the thick line arrow in the drawing) from the open position to the closed position of the outer frame 82 described later, and the lower side. Means that it is on the upstream side in the moving direction X.

The sheet 40 is a rectangular sheet elongated in the width direction formed of a flexible member (for example, a PET film, rubber, or an extremely thin metal plate). The width direction dimension of the sheet 40 is longer than the distance between the left end edge of the left end outer passage port 109 and the right end edge of the right end outer passage port 109.
The sheet 40 is provided so as to be continuous over the lower end portions of all the outer passage openings 109. Specifically, a part of the upper end portion of the sheet 40 (referred to as a damming portion 41) is projected upward so as to protrude from the lower side into the corresponding outer passage port 109 from about 0.5 mm to 1.0 mm, for example. Yes. That is, there are three blocking portions 41 according to the number of the outer passage ports 109. Each dam portion 41 is located at the same position in the width direction as the corresponding outer passage port 109, and outside the frame edge portion 80 as an example of an edge portion that borders the lower end edge of the outer passage port 109 in the outer peripheral wall 101 (see FIG. 9 and rearward from the frame edge 80 (see also FIG. 2).

  Here, as shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 2A, an end face that actually borders the lower end edge of the outer passage port 109 at the frame edge 80 (the outer surface and the inner surface of the outer peripheral wall 101 at the frame edge 80). And the sheet 40 (strictly the damming portion 41) are collectively referred to as a protrusion 79, and the protrusion 79 is provided on the frame edge 80. The protrusion 79 includes a front end edge (front end edge 78A of the frame end surface 78) as an example of a first end edge, and a rear end edge (damming portion 41) as an example of a second end edge. Therefore, the blocking portion 41 protrudes above the front end edge 78A.

As shown in FIG. 9, an exposed hole 99 communicating with the inside of the outer peripheral wall 101 is formed on the outer peripheral wall 101 on the opposite side (front side in FIG. 9) of the outer peripheral wall 101 to the circle center of the outer peripheral wall 101. ing.
At both ends in the width direction of the outer peripheral wall 101, a toner outer plate 98 is integrally provided at a position (upper end portion in FIG. 9) shifted from the outer passage port 109 by about 90 ° clockwise as viewed from the left side.

Each toner outer plate 98 extends from both ends in the width direction of the outer peripheral wall 101 toward the inner side in the radial direction of the outer peripheral wall 101, and is formed in a substantially triangular shape that narrows toward the inner side in the radial direction in a side view. In each toner outer plate 98, a round hole (a fitting hole 147) is formed in a portion corresponding to the circle center of the outer peripheral wall 101, and a slide protrusion 86 is formed in a portion close to the outer peripheral surface of the outer peripheral wall 101. Is provided. The slide protrusion 86 is formed in an arc shape in side view along the outer peripheral surface of the outer peripheral wall 101, and is provided so as to protrude outward in the width direction from the toner outer plate 98.
(2-3) Relative Arrangement of Inner Frame and Outer Frame The inner frame 81 is accommodated in the outer frame 82. In other words, the outer frame 82 is disposed outside the inner frame 81.

  Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the grip 113 is exposed from the exposed hole 99 of the outer peripheral wall 101, and the boss of the corresponding inner side wall 84 is fitted into the fitting hole 147 of each toner outer plate 98. The portions 85 are fitted, and each toner outer plate 98 is disposed in the inner portion 97 of the corresponding toner inner plate 96. The toner seal 92 is compressed by the outer peripheral surface of the inner peripheral wall 83 of the inner frame 81 and the inner peripheral surface of the outer peripheral wall 101 of the outer frame 82 (see FIG. 2). Accordingly, the toner from the inner passage port 89 surrounded by the toner seal 92 in the inner peripheral wall 83 is prevented from leaking between the inner peripheral wall 83 and the outer peripheral wall 101.

The outer frame 82 has a boss portion relative to the inner frame 81 between the closed position (see FIG. 7) and the open position (see FIG. 6) by fitting the boss portion 85 into the fitting hole 147. Relative rotation about fulcrum 85 is allowed.
When the outer frame 82 is disposed at the closed position, as shown in FIG. 7, the outer passage port 109 and the frame edge 80 described above are disposed above the inner passage port 89, and the inner passage port 89 is located on the outer side. The peripheral wall 101 is closed from the outside in the radial direction by a portion below the outer passage port 109 and the frame edge 80.

  Then, from this state, with the boss portion 85 as a fulcrum, the outer frame 82 is rotated relative to the inner frame 81 in a direction in which the outer passage port 109 and the frame edge 80 descend toward the inner passage port 89. . Accordingly, when each toner outer plate 98 comes into contact with the rear edge of the corresponding inner portion 97, the outer frame 82 is disposed in the open position as shown in FIG.

  When the outer frame 82 is disposed at the open position, the inner passage port 89 faces the corresponding outer passage port 109 via the notch portion 94 of the toner seal 92, and these (the inner passage port 89, the notch portion 94). And the outer passage 109) communicate with each other and are opened to the rear side. At this time, the frame edge portion 80 of the outer frame 82 substantially coincides with the lower end edge of the inner passage port 89 and the lower end edge of the notch portion 94 when viewed from the back (see also the enlarged view of FIG. 2A). .

Further, the outer frame 82 in the open position is rotated relative to the inner frame 81 in the direction in which the outer passage port 109 and the frame edge 80 rise from the inner passage port 89 with the boss portion 85 as a fulcrum. As a result, when each toner outer plate 98 abuts against the front end edge of the corresponding inner portion 97, the outer frame 82 is disposed at the closed position as shown in FIG.
Thus, the outer frame 82 is movable between an open position where the inner passage port 89 is opened and a closed position where the inner passage port 89 is closed.

When the outer frame 82 moves in the movement direction from the open position to the closed position (the movement direction X described above), as shown in the enlarged view of FIG. A frame edge 80 that borders the lower edge first rises across the inner passage 89 (see also FIGS. 6 and 7).
Further, regardless of the position of the outer frame 82 between the open position and the closed position, the front end edge 78A of the protrusion 79 provided on the frame edge 80 and the seat 40 (including the damming portion 41) The front end edge 78A is on the inner passage port 89 side (the radially inner side, the front side in FIG. 2A), and the seat 40 is located farther from the inner passage port 89 than the front end edge 78A (the radially outer side, It is in the rear side in FIG.

  Here, referring to the enlarged view of FIG. 2A, when the outer frame 82 moves in the moving direction X from the open position to the closed position, the frame edge 80 (including the protruding portion 79) is as follows. In the toner seal 92, in the moving direction X with respect to the upper side of the inner passage port 89, specifically, the portion that borders the upper edge of the notch portion 94 (referred to as the toner seal facing portion 102 as an example of the first seal side facing portion). It faces from the bottom along.

  Therefore, in the toner seal facing portion 102, a first guide surface 103 is formed on the outer side surface (rear side surface) that inclines toward the front side, that is, the inner passage port 89 side as it goes from the upper side to the lower side. As the outer frame 82 moves from the open position to the closed position, the frame edge portion 80 that faces the toner seal facing portion 102 contacts the first guide surface 103 at the toner seal facing portion 102.

If the portion of the outer peripheral surface of the inner peripheral wall 83 forming the upper peripheral edge of the inner passage port 89 is chamfered (see the chamfered portion 119 shown in FIG. 2A), the toner seal 92 is attached to the outer peripheral wall 83 outside the inner peripheral wall 83. When attached to the side surface, the first guide surface 103 is naturally formed on the toner seal facing portion 102 of the toner seal 92.
Further, the surface of the toner seal facing portion 102 (including the first guide surface 103) is covered with a toner seal protective film 104 as an example of a first protective member. The toner seal protective film 104 is formed of a material having a higher elastic modulus than that of the toner seal 92 (that is, strong and difficult to deform). For example, the toner seal protective film 104 may be a tape, a PET sheet, a resin layer formed by drying an adhesive or a paint, or the toner seal 92. The resin layer formed by melt | dissolving the surface of this by heat processing may be sufficient. Since the portion of the toner seal protective film 104 that protrudes from the toner seal facing portion 102 is attached to the inner peripheral surface of the inner frame 81 (inner peripheral wall 83), the toner seal protective film 104 is attached to the inner frame 81. It is fixed.

When the outer frame 82 moves from the open position to the closed position, the toner seal protective film 104 is disposed between the toner seal facing portion 102 and the frame edge portion 80. Thus, the toner seal protection film 104 protects the toner seal facing portion 102 (that is, the toner seal 92) from the frame edge portion 80.
Further, in a portion of the outer peripheral surface (rear side surface) of the inner peripheral wall 83 that is above the inner passage port 89, a portion that contacts the toner seal 92 extends in the width direction and has a diameter toward the inner peripheral surface of the outer peripheral wall 101. Ribs (referred to as toner ribs 126 as an example of first protrusions) protruding outward in the direction (front side) are integrally provided. The toner rib 126 protrudes toward the inner peripheral surface side (radially outward) of the outer peripheral wall 101 rather than the portion where the toner rib 126 is not provided on the outer peripheral surface of the inner peripheral wall 83.

  Therefore, a portion of the toner seal 92 that is compressed by the inner peripheral wall 83 and the outer peripheral wall 101 above the inner passage port 89 is pressed toward the outer peripheral wall 101 by the toner rib 126 (an example of the second contact portion). Toner seal first portion 92A) and other portions (referred to as toner seal second portion 92B as an example of the first contact portion).

  When the outer frame 82 moves between the open position and the closed position, the toner seal first portion 92A and the toner seal second portion 92B are both in sliding contact with the inner peripheral surface of the outer peripheral wall 101. Here, as described above, unlike the toner seal second portion 92B, the toner seal first portion 92A is pressed toward the outer peripheral wall 101 by the toner rib 126, and therefore has a higher contact pressure than the toner seal second portion 92B. And slidably contact the inner peripheral surface of the outer peripheral wall 101.

The first toner seal portion 92A is disposed at a position away from the first guide surface 103 described above to the upper side (downstream side in the movement direction X). Therefore, when the outer frame 82 moves from the open position to the closed position, a portion of the inner peripheral surface of the outer peripheral wall 101 that is below the first guide surface 103 (upstream side in the movement direction X) moves on the first guide surface 103. After passing, the toner seal is in sliding contact with the first portion 92A.
(2-4) Attaching / Removing Toner Cartridge to / from Process Frame (2-4-1) Attaching Toner Cartridge to Process Frame With reference to FIG. 4 and FIG.

  First, in the toner cartridge 31, the upper grip plate 114 and the lower grip plate 118 of the grip portion 113 are sandwiched in the direction in which they approach each other. Then, the toner cartridge 31 in the state shown in FIG. 7 (the outer frame 82 is disposed at the closed position) is replaced with the process frame 22 (the shutter 68 is disposed in the closed position) in the state illustrated in FIG. 70 is disposed from the front upper side.

At this time, each positioning boss 106 is placed on the corresponding upper fixing portion 66, and a pair of holding protrusions 87 on both sides in the width direction hold the upper edge and the lower edge on both ends in the width direction of the shutter 68. Furthermore, each slide protrusion 86 is fitted into the corresponding receiving recess 75.
Thereafter, when the holding of the grip portion 113 is released, the locking claw 117 is locked to the lower fixing portion 67 and the toner cartridge 31 is stored in the cartridge storage portion 33 as shown in FIG. In the toner cartridge 31, the positioning boss 106 of the inner frame 81 is placed on the upper fixing portion 66 (see FIGS. 4 and 7), and the inner frame 81 is fixed on the lower fixing portion 67 of the process frame 22. Since the locking claw 117 is locked, the inner frame 81 is fixed to the cartridge housing portion 33. Thereby, the mounting of the toner cartridge 31 to the process frame 22 is completed. At this time, the outer passage port 109 of the outer frame 82 in the closed position and the corresponding shutter opening 69 in the shutter 68 in the closed position are in communication with each other (not shown).

  Then, when the swing arm 70 is swung from the press release position (see FIG. 4) to the press position (see FIGS. 2A and 3), the slide protrusion 86 fitted in the receiving recess 75 (FIG. 3). Reference) slides rearward as the arm side plate 72 swings, and the pair of sandwiching protrusions 87 on both sides in the width direction slide downward while sandwiching the shutter 68. As a result, the outer frame 82 having the clamping protrusions 87 and the shutter 68 move together.

  By this movement, the outer frame 82 is disposed at the open position (see FIG. 6), and as shown in FIG. 2A, the outer passage port 109 faces the inner passage port 89 and communicates with them. At this time, the shutter 68 is disposed at the open position, and the frame passage port 34 is opposed to the cartridge passage port 47 (the inner passage port 89 and the outer passage port 109) in the horizontal direction so that they are communicated with each other. Thus, the moving direction of the shutter 68 from the closed position to the open position is the same as the moving direction of the outer frame 82 from the closed position to the open position.

Further, in the swing arm 70 at the pressing position, the pressing protrusion 77 presses the corresponding pressed portion 107 toward the rear side. The toner cartridge 31 cannot be removed from the process frame 22 to the front side by being pressed rearward (see FIG. 3).
During image formation, the toner in the inner frame 81 is supplied from the inner passage port 89 (inner supply port 90) and the outer passage port 109 (outer supply port 110) to the developing unit 32 side by stirring of the agitator 93. At the frame passage port 34 (the frame supply port 60), it is received in the developing unit 32 (see FIGS. 5 and 6).

  The toner supplied into the developing unit 32 from the frame supply port 60 (see FIG. 5) is conveyed from the center in the width direction to both sides in the width direction by the auger 35 and is supplied to the supply roller 36 in the middle thereof. The toner supplied to the supply roller 36 is supplied to the developing roller 37 as described above. The toner that has not been supplied to the supply roller 36 is conveyed to the frame return port 61 (see FIG. 5), passes through the outer return port 111 and the inner return port 91 (see FIG. 6), and passes from the developing unit 32 to the inner frame 81. Returned in. As a result, the toner is circulated between the developing unit 32 and the inner frame 81.

Here, in a state where the toner cartridge 31 is mounted on the process frame 22, the outer peripheral wall 101 of the outer frame 82 is always in close contact with the shutter 68 from the front side along the curved surface.
(2-4-2) Separation of Toner Cartridge from Process Frame From the process frame 22 (the shutter 68 is disposed in the open position and the swing arm 70 is disposed in the pressing position) to the toner cartridge 31 (outer frame 82) In order to release the movement arm 70, the swing arm 70 is first swung from the pressing position (see FIGS. 2A and 3) to the pressing release position (see FIG. 4). As a result, each pressing protrusion 77 is displaced downward from the corresponding pressed portion 107, so that the pressing toward the rear side of the toner cartridge 31 is released.

  Further, when the swing arm 70 is swung from the press position to the press release position, the slide protrusion 86 (see FIG. 3) fitted in the receiving recess 75 is moved to the front side as the arm side plate 72 swings. Slide to. Furthermore, a pair of clamping protrusions 87 on both sides in the width direction slide upward while holding the shutter 68. As a result, the outer frame 82 having the clamping protrusions 87 and the shutter 68 move together.

By this movement, the outer frame 82 is disposed at the closed position (see FIG. 7), and when the outer frame 82 is disposed at the closed position, the shutter 68 is disposed at the closed position (see FIG. 4). That is, the moving direction of the shutter 68 from the open position to the closed position and the moving direction X of the outer frame 82 from the open position to the closed position are the same.
When the upper gripping plate 114 and the lower gripping plate 118 are gripped in the direction in which they are close to each other, the locking with respect to the lower fixing portion 67 of the locking claw 117 is released. When the toner cartridge 31 is pulled out from the cartridge housing portion 33, the toner cartridge 31 is detached from the process frame 22 as shown in FIG.

Here, as shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 2A, when the shutter 68 moves upward from the open position to the closed position, in the shutter 68, the shutter edge 120 that borders the lower edge of the shutter opening 69 is formed. First, it rises across the frame passage 34.
When the shutter 68 moves from the open position to the closed position, the shutter edge 120 is a part of the frame seal 62 that borders the upper side of the frame passage opening 34, specifically, the upper edge of the notch part 76 (opposite the second seal side). It faces the frame seal facing portion 121 as an example of the portion from the lower side along the moving direction of the shutter 68 (that is, the moving direction X). At this time, since the outer frame 82 moves from the open position to the closed position together with the shutter 68, the frame edge 80 (including the protruding portion 79) of the outer frame 82 also moves to the frame seal facing portion 121 together with the shutter edge 120. On the other hand, it can face from the lower side.

  Therefore, in the frame seal facing portion 121, a second guide surface 122 is formed on the outer side surface (front side surface) so as to incline toward the rear side, that is, the frame passing port 34 side as it goes from the upper side to the lower side. As the shutter 68 and the outer frame 82 move from the open position to the closed position, the shutter edge 120 and the frame edge 80 that face the frame seal facing portion 121 are located on the second guide surface 122 in the frame seal facing portion 121. Will be in contact.

  Further, the frame seal first portion 62A in the frame seal 62 described above is disposed at a position away from the second guide surface 122 to the upper side (downstream side in the movement direction X). Therefore, when the shutter 68 moves from the open position to the closed position, the portion below the second guide surface 122 (upstream in the movement direction X) on the rear side surface of the shutter 68 passes through the second guide surface 122. The frame seal first part 62A is slidably contacted.

  The surface of the frame seal facing portion 121 (including the second guide surface 122) is covered with a frame seal protective film 123 as an example of a second protective member. The frame seal protective film 123 is made of a material having a higher elastic modulus than the frame seal 62 (that is, it is sturdy and not easily deformed). For example, the frame seal protective film 123 may be a tape, a PET sheet, a resin layer formed by drying an adhesive or paint, or the frame seal 62. The resin layer formed by melt | dissolving the surface of this by heat processing may be sufficient. The portion of the frame seal protective film 123 that protrudes from the frame seal facing portion 121 is adhered to the partition wall 57, so that the frame seal protective film 123 is fixed to the process frame 22.

When the shutter 68 and the second frame 82 move from the open position to the closed position, the frame seal protective film 123 is disposed between the frame seal facing portion 121 and the shutter edge portion 120 and the frame edge portion 80. Will be. Accordingly, the frame seal protection film 123 protects the frame seal facing portion 121 (that is, the frame seal 62) from the shutter edge 120 and the frame edge 80.
<Effects of Embodiment>
(1) In the toner cartridge 31, the outer frame 82 arranged outside the inner frame 81 that stores toner opens the inner passage port 89 of the inner frame 81 (see FIGS. 2A and 6). And a closed position (see FIG. 2B and FIG. 7) for closing the inner passage port 89.

  In the outer frame 82, a protrusion 79 is provided at the frame edge 80 that first crosses the inner passage port 89 when the outer frame 82 moves in the moving direction X from the open position to the closed position. The projecting portion 79 has a front end edge 78A on the inner passage port 89 side and a position farther from the inner passage port 89 than the front end edge 78A (that is, an outer position), and is further downstream in the movement direction X than the front end edge 78A. And a damming portion 41 protruding from the surface.

Therefore, even if the toner of the inner passage port 89 adheres to the frame edge portion 80 (specifically, the frame end surface 78) of the outer frame 82 when the outer frame 82 moves from the open position to the closed position, the toner remains in the protruding portion. 79 is blocked from the outside by the blocking portion 41, so that the toner can be prevented from scattering to the outside (see also FIG. 2B).
(2) The sheet 40 included in the protrusion 79 is located at a position farther from the inner passage port 89 than the front end edge 78A (that is, an outer position) from the upstream side (lower side) in the movement direction X to the downstream side (upper side). Projected to. As a result, the toner adhering to the frame edge portion 80 of the outer frame 82 is blocked from the outside by the sheet 40, so that the toner can be prevented from scattering to the outside.

Further, since the sheet 40 has flexibility, even if the frame edge 80 is not flat, the sheet 40 can be attached to be in close contact with the frame edge 80 by bending the sheet 40. Thereby, the sheet 40 can dam the toner adhering to the frame edge 80 from the outside without any gap.
(3) The toner seal 92 (see FIG. 8) provided around the inner passage port 89 on the outer surface of the inner frame 81 is disposed on the outer side of the inner frame 81 (inner peripheral wall 83) and the inner frame 81. It is located between the frame 82 (outer peripheral wall 101).

The toner seal 92 has a toner seal facing portion 102 that faces the outer frame 82 (specifically, the frame edge 80) when the outer frame 82 moves from the open position to the closed position. The outer frame 82 that moves to the toner seal can contact the toner seal facing portion 102.
Here, the toner seal facing portion 102 is formed with a first guide surface 103 that is inclined toward the inner passage port 89 side (front side) from the downstream side (upper side) in the moving direction X toward the upstream side (lower side). Yes. For this reason, even if the outer frame 82 contacts the toner seal facing portion 102 during the movement from the open position to the closed position, the outer frame 82 is separated from the inner passage port 89 by the first guide surface 103 (in a direction away from the toner seal 92). Yes, it is guided to the rear side in FIG. 2A, so that it can be smoothly moved to the closed position without being caught by the toner seal facing portion 102.
(4) Further, when the outer frame 82 moving from the open position to the closed position is in violent contact with the toner seal facing portion 102, the toner seal 92 may be damaged at the toner seal facing portion 102.

  However, the toner cartridge 31 is provided with a toner seal protective film 104 having a higher elastic modulus (stronger) than the toner seal 92. When the outer frame 82 moves from the open position to the closed position, the toner seal protective film 104 is disposed between the toner seal facing portion 102 and the outer frame 82 (specifically, the frame edge 80). Thus, the toner seal protection film 104 prevents the outer frame 82 from coming into contact with the toner seal facing portion 102 and protects the toner seal 92.

As a result, it is possible to prevent the toner seal 92 from being damaged at the toner seal facing portion 102 when the outer frame 82 moves from the open position to the closed position. Further, since the outer frame 82 is prevented from coming into contact with the toner seal facing portion 102, it is possible to prevent the outer frame 82 from being caught by the toner seal facing portion 102 and the toner seal 92 from being deformed. 82 can be smoothly moved to the closed position.
(5) In the process frame 22 of the process cartridge 17, when the toner cartridge 31 is housed in the cartridge housing portion 33, the frame passage port 34 of the process frame 22 can face the inner passage port 89 of the toner cartridge 31. Accordingly, the toner of the toner cartridge 31 can be supplied to the process frame 22 through the inner passage port 89 and the frame passage port 34.

  A shutter 68 is disposed in the cartridge housing portion 33, and the shutter 68 can open and close the frame passage port 34 by moving together with the outer frame 82 of the toner cartridge 31. Specifically, the shutter 68 opens the frame passage opening 34 when the outer frame 82 is in the open position (see FIG. 2A), and closes the frame passage opening 34 when the outer frame 82 is in the closed position. (See FIG. 4). Therefore, when the outer frame 82 is moved to open and close the inner passage port 89, the frame passage port 34 can be opened and closed together, so that operability can be improved.

  Here, a frame seal 62 is provided around the frame passage opening 34 between the process frame 22 (specifically, the partition wall 57) and the shutter 68. The frame seal 62 includes a frame seal that faces the outer frame 82 (specifically, the frame edge 80) and the shutter 68 (specifically, the shutter edge 120) when the outer frame 82 and the shutter 68 move from the open position to the closed position. The facing part 121 exists. Therefore, the outer frame 82 and the shutter 68 moving from the open position to the closed position can come into contact with the frame seal facing portion 121.

In view of this, the frame seal facing portion 121 is formed with a second guide surface 122 that is inclined toward the frame passing port 34 side (rear side) from the downstream side (upper side) in the movement direction X toward the upstream side (lower side). Yes. Therefore, even if the outer frame 82 and the shutter 68 come into contact with the frame seal facing portion 121 during the movement of the outer frame 82 and the shutter 68 from the open position to the closed position, the second guide surface 122 causes the outer frame 82 and the shutter 68 to move from the frame passage opening 34. It is guided in a direction away from the frame seal 62 (the front side in FIG. 2A). Thereby, the outer frame 82 and the shutter 68 moving from the open position to the closed position are not caught by the frame seal facing portion 121. As a result, the outer frame 82 can move smoothly to the closed position, and the shutter 68 can move smoothly together with the outer frame 82.
(6) Further, when the outer frame 82 and the shutter 68 that move from the open position to the closed position make intense contact with the frame seal facing portion 121, the frame seal 62 may be damaged at the frame seal facing portion 121.

  However, the process cartridge 17 is provided with a frame seal protective film 123 having a higher elastic modulus (stronger) than the frame seal 62. When the outer frame 82 and the shutter 68 are moved from the open position to the closed position, the frame seal protective film 123 is formed by the frame seal facing portion 121, the outer frame 82 (frame edge portion 80), and the shutter 68 (shutter edge portion). 120). Accordingly, the frame seal protection film 123 prevents the outer frame 82 and the shutter 68 from coming into contact with the frame seal facing portion 121 and protects the frame seal 62.

As a result, it is possible to prevent the frame seal 62 from being damaged at the frame seal facing portion 121 when the outer frame 82 moves from the open position to the closed position. Further, since the outer frame 82 and the shutter 68 are prevented from coming into contact with the frame seal facing portion 121, it is possible to prevent the outer frame 82 and the shutter 68 from being caught by the frame seal facing portion 121 and the frame seal 62 from being deformed. Therefore, the outer frame 82 and the shutter 68 can be smoothly moved to the closed position.
<Modification>
(1) Modification 1
In the above-described embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the process cartridge 17 includes the photosensitive drum 25 and the developing roller 37 integrally, and the process cartridge 17 is detachably attached to the main body casing 2. . In addition to this, for example, while the process cartridge 17 is a developing cartridge that does not include the photosensitive drum 25, another unit (drum cartridge) that includes the photosensitive drum 25 is provided, and the developing cartridge is attached to and detached from the drum cartridge. You may attach freely. Alternatively, only the toner cartridge 31 may be detachable while the process cartridge 17 is mounted on the main casing 2.

The main body casing 2 may be provided with the photosensitive drum 25, the scorotron charger 26 and the transfer roller 28, and the developing cartridge may be detachably mounted on the main body casing 2.
Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the monochrome laser printer 1 has been exemplified. However, for example, the image forming apparatus of the present invention can be configured as a color laser printer (including a tandem type and an intermediate transfer type).
(2) Modification 2
FIG. 10 is a diagram in which the main parts of the shutter (in the open position) and the outer frame (in the open position) according to Modification 2 are extracted. FIG. 10 (a) shows a first example. ) Shows a second example, (c) shows a third example, (d) shows a fourth example, (e) shows a fifth example, and (f) shows a sixth example. Is shown.

In the above-described embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, the sheet 40 has a protruding portion 79 provided on the frame edge 80 of the outer frame 82 such that the blocking portion 41 protrudes from the lower side into the outer passage port 109. Is attached to the outer surface of the outer peripheral wall 101 of the outer frame 82.
Instead, as shown in FIG. 10A, the lower edge of the outer passage port 109 is bordered at the frame edge 80 without sticking the sheet 40 to the outer side surface (here, the rear side surface) of the outer peripheral wall 101. The seat 40 may protrude into the outer passage port 109 from the rear end edge 78B of the frame end surface 78. In this case, the entire sheet 40 becomes the blocking portion 41.

  As shown in FIG. 10B, the periphery of the frame edge 80 on the outer peripheral wall 101 may be formed in a bowl shape so that the frame edge 80 protrudes to the shutter 68 side of the other peripheral wall 101. . In that case, when the toner cartridge 31 is mounted on the process frame 22, the clamping protrusion 87 of the outer peripheral wall 101 clamps the shutter 68 as described above (see FIG. 2A), and further, the frame edge portion. Since 80 engages with the shutter 68 (specifically, the shutter edge 120), the outer frame 82 and the shutter 68 are firmly connected to each other and can move together with certainty.

  As shown in FIG. 10C, the protrusion 79 may not include the sheet 40. In this case, the rear end edge 78B functions as an example of the second end edge on the frame end surface 78. The frame end surface 78 is inclined from the upstream side (lower side) to the downstream side (upper side) in the movement direction X as it goes from the front end edge 78A to the rear end edge 78B, and functions as an example of an inclined surface. That is, the frame edge 80 having the protrusion 79 is sharp. Thus, even if the toner contacts the frame end surface 78, the toner can be guided from the rear end edge 78B to the front end edge 78A (front side) by the frame end surface 78 and returned to the inner passage port 89 (FIG. 2). (See (a)), it becomes difficult for toner to adhere to the frame edge 80 of the outer frame 82. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the toner from spilling out of the toner cartridge 31 and scattering.

  Then, in accordance with the sharpness of the frame edge 80, the shutter 68 is also sharpened at the shutter 68, the portion facing the frame edge 80 from the rear side, that is, the shutter edge 120 that borders the lower edge of the shutter opening 69. Good. Specifically, the end face that actually borders the lower end edge of the shutter opening 69 at the shutter edge 120 (the face connecting the front side face and the rear side face of the shutter 68 at the shutter edge part 120, referred to as the shutter end face 95). Then, it is inclined from the lower side to the upper side as it goes from the end edge 95A to the front end edge 95B.

  Thus, when the toner cartridge 31 is mounted on the process frame 22 and the outer peripheral wall 101 of the outer frame 82 is in close contact with the shutter 68, the rear end edge 78B of the frame end surface 78 and the front end edge 95B of the shutter end surface 95 are continuous. The frame end surface 78 and the shutter end surface 95 form a triangular shape that narrows upward. Therefore, even if the toner contacts either the frame end surface 78 or the shutter end surface 95, the toner is guided to the corresponding end surface and flows down the end surface, and is removed from either the frame edge 80 or the shutter edge 120. Is done.

Then, the periphery of the frame edge 80 on the outer peripheral wall 101 of FIG. 10C may be formed in a bowl shape as shown in FIG. 10D, as in the case of FIG.
Further, when the toner cartridge 31 is mounted on the process frame 22, as described above, the outer peripheral wall 101 of the outer frame 82 is in close contact with the shutter 68 (see FIG. 2A). As shown, a slight gap Y may occur between the outer peripheral wall 101 and the shutter 68. In that case, if the sheet 40 is adhered to the outer side surface (the rear side surface in FIG. 10E) of the outer peripheral wall 101 of the outer frame 82, the sheet 40 is disposed between the shutter 68 and the outer peripheral wall 101. The gap Y can be closed. That is, in addition to preventing the toner attached to the frame edge portion 80 of the outer frame 82 from being scattered outside when the outer frame 82 is moved from the open position to the closed position as described above, By closing the space between the shutter 68 and the outer frame 82, it is possible to prevent the toner from leaking out during this time (gap Y).

Further, as shown in FIG. 10 (f), a seal member 128 is provided on the surface (front side surface) of the shutter 68 that faces the outer peripheral wall 101, and the seal member 128 and the sheet 40 are in contact with each other. Y may be blocked.
(3) Modification 3
FIG. 11 is a diagram in which the third modification is applied to FIG.

In the above-described embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, when the outer passage port 109 is formed in the substantially cylindrical outer frame 82 (see also FIG. 9) and the outer frame 82 moves to the open position, the inner frame 81 The inner passage opening 89 is opened by facing the outer passage opening 109.
Here, instead of the substantially cylindrical outer frame 82, as shown in FIG. 11, a plate-shaped outer frame 82 curved like the shutter 68 (see FIG. 4) may be used.

The outer frame 82 does not need to be formed with the outer passage port 109 (see FIG. 9), and the shutter opening 69 (see FIG. 4) may not be formed in the shutter 68 correspondingly. That is, the outer frame 82 and the shutter 68 of Modification 3 may be formed in a plate shape that does not have an opening for allowing toner to pass therethrough.
In that case, as shown in FIG. 11A, the outer frame 82 in the open position is entirely disposed below the inner passage port 89, and the shutter 68 in the open position is entirely disposed in the frame passage port 34. It is arranged on the lower side.

  Therefore, when the outer frame 82 moves in the movement direction X from the open position to the closed position, the upper end portion of the outer frame 82 rises across the inner passage port 89 first. That is, the upper end portion of the outer frame 82 corresponds to the frame edge portion 80 described above. When the shutter 68 moves in the moving direction (moving direction X) from the open position to the closed position, the upper end of the shutter 68 first rises across the frame passage port 34. That is, the upper end portion of the outer frame 82 corresponds to the shutter edge portion 120 described above.

In such an outer frame 82, the above-described protruding portion 79 is preferably provided at the upper end portion.
In addition to the third modification, if the protrusion 79 is provided not only in the outer frame 82 but also in the shutter 68, the edge that first crosses the frame passage opening 34 in the shutter 68 that moves from the open position to the closed position. It is possible to prevent the toner adhering to the part from being scattered outside (inside the cartridge housing part 33).

1 is a left side sectional view showing an embodiment of a laser printer according to the present invention. 2A is a left sectional view of the process cartridge (toner cartridge mounted state) of the laser printer shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 2B is a left sectional view of the toner cartridge alone. FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway perspective view of the process cartridge shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the process cartridge (toner cartridge detached state) shown in FIG. FIG. 4 shows a state where the shutter is omitted. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the toner cartridge (in a state where an outer frame is in an open position) shown in FIG. FIG. 6 shows a state where the outer frame is in the closed position. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the inner frame of the toner cartridge shown in FIG. 6 as viewed obliquely from the left rear side. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the outer frame of the toner cartridge shown in FIG. 6 as viewed obliquely from the rear left side. It is the figure which extracted the principal part of the shutter (state in an open position) and outer frame (state in an open position) concerning modification 2, (a) shows the 1st example and (b) 2 examples, (c) shows a third example, (d) shows a fourth example, (e) shows a fifth example, and (f) shows a sixth example. . It is the figure which applied the modification 3 to FIG.

Explanation of symbols

17 Process Cartridge 22 Process Frame 31 Toner Cartridge 33 Cartridge Storage Portion 34 Frame Passing Port 40 Sheet 41 Damping Portion 62 Frame Seal 68 Shutter 78 Frame End Surface 78A Front End Edge 78B Rear End Edge 79 Projection 80 Frame Edge 81 Inner Frame 82 Outer Frame 89 Inside passage port 92 Toner seal 102 Toner seal facing portion 103 First guide surface 104 Toner seal protective film 121 Frame seal facing portion 122 Second guide surface 123 Frame seal protective film X Movement direction

Claims (8)

A first frame containing a developer and having a first opening for communicating the inside and the outside;
A second frame disposed outside the first frame and movable between an open position for opening the first opening and a closed position for closing the first opening;
In the second frame, a first said projection provided at an edge portion opposite the first opening when the second frame moves in the movement direction to the closed position from the open position, the second In a state where the frame is disposed between the open position and the closed position, a first end edge disposed on the first opening side , and the second frame is disposed between the open position and the closed position. and a protrusion than the first edge in a state that is located and a second edge projecting in the direction of movement downstream from said first edge in a position spaced from said first aperture A developer cartridge, comprising: a developer cartridge; The protrusion is characterized by comprising an inclined surface which is inclined so as to connect said first end edge and the front Stories second edge, a developer cartridge according to claim 1. The protrusion is
3. The sheet according to claim 1, further comprising a flexible sheet that protrudes from the upstream side to the downstream side in the moving direction at a position farther from the first opening than the first edge. The developer cartridge according to 1. A first seal member provided around the first opening on the outer surface of the first frame to prevent leakage of developer from the first opening;
When the second frame moves from the open position to the closed position, the first seal side facing portion of the first seal member that faces the edge of the second frame has a downstream side in the moving direction. 4. The developer cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a first guide surface that is inclined toward the first opening side toward the upstream side is formed. 5. A first seal member provided around the first opening on the outer surface of the first frame, for preventing leakage of the developer from the first opening;
A first seal side that has a higher elastic modulus than the first seal member and faces the edge of the second frame in the first seal member when the second frame moves from the open position to the closed position. 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a first protection member that is disposed between the facing portion and the second frame and protects the first seal member. Developer cartridge. A developer cartridge according to claim 3;
A housing formed with a cartridge housing portion for housing the developer cartridge, and a second opening facing the cartridge housing portion and facing the first opening;
A shutter disposed in the cartridge housing portion and capable of opening and closing the second opening by moving together with the second frame;
The developing unit, wherein the sheet closes between the shutter and the second frame. A developer cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 5;
A housing formed with a cartridge housing portion for housing the developer cartridge, and a second opening facing the cartridge housing portion and facing the first opening;
It is disposed in the cartridge housing portion, moves together with the second frame, opens the second opening when the second frame is in the open position, and moves when the second frame is in the closed position. A shutter for closing the second opening;
A second seal member provided around the second opening between the housing and the shutter for preventing leakage of developer from the second opening;
When the second frame moves from the open position to the closed position, the second seal member has a second seal side facing portion facing the edge of the second frame and the shutter in the moving direction. A developing unit, wherein a second guide surface that is inclined toward the second opening side from the downstream side toward the upstream side is formed. A developer cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 5;
A housing formed with a cartridge housing portion for housing the developer cartridge, and a second opening facing the cartridge housing portion and facing the first opening;
It is disposed in the cartridge housing portion, moves together with the second frame, opens the second opening when the second frame is in the open position, and moves when the second frame is in the closed position. A shutter for closing the second opening;
A second seal member provided around the second opening between the housing and the shutter to prevent leakage of developer from the second opening;
The elastic modulus is higher than that of the second seal member, and the second seal member faces the edge of the second frame and the shutter when the second frame moves from the open position to the closed position. A developing unit, comprising: a second protective member disposed between a second seal side facing portion, the second frame, and the shutter, and protecting the second seal member.

Images