CN215376098U - Processing box - Google Patents

Abstract

In a process cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus having an image forming apparatus side feeding member, the process cartridge includes: a photosensitive unit including a photosensitive unit frame; a developing unit including a developing unit frame; a photosensitive drum disposed in the photosensitive unit and supported by the photosensitive unit frame; a cartridge-side coupling unit engageable with the image-forming-apparatus-side feeding member to transmit a driving force to the image-forming-apparatus-side feeding member when the cartridge is mounted into the image forming apparatus; the process cartridge side coupling unit further includes an intermediate coupling member engageable with the image forming apparatus side feeding member to transmit the driving force to the image forming apparatus side feeding member when the process cartridge is mounted in the image forming apparatus, the intermediate coupling member being disengageable from the process cartridge and kept engaged with the image forming apparatus side feeding member when the process cartridge is taken out of the image forming apparatus.

Description

Processing box

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a process cartridge used in an image forming apparatus for electrophotographic image formation, and more particularly, to a waste toner conveying structure in a process cartridge.

Background

In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, a structure is known in which elements (rotatable members relating to image formation) such as a photosensitive drum and a developing roller are integrated into a cartridge, and the cartridge is detachably mountable with respect to the image forming apparatus. In such a structure, a structure for receiving a driving force from the apparatus main assembly to rotate the photosensitive drum in the cartridge is adopted in many apparatuses. At this time, a structure is known in which the driving force is transmitted by the engagement between the cartridge side coupling member and the apparatus main assembly side driving force transmitting portion (such as the drive pin).

As shown in fig. 1 and 2, the prior art discloses a process cartridge detachably mountable in an image forming apparatus, the process cartridge having a waste toner discharging part 730 for discharging waste toner removed from a photosensitive drum, the image forming apparatus having therein a waste toner receiving unit for receiving waste toner discharged from the waste toner discharging part 730, the waste toner receiving unit including a spring coupling 44, a feed fin 45, a machine conveyance screw 80c, the spring coupling 44 being rotatable by receiving a driving force of the waste toner discharging part 730, the spring coupling 44 further rotating the feed fin 45 so that the waste toner is swept toward the machine conveyance screw 80c, and the machine conveyance screw 80c conveying the toner to a waste toner accommodating part preset in the image forming apparatus. The process cartridge is mounted to and demounted from the image forming apparatus in the J direction, one of the rotary arms 42 is interlocked with opening and closing actions of the machine door cover of the image forming apparatus in accordance with the closing and opening of the machine door cover of the image forming apparatus, the rotary arm 42 is rotated upward when the machine door cover is opened, at this time, after the process cartridge is mounted in place in the J direction, the arm contact portion 832f on the waste toner discharging unit on the process cartridge is caught in one of the notch opening and closing portions on the rotary arm 42, at this time, the waste toner discharging member 730 is held to be located on the upper side of the spring coupling 44 by the tensile force of the coupling spring 31, and after the machine door cover is closed, the rotary arm 42 is rotated downward in response to the actions of the machine door cover and the arm contact portion 832f is shifted downward, the arm contact portion 832f shifted downward will drive the waste toner discharging member 730 to move downward against the tensile force of the coupling spring 31, the recessed portion 730b of the waste toner discharging member 730 will engage with the coupling portion 44b of the spring coupling 44, and will rotate the spring coupling 44 during the rotation of the waste toner discharging member 730 with the rotation of the photosensitive drum, and further rotate the feed fin 45, and the feed fin 45 will sweep the waste toner into the space of the machine conveyance screw 80c, and the machine conveyance screw 80c will rotate in response to the driving force of the image forming apparatus and will transfer the waste toner to a waste toner housing member provided in the printer.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

The technical problem solved by the present invention is to provide a further development of the prior art.

The utility model is realized by the following technical scheme:

a process cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus including an image forming apparatus side feeding part, comprising:

a photosensitive unit including a photosensitive unit frame;

a developing unit including a developing unit frame;

a photosensitive drum disposed in the photosensitive unit and supported by the photosensitive unit frame;

a cartridge-side coupling unit engageable with the image-forming-apparatus-side feeding member to transmit a driving force to the image-forming-apparatus-side feeding member when the cartridge is mounted into the image forming apparatus; the process cartridge side coupling unit further includes an intermediate coupling member engageable with the image forming apparatus side feeding member to transmit the driving force to the image forming apparatus side feeding member when the process cartridge is mounted in the image forming apparatus, the intermediate coupling member being disengageable from the process cartridge and kept engaged with the side feeding member when the process cartridge is taken out of the image forming apparatus.

Further, the process cartridge-side coupling unit may further include a first coupling member provided on an upper side of the intermediate coupling member with respect to a direction of gravity and engageable with the intermediate coupling member to transmit the driving force to the intermediate coupling member, the first coupling member being disengageable from the intermediate coupling member when the process cartridge is removed from the image forming apparatus.

Further, a waste toner discharge port for conveying waste toner to the image forming apparatus is provided on the intermediate coupling member, and a sealing member for sealing the waste toner discharge port is provided on the photosensitive frame. Further, the cartridge-side coupling unit may further include a first coupling member provided on the photosensitive frame, the first coupling member being engageable with the intermediate coupling member to transmit the driving force, the sealing member sealing the waste toner discharge port on the intermediate coupling member when the cartridge is not mounted in the image forming apparatus.

Further, the photosensitive unit further includes a conveying screw for conveying the waste toner removed from the photosensitive drum, the conveying screw conveying the waste toner in a direction parallel to an axial direction of the photosensitive drum, the process cartridge side coupling unit includes a first coupling member engageable with the conveying screw to receive a driving force of the conveying screw when the process cartridge is mounted in the image forming apparatus, and an intermediate coupling member engageable with the image forming apparatus side feeding member to transmit the driving force from the first coupling member.

Further, the image forming apparatus has a rotating arm which is interlocked with a door cover of the image forming apparatus, the process cartridge is provided with a supporting member for supporting the intermediate coupling member, the intermediate coupling member is provided with an arm contact portion, when the process cartridge is installed in the image forming apparatus and the door cover of the apparatus is closed, the rotating arm can drive the arm contact portion to move so that the intermediate coupling member moves relative to the supporting member, and the supporting member releases the support of the intermediate coupling member.

Further, the photosensitive unit frame is provided with a supporting member, the supporting member is provided with a holding portion, the intermediate coupling member is provided with a supported portion which can be held by the holding portion, the intermediate coupling member is further provided with an intermediate supporting portion which is connected with the supported portion, and the intermediate supporting portion can elastically deform. Further, the photosensitive unit frame is provided with a supporting member, the supporting member is provided with a holding portion, the intermediate coupling member is provided with a supported portion which can be held by the holding portion, the intermediate coupling member is further provided with an intermediate supporting portion which connects the supported portion and the intermediate coupling member main body portion, and when the intermediate coupling member receives an external force, the supported portion can be separated from the main body structure of the intermediate coupling member.

Further, the process cartridge side coupling unit may further include a first coupling member engageable with the intermediate coupling member, and the photosensitive unit frame may be provided with a guide portion that is movable toward the intermediate coupling member in a direction intersecting a direction of gravity to a retracted position away from the first coupling member in an axial direction of the photosensitive drum.

Further, a transition surface is provided on the intermediate coupling member for receiving a force from the process cartridge to be pushed down in a direction of gravity when the intermediate coupling member is retained in the image forming apparatus.

The utility model has the technical effects that: further developments in the prior art are provided, in which, on the one hand, the configuration for conveying the waste toner by driving the image forming apparatus-side feeding member by the cartridge-side coupling unit can eliminate the waste toner containing portion in the cartridge, and the waste toner can be directly transported from the cartridge to the image forming apparatus, and on the condition that the sheet yield of the cartridge is ensured, the size of the cartridge can be greatly reduced, and the production manufacturing cost and the packaging transportation cost of the cartridge can be reduced.

On the other hand, with the intermediate coupling member which can remain in the image forming apparatus, the process cartridge is mounted and removed by engagement and disengagement between the first coupling member and the intermediate coupling member, during the remounting process after the process cartridge is first mounted and removed, and the probability of the process cartridge-side coupling unit malfunctioning is reduced.

In another aspect, the first coupling member does not need to be provided in the telescopic mechanism after the intermediate coupling member is coupled to the side feeding member in the image forming apparatus, and the first coupling member can transmit the driving force more stably because the first coupling member is not moved in the process of mounting and removing the process cartridge a plurality of times, and the first coupling member does not have a problem of being possibly detached from the process cartridge in the process of removing the process cartridge from the image forming apparatus.

In still another aspect, the engagement of the cartridge-side coupling unit with the image-forming-apparatus-side feeding member after the intermediate coupling member is coupled with the side feeding member in the image forming apparatus does not need to rely on the interlocking action of the machine door cover of the image forming apparatus, and therefore, even if the interlocking structure between the rotary shaft and the machine door cover in the image forming apparatus fails due to long-term use, the engagement and disengagement of the cartridge-side coupling unit with the image-forming-apparatus-side feeding member can be performed well during the process of mounting and removing the cartridge.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a configuration of a waste toner transfer mechanism of a process cartridge in the prior art;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a configuration of a process cartridge waste toner transfer mechanism in cooperation with an image forming apparatus in the related art;

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a process cartridge in embodiment 1 of the utility model;

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view showing another perspective view of the process cartridge in embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the configuration of a cartridge waste toner conveying path in embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an exploded view schematically showing a coupling unit on the cartridge side in embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic structural view when the process cartridge-side coupling unit is pre-engaged with the image forming apparatus-side feeding member in embodiment 1 of the present invention;

fig. 8 is a partially enlarged structural schematic view of a support member supporting an intermediate coupling member in a process cartridge-side coupling unit in embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a schematic configuration view of a process cartridge side coupling unit in pre-engagement with an image forming apparatus side feeding member with a supporting member removed in embodiment 1 of the present invention;

fig. 10 is a schematic sectional structure view when the process cartridge-side coupling unit is pre-engaged with the image forming apparatus-side feeding member in embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a schematic sectional view showing the structure of a process cartridge-side coupling unit engaging with a side feeding member of an image forming apparatus in embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a partial schematic configuration view of a photosensitive unit of a process cartridge on the side of a cartridge-side coupling unit in embodiment 1 of the utility model;

fig. 13 is a schematic view of a partially exploded structure of a photosensitive unit of a process cartridge on a side of a cartridge-side coupling unit in embodiment 1 of the utility model;

FIG. 14 is a schematic configuration view when the process cartridge-side coupling unit is disengaged from the image forming apparatus-side feeding member in embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a schematic structural view showing the process cartridge-side coupling unit disengaged from the image forming apparatus-side feeding member in embodiment 2 of the present invention;

fig. 16 is a schematic structural view when the process cartridge-side coupling unit is disengaged from the image forming apparatus-side feeding member from which the image forming apparatus-side sealing member is removed in embodiment 2 of the present invention;

fig. 17 is a schematic structural view when the process cartridge-side coupling unit is pre-engaged with the image forming apparatus-side feeding member in embodiment 3 of the present invention;

FIG. 18 is a schematic structural view showing the process cartridge-side coupling unit disengaged from the image forming apparatus-side feeding member in embodiment 3 of the present invention;

fig. 19 is a schematic structural view when the process cartridge-side coupling unit is disengaged from the image forming apparatus-side feeding member in embodiment 3 of the present invention.

Detailed Description

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the utility model and are not intended to limit the utility model.

In the specification, the upper side is the upper side along the gravity direction based on the state of the image forming apparatus when mounted, but is not limited to the right upper side of the gravity direction, and the upper side with respect to the gravity direction is the upper side where one is located on the other.

Example 1

As shown in fig. 1 and 2, the process cartridge of the present invention comprises a photosensitive unit a including therein a photosensitive unit frame 1 and a photosensitive drum 2 supported by said photosensitive unit frame 1 and rotatable; the developing unit B includes a developing unit frame 51 and a developing roller 52 supported by the developing unit frame B and rotatable. On one side in the longitudinal direction of the process cartridge, a first power receiving portion 3 that receives an external driving force to rotationally drive the photosensitive drum 2 is provided, and a second power receiving portion 53 that receives an external driving force to rotationally drive the developing roller is provided. The process cartridge is mounted in the image forming apparatus movably in the longitudinal direction thereof, in other words, in the direction parallel to the photosensitive drum 2.

As shown in fig. 3 to 9, the present invention is a schematic structural view of the process cartridge for conveying the waste toner to the outside of the process cartridge. Wherein the cartridge waste toner conveying portion includes: conveying screw 7, first coupling part 11, intermediate coupling part 12. Wherein the first coupling member 11 and the intermediate coupling member 12 together constitute a process cartridge-side coupling unit, and the waste toner scraped off from the photosensitive drum 2 by a cleaning member (not shown in the figure) provided in the photosensitive unit a is transferred by a waste toner conveying member of the process cartridge. The drive transmission path of the waste toner conveying portion is as follows, the photosensitive drum 2 receives a driving force from the image forming apparatus through a first power receiving portion 3 provided at one axial end thereof, then passes through a drum gear 4 provided at the other end of the photosensitive drum 2, then is transmitted to an intermediate gear 5, then is transmitted to a conveying screw gear 6, and then is transmitted to a conveying screw 7. Further, from the conveyance screw 7, the driving force is transmitted to the first coupling member 11, the intermediate coupling member 12, the spring coupling member 104 of the image forming apparatus in this order. In this way, the waste toner is discharged from the photosensitive unit a into the image forming apparatus. The waste toner conveyed to the spring coupling member 104 is conveyed by the conveying fin 105 in the image forming apparatus conveying portion to an image forming apparatus conveying screw (not shown in the figure) provided in a screw conveying passage in the image forming apparatus, and is conveyed by a conveying force of the image forming apparatus conveying screw to a waste toner cartridge (not shown in the figure) in the image forming apparatus.

The sealing surface 13a of the supporting component 13 and the photosensitive unit frame 1 are fixed on the photosensitive unit frame 1 in an ultrasonic welding or gluing mode, the sealing surface 13a is in sealing contact with the photosensitive unit frame 1, the first connecting component 11 is inserted into the supporting component 13 from top to bottom, the first connecting component 11 is small in lower end and large in upper end, a driving pin 11a for receiving driving force is arranged at the upper end, and a driving transmission blade 7b for transmitting the driving force to the driving pin 11a is arranged on the conveying screw 7. The intermediate coupling member 12 is inserted into the support member 13 from below the support member 13, the upper portion of the intermediate coupling member 12 is provided with an upper end coupling portion 12a, the lower portion thereof is provided with a lower end coupling portion 12d, the lower portion of the first coupling member 11 is provided with a first coupling member force output portion 11b that can transmit the driving force to the above upper end coupling portion 12a, and the lower end coupling portion 12d of the intermediate coupling member 12 can be combined with a spring coupling 104 in the image forming apparatus to transmit the driving force. Preferably, the upper coupling part 12a is configured in the shape of a plate-like rib, the lower coupling part 12d in the shape of a groove, and the first coupling member force output portion 11b in the shape of a groove.

Referring to fig. 6, 7, 8 and 12, the lower end of the supporting member 13 is provided with a holding portion 13b, the intermediate coupling member 12 is provided with a held portion 12b, the held portion 12b is provided on a wing portion 12c extending from the main body portion of the intermediate coupling member 12 to both sides in the radial direction, preferably, the holding portion 13b is shaped as a hanging table, the held portion 12b is shaped as a hook structure engageable with the holding portion 13b and supportable by the holding portion 13b, the held portion 12b includes a supported portion 12b2 contactable with the holding portion 13b and a middle supporting portion 12b1 connecting the wing portion 12c and the held portion 12b, a urging member 16, preferably, a compression spring, is provided between the photosensitive cell frame 1 and the intermediate coupling member 12, the urging member 16 is for holding the intermediate coupling member 12 in contact with the holding portion 13b and causing the supported portion 12b2 to be supported by the holding portion 13b, in this way, the intermediate coupling member 12 is supported on the support member 13.

Referring to fig. 9, 10 and 11, in the process of mounting the process cartridge to the image forming apparatus, first, the intermediate coupling member 12 is positioned above the image forming apparatus side feeding member in accordance with the mounting of the process cartridge, the combination of the spring coupling 104 and the feed fin 105 is referred to as an image forming apparatus side feeding member, the image forming apparatus side feeding member is mounted on the image forming apparatus side sealing member 102 and constitutes a passage for conveying the waste toner with the image forming apparatus side sealing member 102, and then, the machine door cover of the image forming apparatus is closed, and the rotating arm 42 (see fig. 2) in the image forming apparatus is rotated downward in response to the closing action of the machine door cover, and in the present embodiment, the arm contact portion contacting the rotating arm 42 is set to the wing portion 12c, the force applied by the wing portion 12c as the arm contact portion is received, and in the process of the rotating arm 42 rotating downward and pressing the wing portion 12c down, the wing 12c moves the intermediate coupling member 12 downward, the supported portion 12b2 will be out of contact with the holding portion 13b, and the holding portion 13b releases the support of the intermediate coupling member 12, which will be described later. Fig. 10 is a state where the intermediate coupling member 12 is not depressed and is supported by the holding portion 13b, and fig. 11 is a state where the intermediate coupling member 12 has been depressed and released from the holding portion 13 b. In fig. 10, the lower end coupling portion 12d is located at the upper end of the coupling portion 104a of the spring coupling 104 and is not coupled thereto, and in fig. 11, the intermediate coupling member 12 is moved down and the lower end coupling portion 12d is completely engaged with the coupling portion 104a, and since the spring coupling 104 has elasticity, even if the lower end coupling portion 12d is not vertically aligned with the coupling portion 104a, so that the intermediate coupling member 12 can be normally moved down by the compression of the spring coupling 104, the coupling member 104a will be raised to engage with the lower end coupling portion by the elastic force of the spring coupling member 104 when the lower end coupling portion 12d is vertically aligned with the coupling portion 104a as the intermediate coupling member 12 is rotated. The amount of engagement between the first coupling member force output non-portion 11b and the upper end coupling portion 12a of the intermediate coupling member 12 in the up-down direction is set so that the first coupling member force output portion 11b and the upper end coupling portion 12a remain in the engaged state after the intermediate coupling member 12 is pushed down and moved by the rotating arm 42. Therefore, during image formation of the process cartridge, the waste toner removed from the photosensitive drum 2 is conveyed to the internal space of the first coupling member 11 via the conveying screw 7, enters the internal space of the intermediate coupling member 12, then enters the internal space between the image forming apparatus side feeding member and the image forming apparatus side sealing member 102, and finally sweeps the waste toner remaining in the internal space of the image forming apparatus side feeding member into the screw passage 103 where the image forming apparatus conveying screw is located via the feed fin 105, a relatively small eccentric passage 105 is provided between the screw passage 103 where the conveying screw of the image forming apparatus is located and the image forming apparatus side feed part, the eccentric passage is eccentrically disposed with respect to both the outer circumferential contour surrounded by the rotation of the feed fin 105 and the circular contour in which the screw passage 103 is located to reduce the dust-scattering effect of the waste toner and to reduce the possibility of the waste toner contaminating the inside of the image forming apparatus.

Referring to fig. 12, 13 and 14, the photosensitive unit frame 1 is further provided with a sealing member 14 for sealing the waste toner discharge port 12f of the process cartridge side coupling unit, the sealing member 14 is provided at a lower end of the waste toner discharge port 12f and is movable in a longitudinal direction parallel to the axial direction of the photosensitive drum 2, and specifically, a pressing member 15 is provided between the photosensitive unit frame 1 and the sealing member 14, preferably, the pressing member 15 is a compression spring, one end of the pressing member 15 abuts on the photosensitive unit frame 1, the other end abuts on a pressing member abutting portion 14c of the sealing member 14, a sealing portion 14b is provided at an upper end of the sealing member 14, and preferably, the sealing portion 14b is a sealing sponge. A guide portion for guiding the movement of the intermediate coupling member is further provided on the photosensitive unit frame 1, and preferably, the guide portion is composed of a guide groove portion 1a and a guide rail portion 1b for guiding the movement of the intermediate coupling member 12 in a direction intersecting the direction of gravity, and preferably, both the guide groove portion 1a and the guide rail portion 1b extend in a direction parallel to the axial direction of the photosensitive drum 2, the guide groove portion 1a is engageable with the upper end coupling portion 12a of the intermediate coupling member 12, and the guide rail portion 1b is engageable with the lower end coupling portion 12d of the intermediate coupling member 12. When the first new process cartridge is first mounted in the image forming apparatus, the intermediate coupling member 12 is released from the support member 13 by the closing action of the machine door cover of the image forming apparatus, and the intermediate coupling member 12 is left in the image forming apparatus following the process cartridge being taken out again, in the present embodiment, the intermediate support portion 12b1 is provided to have a resilient structure, for example, may be made of elastic rubber or made of a spring steel sheet, so that when the intermediate coupling member 12 is moved downward by the force of the rotating arm 42 of the image forming apparatus, the intermediate support portion 12b1 does not break, resulting in a problem that the supported portion 12b2 may fall into the image forming apparatus. When the process cartridge is mounted in the image forming apparatus, the sealing member 14 provided at the lower end of the waste toner discharge port 12f is blocked by the image forming apparatus side sealing member 102 and the compression urging member 15 moves relative to the photosensitive unit frame 1, the waste toner discharge port 12f is gradually opened, and finally is fully opened and the intermediate coupling member 12 will be located above the image forming apparatus side feeding member in the pre-engagement position. Subsequently, the intermediate coupling member 12 is engaged with the image forming apparatus side feeding member by the closing action of the machine door cover of the image forming apparatus and the action of the image forming apparatus driving the photosensitive drum of the process cartridge or the like to make a rotational movement.

When the image forming apparatus is out of order during image formation, such as a trouble like a paper jam, and it is necessary to remove the process cartridge, the intermediate coupling member 12 is retained in the image forming apparatus with reference to the state shown in fig. 14, specifically, when the process cartridge is removed from the image forming apparatus in the direction M in fig. 14, the sealing member 14 is moved closer to the supporting member 13 by the urging force of the urging member 15, at which time the intermediate coupling member 12 has been retained in the image forming apparatus, and therefore, the sealing portion 14b on the sealing member 14 seals the downward opening portion of the supporting member 13 to prevent the waste toner from leaking from the process cartridge, the sealing portion 14b is provided as a sponge material having elasticity and is designed to have a height appropriate for the sealing portion 14b to have a larger compression amount and seal the waste toner discharge port of the intermediate coupling member 12 when the intermediate coupling member 12 is retained on the supporting member 13, when the intermediate coupling member 12 is left in the image forming apparatus disengaged from the supporting member 13, the sealing portion 14b has a smaller amount of compression than when the intermediate coupling member 12 is supported on the supporting member 13, which amount of compression can also seal the downward waste toner discharge port of the first coupling member 11.

Referring to fig. 12 and 14, when the old process cartridge is exhausted and another new process cartridge needs to be replaced, since the intermediate coupling member 12 on the old process cartridge has been retained in the image forming apparatus, which causes the height of the image forming apparatus side feeding member to be raised, the intermediate coupling member 12 of the new process cartridge is stopped by the intermediate coupling member held in the image forming apparatus and moved against the elastic force of the urging member 16 to a retracted position away from the first coupling member 11 in a direction crossing the direction of gravity, at which time the intermediate coupling member 12 exposes the first coupling member 11 by sliding into the above-described guide groove portion 1a and guide rail portion 1b so that the first coupling member 11 engages with the intermediate coupling member 12 retained in the image forming apparatus. When a new process cartridge needs to be taken out of the image forming apparatus again, the intermediate coupling member 12 is moved closer to the first coupling member 11 by the elastic force of the urging member 16, the intermediate coupling member 12 is re-engaged with the first coupling member 11 during the movement of the intermediate coupling member 12 when the upper end coupling portion 12a is aligned with the first coupling member force output portion 11b in the moving direction of the intermediate coupling member 12, the sealing member 14 seals the intermediate coupling member 12, and when the upper end coupling portion 12a is misaligned with the first coupling member force output portion 11b in the moving direction of the intermediate coupling member 12, the movement of the intermediate coupling member 12 is prevented, and the sealing member 14 seals the support member 13. Alternatively, the first coupling member 11 may be provided with a circumferentially rotationally positioned structure, for example, a pair of torsion springs may be mounted at positions axially symmetrical to the inner circumferential surface of the support member 13, one free leg portion of the pair of torsion springs may extend radially inward of the support member 13, the first coupling member 11 may be provided as a combination of upper and lower members having a circumferential free gap, one of the opposite lower end members of the first coupling member 11 may have an oval outer circumferential surface and may be in contact with the free leg portion, and when the process cartridge is removed from the image forming apparatus, the first coupling member 11 is disengaged from the intermediate coupling member, the pair of torsion springs may apply an elastic force to the oval outer circumferential surface so that the one of the opposite lower end members of the first coupling member 11 rotates with respect to the one of the upper end member and is finally held fixed in angular positional relation to the holding member 13 in the rotational direction, in this way, the intermediate coupling member 12 can be smoothly engaged with the first coupling member 11 each time.

Example 2

A second embodiment of the cartridge-side coupling unit will be described.

The structure of the process cartridge other than the cartridge side coupling unit is the same as that of embodiment 1. Referring to fig. 15 and 16, in order to make the process cartridge-side coupling unit more disengaged from the image forming apparatus-side feeding member when the process cartridge is taken out of the image forming apparatus and to make the process cartridge more engaged with the intermediate coupling member remaining in the image forming apparatus when the process cartridge is mounted into the image forming apparatus, in the present embodiment, a smooth transition process is performed at an upper end portion of the intermediate coupling member 12, specifically, a transition surface 12e is provided on the intermediate coupling member 12, the transition surface 12e may be provided as an inclined surface or an arc-shaped surface, when the process cartridge is taken out of the image forming apparatus, a lower edge of an inner circumferential surface of the first coupling member 11 is provided to contact the transition surface 12e, the intermediate coupling member 12 is pressed down by a distance by the contact transition surface 12e, the intermediate coupling member 12 is supported by the spring coupling member 104 to allow the intermediate coupling member 12 to move down by a distance by compressing the spring coupling member 104, so that the first coupling part 11 is smoothly disengaged from the intermediate coupling part 12. In addition, when the upper end coupling portion 12a of the intermediate coupling member 12 is rotated to a position where the extending direction thereof is not parallel to the taking-out direction, which makes the taking-out of the process cartridge difficult, the portion of the intermediate coupling member 12 inserted into the image forming apparatus side seal member 102 may be provided in a clearance fit so that the rotational axis of the intermediate coupling member 12 may be inclined at an angle with respect to the rotational axis of the image forming apparatus side feeding member so as to disengage the first coupling member 11 and the intermediate coupling member 12 to take out the process cartridge. Alternatively, the upper end coupling portion 12a may be made of a material having elastic deformation such as rubber, and the process cartridge may be removed by disengaging the first coupling member 11 and the intermediate coupling member 12 by the elastic deformation of the upper end coupling portion 12 a. When the process cartridge is mounted to the image forming apparatus, the lower edge of the outer circumferential surface of the support member 13 is set to contact the transition face 12e, the intermediate coupling member 12 is pressed downward by a distance by contacting the transition face 12e, the intermediate coupling member 12 is supported by the spring coupling member 104 to allow the intermediate coupling member 12 to be moved a distance by compressing the spring coupling member 104 downward, so that the first coupling member 11 and the intermediate coupling member 12 are smoothly engaged.

Example 3

A third embodiment of the cartridge-side coupling unit will be described.

The structure of the process cartridge other than the cartridge side coupling unit is the same as that of embodiment 1. Referring to fig. 17 and 18, since the held portion 12b needs to be supported on the supporting member 13 and thus has a certain height, when the process cartridge is mounted and removed, there is a certain angle at which the first coupling member 11 and the supporting member 13 interfere with the held portion 12b, and although the holding portion 12b may be provided to be elastically deformable to avoid the problem of being unable to be mounted and removed, it also causes inconvenience in mounting and removing the process cartridge. In the present embodiment, the supported portion 12b21 of the held portion 12b is provided as a surrounding portion that can surround the holding portion 13b, a notch 12b13 is provided on the intermediate support portion, in other words, a thin-walled portion 12b11 is provided between the supported portion 12b21 and the support bottom portion 12b12 of the intermediate support portion, and the thin-walled portion 12b11 is broken during the process of the process cartridge being mounted in the image forming apparatus in which the wing portion of the intermediate coupling member 12 is urged by the rotating arm to move the intermediate coupling member 12 downward as the machine door cover of the image forming apparatus is closed, and the supported portion 12b21 is still supported on the holding portion 13b to prevent falling into the image forming apparatus. Referring to fig. 18, when the process cartridge is removed from the image forming apparatus, the intermediate support member 12 is retained in the image forming apparatus, and only the bottom support portion 12b12 of the intermediate support portion 12b1 remains on the support member 12, since only a small portion of the bottom support portion 12b12 protrudes, there is no interference with the bottom support portion 12b12 during subsequent mounting and removal of the process cartridge. Alternatively, the thin wall portion may be provided at the joint between the intermediate support portion 12b1 and the wing portion 12c to entirely retain the intermediate support portion 12b1 on the holding portion 13b, or the intermediate support portion 12b1 may be formed by two members that are coupled together and are separated from each other by a clip, and the intermediate support portion 12b1 is forced to separate the two members from each other by releasing the clip from the holding portion.

Example 4

A third embodiment of the cartridge-side coupling unit will be described. In this embodiment, the structure of the cartridge-side coupling unit is substantially the same as that of embodiment 3. The difference is that in the present embodiment, a transition surface 12e is added to the intermediate transmission member 12.

The utility model has the beneficial effects that:

on the one hand, the structure that the waste toner is conveyed by driving the imaging device side feeding part through the processing box side connecting unit can eliminate the waste toner containing part in the processing box, and the waste toner is directly transported into the imaging device from the processing box.

On the other hand, with the intermediate coupling member which can remain in the image forming apparatus, the process cartridge is mounted and removed by engagement and disengagement between the first coupling member and the intermediate coupling member, during the remounting process after the process cartridge is first mounted and removed, and the probability of the process cartridge-side coupling unit malfunctioning is reduced.

In another aspect, the first coupling member does not need to be provided in the telescopic mechanism after the intermediate coupling member is coupled to the side feeding member in the image forming apparatus, and the first coupling member can transmit the driving force more stably because the first coupling member is not moved in the process of mounting and removing the process cartridge a plurality of times, and the first coupling member does not have a problem of being possibly detached from the process cartridge in the process of removing the process cartridge from the image forming apparatus.

In still another aspect, the engagement of the cartridge-side coupling unit with the image-forming-apparatus-side feeding member after the intermediate coupling member is coupled with the side feeding member in the image forming apparatus does not need to rely on the interlocking action of the machine door cover of the image forming apparatus, and therefore, even if the interlocking structure between the rotary shaft and the machine door cover in the image forming apparatus fails due to long-term use, the engagement and disengagement of the cartridge-side coupling unit with the image-forming-apparatus-side feeding member can be performed well during the process of mounting and removing the cartridge.

The above examples are only intended to illustrate the technical solution of the present invention, but not to limit it; although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that: the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments may still be modified, or some technical features may be equivalently replaced; and such modifications or substitutions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the corresponding technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims (10)

1. A process cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus including an image forming apparatus side feeding part, comprising:

a photosensitive unit including a photosensitive unit frame;

a developing unit including a developing unit frame;

a photosensitive drum disposed in the photosensitive unit and supported by the photosensitive unit frame;

a cartridge-side coupling unit engageable with the image-forming-apparatus-side feeding member to transmit a driving force to the image-forming-apparatus-side feeding member when the cartridge is mounted into the image forming apparatus;

wherein the process cartridge side coupling unit further comprises an intermediate coupling member engageable with the image forming apparatus side feeding member to transmit the driving force to the image forming apparatus side feeding member when the process cartridge is mounted in the image forming apparatus, the intermediate coupling member being disengageable from the process cartridge and kept engaged with the image forming apparatus side feeding member when the process cartridge is taken out of the image forming apparatus.

2. A process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said cartridge-side coupling unit further includes a first coupling member provided on an upper side of said intermediate coupling member with respect to a direction of gravity and engageable with said intermediate coupling member to transmit a driving force to said intermediate coupling member, said first coupling member being disengageable from said intermediate coupling member when said process cartridge is removed from said image forming apparatus.

3. A process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a waste toner discharge port for conveying waste toner into said image forming apparatus is provided on said intermediate coupling member, and a sealing member for sealing said waste toner discharge port is provided on said photosensitive unit frame.

4. A process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said cartridge side coupling unit further includes a first coupling member, said photosensitive unit frame being provided with a sealing member, said first coupling member being engageable with said intermediate coupling member to transmit the driving force, said sealing member sealing the waste toner discharge port on said intermediate coupling member when said process cartridge is not mounted in said image forming apparatus.

5. A process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said photosensitive unit further includes a conveying screw for conveying the waste toner removed from said photosensitive drum, said conveying screw conveying the waste toner in a direction parallel to an axial direction of said photosensitive drum, said process cartridge side coupling unit includes a first coupling member engageable with said conveying screw to receive a driving force of said conveying screw when said process cartridge is mounted in said image forming apparatus, and an intermediate coupling member engageable with said image forming apparatus side feeding member to transmit the driving force from said first coupling member.

6. A process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said image forming apparatus has therein a rotating arm which is interlocked with a machine door cover of said image forming apparatus, said process cartridge is provided with a supporting member which supports said intermediate coupling member, said intermediate coupling member is provided with an arm contact portion, and when said process cartridge is mounted in said image forming apparatus and said machine door cover is closed, said rotating arm drives said arm contact portion to move so that said intermediate coupling member moves relative to said supporting member, and said supporting member releases the support of said intermediate coupling member.

7. A process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a supporting member is provided on said photosensitive unit frame, a holding portion is provided on said supporting member, a supported portion which is retainable on said holding portion is provided on said intermediate coupling member, and an intermediate supporting portion which is connected to said supported portion is further provided on said intermediate coupling member, said intermediate supporting portion being elastically deformable.

8. A process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a supporting member is provided on said photosensitive unit frame, a holding portion is provided on said supporting member, a supported portion which is retainable on said holding portion is provided on said intermediate coupling member, an intermediate supporting portion which couples said supported portion and said intermediate coupling member main body portion is further provided on said intermediate coupling member, and said supported portion is disengageable from a main body structure of said intermediate coupling member when said intermediate coupling member receives an external force.

9. A process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said cartridge side coupling unit further includes a first coupling member engageable with said intermediate coupling member, and wherein said photosensitive unit frame is provided with a guide portion which is movable toward said intermediate coupling member in a direction intersecting with a direction of gravity to a retreat position away from said first coupling member in an axial direction of said photosensitive drum.

10. A process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a transition surface is provided on said intermediate coupling member for receiving a force from said process cartridge to urge said intermediate coupling member to move downward in a direction of gravity when said intermediate coupling member is retained in said image forming apparatus.

Images