Abstract:
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit. The image forming unit is detachable with respect to the image forming apparatus. The image forming unit includes a development part, a developer accommodation part, a connection part and a sealing member. The development part develops an electrostatic latent image held on an image holding body by a developer. The developer accommodation part accommodates the developer. The connection part connects the development part and the developer accommodation part. The sealing member unsealably seals the connection part. The sealing member is drawable to outside the image forming apparatus in a direction intersecting with a detaching direction of the image forming unit in such a state that the image forming unit is held therein.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is based on and claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-160106 filed Jun. 18, 2007. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and an image forming unit. 
     2. Related Art 
     Conventionally, as a unit integrally formed of various functional members for use in an image forming apparatus, there is a detachable unit (which may also be referred to as a cartridge) attachable to and detachable from an image forming apparatus. 
     Herein, the image forming apparatuses are, for example, the ones each of which forms an image on a recording medium using an electrophotographic image forming method. These include a copier, a printer (such as a laser printer or a full-color printer), a facsimile apparatus, and the like. 
     The various functional members are members for use in an image forming process. For example, the functional member is an image holding body member and a member for transfer, cleaning, charge elimination, and the like. In these units, it is known that the units having a developer in the inside thereof and including a developer accommodating part. During shipment, the developer accommodating part is rendered in a closed state so as to prevent the developer from being scattered. And immediately before mounting in a body of the image forming apparatus (i.e., before using), the developer accommodating part is released from the closed state. 
     As the member let the developer accommodating part be in the closed state, a sealing member is often used. 
     For example, the sealing member seals between the initial developer accommodation part and the toner accommodation part. As result of peeling off the sealing member and thereafter mounting the cartridge in the body of image forming apparatus, driving of the developer sleeve is started, which allows the initial developer to be loaded on the developer sleeve surface. 
     Incidentally, for the image forming apparatus, the unit and the image forming apparatus may be separately packed. However, the following case has often occurred. For factory shipment, the unit is packed (packed together) in a state mounted in the body of the image forming apparatus. This reduces the packing volume, which improves the transport efficiency and the like. 
     For the image forming apparatus delivered in such a state to a user, the unit is removed from the body once in order to carry out the peeling off operation (or the drawing out operation, i.e., sealing release) of the sealing member for use. 
     However, a user unfamiliar with the structure of the image forming apparatus is required to carry out the operation affecting the apparatus inside. The user may touch other members carelessly. 
     Further, the user may also touch by mistake a site on which oil components such as fingerprints, dust, and the like are not desired to be deposited (a site which may cause image deterioration and the like) of the unit, or may damage the site. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to an aspect of the invention, an image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit. The image forming unit is detachable with respect to the image forming apparatus. The image forming unit includes a development part, a developer accommodation part, a connection part, a sealing member. The development part develops an electrostatic latent image held on an image holding body by a developer. The developer accommodation part accommodates the developer. The connection part connects the development part and the developer accommodation part. The sealing member unsealably seals the connection part. The sealing member is drawable to outside the image forming apparatus in a direction intersecting with a detaching direction of the image forming unit in such a state that the image forming unit is held therein. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail based on the following figures, wherein 
         FIG. 1  is a configuration view showing an image forming apparatus in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B  are a perspective view showing an image holding body unit in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment, and a perspective view showing an image forming apparatus accommodating the image holding body unit therein; 
         FIGS. 3A and 3B  are a perspective view showing an image holding body unit in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment, and a perspective view showing an image forming apparatus accommodating the image holding body unit therein; 
         FIGS. 4A and 4B  are Perspective views each showing an part of an image forming apparatus in accordance with a third embodiment; and 
         FIG. 5  is a side view showing a schematic configuration of a development device  44  and a sealing member S. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Below, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described by reference to the accompanying drawings. Herein, in the accompanying drawings, the same members are given the same reference numerals and signs. Further, an overlapped description is omitted. Incidentally, the description herein is on the best mode for carrying out the invention. Therefore, the invention is not limited to the embodiments. 
       FIG. 1  is a configuration view showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 2A  is a perspective view showing a development device unit in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment.  FIG. 2B  is a perspective view showing an image forming apparatus holding the development device unit in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment.  FIG. 3A  is a perspective view showing a development device unit in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment.  FIG. 3B  is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus holding the development device unit in the second exemplary embodiment.  FIGS. 4A and 4B  are perspective views each showing a part of the image forming apparatus in accordance with a third exemplary embodiment.  FIG. 5  is a side view showing a schematic configuration of a development device  44  and a sealing member S. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , an image forming apparatus  10  has an image forming apparatus main body  12 . In the lower part of the image forming apparatus body (housing)  12 , a paper feed device  14  is disposed. In addition, in the upper part of the image forming apparatus body  12 , a paper output part  16  is formed. 
     The paper feed device  14  has a paper tray  18 . A large number of paper sheets are stacked in the paper tray  18 . Above one end of the paper tray  18 , a feed roll  20  is disposed. In addition, a sorting roll  22  is disposed in such a manner as to face the feed roll  20 . A sheet of paper at the highest position is picked up by the feed roll  20 . The sheet is sorted by cooperation of the feed roll  20  and the sorting roll  22 , and is transported. 
     The sheet transported from the paper tray  18  is temporarily stopped by a resist roller  24 , and is allowed to pass between an image holding body unit  26  and a transfer unit  28  described later, and a fixing device  30  at a prescribed timing, and discharged into the paper output part  16  by a paper output roller  32 . 
     In the image forming apparatus main body  12 , an image holding body unit  26 , the transfer unit  28 , a power source unit  34 , and a control part  36  are disposed. In this exemplary embodiment, for example, four image holding bodies  40  for holding an image which is transferred to the transport belt  60  or the paper sheet transported by the transport belt  60 , and the development devices (image forming units)  44  for developing a latent image formed on each image holding body  40  are incorporated in a frame body  106  as a separate body to be included in the image holding body unit  26 . Therefore, each image holding body  40  is rotatably supported by the frame body  106 . Alternatively, the image forming unit may also be configured such that the image holding body  40  is disposed in the development device  44 , and such that the image holding body  40  is rotatably supported by the housing of the development device. 
     Around each image holding body  40 , the image holding body unit  26  has a charging device  42  including a charging roll for uniformly charging the image holding body  40 , the development device  44  for developing a latent image formed on each image holding body  40  by a developer (toner), a charge eliminating device  46  for eliminating electric charges on the image holding body  40  after transfer, and a cleaning device  48  for removing the developer remaining on the image holding body  40  after carrying out transfer. The image holding body unit  26  is configured detachably with respect to the image forming apparatus main body  12 . 
     Herein, by reference to  FIG. 5 , the development device  44  and the sealing member S will be described. 
     As schematically exemplified in  FIG. 5 , the development device  44  can be roughly divided into a development chamber (development part) C 1  including a developer holding body (development roller)  403  and the like, a stirring chamber (developer accommodation part) C 2  for holing and stirring a developer (toner)  402 , and a connection part C 3  for connecting the development chamber C 1  and the stirring chamber (developer accommodation part) C 2 . 
     Then, the toner stirred in the stirring chamber C 2  is successively supplied from the connection part C 3  disposed at the central part in the direction of axis of the developer holding body  403  to the development chamber C 1 . 
     Whereas, the overall configuration of the development device  44  includes a housing  401  including (i) an opening  401   a  facing the image holding body  40  on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, and the developer accommodation part C 2  for accommodating therein a developer  402 , (ii) the developer holding body  403  rotatably attached in the vicinity of the opening  401   a  of the housing  401 , for holding the developer  402  accommodated in the developer accommodation part C 2 , and transporting it to the development region facing the image holding body  40 , and (iii) the sealing member S bonded at the site (i.e., the connection part C 3 ) occurring between the developer holding body  403  and the developer accommodation part C 2  of the housing  401 , and the sealing member S to be peeled off and removed immediately before use. 
     The housing  401  is generally formed of a plastic molded product, but it is not particularly limited thereto. The developer  402  is a powder-like dry developer. Specifically, it may be either of one-component developer containing a toner, or a two-component developer containing a toner and a carrier. 
     The developer holding body  403  is generally the one in the form of a roll, but it is not particularly limited thereto. 
     Further, a reference numeral  407  in  FIG. 5  is a stirring transport rotary body (auger) for transporting the developer  402  accommodated in the developer accommodation part C 2  in a prescribed direction with stirring. Incidentally, in an actual apparatus, in the housing  401 , there are disposed necessary constituent components according to the kind of the applied developer  402 . 
     The sealing member S is for preventing the developer  402  accommodated in the developer accommodation part C 2  of the housing  401  from moving to the side on which there is the developer holding body  403  (development part C 1 ), and leaking to the outside before use of the development device  44 . 
     Alternatively, the sealing member S may also be bonded to a partition frame plate  405  detachably mounted with respect to the site (connection part C 3 ) which is between the development part C 1  including the developer holding body  403  of the housing and the developer accommodation part C 2  of the housing  401 . In this case, the partition frame plate  405  remains as it is on the housing  401  side after removal of the sealing member S. However, it is enough to dispose a necessary supply port appropriately in the partition frame plate. When the partition frame plate  405  is adopted, the bonding operation of the sealing member S is easier to carry out as compared with such a case as direct bonding at a prescribed site in the housing  401 . Further, even for reuse of the development device  44 , steps therefor become easy to take. 
     Incidentally, in  FIG. 5 , the free end of the sealing member S extends on the front side in the vertical direction of the drawing of the sealing member S. As described later, a first hole provided in the development device  44 , a third hole provided in the frame body, and a second hole provided in the image forming apparatus are provided in such a manner as to overlap one another (communicate with one another). Thus, the free end of the sealing member S is pulled to the outside of the image forming apparatus body through the first to third holes. 
     Further, in  FIG. 1 , four developer cartridges  50  are mounted on the lateral side toward the front of the image holding body unit  26 . 
     The respective developer cartridges  50  are for toners in respective colors of magenta (M), yellow (Y), cyan (C), and black (K). Each developer cartridge  50  integrally includes a supplying developer accommodation part  52  and a recovered developer accommodation part  54 . The supplying developer accommodation part  52  accommodates a toner (developer) in each color to be supplied to the development device  44 . The recovered developer accommodation part  54  accommodates a toner in each color removed from the image holding body  40  by the cleaning device  48 . 
     Each optically writing device  56  includes a laser exposure device. It is on the rear surface side of the image holding body unit  26 , and is located at a position corresponding to each image holding body  40 . It is configured so as to expose a laser to the uniformly charged image holding body  40 , and to form a latent image. 
     The transfer unit  28  is on the front side of the image holding body unit  26 , and located in the longitudinal direction with respect to the image holding body unit  26 . In the transfer unit  28 , the transport belt  60  is hung over two support rolls  58  disposed in the vertical direction. In this exemplary embodiment, the transport belt transports a sheet of paper. Further, a transfer roll  62  is disposed opposite to each image holding body  40  across the transport belt  60  therebetween. 
     Herein, the image holding body unit  26  in accordance with a first example will be described. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2A , the image holding body unit  26  includes a body of an image holding body unit (frame body)  106 A, charge eliminating lamp bars  108  as the charge eliminating devices  46 , connection parts  112  each to be connected to the recovered developer accommodation part  54  of each developer cartridge  50 , and the like. 
     In the longitudinal direction of the development roller (a reference numeral  403  of  FIG. 5 ), as the sealing member for unsealably sealing the connection part (the reference sign and numeral C 3  of  FIG. 5 ), the connection part supplying a toner from the stirring chamber (the reference sign and numeral C 2  of  FIG. 5 ) to the development chamber (the reference sign and numeral C 1  of  FIG. 5 ), the sealing member S is bonded by, for example, an adhesive. 
     The sealing member S is selected longer than the longitudinal dimension of the development chamber C 1 , i.e., the longitudinal dimension of the image holding body unit  26 A. Thus, the edge  200  of the sealing member S is pulled in the direction of axis of the development roller, thereby to be pulled off therefrom. As a result, the opening is opened, resulting in a toner-suppliable state. 
     The sealing member S has no particular restriction. However, for example, a lamination of a soft urethane foam and a PET film by a self-adhesive tape, or the one formed by thermocompressing a sheet-like soft urethane foam can be used. 
     Further, in one side surface (the right-side surface in  FIG. 2A )  150 A of the image holding body unit main body  106 A, a third hole  300  for allowing the edge  200  of the sealing member S to be drawn out on the extension in the longitudinal direction (in the direction indicated with an arrow D in  FIGS. 2A and 2B ) is disposed so as to communicate in an overlapping manner with the first hole (not shown) disposed in the development device  44 . The holes are disposed correspondingly to respective connection parts C 3 . 
     Incidentally, the edge  200  of each sealing member S includes a grasping part  200   a  disposed therein so as to be easily grasped by a user. 
     On the other hand, as shown in  FIG. 2B , in one side surface of the image forming apparatus body  12  in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment, a closable cover  64  is disposed. On the one end of the closable cover  64 , a rotary fulcrum not shown is disposed. The closable cover  64  is rotatably opened and closed about the rotary fulcrum as the center as indicated with an arrow A in the drawing. 
     In the image forming apparatus body  12 , on the side on which the closable cover  64  is disposed, a developer supply control device  66  (dispenser) is disposed. The developer supply control device  66  includes, for example, four developer cartridge holding parts  68  holding their respective developer cartridges  50 . The developer supply control device  66  supplies, to the stirring chamber C 2 , the developer accommodated in the supplying developer accommodation part  52  of each developer cartridge  50  held by the developer cartridge holding part  68  and thus mounted in the image forming apparatus body  12 . 
     At each one end of the developer cartridge holding parts  68 , the rotary fulcrum not shown is disposed. Thus, the developer cartridge holding part  68  moves about the rotary fulcrum as the center as indicated with an arrow B in the drawing. Therefore, when the closable cover  64  is opened, and the developer cartridge holding part  68  is moved in the direction away from the image forming apparatus body  12 , the developer cartridge  50  is detached from the image forming apparatus body  12 . Thus, as indicated with an arrow C in the drawing, it becomes possible to take out the developer cartridge  50  from the developer cartridge holding part  68 . 
     Then, when the developer cartridge  50  is inserted into the developer cartridge holding part  68  with the developer cartridge holding part  68  away from the image forming apparatus body  12 A, and the developer cartridge holding part  68  is moved in a direction coming closer to the image forming apparatus body  12 A, the developer cartridge  50  is mounted in the image forming apparatus body  12 A. 
     Further, on the front side surface side of the image forming apparatus body  12 A, an operation panel  38  is disposed. The operation panel  38  includes a display part for displaying the prescribed contents under the control of the control part  36 , and a button not shown for receiving the operation from a user. The operation received through the button is outputted to the control part  36 . 
     On the front side in such a state that the developer cartridge holding part  68  is accommodated, the grasping part  200   a  of the edge  200  of each sealing member S extending from the connection part C 3  of the development device  44  accommodated in the image forming apparatus body  12 A through the first hole, the third hole  300  and further the second hole  400  is drawn out to the outside from the image forming apparatus body  12 A. 
     Further, the first to third holes overlap one another, and communicate with one another. Even when the positions of respective holes are misaligned, it is possible to draw out the edge of the sealing member S. However, in consideration of the ease and the operability for draw out the sealing member S, at least parts thereof may overlap one another in the direction of pulling out D of the sealing member, and communicate with one another. 
     Incidentally, in the case of a configuration in which the side surface  150 A of the image holding body unit body  106  is exposed with the closable cover  64  of the image forming apparatus body  12 A opened, the second hole  400  of the image forming apparatus body  12 A becomes unnecessary. However, in view of the strength of the housing of the image forming apparatus, the side surface  150 A of the image holding body unit body  106  may be a non-exposed configuration. 
     With the image holding body unit  26 A and the image forming apparatus body  12 A in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment configured in the foregoing manner, a user carries out the operation of grasping by hand and drawing out each grasping part  200   a  of the edges  200  of the sealing members S with the closable cover  64  of the image forming apparatus body  12 A opened. As a result, each sealing member S closing the connection part C 3  is pulled off, resulting in a toner-suppliable state. 
     At this step, it is not necessary to detach the image holding body unit  26 A from the image forming apparatus body  12 A as in the related art. This reduces the time and effort of a user, and avoids the situation in which a user touches the member in the inside of the body or the image holding body unit  26 A by mistake. Thus, the safety is kept, and useless image deterioration or the like is prevented. 
     Incidentally, the body of the image holding body unit  106 A is detached from the front surface of the image forming apparatus body  12 A by opening the apparatus front surface cover  600 . Mounting the body of the image holding body unit  106 A is carried out by the following procedure. 
     First, before mounting the body of the image holding body unit  106 A into the image forming apparatus main body  12 A, the edge  200  of each sealing member S is pulled to the outside from the image forming apparatus body inside through the second hole  400 . At this step, in order to prevent the sealing member S from being pulled off, the procedure may be carried out in the following state. Namely, the body of the image holding body unit  106 A is positioned sufficiently in proximity to the image forming apparatus body  12 A. Alternatively, a part thereof is inserted in the mounting opening (not shown) of the body of the image holding body unit  100 A disposed in the image forming apparatus body  12 A. 
     Then, for every color, the operation of pulling the edge  200  of each sealing member S through the second hole  400  to the outside is completed. Then, the body of the image holding body unit  106 A is mounted in the image forming apparatus body  12 A, and the apparatus front surface cover is closed. 
     Incidentally, the same also applies to the case where the development device  44  is mounted in the body of the image holding body unit  106 A. 
     Then, by reference to  FIGS. 3A and 3B , an image holding body unit  26 B and an image forming apparatus body  12 B in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment will be described. 
     Incidentally, the basic configuration is the same as that of the first exemplary embodiment shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B . Therefore, the same reference numerals and signs are given, and a description thereon is omitted. 
     The different point from the first exemplary embodiment is the position of each penetration hole disposed on each side surface of the image holding body unit  26 B and the image forming apparatus body  12 B. 
     In the second exemplary example, the positions of each third hole  301  and each second hole  410  disposed in the side surfaces of the image holding body unit  26 B and the image forming apparatus body  12 B, respectively, are closer to the rear end on the drawing as compared with the first exemplary embodiment. Then, the grasping part  200   a  of the edge  200  of each sealing member S is allowed to face the outside through the third hole  301  and the second hole  410 . 
     With such a configuration, the second hole  410  on the image forming apparatus body  12 B side, and the grasping part  200   a  of the sealing member S are in a state hidden by the developer cartridge holding part  68  with the developer cartridge holding part  68  holding the developer cartridge  50  accommodated (the state of the developer cartridge holding parts  68   b  and  68   c  of  FIG. 3B ). 
     Then, upon opening the developer cartridge holding part  68  along an arrow B, the second hole  410  on the image forming apparatus body  12 B side and the grasping part  200   a  of the sealing member S are exposed. In this state, a user carries out the operation of grasping and drawing out each grasping part  200   a  by hand. As a result, each sealing member S closing the connection part C 3  is pulled off, resulting in a toner-suppliable state. 
     For carrying out the operation; as with the first embodiment, it is not necessary to detach the image holding body unit  26 B from the image forming apparatus body  12 B as in the related art. This reduces the time and effort of a user, and avoids the situation in which a user touches the member in the inside of the body or the image holding body unit  26 B by mistake. Thus, the safety is kept, and useless image deterioration or the like is prevented. 
     Then, by reference to  FIGS. 4A and 4B , a third embodiment will be described. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B , a developer supply control device  66  of an image forming apparatus in a third embodiment has developer cartridge holding parts  68 , a developer supply control device body  70 , levers  72 , rotary fulcrums  76  for the levers  72  to rotate, and connection parts  74  connected to the image holding body unit  26  (see,  FIG. 1 ). 
     The developer supply control device  66  supplies a prescribed amount of a developer accommodated in the supplying developer accommodation part  52  of the developer cartridge  50  to the image holding body unit  26  (see,  FIG. 1 ) under the control of the control part  36 . 
     Each lever  72  is for moving the position of the developer cartridge  50  held by the developer cartridge holding part  68 . Specifically, when the lever  72  is rotated about the rotary fulcrum  76  as the axis with the developer cartridge  50  held by the developer cartridge holding part  68 , the developer cartridge  50  is moved along the longitudinal direction of the developer cartridge holding part  68 . 
     Further, as shown in  FIG. 4A , at the tip part of each lever  72 , a fixing member  500  for preventing the actuation of the lever  72 , or the oscillation of the developer cartridge  50  during transport of the image forming apparatus body  12  is detachably attached (see,  FIG. 4A ). To each of the fixing members  500 , the edge of the same sealing member S as that shown in the first and second embodiments is attached. 
     As a result of this, during transport of the image forming apparatus  10  or the like, the useless actuation of each lever  72 , and the oscillation of each developer cartridge  50  can be suppressed by each fixing member  500 . This can effectively prevent toner leakage or the like. Further, when a user starts to use the image forming apparatus body  12 , as shown in  FIG. 4B , each fixing member  500  is detached with the closable cover  64  of the image forming apparatus body  12  opened, and the fixing member  500  is pulled in the direction of an arrow E. As a result, each sealing member S closing the connection part C 3  is drawn out, resulting in a toner-suppliable state. 
     For carrying out the operation, as with the first embodiment and the second embodiment, it is not necessary to detach the image holding body unit  26  from the image forming apparatus body  12  as in the related art. This reduces the time and effort of a user, and avoids the situation in which a user touches the member in the inside of the body or the image holding body unit  26  by mistake. Thus, the safety is kept, and useless image deterioration or the like is prevented. 
     Up to this point, the invention made by the present inventors was specifically described by way of embodiments. However, it should be construed that the embodiments disclosed in this specification are illustrative in all respects, and are not limited to the disclosed technology. Namely, the technological range of the invention should not be construed as limitative based on the description in the embodiments, but rather construed according to the appended claims, and includes the technologies within the scope of the appended claims, equivalent technologies, and all changes within the scope of the appended claims. 
     The image forming apparatus in accordance with the present invention is applicable to a laser printer, a full-color printer, an ink jet printer, a fax, or the like.