JP2000066564A - Developing unit, process cartridge and electrophotographic image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a cartridge having a shutter means which holds a closed state when a shutter member is closed and does not exert force on the shutter member and a cartridge frame body when the shutter member is opened by providing a shutter holding means moving interlockingly with attaching/ detaching operation. SOLUTION: This process cartridge is provided with the shutter holding means which holds the shutter member closed interlockingly with attaching/ detaching the process cartridge to/from an image forming device main body so that the shutter member is not opened outside the image forming device main body and whose holding is released when the cartridge is attached to the image forming device main body. The cartridge is provided with a stopper mechanism 30 as the holding means which holds the shutter member 28 in the closed state when the cartridge is not used. By forming a slit on guide means 18a2 and 18b2 covering over a lever member 30a, the shutter member 28 is opened by making the rib of the image forming device abut on the lever member 30a through the slit.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a developing unit or a process cartridge. Further, the present invention relates to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus in which a developing unit and a process cartridge are detachable, and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus in which a developing unit or a process cartridge is detachable.

Here, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus forms an image on a recording medium using an electrophotographic image forming process. For example, an electrophotographic copying machine, an electrophotographic printer (for example, an LED printer, a laser beam printer, etc.) , An electrophotographic facsimile machine, and an electrophotographic word processor.

As a process cartridge, a charging unit, a developing unit or a cleaning unit and an electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally formed into a cartridge, and this cartridge is detachably mountable to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body. In addition, at least one of the charging unit, the developing unit, and the cleaning unit and the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally formed as a cartridge so that the cartridge can be attached to and detached from the electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body. Further, it means that at least the developing means and the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally formed into a cartridge so as to be detachable from the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

The developing unit includes a developing roller,
An electrophotographic cartridge comprising a developing member, such as a developing blade, and a toner container in which an opening through which toner containing and sending the toner to the developing member passes is sealed with a sealing member that can be removed before use. It refers to one that can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body.

[0005]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic image forming process, an electrophotographic photosensitive member and process means acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally formed into a cartridge, and this cartridge is used as an image forming apparatus. A process cartridge system detachable from the main body is employed. According to this process cartridge system, the maintenance of the apparatus can be performed by the user himself without relying on a service person, so that the operability can be remarkably improved. For this reason, the process cartridge system is widely used in image forming apparatuses.

In such a process cartridge, cylindrical bosses serving as guides are provided on both outer surfaces of a cartridge frame accommodating various members such as an electrophotographic photosensitive member, for mounting in the image forming apparatus main body. This boss is configured to be inserted along a guide rail formed on the apparatus main body.

An opening for contacting the recording medium on which the photosensitive drum is conveyed is formed at a lower portion of the cartridge frame. When the process cartridge is not used, the opening is closed by a drum shutter member. , Protects the photosensitive drum. The shutter member includes a shutter arm rotatable around an axis on one side of a longitudinal outer surface of the developing frame, and a shutter arm rotatable about a rotational center of both longitudinal outer surfaces of the developing frame. In general, the link member is rotatably supported by the link member.

When the process cartridge is inserted along the guide rail, the shutter member opens, and when the process cartridge is removed, the shutter member is automatically closed by the bias of a torsion coil spring or the like.

To open and close the shutter member, a portion protruding in the longitudinal direction of the cartridge frame is provided on a shutter arm or link member supporting the shutter, and a hook portion is further provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus. This is performed by rotating the link member or the shutter arm by hooking the projecting portion on the hooking portion when inserting into the main body.

The developing unit has a shutter means for protecting the developing roller, similarly to the process cartridge.

[0011]

In the prior art, a biasing force is applied by a torsion coil spring so that the shutter member closes when the process cartridge is removed from the image forming apparatus main body. The biasing force of the torsion coil spring is designed so that the shutter member cannot be opened by the handling of the user when the process cartridge is taken out. For this reason, when the process cartridge is placed in the main body of the image forming apparatus, the torsion coil spring is further displaced to urge the shutter member in a direction to close the shutter member with an excessive force. This urging force may cause creep deformation of the components of the shutter means, and the shutter member may not be able to be completely closed when the process cartridge is taken out.

A cleaning frame for rotatably supporting the photosensitive drum and a developing frame for rotatably supporting the developing roller are rotatably connected, and a compression coil spring is provided between the developing frame and the cleaning frame. In the process cartridge in which the positioning between the photosensitive drum and the developing roller is performed by the pressing force, the positioning of the process cartridge in the image forming apparatus main body is performed by a cleaning frame having the photosensitive drum. When the fulcrum of the link mechanism of the drum shutter for protecting the drum is provided on the developing frame side, the force between the cleaning frame and the developing frame is increased or decreased by increasing or decreasing the force of the torsion coil spring by opening and closing the shutter. In some cases, this may affect the pressing force and cause problems when designing products.

The same problem as described above may occur in the developing unit.

The present invention is a further development of the above-mentioned prior art, in which the shutter member is kept closed when the shutter member is closed, and the shutter member and the cartridge frame are closed when the shutter member is open. It is an object of the present invention to provide a developing unit and a process cartridge having a shutter unit having a configuration in which no force is applied, and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus to which the developing unit or the process cartridge can be attached and detached.

[0015]

The main aspects of the present invention are as described below with reference to the claims.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a process cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus main body, an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a process means acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and the electrophotographic photosensitive drum. Frame that has an opening that opens the outside to the outside and houses the electrophotographic photosensitive drum and the processing means, the position where the opening is opened by mounting the process cartridge to the image forming apparatus main body, and the image forming apparatus main body A shutter means provided with a shutter member which moves between the two positions by taking the position where the opening is closed by removing the opening portion from the opening portion, and a shutter member which is closed in conjunction with attachment / detachment of the process cartridge to / from the image forming apparatus main body. Hold the shutter member so that it does not open outside the main body of the image forming apparatus and hold it when mounting it on the main body of the image forming apparatus. A shutter holding means is released, the process cartridge characterized in that it comprises a.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a process cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus main body, wherein an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, process means acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and the electrophotographic photosensitive drum Frame that has an opening that opens the outside to the outside and houses the electrophotographic photosensitive drum and the processing means, the position where the opening is opened by mounting the process cartridge to the image forming apparatus main body, and the image forming apparatus main body A shutter member supported by a support member so as to move between the two positions by taking the position where the opening is closed by removing the shutter from the main body, and the shutter member closes the opening when the process cartridge is removed from the image forming apparatus main body. When moving to the position where the shutter member is held, the A movable member that moves to a retracted position in which the shutter member is disengaged from engagement with the image forming apparatus main body in conjunction with the mounting operation to the main body, and biases the movable member to a position for holding the shutter member And a biasing means.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a developing unit detachable from a main body of an image forming apparatus, comprising: a developing roller;
Developing process means acting on the developing roller, a cartridge frame having an opening for supporting the developing roller and the developing process means and opening a part of the developing roller to the outside, and mounting the developing unit to the image forming apparatus main body A shutter member including a shutter member that moves between the two positions by taking the position where the opening is opened and the position where the opening is closed by removal from the image forming apparatus main body, and a developing unit. Shutter holding means for holding a shutter member closed so as not to open outside the image forming apparatus main body in conjunction with attachment / detachment to / from the image forming apparatus main body, and releasing the holding when mounted on the image forming apparatus main body. Is a developing unit.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a developing unit detachable from an image forming apparatus main body, comprising: a developing roller;
A developing process means acting on the developing roller, a cartridge frame supporting the developing roller and the developing process means and having an opening for opening a part of the developing roller to the outside, and mounting the developing unit to the image forming apparatus main body. A shutter member supported to move between the open position and the closed position by removing the opening from the image forming apparatus main body and removing the developing cartridge from the image forming apparatus main body; When the shutter member moves to the position where the opening is closed, the shutter member moves to a position for holding the shutter member, and the engagement with the image forming apparatus main body is performed in conjunction with the mounting operation of the developing unit to the image forming apparatus main body. A movable member that moves to a retreat position where the detachable shutter member is movable, and biases the movable member to a position that holds the shutter member. A developing unit, characterized in that it comprises a-energizing means.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electrophotographic image forming apparatus which detachably attaches a process cartridge and forms an image on a recording medium, comprising: a. An electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a process unit acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and a cartridge frame having an opening for opening the electrophotographic photosensitive drum to the outside and containing the electrophotographic photosensitive drum and the process unit Body and
A shutter member that moves between the open position and the closed position when the process cartridge is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body and the closed position when the process cartridge is removed from the image forming apparatus main body; And a shutter member that is closed in conjunction with attachment and detachment of the process cartridge to and from the image forming apparatus main body so as not to be opened outside the image forming apparatus main body and is released when the process cartridge is mounted to the image forming apparatus main body. Mounting means for detachably mounting a process cartridge having a shutter holding means to be mounted, the mounting means having a fixed operating member for operating the shutter means and the shutter holding means; b. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprising: a conveying unit for conveying the recording medium.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electrophotographic image forming apparatus which detachably attaches a developing unit and forms an image on a recording medium, comprising: a. A developing roller, a developing process unit acting on the developing roller, a cartridge frame having an opening for supporting the developing roller and the developing process unit and opening a part of the developing roller to the outside, and an image forming apparatus of the developing unit A shutter means comprising a shutter member that moves between the two positions, taking a position where the opening is opened by being attached to the main body and a position where the opening is closed by removing the opening from the image forming apparatus main body, and a shutter member that supports the shutter member. Shutter holding means for holding a shutter member closed in conjunction with attachment / detachment of the developing unit to / from the image forming apparatus main body so as not to open outside the image forming apparatus main body, and releasing the holding when mounting to the image forming apparatus main body; Mounting means for detachably mounting the developing unit, the shutter means and the shutter holding means being operated. A mounting means having an operating member which is fixed to, b. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprising: a conveying unit for conveying the recording medium.

[0022]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the description of the embodiments, a longitudinal direction is a direction perpendicular to the recording medium conveyance direction and parallel to the recording medium.

(Embodiment 1) A process cartridge and an image forming apparatus to which the process cartridge can be mounted will be described. Here, as the order of the description, the overall configuration of the process cartridge and the image forming apparatus using the same will be described, and the configuration of attaching and detaching the process cartridge will be described.

{Overall Configuration} This electrophotographic image forming apparatus (laser beam printer) A is, as shown in FIG.
The optical system 1 irradiates the drum-shaped electrophotographic photosensitive member with information light based on image information to form a latent image on the photosensitive member, and develops the latent image with a developer (hereinafter referred to as “toner”). Form a toner image. In synchronism with the formation of the toner image, the recording medium 2 is separated and fed one by one from a paper feed cassette 3a by a pickup roller 3b and a pressing member 3c pressed against the same, and a pair of conveying rollers 3d and a pair of registration rollers 3e. The toner image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, which is conveyed by the conveying means 3 and formed into a cartridge as the process cartridge B, is transferred to the recording medium 2 by applying a voltage to a transfer roller 4 as a transfer means.
The recording medium 2 is transported to the fixing unit 5 by the transport belt 3f. The fixing means 5 includes a driving roller 5a, a fixing rotator 5d including a heater 5b and a cylindrical sheet rotatably supported by a support 5c, and applies heat and pressure to the recording medium 2 passing therethrough. To fix the transferred toner image. Then, the recording medium 2 is conveyed by a pair of discharge rollers 3g and 3h, and is discharged through a reverse conveyance path.
It is configured to discharge to The image forming apparatus A can also be manually fed by a manual toilet 3i and a roller 3j.

{Process Cartridge} On the other hand, the process cartridge B includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member and at least one process means. Here, as the process means, for example, a charging means for charging an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a developing means for developing a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, a cleaning means for cleaning toner remaining on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member Etc. As shown in FIG. 5, the process cartridge B of the present embodiment
The photosensitive drum 7, which is an electrophotographic photosensitive member having a photosensitive layer, is rotated, and a voltage is applied to a charging roller 8, which is a charging unit, to uniformly charge the surface of the photosensitive drum 7, and the charged photosensitive drum 7 is charged. A latent image is formed by exposing a light image from the optical system 1 to an exposure light through an exposure opening 9, and the latent image is developed by developing means 10.

The developing means 10 includes a toner storage section 10a.
Rotatable first feed member 1 serving as feed means for feeding the toner inside
0b1 and the second feeding member 10b2 to rotate the developing roller 10d, which is a developing rotator incorporating the fixed magnet 10c, and form a toner layer provided with triboelectric charge by the developing blade 10e on the surface of the developing roller 10d. , The toner on the photosensitive drum 7 in accordance with the latent image.
Then, the toner image is formed by transferring the toner image to a visible image.

After the toner image is transferred to the recording medium 2 by applying a voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the toner image to the transfer roller 4, the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 7 is scraped off by the cleaning blade 11a. The cleaning unit 11 scoops up the waste toner and collects it in the waste toner storage unit 11c to remove the residual toner on the photosensitive drum 7.

The photosensitive drum 7 and other members are composed of a developing frame 12 in which a toner frame 12a, a lower developing frame 12b and a lid member 12c are welded and integrated, and a cleaning frame 1
The cartridge is housed in a cartridge frame formed by combining the cartridge 3 with the cartridge 3 to form a cartridge, and is detachably mounted on a cartridge mounting means provided on the apparatus main body 14.

{Structure of Shutter Means} An opening 13n for contacting the recording medium 2 on which the photosensitive drum 7 is conveyed is provided below the cartridge frame.
When the process cartridge B is not used, the opening 13
By closing n with the shutter member 28, the photosensitive drum 7 is protected.

As shown in FIG. 1, the shutter member 28 is pivotally mounted on one end of a longitudinal outer surface of the toner frame 12a at a tip end of a shutter arm 27 rotatable around a shaft 26. At the same time, the toner frame 12a is pivotally attached to a link member 29 rotatable about a rotation center 29a on both longitudinal outer surfaces of the toner frame 12a and is rotatably supported. That is, the shutter member 28 is one link of a four-node chain mechanism on one side shown in FIG. 1, and the shutter arm 27 and the link member 29 constitute a shutter support member for supporting the shutter member 28.

{Structure of Shutter Holding Means} In the present invention, a stopper mechanism 30 as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 is provided as shutter holding means for holding the shutter member 28 in a closed state when the process cartridge B is not used. . This is because a movable member in which a lever member 30a as a first lever member and a stopper member 30b as a second lever member are connected, and a torsion coil spring 30 as a spring member of a biasing means.
c. The lever member 30a is the cleaning frame 1
3, a lever 30a1, which is in contact with a rib of an image forming apparatus described later, a rotation shaft 30a2, and a connecting portion 30a3 for connecting the stopper 30b. The stopper member 30b includes a stopper portion 30b1 at one end for locking the shutter member 28, and a rotation shaft portion 30a2 of the lever member 30a.
The other end connecting portion 30b2 that fits into the end connecting portion 30a3
And an intermediate spring hook portion 30b3. As shown in FIG. 10, a torsion coil spring 30c provided inside the cleaning frame 13 has a spiral portion 30c1 fitted on the cylindrical outer periphery inside the bearing hole 13a of the cleaning frame 13, and a spring hook portion 30b3 of the stopper member 30b. The stopper 30c2 of the stopper member 30b is urged toward the shutter member 28 by interposing an engaging portion 30c2 between the shutter member 28 and the inner wall (inside of the reference numeral 13b (outer wall)) of the cleaning frame 13.
The cylindrical shaft portion 30b4 provided with the connecting portion 30b2 of the stopper member 30b is rotatably fitted in a bearing hole 13a provided in a longitudinal end wall of the cleaning frame 13.

The process cartridge B is an image forming apparatus A
As shown in FIG. 10, when the shutter member 28 is taken out, the stopper portion 30b1 of the stopper member 30b comes into contact with a locking portion 28a provided at a desired edge of the transfer opening 13n of the shutter member 28 when the shutter member 28 is opened. Since the member 30b is urged by the restoring force of the torsion coil spring 30c, the shutter member 28 moves due to handling by the user, and the opening 13n is not exposed.

Further, the user carelessly adjusts the lever member 30a.
The drum shaft 18c (see FIG. 9) and the lever member 30a are covered by a guide means comprising a hollow guide boss 18a2 and a guide rib 18b2, which are mounting means for the process cartridge B, so as to prevent the shutter member 28 from being opened.
By providing slits 18d in the guide means 18a2 and 18b2, the ribs of the image forming apparatus
d to come into contact with the lever member 30a.
8 is opened. The slit 18d has such a width that a human finger cannot enter. This prevents the user from accidentally opening the shutter member 28. The drum shaft 18c is fitted on both ends of the cleaning frame 13 in the longitudinal direction, and rotatably supports the photosensitive drum 7.

Here, the lever member 30a is located at the position where the lever member 30a is opened before the shutter member 28 starts to open when the process cartridge B is mounted. Must be located upstream of the projecting portion 29b for opening the shutter member 28 provided in the direction of insertion. In this embodiment, the lever member 30a is located forward of the drum shaft 18c in the direction of inserting the process cartridge B into the image forming apparatus main body 14. << Removable Configuration of Process Cartridge >> Next, a configuration for mounting and removing the process cartridge B from the image forming apparatus A will be described.

The mounting and dismounting of the process cartridge B is performed by opening the opening / closing member 15 as shown in FIG. When the opening / closing member 15 is opened around the shaft 15a (see FIG. 4), the cartridge mounting means is lowered forward and downward on both left and right sides of the cartridge mounting space as shown in FIGS. A guide rail 16 formed in a curved shape (substantially arc shape in the present embodiment) is provided substantially symmetrically, and a guide member 17 is mounted above the guide rail 16. Further, on the entrance side of the guide rail 16, a first inclined surface 16a is formed as a hooking portion with which a projecting portion 29b serving as a shutter opening / closing projection of the process cartridge B is engaged, and is subsequently larger than the first inclined surface 16a. An inclined second inclined surface 16b is formed. As shown in FIG. 7, the guide member 17 is provided with a rib 17a projecting into a groove between the guide member 16 and the guide rail 16. The position of the rib 17a in the longitudinal direction coincides with the slit 18d of the process cartridge B. The first and second inclined surfaces 16a and 16b coincide with the projection 29b of the link member 29, which is one of the shutter support members, in the longitudinal direction. The rib 17a is an operating member fixed to release the shutter holding means.

On the other hand, guide portions guided along the guide rails 16 are formed on both outer side surfaces in the longitudinal direction of the process cartridge B corresponding to the guide rails 16. This guide portion is configured to protrude from substantially left-right symmetrical positions on both longitudinal outer surfaces of the cartridge frame. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, bosses 18a1 and 18a2 serving as first guide portions are provided. And the guide ribs 18b1 and 18b2 serving as the second guide portion are integrated with each other.
The bosses 18a1 and 18a2 are located on an extension of the rotation axis of the photosensitive drum 7, and have guide ribs 18b1 and 18b2.
Has a curved shape (substantially arcuate shape in the present embodiment) bulging downward in accordance with the shape of the guide rail 16 after the process cartridge B is inserted in the process cartridge B continuously from the bosses 18a1 and 18a2. In the above configuration, when the process cartridge B is mounted, FIGS.
As shown in (1), the bosses 18a1 and 18a2 and the guide ribs 18b1 and 18b2 are inserted along the guide rail 16 so that the front end of the process cartridge B is sunk under the optical system 1 of the apparatus main body 14.

Then, the rib 17a provided on the guide member 17
Enters the slit 18d provided from the guide boss 18a2 to the guide rib 18b2, and rotates the lever 30a1 clockwise in FIG. 10 (see FIG. 12).

Thus, the locking portion 28 of the shutter member 28
The stopper 30b1 of the lever member 30a comes off from the position a. The shutter member 28 can be opened. As the process cartridge B is inserted into the image forming apparatus main body 14, the lever member 30a slides along the rib 17a. Then, while the rib 17a and the lever portion 30a1 abut, the projecting portion 29b provided on the link member 29 abuts on the first inclined surface 16a, and the link member 29 rotates in FIG. Moving center 2
9a, the shutter member 2 rotates counterclockwise.
8 moves to expose the opening 13n.

The guide rail 16 is formed in a substantially arc shape, and the guide member 17 above the guide rail 16 also has a shape following the shape, and the ribs 18b1 and 18b2 have the same substantially arc shape. The process cartridge B becomes substantially horizontal as it is inserted. When the process cartridge B is further pushed in, as shown in FIGS. 13 to 15, the abutting member 19 provided on the apparatus main body 14 causes the cleaning frame 1 to move.
The bosses 18a1 and 18a2 of the process cartridge B fall into the receiving recesses 16c formed at the end of the guide rails 16, respectively. As a result, the drum gear 21 (see FIG. 2) fixed to the side end of the photosensitive drum 7 meshes with the drive gear 22 (see FIG. 8) of the apparatus main body 14 and the process cartridge B
The driving force can be transmitted to the motor.

Next, when the opening / closing member 15 is closed, as shown in FIG. 15, the pressing member 24 supported by the opening / closing member 15 with the shaft 24a and urged by a torsion coil spring (not shown) is cleaned. It comes into contact with the arm 25 of the frame 13 and pressurizes it with a predetermined pressure while twisting the torsion coil spring. At this time, the abutting member 19 provided on the apparatus main body 14 is used.
Then, the contact surface 20 of the process cartridge B abuts, and the process cartridge B is positioned and mounted.

With the above construction, the process cartridge B is mounted on the image forming apparatus A and the shutter member 28 is mounted.
Even when the shutter member is in the retracted position, the shutter mechanism composed of the shutter member 28, the shutter arm 27, and the link member 29 has only a force for closing the shutter member 28 by its own weight, so that the components of the shutter mechanism are creeped. No deformation due to Further, even when the fulcrum of the shutter mechanism is disposed on the developing frame 12 which is not directly received by the image forming apparatus main body 14 as in the present embodiment, the force generated by opening the shutter member 28 is extremely small. No consideration is required, and the design load can be reduced.

The process cartridge B is mounted on the image forming apparatus A.
The explanation will be given below. First, the guide boss 18a1,
Receiving recess 1 provided with 18a2 at the end of guide rail 16
Pull out the edge of 6c. The guide bosses 18a1 and 18a2 and the guide ribs 18b1 and 18b are provided between the guide rail 16 and the guide member 17 as in the case of insertion.
Pull 2 up along. Then, the process cartridge B is moved downward with the cleaning frame 13 side.
It comes out with the side up. Since such an attitude is regulated, the shutter member 28 moves to a position where it is closed by its own weight. Prior to the shutter member 28 moving to the completely closed position, the rib 17a is moved to the lever portion 30a.
1 and the stopper 30b1 is rotated to the retracted position. Thereafter, when the process cartridge B is further removed, the shutter member 28 moves to a closed position covering the opening 13n. Then, the contact between the rib 17a and the lever portion 30a1 is released, and the stopper portion 30b1 and the locking portion 28a of the shutter member 28 are engaged by the restoring force of the torsion coil spring 30c, and the movement of the shutter member 28 from the transfer opening 13n is prevented. To prevent.

In the above description, a torsion coil spring is used to bias the stopper member 30b.
May be, for example, a leaf spring, a tension coil spring, a compression coil spring, or an elastic body such as rubber.

(Embodiment 2) Next, Embodiment 2 will be described with reference to FIGS.

Image forming apparatus A for process cartridge B
Guide boss 18a2 and guide rib 1 as attachment means for
A slit 18e is formed on the side surface of the guide rib 18b2 so as to follow the substantially arc shape of the guide rib 18b2. A hole 18f penetrating the cleaning frame 13 in the longitudinal direction at a part of the bottom of the slit 18e.
Is provided. The hole 18f is provided near the drum support hole 13b into which the drum shaft 18c is fitted. Drum shaft 18
c is a flange 7 fitted and fixed to the end of the photosensitive drum 7
a in the center hole 7a1. The stopper mechanism 35 as the shutter holding means according to the present embodiment is
6. As shown in FIG. 17, a slide member 35a having a fitting portion 35a1 fitted into the through hole 18f from the inside of the guide boss 18a2 and a pin 35a2 serving as a locking portion of the shutter member 28, and a fitting of the slide member 35a. The inner wall of the cleaning frame 13 and the sliding member 35 are inserted into the joint portion 35a1.
and a tension coil spring 35b having both ends fixed to each other and biasing the slide member 35a toward the outside. Here, the through hole 18f in which the fitting portion 35a1 fits and the fitting portion 35a1 are substantially rectangular in cross section along the slit 18e so as to be slidable only in the longitudinal direction. As shown in FIG. 17, the tip of the fitting portion 35a1 protrudes into the slit 18e.

First, when the process cartridge B is taken out of the image forming apparatus A, as shown in FIG. 17, the slide member 35a is urged leftward in FIG. 17 by the restoring force of the tension coil spring 35b, and the pin 35a2 The shutter member 28 cannot be opened because it is fitted with the locking hole 28b provided in the shutter member 28. Also in this embodiment, since the contact portion 35a11 for opening the shutter member 28 is provided inside the slit 18e, the user does not inadvertently move the shutter member.

The process cartridge B is connected to the image forming apparatus A
When the guide rail 16 is attached to the rib, the rib 16e (see FIGS. 18 and 19) provided at the upstream portion in the insertion direction of the guide rail 16 is turned into the slit 18e.
, And the tip of the slide member 35a contacts the contact portion 35a11 at the tip of the rounded fitting portion 35a1 to move the slide member 35a to the right as shown in FIG. Then, the pin 35a2 of the slide member 35a separates from the locking hole 28b of the shutter member 28, and the shutter member 28 can move. (Embodiment 3) In Embodiments 1 and 2, the process cartridge B is configured integrally with the photosensitive drum 7 and the charging roller 8 as a charging unit, the developing unit 10, and the cleaning unit 11. In the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 20, the photosensitive drum 7, the charging roller 8 and the cleaning means 11 are a drum unit C, and as shown in FIG. The case where the image forming apparatus is separately detachable from the image forming apparatus main body A will be described.

In this case, a transfer opening 13n for contacting the recording medium 2 of the photosensitive drum 7 is provided in the drum unit C.
Is extended to a portion of the photosensitive drum 7 opposite to the developing roller 10d to form a developing opening 40. The shutter member 41 includes a main shutter member 41a and a sub shutter member 41.
b are connected by a pin 41c.
a and 41b so that the inner sides thereof are close to each other.
Are urged by a torsion coil spring (not shown) provided in the above. The shutter member 41 covers the openings 13n and 40. This main shutter member 41a is used in the first and second embodiments.
It has a shutter mechanism and a stopper mechanism (not shown) using a four-bar chain mechanism (not shown) similar to that described above.

The developing unit D has an opening 50 in a portion of the developing roller 10d facing the photoreceptor drum 7, and the opening 50 is also removed from the opening 50 by the developing roller when taken out of the apparatus body 14. A shutter member 51 and a stopper mechanism (not shown) similar to those in the first and second embodiments are provided so as to cover the surface of the developing roller 10d, protect the surface of the developing roller 10d coated with toner, and prevent the user's hands from being stained.

The shutter members 41 and 51 used for the drum unit C and the developing unit D are similar to those described in the first and second embodiments when the respective units are taken out of the image forming apparatus. Developing roller 10
A stopper mechanism (not shown) is provided in order to hold the position covering d, and the stopper mechanism opens the shutter members 41 and 51 in conjunction with the mounting operation of the unit.
The shutter member is retracted to a position indicated by a two-dot chain line by opening / closing means provided in a part of the shutter mechanism.

The above-described shutter members 41 and 51 are respectively supported by a drum unit C (a type of process cartridge) and a frame of the developing unit, for example, in a four-bar linkage.

In the embodiment, the shutter member is supported by the four-bar chain mechanism, but is not limited to this. For example, the shutter member may be rotatably supported on the frame by arms rigidly connected to both ends in the longitudinal direction.

[0053]

As described above, according to the present invention,
In order to maintain a closed position of the shutter member when the Pseloss cartridge having a shutter means that opens and closes in conjunction with the attachment / detachment operation to the image forming apparatus main body is taken out from the image formation apparatus main body, it is interlocked with the detachment operation. By providing the moving shutter holding means, a change in the force applied to the shutter means constituent elements when the shutter member is closed and when it is open is reduced, and creep deformation of the shutter means constituent elements is prevented.

Further, by covering the shutter holding means with a component outside the process cartridge, it is possible to prevent a user from inadvertently opening the shutter member.

The developing unit has the same effect as described above.

[Brief description of the drawings]

 The drawings show embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an outer appearance of a right outer side surface of a process cartridge according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an outer appearance of a left outer side surface of the process cartridge according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a view as seen in the direction of the arrow Z in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating a configuration of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating a configuration of a process cartridge.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a process cartridge is attached and detached.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a right-side guide configuration of the image forming apparatus that guides the mounting and dismounting of the process cartridge according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a left-side guide configuration of the image forming apparatus for guiding the mounting and dismounting of the process cartridge.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the process cartridge according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a side view showing the stopper member according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which the process cartridge according to the first embodiment is mounted on the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 12 is a detailed view showing a part X in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which the process cartridge according to the first embodiment is mounted on the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which the process cartridge according to the first embodiment is mounted on the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the process cartridge according to the first embodiment is mounted on the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view of the process cartridge according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a sectional view showing an operation state of the second embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the process cartridge according to the second embodiment is mounted on an image forming apparatus.

FIG. 19 is a sectional view showing an operation state of the second embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a longitudinal sectional view of another process cartridge.

FIG. 21 is a longitudinal sectional view of the developing unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

A: Image forming apparatus B: Process cartridge C: Drum unit D: Developing unit 1: Optical system 2: Recording medium 3: Conveying means 3a: Paper cassette 3b: Pickup roller 3c: Press-contact member 3d: Conveying roller pair 3e
... Registration roller pair 3f ... Conveyer belt 3g, 3h ...
Unloading roller 3i Manual tray 3j Roller 4 Transfer roller 5 Fixing means 5a Driving roller 5b Heater 5c
... Support 5d ... Fixing rotary body 6 ... Ejector 7 ... Photoreceptor drum 7a ... Flange 7a1 ... Center hole 8 ... Charging roller 9 ... Exposure opening 10 ... Developer 10a ... Toner storage 10b1,1
0b2: toner feeding member 10c: fixed magnet 10d:
Developing roller 10e Developing blade 11 Cleaning means 11a Cleaning blade 12 Developing frame 12a Toner frame 12b Developing lower frame 12c Lid 13 Cleaning frame 13a Bearing hole 13b Drum support hole 13n Transfer Opening 14: Device body 15: Opening / closing member 15a: Shaft 16: Guide rail 16a: First inclined surface 16b: Second inclined surface 16c: Receiving portion 16d: Side wall 16e: Rib 17: Guide member 17a: Ribs 18a1, 18a2 ... Boss 18b1, 18b2 Rib 18c Drum shaft 18e Slit 18f Through hole 19 Contact member 20 Contact surface 21 Drum gear 22 Drive gear 23 Torsion coil spring 24 Pressure member 24a Shaft 25 Arm Part 26 ... Shaft 27 ... Shutter arm 28 ... Shutter member 28a ... Part 28b ... engagement hole 29 ... Link member 29a ... rotation center 29 b ... projection 30 ... stopper mechanism 30a ... lever member 30a1 ...
Lever part 30a2 ... Rotating shaft 30a3 ... Connecting part 30
b ... Stopper member 30b1 ... Stopper part 30b2 ...
Connection part 30b3 ... Spring part 30b4 ... Shaft part 30
c: torsion coil spring 30c1: spiral part 30c2
... Locking part 35. Stopper mechanism 35a. Slide member 35a1.
Fitting portion 35a11 Contact portion 35a2 Pin 35b
... Tension spring 40 ... Opening 41 ... Shutter member 41a ... Main shutter member 41b
... Sub-shutter member 41c ... Pin 50 ... Opening 51 ... Shutter member

Claims (18)

[Claims] 1. A process cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus main body, comprising: an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a process means acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum; and an opening for opening the electrophotographic photosensitive drum to the outside. A cartridge frame housing the electrophotographic photosensitive drum and the process means, and a position where the opening is opened by mounting the process cartridge to the image forming apparatus main body, and the opening by removing the process cartridge from the image forming apparatus main body. A shutter member having a shutter member that moves between the two positions with the shutter closed, and a shutter member that supports the shutter member, and a shutter member that is closed in conjunction with attachment and detachment of the process cartridge to and from the image forming apparatus main body. A shutter that is held so as not to open outside the main body and released when mounted on the main body of the image forming apparatus. Process cartridge and having a lifting means. 2. An electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a process unit acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and an opening for opening the electrophotographic photosensitive drum to an outside. A cartridge frame housing the electrophotographic photosensitive drum and the process means, and a position where the opening is opened by mounting the process cartridge to the image forming apparatus main body, and the opening by removing the process cartridge from the image forming apparatus main body. A shutter member supported by a support member so as to take a closed position and move between the two positions; and when the shutter member moves to a position where the opening is closed when the process cartridge is removed from the image forming apparatus main body. Moves to the position where the shutter member is held, and allows the process cartridge to be mounted on the image forming apparatus main body. A movable member that moves to a retracted position where the shutter member is movable by being disengaged from the image forming apparatus main body; and urging means for urging the movable member to a position for holding the shutter member. A process cartridge comprising: 3. The process cartridge according to claim 2, wherein the movable member is covered by a member facing the outside of the process cartridge. 4. A posture when the process cartridge is removed from the image forming apparatus main body is regulated by the image forming apparatus main body, and the shutter member is supported by the posture so that the shutter member always comes to a position covering the opening. The process cartridge according to claim 2, wherein: 5. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the movable member is a lever member rotatably supported by the cartridge frame, and the biasing means is a spring member applied to the lever member and the cartridge frame. 5. The process cartridge according to any one of 4. 6. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said movable member is a slide member slidably supported by said cartridge frame, and said biasing means is a spring member applied to said slide member and said cartridge frame. A process cartridge according to any one of the above. 7. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the shutter support member includes a link member made of a wire and an arm member made of resin. 8. A developing unit detachably mountable to the image forming apparatus main body, a developing roller, a developing process means acting on the developing roller, a developing roller and a part of the developing roller being supported to the outside while supporting the developing roller and the developing process means. A cartridge frame having an opening to be opened; a position where the opening is opened by mounting the developing unit to the image forming apparatus main body; and a position where the opening is closed by removing the developing unit from the image forming apparatus main body. Shutter means having a shutter member for moving the shutter and a support member for the shutter member; and holding the shutter member closed in conjunction with attachment / detachment of the developing unit to / from the image forming apparatus main body so as not to open outside the image forming apparatus main body. And a shutter holding unit that is released from holding when mounted on the image forming apparatus main body. 9. A developing unit detachable from the image forming apparatus main body, a developing roller, a developing process means acting on the developing roller, the developing roller and the developing process means are supported, and a part of the developing roller is opened to the outside. A cartridge frame having an opening to be opened, a position where the opening is opened by mounting the developing unit to the image forming apparatus main body, and a position where the opening is closed by removing the developing unit from the image forming apparatus main body. A shutter member supported so as to move; and a shutter member that moves to a position for holding the shutter member when the developing member moves to a position in which the opening is closed when the developing cartridge is removed from the image forming apparatus main body. The shutter is disengaged from the image forming apparatus main body in conjunction with the mounting operation to the image forming apparatus main body, and the shutter member is movable. Developing unit for a movable member that moves to the position, and urging means for urging said movable member to a position for holding the shutter member, characterized in that it has a. 10. The developing unit according to claim 9, wherein the movable member is covered by a member facing the outside of the developing unit. 11. A posture when the developing unit is taken out of the image forming apparatus main body is regulated by the image forming apparatus main body, and the shutter member is supported by the posture so that the shutter member always comes to a position covering the opening. The developing unit according to claim 9, wherein: 12. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the movable member is a lever member rotatably supported by the cartridge frame, and the biasing means is a spring member applied to the lever member and the cartridge frame. 12. The developing cartridge according to any one of 11. 13. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the movable member is a slide member slidably supported by the cartridge frame, and the biasing means is a spring member applied to the slide member and the cartridge frame. The developing unit according to any one of the above. 14. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus which detachably attaches a process cartridge and forms an image on a recording medium, comprising: a. An electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a process means acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and a cartridge frame having an opening for opening the electrophotographic photosensitive drum to the outside and containing the electrophotographic photosensitive drum and the process means A shutter member and a shutter member that move between the two positions by taking a position where the opening is opened by mounting the process cartridge to the image forming apparatus main body and a position where the opening is closed by removing the process cartridge from the image forming apparatus main body. And a shutter means having a supporting member, and a shutter member which is closed in conjunction with attachment / detachment of the process cartridge to / from the image forming apparatus main body is held so as not to be opened outside the image forming apparatus main body, and is attached to the image forming apparatus main body. Mounting means for detachably mounting a process cartridge having shutter holding means for releasing the holding; Mounting means having a fixed operating member for operating said shutter means and shutter holding means; b. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprising: conveying means for conveying the recording medium. 15. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus which detachably attaches a developing unit to form an image on a recording medium, comprising: a. A developing roller; a developing process unit acting on the developing roller; a cartridge frame supporting the developing roller and the developing process unit and having an opening for partially opening the developing roller to the outside; and an image forming apparatus of the developing unit. A shutter means comprising a shutter member that moves between the two positions, taking a position where the opening is opened by being attached to the main body and a position where the opening is closed by removing the opening from the image forming apparatus main body, and a shutter member that supports the shutter member. Shutter holding means for holding a shutter member closed in conjunction with attachment / detachment of the developing unit to / from the image forming apparatus main body so as not to open outside the image forming apparatus main body, and releasing the holding when mounting to the image forming apparatus main body; Mounting means for detachably mounting the developing unit having a shutter, wherein the shutter means and the shutter holding means are operated. Mounting means having a fixed actuating member to operate; b. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprising: conveying means for conveying the recording medium. 16. The process cartridge is one in which a charging unit, a developing unit or a cleaning unit and an electrophotographic photosensitive drum are integrally formed into a cartridge, and this cartridge is detachable from an image forming apparatus main body. The process cartridge according to claim 1. 17. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein at least one of a charging unit, a developing unit, and a cleaning unit and an electrophotographic photosensitive drum are integrally formed into a cartridge so as to be detachable from an image forming apparatus main body. The process cartridge according to claim 1. 18. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein at least the developing unit and the electrophotographic photosensitive drum are integrally formed into a cartridge so as to be detachable from the image forming apparatus main body. The process cartridge according to 1.