JP2001337580A - Electrophotographic image forming device, process cartridge and loading frame - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To protect a photoreceptor drum in an image forming device where a loading frame loaded with a process cartridge is inserted to and extracted from an image forming device main body. SOLUTION: In the process cartridge, a photoreceptor shutter 52 by which a window 51 for exposure of the process cartridge 10 that is loaded on the loading frame 55 is opened and closed is constituted to have a shutter member 52a connected to a cartridge frame body 10a by parallel links 53F and 53R, and opening and closing is carried out by making use of a movement to insert and extract the loading frame 55 to and from the device main body 22.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, a process cartridge and a process cartridge for developing a latent image formed on a photoreceptor with toner and transferring the toner to a recording medium such as recording paper for recording. The present invention relates to a configuration of a holding frame used for attaching and detaching the image forming apparatus to and from the image forming apparatus body.

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 beam printer, an LED printer, etc.), a facsimile machine, and a word processor.

[0003] Here, the present invention relates to an image recording apparatus having functions such as a copying machine and a printer, and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus suitable for being used as an output device such as a multifunction peripheral or a workstation having the functions.

A process cartridge is a cartridge in which a charging unit, a developing unit or a cleaning unit and an electrophotographic photosensitive drum are integrally formed as a cartridge, and this cartridge is 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, it means that 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.

[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, maintenance of the apparatus can be performed with one touch without using tools, so that operability can be remarkably improved. Therefore, this process cartridge system is widely used in image forming apparatuses.

A plurality of process cartridges are juxtaposed in an apparatus, and a latent image is formed on the surface of the photoconductor by forming an optical image such as a laser beam or LED light on the surface of the drum-shaped photoconductor in each process cartridge. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus (hereinafter, referred to as an image forming apparatus) that visualizes the latent image using toner by a developing unit, sequentially transfers the toner to a recording medium, and fixes the recording medium collectively to form a color image. ) Has recently been put to practical use.

In such an image forming apparatus, the process cartridges juxtaposed are mounted on the main body of the image forming apparatus on a single mounting frame. Then, the mounting frame from the image forming apparatus main body is pulled out in a horizontal direction parallel to the photoconductor, and the process cartridge is attached to and detached from the mounting frame in the pulled-out state.

[0008]

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

When the electrophotographic process unit is replaced, the photosensitive member in the process cartridge on the mounting frame drawn out of the main body of the image forming apparatus is installed so as to be exposed to the surroundings.

According to the present invention, there is provided an electronic device which does not damage the surface of the photoreceptor by dropping any object, for example, a writing tool or a tool placed in a breast pocket, on the photoreceptor while the process cartridge replacement operator is working. An object of the present invention is to provide a photographic image forming apparatus, a process cartridge, and a mounting frame.

Further, the present invention provides an electrophotographic image forming apparatus in which a photoreceptor exposed outside the apparatus during a process cartridge replacement operation is irradiated with an excessive amount of light so that the photoreceptor does not deteriorate early. It is an object to provide an apparatus and a process cartridge.

[0012]

Means for Solving the Problems The main aspects of the present invention will be described below with the numbers corresponding to the claims.

According to a first 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, wherein: (a) an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; And an exposure window for supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive drum and the processing means, and exposing the electrophotographic photosensitive drum to light, and a main body of the image forming apparatus in a direction parallel to the electrophotographic photosensitive drum. A cartridge frame that can be mounted on a mounting frame that can be inserted into and pulled out from, and the exposure window is moved by moving the mounting frame when the mounting frame mounted on the mounting frame is inserted into and pulled out of the image forming apparatus main body. A photoreceptor shutter that opens and closes,
And (b) the mounting frame carrying the process cartridge is inserted into or pulled out of the image forming apparatus main body in a direction parallel to the electrophotographic photosensitive drum. An electrophotographic apparatus comprising: a control member provided in an image forming apparatus main body for controlling opening and closing of the photoconductor shutter when being pulled out; and (c) conveying means for conveying the recording medium. An image forming apparatus.

According to a seventh 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 and acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum; And an exposure window for supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive drum and the processing means, and exposing the electrophotographic photosensitive drum to light, and the image forming apparatus main body in a direction parallel to the electrophotographic photosensitive drum. Opening and closing the exposure window by moving the loading frame when the loading frame placed on the loading frame that can be put in and out, and the loading frame placed on the loading frame is inserted into and pulled out of the image forming apparatus main body. And a plurality of process cartridges each having a photoreceptor shutter which is inserted in the main body of the image forming apparatus in a direction parallel to the electrophotographic photoreceptor drum. (B) a control member provided on the image forming apparatus main body for controlling opening and closing of the photoconductor shutter when the mount frame supporting the process cartridge is inserted into or pulled out of the image forming apparatus main body; (C) conveying means for conveying the recording medium;
An electrophotographic image forming apparatus comprising:

According to a thirteenth 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, a process means acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and the electrophotographic photosensitive drum And an exposure window for exposing the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, supporting the process means, and mounted on a mounting frame that can be inserted into and pulled out of the image forming apparatus main body in a direction parallel to the electrophotographic photosensitive drum. A possible cartridge frame, and a photoreceptor shutter that opens and closes the exposure window by moving the loading frame when the loading frame is inserted into and pulled out of the image forming apparatus main body placed on the loading frame. A process cartridge characterized by the following.

According to a nineteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a frame for mounting and removing a process cartridge from an image forming apparatus main body, wherein (a) an electrophotographic photosensitive drum and the electrophotographic photosensitive drum. An image forming apparatus supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive drum and the process means, and having an exposure window for exposing the electrophotographic photosensitive drum; and an image forming apparatus in a direction parallel to the electrophotographic photosensitive drum. A cartridge frame body that can be inserted into and pulled out from the main body and that can be placed on the shelf frame main body, and that the shelf frame body that is placed on the shelf frame body is inserted into and pulled out of the image forming apparatus main body by moving the shelf frame body A photoreceptor shutter that opens and closes the exposure window, and carries a process cartridge having the photoreceptor shutter inserted into the image forming apparatus main body in a direction parallel to the electrophotographic photoreceptor drum. And the frame body not to be pulled out, (b)
A transmission member for transmitting a motion to the photosensitive member shutter to open and close the photosensitive member shutter by engaging with a member provided in the image forming device main body when the placing frame moves with respect to the image forming device main body. This is a place frame.

[0017]

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

[First Embodiment] FIG. 6 shows an example of a color copying apparatus. This device has yellow Y, magenta M,
This is a color electrophotographic copying machine that forms an image by superimposing toners of four colors of cyan C and black K (hereinafter, Y, M, C, and K are attached to reference numerals).

Reference numerals 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K denote yellow, magenta, cyan, and black image forming units, respectively, and reference numeral 8 denotes a transfer belt.

The transfer belt 8 is wound around a driving roller 8a driven by a motor 9 via a winding electric device and two driven rollers 8b and 8c. On the transfer belt 8, the photosensitive drums 13Y, 13M, 13C, 1
The image forming units 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K that are respectively configured in the process cartridge 10 that is in contact with 3K are arranged in parallel.

A transfer material P such as paper as a recording medium stored in a cassette 1 is fed by a feed roller 2
Registration rollers 7 transported by transport rollers 3 to 6
To reach. The transfer material P is sent out toward the transfer belt 8 at an appropriate timing by correcting skew and the like by the registration roller 7. The transfer belt 8 is made of a sheet material of an insulating resin, and the surface of the transfer material is charged by a charger 11 below the transfer belt 8. During this time, the photosensitive drum 1 is controlled by an image information signal sent from the document reading device 12 or an output device (not shown) such as a computer.
On 3 (13Y, 13M, 13C, 13K), latent images corresponding to the respective colors are formed. Registration roller 7
The transfer material P sent out from the transfer belt 8 is charged.
It is electrostatically attracted to the upper side and is conveyed by the transfer belt 8 while passing below the image forming units 10Y, 10M, 10C and 10K of the respective colors.

Each of the image forming units 10Y, 10M, 10C, 1
0K, the charger 1 is arranged around the photosensitive drum 13.
4, a developing unit 16 and a cleaning unit 17 are arranged to form toner images of respective colors on the surface of the photosensitive drum 13 by an electrophotographic process.

When the transfer material electrostatically attracted to the transfer belt 8 and conveyed is transferred to the transfer belt 8 and the photosensitive drum 13, images of the respective colors are transferred to the transfer drum 8 via the transfer belt 8. The image is sequentially transferred onto the transfer material P by the device 21. The transfer material P on which the transfer of the four colors has been completed is peeled off from the transfer belt 8 by curvature separation, and reaches the fixing roller pairs 18 and 19. The fixing roller 18 is heated by a heater (not shown), and the toner of each color is melted by heat and fixed on a transfer material to complete a color image. The transfer material on which the toner image has been fixed on the surface by the fixing roller pairs 18 and 19 is discharged onto a discharge tray 20 protruding outside the apparatus.

Here, the image forming units 10Y, 10M, 10
Each of C and 10K is an integrated process cartridge 10 excluding the exposure head 15, and is configured to be integrally pulled out from the apparatus main body 22. That is,
The charging device 14, the developing device 16, the cleaning device 17, and the photosensitive drum 13 are integrally formed into a cartridge by a cartridge frame 10a as shown in FIG. These process cartridges 10 are placed in parallel on the loading frame 55 as described later, and are put in and out of the apparatus main body 22 together with the loading frame 55.

The process cartridge 10 is appropriately replaced after a specified number of sheets for which a formed image is guaranteed is used.
As shown in FIG. 2, four process cartridges 1
After the loading frame 55 on which 0 (10Y, 10M, 10C, 10K) is placed is pulled out from the apparatus main body 22, the process cartridges 10 can be replaced by lifting them up. When the mounting frame 55 is pulled out from the apparatus main body 22, the back side of the mounting frame 55 is cantilevered by the apparatus main body 22. In addition, the process cartridge 10 can be detached from the mounting frame 55 supported by the apparatus main body 22 and the mounting frame 55 can be pulled out from the apparatus main body 22.
May be detachably attached.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of one of the process cartridges 10 employing the present embodiment. An exposure window 51 is provided in the cartridge frame 10a. The window 51 is provided along the photosensitive drum 13. A swingable photoconductor shutter 52 is provided on the upper surface of the cartridge frame 10a.

The upper surface of the frame 10a where the exposure window 51 is located is substantially flat. An exposure opening window 51 is provided on the upper surface of the frame 10a in parallel with the photoconductor drum 13. The frame 10a of the electrophotographic process unit 10 and the shutter member 52a of the photoconductor shutter 52 are formed by a pair of parallel and equal-length links 53.
F, 53R. The frame 10a, the photosensitive drum shutter 52, and the links 53F and 53R form a parallel link mechanism. Here, the photosensitive drum shutter 5
The lengths of the links 53F and 53R are selected so that the link 2 can move between a position where the exposure window 51 is covered and a position where the link 2 is opened.

The photoconductor shutter 52 is mounted on the apparatus main body 2.
When the loading frame 55 is pulled out or pushed in with respect to 2, the link (front) while abutting against a part of the inside of the apparatus main body 22
53F, the link (rear) 53R is moved in parallel in the longitudinal direction using the swing arm as the swing arm.

As the functional position, when the placing frame 55 is pulled out from the inside of the apparatus main body 22,
The process cartridge 1 is controlled by the photoconductor shutter 52.
0, and a part of the photoconductor shutter 52 is abutted against a part of the inside of the apparatus main body when the mounting frame 55 is pushed into the apparatus main body 22 when the mounting frame 55 is pushed into the apparatus main body 22. There are two positions where the link is moved and the exposure window 51 is opened to the exposure apparatus.

FIGS. 2 to 4 show how the mounting frame 55 on which the plurality of process cartridges 10 each having the photoconductor shutter 52 are mounted is inserted into the apparatus main body 22. FIG.

FIG. 2 shows a state in which the mounting frame 55 from the apparatus main body 22 is completely pulled out from the inside of the apparatus main body 22, and the exposure window 51 provided above the process cartridge 10 is completely shielded by the photosensitive member shutter 52. Have been.
Therefore, unlike the conventional example, the photoconductor is not damaged or deteriorated due to the falling object from above.

FIG. 3 shows a state in which the placing frame 55 is further pushed into the apparatus main body 22. An abutting portion (a fixed member, not shown) provided in a part of the apparatus main body 22 causes the photoconductor shutter 52 to move in a direction opposite to the pushing direction via a link and to move in a parallel link in a rotational direction in the direction of the arrow. It seems to be doing. At the same time, an exposure window 51 for the photosensitive drum 13 has been opened.

FIG. 4 shows a state in which the placing frame 55 is pushed into the apparatus main body 22, and the photosensitive member shutter 52 is completely opened inside by an amount which satisfies the exposure function.

In the present embodiment, a description has been given of a color image forming apparatus using a four-color process cartridge. However, it is needless to say that the present invention can be applied to a single-color image forming apparatus using one process cartridge. .

Next, control means for opening and closing the photosensitive member shutter 52 will be described.

In FIG. 7, a fixed member 23 is provided in the apparatus main body 22 to contact the middle of the rear link 53R shortly before the mounting frame 55 is completely inserted into the apparatus main body 22.
After the 3R abuts on the fixed member 23, the link 53R is prevented from moving by the fixed member 23 due to the further movement of the mounting frame 55 to the back side, and the link 53R is pivotally attached to the cartridge frame 10a. The shutter member 52a is rotated clockwise around the center 53R1 and retreats out of the exposure window 51.

When the holding frame 55 is pulled out from the apparatus main body 22, the link 53R is rotated counterclockwise around the pin 53R1 by a not-shown torsion coil spring 53R1 mounted on the pin 53R1, and the shutter member 52a is moved to the exposure window 51. And overlap.

Instead of the fixed member 23 prepared in the main body, a member using the following lever type may be used.

FIG. 8 is a view of the mounting frame viewed from above. A lever 31 having a vertical shaft 29 is provided at the back of the insertion portion of the mounting frame 55 of the apparatus main body 22. One end of the lever 31 is provided with a dog 31a which is located at a position offset downward and which is in contact with a rear end wall of the mounting frame 55. The other end 31 of the lever 31
b can be brought into contact with the intermediate portion of the link 53R.

When the placing frame 55 is inserted into the apparatus main body 22 and the insertion is substantially completed, the rear end wall of the placing frame 55 is
a, and by further pushing the placing frame 55, the lever 3
1 rotates counterclockwise about the vertical axis 29, and the other end 31b of the lever 31 pushes the link 53R, and the pin 53R
The link 53R is rotated clockwise about 1 to open the photoconductor shutter 52.

When the mounting frame 55 is pulled out, the link 53R is restored by the torsion coil spring (not shown) attached to the pin 53R1, and the photoconductor shutter 52 is closed.

In the above description, the lever 31 is a transmission member for transmitting the movement of the false frame to the photosensitive member shutter.

[Second Embodiment] Hereinafter, a second embodiment in which the present invention is applied to an image recording apparatus will be described.

Embodiment 2 is shown in FIG. Embodiment 1
The configurations of the image forming units 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K, the sheet feeding device, and the fixing device are the same.

A belt member having a so-called intermediate transfer member function is employed as a belt member which is driven by the drive roller 30a to perform endless circulating motion. The intermediate transfer belt body 30 is an endless strip film dielectric. The intermediate transfer belt body 30 includes a driving roller 30a, driven rollers 30b, 30
c, is wound around the transfer facing roller 30d. The image forming units 10Y, 10M, 10 are formed on the intermediate transfer belt body 30.
C, 10K, the toner images of the respective colors are superimposed and transferred to form a color toner image.
The color toner image is collectively transferred by the charger 33 to the transfer material P sent out through the paper guide 32 and fed through the paper guide 32, and then the fixing rollers 18 and 19 are transferred.
Established by pairs. The fixed transfer material P is discharged out of the apparatus by a discharge roller 34.

After the transfer, the toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 30 is removed by the cleaning device 35.

An image forming apparatus having such an intermediate transfer member 30 has the same configuration as in the first embodiment, and the same effects as in the first embodiment can be expected.

[0048]

As described above, according to the present invention, the surface of the photosensitive member in the process cartridge is covered by the operation of pulling out or pushing in the mounting frame on which the integrated process cartridge is placed from inside the apparatus main body. By moving or retreating the photoconductor shutter above the photoconductor surface, it is possible to prevent physical damage of the photoconductor due to dropping of an object or optical exposure and deterioration of optical characteristics.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a process cartridge in an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a mounting frame on which a process cartridge of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention is mounted is completely pulled out from the apparatus main body.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the mounting frame on which the process cartridge of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention is mounted, is being inserted into the apparatus main body;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which the mounting frame on which the process cartridge of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention is mounted and the insertion frame is completely inserted into the apparatus main body.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the color image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of transmission means for transmitting the movement of the mounting frame to the photoconductor shutter.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a transmission unit that transmits the movement of the mounting frame to the photoconductor shutter.

[Explanation of symbols]

P: transfer material 1: cassette 2: paper feed roller 3-6: transport roller 7: registration roller 8: transfer belt 8a: drive roller 8b, 8c: driven roller 9: motor 10: process cartridge 10Y, 10M, 10
C, 10K Image forming unit 10a Cartridge frame 13 Photoconductor drums 13Y, 13M, 13C, 13K
... Photoreceptor drum 14 ... Charger 15 ... Exposure head 16 ... Developer 17 ... Cleaner 18 ... Fixing roller 19 ... Fixing roller 20 ... Discharge tray 21 ... Transfer charger 22 ... Main body 23 ... Fixed member 29 ... Vertical Shaft 30 ... Intermediate belt body 31 ... Lever 31a ... Dog 31b ... Other end 32 ... Paper guide 33 ... Electrifier 34 ... Ejection roller 51 ... Exposure window 52 ... Photoconductor shutter 52a ... Shutter member 5
3F… Link 53R… Link 53R1… Pin 55… Place frame

Claims (19)

[Claims] 1. 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 the electronic device. Supporting the photoreceptor drum and process means,
A cartridge frame that has an exposure window for exposing the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and that can be mounted on a mounting frame that can be inserted into and pulled out of the image forming apparatus main body in a direction parallel to the electrophotographic photosensitive drum; A photoreceptor shutter that opens and closes the exposure window by moving the loading frame when the loading frame is inserted into and pulled out of the image forming apparatus main body placed on the loading frame; A loading frame which is inserted or pulled out of the image forming apparatus main body in a direction parallel to the photoreceptor drum; and (b) opening and closing of the photoreceptor shutter when the loading frame carrying the process cartridge is inserted or pulled out of the image forming apparatus main body. Electronic control, comprising: a control member provided in an image forming apparatus main body for controlling the recording medium; and (c) conveying means for conveying the recording medium. Image forming apparatus. 2. The control member is a fixed member, and is provided at a position where the process cartridge is mounted on the mounting frame and acts on the photosensitive member shutter when the mounting frame is inserted into or pulled out of the image forming apparatus main body. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the fixed member holds the photosensitive member shutter in an open state with the mounting frame inserted into the image forming apparatus main body. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control member acts on the photosensitive member shutter when the mounting frame is inserted into or pulled out of the image forming apparatus main body via the transmission member when the process cartridge is mounted on the mounting frame. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus as described in the above. 5. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said transmitting member is provided on said frame. 6. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said transmission member is provided in an image forming apparatus main body. 7. 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; Supporting the photoreceptor drum and process means,
A cartridge frame that has an exposure window for exposing the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and that can be mounted on a shelf frame that can be taken in and out of an image forming apparatus main body in a direction parallel to the electrophotographic photosensitive drum; A plurality of process cartridges each having a photoconductor shutter that opens and closes the exposure window by moving the mounting frame when the mounting frame is inserted into and pulled out of the image forming apparatus body placed on the mounting frame, A loading frame that is carried and inserted into or pulled out of the image forming apparatus main body in a direction parallel to the electrophotographic photosensitive drum; and (b) the loading frame that carries the process cartridge is inserted or pulled out of the image forming apparatus main body. A control member provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus for controlling opening and closing of the photoconductor shutter; and (c) conveying means for conveying the recording medium. Electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to claim. 8. The control member is a fixed member, and is provided at a position where the process cartridge is mounted on the mounting frame and acts on the photosensitive member shutter when the mounting frame is inserted into or pulled out of the image forming apparatus main body. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein: 9. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the fixed member holds the photosensitive member shutter in an open state with the mounting frame inserted into the image forming apparatus main body. 10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the control member acts on the photoreceptor shutter when the process cartridge is mounted on the mounting frame via the transmission member and the mounting frame is inserted or pulled out of the image forming apparatus main body. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus as described in the above. 11. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said transmission member is provided on said frame. 12. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said transmission member is provided in an image forming apparatus main body. 13. A process cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus main body, comprising: an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; processing means acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum; and supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive drum and the processing means;
A cartridge frame that has an exposure window for exposing the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and that can be mounted on a mounting frame that can be inserted into and pulled out of the image forming apparatus main body in a direction parallel to the electrophotographic photosensitive drum; And a photoreceptor shutter that opens and closes the exposure window by moving the loading frame when the loading frame is inserted into and pulled out of the image forming apparatus main body placed on the loading frame. 14. The shutter according to claim 1, wherein the photoreceptor shutter is parallel to the exposure window and has a position for closing and opening the exposure window. 14. The process cartridge according to claim 13, further comprising: a link connected to the other end of the cartridge frame. 15. A parallel link mechanism comprising the shutter member, the link, and the cartridge frame.
5. The process cartridge according to 4. 16. The process cartridge according to claim 14, wherein an outer surface of the cartridge frame having an exposure window is substantially flat. 17. The opening / closing of the photosensitive member shutter is controlled by directly receiving an action from the image forming apparatus main body.
17. The process cartridge according to any one of items 1 to 16. 18. The process cartridge according to claim 13, wherein opening and closing of the photoconductor shutter is controlled by an action of the frame. 19. A frame in which a process cartridge is mounted to be inserted into and pulled out of the image forming apparatus main body, wherein: (a) an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a process means acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum; Supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive drum and the process means,
A cartridge frame that has an exposure window for exposing the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and that can be inserted into and pulled out of the main body of the image forming apparatus in a direction parallel to the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and that can be mounted on the frame body; And a photoreceptor shutter that opens and closes the exposure window by moving the loading frame body when the loading frame body is inserted into and pulled out of the image forming apparatus body placed on the loading frame body. And (b) when the mounting frame is moved relative to the image forming apparatus main body, wherein the mounting frame body is inserted into or pulled out of the image forming apparatus main body in a direction parallel to the electrophotographic photosensitive drum.
A transfer member that engages with a member provided in the image forming apparatus main body and transmits motion to the photoconductor shutter to open and close the photoconductor shutter.