JPH08314351A - Image forming device and process cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a means for previously detecting whether or not the operation of a process cartridge is enabled even when the process cartridge is attached to an image forming device main body. CONSTITUTION: This image forming device is provided with the detection means 11 and 12 for detecting whether or not the operation of the process cartridge 100 main body is enabled in a state where the cartridge 100 is attached to the image forming device main body. A sealing member 11 being the detection means is provided so that toner 7 may not be scattered to the outside of the cartridge 100 by impact in the midst of transportation, and is detached when the cartridge 100 is actually used. The device is provided with the means 12 for detecting whether the sealing member 11 is stuck onto the attached cartridge 100 and a control means 13 for controlling the operation of the main body based on the detected result. Thus, the loaded state of the cartridge 100 is discriminated, so that image forming operation is prevented from being performed in a state where image forming is troubled.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a process cartridge which has at least an image carrier and process means acting on the image carrier and which can be mounted on an image forming apparatus main body, and the process cartridge. Image forming apparatus.

Here, the image forming apparatus includes, for example, an electrophotographic copying machine, a laser beam printer, an LED printer or a facsimile machine.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art An image forming apparatus such as a copying machine forms a latent image by selectively exposing a uniformly charged image carrier to form a latent image, and the latent image is visualized with toner. Image recording is performed by transferring the toner image to the recording medium. In such an apparatus, the toner must be replenished each time it runs out, but not only is it troublesome to replenish the toner, but it may be contaminated. Moreover, maintenance of each member can be performed only by a specialized service person, and this is often inconvenient for the user.

Therefore, the image carrier, the charger, the developing device,
A process cartridge such as a cleaning device is integrated into an integrated structure to form a process cartridge (hereinafter, abbreviated as a cartridge) that can be attached to and detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus. It has been put into practical use that replacement of parts such as an image carrier that has reached the end of its supply and life, and easy maintenance is possible.

Conventionally, such a cartridge is packaged and sold separately from the image forming apparatus main body, and a user who newly purchases the image forming apparatus main body purchases the cartridge separately and the user himself / herself when using the image forming apparatus. Had to be attached to the body.

[0006]

In recent years, from the viewpoint of ecology and resource saving, for the purpose of reducing the waste of packaging materials, the main body of the image forming apparatus and the cartridge can be purchased separately, or the cartridge itself can be used as the main body. In order to save the user the trouble of mounting the cartridge, the case where the cartridge is shipped with the cartridge mounted in the main body is increasing.

However, in the case of a cartridge and an image forming apparatus main body in which the cartridge can be mounted in the main body and shipped, the following problems may occur at the user's end, and an urgent solution is desired. Was there.

(1) For example, in the case of a cartridge in which a developer accommodating container for storing and storing the developer is integrated, the developer is shipped at the time of shipment in order to prevent the developer from scattering due to a shock. It is usually sealed. Since it is not possible to form an image in the sealed state, it has been conventionally devised that the cartridge cannot be mounted on the main body when the sealing material is attached. However, when the cartridge is mounted in the main body from the beginning and shipped, the cartridge must be configured so that it can be mounted in the main body even if the cartridge has a sealant.
For this reason, there is a case where the user attaches the developer to the main body without noticing that the seal of the developer is removed and causes the image forming operation to be performed, and a normal image cannot be obtained.

(2) When the cartridge is shipped with it mounted in the main body, a member for protecting the cartridge and a member for fixing the cartridge are simultaneously provided for the purpose of preventing the cartridge from being damaged by a shock during transportation. It may be inserted inside. At this time, the user sometimes does not notice that such a member is inside the main body and causes the image forming operation without removing the member, and thus the normal image forming operation cannot be performed.

An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of determining whether or not a process cartridge mounted in the main body of the image forming apparatus is mounted in a usable state, and a process cartridge mounted in the image forming apparatus. To provide.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the object of the present invention, an image forming apparatus in which a process cartridge having at least a latent image carrier and process means acting on the latent image carrier is detachable, It is characterized in that it has a detecting means for detecting whether or not the process cartridge main body is operable in a state where the process cartridge main body is mounted in the image forming apparatus main body.

With this configuration, it is possible to determine that the process cartridge is mounted in the main body of the apparatus in a state where it interferes with the image forming operation, so that it is possible to prevent the image forming operation from being performed.

[0013]

【Example】

(First Embodiment) FIG. 8 shows a side sectional view of a cartridge, and FIG. 9 shows a side sectional view of an image forming apparatus in which the cartridge is mounted.

First, the image forming apparatus will be described. As shown in FIG. 9, the image forming apparatus outputs laser light modulated according to an image signal from a scanner unit 101 including a laser and a polygon mirror correction system lens. It Then, this laser light is reflected by the folding mirror 102 and irradiated onto the sightseeing drum 1 which is an image carrier. The sightseeing drum 1 is previously uniformly charged by a charging roller 2 which is a primary charging device, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface thereof in response to the irradiation of laser light.

On the other hand, the magnetic toner 7 stored in the toner hopper 6, which is a developer container on the back surface of the developing unit 51, is supplied into the developing device 8 and the magnet 4 is charged while charging the peripheral surface of the developing sleeve 3. And the toner layer is developed and a developable toner layer is formed on the developing sleeve 3. The above electrostatic latent image is developed by the toner layer and visualized as a toner image.

On the other hand, the recording material 104 accommodated in the cassette 103 is supplied by a paper feed roller 105 in synchronism with the formation of a latent image on the photosensitive drum 1, is conveyed to a roller-shaped transfer device 107, and the transfer is performed. The toner image is transferred onto the recording material 104 by the device 107. The recording material 104 to which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed to a fixing device 109, where the toner image is fixed to form a permanent image, and then the recording material 104 is discharged.
The toner remaining on the sightseeing drum 1 is cleaned by the cleaning means 5.
Are removed by.

In the cartridge 100 shown in FIG. 8, the photosensitive drum 1, the charging roller 2, the developing unit 51 in which the developing device 8 and the toner hopper 6 are integrated, the cleaning means 5, and the cover 52 are integrated into a unit. . These photosensitive drums 1 and the like are assembled in a cartridge in a predetermined mutual arrangement relationship.
0 is inserted and mounted in a predetermined manner in a predetermined portion in the main body of the image forming apparatus, and conversely, can be removed from the main body of the apparatus.

Now, the cartridge 100 described above.
When the toner 7 stored in the developing unit 51 is exhausted or the waste toner container of the cleaning unit 5 is filled with the collected toner, the user can replace the cartridge 100 with a new one. A new print can be made.

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1 shows a state in which a new cartridge 100 is mounted in the main body of the image forming apparatus. In FIG. 1, those having the same functions as those in FIG. 8 and FIG.

Here, 11 is a toner seal member. The seal member 11 is provided so that the toner 7 does not scatter outside the cartridge due to an impact during transportation, and is removed when the cartridge is actually used. The structure of the seal member will be described with reference to FIG. The seal member 11 includes, for example, the developing device 8 and the toner hopper 6.
Welded so as to cover the opening 53 provided between
Plastic film such as polyethylene film 11-
Attach a handle 11-a such as a resin molded product to b,
The plastic film is peeled from the opening by pulling the handle. Unless the seal member 11 is removed from the cartridge, the toner is not supplied from the inside of the toner hopper to the developing device, so that the image formation cannot be performed.

Returning to FIG. 1, the description of the first embodiment will be continued. The feature of this embodiment is that it has means 12 for detecting whether or not the toner seal member 11 is attached to the mounted cartridge 100, and control means 13 for controlling the operation of the main body according to the detection result.

First, the detecting means 12 will be described. The detection unit 12 is not particularly limited as long as it basically has a function of detecting whether or not the toner seal member 11 is attached to the cartridge 100. Specifically, for example, a mechanical switch whose contacts are moved by pressure contact of the handle 11-a of the seal member 11 or an optical sensor such as a photo interrupter having a structure in which light is blocked by the seal member 11 is used. .

Next, the control means 13 will be described. When the control unit 13 determines that the seal member is attached to the cartridge according to the detection result of the detection unit 12,
It has a function of restricting the operation of the main body of the image forming apparatus even when the power is turned on. Specifically, for example, in the case where the seal member is attached to the cartridge, the CPU in the main body
It is controlled by 14 so as not to rotate the main motor of the main body, or at the same time when the main motor is not rotated, by the display panel of the main body of the image forming apparatus (not shown).
Controls such as displaying an error and sending a message to the user requesting that the toner seal of the cartridge be removed.

With the above-described structure, it is possible to prevent the user from performing the image forming operation in the state where the cartridge mounted in the main body of the image forming apparatus cannot form an image.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a state in which a new cartridge 100 is mounted in the image forming apparatus body as in FIG.

In this embodiment, another detecting means provided in advance in the main body of the image forming apparatus is used to detect whether or not the toner can be supplied from the developer accommodating container into the developing device. Characterize.

In FIG. 3, means for detecting whether the mounted cartridge can supply toner from the developer accommodating container into the developing device by utilizing the toner remaining amount detecting means and the cartridge presence / absence detecting means of the cartridge. Is shown as an example.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 19 denotes an antenna for detecting the remaining amount of toner, which is an antenna portion 1 stretched in the developing device 8.
9-a is connected to the antenna terminal portion 19-c outside the cartridge by a lead wire portion 19-b. Reference numeral 20 is a contact between the antenna terminal 19-c and a circuit in the main body, and 21 is a toner remaining amount detection circuit. 18 is a cartridge presence / absence detecting means.

First, the toner remaining amount detecting means in this embodiment will be described.

The toner remaining amount detecting means of this embodiment is constructed so that the detecting antenna 19 is connected to the detecting circuit 21 via the contact 20 during a normal image forming operation. The detection circuit 21 includes a capacitance between the detection antenna 19 and the developing sleeve 3 and a comparison capacitor (not shown).
Is detected by supplying the same AC signal, for example, a rectangular wave, to these capacitances, and comparing the detection results to detect the toner remaining amount.

That is, when a large amount of toner is present between the antenna 19 and the sleeve 3, a higher capacitance than the comparative capacitor is detected, but as the toner between the antenna and the sleeve decreases, it is detected. The capacitance becomes lower. When a capacitance lower than that of the comparison capacitor is detected, a circuit (not shown) serves as a circuit for displaying a toner exhaustion to the user.

Next, the cartridge presence / absence detecting means will be described.

The cartridge presence / absence detecting means in this embodiment is basically not limited as long as it is a means capable of detecting whether or not the cartridge 100 is mounted in the main body. Specifically, for example, the cartridge 100
A mechanical switch in which contacts are moved by pressure contact with, a photo sensor such as a photo interrupter having a structure in which light is blocked by the cartridge 100, and the like are used.
When the power of the main body is turned on without the cartridge being mounted in the main body by the detecting means, the user is informed of the absence of the cartridge by the display means (not shown).

In this embodiment, by combining the toner remaining amount detecting means and the cartridge presence / absence detecting means as described above, it is detected whether or not the developer of the mounted cartridge can be supplied from the container to the developing device. As a means.

The detection method will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 3, in this embodiment, the handle of the toner seal 11 is attached so as to cover the detection antenna 19. Therefore, since the detection antenna 19 is not connected to the contact 20 unless the toner seal 11 is removed, the toner remaining amount detection circuit 21 cannot detect the capacitance. On the other hand, the cartridge presence / absence detection unit 18 detects that the cartridge is mounted in the main body.

In this embodiment, if the capacitance of the toner remaining amount detection circuit cannot be detected despite the cartridge being mounted in this way, it is determined that the toner seal has not been removed from the cartridge. The operation of the main body is restricted by the control means 13.
Since the operation of the control means 13 is basically the same as that described in the first embodiment, the description thereof will be omitted.

With such a structure, the cartridge mounted in the main body of the image forming apparatus can be operated by the user without image formation without newly adding a dedicated detecting means for confirming the removal of the toner seal. Can be prevented from executing an image forming operation.

In this embodiment, the description has been made on the use of the antenna type capacity detection type toner remaining amount detecting means, but the remaining amount of toner cannot be detected when the toner seal is attached. The present invention can be applied to other toner remaining amount detecting means, for example, a method using an optical sensor or a method using a magnetic sensor.

(Third Embodiment) FIG. 4 shows a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a state in which a new cartridge 100 is mounted and packed in the main body of the image forming apparatus.

In this embodiment, the toner seal 1 of the cartridge is used.
1 has a function as a protection member for the cartridge and is shipped with the cartridge mounted in the main body of the image forming apparatus, and the image forming apparatus main body is provided with the toner seal detecting means 12 and the control means 13. And

When the cartridge is mounted in the main body of the image forming apparatus, the cartridge is placed around the cartridge part of the main body or the cartridge part of the main body due to shock during transportation or leaving for a long time until the user reaches the destination after shipping. Parts may be damaged.

As a specific example, a transfer device will be described. In recent years, as an ozone-less electrophotographic process, a transfer roller, which uses a conductive foam roller as a transfer device and transfers a toner image by an electric field formed between the roller and a photosensitive drum, has become mainstream. When a transfer roller is used as the transfer device, the transfer roller is arranged in contact with the photosensitive drum. Therefore, there is no problem in the case of performing a normal image forming operation, but when a shock due to transportation is received in a state of being in contact with the photosensitive drum of the cartridge,
The impact may damage the photosensitive drum. Also,
When left in contact with the photosensitive drum for a long period of time without being driven, the substance forming the transfer roller may be transferred to the photosensitive drum or the transfer roller may be deformed at the contact portion.

FIG. 4 shows a state in which a new cartridge 100 is mounted and packed in the main body of the image forming apparatus. Here, the toner seal 11 of the cartridge is shown.
Shows an example in which the transfer roller 107 has a function of separating from the photosensitive drum.

The toner seal of this embodiment will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. In FIG. 5, 11-a
Is a mold part of the handle of the toner seal, and 11-b is a plastic film part. As shown in FIG. 5, the toner seal of the present embodiment has a structure in which the lower side of the handle portion made of resin mold is projected long. The protruding portion 11-c pushes the cored bar portion of the transfer roller 107 downward to transfer the transfer roller 107.
Is separated from the photosensitive drum 1. Also, toner seal 1
After 1 is removed by the user, the transfer roller 107 is returned to the normal contact state with the drum by the pressing spring 110.

Toner seal detecting means 12 in FIG.
Since the control means 13 is basically the same as that described in the first embodiment, the description thereof will be omitted.

With such a configuration, it is possible to prevent the user from performing the image forming operation even when the cartridge shipped in the main body of the image forming apparatus is unable to form the image. In addition, it is possible to protect the cartridge and the main parts of the image forming apparatus after shipping.

(Fourth Embodiment) FIG. 6 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows the main body of the image forming apparatus as in FIG.
It shows a state in which a new cartridge 100 is mounted and packed.

Reference numeral 15 denotes a member for fixing and protecting the cartridge in the main body so that the cartridge will not be damaged by an impact in the main body during transportation.

As shown in FIG. 4, when the cartridge is fixed by the protective member, the original operation of the image forming apparatus is hindered and, for example, the paper cannot be fed.
Normal image formation cannot be performed.

The feature of this embodiment is that it has a means 16 for detecting whether or not the protective member 15 of the cartridge is attached to the inside of the main body, and a control means 13 for controlling the operation of the main body according to the detection result.

The protective member 15 of the cartridge will be described. The protection member 15 is not particularly limited as long as it has a function of fixing the cartridge in the main body in order to prevent the cartridge from being damaged by the impact during transportation. Specifically, for example, a foaming resin such as styrofoam or foaming urethane or a molding resin such as ABS or polystyrene is used, and the cartridge is fixed by inserting it into the space between the main body of the image forming apparatus and the cartridge.

Next, the detecting means 16 will be described. The detection unit 16 is not particularly limited as long as it has a function of detecting whether or not the protective member 15 of the cartridge is attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus. Specifically, similar to the detection means of the first embodiment, for example, a mechanical switch in which contacts are moved by pressure contact of a protective member, an optical sensor such as a photo interrupter having a structure in which light is blocked by the protective member, or the like is used. used.

Next, the control means 13 will be described. Similar to the first embodiment, the control unit 13 determines that the protective member is attached inside the main body according to the detection result of the detection unit 16 even if the main body of the image forming apparatus is powered on. It has a function to limit the operation. In particular,
For example, when the protective member is inside the main body, it controls the CPU inside the main body so as not to rotate the main motor of the main body, or does not rotate the main motor, and at the same time, displays the image forming apparatus main body (not shown). Controls such as displaying an error message or sending a message to the user requesting that the protective member of the cartridge be removed are performed by the panel or the like. In addition, the fact that the protective member is not removed from the inside of the main body means that the mounted cartridge is still in the transportation state. A message asking you to remove the seal may be displayed.

With the above-described structure, the user executes the image forming operation in a state in which image formation is not possible even in the main body shipped with the cartridge and the protective member for the cartridge mounted in the main body of the image forming apparatus. It is possible to prevent it.

(Fifth Embodiment) FIG. 7 shows a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows the main body of the image forming apparatus as in FIG.
It shows a state in which a new cartridge 100 is mounted and packed.

Here, 17 is the photosensitive drum 1 of the cartridge.
It is a sheet-shaped protection member that protects the cartridge and the main body parts arranged around the drum and the drum from being damaged by shock during transportation or by being left for a long time after shipment until reaching the user's destination.

The protective member shown in FIG. 7 is the charging member 2,
By being arranged between the developing sleeve 3 and the transfer device 107 and the photosensitive drum 1, the photosensitive drum may be damaged by an impact during transportation, or may be used as a charging member or a transfer roller by leaving it for a long time before reaching the user's destination. It prevents the transfer of the applied material to the photosensitive drum.

In the state where such a protection member is attached, the original operation of the image forming apparatus is hindered as in the case of the fourth embodiment, and normal image formation cannot be performed, for example, paper feeding becomes impossible.

The feature of this embodiment is that it has means 16 for detecting whether or not the sheet-like protective member 17 is attached inside the main body, and control means 13 for controlling the operation of the main body according to the detection result. is there.

The protective member 17 of this embodiment will be described. The protective member 17 is formed in a sheet shape and is formed by the photosensitive drum 1.
There is no particular limitation as long as it can be placed around the photosensitive drum and the components around the photosensitive drum and the cartridge and the drum of the image forming apparatus main body can be protected from impact during transportation and leaving for a long time. Specifically, for example, a resin film such as a polyethylene film or a polyethylene terephthalate film, or a foaming resin such as a foaming urethane sheet is used.

Next, the detecting means 16 will be described. The detection unit 16 is not particularly limited as long as it has a function of detecting whether the protective member 17 of the cartridge is attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus. Specifically, similar to the detecting means of the first embodiment, for example, a mechanical switch in which contacts are moved by pressure contact of the protection member 17,
An optical sensor such as a photo interrupter having a structure in which light is blocked by a protective member is used. Further, a sensor mounted inside the image forming apparatus main body may be used to detect the paper feeding state.

Next, the control means 13 will be described. As in the case of the first embodiment, when the control unit 13 determines that the protective member 17 is attached according to the detection result of the detection unit 16, the main unit operation is performed even if the image forming apparatus main body is powered on. It has the function of limiting. Specifically, for example, when the protective member is provided inside the main body, the C inside the main body is
It controls the PU 14 so that it does not rotate the main motor of the main body, and does not rotate the main motor. At the same time, the display panel of the main body of the image forming apparatus (not shown) displays an error message and removes the cartridge protecting member for the user. Control such as sending a message to ask. Further, the fact that the protection member 17 is not removed from the inside of the main body means that the mounted cartridge is still in the transportation state. Therefore, in addition to the message requesting the removal of the protection member, A message requesting that the toner seal be removed may be displayed.

With the above-described structure, the user executes the image forming operation in a state where the image cannot be formed even in the main body shipped with the cartridge and the protective member of the cartridge mounted in the main body of the image forming apparatus. It is possible to prevent it.

Although the process cartridge shows an example in which the photosensitive drum, the charger, the developing device and the cleaning device are integrated, the charging means, the developing means or the cleaning means as the process means and the electrophotographic photosensitive member are provided. An integrally formed cartridge, which can be attached to and detached from the main body of an image forming apparatus (for example, a copying machine, LBP, etc.), or at least one of a charging means, a developing means, and a cleaning means as a process means, and an electrophotographic photoreceptor. Which is made into a cartridge as a unit and can be attached to and detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus (for example, a copying machine, LBP, etc.), or at least the developing means as the process means and the electrophotographic photoreceptor are integrally made into a cartridge to form an image It may be detachable from the main body of the forming apparatus (eg, copying machine, LBP, etc.). .

[0071]

According to the first aspect of the invention, it is possible to detect in advance whether or not the process cartridge can operate even if the process cartridge is mounted in the image forming apparatus main body. It can be in a state such as when it is unopened.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, for example, when the toner seal member is unopened, this operation is restricted even if the user performs an image forming operation. It is possible to prevent operation mistakes in advance.

According to the third aspect of the invention, when the process cartridge is packed in the main body of the image forming apparatus, for example, a packing member or a pull-out hand of the toner seal member is used. Detecting means for detecting whether or not the process cartridge main body can be operated in a state where the member which is removed in the used state and is in the unused packing state at a predetermined position is attached to the image forming apparatus main body. By making it a target of detection, it is possible to reliably prevent a user's operation error.

According to the invention described in claims 4 and 5, the invention can be applied to various process cartridges.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of an image forming apparatus showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a developing container including the toner seal member of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of an image forming apparatus showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a perspective view of the toner seal member of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic sectional view of an image forming apparatus showing a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic sectional view of a process cartridge.

9 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus equipped with the process cartridge of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Photosensitive drum 11 ... Toner seal member 12 ... Detection means 13 ... Control means 14 ... CPU of image forming apparatus 15 ... Cartridge protection member 16 ... Protection member detection means 17 ... Cartridge protection sheet 18 ... Cartridge presence / absence detection means 19 ... Toner Remaining amount detection antenna 20 ... Antenna contact 21 ... Toner remaining amount detection circuit

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Hiroshi Sato 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus in which a process cartridge having at least a latent image carrier and process means acting on the latent image carrier is detachable, in a state where the process cartridge is attached to a main body of the image forming apparatus. An image forming apparatus having a detection unit for detecting whether or not the process cartridge body is operable. 2. An image forming apparatus in which a process cartridge having at least a latent image carrier and process means acting on the latent image carrier is detachable, in a state where the process cartridge is attached to a main body of the image forming apparatus. An image forming apparatus having a detection unit for detecting whether or not the process cartridge main body is operable, and a control unit for limiting the operation of the image forming apparatus main body based on detection information from the detection unit. apparatus. 3. A process cartridge which has at least a latent image carrier and a process means for acting on the latent image carrier and which is detachable from the main body of the image forming apparatus. A process cartridge characterized in that a member at a predetermined position in the figure is a detection target of a detection unit for detecting whether or not the operation of the process cartridge main body is possible with the member being attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus. . 4. A process cartridge according to claim 3, wherein the charging means, the developing means, the cleaning means and the latent image carrier as the process means are integrated into a cartridge. 5. A process cartridge according to claim 3, wherein any one of a charging means, a developing means, and a cleaning means as a process means and a latent image carrier are integrated into a cartridge.