JP2017198932A - cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cartridge having a cover member detachably engaged with a frame body with an improved removing operability.SOLUTION: The cartridge has a regulation part for regulating an engaging part of a cover member from moving in a direction to engage with an engaged part of the frame body (in a protruding direction of the engaging part) when removing the cover member of the cartridge from the frame body. When removing the cover member, by bring the regulation part into contact with a part of the frame body, the engaging part is prevented from being caught by the engaged part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

  The present invention relates to a cartridge that can be attached to and detached from an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine, a printer, and a facsimile machine. Here, the cartridge includes an image carrier that is an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a developer carrier that carries and conveys a developer for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier, and the like. The image forming apparatus main body is detachable.

  In an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic system, a drum-shaped electrophotographic photosensitive member (hereinafter referred to as “photosensitive drum”) as an image carrier using a developer carrier (hereinafter referred to as “developing roller”). The electrostatic latent image formed in (1) is visualized as a toner image by developing with a developer (hereinafter referred to as toner).

  Conventionally, for such an image forming apparatus, a developing roller, a photosensitive drum, a container for storing toner, etc. used in the image forming process are integrally formed as a cartridge, and this cartridge is attached to and detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus. There is something that made it possible.

  In such a removable cartridge, a user generally takes out the cartridge from the main body of the image forming apparatus and replaces it with a new cartridge.

  Here, some new cartridges are provided with cover members for protecting various members. When a new cartridge is attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus, the cover member is removed and then attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus.

  Further, the removed cover member can be mounted on a used cartridge removed from the main body of the image forming apparatus, and the cartridge and the cover member can be simultaneously collected and recycled.

  Here, a cover member that protects the developing roller and is detachable from the cartridge is disclosed in Patent Document 1.

Japanese Patent No. 5610740

  As in the conventional example described above, the cover member that can be attached to and detached from the cartridge is configured to cover the protected portion such as the developing roller. At this time, the cover member is attached by engaging an engaging portion provided on the cover member with an engaged portion provided on the cartridge. In addition, the cover member is provided with a handle portion that is gripped when the user performs the detaching operation. The user holds the handle portion to release the engagement of the engaging portion of the cover member. The member is removed from the cartridge.

  Since the user attaches / detaches the cover member to / from the cartridge, usability is improved by adopting a configuration that can be easily performed. The present invention provides a cartridge having a cover member with improved operability when removing the cover member.

For such issues
The first invention according to this application is:
A cartridge that can be attached to and detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus,
A frame,
A protected portion supported by the frame and exposed from the frame;
A cover member attached to the frame body to cover the protected portion and removable from the frame body,
A projecting engagement portion releasably engaged with an engaged portion provided in the frame body;
In the protruding direction in which the engaging portion protrudes, a handle portion provided on the downstream side of the engaging portion;
A cover member comprising:
In a cartridge having
The engaged portion is
A first surface that regulates movement of the engaging portion in a direction away from the frame;
In the projecting direction when the cover member is attached to the frame body, it extends from the downstream end of the first surface as a starting point and in a direction intersecting the first surface and away from the frame body A second surface, and
The cover member is
When the cover member is removed from the frame body, a part that contacts the part of the frame body and includes a restricting portion that restricts the engagement portion from moving in the protruding direction with respect to the engaged portion. The cartridge is characterized.

  According to the present invention, when removing the cover member of the cartridge, the movement in the protruding direction of the engaging portion (the direction in which the engaging portion engages with the engaged member) is restricted. Thereby, it can suppress that an engaging part is caught in a to-be-engaged part at the time of removal of a cover member. As a result, it is possible to provide a cartridge having a cover member with improved cover member removal operability.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the developing cartridge in a state where a cover member is attached in the first embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus in an embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing of the drum cartridge in embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the drum cartridge in embodiment of this invention. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the developing cartridge in the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the developing cartridge in the embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view of a cover member in the 1st example of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the developing cartridge in a state where a cover member is attached in the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the developing cartridge in the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the developing cartridge showing a state where the cover member is removed in the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view of a cover member in the 2nd example of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the developing cartridge showing a state where the cover member is removed in the second embodiment of the present invention.

[Example 1]
The cartridge according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(Overall configuration of image forming apparatus)
First, an overall configuration of the apparatus main body 100 of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus (hereinafter referred to as an image forming apparatus) will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, four detachable photosensitive drum carrier cartridges (hereinafter referred to as drum cartridges) 9 (9Y, 9M, 9C, 9K) are mounted on the apparatus main body 100 by mounting members (not shown). Has been. Further, four developing cartridges 4 (4Y, 4M, 4C, 4K) that can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body 100 are mounted as mounting cartridges (not shown) as cartridges in this embodiment. Here, the upstream side in the mounting direction of the apparatus main body 100 of the drum cartridge 9 and the developing cartridge 4 is defined as the front side surface, and the downstream side in the mounting direction is defined as the back side surface side. In FIG. 2, the drum cartridge 9 and the developing cartridge 4 are provided in the apparatus main body 100 so as to be inclined with respect to the horizontal direction.

  Each drum cartridge 9 is provided with an electrophotographic photosensitive drum (hereinafter referred to as a photosensitive drum) 1 (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d) as an image carrier. Further, around the photosensitive drum 1, process means such as a charging roller 2 (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d) as a charging member and a cleaning member 6 (6a, 6b, 6c, 6d) as a cleaning member are integrally formed. Has been placed.

  Each developing cartridge 4 includes a developing roller 25 (25a, 25b, 25c, 25d) (protected portion) as a developer carrier and a developing blade 35 (35a, 35b, 35c, 35d) as a layer thickness regulating member. ) And the like are integrally arranged.

  The charging roller 2 uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 1, and the developing roller 25 develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 1 with toner as a developer to form a visible image. Is. The cleaning member 6 removes the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 1 after the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 1 is transferred to a recording medium.

  A scanner 3 is provided below the drum cartridge 9 and the developing cartridge 4 as an exposure member for selectively exposing the photosensitive drum 1 based on image information and forming an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 1. It has been.

  A cassette 17 containing a recording medium S is attached to the lower part of the apparatus main body 100. A recording medium transport unit is provided so that the recording medium S is transported above the apparatus main body 100 through the secondary transfer roller 69 and the fixing unit 74. That is, the feeding roller 54 for separating and feeding the recording medium S in the cassette 17 one by one, the conveying roller pair 76 for feeding the fed recording medium S, and the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 1 and recording. A registration roller pair 55 for synchronizing with the medium S is provided. An intermediate transfer cartridge 5 is provided above the drum cartridge 9 and the developing cartridge 4 as an intermediate transfer member for transferring a toner image formed on each photosensitive drum 1 (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d). Yes. The intermediate transfer cartridge 5 has a driving roller 56, a driven roller 57, a primary transfer roller 58 (58a, 58b, 58c, 58d) at a position facing the photosensitive drum 1 of each color, and a position facing the secondary transfer roller 69. A transfer belt 9 is stretched over a roller 59. The transfer belt 14 circulates and moves so as to face and come into contact with all the photosensitive drums 1, and is transferred from the photosensitive drum 1 by applying a voltage to the primary transfer rollers 58 (58a, 58b, 58c, 58d). Primary transfer is performed on the belt 9. Then, the toner on the transfer belt 14 is transferred to the recording medium S by applying a voltage to the opposing roller 59 and the secondary transfer roller 69 arranged in the transfer belt 9.

  At the time of image formation, each photosensitive drum 1 is rotated, and the photosensitive drum 1 uniformly charged by the charging roller 2 is selectively exposed from the scanner 3. Thereby, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 1. The electrostatic latent image is developed by the developing roller 25. Thus, each color toner image is formed on each photosensitive drum 1. In synchronization with this image formation, the registration roller pair 55 conveys the recording medium S to the secondary transfer position where the opposing roller 59 and the secondary transfer roller 69 are in contact with each other with the transfer belt 9 interposed therebetween. Then, each color toner image on the transfer belt is secondarily transferred to the recording medium S by applying a transfer bias voltage to the secondary transfer roller 69. As a result, a color image is formed on the recording medium S. The recording medium S on which the color image is formed is heated and pressed by the fixing unit 74 to fix the toner image. Thereafter, the recording medium S is discharged to the discharge unit 75 by the discharge roller 72. The fixing unit 74 is disposed on the upper part of the apparatus main body 100.

(Drum cartridge)
First, the configuration of the drum cartridge 9 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the drum cartridge 9 (9Y, 9M, 9C, 9K). In this embodiment, 9Y, 9M, 9C, and 9K have the same configuration.

  In this embodiment, in the insertion direction of the drum cartridge 9 and the developing cartridge 4 described later, the upstream side in the insertion direction is defined as the near side, and the downstream side in the insertion direction is defined as the back side.

  A photosensitive drum 1 is rotatably provided via a drum front bearing 10 and a drum back bearing 11 in a cleaning frame 27 that is a frame of the drum cartridge 9 (9Y, 9M, 9C, 9K). A flange 16 having a drum coupling 16 a is provided on one end side in the axial direction of the photosensitive drum 1. The photosensitive drum 1 is supported in a state where a part thereof is exposed from the cleaning frame 27.

  FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the drum cartridge. As described above, the charging roller 2 and the cleaning member 6 are provided around the photosensitive drum 1. The cleaning member 6 includes a rubber blade 7 that is an elastic member and a cleaning support member 8. The tip 7 a of the rubber blade 7 is disposed in contact with the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 1 in the counter direction. The residual toner removed from the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 by the cleaning member 6 falls into the removed toner chamber 27a. Further, a sealing sheet 21 that prevents the removed toner in the removed toner chamber 27 a from leaking is in contact with the photosensitive drum 1. The photosensitive drum 1 is rotationally driven in accordance with an image forming operation by transmitting a driving force of a main body driving motor (not shown) as a driving source to the drum cartridge 9. The charging roller 2 is rotatably attached to the drum cartridge 9 via the charging roller bearing 28, and is pressurized toward the photosensitive drum 1 by the charging roller pressing member 33 and is rotated following the photosensitive drum 1.

(Developer cartridge)
Next, the developing cartridge 4 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the developing cartridge 4 in which toner is stored in the developing cartridge. In this embodiment, the developing cartridge 4Y containing yellow toner, the developing cartridge 4M containing magenta toner, the developing cartridge 4C containing cyan toner, and the developing cartridge 4K containing black toner are used in this embodiment. Have the same configuration. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the developing cartridge.

  The developing cartridge 4 controls the developing roller 25 that contacts the photosensitive drum 1 and rotates in the direction of arrow B, the toner supply roller 34 that rotates while contacting the developing roller 25, and the toner layer on the developing roller 25. A developing blade 35 and a toner conveying member 36 are provided. Further, a developing frame 31 is provided as a frame that supports these members.

  The developing frame 31 is partitioned by a partition wall 31d into a developing chamber 31c in which the developing roller 25 is disposed and a toner storage chamber 31a provided below the developing chamber 31c. The partition wall 31d is provided with an opening 31b through which the toner passes when the toner is transported from the toner storage chamber 31a to the developing chamber 31c.

  The developing roller 25 and the toner supply roller 34 are rotatably supported by the developing frame 31 via a pre-development bearing 12 and a developing back bearing 13 provided on both sides of the developing roller 25 in the axial direction. Further, the developing roller 25 is supported in a state where a part thereof is exposed from the developing frame 31.

  The toner storage chamber 31a of the developing frame 31 is provided with a toner transport member 36 for stirring the stored toner and transporting the toner to the development chamber 31c through the opening 31b.

  As shown in FIG. 6, a developing coupling 23 is provided at the back end of the toner supply roller 34. A toner supply gear (not shown) is provided at the front end of the toner supply roller 34.

  A developing gear 29 that meshes with the toner supply gear is provided at the front end of the developing roller 25. Then, the driving force of a main body drive motor (not shown), which is a drive source, is transmitted to the development coupling 23, whereby the toner supply roller 34 and the development roller 25 are rotationally driven according to the image forming operation. A gear cover 20 as a part of the developing frame 31 is provided outside the developing gear 29 and the toner supply gear.

(Cover member)
Next, the cover member 45 attached to the developing device frame 31 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 6 to 10.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the developing cartridge in a state where a cover member is attached in the present embodiment. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the cover member. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the developing cartridge with the cover member attached. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the developing cartridge. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the developing cartridge showing a state where the cover member is removed.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 8, a cover member 45 is attached to the developing device frame 31 of the developing cartridge 4. The cover member 45 is attached to the developing device frame 31 to cover and protect the exposed portion of the developing roller 25. The cover member 45 is configured to be removable from the developing device frame 31, and is removed from the developing device frame 31 when the developing cartridge 4 is attached to the apparatus main body 100. The cover member 45 in the present embodiment is made of a resin such as polystyrene and is manufactured by injection molding. The cover member 45 can be elastically deformed, and can be attached to the developing frame 31 while maintaining a gap with the developing roller 25 due to its own rigidity. Further, the cover member 45 has a shape extending in the same direction, with the axial direction of the developing roller 25 when attached to the developing device frame 31 as the longitudinal direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 9, the developing frame 31 of the developing cartridge 4 is provided with a wall portion 31 w extending in a direction away from the developing frame 31. A through hole 31m is provided in the wall 31w. The through holes 31m are provided at a plurality of locations in the axial direction of the developing roller 25, and are provided at two locations in this embodiment. On the other hand, in the direction intersecting the axial direction of the developing roller 25, concave portions 31j and 31k as downstream engaged portions are provided on the opposite side of the through hole 31m as viewed from the center of the developing roller 25. That is, the through hole 31m is disposed on the opposite side of the developing frame 25 in the direction intersecting the axial direction of the developing roller 25 with respect to the concave portions 31j and 31k of the developing frame 31, and between the concave portions 31j and 31k and the through hole 31m. The center of the developing roller 25 is located. The above-described wall portion 31w and the through hole 31m function as an engaged portion in the present embodiment.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 9, the cover member 45 has a plurality of first claw portions 45d as projecting engagement portions that are releasably engaged with the through holes 31m (in this embodiment, 2 d). Place). Each first claw portion 45d engages with a corresponding through hole 31m. In a state where the cover member 45 is attached to the developing device frame 31, the first claw portion 45d engages with the through hole 31m in the direction from the outside of the developing device frame 31 toward the center of the developing roller 25 (the approaching direction). ing. Here, the direction in which the first claw portion 45d protrudes (the direction in which the first claw portion 45d engages with the through hole 31m when the drum cover 45 is attached to the developing device frame 31) is changed to the protruding direction (arrow in FIG. 9). V direction). In the present embodiment, the protruding direction is a direction (preferably an orthogonal direction) intersecting the longitudinal direction of the cover member 45. In the following description, the “projection direction” when the configuration other than the cover member 45 is described refers to the projection direction when the cover member 45 is attached to the developing device frame 31 unless otherwise specified.

  On the other hand, a grip portion 45 a that is operated when the user removes the cover member 45 from the developing device frame 31 is provided downstream of the first claw portion 45 d in the protruding direction. In the cover member 45 in the present embodiment, the first claw portion 45 is provided at the upstream end portion in the protruding direction of the cover member 45, and the handle portion 45 a is provided at the downstream end portion in the protruding direction of the cover member 45. It has been. Further, on the downstream side in the protruding direction from the first claw portion 45d, second claw portions 45b and 45c that are downstream engaging portions that engage with the concave portions 31j and 31k are provided. Further, support ribs 45f as restricting portions are provided at positions aligned with the respective first claw portions 45d.

  Here, in the present embodiment, in the longitudinal direction of the cover member 45, the handle portion 45a is located at the center of the cover member 45, and the first claw portion 45d and the second claw portion 45b are arranged on both outer sides of the handle portion 45a. , 45c. The second claw portions 45 b and 45 c are respectively adjacent to the handle portion 45 a and are provided on the end side of the handle portion 45 a in the longitudinal direction of the cover member 45. Slits are provided at both ends of the second claw portions 45b and 45c. On the other hand, the first claw portion 45d is provided so as to be positioned further to the end side than the second claw portions 45b and 45c in the longitudinal direction of the cover member 45. Further, a slit is provided inside the first claw portion 45d. In the present embodiment, the second claw portions 45b and 45c are provided at positions closer to the handle portion 45a than the adjacent first claw portions 45d.

  Further, the support rib 45f is provided so as to be positioned further on the end side than the adjacent first claw portions 45d in the longitudinal direction of the cover member 45. In the present embodiment, the support ribs 45f are arranged at a distance from the first claw portion 45d in the longitudinal direction of the cover member 45.

  Next, a state in which the cover member 45 is attached to the developing device frame 31 will be described with reference to FIG. Here, the first claw portion 45d, the second claw portions 45b and 45c, the through hole 31m, the concave portions 31j and 31k, and the support rib 45f are provided at two locations in the longitudinal direction of the cover member 45. However, the positional relationship seen from the axial direction of the developing roller 25 (the positional relationship in the cross-sectional direction of the developing cartridge 4) is the same. Therefore, in the following description, description will be made with reference to only one, and description of the other will be omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the cover member 45 is attached to the developing device frame 31 by engaging the second claw portion 45b with the recess 31j and engaging the first claw portion 45d with the through hole 31m.

  In a state where the cover member 45 is attached to the developing device frame 31, the first claw portion 45d engages with the through hole 31m in the direction from the outside of the developing device frame 31 toward the center of the developing roller 25 (the approaching direction). ing. Further, the second claw portion 45b is engaged with the concave portion 31j in the direction from the outer side of the developing frame 31 toward the center of the developing roller 25 (the approaching direction).

  On the other hand, the through hole 31m provided in the wall portion 31w has a first surface 31m1 that restricts the first claw portion 45d from moving in a direction away from the developing device frame 31. That is, the first surface 31m1 is a surface that forms a part of the inner periphery around the through hole 31m of the wall portion 31w that forms the through hole 31m. A second surface 31m2 is provided starting from the downstream end of the first surface 31m in the protruding direction. The second surface 31m2 is a surface extended in a direction crossing the first surface 31m1 and in a direction away from the developing device frame 31 with an end portion on the downstream side in the protruding direction of the first surface 31m1 as a starting point. In the present embodiment, the second surface 31m2 is a surface on the downstream side in the protruding direction of the wall portion 31w.

  On the other hand, the support rib 45f of the cover member 45 is provided at a position close to the third surface 31m3 that is the upstream surface in the protruding direction of the wall portion 31w provided with the through hole 31m of the developing device frame 31. (See FIG. 1B and FIG. 9B). In the present embodiment, the third surface 31m3 is a surface of the wall portion 31w located on the outer side in the longitudinal direction (the axial direction of the developing roller 25) with respect to the through hole 31m. When the cover member 45 is attached to the developing device frame 31, the support rib 45f is located upstream of the first surface 31m1 in the protruding direction and closer to the developing device frame 31 than the first surface 31m1. It has an extended shape.

  Here, when using a new developing cartridge, the user needs to remove the cover member 45 before use. Below, the structure which removes a cover member in order is demonstrated using FIG.9 and FIG.10.

  As described above, the cover member 45 in the present embodiment has the first claw portion 45d and the second claw portions 45b and 45c extending from the outside of the developing device frame 31 toward the center of the developing roller 25, and the developing device frame 31. Is engaged. Therefore, the cover member 45 is removed from the developing device frame 31 by elastically deforming at least a part thereof. Further, the cover member 45 of this embodiment is configured to remove the handle portion 45a in a direction (preferably an orthogonal direction) intersecting the longitudinal direction of the cover member 45 (the axial direction of the developing roller 25).

  First, the user rotates the cover member 45 in the direction of arrow F using the handle portion 45 a provided on the cover member 45. At this time, in the second claw portions 45b and 45c closer to the handle portion 45a than the first claw portion 45d, the root portion undergoes elastic deformation and bends, and the engagement with the concave portions 31j and 31k is released. That is, the engagement of the second claw portions 45b and 45c is released earlier than the first claw portion 45d (FIG. 10A).

  In order to remove the cover member 45 from the developing device frame 31, the user further moves the handle 45a in the direction of arrow F. Here, as described above, the handle portion 45a is provided on the downstream side in the protruding direction from the first claw portion 45d. The second surface 31m2 is connected to the downstream end of the first surface 31m1 in the protruding direction. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the length of the first surface 31m1 in the protruding direction is shorter than the first claw portion 45d. Therefore, if the handle portion 45a is moved in the arrow F direction without the support rib 45f, the first claw portion 45d is further moved in the protruding direction with respect to the through hole 31m. Then, the first claw portion 45d is largely inclined in the direction away from the developing device frame 31 (the direction in which the second surface 31m2 extends from the first surface 31m1) (upward direction in FIG. 10), and further the second It will wrap around to the surface 31m2 side. As a result, the first claw portion 45d is caught on the second surface 31m2, and the operability when the cover member 45 is removed is lowered.

  On the other hand, in this embodiment, when the drum cover 45 is removed from the developing device frame 31, the support rib 45f contacts the third surface 31m3 which is a part of the developing device frame 31 in this embodiment (FIG. 1). (See (b)). By doing so, as shown in FIG. 10, the first claw portion 45d is restricted from moving in the protruding direction (intrusion direction) with respect to the through hole 31m. That is, the inclination of the first claw portion 45d in the direction away from the developing device frame 31 (the direction in which the second surface 31m2 extends from the first surface 31m1) is restricted, and the first claw portion 45d is in the second direction. Is restricted to the surface 31m2 side.

  Further, the support rib 45f extends in a direction closer to the developing frame 31 than the first surface 31m1, and abuts against the third surface 31m3. Thereby, the cover member 45 can be rotated using the contact portion 45f1 between the support rib 45f and the third surface 31m3 as a rotation fulcrum (in the direction of arrow X in FIG. 10B), and the through hole 31m. Can be easily released. Thus, the support rib 45f suppresses the first claw portion 45d from being caught on the second surface 31m2, and can easily release the engagement with the through hole 31m.

  Further, in the cover member 45, the handle portion 45a and the first claw portion 45d are provided at the opposite ends, respectively, so that the first claw portion 45d has a cover member when the handle portion 45a is operated in the arrow F direction. It moves in a direction approaching the developing device frame 31 by its own weight. At this time, a clearance Z is generated between the first claw portion 45d and the through hole 31m, and the first claw portion 45d can be disengaged more easily without being caught by the through hole 31m. Furthermore, chamfering or arcuate roundness (so-called corner radius) is formed at the corner of the first claw portion 45d on the first surface 31m1 side or at the corner where the first surface 31m1 and the second surface 31m2 intersect. ), The engagement can be released more easily.

  As described above, the support rib 45f is provided on the cover member 45, and the first claw portion 45d is prevented from moving in the protruding direction to the through hole 31m when the first claw portion 45d is removed. It is possible to suppress the engagement to 31 m and easily disengage the engagement. That is, the operability when removing the cover member 45 from the developing device frame 31 can be improved, and a cartridge having a cover member with improved cover member removal operability can be provided.

  In this embodiment, the developing roller 25 is a protected portion and the developing frame 31 is a frame, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the photosensitive drum 1 may be protected by being attached to another frame such as the cleaning frame 27. Moreover, as a protected part, you may coat | cover a part surface of members, such as an electrode generally used for a cartridge, a memory member, or the frame itself.

[Example 2]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In this embodiment, constituent parts different from those in the first embodiment will be mainly described, and description of constituent parts similar to those in the first embodiment will be omitted.

  FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the cover member in the second embodiment. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the developing cartridge showing a state in which the cover member in the second embodiment is removed.

  As shown in FIG. 11, in the present embodiment, the cover member 145 is provided with a support rib 145f as a restricting portion integrally with the first claw portion 145d. That is, the first claw portion 145d and the support rib 145f are disposed at the same position in the longitudinal direction of the cover member 145 (the axial direction of the developing roller 25). The support rib 145f extends in a direction closer to the development frame 31 than the first surface 31m1 in a state where the cover member 145 is attached to the development frame 31.

  Similarly to the first embodiment, when removing the cover member 145, the handle 145a of the cover member 145 is rotated in the direction of arrow F as shown in FIG. Then, the engagement of the second claw portions 145b and 145c is released, and the support rib 145f comes into contact with the lower wall 31m4 of the through hole 31m in the wall portion 31w of the developing device frame 31. Accordingly, the first claw portion 145d is restricted from moving in the protruding direction with respect to the through hole 31m, and the cover member 145 can be rotated with the contact portion 145f1 as the rotation center. Similarly to the first embodiment, a clearance Z2 is generated in the first claw portion 145d and the through hole 31m, and the first claw portion 145d is restrained from being caught in the through hole 31m and easily engaged. It becomes possible to cancel.

  As in the present embodiment, the first claw portion 145d and the support rib 145f are integrally provided, so that the first claw portion 145d can be suppressed from being caught in the through hole 31m in a smaller space. That is, as in the first embodiment, the operability when removing the cover member 45 from the developing frame 31 can be improved, and a cartridge having a cover member with improved cover member removal operability can be provided.

B Development roller rotation direction V Projection direction 1 (1a to 1d) Photosensitive drum 2 (2a to 2d) Charging roller 4 (4a to 4d) Development cartridge 6 (6a to 6d) Cleaning member 9 Drum cartridge 25 Development roller 31 Development frame body 31j, 31k Downstream engaged portion 31m Through hole 31m1 First surface 31m2 Second surface 31m3 Third surface 31m4 Lower wall 31w Wall portion 45, 145 Cover member 45a, 145a Handle portion 45b, 45c, 145b, 145c First One claw part 45d, 145d Second joint part 45f, 145f Support rib

Claims (15)

A cartridge that can be attached to and detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus,
A frame,
A protected portion supported by the frame and exposed from the frame;
A cover member attached to the frame body to cover the protected portion and removable from the frame body,
A projecting engagement portion releasably engaged with an engaged portion provided in the frame body;
In the protruding direction in which the engaging portion protrudes, a handle portion provided on the downstream side of the engaging portion;
A cover member comprising:
In a cartridge having
The engaged portion is
A first surface that regulates movement of the engaging portion in a direction away from the frame;
In the projecting direction when the cover member is attached to the frame body, it extends from the downstream end of the first surface as a starting point and in a direction intersecting the first surface and away from the frame body A second surface, and
The cover member is
When the cover member is removed from the frame body, a part that contacts the part of the frame body and includes a restricting portion that restricts the engagement portion from moving in the protruding direction with respect to the engaged portion. Features cartridge. The regulation part is
When the cover member is attached to the frame,
Located upstream of the first surface in the protruding direction,
The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge extends in a direction closer to the frame body than the first surface. The engaging portion is provided at an upstream end of the cover member in the protruding direction,
The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the grip portion is provided at an end portion of the cover member on the downstream side in the protruding direction. The cover member includes a downstream engagement portion on the downstream side in the protruding direction with respect to the engagement portion,
The cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the frame includes a downstream engaged portion with which the downstream engaging portion is engaged. The cartridge according to claim 4, wherein the downstream engagement portion is provided at a position closer to the handle portion than the engagement portion. When removing the cover member from the frame by operating the handle portion,
The cartridge according to claim 5, wherein the engagement of the downstream engagement portion is released before the engagement of the engagement portion. The engaging portion and the downstream engaging portion are
The cartridge according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the cartridge is provided on both outer sides of the handle portion in a longitudinal direction of the cover member. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the protruding direction is a direction intersecting with a longitudinal direction of the cover member. The cover member is
Moving the handle in a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction of the cover member;
The cartridge according to claim 8, wherein the cartridge is detached from the frame body. The frame is extended in a direction away from the frame, and has a wall portion provided with a through hole,
The first surface is a surface that forms a part of the inner periphery of the wall portion that forms the through hole,
The said 2nd surface is a surface of the downstream of the said wall part in the said protrusion direction when the said cover member is attached to the said frame, The Claim 1 characterized by the above-mentioned. The cartridge described. The cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the restricting portion serves as a rotation fulcrum of the cover member when the cover member is removed from the frame.   The cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the restricting portion is disposed at a distance from the engaging portion in a longitudinal direction of the cover member.   The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the restricting portion is disposed at the same position with respect to the engaging portion in a longitudinal direction of the cover member. 14. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the cover member is elastically deformed to be removed from the frame body. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the protected part is a developer carrier.

Images