JP2001249509A - Power feeding member and electrophotographic image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a power feeding member with a simple construction where assembly to an electrophotographic image forming device main body is easy and an electrophotographic image forming device provided with it. SOLUTION: In the power feeding member C, a contact part 40 to feed specified power to a processing means working on an electrophotographic photoreceptor or to a main body processing means and a feeding part (41) to feed the specified power to the contact part 40 are provided, the contact part 40 and the feeding part (41) are fixed and connected and the contact part 40 is loaded to the main body of the electrophotographic image forming device to be attachable and detachable.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a power supply member and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

Here, the electrophotographic image forming apparatus forms an image on a recording medium using an electrophotographic image forming method. Examples of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus include, for example, an electrophotographic copying machine, an electrophotographic printer (for example, a laser printer, an LED printer, and the like), a facsimile machine, a word processor, and the like.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic image forming process, a cartridge is integrally formed with an electrophotographic photosensitive member and process means acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and the cartridge is used for image forming. A process cartridge system that can be attached to and detached from the forming apparatus 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 serviceman, so that the operability can be remarkably improved. Therefore, this process cartridge system is widely used in image forming apparatuses.

In such an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, a charging bias of a predetermined voltage is applied to a charging means as a processing means in order to charge an electrophotographic photosensitive member of a process cartridge. In order to develop the electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member with a developer, a developing bias of a predetermined voltage is applied to a developing unit as a process unit. Further, in order to transfer the developer image of the electrostatic latent image of the electrophotographic photosensitive member developed by the developing means to a recording medium such as recording paper, a transfer bias of a predetermined voltage is applied to a transfer means as a main body process means. ing. Power supply of each bias to the charging unit, the developing unit, and the transfer unit is performed using a power supply member individually arranged in the image forming apparatus main body.

FIG. 2 shows the power supply members arranged on the image forming apparatus main body side. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 20 denotes a main body side sheet metal; 21, a main body frame also serving as a recording paper conveyance guide;
Reference numerals 5, 26 and 27 denote spring contacts corresponding to the power supply members, respectively. Here, 25 is a spring contact for charging bias,
26 is a spring contact for a developing bias, and 27 is a spring contact for a transfer bias. Reference numerals 22, 23, and 24 denote holding members for holding the spring contacts 25, 26, and 27, respectively, and maintain insulation between the main body-side sheet metal 20 and the high-voltage power supply unit having the high-voltage generating circuit. These spring contacts 25, 26, 27 are held at upper and lower positions of the holding members 22, 23, 24. Then, the above-mentioned respective biases from a high voltage generating circuit (not shown) are supplied to the corresponding charging means, developing means and transfer means.

[0006]

As described above, since the spring contact is held by the holding member, when the distance between the high-voltage power supply unit and the process cartridge mounted on the image forming apparatus main body is long, the spring contact is not supported. The spring contact and the holding member must be manufactured to a length corresponding to the distance. For this reason, the spring contact and the holding member tend to be large. Therefore, in order to avoid an increase in the size of the spring contact and the holding member, a method of arranging a high-voltage power supply near the mounting position of the process cartridge is conceivable. In addition, the number of bundles for supplying power to the mounting substrate also increases. For this reason, it is expected that the size and cost of the image forming apparatus main body will be increased.

The present invention is a further development of the above-mentioned prior art, and its main object is to provide a power supply member having a simple configuration and capable of easily assembling an electrophotographic image forming apparatus to a main body. Is to provide.

Another main object is to provide an electrophotographic image forming apparatus having a power supply member which has a simple structure and can be easily assembled to a main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

[0009]

A typical configuration of the power supply member according to the present invention for achieving the above object is an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a process means acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and the electrophotographic photosensitive member. In a power supply member used in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus having a main body processing means acting on a photoreceptor, a predetermined power is supplied to the processing means or the main body processing means by contacting the processing means or the main body processing means And a supply unit for supplying the predetermined power to the contact unit. The contact unit and the supply unit are fixedly connected, and the contact unit is used for electrophotographic image formation. A power supply member that is detachably attached to a main body of the device.

A typical configuration of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to the present invention for achieving the above object is to form an image on a recording medium by detachably attaching a process cartridge to the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus. Mounting means for detachably mounting a process cartridge having (a) an electrophotographic photosensitive member and process means acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive member; and (b) the electronic device. And (c) a power supply member for supplying predetermined power to the process means or the main body process means, wherein the power supply member includes the process means or A contact portion for supplying the predetermined power to the process means or the body process means in contact with the body process means; And a supply unit for supplying the predetermined power to the unit, wherein the contact unit and the supply unit are fixedly connected, and the contact unit is detachably attached to the electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body. This is an electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

(Operation) The power supply member includes a process means,
Alternatively, since the contact portion for supplying a predetermined power to the main body process means and the supply portion for supplying the contact portion with the power are integrally connected, the structure is simple. In addition, since the contact portion is detachably attached to the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, it can be easily assembled to the main body. Then, in a state where the contact portion is attached to the main body, the contact portion comes into contact with the processing means or the main body processing means, and the contact portion applies predetermined power supplied from the supply portion to the processing means or the main body processing means. Supply.

In the above electrophotographic image forming apparatus, by assembling the power supply member to the main body, even if the processing means or the main body processing means is separated from the high-voltage power supply section, it can be dealt with by lengthening the supply section. Therefore,
It is possible to avoid an increase in the size and cost of the main body due to the necessity of a new mounting board for the high-voltage power supply unit and an increase in the number of bundles for supplying power to the mounting board.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

First Embodiment (Overall Configuration) First, the overall configuration of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a laser beam printer which is an electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to the embodiment.

In FIG. 1, A is an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and B is a process cartridge B mounted on an electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body (hereinafter referred to as "main body") A1 of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus A.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a paper feed cassette for storing recording paper P as a recording medium. A paper feed roller 11 is provided above the paper feed cassette 10.
Transports the recording paper P toward the transport roller 12 arranged along the recording paper transport direction indicated by the arrow.

A drum-shaped electrophotographic photosensitive member (hereinafter referred to as "photosensitive drum") 14 on which an electrostatic latent image is formed is provided downstream of the transport roller 12 in the recording paper transport direction. The transport roller 12 transfers the recording paper P to the photosensitive drum 1 while timing the image forming operation of the photosensitive drum 14.
To 4.

The photosensitive drum 14 is uniformly charged by a primary charger 8 as charging means, and the semiconductor laser 3 of the optical system (exposure device) 9 is operated by an image signal from an external device (not shown) such as a personal computer. The laser beam is turned on / off, the laser beam is applied to the polygon mirror 1, and the reflected light is applied to the photosensitive drum 14 via the imaging lens 4 and the reflection mirror 5. Thus, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image signal is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 14. This electrostatic latent image is developed by a developing device 20 as a developing unit and is visualized as a visible image. The visible image is transferred onto the recording paper P by applying a voltage (transfer bias) to a transfer roller 15 as a main body process means.

The recording paper P on which the visible image has been transferred is conveyed toward the heat fixing device 18, and the visible image on the recording paper P is fixed as a permanent image in the heat fixing device 18. The recording paper P on which the image has been fixed is discharged out of the apparatus by discharge rollers 17 and is stacked on a discharge tray 19. Note that the paper feed roller 11, the transport roller 12, the transfer roller 15, the photosensitive drum 1
4. The heat fixing device 18 and the paper discharge roller 17 are rotationally driven by a driving motor 13 as a driving unit.

On the other hand, the process cartridge B has 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 an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, a cleaning means for cleaning toner remaining on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member Etc. Process cartridge B of the present embodiment
As shown in FIG. 1, the photosensitive drum 14 which is an electrophotographic photosensitive member having a photosensitive layer is rotated, and a voltage is applied to the primary charger 8 which is a charging means (charging bias is applied). The surface is uniformly charged, and a laser beam from the optical system 9 is exposed to the charged photosensitive drum 14 through an exposure opening to form an electrostatic latent image, and the electrostatic latent image is developed. The development is performed by the means 20.

The developing means 20 includes a toner storage frame 20.
The toner is sent to the developing roller 20b side as a developer carrying member by a rotatable toner feeding member (not shown) in a.
The developing roller 20b containing a fixed magnet is rotated, and a toner layer provided with a triboelectric charge by a developing blade (not shown) is formed on the surface of the developing roller 20b. Then, a voltage is applied to the developing roller 20b (developing bias is applied), and the toner is transferred to the photosensitive drum 14 in accordance with the electrostatic latent image, thereby forming a toner image and visualizing the toner image. The developing roller 20b rotates together with the photosensitive drum 14 to transfer toner to the photosensitive drum 14.
To supply.

Then, after applying a voltage (transfer bias) having a polarity opposite to that of the toner image to the transfer roller 15 to transfer the toner image onto the recording paper P, the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 14 is scraped off by the cleaning blade 7a. It is configured to be collected in the cleaning container 7.

Here, the photosensitive drum 14, the primary charger 8,
The developing device 20 and the cleaning container 7 are integrally formed as a cartridge to constitute a process cartridge B. More specifically, the photosensitive drum 14, the primary charger 8, the developing device 20, and the cleaning container 7 are held by a cartridge frame constituting a housing of the process cartridge B, and are integrally formed as a cartridge. The process cartridge B is removably mounted on a cartridge mounting means provided on the main body A1.

When the opening / closing member 16 provided at the upper part of the main body A1 so as to be openable and closable is opened about a shaft, the space for the cartridge mounting portion appears. A cartridge mounting guide member (not shown) is disposed on the left and right sides of the cartridge mounting portion. A guide formed of a boss and a rib provided on the outer surface of the process cartridge B in the longitudinal direction (axial direction of the photosensitive drum 14) is provided. The process cartridge B is guided by being fitted to a member, and is attached to and detached from the main body A1 in the arrow X direction.

(Description of Power Supply Structure) Next, a description will be given of a power supply structure for supplying a transfer bias to the transfer roller, a charging bias to the primary charger, and a developing bias to the developing roller. The configuration for supplying the transfer bias to the transfer roller 15 includes the transfer roller 1.
5 has a transfer bias contact (not shown) at a predetermined position. A power supply member C (see FIG. 4) for supplying a transfer bias provided on the main body A1 is in electrical contact with the transfer bias contact, and a high-voltage power supply unit as power generation means provided on the main body A1 is provided. Further, the transfer bias is supplied to the transfer roller 15 via the power supply member and the transfer bias contact. In the configuration for supplying the charging bias to the primary charger 8, a charging bias contact (not shown) electrically connected to the primary charger 8 is provided at a predetermined position on the cartridge frame of the process cartridge B. When the process cartridge B is mounted on the main body A1, a power supply member C for charging bias power supply provided on the main body A1 (see FIG. 4).
Is in electrical contact with the charging bias contact. The charging bias is supplied from the high-voltage power supply unit to the primary charger 8 via the power supply member and the charging bias contact. In the configuration for supplying the developing bias to the developing roller 20b, a developing bias contact (not shown) electrically connected to the developing roller 20b is provided at a predetermined position of the cartridge frame of the process cartridge B. When the process cartridge B is mounted on the main body A1, the main body A1
The power supply member C (see FIG. 4) for supplying the developing bias is provided in contact with the developing bias contact. The developing bias is supplied from the high voltage power supply unit to the developing roller 20b via the power supply member and the developing bias contact.

(Configuration of Power Supply Member) Next, the configuration of the power supply member provided in the main body A1 will be described. As described above, the main body A1 is assembled with three power supply members for transfer bias power supply, charging bias power supply, and developing bias power supply. The embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a spring contact portion which is a contact portion in a contact spring as a power supply member, and FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a state where the contact spring as a power supply member is assembled to the main body.

As shown in FIG. 4, the contact spring C according to the embodiment has a spring contact portion 40 as a contact portion and an electric wire 41 as a supply portion. The spring contact portion 40 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 4, a contact piece 3c for contacting the transfer bias contact, the charging bias contact or the developing bias contact, and a substantially L-shaped fixing portion 3b for fixing to the main body A1.
And a substantially U-shaped crimping portion 3c for crimping and connecting the electric wire 41, and is formed of a thin plate material so that the entire spring contact portion has spring properties. The electric wire 41 is used to supply the required bias to the spring contact 40, and is used to withstand a high voltage so as not to be short-circuited even when it comes into contact with a sheet metal or the like in the main body A1. As shown in FIG. 4, the electric wire 41 has one end 41 a connected to the high-voltage power supply unit 60 provided on the main body A <b> 1, and the other end 41 b crimped to the substantially U-shaped crimp portion 3 c of the spring contact portion 40. Strongly connected.

As shown in FIG. 4, the contact spring C having such a structure is provided with the transfer bias contact, the charging bias contact,
Alternatively, at the position corresponding to the developing bias contact, the spring contact 4
The fixed portion 3b of the “0” is fixed to the main body frame. The fixing portion 3b is detachably attached to the main body frame 42. The main body frame 42 holds the spring contact portion 40, but also serves as a recording paper conveyance guide.
The spring contact portion 40 is connected to the electric wire 41 by the high-voltage power supply portion 60.
Is supplied to the transfer bias contact, the charging bias contact, or the developing bias contact. As a result, the transfer bias is supplied to the transfer roller 15, the charging bias is supplied to the primary charger 8, and the developing bias is individually supplied to the developing roller 20d.

As described above, the contact spring C of this embodiment is
Is an integrated configuration in which the spring contact portion 40 and the electric wire 41 are fixedly connected, so that the configuration is simple. Therefore, it can be manufactured at low cost and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. Further, even if the transfer bias contact, the charging bias contact, or the developing bias contact is separated from the high voltage power supply unit 60, the electric wire 41
Can be dealt with by making it longer. Therefore, it is possible to avoid an increase in the size of the main body A1 due to the necessity of a new mounting board for the high-voltage power supply unit 60 and an increase in the number of bundled wires for supplying power to the mounting board. In addition, since the spring contact portion 40 and the electric wire 41 are fixedly connected to each other, and are fixed to the main body frame 42 by using the fixing portion 3b of the spring contact portion 40, assembly to the main body A1 is simplified. It can be carried out.

[Second Embodiment] In this embodiment,
A contact spring as a power supply member provided in the main body instead of the power supply member of the first embodiment will be described. The same components as those of the spring contact (power supply member) of the first embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals.

(Structure of Feeding Member) The feature of the contact spring according to the present embodiment is that it has a crimp terminal portion as a connection portion for connecting the spring contact portion and the electric wire, and the crimp terminal portion is attached to the main body. It has a fixing portion for fixing. FIG. 5 is a side view of the contact spring according to the embodiment.

In FIG. 5, reference numeral 50 denotes a spring contact portion as a contact portion, 51 denotes a crimp terminal portion as a connection portion, and 41 denotes an electric wire as a supply portion. The spring contact portion 50 is in contact with the above-described transfer bias contact, charging bias contact, or developing bias contact, and is formed in a wire shape having spring properties over the entire spring contact portion. It has a substantially U-shaped contact piece 50a at one end opposite to the crimp terminal portion 51 and is bent so as to be substantially L-shaped as a whole.
The crimp terminal portion 51 includes a first crimp portion 51a and a fixing portion 3 for fixing to the main body A1 from the wire-shaped spring contact portion 50 side.
b, having a second crimping portion 3a. The first crimping portion 51a and the second crimping portion 3b are formed in a substantially U-shape, for example, like the crimping portion 3b of the first embodiment. The other end of the wire-shaped spring contact portion 50 is crimped to the first crimping portion 51a and firmly connected thereto, and the other end 41b of the electric wire 41 is crimped to the second crimping portion 3b and firmly connected thereto. Have been. As the electric wire 41, a wire that can withstand a high voltage is used so as not to be short-circuited even when it comes into contact with a sheet metal or the like in the main body A1. Then, one end 41a of the electric wire 41 is connected to the high-voltage power supply unit 60 provided in the main body A1.

As in the first embodiment, the contact spring C having such a structure is used to fix the fixing portion 3b of the crimp terminal 51 at a position corresponding to the transfer bias contact, the charging bias contact, or the developing bias contact. Are fixed to a body frame (not shown). The fixing portion 3b is detachably attached to the main body frame. The spring contact section 50 applies the required bias supplied from the high voltage power supply section 60 via the electric wire 41 and the crimp terminal section 51 to the transfer bias contact,
It is supplied to a charging bias contact or a developing bias contact. As a result, the transfer bias is supplied to the transfer roller 15, the charging bias is supplied to the primary charger 8, and the developing bias is individually supplied to the developing roller 20d.

As described above, the contact spring C of this embodiment is
Is an integral structure in which the spring contact part 50 and the electric wire 41 are fixedly connected via the crimp terminal part 51, so that the structure is simple. Therefore, it can be manufactured at low cost and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. Also, a transfer bias contact, a charging bias contact,
Alternatively, even if the developing bias contact is separated from the high-voltage power supply unit 60, it can be dealt with by lengthening the electric wire 41.
Therefore, it is possible to avoid an increase in the size of the main body A1 due to the necessity of a new mounting board for the high-voltage power supply unit 60 and an increase in the number of bundled wires for supplying power to the mounting board. Further, since the spring contact portion 50 and the electric wire 41 are fixedly connected to each other via the crimp terminal portion 51 and are fixed to the main body frame using the fixing portion 3b of the crimp terminal portion 51, the main body A1 Can be easily assembled.

[Third Embodiment] In the second embodiment, the contact spring C in which the spring contact portion 50 and the crimp terminal portion 51 are fixedly connected has been described. A contact spring (power supply member) for contacting and fixing the crimp terminal portion to the portion will be described. FIG. 6 shows a contact spring according to the present embodiment. The same components as those of the contact spring of the second embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals.

(Structure of power supply member) In FIG. 6, reference numeral 50 denotes a spring contact portion as a contact portion, 51 denotes a crimp terminal portion as a connection portion, and 41 denotes an electric wire as a supply portion. The spring contact portion 50 is fixed to the main body A1, and comes into contact with the transfer bias contact, the charging bias contact, or the developing bias contact described above. The spring contact portion 50 is formed in a wire shape having spring properties over the entire spring contact portion. ing. And it has a substantially U-shaped first contact piece 50a at one end opposite to the crimp terminal part 51,
The other end on the crimp terminal portion 51 side has a substantially U-shaped second contact piece 50b, and is bent so as to be substantially L-shaped as a whole. The crimp terminal portion 51 includes a fixing portion 3 b detachably fixed to a main body frame (not shown), and an electric wire 41.
And a crimping portion 3a for crimping the other end 41b of the first portion.
The fixing portion 3b of the crimp terminal portion 51 is fixed to the main body frame so as to contact the second contact piece 50b of the spring contact portion 50. The other end 41b of the electric wire 41 is crimped to the crimping portion 3b and is firmly connected. Electric wire 41
The one that can withstand high voltage is used so as not to cause a short circuit even when it comes into contact with a sheet metal or the like in the main body A1. Then, one end 41a of the electric wire 41 is connected to the high-voltage power supply unit 60 provided in the main body A1.

In the contact spring C having such a configuration, the spring contact portion 50 is fixed to the main body A1 at a position corresponding to the transfer bias contact, the charging bias contact, or the developing bias contact. The crimp terminal part 51 is fixed to the second contact piece 50b of the spring contact part 50 by being mounted on the main body frame. The spring contact section 50 supplies the required bias supplied from the high voltage power supply section 60 via the electric wire 41 and the crimp terminal section 51 to the transfer bias contact, the charging bias contact, or the developing bias contact. As a result, a transfer bias is applied to the transfer roller 15 and the primary charger 8
, And a developing bias is individually supplied to the developing roller 20d.

As described above, the contact spring C of this embodiment is
Is for contacting and fixing the crimp terminal portion 51 to the spring contact portion 50 fixed to the main body A1.
However, there is an effect that the crimp terminal portions 51 having the same shape can be configured even if the shapes are different.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the transfer roller can be formed by using the inexpensive contact spring (power supply member) C with good assemblability in the electrophotographic image forming apparatus A. (Main body process means) 15, primary charger (process means) 8, developing roller (process means) 20
A required power supply (bias supply) can be performed for d.

[Other Embodiments] An example has been described in which the power supply member shown in the above-described embodiment supplies a developing bias to the developing roller of the developing device of the process cartridge. A developing device having a developing container including a developing unit such as a container and a developing roller, which is preferably used as a power supply member for supplying a developing bias to the developing roller of the developing device detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus main body. It is. Further, it is suitably used as a power supply member for applying a high voltage bias (fixing bias) to a fixing roller or the like of the heat fixing device 18 in order to prevent toner adhesion due to offset or the like and to prevent toner from scattering. .

Although the process cartridge shown in the above-mentioned embodiment has exemplified the case of forming a single color image, the process cartridge according to the present invention is provided with a plurality of developing means,
The present invention can be suitably applied to a cartridge for forming a plurality of color images (for example, a two-color image, a three-color image, or a full-color image).

The electrophotographic photosensitive member is not limited to the above-mentioned photosensitive drum, and includes, for example, the following. First, a photoconductor is used as a photoconductor. Examples of the photoconductor include amorphous silicon, amorphous selenium, zinc oxide, titanium oxide, and an organic photoconductor (OP).
C) and the like. For example, a drum-shaped or belt-shaped one is used as the shape on which the photoconductor is mounted. For example, in the case of a drum-type photoconductor, a photoconductor is deposited or coated on a cylinder of aluminum alloy or the like. It was done.

Various developing methods such as a known two-component magnetic brush developing method, a cascade developing method, a touch-down developing method, and a cloud developing method can be used as the developing method.

In the above-described embodiment, a so-called contact charging method is used for the structure of the charging means. However, as another structure, a metal shield made of aluminum or the like is provided around three sides of a conventionally used tangs wire. Naturally, a configuration may be used in which positive or negative ions generated by applying a high voltage to the tongue wire are moved to the surface of the photosensitive drum, and the surface of the drum is uniformly charged.

The charging means may be of a blade (charging blade), pad type, block type, rod type, wire type or the like in addition to the roller type.

As a method of cleaning the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum, a cleaning means may be constituted by using a blade, a fur brush, a magnetic brush, or the like.

The process cartridge described above is
For example, an electrophotographic photosensitive member and at least one of the process means
It has one. Therefore, as an aspect of the process cartridge, in addition to the above-described embodiment, for example, an electrophotographic photosensitive member and a charging unit are integrally formed into a cartridge and can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body. The electrophotographic photosensitive member and the developing means are integrally formed into a cartridge,
A device that can be attached to and detached from the device body. An electrophotographic photosensitive member and a cleaning means are integrally formed into a cartridge so that the cartridge can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body. Further, there is a type in which an electrophotographic photoreceptor and two or more of the above-mentioned process means are combined into a cartridge to be integrally detachable from the apparatus main body.

That is, the above-mentioned process cartridge is a cartridge in which 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 detachable from the main body of the image forming apparatus. . In addition, at least one of the charging unit, the developing unit, and the cleaning unit and the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally formed into a cartridge so that the cartridge can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body. Further, it refers to a device in which at least the developing means and the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally formed into a cartridge so as to be detachably mountable to the image forming apparatus main body. The process cartridge can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body by the user himself. Therefore, the maintenance of the apparatus main body can be performed by the user himself.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, a laser beam printer is exemplified as the electrophotographic image forming apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, an electrophotographic copying machine, a facsimile machine, a word processor, etc. Of course, it is also possible to use it for the electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

[0050]

As described above, according to the power supply member of the present invention, it is possible to easily assemble the electrophotographic image forming apparatus into the main body with a simple configuration.

According to the electrophotographic image forming apparatus of the present invention, by supplying the power supply member to the main body, the supply section can be lengthened even if the processing means or the main body processing means is separated from the high-voltage power supply section. Therefore, it is possible to avoid an increase in the size of the main body due to the necessity of a new mounting board for the high-voltage power supply unit and an increase in the number of bundles for supplying power to the mounting board.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a laser beam printer as an electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of a conventional power supply member.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a spring contact portion of the contact spring according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a state where the contact spring according to the first embodiment is assembled to a main body.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a contact spring according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a side view of a contact spring according to a third embodiment;

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference numeral 3a ‥‥ Crimping portion 3b ‥‥ Fixing portion 7 ‥‥ Cleaning container 8 ‥‥ Primary charger 14 ‥‥ Electrophotographic photoreceptor 15 ‥‥ Transfer roller 20 ‥‥ Developing device 40 接点 Spring contact portion 41 ‥‥ Electric wire 51 ‥ ‥ Crimping terminal section 60 ‥‥ High voltage power supply section A ‥‥ Electrophotographic image forming apparatus A1 ‥‥ Body B ‥‥ Process cartridge C ‥‥ Contact spring

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2H003 BB11 EE18 2H032 AA05 BA23 2H071 BA04 BA13 BA20 DA06 DA08 DA09 DA34 2H077 AD06 AD35 FA26

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. A power supply member for use in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprising: an electrophotographic photosensitive member; a process unit acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive member; and a main body process unit acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive member. A contact unit for supplying predetermined power to the process unit or the main body process unit in contact with the process unit or the main body process unit; and a supply unit for supplying the predetermined power to the contact unit. And a power supply member, wherein the contact portion and the supply portion are fixedly connected, and the contact portion is detachably attached to a main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus. 2. The power supply member according to claim 1, further comprising: a connection portion for connecting the supply portion to the contact portion; and a fixing portion for fixing the contact portion to a main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus. A power supply member, characterized in that: 3. The power supply member according to claim 1, further comprising a connection portion for connecting the contact portion and the supply portion, wherein the connection portion is fixed to a main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus. A power supply member, comprising: 4. The power supply member according to claim 1, wherein the power supply member is provided as charging means for charging the electrophotographic photosensitive member as the process means, and the power supply member is used as the predetermined power. A power supply member for supplying a charging bias. 5. The power supply member according to claim 1, wherein the power supply member develops an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member as a process unit using a developer. Power supply member for supplying a developing bias as the predetermined electric power to a developing member included in a developing means for the developing device. 6. The power supply member according to claim 1, wherein the power supply member is formed by developing an electrostatic latent image of the electrophotographic photosensitive member with a developer as the main body process unit. A power supply member for supplying a transfer bias as the predetermined power to a transfer unit for transferring an agent image onto a recording medium. 7. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium, wherein a process cartridge is detachable from a main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein: (a) an electrophotographic photosensitive member; Mounting means for removably mounting a process cartridge having: (b) a main body processing means acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive member; and (c) the processing means or the main body. A power supply member for supplying a predetermined power to the process means, wherein the power supply member contacts the process means or the main body process means, and supplies the predetermined power to the process means or the main body process means. A contact portion for supplying power, and a supply portion for supplying the predetermined power to the contact portion, the contact portion and the Supply unit is fixedly connected, said contact portion electrophotographic image forming apparatus characterized by being detachably attached to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body. 8. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the power supply member is fixed to the contact portion, a connection portion for connecting the supply portion, and a main body of the electrophotographic image forming device. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprising: 9. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the power supply member further has a connection portion for connecting the contact portion and the supply portion, wherein the connection portion includes:
An electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprising: a fixing portion for fixing to a main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus. 10. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising: a power generation unit configured to generate the predetermined power and supply the power to a power supply unit of the power supply member. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprising: 11. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the power supply member is provided to a charging unit for charging the electrophotographic photosensitive member as the process unit. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein a charging bias is supplied as the power of the image forming apparatus. 12. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the power supply member uses a developer as an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member as a process unit. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein a developing bias is supplied as the predetermined power to a developing member included in a developing unit for developing the image. 13. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the power supply member is configured to develop an electrostatic latent image of the electrophotographic photosensitive member as a main body process unit with a developer. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein a transfer bias is supplied as the predetermined power to a transfer unit for transferring the developed developer image onto the recording medium. 14. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the process cartridge is a charging unit for charging the electrophotographic photosensitive member as the process unit. Developing means for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the photographic photosensitive member with a developer, at least one of cleaning means for removing the developer remaining on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and the electrophotographic photosensitive member. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus, wherein the cartridge is integrally formed and the cartridge is detachably mountable to the electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body.