JP4258307B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Technical field to which the invention belongs]
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to a positioning technique in the case where a proximity member such as a developing roller is disposed in proximity to a cylindrical image carrier.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The color image forming apparatus has an image carrier for each primary color of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K), and forms a toner image of each color with each image carrier. This is superimposed on an intermediate transfer member, and this is transferred onto a transfer sheet to form a color image.
[0003]
Each image carrier constitutes an image forming unit having a charging device, a developing device, a transfer device, a cleaning device, etc., and the image forming unit for each color and the intermediate transfer member are integrated into a process. The cartridge is configured. The process cartridge can be pulled out from the main body of the image forming apparatus, and each image carrier unit and developing device can be detached from the process cartridge while the process cartridge is pulled out.
[0004]
The toner images of the respective colors formed by the image forming portions of the respective colors are sequentially transferred onto a rotating intermediate transfer body by a transfer device, and a combined color image is formed. In order to create a color image without color misregistration, it is necessary to superimpose the next toner image on the previous toner image.
[0005]
The image carrier has a cylindrical shape, and forms an electrostatic latent image by irradiating a uniformly charged surface with an original image with a laser beam or the like. When the image carrier rotates and the electrostatic latent image reaches the developing device, toner is supplied from the developing device, and the electrostatic latent image becomes a toner image.
[0006]
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the configuration of the developing device. The developing device is provided for each color, but each structure is common. The developing device 4 includes a housing 41, and an opening K for performing development processing on the drum-shaped image carrier 1 on which an electrostatic latent image is formed is formed in the housing 41. The housing 41 includes a lower housing 41a, an upper housing 41b, and a side housing (not shown) that connects the two.
[0007]
Between both side housings, an independently rotatable developing roller 42 formed of a cylindrical sleeve made of a non-magnetic material, a cylindrical magnet 43 built in the developing roller 42 and fixed in position, a magnetic carrier, Two agitating screws 44 for conveying a two-component developer containing non-magnetic toner (hereinafter simply referred to as “developer”) while stirring, and a supply screw for supplying the agitated developer toward the developing roller 42 45, a rotatable developer removing roller 46 formed of a cylindrical non-magnetic sleeve provided in the vicinity of a part of the peripheral surface above the developing roller 42, and removed (detached) from the developer removing roller 46 And a recovery screw 47 for recovering the developed developer.
[0008]
The developer removing roller 46 is configured to rotate in the opposite direction to the developing roller 42 and incorporates a cylindrical magnet M having a plurality of magnetic poles at a fixed position.
[0009]
In the configuration described above, the agitation supply system screws 44, 45, the developer removal roller 46, and the recovery screw 47 are partitioned vertically by a partition wall 48 as shown in the figure.
[0010]
The free end of the partition wall 48 is between the developing roller 42 and the developer removing roller 46 and close to the peripheral surface of the developing roller 42.
[0011]
The small circular rows on the peripheral surfaces of the developing roller 42 and the developer removing roller 46 are the developer shown to facilitate the flow.
[0012]
By the way, the magnet 43 included in the developing roller 42 has the magnetic poles N1, S2, N2, N3, N4, and S3 in the clockwise direction with the magnetic pole N1 at the position corresponding to the developing region as a base point.
[0013]
The layer thickness regulating member 49 is provided so as to face the magnetic pole S3 across the developing roller 42 and has a function of regulating the layer thickness of the developer on the developing roller 42, that is, stabilizing the developer supply amount. Is.
[0014]
The magnetic pole S1 in the developer removing roller 46 is opposed to the magnetic pole N3 in the developing roller 42, and the function of magnetically attracting the developer conveyed by the developing roller 42 after the developing process onto the developer removing roller 46. Have
[0015]
To explain the movement of the developer, the developer supplied by the supply screw 45 and magnetically attracted onto the developing roller 42 is conveyed upward from below through the rotation of the developing roller 42 and is moved in the same direction. The surface of the rotating image carrier 1 is contacted.
[0016]
The developer that has undergone the contact development process is magnetically peeled off on the developer removal roller 46 in the vicinity of the magnetic pole N3 and conveyed further downstream with respect to the development processing unit. The developer is removed from the developer removal roller 46.
[0017]
The removed developer is continuously conveyed through the collecting screw 47 in the collecting section, dropped to an appropriate place so as to be mixed with the developer stirred by the stirring screw 44, and then newly developed. As an agent, it is again supplied to the developing roller 42 via the supply screw 45, and the above-described behavior is repeated.
[0018]
The size of the gap between the image carrier 1 and the developing roller 42 affects the density of the toner image. In the case of a monochrome image forming apparatus, it simply ends up with a difference in the density of the image, but in the case of a color image, the density changes for each primary color of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). A difference is produced, and the color tone as a color image is different, so the influence is very large. For this reason, the distance between the image carrier 1 and the developing roller 42 is required to have a very high accuracy with an error of 20 to 30 μm.
[0019]
This accuracy can be achieved relatively easily if the developing device 4 is fixed to the image carrier 1, but the developing device 4 is detachable from the image carrier 1. Therefore, it is important that the distance between the image carrier 1 and the developing roller 42 can be accurately positioned.
[0020]
With respect to such a problem, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-67525 discloses a configuration in which abutting rollers are attached to both ends of the developing sleeve, and the abutting rollers are pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the image bearing member for positioning. Proposed.
[0021]
However, in Patent Document 1, since the abutting roller is always in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the image carrier, the contact surface of the image carrier is worn as the image carrier rotates, As a result of wear, it is difficult to accurately position the distance between the image carrier and the developing roller over a long period of time. Further, the distance between the center of the image carrier and the center of the developing roller can be positioned between the image carrier and the developing roller, but the azimuth angle (direction) of the developing roller with respect to the image carrier cannot be matched at both ends. That is, if the directions of the parallel ends do not match, for example, in FIG. 8, the left and right heights of the developing roller 42 do not match, and the size of the gap with the developing roller 42 at both ends of the image carrier 1 and the center There arises a problem that the size of the gap is not the same.
[0022]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-67525, paragraph 0037 FIG.
[0023]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and an image forming apparatus capable of making the distance between an image carrier and a proximity member such as a developing roller constant at both ends and the center of the image carrier. The purpose is to provide.
[0024]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to a first invention of the present application includes a cylindrical image carrier, support members attached to both sides of the image carrier, and a first member provided on the support member. A first abutting surface and a second abutting surface intersecting the corresponding abutting surface; and a proximity member disposed in proximity to the image carrier, wherein the first abutting surface has a center of curvature at a center of the image carrier. The second contact surface intersects with the arc, and both end portions of the proximity member are in contact with both the first contact surface and the second contact surface at the same time.
[0025]
An image forming apparatus according to a second invention of the present application is characterized in that the proximity member has guide members at both ends, and the guide member is in contact with both the first contact surface and the second contact surface at the same time. Yes.
[0026]
In an image forming apparatus according to a third invention of the present application, the first contact surface is formed on a positioning member attached to the support member, and the second contact surface is formed on the support member. It is a feature.
[0027]
In an image forming apparatus according to a fourth invention of the present application, the proximity member is accommodated in a housing of the proximity member , the housing is movable on a predetermined support surface provided in the image forming apparatus, and the guide member is When both the first contact surface and the second contact surface are simultaneously contacted, a gap is formed between the guide member side of the housing bottom surface on the support surface and the support surface.
[0028]
An image forming apparatus according to a fifth invention of the present application is characterized in that the proximity member is a developing roller for supplying toner to the image carrier.
[0029]
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the image carrier includes an image carrier unit including the support member, and a process cartridge having the image carrier unit and the proximity member is inserted into and removed from the image forming apparatus. capable provided, the central axis of the image bearing member is removably inserted from the image bearing member, the central axis of the image bearing member unit is tilted when unplugged, the proximity member located on the support surface, the bottom surface of the housing inclined guide member side in a state of contact with the ground on the support surface, is characterized in that a gap is formed between the guide member and the second contact surface and while said inclined.
[0031]
[Action]
In the first invention of the present application, the interval between the image carrier and the proximity member is made constant as follows. When the proximity member is positioned on the cylindrical image carrier at regular intervals, the positions of both ends of the proximity member must be the same distance from the center of the image carrier. However, even if they are arranged at the same distance from the center of the image carrier, the distance between the image carrier and the proximity member depends on the direction of the proximity member from the center of the image carrier. And will be different. Therefore, in the present invention, the first abutting surface and the second abutting surface in a direction intersecting with the first abutting surface are provided on the image carrier side. The proximity member is simultaneously brought into contact with both the first contact surface and the second contact surface, whereby the distance from the image carrier is determined by the first contact surface and the direction is determined by the second contact surface. As a result, the distance between the image bearing member and the proximity member could be matched at both the center and both ends. In addition, since the first abutting surface is an arc whose center of curvature is the center of the image carrier, the distance between the guide member and the image carrier can be constant regardless of where the guide member abuts. Further, since the second contact surface is in a direction intersecting the first contact surface, when the image carrier unit is inclined, the second contact surface is easily separated from the guide member.
[0032]
In the second invention of the present application, guide members are provided at both ends of the proximity member, and the guide members are simultaneously brought into contact with both the first contact surface and the second contact surface. As a result, the proximity member is not brought into direct contact with each other, so that the problem of wear does not occur even with the rotating proximity member.
[0033]
According to the third invention of the present application, the first contact surface is formed on the positioning member attached to the support member, and the second contact surface is formed on the support member. The surface and the second contact surface can be formed independently.
[0034]
According to the fourth invention of the present application, since the bottom surface of the housing of the developing device is lifted on the guide member side, the guide member can simultaneously contact both the first contact surface and the second contact surface. .
[0035]
According to the fifth invention of the present application, since the proximity member is a developing roller, by making the distance from the image carrier constant, it is possible to eliminate the difference in density of the toner image at both ends and the center of the image carrier. .
[0036]
A sixth invention of the present application relates to a case where the developing device is pulled out or attached. The developing device is attached and detached with the central axis of the image carrier pulled out. The image carrier unit is inclined when the central axis of the image carrier is pulled out. As a result, the guide member is separated from the second contact surface, can be taken in and out without interfering with the second contact surface, and can be attached and detached.
[0038]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a color image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The color image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is called a tandem type color image forming apparatus, and includes an automatic document feeder 30, an image reading device 60, image writing devices 3Y, 3M, 3C, 3K, an image carrier 1Y, 1M, 1C, 1K, charging devices 2Y, 2M, 2C, 2K, developing devices 4Y, 4M, 4C, 4K, fixing device 24, belt-like intermediate transfer body 6, paper feeding means 21A, 21B, 21C, transport system 22 Etc.
[0039]
The automatic document conveying means 30 is means for automatically conveying a double-sided or single-sided original d. The image reading device 60 is a device in which image information is read by a movable optical system, and the contents of a large number of documents d fed from the document table are reflected by three movable mirrors 60C, and a condensing lens. With 60B, an image is formed on an image sensor 60A made of a CCD and read.
[0040]
The image forming unit 10Y that forms a yellow image includes a charging device 2Y, an image writing device 3Y, a developing device 4Y, and a cleaning device 8Y disposed around an image carrier 1Y as an image forming body. The image forming unit 10M that forms a magenta image includes an image carrier 1M as an image forming body, a charging device 2M, an image writing device 3M, a developing device 4M, and a cleaning device 8M. The image forming unit 10C that forms a cyan image includes an image carrier 1C as an image forming body, a charging device 2C, an image writing device 3C, a developing device 4C, and a cleaning device 8C. The image forming unit 10K that forms a black image includes an image carrier 1K as an image forming body, a charging device 2K, an image writing device 3K, a developing device 4K, and a cleaning device 8K. The charging device 2Y and the image writing device 3Y, the charging device 2M and the image writing device 3M, the charging device 2C and the image writing device 3C, and the charging device 2K and the image writing device 3K constitute a latent image forming unit.
[0041]
The intermediate transfer member 6 is an endless belt, is stretched by a plurality of rollers, and is rotatably supported.
[0042]
A signal of image information formed on the image sensor 60A is sent to an image processing unit (not shown). The image processing unit performs analog processing, A / D conversion, shading correction, image compression processing, and the like, and then sends a signal for each color to the image writing devices 3Y, 3M, 3C, and 3K.
[0043]
In the image writing apparatuses 3Y, 3M, 3C, and 3K, a semiconductor laser is used as a laser light source, and a light beam emitted from the semiconductor laser is formed into a scanning light beam by an optical element such as a polygon mirror to form an image as a scanned object. It enters the carriers 1Y, 1M, 1C, 1K and forms an electrostatic latent image of each color.
[0044]
The respective color images formed by the image forming units 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K are sequentially transferred onto the rotating intermediate transfer body 6 by transfer devices 7Y, 7M, 7C, and 7K as primary transfer devices (1). Next transfer), a synthesized color image is formed. The recording paper PE accommodated in the paper feeding cassettes 20A, 20B, and 20C is fed by the paper feeding means 21A, 21B, and 21C, passes through the transport system 22, and is timed by the registration roller 23 as a secondary transfer device. The color image is transferred onto the recording paper PE (secondary transfer). The recording paper PE onto which the color image has been transferred is fixed by the fixing device 24, is sandwiched between the paper discharge rollers 25, and is placed on a paper discharge tray 26 outside the apparatus.
[0045]
On the other hand, after the color image is transferred to the recording paper PE by the transfer device 7A, the intermediate transfer body 6 from which the recording paper PE has been separated is cleaned by the cleaning device 8A.
[0046]
5Y, 5M, 5C, and 5K are toner replenishing units that replenish new toner to the developing devices 4Y, 4M, 4C, and 4K, respectively.
[0047]
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the process cartridge. In the process cartridge A, the image forming units 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K for each color and the intermediate transfer body 6 are integrated. The process cartridge A can be pulled out from the main body of the image forming apparatus, and each developing device and an image carrier unit to be described later can be attached to and detached from the process cartridge A with the process cartridge A pulled out.
[0048]
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the image carrier unit. This image carrier unit B includes an image carrier 1 shown in FIG. 1 (showing any one of the image carriers 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K in FIG. 1) and a cleaning device 8 ( 1 shows an arbitrary one of the cleaning devices 8Y, 8M, 8C, and 8K in FIG. Four image carrier units B having the same configuration are provided for each color, and are attachable to and detachable from the process cartridge A.
[0049]
Support members 11 and 13 are provided at both ends of the image carrier 1, and the inner support members 13 and 13 are connected by a stay 12. The support member 11 has a protrusion 14, and another positioning member 15 is attached.
[0050]
4 is a top view of the engaging portion of the image carrier unit B and the developing device 40 (showing any one of the developing devices 4Y, 4M, 4C, and 4K in FIG. 1). The image carrier unit B is positioned by locking the bent portions 121 and 121 at both ends of the stay 12 to locking members 101 and 101 attached to the frame 100 of the process cartridge A. The developing roller 42 as a proximity member is accommodated in the housing 41 except for the opening K (FIG. 8) facing the image carrier 1, but the central axis of the developing roller 42 projects to both outer sides of the housing 41, A guide member 421 is attached. The guide member 421 in this embodiment is a circular roller, but may or may not rotate.
[0051]
FIGS. 5 to 7 are diagrams for explaining a positioning method between the image carrier unit B and the developing device 40. FIG. 5 shows a state where the image carrier unit B is set at a predetermined position of the process unit A. The engaged state is shown. 6 is a view showing a state in which the locking member 101 is removed from FIG. FIG. 7 is a view showing a state in which the engagement between the image carrier unit B and the developing device 40 is released and the central axis 1a of the image carrier 1 is removed.
[0052]
As shown in FIG. 6, a protrusion 14 is formed integrally with the support member 11, and a positioning member 15 is attached. The positioning member 15 is a curved plate, is fixed to the support member 11 with screws or the like, and has a first contact surface 15a on the outside. The first contact surface 15 a is an arc whose center of curvature is near the center O of the image carrier 1. One protrusion 14 has a second contact surface 14a extending in a direction intersecting the first contact surface 15a. In this embodiment, the second contact surface 14 a extends in a direction orthogonal to the first contact surface 15 a, in other words, in the radial direction of the image carrier 1.
[0053]
As shown in FIG. 6, when the developing device 40 is engaged with the image carrier unit B and the position of the image carrier 1 and the developing roller 42 is determined, the guide member 421 has the first contact. The contact surface 15a and the second contact surface 14a are simultaneously pressed into contact with each other. The support members 11 and 13, the protrusion 14, and the positioning member 15 are attached to the same positions on both ends of the image carrier 1, and the positions of the first contact surface 15 a and the second contact surface 14 a are the positions of the image carrier 1. It is the same position on both sides. Therefore, the guide member 421 is positioned with the distance from the image carrier 1 and the direction thereof aligned on both sides of the image carrier 1, and the distance between the image carrier 1 and the developing roller 42 is the distance between both ends. It matches exactly with the center.
[0054]
There are two convex portions 411 and 412 on the bottom surface of the housing 41 in the developing device 40. In a state where the developing device 40 is not engaged with the image carrier unit B, the two convex portions 411 and 412 are in contact with the support surface 103 provided on the frame of the process cartridge A as shown in FIG. ing. However, in the engaged state shown in FIG. 6, the convex portion 411 on the guide member 421 side is in a state of being lifted by γ from the support surface 103. In this way, the guide member 421 can be brought into contact with the first contact surface 15a and the second contact surface 14a at the same time.
[0055]
Note that the two convex portions 411 and 412 are examples, and these convex portions may be connected on one surface. In short, it is sufficient that the guide member 421 side of the bottom surface of the housing 41 is lifted.
[0056]
When the developing device 40 and the image carrier unit B are engaged, the elastic member 105 provided on the frame 104 of the process cartridge A presses the developing device 40 toward the image carrier unit B, and the position of the developing device 40 is changed. Will be retained.
[0057]
In this embodiment, the first contact surface 15 a has an arc shape, and the center of curvature is the center O of the image carrier 1. Therefore, the distance between the developing roller 42 and the image carrier 1 is kept constant regardless of the position of the guide member 421 on the first contact surface 15a. The guide member 421 further abuts against the second abutting surface 14 a, thereby determining which azimuth angle (direction) the developing roller 42 is located from the center O of the image carrier 1.
[0058]
Since the guide member 421 simultaneously contacts both the first contact surface 15a and the second contact surface 14a, the contact point with the first contact surface 15a is a fixed position. When the guide member 421 comes into contact with this contact, the distance between the image carrier 1 and the developing roller 42 may be a desired value. Therefore, the first contact surface 15a is not limited to the arc shape.
[0059]
Next, a method for removing the developing device 40 will be described. When the process cartridge A is pulled out from the main body, the frame 104 behind the developing device 40 is lost. Next, the central axis 1a of the image carrier 1 is extracted. Thereafter, the developing device 40 is pulled out, and the image carrier unit B from which the central shaft 1a is pulled out is slightly inclined clockwise as shown in FIG. As a result, the second contact surface 14 a is separated from the guide member 421. Since the developing device 40 is heavy with the magnets 43 and M on the guide member 421 side, the developing device 40 is inclined forward and the convex portion 411 contacts the support surface 103. At this time, a gap δ shown in the figure is formed between the second contact surface 14a and the guide member 421. Since the clearance δ can be secured, the developing device 40 can be easily pulled out without interfering with the protrusions 14.
[0060]
Next, a method for attaching the developing device 40 will be described. As shown in FIG. 7, the developing device 40 is placed in a state in which both the convex portions 411 and 412 are in contact with the support surface 103 while being inclined forwardly. After that, when pushed in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 7, there is a gap δ between the guide member 421 and the protrusion 14, so that the guide member 42 contacts the first contact surface 15 a without being interfered with the protrusion 14. You can touch.
[0061]
Thereafter, when the central axis 1a of the image carrier 1 is inserted, the image carrier unit B is rotated counterclockwise from FIG. 7 to the state shown in FIG. 6, and the guide member 421 is connected to the first contact surface 15a and the first contact surface 15a. It is possible to press the two contact surfaces 14a simultaneously.
[0062]
At this time, the bent portion 121 formed on the stay 12 of the image carrier unit B is locked by a locking member 101 attached to the frame 100 of the process cartridge A as shown in FIG. Then, when the image carrier 1 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 5, the image carrier unit B slightly rotates counterclockwise, and the front end surface 121 a of the bent portion 121 becomes the locking surface of the locking member 101. 101a. On the other hand, a gap S is formed below the bent portion 121 and the locking member 101. By ensuring the gap S, the position of the image carrier 1 can be accurately determined. Further, at this time, in the developing device 40, as described above, the convex portion 411 on the guide member 421 side of the housing 41 is lifted from the support surface 103 by γ.
[0063]
In the above embodiment, the first contact surface 15 a is formed on the positioning member 15 different from the support member 11, but it may be formed directly on the support member 11. However, by using the positioning member 15 separately from the support member 11 as in the above embodiment, the first contact surface 15a and the second contact surface 14a can be formed as independent ones. Therefore, the distance between the image carrier 1 and the developing roller 42 can be changed by replacing the positioning member 15 with another one.
[0064]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, in the image forming apparatus of the present invention, when the gap between the cylindrical image carrier and the proximity member disposed close to the image carrier is constant, the image carrier is provided on both sides of the carrier. A first contact surface that regulates the distance of the first contact surface and a second contact surface that extends in a direction intersecting the first contact surface. Guide members are provided at both ends of the proximity member. By simultaneously contacting the contact surface and the second contact surface, the distance from the image carrier to the proximity member and the direction could be made constant. Therefore, the distance between the image carrier and the adjacent member such as the developing roller can be constant from both ends of the image carrier to the center.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a color image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a process cartridge.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an image carrier unit.
FIG. 4 is a top view of an engaging portion between the image carrier unit and the developing device.
FIG. 5 is a side view showing a state in which the image carrier unit is set at a predetermined position of the process unit and engaged with the developing device.
6 is a view showing a state where a locking member is removed from FIG. 5. FIG.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the engagement between the image carrier unit and the developing device is released and the central axis of the image carrier is removed.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a developing device.
[Explanation of symbols]
A Process cartridge B Image carrier unit 1 Image carrier 1a Center shafts 11 and 13 Support member 14a Second contact surface 15 Positioning member 15a First contact surface 40 Developing device 41 Housing 42 Developing roller (proximity member)
421 Guide member 103 Support surface γ Clearance between the guide member side of the bottom surface of the housing and the support surface δ Clearance between the second contact surface and the guide member

Claims (6)

A cylindrical image carrier, a support member attached to both sides of the image carrier, a first contact surface provided on the support member, a second contact surface intersecting the contact surface, and the image A proximity member disposed in proximity to the carrier, wherein the first abutment surface is an arc having a center of curvature at the center of the image carrier, and the second abutment surface intersects the arc, and the proximity member The image forming apparatus is characterized in that both end portions of the first and second contact surfaces simultaneously contact both the first contact surface and the second contact surface.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the proximity member has guide members at both ends, and the guide members simultaneously contact both the first contact surface and the second contact surface.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first contact surface is formed on a positioning member attached to the support member, and the second contact surface is formed on the support member. apparatus. The proximity member is accommodated in a housing of the proximity member, the housing is movable forward and backward on a predetermined support surface provided in the image forming apparatus, and the guide member has the first contact surface and the second contact surface. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein a gap is formed between the guide member side of the bottom surface of the housing on the support surface and the support surface when both of them are simultaneously contacted.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the proximity member is a developing roller that supplies toner to the image carrier. The image carrier constitutes an image carrier unit including the support member, a process cartridge having the image carrier unit and the proximity member is provided so as to be insertable / removable in an image forming apparatus, and the central axis of the image carrier is The image carrier unit is tilted when it can be inserted and removed from the image carrier, and the central axis is removed, and the proximity member on the support surface grounds the guide member side of the housing bottom surface on the support surface. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a gap is formed between the second contact surface and the guide member in the inclined state.

Images