JP2008116533A - Process cartridge, process cartridge packaging material, process cartridge package body and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a process cartridge that can prevent rotation of a photoreceptor due to vibration or the like during transportation or the like and suppress generation of defects such as stripes in terms of the image quality. <P>SOLUTION: The process cartridge includes an image holding body, a charging means to be in contact with the image holding body to charge the image holding body, and a fixing mechanism to prevent rotation of the image holding body. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a process cartridge, a process cartridge packing material, a process cartridge packing body, and an image forming apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic image forming process, an electrophotographic photosensitive member (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as “photosensitive member”) and process means acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrated into a cartridge. Therefore, a process cartridge system is adopted in which the cartridge can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body. According to this process cartridge system, the maintenance of the apparatus can be performed by the user himself / herself without depending on the service person, so that the operability can be remarkably improved. Therefore, this process cartridge system is widely used in image forming apparatuses.

  When the assembly of the process cartridge is completed at the factory, the process cartridge is usually packed using a packing bag, a packing material, a packing box, and the like, and is then stored in a warehouse or transported to a shipping destination.

JP 2001-215861 A

  When a process cartridge having a contact charging means such as a charging roll for charging a photoconductor and a photoconductor is packed and transported, for example, a transport means using a truck, a train, an airplane, a ship, etc. is used. Vibration may occur during any of the transport processes. Vibrations during transport to the packaged process cartridge are transmitted through the packaging material, causing the photoreceptor in the process cartridge to rotate. As a result, frictional discharge and peeling discharge occur between the photoreceptor and the charging roll for contact charging. The history may be stored on the photoconductor. When a process cartridge is mounted in the image forming apparatus, if a discharge history remains on the photosensitive member, a problem that a discharge history remaining portion remains as a streak in the image quality occurs.

  The present invention relates to a process cartridge, a process cartridge packing material, and a process cartridge packing body that can prevent rotation of a photosensitive member due to vibration during transportation and the like, and can suppress the occurrence of defects such as streaks with respect to image quality.

  The present invention also provides an image forming apparatus to which the process cartridge can be attached.

  The present invention is a process cartridge having an image carrier, charging means for charging the image carrier in contact with the image carrier, and a fixing mechanism for preventing rotation of the image carrier.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fixing mechanism that packs a process cartridge having an image carrier and a charging unit that contacts the image carrier and charges the image carrier, and prevents the rotation of the image carrier. Is a process cartridge packing material.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a process cartridge having an image holding member and a charging unit that contacts the image holding member to charge the image holding member, a packing material for packing the process cartridge, and the image holding member. A process cartridge package having a fixing mechanism for preventing rotation.

  Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a process cartridge including an image carrier, a charging unit that contacts the image carrier and charges the image carrier, and a fixing mechanism that prevents rotation of the image carrier. An image forming apparatus having a release mechanism that releases the fixing mechanism by being attached to the apparatus.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a process cartridge capable of preventing the rotation of the photosensitive member due to vibration during transportation or the like and suppressing the occurrence of defects such as streaks with respect to image quality.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a process cartridge packing material that can prevent the rotation of the photosensitive member due to vibration during transportation and the like and can suppress the occurrence of defects such as streaks with respect to image quality.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a process cartridge package capable of preventing the rotation of the photosensitive member due to vibration during transportation or the like and suppressing the occurrence of defects such as streaks with respect to image quality.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus capable of releasing the fixing mechanism for preventing the rotation of the photosensitive member of the process cartridge when the process cartridge is mounted.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. This embodiment is an example for carrying out the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

  The process cartridge is a charging means for charging the image carrier in contact with the image carrier, an electrophotographic photosensitive member as an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, and, if necessary, an image carrier. At least one of process means such as a developing means for forming a toner image by attaching toner to the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the toner and a cleaning means for cleaning the toner remaining on the surface of the image carrier after the transfer of the toner image. The cartridge is integrated into a cartridge so that it can be attached to and detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus. The process cartridge can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body by the user. Therefore, maintenance of the apparatus main body can be performed by the user himself.

  In the process cartridge according to the present embodiment, the contact charging unit and the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally formed into a cartridge that can be attached to and detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus, and is fixed to prevent the photosensitive member from freely rotating. By having a mechanism, the electrophotographic photosensitive member and the charging roll that are in contact with each other due to vibrations during transportation of the process cartridge, etc., rotate slightly, and charges are accumulated on the surface of the photosensitive member due to peeling discharge that occurs during the rotation. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a good image quality with almost no defects such as streaks.

  An example of a process cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention is schematically shown in FIG. The process cartridge 1 includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member (photosensitive drum) 10 as an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, and a charging roll 12 as a contact charging unit that contacts and charges the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 10. The developer roll 14 as a developing means for forming a toner image by attaching toner to the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 10, and the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 10 are contacted and transferred. A cleaning blade 18 as a cleaning unit for cleaning the toner remaining on the electrophotographic photosensitive member 10 is integrally supported, and is detachable from the image forming apparatus. As a latent image forming means for forming an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 10 around the electrophotographic photosensitive member 10 when mounted on the image forming apparatus by a charging roll 12, laser light, or reflected light of a document. The transfer device 16, the developing roller 14, the transfer roller 16 as a transfer means for transferring the toner image on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 10 to a recording paper (recording paper) 20 as a transfer material, and the cleaning blade 18 are arranged in this order. It is arranged. In FIG. 1, description of functional units normally required in other electrophotographic processes is omitted.

  The operation of the process cartridge 1 according to this embodiment will be described.

  First, the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 10 is charged to a uniform potential by supplying a voltage from a high voltage power supply device (not shown) to the charging roll 12 in contact with the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 10. At this time, the electrophotographic photosensitive member 10 and the charging roll 12 rotate in the directions of arrows in FIG. After charging, when the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 10 is irradiated with image light (exposure) 24 corresponding to image information by the exposure device 22, the potential of the irradiated portion decreases. Since the image light 24 has a light amount distribution according to the black / white of the image, a potential distribution corresponding to the recorded image, that is, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 10 by the irradiation of the image light 24. . When the portion where the electrostatic latent image is formed passes through the developing roll 14, toner adheres according to the level of the potential, and a toner image in which the electrostatic latent image is visualized is formed. The recording paper 20 is conveyed to a portion where the toner image is formed by a resist roll (not shown) at a predetermined timing, and overlaps with the toner image on the surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor 10. After the toner image is transferred to the recording paper 20 by the transfer roll 16, the recording paper 20 is separated from the electrophotographic photosensitive member 10. The separated recording paper 20 is transported through a transport path, and is heated and pressurized and fixed by a fixing unit (not shown) as fixing means, and then discharged outside the apparatus.

  FIG. 2A shows a schematic perspective view of an example of a fixing mechanism provided in the process cartridge according to the present embodiment. The fixing mechanism 30 includes a rotation preventing member 31, a cartridge mounting portion 32, and a spring 33. At the time of transportation and the like, the fitting portion 34 of the rotation preventing member 31 is fitted into the fitting hole 36 of the flange 35 of the photosensitive member, so that the rotation direction (forward direction) and the opposite direction of the photosensitive member are formed. Can be prevented from rotating freely. What is necessary is just to change the shape of the fitting part 34 according to the shape etc. of the fitting hole 36 of the flange 35. FIG. The fixing mechanism 30 is attached to the process cartridge by the cartridge attachment portion 32. The fixing mechanism 30 may have any shape and configuration as long as the rotation of the photosensitive member can be prevented, and is not limited to this embodiment. In the example of FIG. 2A, the photosensitive member is fixed using the hole portion of the flange 35 as the fitting hole 36. For example, a protrusion is provided on the side surface of the flange 35, and the fitting is fitted to the protrusion. You may fix by providing a part in the fixing mechanism side and making it fit.

  The release mechanism 37 is a mechanism shown in FIG. 2B, and is attached to the image forming apparatus main body. By mounting the process cartridge having the fixing mechanism 30 on the image forming apparatus, the rotation preventing member 31 is pressed by the pressing portion 38 of the release mechanism 37 of the image forming apparatus main body, so that the photosensitive member is photosensitive by the action of an elastic body such as the spring 33. The body flange 35 and the fitting portion 34 of the rotation preventing member 31 are separated, and the process cartridge fixing mechanism is automatically released. The process cartridge fixing mechanism may be automatically released by the release mechanism of the image forming apparatus when the process cartridge is attached to the image forming apparatus, or may be manually released by the user or the like before being attached to the image forming apparatus. Good.

  The release mechanism 37 for releasing the fixing mechanism may have any shape and configuration as long as it can release the fixing mechanism, and is not limited to this embodiment. By providing the image forming apparatus with the release mechanism, it is not necessary to take the trouble of releasing the process cartridge fixing mechanism before use, and the user is not burdened.

  Since the process cartridge includes the fixing mechanism for preventing the rotation of the photosensitive member as described above, the rotation of the photosensitive member due to vibration during transportation or the like can be prevented, and defects such as streaks are hardly caused in the image quality.

  The process cartridge is packed with a packing member such as a protective material, a packing bag, a packing material, and a packing box, and is distributed in a packaged state. When packing a process cartridge using a packing bag, packing material, packing box, etc., usually the process cartridge is first stored and wrapped in a packing bag, and then the foamed polystyrene is used to absorb shock from the top of the packing bag to the process cartridge. The process cartridge is protected by fitting a packing material such as resin or metal. Then, the process cartridge packed with the packing bag and the packing material is stored in a packing box such as a cardboard together with the packing bag and the packing material.

  FIG. 3 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of an example of a process cartridge packing material provided with a fixing mechanism according to the present embodiment. The process cartridge packing material 40 includes a process cartridge packing material main body 41, a lid portion 42, and a fixing mechanism 43 provided in the main body 41. When the process cartridge is inserted into the opening of the main body 41 of the process cartridge packing material 40, the fitting portion 44 of the fixing mechanism 43 shown in FIG. 3 is fitted into the flange of the photosensitive member of the process cartridge. Free rotation of the body in the forward and reverse directions can be prevented. The shape of the fitting portion 44 may be changed according to the shape of the flange of the photoreceptor. The fixing mechanism 43 may have any shape and configuration as long as the rotation of the photosensitive member can be prevented, and is not limited to this embodiment.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of another example of the process cartridge packing material provided with the fixing mechanism according to the present embodiment. The process cartridge packaging material 40 includes a process cartridge packaging material main body 41, a lid portion 42, and a fixing mechanism 43 provided in the lid portion 42. 4 is inserted into the main body 41 after the process cartridge is inserted into the main body 41 of the process cartridge packing material 40, the fitting portion 44 of the fixing mechanism 43 in FIG. By being fitted, it is possible to prevent free rotation of the photosensitive member in the forward and reverse directions during transportation. What is necessary is just to change the shape of the fitting part 44 according to the shape of the flange of a photoreceptor. The fixing mechanism 43 may have any shape and configuration as long as the rotation of the photosensitive member can be prevented, and is not limited to this embodiment.

  FIG. 5 shows a schematic perspective view of an example of a fixing mechanism provided in the process cartridge package according to the present embodiment. The fixing mechanism 45 is a T-shaped resin or metal member having a fitting portion 46 and is a jig that can be attached to and detached from the process cartridge. As shown in the schematic cross-sectional view of the process cartridge in FIG. 6, the fitting portion 46 of the fixing mechanism 45 is mounted in the gap between the housing 47 of the process cartridge and the flange 35 of the photosensitive member during transportation or the like. It is possible to prevent free rotation in the forward direction and the reverse direction during image formation of the body. By mounting on the flange 35 of the photoconductor, there is no fear of damaging the surface of the photoconductor. Further, the fixing mechanism 45 may be removed before the process cartridge is used. The fixing mechanism 45 may have any shape and configuration as long as the rotation of the photoconductor can be prevented, and is not limited to this embodiment. The fixing mechanism 45 may be attached using an adhesive member such as an adhesive tape. The process cartridge to which the fixing mechanism 45 is attached is packed by a packing member such as a packing bag, a packing material, and a packing box, and is used as a process cartridge packing body.

  In this embodiment, the rotation of the photosensitive member due to vibration during transportation is prevented by any of the process cartridge having the fixing mechanism, the process cartridge packing material having the fixing mechanism, and the process cartridge packing body having the fixing mechanism. do it. If a fixing mechanism as shown in FIG. 5 is used, the mechanism is simple, so that the cost can be minimized.

  In this embodiment, the fixing mechanism can prevent the electrophotographic photosensitive member and the charging roll from rotating, but the electrophotographic photosensitive member and the charging roll that are in contact with each other due to vibration during the transportation of the process cartridge rotate. Rotation of the photosensitive member (for example, movement of 2 mm or more, preferably 1 mm as the moving distance of the photosensitive member surface) to the extent that charges that affect the image are not accumulated on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member due to peeling discharge generated during the rotation. It is only necessary to prevent the above movement).

  A photoconductor is used as the electrophotographic photoreceptor 10 and has at least a function of forming an electrostatic latent image (electrostatic charge image). In the electrophotographic photosensitive member, an undercoat layer, a charge generation layer containing a charge generation material, and a charge transport layer containing a charge transport material are formed in this order on the outer peripheral surface of a cylindrical conductive substrate as necessary. It is a thing. The order of stacking the charge generation layer and the charge transport layer may be reversed. These are laminated photoconductors in which a charge generation material and a charge transport material are contained in separate layers (charge generation layer, charge transport layer), but both the charge generation material and the charge transport material are the same. A single-layer type photoreceptor included in the above layer may be used, and a laminated photoreceptor is preferable. Further, an intermediate layer may be provided between the undercoat layer and the photosensitive layer. In addition to the organic photoreceptor, other types of photosensitive layers such as amorphous silicon, amorphous selenium, zinc oxide, and titanium oxide photosensitive films may be used. For example, a drum-like or belt-like shape is used for mounting the photoconductor. For example, in the case of a drum-type photoconductor, a photoconductor is vapor-deposited or coated on a cylinder such as an aluminum alloy. It is what I did.

  There are roller type, blade (charging blade), pad type, block type, etc. as the charging means, but positive or negative ions generated by contacting the photoconductor and applying a high voltage are applied to the surface of the photoconductor. Any type may be used as long as the surface of the photoreceptor is uniformly charged.

  The charging roll 12 is configured as a long one corresponding to the entire image forming area of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 10 in the same manner as conventionally used, and the charging roll 12 is disposed on both sides of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 10. Using a biasing means (not shown) such as a spring arranged on the shaft, the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 10 is rotated while contacting with a predetermined pressing force to follow the rotation of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 10. An operation that charges the battery is performed. The charging roll 12 is provided with an elastic layer integrally with a predetermined thickness around a shaft member made of a metal material such as iron or stainless steel. The elastic body is made of EPDM rubber (ethylene) in which carbon or the like is dispersed. A conductive material such as propylene rubber can be used.

  The exposure device 22 is not particularly limited. For example, a laser optical system, an LED array, or the like that can expose the surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor 10 with a light source such as semiconductor laser light, LED light, and liquid crystal shutter light in a desired image manner. And optical system equipment.

  The developing means has a function of developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member 10 with a one-component developer or a two-component developer containing an electrostatic charge image developing toner to form a toner image. Such a developing device is not particularly limited as long as it has the above-described functions, and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. Even a type in which the toner layer is in contact with the electrophotographic photoreceptor 10 can be used. It may be the one that does not. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, a developer having a function of attaching the electrostatic image developing toner to the electrophotographic photosensitive member 10 using the developing roll 14, or a function of attaching the toner to the electrophotographic photosensitive member using a brush or the like. A known developing device such as a developing device having A direct current voltage is usually used for the developer carrier, but an alternating voltage may be further superimposed.

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

  As a cleaning means for the toner remaining on the photosensitive member, a cleaning means can be configured using a blade, a fur brush, a magnetic brush, or the like.

  The transfer unit may be a type that directly transfers to paper or the like, or a type that transfers via an intermediate transfer member. For example, a transfer roll 16 and a transfer roll pressing device (not shown) using a conductive or semiconductive roll or the like that directly contacts and transfers to the surface of the recording paper 20 as shown in FIG. ) Can be used. Further, a recording paper 20 may be used in which a charge opposite in polarity to the toner is applied to the recording paper 20 from the back side of the recording paper 20 and the toner image is transferred to the recording paper 20 by electrostatic force. A direct current may be applied to the transfer roll 16 as a transfer current applied to the electrophotographic photosensitive member 10, or an alternating current may be applied in a superimposed manner. The transfer roll 16 can be arbitrarily set according to the image area width to be charged, the shape of the transfer charger, the opening width, the process speed (circumferential speed), and the like. Further, a single layer foam roll or the like is preferably used as the transfer roll 16 for cost reduction.

  The fixing unit as the fixing means is not particularly limited as long as the toner image transferred onto the recording paper 20 is fixed by heating, pressing, or heating and pressing.

  Examples of the recording paper 20 that is a recording medium to which a toner image is transferred include plain paper, an OHP sheet, and the like used in electrophotographic copying machines and printers. In order to further improve the smoothness of the image surface after fixing, it is preferable that the surface of the transfer material is as smooth as possible. For example, coated paper in which the surface of plain paper is coated with a resin, art paper for printing, etc. It can be preferably used.

  The process cartridge may have a communication mechanism for storing cartridge information.

  The process cartridge is not limited to one that forms a single color image, but may be one that forms a plurality of color images (for example, a two-color image, a three-color image, or a full color).

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of an image forming apparatus to which the process cartridge according to this embodiment is applied, and shows a so-called tandem type digital color printer. The image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 7 includes an image forming unit 52 that forms an image corresponding to gradation data of each color, a sheet conveying system 54 that conveys recording paper (sheets), such as a personal computer or an image reader. And an image processing device 56 that is connected to the device and performs predetermined image processing on the received image data.

  The image forming unit 52 forms four images of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K), which are a plurality of engines arranged in parallel at regular intervals in the horizontal direction. Units 58Y, 58M, 58C, 58K, transfer units 62 for transferring the toner images of the respective colors formed on the electrophotographic photoreceptor 10 of the image forming units 58Y, 58M, 58C, 58K onto the intermediate transfer belt 60, image formation An optical system unit 64 for irradiating the units 58Y, 58M, 58C, and 58K with laser light is provided. Further, the main body 50 is provided with a fixing device 66 for fixing the image on the recording paper (sheet) secondarily transferred by the transfer unit 62 to the recording paper using heat and pressure. Further, toner cartridges 68Y, 68M, 68C, and 68K are provided for supplying toner of each color to the image forming units 58Y, 58M, 58C, and 58K.

  The transfer unit 62 includes a drive roll 70 that drives an intermediate transfer belt 60 that is an intermediate transfer member, a tension applying roll 71 that applies a constant tension to the intermediate transfer belt 60, and a superimposed toner image of each color on a recording sheet. A backup roll 72 for transferring and a cleaning device 73 for removing residual toner and the like existing on the intermediate transfer belt 60 are provided. The intermediate transfer belt 60 is wound around the drive roll 70, the tension applying roll 71, and the backup roll 72 with a constant tension, and is rotated by a dedicated drive motor (not shown) excellent in constant speed. The driven drive roll 70 is driven to circulate at a predetermined speed in the direction of the arrow. As the intermediate transfer belt 60, for example, a belt whose resistance is adjusted with a belt material (rubber or resin) that does not cause charge accumulation is used. The cleaning device 73 includes a cleaning brush 73a and a cleaning blade 73b, and removes residual toner, paper dust, and the like from the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 60 after the toner image transfer process is completed, and performs the next image forming process. It is comprised so that it may prepare for.

  The sheet conveyance system 54 conveys recording sheets separated from the sheet feeding device 77 one by one from the sheet feeding device 77 to the image transfer unit, which stacks and supplies recording sheets (sheets) on which images are recorded. A conveyance path 80 is provided. Further, a secondary transfer roll 82 is provided which is provided at a secondary transfer position with respect to the recording sheet conveyed through the conveyance path 80 and presses the backup roll 72 to secondarily transfer the image onto the recording sheet. Further, a discharge roll 83 for discharging the recording paper on which the toner image is fixed by the fixing device 66 to the outside of the main body 50 and a discharge receiver 84 for stacking the recording paper discharged by the discharge roll 83 are provided.

  Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 7 will be described. A color material reflected light image of a document read by a document reading device (not shown) and color material image data formed by a personal computer (not shown) are input to the image processing device 56. The image processing device 56 performs predetermined image processing such as shading correction, position shift correction, brightness / color space conversion, gamma correction, frame deletion, color editing, moving editing, and other various image editing on the input data. Applied. The image data that has undergone image processing is converted into data of four colors, yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K), and is output to the optical system unit 64.

  In the optical system unit 64, the laser beam (LB-Y, LB-M, LB-C, LB-K) emitted from the semiconductor laser (not shown) is converted into the image forming unit 58Y according to the input data. , 58M, 58C, and 58K. In the electrophotographic photoreceptor 10 of the image forming units 58Y, 58M, 58C, and 58K, the charged surface is scanned and exposed to form an electrostatic latent image. The formed electrostatic latent image is developed as a toner image of each color of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) in each image forming unit 58Y, 58M, 58C, 58K. Is done.

  The toner images formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive members 10 of the image forming units 58Y, 58M, 58C, and 58K are multiplex-transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 60 that is an intermediate transfer member. At this time, the black image forming unit 58K for forming a black toner image is provided on the most downstream side in the moving direction of the intermediate transfer belt 60, and the black toner image is finally transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 60 in the primary transfer. Is done.

  On the other hand, in the sheet conveyance system 54, a recording sheet of a predetermined size is supplied from the sheet feeding device 77 in accordance with the image formation timing. Thereafter, the recording paper is conveyed to a secondary transfer position formed by the backup roll 72 and the secondary transfer roll 82 in accordance with the movement timing of the intermediate transfer belt 60 on which the toner image is formed. On the recording sheet conveyed from the lower side to the upper side at the secondary transfer position, the toner images in which the four colors are multiplexed are sequentially transferred in the sub-scanning direction using a pressing force and a predetermined electric field. The recording paper on which the toner images of the respective colors are transferred is subjected to a fixing process by heat and pressure by the fixing device 66 and then discharged by a discharge roll 83 to a discharge receiver 84 provided on the upper portion of the main body 50.

  Next, the image forming units 58Y, 58M, 58C, and 58K in the image forming unit 52 will be described in detail.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the image forming units 58Y, 58M, 58C, and 58K. Here, the yellow (Y) image forming unit 58Y and the magenta (M) image forming unit 58M are shown. Has been. The other image forming units 58C and 58K are configured in substantially the same manner.

  The image forming units 58Y, 58M, 58C, and 58K include an electrophotographic photosensitive member 10 as an image carrier for supporting a toner image, a charger 86 that charges the electrophotographic photosensitive member 10 using a charging roll 12 that is a charging member, The electrostatic latent image charged on the charger 86 and formed on the electrophotographic photoreceptor 10 by the laser light (LB-Y, LB-M, LB-C, LB-K) from the optical system unit 64 is developed on the developing roll. 14, a developing unit 87 that develops the toner image, and an intermediate transfer belt 60, which is provided opposite to the electrophotographic photosensitive member 10, and transfers the toner image developed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member 10 onto the intermediate transfer belt 60. A roll 88 and a cleaning device 73 for removing residual toner remaining on the electrophotographic photoreceptor 10 after transfer are provided.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the laser beam printer is exemplified as the electrophotographic image forming apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the electrophotographic image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine, a facsimile machine, or a word processor is used. It is also possible to use it.

  Hereinafter, although an example and a comparative example are given and the present invention is explained more concretely in detail, the present invention is not limited to the following examples.

(Example 1)
A process cartridge having a photoconductor, a contact charging member, and a cleaning member and having the fixing mechanism of FIG. 2A is packed using a normal packing material to obtain a process cartridge package. A vibration tester (G-9223LS type, manufactured by Shinken Co., Ltd.) is used for vibrations of 25 Hz and 15 minutes that simulate vibrations during transportation for each direction perpendicular to the three adjacent surfaces of the process cartridge package (cuboid). Then, attach a process cartridge to Fuji Xerox DocuCentreColor400 and output a 30% density black image on A3 paper (Fuji Xerox, P paper) in an environment of 20 ° C and 50% RH to form an image. The image quality of the first sheet was confirmed visually. Good image quality with no streak in image quality was obtained.

(Example 2)
The process cartridge having the photosensitive member, the contact charging member, and the cleaning member was packed using the process cartridge packing material having the fixing mechanism shown in FIG. A vibration tester (G-9223LS type, manufactured by Shinken Co., Ltd.) is used for vibrations of 25 Hz and 15 minutes that simulate vibrations during transportation for each direction perpendicular to the three adjacent surfaces of the process cartridge package (cuboid). Then, attach a process cartridge to Fuji Xerox DocuCentreColor400 and output a 30% density black image on A3 paper (Fuji Xerox, P paper) in an environment of 20 ° C and 50% RH to form an image. The image quality of the first sheet was confirmed visually. Good image quality with no streak in image quality was obtained.

(Example 3)
When image formation was performed in the same manner as in Example 2 except that the process cartridge packing material having the fixing mechanism shown in FIG. 4 was used, good image quality without streaking could be obtained.

Example 4
A process cartridge having a photosensitive member, a contact charging member, and a cleaning member, and mounting the fixing mechanism (fixing member) of FIG. 5 in the gap between the flange of the photosensitive member and the housing, and fixing the photosensitive member to an ordinary packing material Was used as a process cartridge package. A vibration tester (G-9223LS type, manufactured by Shinken Co., Ltd.) is used for vibrations of 25 Hz and 15 minutes that simulate vibrations during transportation for each direction perpendicular to the three adjacent surfaces of the process cartridge package (cuboid). Then, attach a process cartridge to Fuji Xerox DocuCentreColor400 and output a 30% density black image on A3 paper (Fuji Xerox, P paper) in an environment of 20 ° C and 50% RH to form an image. The image quality of the first sheet was confirmed visually. Good image quality with no streak in image quality was obtained.

(Comparative Example 1)
When image formation was performed in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the process cartridge having no fixing mechanism shown in FIG. 2 was used, streaks occurred in image quality.

  Thus, the process cartridge of Example 1, the process cartridge packing material of Examples 2 and 3, and the process cartridge package of Example 4 suppress the rotation of the photosensitive member in a vibration state simulating vibration during transportation. Generation of streaks was prevented and good image quality was obtained.

It is the schematic which shows an example of a structure of the process cartridge which concerns on embodiment of this invention. (A) It is a schematic perspective view which shows an example of the fixing mechanism of the process cartridge which concerns on embodiment of this invention. (B) It is the schematic which shows an example of the cancellation | release mechanism of the image forming apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows an example of the fixing mechanism of the process cartridge packing material which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the other example of the fixing mechanism of the process cartridge packing material which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic perspective view which shows an example of the fixing mechanism of the process cartridge package which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is the schematic which shows an example of the process cartridge package which concerns on embodiment of this invention. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an image forming unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Process cartridge, 10 Electrophotographic photoreceptor, 12 Charging roll, 14 Developing roll, 16 Transfer roll, 18 Cleaning blade, 20 Recording paper, 22 Exposure apparatus, 24 Image light, 30, 43, 45 Fixing mechanism, 31 Anti-rotation member 32, cartridge mounting part, 33 spring, 34, 44, 46 fitting part, 35 flange, 36 fitting hole, 37 release mechanism, 38 pressing part, 40 process cartridge packing material, 41 main body, 42 lid part, 47 housing, 50 Main body, 52 Image forming unit, 54 Sheet conveying system, 56 Image processing device, 58Y, 58M, 58C, 58K Image forming unit, 60 Intermediate transfer belt, 62 Transfer unit, 64 Optical system unit, 66 Fixing unit, 68Y, 68M , 68C, 68K toner cartridge, 70 drive roll 71 tension applying roll, 72 backup roll, 73 cleaning device, 73a cleaning brush, 73b cleaning blade, 77 paper feeding device, 80 transport path, 82 secondary transfer roll, 83 discharge roll, 84 discharge receiver, 86 charger, 87 development 88, primary transfer roll.

Claims (4)

  A process cartridge comprising: an image carrier; charging means for charging the image carrier in contact with the image carrier; and a fixing mechanism for preventing rotation of the image carrier. Packing a process cartridge having an image carrier and charging means for charging the image carrier in contact with the image carrier;
A process cartridge packing material comprising a fixing mechanism for preventing rotation of the image carrier. A process cartridge having an image carrier and charging means for charging the image carrier in contact with the image carrier;
A packing material for packing the process cartridge;
A fixing mechanism for preventing rotation of the image carrier;
A process cartridge package comprising:   A process cartridge having an image carrier, charging means for charging the image carrier in contact with the image carrier, and a fixing mechanism for preventing rotation of the image carrier is mounted on the image forming apparatus. An image forming apparatus comprising: a release mechanism that releases the fixing mechanism.

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