Developer accommodating container, developer accommodating unit, process cartridge, and electrophotographic image forming apparatus

1. A developer accommodating unit for accommodating developer, the developer accommodating unit comprising:

a flexible container provided with an opening for permitting discharge of developer accommodated therein;

a frame, including a fixing portion for fixing the flexible container, for accommodating the flexible container therein; and

a sealing member for covering the opening and peeled from the flexible container to unseal the opening,

wherein the fixing portion includes a first portion and a second portion having a longer length than the first portion, and

wherein, when the sealing member is unsealed, the flexible container is deformed to change a shape of the opening and the second portion suppresses movement of the flexible container caused by the unsealing of the sealing member.

2. The developer accommodating unit of claim 1 , wherein the first and second portions together form a T-shape fixing portion.

3. The developer accommodating unit of claim 1 , wherein the flexible container is a bag.

4. The developer accommodating unit of claim 1 , wherein the flexible container is constituted by a sheet.

5. The developer accommodating unit of claim 4 , wherein the sheet is 0.03 mm-0.15 mm in thickness.

6. The developer accommodating unit of claim 1 , wherein the flexible container includes an air permeability portion.

7. The developer accommodating unit of claim 1 , wherein the flexible container comprises at least one of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene (PE), and polypropylene (PP).

8. The developer accommodating unit of claim 1 , wherein the sealing member is bonded to a periphery of the opening at a bonding portion of the flexible container, and

wherein, when the sealing member begins to be peeled from the bonding portion, a narrow angle of the sealing member between a side where the sealing member is bonded to the bonding portion and a side along a movement direction is 90 degrees or less.

9. The developer accommodating unit of claim 1 , wherein the flexible container includes a portion-to-be-fixed that is fixed to the fixing portion of the frame, and the portion-to-be fixed includes a hole for engaging the fixing portion.

10. The developer accommodating unit of claim 1 , wherein the flexible container includes a portion-to-be-fixed that is fixed to the frame via a connecting member fixed to the fixing portion of the frame, and the portion-to-be fixed includes a hole for engaging the fixing portion.

11. The developer accommodating unit of claim 1 , wherein the sealing member is bonded to a periphery of the opening at a bonding portion of the flexible container, and

wherein the fixing portion is provided along a direction substantially perpendicular to a movement direction of the sealing member.

12. The developer accommodating unit of claim 1 , wherein the sealing member is bonded to a periphery of the opening at a bonding portion of the flexible container,

wherein the sealing member is peeled from a side of the flexible container that is near the fixing portion.

13. The developer accommodating unit of claim 1 , wherein the sealing member is bonded to a periphery of the opening at a bonding portion of the flexible container,

wherein, when the sealing member is unsealed, the bonding portion is movable relative to the frame.

14. The developer accommodating unit of claim 1 , wherein the sealing member is unsealed by being pulled, and with respect to a pulling direction of the sealing member, the second portion is provided at a side upstream of the opening.

15. The developer accommodating unit of claim 1 , wherein the flexible container includes a portion-to-be-fixed that is fixed to the fixing portion of the frame, the portion-to-be-fixed including a hole for engaging the first portion, and

wherein the second portion is larger than the hole.

16. The developer accommodating unit of claim 1 , wherein the opening includes a plurality of openings.

17. The developer accommodating unit of claim 1 , wherein with respect to a discharging direction of the developer, the fixing portion is provided at a side downstream of the opening.

18. A developer accommodating unit for accommodating developer, the developer accommodating unit comprising:

a flexible container provided with an opening for permitting discharge of developer accommodated therein;

a frame that accommodates the flexible container therein, the frame including a fixing portion engaged to the flexible container, the fixing portion including a first part and a second part, with the second part extending substantially perpendicular to the first part; and

a sealing member for covering the opening and peeled from the flexible container to unseal the opening,

wherein, when the sealing member is unsealed, the flexible container is deformed to change a shape of the opening and the second part suppresses movement of the flexible container caused by unsealing the sealing member.

19. The developer accommodating unit of claim 18 , wherein the flexible container is a bag.

20. The developer accommodating unit of claim 18 , wherein the flexible container is constituted by a sheet.

21. The developer accommodating unit of claim 20 , wherein the sheet is 0.03 mm-0.15 mm in thickness.

22. The developer accommodating unit of claim 18 , wherein the flexible container includes an air permeability portion.

23. The developer accommodating unit of claim 18 , wherein the flexible container comprises at least one of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene (PE), and polypropylene (PP).

24. The developer accommodating unit of claim 18 , wherein the sealing member is bonded to a periphery of the opening at a bonding portion of the flexible container,

wherein, when the sealing member begins to be peeled from the bonding portion, a narrow angle of the sealing member between a side where the sealing member is bonded to the bonding portion and a side along a movement direction is 90 degrees or less.

25. The developer accommodating unit of claim 18 , wherein the flexible container includes a portion-to-be-fixed that is fixed to the fixing portion of the frame, and the portion-to-be fixed includes a hole for engaging the fixing portion.

26. The developer accommodating unit of claim 18 , wherein the flexible container includes a portion-to-be-fixed that is fixed to the frame via a connecting member fixed to the fixing portion of the frame, and the portion-to-be fixed includes a hole for engaging the fixing portion.

27. The developer accommodating unit of claim 18 , wherein the sealing member is bonded to a periphery of the opening at a bonding portion of the flexible container, and

wherein the fixing portion is provided along a direction substantially perpendicular to a movement direction of the sealing member.

28. The developer accommodating unit of claim 18 , wherein the sealing member is bonded to a periphery of the opening at a bonding portion of the flexible container,

wherein the sealing member is peeled from a side of the flexible container that is near the fixing portion.

29. The developer accommodating unit of claim 18 , wherein the sealing member is bonded to a periphery of the opening at a bonding portion of the flexible container,

wherein, when the sealing member is unsealed, the bonding portion is movable relative to the frame.

30. The developer accommodating unit of claim 18 , wherein the sealing member is unsealed by being pulled, and with respect to a pulled direction of the sealing member, the second portion is provided at a side upstream of the opening.

31. The developer accommodating unit of claim 18 , wherein the flexible container includes a portion-to-be-fixed that is fixed to the fixing portion of the frame, the portion-to-be-fixed including a hole for engaging the first portion, and

wherein the second portion is larger than the hole.

32. The developer accommodating unit of claim 18 , wherein the opening includes a plurality of openings.

33. The developer accommodating unit of claim 18 , wherein with respect to a discharging direction of the developer, the fixing portion is provided at a side downstream of the opening.