JP3631624B2 - Photosensitive unit, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a photoreceptor unit, a process cartridge, and an image forming apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer, a photosensitive unit in which a photosensitive drum is rotatably held in a photosensitive case, or a photosensitive drum and a developing roller are accommodated in a single case to form a unit. Used process cartridges.
[0003]
These units are detachably attached to the image forming apparatus. When the unit is installed in the image forming apparatus, the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum faces the transfer device or the transfer device and the developing unit. A long opening is formed at the position to be moved. The opening is preferably closed before the unit is attached to the image forming apparatus to protect the photosensitive drum, and is opened only when the unit is attached to the image forming apparatus. For this reason, the above-described unit is provided with a shutter that is rotatable to a closing position for closing the opening and an opening position for opening the opening.
[0004]
In order to reduce the mounting space of the unit in the image forming apparatus and reduce the size of the image forming apparatus, it is necessary to rotate the shutter along the outer peripheral surface of the case so that the shutter does not protrude from the unit. is there. As a shutter that meets such a demand, one end of the shutter is pivotally connected to the case, and the other end of the pivot arm is pivotally connected so that the front end is on the outer peripheral surface of the case. There is known one formed by two members, which are a long shutter main body biased in the abutting direction.
[0005]
In the shutter formed by the rotating arm and the shutter body described above, pin holes are formed on both sides of the other end of the rotating arm, connecting pins are formed on both ends in the longitudinal direction of the shutter body, and the connecting pins are pin holes. The shutter main body is connected to the rotating arm by being fitted to the rotary arm.
[0006]
Here, by reducing the size of the image forming apparatus, the distance between the photosensitive drum in the unit mounted in the image forming apparatus and the fixing device is shortened, and accordingly, the shutter is in the vicinity of the fixing device. Will be located.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Since the shutter is positioned in the vicinity of the fixing device, the shutter main body affected by the heat from the fixing device expands during the image forming operation. At this time, if there is no play in the connecting portion between the shutter main body and the rotating arm, both ends in the longitudinal direction of the expanded shutter main body are pressed against the rotating arm, and the shutter main body is deformed into a V shape. The shutter body deformed into the V shape in this way contracts while being deformed into the V shape when the image forming operation is finished and is cooled, the connecting pin comes off the pin hole, and the shutter body is removed from the rotating arm. take off.
[0008]
The shutter body that has fallen off from the rotating arm interferes with the conveyance of the paper and causes a jam.
[0009]
Accordingly, the present invention provides a photosensitive member unit, a process cartridge, and an image, each having a shutter composed of two members, a rotating arm and a shutter main body, which can prevent the shutter main body from falling off the rotating arm. An object is to provide a forming apparatus.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, the photosensitive drum is rotatably held in the photosensitive case and is detachably attached to the image forming apparatus, and the outer circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum is exposed. An opening is formed in the photosensitive case along the longitudinal direction of the photosensitive drum, and a shutter is provided so as to be rotatable to an open position for opening the opening and a closed position for closing. In the photosensitive unit where the shutter rotated to the open position when attached to the photosensitive unit is located in the vicinity of the fixing device,
The shutter has a pivot arm attached to the photosensitive case so as to be pivotable in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the opening, and both ends in the longitudinal direction are connected to the pivot arm so that the shutter is closed. A long shutter main body that covers the opening when rotated to provide a play that allows the shutter main body to move in the longitudinal direction at the connecting portion between the shutter main body and the rotary arm, Pin holes are formed at both ends of the rotating arm along the longitudinal direction of the opening, and connection pins that are fitted into the pin holes are formed at both ends of the shutter body in the longitudinal direction. the one has been shortened other long form, provided a spring for biasing the shorter the shutter body of the connecting pin in the direction of fitting into the pin hole of the spring, fixed And it is fixed to the shutter main body by stages.
Therefore, since there is play in the connecting portion between the shutter body and the rotating arm so that the shutter body can move in the longitudinal direction, even if the shutter body expands in the longitudinal direction due to heat from the fixing device, the length of the shutter body can be increased. Both ends of the direction are not pressed against the rotating arm, and the pressing does not deform the shutter body into a V shape. For this reason, when the image forming operation is finished and the shutter body is cooled, the shutter main body contracts to the original shape, the connection state with the rotating arm is maintained, and the shutter body does not fall off. Also, when connecting the shutter body to the pivot arm, the longer connection pin is fitted into one pin hole, the longer connection pin is fitted into the pin hole side, and the shorter one is connected. The connecting pin is fitted into the other pin hole. Thus, the shutter main body and the rotating arm can be easily connected by fitting the connecting pin into the pin hole. Furthermore, when removing the shutter body from the pivot arm, remove the shorter connection pin from the pin hole, then remove the longer connection pin from the pin hole, but fit the shorter connection pin into the pin hole. By biasing the shutter body with a spring in the direction to be moved, even if a large impact is applied from the outside, the shorter connecting pin does not come out of the pin hole, and the shutter body can fall off the rotating arm. Is prevented. Further, it is not necessary to separately provide a spring for rotating the shutter main body in the direction covering the opening, and the number of parts is reduced. In particular, even when the shutter main body is detached from the rotating arm, the spring does not come off from the shutter main body, and the spring removed from the shutter main body is prevented from entering a deep part in the image forming apparatus and causing a leakage or short circuit. The
[0019]
According to a second aspect of the invention, the photosensitive member unit according to claim 1, wherein said fixing means is a cushioning pad attached to the inner surface of the shutter main body.
[0020]
Therefore, when handling the photosensitive unit, particularly when mounted in the image forming apparatus, even if the shutter body is bent toward the photosensitive drum due to the operator touching the shutter body, the cushion material is not exposed to the photosensitive material. The shutter main body is prevented from coming into direct contact with the photosensitive drum in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum, and damage to the photosensitive drum due to the shutter main body coming into direct contact with the photosensitive drum is prevented.
[0021]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the photosensitive member unit according to the second aspect , the cushion material is formed of a porous or flocked member.
[0022]
Therefore, since the cushion material formed of a porous or flocked member has a property of retaining toner, when the photosensitive unit once installed in the image forming apparatus is removed for jamming or the like, the opening is opened. Even if the toner spills from the portion, the toner is held by the cushion material, and the periphery of the photoreceptor unit is prevented from being stained with the toner.
[0023]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the process cartridge includes a developing unit that rotatably holds the developing roller and a photosensitive unit according to any one of the first to third aspects.
[0024]
Thus, in this process cartridge, the use of any one of the photosensitive unit of claims 1 to 3, the action described in the respective claims 1 to 3 is obtained.
[0025]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, an optical writing device that forms an electrostatic latent image by exposing the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum, and A developing unit that visualizes the electrostatic latent image formed on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum by supplying toner, a transfer device that transfers the visualized toner image to the recording medium, and the recording medium A fixing device for fixing the toner image transferred to the toner image.
[0026]
Therefore, in this image forming apparatus, by using any one of the photosensitive unit of claims 1 to 3, the action described in the respective claims 1 to 3 is obtained.
[0027]
6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the process cartridge according to claim 4 , an optical writing device that forms an electrostatic latent image by exposing an outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum, and toner is supplied by the developing roller. And a transfer device that transfers the toner image on the photosensitive drum that has been visualized to a recording medium, and a fixing device that fixes the toner image transferred to the recording medium.
[0028]
Therefore, in this image forming apparatus, by using a process cartridge according to claim 4, i.e., by using any one of the photosensitive unit of claims 1 to 3, described in each of claims 1 to 3 The effect is obtained.
[0029]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, referring to FIG. 1, the overall structure of a copying machine 1 that is an image forming apparatus will be described. An image reading device 3 for reading an image of a document (not shown) is attached to the upper part of the main body case 2 of the copying machine 1, and a process cartridge 4 is detachably attached to the inside of the main body case 2. Below the process cartridge 4, a paper conveyance path 6 for conveying the transfer paper 5 as a recording medium is formed.
[0030]
The image reading apparatus 3 includes an image reading unit 7 and a document tray 8 on which a document to be supplied to a reading position by the image reading unit 7 is placed. The document tray 8 is supported so as to be rotatable about a fulcrum shaft 9 to a horizontal position indicated by a solid line and a standing position indicated by a two-dot chain line, and is fixed by a stopper (not shown) at each rotation position. .
[0031]
The process cartridge 4 is formed by connecting and integrating the developing unit 10 and the photosensitive unit 11 (see FIGS. 2 and 4). Around the mounting position of the process cartridge 4 in the main body case 2, a laser writing unit 12, which is an optical writing device that forms an electrostatic latent image by exposing an outer peripheral surface of a photosensitive drum, which will be described later, and a transfer sheet 5. Sheet feeding tray 13 that holds the sheet in an obliquely mounted state, sheet feeding roller 14 that feeds the transfer sheet 5 in the sheet feeding tray 13 one by one, and a photoreceptor that is visualized by supplying toner. A transfer roller 15 that is a transfer device that transfers the toner image on the outer peripheral surface of the drum to the transfer paper 5, a fixing device 16 that fixes the toner image transferred to the transfer paper 5, and the transfer paper 5 that has passed through the fixing device 16 are discharged. A receiving plate 17 or the like is provided.
[0032]
A pair of left and right side plates (not shown) in the main body case 2 is formed with two guide grooves 18 and 19 for attaching and detaching the process cartridge 4 to and from the main body case 2. On both sides of the process cartridge 4, guide pins 18 a and 19 a that engage with these guide grooves 18 and 19 are formed.
[0033]
As shown in FIG. 1, the developing unit 10 has a toner container 20 formed in a developing case 10a. The toner container 20 has an agitator 21 for agitating the toner and an outer peripheral surface of a photosensitive drum described later. A developing roller 22 that visualizes an electrostatic latent image by supplying toner in contact with the toner, a replenishing roller 23 that replenishes toner to the developing roller 22, a developing blade 24 that contacts the outer peripheral surface of the developing roller 22, etc. Is provided. Side plate portions 10b are formed on both sides of the developing case 10a, and one side plate portion 10b is formed with a recessed portion that is recessed inward, and this recessed portion includes a drive motor (inside the main body case 2). A power transmission mechanism 25 for transmitting a driving force from the developing roller 22, the replenishing roller 23, and the agitator 21 is arranged (see FIGS. 2 and 4).
[0034]
As shown in FIG. 1, the photoconductor unit 11 includes a photoconductor drum 26 and a charging roller 27 that uniformly charges the outer peripheral surface of the photoconductor drum 26 in a photoconductor case 11a. A waste toner collecting portion 28 for collecting the waste toner remaining on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 26 is formed. Side plate portions 11b are formed on both sides of the photoconductor case 11a, and when the developing unit 10 and the photoconductor unit 11 are connected, the inner surface of the side plate portion 11b and the outer surface of the side plate portion 10b are overlapped to make surface contact. (See FIGS. 2 and 4).
[0035]
The photoconductor case 11 a is formed with a handle 29 that holds the photoconductor unit 11 or the process cartridge 4 that connects the photoconductor unit 11 and the developing unit 10. Furthermore, an opening 30 is formed in the photoconductor case 11 a to expose the outer peripheral surface of the photoconductor drum 26 toward the transfer roller 15 in order to transfer the toner image to the transfer paper 5. The opening 30 is formed in a long shape along the longitudinal direction of the photosensitive drum 26.
[0036]
Next, the photoreceptor unit 11 is provided with a shutter 31 that is rotatable to an open position for opening the opening 30 (see FIG. 3) and a closing position for closing the opening 30 (see FIG. 2). Yes. As shown in FIG. 5, the shutter 31 has a pair of arm portions 32a, one end of which is connected to the photoconductor case 11a and rotatable in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the opening 30, and the arm portions 32a. The rotating arm 32 includes a connecting piece 32b connected to the other end, and a shutter body 33 rotatably connected to the connecting piece 32b of the rotating arm 32. The shutter body 33 is formed in a long shape having an outer dimension that can cover the opening 30 when the shutter 31 is rotated to the closed position.
[0037]
A first spring 34 is attached to the connecting portion between the arm portion 32a and the photosensitive member case 11a to urge the connecting piece 32b side of the rotating arm 32 in a direction to press the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive member case 11a.
[0038]
Pin holes 35 and 36 are formed at both ends along the longitudinal direction of the connecting piece 32 b on the connecting piece 32 b side of the rotating arm 32. At both ends in the longitudinal direction of the shutter main body 33, connecting pins 37 and 38 fitted into the pin holes 35 and 36 are formed so as to protrude in the longitudinal direction of the shutter main body 33. Of these connecting pins 37, 38, one connecting pin 37 is short and the other connecting pin 38 is long.
[0039]
When the connecting pins 37 and 38 are fitted in the pin holes 35 and 36 and the shutter main body 33 is connected to the rotating arm 32, the shutter main body 33 is connected to the connecting portion between the shutter main body 33 and the rotating arm 32 in the longitudinal direction. There is a play that can be moved freely.
[0040]
A second spring 39 as a spring is attached around the longer connecting pin 38. The second spring 39 urges the shutter main body 33 in a direction in which the shorter connecting pin 37 is fitted into the pin hole 35, and the front end of the shutter main body 33 is brought into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the photoreceptor case 11a. It is energized in the direction to make it.
[0041]
A long cushion material 40 formed of a porous member or a flocked member is attached to the inner side surface of the shutter main body 33. The cushion material 40 also serves as a fixing means for preventing the second spring 39 from falling off, and one end side 39 a of the second spring 39 is adhered and fixed to the inner surface of the shutter body 33 by the cushion material 40.
[0042]
In a state where the process cartridge 4 is taken out of the main body case 2, the shutter 31 is rotated by the urging force of the first spring 34 and the urging force of the second spring 39, and closes the opening 30 (FIG. 2). reference). In the process of mounting the process cartridge 4 in the main body case 2, the projection 41 formed on the side surface portion of the arm portion 32 a is engaged with the guide groove 19 and pressed so that the shutter 31 opens the opening 30. The opening 30 is completely opened when the process cartridge 4 is completely mounted in the main body case 2 (see FIGS. 1 and 3).
[0043]
Next, a connection structure and a connection procedure between the developing unit 10 and the photosensitive unit 11 will be described with reference to FIGS. A pin insertion hole 42, a fitting hole 43, and a screw insertion hole 44 are formed in the side plate portion 11 b of the photoreceptor unit 11. A pin insertion hole 45, a fitting protrusion 46, and a screw hole 47 are formed in the side plate portion 10 b of the developing unit 10.
[0044]
When the developing unit 10 and the photoconductor unit 11 are connected, the inner surface of the side plate portion 11b and the outer surface of the side plate portion 10b are overlapped and brought into surface contact, and the pin insertion holes 42 and 45 are overlapped on the same center line. The connecting pin 48 is press-fitted into these pin insertion holes 42, 45, the fitting protrusion 46 is elastically fitted into the fitting hole 43, and the screw 49 inserted through the screw insertion hole 44 is screwed into the screw hole 47. Has been.
[0045]
In such a configuration, the developing unit 10 and the photoconductor unit 11 are connected to manufacture the process cartridge 4, and after the process cartridge 4 is mounted in the main body case 2, copying is performed. By attaching the process cartridge 4 in the main body case 2, the shutter 31 rotates to the open position. Further, the shutter 31 rotated to the open position, in particular, the portion of the shutter main body 33 is positioned in the vicinity of the fixing device 16.
[0046]
When the copying operation is started, the shutter main body 33 expands in the longitudinal direction due to heat from the fixing device 16. However, since there is play in which the shutter main body 33 can slide in the longitudinal direction at the connecting portion between the shutter main body 33 and the rotation arm 32 in which the connecting pins 37 and 38 are fitted in the pin holes 35 and 36, the shutter main body Even if 33 expand | swells, the both ends are not pressed on the rotation arm 32, and the shutter main body 33 does not deform | transform into a V shape by such pressing. Therefore, when the copying operation is finished and the shutter main body 33 is cooled, the shutter main body 33 contracts to the original shape, the connected state with the rotary arm 32 is maintained, and the shutter main body 33 does not fall off the rotary arm 32.
[0047]
Since one of the connecting pins 37 and 38 is short and the other is formed long, when the shutter body 33 is connected to the rotating arm 32, the longer connecting pin 38 is fitted into one pin hole 36, and the shutter body is connected. 33 is fitted with the longer connecting pin 38 and moved closer to the pin hole 36, and then the shorter connecting pin 37 is fitted into the other pin hole 35. Thus, the shutter main body 33 and the rotating arm 32 can be easily connected by fitting the connecting pins 37 and 38 into the pin holes 35 and 36.
[0048]
When the connection between the shutter main body 33 and the rotating arm 32 is removed, the shutter main body 33 is moved in the direction in which the longer connection pin 38 is fitted into the pin hole 36, and the shorter connection pin 37 is moved into the pin hole 35. Then, the longer connecting pin 38 is removed from the pin hole 36. Even when the shutter body 33 is detached from the rotating arm 32 due to an external impact, the longer connection pin 38 is removed from the pin hole 36 after the shorter connection pin 37 is removed from the pin hole 35. However, in the shutter 31, the second connection pin 37 is attached to the pin hole 35 by attaching the second spring 39 that biases the shutter body 33 in a direction in which the shorter connection pin 37 is fitted into the pin hole 35. Therefore, even when a large impact is applied from the outside, the shutter main body 33 is prevented from being detached from the rotating arm 32 and falling off.
[0049]
Further, the second spring 39 urges the shutter main body 33 to cover the opening 30 when the shutter 31 is rotated to the closing position. There is no need to separately provide a spring for biasing, and the number of parts is reduced.
[0050]
Further, the second spring 39 is stuck and fixed to the shutter body 33 by a cushion material 40 attached to the inner surface of the shutter body 33. For this reason, even when the shutter main body 33 is detached from the rotating arm 32, the second spring 39 is not detached from the shutter main body 33, and the second spring 39 is prevented from entering into the recessed portion in the copying machine 1, and copying. It is possible to prevent the metal second spring 39 that has entered the recessed portion in the machine 1 from coming into contact with the conductive portion and causing electric leakage or a short circuit.
[0051]
By attaching the cushion material 40 to the inner surface of the shutter main body 33, the operator touches the shutter main body 33 when the process cartridge 4 is handled, particularly when the process cartridge 4 is installed in the copying machine 1, and the like. Even when the cushion member 40 is bent in a direction in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 26, the cushion material 40 contacts the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 26, so that the photosensitive drum 26 is not damaged.
[0052]
In addition, since the cushion material 40 is formed of a porous or flocked member, when the process cartridge 4 once mounted in the copying machine 1 is taken out of the copying machine 1, the photosensitive drum 26 or the like is used. Even if the adhering toner spills from the opening 30, the toner can be held by the cushion material 40, and the outer peripheral portion of the process cartridge 4 and the inside of the copying machine 1 are not stained with toner.
[0053]
【The invention's effect】
According to the photoconductor unit of the first aspect of the present invention, the shutter for opening and closing the opening for exposing the outer peripheral surface of the photoconductor drum is formed by connecting the rotating arm and the shutter main body, and the shutter is formed at the connecting portion. Since the main body is free to move in the longitudinal direction, even if the shutter body expands in the longitudinal direction due to heat from the fixing device, both ends in the longitudinal direction of the shutter body are not pressed against the rotating arm. Such a pressing can prevent the shutter body from being deformed into a V shape. For this reason, when the image forming operation is finished and cooled, the shutter main body contracts to the original shape and is maintained in a connected state with the rotating arm, and can be prevented from falling off the rotating arm. Further, pin holes are formed at both ends of the rotating arm, and connecting pins are formed at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the shutter body so as to be fitted into these pin holes. One of these connecting pins is short and the other is long. When connecting the shutter body and rotating arm, the longer connection pin is fitted into one pin hole, and the longer connection pin is fitted to the pin hole side. Then, the shutter body and the rotating arm can be easily connected by fitting the shorter connecting pin into the other pin hole. In addition, a spring that biases the shutter body in a direction to fit the shorter connecting pin into the pin hole makes it difficult for the shorter connecting pin to come out of the pin hole. Even in the case of falling off, it is possible to prevent the shutter body from falling off the rotating arm. Furthermore, since the spring urges the shutter member in such a direction that the shutter main body rotates in the direction covering the opening, it is necessary to provide a spring separately for rotating the shutter main body in the direction covering the opening. Therefore, the number of parts can be reduced and the cost can be reduced. In particular, since the spring of the photoconductor unit is fixed to the shutter main body by the fixing means, even if the shutter main body is detached from the rotating arm, the spring can be prevented from coming off from the shutter main body. It is possible to prevent the detached spring from entering a deep part in the image forming apparatus and causing a leakage or a short circuit.
[0058]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the fixing means sensitive the light unit is cushion material affixed to the inner surface of the shutter main body, when the handling of the photosensitive member unit, in particular, attached to the image forming apparatus Even when the shutter body bends toward the photosensitive drum due to the operator touching the shutter body, etc., the cushion material contacts the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum and the shutter main body directly touches the outer periphery of the photosensitive drum. Contact with the surface can be prevented, and damage to the photosensitive drum due to direct contact of the shutter body with the photosensitive drum can be prevented.
[0059]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, the cushion material sensitive the light unit since it is formed by porous or flocked shaped member, porous or flocked shaped cushioning material formed by members toner Because it has the property of holding, when the photosensitive unit once mounted in the image forming apparatus is removed for jam processing, the toner can be held by the cushion material even if the toner spills from the opening, It is possible to prevent the periphery of the photoreceptor unit from being stained with toner.
[0060]
According to the process cartridge of the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the developing unit holding the developing roller rotatably and the photosensitive unit according to any one of the first to third aspects are integrally provided, the process cartridge is provided. Then, it is possible to obtain the same effect as that obtained when each of the photoconductor units of claims 1 to 7 is used.
[0061]
Since the image forming apparatus according to claim 5 uses the photoconductor unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , the image forming apparatus uses each photoconductor unit according to claims 1 to 7. The same effect as that obtained in the case can be obtained.
[0062]
In the image forming apparatus of claim 6, since the used process cartridge according to claim 4, the effect obtained by using the process cartridge according to claim 4, i.e., claims 1 to 3 for each of the photosensitive unit The effect similar to the effect obtained by using can be acquired.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal side view showing an overall structure of a copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a side view showing a process cartridge.
FIG. 3 is a side view showing a process cartridge in a state where a shutter is rotated to an open position.
FIG. 4 is a side view showing a process cartridge in a state separated into a photosensitive unit and a developing unit.
FIG. 5 is a front view showing the shutter in an exploded manner into a rotating arm and a shutter main body.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 4 Process cartridge 5 Recording medium 10 Developing unit 11 Photoconductor unit 11a Photoconductor case 12 Optical writing device 15 Transfer device 16 Fixing device 22 Developing roller 26 Photoconductor drum 30 Opening portion 31 Shutter 32 Rotating arm 33 Shutter Main body 35, 36 Pin hole 37 Short connection pin 38 Long connection pin 39 Spring 40 Cushion material, fixing means

Claims (6)

A photoconductive drum is rotatably held in the photoconductive case and is detachably attached to the image forming apparatus, and a long opening through which the outer peripheral surface of the photoconductive drum is exposed is formed on the photoconductive drum. A shutter is provided in the photosensitive member case along the longitudinal direction so as to be rotatable between an open position for opening the opening and a close position for closing, and when the shutter is attached to the image forming apparatus, the shutter is moved to the open position. In the photosensitive unit where the rotated shutter is positioned in the vicinity of the fixing device,
The shutter has a pivot arm attached to the photosensitive case so as to be pivotable in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the opening, and both ends in the longitudinal direction are connected to the pivot arm so that the shutter is closed. A long shutter main body that covers the opening when rotated to provide a play that allows the shutter main body to move in the longitudinal direction at the connecting portion between the shutter main body and the rotary arm, Pin holes are formed at both ends of the rotating arm along the longitudinal direction of the opening, and connection pins that are fitted into the pin holes are formed at both ends of the shutter body in the longitudinal direction. the one has been shortened other long form, provided a spring for biasing the shorter the shutter body of the connecting pin in the direction of fitting into the pin hole of the spring, fixed Photoconductor unit, characterized in that it is fixed to the shutter main body by stages. The photoconductor unit according to claim 1, wherein the fixing unit is a cushion material attached to an inner surface of the shutter main body. The photoreceptor unit according to claim 2, wherein the cushion material is formed of a porous or flocked member. 4. A process cartridge comprising: a developing unit that rotatably holds a developing roller; and a photosensitive unit according to claim 1. A photoconductor unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
An optical writing device that exposes the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum to form an electrostatic latent image;
A developing unit that visualizes an electrostatic latent image formed on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum by supplying toner;
A transfer device for transferring a visualized toner image to a recording medium;
A fixing device for fixing the toner image transferred to the recording medium;
An image forming apparatus. A process cartridge according to claim 4,
An optical writing device that exposes the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum to form an electrostatic latent image;
A transfer device for transferring a toner image on the photosensitive drum, which is visualized by being supplied with toner by the developing roller, to a recording medium;
A fixing device for fixing the toner image transferred to the recording medium;
An image forming apparatus.

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