JP2000330458A - Process cartridge, electrophotographic image forming device and gear - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To cool the inside of a process cartridge in the case of arraying a gear train on the side surface of the process cartridge by providing a gear equipped with a means for generating air flow by rotation and a cover member equipped with an air duct. SOLUTION: The air duct 19f is secured near a photoreceptor drum on a side cover 19 in order to prevent temperature rise near the photoreceptor drum, but the internal gears 111b and 111c of the gear train close the air duct 19f for cooling the inside. Hence slits 24a and 24b are provided on the gears 111b and 111c so as to constitute the blade of an axial fan and positively suck or exhaust the air through the air duct. In such a case, the slit 24a is superposed on the air duct 19f. When the gear 111c is rotated, the air flows in the axial direction and enters the space, and flows toward the air duct 19f from the space, passes through the air duct 19f of the side cover 19 and is discharged to the outside of the process cartridge.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a process cartridge, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and a gear of a driving device of an image forming section.

Here, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus forms an image on a recording medium using an electrophotographic image forming method. And, as an example of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus,
For example, an electrophotographic copying machine, an electrophotographic printer (for example, a laser beam printer, an LED printer, and the like), a facsimile machine, a word processor, and the like are included.

A process cartridge is a unit 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 made detachable from an 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 drum are integrally formed into a cartridge so that the cartridge can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body. Further, at least the developing means and the electrophotographic photosensitive drum are integrally formed into a cartridge so as to be detachable from the apparatus main body.

[0004]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image forming apparatus using electrophotography, if the image forming apparatus is used for a long time, the photosensitive drum is replaced, the developer is replenished or replaced, and the like (charger, cleaning container, etc.).
Adjustment, cleaning, and replacement are required, but such maintenance work has been practically difficult except for service personnel with specialized knowledge.

Therefore, in an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic image process, the electrophotographic photosensitive member and the process means acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally formed into a cartridge, and this cartridge is attached to and detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus. A process cartridge system that makes it possible is employed. According to this process cartridge system, the maintenance of the apparatus can be performed by the user himself without relying on a serviceman, so that the operability can be remarkably improved. Therefore, this process cartridge system is widely used in image forming apparatuses.

As shown in FIG. 13, a conventional process cartridge 45 is a developing unit in which a developing frame 43 supporting a developing member such as a developing roller 18 and a toner container 46 are joined by ultrasonic welding. On the other hand, the cleaning frame 47 supporting the photosensitive drum 11, the charging roller 12, the cleaning blade 14 and the like is connected by a pivot 49, and the compression coil spring 42 is contracted between the cleaning frame 47 and the developing frame 43 so that the photosensitive The body drum 11 and the developing roller 18 are urged toward each other.

In forming an electrophotographic image including such a process cartridge, an air passage for creating a flow of air is formed in order to prevent the internal temperature of the process cartridge from rising.

[0008]

The present invention is a further development of the above-mentioned prior art.

According to the present invention, there is provided a process cartridge, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus and a process cartridge having means for generating an air flow capable of cooling the inside of the process cartridge when a gear train is arranged on a side surface of the process cartridge. The purpose is to provide gears to be employed.

[0010]

Means for Solving the Problems The following is a description of typical embodiments of the present invention, appended with the numbers of the claims in accordance with the claims.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, in a process cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus main body, an electrophotographic photosensitive drum and a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum are developed using toner. Developing means, cleaning means for removing toner remaining after transfer to the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and a gear in a gear train connecting between a toner feeding member provided in the developing means and a feeding member provided in the cleaning means. A gear provided with a means for generating an air flow by rotating, and a cover member provided with an air passage for covering the gear train and for allowing air by the air flow to flow into or out of the process cartridge. And a process cartridge.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electrophotographic image forming apparatus for detachably attaching a process cartridge and forming an image on a recording medium, comprising: a, an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and an electrophotographic photosensitive drum formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum. Developing means for developing the latent image using toner, cleaning means for removing toner remaining after transfer to the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a toner feeding member provided in the developing means, and a feeding member provided in the cleaning means A gear in a gear train connecting between the gear trains, the gear having a means for generating an air flow by rotating, a gear that covers the gear train and flows air by the air flow into or out of the process cartridge. Mounting means for removably mounting a process cartridge having a cover member provided with an air passage for discharging, b. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus characterized by having a ventilation means of the image forming apparatus main body, c, a, and conveying means for conveying the recording medium.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an impeller having a blade centered on the center of rotation between a center of rotation and an outer peripheral tooth portion, and which generates an airflow in the axial direction by rotating. It is a gear characterized by the following.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The longitudinal direction in this embodiment means a direction perpendicular to the recording medium transport direction and parallel to the surface of the recording medium.

(Description of Process Cartridge and Apparatus Main Body) FIG. 1 is a main cross-sectional view of a process cartridge according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a main cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. This process cartridge has an electrophotographic photosensitive member and a process means acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive member. Here, as the process means, for example, a charging means for charging the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, a developing device for forming a toner image on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a cleaning means for removing toner remaining on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member include: is there.

Process cartridge 15 of the present embodiment
As shown in FIG. 1, a charging roller 12 serving as charging means is provided around an electrophotographic photosensitive drum 11 serving as an image carrier, a developing roller 18 and a developing blade 26 serving as a developing device, and a cleaning blade 14 serving as a cleaning means. Is disposed, and is integrally formed with the process cartridge 15 by being covered with a housing, and is configured to be detachable from an image forming apparatus main body (hereinafter, referred to as an apparatus main body) 27.

The process cartridge 15 is mounted on an electrophotographic image forming apparatus C as shown in FIG. 2 and used for image formation. In the image formation, the sheet S is conveyed by a conveying roller 7 from a sheet cassette 6 mounted on the lower portion of the apparatus, and in synchronization with the sheet conveyance, the photosensitive drum 11 is selectively exposed from an exposure device 8 to form a latent image. Form. Thereafter, the toner stored in the toner storage container 16 is applied with a triboelectric charge by the developing blade 26, is carried in a thin layer on the surface of the developing roller 18, and is applied with a developing bias to the developing roller 18. Supply. This toner image is transferred to a sheet S which is a recording medium conveyed by applying a bias voltage to the transfer roller 9. The sheet S is conveyed to the fixing device 10 to fix the image, and is discharged by the discharge roller 1 to the discharge unit 2 at the upper part of the device. On the other hand, after the transfer, the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 11 is removed by the cleaning blade 14, and is moved to the rear side of the removed toner reservoir 5 by the removed toner feeding member 115.

(Frame Structure of Process Cartridge) FIGS. 3 and 4 are perspective views showing the frame structure of the process cartridge. FIG. 3 is a diagram before assembling these frames, and FIG. 4 is a diagram after assembling these frames. The process cartridge 15 includes a cleaning frame 13, which integrally supports the photosensitive drum 11, the charging roller 12, and the cleaning blade 14, a developing roller 18, and a developing blade (not shown in FIG. 3; see reference numeral 26 in FIG. 1). It is composed of three frames, that is, a developing frame 17 that integrally supports and a toner container 16 that stores toner.
Further, in order to integrally support these three frames, both sides of the cleaning frame 13 and the toner storage container 16 are fixed by side covers 19 and 20, and the developing frame 17 is supported by the cleaning frame 13. It is configured as a cartridge 15.

A cleaning blade 14 is fixed to the cleaning frame 13 with a small screw or the like, and the charging roller 12 rotatably supports an end core portion via a bearing member (not shown). Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the cleaning frame 13 is provided with a removed toner feed member 115 for feeding the toner removed by the cleaning blade 14 to the removed toner reservoir 5.
Are provided rotatably. The photosensitive drum 11 has flanges 11a and 11b at both ends,
It is rotatably supported by the cleaning frame 13 via a and 22b (only 22a is shown). Toner storage frame 1
Reference numeral 6 denotes a stirring member 11 for conveying and stirring the toner therein.
3 and 114 (see FIG. 1).

The details of the developing frame 17 will be described later.

The side covers 19 and 20 are large enough to cover the main cross section of the process cartridge 15 (vertical surface in the direction in which the recording medium is conveyed), and are disposed at both ends of the process cartridge 15 in the longitudinal direction. The cleaning frame 13 and the toner storage container 16 are respectively fixed to the cleaning frame 13 and the toner storage container 16 from both sides.
Are integrally supported. These side covers 19, 20
Holes 19a, 20a are positioned coaxially with the center of the photosensitive drum of the cleaning frame 13. On the side cover 19 side shown, the bearing member 22a is press-fitted into the hole 13a of the cleaning frame 13. The shaft member 25 is provided with the hole 19a of the side cover, the bearing member 22a, and the flange 1
One end of the photosensitive drum 11 is rotatably supported by fitting into the center hole 11a1 of the photosensitive drum 1a. At this time, since the side cover 19 is positioned via the bearing member 22a, the position of the side cover 19 with respect to the photosensitive drum 11 is accurately determined. Further, a positioning portion 19b provided as far as possible from the photosensitive drum 11 is
3 is fitted to a positioning portion 13b provided on the side surface 13c to determine the position in the rotation direction about the center of the photosensitive drum 11. The side cover 19 is fixed to the longitudinal side surface 13c of the cleaning frame 13. Further, the toner frame 16 has cylindrical positioning portions 16a and 16b protruding in the longitudinal direction at one end surface 16d in the longitudinal direction thereof, and the positioning portions 16a and 16b are positioning portions which are holes formed in the side cover 16. The position with respect to the side cover 19a is determined by fitting with 19c and 19d. And
The toner storage frame 16 and the side cover 19 are fixed.
Similarly, the other side cover 20 has the toner storage frame 16,
It is positioned and fixed to the cleaning frame 13. The position of the developing frame 17 is determined by a method described later. Further, the bearing member 22 (22a, 22b) is attached to the image forming apparatus main body 27.
The position of the process cartridge 15 is also determined.

To supply toner from the toner storage frame 16 to the developing roller 18, an opening 16c (see FIG. 1) and an opening 17a are provided in the toner storage frame 16 and the development frame 17, respectively. The developing frame 17 and the toner storage frame 16 are connected by a flexible sealing member 21 as a sealing member so as to connect the openings 17a and 16c. Further, since the toner storage frame 16 is positioned with respect to the side covers 19 and 20 and the development frame 17 is positioned with respect to the cleaning frame 13, the space between the development frame 17 and the toner storage frame 16 is maintained. It is necessary to keep an interval because of dimensional errors. The process cartridge 15 is positioned and mounted on the cartridge mounting portion of the image forming apparatus main body 27 on the side of the cleaning frame 13 that supports the photosensitive drum 11, and the toner storage container 16 stores a large amount of toner. There is a possibility that the weight difference between the empty case and the empty case is large, and the toner storage frame 16 and / or the side covers 19 and 20 are distorted. Therefore, the seal member 21 uses a flexible material.

With this configuration, even when the amount of toner increases as described in the subject, the load due to the toner is applied to the side covers 19 and 20 and occurs on the developing roller supported by the developing frame 17. There is no. Therefore, a stable image can be obtained without applying an unnecessary load to the photosensitive drum 11.

(Configuration of Developing Frame) The configuration of the developing frame will be described with reference to FIGS. 3, 5, 6, and 7. FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram before the frame is assembled, and FIGS. 5, 6, and 7 are explanatory views related to the pressing of the developing frame.

The developing frame 17 has a developer carrying member
The developing roller 18 including the magnet roller 18a, the developing blade 26 (see FIG. 1), and a magnetic seal (not shown) are provided. The magnet roller 18 a is inserted through the center hole of the developing roller 18, and both ends are non-rotatably supported by the developing frame 17 to maintain a gap with the developing roller 18. Both ends of the developing roller 18 are rotatably supported by the developing frame 17. Power is supplied to the developing roller 18 by providing an electric contact inside the developing roller 18. Further, an abutting roller 11 that keeps the distance between the photosensitive drum 11 and the developing roller 18 constant on the developing roller 18 is provided.
8a and 118b (see FIG. 3) are provided.

The developing frame 17 has a suspension hole 17d at the end of an arm 17c provided on the driving side, which is one end of the developing roller 18 in the longitudinal direction, as a center of rotation. The cleaning frame 13 is swingably supported so that the center of the cleaning frame 18 is directed toward the center. That is, the developing frame 17 including the developing roller 18 is
A pin (not shown) fitted to the hanging hole 17d is fitted to the cleaning frame 13 on the driving side on the top 3, and is arranged to be swingable about the hanging hole 17d. Further, as described above, the cleaning frame 13 and the toner storage container 16 are fixed without relatively moving. Therefore, the developing frame 17
Is relatively movable with respect to the toner storage container 16. Then, as shown in FIG.
The tension coil spring 36 is applied to the spring hook 13d provided on the developing frame 17 and the spring hook 17f provided on the developing frame 17 to urge one end of the developing roller 18 toward one end of the photosensitive drum 11.

Further, on the non-driving side of the developing frame 17, a projecting member 17e is fixed on the central axis of the developing roller 18 so as to press the projecting member 17e toward the center of the photosensitive drum 11. Have been.

The protruding member 17e is inserted into a groove 19e (in this embodiment, a linear elongated hole in the radial direction of the photosensitive drum 11) provided in the side cover 19, and moves toward the center of the photosensitive drum 11. It is configured to be possible. That is, the protruding member 17e is a moving member that moves one end of the developing roller 18. A compression coil spring 23b, which is an urging member, is disposed inside the groove 19e so as to press the protruding member 17e via a slide piece 23a movable along the groove 19e.

The groove 19e also has a role of positioning for regulating the moving direction of the developing roller 18.

Here, when a driving force is applied, the gears 105b, 1 provided on the photosensitive drum 11 and the developing roller 18 are used.
Reference numeral 07b (see FIG. 9) is designed so that forces act in the direction of biting each other around the suspension hole 17e, and no force acts in the direction in which the photosensitive drum 11 and the developing roller 18 separate. That is, the extension of the action line of the meshing of the gears 105b and 107b passes through the vicinity of the suspension hole 17d, and the suspension hole 17d and the center of the photosensitive drum 11 are arranged on the same side as viewed from the action line. I have. Further, the developing roller 18 is always pressed toward the photosensitive drum 11 by the compression coil spring 23b as the urging member.

It is necessary to communicate between the opening 16c of the toner storage container 16 and the opening 17a of the developing frame 17 and to seal it from the outside. On the other hand, since the developing frame 17 and the developer container 16 are relatively movable, the developing frame 17 and the developer accommodating container 16 are connected by a seal member 21 that absorbs the moving range of both, so that toner leakage is prevented. The seal member 21 is fixed around the openings 16c and 17a so as to surround the openings 16c and 17a. Desirably, the seal member 21 has a shape having a small repulsive force that hinders the movement of the developing frame 17, and has a shape having at least one fold or a bellows shape. A groove is provided around the periphery of the opening 16c or 17a, and an O-ring is fitted into the groove so that the distance between the toner storage frame 16 and the developing frame 17 can be adjusted and sealed with the O-ring. It is also possible.

In the present embodiment, the sealing member 21
Is made of elastomer and has two folds (not shown)
Although the repulsive force is reduced, a material having excellent flexibility such as a urethane foam member, low-hardness rubber, or silicon may be selected. In this case, if the repulsive force is small, the same effect can be obtained even if the fold and the bellows shape are omitted.

(Explanation of Drive System) FIG. 9 is a system diagram of a drive train in this embodiment.

The drive sources 101 and 102 for the process cartridge 15 provided on the apparatus main body 27 side, for example, motors are connected to the input gear 105b, The couplings 105a and 106a rotate integrally with the coupling 106b. The coupling 106a is supported by a bearing 116c.
The coupling 105a and the gear 105b are integrally or integrally formed as a gear flange 105, and are supported by a bearing 116b.

The drive system on the process cartridge side will be described.

Gears 105b and 107b are provided on the photosensitive drum 11 and the developing roller 18 which are directly involved in the development of the electrostatic latent image.
Gear flanges 105 and 107 formed integrally with a flange
Are fixed to one end, respectively, and the other end is provided with a bearing flange 11.
9 and 120 are fixed, and each is in a unit state. The gear 105b meshes with the sleeve gear 107b.

When the coupling 103 is rotated by the drive source 101 on the apparatus main body 27 side, the photosensitive drum 11 and
The developing roller 18 rotates. The photosensitive drum unit is
It is rotatably supported by bearings 116b and 117b.
The developing roller 18 is rotatably supported by the developing frame 17. The developing roller 18 rotates while maintaining an optimum gap with the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 via the same center butting rollers 118a and 118b having a larger outer diameter than the developing roller 18. The bearings 116b and 117b are holes directly provided in the cleaning frame 13 of the process cartridge 15 or bearing members 22 (see FIG. 3) fixed to the frame, and the journal portions of the flanges 105 and 119 are fitted. .

The stirring system is driven to the stirring member 113 via the stirring member 114 in the toner container 16 directly connected to the shaft of the input gear 106b, the idler gear 108 meshing with the input gear 106b, and the stirring gear 109 meshing with the idler gear 108. It is connected to transmit the driving force. The idler gear 108 is rotatably supported by a shaft 108a. Therefore, when the input gear 106b rotates, the stirring member 11
The journals 4 and 113 are crank-shaped and their journals are rotatably supported by bearings 116b, 116e, 117c and 117d, so that they rotate in conjunction with each other.

Further, in the cleaning frame 13 also serving as the removed toner reservoir 5, a blade-like removed toner feeding member 115 for transporting the removed toner removed from the photosensitive drum 11 is accommodated. The removed toner feeding member 115 is mounted on the cleaning frame 13 by bearings 116a and 117.
It is rotatably supported at a. Toner feed member 115
The removal toner feed input gear 112 is fixed to one end of the shaft. The removed toner feed gear 112 is the idler gear 11
It meshes with the output gear 110 via 1c, 111b, 111a. The stirring member 114 has an output gear 110 on the non-driving side opposite to the input gear 106b fixed to one end thereof.
Has been fixed. Idler gears 111a, 111b,
Reference numeral 111c designates each shaft as a bearing 117e, 117f, 1
It is rotatably supported at 17 g. Here, when the stirring member 114 rotates, the removed toner feeding member 11 is linked with the rotation.
5 also rotates.

As described above, each moving part in the process cartridge 15 includes the photosensitive drum 11 and the developing roller 1.
An eight-system drive train and a drive train for stirring and removing toner feed
It is configured to be driven separately from the driving sources 101 and 102 on the device main body 27 side.

Also, the removed toner is fed to the toner container 16.
The stirrer 13 may be driven in a similar configuration other than the transmission configuration from the output unit of the stirrer 114, or an input may be received from any of the input gears 106b, 109 and the idler gear 108 of the stirrer via a gear train. , Idler gear 1
The shaft 08 may be extended to the non-driving side and driven from this shaft via an idler gear.

As described above, the driving system related to the rotation of the photosensitive drum and the developing roller for forming an image on the photosensitive drum has the rotation unevenness of the stirring driving system related to the stirring of the toner and the feeding of the removed toner. By employing a configuration in which vibration is not directly transmitted, image pitch unevenness, blurring, and vibration unevenness can be prevented.

In particular, with the increase in capacity of the toner container,
The load on the stirring system increases. In addition, as the number of stirring members increases to three or four, drive irregularities are more likely to occur, and the above-described divided configuration of the drive system is advantageous.

In addition, when the amount of toner to be removed is increased due to the increase in capacity and the amount of removed toner in the cleaning frame is almost full, the drive system is similarly divided.

Further, since the drive input for the removal toner feed and the stirring drive input are configured as one system, the drive connection with the apparatus main body is simplified, so that the gears can be easily arranged and the space can be saved. It is advantageous above.

Further, conventionally, the stirring system is driven by directly meshing the gears from the developing roller. However, in the present invention, since the meshing is not performed, the stirring system is driven with the increase in the capacity of the toner container. Even if the load increases, it is not necessary to increase the strength of the gears 105b and 107 for driving the developing roller 18, and transmission by low-module gears is possible, and the image due to the non-uniform meshing pitch of the drum gear 105b and the sleeve gear 107b. It does not cause unevenness.

Further, in this embodiment, since the cleaning frame and the toner container are integrally fixed by the side cover, the driving of the removing toner feeding member and the driving of the stirring member are accurately connected. Is possible.

Also, since only the developing frame supporting the developing member such as the developing roller is swingably supported following the photosensitive drum, the drum gear 105b and the sleeve gear 1
07 is easy to drive.

Further, since the rotation of the removed toner feeding member 115 is transmitted from the stirring driving system, it can be easily optimized by the arrangement and configuration of the idler gear. In addition, it is possible to easily achieve the conventional rotation speed.

(Configuration of Cooling Air Path) FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a gear train arranged around the photosensitive drum, FIG. 8 (a) is a side view of the gear train with the side cover removed, and FIG. It is the side view which showed the side cover with the phantom line. In the cleaning frame 13, the collected removed toner is stored in a removed toner reservoir 5.
A feed member 115 for transporting the sheet to the back side is provided. When the feed member 115 is driven by the photosensitive drum 11, it may be necessary to perform a large deceleration in some cases. It is easy to obtain an appropriate rotation speed. In this case, the gears 111b, 111
8C is disposed near the photosensitive drum 11 from the toner storage container 16 through the developing frame 17 (see FIG. 8A).

In the case of the present embodiment, an air passage 19f (see FIG. 8B) is secured in the side cover 19 near the photosensitive drum in order to prevent a temperature rise near the photosensitive drum. Since the inner gears 111b and 111c of the gear train block the air passage 19f for cooling the inside, the gear 111
Slits 24a and 24b are provided in b and 111c so as to constitute the blades of the axial fan, and air is actively taken in or exhausted through the air passage 19b.

Further, the structure of the cooling air passage will be described with reference to FIGS. 10, 11 and 12. FIG. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the gear 111c. The gear 111b is the same except that the torsional direction of the teeth of the gear 111c and the torsional direction of the air path are both opposite. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing BB of FIG. 10 in an expanded manner, and FIG.
FIG.

The gear 111c is a helical gear, and a disk-shaped hub 111c3 connecting a rim 111c2 having a tooth portion and a boss 111c1 is equally spaced in the circumferential direction to form a slit 24c.
a penetrates. The surface of the hub 111c3 is separated from the inner surface 19h of the side cover 19. As a result, the air path 19 f provided in the side cover 19 that passes the inside and outside of the side cover 19 is connected to the slit 24 a via the space 29. The center hole of the boss 111c1 is rotatably supported by a shaft portion 19G protruding in the longitudinal direction inside the side cover 19, and a shaft retaining ring (not shown) is fitted into the shaft portion 19G so as not to move in the axial direction. ing. The above rim 11
In 1c2, one side surface 111c4 is close to the inner side surface 19h of the side cover 19. The side surfaces 19h and 111c4 make the penetration as small as possible. Therefore, both side surfaces 19h and 111c4 may enter each other like a labyrinth.

The slit 24a overlaps with the air passage 19f.

As shown in FIG. 11, adjacent slits 24a
Between the slit 24a is a screw blade shaped blade 24g. The shape of the adjacent slits 24a is desirably designed to improve the air blowing efficiency aerodynamically like an axial fan. However, since the rotation speed of the gear 111c is low, the blades may be simply inclined. The rim 11 is formed by these slits 24a.
An impeller is formed inside 1c2.

When the gear 111c rotates in the direction of the arrow 24c as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, air flows in the axial direction as shown by the arrow 24d, enters the space 29, and goes from the space 29 to the air passage 19f and the arrow 24h. Like the side cover 19
Is discharged out of the process cartridge through the air passage 19f.

As described above, the space 29 is divided into all the slits 24.
a so that all the blades 24
g contributes to the creation of the air flow.

When the direction 24f of the surface of the blade 24g is reversed, the flow of air is reversed even in the same rotational direction.
Air outside the image forming apparatus can be sent into the cartridge. It is effective to make the arrangement of the components in an advantageous direction from the overall configuration of the air passage.

When the torsion direction of the tooth trace 24e of the helical gear 111c is adjusted to the same direction as the direction 24f of the blade 24g, the air flow becomes the same direction in the axial direction, and in the case of resin molding, it is advantageous in terms of the mold configuration. is there. When the tooth traces 24e and the blades 24g of the gear 111c are to send air in the same axial direction, the side surface of the rim 111c2 and the inner surface of the side cover 119 are provided with a gap through which air can pass as well as the meshing portion of the gear. It is preferable that a cover is provided along the outer periphery of the gear 111c except for the casing 111 to form a casing of the blower.

As described above, the blade 24 having the slit 24a and the inclined surface 24f about the center of the gear 111c.
g to form the impeller, so that the gear 111
b, 111c rotate, so that the process cartridge 15
The heated air staying in the charging section cleaning blade section is exhausted. Further, heat generated in the fixing device 10 and the like is also removed. The image forming apparatus main body 27 is provided with a ventilation means (not shown) such as a natural ventilation hole or a fan for exchanging air in the image forming apparatus main body.

[0061]

As described above, according to the invention of the present application, by providing an impeller having a fan effect on the gears of the gear train, the cooling efficiency inside the process cartridge is increased, and a good image can be obtained. I can do it.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic main cross-sectional view of a process cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic main cross-sectional view of an apparatus main body according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic exploded perspective view of a frame structure of a process cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of a frame structure of a process cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of the process cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a partial schematic illustration of a process cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a partial schematic illustration of a process cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are partial schematic side views of a process cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a drive system of the process cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a gear according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 9;

FIG. 13 is a main sectional view of a conventional process cartridge.

[Explanation of symbols]

C: Image forming apparatus S: Sheet 1: Discharge roller 2: Discharge section 5: Removed toner reservoir 6: Sheet cassette 7: Conveying roller 8: Exposure device 9: Transfer roller 10: Fixing device 11: Photoconductor drums 11a, 11b ... Flange 11
a1 central hole 12 charging roller 13 cleaning frame 13a hole 13b positioning hole 13c side surface 13d spring hook 14 cleaning blade 15 process cartridge 16 toner container 16a, 16b positioning portion
16c: Opening 16d: Side 17: Developing frame 17a: Opening 17d: Hanging hole 1
7e Projecting member 17f Spring hook 18 Development roller 18a Magnet roller 19 Side cover 19a Hole 19b Positioning portion 19e Groove 19f Air path 19h Inner surface 20 Side cover 20a Hole 21 Seal Members 22a, 22b (22b is not shown) ... bearing member 23a ... slide piece 23b ... compression coil spring 24a, 24b ... slit 24c ... arrow 24d ... arrow 24e ... tooth trace 24f ... blade surface direction 24g
… Blade 25… shaft member 26… developing blade 27… device body 29… space 101… device body side drive source 102… device body side drive source 103… device body side coupling 104… device body side coupling 105 ... gear flange 105a ... process cartridge side input coupling 105b ... input gear 106a ... process cartridge side input coupling 106b ... input gear 107 ... developing roller gear flange 107b ... developing roller drive gear 108 ... idler gear 108a ... fixed shaft 109: stirring drive gear 110: stirring output gear 111a, 111b, 111c: idler gear 111
c1 ... boss 111c2 ... rim 111c3 ... hub 1
11c4 Side surface 112 Removed toner feed input gear 113 Stirring member 114 Stirring member 115 Removed toner feed member 116a-116e Bearing 117a-117g Bearing 118a, 118b Butt roller 119 ... Bearing flange 120 ... Bearing flange

Claims (14)

[Claims] An electrophotographic photosensitive drum; developing means for developing a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum using toner; and the electrophotographic photosensitive drum. Cleaning means for removing toner remaining after transfer to the body drum; and gears in a gear train connecting between a toner feeding member provided in the developing means and a feeding member provided in the cleaning means, wherein air is generated by rotation. A gear provided with a means for generating a flow, and a cover member provided with an air passage for covering the gear train and flowing air from the air flow into or out of the process cartridge. Process cartridge. 2. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said means for generating an air flow is an impeller centered on a center of a gear provided on the gear. 3. The process cartridge according to claim 2, wherein the impeller is formed by providing a slit in a gear hub. 4. The process cartridge according to claim 3, wherein the slit is provided with a blade surface in a direction in which outside air of the image forming apparatus main body is sucked into the process cartridge when a gear rotates. 5. The process cartridge according to claim 3, wherein the slit is provided with a blade surface in a direction of discharging air inside the process cartridge when the gear rotates. 6. The gear according to claim 2, wherein the gear is a helical gear, and the direction of inclination of the blade is the same as the twisting direction of the helical gear. Process cartridge. 7. The gear according to claim 1, wherein a side surface of an outer peripheral portion of the gear is close to an inner surface of the cover member, and an air passage of the cover member is covered by a side surface of the gear. The process cartridge described in any one of the above. 8. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the charging unit, the developing unit or the cleaning unit and the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally formed into a cartridge, and the cartridge is detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus main body. 7
The process cartridge according to any one of the above. 9. 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 member are integrally formed into a cartridge so as to be detachable from an image forming apparatus main body. 8. The process cartridge according to any one of items 7 to 7. 10. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein at least a developing unit and an electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally formed into a cartridge so as to be detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus main body.
8. The process cartridge according to any one of items 1 to 7, 11. 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, and a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum using toner. Developing means for developing and developing the toner, a cleaning means for removing toner remaining after transfer to the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and a gear train connecting between a toner feeding member provided in the developing means and a feeding member provided in the cleaning means. A gear provided with a means for generating an air flow by rotation; and an air passage for covering the gear train and for flowing air by the air flow into or out of the process cartridge. A cover member; and mounting means for removably mounting a process cartridge having: b. It means a, c, electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprising a conveying unit, to have a for conveying the recording medium. 12. A gear comprising an impeller between a center of rotation and an outer peripheral tooth portion, the center of which is a center of rotation, and which rotates to generate an airflow in an axial direction. 13. The gear, wherein a casing has a member having an air passage at a portion where one side surface of an outer peripheral portion of the gear approaches and overlaps with a side surface of the gear, and a blade of the gear and the casing are separated from each other. 13. The gear according to claim 12, wherein: 14. The gear according to claim 12, wherein the gear is a helical gear, and the torsion direction of the tooth trace and the direction of inclination of the blade surface are the same.