JP2014178353A - Process cartridge, image forming apparatus, and method for assembling latent image carrier - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus which can be miniaturized and in which the top end of a blade member is bent in a normal bending direction, to assemble an image carrier in an apparatus body and to provide a process cartridge and a method for assembling the image carrier.SOLUTION: In the image forming apparatus including the image carrier such as a photoreceptor 8, the blade member coming into contact with the image carrier, and guide members 121 and 122 guiding the image carrier when the image carrier is assembled in the apparatus body, and bringing the image carrier into press-contact with the blade member held by the apparatus body, to assemble the image carrier, the blade member is held so that the top end thereof faces the rotation center of the image carrier and is in press-contact with the image carrier so that the top end thereof is bent in a specified direction. The guide members guide the image carrier so that the surface of the image carrier is moved in the specified bending direction of the top end of the blade member when the image carrier comes into press-contact with the blade member.

Description

  The present invention relates to a process cartridge, an image forming apparatus, and a latent image carrier assembling method.

  In an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a facsimile machine, and a copying machine, an electrostatic latent image is formed on a photosensitive member, and the formed electrostatic latent image is developed and visualized as a toner image. The toner image formed on the photosensitive member is transferred directly or via an intermediate transfer member to a recording sheet as a recording member, and the transferred toner image is fixed on the recording sheet to obtain an image. In such an image forming apparatus, the toner that has not been transferred remains on the photoreceptor after the toner image has been transferred. Therefore, the cleaning blade is brought into contact with the photoreceptor to remove residual toner. In addition, the photosensitive member and the cleaning blade are held in a frame, and the process cartridge is integrally removable from the apparatus main body.

Patent Document 1 describes an image forming apparatus in which a photosensitive member is assembled to a process cartridge as follows.
FIG. 18 is a diagram showing how the photosensitive member is assembled in the process cartridge described in Patent Document 1, and FIG. 19 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the contact portion between the photosensitive member 208 and the cleaning blade 201.
As shown in FIG. 19, in the process cartridge described in Patent Document 1, the cleaning blade 201 is moved in the counter direction with respect to the photosensitive member surface moving direction, so that the surface movement of the photosensitive member 8 in the contact portion is performed. It is mounted with the entire blade tilted with respect to the direction.

  As shown in FIG. 18, the side plate 210 that supports the shaft 208a of the photoconductor 208 is provided with a guide groove 214 that serves as a guide when the photoconductor is assembled. The guide groove 214 extends substantially parallel to the pressing direction F of the cleaning blade 201 with respect to the photoreceptor 8.

  The shaft of the photosensitive member 208 is inserted into the guide groove 214, and the photosensitive member 208 is assembled to the apparatus main body. At this time, the photoconductor 208 is pressed against the cleaning blade while being guided by the guide groove 201 substantially in parallel with the press contact direction F of the cleaning blade 201 with respect to the photoconductor 8, and the photoconductor 8 is assembled to the apparatus main body. Therefore, when the photoconductor 201 is assembled, the photoconductor 201 is prevented from coming into contact with the cleaning blade 201 from an undesired direction, and the cleaning blade 201 is prevented from being turned up or damaged.

  The present applicant is developing an image forming apparatus in which the diameter of the photosensitive member 208 is reduced in order to further reduce the size of the apparatus. If the diameter of the photoconductor 208 is thus reduced, the space around the surface of the photoconductor 208 is reduced, and the arrangement of the charging member, the developing device, the cleaning device, and the like arranged around the photoconductor 208 becomes strict. Therefore, in the image forming apparatus under development, the blade member such as the cleaning blade 201 is held so that the tip is directed to the rotation center of the photosensitive member 208, and only the tip is bent in the trailing direction or the counter direction. . By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to reduce the proportion of the blade member in the direction of movement of the photoreceptor surface as compared with the case where the blade member is held in the direction of movement of the surface of the photoreceptor. As a result, the developing device and the charging member can be arranged around the photoconductor even when the photoconductor is reduced in diameter.

  In the image forming apparatus under development in which the blade member is held along the normal direction of the photosensitive member, when the photosensitive member is assembled by the method described in Patent Document 1, the result is as shown in FIG. That is, as described in Patent Document 1, when the photoconductor 208 is assembled in the direction opposite to the pressing direction F of the blade member 201 with respect to the photoconductor, the photoconductor 208 is assembled in the direction of arrow S in the figure. It will be moved to and assembled. Accordingly, in this case, the photoconductor 208 is assembled in such a manner that the photoconductor 208 pushes the front end surface of the blade member 201 toward the fixed end. As a result, for example, depending on an assembly error of the blade member 201, there is a problem that the tip of the blade member 201 may bend in a direction opposite to a normal bending direction.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to reduce the size of the apparatus and to deflect the tip of the blade member in the normal bending direction so that the image carrier is attached to the apparatus main body. To provide a process cartridge, an image forming apparatus, and an image carrier assembling method that can be assembled.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is an image forming apparatus main body that holds an image carrier that is rotationally driven, a blade member that contacts the image carrier, the image carrier and the blade member. And a guide member that guides the image carrier when the image carrier is assembled to the housing, and press-contacts the blade member held by the housing to carry the image In the process cartridge for assembling the body, the blade member is held so that a tip thereof faces the rotation center of the image carrier, and is pressed against the image carrier so that the tip is bent in a predetermined direction, and the guide The member guides the image carrier so that the surface of the image carrier moves in a predetermined bending direction at the tip of the blade member when the image carrier is in pressure contact with the blade member. It is an butterfly.

According to the present invention, the image carrier is assembled while being pressed against the blade member while the surface moves in the normal bending direction of the blade member. As a result, the tip of the blade member is moved in the normal deflection direction by the frictional force with the surface of the image carrier. As a result, the tip of the blade member can be reliably bent in the normal bending direction, and the image carrier can be assembled to the housing.
Further, the blade member is held so that the tip thereof faces the rotation center of the image carrier, and is pressed against the image carrier so that the tip is bent in a specified direction. As a result, the space occupied by the blade member in the moving direction of the surface of the image carrier can be reduced as compared with the case where the blade member is held inclined with respect to the normal direction of the image carrier. Thereby, even when the diameter of the image carrier is reduced, process means such as a developing device can be disposed around the image carrier, and the process cartridge can be reduced in size.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment. The perspective view which shows the state which open | released the side cover provided in the main body case. FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing an enlarged configuration of one of four process cartridges. The figure which shows the structure of a charging roller. The figure explaining the bending of the front-end | tip of a leveling blade. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing one end side of a process cartridge frame in the photosensitive member axial direction. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the other end side in the photosensitive member axial direction of a frame of a process cartridge. Sectional drawing which shows the one end side of a process cartridge when a photoconductor is assembled | attached. Sectional drawing which shows the other end side of a process cartridge when a photoconductor is assembled | attached. Schematic which shows a 1st guide part, a 2nd guide part, etc. FIG. The figure explaining a mode that a photoconductor is inserted between the 1st guide part and the 2nd guide part. The figure which shows the state before making a photoconductor press-contact with a cleaning blade and a leveling blade. The figure which shows the mode after attaching a photoconductor to a flame | frame. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a main part of an image forming apparatus in which a blade member in contact with a photosensitive member is one. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a photosensitive member is inserted between a first guide portion and a second guide portion in an image forming apparatus in which a blade member in contact with the photosensitive member is one. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a state before the photoconductor is pressed against a cleaning blade and a leveling blade in an image forming apparatus having one blade member that contacts the photoconductor. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a state after the photosensitive member is assembled to a frame in an image forming apparatus in which the blade member that contacts the photosensitive member is one. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state where a photoconductor is assembled in a conventional image forming apparatus. FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of a contact portion between a photosensitive member and a cleaning blade of a conventional image forming apparatus. The figure explaining the subject of this invention.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 1, a printer engine 3 and an optical writing device 4 for emitting a light beam are provided in a main body case 2 of the image forming apparatus 1. In addition, a paper feed cassette 5 that is a recording medium storage unit that stores a recording medium P that is a transfer target, a fixing device 6 that fixes the recording medium P to which the toner image is transferred, and waste generated after the toner image is transferred. A waste toner collecting container 7 for collecting toner is also provided.

  The printer engine 3 is a portion that forms a toner image and transfers the formed toner image to the recording medium P, and includes four photosensitive members 8 (8Y, 8C, 8M, and 8K) that are latent image carriers. . A charging device 9, a developing device 10, a drum cleaning device 11, and a primary transfer roller 12 are disposed around each photoconductor 8. The printer engine 3 also includes an intermediate transfer belt 13 as an image carrier and a transfer target, a secondary transfer roller 14 as a transfer device, a belt cleaning device 15 and the like. Here, in the description of the present specification and drawings, Y, C, M, and K subscripts indicate yellow, cyan, magenta, and black colors, respectively, and these subscripts are omitted as necessary. .

  The photoconductor 8 is formed in a cylindrical shape and is connected to a drive motor (not shown), and rotates around a center line by a drive force from the drive motor. A photosensitive layer on which an electrostatic latent image is formed is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the photoreceptor 8.

  The charging device 9 includes a charging roller disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the photoconductor 8. By applying a voltage from a power supply unit (not shown) to the charging roller, the outer peripheral surface of the photoconductor 8 is uniformly charged.

  The optical writing device 4 emits a light beam corresponding to the image data, and exposes the outer peripheral surface of the uniformly charged photoreceptor 8. By this exposure, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image data is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the photoreceptor 8.

  The developing device 10 supplies toner to the photoreceptor 8. The supplied toner adheres to the electrostatic latent image formed on the outer peripheral surface of the photoconductor 8, and the electrostatic latent image on the outer peripheral surface of the photoconductor 8 is visualized as a toner image.

  The intermediate transfer belt 13 is a loop belt formed with a resin film or rubber as a base. The intermediate transfer belt 13 is wound around a driving roller 16, an entrance roller 17, and a tension roller 18. The intermediate transfer belt 13 rotates in the direction of arrow A when the driving roller 16 connected to a driving motor (not shown) is driven to rotate. The entrance roller 17 and the tension roller 18 are driven to rotate by the frictional force with the intermediate transfer belt 13 as the intermediate transfer belt 13 rotates in the direction of arrow A.

  The primary transfer roller 12 is disposed on the inner peripheral surface side (inside the loop) of the intermediate transfer belt 13, and a toner image on each photoconductor 8 is formed by applying a transfer voltage to the primary transfer roller 12. The image is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 13. The toner images formed on the respective photoreceptors 8 are sequentially transferred and superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt 13, and a color toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 13.

  The drum cleaning device 11 cleans the outer peripheral surface of the photoconductor 8 after the toner image is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 13. By this cleaning, toner, paper dust, and the like remaining on the outer peripheral surface of the photoreceptor 8 after the toner image is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 13 are collected as waste toner.

  The color toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 13 is transferred to the secondary transfer roller 14 at the timing when the recording medium P is sent to the transfer position where the intermediate transfer belt 13 and the secondary transfer roller 14 are in contact with each other. When the working voltage is applied, it is transferred to the recording medium P. The recording medium P is fed from the sheet feeding cassette 5 and is conveyed by the conveyance roller 19 and the registration roller 20, and is transferred to the fixing device 6 after the toner image is transferred. The recording medium P to which the toner image has been transferred is subjected to fixing processing by applying heat and pressure in the fixing device 6, and the toner image melted by this fixing processing is fixed to the recording medium P. The recording medium P for which the fixing process has been completed is discharged onto a discharge tray 21 formed on the upper surface of the main body case 2.

  The belt cleaning device 15 cleans the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 13 after the color toner image is transferred to the recording medium P. By this cleaning, toner, paper dust, and the like remaining on the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 13 after the toner image is transferred are collected as waste toner.

  The waste toner collecting container 7 is a portion in which the waste toner collected by the drum cleaning devices 11 and 15 is input from the drum cleaning devices 11 and 15 and the input waste toner is stored. The waste toner collection container 7 is detachably attached to the main body case 2, and is removed from the main body case 2 when the waste toner in the waste toner collection container 7 is almost full, and an empty waste toner collection container. 7 is attached.

  The photosensitive member 8 which is a constituent member of the printer engine 3 and the charging device 9, the developing device 10 and the drum cleaning device 11 which are arranged around each photosensitive member 8 and act as process means on the photosensitive member 8, are unitized. Thus, the process cartridge 23 (23Y, 23C, 23M, 23K) is formed. Each process cartridge 23 is detachably mounted in the main body case 2. Since the photoconductor 8, the charging device 9, the developing device 10, and the drum cleaning device 11 are unitized as the process cartridge 23, replacement and maintenance work is facilitated. Further, it is possible to maintain the positional accuracy between the members with high accuracy, and to improve the quality of the formed image.

  Further, the process cartridge 23 removed from the printer 1 is configured such that the photoconductor 8, the charging device 9, the drum cleaning device 11, and the developing device 10 can be replaced with new devices.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the side cover 24 provided on the main body case 2 is opened.
By opening the side cover 24, the printer engine 3 and the waste toner collection container 7 appear, and the process cartridge 23, the intermediate transfer belt 13 and the waste toner collection container 7 can be replaced and other maintenance can be performed. The intermediate transfer belt 13, the rollers 16, 17, 18 and the belt cleaning device 15 are housed in the belt case 13a and unitized, and can be replaced as an intermediate transfer unit.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing an enlarged configuration of one of the four process cartridges. Since any process cartridge has the same configuration, Y, M, C, and K indicating the distinction of colors are omitted in this figure. Each process cartridge 23 has a photoconductor 8, and the following devices are arranged around each photoconductor 8. That is, a charging device 9 for applying a charge to the surface of the photoconductor 8, a developing device 10 for developing a latent image formed on the surface of the photoconductor 8 with each color toner to form a toner image, and cleaning the surface of the photoconductor 8 after the toner image is transferred. The drum cleaning device 11 A lubricant application device 30 for applying a lubricant to the surface of the photoconductor 8 is also arranged around each photoconductor 8.

  3 may be separately assembled to the image forming apparatus main body. However, in the illustrated example, the charging device 9 further includes a charging roller 9a, a charging roller pressure spring (not shown), and a charging cleaner. And a roller 9b.

  The lubricant application device 30 includes a solid lubricant 30b, a pressure spring 30c, an application brush 30a for applying the lubricant, and a leveling blade 30d for making the lubricant uniform.

  The developing device 10 includes a development regulating member 10b that regulates the amount of developer on the developing sleeve 10a.

  The drum cleaning device 11 includes a cleaning blade 11a and a waste toner recovery coil 11b. Further, a detection sensor 80 for detecting the amount of toner on the photoconductor 8 may be provided.

  A process cartridge 23, a photoreceptor 8, a charging device 9, a developing device 10, a drum cleaning device 11, and a lubricant applying device 30 shown in FIG. 3 are provided. As a result, the image forming means is integrated, the setting property and the maintenance property are excellent, and the position accuracy of the photosensitive member such as the developing member, the charging member, and the cleaning member is improved. The process cartridge 23 integrally supports at least one of the photosensitive member 8 and the charging device 9, the developing device 10, the drum cleaning device 11, and the lubricant applying device 30. It only needs to be detachable. In the present embodiment, at least the photosensitive member 8, the drum cleaning device 11, and the lubricant application device 30 are provided.

  As the photoconductor 8, a photoconductor 8 having a metal material such as amorofus silicone or selenium, or a photoconductor 8 having an organic photosensitizer can be used. In this embodiment, the organic photoreceptor 8 is used. The organic photoreceptor 8 has a resin layer having a filler dispersed on a conductive support, a photosensitive layer having a charge generation layer and a charge transport layer, and a protective layer having a filler dispersed on the surface thereof.

  The photosensitive layer may be a single-layered photosensitive layer containing a charge generation material and a charge transport material, but a laminated type composed of a charge generation layer and a charge transport layer is excellent in sensitivity and durability.

  In the charge generation layer, a pigment having charge generation ability is dispersed in a suitable solvent together with a binder resin as necessary using a ball mill, an attritor, a sand mill, an ultrasonic wave, etc., and this is coated on a conductive support. It is formed by drying. As binder resin, polyamide, polyurethane, epoxy resin, polyketone, polycarbonate, silicone resin, acrylic resin, polyvinyl butyral, polyvinyl formal, polyvinyl ketone, polystyrene, polysulfone, poly-N-vinylcarbazole, polyacrylamide, polyvinyl benzal, polyester Phenoxy resin, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, polyvinyl acetate, polyphenylene oxide, polyamide, polyvinyl pyridine, cellulose resin, casein, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl pyrrolidone and the like. The amount of the binder resin is suitably 0 to 500 parts by mass, preferably 10 to 300 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the charge generating material.

  The charge transport layer can be formed by dissolving or dispersing the charge transport material and the binder resin in a suitable solvent, and applying and drying the solution on the charge generation layer. Charge transport materials include hole transport materials and electron transport materials. As the binder resin, polystyrene, styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer, styrene-butadiene copolymer, styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer, polyester, polyvinyl chloride, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, polyvinyl acetate, Polyvinylidene chloride, polyarate, phenoxy resin, polycarbonate, cellulose acetate resin, ethyl cellulose resin, polyvinyl butyral, polyvinyl formal, polyvinyl toluene, poly-N-vinyl carbazole, acrylic resin, silicone resin, epoxy resin, melamine resin, urethane resin, phenol Examples thereof include thermoplastic or thermosetting resins such as resins and alkyd resins.

A protective layer may be provided on the photosensitive layer. By providing the protective layer, durability can be improved.
Materials used for the protective layer include ABS resin, ACS resin, olefin-vinyl monomer copolymer, chlorinated polyether, allyl resin, phenol resin, polyacetal, polyamide, polyamideimide, polyacrylate, polyallylsulfone, polybutylene, Examples thereof include resins such as polybutylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, polyarylate, polyethersulfone, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyimide, acrylic resin, polymethylbenten, polypropylene, polyvinylidene chloride, and epoxy resin. Of these, polycarbonate or polyarylate can be most preferably used. Other protective layers include fluorine resins such as polytetrafluoroethylene, silicone resins, and inorganic fillers such as titanium oxide, tin oxide, potassium titanate, and silica for the purpose of improving wear resistance. What disperse | distributed the filler etc. can be added. The filler concentration in the protective layer varies depending on the type of filler used and also on the electrophotographic process conditions using the photoconductor 8, but the ratio of the filler to the total solid content on the outermost layer side of the protective layer is preferably 5% by mass or more. 10 mass% or more and 50 mass% or less, Preferably about 30 mass% or less is favorable.

  The charging device 9 of the present embodiment employs a roller system in which the charging roller 9a is brought into contact with the photosensitive member 8 or in a non-contact manner by providing a minute gap. Further, as the charging device 9, a thin metal wire such as tungsten or molybdenum, or a corotron type discharge charger method in which a metal-plated wire is stretched in an aluminum case may be used. Alternatively, a scorotron type discharge charger system in which a metal wire serving as a grid is stretched over an aluminum case may be used.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of the charging roller 9a.
The charging roller 9a as a charging member is connected to a power source, and a predetermined voltage is applied thereto. The charging roller 9a is disposed in contact with the photoconductor 8. Even in contact, the circular cross section has a portion close to the photoreceptor 8. The photosensitive member 8 is charged by discharging at a portion close to the photosensitive member 8. In the present embodiment, the photosensitive member 8 is charged by discharging at a portion close to the photosensitive member 8, so that the generation of ozone is reduced and the current needs for environmental considerations are met.

The charging roller 9a has a structure having a shaft portion 111 as a metal core at the center, a resistance adjusting layer 112 on the outer side, and a surface layer 113 on the outermost layer. The shaft portion 111 is made of, for example, stainless steel having a diameter of 8 to 20 mm, aluminum having high rigidity and conductivity, or 1 × 10 ³ Ω · cm or less, preferably 1 × 10 ² Ω · cm or less. It is made of conductive resin having high rigidity.
The resistance adjustment layer 112 preferably has a volume resistivity of 1 × 10 ⁵ Ω · cm to 1 × 10 ⁹ Ω · cm and a thickness of about 1 to 2 mm.
The surface layer 113 has a volume resistivity of 1 × 10 ⁶ Ω · cm to 1 × 10 ¹² Ω · cm, and preferably has a thickness of about 10 μm. The volume resistivity of the surface layer 113 is preferably higher than the electrical resistivity of the resistance adjustment layer 112. Here, the charging roller 9a is shown as a two-layer structure of the resistance adjustment layer 112 and the surface layer 113, but is not particularly limited to this structure, and may be a single layer or three layers.

  The resistance adjusting layer 112 is formed by providing the resin composition on the peripheral surface of the core metal 111 by extrusion molding or injection molding. Further, in order to prevent the resistance adjustment layer 112 from being deformed over time and changing the gap between the photoreceptor 8 and the charging roller 9a, the JIS-D hardness of the resistance adjustment layer 112 is set to 45 degrees or more.

  The thermoplastic resin used for the resistance adjusting layer 112 is not particularly limited as long as the JIS-D hardness after molding can be maintained, but polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), It is preferable to use a general-purpose resin such as polystyrene (PS) and a copolymer thereof (AS, ABS, etc.) because molding is easy. In order to adjust the electrical resistance, a conductive material such as a polymer ion conductive agent, carbon black, or metal powder can be used.

  The charging roller 9a is connected to a power source and is applied with a predetermined voltage. The voltage may be only a direct current (DC) voltage, but is preferably a voltage obtained by superimposing an alternating current (AC) voltage on a DC voltage. By applying the AC voltage, the surface of the photoreceptor 8 can be more uniformly charged. In this embodiment, an AC voltage is superimposed on a DC voltage. In the present embodiment, the contact type charging device 9 charges the photosensitive member 8 by bringing the charging roller 9 a into contact with the photosensitive member 8. The contact-type charging device 9 has an advantage that the amount of discharge products generated is extremely small as compared with the conventionally used corona charging method. In addition, since the applied voltage is low, the cost of the power source is reduced, and it is easy to design electrical insulation. Of course, problems due to ozone, nitrogen oxides and the like are also reduced.

  Further, the charging roller 9a may be disposed with a small gap with respect to the photosensitive member 8. The minute gap is formed by, for example, winding a spacer member such as a film having a certain thickness around the non-image forming areas at both ends of the charging roller 9 to bring the surface of the spacer member into contact with the surface of the photoreceptor 8. Can be set. As the applied bias, an AC superposition type voltage is applied, and the photoconductor 8 is charged by a discharge generated in a minute gap between the charging roller 9 a and the photoconductor 8. Furthermore, the precision of maintaining the minute gap is improved by pressing the shaft portion 111 with a spring or the like.

  Further, the spacer member may be integrally formed with the charging roller 9a. At this time, at least the surface of the gap portion is an insulator. By doing so, the discharge is eliminated in the gap portion, the discharge product is deposited in the gap portion, and the toner adheres to the gap portion due to the adhesiveness of the discharge product, so that the gap is not widened.

  In the developing device 10, a developing sleeve 10 a including a magnetic field generating unit (not shown) is disposed at a position facing the photoconductor 8. Below the developing sleeve 10a, two agitating / conveying screws 10c and 10d are provided. The agitating / conveying screws 10c and 10d mix the toner introduced from the toner bottle shown in FIG. 1 with the developer, and pump the toner into the developing sleeve 10a while stirring. The developer composed of toner and magnetic carrier conveyed by the developing sleeve 10a is regulated to a predetermined developer layer thickness by the regulating member 10b and is carried on the developing sleeve 10a. The developing sleeve 10 a carries and carries the developer while moving in the same direction at a position facing the photoconductor 8 and supplies toner to the latent image surface of the photoconductor 8.

  As shown in FIG. 1, toner bottles 45Y, 45C, 45M, and 45K for each color in which unused toner is stored are detachably stored in the space above the photoconductor 8. Toner is supplied to each developing device 10 as necessary by toner conveying means such as a mono pump or air pump (not shown). The toner bottle 45K for black toner, which is highly consumed, can have a particularly large capacity.

  The drum cleaning device 11 includes a mechanism in which the cleaning blade 11a contacts and separates from the photoconductor 8, and can be arbitrarily contacted and separated by the control unit of the image forming apparatus main body. The cleaning blade 11a is in contact with the photoconductor 8 by a counter method, and thereby the toner remaining on the photoconductor 8 and additives such as talc of the recording member adhering as dirt, kaolin, calcium carbonate and the like are added to the photoconductor. Remove from 8 and clean. The removed toner or the like is transported and stored in a waste toner container (not shown) by the waste toner collecting coil 11b.

  The lubricant application device 30 includes a solid lubricant 30b housed in a fixed case, an application brush 30a that contacts the solid lubricant 30b, scrapes off the lubricant, and applies to the photoconductor 8, and an application brush 30a. A leveling blade 30d for leveling the applied lubricant is provided. In the present embodiment, there is one application brush 30a, but a plurality of application brushes 30a may be provided. The solid lubricant 30b is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape and is urged toward the application brush 30a by a pressure spring 30c. The solid lubricant 30b is scraped off and consumed by the application brush 30a, and the thickness thereof decreases with time. However, since the solid lubricant 30b is pressurized by the pressure spring 30c, the solid lubricant 30b is always in contact with the application brush 30a. The application brush 30 a applies the lubricant scraped off while rotating to the surface of the photoconductor 8. The amount of lubricant applied to the photoreceptor 8 is adjusted by the number of rotations of the application brush 30a. As the rotational speed increases, the amount of lubricant removed from the solid lubricant 30b increases, and the amount of coating applied to the photoreceptor 8 increases. On the contrary, as the rotational speed becomes slower, the amount scraped off from the solid lubricant 30b decreases, and the coating amount applied to the photoreceptor 8 decreases. The rotation direction of the application brush 30a is preferably forward with respect to the movement direction of the photoconductor 8 shown in FIG. 3, but may be rotated in the reverse direction.

Further, a leveling blade 30d as a lubricant leveling means is brought into contact with the surface of the photoreceptor on the downstream side in the moving direction with respect to the position where the lubricant is applied by the application brush 30a. The leveling blade 30d is made of rubber which is an elastic body. The thickness of the brush fiber of the coating brush 30a that contacts the solid lubricant 30b and scrapes the lubricant and is applied to the photoreceptor 8 is preferably 3 to 8 denier, and the density of the brush fibers is 20,000 to 100,000 / inch. ² is preferred. If the thickness of the brush fiber is too thin, the application brush 30a tends to fall down when it comes into contact with the surface of the photoconductor 8, and conversely, if the brush fiber is too thick, the density of the fiber cannot be increased. In addition, when the density of the brush fibers is low, the number of brush fibers in contact with the surface of the photoconductor 8 is reduced. For this reason, the lubricant cannot be applied uniformly. On the other hand, if the density of the brush fibers is too high, the gap between the fibers becomes small, and the amount of the adhered powder of the scraped lubricant is reduced, so that the coating amount is insufficient.
Accordingly, the application brush 30a has the above-mentioned setting range, which has the thickness of the brush fiber for preventing the hair from collapsing and the density of the brush fiber capable of efficiently applying the lubricant uniformly.

The lubricant contains a fatty acid metal salt (A) and an inorganic lubricant (B).
Since the fatty acid metal salt (A) is prevented from being destroyed by the charging current and the surface of the photoreceptor 8 is destroyed, the lubricating action is maintained by the inorganic lubricant that is not destroyed by the charging current. It is possible to maintain the cleaning of No. 8 well.
Examples of the fatty acid metal salt (A) include barium stearate, lead stearate, iron stearate, nickel stearate, cobalt stearate, copper stearate, strontium stearate, calcium stearate, cadmium stearate, magnesium stearate, Zinc stearate, zinc oleate, magnesium oleate, iron oleate, cobalt oleate, copper oleate, lead oleate, manganese oleate, zinc palmitate, cobalt palmitate, lead palmitate, magnesium palmitate, palmitate Aluminum, calcium palmitate, lead caprylate, lead caprate, zinc linolenate, cobalt linolenate, calcium linolenate, zinc ricinoleate, cadmium ricinoleate and mixtures thereof There, but is not limited to this. Moreover, you may mix and use these. In the present invention, zinc stearate is most preferably used because it is particularly excellent in film formability on a photoreceptor.

  The inorganic lubricant (B) refers to an inorganic compound that cleaves and lubricates itself or causes internal slip. Specific examples of substances include talc, mica, boron nitride, molybdenum disulfide, tungsten disulfide, kaolin, smectite, hydrotalcite compound, calcium fluoride, graphite, plate-like alumina, sericite, and synthetic mica. However, it is not limited to this. Among them, boron nitride is most preferable in the present invention because hexagonal mesh surfaces in which atoms are firmly combined overlap with each other at a wide interval, and the force acting between the layers is only weak van der Waals force. Used. These inorganic lubricants may be surface-treated as necessary for the purpose of imparting hydrophobicity.

  In the present embodiment, since the fatty acid metal salt is a zinc stearate substance, the film forming property, lubricity and protective properties on the photoreceptor 8 are excellent, and since the inorganic lubricant is boron nitride, the lubricity is further excellent.

  Conventionally, the diameter of the photoconductor 8 is 40 mm, but in this embodiment, the diameter of the photoconductor 8 is set to 30 mm in order to reduce the size of the apparatus. However, by reducing the diameter of the photoconductor 8, the space of the devices disposed around the photoconductor such as the charging device 9, the developing device, the primary transfer roller 12, the drum cleaning device 11, and the lubricant coating device 30 is reduced. To do. For this reason, in this embodiment, the leveling blade 30d is held so that the tip is directed to the rotation center of the photoconductor 8, and only the tip is bent in the photoconductor surface movement direction (trailing direction). Thus, by holding the leveling blade 30d, the space shown in the direction of movement of the photoreceptor surface of the leveling blade 30d can be reduced. Thereby, even if the diameter of the photosensitive member 8 is reduced to 30 mm, the charging device 9, the developing device 10, the primary transfer roller 12, the drum cleaning device 11, and the lubricant applying device 30 can be arranged around the photosensitive member.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the bending of the tip of the leveling blade 30d. 5 is a view seen from the opposite direction to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, the angle θ formed between the tangential direction at the contact portion between the photoreceptor 8 and the leveling blade 30d and the vicinity of the contact portion between the blade 30d and the photoreceptor 8 is preferably 45 ° or less, more preferably. 0 °. By setting the angle θ to 45 ° or less, the contact pressure between the leveling blade 30d and the photoconductor 8 can be improved, and the lubricant applied to the surface of the photoconductor by the application brush 30a can be leveled well. .

  Further, the tip of the leveling blade 30d is preferably bent in the direction of movement of the photoreceptor surface (trailing direction). This is because when the tip of the leveling blade 30d is bent in the direction opposite to the photosensitive member surface movement direction (counter direction), the frictional force between the photosensitive member and the blade tip acts in the direction opposite to the bending direction of the tip. For this reason, the tip of the leveling blade 30d may be turned over. On the other hand, by bending the tip of the leveling blade 30d in the trailing direction as in the present embodiment, the frictional force between the photoconductor and the blade tip acts in the bending direction of the tip. As a result, the tip of the leveling blade 30d can be prevented from being turned over, and a stable contact relationship can be maintained. As a result, the lubricant on the surface of the photosensitive member can be leveled well over time.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing one end side of the frame 100 of the process cartridge 23 in the photosensitive member axial direction. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the other end side of the frame 100 of the process cartridge 23 in the photosensitive member axial direction.
As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the frame 100 of the process cartridge 23 has a holding portion that holds the components of the drum cleaning device 11 and the lubricant application device 30. More specifically, the leveling attachment portions 103 to which the leveling blades 30d are attached are provided at both ends of the frame 100. Further, a cleaning attachment portion 104 to which the cleaning blade 11a is attached is provided in the vicinity of both ends of the frame in the photosensitive member axial direction on the inner side in the photosensitive member axial direction from the leveling attachment portion 103. The frame is also provided with a solid lubricant 30b of the lubricant application device 30, a lubricant holding part 105 for holding the pressure spring 30c, and a brush support part 106 for supporting the rotating shaft of the application brush 30a. . Further, on both side surface portions 100a and 100b of the frame 100, a development mounting portion 101 on which the developing device 10 is mounted is provided. Further, positioning fitting holes 102a and 102b for fitting positioning members 50a and 50 for positioning the photosensitive member 8 with respect to the frame 100 are provided on both side surfaces of the frame.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a first guide portion 121 and a second guide portion 122, which will be described later, are provided around the fitting holes of the side surface portions 100a and 100b of the frame.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the one end side positioning member 50a attached to the one end side surface 100a of the frame has a cylindrical fitting portion 51a that fits into the fitting hole 102a of the frame. A ball bearing 52a is fitted to the inner peripheral surface of the fitting portion 51a. Further, the one end side positioning member 50a is provided with a development fitting hole 53a into which one end side of the shaft of the developing sleeve of the developing device 10 is fitted.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the other end side positioning member 50b attached to the other end side surface 100b of the frame also has a cylindrical fitting portion 51a that fits into the fitting hole 102a of the frame. A bearing fitting 52b into which a ball bearing fitted to the shaft 8a of the photosensitive member 8 is fitted is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the fitting portion 51a as described later. The other end side positioning member 50b is also provided with a development fitting hole 53b into which the other end side of the shaft of the developing sleeve of the developing device 10 is fitted.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing one end side of the process cartridge when the photoreceptor 8 is assembled. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing the other end side of the process cartridge when the photosensitive member 8 is assembled.
As shown in FIG. 8, the one end side of the shaft 8a of the photoconductor 8 does not penetrate the fitting hole 102a on the side surface on the one end side of the frame, and is positioned on the inner side of the apparatus. When the one end side positioning member 50a is fitted into the fitting hole 102a, the portion where the ball bearing 52a at the tip of the fitting portion 51a is fitted projects from the fitting hole to the inside of the apparatus. Then, one end side of the shaft 8 a of the photoconductor 8 is fitted to the ball bearing 52 a of the one end side positioning member 50 a, and one end side of the photoconductor is positioned with respect to the frame 100.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 9, the other end side of the shaft 8a of the photoconductor 8 is assembled through the fitting hole 102b. A ball bearing 8b is fitted to the other end of the shaft 8a of the photoconductor 8. The other end side positioning member passes through the shaft 8a of the photoconductor 8, and fits the fitting portion 51b into the fitting hole 102b of the frame. Further, a bearing fitting portion 52b is fitted into a ball bearing 8b provided on the shaft 8a of the photosensitive member. Thereby, the other end side of the photoconductor 8 is positioned on the frame 100.

Next, the guide portions 121 and 122 for guiding the photoconductor when the photoconductor 8 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 is assembled will be described.
FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the first guide part 121, the second guide part 122, and the like.
In the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment, when assembling the photoreceptor 8, it is necessary to bend the tip of the leveling blade 30d in the normal bending direction (trailing direction). Furthermore, it is necessary to assemble the photoconductor 8 so that the tip of the cleaning blade 11a is not turned over.

  In order to assemble the photoconductor 8 so that the tip of the cleaning blade 11a is not turned over, it is preferable to assemble as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-33095. That is, it is preferable that the photoconductor is assembled by moving the cleaning blade 11a in a direction substantially opposite to the direction in which the cleaning blade 11a is pressed against the photoconductor 8 (left side in the figure). If the tip of the leveling blade 30d is bent to the cleaning blade side (counter direction), the photoreceptor 8 may be assembled from the right side in the figure. That is, the photosensitive member 8 may be assembled by moving from the right side to the left side in the drawing. As a result, the surface of the photoconductor 8 can be assembled while the surface of the photoconductor 8 is moved in the normal bending direction of the blade 30d, and the photoconductor 8 is substantially parallel to the pressure contact direction of the cleaning blade 11a with respect to the photoconductor 8. Can be assembled. However, in the present embodiment, the tip of the leveling blade 30d is bent to the opposite side (trailing direction) from the cleaning blade 11a. For this reason, when the photoreceptor 8 is assembled from the right side in the figure, the tip of the leveling blade 30d bends in the direction opposite to the normal bending direction.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, the guides 121 and 122 having a shape as shown in FIG. Thus, the photoreceptor 8 can be assembled without causing the tip of the leveling blade 30d to bend in the normal bending direction (trailing direction) and causing the tip of the cleaning blade 11a to be turned up.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the first guide portion 121 is provided on the side opposite to the side where the blade members 11a and 30d are arranged with respect to the line A in the vertical direction passing through the axial center of the photoreceptor. Yes. The first guide portion 121 extends obliquely upward to the right in the drawing, and a guide surface 121a that guides when the photoconductor 8 is assembled, and the photoconductor abuts when the photoconductor 8 is assembled as will be described later. Abutting surface 121b.

  Thus, by providing the first guide portion 121 on the side opposite to the side where the blade members 11a and 30d are arranged with respect to the line A, the photosensitive member 8 is to be assembled from the right side in the drawing. At this time, the photosensitive member 8 comes into contact with the first guide portion 121. As a result, the photoreceptor 8 can be prevented from being assembled from the right side in the figure, and the tip of the leveling blade 30d is bent in the direction opposite to the normal deflection direction to prevent the photoreceptor from being assembled. be able to.

Further, the guide surface 121a of the first guide portion 121 has a distance D + a2 from the front end of the second guide portion 122 to the guide surface 121a of the first guide portion 121 when the diameter of the photoconductor 8 is D. It is an arcuate curved surface. Thus, since the distance from the photosensitive member side tip of the second guide portion 122 to the guide surface 121a is equal to or larger than the diameter of the photosensitive member, the photosensitive member 8 is connected to the first guide portion 121, the second guide portion 122, and the like. It can be assembled from between.
When the photoconductor 8 is positioned on the frame 100, the distance from the center of the photoconductor 8 to the abutting surface 121b of the first guide portion 121 is (2 / D) + a1. Thereby, when the photosensitive member 8 is positioned on the frame 100, the photosensitive member 8 does not contact the abutting surface 121b. In the above description, the diameter of the photoconductor is described. However, the diameter D may be replaced with the diameter of a member attached to the photoconductor facing the first guide portion 121 when the photoconductor 8 is assembled. For example, when the first guide portion 121 faces the photosensitive member shaft 8a, the diameter D is the photosensitive member shaft diameter. When the flange of the photoconductor 8 faces the first guide part 121, the diameter D is the diameter of the flange of the photoconductor. When the member facing the first guide portion 121 is a gear fixed to the shaft of the photoreceptor, the diameter D is the diameter of the gear.

Next, assembly of the photosensitive member 8 to the frame 100 will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining how the photoconductor 8 is inserted between the first guide portion 121 and the second guide portion 122. FIG. 12 shows the photoconductor 8 that is leveled with the cleaning blade 11a and the blade 30d. It is a figure which shows the state before making it press-contact with. FIG. 13 is a view showing a state after the photoconductor 8 is assembled to the frame.
When the photoreceptor 8 is assembled to the frame of the process cartridge 23, first, the other end side of the shaft 8a of the photoreceptor 8 is inserted into the fitting hole 102 shown in FIG. insert. Next, as shown in FIG. 11, one end of the photoconductor 8 is assembled from between the first guide portion 121 and the second guide portion 122 from the upper right side.

  Thus, the photoreceptor 8 assembled from the upper right by the first and second guide portions abuts against the tip of the cleaning blade 11a and the tip of the leveling blade 30d as shown in FIG. . At this time, due to the repulsive force of the cleaning blade, the repulsive force of the leveling blade, and the weight of the photoconductor 8, the photoconductor 8 is pushed obliquely downward to the right in the drawing and hits the guide surface 121a of the first guide portion 121. It hits the boundary X of the contact surface 121b. At this time, the center P of the photoconductor is located obliquely upward to the right with respect to the center P1 after the photoconductor 8 is assembled.

  At this time, even if the photoconductor 8 is pushed in the direction of the arrow D1 in the figure, the photoconductor 8 is only pushed against the first guide part 121, and the photoconductor 8 does not move in the direction of the arrow D1 in the figure. Further, since the frictional force with the first guide portion 121 is increased, the photosensitive member 8 is prevented from rotating clockwise in the drawing even when the photosensitive member is pushed in the direction of the arrow D1 in the drawing. Can do. Thereby, when the photoconductor 8 is assembled, it is possible to suppress the surface of the photoconductor 8 from moving to the side opposite to the bending direction of the leveling blade 30d, and the tip of the leveling blade 30d has a predetermined direction. It is possible to suppress bending in the opposite direction.

  On the other hand, when the photosensitive member is pushed in the direction of the arrow D2, the photosensitive member 8 moves to the left in the drawing. As a result, the photoconductor 8 is assembled substantially in parallel with the pressure contact direction of the cleaning blade 11a to the photoconductor 8. As a result, the tip of the cleaning blade 11a can be prevented from turning up. Further, when the photosensitive member 8 is pushed in the direction of the arrow D <b> 2 in the drawing, the photosensitive member 8 is separated from the first guide portion 121. Thereby, the frictional force between the photoconductor 8 and the first guide portion 121 is eliminated, and the photoconductor 8 is assembled while rotating counterclockwise in the drawing. Thereby, the photoreceptor 8 can be assembled to the frame while moving the surface of the photoreceptor in the normal deflection direction of the tip of the leveling blade. As a result, the tip of the leveling blade 30d is bent in the trailing direction which is the normal bending direction by the frictional force with the photoconductor 8, and the photoconductor 8 can be attached to the frame.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the photoconductor 8 rotates so that the surface moves in the normal deflection direction of the tip of the leveling blade, and the photoconductor 8 is exposed substantially in parallel with the pressure contact direction of the cleaning blade 11a with respect to the photoconductor 8. The body can be assembled. Thereby, both the cleaning blade 11a and the leveling blade 30d can be flexed and assembled satisfactorily.

  In the present embodiment, the photosensitive member 8 is assembled from the direction of the arrow D2 by the first and second guides 121 and 122. As a result, when the photoreceptor 8 is brought into pressure contact with the cleaning blade 11a and the leveling blade 30d, the photoreceptor 8 can be assembled without switching the moving direction of the photoreceptor 8. Thereby, the photosensitive member 8 can be easily assembled to the frame 100 of the process cartridge 23.

  As shown in FIG. 13, when the photoconductor 8 is assembled to the frame 100, the photoconductor 8 receives a force in the direction of the arrow F2 from the cleaning blade 11a, and receives a force in the direction of the arrow F1 from the leveling blade. The photoconductor 8 abuts against the abutting surface 121b of the first guide portion 121 by the resultant force F3 of the force F2 received from the cleaning blade, the force F1 received from the leveling blade, and the own weight Fg of the photoconductor 8. As described above, when the photosensitive member 8 abuts against the abutting surface of the first guide portion 121, the cleaning blade 11a and the leveling blade 30d can be maintained in a favorable bent state. Then, the photosensitive member 8 assembled to the frame 100 is positioned on the frame 100 by the positioning members 50a and 50b described above.

Next, a case where there is one blade member that contacts the photosensitive member 8 will be described.
FIG. 14 is a configuration diagram of a main part of an image forming apparatus in which the blade member 130 that contacts the photoconductor 8 is one.
Some image forming apparatuses do not have the lubricant application device 30. In this case, the blade member that contacts the photoreceptor 8 is one of the cleaning blades 11a. Some image forming apparatuses use a cleaning brush roller instead of the cleaning blade to clean the photoreceptor 8. In this case, the blade member in contact with the photosensitive member 8 is one of the leveling blades 30d.

  As shown in FIG. 14, the blade member 130 is held so that the tip thereof faces the rotation center of the photosensitive member 8, and the tip is bent in the counter direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the photosensitive member 8 is inserted between the first guide portion 121 and the second guide portion 122 from the upper right and is brought into contact with the tip of the blade member 130. From this state, the photoconductor 8 is attached by rotating it clockwise in the figure while pushing the photoconductor 8 downward. Thereby, the photosensitive member 8 can be assembled to the frame while moving the surface of the photosensitive member in the normal deflection direction of the tip of the blade member 130. As a result, the tip of the blade member 130 is bent in the counter direction, which is the normal bending direction, by the frictional force with the photoconductor 8, and the photoconductor 8 can be assembled to the frame.

  As shown in FIG. 17, also in this image forming apparatus, when the photosensitive member 8 is assembled to the frame 100, the photosensitive member 8 receives a force in the direction of the arrow F4 from the blade member 130, and the own weight Fg of the photosensitive member 8 is obtained. It moves to the lower left in the figure by the resultant force F5. Also in this image forming apparatus, the abutting surface 121b is formed in the moving direction after the photosensitive member 8 is assembled to the frame 100. Therefore, also in this image forming apparatus, after assembling, the photosensitive member 8 abuts against the abutting surface of the first guide portion 121, and the blade member 130 can be maintained in a sufficiently bent state.

  In FIGS. 14 to 17, due to the positional relationship between the guide portion 121 and the blade member 130, when the photosensitive member 8 is assembled to the frame, the photosensitive member is easily rotated clockwise in the drawing. .

What has been described above is an example, and the present invention has a specific effect for each of the following aspects.
(Aspect 1)
Also, an image carrier such as the photosensitive member 8, a blade member that contacts the image carrier, a housing such as a frame 100 that holds the image carrier and the blade member, and is detachable from the image forming apparatus main body. In the process cartridge 23, which includes guide members 121 and 122 for guiding the image carrier when the image carrier is assembled to the housing, and is assembled with the image carrier by being pressed against the blade member held by the housing, The member is held so that the tip is directed toward the rotation center of the image carrier, and is pressed against the image carrier so that the tip is bent in a specified direction. The guide member is pressed against the blade member. At this time, the image carrier is guided so that the surface of the image carrier moves in a predetermined bending direction at the tip of the blade member.
By providing such a configuration, as described in the embodiment, the blade member can be bent in a specified direction, and an image carrier such as the photoreceptor 8 can be assembled. In addition, the process cartridge can be reduced in size.

(Aspect 2)
In (Aspect 1), the angle formed by the vicinity of the contact portion of the blade member with the image carrier and the contact direction of the contact portion of the blade member with the image carrier is 45 ° or less.
With this configuration, the blade member can be favorably pressed against the image carrier. Therefore, when the blade member is used for cleaning the surface of the image carrier, the surface of the image carrier can be cleaned well. Further, when the blade member leveles the lubricant applied to the surface of the image carrier, the lubricant applied to the surface of the image carrier can be leveled well.
Further, since the tip of the blade member is greatly bent in this way, the effect of providing the above-described guide member is great.

(Aspect 3)
In (Aspect 2), the angle formed by the vicinity of the contact portion of the blade member with the image carrier such as the photoreceptor 8 and the contact direction of the contact portion of the blade member with the image carrier is 0 °.
With this configuration, the blade member can be favorably pressed against the image carrier. By providing the guide member described above, the photosensitive member can be assembled by bending the tip of the blade member in the normal bending direction. Further, the effect of providing the above-described guide member is great.

(Aspect 4)
In any one of (Aspect 1) to (Aspect 3), when the image carrier such as the photosensitive member 8 is not in contact with the image carrier, the image carrier is held inclined with respect to the normal direction of the image carrier. A second blade member in contact with the body, and the guide member moves the image carrier toward the second blade member so that the surface of the image carrier moves in the normal deflection direction of the blade member. Guide the carrier.
By providing such a configuration, as described in the embodiment, the tip turning of the second blade member can be suppressed, and the tip of the blade member is bent in the normal bending direction, so that the image carrier such as the photosensitive member 8 is used. Can be assembled.

(Aspect 5)
In (Aspect 4), the normal bending direction of the blade member is opposite to the second blade member side, and the guide member moves the image carrier to the second blade member side while the image carrier rotates. The image carrier is guided as described above.
With this configuration, as described with reference to FIGS. 15 to 17, the tip of the second blade member can be prevented from being turned, and the tip of the blade member is bent in the normal bending direction. An image carrier such as can be assembled.

(Aspect 6)
In (Aspect 4) or (Aspect 5), the second blade member is a cleaning blade 11a for cleaning the surface of the image carrier such as the photoconductor 8, and the blade member is applied to the surface of the image carrier. A leveling blade 30d for leveling the lubricant.
With this configuration, the surface of the image carrier such as the photoconductor 8 can be cleaned well, and the lubricant applied to the surface of the image carrier can be leveled well.

(Aspect 7)
In any one of (Aspect 1) to (Aspect 6), the normal deflection direction of the blade member is the trailing direction with respect to the image carrier surface movement direction during the image forming operation.
With this configuration, as described in the embodiment, it is possible to suppress the turning of the tip of the blade member during image formation.

(Aspect 8)
In any one of (Aspect 1) to (Aspect 7), when an image carrier such as the photoconductor 8 is assembled at a normal position, a force received from a member in contact with the image carrier and the own weight of the image carrier. A regulating member such as an abutment surface 121b that regulates the movement of the image carrier by the resultant force is provided.
By providing such a configuration, it is possible to prevent the deflection of the blade member from being maintained due to the movement of the photoconductor after assembly of the photoconductor as described in the embodiment.

(Aspect 9)
Further, in any one of (Aspect 1) to (Aspect 8), positioning members 50a and 50b that are attached to an image carrier such as the photosensitive member 8 assembled at a normal position and position the image carrier at the normal position are provided. Prepared.
By providing such a configuration, the positional relationship between the photosensitive member and the process means such as a charging member and a developing device disposed around the photosensitive member can be made a regular relationship, and a high-quality image can be obtained. .

(Aspect 10)
An image forming apparatus including a process cartridge that includes an image carrier such as the photosensitive member 8 and a blade member that contacts the image carrier and is configured to be detachable from the apparatus main body. A process cartridge according to any one of Aspect 1) to (Aspect 9) is provided.
With this configuration, the image forming apparatus can be downsized.

(Aspect 11)
In an image carrier assembly method for assembling an image carrier to an apparatus comprising an image carrier such as a photosensitive member 8 and a blade member abutting against the image carrier, the apparatus does not deflect the blade member. When brought into contact with the surface, the blade member is along the normal direction of the image carrier at the contact point with the image carrier, and when the image carrier is assembled to the apparatus body, the tip of the blade member is The blade member is held so as to bend in a specified direction, and the image carrier is pressed against the blade while the surface of the image carrier moves in the normal bending direction of the blade member. Assemble to.
With such a configuration, the blade member can be bent in a specified direction, and an image carrier such as the photoreceptor 8 can be assembled.

8: Photoconductor 8a: Shaft 8b: Ball bearing 9: Charging device 10: Developing device 11: Drum cleaning device 11a: Cleaning blade 23: Process cartridge 30: Lubricant application device 30a: Application brush 30b: Solid lubricant 30c: Addition Pressure spring 30d: leveling blade 50a, 50: positioning member 51a, 51b: fitting portion 52a: ball bearing 52b: bearing fitting 53a, 53b: development fitting hole 100: frame 100a: one end side surface 100b: other end side Side surface 101: Development mounting portion 102a, 102b: Fitting hole 103: Leveling attachment portion 104: Cleaning attachment portion 105: Lubricant holding portion 106: Brush support portion 121: First guide portion 121a: Guide surface 121b: Abutting Surface 122: 2nd guide part

Japanese Patent No. 3644231

Claims (11)

An image carrier that is driven to rotate;
A blade member in contact with the image carrier;
A housing that holds the image carrier and the blade member and is detachable from the image forming apparatus main body,
A guide member that guides the image carrier when the image carrier is assembled to the housing;
In the process cartridge for assembling the image carrier in pressure contact with the blade member held in the housing,
The blade member is held so that the tip is directed to the rotation center of the image carrier, and is pressed against the image carrier so that the tip is bent in a specified direction,
The guide member guides the image carrier so that the surface of the image carrier moves in a predetermined bending direction at the tip of the blade member when the image carrier is in pressure contact with the blade member. Feature process cartridge. The process cartridge according to claim 1,
The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein an angle formed between a contact portion vicinity of the blade member with the image carrier and a contact direction of a contact portion of the blade member with the image carrier is 45 ° or less. The process cartridge according to claim 2, wherein
2. A process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein an angle formed between the vicinity of the contact portion of the blade member with the image carrier and the contact direction of the contact portion of the blade member with the image carrier is 0 °. The process cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A second blade member that is held inclined with respect to the normal direction of the image carrier and is in contact with the image carrier;
The guide member guides the image carrier so that the surface of the image carrier moves in a normal bending direction of the blade member while moving the image carrier toward the second blade member. Feature process cartridge. The process cartridge according to claim 4, wherein
The normal bending direction of the blade member is opposite to the second blade member side,
The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the guide member guides the image carrier so as to move the image carrier toward the second blade member while the image carrier rotates. The process cartridge according to claim 4 or 5,
The second blade member is a cleaning blade for cleaning the surface of the image carrier;
The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the blade member is a leveling blade for leveling a lubricant applied to the surface of the image carrier. The process cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
The process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the normal bending direction of the blade member is a trailing direction with respect to a moving direction of the image carrier surface during an image forming operation. The process cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
When the image carrier is assembled at a normal position, a regulating member is provided that regulates the movement of the image carrier by the resultant force of the force received from the member in contact with the image carrier and the weight of the image carrier. Process cartridge characterized by. The process cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
A process cartridge comprising a positioning member attached to an assembled image carrier and positioning the image carrier at a normal position. In an image forming apparatus including an image carrier and a process cartridge configured to be detachable from the apparatus main body, including an image carrier and a blade member in contact with the image carrier.
An image forming apparatus comprising the process cartridge according to claim 1 as the process cartridge. An image carrier;
In an image carrier assembly method for assembling an image carrier to an apparatus comprising a blade member that contacts the image carrier,
The apparatus holds the blade member so that the tip is directed to the rotation center of the image carrier, and is pressed against the image carrier so that the tip is bent in a specified direction,
When the image carrier is brought into pressure contact with the blade member, the surface of the image carrier is moved in a specified bending direction at the tip of the blade member, and the image carrier is assembled to the apparatus. Attaching method.

Images