JP2004294951A - Processing cartridge and electrophotographic image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a processing cartridge capable of steady electrical connection between the storage means of the processing cartridge and the main body of the image forming apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: The processing cartridge which can be attached/detached to/from the main body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes: an electrophotographic photoreceptor drum; a drum frame; a positioning part provided in the drum frame; and a storage means having a cartridge electrical contact for electrically connecting to the main body electrical contact provided in the main body of the apparatus. When the processing cartridge is mounted on the main body of the apparatus, the storage means disposed in the drum frame has the relation of " positioning part distance ≥ storage means contact distance", with the positioning part of the main body of the apparatus relative to a concentric circle having the same center of the rotation center round which the processing cartridge is rotated when receiving drive force from the main body of the apparatus. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a process cartridge and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus in which the process cartridge is detachable.
[0002]
Here, the process cartridge is a unit in which a charging unit, a developing unit or a cleaning unit and an electrophotographic photosensitive drum are integrally formed into a cartridge, and the cartridge is detachably mountable to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body. In addition, at least one of the charging means, the developing means, and the cleaning means is integrally formed with the electrophotographic photosensitive drum as a cartridge so as to be detachable from the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus. Further, at least the developing means and the electrophotographic photosensitive drum are integrally formed into a cartridge so as to be detachably mountable to the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus.
[0003]
Here, the user can easily attach and detach the process cartridge to and from the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus.
[0004]
An electrophotographic image forming apparatus forms an image on a recording medium using an electrophotographic image forming process. For example, an electrophotographic copying machine, an electrophotographic printer (for example, an LED printer, a laser beam printer, or the like), an electrophotographic facsimile machine, an electrophotographic word processor, and the like are included.
[0005]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, as introduced (explained) in Japanese Patent No. 3359245, in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic image forming process, an electrophotographic photosensitive member and a process means acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally formed as a cartridge. Then, a process cartridge system is adopted in which the cartridge is detachably mountable to the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus. According to the process cartridge system, the maintenance of the apparatus can be performed by the user himself without relying on a service person, so that the operability can be remarkably improved. Therefore, this process cartridge system is widely used in electrophotographic image forming apparatuses.
[0006]
In recent years, the process cartridge has a built-in memory (storage means and storage element), and service information or print quality control information or the like is registered in the storage element to maintain the image forming apparatus main body or the process cartridge. And a method for facilitating the improvement of printing quality is adopted (FIG. 6).
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention is a further development of the conventional technique (Japanese Patent No. 3359245).
[0008]
A storage means provided in a conventional process cartridge is located at a leading end in a mounting direction with respect to an exposure opening of the process cartridge for allowing information light from the apparatus main body to be incident on a photosensitive drum in the process cartridge (the photosensitive device). (Supporting the body drum) on the upper surface of the cartridge frame. Here, the upper surface of the cartridge frame is a surface that becomes the upper surface when the process cartridge is mounted on the apparatus main body.
[0009]
When the process cartridge is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body, the storage unit and the apparatus main body are electrically connected. Then, when the process cartridge receives a driving force from the apparatus main body, the electric contact pressure (including contact pressure moment force) of the cartridge electric contact increases from a force (driving force) to be rotated. In some cases, the positioning contact of the process cartridge with respect to the main body became weak. In order to solve this, a backup (pressurizing) member for positioning the process cartridge is sometimes added.
[0010]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and a purpose thereof is to provide a process cartridge and a process cartridge capable of stably performing an electrical connection between a storage unit of the process cartridge and an image forming apparatus main body. An object of the present invention is to provide an electrophotographic image forming apparatus to which the image forming apparatus can be detached.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a process cartridge detachable from an electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body,
An electrophotographic photosensitive drum,
A drum frame for supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive drum,
The process cartridge is mounted on the apparatus main body, and when the electrophotographic photosensitive drum receives a rotational driving force from the apparatus main body, the position of the drum frame that attempts to rotate with the driving force is regulated. A positioning portion provided on the drum frame;
A storage unit having a cartridge electrical contact portion for electrically connecting to a main body electrical contact portion provided on the device main body for transmitting stored information to the device main body;
Has,
The storage means arranged on the drum frame is configured such that when the process cartridge is mounted on the apparatus main body, the process cartridge is coaxial with a rotation center which is to be rotated when receiving a driving force from the apparatus main body. A positioning part for the apparatus main body with respect to the concentric circle,
"Positioning section distance ≥ storage means contact section distance"
Is provided.
[0012]
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided an electrophotographic forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium, the apparatus having an apparatus body in which a process cartridge is detachable.
(A) a main body electrical contact provided on the apparatus main body;
(B) an electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
A drum frame for supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive drum,
The process cartridge is mounted on the apparatus main body, and when the electrophotographic photosensitive drum receives a rotational driving force from the apparatus main body, the position of the drum frame that is to be rotated with the driving force is regulated. A positioning unit provided in the apparatus main body,
A main body electrical contact portion electrically connected to the cartridge electrical contact portion to transmit stored information to the device main body;
Has,
The storage means arranged on the drum frame is configured such that when the process cartridge is mounted on the apparatus main body, the process cartridge is coaxial with a rotation center which is to be rotated when receiving a driving force from the apparatus main body. A positioning part for the process cartridge with respect to the concentric circle,
"Positioning section distance ≥ storage means contact section distance"
Mounting means for removably mounting the process cartridge, wherein
(C) conveying means for conveying the recording medium;
It is characterized by having.
[0013]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus and a process cartridge according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0014]
First, a process cartridge according to the present embodiment and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus to which the process cartridge can be mounted will be specifically described with reference to FIGS.
[0015]
First, an overall configuration of a process cartridge and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus used by mounting the process cartridge will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. Next, referring to FIGS. The configuration of the contacts between the main body and the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus will be described.
[0016]
As shown in FIG. 1, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus (a laser beam printer in the present embodiment) converts a laser light image L based on image information from an optical system 1 into a drum-shaped electrophotographic photosensitive member, that is, a photosensitive member. Irradiation is performed on the drum 7 to form a latent image on the photosensitive layer, and the latent image is developed using toner to form a toner image.
[0017]
Then, in synchronization with the formation of the toner image, the recording medium 2 is conveyed from the feeding cassette 3a by the conveying means 3 including a pickup roller 3b. Then, in the image forming unit formed as a process cartridge B, the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 7 is transferred to the recording medium 2 by applying a voltage to a transfer roller 4 as a transfer unit provided in the apparatus main body. Then, the recording medium 2 on which the toner image has been transferred is guided by the guide plate 3f and is conveyed to the fixing unit 5.
[0018]
The fixing unit 5 includes a driving roller 5a and a fixing roller 5c having a built-in heater 5b, and applies heat and pressure to the recording medium 2 passing therethrough to fix the transferred toner image. Then, the recording medium 2 is conveyed by the discharge roller pair 3g, and is discharged to the discharge unit 6 through the reverse conveyance path.
[0019]
On the other hand, the process cartridge B includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member and at least one process means. Here, the processing means includes, for example, a charging means for charging the electrophotographic photosensitive member, a developing means for developing a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a cleaning for cleaning toner remaining on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member. There are means.
[0020]
In the process cartridge B according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the photosensitive drum 7 having a photosensitive layer on the peripheral surface is rotated, and the surface thereof is made uniform by applying a voltage to a charging roller 8 serving as a charging unit. Charge. Next, the image information light from the optical system 1 is exposed to the photosensitive drum 7 through the exposure opening 9 provided in the process cartridge B to form a latent image. Then, the latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 7 is developed by developing means 10 using toner.
[0021]
The developing means 10 sends out the toner in the toner storage section 10a by a toner sending member 10b, and rotates a developing roller 10d having a built-in fixed magnet 10c. Then, a toner layer provided with a triboelectric charge by the developing blade 10e is formed on the surface of the developing roller 10d, and the toner is transferred to the photosensitive drum 7 in accordance with the latent image to form a toner image to form a visible image. Image.
[0022]
After applying a voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the toner image to the transfer roller 4 provided on the apparatus main body A to transfer the toner image to a recording medium (for example, recording paper, OHP sheet, cloth, etc.) 2, a cleaning blade 11a, the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 7 is peeled off. Then, the peeled-off toner is scooped by the squeeze sheet 11b and collected in the removed toner reservoir 11c. In the present embodiment, residual toner on the photosensitive drum 7 is removed by a cleaning unit (unit) 11 including a cleaning blade 11a, a squeeze sheet 11b, and a removed toner reservoir 11c.
[0023]
Each component such as the photosensitive drum 7 is housed in the cartridge frame. The cartridge frame has a developing unit 10 and a cleaning unit 11. That is, the developing toner container unit 10g is configured by integrating the toner frame 10f1 having the toner container 10f containing the toner and the developing means 10 holding the developing member such as the developing roller 10d. The cleaning unit 11 is swingably connected to the developing toner container unit 10g to form a process cartridge. Then, the process cartridge B is detachably attached to the apparatus main assembly A.
[0024]
At this time, an urging force acts on the process cartridge B about the boss 12c1 in the clockwise direction (the direction indicated by the arrow D in FIG. 1) in the same direction as the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 7. Then, the positioning portion (recess) 11e provided on the upper surface of the cleaning frame 11d comes into contact with the fixed member 100 (FIG. 4) provided on the apparatus main body A. As a result, the position of the process cartridge B with respect to the apparatus main assembly A of the cleaning unit 11 is determined.
[0025]
The developing unit 10 is swingably attached to the cleaning unit 11. The peripheral surface of the developing roller 10d of the developing unit 10 is urged via a spring (not shown). Therefore, while the cleaning means 11 (cleaning frame 11d) is directly positioned on the apparatus main body A, the developing means 10 (toner frame 10f1) is not directly positioned on the apparatus main body A, but on the cleaning means 11 Is positioned on the apparatus main body A by being positioned with respect to.
[0026]
The boss 12c1 is also a protruding member provided on the same axis as the axis of the photosensitive drum 7 so as to protrude outward from the cleaning frame 11d. As the projecting member, a drum shaft portion for supporting the photosensitive drum on the cleaning frame 11d may have a part of the cleaning frame 11d projecting outward.
[0027]
Next, the memory means 20 of the process cartridge B will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0028]
The storage means 20 specifically has a memory chip 21 such as a RAM or a ROM. Then, necessary information is input to the memory chip 21 in advance, and information is exchanged with the main body when the process cartridge is mounted on the main body. (Not shown).
[0029]
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 and 5, the memory chip 21 is attached to an upper portion of the cleaning frame 11 d in the transport area C in a direction (longitudinal direction) crossing the longitudinal direction of the photosensitive drum 7. Then, the electrical connection between the electrical contact portion 22 provided on the storage means 20 and the main body electrical contact 16 provided on the apparatus main body A is reliably performed. Further, the memory chip 21 may be independently attached to the cleaning frame 11d.
[0030]
Further, in the present embodiment, the storage means 20 is provided above the cleaning frame 11d, but may be any other than the recording medium passing surface 11d3 of the cleaning frame 11d in the longitudinal conveyance area C. Here, the transport area C is an outer peripheral surface area of the cartridge corresponding to a transport path on which a recording medium is transported when the process cartridge B is mounted on the apparatus main body A. Further, the recording medium passage surface 11d3 is an area facing the conveyance path through which the recording medium is conveyed when the process cartridge B is mounted on the apparatus main body A.
[0031]
As described above, the storage unit 20 is disposed on the cleaning frame 11d, which is a unit positioned with respect to the main assembly when the process cartridge B is mounted on the main assembly A of the apparatus. Can be stabilized. Further, by arranging the storage means within the transport area in the longitudinal direction, it is possible to reduce the size of the process cartridge and the image forming apparatus main body in the longitudinal direction.
[0032]
Furthermore, since a lower surface of the waste toner reservoir 11c of the cleaning frame 11d is formed with a continuous surface for sequentially feeding the waste toner to the back side when the waste toner accumulates inside the waste toner reservoir 11c, By disposing the storage means above the cleaning frame 11d, there is no adverse effect on the recovery of the waste toner.
[0033]
Further, the contact abutment portion of the storage means disposed on the upper surface of the cleaning frame 11d has a coaxial concentric circle of a rotation center which is to be rotated by receiving a driving force from the apparatus main body when mounted on the apparatus main body. A positioning unit for positioning with the apparatus main body;
"Positioning section distance ≥ storage means contact section distance"
(FIG. 2).
[0034]
By providing this relational configuration, the “drum rotation driving force from the main body ≧ contact reaction force of the storage means” at each moment force
Is maintained, and the contact stress of the storage means does not hinder the maintenance of the attitude of the process cartridge.
[0035]
Further, when the cartridge storage means is projected from the main body electrical contact portion in the contact connection pressing direction (substantially the center axis direction) of the plurality of cartridge electrical contacts 22 and the main body electrical contact 16 of the storage means 20, The storage means may be arranged so as to overlap within the diameter of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum.
[0036]
With this configuration, the contact pressing direction of the electric contact portion of the storage means is determined substantially in the direction of the center axis of rotation.
[0037]
Then, the contact stress (moment) of the storage means that hinders the drum rotation driving force is reduced.
[0038]
By adopting the configuration of setting the contact pressing direction as described above, when the urging force for rotating the apparatus main body A in the clockwise direction (the direction of arrow D) as in the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 7 acts. An unnecessary reaction (resistance) force or moment force that hinders the rotation of the photosensitive drum 7 is reduced, and the contact portion (recess) 11 e provided in the process cartridge is fixed to the apparatus main body A. It comes into contact with the installation member 100 reliably. Therefore, since the posture of the process cartridge does not change during image formation (recording medium conveyance) without adding any members, stable electric connection, image formation, and conveyance of the recording medium are enabled.
[0039]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible not only to make good electrical contact between the storage means provided in the process cartridge and the apparatus main body, but also to rotate the photosensitive drum from the apparatus main body to the process cartridge. When an urging force is applied, unnecessary repulsive (resistance) force and moment force that hinder the rotation of the photosensitive drum are reduced, so that the attitude of the process cartridge mounted in the apparatus is stabilized, and Also, it was possible to easily provide a process cartridge having a stable output image quality and an improvement in the quality of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body to which the process cartridge can be mounted without increasing the number of components.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus using a process cartridge to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a process cartridge according to an embodiment to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a process cartridge according to an embodiment to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of a process cartridge showing a contact portion of an embodiment to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 5 is a side sectional view of a process cartridge showing an electric contact portion of a memory means of an embodiment to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a conventional example.
[Explanation of symbols]
7 Photosensitive drum (electrophotographic photoreceptor)
8 Charging roller (charging means)
Reference Signs List 10 developing means 11 cleaning means 16 main body electrical contacts 20 memory means (storage means: memory tag)
23a Cartridge electrical contact A Electrophotographic image forming apparatus B Process cartridge

Claims (5)

In a process cartridge detachable from the electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body,
An electrophotographic photosensitive drum,
A drum frame for supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive drum,
The process cartridge is mounted on the apparatus main body, and when the electrophotographic photosensitive drum receives a rotational driving force from the apparatus main body, the position of the drum frame that attempts to rotate with the driving force is regulated. A positioning portion provided on the drum frame;
A storage unit having a cartridge electrical contact portion for electrically connecting to a main body electrical contact portion provided on the device main body for transmitting stored information to the device main body;
Has,
The storage means arranged on the drum frame is configured such that when the process cartridge is mounted on the apparatus main body, the process cartridge is coaxial with a rotation center which is to be rotated when receiving a driving force from the apparatus main body. A positioning part for the apparatus main body with respect to the concentric circle,
"Positioning section distance ≥ storage means contact section distance"
A process cartridge characterized by having the following configuration. 2. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said storage means is provided above a removed toner storage portion for storing removed toner removed from said electrophotographic photosensitive drum of said drum frame. When the process cartridge is mounted on the apparatus main body and the main body electrical contact portion and the cartridge electrical contact portion are electrically connected, the pressed direction of the cartridge electrical contact portion is the direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum. The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit is disposed at a position facing a substantially rotation center axis direction. 4. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said storage means is overlapped within a diameter of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum when said storage means is projected in a pressed direction of said cartridge electrical contact portion. The process cartridge according to any one of the above. An electrophotographic forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium, having an apparatus main body in which a process cartridge is detachable,
(A) a main body electrical contact provided on the apparatus main body;
(B) an electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
A drum frame for supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive drum,
The process cartridge is mounted on the apparatus main body, and when the electrophotographic photosensitive drum receives a rotational driving force from the apparatus main body, the position of the drum frame that is to be rotated with the driving force is regulated. A positioning unit provided in the apparatus main body,
A main body electrical contact portion electrically connected to the cartridge electrical contact portion to transmit stored information to the device main body;
Has,
The storage means arranged on the drum frame is configured such that when the process cartridge is mounted on the apparatus main body, the process cartridge is coaxial with a rotation center which is to be rotated when receiving a driving force from the apparatus main body. A positioning part for the process cartridge with respect to the concentric circle,
"Positioning section distance ≥ storage means contact section distance"
Mounting means for removably mounting the process cartridge, wherein
(C) conveying means for conveying the recording medium;
An electrophotographic image forming apparatus comprising:

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