JP3654788B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic system such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, or a composite machine thereof.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer, a process cartridge in which a photosensitive member (image carrier) and process means such as a developing device and a charging device are housed in a cartridge case is used. The process cartridge is formed so as to be detachable from the main body of the image forming apparatus, so that the serviceability and the maintainability can be improved, and the overall size of the apparatus can be reduced.
[0003]
Further, the process cartridge is generally provided with an opening at a portion corresponding to the transfer portion of the photosensitive member in the cartridge case, and the toner image on the photosensitive member is transferred from the portion to the transfer paper. However, since the process cartridge removed from the image forming apparatus main body is left as it is, a part of the photosensitive member is exposed from the opening, so that the part is deteriorated by external light or damaged by some external force. There is a case.
[0004]
In order to prevent such problems, many image forming apparatuses have been developed in which an openable / closable shutter is provided in an opening corresponding to a transfer portion of a photoreceptor. That is, in such an image forming apparatus, when a process cartridge is mounted on the apparatus main body and an image is actually formed such as copying, the shutter is in an open state. On the other hand, when the process cartridge is taken out from the apparatus main body, the shutter is closed.
[0005]
As an image forming apparatus having such a shutter opening / closing mechanism, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-120136 discloses the following.
This image forming apparatus includes a main body cover that opens and closes when a process cartridge is inserted and removed, and a rod for opening and closing a shutter. The shutter is rotated in conjunction with opening and closing of the main body cover.
[0006]
Specifically, the process cartridge is provided with a shutter that is always urged in a closing direction by a spring. A shaft portion is provided at the end of the shutter. On the other hand, the device body is provided with a rod that moves in conjunction with opening and closing of the body cover, a rack that moves in conjunction with the movement of the rod, and a shutter lever with a pinion that rotates by engaging with the rack. Yes.
[0007]
This shutter lever is adapted to engage with the shaft portion of the shutter of the process cartridge mounted on the apparatus main body. Then, when the main body cover is opened and closed with the process cartridge mounted on the apparatus main body, the rod and the rack move in the sliding direction, and the shutter lever opens and closes the shutter of the process cartridge in conjunction therewith.
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the conventional image forming apparatus, the mechanism for opening and closing the shutter of the process cartridge has a large number of parts and becomes complicated, which is a problem of downsizing and cost reduction of the apparatus main body.
[0009]
For example, in the case of the image forming apparatus disclosed in the above publication, since the rod and the rack move in the sliding direction, the movement distance becomes long, and it is difficult to secure the space and downsize the apparatus main body.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a small and low-cost image forming apparatus by simplifying the shutter opening / closing mechanism provided in the transfer opening of the process cartridge.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention has been made to solve this problem. That is, when the reference numerals in the attached drawings are added in parentheses, the present invention is applied to the image carrier (10) and the image carrier (10). Process means (11, 12, 15) acting in the cartridge case (19) are formed in the cartridge case (19), and an opening for exposing the image carrier (10) is formed in the cartridge case (19). In an image forming apparatus comprising a process cartridge (20) further having an openable / closable shutter (45), wherein the process cartridge (20) is inserted / removed by opening / closing the body cover (2, 3) of the apparatus body (1). comprising a lever (49) that moves in conjunction with the opening and closing of the cover (3), the process cartridge (20) is supported by the fulcrum portions at both ends of the cartridge case (19) (46), The fulcrum portion and the pivotable shutter about a (46) (45), the shutter (45) provided in a position that is supported by the fulcrum portion (46), rotate integrally with the shutter (45) And a relay member (48) in which an idler gear (48a) engaged with the drive gear (47) and a cam (48b) engaged with the lever (49) are integrated. An image forming apparatus characterized in that the shutter (45) is opened and closed by moving the lever (49) interlocked with the opening and closing of the main body cover (3) with the (20) mounted on the apparatus main body (1). is there.
[0011]
At that time, it is preferable that the idler gear (48a) and the cam (48b) of the relay member (48) are formed stepwise in the axial direction of the relay member (48).
[0012]
Further, body side plates are provided at both ends in a direction that coincides with the longitudinal direction of the process cartridge (20), and when the process cartridge (20) is mounted on the apparatus body (1), an idler gear (48a) and a drive gear (47). It is preferable to form such that the engaging portion is arranged outside the main body side plate (4).
[0013]
Further, when the lever (49) and the cam (48b) are disengaged in conjunction with the opening of the main body cover (3), a moment that rotates the shutter (45) in the direction of closing by gravity is exerted. Rukoto provided on is preferable.
[0014]
The cartridge case (19) is preferably provided with a protrusion (50) for restricting the rotation range of the relay member (48).
[0015]
Further, the cartridge case (19) is provided with a support shaft (51) fitted into the rotation shaft hole (48c) of the relay member (48), and the rotation shaft hole (48c) and the support shaft (51) are respectively connected to the front ends. A shape having a step with a small diameter is preferable.
[0016]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 to 13 show an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a main part of a laser copying machine as an image forming apparatus. Around the drum-shaped photoconductor 10 as an image carrier, a developing device 12, a transfer device 13, and a roller-shaped charging device 11 disposed next to the drum-shaped photoconductor 10 are sequentially arranged in a rotation direction indicated by an arrow A in FIG. A sheet separating device 14 and a cleaning device 15 are arranged.
[0017]
When copying with this laser copying machine, as is well known, the user sets an original on a contact lens (not shown) and then presses the copy switch. When the copy switch is pressed, the image information of the original set by the optical reading device (not shown) is read, and at the same time, the transfer paper P is transferred between the photoconductor 10 and the transfer device 13 by the paper transport unit (not shown). (In the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1).
[0018]
On the other hand, the surface of the photoconductor 10 is uniformly charged by the charging device 11 as it rotates, and the surface is emitted from an optical writing device (not shown) corresponding to the image information of the document. Laser light L is irradiated. As a result, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image of the original is formed on the photoreceptor 10.
[0019]
Further, as the photoconductor 10 rotates, the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor 10 reaches the position of the developing device 12 and is visualized by attaching toner there. The visible toner image as the copy image further reaches the position of the transfer device 13 and is transferred onto the transfer paper P conveyed to that position as described above.
[0020]
The transfer paper P after the copy image is transferred is discharged by the paper separation device 14 and separated from the photosensitive member 10 that has been electrostatically attracted. Then, the transfer paper P is conveyed to the position of a fixing device (not shown), where the transferred image on the transfer paper P is fixed and then discharged to a discharge portion (not shown).
[0021]
On the other hand, in the photoreceptor 10 after the toner image is transferred by the transfer device 13, the residual toner remaining without being transferred to the surface is scraped off and cleaned by the cleaning blade 17 provided in the cleaning device 15. The static electricity is removed by a static elimination lamp (not shown) and the surface potential is initialized.
[0022]
Further, in the illustrated laser copying machine, as shown in FIG. 1, the developing device 12 includes a developer accommodating portion 21 provided on the lower side and a developer carrying portion 22 provided on the upper side. . Further, the developer storage unit 21 mainly includes a first stirring member 23, a second stirring member 24, a toner concentration sensor (not shown), and the like.
[0023]
The two-component developer composed of the toner and the carrier in the developer storage unit 21 is stirred by the first stirring member 23 and the second stirring member 24 and supplied to the developer carrying unit 22. The mixing ratio of the toner and carrier of the two-component developer is magnetically detected by a toner density sensor.
[0024]
Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the developer storage unit 21 is provided with a new toner supply port 25 and a recycled toner supply port 26 opened upward on one side in the longitudinal direction. The toner entering from the replenishing ports 25 and 26 is conveyed by the first stirring member 23 and the second stirring member 24 so as to circulate in the direction of the arrow in the figure.
[0025]
Here, the new toner supplied from the new toner supply port 25 is supplied from a toner supply unit (not shown) including a toner bottle, a toner hopper, a toner supply motor, and the like. Further, the recycled toner supplied from the recycled toner supply port 26, that is, the residual toner collected by the cleaning device 15 is supplied via a toner conveying member or the like.
[0026]
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the toner conveying member 30 provided in the axial direction of the photoconductor 10 in the cleaning device 15 provided on the photoconductor 10 is composed of a shaft portion 31, a screw portion 32, and the like. It is configured.
[0027]
Then, the residual toner transported to the one end 31a of the shaft 31 by the toner transport member 30 falls from a dropping path entrance 33 provided on the upper side of the front plate 19a of the cartridge case 19 as shown in FIG. . Thereafter, the residual toner slides down the fall path 35 and enters the fall path exit 37. The residual toner that has fallen from the dropping path outlet 37 falls to the recycle toner supply port 26 of the developing device 12 described above.
[0028]
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1, the developer carrying portion 22 is mainly composed of a developing roller 28 and a developing doctor 29. The developing roller 28 is disposed at a position facing the photoconductor 10 through the developing window 27. Further, the developing doctor 29 is disposed with a slight gap from the developing roller 28, and the amount of developer conveyed to the position of the photoconductor 10 is controlled by this gap.
[0029]
Here, in the illustrated laser copying machine, the above-described photoreceptor 10, charging device 11, developing device 12, cleaning device 15 and the like are housed in a cartridge case 19 as shown in FIG. A cartridge 20 is formed.
[0030]
As shown in FIG. 5, the process cartridge 20 is attached between the main body side plates arranged opposite to each other in the apparatus main body 1 of the laser copying machine, and can be further inserted and removed in the direction of the arrow in the figure. It has become.
Thereby, the process cartridge 20 is replaced with a new process cartridge 20 or maintained by the user.
[0031]
A series of operations related to insertion / removal of the process cartridge 20 will be described in detail below. As shown in FIG. 5, when removing the process cartridge 20 from the apparatus main body 1, first, the main body right cover 3 is opened in the direction of the arrow in the figure. Here, a transfer device 13 and a sheet separating device 14 (not shown) are attached to the main body right cover 3, and they are connected to the process cartridge 20 in the device main body 1 in conjunction with opening and closing of the main body right cover 3. Attached or removed.
[0032]
Next, following the main body right cover 3 of the apparatus main body 1, the main body front cover 2 is opened in the direction of the arrow in the figure. Thereafter, the process cartridge 20 is pulled out in the direction of the arrow in the drawing. On the other hand, when the process cartridge 20 is mounted on the apparatus main body 1, the reverse operation is performed.
[0033]
The main body front cover 2 and the main body right cover 3 are opened and closed in a timely manner not only when the process cartridge 20 is inserted / removed but also when a transfer paper conveyance failure (jam) occurs.
Further, the process cartridge 20 can be inserted and removed even when the order of opening and closing the main body front cover 2 and the main body right cover 3 is reversed.
[0034]
Further, as described above, the process cartridge 20 is provided with an opening in a portion corresponding to the transfer portion of the cartridge case 19 (a portion facing the transfer device 13 and the sheet separating device 14). As shown in FIG. 4, a shutter 45 that can be opened and closed with respect to the opening is provided.
[0035]
As described above, the shutter 45 is for protecting the photosensitive member 10 exposed from the opening when the process cartridge 20 is detached from the apparatus main body 1. That is, at least during copying, the shutter 45 is moved to a position where the opening is opened, and when removed from the apparatus main body 1, the shutter 45 is moved to a position covering the opening.
[0036]
Therefore, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is configured as follows in addition to simplify the opening / closing mechanism of the shutter 45.
6 and 7 are perspective views showing the main part of the cartridge case 19. The shutter 45 is supported by fulcrum portions 46 at both ends of the cartridge case 19 and is rotatable about the fulcrum portion 46. That is, FIG. 6 shows a state where the shutter 45 of the process cartridge 20 is closed, and FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a state where the shutter 45 is opened.
[0037]
A drive gear 47 is formed at one end of the shutter 45 (on the front plate portion 19a side) so as to rotate integrally with the shutter 45. Here, the drive gear 47 may be formed integrally with the shutter 45 by molding, or may be formed integrally by screws, adhesion, or the like.
[0038]
Further, on the same side as the drive gear 47, a relay member 48 having an idler gear 48a that engages with the drive gear 47, a gear cover (not shown) that covers the drive gear 47 and the relay member 48, and the like are installed.
[0039]
The relay member 48 has a rotation shaft hole 48 c inside and is fitted to a support shaft 51 protruding from the front plate portion 19 a of the cartridge case 19. The relay member 48 rotates about the support shaft 51. Further, the relay member 48 is provided with an idler gear 48a that engages with the drive gear 47 described above and a cam 48b that engages with a lever 49 described later in a step shape in the axial direction. Thus, the shutter 45 is opened and closed in conjunction with the rotation of the relay member 48.
[0040]
Next, the opening and closing of the shutter 45 of the process cartridge 20 in conjunction with the opening and closing of the main body right cover 3 of the apparatus main body 1 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.
The end of the apparatus main body 1 on the side of the front plate 19a where the relay member 48 and the like are disposed is movable to engage and disengage with the cam 48b of the relay member 48 in conjunction with the opening and closing of the main body right cover 3. A lever 49 is integrally formed with the right cover 3 of the main body as shown in FIG.
[0041]
Here, as shown in FIG. 13, the lever 49 moves while drawing an arc shape with a radius r around the rotation fulcrum C of the main body right cover 3. The lever 49 may be formed separately from the main body right cover 3.
[0042]
Specifically, as the main body right cover 3 moves from the open state to the closing direction, the lever 49 also moves around the rotation fulcrum C as shown in FIG. Engages with the cam 48 b of the relay member 48. Furthermore, when the main body right cover 3 moves, the lever 49 also moves, the cam 48b is pushed by the lever 49, and the relay member 48 starts to rotate. Along with this, the idler gear 48a also starts rotating, and the shutter 45 starts to rotate around the fulcrum 46 in the direction of opening the opening due to the engagement between the idler gear 48a and the drive gear 47.
[0043]
When the main body right cover 3 is completely closed, as shown in FIG. 9, the shutter 45 completely opens the opening. On the contrary, when the main body right cover 3 moves in the opening direction from the shielded state, the lever 49 and the cam 48b are disengaged, and the shutter 45 shields the opening by the gravity of the shutter 45 and the like. .
[0044]
As described above, the number of components related to the opening / closing mechanism of the shutter 45 can be reduced as compared with the conventional opening / closing mechanism, and a simple image forming apparatus can be provided.
[0045]
Next, the movement of the relay member 48 will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 11, the relay member 48 mainly includes an idler gear 48a, a cam 48b, a rotation shaft hole 48c, and the like. The idler gear 48a and the cam 48b are formed in a step shape with respect to the axial direction of the relay member 48, as shown in FIG.
[0046]
On the other hand, the lever 49 described above is disposed inside the apparatus main body 1 corresponding to the position of the cam 48b. Thus, by providing the idler gear 48a and the cam 48b in steps, the movement range of the lever 49 and the movement range of the idler gear 48a are always shifted relative to each other in the axial direction. Without restriction, the lever 49 and the idler gear 48a can be prevented from interfering with each other. Thereby, the relay member 48 can be made relatively small.
[0047]
When the process cartridge 20 is mounted on the apparatus main body 1, as shown in FIG. 12, at least the engaging portion between the idler gear 48 a and the drive gear 47 is arranged outside the main body front side plate 4 shown in FIG. It is formed so that it may be arranged. By adopting such a configuration, the distance between the main body side plates before and after the apparatus main body 1 can be made relatively narrow.
[0048]
That is, as described above, since the process cartridge 20 is mounted between the front and rear main body side plates of the apparatus main body 1, the distance between the main body side plates is larger than the distance between the plate portions at both ends of the cartridge case 19. Then, in order to fit the main body right cover 3 provided with the transfer device 13 or the like within the range of the width between the main body side plates, the cam 48b directly related to the shape of the main body right cover 3 is an idler gear not directly related to the shape of the main body right cover 3 Arranged inside 48a. The idler gear 48 a that does not need to be accommodated between the main body side plates is arranged outside and engaged with the drive gear 47.
[0049]
Next, other embodiments will be described with reference to FIGS. As described above, when the main body right cover 3 is opened in order to remove the process cartridge 20 from the apparatus main body 1, the lever 49 moves away from the cam 48b from the state of FIG. 9 (in the direction of the arrow in the figure). .) Here, the weight of the cam 48b of the relay member 48 is set to be relatively large, and the shutter 45 is set to a weight larger than the weight of the cam 48b.
[0050]
When the lever 49 is released from the cam 48b, the shutter opening / closing mechanism has a shutter 45 without an auxiliary biasing force such as a spring due to the balance of the moment of force in the gravity direction at the fulcrum 46 of the associated member. Move until fully closed.
[0051]
Specifically, the rotation of the relay member 48 and the shutter 45 is inhibited by the lever 49 until just before the lever 49 is separated from the cam 48 b. Then, immediately after the lever 49 is separated from the cam 48b, the relay member 48 and the shutter 45 start to rotate due to the weight of the shutter 45 and the cam 48b. That is, since the center of gravity of the shutter 45 is designed to be at a position slightly deviated from the vertical line including the fulcrum 46 or the direction of closing from that point, the moment is almost zero or the shutter 45 Is working in the direction of closing.
[0052]
Thereafter, the center of gravity of the shutter 45 is greatly deviated from the vertical line including the fulcrum portion 46, and a moment due to its weight is added, and the rotation of the relay member 48 and the shutter 45 proceeds as shown in FIG. After that, the shutter 45 further rotates in the direction of closing the opening, and finally the shutter 45 moves to a fully closed state.
[0053]
Thus, a reliable and simple shutter opening / closing mechanism can be provided without providing the shutter 45 with a special biasing member such as a spring.
[0054]
Next, another embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In the cartridge case 19 of the process cartridge 20, a protrusion 50 (rib) that restricts the rotation range of the relay member 48 is provided on the front plate portion 19 a side where the relay member 48 is provided.
[0055]
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, when the shutter 45 is closed, the idler gear 48 a of the relay member 48 contacts the projection 50 so that the rotation of the shutter 45 does not advance from a predetermined shielding position. . As a result, it is possible to prevent a problem that the shutter 45 rotates too much and damages the photosensitive member 10.
[0056]
Further, as shown in FIG. 9, when the shutter 45 is opened, the cam 48b of the relay member 48 comes into contact with the protrusion 50 so that the rotation of the shutter 45 does not advance from a predetermined open position. Thus, as described above, the rotation of the shutter 45 can be started reliably follow the gravity.
[0057]
Here, when the relay member 48 is assembled to the cartridge case 19, if the idler gear 48 a and the protrusion 50 described above are assembled so that the shutter 45 is completely closed, the shutter 45 is always in a normal rotation range. It will open and close at.
[0058]
Next, other embodiments will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 11, the support shaft 51 of the front plate portion 19 a that supports the relay member 48 has a shaft shape with a stepped small diameter with different shaft diameters d1 and d2. Further, the rotation shaft hole 48c of the relay member 48 fitted to the support shaft 51 also has a shaft hole diameter D1 slightly larger than the shaft diameters d1 and d2, as shown in the sectional view in the axial direction of the relay member 48 in FIG. , D2 has a hole shape with a small step at the tip.
[0059]
Thus, the relay member 48 is always set in the normal direction with respect to the support shaft 51 without setting the directions of the idler gear 48a and the cam 48b in reverse. Further, the relay member 48 can be positioned in the axial direction by the step shape having a small diameter at the tip. With such a configuration, the assembling property of the process cartridge 20 can be improved.
[0060]
In the illustrated example, the shutter opening / closing mechanism such as the relay member 48 and the lever 49 is provided on the main body front plate 4 side, but the present invention is not limited to this and may be provided on the opposite main body rear side. .
[0061]
In the illustrated example, the insertion / removal direction of the process cartridge 20 is the longitudinal direction of the photoconductor 10. For example, the present invention can be applied to an image forming apparatus configured to open and close the main body right cover 3 of FIG. 5 and insert / remove the process cartridge 20 therefrom.
[0062]
In the illustrated example, the laser copying machine is described as the image forming apparatus. However, the present invention can naturally be applied to other image forming apparatuses such as an analog copying machine, a facsimile machine, and a laser printer.
[0063]
【The invention's effect】
According to the invention of claim 1, the opening and closing of the shutter of the opening in the process cartridge, for performing a lever of the apparatus main body, and the relay member of the process cartridge by a drive gear that rotates integrally with the shutter Therefore, it is possible to provide a simple and inexpensive image forming apparatus with a relatively small number of parts.
[0064]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the idler gear and the cam are formed stepwise in the relay member, the interference between the lever and the idler gear can be prevented without any design restrictions, and the relay member has a relatively small image formation. An apparatus can be provided.
[0065]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the engaging portion between the idler gear and the shutter drive gear is disposed outside the main body side plate, the distance between the main body side plates can be made relatively small, and a compact image forming apparatus is provided. be able to.
[0066]
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since a special biasing member such as a spring is not provided to close the shutter, an image forming apparatus having a simple and inexpensive shutter opening / closing mechanism can be provided.
[0067]
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the protrusion is provided on the side surface of the process cartridge to regulate the rotation range of the relay member, the image carrier can be prevented from being damaged and the shutter can be opened and closed reliably. An image forming apparatus can be provided.
[0068]
According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, a step with a small diameter at the tip is provided in the fitting portion between the rotation shaft hole of the relay member and the support shaft of the cartridge case, and the relay member is attached in reverse. Therefore, since the positioning of the relay member in the axial direction is easy, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus with good assemblability.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a main part of a laser copying machine according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a developer accommodating portion of a developing device of a process cartridge of the laser copying machine.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the inside of the process cartridge as viewed from above.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a process cartridge of the laser copying machine according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state in which a process cartridge is inserted into and removed from the laser copying machine main body.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state in which the shutter of the process cartridge is closed.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a state in which the shutter of the process cartridge is opened.
FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing a state where the shutter of the process cartridge is closed .
FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing a state in which the shutter of the process cartridge is opened.
FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing a state where the shutter of the process cartridge shifts from opening to shielding.
FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a relay member and a support shaft of the process cartridge.
FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing the positions of the relay member and the main body front plate of the process cartridge.
FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing a locus of movement of a lever in the apparatus main body.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Apparatus main body 2 Main body front cover 3 Main body right cover 4 Main body front side plate 10 Photosensitive body (image carrier)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Charging device 12 Developing device 13 Transfer device 14 Paper separating device 15 Cleaning device 17 Cleaning blade 19 Cartridge case 19a Front plate portion 20 Process cartridge 21 Developer storage portion 22 Developer carrying portion 23 First stirring member 24 Second stirring member 25 New toner supply port 26 Recycled toner supply port 27 Developing window 28 Developing roller 29 Developing doctor 30 Toner conveying portion 31 Shaft portion 31a One end portion 32 Screw portion 33 Falling path entrance 35 Falling path 37 Falling path exit 45 Shutter 46 Support point 47 Drive gear 48 Relay member 48a Idler gear 48b Cam 48c Rotating shaft hole 49 Lever 50 Protrusion (rib)
51 Support shaft P Transfer paper L Laser light

Claims (6)

An image carrier and process means acting on the image carrier are provided in a cartridge case. The cartridge case has an opening for exposing the image carrier, and a shutter that can be opened and closed with respect to the opening. A process cartridge further comprising
In the image forming apparatus for inserting and removing the process cartridge by opening and closing the main body cover of the apparatus main body,
Provided with a lever that moves in conjunction with opening and closing of the body cover,
The process cartridge is supported by fulcrum portions at both ends of the cartridge case and rotatable about the fulcrum portion; and the shutter is provided at a position supported by the fulcrum portion ; A driving gear that rotates integrally; an idler gear that engages with the driving gear; and a relay member that integrates a cam that engages with the lever;
An image forming apparatus, wherein the shutter is opened and closed by movement of the lever in conjunction with opening and closing of the main body cover in a state where the process cartridge is mounted on the apparatus main body. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an idler gear and a cam of the relay member are formed in a step shape in an axial direction of the relay member. A main body side plate is provided at each end in a direction coinciding with the longitudinal direction of the process cartridge,
3. The device according to claim 1, wherein when the process cartridge is mounted on the apparatus main body, the engaging portion between the idler gear and the drive gear is disposed outside the main body side plate. 4. Image forming apparatus. 2. The shutter according to claim 1, wherein a moment is applied to rotate the shutter in a direction to close by gravity when the lever and the cam are disengaged in conjunction with the opening of the main body cover. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge case is provided with a protrusion that restricts a rotation range of the relay member. The cartridge case includes a support shaft that fits into the rotation shaft hole of the relay member,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the rotation shaft hole and the support shaft has a shape having a step with a small tip diameter.

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