JP5454097B2 - Detachable unit and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a detachable unit and an image forming apparatus.

  In conventional image forming apparatuses such as copiers and printers, the technologies described in the following Patent Documents 1 and 2 are conventionally known with respect to an attachable / detachable unit that can be replaced when a developing unit, an image carrier unit, a toner cartridge, or the like is consumed or failed. It is.

  In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-276139 as Patent Document 1, a terminal portion (41a) is formed on a CRUM (41) in which information on toner cartridges (TCy to TCk) is stored, and the toner cartridge (TCy to TCk) is formed. ), A technique in which the terminal part (41a) is fitted and connected to the terminal part of the image forming apparatus main body (U1), that is, a technique related to a CRUM having a so-called drawer connector type contact terminal is described. ing.

  In JP-A-2003-248354 as Patent Document 2, contact pads (92A, 92B) are provided on the CRUM (90) of the electrophotographic cartridge (12), and the cartridges (12, 14, 16) are mounted. On the other hand, a technique is described in which the contact pads (92A, 92B) are electrically connected by engaging with the contacts (95) of the terminal block (94) on the main body side.

JP 2008-276139 A (“0034”, FIGS. 4 and 9) JP 2003-248354 A ("0026" to "0030", FIGS. 2 to 3)

  This invention makes it a technical subject to suppress generation | occurrence | production of the conduction | electrical_connection defect of an electrical contact, when an attachment / detachment unit vibrates.

In order to solve the technical problem, the detachable unit of the invention according to claim 1 comprises:
A storage medium that stores information about a detachable unit that is attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body, and includes a substrate and a connection terminal exposed on the surface of the substrate, and is detachably supported by the detachable unit. A storage medium , the storage medium having the substrate made of a resin material, and the connection terminal formed by plating a conductive metal material on the substrate ;
A first protection connection terminal capable of contacting the connection terminal of the storage medium; and a first protection connection terminal electrically connected to the first protection connection terminal and capable of contacting a connection terminal provided in the image forming apparatus main body. The second protective connection terminal , wherein the conductive metal material plated with the conductive metal material is more difficult to peel off than the resin material . And a protective member body that supports the second protective connection terminal, wherein the first protective connection terminal is electrically connected to the connection terminal of the storage medium. And the protective member supported by the detachable unit,
With
The second protective connection terminal is electrically connected to the connected terminal of the image forming apparatus main body when mounted on the image forming apparatus main body.

In order to solve the technical problem, the detachable unit of the invention according to claim 2 comprises:
A storage medium that stores information about a detachable unit that is attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body, and includes a substrate and a connection terminal exposed on the surface of the substrate, and is detachably supported by the detachable unit. A storage medium;
A first protection connection terminal capable of contacting the connection terminal of the storage medium; and a first protection connection terminal electrically connected to the first protection connection terminal and capable of contacting a connection terminal provided in the image forming apparatus main body. A protective member main body supporting the first protective connection terminal and the second protective connection terminal, wherein the first protective connection terminal is the first protective connection terminal. The protective member supported by the detachable unit in a state of being electrically connected to a connection terminal of a storage medium;
With
The second protective connection terminal is electrically connected to the connected terminal of the image forming apparatus main body when mounted on the image forming apparatus main body .

The invention according to claim 3 is the detachable unit according to claim 2 ,
The storage medium having the substrate made of a resin material, and the connection terminals formed by plating a conductive metal material on the substrate;
The second protective connection terminal in which the conductive metal material is plated on a metal material on which the conductive metal material plated on the resin material is less likely to peel;
It is provided with.

  The invention according to claim 4 is the detachable unit according to claim 1 or 3,
  Phosphor bronze is used as a metal material in which the conductive metal material plated with the resin material is less likely to be peeled off.

  The invention according to claim 5 is the detachable unit according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
  A rotating body that is driven to rotate;
  A driven transmission system that includes a driven transmission member that transmits driving from a driving source provided in the image forming apparatus main body, and that transmits driving from the driving source to the rotating body;
  It is provided with.

The invention according to claim 6 is the detachable unit according to any one of claims 1 to 5 ,
The contact pressure between the second protective connection terminal and the connected terminal is set to a larger value than the contact pressure between the connection terminal and the first protective connection terminal. And

In order to solve the technical problem, an image forming apparatus according to claim 7 is provided.
An image forming apparatus main body;
The detachable unit according to any one of claims 1 to 6 , wherein the detachable unit is detachably attached to the image forming apparatus main body.
It is provided with.

According to the first, second, and seventh aspects of the present invention, when the detachable unit vibrates, the occurrence of poor electrical contact conduction can be suppressed as compared with the case where no protective member is used.
According to the first and third aspects of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the peeling of the plating of the storage medium that does not move relative to the case where the configuration of the present invention is not provided.
According to invention of Claim 4, compared with the case where phosphor bronze is not used, it can make it difficult to peel a gold plating.
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the electrical contact is poorly connected to the vibration of the detachable unit when the drive is transmitted through the driven transmission system, as compared with the case where the protective member is not used. Can be suppressed.
According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the peeling of the connection terminals as compared with the case where the configuration of the present invention is not provided.

1 is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an overall explanatory view of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is an enlarged explanatory view of a main part of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a state in which the process unit according to the first exemplary embodiment is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body as viewed obliquely from the rear. FIG. 5 is a view seen from the direction of arrow V in FIG. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a state in which the K color process unit is drawn forward from the state shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is an explanatory perspective view of the unit mounting portion in a state where all process units are removed. FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a main part of a connected terminal portion on the image forming apparatus main body side. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the process unit according to the first embodiment. 10 is a view as seen from the direction of the arrow X in FIG. 9, FIG. 10A is an overall view, and FIG. 10B is an enlarged view of the main part of the rear end portion. 11 is a perspective view of the developing unit as viewed from diagonally upward on the front right side, FIG. 11A is an overall perspective view, and FIG. 11B is an enlarged explanatory view of the front end portion. FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the developing unit as viewed from the upper front left side. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional explanatory view of the developing unit. FIG. 14 is an explanatory view of the main part of the developing unit main body, FIG. 14A is a perspective view of the developing unit main body with the developing roll and the initial developer container removed, FIG. 14B is a perspective view of the supply auger, and FIG. It is a perspective view of an admix auger. FIG. 15 is an enlarged view of the main part of the connection terminal, FIG. 15A is an explanatory diagram of the main part in a state where it is not connected to the connected terminal on the main body side, and FIG. FIG. FIG. 16 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the protective member is removed from the process unit. FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram of the storage medium of Example 1, FIG. 17A is a plan view, and FIG. 17B is a perspective view. 18A and 18B are explanatory views of the protective member of Example 1. FIG. 18A is a perspective view seen from obliquely below, FIG. 18B is a perspective view seen obliquely from above, and FIG. 18C is a perspective view of protective connection terminals. FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram of the relationship between the identified portion and the regulated portion of the process unit according to the first embodiment and the identification portion and the regulated portion of the unit mounting portion. FIG. 19B is an explanatory diagram of a state in which the identification unit is started, and FIG. 19B is a state where the process unit is inserted from the state shown in FIG. FIG. 19C is an explanatory diagram of a state where the attachment of the process unit is completed, the identification unit and the identified unit are engaged, and the engagement between the regulated unit and the regulating unit is released. FIG. 20 is a perspective view of the developing unit in a state where the breaking member and the sealing member are mounted. FIG. 21 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the upper cover of the developer accommodating portion is removed from the state shown in FIG. FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram of the state seen from the direction of arrow XXII in FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view of the main part in the state shown in FIG. 24 is a sectional view taken along line XXIV-XXIV in FIG. FIG. 25 is an explanatory view of a main part of the inlet at the front end of the developer accommodating portion. 26 is an explanatory view of the front end portion of the developer accommodating portion, FIG. 26A is an overall view, FIG. 26B is an enlarged view of a main portion of the front end portion, and FIG. 26C is an explanatory view in a state where the contact member is removed. FIG. 27 is an explanatory view of a contact member, FIG. 27A is an exploded explanatory view of the contact member, and FIG. 28A and 28B are explanatory diagrams of the sealing member of Example 1, FIG. 28A is an explanatory diagram of a state before the sealing member is removed, FIG. 28B is an explanatory diagram of a state in the middle of removing the sealing member, and FIG. 28C is a sealing member. It is explanatory drawing of the state from which was removed. FIG. 29 is an explanatory diagram of a fixing method between the breaking member and the developer accommodating portion, FIG. 29A is an explanatory diagram of a fixing method of the first embodiment, and FIG. 29B is an explanatory diagram of a fixing method of the first modification of the first embodiment. FIG. 29C is an explanatory diagram of a fixing method of a second modification of the first embodiment, FIG. 29D is an explanatory diagram of a fixing method of the third modification of the first embodiment, and FIG. 29E is an explanatory diagram of a fixing method of the fourth modification of the first embodiment. It is. 30 is an explanatory diagram of a process in which the breaking member of Example 1 is pulled out, FIG. 30A is an explanatory diagram of a state in which the breaking member is pulled forward from the state shown in FIG. 24, and FIG. 30B is from the state shown in FIG. Furthermore, FIG. 30C is an explanatory view of a state in which the breaking member is pulled out further from the state shown in FIG. 30B. FIG. 31 is a schematic explanatory diagram of the relationship between the identified part and the regulated part of the process unit and the identification part and the regulated part of the unit mounting part. FIG. 31A is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of the first embodiment, and FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the state by which the to-be-regulated part and the control part are arrange | positioned on the opposite side to Example 1. FIG.

Next, examples as specific examples of embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the following examples.
In order to facilitate understanding of the following description, in the drawings, the front-rear direction is the X-axis direction, the left-right direction is the Y-axis direction, the up-down direction is the Z-axis direction, and arrows X, -X, Y, -Y, The direction indicated by Z and -Z or the indicated side is defined as the front side, the rear side, the right side, the left side, the upper side, the lower side, or the front side, the rear side, the right side, the left side, the upper side, and the lower side, respectively.
In the figure, “•” in “○” means an arrow heading from the back of the page to the front, and “×” in “○” is the front of the page. It means an arrow pointing from the back to the back.
In the following description using the drawings, illustrations other than members necessary for the description are omitted as appropriate for easy understanding.

1 is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an overall explanatory view of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
1 and 2, a copying machine U as an example of an image forming apparatus includes an automatic document feeder U1 and an image forming apparatus main body U2 that supports the automatic document feeder U1 and has a transparent document reading surface PG at the upper end. Yes.
In FIG. 1, a front cover Ua as an example of an opening / closing member that is opened and closed when a component or the like is exchanged is supported on the front surface of the image forming apparatus main body U2 so as to be opened and closed.
Referring to FIG. 2, the automatic document feeder U1 includes a document feeder TG1 in which a plurality of documents Gi to be copied are accommodated, and a document fed from the document feeder TG1 on the document reading surface PG. And a document discharge section TG2 from which the document Gi that has passed through the reading position is discharged.
The image forming apparatus main body U2 includes an operation unit UI through which a user inputs an operation command signal for starting an image forming operation, an exposure optical system A, and the like.

Reflected light from a document conveyed on the document reading surface PG by the automatic document feeder U1 or a document manually placed on the document reading surface PG is passed through the exposure optical system A by the solid-state image sensor CCD. It is converted into electrical signals of red: R, green: G, blue: B.
The image processing unit IPS converts the RGB electrical signals input from the solid-state imaging device CCD into image information of black: K, yellow: Y, magenta: M, cyan: C and temporarily stores the image information. The information is output to the latent image forming circuit DL as image information for forming a latent image at a preset time.
When the original image is a single color image, so-called monochrome, image information of only black: K is input to the latent image forming circuit DL.
The latent image forming circuit DL has driving circuits for respective colors Y, M, C, and K (not shown), and outputs a signal corresponding to input image information to the latent image forming device ROS at a preset time. To do.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged explanatory view of a main part of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment.
Above the latent image forming device ROS, visible image forming devices Uy, Um, Uc, Uk that form visible images of Y, M, C, and K colors are arranged.
The Y visible image forming apparatus Uy includes a rotating photoreceptor PRy as an example of an image carrier, a charger CRy, a developing device Gy, and a photoreceptor cleaner CLy as an example of an image carrier cleaner. . In the first embodiment, the visible image forming apparatus Uy is configured as a process unit as an example of an attachment / detachment unit that can be integrally attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus body U2.
The visible image forming apparatuses Um, Uc, Uk are all configured in the same manner as the Y visible image forming apparatus Uy.

2 and 3, the photoconductors PRy, PRm, PRc, and PRk are charged by their respective chargers CRy, CRm, CRc, and CRk, and then latent in the image writing positions Q1y, Q1m, Q1c, and Q1k. An electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the latent image writing lights Ly, Lm, Lc, and Lk of Y, M, C, and K emitted from the image forming apparatus ROS. The electrostatic latent images on the surfaces of the photoconductors PRy, PRm, PRc, and PRk are developed in the developing regions Q2y, Q2m, Q2c, and Q2k as developing roller R0y as an example of a developer holding member of the developing devices Gy, Gm, Gc, and Gk. , R0m, R0c, and R0k are developed into a toner image as an example of a visible image.
The developed toner image is conveyed to primary transfer regions Q3y, Q3m, Q3c, and Q3k that are in contact with an intermediate transfer belt B as an example of an intermediate transfer member. The primary transfer units T1y, T1m, T1c, and T1k disposed on the back side of the intermediate transfer belt B in the primary transfer regions Q3y, Q3m, Q3c, and Q3k are preliminarily supplied from the power supply circuit E controlled by the control unit C. At the set time, a primary transfer voltage having a polarity opposite to the charging polarity of the toner is applied.

The toner images on the photoconductors PRy to PRk are primarily transferred to an intermediate transfer belt B as an example of an intermediate transfer body by the primary transfer units T1y, T1m, T1c, and T1k. Residues and deposits on the surface of the photoreceptors PRy, PRm, PRc, and PRk after the primary transfer are cleaned by the photoreceptor cleaners CLy, CLm, CLc, and CLk. The collected items collected by the photoconductor cleaners CLy to CLk are conveyed to a collection container (not shown) and collected by discharge augers HAy to HAk as an example of a residual conveying member.
The cleaned surfaces of the photoreceptors PRy, PRm, PRc, and PRk are recharged by the chargers CRy, CRm, CRc, and CRk.

  Above the photoconductors PRy to PRk, a belt module BM as an example of an intermediate transfer device is disposed. The belt module BM includes the intermediate transfer belt B, a belt drive roll Rd as an example of an intermediate transfer member drive member, a tension roll Rt as an example of a tension applying member, a walking roll Rw as an example of a meandering prevention member, and a driven It includes an idler roll Rf as an example of a member, a backup roll T2a as an example of a secondary transfer counter member, and the primary transfer units T1y, T1m, T1c, and T1k. The intermediate transfer belt B is rotatably supported by the rolls Rd, Rt, Rw, Rf, T2a.

A secondary transfer roll T2b as an example of a secondary transfer member is disposed so as to face the surface of the intermediate transfer belt B in contact with the backup roll T2a. The backup roll T2a and the secondary transfer roll T2b constitute a secondary transfer device T2. A secondary transfer region Q4 is formed by the regions where the secondary transfer roll T2b and the intermediate transfer belt B face each other.
The single-color or multi-color toner images transferred in sequence on the intermediate transfer belt B by the primary transfer units T1y, T1m, T1c, and T1k in the primary transfer areas Q3y, Q3m, Q3c, and Q3k are the secondary transfer areas. Transported to Q4.
The primary transfer units T1y to T1k, the intermediate transfer belt B, the secondary transfer unit T2, and the like constitute a transfer device T1 + T2 + B of Example 1 that transfers an image formed on the photoconductors PRy to PRk to a medium.

  Below the visible image forming devices Uy to Uk, a pair of left and right guide rails GR as an example of a guide member is provided, and the guide rail GR has a sheet feed as an example of a sheet feeding unit. The trays TR1 to TR3 are supported so as to be able to enter and exit in the front-rear direction. A recording sheet S as an example of a medium accommodated in the paper feed trays TR1 to TR3 is taken out by a pickup roll Rp as an example of a medium takeout member and separated one by one by a separating roll Rs as an example of a medium separating member. The The recording sheet S is transported along a sheet transport path SH which is an example of a medium transport path by a plurality of transport rolls Ra as an example of a medium transport member. The recording sheet S conveyed by the conveyance roll Ra is disposed upstream of the secondary transfer area Q4 in the sheet conveyance direction, and is sent to a registration roll Rr as an example of a timing adjusting member for adjusting the conveyance timing to the secondary transfer area Q4. It is done. A sheet conveying device SH + Ra + Rr is configured by the sheet conveying path SH, the sheet conveying roll Ra, the registration roll Rr, and the like.

The registration roll Rr conveys the recording sheet S to the secondary transfer area Q4 in time for the toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt B to be conveyed to the secondary transfer area Q4. When the recording sheet S passes through the secondary transfer region Q4, the backup roll T2a is grounded, and the secondary transfer unit T2b is supplied with a polarity opposite to the toner charging polarity from the power supply circuit E controlled by the control unit C. A secondary transfer voltage is applied. At this time, the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt B is transferred to the recording sheet S by the secondary transfer device T2.
The intermediate transfer belt B after the secondary transfer is cleaned by a belt cleaner CLb as an example of an intermediate transfer body cleaner.

The recording sheet S on which the toner image is secondarily transferred has a fixing area Q5 which is a contact area of a heating roll Fh as an example of a heating fixing member of the fixing device F and a pressure roll Fp as an example of a pressing fixing member. And heated and fixed when passing through the fixing region. The heat-fixed recording sheet S is discharged from a discharge roller Rh as an example of a medium discharge member to a discharge tray TRh as an example of a medium discharge portion.
Note that a release agent for improving the releasability of the recording sheet S from the heating roll is applied to the surface of the heating roll Fh by a release agent application device Fa.

  Above the belt module BM, developer cartridges Ky, Km, Kc, and Kk, which are examples of developer containers that store yellow Y, magenta M, cyan C, and black K developers, are disposed. Developers stored in the developer cartridges Ky, Km, Kc, Kk are replenished to the developing devices Gy, Gm, Gc, Gk according to the consumption of the developer in the developing devices Gy, Gm, Gc, Gk. Is done.

(Description of process unit and unit mounting part)
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a state in which the process unit according to the first exemplary embodiment is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body as viewed obliquely from the rear.
FIG. 5 is a view seen from the direction of arrow V in FIG.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a state in which the K color process unit is drawn forward from the state shown in FIG.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory perspective view of the unit mounting portion in a state where all process units are removed.
4 to 7, a unit mounting portion 1 as an example of a detachable mounting portion is supported above the latent image forming device ROS inside the image forming apparatus main body U2 of the copying machine U according to the first embodiment. Yes. The unit mounting portion 1 has four unit support portions 2 extending in the front-rear direction corresponding to the Y, M, C, and K process units UY to UK as an example of the mounting portion main body.

  In FIG. 7, on both the left and right sides of each unit support portion 2, standing walls 3 are formed as an example of a partition portion that extends along the unit support portion 2 and partitions the unit support portions 2. The front end of the unit support 2 is formed with a recessed front end receiving portion 4 for receiving the front ends of the process units UY to UK. In addition, a light passage port 6 is formed in the left portion of the unit support portion 2 and includes a through-hole extending in the front-rear direction, through which the latent image forming lights Ly to Lk emitted from the latent image forming device ROS pass. . An inclined guide surface 7 is formed on the right side of the light passage port 6 so as to be inclined downward toward the right and guide the bottom surfaces of the process units UY to UK to be attached and detached.

4 to 7, a color identification guide 8 that protrudes rearward is formed on the right side of the rear end portion of the unit support section 2 as an example of an identification section. 5 and 7, Y, M, C, and K color identification guides 8y, 8m, 8c, and 8k are respectively used to identify whether or not the process units UY to UK that are mounted are compatible. Identification paths 9y, 9m, 9c, and 9k that are recessed rightward and extend in the front-rear direction are formed at different heights. In the first embodiment, the heights of the identification paths 9y to 9k are formed at positions shifted in order from the bottom to the top in the order of Y, M, C, and K.
In FIG. 7, a play regulation guide 11 that protrudes to the left and extends in the front-rear direction is formed at the front end portion of the right side wall 3 of each of the Y, M, C, and K unit support parts 2 as an example of a movement regulation part. Has been. In the first embodiment, a pair of front and rear interference ribs 12y and 12m are formed on the upper surface of the Y and M play regulation guides 11y and 11m as an example of an identification interference portion.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a main part of a connected terminal portion on the image forming apparatus main body side.
5, 7, and 8, a main body side connector 13 as an example of a connected portion is supported on the left side of the rear end portion of the unit support portion 2. The main body side connector 13 has a connector terminal 14 protruding upward as an example of a connected terminal, and the connector terminal 14 is made of an elastically deformable leaf spring-like metal material. Each main body side connector 13 is electrically connected to the controller C of the image forming apparatus main body U2 via a harness 16 as an example of a transmission line. The controller C of the image forming apparatus U according to the first exemplary embodiment is configured by a small information processing apparatus, a so-called microcomputer. / O, program for executing necessary processing, ROM storing data, RAM for temporarily storing necessary data, HDD, ROM, program stored in HDD A CPU that performs processing according to the above, a clock oscillator, and the like are provided, and various functions can be realized by executing a program stored in the ROM.

(Description of process unit)
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the process unit according to the first embodiment.
10 is a view as seen from the direction of the arrow X in FIG. 9, FIG. 10A is an overall view, and FIG. 10B is an enlarged view of the main part of the rear end portion.
Next, the process units UY to UK of the first embodiment will be described. Since the process units UY to UK are configured in the same manner, the Y process unit UY will be described in detail, and the other colors will be described. Detailed description of the process units UM to UK is omitted.

(Explanation of photoconductor cleaner unit)
4, 6, and 9, the process unit UY according to the first embodiment includes a photoconductor cleaner unit 21 disposed on the left side of the photoconductor PRy. The photoconductor cleaner unit 21 accommodates a photoconductor cleaner CLy. 9 and 10A, the front end of the photoconductor cleaner unit 21 supports a discharge cylinder 22 that extends forward as an example of the recovered material discharge unit. The front end of the discharge cylinder 22 is shown in FIG. 10A. A recovered material discharge port 22a opened downward is formed. When the front panel Ua is closed with the process cartridge mounted on the image forming apparatus main body U2, the recovered material discharge port 22a of the discharge tube 22 can be connected to a collection container (not shown) disposed inside the front panel Ua. It is configured. The discharge tube 22 accommodates the front end of a discharge auger HAy extending from the photoreceptor cleaner unit 21, and the collected material conveyed by the discharge auger HAy is discharged from a collected material discharge port 22a to a collection container. .

In FIG. 9, a pair of front and rear bearings 23 that support the photosensitive member PRy rotatably are integrally formed at both front and rear ends of the photosensitive member cleaner unit 21. A lever 24 as an example of an operation unit used when an operator handles the process units UY to UK is supported at the lower end of the front end portion of the photoconductor cleaner unit 21. As shown by the solid line and the broken line in FIG. 9, the lever 24 of the first embodiment is supported so as to be rotatable around the lower end.
A tracking spring support portion 25 as an example of an urging support portion is formed at the upper right end of each bearing portion 23. Although only the rear tracking spring support 25 is shown in FIG. 9, the front tracking spring support 25 is disposed on the rear side of the lever 24, and the rear tracking spring support 25 Since the configuration is the same, the illustration is omitted.

9 and 10, a coupling 26 to which driving is transmitted is supported at the rear end of the photoconductor PRy as an example of a member to be transmitted with the process unit UY mounted. The coupling 26 meshes with a coupling (not shown) provided in the image forming apparatus main body U2, and the drive from the drive source is transmitted.
In FIG. 9, a positioning cap 27 as an example of a member to be positioned is supported at the front end of the photoreceptor PRy. The positioning cap 27 has a recess formed at the front end, and is configured such that a front projection (not shown) is fitted and positioned in a state where the front panel Ua is closed. Therefore, the process unit UY according to the first embodiment is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body U2 and is supported in a state in which the process unit UY is positioned by the coupling 26 and the positioning cap 27 when the front panel Ua is closed. It is configured.

(Explanation of development unit)
11 is a perspective view of the developing unit as viewed from diagonally upward on the front right side, FIG. 11A is an overall perspective view, and FIG. 11B is an enlarged explanatory view of the front end portion.
FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the developing unit as viewed from the upper front left side.
In FIG. 9, a developing unit 31 that extends in the front-rear direction, which is the width direction of the recording sheet S, is disposed on the right side of the photoreceptor PRy as an example of a developing unit. 5, 9, 11, and 12, the developing unit 31 of the first embodiment includes a unit main body 32 extending in the front-rear direction and a front cover as an example of a front covering member supported by the front end of the unit main body 32. FC and a rear cover RC as an example of a rear covering member supported by the rear end of the unit main body 32 are provided.

(Explanation of developer container)
FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional explanatory view of the developing unit.
FIG. 14 is an explanatory view of the main part of the developing unit main body, FIG. 14A is a perspective view of the developing unit main body with the developing roll and the initial developer container removed, FIG. 14B is a perspective view of the supply auger, and FIG. It is a perspective view of an admix auger.
9 and 11 to 13, the unit main body 32 according to the first embodiment includes a developing device 33 disposed in a lower portion and a starter housing portion 34 as an example of a developer housing portion supported on the upper portion of the developing device 33. And have.
13 and 14A, the developing device 33 has a developing container 36 in which a developer is accommodated.

In FIG. 14A, a projecting portion 36a is formed at the front end portion of the right outer surface of the developing container 36 so as to project to the right and to form a plate shape along the front-rear direction corresponding to the backlash regulating guide 11. At the rear end of the overhang portion 36a, as an example of the regulated portion, there is formed a backlash regulating projection 36b that protrudes upward and can be brought into contact with the lower surface of the backlash regulation guide 11y. At times, the process unit UY is positioned in contact with the backlash control guide 11y to control backlash.
In FIG. 14A, on the upper surface of the front end portion and the upper surface of the rear end portion of the developing container 36, as an example of a leakage preventing member, a developing container that prevents leakage of the developer from the developing container 36 is disposed along the edge. A seal 37 is affixed. The developer container seal 37 according to the first exemplary embodiment is made of a sponge as an example of an elastic material and an example of a foamable material. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and is used for arbitrarily sealing rubber or cloth. Material can be used.

(Explanation of development unit connection terminal)
FIG. 15 is an enlarged view of the main part of the connection terminal, FIG. 15A is an explanatory diagram of the main part in a state where it is not connected to the connected terminal on the main body side, and FIG. FIG.
FIG. 16 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the protective member is removed from the process unit.
10, 15, and 16, a right CRUM accommodating portion 38 and a left terminal accommodating portion 39 as an example of a medium supporting portion are formed on the lower surface of the rear end portion of the developing container 36.
In FIG. 15A, the CRUM accommodating portion 38 includes an accommodating space 38a that is open at the bottom, a pair of left and right side wall portions 38b that extend downward from the left and right sides of the accommodating space 38a, and a holding portion that extends inward from the lower end of each side wall portion 38b. Holding claw 38c as an example of the portion. In addition, since the left terminal accommodating part 39 is also comprised similarly to the CRUM accommodating part 38, detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram of the storage medium of Example 1, FIG. 17A is a plan view, and FIG. 17B is a perspective view.
10, 15, and 16, a CRUM: Customer Replaceable Unit Memory 41 as an example of a storage medium and a CRUM adapter 42 as an example of a protective member are accommodated in a detachable state in the CRUM accommodating unit 38. Yes. 16 and 17, the CRUM 41 according to the first embodiment includes a plate-like substrate 41a in which a storage element (not shown) that stores information is housed, and four connections that are electrical contacts exposed on the surface of the substrate 41a. The terminal 41b stores information related to the process cartridge UY such as the color of the developer contained in the process cartridge UY and the usage state such as the accumulated rotation time of the photoconductor PRy. As an example of the fixing portion, the substrate 41a is formed with a round hole-like and long hole-like fixing hole 41c. When the CRUM 41 is accommodated in the CRUM accommodating portion 38, the substrate 41a is formed in the CRUM accommodating portion 38. The protrusion is fitted, and positioning and retaining are prevented.
In Example 1, the substrate 41a of the CRUM 41 is made of an epoxy resin as an example of a resin material. The connection terminal 41b is formed by plating gold, which is an example of a conductive metal material, with an epoxy resin. That is, it is configured by so-called gold plating. In Example 1, the thickness of the gold plating is set to 0.03 μm as an example, but can be arbitrarily changed according to the design, specifications, and the like.

18A and 18B are explanatory views of the protective member of Example 1. FIG. 18A is a perspective view seen from obliquely below, FIG. 18B is a perspective view seen obliquely from above, and FIG. 18C is a perspective view of protective connection terminals.
10, 16, and 18, the CRUM adapter 42 according to the first embodiment includes a flat adapter body 42 a as an example of a protective member body. 18B, on the upper surface of the adapter main body 42a, four terminal receiving grooves 42b extending in the front-rear direction and formed corresponding to the connection terminals 41b of the CRUM 41 are formed. In FIG. 18A and FIG. 18B, holding ribs 42c are formed on both the left and right sides of the adapter main body 42a as an example of the held portion. The holding ribs 42c protrude outward in the left-right direction, as shown in FIG. 15A. Is held by the holding claw 38c, whereby the CRUM adapter 42 is held in a detachable state from the CRUM accommodating portion 38.

18A and 18B, a connector member 43 as an example of a protective connection member is fixedly supported in the terminal accommodating groove 42b. In FIG. 18C, the connector member 43 includes an upper CRUM connection terminal 43a as an example of a first protection connection terminal, a lower body connection terminal 43b as an example of a second protection connection terminal, and electrical contacts. And a connection portion 43c that connects the front ends of the connection terminals 43a and 43b, and is formed in a U-shape around the adapter main body 42a. The CRUM connection terminal 43a is formed with a leaf spring shape that extends upward, and a contact portion 43d that contacts the connection terminal 41b of the CRUM 41.
In addition, the connector member 43 of Example 1 is comprised by the phosphor bronze which gold | metal plated from epoxy resin is hard to peel off as an example of a metal material, and the surface containing the lower surface of the contact part 43d and the main-body connection terminal 43b In this case, gold as an example of the conductive metal material is plated. In Example 1, the thickness of the plated gold is set to 0.3 μm as an example, but can be arbitrarily changed according to the design and specifications.

Therefore, in the process cartridge UY of the first embodiment, the CRUM 41 is held in the CRUM accommodating portion 38 by mounting the CRUM adapter 42 in a state where the CRUM 41 is accommodated in the CRUM accommodating portion 38. When the CRUM 41 and the CRUM adapter 42 are mounted, the contact part 43d of the CRUM adapter 42 is in contact with the connection terminal 41 of the CRUM 41, and the connector member 43 and the CRUM 41 are electrically connected.
When the process cartridge UY is attached to the image forming apparatus main body U2, the main body connection terminal 43b of the CRUM adapter 42 comes into contact with the right connector terminal 14 of the main body side connector 13, and the controller C of the image forming apparatus main body U2. And the CRUM 41 are electrically connected to each other, and information can be transmitted and received.
In Example 1, the contact force between the leaf spring-like contact portion 43d and the connection terminal 41b is set to 0.15 [N], and the leaf spring-like connector terminal 14 and the main body connection terminal of the CRUM adapter 42 are set. The contact force with 43b is set to 0.3 [N]. That is, the contact force between the CRUM adapter 42 and the CRUM 41 is set to be smaller than the contact force between the main body connector 13 and the CRUM adapter 42.

Similarly to the CRUM adapter, a connection terminal 44 having gold-plated phosphor bronze is detachably attached to the terminal accommodating portion 39. When the process cartridge UY is attached to the image forming apparatus main body U2, the main body The connector terminal 14 on the left side of the side connector 13 is disposed so as to be in contact with it.
In FIG. 12, in the developing device 33 according to the first embodiment, the developer concentration at the front end portion of the first stirring chamber 47 described later, that is, the toner and the carrier contained in the developer, is located at the lower left of the front end portion of the developing container 36. A density sensor SN as an example of a density detection member that detects the ratio of the above is supported. The density sensor SN is electrically connected to the connection terminal 44 supported at the rear end portion of the developing container 36 via a lead wire (not shown), and is supplied with power or detects the detected developer density. C can be transmitted.

(Description of the inside of the developer container)
In FIG. 13 and FIG. 14, a developing roll storage chamber 46 that stores a developing roll R0y as an example of a rotating body is formed as an example of a holding body storage section in the upper left part inside the developing container 36. A first stirring chamber 47 is adjacently disposed below the developing roll storage chamber 46, and a second stirring chamber 48 is adjacently disposed to the lower right of the first stirring chamber 47. Has been.
The first stirring chamber 47 and the second stirring chamber 48 are partitioned by a partition wall 49 extending in the front-rear direction. At the front end of the partition wall 49, a first inflow portion E1 through which developer can flow from the second stirring chamber 48 to the first stirring chamber 47 is formed. A second inflow portion E <b> 2 is formed through which the developer can flow from the first stirring chamber 47 to the second stirring chamber 48.
In FIG. 14A, the lengths of the first stirring chamber 47 and the second stirring chamber 48 of the first embodiment are longer than the developing roll chamber 46.

9 to 12, the rear cover RC of the developing container 36 has a cylindrical replenishment portion 51 disposed on the rear extension of the second stirring chamber 48. A supply chamber 52 connected to the second stirring chamber 48 is formed inside the supply unit 51, and a supply port 53 is formed on the upper surface of the rear end of the supply unit 51.
On the upper surface of the replenishing portion 51, as an example of an opening / closing member, a replenishing port shutter 54 for opening and closing the replenishing port 53 is supported so as to be movable in the front-rear direction. Therefore, when the process cartridge UY is attached to the image forming apparatus main body U2, the supply port shutter 54 is pushed to a supply system (not shown) for supplying the developer in the developer cartridge Ky provided in the image forming apparatus main body U2. The developer moves from the closed position shown in FIG. 9 to the open position shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, and the developer from the developer cartridge Ky can be supplied to the supply port 53.

(Description of members supported inside the developing container)
In FIG. 13, the developing roll storage chamber 46 supports the developing roll R0y. The developing roll R0y is disposed diagonally to the left of the developing roll R0y so as to face the surface of the developing roll R0y and adheres to the surface of the developing roll R0y. A cylindrical layer thickness regulating member 56 that regulates the thickness of the developer layer is supported.
A supply auger 57 as an example of a first stirring member is accommodated in the first stirring chamber 47. The supply auger 57 has a rotating shaft 58 extending in the front-rear direction and a conveying blade 59 formed on the outer periphery of the rotating shaft 58. During rotation, the supply auger 57 causes the developer in the first stirring chamber 47 to flow into the first inflow. The developer E is supplied to the developing roll R0y while being conveyed while stirring in the first conveying direction from the portion E1 toward the second inflow portion E2.

  The conveying blade 59 of the supply auger 57 according to the first embodiment is configured by a spiral blade, is configured by a double helix at the front end, that is, the upstream end in the first conveying direction, and is pumped up through the first inflow portion E1. A high-speed transport unit 59a that transports the developer thus developed to the downstream side at a higher speed than in the case of a single spiral. A first main transport that is disposed on the rear side of the high-speed transport unit 59a so as to face the developing roll R0y and is configured by a single spiral and supplies the developer to the developing roll R0y while transporting the developer toward the second inflow portion E2. A portion 59b is provided. On the rear side of the first main transport unit 59b, the first main transport unit 59b is configured by a spiral that is wound in reverse to the first main transport unit 59b, and causes the developer at the downstream end of the first stirring chamber 47 to flow into the second inflow portion E2. A reverse conveyance unit 59c is arranged. In addition, a plurality of plate-like stirring portions 59 d that extend along the axial direction of the rotation shaft 58 and stir the developer are arranged in the range where the first main transport portion 59 b of the supply auger 57 is provided. .

14A and 14C, an admixing auger 61 as an example of a second stirring member is accommodated in the second stirring chamber 48 and the replenishing chamber 52. The admix auger 61 has a rotating shaft 62 extending in the front-rear direction and a conveying blade 63 formed on the outer periphery of the rotating shaft 62, and the developer in the second stirring chamber 48 flows into the second flow during rotation. It conveys, stirring in the 2nd conveyance direction which goes to the 1st inflow part E1 from the part E2.
The conveyance blade 63 of the admix auger 61 according to the first embodiment is disposed at the rear end, that is, the upstream end in the second conveyance direction, and the developer in the replenishment chamber 52 is directed from the replenishment port 53 toward the second inflow portion E2. The replenishment conveyance part 63a to convey is provided. On the front side of the replenishment transport unit 63a, an inflow stirring portion 63b that is disposed corresponding to the second inflow portion E2 and is inclined with respect to the rotation shaft 58 is disposed, and the second inflow portion E2 The developer that has flowed in from is stirred. A single spiral second main transport unit 63c extending to a position corresponding to the first inflow unit E1 is disposed on the front side of the inflow stirring unit 63b, and stirring the developer in the second stirring chamber 48. Then, it is conveyed toward the first inflow portion E1. In the range where the second main transport unit 63c is arranged, a plurality of plate-like stirring units 63d extending along the axial direction of the rotating shaft 62 and stirring the developer are arranged. On the front side of the second main transport part 63c, a second reverse transport part 63e corresponding to the first inflow part E1 and configured by a spiral wound in reverse to the second main transport part 63c is disposed, The developer conveyed through the stirring chamber 48 is retained and moved to the first stirring chamber 47 through the first inflow portion E1.

(Explanation of developing device drive transmission system)
In FIGS. 5, 10, 12, and 14 </ b> A, a gear shaft 65 extending rearward is supported at the rear end of the lower left portion of the developing container 36. A driven gear G1 as an example of a driven transmission member is rotatably supported on the gear shaft 65, and the driven gear G1 is provided when the process unit UY is mounted on the image forming apparatus body U2. The drive is transmitted by meshing with a drive gear (not shown) supported by the image forming apparatus main body U2 and transmitted from the drive source. On the front side of the driven gear G1, a first intermediate gear G2 and a second intermediate gear G3, which are examples of an intermediate gear that is rotatably supported coaxially with the driven gear G1, are disposed.
In FIG. 12, a developing roll gear G4 as an example of a gear is supported at the rear end of the developing roll R0y, and the developing roll gear G4 meshes with the first intermediate gear G2. Therefore, when driving is transmitted to the driven gear G1, the developing roll gear G4 rotates and the developing roll R0y rotates via the first intermediate gear G2. Note that ring-shaped tracking rolls 64 having a larger diameter than the outer diameter of the developing roll R0y are rotatably supported at both front and rear ends of the developing roll R0y as an example of a distance setting member.

In FIG. 14A, the rear end portion of the rotation shaft 58 of the supply auger 57 penetrates the developing container 36 and protrudes rearward. A supply gear G5 as an example of a gear is supported at the rear end of the supply auger 57. ing. The supply gear G5 of the supply auger 57 meshes with the second intermediate gear G3, and the developing roll R0y and the supply auger 57 rotate in the same rotation direction in FIG.
The front end portions of the rotation shaft 58 of the supply auger 57 and the rotation shaft 62 of the admix auger 61 pass through the developing container 36 and protrude forward, and the front end of the supply auger 57 has a front transmission gear G6 as an example of a gear. Is supported. The front transmission gear G6 meshes with a front intermediate gear G7 that is rotatably supported at the front end of the developing container 36 as an example of a gear. The front intermediate gear G7 is connected to the front end of an admixing auger 61 as an example of a gear. It meshes with the supported admix gear G8. Therefore, when the drive is transmitted to the driven gear G1, the supply gear G5 rotates through the second intermediate gear G3, and the supply auger 57 rotates. When the supply auger 57 rotates, the rotation is transmitted to the admix auger 61 through the gears G6 to G8, and the admix auger 61 also rotates. Therefore, when the drive is transmitted from the driven gear G1, the augers 57 and 61 are rotated, and the developer is conveyed while circulating in the stirring chambers 47 and 48, and the developing roller R0y also holds the developer on the surface. Then rotate.
The first stirring chamber 47 and the second stirring chamber 48 constitute the circulation chamber 47 + 48 of the first embodiment. The gears G1 to G8 constitute driven transmission systems G1 to G8 of the first embodiment.

(Description of members supported outside the developing container)
FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram of the relationship between the identified portion and the regulated portion of the process unit according to the first embodiment and the identification portion and the regulated portion of the unit mounting portion. FIG. 19B is an explanatory diagram of a state in which the identification unit is started, and FIG. 19B is a state where the process unit is inserted from the state shown in FIG. FIG. 19C is an explanatory diagram of a state where the attachment of the process unit is completed, the identification unit and the identified unit are engaged, and the engagement between the regulated unit and the regulating unit is released.
9 to 12, in the rear cover RC of the first embodiment, a color identification key RC <b> 1 that protrudes to the right is formed on the right side of the replenishment unit 51 as an example of the identified portion. As shown in FIG. 5, the color identification key RC1 is formed at a position having a different height for each color corresponding to the identification paths 9y-9k of the color identification guides 8y-8k. In FIG. 19, the identification paths 9 y to 9 k, the backlash regulation guide 11, the backlash regulation protrusion 36 b and the color identification key RC <b> 1 according to the first embodiment are color-identified on the downstream side in the mounting direction of the process cartridge UY as shown in FIG. Before the key RC1 enters the identification paths 9y to 9k, the backlash restricting protrusion 36b on the upstream side in the mounting direction contacts and engages the backlash control guide 11, and the process cartridge UY is mounted as shown in FIG. 19C. Before the operation is completed, the length and the position in the front-rear direction are set so that the play restricting projection 36b passes behind the back end of the play restricting guide 11 and is disengaged.

In FIGS. 5, 9, 11, and 12, the upper portion of the front cover FC and the rear cover RC is tracked as an example of an urging member support portion corresponding to the tracking spring support portion 25 of the cleaner unit 21. A spring support portion 66 is formed, and a tracking spring 67 as an example of a biasing member that biases the developing unit 31 toward the cleaner unit 21 is connected between the tracking spring support portions 25 and 66. .
In the process unit UY of Embodiment 1, the photoreceptor cleaner unit 21 and the developing unit 31 have a rear end portion as shown in FIG. 10B, and a connecting portion 21a on the photoreceptor cleaner unit 21 side is connected to the gear shaft 65. The front end is connected to the front cover FC on the developing unit 31 side and a connecting portion (not shown) of the photoreceptor cleaner unit 21 so as to be rotatable, so that the developing unit 31 is connected to the photoreceptor cleaner unit 21. Is supported so as to be able to swing.

Therefore, the tracking roll 64 of the developing unit 31 is pressed by the urging force of the tracking spring 67 so as to come into contact with both ends of the photosensitive member PRy of the photosensitive member cleaner unit 21, and the surface of the developing roller R0y of the developing unit 31. The distance from the surface of the photoreceptor PRy is set and held at a predetermined distance.
In FIG. 11, a protrusion protection portion 68 protruding forward is formed at the lower portion of the front cover FC, and covers the front gears G6 to G8 so as not to be exposed to the outside. As an example of the first sealing member passage port, a slit-shaped first seal passage port 69 is formed above the protrusion protection portion 68, and the second sealing member passage port is located on the upper right side of the protrusion protection portion 68. As an example, a slit-like second seal passage port 70 is formed.

(Description of starter housing)
FIG. 20 is a perspective view of the developing unit in a state where the breaking member and the sealing member are mounted.
FIG. 21 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the upper cover of the developer accommodating portion is removed from the state shown in FIG.
FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram of the state seen from the direction of arrow XXII in FIG.
23 is a cross-sectional view of the main part in the state shown in FIG.
24 is a sectional view taken along line XXIV-XXIV in FIG.

12, 13, 20, and 21, the starter accommodating portion 34 includes an accommodating portion main body 71 in which a developer is accommodated, and an upper lid 72 that closes the upper end of the accommodating portion main body 71. In FIGS. 13 and 22 to 24, the container main body 71 has an inner lid 71 a that closes the upper surface of the developer container 36, and a starter as an example of a developer storage space is provided inside the container main body 71. A storage space 73 is formed. That is, the developing roll storage chamber 46 of the developing container 36, the respective stirring chambers 47 and 48, and the starter storage space 73 are in a state of being partitioned by the inner lid portion 71a.
13 and 21 to 24, the starter accommodating space 73 is formed so that the length in the front-rear direction is longer than that of the developing roll R0y, and the width above the developing roll R0y is wider in the left-right direction and goes downward. And is formed to be partially wider above the second stirring chamber 48.

FIG. 25 is an explanatory view of a main part of the inlet at the front end of the developer accommodating portion.
In FIGS. 13 and 22 to 25, the middle lid portion 71 a includes an upstream inlet 74 as an example of a first inlet that connects the upper portion of the starter accommodating space 73 and the developing roll accommodating chamber 46, and a starter accommodating space. A downstream inlet 76 as an example of a second inlet that connects the lower end of 73 and the second stirring chamber 48 is formed. In FIG. 25, the upstream inlet 74 of the first embodiment is formed along the front-rear direction, and the front end is formed corresponding to the position of the front end of the developing roll R0y. Therefore, the front end 74a of the upstream inlet 74 does not reach the front end wall 34a of the starter accommodating portion 34, and a gap is formed between the front end 74a and the front end wall 34a of the upstream inlet 74. The downstream inlet 76 of the first embodiment is formed so as to correspond to the entire length of the starter housing portion 34 in the front-rear direction.

  13 and 22 to 25, as an example of a partition member, a plurality of standing wall-like partition ribs 77 that partition the starter housing space 73 are provided in the starter housing portion 34 at predetermined intervals in the front-rear direction. Has been placed. The partition rib 77 according to the first embodiment has an upper end corresponding to the upper end of the starter accommodating space 73 and set to be slightly lower than the upper end of the starter accommodating space 73, and is closed by the upper lid 72. In this state, a gap is set between the lower surface of the upper lid 72 and the upper end of the partition rib 77. Therefore, the upper end of the partition rib 77 of the first embodiment is disposed at a position higher than the upstream inlet 74.

26 is an explanatory view of the front end portion of the developer accommodating portion, FIG. 26A is an overall view, FIG. 26B is an enlarged view of a main portion of the front end portion, and FIG. 26C is an explanatory view in a state where the contact member is removed.
FIG. 27 is an explanatory view of a contact member, FIG. 27A is an exploded explanatory view of the contact member, and FIG.
In FIG. 26, a breakout outlet 78 penetrating in the front-rear direction is formed at a position corresponding to the upper left side of the upstream inlet 74 at an upper portion of the front end wall 34 a of the starter accommodating portion 34 of the first embodiment. A spill seal 79 is supported at the breakout outlet 78 as an example of a contact member.
In FIG. 26C and FIG. 27, the spill seal 79 has a thin-film seal base 81. As shown in FIG. 27B, the seal base 81 is formed in a thin film shape that is folded into a U-shape when the spill seal 79 is broken and attached to the outlet 78. A guide port 81a as an example of a collapse guide port is formed at the center. The seal base 81 of Example 1 is preferably made of a resin material that can be elastically deformed and has a low coefficient of friction on the outer surface so that the seal base 81 can be smoothly mounted when the seal base 81 is mounted. Polyethylene terephthalate, that is, so-called PET resin can be used.

  26 and 27, a pair of contact member main bodies 82 are supported on the inner surface of the seal base 81 on both sides of the guide port 81a. The contact member main body 82 includes a cushion portion 82a made of urethane as an example of an elastic material supported by the seal base 81 as an example of a pressure applying portion. On the surface of the cushion portion 82a, a cleaner portion 82b made of felt as an example of a cloth is supported as an example of a cleaning portion. In the contact member main body 82 of the first embodiment, the total thickness of the pair of cushion portions 82 a and the cleaner portion 82 b is set to be thicker than the width of the breakout outlet 78. That is, when the spill seal 79 is broken and attached to the outlet 78, the cushion portion 82b is mainly elastically deformed, and the cleaner portion 82b is held in contact with a preset contact pressure. ing. Therefore, when the cleaner portions 82b are held in close contact with each other, the collapse outlet 79 is sealed by the spill seal 79, and leakage of the developer from the starter accommodating portion 34 is suppressed.

(Description of sealing member)
20 to 26, in the process unit UY according to the first embodiment, the process unit UY is in a state before use as in the case where the image forming apparatus U before shipment and the replacement process unit UY before shipment are stored. Then, the sealing member 86 and the breaking member 91 are attached to the process unit UY. In FIG. 23, the sealing member 86 of the first embodiment includes an upper heat seal 87 as an example of a first sealing member that closes the upstream inlet 74 and a lower sealing member as an example of a second sealing member that closes the downstream inlet 76. A developer having a preset toner concentration is accommodated and enclosed in a starter accommodating space 73 having a heat seal 88 and sealed by the heat seals 87 and 88. The heat seals 87 and 88 of the first embodiment are configured by strip-shaped thin films, so-called films, that are wider than the inflow ports 74 and 76 and long in the front-rear direction.

28A and 28B are explanatory diagrams of the sealing member of Example 1, FIG. 28A is an explanatory diagram of a state before the sealing member is removed, FIG. 28B is an explanatory diagram of a state in the middle of removing the sealing member, and FIG. 28C is a sealing member. It is explanatory drawing of the state from which was removed.
In FIG. 28, each heat seal 87, 88 of the first embodiment includes sealed portions 87a, 88a supported on the edges of the respective inlets 74, 76 on the lower surface of the inner lid portion 71a, and rear end portions of the sealed portions 87a, 88a. And folded portions 87b and 88b that are folded back and extend forward. The sealing portions 87a and 88a of the heat seals 87 and 88 are attached to the lower surface of the inner lid portion 71a by heat fusion in a peelable state. In addition, the support method to the inner cover part 71a is not limited to heat sealing | fusion, Arbitrary methods are employable, A conventionally well-known adhesive agent, a double-sided tape, etc. are employable.
The front portions of the folded portions 87b and 88b extend forward from the gap at the joint portion between the developer container seal 37 of the developer container 36 and the starter accommodating portion 34, and are connected to the process unit UY through the seal passage ports 69 and 70 of the front cover FC. It is led ahead of.

(Explanation of break-up member)
FIG. 29 is an explanatory diagram of a fixing method between the breaking member and the developer accommodating portion, FIG. 29A is an explanatory diagram of a fixing method of the first embodiment, and FIG. 29B is an explanatory diagram of a fixing method of the first modification of the first embodiment. FIG. 29C is an explanatory diagram of a fixing method of a second modification of the first embodiment, FIG. 29D is an explanatory diagram of a fixing method of the third modification of the first embodiment, and FIG. 29E is an explanatory diagram of a fixing method of the fourth modification of the first embodiment. It is.
22 to 27, the breaking member 91 has a breaking portion 92 disposed in the starter accommodating space 73 and a lead-out portion 93 extending forward from the front end of the breaking portion 92. In FIG. 29A, the rear end of the breaking portion 92 is pasted to the upper end of the inner surface of the rear end wall 34 b of the starter accommodating portion 34 in a state where it can be peeled off with a double-sided tape 94. In the double-sided tape 94 of Example 1, the rear end of the breaking portion 92 is attached to the upper portion of the front surface 94a, and a resin film 96 as an example of a peeling preventing member is attached to the lower portion of the front surface 94a. As an example, the resin film 96 can be composed of polyethylene terephthalate: PET or the like, and prevents the breakage portion 92 and the double-sided tape 94 from sticking when the breakage portion 92 is stuck to the double-sided tape 94. Thus, the area where the breaking portion 92 and the double-sided tape 94 are affixed, that is, the contact area is made smaller than the contact area between the double-sided tape 94 and the rear end wall 34b. Therefore, when the rear end of the breaking member 91 is peeled off, the double-sided tape 94 is peeled off from the rear end wall 34b and is pulled out together with the breaking member 91.

  In FIG. 29, when the rear end of the breaking member 91 is peeled off, any other method can be adopted as a method in which the double-sided tape 94 does not peel from the rear end wall, as shown in FIG. 29B. The rear end of the breaking portion 92 is bent so that it does not come into contact with each other, or as shown in FIG. 29C, the surface of the rear end wall 34b to which the double-sided tape 94 is attached is roughened to adhere to the double-sided tape 94. It is conceivable to increase. In addition, as shown in FIG. 29D, the adhesive strength of the adhesive of the double-sided tape 94 is changed, and the adhesive strength on the rear end wall 34b side is made stronger than the adhesive strength on the breaking portion 92 side and peeled off. It is also possible to make it difficult to do. In addition, as shown in FIG. 29E, the rear end of the breaking portion 92 can be sandwiched and held between the starter accommodating portion 34 and the upper lid 72.

24, the breaking portion 92 extends downward along the rear end wall 34b from the pasted rear end, and forwards along the bottom of the starter accommodating portion 34 in the vicinity of the downstream inlet 76 as shown in FIG. It extends. Then, as shown in FIGS. 22 and 24, after extending upward along one side of the front side partition rib 77 of the rear end wall 34 b, that is, along the rear surface, over the upper end of the partition rib 77, it is bent downward. The partition rib 77 extends to the bottom of the starter accommodating portion 34 along the other side, that is, the front surface. Similarly, the breaking portion 92 extends to the front end portion of the starter accommodating portion 34 along the front surface and the rear surface of each partition rib 77.
As shown in FIG. 23, the width in the left-right direction of the breaking portion 92 of the first embodiment is a narrow portion so that it can pass through the narrow portion of the starter accommodating space 73 and reach the vicinity of the lower downstream inlet 76. It is formed in a width corresponding to.

  24 and FIG. 25, the front part of the breaker part 92 of the first embodiment extends forward along the starter accommodating space 73 after passing the frontmost partition rib 77 and then the front end wall. It is bent upward at an upward bending position 92a before reaching 34a. The upward bending position 92 a is set at a position between the front end wall 34 a and the front end of the upstream inlet 74. The breaking portion 92 bent upward at the upper bending position 92 a is bent forward at a height corresponding to the breaking outlet 78. Therefore, the front end portion of the breaking portion 92 does not follow the front end wall 34a or the bottom portion of the starter accommodating portion 34, and is arranged in a relaxed state.

24 and 27B, the lead-out portion 93 formed continuously at the front end of the breaker portion 92 passes through the guide port 81a of the spill seal 79 supported by the breaker outlet 78, and is between the cleaner portions 82b. It extends forward while being sandwiched between. At this time, the drawer portion 93 is sandwiched by the cushion portion 82a in a state of receiving a preset urging force from both sides.
22, 24, and 26, the breaker member 91 is attached to and connected to the upper heat seal 87 at the front end portion of the breaker outlet 78, and is led out through the first seal passage port 69. Has been. Therefore, the upper heat seal 87 and the breaking member 91 are configured to be able to be pulled out integrally.

(Operation of Example 1)
In the copying machine U of the first embodiment having the above-described configuration, the process units UY to UK that are detachably supported by the image forming apparatus main body U2 are rotated through the couplings 26 to the photoreceptors PRy to PRk during the image forming operation. The rotation is transmitted to the developing rolls R0y to R0k through the driven gear G1. At this time, in the first embodiment, the gears G1 to G8 rotate when the developing rolls R0y to R0k are driven, and the vibration is generated in the developing container 36 as compared with the case where the driving is transmitted through the coupling 26. It is inevitable. When vibration occurs, the developing container 36 vibrates relative to the unit support portion 2, and the CRUM adapter is in contact with the plate spring-like connector terminal 14 of the main body side connector 13 in the state where elastic force is applied. 42 vibrates with respect to the main body side connector 13.

  Here, in the conventional configuration that does not include the CRUM adapter 42, the connection terminal 41 b of the CRUM 41 is in direct contact with the main body side connector 13, and when vibration is applied to the developing container 36 in this state, the main body side connector 13. The connector terminal 14 scratches the connection terminal 41b of the CRUM 41. Therefore, the connection terminal 41b that is relatively easy to peel off from the epoxy resin substrate 41a may be pulled by the connector terminal 14 and peeled off, or foreign matter may adhere to the peeled portion and be oxidized or deteriorated. There is a risk of poor contact over time. In order to cope with this, it is conceivable that the configuration of the CRUM 41 is changed so that the connection terminal 41b does not easily peel off, but it is difficult to share the CRUM 41 parts with other types of image forming apparatuses. As a result, there is a problem that the manufacturing cost increases. In addition, it is possible to adopt a connector structure in which a male terminal and a female terminal are fitted without providing the connector terminal 14, that is, a so-called drawer connector type connector structure. However, a space for arranging a relatively large drawer connector is required, and there is a problem that the entire copying machine U is enlarged.

On the other hand, in the first embodiment, the CRUM adapter 42 is attached between the CRUM 41 and the main body side connector 13, and the CRUM 41 and the CRUM adapter 42 are integrated with the developing container 36, that is, relatively moved. It is supported impossible. Therefore, even if the developing container 36 vibrates, the CRUM 41 and the CRUM adapter 42 do not vibrate relatively, and rubbing does not occur between the connection terminal 41b of the CRUM 41 and the CRUM connection terminal 43a of the CRUM adapter 42. Therefore, peeling of the connection terminal 41b is suppressed, and contact failure, conduction failure, signal transmission / reception failure, and the like are suppressed.
The main body connection terminal 43b of the CRUM adapter 42 is made of phosphor bronze, which is hard to peel off the gold plating. Even if the developing container 36 is vibrated, the gold plating is hard to peel off, and continuity failure, phosphor bronze oxidation, corrosion, etc. It is suppressed. In particular, in the first embodiment, the gold plating of the main body connection terminal 43b is thicker than the connection terminal 41b of the CRUM 41, and is thicker with time against gold peeling.

  In the first embodiment, the CRUM 41 and the CRUM adapter 42 do not move relative to each other, and the contact pressure between the CRUM 41 and the CRUM adapter 42 is changed between the CRUM adapter 42 and the connector terminal 14. Even if it is smaller than the portion to be made, it is possible to ensure contact. Therefore, compared with the case where the CRUM adapter 42 is not provided, the contact force between the CRUM 41 and the CRUM adapter 42 may not be increased unnecessarily, and the peeling of the connection terminal 41b of the CRUM 41 is further reduced.

Along with the image forming operation, information stored in the CRUM 41 such as the operation time of the photoconductors PRy to PRk and the developing rolls R0y to R0k is updated, and when a preset time is reached based on the stored information, The deterioration with time of rotating parts such as the photoconductors PRy to PRk and the developing rolls R0y to R0k and the deterioration with time of the developer in the developing device 33, that is, the lifetime of the process cartridges UY to UK are determined. Then, when the process cartridges UY to UK reach the end of their life or damage to the parts is detected, the process cartridges UY to UK are removed and replaced with new process cartridges UY to UK.
In the new process cartridges UY to UK, the side of the photoconductor PRy to PRk of the developing roll storage chamber 46 of the developing container 36 is opened, and the developer is being transported or operated if it is stored in the developing roll storage chamber 46 or the like. The developer may leak out. Therefore, conventionally, in the process cartridges UY to UK during storage or transportation, a configuration in which the developer is accommodated in the starter accommodating portion 34 sealed with the heat seals 87 and 88 is widely adopted. Then, immediately before the process cartridges UY to UK are mounted on the image forming apparatus main body U2, the operator pulls out the heat seals 87 and 88, and the developer is removed from the starter accommodating portion 34 to the developing roll accommodating chamber 46 and the stirring chambers 47 and 48. The developer is allowed to flow into and can be used.

  At this time, if the process cartridges UY to UK are stored for a long time or are vibrated during transportation, the developer is pressed and hardened by its own weight, which may cause the developer to be solidified. In the conventional configuration in which the breaking member 91 is not provided, the hardened developer flows into the developing container 36 and may be used for development before it is sufficiently loosened, which may cause development failure. It was. In particular, when the mass increases, the developer does not pass through each of the inlets 74 and 76 and remains in the starter accommodating portion 34 and may not be used, and the developer remaining in the starter accommodating portion 34 may not be used. There is also a risk that it will fall due to vibration during the image forming operation, fall into the developing roll storage chamber 46, and be used for development before being sufficiently loosened.

30 is an explanatory diagram of a process in which the breaking member of Example 1 is pulled out, FIG. 30A is an explanatory diagram of a state in which the breaking member is pulled forward from the state shown in FIG. 24, and FIG. 30B is from the state shown in FIG. Furthermore, FIG. 30C is an explanatory view of a state in which the breaking member is pulled out further from the state shown in FIG. 30B.
24 and 30, in the process cartridges UY to UK of the first embodiment, the breaker member 91 is accommodated in the starter accommodating portion 34, and along the bottom surface of the starter accommodating space 73 and the front and rear surfaces of the partition rib 77. When the arranged breaking member 91 is pulled forward, as shown in FIGS. 30A to 30C, the breaking portion 92 along the bottom surface or the front surface of the partition rib 77 is pulled upward until it corresponds to the upper end of the partition rib 77. As a result, the developer in the starter accommodating space 73 is destroyed. Therefore, in the starter accommodating space 77, the breaking portion 92 arranged in a zigzag manner along the bottom surface and the surface of the partition rib 77 is drawn forward. When the collapsed portion 92 is further pulled out from the state of being stretched between the rear end wall 34b, the rear end of the collapsed portion 92 is separated from the double-sided tape 94 and pulled forward as shown in FIG. 30C.

Therefore, in the process cartridges UY to UK of the first embodiment, when the collapsing member 91 is pulled out, the developer in the starter accommodating space 73 is collapsed, and the developer collapsed from each of the inlets 74 and 76 enters the developing container 36. Inflow. Therefore, compared to the conventional configuration in which the breaking member 91 is not provided, it is reduced that the solid developer is supplied to the developing container 36 or remains in the starter accommodating portion 34, and development failure is suppressed. The
Moreover, in Example 1, the partition rib 77 is provided in the starter accommodating part 34, and it is divided into a plurality of rooms, and the breaking member 91 is arranged along the partition rib 77, and the breaking member 91 is pulled out. In this case, the breaking portion 92 is lifted up to the upper end of the partitioning rib 77 in each partitioned room. Accordingly, the breaking portion 92 is also pulled out in the front-rear direction, which is the direction in which the breaking member 91 is pulled out, and the breaking portion 92 intersects with the pulling direction in the starter accommodating portion 34 as compared with the configuration in which the developer is hardly broken. It is easy to move up and down and the developer is easily broken. In particular, in Example 1, the height of the partition rib 77 is set at a position higher than the breakout outlet 78, and the breaker portion 92 reliably moves from a position lower than the breakout outlet 78 to a higher position. Compared with the case where the height of the partition rib 77 collapses and is lower than that of the outlet 78, the ability to collapse is improved.

Further, the breaking portion 92 breaks the developer for each room divided by the partition rib 77 in the process of pulling out the breaking member 91, and the partition rib 77 is not provided, and the entire starter accommodating space 73 is not provided. Compared with the case where the developer is to be broken at once, the force and load required for the operator to break down and pull out the member 91 can be reduced.
In the first embodiment, the height of the partition rib 77 is set to a position higher than the upstream inlet 74, and the breaking portion 92 moves to a position higher than the upstream inlet 74 to break the developer. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the undeveloped developer from flowing into the upstream inlet 74.

  Further, in the first embodiment, when the developer is agglomerated, the developer is likely to be clogged at the position where the width of the starter accommodating space 73 above the downstream inlet 76 is narrow. The member 91 is configured such that the width of the breaking portion 92 is a width that passes through a narrow position of the starter accommodating space 73 and extends to the bottom portion below through the narrow position. Therefore, when the collapsing portion 92 moves, the developer passes through a position where the developer is likely to be clogged, and the developer clogs compared to the case where the collapsing portion 92 is disposed only in the upper portion of the starter accommodating space 73. Has been reduced.

Further, in the first embodiment, the breaking member 91 is connected to the upper heat seal 87, and when the upper heat seal 87 is drawn forward, the breaking member 91 is also drawn integrally. Therefore, the number of operations by the operator is reduced as compared with the configuration in which the upper heat seal 87 and the breaking member 91 are pulled out separately.
At this time, in the breaking member 91 of the first embodiment, the front end portion of the breaking portion 92 does not bend downward along the front end wall 34a in the starter accommodating space 73, and extends rearward toward the upward bent portion 92a. It is arranged to be bent, so to speak, it is in a relaxed state. In general, as shown in FIG. 28, when the upper heat seal 87 is pulled out, the operator pulls out the force most easily at the beginning of pulling, and the front end of the breaking portion 92 does not loosen and the developer is broken. Then, at the start of extraction, the force and load required for the operator to pull out may become extremely large. However, in Example 1, the front end of the breaking portion 92 is in a slack state, and immediately after the start of extraction. Has almost no effect on the developer. Therefore, the force required when the peeling of the upper heat seal 87 is started and the force acting to break the breaking member 91 are not superimposed, and the pulling force is prevented from being excessive, that is, The force required for operation is reduced. It is also possible to increase the length of the breaking member 91 and arrange it in a slack state along the front end wall 34a. In this case, the entire breaking member 91 becomes longer and the string There is also a possibility that the strip-shaped broken portion 92 close to the angle is likely to be entangled.

  In the first embodiment, the breaking portion 92 is not bent downward until it is bent downward from the spill seal 79 at the upper bending position 92a, and is on the front side of the upper bending portion 92a of the starter accommodating space 73 and the breaking outlet. In the region below 78, the breaking portion 92 does not pass and the developer is not broken. However, in the first embodiment, the upward bending position 92a of the breaking portion 92 is set in front of the upstream inlet 74, and the breaking outlet 78 is disposed below the upstream inlet 74. The agent will flow into the second stirring chamber 48. Therefore, the developer that has not been broken is prevented from being supplied to the developing roll storage chamber 46, and the use of the developer in a state where the developer is not sufficiently stirred and unraveled is reduced.

  In the first embodiment, when the breaking portion 92 is pulled out, it is pulled forward while passing through the spill seal 79. The breaking portion 92 is disposed in the starter accommodating space 73 filled with the developer, and the developer adheres to the surface. However, when passing through the spill seal 79, the cleaner portion 82b that contacts the surface is broken. The part 92 is wiped and cleaned. Therefore, as compared with the case where the breaking portion 92 is not cleaned, the developer adhering to the drawn breaking member 91 is less contaminated with the operator's hand, clothes, the copying machine U, and the like. In the first embodiment, each of the heat seals 87 and 88 is configured such that the developer is accommodated only on the starter accommodating space 73 side, and the developer is not accommodated on the developing container 36 side, so that the heat seal is not contaminated. When the toner is pulled out, the surface on which the developer is attached is wiped out by the developer container seal 37 on the developer container 36 side and pulled out. Therefore, in Example 1, the surfaces of the heat seals 87 and 88 are also drawn out, and the drawn out heat seals 87 and 88 are suppressed from being contaminated outside the apparatus.

  In Example 1, in the spill seal 79, the cloth cleaner portion 82b is used in the portion that contacts the breaking portion 92, and the cleaning performance is improved as compared with the case where urethane or the like is used. The agent is wiped off more reliably. Moreover, in Example 1, the cleaner part 82b is pressed by the elastic force of the cushion part 82a made from urethane, and is reliably cleaned compared with the case where it cannot press. Temporarily, it is possible to use only the cloth cleaner 82b without providing the cushion 82a, but the thickness of the cloth cleaner 82b alone is more accurate than when urethane or the like is used. It is difficult for the pressure to come out, it is difficult to set the contact pressure with the breaking portion 92 to a preset pressure, and it is desirable to provide the cushion portion 82a. Further, in the case of only the cloth-made cleaner portion 82b, the breaking portion 92 comes into contact with the inner surface of the developing container 36 and the seal substrate 81 without the cushion portion 82a, and the breaking portion 92 may be cut off halfway.

  In Example 1, the resin film 96 is affixed to the double-sided tape 94 that supports the rear end of the breaking portion 92, and the double-sided tape 94 is configured not to be pulled out together with the breaking portion 92. If the double-sided tape 94 is peeled off from the rear end wall 34b together with the broken portion 92, the double-sided tape 94 cannot pass through when the spilled seal 79 passes, and the broken member 91 cannot be pulled out, or the double-sided tape 94 breaks down when the spilled seal 79 passes. There is a possibility that it peels off from the member 91, falls into the second stirring chamber 48, is transported as a foreign substance in the developing container 36, and causes development failure. Therefore, in the first embodiment, the double-sided tape 94 is configured to easily remain on the rear end wall 34b, and the double-sided tape 94 has a bad influence as a foreign object compared to the case where the double-sided tape 94 is easily peeled off from the rear end wall 34b. That has been reduced.

  New process cartridges UY to UK in which the heat seals 87 and 88 are removed and become usable are mounted on the image forming apparatus main body U2. In FIG. 19, when the process cartridges UY to UK are inserted from the front, the process cartridge UY before the color identification key RC1 of the process cartridges UY to UK is engaged with the identification paths 9y to 9k of the unit support portion 2. The looseness-regulating protrusion 36b of ~ UK is engaged with the looseness-regulating guide 11 of the unit support portion 2, and the looseness is restricted. Therefore, when the color identification key RC1 is engaged with the identification paths 9y to 9k, the process cartridges UY to UK are engaged in a state in which the backlash of the process cartridges UY to UK is reduced.

In the state where the rattling is not reduced, when the operator tries to attach the process cartridges UY to UK having different colors by mistake, the color identification key RC1 does not fit into the identification paths 9y to 9k and the color identification guide 8y. , 8m, 8c, and 8k, when the process cartridges UY to UK are moved in the up and down direction, the left and right direction, or the rotating direction within the range of rattling, the color identification key RC1 is identified even though the colors are different. There is a possibility of being erroneously attached to the roads 9y to 9k.
On the other hand, in the first embodiment, before the color identification key RC1 is engaged with the identification paths 9y to 9k, the backlash is reduced and compared to the conventional configuration in which the backlash is not regulated, the mounting error is incorrect. Has been reduced. In particular, in the first embodiment, the process cartridges UY to UK are provided with a backlash restricting projection 36b and a backlash restricting guide 11 on the front side where the operator is on the operation side. It is possible to regulate the play on the side close to the person.

  In the configuration of the first embodiment, the space between the process units UY to UK is narrow, the entire image forming apparatus U is downsized, and a space for arranging the color identification key RC1 and the identification paths 9y to 9k. Itself is decreasing. Therefore, the difference in the positions of the color identification key RC1 and the identification paths 9y to 9k with respect to Y, M, C, and K must be reduced, and erroneous mounting is particularly likely to occur when there is play. . Therefore, in the configuration in which it is difficult to secure a space for arranging the color identification key RC1 and the like as in the first embodiment, the backlash is regulated by the backlash regulation guide 11 and the backlash regulation projection 36b, compared to a case where a sufficient space can be secured. Therefore, the necessity for reducing erroneous mounting is particularly high.

FIG. 31 is a schematic explanatory diagram of the relationship between the identified part and the regulated part of the process unit and the identification part and the regulated part of the unit mounting part. FIG. 31A is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of the first embodiment, and FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the state by which the to-be-regulated part and the control part are arrange | positioned on the opposite side to Example 1. FIG.
Further, as shown in FIG. 31B, if the backlash restricting projection 36b and the color identification key RC1 are arranged on the opposite side, the color identification key RC of the wrong color process cartridges UY to UK is color-identified. When the process cartridges UY to UK are to be rotated when they interfere with the guides 8y to 8k, as shown in FIG. 31B, the process cartridges UY to UK attempt to rotate around the contact portion between the backlash regulation protrusion 36 and the backlash regulation guide 11. Therefore, in the color identification key RC1 that is far from the rotation center, that is, the radius is large, the amount of movement tends to be large, and there is a possibility that it is erroneously attached to the identification paths 9y to 9k of different colors.

In contrast, as shown in FIG. 31A, in the first embodiment, the backlash restricting projection 36b, the backlash restricting guide 11, the color identification key RC1, and the identification paths 9y to 9k are in the direction in which the process cartridges UY to UK are mounted. When viewed from the upstream side, it is arranged on the right side. Therefore, the distance of the color identification key RC1 is short with respect to the contact portion between the backlash regulation protrusion 36 and the backlash regulation guide 11, and the rotation radius of the color identification key RC1 is small. Therefore, even if the process cartridges UY to UK are rotated, the movement amount of the color identification key RC1 is reduced, and the movement amount until the left side surface of the process cartridge comes into contact with the standing wall 3 of the cartridge support portion 2 is reduced. The risk of wearing is reduced.
Further, as shown in FIGS. 31A and 31B, in the configuration of the first embodiment arranged on the same side, the length in the left-right direction is also shortened, and downsizing can be expected as a whole.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 19C, in the first embodiment, when the process cartridges UY to UK are completely attached, the engagement between the play regulation protrusion 36b and the play regulation guide 11 is released, and the process cartridges UY to U UK's backlash regulations have been lifted. If the engagement between the backlash control projection 36b and the backlash control guide 11 is not released, the process cartridges UY to UK need to be positioned by the backlash control projection 36b and the backlash control guide 11, and accuracy is required. The positional relationship between the coupling 26, the gear G1, and the like and the drive system also needs to be matched. However, in the first embodiment, when the mounting of the process cartridges UY to UK is completed, the backlash control protrusion 36b and the backlash control guide 11 are used. And the process cartridges UY to UK can be positioned by the coupling 26 or the like.

  In FIG. 7, in the first embodiment, the Y and M play regulation guides 11 y and 11 m are provided with interference ribs 12 y and 12 m, and a color identification key RC <b> 1 is provided below the play regulation guide 11. For the Y and M colors, the insertion was started when the C and K process cartridges having the color identification key RC1 provided above the play regulation guide 11 were erroneously inserted. In the first stage, the interference ribs 12y and 12m interfere with the color identification key RC1 of C color or K color. Therefore, the worker can recognize that the color is wrong at an early stage.

(Example of change)
As mentioned above, although the Example of this invention was explained in full detail, this invention is not limited to the said Example, A various change is performed within the range of the summary of this invention described in the claim. It is possible. Modification examples (H01) to (H015) of the present invention are exemplified below.
(H01) Although the copying machine as an example of the image forming apparatus has been illustrated in the above embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the copying machine is configured by a printer, a FAX, or a multifunction machine having a plurality or all of these functions. It is also possible.
(H02) In the above embodiment, the copying machine U has exemplified the configuration in which four color developers are used. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a single color image forming apparatus, five or more colors, or three colors or less. The present invention can also be applied to a multicolor image forming apparatus.

(H03) In the above-described embodiment, the height, shape, and number of the partition ribs 77 are not limited to the configuration illustrated in the embodiment, and can be arbitrarily changed. Further, the positional relationship between the height of the partition rib 77 and the upstream inlet 74 and the breakout outlet 78 is preferably the relationship illustrated in the embodiment, but may be different from the relationship illustrated in the embodiment. It is. The partition rib 77 is preferably provided, but may be omitted.
(H04) In the above-described embodiment, it is desirable that the breaking portion 92 is arranged along the partition rib 77. However, all the portions of the breaking portion 92 are not along the partition rib 77 but are partially along. It is also possible to adopt a form that extends to the middle without extending to the bottom of the partition rib 77.

(H05) In the above-described embodiment, the breaking member 91 is preferably configured to be pulled out integrally with the upper heat seal 87, but is not limited to this configuration, and may be configured to be pulled out integrally with the lower heat seal 88. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which they are pulled out independently. In addition, by arranging the upper heat seal 87 and the lower heat seal 88 so that they can be pulled out integrally, it is also possible to pull them out integrally.
(H06) In the above embodiment, the end of the breaker 92 on the side of the breakout outlet 78 is exemplified as a loosened state, but is not limited to this structure, and is not slackened along the front end wall 34a, It is also possible to bend diagonally without bending downward, or to extend up to the foremost partition rib 77 in the horizontal direction.

(H07) In the above embodiment, the configuration of the spill seal 79 is not limited to the configuration illustrated in the embodiment, and the seal base 81 is omitted, one of the cushion portion 82a and the cleaner portion 82b is omitted, or the materials are different. Arbitrary structures such as materials can be used.
(H08) In the above-described embodiment, the developing devices Gy to Gk in which the first stirring chamber 47 and the second stirring chamber 48 are arranged obliquely are exemplified, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and the first stirring chamber 47 and the first stirring chamber 47 The present invention can also be applied to a developing device in which the two stirring chambers 48 are arranged in the horizontal direction or the gravity direction. In addition, the configuration of the auger is not limited to the configuration illustrated in the embodiment, and any conventionally known configuration can be employed.

(H09) In the above embodiment, the specific configuration, materials, number of terminals, positions, etc. of the CRUM 41 and the CRUM adapter 42 can be arbitrarily changed according to the design, specifications, and the like.
(H010) In the embodiment, the connection terminal 44 of the concentration sensor SN is not provided with a member corresponding to the CRUM adapter 42. However, a member corresponding to the CRUM adapter 42 may be provided.
(H011) In the above-described embodiment, the color identification key RC1 and the identification paths 9y to 9k are configured to identify colors. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, other companies manufacture products, so-called OEM: Original Equipment Manufacturing destinations are identified. Therefore, the present invention can be applied to an identification unit for identifying a sales region in Asia, North America, Europe, or the like, a so-called destination. That is, the present invention is not limited to a configuration having a plurality of identification units in one image forming apparatus, and can be applied to a configuration for identifying process cartridges that can be attached to and detached from a plurality of types of image forming apparatuses.

(H012) In the above-described embodiment, the process cartridges UY to UK having the photoreceptors PRy to PRk and the developing devices Gy to Gk are illustrated as an example of the detachable body, but the developer cartridge is not limited to the process cartridges UY to UK. Ky to Kk, photoconductors PRy to PRk and developing devices Gy to Gk can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body U2 such as a photoconductor unit and a developing unit in separate unit configurations, a recovery container for collecting exhausted developer, a fixing unit, and the like. It is applicable to any removable body.
(H013) In the above embodiment, the backlash restricting projection 36b, the backlash restricting guide 11, the color identification key RC1, and the identification paths 9y to 9k are arranged on the right side of the process cartridges UY to UK as shown in FIG. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a configuration as shown in FIG. 31B or a configuration in which the backlash restricting protrusions 36b and the like are arranged on both the left and right sides is also possible.

(H014) In the above embodiment, the interference ribs 12y and 12m are preferably provided, but may be omitted. Further, although the interference ribs are provided only for the Y color and the M color, it may be configured to be provided on the lower side with respect to the C color and the K color. Furthermore, the position of the interference rib can be changed to any position and shape according to the design, specifications, and the like.
(H015) In the above-described embodiment, the backlash restricting protrusion 36b, the backlash restricting guide 11, the color identification key RC1, and the identification paths 9y to 9k are convex on the process units UY to UK and concave on the unit support side. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it is also possible to reverse the relationship between the projections and depressions.

14: Connected terminal,
41 ... Storage medium,
41a ... substrate
41b ... connection terminal,
42 ... Protective member,
42a ... protection member body,
43a ... first protective connection terminal,
43b ... second protective connection terminal,
G1: Driven transmission member,
G1 to G8 ... driven transmission system,
R0y, R0m, R0c, R0k ... rotator,
U: Image forming apparatus,
U2: Image forming apparatus main body,
UY, UM, UC, UK ... Detachable unit.

Claims (7)

A storage medium that stores information about a detachable unit that is attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body, and includes a substrate and a connection terminal exposed on the surface of the substrate, and is detachably supported by the detachable unit. A storage medium , the storage medium having the substrate made of a resin material, and the connection terminal formed by plating a conductive metal material on the substrate ;
A first protection connection terminal capable of contacting the connection terminal of the storage medium; and a first protection connection terminal electrically connected to the first protection connection terminal and capable of contacting a connection terminal provided in the image forming apparatus main body. The second protective connection terminal , wherein the conductive metal material plated with the conductive metal material is more difficult to peel off than the resin material . And a protective member body that supports the second protective connection terminal, wherein the first protective connection terminal is electrically connected to the connection terminal of the storage medium. And the protective member supported by the detachable unit,
With
The detachable unit, wherein when attached to the image forming apparatus main body, the second protective connection terminal is electrically connected to the connected terminal of the image forming apparatus main body. A storage medium that stores information about a detachable unit that is attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body, and includes a substrate and a connection terminal exposed on the surface of the substrate, and is detachably supported by the detachable unit. A storage medium;
A first protection connection terminal capable of contacting the connection terminal of the storage medium; and a first protection connection terminal electrically connected to the first protection connection terminal and capable of contacting a connection terminal provided in the image forming apparatus main body. A protective member main body supporting the first protective connection terminal and the second protective connection terminal, wherein the first protective connection terminal is the first protective connection terminal. The protective member supported by the detachable unit in a state of being electrically connected to a connection terminal of a storage medium;
With
The detachable unit, wherein when attached to the image forming apparatus main body, the second protective connection terminal is electrically connected to the connected terminal of the image forming apparatus main body. The storage medium having the substrate made of a resin material, and the connection terminals formed by plating a conductive metal material on the substrate;
The second protective connection terminal in which the conductive metal material is plated on a metal material on which the conductive metal material plated on the resin material is less likely to peel;
The detachable unit according to claim 2 , further comprising:   4. The detachable unit according to claim 1, wherein phosphor bronze is used as a metal material that is more difficult to peel off the conductive metal material plated than the resin material. A rotating body that is driven to rotate;
A driven transmission system that includes a driven transmission member that transmits driving from a driving source provided in the image forming apparatus main body, and that transmits driving from the driving source to the rotating body;
The detachable unit according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising: The contact pressure between the second protective connection terminal and the connected terminal is set to a larger value than the contact pressure between the connection terminal and the first protective connection terminal. The detachable unit according to any one of claims 1 to 5 . An image forming apparatus main body;
The detachable unit according to any one of claims 1 to 6 , wherein the detachable unit is detachably attached to the image forming apparatus main body.
An image forming apparatus comprising:

Images