JP5077671B2 - Image forming apparatus and process cartridge - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and a process cartridge.

  2. Description of the Related Art A process cartridge having at least a developing device and a process cartridge that is detachably held by the developing device and having a handle for lifting the process cartridge is known (patent) Reference 1).

JP 2003-202792 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus and a process cartridge capable of improving operability when the process cartridge is attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus main body, a process cartridge that can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body, and the process cartridge to the image forming apparatus main body up to a mounting position of the process cartridge. Guiding means for guiding the process cartridge in a direction different from the insertion direction, which is an insertion direction, and the process cartridge is supplied to a handle, an image holding body for holding an image, and the image holding body A developer holding body for holding the developer, and two developer storage chambers for storing the developer, and in a state of being supported by the handle portion, the direction of the center of gravity from the handle portion toward the center of gravity; The insertion direction is substantially the same direction, the image carrier is positioned on the lower end side of the process cartridge, and the image carrier is located on both side surfaces of the process cartridge body. A projection that is coaxial with the axis of the body is formed, and when the process cartridge is started to be installed in the main body of the image forming apparatus, the projection is guided by the guide means prior to other parts of the process cartridge. The two developer storage chambers are arranged so as to overlap each other in the direction of the center of gravity when the process cartridge is supported by the handle portion .

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the grip portion has a surface that is substantially horizontal and downward in the direction of gravity when the process cartridge is supported by the grip portion. It is.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the guide means includes a guide portion that is provided in the image forming apparatus main body and guides the protrusion. The guide portion includes a recess, and the protrusion of the recess is inserted. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a width in a direction intersecting with the insertion direction is narrower at an end portion at which insertion is ended than at a start portion at which insertion of the protrusion is started.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, another protrusion different from the protrusion is further formed on the process cartridge main body, and the guide means includes the protrusion and the other protrusion in the middle of guiding the protrusion. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3 , further comprising another concave portion that starts contact with the other protrusion and guides the other protrusion.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the width of the other recess in the direction intersecting the insertion direction in which the other protrusion is inserted is more completely inserted than the start portion where the insertion of the other protrusion is started. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the end portion is narrow.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus main body that can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body, and the process cartridge is mounted to a mounting position at which the process cartridge is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body. Guided by guide means for guiding the process cartridge in a direction different from the insertion direction, which is the direction in which the cartridge is inserted into the image forming apparatus main body, and a handle, an image holding body for holding an image, and the image holding body In the state where the developer holding body for holding the developer to be supplied and the two developer storage chambers for storing the developer are supported by the grip portion, the grip portion is directed to the center of gravity. The direction of the center of gravity and the insertion direction are substantially the same direction, the image carrier is positioned on the lower end side of the process cartridge, and the image carrier is provided on both side surfaces of the process cartridge body. A projection that is coaxial with the shaft is formed, and when the process cartridge is started to be mounted in the main body of the image forming apparatus, the projection comes into contact with the guide means prior to the other part of the process cartridge. The two developer accommodating chambers are process cartridges that are arranged so as to overlap in the direction of the center of gravity when the process cartridge is supported by the handle portion .

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus and a process cartridge that can improve operability when the process cartridge is attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus.

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a side view showing an example of an image forming apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The image forming apparatus 10 includes an image forming apparatus main body 12, and an image forming unit 14, paper feed units 18 a and 18 b, and a conveyance path 32 are provided in the image forming apparatus main body 12. Further, the image forming apparatus main body 12 is formed with a discharge port 34 used for discharging the sheet.

An open / close cover 39 is attached to the upper part of the image forming apparatus main body 12 so that it can be opened and closed with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 12 using a hinge 42. The opening / closing cover 39 is used as an opening / closing part, and the opening part 35 (see FIG. 8) is formed in the image forming apparatus main body 12 by opening the opening / closing cover 39. Then, a process cartridge 200 described later is attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body 12 through the opening portion 35.
On the surface of the opening / closing cover 39 that faces downward when the opening / closing cover 39 is closed, a convex portion 40 is formed so as to extend in the direction of the process cartridge 200 described later.

  On the right inner side surface and the left inner side surface of the image forming apparatus main body 12, a guide groove 19 is formed which forms part of the guide means and is used as a guide portion. The guide groove 19 is located on the rear side (left side in FIG. 1) of the image forming apparatus main body 12, and is located on the front side of the first guide groove 20 used as the first guide portion and the image forming apparatus main body 12. It has the 2nd guide groove 21 used as a 2nd guide part. In FIG. 1, although the guide groove 19, the first guide groove 20, and the second guide groove 21 formed on the left inner surface of the image forming apparatus main body 12 are illustrated, they correspond to the back side in FIG. The guide groove 19, the first guide groove 20, and the second guide groove 21 formed on the right inner surface of the image forming apparatus main body 12 are not shown.

  The first guide groove 20 has a width in a direction intersecting with an insertion direction in which a first projection 204 to be described later is inserted. The portion 20b is narrowed. In addition, the second guide groove 21 has a width in a direction intersecting with an insertion direction in which a second protrusion 206, which will be described later, is inserted, and the insertion ends more than the start portion 21a where the insertion of the second protrusion 206 is started. The finished end 21b is narrowed.

  The upward surface of the opening / closing cover 39 is used as a discharge unit 16 on which sheets discharged from the image forming apparatus main body 12 through the discharge port 34 are stacked.

  The paper supply unit 18a has a storage container 22a for storing paper. The storage container 22a is pulled out of the image forming apparatus main body 12 or removed from the front side (right side in FIG. 1) of the image forming apparatus main body 12, for example. You can do that. A pickup roll 24a is disposed near the rear end of the storage container 22a, and a transport roll 26a that transports the paper picked up by the pickup roll 24a further downstream is disposed downstream of the pickup roll 24a in the paper transport direction. Has been. Further, a retard roll 28a used to roll paper and prevent double feeding of the paper is in contact with the transport roll 26a.

The paper supply unit 18 b has a storage container 22 b for storing paper, and the storage container 22 b can be removed from the front side of the image forming apparatus main body 12 to the outside of the image forming apparatus main body 12. A pickup roll 24b is disposed near the rear end of the storage container 22b, and a transport roll 26b that transports the paper picked up by the pickup roll 24b further downstream is disposed downstream of the pickup roll 24b in the paper transport direction. Has been.
The pickup roll 24b has a function of picking up paper and preventing double feeding of paper together with a function of picking up paper.

  For example, a front cover 43 is provided at the front end of the storage container 22b using a hinge 44. By opening the front cover 43, a larger size of paper can be stored in the storage container 22b compared to the state in which the front cover 43 is closed.

  The conveyance path 32 is a sheet path through which the sheet is conveyed from the sheet feeding units 18 a and 18 b to the discharge port 34, and is near the rear surface of the image forming apparatus main body 12. The unit 18b has a portion that is formed substantially vertically from the conveying roll 26b to the fixing device 36 described later. A transfer device 45 and a photoconductor 55 which will be described later are arranged on the upstream side of the fixing device 36 in the conveyance path 32, and a resist roll 38 is arranged on the upstream side of the transfer device 45 and the photoconductor 55. In addition, a discharge roll 41 is disposed in the vicinity of the discharge port 34 of the conveyance path 32.

  In the above configuration, the sheets fed from the storage containers 22a and 22b of the sheet feeding units 18a and 18b by the pickup rolls 24a and 24b are guided to the transport path 32, and the leading ends thereof are temporarily stored by the registration roll 38. The developer image is transferred to a position between the transfer device 45 and the photoconductor 55, which will be described later, and the developer image is transferred at a position between the transfer device 45 and the photoconductor 55. The transferred developer image Is fixed by the fixing device 36 and discharged from the discharge port 34 to the discharge unit 16 by the discharge roll 41.

  However, when image formation is performed on both sides of the sheet, the sheet is returned to the reverse path. That is, the front side of the discharge roll 41 in the conveyance path 32 is divided into two forks, and a switching claw 46 is provided at the divided part, and a reverse path 48 is formed from the divided part to the registration roll 38. The reversing path 48 is provided with transport rolls 50a, 50b, and 50c. When image formation is performed on both sides, the switching claw 46 is switched to the side that opens the reversing path 48, and the trailing end of the sheet is placed on the discharge roll 41. The discharge roll 41 is reversed when the front side is applied, and the sheet is guided to the reverse path 48 and again passes through the registration roll 38, the transfer device 45, the photoconductor 55 and the fixing device 36, and is discharged from the discharge port 34 to the discharge unit 16. Is done.

  The image forming unit 14 is of an electrophotographic system, and includes a process cartridge 200, a transfer device 45, and an optical writing device 58.

  The process cartridge 200 can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body 12 through the opening 35 (see FIG. 8) formed in the image forming apparatus main body 12 by opening the opening / closing cover 39. FIG. 1 shows a mounting position where the process cartridge 200 is disposed in the image forming apparatus main body 12 during image formation.

  The process cartridge 200 has a process cartridge main body 202, and a photoconductor 55 used as an image holding member is mounted in the process cartridge main body 202. On both side surfaces of the process cartridge main body 202, there are provided a first projection 204 and a second projection 206, which constitute a part of the guiding means, each used as a guided portion. The first projection 204 is also used as a first guided portion, and the second projection 206 is also used as a second guided portion. The first protrusion 204 is provided coaxially or integrally with the shaft of the photoreceptor 55, and the second protrusion 206 is formed integrally with a first housing 220 described later. In FIG. 1, although the first protrusion 204 and the second protrusion 206 provided on the left side surface of the process cartridge main body 202 are illustrated, the right side surface of the process cartridge main body 202 corresponding to the back side in FIG. The provided first protrusion 204 and second protrusion 206 are not shown.

  The first protrusion 204 and the second protrusion 206, and the first guide groove 20 and the second guide groove 21 described above constitute guide means for guiding the process cartridge 200 to the mounting position.

  Further, the process cartridge body 200 is formed with a handle 208 that is a part for an operator to hold the process cartridge 200 when the process cartridge 200 is attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus body 12. The handle 208 has a surface 210. Details of the process cartridge 200 will be described later.

  The optical writing device 58 is composed of, for example, a scanning type laser exposure device, and is used for exposing the photoconductor 55 to form a latent image on the photoconductor 55. In this embodiment, a scanning laser exposure apparatus is used as the optical writing device 58, but an LED (Light Emitting Diode), a surface emitting laser, or the like can be used as another embodiment. For example, when the optical writing device 58 is composed of LEDs, it can be integrated with a process cartridge 200 described later.

  The transfer device 45 is used to transfer the developer image formed on the surface of the photoreceptor 55 to a sheet.

FIG. 2 shows a process cartridge 200.
As shown in FIG. 2A, the process cartridge main body 202 is composed of two housings. That is, the process cartridge main body 202 includes a first housing 220 and a second housing 222. Then, as shown in FIG. 2B, the first housing 220 and the second housing 222 are connected to each other in the image forming apparatus main body 12 and used for image formation.

  The second casing 222 is formed with the handle 208 described above. Further, a recess 224 is formed in the second housing at a position on the right side of the handle portion 208. When the open / close cover 39 (see FIG. 1) is closed, the convex portion 40 formed on the open / close cover 39 is inserted into the concave portion 224 so that the concave portion 224 enters.

FIG. 3 shows the left side surface of the second housing 222.
On both sides of the second housing 222, connection holes 230 used as connection portions used for connection with the first housing 220 are formed. In FIG. 3, although the connection hole 230 formed on the left side is shown, the connection hole 230 formed on the right side located on the back side is not shown in FIG. 3.

  Further, on the rear side of the left side surface of the second housing 222, there is provided a mounting portion 232 that is used as a first urging means and used for mounting an elastic body 226 made of, for example, a coil spring. In addition, a developing roll 92 used as a developer holder is mounted in the second casing 222 so that a part thereof is exposed from the second casing 222.

FIG. 4 shows the left side surface of the first housing 220.
On both side surfaces of the first housing 220, connection holes 234 used as connection portions used for connection to the second housing 220 are formed. In FIG. 4, although the connection hole 234 formed on the left side is shown, the connection hole 234 formed on the right side located on the back side is not shown in FIG.

  Further, on the rear side of the left side surface of the first housing 220, there is an end portion of the elastic body 226 (see FIG. 3) opposite to the end portion on the side attached to the second housing 222. A mounting portion 236 to be mounted is provided. In addition, the left end side (front side in FIG. 4) of the vertical wall portion 238 included in the first housing 220 is used as second urging means, and is one end portion of an elastic body 240 made of, for example, a coil spring. The side is fitted.

FIG. 5 shows a state in which the first housing 220 and the second housing 222 are connected from the left side.
In order to connect the first housing 220 and the second housing 222, the connection for the connection formed in the second housing 222 is provided inside the connection hole 234 formed in the first housing 220. The first housing 220 and the second housing 222 are combined so that the hole 230 is disposed, and the connecting pin 242 used as a connecting member is connected from the outside on the left and right sides of the second housing 220. Insert each one. Here, since the connecting pin 242 has a sufficient length to reach the connecting hole 230 formed in the second casing from the outside of the first casing 220, the connecting pins 242 are arranged on both the left and right sides. The first housing 220 and the second housing 222 are coupled to each other by the two coupling pins 242 so as to be able to rotate around the two coupling pins 242.

  After being connected by the connecting pins 242, the elastic bodies 226 are attached to the attachment portion 235 of the first housing 220 and the attachment portion 232 of the second housing 222, respectively. The elastic body 226 causes the first housing 220 and the second housing 222 to move between the photosensitive body 55 and the developing roll 92 so that the first housing 220 and the second housing 222 rotate about the connecting pin 242 as indicated by arrows in FIG. It is urged in directions close to each other.

  When the first housing 220 and the second housing 222 are connected, the end of the elastic body 240 on the side opposite to the end attached to the first housing 220 is the first end. 2 Touch the housing 222. For this reason, the second casing 222 is pressed by the elastic body 240, and the photosensitive body 55 and the developing roll 92 are close to each other so as to rotate around the connecting pin 242 as indicated by an arrow in FIG. Be energized by.

FIG. 6 shows a cross section of the process cartridge 200.
As shown in FIG. 6, the process cartridge 200 is charged by the above-described photoconductor 55, a charging device 56 made of, for example, a charging roll that uniformly charges the photoconductor 55, and the charging device 56. A latent image formed on the surface of the photoconductor 55 is developed with a developer, and a developing device 60 that forms a developer image on the surface of the photoconductor 55 and a blade that cleans the developer remaining on the photoconductor 55, for example, are configured. And a cleaning device 62. Among these devices, the photoconductor 55, the charging device 56, and the cleaning device 62 are mounted in the first housing 220. On the other hand, the developing device 60 is provided in the second housing 222.

  The developing device 60 includes a developing chamber 86, a first developer storage chamber 88 used as a container for storing the developer, and a second developer stored in the first developer storage chamber 88. And a developer storage chamber 89. The developing chamber 86 and the first developer storage chamber 88 are connected via a connecting portion 90 formed of an opening. Further, the first developer storage chamber 88 and the second developer storage chamber 89 are communicated with each other through passages provided near both ends of the process cartridge 200, but are not shown in FIG.

  In the developing chamber 86, the above-described developing roll 92 is disposed.

  In the first developer storage chamber 88, a developer transport device 96 for transporting the stored developer to the development chamber 86 is disposed. The developer transport device 96 includes a shaft 98 and a transport member 100 that is fixed to the shaft 98 and is made of an elastically deformable member such as a thin resin such as a PET film. Further, a developer conveyance amount regulating member 102 is provided in the developer storage chamber 88 so as not to contact the conveyance member 100. The developer transport amount regulating member 102 is formed, for example, in a roll shape from plastic or metal, regulates the amount of developer transported from the second developer storage chamber 89, and shafts the transported developer. Has the effect of sending in the direction. For example, two transport grooves 104 are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the developer transport amount regulating member 102 at an angle of, for example, 180 degrees.

  When the process cartridge 200 is new, the developer T in such an amount that the lower half of the developer conveyance amount regulating member 102 is filled with the process cartridge 200 placed in a horizontal place is the first developer storage chamber 88. The upper surface of the developer T stored in the first developer storage chamber 88 is substantially horizontal. Further, when the process cartridge 200 is new, the developer T that reaches the position slightly below the position where the handle 208 is formed in the state where the process cartridge 200 is placed in a horizontal place is the second developer. It is stored in the storage chamber 89. The upper surface of the developer T stored in the second developer storage chamber 89 is substantially horizontal.

  FIG. 7 shows the process cartridge 200 supported by the handle 208. Here, the state supported by the grip portion 208 means a state in which the operator grips the portion of the grip 208 and lifts the process cartridge 200 without applying a force in a direction different from the gravity direction. Therefore, even when the surface 210 is supported by means other than humans (for example, a support rod or the like), the process cartridge 200 is in the state shown in FIG. In the state supported by the handle 208, the surface 210 is substantially horizontal and faces downward in the direction of gravity. Further, in the state of being supported by the handle portion 208, the developer T in the first developer storage chamber 88 and the developer T stored in the second developer storage chamber 89 are gravitational. Under the action, as shown in FIG. 7, from the position shown in FIG. 6, the first developer storage chamber 88 and the second developer storage chamber 89 are moved downward. Become.

  As the developer moves, the position of the center of gravity of the process cartridge 200 including the stored developer becomes the position of the point G shown in FIG. A point G indicates the center of gravity of the process cartridge 200 that is supported by the handle portion 208, and an arrow l indicates a point G (from the handle portion 208 of the process cartridge 200 that is supported by the handle portion 208. The direction of the center of gravity toward the center of gravity G) is shown.

FIG. 8 shows how the process cartridge 200 is mounted in the image forming apparatus main body 12.
As shown in FIG. 8, in the state supported by the handle portion 208, the direction of the arrow l from the handle portion 208 toward the center of gravity G, and the insertion direction in which the process cartridge 200 is inserted into the image forming apparatus main body 12. Are in the same direction. For this reason, in order to mount the process cartridge 200 on the image forming apparatus main body 12, for example, the process cartridge 200 is pushed toward the rear side of the image forming apparatus main body 12 to move the process cartridge 200 in a direction different from the gravity direction. The process cartridge 200 is mounted without performing the above operation.

  When the mounting of the process cartridge 200 to the image forming apparatus main body 12 is started, as shown in FIG. 8, first, the first protrusion 204 starts to contact the first guide groove 20, and the first protrusion 204 is guided by the first guide groove 20. The second protrusion 206 is inserted into the second guide groove 21 while the process cartridge 200 is guided to the mounting position in the image forming apparatus main body 12 so that the protrusion 204 is guided by the guide groove 20. The movement of the portion where the second protrusion 206 is formed is guided by the second guide groove. At the time when the second protrusion 206 starts to be inserted into the guide groove 21, the first protrusion 204 has finished passing through the start portion 20a, and the play between the first protrusion 204 and the guide groove 20 is almost eliminated. . Therefore, thereafter, the process cartridge 200 is smoothly guided to the mounting position.

  In the image forming apparatus 10 described above, the first guide groove 20 is provided on the image forming apparatus main body 12 side, and the first protrusion 204 guided to the first guide groove 20 is provided on the process cartridge 200. However, instead of this, the image forming apparatus main body 12 is provided with a projection used as a first guide portion, and a guide groove used as a first guided portion guided by the first projection is provided in the process cartridge. 200 may be provided. In this case, the groove formed in the process cartridge 200 has a width in the direction intersecting with the insertion direction in which the protrusion provided on the image forming apparatus main body 12 is inserted, and the insertion is finished from the start portion where the insertion of the protrusion is started. It is desirable to make the end portion to be narrowed.

  Further, in the image forming apparatus 10 described above, the second guide groove 21 is provided on the image forming apparatus main body 12 side, and the second protrusion 206 guided to the process cartridge 200 by the second guide groove 21. However, instead of this, a projection used as the second guide portion is provided in the image forming apparatus main body 12, and a guide groove used as the second guided portion guided by the second projection is provided. The process cartridge 200 may be provided. In this case, the groove formed in the process cartridge 200 has a width in the direction intersecting with the insertion direction in which the protrusion provided on the image forming apparatus main body 12 is inserted, and the insertion is finished from the start portion where the insertion of the protrusion is started. It is desirable to make the end portion to be narrowed.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the mounting position of the process cartridge 200 and the insertion direction differ by approximately 90 degrees. As described above, the process cartridge 200 has the insertion direction in which the process cartridge 200 is inserted into the image forming apparatus body 12 by the guide groove 19 including the first guide groove 20 and the second guide groove 21. Are guided in different directions and are finally guided to the image forming position which is the position shown in FIG.

  As described above, the present invention can be applied to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, and a printer, and a process cartridge attached to and detached from these image forming apparatuses.

1 is a side view illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2A shows a process cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2A is a perspective view showing a state in which the first housing and the second housing of the process cartridge are disassembled, and FIG. ) Is a perspective view showing a state in which the first housing and the second housing of the process cartridge are connected to each other. It is a left side view showing the first case which the process cartridge concerning the embodiment of the present invention has. It is a left view which shows the 2nd housing | casing which the process cartridge which concerns on embodiment of this invention has. It is a left side view showing the state where the 1st case and the 2nd case which the process cartridge concerning an embodiment of the present invention have are connected. It is sectional drawing which shows the process cartridge which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the state in which the process cartridge which concerns on embodiment of this invention was supported using the handle by the operator. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which the process cartridge and the image forming apparatus main body according to the embodiment of the present invention are mounted.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image forming apparatus 12 Image forming apparatus main body 19 Guide groove 20 1st guide groove 21 2nd guide groove 35 Opening part 39 Opening / closing cover 55 Photoconductor 92 Developing roll 200 Process cartridge 202 Process cartridge main body 204 1st protrusion 206 1st Two projections 208 Grip portion 210 Surface G Center of gravity T Developer

Claims (6)

An image forming apparatus main body;
A process cartridge that is detachable from the main body of the image forming apparatus;
Guiding means for guiding the process cartridge in a direction different from an insertion direction, which is a direction in which the process cartridge is inserted into the image forming apparatus main body, up to the mounting position of the process cartridge;
Have
The process cartridge is
A handle, an image holding body for holding an image, a development holding body for holding a developer supplied to the image holding body, and two developer storage chambers for storing the developer,
In the state supported by the handle portion, the center of gravity direction from the handle portion toward the center of gravity and the insertion direction are substantially the same direction, and the image carrier is located on the lower end side of the process cartridge. ,
Protrusions coaxial with the axis of the image carrier are formed on both side surfaces of the process cartridge body,
When the mounting of the process cartridge into the image forming apparatus main body is started, the protrusion starts to contact the guide unit prior to the other part of the process cartridge ,
The two developer storage chambers are arranged so as to overlap in the direction of the center of gravity when the process cartridge is supported by the handle portion . The grip portion, the In the state where the process cartridge is supported by the grip portion, the image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a surface to be the direction of gravity downward substantially horizontal. The guide means includes a guide portion that is provided in the image forming apparatus main body and guides the protrusion.
The guide portion is formed of a concave portion, and a width of the concave portion in a direction intersecting with an insertion direction in which the projection is inserted is narrower at an end portion at which insertion is finished than at a start portion at which insertion of the projection is started. The image forming apparatus according to 1 or 2 . Another protrusion different from the protrusion is further formed on the process cartridge body,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the guide unit further includes another recess that starts contact with the other projection while the recess guides the projection and guides the other projection. The other projection in a direction intersecting the insertion direction for insertion width of said other recess, end parts are narrower claim 4, wherein insertion of said other protrusions is inserted is completed than the start portion to be initiated Image forming apparatus. The process cartridge can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body, and the process cartridge is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body until the mounting position where the process cartridge is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body. Guided by the guiding means for guiding the process cartridge in a direction different from the insertion direction, which is the direction in which it is inserted,
A handle, an image holding body for holding an image, a development holding body for holding a developer supplied to the image holding body, and two developer storage chambers for storing the developer,
In the state supported by the handle portion, the center of gravity direction from the handle portion toward the center of gravity and the insertion direction are substantially the same direction, and the image carrier is located on the lower end side of the process cartridge. ,
Protrusions coaxial with the axis of the image carrier are formed on both side surfaces of the process cartridge body,
When the mounting of the process cartridge into the image forming apparatus main body is started, the protrusion starts to contact the guide unit prior to the other part of the process cartridge ,
The two developer storage chambers are disposed so as to overlap in the direction of the center of gravity when the process cartridge is supported by the handle portion .

Images