JP5610740B2 - Developer cartridge - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a developing cartridge that can be attached to and detached from an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine, a printer, or a facsimile.

  Here, the developing cartridge includes at least a developer carrying member that carries and conveys a developer for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrying member that is an electrophotographic photosensitive member. It is detachable from the apparatus main body.

  In image forming apparatuses such as electrophotographic copying machines, printers, and facsimiles, an electrostatic latent image formed on a drum-shaped electrophotographic photosensitive member (hereinafter referred to as “photosensitive drum”) as an image carrier is It is visualized as a toner image by developing with the developing means.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a developing cartridge as a developing unit of an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic image forming process includes a toner storage unit that stores a developer (hereinafter referred to as “toner”). The developing cartridge carries a developer in a toner storage portion and conveys it to develop a latent electrostatic image formed on the photosensitive drum (hereinafter referred to as “developing roller”). ). These members are integrally formed into a cartridge that can be attached to and detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus.

  In such a detachable developing cartridge, the user replaces the developing cartridge. At this time, it is common to take out the developing cartridge from the image forming apparatus main body and replace it with a new developing cartridge.

  Here, a cover member for protecting the developing roller is attached to the new developing cartridge. When a new developing cartridge is attached to the image forming apparatus body, the cover member is removed and attached to the image forming apparatus body.

  Further, the removed cover member can be attached to a used developing cartridge removed from the main body of the image forming apparatus, and the developing cartridge and the cover member can be simultaneously collected and recycled.

  Here, usability is improved because the cover member can be easily attached to and detached from the developing cartridge. As a cover member that is attached to the developing cartridge and protects the developing roller, a configuration disclosed in Patent Document 1 shown below is known.

JP 2003-173076 A

  As in the conventional example described above, the cover member that can be attached to and detached from the developing cartridge is configured to cover the entire area of the developing roller in the axial direction of the developing roller (that is, the longitudinal direction of the developing roller). The cover member needs to be removed from the developing cartridge before the user attaches it to the image forming apparatus main body in order to use the developing cartridge. At this time, engaging portions when the cover member is attached to and detached from the developing cartridge are provided at the longitudinal end portion or at several places in the entire longitudinal direction. Further, the engaging portion between the developing cartridge and the cover member is disposed at a position different from the handle portion that handles the developing cartridge.

  For this reason, the attachment / detachment of the cover member requires an attachment / detachment operation at several engaging portions in the longitudinal direction. The present invention improves the attaching / detaching operation.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a developing cartridge having a cover member that facilitates the attaching / detaching operation of the cover member and has improved usability.

The above object is achieved by the developing cartridge according to the present invention. In summary, according to this onset bright, a developing cartridge detachably mountable to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus forms an image on a recording medium;
(A) a developer carrier for developing the latent image formed on the image carrier;
(B) a frame including a first engaged portion provided on one end side and a second engaged portion provided on the other end side in a direction intersecting the axial direction of the developer carrying member; ,
(C) a cover member detachably attached to the frame body for covering the exposed portion of the developer carrying body exposed from the frame body, the cover member gripping surface for gripping; A cover member having a first engagement portion and a second engagement portion;
(D) a handle having a handle gripping surface;
Have
In a state where the developing cartridge is placed on the placement surface so that the first engaged portion is higher than the second engaged portion, the first engaged portion is moved to the first engaged portion. The cover member can be attached to the frame body by engaging the second engagement portion with the second engaged portion,
Wherein when gripping the developer cartridge, a developing cartridge, which is a configuration for gripping and said cover member gripping surface the handle gripping surface together Ru are provided.

  According to the present invention, a cover member that can be attached and detached with one hand can be realized by providing the engaging portion for attaching and detaching the developing cartridge and the cover member in the handle portion for operating the developing cartridge. Accordingly, the present invention can provide a developing cartridge having a cover member that is easy to attach and detach the cover member and has improved usability.

1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an embodiment of an image forming apparatus to which a developing cartridge according to the present invention can be detachably mounted. 1 is an external perspective view of an embodiment of a developing cartridge according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a state during image formation of the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 4A is a schematic cross-sectional view of the developing cartridge according to the present invention, FIG. 4A shows a state where a cover member is mounted, and FIG. 4B shows a state where the cover member is removed. FIG. 5A is a schematic perspective view of the developing roller, and FIG. 5B is a diagram for explaining a manner of attaching the developing roller to the developing cartridge. FIG. 6A is a perspective view of the developing cartridge and the cover member according to the present invention, FIG. 6A shows a state where the cover member is mounted, FIG. 6B shows a state where the cover member is removed, and FIG. (C) shows a cover member. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a developing cartridge placed on a mounting table with a cover member according to the present invention attached thereto. FIG. 8A is a perspective view showing a state in which the developing cartridge according to the present invention is mounted on the rotary, and FIG. 8B is a partial cross-sectional view of the rotary. It is a schematic sectional drawing explaining the mounting aspect of the cover member to the developing cartridge which concerns on this invention. FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a gripping method when a cover member is attached to the developing cartridge according to the present invention. FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a gripping method when a cover member is attached to the developing cartridge according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a developing cartridge and a handle portion of a cover member according to the present invention.

  Hereinafter, the developing cartridge according to the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.

Example 1
FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a so-called rotary type color electrophotographic image forming apparatus provided with a rotary capable of mounting a plurality of developing cartridges according to the present invention.

(Overall configuration of image forming apparatus)
First, the overall configuration of the image forming apparatus and the image forming operation will be described with reference to FIG.

  In this embodiment, the image forming apparatus 11 is a four-color full-color laser beam printer, and FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration thereof.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 11 includes a drum-shaped electrophotographic photosensitive member, that is, a photosensitive drum 3a as an image carrier. Around the photosensitive drum 3a, there are charging means 3b for uniformly charging the photosensitive drum 3a and exposure means 12 for irradiating the photosensitive drum 3a with laser light to form a latent image. Has been placed. Further, a plurality of developing cartridges as developing means for developing the latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 3a adjacent to the photosensitive drum 3a with a corresponding color developer (that is, toner) to visualize the latent image. 5 is arranged. In this embodiment, the plurality of developing cartridges 5 are a yellow developing cartridge 5a, a magenta developing cartridge 5b, a cyan developing cartridge 5c, and a black developing cartridge 5d. Around the photosensitive drum 3a, a cleaning means 3c for removing residual toner on the photosensitive dome 3a is disposed.

  In this embodiment, the photosensitive drum 3a, the charging unit 3b, and the cleaning unit 3c are integrally formed, and the drum cartridge 3 that can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body 11A is configured.

  Each of the yellow developing cartridge 5a, the magenta developing cartridge 5b, the cyan developing cartridge 5c, and the black developing cartridge 5d includes a developer carrier, that is, a developing roller 2 (2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d). The developing cartridge 5 (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d) is held by a rotary 101 that is rotatably attached to the apparatus main body 11A.

  The configuration in which the rotary 101 holds the yellow developing cartridge 5a, the magenta developing cartridge 5b, the cyan developing cartridge 5c, and the black developing cartridge 5d is the same. Therefore, the description of the configuration in which the rotary 101 in the present embodiment holds each developing cartridge will be made with respect to the yellow developing cartridge 5a.

  When the yellow developing cartridge 5a is mounted on the rotary 101, the locked portion 6a (FIG. 2) provided on the yellow developing cartridge 5a is connected to the developing cartridge locking member 103a (FIG. 1) provided on the rotary 101. Engage. Thus, the yellow developing cartridge 5a is supported by the rotary 101. The developing cartridge locking member 103a is engaged with the yellow developing cartridge 5a by a spring (not shown) and restricts movement in the direction of arrow D in FIG.

  In the same manner as the yellow developing cartridge 5a, the magenta developing cartridge 5b, the cyan developing cartridge 5c, and the black developing cartridge 5d are similarly supported by the rotary 101 by the developing cartridge locking members 103b, 103c, and 103d.

  The image forming operation will be described below.

  First, the photosensitive drum 3a is rotated in the direction of arrow A in FIG. In synchronization with the rotation of the photosensitive drum 3a, the intermediate transfer belt 13 is rotated in the direction of arrow C in FIG. The surface of the photosensitive drum 3a is uniformly charged by the charging unit 3b, and the exposure unit 12 irradiates the yellow image with light to form a yellow electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 3a.

  Simultaneously with the formation of the electrostatic latent image, the rotary 101 that holds the developing cartridge 5 (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d) and is rotatable is connected to the image forming apparatus 11 around the rotary rotation shaft 101a. The drive transmission mechanism 22 provided rotates in the direction of arrow B in FIG.

  As a result, the rotary 101 rotates to place the yellow developing cartridge 5a at the developing position facing the photosensitive drum 3a as shown in FIG.

  Then, a potential difference is provided between the photosensitive drum 3a and the developing roller 2a so that the yellow developer adheres to the latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 3a. Thus, development is performed by attaching a yellow developer to the latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 3a. That is, a yellow toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 3a.

  Thereafter, a voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the toner is applied to the primary transfer roller 14 disposed inside the intermediate transfer belt 13 to primarily transfer the yellow toner image on the photosensitive drum 3 a onto the intermediate transfer belt 13. .

  When the primary transfer of the yellow toner image is completed as described above, the rotary 101 receives driving from the drive transmission mechanism 22 of the image forming apparatus 11 and rotates in the direction of arrow B in FIG. Then, the magenta developing cartridge 5b, the cyan developing cartridge 5c, and the black developing cartridge 5d are sequentially positioned at the developing position facing the photosensitive drum 3a. As in the case of yellow, electrostatic latent image formation, development, and primary transfer are sequentially performed for magenta, cyan, and black, and four color toner images are superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt 13.

  Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 1, the secondary transfer roller 15 is not in contact with the intermediate transfer belt 13. The cleaning unit 16 for the intermediate transfer belt 13 is also in a non-contact state with the intermediate transfer belt 13.

  On the other hand, a toner image transfer body in this embodiment, that is, a sheet 110 as a recording medium, is stacked and stored in a paper feed cassette 17 provided at a lower portion of the image forming apparatus. The sheets are separated and fed one by one from 17, and sent to the conveying roller 19. The conveyance roller 19 sends out the sheet 110 between the intermediate transfer belt 13 and the secondary transfer roller 15. Here, as shown in FIG. 3, the secondary transfer roller 15 is in pressure contact with the intermediate transfer belt 13.

  Further, a voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the toner is applied to the secondary transfer roller 15, and the four-color toner images superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt 13 are secondarily applied to the surface of the conveyed sheet 110. It will be transcribed.

  The sheet 110 to which the toner image is transferred is sent to the fixing device 20. In the fixing device 20, heat and pressure are applied to the sheet 110 to fix the toner image on the sheet 110. Thereafter, the sheet 110 is discharged from the fixing device 20 to the paper discharge unit 21 outside the image forming apparatus 11.

(Description of developing cartridge)
The configurations of the yellow developing cartridge 5a, the magenta developing cartridge 5b, the cyan developing cartridge 5c, and the black developing cartridge 5d are all the same. Therefore, the description of the configuration of the developing cartridge in the present embodiment will be made on the yellow developing cartridge 5a. The yellow developing cartridge 5a of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b).

  4A and 4B are vertical sectional views that intersect with the longitudinal direction of the yellow developing cartridge 5a of this embodiment, that is, the longitudinal direction passing through the handle 31a provided near the center in the axial direction. It is.

  The yellow developing cartridge 5a has a developing frame 5aA. The frame 5aA forms a developing container 7a as a storage portion for storing the developer (toner), and also integrally holds the developing roller 2a for carrying and transporting the toner in a rotatable manner. The developing container 7a of the yellow developing cartridge 5a is separated into a toner storage chamber 7a1 and a developing chamber 7a2 having a developing roller 2a and a toner supply roller 8a, both of which are connected by a toner supply opening 7a3.

  The developing roller contact surface 2a3 of the developing roller 2a and the toner supply roller contact surface 8a3 of the toner supply roller 8a are disposed so as to contact in the developing chamber 7a2.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, the developing roller 2a includes a rubber roller portion 2a1 and a rigid shaft 2a2. The rigid shaft 2a2 passes through the rubber roller portion 2a1 in the direction of the rotation axis of the developing roller 2a, and both ends are rubber rollers. Projecting portions 2a2L and 2a2R projecting from the portion 2a1 are formed.

  A configuration in which the yellow developing cartridge 5a rotatably supports the developing roller 2a on the frame 5aA will be described with reference to FIG.

  In this embodiment, the yellow developing cartridge 5a rotatably holds the developing roller 2a by side members 6L and 6R that are provided on both sides of the frame 5aA and hold the projecting portions 2a2L and 2a2R of the developing roller 2a, respectively. ing.

  In this embodiment, when the yellow developing cartridge 5a reaches the user's hand, as shown in FIG. 4A, a film-like toner seal 9a is thermally welded to the toner supply opening 7a3. Etc., and is fixed to the developing container 7a. Thereby, the toner storage chamber 7a1 and the developing chamber 7a2 are separated. By removing the toner seal 9a before use, the toner 10a in the toner storage chamber 7a1 can be supplied into the developing chamber 7a2 as shown in FIG. 4B.

  Further, as understood from FIG. 4B, a part of the outer periphery 2a3 of the developing roller 2a is exposed to the yellow developing cartridge 5a and directly touches the user's hand. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4A, a cover member 30a that covers the entire exposed portion of the outer periphery 2a3 of the rubber roller is provided in an unused state. By removing the cover member 30a, the outer periphery 2a3 of the rubber roller is exposed and contacts the photosensitive drum 3a in the image forming apparatus 11 as shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 4B, the toner 10a in the developing chamber 7a2 is supplied to the toner supply roller 8a, and the toner supply roller 8a rotates in the direction of arrow E in FIG. Toner 10a is supplied. The developing roller 2a rotates in the direction of arrow F in FIG. 4B, and the toner 10a on the developing roller 2a is regulated by the developing blade 1a. The toner is developed at a position where the developing roller 2a and the photosensitive drum 3a face each other. Thereafter, the toner 10a remaining on the developing roller 2a is removed by the toner supply roller 8a and supplied with toner. A voltage is supplied from the image forming apparatus 11 to the developing roller 2a in order to provide a potential difference from the photosensitive drum 3a. A voltage is also supplied from the image forming apparatus 11 to the toner supply roller 8a.

(Configuration of attaching / detaching the cover member)
The configuration of attaching and detaching the cover member is the same in the yellow developing cartridge 5a, the magenta developing cartridge 5b, the cyan developing cartridge 5c, and the black developing cartridge 5d. Therefore, the cover member attaching / detaching configuration in this embodiment will be described using the yellow developing cartridge 5a.

  FIG. 6A shows a state where the cover member 30a is attached to the yellow developing cartridge 5a. FIG. 6B shows a state where the cover member 30a is removed from the yellow developing cartridge 5a. FIG.6 (c) shows the state which looked at the cover member 30a from the inner side.

  FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view passing through the handle 31a provided in the vicinity of the center of the yellow developing cartridge 5a in the longitudinal direction (that is, the axial direction R in FIG. 6B) and intersecting the longitudinal direction. Show.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 6B and 7, the yellow developing cartridge 5a is provided with a handle 31a on one end side of the frame 5aA in the direction intersecting the longitudinal direction in the vicinity of the center in the longitudinal direction. The handle 31a is provided with a handle engaged portion (first engaged portion) 31a1. A container engaged portion (second engaged portion) 7a4 is provided near the center in the longitudinal direction across the developing roller 2a of the developing container 7a on the other end side of the frame 5aA opposite to the handle 31a. The cover member 30a is engaged with the two portions, that is, the handle engaged portion 31a1 provided on the handle 31a and the container engaged portion 7a4 on the opposite side of the handle 31a.

  On the other hand, the cover member 30a includes four engagement portions 30a1, 30a2, 30a3, and 30a4 provided near the center in the longitudinal direction, as shown in FIGS. The cover member 30a engages the engaging portions (first engaging portions) 30a1 and 30a2 with the handle engaged portions 31a1, and engages the engaging portions (second engaging portions) 30a3 and 30a4 with the containers. It is engaged with the portion 7a4 and attached to the yellow developing cartridge 5a.

  At this time, two parts of a handle engaged portion (first engaged portion) 31a1 provided on the handle 31a and a container engaged portion (second engaged portion) 7a4 on the opposite side of the handle 31a Is provided at a position where at least a part thereof overlaps in the direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the developing roller 2a. Thereby, the cover member 30a is pushed into the frame by pushing between the first engagement portion 30a1 (30a2) and the second engagement portion 30a3 (30a4) of the cover member 30a (in the direction of arrow Po in FIG. 7). It can be easily attached to 5aA.

  FIG. 8A is a perspective view showing a state where the developing cartridge 5 is mounted on the rotary 101. FIG. 8B is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state where the developing cartridge 5 is mounted on the rotary 101.

  As shown in FIGS. 6B and 7, the yellow developing cartridge 5a includes a handle engaging portion 31a1 provided in the handle 31a near the center in the longitudinal direction, and a container engaged in the developing container 7a. The cover member 30a is engaged at two portions of the portion 7a4.

  Here, as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the container engaged portion 7a4 is located at a position facing the handle 31d of the black developing cartridge 5d adjacent to the yellow developing cartridge 5a mounted on the rotary 101. Has been placed. That is, it is located near the center of the longitudinal direction of the developing cartridge 5a, and is further provided at a position where the surfaces 7a5 and 7a6 of the developing container 7a which is the frame 5aA are cut out.

  This is for improving the operability of the adjacent developing cartridges 5d in a state where a plurality of developing cartridges 5 are mounted on the apparatus main body 11A as shown in FIG. 8B. That is, when the handle 31d is gripped to operate the developing cartridge 5d, the adjacent container engaged portion 7a4 is separated from the handle 31d and the space M is provided in order to improve gripping performance. Since the present embodiment is a rotary type image forming apparatus, it is in the above-described form in consideration of usability.

  Here, as described above, the unused yellow developing cartridge 5a needs to have the toner seal 9a removed and the cover member 30a removed before use. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, it is preferable to place the yellow developing cartridge 5a on a mounting base 111 such as a horizontal base as shown in FIG. This is a posture in which the mounting surface 111A of the mounting table 111 is placed in contact with the mounting surface 7a5 of the yellow developing cartridge 5a. At this time, the yellow developing cartridge 5a has a posture in which the handle 31a is farthest from the mounting table 111 side. It becomes. That is, in the yellow developing cartridge 5a, the base 111 is placed such that the gripped engaged portion (first engaged portion) 31a is higher than the container engaged portion (second engaged portion) 7a4. It is placed on the surface 111A.

  From this posture, the user holds the handle 31 a and performs an operation of lifting the yellow developing cartridge 5 a from the mounting table 111 and an operation of placing it on the mounting table 111. Further, since the engaging portion 31a1 of the cover member 30a is provided on the handle 31a, the cover member 30a can be attached to and detached from the yellow developing cartridge 5a by operating the handle 31a. Thus, the operation of the yellow developing cartridge 5a and the attaching / detaching operation portion of the cover member 30a are provided on the handle 31a, so that the cover member can be easily operated.

  FIG. 7 shows a configuration in which the cover member 30a is removed from the yellow developing cartridge 5a in the above-described posture.

  First, the cover member 30a is moved in the arrow P direction with the container engaged portion 7a4 as the rotation center. At this time, the engaging bases 30a5 and 30a6 of the engaging portions 30a1 and 30a2 engaged with the handle engaged portion 31a1 are bent, and the engagement is released from the handle engaged portion 31a1. After releasing the engagement of the handle engaged portion 31a1 with the engaging portions 30a1 and 30a2, the cover member 30a can be released from the developing cartridge 5a by rotating around the engaging portions 30a3 and 30a4. The

  Next, the cover member can be removed by removing the engaging portions 30a3 and 30a4 from the container engaged portion 7a4. At this time, the height T of the claws of the engaging portions 30a3 and 30a4 is set lower than the distance S between the tip of the container engaged portion 7a4 and the installation surface 7a5 of the developing container 7a. Thereby, when removing, engagement part 30a3, 30a4 is arrange | positioned so that it may interfere with the stand of the mounting base 111 and the container to-be-engaged part 7a4, and it does not take.

  FIG. 9A shows a configuration in which the cover member 30a is attached to the yellow developing cartridge 5a.

  Similarly to the removal, the yellow developer cartridge 5a is placed so that the installation surface 7a5 of the mounting table 111 is in contact with the mounting surface 111A. That is, the yellow developing cartridge 5a is placed on the placement surface 111A of the base 111 such that the gripped and engaged portion 31a is located above the container engaged portion 7a4.

  Then, the engaging portions 30a3 and 30a4 are locked to the container engaged portion 7a4, the cover member 30a is moved in the arrow Q direction with the container engaged portion 7a4 as the rotation center, and the engaging portions 30a1 and 30a2 are moved. The engaging bases 30a5 and 30a6 are bent and engaged with the handle engaging portion 31a1. Thereby, the cover member 30a is attached to the frame 5aA.

  Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 9B, the cover member 3a can be moved and engaged with the yellow developing cartridge 5a in the arrow S direction. That is, by the movement of the cover member 3a in the arrow S direction, the engagement portion bases 30a5, 30a6, 30a7, and 30a8 of the engagement portions 30a1, 30a2, 30a3, and 30a4 of the cover member 30a are bent. Then, the engaging portions 30a1 and 30a2 of the cover member 30a are engaged with the handle engaged portion 31a1, and the engaging portions 30a3 and 30a4 of the cover member 30a are engaged with the container engaged portion 7a4.

  Here, the attachment / detachment of the cover member 30a to / from the yellow developing cartridge 5a in a state where the installation surface 7a5 of the yellow developing cartridge 5a is in contact with the mounting base 111 of the developing cartridge has been described. However, the cover member 30a can be attached to and detached from the yellow developing cartridge 5a by holding the yellow developing cartridge 5a with one hand and the cover member 30a with the other hand.

  FIG. 10 is a vertical sectional view intersecting the longitudinal direction passing through the handle 31a provided near the center in the longitudinal direction of the yellow developing cartridge 5a with the cover member 30a attached.

  In the developing cartridge 5a having a small rotary structure as in this embodiment, the positions of the developing roller 2a and the handle 31a protected by the cover member 30a are arranged close to each other. In such a configuration, when the cover member 30a for protecting the developing roller 2a is provided, the handle 31a itself is covered by the cover member 30a, and it may be difficult to grip only the handle 31a.

Therefore, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, the cover member 30a is also provided with the function of the handle 31a. In the yellow developing cartridge 5a in which the cover member 30a is provided with the cover member gripping surface 30a9 and the cover member 30a is mounted, the grip gripping surface 31a2 and the cover member gripping surface 30a9 can be gripped together. Forming part.

  As a result, for example, as shown in FIG. 11, the adverse effects of gripping only the cover member 30a are solved. That is, the yellow developing cartridge 5a is prevented from falling off when the yellow developing cartridge 5a and the cover member 30a are disengaged when only the cover member 30a is gripped. Further, in order to prevent the cover member 30a from coming off, it is not necessary to increase the attaching / detaching force generated when the engaging force of the engaging portion is increased. Therefore, according to the configuration of the present embodiment, usability is improved.

Further, as shown in FIG. 12, a cover surface 30a10 is provided between a handle gripping surface 31a2 that forms a gripping portion for holding the yellow developing cartridge 5a and a cover member gripping surface 30a9. The cover surface 30a10 is formed up to the vicinity of the handle engaged portion 31a1, and prevents a finger from entering between the handle gripping surface 31a2 and the cover member gripping surface 30a9. The user can easily hold the cover member 30a and the handle 31a together.

  As described above, by concentrating the engaging portion of the cover member 30a that can be attached to and detached from the yellow developing cartridge 5a in the vicinity of the handle 31a for operating the yellow developing cartridge 5a, the user's operation is concentrated on the handle 31a portion. Can do. Thereby, the attachment / detachment operation with one hand is also possible. Further, since the operation unit and the gripping unit are the same, the configuration is easy to recognize, and the yellow developing cartridge 5a having the cover member 30a with good usability can be provided. The same applies to the other developing cartridges 5b, 5c, and 5d of magenta, cyan, and black.

  In the above-described embodiments, the case of the color developing cartridge used in the rotary type electronic image forming apparatus has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the developing cartridge and the monochrome developing cartridge in the case of the inline type are also illustrated. Applicable.

2 (2a to 2d) Developing roller (developer carrier)
3a Photosensitive drum (image carrier)
5 (5a to 5d) Developing cartridge 5aA Developing frame 7a4 Container locking portion (second engaged portion)
11 Image forming apparatus 11A Image forming apparatus main body 30a Cover members 30a1, 30a2 Engagement part (first engagement part)
30a3, 30a4 engagement part (second engagement part)
31a Handle 31a1 Handle engaged portion (first engaged portion)
101 Rotary 110 sheet (recording medium)
111 Place M Space R Development cartridge longitudinal direction (axial direction)

Claims (7)

A developing cartridge detachable from an electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium,
(A) a developer carrier for developing the latent image formed on the image carrier;
(B) a frame including a first engaged portion provided on one end side and a second engaged portion provided on the other end side in a direction intersecting the axial direction of the developer carrying member; ,
(C) a cover member detachably attached to the frame body for covering the exposed portion of the developer carrying body exposed from the frame body, the cover member gripping surface for gripping; A cover member having a first engagement portion and a second engagement portion;
(D) a handle having a handle gripping surface;
Have
In a state where the developing cartridge is placed on the placement surface so that the first engaged portion is higher than the second engaged portion, the first engaged portion is moved to the first engaged portion. The cover member can be attached to the frame body by engaging the second engagement portion with the second engaged portion,
A developing cartridge characterized in that, when the developing cartridge is gripped, the cover member gripping surface and the handle gripping surface are gripped together.   The developing cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the first engaged portion is provided on a handle provided on the frame body for gripping the developing cartridge.   The second engaged portion is a handle provided on the adjacent developing cartridge to grip the adjacent developing cartridge when a plurality of the developing cartridges are mounted on the apparatus main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The developing cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the developing cartridge is provided at a position opposed to the developing cartridge.   4. The cover member can be disengaged from the developing cartridge with the second engagement portion as a center of rotation after the engagement of the first engagement portion is released. The developing cartridge according to any one of the above.   The first engaged portion and the second engaged portion are provided at a position where at least a part of the first engaged portion and the second engaged portion overlap each other in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the developer carrier. 2. The developing cartridge according to 1. 6. The development according to claim 1, wherein the cover member has a cover surface for preventing a finger from entering between the cover member gripping surface and the handle gripping surface. cartridge. The second engaging portion has a claw;
The height (T) of the claw of the second engaging portion is lower than the distance (S) from the placement surface to the tip of the second engaged portion. The developing cartridge according to claim 1.

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