EP0507528B1 - Process cartridge and image forming system with it - Google Patents
Process cartridge and image forming system with it Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0507528B1 EP0507528B1 EP92302768A EP92302768A EP0507528B1 EP 0507528 B1 EP0507528 B1 EP 0507528B1 EP 92302768 A EP92302768 A EP 92302768A EP 92302768 A EP92302768 A EP 92302768A EP 0507528 B1 EP0507528 B1 EP 0507528B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- drum
- shutter
- casing
- cartridge
- image
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
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Classifications
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- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
- G03G21/00—Arrangements not provided for by groups G03G13/00 - G03G19/00, e.g. cleaning, elimination of residual charge
- G03G21/16—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements
- G03G21/18—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements using a processing cartridge, whereby the process cartridge comprises at least two image processing means in a single unit
- G03G21/1803—Arrangements or disposition of the complete process cartridge or parts thereof
- G03G21/1828—Prevention of damage or soiling, e.g. mechanical abrasion
- G03G21/1832—Shielding members, shutter, e.g. light, heat shielding, prevention of toner scattering
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- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
- G03G21/00—Arrangements not provided for by groups G03G13/00 - G03G19/00, e.g. cleaning, elimination of residual charge
- G03G21/16—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements
- G03G21/1642—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements for connecting the different parts of the apparatus
- G03G21/1647—Mechanical connection means
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- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
- G03G21/00—Arrangements not provided for by groups G03G13/00 - G03G19/00, e.g. cleaning, elimination of residual charge
- G03G21/16—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements
- G03G21/1661—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements means for handling parts of the apparatus in the apparatus
- G03G21/1671—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements means for handling parts of the apparatus in the apparatus for the photosensitive element
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- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
- G03G2221/00—Processes not provided for by group G03G2215/00, e.g. cleaning or residual charge elimination
- G03G2221/16—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements and complete machine concepts
- G03G2221/1606—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements and complete machine concepts for the photosensitive element
- G03G2221/1609—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements and complete machine concepts for the photosensitive element protective arrangements for preventing damage
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- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
- G03G2221/00—Processes not provided for by group G03G2215/00, e.g. cleaning or residual charge elimination
- G03G2221/16—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements and complete machine concepts
- G03G2221/1651—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements and complete machine concepts for connecting the different parts
- G03G2221/1654—Locks and means for positioning or alignment
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- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
- G03G2221/00—Processes not provided for by group G03G2215/00, e.g. cleaning or residual charge elimination
- G03G2221/16—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements and complete machine concepts
- G03G2221/1651—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements and complete machine concepts for connecting the different parts
- G03G2221/1657—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements and complete machine concepts for connecting the different parts transmitting mechanical drive power
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
- G03G2221/00—Processes not provided for by group G03G2215/00, e.g. cleaning or residual charge elimination
- G03G2221/16—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements and complete machine concepts
- G03G2221/18—Cartridge systems
- G03G2221/183—Process cartridge
Definitions
- a laser beam printer 1 includes a process cartridge 3 removably mounted within a frame 2 of the printer.
- the process cartridge 3 has a frame 3a within which there are arranged a photosensitive drum 4 acting as an image bearing member, and a conventional process means comprising a charger 5, a developing device 6 (including a toner containing portion 6a and a developing sleeve 6b) and a cleaner 7 (including a cleaning blade 7a and a waste toner reservoir 7b) which are disposed around the photosensitive drum.
- the reference numerals 33a and 33b denote cartridge mounting means on which the process cartridge 3 can be mounted from a direction shown by the arrow A.
- Figs. 5A and 5B show the process cartridge according to the first embodiment of the present invention, where Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the process cartridge and Fig. 5B is a side view of the cartridge.
- the drum shutter 20, when closed, is positioned with respect to the peripheral surface of the drum 4 with high accuracy, and, thus, when the operator grasps the cartridge 3, even if the shutter 20 is flexed (normally, the shutter is subjected to the load of about 2 Kg), it is possible to prevent the surface of the photosensitive member 4a from being damaged by the flexed shutter 20. Further, when the shutter 20 is closed, since the projections 20h mate with the peripheral surface of the drum, the protection ability for the photosensitive member 4a can be further improved.
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- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Computer Vision & Pattern Recognition (AREA)
- Electrophotography Configuration And Component (AREA)
- Discharging, Photosensitive Material Shape In Electrophotography (AREA)
Description
- The present invention relates to a process cartridge which can be removably mounted in an image forming apparatus, such as an electrophotographic copying machine, a laser beam printer (LBP), a facsimile system, a word processor or the like. The invention also relates to a combination of an image forming apparatus and a process cartridge.
- Examples of such process cartridges are described in patent documents US-A-4,470,689, US-A-4,462,677, EP-A-0304314 and EP-A-0351894. A further example of a process cartridge is shown in Figs. 1 to 3.
- Referring to Fig. 1, a
photosensitive drum 4 is disposed in theprocess cartridge 3. The drum is sensitive to shock and frictional wear. Thus, adrum shutter 20 is provided at a transfer opening 3c of thecartridge 3 and thephotosensitive drum 4 is protected by thedrum shutter 20. When the cartridge is inserted into an image forming apparatus, thedrum shutter 20 is shifted from a closed position to an open position (shown by thebroken line 20a), thus permitting the transferring of an image formed on the photosensitive drum. - The closed position of the drum shutter is limited or regulated by abutting a
projection 20b of the drum shutter against anend 7a of acleaner 7. Thereference numeral 21 denotes a shutter arm. - The width of the
drum shutter 20 is long (for example, in a process cartridge capable of forming an image on a sheet of A4 size, the width L is about 270mm, and, in a process cartridge capable of forming an image on a sheet A3 size, the width L is about 350mm). Further, thedrum shutter 20 is generally formed from engineering plastics. Thus, when thecartridge 3 is dismounted from theimage forming apparatus 2, if an operator grasps theprocess cartridge 3 by his hand as shown in Fig. 2A, a central portion of theshutter 20 will be flexed as shown in Fig. 2B. Accordingly, thedrum shutter 20 may contact the photosensitive drum 4 (Fig. 2B), thus damaging the latter. To avoid this, as shown in Fig. 3, aprotective sheet 23 for protecting the drum could be adhered to an inner surface of thedrum shutter 20. However, also in this case, it is difficult to prevent the damage to thephotosensitive drum 4 completely, due to the contact between the drum and thedrum shutter 20. - The present invention is concerned with the protection given to the drum by the drum shutter and more particularly with the possibility that the drum shutter may damage the drum.
- In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a process cartridge which can be removably mounted in an image forming system, the cartridge comprising a casing having a front and a rear and containing an elongate, rotatable electrophotographic drum having a photosensitive surface, the drum extending across the casing, charger means extending transversely to the casing above the drum for electrically charging the surface of the drum, developer means extending transversely to the casing to the rear of the drum for developing a latent image formed on an image bearing portion of the surface of the drum, and cleaning means extending transversely to the casing in front of the drum for cleaning the surface of the drum; the casing having an elongate exposure opening extending transversely to the casing above the drum to enable the image bearing portion of the surface of the drum to be exposed to light between the charger means and the developer means for forming the latent image on the image bearing portion of the surface of the drum; the casing also having an elongate transfer opening extending transversely to the casing at the bottom of the drum, the transfer opening providing access to the surface of the drum to enable the developed image to be transferred from the image bearing portion of the surface of the drum to a transfer material beneath the casing; the cartridge further comprising an elongate protective shutter for the transfer opening, and a plurality of linkages connecting the shutter to the casing for movement between a closed position in which the shutter closes the transfer opening, underlying the drum to protect the surface of the drum, and an open position in which the transfer opening is uncovered and the shutter is disposed outside of the casing, the linkages guiding the shutter so that during initial movement of the shutter from the closed position the shutter moves generally tangentially of the surface of the drum at the transfer opening;
characterised in that:
the shutter has first and second projections which are spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the shutter and which, when the shutter is in the closed position, abut the surface of the drum to either side of the image bearing portion thereof so that the extent of the shutter between the projections is held spaced from the image bearing portion of the drum. - The projections therefore hold the relevant portion of the shutter spaced from the image bearing portion of the drum, and the linkages provide the opening action described above. By contrast, in the case of an arrangement like that shown in Figure 3, such an opening action would be likely to cause the protective sheet to rub on the drum.
- In one embodiment of the invention, when the shutter is in its closed position, the projections abut against peripheral surfaces of the drum which are not photosensitive, and in another embodiment they abut against photosensitive peripheral surfaces of the drum which are not used for image formation.
- In an embodiment of the invention, there are three of said linkages, one at one side of the casing and the other two at the other side of the casing.
- Specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:
- Fig. 1 is a side sectional view of a process cartridge for explaining the background art for the present invention;
- Figs. 2A and 2B are views for explaining the background art for the present invention, where Fig. 2A is a side view of a process cartridge grasped by an operator's hand, and Fig. 2B shows a relation between a photosensitive member and a drum shutter;
- Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a drum shutter for explaining the background art for the present invention;
- Fig. 4 is an elevational sectional view of a laser beam printer according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
- Fig. 5A is a perspective view of a process cartridge according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 5B is a side view of the process cartridge;
- Figs. 6A and 6B are views showing a process cartridge according to the present invention in a condition that it is started to be inserted into an image forming system, where Fig. 6A is a perspective view of the process cartridge and Fig. 6B is an end view of the process cartridge;
- Figs. 7A and 7B are views showing the process cartridge in a condition after it is completely inserted into the image forming system, where Fig. 6A is a perspective view of the process cartridge and Fig. 6B is an end view of the process cartridge;
- Fig. 8 is a side view of the process cartridge for explaining the operation thereof; and
- Figs. 9A and 9B are perspective views of a drum shutter.
- The present invention is applicable to an image forming system such as an electrophotographic system, an electrostatic recording system and the like which utilizes electrophotographic technique and which can be embodied as an electrophotographic copying machine, a laser beam printer and the like.
- First of all, as an example of the image forming system, a compact laser beam printer as an output device for an information processing system will be explained.
- As shown in Fig. 4, a
laser beam printer 1 includes aprocess cartridge 3 removably mounted within aframe 2 of the printer. Theprocess cartridge 3 has aframe 3a within which there are arranged aphotosensitive drum 4 acting as an image bearing member, and a conventional process means comprising acharger 5, a developing device 6 (including atoner containing portion 6a and a developingsleeve 6b) and a cleaner 7 (including acleaning blade 7a and awaste toner reservoir 7b) which are disposed around the photosensitive drum. Incidentally, thereference numerals process cartridge 3 can be mounted from a direction shown by the arrow A. Further, within theframe 2 of the printer at an upper portion thereof, there are arranged a scanner unit 8 for illuminating alaser beam 8a on aphotosensitive member 4a of the drum and scanning the drum, and areflection mirror 9. The scanner unit 8 receives image information from an information processing system (not shown) such as a computer or a word processor and emits thelaser beam 8a in correspondence to the information. - When the
photosensitive drum 4 uniformly charged by thecharger 5 is illuminated by thelaser beam 8a, a latent image corresponding to the image information is formed on the drum. The latent image is developed by the developingdevice 6 to form a toner image. Within a lower portion of theframe 2, there is disposed asheet supply cassette 10 containing sheets (recording media) S therein. A sheet supply roller 11 is arranged above thesheet supply cassette 10. The sheet S contained in thesheet supply cassette 10 is supplied one by one by means of the sheet supply roller 11 to reach a pair ofregister rollers 12 which in turn send the sheet between thephotosensitive drum 4 and atransfer charger 13 in registration with the toner image formed on thephotosensitive drum 4. Then, the toner image on thephotosensitive drum 4 is transferred onto the sheet S at a transfer station. The sheet to which the image was transferred is sent, by aconvey belt unit 14, to a fixing device 15 (including aheat roller 15a and apressure roller 15b), where the toner image is permanently fixed to the sheet. Thereafter, the sheet is ejected out of theframe 2. Incidentally, theframe 3a of the cartridge has an exposure opening 3b and a transfer opening 3c and supports thephotosensitive drum 4, developingdevice 6 andcleaner 7. - In the
laser beam printer 1 according to the illustrated embodiment, there are two methods for ejecting the sheet S after the image formation, one of which is a method for ejecting the sheet S with face-up, i.e., with facing an imaged surface upside. In this case, the sheet S is sent by face-upejector rollers 16 toward a face-upejection tray 17. The other method for ejecting the sheet is a method for ejecting the sheet S with face-down, i.e., with facing the imaged surface downside at the page order. In this case, the sheet S fed from the face-upejector rollers 16 is guided upwardly via a switching means 31 such as a flapper and asheet guide member 32 to invert the sheet, and then is ejected onto a face-downejection tray 19 via face-down ejector rollers 18. Incidentally, the switching means 31 may be automatically switched by the activation of a plunger (not shown) when an operator turns a switch button (not shown) ON or may be manually switched by manipulating a manual lever (not shown). - Further, the maintenance of the
laser beam printer 1 according to the illustrated embodiment (for example, the jam treatment or the replacement of the process cartridge) is effected from a direction shown by the arrow A after anupper portion 2a of theframe 2 is rotated upwardly with respect to alower portion 2b around a pivot P to expose the interior of the printer. Incidentally, theprocess cartridge 3 is mounted on theupper portion 2a. - Next, the process cartridge according to a first embodiment will be explained. Incidentally, in the embodiment described hereinbelow, the constructural elements having the same functions as those in the aforementioned embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals.
- Figs. 5A and 5B show the process cartridge according to the first embodiment of the present invention, where Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the process cartridge and Fig. 5B is a side view of the cartridge.
- In this embodiment, two
ribs 20c are formed on aninner surface 20e of adrum shutter 20 as a cover (surface facing aphotosensitive drum 4 when the shutter is in a closed position) near both ends thereof along a width thereof (i.e., along an opening/closing direction of the shutter), so that the ribs are abutted against the photosensitive drum (image bearing member) 4 when the shutter is closed. In this case, the position of theribs 20c is so selected that they are abutted against non-imaging areas or non-photosensitive surfaces (cylindrical peripheral surfaces) 4b disposed on both ends of the drum, thus preventing the ribs from contacting with a photosensitive surface (imaging area) 4a of the drum. That is to say, according to this embodiment, theribs 20c are protruded from thedrum shutter 20 toward the drum at areas out of the photosensitive surface orimaging area 4a. Incidentally, theribs 20c havesemi-cylindrical surfaces 20d adapted to be smoothly abutted against thephotosensitive drum 4. Further, the areas of thephotosensitive drum 4 against which theribs 20c are abutted are not limited to the non-photosensitive surfaces, but may be photosensitive surfaces on which an image is not formed. Furthermore, theribs 20c are protruded from theinner surface 20e of thedrum shutter 20 by about 3 - 7 mm, preferably about 4 - 6 mm and most preferably about 5.5 mm. - In Fig. 5B, when a flexed amount of the
process cartridge 3 at loading points (normally, load of about 2 Kg) generated by forces F due to the operator's grasp of theprocess cartridge 3 is δ, the height d of eachrib 20c may be selected so that the height d becomes greater than the flexed amount δ (d > δ). With this arrangement, even if thedrum shutter 20 is flexed, it does not contact with thephotosensitive surface 4a, thus preventing the damage of thephotosensitive surface 4a. Further, in the illustrated embodiment, although theribs 20c on both ends of thedrum shutter 20 are abutted against thenon-photosensitive surfaces 4b, since such surfaces are out of the image forming area, if such surfaces are damaged, the image to be formed is not influenced upon such damage. Furthermore, theribs 20c may be abutted against the portions of thephotosensitive surface 4a so long as such portions are non-imaging areas. Also in this case, the image to be formed is not influenced badly. - Further, because of d > δ, any protection sheet is not required, thus reducing the cost of the cartridge. Furthermore, since the drum shutter are directly positioned with respect to the
photosensitive drum 4, the positioning accuracy of the drum shutter is improved, thus enhancing the protecting ability of thedrum shutter 20 regarding thephotosensitive drum 4. - Incidentally, in the above-mentioned conditions shown in Figs. 5B, the
drum shutter 20 covers the exposed area (transfer area) of thephotosensitive drum 4; whereas, when theprocess cartridge 3 is inserted into the printer, thedrum shutter 20 is retracted from this position. - In this embodiment, the
drum shutter 20 is integrally formed from high impact plastic resin such as polystyrol, and a thickness thereof is about 0.5 - 3 mm, preferably about 1 - 2 mm and most preferably about 1.5 mm. - Next, an opening/closing mechanism for the
drum shutter 20 during the mounting and dismounting of theprocess cartridge 3 with respect to theframe 2 of the printer will be explained with reference to Figs. 6 and 7. Incidentally, Figs. 6A and 6B show a condition that theprocess cartridge 3 is started to be inserted into theframe 2 of the printer, where Fig. 6A is a perspective view of the process cartridge and Fig. 6B is a side view of the cartridge. Further, Figs. 7A and 7B show a condition that theprocess cartridge 3 is completely inserted into theframe 2 of the printer, where Fig. 7A is a perspective view of the process cartridge and Fig. 7B is a side view of the cartridge. Incidentally, thereference numeral 3b denotes an exposure opening through which the light corresponding to the image information is illuminated onto thephotosensitive member 4a. - First of all, the
frame 3a of theprocess cartridge 3 is inserted from the position shown in Figs. 6A and 6B toward a direction shown by the arrow V. As a result, aprojection 40c of amovable link 40 for releasing the drum shutter (protection member) 20 is abutted against a fixedmember 41 formed on theframe 2 of the printer. When theprocess cartridge 3 is further inserted into theframe 2, thelink 40 is rotated around apivot 40a, with the result that thedrum shutter 20 is opened while being guided bylinks process cartridge 3 is mounted in a predetermined mounting position, theshutter 20 is maintained in the open condition in the vicinity of theframe 3a near thecleaner 7. - On the other hand, when the
cartridge 3 is dismounted from theframe 2 of the printer, the cartridge is drawn in a direction opposite to the direction V. Meanwhile, when themovable link 40 is disengaged from the fixedmember 41, thedrum shutter 20 is returned to the closed position covering the transfer opening 3b of theframe 3a, by a biasing force of aspring 43 disposed on thepivot 40a. In this position, theshutter 20 is maintained in the closed position by abutting aportion 40d of themovable link 40 against theframe 3a by the biasing force of thespring 43. - Incidentally, in this embodiment, the
movable link 40 is rotatably mounted on theframe 3a via thepivot 40a, and the other end of the movable link is rotatably connected to alateral edge 20f of theshutter 20 via apin 40b. Further, thelinks end 42c on theframe 3a, and are also rotatably connected at theirother end 42d to thelateral edge 20f of theshutter 20. - Now, the details of the process cartridge are shown in Fig. 8 as a side view. Incidentally, in Fig. 8, several positions of the
drum shutter 20 transited from the closed position to the open position are also illustrated. Thereference numeral 50 denotes a guide disposed outside theframe 3a for guiding thecartridge 3 in the mounting direction during the insertion of the cartridge. - As clearly seen in Fig. 8, the
movable link 40 has a "convex" shape so that it encircles a right half of thephotosensitive drum 4 and is pivotally mounted on theframe 3a via thepivot 40a, and the end of the link is rotatably connected to a central portion of thelateral edge 20f of theshutter 20 via thepin 40b. On the other hand, thelink 42a has an end portion bent at a right angle, and a distal end of the bent portion is rotatably connected to thelateral edge 20f of theshutter 20 at acorner 20g of the end thereof to be opened. Theend 42c of this link is pivotally mounted on theframe 3a. Incidentally, theattachment end 42c of thelink 42a is disposed between thephotosensitive drum 4 and thepin 40a for themovable link 40c in the vertical direction. Further, in the horizontal direction, theend 42c is disposed on theframe 3a outside the peripheral surface of thephotosensitive drum 4 and thepivot 40a for themovable link 40. - By properly selecting the lengths of the
movable link 40 and thelinks drum shutter 20 is opened along the proximity of theframe 3a near thecleaner 7. Thus, in the process cartridge according to this embodiment, since the opening/closing movement of theshutter 20 is effected along the proximity of theframe 3a, it is possible to further reduce the cartridge mounting space in theframe 2 of the printer in comparison with the conventional case. - Figs. 9A and 9B are perspective views of which may be used in the arrangements of
shutters 20 Figs. 6, 7 and 8. Incidentally, Fig. 9B is a perspective view of the shutter to which the links are attached. - In the
shutters 20 of Figures 9A and 9B,vertical projections 20h are formed on lateral edges of acover portion 20a of theshutter 20. In Figure 9A, eachprojection 20h has asemi-cylindrical surface 20i which is adapted to be abutted against thedrum 4, and aflat surface 20j. In this embodiment, when theshutter 20 is shifted from the open position to the closed position, theflat surfaces 20j of theprojections 20h are firstly abutted against the peripheral surface of thedrum 4. Then, thesemi-cylindrical surfaces 20i of theprojections 20h reach the peripheral surface of thedrum 4 while being guided by theflat surfaces 20j, with the result that theshutter 20 is in the closed condition with thesemi-cylindrical surfaces 20i of the projections mated with the peripheral surface of thedrum 4. Now, thedrum shutter 20 is molded from polystyrol resin similar to theframe 3a. Accordingly, also in this embodiment, thedrum shutter 20, when closed, is positioned with respect to the peripheral surface of thedrum 4 with high accuracy, and, thus, when the operator grasps thecartridge 3, even if theshutter 20 is flexed (normally, the shutter is subjected to the load of about 2 Kg), it is possible to prevent the surface of thephotosensitive member 4a from being damaged by the flexedshutter 20. Further, when theshutter 20 is closed, since theprojections 20h mate with the peripheral surface of the drum, the protection ability for thephotosensitive member 4a can be further improved. -
- According to the above-mentioned embodiment, since the cover portion of the drum shutter for protecting the image bearing member, i.e. the photosensitive drum, is abutted against the non-imaging area of the photosensitive drum, even if the drum shutter is subjected to the excessive load, the image bearing surface of the photosensitive drum can be protected effectively.
Claims (11)
- A process cartridge which can be removably mounted in an image forming system, the cartridge comprising a casing (3) having a front and a rear and containing an elongate, rotatable electrophotographic drum (4) having a photosensitive surface, the drum extending across the casing, charger means (5) extending transversely to the casing above the drum for charging the surface of the drum, developer means (6) extending transversely to the casing to the rear of the drum for developing a latent image formed on an image bearing portion of the surface of the drum, and cleaning means (7) extending transversely to the casing in front of the drum for cleaning the surface of the drum; the casing having an elongate exposure opening (3b) extending transversely to the casing above the drum to enable the image bearing portion of the surface of the drum to be exposed to light between the charger means and the developer means for forming the latent image on the image bearing portion of the surface of the drum; the casing also having an elongate transfer opening (3c) extending transversely to the casing at the bottom of the drum, the transfer opening providing access to the surface of the drum to enable the developed image to be transferred from the image bearing portion of the-surface of the drum to a transfer material beneath the casing; the cartridge further comprising an elongate protective shutter (20) for the transfer opening, and a plurality of linkages (40, 42a, 42b) connecting the shutter to the casing for movement between a closed position in which the shutter closes the transfer opening, underlying the drum to protect the surface of the drum, and an open position in which the transfer opening is uncovered and the shutter is disposed outside of the casing, the linkages guiding the shutter so that during initial movement of the shutter from the closed position the shutter moves generally tangentially of the surface of the drum at the transfer opening;
characterised in that:
the shutter has first and second projections (20c) which are spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the shutter and which, when the shutter is in the closed position, abut the surface of the drum to either side of the image bearing portion thereof so that the extent of the shutter between the projections is held spaced from the image bearing portion of the drum. - A cartridge according to claim 1, wherein, when the shutter is in its closed position, the projections abut against peripheral surfaces of the drum which are not photosensitive.
- A cartridge according to claim 1, wherein, when the shutter is in its closed position, the projections abut against photosensitive peripheral portions of the drum which are not used for image formation.
- A cartridge as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein there are three of said linkages, one at one side of the casing and the other two at the other side of the casing.
- A cartridge according to claim 4, wherein a pair of the linkages (42a, 42b) each have one point (42d) pivotally connected to the shutter adjacent a front edge (20g) thereof and at a respective end thereof, and each have another point (42c) pivotally connected to the casing, said one points (42d) of the pair of linkages being below said other points (42c) of the pair of linkages when the shutter is in its closed position; and the further linkage (40) has one point (40b) pivotally connected to one end of the shutter between the front and rear edges thereof and has another point (40a) pivotally connected to the casing above the drum and to the rear of said other points of the pair of linkages.
- A cartridge according to claim 5, wherein the further linkage is curved so that, when the shutter is in its closed position, the linkage extends from said one point thereof upwardly and forwardly and then upwardly and rearwardly to said other point thereof.
- A cartridge according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the further linkage extends past said other point thereof to form a projection (40c) for engagement with the image forming system to open the shutter.
- A cartridge as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the shutter, when in its open position, is disposed in front of the casing.
- A cartridge as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the drum is disposed closer to the front than the rear of the casing.
- A combination of an image forming system and a cartridge as claimed in any one of the preceding claims removably mounted in the system.
- A combination as claimed in claim 10, wherein the image forming system has a cavity in which the cartridge can be mounted in an operative position, the combination having means (50) for guiding the cartridge for insertion, front first, into the cavity towards the operative position, and the image forming system having means (41) for operating the shutter, as the cartridge is guided towards the operative position, to move the shutter from its closed position to its open position.
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP6848491 | 1991-04-01 | ||
JP68484/91 | 1991-04-01 | ||
JP62305/92 | 1992-03-18 | ||
JP06230592A JP3200139B2 (en) | 1991-04-01 | 1992-03-18 | Process cartridge and image forming apparatus mountable with the process cartridge |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0507528A2 EP0507528A2 (en) | 1992-10-07 |
EP0507528A3 EP0507528A3 (en) | 1993-03-17 |
EP0507528B1 true EP0507528B1 (en) | 1996-09-11 |
Family
ID=26403377
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP92302768A Expired - Lifetime EP0507528B1 (en) | 1991-04-01 | 1992-03-30 | Process cartridge and image forming system with it |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0507528B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP3200139B2 (en) |
DE (1) | DE69213525T2 (en) |
HK (1) | HK121297A (en) |
Families Citing this family (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JPH05224476A (en) * | 1991-12-20 | 1993-09-03 | Canon Inc | Process cartridge and image forming device capable of loading the same |
JPH08272229A (en) * | 1995-04-03 | 1996-10-18 | Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd | Electrophotographic device and intermediate transfer unit used therefor |
EP1898274B1 (en) | 2002-09-24 | 2011-04-20 | Ricoh Company, Ltd. | Image forming apparatus with an image bearing member unit having a protective shutter |
JP2004170904A (en) | 2002-11-08 | 2004-06-17 | Ricoh Co Ltd | Image carrier unit and image forming apparatus |
US7039340B1 (en) * | 2002-12-13 | 2006-05-02 | Tonerhead, Inc. | Universal drum cover for xerographic device cartridges |
JP2006078840A (en) * | 2004-09-10 | 2006-03-23 | Fuji Xerox Co Ltd | Worm gear unit and image forming apparatus |
JP5091543B2 (en) * | 2006-05-29 | 2012-12-05 | 京セラドキュメントソリューションズ株式会社 | Detachable unit and image forming apparatus |
JP5754578B2 (en) * | 2010-03-08 | 2015-07-29 | 富士ゼロックス株式会社 | Photosensitive unit of image forming apparatus |
Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0304314A2 (en) * | 1987-08-19 | 1989-02-22 | Xerox Corporation | Process unit for an imaging apparatus |
EP0351894A2 (en) * | 1986-05-28 | 1990-01-24 | Mita Industrial Co., Ltd. | Image-forming machine |
Family Cites Families (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE3220538A1 (en) * | 1981-06-02 | 1982-12-23 | Canon K.K., Tokyo | IMAGE GENERATION DEVICE |
JPS6286370A (en) * | 1985-10-11 | 1987-04-20 | Konishiroku Photo Ind Co Ltd | Image recording device |
JPH02251869A (en) * | 1989-03-24 | 1990-10-09 | Toshiba Corp | Electrophotographic recorder |
-
1992
- 1992-03-18 JP JP06230592A patent/JP3200139B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1992-03-30 EP EP92302768A patent/EP0507528B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1992-03-30 DE DE1992613525 patent/DE69213525T2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1997
- 1997-06-26 HK HK121297A patent/HK121297A/en not_active IP Right Cessation
Patent Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0351894A2 (en) * | 1986-05-28 | 1990-01-24 | Mita Industrial Co., Ltd. | Image-forming machine |
EP0304314A2 (en) * | 1987-08-19 | 1989-02-22 | Xerox Corporation | Process unit for an imaging apparatus |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP0507528A2 (en) | 1992-10-07 |
EP0507528A3 (en) | 1993-03-17 |
DE69213525D1 (en) | 1996-10-17 |
JP3200139B2 (en) | 2001-08-20 |
JPH0580600A (en) | 1993-04-02 |
DE69213525T2 (en) | 1997-02-06 |
HK121297A (en) | 1997-09-12 |
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