JP3768998B2 - Process cartridge and electrophotographic image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a process cartridge and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. Here, the electrophotographic image forming apparatus forms an image on a recording medium using an electrophotographic image forming system. Examples of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus include an electrophotographic copying machine, an electrophotographic printer (for example, a laser beam printer, an LED printer, etc.), a facsimile machine, a word processor, and the like.

    The process cartridge is a cartridge in which a charging unit, a developing unit or a cleaning unit and an electrophotographic photosensitive drum are integrally formed, and the cartridge can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body. In addition, at least one of the charging unit, the developing unit, and the cleaning unit and the electrophotographic photosensitive drum are integrally formed into a cartridge that can be attached to and detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus. Further, it means that at least the developing means and the electrophotographic photosensitive drum are integrally formed into a cartridge so as to be detachable from the apparatus main body.

    An electrophotographic image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic image forming system forms a latent image by performing selective exposure according to image information on an electrophotographic photosensitive drum uniformly charged by a charging unit. Then, the latent image is developed with toner by a developing unit to form a toner image. Thereafter, an image is formed by forming the toner image on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum and transferring the toner image onto a recording medium by a transfer means.

  Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus using an image forming process, the electrophotographic photosensitive drum and the process means acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum are integrally formed into a cartridge, and the cartridge can be attached to and detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus. The process cartridge method is adopted. According to this process cartridge system, the apparatus can be maintained by the user himself / herself without depending on the service person, so that the operability can be remarkably improved. Therefore, this process cartridge system is widely used in image forming apparatuses.

  In such a process cartridge, in order to drive at least the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, when the process cartridge is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body, a power transmission member and an electrophotographic photosensitive member serving as a drive source on the image forming apparatus main body side are provided. The body drum is connected.

  Here, various methods have been considered for rotationally driving the electrophotographic photosensitive drum. One method is described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-65049, in which a pin fixed to a side surface of a gear provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus is attached to a side surface of the gear provided to the photosensitive drum. In this method, the photosensitive drum is rotated by being fitted in the provided recess.

  Another method is a method of rotating the photosensitive drum by engaging with a helical gear provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus, as described in JP-A-63-4252. The axial positioning of such an electrophotographic photosensitive drum is generated by a toothed gear for driving a developing roller provided in the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, thereby generating a thrust when the electrophotographic photosensitive drum rotates. The electrophotographic photosensitive drum is applied to one side in the longitudinal direction of the cartridge frame.

All of the techniques described in the above-mentioned publications described in the description of the prior art are very effective as a configuration for transmitting a rotational force to the photosensitive drum. The present invention is a further development of the above-described prior art.
JP-A-62-65049 JP-A-62-4252

  A problem to be solved is a process cartridge and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus capable of improving the positioning accuracy of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum with respect to the apparatus main body in the longitudinal direction of the process cartridge and transmitting the driving force to the process cartridge. It is to provide.

1st invention which concerns on this application is a polygon which the cross section rotated integrally with the said rotary body provided in the rotation center of the motor, transmission of the driving force from the said motor, and the said rotary body is polygonal a twisted hole, a process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium to be closed and the spring member,
An electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
Process means acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
Wherein provided on one longitudinal end of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, with the projection of the twisted hole and mating twisted polygonal column,
A frame that supports the electrophotographic photosensitive drum movably in the longitudinal direction;
Having
When the process cartridge is mounted on the apparatus main body, the frame body is biased by the spring member, so that the frame body abuts on a contact portion provided on the apparatus main body, and the longitudinal The frame body is positioned with respect to the apparatus main body in the direction, and further, when the rotating body rotates, the twisted polygonal column protrusion is drawn into the twisted hole, and the tip surface of the twisted polygonal column protrusion The rotational force of the rotating body is transmitted to the electrophotographic photosensitive drum in a state where the portion is in contact with the bottom surface portion of the twisted hole, and the electrophotographic photosensitive drum is not positioned with respect to the apparatus main body in the longitudinal direction. A process cartridge configured to be configured as described above.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electrophotographic image forming apparatus for detachably attaching a process cartridge to form an image on a recording medium.
(A) a motor;
(B) a rotating body that receives a driving force from the motor;
(C) a twisted hole having a polygonal cross section that rotates integrally with the rotating body, provided at the rotation center of the rotating body;
(D) a spring member;
(E) a contact portion;
And (f) an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, process means acting on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, said electrophotographic provided at one longitudinal end of the photosensitive drum, twisted polygonal mating with said twisted hole A positioning part for positioning a process cartridge on the apparatus main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the projections of the pillars , and a frame that supports the electrophotographic photosensitive drum movably in the longitudinal direction ;
(G) a guide portion for guiding the process cartridge to the positioning portion;
(H) conveying means for conveying the recording medium;
Having
When the process cartridge is mounted on the apparatus main body, the spring member biases the frame body, thereby bringing the frame body into contact with the contact portion, and in the longitudinal direction of the frame body. Positioning with respect to the main body of the apparatus, and further, when the rotating body rotates, the projection of the twisted polygonal column is drawn into the twisted hole, and the tip surface portion of the projection of the twisted polygonal column is inserted into the twisted hole. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus configured to position the electrophotographic photosensitive drum with respect to the apparatus main body in the longitudinal direction in contact with a bottom surface portion .

According to the present invention, the frame body supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive drum so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction is urged by the spring member, thereby abutting against the abutting portion provided in the apparatus main body, The frame body is positioned with respect to the apparatus main body in the longitudinal direction. Further, when the rotating body rotates, the twisted polygonal column projection is drawn into the twisted hole, and the tip surface portion of the twisted polygonal column projection is in contact with the bottom surface portion of the twisted hole. Is transmitted to the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and the electrophotographic photosensitive drum is positioned with respect to the apparatus main body in the longitudinal direction. Therefore, it is possible to improve the positioning accuracy of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum with respect to the apparatus main body in the longitudinal direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and to transmit the driving force to the process cartridge.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  Next, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the following description, the short direction of the process cartridge B is a direction in which the process cartridge B is attached to and detached from the apparatus main body 14 and coincides with the conveyance direction of the recording medium. Further, the longitudinal direction of the process cartridge B is a direction (substantially orthogonal direction) that intersects with a direction in which the process cartridge B is attached to and detached from the apparatus main body 14, is parallel to the surface of the recording medium, and transports the recording medium. Is a direction intersecting (substantially orthogonal). The left and right with respect to the process cartridge is the right or left when the recording medium is viewed from above according to the conveyance direction of the recording medium.

  FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a configuration of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus (laser beam printer) to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 is an external perspective view thereof. 3 to 8 are drawings relating to a process cartridge to which the embodiment of the present invention is applied. 3 is a side sectional view of the process cartridge, FIG. 4 is an external perspective view showing an outline of the external appearance thereof, FIG. 5 is a right side view thereof, FIG. 6 is a left side view thereof, and FIG. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the process cartridge turned upside down and seen from above. In the following description, the upper surface of the process cartridge B is a surface located on the upper side in a state where the process cartridge B is mounted on the apparatus main body 14, and the lower surface is a surface located on the lower side.

(Electrophotographic image forming apparatus A and process cartridge B)
First, a laser beam printer A as an electrophotographic image forming apparatus to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of the process cartridge B.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the laser beam printer A forms an image on a recording medium (for example, recording paper, OHP sheet, cloth, etc.) by an electrophotographic image forming process. Then, a toner image is formed on a drum-shaped electrophotographic photosensitive member (hereinafter referred to as a photosensitive drum). Specifically, the photosensitive drum is charged by a charging unit, and then a laser beam corresponding to the image information is irradiated from the optical unit to the photosensitive drum to form a latent image corresponding to the image information on the photosensitive drum. The latent image is developed by developing means to form a toner image. In synchronization with the formation of the toner image, the recording medium 2 set in the paper feed cassette 3a is reversed and conveyed by the pickup roller 3b, the conveyance roller pairs 3c and 3d, and the registration roller pair 3e. Next, the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 7 of the process cartridge B is transferred to the recording medium 2 by applying a voltage to the transfer roller 4 as transfer means. Thereafter, the recording medium 2 to which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed to the fixing unit 5 by the conveyance guide 3f. The fixing unit 5 includes a driving roller 5c and a fixing roller 5b incorporating a heater 5a. Then, the transferred toner image is fixed by applying heat and pressure to the passing recording medium 2. The recording medium 2 is conveyed by the discharge roller pairs 3g, 3h, 3i, and discharged to the discharge tray 6 through the reverse path 3j. The discharge tray 6 is provided on the upper surface of the apparatus main body 14 of the image forming apparatus A. It is also possible to operate the swingable flapper 3k and discharge the recording medium 2 by the discharge roller pair 3m without passing through the reverse path 3j. In the present embodiment, the pickup roller 3b, transport roller pairs 3c, 3d, registration roller pair 3e, transport guide 3f, discharge roller pairs 3g, 3h, 3i and discharge roller pair 3m constitute a transport means 3. .

  On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 8, the process cartridge B rotates the photosensitive drum 7 having the photosensitive layer 7e (see FIG. 11) and applies a voltage to the charging roller 8 as a charging means. Is uniformly charged. Next, a laser beam corresponding to the image information from the optical system 1 is irradiated onto the photosensitive drum 7 through the exposure opening 1e to form a latent image. The latent image is developed by developing means 9 using toner. That is, the charging roller 8 is provided in contact with the photosensitive drum 7 and charges the photosensitive drum 7. The charging roller 8 rotates following the photosensitive drum 7. The developing unit 9 supplies toner to the developing area of the photoconductor drum 7 to develop the latent image formed on the photoconductor drum 7. The optical system 1 includes a laser diode 1a, a polygon mirror 1b, a lens 1c, and a reflection mirror 1d.

  Here, the developing means 9 sends the toner in the toner container 11A to the developing roller 9c by the rotation of the toner feeding member 9b. Then, the developing roller 9c incorporating the fixed magnet is rotated, and a toner layer to which triboelectric charge is imparted is formed on the surface of the developing roller 9c by the developing blade 9d, and the toner is supplied to the developing region of the photosensitive drum 7. . Then, the toner is transferred to the photosensitive drum 7 in accordance with the latent image, thereby forming a toner image and making it a visible image. Here, the developing blade 9d defines the amount of toner on the peripheral surface of the developing roller 9c and applies a triboelectric charge. A toner agitating member 9e for circulating toner in the developing chamber is rotatably attached in the vicinity of the developing roller 9c.

  Then, a voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the toner image is applied to the transfer roller 4 to transfer the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 7 to the recording medium 2, and then the residual toner on the photosensitive drum 7 is removed by the cleaning unit 10. Remove. Here, the cleaning means 10 scrapes off the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 7 by an elastic cleaning blade 10a provided in contact with the photosensitive drum 7, and collects the toner in the waste toner reservoir 10b.

  The process cartridge B combines a toner frame 11 having a toner container (toner storage unit) 11A for storing toner and a developing frame 12 for holding the developing means 9 such as the developing roller 9c. Further, the cleaning means 10 such as the photosensitive drum 7 and the cleaning blade 10a and the cleaning frame 13 to which the charging roller 8 is attached are coupled to this. The process cartridge B can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body 14 by an operator.

  The process cartridge B is provided with an exposure opening 1e for irradiating the photosensitive drum 7 with light corresponding to image information and a transfer opening 13n for facing the photosensitive drum 7 to the recording medium 2. Specifically, the exposure opening 1 e is provided in the cleaning frame 13, and the transfer opening 13 n is formed between the developing frame 12 and the cleaning frame 13.

  Next, the structure of the housing of the process cartridge B according to the present embodiment will be described.

  In the process cartridge B shown in the present embodiment, the photosensitive drum 7, the toner frame 11 and the developing frame 12 are coupled to each other, and the cleaning drum 13 is rotatably coupled thereto. The charging roller 8, the developing means 9, the cleaning means 10 and the like are accommodated into a cartridge. Then, the process cartridge B is detachably mounted on a cartridge mounting means provided in the image forming apparatus main body 14.

(Configuration of housing of process cartridge B)
In the process cartridge B according to the present embodiment, as described above, the toner frame 11, the developing frame 12, and the cleaning frame 13 are combined to form a housing. Next, the configuration will be described.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 20, a toner feeding member 9b is rotatably attached to the toner frame 11. A developing roller 9c and a developing blade 9d are attached to the developing frame 12, and a stirring member 9e for circulating toner in the developing chamber is rotatably attached in the vicinity of the developing roller 9c. Further, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 19, an antenna rod 9h is attached to the developing frame 12 so as to face the longitudinal direction of the developing roller 9c and substantially parallel to the developing roller 9c. The toner frame 11 and the developing frame 12 are welded (ultrasonic welding in the present embodiment) to constitute a developing unit D (see FIG. 13) as an integral second frame.

  A drum shutter member 18 that covers the photosensitive drum 7 when the process cartridge B is removed from the image forming apparatus main body 14 and is exposed to light for a long time or from contact with foreign matter is attached to the toner developing unit. Yes.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the drum shutter member 18 includes a shutter cover 18a for opening and closing the transfer opening 13n shown in FIG. 3, and links 18b and 18c for supporting the shutter cover 18a. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, one end of the right link 18 c is pivotally attached to the hole 40 g of the developing holder 40 at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the shutter cover 18 a and upstream in the conveyance direction of the recording medium 2. 6, one end of the left link 18c is pivoted to a boss 11h provided on the lower frame 11b of the toner frame 11 as shown in FIG. The other ends of the links 18c on both sides are pivoted upstream with respect to the mounting direction of the process cartridge B of the shutter cover 18a. The link 18c is a metal wire, and a portion pivotally attached to the shutter cover 18a is connected between both sides of the process cartridge B, and the left and right links 18c are integrated. The link 18b is provided only on one side of the shutter cover 18a. One end of the link 18b is pivotally connected to the shutter cover 18a at the downstream end in the conveyance direction of the recording medium 2, and the other end is developed. The dowel 12d provided on the frame 12 is pivotally attached. The link 18b is a synthetic resin.

  The links 18b and 18c have different lengths, and form a four-bar chain mechanism in which the shutter cover 18a and a frame including the toner frame 11 and the developing frame 12 are linked. The side protrusions 18c1 provided on the links 18c on both sides are in contact with a fixed member (not shown) provided near the cartridge mounting space S of the image forming apparatus 14, and the drum shutter is moved by the movement of the process cartridge B. The member 18 is operated to open the shutter cover 18a.

  The drum shutter member 18 including the shutter cover 18a and the links 18b and 18c is a torsion coil spring (not shown) inserted into the dowel 12d, one end locked to the link 18b, and the other end locked to the developing device frame 12. The shutter cover 18a is urged so as to cover the transfer opening 13n.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 12, the cleaning frame 13 is attached with the members of the photosensitive drum 7, the charging roller 8 and the cleaning means 10, and a cleaning unit C as a first frame (see FIG. 12) is provided. It is composed.

  The developing unit D and the cleaning unit C are coupled to each other by a round pin coupling member 22 to form a process cartridge B. That is, as shown in FIG. 13, a round rotation hole 20 is provided at the tip of the arm portion 19 formed on both sides of the developing frame 12 in the longitudinal direction (axial direction of the developing roller 9c) in parallel to the developing roller 9c. (See FIG. 13). On the other hand, two recesses 21 for entering the arm portion 19 are provided at two locations on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the cleaning frame 13 (see FIG. 12). The arm portion 19 is inserted into the recess 21, the coupling member 22 is press-fitted into the mounting hole 13 e of the cleaning frame 13, and is fitted into the rotation hole 20 at the end of the arm portion 19 and is further press-fitted into the inner hole 13 e. Thus, the developing unit D and the cleaning unit C are coupled so as to be rotatable about the coupling member 22. At this time, the compression coil spring 22a inserted and attached to a dowel (not shown) standing at the base of the arm portion 19 hits the upper wall of the recess 21 of the cleaning frame 13, and the development frame 12 is moved downward by the compression coil spring 22a. By energizing, the developing roller 9c is surely pressed against the photosensitive drum 7. The upper wall of the recess 21 of the cleaning frame 13 is inclined so that when the developing unit D and the cleaning unit C are assembled, the compression coil spring 22a gradually increases the compression from the uncompressed state. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 13, by attaching spacer rollers 9i having a diameter larger than that of the developing roller 9c to both ends in the longitudinal direction of the developing roller 9c, the rollers 9i are pressed against the photosensitive drum 7, and the photosensitive drum 7 and the developing roller 9c opposes at a constant interval (about 300 μm). Therefore, the developing unit D and the cleaning unit C can rotate with respect to the coupling member 22, and therefore, the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 7 and the peripheral surface of the developing roller 9 c are caused by the elastic force of the compression coil spring 22 a. The positional relationship can be maintained.

  Since the compression coil spring 22a is attached to the developing device frame 12 on the base side of the arm portion 19 in this manner, the pressure applied by the compression coil spring 22a does not reach other than the arm portion 19 base, and the member attached to the developing device frame 12 Even if there is no particular reinforcement around the spring seat so that the spring seat is a spring seat, the arm 19 has a strong and rigid portion on the base side, which is effective in maintaining accuracy.

  The combined structure of the cleaning frame 13 and the developing frame 12 will be described in detail later.

(Configuration of guide means of process cartridge B)
Next, guide means for attaching / detaching the process cartridge B to / from the apparatus main body 14 will be described. This guide means is shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 9 is a left perspective view of the process cartridge B when viewed in the direction (arrow X) in which the process cartridge B is attached to the apparatus main body A (when viewed from the developing unit D side). FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the right side.

  As shown in FIGS. 4, 5, 6, and 7, guide means serving as a guide when the process cartridge B is attached to and detached from the apparatus main body 14 are provided on both outer side surfaces of the cleaning frame 13. ing. The guide means includes cylindrical guides 13aR and 13aL as positioning guide members, and anti-rotation guides 13bR and 13bL as guide members as posture holding means at the time of attachment / detachment.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the cylindrical guide 13aR is a hollow cylindrical member, and the anti-rotation guide 13bR is integrally formed with the cylindrical guide 13aR. The cylindrical guide 13aR is integrally formed from the circumference of the cylindrical guide 13aR in a substantially radial direction. It protrudes. A mounting flange 13aR1 is integrally provided on the cylindrical guide 13aR. In this way, the right guide member 13R having the cylindrical guide 13aR, the non-rotating guide 13bR, and the mounting flange 13aR1 is inserted through the small screw hole of the mounting flange 13aR1 and the small screw 13aR2 is screwed and fixed to the cleaning frame 13. The detent guide 13bR of the right guide member 13R fixed to the cleaning frame 13 is disposed on the side surface of the developing frame 12 so as to extend to the side of a developing holder 40 described later fixed to the developing frame 12. Has been.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the enlarged diameter portion 7a2 of the drum shaft 7a is fitted in the hole 13k1 (see FIG. 11) of the cleaning frame 13. Then, it is fitted to a positioning pin 13c protruding from the side surface of the cleaning frame 13 and is prevented from rotating, and outwardly (perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 6) to a flat flange 29 fixed to the cleaning frame 13 with a machine screw 13d. A cylindrical guide 13aL is provided so as to project toward the front side. Inside the flange 29, there is provided the fixed drum shaft 7a for rotatably supporting a spur gear 7n fitted in the photosensitive drum 7 (see FIG. 11). The cylindrical guide 13aL and the drum shaft 7a are coaxial. The flange 29, the cylindrical guide 13aL, and the drum shaft 7a are integrally or integrally made of a metal material such as iron.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the cleaning guide 13 is integrally formed with the cleaning guide 13 so that the detent guide 13 bL, which is slightly separated from the cylindrical guide 13 aL and protrudes in the radial direction of the cylindrical guide 13 aL, protrudes to the side of the cleaning guide 13. Has been. The portion where the non-rotating guide 13bL interferes with the flange 29 is cut away from the flange 29, and the protruding height of the anti-rotating guide 13bL toward the side is such that the top surface substantially coincides with the top surface of the non-rotating guide 13bL. is there. The anti-rotation guide 13bL extends to the side of the developing roller bearing box 9v fixed to the developing frame 12. Thus, the left guide member 13L is provided as a separate member by separating the cylindrical guide 13aL made of metal and the anti-rotation guide 13bL made of synthetic resin.

  Next, the regulation contact portion 13j provided on the upper surface 13i of the cleaning unit C will be described. Here, the upper surface is a surface located above when the process cartridge B is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body 14.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, on the upper surface 13i of the cleaning unit C, the right and left ends 13p and 13q perpendicular to the process cartridge mounting direction are respectively in contact with the restricting contact portions 13j. Is provided. The regulation contact portion 13j defines the position of the process cartridge B when the process cartridge B is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body 14. That is, when the process cartridge B is mounted on the apparatus image forming body 14, the restricting contact portion 13 j is brought into contact with the fixed member 25 (see FIGS. 9, 10, and 30) provided on the image forming apparatus body 14. In contact therewith, the process cartridge B has a rotational position centered on the cylindrical guides 13aR and 13aL.

  Next, guide means on the image forming apparatus main body 14 side will be described. When the opening / closing member 35 of the image forming apparatus main body 14 is pivoted counterclockwise in FIG. 1 about the fulcrum 35a, the upper part of the image forming apparatus main body 14 is opened, and the mounting portion of the process cartridge B is shown in FIGS. looks like. As shown in FIG. 9 on the left side and FIG. 10 on the right side, guide members 16R and 16L are seen from the opening where the opening / closing member 35 is opened, as viewed from the attaching / detaching direction of the process cartridge B on the left and right inner walls of the image forming apparatus main body 14. Is provided.

  As shown in the figure, the guide members 16R and 16L are respectively connected to the guide portions 16a and 16c which are obliquely provided so as to be forward and downward as viewed from the arrow X in the insertion direction of the process cartridge B, and to the guide portions 16a and 16c, respectively. Semi-circular positioning grooves 16b and 16d into which the cylindrical guides 13aR and 13aL of the process cartridge B are just inserted are provided. The positioning grooves 16b and 16d have a cylindrical peripheral wall. The centers of the positioning grooves 16b and 16d coincide with the centers of the cylindrical guides 13aR and 13aL of the process cartridge B when the process cartridge B is mounted on the apparatus main body 14, and therefore coincide with the center line of the photosensitive drum 7.

  The widths of the guide portions 16a and 16c are such that the cylindrical guides 13aR and 13aL are loosely fitted when viewed from the attaching / detaching direction of the process cartridge B. The non-rotating guides 13bR and 13bL each having a narrower width than the diameter of the cylindrical guides 13aR and 13aL naturally fit loosely, but the cylindrical guides 13aR and 13aL and the non-rotating guides 13bR and 13bL are rotated by the guide portions 16a and 16c. The process cartridge B is mounted while maintaining a certain range of postures. When the process cartridge B is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body 14, the cylindrical guides 13aR and 13aL of the process cartridge B are fitted in the positioning grooves 16b and 16d of the guide members 13R and 13L, respectively. The restriction contact portions 13j on the left and right ends of the cleaning frame 13 are in contact with the fixed member 25 of the apparatus main body 14.

  In the process cartridge B described above, when the center line is kept horizontal on the cleaning unit C side and the developing unit D side of the center line connecting the centers of the cylindrical guides 13aR and 13aL, the primary moment on the developing unit D side is larger than that on the cleaning unit C side. The weight distribution is such that

  For mounting the process cartridge B to the image forming apparatus main body 14, the ribs 11c on the concave portion 17 side and the lower side of the toner frame 11 are held with one hand, and the cylindrical guides 13aR and 13aL are respectively held on the image forming apparatus main body 14. The guides 16a and 16c of the cartridge mounting unit are inserted, and then the rotation guides 13bR and 13bL are inserted into the guides 16a and 16c of the main body 14 of the image forming apparatus 14 with the process cartridge B forward and downward as viewed from the insertion direction. The cylindrical guides 13aR and 13aL of the process cartridge B and the anti-rotation guides 13bR and 13bL proceed to the back side along the guide portions 16a and 16c of the main body 14 of the image forming apparatus, and the cylindrical guides 13aR and 13aL of the process cartridge B form the image. When reaching the positioning grooves 16b and 16d of the apparatus main body 14, the cylindrical guides 13aR and 13aL are seated by the gravity of the process cartridge B at the positions of the positioning grooves 16b and 16d. Thereby, the cylindrical guides 13aR and 13aL of the process cartridge B are accurately positioned with respect to the positioning grooves 16b and 16d. Since the center line connecting the centers of the cylindrical guides 13aR and 13aL is the center line of the photosensitive drum 7, the position of the photosensitive drum 7 is roughly determined in the image forming apparatus main body 14. Note that the position of the photosensitive drum relative to the apparatus main body 14 is finally determined in a state where the coupling is coupled.

  In this state, there is a slight gap between the fixed member 25 of the image forming apparatus main body 14 and the regulation contact portion 13j of the process cartridge B. Here, when the hand holding the process cartridge B is released, the process cartridge B is lowered on the developing unit D side and centered on the cylindrical guides 13aR and 13aL, and is raised on the cleaning unit C side. 13j contacts the fixed member 25 of the image forming apparatus main body 14, and the process cartridge B is accurately mounted on the image forming apparatus main body 14. Thereafter, the opening / closing member 35 is rotated clockwise around the fulcrum 35a in FIG.

  The process cartridge B is removed from the apparatus main body 14 in the reverse manner as described above. When the opening / closing member 35 of the apparatus main body 14 is opened and the upper and lower ribs 11c forming the handle portion of the process cartridge B are lifted by hand, The cylindrical guides 13aR and 13aL of the process cartridge B rotate about the positioning grooves 16b and 16d of the apparatus main body 14, and the regulation contact portion 13j of the process cartridge B is separated from the fixing member 25 of the apparatus main body 14. When the process cartridge B is further pulled, the cylindrical guides 13aR and 13aL escape from the positioning grooves 16b and 16d and move to the guide portions 16a and 16c of the guide members 16R and 16L fixed to the apparatus main body 14, and the process cartridge is left as it is. When B is pulled up, the cylindrical guides 13aR and 13aL and the anti-rotation guides 13bR and 13bL of the process cartridge B are moved up in the guide portions 16a and 16c of the apparatus main body 14 and thereby the posture of the process cartridge B is regulated. Thus, the process cartridge B is taken out of the apparatus main body 14 without hitting other parts of the apparatus main body 14.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the spur gear 7n is provided at the end of the photosensitive drum 7 opposite to the helical gear 7b in the axial direction. When the process cartridge B is mounted on the apparatus main body 14, the spur gear 7n meshes with a gear (not shown) coaxial with the transfer roller 4 provided on the apparatus main body 14 to rotate the transfer roller 4. The driving force to be transmitted is transmitted from the process cartridge B.

(Toner frame)
The toner frame will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3, 5, 7, 16, 20, and 21. 20 is a perspective view before the toner seal is welded, and FIG. 21 is a perspective view after the toner is filled.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the toner frame 11 is composed of two parts, an upper frame 11a and a lower frame 11b. As shown in FIG. 1, the upper frame 11a bulges upward so as to occupy the right space of the optical system 1 of the main body 14 of the image forming apparatus, and without increasing the size of the image forming apparatus A. The amount of toner in the process cartridge B is increased. As shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 7, a recess 17 is provided from the outside at the center in the longitudinal direction of the upper frame 11 a, and has a handle function. Therefore, the operator holds the concave portion 17 of the upper frame body 11a and the lower side of the lower frame body 11b with hands. The longitudinal rib 11c provided on one side of the recess 17 and the lower side of the lower frame 11b serves as a slip stopper when the process cartridge B is provided. Then, as shown in FIG. 3, the flange 11a1 of the upper frame 11a is fitted to the flange 11b1 with a peripheral edge of the lower frame 11b, aligned at the welding surface U, and both the frames are melted by ultrasonic welding. The bodies 11a and 11b are integrated. However, the bonding method is not limited to ultrasonic welding, and may be performed by, for example, thermal welding, forced vibration, adhesion, or the like. When the two frames 11a and 11b are ultrasonically welded, both the frames 11a and 11b are supported by the flange 11b1 described above, and a step portion 11m is provided on the substantially upper surface of the flange 11b1 above the opening 11i. is there. A configuration for providing the stepped portion 11m will be described later.

  Prior to joining the frames 11a and 11b, the toner feeding member 9b is incorporated into the lower frame 11b. Further, as shown in FIG. 16, the coupling member 11e is assembled from the hole 11e1 on the side plate of the toner frame 11 so as to be engaged with the end of the toner feeding member 9b. The hole 11e1 is provided at one end in the longitudinal direction of the lower frame 11b. A toner filling port 11d having a substantially right triangle for filling the toner is provided on the same side as the hole 11e1. The edge of the toner filling port 11d has one side on the right side along the vicinity of the joint of the upper and lower toner frames 11a, 11b, one side in the vertical direction perpendicular to the one side, and a hypotenuse along the lower side of the lower frame 11b. . Therefore, the maximum size of the toner filling port 11d can be adopted. Therefore, the hole 11e1 and the toner filling port 11d are provided side by side. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 20, in the longitudinal direction of the toner frame 11, an opening 11i of the toner frame 11 for sending toner from the toner frame 11 to the developing frame 12 is provided. A seal (described later) is welded so as to block 11i. Thereafter, toner is filled from the toner filling port 11d, and the toner filling port 11d is covered with a toner cap 11f as shown in FIG. The toner cap 11f is made of a material such as polyethylene or polypropylene, and is press-fitted or adhered to a toner filling port 11d provided in the toner frame 11 to be prevented from coming off. Further, the toner unit J is ultrasonically welded to a developing frame 12 which will be described later and becomes a developing unit D. However, the coupling method is not limited to ultrasonic welding, and may be performed by bonding or snap fitting using an elastic force.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the slope K of the lower frame 11b of the toner frame 11 is an inclination angle θ that naturally falls when the toner is consumed, that is, the apparatus main body 14 with the apparatus main body 14 in a horizontal state. The angle θ formed by the inclined surface K of the process cartridge B attached to the horizontal line Z and the horizontal line Z is preferably about 65 °. Further, the lower frame 11b has a concave portion 11g on the lower side so as to escape the rotation region of the toner feeding member 9b. The rotation diameter of the toner feeding member 9b is about 37 mm. The recessed portion 11g may be recessed about 0 mm to 10 mm from the extended line of the slope K. If the concave portion 11g is above the inclined surface K, the toner that has naturally dropped from above the inclined surface K will not be sent to the developing frame 12 between the concave portion 11g and the inclined surface K. In this embodiment, the toner can be reliably sent from the toner frame 11 to the developing frame 12.

  The toner feeding member 9b is made of a rod-like iron material having a diameter of about 2 mm and has a crank shape. One of the journals 9b1 provided on one side as shown in FIG. It is pivotally attached to the hole 11r of the portion facing the opening 11i and the other is fixed to the coupling member 11e (the coupling portion is not visible in FIG. 20).

  As described above, by providing the concave portion 11g as the relief of the toner feeding member 9b on the bottom surface of the toner frame 11, stable toner feeding performance can be obtained without increasing the cost.

    As shown in FIGS. 3, 20, and 22, an opening 11 i that feeds toner from the toner frame 11 to the developing frame 12 is provided at a joint portion between the toner frame 11 and the developing frame 12. A concave surface 11k is provided around the opening 11i. The groove 11n is provided in parallel on both edge sides directly in the longitudinal direction of the upper and lower flanges 11j, 11j1 of the concave surface 11k. The upper flange 11j of the concave surface 11k has a gate shape, and the lower flange 11j1 is in a crossing direction with respect to the concave surface 11k. As shown in FIG. 22, the bottom 11n2 of the groove 11n is in a position protruding outward (developing frame 12 side) from the concave surface 11k. Note that, as schematically shown in FIG. 39, the flange 11j of the opening 11i may be a single plane as a frame shape.

  As shown in FIG. 19, the surface of the developing frame 12 facing the toner frame 11 is a single plane 12u, and the plane 12u is parallel to the plane 12u at a position retreated from the plane 12u on the upper and lower sides and the longitudinal sides. A flange 12e is provided in a closed frame shape, and a protrusion 12v that fits in the groove 11n of the toner frame 11 is provided on the edge of the flange 12e along the longitudinal direction. A triangular protrusion 12v1 for ultrasonic welding is provided on the top surface of the protrusion 12v (see FIG. 22). Therefore, the toner frame 11 and the developing frame 12 after the respective parts are assembled are fitted with the groove 11n of the toner frame 11 and the protrusion 11v of the developing frame 12, and ultrasonic waves are formed along the longitudinal direction thereof. They are welded (details will be described later).

  As shown in FIG. 21, a cover film 51 that is easy to tear in the longitudinal direction is attached to the concave surface 11k so as to close the opening 11i of the toner frame 11. The cover film 51 is affixed to the toner frame 11 along the edges of the four sides of the opening 11i on the concave surface 11k. A tear tape 52 for tearing the cover film 51 is welded to the cover film 51 in order to open the opening 11i. The tear tape 52 is folded back at one end 52 b in the longitudinal direction of the opening 11 i and is attached to the end in the longitudinal direction of the flat surface facing the toner frame 11 of the developing frame 12, for example, an elastic material such as felt. A grip member 11t serving as a handle is attached to the end portion 52a which is pulled out through the seal material 54 (see FIG. 19) and the toner frame 11 and is pulled out (see FIGS. 6 and 20). FIG. 21). The handle member 11t is integrally formed with the toner frame 11, and the portion connected to the toner frame 11 is particularly thin and can be separated. The end of the tear tape 52 is attached to the handle member 11t. . A synthetic resin film tape 55 having a small friction coefficient is attached to the inside of the surface of the sealing material 54. Furthermore, an elastic seal material 56 is attached to the flat surface 12e at the end opposite to the position where the elastic seal material 54 is attached in the longitudinal direction (FIG. 19).

  The above-described elastic sealing materials 54 and 56 are affixed to the flange 12e in the full width in the short direction at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the flange 12e. The elastic sealing materials 54 and 56 coincide with the flanges 11j at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the concave surface 11k, and further overlap the ridges 12v over the entire width in the short direction of the flanges 11j.

    Further, when the toner frame 11 and the developing frame 12 are coupled, the flange 11j of the toner frame 11 is provided on the developing frame 12 in order to facilitate the alignment of the frames 11 and 12. A round hole 11r and a square hole 11q are provided to be fitted to the cylindrical dowel 12w1 and the square dowel 12w2. Here, the round hole 11r is closely fitted with the dowel 12w1, and the square hole 11q is closely engaged with the dowel 12w2 in the short direction and roughly in the longitudinal direction.

    When the toner frame 11 and the developing frame 12 are combined, the toner frame 11 and the developing frame 12 are independently assembled as structured products. Thereafter, the cylindrical dowels 12w1 and the square dowels 12w2 for positioning the developing frame 12 are fitted into the positioning round holes 11r and the square holes 11q of the toner frame 11, respectively. Further, the protrusions 12v of the developing frame 12 are fitted into the grooves 11n of the toner frame 11, respectively. When the toner frame 11 and the developing frame 12 are pressed against each other, the sealing materials 54 and 56 are compressed in contact with the flanges 11j at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the toner frame 11, and the longitudinal direction of the plane 12u of the developing frame 12 is compressed. The protrusions 12z serving as spacers integrally formed in the short direction on both sides approach the flange 11j of the toner frame 11. Here, the protrusions 12z are provided only on both sides of the tear tape 52 in the width direction (short direction) so as to allow the tear tape 52 to pass therethrough.

  In this state, the toner frame 11 and the developing frame 12 are pressed to apply ultrasonic vibration between the protrusion 12v and the groove 11n, and the triangular protrusion 12v1 is melted by frictional heat to be welded to the bottom of the groove 11n. As a result, the edge 11n1 of the groove 11n of the toner frame 11 and the spacer protrusion 12z of the developing frame 12 are in close contact with the mating member, and the developing frame 12 facing the concave surface 11k of the toner frame 11 is in contact. A space where the peripheral edge is in close contact is formed between the opposing planes 12u. The cover film 51 and the tear tape 52 are stored in this space.

  Further, in order to send out the toner stored in the toner frame 11 to the developing frame 12, the base side of the handle member 11t of the end portion 52a (FIG. 6) of the tear tape 52 protruding to the outside of the process cartridge B is toner. When the operator pulls the handle member 11t by hand after detaching or tearing the frame 11 from the frame 11, the cover film 51 is torn, the opening 11i of the toner frame 11 is opened, and the toner is removed from the toner frame 11. Can be sent to the developing frame 12. The elastic sealing materials 54 and 56 remain flat and have a hexagonal shape, and are deformed so that only the thickness is reduced at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the flange 11j of the toner frame 11, so that the sealing performance is good.

  Since the opposing surfaces of the toner frame 11 and the developing frame 12 are configured in this way, when the force for tearing the cover film 51 is applied to the tear tape 52, the tear tape 52 can be smoothly pulled out between the frames 11, 12.

  Further, when the toner frame 11 and the developing frame 12 are ultrasonically welded, frictional heat is generated, and the triangular protrusion 12v1 is melted by this frictional heat. Due to the frictional heat, the toner frame 11 and the developing frame 12 may be thermally deformed due to thermal stress. However, according to the present embodiment, the groove 11n of the toner frame 11 and the protrusion 12v of the developing frame 12 are fitted over almost the entire range in the longitudinal direction. The periphery of the welded portion is reinforced, and thermal deformation due to thermal stress hardly occurs.

  Examples of materials for forming the toner frame 11 and the developing frame 12 include plastics such as polystyrene, ABS resin acrylonitrile / butadiene / styrene copolymer, polycarbonate, polyethylene, and polypropylene.

  Here, FIG. 3 shows a side sectional view of the toner frame 11 used in the present embodiment. FIG. 3 shows the coupling surface JP where the toner frame 11 is coupled to the developing frame 12 in a substantially vertical direction.

  The toner frame 11 used in the present embodiment will be described in more detail. In order to efficiently drop the one-component toner stored in the toner container 11A in the direction of the opening 11i, two inclined surfaces K and L are provided. Both of the inclined surfaces K and L are provided in the full width of the toner frame 11 in the longitudinal direction. The inclined surface L is disposed above the opening 11i, and the inclined surface K is disposed on the back side of the opening 11i (the lateral direction of the toner frame 11). The slope L is formed in the upper frame 11a, and the slope K is constituted by the lower frame 11b. The inclined surface L is vertical in the state in which the process cartridge B is mounted on the apparatus main body 14 or the surface is downward from the vertical direction. The inclined surface K has an angle θ3 of about 20 degrees to 40 degrees with respect to a line m orthogonal to the joint surface JP of the toner frame body 11 and the developing frame body 12. In other words, in the present embodiment, when the lower frame 11b is coupled to the upper frame 11a, the shape of the upper frame 11a is defined so that the lower frame 11b can be installed at the installation angle. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the toner container 11A containing the toner can efficiently supply the toner toward the opening 11i.

  Next, the developing frame will be described in more detail.

(Development frame)
The developing frame 12 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18. 14 is a perspective view showing a state in which each component is incorporated into the developing device frame 12, FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing a state in which the developing unit drive transmission unit DG is incorporated into the developing device frame 12, and FIG. FIG. 17 is a side view showing the developing unit drive transmission unit DG as viewed from the inside, and FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing the inside of the bearing box.

    As described above, the developing frame 12 incorporates the developing roller 9c, the developing blade 9d, the toner stirring member 9e, and the antenna rod 9h for detecting the remaining amount of toner.

  As shown in FIG. 14, the developing blade 9d has a urethane rubber 9d2 fixed to a sheet metal 9d1 having a thickness of about 1 to 2 mm by hot melt, double-sided adhesive tape, etc., and the urethane rubber 9d2 is in contact with the bus bar of the developing roller 9c. As a result, the amount of toner on the peripheral surface of the developing roller 9c is regulated. A dowel 12i1 (el), a square protrusion 12i3, and a screw hole 12i2 are provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction of a blade abutting flat surface 12i as a blade attachment portion provided in the developing device frame 12. Therefore, the hole 9d3 and the notch 9d5 provided in the sheet metal 9d1 are fitted into the dowel 12i1 and the protrusion 12i3, respectively. Thereafter, the screw hole 9d4 provided in the sheet metal 9d1 is inserted, the machine screw 9d6 is screwed into the female screw 12i2, and the sheet metal 9d1 is fixed to the plane 12i. Note that an elastic seal member 12s such as a malt plane is attached to the developing frame 12 along the upper longitudinal direction of the sheet metal 9d1 in order to prevent leakage of toner to the outside. Further, the elastic seal member 12s1 is attached from both ends of the elastic seal member 12s to the arc surface 12j along the developing roller 9c. Further, a thin elastic seal member 12s2 that is in contact with the bus bar of the developing roller 9c is attached to the lower jaw portion 12h.

  Here, one end of the sheet metal 9d1 of the developing blade 9d is bent at approximately 90 ° to form a bent portion 9d1a.

  Next, the developing roller unit G will be described with reference to FIGS. The developing roller unit G includes (1) a developing roller 9c, and (2) a spacer roller 9i for making the distance between the peripheral surface of the developing roller 9c and the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 7 constant. Sleeve cap that is made of an insulating material and covers both ends of the developing roller 9c so that the aluminum Al cylindrical portion of the photosensitive drum 7 and the aluminum Al cylindrical portion of the developing roller 9c do not leak. Doubles as (3) A developing roller bearing 9j for supporting the developing roller 9c in a rotatable manner and positioning the developing roller 9c on the developing frame 12 (particularly enlarged in FIG. 14) (4) A helical tooth provided on the photosensitive drum 7 A developing roller gear 9k (helical gear) for rotating the developing roller 9c upon receiving driving from the drum gear 7b, and (5) a developing coil spring contact 9l (el) (one end) fitted to one end of the developing roller 9c. 18) and (6) provided inside the developing roller 9c and unitized by a magnet 9g for adhering the toner onto the peripheral surface of the developing roller 9c. In FIG. 14, the bearing box 9v is already attached to the developing roller unit G. However, the developing roller unit G uses the rear bearing box 9v passed to the side plates 12A and 12B of the developing frame 12 as the developing frame 12. Some are coupled to the bearing housing 9v when installed.

  In the developing roller unit G, as shown in FIG. 14, a metal flange 9p is fitted and fixed to one end of the developing roller 9c, and the developing roller gear mounting shaft portion 9p1 projects outward from the flange 9p. The mounting shaft portion 9p1 has a two-sided width portion in the cylindrical portion, and is fitted to the cylindrical portion with the two-sided width portion and is prevented from rotating, and a developing roller gear 9k made of synthetic resin is fitted. The developing roller gear 9k is a helical gear, and when it rotates, the axial thrust is twisted so as to be directed toward the center of the developing roller 9c (see FIG. 38). Through this flange 9p, a D-cut partial circular shaft 9g1 of the magnet 9g protrudes to the outside. One of the circular circular shafts 9g1 is fitted into a developing holder 40 of a drive transmission unit DG, which will be described later, and is supported non-rotatingly. The developing roller bearing 9j described above is provided with a round hole having an anti-rotation projection 9j5 projecting inward, and a C-shaped bearing 9j4 is just fitted into this round hole, and the flange 9p is rotatable on the bearing 9j4. It is mated. The developing roller bearing 9j is fitted into the slit 12f of the developing frame 12, and the protrusion 40f of the developing holder 40 is inserted into the hole 12g of the developing frame 12 and the hole 9j1 of the developing roller bearing 9j, and the developing holder 40 is developed. It is held by fixing to. The bearing 9j4 has a collar, and only the collar portion has a C shape. However, all axial cross sections may have a C shape. The hole into which the bearing 9j1 of the developing roller bearing 9j is fitted is a stepped hole, and the anti-rotation protrusion 9j5 is provided at the large diameter portion into which the collar of the bearing 9j4 is fitted. The bearing 9j and a bearing 9f described later are made of polyacetal, polyamide, or the like.

  Both ends of the magnet 9g through which the hollow cylindrical developing roller 9c is inserted protrude from both ends of the developing roller 9c, and the other circular shaft 9g1 is on the upper side of the drawing provided in the developing roller bearing box 9v shown in FIG. It fits into the invisible D-shaped support hole 9v3. A hollow journal 9w made of an insulating member is fitted and fixed to the inner periphery of the end portion of the developing roller 9c. The reduced diameter cylindrical portion 9w1 integrated with the journal 9w is a developing coil spring contact 9l (el) that is electrically connected to the developing roller 9c. And the magnet 9g are insulated. The flanged bearing 9f is an insulator made of synthetic resin and is fitted into a bearing fitting hole 9v4 concentric with the magnet support hole 9v3. When the key portion 9f1 provided integrally with the bearing 9f is fitted into the key groove 9v5 provided in the bearing fitting hole 9v4, the bearing 9f is prevented from rotating.

  The bearing fitting hole 9v4 described above has a bottom, and an inner side end portion of the hollow disk-shaped developing bias contact 121 is formed on the bottom. When the developing roller 9c is assembled to the developing roller bearing box 9v, a metal developing coil spring contact 9l (el) is contracted and pressed against the developing bias contact 121. The developing bias contact 121 is bent from the outer diameter of the disk-shaped portion, fitted into the axial recess 9v6 of the bearing fitting hole 9v4, and a lead-out portion 121a passing through the outside of the bearing 9f, and a first lead-out portion Following 121a, the second lead-out part 121b fitted into the notch 9v7 at the end of the bearing fitting hole 9v4 and bent, the third lead-out part 121c bent from the second lead-out part 121b, The third lead-out part 121c has a fourth lead-out part 121d bent outward in the radial direction when viewed from the developing roller 9c, and the external contact part 121e is bent in the same direction from the fourth lead-out part 121d. In order to support such a developing bias contact 121, a supporting portion 9v8 protrudes toward the inner side in the longitudinal direction of the developing roller bearing box 9v, and the supporting portion 9v8 includes third and fourth lead-out portions 121c and 121d and an external portion. It contacts the contact part 121e. The second lead-out portion 121b has a stop hole 121f that is press-fitted into a dowel 9v9 that protrudes inward in the longitudinal direction on the back side of the developing roller bearing box 9v. The external contact portion 121e of the developing bias contact 121 comes into contact with a developing bias contact member 125 on the apparatus main body 14 described later when the process cartridge B is mounted on the apparatus main body 14. As a result, a developing bias is applied to the developing roller 9c.

  The developing roller bearing box 9v is fitted into the two cylindrical protrusions 9v1 provided in the developing roller bearing box 9v and the hole 12m provided at one end in the longitudinal direction of the developing frame 12 shown in FIG. Position with respect to the developing frame 12. Further, a small screw (not shown) is inserted into the female screw 12 c of the developing frame body 12 through the screw hole 9 v 2 of the developing roller bearing box 9 v to fix the developing roller bearing box 9 v to the developing frame body 12.

  Thus, in the present embodiment, the developing roller unit G is first assembled when the developing roller 9c is attached to the developing frame 12. Then, the assembled developing roller unit G is attached to the developing frame 12.

    The assembling of the developing roller unit G is performed in the following process. First, a magnet 9g is inserted into a developing roller 9c incorporating a flange 9p, a journal 9w and a developing coil spring contact 9l (el) are attached to one end of the developing roller 9c, a spacer roller 9i is attached to each of both ends, and development is further performed on the outside. Each of the roller bearings 9j is attached. Next, the developing roller gear 9k is attached to the developing roller gear mounting shaft portion 9p1 at one end of the developing roller 9c. Further, a missing circular shaft 9g1 of a magnet 9g having a D-cut at the tip is projected from both ends of the developing roller 9c to which the developing roller gear 9k is attached. In this way, the developing roller unit G is configured.

  Next, the antenna rod 9h for detecting the remaining amount of toner will be described. As shown in FIGS. 14 and 19, the antenna rod 9h has one end bent in a crank shape. The contact portion 9h1 (toner remaining amount detection contact 122) at one end is in contact with and electrically connected to a toner detection contact member 126 described later attached to the apparatus main body 14. To attach the antenna rod 9h to the developing frame 12, first, the tip of the antenna rod 9h is inserted through the through hole 12b provided in the side plate 12B of the developing frame 12. Then, the tip is supported in a hole (not shown) provided on the opposite side surface of the developing device frame 12. Thus, the antenna rod 9h is positioned and supported by the through hole 12b and the hole (not shown). Further, a seal member (not shown) (for example, a synthetic resin ring, felt, sponge, or the like) is inserted into the through hole 12b in order to prevent toner from entering.

  Note that when the developing roller bearing box 9v is attached to the developing frame 12, the arm portion of the crank-shaped contact portion 9h1 prevents the movement of the antenna rod 9h, and the antenna rod 9h moves outward. It is in a position not to escape.

    Here, the side plate 12A of the developing frame 12 on the side where the tip of the antenna rod 9h is inserted is extended to the side surface of the toner frame 11 when the toner frame 11 and the developing frame 12 are joined together, and below the toner. The toner cap 11f is partially covered so as to face the toner cap 11f provided on the frame 11b. Further, as shown in FIG. 16, the side plate 12A is provided with a hole 12x. In this hole 12x, a shaft coupling portion 9s1 (FIG. 15) of the toner feed gear 9s for transmitting a driving force to the toner feed member 9b. ) Is inserted. The toner feed gear 9s is connected to a coupling member 11e (see FIGS. 16 and 20) that engages with an end portion of the toner feed member 9b and is rotatably supported by the toner frame 11, so that the toner feed member A shaft coupling portion 9s1 for transmitting a driving force to 9b is integrally provided.

  As shown in FIG. 19, a toner stirring member 9e is rotatably supported on the developing device frame 12 in parallel with the antenna rod 9h. The toner agitating member 9e has a crank shape, and one journal is fitted in a bearing hole (not shown) of the side plate 12B, and the other journal integrally has a shaft portion rotatably supported by the side plate 12A shown in FIG. While being fitted into the toner stirring gear 9m, the crank arm is hooked on the notch of the shaft portion to transmit the rotation of the stirring gear 9m to the toner stirring member 9e.

  Next, transmission of driving force to the developing unit D will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 15, the support hole 40a of the developing holder 40 is fitted into the cut-out circular shaft 9g1 of the D-cut magnet 9g and is supported non-rotatingly. When the developing holder 40 is attached to the developing device frame 12, the developing roller gear 9k meshes with the gear 9q of the gear train GT, and the toner stirring gear 9m meshes with the small gear 9s2. As a result, the toner feeding gear 9s and the toner stirring gear 9m can receive driving force from the developing roller gear 9k.

  All the gears from the gear 9q to the toner feed gear 9s are idler gears. A gear 9q meshing with the developing roller gear 9k and a small gear 9q1 integrated with the gear 9q are rotatably supported by a dowel 40b integrated with the developing holder 40. The large gear 9r meshed with the small gear 9q1 and the small gear 9r1 integrated with the gear 9r are rotatably supported by a dowel 40c integrated with the developing holder 40. The small gear 9r1 meshes with the toner feed gear 9s. The toner feeding gear 9s is rotatably supported by a dowel 40d provided integrally with the developing holder 40. The toner feed gear 9s has a shaft coupling portion 9s1. The small gear 9s2 meshes with the toner feed gear 9s. The small gear 9s2 is rotatably supported by a dowel 40e provided integrally with the developing holder 40. The dowels 40b, 40c, 40d, and 40e have a diameter of about 5 to 6 mm and support each gear of the gear train GT.

  By adopting the above configuration, the gears constituting the gear train can be supported by the same member (developing holder 40 in the present embodiment). Therefore, regarding the assembly, the gear train GT can be partially assembled in the developing holder 40, and the assembly process can be dispersed and simplified. In other words, the antenna rod 9h and the toner stirring member 9e are assembled to the developing frame 12, and the developing roller unit G is assembled to the developing unit drive transmission unit DG and the gear box 9v is assembled to the developing frame 12 at the same time. Complete D.

  In FIG. 19, 12 p is an opening, which is provided along the longitudinal direction of the developing frame 12. The opening 12p faces the opening 11i of the toner frame 11 in a state where the toner frame 11 and the developing frame 12 are coupled. The toner contained in the toner frame 11 can be supplied to the developing roller 9c. Further, the stirring member 9e and the antenna rod 9h are attached along the full width in the longitudinal direction of the opening 12p.

  The material forming the developing frame 12 is the same as the material of the toner frame 11 described above.

(Configuration of electrical contacts)
Next, when the process cartridge B is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body 14, the connection and arrangement of contacts for electrically connecting the process cartridge B will be described with reference to FIGS. 8, 9, 11, 23, and 30. I will explain.

  The process cartridge B is provided with a plurality of electrical contacts as shown in FIG. That is, (1) In order to ground the photosensitive drum 7 to the apparatus main body 14, a cylindrical guide 13aL (conductive ground contact will be described as a conductive ground contact electrically connected to the photosensitive drum 7. (2) Conductive charging bias contact 120 electrically connected to the charging roller shaft 8a in order to apply a charging bias from the apparatus body 14 to the charging roller 8, and (3) the developing roller 9c. In order to apply a developing bias from the apparatus main body 14, a conductive developing bias contact 121 electrically connected to the developing roller 9c, and (4) electrically connected to the antenna rod 9h to detect the remaining amount of toner. The four contacts of the conductive toner remaining amount detection contact 122 are provided so as to be exposed from the side surface and the bottom surface of the cartridge frame. The four contacts 119 to 122 are all provided on the left side surface and the bottom surface of the cartridge frame as viewed from the mounting direction of the process cartridge B with a distance from which the contacts do not leak electrically. The ground contact 119 and the charging bias contact 120 are provided in the cleaning unit C, and the development bias contact 121 and the toner remaining amount detection contact 122 are provided on the developing frame 12. The toner remaining amount detection contact 122 also serves as a process cartridge presence / absence detection contact for causing the apparatus main body 14 to detect that the process cartridge B is mounted on the apparatus main body 14.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the ground contact 119 is provided integrally with the flange 29 made of a conductive material, as described above, and the drum shaft 7a integrated with the flange 29 is provided coaxially with the ground contact member 119. The shaft 7a is brought into pressure contact with a ground plate 7f connected to the drum cylinder 7d and led to the outside. In the present embodiment, the flange 29 is made of metal such as iron. Further, the other charging bias contact 120 and development bias contact 121 are provided with a conductive metal plate (for example, stainless steel, phosphor bronze) having a thickness of about 0.1 mm to 0.3 mm from inside the process cartridge. The charging bias contact 120 is exposed from the bottom surface on the counter driving side of the cleaning unit C, and the developing bias contact 121 and the toner remaining amount detection contact 122 are provided to be exposed from the bottom surface on the counter driving side of the developing unit D.

  Further details will be described.

  As described above, in this embodiment, a helical drum gear 7b is provided at one end in the axial direction of the photosensitive drum 7 as shown in FIG. The drum gear 7b meshes with the developing roller gear 9k and rotates the developing roller 9c. The drum gear 7b generates a thrust force (in the direction of the arrow d shown in FIG. 11) when rotating, and the drum gear 7b has a play in the longitudinal direction and is provided on the cleaning frame 13 with the drum gear 7b. A reaction force is applied in the direction of the arrow d by urging to the provided side and pressing the drum shaft 7a by the ground plate 7f fixed to the spur gear 7n. Then, the side end 7b1 of the drum gear 7b abuts against the inner end surface 38b of the bearing 38 fixed to the cleaning frame 13. As a result, the position of the photosensitive drum 7 in the axial direction is defined inside the process cartridge B. The ground contact 119 is provided to be exposed at one end 13 k of the cleaning frame 13. The drum shaft 7a enters the center of a drum cylinder 7d (made of aluminum in the present embodiment) covered with the photosensitive layer 7e. The drum cylinder 7d and the drum shaft 7a are electrically connected by a ground plate 7f that contacts the inner surface 7d1 of the drum cylinder 7d and the end surface 7a1 of the drum shaft 7a.

  The charging bias contact 120 is provided in the vicinity of the portion of the cleaning frame 13 that supports the charging roller 8 (see FIG. 8). As shown in FIG. 23, the charging bias contact 120 is electrically connected to the shaft 8a of the charging roller 8 through a composite spring 8b that is in contact with the charging roller shaft 8a. The composite spring 8b is located at one end of the guide groove 13g and a charging roller bearing 8c that slides in a guide groove 13g on a line connecting the center of the charging roller 8 and the photosensitive drum 7 provided on the cleaning frame 13. An internal contact 8b2 that presses against the charging roller shaft 8a from the spring seat side winding portion of the compression coil spring portion 8b1 of the composite spring 8b that is compressed between the spring seats 120b is provided. As shown in FIG. 23, the charging bias contact 120 enters the cleaning frame 13 from the externally exposed portion 120a and is bent so as to cross the moving direction of the charging roller shaft 8a on one end side of the charging roller 8. The seat 120b is terminated.

  Next, the development bias contact 121 and the toner remaining amount detection contact 122 will be described. These two contacts 121 and 122 are provided on the bottom surface of the developing unit D provided on the same side as the one end 13k of the cleaning frame 13. The third lead-out portion of the developing bias contact 121, that is, the external contact portion 121e is disposed on the opposite side of the charging bias contact 120 with the spur gear 7n interposed therebetween. As described above, the developing bias contact 121 is electrically connected to the developing roller 9c via the developing coil spring contact 9l (el) which is electrically connected to the side end of the developing roller 9c (FIG. 18). reference).

  FIG. 38 schematically shows the relationship between the thrust generated in the drum gear 7 b and the developing roller gear 9 k and the developing bias contact 121. As already described, the photosensitive drum 7 is moved in the direction of the arrow d in FIG. 38 by driving, and the end surface on the drum gear 7b side rotates in contact with the end surface of the bearing 38 (see FIG. 32) not shown in FIG. The longitudinal position of the photosensitive drum 7 is constant. On the other hand, the developing roller gear 9k meshing with the drum gear 7b receives thrust in the direction of arrow e opposite to the arrow d, presses the developing coil spring contact 9l (el) pressing the developing bias contact 121, and the developing roller 9c and developing roller The pressing force in the direction of arrow f by the developing coil spring contact 9l acting between the bearing 9j is reduced. This ensures the contact between the developing coil spring contact 9l and the developing bias contact 121, reduces the frictional resistance between the end face of the developing roller 9c and the end face of the developing roller bearing 9j, and makes the developing roller 9c rotate smoothly.

  Further, the remaining toner detection contact 122 shown in FIG. 8 is provided to be exposed from the developing device frame 12 on the upstream side of the developing bias contact 121 with respect to the cartridge mounting direction (the arrow X direction in FIG. 9). 19, the toner remaining amount detection contact 122 is a conductive material provided on the developing frame 12 along the longitudinal direction of the developing roller 9c on the toner frame 11 side of the developing roller 9c. For example, it is part of a metal wire antenna rod 9h. As described above, the antenna rod 9h is provided at a position separated from the developing roller 9c by a certain distance over the entire length in the longitudinal direction of the developing roller 9c. When the process cartridge B is attached to the apparatus main body 14, it comes into contact with the toner detection contact member 126 on the apparatus main body 14 side. The electrostatic capacity between the antenna rod 9h and the developing roller 9c changes depending on the amount of toner existing between them. Thus, the remaining amount of toner is detected by detecting this change in capacitance as a potential difference change by a control unit (not shown) electrically connected to the toner detection contact member 126 of the apparatus main body 14. is there.

  Here, the toner remaining amount is a toner amount in which a toner amount existing between the developing roller 9c and the antenna rod 9h generates a predetermined electrostatic capacity. Thus, it can be detected that the remaining amount of toner in the toner container 11A has reached a predetermined amount. Accordingly, the controller provided in the apparatus main body 14 detects that the electrostatic capacity has reached the first predetermined value via the toner remaining amount detection contact 122, and the remaining amount of toner in the toner container 11A is reduced. It is determined that the predetermined amount has been reached. When the apparatus body 14 detects that the capacitance has reached the first predetermined value, the apparatus body 14 notifies the replacement of the process cartridge B (for example, blinking of a lamp, generation of sound by a buzzer). Further, the control unit detects that the process cartridge B is mounted on the apparatus main body 14 by detecting a second predetermined value in which the capacitance is smaller than the first predetermined value. The control unit does not start the image forming operation of the apparatus main body 14 unless it detects that the process cartridge B is mounted. That is, the image forming operation of the apparatus main body 14 is not started.

  Note that notification that the process cartridge is not installed may be performed (for example, blinking of a lamp, etc.).

  Next, the connection between the contact provided on the process cartridge B and the contact member provided on the apparatus main body 14 will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 9, on the inner surface of one side of the cartridge mounting space S of the image forming apparatus A, when the process cartridge B is mounted, four contacts 119 to 122 can be connected. Contact member (ground contact member 123 electrically connected to ground contact 119, charging contact member 124 electrically connected to charging bias contact 120, development bias contact member 125 electrically connected to development bias contact 121, toner remaining A toner detection contact member 126) electrically connected to the amount detection contact 122 is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the ground contact member 123 is provided at the bottom of the positioning groove 16b. Further, the developing bias contact member 125, the toner detection contact member 126, and the charging contact member 124 are disposed below the guide portion 16a and outside the guide portion 16a and below the wall surface on one side of the cartridge mounting space S near the guide portion 16a. It is provided elastically.

  Here, the positional relationship between each contact and the guide will be described.

  First, in FIG. 6 in which the process cartridge B is substantially horizontal, in the vertical direction, the toner remaining amount detecting contact 122 is at the lowest position, the developing bias contact 121 is above, the charging bias contact 120 is above, and the same is above the same. A detent guide 13bL and a cylindrical guide 13aL (ground contact 119) are arranged at a height. Further, in the cartridge mounting direction (arrow X direction), the toner remaining amount detection contact 122 is most upstream, the non-rotating guide 13bL and the developing bias contact 121 are downstream, then the cylindrical guide 13aL (earth contact 119) is downstream thereof. A charging bias contact 120 is disposed downstream. With this arrangement, the charging bias contact 120 approaches the charging roller 8, the developing bias contact 121 approaches the developing roller 9c, the remaining toner detection contact 122 approaches the antenna rod 9h, and the ground contact 119 is photosensitive. The body drum 7 can be approached. By doing so, it is possible to eliminate the winding of the electrodes on the process cartridge B side and the image forming apparatus main body 14 and shorten the distance between the contacts.

  Here, the size of the contact portion of each contact with the contact member is as follows. First, the charging bias contact 120 is about 10.0 mm in length and width, the development bias contact 121 is about 6.5 mm in length and about 7.5 mm in width, and the toner remaining amount detection contact 122 is 2 mm in diameter and about horizontal length. 18.0 mm and the ground contact 119 are circular and have an outer diameter of about 10.0 mm. The charging bias contact 120 and the development bias contact 121 are rectangular. Here, the vertical direction of the contact is a direction according to the mounting direction X of the process cartridge B, and the horizontal direction is a horizontal direction perpendicular to the direction X.

  The ground contact member 123 is a conductive leaf spring member, and the ground contact member 123 is mounted in the positioning groove 16b into which the ground contact 119 on the process cartridge side, that is, the cylindrical guide 13aL (the drum shaft 7a is positioned) is fitted. (Refer to FIGS. 9, 11, and 30), and this is grounded via the apparatus main body chassis. The toner remaining amount detecting contact member 126 is a conductive leaf spring member provided near the guide portion 16a below the guide portion 16a. Further, the other contact members 124 and 125 are provided below the guide portion 16a and beside the guide 16a, and are respectively attached to the holder 127 so as to protrude upward from a compression coil spring 129. This will be described by taking the charging contact member 124 as an example. As shown in an enlarged view in a part of FIG. 30, the charging contact member 124 is attached in the holder 127 so as not to fall off and to protrude upward. The holder 127 is fixed to an electric board 128 attached to the apparatus main body 14, and each contact member and the wiring pattern are electrically connected by a conductive compression spring 129.

  When the process cartridge B is inserted into the image forming apparatus A and guided and mounted by the guide portion 16a, the contact members 123 to 126 are projected by spring force before reaching the predetermined mounting position. is there. At this time, each contact 119 to 122 of the process cartridge is not in contact with each contact member. When the process cartridge B is further inserted, the contact members 119 to 122 of the process cartridge B come into contact with the contact members 123 to 126, and the process advances slightly further so that the cylindrical guide 13aL of the process cartridge B is fitted into the positioning groove 16b. As a result, the contacts 119 to 122 retreat the contact members 123 to 126 against these elastic forces, respectively, thereby increasing the contact pressure.

  As described above, in this embodiment, when the process cartridge B is guided by the guide member 16 and mounted at a predetermined mounting position, the respective contacts are securely connected to the respective contact members.

  When the process cartridge B is mounted at a predetermined position, the ground contact member 123 comes into contact with the ground contact 119 protruding from the cylindrical guide 13aL (see FIG. 11). Here, when the process cartridge B is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body 14, the ground contact 119 and the ground contact member 123 are electrically connected to ground the photosensitive drum 7. Further, the charging bias contact 120 and the charging contact member 124 are electrically connected, and a high voltage (superimposition of AC voltage and DC voltage) is applied to the charging roller 8. Further, the developing bias contact 121 and the developing bias contact member 125 are electrically connected, and a high voltage is applied to the developing roller 9c. Further, the remaining toner detection contact 122 and the toner detection contact member 126 are electrically connected, and information corresponding to the electrostatic capacity between the contact 122 and the developing roller 9c is transmitted to the apparatus main body 14.

  Further, since the contacts 119 to 122 of the process cartridge B are provided on the bottom surface side of the process cartridge B as in the present embodiment, the position accuracy in the horizontal direction with respect to the mounting direction arrow X of the process cartridge B is not affected.

  Further, since all the contacts of the process cartridge B are arranged on one side of the cartridge frame as in the above-described embodiment, the mechanical mechanism members and the electrical wiring related members for the image forming apparatus main body 14 and the process cartridge B are connected to the cartridge. The mounting space S and the process cartridge B can be divided and arranged on both sides, so that the number of assembling steps can be reduced and maintenance and inspection can be facilitated.

  When the process cartridge B is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body 14, as will be described later, the process cartridge side coupling device and the main body side coupling are coupled in conjunction with the closing operation of the opening / closing member 35. And the like can be rotated by receiving a drive from the apparatus main body 14.

  As described above, since the plurality of electrical contacts provided on the process cartridge are all disposed on one side of the cartridge frame, electrical connection with the image forming apparatus main body can be stably performed.

  Alternatively, by arranging each contact as in the above-described embodiment, it is possible to shorten the winding of the electrode in the cartridge of each contact.

(Coupling and drive configuration)
Next, the configuration of a coupling unit that is a driving force transmission mechanism that transmits a driving force from the image forming apparatus body 14 to the process cartridge B will be described.

  FIG. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view of the coupling portion showing a state in which the photosensitive drum 7 is attached to the process cartridge B. FIG.

  Now, as shown in FIG. 11, cartridge side coupling means is provided at one longitudinal end of the photosensitive drum 7 attached to the process cartridge B. This coupling means is provided with a coupling convex shaft 37 (columnar shape) provided on a drum flange 36 fixed to one end portion of the photosensitive drum 7, and a convex portion 37 a is formed on the tip surface of the convex shaft 37. It is. The end surface of the convex portion 37 a is parallel to the end surface of the convex shaft 37. The convex shaft 37 is fitted into a bearing 38 and functions as a drum rotation shaft. In this embodiment, the drum flange 36, the coupling convex shaft 37, and the convex portion 37a are provided integrally. The drum flange 36 is integrally provided with a helical drum gear 7b for transmitting a driving force to the developing roller 9c in the process cartridge B. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 11, the drum flange 36 is an integrally molded product having a drum gear 7b, a convex shaft 37, and a convex portion 37a, and is a driving force transmission component having a function of transmitting a driving force.

  The shape of the convex portion 37a is a twisted polygonal column, specifically, a column having a substantially equilateral triangular cross section, and is gradually twisted in the rotation direction in the axial direction. The concave portion 39a fitted to the convex portion 37a is a hole having a polygonal cross section and slightly twisted in the axial direction and slightly twisted in the rotational direction. The convex portion 37a and the concave portion 39a have substantially the same twist pitch and are twisted in the same direction. The recess 39a has a substantially triangular cross section. And this recessed part 39a is provided in the coupling concave shaft 39b integral with the gear 43 provided in the apparatus main body 14. FIG. The coupling concave shaft 39b is provided in the apparatus main body 14 so as to be rotatable and axially movable as will be described later. Therefore, in the configuration of the present embodiment, the process cartridge B is mounted on the apparatus main body 14, the convex portion 37a and the concave portion 39a provided in the main body 14 are fitted, and the rotational force of the concave portion 39a is convex. When transmitted to the portion 37a, each ridge line of the convex portion 37a of the substantially regular triangular prism and the inner surface of the concave portion 39a are in contact with each other, so that the axes coincide with each other. For this reason, the diameter of the circumscribed circle of the coupling convex portion 37a is made larger than the inscribed circle of the coupling concave portion 39a and smaller than the circumscribed circle of the coupling concave portion 39a. Further, due to the twisted shape, a force acts in a direction in which the concave portion 39a pulls the convex portion 37a, and the convex portion end surface 37a1 contacts the bottom 39a1 of the concave portion 39a. Therefore, since the thrust generated in the coupling portion and the drum gear 7b works in the same direction as indicated by the arrow d, the photosensitive drum 7 integrated with the convex portion 37a is moved in the axial direction within the image forming apparatus main body 14. The position and the position in the radial direction are determined stably.

  In this embodiment, as viewed from the photosensitive drum 7, the twisting direction of the convex portion 37a is opposite to the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 7, from the root of the convex portion 37a to the tip, or The twisting direction of the recess 39a is opposite to the inside from the inlet of the recess 39a, and the twisting direction of the drum gear 7b of the drum flange 36 is opposite to the twisting direction of the protrusion 37a.

  Here, the convex shaft 37 and the convex portion 37 a are arranged such that the drum flange 36 is positioned coaxially with the axis of the photosensitive drum 7 when the drum flange 36 is attached to one end of the photosensitive drum 7. Is provided. Reference numeral 36b denotes a fitting portion that is fitted to the inner surface of the drum cylinder 7d when the drum flange 36 is attached to the photosensitive drum 7. The drum flange 36 is attached to the photosensitive drum 7 by “caulking” or “adhesion”. The drum cylinder 7d is covered with a photosensitive layer 7e.

  As already described, the spur gear 7n is fixed to the other end of the photosensitive drum 7.

  The drum flange 36 and the spur gear 7n are made of a resin material such as polyacetal, polycarbonate, polyamide, and polybutylene terephthalate. However, other materials may be appropriately selected and used.

  In addition, a cylindrical convex portion 38a (cylindrical guide 13aR) concentric with the convex shaft 37 is integrated with a bearing 38 fixed to the cleaning frame 13 around the convex portion 37a of the coupling convex shaft 37 of the process cartridge B. (See FIG. 12). The convex portion 38a protects the convex portion 37a of the coupling convex shaft 37 from being damaged or deformed by an external force when the process cartridge B is attached or detached. Therefore, the projection 37a can be damaged to prevent rattling and vibration during the coupling drive.

  Further, the bearing 38 can also serve as a guide member when the process cartridge B is attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body 14. That is, when the process cartridge B is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body 14, the convex portion 38a of the bearing 38 abuts on the main body side guide portion 16c, and the convex portion 38a mounts the process cartridge B at the mounting position. Functions as a positioning guide 13aR, and facilitates attachment / detachment of the process cartridge B to / from the apparatus main body 14. Further, when the process cartridge B is mounted at the mounting position, the convex portion 38a is supported by the positioning groove 16d provided in the guide portion 16c.

  Further, there is a relationship as shown in FIG. 11 between the photosensitive drum 7, the drum flange 36, and the coupling convex shaft 37. That is, the outer diameter of the photosensitive drum 7 = H, the root diameter of the drum gear 7b = E, the bearing diameter of the photosensitive drum 7 (the outer diameter of the shaft coupling convex shaft 37, the inner diameter of the bearing 38) = F, the cup When the circumscribed circle diameter of the ring convex portion 37a = M and the fitting portion diameter (drum inner diameter) = N with the drum flange 36 of the photosensitive drum 7, there are relationships of H> F ≧ M and E> N.

  When H> F, the sliding load torque at the bearing portion can be reduced as compared with the case where the drum cylinder 7d is supported. However, since there is no undercut part, the mold configuration can be simplified.

  Furthermore, since the shape of the gear portion is provided on the left mold as viewed from the mounting direction of the process cartridge B due to the relationship of E> N, the right mold is simplified and the durability of the mold is improved. There is.

  On the other hand, the image forming apparatus main body 14 is provided with main body coupling means. In this main body coupling means, a coupling concave shaft 39b (cylindrical shape) is disposed at a position coinciding with the photosensitive drum rotation axis when the process cartridge B is inserted (see FIGS. 11 and 25). As shown in FIG. 11, the coupling concave shaft 39 b is a driving shaft integrated with a large gear 43 that transmits the driving force of the motor 61 to the photosensitive drum 7. (The concave shaft 39b is the center of rotation of the large gear 43 and is provided so as to protrude from the side end of the large gear 43 (see FIGS. 25 and 26)). In the present embodiment, the large gear 43 and the coupling concave shaft 39b are formed by integral molding.

  The large gear 43 on the apparatus main body 14 side is a helical gear, and this helical gear is fixed to the shaft 61a of the motor 61 or meshed with a small helical gear 62 provided integrally therewith. In addition, when the driving force is transmitted from the small gear 62, it has teeth with a twist direction and an inclination angle that generate a thrust force that moves the concave shaft 39b in the direction of the convex shaft 37. Thus, when the motor 61 is driven during image formation, the concave shaft 39b is moved in the direction of the convex shaft 37 by the thrust, and the concave portion 39a and the convex portion 37a are engaged. The concave portion 39a is provided at the tip of the concave shaft 39b and at the rotation center of the concave shaft 39b.

  In this embodiment, the driving force is directly transmitted from the small gear 62 provided on the motor shaft 61a to the large gear 43. However, the gear train is used for deceleration and driving transmission, or the belt and pulley, friction. A roller pair, a timing belt and a pulley may be used.

  Next, a configuration for fitting the concave portion 39a and the convex portion 37a in conjunction with the closing operation of the opening / closing member 35 will be described with reference to FIGS. 24 and 27 to 29. FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 29, a side plate 67 is fixedly provided with a side plate 66 and a large gear 43 provided between the apparatus main body 14, and a cup integrally provided at the center of the large gear 43 on these side plates 66 and 67. The ring concave shaft 39b is rotatably supported. An outer cam 63 and an inner cam 64 are closely inserted between the large gear 43 and the side plate 66. The inner cam 64 is fixed to the side plate 66, and the outer cam 63 is rotatably fitted to the coupling concave shaft 39b. The opposing surfaces in the axial direction of the outer cam 63 and the inner cam 64 are cam surfaces, and the cam surfaces are screw surfaces that contact each other around the coupling concave shaft 39b. A compression coil spring 68 is compressed between the large gear 43 and the side plate 67 and inserted into the coupling concave shaft 39b.

    As shown in FIG. 27, an arm 63a is provided in the radial direction from the outer periphery of the outer cam 63. The opening and closing member 35 is closed from the tip of the arm 63a and the fulcrum 35a of the opening and closing member 35. The position of the end of the opening / closing member 35 in the radial direction opposite to the end on the open side is coupled to one end of one link 65 by a pin 65a. The other end of the link 65 is coupled to the tip of the arm 63a by a pin 65b.

  FIG. 28 is a right side view of FIG. 27. When the opening / closing member 35 is closed, the link 65, the outer cam 63, etc. are in the positions shown in the figure, and the coupling convex portion 37a and the concave portion 39a are engaged with each other. The driving force 43 can be transmitted to the photosensitive drum 7. When the opening / closing member 35 is opened, the pin 65a is turned up around the fulcrum 35a, the arm 63a is pulled up via the link 65, the outer cam 63 rotates, and the outer cam 63 and the inner cam 64 face each other. The cam surface slides and the large gear 43 moves away from the photosensitive drum 7. At this time, the large gear 43 is pushed by the outer cam 63 and moves while pushing the compression coil spring 68 attached between the side plate 67 and the large gear 39, and the coupling recess 39a is moved to the cup as shown in FIG. The coupling is released away from the ring protrusion 37a, and the process cartridge B is in a removable state.

  Conversely, when the opening / closing member 35 is closed, the pin 65a connecting the opening / closing member 35 and the link 65 rotates around the fulcrum 35a and descends, the link 65 moves downward and pushes down the arm 63a. By rotating reversely and being pushed by the spring 68, the large gear 43 moves left from FIG. 29 to reach the position of FIG. 28, the large gear 43 is set again to the position of FIG. 28, and the coupling recess 39a is coupled. It fits into the convex part 37a and returns to a state where drive transmission is possible. By adopting such a configuration, it becomes possible to put the process cartridge B into a detachable and driveable state according to the opening / closing of the opening / closing member 35. When the opening / closing member 35 is closed, the outer cam 63 rotates in the reverse direction, and the large gear 43 moves leftward from FIG. 29, and the coupling concave shaft 39b and the end surface of the coupling convex shaft 37 come into contact with each other to cause the coupling convex portion 37a. Even if the coupling recess 39a does not mesh, the image forming apparatus A meshes immediately after the start-up as described later.

  Thus, in the present embodiment, when the process cartridge B is attached to or detached from the apparatus main body 14, the opening / closing member 35 is opened. Then, in conjunction with opening / closing of the opening / closing member 35, the coupling recess 39a moves in the horizontal direction (direction of arrow j). Therefore, when the process cartridge B is attached to and detached from the apparatus main body 14, the coupling (37a, 39a) between the process cartridge B and the apparatus main body 14 is not connected. They are not connected. Therefore, the process cartridge B can be smoothly attached to and detached from the apparatus main body 14. In the present embodiment, the coupling recess 39 a is pressed toward the process cartridge B by pressing the large gear 43 by the compression coil spring 68. Therefore, when the coupling convex portion 37a and the concave portion 39a mesh with each other, even if the coupling convex portion 37a and the concave portion 39a collide with each other and do not mesh well, the motor 61 rotates for the first time after the process cartridge B is mounted on the apparatus main body 14. As a result of the rotation of the coupling recess 39a, the two mesh instantly.

  Next, the shape of the convex part 37a and the concave part 39a which are engaging parts of the coupling means will be described.

  The coupling concave shaft 39b provided in the apparatus main body 14 can be moved in the axial direction as described above, but is attached so as not to move in the radial direction (radial direction). On the other hand, the process cartridge B is mounted on the apparatus main body 14 so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction and the X direction (see FIG. 9) of the cartridge mounting direction. In the longitudinal direction, the process cartridge B is allowed to move slightly between the guide members 16R and 16L provided in the cartridge mounting space S.

  That is, when the process cartridge B is mounted on the apparatus main body 14, the cylindrical guide 13aL (see FIGS. 6, 7, and 9) formed on the flange 29 attached to the other longitudinal end of the cleaning frame 13 is the apparatus main body. 14 is a gear (not shown) that enters the positioning groove 16b (see FIG. 9) and is fitted and positioned without a gap, and a spur gear 7n fixed to the photosensitive drum 7 transmits a driving force to the transfer roller 4. Mesh. On the other hand, on one end side (drive side) of the photosensitive drum 7 in the longitudinal direction, a cylindrical guide 13aR provided in the cleaning frame 13 is supported by a positioning groove 16d provided in the apparatus main body 14.

  The cylindrical guide 13aR is supported by the positioning groove 16d of the apparatus main body 14, whereby the rotation shaft centers of the drum shaft 7a and the concave shaft 39b are supported within the concentricity φ2.00 mm, and the first in the coupling coupling process. The alignment operation is completed.

    When the opening / closing member 35 is closed, the coupling recess 39a moves horizontally and enters the projection 37a (see FIG. 28).

  Next, positioning and drive transmission are performed on the drive side (coupling side) as follows.

  First, when the drive motor 61 of the apparatus main body 14 rotates, the coupling concave shaft 39b moves in the direction of the coupling convex shaft 37 (the direction opposite to the arrow d in FIG. 11), and the phase of the coupling convex portion 37a and the concave portion 39a is shifted. At a certain point (in this embodiment, since the convex portion 37a and the concave portion 39a are substantially equilateral triangles, the phases of both are engaged every 120 °), the two are engaged and rotated from the apparatus main body 14 to the process cartridge B. Force is transmitted (from the state shown in FIG. 29 to the state shown in FIG. 28).

  In this coupling engagement, when the coupling convex portion 37a enters the concave portion 39a, there is a difference in the size of the substantially equilateral triangle, that is, the hole of the coupling concave portion 39a having a substantially equilateral triangle is the coupling convex portion. Since it is larger than the substantially equilateral triangle of 37a, it enters smoothly with a gap.

However, if the gap is increased with respect to the triangular shape of the concave portion 39, (1) the rigidity is lowered due to the change in the cross-sectional shape of the convex portion 37a.
(2) Increase in drag at the contact point due to a decrease in contact point radius.
Due to the above (1) and (2), the torsional rigidity of the coupling is lowered, which causes image unevenness and the like.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, the lower limit value of the inscribed circle diameter of the convex triangle is set to φ8.0 mm from the required torsional rigidity, and the inscribed circle diameter of the φ8.5 mm concave triangle is set to φ9.5 mm and the clearance is set to be 0.0 mm. It was 5 mm.

  On the other hand, in order to fit a pair of couplings with a small gap, it is necessary to maintain their concentricity before fitting.

    Therefore, in this embodiment, in order to maintain the concentricity φ1.0 mm necessary to guide the fitting with respect to the gap 0.5 mm, the protruding amount of the cylindrical bearing convex portion 38 is set to the coupling convex portion. Coupling of the convex portion 37 and the concave shaft 39a is performed by guiding the outer diameter portion of the concave shaft 39a with a plurality of projection-shaped guides 13aR4 provided in the bearing convex portion 38a. The concentricity before fitting is maintained at φ1.0 mm or less and the coupling fitting process is stabilized (second alignment action).

  When the coupling concave shaft 39b rotates with the coupling convex portion 37a entering the concave portion 39a during image formation, the inner surface of the coupling concave portion 39a and the three ridge lines of the substantially equilateral triangular column of the convex portion 37a are in contact with each other. The driving force is transmitted in contact. At this time, the coupling convex shaft 37 is instantaneously moved so as to coincide with the center of the concave shaft 39b so that the inner surface of the coupling concave portion 39a having a regular polygon shape and the ridge line of the convex portion 37a both come into contact with each other equally.

  With the above configuration, the coupling convex shaft 37 and the concave shaft 39b are automatically aligned when the motor 61 is driven. Further, when the driving force is transmitted to the photosensitive drum 7, a rotational force is generated in the process cartridge B, and a restricting contact portion 13j (FIG. 4, FIG. 4) provided on the upper surface of the cleaning frame body 13 of the process cartridge B by this rotational force. 5, 6, 7, and 30) increases the abutting force to the fixing member 25 (see FIGS. 9, 10, and 30) fixed to the image forming apparatus main body 14, and the image forming apparatus main body 14 The position of the process cartridge B with respect to is determined.

  In addition, when not driven (non-image formation), a gap is provided in the radial direction between the coupling convex portion 37a and the concave portion 39a, so that the couplings can be easily engaged and disengaged. Further, since the abutting force at the coupling engaging portion described above is stabilized during driving, rattling and vibration at this portion can be suppressed.

  In the present embodiment, the shape of the coupling convex portion and the concave portion is a substantially regular triangle, but it goes without saying that the same effect can be obtained if it is a substantially regular polygonal shape. In addition, positioning can be performed more accurately if it is a substantially regular polygonal shape, but may be a polygonal shape or the like as long as it is a shape that can be pulled and engaged without being limited thereto. Furthermore, a male screw having a large lead may be adopted as the coupling convex portion, and a female screw screwed into the male screw may be used as the coupling concave portion. In this case, a modified example of the triple triangular screw corresponds to the above-described coupling convex portion and concave portion.

  Furthermore, when the coupling convex part is compared with the concave part, the convex part is easily damaged in shape and inferior to the concave part in terms of strength. For this reason, in the present embodiment, a coupling convex portion is provided in the replaceable process cartridge B, and a coupling concave portion is provided in the image forming apparatus main body 14 that is required to have higher durability.

  FIG. 33 is a perspective view showing in detail the attachment relationship between the right guide member 13R and the cleaning frame 13, FIG. 34 is a longitudinal sectional view of the right guide member 13R attached to the cleaning frame 13, and FIG. It is a figure which shows a part of right side of this. FIG. 35 is a side view showing an outline of a mounting portion of the bearing 38 formed integrally with the right guide member 13R.

  The mounting of the right guide member 13R (38) with the bearing 38 integrated on the cleaning frame 13 shown schematically in FIG. 11 and the mounting of the unitized photosensitive drum 7 on the cleaning frame 13 are specifically described. I will explain it.

  As shown in FIGS. 33 and 34, a bearing 38 having a small diameter and being concentric with the cylindrical guide 13aR is integrally provided on the back surface of the right guide member 13R. The bearing 38 is connected to the end portion of the cylindrical bearing 38 by a disk member 13aR3 at an intermediate portion in the axial direction (longitudinal direction) of the cylindrical guide 38aR. A circular groove 38aR4 is formed between the bearing 38 and the cylindrical guide 13aR on the side of the cleaning frame 13 when viewed from the inside of the cleaning frame 13.

  As shown in FIGS. 33 and 35, a side surface of the cleaning frame 13 is provided with a bearing mounting hole 13h having a notch cylindrical shape, and the notch circle part 13h1 has a facing interval smaller than the diameter of the bearing mounting hole 13h. The interval is larger than the diameter of the coupling protrusion shaft 37. Further, since the coupling projecting shaft 37 is fitted to the bearing 38, it is spaced from the bearing mounting hole 13h. Positioning pins 13h2 that are integrally formed on the side surface of the cleaning frame 13 are closely fitted to the flange 13aR1 of the guide member 13R. As a result, the unitized photosensitive drum 7 can be attached to the cleaning frame 13 from the cross direction in the axial direction (longitudinal direction), and the right guide member 13R can be attached to the cleaning frame 13 from the longitudinal direction. The position of the right guide member 13R relative to the cleaning frame 13 is accurately determined.

  In order to attach the unitized photosensitive drum 7 to the cleaning frame 13, the photosensitive drum 7 is moved in the cross direction in the longitudinal direction as shown in FIG. 33 so that the drum gear 7 b is in the cleaning frame 13. Then, the coupling convex shaft 37 is inserted into the bearing mounting hole 13h through the cutout portion 13h1. In this state, the drum shaft 7a integrated with the left guide 13aL shown in FIG. 11 is passed through the side end 13k of the cleaning frame 13, and the drum shaft 7a is fitted to the spur gear 7n, and the flange 29 of the guide 13aL is fitted. Is inserted into the cleaning frame 13 and the guide 13aL is fixed to the cleaning frame 13 to support one end of the photosensitive drum 7.

    Next, the outer periphery of the bearing 38 integral with the right guide member 13R is fitted into the bearing mounting hole 13h, the inner periphery of the bearing 38 is fitted into the coupling convex shaft 37, and the positioning pin 13h2 of the cleaning frame 13 is moved to the right guide member. The flange 13aR1 of 13R is fitted into the hole, the small screw 13aR2 is screwed into the cleaning frame 13 through the flange 13aR1, and the right guide member 13R is fixed to the cleaning frame 13.

  As a result, the photosensitive drum 7 is fixed to the cleaning frame 13 accurately and firmly. Since the photosensitive drum 7 is attached to the cleaning frame 13 from the crossing direction with respect to the longitudinal direction, the photosensitive drum 7 does not have to be moved in the longitudinal direction, and the size of the cleaning frame 13 in the longitudinal direction can be reduced. For this reason, the image forming apparatus main body 14 can also be made small. The left cylindrical guide 13aL abuts and fixes a large flange 29 to the cleaning frame 13, and the drum shaft 7a integral with the flange 29 is closely fitted to the cleaning frame 13 and the right cylindrical guide 13aL. The guide 13aR is concentrically integrated with a bearing 38 that supports the photosensitive drum 7, and the bearing 38 is fitted in the bearing mounting hole 13h of the cleaning frame 13, so that the photosensitive drum 7 conveys the recording medium 2. It can arrange | position so that it may orthogonally cross with respect to a normal direction correctly.

  Since the left cylindrical guide 13aL is made of an integral metal with a large-area flange 29 and a drum shaft 7a projecting from the flange 29, the position of the drum shaft 7a is accurate and wear resistance is improved. The cylindrical guide 13aL is not worn even when the process cartridge B is repeatedly attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body 14. Then, as described above with respect to the electrical contact, the photosensitive drum 7 can be easily grounded. The cylindrical guide 13aL on the right side has a larger diameter than the bearing 38, and the bearing 38 and the cylindrical guide 13aR are coupled by a disk member 13aR3. Since the cylindrical guide 13aR is coupled to the flange 13aR1, the cylindrical guide 13aR, The bearings 38 are reinforced and stiffened together. Since the right cylindrical guide 13aR has a large diameter, it is durable against repeated attachment / detachment of the process cartridge B to / from the image forming apparatus main body 14 while being made of synthetic resin.

  36 and 37 are developed vertical sectional views showing another method of attaching the bearing 38 integral with the right guide member 13R to the cleaning frame 13. FIG.

    In particular, the drawing schematically shows the bearing 38 of the photosensitive drum 7 as a main part.

  As shown in FIG. 36, the outer edge of the bearing mounting hole 13h has a rib 13h3 in the circumferential direction, and the outer periphery of the rib 13h3 is a part of a cylinder. In this example, the circumference of the portion of the right cylindrical guide 13aR that extends beyond the disc member 13aR3 and reaches the flange 13aR1 is closely fitted to the outer circumference of the rib 13h3. The bearing mounting portion 13h of the bearing 38 and the outer periphery of the bearing 38 are loosely fitted. In this case, since the bearing mounting portion 13h is discontinuous at the missing circle portion 13h1, it is possible to prevent the missing circle portion 13h1 from opening and to reinforce.

  For the same purpose as described above, a plurality of restraining bosses 13h4 may be provided on the outer periphery of the rib 13h3 as shown in FIG.

  The constraining boss 13h4 has a circumscribed circle diameter of, for example, an IT tolerance class 9 and a concentricity within 0.01 mm with the inner diameter portion of the mounting hole 13h of the frame body when the molding die is manufactured.

  When the drum bearing 38 is attached to the cleaning frame 13, the mounting hole 13h of the cleaning frame 13 and the outer diameter portion of the bearing 38 are fitted, and the inner peripheral surface 13aR5 of the drum shaft 38 facing the outer diameter portion is Since the restraint boss 13h4 on the cleaning frame 13 side is restrained and fitted, misalignment at the time of assembling the bearing due to the opening of the notch 13h1 can be prevented.

(Combined structure of cleaning frame (also called drum frame) and developing frame)
As described above, the cleaning frame 13 incorporating the charging roller 8 and the cleaning unit 10 and the developing frame 12 incorporating the developing unit 9 are combined. Here, in general, this coupling portion requires at least the coupling of the drum frame 13 incorporating the electrophotographic photosensitive drum 7 and the developing frame 12 incorporating the developing means 9 as an aspect of the process cartridge B.

  The gist of the combined configuration of the drum frame 13 and the developing frame 12 will be described with reference to FIGS. 12, 13, and 32 as follows. In the following description, the right side and the left side refer to the case where the recording medium 2 is viewed from the upper side according to the transport direction.

  In a process cartridge that is detachable from the electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body 14, the electrophotographic photosensitive drum 7, developing means 9 for developing a latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum 7, and the developing means A developing frame 12 that supports the drum 9, a drum frame 13 that supports the electrophotographic photosensitive drum 7, a toner frame 11 having the toner storage portion, one end in the longitudinal direction of the developing means 9, and the like. One end of the developing frame body 12 is attached to the end of the developing frame 12 above the developing means 9, and the other end is a compression coil spring 22a that abuts the drum frame 13, and the developing means 9 A first projecting portion (right arm portion 19) provided to project in a direction intersecting with the longitudinal direction of the developing means 9 at the developing frame body 12 on one end side and the other end side in the longitudinal direction. Second protrusion (Left arm portion 19), a first opening (right hole 20) provided in (first arm portion 19) in the first projecting portion, and second projecting portion (left arm portion). 19) and a second opening (the left hole 20) and one end in the longitudinal direction of the drum frame 13 above the electrophotographic photosensitive drum 7 and in the drum frame 13 portion. A first engaging portion (right concave portion 21) that engages with the first protruding portion (right arm portion 19), and the other end side in the longitudinal direction of the drum frame 13; , A second engaging portion (left concave portion) that engages with the second projecting portion (left arm portion 19) provided in the drum frame 13 portion above the electrophotographic photosensitive drum 7. 21) and a third opening (shown in FIG. 12 on the right side) provided in the first engagement part (right side recess 21). Hole 13e), a fourth opening (hole 13e shown in FIG. 12 on the left side) provided in the second engaging portion (left concave portion 21), the drum frame 13 and the developing frame 12. In order to connect, the first opening (right hole 20) is engaged with the first protrusion (right arm 19) and the first engagement portion (right recess 21). ) And the third opening (the right hole 13e), the first penetrating member (the coupling member 22 shown in FIG. 12 on the right side), and the drum frame 13 and the developing frame 12 are coupled to each other. In the state where the second protrusion (right arm 19) and the second engagement part (left recess 21) are engaged, the second opening (left hole 20) and the fourth And a second penetrating member (joining member 22 shown in FIG. 12 on the left side) penetrating through the opening (left hole 13e). Ridge B.

  The assembling method of the developing frame 12 and the drum frame 13 in such a configuration is as follows. A first engaging step for engaging the first projecting portion (right arm portion 19) of the developing frame body 12 and the drum frame body 13 with the first engaging portion (right recess portion 21); A second engaging step for engaging the second projecting portion (left arm portion 19) and the second engaging portion (left concave portion 21), the drum frame body 13, and the developing frame body 12. In order to couple, the first protrusion (right arm 19) and the first engagement part (right recess 21) are engaged with the first protrusion (right arm). The first opening (right hole 20) provided in the portion 19) and the third opening (right hole 13e) provided in the first engagement portion (right recess 21) In order to connect the developing frame 12 and the drum frame 13 to the first penetrating step of penetrating the penetrating member (right coupling member 22), The second protrusion provided on the second protrusion (left arm 19) in a state where the protruding portion (left arm 19) and the second engagement portion (left recess 21) are engaged. The second penetrating member (left coupling member 22) and the fourth opening (left hole 20) provided in the second engagement portion (left concave portion 21). ) Through the second penetrating step, the developing frame body 12 and the drum frame body 13 become a process cartridge B formed as an integral cartridge.

  As described above, the developing frame body 12 and the drum frame body 13 are assembled by simply engaging each other and allowing the coupling member 22 to pass through both of them. Only the frame 13 is pulled apart, and assembly and disassembly can be performed very easily.

In the above description, the developing unit 9 includes a developing roller 9c, and includes a first engaging step for engaging the first projecting portion with the first engaging portion, the second projecting portion, and the first projecting portion. The second engagement step for engaging the two engagement portions is performed simultaneously,
(1) The electrophotographic photosensitive drum 7 and the developing roller 9c are substantially parallel,
(2) Move the developing roller 9c along the periphery of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum 7,
(3) The developing frame 12 rotates with the movement of the developing roller 9c,
(4) The first and second protrusions (both arm portions 19) enter the first and second engaging portions (both concave portions 21) by the rotation of the developing frame 12, respectively.
(5) The first and second projecting portions (both arm portions 19) engage with the first and second engaging portions (both concave portions 21), respectively.
By doing so, the developing roller 9c can be rotated around the photosensitive drum 7 with the spacer rollers 9i in contact with the circumferential surfaces of both ends of the photosensitive drum 7, so that the arm portion 19 can approach the concave portion 21. Therefore, it is easy to match the hole 20 provided in the arm portion 19 of the developing frame 12 and the hole 13e provided on both sides of the concave portion 21 of the drum frame 13 with each other. Thus, the shapes of the arm portion 19 and the recess 21 can be determined.

  As described above, the development unit D in which the toner frame 11 and the development frame 12 are combined and the cleaning unit C in which the cleaning frame 13 and the charging roller 8 are combined are generally combined.

  Thus, when the developing frame 12 and the drum frame 13 are engaged, the opening of the first and second protrusions (hole 20) and the opening of the first and second engaging portions (hole 13e) are It is made to correspond substantially so that a penetration member (engagement member 22) can be penetrated.

  As shown in FIG. 32, the tip 19a of the arm portion 19 has an arc shape centered on the hole 20, and the bottom 21a of the recess 21 has an arc shape centered on the hole 13e. The radius of the arc of the tip 19a of the arm 19 is slightly smaller than the radius of the arc 21a at the bottom of the recess 21. This slightly smaller degree is obtained by inserting the coupling member 22 through the hole 13e of the drum frame (cleaning frame) 13 when the tip 19a of the arm 19 is abutted against the bottom 21a of the recess 21. The coupling member 22 whose end is chamfered into the hole 20 can be easily inserted, and when the coupling member 22 is inserted, there is an arc-shaped gap between the tip 19a of the arm portion 19 and the bottom 21a of the recess 21. g, and the arm portion 19 is rotatably supported by the coupling member 22. For the sake of explanation, the gap g is exaggerated, but the gap g is smaller than the end portion of the coupling member 22 or the chamfer dimension of the hole 20.

  As shown in FIG. 32, the developing frame 12 and the drum frame 13 are assembled while the hole 20 of the arm portion 19 defines either the locus RL1 or RL2 or the locus between the locus RL1 and RL2. At this time, the inner surface 20a of the upper wall of the recess 21 is continuously inclined so that the compression coil spring 22a is gradually compressed. That is, the shape is determined so that the distance from the inner surface 20a of the upper wall of the recess 21 facing the mounting portion of the compression coil spring 22a to the developing frame 12 at the time of assembly is gradually reduced. In this example, the upper end winding portion of the compression coil spring 22a is in contact with the inclined portion 20a1 of the inner surface 20a during assembly, and the compression coil spring 22a is inclined when the developing frame 12 and the drum frame 13 are combined. It contacts the spring seat 20a2 following 20a1. The compression coil spring 22a and the spring seat portion 20a2 intersect at a right angle.

  Thus, when the developing frame 12 and the drum frame 13 are assembled, it is not necessary to compress and insert the compression coil spring 22a separately. The body drum 7 is in pressure contact.

  The locus RL1 is an arc centered on the photosensitive drum 7, and the locus RL2 is an approximate straight line that gradually decreases as the distance from the inclined portion 20a1 increases from the right to the left in the drawing.

  As shown in FIG. 31, the compression coil spring 22 a is held by the developing device frame 12. FIG. 31 is a longitudinal sectional view according to the mounting direction X of the process cartridge B near the base of the arm portion 19 of the developing device frame 12. On the developing frame 12, a spring holding portion 12t is provided upward. The spring holding portion 12t has a cylindrical spring fixing portion 12k into which the inner periphery of the end portion of the compression coil spring 22a is press-fitted to the root side, and a diameter reduced from the fixing portion 12k and is inserted into the compression coil spring 22a halfway. 12n is provided. The height of the spring fixing portion 12k is required to be at least one turn of the end winding portion of the compression coil spring 22a, but two or more turns are desirable.

  As shown in FIG. 12, a partition wall 13t is provided between the outer wall 13s of the drum frame 13 and the inner side of the outer wall 13s, and a recess 21 is formed between these partitions.

  The inner rectangle in the longitudinal direction of the concave portion 21 shown in FIG. 12 is such that the opposing wall surfaces of the outer wall 13s and the partition wall 13t constituting the right concave portion 21 on the same side as the side where the drum gear 7b is provided are orthogonal to the longitudinal direction. The right arm portion 19 on the same side as the side where the developing roller gear 9k of the developing frame 12 is disposed is closely fitted between the opposing wall surfaces. On the other hand, the concave portion 21 of the left cleaning frame 13 on the same side as the side where the spur gear 7n is disposed and the arm portion 19 of the developing frame 12 inserted into the concave portion 21 are loosely fitted in the longitudinal direction. It has become.

  Therefore, the developing frame body 12 and the cleaning frame body 13 are accurately aligned in the longitudinal direction. This is because the dimension between the opposing wall surfaces of the concave portion 21 on one end side in the longitudinal direction can be easily obtained, and the width of the arm part 19 can be easily obtained. Even if a longitudinal dimensional difference due to thermal deformation occurs due to the temperature rise of the developing frame 13 and the cleaning frame 12, the portion that fits between the opposing walls of the concave portion 21 with a short dimension and between the opposing walls of the arm portion 19. This is because both have small dimensions, so that the thermal deformation difference is extremely small. Even if there is a difference in the dimensional change of the entire length in the longitudinal direction due to the thermal deformation of the developing frame 12 and the cleaning frame 13, the spur gear 7n side Since the recess 21 and the arm 19 fitted in the recess 21 are loosely fitted in the longitudinal direction, no stress is generated between the developing frame 12 and the cleaning frame 13 due to deformation due to thermal stress.

  The process cartridge B shown in the above-described embodiment has exemplified the case of forming a single color image. However, the process cartridge according to the present invention is provided with a plurality of developing means, and a plurality of color images (for example, two-color images, three-color images, or The present invention can also be suitably applied to a cartridge that forms a full color or the like.

  Further, the electrophotographic photosensitive member is not limited to the photosensitive drum 7 and includes, for example, the following. First, a photoconductor is used as the photoreceptor, and examples of the photoconductor include amorphous silicon, amorphous selenium, zinc oxide, titanium oxide, and organic photoconductor (OPC). As the shape for mounting the photoconductor, for example, a drum shape or a belt shape is used. For example, in the case of a drum type photoconductor, a photoconductor is vapor-deposited or coated on a cylinder such as an amyl alloy. It is the one that has been crafted.

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

  In addition, the so-called contact charging method is used in the above-described embodiment for the configuration of the charging means. However, as another configuration, a metal shield such as aluminum is provided around three sides of a tungsten wire that has been conventionally used, and the tungsten wire Of course, it is possible to use a configuration in which positive or negative ions generated by applying a high voltage are moved to the surface of the photosensitive drum and the surface of the drum is uniformly charged.

  In addition to the roller type, the charging unit may be a blade (charging blade), a pad type, a block type, a rod type, a wire type, or the like.

  Further, as a method for cleaning the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum, the cleaning unit may be configured using a blade, a fur brush, a magnetic brush, or the like.

(Axial positioning of the photosensitive drum)
As described above, the concave portion 39a at the end of the coupling concave shaft 39b pulls the convex portion 37a of the coupling convex shaft 37 so that the convex portion end portion 37a1 and the concave portion bottom surface 39a1 come into contact with each other, thereby positioning the photosensitive drum 7 in the axial direction. It is carried out.

  Thus, in order for the position of the photosensitive drum 7 in the axial direction to be determined when the convex end 37a1 and the concave bottom surface 39a1 come into contact with each other, the photosensitive drum 7 must be movable in the axial direction with respect to the apparatus main body 14. This point will be specifically described.

  Here, regarding the mode of movement of the photosensitive drum 7 in the longitudinal direction, cases where it can be adopted will be described.

    First, with respect to the shaft coupling that transmits the rotational force from the apparatus main body 14 to the process cartridge B, the coupling concave shaft 39b of the drive side shaft coupling member is coupled with the convex portion 37a when the concave portion 39a is engaged with the convex portion 37a. 37a is pulled in the axial direction.

  Next, (1) the photosensitive drum 7 is supported so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction with respect to the cartridge frame, specifically, the cleaning frame 13 (2) the photosensitive drum 7 is supported with respect to the cleaning frame 13 There are two types of support that do not move in the longitudinal direction.

  Further, (1) the cartridge frame of the process cartridge B, specifically, the cleaning frame 13 supporting the photosensitive drum 7 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion of the apparatus main body 14 so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction. (2) The cleaning frame 13 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion of the apparatus main body 14 so as not to move in the longitudinal direction.

    Each case can be considered. Here, the case where the bottom surface 39a1 of the recessed part 39a and the end surface 37a1 of the convex part 37 contact is employ | adopted. The positional relationship between the photosensitive drum 7 and the frame of the process cartridge B in this case will be described. FIG. 40 schematically shows the shaft coupling, the process cartridge B, and the cartridge mounting portion of the apparatus main body 14. Further, when the photosensitive drum 7 moves to the non-driving side, in the above-described embodiment, the axial movement of the photosensitive drum 7 is caused by the step portion at the boundary of the enlarged diameter portion 7a2 (see FIG. 11) of the drum shaft 7a. Be blocked. However, in such a positional relationship, the convex portion 37a and the concave portion 39a are fitted, and the convex portion end surface 37a1 and the concave portion bottom surface 39a1 are separated from each other. The drum shaft 7 a is fixed to the cleaning frame 13. Therefore, in the following description, since the axial movement of the photosensitive drum 7 in the non-driving side is finally determined by the cleaning frame 13, the relationship between the photosensitive drum 7 and the cleaning frame 13 will be described.

    FIG. 40 shows an embodiment of the present invention. 40, the photosensitive drum 7 is supported so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction with respect to the cleaning frame 13, and the cleaning frame 13 is provided by a plate spring 33 disposed between the bottom of the guide portion 16a and the cleaning frame 13. It is restrained so that it cannot move in the longitudinal direction on the cartridge mounting portion of the main body 14. This is shown by aligning the tip of the one-way arrow with the cleaning frame 13 and the contact portion 16Ra of the guide member 16R. The plate spring 33 is also used when the cleaning frame 13 is just fitted between the guide members 16 without the leaf spring 33 so that the process cartridge B is not moved in the longitudinal direction with respect to the apparatus main body 14. In this case, when the shaft coupling is connected, the coupling convex shaft 37 is pulled toward the concave shaft 39b, and the convex end surface 37a1 contacts the concave bottom surface 39a1, and the shaft of the photosensitive drum 7 is The direction position is determined.

  When the coupling convex shaft 39b is at the forward end, the side surface of the large gear 43 comes into contact with the back end surface of the outer cam 63, whereby the position of the forward end of the coupling concave shaft 39b is determined and the position of the concave bottom surface 39a1 is determined. The convex end surface 37a1 and the convex portion 37a and the concave portion 39a are twisted holes having a substantially equilateral triangular shape and a twisted hole having a substantially equilateral triangular cross section, and are brought into contact with and pressed against the concave bottom surface 39a1. As a result, the axial position of the photosensitive drum 7 during driving is fixed.

    Further, by setting the twisting direction of the drum gear 7b to be a direction in which the convex portion 37a generates a thrust toward the concave portion 39a, the axial position of the photosensitive drum 7 is stably and constantly determined.

    It should be noted that if the photosensitive drum 7 in the above-described manner of movement of the photosensitive drum in the longitudinal direction is supported so as not to move in the longitudinal direction with respect to the cleaning frame 13, the process cartridge B naturally. Is mounted on the apparatus main body 14, the position of the photosensitive drum 7 in the longitudinal direction relative to the apparatus main body 14 is determined.

(Driving method of coupling member of the apparatus main body)
As described above, the coupling concave shaft 39b is integrally formed with the large gear 43, and the large gear 43 is rotated by the motor 61 and is urged by the thrust generated in the gear teeth in the forward direction of the coupling concave shaft 39b. The However, the driving method of the coupling concave shaft 39b is not limited to this, and the following driving method is also possible.

  In FIG. 41, a flange 39b1 is integrally provided on the coupling concave shaft 39b, and the front portion is rotatably fitted to the outer cam 63 with the collar 39b1 as a boundary, and is movable in the axial direction and rotatable with respect to the side plate 66. The spline shaft 39b2 is a cylindrical shaft portion 39b2 supported by the rear portion, and the rear portion is a spline shaft 39b2. The spline shaft 39b2 is movably fitted to the hole spline at the center of the large gear 43. The large gear 43 has a boss 43b. The boss 43b is rotatably fitted to a bearing 44 fitted to the side plate 67 with the outer periphery of the boss 43b as a journal. A thrust collar 45 is fitted on the outer periphery of the boss 43b so as to contact the end face of the boss 43b, and a shaft retaining ring 46 contacting the thrust collar 45 is fitted in a circumferential groove provided on the cylindrical outer periphery of the boss 43b. ing. A compression coil spring 68 is compressed between the collar 39b1 and the large gear 43 and inserted into the spline shaft 39b. The spline shaft 39b may be a square shaft, a keyed shaft, or the like, and the square shaft and the keyed shaft may be fitted to the boss 43b so as to be movable in the axial direction.

  In FIG. 41, when the opening / closing member 35 is closed, the outer cam 63 can advance, and the coupling concave shaft 39b slides in the holes of the side plate 66 and the boss 43b when the collar 39b1 is pushed by the spring force of the compression coil spring 68. And is engaged with the concave portion 39a and the convex portion 37a. When the rotation is transmitted from the motor 61 to the large gear 43, the large gear 43 transmits the rotation from the spline shaft 39b2 to the coupling concave shaft 39b, whereby the concave portion 39a is rotated, and the convex portion 37a is pulled in and rotated to be photosensitive. The axial position of the body drum 7 is determined.

  In the above description, the coupling concave shaft 39b is driven by the gear train from the motor 61. However, the driving method of the coupling concave shaft 39b is not limited, and a timing pulley 47 integrated with the coupling concave shaft 39b is used as shown in FIG. The timing belt 47a may be wound between the timing pulley 47a and a timing pulley (not shown) provided on the motor shaft of the motor 61.

  Similarly, as shown in FIG. 43, a chain 48a may be hung between a chain wheel 48 provided integrally with the coupling concave shaft 39b and a chain wheel (not shown) provided on the motor shaft of the motor 61.

  In the embodiment, a convex portion 37a is provided on the drum flange 36, and a concave portion 39a is provided on a shaft 39b disposed at the center of the large gear 43 of the rotating body. Obviously, the same effect can be obtained even if the convex portion 37a is provided on the shaft 39b disposed at the center of the same.

In the above description, the recess 39a, that is,
The twisting direction of the hole (projection) is the direction of twisting in the direction opposite to the rotation direction of the gear from the entrance of the hole toward the back.

  The twist amount of the hole (projection) is a ratio of 1 ° to 15 ° in the rotation direction with respect to the axial length of 1 mm.

  In the present embodiment, the depth of the hole is about 4 mm and is twisted by about 30 °.

  In the above-described embodiment, an example of a twisted hole and a twisted polygonal column is shown as the coupling member. However, the shape of the coupling member may be a twisted hole and a non-twisted polygonal column, for example. In this case, for example, an untwisted triangular prism as the polygonal column is fitted into the twisted hole, and when the hole rotates, the triangular column comes into contact with the inner surface of the hole at its root part, The position relative to the hole is determined. Since the base portion has a higher strength than the other portions, the triangular prism as a protrusion is not deformed. In addition, the vicinity of the corner of the triangular prism and / or the inner surface of the hole is slightly locally deformed, and the vicinity of the corner is hard to be inserted into the inner surface of the hole. Therefore, the connection between the recess and the hole becomes stronger. In addition, an untwisted polygonal column is easy to mold.

  In the embodiment, the convex portion 37a is a polygonal column, but as shown in FIG. 44, a support shaft 37a5 is provided at the center of the convex shaft 37, and an untwisted plate shape, for example, a triangular plate 7a4 is provided at the tip portion. This may be engaged with a twisted triangular hole in the recess 39a.

    The embodiment of the process cartridge is an example. A plate spring 33 is provided at the bottom of the guide portion 16a of the apparatus main body 14, and the cleaning frame body 13 is brought into contact with the apparatus main body 14 by the spring force of the plate spring 33 between the cleaning frame body 13 and the bottom of the guide portion 16a. By abutting on 16Ra, the positioning accuracy of the photosensitive drum with respect to the apparatus main body can be improved, and the driving force can be transmitted to the process cartridge.

Each drawing shows an embodiment of the present invention,
1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. It is an external appearance perspective view of the apparatus shown in FIG. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a process cartridge. FIG. 4 is an external perspective view of the process cartridge shown in FIG. 3 as viewed from the upper right side. FIG. 4 is a right side view of the process cartridge shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 4 is a left side view of the process cartridge shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 4 is an external perspective view of the process cartridge shown in FIG. 3 as viewed from the upper left side. FIG. 4 is an external perspective view showing the lower left side of the process cartridge shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of a process cartridge mounting portion of the apparatus main body. FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of a process cartridge mounting portion of the apparatus main body. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a photosensitive drum and its driving device. It is a perspective view of a cleaning unit. It is a perspective view of a developing unit. It is a partial exploded perspective view of a developing unit. It is a perspective view which looks at the back part of a development holder. FIG. 3 is a side view of a side plate of a developing frame and a toner frame. FIG. 16 is a side view of the developing holder portion of FIG. 15 viewed from the inside to the outside. It is a perspective view of a developing roller bearing box. It is a perspective view of a developing device frame. 3 is a perspective view of a toner frame. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a toner frame. FIG. FIG. 22 is a longitudinal sectional view of the toner seal portion in FIG. 21. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the support apparatus of a charging roller part. 2 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view showing a drive system of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus main body. FIG. It is a perspective view of the coupling provided in the apparatus main body and the coupling provided in the process cartridge. It is a perspective view of the coupling provided in the apparatus main body and the coupling provided in the process cartridge. It is sectional drawing showing the structure of the opening / closing member and coupling part of an apparatus main body. FIG. 6 is a front view illustrating a configuration around a coupling concave axis when the process cartridge of the apparatus main body is driven. FIG. 6 is a front view illustrating a configuration around a coupling concave axis when the process cartridge of the apparatus main body is attached / detached. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the electrical contact relationship at the time of process cartridge attachment or detachment to an apparatus main body. It is a side view which shows the attaching part of a compression coil spring. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the coupling | bond part of a drum frame and a developing device frame. It is a perspective view which shows the attachment part to the cleaning frame of a photosensitive drum. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows a drum bearing part. It is a side view which shows the external shape of a drum bearing part. It is an expanded sectional view showing other embodiments of a drum bearing part. It is a perspective view which shows a drum bearing part typically. It is an expanded view which shows the relationship of the generated thrust in a process cartridge. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment showing an opening of a toner frame. FIG. 3 is a plan view schematically showing a relationship between a photosensitive drum and a cartridge frame in a longitudinal direction of a cartridge mounting portion and a shaft coupling. It is a side view shown in the partial cross section which shows the support of the coupling concave shaft of an apparatus main body. It is a side view for demonstrating the rotary body which drives a coupling concave shaft. It is a side view for demonstrating the rotary body which drives a coupling concave shaft. It is a perspective view which shows other embodiment of a shaft coupling.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Optical system 1a ... Laser diode 1b ... Polygon mirror 1c ... Lens 1d ... Reflection mirror 1e ... Exposure opening part 2 ... Recording medium 3 ... Conveying means 3a ... Paper feed cassette 3b ... Pickup roller 3c ... Conveying roller pair 3d ... Conveying roller Pair 3e: Registration roller pair 3f: Conveying guide 3g, 3h, 3i ... Discharge roller pair 3j ... Reverse path 3k ... Flapper 3m ... Discharge roller pair 4 ... Transfer roller 5 ... Fixing means 5a ... Heater 5b ... Fixing roller 5c ... Driving roller 6 ... discharge tray 7 ... photosensitive drum 7a ... drum shaft 7a1 ... end face 7a2 ... enlarged diameter portion 7b ... drum gear 7b1 ... side end 7d ... drum cylinder 7d1 ... inner surface 7e ... photosensitive layer 7f ... ground plate 7n ... spur gear 8 ... Charging roller 8a ... Charging roller shaft 8b ... Composite spring 8b1 ... Compression coil spring 8b2 ... Internal contact 8c ... Band Electric roller bearing 9 ... developing means 9b ... toner feeding member 9b1 ... journal 9c ... developing roller 9d ... developing blade 9d1 ... sheet metal 9d1a ... bending portion 9d2 ... urethane rubber 9d3 ... hole 9d4 ... screw hole 9d5 ... cut 9d6 ... small screw 9e ... Toner agitating member 9f ... bearing 9f1 ... key part 9g ... magnet 9g1 ... missing circular shaft 9h ... antenna rod 9h1 ... contact 9i ... spacer roller 9j ... developing roller bearing 9j1 ... hole 9j4 ... bearing 9k ... developing roller gear 9l (el) ... developing coil spring Contact 9m ... Toner stirring gear 9p ... Flange 9p1 ... Developing roller gear mounting shaft 9q ... Gear 9q1 ... Small gear 9r ... Large gear 9r1 ... Small gear 9s ... Toner feed gear 9s1 ... Shaft coupling 9s2 ... Small gear 9u ... Helical tooth Gear 9v ... Bearing box 9v1 ... Cylindrical protrusion 9v2 ... Screw hole 9 v3 ... Magnet support hole 9v4 ... Bearing fitting hole 9v5 ... Key groove 9v6 ... Recess 9v7 ... Notch 9v8 ... Notch 9v9 ... Dowel 9w ... Journal 9w1 ... Reduced diameter cylindrical part 10 ... Cleaning means 10a ... Cleaning blade 10b ... Waste toner Reservoir 11 ... toner frame 11A ... toner container 11a ... upper frame 11a1 ... flange 11b ... lower frame 11b1 ... flange 11c ... rib 11d ... toner filling port 11e ... coupling member 11e1 ... hole 11f ... toner cap 11g ... concave Part 11h: Boss 11i: Opening 11J: Toner unit 11j, 11j1 ... Flange 11k ... Concave surface 11m ... Stepped part 11n ... Groove 11n1 ... Edge 11n2 ... Bottom 11q ... Square hole 11r ... Round hole 11t ... Handle member 11v ... Projection 12 ... Development frame 12A, 12B ... Side plate 1 b ... Through hole 12c ... Female screw 12d ... Dowel 12e ... Flange 12f ... Slit 12g ... Hole 12h ... Lower jaw 12i ... Plane 12i1 ... Dowel 12i2 ... Female screw 12i3 ... Projection 12j ... Arc surface 12k ... Spring fixing part 12m ... Hole Part 12n: Spring guide part 12p: Opening part 12s, 12s1, 12s2 ... Seal member 12t ... Spring holding part 12u ... Plane 12v ... Projection 12v1 ... Triangular projection 12w1 ... Cylindrical dowel 12w2 ... Square dowel 12x ... Hole 12z ... Projection Strip 13 ... Cleaning frame (drum frame) 13a ... Cylindrical guide 13aR1 ... Flange 13aR2 ... Machine screw 13aR3 ... Disc member 13aR4 ... Inner diameter guide 13aR5 ... Restricted inner peripheral surface 13aR, 13aL ... Cylindrical guide 13bR, 13bL ... Non-rotating guide 13c ... Positioning pin 13d ... Small 13e ... Mounting hole 13f ... Regulating contact part 13g ... Guide groove 13h ... Mounting hole 13h1 ... Circular part 13h2 ... Positioning pin 13h3 ... Rib 13h4 ... Restraining boss 13i ... Upper surface 13j ... Regulating contact part 13k ... Side end 13k1 ... Hole 13L ... Guide member 13n ... Transfer opening 13p ... Right end 13q ... Left end 13R ... Guide member 13s ... Outer wall 13t ... Partition wall 14 ... Image forming apparatus body 16 ... Guide member 16a ... Guide portion 16b ... Positioning groove 16c ... Guide 16d, positioning groove 16R, 16L ... guide member 16Ra ... contact part 17 ... recess 18 ... drum shutter member 18a ... shutter cover 18b, 18c ... link 18c1 ... projecting part 19 ... arm part 19a ... tip 20 ... rotating hole 20a ... inner surface 20a1 ... inclined part 20a2 ... spring seat part 21 ... recessed part 21 ... bottom 22 ... coupling member 22a ... compression coil spring 25 ... fixed member 29 ... flange 35 ... opening and closing member 35a ... fulcrum 36 ... drum flange 36b ... fitting part 37 ... coupling convex shafts 37a and 37a1 ... convex part end part 38 ... Bearing 38a ... Convex part 38b ... Inner end face 39 ... Gear 39a ... Concave part 39a1 ... Bottom 39b ... Coupling concave shaft 40 ... Development holder 40a ... Support hole 40b, 40c, 40d, 40e ... Dowel 40f ... Protrusion 43 ... Large gear 51 ... Cover film 52 ... Pulling tear tape 52a ... End 52b ... One end 54 ... Elastic seal material 55 ... Tape 56 ... Elastic seal material 61 ... Motor 61a ... Shaft 62 ... Small gear 63 ... Outer cam 63a ... Arm 64 ... Inner cam 65 ... Link 65a, 65b ... Pin 66 ... Side plate 67 ... Side plate 68 ... Compression coil spring 69 ... Side plate 11 ... grounding contact
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 120 ... Charging bias contact 120a ... External exposure part 120b ... Spring seat 121 ... Development bias contact 121a ... Derivation part 121b ... Second derivation part 121c ... Third derivation part 121d ... Fourth derivation part 121e ... External contact part 121f DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS ... Stop hole 122 ... Remaining toner detection contact 123 ... Ground contact member 124 ... Charging contact member 125 ... Development bias contact member 126 ... Toner detection contact member 127 ... Holder 128 ... Electric board 129 ... Compression coil spring A ... Laser beam printer ( Image forming device)
B ... Process cartridge C ... Cleaning unit D ... Developing unit DG ... Developing unit drive transmission unit G ... Developing roller unit GT ... Gear train J ... Toner unit JP ... Connecting surface L, K ... Slope S ... Cartridge mounting space Z ... Horizontal line m ... Line g ... Gap

Claims (4)

A motor, a rotator that receives transmission of driving force from the motor, a twisted hole having a polygonal cross section that rotates integrally with the rotator, provided at the rotation center of the rotator, and a spring member; a possible process cartridge detachable to the recording medium in the apparatus main body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image to have a,
An electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
Process means acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
Wherein provided on one longitudinal end of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, with the projection of the twisted hole and mating twisted polygonal column,
A frame that supports the electrophotographic photosensitive drum movably in the longitudinal direction;
Having
When the process cartridge is mounted on the apparatus main body, the frame body is biased by the spring member, so that the frame body abuts on a contact portion provided on the apparatus main body, and the longitudinal The frame body is positioned with respect to the apparatus main body in the direction, and further, when the rotating body rotates, the twisted polygonal column protrusion is drawn into the twisted hole, and the tip surface of the twisted polygonal column protrusion The rotational force of the rotating body is transmitted to the electrophotographic photosensitive drum in a state where the portion is in contact with the bottom surface portion of the twisted hole, and the electrophotographic photosensitive drum is not positioned with respect to the apparatus main body in the longitudinal direction. A process cartridge configured to be configured as described above. The substantially triangular pillar der projections twisted twisted polygonal column is, also, the twisted hole, the process cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that the hole cross section is twisted substantially triangular. In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus for detaching a process cartridge and forming an image on a recording medium,
(A) a motor;
(B) a rotating body that receives a driving force from the motor;
(C) a twisted hole having a polygonal cross section that rotates integrally with the rotating body, provided at the rotation center of the rotating body;
(D) a spring member;
(E) a contact portion;
And (f) an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, process means acting on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum, said electrophotographic provided at one longitudinal end of the photosensitive drum, a multi-twisted to mate with said twisted hole A positioning part for positioning a process cartridge on the apparatus main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, which has a prismatic protrusion and a frame that supports the electrophotographic photosensitive drum movably in the longitudinal direction;
(G) a guide portion for guiding the process cartridge to the positioning portion;
(H) conveying means for conveying the recording medium;
Having
When the process cartridge is mounted on the apparatus main body, the spring member biases the frame body, thereby bringing the frame body into contact with the contact portion, and in the longitudinal direction of the frame body. Positioning with respect to the apparatus main body, and further, when the rotating body rotates, the projection of the twisted polygonal column is drawn into the twisted hole, and the tip surface portion of the projection of the twisted polygonal column is inserted into the twisted hole. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus configured to position the electrophotographic photosensitive drum with respect to the apparatus main body in the longitudinal direction in contact with a bottom surface portion . Is substantially triangular pillar projection is twisted in the twisted polygonal column, also the twisted hole, the electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the hole cross section is twisted substantially triangular .