JP7224899B2 - cleaning unit, process cartridge and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a cleaning unit for cleaning developer on an image carrier, a process cartridge mounted on an image forming apparatus, and an image forming apparatus.

Electrophotographic image forming apparatuses, that is, image forming apparatuses such as electrophotographic copiers, electrophotographic printers (LED printers, laser beam printers, etc.), facsimile machines, and word processors that form images on recording media using an electrophotographic image forming method It has been known. In such an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, an attached process cartridge selectively exposes an image carrier uniformly charged by charging means to form a latent image on the surface of the image carrier. Then, it is known that the latent image is visualized as a developer image by a developer and then transferred to a recording material to record an image.

Here, the process cartridge includes, for example, a cleaning frame that integrally supports an image carrier, a charging unit and a cleaning unit, a developing roller, a developing blade, and a developing cartridge that integrally supports a developer containing portion containing a developer. It is composed of a frame. Further, it is composed of a side cover and the like covering the driving gear train and the like on the side surface of the developing frame and the cleaning frame or any one of them.

In addition, the cleaning frame removes and accommodates the developer remaining on the image bearing member after transfer, because the developer may adhere to the charging unit or the like and degrade the image quality. A conventional cleaning unit includes a cleaning frame and a cleaning member that contacts the image bearing member and scrapes off the residual developer. ing.

Then, as a method for fixing the frame and other parts, as shown in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, a flow path is provided in the frame and other parts and an adhesive (for example, limonene) or the like is injected. Joining technology is adopted.

JP 2006-145570 A

Japanese Patent No. 3826148

However, when bonding with an adhesive such as limonene, in the conventional configuration, the end of the flow path for the adhesive solvent is open to the exterior of the frame, and depending on the amount of the injected solvent, there is a risk that the solvent may easily seep into the exterior. was there. In this case, the exuded solvent stains the appearance, and there is a possibility that the user may misunderstand that the product is defective.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a cleaning unit, a process cartridge, and an image forming apparatus that can prevent a bonding solvent from leaking out and causing poor appearance.

To achieve the above objects, the present invention provides a cleaning unit having a cleaning member for collecting toner remaining on an image carrier, comprising: a frame; and a cover member joined to the frame and covering the frame. an injection portion provided in at least one of the frame and the cover member for injecting a solvent for joining the frame and the cover member; and an injection portion provided in at least one of the frame and the cover member, a channel extending along the joint surface between the frame and the cover member, through which the solvent injected from the injection part flows; a guide path for guiding to the inside of the frame to be covered, and in a posture in which the cover member is positioned above the cleaning member with respect to the direction of gravity, the guide path guides the frame and the cover. A cleaning unit, a process cartridge, and an image forming apparatus are provided at positions lower than joint surfaces of members .

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a cleaning unit, a process cartridge, and an image forming apparatus that prevent a solvent for bonding from leaking out and causing poor appearance.

1 is a perspective view of one longitudinal end of a cleaning device according to a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a schematic front cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus main body and a process cartridge according to a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 3 is an enlarged front cross-sectional view of the process cartridge of FIG. 2 according to the first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a process cartridge according to a first embodiment of the invention; FIG. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the cleaning device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the rotation axis direction of the photosensitive drum; It is an explanatory view explaining composition of a cover concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a state in which a frame and a lid are joined together according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 1 is a perspective view of a frame before a lid is attached according to the first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of one end in the longitudinal direction of a cleaning device according to a second embodiment of the present invention; It is an explanatory view explaining the composition of the lid concerning a 2nd embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a state in which a frame body and a lid are joined together according to a second embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a frame before a lid is attached according to a second embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a cleaning unit in a conventional configuration;

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the components described in the following embodiments are only examples, and various conditions such as the configuration, function, material, shape, relative arrangement, etc. of the device to which the present invention is applied within the scope of the present invention. can be modified or changed as appropriate, and is not limited to the following embodiments.

In the following embodiments, a laser beam printer, which is an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, will be taken as an example of an image forming apparatus, and a process cartridge used in a laser beam printer will be taken as an example of a cartridge.

In the following description, it is assumed that the longitudinal direction of the process cartridge coincides with the rotation axis direction of the photosensitive drum, which is the image carrier.

Also, the reference numerals in the description are for referring to the drawings and do not limit the configuration.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 2 is a schematic front sectional view of an image forming apparatus main body (hereinafter referred to as apparatus main body) A and a process cartridge (hereinafter referred to as cartridge) B of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 3 is an enlarged front sectional view of the cartridge B of FIG. 2. FIG. Here, the apparatus main body A is a portion of the image forming apparatus from which the cartridge B is removed.

In FIG. 2, an apparatus main body A is a laser beam printer using an electrophotographic technique in which a cartridge B can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body A. As shown in FIG.

A sheet tray 40 for stacking recording media (hereinafter referred to as sheets P) on which images are to be formed is arranged below the cartridge B. As shown in FIG. Further, the apparatus main body A includes a pickup roller 41, a pair of conveying rollers 42, a transfer guide 43, a transfer roller 44, a conveying guide 45, a pair of fixing rollers 46, a pair of discharge rollers 47, and a discharge tray along the conveying direction of the sheet P. 48 and the like are arranged in sequence.

Next, an outline of the image forming process will be described.

Based on the print start signal, the photosensitive drum 601, which is an image bearing member, is driven to rotate in the direction of arrow R at a predetermined peripheral speed (process speed). A charging roller 602 to which a bias voltage is applied contacts the outer peripheral surface of the photoreceptor drum 601 and uniformly charges the outer peripheral surface of the photoreceptor drum 601 . The exposure device 30 outputs a laser beam L corresponding to image information, and scans and exposes the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 601 . As a result, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image information is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 601 .

On the other hand, in FIG. 3 , the developer (hereinafter referred to as toner T) in the toner chamber 21 of the developing device 20 is agitated and conveyed by the rotation of the toner conveying member 22 and sent to the toner supply chamber 23 . The toner T is carried on the surface of the developing roller 25 by the magnetic force of the magnet roller 24 (fixed magnet), and is triboelectrically charged by the developing blade 26 while the layer thickness of the peripheral surface of the developing roller 25 is regulated. The toner T is transferred to the photosensitive drum 601 according to the electrostatic latent image and visualized as a toner image. That is, the drum carries toner (toner image) and rotates in the arrow R direction.

In FIG. 2, the sheet P stored in the lower part of the apparatus main body A is fed from the sheet tray 40 by the pickup roller 41 and the pair of conveying rollers 42 in conjunction with the output timing of the laser light L. As shown in FIG. Then, the sheet P is fed to the transfer position between the photosensitive drum 601 and the transfer roller 44 via the transfer guide 43 . At this transfer position, the toner image is sequentially transferred from the photosensitive drum 601 to the sheet P. As shown in FIG.

The sheet P to which the toner image has been transferred is separated from the photosensitive drum 601, conveyed along the conveying guide 45 to the pair of fixing rollers 46, and passes through the nip portion. The toner image is fixed on the sheet P by pressure/heat fixing processing at this nip portion. The sheet P subjected to the toner image fixing process is conveyed to the discharge roller pair 47 and discharged to the discharge tray 48 .

On the other hand, in FIG. 3, the photosensitive drum 601 after the transfer is used again for the image forming process after removing residual toner on the outer peripheral surface by the cleaning member 74 . The toner removed from the photosensitive drum 601 is stored in the waste toner storage chamber 70 of the cleaning device 60 .

Next, the configuration of the cleaning section will be described with reference to FIG.

4A and 4B are explanatory diagrams of the cartridge B, FIG. 4A is a perspective view of the entire cartridge B, and FIG. FIG. 4C is an exploded perspective view taken out, and FIG. 4C is an enlarged perspective view taken out of part X in FIG. 4B.

As shown in FIG. 4A, the cartridge B has a cleaning device 60 and a developing device 20 integrally formed. As shown in FIG. 4B, the cleaning member 74 provided in the cleaning device 60 is composed of an elastic member 742 made of rubber or the like and a support member 741 made of sheet metal or the like. A frame 162 of the cleaning device 60 has a fixing portion 63 for fixing the cleaning member, and the fixing portion 63 is provided with a screw fastening portion 64 as shown in FIG. 4C. Holes 749 are provided at both longitudinal ends of the supporting member 741 and fixed to the fixing portion 63 with screws 90 .

In FIG. 4B, the cleaning member 74 is arranged at a predetermined position with respect to the frame 162, and the gap between the cleaning member 74 and the frame 162 is filled with sealing means (not shown). becomes.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4C, the fixing portion 63 is provided with a fixing surface 630 that abuts on the support member 741 . A partition wall 65 extends from the inner end of the fixing portion 63 in the longitudinal direction in a direction substantially perpendicular to the fixing portion 63 and in a direction perpendicular to the rotational axis of the photosensitive drum 601 so as to connect the upper surface 701 of the waste toner storage chamber 70 . is provided. The partition wall 65 divides the waste toner storage chamber 70 into a first storage chamber 71 and a second storage chamber 72 . On the other hand, a partition wall 65 is similarly provided from the fixed portion 63 to the other end in the longitudinal direction to divide the waste toner storage chamber 70 into a first storage chamber 71 and a second storage chamber 72 .

In this embodiment, the partition wall 65 is a flat surface connected to the end portion of the fixing portion 63, but it may be a wall that is curved or has steps.

Next, the configuration of the waste toner storage chamber 70 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 5, and 13. FIG.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one end in the longitudinal direction of the cleaning device 60 as viewed from the direction of arrow Z in FIG. 4A. FIG. B) shows a state after a lid 75, which will be described later, is joined onto the opening 50. FIG. 5A and 5B are cross-sectional views of the cleaning device 60 as seen from the rotation axis direction of the photoreceptor drum 601. FIG. The cross section of the accommodation chamber 72 part is shown. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional cleaning device taken at the same position as in FIG. 5(B).

As shown in FIG. 5A, in the first storage chamber 71, the toner T scraped off by the elastic member 742 of the cleaning member 74 moves along the cleaning member 74 in the direction away from the photosensitive drum 601 ( It accumulates gradually toward the direction of arrow F). Finally, it reaches the first downstream side wall surface 710, which is the downstream wall surface in the arrow F direction.

As shown in FIG. 5B, in the second storage chamber 72 as well, the toner T gradually accumulates along the cleaning member 74 in the direction away from the photosensitive drum 601 (the arrow F direction). go. Finally, it reaches the second downstream side wall surface 720, which is the downstream wall surface in the arrow F direction.

In FIGS. 5A and 5B, the toner T scraped off by the elastic member 742 of the cleaning member 74 has low fluidity. ). On the other hand, as it goes downstream in the direction of arrow F, it becomes more difficult to diffuse in the longitudinal direction. Therefore, after the toner T reaches the downstream wall surface (for example, the first and second downstream wall surfaces 710 and 720) downstream in the direction of the arrow F, the density of the toner T increases without diffusing in the longitudinal direction. As a result, the limit of the amount of toner T that can be accommodated depends on the position of the downstream wall surface at each position in the longitudinal direction.

In the conventional structure, when providing the fixed portion 63 for fixing the cleaning member 74 to the frame 162, as shown in FIG. An upstream end face 1641 was provided on the side. Therefore, the frame 162 alone forms the waste toner storage space.

On the other hand, according to this configuration, as shown in FIG. You can increase the capacity accordingly.

As shown in FIGS. 1A and 5B, an opening 50 is provided on the rear surface 632 side of the contact surface of the fixed portion 63 with the cleaning member 74 . If an attempt is made to form the shape of the fixed portion 63, it will become a shape (undercut shape) that cannot be configured as a mold in resin molding. Therefore, in the present embodiment, an opening 50 is provided to form a shape that allows resin molding.

However, when the opening 50 is provided, waste toner collected by the cleaning member 74 leaks out of the cleaning device 60 . Therefore, a lid 75 as a cover member is joined to a joining surface of a frame body 162 to be described later in order to close the opening 50 .

In FIG. 5B, the lid 75 has a flat shape, but its material and shape are not limited to this. Or it may be box-shaped.

Next, the configuration of the lid 75 will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG.

6A and 6B are explanatory diagrams for explaining the structure of the lid 75, FIG. 6A is an external view of the lid 75, and FIG. FIG. 6(C) is a partial enlarged view of the vicinity of the discharge port 753 of FIG. 6(B). 7A and 7B are cross-sectional views of the state in which the frame 162 and the lid 75 are joined. FIG. 7A is the X1-X1 cross section of FIG. ) is an X3-X3 cross section.

In this embodiment, the lid 75 is bonded to a bonding surface 1622 shown in FIG. 7 provided on one plane of the frame 162 by a solvent that melts the material of the frame 162 and the lid 75 and bonds them together. be done. In this embodiment, the frame 162 and the lid 75 are made of PS resin, and a terpene compound (d-limonene) is used as the solvent.

As shown in FIG. 6B, the lid 75 is provided with an inlet 751 , a groove 752 , an outlet 753 and a joint surface 754 . Also, the groove 752 communicates with the inlet 751 and the outlet 753 . As a channel for flowing the solvent injected from the injection port 751 which is an opening as an injection portion for injecting the solvent, the upstream side is the injection port 751 and the downstream side is the discharge port 753 .

Here, the groove 752 branches into the grooves of the flow paths 7521 and 7522 at the branch portion on the downstream side of the injection port 751 . Further, the flow paths merge at a confluence portion 7523 arranged further downstream, and reach the discharge port 753 via a discharge portion 7524 .

7B, the groove 752 has a triangular cross section, and the base of the triangle faces the joint surface side with the frame 162. As shown in FIG. there is Also, when combined with the frame 162 , the lid-side joint surface 754 is in close contact with the frame-side joint surface 1622 .

Next, the configuration of the frame 162 will be described with reference to FIGS. 6, 7 and 8. FIG.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the frame 162 before the lid 75 is attached, as viewed in the direction of arrow K in FIG. 5B.

In FIG. 8, the frame body 162 is provided with a solvent diffusion area 1621 as a solvent diffusion area covered by the lid 75, a joint surface 1622 with the lid 75, and a groove 163 as a guide path. The groove 163 is composed of a receiving portion 1631 and grooves 1632 and 1633 , and branches into the grooves 1632 and 1633 on the downstream side of the receiving portion 1631 . Further, the receiving portion 1631 and the grooves 1632 and 1633 communicate with each other, and the grooves 1632 and 1633 connect with the solvent diffusion area 1621 .

The solvent diffusion area 1621 is formed inside the inlet 751 of the lid 75 , the grooves 7521 and 7522 , the receiving portion 1631 of the frame 162 (the discharge portion 7524 of the lid 75 ), and the grooves 1632 and 1633 .

In this configuration, the opening 50 is formed between the waste toner storage space and the cleaning blade as described above. By branching the solvent flow path into grooves 1632 and 1633 on the downstream side of the receiving portion 1631, a sealing portion surrounding the entire circumference of the opening 50 is formed. In addition, the flow velocity of the solvent reaching the solvent diffusion area 1621 is reduced by spreading the groove over the entire area by running the solvent. As a result, the solvent permeating the solvent diffusion area 1621 can be prevented from reaching the edge 501 of the opening 50 and dropping from the opening 50 onto the cleaning member 74 .

As described above, the passage of the solvent is formed by connecting the discharge port 753 of the lid 75 and the receiving portion 1631 of the frame 162 to communicate with each other.

Next, the flow order of the solvent will be described with reference to FIGS. 6, 7 and 8. FIG.

First, the solvent is injected from the injection port 751 of the lid 75 , branches downstream, passes through the grooves 7521 and 7522 , and joins at the confluence portion 7523 . Then, it reaches the receiving portion 1631 of the frame 162 through the discharge portion 7524 and the discharge port 753 . The solvent that has flowed out of the channel sent to the receiving portion 1631 branches on the downstream side, passes through the grooves 1632 and 1633 running parallel to the grooves 7521 and 7522 through the periphery of the opening 50, and finally reaches the lid 75. The solvent diffusion area 1621 inside the covered frame 162 is reached.

The grooves 1632 , 1633 are provided with solvent restricting ribs 1634 inside the openings 50 with respect to the joint surface 1622 . Further, the grooves 1632 and 1633 are configured to be one step lower than the joint surface 1622 in the substantially perpendicular direction of the joint surface 1622 . Such a configuration can prevent the solvent flowing through the grooves 1632 and 1633 from inadvertently adhering to the lid 75 and joining unexpected areas.

Further, the grooves 1632 and 1633 run parallel to the inside of the region defined by the flow paths 7521 and 7522 of the groove 752 along the direction along which the flow paths 7521 and 7522 extend. The direction along the extending direction is, for example, a direction parallel to or substantially parallel to the extending direction. When the solvent leaks to the inner side (towards the grooves 1632 and 1633) of the joint surface 1622, it is received by the grooves 1632 and 1633, and the flow of the solvent sent to the groove 163 from the discharge port 753 of the lid 75 is utilized. This is to send the leaked solvent to the solvent diffusion area 1621 together.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the solvent diffusion area 1621 is arranged inside the projection plane of the lid 75 (inside the outer periphery of the lid 75) when viewed in the direction perpendicular to the frame-side joint surface 1622. Become. As a result, it is possible to prevent the deterioration of the assembling performance of the device due to seepage of the solvent, or the user's misunderstanding of the defective product due to the poor appearance.

The groove-shaped cross section shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B does not necessarily have to be the triangular shape shown in the present embodiment, and may be a concave shape such as a circle or a square where the solvent flows. .

[Second embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment of the invention will be described. Since the basic configuration of this embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, overlapping parts will be omitted. Also, the same reference numerals are given to components having the same functions as those of the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of one end in the longitudinal direction of the cleaning device according to the present embodiment. FIG. 9A shows the opening 50 on the rear surface of the fixing portion 63 shown in the first embodiment, and FIG. ) shows a state after a lid 275, which will be described later, is joined on the opening 50. FIG. 10A and 10B are explanatory diagrams for explaining the configuration of the lid 275 according to the present embodiment, in which FIG. 10A is an external view of the lid 275, and FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a surface facing the joint surface of the frame body 262 shown in FIG. 11. FIG. 11A and 11B are cross-sectional views of the state in which the frame 262 and the lid 275 are joined together. ) is an X5-X5 cross section.

In this embodiment, the lid 275 is bonded to the bonding surface 2622 of the frame 262 shown in FIG. 11 with a solvent that melts the material of the frame 262 and the lid 275 to bond them together. In this embodiment, the frame 262 and the lid 275 are made of PS resin, and a terpene compound (d-limonene) is used as the solvent.

As shown in FIG. 10, the lid 275 is provided with an inlet 2751 and a joint surface 2754 . The joint surface 2754 is composed of one plane. When combined with frame 262, joint surface 2754 is in close contact with joint surface 2622 of frame 262 shown in FIG.

Next, the configuration of the frame 262 will be described with reference to FIGS. 10, 11 and 12. FIG.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the frame body 262 before the lid 275 is attached, viewed in the direction of arrow K in FIG. 5B.

As shown in FIG. 12 , the frame 262 is provided with a solvent diffusion area 2627 , a joint surface 2622 with the lid 275 , and grooves 264 . The groove 264 communicates with the outlet 2648, and the solvent injected from the inlet 2751 of the lid 275 shown in FIG. 2648 through solvent diffusion area 2627 in turn.

Here, the groove 264 branches into grooves 2641 and 2642 at a branch portion on the downstream side of the injection port 2751 . Further, the flow paths merge at a confluence portion 2643 arranged further downstream, and reach a discharge port 2648 via a discharge portion 2624 .

11(B), the groove 264 has a triangular cross section, and the base of the triangle is a triangular groove facing the joint surface 2754 with the lid 275. As shown in FIG. . When combined with the lid 275 , the frame-side joint surface 2622 is in close contact with the lid-side joint surface 2754 .

12, groove 264 branches again downstream of discharge port 2648 to form grooves 2645 and 2646. As shown in FIG. Also, the outlet 2648 and the grooves 2645 and 2646 communicate with each other, and the grooves 2645 and 2646 connect with the solvent diffusion area 2627 .

Solvent diffusion area 2627 is formed inside inlet 2751 , grooves 2641 and 2642 , outlet 2624 and grooves 2645 and 2646 .

Further, in this configuration, an opening 50 is formed between the waste toner storage space and the cleaning blade. By branching the solvent flow path into the grooves of the flow paths 2645 and 2646 on the downstream side of the outlet 2648, a sealing portion surrounding the opening 50 is formed. Further, by spreading the groove over the entire area of the solvent, the flow velocity of the solvent reaching the solvent diffusion area 2627 is reduced, so that the solvent permeating the solvent diffusion area 2627 reaches the edge 501 of the opening 50 and cleans the opening 50. Dropping onto the member 74 can be prevented.

In this configuration, the solvent flows through grooves 264 of frame 262 in order of outlet 2648 , grooves 2645 and 2646 , and finally solvent diffusion area 2627 inside frame 262 covered by lid 275 .

The grooves 2645 , 2646 also have solvent restricting ribs 2647 inside the openings 50 with respect to the joint surface 2622 . In addition, the grooves 2645 and 2646 are configured to be one step lower than the joint surface 2622 in the substantially perpendicular direction of the joint surface 2622 . With such a configuration, it is possible to prevent the solvent flowing through the grooves 2645 and 2646 from accidentally adhering to the lid 275 and joining an area outside the setting.

In addition, the grooves 2645 and 2646 run parallel to the direction in which the grooves 2641 and 2654, which are the flow paths, extend inside the regions partitioned by the grooves 2641 and 2642 . The direction along the extending direction is, for example, a direction parallel to or substantially parallel to the extending direction. When the solvent leaks to the inside (groove 2645, 2646 side) of the joint surface 2622, it is received by the grooves 2645, 2646, and the leaked solvent is removed by using the flow of the solvent sent from the discharge port 2648. This is for sending together to the solvent diffusion area 2627 .

As described above, according to the core embodiment, the solvent diffusion area 2627 is arranged inside the projection plane of the lid 275 (inside the outer circumference of the lid 275) when viewed in the direction perpendicular to the frame joint surface 2622. will be As a result, it is possible to prevent the deterioration of the assembling performance of the device due to seepage of the solvent, or the user's misunderstanding of the defective product due to the poor appearance.

The groove-shaped cross section shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B does not have to be the triangular shape shown in this embodiment, and may be any recessed shape such as a circle or a square through which the solvent flows.

In each of the above embodiments, the cleaning unit having one photosensitive drum has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to a structure in which a process cartridge or a frame of an image forming apparatus is joined using a solvent.

20 Developing device 60 Cleaning device 70 Waste toner storage chamber 71 First storage chamber 72 Second waste storage chamber 75, 275 Lid 162, 262 Frame 163, 1632, 1633 Groove 264, 2641, 2642 Grooves 751, 2751 Injection ports 752, 7521, 7522 Grooves 753, 2648 Discharge ports 754, 2754 Lid-side joint surface 1621, 2627 Solvent diffusion area 1622, 2622 Frame-side joint surface 1631 Receiving portion 1634, 2647 Solvent regulation rib 7524, 2648 Discharge portion 7523, 2643 Merging portion A Main body of image forming apparatus B Process cartridge

Claims (16)

A cleaning unit having a cleaning member for collecting toner remaining on an image carrier,
a frame;
a cover member that is joined to the frame and covers the frame;
an injection part provided in at least one of the frame and the cover member for injecting a solvent for bonding the frame and the cover member;
a flow path provided in at least one of the frame and the cover member and extending along a joint surface between the frame and the cover member for flowing the solvent injected from the injection part;
a guide path that communicates with the flow path and guides the solvent that has flowed out of the flow path to the inside of the frame covered by the cover member ;
A cleaning unit according to claim 1, wherein the guide path is provided at a position lower than a joint surface between the frame and the cover member in a posture in which the cover member is positioned above the cleaning member with respect to the direction of gravity. 2. The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the channel communicates with the injection part and has a branching portion branched downstream of the channel along a joint surface between the frame and the cover member. unit. 3. The cleaning unit according to claim 2, wherein the channel has a confluence portion where the branched channels merge along the joint surface between the frame and the cover member on the downstream side. 4. A cleaning unit according to claim 3, wherein said guide path is provided so as to be positioned inside a region defined by said flow path. 5. The cleaning unit according to claim 1, wherein the guide path is provided along a direction along which the flow path extends. 6. The cleaning unit according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , further comprising a solvent diffusion area provided downstream of the guide path. 7. The cleaning unit according to claim 1, wherein the injection part is an opening provided in the cover member. 8. The cleaning unit according to claim 1, wherein the channel is a groove provided in the cover member. 8. The cleaning unit according to claim 1, wherein the channel is a groove provided in the frame. 10. A cleaning unit according to claim 8 , wherein said groove is formed as a triangular groove whose base is on the joint surface side of said frame and said cover member. 11. The cleaning unit according to claim 1, wherein the guide path is a groove provided in the frame. 12. The cleaning method according to any one of claims 1 to 11 , wherein the frame and the cover member form a space for accommodating residual toner on the image carrier removed by the cleaning member. unit. A process cartridge detachably attachable to an image forming apparatus, comprising the cleaning unit according to any one of claims 1 to 12 . 14. A process cartridge according to claim 13 , further comprising an image carrier from which residual toner is removed by said cleaning unit. 15. An image forming apparatus comprising the process cartridge according to claim 13 . An image forming apparatus comprising the cleaning unit according to any one of claims 1 to 12 .

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