JP2004020847A - Process cartridge and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce limitations of a process cartridge shape due to process conditions and to compactly install the process cartridge. <P>SOLUTION: A gear 55a is rotated counterclockwise against a process cartridge 5 in a folded state, a cylindrical shape member 55 is rotated while winding a shutter 56 around it, and the shutter 56 is released from upper part of a first housing 54. A gear 54a is transmitted a rotary force from the gear 55a and rotated clockwise to rotate the first housing 54. When the gear 55a is rotated by a predetermined angle and stopped, the process cartridge 5 is switched to an expanded state. When the gear 55a is reversely rotated, the process cartridge 5 is switched form the expanded state to the folded state. Preferably, a photosensitive body 51, a developing device 53 and a charging device 52 are configured integrally. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a process cartridge and an image forming apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a process cartridge has been known as a method that enables simple component replacement and maintenance. As a typical example of such a process cartridge, an image carrier such as a photoconductor is formed integrally with another member such as a developing device and a cleaning device so as to be detachable from the image forming apparatus main body. .
The advantage of the process cartridge is that maintenance can be performed simply by replacement by the user, and downtime can be reduced because there is no need to call a service person.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, on the other hand, in general, process cartridges often have a complicated form due to the positional relationship of each process element such as an image carrier, a developing device, and a charging device. Still have challenges in this regard.
For example, FIG. 15 shows an example of a conventional process cartridge (quoted from Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-56656). The developing device 53, the cleaning device 57, and the charging device 52 are arranged around the image carrier 51 because of the electrophotographic system. It is necessary to arrange the developing device 53 and the cleaning device 57 on the opposite side of the image carrier 51 in order to perform transfer without bending the paper. It has a shape elongated in the transport direction of the transfer material. As described above, since the shape of the process cartridge is restricted due to the process conditions and the like, it is difficult to make the process cartridge compact and easy to handle. The ease of handling of the user and the complexity of the size or shape are not necessarily the same, but generally large or complicated shapes are difficult for the user to handle and can be problematic in terms of user friendliness.
In addition, since the process cartridge has a complicated shape, it is difficult to store the process cartridge compactly in a limited area when delivering the process cartridge to a service center or a user. There was a disadvantage that the transportation cost was high due to the limited number.
[0004]
As a conventional example in which the state of the process cartridge changes between the state where the image forming apparatus is simply inserted and the state where the process cartridge is removed from the image forming apparatus, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. A technique for releasing the toner cartridge is disclosed, and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-335024 discloses a technique in which an old toner cartridge is deformed when the toner cartridge in the process cartridge is replaced. However, none of these conventional examples involve a great change in the shape of the process cartridge, and therefore cannot solve the above-mentioned problems.
In view of the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to reduce restrictions due to process conditions and the like on the shape of a process cartridge, and to enable the process cartridge to be compactly stored.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a process cartridge accommodating an image forming element and being detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus. A process cartridge is characterized in that the arrangement of the image forming elements can be changed between a state and a state where the image forming element is removed from the image forming apparatus.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the length of the straight line having the maximum length among the straight lines connecting any two points of the process cartridge is L, the process cartridge is taken out of the image forming apparatus main body. 2. The process according to claim 1, wherein the arrangement of the image forming elements is changed such that L in the state is smaller than L in the state where the process cartridge is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body and an image is formed. Make a cartridge.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, the process cartridge has an arrangement changing mechanism for changing the arrangement of the image forming elements, and the arrangement changing mechanism automatically operates when the process cartridge is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the process cartridge is operated.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the image forming element includes an image carrier that supports the latent image, and a developing unit that visualizes the latent image supported by the image carrier. 4. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the arrangement is changed while maintaining a relative position between the carrier and the developing unit.
[0006]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an exposure device for exposing an image carrier, a transfer device for transferring a developed visible image on the image carrier, and fixing the transferred visible image. An image forming apparatus comprising: a fixing device for performing the image forming operation, wherein the image forming apparatus is capable of forming an image by inserting the process cartridge, wherein the process cartridge is the process cartridge according to claim 1, An image forming apparatus is characterized in that the image forming apparatus includes a process cartridge deforming unit that changes an arrangement of an image forming element included in the inserted process cartridge to an arrangement capable of forming an image.
7. The image carrier according to claim 6, wherein the process cartridge deforming means acts on a process cartridge in which the transfer device and the image carrier are mounted in a non-contact manner to deform the shape of the process cartridge. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the image forming apparatus is a process cartridge deforming unit that forms a transfer nip by bringing the transfer cartridge into contact with the transfer device.
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the image forming apparatus has automatic mounting means for automatically mounting the process cartridge on the image forming apparatus, and the automatic mounting means and the process cartridge deforming means are linked. An image forming apparatus according to claim 5 or 6, wherein
[0007]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 shows an image forming apparatus of the present invention. In the image forming apparatus 1 of the present invention, a transfer material is vertically conveyed while being electrostatically attracted to a transfer belt 4 serving as a transfer device, and the image forming stations 5Y, 5C, 5M, and 5Bk in which image forming elements are gathered during the vertical conveyance. This is a tandem type electrophotographic image forming apparatus in which yellow, cyan, magenta, and black toner particles are adhered onto a transfer material, and then the toner particles on the transfer material are fixed by a fixing device 3.
[0008]
FIG. 2 shows details of the image forming station. Since the structures of 5Y, 5C, 5M, and 5Bk are the same, the description will be made by taking the indices of Y, C, M, and Bk.
As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming station 5 includes a photoconductor 51 as an image carrier, a charging device 52, and a developing device 53. The developing device 53 includes a developing sleeve 53a, a doctor blade 53b, and stirring members 53c and 53d. I have.
At the time of image formation, the photosensitive member 51 is first negatively charged by applying a voltage to a charging device 52 that is in contact with the photosensitive member 51. Here, in the present invention, the charging device 52 having a flexible surface layer is rotated in the counter direction with respect to the photoconductor 51, and the contact nip portion formed by the charging device 52 and the photoconductor 51 is provided by the Japanese Patent Laid-Open As described in JP-A-10-307454, charge promoting particles intervene to improve the conductivity between the charging device 52 and the photoconductor 51 and reduce the frictional force between the charging device 52 and the photoconductor 51. To facilitate counter rotation. Such a charging system can be configured simply as compared with a magnetic brush charging or the like even with the same contact charging, and contributes to downsizing of the process cartridge.
[0009]
Next, a light beam corresponding to the image information is irradiated from the exposure device 2 (2Y, 2C, 2M, 2Bk in FIG. 1) toward the negatively charged photoconductor 51, and the portion irradiated with the light beam is irradiated. An electrostatic latent image is formed by the charge elimination. The developing device 53 attaches toner particles to the portion where the charge has been removed from the electrostatic latent image to form a visible image. That is, the toner particles pumped onto the developing sleeve 53a by the action of the magnets contained in the stirring members 53c and 53d and the developing sleeve 53a are negatively charged by frictional charging with the carrier particles, and are integrated with the carrier particles. It is moved to a portion where the body 51 and the developing sleeve 53a face each other. At the facing portion, the carrier particles are raised by magnetic force to rub the toner particles against the electrostatic latent image. Due to the potential difference between the developing sleeve 53a and the surface of the photoreceptor 51, the rubbed toner particles are electrostatically attached only to the image portion that has been neutralized by the exposure device 2 to form a visible image.
[0010]
The visible image thus formed is electrostatically attached to the transfer material carried on the transfer belt 4, and the visible images of Y, C, M, and Bk overlap on the transfer material to produce a full-color image. An image is formed.
In the image forming process of the present invention, a cleanerless system as described in JP-A-10-307454 is employed. That is, without providing a dedicated cleaner, the transfer residual toner particles are adjusted to have a negative charge polarity by friction with the charge accelerating particles or the photoconductor 51 in the charging device 52, and then discharged onto the photoconductor 51, and are discharged to the non-image area. The released toner particles are collected by the developing device 53.
Of course, the present invention can be applied to various image forming processes.However, when a cleaner-less system is adopted as in the present invention, a dedicated cleaner and a waste toner container can be omitted. This is particularly advantageous for miniaturization.
[0011]
As shown in FIG. 3, the image forming stations 5Y, 5C, 5M, and 5Bk of the present invention are detachable from the image forming apparatus main body. That is, since the image forming stations 5Y, 5C, 5M, and 5Bk are integrally formed as process cartridges, the image forming station 5 is hereinafter referred to as a process cartridge 5.
The process cartridge 5 of the present invention is automatically attached to and detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus 1 by a mechanism described later in response to an instruction from an operation panel (not shown) or a signal from a cartridge attachment / detachment switch (not shown). More specifically, the process cartridges 5Y, 5C, 5M, and 5Bk are pushed into the openings 100Y, 100C, 100M, and 100Bk provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus 1, and the process cartridge 5 is exposed from the main body of the image forming apparatus 1 by a predetermined length. When an instruction or the like is given from the operation panel in this state, the process cartridge 5 is automatically inserted into the image forming apparatus 1 to be in a state where an image can be formed. Conversely, when an instruction is given from the operation panel in a state where the process cartridge 5 is inserted into the main body of the image forming apparatus 1, the process cartridge 5 is automatically ejected from the inside of the image forming apparatus 1 to the outside, and is exposed to the predetermined depth. Stop in state. Hereinafter, for convenience of description, this “state exposed to a predetermined depth” is referred to as a “mounting ready state”.
[0012]
In the present invention, a controller in the main body of the image forming apparatus 1 measures a time that has elapsed since the process cartridge 5 was set in the mounting preparation state, and when a predetermined time has elapsed in the mounting preparation state, the process cartridge 5 is again set. Is stored in the image forming apparatus 1. Thus, it is possible to prevent a person from hitting the exposed process cartridge 5. It is to be noted that the time elapsed since the process cartridge 5 was exposed from the image forming apparatus 1 can be measured by installing a weight sensor at the lowermost portion of the process cartridge receiving base 101 described later and detecting the weight. is there.
[0013]
FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams showing the arrangement of image forming elements in the process cartridge 5 of the present invention, wherein FIG.
In the process cartridge 5 of the present invention, in a state where it is exposed from the main body of the image forming apparatus 1 or in a state where it is being conveyed, the photosensitive member 51 and the charging device 52 exist diagonally above the developing sleeve 53a as shown in FIG. When the image forming apparatus 1 is in an image forming state, the photosensitive member 51 and the charging device 52 are located above the developing sleeve 53a. It is. Hereinafter, for convenience of description in the future, the state of FIG. 4A is referred to as a “folding state”, and the state of FIG. 4B is referred to as an “expanded state”.
Hereinafter, a structure that enables the above-described deformation will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0014]
FIG. 5A is a diagram illustrating an outer frame of the process cartridge 5 in the “folding state”, in which an image forming element is indicated by a dotted line, and an outer frame supporting the image forming element is indicated by a solid line. The process cartridge 5 has a structure including a first housing 54 that integrally supports the photoconductor 51, the charging device 52, the developing sleeve 53a, and the doctor blade 53b, and a second housing 50 that supports the developing device. I have.
The first housing 54 is configured to rotate with respect to the second housing 50 while being supported by the second housing 50. The details of this mechanism are shown in FIG. A gear 51a for transmitting a rotational force from a motor (not shown) to the photoreceptor 51 is provided at an end of a rotating shaft of the photoreceptor 51, for transmitting the rotation of the photoreceptor 51 to the charging device 52 and the developing sleeve 53a. Are provided inside the first housing 54. A gear 54a for rotating the first housing 54 is provided on an extension of the rotation shaft of the developing sleeve 53a independently of the rotation shaft of the developing sleeve 53a. The body 54 is configured to rotate. As shown in FIG. 5C, the gear 54a further meshes with the gear 55a, and the first housing 54 is rotated with respect to the second housing 50 by rotating the gear 55a. ing. A notch 50a is provided in a portion through which the gear 51a passes when the first housing 54 rotates.
[0015]
Next, a shutter provided so as not to expose the photoconductor 51 when the photoconductor 51 is removed from the main body of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described. As shown in FIG. 5A, the photoconductor 51 is partially exposed from the first housing 54, and a shutter 56 is provided to prevent the exposed portion of the photoconductor 51 from receiving external light. Is provided. The shutter 56 is a flexible plate, and one end thereof is fixed to a cylindrical member 55 extending in the longitudinal direction of the process cartridge 5 as shown in FIG. The cylindrical member 55 is formed integrally with the gear 55a, and when the gear 55a rotates, the cylindrical member 55 also rotates integrally while winding the shutter 56 around the periphery. Here, as shown in FIG. 5D, both ends of the shutter 56 are supported by rails 50c, and when the cylindrical member 55 rotates, the shutter 56 moves along the rail 50c.
[0016]
Further, as shown in FIG. 6A, the second housing 50 is provided with an opening 50b. On the other hand, a locking member 56a is provided on the shutter 56, and is adjusted so that the locking member 56a is located immediately above the hole 50b when the process cartridge 5 is in the folded state. The locking member 56a is provided as a lock for preventing the shutter 56 from moving. That is, as shown in FIG. 6B, when the unlocking member 106 is inserted from the hole 50b, the locking member 50d urged by a spring (not shown) with respect to the second housing 50 causes the unlocking member 106 to rotate. As a result, the lock between the lock member 50d and the lock member 56a is released as shown in FIG. 6 (c). This allows the shutter 56 to move.
[0017]
Next, how the process cartridge 5 shifts from the folding state to the unfolded state will be described with reference to FIG. When the gear 55a is rotated in the illustrated direction (counterclockwise) with respect to the process cartridge in the folded state as shown in FIG. 7A, the cylindrical member 55 is moved as shown in FIG. 7B. The shutter 56 rotates while being wound around, and the shutter 56 retreats from above the first housing 54. At this time, the gear 54a receives the torque from the gear 55a, rotates clockwise, and rotates the first housing 54. As a result, when the gear 55a rotates by a predetermined angle and stops, the process cartridge 5 is in a deployed state as shown in FIG. 7C.
Conversely, when the gear 55a is rotated in the reverse direction, the process cartridge 5 is transformed from the deployed state to the folded state in the order of (c), (b), and (a) of FIG.
[0018]
FIGS. 8 and 9 are views showing the folded state and the expanded state of the process cartridge 5 of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 8, when the length of a straight line having the maximum length among straight lines connecting arbitrary two points on the process cartridge 5 is represented by L, as shown in FIG. The value of L1 in the folded state where the process cartridge 5 is taken out from the printer is smaller than the value of L2 in the state where the image forming apparatus 1 is mounted on the main body and forms an image. FIG. 8A shows the process cartridge 5 in the folded state, and FIG. 8B shows the process cartridge 5 in the expanded state.
Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the process cartridge 5 of the present invention sets the length of the straight line having the maximum length among straight lines connecting any two points on the projected figure in the projected figure viewed from the outside in the longitudinal direction to M. In this case, the value of M1 in the folded state where the process cartridge 5 is removed from the image forming apparatus main body is smaller than the value of M2 in the state where the process cartridge 5 is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body and an image is formed. FIG. 9A shows the process cartridge 5 in the folded state, and FIG. 9B shows the process cartridge 5 in the expanded state.
When the cartridge 5 is deformed in this manner, the relative position of each image forming element is maintained in a proper relationship for image formation when the cartridge 5 is mounted on the image forming apparatus 1 main body, and when the cartridge 5 is removed from the image forming apparatus main body. It folds down compactly and becomes simple and suitable for transportation.
[0019]
In order to maintain the image quality, it is very important to secure the relative position between the developing device 53 and the photoconductor 51. When the relative position changes, the developing electric field becomes weak, and as a result, problems such as a decrease in toner density may occur. Therefore, in order to maintain the gap between the developing sleeve 53a and the photoconductor 51 of several hundred nm even when the process cartridge 5 is repeatedly deformed, it is necessary to integrally deform the photoconductor 51 and the developing device 53 as in the present invention. Is desirable. However, needless to say, the present invention is not limited to a configuration in which the photosensitive member 51 and the developing device 53 are integrated to deform the process cartridge.
In order to prevent charging unevenness over time, it is very important to secure a relative position between the charging device 52 and the photoconductor 51 (maintaining a predetermined contact nip in the present invention). If the relative position changes, charging unevenness may occur. Therefore, in order to maintain the charging nip even when the process cartridge 5 is repeatedly deformed, it is desirable to integrally deform the photoconductor 51 and the charging device 52 as in the present invention. However, needless to say, the present invention is not limited to a configuration in which the photosensitive member 51 and the charging device 52 are integrated to deform the process cartridge.
[0020]
FIG. 10 is a view for explaining an automatic mounting mechanism of the process cartridge 5 to the image forming apparatus 1. FIG. 10A is a side view and FIG. 10B is a front view of the process cartridge 5 (viewed from the transfer device 4 side). .
In FIG. 10, the process cartridge 5 is placed on a process cartridge receiving base 101. Further, the process cartridge receiving table 101 is supported by a rail 105 and is configured to move along the rail 105. Further, the process cartridge receiving base 101 is penetrated by a member 102. The member 102 and the process cartridge receiving table 101 are in a relation of a bolt and a nut. When the bolt is rotated while the rotation of the nut is restricted, the member is moved in the axial direction of the bolt by the same principle. As the 102 rotates, the process cartridge receiving table 101 can be moved in the longitudinal direction of the process cartridge.
[0021]
When the process cartridge 5 is inserted into the main body of the image forming apparatus 1, the process cartridge 5 moves on the process cartridge receiving table 101 to a position where it contacts the rear end of the process cartridge receiving table 101 and stops. This is the mounting preparation state.
When the automatic mounting is supported by an instruction from the operation panel or the like in the mounting preparation state, the member 102 starts rotating by the rotational force transmitted from a motor (not shown), and moves the process cartridge receiving table 101 into the image forming apparatus 1. . When the process cartridge 5 enters the inside, the gear 103 provided coaxially with the member 102 eventually meshes with the gear 55a, and at the same time, the unlocking member 106 pushes the lock member 50d to unlock the shutter 56. When the member 102 further rotates, the gear 55a is rotated by the rotational force transmitted from the gear 103, and when the gear 55a is rotated, the process cartridge 5 shifts from the folded state to the expanded state by the above-described mechanism.
[0022]
In the unfolded state, the gear 51a is engaged with the gear 105 on the image forming apparatus 1 main body side, and the charging device 52 and the developing sleeve 53a are electrically in contact with the electrical contacts provided on the image forming apparatus 1 main body side, so that bias can be applied. And the photosensitive member 51 comes into contact with the transfer device 4 with a predetermined nip. The member 102 is configured to stop rotating when it has rotated a predetermined number of times, and stops rotating at substantially the same timing as when the process cartridge 5 is in the deployed state.
When removing the process cartridge 5 from the main body of the image forming apparatus 1, the reverse process is performed by rotating the member 102 in the reverse direction, and the process cartridge 5 is ready for mounting.
When the process cartridge 5 is detached and attached, in order to detach the process cartridge 5 without damaging the photoconductor 11 and the transfer device 4 (or the intermediate transfer member), the photoconductor 11 must not be brought into contact with the transfer device 4 (or the intermediate transfer member). It is desirable to move in the longitudinal direction. For that purpose, a process of moving the process cartridge 5 in the longitudinal direction without contacting the transfer device 4 and the like and a process of contacting the process cartridge 5 with the transfer device 4 and the like are required. Such a movement of the process cartridge 5 is achieved with a simple structure.
[0023]
[Second embodiment]
11 and 12 show a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 12A shows a folded state, and FIG. 12B shows an expanded state.
The process cartridge of the present invention is almost the same as that of the first embodiment, except for the gear ratio between the gear 54a and the gear 55a. Specifically, the size of the gear 54a with respect to the gear 55a is larger than in the first embodiment shown in FIG. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 12B, the first housing 54 is developed in Embodiment 1 or higher, and the lowermost surface of the photoconductor 51 reaches below the developing device 53. Therefore, the process cartridge 5 of the present invention can be developed even in the image forming apparatus 1 that transports the sheet in the horizontal direction.
[0024]
[Third embodiment]
FIG. 13 is a view showing a third embodiment of the present invention, in which (a) shows a state of an image forming apparatus and (b) shows a state of a process cartridge.
The process cartridge 5 of the present invention is the same as that of the first embodiment, and is different only in the mechanism for automatic attachment and detachment. That is, as shown in FIG. 13A, the process cartridge 5 is conveyed from the position A to the position B by being conveyed on the belt-shaped conveying member 201 at the time of automatic attachment / detachment. Deployment state.
The mechanism in the unfolded state will be described below. As shown in FIG. 13B, when the process cartridge 5 moves from the position A to the position B, the gear 55a is connected to the gear 204 integrally provided coaxially with the drive roller 202 of the belt-shaped transport member 201. Mesh with each other. When this meshing occurs, the process cartridge 5 is deformed from the folded state to the expanded state, similarly to the case where the gear 103 meshes with the gear 55a in the first embodiment.
Further, by adjusting the positions of the belt-shaped conveying member 201, the gear 103, and the like, a mode in which the process cartridge 5 is mounted from the transfer device 4 side is also possible. In such a mode, the process cartridge insertion opening is exposed by the retreat of the transfer device 4, and the process cartridge 5 is inserted into the insertion opening, and after the transfer device 4 returns to the image forming position, the process cartridge 5 is removed. A deformable form is desirable.
[0025]
[Fourth embodiment]
FIG. 14 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
The process cartridge 5 of the present invention is the same as that of the first embodiment, except that a lever 54b integrated with the first housing 54 and a lever 56b integrated with the shutter 56 exist, and the gear 103 does not exist. . When the process cartridge 5 is mounted on the image forming apparatus 1 main body, after the shutter 56 is movable by the unlocking member 106, the user operates the lever 56b to open the shutter, and the user operates the lever 54b. The first housing 54 is rotated so that an image can be formed.
[0026]
In addition to the above, the present invention may be operated by a user until the process cartridge in the folded state is inserted into the image forming apparatus main body, and may automatically perform a portion for expanding the process cartridge after the insertion. .
Further, the present invention is not limited to a color image forming apparatus, and is applicable to a monochrome type image forming apparatus.
[0027]
【The invention's effect】
As is apparent from the above, according to the present invention, since the process cartridge is configured to be deformable, it is possible to handle the process cartridge in a shape that is more compact than the shape of the process cartridge in image formation. It is possible to provide a process cartridge having excellent storage capacity.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of an image forming station.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a state where an image forming station is removed from the image forming apparatus.
FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating an arrangement of image forming elements in the process cartridge of the present invention, wherein FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating a folded state, and FIG.
FIGS. 5A and 5B are views for explaining a modified structure of the process cartridge, in which FIG. 5A is a side view, FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional plan view, FIG. 5C is a perspective view, and FIG.
FIGS. 6A and 6B are diagrams for explaining a lock mechanism of the shutter, in which FIG. 6A is a side view and FIG.
FIGS. 7A and 7B are diagrams illustrating a deformed state of the process cartridge, in which FIG. 7A is a diagram illustrating a folding state, FIG. 7B is a diagram illustrating a moving state, and FIG.
FIGS. 8A and 8B are diagrams showing the length of a straight line having the maximum length among straight lines connecting arbitrary two points on the process cartridge, wherein FIG. 8A is a diagram in a folded state, and FIG. .
9A and 9B are diagrams illustrating a length of a straight line having a maximum length among arbitrary two points viewed from the side of the process cartridge, wherein FIG. 9A is a diagram in a folded state, and FIG. 9B is a diagram in an expanded state. .
FIGS. 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating an automatic mounting mechanism of the process cartridge to the image forming apparatus, in which FIG. 10A is a side view of the process cartridge 5, and FIG.
FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an arrangement of image forming elements in a process cartridge according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and is a diagram illustrating a (a) folded state and (b) an expanded state.
FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a third embodiment of the present invention, in which (a) illustrates an image forming apparatus and (b) illustrates a state of a process cartridge.
FIGS. 14A and 14B are diagrams showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 14A is a diagram of a folding state, FIG. 14B is a diagram of a moving state, and FIG.
FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a conventional process cartridge.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Image forming apparatus
2 Exposure equipment
3 Fixing device
4 Transfer belt
5 Image forming station / process cartridge
50 Second case
50a cutout
50b hole
50c rail
50d lock member
51 Photoconductor (image carrier)
51a gear
52 Charging device
53 Developing device
53a developing sleeve
53b doctor blade
53c, 53d Stirring member
54 First case
54a gear
55 members
55a gear
56 shutters
56a Hanging member
57 Cleaning device
100 opening
101 Process cartridge holder
102 members
103 gear
105 rails
201 Conveying member
202 Drive roller
204 gear

Claims (7)

In a process cartridge containing an image forming element and detachable from an image forming apparatus,
A process cartridge characterized in that the arrangement of image forming elements can be changed between a state in which an image is formed by being mounted on an image forming apparatus main body and a state in which the image forming element is removed from the image forming apparatus. When the length of the straight line having the maximum length among the straight lines connecting any two points of the process cartridge is L,
The arrangement of the image forming elements is changed so that L when the process cartridge is removed from the image forming apparatus main body is smaller than L when the process cartridge is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body and an image is formed. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein: The process cartridge has an arrangement changing mechanism for changing the arrangement of the image forming elements,
3. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the arrangement changing mechanism is automatically activated when the process cartridge is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body. The image forming element includes an image carrier that supports the latent image, and a developing unit that visualizes the latent image supported by the image carrier,
4. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the position of the process cartridge is changed while maintaining a relative position between the image carrier and the developing unit. An exposure device for exposing the image carrier, a transfer device for transferring a visible image on the developed image carrier, and a fixing device for fixing the transferred visible image, the process comprising: In an image forming apparatus capable of forming an image by inserting a cartridge,
The process cartridge is the process cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The image forming apparatus includes a process cartridge deforming unit that changes an arrangement of an image forming element included in the inserted process cartridge to an arrangement capable of forming an image. The process cartridge deforming unit acts on a process cartridge in which the transfer device and the image carrier are mounted in a non-contact manner to deform the shape of the process cartridge, thereby bringing the image carrier into contact with the transfer device and causing a transfer nip. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the image forming apparatus is a process cartridge deforming unit that forms the image forming apparatus. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising automatic mounting means for automatically mounting the process cartridge on the image forming apparatus, wherein the automatic mounting means and the process cartridge deforming means are linked. Or the image forming apparatus according to 6.

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