JPH02289874A - Consumable cartridge for electrophotographic device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate such trouble that each processing means is individually detached and attached when the processing means around a photosensitive body are replaced, repaired, and cleaned by integrally forming an electrifier and a cleaning device, and freely turning them to a replacement position and a set position in the main body of the electrophotographic device, with the cleaning deice being a fulcrum. CONSTITUTION:The electrifier 16 and cleaning device 25 are integrally formed, and are freely turned to the replacement position and the set position in the device main body with the cleaning device 25 being the fulcrum. The electrifier 16 and the cleaning device 25 are integrally detached and attached at the time of replacement, repair, and cleaning. When the photosesitive body 15 s replaced, the electrifier 16 and the cleaning device 25 are turned to the replacement position to disclose the upper part of the photosensitive body 15 at a stretch.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] - The above invention is applicable to electrophotographic devices such as printers, copying machines, and facsimile machines that use a laser to repeatedly charge, write, develop, transfer, and clean to record on paper using an electrophotographic process. Regarding the equipment. More specifically, the present invention relates to a consumables cartridge in which regularly replaced consumables are housed in the main body of the electrophotographic apparatus in a replaceable manner. Traditionally, in electrophotographic devices such as laser printers, process means such as a charger, writing device, developer, transfer device, and cleaning device are placed around the photoreceptor, and the charger is used to charge the photoreceptor. After charging the surface and writing with an IF writing device, it is developed with a developing device to form a visible image on the surface of the photoreceptor, and the visible image is transferred with a transfer device to record on paper, and then the Clean the photoconductor surface with a cleaning device and charge it again with a charger. What I am trying to understand is that with this type of electrophotographic equipment, when replacing, repairing, or cleaning, each process means had to be removed and installed individually, which was a hassle. Additionally, when replacing the photoreceptor, which is a consumable item, it was a hassle to remove and reinstall the surrounding process means one by one.
Furthermore, when removing and installing each process means or replacing the photoreceptor,! ! There was a risk of the image agent scattering. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to eliminate such conventional problems in electrophotographic apparatuses, eliminate the trouble of removing and attaching each process means one by one, and eliminating the need for developer when removing and attaching process means or replacing the photoreceptor. The purpose is to prevent the scattering of For the second reason, the consumable cartridge 55 according to the present invention has the following features:
For example, as shown in the illustrated embodiment below, the surface of the photoconductor 15 is charged with charging@is, and after writing is developed with development@18 to form a visible image on the surface of the photoconductor 15. The photoreceptor 1 is transferred and recorded on the paper 12, and then the photoreceptor 1 is
5. Cleaning the surface [125] In an electrophotographic apparatus in which the surface is cleaned with the charger 16 and then charged again with the charger 16, at least the charger 16 and the cleaning pII 25 are provided and formed integrally, and an electronic It is characterized in that it can be freely rotated within the photographic device main body 10 between an exchange position and a set position. When replacing, repairing, or cleaning the product, it is rotated to the replacement position, and at least the charger 16 and cleaning device 25 are removed and attached as one unit. When replacing the photoreceptor 15, the photoreceptor 15 is similarly rotated to the replacement position and the upper part of the photoreceptor 15 is opened at once. Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 5 shows a schematic diagram of the overall internal mechanism of a laser printer equipped with a consumable cartridge, which is an embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 10 in the figure indicates the main body of the apparatus, and a paper feed cassette 11 is removably attached to the right side of the main body 10 in the figure. Paper 12 is loaded and stored in the paper feed cassette 11. The paper 12 is fed by the paper feed roller 13 in the direction of arrow A.
It is fed out in the direction, guided and conveyed by a guide plate, etc., and the tip hits between a pair of registration rollers 14 and 14, where it is temporarily stopped. and. At a predetermined timing, the image is sent out toward a drum-shaped photoreceptor 15 that is an image carrier. The photoreceptor 15 is driven by a drive device (not shown),
Rotates clockwise in the figure. At this time, the surface is uniformly charged by the charger 16, and then the surface is irradiated with laser light from the writer 17 to form an electrostatic latent image there. Thereafter, when passing through the developing device 18 position, a developer is applied at the developing device 18 to visualize the electrostatic latent image. The visible image is transferred by the transfer device 19 onto the paper 12, which is sent out toward the photoreceptor 15 at a predetermined timing as described above.
The transferred paper texture 2 is conveyed to a fixing device 2o, where it is fixed by applying heat and pressure. After fixing, the switching means 21 switches the paper, and the paper is sent through the paper transport path 22 to the face-down paper section 23 in the direction of arrow B. Alternatively, the paper is sent straight to the face-up wandering paper section 24 in the C direction. On the other hand, the photoreceptor 15 after the visible image transfer is transferred to the cleaning device 2.
Remove the residual developer with the cleaning blade 26 of No. 5,
Clean the surface. The removed residual developer is sent to the collection tank 27 and collected there. By the way, in the laser printer described above, the apparatus main body 10 is composed of an upper main body 30 and a lower main body 31 as shown in FIG.
It is possible to open around the support shaft 29. In the upper body 30, a downward protrusion 32 is formed as shown in the figure, which is a part of the member housed therein. Now, inside the lower body 31, an image forming case 33 shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 is housed. The image forming case 33 has two projecting pieces 35, 35 formed on one side thereof, each having a shaft hole 34. Furthermore, a locking lever 36 is provided on the other side and biased clockwise in FIG. Then, the image forming case 33 is attached to the lower body 31 so as to be rotatable about the axis by passing the shaft through the shaft holes 34, 34, and after attachment, the latch lever 36 is hooked to the member inside the lower body 31. By stopping it, the haze is fixed. As can be seen from FIGS. 7 and 8, the image forming case 33 has a photoreceptor 15 placed in the center thereof, and a developing device 18 (
(see Figure 5), and a rectangular parallelepiped-shaped upward space 3 is provided on the left side.
Form 7. As is well known, the developing chamber 38 is provided in the developing chamber 38, and an agitator 39, a supply roller 40, a developing roller 41, etc. are housed in the developing chamber 38.
The developer 42 in 8 is attached to the photoreceptor 15. On the other hand, a semi-cylindrical recess 43 is formed above the developing chamber 38, and an elongated developer supply window 44 communicating with the developing chamber 38 is opened therein. Further, the distal end thereof protrudes into the semi-cylindrical recess 43, and two lock release members 45, 45 are attached on the image forming case 33. On the other hand, in the opposite upward space 37. Each is supported by a shaft, and the guide members 46 and 46 are fixed facing each other in the front and rear. Furthermore, one packet 47 is supported by these axes and rotatably provided within the upward space 37. Then, coil springs 48 wound around these shafts are biased, and the packet 47 is moved so that its protrusion 49 is attached to the imaging case 33.
Press it against the stepped portion 50 and stop it. However. As shown in FIG. 8, the packet 47 is held at an angle θ with respect to the vertical like the guide members 46. In addition,
The reference numeral 51 in FIG. 7 is an elongated rectangular opening formed above the photoreceptor 15. Incidentally, a consumable cartridge 55 according to the present invention shown in FIG. 9 is mounted on the image forming case 33 shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. As can be seen from the figure, the cartridge 55 has a developer supply container 54 assembled on the upper right side in the figure.
A cleaning device 25 (see Fig. 5) is provided on the left side of the figure. Engagement recesses 56 are formed on the front and rear surfaces of the cleaning device 25, respectively. The engagement recess 56 is composed of a straight linear groove 57 that opens toward the left end, and a circular hole 58 that communicates with the linear groove 57. The consumable cartridge 55 also has a semi-cylindrical container attachment part 59 on it.
A developer passage window 60 is opened therein. The developer passage window 60 has the same size as the developer supply window 44, and is also elongated. Then, a sponge-like sealing member 61 is pasted on the container mounting portion 59, sandwiching the developer passage window 60. Therefore, container holding parts 62 are formed on the front and rear outer sides of such a container mounting part 59, respectively. One container holding part 62 has a semicircular upward fitting part 63.
and two elastic parts 64 and 6 diagonally extending therefrom from above.
4. Further, a cross hole 65 serving as a locking portion and a groove-shaped escape hole 66 are provided in parallel at the front and rear of the container attachment portion 59, respectively. On the other hand, such a consumable cartridge 55 also includes legs 67 at the front and back on the right side in the figure. The consumable cartridge 55 is supported by the legs 67 and the cleaning device 25 described above, so that the consumable cartridge 55 is stabilized when placed on a table, for example. In addition, what is indicated by the symbol 68 in Fig. 9 is. When the consumable cartridge 55 is set on the image forming case 33, the opening 5 of the image forming case 33
This is the writing aperture facing 1. Although not shown in FIG. 9, the above-mentioned charger 16 is provided parallel to the writing opening 68 inside the consumable cartridge 55. Similarly, when the consumable cartridge 55 is set on the image forming case 33, the band 1! The container 16 enters the image forming case 33 through the rM port 51 and is brought to face the photoreceptor 15 as shown in FIG. A lock lever 70 is also rotatably attached to the above-mentioned consumable cartridge 5S. The lock lever 70 is
As can be seen from FIG. 10, it consists of two lever parts 71, a shaft part 72 connecting them, and a handle part 73 extending from the shaft part 72. In the lever part 71. A locking recess 74 is provided on the lower end side, and a protrusion 75 is provided on the upper end side. The consumable cartridge 55 is then stretched over a frame 76 provided oppositely at the front and rear thereof, with its handle portion 73 protruding outward to support it. As shown in the figure, a special biasing spring 77 is wound around the mounting shaft to the frame 76, and one end of the biasing spring 77 is hung on a locking pin 78 erected on the lever portion 71, and the other end is hung on a stopper 79 erected on the frame 76. As a result, the lock lever 70 always has the tendency to rotate clockwise in FIG. However, FIG. 10 shows a cross section of the consumable cartridge 55 attached to the image forming case 33, and the latching recess 74 is engaged with the case end 80 of the image forming case 33 (see FIG. 8). The lever portion 71 is located away from the stopper 79.

On the other hand, the developer replenishment container 54 that replenishes the developer 42 to the developing device 18 has a cylindrical body portion 82 as shown in FIG.
and caps 83, 83 attached to both ends. The main body part 82 is cut off in a plane parallel to the axis to form a horizontal plane 84 of a constant width on the outer surface. And that horizontal plane 8
4, a developer supply port is opened near one end, and the supply port is covered with a lid 85. Further, the main body portion 82 is provided with a handle 86 extending radially from a portion of the outer periphery.
Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 11, an elongated developer flow window 87 is opened in the length direction. The developer passing window 87 has the same size as the developer passing window 60 and the developer supply window 44.
Then, the developer leak window 87 is closed with a seal 88 as shown by the two-dot chain line in the figure, and one end (on the right side in the figure) is extended a little longer and the tip is hung on the handle 86 as shown in the figure. On the other hand, as can be seen from FIG. 9, the cap 83 is provided with a protrusion 89 extending radially from the outer periphery, and a rail-shaped locking part 90 is formed on the outer periphery that protrudes circumferentially. Further, on the outer surface, there is a shaft portion 91 that coincides with the center of the main body portion 82 when the cap 83 is attached to the main body portion 82.
has. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 11, the cap 83 has an L-shaped cutout and a locking claw 92 formed on the outer periphery by slightly raising it. Then, as shown in FIG. 9, the consumable cartridge 55
Assemble the developer replenishing container 54 from above toward the container/attachment part 59, push open the elastic parts 64 with the shaft part 91, fit the shaft part 91 into the fitting part 63, and then After passing through, the elastic parts 64, 64 which elastically return to their original positions prevent them from coming off, and these shaft parts 91, 91 are attached to the container holding parts 62, 6.
2 to hold it securely. However, the consumable cartridge 5
Assemble the developer supply container @54 on top of 5, and attach the caps 83 and 8.
Apply the protrusions 89 and 89 of No. 3 to the top surface of the consumable cartridge 55. Then, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the locking claw 92 of the cap 83 enters the cross hole 65 of the container attachment part 59, and its tip is locked in the horizontal hole of the cross hole 65. ．． This prevents the developer supply container 54 from rotating in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 12 on the IF unit mounting portion 59.

The developer supply container 54 has a developer discharge window 87.
It is held in a shielding position where it is blocked. In addition, the reference numeral 94 in FIG.
2 is a coil spring housed in the main body 82 of the developer replenishment container 54, and by vibrating it, the developer 42 in the developer replenishment container 54 can be discharged without leaving any residue. After that, remove the seal 88 from the handle 86 and pull it to peel off the seal 88. However, at this time, the sealing member 61 of the container mounting portion 59 closes the developer leaking window 87 and the developer supply container 59 is closed.
Prevents the developer inside from leaking. Now, the consumable cartridge 5 with the developer replenishing container 54 assembled as described above.
5 in the main body 10 of the apparatus, as shown in FIG.
Insert it in the direction of arrow D in the figure. Then, the guide member 46 is inserted into the linear groove 57 of the engagement recess 56, and the cleaning device 25 is fitted into the packet 47 while being guided by the guide member 46. It penetrates into the hole 58 and holds the consumable cartridge 55 in the replacement position, making it possible to rotate the cartridge 55 in the direction of arrow E in the figure. Therefore,
The cartridge 55. When the guide members 46, 46 are used as fulcrums to rotate together with the packet 47 against the coil springs 48, 48, the set position shown in FIG. 2 is obtained. Then, the locking recess 74 of the lock lever 70 is engaged with the case end 80 of the image forming case 33 to hold it in the set position. Then, as shown in FIG. 3, the locking release member 45 pushes the locking pawls 92 and releases the locking of the cross holes 65. Therefore, the developer supply container 54 can be rotated, and when the upper body 30 is closed, the downward protrusion 3
2 pushes down the handle 86, and the developer supply container 54 is automatically rotated from the closed position to the open position shown in FIG. Then, as shown in FIG. 4, the developer 42 in the developer supply container 54 is transferred to the developer chamber 38 by opening the developer leaking window 87 and facing the developer supply window 44 through the developer passing window 60.
Supply inward. On the other hand, as the developer supply container 54 rotates, its locking portions 90, 90 enter into the escape holes 66, 66, and as shown in FIG. opposite. The locking portions 90 prevent the locking lever 70 from being released. In the above explanation, the seal 88 was peeled off when the developer supply container 54 was in the shielding position. However, the seal 88 may be peeled off after the developer replenishing container 54 is in the open position and the developer passing window 87 is opposed to the developer passing window 60 as shown in FIG. By the way, when replenishing the developer 42 in the illustrated laser printer, first open the upper body 30. Then, the handle 86 is lifted and the developer supply container 54 is rotated from the open position shown in FIG. 4 to the closed position shown in FIG. Thus, the position of the developer leak window 87 is shifted from the position of the developer supply window 44. Thereafter, lift the handle 73 and rotate the lock lever 70 to remove the latch recess 74 from the case end 80. Then, the consumable cartridge 55 is attached to the guide member 4.
Rotate around 6.46 from the set position to the exchange position 8. At this time, the locking claw 92 separates from the lock release member 45 and locks in the cross hole 66 again, and the developer supply container 5
Prevents the rotation of 4. After that, pull it out in the direction opposite to arrow D in Figure 1. Pull out the consumable cartridge 55 from the image forming case 33. Then, in advance, the container attachment part 5
9 with a new cartridge 55 with a developer supply container @ 54 attached, and then install the new consumable cartridge 55. The image forming case 33 is set again in the same manner as described above, the upper main body 30 is closed, and the developer 42 is replenished into the developing chamber 38. As described above, in the consumable cartridge 55 according to the present invention, the developer replenishment container 54 cannot be rotated to the replacement position until it is rotated to the shielding position by the locking means, so that the developer supply container 54 cannot be rotated to the replacement position. It is possible to prevent operational errors such as accidentally turning the door while it is open and spilling the developer 42. Also,
When the consumable cartridge 55 is in the replacement position, the locking means prevents the developer supply container 8154 from rotating to the open position, thereby preventing leakage of developer from the developer leaking window 87. Furthermore, in the replacement position, the cleaning device 2
Since the toner collection port 5 faces upward, developer leakage can be prevented when replacing the consumable cartridge 55. In the embodiment described above, the developer supply container 54 shown in FIGS. 9 and 11 is assembled to the consumable cartridge 55.
The entire developer supply container 54 is rotatable between an open position and a closed position. However, if a developer replenishment container 54 as shown in FIG.
Only 01 may be freely rotatable between the open position and the shield position. That is, the developer supply container 54 is connected to the container main body 100.
and an opening/closing cover 101. As shown in FIG. 15, the container body 100 is provided with an elongated developer leaking window 87, and a sealing member 102 is attached to the outer periphery so as to surround the developer wandering window 87. and. A developer 42 is stored in the container body 100. On the other hand, the opening/closing cover 101 covers both ends and half of the outer circumference of the container body 100, and is rotatably attached to the container body 100. The opening/closing cover 101 is provided with a handle 86 extending radially from the center outer periphery, protrusions 89 extending radially from the outer periphery at both ends, and a rail-shaped lock portion 90 projecting circumferentially from the outer periphery. form. Also,
A shaft portion 91 that coincides with the central axis of the container body 100 is provided on the outer surface.
It has L-shaped notches 92 on the outer periphery of both ends and is slightly raised. Furthermore, an elongated opening 103 is made in the length direction. Similarly, the shaft parts 91 and 91 are connected to the container holding parts 62 and 62.
The developer replenishing container 54 is assembled to the container mounting portion 59 of the consumable cartridge 55 by holding the developer replenishing container 54, and the protrusions 89 are brought into contact with the upper surface of the consumable cartridge 55. Then, the locking pawl 92 similarly enters the cross hole 65 of the container attachment part 59 and locks its tip to the edge of the horizontal hole of the cross hole 65. This prevents the opening/closing cover 101 from rotating clockwise in the figure on the container mounting portion 59, holding the opening/closing cover 101 in the shielding position, and discharging the developer from the container body 100 as shown in FIG. The window 87 and the opening 103 are placed at different positions.
However, when the consumable cartridge 55 is attached to the image forming case 33 and placed in the set position, the locking release member 4 similarly
5 pushes the locking claw 92. The container body 100 remains as it is, and only the opening/closing cover 101 is rotated.
1 can be rotated from the shielded position to the open position. When set to the open position, the developer leaking window 87 and the opening 103 are aligned, as shown in FIG. FIG. 17 shows a schematic diagram of the overall internal mechanism of a laser printer equipped with a consumable cartridge, which is another embodiment of the present invention. The symbols used in the figure are the same as those used for the corresponding parts in Figure 5. and,
Similarly, the paper 12 in the paper feed cassette 11 is transferred to the paper feed roller 13.
to feed the registration roller pair 14, 14 in the direction of arrow A.
Hit it against. On the other hand, as the photoreceptor 15 rotates clockwise in the figure, it is uniformly charged by the charger 16 and the writing device 1
7, and is developed by the developing device 18 to form a visible image on the surface of the photoreceptor 15. Then, the paper 12 that has been in contact with the pair of registration rollers 14, 14 described above is sent out in synchronization with the visible image, and the visible image is transferred onto the paper 12 by the transfer device 19. - and fix the fuser 20.
The sheet is fixed by the switching means 21, and is sent through the paper conveyor 22 to the face-down paper section 23 in the direction of arrow B, or directly to the face-up paper discharge section 24 in the direction of arrow C. The photoreceptor 15 after the visible image transfer is
The residual developer is removed by the cleaning blade 26 of the cleaning device 25 and collected into the collection tank 27, and its surface is cleaned. Incidentally, in the laser printer shown in FIG. 17, the device main body 10 is composed of an upper main body 30 and a lower main body 31, and as shown in FIG.
It can be opened and closed freely with respect to 1. If the paper 12 jams, open the upper main body 30 and rotate the entire image forming case 33 counterclockwise around the shaft 110 as shown in FIG. 19. The transport path 111 on the lower side of the image forming case 33 can be opened. Then, the stand 112 that connects the image forming case 33 and the lower main body 31 can be extended, and the image forming case 33 can be held in the rotating position by the stand 112, thereby making it easier to remove the jammed paper 128. Become. Note that there is a handle 113 inside the image forming case 33.
The above-mentioned charger 16 is attached together with the photoreceptor 15 to which the
- Stores the developing device 18, cleaning device 25, etc. Now, in this embodiment, the charger 16 and the cleaning device 2
5 to integrally form a consumable cartridge 55 according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 20, the consumable cartridge 55 has bearing parts 114 at the front and rear sides of the cleaning device 25, respectively. The bearing parts 114 each consist of a ring part 114a and parallel parts 114b, 114b, which are cut out to form attachment/detachment openings. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 20, the image forming case 33 is formed with shaft portions 115, 115, respectively, facing each other on the inner surface. Shaft part 1
15, each has a flat surface 115a cut off vertically on both sides.
・Install 115a. And parallel part 114b-114
Align b with the flat surfaces 115a, 115a, insert the shaft 115 into the ring part 114a from the attachment/detachment opening, fit the bearing 114 on the cleaning device 25 side into the shaft 115, and attach the consumable cartridge 55 as shown in FIG. Attach it to the image forming case 33 as shown. In this state, the consumable cartridge 55 is in the replacement position, with the toner collection port 116 of the collection tank 27 facing upward as shown. However,
The consumable cartridge 55 in this replacement position is located at the shaft portion 1.
It can be rotated around 15 and 115 to the set position as shown in Fig. 22. As shown in FIG. 22, the developing device 18 includes a developing roller 118, a supply roller 119, etc. in a developing case 117. Then, the developer replenishment container 54 is attached and biased toward the photoreceptor 15 by a pressure spring 120 disposed between it and the image forming case 33, and the developing roller 118 is pressed against the outer periphery of the photoreceptor 15. Then, open the upper body 30 as shown in FIG. When the consumable cartridge 55 is rotated from the setting position shown in FIG. 22 to the replacement position shown in FIG. The upper part of the photoreceptor 15 is opened. As a result, the photoreceptor 15 can be removed without removing the process means arranged surrounding it one by one.
It can be attached and detached by holding the handle 113 and can be easily replaced. Also, when removing the consumable cartridge 55, the recovery tank 2
Since the toner collection port 116 of 7 faces upward, the developer 4
2 can be prevented from scattering.

Note that the developing device 18 is moved against the pressure spring 120 to support the photoreceptor 1.
It is possible to retreat from a contact state with 5 to a non-contact state. As a result, the photoreceptor 15 becomes free within the image forming case 33, and
It becomes easy to put on and take off. In Figures 23 and 24,
Another embodiment will be shown which is a further development of the embodiment shown in Figs. 17 to 22. As shown in FIG. 23, in this embodiment, the crosspiece 121 is held horizontally in the image forming case 33, and both ends are connected to the consumable cartridge 55 and the developing unit 121.
Extend it to the side of 8. A protrusion 12 is provided on the side surface of the developing device 18.
2, and one end 12 of the horizontal bar 121 is provided on the protrusion 122.
1a. On the other hand, a protrusion 123 is provided on the side surface of the cleaning device 25 of the consumable cartridge 55 in a direction away from the other end 12lb of the crosspiece 121. As shown in FIG. 24, when the consumable cartridge 55 is rotated from the setting position to the replacement position, the protrusion 123 presses against the other end 12lb of the horizontal bar 121, and the horizontal bar 121 is moved to the right side in the figure. do. Then, one end 121a of the crosspiece 121 is connected to the protrusion 122.
Press to move the developing device 18 against the pressure spring 120 and press the photoconductor 1.
Evacuate from 5 and put it in a non-contact state. This makes replacing the photoreceptor 15 even easier. FIGS. 25 and 26 show another embodiment that is a further development of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 17 to 22. As shown in FIG. 25, in this embodiment, the consumable cartridge 55 and the image forming case 33 are connected by a stand 124 that can be folded in the middle. In this case, one end 124a of the stand 124 is either removably attached to the cleaning device 25 or simply pressed against it. As shown in FIG. 26, by rotating the consumable cartridge 55 to the replacement position and extending the stand 124, the consumable cartridge 55 can be held at the replacement position. Thereby, the photoreceptor 15 can be replaced safely. FIG. 27 shows another example of a holding means for holding the consumable cartridge 55 in the replacement position.
5 and a part of the imaging case 33 are shown disassembled. In this example, the cleaning device 2 of the consumable cartridge 55 is
An engagement recess 125 is provided at the fifth portion, and a leaf spring 126 is provided at one end 33a of the image forming case 33. When the consumable cartridge 55 is rotated, the tip of the leaf spring 126 fits into the engagement recess 125 at the end of the rotation, thereby holding the consumable cartridge 55 in the replacement position. This allows the photoreceptor 15 to be replaced safely. In FIG. 28, an engaging protrusion 127 is provided in the cleaning device 25 portion of the consumable cartridge 55 in place of the engaging recess 125 in FIG. Then, the tip of the leaf spring 126 on the one end 33a side of the image forming case 33 is engaged with it to hold the consumable cartridge 55 in the replacement position. Incidentally, instead of the leaf spring 126, an elastic part formed integrally with the image forming case 33 is engaged with the above-mentioned engagement recess 125 and engagement protrusion 127 to hold the consumable cartridge 55 in the replacement position. Good too. Therefore, according to the present invention, at least the charger and the cleaning device can be removed and attached as one unit, and when replacing, repairing, or cleaning the process means around the photoreceptor, each process means can be removed individually. This eliminates the hassle of having to remove and install the device. Furthermore, when replacing the photoreceptor, there is no need to remove and reinstall the surrounding process means one by one. Furthermore, when replacing, repairing, or cleaning the process means around the photoreceptor, or when replacing the photoreceptor, the consumable cartridge is rotated to the replacement position to bring the photoreceptor and process means out of contact. There is no risk of scratching the body, and the toner collection port of the cleaning device is oriented upwards to reliably prevent developer from scattering.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 13 show a consumable cartridge that is an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is an explanatory configuration diagram showing how the consumable cartridge is attached to the imaging case of the main body of the apparatus, and FIG. After installation, the cartridge is placed in the set position and the developer replenishment container is placed in the open position. FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the consumable cartridge being held in the set position by the locking means when the developer supply container is in the open position, and FIG. An overall schematic configuration diagram of the internal mechanism of a laser printer equipped with a cartridge, FIG. 6 is an explanatory configuration diagram illustrating that the upper body can be rotated relative to the lower body, and FIG. 7 is an image forming case provided within the device body. 8 is a sectional view, FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing how the developer replenishment container is attached to the consumable cartridge, and FIG. 10 is a partial sectional view of the consumable cartridge illustrating how the lock lever is attached. , FIG. 11 is a view of the developer supply container viewed from the direction of arrow F in FIG. 9, FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along the line Xll-XI in FIG. 9, and FIG. This is a side view seen from the front. Figures 14 to 16 show other examples of developer replenishment containers that can be assembled to the consumable cartridges shown in Figures 1 to 13. Figure 14 is a perspective view of the container, and Figure 15 is a perspective view of the container. Fig. 16 is a cross-sectional view of the product cartridge when it is attached to the container attachment part and in the shielding position, and Fig. 16 is a cross-sectional view when it is in the open position. 17 to 22 show a consumable cartridge according to another embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 17 is a general schematic diagram of the internal mechanism of a laser printer equipped with the consumable cartridge, and FIG. Fig. 19 is a schematic diagram of the lower main body of the laser printer with its image forming case rotated, and Fig. 20 shows a part of the laser printer's consumables cartridge and its operation. FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram of the lower body of the laser printer with the consumable cartridge in the replacement position; FIG. 22 is a schematic diagram of the lower body in the set position. be. 23 and 24 show a further developed embodiment of the laser printer shown in FIGS. 17 to 22, and FIG. 23 shows interlocking means for interlocking the retraction of the developing unit with the rotation of the consumable cartridge. Fig. 24 is a schematic diagram of the configuration during interlocking operation. 25 and 26 show another embodiment of the laser printer shown in FIGS. 17 to 22 which is further developed, and FIG. 25 shows a schematic configuration of a holding means for holding the consumable cartridge in its replacement position. 26 are schematic configuration diagrams of the holding state. FIG. 27 is an exploded perspective view of a part of the consumable cartridge and a part of the image forming case, showing another embodiment of the holding means for holding the cartridge in the replacement position. FIG. 28 is a schematic diagram showing still another embodiment of the holding means. 10......Device main body, 12......
... Paper, 15 ... Photoreceptor, 16 ...
...Charger, 18...Developer,
25...Cleaning device, 42...
...Developer, 54...Developer supply container, 55...Consumables cartridge, 6
5・・・・・・・・・Cross hole, 70・・・・・・・・・
Lock lever, 87...Developer discharge window,
90......Lock part, 92......
...Latching claw, 101...... Opening and Closing Cover Co., Ltd. Figure 2 Figure 3 Photoreceptor developer Figure 10 Figure 11 Figure 12 Figure 13 Tan Figure 14 Figure 17 Figure 19 j9 Figure 20 1I50 Figure 21 Old +9 119 14 117 Figure 23 A 121b 15 121a 122 18 12lb 121a Old Figure 25 Figure 26 Old

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Charge the surface of a photoreceptor with a charger, develop it with a developer after writing, form a visible image on the surface of the photoreceptor, and transfer the visible image to record on paper. In an electrophotographic apparatus in which the surface of the photoreceptor is cleaned with a cleaning device and charged again with the charging device, at least the charging device and the cleaning device are provided and formed integrally, and the cleaning device side is A consumable cartridge for an electrophotographic device that is rotatable between an exchange position and a set position within the main body of the electrophotographic device as a fulcrum. 2. The consumable cartridge for an electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a developer replenishment container for replenishing developer is assembled in the developing device. 3. The developer supply container is placed in an open position where the developer discharge window is opened and a closed position where the developer discharge window is closed;
The consumable cartridge for an electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 2, which is movable. 4. The electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising an opening/closing cover that is movable between an open position for opening a developer discharge window of the developer supply container and a closed position for closing the developer discharge window. consumable cartridges. 5. The developer replenishing container or the opening/closing cover is held in the shielding position by the locking means when the replacement position is set, and the holding by the locking means is released when the set position is set. The consumable cartridge for an electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 3 or 4. 6. The above-mentioned claim, wherein when the developer replenishment container or the opening/closing cover is set to the open position, the locking means holds the set position, and when the developer supply container or the opening/closing cover is set to the shielding position, the holding by the locking means is released. 4. A consumable cartridge for an electrophotographic device according to 3 or 4.